Sam & Jack or „If I Could (Not) Be Where You Are"

(A/N)
I'm really sorry about the end of the last chapter, but I wanted to write the story like this ;)
But now there's a happy ending, which I'm sure nobody thought of…

Sam had been told over the phone what had happened.
Contrary to what he was used to, he had not reacted to this message. He had looked at Jack and just told him that they had to go back immediately. Jack had packed up and they had left. Eventually they were on Highway 281 and they passed the same spot where Dean was killed. Sam just drove right past it and if Jack noticed something, he didn't say anything.

Before they got to the bunker, Sam drove to the police station to pick up the small box with Dean's personal things in it. Without comment, Sam put the box in the back seat. Then they drove on and a little later they reached the bunker.

Sam had spent many days and nights trying to find out where Dean was. But no one would tell him where his brother was now. Not the angels, not the demons, not the witches, not the other hunters. No one would help him. They seemed glad to finally have the Winchester brothers like they wanted. One gone, and the other exhausted and helpless.

During that time, and the weeks that followed, Sam got worse and worse. They had been able to bury Dean and he was now resting next to Mary. Jack had suggested this and Sam hadn't objected. He hoped that Dean was in heaven, in his own and with everything that made him happy.

Sam was getting thinner and thinner and looked more tired every day. He couldn't even be there for Jack, who had lost the only father he had ever had. He knew that Jack was sad, and he was suffering the loss. Only, either Jack didn't care so much or he was just good at hiding it. He walked around that bunker as happy and unknowing as ever. It drove Sam crazy, and one night he was yelling at Jack. He was very drunk and afterwards, smiling bitterly, he realized that he was behaving like his own father. Jack only left his room after that when he could be sure that Sam wouldn't see him.

Every time Jack could see Sam, headphones were on his head. Sam alone knew what kind of music was in what Jack could say was that there was one song in this playlist that made him cry even more than the rest.

It was a Thursday afternoon when Sam reread the letter from Castiel. The angel had explained how the deal had come about and how much the brothers had meant to him. Cas had also briefly told about the last evening with Dean. Especially how happy Dean had been. Sam was saddened that he had not been able to see his brother anymore. But he was happy that Castiel could take this beautiful memory to his 'grave'.

Sam sat in his room, but he forgot to close the door. Jack, who had dared to go into the library and read his book very quietly, suddenly heard a song. He followed the very sad melody and stopped at Sam's door. Sam sat with his back to the hall and therefore could not see Jack.

Where are you this moment?
Only in my dreams.
You're missing, but you're always
A heartbeat from me.
I'm lost now without you,
I don't know where you are.
I keep watching, I keep hoping,
But time keeps us apart.

Is there a way I can find you,
Is there a sign I should know,
Is there a road I could follow
To bring you back home?

Jack swallowed and was about to burst into tears himself. This song reflected complete despair. He wanted to go to Sam and tell him that he wasn't alone.

Winter lies before me
Now you're so far away.
In the darkness of my dreaming
The light of you will stay.

If I could be close beside you
If I could be where you are
If I could reach out and touch you
And bring you back home.

Jack had backed out by now and Sam... Sam had slipped from the bed to the floor and was crying uncontrollably again. He missed Dean. He missed the brother and best friend he'd always had at his side. He missed the little taunts, the gloating comments, Dean's music, Dean's food, even Dean's long showers. It had always been a sign that he was not alone. Those rare little touches. Sometimes a hand on the arm, sometimes on the shoulder. What would Sam give to get one last hug from his big brother?!
Sam was curled up on the floor by now, looking like a little baby.

Is there a way I can find you
Is there a sign I should know
Is there a road I can follow
To bring you back home?

To me.

Sam was at the very end, he couldn't take it anymore and just wanted to leave.

Another week went by without Sam moving from his room. Jack had gotten into the habit of leaving food outside his door. In most cases, Sam would only take a few bites. Too little, but still something.
But now that Sam hadn't eaten for a whole week, it was too much for Jack. He sat on his bed and wondered who else he could ask for help. He had already called Jody, but after several unsuccessful attempts he had given up. One last possibility was this young woman Sam had talked about a few times. After much thinking, he remembered that Dean and Sam had once told him about a retirement home where she had worked under a false name. He also knew that Sam kept a flyer somewhere.

But since Sam rarely left his room, Jack waited until Sam had fallen asleep. He knew that he now only had a few minutes before Sam would wake up again through a nightmare. He had seen that happen.
Jack found this flyer in a small wooden box under Sam's bed, took it, put the box back and left the room. He would call there tomorrow, maybe they could help him.

The next morning he called the Oak Park Retirement Home. He introduced himself as Dean Winchester, because he thought he could get more information that way. After he got in touch, he heard laughter in the background and then nothing. He was about to hang up when a very nice sounding lady answered.

"Dean? Is that really you? I'm so happy to hear from you."
"Um", Jack didn't quite know what to say, "this ain't Dean. I'm Jack Kline. Who are you?"
"Me? I'm Mildred Baker. I had a run-in with Dean a few years back. But what are you calling here for?"
"Sam and Dean told me they came to you about a case. There was a huntress involved. She's deaf. I forget her name, but I know she was on the case. I really need her name because Sam's getting worse and I think she's the only one who can help now."
"What happened?"
"Dean died in a car accident and Sam can't handle it."
"Oh-" That's all I could hear.
"Mildred?"
"Yes, I'm still here. I'm sorry about Dean. I really liked him." Mildred cleared her throat. "And as for the huntress... her name is Eileen Leahy. She taught me sign language back then so I could talk to my daughter. Is there anything else you need?"
"No, thanks. You have helped me a lot. Thank you very much."
"Say hello to Sam for me."

After the phone call, it was to take a full two days for Jack to locate Eileen.
He explained what had happened and she apologized for not hearing about it. Since she lived alone, those messages didn't reach her. It was also agreed that she would not go near the brothers for her own safety. But Eileen promised that she would leave immediately and the next afternoon she was there.

She introduced herself to Jack who was sitting in the library and then went to Sam. On the way to his room, she noticed a bouquet of flowers in a corner that had dried up but still looked fresh.

Curious as he was, but with a proper distance, Jack followed Eileen. She disappeared into Sam's room and nothing was heard anymore. The next morning she appeared in the kitchen, prepared a small breakfast for two, took it and disappeared again.

Two days later Sam was sitting at the kitchen table when Jack came into the kitchen in the morning. Sam looked up, got up and went to Jack. Without a word he took the boy in his arms, squeezed him tight and then left the kitchen.

A week later, Sam, Eileen and Jack were sitting in front of the television. They had completed a Harry Potter marathon and when Jack, sitting on the floor, turned around, he had to smile. Both Sam and Eileen had fallen asleep. Sam's head was resting on Eileen's lap and Eileen had turned slightly to the side so that her head was on her shoulder.

A month later, the three of them were just finishing dinner, Jack noticed something.
Sam and Eileen stood at the stove. Eileen at the pot and Sam behind her. He had both arms wrapped around her middle and whispered something in her ear. She turned her head slightly and looked at Sam in a dreamy way. He smiled at her.
Sam no longer looked as if he wanted to be where his brother was.

Jack was pleased to see this. Sam smiled again, sometimes he even laughed again. He had no more dark circles under his eyes, rarely woke up because of nightmares and had also regained his former strength. Sam had never said it to him, but Jack could sense that Sam was glad he had brought Eileen. Sam would probably never get over the loss of his brother completely, but with Eileen he could go back to life.

As Sam kissed Eileen, Jack cleared his throat. The two adults looked at him.
"I thought we were here in the kitchen." Jack tilted his head to the side with a questioning look. "What's going on? You two have been acting so strange all day, you can hardly keep your hands off each other?!"

Sam and Eileen looked at each other smiling, then they turned back to Jack.
"You know, Jack", Eileen started and put her hand on Sam's, so that they were both resting on their stomachs "eight months from now…"

(A/N)
Thanks for reading it.
I hope you enjoyed the story, despite the deaths?!

With the ending, I wanted to give Sam the normal life he always wished for.
Leave a comment and tell me what you think of the story. :)