She wasn't supposed to be there.
They had it planned out. Get in, save Bobby, get out. There was never meant to be a choice. It wasn't supposed to be this hard.
It wasn't supposed to be this hard.
Bobby was the first person he'd seen when he got to Hell. Standing at the window, gazing up through the bars without a scratch on him. Just the same old Bobby, baseball cap and attitude and all, looking for all the world as if he'd just been out of town for a while, no biggie, he was back now and everything would be okay. All Sam had to do was grab him and go.
But then he saw her. Scared, curled into the corner in the shadows and barely recognizable from the burns that covered her once near flawless skin, hair more bloody and burnt than blonde framing her skeletal face, but those familiar blue eyes staring at him, pleading with him.
Jess.
Sam couldn't speak as he stared at her. Couldn't believe she was there, didn't want to admit he had abandoned her to hundreds - thousands? - or years of torment.
"Jess?" Sam whispered, his voice choked. Bobby still stood at the window, gazing up at the false sky. He hadn't noticed Sam.
"Sam-" Jess released an ear-splitting scream as her body burst into flames, the smell of burning flesh filling the room and making Sam choke. The flames died down as quickly as they appeared, leaving Jess sobbing quietly in the corner as Sam stared.
"Jess, I'm so sorry-" Sam started towards her, but stopped as smoke began to curl upwards from her form once again. Jess whimpered as he held one hand out towards her, wanting so desperately to touch her, to comfort her, to tell her everything would be okay-
"Hello, moose."
Sam spun around at the sound of Crowley's voice, knife drawn in defense. Crowley scoffed.
"Down, boy. I just want to talk." Crowley flashed his most reassuring smile, like a serpent who has finally managed to corner it's prey but isn't quite hungry enough for the killing strike. "I see you found our guest of honor."
Jess burst into flames once more as Crowley smiled serenely. This time it was Sam who screamed loudest, flying instinctively to her side, but she disappeared the moment his hand touched hers. Crying, she reappeared on the other side of the room, Crowley between her and Sam.
"Let her go." Sam growled, knuckles white on the knife handle. Crowley grinned.
"And if I say 'no'?"
Blindly, Sam lunged. The knife flew from his hand and into Crowley's.
"Now, now. Didn't I say I just wanted to talk?"
Chest heaving with anger, Sam could do nothing but glare past Crowley, eyes locked on Jess's as she fell into silence once again. Her eyes had melted.
"Let her go." Crowley laughed at Sam's demand, tossing the knife carelessly into the air before catching it again.
"And why would I do that, hm? Let you go about closing the gates of Hell? Bad for my business you know. Oh yes, I've figured it out." Crowley smirked as he fingered the knife blade, relishing the shock on Crowley's face. "That taxi driver was quite eager to share his information with me. Pity I had to kill him."
Sam felt a momentary pang of guilt and panic for the taxi driver, but pushed it aside.
"She doesn't belong here, she doesn't-" Sam stopped, taking a deep breath and looking Crowley dead in the eye. "She doesn't deserve this."
"Well, perhaps she should have chosen her boyfriends more wisely, eh, Winchester? But don't worry, I'm a reasonable man. No, really." He added, hearing Sam's audible scoff. "I've always been a sucker for making deals."
Sam frowned as Crowley began slowly circling around him like a vulture.
"What kind of deal?" Crowley grinned, handing the knife back to Sam, who pocketed it uncertainly.
"A trial, of sorts." Sam cringed at the wording, but said nothing, listening intently now. "You take Jess - I keep Bobby, of course, let's not get greedy - and you both walk out of here, no harm, no foul. BUT-" Crowley paused, smile gone as he folded his arms behind him, all business now. "You cannot touch look at her until you're out of Hell and purgatory."
Sam stared at Crowley, then glanced at Jess. It only took him a moment to decide.
"Deal."
Crowley grinned and grabbed Sam's hand in a firm shake. A sharp pang shot up his arm, seeming to settle in his chest... around his heart.
"What did you do?" Sam choked against the sudden pain. Crowley smiled.
"Ah, yes. One last bit, forgot to mention. Your heart may explode before you get back." Sam lunged at him once again, but was left grasping only air as the sound of Crowley's laughter rang in his ears. He turned towards the door, eyes squeezed shut. He could already feel pressure beginning to build in his chest.
"Jess?" He said quietly. A soft shuffle resounded from behind him, like one struggling for purchase against the ground. Sam dug his nails into his palms to keep from turning around.
"Are you okay?" Such a stupid question.
"Yes." Came the soft reply. Sam choked back tears as he nodded, as much to himself as to Jess.
"Let's go."
Sam led the way slowly, carefully out of the room and down the hall, paying one last glance to Bobby before exiting the room. Bobby would be okay. They would find another way to get him out. Dean would understand. Wouldn't he?
Sam shook the thought from his mind as he continued walking, encountering no demons, no obstacles; just the slowly building pressure in his chest. Behind him came the soft sound of shuffling footsteps and occasional gasps of pain that tore into Sam like a knife. As they reached the door to Purgatory, Sam stopped. what if they were attacked?
"Jess, I need.. I need you to listen to me." Silence behind him. Sam started to turn, but was stopped by a soft cry of panic from Jess.
"I know, I can't turn around. I'm sorry." Sam felt tears start to trail slowly down his cheeks, and he hastily wiped them away. "We're going somewhere dangerous - it's the only way to get back to the real world. If anything attacks us, I won't be able to..." Sam choked, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "I won't be able to help you, Jess."
There was silence again, and for a moment Sam had a horrible feeling that Jess was simply standing there, hating him for all he had done to her.
"I trust you." Jess whispered, and Sam nearly spun around then and there to embrace her. Instead, he released a sob-choked laugh and pushed open the door.
