I know, I know. I shouldn't be starting a new story. Instead, I should be working on Faithfully. Which I am, slowly. I actually hit kind of a writer's block in how I want to continue, so until I figure that out, I wanted to try my hand at this one.
I don't own the characters of the show (with the exception of anyone who you don't recognize), but I do own this plot bunny. Sort of. It's heavily inspired by Nicholas Spark's A Walk To Remember and is AU to a point. I am trying and keep it as canon as I can (for example, I know Adam is much younger than Dean, for story purposes, I'm aging him a bit) but it will pretty much follow the movie plot line (which is more modern than the novelization). Of course, with that being said, I am happy to take suggestions and include them into the story.
Please review, also! They make me happy and inspire me to write.
Chapter One
The music blasted from the speakers of the old 1967 Chevy Impala as 18-year old Dean Winchester steered the car along the old road, leading the way to their destination. Beside him, riding shotgun, was his 14-year old brother, Sam, who's thin and lanky body was tense, his hazel eyes watching the speeding scenery.
"Dean, where are we going?" Sam finally questioned, after several long and quiet minutes, with nothing but some good ol' AC/DC as background music.
Dean's own green eyes slid from the road in front of him to his kid brother, and he offered up an easy grin. "You'll see, Sammy."
"Why'd we leave the dance, though?" Sam asked, peering up at his older brother beneath the shaggy brown hair that hung in front of his eyes. "What are we doing?"
"Sam," Dean started, reaching over to nudge the kid in the chest gently with the back of his hand. "Relax. We're just going to go hang out with some of our friends for a bit, and then go home."
That was the truth, or as much of it as Dean was willing to tell Sam at the time. If Sam knew where they were going, and what Dean was about to do, Sam would whine and complain until Dean gave him what he wanted, or huff and pout when he didn't. They had both been at the school's Annual Winter Dance, hanging out with their own respective group of friends, when Christian Campbell, a friend of Dean's, casually tossed out the idea of leaving early. Dean, all for any fun that wasn't taking place in a school gymnasium and being chaperoned (he was, after all, 18 years old and could take care of himself, and had for many years, thank you very much), had excused himself to go find his little brother and drag him along. Under normal circumstances, he would tell Sam to wait until their dad came to pick them up, but John was out of town for work, and Sam was Dean's responsibility. Therefore, that meant dragging the kid brother along.
Finding Sam by the refreshment table, getting himself some of the cheap, tasteless punch that always seemed to be served, he had instructed Sam to go say his goodbyes to his friends, and that they were leaving early. Sam hadn't delved into too many questions at the time, but followed his brother's instructions anyways.
Pulling to a stop in front of an old cement factory, Dean cut the engine. "C'mon, Sammy. Time to go."
Sam gave his older brother another uneasy look, but got out of the car anyways, slamming the passenger door closed behind him. Standing beside the passanger side door, he watched Dean walk around the hood to stop beside him, before looking away and studying their surroundings.
The old cement factory in front of them, maybe thirty or fourty feet ahead, looked about as abandoned as one would think. Tall towers loomed underneath the dark and starless sky, metal passageways and ladders attached to the sides of the towers, connecting the towers in a web of cold metal. To the east of the towers stood a tall and thick block, rows of dark windows lining the top, the building, too, made of cement. It was quiet, too quiet for Sam's liking.
As the Winchester brothers waited beside the Impala, two additional cars pulled up beside them. A cherry red Jeep and a rusty Dodge Charger, this one blue. Out of the Jeep climbed out two girls, with another three freeing themselves from the Charger.
"Winchester!" a tall, dark haired boy greeted. Standing at 6-feet, the boy standing opposite Dean had dark hair combed back, his hair shiny with gel to keep it in place. His jaw was rough with days-old stubble, eyes dark,. Clapping Dean's hand with his own, he pulled Dean in for a quick 'bro hug', as he referred to them by, before looking down at Sam. Sam fought the urge to shuffle behind his older brother and hide. "What's with the kid?"
"Dad's out of town, so I brought Sam with me." Dean explained simply, motioning in Sam's direction with his head. "He's a good kid. Won't get in the way, Christian."
Christian smirked, and nodded in approval before turning his attention to the others.
"Okay, boys and girls. Let's get started!" He clapped his hands gleefully. "Milligan!"
Sam watched another boy, maybe a year or two younger than Dean he guesstimated, step forward, running a hand through sandy-blonde hair. "Adam."
"Huh?"
"It's Adam." the boy clarified his name.
Christian rolled his eyes before grinning. Moving on from the topic of names, he pointed across the way to the old factory, motioning to one of the numerous metal catwalks. This one, he was pointing to, ended abruptly over a large pool of water. If Sam had to guess, it had to be at least a 60 foot drop from the catwalk to the surface of the water.
"Okay, here's the deal. You're gonna jump from up there, into the water." He clapped his hands together, rubbing them in excitement. "Then you're one of us. Okay?"
Adam eyed the balcony and subsequent drop carefully, obviously weighing the risks and outcomes in his head before responding. "Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." He confirmed with another nod of his head.
Christian let out a wide, toothy grin and reached over, swinging an arm around Dean's neck and squeezing tightly. "Alright, alright! Let's do this!"
Adam still looked a bit unsure, nervous, but began stripping down to his boxers. Dean chuckled and loosened Christian's hold on him before beginning to strip down to his own boxers. Bundling up his own flannel shirt and jeans, he handed them to a very confused looking Sam. "Hey, it's cake, man. I'm jumpin' with ya."
Upon hearing that, Sam's eyes widened and he shifted the clothes in his arms so he could reach over and grab his older brother with one hand. "Dean, you can't! You're gonna get hurt!"
Christian snickered, clearly finding the whiny protest amusing. Adam chose to remain quiet, still eyeing the catwalk. Dean ignored the laughs and squatted down to meet Sam's short stature. While, sure, it was a bit embarrassing to have his kid brother pull the concern card, Sam was still his brother and Dean felt an urge to snuff Sam's fears before they grew.
"Sammy, it's cool. I'll be fine." Dean reassured him, ruffling the kid's hair. "Stay here and don't lose my clothes."
Standing up, and giving a look to his brother that the discussion was over, he waved and led Adam the rest of the way to a ladder that would lead up to the catwalk. The metal rungs were cool beneath his hands and feet, and Dean didn't want to think about how cold the water was going to be. North Carolina may have been a warm climate, but it could and did get chilly during the winter months.
"How deep is this?" he heard Adam question as they headed along the length of the catwalk. The metal was still cool beneath Dean's feet, if not a bit cooler than the rungs had been. Stopping only a couple feet from the edge, he grinned at the blonde and shrugged casually, as if what they were about to do was nothing more than jumping off a diving board.
"I don't know. Let's find out."
Dean watched Adam swallow, his Adam's apple bob before taking his own turn to look over the edge. The water below him was dark, still, and almost solid looking. His vision swayed for just a brief moment and Dean had to blink hard. Sure, he let himself come off as macho and tough, but 60 feet was still 60 feet. 60 feet was still a long way down. As nervous as he was, he couldn't and wouldn't let Adam see him be nervous. That would ruin his tough guy act.
On the other side of the water, he could make out Sam standing between the girls, hugging the jeans and flannel to him like it was a lifeline. Like if he didn't, Dean wouldn't survive the jump.
Meg Masters, a blonde with a pixie cut, stood on one side of Sam, hands on her denim-clad hips. While he couldn't see her facial expression, Dean was sure Meg had a shit-eating grin on her face and was more game for this jump than anyone.
The second girl, Cassie Robinson, flanked Sam's other side. Her wild and dark brown curly hair had been left loose, the wind lightly blowing it over her shoulders. Her own arms were crossed over her chest in a self-hug. Beside Cassie, stood Christian, and on his left stood Gordon Walker, a dark-skinned boy, jaw rough with the beginnings of a beard. Both boys were cheering loudly, fist-pumping the night sky.
"C'mon, you babies! JUMP!"
"Do it! Do it! Do it!"
Dean could make out the loud cheers, and slid on a crooked grin. He wasn't surprised he couldn't hear Sam protesting. The kid knew that the topic wasn't up for discussion anymore, and that Dean wouldn't listen anyways. When Dean had his mind made up, it would be impossible to reverse the decision.
"Ready, Milligan?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. On three." Dean instructed, backing up so they could take the jump at a run. "One."
"Two."
"Thr-!"
Before the word had completely left his mouth, he watched Adam rush forward, jumping far out as his feet left the metal, and suddenly plunge when he lost momentum.
Adam fell through the air, a strangled yell ripping from his throat as he rushed towards the water. Later, Dean would remember it had taken only 7 seconds before Adam hit the water with a loud, and very harsh sounding splash. 7 very long, very tense seconds.
The teenagers, with the exception of Sam, all cheered loudly.
"Dude, that must've hurt!" Christian commented, snickering.
"Bud's gonna be sore for days!" piped up Meg, dark brown eyes glinting with amusement.
Dean's own green eyes widened as he leant over the edge, breath hitched as he waited for the boy to resurface. When Adam didn't immediately do so, the cheers quieted down.
"Adam?" Cassie called towards the water, the beginning of panic lacing her voice. After a moment, his body broke the dark surface of the water. Unmoving.
"Dean!" Sam suddenly screeched to his big brother. "Help him!"
Dean had frozen, seeing the boy's unmoving body in the cold water. Eyes widened in sheer horror. Oh, shit. What had they done?!
His little brother's yelling reached Dean's ears, kicking his butt into gear. As quickly as he could, Dean raced back down the length of the catwalk in the direction of the ladder. Gripping the rungs, which suddenly felt so much colder than they did a minute ago, Dean quickly climbed back down. Taking four strides away from the ladder, Dean dove into the water, yelling out a loud "FUCK!" as the coldness swept over him, settling into his bones.
Front stroking his way over to the unconscious boy, Dean gathered Adam up in his arms and kicked, trying to keep afloat. Adam's eyes were closed, sandy-blonde hair and blood coating the left side of his face from a large cut above his eyebrow.
"Adam? Adam!" he boomed as he shook the body, trying to get the unconscious boy to just wake the hell up. He could feel his chest tighten in panic as he continued shaking the body, quickly deciding he needed to get them out of the water. Wrapping his arms around Adam's waist, Dean moved to lay on his back and kick his legs as hard as he could to the side that the group was at. Dragging Adam with him, he used the panic cries as motivation.
Just... a bit... further, he told himself, panting hard. His legs were already starting to burn, his arms tired from dragging a kid who probably weighed just as much as he did.
Finally reaching it, he hollered for Christian and Gordon to come and help him. Grabbing Adam underneath the arms, Christian yanked him from the water, dragging him along the concrete. Finally stopping, he laid Adam down, kneeling down beside him. All traces of amusement that had been there earlier were gone, panic and frustration evident.
"Milligan! Wake up!"
Taking hold of Gordan's hand, Dean scrambled up and out of the water, rushing over to help. Looking over at Sam, he pointed at his brother, who was clearly on the verge of panicing himself. Hazel eyes were filled with tears, and Sam was bouncing in his place between the girls, still hugging Dean's clothes tightly to him. "Sammy, stay there!"
"Dean!"
"Stay there!"
All of the commotion and chaos kicked into over-drive when a new and heavy voice boomed. "HEY!"
The three teenage boys leaning over the unconscious Adam snapped their heads up and over to the voice. Right now, the newcomer - a security guard - was on the other side of the concrete sidewalk, but within minutes would be in reach of the teenagers. If they were caught, they were all going to be in major trouble of all sorts. Dean wasn't about to let that happen, especially not to a kid like Sam who shouldn't have even been there in the first place. God, he was a horrible brother...
"Oh, shit."
"Go!" Dean ordered, pushing at Christian's shoulder. "Go on, get out of here!"
Christian and Gordon didn't need to be told twice. They both shot to their feet and began darting over to the cars.
"Dean! No!"
"Cassie, take Sam and go! Now!" Dean roared to the dark skinned girl, watching her hesitate for only a second before nodding. Grabbing hold of Sam by his shoulder, she dragged the small teenager to her Jeep. Opening the back door, she pushed Sam in (a bit harsher than she meant to), despite his screechy protests and struggling before slamming the door closed and hopping in the driver's side. Meg quickly joined her in the front seat.
Looking back to the injured boy, Dean shook him again, urging and pleading for him to wake up. At least Adam was breathing. Unconscious, but breathing. That was a good sign.
Between the security guard's yells to stay put, the police sirens, and the sound of tires screeching against the pavement, the commotion made Dean's head pound. he refused to accept that the beer he had been sneakily drinking at the dance with Christian, Gordon and the girls had anything to do it with it.
"I'm sorry, Adam." He apologized quietly before scrambling to his feet and leaving the injured boy where he was. There was nothing Dean would be able to do for him right now.
He paused for a brief second to eye where Sam had been standing only moments before with his clothes, hoping his brother had dropped them. Well, at least he was still wearing his boxers...
His bare feet pounded against the concrete as he ran back to where the Impala was parked, yanking open the door and sliding in behind the wheel. Thank god he had left the keys in the ignition. It was something he never did, ever. Leaving the keys in the ignition was like leaving out a bright neon sign, saying 'Come Steal My Car!', Dean often thought, but tonight was the one night he was glad he had forgotten to take them with him.
Quickly turning the keys, the Impala roared to life, headlights flashing on and Highway To Hell by AC/DC blasting out of the speakers.
How appropriate, Dean surmised as he threw the car into Reverse slammed his foot on the gas and peeled out of his makeshift spot. Throwing the car into Drive as quickly as he could, he pounded the gas pedal. He just barely missed clipping one of the police squad cars with the Impala as they pulled into the parking lot in front of him.
Knowing that Sam must be terrified out of his mind, worrying about his big brother, Dean vowed that once he got out of this mess, he would make it up to Sam any way he could. He would apologize, bribe and treat the shit out of that kid, and then make Sam promise to never, ever speak of this night again. Especially not to their father.
John Winchester was a tough man who didn't take anyone's bullshit, and this night would not be any different. Dean knew in his heart of hearts that if his Dad found about this night once he got back into town, there was nothing he would be able to say or do that could make this right. He would not accept Dean's excuse for why he was even at the old factory in the first place, and he sure as Hell would not be accepting of the fact that Dean had put Sam at risk too by dragging him along with him.
Sirens cut into Dean's thoughts and he hurriedly realizes the squad cars were only feet behind him. One had even pulled up beside him, the officer ordering Dean to pull over, and when it became evident that Dean had no intention, the squad car pulled up closer, and cut in front of the Impala. This forced Dean to yank the wheel to the left, jumping the curb of the old road leading back to town, and rumble as it drove along the grass beneath the dark, starless sky. The Impala suddenly came to a stop when it collided with some bushes lining the road. Dean shot forward in his seat, smacking his head against the steering wheel. Groaning, he sat back up and winced in pain, before wincing again as a bright light filled the inside of the car.
Squinting, he peered over to the light, holding his aching head with one hand. An older officer, probably around his dad's age (give or take a couple years) stood outside his door, the flashlight in his grasp. The man's dark eyes were narrowed, lips pursed together and turned down in a frown.
With a heavy sigh of defeat, Dean shut his eyes, looking away from the bright light. So, this was how his already shitty night was going to end. Great. Just fucking great.
Review?