Hi, everybody! I think this chapter is actually a little bit longer than the others, so yay! Hope this chapter can help you with your Hellatus shock. Just three more Fridays, guys.
Audrey
Lately I've been hard to reach
I've been too long on my own
Everybody has their private world
Where they can be alone
Are you calling me?
Are you trying to get through?
Are you reaching out for me?
I'm reaching out for you
-Eminem, Beautiful
Dean ran red lights and pulled into the parking lot, tires squealing. He unsheathed his silver knife, reached into the duffel and dipped it in holy water thoroughly. Dean wished he had his full supplies from the Impala, but the keys were inside the room. He couldn't help but hope Luna had decided to come here herself, not attack from far away like she could. She'd have to make an appearance if she wanted Dean dead, too.
Knife dripping a path, Dean crossed the lot to their room. The door was slightly ajar and he pushed it open slowly.
The room was empty.
"Sam?" He whispered, but the silent darkness was all that answered. "Audrey?"
The two beds were the same as they left them, sheets rumpled carelessly and messy, but Dean heard something sandwiched between a bed and the wall.
He peered over slowly and saw Audrey, pacifier in her mouth, hooked into her seat. She was fast asleep. Laying next to her was Sam. His hands were tied together roughly with rope, his wrists red and chaffed.
He got to work, pulling out his Swiss army knife and cutting his unconscious brother loose. His little brother's eyes fluttered open as he pulled the gag out of his mouth.
Sam only had about two seconds to register what was happening before crying out in a dried, raspy voice, "Dean! Behind you!"
Dean turned to see a red-eyed Luna standing furiously in the doorway. "You!"
With a flick of her wrist, Dean was flung against the headboard of the nearest bed, where he crumpled to the ground.
But Sam was free now, and he stood up shakily, eyeing the wet knife lying a foot from his brother. He dived at the blade and clasped it in his hand, holding it ready to stab.
"I knew it was you." He growled at Luna. "'So cute I could eat you up?' I forgot how you Ala enjoy babies a la mode."
Luna smirked, distracted by the conversation, and Sam took the moment of opportunity. He lunged at the old woman, but she gripped his wrist and twisted it back, the tip of the blade inches from her heart.
Sam swung his free hand up and hit her square in the jaw. Dropping her hand in surprise, Luna retaliated with a strong kick to the chest, sending Sam and his knife flying across the room. She sneered as she walked towards the hunter, now panting on the ground. The knife sat limply in his outstretched hand and Sam acted in one final, desperate action.
Gripping the knife tightly, he aimed at the approaching woman and threw it with all his might.
For a moment, Luna stood in shock, her eyes wide in surprise as she stared down at the knife lodged in her chest. Then she fell to the floor, a trickle of blood running down the corner of her mouth as Audrey bawled in the background.
..ooOOoo..
"To Audrey's first case!" Dean held up his beer bottle and knocked it against Audrey's milk cup.
Sam chuckled as he packed the rest of his clothes and toiletries. Audrey was talking a little more now. Sam was still 'Da-da,' but Dean had been promoted from 'Fee' to 'Dee.' She'd even managed to call a few waitresses 'Mama,' which often left Sam depressed for the rest of the day. Especially that pretty blonde. Dean understood how Sam could be upset by that. Sharlene had looked a lot like Jess, and Dean had gotten her number. But, being the Awesome Big Brother he was, he'd thrown it away... into his jacket pocket.
It had been two days since the brothers had dumped Luna's lifeless body into the ocean, and both were itching to leave the city. They had checked and it seemed Dolores had known nothing about Luna's secret life, so she'd gotten off the hook this time. In fact, she had seemed quite surprised when Dean crashed through the door into a room full of children she'd been reading to with a knife in his hand.
Sam had never been so grateful of Dean doing real research than when he learned how Dean had known to call.
"She could've killed us whenever she wanted?" Sam asked incredulously. Dean nodded. "You or Audrey. She never managed to touch me, though." He added with a proud grin.
Sam looked grimly at Audrey, who was smiling at the TV.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Dean said when he saw Sam's worried look. "She's gone."
Sam just looked back at his daughter again. "I don't want this life for her, Dean. She's not even one and she almost died! It's not right for her. Jess wouldn't want this."
"Dee!" Audrey reached her arms up and Dean scooped her up instantly, partially grateful that the girl's outburst had interrupted the way-too-emotional-for-Dean conversation.
"Hey, Aud. What's up?" Dean said casually, hoisting her up to his height. Audrey just giggled and yawned.
"I believe it's time for someone's nap." Dean focused on tucking his niece into the mini crib they'd finally bought. He was actually getting pretty good at this baby stuff. He and Sam took turns keeping her fed and changed and happy. Dean just worried that his brother was right about a third generation hunter.
Sam was pacing back and forth, sniffling as he fought back his oncoming cold.
"Now that this is all over, I figured it's time we began thinking about finding a place to chill until, you know, Audrey's a little older." Dean suggested cooly and Sam lit up at the fact that his brother agreed.
Dean's eyes followed him as he paced past the doorway of the second room. "That's a- sniff- good idea." Sam agreed. Suddenly, the younger hunter stooped in the doorway and coughed. The one a-hem of Sam clearing his throat became an all out coughing fit as he gasped for air, clutching the wall for support.
"Hey, hey!" Dean was at his side instantly, a half empty (Dean had always been a pessimist) beer bottle forcing it's way from the older brother's hand to the younger one's. Sam brought the bottle to his lips and gulped, the soothing feel of liquid mixed with the sting of the alcohol stifling the heavy, racking coughs.
"Thanks, Dean. There must've been something in my throat." Dean nodded curtly, his heart still pounding as he made sure Sam was okay and retook his spot on the bed. Sam resumed his pacing.
"Anyway, sniff-" Sam passed the doorway again. "I was just- OH!" Dean looked up but Sam was out of sight. He heard a thump and a groan, and within seconds he was through the opening.
His little brother was lying on the ground, clutching his stomach. Dean put his hand on Sam's shoulder, the fright in his eyes noticeable despite his best efforts to keep it hidden.
Sam looked up. He was shivering and clammy, the pain evident in his facial features. "S-Sammy? What's hurting?"
"M' head. My st-stom..."
Dean's hand was shaking as he helped Sam to his feet. "Okay..." Suddenly, Sam hunched forward, stumbling a few steps towards the bathroom before emptying his stomach's contents all over the floor.
Dean kept his hand supportively on his brother's back. "You okay?" He mumbled softly. Sam nodded. "Bed..." He whispered, teeth gritted. Dean helped him shuffle to the mattress, watching the suddenly sickly man turn into a boy as he snuggled deep under the covers, restlessly turning on his side and keeping one arm wrapped firmly around his aching chest. His breathing was ragged and irregular, as if every breath was a challenge.
Dean sighed and shakily dialed Dad's number, cussing when he got the out of service message. "Dammit, Dad. Get off the stupid hunt already..." Dean left a message anyway, almost whispering into the speaker at the tone, well aware of Sam's migraine.
"Hey, Dad, it's Dean. Listen, if you get this... It's Sam. He's- well, I don't know. He's in p-pain but I thought you should know that- that- it's pretty serious." Dean's voice cracked and he cleared his throat before continuing. "And I don't care what the hell happened between you two, but... he's still your son and- and- he- I- need-"
Beep.
Dean slammed his phone shut and returned to his brother. Sam was sweating and shivering and a quick touch to his forehead left Dean's hand burning hot.
Sam's eyes were squeezed shut in pain. Everything seemed so distant. "What's wrong? Sam?" He heard.
"Sammy? Tell me what's hurting!"
"Sam! Open your eyes!"
The voice was panicked and nervous, but Sam wanted to retreat; away from the pain and worry. To happier times...
..ooOOoo..
"I'm here! I'm here!" Sam burst through the doors of room 316. He knelt down beside his hospitalized wife. "How is it?" He asked.
"Good." Jess replied. "Great." She smiled at him, a promise that it's okay to look excited. Sam grinned.
A nurse bustled in and Jess gave her a polite smile. Sam reached out his hand and she clasped it with all her strength. This was the moment they'd been waiting for.
"Sam?" Jess said. The room was uncomfortably quiet given the circumstances. "No one's here." Her voice quivered. "My parents are on a trip and- and yours don't even know you're almost a father!"
"Jess- don't do this, honey, not now."
"But- Sam! Wake up!"
"What?" Sam was confused.
Jess leaned closer. "Sammy, wake up! Sam! Sam!"
"Sammy!"
Oh. It was just Dean. But he sounded worried. Sam lifted his eyelids laboriously, and stared up at his brother. Dean had one hand held up to his ear, the other gently on Sam's shoulder.
"Bobby. How do you summon an Ala?"
Sam listened to the conversation echo in his head.
"Well, the holy water didn't work. And Sam's sick. I need to get it back here as soon as possible. There's gotta be something!"
Sam reached up and squeezed Dean's wrist to get his attention. Dean instantly focused on him.
"Call you back, Bobby."
"D'n." Sam whispered. "Sure it's holy wat'r you used?"
"C-course I'm sure." Dean sounded doubtful, though. Regretfully doubtful. "I'm so stupid!" He chided.
Sam smiled knowingly. "F'nd some real holy wat'r." He closed his clammy hand in Dean's and his eyes drifted shut...
..ooOOoo..
"Sam?" Jess was breathing heavily. They were six hours into this and nothing. "It's quiet."
"I know, I know." Sam bowed his head. "But I can't tell them everyth-"
"No. Just, turn on the radio?" She glanced at the nightstand alarm clock. Sam reached over and turned a few knobs until he found a good station. A Shaun Cassidy marathon filled the empty silence of the room.
Jess smiles, but this time it turns into a grimace. Sam squeezes her hand tighter and the nurse moved in closer, because now was their chance.
Jess' shouts made Sam's heart throb, to take her place. But every push brought his daughter closer...
Grueling hours later, Sam finally sat back down, half as exhausted as his wife. It was with sweat beads dotting her brows that a weary Jessica held out her arms to the baby girl.
"Sam?" He instantly moved closed, beaming more than he ever thought possible. For the first time in hours it was quiet enough to hear the music again.
Silent, she wakes up and ponders the day
Takin' her time, feeling her way
Everything is okay in her world
"We promised we'd wait until now to decide on a name..."
My life - of which she is so much a part
Has found a new moment, found a new start
And deep in my heart I know
Sam beamed at his newborn daughter as a bright light flashed. He looked up to see the nurse with a disposable camera. "Someone had to capture the moment." She whispered happily. "I'll... leave you alone- but just for a minute."
"Names?" Jess muttered.
"Well," Sam begin. "She's beautiful... She'll be amazingly smart, witty, funny... Her name should be..."
That it's Audrey
Lighting my life with her smile
Looking through the eyes of a chiild
And turning my days into nights
"Audrey." Jessica breathed.
Sam looked up at her. "Audrey." He repeated. "Perfect."
He leaned in for a kiss and Jessica passed the baby girl to her father. She was so tiny and he couldn't help but wonder- what would Dean say?
If not for Audrey
There would be nothing to share
There would be no reason to care
God only knows where I'd be...
..ooOOoo..
Sam breathed slowly, every breath painful as he sucked it down his lungs. He didn't know where this sickness had come from, but honestly, he couldn't think about that right now. His brain was fuzzy, his head heavy, and his migraine was so intense he felt his skull was about to split in half.
Dean brought over a glass of water and the strongest medicine they had and helped Sam into a sitting position to swallow.
"There you go, Sammy, just drink up..." Sam was still shivering and Deean took his temperature quickly. 102 and rising. Dean sat next to him and talked to him for a little bit, but Sam didn't retain much of it. He kept drifting in and out of consciousness. It could've been hours or days, Sam didn't know until he looked at the clock once and saw it had only been thirty minutes.
"D'n." He whispered.
"What do you need?" Dean answered quickly.
"Don' worry 'bout me. Kill Luna."
Dean laughed sadly. "Don't worry about you? Sam, I could never not worry about you. Bobby's on his way down and maybe then we get something figured out, but until then you're my number one priority. Hell, you're always my number one priority."
Sam smiled slowly and he sniffed. Reaching out a weak arm for a tissue, he blew his nose.
"D'n?"
"Yeah?"
"My nose is bleeding." As Sam held up the proof the drops began coming stronger.
Dean's worry was interrupted by a stern knock at the door. "Hear, Sam, hold this." He handed some clean tissues to his brother as he stood up to answer the door.
"Thank God you made it, Bobby."
"'Course I made it, son. How's he doing?"
Dean glanced over at Sam, staring droopy-eyed into space and holding a hand to his nose.
"Not good, Bobby. He's burning up and he's thrown up so much he's just dry heaving. And now his nose is bleeding." Dean looked exhausted and Bobby followed him to Sam's bed.
"Bobby?"
"Hey, idgit." Bobby replied. He turned to face Dean. "Why don't you sleep? I'll watch Sam. Then we can think about finding this Ala. But you need rest first."
Dean pursed his lips. "I don't think so. I need to find this thing and kill it before it thinks to hurt Audrey, too." The bleeding must have stopped because when Dean looked at him again, Sam had left the tissues on the nightstand and had fallen asleep.
Sam turned on his side and pulled the covers up to his neck. Suddenly, his head jerked back and his back arched.
"Sam!" Dean cried. Sam seized again, moving uncontrollably. His limbs were flailing and Dean moved to help him.
"Dean. Stay back. You just have to let it run it's course." Bobby moved all the pillows and blankets as Sam continued to spaz awkwardly. One of his arms hit the lamp, it crashed to the floor and the motel room lost it's only light source as the hunters were plunged into darkness. Audrey began crying, her small hands wrapped around the bars of the crib.
As his vision adapted, Bobby glanced at Dean, sitting straight up on the edge of the second bed obediently. His eyes glistened, threatening to produce tears and succeeding. Dean tried to wipe them away before Bobby saw, but it was no use. The older man frowned sympathetically at the heartbroken hunter before turning his attention back to Sam.
The sound of the bed knocking against the wall with each seizing movement would haunt Dean for years to come.
OMG, guys. The Ala, Luna, isn't dead, so she's wreaking havoc on the Winchesters from far away this time around. Smart move on her part.
By the way, that song in the flashback was Audrey by Shaun Cassidy, just in case you were wondering. :) I hope this chapter was suitable, and if you think so, please review. You have no idea how encouraging and happy it is to hear from you. Seriously. I squeal. :) Until next week, bye!