A/N: Before you read this chapter, just want to say... the story isn't finished yet, so don't kill me! (yet) (ever... please) Warning: Not a happy chapter.

Sam shook her head in resignation. It looked like, for whatever reason, she now had a traveling companion. Sam stood, and started on her way home again, the large black lab falling in step beside her.

Chapter 60

Sam trotted along the roadside, footsore and worn out, the faithful lab ever present at her side. She still didn't understand why the dog followed her, but as the days turned into a week, Sam grew grateful for the companionship, and even more thankful for the protection offered by the enormous dog.

Sam couldn't believe she was within miles of Cheyenne Mountain, and not far from the Colonel and Daniel's places either. They had followed 25 south most of the way, stopping along the way for breaks and to forage for food. The dog, which Sam had taken to privately calling Heisenberg, had proven to be an excellent forager. His greater size would chase away the other scavengers, allowing them to pick and choose. Heisenberg continued to share everything with her, which still puzzled her greatly, but Sam didn't complain. Sam took to sharing out her meager finds as well. It wasn't much, but it got them by.

There was even the one time that Heisenberg had run across a couple that was eating in a park on a blanket and grabbed the basket in his teeth, running away with it. While the two people had chased the big black dog, Sam had made off with several sandwiches and some fried chicken. They'd both eaten really well that day.

The dog continued to amaze her over and over. Once, when it started to rain, he'd moved to stand over top of her, shielding her from the worst of the downpour. He hadn't seemed to mind being wet, in fact he'd run out ahead and played in the puddles before noticing her flattened ears and slowed pace. Several times as well, Heisenberg had carried her on his back when she'd sat down and wondered if she could continue on foot. And Sam had appreciated the extra warmth the big lab provided on the cooler nights.

Sam sighed; it had started to drizzle again as it turned to evening. She had hoped that they would make it home before nightfall, but it didn't look like the weather would cooperate. If it got bad, like it had the day before, they would have to hole up somewhere and wait for the storm to pass.

Sam noticed their exit coming up, and started to cross the highway to get to it. She stopped, puzzled when Heisenberg didn't follow her. There wasn't any traffic on this side of the divided highway, so she didn't know why he wasn't crossing with her. In fact, he stood on the side of the road, pacing and whining. Sam decided to go back, and had just turned around when she heard the rev of an engine on high speed and the squeal of tires. Out of nowhere it seemed, twin headlights bore down on her position, swerving madly, Sam suspected the driver was drunk. She tried to run out of the way, but the lights swerved, matching her direction even when she turned around again.

Too close, she'd never make it out of the road! Sam braced for impact, when a black blur launched itself between her and the oncoming vehicle. Heisenberg! The next moments were lost in the screech of tires on wet pavement, as the car skidded. An unmistakable thud and they were both airborne. Time seemed to stand still, as events swirled out of focus, blurring in slow motion. Sam tried to force her body to relax, but she still impacted painfully with the ground, rolling ungracefully to a stop in what seemed to be a ravine. Another squeal of tires and a rev of the engine as the car swerved away, and silence fell, broken only by the patter of rain.

Minutes or maybe even hours later, Sam became aware of discomfort. Water dripped on her, soaking her already wet fur. Almost cleansing, in an irritating kind of way. The landscape was skewed, off center, crooked. She didn't understand it. Instead, she just closed her eyes, wanting to sleep. Not wanting to remember. But the memories came back. Heisenberg! Where was Heisenberg?

Ignoring the pain Sam dragged herself to her feet, noting absently that her right front leg would not support her full weight. It was somehow familiar, but Sam didn't remember at the time why, too many other thoughts and emotions clamoring for attention, making her focus swim and her head ache.

Water filled the bottom of the drainage ditch as more of it fell from the sky. Rain. Yeah, that was it. It rained a lot, her own personal black cloud, like the way the little boy in Winnie the Pooh would stand under the tree, saying it looked like rain, to fool the bees. Or the way one seemed to follow that little donkey, the one that kept losing his tail. What was his name? Eeyore. Her favorite character. He made her smile and remember what things in life she was lucky to have.

Sam tried to focus, but her thoughts weren't making much sense; if the ghould looked into her head right now with one of those hand thingies, they would probably think she was nuts. But wasn't she? Couldn't turn a girl into a cat for two months and expect her to be sane at the end of it could you? Sam wondered why she was thinking about Pooh and the ghould. It wasn't making a whole lot of sense, but then it seemed like nothing in her life made a whole lot of sense right now. She just knew she had to look for something... Heisenberg! Where was Heisenberg? Big black dog, anybody see him? Wait, no she was alone. What was that? Big shape, ahead, partially in the water, illuminated for a moment by passing lights. No. Too still. Why was he so still?

Sam limped towards her friend, expecting him, no wanting him, to jump up and surprise her, lick her so she could secretly grouse about dog spit. But he didn't move. Closer she came; he was twisted, not right. No, it wasn't right, couldn't be, wasn't fair. She really was a black widow.

Movement. And again. Could it be? He couldn't be, not twisted like that. A whimper. Oh no. No, it wasn't fair. Sam approached Heisenberg's head, settling down next to the big lab. Heisenberg looked at her, his normally bright eyes fading fast. He lifted his head slightly, making a little whining noise, that big tongue seeking her face, and Sam let it wash over her, eyes closed. The washing stopped, and Sam opened her eyes again, meeting Heisenberg's big brown ones. He made a questioning noise, tongue slipped out to the side, and the unmistakable doggie grin forming. Sam wanted to cry, but instead she gently started to lick Heisenberg's face, as his movements gradually stilled. He wasn't whimpering anymore.

Sam licked her companion's eyes gently closed and continued to gently wash his face, before finally nudging her head under Heisenberg's big front leg. She squeezed herself in, resting her head up under his chin, in their customary sleeping position. Still warm, but she knew not for long. Sam knew she should leave, find somewhere warm or at least dry and tend to her own injuries, but she couldn't leave. Not yet. She didn't want to leave him alone in the night. Tonight, she would stay, just one last night.

A/N: Dedicated to anyone that has ever lost a pet. Faithful friends will never be forgotten.