Chapter Thirty-Six
Annabelle
I wasn't sure if I had picked the right Sam. That was the only reason I hadn't taken the kill shot in the tunnels. I debated my choice all the way back to the motel and watched the mirrors carefully. Fear, adrenaline, and sadness coursed through my veins. The woman I was bringing out of the tunnels had died on me before I could get her out, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if Sam died tonight. As the Impala turned into the motel parking lot, some light caught Sam's eyes and they glinted silver.
Panic surged through me and I almost burst into tears. I shot Sam. The thought seemed to echo through my mind. As soon as the car was close to stopped, I jumped out and ran into our room to get Dean's help.
"Annabelle? Is everything okay? Where's Sam?" Dean asked when I came in. I felt tears running down my face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry," I said.
"Annabelle…?"
"The shifter is outside. I shot Sam. He's not dead. He's not dead. I shot his shoulder. I wasn't sure. I'm sorry." I said. Dean's eyes burned with anger, and I knew that anger was directed at me.
"Let's go then," Dean said gruffly. He grabbed his silver knife and pushed past me.
I followed Dean into the parking lot and watched him stab the shifter and stuff it into the backseat. I slid into the passenger seat and tried to withhold a sob. Dean slid silently into the driver's seat and sped out of the parking lot. He didn't say anything the entire way, but I could feel his anger towards me; and that just made me feel worse. I pulled myself together and led Dean to where I had left Sam. He was unconscious, but still alive. Dean wouldn't let me near Sam until we got to the Impala. Dean threw the shifter's body out of the car.
"Get in. You're gonna hold pressure to the wound, got it?" Dean said bluntly. I nodded.
Dean drove to a hospital and made me stay in the waiting room while he went with Sam to make sure Sam was okay. I sat in the farthest corner of the waiting room with my knees to my chest trying to look as small as possible. I felt like I had betrayed Sam, and I didn't want to exist at the moment. My thoughts ate away at me until I finally began to cry. The tears ran down my face in a steady stream.
After what felt like days, Dean came into the waiting room. His eyes were softer towards me, but I could still feel some hostility. Dean sat next to me and put a hand on my back. I sniffled and tried to make my breaths stop shaking.
"How are you doing?" Dean asked quietly.
"I'm sorry," I whispered and wiped my cheeks.
"Sam's gonna be fine, Annabelle," Dean said.
"Doesn't mean I shouldn't be sorry. I shot him," I said.
"It's okay. It was an accident," Dean said though his voice was tight.
"Don't try to pretend that you aren't mad at me," I said.
"I'm not," Dean said. His hand tensed and his pupils contracted.
"Really? I can read you like an open book, Dean. You're lying, and you're angry. Go ahead. Yell at me. Do what you need to
make yourself feel better," I said and braced for whatever Dean would do.
"Okay, I'm upset. He's my brother, Annabelle, you know that. It's my job to protect him. I'm a little mad at you for shooting him, but I'm angrier with myself for not being there to protect him. It was an honest mistake," Dean said.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't sure. I should've kept questioning them until I was sure," I said and tears came to my eyes again.
"Come here, kid." Dean stood up and opened his arms. I hugged him and allowed myself to sob. Dean hugged me firmly. "It's okay. Let it out." Dean said. "Sam told me what happened. He's blaming himself. Fourteen, huh?" I let go of Dean, wiped my eyes, and managed a small smile.
"Yeah," I said.
"You know that means next year you can get your permit," Dean grinned.
"Yep! You gonna teach me how to drive the Impala?" I asked.
"Sure, kid." Dean looked at his watch. "It's getting late. Let's go back to the hotel and get some rest, alright?"
"Are they keeping Sam overnight?" I asked.
"Yeah. You can see him tomorrow. You look exhausted. Come on," Dean said steering me toward the door.
"Fine." I gave in, knowing he wasn't going to change his mind.
When we got back to the motel, it took Dean a few minutes to fall asleep, but it took me hours. I tossed and turned worrying about Sam for most of the night. When I finally fell asleep, the sun was beginning to rise, and it was only an hour before Dean woke me up. We got ready, picked Sam up, and headed home. I apologized to Sam countless times on the way back to Lincoln.