Freed (Part 3)

8.

8.

"He might be there, you know."

I looked up from my bowl of soup, Bobby watching me wearily from across the motel table. He had been pretending to read the newspaper for the past thirty minutes, probably thinking of how to approach this without upsetting me, but it wasn't like I was caught off guard. I knew he was going to bring Dean up. A part of me just wished he hadn't. "Yeah, I know," I shrugged, slurping my soup from the spoon. He stared at me. "What?"

"You know what, boy," he frowned, leaning forward on his elbows. "We need your attention on Alistar tomorrow. We can't afford for you to get distracted-"

"I won't."

"Are you sure?" He pressed, "because you didn't see to be all there when Dean attacked me.  And what if Dean is helping him? What if Dean isn't really even Dean anymore?"

"Bobby-"

 "Are you going to be able to handle that, Sam?"

"Bob-"

 "Are you sure you're going to be able to kill him?"

"I don't fucking know!"  I snapped, throwing the bowl onto the floor. "How can I know? It's Dean, Bobby! Not just another vampire. It's Dean." My eyes watered. He was the guy I loved, God dammit. The guy that always had my back. How was I supposed to forget about all of that? "Could you?" I whispered, and Bobby looked away, silence filling the room.

A part of me expected him to look just as troubled as I probably did. To sound just as heartbroken by this as I was, because Bobby had practically raised Dean. He had been the one to teach him how to be a hunter. This should be killing him too, shouldn't it? 

"Honestly?" He asked after a moment, his brown eyes looking back into mine. "After he pinned me to that wall and nearly tore my neck out...I'd kill him in a second." I flinched, my fingers twitching at my sides. "And I pray to god every second, Sam, that you'll have the strength to kill him too." He got up from the chair, eyes falling to the soup scattered on the floor. "Clean that up. I have to make a few calls."

I nodded silently, watching him shut the motel door behind him. And I don't know what was worse, hearing those words come out of Bobby's mouth, or knowing that he meant them. Because sure, right now I can say that I'll do whatever it takes to stop Alistar, but did I really mean them? Would I really be able to do it? 

This is why you need me, Michael's voice rang into my mind, his voice oddly comforting despite the turmoil in my heart. Because I can be strong for you, Sam.

"How long have you been there," I muttered, feeling the angel's presences stir around me.

Long enough, he answered, then paused. You have to do what's best for everyone, Sam. And for the second time since they've told me about their plan, I was actually starting to wonder if maybe they were right.

"Let's talk then," I whispered, and I felt the angel's presence swirl around me, his soul entering my mind. Maybe...maybe this was the best for everyone.

____

I can help you beat him, you know.

I frowned, staring up at the ceiling as Castiel breathed steadily from beside me. I had been trying to sleep for the past three hours, hoping that if I closed my eyes I'd eventually pass out, but it was like my mind refused to stop. I was either worrying about Alistar, Trevor, Castiel, or Sam, and it was all giving me a headache. There were too many factors in this; too many people that could end up hurt.

That's why you need me, It pressed, squirming around in my mind. And I tried to ignore it, I really did, but it's not like I could fall asleep anyway. Why not humor It?

You have ten seconds to tell me before I hit the mute button again, I warned and I felt It tingle with excitement.

There's a reason why vampires are told to fear me. I come with certain...capabilities.

Five seconds...

I have enough power to defeat him, It said quickly. I can make you invincible to nearly everything. I can make you see his moves before he makes them. I can make you save the world, Dean. Save Sam.

My eyes widened, flickering over to Castiel as he scooted closer to me, murmuring in his sleep. And how do I know that you're not saying this just to get control? I felt my mind hum, It chuckling at my words.

Because Dean, I can take control whenever I want to. It'd just be easier for the both of us if we worked together.  I bit my lip, feeling the sting of my fang cutting into it. So...what do you say?

"Times up," I murmured, closing my eyes, but even as I tried to block out It's words, my mind didn't stop playing them over. I mean...even if It did destroy me, wouldn't it be worth it if Sammy was saved?

I gritted my teeth, my eyes opening on their own accord and falling onto Cas, whose head laid on my shoulder.

Wouldn't it be worth it if I saved both of them?