A/N: So, here's another chapter. I know it might not seem like it, but I really do enjoy receiving reviews. So, please, read and review. :)
Call all your friends. Tell them I'm never coming back.
'Cause this is the end. Pretend that you want it; don't react.
The damage is done. The police are coming too slow; now.
I would have died. I would have loved you all my life.
You're losing your memory now. You're losing your memory now.
You're losing your memory now. You're losing your memory now.
Losing Your Memory – Ryan Star
Dean stood in front of the console table, leaning against it. "Doppelgänger?" He said, flummoxed. "Yeah," Elena said resignedly, still numb and shaken from her encounter with Katherine.
She curled up on the couch, shaking her head as Sam patted her foot comfortingly. "Well," Dean said, still dazed. He shrugged as he picked up a crystalline decanter, admiring the amber fluid that sloshed about inside of it.
Dean pulled the stopper out and brought the carafe to his nose, sniffing it gingerly. He winced; recoiling, he said with a cough, "Whew. Strong stuff." He poured himself a glass, still blinking rapidly.
"I'll take one of those," Elena said faintly. Dean cast her an astonished glance before pouring a second glass. He strode around to the couch. Dean passed her the second glass. Elena took a delicate sip of bourbon.
"Please, make yourself at home. And while you're at it, help yourself to my private stock." A cool voice said from the doorway. Dean's eyes narrowed as he stiffened. Elena stood, grabbing Dean's hand.
"Dean, let's just go." She pleaded. "But, you didn't get to finish your drink," The hunter said tersely. Elena sighed, bringing the glass to her lips, downing the whiskey. Dean did the same, setting his glass down on the table with a thump before stalking past Damon.
Elena sighed softly before scurrying after him. "Dick," Dean hissed under his breath. Elena sighed softly, hearing Sam trail after them. She glanced up at Dean as he staggered, grasping his head, wincing. "Dean!" Elena cried, rushing towards him, Sam following her.
In what could only be described as his mind's eye, Dean caught flashes. Flashes of memories. Memories that he couldn't recall having. Their dad, possessed by Yellow Eyes. The car accident. Dean nearly dying. Their dad making a deal with Yellow Eyes and dying.
Sam racing towards him in the rain. A dark-skinned boy picking up a knife, racing after Sam. Dean crying, "SAMMY!" Rushing towards his little brother as the boy slammed the knife into Sam's back, sinking it in and angling it so he severed Sam's spinal cord.
A crossroad's demon leering at him, "Fine. I'll give you one year. And one year only." Dean shooting Yellow Eyes. "That was for our mom. You son of a bitch." He growled to the body.
"What do you say we kill some evil sons of bitches and we raise a little hell?" A hellhound ripping into him. The feeling of having his skin cleaved off by claws. And then, hell.
Dean shuddered, shaking his head furiously, saying weakly, "Well, that was about as fun as getting kicked in the jewels." Elena shook her head, helping Sam right his brother. "What happened?" Elena whispered.
"Nothing," Dean said almost as quickly. "Just this weird pain and flashes of images." "Images?" Elena whispered. "Yeah, like memories. Memories that I have. And memories that I don't remember having." Elena frowned at Dean.
"What do you mean?" She asked, bewildered. Dean shook his head. "I don't know. It was like there was a wall in my mind. And something broke it." Dean said faintly. Confusion washed over Elena's features.
"Like, what?" Her words were hushed. Dean cast her a puzzled glance. "What do you mean?" "What memories?" Elena prodded. Dean shook his head, walking to the Impala. "Everything." He said, weaving his fingers together, resting his hands on the top of the car.
"I know that Sam and I aren't meant to be here." He said succinctly. "What do you mean?" Elena gasped, tears of pain flooding her eyes as her heart thudded painfully against her ribcage. Dean pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I mean that Sam and I, all this, none of it should've happened." "You mean, someone screwed with our timelines and changed everything?" At last, Sam spoke. "That's exactly what I mean, Sammy." Dean said, idly playing with the keys of the Impala.
Elena took a step forward, "Then forget it. Leave it alone." She said desperately, clutching Dean's arm. "What's so bad about how things are now?" "What's so bad?" Dean repeated, scandalized, "Lena, this isn't how things are meant to be. The real world is out there somewhere, and Sam and I are supposed to be in it."
Elena dropped Dean's arm and retreated backward as if Dean physically struck her. "I see," She whispered in a brittle voice, "You'd rather be in the 'Real World' than be with me." Elena shook her head before turning on her heel and hurrying down the road.
Dean sighed heavily, shaking his head before following her, breaking into a run. "Lena, stop." He panted. Elena glanced at him, shaking her head as she said, "Dean, these last few weeks with you have felt like a dream."
A low sigh was propelled from her lips as she continued, "But I guess it's time for both of us to wake up." Dean felt his heart drop into his stomach as Elena walked away. He stood, watching her until she was a speck in the distance.
"Dean?" Sam called uncertainly. Dean shook his head before striding over to the car, yanking the driver's side door open. "You want to go after her?" Sam whispered, watching his older brother with a frown.
"I do, Sammy," Dean replied softly, "You know I do. But…" The elder Winchester trailed off, his malachite optics staring ahead distantly. "I know," Sam said, looking down at his hands.
Dean nodded, muttering, "As soon as we find out what happened and fix it…" "Okay," Sam whispered. Dean climbed into the car. Checking into the nearby bed and breakfast, Dean's forehead crinkled as the elderly woman behind the desk studied him and eyed him with familiarity.
"I know you," she said at last, casual as if she were announcing the weather. "You do?" Dean asked, startled. The woman just nodded, "Mm-hmm. You came here a year ago. With that pretty brunette girl. I think she was your girlfriend? I think her name was Ella."
"Lena?" Dean whispered. The eldest Winchester was shocked into silence, remembering the morning after. The night before was a blank. Elena checked him in and brought him into the room. Then stayed the night.
He remembered hating himself for pushing her away. But it was for the best. And now, he was doing it all over again. And he was kicking himself every second. He hated this. When they got to the room, Dean dumped the duffle bag onto his bed before casting a look around the room.
It was so damn flowery, he felt like he was camping in a flower garden. Dean looked away from the floral wallpaper. Walking over to the chair, he nudged it with his foot. "Dean," Sam said, exasperated as Dean settled into the chair.
Glancing at his younger brother, he said disgustedly, "It's not gonna attack me or anything, is it?" The younger Winchester shook his head, sighing heavily. "I swear, this whole damn room's giving me allergies," Dean grumbled.
A knock on the door drew their attention and a gray head poked into the room. "Hello, Dears." The elderly woman, Mrs. Flowers, said, "How do you like the room?" Dean forced a smile, "It's great," He lied with ease, "I love the floral vibe. Really."
Mrs. Flowers beamed, "That's great, dear. Oh, you have a visitor. A young lady. She's waiting at the front desk." Dean cast Sam a wary look before standing. "Alright. Thank you, Ma'am." The woman nodded before ducking out of the room.
Swallowing thickly, the Winchesters wandered out of their room and down the stairs. Elena stood at the front desk. And Dean's eyes were immediately drawn to her clothing. She was wearing a black tight fitting tank top and black skinny jeans. Over that she wore a black jacket.
"Elena?" He said as he and Sam drew close. Elena turned to him, a smile playing on her lips. She tucked a brunette curl behind her ear. "Dean," She said softly, walking to him. Blinking in surprise, Dean said unsteadily, "So, I take it that all's forgiven?"
Sam's brows rose as he observed the scene that unfolded before him. The girl's clothes, her hair, and the way she moved and talked, it was all so different from the way Elena behaved and dressed. And yet, it was all the same.
He combed his dark hair back, puzzling over the situation. Unless Elena uncovered her inner bad girl and got a complete makeover and tracked them down under thirty minutes, he was stumped. And the whole situation is impossible.
"Doppelgänger?" he remembered Dean, asking of Elena. Katherine. "I missed you so much," Elena said, placing her hands on Dean's chest. "We saw each other thirty minutes ago." Dean said, his brows furrowed. "It felt like an eternity." The girl replied, standing on tiptoe, pressing her lips to his.
Sam started forward when Katherine withdrew, gasping, "Vervain?" Dean smirked down at Katherine as she collapsed at his feet, "Gotcha." "Hiya, Katherine." The elder Winchester chimed. "You with us?"
The girl groaned, shaking her head. "I'm here to help you, you idiots!" Sam's brows spiked upward at her words. "Right," Dean snapped, grabbing a syringe, dipping it into a vial of vervain.
"You know," he said conversationally, "I always wondered what would happen if I shot one of you leeches up with vervain." Katherine glanced at him before laughing weakly, "You wouldn't hurt me anyway."
Dean glanced back at her, "And why wouldn't I?" Katherine looked at him through her lashes before saying, "Because I look like her." Clenching his jaws shut he stalked across the room, slamming his hands down on the arms of the chair Katherine was seated in.
"But you're not her. And you know how I knew? Because Elena would've never dressed like that." He gestured to her outfit. Katherine smirked at Dean, leaning close, whispering, "Then she obviously has no taste. In clothing anyway. Her taste in men on the other hand…"
Dean jerked away from the vampire, scowling as she laughed softly. "Dean, Dean, Dean." She crooned, "You're out of your league." "Oh, really?" "Yes. I could've killed you anytime I wanted. But I didn't." Katherine stood. The Winchesters eyes widened.
"Now, I'm here to help you. Are you going to listen?" "Why would you help us?" Sam chimed in. "Because, I happened to enjoy my timeline. 'Til you two got mingled into it."
Her dark eyes roamed over the brothers ravenously, "Can't say I hate it. But, anyway," She shrugged, "I got bored of watching you to bumbling idiots screwing around and decided, the enemy of my enemy, you know?" She tilted her head to the side, a small smile on her lips.
"Right." Dean snorted, "And you're just doing this out of the evilness of your heart?" "Oh, Dean," Katherine sang, walking towards him. "You have a big surprise for you, lying ahead. And my help is here, if you want it."
Dean shook his head, snapping, "Fine. Since you're just going to dangle it in front of us, what do you know?" Reaching into her bag, Katherine unearthed papers and books. Both worn with time. "Here you go," She offered them to Sam.
"Everything I know. Don't strain yourself trying to figure any of this out." She flashed Dean a smile, "I'm a self-serving bitch. It's that simple." Turning, she picked up her bag and flounced out of the room.
Moments later, the Winchesters were seated at the rickety table in their room. "You know, something doesn't add up." Sam spoke up. "What doesn't? She did good research, didn't she?" Dean replied, one of the books open in his hands.
"She did. But that's not what I meant. Why did she help us? And why did she give you that look? She knows something." Sam said, the expression on his features distrusting. "She knows a lot we don't, Sammy." Dean said finally. "I know. But still. What was all that about?"
"We'll find out soon, Sam." "Holy crap." The youngest Winchester said. "What?" Dean said, sitting up straight. Turning the book he was reading around, Sam showed Dean what he'd read. "Chronos?" Dean said, surprised.
"Yeah, he's the god of time." Sam said, astounded. "And he's a Primordial." Dean blinked, "Should I know what that means?" "They're the first of the Greek gods, Dean. Born from Chaos and all that."
"So, by being one of the first, he'd be pretty powerful?" "Very powerful, Dean. Not much can rip apart time like he did and place it how he wants to." Dean rubbed his brow tiredly, "Awesome." He said sarcastically.
"But, I don't think he did it on purpose…" Sam said, perplexed. "What?" Dean said, snapping to attention. "Looks like he was thrown through time pretty violently and we got caught in his riptide."
Dean swallowed thickly, "And when we kill him?" "Everything will go back to normal." "Do you know how to kill him?" Dean asked. Sam scanned the papers, nodding, "Yeah. Right here." "Alright," Dean said with a nod. "Time to rest up. Tomorrow, we kill ourselves a god."
"I'll drink to that." Sam said, clinking his beer bottle against Dean's. Dean took a sip before standing up, pulling his jacket on. "I… uh. I'll be back soon." He nodded, walking to the door, leaving a perplexed Sam behind.
Elena was idly writing in her diary when a knock at the front door startled her. Jenna and Jeremy where gone. Sighing heavily, she tossed the book aside, and wandered downstairs.
Opening the door, she whispered, "Dean." "Hey," He said nervously. "What're you doing here?" Elena said, her voice wavering. "Look, I know it probably means nothing and it will mean nothing after tomorrow, but I can't go through this if you hate me." Dean said, "I'm doing this for you. Because you deserve better, 'Lena."
Elena blinked away tears before saying softly, "And who says you get to decide what I deserve and don't deserve?" Dean shook his head, "I do. Because you deserve things I can't give you. I love you, 'Lena."
Elena shook her head, "You have no idea how long I've waited to for you to say that. And now, you're saying it because you're leaving." "I'm not leaving. Not really." Elena sighed heavily, "Dean, don't." He stepped forward, slipping his arms around her. "Don't do this, Dean. Please, don't."
"I have to," Dean said hollowly. Drawing back, he whispered, "I love you. Hold on to that." "I'll try." She whispered as he turned and left. Walking down the driveway, to his beloved Impala, Dean felt an emptiness inside.
Shaking his head, he turned and raced back towards the house, sweeping Elena into his arms, he crushed his lips to hers. Elena trembled against him, tears rolling down her cheeks as she returned his kiss. "Goodbye, 'Lena." Dean whispered to her, pulling away and walking to his car. Elena choked back a sob as she watched him climb into his car and leave.
"You ready?" Dean said as Sam awoke. Sam gave his brother a cursory inspection. And it was obvious that his brother hadn't slept at all the night before. Dean was pale and had dark circles under his eyes. He was scruffier than usual. And his clothes were rumpled.
Sam shook his head, "I guess so. How's Elena?" Dean shook his head silently and avoided the question. "So, what do we need to ice this dude?" Dean asked, looking down at the table. "A thousand year old olive branch dipped in the blood of… well; let's just leave it at that." Sam replied, nodding.
"Great," Dean muttered, "Any idea where we can find one of those?" Sam uttered a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, actually, I do." "This is crazy!" Dean hissed to Sam as they slipped into the museum silently. "You think I like this plan either?" Sam shot back to him as they slunk across the floor towards the display cases.
Sam peered into one of them, lifting a brow. "A thousands year old olive branch." He said, sighing heavily as Dean opened the panel and disabled the alarm system. Sam gently lifted the glass and set it aside and picked up the branch, slipping it into the bag before replacing the glass.
Got it. He mouthed at Dean. A loud keening brought them to their knees. "What the hell?!" Dean shouted over the sound. "It's the backup alarm," Sam replied, "I forgot about it!" Dean cursed before standing and racing towards their exit, slipping into the air vent silently, Sam following after him.
Dean bolted towards the Impala, sliding into the driver's seat. "I hope we got what we came for, Sam," Dean begun. "We got it." Sam said; pulling the cloth-wrapped branch from his pocket, unwrapping it, he showed Dean a curved and pointed branch, smoothly carved.
"So, it's time, isn't it?" Dean said, swallowing thickly. "It is." Sam replied grimly as Dean guided the car from the parking lot. "So, Chronos is in Ohio?" Dean asked. "Yeah. He is." Sam replied quietly as he dipped the olive branch in blood.
Canton, Ohio. 11:34 PM: A young man enters his house, tossing his coat aside with a heavy sigh. "Got him." A voice snarled as a dark form barreled into him. The young man narrowed his eyes, flinging the person aside. "Sam!" The other form said, throwing a punch to the young man, who dodged it.
Sam clambered to his feet, blinking away the fuzziness in his vision, seeing Dean tangled with Chronos. Standing slowly, Sam staggered over to them, pulling the olive branch from his jacket; he slipped behind Chronos, saying, "Hey, Chronos!"
When the god turned, he plunged the branch into his chest. Sam's eyes narrowed as Chronos gurgled, blood bubbling at the corner of his mouth. His heartbeat filled the entire room as he uttered a weak laugh. "I know your future…" He said, veins flashing in his throat in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"You're really gonna regret this…" He said, sighing as he collapsed to the floor; dead. Dean cast Sam a thankful glance before they both crumpled to the floor.
An 18-wheeler truck collided with the side of the Impala, crashing into it with deadly force. Sam, Dean and John where life-flighted to the nearest hospital where Dean laid in a coma-like state.
John sold his soul to the Yellow-Eyed Demon to save Dean. Dean sold his soul to a Crossroads Demon to bring Sam back to life and shot the YED with the Colt, killing him. On the hunt to rescue Dean from Lillith, Lillith possessed Ruby's host and gave Dean over to the hellhounds, who ripped him apart, sending his soul to hell.
Dean awoke in a pine box and dug his way out of his grave.
Elena lost her parents to a car accident and she and her brother moved in with their aunt Jenna. Stefan and Damon moved back to Mystic Falls. Damon kissed Katherine on the front porch of the Gilbert Residence before she cut off John's fingers and stabbed him.
Elena walked into the house and found John lying on the floor before calling 9-1-1. Katherine killed Caroline, turning her into a vampire. Klaus sacrificed Elena to complete his transition into a full Hybrid. Stefan left town with Klaus.
And Elena kissed Damon. Twice. Rebekah drove Matt and Elena off Wickery Bridge. Resulting in Elena's second car accident. Killing her this time.
And turning her into a vampire.
A pair of eyes snapped open with a loud gasp.
Well, here we go, now. One more time.
I tried to climb your steps. I tried to chase you down.
I tried to see how low I could get down to the ground.
I tried to earn my way. I tried to tame this mind.
You better believe that I tried to beat this.
So, when will this end? It goes on and on.
Over and over and over again.
Keep spinning around. I know that it won't stop.
'Til I step down from this for good.
Sick Cycle Carousel - Lifehouse