Supernatural: Fighting For You
Disclaimer: \_(. .)_/
A/N: So, so sorry! Life kinda took over for a bit, but I'll be posting the remaining chapter before too long!
Groggily, he heard screams breaking through the cotton in his head. With a start, he realized he was the one screaming and for an instant he was back in Hell, crying out for Sam, before the differences registered in his brain.
The air was cold, but not uncomfortable, and while he was definitely bound, he couldn't feel the unnatural stretch of skin and muscles like he could when he was on the rack. However, the pain was worse than anything he had experienced down there. It felt like his very being was slowly disintegrating on a molecular level as something was torn from his system.
Another scream soon joined his and he pried his eyes open, a bright light blocking out most of his vision. After what felt like an eternity, the pain suddenly stopped and he felt his body sag against whatever was holding him up as the screaming stopped. He felt like a weight had been lifted from his soul, but along with it all the energy he had regained when Jack healed him in the hospital.
Prying his eyes open again, the blinding light was gone and he could barely make out Jack stepping back from him. Looking down, his tired brain tried to comprehend the blue/white veins fading from his skin; a faint burning in his chest the only remains of the Enochian rune connecting him to heaven. With the last of his strength, he lifted his head to watch Jack place his hands on Rowena and Sam, light growing from where his hands rested on their chests.
As Sam's body began glowing with orange veins, Dean watched him strain, the process no more pleasant for him than it had been for Dean. Dean could feel the darkness closing in as consciousness started slipping from him, but he fought it, trying to stay awake, to make sure Sam came out alright.
Just as his eyes were drifting shut and his head was falling to rest on his chest, the strain for Sam became too much and he let out a scream that brought Dean's head straight back up and adrenaline flooded his system as he used what strength he had to push against his bonds. The struggle was futile and Dean soon fell limp against his bonds, breathing out Sam's name.
"Ahhhh!" Sam screamed, Castiel returning to consciousness as Sam's rune glowed brightly. Rowena threw her head back as the rune appeared on her and veins made their way across the skin visible on her neck and face, her fancy gown obscuring everything else.
Breathing deeply, Castiel waited the process out. His own pain fading, he turned his head to assess Dean's condition. The paleness of Dean's skin shocked him, all the blood had drained from his face and his breathing was extremely shallow.
Soon, Sam looked exactly as Dean did, his screaming stopped and his head slumped forward in unconsciousness. Jack stepped back as Rowena's head too fell to rest on her chest. Seeing that Castiel was awake, he swiftly moved over and snapped his fingers, releasing Castiel's bonds.
"How do you feel?" Jack asked, worry creasing his brow.
"Stronger." Castiel curtly answered, rubbing his arms and shifting his jacket to see the charred pattern of the rune on his shirt. Closing his eyes, he grabbed Jack's shoulder, using every ounce of strength he had to entwine the will of heaven with all he knew of humanity, hoping to keep its desires to eradicate evil in check with the love he had for humanity.
Opening his eyes, he found Jack searching his face. With a smile, he nodded at Jack. With a last thorough look, Jack returned the nod awkwardly.
"Ah, I have nay felt this good in ages," Rowena said, her bonds falling to her feet as she stepped away from the column, "I best be getting on my way before I decide to do something naughty." With a smile, she daintily waved to Jack and Castiel, brief concern crossing her face as she looked at the Winchesters, "I'll be seeing ye, boys." Then she was gone.
Snapping his fingers, Jack transported everyone to the medical bay of the Bunker. Sam and Dean were both unconscious, color slowly returning to their faces.
"It might be a few hours before they wake up, but they should be fine. I'll be back to check on them," Jack said, a slight frown on his forehead.
"Thank you, Jack," Castiel said, pouring all the emotion he could into those three words.
"You're welcome," Jack smiled, and then he too was gone.
Alone with the boys, Castiel moved to the beds Jack had so considerately snapped them to and checked their temperatures. With a sigh, he briefly placed a hand on their shoulders and then he went to take care of some business before they regained consciousness.
Sam's first thought was that his head and chest hurt. It took a second for his mind to remind him of what had happened. When it hit him, he remembered Dean's screams and jerked upright from where he was laying, looking around the room through blurry eyes, desperate to find his brother.
"Dean!?" He called, barely making out the form of his brother in the bed, he pushed himself to his feet and rushed over. Losing his balance, he was surprised to find himself supported by arms around his waist. "Dean?" he asked more hesitantly, "He is fine." A gruff voice answered, "Here, sit down." As he was lowered into a chair, Sam turned his head to see Castiel stepping away.
"How are you feeling?" Castiel asked, passing Sam a cup of water.
"My head hu-urts, so does my chest, but I-I feel ok," Sam answered, his voice thin from the screaming.
Rubbing his eyes, Sam sighed, "this has not been our week."
"I know. But you are both alive. Things will be okay. Jack said that he would come back to check in. Dean should wake up shortly."
Coughing to clear his throat, Sam looked at his shoes, "I..I need to thank you, Cas. You really saved our butts. Thank you for not giving up on him," clearing his throat again, Sam looked at Castiel with tears in his eyes, "that was way to close."
"You are welcome. And I know," placing a comforting hand on Sam's shoulder, Castiel kneeled beside him, "One day, his time will come. As will yours. But I plan to do everything in my power to make sure that such a day is far, far away."
Nodding, Sam smiled gratefully, "now if this knucklehead will just wake up, we can move on with our lives."
"Speaking of moving on," Castiel said, "I took the liberty of restoring Lisa and Ben's memories. They're waiting upstairs. I wasn't sure if I should let them down here just yet."
Shock on his face, Sam's expression quickly broke into a relieved smile, "You absolutely should. If there is anything Dean needs right now, it is his family. All of his family."
Smiling, Sam turned to look at Dean's still unconscious form. His brother's breathing had normalized, and if Sam didn't know about everything they had just been through, he would have thought that Dean was just sleeping. Then again, with everything that had happened, Dean might be sleeping. Dying, coming back to life, and having an eternal rune removed from the core of your being definitely zapped the energy from a person.
Reaching out, he grabbed Dean's hand, grateful for the warmth of life in Dean's limbs.
"Also, I brought Elieen, she's with Lisa."
Shaking his head at Castiel's thoughtfulness, Sam nodded at Castiel in gratitude. With a nod in return, Castiel vanished.
Taking a breath, Sam scooted closer to Dean, "thank you for not giving up, big brother. I couldn't live without you. I don't want to. We both deserve an apple pie life."
Smiling to himself, Sam added, "and I don't mind a little hunting on the side. If there is anything I have learned over the years, it's that the bad things don't go away just because you stop looking. It may take work, but I think we can find the right balance."
Hearing the door to the infirmary open, Sam let go of Dean's hand and turned to watch Elieen, Lisa, and Ben make their way down the stairs, a smile spreading across his face.
A voice broke through the haze of his mind and the pain in his chest and head. The voice spoke of the hope of an apple pie life, and hunting on the side. Sam's voice. Dean fought to get his body to push past the exhaustion as other voices broke through to his subconscious. He could hear the happiness and joy in the other voices and he wanted to join them, but the exhaustion of the past days kept him captive in the darkness.
A hand grasped his, the touch gentle, and another carefully felt his forehead. Groaning, he leaned into the touch, his heart recognizing it, but his mind refusing to allow himself to believe it. Then she was speaking to him, asking him to open his eyes, and the need to see her was enough to push back the weight of exhaustion.
"Li-isa?" he managed to breathe out, his throat tender from previous events. Opening his eyes, the blurry form leaning over him smiled. Blinking, her face came into focus as tears slid down her cheeks and a smile lit up her face.
"Hi Dean." She breathed, looking deep into his eyes before she placed a careful kiss on his forehead.
"H-how?" he asked, his brain trying to comprehend her presence. He had said goodbye, he'd let her go. She wasn't supposed to be a part of his life. It was too dangerous.
"Castiel gave us our memories back," he watched her expression dim in sadness, "It wasn't your fault that the demon came after us. You saved us, you protected us, you loved us. And we love you." Turning, Lisa held out her hand to Ben and he made his way into Dean's line of sight.
"Hi Dean," he said, smiling down, so much older than Dean remembered, Dean found himself troubled at how many years had gone by since he had seen them last.
"Hey, kid" Dean responded, smiling and trying to sit up, "It's been too long." Helping him, Lisa settled beside him on the bed, clearly communicating that she didn't think he should be standing.
"I know," Ben responded, smiling as he leaned down and hugged Dean. Wrapping his arms around Ben's shoulders, Dean felt the hole in his heart from their absence start to heal.
As Ben stood up, Dean looked past him to see Sam and Elieen hugging, and then they both sat down on the opposite bed with Castiel's help.
"Sam. Cas." He said, smiling at them, "that was one crazy ride."
"You've got that right," Sam said, smiling in relief, "let's try to avoid those for a while."
Laughing, Dean and Castiel both grunted in response.
"Is anyone hungry?" Elieen asked, "I can order some pizza."
At the enthusiastic nods, Elieen smiled and began an online order. Ben pulled up a chair as Castiel moved the one between the beds to a better position and they settled in to enjoy the reunion.
