Hey guys almost done! I'm thinking one last chapter before the end. This has been one roller coaster ride! I thank all of you for reading!
Enjoy the chapter!
Taylor slowly drifted into consciousness, pulled by the low hum of voices around her. She tried to shift her weight but all her limbs felt like they were a thousand pounds. She tried to say something, get her mouth to work, but all that came out was an indistinguishable grunt. She attempted to open her eyes, but they just fluttered and fell back down, she rolled the rock that was her head.
"Taylor?" The words came through fuzzy and muffled.
She tried to say "What?" but it came out as a soft moan. She opened her eyes again this time they stayed open but everything was blurry for a second. When her vision cleared she saw that Jeremy was sitting next to her and Sam and Dean were standing at the end of her bed.
"Hey, sleeping beauty," he greeted, brushing her hair away from her face.
She opened her mouth taking a breath before she answered, but felt her lung constrict causing her to wheeze and cough. Dean was at her other side at once, followed by Sam.
"Hey, take it easy, that demon broke your rib and collapsed your lung. The doctors had to put a tube in your chest to relieve the pain and help your lung heal. They'll probably take it out in a few days. They drugged you up so that you wouldn't feel the pain. Your break was pretty severe and it will take a few months to heal, with lots of meds," Dean said quietly, his eyes set on hers concern filling them. He gave a small smile, "You're gonna be drugged up for a while." He laid his hand gently on her arm, when she groaned, then she tried to smile but it came out as more of a grimace, when pain shot into her chest as she breathed again. It felt like someone had stabbed her right through the ribs. She reached up to lay her boulder of a hand on her chest. Jeremy took that hand.
"I'm glad that you're okay," he said. When she turned to look at him his deep blue eyes were warm, a small crooked smile on his face. She returned the smile, as the memories started to return, she turned back to her brothers.
"So what happened after I passed out? Tell me you sent that damn demon back to hell."
Her brothers exchanged anxious glances.
"Sam? Dean?"
"I tried Taylor, I even drew the devil's trap on the roof but she still got away," Sam explained.
"You mean to tell me that that demon is still out there somewhere?" Her voice was low and her eyes dark.
"I'm sorry Taylor," Sam said. "She gave me a good fight, I mean, she even broke my wrist, though I forgot about it until I got here and it hurt. I was more worried about you, then sending some demon back to hell."
"Don't worry we'll get it," Dean added, encouragingly, his face was set in determination.
"Yeah, I'm not going to stop until I find that bitch and send her back to hell, especially after she killed my mom and hurt Kelly," she paused to look at their surprised faces. "Speaking of Kelly is she okay?"
Her brothers look at anything but her, then they looked over at Jeremy.
Taylor turned towards him, "What? Is it that bad?"
Jeremy looked down, before he met hers eyes, his now filled with despair.
"What? Will someone tell me what's going on?"
"Taylor, honey," Jeremy started, "it's not good-."
"What do you mean she's okay isn't she?"
Jeremy shook his head, "She's in critical condition. That demon beat her up pretty bad."
Taylor choked back a sob, as a dense panic filled her abdomen and grew until it reached her chest, making her feel sick. "What the hell are you doing in here? We have to go see her. Why aren't you with her?"
"Taylor-."
"No, we're going now," she started to get out of the hospital bed, but once her feet hit the floor, her legs collapsed underneath her. Jeremy's strong arms came around her, sitting her back on the bed.
"You're not going anywhere."
"Get me a damn wheel chair I'm not gonna sit here-," her breath caught, Jeremy crouched to meet her eyes.
"Don't worry okay, we'll see her," Jeremy explained gently.
"Bring me to Kelly." Jeremy nodded and found a folded wheel chair sitting against one of the walls. He wheeled it over to the bed and helped Taylor into it.
The trip to Kelly's room seemed to take forever, Jeremy wheeling her through the white halls, passing nurses and patients. Her brothers followed along quietly. When they reached the doorway Taylor felt apprehension creep into her stomach. She looked up at Jeremy for support, who smiled back down at her encouragingly then wheeled her over to the bed where Kelly laid unconscious. Her brothers stayed by the door, giving them privacy.
Jeremy set her chair on one side, facing the door, and walked over to the other side of the bed. Taylor studied her friend, there were so many tubes and monitors. The sight was too familiar for her liking. Taking a deep breath and trying to forget the memories of another time that were rushing back and took her friends hand.
"Kelly?" she asked stroking her hand. "I'm so sorry," her breath caught as the tears came. "This is all my fault, because of this stupid job, I put everyone in danger. Especially you since you're so close to me. I'm so sorry." Tears ran freely down her cheeks now.
"Please," she said "Please, don't leave me now, I don't think I could loose you too." She put her friends hand against her wet cheek. For a second there was silence, and then the sound of her friend stirring from sleep.
Taylor perked up, "Kelly?"
Her friends eyes fluttered then finally opened, the bright green settled on her.
"Taylor," Kelly gave a weak smile.
Taylor sobbed, "Thank God."
"I'm glad you're here."
"Me too." Taylor smiled wetly now.
Kelly expression became troubled and sad. "I was awake for some of it Taylor."
"I'm sorry," Taylor sobbed.
"Don't blame yourself that's the last thing I want you to do."
"I'm responsible for this-."
"Stop," Kelly said, then grimaced with pain. "You're the strongest person I know, you can handle anything. "
New tears rolled down Taylor's face as Kelly's face became pained. The monitors started to beep a little faster. Taylor looked around frantically.
"Kelly, no! Don't leave me."
"Taylor," Kelly breathed, her gaze following Taylor's movements. "I love you girl. Stay strong for me. Do what you love." Taylor had let go of her hand in the confusion and Kelly grabbed it now, holding as tight as she could with her weakening body. "Remember Taylor, I will always be with you no matter what, you're my best friend and I'll never forget you." A few tears slid down Kelly's cheeks as Taylor was wrenched away from her friend, whose eyes slid closed for the last time.
"NO!" Taylor screamed, Jeremy was immediately at her side, holding her from getting up. Sobs racked her body as she watched the nurses perform CPR on her friend. One of the nurses wheeled in a machine and charged it up before electrocuting her body.
Taylor hung her head as she watched the last piece of hope she had fade away with her best friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The early morning sky was grey and overburdened with heavy clouds. Everything had a dark tint to it. The prayers had already been said and many of the spectators and other guests had left. But the five of them stood in front of the flower laden casket.
Taylor wiped the last few remnants of tears from her eyes, and laid her own flower on the casket, pausing as she touched the cool polished wood saying her last goodbye.
Her brothers stayed back farther watching the scene play out. Sally was openly crying. Jeremy stood very still watching Taylor his anguish kept under tight control, but his eyes expressed everything. Taylor stepped away from the casket again, she held her head high a took a deep breath as the first few drops of rain fell over them. She smiled as best as she could at Sally as she took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Sally looked at her sadly and pulled her into a long hug. Taylor hugged back trying to hold back the tears.
The drive home was quiet as Taylor sat silently in the back of the Impala. Sam sent worried glances back to her every once in a while but she ignored them and watched out the window. Jeremy had promised to meet them back at her house after he gave Sally a ride home. When Dean pulled up against the curb, Taylor got out first, hurried to the front door unlocked it and went up to her room to change out of her black clothes into comfortable jeans and an old worn dark grey t-shirt. When she was finished she sat back on her bed. She touched the locket around her neck, then went to unhook it and held it in her hand. She felt the tears start to bubble up again as she opened it. Her smiling mother looked up at her from the tiny photograph. She rubbed the other empty side with her thumb absently. Now I'm going to have to get picture for Kelly. She thought, as a few tears escaped.
A knock came at her door and before she could answer the door opened and Sam's head appeared. He was still wearing his suit. She wiped her tears away as he joined her on the bed.
He put his hand gently on her knee, "How're doing?" His eyes were soft and kind.
"Okay, considering," she said playing with the locket.
"I'm so sorry, Taylor."
She moved her left arm out behind her and grimace with pain at her broken rib, and held her side.
"Why is everyone apologizing to me?" She asked, through clenched teeth.
"You just lost your best friend."
"Yeah, well-."
"I know how you feel, I mean I was cynical after I lost Jess too, but after a while the pain becomes a dull throb."
"Easier for you to say," she said getting up slowly, favoring her left side.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is that what helped me out was moving away, a change of scenery. Stop seeing everything that reminded me of her."
"So you're saying that it's time for us to leave."
Sam nodded solemnly.
Taylor gave a heavy sigh, and leaned up against the wall next to her door.
"It's Jeremy isn't it?" Sam asked, studying her with knowing eyes.
This time Taylor nodded and looked down at her painted toenails.
"We just haven't figured everything out, and I don't want to leave where we did when I left the first time."
Sam stood and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Maybe the best thing for you guys too, is some time apart to think things over."
Taylor smiled a little, "I'm glad you're here Sam. You're like the voice of reason in the back of my head." Her throat clogged at the end and she looked up at Sam teary-eyed. She sniffled and hugged Sam, trying not to cry into his shirt. He wrapped his warm arms around her with a brotherly affection.
"Everything will work out, just give it some time," he whispered into her hair. He pulled her away and smiled down at her, before going into his bedroom to change. Taylor sighed again and looked around her room; she was definitely going to miss it. But Sam had a point; they needed to move on especially her.
Willie burst into her room then and jumped onto her bed purring loudly. She went over to stroke him, knowing she couldn't leave him behind again. She'd have to dig his cage out. She bent slowly to pull her bag out from underneath the bed trying not to hurt her rib. A damn month or two before it would heal, she was going to send that damn demon back to hell the first chance she got.
"Taylor!" a voice called up the stairs. She recognized it as Jeremy's and went down the stairs to join him.
"Hey I'm sorry I can't stay. Brad needs me down at the shop today."
"Okay," Taylor said.
"You sure?"
"Yeah if you have to go, it's not a big deal."
His eyes softened, "Thank you." He took her head between his hands and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before he left again. Taylor watched him leave out the window. She waited until she couldn't see his car again and then went back upstairs to finish packing.
