It seemed as if they sat in quiet for hours, while really Sam knew it was only about an hour. He was waiting for the inevitable, the questions.
"What happened, Sammy?" Dean asked his voice rough from his tears.
"I think she was already hurt, and then destroying the demon. I think she just pushed too hard," Sam finished lamely. He just wasn't sure what to else to say.
Dean smiled slightly. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
Sam cleared his throat. "We buried her, Dean, here on the property. Bobby and I just couldn't stand the idea of ..." Sam sighed deeply his eyes awash in fresh tears, "a pyre. We wanted to wait, but you were out for so long."
Dean nodded. "I understand, where is she?"
Sam pointed toward the back of the salvage yard, he would never forget the moment when he had realized that Cat was dead. He had come to with a jerk, glancing around he'd noticed that a couple of the other kids were beginning to stir. Practically crawling across the ground, he had reached Dean's side. Reaching out a shaking hand, Sam felt for a pulse. Unable to find one at first, he had been unable to stop the tears from running down his face. Finally, he'd found Dean's pulse, weak but there. Running a hand along the top of Dean's head, he had made his way toward Bobby.
Bobby had come around pretty quickly, once Sam tapped his cheek a couple of times. "What happened?" he had asked Sam.
"We did it Bobby, we destroyed it," Sam said still unable to believe his own words.
Bobby closed his eyes, a smile spreading across his face. "Casualties?" Bobby asked reluctantly.
Sam smiled slightly and said, "I think we're all okay, Bobby. I have to check on Cat but Dean's good and the rest of the 'kids' seem alright."
Sam stood on shaky legs, and made his way toward Cat. Kneeling down next to her and rolling her gently towards him, he was unprepared for her staring, sightless, eyes. Feeling his heart stop, Sam immediately began CPR, all the while knowing it was too late. It had been Hannah that had finally made him stop; grabbing his wrist, she had forced him to acknowledge that it was too late.
Unable to bear the sight of Bobby bent over Cat, his tears making rivulets down his craggy face. Sam had gathered up Dean, enlisting Tommy's help he had gotten his brother back to the house. Getting him settled in Cat's bed, Sam had been unwilling to leave his brother's side for the first twenty-four hours. Hannah had been the one that had finally made him realize just how selfish he was behaving. Bobby was devastated by Cat's death, and he needed Sam as much as Dean would once he woke up, if he woke up.
"You were unconscious for so long, I was ready to take you to the hospital. Then all of the sudden you opened your eyes. You asked for Cat and I, well, I don't know what I was going to say, but then you saw her. A moment later you were out again and I looked up and saw her." Sam shook his head. "For a minute I thought it was really her you know. That's when I noticed her face."
Dean nodded. "Her scar was gone. I didn't realize it at first, or who knows maybe I just didn't want to admit it." Dean closed his eyes. "I don't know if I can do this, Sam."
Sam was at a loss on what to do, finally out of desperation he reached out and pulled Dean toward him. Wrapping his long arms around his brother, he held on. Feeling Dean's hands fist in his shirt, caused Sam's tears to begin anew.
Dean hung onto his brother for dear life, knowing that in that moment Sam was his only reason for continuing without Katie. It was the whisper of his owns words, which echoed through his mind, which allowed Dean to gather himself and push Sam away. He had made a promise, a promise that he intended to keep. As they had sat waiting for the sunrise, Cat had asked one last thing from him.
"Dean, I need you to promise me that you'll hang on. That you will make a life for yourself, I don't want you throwing yourself away because of me. I need to know that you'll be okay, that you'll keep going," Cat had said her voice, low and full of tears.
Dean had shook his head, giving her a tight smile he'd said, "No, I can't promise that Katie, girl. I don't want to go on without you. Now that Sam is safe from the demon and has Hannah, to stand by him, I... I won't promise." Dean had finished his gaze hard.
Drawing a deep breath, Cat had said, "That's not good enough. I won't have you dying in some blaze of glory, because you think you're not strong enough to go on. For the first time, you have a chance at a life, and you need to take it. I won't hear anything else from you, you need to promise me."
Staring at her, Dean finally nodded. "I promise, Cat. But I'm not going to go off and settle down. Just because the demons dead doesn't mean I'm retiring. You were it for me, Katie girl, and there won't be any others. My life will be Sam and the hunt, that's as much as I'll promise."
Cat nodded realizing that it was the best she was going to get from him. Smiling softly, she had said, "I know you might not want to come back here, but I need you to watch out for Bobby, for me. Can you, Dean, he's hurting?" Cat finished.
Without hesitation, Dean said, "I promise, Katie, Sam and I'll visit as often as we can."
888
His brother brought Dean out of his reverie. "I'm sorry, Sam, what did you say?"
"I, I buried her with the ring, Dean. Mom's ring, I thought it was only fitting," Sam said not sure what Dean's reaction would be.
Dean blew out a breath and said, "You did good, Sammy." Sitting back, Sam's hand resting lightly on his shoulder, Dean felt as if he might survive. Drawing a deep breath, he said, "I'm going to have to go see her aren't I?"
Sam nodded, "I think it'd probably be for the best. But we can't leave here yet anyway, you'll have other chances if you don't think you can't do it right now."
Dean clapped his brother on the shoulder, "Let's go find Bobby. I made a promise and I intend to keep it."
Sam nodded and followed his brother toward the house, noticing Dean's set shoulders and determined walk, he felt a glimmer of hope move through him.
888
Bobby sat at the table his eyes glued to the kitchen door. Earlier he had banished the 'kids' from the house making them promise to find other accommodations for the night. Now he sat, waiting. Hearing a noise, he looked up and saw Dean and Sam enter the house. Getting up from his seat, Bobby reached out and pulled Dean towards him, hugging the younger man hard. Finally, he glanced up to see Sam, head down, and tears dripping from his eyes. Reaching out he pulled Sam toward both him and Dean, wrapping his arms around both brothers Bobby simply held them.
After a moment, he felt Dean pull back slightly. Releasing the brothers, Bobby nodded towards the table. "Sit down and have a drink with me." Bobby sat and poured three double shots of tequila.
Sam eyed the glass wearily. "Bobby, its eight o'clock in the morning."
Dean rolled his eyes at Sam and said, "You know what they say Sam, it's gotta be noon somewhere."
Sam sat lifting his shot, he clinked glasses with Bobby and Dean, all three said in unison, "To Katie."
888
Dean winced as he left the house, the bright light like a bolt of lightening through his head. Putting on his sunglasses, he headed toward the Impala. Popping open the trunk, he stared down at a discarded sweatshirt that lay in the false trunk. Picking it up, he was hit with a wave of sadness so great he thought he would drown.
Trying to hold back the emotions, he folded the shirt neatly and tucked it into one of his bags. Feeling a hand on his shoulder he nodded at Sam's inquiring eyes and shut the trunk. Glancing over at Bobby, who waited by the porch, Dean walked toward him. The older man's hat obscured his bloodshot eyes, holding out his hand to him Dean waited.
Bobby took Dean's hand in his and shook it, nodding he said, "You boys remember, you're my family. I expect to see your raggedy asses once in a while." Dean grinned, it was only a shadow of his former smile, but still Bobby was glad to see it.
"We will, Bobby. Take care of yourself." Dean headed toward the black car that gleamed in the early morning light. Sliding into the interior, he felt stronger than he had in days. Waiting for Sammy to join him, Dean started the engine. Listening to its purr, with Sam by his side he figured he would make it. After all, he had made a promise.