The One He Brought Back

Scene Nine: The Others

(Clair)

The snap of God's finger echoed through Clair's ears and a bright light overcame her, spinning her around and bending her body unfamiliarly and uncomfortably. She squirmed, trying to fight the feeling until it stopped and she felt herself fall to the ground curled up. She heard a voice, "Clair!?" It was Castiel, but yet it wasn't. Castiel sounded of an awkward soldier, wise beyond his years and yet so ignorant to what he had put her through. This voice didn't sound like that. No, This voice rung like a perfectly tuned chord. This voice sounded of a hopeful man, ridden with hardship and perfectly content all the same. Castiel shared her father's body, but not his mind, which shone through his voice like a pile of broken diamonds.

She opened her eyes, staring at the man, unable to respond and unwilling to let herself believe it was truly him. He ran towards her holding onto her tight and she couldn't help but do the same, crying into her father's shoulders and holding onto him as though he would disappear at any moment. She heard footsteps and looked up to see her mother, eyes unsunken and skin glowing with cleanliness. It was her mother as she remembered her before their last meeting. She wasn't the monster that left her alone, she wasn't dead, she was her, just as she was intended to be.

Soon, another pair of arms surrounded her on the floor and the family stayed there for minutes, sobbing and laughing. Unable to express their level of elation to be reunited and uncaring of the feeling of being watched. Clair pulled away first, her features hardening again, "I'm not dead." She stated, faint content-ness shining through her disappointed tone when she continued, "I can't stay forever." Her mother lifted her hand, wiping away the tears under her daughter's eyes, "It's okay Clair."

Her parents' heaven had been their old house, the one before heaven was tangible. It smelled of clean laundry and vanilla and always coted anyone there with a light warmth that could comfort the coldest of souls, though that could have just been heavens touch. The family did nothing but talk. Savoring the others' stories and voices. Jimmy almost left the moment on multiple occasions to reminisce on the times when this was their organic reality. When they would watch TV, not speaking to one another and groaning when someone crossed their line of vision. His heaven was complete for the short time Clair was here, and yet he felt bad for taking so much time she could be doing what her life required to be complete.

As time went on, Clair began to feel it. Knowing she had to go home soon and a sadness overwhelmed her. This was all she had ever wanted, all she had needed. This love, this peace was all she had ever looked for in her life. And she would soon have to leave it. Soon, she would have to go to earth, where nothing happened for the sake of being good. She didn't want to go home and yet as she looked at her fathers face, sudden maturity washed over her. He hadn't left her for the lord. He hadn't gone home to keep her from this. He did what was right. Going home was right, she was needed there.

(Jack)

     The pier he stood on was new and smelled of fresh pine and lake water. A soft breeze ran fingers through his hair and he looked around, finally seeing a young woman floating in the water. He tilted his head, watching her as she floated more and more near to the pier. She could hear a faint humming grow louder as she came nearer. Finally, Jack could see her face and took a deep breath of the mountain air before grinning. It was his mother. She didn't want to disturb her peace though, and so sat crisscrossed on the edge of the pier as his mother floated closer and closer. 

     Jacks mother, Kelly, let her hand skim the sun-warmed water as she floated, feeling the sun on her face. She heard the pier creak slightly and opened her eyes for a moment, turning her head carefully to see if there was anyone there. Sure enough, she met the gaze of a blond-haired boy staring back at her, grinning slightly and tilting his head. For a moment, she didn't know who he was and so turned upright to get a better look at him. Eventually swimming the short distance towards the pier. It didn't take long though, for her to see it. The way his eyes shined, this simple, he was hers.