Clara sighed as she sat by the window watching the rain fall outside the window panes. There was a big storm that passed through town about halfway through her shift so the bar had been pretty dead. Mostly just a few of the regulars and some of the people just looking for a place to stop to wait out the storm for a while. Normally the silence would not be a big deal, she could just talk with the other girls or chat with the few customers. Today was different, though. Her mind was on other things; like the fading facade of sanity that she put up for the world to see. Suddenly the room got very cold, so cold that Clara could swear she saw her breath for a moment. She looked around and noticed that other people were pulling their coats a little closer to them. Must have started snowing or something. When she looked out the window to check what greeted her shocked her more than any weather could have. The dark brown eyes, that red hair... it was Max, but he had cuts all over his face and blood everywhere, like he just stepped out of the crash.
On pure instinct, Clara jumped out of her seat and rushed outside the front door to try and catch him. Running out into the rain and feeling her clothing clinging to her in moments. When she got to the window though there was nothing. He was there, though... less than a minute ago. She looked around and saw no sign of anyone being there beside her. Things seemed to be spiraling right now and all she wanted was to be at home and sitting curled up to Dean on the couch. Safe in those warm strong arms of his, knowing that nothing was going to hurt her for that brief moment of time. Clara did not even know if Dean could make this better right now, though. Everything just felt wrong right now, like there was something bad about to happen. Then again, her sanity was slowly fading to the point where she was now seeing dead people outside watching her. So, of course, she would be feeling weird feelings too. It was only natural at this point.
When Clara walked back into the building a very flustered looking Lexi greeted her. Lexi was the closest thing to a friend that Clara had, and she could practically feel the concern radiating off of the woman. Immediately Lexi pulled Clara inside and ushered her to the back of the bar. "Look I don't know what that was all about, but you scared the crap out of us." Lexi said as she sat Clara down on the bench in the staff room and tossed a towel at her. "Get your head on straight and we can talk after work." She added, rubbing Clara's shoulder as she just stared at the wall, trying to wrap her head around what just happened. She did not spook easy, but right now... well Clara did not know whether to be scared of what she just saw or that her mind hand finally turned to a pile of goo. There was one person that she could talk to that would not institutionalize her before the end of the explanation, and he happened to be on speed dial.
Clara's hands fumbled a little bit with her lock as she went to the locker to change and get her phone. The moment she got her phone it was against her ear and ringing in her ear. The very frayed nerves in Clara's whole body seeming to calm when that deep gravelly voice greeting her on the other end of the line. "Hey baby, I... well you know I don't really believe in that supernatural stuff. Now, say for a moment, just a moment, that I happened to think that I saw a ghost. What do I do to stop it from hurting me?" She asked, somehow knowing that he would believe her and have an idea of how to keep anything from happening to her. If she was not going insane and there really was a ghost after her then there was no way to defend herself right now.
"I'm going to pick you up and we can figure this out together. I'm not saying that there is anything after you, but get some salt and make a circle around you. Don't come out till I get there." Dean said firmly, his tone completely changing from the soft tone he had answering the phone moments earlier. Which told her one thing for sure. Something was going on, and it was bad enough for Dean to be in a protective mode right now. Before she could ask any of the many questions floating around in her head, mostly about the salt, Dean started speaking again. "I know it sounds weird, but you asked for my help and this is me giving it to you." He said, causing her to frown and nod like the man could actually see anything that she was doing right now. "Where are you?" Dean asked, the telltale rumble of the impala's engine coming from the background.
Before Clara could answer she heard the sound of Lexi screaming from outside the door. "I'm going to lock myself in the bathroom because something is happening out there and I have a really bad feeling about it." Clara said quickly, trying not to panic in the rush to get to the bathroom in the corner of the room before something busted in and killed her. She had her hand on the door handle when something came crashing through the door. The sound of Dean talking registered to her, but all of her attention was the body of Lexi in the middle of the floor; neck bent at an unnatural angle and blood seeping through the fabric on her chest. "Lexi..." She said, her voice cracking as the realization that her friend was dead set in.
"Clara, you have to listen to me, go to your locker and get the gun I gave you. It should at least slow them down till I can get to you." Dean said, his voice giving away the panic that he was feeling. The thought of shooting someone or something to slow them down terrified her. There was no way she could shoot someone, her hands were shaking just thinking about it. Whatever was happening... she was terrified of it. Things were bad right now, but they were starting to get better. Her life was starting to fall together. Now it was all going to end as fast as it started coming together. "Get the gun and try to find a way out without being noticed." Dean added from the other end of the phone, the panic in his voice gone and replaced with a calm comforting tone. She allowed herself to be calmed for a moment before a voice broke her calm almost instantly.
It took her a moment to register what the voice was saying but when she realized that it was her name being yelled every muscle in her body froze. There was no sneaking out of this one, no way to get out, no running. They came for her, God knows why, but it was clear that they were here for nothing good. Clara bit her lip as she quickly grabbed the gun from her locker and pointed it at the door, balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder. "Dean... I don't know what to do, they are calling my name." Clara said as her hands shook a little as a sudden cold washed over the room. The sound of Dean's voice on the other end was muffled as it started cutting out. "Dean... I can't hear you." She said softly, her heart racing as the line went dead. That's it. There was no one to help her now.
Suddenly the doors burst open and Isobella came walking through the door. "Did you honestly think that I would not find you in here." She said, her voice holding hatred like Clara had never heard before. The gun shook in her hand as Isobella's eyes turned black and her hand lifted up. A sudden force hit her in the chest so hard that Clara was sent flying back into the air and slammed hard into the lockers. All the air leaving Clara's lungs on impact with the lockers, a metallic taste filling her mouth as she laid there with Isobella walking closer. Everything seemed to be happening at once, it was all too much to handle. All that she wanted to do was either die right now already or have Dean bust through those doors and try to stop this.
A familiar voice filled the air causing her eyes to fill with tears. "Max..." She whispered softly letting out a breath of air, only to see her breath linger in the air. "What's going on?" Clara asked as she saw Isobella stop and look around. "Look whatever you want I will give it to you. Just tell me what's going on." Clara said, practically begging as she slowly picked herself off the floor feeling shooting pain in her back. This was all insane, it cannot be real, just a vivid crazy dream, right? There was no way any of this was happening, it was just too insane. The only explanation was that she had finally lost her mind, that had to be it. None of this was real. Despite the white-hot pain in her back right now. When Clara saw Isobella walking towards her quickly, she just curled up with her legs close just waiting for the dream to end or death to show its face. Instead, a wave of cold pass over her and that voice fill the air again, more of a yelling sound than a voice really. The yelling was quickly followed by a crash coming from the other end of the room. Clara slowly pulled her head away and saw the familiar man standing across the room hold the demon against the wall.
The messy red hair, dirty blood covered clothes... it was Max. There was o way that it could be him... right? She knew it could not be real, but somehow it just felt like it really was him in the room. The two in front of her struggled as Clara stood there for a moment, she had no idea what was going on right now. What Clara did know though was that she had to get out of here somehow, there had to be a way out. Anything to get her out of this insanity. "That bitch is going to burn you know." Isobella said harshly, causing Clara to rush to the door and try and get out only to have her feet swept out from under her and feel herself flying into the benches again. Clara felt her head spinning as she saw Max looking back, his green eyes full of love and panic as the met her's. The stinging of hot tears welled up in her eyes at the thought of him really caring for her after everything that she did to him. "I'm stronger than you and you know it." Isobella added as she muttered something under her breath before lunging at Max, but he flickered again and appeared behind Isobella yanking her back by the long back her swishing around.
All Clara could do was watch in horror as she tried to breathe inching to the door on the floor as angry growls and crashing came from around the room. Clara managed to actually get out of the room and got to her feet faster than she had ever run before. Bolting down the hallway and out the swinging doors only to come face to face with Dean at the other side of the corner, his gun pointed directly at her. Clara's hands shook as they shot up in the air, a feeling of relief washing over her at the sight of Dean lowering his gun. "Did you get a look at what it was?" Dean asked, his voice serious and firm as he pulled Clara close and put her next to his side.
"It was Max and Isobella, but it isn't her Dean. She is different and her eyes... they were black." Clara said, trying to stop the shaking in her hands as she stood there and heard a door being kicked open from the direction of the locker room. A scream left Clara's mouth as she grabbed onto Dean's arm tightly, her whole body shaking. Clara's heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. Faintly registering that Dean said something when he pushed her behind him, putting himself in between whatever was coming their way. Everything was happening so fast, she felt Dean pull out of her grip, but he stayed close. If she was not already tense enough, her body froze for the second time that night as she watched Isobela walking out of the swinging doors. Her black hair a tangled mess, clothing torn and messy. It was clear that Max gave her a run for her money, but it was clear that whatever Isobela was told the truth earlier. They were very much stronger than Max.
Suddenly she charged at Dean and Clara watched as Dean moved to knock her to the ground. She could not miss the way that Dean fought, the gun gone and replaced by some kind of knife. Isobela and him exchanging blows, one after another. When Clara saw Dean on the floor with Isobella violently smashing her fist into his face she had to do something and ran towards the pair only to have a force stop her and Max to flicker in front of her. That was all it took for her to stop mid-step, she just stood there looking at him as he smiled a little. Before she could say anything that thick southern accent started. "Go bunny, run as fast as you can. I will keep her here." He said, putting his hands on her shoulders and giving them a soft squeeze. His hands were not warm like they always were, not they were ice cold and the pressure of his hand was barely there. The sound of a loud cry made the both of them look back in time to see Isobela's chest light up as Dean pulled a knife out of her chest, watching her drop to the floor before rushing for his gun.
Clara saw him try to pick it up only to have it slide across the room away from him. "You aren't going to hurt her. I won't let you." Max said firmly, causing Dean to stop his movements and frown. This was too much, Dean a killer, her boyfriend back from the dead... it was just too much. Then she saw Dean being flung across the room into a table, the chairs scattering across the room and one crashing down on him. Clara panicked and rushed over to Dean's side to help him.
"Dean, are you okay?" Clara asked as she turned her back on Max for a moment and looked over Dean, seeing how bad his face looked after his fight. Forgetting about everything for a moment as she touched one of the growing bruises, only to have the sound of a throat clearing bring her back to reality. The reality of Max being there watching all of this. "It's Max Dean, I know it's crazy. He stopped her from killing me." She said as she turned around and looked at Max, her hand resting on Dean's leg. "How are you here?" Clara asked as her hands started shaking as Max walked towards her.
He gave Clara's a sad smile and reached out to touch her face. "I couldn't leave you on your own." Max said, his eyes meeting her's, still holding all the love and adoration that they used to. Only this time they had pain, so much pain that it hurt her to even look at. "I've been trying to get your attention for such a long time, but I think I scared you more than anything. Watching you hurting, beating yourself up over what happened. Then how happy you were with Dean. I want to be here for you." He explained causing Clara to tear up as she leaned into his hand and closed her eyes. "You need to forgive yourself. I'm not mad at you for what happened, why would I still be here if I was?"
That's when it hit her he was here because of her, even after everything that she did... he still stayed. Instead of moving on and being happy here he was, trying to take care of her again. "Max... I can't thank you for saving me enough. I just... you should be happy playing football or sitting in a chair with your mother. You don't belong here." Clara said as she moved her hand to Max's and felt the faint resistance of his hand, getting up and practically lunging at Max. Knowing that this was probably the last time that she would ever see him. "I love you so much, I just..." She took a shaky breath and looked back at Dean who was walking to the door. "I love you and that's why I need to move on. It's not right to keep you here, and as long as you are here I can't move on from everything." Clara explained as she looked back to Max and felt his tighten the arms that he had wrapped around her.
It hurt more than losing him the first time to be telling him to go after just having him again. Somehow, she knew that him staying with her would not be healthy and somehow would go wrong. She felt the familiar warm wetness down her cheeks as tears streamed freely while Max started speaking. "I see how happy you are with Dean, and it's different than the way you were with me. There is something special there, and if me being here is going to stop you from being happy then there is no point in me being here." This overwhelming guilt hit her as she struggled to pull it together for Max right now. He needed to see that she was going to be alright, and that's what she was going to give him.
"I love you," Clara said softly as she looked into his brown eyes and smiled at him. Leaning forward and lightly pressing their lips together. Closing her eyes and just enjoying the moment, knowing it would be her last like it. A cold breeze washed over her as she opened her eyes and saw that the spot in front of her was empty. He was gone, really gone... She looked around and saw that Dean had left the bar. What if he was going to leave? There would be nothing, no one to keep her from going off the deep end, no one to take care of all over again. Panic rushed over her as she rushed outside and looked around only to see Dean standing a couple meters from the door. She smiled at Dean as relief at the fact that he was still there hit her. Then something else hit her. The dead body in the hall. "I'll be back." She said quickly, surprising herself at the fact that she was even thinking level headed enough to be able to think of anything at all yet alone the security cameras. It didn't take her long at all to clear them, as soon as they were cleared Clara was out of there and lunging into Dean's arms.
"Hey, easy there." Dean said as she felt his arms wrap tightly around her. The comfort washing over her despite everything hitting her at once. Clara's arms wrapped tightly around him, putting her head in his neck and started crying. With all of the questions running through her head, there were so many places that she could start with that it was impossible to choose. So she did not the just stood there for a while, maybe minutes, or hours. It did not really matter right now. All that mattered was that she was safe right now and neither of them was going to go to jail. "We need to get out of here before people start to come. This place is in the middle of nowhere but people do come." He said softly, slowly unwrapping his arms from Clara but taking her hand in his hand. "Let's get out of here." Dean said as he pulled her to the car. "I'm sure that you have lots of questions for me on the way home." He said, looking more nervous than Clara had ever seen him when she looked over at him.
There was no way that she could leave him looking like that. God knows what he was thinking, but the strange thing was that she wasn't scared of him. Not even a little, because if push came to shove she knew that Dean would never hurt her. "Dean, I saw a ghost and some freakish black eyed monster fight each other. Right now, I have the feeling that there is a lot more out there that I just can't handle more right now." Clara explained as she shook her head and sighed, getting in the car and looking up at Dean. "Let just go home and curl up in bed." She added, wiping at the tear streaks on her face, glancing over at Dean again. Smiling a little at him as his hand rested on her leg and squeezing softly. Just looking into his eyes and seeing the raw emotions in them let her know that they both were going to need time to recoup from this night.