Thank you all so much for your patience! This is our last context chapter before we get into our next big plot arc! I'm excited!
Reviews & prompts appreciated :) I'm really hoping to integrate reader feedback and ideas into this next section.
Sophie sat on Jody's couch, staring at the text.
"I love you so much baby," it read, "Kiss Miriam for me. And know that I am so, so sorry."
That couldn't be good.
She plugged her phone into her laptop and started running the tracking algorithm Charlie - Sophie crossed herself and prayed for the dead woman's soul - had built them.
Superior, Nebraska.
A five hour drive.
Hopefully she'd get there in time.
"Alex! Claire!" Sophie shouted, "I need you guys to take the baby and call me a cab!"
Dean stared at his phone screen. He should have known she'd respond. She was his wife. Of course she was worried. Of course she'd try to do something.
So as he sat there, while Death ate nachos at the table across the room, he opened the message and pressed play on the first video. It was a few hours old now. He'd neglected his phone since he left the hotel.
Miriam sat on Jody's dining room table. He could hear activity in the background and could see Sophie's duffle packed and slung over one of the chairs.
"Hi Dada!" Miriam said to the phone screen, "Good?"
She looked over her shoulder, presumably to Sophie, for reassurance.
"Good job!" Sophie encouraged, "Hi dada!"
"Hi dada!" Miriam repeated. Waving this time.
The video cut off.
The second was really more of a voice message. The camera was on, but pointed down at Sophie's lap. The familiar pattern of her tan, gingham dress sent a lance of regret through him. He had a life. A family. Could he really go through with this?
"Hi babe," Sophie said, "I'm gonna be there in four and a half hours. So whatever you're thinking of doing. Just wait. We can talk about it. Please? Promise me you'll wait. You don't have to say you'll back off. You don't have to commit to that. But wait. Talk to me. Kiss me goodbye for real. Please?"
Her voice broke at the end.
And then Sam came through the cantina doors.
"I think I just killed Death," Dean said, all his attention focused on Sam, on the mark on his own arm, on the fact that somehow they were both still alive.
"You did what?" Sophie's voice cut through his thoughts.
"I'm so sorry babe," Dean crossed the room to pull her into his arms, "I'm so sorry."
"What happened?" Sophie asked, pulling back but not breaking contact. Her gaze traveled to Sam, bruised and bloody.
"Everything's okay," Dean assured her, "I'm not going anywhere."
"But Dean…" Sophie began.
He wanted to respond, to provide reassurance, comfort. Goodness knows she'd earned it. But then a bolt of energy came down through the ceiling and connected with the mark on his arm. It burned like hell. He thought for a moment that he was dying. And then as fast as it began it was over.
He felt Sophie's hand on his arm, then her fingers brushing his cheek. Checking on him.
"It's gone," Sam stared at the unblemished skin of Dean's forearm.
"You're safe?" Sophie sounded uncertain, like she couldn't quite let herself believe it. Not yet.
"Everything's okay," Dean murmured, pulling her close then going to grab his bag.