A/N: We are at the end of the journey for this short one and I hope you enjoyed the ride. Sam works out a plan to get back home and to his family. I will continue with the third story of the Dom trilogy, A Soul To Save. I do like reviews. NC

Chapter 4

Sam sat under a tree as he sorted through everything that was going on in his life right now. He thought hard and went over what had happened. He asked Dean to talk to Dad about staying here so he could finish school. They fought and Sam left Dean at the motel. He walked aimlessly and it started raining again. He had taken refuge in a church, had wished for his life to be normal and then ended up going to sleep. That is when things went whacky and his life changed. Dean and Dad were not hunters, all the people they had saved were dead and they worked for a living. It was like they were opposites of who they really were, who Sam knew.

It was like what he wished for came true, but it was nothing like what he believed it would be. Maybe if he went back to the church, he could reverse this disaster and get back the life he had. Had there been some being or entity that heard his wish and made it happen?

When the weekend got here, Sam was determined to find that church again and get his old life back. He couldn't stay here with the way things were, there was no way. He looked up when he heard Dean yelling for him. He didn't know how long he had been outside since he didn't have a watch.

"Get in here shithead, dinner is ready," Dean spat at him from the front door.

Sam got up and brushed off the butt of his jeans before shuffling toward the door and into the house. He found Dean tossing two tv dinners onto the table because they were hot and cussed loudly.

"Set your ass down and eat," he demanded as he took a chair.

Sam took a seat and grimaced at the dinner, thinking it should be a crime to consider this food. He peeled back the cover and looked at the steaming blobs of something. He took a fork and picked at his, trying to eat a few bites before giving up since it stuck in his throat.

"You going to eat that?" Dean asked him, eyeing the food.

"Go ahead, I'm going to take a shower," Sam told him pushing the tray his way. He stood up, paused, and spoke, "Dean, can I ask you something?"

"Why not? Don't have to answer if I don't wanna."

"Do you believe in monsters?"

Dean looks at him and busted out laughing spraying chewed food across the table. It took him a moment to stop his harsh laughing.

"You need to grow up dumb ass. Monsters are only in the movies. Why, you seeing monsters now dipshit?" he snarled at him.

Sam didn't say anything else as he headed to his bedroom to get sleep clothes before going into the bathroom to shower. He wanted out of this place and couldn't wait for Saturday to get here. He had one more day of school and hoped Dean and their Dad slept in on Saturday mornings. He wanted to find that church again and try to find his way back to the world he knew.

spn

The next morning, Sam was woken the same way, with a boot to the side of his bed. He didn't say anything to Dean as he got up and went to the bathroom. He went back to the bedroom and got clean clothes to put on and dug around in the closet for a small backpack. Sam looked over his shoulder to be sure Dean or John didn't see him as he packed a change of clothes in the pack and hid it under his desk for now. Sam grabbed his backpack for school and headed for the kitchen.

"You don't be late this afternoon," John told him in a surly voice.

"Late for what?" Sam asked not sure what John meant.

"What's got into you boy? You getting addled or something?" John growled at him as he smacked him in the back of the head. "We go grocery shopping every Friday. I pick you up from school so we can miss the crowds."

"Yeah, right," Sam spoke quickly trying to hide his mistake. "I'll be on time."

"I'm out of here," Dean grunted getting up and stretching before snagging his coat off a hook by the door. "Don't forget soda and jerky for me ass wipe," Dean told Sam punching him in the shoulder harder than needed, making Sam stumble sideways.

Sam frowned and gave him a bitch face but didn't say anything for fear John might do worse. He ran a glass of water and drank it before heading out the door to walk to the bus stop. He heard the sick rumble of the Impala behind him and felt a queasy feeling in his stomach. Baby should never have been neglected like that. He felt the wind blow over him as John drove past him and headed to work.

spn

The bus ride to school was much like it was the day before. He could hear giggles and whispering again but ignored them as he stared out the window of the bus. When Sam got to school, he headed to his locker and then the cafeteria for a quick breakfast. He snagged an apple and put it in his backpack for later.

The day seemed to drag by as Sam went from one class to another, had lunch, and was able to get a bottle of water to add to the apple for later. He sat through each class, barely listening, feeling like he was in a fog, only watching the clock, waiting for it to be time for dismissal. The last thirty minutes seemed to take hours to pass as Sam sat with his pack ready to go. He knew where the car pickup was and when the bell finally rang, he jumped up and headed to that side of the school.

Sam waited at the curb, looking down the line of cars trying to find the Impala. He finally spotted it and made his way closer until John stopped to let him get in. Sam put his pack in the backseat but didn't say anything to John as he steered the car away from the school and into town. Sam would look at him sideways trying to determine what kind of mood he was in. He tapped his finger on the steering wheel to the music playing on the radio. It was country and nothing that Sam's true father would ever listen to. Sam looked around when John pulled into a parking lot and parked so they could go into a grocery store.

Sam followed a couple of steps behind him as John went inside and got a cart. He shoved it toward Sam for him to push as he headed for the wine/beer section first. Sam followed behind him and picked up some toothpaste, toilet paper, and dish detergent. He watched John put two 24 count cartons of beer into the cart and frowned at what Sam put in there but didn't say anything. He headed for the frozen food section and started adding tv dinners for the week to the cart making Sam grimace at the thought of eating one.

Sam got milk and juice, a couple cans of soup, crackers, and a few bananas, thinking he could fix that for his dinner tonight. He got soda for Dean and found some jerky for him too. John added chips, couple packs of deli meat, bread, and mayo. Sam found single pack granola bars at the cash register and added a few of them and decided not to push his luck when John cleared his throat and glared at him. At least he didn't tell him to put the things back.

Once they were checked out, and the bags put in the car, John headed for the house and let Sam unload the car except for the beer that he took in himself. Sam found him on the couch watching the television and drinking a beer. Sam put the groceries away and left the can of soup out to heat up for his dinner. He took a banana to his bedroom to add to his pack and transferred the apple and water to it too. He hid it again under his desk and went out to the kitchen to fix his soup.

spn

Sam was reading at his desk when Dean came wandering in, humming under his breath. He looked up at him and saw a smirky look on his face and gleam in his eyes. He was carrying a soda and jerky. Sam was not sure where Dean had been since it was late evening.

"I gotta tell ya shithead, there's nothing like the real thing," Dean preened as he dropped onto his bed and sighed heavily. "You can't beat sliding your dick into a slick, wet, pussy. The tighter the better." He laughed at his vulgar remark as he popped the soda open and took a long swallow. "But you don't have to worry about that, ain't no woman would even bother with your skinny ass."

Sam hunched his shoulders and tried to ignore Dean's remarks, thinking tomorrow couldn't get here soon enough. He found an alarm clock on Dean's dresser and put it on his bed so he could use it. He didn't want to oversleep, or his plan might not work. Sam read a little longer before going to the bathroom to brush his teeth and get ready for bed. He found Dean half asleep as he climbed up to his bed and set the alarm clock before settling down to try and sleep.

spn

The next morning Sam woke right before the alarm and quickly turned it off. He lay there a minute listening to Dean snore loudly below him. Being as quiet as he could, Sam crawled out of bed, watching Dean to be sure he didn't wake as he tiptoed across the room and got his pack. Sam saw Dean's wallet laying on his dresser and opened it to get a twenty dollar bill out, hoping he wouldn't miss it until he was long gone. He picked up the clothes he had laid out the night before and snuck out of the room closing the door behind him.

Sam let out the breath he was holding and went into the bathroom to quickly change and relieve himself before making his escape. He listened at the bathroom door before opening it and scurrying to the kitchen. He took a banana and poured juice in a plastic glass, to take with him to eat and drink on the way. Sam gave this house one last look before opening the front door to leave. He moved quickly down the driveway without a backwards glance. He didn't slow until he was well away from the house and those versions of his family.

When Sam got to the strip mall, he tossed his empty plastic glass in a trashcan and went into a gas station to get directions to the motel that his Dean and him had been staying at. He thought from there he could find the church. Sam thanked the cashier and went out to follow his directions. It took him nearly two hours to walk across town to the motel. Sam found a place to rest and drank some of his water and took a few bites of a granola bar. Once he had rested, he got up and tried to remember the path he had taken that night he had walked out on Dean.

Sam got off track a few times but by early afternoon he had found the church. He stood outside the large building and looked at it not seeing anything out of the ordinary about it. Sam went to the door and tried it to find it open. He stepped inside and went to the bathroom to use it. He stepped back into the foyer and looked toward the doors that led into the sanctuary, a little apprehensive about entering it again.

The atmosphere in the church seemed quiet and somber as Sam listened to the small noises of the building. He moved to the door and pushed it open enough to step inside and looked around the sanctuary to see if anyone else was in there. He moved cautiously down the aisle to the front of the sanctuary. After sitting his pack down, Sam went to the altar and knelt on the cushioned step and clasp his hands together, hoping this was right.

The cross seemed give off a soft, warm glow as Sam gazed intently at it for a few minutes. He bowed his head and prayed that he would return to his real life and to his family. He may not like it, but it was better than what was here for him.

'Please, I want my old life back. I don't know who made my wish come true, but it wasn't anything like I thought it would be. People are dead because my Dad doesn't hunt, and he is still mourning Mom's death and trying to make the pain go away by drinking himself to death. And Dean…This is not my brother…Not the brother I want and need. Please let me go back. I need my real brother and Dad. If you can hear me, let me go back…' Sam prayed as hard as he could. Tears leaked from his eyes as he squeezed them tightly shut. He didn't know if this would work or not, but it was the only thing he could think of to do. Sam stayed kneeling until his legs cramped and he had to stand to relieve the pain.

Sam gazed up at the wooden cross again and it seemed like something was drawing him to it. He stepped around the railing and up onto the altar, stopping at the base of the cross. He reached a trembling hand up toward the bottom of it and touched it lightly with him fingers. A shock seemed to race down his arm and he jerked his hand back and rubbed his numbed fingers as he frowned, wondering what could have caused that. It seemed like something was spreading through his body and making every nerve in his body tingle until it finally faded away.

Sam walked backwards from the cross and moved to sit on the front pew so he could stare at it as his mind whirled uncontrollably. He didn't know how long he sat there until someone spoke to him, startling him.

"Hello son, can I help you with something?" a different priest asked smiling warmly at him.

"No, no, I'm fine," Sam stammered as he got up. This wasn't the same priest he had seen before, and he decided he should leave now. "I'll just be going now."

"If you would like to talk about anything, I am available. Or can I call someone for you?"

"No, really, I'm okay. Thanks anyway." Sam picked up his pack and hurried up the aisle toward the doors. He pushed them open and stepped into the foyer, pausing for a second to catch his breath. He pushed opened the outer doors and stepped out of the church. Sam looked around and saw it was starting to get dark and tried to decide what to do. He didn't know if his prayer had been answered or not. He couldn't tell if anything had changed and he was back in his reality. Sam never saw the figure that stepped from the shadows of the church and watch him walk away. The being smiled to himself as he snapped his fingers and disappeared.

Not knowing what else to do, Sam started walking back toward the motel to see if he was back to his world or was still stuck in the other. He had already decided that if he wasn't back in his reality, he was running away. There was no way Sam was staying with this John and Dean, no way. That was the only way to find out. He had walked several blocks and was turning onto a main street when a familiar voice called to him from up ahead.

"Sammy!" Dean yelled urgently as he waved to him and hurried his way.

"Dean?" Sam questioned as he got closer. Sam was wary at first until he got a good look at Dean and sighed when he saw it was his Dean, the lean, strong, hunter that he was.

"Where have you been dude? I've been looking everywhere for you," Dean chastised him. Before he could continue, Sam threw his arms around his brother and hugged him tightly, almost knocking them both down. "Wow, what happened to you, bro?"

"It's really you," Sam gasped as he choked back a sob and buried his head into Dean's chest.

"Who would I be Sammy? Where were you? You were gone for nearly two days. I looked the town over for you."

"I'm sorry," Sam cried not willing to let Dean go.

"Hey, it's okay Sammy, all that matters is you're back, and you're okay." Dean assured him rubbing his back to try and comfort him. "You're not hurt or anything, are you?"

"No, no, I'm okay now," Sam told him as his breath hitched.

"Let's head back to the motel, it's getting dark."

Sam finally let go and wiped his face on his jacket sleeve and hiccupped a breath. He reached into his pocket to see if the twenty dollars was still there and was surprised it was. That told him he hadn't dreamed of the other place and somehow, he had been there.

"Wanna get pizza?" Sam asked in a raspy voice as he held out the money.

"Where did you get that?" Dean asked suspiciously.

"Long story. Dinner's on me."

"Sounds good. Dad called, he'll be gone probably another week and Sammy, I talked to him about us staying long enough for you to finish school. He argued at first but finally caved and said we could. I've been looking for a better place to stay that might give us a month's lease and think I've found a small place closer to your school."

"Really?" Sam croaked with excitement.

"Yeah, Sammy. Just 'cause school wasn't my thing, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Dad's going to wire some money to me for food and payment on a new place."

"Thanks Dean. You're a good brother, but you're still a jerk," Sam playfully told him bumping his shoulder into his side.

"And you're still a little bitch," Dean teased in a warm, brotherly manner as he draped an arm over his shoulders.

Neither knew that these two words would stay with them into adulthood and would have a special meaning only they understood. They may not say 'I love you', but two simple words meant more than any others.

The End