Boy, I really upset some readers. Whooo boy! This is a short chapter, a bit sad (duh). Thanks to everyone for sticking with me, even though it looks like things can't be turned around. Just remember, this IS Supernatural. Enjoy.
Cindy.
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Dean stared at John then slowly nodded his head. "For Sam," he whispered, returning his gaze to his brother.
John rose slowly then glanced around the room, noticing the others that stood there for the first time. His eyes landed on Bobby and a small smile curled his lips. Bobby crossed the floor and drew John into his arms, slapping his back a few times before pulling away.
"John, it's good to see you. I...I'm so sorry about Sam. None of us knew until it was all said and done..." the grizzled hunter said sadly.
"It's okay Bobby. You wouldn't have been able to stop him if you knew. He definitely had down that patented Winchester stubbornness," John replied, a deep sadness touching his voice.
"Uh...let me introduce you," Bobby said when he saw John look at the others in the room. "This is Jakota Troy and his younger brother Bryan. They've been with us for awhile now."
John shook the two young hunters hands and mumbled a greeting, not quite feeling in the mood to be social at the moment. He turned his attention to the light haired man in the corner next.
"That is Isaral," Bobby said.
"Where have I heard that name?" John queried as he nodded to the man.
"Isaral is a messenger and a healer. He was sent to guide Sam," Bobby replied.
John looked questioningly at Bobby, then his eyes lit with understanding.
"Isaral was a messenger of God, given the power to heal," John said evenly, his eyes glued to the man as he glided from his place in the corner.
"That is right John. I was sent by Him to give Samuel a message and to help guide and teach him what he needed to know to fulfill his destiny," Isaral said, his melodious voice having no effect on the suddenly angry man.
"Why did you let Sam die! If you have the power to heal, why did you let him die!?" John screamed, noticing nothing in the room now except the healer.
"I was not given the gift to ressurrect John. Only to heal. Samuel was beyond what I could do," Isaral explained calmly.
"Did you even give him any other options for fulfilling his destiny? Could he have done something else and lived?" John cried.
"I gave him all of the choices. He chose the one with the greatest chance for success and the least amount of pain and death. He said it was the only choice."
"So, he took this route, knowing he would die," John said more to himself than to anyone else.
"John, Samuel was a very compassionate and selfless young man. He chose the only path that someone with his depth of caring would choose. His only fear was what his death would do to his brother," Isaral said softly.
Dean looked up from his position next to Sam, his sad eyes staring at the messenger. "If he was so concerned about me, then why did he do it?" Dean asked tiredly.
"Because he knew this was much bigger than him, bigger than you. This was the chance to free the world from this threat and also to avenge your mother and father and all the others he loved whom died because of Azazel. He felt that it was worth the sacrifice. He felt it was his only way to protect you, Dean."
Dean shook his head sadly and returned his attention to Sam. He climbed carefully onto the bed, eased over Sam and leaned against the wall then pulled Sam's body into his arms. Wrapping Sam in a tight embrace, Dean rocked him gently, lowering his head until his cheek rested in Sam's hair. He hummed a long forgotten lullaby that he only now remembered, the last time doing so being twenty years before in an attempt to calm a frightened little shaggy haired boy.
John gazed at his sons, fearing that he had not just lost one son, but both. He glanced at Bobby and without saying a word conveyed his message to his old friend. Bobby ushered the Troy brothers and Isaral from the room in order to give the Winchesters the space they needed to grieve in private. Once the men had left, John approached the bed. He sat on the edge next to Sam and took his hand once more. He reached across Sam with his other hand and gently squeezed Dean's shoulder.
They stayed that way for quite some time, each lost in their pain but still sending comfort to the other. Eventually they fell asleep, Dean propped up against the wall, Sam held protectively in his arms, and John leaning against the headboard, his hand resting over Sam's. Tomorrow they would say goodbye to their most cherished family member, but tonight they would hold onto him before they were forced to acknowledge that their family of three was once again only two.
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Okay, I was going to wait to post the next chapter until later tonight, but because this one is so short and Sam is still dead (sorry :( ) I think I will post it a little sooner than that. Maybe early afternoon. Thanks guys.
Cindy.