Disclaimer: I don't own anything Supernatural, it's all property of The CW Network and whatnot, so don't sue.
Chapter 23
" Sammy, what the hell's goin' on?" Asked Dean sternly, after a good hour of total chick-flick, they had all managed to compose themselves.
The three Winchester's and Missouri all sat in Dean's room.
Sam, Dean, and John all sitting on the bed while Missouri had pulled up a chair.
Sam ducked his head and averted his gaze to the floor as he spoke.
" Maybe, it's better if I show you."
Dean, John, and Missouri were all slightly confused when the entire room began to hum with energy.
Sam slowly brought his eyes back up to meet the three other confused gazes and they all gasped, Sam's eyes were now a pure white.
Around all four of them, the room began to swim and morph as though they were all in a dream.
" Son, what're you doing?" Asked John in alarm.
" I'm showing you the events of the past month as I lived them." Answered Sam, his voice deeper and serious than John and Dean had ever remembered it being.
After a few more seconds of the room swimming around them; Dean, John, and Missouri found themselves standing in a hospital room, with Sam norwhere to be found.
" SAM?!" Called out Dean as he looked around frantically for his baby brother, subconsciously terrified that he'd lost his baby brother once again.
" Don't worry Dean, I'm still here. The three of you are inside a collective vision I've created with my abilities to show you what really happened back at the hospital, after I died... the first time." Echoed Sam's disembodied voice, almost a whisper from somewhere in the distance.
" What really happened? What do you mean Sammy?" Asked John.
" Right now, all of you are in my hospital room after I'd just pulled through emergency sugery. Throughout this vision, you will hear what I said, what I was thinking and see what you weren't meant to see until now. Look over at the bed." Answered Sam's voice.
Three pairs of eye turned and locked onto the hospital bed and it's occupant.
" Holy Crap." Whispered Dean as they all stared at the pale, sleeping form of Sam Winchester, laying still and with medical equipment all around him, monitoring his vital signs.
Everything was still for a while, until someone walked into the room.
The blue-eyed nurse.
Dean and John vaguely remembered the woman they knew for now only as a hospital employee.
Missouri was about to speak out that it was Alkaya but then thought better of it.
They watched as this cognitive image of Alkaya walked up to Sam's sleeping for and looked down at him.
They all watched as she sighed and then leaned down until her lips were mere inches from Sam's ear as she spoke.
" You're quiet strong Samuel Winchester, it's why the Demon wants you under his control so badly."
" It's my job to make sure that that never happens."
Dean and John both felt jolts of shock go through them at these words as realization dawned on them, it was now clear that this nurse had not been who or what she'd seemed to be.
Then, they all watched Alkaya leave before a few minutes later...
Dean and John felt their eye grow wider as they watched... Themselves enter the room and take vigil over Sam.
Dean had to blink a few times as he watched his illusionary lean down beside an illusionary Sam and brush his bangs from his forehead before cupping his cheek.
" Hey squirt." Said Illusionary Dean before he sat down, mirroring what the real Dean had done in the hospital room, carding his hand through his baby brother's hair.
John was no better as he watched the other version of himself take a seat and reach out for his youngest child's hand, bringing it to his stubble covered cheek before he spoke.
" H-Hey Sammy, it's Dad."
The scene stayed as such, showing the vigil of a father and older brother after a tremendous ordeal before it began to change and shift once again.
Dean, John and Missouri watched as night turned into morning, and a pair of moss-green eyes slowly flutter open.
"Where am I?" Came a whispered echoe through the air, the echo of Sam's thoughts long passed, when he'd first woken up.
Then, images flashed through the air, for Dean, John, and Missouri to see.
The demon.
John laying on the ground, screaming at Sam to shoot.
Dean, bleeding to death against the wall of the cabin.
Everything going blank for a while before Sam was back inside his own head.
Sam forcing the Demon out of his father, hurting it bad. The black mist slinking away through the walls into the night.
Sam collapsing to the ground. The sticky wetness of his own blood spilling out of his body.
John and Dean both looking absolutely terrified.
All of them in back of the Impala, Sam in his father's arms.
John telling Sam that he had nothing to be sorry for.
Dean driving frantically down the road.
The Demon zeroing in for another attack.
Sam stopping the Semi and repelling it with a primal scream and final burst of energy.
Then, nothing...
Total and all consuming darkness...
What had been death for Sam.
Dean, John, and Missouri were nearly overwhelmed by the hellish memories of a night of agony and terror before a soft, female voice echoed through the air.
" Now's not the time to be thinking about such things, Samuel Winchester."
After a pause, they heard Sam's voice, frantically asking...
" Who are you?"
" What the hell's goin on?"
But then, the three real people watched as Sam noticed Dean sleeping beside him. They all had to chuckled when Sam woke up his big brother by smacking him lightly on the shoulder. This leading to the two oldest Winchester's realizing their Sam was awake. Dean felt his heart twinge a little at the echoed words that followed...
" Sammy?"
" You were drooling on me, jerk."
" Sam?"
" Hey dad."
" Well you didn't have to whack me like that, bitch."
" What happened after the Semi Truck tried to hit us?"
" We can talk about it later. Right now, take it easy while I go get someone to look you over."
" Yes sir."
Then, they watched as the illusionary John gave his youngest son a careful hug before je left the room, leaving his son's to themselves.
They watched as Sam began to pry his oxygen mask off and Dean moving to take it off for him. They heard the conversation that followed.
" Hey Sammy, how you feelin'?"
" Like I've been to Hell and back. And it's Sam."
" Hey Dean, you okay?"
" Y-Yeah, I'm good. I'm good."
They watched as with a tremendous effort, Sam had turned onto his side and pulled Dean into a hug.
" M'sorry I scared you Dean."
Dean had let out a small sob before hugging Sam back as he spoke.
" It's okay, you're alright, that's all that matters. But Sammy, if you ever do that to me again, I'll..."
" You what... Kill me?"
The three real people all felt a pang at these words spoken as a tease.
" Dude, that's so not funny."
Then the scene once again, this time to just after John and Dean had told Sam that he'd been dead for two whole minutes.
" Tough pill to swallow, I know son."
" Yeah, it is a little disconcerting."
" Guys, did either of you eat anything since we got here?" Sam had asked when Dean and John's stomachs had let their hunger be known.
Missouri chuckled as the real John and Dean blushed in embarassment much like their illusionary counterparts.
" Dad, Dean, you two should go and have breakfast."
Then a female voice echoed through the air.
" Looks like someone's hungry."
Alkaya.
They watched as she entered the room and quickly informed John and Dean of the lounge on the floor.
Once they walked away, the real audience listened in on the once secret conversation between the two.
" Who are you?"
" My name is Alkaya."
" No, I'm not a demon, I'm just a being sent by the Higher Powers to help you. "
" Help me? With what?"
" With those powers of yours. The ones you used to injure the Demon and save you're family back at the cabin."
" How the hell do you know about that?"
" Samuel Winchester, the forces of evil aren't the only things that watch you, there is a greater good watching you as well. I was sent here to show you how to control the powers and abilities within you, to make sure you grow strong, that you become who you are meant to be."
" Who am I mean to be?"
" That, is a conversation for a later time, right now, I'm gonna get you breakfast, your father and brother aren't the only ones who needs a meal in them. "
" Just take it easy."
After that, she left to go get Sam his breakfast, leaving the young man to his confusion and anxiety.
A little while later John and Dean returned, and shortly after that, Alkaya returned with the food.
As she left, she caught Sam's eyes, conveying a message that the other's could now here.
" Sleep, we can continue our conversation then."
They watched as Sam immediately looked drowsy.
" I don't get a choice do I."
" Nope."
Sam had turned to his family and asked.
" Is it okay if I sleep a while?"
" Hey man, no problem. You should rest anyway."
" We'll be here when you wake up."
Then, Sam was asleep and his father and brother left the room to take care of some things.
The scene began to shift and morph once again, now in the stead of a hospital room, Dean, John, and Missouri found themselves standing amidst a lightly snow covered forrest.
" What the hell, how'd we end up here?" Asked Dean.
" It's the dream I had while I was asleep that day. Just watch." Came Sam's disembodied voice.
Sure enough, John, Dean, and Missouri all caught sight of Sam, wearing his flimsy hospital outfitt, standing the the middle of the path.
Then, a familiar female voice echoed through the air once again.
" Samuel."
" Where are you?"
" Walk down this path until you reach a clearing, I'll be waiting for you, we have alot to talk about."
" Where am I?"
" You're asleep. This place is inside you're head, a dream world of sorts."
" And you should hurry up, we don't have all day."
The three real people followed after an illusionary Sam, taking the same steps he'd taken until they were all standing in the clearing.
They watched Sam call out for the bluw-eyed woman.
" Alkaya?"
" Up here Bean Stalk."
They all looked up and were struck by awe at the beaty that met their eyes.
There, Alkaya stood on the branches of a tree, in a flowing white dress, her eyes pale milky blue, her long, ebony black hair free and in their many many thin braids.
They watched as Alkaya launched herself into the air, she moved like poetry in motion, twisting and twirling in a graceful arch before she landed on her feet, a mere arm's length from Sam.
Sam and Alkaya stared at eachother for the longest time before the pale-eyed woman held out a hand to the youngest Winchester and spoke.
" I know a good place we can sit and talk. And belive me, we have a lot to talk about." Said Alkaya as she gently pulled Sam with her, the two of them walking out of the clearing.
Then, the scene changed and the three found themselves standing on the banks of a great lake.
They watched as Alkaya led Sam over to a large boulder by the lake and the two climbed on and sat down side by side before Alkaya spoke.
" You remember the question you asked me when we last spoke?"
" Who am I meant to be?"
" That's actually a little complicated."
" What do you mean?"
" The truth is Samuel, you could end up being one of two very different but very powerful things."
At this, Dean, John, and Missouri were all stunned, but remained silent as they listened to Alkaya's explanation.
" What do you mean?" Sam asked again.
" What I mean is, the choices you make now will determine who you become in the not too distant future. Samuel, of the special children, you are the strongest one of all. If you choose the path of Darkness, the path the Yellow Eyed Demon wants you to take, you will become his heir, and commander of his armies, legions upon legions of evil unrivaled by all else, from the very bowels of Hell itself, all with one purpose, the destruction of that is holy and good in this world. Hell, you'll no longer even be human. Just a souless creature of evil"
" Oh my God." Whispered Dean his heart stopped cold in his chest where he stood, John and Missouri horrified into silence, their expressions mirroring the way Sam had looked.
They watched as Sam would've panicked right then and there had it not been for Alkaya grabbing his chin and forcing him to look her in the eye.
" Hey, don't freak out on me, I'm not done yet."
" I've told you about the path of Darkness and what it will entail, but that is just one path. Sam, if you choose the path of light, the path that me and the Higher Powers are hoping you will choose, you will become what the Demon fears most... the bringer of his destruction. Choose the light, you will become the greatest Hunter of all things Supernatural and unholy. Choose the path of light, you will keep your soul, you're humanity, but most of all, you'll still be you, Samuel Morgan Winchester. Just... with an upgrade."
The three real people all stood in awe at the sheer, monumental choice and burden that had been laid before the youngest Winchester's feet.
They watched as Sam all but flung himself from the rock and dashed away into the woods.
The three found themselved in the clearing, watching as Sam barreled into their midst then crash to his knees, his breath harsh and ragged as tears fell unchecked from his eyes.
As one they felt their hearts shatter as they watched as the youngest Winchester had wept in fear and confusion from where he kneeled on the forest floor.
All Dean and John wanted to do with every fiber of their being was to reach out and pull Sam into their arms and hold him, tell him everything would be alright but, it was far too late for all that, plus, it would would've been impossible seeing as to how this was what Sam had been dreaming about.
Instead, they watched him continue weep as Alkaya walked up behind him unnoticed and lay a comforting hand on his shoulder as he tearfully spoke.
" Please tell me you were lying."
" Destiny and Fate are things you can't really lie about, to others or to yourself."
The three couldn't help but see the truth in these words as they watched on with still breaking hearts.
" I never asked for this, for any of this. It's not fair."
Then, the three were all startled as Alkaya tackled Sam to the ground and gripped his face roughly in her hands, when she spoke it was nearly a growl.
" It's not supposed to be fair Samuel, you were chosen by powers beyond your control or understanding. There are only two paths you can take."
" So tell me Samuel Winchester, what do you choose, the Path of Darkness, or the Path of Light? And be advised, once you choose, there's no going back."
" So what's in gonna be?"
Dean, John, and Missouri watched as the tears dried and the terror faded from Sam's eyes as he sat up and reached out to pull Alkaya's hands away from his face.
They watched as Sam's moss-green eyes turned a pale milky blue, alight with an immense power as a fierce determination painted itself over his face.
They watched as his lips parted and spoke the words that had sealed his fate.
" I choose the path of Light."
Dean, John, and Missouri all felt chills travel up their spines as they witnessed Sam make his choice right then and there.
Never before had John and Dean felt such immense, loving pride spike through their souls. Such pride for their Sammy.
They had caught a glimpse of the true strength hidden inside their beloved son and baby brother.
However, the scene suddenly changed and the three found themselves standing in a different clearing, this one blanketed by heavy white snow.
They saw Sam and Alkaya facing eachother, the youngest Winchester looking beyond agrivated and fearful. They watched him shake his head furiously as he spoke.
" No. No way, I won't put the both of them through that. I won't."
" Well that's the only option you get, direct orders from the guys upstairs."
" How do you expect me to do that to Dean, to Dad? They already had to watch me die once, now you want me to put them through that again? Forget it, there has to be another way."
Three mouths fell open at these words.
" Oh my God, he knew... He knew he was gonna..." John whispered, his voice failing him. Missouri and Dean stood beside him, utterly lost as they continued to watch the conversation unfold as Alkaya spoke.
" Samuel, it is the only way to ensure their safety, if you stay with to them now, the three of you will one giant target. You'd stand out like a beacon for the forces of darkness. You must go into hiding until you are fully trained and ready to take them on."
As twisted as it was, both Dean and John realized that what she'd spoken was indeed logical. But they too believed that there could have been a better way as they watched on, the next words out of Alkaya's mouth resonating through all three people in audience.
" In order to live, you have to die."
Then the explanation came.
" The beauty of it is, you won't actually be dead. It's all an elaborate illusion designed to fool your family and the rest of the world, mainly the Demon's forces. It's all smoke and mirrors. And afterwards, after you've 'died', you'll end up in the place that I spoke of earlier, the place where the Demon won't be able to reach you no matter what he tries to do."
" What about the Demon?"
" The Demon on the other hand, isn't as easily fooled. He'll know that you're still alive but, he won't be able to find you. Not where you're going."
After a pause, Alkaya spoke again.
" Sam, you made the choice, now you gotta deal with all that comes with it."
Dean, John, and Missouri all watched as Sam began to tear up before with a thick swallow, he spoke a single word.
" A-Alright."
The three realized then that this was when Sam had sealed his own fate.
They watched as a sad but understanding look passed over Alkaya's face as she stepped forward and reached out to cup Sam's cheek, he'd flinched away but relented, allowing the gently contact.
" You have an hour with your family. Then it's be time to go."
" One hour? That's crazy, can't I have more time? Can't I have at least one more day? " Asked Sam, his voice a desperate, teary whisper.
It completely shattered John and Dean to hear their Sammy beg for something as simple as more time.
Alkaya shook her head sadly.
" What's gonna happen, how am I going to...?" Sam Asked.
" You'll see, you'll know. For now, wake up and be with your family." Said Alkaya before she pulled Sam into a hug which Sam returned.
" Don't be afraid Samuel, everything will be alright. Don't think of it as goodbye forever, you will see them again. Dean and John will both be protected while you're gone, they just won't know it."
" Stay strong Samuel. I'll be seeing you, after it's done."
The three watched as Alkaya smiled sadly at Sam before she leaned up and pressed her lips to Sam's forehead.
In secret, Missouri could already see the beginings of what had led to the Alkaya she'd met last night.
Then everything went white.
" Oh Sam." Breathed Missouri as a tear escaped her, she'd spoke aloud what , and not really thinking or caring about being macho, Dean wrapped an arm around the very upset woman's shoulder as the whitness that surrounded them began to swim around them.
The two men and one woman once again found themselves in Sam's hospital room.
They watched in their own emotional agony as an Illusionary Sam woke up and battled back what they now knew to be tears and the urge to scream in anguish, not sleep.
" Hey Sammy, glad you decided to rejoin the land of the living."
" Hey guys. Did I miss anything?"
" Nah, nothing earth-shattering happened while you were gettin' your beauty sleep."
The real Dean let out a small snort of disgust at the sheer size of his obliviousness as he looked on as his father had spoken.
" Hey, you alright there son?"
" I'm okay, just a little sore, that's all. What time is it?"
" It's 2:00 in the afternoon."
John and now realized that this was the memory of his youngest son's final hour before... John had to shake his head in sorrow as he looked on, watching the images of his two sons bantering between themselves.
" So Dean, did you manage to get on the nurses bad side yet?"
" I'm workin on it."
Sam fast forwarded through the hour of conversation with his powers until he reached the point where he'd had just a few minutes left and he'd shooed his family from the room.
The real John, Dean, and Missouri watched in sorrow at what had unfolded next.
" You guys should go have lunch."
" Guys, don't worry about me, I'm just gonna go back to sleep for a little while."
" But you just woke up."
" Still pretty beat man, sorry."
" Hey, it's okay Sammy, just rest if you still feel tired."
" C'mon, we should let him rest. Hopefully they got sandwiches or something up here in the lounge."
They watched as the other Dean and John got up and walked to the door, pausing when Sam called out to them.
" Hey guys."
" Yeah Sam?"
" I don't want to sound Chick-Flicky or anything but, I just want you to know, you guys are awesome."
" Well yeah, of course I'm awesome, you on the other hand, are just a total girl."
The real John and Dean felt their heart wrench painfully in their chests at these words. This had been their baby saying goodbye, they'd just hadn't know at the time.
" I'll see you guys later."
" See ya in a few little brother."
" Just rest Son, we'll be nearby."
With that, imaginary Dean and John left, leaving Sam to himself, all alone. The three real people watched with tears falling unchecked from their eyes as Sam whispered his final words before the Higher Power's had taken over.
" I Love you."
" Aww Sammy." Whispered the real Dean, tiny, silent sobs wracking through him as he watched the image of his baby brother start to cry in anguish, turning from the empty door and curling in on himself.
The three real people heard Sam's hitching sobs before they were abruptly silenced, Dean, John, and Missouri watching in horror as Illusionary Sam brought a startled hand to his throat, he hadn't been able to scream out for help, they all realized.
" It's gonna be alright Samuel. Don't fight it." Alkaya's disembodied voice echoed.
Then, they watched as Sam's body jerked violently before laying utterly still and unmoving save for his eyes and his chest, which conveyed his terror.
The three real people all let out gasps of horror as they watched Sam get visciously yanked upwards, they stood aghast as there watched Sam stay suspended in midair for a while before he was once again visciously yanked, this time being spun over onto his back before being slammed upwards... onto the ceiling.
" Oh God... No." Sam's terrified thought echoing through the air, resonating through the three in audience.
" Oh dear God." Whispered John as he once again stared at the ghastly image of his youngest son pinned to the ceiling.
Dean and Missouri were to horrified to utter a single word. And so, they all watched Sam in his final minutes of life before the flames took him, the conversation he'd had with Alkaya echoing through the silence.
" Alkaya, why this? Why do I have to die like this?"
" If it were up to me, I'd have had you die in your sleep, quick and painless. The Higher Powers chose this, apparently they thought it was best. It's the kind of death that will leave no trace of you and is quite poetic according to them, you get to die the same way as the two women in your life who loved you very much. You get to feel what they felt in their last moments."
" That's just wrong. Oh God Alkaya, I'm so scared."
" Don't be, like I said, everything's gonna be alright. Once this little ordeal is over, you'll be safe and sound. Effectively out of the Yellow Eyed Demon's reach. You will survive this Samuel, just let it happen."
" Well, that's easy for you to say, you aren't gonna end up gutted and burned alive."
" No man, that's all you. And by the way, if you thought it was Demon pinning you to the ceiling, don't worry about him. That SOB's still recovering... from your attacks back at the cabin and on the road to the hospital. I must say I'm impressed you hurt him realy bad back, I look forward to training you."
" What about my Family, what's gonna happen to them?"
" They will see you like this, they will see you taken by the flames. They will think you're dead. They will grieve, they will want revenge. However, the Higher Power's will make sure they won't get themselves killed trying to avenge you. They will be destroyed by this, but they will survive, after all you guys are..."
" Winchesters, we always pull through."
" Ah, you're brother and father are on their way back. Just breath and let it happen Samuel, and remember, it's all smoke and mirrors. You'll be just fine."
" Oh God."
Then, they watched as Sam let out a scream of agony that no one could here, his face contorting in sheep pain. They all felt themselves grow sick as they watched the deep red liquid seep into and through the flimsy white t-shirt.
They watched as a little while later, Dean and John walked back into the room to find it empty and thus began the frantic search for Sam.
Dean felt himself grow numb as he watched the other version of himself frantically search for Sam before a drop of blood fell onto the bed, stopping him cold.
They all watched with fresh tears as an illusionary Dean reached out towards the stain with his finger's but then, another drop of blood fell, this time splashing onto the back of his hand.
They watched as Dean had stood frozen in horror, then John had come bounding back into the room urgently speaking.
" Dean, did you find him?"
" Dean?"
Then, the blood staining Dean's hand had been noticed. Bith men had stood frozen to the sot before they slowly looked up... as one, they found themselves staring back at Sam.
Then, Dean screamed, shortly followed by John.
" SAMMY, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
" OH MY GOD!!!!!"
Then, the flames had come, the flames had ignited, the flames began to consume Sam where he lay pinned.
The three real people had to look away, they could almost feel the wicked heat from where they stood. Dean and John both tried to steel themselves as they relived the worst moments of their entire lives all over again. They wished with all their hearts that they could drown out the voices they were hearing now as the hospital guards had been dragging the both of them out.
" SAM, NO!"
" GET THEM OUT OF HERE!"
" NO LET GO OF ME, THAT'S MY SON IN THERE!"
" GET THE FUCK OFF ME, LET GO OF ME, I HAVE TO SAVE HIM, I HAVE TO SAVE MY BROTHER, LET GO OF ME!"
" HOLY CRAP, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?"
" I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T CARE, WE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE NOW!!!!"
Then, Dean's final, desperate scream lanced through the air as he was pulled out of the room.
" SAMMY!!!!"
Now, the three watched as Sam gave in to death, the pain leaving him as the flames began to consume all of his body, his last thoughts echoing through the air, ripping to shreds all that was left of John, Dean, and Missouri.
" I'm sorry Dean, I'm sorry Dad."
Then, he was gone, disappearing into the flames, into oblivion. For a few second, Dean, Missouri, and John all stood amidst the burning hospital room and them, eveything went white, and stayed white.
" Sam?" Called out John tearfully, physically and emotionally exhausted at this point.
Dean had unceremoniously collapsed to his knees and was hugging himself tightly as tears fell in torrents from his eyes. Missouri had her hands on his shaking shoulders, trying to comfort the oldest Winchester son, all the while weeping rivers of her own.
" I'm here guys. You've seen the choices and events that led to how I ended up on the ceiling, gutted and burning... Like mom and Jess." Echoed Sam's sad voice through the whiteness. Then he continued.
" Now, I'm going to show you what happened afterwards. Where I ended up after the fires had taken me."