Chapter Twelve

The Rabbit Hole

The movie ended, the credits rolled, and the lights came up in the theater. Evy, who'd been sitting in Sam's lap through the majority of the movie, got up and started to walk down the aisle to head back outside.

"Cricket, wait. Come here."

Evy walked back towards Sam, who was still sitting down. "Sorry, daddy, I thought you were behind me."

"It's okay, Cricket. That's not it." Sam said. Once she was close enough, Sam pulled her near enough to him that he could talk to her without anyone else in the crowded theater could hear them. "Listen, you're not going to like this, but I'm going to carry you out of here."

"NO!" Evy protested loudly. "Daddy, please don't."

"There's too many people around, Cricket." Sam explained.

"I'll hold your hand. I'll hold it tight, I promise." Evy said. "Just please don't carry me."

Sam had known it wasn't going to go over well, so he was extra patient. "Come on, baby."

"I'm eight." Evy said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm too big to be carried."

"Cricket, I know." Sam said. "I don't think you're a baby. That's not what this is about. There's just too many people around and I don't want to lose you."

Evy's eyes filled with tears, but she knew she was defeated. "Okay, daddy."

The way Evy slumped in defeat made Sam feel guilty. "Is there another reason you don't want me to do it?"

Seeing a spark of hope, Evy tried again. "My friends are here. I'm gonna get picked on if you carry me. It's embarrassing."

Sam looked around. The crowd was thinning slowly, and Sam noticed that the majority of the kids in the room were around the age of second, third, or fourth grade. He honestly hadn't considered that, and felt like an idiot for not. The entire reason they were here was because it was snowing outside, and it was too cold to go trick-or-treating. The local movie theater had announced a movie night for parents and kids of the local elementary schools, as an alternative way to celebrate Halloween night. Evy was still looking at him hopefully, pleading with him silently. Sam did what he'd gotten very good at doing since Evy had arrived; he put himself in the shoes of an eight year old, and realized that what he was asking was a little too much.

"How about we wait for everybody to be gone first?" Sam suggested. "Then you can hold my hand when we get outside."
Evy smiled and wrapped her arms around Sam's neck. "Thanks, daddy."

"So a hug's not embarrassing?" Sam asked with a laugh as he returned it.

"Never." Evy said.

The two of them stayed there for a few minutes, talking about the movie and other things that popped into their heads. Once Sam was satisfied that the theater was empty enough, he and Evy started to head outside. They got to the car and started home. As it turned out, the crowd was the least of Sam's problems. Sitting at a stop light at an intersection only two streets away from their house, Sam said to Evy,

"I'm sorry you couldn't go trick or treating this year."

"It's okay." Evy said. "I had more fun with you anyways."

"Awww…."

Sam didn't get a chance to finish what he was saying. His brain worked a little faster than his mouth did. He heard himself say "I had fun with you too" but it never came out. As Sam started to roll into the intersection, he heard the slamming of brakes and breaking glass. He only had a moment to process what had just happened-a car had slammed into them-before he was plunged into total darkness.

He was awoken by a light shining in his face and the sound of people's voices around him. His head hurt like never before, but he seemed to be okay. Sam started to sit up, until he was stopped by a sound that made his heart hammer in his chest.

"Daddy!"

Sam jumped up and looked in the rearview mirror towards Evy. The sight made him sick. The car that had hit them had smashed almost directly into Evy's side of the car. Evy was crying hysterically, close to screaming. Sam was frozen in fear. How could Evy had made it through that?

"Dude, you okay?"

Sam jerked in shock. "What?"
A teenager who was passing by the accident had stopped in the driver's side window. "You okay?"

Evy crying again snapped Sam out of his shock and made him jump into action. "Call 911!" Sam said as he unbuckled his seat belt.

"I already did." The teenager said. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just wait for the ambulance." Sam said. Once he was facing Evy, he leaned in and checked her quickly. "Baby, are you okay?"

"Daddy, I can't move!" Evy cried.

"What?" Sam looked over and saw what she was talking about; the door was pinning her leg down. "Okay, baby, it's okay. Help's on the way. I'm right here."

"Daddy…" Evy cried again.

"Shh." Sam said, grabbing Evy's hand. "I'm right here." Evy finally looked at Sam and the pain and fear in her face nearly made him lose his mind. "I'm right here."

"It hurts." Evy said pitifully.

Sam's brain immediately went back to eighteen years earlier. Evy had just been attacked by a hellhound, and was lying in Bobby's house, broken and bleeding and crying. Sam remembered what she'd said as clearly as if it was happening just then.

"It hurrrrtttttssss…." Evy cried, reaching out to Sam with the hand on her bitten, but somewhat whole, arm.

Sam squeezed Evy's hand and told her what he'd told her before. "I know, baby. I know it hurts. But help's on the way. And I'm not leaving you. Okay?"

Evy was crying so much her tears were dripping onto Sam's outstretched hand. "I'm scared."

Sam opened the door and went around to the passenger side as quickly as he could. He climbed in next to Evy and grabbed her arm. He was relieved she didn't start crying harder; it seemed her left side was okay. Sam wiped her face, refusing to look down. He was afraid what he would see if he did.

"I'm here, baby." After nearly two full minutes of Evy steadily crying and shaking in Sam's arms, Sam screamed out the window. "Where the hell is that ambulance!?"

As if in answer to his question, sirens were suddenly blaring towards the scene. The sudden loud noise startled Evy, who did start screaming this time. Sam calmed her as best he could. He stroked the side of her face and pulled her hair back so that it wasn't sticking to her tear stained cheek. She stopped screaming but was still crying and whimpering. Finally, after what seemed like forever to Sam, a firefighter appeared at the window on Evy's side of the car.

"Hey there, kiddo. How you doing? I'm Scott, I'm gonna get you out of here, okay?"

"Help me." Evy begged.

"I will, honey, I promise." Scott said. "Sir, are you okay? Do you need medical attention?"

"Help my daughter first." Sam insisted. "Her leg's pinned beneath the door."

"Okay, we'll do that." Scott replied. "What's your name, sweetie?"

"Evy." Evy said, leaning against Sam.

"Okay, Evy, listen to me, honey. We will get you out, but it's going to take a few minutes. Hold on to your dad and I'll be right back, okay?" Scott said.

"Okay." Evy said.
"You're a brave kid, Evy. Just hang on."

Scott turned and went to discuss something with two other firefighters. Sam turned back to Evy and continued to try to keep her as calm as possible. The job was even more difficult than normal because Sam was close to panic himself. Some minutes later, Scott came back to the car and leaned in slightly in Evy's window.

"Alright, sweetheart, listen. You're gonna hear a loud noise in a minute, but it's just us getting you out of here, okay?"

Evy whimpered loudly and clung harder to Sam.

"Okay, baby, listen to me." Sam said. He turned to Scott and asked, "Can you give me a minute to calm her before you start?"

"Yeah." Scott said. "Do it quick."

"Can you bring me a blanket?" Sam asked. Time was wasting, so Scott didn't ask why he needed the blanket, he just yelled for someone to bring him one. Sam turned back to Evy. "Do you remember, when you really little, what I would do when you got scared?"

Evy nodded. "The rabbit hole."

"Do you remember why it's so dark in the rabbit hole?" Sam asked, taking the blanket offered to him by Scott.
"Cause that makes it safe." Evy said.

"That's right, baby." Sam said, wrapping the blanket on top of Evy. "Just close your eyes and stay in the rabbit hole, okay? I'll get you out when it's safe."

The sound from the rescue effort was very loud, so loud that it even scared Sam. The door lifted off the car and Evy came free. She still couldn't move after the door came off, but she was loaded onto a stretcher and being carted away before Sam could protest. Sam followed close behind, holding tight to Evy's hand.

"Mr. Winchester, we have an ambulance waiting for you."

"I'm not leaving my daughter." Sam repeated, jumping into the back of the ambulance with Evy.

Evy, who had been keeping a grip on Sam's hand, panicked when she lost it in the transfer from the ground to the ambulance. "Daddy!"

"Shhh. I'm here, baby." Sam said, grabbing her hand again. "I'm here."

Sam looked at Evy's face and noticed something that made his heart sink. Evy wasn't crying anymore. She had exhausted herself crying so hard that she couldn't do it anymore. He also saw that her eyes were getting heavy.

"Listen to me, baby. I know you're tired, but don't go to sleep. Not yet, okay?" Sam said. "Hold on to my hand as tight as you can."

Evy squeezed his hand a bit.

"Come on, baby. As hard as you can." Sam encouraged.

Unfortunately, his encouragement had the exact opposite effect on Evy. "I am. Don't you feel it?"

She's losing strength. Sam thought. "Yeah. I do, I feel it. You're doing good baby, just keep trying."

"We'll be at the hospital in a couple minutes." the ambulance driver called from the front seat.

Sam pasted on a smile, one he definitely didn't feel but he hoped helped Evy out at least a little. "You hear that?" he asked. "We're almost there."

"Am I gonna be okay?" Evy asked. "It hurts so much."

"Yes." Sam swore. "Yes, you're going to be fine. I swear, baby, you'll be fine."
They pulled up to the hospital and Evy was wheeled into the hospital. Sam was surprised when he was allowed to stay with her as she was examined. Her leg was clearly broken where the door had pinned it, and the doctor made it clear she would need an x-ray and brain scan. After being given some pain medication, Evy was sleeping as peacefully as she could. The doctor gently approached Sam.

"Mr. Winchester? I'm Dr. Cooke. Listen, I know you want to stay with your little girl, but we also need to check you."

"No." Sam said automatically. "Not until I know how bad she's hurt."

"Mr. Winchester, I know you're worried. I get that. But you won't do your daughter any good if you pass out too. Now outwardly you do seem okay. But we need to see if you have any internal injuries." Dr. Cooke said. "I promise it won't take long. Your daughter's fast asleep, and she won't wake up before our tests are done. But we can test you in the same room she's having her exam. You'll be right there the whole time."

Not having to leave Eyv convinced Sam the doctor was right. "Okay. I'll agree to an exam."

"Good." Dr. Cooke said. "It's right this way. Now, before we go, is there anyone you need to call?"
Dean, Sam thought. "Yes. My brother lives with us. He'll be wondering why we're not home yet."

"Why don't you go on and call him quickly?" Dr. Cooke suggested. "It'll take a moment to get your daughter prepped. What's her name?"

"Evelyn." Sam answered. "She likes to be called Evy."

"Alright." Dr. Cooke said. "Call your brother and we'll take good care of Evy."

Sam nodded, and pulled out his cell phone, which he was amazed was still in his pocket. There were fifteen missed calls from Dean, and six voicemails. Sam skipped the voicemails and dialed Dean's number directly.

"Sam, where the hell are you? Are you guys okay?" Dean said when he answered the phone.

"Dean." Sam said, his heart starting to beat even harder from the barely suppressed panic he'd been hiding for Evy's benefit.

"Sam? What is it? What's wrong?" Dean asked.

"You, um…" Sam said, swallowing hard to stop himself from crying. "You need to get to the hospital now. Evy's been hurt."

Dean didn't bother asking what happened; he could convince Sam to be calmer and tell him what happened at the hospital. "I'm on my way. I'll be there in less than twenty minutes."

Sam hung up the phone and his panic started to catch up with him. "Please be okay, baby. Please be okay."

Next Chapter: Evy's condition get worse. Dean and Cass find the driver of the car that hit Evy, and handle the case themselves.