Part 18

Sam rushed into the barricade and leapt over the tape. He could see Carmen sitting on the stairs with a blanket wrapped over her shoulders. "Hey… what's going on?"

"Sam…" She burst into fresh tears.

"Who is this?" The cop inspected the newcomer. "You can't come in here, this is a crime scene."

"He's Dean's brother," Carmen forced the words out. "Sam… you know he's been acting weird for days. He didn't want me to come over last night."

"Carmen?" Sam knelt in front of her.

"He must have got up in the night. You know how he does? Checking doors and windows. I guess he heard something outside. I heard… I heard him scream. I grabbed his shotgun… I don't know why he went outside without it. He's always got a gun or a knife… I was too late. Something ran out of the garage." She took a breath. "That's where I found him. He was… bleeding… all over… Sam… Dean's dead."

"Can I see him?" Sam asked the cop.

"They're about to put him in the wagon." The cop nodded to the garage.

Sam let the cop lead the way to the stretcher laid low in the garage. Dean's body. No longer Dean. Just a vessel where Dean used to live. The medic pulled apart the black folds and there he was. Looked like he was sleeping, except for the gaping wounds on his neck and chest. If not for the puddles of Dean's life on the floor. If not for the crying nurse just around the corner. If not for the tears filling Sam's eyes.

The coroner approached. "It looks like what the girl said. A wild dog. It's consistent and we have animal control patrolling the area."

Sam nodded and had to force his brain to work. "When do I need to… do the…"

"I'll give you a call when I'm done with my work." She patted his arm. "Just be sure to give your number to the officers."

He watched as they zipped up the bag and lifted the stretcher into the ambulance. No need for lights. He returned to Carmen's side and just sat until the cop cars and rubberneckers had started to drift away. "You actually heard the attack?"

"Yeah." Carmen leaned her face against the building.

"And you actually saw it take off?"

"I think I did." She furrowed her brow as if she wasn't completely sure.

Sam noticed her twirling something between her fingers. Reaching over, he recognized it before he got a good look at it. "When did he give you this?"

"Um…" She frowned and tried to lubricate her throat. "Last night, I think… I don't know… I just… noticed that I was wearing it." She sobbed suddenly. "You know… he told me that I'm the last woman he… and I just thought he was putting me on…"

"I'm going to run up and lock the place up. I'll drive you home in a minute."

"Okay but… um… could you drop me at my parents, instead?"

"Yeah." Sam nodded and took his time climbing the steps. Reading every mark and brand that Dean had affixed to his home in the past few weeks. He stepped over the salt and goofer dust. On the table was an envelope with his name on it.

'Sammy,

Tonight's the night. I tried to keep her out of it but she loves me and I love that about her. I do love her and I tried. So, you get my weapons and whatever you can't use, you pass on to Bobby and Ellen. Let Sari have the phone. She really liked it. Carmen gets the iPod and the Impala. I know I said I was giving it to Ellen but Carmen has learned to appreciate it and she drives her right. Help her figure out what to do with my shit. I gave her my amulet. I didn't know what else to do. I had to make sure that nothing was going to get her when it came for me.

Sam, tell her what I couldn't say. You'll know when to stop. I always kind of sucked at that stuff. Tell Ellen that- just tell her. She'll understand. Tell Bobby that I know now what I'm worth. Tell Ben when he's old enough. He needs to know more about me than what his mom will tell him.

I love you, little brother. I'd do it all again but maybe I'd negotiate differently. Don't blame yourself or else I'll crawl out of Hell and haunt your ass. Go straight to Heaven, Sammy. Be the one Winchester to make it there the first time. Mom's in the Ether, Dad took the roundabout way to Heaven and I'm in Hell. So make sure the rest of your life counts. Do what you want to do cause it's gonna be a long time for you in the world.

Dean Winchester.'

THE END