A/n: Thank you for reading, reviewing, following, and/or favorite this story.

A special thank you to hectatess, SparksFlyAngel, Guest, LilyBolt, jojospn, and MarbleWolf for all of your recent reviews.

Chapter 24

Robert got to work searching for the crucible that was needed to melt down the wedding ring, while the brothers sat waiting for him in the living room. They had offered to help, but the hunter had waved them off saying that finding anything in his house was like an I Spy book to anyone who wasn't him. Since he very rarely ever had any company over, and when he did it was usually a hunter making a stop for supplies or advice, he hadn't worried too much about keeping things tidy. What he didn't tell them was that there were a lot of interesting items laying around that he had no intentions of having either of the boys coming across. Especially the younger of the two.

Sam sat in the study chair by the fireplace with a book open on the desk in front of him while he continued to rub the gold band between his fingers. Dean watched him cautiously from the couch, wanting to comment on the situation, but not wanting to upset him anymore then he already was. He felt for his little brother. Freshly married to a beautiful woman, his whole life ahead of him, going to school to become a lawyer...then this. He lost everything near and dear to him. Everything that could remind him of the good times he had with Jessica. He had nothing but that wedding ring and soon, he wasn't going to have that either. Dean didn't want to have to get rid of Jessica, but if a man who was a specialist in the matter said it was better, then it probably was.

In all fairness, the poor woman was having just as hard a time of letting Sam go as he was of her. The only difference was that Sam was still alive and even if he didn't want him, he still had his big brother. Jessica had no one other than Sam to help her move on, and it was clear to Dean that it wasn't something his sibling actually wanted to do. Not that he could blame him.

"What?"

Dean blinked his eyes and shifted in his spot at the sound of his brother's voice.

"What what?"

"You've been sitting there staring at me for the last two minutes or so." He'd been so lost in thought, he hadn't even realized his gaze had been glued to his brother. Sam continued to stare back, waiting for an answer.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" Sam repeated. "You've just been sitting there looking like someone kicked your puppy...for no reason?" He questioned in disbelief.

"I'm just...I'm so-" Dean stopped himself. His brother had already made it clear to everyone that he wasn't interested in hearing people telling him they're sorry. "This just sucks."

The younger Winchester huffed, "you're telling me?"

"I just...I wish it didn't have to be like this for you, you know? I wish this never happened and I just...I'm sorry, Sam." He couldn't stop the words from coming out, because he was sorry. And maybe Sam didn't want to hear it, but Dean desperately needed to say it.

Missouri had been right and even though he had left to go find his brother and check in on him, he still hadn't been able to stop it. And then maybe it was his fault this had all happened. After all, he had been the one to pull Sam from his home and caused him to leave Jessica alone and vulnerable. If he'd just stayed in Kansas, none of this would have happened and his brother could have moved on with his life. His stomach suddenly felt like a heavy stone had been dropped inside it.

Sam opened his mouth to respond, but it was a gruff voice that spoke.

"Alright, I found it. It's a bit beat up, but it'll do the trick." He announced looking from one brother to the other.

"Ok, so now what?" Dean asked getting to his feet.

"Now, we get to work on melting that ring and freeing Sam's wife. Sam too."

Robert led the brothers out from the house and through a maze of beat up old cars, which now that it was daylight, Dean realized they had been the large silhouettes he had noticed when he pulled up to the hunter's house earlier that morning. His eyes wandered from vehicle to vehicle, leaning closer here and there to peer inside.

"You like cars, Dean?" The hunter asked, noticing the elder Winchester's occasional stop and stare.

"Yes sir. I use to work at a garage back at home," he informed proudly. Sam turned to face his sibling.

"Use to?"

"Yeah. What? You think my boss was fine with how many days I haven't showed up to work lately?"

"You were fired?" Sam asked surprised. "When?"

"Laid off is how he put it. Couple days ago," the elder Winchester replied.

"You've worked at that shop since you were fifteen. Why didn't you say something?"

"We have more important things going on right now, figured it wasn't worth mentioning. Besides, I didn't really think you'd care honestly," Dean said with a nonchalant shrug.

Robert stopped in front of what appeared to be an open garage. It was full of tools, oil cans, and more cluster. On top of a work bench sat the crucible the man had found along with a pair of tongs, goggles and a propane torch.

"How good are you with using one of those?" Dean asked nervously.

"The torch isn't gonna be the problem," the man answered as he pulled on a pair of oil stained heat resident gloves. "Meltin' down a gold ring requires a higher heat than one o' those normally can supply."

"Which means?"

"Which means it's gonna take longer than if it was something more flammable. Not to mention I have to go nice and slow so I don't crack the crucible with too much heat."

"Awesome," the elder Winchester mumbled.

"That being said," the hunter pulled out a duffle bag from within the cluster that looked just as beat up and worn down as everything else the man owned. He placed it on the work bench and unzipped it. "Here you go," he said as he handed Sam a large canister.

"What's this for?" He asked scrunching up his face puzzled.

"Salt is a hunter's best friend. Well, one o' them anyways. It's basically a "keep out" sign to things like spirits and demons. Most of the supernatural can't handle something pure like that substance there. My house is stocked with it," Robert explained. "Start makin' a big circle around us and the bench and whatever you do, stay inside of it."

"You're joking?" Dean commented with an incredulous chuckle. "Monsters are afraid of condiments?"

"Not all of them and not just any condiment. You grab the wrong shaker'n you're as good as dead." The brothers exchanged glances then returned their attention to the hunter. "Either of you know how to use a gun?" He asked.

"My dad taught me a thing or two about'em," Dean answered as he took the shotgun from the man.

"I'm certain he didn't teach you how to defend yerself against anything like this. That gun ain't loaded with yer runa the mill bullets," Robert warned, "they wouldn't do much good in this case. That there is a rock salt loaded shotgun. It's harder to keep in yer hands during a hunt with a ghost than you think. Trust me."

"Rock salt?"

"Does it hurt them?" Sam questioned feeling stupid for having asked. It's a ghost, of course it's not going to hurt them. They're already dead. But as dumb and juvenile as it sounded, it was something that concerned him. He didn't want Dean shooting at Jessica, dead or not, that was still his wife and he didn't like the idea of her feeling any more pain than she already must have.

"Well, they don't like it. Never having been dead before myself, I can't speak on their behalf," he supplied with a shrug. The younger sibling frowned. "Ready Sam?" Robert asked.

"You're asking me to get rid of my wife. I'll never be ready," he said looking back down at the small band. With one last turn of it in his fingers, he placed the ring in the crucible.

"Alright, now, some borax'll help lower the temperature and that should help speed up the process." He turned to Dean. "Get that gun ready, when she finds out what we're doin' she's not gonna be happy about it."

"Wait, she can come out during the day?" The elder Winchester asked, fear touching his voice.

"Of course they can, they aren't vampires. Though fyi, they can be out during the day too, it just weakens them a bit is all."

"Wait, there's such thing and they don't go up in smoke or turn to ash or anything?" Dean asked disappointed.

"They don't turn into bats either, before you ask."

"So Dracula's real?" the elder brother shook his head.

"Dracula's a work of fiction written by a guy who didn't know squat 'bout vampires. It happens more' n you think. Plus the things are on the road to extinction, least that's what I've heard."

Robert strapped on the goggles, took a deep breath, and lit the torch, aiming it away from everyone. No sooner had the flame appeared when movement caught Sam's eye. Standing not far from Robert, was an angry looking Jessica. The salt seemed to be doing the trick, she didn't step foot inside the circle Sam had created. He heard the sound of a shotgun cock and before he had the chance to react, it went off. The rock salt hit its target, making Jessica grunt and disappear. Dean cocked it again.

"Stop!" Sam shouted, shoving the barrel down so that it aimed at the floor. The elder sibling looked at him in surprise.

"Sam what're you-"

"You're hurting her!"

"Hurting her?! She's trying to hurt us!" He shout back.

"It's not her fault," the twenty two year old assured his brother.

"Bobby, how're we looking?" Dean asked nervously, risking a quick glance over.

"So far so good," he answered. "We're still gonna need a few minutes."

"Fantastic," the elder Winchester remarked.

Without warning, Jessica reappeared and this time, she had her sight fixed on Dean. He gave a startled cry at the sudden appearance and quickly pulled the gun up, aimed it at the ghost once again, then pulled the trigger. Another grunt from Jessica and she was gone like before.

"Dean! I said stop!" Sam hollered.

"Sam-"

A gust of wind stopped the twenty six year old, catching him off guard. This time when he turned around, the salt circle that had been shielding them from her, was now being blown away. The circle broke and the next thing Dean knew, he was being thrown from his feet and flying into the air. He landed hard on the ground feet from where he had once been, but not before his arm met one of the metal storage shelves at full force. He let out a groan and a hiss of pain as he tried to pull his arm closer into himself, the shotgun laying out of reach.

"Dean!" Sam shouted.

Jessica flickered in and out and then reappeared right in front of Robert, sending him into the air just as she had done with Dean. The torch was knocked from his hand and was left burning up the cement floor. With the hunter now almost completely out of the open garage, she was back in front of Dean. A sharp sudden pain erupted in his chest and when he looked down, he could see Jessica's hand inside him. A look of pure rage on her face.

"Jessica, STOP!" She turned to face her husband who stood a few inches from her and Dean. She didn't move from her position, but her attention was no longer on the elder brother either. Sam's eyes grew glossy as he stared at her. "Jessica, please. This isn't you. I know it's not. You'd never hurt anyone." He replied gently. Her features softened and she removed her hand from inside Dean's chest. He gasped for air and placed his good hand on the spot she had been in. Slowly as not to startle her, Robert pushed himself up to his feet, but remained still. Everyone's eyes stayed focused on the spirit. Sam paused, trying to keep his voice from breaking. "Look, Jess, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I'd been there this never would've happened." She began to shake her head as she moved her hands up towards his face like she often did to sooth him. "I love you, and that'll never change, but you're changing and I don't want that for you. I want you to be the same fun, loving, caring, amazing, beautiful woman you were when I met you. You deserve to be happy, Jess. You deserve to be at peace. I can't keep on keeping you around for my own selfish reasons." He stopped as tears flooded from his eyes. "It's time for you to let go, Baby. It's time for me to let you go. It's going to be ok." Jessica's eyes grew sad as she gazed up at Sam and a small smile slid across her lips. She nodded at him. He closed his eyes as she slowly removed her hands from his face and then turned towards Dean. He sat frozen on the floor still cradling his arm. The spirit gave him an apologetic look.

"Don't worry, I'll stick around and be a pain in his ass for you," he promised. Jessica grinned, satisfied with his vow. She once again spun to face her husband and as her smile grew larger, the air around her grew brighter until it engulfed her completely. When it dimmed again, she was gone, leaving Sam standing alone within the broken salt circle.

With the spirit of Jessica finally at peace, Robert made a move to retrieve the torch, which had left some damage on the ground.

"Hot damn," The hunter replied in awe. "Never woulda guessed ghost whisperin' actually worked." The hunter turned his gaze over to the elder brother looking him over. "She got you pretty good." He turned to Sam, "you should get him to a hospital and get that arm checked out. I'm willing to bet the thing's broken. Not to mention maybe have'em take a look at his chest if it's still botherin' him. Just to be safe."

"I'm not going to the hospital. It's not the first time I've broken my arm you know?" he grumbled as he struggled to his feet.

"Nearest one's Sioux Falls General," it's not far from here. Take the main road out and follow that for awhile. Here, I'll write you directions," he replied, leading the brothers out of the open garage and back to the house. He grabbed the first blank sheet he could find and then began to write and verbally direct the Winchesters on how to get there.

"I said I'm not going," Dean snapped.

"You are and I've got more news for you, you're not driving," Sam informed. "Gimme your keys."

"Fuck you I'm not driving. You're the one who's not driving."

The younger sibling shot his hand into Dean's jacket pocket and pulled out the key ring to the Impala. "Hey!" He roared.

"Come on, let's get going." He turned back to the hunter, "thank you Robert, for everything you've done for me."

"Of course. Glad I could help. Should somethin' else come up, you know where to find me. Just...maybe call before you show up." Sam chuckled and shook Robert's hand while Dean gave him a curt nod. The man watched as the brothers climbed into the Impala and sped off down the road.

"How're you holding up?" The younger man asked after a few miles, glancing over at his sibling who was leaning his upper body on the passenger side window, careful not to touch anything with his arm which he still held close to him.

"I told you, I'm fine. You just worry about keeping your eyes on the road. You wreck my car and I'm gonna wreck you," Dean replied shortly.

"Relax Dean, I'm not going to wreck your car."

"How 'bout you? How're you feeling?" The elder Winchester questioned looking at his sibling.

"Honestly, I'm better than I expected. I mean I miss her, and I'm always going to, but...I don't know. I guess seeing her and knowing that she's going to be at peace now...I guess it's given me a sense of...relief. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to find out who was responsible for taking her from me and they will pay, but I feel...I can't really explain how I feel."

"So now what?"

"Now we get you looked at and fixed up, if need be. According to Robert's directions, we only have a few more miles-"

Sam's words were cut off as the passenger side of the muscle car was slammed into by something twice it's size and weight. The door caved in and Dean was jolted so that his head and shoulders collide hard against Sam's side from the impact, squashing him between the door and his brother. Meanwhile, Sam was thrown with such force against the driver's side window, that his head bashed into it causing it to crack and break. The driver of the other vehicle climbed out and made their way toward the wreck and the motionless brothers with a victorious grin on their face.

A/n: Alright, things are going to start snowballing pretty fast for the boys from here.

SparksFlyAngel: I feel for them both as well, but it gives them the perfect thing to bond over. Or no, I think you know what I mean by that. I always thought Bobby's story about how he came to be a hunter was tragic. Poor Bobby. Yeah it's not easy having to burn the one thing you have of someone you love and therefore getting rid of them too. At least I can imagine, but at least she left in a much better way than they had planned. I'm glad you liked that chapter, I hope you you liked this one too. Thank you for your awesome review!

Guest: The one thing he had of hers and yes, like you pointed out, the one thing she was terrified of losing when she was alive. Dean isn't trusting Brady anytime soon and it does put Sam in quite a position when his brother and his best friend are at such odds. Telling him the other is no good and a bad idea for Sam to be around. Yeah, that's not a story I imagine Bobby sharing with just anyone. But he and Sam have something in common there, so he'd probably have sympathy for him and feel better about sharing it. Thank you for you're awesome review!

Oh and thank you for reading "Bittersweet Symphony" as well! I'm really glad you loved it! It seriously makes my day to know that you look forward to my writing during the week! I always look forward to the amazing reviews you leave me. You're awesome! Thank you!