Title: What's Dead Should Stay Dead

Rating: K+ (language, violence, mild sexual references)

Summary: (AU) A darkness took hold of Sam and now free from it his actions have consequences. As Sam struggles to keep on fighting in a world where he's lost his true love Dean vows to bring his brother peace while unbeknown to them Sam's lover is alive and struggles with who she is.

Authors note: This story came about a while ago and was just waiting for a snow day to get going…well we've had plenty of snow days now so time to get going. Dean is in a relationship with Tessa, no slash involved (read Good Enough for that) just brotherly love. The summary of each chapter will be posted at the beginning of each as will the rating. Original female character who Sam once had a relationship with.

The kingdom of Westfield – April 4

Vesta simply stared up at the dark ceiling, sleep unable to embrace her. Two weeks and she would be queen and the only thing running through her mind was, what the hell? How had it come this far? She no longer remembered who she was or where she was from. Nearly three years ago she had washed up on the banks of a small stream in the kingdom of Westfield. Woken up in an abbey with no memory of her life before, she couldn't even tell the Monks her name. Father Darius had chosen Vesta and it was good enough, especially since her abilities had come out. In those two and a half years she had mastered her fire ability, won the heart of the people by banishing supernatural creatures from their towns – a feat she had no idea how she managed, earned the trust of the Monks and the affection of the king…so life should be all sunshine and puppies. But how the holy hell could her life be like that when major questions about her life were unanswered? Who was she really? Where was she from? Why did she wind up washed upon Westfield's shore? But the most critical question in her mind was why hadn't any come looking for her? Was she that wretched? What had she done to deserve to be abandoned?

That was a selfish question to ask herself. She was welcomed and loved now and that should be enough – but without knowing her past it just wasn't. She went back and forth between being angry and being sad and during those mood swings somehow sleep took her.

There was a swollen river and she was standing beside it contemplating her new life as she looked into the debris filled, muddy river. And Vesta knew that this was an anxiety dream caused by the recent engagement. All her dreams in time of stress involved this same swollen river and the same tall young man with green eyes and messy hair shoving her in. But yet she contemplated and waited for him to shove her in…she couldn't fight him. She knew that the man in her dreams was connected to her, but she didn't remember his name and when she woke up wouldn't remember his face. Sometimes she had woken up, in the first few days in Westfield screaming the name, "Sam", but it was such a common name and meant nothing but to create a feeling of fear and sadness inside her. Vesta heard him getting closer. In a few seconds his large hands would shove her in and the muddy water would sweep her away…away to her new home and her new love…so it wasn't all bad…but to be cast aside…

The north kingdom of Lawrence – April 4

He was tired of the rain and not only was he tired of the rain but he was angry, very angry. Angry at the rain, at Dean, at Abigail, and Bobby, and Missouri – basically at every last god damned person and thing around him! Feeding off his anger he walked quicker along the fast flowing river. He could see figures standing at the edge and recognized them as those that he loved. One by one he shoved them into the raging, muddy river. He didn't regret it, watching them all sink under the debris filled water never coming up again. Hell it appeased his anger! No there was no one telling him what to do, how to act, what was best for his kingdom. Everyone who had ever questioned him, challenged him were gone and he saw himself smiling.

Sam woke up from the dream much as he always did; cold, heart aching, mind fearing he had killed everyone he loved. In reality he had only killed one of his loves, though he had nearly killed his brother, Missouri, Bobby, and Tessa and wrecked his kingdom during the "darkness" as it was now known in Lawrence. Nearly three years had passed and the dream never went away. Tonight it was a hell of a lot more vivid and the imploring look in Abigail's eyes, that was new. Before she looked at him in horror, tonight it was questioning, imploring, silently begging him for something he could no longer give. Three years of grief and guilt and trying his damnedest to put back the pieces that had fallen during his weakness had taken a toll on the hunter. The kingdom had forgiven him, eventually Dean and Bobby too but he never forgave himself. Rolling over he knew he was alone in the bed but sometimes he just hoped. Of course her side was long cold never to be warmed by her body again…and it was his fault. He made his present advisor sleep in separate chambers from him, though the woman bitched and moaned about it constantly. Abigail and he were bonded as children and then the darkness had come and severed the bind, though Missouri and her Coven insisted it could never truly break, he no longer believed in that small miracle.

His hand reached out to trace the spot where she would always sleep when not firmly embraced in his arms. The emptiness was devastating and clutching her pillows he screamed into them! Then the tears came! Followed immediately by Dean, who was followed by Sam's latest advisor.

Sam knew Dean would come, he always had and that was the only comfort he ever got now. The gentle hand of his brother on his back telling him it was just a dream and that it's going to be ok…if only he could find the heart to believe. Thank god he still had Dean even though he had banished him during the darkness. Dean would never leave him, then again Abigail didn't leave him on her own freewill. No, Sam Winchester had shoved her into a swollen river and watched as she washed downstream within the muddy, debris filled water.

"Sam, it's ok," Dean's voice was deep and soothing. His hands never leaving the gently massaging motions on his brother's back. He knew what Sam dreamed, he knew the pain and agony his brother suffered and he would give anything to take it on himself and free Sam of the guilt. Sam wasn't in his right mind when he did those nasty things, yet he had to take the consequences. And he was, so help him he was and he was making amends but Sam just couldn't stop beating himself up over Abigail.

"She would have forgiven you by now Sam," he said. He knew he had touched on a sensitive subject. "She loved you, even if…" Dean had never backed down from what Sam did during the darkness. He still hadn't forgiven his baby brother of everything. "Abigail would want you to pull yourself together and fight for the kingdom. I want you to pull yourself together and fight."

Sam snapped at his brother. What the hell gave Dean the right to tell him how Abigail would feel? Dean had Tessa as his advisor, he had had Abigail. Not even Lori, his new advisor could stop the fight between the brothers. But Dean held his own and a few minutes later Sam was sobbing in his brother's arms.

"I promise Sammy, it will be ok." Dean knew he would start today trying to find out where Abigail's body washed up. To give Sam closure might be what was needed to begin to heal his baby brother. They had searched before with no luck, but they had only searched in Lawrence and Sam had to deal with the aftermath of the darkness first. There were at least three more kingdoms outside the borders to look in, all along the Impala River and its tributaries. Dean would find peace for his brother.

Thank you for reading. TBC.