Parallel » Sam Winchester

act one

The wounds were bleeding profusely, flowing freely and staining her once-white tank top a sickly brownish red color. The flannel he'd wrapped them with did almost nothing to stop the blood- it just kept coming, pouring out of the gash in her side like a waterfall. It was a wonder how she'd managed to survive this long, especially out there on her own. Taking in her appearance, she didn't look like the type who knew how to hunt- skinny jeans with a dressy white tank and no shoes weren't your typical huntress attire.

Sam Winchester wasn't sure how he and his brother, Dean, had managed to stumble onto her, chained tightly to a tree in the middle of the Ohio woods, but he was damn glad they did. She'd been barely hanging on when they found her- pale and cold, lips dry and cracked from thirst. Rips had lined her clothing and deep slash marks on her sides were bleeding heavily. They weren't quite sure what had happened to her, but in that moment, all that had mattered was getting her out of there. Luckily, it hadn't taken long for Dean to unbind her, and Sam to quickly and tightly wrap his flannel around her. Then, they had hightailed it out, never looking back.

Now, as she lay across his lap, labored breaths escaping her mouth, Sam couldn't help but gaze at her in wonder. Whoever she was, she was quite the looker- long, light brown hair that fell to her shoulders in waves. Olive skin, a thin, narrow waist and legs a mile long, yet still small in comparison to him. He watched her chest rise and fall, wondering what would become of her after they left her at the hospital. Would she remember who she was and what had happened to her? Would she have any family to contact, to let them know she was safe? Would he ever see her again?

He was ripped from his thoughts when the Impala lurched forward suddenly. "How's she doing back there?" His brother asked, meeting Sam's eyes in the rear view mirror. "Not good, Dean. She's freezing cold and barely breathing." Sam answered. "Hold on." Dean commanded. Sam quickly wrapped his arms around the girl, tighter than they'd been before.

Baby flew down a large hill, whizzing past houses, buildings, and various other things.
When the hospital swam into view, Sam exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Relief flooded him, and he leaned down. "You're going to be okay," he murmured in the girl's ear, gently, touching her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

Dean threw open the car door, explaining to the EMT's what had happened- at least, the story the brothers had fabricated to tell instead of what had actually happened. They felt bad lying, but they knew better than to tell the truth; people would never believe them.

The nurses quickly opened the back door of the car, pulling her off of his lap and loading her onto a stretcher. Panic rose through him- "Will she be okay?" He asked, looking from one nurse to another. "We don't know yet. She's lost a lot of blood." One nurse answered before barking orders to the others. They quickly ran her inside, leaving the brothers behind.

"Come on, Sammy. Let's go." Dean murmured, once he was sure she was in safe hands.

"What? Leave? We can't leave her. What if she doesn't make it?" Sam asked, worry evident in his voice.

"We've done all we can, Sam," Dean replied, looking at his little brother seriously.

"And what if she wakes up? Then what?"

"Then the nurses explain to her where she is, get her name and notify her family." The elder Winchester replied matter-of-factly.

"And if she doesn't remember?" Sam countered, suddenly feeling very overprotective of the girl whose name he didn't even know.

"That is not our problem, Sam! We did what we could, we untied her, we saved her life. We're looking for the thing that did this. But the rest is up to the hospital."

Sam frowned, knowing his brother was right, but feeling conflicted. He didn't like the idea of her waking up alone.

"Come on, Sam. We have work to do." Dean pressed. His younger brother remained quiet for a little bit longer before ultimately giving in.

Together, they climbed into the impala.

"If you get lucky, she'll turn up again someday. Hopefully alive this time." Dean murmured as they drove off.