Chapter Sixteen – Save Yourself
The indoor pool was near the entrance gate, and the way Dean and Sam had skipped every four steps on the stairs, and the way they darted across the yard and down the main street, it only took them one minute to get to the pool.
They had run, faster than they had run in such a long time, and they didn't stop.
Sam and Dean came to the indoor pool and Dean, going to the door first, twisted the knob as hard as he could, but found it locked. Their faces were red and they didn't have time to breath.
"DAMMIT!" Dean yelled, and together with Sam, the brothers stood side by side and kicked the door opened.
Sam ran in first with Dean following close behind. They ran to the pool's edge and found Amy's body on the very bottom.
They dived in together. Dean swam down, grabbing Amy around the waist, and he swam back up to the top with her. Sam, treading on the top, grabbed Amy's upper body as she and Dean floated back top.
"AMY!" Sam screamed, trying to tread water and hold up Amy's body at the same time. Dean came up, gasping for air. Both brothers had a tough time getting her up to the floor, both had jumped in with heavy clothes – their jeans were causing more weight on them.
But Sam jumped back on the floor first, and Dean hoisted Amy in the air enough for Sam to grab her underneath her arms.
By the time Sam had Amy's body on the floor, Dean was up to and he crawled beside her and propped her head up carefully.
Dean took a large, trembling breath and bent down to put his mouth over hers. He breathed three times. Then moved his mouth and sat up to carefully place his hands on the correct position over her chest. He pressed down hard, but careful enough, down on her chest, about twenty times. Nothing. He bent his head down and breathed three more times-
Isabella had appeared. She stood behind Sam, eyes wide and hand over her mouth, Isabella stopped herself from screaming.
But Dean wouldn't stop. He made twenty more presses on her chest and Dean breathed again into Amy's mouth-
Amy's eyes didn't open, but her mouth did and a cup's worth of water came spilling out. Sam, relieved, sighed and put his hand over his mouth.
She was still choking up water, and Dean carefully helped Amy to roll onto her side. She gasped for air, and once she was done, Amy began to shake and her eyes opened for just a moment. Dean, tilting her head so that she could look at him, laughed in relief, and didn't care that tears were strolling down his face. He helped Amy sit up, and at that point he didn't care if she was done getting the air she needed, but Dean held her shaking body in his arms. He held her tight, and cried. Dean was crying. His eyes were red and puffy fast. Amy clung to Dean and she was crying too. At first, she cried because of the fear that she had almost drowned. But she cried continuously after Dean had done so.
Sam's lips were trembling as he smiled and he turned around to look at Isabella. She was smiling too, and crying, and both turned back to look at Dean and Amy.
He buried his face into her wet hair, Amy wrapped her arms tightly around Dean's neck, weeping into his skin, and kissing his shoulder.
"Dear god, don't do that again…" Dean choked out, not caring that he was still crying.
Amy laughed and cried at the same time. Her body still ached and shook, Dean felt this, and it made him hold her tighter. His tears became less frequent until his eyes were just red and they would water every so often.
Sam sat closer to the two, putting his hand on Amy's shoulder, and she turned for a moment to look at him. It made her cry even more. Sam, just as selfish as Dean, grabbed Amy into his arms and held her too. He had done his crying, alone, and it was his time to just hold his friend.
O.O.O.O.O.
"There's a Higher Power telling me to stay away from pools," Amy grinned weakly. She had been carried back to the apartment and refused to take a shower. Water and anything else liquid-related was something she tried to avoid. Her hair and skin smelled of chlorine and her face was slightly pale – not as pale as Isabella's – but pale enough to make one stop and stare grimly. She was wrapped in a towel and her hair, still tangled and wet from the pool water, rested gently on her thin shoulders.
Sam hadn't found the joke funny. No one did. And Isabella had no idea what she meant; the comatose girl wasn't aware of the Natiskawa incident. The twenty-two-year-old psychic sat down on the floor, next to Amy's legs, staring up at her with a half-smile, half-frown. The look of worry was plastered on his face, and Amy realized this look wouldn't go away.
Dean came from the kitchen carrying a large glass of orange juice. He had heard the joke, but didn't laugh. Even though he had cried ten minutes earlier, Dean was back to rebuilding the brick walls around himself. His face looked dry from the past tears; his eyes looked puffy and tired.
He handed her the glass without a word and sat down slowly beside her. Amy was glad to have him so close to her, feeling his arm brush against hers. She took a long, unwanted sip of the orange juice. The taste was a great relief; the amount taken in was due to trying to make everyone around her feel better. Isabella, as always, stood in the center of the room, her leg half-way going through the center table. She reached over to place the cup down but Sam assisted her in this.
Amy created a small laugh and looked to everyone. "I'm fine."
"I'm tired of this 'I'm fine' stuff, Amy," Dean said crossly. He looked at her seriously and said, "You could have drowned – you were close – and-"
"We need to be discussing what it was that attacked me," Amy interrupted. She was serious too, now, and the look in her eye kept Dean from saying another word.
"There was no one in that pool," Sam explained.
"I was there for just a sec, but I didn't see anyone…it was like Amy was pinned down at the bottom of the pool-" Isabella paused, seeing the look on Dean's face, but continued anyway, "and she was fighting something invisible."
"It was a pressure," Amy said ominously. "A strange pressure. I didn't feel an actual pair of hands on me. Something was pushing me down." She looked down at Sam, who was rubbing his chin.
He looked up, sighed, and Sam whispered questionably, "Rada?"
"Wait, that voodoo spirit thing that did this to me?" Isabella gasped.
Sam nodded throughout his mental thought process. He was quiet. But he was so confidant in his words. "It was a Rada…the one who is doing this…sent the damned thing to Amy…"
"Why-" Amy started, but Dean interrupted angrily, "Because that Carter printed that newspaper. Whoever shot Daryl Greene and whoever is responsible for Isabella…"
Sam: "Saw the article and got pissed, somehow. It's why you couldn't see it. Isabella only saw it because she was out of her body at the time."
Dean: "We need to find the amateur Vodouisant…" He gritted his teeth together. "And kill Carter Lynn."
O.O.O.O.O.
Amy was safely taking a shower, with Isabella sitting in the bathroom. Dean set it up so if anything were to happen, Isabella would give the warning.
Sam laid everything out on the table. Guns. Rifles. Knives. Rock salt. He even put some salt around the house, hoping it could keep out a poorly tamed Rada. Amy protested to the rock salt, but was promised it would be vacuumed up the moment all of this was finished.
Dean sharpened a small pocket knife against a little wood case on his knee. He was obviously still angry. It was the second time he had to pull Amy out of the water. The memories from the Natiskawa deal hadn't been fun, and this one had just made things worse.
She said she was "fine" about the nosebleeds, and "fine" about almost drowning. What else was she "fine" about? Dean wondered. Does this girl handle everything okay? She's the most kept-together person I know…He checked the blade, found it promising, and put the materials away and smoothly stuck the knife in his back pocket. Why would the article be the reason to attack Amy? Because it mentioned paranormal investigation, and the bastard thought Amy was a threat? The paper only mentioned her name…not mine, not Sam's…Dean balled his hand into a fist, watching Sam load a rifle with rock salt. I'm going to find the voodoo bastard and kick the crap out of him, then I'll find Carter…and do the same…
Amy came back to the living room. Color had returned to her face. The smell of chlorine still remained in her skin. The smell was mixed with a gentle vanilla fragrance. Her hair was damp, leaving wet spots on a blue T-shirt.
She came around and sat down next to Dean on the couch. She sank in while Dean was sitting on the edge. He turned to look at her, watching as she studied his face for a second, and gave her a small wink. Amy reached her hand up and rubbed Dean's back slowly.
Dean turned to Sam, and looked at Isabella, who was still pacing the living room.
"Everything set?" Dean asked.
Sam looked up, setting down a rifle on the table, and nodded. He, Dean, and Amy then turned to Isabella. She had stopped pacing.
"Okay, Izzy…it's time…" Sam mentioned softly.
Isabella put her hand on her neck and nodded. Amy looked over and said, "You just have to concentrate…"
"But what if I can't…" Isabella breathed. "I tried meditating once…got bored out of mind…how am I supposed to do this…"
Sam got up and walked to Izzy. He stood before her, holding his hands out gently, as if to comfort her. But even though Isabella wasn't there physically, his open hands brought comfort.
She looked up at him with sad, pale blue eyes.
"When you were angry, you were affecting your spiritual state, as you are now…" Sam explained. "In your physical state, your mind is working fine…and we know that the Vodouisant is losing control because you're starting to gain some control…understand?"
She nodded.
Sam held his hands out, almost demonstrating and comforting at the same time, and looked her dead in the eye. "You have to think back to the accident. Think about just driving you car…think about the crash…and seeing your body…think about how helpless you were…then think about realizing you had the ability to travel anywhere, just by thought…and think how angry you were…about Daryl…about your family…"
Isabella closed her eyes and shook her head, angrily, and paced the living room again. "It's too hard…I don't know what to do…sit down and close my eyes, or-"
"Izzy, listen…" Sam repeated, his voice was so soothing. Isabella stopped to look at him. "It's not about meditation. It's just your thoughts. You have to connect with your feelings. Let all the emotions inside of you out…that's where your power comes from. The only power you have now is tied in with your feelings…" He looked at Isabella desperately. "That's how you can connect with who is doing this. There is a connection between you and the Vodouisant…you are the only one can go through this psychic wall the Rada is responsible for…"
Dean got up too. He looked at Amy, then turned to Isabella. "Izzy…" Dean tried calmly. "This person tried to hurt you and your family…this person tried to kill Amy…" Isabella looked instantly at Amy, feeling guilt rise within her. "You have to feel what we felt before…you can save yourself…so do it…"
Amy shook her head and got up. She approached Isabella, standing close to her as if to hug her. "Listen…" she whispered, watching as Isabella looked as if she were about to cry. "Emotions and feelings are a great power, trust me…" She gulped slowly, waiting for Isabella to get a hold of herself. She was shaking. "You have to imagine a line. Between you and everyone you know. People you met. People you slightly remember. People you hate. People you love. You have to dig deep down…imagine this invisible line connecting you with every person…" Isabella, lips trembling, closed her eyes. Her forehead wrinkled as she began to concentrate. "Try using one specific emotion…" Amy instructed. "Don't try to use all of them…think of something very powerful…you were angry before…try using that…"
"It tried to kill you…" Isabella whispered, her body was still trembling – it looked like the temperature in the room dropped twenty degrees.
Not sure if Isabella was making the right connection, Amy continued: "Use that feeling. It's been bottling up. It's your defense. You can use it. It's helpful. It keeps the bad stuff out and the good stuff in. In this case, the good stuff is the identity of the voodoo man or woman…" She paused, looking at Isabella. Her own empathic abilities couldn't help in this case. "Breathe…Izzy…feel air in your lungs…feel…think…concentrate…"
Isabella stood still. It hadn't been a dramatic change, but the way she had done it caused Dean to step beside Amy, and for Sam to take a step closer.
She was quiet. Her eyes were still closed…Hero… the nurse at the hospital… Izzy eyes fluttered, not opening...Sam…She couldn't just see the person, she saw where they were…either at the hospital or at home… Grammy…She felt like she was flying. Her lips parted, as if to breathe, and sighed.
Her eyes opened and Isabella sighed.
"What did you see?" Sam asked quickly.
Izzy licked her lips and shook her head. "I didn't see a person. But a place…dark, cold…not in a house…somewhere in a large area…tall ceiling…I saw the altar…with my picture…and I even saw the newspaper article with Amy's picture…blood…" She looked up at the others and said, "I'm sorry…that's all I saw…I couldn't connect to a person…but I saw this place…"
"Could you get there, if you thought about it?" Dean asked.
Isabella shook her head. "I can't…"
"Izzy, maybe you can try…" Amy suggested, but stopped shortly.
The comatose spirit had faded away, and then faded back.
"I'm so tired…" Isabella had whispered. Even her voice seemed distant.
"Izzy…" Amy gasped, feeling scared and anxious.
Sam took a closer step to Isabella. Her eyes did look tired. And at some point, she was still there, but transparent.
"Stay with us, Isabella…" Sam demanded sadly. His eyes widened when she seemed ready to fade again.
"Dark, cold…" Isabella whispered. "I'm so tired…" She stared up at the three, depressed, sad, alone… "Something's happening…"
She faded away completely then. And just as it happened, Dean, Sam, and Amy, grabbed all the weapons from the center table, and ran out of the apartment.
O.O.O.O.O.
The Chevy Impala squealed into the hospital's parking lot. Amy was first to jump out, followed by Sam and Dean.
O.O.O.O.O.
There were loud, familiar noises as Amy, Dean, and Sam ran towards Isabella's room. Hero and Greg, both wrapped in each other's arms, stood outside, glancing through the window. Hero was obviously crying, with Greg holding her tight to keep her standing, or at least still.
The noises were coming from Izzy's room. Dean and Sam peered in, seeing two doctors and a few nurses trying to resuscitate Isabella.
Amy, beside Hero, asked shakily, "God, what happened?"
Hero shook her head as she wept. "Her vital signs dropped dramatically or something. I'm not s-sure what the doctor said…bu-but…" She looked through the glass, seeing her daughter lay still in the hospital bed, with the doctors working quickly around her. "My ba-baby…" Hero gasped. "My daughter…"
O.O.O.O.O.
Isabella had been saved. The doctors couldn't explain the sudden drop on the monitor, indicating her vital signs, but she was alive. That was what mattered.
Grammy arrived on the scene after it had happened. For an old woman, she could get a cab and force the driver to speed against his will. She wore a turquoise sweater and a tight pair of jeans. The woman was comforting Hero, who was still weeping on the floor, just outside of Isabella's room.
Isabella, in out-of-body form, hadn't shown up. Although she was still there, alive, physically, the others had no idea if they would see her again.
Amy sat in a chair, beside Isabella, holding her hand.
From the door, Dean watched Amy quietly speaking to the girl in a coma. He turned back, looking at Sam, who just showed up.
"What'd you get?" Dean asked quietly.
"Vic was apparently out with friends, again, while it happened…Hunter was at his hotel…and the dad is still a no-show…according to the last phone call…his car mysteriously broke down and his cell died…so that's why it took him forever to get here…and he didn't have any numbers memorized, so no way to call…"
Dean sighed and stared back into the room, staring at Amy and Isabella.
"Izzy said she saw some place dark, cold…with a tall ceiling…" Dean thought aloud.
"There could be a dozen places…" Sam bit his lip. He suddenly walked past Dean and sat down next to Amy. She looked up at him, hope dissolving before his eyes.
"It'll be okay…" Sam said aloud, but he wasn't talking to Amy. "It'll be okay…"
He put his hand on Izzy's arm. He took a long, deep breath. Eyes stayed opened. Sam stroked his thumb against her wrist…
He had felt something. He was connecting, again, like he had done in 1997. Stretch out your mind, Sam…he ordered himself. Isabella's counting on you…
He felt Amy's hand hold onto his. He looked at her, afraid of what might happen, but realized she wasn't going to pull away. If something bad were to happen, they were lucky to be in a hospital…
Dean wasn't sure of what was happening. But he didn't like the way Sam gave a worried look to his girlfriend…
Amy closed her eyes…breathing deeply…she connected with Sam easily…she took hold of his feelings…his emotions…she latched onto them…
Sam let out a calm breath…Jessica, Mom, he prayed, Help us. And let Amy be okay…
He closed his eyes. He remembered his father, John. He imagined him, looking at him with a smile. It had been so long since he'd seen him smile (not counting 1997-John Winchester). He thought of Dean. Their fighting. Their laughing. He thought of Jessica. He thought of his mother. He thought of Amy.
A line. He imagined a line between him and every living creature. Of every tree and animal. He could almost let his entire mind go. The meditation was so strong, Sam felt like he was being pulled underneath a crash of waves…
And he began to see…Someone was looking down at the first article printed about Isabella's accident. It had a weak headline: LOCAL GIRL IN ACCIDENT. It was a full-paragraph article. Sam was seeing through the eyes of the Vodouisant…The person was angry at the article, and threw it down onto the floor… The Vodouisant was upset?...The person created the altars. They always wore a dark robe… There was still a nonexistent face Sam longed to see. Shooting Daryl Greene…Sam watched the poor man die…He saw the person put a necklace around their neck, with a vile…looking up…a tall, dark ceiling…
A basement. There was a sign on the door that said STAFF ONLY. The figure walked to the back, passing by numerous pipes and a large furnace. There was the altar…with Izzy's picture…
And for a moment, Sam could see something down on the floor. A sheet of paper balled up. In bold words, the top of the paper read: Staff and Maintenance, Keep Basement Clear and Clean. Keep Guests Out.
Sam opened his eyes. His first action was to look at Amy, who had passed out in her chair…blood dripping from her nose.
Dean ran to her side, holding her head up and yelling her name while slapping her cheeks (gently) to awaken her. Hero and Grammy ran inside to see if something had happened to Isabella.
Sam was taking in a few more deep breaths while checking on Amy. She awoke quickly, immediately wiping the blood from her nose onto her hand.
"You okay?" Dean asked quickly. "What the hell happened?"
Amy opened her mouth, but Dean said, "And you better not say 'I'm fine.'"
Sam's eyes widened and he leaped from his chair. "We have to go, Dean, now!"
"Why!" Dean shouted angrily. "What the hell is wrong with you, Amy-"
"I know where to go…" Sam shouted desperately. He turned, realizing Hero was in the room, and turned back to his brother.
Dean's eyes grew large as well. He stood up, with Amy standing too.
"You're crazy if you think I'm not coming," Amy breathed weakly, using her finger to clean the area beneath her nose.
Without trying to alarm Hero, Sam and Dean ran out of the room, Amy paused by Grammy, who was giving her a questionable look.
"I'll explain later," Amy muttered, and she chased after Dean and Sam.
Outside, in the hospital parking lot, the Chevy Impala, once again, squealed and sped out into the main street.
O.O.O.O.O.
A/N: The story is almost at its end! I'm so glad SO MANY people have taken an interest into my "series." I'm glad a new episode comes on tomorrow night (right?). I hope you're all enjoying and PLEASE, leave me feedback…maybe I won't update until I get…10 comments/reviews…in return. Then you'll get Chapter 17 and the conclusion of this story. And I already have a big story coming up for Part 5 of the Meant To Be series! So please, continue reading and leave comments/reviews! They're fully appreciated!