Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural, as great as that would be.
Also, this story was posted at the beginning of the year under this same username on a different site in case it sounds familiar to anyone. I'm posting it here, but I'm going through and re-editing/re-doing each part to make it better. That said, enjoy!
"What's up with you?"
I glanced up briefly as I tossed my car keys into the cabinet drawer along with the keys to all my other roommates' cars.
"Nothing," I lied, pushing back hair that fell in my face as I bent down to slip off my shoes. "Long night at the bar, that's all."
Bethany shot me a look that said she didn't entirely believe me.
"Why is it so quiet?" I asked, hoping to change the subject, "Where is everyone?"
"Matt and Vick took Lily out on a hunt since she said she'd been feeling useless for a few weeks. They're somewhere in Indiana by now I'm sure. Of course, Megan without Matt equals upset so she's off somewhere sulking. I offered to go out with her but she wanted to be alone." Bethany shrugged before turning and opening the fridge.
"Anything good?" I asked, gesturing towards the fridge before I unpinned my nametag from my shirt.
"We have leftover pizza. Want me to heat some up while you change?"
"Yeah, that'd be great," I told her, heading down the hallway to my room. Technically I shared it with Bethany though, so it wasn't entirely my room. The six of us hunters lived in the house together. It was a nice three bedroom house, mine and Bethany's room on the first floor while the other two bedrooms were up on the second floor. At least Beth and I got our own bathroom instead of sharing with the couples. And it was nice having a whole other level between us and all the late night sounds coming from their separate rooms.
Vick's cat was lying on my bed as usual when I walked in. I swear she liked me more than him. I rubbed her head affectionately and said a few words in greeting before stripping out of my work clothes and throwing on sweatpants and a baggy shirt. It's not like I was trying to impress anyone.
Not like he could ever care again, the thought stung me.
I grabbed my cell phone and opened to the missed call list again. For awhile I stood there, staring at the number that'd called me right before my shift ended.
Dean Winchester.
After everything that happened about six months ago, I couldn't bring myself to call him back. Even though he'd been a brother to me growing up and looking out for me like he did with Sam, he knew I wanted nothing to do with him and Sam again. Especially Sam.
My heart twisted at the memory and I tossed my phone back onto my bed, taking a deep breath to compose myself before heading back out to the kitchen.
"You sure you're alright, Calista?"
I sat down at the table where Beth had set the pizza she'd warmed up for me. "Yeah, totally. Just tired, like I said."
Bethany stood there with her arms across her chest, scrutinizing me. It was a few minutes before she finally spoke up.
"Look, I know you've only been here six months, but I like to think we've bonded. And I'd like to think I know you pretty well, which means I know when something's up. And honey, something's up."
I looked up at her and couldn't help but smile at the look on her face. She always worked things out fast and caught on quick. I've never been able to hide anything from her; she's too good at reading body language. I always envied that.
"Dean called me," I finally spit out.
Her face fell. "What'd he want?"
"I didn't answer; it was while I was at work. I don't think I'm going to call back either."
"What if he calls again?"
"I'll ignore it," I told her, taking a bite of the pizza.
She sighed and I knew she was going to press it further. "What if it's important?"
"Like what?" I shot, harsher than I intended to. "I told him when I left that I couldn't deal with all of that anymore."
"You told him you wouldn't hunt with him unless he wasn't with Sam. Maybe he left him?"
I shook my head. "Dean would never part with his brother, no matter how screwed up he is now without a soul."
"Maybe he finally got tired of dealing with it all. Sam sounds pretty heartless from what you've told me."
"No, Dean would never leave him. He'd spend the rest of his life trying to find a way to fix him before he'd ever give up." I shook my head trying not to cry as I remembered the last time I'd seen Sam. "I should have noticed sooner."
Beth gave me a sad smile from across the kitchen. "You couldn't have known, Cal. Even Dean didn't know at first," she said, making her way over to the empty chair at the table across from me.
"What's worse is, I still love him," I admitted, setting the pizza down and losing my appetite. I felt the sting of tears behind my eyes. "I mean, not the soulless Sam, but Sammy. The one I grew up with. The one who had my back for everything. And when I saw him back, when Dean showed up with him that day after everything that had happened, I thought 'Here's my chance. I shouldn't waste it.'" I ran a hand through my hair, feeling my stomach churn. Tears were brimming now, I could feel them. "I thought I had him back, Beth. I thought I was given the second chance I'd been praying for a year for."
She gave me a sympathetic smile and reached across the table to hold my left hand. "You have to let this go. He's not Sam, and he might never be again."
I nodded softly. "I know, I know. But part of me doesn't want to."
"You should call Dean," Beth said after a moment.
I raised an eyebrow at her as she stood and exited the room. She came back in with my phone and I felt myself becoming a little angry.
"I don't want to know what he has to say."
"Don't you though?" Beth said, holding the phone out to me.
I stared at her then at my phone in her hand. With a huff I gave in and took it from her. Deep down I was curious.
I dialed Dean's number and nervously held the phone to my ear as I waited for him to answer.
"Cali?" the familiar deep voice asked on the other end of the phone.
It took me a minute to respond. It had been so long since we'd last spoken.
"Yeah, it's me," I said softly, all the anger disappearing just as fast as it'd came. "You called earlier?"
"Yeah," Dean answered, "I have some news I thought you'd want to hear."
I closed my eyes, bracing myself for something horrible.
"I did a favor for Death-"
"The Horseman?" I shouted into the phone, upset and scared all at once. How stupid could this guy be?
"Relax, I had leverage," Dean said with that easy tone of his which caused me to roll my eyes, "He did me a favor. For Sam."
"Dean, I don't think-"
"Calm down, let me finish. He got Sam's soul back, Cas even checked. Thing is, he's been out for days."
I sat in silence taking everything in. Sam was back? My Sammy? I didn't know what to say.
"Cali? You still there?"
"Yes," I answered barely above a whisper. "Is he...okay? Is he going to wake up?"
Dean paused this time and I could feel how hard the past few months had been on him through the tangible silence.
"I don't know. I hope so. I can't lose my brother again."
"Oh, Dean, I'm sorry I left like I did. It wasn't fair to you," I told him, feeling awful as I listened to him on the phone.
"I get why you did. It was hard for me to even be with him. He really hurt you, I know, but that wasn't really Sam. I called because...I wanted you to come back. I know when he wakes up he's going to want you to be here."
I looked over at Beth who had a hopeful look on her face.
"Where are you?" I asked finally, seeing Beth's face light up at my question.
"Bobby's. Please come, Cali."
I took in a shaky breath before exhaling. "I will. I'll leave in the morning, first thing."
"There's one other tiny detail," Dean added hesitantly.
"What?" I asked cautiously, afraid of what Dean would consider a 'tiny detail'.
"Well, Death had to put up a wall in Sam's mind to block him from all the memories of Hell and being in the cage. Death doesn't know how long it'll work or what those memories could do to him if the wall breaks. Sam can't know what's happened since he's been back. Promise me you won't tell him anything."
"I promise, Dean. I'll be there soon."