I'm in a slightly less evil mood tonight, so I decided NOT to make everyone hold out until tomorrow. The comments have been great! I hope everyone likes the ending. This is the last chapter so no more suspence, Enjoy.
Dean found himself in a hotel parking lot next to Azra.
"Where is he?" Dean said as he searched around the parking lot for his father.
"Relax, he's in room 167," Azra assured him.
"How do you know that?" Dean questioned.
"Angel of Death remember?" she shot him a look that pretty much said, 'duh.'
"Well yeah but I didn't think-," Dean was interrupted.
"Just go, it's that way," she motioned to her right slightly irritated at being underestimated.
They knocked at the door and waited a moment.
"Oh yeah," Dean said as he proceeded to give the secret knock that John had drilled into him and Sam since they were too young to remember. Azra just rolled her eyes.
The door opened slightly and then was opened wider when John realized who it was.
"Dean!" he said with a smile, and then turned to face Azra, "Who's this?" he said suspiciously.
"It's alright Dad, she's... a friend," Dean paused, "She knows about what we do," Dean tried to assure his father everything was fine even though he wasn't quite sure himself.
John led them into the room and latched all of the locks after he closed the door.
"John, you know as well as I do that THOSE won't stop a thing," Azra said.
"Yeah, but they'll slow it down and they sure make me feel a hell of a lot better," John said.
"Let's get down to business John," Azra said.
"What's this about Dean?" John was clearly alarmed by the woman.
"Just listen to her Dad, I think that it's important," Dean said although he honestly had no idea at what was going to happen.
"Fine, but get to the point," John said, something didn't sit right with him.
"Since you put it that way John," she paused and then called sweetly, "Mary, would you please join us for a moment?"
Dean and John were taken back by what they saw; Mary appeared as beautiful as ever.
"John," Mary said with a smile.
"Mom?" Dean's voice cracked as he walked over to hug his mother for the first time in over 20 years.
"Yes, it's me Dean," Mary said softly as she wrapped her arms around him.
John was speechless, he didn't know whether he wanted to grab his gun or believe what his gut told him, that this was real.
"I'm so proud of you Dean," Mary said, "I've missed you so boys so much."
"Mary, I hate to rush this, I know that it's been a while, but we need to keep things moving, we don't have much time," Azra said as nicely as she could, but it was hard to make the words sound right. "I believe you had something to say to your husband."
Mary nodded with a tear in her eye.
She whispered into Dean's ear before she broke away from the embrace, "Dean, remember this, I didn't have much time back in Lawrence. I'm always watching you and I will always love you, you are always my son."
Dean fought back his emotions and managed to get out a, "Yes mom," before he went to sit on the bed and compose himself.
"Alright Azra, I won't keep you," Mary said.
"Oh Mary!" John finally said.
"I wish I had more time John, but I need you to just listen. I've watched you, and I'm so proud that you save so many people. But this agenda you have about avenging me, it's gotta stop," Mary paused. "I want you to be happy John, I want you stop being so reckless, so ready to sacrifice yourself to this cause."
"Mary, you don't understand. If we don't stop this thing, it's just going to kill more and more people," John said as he walked over and put his hand over her cheek.
"I understand completely John, I still want you to kill the demon but," Mary swallowed. "I also want Sam and Dean to have a father when this is all done, do you understand?"
John pulled Mary close to him and after a moment he swallowed a tear and said, "Yes Mary, I understand."
"I'm sorry to cut this short Mary, but I need to move on," Azra said.
"I understand Azra. Remember this little talk John," Mary said before she finally looked at John and Dean and whispered, "Good bye." With that Mary's spirit faded away and she was gone.
Azra then stood up and walked over to John and put her hand on his cheek.
"Dean, take my hand, it's time to go," Azra said and as soon as she felt his grip she looked into John's eyes and said, "John, wake up." And he did.
They were suddenly back in the hospital and Dean watched as his father woke up.
"Dean, we need to move faster or Sam will be awake before we get back," Azra said.
As he was leaving he thought he heard his father whisper his mother's name.
They arrived back in Dean's room to find that Sam was still sleeping, but he was having another nightmare. A cold sweat covered Sam, he had obviously been in his nightmare for a long time.
"Your brother's going to be harder than your father, I hadn't counted on us taking this long," Azra said as she looked at Sam.
"Sammy," Dean said with concern as he rushed over to his brother.
"No! I can't let you wake him Dean, not yet," Azra said.
Dean stopped as he was about to touch his brother.
"What do we do then?" Dean asked, he could hardly bear to watch his brother as he was fighting off some invisible foe.
"We go in together, just like with your father," she explained. "Let me see if I can put his mind a little more at ease first." Azra walked over to Sam and started stroking his face and pushing his hair out of his eyes.
"That's it Sam, just relax, everything's alright," she cooed.
Sam stopped moving in his sleep, Dean even noticed his breathing even out a little too.
"Take my hand when you're ready Dean," she instructed not taking her gaze away from Sam's face. Dean immediately grabbed her hand and they left the world of the hospital and arrived in Sam's dream.
Dean found himself in Sam's old dorm and saw Sam in the corner breathing heavily and looking confused.
"I thought I'd bring him some place familiar for this," Azra said to Dean, "You better go ahead of me, he'll be pretty confused. Just don't wake him up."
"Yes Sir!" Dean replied with a smile.
"Don't you give me that crap Dean Winchester! You forget, I am death," she said with a smile.
"You just have to hold that over my head don't you?" Dean said.
Azra smacked him again, "Just go, Sam's waiting for you." She saw Dean rub the back of his head and glance back at her. "Yeah, well it serves you right."
Dean walked into the room and met Sam's gaze.
"What's going on Dean, how did I get here, I wasn't here a minute ago?" Sam asked.
Dean let out a short laugh, "That's a funny story; maybe I'll tell you the whole thing sometime."
"Huh?" Sam said.
"Never mind Sam," Dean replied and he paused long enough for Sam to say something.
"Dean, something's not right here, I can feel it," Sam started, and then he whispered. "Dean, there's something behind the door!"
"Just relax Sam," Dean wasn't sure how to start the whole 'The Angel of Death is on your door step, may she come in?' speech.
Azra heard Dean hesitate and decided it was best if she came out.
"Sorry Sam, I didn't want to startle you," she said as she came into view.
"Who's this Dean, and how does she know me!" Sam demanded.
"Just relax Sam, this is Azra, she's a friend of mine," Dean said.
"Oh," Sam said as he walked over to Dean. Once Sam was sure that she couldn't hear him he whispered to Dean, "Dean are you aware that you girlfriend over there isn't human?"
"How did you-," Dean was interrupted as Azra walked over.
"Please Dean, your brother isn't stupid, he sensed that I'm different," Azra then turned her gaze to Sam. "Although, he doesn't know who I am." Sam's eyes widened as he stepped back from them.
"It's alright Sam. She won't hurt us, she isn't evil," Dean said. "At least for the most part," Dean laughed as he said this.
Azra shot Dean a dirty look and assured Sam, "He's joking, you know how he gets when he thinks he's going to be trapped in a chick flick."
"Let's sit down Sam, we have a lot to talk about," Azra requested.
"Alright..." Sam said, but he still wasn't sure he trusted her.
"I'm going to go straight to the point Sam," Azra said. "You're blaming yourself for Jess's death and you need to stop, it's not you're fault."
Sam face changed to anger, how did she know about this?
"You told her didn't you Dean?" Sam said with disappointment.
"No Sam, I didn't, she already knew. I can't tell you how, but you need to talk to her. I think she can help," Dean said.
Sam let out a heavy sigh and began to speak with his gaze to the floor.
"I had the visions, I saw it. I should have been honest with her, I should have warned her," Sam said.
"Even if you would have warned her, do you think that that alone would have stopped the demon from coming?" She asked.
"I don't know, maybe," Sam said.
"I can tell you for a fact that the demon would have come for her anyway, and as much as I hate to say it, I think that the demon had her marked a soon as she met you. It's the same with your mother."
"I knew it," Sam said. "I knew that this was all my fault. Why me?" he asked as he looked up at her.
"Because Sam, the world needs your family," Azra replied.
"It sounds like the world would be a lot better off without us; so many innocent people die because we've failed too often, because I always seem to mess up something," Sam said.
"No Sam, so many people are saved because of your family. Mary died to make your father start hunting Sam... So that he could train you and Dean," Azra said. "And Jess died so that you would start hunting again."
"Then I'll stop hunting, I can't give the demon what it wants," Sam began.
"Wrong, you need to keep hunting, keep saving people. Yes, the demon wants you to hunt Sam, but it has its own agenda and I don't plan on letting it win," Azra explained. "Letting you stop hunting for now would be letting it win. I can't explain it to you Sam; you have to trust me on this."
"Why should I trust you?" Sam asked.
"Well for one, you don't have a choice. And second, you should know that if you stop now, Jess, your mother, they would have died in vain. Is that what you want Sam?" Azra asked.
"No, it's just," Sam paused, "It's just sometimes I think that the world, my family, they would be a lot better off if I weren't born."
"Don't you dare say that Samael Winchester," she said sharply, "This is what's meant to be, if you were never born Sam, there wouldn't be a world to save."
"Sammy," Dean started to talk, "Why didn't you ever tell me you felt that way?"
"Because Dean, you couldn't have understood and besides, 'No chick flick moments' remember?"
"I'm sorry Sam, I had no idea," Dean said softly. "Sam I can tell you, this family needs you; Dad and I, we need you. Hey, how many times have you stopped Dad and I from going too far?"
Sam only sat there quietly with his head down.
"Look at me Sam!" Dean said, "You need to listen to Azra, she knows what she's talking about."
Sam finally looked up at Azra, "What do you mean 'wouldn't be a world to save'?"
"I wish I could tell you, I really do, but even if I did know everything, I'm not allowed to say- it's against the rules," Azra said.
"Then tell me this, what are you?" Sam asked.
"You're not ready to know that Sam, it took me some getting used to when I found out," Dean answered.
"I want to know Dean," Sam snapped back at him.
"Your brother's right Sam, you're not ready to find that out, not yet. I can tell you that I'm your friend and you'll be glad one day that I'm on your side," Azra said.
"You never told me why I was chosen," Sam stated.
"Because I don't know, I wasn't the one who chose you and those like you. I would ask you 'why not you?' but then that would imply that anyone could've been chosen and I don't think that's the case here. Tell me Sam, could you honestly see Dean in your position," she laughed a little at this.
Sam pictured their roles reversed, if Dean was him and finally he looked up at Azra with a smile and said, "Hell no," with a laugh.
Dean didn't know if he was supposed to be insulted by this, there was something unsaid that passed between them, so he responded in the way that he deemed most appropriate.
"Bitch," Dean said to Sam.
"Jerk," Sam said right back.
Azra laughed at the little exchange, she'd never seen two brothers so close before.
"Do we have an understanding Sam?" she asked after her laughter stopped.
"Yes, we have an understanding, for now," Sam said.
"Good, then my mission is finished," Azra said, "Oh by the way, a friend of yours has a message for you."
Suddenly a figure came out of the shadows and Sam gasped at what he saw.
"Jess..." Sam said.
"Hey, Sam," Jess replied as she went to grab Sam's hand.
"Listen Sam, we're kinda on borrowed time here so I have to make this quick," Jess said. "I want you to take better care of yourself, you look like hell. Get some sleep, I know you've been having nightmares, but I'll see if I can make sure that you get a few restful nights now and again. I want you to do what Azra said, keep hunting," Jess said.
"I'm sorry Jess," Sam said.
"Don't Sam, it was my purpose. I want you to know that I would have said yes," she continued.
Sam gave her a confused look.
"I went to Stanford too Sam I'm not dumb. You don't think that I caught you looking at rings a few times? I wanted to let you do it your way, but no matter how you would have done it, I would have said yes. I know that's been bothering you, among other things," Jess then leaned in close to Sam and whispered in his ear. "I also want you to know this, I found out about what you and your brother do before I... you know..."
"How? I never told you," Sam was puzzled.
"While you were gone with Dean, I went through some of your, um, things for lack of a better word. Among other things, I found letters; letters to Dean about how you missed him, letters to your Dad about how you were sorry about the fight, letters that you wrote, but never sent. I want you to know that I was scared at first, but then I understood why you didn't tell me. Let me tell you Sam, you were right, you guys aren't exactly the Brady Bunch," she finished.
Sam let out a half laugh half sob and said, "So you're okay with it?"
"I'm more than okay with it Sam, how many girls get a boyfriend who's a handsome genius and kills the things that go bump in the night in his spare time?" she asked.
"Jess, it's time for you to go back," Azra said.
"I love you Sam," Jess said. Sam and Jess leaned in and shared one last kiss. And when Sam opened his eyes, she was gone. "I love you too," Sam whispered.
"It's time for us to leave Dean," Azra said.
Azra touched Sam's face as she did John's and waited for Dean to grab her hand. After a moment he didn't and she faced him and said.
"Uh... Dean awkward moment here, you mind speeding things along?"
"Yeah, I'm coming," Dean grumbled, he was tired of following orders. He reached for her hand and stopped.
"By the way Sam, you mind moving that damn salt? It's a bitch and I'd like to get back into my body will I'm still young and good looking," Dean said.
"You mean to say that you've been trapped the entire time?" Sam said horrified at what he'd done.
"Yeah, and I want you to know that Metallica," Dean paused, "Metallica is a classic and it's better than any of your music!"
"Oh, you heard that?" Sam asked.
"No, I'm a mind reader now; of course I heard that," Dean replied. "So about the salt, it's been a real pain in the ass to me."
"Sure thing Dean," Sam replied.
"You two can talk when you're awake, I have other business to attend to," Azra interrupted.
"Oh, right, forgot," Dean said with a smile as he took her hand.
They were back in the hospital. Sam suddenly woke up without gasping for once.
"That was a weird dream," He said aloud. He felt something jab his arm.
"Dean?" Sam asked then he remembered, the salt. He grabbed his jacket and quickly used it to brush away a large area of the salt and disrupt the ring.
"Come on Dean, wake up, you don't have anymore excuses," Sam said leaning into his brother.
Dean looked at his body and back up at Azra, "How do I-,"
"Just lay down like the bed it empty and settle in," Azra said.
Dean sat on the side of the bed and before laying down looked at Azra one last time with sincerity and said, "Thank you," he paused. "For everything, you know?"
"Hey, this isn't a chick flick. Don't keep Sam waiting, the suspense is killing him," she said.
Dean looked at Sam and looked back at her with a twisted smile, "Maybe I'll just let him sweat it out one more minute."
"Go Dean, before I change my mind about you," Azra said.
"Playing the death card again I see, alright I'm going," Dean said as he started to lie down.
"Wait," she said before he was fully on his back.
"What now? Make up your mind," Dean said.
"Just remember this, just because you have me watching your back is no excuse for you to get sloppy Dean, you wont like my sense of humor, understand?" Azra asked.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Dean said as he continued to lay back and with his last glance before settling in, he shot a wink at her.
Dean's eyes were closed; he felt Sam close to him and heard him calling his name.
"Dude, get off of me," Dean grumbled.
"Dean thank God, I thought you'd never wake up," Sam said as he gave Dean more space.
"You think I'm gonna stay in a hospital where the nurses aren't even hot?" Dean said, "I pick the next one, you always pick the ones with the ugly nurses."
"Well if they weren't ugly, I'd never get you to leave," Sam laughed.
They sat there looking at each other for a moment and finally Sam broke the silence. He was still thinking about the last dream he had.
"Dean, did you have a dream about a girl, she had brown hair and green eyes?"
"What, you have that dream too?" Dean asked with a sly twisted smile, "She sure was an angel wasn't she? And the things that she could do with a-," Dean felt something invisible hit the back of his head and smiled even more.
"Get your head out of the gutter for once Dean," Sam said.
Dean looked down at the salt mess around his bed, "By the way Sam, I'm curious to know how you explained that."
Sam laughed, "I told them it was in our religion."
"Nice Sam, that's actually believable. And it's at least somewhat close to the truth," Dean said.
They were admitted from the hospital three days later. John had left the day after Dean woke up. It wasn't easy, but Sam managed to find a rental while the Impala was being fixed.
"A VAN SAM! YOU GOT US A VAN!" Dean yelled.
"It was the only thing they had with a cassette player," Sam said. "God knows you can't drive without that noise. I'd be risking my life."
"Fine, I don't really feel like arguing," Dean replied. "It's the damn mystery machine from that cartoon," Dean muttered under his breath.
"What's that Dean?" Sam asked.
"I said 'where to?' Sammy," Dean replied.
"Dad said that he'd meet up with us in Maize before we went to Lawrence, it's a small town north of Wichita. I think he wants to lay low for a while," Sam answered.
"Maize it is," Dean said as he put in an ACDC tape.
"Besides, I had your car towed to Dad's old garage. I know you don't trust anyone besides them to take care of her," Sam said.
The van hit the interstate and drove off as Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution played in the background.
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End of this fic.
I'm considering making this into a series. Feedback? Thoughts? (I have no idea when I'll have the time though)
I'd like to thank my wonderful beta who was patient and didn't murder me in my sleep with a guide to punctuation.
Your comments rock my salt. I hope everyone enjoyed it. This is the end of the beginning and it kinda makes me sad. You only get one first fanfic and this is it. Much Love. Redwinged Blackbird.
