Chapter 11
Karla fell to her knees her hands still wrapped around the handle of the knife. "Flick." She managed to say in a small voice.
"Oh Karla! No!" Felicity swailed as she knelt in front of her, placing her hands over Karla's.
Karla looked down at their hands and then turned her glazed eyes back to Felicity. "God Flick, what have I done?" She then tumbled sideways onto the floor.
The next thing Felicity knew, Dean was pulling her up and shepherding her away from her best friend whilst Sam grabbed a towel and ran to Karla's aid.
"Lemme go Dean!" Felicity screamed as she fought to free herself from Dean's arms. "Damn you Dean! Let go of me!" She began to fight even harder – slamming her fists into Dean's chest. She nearly got free of his grasp several times, intensifying her efforts each time to get back to her friend.
"Felicity, listen to me!" Dean took a tight hold of her shoulders. "There's not much you can do for her! Are you listening to me? Look at me! Felicity! Stop it!" Dean had no choice – he slapped Felicity across the face.
She immediately stopped struggling and stood completely still, her mouth opening and closing but no sound coming out. She then turned and staggered from the room, heading in the direction of the bathroom.
Dean followed her as she threw herself down in front of the toilet and began to retch and cry at the same time. He stood silently behind her, waiting.
Sam came and tapped Dean on the arm, signalling him to follow him back out into the hall.
"Karla?" Dean asked.
Sam shook his head. "She's gone."
"Damn it Sammy!" We've gotta finish this once and for all!" Dean said, pulling his hands through his hair.
"For sure. Let's get rid of this bastard now." Sam said, as he glanced back into the bathroom at Felicity, who was still slumped over the toilet.
"We can't leave her here with Karla's body. I'll get her dressed and we'll take her with us." Dean said quietly. He went back into the bathroom and knelt down next to Felicity, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
Felicity turned her swollen, reddened eyes to him. "C'mon lemme help you up." Dean said. She let Dean support her back into the bedroom and sit her on the edge of the bed. Dean grabbed his T-shirt from the floor and quickly pulled it on. "Felicity, you need to get dressed and come with us."
"Go where? Why?" She asked in a small voice.
"You can't stay here." Dean said. "I want you to come with Sam and me. When you're ready, we'll leave." Dean hesitantly left the room; not sure if leaving her alone was the right thing to do.
Without another word, Felicity silently dropped her dressing gown and commenced to dress.
Dean joined Sam in the lounge room. He fell heavily into a chair.
"Is she okay?" Sam asked.
"I don't think she's ever going to be okay again Sam. She just saw her best friend kill herself. She's gonna be messed up for a long time." Dean replied.
When Felicity came into the room, both Dean and Sam stood up and looked carefully at her.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"We have to go back to the cemetery and finish the job." Sam said.
"I-I-I can't go back there." Felicity said in a small voice; wrapping her arms around herself for comfort and took a few tentative steps backwards.
"Well, you're not staying here." Dean insisted.
Felicity's gaze shifted to the closed kitchen door. "What am I gonna do now Karla's gone? She was my family. I've got nothing now, nothing…." The last word trailed away to a whisper and tears began to fall down her cheeks as she turned her gaze between Dean and Sam.
Dean went to Felicity and encircled her in his arms – holding her tightly as she released her grief at losing Karla.
Sam quietly left the room and went outside to wait.
After several minutes, Felicity had cried herself out. Dean lifted her chin so that she was looking at him. "We have to do this. It has to be finished." He said.
"I know." She said in a small voice. "But please don't make me go into that cemetery again." She pleaded.
"You can wait in the car; Sam 'n' me will take care of it." Dean hesitated before he spoke again. "For what it's worth, I'm truly sorry Felicity."
She took a deep shuddering breath before speaking, "I guess I'll just have to go on, won't I?"
Dean gently kissed her forehead. "C'mon, Sam's waiting for us."
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"You sure you're gonna be okay?" Dean asked Felicity for the third time.
"Yes, I'll be okay and I promise I'll be here when you get back." Felicity said, smiling but Dean noticed that the smile didn't reach her grey/blue eyes.
He ran the back of his hand down her cheek the turned back to Sam. "Okay, let's go."
They made their way back to the crypt, picking up the abandoned salt and fuel along the way.
Dean approached the open casket and began to pour the salt. "Your time is up." Dean said. "Sammy, gas." No response.
Dean heard a hoarse garbled sound from behind him. "Sam?" Dean turned to find Sam once more being strangled by the invisible ghost of Charles Conrad. "Damn it!"
Dean reached for the can of fuel and began to spray it over the coffin. He then struggled to find the book of matches in his pocket. His fingers finally closed on the matchbook. He struck at the matches and hastily threw them into the casket.
Sure that the flames had taken hold, Dean then turned his attention back to where Sam was lying on the floor of the crypt, barely conscious. Even in the low light, Dean could see that his brother's face held a blue tinge.
"Sammy!" Dean said, as he knelt beside him. Sam drew in a large shuddering breath and his eyes flew open "Sammy! Speak to me!"
"Dean." He gasped. "A little faster next time, huh?"
"Okay Mister Smartass." Dean smiled, helping his brother up. "C'mon, let's get outta here."
"No arguments from me." Sam said, rubbing at his neck.
They made their way back to the car, where Felicity was still sitting in the back seat. As she saw them approach, she climbed out the Impala, her gaze crossing back from Sam to Dean several times.
"It's over." Dean said.
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So, one more chapter to go
