It was a beautiful day. I imagined the local park was full of kids. The little girls swinging while watching the boys play football, the parents off on a bench, talking. It was a day most families wished for, but rarely got.
But, for me, it was one of the worst days of my life. I had hardly noticed my chest hurting from the still-apparent bruises. All I was concerned about what rescueing Sam.
I pushed the bed back, hearing Anna walk into the room behind me. Faintly, I heard her breathing. It had been a long day for her. And carrying the ladder all the way to the bedroom probably didn't help her any.
Seeing the door, closed and secure, gave me the short urge to hit it. To punch it as hard as I could. Upon pulling it off, I turned on my flashlight and beamed the light downwads.
My heart stopped. I couldn't breathe. It felt as if someone had stabbed my heart. I knew I looked like an idiot, stooping over the hole, mouth agape, but what I saw terrified me.
Sam was lying motionless in the middle of the floor, his long legs curled up to his chest. I couldn't make out if his body was moving up and down, which scared me.
Once more my mind raced back to when the two of us were teenagers. We were back in Kansas, I was eighteen and Dad had decided to keep us at home while he went after a group of vampires.
It was the night before Sam's fifteenth birthday. He'd convinced me to let him go hang out with a group of friends. At first I'd resisted, the selfish part of me wanted him to be home with me, but I let him go anyways, with the promise that he'd be back early.
Later that night, while I was watching a FRIENDS re-run, the phone went off. I picked it up and heard Sam's voice, he sounded happy. Like he was truely doing what he enjoyed; having a life.
He had asked if he could stay out longer. Said that him and some of his friends had found a really cool place by one their houses and wanted to check it out.
The Dad had come out in me. Any good, normal older brother would have let him go. Let him have some fun. But I was jealous. Sam had friends, and I had no one. So I did the only thing I knew. I refused. Told him he was already past his curfew, and I would threaten to tell Dad if he didn't leave immediatly.
Once he got home we had a huge arguement, one of our worst. The boy's fierce eyes seared into me, and that teenage temper came out. Even when he was a kid, he was a genius, knowing exactly what to say and when to.
Although he was pissed, I thought I did the right thing. Later that night I heard on the news that the group he was with were in a car crash, killing two of them. The brother instincts had come in handy.
Sam had apologized a few days later, assuring me that he would listen to my advice more often. And then he said something that broke my heart to that day.
"Dean," I looked up from the magazine I was breezing through. "I don't think you'll have to worry about me hanging out with too many people anymore."
"Why's that?"
"Because...it seems like fate's working against me. I was born into this family, and I'm beginning to think I'm cursed."
I watched Sammy, waiting.
"Everyone always gets hurt when I'm around. Not you and Dad, but others. People who can't protect themselves. And I don't wanna be a murderer anymore."
I had assured Sam that he was wrong, but then he stopped me by continueing.
"I think, Dean. That it won't stop until I'm finished. I think it's gonna knock off everyone else until it kills me...and sometimes, I hope it'll happen soon, before it can reach you."
Staring at the twenty three year old Sam brought those words home. All his life, my little brother had been afraid he'd been responsible. And when Jess died, I knew the guilt had intensified. I just prayed with all my heart that he hadn't given in. Hadn't already let that creature beat him at his own game.
Finally the dams broke. All the emotion I'd held since the fight with Sam broke loose. Seeing my only friend, the person I'd protected all my life, lie dying so far away from me, caused hot liquid to form in my eyes. Something I hadn't felt in many years.
I didn't hear or feel Anna as she placed her soft hand on my shoulder. This time I didn't shrug it off.
Slowly, tears began to fall. They rolled down my cheeks until the reached my jaw, where they fell, dropping into the black hole underneath me. I was sure a few had landed on Sammy, but knew he couldn't feel them.
All the years of trying to protect Sam from the dangers of the world had failed. I had failed. One single day had changed the course of my life.
Earlier, I had called myself the protector, but really, I wasn't one at all. If I was, I wouldn't have been sitting in that open square, crying, my eyes seeing defeat.
-----
I was so close. Jessica was so near. The sky was clear blue, with only a few puffy clouds, and trees were all around me. It was the place I had dreamed of so many times.
And I was finally there. Jess was holding out her hand. The white dress she was wearing fluttered in the occasional breeze. Her smile was an invitation.
She didn't say anything. Just stood there. The road seperating us was long, but I didn't mind. I began the treck.
But with every footstep I made, Jess made one also. Farther away. She was moving away.
No, I couldn't loose her a second time. I was finally there. Finally able to be with her again.
As I was walking, my footsteps soundless, she turned the blue eyes I'd come to love so much to me. Then frowned.
I stopped. Looking down I saw my body was alright. There were no scratches on my arms and my left leg felt fine.
"Not yet, Sam," she said, her voice strong and loud. I squinted, unsure if what I'd heard was right.
"No, baby. I want to be with you...please don't leave me again."
Jess's face softened. "You're not done, Sam. Dean still needs you. So does your Dad. You can't leave them yet."
I wanted to cry again. She was refusing me.
Before I could respond, she had left. Gone like the warm wheather that hung in the air. I was back in the freezing. Back in the dark.
Something touched my leg and I jumped. Soon the cold concrete was gone, replaced with the body of someone warm and strong.
I still was unable to open my eyes, afraid to let the reality sink in that I wasn't in that warm place anymore, with Jess. I was back in my prison.
There was an odd noise. The sound of something hitting metal forced me to come to my senses. I still felt like I was being carried. And from around me I heard unfamilar sounds, like that of people.
Another bump. My leg had hit the wall. But that wasn't possible, I hadn't moved. Then a grunt from a few inches away. Then another, this time it was strained.
Warmth was beginning to come back to me. It wasn't dark any longer. Light was shining through my eyes. I wished so bad that I could open them. Instead I waited patiently for it to all be over.
-----
"Son of a bitch, Sam, your heavy," I grumbled. After the last of my tears had spilt and I threatened Anna to strangle her if she ever told Sam, I grabbed the ladder.Fortunatly, it was one of those metal ones that extended up to twelve feet. Unfortunatly, the cell looked about sixteen feet deep.
I set the leadder next to the hole and grabbed the rope. Tying one end to the bedpost, I threw the other end into the black abiss.
"Can you hold on to this?" I asked Anna, handing her part of the rope.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, pushing her curls out of her face and staring at me, worried.
"You'll see."
Once I was positive the rope was secure, I threw my left leg into the hole, following it with the other.
Hands held deathly tight to the rope, I began the descent to Sam. Most people would have been afraid, but I wasn't like them. Instead of concentrating on how far the drop would've been if I fell, I kept Sam's face in mind. Knowing that that was the only way.
I reached the bottom faster than expected, jumping the last two feet, my boots sending echoing sounds throughout the room.
"Now what?" Anna's head popped through the hole.
"I want you to drop the ladder down."
"I can't! What if it falls and hits you!"
I sighed. "I trust you. You're a strong girl, just lower it down as far as it will go and then let go. I'll make sure it won't hit me."
The girl was still skeptical.
"Anna," I pleaded. "Sam is dying. We need to get him out. You need to work with me."
At the sound of Sam's name, the teenager agreed. I was worried she'd loose her balance and drop the thing sooner than she had to, but Anna kept a hold on the metal, allowing me to not have to move too far out of the way.
I still hadn't looked at Sam. I was too afraid. I knew that if I took a glance at him I'd forget about escaping and concentrate on his health. Right then I had to make sure everything was in order.
The ladder met me with a clash. But it met me. With some difficulty in the darkness, I set it up and extended it all the way. I knew carrying Sam up it was gonna be a bitch.
Finally, I turned and saw my little brother. He was worse up close. I had to hold my mouth to keep the previous day's sandwich down. His left leg was at an odd angle and the blood had failed to completly stop pouring.
"Oh, Sammy, what'd you get yourself into?" Moaning, my eyes furrowed as I went on with the inspection. His temple was gashed andmost of his face was covered in dried blood.
A voice from above me forced me to look away. "Hurry, Dean, we need to get him out of there."
I sighed. Reaching under Sam's thighs and neck, I attempted to lift him.
Then had to set him back down again. He wasn't six anymore. I couldn't just lift him up and be on my way. He was a full gown man who had built up strong muscles throughout his life.
His head moved forward. I thought for a moment he'd wake up, but no luck. Instead I got a better look at his pale face and lifeless lips. Both scared the shit out of me.
Determined, I tried again. This time I was able to keep him up, boosting him with my knee. Glowering at the ladder, my feet began to climb.
"Oh my God," Anna cried. She had pulled Sam out of the hole, taking his limb body from my exhausted hands. I had reached as far as the ladder would go, with four feet still ahead of me, when Anna climbed over, rope tighed around her waist.
She somewhat propelled down to me, slinging Sam's right arm around her shoulder and throwing his leg around her own.
"Give me a push up," she had demanded, trying to hold on to Sam and the rope.
I cupped her foot in my hand, sure I would fall backwards from their weight, and pushed with all my willpower. Her right foot found a crack in the cement and she used for leverage. She grabbed onto the edge with just her fingers and pulled with all her might. I could see every muscle in her body straining. Although four feet wasn't very high, lifting yourself and a man vertically up it made it quite a challenge.
Grasping the end of the rope, my hands began pulling. I kicked off from the ladder clasped the binding material. Using my feet and hands I was able to reach Anna quickly. Pushing Sam's body with one arm, my other held onto the rope for dear life.
He didn't move far. I had to change my approach. Seeing Anna struggle to stay up, I decided she would be the better one to push out. So I grabbed her free foot and pushed up.
Her elbow reached over the edge. She was still holding Sam. Panting, I pushed harder, but switching to Sam instead. Meanwhile, my feet were slowly crawling up the rope, getting closer to the two.
When I reached Sam's shins, I gave one final jab at the two before they both fell over onto the carpet. My energy was drained. I wondered for a moment if I'd have the strength to pull myself out.
But the adreniline kicked in once more and I grabbed the edge, pulling my body up and out of that form of hell for the first and final time.
-----
"You go, I'm staying here with Michelle," Anna mouthed to me. We had made our way to the living room, Sam in my arms once again. I'd spent only a moment searching for my car keys, until I noticed Sam's clenched hand. Opening them, I saw the end had peirced his skin. He had to have been holding them pretty damn tight.
I'd thrown my phone to Anna, ordering her to call an ambulance, but when they said that all their vehicles were gone and it would take awhile, I gave up and knew he'd get to the hospital faster if I drove.
"Are you sure?" I asked briefly. I was standing by the door, ready to walk out.
"The ambulance will be here soon. Besides, I've done enough, it's your turn. Just call me when you're all done."
"Yeah, of course." I wasted no more time. Time was ticking by and the hospital was still minutes away. Meanwhile, in my arms, Sam's quiet breathing had slowed down another notch.
----
Beep Beep Beep.
"What was that noise?" I opened my eyes. Next to me was a heart moniter. Looking around, it clicked in my mind where I was.
I was lying in a stiff bed, wearing nothing but a blue-dotted gown. There were tubes going in and out of me at different areas on my body. To the left of me was a small round table. Sniffing, I caught the faint whiff of the flowers that were sitting on it. Next to the bouqet, was a card, opened and standing.
From somewhere in the hall I heard two people talking. Someone rushed past them, yelling orders.
I was in a hospital. The only sign of the concrete that had surrounded me where the images in my head. Dean had done it again. Just as he always had. He had saved me.
I remembered the place with Jessica. I remembered how I'd almost given up. Almost let the others win.
Panicking, I searched the room. My older brother was nowhere to be found. I tried to sit up, my I found I couldn't move my left arm. It was weighted down.
Disgusted, I saw that not only was my arm wrapped in a thick white cast, so was my leg. My suspicion of it being broke was correct.
Just then, the door to the outside opened and I saw Dean walk through, his beloved coffee in one hand. When he saw me awake, his face broke into a large grin.
"Hey, sleepyhead, did you finally decide to wake up?"
There was the humor I'd grown used to. "How long have I been out?"
Dean eased into the wooden chair by the table, setting down his cup and crossing his hands. "'Bout three days now."
My eyebrows shot up. "Three! God, I must have been a sight."
"Oh you were. But the nurses just loved you. They thought you were the cutest thing since Bambi. Which was good for me, I got to play the mourning brother in need of some comfort." His grin spread.
Mine, though, had faded. I knew the time for small talk would be over soon and we'd have to get down to business.
"...So while you were getting your sponge bath, I was getting one of my own," Dean babbled on. I could tell he was afraid to stop rambling, for he knew what was coming.
Eventually, though, his words drained off and he stared at me, silent.
"Dean," I was looking him straight in the eyes. "I learned some stuff while down in that room."
"Like what?" From his lowered eyes I could see that Dean didn't expect this to be how I'd start the conversation off.
"I learned that there's some things Stanford can't teach you. It never taught me to keep my temper to myself...I shouldn't have lashed out on you, and I sure as hell shouldn't have read your journal. You had every right to punch me that day."
"No, I didn't, Sammy. I should've handled it like a man. And I was wrong to say that you always act better than me. I get that Jess is dead and youre hurt by it. I guess being coopedup in a car with you for six months got to me."
"And I get it. You wanna keep a part of your life private. And I can agree. There are things I wouldn't want you to know."
"It's alright," Dean stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a patient's sister waiting for my shoulder to cry unto."
"Dean!" I called him back. I knew he hated talks like those, but I wasn't finished yet. After he impatiently turned back around, I went on. "Thanks. You know, for everything. I probably woulda died in that place if it weren't for you." A pause. "I love you, man."
"Love you too, bitch. And c'mon, did you honestly think I was gonna let you die? I need someonewith meto keep my eyes sharp."
Smiling inwardly, I knew there were another million things we still had to discuss, but it was Dean I was talking with, and he could only take so much chick flick action in one day. Alone in my room again, my eyes wondered over to the window. The sky was clear blue. An overfed pigeon flew by, a worm in its mouth.
Peace. My heart had finally managed to taste victory. Dean wasn't fighting with me anymore. I was safe, ready to take life's challenges again. My eyelids lowered once more; the talk with Dean had worn me out. I was still a long way away from going back to hunting. Just as I was managing to drift off again, a yell from the room next to me awoke me. I could hear Dean's voice yelling back. A minute later he stormed back into my room, hair ruffled and cheeks flushed.
"I'll tell ya. Some people just don't appreciate other's caring support. Melanie should learn a thing or two from Anna."
My mouth opened and I let out a short laugh. I should've guessed. Dean would hop on any oppurtunity to swoon a girl, even if it was Anna's sister.
From my brother's expression I knew things had gone back to normal between us. The tension we'd shown after the asylum and through the past days was fading. Of course it would take awhile for it all to pass, but it comforted me to know we were back on the road to recovery. Sure, it took me almost dying to re-evaluate both our situations, but it was really worth it.
Thinking over the events, I wondered if the outcome would have been the same if Dean was the one captured. I doubted it. Dean was always saving my ass. I counted on him for it. And I knew in my heart that he enjoyed protecting me from all the dangers we encountered.
"Jess was right," I said to myself. Someday that tables would turn, and I would be the one saving Dean, and I had to be strong. I had to make sure we found Dad and let us all kill the bastard that destroyed our lives so horribly.
I slipped back into sleep, allowing Dean's rant to float through my head. Knowing I'd have to leave the safety of the hospital soon, and be back on the road, I let my dreams take over. Ones where Jessica was still alive and well. Ones where Dean and Dad were with us, getting to know and love Jessica. Ones where I didn't have strange premonitions about things that were occuring, and I was just a normal guy, surrounded by the ones I loved most.
Those blessed dreams carried me through the day and on into the night, letting me momentarily forget the horrors that were brought upon me.
A/N: FINISHED! It's complete. Now thats its over you must tell me how you really felt about it. This was my first fanfiction, and I discovered that the last chapter is the absolute worst to write. I had the most horrible case of writer's block, and felt as if this chapter wasn't well written at all. So don't throw things at me, I know its not my best. And I might go back and change it a bit, but for right now this will have to do. Thanks so much for everyone who reviewed, you kept me going even when I didn't feel like writing, and I'm glad you did. Please R&R one last time to tell me if I should even attempt another Supernatural fanfic!