Pieces Of Me {Sam Winchester}

Walk Away

It was when Sam dropped her on the lawn, and the cold night dew on the grass hit her skin, that Josie became aware of the world again.

She turned to Sam first. He was sprawled on the ground, facing the house, his mouth open in horror. The reflections of flames danced in his eyes.

The fire.

"JESS!" Josie screamed, scrambling to her feet. She started sprinting to the front porch of the apartment, but someone grabbed her wrist.

Josie changed the direction of her attention and saw the fire parading around in Sam's eyes again.

"Josie, you can't," he said softly.

"Jess is still in there!" she cried. Suddenly tears were pooling in her eyes and spilling down her cheeks and her heartbeat was skipping and her breath was catching and the only other thing besides the burning apartment to focus on was the inferno flickering in Sam's eyes.

"It's too late," Sam whispered, and now he was crying too, his lips parted, his lids falling slowly over his irises and stopping the fire, if only for a moment.

He drew Josie into his chest, and there she wept, and Sam rested his chin on the top of her head and closed his eyes and let his tears fall into Josie's hair.

•••

Josie swallowed. There was still a lump in her throat, even though she'd shed all the tears she could muster at least four hours ago.

The smoking remains of Sam and Jess's apartment were looking across the street from where she sat on the sidewalk. The clouds behind it were a light peach, even though the sky directly above her was the inky indigo of night.

How could this be? Josie thought. I got out. I got out of the life. I'm not a hunter anymore. This wasn't supposed to happen to Jess.

Josie bit her lip and looked down at her lap. She took off her glasses and set them down, then pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes until she saw fireworks.

She felt someone brush against her shoulder. She dropped her hands and looked beside her to see Sam.

"Hey," he said.

Josie threw her arms around him.

Sam drew in a long breath, then embraced her back.

Sam had always given the best hugs, Josie thought. It was the way he rested his chin on the top of her head and looped his arms under hers and rested them in the soft spot between her shoulder-blades. It was a position she could've held for any given amount of time.

Right now, she never wanted to let go.

But finally, they had to.

"How're you doing?" Josie asked. She didn't care that she still sounded like she was fighting back a sob.

Sam pursed his lips, and turned to face the apartment. The fire department had showed up hours before, but they were still rushing around the property, surveying it, and salvaging what they could. Sam observed them scurrying around, doing what was just another job for them, for a moment, before replying, "I've been better."

Josie sniffed, and reached for his hand. He gripped it gratefully, and smiled at her.

"How about you?" he asked. "How are you doing?"

Josie sighed and leaned her head on Sam's shoulder.

"I've been better," she answered.

Sam nodded.

They stayed that way for a long time, until rays of sun appeared over the horizon and the only patches of pink sky remaining were the undersides of the clouds.

"I guess," Josie finally said, "...I guess I don't understand."

Sam didn't respond.

"How?" Josie continued.

She lifted her head to look into Sam's eyes.

"We did both see that, right? That...that wasn't supposed to happen."

Sam's breath hitched.

"I don't think any part of tonight was supposed to happen," he answered after several minutes.

Josie pursed her lips. "You know what I'm talking about. Sam...she was on the ceiling."

Sam's expression darkened.

"That's just panic talking," he said.

"She was on the ceiling, Sam."

"We were scared."

"So you saw her too?"

Sam squeezed his eyes shut and pulled his hand away.

"Sam?"

"I've seen that before," he murmured.

Josie frowned. Then her eyes widened.

"Oh my god," she realized. "Sam--"

"There's a reason I don't talk about my family," Sam interrupted. "I told you. Things get strange. People...people get hurt."

He stood up and turned away.

"I've got to go," he said.

As he walked away, Josie watched him leave, and she couldn't help but wonder what else Jess hadn't known about Sam Winchester.

Surely she hadn't know what Josie just realized, right? Why would she?

Josie followed Sam with her eyes. He walked surely, deliberately, confidently--it was only when you truly looked at him that you could see the way he eyes shone with tears and his lip quivered.

Finally, Josie looked away.

She couldn't believe that she hadn't realized it sooner.

"Sam," she whispered. "You were a hunter."

She looked back up, hoping to catch another glimpse of him. But Sam was gone.