Author's note: Thank you for all the reviews and love! I absolutely love you guys, gonna put our own spin on this chapter with the djinn. I know its Dean that gets taken originally but I really would like to explore what Emily's alternate world would be, please don't be mad. Dean will play a large part in this. Thanks as always for the love and please review and let me know what you think! I'm always open to requests/suggestions!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Emily.
Let me tell you, its been a rough couple of weeks for the Winchesters. We bolted out of town after Madison, but not before ensuring her a proper hunter's funeral. Sam insisted, and neither Dean or I felt the need to disagree.
Sam and I were like a couple of wounded puppies. Me sulking over Luke, him mourning over Madison. Poor Dean has been a mother hen, always pushing for us to get up, do something, keeping us busy, we've been running job to job for days. All small easy ones, mostly vengeful spirits. Dean went out last night for the first time since all the chaos started and didn't come home till late this morning. So he's absolutely chipper. Sam and I slept in and went out to breakfast, trying to talk about anything but how shitty our love lives were, but the conversation always seems to come back to that. So we're in the same mood we have been for days.
The dreams finally started that night. Dreams of Luke being the monster… of me putting him down. Me putting Madison down. Sam putting Luke down… but last night's was the worst one yet.
Last night's intriguing rendition of the same dream over and over again was just me and Sam. I held a gun and raised it to his chest. Not blinking as I pulled the trigger and his body collapsed onto the floor. Every part of my heart and soul knows that Sam isn't a monster. No matter what yellow eyes did to him… he's just not. He's Sammy. He's a hero. My hero.
But something in the back of mind still remains leery. Not only of him… but of myself. Of what we could become. What we could turn into, what I could turn into.
"Em you ready?" Dean said walking by and getting my attention.
"Yeah. I'm good. Sammy you coming?" I said turning to him as he sat at his computer.
"No, I'm gonna stay and do some research. See if I can find another link between the vics."
"Okay. Well, call if you find anything. And be safe." I said walking over and hugging him tightly, lingering a little longer than normal.
"Emily are you okay?" He whispered to me.
"Yeah I'm fine." Just remembering how I put a bullet in your heart last night.
"Okay. I'll be here when you get back, promise." He said leaning down and kissing the top of my head. I reluctantly released him and walked to the doorway, joining Dean in the impala.
Dean and I drove towards the strip of road where all of the vics were last seen or known to be on. We drove up and down, carefully looking on each side of the road for anything suspicious.
"So what's with you attaching yourself to Sam's hip all day? I mean you've barely left his side." Dean asked out of nowhere.
"I think your exaggerating that a little. I'm here with you aren't I?"
"Yeah, but you hugged Sam like he was going off to war."
"Jealous?" I asked with eyebrows raised. He turned and shot me the bitchface.
"I'm serious… did something happen last night?"
"No Dean." I sighed. "Other than you getting laid nothing of interest happened."
"…Was it another dream?"
"De. Really. Just leave it alone."
"So what was it this time?"
I sat in silence, but Dean was not going to drop the issue. He continued to stare at me for several minutes, shooting me an insistent glare.
"…You know how they all end with someone killing the monster?"
"Yeah."
I had explained the dreams to Dean before, but not to Sam. He had enough to worry about. I didn't want to add more to his plate.
"Well this time Sam was the monster, and I pulled the trigger. Didn't even blink Dean."
"Ouch." Dean mused.
"Yeah. I just. Feel guilty I guess. I mean I know I can't control the dreams but subconsciously I placed him as a monster. If he knew that then he'd never live it down, I just. Want him to know that I don't think he's going to be a monster. That he's not a monster."
"He knows all that kiddo."
"I just want to be passed all this. I wish we could jump to the future a couple months down the road. Be back to normal. Be past all this crap."
"All in time kiddo. We'll get there." Dean said as he ruffled my hair. Just then my phone began to ring.
"Hey Sammy."
"Hey Em, find anything?"
"Yeah a whopping load of jackshit. There's no signs of anything strange out here."
"Well, then let me toss this out there. I think we're hunting a djinn."
"A freaking genie?" Dean asks leaning over to the phone.
"Yeah man, it all matches up, says here djinns like to hide in ruins, although in today's world I would think large empty buildings, like warehouses maybe, see anything like that around there?"
"Yeah actually we passed one a few miles back." Dean replied turning the car around.
"Alright well come get me before you check it out."
"We're already down here Sammy, we'll be fine. We're just gonna look around."
"Alright, call me back in thirty minutes or I'm sending the cavalry."
"Promise. Love you."
"Love you too Em, be safe."
I hung up the phone just as Dean pulled up beside a large old warehouse, half of the wall on one side was missing, steel beams dangling from varying heights.
"Definitely looks like modern day ruins to me." I said double checking my mag and pulling out a flashlight.
Dean led us into the building through a side door, I flanked him, gun raised and we carefully explored the building. When we ascended a set of stairs I heard footsteps. I stopped, grabbing the back of Dean's shirt.
"De. Listen."
He too froze and we sat carefully, waiting for the footsteps to be further from us before moving again. We continued up the stairs and my eyes fell upon a girl hung from the ceiling, her hands bound. I instantly moved towards her but felt something grab at me, when I turned to look at Dean, the djinn was standing behind him.
"Dean!" I yelled raising my gun and shooting, but the djinn was faster than I imagined. Before I knew it a hand was on my forehead and there was a bright blue light filling my vision. It was soft. Peaceful. It made me sleepy, and then there was just silence as I faded to sleep.
"Emily! Emily its time to get up!"
The woman's voice stirred me slightly. I rolled over and stretched, feeling my body relax against the soft warm bed.
WAIT A FUCKING SECOND!
I jumped up and looked around. The walls. They were a shade of light blue, there were photo frames and large sparkling décor hanging around the room. A large vanity mirror sat straight across from the bed. I looked at myself in it. Whoa…
I walked towards it and examined myself. I was tan, very tan. With auburn red hair, long and straight. My brown eyes were the same, just like my daddy's. I looked down and found myself in a school tshirt and shorts.
"What the hell?" I mumbled as I recognized the logo as Halltown high's.
"Emily!" The woman's voice grew louder, and I turned as the door opened.
"Mom." I breathed shocked.
"Sweetie you're gonna be late for school if you don't hurry up, I've been calling for you for twenty minutes now. Get dressed." She said before closing the door.
"Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god… what the hell is this?" I mumbled to myself examining the pictures around the room. Of me… and random people. Me in a cheerleading outfit. Me standing next to a blonde girl.. NO FUCKING WAY!
"Satan?! I selfied it up with Satan?!" I asked myself outloud.
"Noo.. no no no." I said panicking. But it wasn't like my normal panic. It was… normal. It was controlled. I was able to breathe and gather myself.
"Dean. Sam…" I instantly said to myself.
I ran to the closet to find several miniskirts, name brand jeans, and a slew of low cut tops. I grabbed the closest thing to a tshirt and some jeans before quickly getting ready, barely running a brush through my hair. I ran down the stairs, but bumped into something solid. Or someone.
"Whoa! Careful kiddo, you're gonna knock your old man down one of these days."
"Daddy?!" I said feeling tears sting my eyes. He looked at me concerned by my expression. Before he could get out another word I launched myself and wrapped around him like I did when I was little, he barely caught me and we stumbled a few steps.
"Daddy I missed you so much!" I said clinging to him. His smell… it lacked the whiskey but still felt as comforting as it ever was.
"Babygirl I was only gone for a few days. You know how my business trips can be."
"Right, yeah. A few days." I said slowly climbing down.
"You okay babygirl? You look a little sick." He said pressing his hand against my face.
"Yeah daddy I'm fine. I just. Had a weird dream." I sighed.
"Hunny, please remind your daughter she has 10 minutes before she needs to be out the door." Mom said as she came around the corner of the room and watched us from the bottom of the staircase.
"Yeah. Sorry Mom. Coming."
I followed her into the kitchen where she had laid out a plate full of food for me.
"Eat up. You've got practice after school, you'll need the energy boost." She said sliding me a glass of OJ.
"Oh, can I just get water, this stuff hurts my stomach." I asked.
"Since when?" She looked at me suspiciously.
"Um. I don't know, its fine." I smiled and took a long drink. Still trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
"Mom." It felt so strange to say the word out loud, and even stranger when the beautiful blonde woman before me turned to answer to it.
"Yeah hunny?"
"Where are Sam and Dean?"
She laughed and looked puzzled for a minute.
"Well… Dean is at home, with his wife. Sam is still at Stanford. He said he'd fly in when he finished his exams today."
"Oh." I breathed shocked. Dean with a wife?! Sam still at Stanford?
What in the hell is going on!
I picked at the food in front of me and turned to get up and leave. Grabbing the keychain with my name on it off the counter. Assuming it must be mine.
"Umm. Mom." I said walking up behind her. She turned and I wrapped my arms around her.
"I love you." I said softly.
"Oh, hunny I love you too…. Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah… I'm fine. Just. I want you to know how much I love you." I said fighting back a tear. She smiled, and her eyes glossed over for a minute.
"Oh what am I gonna do when you go off to college? All my babies grown." She said as her soft hand caressed my cheek. It felt warm, it felt comforting. I never wanted her to let go. For the first time in my life. I had a mom… I had MY mom.
I grabbed my keys and went out the door. I drove out of the neighborhood and briefly recognized the main road in town. It took me a few minutes to find my way to the school, but I finally did. It looked the same. I stepped out of the black civic I drove to the school and stood in shock as a large black truck pulled up next to me. My heart froze, waiting to see who climbed out of it.
"Luke." I said with a smile and a heart wrenching twist of pain.
"Hey baby." He said with a smile walking over and kissing my cheek. I don't know what overtook me but I suddenly grabbed his face and forced him to me, kissing him deeply, my tongue dancing with his. We were so into it, I began to lose my balance and we both slightly fell backwards against my car, but I didn't allow this to break our kiss. Instead I grabbed at him desperately. I NEEDED him. I've missed him. His body. His touch.
I began to pull off his jacket, but he pulled away from me.
"Whoa whoa, slow down baby. You're gonna get us busted again." He laughed looking around.
"Right.. I'm sorry. I don't know what overcame me… I just. I don't know." I said with a small smile.
"Come on babe, I'll walk you to class." He said reaching out and taking my hand. Oh how I've missed him.
I was walking with him through the parking lot when I heard Dean's voice.
"Emily." It sounded like it was a ways off. I turned suddenly. Luke pulled against me but stopped.
"Emily!" He yelled again. Yet I could barely here it.
Suddenly the pain in my head became excruciating.
"Ahh!" I cried as I doubled over and clutched the sides of my head in my hands.
"Emily! I'm here! Focus on me!" Dean's voice yelled. But I could barely here him, and he was no where to be seen.
The pain began to fade and it was Luke calling out my name.
"Em! Baby come on talk to me, what's wrong?" He said holding me up.
I took a few shaky breaths before looking at him.
"A… a migraine. I think? I'm fine. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure? Do you wanna go home and sleep it off. I can take notes for you in history, and Tiffany can get your math assignments."
I rolled my eyes at the sound of her name rolling off his tongue.
"Yeah. Ya know, I think. I think I'm just gonna go sleep this one off." I said with a small smile. But really- I'm going to find Dean.
"Can you drive okay? Need a ride."
"No babe. I'll be okay." I said before kissing him and walking back to "my" car. When I got in I locked the doors and pulled out the small pink sparkly cell phone in my purse. Since when do I carry a purse.
I scrolled the contacts, Dean's was right under Daddy's. I hit the green button and waited.
It rang, and rang, and finally someone answered.
"Hello?" The voice grumbled.
"Dean! Where are you?"
"I'm at home weirdo. What the hell do you want?"
"Can you give me your address." I asked quietly. Taken back by his tone of voice.
"Well its not changed in the last 4 years."
"Yeah. I just.. umm forgot it. I don't know. Its been a long morning."
"Whatever." He said before hanging up. I sat there for a second. Feelings hurt just a little. Why is he being like this? I mean isn't this Dean. My Dean?
My phone buzzed, there was a text with the address in it from Dean. I instantly began to drive towards it. I felt relieved he at least sent it to me, even if he did have an attitude the whole time. I pulled up in front of a small house, it was cute. Quiet neighborhood. I instantly knew it was Dean's place because Baby was parked out front. I took comfort in the fact that some things never change. I got out of my car and walked up to Baby. It warmed my heart to see her. She was beautiful as always. Not a scratch or dent on her. I slid my fingers across the hood.
"Hey. You know the rules. Don't touch my car." Dean called as he came out the front door in black tshirt and jeans.
"Dean!" I said excitedly. I walked over and wrapped him in a hug. But instead of hugging me back he stood there stiffly. As if he was unsure of what to do.
"Um. What are you doing?" He asked me. I let go stiffly, sensing the awkward tension.
"Um. I don't know. Weird morning I guess… So um. How are you?"
"You seriously drove over here and woke me up knowing I have to work tonight to ask how I was?"
"Oh. I. I'm sorry Dean. I didn't know."
I could feel that same headache creeping back up on me, like a bullet bouncing around my skull. I bit my lip and held my head till it went away, then I looked back up at Dean.
"Emily what's wrong with you? You look like you're pale as a ghost."
"I. I don't know." I said backing away from him. "I'm sorry I woke you up. I'm just… gonna go." I said walking back to my car quickly.
"Emily? Wait!" Dean called, but didn't chase after me. I got in the car and drove off as he stood there and watched.
I came up to a stop sign and felt a pain at the back of my head, then it grew.
"Oww! Ah!" I cried as I leaned into the steering wheel.
"Emily! Babygirl come on I'm here! Its me!" Dean's distant voice called over to me.
"Dean…" I groaned. As the pain faded. There was honking behind me. I quickly hit the gas and the car lurched forward, almost taking out the man walking down the road.
"Shit!" I yelled. "I'm sorry." I sped off and drove until I found an empty parking lot. I stopped and grabbed my phone again. I scrolled further and further down. Sam.
I hit call and it rang twice before someone answered.
"Emily?" Sam answered with a cheerful voice.
"Sammy!" I said full of relief.
"Hey kiddo how ya been?"
"Um. I'm okay. I just… needed to hear your voice. Um… Mom said you would be here soon?"
"Yeah. I fly in tonight. Jess is coming with me."
"Jessica? Like. Your girlfriend?"
"Well… if you can keep a secret. She's not gonna be my girlfriend much longer. I'm planning on proposing tonight at Mom's birthday dinner."
"Wow! Sam. That's… that's so great."
"Thanks kiddo. I knew I could count on you to be happy for me."
"Yeah. Um. Hey… have you talked to Dean lately?"
"Come on Em. You know we don't talk much… I'm surprised you're still talking to him after Mom's birthday last year. I didn't think you'd said a word to him since."
Well… that would explain the awkward tension at Dean's.
"Um.. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I um. Barely remember that. Mind refreshing my memory?"
"Um, the part where he called you a slut in front of everyone?"
"Oh." Was all I could sadly respond…
"Hey. Don't worry bout it Em. I'll be home soon okay."
"Yeah. Yeahh.. I'll see you soon."
"Love you kiddo."
"Love you too Sammy."
I hung up the phone and leaned back against the seat of the car closing my eyes.
What is this world I've fallen into?
Sam is thousands of miles away from me, Dean can't stand me, I have my Mom, Dad, AND Luke. Its like my life has been turned upside down. Literally. Everything seems… great. Except me and my brothers. Although I guess Sam and I are still on good terms. I don't know what to do. I don't know what this is. I don't know what to expect… is this a second chance? A blessing… a trap.
Then it hit me… the djinn. They're genies. They grant wishes. He touched my head before I fell asleep… maybe he granted me a new life. A life with my family back. A life without hunting.
I drove back to the school knowing if I went home it would send up more red flags. I had to stop in the office and gather another copy of my schedule but I made it in time for math class. I sat in a seat at the back of the room. I laid my head on my desk and closed my eyes. Trying to soak this whole strange day in.
"Hey girl!" A chipper voice called out from beside me. I looked up. Satan.
"Oh, hey." I said trying to pretend to be "besties."
"Luke said you were sick this morning. Think you'll stick around for practice today?"
"Practice?" I asked confused.
"Um. Cheer practice? We have regionals in like 3 weeks?" She said with a "duh" tone.
"Oh. Right." I'm a fucking cheerleader? Since when? "I think I'm gonna pass on practice tonight. My brother is flying in and I'm dying to see him."
"Okay no problem, I'll cover for ya."
"Thanks girl." I smiled.
"No problem. Perks of being best friends with the team captain." She winked. Math class was boring as ever. And then finally the bell rang for lunch. I was walking down the somewhat familiar hallway when there were suddenly arms around me. I reached around for where I always keep a knife tucked into my waist band, but there wasn't one.
My panic quickly subsided when Luke's sweet voice whispered in my ear.
"Hey baby, feeling better?"
I turned to face him with a smile and a kiss. I could kiss him every day for the rest of my life. If I can settle this crap with Dean then maybe this life wouldn't be so bad. Maybe I could stay here… maybe this IS my life now.
"Much. So what are we doing for lunch?"
"Well, I was thinking we could skip and go down to that little Italian place you love so much."
"And its things like this that make me love you." I said with another hasty kiss. We sprinted to the parking lot, sneaking out and having a make out session before actually going in for lunch. The food was AMAZING.
I finished the rest of my day uneventfully.
"Are you still bringing me to dinner tonight?" Luke asked as we walked back out to the parking lot after the final bell at school.
"Um, yeah. I am. IF you're willing to still go."
"Of course. I'll meet you there at 7?"
"Sounds good baby. Love you."
"Love you too." He said with a kiss and a wink. Damn I missed him.
I drove home with new resolution. This life. I can make it work. I can fix me and Dean, and things will be perfect. But for now… I just want to see my parents.
I spent the whole ride home deciding who to see first. The mother I never got to know, or the father I tragically lost and missed so deeply. Well… I am after all a daddy's girl.
"Hey Dad." I said pulling up in the drive way and seeing him in the garage working on his car. It was an old corvette, black in color. Hey. What can I say… Chevy's run in the family I guess.
"Hey babygirl. How was school?"
"Fine."
"Didn't you have practice today?"
"Yeah I did but tiff let me skip for dinner tonight, plus. I just. Wanted to come home and see you and mom."
"Wow. I bet not many teenagers come home and say that." He said with a suspicious grin.
"Well. I'm not most teenagers." I said with a grin of my own. He laughed. I sat on top of the shelf that lined the garage wall and leaned back.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"Can you tell me some of your favorite memories of us growing up?"
"What?" He looked at me puzzled.
"I wanna know some of your favorite memories from us growing up. Here. At home."
"Umm. What's gotten into you today?"
"Nothing. I just. I'm in a reminiscing kind of mood with it being Mom's birthday and all."
"Um, okay… well. Obviously when you were each born. I'm pretty fond of those. Um. Okay. Well there's this one... where you were two." He turned to face me and set down the tools in his hand so he could tell the story more expressively. "Your Mom had taken the boys out to the store or something and I offered to watch you at home, we fell asleep on the couch watching a movie. When I woke up. Your mother was standing over me, not happy by the way. I suddenly realized you were no longer sleeping in my lap. I jumped up and asked her where you went. She laughed, well, sorta. She pointed at the kitchen with this expression… like she just couldn't believe I'd let this happen. And there you were. In the kitchen floor with 3 bags of flour torn open. Covering EVERYTHING in the kitchen, including yourself. I swear that stuff never came off for days. Your mother grilled me for an hour about not watching you, but it was still so funny that I didn't mind." He laughed at the end.
I smiled at him, he told me a few more and I wish I could have sat there all night and listened to him. Stories of me and the boys. Of my kindergarten play, of me and Mom. An hour or so after the stories began I decided I'd like to spend some time with the Mother I never knew. The mother who made all those "memories" with me.
"Hey Birthday lady!" I said walking into the kitchen.
"Well hey yourself." She said as she was mixing ingredients together in a large bowl.
"Want some help with that?" I offered, she looked surprised but then she nodded and slid me a bowl and a stack of things to start mixing into it.
"So what are you making?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Well, your father is insisting that he take me OUT for dinner tonight, but you know Sammy loves shepard's pie so I'm gonna pop one in the oven before we leave, that way he can have some when we get home."
My mother. The SWEETEST woman. I was touched. On HER birthday she is more concerned about making her children happy.
"Hey mom… I love you."
"I love you too sweetie."
I finished helping her cook the meal and then we stowed it in the oven with a lid to keep it fresh for Sam. Who texted me about 5 minutes ago saying his plane landed and they'd be here in an hour. Mom and I went to get ready for dinner tonight. I dug through the closet and pulled out a little black dress, a little short if I do say so myself, but the least revealing up top, I slid on a pair of wedge heels and some dangly earrings to match.
There were knocks at the door, then I heard Sam's voice calling out. I dashed out of the room and down the steps, leaping off the next to last one into my brother's arms.
"Sammy!" I cheered. He held me tightly and spun us around in a circle. He finally released me and landed a fat sloppy kiss on my cheek.
"Ew, stop it!" I joked before pushing him. He laughed. I turned to see the beautiful blonde next to him.
"Jessica!" I said excitedly and hugged her, she also hugged me back fondly. I was glad to know I had a good relationship with him and Jessica. He deserved to have her. To be happy.
"Its so good to see you, you're getting tall." Sam said pulling my attention back to him. "Well.. tall-er." He said with a chuckle and a ruffle of my hair.
"Yeah yeah yeah.." I mumbled.
There was another knock at the door and I realized it was almost 7, Luke.
I opened it and smiled, pecking him on the cheek.
"Happy Birthday Mrs. Winchester." He said stepping through the door and handing her a single red rose. Oh the charm…
"Well thank you Luke! This was so nice of you!" Mom said with a genuine smile, she leaned in and hugged him.
I looked at Sam who had narrowed eyes at Luke. Luke leaned up and shook Daddy's hand, then he turned to face Sam.
"I assume you must be Sam, I'm Luke. Nice to meet you." He said extending a hand towards him. Sam paused momentarily and then shook it.
"I am, Nice to meet you. Hey, I got some bags in the car, wanna help me grab them." Sam said. Luke nodded and they walked out the door.
"Umm.. should I be worried?" I asked looking between my Mom and Jessica.
"He's been prepping this don't hurt my sister or I'll kill you speech since we got on the plane. Trust me. Its not near as intimidating as he thinks it is." Jessica laughed. I smiled and laughed as well.
"So when will Dean be here?" I asked Mom.
"Oh he and Carmen will meet us at the restaurant hunny."
"Oh, okay." I said slightly disappointed.
We all left for the restaurant not long after the boys came back in, I winked at Luke and watch Sam walk a little taller than he had when he walked outside. He must be proud of himself. I love that kid.
The restaurant was fancy, they sat us at a large table in the center. I sat with Luke on my right and two empty seats on my left. Sam offered over and over again to sit by us so Dean didn't have to but I insisted. I've got to fix this thing with Dean so I can be happy with the new life of mine.
Dean and Carmen arrived about 15 minutes after we did and Dean hesitantly took the seat beside me. I looked at him and smiled. He looked at me oddly and turned away to tell Mom happy birthday, she hugged him and carmen both and carmen sent a smile and wave my way, at least she seems to like me.
"Hey." I whispered to Dean.
"What?" He turned and asked, not exactly rudely, but not super friendly either.
"I'm sorry… for everything. Can we just put all this shit behind us? I miss you."
He stared at me for a long moment.
"We'll talk after dinner." He said before looking back to Mom and the rest of the table.
Dinner was delicious. They had just brought everyone a round of dessert and Mom was thanking everyone for coming. I looked up to Sam who looked nervous. He was fixing to go. He caught me looking and I gave him a confident nod. He got the table's attention.
"Um, I'm just glad we could be here with everyone. I've got a question." He got down on one knee and turned to Jessica.
"Will you marry me?" Jessica gasped at the ring and everyone at the table was shocked, the restaurant clapped as Jessica nodded and Sam placed the ring on her finger. They kissed and Mom was in tears of joy.
"What a birthday surprise! I'm so proud of you! I love you both!" Mom said standing to hug them. Jessica looked at me and smiled. I fought to hold back the tears. I looked up to Dean, who was also smiling. Him and carmen joined hands, as did Luke and I. Everyone was feeling the love.
After dinner I caught Dean as we were walking out the door.
"Hey."
"Hey… Look. I know last year was kind of a mess. I had a lot going on, and you just kept pushing and pushing. I mean You know how it is. My job is stressful. The last thing I needed was to walk in on you and the boy toy over there screwing around in MY house."
Ohhhh….
"I'm sorry Dean. That was… wrong of me. On so many levels."
"Yeah. You're right it was. And your lucky I didn't bust your ass or rat you out to Dad. But I didn't. Then you have the nerve to bring up my ex at dinner?"
"Dean. I'm so sorry… I really am. For everything. I just. Want to be past this. I want to see you more. I want us to be okay."
"We are okay… I just. Dammit Em. Don't pull shit like that again. I'm serious."
"I won't. I promise…"
"Okay."
"I love you." I told him with a tear threatening to fall.
"I love you too… don't be a cry baby. C'mere." He smiled a genuine smile for the first time all day.
I let him wrap me in the same strong arms I've been in my entire life. Now. Now things are right. This life can work. I can do this… Dean and me are good, Sam is happy, I have Luke. We all get Mom and Dad back.
I was walking back to the car with Dean when excruciating pain rolled through my head."
"Ahh! Dean!" I said reaching out and grabbing his arm.
"Emily! Please hear me! I'm here! Wake up! Wake up!" A distant voice that belonged to Dean called, but it mixed with the voice of Dean who was holding me up at the moment, continually asking me what was wrong.
"Em its not real! Wake up!" Dean's voice called out to me again.
It faded, and so did the pain. I stood and blinked the black spots out of my vision. Dean had an arm around me and Sam had rushed over to us at some point.
"Emily what's wrong?" Sam asked leaning down in front of me.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. Its just a headache."
"No. Its not… how long has that been happening?" Dean asked.
"Just today. I promise. I'm fine."
"Come on, you and Luke can ride with us. I think Carmen and Jess rode back together, Mom and Dad left too." Sam offered. I nodded and walked over to find Luke standing by the impala. He looked at me concerned and walked towards us.
"Hey, what happened?"
"She got some sort of headache." Sam explained.
"Another one?" Luke asked.
"Wait… how many have you had today?" Dean asked before getting in the car.
"Just a couple."
"Don't lie… Cause I know of at least 3. One at my house, one with Luke, and now that one. Did you hit your head recently or something?"
"Dean. I'm fine. I promise." I tried to reassure them, but all three of them stared at me concerned.
"One more and I'm taking you to the hospital to get checked out." Sam warned.
Thankfully the car ride was uneventful with no more headaches. We got home and I walked Luke over to his truck to say goodnight.
"Well I guess I'll see you in the morning." He said as he pulled me into his arms. I laid against his chest and felt the steady rise and fall.
"Yeah. I'll see you then." I said with a smile. I leaned up and kissed him slowly. His hands wandered down my back. Mine locked themselves into his hair and twisted, eliciting a small groan from his warm mouth.
"Mmm… Sure you can't sneak out tonight?" He asked with a lustrous gaze.
"I'm sure, maybe tomorrow." I said with a wink and a final kiss goodnight.
I walked back up the steps, when I walked in Sam was standing at the windows with his arms crossed. He shot me a glare.
"What?" I asked innocently.
"Just because he's a nice kid doesn't mean I like him… he's too handsy."
"And you're too nosy." I shot back playfully.
"And you're my baby sister. Seriously. If he knocks you up, I'll kill him."
"Sammy… I love you."
"Love you too… come on."
We walked into the living room where Mom and Dad were sitting on the couch watching the news. Some sort of memorial was going on in another town. Seemed like a big deal.
"So sad… all those people." Mom mused.
I watched as the words "United Britannia Flight 424" flashed across the screen.
"Wait… we stopped that crash." I pondered outloud.
"What?" Sam asked form beside me. Dean and Carmen gave me and odd glance.
"Um. Nothing. Sorry… I'm gonna head upstairs and get to bed."
"Are you sure hunny its not even 9?"
"Yeah yeah, I'm just tired is all. Happy birthday Mom, love you." I said walking over and kissing her on the cheek before ascending the stairs. Once I was alone in my room I grabbed the laptop off the desk. The plane did indeed crash and kill every single person on board. Then I went back even further. The wendigo kid was never found. His siblings went to look for him and died, they blamed it on a bear.
The town with the shtriga had 37 child deaths in one year.
All of them. All of the cases we've worked. The people we've saved… they're all dead. Pete is dead. How I noticed that I hadn't seen him all day was beyond me, but now that I think about it I hadn't seen him once today.
Everything in me felt torn. I was given a chance at a new life, but in order for that to happen all of those people died. They suffered loss, they faced horrors they never even knew existed. All because I wanted my life to change.
Pain consumed me again, and I dropped to the floor on my knees.
"Emily wake up… wake up. I'm here babygirl I'm here. Its not real wake up!" Dean's voice called out to me.
"No.. no. Dean.." I mumbled waiting for it to stop again. When it did I stood and made my way to the bathroom to splash some cold water on my face. But instead I bumped into Dean.
"Whoa, sorry Em,… wait, what's wrong?" He asked taking in my shaken appearance.
"Nothing… nothing I'm fine." I said trying to move past him.
"Hey wait stop. No you're not. Did it happen again?"
"No Dean please.." I said trying again to dodge him but he grabbed my arm.
"No, that's it… Sam's right. You mighta smacked your head or something, you need to get that looked at. Now."
"Dean! Please! I'm okay… just. Let me think about all this for a minute."
"All what? What are you talking about…"
"I… I don't know."
"At least let Carmen look at you, I'd like to at least get a nurse's opinion."
"Dean. I'm fine. Really. I just need to sleep it off. Okay?"
"I don't know kiddo… you're scaring me."
"Please. If I have them tomorrow I'll let you drag me to the hospital but for now please I just want to sleep."
"Fine. But you have to promise me you'll call me if you have one tomorrow."
"I promise."
"Get some sleep kiddo."
"Night Dean."
He finally went downstairs and I went to the bathroom to wash my face. I waited till Dean left and I heard everyone head to bed for the night before getting dressed again and making my move to go downstairs and find something silver.
I know what I have to do… part of me wants to say individual goodbyes to… Daddy… Luke. But I know that will only make this that much harder. So instead I quietly made my to the kitchen and dug for a silver knife.
I found one and went to grab my keys off of the rack by the door.
"Hey."
I jumped and turned.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked me.
"Um… I just. Uh.."
"Emily. What are you doing?"
"Sam. Look. I need you to trust me. Please." I said walking up to him and grabbing his hands in mine. "I know this looks bad, but I'm begging you to trust me."
"Where are you going?"
"I can't tell you…"
"Well then I can't let you leave."
"Sam. Please!"
"No… I'm not gonna let you take off in the middle of the night by yourself."
"Fine. Then come with me." I challenged.
"Fine." He challenged back. I groaned… I don't have time for this. But I walked out and he followed. We got in the car and I started to drive towards where I knew the djinn was.
"Emily will you please tell me where we're going."
"No."
"Why not?!"
"Because you'll think I'm crazy."
"Well you not telling me anything isn't helping that theory. I mean seriously what is up with you today?"
"Sam… this isn't right. None of this. This isn't our lives. I'm sorry… its just not." I finally said sadly.
"Okay. No. Turn around. NOW."
"Sam please…"
"No! I'm taking you to the ER, I don't know when you whacked your head but you're not okay. I'm serious turn this damn car around!"
"No!"
"Emily stop this car! I'm switching you and we're driving to the hospital!"
"FINE!" I finally yelled. I moved to open the door and waited for Sam to be fully out of the car before shutting my door and slamming on the gas, leaving him standing in the road behind me.
"Sorry Sammy…" I said as I cranked the radio and continued down the road.
Not even a half hour later my phone began to ring… First it was Mom, then Sam, then Mom again… then it was Daddy.
"Hello…" I finally answered.
"Emily Anne Winchester I don't know what's gotten into you but you turn that car around right now and come home!"
"I'm sorry Daddy… I can't." I said feeling the lump in my throat grow.
"Emily baby please! Turn around and come home. Let us help you."
"Daddy, I love you… I love you and Mom so much. I'm so sorry, but I have to do this… all those people will die if I don't. Please, forgive me… but I can't let them all die because of me."
"Emily what are you talking about?"
"Can you put Mom on for a minute please?"
"Emily hunny where are you?" Mom asked, worry filling her voice.
"Mom…" I said barely able to get the word past my lips. "I just want you to know that you are the most amazing mother I could have ever asked for. I love you. I'm sorry."
I hung up the phone and continued down the road. An hour later it rang again. Dean this time… I went to answer it but the pain hit me like a hammer at the back of my head and instead I dropped the phone and leaned down onto the wheel, bringing the car to a stop unsteadily.
"Come on babygirl, wake up…" Dean's voice called out to me. THAT is MY Dean. I realize now that he's still there. Trapped with the djinn in the warehouse. I came out of my fog and punched the gas. The car lept forward.
It took 3 hours to drive to the warehouse, when I did I slowly made my way inside, looking for him. For Dean… for anything.
I walked up the same steps as I did the first time. I reached the top and froze.
"Emily." Dean said calmly. Sam, Mom, Dad, and Luke all stood behind him. My heart twisted and I knew now for certain that none of this had been real. None of it really existed. My Daddy isn't back… My mother never was here. Luke is still… gone.
"Emily put the knife down." Dean cooed. "Its okay kiddo… you're okay."
"Dean this isn't right… its not real."
"But it feels that way doesn't it? Emily you can stay here."
"If I do what happens to me… will I die?"
"Yes. You will. But not for a very long time, or at least it will feel that way in here. With us. Look at Mom and Dad… and Sam, everyone's happy. You have Luke. What more could you ask for? It will feel like a happy full life. It will be peaceful, painless. I promise."
I looked at them all slowly, one at time. My mother, my Daddy… his warm smile again. His scruffy beard. I missed him so much. I couldn't stop the tear from spilling over and falling down my face, before it could reach my chin a hand wiped it away. I looked back to Dean.
"This could work kiddo, we can do this…"
"Yeah. It could." I whispered. "But you'd never forgive me if I stayed."
I lifted the knife and thrust it through my chest. There was no pain, there was no fuss, there was no noise at all. Just blackness.
"Come on babygirl, wake up… please wake up." Dean's voice interrupted the silence that filled my head. I felt weak, I felt strange… my eyelids were so heavy I couldn't lift them.
"Dee.." I barely groaned.
"I'm here Em, I'm here. Open those eyes. Come on… come back to me." He pleaded.
It took me several seconds, I began to feel the arms that were holding me. It was cold. There was pain all throughout my body. Finally my eyes began to open, there was a light above me, causing me to blink several times.
"Emily…" Dean breathed with relief.
"Dean." I said hesitantly. Wondering if it was really him. I looked up and Sam was crouched above us, looking down at me with worry in his eyes. "Sammy…" I whispered.
"Em."
"… Mom and Dad?" I asked slowly, not breaking eye contact with Dean. His face faltered for a second and he shook his head.
The tears were instant. I felt the lump in my throat and I couldn't stop it. I couldn't control them. Dean pulled me against him and stood, carrying me out to the impala as I sobbed.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." I cried over and over again. "I had to do it."
"Shhh… its okay." Dean whispered to me as he set me down in the backseat. Dean walked to the drivers seat and Sam sat in the back beside me, laying my head down on his knee so he can look at my neck.
"I guess he used the tube to drain the bodies, no telling what was on that thing. We'll have to disinfect this when we get her back."
"What about the other girl?" I asked suddenly remembering there was someone else hanging in the warehouse.
"She uh, she didn't make it kiddo."
I stared at the back of the seat in front of me. When we got to the motel Sam helped me out of the car and I walked straight in to the bathroom. I turned on the hot water and showered , taking my time to scrub each part of my body clean.
I walked out to find both the boys at the table eating take out Chinese food. I walked over and sat between them, grabbing a container of fried rice and a fork.
"So, are you gonna tell us what happened?" Dean asked after a minute of silence.
"… What happened after I was knocked out?"
"Well after he knocked you out we wrestled for a minute and he did the same to me, Luckily Sammy here kept his word about sending the cavalry. He showed up probably a half hour after he'd knocked us out. You were already being drained, he hung me up but hadn't put in the tube yet."
"Did he do it to you too?" I asked Dean hesitantly. Sam looked between us confused.
"Yeah. He did kiddo… not for very long. But yes."
"Were they in yours too?" I asked around the growing lump in my throat.
"Yeah. Mom was. Mine didn't last all that long though, I woke up pretty much right after it all started. You were down for a lot longer, we spent twenty minutes just trying to wake you back up.
"So everything I saw… it was all only in what? An hour time span maybe?" I asked. Dean nodded.
I looked down at the food in my hand and swallowed down the growing lump.
"What are yall talking about?" Sam asked.
"When the djinn knocked us out… he uh, put us in some kind of dream. It felt real. It was everything that we never got to have in this life." Dean explained. Sam looked between us and paused on me. I glanced up at him. Remembering how happy he was when he proposed to Jessica. How happy we all were, how happy I could have been… but none of it was real.
"Jessica was there, Sam." I swallowed again. "You were at Stanford, and happy, and you proposed to her on Mom's birthday." I said with a smile. He shot a small one back before turning away from me.
"None of it was real… not Mom. Not Dad." I said barely above a whisper. Remembering how beautiful she was. How it felt to hug her, her voice, her laugh, her smile. All figments of my imagination I guess.
"Em. Tell us what happened." Sam said.
"In mine… everyone was happy. Dean and I were at odds, but I fixed it. I had everything I've ever wanted. I had a mom who raised and loved me, Daddy was alive, you were both in love and happy, Dean had a wife and a normal job. Luke was there…" I stopped for a moment setting down the food and running my hand through my damp hair. "But all those people we saved. They were all dead. Every case we worked went unsolved and so many people died. The kids in that town, the people on the plane, the little girl form the inn, every single one of them. Dead. So I decided to give it all up… to save them." Tears began to sting my eyes again. "I was gonna make him turn things back to normal, I was gonna give it all up. But when I got to the warehouse I realized it was all a dream. That none of it was real. All of a sudden everyone was there, in the warehouse, begging me to stay." I looked up to Dean. "You looked me in the eye and promised it'd be painless. That it would feel like I'd lived a whole lifetime… but I knew. I knew if I stayed. The real you… you'd never forgive me for giving up."
"Em, the kind of strength it takes to walk away from that… most people couldn't do it. Hell. I don't know if I could have done it." Sam said putting an arm around me.
"He's right kiddo… I know it hurt like hell to do it. But I have never been more proud of you." Dean said earnestly.
We ate the rest of our dinner and readied for bed, I crawled in next to Dean and wrapped the sheet around me before laying my head against his arm.
"She was pretty huh?" I whispered to him.
"Who? Mom?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah Em… she was."
"She was so nice, she loved us all so much."
"Emily she does love us, even now."
"Yeah… I know. It just… it was so different. She got to see us all grow up. She got to raise us."
"Yeah. I know kiddo… so Dad was in yours?"
"Yeah, was he not in yours?"
"No. Died of a heart attack a few years before."
"He was happy De… he didn't drink, or hunt, or mope around, yell at us. He was genuinely happy. He loved Mom… he worked on cars as a hobby. Traveled for business." Dean laughed staring off, imagining it all.
"When I hugged him. It felt so real."
"I know Em… mine too."
"De. We need a good day."
"Yeah we do." He said with snort.
"We should take tomorrow off… just have fun for once. We need it. No hunting."
"Oh.. well. Okay then. What shall we do on this day off?" He asked with a grin. I sat for a second and smiled widely.
"Well, first off. When we wake up you can make me chocolate chip pancakes. Cause, that's just the best way to start off a day… and then. We can go to that county fair we passed a couple towns back! You can buy me lots of tickets so I can play all the rip off games, and you and Sammy can kick ass at them and win me prizes, and ride the ferris wheel, and eat the greasy deliciously insanely unhealthy fried variety of desserts, and then we can… what are you laughing at?!"
"You!"
"What did I do?"
"Nothing kiddo… you're just so damn easy to please." He said with a grin. I rolled my eyes at him and continued on with my perfect day off plans. Dean and I laughed until we dozed off, wondering what tomorrow will bring.