"Clara." A soft but familiar whisper filled her with air suddenly. Her eyes opened slightly and she could barely make out the shape in front of her. "Come on you need to get up." A hand was extended for her to grab. She blinked a few times and when the smoke finally cleared she saw that trench coat and a small painful smile came to her face.
"Cas..." She was barely able to whisper. She reached forward and grabbed his hand. "Am I dead?" She asked after she felt herself move. It was almost like she was being dragged toward the back door.
"No." Cas' voice finally spoke up once he managed to pick her up off the ground. She was so limp with weakness that he started to fear for her so he moved quickly. Her eyes would barely stay open and her voice was full of pain. "Clara?" He laid her down on the soft grass just outside in the back yard. Her head lay gently on his lap as he kept an arm around her.
"Cas.." Hr mouth moved and a small sound came from her. She tried to smile through the pain and tears.
"Clara just hold on." He closed his eyes and placed a hand over her forehead. He opened his eyes quickly expecting to see her fully healed but he didn't. Her skin was still burned and her chest was barely moving. "No no come on." He shook his head trying even harder to heal her. "Why isn't it working." He cursed.
"Cas." Clara said softly as she lifted her hand up to his face. She placed a hand on his cheek and smiled keeping her eyes closed. His heart started to pound as her eyes slowly opened. "It's okay..." She whispered.
Hotch had stood with his team outside the burning house. They could hear Clara scream. Each of them had tried to go in and save her but they were always stopped by the police and the firefighters. They were all panicked and pacing. Derek held a cloth to his head to stop the bleeding and he couldn't help but feel so guilty.
Hotch ran a hand through is hair in dismay. He huffed and closed his eyes. "Come on." he said to himself.
"Backyard." A voice suddenly filled his head. "She needs help... now!" That voice was familiar but he couldn't place it. "NOW!" It screamed.
"You two... with me!" Hotch's eyes shot open as he rushed toward two paramedics who looked just as conflicted as the rest of the team. They followed Hotch toward the back yard. "Oh god." He was first around the corner.
"I cannot heal her. She needs help." Castiel had Clara in his arms. Hotch rushed over and knelt next to his. Hotch looked at the angel and gave him a nod of thanks. Castiel held Hotch's stare for a minute and before the medics rounded the corner he was gone. "Help her." He said with a nod.
Hotch quickly took his place and felt how limp Clara was in his own arms. Her breathing was unsteady and as the medics went to work he kept her hand in his. Only one hand was burned, along with most of her shoulders and back. Parts of her shirt were singed to her body but most had fallen off. Her eyes were very still and Hotch took a deep breath.
"Come on you've been through worse... you can pull through this." He whispered as the medics went to work as fast as they could.
There was a soft knock on the door around 11p.m and Adrian had run to answer it. He and Dean had been alone for almost three days and somehow they had just gotten used to each other. Adrian had helped Dean get a job, and Dean taught him how to defend himself better. They had been expecting for Clara to call for almost a day and Adrian said that when a case got intense she sometimes forgot to call.
They had just finished dinner and were watching some TV when there was that soft knock. "I got it!" Adrian said standing up quickly. He ran and slid in front of the door. Dean stood when he heard who was at the door. "Derek?" Adrian questioned.
"Sup kiddo." Derek but on a brave smile and stepped into the house. Adrian looked a bit shocked to see him and he sighed.
"Nothing... you?" Adrian asked as he closed the door.
"I actually came to talk to you and Dean." He said.
"What about Agent Morgan?" Dean asked wit a bit of a bitter tone. Dean walked over to Adrian and crossed his arms. Dean almost didn't notice the head wound that was still fresh on the side of his head.
"Clara." Derek said with a sigh and he watched as both their faces turned to panic.
"Is she okay!" Adrian jumped quickly. "What happened!?" He asked.
"Well there was a fire and..." Derek couldn't even finish his sentence.
"Is she..." Dean didn't want to finish his own sentence.
"I don't know... they flew her back here as fast as they could but they wouldn't tell us anything." Derek said.
"Where is she?" Dean asked quickly.
"I'll take you to her." Derek said as Adrian ran for the door and was already out before either men took a step.
"Derek." Dean reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder. "How bad?" Dean asked and Derek noticed his lowered tone.
"It's not good." Derek looked down.
Once Derek got to the hospital the whole team was sitting in the waiting room with their heads in their hands. They all looked so worried except Penelope was pacing and looked angry. Adrian had run ahead and his footsteps hitting the ground made the other's hearts beat. They all stood when he stopped in front of her.
"What happened!" He asked his eyes big and full of worry. No one answered. They were all too shocked by what was going on. Adrian walked over to Penelope who reached out for his hand and he crashed into her and held on tight. "Is she gonna be alright?" He asked. Again no one had an answer.
"Tell me what happened." Dean's voice made them all jump.
"Dean?" They all seemed to question. Penelope couldn't look at him. She kept her arms around Adrian as they sat down in the corner.
"I need to know what happened." He said out of breath.
Everyone looked at each other not really knowing what to say. Hotch looked at the eldest Winchester and knew there had to be a story behind his sudden appearance. He took a deep breath. "I sent her and Morgan to an address of a suspect. The suspect knocked Morgan unconscious and Clara tried to talk to the unsub. But she failed." Hotch said. "The house was set on fire."
"And how did you make it out if you were unconscious?" Dean turned to Derek.
"She pulled me into a closet before a few can of gasoline exploded. When she tried to get me out the firefighters didn't find her because she had fallen down while trying to get me out." Derek looked down.
"So what? A few burns and she'll be fine right?" Dean's optimism kicked in when Adrian looked up at him. He looked so scared and Dean didn't want the kid to be afraid.
"Second degree burns to almost half of her body, A few broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, and extensive smoke inhalation damage to her lungs." A doctor had come out of no where and answered Dean's question. "Clara is very lucky she got to the door when she did, a few seconds later she would have died." He said as everyone stood to face him.
"But is she going to be okay?" Derek asked.
"Well I'm not going to lie agents, the damage is pretty bad but a few skin graphs and some rest she will be back on her feet in a few weeks." The doctor nodded.
"Can we see her?" Adrian pushed forward.
"She is resting now so I wouldn't recommend more than a few people in at a time." The doctor smiled but Adrian took off anyways.
"Morgan, Garcia go with Adrian." Hotch spoke up. "The rest of you go home, get some rest and once she wakes up I'll give you a call." Hotch said turning to the rest of the team. He knew they wanted to stay but there was no use in them all being exhausted. They all sighed in relief and did as they were told. "I need to speak with you." Hotch said turning around and heading into an empty room.
"You're not gonna ask why I am here are you?" Dean sighed.
"No." Hotch said crossing his arms. "I just want to know that you being here isn't going to be a problem."
"Of course not." Dean shook his head.
"Really? Because every time you and your brother show up Clara seems to disappear."
"Well I can assure you and everyone else my brother won't be a problem to you anymore." Dean rolled his eyes. Hotch gave Dean a questionable look and he sighed. "Lucifer." Was all Dean had to say for Hotch to understand.
"My apologies." Hotch nodded.
"Yeah..." Dean sighed.
"Something you might want to know..." Hotch said. "Clara didn't make it out of that house alone." Hotch said.
"What do you mean?" Dean asked.
"Castiel got her to the back yard... He called for me and when I found them he said something odd." Hotch sighed. "He said he couldn't heal her."
"Wait... Cas showed up and he couldn't heal her?" Dean questioned. He was so confused. He hadn't answered her prayer for days and all of a sudden he came to the rescue but wouldn't heal her? Why? Hotch nodded to answer Dean's question. "He say why?"
"No but before you go off demanding for answers, he looked sorry." Hotch said. Dean didn't understand. "It's not that he wouldn't heal her... I could see it in his eyes he wanted to help but he physically couldn't heal Clara. He looked just as helpless as the rest of my team." Hotch said.
Dean sighed with a nod. Both men headed for the door and down the hall. They didn't speak as they walked toward Clara's room. Dean had been looking at the ground for a while and when he looked up he noticed Derek standing outside the room. Dean didn't know him very well but he knew what guilt looked like and it was all over Derek's face.
"Morgan?" Hotch questioned and at first he didn't hear his name. As they got closer he looked up quickly and sighed.
"Adrian and Penelope are with her..." he spoke slowly. "I'll just wait out here." He looked back down. He couldn't look at Dean without feeling guilty.
When Dean finally walked into the room all the bad memories of all their trips to the hospital seemed to hit him all at once. He had been here before. Clara unconscious, burned, and dying. He sighed as he walked over to her side. Half of her body was covered in bandages that were turning a red-orange colour and her breathing was shallow. The paper grown around her was trying to hide the damage but Dean could only imagine the scars. Like the ones on her arms weren't enough.
Dean looked down for a second and held Clara's hand that wasn't hurt, gently. He looked up at Penelope and Adrian. He had never seen two people more afraid before. The smile that came to face had caught their attention.
"Why are you smiling?" Adrian asked quickly.
"You two look like she isn't gonna wake up." He shook his head.
"Dean..." Penelope hushed quickly.
"What? You both know she has seen worse days." He shrugged. "Give her a few days and she'll be fine... you both know that. Right?"
Adrian smiled. "You're right." He nodded as he sat back in the chair next to Clara. "But I'm not leaving till she's better." He said crossing his legs and arms.
Three days had gone by before there was any sign of Clara waking up or even moving. Adrian was asleep in the chair while Dean sat on the other side. He was slowly nodding off when her heart monitor started to change. "Cas." Her whisper was almost silent but Dean heard it. Dean sat forward and reached for Clara's hand.
"Clara?" He questioned as he held on gently.
She started to stir and it looked like she was trying to sit up. Dean waited for her eyes to open. "Cas." She whispered again. Then all of a sudden her eyes shot open and she sat up. "No!" She said flinching at Dean touch and her eyes shut as she covered her head and face.
"Wooh hey!" Dean said standing quickly and grabbed her shoulders to hold her down. "Clara it's alright... you're fine." He said softly.
Her chest was rising quickly and she was shaking. Clara put her arms over her head to try and stop the beams from falling on her. But when she heard Dean's voice she dropped her arm. She exhaled once she saw him and reached out and grabbed his face in her hands.
"For the love of God please tell me I'm not dead?" She asked quietly, her voice cracking.
Dean let off a small laugh. "No not yet." he shook his head with a sigh. "A little burned but you're gonna be okay." He said and her grip on his face got tighter and he couldn't move. Her hands were shaking and he could tell she was in pain but she wouldn't let go. She pulled him forward quickly and no matter how much it hurt her threw her arms around Dean's neck and hugged him tightly. He sat next to her as he held on.
"What's going on!" Adrian jumped up quickly when he heard voices.
Dean pulled away slowly but still sat next to Clara. Adrian walked forward and again no matter how much it hurt her she grabbed him and hugged him tightly. "Jesus..." She swore under her breath. When Adrian pulled away and sat at the end of her bed she smiled tears filling her eyes. Dean held her hand tightly and she looked between the two next to her. "I really thought..." She stopped as that one tear fell. Dean leaned over and kissed her cheek gently and she sighed in relief.
"Hey next time you face off against a pyromaniac don't dive into the fire." Adrian laughed with a sigh.
"Shit..." Clara looked down quickly and noticed the bandages. "Okay no lies.. how bad are the scars?" She sighed slowly closing her eyes to stop her from looking down.
"Well they aren't everywhere." Dean pointed out. "And once they heal it will hardly be noticeable." Dean said and Clara exhaled as she laid her head on his shoulder. It was quiet for a second and then Clara's head shot up quickly.
"Wait!" She nearly yelled. "What about Derek... he was with me... did they get him out? Is he okay?" She asked looking up at Derek with panicked eyes.
"He's in the waiting room." Adrian spoke up.
"What?" Dean and Clara said at the same time.
"He's been out there the whole time... he won't come in though." Adrian sighed.
Clara shook her head and looked over at Dean. "Would you mind going to get him?" She asked him quietly. Dean nodded as he kissed her forehead and left quickly. Adrian looked over at Clara and smiled.
"I'm glad you're awake. Dean said you would be alright." Adrian stood up and hugged Clara again with a sigh.
Dean walked down the hall to the waiting room quickly. He had no idea Derek had stayed behind and waited. It had been two days, was he there the entire time? Dean sighed when he noticed him sitting in the corner. He was staring down at his phone with one hand holding his head up.
Dean cleared his throat and Derek looked up quickly and stood. "Clara wants to talk to you." He nodded with a small smile.
"She's awake?" He asked in shock and relief. He let out a breath but didn't move.
"Yes." Dean nodded. He turned and headed for the door but noticed Derek had not followed him. "There a problem?" Dean had to laugh at the frozen agent.
"Um.. no... I mean.." he sighed running a hand over his head and shaking his head. "I don't think I should go in there." He sighed finally.
"Why?"
"Are you kidding? How could you even want me around her!" Derek laughed with a shake of his head. "I mean after everything I said to you and her, she ran through a burning house to save my ass! She didn't even hesitate." Derek huffed. "She could have-" He stopped covering his mouth and shook his head again.
"Listen, you have to know by now that's just how Clara is. You could shoot her and she would still run through a burning building to save you." Dean shrugged with a smile. "That is one of the best things about Clara, and even though it is the most dangerous, it is also what I love most about her." Dean smiled.
"You're right." Derek sighed as he stepped up to Dean and extend his hand for him to shake. Dean didn't take it at first. "Look I've said a lot of shit over the past week and I've got a thousand apologize to make and I might as well start now." Dean finally shook Derek hand. "I may not understand you and her but if having you around finally makers her happy then who am I to say anything." They both nodded. "Plus you don't seem like the type to give up."
Dean had to laugh. "Oh trust me that is just never an option." Derek smirked.
"And I'm sorry about your brother." Derek added and Dean sighed with a nod.
Both men walked down the hall and they could hear Adrian and Clara laughing. Dean smiled once he walked in. He walked over to her and she looked up at him with a big smile. Derek watched the smile on Clara's face get bigger once Dean stood next to her and he knew how much of an ass he had been.
Derek stood at the door for a minute before Clara even noticed him. She gasped when she saw him and a small smile of relief spread. "Would you two give us a sec?" Clara whispered to Dean and Adrian. They nodded and left quickly.
"Clara I..." Derek started as he took a few steps into her room.
"Come here." Her mood changed as she ordered him next to her. Derek sighed as he walked over next to her bed and looked down. She reached up quickly and threw her arms around him. Clara held Derek tightly in her arms for a minute and by his tenseness she knew he was confused. "I thought you were..." She stopped once he pulled away.
"Me? Are you kidding?" Derek said quickly. "Clara you are so stupid! Why didn't you leave me." He sighed.
"Oh come on you can't seriously be mad at me." Clara shifted away from Derek as he sat next to her.
"Mad at you?" He questioned. "You saved my life."
Clara smiled. "Well don't let my efforts go to waste." She said quickly with a sigh. "You're a good guy and a very protective friend and I appreciate all your worry but sometimes..."
"I know." He stopped her.
"You know what I think?" Clara asked with a sigh. "I think you need to go talk to Penelope." Clara smiled.
"I think I need to do more than talk." Derek sighed.
"We both almost died, I think she will be more relieved you are safe then anything you said or did." Clara said. "And I swear if screw up again I'll set your desk on fire." Clara said.
Derek looked at Clara with a sigh. "I'm so sorry."
"For what exactly? Being knocked out by a girl or the burns I took for you so wouldn't look bad on your wedding day?" Clara laughed.
"Everything." He sighed.
"Yeah I figured that once I told you about Sam." Clara rolled her eyes. "I don't need your pity Derek I need my friend." She sighed. "God knows I am running out of friends." She sighed.