Disclaimer: Everything belongs to their respective owners; Eric Kripke, the CW/WB.
A/N: Episode 5.22, Swan Song, was amazing. Simply amazing and heartbreaking. I hope you enjoy this tag to it!
Warning: Spoilers for Season 5 finale.
The Pendant Burns Hot
Sam stood stalk-still under that street lamp. He watched the meal progressing. Dean's lopsided half-smile. He knew Dean was fighting the pain burning in his chest. He could see it written plain as day on his face. Dean was fighting. Yet, he was winning too. Sam saw genuine happiness when Dean looked into Lisa's eyes. Pure adoration when looking at Ben.
Yet, Sam couldn't smile, for the life of him. His brother was safe. He was keeping his promise. Sam was thankful. But it hurt too much to smile. The street lamp above him flickered once before popping, and the street went black.
"Sam?"
Sam didn't move, didn't even start. Out of the corner of his eye, Sam noticed a white button up shirt and short beard upon a young face. Chuck Shirley. Or not...
"He's happy Sam."
Sam swallowed, willed himself to say something. No, he wanted to say. Not quite.
"But he will be," Chuck answered, Sam's thoughts hitting him loudly as if they were spoken.
Sam opened his mouth, dry from not using it. "Dean..." He managed at barely a whisper. Dean looked up suddenly from his dinner, the bowl of beans being passed stopped in mid-air.
"He can feel you." That much was obvious. Dean stood up abruptly from the table, disappearing from view seconds later. "He'll always feel you. As long as you're around."
Sam wasn't really here, but was always here. Dean came through the front door, stopping on the porch, and stared intently at the street light. But Dean didn't see him, nor did he see Chuck, who both stood watching as Dean's breaths came out more ragged before Lisa joined him, asking what was wrong.
"He will be happy. I promise."
Sam finally turned away from Dean on the porch. Tears blurred his sight.
Chuck smiled serenely up at him. His smile seeming to hold all the answers of the universe. Chuck held out his hand to Sam, something dangling in his clutch. Sam watched the small gold pendant on the black string swing back and forth in Chuck's grasp. It had an other worldly shine to it. Sam immediately clasped onto it, it momentarily burning his fingers, like heated in fire, before it cooled as Chuck stepped away.
"Sammy," Sam heard Dean whisper desperately to the surrounding night. Sam noticed Dean's eyes still frantically searching, gliding over the regal Impala parked in the drive, over the dark street lamp, right over Sam's ghostly form.
"He will be happy."
Sam held Dean's pendant to his chest. The mild heat emanating off of it warming his chest, his heart.
Dean turned, defeated, to head inside, with Lisa's encouragement.
And Sam finally smiled as Ben came outside to grasp Dean's hand and lead him inside. Sam's smile radiated brighter. The gold pendant burned hotter. He'd always be here for Dean. Just not be here.
Sam could finally let go.
Pop. The street lamp blinked. And as the orange glow dimmed once more, neither Sam nor Chuck remained. They were headed home. Chuck, God, would personally take Sam there. He owed the kid that much.
The street lamp came back on, illuminating an empty street. As Dean sat back down at his spot at the dinner table, he noticed the lamp's warm light. Suddenly a weight lifted off his chest. His worried face smoothed over and he smiled a full, glorious smile.
Sam Winchester may be dead. But he wasn't. Not really. Sam would always be with him. Always.
End
A/N: Please, tell me what you think of the story. And, did you like the season finale?
BTW, I've read ideas about Chuck actually being God on BuddyTV. So, that's where that idea came from.