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. (:

You touched my heart, you touched my soul
Chapter Twenty-four

"You really believe this?" Sam asked Court as they sat at the kitchen table. Court smiled up at Bobby as he sat cups of coffee in front of them.

"Yeah, Sam. I do."

"What about you Bobby?"

"I dunno, kid. In our line of work, any thing's possible." Bobby took a drink of his coffee before he sat down beside the pair. "Anything is possible," he repeated.

"It's just..."

"You've gotta let her do this, Sam. Can't you tell how hard it is for her to keep living like this? You've watched her get progressively worse." Courtney pointed out as she put a hand on his arm. Sam just looked down at, surprised at how warm and okay it made him feel.

"I guess. It's just losing two people you love and care about in the span of a year and a month or so? It's hard."

"I know, but there's not much you can do about it. Like she said, she's going to die, we just need to accept that."

Sam nodded his head sadly. It hurt Courtney to see him like that, the poor boy had been through enough. He'd lost nearly everyone he loved. Courtney was sure she could help him, she'd make him feel better. It was her job, and oddly enough, she couldn't be more thankful. Being with Sam wasn't going to be that difficult, she liked the boy already; more than she should.

"Hey, Sam. Can I talk to you for a second?" Apple called from her position in the doorway. Sam nodded his head and followed the girl into the living room.

X – X – X – X

"Sam, I'm sorry." Apple apologized as she gripped his large hands in her smaller ones.

"For what?"

"For all of this. I never intended for this to happen. I don't think anyone saw this coming, obviously. But, it's going to save Dean, and I'll find some way to make sure you know that."

"How?"

Apple shrugged her small shoulders. "I'm not sure, but I'll find a way. You'll know we'll be okay. Thank you for trusting me though this all sounds completely insane."

"I just, what am I supposed to do when you're gone, Apple? It's like I keep losing everyone."

"Yeah, but it's not your fault. It's really not. And you know that. Courtney's going to stick around for a while, you know. After I'm... well, you know. Keep an eye on you for me; she promised."

"Really?" Sam seemed to get a bit flustered as she told him this and he couldn't understand this. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and blushed slightly. "That's nice of her."

"Yeah, it is." Apple nodded in agreement. "She'll stick around for as long as you need her to. But you're going to be alright, you know that right? Your brother loved you, that's why he sacrificed so much for you. He loved you and wanted to keep you safe. And you know I love you, you've become like a brother to me and I truly value that. You were amazing after Dean died, we both fell apart but you managed to still, somehow keep it together. You're going to be just fine, Sam."

Sam offered a weak nod before he pulled the brunette girl into a hug. "I'm going to miss you, Apple. Thanks, for everything."

"Anytime, Sam. Anytime."

X – X – X – X

Later that night, Bobby, Sam, and Courtney gathered around Apple's bed. They each placed a light kiss on her forehead. Everyone remained silent, unsure of what to say. Apple never imagined her death would be like this; peaceful. She wasn't even scared anymore, she was ready. She'd always thought her death would involve pain, and blood shed on some random hunt somewhere.

"This isn't going to hurt, Apple. You won't feel a thing, promise."

Apple nodded slightly as she looked up into Courtney's blue eyes, finding warmth and comfort. "Alright, well guess I can rub a girl saving Dean's ass into his face huh? Who would've thought; macho man saved by small brunette. This ought to be fun."

They chuckled slightly as they looked at her. Apple leaned up and grabbed Courtney, bringing her lips to her ear. "Take care of Sam, okay?"

"You know I will, Apple."

"I'll see you guys around... I guess." Apple said with a shrug of her shoulders. She laid back down and looked up at the ceiling, fighting back tears the whole time.

Sam placed one last kiss to Apple's cheek, whispering in her ear for her to take care of Dean once she found him. Apple nodded her head as a tear managed to slide down her cheek. Court put her hand on Apple's cheek and ran it down till it rested over her heart.

"Goodbye, Apple," she said quietly.

Apple felt as if she was slipping out of her body, her eyes closed and one last breath escaped her lips before she felt herself disappear altogether from her body.

X – X – X – X

"So it's... over?" Sam asked as he sat helplessly beside Apple's now still body.

"Yeah, it is. She's off to find Dean now."

Bobby had left Sam and Courtney to talk while he went into town get them more food and different supplies. Courtney placed her hand lightly on Sam's and squeezed.

"She said you were staying, Apple."

"Yeah. For as long as you want me around."

Sam smiled slightly at her, the thought giving him small comfort. "That's nice, you don't have to though. I'm sure your job needs you back."

"Nah. They can wait. And I want to stay, Sam." The corners of her lips lifted into a small smile as Sam squeezed her hand back. The pair looked back back at Apple's body; Courtney noticed Sam frown. "She's going to be okay, you know? Her and Dean are going to be fine. She's going to take him to a good place."

"Where?"

"Well, I'm not too sure of that, Sam. But wherever she takes him will be a good place 'cause they'll be together. And they'll be thinking of you and missing you; just like you'll be thinking of them and missing them. This is better for them both. You didn't want Dean to stay in hell, did you?"

"No."

"This is a better alternative then, see?" She watched as Sam nodded his head, and his hazel eyes locked with her blue ones.

"How do you know all about this?" He asked, his tone taking on a suspicious kind of night.

"I just have faith, Sam."

X – X – X – X

Apple wasn't sure where she was now. All she knew was that it was hot, almost unbearably so. Apple could've kicked herself for not figuring it out sooner, she was in hell. Thank God, no one could see into her brain, they'd be laughing at her stupidity.

It was scary down here, and the weird part was... no one seemed to notice her presence. She passed a group of demons watching over, what seemed to be, a fire pit. Curiosity got the best of her and she quickly wished she hadn't walked over to them. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked down into the pit, a woman lay on the ground writhing in pain as the flesh was burned from her very bones.

"Oh." Apple gasped as she backed away. She needed to find Dean and get them out of here, fast. There was a problem, she had no idea where Dean would be, or how she would get them out. And where would they go after she had gotten him? Apple sighed as she tried to remember some of her dreams.

Some involved a mock jail cell, and she wondered if those were real. She supposed it couldn't hurt to go look; anything was possible.

X – X – X – X

Sam, Bobby, and Courtney stood around Apple's body. They watched sadly as the flames consumed her body. Courtney turned her head and rested it his chest, sobbing quietly. Even though Courtney knew this was going to happen, it still hurt all the same. She'd known Apple for a long time, she'd pretty much been Court's other half. Losing her hurt her just as bad, despite knowing the brunette's future.

"Come on, let's get you back in side." Sam said quietly to Courtney as he led the blond girl into the house. One arm wrapped around her shoulders, as the other scooped her legs from under her. He carried her as if she weighed nothing at all, because well, it felt like just that.

He laid her gently on the bed, and pulled the blanket over the blond's shivering body. "Sam." He heard her say weakly as she peered up at him through red rimmed eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Don't leave me." Sam looked around for a minute, unsure of whether staying with her was the best idea. But his heart ached for her, and for himself. Why shouldn't they have some bit of comfort, it was only fair.

"Alright." With that, Sam laid beside her. He wrapped his arms protectively around the blond and was shocked at how completely... okay it felt. He waited for her breathing to even out before he decided sleeping couldn't hurt.

X – X – X – X

She was lost. Why did hell have to be so big? Apple stopped and leaned against a disgusting looking wall, she quickly pulled away as she felt something poke her back. It was a bony finger, it seemed to be stuck inside the wall. Ugh. She wanted out of hell now.

Apple rested her head in her hands and took a few deep, calming breaths. She felt a tugging at her heart suddenly, and her feet began to walk of their own accord.

She passed multiple demons, they stood as pillars of smoke around her. It was weird to see them out of a human body, she assumed they took some other shape. But she saw she was wrong. Her feet continued past them, past tortured human souls, toward various room and finally she stopped at a set of cells.

A bright light surrounded Apple as she closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on the cells. She could almost hear Dean calling out to her. As she opened her eyes, she was shocked at the sight she found.

Her feet continued on a little way until she stopped completely at a rusty iron door. She placed her hand lightly on the door. Taking a deep breath, she paused as the feeling of Dean washed over. She smiled slightly, knowing she had finally found him.

(gooodbye my lover - james blunt)