A/N: Boo! Haha, made you look. Ok, so I'm back at school now; hence the few days wait for this next one. But school does mean more spare time, which hopefully means more writing. Ok... so one weird thing I've noticed... I've gotten two reviews on my disclaimers... haha-- they're nearly as hard to write as my one shots... Speaking of which! Tonights one is (hurray to one shot number 50!), a weird one. It's very philisophical... so I don't know if many of you will like it. But I didn't think I'd get more than 2 on the last one, and look what happened. Either way-- enjoy! Oh... and just to let you know, it isn't a death fic... the title just implies it. Haha...
Title: Seconds to Live
Genre: Suspense.
Summary: A demon finally caught up with Sam, leaving his lifeless body hanging from a tree. But sometimes what happens in mere seconds can seem a lot longer...
Sometimes a minute can seem like an eternity, a second can be forever. Then again, sometimes it passes before you even knew it was there. A person can have a thousand thoughts rush through their head in a fraction of a second-- their life replaying in sacred moments that all too soon can be taken away.
A person can have seconds to live, and a lifetime to remember,
Sam knew something was wrong when he became conscious, and could feel the rope around his neck. The air was cool and dark, tasting of pine and oak-- he was far away from anyone. A demon's usual methods of killing a person were-- not surprisingly, supernatural. This one, however, took great pleasure in killing its victims in seemingly suicidal ways.
Sam was no different.
The moment the young hunter's feet were left unsupported, and he felt the rope tightening around his neck, he knew his life was gone. Crickets chirped their song, and a cool breeze rustled the leaves of the tree that suspended the Winchester's life eight feet off the ground. No sound came from Sam, his free hands grasping desperately-- uselessly-- at the rope choking the life from him. Time was running out, as he could feel his body loose the fight to stay conscious.
Sam's mouth opened in a silent gasp, his eyes wide in fear.
"Am I dead now?" Sam looked beside him at the beautiful blonde.
Mary smiled, "No Love, you're not dead."
"But I'm going to be," Sam's voice sounded sad, "Soon. There's no one around right now-- no one to save me."
The sun shone brightly, though as Sam stared upwards from his position in a grass field, he saw numerous stars twinkling down at him.
"You'll be ok Sammy," Mary placed a hand on Sam's shoulder, and rubbed gently, "No matter what happens, I promise you that you'll be ok."
Sam bit his lower lip lightly, choking back tears, "… I don't want to die Mom…"
Mary walked around to the front of her son, a smile on her face as she swept aside the single tear rolling down his cheek, "Everything will be ok Love," she paused, "Did I ever tell you about what happened when you were born?"
Sam shook his head, his eyes staring blankly ahead.
"Dean was little-- only four when I told him that he was going to get a little brother or sister," Mary smiled at the fond memory, "He was so excited, and asked every day when you were coming. You must have known how badly Dean wanted you because I was just past eight months pregnant with you when you decided to wake me up in the middle of the night."
Sam smiled slightly at this, his eyes still not meeting hers.
Mary continued, "When we got to the hospital, everyone was so excited. Then you came-- you were small, but healthy, and--" Mary sighed happily, "I don't think I've ever seen a smile so big on your Dad's face then when the doctor said that we had another little boy. And Dean… he loved you so much from the moment we placed you in his arms."
"He never told me any of this," Sam whispered out.
"Why would he?" Mary laughed softly, "Your brother was never one to tell someone his feelings. But," again Mary let out a smile that belonged only to her, "As your Dad and I tried to think of a name for you, it was Dean who was the one who spoke up. He'd just started preschool, and had a best friend there named Sammy. Leaving no question to it, Dean stated that the new baby's name would be Sammy-- his best friend."
Sam could feel the warm, salty tears crawling down his face, "Why did you tell me this Mom?"
Mary turned her son's face towards her, and kissed him where the sadness rolled down, "Since the day you were born, Dean has been there for you."
"I know Mom," Sam choked out, "But he's not here now. He- he's not here. Dean left, and is too far away."
"He never leaves you, and he never will," Mary assured, "You were his best friend then, and you are his best friend now. You just have to believe in him."
Sam squeezed his eyes shut, his breath coming in a deep quiver, "I- I can't. It's too late, it's been too long."
"Sometimes…" Mary's voice was getting further away, as Sam noticed darkness once again seeping its way around him, "… sometimes a minute can seem like an eternity, and a second forever," Mary was gone now, and Sam could smell the pine and oak again, "… and sometimes that's all a person needs to save a life…"
"Sammy!" someone shook Sam firmly by the shoulder, "…oh God… Sammy! C'mon man, breath…"
The younger Winchester was laying flat on his back now, and as suddenly as his breath had been taken away, he now felt it come back in a large rush of cool, fresh air.
Dean sighed in relief, letting the tears of fear mark their way down his rough face, "That's it little brother," his voice was soft and reassuring, "Just take a deep breath."
Feeling came back to Sam as he felt Dean lift his head up slightly, and a hand brush comfortingly through his hair. All his concentration went on breathing, each breath becoming less of a struggle as the swelling in his throat allowed the life back into him. It had been close-- too close as Dean's panicked voice had indicated.
It was nearly a minute before Dean spoke again, "Hey Sam… can you open your eyes up man?"
The request, though a simple one, was a struggle for Sam as his breath came through his raw throat. When his eyes finally did open, he stared up at the star splashed sky, blocked partly by the branches of the tree which tried to steal his life. He remembered the demon taking him, and then waking up just in time to be hanged alive. He remembered the seconds that followed as his life faded away from him… then nothing.
"Hey Sammy," Dean's smiling face appeared over top of him, as Sam felt himself be lowered completely to the ground.
"…Dean…" Sam's voice came out rough and quiet, "--up."
Dean grabbed Sam's hand and pulled him into a sitting position. The younger brother looked around, spotting the rope just feet away.
"You--" Sam painfully cleared his throat, looking at Dean who sat crouched in front of him, "…you saved me."
Dean grinned and patted Sam on the leg, "Couldn't leave you hanging little brother. It's a bad look for you."
Sam smiled, "… thank you."
Dean cleared his throat, letting out and sniffle, "Yeah… are you ok Sammy?"
"I think so."
Dean breathed hard, "Good," a smile spread to the elder Winchester's features, "Because you scared the holy hell out of me Sammy."
Sam smiled, which caused the tears to threaten to flow over again for Dean as he spotted the harsh red marks reflect off Sam's neck from the moon light. From the time the older brother got there and saw Sam's lifeless body hanging from the tree, it had seemed like forever. A lifetime to get him breathing again, and even longer before he knew that Sam was even alive.
But it was over.
His Sammy was breathing, and alive, and smiling again. Dean Winchester would have his entire life, even if it was the last thing he did, to save Sam. His little brother would grow to be old, and happy, and even though Dean knew they'd have fights, or would swear vengeance on each other, they would be best friends forever.
Sometimes a minute can seem like an eternity, a second can be forever. Then again, sometimes it passes before you even knew it was there…