Chapter Two

To The Ends of The Earth

Ava

"This is Sams phone, leave me message." Beep.

"Sam it's me." I began. My forehead was pressed against the cold window. It was snowing. It had been two weeks since I'd seen Sam. Two weeks since Dean died. I was still stuck in the hospital. My blood pressure was borderline, and if it got any worse I'd have to be induced. "I know this is hard. Trust me I do, but please come back." My voice was shaking. It took everything in me to keep it together, and I was failing. "Please come home." I hung up the phone and tossed it onto the hospital bed.

Deans ring hung on a chain around my neck, safely between my breasts. Right over my heart.

"You tryin to put a spell on me, Ave?" Dean asked me, as he examined the symbols on his wedding ring.

"Yup. A love spell." I wiggled my eyebrows.

"I knew it!" He pulled me against him.

"I guess you're stuck with me."

He leaned down and pressed a kiss on the tip of my nose. "How will I survive a life that horrible?"

"You won't survive." I said simply. "I'm a black widow. I'll eat you for supper."

He raised an eyebrow and grinned widely. "Promise?"

"Dean Winchester!" I gasped, smacking his shoulder.

He shrugged. "You said it, not me."

He ran his fingers down my back, causing me to press against him. "I did."

I met his eyes. Green, with a taste of Tennessee whiskey flooding the center around his iris. "what?" He asked quietly, his breath on my lips.

"I just can't believe I married Dean Winchester."

"I can't believe I ever got married." He grinned widely. "And to a freaking fox."

I felt my cheeks heat up. "Whatever."

"You didn't just marry me because I knocked you up, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Did you marry me because you knocked me up?"

"Would that be a problem?" He asked mischievously.

He was trying to rile me up. To get my heat boiling. I narrowed my eyes. "We haven't consummated the marriage. I can still get an annulment."

Dean grinned and scooped me up into his arms. "Well let's remedy that." He pressed his lips to my jaw and kissed up to my ear. "I'm not letting you get away that easily, Detective."

I moved away from the window. It had a circle of fog from my breath. It felt ethereal out there. The world was in a blizzard and I was stuck here inside a sterile bubble.

A swift knock came to the door. "Come in."

A young blonde woman in a stocking cap cane thorough the door. She wore dark lipstick and carried a leather bag. "Are you Ava Winchester?"

"That's me." I said, waddling to her. I extended my hand and she took it. "You must be Maggie."

She nodded with a smile. She took off her cap and scarf. Her neck was covered in tattoos that rolled down into her sweater. Her skin was a canvas for the stars.

Maggie was a witch. I had it on good accord that she was very powerful, but she didn't practice dark arts. I needed her help.

"How can I help you, Ava? I can see your aura." She frowned. "It's very muddy. You're not in good physical or mental health. I can see if I can help with that..."

I touched her hand, causing her to stop cold. She met my eyes. "I need help with something else. I hope you can help me."

She looked me over. Her deep mahogany eyes bore sadness. "You have so much pain within you. It's radiating off of you. It isn't good for a child."

"Maggie, please."

"How can I help you?"

I heard she was a powerful witch and a psychic. She claimed to be an empath, and to be able to pick up on people's emotions. I must've been a whirl wind for her. I knew I was a mess. No amount of concealer could hide the circles under my eyes and the constant puffiness they held.

I was experiencing a loss like I never had. My whole family fell through my fingers like water.

I hadn't just lost Dean, but Sam was lost to me too. I was completely alone.

"My husband was taken to Hell. I need him back."

Maggie sat up a little straighter. "I don't think you understand what I do."

"I do. You're a witch. There has to be a way to pull him from Hell. I've tried every contact I can think of... I'm running out of options."

The witch sighed and shook her head. "I can't pull him from Hell. Even if I was willing to try, which I'm not, I couldn't. I don't know of a witch that could. Not even the grand coven could get their fingers into something like that. I'm sorry, Ava. I really am. I see the pain you're in, but once a soul is in Hell it stays. Forever. There is no escape from that."

She wrapped her scarf back around her neck and put her stocking cap over her ears.

"Please." I begged, reaching for her. "I can't live without him."

She took my hand. "You can. I see strength in you. Anyone else wouldn't be able to handle the pain you have. Just hang in there."

"Hang in there?" I asked, pulling my fingers away. "That's all I get? What is the fucking point?" My heart rate leapt on the monitor. "What's the point of any of it if he is dead?"

"Ava, I'm sorry." She said as she buttoned her coat. She took her bag and left my room, once again leaving me alone.

I fell back on to the bed and I wept. Tears flowed out of me like a burst fire hydrant. I cried out in pain. This was nothing compared to what I felt before. The complete loss of hope was devastating. There was no moving on from it.

I glanced up, wiping my eyes and caught sight of the date. December 23rd. I met Dean exactly one year ago. He was with me for less than a year before he died.

Something got me up. I tore the monitors off of me. I slid into my snow boots and wrapped myself in my coat. It didn't close because of my large stomach, but I didn't care. I wrapped my scarf around my neck and walked right out of the hospital into the storm.

"Excuse me mam."

"You're excused." I said, examining my papers. I was working a case and it was troubling me. I couldn't put my finger on it. It was on the tip of my tongue.

"Mam my name is Special Agent Carter. Can I ask you a few questions?"

Agent? Are you fucking kidding me? That's the last thing I need. I shut my folder and turned to him. My annoyance was halted when I saw the man in front of me. He was tall and strong. He has these hypnotizing green eyes, and a matching green tie to boot. His skin was sun kissed, and his hands looked rough. He was young, around my age. He wasn't like any agent I'd ever seen. But still an agent, Ava, get it together. "Special agent, huh? Can I see your badge?"

He handed it to me, our fingers brushing. I examined his badge. He had a pout in his picture. A lip that was begging to be bitten. I swallowed hard. It had been too long. "Agent Carter, you're a little far from home, aren't you?"

"Yes mam." He smiled widely at me, making my heart thud in my chest. I had a feeling he knew he had that effect on women.

"What are you doing in my little town?"

"I'm looking into the suspicious deaths that have happened in this town." He said, leaning closer to me. "I don't suppose you knew anything about that?"

My breath hitched in my throat as I smelled the beer on his lips. Suddenly the attraction melted away, like I had broken his spell. "Why would I?"

"I don't know, mam. That's why I'm asking. Listen, we can do this the easy way or the hard way."

I laughed out loud. He was so infuriating! "You feds are so squirrelly. What? You're not used to getting your way. Can't intimidate a girl so you're getting your panties in a bunch." I handed his badge back.

"Listen Miss..."

"That's Detective Langston, to you, agent." I said sliding out my own badge. I couldn't count how many times men underestimated me and my position in the force. I worked my ass off and I wouldn't have some hot shot in a cheap suit under-mind me, no matter how fuckable he was.

"A little young for a detective."

"I could say the same thing about you, agent. I know for a fact my office didn't call you down here. So why does DC have a concern about some missing locals?"

"Listen, sweetheart."

That was the last straw. I exploded. "God, that's just typical. Isn't it? Sweetheart? Listen, you condescending asshat." I stood up and pressed my index finger against his chest. "I want to speak to your supervisor, agent."

"Mam?" The cab driver asked, trying to get my attention. "We are here."

"Thanks." I said, handing him some cash.

"Stay warm out there!" He called after me as I shut the door.

I stepped into the snow. It was unearthly quiet. The cab drove away, leaving me in a blanket of white, staring at a single wooden cross. A pathetic grave marker.

I stepped through the snow, slowly approaching the marker. I stood in front of it and slowly fell to my knees. I pressed my palm to the freezing wood. "Dean." I gasped out. "I'm so sorry I'm late." Hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

Images from him lying dead in my arms, to smiling at me in the bar were flashing along my vision. I tried to focus on his smile, but I felt like I was falling. The images tripping through my mind in a landslide.

I yearned for his hand on my shoulder to ground me. I held tighter on the cross instead.

"Peanut is okay. Although I can't call her that forever."

"Peanut is a real name."

"Maybe I can." I said defeated. The snow was coming down rapidly around me, covering me.

"How am I supposed to do this without you?" I pressed my forehead to the cross. "I came to say goodbye, but I don't think I can. It's not in me... I'm not strong enough."

I closed my eyes and tried to manifest him. I needed to see him one last time. I needed to bring him home to me.

I could see him in my mind, crouching next to me. He would smile and push my hair away from my face. Don't be sad for me sweetheart.

"You know I hate that."

No you don't. You can't hate anything I do.

"I hate that you left me alone."

You're not alone.

My temples pounded. The rough wood from the cross felt softer. My forehead was against his.

"I am alone. You left me."

You have Peanut. You have Sam.

"Sam left me too. Everyone leaves me. Everyone..."

I'm here. I'm always with you.

"I love you." I gasped out, my breath a puff of fog.

I know.

I was dizzy. I didn't feel the cold anymore. It felt nice, like I was in his embrace again. Maybe if I could just sleep I'd feel better. Maybe I'd wake up and this would all be a dream.

Sam

I sped through the storm. I finally checked my messages and there was one from the hospital. Ava left with no warning. I just hoped that when I found her she would be okay. That her baby would be okay.

I've been an idiot. Selfish. As if sending demons back to Hell would make a difference. As if that would help my brother.

I pulled up to Deans grave and flung the door open to the Impala. I jogged to the grave. Through the snow I could see a form laying at the base of his grave. She was covered in a blanket of snow, but even under the white I could see her black curls sprawled out around her.

"Ava!" I shouted, running to her. I pulled her into my arms. "Hey, Ava." Her lips were blue but she was breathing. "Shit!" I picked her up. Even with the pregnancy weight she was light.

I laid her in the back seat and drove to the hospital, fighting against the storm. I had to save her. I had to save them.

—-

The last hour was a mess. She was warmed up, but the situation had her blood pressure over the roof. She had still been out of it, but her doctor insisted that we deliver. If she wouldn't, they would have to do an emergency C-section. I knew she didn't want that.

I sat next to her bed side, like I had a year ago after her accident. I held her hand and rubbed circles on the back of her hand. Her skin was warm, when only an hour ago I worried she would never warm up again.

She was so much more than just my brothers wife. She was my best friend. I loved her. I didn't want to lose her.

"Sam?"

"Hey." I said, perking up.

"I've been calling you." She complained softly.

"I know, I'm sorry."

"He's gone." Ava's lip trembled, and I pulled her against me. She cried into my chest.

I wrapped my arms around her, and I tried to be strong. To hold her together. "I know." I said, burying my face in her hair.

My brother was dead. It was never supposed to happen like this. It was supposed to be Dean and I together. Live together, die together. Dean was gone, and it was so fucking unfair.

"Ava listen to me." I said, taking her face in my hands. "You can't do something like that again."

"I just wanted to say goodbye."

I wiped her tears with my thumbs. "I know. I'm sorry we couldn't do that. I'm sorry that I left. I won't do it again."

"You won't?"

"No, Ave. I'm here. I know I'm not Dean. I don't want to replace him... But if you want me here, I'm here."

She burst into tears again.

"Shit, I'm sorry!" I stumbled over my words. "I didn't mean to make you cry."

"You... didn't. I'm happy you're back." She looked down at her belly. "Is my baby okay?"

"She is, but your doctor wants to deliver. I'm sorry Ave."

"No, no, no! She isn't ready." Her breathing started up rapidly and she held onto me.

"Hey, Shh. Stay calm. It's okay. I'm here. I'll be here the whole time." I paused and met her eyes. "Well until you kick me out."

She bit down on her lip and tried to breathe. "Sam Winchester, I will not be kicking you out. I won't ever let you walk out on me again."