Where were you when the world stopped turning
Chapter 2
As Sam boarded the plane, a few short hours later, he couldn't help but think about Dean's harsh words. Could he give up the future he needed for his family? It wasn't fair to ask that of him, he shouldn't have to give anything up. Sam and Dean had both sacrificed more than any kid should have had to growing up. It wasn't right of his father to keep asking Sam to give more than he had, he didn't want to hunt anymore, he just wanted to be normal. There was nothing wrong with that.
Sighing, Sam couldn't help but wonder if his future was worth losing his family over. Sam and Dean had always been close, and Sam couldn't imagine not talking to him ever again. Sam didn't like the way things had ended with Dean, one would think that Dean would have been the most supportive but nope Dean had acted like he had hated Sam as much as their father had. Sam had to get away from the hunting lifestyle, he just wished his family could understand why. The nightmares that Sam had nightly were often of Dean or John getting killed and Sam being unable to do anything about it. Sam couldn't explain how tired he was of seeing the same thing night after night. He had tried explaining to Dean and John but neither had exactly been willing to listen, instead telling him that he would get over it in time, and that nothing would happen to them because they were good at their jobs.
The blowout between the three Winchesters had been coming for a long time, and Sam had known there had been no way he could put it off. He just had to hope that he could stay strong and get through it. His dreams were worth fighting for, even if his family didn't understand that. Sam's stress and frustration had been eating at Sam for so long that Sam couldn't remember the last time he had been truly happy. Which was sad because everyone deserved to be happy, which was something John Winchester didn't seem to understand or even care about.
Sam sighed again and looked out the plane window, he wished he would see the black impala come screeching around the corner to stop Sam from making this decision but he knew that wouldn't happen. His original flight had been September 11th at eight in the morning, but luckily for him he had been able to get the flight moved to September 9th .
"If you walk out that door, you are dead to me." Dean's harsh words continue ringing in Sam's memory causing tears to well up in Sam's eyes. Dean and Sam had always been close, the best of friends. Now Sam feared he would never speak to his older brother again. Sam swallowed hard and tried to force his thoughts in another direction. Nothing good could come from thinking about his brother. Sam should have been looking forward to going to school and being free from hunting.
"I'm sorry Dean, but I had to get out." Sam whispers knowing that no one would hear him anyway. Closing his eyes, Sam leans his head back against the headrest and prays for peace to come for the decision he was making. He was in for a long flight, he would have plenty of time to decided whether or not he was making the right choice.
The next few days after Sam had left, Dean spent being drunker than he had ever been. He missed his little brother more than he had thought possible, but slowly the pain was turning to anger so hot that it felt like hatred. Dean had never thought that he could hate Sam but he was starting to realize that he could very well hate his own little brother.
After Sam had left, Dean had dug Sam's flight info out of the trash can, he wasn't sure why but he felt like it was important. Just because Sam could turn his back on his family, it didn't mean that Dean would turn his back on Sam. Despite the fact that Dean had told Sam that if he walked out the door then he would be dead to Dean.
"What are we going to do?" Dean asks as he sat down at the table beside the hotel window. John continued reading the newspaper a moment before replying to Dean.
"Forget about him." John answered gruffly "He's proved that his family doesn't mean anything to him. Like you told him he is dead to us." Dean found it hard to believe that John could completely disown his own son, it wasn't like John couldn't feel Sam's absence. Dean felt it deeply even if he was angry with Sam.
"And what if the demon was right and Sam goes dark side?" Dean asks knowing full well that he would not like John's answer.
"If that happens" John replies coldly "We hunt him down and kill him." Dean knew it wouldn't be that easy. Sam was still blood, still a Winchester even if they didn't claim him.
You better hope you can stay ahead of dad if you want to stay alive Sammy Dean thought darkly. Little did they know that in few days something would happen that would make both John and Dean deeply regret the last words that they had spoken to Sam. Something that would change the history of America.
Six hours later, Sam's plane landed in New York. He still couldn't get the look in Dean's eyes out of his head. It looked for a moment as if Dean had hated him for wanting a better life. That look had hurt Sam just as much as the words that Dean uttered just a few seconds later. Why couldn't anyone understand that Sam had to get away from the life that was killing him. Sam couldn't handle the hunting anymore, it was starting to get even more dangerous as of late. Sam thought that he deserved to choose the kind of life he wanted, John didn't seem to agree, he thought that Sam would be a good little soldier and follow him until the day he died. It wasn't fair of John to ask Sam to be miserable for the rest of his life.
Sam shook his head to clear his thoughts. John and Dean would have to learn to hunt without him. He was sure the next few months wouldn't be easy for any of them, especially Sam since he had always been around his family.
Sam blinked back tears again, he was already missing Dean and had already forgiven him for saying the words that Sam knew would continue to hurt him for a long time. The ache in Sam's chest hurt so much it almost felt physical. Sam knew though that his choice had been made and he couldn't go back and undo it.
Grabbing his bag from the overhead compartment, Sam made his way off of the plane. Looking around him, he closed his eyes for a moment taking in all the noise of other planes and passengers swirling around him. Living in the city would take some getting used to but he would do it, he would prove to his family that he could be successful outside of the family business. Opening his eyes, Sam decided the first thing he needed to do was find a hotel, and then maybe tomorrow he could see what could be done about the scholarship situation. That wouldn't be so bad to deal with if the college didn't require the letter that stated his scholarship information, the letter that John had burned in front of him. Sam wondered for a moment if his college dreams really had gone up in smoke.
Finding a hotel turned out to be easy, after it was paid for and Sam had made his way into the room. He walked over to the window, looking out at his surroundings. The World Trade Center was literally right there in front of him, Sam couldn't help but be in awe of the building as tall as it was. People were walking the streets, talking on their cell phones or listening to music, generally just ignoring the sights and sounds around them. Sam wondered briefly if any of them believed in the supernatural. He almost laughed out loud, he couldn't even get away from thinking about hunting. Turning from the window, Sam walked over to his bed and flopped down. He was tired after flying all day, but he still had so much to do. He needed to find another job, see what could be done about his scholarship, if anything. Closing his eyes, Sam decided those things could wait until tomorrow. He needed his rest.
The next few days passed in a blur, Sam had found out that there was no sign of a Sam Winchester having ever even receiving a scholarship, which frustrated Sam to no end because of his father having burned the letter he couldn't prove it.
"If you would look in your computer you should find my name in there somewhere. I applied for and received a full scholarship to NYU." Sam tried explaining.
"Sure," the lady scoffs "you and about a million other people have won scholarships. We have absolutely no record of Sam Winchester in the system, nor of any Sam Winchester even applying to this school. Now if you don't leave the premises immediately, I will have security remove you from the premises." Sam wondered if Dean and their father had something to with him not being in the system. Sam wouldn't put it past either of them to have hacked into the system to erase any evidence of Sam being there.
As Sam turned and exited the building, his put his hand in his pocket and fingered his phone. He wanted to know if his family had blacklisted him from the university, anger fills him at the thought and he tightens his grip on his phone.
Sam made his way back to his hotel wondering how long it would take to reapply. He didn't think he would be able to attend this semester, but maybe by next semester he would have a plan. Dean and John may have thought they had stopped Sam but Sam was determined he was going to get the life he deserved. Even if he had to work from the bottom to do it. Sam had just walked past the World Trade Center when he saw a sign saying: Now hiring security guards. Sam turned and walked in, knowing his hunting experience would help him get the job.
Thirty minutes later Sam was back at his hotel, and he had a job he would be starting early the next morning. Sam couldn't help but feel a little proud of himself because despite what his family had tried to do, he still felt like he had come out ahead. He hated the way things had ended with his family, but Sam had rights, he was a legal adult he didn't have to die young, like most hunters did. What Sam didn't know was that the first day of work for him had a very high possibility of being his last day of work, ever.
The morning of September 11th found Dean and John just returning to the hotel after a long, exhausting werewolf hunt, neither knowing the events that would take place in just a few short hours.
"Are you sure you have no injuries?" John asks Dean, knowing that Dean had gotten tossed around a bit.
"I can assure you I am fine." Dean replies, distractedly his mind on his little brother. He wondered when Sam would discover that John had completely erased Sam's presence at NYU. After John had destroyed Sam's records and any chance he had at attending NYU, Dean had felt bad. Knowing that his little brother deserved the life he was trying to live. Yes, Dean was still angry that Sam had walked out, and yes Dean had told Sam that he was dead to them. He still felt like Sam had abandoned them, Dean couldn't help but wonder where Sam's plane was now, not knowing that Sam had caught an earlier flight.
John disappeared into the shower a few minutes later, leaving Dean to shuffle through the channels on TV. No matter what channel Dean turned to however, it was showing the same thing that a plane had smashed into the trade center. Dean stopped and watched, wondering what had happened to make the plane crash into the building. It wasn't until the flight number started floating across the screen, that Dean felt a wave of fear hit him. It was American Airlines Flight 11, Dean was certain that was the plane that Sam had left on. Dean couldn't tear his gaze away from the screen bringing the news about no possible survivors on board, not at the height that the plane had hit the building.
"Dad" Dean yelled, finding his voice after several minutes of silence.
"What is it?" John called out, rushing out of the bathroom in only a towel. Dean pointed at the screen, John frowned, watching for a few moments. He was sorry about the lives lost but he didn't know what Dean wanted him to do about it.
"It was Sam's plane that crashed into the building."
Thank you for reading and Reviewing! Hope you enjoy! Liz
PS. Don't hate me too much for leaving it here.