Saving Sam
Chapter 11
A/N: Thank you for the reviews. I am posting as promised. For some reviews, it wouldn't give me the bubble icon to reply directly, but thank you again.
This is the last chapter of my story.
Chapter 11
(Coming towards the end of Sam's plan, it's now time to return Michael's Grace which Sam had previously extracted to give to Jack. The plan is to send Michael up to Heaven, with his Grace intact. It had taken weeks for Rowena to find a spell that she could adapt, but it was well worth the time because with Michael in Heaven, there should be enough Grace to keep it running, at least for a while.
In the meantime, Bobby has only gotten a quarter of the way through the books in the bunker; he has not yet found a way to contact Death, and Sam knows that he never will, since he himself had already read all of those books too.
Having Bobby go through them is just a way to get everyone else to accept what Sam already knows; that Sam would have to die to talk to Death, and she had previously warned him that the next time would be his last. But if it means he can get Dean back, or to just be with Dean again, even in The Empty, Sam is willing to accept it. He's alright with that. Sam doesn't mind dying to be with Dean; his brother made him happy, his silliness, his jokes, and his asinine behavior made Sam laugh, though he'd never show it, but that was the one thing no one else could ever do. And yet it was so much more than just that; Dean made him feel free, even locked into this lifestyle that he had once despised, run from, and tried to deny with ever fiber of his being; this life with the tremendous responsibilities he had never believed were his own before; an all consuming existence, amid the weight of the World on his shoulders; he still felt light, at peace, tranquil. But now Dean isn't here, and slowly, very slowly, the walls are closing in, the ceiling is falling, and the burden is crushing him. He is strong; he can withstand it if he has to, but he doesn't want to. He's missing Dean; he no longer feels like himself; oh physically he's okay, but emotionally he's sad, and he feels that he's losing what he'd shared nearly all his life; a bond, a brotherhood, a part of himself; and it's getting harder to go on each day. There was a time when he thought nothing was as bad as the pain he suffered when he was going through withdrawal from Demon blood, it was like part of his body was slipping away; but having lost Dean is worse; it's like part of his heart is missing. He doesn't want to live without his brother; he feels like he's already half gone.
So, with both an HPG and the still glowing hypodermic needle; Castiel, Rowena and Sam make another trip back to the cell in Limbo. Once there, Castiel gives Rowena the spells' ingredients, but holds onto the HPG, which they will set off after Sam exits the cell.)
( S P N * S P N * S P N )
(It's misty and dark, all around. The night seems to go on endlessly. Dean is all sweaty, he brushes the back of his right wrist across his brow, being careful not to accidently dislodge the pencil from between his fingers. Someone comes up to him to ask a question. Dean turns to face him; a smirk comes to his lips.
Dean just can't resist.)
Dean: Hey, Jude. Don't make it bad.
(Dean laughs.)
Jude: Yeah, still not funny, Winchester!
Dean: Of course it's funny; you just can't take a joke.
Jude: Listen, we got more pockets of assaults happening amongst the newcomers, complaints of molestation in section P, and oh yeah the old-timers are fed up with all the unrest and overcrowding; plus there's now three more stiffs out back with no place to go. You're in charge here, what are you going to do about it?
(Dean checks his clipboard. He taps his pencil searching for answers.)
Dean: I've already asked Death if she can open up another quadrant. She said she'd get back to me after she does a thorough inspection. In the meantime, put the three stiffs in section B.
Jude: Isn't it over-packed as is?
Dean: I have it on good authority that she sent some of them to Hell.
Jude: Really? But they don't even have a welcoming committee.
Dean: She's Death! She can do whatever she wants!
(Jude shakes his head back and forth.)
Jude: I long for the simpler days when the good ones went straight up to Heaven and the bad ones went way down below.
Dean: Yeah, well who would have thought that we'd ever need a Hell?
Jude: Anybody with half a brain, you dunce!
Dean: Hey! First off, don't get your panties in a wad just because you're still a non-com. I earned my way up to this post, mister, and if you don't like it, go complain to Her Majesty, yourself! In the meantime, you'd better treat me with some respect!
Jude: Oh, yeah, or what, Winchester?
Dean: Or I will knock you clear to the other side of Midnight!
Jude Ha! Like you could!
Dean: Yeah, I could. I killed Hitler, I killed the whole freaking Frankenstein family, I killed Eve-The Mother of All, and I just killed Lucifer!
So don't think that I can't take a mouse like you down, Mickey.
Jude: Yeah, right; exaggerate much?
(Death appears.)
Billie: I'd be careful if I were you, Jude; that's the short list, he left some out.
Jude: What, are you kidding me? You mean he? Him? Did he really kill all of them?
Billie: Yes, every last one, and more.
(She turns from Jude to Dean.)
Billie: He left out a whole slew of Supernatural baddies, not to mention Azazel, a Price of Hell; Cain, the first Knight of Hell, and Zachariah, first lieutenant to the Arch-Angel, Michael.
Dean: Thank you, Ma'am, I'm honored you kept track of my accomplishments.
Billie: Yes, well that's not all I have kept track of; it seems there's now this body walking around on Earth without a Soul. And, since I am Death, I can either kill it, or restore its Spirit.
(Dean has no clue that she's talking about him; being in this job brings him all kinds of Souls, and she's kept him so busy that he hasn't thought about his life on Earth in months. She turns back to Jude, and gestures towards Dean.)
Billie: What do you think, Jude; should I send him back?
(Dean looks at her all wide-eyed.)
Dean: Me?
(Just the hope of seeing Sammy again makes him feel so good the biggest grin he could ever manage crosses his face, making him look years younger and much more handsome.
Billie decides based on that smile alone, that she will restore him. After all, in her business, she rarely ever gets to see smiles, anymore.)
Jude: If I say yes, can I have his job?
(With a raised brow, Billie waves her arm, and then she and Dean are gone; the pencil and clipboard clatter to the ground. Jude picks them up, and proceeds to do what he knew Dean would have done.)
Jude: Okay everybody, listen up! Harry, put the new guys in section B. Jerry, get some guards over to section P, and Judy, go make nice with the old-timers; tell them the situation's only temporary…
( S P N * S P N )
(Sam nods to Castiel, then turns and nods to Rowena. Once again, she goes all around the cell, checking the Sigils. They are perfectly intact. She goes to the table. Castiel lays out all the ingredients. Rowena dumps out the bowl, and replaces it onto the table. She blends and then recites these words.)
Rowena: Foro Dega La Moray!
(The Sigils burn brightly.)
Rowena: Mah Ho Tah!
(She gestures towards the cell; a fire ignites and spreads around it.)
Rowena: Foh Reh Liy Lah!
(She sprinkles herbs into the bowl and a narrow sprite of flame ignites. Then lightening and thunder increase above. The fire climbs up and then dies down. Sam feels that warm sensation, again.
Both Sam and Castiel watch in anticipation of Michael's appearance.
Michael doesn't seem to notice where he is standing, or who else is there. Sam momentarily looks away from Michael, to tell Rowena that he's ready for her to grant him access. But Rowena hadn't told Sam that she sped up the timing, so Sam wasn't expecting the spell to be instantaneous and thereby almost loses his footing; the syringe is in his right hand, so he grasps one of the bars with his left hand, to steady himself.)
( S P N )
(Mary is in the main area of the bunker with Dean.
Mary: Sam asked me to keep you company tonight while he went to take care of something. Do you mind spending an evening with your mother?
Dean: Mother?
Mary: Yes, you always called me Mom.
Dean: Mom.
Mary: It's nice to hear you say that again. I must admit, I've missed your voice.
(Dean doesn't respond.)
Mary: I was wondering if I could get to know you a little better; actually, it's something I should have done-
(But Mary doesn't get to finish her statement because they are interrupted when Billie shows up at the door to the bunker. She just opens it, then walks in and down the stairs, like she owns the place; in her right hand is a big glowing ball of Soul.)
( S P N )
(Sam brings the syringe up high where the torch lighting is better, and proceeds to unscrew the protective glass cap. The Grace glows brightly. But before Sam could turn around and without any warning; Heaven's greatest warrior, thinking Lucifer was still in Sam's vessel; comes up behind Sam, blocking him from being able to move away; and rapidly grabs the hilt of what he perceives to be an Arch-Angel blade; struggling with Sam, he pulls the "blade" inward towards the front of Sam's body; then he immediately forces the point of that spike against Sam's skin. Ramming his own body forward; pushing Sam further into the needle; he, at the same time, squeezes the back of Sam's hand with his own; disabling Sam from letting go of the syringe.
Upon witnessing the altercation, Castiel quickly orders Rowena to send Michael back to the actual Cage.)
( S P N )
Billie: Hey.
(It was her usual greeting, as she addressed Mary in the main room, and she didn't change it, even though she got promoted to being Death. Then she turns her head and sets her sights on Dean.)
Billie: I have something of yours.
(She holds up his Soul and then walks over to him with it.)
Billie: Oh, by the way, this is going to hurt, a lot.
( S P N )
(Rowena lights the white candles as fast as she can, cuts her palm, spits into her other hand and says the incantation.)
Rowena: Anan Avar Kavak!
(But in the cell, the struggle continues, and just for added measure, Michael uses an old swordsman's maneuver; with his other hand he pushes as hard as he can on the pommel, forcing the plunger to inject all of the Grace into Sam. The Grace explodes and momentarily Sam becomes a white-hot figure of energy.
So even though she finishes the spell, it's too late. Rowena barely hears Castiel telling her to close her eyes; which she does anyway, just to block the brightness of Michael's Grace as it explodes throughout Sam.
After a long and tense moment, Sam stabilizes and feels like he can breathe again. But the hairs on the back of Rowena's neck are standing up, and Castiel is terrified at what he thinks may have transpired, believing that now there may once again be a mentally imbalanced Arch-Angel on the loose.
A small smile comes to Sam's lips.
But Sam's demeanor doesn't outshine Rowena's fear. She wants to ask what happened, but decides to play it cool. Castiel however, knows he must find out what they are dealing with, or who.)
Castiel: Sam?
Sam: Yeah, Cas?
Castiel: Are you… alright?
Sam: Huh… I'm not sure.
Castiel: And I'm not sure what I just saw. But it looked like… Sam, you didn't by any chance say the word "yes" in front of Michael, did you?
Sam: No, no I didn't say anything. There was no time.
Castiel: That's what I thought.
Rowena: Well then, what the bloody hell happened?
Sam: Michael injected me with his Grace.
( S P N )
(Billie slowly pushes the Soul into Dean's body. He screams in pain; then Billie steps back, and Dean doubles over, although he tries to keep his composure. Finally, after a long intense moment, his screaming starts to decrease as he begins breathing hard through the pain; his hands are on his thighs, and then the pain fully subsides.)
Billie: Hey, you're welcome.
( S P N )
(Rowena recites the spell to remove Sam from the cell, and it works smoothly.)
Castiel: Sam… You need to let me remove it before it kills you.
Sam: I've had Grace before, Cas. It's never killed me.
Castiel: Sam, you had Grace with its Angel-owner before to control and use it, but without the Angel it could burn through your body.
Sam: I still had Grace from Gadreel after he left and it didn't harm me, Cas.
Castiel: What Gadreel had left behind was minimal traces Sam, and he was just a Seraph; this is Arch-Angel Grace; it's much more powerful and destructive. Where's the hypodermic syringe?
Sam: I don't know; Michael might have it.
(Castiel walks over to the cell and searches the floor and the ground around it, but doesn't find it.)
Castiel: Sam, we need to get back to the bunker right away, and get a new one. I must remove that Grace!
(Sam looks up to his left, and then up to his right. A very cold breeze blows at them from all around.)
Castiel: Do you hear that?
(Sam closes his eyes halfway and listens to the strange popping, and whaling sounds.)
Rowena: Is someone moaning?
Sam: Moans, groans and bones; let's get the hell out of here!
(Castiel puts his hand between Rowena's shoulder-blades, to escort her up the path. Sam is right behind them. But because of her long narrow dress and high-heeled boots, it's slow going. Meanwhile, the wind picks up, the air temperature starts to drop, and now the moans are sounding more like chants.)
Castiel: Rowena; can't you go any faster?
Rowena: Not without a spell and a hex-bag!
(Castiel looks back to Sam. He sees Sam stretch out his arm and extend his fingers. Cas follows Sam's line of sight to see Rowena being telekinetically lifted and propelled faster up the path. Castiel doesn't know if he should be grateful, or fearful, but he has no choice other than to accept it for what it is. Sam runs right behind her, and Castiel brings up the rear. As they ascend, the whines are becoming more rhythmic, almost like phrases.
Lightening is whipping fiercely across Limbo, and the thunder is booming to almost deafening proportions from behind them. They're losing torch-light to the air which is getting thick, almost smoggy.
Rowena wishes she could blow on her hands to warm them, but she can't make any movements of her own. Castiel keeps looking back in paranoia, hoping they can get out before it's too late.
The sounds are now transforming into actual words, spoken by what seems like the whole occupancy of Hell, but at first only Sam could make them out.)
Voices of Hell:
You came, we knew you would.
We've been waiting so long!
We're lost without you.
You've come to save us!
You're here to lead us.
We want you, we need you.
You belong to us, now.
(Those words repeat over and over, from a multitude of voices seemingly as one.
Sam is torn between leaving and staying.
Dean isn't his brother anymore, and Sam has been feeling so lost and alone.
But he feels he's needed here, wanted; and he feels that he needs to help.
They reach the top of the highest landing leading to the warehouse and the way out. Rowena is dropped unceremoniously onto the floor. Castiel just assumes that Sam knows she can make it out on her own now, so he helps her up and heads toward the door. But then he sees the look of horror on Rowena's face, as she watches what's behind him. Castiel turns his head.)
( S P N )
(Mary is practically in shock; she is still looking at Dean and has lost track of Billie. Finally Dean stands up straight; then sighs.
By now Billie is more than halfway back up the stairs. She peeks over the railing.
Deans hears her footsteps stop, and looks up. Billie can't contain her amusement; it seems that she and Dean have similar tastes in humor.)
Billie: Bye, bye Dean; don't be a stranger. Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah...
(And then she's gone, but as her laughter is heard echoing throughout the bunker, Mary wears a frightened look on her face.)
Dean: Mom? Where's Sam?
( S P N )
(Sam is standing in front of the steps, with his eyes gently closed. He's being kept in place by what appears to be thousands of streams of black smoke, Demons; swirling elegantly around him like a tornado in Oklahoma.
Rowena runs past Castiel; she sings "all the do da daaay" and the outer door opens; Rowena speedily exits, but then she turns back to Castiel, who is frozen in fear, watching the youngest Winchester in his latest predicament. But Sam doesn't seem concerned. He opens his eyes and looks directly at Castiel; who Rowena has since grabbed by the arm and is now dragging with all her might, into the egress.
Castiel can now understand the words too.
But as soon as he is beyond the threshold, Sam makes a twisting gesture with his hand, and the door slams shut.)
(The End?)
A/N: Review please, thanks. I'd really like to know what you think of this story, and so would everyone else who is reading it! Remember, they aren't just for me, but for others like yourselves, who want to know if this is the kind of story they'd like to spend time on.
So please leave your thoughts, thanks.
There may be a follow up by another writer, if so it will indicate in the summary. Thanks.