---Sorry for such a long wait. I'm in the process of moving, so finding a computer to update on is a bit tough. On with the next chapter!
Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe. –Voltaire
Chapter 4
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For somebody who was just told he was going to die, Dean seemed strangely calm. In fact at first, the only words Dean spoke to Sam after he told him about this vision, was, "Well, this sucks." He refused to say much else the rest of the way to Missouri's.
"Don't worry about it Sam," Dean urged his brother to calm down. They'd known this was coming for eleven months now. But he tried to calm Sam down anyway, just like he used to when they were kids. "You've had visions like these before. They don't always come true."
"Dean, don't you get what I'm saying?" Sam began, desperate for a bigger reaction from his brother. "I say you die. I felt you die." Sam looked down, not liking the memories of the visions. "Hell, for awhile during the visions I was you." His brother just didn't get it.
Dean turned the car into the drive way of a small house. He parked the car and looked towards his brother. "Look Sammy, I'm not saying this isn't important, but right now we've gotta focus on the job; on his demon." Dean didn't miss the look of disappointment and distress on Sam's face. He tried his best to keep his own fear buried. Hearing that Sam had actually seen his death wasn't exactly comforting; it was down right terrifying. It erased all hope that he would make his out of this alive. And that scared Dean. It scared his to know that in less than a month, he was going to die and leaved his little brother all alone-unprotected.
But he had to keep those emotions hidden. Not only for his own sake, but for Sam's. Both Winchesters exited the car, stepping into the depressingly dark night. They walked up to the door. Dean was about to knock, when the door suddenly opened. "Don't you two know not to keep a lady waiting?" she asked in pure Missouri fashion.
"Hi Missouri" Sam replied, smiling, as the psychic stepped to the side, inviting them in.
"Well, don't stand out in the cold, get in here."
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Sam hated recounting what the last few days had brought. He told Missouri everything. About the possession; about the things that were said; about the vision of Dean's death. Dean simply sat there, listening to his brother recount the events. He wanted nothing more at that moment than to leave the room; to run away from his troubles and fears that were now being voiced.
"But none of that's important right now," Sam added. "Please, Missouri, tell my brother how stupid he's being for making us focus on some loose demon instead of a way to help him."
"Sam, for the last time, that's not fucking important right now."
"Boy, if you're going to use that kind of language in this house, you can sleep in that car you love so much."
The psychic's words were as harsh as ever, but both boys seemed to notice the lack of bravado that her face usually held. Instead, her features were soft, not so intimidating.
Dean was thankful for the opportunity to leave the room; to escape the awkwardness of the situation that now held strong. "Don't mind if I do," he said with a cocky tone, but Sam noticed that, like Missouri, his brother's face failed to match his voice.
Sam stood up to follow as Dean left the house, but was stopped by Missouri's hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, baby, it's hard for him, you know that."
"What?" Sam question, although he was sure he knew what the woman was talking about.
Missouri let out a feeble sigh. "Sam, sit down,"
Sam did as he was told.
The psychic continued, as she sat down across from Sam. "It's hard for your brother to deal with what's happening to him."
And there it was. The words Sam knew to be true; the words he wished Dean would admit. "He won't let me help him."
Missouri looked him straight in the eye, in a way that gave an even more empathic look to her already too knowing self. "Baby, he just wants to make sure you're safe. That's al that's keeping him from doing whatever it takes to save himself. That's why he's so accepting of this fate." Missouri paused, reached out, and laid a hand on Sam's wrist. "And as stupid and arrogant as he may seem for not letting anyone help him…" she closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "He's doing the right thing."
Sam gave her an incredulous look. "What?" he asked harshly. How could he be doing the right thing? His brother was just going to give up, and he was doing the right thing?
"He's not giving up," Missouri interrupted his thoughts. "Dean may be a lot of things, but that boy isn't a quitter."
Sam was quiet. He was still trying to process what Missouri was trying to tell him.
"It's time we talked, Sam."
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The night air was cold, but Dean didn't care. He walked down the driveway to his car, opened the door to the driver's seat, and sat down, escaping the cold night and the troubles that came along with it. He sat for a moment and felt uncontrollable frustration rise throughout him. Unable to shake the feeling, he slammed his forearms roughly against the steering wheel and set his forehead between them.
After a few moments, he sighed and lifted his head to lean it back against the seat. He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to calm down. This was bad. Not only did he loose all hope of living, not only was he going to hell, but he was going to leave his brother behind with a demon on the loose. It had killed four people already and even possessed Sam. Who was to say it wouldn't do it again? Maybe next time, Sam wouldn't be so lucky. And that scared him like he'd never been scared before.
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"You're not going to like what I'm about to tell you, Sam," Missouri's voice was solemn. When Sam didn't speak, she continued. "Eleven months ago, your brother made a deal to save your life."
"Yeah, I know," Sam replied sarcastically; frustrated. What was Missouri trying to tell him?
"And now," the psychic continued, "you had a vision of his death. You've been expecting this; waiting for it. But Sam, your brother doesn't have to go to hell. His soul does not have to suffer. He can be saved." She paused, looking at Sam's attentive face. "But you have to be willing to save him." She pause again, not wanting to say what she was about to tell Sam. "Tell me, Sam: what are you willing to do to save your brother?"
"I'd do anything, Missouri. Anything."
"Even let him die?"
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The night was dark, except for the half moon offering what little light it did. Everything was still. If not for everything going on, Dean would have found it peaceful. Almost beautiful in its silence and simplicity.
Dean took a deep breath in, forcing himself to get up and head inside. He opened the Impala's door. As he did, the stillness of the night was interrupted as wind blew heavily, making the leaves on the trees to sway, causing an air of eeriness. The little light that had been coming from the moon quickly disappeared, covered by deep gray clouds, leaving nothing but wind and darkness.
Dean looked around in alarm. He stepped out of the car and began to head towards the house, knowing all to well what abrupt weather changes in a once still night brought. He had to warn Sam; warn Missouri. But as he took a few quick steps into the night, he heard a noise behind him, and before he knew what was going on, he was met by a whole new kind of darkness.
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Not noticing the sudden changes outside, the two psychics continued to talk.
"Just let him die?" Sam asked, his voice rising in volume and in tone.
"Please Sam, just listen to me," Missouri told him. "The deal he made said that in one year from then, a demon would come to collect his soul."
"Yeah, so?" Sam had grown impatient.
Missouri sighed. "The other night I had the same vision as you did, Sam. A demon is going to come for him, before that year is up."
"Why?" Same asked, more confused then ever, but all the more attentive.
"Why do any demons come after you boys, or any hunter for that matter?"
Sam understood. Evil was forever ruining their lives. Ever since that fateful night more than twenty years ago, evil had them and now it would never leave them alone. This demon must really hate Dean to be coming after him like this. "You're telling me it's some pissed off demon that's coming for him?" he asked. "It's not even the demon who's collecting his soul?"
"I don't know exactly what demon it is, when it's coming, or why exactly it wants Dean, but whoever it is, it's about to make a big mistake; one that could save Dean's soul."
"How?"
"Demon can only collect his soul one year from the night the deal was made. If your brother is killed before that, than Dean has time to move on."
Sam laughed, but it had absolutely no humor behind it. "So it's like some kind of morbid loophole?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Let his brother die, to save him? Just let Dean die? There was no way. "No. No, there's gotta be another way. I'm not just going to let him die."
"Sam, honey, it's the only way. I know you don't like it. I don't expect you to ever be ok with it, but this is the only way; the only way to save his soul."
Sam had had enough. His eyes began to sting. "NO! I'm not letting him die! He didn't let me die. I can't."
Missouri let a tear fall as she stood up and went to sit next to Sam. She grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry. But you're going to have to make a decision."
"I can't," Sam repeated, so quietly that Missouri almost didn't hear him.
Both looked to the door, stood up, and hurried outside, into the dark. Sam quickly rushed out towards the Impala's open door. But Sam couldn't feel the cold, nor did he realize how dark it was. Missouri walked towards him, noticing his eyes, which were wide with terror. She looked at the scene before them.
There was no Dean. Only dark read blood pooled thickly outside of the car, where Sam was sure his brother was standing, just minutes ago.
---Thanks for reading. Please review, it really makes my day.
