Blood, Sweat, and Tears ch. 10

Emma was completely taken by surprise when Dean took her arm. He was forceful and his voice held anger that bordered on hatred. Emma struggled to keep up with him as he dragged her through the Saratoga streets. People stared, but at this point Dean didn’t care. There was only one thing on his mind, finding Sam. “Sam,” he called out as he headed towards the hotel. “Sammy!” Still no one answered him. Dean stopped and pulled Emma close to him. “If he’s dead I guarantee you you’ll be joining him and I promise you it will be a thousand times more painful,” Dean said through gritted teeth as he stared into her eyes.

Tears streamed down, staining Emma’s face. Her body trembled as she longed for Dean’s calm, safe touch, anything but the fiery hatred she felt from him now. “Dean I-”

“Shut up,” he said cutting her off. It killed him to treat her like that but he had to believe it if he wanted others to, and he needed Emma to believe it too. “Sammy answer me damn it,” Dean shouted. The only response he got was the whispers of the on-lookers. Dean dragged Emma to the hotel. The Impala was still sitting, untouched, where he had left it. Dean threw open the door to the hotel room and threw Emma inside before entering. “Sammy,” he shouted almost frantically. “SAM!”

Emma watched him from the floor. She saw the fear in his eyes. Emma’s eyes slowly moved upward, to the ceiling and didn’t move. “Dean,” she whispered.

“I told you to-” he began as he turned to face her. He stopped when he saw Emma’s eyes fixated on the ceiling. His heart raced. Dean was afraid to look up. He finally did though and his fears were realized. Though there was something off about it all, just as there had been with his father. On the ceiling, only a few feet from Dean’s head, was Sam. However, unlike his mother and Jessica, there was no blood. Sam was bruised and beaten, which told Dean he had put up a fight, but there were no large wounds. The other critical difference was that, not only was Sam alive, but conscious. “Sammy,” Dean said quickly. He was reluctant to move, almost waiting for the flames to engulf his brother and burn away all that was left of his family. There was nothing though. When Dean realized this he climbed on the bed and tried to find a way to get Sam down.

“Do not move,” a commanding and familiar voice called from the shadows. The door to the room slammed shut and the blinds closed, darkening the room instantly. Dean found himself obeying the voice without a second thought. He stopped, turned towards the voice, and stepped off the bed. “You move closer to either of them and your worst fears will become reality Dean Winchester.” Natasha appeared from the shadow. She looked down at Emma, who stood slowly.

“Let him go. Your quarrel is not with my brother or me, its with her.” Dean walked up behind Emma and grabbed her by her arms. “Take her,” he screamed in a broken desperate voice. “Take her, she’s yours, just let Sam and I go. We’ll leave and let you have your vengeance!”

Natasha smiled. “You wouldn’t really give the one you love just for your brother’s pathetic life would you?”

Dean stared straight into her eyes. His conviction was unwavering. “Try me.”

Natasha’s smile widened. “I don’t believe you.” She laughed a little as Sam began to scream.

Dean threw Emma at Natasha’s feet.

“Dean what are you-”

“Silence boy,” Natasha said fiercely, turning her eyes towards Sam. Sam screamed in agony. He felt as though he was burning from the inside out.

Dean turned his attention to Sam. “Let him go, you have the girl just let him go!”

The moment Natasha grabbed Emma’s arm and pulled her to her feet, Sam fell onto the bed. Dean ran to his side and rolled Sam onto his back. “Dean,” Sam whispered weakly.

“This quarrel does not involve you Dean,” Natasha said with a smile. “But I have been around for along time and made many enemies. Vengeance does involve you child,” she said with a laugh. “It wasn’t as immediate and if you have just obeyed me, maybe I would have spared you. You did not heed my commands however. I told you not to get any closer to either of them.”

“You’ve let your brother taint you Dean,” another painfully familiar voice said from the shadows. The brothers stared unbelieving as John Winchester stepped out of the shadow and stood next to Natasha. “You used to be so loyal, so obedient Dean. You were a soldier, exactly what you needed to be. I thought I could trust you on your own. You’ve disappointed me Dean.”

Dean stood and stepped away from Sam. “Dad, I’m sorry,” he said quickly.

“I understand son,” he said calmly. “Right now you need to listen to me. She is trying to help you; you just can’t see it. Dean you have to destroy what it seeks. That’s the only way to save us, to save Emma.”

“Fine,” Dean said quickly. “Tell me what it is and its as good as gone.” There was silence as John’s eyes traveled to the weak boy lying on the bed. Dean’s eyes followed his father’s. “But… but you told me to protect him, to keep him safe. You said it was my job, my only job.”
“I didn’t know the things I know now Dean,” his father said softly.

Dean looked from Sam back to his father then back to Sam. H didn’t even notice Natasha and Emma were gone. “Dad I can’t,” his voice drifted away as he felt his father place a dagger in his hand. He looked down at it, then back at Sam. Sam looked terrified. He kept trying to speak but no sound came out. “I can’t kill Sam,” Dean said shaking his head.

“That’s an order Dean,” his father shouted. “Do not disappoint me again!”

At that Dean’s expression hardened, he stood straight and tightened his grip on the knife. Then he walked over and stood next to Sam. A few tears fell from Sam’s eyes, as Dean got closer. Dean looked down at him and raised the dagger. His hand trembled and a single tear fell from his eye.

Do me a favor Sammy,” Dean said quietly, in a broken voice. “Say hi to Mom and Jess for me.” Sam simply nodded as he realized there was nothing he could do to stop it now. Dean raised the dagger and passed for just a moment as his eyes met his baby brother’s. Then with all his strength Dean plunged the dagger into Sam’s chest, going straight through Sam’s heart. Blood covered Dean’s hands as he fell to his knees. He looked around and he was alone. He saw the bloody, lifeless body of his little brother and broke down. He took Sam’s hand and buried his head on the bed. Dean’s entire body quaked as he cried. Then he felt a soft hand rest on his shoulder. He turned and looked up at Emma knelt in front of him.

She placed her hand gently on Dean’s cheek and wiped away his tears with her thumb. “Shh,” she whispered soothingly. He opened his mouth to speak but Emma placed two fingers over his lips to silence him. “I know it hurts Dean,” she whispered as she cupped his face in her hands and pulled him close. She kissed him passionately and for a split second his pain went away. Emma pulled away and looked into Dean’s eyes. “You were only doing what your father told you, like a good little boy,” she said softly. She kissed his lips lightly once more.

“I can make the pain go away Dean,” Emma whispered in his ear. She kissed his neck softly. Dean stared at her and ran his fingers through her hair. She leaned back and looking into his beautiful, broken, hazel eyes. Emma leaned forward and kissed his lips once more. She felt tears on his face. “Do not be sad Dean,” she whispered. “It will be over soon.” She kissed his neck once more. Suddenly Dean felt a sharp pain and moments later everything went black.