Sam
He wiggled his bare toes in the white sand and squinted at an ocean of diamonds. The sky was clear and the sun warmed his face. He closed his eyes and breathed in its comfort. A soft splash made him smile and he opened his eyes once again, this time to look at her. Blue eyes shone up at him in admiration and her damp, red hair framed her face like flame from a fire. When she smiled his breath caught and he returned the gesture.
"Ariel."
Her smile grew broader. "Hello, Will."
Afraid she might suddenly disappear, he approached with caution, emerging himself in the water until it rose to his chest.
"I am so happy to see you." He said.
"It has been a long time. You've forgotten me." She shrugged and bit her bottom lip, then turned her head to watch the waves dance.
"What happened, Ariel?" His sadness was unmasked.
The mermaid shook her head. "Will, please don't feel guilty. What happened to you, the things you did, weren't in your control." She took his hands and held them in her own. "You gave me life. Love. I'm so grateful."
He pulled away from her. "Things I did. What do you mean?"
The anger in his voice made the mermaid flinch. He apologized but was still intent upon an answer.
"The Dark One." She whispered the cursed words.
The Dark One. The phrase tugged his memory.
"Who is this Dark One, Ariel?"
"No one really knows for sure. Anyone who crosses paths with him never lives long enough to find out. He's a monster and he won't stop until he's destroyed you and your brother." She paused. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."
Will looked at the beautiful woman before him, feeling every muscle in his body relax. He tucked a strand of hair behind one of her ears and cupped her porcelain face in his hands.
"I feel like I'm living in a dream." He said.
Her eyes misted. "That's because you are, Will. You'd better kiss me quick, you'll be waking up shortly."
He shook his head. "I don't want to wake up. Can't I just stay here with you? This place is beautiful." The sun was beginning to set over the water. The waves had begun to dance in hues of orange and purple.
She laughed, crystal chimes. "If only you could." Her expression turned serious. "But your brother needs you. We need you."
"For what? I don't understand."
"The stories, Will."
Like a dormant machine flipped on again, old memories reawakened. The stories.
He retreated from the water and dropped onto the sand. He laid down, letting the soft sand cushion his head like a pillow. He stared upwards at the purpling sky. The first stars of night were beginning to reveal themselves like diamonds in a coal mine. The atmosphere was so still that the rise and fall of his chest seemed disruptive. He breathed slower.
How could he have forgotten the stories? The beauty and curse of the gift he and his brother had been given. The two had caused so much destruction, himself especially. What had they done, and how was he, Will, alive?
Ariel laid down beside him, her iridescent fish tail a beautiful contrast to his pale, human legs. On one elbow, she leaned over him. Her hair tickled his face and he wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and hug her to his chest.
"How's your prince?"
She winced. "So you remember that now?"
He nodded. "I hope he's been taking care of you."
She remained silent, staring thoughtfully down the stretch of beach. "I'm sure he would have."
Will waited for her to continue.
"Something happened that prevented us from being together. Story of my life."
"What do you mean something happened?" Will sat upright and gazed concernedly down at her.
She put a hand on his forearm. "Don't worry about that. I believe the expression is 'you have bigger fish to fry.' Never liked it much but it seems fitting."
The corner of Will's mouth lifted into an almost-smirk.
"Get back to your brother, Will. He's calling for you."
"Huh?"
The mermaid ran her fingers through his hair. She shifted forward and kissed him tenderly on the mouth. He closed his eyes, missing her warmth, and kissed back. He wasn't ready for her to pull away, but when she did he let her without protest.
"Save us, Will."
He nodded, his forehead brushing hers. "I will, Ariel. I'll set things right, I promise."
I promise.
Sam!
I promise.
Sammy!
Dean.
When Sam's eyes opened he was staring at a speckled, white ceiling. Everything in his peripheral vision was a dizzying blur of light and color. There was something lodged in his throat. He coughed. Beeping and buzzing noises tore at his ear drums and made his head ache. His right hand was being squeezed like an anaconda's supper.
"Sammy?"
At that moment, turning his head was the most difficult feat he'd ever accomplished. Dean was beside him, green eyes flooded, but he smiled with relief.
"Dammit, Sam. Don't ever do that to me again. I thought I might have killed you…again."
The brothers' eyes met and Sam recognized new emotions in Dean that weren't there before. Guilt, shame, and to his dismay, fear. Judging by the way Dean looked at him, Sam could only guess that his own feelings had been read as well. The men looked at one another in understanding. They were much bigger than themselves and they had a lot of work to do.
The breathing tube prevented Sam from speaking, so he just squeezed Dean's hand back.
To be continued...
A/N: Ah, feels good to update again. I don't get to write nearly as often as I'd like. You guys have been awesome bearing with me, so thank you!