"Lost and Found: Second Sight"
Title: Second Sight
’Verse: Lost and Found
Author: LadyMacbeth
Fandom: Supernatural
Rating: PG13 (for some cussin’)
Word Count: 2581
Disclaimer: “Supernatural” and all its characters belong to the genius that is Eric Kripke. I make no profit.
Summary: Missouri reveals a secret to the boys that send them on a journey to Santa Cruz where they find a brother they never knew and an even darker revelation that none of them saw coming.
Note: A continuation of the story started in Santa Cruz and continued in The Road to Missouri, Revelations and Look Back, Leap Forward. I highly recommend reading those first.
Note #2: I want to thank everyone for their patience in regards to the wait time for this latest part of the story. I had a bit of a disagreement with my internet provider and have not had the net in my apartment for over a week now. It should be back within another week (God willing), so until then, the updates will be sporadic. I’m sorry. Thanks again to everyone who has been reading and commenting. Your enthusiasm means so much to me.
*****
“Well, I guess that’s what you get for murdering your wife and fleeing the country with your secretary. Remind me never to try that.”
The boys are standing amongst the debris of what was once a large bedroom. There are smashed pieces of furniture everywhere and what they can only assume are little bits of Mr. McJackass (Priestly’s nickname) and his mistress all over the walls.
It’s one of the grislier scenes they’ve encountered and it makes them even less enthused to meet the banshee they’ve been tracking.
She was a mean one, but with good reason.
The banshee was all that was left of Thomas McAllistar’s wife. The boys had pieced together that McAllistar had murdered his wife Elizabeth back in Ireland and then left the country with his mistress. Banshees were born from vengeful, murdered women, and this one was a doozy.
“Uh, should we even be here?” Priestly meeps from between the other two boys. “I mean, what if she comes back?”
Dean smirks from his left. “I thought you were really excited to go on your first hunt. You’re not chickening out on us, are you?”
It’s a cheap shot and Dean knows it, but it does the trick just the same.
“No,” Priestly denies immediately. “I’m just not sure what it is we’re supposed to be doing here. They’re already dead. Doesn’t that mean it’s over?”
Sam shakes his head on the right. “If only. She may have come here for them, but now that she no longer has a target, she’ll go wild, attacking anything that pisses her off. So we need to find what it was that drew her here.” Sam’s eyes sweep the room. “Banshees tend to be exclusive to Ireland, so for one to come here is an incredible rarity. She must have been following more than just her husband. She’s probably connected to something material they brought with them; something that’s hers and something she wants back.”
“How will we know when we find it?” Priestly says, eyes scanning the carnage all around him.
Sam just shrugs and turns to face both the twins. “I was actually hoping you two would figure it out.” He smiles sheepishly and then breaks away to start sifting through the debris.
Priestly and Dean stand still a moment before Dean says, “I think I was just compared to a metal detector.”
Priestly snickers and moves off in his own direction, gingerly moving things around, wary of touching anything with blood (or worse) on it.
Dean stays immobile, surveying the room, intrigued by a feeling in the back of his brain. It feels very much the way Priestly’s mind in his does, but slightly different.
Unsure if he’s comfortable yet with the idea of having psychic abilities, Dean gives into the feeling none the less and suddenly the world fades to white.
He doesn’t know how long he stands there like that, but is name is being called from somewhere off to his right, but Dean can’t snap himself out of the movie he’s watching. Someone else’s life is playing on the big screen and it isn’t until he feels Priestly’s hands on him that he comes back.
“Dean!” Sam says, running over. “Dean, are you ok? You were just standing there like you’d slipped into a coma or something. What happened? Are you alright?”
Priestly is still holding onto his twin when Dean’s legs give out. The blue-haired boy yelps in surprise and he tries to hold onto his brother as he drops to the ground.
Dean is still conscious, but his eyes are wide and frightened, confusion furrowing his brow and colour gone from his face.
“Dean?” Sam says again, fear curling around the name.
“It’s a necklace,” Dean wheezes, shakily raising a hand to his forehead, wiping away a sudden sheen of sweat. “He took her necklace when he murdered her and he gave it to his mistress. It was something her mother gave her and he just snatched it from her neck while she lay there dying. She saw him take it… and that’s why she came here: to get it back.”
His breathing is starting to slow and the colour is returning to his face, but Dean is still badly shaken, and Priestly and Sam look at each other, completely lost for what to say.
“I saw it all,” Dean continued, disbelief in his eyes and voice. “I saw everything through his eyes. It was like I was sifting through his memories… the memories of a dead man.”
And suddenly Dean’s back to panting frantically, wild eyes swaying around the room, raking over the destruction and the blood.
“What the fuck kind of a power is that?!” he yells suddenly and leaps to his feet, turning and dashing out of the room that holds images only he can see.
“Dean, wait!” Sam calls. “Priestly, stay here and look for that necklace,” he says quickly, turning to his other brother. “It’ll probably look really old with Celtic designs on it. I’m gonna try to calm Dean down.”
Priestly nods dumbly and begins shifting through the wreckage, earlier hesitation gone, wanting to find the necklace and go before Dean’s head explodes.
*****
Sam doesn’t have to go far to find Dean.
He’s curled up in a corner by the elevator with his knees under his chin, shaking and looking all of ten year old.
Sam’s heart breaks for his big brother.
“Dean” he says gently, approaching slowly.
“How do you do it?” Dean whispers, not looking at him. “How the hell do you deal with the visions? Is there a trick to it? Cause if there is, could you tell me? Cause that… that in there…” Dean can’t finish his sentence because the tears he’s trying to hold back have spilled over the dam, and he close to sobbing.
“Oh Dean,” Sam whispers and wraps his brother in an enveloping hug, draping himself over the curled frame, wishing he could protect him from what was happening.
“I didn’t want this,” Dean whispers from Sam’s chest. “I was so excited to have Priestly back. Having him with us makes me feel a little more whole, you know? Like, we’re gaining family for once instead of losing it. Payback for everything we’ve done, you know? And having him back… I didn’t realize that I was missing something all those years until I saw him again. I mean, I had mom for a little while, and dad and especially you… but there was always an empty space, and I just never knew how to fill it. And now Priestly’s here and I don’t feel empty anymore.” The sobs are dying down and the whispered tones now coming from Dean make Sam feel like he’s in a confessional.
“But I didn’t ask for this. I just wanted my brother back. I never wanted to be anything other than a hunter. That’s what I do. I have the skills dad taught me and that was all I needed. Never once did I wish for anything more than that.”
Sam’s hand rubs Dean’s back gently, while he tries to think of something, anything to say.
“I just… I don’t know if I can do this, Sammy. Priestly’s a natural at it, but the whole thing just scares the hell out of me, like I don’t even know myself any more.”
“You’re Dean,” Sam says without thinking, pulling away just enough to look his older brother in the eye. “And no amount of new spoon-bending tricks is going to change that. As long as you’re an insufferable smart-ass and my big brother, you’re you.”
Dean looks back at him for a minute before wiping a sleeve across his eyes.
“God, you’re such a girl,” he snuffles.
Sam just grins. “See? Smart-assery right there. You’re still your charming self.” He gets to hit feet and extends a hand. “Now come on. We’ve left Priestly alone for long enough and I want to make sure he hasn’t gotten distracted by something shiny.”
Dean chuckles and wipes the last of his breakdown away and reaches for Sam’s hand. “Or wet his pants,” he laughs.
Sam snickers along with him, but stops short when Dean’s eyes go glassy. “What?” he says, immediately panicking. “What is it?”
Dean’s eyes clear again and he cocks his head to the side, saying, “Priestly wanted me to know that he heard everything we said… and that’s we’re jerks.”
“Jesus! That’s all? You scared the hell out of me!” Sam bursts.
Dean just gives him a look. “Hey man, I scare the hell out of myself.”
*****
They reenter to bedroom to find Priestly waiting for them with his hands on his hips.
“First of all, you’re both dicks. And second, I did get distracted by something shiny, Mr. Smartass. This,” he says, holding up a gold and emerald necklace. “So if you two ladies are done with your heart-to-heart, I would really like to FedEx this thing back to the leprechauns so we can get the fuck out of here.”
Sam and Dean just nod as Priestly advances towards them, wanting very much to leave the grisly scene and give the banshee rest.
As they turn to exit, Priestly lays a hand on his twin’s shoulder.
You alright? Dean hears in his head.
He looks his brother in the eye.
Better now, he sends back.
The twins share a smile and move for the door, but find it blocked.
“Sam?” Dean says from behind the towering form of his brother. “You mind moving you’re a-”
The words die in his mouth as a horrific, otherworldly scream fills the empty space all around him. His jaw falls open and he feels Priestly stiffen.
Sam’s already got the shotgun in his hands as he blocks part of the doorway with his body. He’s aiming at a tattered, shimmering shape coming at them from the other end of the hall.
The creature’s eyes are dead and black, white-grey hair wild and crazy, flowing around with a life of its own. She floats about a foot off the ground and her arms extend in front of her, fingers ending in terrible claws. Her mouth hangs open, displaying inhumanly sharp teeth and letting loose a cry that could drive sane men mad.
“When I give the word, I’m going to move into the hall. You guys get behind me and make a break for the elevator. I’ll cover you,” Sam whispers, never taking his eyes of the monstrosity.
“Are you kidding me?” Dean hisses, wary of making too much noise. “I’m not leaving you up here with this thing!”
As the figure gets closer, the lights begin to flicker all around them.
It gives Priestly an idea.
“No! We don’t have to run! We can finish this right here! We have what she came for, don’t we? Can’t we just give it to her?”
“We can’t just stroll up to her and say, ‘Hey, you know that necklace you just slaughtered two people for? Ya, we’ve got it now’.” Dean mutters sarcastically. “I really don’t think that would go over too well.”
But Priestly shakes his head, undeterred. “So we don’t stroll,” he says. “Sam, keep your gun on her and whatever you do, don’t make any sudden movements.”
Sam’s about to argue when out of the corner of his eye, he sees something shiny float past him.
Dean gapes as Priestly lifts the necklace with his thoughts, brow furrowed in concentration. It staggers drunkenly in the air, and Priestly grits his teeth, using all of his strength just to keep the object afloat.
The banshee’s wail dies as the necklace comes into her view and for a moment, the whole room goes still.
The boys hold their breath, afraid to break the spell that has ensnared them all.
But it doesn’t last long.
“Ok Sam. Lower your gun gently and back away slowly. You too, Dean. I’ve got it from here.”
Sam and Dean stare as Priestly steps forward, causing the necklace to lurch along with him.
The banshee continues to watch in silence.
“No,” Dean says with a finality mimicking his father’s. “We are not leaving you here. That is not how this works.”
“I’ve got this,” Priestly says again, eyes still on the hovering necklace. “Please. All she wants is what’s hers. You guys don’t need to be here for that. There’s no reason for you to stay.”
“Yes there is,” Dean whispers, placing a hand on his twin’s shoulder.
Halfway across the room, the sluggish necklace perks up, and continues on its way back to its owner.
I’m not leaving you, Dean projects, keeping his hand in place. I won’t let anything separate us ever again.
Priestly finally turns his gaze away from the necklace to stare back into identical eyes.
“Uh, guys?” Sam says, breaking the moment. “Look.”
The mirrored faces turn from each other and back to the banshee.
The three boys watch in astonishment as the remnants of Elizabeth McAllister reach tentatively towards the heirloom that hovers in front of her.
In the back of Dean’s mind, he can feel her presence, bringing forth a white flash and an image of a woman in her fifties, removing a beautiful necklace from her neck and handing it to Dean. In his mind, Dean reaches out with a young woman’s arms and clasps the jewelry around his neck. He feels an overwhelming sense of happiness and pride wash over him as he turns to a mirror, where he finds himself staring at an image of a young Elizabeth McAllister.
And then it’s gone.
When Dean’s full consciousness comes back to him, the banshee and her treasure are nowhere to be seen, and Sam is patting Priestly’s back gently while watching Dean with a weary eye.
“Everything alright?” Sam asks carefully.
Dean runs a hand through his hair as he stares down the empty hallway.
“She’s at peace now,” he says, even though he knows it’s not quite what Sam meant.
“Dean,” his little brother starts.
Dean’s about to start an argument when Priestly interrupts.
“Guys, not that I’m not for more share time, but can it be done somewhere where I can lay down? I don’t know if you noticed, but I just moved some shit with my mind, and let me tell you, it’s a little tiring.
Dean watches Sam a moment more before giving in, shoulders sagging under mental fatigue.
“Ya,” he sighs. “Let’s go.”
*****
Priestly’s out like a light as soon as his head hits the pillow. He’s earned a bed to himself tonight, and Dean feels his own exhaustion wash over him as he lays down next to Sam.
Things are quiet, the only noise being Priestly’s soft, sleepy snuffling.
Neither boy is really sure what to say.
Sam wants so much to breach the silence; to be able to come up with some comforting words for his haunted older brother. But as his mind drifts over empty words of wisdom, he feels an arm slink across his stomach.
He turns his head to see Dean settling into a gentle sleep, brow smoothing out to make way for a peaceful expression.
The arm flung across Sam’s body is heavy and warm, and somehow he knows that no matter how much either of them will shift in sleep, it’ll still be there in the morning.
And for now, it’s enough.
To be continued…
’Verse: Lost and Found
Author: LadyMacbeth
Fandom: Supernatural
Rating: PG13 (for some cussin’)
Word Count: 2581
Disclaimer: “Supernatural” and all its characters belong to the genius that is Eric Kripke. I make no profit.
Summary: Missouri reveals a secret to the boys that send them on a journey to Santa Cruz where they find a brother they never knew and an even darker revelation that none of them saw coming.
Note: A continuation of the story started in Santa Cruz and continued in The Road to Missouri, Revelations and Look Back, Leap Forward. I highly recommend reading those first.
Note #2: I want to thank everyone for their patience in regards to the wait time for this latest part of the story. I had a bit of a disagreement with my internet provider and have not had the net in my apartment for over a week now. It should be back within another week (God willing), so until then, the updates will be sporadic. I’m sorry. Thanks again to everyone who has been reading and commenting. Your enthusiasm means so much to me.
*****
“Well, I guess that’s what you get for murdering your wife and fleeing the country with your secretary. Remind me never to try that.”
The boys are standing amongst the debris of what was once a large bedroom. There are smashed pieces of furniture everywhere and what they can only assume are little bits of Mr. McJackass (Priestly’s nickname) and his mistress all over the walls.
It’s one of the grislier scenes they’ve encountered and it makes them even less enthused to meet the banshee they’ve been tracking.
She was a mean one, but with good reason.
The banshee was all that was left of Thomas McAllistar’s wife. The boys had pieced together that McAllistar had murdered his wife Elizabeth back in Ireland and then left the country with his mistress. Banshees were born from vengeful, murdered women, and this one was a doozy.
“Uh, should we even be here?” Priestly meeps from between the other two boys. “I mean, what if she comes back?”
Dean smirks from his left. “I thought you were really excited to go on your first hunt. You’re not chickening out on us, are you?”
It’s a cheap shot and Dean knows it, but it does the trick just the same.
“No,” Priestly denies immediately. “I’m just not sure what it is we’re supposed to be doing here. They’re already dead. Doesn’t that mean it’s over?”
Sam shakes his head on the right. “If only. She may have come here for them, but now that she no longer has a target, she’ll go wild, attacking anything that pisses her off. So we need to find what it was that drew her here.” Sam’s eyes sweep the room. “Banshees tend to be exclusive to Ireland, so for one to come here is an incredible rarity. She must have been following more than just her husband. She’s probably connected to something material they brought with them; something that’s hers and something she wants back.”
“How will we know when we find it?” Priestly says, eyes scanning the carnage all around him.
Sam just shrugs and turns to face both the twins. “I was actually hoping you two would figure it out.” He smiles sheepishly and then breaks away to start sifting through the debris.
Priestly and Dean stand still a moment before Dean says, “I think I was just compared to a metal detector.”
Priestly snickers and moves off in his own direction, gingerly moving things around, wary of touching anything with blood (or worse) on it.
Dean stays immobile, surveying the room, intrigued by a feeling in the back of his brain. It feels very much the way Priestly’s mind in his does, but slightly different.
Unsure if he’s comfortable yet with the idea of having psychic abilities, Dean gives into the feeling none the less and suddenly the world fades to white.
He doesn’t know how long he stands there like that, but is name is being called from somewhere off to his right, but Dean can’t snap himself out of the movie he’s watching. Someone else’s life is playing on the big screen and it isn’t until he feels Priestly’s hands on him that he comes back.
“Dean!” Sam says, running over. “Dean, are you ok? You were just standing there like you’d slipped into a coma or something. What happened? Are you alright?”
Priestly is still holding onto his twin when Dean’s legs give out. The blue-haired boy yelps in surprise and he tries to hold onto his brother as he drops to the ground.
Dean is still conscious, but his eyes are wide and frightened, confusion furrowing his brow and colour gone from his face.
“Dean?” Sam says again, fear curling around the name.
“It’s a necklace,” Dean wheezes, shakily raising a hand to his forehead, wiping away a sudden sheen of sweat. “He took her necklace when he murdered her and he gave it to his mistress. It was something her mother gave her and he just snatched it from her neck while she lay there dying. She saw him take it… and that’s why she came here: to get it back.”
His breathing is starting to slow and the colour is returning to his face, but Dean is still badly shaken, and Priestly and Sam look at each other, completely lost for what to say.
“I saw it all,” Dean continued, disbelief in his eyes and voice. “I saw everything through his eyes. It was like I was sifting through his memories… the memories of a dead man.”
And suddenly Dean’s back to panting frantically, wild eyes swaying around the room, raking over the destruction and the blood.
“What the fuck kind of a power is that?!” he yells suddenly and leaps to his feet, turning and dashing out of the room that holds images only he can see.
“Dean, wait!” Sam calls. “Priestly, stay here and look for that necklace,” he says quickly, turning to his other brother. “It’ll probably look really old with Celtic designs on it. I’m gonna try to calm Dean down.”
Priestly nods dumbly and begins shifting through the wreckage, earlier hesitation gone, wanting to find the necklace and go before Dean’s head explodes.
*****
Sam doesn’t have to go far to find Dean.
He’s curled up in a corner by the elevator with his knees under his chin, shaking and looking all of ten year old.
Sam’s heart breaks for his big brother.
“Dean” he says gently, approaching slowly.
“How do you do it?” Dean whispers, not looking at him. “How the hell do you deal with the visions? Is there a trick to it? Cause if there is, could you tell me? Cause that… that in there…” Dean can’t finish his sentence because the tears he’s trying to hold back have spilled over the dam, and he close to sobbing.
“Oh Dean,” Sam whispers and wraps his brother in an enveloping hug, draping himself over the curled frame, wishing he could protect him from what was happening.
“I didn’t want this,” Dean whispers from Sam’s chest. “I was so excited to have Priestly back. Having him with us makes me feel a little more whole, you know? Like, we’re gaining family for once instead of losing it. Payback for everything we’ve done, you know? And having him back… I didn’t realize that I was missing something all those years until I saw him again. I mean, I had mom for a little while, and dad and especially you… but there was always an empty space, and I just never knew how to fill it. And now Priestly’s here and I don’t feel empty anymore.” The sobs are dying down and the whispered tones now coming from Dean make Sam feel like he’s in a confessional.
“But I didn’t ask for this. I just wanted my brother back. I never wanted to be anything other than a hunter. That’s what I do. I have the skills dad taught me and that was all I needed. Never once did I wish for anything more than that.”
Sam’s hand rubs Dean’s back gently, while he tries to think of something, anything to say.
“I just… I don’t know if I can do this, Sammy. Priestly’s a natural at it, but the whole thing just scares the hell out of me, like I don’t even know myself any more.”
“You’re Dean,” Sam says without thinking, pulling away just enough to look his older brother in the eye. “And no amount of new spoon-bending tricks is going to change that. As long as you’re an insufferable smart-ass and my big brother, you’re you.”
Dean looks back at him for a minute before wiping a sleeve across his eyes.
“God, you’re such a girl,” he snuffles.
Sam just grins. “See? Smart-assery right there. You’re still your charming self.” He gets to hit feet and extends a hand. “Now come on. We’ve left Priestly alone for long enough and I want to make sure he hasn’t gotten distracted by something shiny.”
Dean chuckles and wipes the last of his breakdown away and reaches for Sam’s hand. “Or wet his pants,” he laughs.
Sam snickers along with him, but stops short when Dean’s eyes go glassy. “What?” he says, immediately panicking. “What is it?”
Dean’s eyes clear again and he cocks his head to the side, saying, “Priestly wanted me to know that he heard everything we said… and that’s we’re jerks.”
“Jesus! That’s all? You scared the hell out of me!” Sam bursts.
Dean just gives him a look. “Hey man, I scare the hell out of myself.”
*****
They reenter to bedroom to find Priestly waiting for them with his hands on his hips.
“First of all, you’re both dicks. And second, I did get distracted by something shiny, Mr. Smartass. This,” he says, holding up a gold and emerald necklace. “So if you two ladies are done with your heart-to-heart, I would really like to FedEx this thing back to the leprechauns so we can get the fuck out of here.”
Sam and Dean just nod as Priestly advances towards them, wanting very much to leave the grisly scene and give the banshee rest.
As they turn to exit, Priestly lays a hand on his twin’s shoulder.
You alright? Dean hears in his head.
He looks his brother in the eye.
Better now, he sends back.
The twins share a smile and move for the door, but find it blocked.
“Sam?” Dean says from behind the towering form of his brother. “You mind moving you’re a-”
The words die in his mouth as a horrific, otherworldly scream fills the empty space all around him. His jaw falls open and he feels Priestly stiffen.
Sam’s already got the shotgun in his hands as he blocks part of the doorway with his body. He’s aiming at a tattered, shimmering shape coming at them from the other end of the hall.
The creature’s eyes are dead and black, white-grey hair wild and crazy, flowing around with a life of its own. She floats about a foot off the ground and her arms extend in front of her, fingers ending in terrible claws. Her mouth hangs open, displaying inhumanly sharp teeth and letting loose a cry that could drive sane men mad.
“When I give the word, I’m going to move into the hall. You guys get behind me and make a break for the elevator. I’ll cover you,” Sam whispers, never taking his eyes of the monstrosity.
“Are you kidding me?” Dean hisses, wary of making too much noise. “I’m not leaving you up here with this thing!”
As the figure gets closer, the lights begin to flicker all around them.
It gives Priestly an idea.
“No! We don’t have to run! We can finish this right here! We have what she came for, don’t we? Can’t we just give it to her?”
“We can’t just stroll up to her and say, ‘Hey, you know that necklace you just slaughtered two people for? Ya, we’ve got it now’.” Dean mutters sarcastically. “I really don’t think that would go over too well.”
But Priestly shakes his head, undeterred. “So we don’t stroll,” he says. “Sam, keep your gun on her and whatever you do, don’t make any sudden movements.”
Sam’s about to argue when out of the corner of his eye, he sees something shiny float past him.
Dean gapes as Priestly lifts the necklace with his thoughts, brow furrowed in concentration. It staggers drunkenly in the air, and Priestly grits his teeth, using all of his strength just to keep the object afloat.
The banshee’s wail dies as the necklace comes into her view and for a moment, the whole room goes still.
The boys hold their breath, afraid to break the spell that has ensnared them all.
But it doesn’t last long.
“Ok Sam. Lower your gun gently and back away slowly. You too, Dean. I’ve got it from here.”
Sam and Dean stare as Priestly steps forward, causing the necklace to lurch along with him.
The banshee continues to watch in silence.
“No,” Dean says with a finality mimicking his father’s. “We are not leaving you here. That is not how this works.”
“I’ve got this,” Priestly says again, eyes still on the hovering necklace. “Please. All she wants is what’s hers. You guys don’t need to be here for that. There’s no reason for you to stay.”
“Yes there is,” Dean whispers, placing a hand on his twin’s shoulder.
Halfway across the room, the sluggish necklace perks up, and continues on its way back to its owner.
I’m not leaving you, Dean projects, keeping his hand in place. I won’t let anything separate us ever again.
Priestly finally turns his gaze away from the necklace to stare back into identical eyes.
“Uh, guys?” Sam says, breaking the moment. “Look.”
The mirrored faces turn from each other and back to the banshee.
The three boys watch in astonishment as the remnants of Elizabeth McAllister reach tentatively towards the heirloom that hovers in front of her.
In the back of Dean’s mind, he can feel her presence, bringing forth a white flash and an image of a woman in her fifties, removing a beautiful necklace from her neck and handing it to Dean. In his mind, Dean reaches out with a young woman’s arms and clasps the jewelry around his neck. He feels an overwhelming sense of happiness and pride wash over him as he turns to a mirror, where he finds himself staring at an image of a young Elizabeth McAllister.
And then it’s gone.
When Dean’s full consciousness comes back to him, the banshee and her treasure are nowhere to be seen, and Sam is patting Priestly’s back gently while watching Dean with a weary eye.
“Everything alright?” Sam asks carefully.
Dean runs a hand through his hair as he stares down the empty hallway.
“She’s at peace now,” he says, even though he knows it’s not quite what Sam meant.
“Dean,” his little brother starts.
Dean’s about to start an argument when Priestly interrupts.
“Guys, not that I’m not for more share time, but can it be done somewhere where I can lay down? I don’t know if you noticed, but I just moved some shit with my mind, and let me tell you, it’s a little tiring.
Dean watches Sam a moment more before giving in, shoulders sagging under mental fatigue.
“Ya,” he sighs. “Let’s go.”
*****
Priestly’s out like a light as soon as his head hits the pillow. He’s earned a bed to himself tonight, and Dean feels his own exhaustion wash over him as he lays down next to Sam.
Things are quiet, the only noise being Priestly’s soft, sleepy snuffling.
Neither boy is really sure what to say.
Sam wants so much to breach the silence; to be able to come up with some comforting words for his haunted older brother. But as his mind drifts over empty words of wisdom, he feels an arm slink across his stomach.
He turns his head to see Dean settling into a gentle sleep, brow smoothing out to make way for a peaceful expression.
The arm flung across Sam’s body is heavy and warm, and somehow he knows that no matter how much either of them will shift in sleep, it’ll still be there in the morning.
And for now, it’s enough.
To be continued…