Chapter Nine
The car ride back to Bobby's was silent. Lark had to gently close Christina's eyes as her blank stare had made her feel uneasy. She had periodically checked her pulse and each time it was worse then the time before until she felt a slight shutter, her first thought it was the Impala hitting a bump in the road, but when she checked for a pulse she couldn't feel anything. She closed her eyes pressing harder but there was nothing.
"Dean!" Lark said her voice verging on panic. "Dean I can't feel anything! There's no pulse!"
Dean quickly pulled off to the side of the road and parked. He quickly jumped out of the driver's seat before opening the back door gently pulling Lark out so he could check. His fingers were trembling as tears threatened to fall out of his eyes. "No…" he choked out fighting to keep the tears from falling but already a couple of them had escaped. "Damnit Christy…" he cursed picking her up and pulled her close to him. "Don't do this! You're a fighter! Fight damn you…fight…"
Lark placed a hand gently on Dean's shoulder feeling tears slide down her face just as Bobby pulled up behind them. Lark saw the worry on his face but also saw the gleam from the lights shining on tears that were falling. She could hear the soft sobs coming from the passenger seat as Sam looked on knowing there was nothing he could do. They were too late. They couldn't save her.
~DSCWIN~
The driveway for the salvage yard loomed ahead in the headlights and Dean slowed to turn in, checking that the other headlights were behind him. He eased the Impala to the front of the house and parked beside Lark's car. Dean got out slowly and opened the back letting Lark help get Christina's body from the back and carried her up the steps and into the house.
"Take her up to her bedroom Dean." Lark instructed. "Wanna make some coffee Sam?"
"Alright." he said heading for the kitchen as Lark followed Dean upstairs and into Christina's bedroom.
"I'll wash her up and put some clean clothes on her." she said when Dean laid his sister on her bed and stepped back. "Do you wanna get me some hot water and towels?" Lark knew she needed to keep them busy with little jobs to help with their shock of what just happened to their sister.
"I can do that..." Dean started but was stopped by Lark.
"Dean, I think she'd prefer me do it than her brother. It's kind of a girl thing." Lark told him. She pushed him gently toward the door as she talked. "Now go on and get me some water and towels." Lark knew she needed to take charge right now because both brothers were mourning their loss.
Dean huffed and looked back at his sister but did as she asked and headed for the bathroom. Lark moved to the dresser and looked for some briefs, a tee shirt and a pair of cotton sleep pants. After looking more closely at what Christy had on, she decided the easiest way to get them off was cut them off. They were not salvageable anyway and weren't even going to try and wash them. Ten minutes later Dean came back carrying the hot water, towels and wash clothes. He sat them on the bed beside Christina's still body as just stood there in a daze.
"It's okay Dean, I got this, go on downstairs and I'll let you know when I'm done." Lark assured him pulling him close and wrapping her arms around him. "You did all you could. It's not your fault..." she whispered as she led him to the top of the stairs and waited as he walked slowly down them and moved toward the kitchen. Her heart ached for him because she could feel his anguish and suffering and wanted to take him in her arms and comfort him, but right now she needed to take care of Christina and make her presentable. She turned back into the room and pushed the door almost closed for some privacy.
~DSCWIN~
Lark took a washcloth, wet it and wrung it out. She sat beside her friend and gently began to wipe the dirt and grim and blood from her face, checking for injuries as she went. She could see the bruising of finger prints along her jaw and whispered, "Oh Christy what did that bastard do to you?" Lark took out one of her knives and cut away the shirt she had on and sport's bra so she could continue to clean her body. She was ever so careful, not wanting to cause any more injuries than she already had. Lark knew Christina was gone but she continued to talk to her and still cleaned her up like she was unconscious and would wake up. She was extra careful with her wrists that were rubbed raw and bleeding from the abuse of hanging for so long. "Don't you worry, I've got some of my special balm in my bag that'll fix your wrists right up and I'll put some on your shoulders too. It'll make them feel better. I know it doesn't matter, but I want you to be fixed up so they don't have to see what he did to you. I know you and Dean have your differences like any siblings do, but you gotta know how much this has wrecked him. He's blaming himself for this happening to you and the guilt is going to eat him alive. You know I'll do what I can for him, that is if he'll let me." Lark said thinking talking would help her deal with this loss. "After this ordeal I think we all need some R and R to recoup and unwind. Hey, maybe this time a hunt won't be thrown at us." Lark said trying to laugh but it turned more into a sob. "You didn't even get a chance to tell me about your date with Devin and how that went."
The water was turning a dirty, brownish red the more she cleaned Christina's body. She draped a towel over her as she cut her pants and briefs off and thanked whoever was listening that she wasn't raped. At least that was one thing she wouldn't have to deal with. She was slow and gentle wanting to remove as much of the monster's scent from her as she could. Lark took the basin of water and dumped it and refilled it with clean so she could finish washing her. She began to hum to herself trying to stay calm and get through this. It was over an hour before Lark was satisfied that Christina was as clean as she could get her. Once she had her dried and clothed, she went and got her balm and the first aid kit from the bathroom to doctor her wrist and the laceration on her temple from the impact with the side window. She also found a few other shallow cuts that she tended wanting to make the body look more at peace. With gentle fingers, Lark worked the balm into Christina's shoulders hoping to help with some of the pain. She wrapped her wrist and taped the gauze in place to protect the wounds. She used butterfly bandages on the laceration on her temple to close the wound and put cream on the other small cuts. Once she was done, she gathered up her things and took them back to her bedroom. Lark was draping a blanket over Christina's body when Sam knocked on the door.
"How's it going up here?" Sam asked looking to Christina, at least happy she had been cleaned up.
"I'm done." Lark said with a sigh. "Where's Dean?"
"Trying to find the bottom of a whiskey bottle." Sam huffed madly.
"You stay here with your sister and I'll go deal with your brother." Lark told him patting his arm knowing how Dean could get and went in search of him. "You need some time to say your good-byes in private."
"Watch yourself; he's in a foul mood." Sam warned her as she headed for the stairs. He pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down looking at his sister's cleaned face. If he didn't know any better, he would of thought she was sleeping.
~DSCWIN~
Dean was sitting at the kitchen table and was pouring another shot into a glass when Lark walked into the room. He didn't look up at her as his body stiffened with her presence.
"Christy's cleaned up and Sam's with her." Lark said reaching for the bottle of whiskey to take it from Dean.
Dean clamped a hand around the bottle and stopped her from picking it up. He growled softly in the back of his throat warning her hands off.
"Don't you think you've had enough? Numbing your body isn't going to help anyone." she asked. "This isn't the answer and you know it. Stop being a jackass and pull yourself together. I don't think Christy would want you doing this." she said sternly, giving the bottle a jerk and getting it from him.
Dean stood up quickly and faced her, his nostrils flaring and anger filling his eyes as he glared at her. "Give it back." he growled in a deep dangerous voice.
"No." Lark said daring him to take it back.
"You're not my boss and I don't take orders from you."
"It looks like someone needs to be your boss 'cause you sure can't seem to take care of yourself." she spat at him in anger as her temper flared. "Man up Dean, you're having a pity party for yourself and it's not pretty. What happened to Christy happened, we can't change it. So stop feeling sorry for yourself..."
Dean saw red and couldn't stop what happened next. Before realizing it, Dean slapped her, knocking her face sideways and leaving a red handprint on her cheek. His eyes widened in disbelief that he had struck her and watched her turn her head and look at him with accusing eyes. She slammed the bottle on the table rattling the glasses sitting there and spun on her heels to head back upstairs. She didn't want him to see the tears that streamed down her face, not from it hurting, but from Dean actually striking her. She was hurt and disappointed and heartbroken and didn't want anyone to see it. She didn't see Sam looking from the bedroom doorway and saw the red print on her face. His face hardened in rage that Dean would ever hit a woman, much less Lark.
Bobby had come from his bedroom and only caught the tailend of the scene, but saw enough to want to throttle the boy. He knew Dean was hurting, but that didn't give him the right to strike Lark. He started to confront him when Sam came stomping down the stairs and passed by him without even glancing his way.
~DSCWIN~
"What the hell did you do?" Sam accused Dean as he stormed into the kitchen. "Tell me you didn't just hit Lark?"
Dean hunched over his glass that he had refilled but couldn't answer him because he couldn't believe that he had done what he did. She had shown him nothing but kindness and friendship and compassion and love and he had destroyed it. Dean didn't know if Lark would ever forgive him for what he just did.
"What is wrong with you?" Sam yelled at him in disgust throwing his arms in the air. "Don't you know she loves you, but I'm starting to wonder why now?" he asked him. "You know I'm surprised she didn't deck you and it's really hard not to do it myself. You're a complete dumb ass if you don't go upstairs and beg her to forgive you...Get down on your knees if you have to...If you lose her you'll never find anyone to compare to her. Get off your ass and do the right thing or do I have to beat you senseless?" Sam threatened jerking the glass from his hands and pulling him to his feet. He glared at him for a moment before shoving him toward the stairs. Dean stumbled as he tried to get his feet moving, only to have his brother push him from behind to be sure he kept going. "Don't stop, keep going." Sam stated, not letting his brother chicken out. They made it up the stairs and stopped in front of the bedroom Dean had shared with Lark. Sam knocked on the door before opening it and pushing Dean inside, closing the door behind him. Sam stood there a minute to let his anger disperse before heading back to his sister's bedroom to sit with her.
~DSCWIN~
Sam looked down at his sister's relaxed face covered in bandages and scars that would remain on her face. He felt responsible for his sister laying in that bed now. I shouldn't have left her. He thought feeling his eyes burn with more tears. I wish I could go back to that day...I wish I could have...
Sam stopped berating himself when something seemed to pass through him. Even though she wasn't alive, that she had passed on he felt forgiveness towards him. It seemed that even in death Christina never blamed him for what had happened. He shook his head in disbelief of that feeling but gently picked up her cold hand. She had always been a mystery. Even when they were in college together she had dark secrets that he could sense. But now those secrets were forever lost.
Sam cleared his throat before setting his sister's hand back on the bed and left. He was trembling as he walked downstairs to find Bobby throwing back another glassful of whiskey, his eyes staring out the window at the rising sun.
"You know I did this when you died." Bobby said nodding and inviting Sam to sit next to him by offering him a f glass. Sam respectfully took the glass and sat down. "Did the same for yer dumb-ass of a brother too."
"You think she will forgive him?" Sam asked taking a sip from the glass.
"Wouldn't blame her either way. But that's not what's important." Bobby grunted picking up the bottle and filling his now empty glass full once again.
"You gonna be alright, Bobby?" Sam asked already regretting the question as he finished.
"I don't know." Bobby shook his head and chuckled slightly shaking his head. "Glad I wasn't in that room with ya two. I wouldn't have stopped at the guns. I would have gutted the son of a bastard if I had the time."
"Bobby I know we all did. I'm pretty sure we can't touch him."
"Listened to the news on the radio. They found six more bodies. Bastard got away from the authorities. Jody also called me apparently that guard squealed to her about what I did. But I had to lie my way out of an assault charge."
"And that's where Christy got that from." Sam chuckled and Bobby glanced at him. "Back in college she managed to talk her way out of getting expelled after a photo of her dancing on the flag pole leaked out. Said it wasn't her, just a look-a-like."
Bobby didn't know whether to laugh or cry at that story. But he chose to pour himself one more glass, toss it down his throat before closing his eyes and falling asleep quickly.
There was a slight disturbance when Castiel arrived to find Sam pulling an empty glass from Bobby's hand. The angel tilted his head to the side and Sam looked up.
"Cas, you're back!" Sam exclaimed quickly setting the glass into the sink.
"Where is everyone else?" Castiel inquired seeing Bobby fast asleep.
"They're upstairs. I'll...I'll go get them." Sam said and stumbled up the stairs. His two drinks made the tall man a little lightheaded.
~DSCWIN~
Lark was lying on the bed facing away from the door and didn't turn when she heard the knock, then the door opening and closing. She knew someone was in the room, but didn't acknowledge who it was. She closed her eyes making more tears flow out and buried her head into her pillow to silence her sobs. The mattress dipped as someone sat on the edge of it near her side and a trembling hand was placed on her shoulder. She dipped her shoulder pulling away from the touch, not sure she could face him right now.
"I'm so sorry Babe, I don't know if you can ever forgive me, but you were right, I'm a jackass and I shouldn't be trying to drown my pain in the bottle." Dean whispered to her. "Please Lark, please look at me." he begged desperately.
After a moment, Lark raised her tear stained face from the pillow to look up at him with red rimmed, blurry eyes. She bit back a sob and softly sniffed as she looked into his pain filled eyes. Dean raised his hand and reached his fingers toward her face still seeing the fading imprint of his hand on her cheek. Lark turned away before his fingers touched her cheek not sure she wanted his touch.
"Oh god, I did that..." he whispered as his breath caught in his throat when he saw the impression of his hand. "I hope you can someday forgive me..." Dean mumbled as he started to get up, his head hanging low as he belittled himself for hitting her.
Lark reached her hand out and stopped him before he got completely up and pulled him back to the bed. She sat up to face him as she held his hands, looking at them and running a finger over his palm. "I started to pack up and leave, but my friend and family is lying dead down the hall and I stopped. She is what matters right now, not us. We can deal with us later. But Dean, don't ever raise your hand to me again." she said quietly and forcibly, finally looking up into his eyes. "I know you've got so much going on right now and blaming yourself for what happened, so I'm not going to be angry with you. I care about you Dean, I hope you know that." she said cupping his cheek in her hand. "And I think you care about me too."
Dean sat there and listened to her words and before he knew it, he was in her arms. She held him and cooed to him as she tried to comfort devastated man. Tears wet her neck and his body started shaking as he silently cried, letting down his walls and allowing his emotions to come out. He clung to her like a drowning man and didn't resist as she pulled him down beside her on the bed. Lark tucked his head into her neck and began to rub his back and whispered softly to him. She knew Dean and he didn't let his emotions show that often and knew he was hurting. She wasn't sure if the alcohol played a part in it, but knew he needed to let this out so it wouldn't devour him. She began to hum softly as she kissed his forehead and wiped his tears. They were still lying together when Sam knocked and stuck his head in to say Castiel was back.
