Best Laid Plans (7/11) - Mag 7/SPN/SV
This is the sequel to Ghost Town which should be read first.
Title: Best Laid Plans (7/11)
Author: strangevisitor7
Beta: Lyl_Devil and Pen37
Rated: PG
Fandom: The Magnificent 7, Smallville, Supernatural
Characters: Sam and Dean Winchester; Chloe Sullivan; The Seven: Chris Larabee, Buck Wilmington, Vin Tanner, Ezra Standish, Nathan Jackson, Josiah Sanchez, JD Dunne; OMC - Mathew Tanner; Eventually - Sam/Chloe
Disclaimer: The characters you know and love all belong to their respective creators. Mathew Tanner is mine
Chapter Summary: Sam bullies Mathew into giving him the real tokens to banish the six ghosts. Chris comes to a decision.
Chapter List:
Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; Chapter 9; Chapter 10; Chapter 11: Epilogue
JD, Josiah, Vin, Chris, Buck, Nathan & Ezra
banner by scrollgirl
Best Laid Plans: Chapter 7
Sam was leafing through a pile of papers when he reached out and found himself holding Chloe’s hand as she reached for the same document. Blushing, he released it quickly.
“Sorry.” he stammered and wanted to smack himself for being so self conscious around her. He was just glad Dean wasn’t here to see him stumbling over himself with a girl.
She gave him another of those blinding smiles as she laughed lightly. “Great minds.” Chloe said as she handed him the paper he’d wanted.
“So, is all of this going to help you blow the lid off Luthorcorp's illegal activities in New Mexico?”
Chloe shifted her gaze to the article she’d been composing. “Well, it should make Lex very nervous. Once everything about Saunders comes to light, he’s going to have to do some fancy footwork to distance him self from the fallout.” And he’ll definitely have to find a new location for his next 33.1 branch, she thought.
“I guess he’s pretty good at that.” Sam said.
“He’s had a lot of practice. Unfortunately, he’ll just move onto a new state and make new deals.”
“But you’re on his trail so eventually you’ll bring him down.”
“Well, I don’t know that it’s possible to actually ‘bring him down’,” she shrugged and found herself flattered by his faith in her abilities.
“I have no doubt,” Sam said as he held her gaze. “You’ve done some amazing research here and taught me a few things about gathering information.”
Now, Chloe found herself the one blushing. “It is what I do.”
Mathew had been watching their flirtation with quiet amusement. “I hate to interrupt the mutual admiration society but what say we break for lunch? I’ll send Annie for some sandwiches.”
“Great idea, Mathew,” Chloe said as she shifted in her chair trying to pretend that she and Sam hadn’t just been flirting outrageously.
Sam nodded his agreement and looked at Mathew who gave him a knowing smile. Just when he thought his embarrassment couldn’t be any greater he was saved from speaking by the ringing of his cell phone.
“It’s Dean,” Sam laughed. “Probably heard you mention lunch all the way across town.”
“I got that impression about your brother,” Mathew said. “Tell him if he gets back in time, I’ll buy him a sandwich.”
Sam nodded and flipped open his phone. “What’s up?”
“You’ll never guess who I’m chatting with?”
Knowing where Dean had been going there was only one answer to that question. Sam stared accusingly at Mathew. “We got played.”
Mathew cringed at the harshness of Sam’s tone but said nothing.
“Yep. You want to bring Mathew boy out here so he can explain himself?” Dean said.
“And tell him his best buddy Chris just tried to kill me so could he please bring the real tokens so we can finish this?”
“You okay?”
“I’m fine. The others stepped in, but Larabee’s gone dark side and we need to take care of this before he hurts someone.”
“On my way.” Sam closed his phone.
Mathew waited expectantly for him to share what had happened.
“Chris tried to kill Dean,” Sam snapped.
“He did what?” Mathew sagged in his chair. “I knew he was upset about Chloe but I thought Josiah had talked him down.”
Sam shifted his gaze to the blonde. “You knew they were still here. Did he attack you too?”
Chloe shook her head. “He was scary but not really violent. Well not violent to me. He was pretty angry with the others.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Sam said. “He’s officially dangerous. That makes what you did, Mathew, not only stupid, but life threatening.”
“I know that now. I’m really sorry,” Mathew said.
“Save it.” Sam was in no mood for apologies; not when Dean had almost been killed. “I want that box that Vin carved and anything else you have tied to the six. We’re going out there and we’re doing it right this time.”
“Sam -” Chloe started and then stopped when she saw the anger in his eyes. She didn’t know what to say.
“You wanted to know what we do? Well you’re going to have a ring side seat,” he said darkly as he pulled Mathew to his feet and pointed him toward the door.
Chloe grabbed her things and followed the men out of the office.
************************
Mathew opened the door to his place. There had been nothing but icy silence on the way there. He knew there was nothing he could say to change the Winchesters' minds this time.
He headed back to his bedroom with Sam and Chloe close behind. The hunter grabbed Vin’s box off the dresser and opened it.
“It’s empty. But there was something else in here wasn’t there? Something Dean and I never saw.” Sam handed the box to Chloe as he waited for Mathew to produce the real tokens.
Reluctantly, Mathew went to his wall safe. Opening it he pulled out the leather pouch and handed it to Sam.
Sam opened the pouch to look inside. “Hair? From each of them.”
“Vin collected that on the day they died. It had been in the box but I’ve been keeping it in the safe since that night you tried to banish them.”
“This has to be the real part of their essence; the anchor that’s keeping them here.”
“What are these symbols?” Chloe asked as she ran her had across the top of the brown, wooden box. Did you look them up?”
Sam turned his attention to the carvings that adorned the box. “They’re Native American, but no I didn’t check them out. Obviously, I should have,” he said as he glared at Mathew. “Do you know what they mean?”
Tanner shook his head. “I only know Vin specifically built the box to hold the mementos from the six, including that pouch.”
“If he went to that much trouble then we should definitely find out what they mean before we go any further,” Sam said. “Where’s your computer?”
Mathew led them to his study.
Chloe pulled out her laptop while Sam seated himself in front of the desk top. “Let’s see what we can find,” she said as they settled into do some research.
Mathew slumped into the coach along the opposite wall and waited. For a moment he thought he should tell Sam about his dreams, but he suspected that they were simply manifestations of this inevitability; that the Winchesters would find out the truth and put the ghosts down for good.
It wasn’t long before Chloe found something. Turning her lap top to show Sam, “This symbol here,” she pointed at the screen and then to the box, “it means guardian. Along with these small ones around the sides, it’s a phase that invokes the guardian to protect something. I’m assuming whatever is placed in the box.”
Sam studied the display. “I’m impressed. You’re very good with translations.”
“I’ve had some practice with dead languages before.” She smiled as she wondered if Kryptonian really counted.
“Some protection,” Mathew mumbled from his place on the couch. “The wards didn’t stop you from burning what was inside and it won’t stop you now.”
“Might not be that kind of protection. It isn’t clear exactly what Vin wanted to guard.”
“It’s not like you couldn’t remove the contents.” Chloe observed as she opened the container and ran her hand around the inside. “I really doesn’t seem like a very effective way to protect things.”
“But it did for a very long time,” Sam reminded her.
“No Chloe’s right. It didn’t do a very good job of stopping you from destroying those objects.”
“Then maybe the box itself is being protected,” Sam suggested. “You prevented us from burning it. Without realizing it, you were protecting the real object of value.”
Chloe examined the symbols again and pointed at the one on the lid. “This one - Guardian - is very specific. It suggests a person. So it must mean the Tanners, right?”
“I was the guardian of the box after my father passed away.”
“I’m guessing you are the one who needs to destroy it as the designated guardian,” Sam said.
Chloe thought about this as she chewed her lip. “I agree with Sam, it’s the box that has the power, not the things in the box, like the pouch of hair - those were decoys and obviously that worked, no offense Sam.”
“None taken. I think you’ve figured it out,” Sam smiled at the petite blonde. She had a sharp mind that had impressed him all day long. “Dean and I should have been more insistent about burning the box.”
Chloe returned his smile. “So this is what you do. Solve these great big Scooby Doo-like mysteries all around the country?”
“We’ve actually run into very few old men in masks looking for buried treasure,” Sam joked. “But yeah, this is what we do.”
“Very cool. Think I’d be any good at it?” Chloe asked. “And you should know: I can shoot a gun.”
Sam laughed. “Yeah I think you would be. Thinking of giving up your day job?”
“So,” Mathew said as he once again had to remind the two that he was still in the room. “You think if the box is destroyed then the ghost will move on but I’m the only one who can do it.”
“That's what the research suggests,” Sam said. He noticed that Chloe was trying to look busy. They kept falling into their own conversations and it wasn’t fair to Mathew. On the other hand, Sam couldn’t remember being this at ease with anyone in a long time and certainly not someone who knew all about his chosen profession. He definitely did not want to lose touch with Chloe when this was over.
“I suppose you’ll want me to light a fire?” Mathew asked as he stood not really sure how he was going to stop Sam from forcing him to burn the box.
“Let’s do this at Four Corners,” Sam said sympathetically. “I know you’d want to say goodbye for real this time.”
Mathew sent him a rueful smile. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
Chloe stood and began packing up her laptop. “Any chance you’ll let me interview them before you do your thing?”
Sam sent her an incredulous look. “You’re kidding right?”
“Heck No! They’re a fascinating piece of Americana and you’re going to just send them to the great beyond. I’d like to at least capture their story. That is what I do.” Chloe insisted. This was a rare opportunity and she wasn’t about to let it go without a fight.
He studied the woman in front of him; hands on her hips, a determined set to her stance, and blindingly beautiful smile on her face. Sam recognized that he was out gunned. “Alright, I’ll give you some time but I don’t guarantee that Dean will. He wasn’t too happy on the phone,” he warned her. “And no talking to Chris. He is definitely dangerous even if the others aren’t - yet.”
“I knew you’d see it my way,” she said the excitement spilling out of her. There was a spring in her step as she grabbed her things, the wooden box and led the way out to the car.
The two men watched her leave and Mathew chuckled at Sam’s loss of control.
“She’s tough to say no to,” Sam admitted awkwardly.
“I can see that.” Mathew snarked and allowed himself some hope. If Chloe already had Sam halfway wrapped around her finger and he could convince her to join his side, he might still find a way to save the ghosts. Besides he had no intention of destroying the box willingly. As for Chris being dangerous, Mathew still wasn’t convinced that Dean hadn’t done something to offend the man.
******************************
“Are you still so determined to kill us?” Ezra asked.
“You’re already dead,” Dean snapped as he slumped into a chair at one of the tables to wait for Sam; his shot gun at the ready and his eyes continually scanning the room for any signs of Larabee’s return.
“True but this existence is our life,” Ezra reminded him.
“Stop talking now.”
“Or what? You’ll shoot me too? I thought we were friends.” The gambler smiled trying to regain the camaraderie that had flowed so easily between the two the last time Dean had been in the saloon.
Dean swung the shot gun toward Ezra who had seated himself across the table from the hunter. “Try me,” he said the anger plain in his voice. “And we’re not friends.”
“But - ” Ezra began and stopped as Dean cocked the shotgun.
Buck caught the gambler’s eye and shook his head, indicating that silence might be the best course of action.
The southerner closed his mouth, leaned back in his chair and pulled a deck of cards from his jacket. Except for the shuffling of cards, silence descended upon the room.
**************************
Chris Larabee stood silently in the Four Corner’s graveyard trying to remember the last time he hadn’t had to struggled to keep the anger and the rage at bay
He’d never been a particularly happy man in life; certainly not since Sarah and Adam had died in the fire. That day he’d lost everything that made life worth living and yet somehow he’d continued to survive.
Chris had become self destructive, but with the help of Vin and the others he’d found a purpose, protecting the town, to give his life meaning and another blonde haired woman, Mary Travis, with whom he thought he might find love again.
Then he’d died, for real this time. Lost the chance at love and the best friend he’d ever had. Sure, Buck was a good friend and he really did care about the others but he and Vin had shared the kind of friendship that couldn’t be replaced.
Josiah believed that Vin burned in hell and they all thought they were equally to blame. But Chris knew the truth; it was his fault that Vin suffered and was lost to them. He’d been the one to encourage his friend to make that awful choice.
Chris had been thinking a lot about Vin lately; ever since the Winchesters had burned the mementos. Saying Vin’s name out loud to Mathew had brought up a wealth of memories that Chris had kept buried for too many years.
He’d felt himself spinning out of control after that. Buck believed it was his annual dark time because of Adam and Sarah and that was part of it. But the bigger part was that he’d finally lost hope that Vin might somehow, someday join them.
“I failed you,” Chris said as he stood, hat in hand, at the grave of his friend. “Twice. The Winchesters are back and this time there’s no tricks left to be played.”
Chris found it hard to care that his existence might be over. He was tired. Tired of the endless days, tired of trying to fulfill the promise that kept them tied to this dead town and very tired of existing without his friend. He wondered if his desire for the end was what had caused him to reveal the ruse that just days before they’d worked so hard to put in place.
He felt spent and was surprised to find that there was no malice left in his heart toward the Winchesters. They had a job to do and he respected that.
He looked out past the graveyard to see a car approaching. “Mathew’s here,” Chris observed as he knelt down to sweep away some dust that covered the brass plate. “I miss ya, Vin and I know now you ain’t ever coming to join us; so I ‘spect it’s time to move on.”
Straightening up, he placed his hat back on his head. “I’m sorry,” he said before blinking out to face Mathew and the others.
Title: Best Laid Plans (7/11)
Author: strangevisitor7
Beta: Lyl_Devil and Pen37
Rated: PG
Fandom: The Magnificent 7, Smallville, Supernatural
Characters: Sam and Dean Winchester; Chloe Sullivan; The Seven: Chris Larabee, Buck Wilmington, Vin Tanner, Ezra Standish, Nathan Jackson, Josiah Sanchez, JD Dunne; OMC - Mathew Tanner; Eventually - Sam/Chloe
Disclaimer: The characters you know and love all belong to their respective creators. Mathew Tanner is mine
Chapter Summary: Sam bullies Mathew into giving him the real tokens to banish the six ghosts. Chris comes to a decision.
Chapter List:
Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; Chapter 9; Chapter 10; Chapter 11: Epilogue
JD, Josiah, Vin, Chris, Buck, Nathan & Ezra
banner by scrollgirl
Best Laid Plans: Chapter 7
Sam was leafing through a pile of papers when he reached out and found himself holding Chloe’s hand as she reached for the same document. Blushing, he released it quickly.
“Sorry.” he stammered and wanted to smack himself for being so self conscious around her. He was just glad Dean wasn’t here to see him stumbling over himself with a girl.
She gave him another of those blinding smiles as she laughed lightly. “Great minds.” Chloe said as she handed him the paper he’d wanted.
“So, is all of this going to help you blow the lid off Luthorcorp's illegal activities in New Mexico?”
Chloe shifted her gaze to the article she’d been composing. “Well, it should make Lex very nervous. Once everything about Saunders comes to light, he’s going to have to do some fancy footwork to distance him self from the fallout.” And he’ll definitely have to find a new location for his next 33.1 branch, she thought.
“I guess he’s pretty good at that.” Sam said.
“He’s had a lot of practice. Unfortunately, he’ll just move onto a new state and make new deals.”
“But you’re on his trail so eventually you’ll bring him down.”
“Well, I don’t know that it’s possible to actually ‘bring him down’,” she shrugged and found herself flattered by his faith in her abilities.
“I have no doubt,” Sam said as he held her gaze. “You’ve done some amazing research here and taught me a few things about gathering information.”
Now, Chloe found herself the one blushing. “It is what I do.”
Mathew had been watching their flirtation with quiet amusement. “I hate to interrupt the mutual admiration society but what say we break for lunch? I’ll send Annie for some sandwiches.”
“Great idea, Mathew,” Chloe said as she shifted in her chair trying to pretend that she and Sam hadn’t just been flirting outrageously.
Sam nodded his agreement and looked at Mathew who gave him a knowing smile. Just when he thought his embarrassment couldn’t be any greater he was saved from speaking by the ringing of his cell phone.
“It’s Dean,” Sam laughed. “Probably heard you mention lunch all the way across town.”
“I got that impression about your brother,” Mathew said. “Tell him if he gets back in time, I’ll buy him a sandwich.”
Sam nodded and flipped open his phone. “What’s up?”
“You’ll never guess who I’m chatting with?”
Knowing where Dean had been going there was only one answer to that question. Sam stared accusingly at Mathew. “We got played.”
Mathew cringed at the harshness of Sam’s tone but said nothing.
“Yep. You want to bring Mathew boy out here so he can explain himself?” Dean said.
“And tell him his best buddy Chris just tried to kill me so could he please bring the real tokens so we can finish this?”
“You okay?”
“I’m fine. The others stepped in, but Larabee’s gone dark side and we need to take care of this before he hurts someone.”
“On my way.” Sam closed his phone.
Mathew waited expectantly for him to share what had happened.
“Chris tried to kill Dean,” Sam snapped.
“He did what?” Mathew sagged in his chair. “I knew he was upset about Chloe but I thought Josiah had talked him down.”
Sam shifted his gaze to the blonde. “You knew they were still here. Did he attack you too?”
Chloe shook her head. “He was scary but not really violent. Well not violent to me. He was pretty angry with the others.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Sam said. “He’s officially dangerous. That makes what you did, Mathew, not only stupid, but life threatening.”
“I know that now. I’m really sorry,” Mathew said.
“Save it.” Sam was in no mood for apologies; not when Dean had almost been killed. “I want that box that Vin carved and anything else you have tied to the six. We’re going out there and we’re doing it right this time.”
“Sam -” Chloe started and then stopped when she saw the anger in his eyes. She didn’t know what to say.
“You wanted to know what we do? Well you’re going to have a ring side seat,” he said darkly as he pulled Mathew to his feet and pointed him toward the door.
Chloe grabbed her things and followed the men out of the office.
************************
Mathew opened the door to his place. There had been nothing but icy silence on the way there. He knew there was nothing he could say to change the Winchesters' minds this time.
He headed back to his bedroom with Sam and Chloe close behind. The hunter grabbed Vin’s box off the dresser and opened it.
“It’s empty. But there was something else in here wasn’t there? Something Dean and I never saw.” Sam handed the box to Chloe as he waited for Mathew to produce the real tokens.
Reluctantly, Mathew went to his wall safe. Opening it he pulled out the leather pouch and handed it to Sam.
Sam opened the pouch to look inside. “Hair? From each of them.”
“Vin collected that on the day they died. It had been in the box but I’ve been keeping it in the safe since that night you tried to banish them.”
“This has to be the real part of their essence; the anchor that’s keeping them here.”
“What are these symbols?” Chloe asked as she ran her had across the top of the brown, wooden box. Did you look them up?”
Sam turned his attention to the carvings that adorned the box. “They’re Native American, but no I didn’t check them out. Obviously, I should have,” he said as he glared at Mathew. “Do you know what they mean?”
Tanner shook his head. “I only know Vin specifically built the box to hold the mementos from the six, including that pouch.”
“If he went to that much trouble then we should definitely find out what they mean before we go any further,” Sam said. “Where’s your computer?”
Mathew led them to his study.
Chloe pulled out her laptop while Sam seated himself in front of the desk top. “Let’s see what we can find,” she said as they settled into do some research.
Mathew slumped into the coach along the opposite wall and waited. For a moment he thought he should tell Sam about his dreams, but he suspected that they were simply manifestations of this inevitability; that the Winchesters would find out the truth and put the ghosts down for good.
It wasn’t long before Chloe found something. Turning her lap top to show Sam, “This symbol here,” she pointed at the screen and then to the box, “it means guardian. Along with these small ones around the sides, it’s a phase that invokes the guardian to protect something. I’m assuming whatever is placed in the box.”
Sam studied the display. “I’m impressed. You’re very good with translations.”
“I’ve had some practice with dead languages before.” She smiled as she wondered if Kryptonian really counted.
“Some protection,” Mathew mumbled from his place on the couch. “The wards didn’t stop you from burning what was inside and it won’t stop you now.”
“Might not be that kind of protection. It isn’t clear exactly what Vin wanted to guard.”
“It’s not like you couldn’t remove the contents.” Chloe observed as she opened the container and ran her hand around the inside. “I really doesn’t seem like a very effective way to protect things.”
“But it did for a very long time,” Sam reminded her.
“No Chloe’s right. It didn’t do a very good job of stopping you from destroying those objects.”
“Then maybe the box itself is being protected,” Sam suggested. “You prevented us from burning it. Without realizing it, you were protecting the real object of value.”
Chloe examined the symbols again and pointed at the one on the lid. “This one - Guardian - is very specific. It suggests a person. So it must mean the Tanners, right?”
“I was the guardian of the box after my father passed away.”
“I’m guessing you are the one who needs to destroy it as the designated guardian,” Sam said.
Chloe thought about this as she chewed her lip. “I agree with Sam, it’s the box that has the power, not the things in the box, like the pouch of hair - those were decoys and obviously that worked, no offense Sam.”
“None taken. I think you’ve figured it out,” Sam smiled at the petite blonde. She had a sharp mind that had impressed him all day long. “Dean and I should have been more insistent about burning the box.”
Chloe returned his smile. “So this is what you do. Solve these great big Scooby Doo-like mysteries all around the country?”
“We’ve actually run into very few old men in masks looking for buried treasure,” Sam joked. “But yeah, this is what we do.”
“Very cool. Think I’d be any good at it?” Chloe asked. “And you should know: I can shoot a gun.”
Sam laughed. “Yeah I think you would be. Thinking of giving up your day job?”
“So,” Mathew said as he once again had to remind the two that he was still in the room. “You think if the box is destroyed then the ghost will move on but I’m the only one who can do it.”
“That's what the research suggests,” Sam said. He noticed that Chloe was trying to look busy. They kept falling into their own conversations and it wasn’t fair to Mathew. On the other hand, Sam couldn’t remember being this at ease with anyone in a long time and certainly not someone who knew all about his chosen profession. He definitely did not want to lose touch with Chloe when this was over.
“I suppose you’ll want me to light a fire?” Mathew asked as he stood not really sure how he was going to stop Sam from forcing him to burn the box.
“Let’s do this at Four Corners,” Sam said sympathetically. “I know you’d want to say goodbye for real this time.”
Mathew sent him a rueful smile. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
Chloe stood and began packing up her laptop. “Any chance you’ll let me interview them before you do your thing?”
Sam sent her an incredulous look. “You’re kidding right?”
“Heck No! They’re a fascinating piece of Americana and you’re going to just send them to the great beyond. I’d like to at least capture their story. That is what I do.” Chloe insisted. This was a rare opportunity and she wasn’t about to let it go without a fight.
He studied the woman in front of him; hands on her hips, a determined set to her stance, and blindingly beautiful smile on her face. Sam recognized that he was out gunned. “Alright, I’ll give you some time but I don’t guarantee that Dean will. He wasn’t too happy on the phone,” he warned her. “And no talking to Chris. He is definitely dangerous even if the others aren’t - yet.”
“I knew you’d see it my way,” she said the excitement spilling out of her. There was a spring in her step as she grabbed her things, the wooden box and led the way out to the car.
The two men watched her leave and Mathew chuckled at Sam’s loss of control.
“She’s tough to say no to,” Sam admitted awkwardly.
“I can see that.” Mathew snarked and allowed himself some hope. If Chloe already had Sam halfway wrapped around her finger and he could convince her to join his side, he might still find a way to save the ghosts. Besides he had no intention of destroying the box willingly. As for Chris being dangerous, Mathew still wasn’t convinced that Dean hadn’t done something to offend the man.
******************************
“Are you still so determined to kill us?” Ezra asked.
“You’re already dead,” Dean snapped as he slumped into a chair at one of the tables to wait for Sam; his shot gun at the ready and his eyes continually scanning the room for any signs of Larabee’s return.
“True but this existence is our life,” Ezra reminded him.
“Stop talking now.”
“Or what? You’ll shoot me too? I thought we were friends.” The gambler smiled trying to regain the camaraderie that had flowed so easily between the two the last time Dean had been in the saloon.
Dean swung the shot gun toward Ezra who had seated himself across the table from the hunter. “Try me,” he said the anger plain in his voice. “And we’re not friends.”
“But - ” Ezra began and stopped as Dean cocked the shotgun.
Buck caught the gambler’s eye and shook his head, indicating that silence might be the best course of action.
The southerner closed his mouth, leaned back in his chair and pulled a deck of cards from his jacket. Except for the shuffling of cards, silence descended upon the room.
**************************
Chris Larabee stood silently in the Four Corner’s graveyard trying to remember the last time he hadn’t had to struggled to keep the anger and the rage at bay
He’d never been a particularly happy man in life; certainly not since Sarah and Adam had died in the fire. That day he’d lost everything that made life worth living and yet somehow he’d continued to survive.
Chris had become self destructive, but with the help of Vin and the others he’d found a purpose, protecting the town, to give his life meaning and another blonde haired woman, Mary Travis, with whom he thought he might find love again.
Then he’d died, for real this time. Lost the chance at love and the best friend he’d ever had. Sure, Buck was a good friend and he really did care about the others but he and Vin had shared the kind of friendship that couldn’t be replaced.
Josiah believed that Vin burned in hell and they all thought they were equally to blame. But Chris knew the truth; it was his fault that Vin suffered and was lost to them. He’d been the one to encourage his friend to make that awful choice.
Chris had been thinking a lot about Vin lately; ever since the Winchesters had burned the mementos. Saying Vin’s name out loud to Mathew had brought up a wealth of memories that Chris had kept buried for too many years.
He’d felt himself spinning out of control after that. Buck believed it was his annual dark time because of Adam and Sarah and that was part of it. But the bigger part was that he’d finally lost hope that Vin might somehow, someday join them.
“I failed you,” Chris said as he stood, hat in hand, at the grave of his friend. “Twice. The Winchesters are back and this time there’s no tricks left to be played.”
Chris found it hard to care that his existence might be over. He was tired. Tired of the endless days, tired of trying to fulfill the promise that kept them tied to this dead town and very tired of existing without his friend. He wondered if his desire for the end was what had caused him to reveal the ruse that just days before they’d worked so hard to put in place.
He felt spent and was surprised to find that there was no malice left in his heart toward the Winchesters. They had a job to do and he respected that.
He looked out past the graveyard to see a car approaching. “Mathew’s here,” Chris observed as he knelt down to sweep away some dust that covered the brass plate. “I miss ya, Vin and I know now you ain’t ever coming to join us; so I ‘spect it’s time to move on.”
Straightening up, he placed his hat back on his head. “I’m sorry,” he said before blinking out to face Mathew and the others.