Chapter 24

The following night, they finally parked outside of Abigail's house. It looked exactly as it did the first night Sam and Dean came to the house. The garage door propped open, exposing Abigail's car to let them know that she was inside and waiting.

Sam looked to the backseat and saw that Clay was sound asleep again. He would give anything to let the kid just stay asleep back there and drive away.

Dean coughed uncomfortably when he noticed Bobby's car pull up behind them. However, Bobby didn't get out of his car. He stayed in the drivers' seat staring ahead at the black Impala, ready to follow when it left the house.

Sam shot Dean a soulful look as his eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. He wasn't about to break in front of his son.

Dean gave Sam an encouraging look and grasped his shoulder. He knew how bad Sam must have been hurting right now.

Sam nodded as Dean pulled his hand away, and then sighed as he reached back and placed a hand on his sons' steady rising chest and gently shook his awake.

Clay's eyes cracked open, and his brilliant blue eyes looked up to Sam's face curiously.

"We're here." Sam whispered darkly.

Clay sat bolt up and looked at the house out the window. He suddenly cursed himself for wasting his time with Sam by falling asleep.

"I don't want to go." Clay whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek, his gaze still fixed on the house.

"I don't want you to go." Sam admitted.

Clay looked up hopefully at Sam, a sudden spark of excitement in his eye.

"Then let's just drive! Let's just keep going!" Clay suggested almost hysterically.

Dean gave a humorless chuckle, "Then have the Feds back on our tail for kidnapping? Good one." He muttered.

"Sorry Clay…I don't think we can do that." Sam whispered. He didn't trust himself to speak any louder for fear of his voice cracking as he held his tears back.

Clay took a moment to think, he looked for a moment like he was concentrating very hard. But then his silent tears turned into sobs as his emotional dam seemed to break.

"I-I don't wanna go!" Clay sobbed.

"I'm so sorry." Sam whispered, finding it much harder to keep himself in check.

"I am too." Dean admitted.

"But remember the promises you made me." Sam said gently.

Clay nodded feverishly and grabbed his duffel bag. He sighed and wiped a few stray tears from his pink face, and then opened the door and stepped out.

He took a few deep breaths before closing the door behind him, but then he turned to look at Sam through the open passengers' window.

"You'll be okay." Sam said with a nod and a fake smile.

Clay suddenly dropped his bag to the curb, and yanked Sam's door open, and then threw himself at Sam.

Sam looked at Clay curiously for a moment, and then realized that Clay was hugging Sam tightly, and sobbing on his shoulder.

A tear finally slipped past Sam's guard as he held Clay steadily.

"You'll do alright, kid." Sam kept saying over and over.

Dean looked away for a moment, he found himself about to cry as well. He suddenly cursed himself for not getting to know the kid a little better. If they ever met up with Clay again, Dean promised himself he'd make an effort with him.

Clay finally pulled away from Sam, and at the same time both Sam and Clay wiped their faces. Clay nodded as he composed himself a little better, and then picked up his bag.

"Call or text me, alright? Lemmie know if you're alright." Sam said sternly.

Clay nodded as he slung the duffel over his shoulder and made his way up the freshly cut grass in the front lawn.

Sam closed his door and watched as Clay approached the front door of the house from the window.

Dean kept his eyes fixed on the back of Sam's head, "You gonna be okay, man?"

"I'll be fine…I'm more worried about him." Sam said as he nodded his head toward the house.

Clay walked into the house a little hesitantly, but didn't bother knocking on the door.

Once he was inside, Sam sighed and Dean put a supportive hand on his shoulder.

"You wanna stay here a few minutes?" Dean asked sympathetically.

Sam looked behind him, and saw Bobby waiting patiently for them to drive off.

"No," Sam replied flatly, "we gotta go."

Dean nodded and then removed his hand from Sam's shoulder, and then started the car. Something in Dean's gut was telling him that this definitely wasn't the last they've seen of Clay.

And this ISNT the last we'll see of Clay of course, because I'm not that mean. Haha.

Sorry this chapter was so short, the next one will be longer.

Also, I wanted to take this time out to thank everyone who has reviewed this story, well over 120 reviews. That's just mind blowing. Thank you guys so much! :D