'Til Death

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own 'em and I'm still poor.

A/N: Thanks to Kelli, as always, and to everyone who has read so far. I'm so not sure about this chapter, but I'd love to know what you think.

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Death ends a life, not a relationship. --Jack Lemmon

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Dean didn't know where he was going, but he couldn't stand to be in the motel room any longer. He'd confirmed his suspicions after finally recognizing what should have been a simple pattern to spot. He knew John wouldn't be very happy with him if he knew he'd missed something so obvious, but he shrugged off the feeling of inadequacy and slid behind the wheel of the Impala, determined to somehow find his brother.

As it turned out, he didn't have to look very hard. When he pulled out onto the main road, he saw Sam walking toward the motel. Dean pulled over and jumped out of the car; he wasn't sure he if was more relieved to see him or angry at him.

"Where the hell have you been?" Dean demanded. Apparently, at the moment, he was more angry than relieved. He stopped when he noticed the expression on Sam's face. It had been years since he'd seen Sam looking so serene, but something about it almost scared the older brother. "Sam?"

"I'm sorry, man. I know you called a bunch of times, but I needed time – I'm sorry."

"Are you all right?"

Sam smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Where have you been? You left hours ago."

"I was walking; I just lost track of time."

"You lost track – look, I found something when I was spending all that time in the room alone."

Sam didn't take the bait. "Let's get something to eat. I'm starving."

Dean watched as Sam got into the car. Sighing, he followed his brother.

"Where to?"

"There's a bar a couple miles down the road."

"Since when do you want to go to a bar without me dragging you?" Dean asked.

"Just drive." Sam smiled.

Dean looked at him for a moment then pulled out onto the road. He wasn't at all happy.

"So you were just out walking." Dean said after the settled at a corner table with two beers and a plate of nachos between them. "For over three hours. Just walking."

Sam shrugged. He stared at the plate of food for several moments. After taking a sip of beer, he cleared his throat.

"So." Sam paused. "So, do you think it's possible? Actually bringing someone back?"

"No, Sam. Everything we've ever found about necromancy, everything Dad found – the body can be reanimated, but it's not really the person. It's just an empty husk bending to the will of the necromancer."

Sam was still looking down.

"Sam? Talk to me, man. What's going on in that freaky brain of yours?"

"Dean, I think it might be possible. It might be for real."

"No, Sam, it isn't."

Sam looked at him and smiled. There was an innocence, a hope, in his eyes that almost broke Dean's heart. It was the same look Sam had when he was little, before his father and brother let him in on the family secret. Back before Sam knew about ghosts, spirits and demons.

"Dean –" he began, pleading. "I met a women in the cemetery. Her name is Awena and she says she can bring people back."

"She said – you met – the cemetery? What were you doing there?"

"I just ended up there. There were people digging up a grave –"

"What? Sam –"

"Dean, listen to me. Awena helps people. She brings back people who shouldn't have died yet. People who were in accidents or –"

"Sammy – Sam – no. Even if it is possible, it isn't right."

"Some thing killed Jessica. It wasn't her time to go. If I can get her back –"

Dean ran his hand over his face.

"Awena told me not to tell you." Sam sounded disappointed. "She said you wouldn't understand; that you'd try to talk me out of it. I should have listened to her and just gone with her back to California."

"You were going to leave with her? A perfect stranger?"

"It's for Jessica, Dean."

Sam's look of wide-eyed innocence was really starting to bother Dean. In the weeks since they'd reunited Sam had been understandably moody. He was angry and depressed; the nightmares that didn't allow him a decent night's sleep were wearing him down. As much as Dean hated to see him that way, it was almost worse to see him like this. He wanted his brother to be happy. He wanted for Sam whatever Sam wanted for himself, but there was something wrong here and Dean didn't know what it was or how to fix it. That was not something he was comfortable with.

"Let's get out of here." Dean said. "We need to talk about this and we can't do it here."

Sam followed his brother to the car and Dean drove back to the motel, stopping first at a convenience store for a six-pack of Corona. He wanted something a whole lot stronger, but it was too late to find an open liquor store. They settled on either side of the small table in their room.

"Tell me about these people." Dean said gently. "Tell me about Awena."

"She's some kind of a witch or something." Sam said, sounding more like a child with each word. "She's been living here for a few months, helping people get their loved ones back."

"Where are all these loved ones?"

"Back with their families. Obviously they can't go out into public. Some people have moved away to keep the secret safe –"

"Sam, we didn't come across any people who had moved away. We talked to the families, remember?"

"Dean, that doesn't matter. What matters is that Awena can go with us to California and bring Jessica back –"

"Why would she do that, Sam? What's in it for her?"

"She gets to help people." Sam said as his cell phone started to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket.

"Sam?" Dean began.

"It's Awena. I told her I'd be back after I got my stuff."

"Don't answer it, Sam." Dean held out his hand. "Give me the phone."

Sam shook his head and jumped away from Dean when he tried to grab the phone from his hand.

"Awena, I'm sorry I'm late. I ran into my brother and –"

Dean didn't like the look Sam gave him as he listened to the woman on the other end of the phone. As subtly as he could, Dean stood up and tried to appear unconcerned. He tensed when Sam ended the call saying he would take care of it; he had a feeling he was it. He had a very bad feeling.

"I have to go." Sam said, sounding more like the brooding brother Dean was used to.

"Where, Sam?"

"Back to Awena's. We're leaving in the morning."

"Leaving?"

Sam stood up and walked toward his brother. Dean had the feeling it wasn't to give him a brotherly hug.

"Sammy –" Dean said, backing away. The look in Sam's eyes now was anything but innocent. "What's going on here, Sam?"

"You want to stop me. You want to stop Awena from helping people."

"Sam, I'm your brother. I'm on your side."

"Not this time." Sam shook his head, advancing toward Dean.

The older brother hit a wall before he was expecting it. Sam pounced on him with lighting speed and Dean took a few punches, not yet ready to defend himself against his little brother. It didn't take long for him to realize that if he let Sam get the better of him, he would be lost forever. Dean didn't believe this Awena person had any real power over the dead, but she seemed to have power over his brother.

Dean trained Sam to fight. He sparred with him every day when they were growing up and even now to stay in shape. He knew Sam's every move, but unfortunately, Sam knew Dean's as well. Dean would never admit it was a lucky punch that allowed him to gain the upper hand, but that didn't stop him from taking full advantage of the situation. He managed to knock Sam out, but he knew it wouldn't be for long. Dean scrambled to find something to tie Sam to the chair and once that was done, he gathered a few weapons and a book of exorcisms. He wasn't convinced that Sam was possessed, but there was something definitely not right about him.

Dean pulled a container of holy water from his duffle bag. He hoped the water would have no other affect on his brother than to wake him up, but it would let him know if Sam was possessed. Sam shook his head, but it still hung low. It took him a moment to look at his brother. Dean didn't like seeing the fear in his eyes. Sam should never be afraid of him.

"Sammy?"

"What are you doing to me?" Sam asked. Again, he didn't sound like the Sam Dean knew.

"Sammy, who am I?"

Sam looked at him. "What?"

"Who am I? Do you know?"

"You're Dean. You're my brother. What's going on? Why did you tie me up?"

"Don't you remember the phone call you just got?

Sam shook his head. "Dean, what's going on?"

"Do you remember where Awena took you when you left the cemetery with her?"

Sam nodded.

"Tell me."

"What are you going to do?"

"Just have a little chat with her."

"You can't go there by yourself; she's not alone."

"How many people?"

"I don't know. I saw maybe ten. Untie me, Dean."

"I don't know that you're all the way back, Sammy."

"It's Sam." he corrected.

"Nice try, kid, but I'm gonna need more than that." Dean said as he checked one of his guns. "Tell me where she is or I'll have to do this the hard way."

Sam looked at him.

"I'll find her, you know I will. Come on, Sam, help me out here."

Sighing, Sam gave into his brother and told him where to find Awena.

"I'm gonna take care of this and I'll be back."

"You're not going to leave me tied up here. Dean!"

Dean paused at the door. "I'm sorry, Sam, but I don't know what kind of power this woman holds over you."

"Dean!" Sam called after his brother as he left the room, locking the door behind him. "Dean!"