AN: Yay, chapter 3! Reviews much appreciated!


I swam through the dark torrents, my breath starting to ache in my chest. I knew I had to find Andy soon, before I drowned. I was no longer immortal; death was a threat to me now. I continued to push forward, my eyes stinging. And then I saw him, down at the very bottom of the lake, pale and limp. He was surrounded by a large bubble, floating around inside disconcertingly. I swam towards him. I had read over Dean's shoulder, and I had to touch his hand for the change to happen. I reached out my hand, and it slipped through the barrier. Extending my arm, I gripped hold of his small hand, and there was a sudden white light. I was blinded, and felt a gripping sensation in my stomach, pulling me forwards. I shut my eyes, trying to block it out and when I opened them again, I was in the bubble. Andy stared at me from the other side, and I pointed upwards.

"Go!" I tried to say and he nodded at me and kicked upwards, his legs flailing. I could fell my breath tightening in my chest, and I knew time was running out before I was a hostage. A thought cam into my head: If you had 24 hours, couldn't Dean come back with another person and replace me? Just as it crossed my mind, The Lady filled my ears again.

That only works with children. You're not escaping from me.

I cursed and a loud noise and splash from the surface made me look up. A long, gangly figure was paddling towards me, dark hair floating around: Sam. I shook me head desperately as he swam towards me. "No! No, go back up!" I waved my arms. He gave me another sympathetic smile and reached out his large hand. I shook my head. "No, it won't work!" The Lady was cackling in my head, enjoying the pathetic attempts. Sam reached out his hand further, and I opened my mouth.

NO! No, how does that work? You can't do that!

He smiled again and looked down at his hand and then back to me. "Go on," he mouthed. "Take it."

"No, I can't, Dean won't cope!" Sam sighed and grabbed my clenched fist. The white light blared in my face again, and I screwed up my eyes again. As I carefully opened them, one by one, I saw Sam inside the bubble. My breath was scorching my lungs now, but he gave me one last smile. "Go." I shook my head final time, but my body was screaming. I had to give in. I powered through the water, begging to reach the top. I was so near, and I nearly screamed as my hand broke the wavy surface. I flailed around, trying to grab the jetty. My hand met a hard wooden plank, and I gripped it hard, and hauled myself up.

"Cas, oh my God!" I heard Dean thunder along the jetty and grab me by the arm. He pulled me onto the wooden planks and I lay on them, trying to regain my breath. I wiped the lake water from my eyes, water dripping onto my cheeks and face from my hair.

"Dean… Sam he… he jumped in…" I gasped.

"I know, I know, I told him no, I tried to stop him!" Dean sucked in his breath. "That kid, God, I always knew he was stupid. Damnit, Sam!" he thumped the boards, holding back tears and I leaned over, heaving up, what seemed like, gallons of water. Dean patted my back, rubbing it "Can we get him back?"

"No. I already thought about that, but the Lady corrected me. She read my mind, it only works with children."

"How did Sam do it to you then? Must have been your freaky angel-ness or something..."

"Dean, I told you, I am not an angel any more. I am Fallen." Dean blinked back tears, trying to smile and clapped my arm, shaking his head.

"Oh Cas, even when you're nearly half dead, you're still correcting me." I smiled.

"Uh, sir? I'm real cold," It was Andy. He was sat with his knees up to his chest, shivering, his dark hair in his eyes. Dean took off his jacket and draped it around his shoulders.

"Sorry, kid. We should get you home to your Mom." He helped him up and steered him to the car. I stood at the edge of the jetty, staring out to the lake, where Sam was still held captive. Soon, he would loose consciousness for the last time, and be stuck in a limbo between life and death before she drained him completely. Dean returned and put a hand on my shoulder. "Oh godammnit Sammy," he sighed. He wiped his eyes and shoved them into his pockets. He kicked a stray stone into the lake. "I hope you're happy with my little brother, you bitch!"

"Come on Dean," it was my turn to comfort him. I hovered for a second, wondering what to do and then threw my arms around him. He stiffened for a moment, and then let me hug him. "Dean… about what happened…" Dean put a finger to my lips.

"I know," I felt him grip my hand. "But it's okay… I think. Are you okay with it?" I nodded.

"I am more than 'okay' with it, Dean." I said. He smiled, his eyes still shining.

"Come on, we better get Andy home." I got to sit in the front seat. I felt so guilty, it was pushed far back for Sam's legs to fit and it creaked anciently as I pulled it forwards. Dean winced but bit his lip and concentrated on the road. Even though we were talking and I had been forgiven, the drive was still even more uncomfortable than the one to the lake. A thick silence hovered in the air, and I was thankful Andy was tactful and did not ask questions.


Dean knocked on the door and put his hands on Andy's shoulders. He shivered slightly.

"Your mom might do some strange things, but don't worry, we're here, okay?" Andy frowned.

"What do you mean-" The door opened. A man and woman dressed all in black, their faces tearstained stood looking at us.

"Hello-" the woman's eyes caught Andy. "Oh my God, Jesus Christ… it's my Andy!"

"Hey Mom," the woman pulled Andy into a crushing hug.

"But- Eddie said he saw you jump in! How- How? Why?"

"Uh, ma'am, Andy slipped off the jetty, that's what he said and me and my brother here," I sharply inhaled. Brother, Dean had called me brother. "Found him washed up on one of the beaches. He looks like he's okay, no pneumonia. I'm guessing he'd been on the beach for longer than he'd been in the water." The woman let go of her son and planted a huge kiss on mine and Dean's cheeks.

"You saved our baby! How can I ever repay you? What are your names?" Dean shook his head.

"Nothing ma'am. And, I'm Leroy, and this is John. We're just in town for a couple of days." She nodded.

"Well, Leroy, John, thank you so much!" she thrust a $100 into Dean's hand. "Please, take this. It's the least I can do."

"That's real kind of you ma'am." We both shook hands with Andy's mother and father, and Dean patted Andy's head.

"Stay away from water, eh?" he said jokingly and then winked at Andy. Andy smiled. Once we'd got back to our motel, I sat on my bed reading more and Dean lay down his head in his pillow. And then I heard it: A heartbreaking sobbing and swearing into a pillow, his whole body shaking with each sob. I didn't know what to. I left him, guilt heavy in my heart, and turned over to my side, pulling the duvet over my head. I pretended to sleep and then I could hear him thumping his pillow and crying out louder. It brought tears to my ears, but I had to make sure he didn't know I was listening. I knew Dean had a habit of just holding everything in and only letting it show when he was sure nobody was looking. I wanted to comfort him, I really did. But it would only annoy him, and I would feel even guiltier. It seemed my existence was going downhill, and we were both sinking into depression.


The next day, we went back down to the lake. A family were sat, having a packed lunch on the jetty, but Dean came and stood by them, arms folded, until they moved. Then, he kicked his boots off and sat on the edge of the wood, feet brushing the still water.

"Why'd you do it, Sammy?" he asked to the lake. I came and sat by him and linked my hand in his. I squeezed it in affection and he smiled sadly. "I'm supposed to protect you. You were always soppy, you wanted me and Cas to get together, right?" he laughed, his voice cracking and I squeezed his hand again. "God, I always told you it would come to no good, didn't I?"

"I-" I felt very stupid to be talking to a large expanse of lake but still, Dean wasn't bothered. "I am very thankful, Sam," I said loudly. "Thank you for doing that."

"Yeah, I guess it was a bad deal with any combination, but, yeah, Samantha, thank you." I saw a ripple in the centre of the lake.

"Look, Dean, he's talking to us." I said. Dean leant his heard on my shoulder.

"Yeah. Yeah, I think he is." It became a custom for us to come down to the lake and talk to Sam for a whole week after he saved me. We talked about lots of things, and I could imagine him responding. I swam down to see him once. He looked strange: His long hair Dean had always ridiculed, floating lifelessly around his face, his eyes were shut and he was pale and blue lipped. It disturbed me and I decided I wouldn't do it again. Dean would sometimes swim down too, but he too came up, the remainder of the Sam we both knew too upsetting to look at. On the last day we were supposed to be in town, Dean asked me to leave him for a bit. I went into the woods, looking for animals and then I heard the same heartbreaking cry again. I peered through the firs, and saw him hunched up on the boards, face pressed against the wood. He was just screaming and crying Sam's name over and over again, apologising and begging him to come back. I stepped backwards and waited for him to finish, and then I ran over and hugged him tightly.

"Oh Cas, what am I going to do?"

"I do not know, Dean…"

"We should pack in this hunting lark… get a house or something. Be normal. Be something Sam could never be." I nodded.