Chapter 12:
He inhaled deeply and his lungs relished the fresh cool air. He felt the cool breeze wash over his body, causing his shirt to ruffle up. It felt so good against his hot skin. He could hear crickets in the background, and some kind of bird chirping. What kind of bird chirps at night? he wondered. At least he was pretty sure it was night. He hadn't opened his eyes yet to confirm that thought. But he didn't feel the beating rays of the sun. And didn't crickets only come out at night? Who knew. And he didn't care. All he knew was that where ever he was laying was comfortable enough for the moment and the breeze was cooling off his hot skin. He thought about trying to move, but the thought didn't get carried from his brain to his limbs, so he inhaled deeply again and let his eyes close even tighter. He was trying to remember exactly where he was and what was going on, but his mind was too fuzzy. It felt like he was trying to remember a vague dream, only recalling flashes. There was something he was supposed to be doing, he knew that much, but he'd be damned if he could remember what.
Suddenly in the distance he heard the faint sounds of crying. A child. Soft sobs. Reluctantly he opened his eyes. He was greeted with darkness and stars dotting the sky above him. With a small groan he lifted himself up to a sitting position. Instantly dizziness swept over him and his body screamed out with shooting pain. The crying was coming louder now, echoing through the night. He shook off the feeling. He looked around him and immediately saw his dad and brother lying next to him. A flash of panic swelled through him. He couldn't remember how they had come to be there. With trembling fingers he reached out to each of them and felt for a pulse. They were both alive. He exhaled the nervous breath he was holding. He sat for a moment in shock, looking at his father. Why was he here? He tried searching his memory, but just couldn't recall when his father had arrived. Both his dad and Sam looked beaten and broken. Why can't I remember!
The crying reached his ears again. It was growing louder. He looked up toward the sound and found himself staring at a dark house looming in front of him. He slightly remembered him and Sam arriving here. But it had been daylight then. What happened? He became lost in his thoughts, trying to remember, when something by the front window caught his eye. A child. She stood there for just a moment, then turned and walked away. The crying began again. Then the whispered words, help me, drifted across the night wind.
He looked at his family, then back at the house. Obviously they had come here to help someone. Maybe it was the little girl. He looked to his dad and brother again. They were alive. They seemed to be halfway okay, for the moment. He knew his father would want him to do what he could to help the child. None of them would walk away from a hurt child, putting themselves first. Once more he checked their pulses just to reconfirm they were alive.
Dean took a deep breath and heaved himself up onto unsteady legs. With short, pain filled strides, he began to make his way to the house. He was overwhelmed with worry for his family, his brain felt like it was going to explode from trying to remember what the hell had happened, and his body was fighting every move he made. But there was no way in hell he was going to walk away from that child. Dean never walked away.
He finally made it to the front door. He immediately noticed the discarded gun lying just inside the threshold. Slowly he bent down and picked it up, then walked completely back through the door.
-TBC-
Hey all, sorry it took all week to update. But hey, I work on a computer all day at work. Sometimes it's just too much to do it at night too. Oh well, enough whining. Hope you liked the update. There will be plenty more this weekend! And please, review!