Here's the next chapter! I made it a long one for all of you who are following this story. Thanks, it is great motivation to keep writing. I would love to hear what everyone thinks. Oh, and I don't have a beta so all mistakes are my own. Feel free to point them out so I can fix them.
Once he was back inside his motel room, Dean lay the girl down on the bed. She was scarily light and looked very malnourished. He'd carried her all the way from the rec center but now that they were in the room he wasn't sure what to do. The odds that this was indeed his long lost sister were very slim. It was more likely that she was just some random crazy person that he was now going to have to deal with. He sat down in the chair across the room and stared over at the bed. She looked to be around the right age…she had the same hair color, the same eye color and even the same feisty attitude.
Samantha had been an adorable kid that would always follow him around wherever he went. The day that he had found out he was going to be a big brother had been the best day of his life. And when she had actually arrived, well, she had annoyed the hell outta him. All the crying and screaming and throwing up she did actually made him tell his mother to take her back to the hospital.
He laughed out loud at the memory. "We warmed up to each other eventually…right Sammy…"
With a sigh he dragged his hand through his hair and leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees, and stared down at the carpet. This whole thing was ridiculous. Thinking some strange girl was his sister… Sam was probably dead…
"Ugh…"
His head shot up at the sound. Apparently she was waking up. He stood up and quickly made his way back over to the bed. Her eyes were scrunched up like she was trying to come back. He waited with bated breath as her hazel eyes fluttered open. For a moment she seemed confused and then all hell broke loose. Before he could even move, she was flying off the bed and in the corner of the room looking like a caged animal. He held his hands out in front of him in a placating gesture. She narrowed her eyes and pulled a knife. He mentally kicked himself for not checking her for weapons.
"Hey, hey look, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you, so please just calm down."
Her gaze shifted wildly around the room looking for a way out. Dean saw her eyes land on the door and he slowly shifted to block her way. He couldn't let her go. She was too dangerous at the moment. Unfortunately she caught the movement and dropped into a defensive stance.
"I will not go back…"
It was barely a whisper so he couldn't really hear what she'd said. "What?"
"I will not go back!" She screamed before lunging at him with the knife. Dean was prepared this time and quickly pulled a taser from his pocket and pulled the trigger. Her body went rigid from the electricity and fell to the floor. He grimaced as she twitched on the carpet.
"I'm really sorry about that but you gave me no choice."
She glared up at him as her muscles tensed. "N-no…"
"No what? Where do you not want to go back to?"
Her eyes narrowed again but this time she seemed more confused than angry. "N-not HIM?"
"HIM? Him who?"
She closed her eyes and Dean decided not to press her until the taser's effects wore off. It didn't take long because he'd only used it once and, when she finally seemed to relax, her eyes rolled open again and she stared up at him.
Dean knelt down beside her, keeping a healthy distance so she couldn't grab him, and tried to make himself as non threatening as possible. "Again, I'm sorry about the taser. I just couldn't let you run outta here like that without a little chat first." He placed the taser on the floor beside him so that it was out of reach just to reassure her. She tracked each of his movements with those familiar eyes and he once again found himself believing that it really was Sam.
"See? I'm not gonna hurt you. It's okay."
Still looking extremely distrustful, the girl slowly pushed herself into a sitting position and shuffled backward so that she was up against the wall and far from him. Dean could understand her reaction…he had shot and tasered her after all, that didn't exactly instill a great deal of trust.
As she was sitting there she began absentmindedly rubbing her wrist. The one with his name carved into it.
"You know…that's my name too. Dean."
She completely froze and then looked down at her wrist. Her hands started shaking and she pulled her knees up to her chest. Ooops, thought Dean. Maybe he shouldn't have brought it up.
"Hey, uh, sorry if that's a touchy subject. I didn't mean to upset you or anything."
She looked up at him with a frown on her face. She seemed so fragile now compared to the attacker of earlier. It was like a complete 180.
"You are Dean?"
"Yup. Dean Winchester. Pleased to meet you Miss?"
She tilted her head but didn't speak. Instead she started rubbing her wrist again.
"Not exactly a great communicator are you…"
He sighed again and shifted so that he was fully sitting on the floor. "So, if you won't tell me your name, how about what you were doing in the rec center?"
"Rec center?"
"Okay…Are you broke or something? Why couldn't you stay in a place like this?" He gestured around the room. Once again she tracked the movement. Dean found it strange. This girl had to of had training of some kind. She was a good fighter, plus she was very aware of her surroundings. But on the other hand, she was completely filthy, like she'd been living in a hole and she was so skinny that it really made him wonder when the last time she'd eaten was.
"Broke? Yes. I am broke."
God, it was like talking to a five year old.
"Alright. So you have no name, you're broke and you live in the rec center. Anything else I should know?"
Growl.
The sound of her stomach broke the silence and Dean couldn't help but burst out laughing. And when she looked at him like he was the strange one, well, he laughed even harder.
"So I guess you're hungry huh." He said when he finally calmed down. "How do you feel about pie?"
One hour later
She watched him carefully as he cleaned up the food wrappers surrounding her. He made no move to touch her or even come near her for which she was very grateful.
He's lulling you into a false sense of security…and then he'll attack.
"Shut up…" She murmured under her breath. The man stopped cleaning and gave her a funny look. It was one that said, She's crazy. It was understandable. Sane people didn't talk to themselves.
"You want another one?" He asked as he gestured to the bag of beef jerky he was holding. She shook her head no and stared back down at her wrist. Dean. Dean was a name that had meant something to her once…a long time ago. It's why she'd carved it into her skin…so she would never forget. The only problem was…that she had forgotten. After everything…the name had faded away, along with any memory or sense of who she had been before HIM.
Fool. The past is irrelevant. The name Dean is a coincidence. Just kill him and move on…you know you want to…
"I said shut up…"
He looked at her again and this time he actually looked concerned. It was odd seeing someone look at her like that. Odd and…kind of nostalgic…
"Umm…so, what were you really doing in the rec center?" He asked as he sat back down on the floor across from her. Rec Center. She still had no idea what a rec center was. It's probably the building you were squatting in you idiot. She narrowed her eyes but kept them firmly away from the corner of the room. It would do her no good to indulge him.
"I needed to sleep…" The words were out of her mouth before she even realized she was speaking. Her eyes widened in shock. It was strange…talking to this…man, made her feel at ease somehow.
"That's understandable. Everybody needs to sleep. How long have you been in town?"
He asks to many questions…
A spy?! Working for HIM!
No…Dean wouldn't be working for him…
Dean. Dean Winchester.
"A…few days."
He smiled softly at her when she answered. He seemed relieved that she could understand and was answering his questions. Of course she could understand. She wasn't stupid…he had taught her many things after all…
"A few days huh…well that must have sucked. It couldn't have been to comfortable sleeping on that mat."
"It was more comfortable than-"
Wait! What are you doing?! Don't tell him you fool! He'll think you're insane and have you locked up!
"More comfortable than what?" Dean questioned softly as she cut herself off. Despite what her mind was telling her, she didn't believe that he would react that way. For some reason he seemed like he would understand.
"More comfortable than…the box."
His face went as white as a ghost when she said that. It confused her. Why would he react that way?
See! I told you he was a spy! He knows about the box!
"Would you shut up!" She screamed toward the corner of the room. He would just not shut up and she was trying to concentrate. When she focussed back on Dean he was staring at her in concern. His eyes kept shifting to the corner of the room. The empty corner…
"I'm sorry for yelling."
He turned back to her in confusion. "N-no, it's okay. Are you alright?"
More questions. She was starting to get uncomfortable and antsy. The urge to leave; to get out, was starting to become overwhelming.
"I need to leave."
His eyes widened in apparent fear as she blurted out the words. It was another confusing reaction to something she'd said. She stood up abruptly and pulled her knife out again. Holding it out in front of her, she started shifting toward the door and the freedom it represented. She would not be held captive again.
What makes you think you could ever escape from me my little star…you always were mine and you always will be…
Darkness suddenly started to skirt the edges of her vision. No…not now…
"Hey!" Dean yelled as he surged forward to catch her as her legs gave out. The blade in her hand fell from limp fingers and her thoughts slowly faded away. But before she could fade completely…his laughter rang out around her.
"Winnie! Wait Winnie!
Winifred Howland stopped walking as the voice of her best friend Beth Mason rang out behind her. She smiled widely and waved. The two girls were on their way to school and they were already late.
"Hey Beth." She said as her red headed partner in crime skidded to a stop beside her. Beth smiled wickedly and started laughing.
"What? What is it?" Asked Winnie.
"Oh nothing…except I just found out that Mark is skipping class today and heading to that place down by the beach. You know the one."
"Where all the perverts hang out?"
"Hey!" Beth scowled indignantly. "I hang out there!
Winnie laughed. "Well dear, you are a pervert."
Beth looked like she was going to slap her but then she burst out laughing. Winnie joined her and the two of them burst into hysterics. They eventually calmed down and Winnie, knowing Beth wanted to go, suggested that they head to the beach. It was Beth's idea that they take the shortcut.
"…so then Kenny said go to hell and Brian punched him in the face. I swear I will never understand men."
"Maybe you should become a lesbian."
Winnie cocked her head as if thinking about it. "If I did, would you be my girlfriend?"
"Wow Winnie…just wow."
"Hello girls."
The two of them jumped at the unexpected voice. A strange man was standing there in the middle of the path. He was very pale with shaggy black hair that just covered his eyes. His clothes were strange too. He was wearing a suit covered in a black trench coat. Strangely, Winnie found him to be kinda hot, despite the fact that he looked to be at least twice her age. As she was thinking this, Beth grabbed onto her hand, which jolted her back to reality.
"What the hell do you want creep?" She said with as much venom as she could. The man didn't say anything. He just started walking forward. Beth started trying to drag her backward, away from him, but for some reason Winnie was reluctant to leave.
"Come on Winnie…lets get outta here…"
Winnie could hear the fear in Beth's voice and it started to seep into her. "Umm, later man."
Spinning on her heel, Winnie began running, dragging Beth along, back the way they'd come. They ran like their lives depended on it and they didn't stop until their school came into view. Breathing heavily they both started to relax.
"Wow…that guy really freaked me out."
"Yeah…"
Laughing somewhat nervously they looked back the way they'd come from. The strange man was nowhere to be seen.
"Looks like we lost him." Said Beth as she tried to fix her hair. She started walking toward the school but Winnie stayed where she was. And it wasn't because she didn't want to go…it was because she couldn't. her body just wouldn't move.
"Come on Winnie. We're already late enough as it is."
Beth turned around and her eyes widened in shock and fear. "Winnie!"
Winnie looked up as the man stood over her. He'd appeared out of nowhere, black eyes staring down at her, and she knew…she knew he was going to take her. His hand reached out and a moment later darkness consumed her…
"WINNIE!"
"My beautiful little Winifred…we're going to have so much fun."
The voice echoed in her mind and she slowly opened her eyes. Apparently he'd just taken another one. It was always the same. They were all his beautiful little dolls.
Where am I? Her mind whispered as she looked up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Her body jolted forward but was stopped cold when something held her firmly by the wrist. She cast her gaze to the side to see a pair of handcuffs securing her to a strange bed frame. She jiggled it a bit but didn't try to escape. It was best to get information first before attempting anything. She wasn't afraid. She didn't get afraid anymore…but it was a bit unsettling to wake up in a place you'd never been before. Turning her attention away from the cuffs she took in her surroundings. A motel room. It was obvious from the shitty decor. There were two beds, an old TV sitting on a dresser and a small table set up near the window. Nothing worth remembering. The only thing note worthy was the man standing in the doorway holding a bag of takeout.
He was staring at her like she was a ghost. Most days she actually felt like one. He was fairly young, maybe around 23 or 24, wasn't bad looking either.
"Are you going to stand there all day?"
At her voice the man jumped. He looked very nervous which was kind of funny considering he was the one that had kidnapped her.
Maybe he plans to rape you? He looks the type…
"Shut up…" she murmured softly under her breath. The man looked at her strangely as she talked to herself. She didn't blame him. He walked over to the table by the window and set his bags down. Then he made his way over to the other bed and sat down facing her.
"Uhh…how are you feeling?"
She took stock of herself and realized that her back was killing her…and so was her head. She had no recollection of how she'd ended up in her current predicament and would have to rely solely on him for info.
"I'm sorry about the handcuffs but…after what happened in the rec center and here earlier, I couldn't really take any chances."
Rec center? Oh…she vaguely remembered attacking someone in the dark. She didn't take kindly to people coming into her space. That was when she realized her back was killing her and she remembered the gunshot.
"You shot me."
He grimaced and rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm sorry about that too."
She studied him for a moment and figured that he was telling the truth. He did feel bad about it and she wondered why. Had she been in the same situation she would have shot him without a moments hesitation or guilt.
And that's why I love you so much…
"I said shut up…"
"Who are you talking to?" He asked as he watched her in confusion. "You were doing the same thing earlier before you passed out."
She realized that she must have been having a pretty bad episode earlier because she had no idea what he was talking about. "Nobody. Who are you and what do you want?"
"My name is…Dean Winchester. I told you that earlier. Don't you remember?"
Yup. Really bad episode. Apparently she'd had a full blown conversation with this guy and she had absolutely no recollection of it. What the hell had they talked about? Wait…Dean Winchester? Dean? The name stirred something deep down inside of her and her hand wandered over to her right wrist and despite the fact that it was handcuffed, she grabbed it and started squeezing hard.
Ignore it…it will only hurt you to remember…
Remember what?
Remember how you were abandoned to me…
No. She squeezed harder and started digging her nails into the flesh of her wrist.
"What are you doing?!" The man, Dean, yelled as he surged forward and grabbed her hand in a vice like grip. There was a troubled expression on his face and for some strange reason she felt bad about putting it there. He held her hand a moment longer before releasing it and walking off toward the bathroom. When he came back out he was carrying a bottle of antiseptic and a bandage.
Bandages…Once again something stirred inside of her. An image of bandages appeared in her mind and for some reason she felt a faint feeling of pride. Shaking her head she focused on what Dean was doing. He was now standing there looking at her.
"Do you…mind if I look at your wrist?"
She gazed down at her wrist. Blood was oozing out of the nail marks she'd created. It didn't matter to her, she'd had far worse done to her, but it really seemed to concern him and once again she felt bad for making him feel like that.
"Okay…I guess."
He looked immensely relived as he proceeded to gently clean the wounds and wrap them. Once that was done he sat back on the other bed again.
"So…you seem really different from before."
"So?"
He frowned and ran a hand through his hair. "God…this is harder than I thought it would be…"
This, whatever this was, was getting ridiculous. "What exactly is this? You shoot me, knock me out and then bring me back to your motel room? What kind of freak are you?"
He looked up in surprise and held his hands out in a placating sort of way. "Hey, it's totally not like that! I just brought you here because…"
When he trailed off she rolled her eyes. "Look, I don't have time for this." She reached into her left pocket and pulled out a lock pick. The handcuffs were off quicker than Dean could react. Unfortunately though, he did have enough time to pull his gun.
"Whoa there sweetheart, you ain't goin nowhere until we have a little chat."
Well at least he was actually doing something now instead of just sitting there staring at her. Feeling curious, she sat back against the headboard and pulled her knees up against her chest. "I'm listening."
"You know, you are being awfully cavalier about all this. Not to mention the weird personality swings… Aren't you scared?"
"I have been through worse than this. So much worse…"
That's right my beautiful girl…remember the fun we had, remember how much I love you…
"I told you to shut the hell up!" She yelled toward the corner of the room and he disappeared with a smile on his face. She glared angrily at the empty space for a moment before facing Dean again. He was staring at her like she was losing it. She was…but that didn't mean she wanted anyone to judge her on it…especially some stranger…
But is he really a stranger?
That thought startled her and her eyes widened in shock.
"What? What's wrong?"
Ignoring Dean, her gaze traveled down to her wrist. Very slowly she unwrapped the bandage around it to reveal the word carved in her flesh. She didn't remember doing it…but it had always been a sort of comfort for her. DEAN. And this man, this familiar man…
"Who are you?" She whispered as she looked back up at him. His eyes softened and he looked at her like he knew her.
"I should be asking you that." He lowered the gun and placed it on the bed beside him. "Who are you?"
She was…she was…
"Nobody…I'm just…nobody…"
Dean stood up and walked toward her. He sat down on the edge of the bed and stared into her eyes. It was like he was looking right through her.
"You are not nobody. In fact…I think you might be someone very important…"
The way he said that made him sound so broken. He sounded like he was in so much pain and for some reason she felt the need to help him. She never wanted to hear him sound like that again.
"Dean…"
"Samantha."
She completely froze. Samantha? Samantha…The name sounded so familiar…so nostalgic…
"Who is Samantha?"
"I think…you might be…"
"What do you mean? Who the hell are you? And what do you want?"
She was getting kind of mad now. This strange guy was making her think things…things she didn't want to think about. She had given up hope of ever knowing who she was before HE got her and now this Dean guy was calling her Samantha and talking to her like he knew her.
"Look, I'm not trying to upset you or scare you. I just want to know who you are. Does the name Samantha mean anything to you?"
Why do you always need to be such a pain Sammy?
I'm not a pain , you're so mean Dean.
You are so a pain. Stay here. I'll be back later.
But I wanna go to.
I said no. I wanna hang out with my friends.
But Dean…
Don't worry Sammy. I promise I won't be gone long. We'll play later okay?
…Okay Dean.
Good girl Sammy. Later.
"Sammy…"
"What?"
"I…I remember…Sammy."
A look of reluctant hope appeared on Dean's face. "You…you are her…aren't you?"
She didn't know what to think anymore. Was she this Samantha person or was he just projecting his own issues onto her…but if that was the case then what were those strange memories…
"Is…is your name Samantha?"
She slowly brought her eyes up to meet his. They looked so hollow…and empty. The exact opposite of his little sister. But he wanted it to be her so badly…
"I am…the star. I am HIS beautiful little star…"
Okay, Dean thought, his hopes crushed to a pulp.
"But once…once upon a time, I think…I was Sammy…"
Dean felt his heart stop in his chest and then blast forward at full speed. "How do you know that name?"
"I remember…a boy used to call me that." She looked down at her wrist with a confused expression. "I remember the boy…and bandages."
Almost before she finished speaking, Dean surged forward and enveloped her in his arms. He could feel her body tense but he didn't care. The moment she mentioned the bandages he knew. His beautiful little sister was here. He'd found her…after twelve years he'd finally found her. It was like the hole in his heart had suddenly been filled and it was the best feeling in the world. Years of pain vanished to make room for an overwhelming feeling of relief. His Sammy was back.
"God, I knew it was you…I knew it, oh God Sammy. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" The tears started pouring down his face. "I love you so much…I'm so, so sorry…" He tightened his hold and pulled her close. She was as still as a statue in his arms. "Sammy…it's okay, it's okay now…I'll never let anyone hurt you ever again…it's gonna be okay…"
He didn't know how long they stayed like that but, eventually, Dean released her and shuffled backward a little. He became concerned though, when Sam didn't seem to react at all. She was just staring straight ahead with a distant look in her eyes. Almost…like she wasn't even there. It concerned him more than the slight change of personality he'd experienced with her earlier. One second she was scared and very childlike, and the next she was defensive and violent. And now she was nearly comatose.
"Sammy?" He said as he waved a hand in front of her face. No reaction. "Sammy, can you hear me?"
Still nothing. Not a good sign. "Okay…okay, think Dean. What are you going to do with a potentially comatose sister?" He stood up and silently looked around the room for some kind of idea. When nothing jumped out at him he gave a frustrated sigh and clenched his hands into fists. "What the hell am I supposed to do?!"
Sam's whole body flinched at his raised voice and he immediately dropped back down to a crouch in front of her. "Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It's alright." She started rubbing her wrist again and Dean decided that he needed some help. He flew to his feet, ran over to his duffle bag, and grabbed his phone. After glancing back to check on Sam, Dean dialled a familiar number. It rang four times before the man on the other end picked up.
"Hello?"
"Bobby! Something amazing has just happened!"
"Whoa kid, calm down. Take a breath and start from the beginning ya idgit."
Dean could barely contain his excitement. "Okay, okay. Listen…I found her Bobby. I found Sam." Silence was his only answer. "Bobby?"
"Dean…I thought you came to terms with that a long time ago. Sam's not comin back kid. Ya gotta let her go."
"No Bobby, I'm serious. I am literally looking at her right now. It's her Bobby. It's really her." More silence. "Bobby."
"Dean, you are really starting to worry me boy. Maybe I should-"
Unbelievable. He needed Bobby's help, not his concern. "Bobby! I'm not lying or going crazy. I'll bring her to you. Then you'll have to believe me."
"Dean?!"
Dean hung up the phone and glared down at it. He had though out of anyone, Bobby would at least be open to the possibility that Sam was back. Maybe his father had brainwashed the man.
"Well Sammy, it looks like we're taking a little drive."
Still no reaction. She was just rubbing her wrist and staring off into the distance. What the hell happened to you? he thought as he watched her. He also found himself wondering if he should call his father. John should be informed that his daughter was alive at least. But Dean found himself not wanting to do it. He hadn't spoken to his father in two years. Ever since the man had stopped looking.
"Screw him…" He mumbled as he started packing up the room. He'd call the bastard after he settled Sam in at Bobby's place.
Once everything was in the car, Dean headed back inside to get Sam. She was still in the same place but he was worried about how he was going to get her into the car. He made his way over and squatted down in front of her again. "Hey there beautiful mind. You ready to go?"
Suddenly she blinked and her eyes shot over to his face. "Go? I have to go…I have to go! HE's coming! I have to go!"
Springing up like a rabbit, Sam knocked Dean over and started bolting toward the door. Thankfully Dean was able to rise quickly and he started heading after her. She wrenched the door open and ran out into the parking lot. It was still dark so no one was around to see them. Dean followed right on her heals. "Sam! Wait Sam!"
She didn't listen and continued running. Fed up with the chase, and feeling afraid that he was about to lose her again, Dean took a leap of faith and just barely managed to grab her ankles, causing her to trip and collapse onto the concrete. He scrapped himself up pretty badly but there was no way in hell that he was letting go now that he'd finally found her. She tried to kick him off but Dean held on tightly. "Sammy calm down!"
She looked back at him with eyes the size of saucers. She was absolutely terrified of something and Dean decided that if she wanted to go, he would make sure they went. "We'll go okay. Just calm down and I'll take you as far from here as I can. I promise."
Still scared, Sam slowly relaxed and stopped fighting. She stared at him and, trusting her not to run, Dean released her leg and pushed himself to his feet. Sam looked up at him with dull eyes. It was just…wrong. He reached his hand down to help her up and after a moments hesitation she tentatively took it.
"Good girl Sam. We can leave now. You ready?"
She nodded and began trailing him back toward the motel room. It reminded him of the way she used to be and it made him hopeful that his sister was still in there somewhere.
I hope this chapter didn't confuse anyone. The italics are thoughts that Sam is having. She is not exactly of stable mind so they are slightly chaotic. There are also some memories thrown in there too. If anyone had trouble understanding let me know and i'll try to fix it in the next chapter.