Lost Between Worlds

Mind Palace

I wake up to the scent of smelling salts being pressed against my nose.

"Alex?" Sam asks, tapping on my cheeks. "Guys, he's coming around!"

I groan, and my eyes flutter open. Sam's sitting on the bed beside me, holding the salts up to my nose. Sherlock's leaning over me, and the Doctor and Dean are at the foot of the bed. My head's pounding, but besides that, I feel fine. I look down at my arms and chest, which would normally be covered in gauze and bandages, but they look fine. I raise them up and inspect them.

"Cas do this?" I ask, and Sam nods. "Is he alright?"

"He's fine. He went off, completely against our instructions, to try and find them again," Dean growls. I try to sit up, and Sam helps me and prop my pillow up behind me.

"What time is it?" I ask, staring directly at Sherlock.

"5:00 A.M.," the Doctor answers. "Why?"

"Just wondering."

"Speaking of, I have a very important meeting to attend, so I'll be on my way," Sherlock says before turning on his heel and speeding out the door. I try to stand to follow him, but I'm still too weak.

"Someone follow him. I'm sure he's walking into a trap," I say, and the Doctor turns to follow Sherlock.

"On it," he says on his way out.

"And you said you had a couple ideas on how to find out what's happening, Sam?"

"Yeah. I'm just not sure you're strong enough; it could be dangerous," he warns, a look of worry playing across his face.

"I think I can handle it. The sooner we figure this out, the better." Dean smiles and shakes his head as I say this.

"You're a trooper." He stops for a moment, lost in thought, then refocuses. "I'll go get the supplies." He walks away, leaving me alone with Sam.

"Alright. Get some more rest, and we'll wake you up here in a bit when we're ready." I nod. As he turns to walk away, I feel a sudden sadness for all of these people I've been with. Whether they were created or not, these are severely broken people, and they exist, as crazy as that sounds.

"Thanks for helping, Sam." He stops to face me. "I've seen a lot of your life, but the more time I spend with you - all of you - the more I realise that, well, you're real people. Which I really didn't want to say aloud, but there it is. Everything you've been through... it's harsh. Way beyond what you guys should be capable of, but you and everyone else here have somehow made it through. You all... You're amazing." I stop for a moment, then resume. "I just thought at least one of you should know that." He nods in thanks, then stands beside me again.

"Just remember that we're human. Dean and I... We've been dragged through hell. Literally." He pauses for a moment. "All I had wanted was a normal life. Keep that in mind. Don't make any of us into some kind of martyrs. It isn't right, but the way you talk about us... There are better people out there, is all I'm trying to say." Now it's my turn to nod, and he walks to the door again. "Now get some rest."

                                           •

"Everyone ready?" Dean asks. I'm still propped up in bed with dean sitting cross legged to my right, and Sam sitting on the edge to my left. There's a lit candle sitting on the bedside table to my left, but I can't tell what it smells like. Chamomile, maybe? We nod. "Me or you?" he asks Sam.

"You've got a better voice for it." Dean nods. "And did you reread how to do it again?"

"Yes, Sammy. It's not even that hard on our end." He closes his eyes and breathes deeply for a minute, then fixes his eyes on me.