Author's Note - This follows the last six episodes of season three(minus Ghostfacers), I just added my own character into the mix and a few more things. I don't own any of the characters or the episodes, just Apple and the plot following the NRFTW. Let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Review please. (:

Author's Note #2 - So, this series is coming to a close. As much as I hate to say that. There will probably only be three more chapters (including an epilogue) if I've planned that out correctly. Anyway, so thanks to everyone's that reviewed and read the story. I really appreciate it. (:

'Cause you hold my secrets tight
Chapter Twenty-three

Apple stood to the side as she watched the scene play out before her. She remembered the exact time this had happened, every feeling she felt, every color, every movement, every noise; she remembered it all exactly.

"Apple, remember what I told you? No matter what, I'm going to protect you and Sam. If anything goes wrong for me, you look after Sammy. I'll always be watching over you two." Dean said as he kissed her forehead lightly. Blue eyes stared deeply into green, so many things were said between them in an instant, and that moment would forever haunt Apple.

Apple watched as she leaned up and pressed her lips to his, kissing him with everything they'd never said, she had wanted him to be able to feel her forever. God, she could still feel him, every inch of her felt him; she ached for him desperately.

X – X – X – X

"Apple, hey. Brought you some coffee."

Apple looked around and settled her eyes on her blond haired friend. "Thanks, Court. I really can't tell you how much I appreciate you coming back for me."

"Honey, it's my job. Always and forever, right? Best friends till the end and all that." She heard Apple give a half hearted chuckled, then sighed. "What's the matter Appley?"

"Just... thinking."

"'Bout what?"

"That story, my grandma never told it to us." Apple said suddenly after a moment of silence.

"Yeah, she did. You don't remember?"

"I remember a lot of the things my grandma said, and she never told us any story like that."

Courtney ran her fingers through her blond tresses, biting her lip in thought. "So you think I made all that up?"

"I'm not stupid, Court. You know what's happening to me, don't you?"

"Damn it." Court said, sighing softly. "You're making my job harder than it should be, Apple."

"What job?"

"That story wasn't just a story, it's life. It's reality. It's you and Dean."

"The hell?"

"Apple, you remember that moment by the door in New Harmony? With you and Dean?"

"Yeah, how did you know about that?"

"I have my ways. Listen, when you kissed him, you two connected in a way very few can. You gave a piece of your soul to him, and he to you."

"So, you're telling me... you knew about this the whole time?"

"Well... yeah, I did. I'm going to be completely honest with you, like I always am, okay? Your life is coming to an end Apple. Dean's been gone for a year, and now you're going to have to set things straight. Because pretty soon, you're going to be leaving."

"Court... you're crazy."

"I'm not, Apple. And you know deep down, this was coming. You could feel it, you know you could."

"I can't just... leave, Courtney! What about Sam, I promised I'd watch after him! I made a promise to Dean." Apple argued.

"He's in good hands, Appley. I'll be taking care of him, he's my next job. Now, we need to get you settled. You've got one more thing to do, one more person to save."

"Who? Who is there left to save?"

"Dean."

X – X – X – X

"You're serious?" Sam asked as he looked at Apple in shock.

"Sam, how many times have I ever lied to you?"

Sam sighed as he looked down at the rug below his feet. Apple hadn't lied to them, but this was almost too unbelievable. Even for them it was crazy, he was half tempted to lock Apple in an insane asylum. She couldn't honestly be insisting she was dying. There was no way. Sure she didn't look all that well, but dying?

"Look, Sam, I know this sounds completely absurd. But I know this is right, I know it is. It's the only explanation as to why I'm so tired, so weak." Apple argued, trying to make him see her point.

She hadn't bothered to tell Sam this had all come from Courtney, the blond girl who sat beside him; hand resting comfortingly on his shoulder. No, she had told them it had come to her in a dream; she always trusted her dreams and feelings. Though, the feelings more than the dreams. They didn't exactly need to know that part.

"Apple, how can you be sure?" Bobby asked.

"I can't. But I have a feeling this is right, my feelings are never wrong."

"You can't do this, Apple."

"Sam! I'm dying! Okay? I'm dying, this is going to happen whether you accept it or not."

Sam looked at her, anger burning in his eyes. She'd never seen that look before and it scared her beyond words. "Apple. You are not going to die. There's a way out of this. Damn it! I lost Dean, and I won't lose you too. It's not going to happen."

"I'm sorry, Sam." Apple said as she turned from them, a tear running down her cheek. "It's gonna save him, Sam. It's going to save Dean."

"You don't know that!" Sam yelled as he stood to his feet and stalked after the brunette, turning her around quickly. "You don't know that!" He repeated. "Dean told me to watch after you. You dying is not an option okay?"

"Sam, my dying isn't exactly my choice. I can't help it." Her voice was calm now, her breathing steady, and the look in her eyes was nothing but complete and totally honesty. "Sam, I know what Dean told you. I was there. But this, this is bigger than you and me. Bigger than all of us. I need you to accept this, and let me go."

"Sam," Courtney said as she appeared at the side. "Apple's right. We all have to accept this. Think of it like this, you wanted a way to save Dean, right? Here's your chance, Dean will be safe and out of hell."

"But how do you know?"

"We don't, Sam. But we have faith that it'll be okay."

"How can you have faith?" Sam asked, not believing a word they said.

"Because everyone needs something to believe in right? Even us, in this crazy world we live in; we need hope and faith."

Sam sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. This was insane. With one last sigh, he nodded his head. "If you truly think this is what's going to happen, then fine. Just let me know what I need to do."

X – X – X – X

"So how did you know?" Apple asked Court that night as the two sat on opposite sides of the bed.

"I'm just awesome like that."

"Court, come on. I think I deserve to know. Sam just happens to find your number in my phone, you just happen to show up here in record time, and you just happen to know what's going on with me? That's not coincidence. And 'your job'?" Apple used her fingers to make quotation marks around the words 'your job'. Lowering her hands, she waited for Court to explain.

Court sighed as she looked up. "Just think of me as your guardian angel. Minus the wings and halos and all that crap. I was sent to watch over you, get you through this, and then move on to the next thing."

"Next thing being?"

"Sam."

"You were sent to watch over Sam?"

"Well, yeah. You didn't think that poor boy would get left with absolutely no one did you? Please. He's too adorable to be left all alone."

Apple had to chuckle at this. After she'd found out about... well, herself; she'd been extremely worried about leaving Sam behind. Dean had entrusted Sam's care to her, she wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything happened to him.

"So, you're really angel?"

"Yep. Flesh and blood, kinda... anyway. I mean, come on. It can't be that hard to believe. There's evil and demons and stuff, so why can't there be good and angels too?"

"Dunno, guess we just never hear much about them."

"Yeah, well. They're always around, whether you hear from or about them or not. They're there. Always watching over their charges." Courtney said as she looked around the bare room.

"What exactly am I supposed to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when I save Dean... I guess." Apple bit her lip in thought.

"Can I be honest with you?"

"When are you not?"

"Right. I've got no idea Appley. All I know is that I'm supposed to set your soul free, then after that... it's all up to you."

Apple sighed as she laid down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. She wondered what she was going to be doing and where she would be heading. Well, hell of course; but would she stay there with Dean? She supposed it wouldn't do much good to worry about it.

"You scared?" Court suddenly asked from her side.

"A little. But I guess it's more because I have no idea what's going to happen. I guess that's always a scary thing, the unknown, I mean."

Court nodded her head in agreement. "You're going to be okay though, you and Dean both. You'll be alright." Apple's eyes closed as she tried to stifle a yawn. "Get some sleep, Apple. Tomorrow's going to be a big day for you, sweetheart."

X – X – X – X

"I can feel you, you know. You suck at hiding." Dean's voice said from the bed. Apple sighed as she moved away from the corner toward him. She sat down beside him and looked him over. He seemed paler to her, and felt a little bit colder.

"Yeah, well, never said it was my forte now did I?" She said as she ran her fingers gently over his arm. She nearly laughed at the shiver that ran through him. "You alright?"

"Eh. Doing the best I can, I'm in hell, remember?"

"Well hey, at least you're in a bed. You could be in a fire pit somewhere, that pasty, pale flesh of yours sizzling off of your bones," she pointed out.

"Nice image."

"Thanks, I practiced that."

"You're kidding?" He asked in mock disbelief.

Apple stuck her tongue out childishly at him before he pulled her down onto him. "Oh Dean, I love when you take control!" She teased as she let out a horribly girlish giggle.

"Oh, you do, do you?" He rolled them over, he held himself up over her. "How's that?"

"Oh, much, much better." Apple lightly captured his head between her hands, his stubble tickling her palms. She stared deeply into his now dark green eyes.

"Sex in hell? This is my type of place."

"In your dreams, babe."

"Well, this is my dream, isn't it?"

"Such a pig." Apple said before placing a quick kiss on his lips.

"Point. But, if I remember correctly, I'm your pig." Apple chuckled as Dean landed on top of her.

"Dean!" She cried as the breath was knocked out of her. "The hell?"

"Sorry." He laughed as he pulled her into his arms, her head resting on his chest. "I don't wanna wake up."

"I know, Dean. I don't either."

"Will you sing to me?"

"Are you serious?"

"It calms me down alright?"

Apple laughed as she nodded her head. "Alright, alright." She paused for a moment as she tried to think of the last song she'd heard. "So close, so far, so long the world spin me away." Apple sighed as she felt Dean's fingers run through her hair. She looked up at him before continuing. "I drive all night just to see your face; the way you touch, the way you taste. Even if only for a day, I'll come back to you someday."

Dean shot up, his head hitting the top bunk of the bed. "Son of a bitch." He muttered before he quickly shut up. He listened intently, and could've sworn he heard Apple's voice as it sang on. "It's always the same, constant change; but I'll come back to you someday." That couldn't be right, he was awake now. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes before he laid back down and drifted off to sleep once more.

(la la – ashlee simpson; someday – bryan greenberg)