A/N: While I knew my new tag for "Faith" needed to be from Dean's POV, this scene, with all it left unspoken, really drew my attention to what Sam must have been thinking and feeling in this episode. He could hardly have failed to see the parallels between Sue Ann's situation and his own, or to recognize the implications. Dean didn't actually go there, but there is no doubt in my mind that Sam did.

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural. No copyright infringement is intended.

MC4A Fill Number: Shadows of Consequence, Fill #3; Paranormal Phantasm, Fill #3; By Any Other Name, Fill #6
Representations: Sam Winchester; Winchester Family; Black Magic; Saving Someone at Any Cost
Bonus Challenges: Terse, Second Verse (Misshapen Pods, Tomorrow's Shade, Non-Traditional)
Word Count: 300

Tag to Ep. 1x12: "Faith"

Cross the Line

"To cross a line like that… a preacher's wife… black magic, murder…" Sam trails off, shaking his head. It all adds up: the deaths that are too similar for coincidence, the Coptic cross in the tent and around Sue Ann's neck, the well-worn spellbook he's holding in his hands... But, even so, he can't fathom it. "Evil."

"Desperate," Dean corrects him. "Her husband was dying; she'd have done anything to save him. She was using the binding spell to keep the reaper away from Roy."

"Cheating death. Literally." He meets Dean's eyes, and the air between them hangs heavy with things unspoken. Because how different is what Sam did, really? He hauled Dean out here to Nebraska, took him to some faith healer he only barely vetted before getting them on the road, not taking the time to see if the guy was for real or if there might be something more sinister going on behind the miracles. Because Dean was dying, and Sam would have done anything to save him. In that moment, he just didn't care, and truth be told, he still doesn't. Yes, Marshall Hall is dead, but Dean is alive, and Sam's glad they didn't know. He hasn't wanted to ask himself if he would do it again, because he knows he'd give the wrong answer.

But the question hanging between them now, the one he prays Dean will never ask, is far worse: What else might he have done? If, instead of the faith healer, it was this book he had found… would he have done what Sue Ann did? He's no preacher's wife, but he's supposed to be one of the good guys; could he cross a line like that, if it was Dean's life at stake? He doesn't know. And that terrifies him.