Hey everyone! Been a little while, because I am currently working on my master's thesis. I am in the final stages and have been doing nothing but analyze, read, and write. Phew. But I needed a little R&R and thought I'd whip up a short one-shot. I hope you enjoy and would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading!

Warning: death!fic

I don't own them.

"No, I won't choose! I can't!" It was a cry from the depths of his soul. His battered, hell-beaten, Mark of Cain scarred, bruised-from-life-itself, soul. The soul that was currently crying out in agony. The soul that was falling apart. It had forced his hand and now their predicament was tearing his soul apart.

Sam was choking on the blood that was pouring out of his mouth, his bare chest covered in mottled bruises indicative of internal bleeding.

Cas was gasping for air, barely clutching the blade that was still sticking out of his lung.

Their captor was standing between the injured men, arms outstretched towards each of them. "You. Must. Choose." His wild eyes pierced Dean's hard exterior straight to his battered soul. The crazy in them was clear, he was serious about his threat. One of them was going to die – whichever one Dean chose. If he failed to do so, both of his brothers would be killed from the blast created by the monster. And Dean could do nothing to stop it.

They had tried everything. Bullets, silver, angel blades. You name it, they tried it. Nothing could kill this monster. The lore had been wrong – or they had but knowing Sam that was unlikely. They were going to die because of an age-old game of telephone that someone at some point in history got relayed the wrong message. But no lore could help them now because it was standing in-between his two family members holding a figurative gun to their head. The monster's capabilities were beyond anything that they could have imagined. They had been so unprepared.

"CHOOSE!" It screamed, spit flying from his mouth in every direction like he was a wild animal.

Dean had one last shot, one last hope to save his brothers. "Me. I choose me."

The wild look in the monster amped up and the most hideous smile spread across its ugly face. A small laugh emanated from deep within him, growing louder as he shook with maniacal glee. "Yes. YES. Much better. Much better choice. Better. Better choice."

"No, no Dean." Small gasps came from Sam as the monster slowly lifted his hands towards Dean. "Please no." Dean looked at his brother with love pouring from his eyes. From his soul. His life-torn, battered and bruised soul was pouring so much love out that he could hardly stand it. Life may have tried to bring him down, life may be about to end him here and now, but life could not take away his love for his family.

A subtle green glow began to build, small crackles of electricity in the air made Dean's hair stand on end. He spared another glance for Sam, moving his gaze quickly to Cas. Then looked the monster in the eyes as the blast was directed straight for his chest. He didn't even feel it hit him. He barely heard the cries from Sam and Cas as he hit the ground.

But he died with the knowledge that his family was going to live and and he died with love in his soul.