My beta and I talked for a while today and threw a few ideas around. Then this beautiful chapter flowed perfectly out of my head and onto my phone. Needless to say, big plans for the story. Enjoy!
Note: I don't own any characters except Ashley.
Dean draped his arm across my shoulders as we walked towards the general direction Sam ran off. Despite the fact that we were underground, the air was still chilly and I was glad for the warmth from his side. "I'm still mad, y'know," I said as I leaned slightly into him. "But?" His voice was full of amusement. "But it's cold, and you're warm." I wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled myself closer. His chest rumbled as he laughed and I smiled. "Maybe it would help if we took off some clothes."
"Don't push it," I grumbled, because I was still mad that he left me behind. He immediately stopped walking and I could feel the muscles in his back tense up. At first I thought it was something I said, then I saw Sam. His hand was extended out towards Samhains, intensely concentrating. He looked up– locking eyes with Dean, then me, then back to the demon as his nose started to bleed. Dean took a step forward, his arm sliding off my shoulder. I panicked, this wasn't supposed to happen, and jumped in front of Dean. His eyes were dangerously dark as they met mine. "Move," he growled. "Dean," I put my hands on his chest, "calm down."
"Calm down?" His heartbeat increased under my hand, "my brother is using his powers again, after everyone told him to stop. Don't tell me to calm down."
"It's self defense," I snapped angrily. "I gave him Ruby's knife, and he obviously didn't use it."
"How the hell would you know?" That did it. His eyes lit up and he shoved me back against the wall. "Don't you dare come in here and act like you know my own damn brother better than me. Just because we're on some show doesn't mean you're better than us, or that you know us, because you don't." I winced as he talked, his words cutting across my chest like a knife. The worst part? He was absolutely right. I didn't have the right to tell him what he can and can't do about his own brother. I wasn't better than either of them because I know what happens. I certainly didn't deserve to act like I knew them because I saw them on tv after my shitty days at school. I looked up at him through wet eyes, because he was completely right about everything. His face instantly flooded with regret and he stepped forward. "Don't," My voice was tight as I backed towards where we came, "you're right, I was being stupid. It's my fault. I'll leave."
"Wait–" he pleaded and held his hand out. "Dean, don't," my throat felt too thick, "you were right, I don't know you and I shouldn't be here."
"Ashley–"
"Stop," I swiped at my eyes as tears spilled out, "please, stop. Don't try to follow me, please." His shoulders sagged and his eyes grew watery. I wanted more than anything to wrap my arms around him. To listen to his faint assurances that everything was going to be fine, that we'd work it out. But I knew I didn't belong here, I didn't deserve it, and I wasn't going to stay and mess everything up more than it already was. I couldn't help the pathetic tears staining my face as I looked at him one last time. I barely had enough strength left to whisper a "Goodbye, Dean." With that I turned and walked away, before all my walls came crashing down.
O.o
The wind had picked up and lashed out across my cheeks and neck. I pulled up the collar of my jacket, crammed my hands in my pockets, and hunched over in an effort to keep warm. I realized that all my stuff was still in a bag at the motel, but I wasn't going back anytime soon. Letting out a heavy sigh, I mentally noted that I had to go back when the brothers weren't there. Or Dean at least, I might be able to get past Sam. Dean. My whole body shook as a wave of sobs racked through me. I balled up my fists, wishing I had something to cling onto. I forced myself to take deep breathes, crying wasn't going to help me. I chose to leave, I didn't belong, and I had to suck it up and deal with it. Only my phone, no money, not even a weapon, I panicked at what I was going to do for the night. Going back to the motel was out of the question. Why did I even care? It's not like I mattered to anyone anymore, not here and not back in my world. So I walked around aimlessly, too numb to care that no one else was around and that I should probably be panicking. I didn't even see the guy until I slammed into him. "Shit, I'm sorry," I mumbled, but I honestly didn't care anymore. "Hey, it's cool," I looked up at his face and immediately panicked. His slight smirk looked wicked compared to his inky black eyes. I slowly backed up, fully aware that I didn't have anything to defend myself with. "What's the matter, sweetheart?" He sneered as he stepped forwards and gripped my wrist. "Let me go," I growled, trying to break out of his grip. He chuckled darkly, "not yet, the boss wants to talk with you. He heard you know what's gonna happen."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I think you know what I'm talking about," he pushed me against the brick wall, "Ashley." I brought my knee up between his legs and he staggered sideways. I started to run, but he kept his hold on my wrist and jerked me back. His fist connected with my face, giving him enough time to recover and duck into an alley. "Bitch," he growled as he pinned me against a wall. "I know you are, but what am I?" He pressed his arm over my neck, making me gag. "You're a real pain in the ass, you know that?" He chuckled, "but all the boss said was he needed you alive." He trailed the tip of a knife across my collarbone and leaned in towards my ear, "a few scratches won't hurt me, but they'll definitely hurt you." I shifted so I could speak again, words were my only weapon right now. "Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas," I cried out as he pressed the knife against my chest. "Shut up!"
"Omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio," he pressed the knife deeper. "I said shut up!" He yelled as he fought to stay in his meat suit. "Omnis congregatio," he plunged the knife deep into my skin, just above my hip, as I cried out in pain. "Et secta diabolica!" It was only half an exorcism but I was suddenly surrounded by black smoke. For a split second I was relieved, then I felt the pain spread through my stomach. The knife was laying on the ground and I had a deep gash above my hip that was bleeding enough to make me panic. I didn't even know where a hospital was, let alone if I could even make it there. I kept a hand pressed firmly over my wound as I limped back out to the street. It was early in the morning now, no one was around. I realized I had been subconsciously wandering towards the motel and I was only a few blocks away. Figuring that was my only option, I tried to ignore the pain for a few blocks of walking.
O.o
I immediately noticed the impala was no where in the parking lot, making my stomach do a flip flop. I had already lost so much blood from walking over here, there was no way I was going anywhere else. Still, I walked over to the room we were staying at and knocked. Sam opened the door, leaving me both relieved and disappointed. "Ashley? What the hell happened? Are you ok?" I smiled weakly, "yeah, y'know me. I'll be fine." I tried to take a step, but my legs gave out and I fumbled forward. Sam wrapped an arm around my waist, keeping me from falling and holding me up. He set me over on the couch, "Ashley, you need to tell me what happened."
"There was a demon," I panted, the edge of my vision turning black, "where's Dean?"
"He went out to look for you. I'll call him, ok?" Before I could protest Sam had the phone pressed up to his ear. I wanted to tell him to just patch me up and send me on my way, Dean didn't need me. I was just extra dead weight that he carried around and he didn't deserve that. But instead I groaned as the adrenaline stared to wear off and I felt the real pain shooting through my side. "Here," Sam handed me the phone and I took it without thinking. "Dean?"
"Yeah, Angel, I'm here." It felt like a huge amount of weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was barely gone for a couple hours and I didn't realize how much I ached to hear his voice. How much I had missed him. "Dean," I said again because I didn't know what else to say, and suddenly tears were streaming down my cheeks and all I wanted was for him to wrap his arms around me and never let me go. "Shhh, I'm here. It's gonna be ok, I'm almost there. Sam said you got hurt?"
"Yeah," I croaked. "Hey, it's ok. You're gonna be fine," his voice full of promise. "Don't leave."
"I'm not going anywhere, okay? Just relax, I'm almost there." I hadn't even realized Sam had started stitching up my side until I looked down. I panicked again, there was significantly more blood and it looked a hell of a lot worse than it did earlier. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting to stay conscience. "Dean," I needed to hear his voice, something to focus on so I didn't pass out. "I'm almost there, baby, okay? One minute. One minute I promise," his voice sounded tight but I was in no shape to tell. "Keep talking," I pleaded. "You're gonna be fine. I won't let anything happen to you. I'm almost there, baby. One minute. I'm in the parking lot, okay? Hang on I'm almost there, Angel." The phone fell from my ear as everything went black for a few seconds. I fought as hard as I could, Dean promised, he said he was right outside, said I would be fine. I forced my eyes open as something grabbed my hand. I could barely see anything. The edges of my vision were black and anything I could see was blurry and almost impossible to make out. "Hey, hey!" I was vaguely aware of someone shouting and something warm pressing against my cheek. There was suddenly something right in front of my face and I tried as hard as I could to focus on it. "Angel?" That time I could recognize his voice, and I figured he must be hovering over me. I weakly leaned into his hand. "Dean," I wasn't sure if I said it or not but he acknowledged it. "I'm here. You're gonna be fine, I promise. You're gonna–" Suddenly, everything turned black.