Chapter 18
Hell, We Even Lost Superman
Dean stared into the fire, wondering if he would feel it. After all, he'd felt something when he'd been cursed, so why not when he got un-cursed? He glanced back at Sam., whom he'd lain out beside him before setting the cape ablaze. What would happen to him? Would he remember? What if he didn't? Dean sure wouldn't be the one to tell him, and since Dean was the only one who knew…
He swiped at the blood he'd sent dribbling down his cheek as the dry husks curled and smoked beneath the darkening cape. And then he felt it.
He couldn't help but gasp as something was ripped out of him and upward into the sky. It didn't hurt. Not exactly. More like a slight tug followed by a weariness that he had become accustomed to in his lifetime. He was tired and weak and just wanted to go to bed.
Sighing, realizing that the ride was over, he looked up at the starry sky. Smoke blotted out most of the twinkling balls of gas, but a few were still visible as the wind rose and carried the smoke away from Black Rock.
Beside him, Sam stirred. "Nice of you to join us," Dean quipped.
Sam rolled over and pushed himself up into a kneeling position. "What happened?" he asked.
"You don't remember?"
Sammy shook his head. "No. Last thing I remember is being in dad's old locker. You put on this stupid cape, and then nothing. Where are we? Why do I smell like smoke." He looked at the burning cape. "Is that dad's old Halloween costume?"
"No," Dean replied sadly, "it's not. Um, there was a fire that broke out in the storage building. Turns out dad kept an old landmine in there. It blew."
"How'd we get out?"
Dean smirked. "You fainted. I had to carry your heavy ass out here."
"And why are you burning the cape?"
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that we're both safe and we're leaving town tomorrow."
"Why? What if-"
"You can't save me, Sam. Not without a price. So let's just pack up and head out. Take a vacation or something. I hear London's nice this time of year."
Sam struggled to his feet and gazed down at his brother, who was watching the fire fade as the cape disappeared. "Bad day, then, huh?"
"What?"
"Something big goes down, you try to forget by taking a break. Must have been a bad day at Black Rock for you to want to get out of town so quick."
"Yeah," Dean nodded, standing up and brushing himself off, "it kinda was." They headed back to the motel room. Dean thought it kind of odd that Sam didn't ask about the car, why they were walking all that way, but he was too tired to take much notice. He figured it could wait. After all, the kid had almost just been through Hell. Maybe he deserved a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Yeah, that was it.