Author's Note: This one's a short one, but we get back to Cas next chapter! Here is CHAPTER 9 of the multichaptered Horror-Movie-esque SPN AU fic "It Runs Deep" that my wifey Tumblr's scrumptiousalterboy and I are collaborating on here and on AO3! Please enjoy, and feel free to comment! :) Another chapter should be up tomoorrroooww~
Characters in this chapter: Asthma!Sam, Dean, Cas, Cassie, Jo, Charlie, Kevin
Genre: Supernatural!Horror!AU … Just in time for Halloween! ;D
Disclaimer: We do not own Supernatural or the characters, we just love them to pieces.
Potential Triggers (over the course of many chapters, not the prologue itself): Asthma!Sam, Cabin In The Woods, Asylum, Blood and Gore, Blood Play, Blood Drinking, Violent Sex, Breath Play, Slight non/con elements later in the story, Suicide, Knife play.
It Runs Deep
Chapter 9: Honoring The Dead
December, 2001
There were two crosses on the cliff. One for her. One for him.
The actual graves were back in Sioux Falls, but the memorial was here, where it had all happened, visible even in the five inches of snow. Flurries were continuing to gently shower the area, giving it a winter wonderland feel that would have almost been comforting if Sam didn't feel like his heart was getting ripped out of his chest by some unseen entity just being back here on this cliff.
'I love you', she had said to him, tears streaming down her face. 'I love you, I'm so sorry.'
She had probably said more, Sam had a strong, itching feeling that she had said more. Warned him about something, but he couldn't remember. His memories of that night were so foggy, pain making up most of them, because he hadn't been able to let her go.
There was a somberness in the air all around, solemn and honoring the dead with silence save for boots crunching in the snow as they made their way closer, everyone clad in winter wear, from scarfs and gloves to ear mitts.
They didn't stop until all seven of them were standing in a half moon circle around the crosses.
Even Kevin had nothing smart to say. How could he, when Jo was soon crying against Charlie and Sam, Dean, and Cas looked like wrecks, themselves.
They had lost more than anyone could fully grasp that fateful night.
"I should be here," Sam whispered to himself as he blinked back tears, cheeks rosy from the cold and eyes on the puffy side. "That should've been me next to you, not Benny. ...Not Benny."
His grief became a half sob, half choked wheeze, sinking to his knees in the snow before Jess's cross.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I couldn't pull you back.."
He had loved her so much.
No one fought Sam, not because they agreed with him, but because it was their time to really grieve. They had gone to the graves at the anniversary, everyone pretending that Benny's wasn't empty, and honored them there, but Sam needed this, they all did, to remember that night and how they all had lost someone. A love, a brother, a best friend. Or in Jo's case, a ghost from her past.
"Benny, Jess, we miss you guys. Not a day goes by," Dean added soft and choked up, hands falling on Sam's shoulders. When Cas stepped up next to him, movements unsure, Dean pulled him against his side. He kept his arm curled around Cas's waist, so that Cas could place a hand on Sam's shoulder as well, connecting the three of them. No matter their fights, or the things they have said or done in the past, they were still family. All of them were.
"It hasn't been easy keeping our boy in line without you, Benny. But lord knows I've tried," Cassie said. She earned a small smile from Dean when their eyes met, and a nod of thanks. She nodded back and began placing the wreaths around the crosses and lit the candles they had brought. Cassie also took over the job of sticking the third cross in the ground, for Jo's sake.
Charlie held Jo through more tears, and for a while sniffles not much more than sniffles and quiet words of goodbyes were heard. Their differences were settled in that moment. All of their fights forgotten. Even Cassie was there to offer Sam comfort through a kiss to the top of his beanie clad head. Surviving after losing people you loved was hard enough without adding strife with people you still had.
"I'll never forget you," Sam whispered, placing the roses he had brought before the three crosses atop the snow. "I'll never.." A soft wheeze, a sniffle, "stop loving you, Jess. N' Benny..thank you for giving me Cassy, I'll take good care of him. I-I promise."
He owed Benny that much, being there for all of them the way he had. They hadn't been able to find his body, but he would be in their hearts forever.
They all said their pieces, they all paid their respects, and in the end even Cassie hugged Cas and then Sam, kissing both of them on the cheek and telling them a gentle,
"We'll visit them every year. Make it tradition."
A/N: I know this one's a short one, but like I said, we'll be back to Cas next chapter finishing up this part~ ;D