AN: I ran out of steam last night and didn't get this posted even though it was basically ready. It's an attempt to give this a bit of an ending.

The original prompt is after the chapter.

Warning: there are spoilers in here, so if there are episodes you haven't seen, you may want to skip this one.

Timelady66: Oh, thank you very much! I've written teenchesters before (Prey, Albatross, Until Dawn and the one-shot Hanging On are the ones that come to mind) and I probably will again, though not the story I have in the works right now.

Stormy: It was hard to write such a sad scene after building hope up for a few chapters and writing the boys' bonding scene! Poor Dean...and Sam...and John too.

Margo1234: It could happen! No promises because I have way too many things partially written and need to give some of then attention, but never say never, because I love Bell1408's prompts.

Bell1408: You are very gracious! Thank you again.

sfaulkenberry: You are very articulate! I really like the way you characterize the Winchester family dynamic. You said exactly what I was thinking. As for the math, this is supposed to be January 2000 because the other part was July 1999. Did I screw up their ages? If so, I apologize. Numbers are really not my thing. That said, I love seeing comments from you!

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When Sam made his promise to Dean, never again, he had no idea how many times in his life he'd revisit it.

There were some dark days at Stanford at first, when the glittery appeal of higher learning and friends and purpose and permanence was dimmed by a bone-deep ache for Dean. And yes, for Dad too. It felt, in a way, like he'd cut off a limb. But he didn't seriously think about dying ntil Jessica burned. Still, he had promised. And Dean was there, to shake him out of nightmares and take away the bottle of whiskey before he completely poisoned his liver and know just when to hold on and let him cry and when to tease him and make sure he ate and everything else Sam needed. And even when Sam failed to be that kind of comfort for Dean when Dad died, they were together.

Then Dean went to Hell for him, and Sam nearly broke his promise. He didn't hold a knife to his wrist, but he threw his life around with absolute disinterest in protecting himself. He traded his pills for alcohol and ran into danger with reckless abandon and even more desperation he'd felt the summer he turned 16. Ruby saved him and took all of his negative feelings – pain, rage, sadness, guilt – and melted them in the crucible of anger and forged them into a war hammer of revenge. She made sure Sam couldn't break his promise, because he was blind to everything that had saved him before.

Then it was Lucifer's whispers that made Sam nearly reconsider. Was it still suicide if it was done to fix what he'd broken? Anna's words put the worth of Sam's life in perfect perspective, but even angry, hurt, and betrayed, Dean wouldn't let go, so Sam owed it to him to hang on. That's why Sam had to get his big brother's permission to jump into the Pit.

Back on earth with his soul stitched to his body like Peter Pan's shadow, Sam could only feel gratitude for the chance to start erasing that look from Dean's eyes. And even when Cas let Hell back in and Lucifer took up residence and Sam lost hope that he'd survive, he never attempted to hurt himself. When he couldn't remember anything else, he remembered Dean and his promise.

Bobby was stolen from them. Cas was lost to the Leviathans, then to the madness. Sam held on harder to Dean.

Then Dean was gone.

With apologies to Dean in heaven (as Sam thought), Sam and Baby made a pact to go out together, but Sam failed at that too and an Australian shepherd and a woman whose tart tongue poorly disguised her own pain and fear gave Sam an anchor, no matter how temporary.

And then Sam learned just how badly he'd failed his brother. The promise frayed but didn't fall, and the universe offered absolution through trials. So when the price was Sam's life, he was ready, willing, and able, until Dean convinced him to turn his back on death – on Death – yet again.

It was not until Gadreel was a memory and the Mark was gone and Sam nearly died in delirium in a hospital in Superior that he renewed his promise to Dean out loud. For a night, they'd ignored the many, many big bads running around and celebrated life with Chinese takeout and bad movies and good booze.

It was the memories of that night, and a thousand others, that became Sam's tether to life after…after. It got thin many times, and he almost couldn't hold on, but somehow he did. And he'd get up the next morning again, fighting through one more day. He found love and the tether thickened and he hoped Dean would be proud of him.

Sam grew old and so, so weary. Eventually, he could no longer stand, then no longer get out of bed, and he had to fight for every breath. The sadness in another Dean's eyes was the only thing that dimmed Sam's eagerness – hell, his downright giddiness – at the thought of finally finally FINALLY seeing his brother again.

But he'd promised.

It felt like he was weighed down by sandbags and he was breathing under water when his long-time doctor Samuel "Fitz" Fitzgerald asked young Dean to step out of the room and with sadness and compassion on his face and in his voice offered Sam a shot of morphine to ease him on. And Sam honored his promise one more time and refused.

His brother could wait just a little longer. And it was only a little…he smiled goodbye, hope in his heart…

"Heya, Sammy."

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Original prompt (by Bell1408): 16 year Sam is tired of his life. The constant fear, the fighting with his family, having to help with their injuries. He decides suicide by monster is the best way. That way his family wouldn't know it wasn't an accident. Although he will try to kill the monster; after all it is killing innocents, but he just doesn't think he's good enough. Turns out he is more than good enough. Hunt after hunt with John and Dean he puts himself on the line but manages to end the monster. What will happen when John and Dean find out? Bonus points if they find out from Sam after drugging him for his injuries.

Thank you for letting me run with your fabulous prompt!