LOVE AS STRONG AS DEATH
The light in the room starts to grey. Dawn will be here soon, and she feels her insides knot themselves. She isn't finished, hasn't finished taking in the shape of his nose or his jaw, or the sound of his breathing, or the width of his shoulders.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
But he does wake. And when he stands and sets his hands on her shoulders, she thinks she may shatter.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
A heartbeat later, they're standing out in a dew drenched field, outside Amelia's sister's farmhouse. They are standing face to face, inches apart, those eyes she knows better than her own pierce through her. Their breaths cloud and mingle, and the angel brings up a tentative hand, touches her cheek lightly with a cool palm.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
It feels strange. It doesn't feel like Jimmy's touch, but she closes her eyes, leans into it anyway, feels the tears stinging, and threatening.
We have a little sister what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
But Claire. The breathless moment breaks. She has to protect her daughter, can never let her know that the ghost of her father is still so close.
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
She opens her eyes and sees hesitance written clearly over the familiar features before her. She is the first to draw away. She asks him where she should go and he gives her the Winchesters' number again. He looks relieved.
I am a wall, then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
Did he know? Did Jimmy with all of his faith have any idea what his sacrifice would really be? What her sacrifice would be? Claire's?
He was so sure. So secure in his faith and the wisdom of God.
thou, O Solomon
In a heartbeat, the angel is gone.
