(no subject)

[gavemea_45]

He'd gone down the hall to see what he could find out, and what he'd found had been a team of doctors and nurses trying to resuscitate Dean.

No--

And there wasn't a damn thing Sam could do but stand at the door watching his brother die right in front of him.

But then something had happened

...get back...

and Dean's heart had started beating again.

This time.

It'd been too close. Way too close.



He'd gone back to Milliways on a fast pass just to check, but there'd been no sign of Dean. It hadn't been a real surprise.

Sam's pretty sure he knows where Dean is right now.

It's quiet in the hospital room when he gets back from the gift shop. Sam's clutching a brown paper bag, and stands there for a second looking down at his brother.

Comments

[hopeitsworthit]

Even though he knows Sam can't see him, knows they can't talk--

Dean's still damn glad to see his brother.

"Hey, Sasquatch. Where you been?"

[gavemea_45]

"Hey."

Sam lets out a sigh and shifts awkwardly from one foot to the other.

"So, um. I -- I went back to the bar to look for you, and you weren't there. So I figure maybe you're around here, somewhere."

[hopeitsworthit]

"Good guess, college boy."

Dean's voice is a lot more tense than it was back in the bar.

"'Cause I am definitely not leaving my body again. There's something after me, dude."

He takes another couple steps forward.

Maybe--maybe this time Sammy's psychic shit will work.

Because somebody not-him has gotta know what's going on.

[gavemea_45]

There's no audible answer but the quiet beeping of the machines, but Sam nods anyway.

"And I figured -- look, don't make fun of me for this, okay?"

Sam reaches into the bag and pulls out box as he says,

"I figured there's at least one way we can talk. It's what they're supposed to be for, right?"

[hopeitsworthit]

"I'm likin' Lilly's ridiculous pendant thing more and more."

Really, Sam. Isn't this kinda--lame?

[gavemea_45]

He looks embarrassed and awkward.

"I mean, I know it's not like that necklace thing Lilly had or anything, but -- it should work."

Sam sets the paper bag down and heads for the end of the hospital bed. There's a clear space on the floor there, where he sits down and starts setting up the ouija board.

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean sighs.

Then, like every other time Sam's gotten a crazy-ass idea in his head, he follows his brother.

"You make fun of my spelling and I'll kill you."

[gavemea_45]

He puts the planchette on the board, then rests his fingers on the planchette.

"Dean?" It comes out more hesitantly than he'd like. Sam forces more strength into his voice, practically demanding an answer.

"Dean. Are you there?"

[hopeitsworthit]

"Next you'll be paintin' your fingernails. Jesus."

The grumbling seems mostly for show, as Dean sits down across from Sam, reaching for the board.

"If this doesn't work, you are gonna feel so stupid."

But--

He can touch the little plastic pointer thing.

Huh. Go figure.

Then, making a face of utter disgust and embarrassment, Dean slides the thing to rest over the YES.

[gavemea_45]

Sam's mouth drops open as he gasps in a sharp breath.


"Looks like it really does work."

[hopeitsworthit]

"I'll be damned."

Funny.

"Who woulda guessed."

He's looking at his brother instead of the board for a second.

"So--start asking me some questions, Sammy."

[gavemea_45]

He's shaking his head and laughing now, relief evident.

"Man, it's good to hear from you -- I was beginning to worry you hadn't made it back through, you know?"

[hopeitsworthit]

"Yeah, man. I coulda wished gettin' back in my body was that easy."

He exhales sharply, squaring his shoulders before looking back down at the board.

"And that was a shitty question, dude. Guess it's up to me to get the ball rolling, huh?"

So. Okay.

First the pointer goes to 'H', then it goes to 'U', then it goes to--

[gavemea_45]

"Hunt? What, hunting?"

Sam's shaking his head, but all laughter's gone now, replaced by confusion, not to mention the renewed tension that's visible in the line of his shoulders and the way his hands are resting on the planchette.

"Dean, are you hunting something?"

[hopeitsworthit]

"No, I'm humping the undead. Jesus, Sam."

But Dean gamely moves the pointer back to YES.

Seems easier than bitching.

This letter by letter thing is a pain in the ass.

[gavemea_45]

"But--"

But we'd know if something was here, wouldn't we? Is that why Dad wanted the stuff?

Sam's tone turns sharp with alarm.

"Here? In the hospital? Dean, is it in the hospital, what you're hunting? Do you know what it is?"

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean's eyebrows go up, even though he's still looking at the board.

At least for the next couple seconds.

"Steady there, Tiger. One question at a time."

Now would be a good time to hit Sam upside the head.

[gavemea_45]

The planchette doesn't move from the word 'YES', and after a few seconds Sam takes a breath and tries again.

"What is it?"

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean takes a deep breath, unconsciously mirroring Sam, then swallows.

This is the shit he doesn't want to talk about.

But Sam--Sammy's gotta know.

R

"I'm pretty sure the floaty spirit thing ain't killing these people, Sammy."

E

"I think it's just taking 'em."

A

"When their time's just up."

When they're dead.

Like Dean should be.

Fuck.

[gavemea_45]

"... a reaper."

Sam's suddenly very still.

No. No. It--



"Dean. Is it after you?"

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean slides the pointer over to YES, the motion strong and swift.

He really wishes he didn't have to.

Then he looks up at Sam.

Because he can't not.

[gavemea_45]

His breath comes out in a rush as though he's taken a punch to the gut. Sam doesn't move, but keeps staring at the board.

YES.

"If it's here naturally--"

He's distantly surprised at how steady his words are.

"-- there's no way to stop it."

[hopeitsworthit]

"Yeah. Tell me something I don't know, Sammy."

Dean's voice is tight, but the curve of his mouth is almost--

Resigned?

Almost.

"You can't kill death."

He's gonna try anyway. He can't just do nothing.

[gavemea_45]

This is all kinds of bad news.

"Man. You're, um."

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean nods, that same resigned smile still on his face.

Even if Sam can't see, Dean's not gonna--

He's just not that much of a wimp, okay?

"I'm screwed, Sammy."

[gavemea_45]

"No. No no no--"

He scrambles to his feet and stares down at the far side of the board. At where Dean should be.

"No, um, there's gotta be a way."

Sam takes a step or two in one direction, then back in the other, thinking, and stops.

Dad.

Last time, after the rawhead, John hadn't answered the phone... but this time he's here, and this is what he does, and it's Dean-- so it's with an unconsciously childlike faith that Sam says,

"Dad. Dad'll know what to do."

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean's laugh is soundless, and he shifts position to rest one arm on his upthrust knee.

"Yeah, Sam."

His voice is real quiet.

"Sure he will."

Pardon Dean if he's havin' a hard time believing that right now.

[gavemea_45]

"He'll know. He will. I'll just-- I'm gonna go talk to him, I'll be right back--"

Sam's already heading for the door.

It swings shut behind him.

[hopeitsworthit]

"Guess I'll be right here, then."

Especially if he wakes up.







Hey, it could happen.

Right?