"It was the heat of the moment
Telling me what your heart meant
The heat of the moment shone in your – "
Sam snaps awake, quickly turns off the radio alarm and turns to the bed beside his, Dean's name on his lips. But the bed is empty. No Dean in sight.
Sam's eyes widen in horror and his breathing quickens. "No, no, he can't die while I'm asleep, no, no!"
The tall hunter stumbles out of his bed and looks around the dingy motel room, frantically. "Dean! Dean!" Of course, there's no answer. "No, not while I'm asleep… It's not supposed to happen like this. I didn't even get a chance to warn him."
"I'm sorry, Dean…" Sam says as he sinks to the floor in despair. "Maybe tomorrow I can save you."
A few moments later, the door creaks open on rusty hinges, and Ruby appears.
"Sam!" she calls as she enters the room. "Why are you on the floor?" she asks, when she notices him.
"I failed… again," Sam replies miserably.
"Failed what?" questions the demon.
"Dean," Sam says, his voice choked.
"Dean's dead. That's what this is all about, remember?"
"I know he's dead… it's all my fault. But tomorrow it will be different. Tomorrow I'll save him, and stop the trickster," Sam's voice is small and hoarse, and his eyes distant.
"What trickster?"
"The trickster, Ruby. The one who – "Sam finally looks at her, and seems to startle, as if only just realizing she's actually there. "I… Never-mind."
Sam gets up on shaky legs and sits down on the unmade motel bed, hands clasped in his lip, eyes directed at the floor.
"Whatever's going on with you, man, sort it out. We've got stuff to do." With that, Ruby leaves the room, expecting Sam to follow her.
"I'm sorry, Dean," Sam says to himself. "I thought I could save you from the trickster, and I thought I could save you from your deal, but I failed both times. I'm not gonna fail you again."
A/N: This was just going to be a one shot, and it still is, technically. But I've decided to sort of continue this on with another series of short vignettes about other times Sam hears the Heat of the Moment and freaks out, even years later and after many other horrible things. Apparently giving poor Sam more trauma is something I find fun, who knew?
Also, this is actually a really fun fandom to write for and I can't believe I never did before!
Anyways, thank you so much for reading and a million hug and thank you's to anyone who reviewed or favourited the first chapter of this story. You made me so happy, and gave me the confidence to go and write more!