Elixir

Chapter Eight

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Supernatural and I'm not making any money from this fic. The characters Amber and Jody - and any other character you don't recognise from the show - probably belong to me. Anything you recognise from another fandom, I don't own. I guess the plot of this story belongs to me

Warning(s): Strong violence; a really bad thing happening; original characters; spoilers for the entirety of season one and up to episode eight of season two; hints of torture

Author's Note: Once again, apologies for the delay in updating this. I've been working on other things - and my laptop crashed a few weeks ago, leaving me gnashing my teeth in annoyance and frustration. Thank you all for your patience and I promise to try and do better with updating next time. Please enjoy this latest chapter!

Dean and Sam exchanged glances from the front seats of the Impala, then glanced slowly towards the cave entrance. They then got out of the car and headed round to the trunk. Popping it open, they started getting out various weapons - as many different ones as they could carry.

Jody got out of the car as well and headed round to them. "What can I do?"

"Stay here," Sam told her. "If anyone other than us comes out, make sure you're well-hidden if you can't run away."

Jody shook her head. "I told you - I'm coming with you." She folded her arms and set her jaw stubbornly. "I can help you. And Amber's my friend - I figure someone has to stop you from shooting her."

"We're not gonna kill her." Sam glanced at Dean, who gave a barely perceptible nod. He sighed. "But all right - you can come as well. Make sure you stay close to me and Dean, though." He took a gun out of the trunk and pushed it into Jody's hands. "It's loaded with rock salt - which is useful for repelling spirits."

"If you haven't handled a gun before, just try not to hit either of us with it," Dean put in. "Or Amber," he added, almost as an afterthought.

Sam directed a glare at his brother and then turned back to Jody, handing her a small bottle of water. "And here's some holy water."

"For use against demons?" Jody suggested, putting the bottle into her bag. She then took out a ball of string and held it up. "Thought we might need this to find our way out. You know, like that one legend with the maze and the minotaur?"

Sam nodded. "I know the one you mean." He took the string from Jody. "Now we just have to hope that the flashlights hold out long enough for us to find our way out of the caves." It'll be pitch black for us in there - and it won't be easy to find the string by touch if the lights do fail.

Jody glanced at her backpack, a suddenly uneasy look on her face. Dean raised his eyebrows. "Second thoughts?"

Shaking her head, Jody opened her mouth to reply - but her words were lost in the sudden roaring in Sam's ears. He gasped and put a hand to his head as the whole world fell away.

"You just stood there and watched me die!" Amber held a gun on Dean, the light of madness gleaming in her eyes.

Dean held up his hands, eyeing Amber warily. "I know. It was my fault you died in that other world. But do you really think shooting me will solve anything? You'll still have those memories - and you'll still have to live with them." He took a step closer to her.

Amber's finger tightened on the trigger. "Don't come any closer," she warned.

Dean paused, his eyes fixed on Amber's face. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you dead. I hate you, Dean." Her finger pulled the trigger; and Dean's body jerked and fell, blood blossoming over his chest.

"Sam? Sam!"

Sam gradually became aware of the fact that his shoulders were being shaken. He groaned and shook his head a few times, struggling to find his voice. "We're really running out of time," he whispered finally.

"Did you have another vision?" Jody's face was pale.

Sam nodded. "She shot you again," he told Dean. "Look, I... maybe you'd better wait out here. However this plays out, it's pretty clear Amber has serious issues with you."

"I couldn't save her," Dean replied. "It's not surprising she'd have issues. Whatever. I'm not staying behind either." He frowned slightly. "Though I have to say... Why can't your visions be a bit more original? We already know the one where she shoots me."

Jody blinked and glanced uncertainly towards the entrance of the cave and then at the brothers. "So, umm... If no one's staying behind, should we maybe get moving? You know, while there's still daylight."

"Listen to the girl, Sammy." Humming Metallica to himself, Dean headed into the cave, switching his flashlight on as he did so.

Sam sighed, but attempted a reassuring smile at Jody. He didn't try to tell her that everything was going to be all right, though. Right now, it looked like it was going to be either Amber's life - or his brother's...

Amber held the knife in one hand as she felt her way along the cave wall. All of her fear and anger were gone, leaving behind a deadly calm. And one single, driving purpose.

I'm going to kill Dean Winchester.

She was doing it for herself, though. Not for the people who had captured and tortured her. Dean had stood there and watched her die - twice now. It wasn't going to happen a third time.

I'm stronger now.

Amber raised the knife and slowly licked the blade, avoiding the sharp edge. She felt her lips curve in a feral smile as she imagined all the things she was going to do to him. Of course, there was his brother to worry about as well - but she could just kill Sammy-boy quickly, if she had to.

As she heard the sound of voices, Amber paused and slowly turned her head to the side. If she really strained her ears, she could just about make out Dean's voice. She smiled; and her fingers tightened around the hilt of her knife.

Amber peered slowly round the corner - and winced at the too-bright beam of the flashlights. She'd been in the dark for so long that any kind of light hurt her eyes. She started to raise her hand to shield them - and then winced again.

I forgot. They smashed up my right hand.

Amber stayed behind the corner, listening and waiting for her chance...

"Dean, I have a really bad feeling about this," Sam said. "I know we can barely see anything here - but I'm pretty sure that this is the place I saw Amber kill you in the first vision."

Dean shrugged, glancing around. "Well... The vision's changed twice since then. And I don't see any sign of Amber. I'm not just gonna walk away, Sam." He turned on his heel. "So are you two coming or not?" he called back over his shoulder.

Sam was just about to follow his brother when Dean suddenly gasped and slumped, then collapsed onto the ground face-first.

"Dean!" Sam yelled, running to his brother's side. He froze as he saw his brother's unmoving form and the blood pooling under it. "DEAN!" He frantically pressed his fingers against Dean's neck, feeling for a pulse which wasn't there. No... No... Not you as well. His mind kept chanting no as he reached to turn his brother over. I just need to bandage the wound - stop the blood flow. And then he'll be fine.

The next thing Sam knew, there was a blinding pain in his head; and he lost consciousness.