𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋, d. winchester ₁

𝔁. apartment fires and losing a friend

EVAN'S FACE LIT UP into a smile as she watched Dean swing the car up to the front of the apartment building. She couldn't help but let her mind wander to the prospect of finally getting a full, uninterrupted night's sleep in an actual bed.

With a sense of anticipation, Evan followed Sam as he climbed out of the car. She paused momentarily as Sam leaned down to look at Dean through the open window of the car. The question hung in the air, "Call me if you find him?" It was more of a request than an actual question, one that made Dean nod in agreement. Sam added, "Maybe I can meet up with you later."

"Yeah, alright." Dean's voice was steady as he nodded in response to Sam's words. With a shared look, Sam and Evan began to move away from the car. Suddenly, "Sam, Evan!" Dean's voice rang out, causing them both to pause in their steps and turn around. Dean's eyes met theirs as he said, "You know, we made a hell of a team back there."

"Yeah." Sam's response was short and accompanied by a nod before Evan handed him her backpack.

She looked at him, "I'll meet you up there, yeah?" There was a moment of understanding as Sam nodded in response. Evan quickly made her way back to the car, causing Dean to watch her through the front window. She moved around the car with purpose before pausing outside of the driver's door.

Evan took a moment to lean down, her hand reaching inwards and gripping Dean's jaw gently, pulling his face to meet hers. She placed her lips on his cheek, a soft kiss that was over as quickly as it had begun. She pulled back, her voice light as she said, "Nice meeting you, Dean." Evan flashed a soft smile, while Dean stared at her, his eyes slightly wide as he watched Evan walk away.

"Hey, Evan?" Dean's voice caused her to pause mid-step. She turned around at the sound, humming in response. "You think I could get your number? You know, just in case I'm ever in town." Dean shrugged casually, his question making Evan laugh softly.

"Yeah, sure." Evan nodded, her voice filled with amusement before she turned around, making her way back to the car again.

⛤

Evan, exhausted and content, heaved a sigh of pure satisfaction as she let herself collapse onto the plush comfort of her bed. She didn't bother to change out of her daytime clothes, the fabric of her shirt and denim jeans crumpling beneath her as she sank into the mattress. Her eyelids felt heavy, slowly fluttering shut as she surrendered to the pull of sleep. But just as the veil of unconsciousness was about to claim her, a harsh sound ripped through the stillness of the night. It was Sam's voice, filled with panic and fear.

"Sam!" Evan's heart pounded in her chest as she bolted upright, all traces of sleepiness instantly evaporated. Her feet hit the floor with a thud as she flew out of her room, her voice echoing through the hallways. "Sam!"

"Jess!" Evan's voice broke as she called out, her eyes welling up with tears. She stood paralyzed in the doorway of Sam's room, her gaze fixed on the horrific scene that unfolded before her. Jessica, the girl she'd come to know and love, was pinned to the ceiling, her body enveloped in a consuming blaze. Dean rushed into the room, his focus solely on Sam.

"We gotta go!" Dean's voice cut through the chaos, his hand closing around Sam's arm before he turned and ran for the door. "Evan let's go! Now!" He reached out with his other hand, his fingers closing around Evan's wrist as the fire continued to spread, threatening to claim everything in its path.

"Jess!" Evan's voice was barely a whisper, choked by the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She struggled against Dean's hold, her heart aching with the need to stay, to somehow save Jessica. But Dean was unyielding, pulling her and Sam out of the apartment building and into the cool night air.

"No!" Evan's cry was raw and filled with despair as they finally cleared the building. Her knees buckled beneath her, the impact against the cold, hard concrete barely registering as she crumbled to the ground, her hands instinctively clutching at her chest.

Evan continued to sob, her body wracked with grief. Suddenly, she felt arms wrap around her waist, pulling her to her feet. "No! Get off of me!" She screamed, thrashing in the person's hold.

"Come on, Evan," Dean's voice was steady despite the chaos, his grip firm as he led her away from the burning building and towards the safety of his car.

Evan's sobs echoed through the night, her cries a heartbreaking serenade to the tragedy that had just unfolded. "Don't touch me!" She shrieked as Dean tried to offer a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You should have left me in there!" The words were a raw scream torn from her throat.

"Eva-" Dean started, his voice filled with concern and confusion, but Evan didn't let him finish.

"You should have left me in there." She shook her head, the words falling from her lips like a curse before she turned on her heels and sprinted away, Dean's frantic calls fading into the distance behind her.

⛤

Evan sat motionless on the worn wooden park bench, the small glass bottle of liquor lying empty beside her, its contents long since consumed. Her once immaculate mascara was a distorted mess, streams of black coursing down her porcelain cheeks, stains of heartache imprinted on her face. Her nose was a stark contrast of red against her pale complexion, betraying the evidence of her sorrow.

"Evan!" A distant voice echoed through the vacant park. The call was desperate, searching, but she gave no indication of recognition. "Evan!" The voice echoed again, this time with an urgent proximity.

"Evan?" A softer voice, different from the first, rang out as a figure materialized in front of her. But even this did not elicit a reaction from Evan. "You can't just vanish into thin air like that! What on earth were you thinking?" Sam crouched down to her level, gently cradling her face in his rough hands.

"Evan?" Sam's voice was laced with worry as he studied her vacant expression, her eyes devoid of any spark.

"I don't think she's present with us, Sammy," a gruff voice broke the silence. It was Dean, picking up the empty bottle of alcohol that lay beside Evan. "Alright, Evan, time to go," Dean sighed heavily, his patience evidently wearing thin. But Evan suddenly found her strength, springing up with an unsteady grace.

"Don't touch me!" She bellowed, her words slurred from the alcohol. "Don't you dare lay a hand on me, you absolute asshole!" Evan's voice filled the empty park as Dean continued his advance. "No! Get away from me!" Her voice rang out again as Dean scooped her up, his arms firm around the back of her thighs, effortlessly hoisting her over his shoulder. "Put me down!" Evan's protests took on a desperate tone, a sob breaking through her shouts as her fists pounded on Dean's back. "You should have left me in that fire." The sob turned into a full-blown cry as Dean made his way towards the parked car. "You should have let me die alongside Jessie." The pain in her voice was palpable, a sharp sting in the cold night air.

"Don't say that." Dean's voice held a note of warning as he shook his head, Sam opening the backseat door in a silent agreement. "Now shut up, and get in the car." There was a finality in Dean's words as he gently placed Evan in the backseat, shutting the door behind her before sliding into the driver's seat, Sam taking his place as the passenger.

"Why'd you have to save me?" Evan's words met the brothers as she glared at Dean, but her anger was met with indifference as the engine roared to life and the car started its journey.