A Forgotten World

5- The Choice

"Dean, I know this hurts you too, but could you maybe get Cas to give me another dream? Please? You say you're ok, but there's something about you that makes me want to know for sure." I spoke up as I got back in bed.

"Only if you tell me as briefly as possible if you're really ok or not." He insisted.

"I'm not really ok. I desperately want to find this guy but I don't know where he is. I know you want me to find him but I'm having trouble. And I can't believe I'm saying this and Carson would kill me if he found out, but I think I love you, Dean. I don't mean just love you, I mean in love with you." I told him. Dean made me feel a certain way that I had never felt before. Like talking to him made all the pain worth it. The headaches meant nothing if I could talk to him.

"You'll find him. And I love you too. You've always been my love Anna. Get some sleep and we'll talk tomorrow." He replied. I didn't even feel the headache that time I was so happy.

"Goodnight, Dean." I laid down and went to sleep.

"Sammy. She finally said it. After all these months. She said she loves me. She can see and hear all this, but she seriously loves me." It was adorable seeing him so happy about me saying I loved him.

"That's great Dean. Has she found him yet?"

"No. Any ideas?"

"No." They just sat around at a table in the library. They were researching something but I wasn't sure what.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

"We're researching for our job. No more questions. You don't need to strain yourself while you're sleeping." He reprimanded.

"Ok. Sorry. Just somehow prove to me you're really ok. I'm sorry I've been taking so long with finding him. I know I'm making your life a living hell having to wait so long." I told him. I felt bad. I was making him wait what felt like eternity.

"Don't be sorry. My life isn't miserable waiting ok? It's been almost a year at this point since trying to talk to you, but I know you're trying and that's what matters. I'm ok. Really. Right Sam?" He asked out loud.

"He's really ok. We both want you to find him, but we understand he's hard to find. Take all the time you need." Sam stated out loud. I was comfortable knowing they were ok.

"You can tell Cas he can stop now. Talk to me in the morning."

"I will." He replied before Cas stopped and I was in a normal sleep.

"Hey. I hope I'm not waking you or interrupting work." Dean spoke up around 9:30.

"You're not waking me. I've been up a while. I didn't go in for work today." I told him, hoping we could keep this short. The more emotionally upset either of us got, the worse the headaches were.

"Why didn't you go in for work?" He asked.

"I think I found him, Dean. Can I ask about some characteristics?" I questioned. I really hoped it was my hunch.

"Go ahead." He quickly stated.

"He drives a classic car, he loves pie, he has bright green eyes, he can be stubborn but cares more about people than he lets on, he has a tough guy exterior but is somewhat of a softy, and he works as a cop who hunts down the monstrous criminals who run off and can't be found." I told him, hoping it wasn't too long.

"That sounds right. If he always makes you think of me, then it's him. Get a pen and paper. I can't do this to you much longer." I did as he said, pushing through the headache.

"Ok."

"Get the guy and take him to the forest I describe. It's just outside Lebanon, KS. It's not too far from where you say you live. Trust me. Cas will meet you there. He will explain what you need to do. I'm not hurting you anymore for today. Do it ASAP." He urged. He gave a good description of the forest and I agreed and called Carson.

"I found the guy. I need you to come over. Now." I begged.

"Ok. I'm off work today. Be there in 5." He replied. He walked in and I wrapped him in a hug. "So who's the guy?" He asked.

"It's you. It's been you this whole time. I explained to Dean why I thought it was you and he agrees. He gave me specific instructions on where to go. His friend Cas will meet me there. Please trust me this once and come with me." He objected and we went back and forth. "Please. Do it for me. If it's nothing, we come back."

"Ok." He got in my car with me and I sped down the roads until I reached the forest. A man stood there in a trench coat staring at the clouds in the distance.

"Anna. Dean is waiting for you." He stated as he turned around to face us.

"Where? Can't you bring him here?" I asked. Why did this seem like either a trap or a bad situation?

"He can't cross over into this world. You can cross to his though. That requires a sacrifice. Either you give up Carson or you give up Dean. You can't have both." He explained.

"Whoa whoa whoa. Sacrifice? Like kill one of them?" I asked. That's the only way I had heard sacrifice in a weird context like this be used.

"No. Dean is a part of a different world. If you stay with Carson, all contact with Dean will be lost. If you go to Dean, Carson will lose all memory of you and all contact with him will be lost as well." Cas clarified.

"How long do I have to decide?" I questioned.

"I'd say about 15 minutes before it's too late for me to help." He replied.

"Give me a bit to discuss." Cas nodded and I went back to the car with Carson. Who knew this would be a choice I had to make?