Real Life

Chapter 5

"What is it Dean?" The minute Sam had seen the expression on his brother's face he had known something was wrong. Dean was clutching the mobile, his knuckles white and he could hear his brother's harsh breathing, hear his voice repeating Jensen's name over and over "Dean, What is it?"

"We've gotta go – we've gotta go now Sam" Dean grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him hard "They're in trouble Sam – we have to go right now"

Sam followed his brother without question and waited until they were in Jensen's car and breaking the speed limit before he spoke again "For fuck's sake Dean – what the hell is happening?"

"Jensen – he was pretending to be me and he took Jared to his buddy's house to go ghost hunting – he was pretty convinced it was just shit – but Sam – they're in deep trouble – I heard him – I heard him screaming down the phone"

"You let them go into a haunted house – alone – knowing what you know – God Dean what were you thinking?"

"Jensen thought it was all a joke man – how was I to know?"

"Dean you should know, we both know, that you should always check these things out"

"We were so caught up in this stupid prank Sam – we just go wrapped up in it. Sam" Dean's eyes were turned to him, green, wide and pleading; his brother's face pale and open with emotion "What if they're dead Sam? What if they're dead? I'll never forgive myself – shit – I even gave him a fucking gun Sam, a gun filled with nothing but fresh air – how could I have been so stupid?"

"Dean" Sam stared out into the night, his own heart thumping, he knew his brother was hurting and he couldn't think of a single thing to say, but Jensen was a grown man and he hadn't forced Dean to do what he had done; Sam shook his head and prayed that they would get to the house in time.

It was raining when the car screeched to a halt outside the address that Jensen had given them. The house was in darkness, but inside they could see visibly flickering lights and, as they leapt out of the car, the night was bitterly and supernaturally cold. Dean ran to the trunk of the Impala, saying a silent prayer of thanks that it was still unlocked. He scrabbled about pulling out knives, guns and his dad's journal. Sam pulled out a simple prayer book, holy water and followed Dean up the steps to the house.

The door wouldn't budge but moments later was splintering and cracking open, cold air and a foul stench hitting them as they rushed into the house. There was a cacophony of noise, lights flashed on and off and the television played loudly to itself. Sam turned to his brother "Poltergeist?"

"Yeah – it would seem that way" Dean gritted his teeth "We've gotta get it out of here Sam – but we've gotta find Jensen and Jared first – you take the ground floor, I'll go upstairs"

"Ok" Sam shouldered his way into the hallway and then moved stealthily into the kitchen, appliances were flying through the air and the fridge door flew open and then closed again, it was too dark to see much and Sam bit his lip with frustration, hissing as his nostrils were assailed with the foul stench which seemed to pervade the whole house. He stumbled forward and saw that the door to what was obviously the cellar was open and he saw the dark shape lying next to it, as he moved closer he saw the vintage leather jacket and faded jeans and his heart leapt to his mouth; it started jolting again when he realised that it was Jensen and the older man was moaning, his mouth barely forming words

"Jensen?" Sam dropped to his knees "Are you ok?"

"Jared..?" hands came up and touched his face "Jared – man – what the fuck..?"

"No, Jensen, it's Sam, it's Sam" he put his hands under the older man's shoulders and hauled him up "Can you walk?"

"Yeah – thing came at me – knocked me down – Jared – ahh" a shaky hand came up and touched Sam's shoulder "He...it threw him down the cellar steps – I couldn't see him man – the smell – the noise – couldn't stop screaming"

"I'm gonna get you out of here dude – then we're going to come back for Jared" as he slowly moved Jensen forward, he heard his brother begin to recite something in Latin and he smiled wryly, Dean had obviously decided to expel this thing now and they needed to move and quickly. Objects flew at their heads but they managed to circumnavigate the worst of the carnage and, finally, they were out in the fresh air, Sam leaning Jensen against his own car and stroking his face in pure relief "Stay here" Sam hissed, reluctant to leave his friend but anxious to help his brother and Jared "We'll be back"

The house seemed quieter when Sam entered and most of the sound had died down; there was still a slight taint and the smell was there, but it wasn't so strong. Dean was staggering down the stairs, grinning wildly at Sam "It's gone" he said without preamble "Found something in dad's journal that did the trick" he gripped his brother's shoulders "Did you get them?"

"I got Jensen" Sam shook his head "Jared's in the cellar – we have to get him out"

They took the steps cautiously, using their torches to light the way. Dean swept the yellow beam around the cellar floor and it touched the still figure of a man, lying as still as death, hair spread around his face, red seeping out from under his head; Dean thrust the torch into his belt and dropped to his knees "Jared?" he put a shaking hand to the young man's neck and his own heart began to pound as he felt the gentle but firm thump of Jared's pulse. He tipped Jared's head up gently and felt beneath the hair for a wound, but it was only a small cut that had bled alarmingly, however the young man had a huge lump on the back of his skull which would hurt like a bastard for a couple of days "Jared" he hissed again, shaking the man hard enough to rouse him without hurting him "Speak to me dude"

"Jensen?" a big hand came out of nowhere and grabbed his wrist and fuzzy hazel eyes opened reluctantly "Jensen?"

"No man – its Dean – Dean Winchester – do you remember me?"

"Oh yeah" Jared put a hand to his head, wincing as he felt the lump "Do yah wanna know something Dean?"

"What?" Dean helped the younger man to his feet, throwing an arm around his waist and shoulder and hauling him up. Jared would need stitches and a shot but he would be as good as new in a few days and Dean, for one, was weak with relief and guilt

"Ghost hunting sucks"