It's a Long way to the top…

Chapter 25

Sam looked out on the city from his balcony, sipping strong black coffee. He was dressed in a designer suit, ready to go for his first day back at work since the accident. The last few weeks had been spent going to see doctors, specialists, and god knows what else trying to sort out why he still couldn't remember anything. Nothing had changed in the slightest. His mind was as foggy as it had been the first day he had woken up in that apartment.

Lucian had been amazing, taking care of him, trying to help him fill in the massive missing chunks of his memory. Never once judging him for making mistakes, hell he didn't even remember how he liked his coffee anymore! The Doctors said that the only thing that would help him right now was to be around familiar places and people. To carry on in his normal routine, nothing else would help him. There were no magical cures of medications that they could use.

So Sam had taken the choice to start back at work, although the idea terrified him. All those strange faces, trying to remember all of their names. On top of all of that, what on earth did a CEO actually do? Shove papers around? Attend meetings about topics he didn't understand? Make coffee? He had completely no idea of what to expect when he walked in that door, which for him would be for the first time.

So here he stood, sipping hot coffee and trying to control his jitters Looking down at the curb below, Sam saw the limo and driver waiting for him impatiently. It must have been there an hour by now easily, while Sam had been wasting time up here. He sighed wondering just how much longer he could pull this out.

Lucian banged through the door, shouting his name. For a moment it felt wrong, like someone else's name. Sam felt dizzy, strange for a moment. Like nothing around him was real, like he shouldn't be here. His brother slammed out onto the balcony, seeing him grounded him, helped Sam to hold on. "Seb, what are you still doing out here?" he demanded.

Sam shrugged, "Lucian, I don't think I can do this."

The expression on his brother's face softened instantly. "I said you were pushing yourself too hard Seb! Why didn't you tell me it was stressing you out thinking about it all! Why don't you get out of here, take a drive and don't think about work. It will all still be waiting for you when you are ready." He promised.

Sam smiled, "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden."

"Of course I'm sure! Your health is far more important to me then your work. So go, have fun, have a few drinks. Hell find yourself a nice girl to spend the night with. Just relax! All this stress isn't good for you." Lucian crooned.

Sam calmed instantly listening to that hypnotic voice. "Thanks Luci, what would I do with you?" Giving his brother a hug.

Luci grinned, "Wither and die I'm sure!" He left Sam to his own devices, he couldn't push him too far right now, in case he started to remember. The usage of Dean's Luci phrase was a little too close for his liking.

Finishing up his coffee, Sam picked up his wallet and keys. Riding the elevator down to the lobby. The car and driver were still waiting for him at the front of the building looking more then a little bored. The driver shot upright and opened the door, waiting til he was settled before asking where he would like to go. Sam had no idea what he fancied doing, he just wanted to get out of that stuffy apartment which had mostly been his home for the last few months between hospital appointments, and get some fresh air.

"I feel like shopping." He said, thinking about it.

"Very good, Sir." The driver said, starting the car up with a growl.

Sam sighed, there was something missing from the car, but he didn't know what. He watched the scenery go by deep in thought, as they came to a row of high end off the high street fashion emporiums. It looked like somewhere you would see celebrity's shopping at. The driver opened his door, and Sam looked around in amazement. He'd never been somewhere so posh or trendy before. At least not that he remembered.

"Do you wish me to wait, sir?" he asked.

Sam shook his head, "I will call you when I'm ready to be picked up."

"Very good, Sir. Have a lovely afternoon."

Sam took off into the stores, enjoying the window shopping. There were very few shoppers around at this time of day, leaving him free to browse in peace. Before long Sam found himself with a cluster of small packages and bags. Designer aftershave, a black silk shirt, and a few other bits and pieces. He actually found himself relaxing, and enjoying this wasted time just milling around. Staring in shop windows. The worries and concerns of the last few months left far behind him finally.

Lucian had been right as always, this was what he needed. His stomach growled and distracted Sam turned towards a trendy little café, knocking into someone as he did. "Oh, I'm sorry man. I wasn't looking where I was going."

He fetched the newspaper the other man had dropped. The guy he'd hit was staring at him intensely without speaking a word. "Are you okay?" Sam asked, "Did I hurt you?"

The guy stirred into action suddenly. "Sam, tell me you know who I am?" he begged.

"I think you have me mistaken with someone else, or you hit your head a little hard there. I'm Sebastian Ortiz-Salazar, CEO of Salazar Cosmetics." Sam answered.

The guy shook his head sadly. "What has Luci done to you, Sammie? You have to know who I am. I'm Dean, your brother, and you aren't Sebastian whatshisname, you are Sam Winchester."

Sam pulled back from the man's touch, "Luci has done nothing to me! Lucian is my brother, not you. I have never seen you before in my life." He realised that this guy had to be some sort of nut job, just the guy he wanted to knock into when he was still a nut job himself!

Dean grabbed Sam's arm tighter, "Please just trust me again, like you did when we were kids. You've been missing a long time, I've been worried sick about you. I heard reports of a guy like you in this area, I've been looking for weeks just trying to get you away from that apartment. Please just come with me now and Cas can help you."

Sam broke contact sharply, twisting away with skill he didn't know he had. "I don't know who you are, I don't want to know who you are. Leave me alone, you freak or I will call the police!"

"Sam, don't do this please!" Dean pleaded.

"Come near me again, and I will have you arrested." Sam said striding away quickly.

Dean's eyes filled with tears, all this time looking for his brother, and all he'd thought was that it would all be okay if he could just find Sam. Now he'd actually found his brother, he didn't know what to do. This wasn't something he could just mend, he didn't even know who he was anymore. This wasn't something that he could mend just like that, couldn't lock Sam up until he came to his senses. He needed to get back to the others and see what they could come up with. He couldn't help his brother, and that killed him inside watching as the kid walked away from him. The look in Sam's eyes, no spark, no idea who his own brother was. The only family that either of them had left now. His brother was gone, and he had no idea if Lucifer would ever give him back again. In some ways he had to prepare himself for Sammie being dead, because right now Sam Winchester was gone. And this Sebastian Ortiz-Salazar was wearing his meat suit.