Chapter Eleven

"Whoa, what?" said Ava.

"The baby's coming," said Sam. "Now."

"What do we do?" asked Andy.

"Uh, blankets, pillows; anything that I can lean against," said Sam. "And some water from that well out front. We're gonna need it."

Andy dashed out the front door as Ava rushed around the house for blankets. Jake came running in a moment later.

"What's happening?" he asked. "Andy looked worried."

"I'm going into labor," Sam told him.

"Well, it's your lucky day," said Jake. "'Cause I'm an army medic."

Sam smiled. "Lucky me." His smile quickly vanished as his first contraction hit. "Oh, my gosh…"

Jake knelt beside Sam, placing a hand on his back. "Breathe through it." Sam took deep breaths. "That's it. Almost done." The contraction passed and Sam relaxed.

"Holy crap," Sam muttered. "And they're supposed to get worse? Damn!"

Andy came in with a bucket of water, and Ava appeared with some blankets.

"This was all I could find," Ava told him. "You can lean against them, but I'm not so sure you should sit on them, 'cause they're filthy."

"Jackets," said Jake. "He can sit on our jackets."

Jake helped Sam out of his jacket as Andy and Ava took their jackets off. Andy even took off the hoodie he had on over his shirt. Ava piled the blankets up against a wall as Andy took their jackets and laid them out in front of the blankets. Jake helped Sam stand up and guided him to the makeshift gurney. He lowered Sam to the floor, helping him adjust until he was comfortable.

"Thanks, guys," said Sam.

"No problem," said Andy.

"It's gonna be a long night, folks," said Jake. "Be ready. And I think you better tell me every detail about that spell she did."

Sam took a deep breath as he prepared to tell them the last seven months worth of their lives.


Ten hours later…

The contractions were unbearable and Sam was getting close. Andy knelt next to Sam, a hand on his shoulder to help soothe him.

"Alright, Sam, let's get those jeans off," said Jake. Sam looked up at him, horrified. "You said it yourself: the spell lets you deliver normally, so we have to take the pants off."

"Here," said Andy. He took Sam's jacket from under Sam's feet and laid it over his legs, covering his waist to his knees.

"Thanks, Andy," said Sam.

Jake pulled Sam's boots off as Sam unbuttoned his jeans. Andy grabbed onto the jacket to hold it in place as Sam slid his pants down his legs, taking his boxers with them. Sam kicked the jeans off his feet, and Jake put them aside. Another contraction hit, causing Sam to grab his stomach in pain and moan.

"Is it alright if I check?" asked Jake.

Figuring he didn't really have a choice and Jake had medical training, Sam nodded. Jake lifted the edge of the jacket to look.

"Alright, you're almost there, Sam," said Jake.

"Ugh…when is Dean getting here?" asked Sam. "He'd want to be here…"

"He'll make it," Andy assured.

"I hope so," said Sam.

Ava stepped over to the window, turning to face Sam with her arms behind her. As she leaned away from the window, Sam saw salt falling from the windowsill.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" said Sam.

Ava looked at him as the other two turned to look at her. "What?"

"Why would you break the salt line?" asked Sam, wincing in pain.

"What?" said Ava. "You don't think that I—"

"And that headache you got?" said Sam, putting the pieces together. "Right when the demon got Lily."

"What are you trying to say?" said Ava.

"What happened to you?"

"Nothing!" said Ava. Sam just stared her down, trying to ignore the pain. Ava's face changed as she dropped the act. "Had you going though, didn't I? Yeah, I've been here a long time. And not alone, either. People just keep showing up. Children, like us. Batches of three or four at a time."

"You killed them? All of them?"

"I'm the undefeated heavyweight champ."

"Oh, my God."

"Don't think God has much to do with this, Sam."

"How could you?"

"I had no choice. It was me or them. After a while, it was easy. It was even kind of fun. I just stopped fighting it."

"Fighting what?"

"Who we are, Sam. If you just quit your hand-wringing and open yourself up, you have no idea what you can do. The learning curve is so fast, it's crazy, the switches that just flip in your brain. I can't believe I started out just having dreams. Do you know what I can do now?"

"Control demons."

"Ah, you are quick on the draw." Ava put her hands to her head. "I'm sorry, Sam. But it's over."

The cloud of black smoke appeared at the window, about to enter it. As Ava was distracted by summoning the demon, Jake jumped up behind her and twisted her neck, killing her instantly. The smoke dissipated and left. Jake fixed the salt line.

"Aah!" Sam yelled as another contraction hit. Andy resumed his position next to Sam as Jake placed himself at Sam's feet.

"SAM!" someone yelled from outside.

Sam's eyes widened. "Dean."

"SAMMY!" Dean yelled again, searching for his brother.

"Andy…" Sam muttered.

Andy sprang up, bolting out the door. "DEAN!"

Dean and an older man spun around. "Andy?"

"Dean, quick!" Andy pleaded. "It's Sam!"

Fearing the worst, Dean rushed after Andy with Bobby close behind. Dean burst into the house to find Sam against the wall, a jacket draped over his bare waist and panting heavily.

"Oh, my gosh…" muttered Dean as he fell beside Sam, putting a hand on his back. "When did you go into labor?"

"Just after Andy sent you that vision," Sam panted.

"Andy sent…" said Dean. "Well, that explains a lot." Sam yelled in pain again. "It's okay, Sammy. I'm here now." He spotted Ava lying dead on the floor. "Who's the girl?"

"Ava," Andy explained. "She tried to kill us."

"Okay," said Dean. He took off his jacket and handed it to Jake. "And you are?"

"Jake," he answered. "Army medic."

"Good," said Dean. "Use that to wrap the baby in. Bobby, gimme your vest." Bobby complied, and Dean stuffed it behind Sam's head; it make the perfect pillow.

Jake took another look. "Okay, it's time."

"Finally," Sam moaned. "Why would women voluntarily do this more than once?"

Dean laughed. "Who knows."

"Oh, gosh!" Sam leaned forward as best he could.

Dean placed a hand on Sam's back as he held his other hand out for Sam. Sam quickly grasped onto it, squeezing it tightly. Sam began pushing as a contraction hit him. He groaned in pain as he breathed through it. He could feel the baby slowly inching its way down the cervix. It was sheer agony. As the contraction passed, Sam collapsed against the blankets.

"That's it," Sam groaned. "I'm swearing off sex."

Dean laughed. "You're not gonna have to worry about getting pregnant again, Sam."

"I don't care!" Sam yelled as the pain hit him again.

He leaned forward, pushing with all his might. It was overwhelming, and took all of Sam's strength. He could feel the crown of the baby's head breaching him as it edged out. He collapsed again as the contraction passed.

"I see the head," said Jake.

"I can't…" Sam breathed, tears falling out of his eyes. "I can't…"

"Yes, you can, Sammy," Dean told him.

"It's too much…" Sam panted. "I can't…"

"Yes, you can, Sam," came a voice from the corner.

Sam looked up to see a familiar face standing in the corner of the room. "Stephanie?"

Stephanie smiled. "Hi, Sam. I promised I'd look out for you two."

"How are you here?" asked Dean.

"As long as my son is alive, I'm alive through him," said Stephanie. "By the way, I appreciate the visits, guys."

Sam yelled in pain, but was too exhausted to try to push. Stephanie approached him and sat down next to him opposite of Dean.

"Sam, you can do it," Stephanie told him.

"I can't…" Sam panted. "It hurts…"

"I know it does," said Stephanie. "But soon, you'll have a little boy of your own in your arms." She placed a hand on Sam's face. "Johnnie needs you, Sam. He needs you to be strong…I need you to be strong."

Sam nodded as another wave of pain hit him. He leaned forward, pushing with all his strength. He felt his skin tear as the baby slid out to his shoulders. Sam collapsed against the blankets, breathing heavily. Sweat was now pouring down his face.

"That's good, Sammy," said Dean. "You're almost done. Almost there."

"Couple more pushes, Sam," said Jake.

Sam leaned forward again, pushing. The baby slid halfway out before Sam collapsed.

"Oh, come on, kid," Sam moaned. "Give me a break here."

Stephanie and Dean laughed as Jake prepared to pull the baby out.

"Okay, Sam," said Jake. "One last push should do it."

"Come on, Sammy," said Dean. "I know you can do it."

Sam leaned forward, pushing once again. A yell broke free from his throat as the baby slid the rest of the way out. Relieved, Sam collapsed against the blankets, exhausted. The pain receded as crying filled the room.

"Here he is," said Jake, wrapping Johnnie in Dean's jacket. He leaned forward, placing the baby in Sam's arms. Sam smiled down at him, amazed that he was finally holding him. Stephanie smiled down at her son as Jake cut the umbilical cord with the knife from Sam's pocket.

"He's got Michael's eyes," said Stephanie.

"He does?" asked Sam weakly.

"Yeah," said Stephanie.

"And your smile," said Dean.

Stephanie smiled at that. "I love you…all three of you." She took one last look at her son. "I'll be seeing you around, Johnnie." With that, she disappeared in a flash of white light.

"He's amazing," said Sam, his eyes starting to slide shut.

"Here," said Dean. He took Johnnie from Sam. "How 'bout you get some rest, huh?"

"Okay," said Sam as he began to drift off. He looked up at the door where Bobby was, spotting a man with yellow eyes in the doorway.

"Bobby!" Sam called. "Behind you!"

"Howdy, Sam," said Yellow-Eyes. Bobby didn't respond.

"I'm dreaming," said Sam.

"What do you say you and I take a little walk?" said Yellow-Eyes. Sam got up, finding it surprisingly easy to stand. Of course, it was easy; he was dreaming. Yellow-Eyes led Sam outside. "So, Sam, busy night, huh? Gotta say, good job with the kid." Sam didn't respond. "You're awfully quiet, Sam. You're not mad at me, are you?"

"I'm gonna tear you to shreds, I swear to—" started Sam.

Yellow-Eyes chuckled. "When you wake up, tiger, you give it your best shot."

"Don't you dare hurt my brother."

"Quit worrying about Dean. I'd worry more about yourself."

"Why? You gonna kill me?"

"I'm trying to help you. That's why we're talking. You're the one I'm rooting for."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Welcome to the Miss America pageant. Why do you think you're here? This is a competition. Only one of you crazy kids is gonna make it out of here alive."

"I thought we were supposed to be—"

"Soldiers in a coming war? That's true. You are. But here's the thing: I don't need soldiers. I need soldier. I just need the one."

"Why?"

"Well, I couldn't just come out and say that, could I, Sam? I had to let everyone think they had a fighting chance. But what I need is a leader."

"To lead who?"

"Oh, I've already got my army. Or I will soon, anyway."

"You son of a bitch."

"Honestly, I'm surprised you hadn't guessed. I mean, why do you think so many children flamed out already? Max Miller and Andy's brother, what's-his-name—they weren't strong enough. I'm looking for the best and brightest of your generation."

"My generation?"

"Well, there's other generations, but let's just worry about yours. That's why I'm here, Sam. I wanna give you the inside track. You're tough. You're smart. You're well-trained, thanks to your daddy. Sam—Sammy—you're my favorite."

"You ruined my life. You killed everyone I love."

"The cost of doing business, I'm afraid. I mean, sweet little Jessica—she just had to die. You were all set to marry that little blonde thing, become a tax lawyer with two kids, a beer gut, and a little McMansion in the suburbs. I needed you sharp on the road, honing your skills. Your gifts."

"What about my mom?"

"That was bad luck."

"Bad luck?"

"She walked in on us. Wrong place, wrong time."

"What does that mean?"

"It wasn't about her. It was about you. It's always been about you."

"What?"

Yellow-Eyes stared at him. "Well…okay. You caught me in a charitable mood. I'll show you."

Yellow-Eyes snapped his fingers, and Sam found himself in his nursery from when he was six months old, standing next to the demon.

"Look familiar?" said Yellow-Eyes. "It should." Sam looked down at his six-month-old self crying in his crib while the Yellow-Eyed Demon of the past stood over him. Sam made to charge at the demon standing over his crib, but Present Yellow-Eyes held him back. "Relax, Sam, this is just a hi-def instant replay. Enjoy the show."

Mary entered the room, looking tired. "John?"

"Mom!" said Sam.

"Is he hungry?" asked Mary.

"Shh," said Past Yellow-Eyes.

"Okay," said Mary. She left the room.

"Wait, Mom," said Sam. "Mom!"

"What did I just tell you, Sam?" said Present Yellow-Eyes. "She can't hear you. This isn't real."

They watched as the Past Yellow-Eyes sliced his own wrist with his nail. He dripped some of the blood onto Baby Sam's mouth.

"What the hell are you doing to me?" said Sam.

"Better than mother's milk," said Present Yellow-Eyes.

"Does this mean I have…demon blood in me?" said Sam. The demon chuckled. "Answer me!"

Mary suddenly rushed back into the room. Past Yellow-Eyes turned to her, revealing his yellow eyes.

"It's you," said Mary.

"She knew you," said Sam.

Mary began to walk closer, but Past Yellow-Eyes forced her against the wall. They watched as she slowly moved up the wall, until she was pinned to the ceiling.

"No!" Sam yelled. "No!"

"I don't think you wanna see the rest of this," said Yellow-Eyes. He snapped his fingers again, and Sam jolted awake on the floor of the house.

"Hey, Sam," said Dean. Sam turned to see him sitting at the table with the baby in his arms. "Nice nap?"