Chapter 14- A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

Sam and Elliott were in their motel room looking over the case Dean had stumbled upon. Something to do with women and showers so of course Dean had rushed out to interview said women. The radio was on a local oldies station turned down low so they both could focus on their work.

*Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say, it's alright-*

Elliott visibly winced, she hadn't expected that particular Beatles song on a local radio station. She tried to ignore the tune as it played softly through the speakers. Sam didn't miss it. He may have been a little overbearing the last few days but it only made him more aware of her ability to hide her grief.

*Little darling it's been a long cold lonely winter, little darling it seems like years since it's been here. Here comes the sun, here comes the sun-*

"Ellie? You okay?" Sam's concern not at all hidden. Unable to ignore it she quickly reached up turning the soft melody off in a flash.

"I'm fine." She lied looking back to the report in front of her. Sam's eyes narrowed.

"No, you're not. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong Sam." She huffed still eyeing the papers in front of her.

"It's just me Ellie. You can talk to me." Sam continued to pushed. Elliott sighed letting her head hang down, but relaxed when she felt his warm hand rub soothing circles on her lower back.

"Max." She breathed quietly. "He uh, he- that song was kinda a family song. Used to sing me it to sleep when I was a baby." Unable to speak above a whisper not wanting to crack. She had been doing so good, worked a case earlier and didn't crack once. Now a stupid song on the radio was breaking her. "Like I said, it's nothing-"

"I'm sorry I pushed." He sighed and tucked a stand of coppery blonde behind her ear.

"I'll be fine Sam. Just can't listen to it right now. I really hope this case isn't a bust. I could really use the distraction." Right on time they heard Dean heard on the other side of the door. He was chuckling as he made his way through the door shutting it behind him and fixed the salt line.

"You'll never guess what kind of wack jobs live here." Dean snickered.

"What?" Elliott smiled glad for the change in topic. She was honestly doing much better but still tried to avoid anything that had to do with her deceased brother.

"So, the shower room lady was either attention crazy or just plain crazy. Then I run into a bigfoot fanatic on my way back." He huffed. "At least this towns good for a laugh."

"Wait bigfoot?" Sam snorted.

"There's LSD in the water or something man." Dean joked causing Elliott to chuckle. "Alright so downside there's most likely no case. Upside that means it's time to break for diner."

"It was worth a try, I guess. No pervy ghosts haunting the women's bathrooms." Elliott sighed, with a sour face.

"Your turn Sweetheart. Where we eating tonight?" Dean questioned beyond ready to eat.

"Chinese?" She asked hopeful smile on her lips. Chinese was always Max's favorite. They used to celebrate a successful hunt with Chinese takeout. Dean was all too quick to agree not caring too much where or what they ate. He just wanted to eat.

It was a typical Chinese restaurant. The three of them sat at a small table by a cheesy fountain. Elliott wondered if Sam had purposefully sat on the end of the bench seat to box her in. Dean sat across from them all stretched out taking up as much of his seat as possible.

Once they ordered Dean smiled down at the small hunter. "Chinese? We haven't gotten Chinese in a while. Good pick Ell."

Elliott briefly met his eyes only to look away and stare intently at the cheap table top. She shrugged picking at a crack on the table. "It was Max's favorite. When I first started hunting, we were too young to go to a bar, so Max would bring me to the closest Chinese restaurant after a good hunt. It kinda became a tradition."

Dean nodded with a sad smile. "I miss him too kid. We can try and keep up the tradition if you want?"

Unshed tears pricked at her eyes and she couldn't verbally respond without shedding them just sniffed giving him a nod. Sam rested his arm along her shoulder silently giving her comfort. Landing a quick kiss to her temple just before their food arrived. She ate her sweet and sour chicken in silence listening to the brother's bicker.

When the check came back with their change Elliott snatched a quarter. "Let me out." Sam raised a brow at her but moved when she started to push at his shoulder lightly. Then saw her eyes on the fountain and laughed getting up so she could get by him.

"Oh, come on! Don't waste my change on that." Dean complained.

"Let her be Dean. It's just a quarter." Sam defended still smiling.

Elliott ignored the men's squabbling and closed her eyes. She let out a humorless huff tossing the coin. It landed un in the water with a dull 'plop'. Turning back to the table to watch the men continued their banter. The bell chimed announcing a customer coming in the door. Not even sparing a glance that way she took a step to her table when an impossible voice called her name.

"Ellie?"

It was like she had forgotten how to breath. The voice froze her to the spot for a moment but when she could move her head snapped in his direction. It was him! It was impossible but it was him. His messy brown curly hair that stuck up in random spots. His dark mischievous green eyes confused, wary of his surroundings. Not even half a second later Elliott was screaming with joy and flung herself at her big brother.

Her arms constricting his torso holding on for dear life. It took a moment to reciprocate in his confusion but she felt his arms hug her back. Elliott in her excitement hadn't even heard the Winchesters calling out her name shouting for her to stop. She was now bawling her eyes out both happy and sad tears. Not caring that she was in public or who might witness her vulnerability.

"Ellie? Wh-what's going on? Are you okay?" Max stammered completely confused and worried. He had never seen his baby sister act like this, not even when she was a child. Elliott was crying too hard to give him a straight answer.

Suddenly Max was shoving Elliott behind him. "Who the Hell are you?" Max barked at Sam and Dean when they approached too quickly and tried to pull his little sister away from him.

"Why don't we take this back to the motel? Away from the public." Dean growled out evenly.

Neither Winchester believed this was actual Max. He didn't even remember them for fucks sake. Max's dark green eyes shifted around the restaurant now noting all of the gawking civilians. Then looked back to his crying sister in his arms. Sighing reluctantly and nodding his agreement. He kept his arms around his sniffling sister protectively as they left the restaurant. Sam and Dean followed watching with unease. They were terrified for the small hunter, that was in what just couldn't be her brother's arms.

A silver blade cut a small slice of Max's forearm as he sat annoyed on the edge of a motel bed. His sniffling sister sat next to him, her giant puffy eyes like saucers staring at him in disbelief. As Sam and Dean finished the last of the tests, he rubbed his aching temples.

"See not a monster. I'm guessing you two are hunters? What the Hell is going on? What's wrong with Ellie?" Max fired off questions without giving them time to respond.

"You don't remember them?" Elliott's soft voice spoke out for the first time since the restaurant. Max looked back at her brow raised cautiously.

"Should I?"

"What's the last thing you remember Max?" Sam questioned slowly sitting on Elliott's other side. Letting his hand rest on her knee and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I don't know you. Why should I tell you anything?" Max snapped eyes narrowing on the man's hand on his sister's leg.

"Max, buddy we're your friends' man," Dean tried to assure, cautiously uncrossing his arms to appear less threatening. Elliott stepped in seeing Max was about to protest.

"Max, their telling the truth. That's Dean Winchester. Amazing hunter and a really close friend. He's like family Max." Elliott gestured to Dean sitting across from them on the edge of the other bed. Then turned to smile at her giant. "And this is Sam Winchester his brother, also an amazing hunter and my- uh- my boyfriend?" Elliott questioned unsure what she should even call Sam. They hadn't really put a label on it and the word boyfriend did feel right on her tongue. He was more than just a boyfriend she thought but was unsure how to word it properly.

Max cocked his head to the side eyes ping ponged back and forth between the two. Elliott could feel her brother's apprehension and bit her lip waiting for Max to respond.

"Boyfriend? But you don't date. Not since that asshole in-"

"Max." Elliot stopped him trying to shake her head discreetly.

"What asshole?" Sam turned to her with a frown.

"Nothing Sam." She sighed. "Nothing happened if you recall Max. Because I can handle myself."

Max suddenly let out a groan and rubbed his temples again.

"Max?" Elliott fretted. "Max, are you okay?"

"Yeah you don't look so good." Dean asked feeling on edge. Dean thought it sounded, acted, and freaking looked like Max. Maybe a little paler and sick looking Max but that didn't explain anything. Still not sure if he believed his dead friend was alive again, it would be too good to be true.

"Uhh, just a bad headache." Max deflected. "Ellie, I don't understand. If you're so close to them why don't I know or remember them?"

"You- uh you-" Elliott stuttered. Sam gave a comforting squeeze to her shoulder before jumping in to save her.

"Max, you've been dead for over a month now." The young Winchester explained gently as he could. Max laughed in disbelief before catching their serious faces. Then shot up out of his seat like he'd been electrocuted. Eyes flitting around the room examining each face for any hint of humor but found none.

"No way," He shook his head completely stunned.

"Max," Sam cautioned. "Why don't you sit down, you need to relax."

He let out another groan and held his head, refusing to take a seat. "What? How did this happen? I died, like died, died?" His brows lifted slightly and he turned to meet Elliott's puffy eyes. "That's why you were crying at the restaurant. But I- I don't remember- How'd I die?"

"Ugh. That's gnarly." Max grimaced when the trio had finished filling in the blanks for him. "Kinda glad I don't remember that."

"Lucky you." Elliott mumbled under her breath but caught Sam's ear. That earned her his concerned puppy eyes.

"I still don't get it. If I died why am I here?" Max questioned slowly.

Dean's head whipped around to Elliott with an accusing glare and growled. "Oh, sweetheart you're in for a major ass kicking if you went back and made that deal."

"You what?!" Max shouted turning on his sister as well. Sam's eyes went wide as his panicked, mind racing to think of a time she could have snuck off to make a deal.

"No!" Elliott shouted back over him shaking her head violently. "I couldn't even if I wanted to remember? I've already tried that. I am the only person on the planet they won't deal with." Sam and Dean visibly relaxed, but not Max.

"Elliott! You tried to sell your soul?!" Max barked beyond furious. Letting out a sting of curses he pointed a finger at his sister and growled. "You are not that stupid! I didn't raise you to be that stupid!"

"It doesn't matter Max! It didn't even work! They wouldn't make a deal with me. I still have my soul. Besides I think we have bigger issues right now." Elliott huffed glaring right back at her brother.

"Bigger than your soul?!" Max nearly shouted exasperated, looking at her like she had grown a second head.

"Max. Not that I'm complaining but if Ellie didn't sell her soul, how are you even alive right now?" Sam spoke up giving Elliott a break from her brothers reprimanding. Max gave her a look that obviously meant they were not done with this conversation. Then turned to the Winchesters.

"Yeah, one minute were paying the bill and the next Elliott's screaming and your standing there alive and in one piece." Dean unconsciously stared at Max's chest where he had been ripped into.

"Hmm…" All eyes turned to Elliott humming out loud.

"You think of something?"

"Uh, maybe? It's ridiculous though…" She bit her lower lip and fidgeted with the hairband around her wrist. All three men looked at her expectantly. "Maybe, uh- maybe it could have been the wishing well?" There were a couple moments of silence, as they all processed her words.

"Wishing well?" Max parroted in disbelief. Sam and Dean glanced at one another having one of their 'telepathic' conversations then turned to Elliott with softened eyes.

"You wished for Max." Sam stated rather than questioned.

"Wait, wait, wait. No, are you trying to tell me I am only alive right now because of a wishing well?" Max scoffed skeptically.

"Only one way to find out." Dean shrugged on his jacket gesturing for the door. Max blinked a few times before walking out the door Dean now was holding open for them.

"It doesn't matter how Max is alive." Elliott defended. "He's back. That's all that matters. Everything is going to be okay now." Sam and Dean shared an uneasy look before Dean followed Max out giving Sam and Elliott a moment.

"Ellie? Baby… this kind of magic, it always comes at a price-" Sam started but she wasn't having it.

"Stop." She stated coldly. "Don't. You got your brother back. Why can't I have mine?" She left following the older hunters out to the Impala without giving Sam a chance to respond.

Elliott couldn't help her toothy grin as she looked into the parking lot. She watched her brother fanboy all over Baby again. Just like he did the first time, asking almost the exact same questions. Not even Dean could hide his smile as he talked about Baby with his very missed friend. Dean even made Sam scrunch into the back seat with Elliott to let Max ride shotgun.

Knowing that they had made too big of a commotion earlier to go back into the restaurant they waited for closing hour. When the owner finally left for the night locking up and driving away, they made their move. Sam quickly picked the lock and all four shuffled in. Gathering around the fountain and eyed it carefully.

"Give me a quarter." Dean held his hand out expectantly. Receiving and eye roll from his brother before he dug through his pockets and placed a quarter in his hand. Dean wet his lips subconsciously then closed his eyes mouth moving silently as he wished and let the quarter plop into the water. They waited a few silent moments where nothing happened.

"What'd you wish for?" Max whispered at Dean.

Dean huffed. "Not supposed to tell."

A loud knock made all four hunters turn to the glass door their hands hovering at their concealed weapons. A bigger man in a ball cap and jacket that labeled 'Schlotzsky's Subs' stood at the door impatiently. Dean's jaw went slack in surprise and he made his way to the door.

"You the one who ordered the footlong Italian with jalapenos?" The man asked when Dean had opened the door. The other three hunters hadn't moved from the fountain and were just staring dumbstruck at them.

Dean turned back to the hunters, sandwich in hand. The delivery man was already in his car and driving off. The older Winchester gave another shrug opening the wrappings and inspecting the sandwich. He took a large bite chewing loudly.

"A sandwich? You wished for a sandwich?" Sam bawked.

"Dude, I think she's right. The wishing well does work. I was pretty specific." Dean concluded around a mouthful.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Max mumbled causing everyone to turn to his pale stunned face. "I- I- I'm only alive because of a wishing well…"

"Max, calm down," Sam tried to sooth his panicked friend.

"No. No, this is insane." Max's heaved, and eyes glazed over unfocused. His breath sped up becoming shallow.

"Max." Elliott grabbed her brothers face to force him to look at her then gave his head a small wack when he still stared off panting quickly. "Snap out of it." She demanded.

Max blinked and glared at his sister as his breathing became deeper. He rubbed the back of his head where she had wacked him, annoyed that she was able to snap him out a panic attack with a hit to his head.

Back at the cheap motel the four of them debated. Unsure if this wishing well was something to be messed with. Sam was particularly quiet as he typed away at the small table. Dean stood near him leaning against the wall his arms crossed as he thought out loud.

"What are we supposed to do? Stop peoples wishes from coming true? Kinda sounds like a douche thing to do." Dean shrugged.

"Not to mention hypocritical considering." Elliott agreed from her seat across from Sam. She rubbed her forehead and looked to her brother on the edge of the bed.

"When has something like this ever come without a price tag?" Max interjected, giving them a worried glance.

"Usually a deadly one." Sam added somberly.

"Stop. No, no, no. No. We don't know that. Dean's sandwich wish didn't go bad. Why do we even have to look into this?" Elliott almost begged desperate. "Why can't we just be happy with Max being back, and move on to a new town? We can find a hunt with an actual bad guy, we could-"

A loud gurgle grumbled from Dean's stomach, stopping everyone. A moment passed before it happened again. This time Dean grimaced and held a hand to his stomach. Then his other hand flew to his mouth and he ran into their motel bathroom, slamming the door shut as he went. The closed bathroom door did nothing to quiet Dean's retching. His loud puking caused both Sam and Max to wince. Connecting the dots, knowing what this meant Elliott's breath hitched insides shattering.

"You okay in there, Dean?" Sam knocked on the door before more sounds of vomiting echoed out to their ears. When the noises slowed down Dean finally answered.

"The wish turned bad Sammy. The wish turn very bad." Dean groaned weakly through the door.

Elliott turned to her brother with wide wet eyes, that could give Sam's puppy dog eyes a run for its money. Max gave her a sad smile, understanding as well. Failing to suppress a whimper she snatched her cigarettes off the motel table refusing to meet either of their eyes and quickly dashed out of the motel room.

Sam sighed out and ran a hand down his face. His heart breaking for both Max and Elliott. She had just started to open up and smile again, if this thing with Max went bad like Dean's sandwich, he didn't know how she would handle it. Then there was Max. Fuck, Sam couldn't imagine what was going through his head. How he could possible process any of this. Sam stood up to follow her out but Max got up as well and blocked his way.

"I got this Sam." Max sighed.

"Max, wait. This can't be easy on you. How are you feeling? Are you okay? Felling weird at all?"

"Are you asking me if I'm craving human flesh or something?" Max sassed causing Sam to look away in shame.

"Uh, I'm sorry. That was rude- I- I shouldn't have asked that."

"No, you're right to ask, I would have done the same. I'm not craving flesh. But honestly? I don't, I don't feel right. It's like my body knows I'm not supposed to be here? My head has been pounding like a fucking jackhammer and my muscles are all week and achy. Like a migraine and a bad flu without the stomach stuff. Something isn't right." Max gave him a small shrug rubbing at his temple absentmindedly. "Maybe the taste for flesh comes later?" He joked. Sam didn't find it funny though and just met his eyes with sad ones. The sounds of Dean's vomiting echoed from the bathroom.

"I truly am sorry Max. Maybe we can find some way…" Sam left the sentence open trying to come up with a solution to keep his friend alive and well. The young Winchester got up and went to his bag on the floor near the bed, then went to their cooler and pulled out a beer. Handing Max a bottle of ibuprofen and a beer Sam sat back down.

"Sam, that's nice of you to say and all but I'd rather you didn't bull shit me. There is no way to keep me here without consequences and we both know it. Hell, Elliott knows it. That's why she's being stubborn and ignoring the problem to have a smoke. Like I said, I can feel something coming. I know I'm not here for good. No use denying it." Max sighed sloshing a couple ibuprofen down with the beer.

"You want us to work this case, even though that means you're at risk of dying?"

"Aren't you listening to me?" Max narrowed his eyes tying not to get frustrated. "I am a risk right now. I may not be going all undead zombie on you but something is wrong. What's dead should stay dead." Max was looking down at his beer, completely missing Sam's wince at his choice of words.

"But Ellie…"

"Ellie's strong. She'll pull through." Max softly smiled, Pride filling his dark green eyes as they gazed toward the motel door. "She's always been stronger than me." Sam sighed wanting to tell him how broken she had been without him this last month.

"Max, she-"

"She'll have you." Max interrupted again. "I may not remember you but I'm not blind. I see how she is around you. Just promise me something?"

"Anything." Sam promised quickly.

"If things go south like they seem to always do? If I'm no longer me, or something happens? You protect her. She is my sister and my responsibility but I need to know she will be okay without me if things go south."

"Of course. You don't need to ask." Sam vowed not having to even think on it.

"We both will." Dean promised weakly from the now open bathroom door. His pale face was covered in a sheen of sweat but his promise was strong.

Feeling assured Max thanked them before leaving to find his sister. It didn't take him long to find her. The puffs of smoke from her cigarette giving her location away. Sitting on the cold concrete of the parking lot back leaning up against the sleek black classic car Elliott exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Hey Bug." Max whispered taking a seat on the pavement next to her. Her shoulders stiffened at hearing the nickname only her big brother ever called her. She didn't think she'd ever hear it again. Yet here he was, alive and addressing her with the silly nickname unconsciously.

"I don't care if the wishes go bad. I won't let you go bad."

"Ellie, it's a little too late for that. I can already feel it. I feel off. My head, my body? Somethings not right." Max explained slowly, then smirked and elbowed her softly in the side. "You going to share or what?" He gestured to her cigarette.

Elliott gave a wet chuckle and dug through her leather jacket's inner pocket. She held out the pack and he took one from the carton. He couldn't help the way his smile widened when he looked at the Bugs Bunny lighter. He remembered when the lighter belonged to their dad. Well his dad, but Elliott didn't need to know that he thought. With the cigarette between his lips he cupped the air around the end with one hand to keep the wind away as he lit up. There were a few moments of silence the cool November wind rustling the fall leaves.

"Please don't leave me again." Elliott squeaked hating how weak voice sounded. Max pulled her in a one armed hug placing a quick kiss on the crown of her head. He held her tight resting his cheek there. She could feel a wet drop land on her scalp, making her own eyes silently spill over.

"I am always with you Ellie. If you think the afterlife could stop me from being your big brother, you're crazier than I thought." Max playfully shoved his shoulder into hers after releasing his tight hold. He huffed and gave her a knowing smirk, no trace of the tears she had known escaped his eyes. She let out a wet laugh, harshly wiping a few tears away with her casted hand.

"How'd you manage that one klutz?" Max nodded at her casted left arm wanting to lighten his sister's mood, but watched as the opposite happened. Bringing the cig to her lips she took a drag, eyes locked on her cast. Exhaling slowly a cloud of smoke trailed out before she found her voice.

"It was the werewolf that…" Elliott let the sentence drop not wanting to think about that night. "Honestly I could have taken it off this week but Sam somehow convinced me to wait an extra week." She complained.

"Goodman." Max smiled. His sister groaned and rolled her eyes but he could see her try to hide a smile. "What's with the stupid flowers? Lose a bet or something?" He snickered running a finger over one of the girly looking flowers drawn onto the off white cast. The comment had sent a strange mix of emotions along Elliott's face. Her eyes were bright yet sad and although the corner of her lips curled up he also saw her lower lip wobble.

"Payback actually." She whispered with a sniffle.

"Okay… I feel like I keep saying the wrong things here. What did I say?"

"I missed you so much Max." Elliott breathed giving her big brother a sad smile.

"I'm right here Ellie Bug." He whispered back softly. "I'm right here."

They talked for hours. About everything and nothing. Elliott didn't know if Max being back was going to last and although she would fight tooth and nail against anything that threatened to take him away again, she soaked up every second she could with him. They sat there, smoking cigarettes till four in the morning. Only going inside when Sam popped his head out to check on them worried something might have happened.

There was a bit of awkwardness when they finally returned to the motel room. Max didn't like that his little sister was planning on sleeping in the same bed with the giant Winchester he didn't even remember. Dean had already passed out in the bathroom, not wanting to stray too far from the toilet. Because although Dean had stopped blowing chunks, he still wasn't feeling great. Sam had dug through the tiny motel closet and found a pillow and a blanket, for his brother. That left only the two beds.

Sam could obviously feel the tension in the room. He knew it Max would prefer Elliott not share a bed with the tall hunter but he was afraid she would have one of her nightmares without him there. She had gotten much better in the last week but her nightmares were still was a common occurrence. After five minutes of whispered assurance that nothing was going to happen, they all settled down for the night. Sam and Elliott in one bed and Max in the other. Elliott, emotionally exhausted from the day passed out quickly, her giant wrapped around her from behind. She only was roused from her sleep once. Stirring at to cold her giant was no longer warming her back but when she heard his voice, she relaxed back into semi unconsciousness. The hushed rough voices of the Winchesters lulling her to sleep. In her sleepy state she wasn't even able to make out words just voices. She thought she heard the words 'nightmares' and 'Hell' but she was asleep before she could process.

The next morning Elliott woke with a sharp inhale, clutching her head. Groaning out loud her brain felt like it was being stabbed. She hardly noticed how achy her muscles were with the jackhammering inside her head.

"Ellie? What's wrong?" Sam asked the bed dipping as he sat on the edge. His fingers wrapped around her wrists moving them away from her face.

"I'm okay." She spoke sleep still heavy in her voice. "Headache."

"Headache? Baby this looks like more than a headache," Sam's eyes narrowed taking in her squinty eyes and scrunched forehead. He rubbed his thumb in small circles on her inner wrist. "If it was another nightmare, Ellie you can talk to me,"

"Nah, not that I can remember." Elliott shrugged smoothing out her features to appear relaxed and gave him a small smile. "Probably just getting sick. Feeling a little low on energy. Nothing to worry about giant."

Sam looked her over before getting up and grabbing the bottle of ibuprofen from where he had left it when he gave some to Max last night. Then went to the cooler to pull out a beer. "Sorry beer is all we got until Max and Dean get back from grabbing breakfast."

Elliot tried to smile and downed four pills with the cold beer. "Alright, I'm going to get ready. A shower should help."

After her shower she changed quickly before leaving the bathroom feeling no better than before. Now she almost felt dizzy as well. Great, Elliott thought. She hardly ever got sick, but it happens to everyone. Her best way to get over being sick was to just stop being sick. She stumbled on her way to the closest bed almost biffing it but catching herself on the wall.

"Elliott?" Sam was at her side the moment she caught herself on the wall, helping her to the bed.

"I'm fine, Jolly Green. Just tripped, klutzy me." She lied with a chuckle.

He of course had to see right through it. Luckily for Elliott though Sam didn't get a chance to call her out as Dean and Max entered the motel room. Their laughs and loud bantering made Elliott wince but she pushed it aside as best she could.

"Someone's feeling better." Elliott grinned up at the oldest Winchester. "Maybe the wishes don't stay bad after all." She pressed hopefully.

"Besides being exhausted I do feel better." Dean admitted setting the grease stained paper bag down on the table. "-and I'm not the only one." Dean's smile widened as he turned to pat Max on the back.

"Weirdly, yeah. No more headaches! Or the flu like muscle aches." Max huffed nonchalantly but Elliott could hear the hopefulness in his voice. Sam's brows furrowed a moment his eyes darted from the blonde to her brother.

"Wait no headaches? It's just gone?" Sam questioned slowly.

"Yeah. Woke up feeling more alive and energetic. Maybe this whole 'wishes go bad' thing won't be as bad as we thought?" Max shrugged before sitting down at the table and digging into the paper bag to pull out a breakfast sandwich wrapped in tinfoil.

Elliott felt Sam's eyes on her and turned quickly. Sam looked worried, more so than only a few moments ago. Max had a migraine and body aches yesterday, but now Elliott had a migraine and body aches. She could see in Sam's eyes that he too saw the similarities. Right as he was about to voice this her hand griped his denim covered thigh in an almost painful grip.

"It's probably just a coincidence Sam. Let it go." Elliott breathed so quietly only her giant could hear. His jaw ticked as he gave her a pointed look, brow arching obviously disagreeing. "I promise I'll let you know if it gets worse." She vowed under her breath large hazel green eyes pleading. Sam exhaled slowly through his nose but said nothing, not happy at all.

"Hey, love birds. Stop your flirting and get ready, we have work to do." Dean smirked at the two whispering.

Elliott huffed pretending to be annoyed with Dean but really her head hurt too much to really be bothered by the hunters taunting. She slowly got up fighting off a small dizzy spell she yawned while stretching to cover it up. Quickly finishing up her minor makeup and brushing her hair out not wanting to give Sam a chance to change his mind and blab. It was just a headache. She saw it as two different possibilities, one she had caught whatever bug Max had or two it was a mere coincidence.

A plan was formed by the time she was done. Max and Dean were going to close down the Chinese restaurant to stop any more well wishers. On their way they were going to drop Sam and Elliott off at the library. Where the couple would look for any possible wishes that had already came true. Elliott wanted to go with her brother after grieving his death for a month she wanted to spend as much time as she could with him, but apparently so did Dean. It was understandable they all had missed him, but she was a little disappointed to be stuck with research duty.

"How you feeling?" Sam spoke up after at least twenty minutes of web searching. The dinosaur like computers making their task much more difficult than necessary.

"Much better." Elliott lied her smile giving it away. Sam groaned annoyed at her stubborn behavior and ran hand through his shaggy brown hair.

"Don't lie to me Ellie."

"It's just a headache Sam, don't worry about it. Have you found anything?" She ignored his glare at the change of subject. Then once again she was saved by Dean, as Sam's phone went off.

"Hey, got the place shut down for now," Dean's gruff voice informed them over the phone. Elliott listened in. The deserted library was quiet enough Sam didn't even need to put it on speakerphone for her to hear. "Max and I drained the wishing well." Elliott tensed not wanting them to mess with the well until they understood it. She didn't want to chance Max getting hurt or worse.

"Looks like we found the source of all the wishing." Max's voice cut in. "An old coin. I'm sending Ellie a picture now. It's stuck to the bottom of the well."

"Like really stuck." Dean added.

"I got it." Elliott held her phone for Sam to see the picture of the coin. "Looks pretty old,"

"You geeks get on that. We'll be back to pick you up soon." Dean ordered. They could hear Max snickering in the background before they hung up.

"Let me see that?" Sam asked holding his hand out. She stood up from her seat and walked slowly over to hand her phone over. He eyed her suspiciously but held his tongue at the hunter's slow movements. Soon his fingers were typing away on the ancient library computer.

Dean and Max were back in no time. Of course, by then Elliott had fallen asleep in her research pile at the library table. Sam hadn't the heart to wake her when he knew she wasn't feeling well. Max on the other hand looked great. He hadn't thought Max even looked bad before but now his skin had a healthy glow, and his eyes were bright and lively.

"Someone has been having too much fun." Max chuckled. "Snoozing on the job Ellie?" He ran a hand through her copper blonde hair and froze. Eyebrows furrowed he put the back of his hand to her forehead waking her up.

"Nughm-" Elliott grumbled sleepily and pushed his cold hand away. Her eyes peaked open and she wrinkled her forehead confused. "What are you doing?"

"You're burning up Ellie. Are you sick?" Max brought the back of his hand up to her forehead again looking over her pale face and squinty eyes.

"No, I think it's worse." Sam sighed before she could stop him, now very worried.

"Sam," Elliott protested now fully awake. She wouldn't admit to herself that her head was much worse and she felt dizzy just sitting there.

"No, Elliott. This is not just a headache and you know it. Something is happening and it's not good." Sam corrected. Max's worry was written all over his face as the back of his hand moved along her cheek and forehead checking the temperature again.

"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?" Dean barked stepping up to the group eyes darting from his brother to a pale looking Elliott.

"I think Elliott has Max's migraine from yesterday." Sam hypothesized. "The better Max is looking the worse Elliott seems to be getting."

"Were you trying to keep this from us?" Dean raised his tone a little too loud for the quiet library. Elliott exhaled slowly not denying it and batted her brother's hand away from her forehead again.

"Dammnit Ellie! This has something to do with your wish going bad!" Max shouted gathering the old librarian's stern eyes.

"I think we should take this back to the motel." Dean mumbled eyes flicking to the grumpy old librarian.

All four of them gave the librarian an apologetic smile as they left. Sam helping escort Elliott an arm slung around her waist. With her balance off she had to lean on him a bit more than she cared to admit. They piled into the Impala Sam and Dean in their regular seats while Max and Elliott took the back.

"So what? Is the wish making her sick? What the hell is going on?" Dean questioned anger directed at both Sam and Elliott but his eyes stayed on the road.

"We can't know for sure, but I think I've got a theory now." Sam sighed his hazel eyes full of worry. "We can see that the better Max is getting the worse Ellie is, right? Like the wish is possibly transfer her life for his? Like her powers do." Everyone but Elliott was stunned into silence.

"What? That's insane! You have no proof. Just because I have his headache and stuff doesn't mean-"

"How do we stop this?" Max demanded over his sister's denial.

"Max, no-"

"Shut up Ellie!" Max snapped turning his panicked eyes to Sam for answers.

"We need to get the person who made the first wish in the well to take the coin back. According to my research it will reverse all the wishes."

"No!" Elliott shouted. A bout of dizziness hit her and she threw her hand into her hands to try and center her perception. Elliott felt her brother's hand on her shoulder to gather her attention.

"I'm not letting you die because of me Ellie. This is my decision, not yours and not theirs." Max gestured to the Winchesters in the front seats. "I'm not even supposed to be here Bug." He reasoned but she was shaking her head as a couple tears fell from her pleading eyes.

"How do we find this person to take out the coin?" Max turned away from his sister to ask the now quiet Winchesters.

"We need to find the first wish." Dean swallowed the lump in his throat. His sad eyes now glued to the road not wanting to look into the rearview mirror to see Elliott in anguish or Max's stony expression seemingly accepting his own fate.

"Well I searched for local news, anything too good to be true or strange, I found a couple options. There was a bigfoot sighting a few days ago which is more probable but the earliest possibility is a recent engagement after the couple was only together a week." Sam concluded warily.

"No!" She shouted again. "I said no damnit!"

"I'm so sorry Ellie." Max apologized with a sad but determined voice.

"This isn't up to you Sweetheart." Dean added. His gruff tone a little deeper than normal to help cover up his sorrow. Then began to pull over to the side of the road, needing a game plan so he could drive in the right direction.

"I can't lose you again. You can't just- just- Max what about you? Your life? You can't just give up," Elliott's voice broke as she continued to ramble. "…not for me." Max wrapped his arm around her hugging her to his side for a few silent minutes.

"That's what big brothers are for." He whispered in her ear. Then Max looked up at Sam and Dean releasing a shaky breath trying to silently communicate with his eyes and gave them a strong nod.

She could see that Max had something shinny in his hands but before she knew what was happening, he lunged at her. In her weakened state she wasn't even able to fight back and within a blink of an eye her good wrist that wasn't in a cast was handcuffed to the door handle. Max leaned back expecting his sister to lash out at him but she froze in shock. Elliott's eyes were as round as saucers and she pulled at the cuff.

"Max!" Elliott squeaked in shock and horror.

"I know you Ellie. You won't let me do what I need to. This is the only way to keep you from stopping me." Max explained apologetically.

"No, no, no, no. Max no! Don't do this! No." She sputtered and yanked at the cuff. "Sam, Dean, please! -please don't let him do this." Elliott croaked out making Sam cringe and turn away.

"Max, you do know what this means…" The older Winchester turned to him avoiding Elliott's pleading eyes.

"I know." Max gave him a sad smile. Dean gave him a nod promising to save Elliott even at the great cost of losing his friend and her brother. Then started the Impala back up and drove towards the engaged couples place with the directions Sam was giving him. Elliott shrieked furiously yanking at the cuff wildly.

"Hey, hey!" Dean shouted. "Someone calm her down before she brakes Baby!"

"Dean!" Sam glared at his brother's choice of words as Max moved quick to help. He grabbed her shoulders again too easily pinning her back against the seat. Her attempts to push him off far too weak to have any effect.

"Hey. Look at me." Max demanded slowing her struggles. "This could be our last chance to say goodbye. Do you really want to ruin that by acting like a brat?"

That stopped her completely. Her head hung bowed in shame as she tried to sniff back tears that just couldn't stop from falling. "I'm sorry." She breathed in the silent car. The cuff rattled and halted her attempt to wipe away the tears on her cheek. Sighing when she couldn't use her cuffed right hand. Then used her free hand covered in the girly flowered cast. Clumsily wiping her wet cheeks.

"Ellie. How lucky are we to get a second chance to say goodbye, hmm?" Max spoke softly pushing her coppery blonde hair out of her face to look her in the eye. "I know this is hard for you Ellie Bug, but you are so strong. If anyone can get through this it's you."

"I can't." Elliott whispered. "I can't, I need my brother. I need you."

"No, you don't. Not anymore. Ellie you've still got family here. That clown in the front seat?" Max nodded to Dean as he drove. "He might joke around but you said it yourself, he's family." Elliott sniffled her wet eyes dared to meet Dean's in the rearview mirror before looking back to Max. "And even though it's weird you have Sam. I've never seen you click like this with anyone before. I don't know if I really understand it but I can see it. There is something different about you with him. You have family, besides there is no way you can truly get rid of me I'll always be with you Bug." Both Sam and Dean stayed quiet letting them have their goodbye.

"Max but it's my fault you- If I wasn't so slow, I could have-" Elliott choked.

"No, no, no. That's the job Ellie. We both know it. No one gets out of the life. If I hear you are blaming yourself for me? You're going to be in for a major ass kicking in the afterlife." Max threatened making Elliott let out a wet chuckle.

The car slowed down to a residential house and she felt her heart speed up. Max looked up at Sam and Dean before giving Elliott a sad smile. "We'll be right back."

Elliott sat there handcuffed to the door handle trying to process. This was it and she knew it. Now that she wasn't fighting back her adrenaline began to fade. She could feel a cloud roll over her mind, fogging her brain and her muscles ached feeling weaker than before. She hated it but Sam was right, she was getting worse. When the men returned, they were leading a scrawny shorter man with thick glasses to the car. Max sat in the middle of the back seat pulling the man in next to him. Dean slammed his door shut and started the Impala and took off towards the restaurant.

"Is she okay?" The scrawny guy eyed Elliott sitting on the other side of Max. She shivered at the cool air but didn't seem to be able to stop the cold seeping into her warm skin.

"Ellie?" Max fretted grabbing her shoulders again to steer her attention to him, Elliott felt her eyes start to droop her head rolled a little with Max's movement.

"Mm finn." She slurred blinking slowly trying to fight the clouding dizziness.

"Shit." Sam's curse had her inhale sharply as she tried even harder to clear the fog. "Dean hurry!" The Impala speed up making her head lull back.

"Ellie, it's going to be okay. I'm going to make this right." Max soothed but his terrified tone was not hidden well, and she wasn't sure she wanted him to make this right.

"What's wrong with her?" Then man on the other side of Max pitched.

"Her wish is going bad, asshat." Dean barked at the pathetic man. "If you don't pull that coin out and reverse all this, she's going to die!"

The man's eyes widened so much it looked like they would pop out of his thick glasses. Elliott in her delirious state started to laugh at the cartoon like man.

"Ellie?! You okay back there?" Sam's concern was turning to panic as he watched the delirious hunter continue to laugh from the front seat. Her laughter subsided when she got a look out the window as the Impala slowed.

"Whoa… Ssss thha real?" Elliott slurred as they pulled up to the Chinese restaurant. Everyone turned to see what she was mumbling about. A kid had just flipped an SUV over with his bare hands.

"Yeah that's real sweetheart." Dean mumbled back baffled at the scene before them. He then jumped out of the Impala turning back to Sam. "I'll handle super kid. You two get Wes to the well." He ordered but turned to Max with a meaningful yet stern gaze. "See you on the other side Max." Then gave Elliott one last look ordering them to hurry, but it was Elliott's whimper spurred Max and Sam on. Max turned to his little sister stirring her from her foggy brain.

"This is it Bug." He kissed her on the top of her too head that was too warm for comfort. "You be safe. Don't want to see you up there for a long time. You hear me?"

"Max..." She slurred but her wet cheeks let him know she understood what was happening. Before she was ready Max was out of the car with Sam and the other man.

From her view Elliott could watched them bicker through the back window. The scrawny man seemed to like he wasn't cooperating. Then she couldn't believe her eyes.

Sam started seizing while lightning sizzled around him. He was being struck by lightning! The next thing she saw Sam had collapsed to the pavement his shoes a few feet away from him smoking. Elliott started to shriek hysterically pulling on the locked door handle. Frantically trying to get to him. She was expecting to lose her brother she couldn't lose her giant too. No this couldn't be happening, this wasn't the plan she panicked franticly.

Max had a moment of stunned horror before he was able to shout back to his sister. She couldn't understand him and continued her weak struggles that were draining what little energy she had left. Max shoved the smaller man into the restaurant. Elliott's movement slowed as exhaustion pulled her down. Her head lulled back as her arms went numb at her sides weak from exertion. A whine escaped her throat when she could no longer move her limbs, now weighed down like led. She could feel her breath become shallow and her vision was blurring at the edges. Her eyes began drooping, and it was becoming difficult to keep them open.

It was instant. She knew exactly when it happened, when the coin was pulled from the well reversing all of the wishes. Her fever was gone, no longer shaking and her head was completely clear of pain and fog. The only thing that stayed was the exhaustion. She laid back breathing evenly. Sam was suddenly ripping open the backdoor to get to her. The moment she saw him a sob of relief left her throat too tired to hold it back.

He crawled in the back seat hands cupping the sides of her face. "Ellie, baby, are you okay?" She nodded pulling him in close and hugged him as tightly as she could.

"I thought you were dead." Elliott sputtered breath shaky. "I thought you were-"

"I'm right here. I'm okay." He reassured her. "How's your head? Your fever seems to be gone." He removed the back of his hand from her head.

"No headache. Honestly." She sniffed. "Just really tired."

Sam nodded shoulders sagging in relief. Then undid her cuff to hold her better. "Just relax, I got you Ellie." Weakly she moved to rest her head on his chest. The thumping of his heartbeat in her ear and the feel of his warm hand stroking her hair eased her worry.

"Is it over? Is she okay?" Dean panted through the open door. Sam just gave him a sad nod. Knowing that the price was Max was now gone. As much as he would miss Max again, he was selfishly happy that Elliott was alive right now. "How you feeling Princess?"

"I just want to sleep." Elliott mumbled quietly, not wanting to think about what It meant that she was feeling better.

"That's alright baby, got to sleep I got you." Sam soothed again as Dean stared up the Impala driving off.

Just like the night before Sam's absence was what woke her. With the Impala's windows cracked Elliott could hear the Winchester's conversation as they stood only a few feet from the car. She automatically felt guilty. This whole time she had been worried about losing her brother while Dean had been struggling with his memories of Hell. When the men got back in, she pretended she was woken up by the doors creaking. She didn't think Dean would want her to know what she heard so she didn't say anything.

Sam apologized for waking her before surprisingly sliding back into the backseat with her rather than take shotgun. He stretched out a long leg against the back of the seats and pulled her onto him, murmuring for her to go back to sleep. It didn't take long before she crashed again. The sound of Sam's heartbeat under her ear lulled her to sleep assuring her that her giant was with her.

Authors Note:

Okay, Okay, I know super angsty, but I felt Max deserved a real goodbye. This was one of my favorite chapters to write so far. Hope whoever reads this enjoyed it as well. I want to thank ANYONE who has continued to read so far. I am deeply honored. If you like what you are reading please like and I would be over the hill to get any comments. It would be an awesome early birthday present lol. Thank you again for reading!

This Corona virus thing is insane! If things continue like this I might be posting a lot more.