Typical Disclaimer: This story has the typical violence you'll see in the show along with all the angst. I try not to get too off character or too violent, but I'm giving it a mature rating just to be on the safe side.
I of course own nothing and get nothing but the satisfaction of writing the story and hopefully making it enjoyable for others as well. Comments are always welcome, good or bad. Thank you to everyone and I hope you enjoy it.
---
Sam paced around the motel room after they'd returned. Dean sat on his bed cleaning various guns. He glanced up a couple of times but didn't bother asking his little brother what was wrong. He'd only get a shake of the head and a mumbled "nothing" he was sure.
Sam finally broke the silence, "maybe I should go back to the look-out to make sure she's ok?"
Dean gave him his typical 'yeah right' sideways glance and said, "no Sam. We don't know that Paul actually killed her, but if she thinks he might and thinks that we might keep information from her, she might hurt you again."
"She never hurt me Dean. Why wont you see that? She never hurt me. She made me feel," Sam paused as he tried to find the right words but couldn't, "good, I guess." Sam shook his head and looked at the floor.
Dean raised his eyebrows in slight surprise, "good? She made you feel good? Sam you were unconscious on the ground and wouldn't wake up, that's not good in my book."
Sam huffed and began his pacing back and forth again. He shook his hands out trying to disperse the nervous energies he was feeling. He wanted to go back to the look-out.
"Dude, stop it already," Dean barked at him. "You're acting like you're coming off some drug or something."
Sam stopped pacing and met his brother's gaze. There were no words exchanged, just the look that said Dean had hit it right on the nail's head. Sam looked at the floor and sunk down into the chair.
Dean assembled and packed all the weapons and cleaning supplies. As he cleared the last of them off the bed he glanced over at Sam still sitting in the chair with his head in his hands. "Get some sleep Sammy." He plopped himself on his bed and turned on the TV. "I mean it Sam, you look like shit. You need to get some normal sleep, not that whatever induced rest as you call it."
Sam looked up at him and nodded, "I guess." He walked over to his bag and undressed before climbing under the covers of his bed. He tossed and turned for a long while, but eventually drifted off to sleep.
Dean watched Sam closely; he checked to make sure the keys to the Impala were in his pocket every now and again too. He waited until he finally heard the soft sounds of his brother finally going into a real sleep before he got up quietly to undress and go to sleep himself. At least he'd made sure Sam didn't sneak out.
---
"Sam?" Dean rolled off the bed and lightly smacked Sam on the calf as he headed for the bathroom. He paused at the foot of the bed to make sure that Sam actually stirred and woke up.
Sam raised his head from the pillow and looked around drowsily, "yeah?"
"Time to get up sleepy-head," Dean smiled and went into the bathroom.
"Yeah, ok," Sam mumbled as he turned over and sat up in the bed. He stretched his lean muscles and took a deep breath. As he blew out the breath he realized that he couldn't remember if he'd actually dreamed during the night. He felt rested and smiled lightly to himself. He was going to miss this after they'd left the area. Then a thought crossed his mind and his spirits raised a little. If she can heal, then they knew where to come if something bad ever happened to them again. If they got injured during a fight, as long as they had time to get here, they could be saved by her.
Sam got up and made a pot of coffee, packed up everything except the clothes he was going to change into, and then jumped in the shower after Dean got out.
Dean changed and packed up. He was enjoying his cup of coffee as Sam came out of the shower and got dressed. "We should get to Paul's house before he does. Just to make sure she isn't there," Dean said casually from the laptop.
Sam scoffed, "you really think she's not going to be there? And if she is there, what are we going to do about it?"
"You're going to shoot her, that's what," Dean said pointedly. "Well, if she tries to do something, you will."
Sam looked up at him with a shocked expression on his face, "you're kidding me right?"
"No. Dude, if Paul did kill her and she finds out, how exactly do you think she's going to react?"
Sam thought about it for a second, but he already knew, "she'll be pissed. She'll want revenge. She'll forget she loves him and probably want to kill him."
Dean nodded, "exactly. And you're the only one that can see her so it'll be up to you to take her out of the picture until we can figure out how she's still here. I'm betting Paul still has something of hers that he's not telling us about."
---
They pulled up and parked a few doors down from Paul's house and walked up. They knocked on the door but there was no answer. "I didn't think he'd be home yet," Dean pulled out his picks glancing around in hopes that no one was watching. It was still early and it didn't look like anyone was up and moving about yet. They entered the house and began looking around again for items that might have belonged to Leigh.
They had only been in the house for about half an hour when the EMF reader blared to life. Dean glanced nervously at Sam as he pulled it out of his pocked. Sam began looking around for Leigh. They both left the bedroom and headed to the main room of the house. Sam swallowed, "she's there," he pointed to the small couch as Dean stepped up beside him.
"Leigh?" Sam cautiously walked towards her. She wasn't looking at him; she was just sitting on the couch looking at the wall opposite her. "Leigh, what are you doing here?"
Leigh glanced up at him; her eyes were sad and a little worried. "I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. I've been trying to piece the events together; maybe I forgot something or got the order wrong." She stood up and walked towards him, stopping as she got within arms reach but he took a step back as he had in the backyard a couple of days ago.
She frowned, "I wont hurt you Sam, you don't have to act like you're afraid of me."
"I'm not afraid of you, I just … this just …" Sam struggled to find the words that wouldn't hurt her feelings, "I can't rest right now. I'm trying to help find out the truth about you."
She smiled, "I appreciate that Sam. I really do. Is that why you're here? Because you really believe Paul killed me?" Her tone was soft but Sam saw something in her eyes that made him nervous. She'd been thinking about it all night and he knew that she believed Paul killed her now.
"We don't know yet Leigh," he soothed. "We're going to ask him some questions and see if maybe he saw someone else there when he left that day."
Dean watched the one-sided conversation in frustration. He saw when Sam took a step back and fought the urge to just shoot rock salt into the air in front of him. He assumed what Leigh was saying based on Sam's response and also knew that she was beginning to believe, if she didn't already, that Paul was her killer.
Then an idea hit him, "hey Sam?" Sam looked at him, "yeah?" Dean gave Sam one of his cunning smiles and Sam knew he was up to something, "ask Leigh about Paul's souvenirs?"
Sam tilted his head to the side slightly but after a second he understood exactly what Dean was looking for. Leigh looked at Sam, "what does he mean?" Sam nodded and looked back to Leigh, "he was just wondering if Paul keeps anything of yours around here. Maybe you've seen something." Leigh looked confused, "why does he want to know that?" Sam shrugged, "well … when someone dies, loved ones tend to keep things that belonged to that person. And, if Paul knows something or remembers something, he might have it all together and we might be able to find some clues?"
Dean was rolling his eyes mumbling, "smooth."
Leigh just smiled a little, "oh, I see. Well," she looked around the room while she thought, "I'm not sure, but let me think a minute. I have been wondering around here for about 50 years you know. But I do remember some things from the beginning, when I first died and was finally able to come here."
Sam nodded and smiled lightly, "ok, just tell me what ever you can remember, no matter how small the detail. It might be important."
"Well, it took me a while before I could get away from the look-out. He'd already gone away for school when I realized that I could get to the church. I just kept thinking about him and I'd pop from the look-out to the church. Eventually, I started appearing here too. It's been several years since I'd died though." Leigh's expression was sad as she remembered.
Dean had started pacing nervously as he watched Sam. Since he couldn't hear Leigh and Sam wasn't just listening, his nerves were itching for something. Then they all heard the clicking at the door. Paul was home.
"Hide! Hide!" Dean whispered to Sam as they ducked towards the back of the house. Leigh just shrugged and followed as Sam beckoned for her to come with him. As they reach the back office area, Leigh said, "why am I hiding, it's not like he can see me." Dean opened the office window, "quick, climb out and we'll go around to the door and act like we're just arriving." Leigh watched them leave via the window and then headed back to the main room where Paul was setting down his keys.
She moved up towards him watching him intently. The images of their last fight, the blow to her head and waking up at the look-out alone and scared were running through her mind. Could this man, the man that she'd loved through middle and high school, the man she'd made love to and was more than happy to have his children, the man she'd wanted to spend the rest of her life with, even after-life with, be her murderer? She'd been thinking about it all night, ever since Sam had left her there with her thoughts. Anger and betrayal began to creep into her senses and the more she thought about it, watching Paul taking his wallet and watch and placing them in a bowl on the small table near the door, the more she realized that their last conversation was very Paul-centered. It was all about what he wanted and what he was going to do with his life.
She was closing the distance between them when the knock on the door distracted her and she remembered the boys. Paul went to the door and opened it. Even from behind she could see his shoulders sag and heard the sigh of frustration. Her eyes met Sam's and something must have been on her face because he looked at her with worry.
"Paul, we realize that you just got home from the hospital probably, but it's very important that we speak with you." Dean was tell him politely. "We've actually found some evidence that Leigh may have been murdered."
Paul shifted slightly in the doorway, "oh really?"
"Yes. May we please come in and speak with you?" Dean was doing his best to put Paul at ease, he could definitely see the tension building.
Paul thought about it for a second but stepped back and let them in. He motioned towards the couch and chair that were in his living room area, indicating that they should pick a seat and make themselves comfortable.
Sam glanced nervously at Leigh who was still staring at Paul intensely. He could see that she was upset and was afraid that she might do something, but so far she was just watching. Perhaps waiting for an indication that Paul really had been her killer? Or hoping that he was going to prove himself innocent?
"Paul," Dean started and cleared his throat, "we believe that Leigh may have been murdered. We are hoping that you might have any items that you may have kept over the years that either belonged to Leigh, pictures of her or friends, newspaper clippings that might have information or pictures?"
Paul frowned, "what? How will that help with the case? What makes you think that Leigh was murdered? I mean what evidence do you have and why haven't you taken it to the police?"
Dean and Sam exchanged glances before Dean continued, "Leigh was pregnant, with your child."
Paul almost fell onto the floor. Dean and Sam both stood up as his knees buckled slightly and he caught himself on the back of the chair, then moved to lower himself into it. "How do you know that? Who told you that?" His voice was raising almost into a panic.
Leigh was moving slowly closer to Paul and her face was suddenly a mask of no emotion at all. Sam was looking at her and Dean noticed his expression, "Sam?" Sam looked at Dean, worry in his eyes and Dean knew that Leigh was doing something. He cursed lightly and wished he could see her himself.
"Paul, listen to me," Dean shook Paul lightly on the shoulder making sure that Paul was looking him in the eye, "you're going to find this hard to believe and I don't have time to explain everything, but you have to tell me where you're keeping her items. Whatever it is, you have to tell me where Leigh's personal items are. And now."
Paul looked at him confused, "what are you talking about?"
"Look, Paul, we know that you kept something of Leigh's. We know that you were on the look-out with her and that something happened to her after your argument. You have to tell us where it is. Leigh is here and she knows the truth." Sam looked up and Leigh met his gaze. "He really did kill me, didn't he?" She whispered softly to Sam.
Paul look horrified. Dean got his attention again, "listen to me, Leigh is the one that has been healing people, she's stayed because she love you, but she knows you killed her and if you don't tell me where her things are she's going to kill you!"
Sam stood up and positioned himself between Paul and Leigh, "please let us take care of this."
Paul look at Sam and at the empty air in front of him, then stood up and backed away from Dean, "you guys are crazy, get out of my house right now."
Dean stood and followed Paul, "if you don't tell us where the items are she's going to kill you dude. I know we seem crazy, but she's going to kill you. Now do you want to go to the police, confess, and stay alive or let her kill you here and now?"
Paul stared at Dean hard then Sam yelled, "Leigh please!" and looked as if he were holding on to something before he suddenly shuddered and fell to his knees.
"Sam!" Dean wanted to go to his brother but knew Paul and his information was all that he had so he turned his worry and anger onto Paul, "tell me now or you wont have to worry about what Leigh is about to do!"
"In the office! In the safe! There's a case with a glass window top, it's got the newspaper clipping, pictures, and lock of hair that she gave me!" Paul was shivering and Dean didn't care if he was scared of him or believe that Leigh was really there. All that mattered was getting to that box. "What's the combo?" Dean yelled at him. Paul stuttered for a second but finally blurted, "18, 66, 42!"
Dean took off down the hallway, looking back just as he entered the room to see Paul's skin turning pale and hearing Sam yell for Leigh to stop.
Leigh touched Sam's chest and he could see the light wisps leaving his body and entering into her through her hand. He felt like he'd been punched in the chest hard during a sparring session with Dean. He had a hard time getting his breath. Leigh didn't do it for long, just long enough for Sam to go down to his knees and finally let go of her arm.
She watched Dean take off down the hallway and made her way over to Paul, "you murdered me. The man I loved and was willing to give up everything for and you murdered me. You made my family believe I'd killed myself over you. I helped you heal people and build your parishners and you forgot about me." She reached out her hand and placed it on Paul's chest. The wisps of light began to stream from him.
"Leigh no!" Sam tried to rise to his feet and move towards her, to stop her. He watched as Paul turned pale, fell to his knees, and then back to sit on his feet. He was trying to grasp for breath but couldn't seem to inhale. Sam grabbed a hold of Leigh and pulled her back away from Paul. "Leigh, please stop, let us take him to the police." Leigh looked at Sam as Paul fell to the ground gasping for breath. "Please Leigh." Sam pleaded with her and it appeared that she was listening to him. He gave her a reassuring smile and tried to step back, leading her away from Paul.
Leigh looked into Sam's eyes, he was so desperate to get to leave Paul alone but something was eating at her and a voice, something very distant, whispered to her that he needed to be punished. She let Sam lead her a step or two away from Paul then reached up and touched his face lovingly.
Sam thought it was working, he was going to save Paul, until she reached up. He realized and reacted just a second too late. She touched his cheek lovingly, the tingling began, and he sunk down into darkness.
He hard Paul cry out and opened his eyes. She'd only done what she needed to get Sam down and he looked up to see Paul's skin become pale with death and his eyes glazed over as he lay on the ground unmoving. He looked up at Leigh as she turned towards the office, "you're brother's trying to destroy me, isn't he?" Leigh headed down the hall.
Sam struggled with all the strength he could muster and bolted down the hallway blocking the door. Dean pulled the box from the safe and spilled the contents onto the clean desk's top. He put all the pictures, clippings, and lock of hair into a small pile and pulled out his lighter as Sam bolted and blocked the door. "Sam?"
Sam stood before Leigh as she glanced past him to see Dean pulling out the lighter, "please Leigh, this has to stop." Dean immediately understood what was happing and tried to light the lighter. It took a couple of strikes before the lighter blazed into life and Dean set it down to the small pile. As he watched the flames catch, Sam's knees buckled and he dropped to the floor shuddering violently a few times before he became completely still. "Sam!"
Sam tried to block Leigh's path. She saw what Dean was about to do and realized she couldn't stop him. She looked sadly at Sam, "I guess this is goodbye? At least let me give you one last thing," before Sam could step away to grabbed him by cupping both hands under his jaw. Sam's knees bucked and he dropped down. She held onto him tightly and as he fell backwards, she held onto him so that he didn't hurt his head. She carefully set his head down on the ground as his body convulsed slightly. She pulled his body into a deep sleep and grabbed a hold of his soul. She drug his soul away from his body and pulled it with her, following the sound of the voice.
Sam opened his eyes and saw Leigh's face. Light was all around him and he felt as if his body weighed a ton. He couldn't move, but he could speak, "please Leigh, please don't do this." Leigh smiled almost lovingly down at him. She was kneeling next to his head and she kissed him lightly on the forehead, "you are such a good person, this gift is the last good thing I'm going to ever get to do."
Sam looked at her in confusion as she stood up and stepped away from him. He suddenly found that he could sit up and he raised himself up to his knees as she continued to step back, "Leigh?"
She suddenly cried out and burst into flames.
---
Dean watched as the pile burned into ash and Sam's body lay still on the floor. He ran over to Sam's side and shook his shoulders, "Sammy? Sammy?" He checked his breathing and pulse, they were there but weak. He glanced back at the desk and watched as the flames slowly died out. "Sammy? Come on man wake up," he shook Sam again. He thought that maybe Sam was just in a deep sleep before, but this time his skin was cold and pale.
Dean got up and walked down the hall to where Paul lay sprawled on the floor. He checked for breath and pulse, but there wasn't any sign of life coming from Paul any more. He quickly left Paul and ran back down the hallway to Sam, panic quickly building.