A/N! So, here is the final chapter! I've enjoyed writing this story so much! Thank you so very much for everything!

I wish that you'll enjoy!! A/N!


Chapter 13: "The light in our Soul..." (Epilogue: Part 2)

THEN...

"Come on, you have to lead me to him, come on, come on..." Dean chanted as he gasped for breath. On and on he went, until he finally saw a shadow on the ground. Raising his eyes, Dean let out a breathy sigh, unclenching his fingers, so as to cast a glimpse at the necklace. He smiled, letting his eyes find the source of the shadow. And they did find it at once, for Bobby's house was standing a few feet away. Dean let his lips form a smile for the first time ever since Lucifer had entered the bunker. He wore the necklace once more, took in a deep breath, and headed towards the house... "I'm here Sammy, I'm here baby boy..." He chanted as he pushed the door open...


NOW...

What his green eyes were met with, however, was a heartbreaking sight. The house was deserted, cold and dark. The walls were eaten away as if they were standing next to a seashore. It was nothing like Dean remembered it, and that could only mean one thing. Lucifer had torn this memory to shreds as well... There were old pieces of furniture scattered all over the living room and the only indication that someone used to live there, were the embers which were still lying in the fireplace.


A small, hesitant red glow was emerging from the fireplace, allowing Dean to dart his green eyes around the room. "Sam?" A low, muttered whisper left Dean's lips and the hunter tensed when he heard the floorboards creaking. "Sammy? You're in here?" The sound of his voice echoed peculiar in Dean's ears, partly due to the fact that the house had a dark vibe. The creaking sound was heard again, this time louder than before, and Dean took a few steps to his left and a couple steps forwards. His eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on a hunched figure which was lingering on the dusty floor, in the far corner of the room.


"Sammy?" Dean tried again, approaching the figure cautionaly. When he was finally close enough that his eyes could indeed make out who the figure truly was, Dean froze in place. The figure who was crunched on the floor was indeed Sam, or at least, his body. He had furled his long legs, so that his knees were touching his chin. He had buried his face in his legs and had covered it with his arms, which he had rested atop of his knees. But that wasn't the reason why Dean had stopped dead-in-his-tracks. No. The reason was the fact that Sam's wrists, as well as his ankles, were shackled in heavy, iron cuffs.


A short, yet thick chain made sure that Sam couldn't pull his hands away from one another, not more than five inches. An identical thick chain was connecting the two shackles which were around Sam's ankles. Dean took one more step closer to Sam, but the young man's body trembled and the clinking sound of the heavy chains filled the air.


"Sam... It's me, it's Dean..." The older man offered, voice wavering. He received no response. "I'm... Sammy, I'm your brother..." Dean managed to utter, trying to keep his voice even so as to not scare Sam even more. At the sound of those words, Sam's fingers fumbled the chain before clenching around the cold links. His head remained hidden from Dean, but the older man decided that this small movement was better than deathly stillness. "I know you're scared... Sammy, I know it, and it's fine..." Dean stumbled on his own words as Sam drew his legs even closer to his chest. One would think it was impossible for a man as tall as Sam to look so small, so hurt, so scared... So venerable.


"I'm here to help you, Sammy, I'm here to get you out, baby boy..." Dean muttered in a low, husked voice as he sat on his heels next to Sam. The younger man felt the heat of Dean's body and shivered, but the green eyed man decided it was better to keep his hands away from his brother at the moment. "Sammy, can you understand me?" Dean questioned, keeping his voice low. Again, he received no answer, and the only thing Sam seemed able to do, was to rock himself back and forth, ever so slowly. Dean swallowed, blinking the tears away. "Sammy... Why did you come here?" Dean asked, and after a few moments, he thought he heard a word coming out of Sam's lips.


"What? Can you say that again, Sammy?" "Hide..." Was all the young man muttered, voice muffled by his jeans. "You don't have to hide anymore, baby boy, you're safe now Sam-" "He will burn it all down." Sam uttered, voice small, scared. "No, no, he's gone Sammy, Lucifer's gone-" But Dean's pleading voice was cut off by a sharp inhale, as Sam shuddered, body shaking to its core, shaking to the point where Dean thought it would break to pieces. "Sammy, hey, hey, he's gone, he's gone, you're safe, you're safe now and I'm here, I'm right here..." Dean promised, extending his hand, but stopping before he could touch Sam. "No one's here..." The young man uttered brokenly. "I'm always alone..." Sam's voice faded into nothing.


"Sammy, I'm right here, just..." Dean trailed off, taking in a deep breath. "Just raise your head and you'll see, I'm right by your side." The man offered, trying to even out his voice. "No one... They all died... They all burned..." "No, no, I'm right here..." Dean said again, and this time he extended both of his hands, taking a hold of Sam's hunched shoulders. He wasn't sure who jerked first, but the sure thing was that they both did, almost simultaneously. Dean, because Sam's skin was ice cold, and Sam because of the fear which bloomed in his heart. Sam threw his head backwards, his messy hair covering his eyes. "Hey, hey, hey, shh..." Dean cooed, taking his hands away from Sam's shoulders, showing his palms to Sam in a gesture of pure surrender.


"Sammy, I'm not going to hurt you..." "There's nothing... Nothing but dust and the shadows..." The muttered words made Dean flinch. Sam grabbed the chance, drawing his body further away from Dean, lowering his head again. "Shadows? What shadows, baby boy?" Dean questioned, fighting against his heart's desire to just enfold Sam in his embrace. A shaky, shackled hand was raised, pointing at the center of the living room. Dean turned around slowly, face frowning when all his eyes were met with, was empty space. "Sammy, there's nothing there..." At the sound of his words, Sam's shoulders slumped. But that was wrong... Lucifer didn't see that memory, it should have stayed intact- Dean's eyes opened wide then, as his mind recalled the fact that he had seen this memory starting to change, as fiery tongues had slid out of the fireplace, wrapping themselves around young-Sam's feet...


And as Dean turned his head towards where Sam had pointed out once more, he realized that that was where he and Sam had been standing the night they had stayed at Bobby's, the night they had made love for the first time, under the light of the glowing embers which were sizzling in the fireplace... So, all Sam could see, were cold, dark shadows of what once used to be the fondest and warmest memory he had..."There's no one..." Sam uttered again. Dean shivered, swallowing down a sob which was threatening to come out. No, he couldn't break down, not now, he would only scare Sam even more. Gathering up his courage, Dean spoke, voice low.


"Sammy, there's me, baby boy, I'm here..." He pointed out once again, and this time, Sam raised his head. "I'm going to push your ridiculously long hair out of the way, alright? I'm not going to hurt you, I swear..." Dean promised, willing his touch to be feather-light. "Oh, God..." Dean muttered in shock when dull, hazed eyes which held none of the vividness they once had, stared back at him. Their color was not the sweet hazel Dean had come to adore, but a dull tone of gray, which was reflecting the emptiness inside. At the sight of vacant, empty eyes, Dean knew he couldn't hold back any longer. He let out a long shaky breath, allowing his tears to fall, whilst lowering his head in shame. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, so sorry, I'm so sorry..." He chanted brokenly, shoulders shaking violently.


"It's my fault, I let him in... I did this to you... Sammy, I'm sorry..." Through his silent sobs and broken apologies, Dean thought he heard the rattle of chains moving, so he raised his head to look at Sam. The young man swallowed soundly, eyeing Dean as if he was but a mirage. "Why are you here?" He muttered and Dean took in a deep breath, in an attempted to regain his composure. "Because I'm going to try and get you out of these chains, and then I'll get you out of here, alright?" "Who..." Sam's voice trailed off, as if he was afraid to speak what was on his mind. "Who are you?" He finally uttered, once he saw that Dean made no move towards him. "I'm Dean... I'm your older brother, remember?" Dean pointed out, forcing his lips to form a small smile. Sam's eyes however, were fixed on the amulet around Dean's neck.


"You like this?" The green-eyed man asked, face lighting up. Sam just nodded his head. "You had given it to me, along time ago..." He continued, getting the amulet off from around his neck. Sam pulled himself back, fear painted all over his face. "Sammy, hey, no, no, I'm not going to hurt you, Sam-" But it was futile. Sam hid his face yet again, hugging his knees with his hands. To say that Dean actually felt the telltale second during which his heart broke to pieces wouldn't be a false claim. Withdrawing his hands, Dean spoke, unable to mask the pain in his voice. "I... There's nothing I can say, or do, that will take what happen away... And for that I'm... I'm so sorry." Dean apologized yet again, but gasped as the amulet started glowing once more.


Then realization hit Dean and his eyes opened wide. There was a way he could get Sam out of there, there was a way he could restore his soul and therefore, his wounded body. "You used to say that my soul is still pure and that it was worthy of saving, even though I believed the opposite." Dean said, voice broken. "You used to believe that we always seemed to find one another, even in the darkest of places." Dean paused then, as he saw Sam flinching. "And that's true, Sammy... So, please, let me show you, let me show you why you fled here, why you chose to hide here out of all memories... Trust me, please, Sammy..." Dean pleaded, a ghostly smile appearing on his face when Sam raised his head and looked at him.


"Show me... what?" Sam uttered, voice wavering. Dean licked his lips, extending his hands towards Sam, holding the glowing amulet in his right palm. "Let me show you what happened here, let me give you my memories, the only part of my soul which has remained unstained, please..." Sam's breath hitched and Dean waited long, torturous moments, until finally, Sam let his cold hands find Dean's. "Close your eyes..." Dean instructed, nestling closer to his brother. "Sammy, close your eyes..." Dean pleaded, allowing the memory of their first time together to emerge and flood his mind. Sam obeyed eventually and so Dean held his brother's hands, praying silently that this one memory, that this one part of his soul, was still unspoiled. He wished to give it to Sam, to shed light in that deserted house, to cast the shadows away...


And to his surprise, that's what happened. A feeling akin to adoration rose in Dean's chest then. Even when Sam didn't know who Dean was, he trusted him. Through their entwined hands, Dean saw strands of white light emerging and then they started expanding, filling the room. Sam gasped, holding on to Dean's hands for dear life. Green eyes fell closed as Dean lost himself in that memory and the room began to shake. The walls, the broken windows, the misplaced furniture, they all returned back to normal, piece by piece. The fire in the fireplace bellowed and the embers leaped. The lights were back on, illuminating the room with a soft, yellow glow and the pitter-patter of the rain, as it softly tapped at the windows, filled the air. And in the middle of the room, two figures were standing inches apart from one another, exhaling breaths hot and shaky.


"Open your eyes, Sammy..." Dean encouraged and the younger man did as he was told, gasping at the sight of the, now restored room. His eyes shone with a strange glow and Dean saw that they were fixed where the two figures were standing. "What do you see Sam?" Dean questioned, his hold on Sam's hands remaining firm. "I... There are no shadows..." He added awed and Dean squeezed his hands. "I see... I see... Us..." Sam muttered in bewilderment, eyeing his younger self. "Are you sure about this, baby boy?" Young-Dean asked and when young-Sam nodded his head, began a secret ceremony. The rustling of clothes as they were thrown away was heard and the two bodies lay on the carpet next to the fireplace.


"Are you scared?" Young-Dean questioned, seeing that Sam was shaking underneath him. "I... Stop teasing Dean." Came the answer from young-Sam, who had averted his gaze, accompanied by a heavy blush. "Sammy, hey... I'm right here." Young-Dean assured, raising his brother's chin, meeting his eyes. Old-Sam let out a small sigh. And then, he closed his eyes, as past and present blend together, becoming one. He could feel the soft caresses on his body, the hot breaths, the light kisses... The two young lovers lost themselves in one another, as their bodies surrendered to ecstasy and pleasure. And Sam could feel everything, he could feel his blood running in his veins, only now it was hot, so very hot. He could feel his skin tingling, so he grabbed Dean's hands even tighter, leaning against his brother's board chest, allowing him to finally enfold him in his embrace.


Soon, soft moans and breathy sighs filled the air as the young lovers reached the end of their journey, cumming almost at the same time. A blinding light filled the room then, a warm, gentle glow, unlike anything Dean had ever seen. Well, almost anything. He had seen such a purifying light once again, when Death had held Sam's soul in his hands. And he knew that this was the very same light... The two younger versions of Sam and Dean collapsed on the carpet, finding solace in each other's arms, when the aftershocks had finally come to an end.


"Dean..." Old-Sam uttered, body shaking. "Yes, it's me Sammy, I'm right here..." The older man replied, voice cracking. This time, when Sam raised his eyes to meet Dean's the older man gasped, for he was finally met with the hazel orbs he loved so much. "You found me..." "Of course I did..." Dean replied, voice warm. He drew Sam closer again, holding him protectively against his chest. Looking outside the window, Dean's heart fluttered in his chest, for a soft morning light was creeping in. And this meant that Sam's memories were finally restored.


After what could have been hours, but was only mere minutes, Dean released Sam, and got up on his feet. "We have to get out of here, Sammy." Dean explained, offering his hands to Sam, who hesitated. "Get out?" Sam questioned, as he struggled to get back on his feet. The chains around his wrists and ankles rattled and Dean extended his hands, ready to catch his brother. "Sammy... We'll get these off, I swear-" "You can't set me free Dean." Sam replied sadly, looking more like his usual self. "We will break the chains, you'll see-" "Dean, these chains..." Sam said looking at his shackled hands. "These chains will always imprison me, in a world where you don't exist. In a world where Lucifer rays supreme. In a world in the depths of my mind. They are the manifestation of my memories..." Sam pointed out, dragging his naked feet towards the door.


The chains rattled loudly, slowing Sam's steps down, causing him to stumble. Dean stood frozen on the spot, tears running down his face. "I'm sorry..." He uttered again, knowing however that it would do nothing to help Sam. "Dean... I would do it again, in a heartbeat. For you, I would do it again." The younger man replied, voice filled with honesty. "Why, why Sam, I'm not worth it. I am past saving-" "Are you?" Sam questioned, slowly making his way towards Dean. "I let Lucifer inside the bunker, I betrayed your trust, I-" "I have always trusted you, Dean. And you're not past saving. Your soul, was what saved me." Sam replied calmly, cupping Dean's tear-marked face, brushing the tears away with his thumbs. His hazel eyes however, were lingering on the space behind Dean, where their younger selves were lying. Dean turned around, a small smile forming on his face at the sight he beheld.


"Let's go..." Dean said after a short pause. He took a hold of Sam's hands, helping him carry the weight of the heavy shackles as they moved towards the door. The green-eyed man pushed it open, taking a step outside. Extending his hand towards Sam, who was still standing at the doorstep. "Are you scared?" He questioned, using the same tone he had used all those years ago. This time, Sam didn't avoid neither his brother's eyes, nor the question he had posed. "Yes, Dean..." Sam replied, for he was scared. He took a hold of his brother's hand, stepping outside of his last safe haven nonetheless. "I'm right here Sammy." Was all Dean said, knowing that it would be enough.


And enough it was, for Sam followed Dean out of the house, casting one last glance over his shoulder, at the two lovers, at his younger self. A part of him wished to stay in that memory, where things were simpler, where Sam didn't have to carry the weight of the world alone. But he knew he couldn't stay there, not when the world was on the brink of extinction. Not when his Dean was waiting for him. "Stay hidden... Stay safe..." Sam muttered, albeit he knew the boys wouldn't listen. As soon as those words left his mouth, Sam closed his hazel eyes, following Dean to wherever he would lead him...


When Sam opened his eyes again, he gasped as he felt his muscles tensing underneath his skin. He shut his eyes against the intense pain, but leaned into the familiar touch of rough fingers on his forehead. "Dean..." The young man uttered, licking his dry lips. "Sam? Sammy, are you with me?" Sam tried and after many failed attempts, managed to open his eyes. Next to him, sat Dean, who was hunched over his brother. "Is he-" Sam's question was cut short however, when Dean shushed him, placing his fingers on his lips. "He's gone Sam... He's gone, you're safe." He explained, brushing away a few brown strands of hair from Sam's forehead. "Is mom-" "She's in the war room, with Crowley." Dean said, pushing Sam back on the pillows when the younger man tried to prop himself up. "Shh, no Sam, lie down, please..." Dean almost pleaded.


"What happened?" Sam asked, looking at his body, eyes widening when he saw no external wounds. His hands, his back, his broken bones, everything was healed. Sam shot his head, fixing his eyes on Dean, posing a myriad of questions without opening his mouth. "Crowley helped us, Sam. He got you here, in my room and he told me that I could save you, heal both your body as well as your soul by-" "By taking the huge risk of getting inside my head..." Sam finished the sentence, sadness filling his voice. His eyes were now lingering on the empty glass with the African dream root. "Sammy, I would-" "After everything you've seen... After everything he did to me, how can you even be around me?" Sam uttered, and Dean let out a shaky sigh.


"Sammy..." He chanted the name, cupping Sam's face in his hands, kneeling beside the bed. "You let me stay in the room because deep down you knew that I will never leave you alone." Sam nodded slightly, but spoke again. "Yes, but after everything he did-" "I am going to say this now and you had better put it in that head of yours. I..." Dean swallowed, letting his gaze find Sam's. "I will always be here, Sam. I will always love you, as my brother, as my best and closest friend, as my lover. Nothing will ever make me change my mind, do you understand?" Such tenderness and love did these words hold, that Sam felt his eyes watering. Dean's hands fell from Sam's face and found his wrists. His thumbs started rubbing small circles. "We will carry them together, yeah?" Dean assured and Sam knew he was referring to the weight of Sam's memories of Lucifer, which in his mind, had taken the form of heavy, iron shackles.


"Yeah..." Sam agreed, albeit hesitantly. "We should look for Cas and Kelly-" "Mom and Crowley are on it. They will let us know if they find something." Dean assured, his face only inches away from Sam's. "Sammy, I'm so-" "I love you." Sam cut Dean off, not wanting to hear another apology. "I know Sammy, I know..." Dean replied, voice filled with love and care. Leaning forwards carefully, Dean approached Sam's lips, but paused, waiting for his brother to make the move. "Dean, I... I need you to show me... Like you did that night at Bobby's." Was all Sam said, averting his gaze from the one of his brother as soon as the last word escaped his lips. "I'm sorry, Dean, it's just that I can't-" "Are you scared?Are you afraid of me?" Dean questioned, raising Sam's chin up. "No." The answer left no room for an argument. "Then that's all that matters. The rest, we'll work them out." Dean answered, cradling Sam's face in his hands, propping him to lie down.


"Can you... Um..." "I'm right here Sammy... And here I will always be." Dean promised, lying down next to his brother, who eventually drifted off to sleep, losing himself in a warm dream, which Lucifer couldn't touch. And in that dream, he was no longer in chains, he was free and happy. He was in Bobby's house, sitting next to the fireplace, leaning against Dean's broad chest. He was whole. He was loved and cared for. "I love you Sammy..." Dean muttered, letting his eyes flutter closed, only to follow Sam down the path of sleep. Needless to say, he found himself in Bobby's house as well...


End of chapter 13...

THE END...

A/N! So, here it ends!

I would love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you so much for all your support, it really means a lot to me!

I hope the story was worth your time!
Once again, I wish you happy new year!
Love you all,
Usagi!