Disclaimer: I do not own "Supernatural"

Chapter Eight: Demons II

They say it's what you make

I say it's up to fate

It's woven in my soul

I need to let you go

February 7, 2007

"You're telling me Sammy has no memory of killing this guy?"

"I'm telling you—it's like I'm in the Goddamn twilight zone or something," Dean quietly snapped from his end of the conversation, Jayne grimacing as she took a right turn in her car.

"What was his name?"

"Steve Wandell."

"I'll ask Bobby if he recognizes the name. Maybe Sam—"

"Jayne, you had to see it—the guy had security footage and—it—it wasn't good." The young woman remained calm, though her heart slammed painfully against her chest as she tired to come up with some sort of explanation for Sam's sudden disappearance, his lack of memory and his sudden act of violence and rage. "...I don't know what what the hell I'm supposed to do."

"Dean, everything's gonna be fine. Sam's strong, and you know what kind of person he is. Something's just not adding up, and once we figure out what that is, everything will work out." Jayne was sure of it. "I'm heading back to Bobby's, so just try and bring him there, okay?"

"Yeah." Jayne didn't bothering waiting, ending the call and immediately dialing her guardian's number. She waited as the phone rain three times before the man answered.

"Jaynie?"

"Bobby! Did Dean tell you what happened?"

"I've been waitin' to hear from him." And so, the young woman explained, telling Bobby that Sam had gotten a hold of Dean and had forgotten the last week he'd been missing. She'd told him every detail, making sure to relay the name of the hunter Sam had the misfortune of bumping into; perhaps it was the other way around. The older man couldn't recall off the top of his head, but he was sure that the name sounded somewhat familiar. And so, he ended the call stating he would be back at the house as quickly as possible; that was enough for Jayne.

February 9, 2007

"Jaynie?" Stepping into Bobby's home, Sam glanced around warily, the front door open—Jayne presumably leaving it open for his arrival. "You here?"

"Sammy!" Jayne grinned as she popped out from around the corner and strode down the hallway. She jumped into Sam's arms and hugged him tight, the young man smiling before he engulfed her in his embrace. "I'm glad to see you're still functioning."

"Yeah, you're telling me," he replied back lightheartedly, Jayne's eyes lingering on the impala that was parked outside; Dean was nowhere to be seen.

"You feeling okay?" the woman inquired with a concerned look on her face as she stepped back, checking Sam's entire figure. He chuckled and nodded, sighing.

"I think I'm alright. Just a little...Jaynie, I did—"

"I know," the female hunter cooed before she gave her friend a sympathetic smile. "Come on, let's sit. Bobby'll be back any minute," she stated casually while turning around and leading the way back into the kitchen. She could feel Sam following close behind her, and she forced herself to remain composed, her eyes glued to her cell phone that was sitting on the kitchen table. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand, chills running down her back at the proximity she was standing in with Sam; still, she kept her cool.

"Hey, you mind grabbing me a beer?" the woman asked over her shoulder while Sam nodded, turning to head to the fridge. Jayne narrowed her eyes before she swiftly grabbed her phone. Her eyes widened when she felt it vibrate in her hands, a text message from Jo appearing; that had caught her off guard.

"All you have are PBRs," Sam called out as the 21-year-old remained calm, forcing a smile.

"That's fine for now. I'll just have to get Bobby to pick up some different beers later." Immediately, Jayne opened the message, her heart racing. She didn't bother reading what Jo had said, typing in only one word before she shut her phone and set it back on the table; help. She smiled as Sam returned, holding out a can to her.

"So, how you feeling?" the woman queried as she sipped on her beer, Sam letting out a weary sigh while he leaned against the table and shook his head.

"I don't know what to think, Jayne," he answered quietly, staring at the floor with puddles of shame pooling from his eyes. "Dean keeps telling me that we'll work things out somehow but...I don't think I can believe him anymore."

"Yeah..." Jayne swallowed a lump in her throat. "You—" The hunter stiffened as the sound of her phone caught her attention, both she and Sam looking down to see the caller; Dean.

Abruptly, Sam swung at the woman, Jayne just barely dodging his fist. She stumbled back, nearly falling to the floor, but she was quick to gain back her balance and stand her ground. Her hands reached out for anything—grabbing a lamp and tugging it hard so that the cord would unplug from the wall. She swung with force, Sam holding up his arms and shielding his head from the blow. As shards of glass scattered into the air like lava from a volcano, the young man grunted while Jayne then pulled her leg up and kicked him in his gut, sending him several steps back.

Taking that as her chance, Jayne sprinted past Sam and headed towards the back door in order to get to her Hemi. She jumped over the steps and landed gracefully on her feet, sprinting to her car as quickly as she could. She could almost feel the holy water in her hands as she tried to pull her door open, but her eyes widened when she found Sam right behind her through the reflection of the window. And so, she swiftly shoved herself away from the car, Sam's fist colliding into the glass and shattering it effortlessly. He ignored the jagged pieces embedded into his knuckles, turning to glare at Jayne as she stepped back, glaring back.

"Jaynie, don't be afraid."

"Who said I was afraid?"

"It's obvious," Sam retorted back with a smirk as he took a menacing step towards the woman. "It's just me."

"The hell it is," she snapped bitterly in return. "You're not Sammy."

"Hah. You think you know everything, don't you?" the young man sneered, his hair bellowing through the breeze. "You sound and act just like that stupid bitch you once called mom." Jayne's eyes widened, her entire demeanor changing.

"Who the hell are you?" Sam smirked evilly, shrugging.

"Someone who hears a lot of things. Tracy Lee, the Demon Slaying Whore is what we called her. That is—until you killed her." Jayne purposely said nothing, knowing that a reaction was what this version of Sam wanted.

"I asked you a question, so answer it!"

"It doesn't matter! What matters is, I'm going to kill you."

"Then go ahead and try."

Jayne pulled out a set of brass knuckles made of iron, sliding them on with ease and punching Sam in one fluid motion. The unsuspecting man stumbled to the ground, yelling and hissing in pain as the iron burned his skin. The woman didn't linger, running around Sam and heading back towards the house. Hope sparked inside of her as she found herself mere steps way from refuge, but her brown eyes widened when she was tackled to the ground. She let out a yelp when she hit the dirt, wincing when her ankle twisted and the weight above her crushed her.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Sam yelled viciously, a dark chuckle falling from his cracked lip soon after. He pressed Jayne's face into the ground, the woman wincing before she gasped, Sam rolling her on to her back and grabbing her around her neck with both hands.

"You know, Sam can see you now. He can see himself choking you—see you gasping for air." Jayne struggled against the man's grip, one hand outstretched and grabbing the possessed hunter by the collar of his shirt while her other hand tried to pry his hands from her neck. "What poetic justice for us to end up in this position. Does it feel familiar?" Jayne coughed, her cheeks turning red as her eyes began to burn and water. "Oh, but you know, I got it wrong, didn't I? You're supposed to be doing the killing—not the other way around." Sam let out a hearty laugh before he sighed, shaking his head.

"My mistake. Well, we can't get everything right," he teased as he squeezed a bit harder around the woman's fragile neck.

"Sa—Sam!" Jayne barely managed to choke out as she slapped his hands hard. "Stop!"

"Be honest with yourself, Jayne," Sam said with a scoff. "You don't want me to stop. You want me to finish this. I know it. Deep down inside, you're always wishing for a way out of the guilt and the pain and the self-loathing. Because you weren't strong enough to stop yourself from killing your own mother—from stabbing her in her chest and twisting the knife inside of her. Just like Sam's not strong enough to cast me out and stop me from choking you to death." Jayne shook her head, kicking her legs and trying to buck Sam off of her; nothing was working. Her brown eyes widened as tears streamed down her face, Sam leaning in close until the tip of his nose brushed against hers.

"You still remember it so well, don't you? The way her warm blood dripped down your arm, and the way she cried and sobbed, begging for it to end. And even though she was dying, and even though she could have saved herself, she asked for you to be saved. Your pathetic, sad, miserable self." Jayne's fighting began to lessen, her cheeks turning blue. "Well, don't worry. I'll make sure your mother gets the retribution that she deserves." Sam grinned maniacally before he began to growl, scowling at the woman in his grasp.

But then, suddenly, a suffocating presence came over Sam, making his grip on Jayne's neck loosen. He slowly released the woman, her gasps and coughs sounding in the air. And as he stood to his feet, Sam slowly turned around; there, stood a man he had never seen before.

"Who the hell are you?" Jayne rolled on to her side, curling into a ball and coughing incessantly. Her brown eyes continued to water, her vision blurred. She couldn't seem to see clearly, but when the other figure spoke, she immediately recognized who it was that had come to her aid.

"Ha—Hamaliel" Said angel glanced to Jayne, his gaze hardening at her condition; it had been a long time since he had seen the woman in such shape—it sparked a fiery rage inside of his being.

His glare was quickly aimed to the creature who had placed the damage on his human, Sam narrowing his eyes at him. "Who are you?"

"I think you know who I am." Hamaliel took a threatening step towards Sam, the possessed hunter taking a step away. He snarled but stood his ground, watching as the angel suddenly pulled out a long, silver blade from the inside of his blazer jacket.

"Let me make myself clear. I have no qualms about killing Sam Winchester. If you die, then it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make." Hamaliel ignored the icy glare Jayne was giving him. "So, either you leave here now while you can, or I kill you." Sam narrowed his eyes, shaking his head.

"You're bluffing." He watched as Hamaliel threw his head back and laughed—as if what the demon had said was the funniest thing he had ever heard.

"Your loss."

Letting out a low hiss, the demon decided against the bet he was about to make; it wanted to keep its life. Suddenly, Sam's mouth fell open, black smoke rising from inside of him. He screamed in agony as the demon escaped his body, his entire figure convulsing and trembling until the demon was entirely out. Within seconds, he was on the ground, body limp; all he needed now was rest.

"Coward," Hamaliel muttered under his breath before he placed his blade back into his blazer jacket and rushed up to Jayne's side. He helped the young woman sit up before she shoved him away, which caused the blond to frown at her.

"Jayne—" The woman didn't wait, immediately standing to her feet and brushing past Hamaliel. He gazed after her, the woman kneeling beside Sam and checking his pulse. His expression softened as he found tears rolling down the young woman's face, her lips curving downwards; whatever had happened before his arrival—the demon had done enough damage.

When she was confident enough that Sam would be alright, Jayne stood up and hurried back into the house, not looking back. Hamaliel lingered behind, standing upright and letting out a defeated sigh. He looked down to the unconscious hunter before he rolled his eyes and grabbed the human's wrist. He pulled his arm around his shoulder and easily lifted Sam from the ground before he transported them effortlessly back into the house without taking a step. He then carefully set Sam on to the couch before he took a seat and watched over the young man; it was what Jayne would have wanted.

And not long after he sat, did Bobby come in.

"Jaynie!" the hunter hollered, bursting into his home with a flask of holy water in one hand and a gun in the other. He glanced around frantically before he ran down the hall, coming to an abrupt halt when he found Sam lying on his couch and a stranger sitting beside him. His immediately reaction was to throw the water onto the blond, but he was shocked when the blond waved his hand in front of him, freezing Bobby entirely.

"I guess I should introduce myself and explain what happened." Bobby remained motionless. "My name is Hamaliel, and I'm an angel."

By the time Dean had arrived back to Bobby's, the sun had set. He didn't think twice as he left the car he had borrowed from Jo running, sprinting up to the older hunter's home and shoving the door open. "Bobby!" Dean yelled urgently as he quickly ran into the living room with a solemn look on his face. He instantly relaxed as he found Sam sitting up, drinking water with Bobby standing over him. "Sammy!" With swift and eager steps, Dean approached his brother, holding him by the cheeks and examining his face before he grabbed his arm and looked it over as well. Sam merely chuckled, his body aching, but no other damage done.

"Hey, Dean."

"What the hell happened?"

"Sammy was possessed, like you said. By the time I showed up, he had already gotten here." Immediately, Dean tensed, looking around.

"Where's Jay—"

"She's alright, boy," Bobby assured, the 28-year-old relaxing.

"Like I was sayin', Sam was possessed and choking the life out of the girl. I tried to exorcise the damn thing out of him, but this was keeping the sonofabitch in," Bobby explained, showing Dean the burned off mark on Sam's arm. "Had to burn the damn thing off in order to get it out." That was what Hamaliel had told Bobby to say, and for now, that's what he was going to stick to; who was he to go against an angel?

"Jesus Christ, I'm glad you're good, Sammy." Said Winchester nodded, the sullen look on his face showing Dean that his brother wasn't alright. "What's wrong?"

"...All the things I've done...all those people—Jo, Jayne—"

"That wasn't you," Dean argued while the younger Winchester shook his head, giving Dean a guilty and frustrated look.

"That doesn't mean I get a free pass, Dean!" Sam exclaimed. "I did those things, even if I didn't have control over it." And then, Dean was hearing Jayne, and he was seeing her crying and telling him about when she had been possessed.

"Sammy..." Said brother shook his head, letting his head hang low in guilt.

"I can't face Jaynie after this..."

"What happened?" Sam shook his head at the question, rubbing his face with his hands.

"I broke her. That's what happened." Dean's expression hardened before he looked to Bobby, the man glancing at him briefly and then shutting his eyes with a nod.

"We're not finished," the older Winchester snapped as he turned and strode down the hall with purpose. He made a b-line for Jayne's room, stopping and taking note of the light seeping through from the cracked door. He took a moment to prepare himself for whatever would be waiting for him, and then he knocked; no one answered.

"...Jaynie?" Cautiously, Dean pushed the door open, peeking his head in and finding Jayne gazing out the window. He quietly stepped in, the weight of his foot making the floor creak. The sound bounced off the walls, loudly resonating through the silence, and Dean nearly cringed. Still, the woman didn't seem fazed as she stood silently. "Jaynie, answer me," Dean called out softly, the woman turning her head slightly. She hesitated before she quickly darted for her closet. The older hunter was quick, though, running up to the skittish woman and gently grabbing her by her arm.

"Jayne, stop!" he urged, turning her to face him completely. He grimaced as he gazed down at the woman, her eyes red and swollen, tears staining her cheeks. His green eyes then landed on the red marks around her neck, and his reaction was to growl. He lightly brushed his fingers over the tender skin of Jayne's neck, glad to see that touching it didn't seem to hurt her too much.

"...What happened?" he asked quietly, the fragile woman avoiding his gaze. "...Jaynie, you gotta talk to me," Dean pressed on, gently cupping her face with his hands and brushing tears off her cheeks. "Tell me what happened."

Slowly, the young woman looked up, finally meeting his gaze. Her lips trembled as she fought the urge to cry more, swallowing the lump in her throat and taking a deep breath. "How's Sammy?"

"...He's fine. He's got some shit of his own to work out, but he'll be okay." As long as he was around, Dean would make sure Sam was alright. "Now back to you. Don't try and avoid this." The brunet watched intently as Jayne sighed, nodding her head in defeat. She grabbed his hands and squeezed them before she led Dean to her bed, crawling under the covers. Dean followed suit, pulling the woman close to his chest and nuzzling his face into the curve of her neck.

"...Is Jo okay?" Dean smiled against her skin; she was always so quick to worry about others.

"She's fine."

"Good..." Jayne shut her eyes, relishing in Dean's heat and smell.

"...Everything the demon said—I know it was trying to mess with me, but I can't help it..."

February 13, 2007

There was a stillness in the air that made everything feel tense. The breeze was cold and harsh, the clouds gray with a touch of sun slipping through the cracks. A lone woman stood outside, pulling her wool sweater tightly around her figure before she heard the sound of the storm door opening. She turned her head to glance back at her guest, and a tiny smile spread across her lips as the taller Winchester slowly approached her side. He nodded, not having the courage to speak at first; Jayne didn't bother saying anything at all.

"...We're heading out in a few minutes."

"Where're you guys going?" the 21-year-old inquired while Sam shrugged.

"Dean mentioned something about a possible hunt in Ohio." Jayne nodded, not knowing what else to say. Sam stared at her profile for a moment before he shook his head and sighed.

"Jaynie, there's nothing I can do that will ever make up for what I did to—"

"Sam." Jayne turned to her friend and smiled. "You didn't do anything to me." Sam scowled at that. He shook his head, not being able to accept that.

"I—"

"Sam, I'm alright...Actually, I'm not," Jayne confessed gently, still smiling. "But...But I'm gonna be. And that's what matters. I don't blame you, I promise you. As much as you'd like to blame yourself and say its your fault and that you should have been strong enough to stop the demon, you're only human. And if people were strong enough on their own to just cast out demons, they wouldn't need hunters." Sam hesitated, hearing the truth in her words, and yet still unhappy with it; he wanted to take some responsibility.

"...I'm sorry, Jayne. I wouldn't have done or said any of that if I—"

"I know. Trust me, of all the people and hunters in the world, I actually do know what you're going through," Jayne said with a light chuckle. She then stepped into Sam and hugged him, leaning her head against his firm chest and smiling.

"...Don't let this drag you down, Sammy." Said man smiled, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "You're not the monster you keep trying to make yourself be." The young man's eyes softened, his heart rising a bit from the pit he had tried to dig it into.

"Thank you, Jayne."

Seconds after the two separated from one another, the storm door opened, Dean stepping out with his bag packed and ready to go. He nodded to Sam, who smiled back at him. The eldest hunter took notice of the weightless atmosphere around the two, and realized that they had finally talked things out; finally, things were a little closer to being alright again.

"You ready?"

"Yeah, just let me grab my stuff." Sam headed back into the house without a second glance, Dean gazing after him before he looked to Jayne.

"You sure you don't want to come with?" Jayne chuckled before she waved his offer off.

"I'll stick around with Bobby for a little. I...I'm not really in the mood for a hunt." Dean's eyes softened, and then he smiled cheekily.

"Don't miss me too much. I know it'll be tough with the good lovin' I lay on you." Dean grinned at the sound of Jayne's laughter.

"You're the worst."

"Don't lie to yourself like that." Firmly placing his hand on the back of the woman's head, Dean pulled her forward, leaning in just a bit in order to give her a deep and comforting kiss. He ignored the tingle shooting through his veins as he heard her let out a low hum, her body leaning into his and her hands grabbing gently to the flaps of his jacket. He lingered against her mouth before he regretfully pulled back, glancing down at her lips before he smirked.

"Something to remember me by."

"Cover your ass, Winchester." Dean's smirk widened before he nodded, Sam stepping out just as Dean pulled away from Jayne.

"Be careful, Sammy."

"I will. Take care of yourself. And if you need anything just—"

"—Call. I know." Happy with that answer, Sam smiled, hugging Jayne tightly before he headed towards the car with Dean. The lone woman watched the pair pack their things into the trunk and then themselves into the car. And as the impala roared to life, a smile stretched across the woman's face, the black car pulling out on to the road.

Yeah, she would be just fine.

February 17, 2007

Her entire body ached, and she was sure that her sprained wrist was going to keep hurting until the day it healed completely. Still, she was glad that she hadn't hurt her arm more than she already had; she was embarrassed that helping Bobby with a junky car was how she sustained the injury.

Sitting at the kitchen table with a book, Jayne smiled, chuckling at a part of the book she found hilarious every time she read. She only took her eyes off the page when her phone began to ring, the shrill sound of the call catching her off guard. Without hesitation, the female hunter answered the call. "Hello?"

"I'm gonna kill him." Jayne chuckled.

"You can't kill Sam, Dean."

"He's been on my ass since we started this fucking hunt. Then he blames me for his laptop breaking!"

"Did you break it?"

"Why are you asking that like you expect a 'yes' outta me?"

"A girl can't ask a simple question?"

"No, I didn't break the damn thing." Suddenly, Dean grunted, snapping at someone, and then Sam was on the phone.

"I know for a fact you broke it, Dean!" Jayne heard Sam bark. "We both know you're the only one who would go on a website called 'Busty Asian Beauties'!" the younger Winchester exclaimed irately before Dean yelled something along the lines of "give me my damn phone back!"

"Hey, Sammy."

"Jayne, you know how long before Bobby gets here?"

"He said a few hours from where he is now."

"Good. Because I'm about to kill Dean." Jayne chuckled when she heard the older hunter bark sarcastically, "like you could!"

"Just hang in there." Jayne raised a brow when she received no answer, Dean snapping at Sam—his words unclear to the woman.

"Oh, yeah, like you were so concerned when you were flirting with Starla the other night." That caught Jayne' complete attention.

She heard Sam grunt and struggle before Dean was back on the phone, yelling at his brother. "For the last time, her name wasn't Starla! And Jaynie, I wasn't flirting," Dean's words were rushed and pushy, his anger towards Sam carried back to her. "Sammy's completely exaggerating—and probably more jealous of the fact that she wasn't trying to flirt with him instead." She cracked a smile at that.

"Dean, you don't have to explain yourself."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I do."

"No, you really don't," Jayne reassured, suddenly growing more uncomfortable with where the conversation was heading. She swallowed hard while clearing her throat, licking her lips; they were so dry so suddenly. "It's...Well, we've never really talked about, you know, us. So I mean...you flirting with other girls and—and doing whatever with other girls...it's fine! Just as long as we're on the same page." Jayne tried to mask the raw rage that was blooming inside of her, feeling uncomfortable and exasperated with the situation suddenly arising; she wasn't mentally prepared for a conversation such as this.

"Jaynie—"

"Anyways, call me when you and Sammy stop being hormonal."

"Jayne, hold on a second—"

"Okay, bye!" Quickly ending the call, Jayne sighed, slamming her phone down and shaking her head; she was embarrassed, jealous, annoyed, and flustered all at once.

February 19, 2007

"A trickster?"

"Yeah. Bobby figured it out for us."

"Wow, I've never come across a trickster once while hunting." Jayne poured herself a glass of water with her good hand, keeping her cell phone held up against her ear with her shoulder.

"Yeah, well, it ain't great. I'll tell you that much." The 21-year-old smirked at that, sipping from her glass.

"So, where are the two of you heading now?"

"Sammy's got a few possible leads for some hunts, but before we figure that stuff out, I need to talk to you about the other day." Jayne groaned, pouting like a child.

"I'd really prefer if we didn't."

"Quit your whining," Dean said stubbornly; he wasn't going to drop this.

"You said that as long as we were on the same page, we'd be okay. Obviously, neither of us are on the same page, so let me just clear the air so there's no problems in the future." Jayne grumbled under her breath but let Dean continue. "For me—it's just you. It has been from the start, and it always will be." Emotional intimacy was neither of their strong suits, but sincerity was, and Dean was being completely honest at this very moment. "If that's...If you're not up for that, then—"

"We're on the same page, Dean." Jayne smiled softly, setting her glass down on the kitchen table and taking a seat. "...Just you." She heard a breath of relief come from the other end of the line—causing a chuckle to erupt from her.

"Well, glad that's over with." Jayne scoffed, smiling the entire time.

"Let me add one more thing."

"What?"

"You lay hands on anyone that's not me in an intimate way ever, and I'll rip your hands right off your arms."

"Fair enough." Jayne grinned.

"Good."

April 15, 2007

"How long has he been missing for?"

"Two hours."

Jayne had arrived as soon as Sam had called her. She had been debriefed on the phone of what the case was, and seeing as this was their first Djinn they were hunting, Sam had thought it wise to call in their friend—who had hunted Djinn plenty times before with Bobby. But by the time she had arrived, the damage had been done; Dean was missing.

"Well, good news is, Dean will be alive for a few days. Bad news, the Djinn's only keeping him alive because he needs to feed." Jayne scowled at her own statement, Sam grimacing before he swallowed.

"The last time I heard from Dean, he was in this part of town." Sam circled a small region on the map laid out on the table. Jayne nodded as she gazed intently down at the map.

"You've got a silver knife and lamb's blood, right?" Sam nodded, leaning over and grabbing a small tuperware of lamb's blood; she wouldn't ask how he had received it.

"Don't worry, Dean," the woman whispered. "We'll find you."

Dean was torn. He was being pulled by two sides like he was a rope in a tedious game of tug-a-war, and at that very moment, one side was beginning to actually win.

Standing in the middle of the abandoned warehouse, the 28-year-old frowned—his brother, mother, apparent girlfriend and Jess gazing at him longingly. He could see it in their eyes, how badly they wanted him to stay with them and how much they wanted him to just be happy; but he had to continue to remind himself that none of it was real. But then, did it matter? Even if it wasn't real, wasn't this okay? Because he had played his part. He had done his fair share of saving people and lives. Couldn't it just be his turn to be happy?

"Dean." Tensing, said hunter slowly turning around, a short figure stepping out of the shadows of the night. His green eyes widened, Jayne smiling at him sadly as she approached him cautiously.

"Ja—Jaynie?" The woman nodded, stopping a few steps in front of him. Her eyes flickered to the other figments of his imagination, her gaze cold and menacing; that was her warning for them to remain silent. "...I was wondering where you were," he murmured, reaching a hand up and cupping the side of her face. Her skin was warm and soft against his hand, and he had to wonder—it all felt so real, maybe it was?

"There's a reason that in this alternate life, I'm not in it." Dean frowned, his brows furrowing with confusion. Jayne merely continued to show her forlorn smile, reaching up and holding his hand with her own. The brunet's jaw clenched at the unspoken truth between them.

"Dean, your life—it sucks sometimes. And yeah, there are more downs than there are ups, but it's about appreciating those ups when they happen." Jayne stepped into Dean's body, fisting his shirt with both hands and leaning her head against his chest. "...You want happiness? Then wake up and find it. Make it happen. It's your life, so live it like you want. Don't let the fear of the future stop you from doing that. Because, as long as I'm here, you'll be okay. And we'll find it together." Dean's stare softened as his eyes began to burn, a lump forming in his throat. An familiar heaviness settled in the man's chest at the woman's words, his heart pounding painfully against his chest; she was right.

He smiled slightly as Jayne looked up at him, giving him a reassuring nod. "Together," he quietly repeated as he slowly handed the woman the knife he'd been holding. Jayne glanced down at it, looking at him apprehensively. She relaxed after he nodded, taking the knife and squeezing it before she rose to the tips of her toes. Dean stared down at her lips and then let his eyes flutter shut, the familiar touch of her mouth on his making him want to melt; yeah, this was what made him happiest.

Suddenly, he felt an excruciating pain course through him. He cringed and clung on to Jayne, the woman letting him lean against her as she shut her eyes with a discontent look on her face. She pushed the knife further into Dean's gut, the man coughing and blood dribbling down from his mouth. "...I'll see you on the other side, Winchester."

Dean shut his eyes, the burning sensation dissipating and his head beginning to spin. He suddenly felt a chill run down his back as he winced, his arms aching and his body feeling numb. He tried to pry his eyes open, but they were heavy, and he was extremely tired; it took him a few moments to even realize someone was calling his name.

"Dean! Come on, you sonofabitch!" Forcing his eyes open, Dean found Jayne gazing up at him with a worried gleam in her eyes. He began to smile, his entire mouth and throat feeling dry.

"Auntie Em, there's no place like home."

"Shut up, you idiot," Jayne snapped, though she smiled at the fact Dean's spirit was still intact. "Let me get you down," the woman said while she glanced over her shoulder, Sam fighting the Djinn off to the best of his abilities. Dean followed her gaze, the sounds around him echoing and only making his head hurt more.

"Sa—Sammy." Jayne pulled out a knife from inside of her boot, reaching up to cut Dean down. Once his arms were free, he nearly collapsed on top of her. She was strong and prepared, though, catching him and holding him up. She smiled, hugging him and hiding her face into the crook of his neck.

"Thank God, you're okay." Dean sighed, fighting the urge to remain in Jayne's arms as he glanced up at Sam—who was struggling with the Djinn.

"The girl—"

"I got her. You steady enough to help Sammy?" the 21-year-old watched as Dean nodded, making his way over to his brother. She watched him go for another second before she turned her attention to the civilian, checking her pulse; she was still alive.

"Alright. Let's get you down."

April 29, 2007

"Ash, you've gotta have something more than that for me." Jayne leaned against Dean's impala, the driver of the car and Bobby standing at the hood of Baby while they looked over a map.

"I'm sorry, Jay. I've done everything I can, but I've got zip on Sam." The 21-year-old sighed, shaking head and rubbing her temple with her free hand. "But I do have something." That made the woman hopeful.

"What do have?"

"Come to the Roadhouse. This is—" Ash paused, letting someone walk by and away before he continued. "—A big deal. Not something safe to talk about unless it's in person."

"Alright, Ash. We'll be there." And with that, Jayne hung up.

"We're heading to the Roadhouse."

"What? Why?" Dean asked impatiently, Jayne getting into the passenger side of the impala.

"Ash said he couldn't find Sam, but he's got something big that he needs to talk about in person." That made Dean and Bobby exchange looks.

"Looks like the Roadhouse, it is."

There was nothing left. The smell of burned wood and flesh was almost suffocating, and the smoke was still thick in the air; this fire had just recently been set.

Dean, Jayne and Bobby got out of their car, gazing at what was left of the saloon in shock. "...Everyone's..." The young woman didn't dare finish her statement, still trying to process the initial shock she was experiencing. Dean grimaced before he let out a frustrated sound, slamming his fist against the car; it was rare for him to take his anger out on Baby.

"Let's try and see if we can find anyone," Dean suggested darkly, the three heading to the wreckage. They searched quietly, Jayne and Bobby finding nothing. The 28-year-old remained calm, his heart leaping when he caught sight of a familiar watch; it was Ash's.

"Come—" Cringing, Dean pulled on the watch, finding Ash's completely burned arm still attached. "Damn it!"

"Ash..." Jayne approached Dean's side and stared down with sorrow, her eyes searching around for any sign of Ellen. "What the hell happened here?" she muttered as Dean shook his head, releasing Ash's arm and walking away.

"Sonofabitch!" Dean hollered before he kicked the dirt, Bobby glancing at Jayne while she watched her friend.

"...This has to end." Jayne glared up at the sky before she shut her eyes, Bobby's own eyes widening.

"Hold on a second, Jaynie." The odd man out raised a brow at Bobby and Jayne, caught off guard by the exchange; he frowned at the way Jayne glared at Bobby and then continued on.

"Hamaliel, I need you." Dean raised a brow, slowly looking back at the young woman and watching with puzzlement as she glanced around. "Hamaliel?"

"Jaynie, what the hell are you talking about?"

"She's talking about me." Dean jumped, turned back around and found the blond he had seen with Jayne several months back. He blinked, looking from Jayne to Bobby and then back to the stranger; no one else seemed shocked that the unexpected man had suddenly appeared.

"What the hell just happened?!"

"Calm down, Dean Winchester."

"How the hell did you just show up? And why the hell is no one else freaking out?!" Dean gave Bobby an incredulous stare, the older man letting out a sigh of defeat before he looked to Jayne, the young woman frowning.

"Dean...You remember Hamlet?"

"Yeah, the ginger douche you were hunting with." Hamaliel scoffed.

"Right now, I have no time to explain, but, long story short, Hamaliel is an angel."

"...Dean?" Said man didn't reply. "...Dean, seriously, we need to talk about this."

"Fine! Let's talk." The driver of the impala glared at his passenger, the young woman giving him an exasperated look. "You had an angel up your friggin' sleeve, and you never once thought to mention that to me or Sammy? And Bobby was in on it?"

"Would you have believed me if I told you the truth?" Dean remained silent, glaring out the window. "Dean, all that time I was acting weird and sketchy—it's because of Hamlet. I didn't know how to tell you about him or when the right time was!"

"Don't give me that cop-out answer, Jayne," the man barked aggressively as he shot her a dirty look. "There would've never been a good time to say anything." The woman let out a frustrated breath while shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, okay? But don't sit there and act all high and mighty, alright? If I had told you about Hamaliel any sooner you would've flipped your shit and gunned for him. And he may be clueless and somewhat irritating, but he's done a lot for me."

"...He's the reason why you survived." Jayne tensed, staring through the windshield while Dean gazed knowingly at her; he was much smarter than some gave him credit for. "He's how you got out of that attack alive when..." When her mother had not.

"...She had made him promise to get me out. For some reason, he barely listens to me, but my mom—he did everything she ever wanted without a second thought." Jayne had her own speculations as to why. "So, he chased the demon out of me, and he took me out. And that was it." Dean said nothing, merely nodding his head. He glanced at Jayne before she sighed. "Ever since then, he's been looking after me. And trust me, I've tried to get him to help with hunts—tried to get him to stop things from happening, but he never does. He always just tell me that things are the way they need to be..." The young woman scoffed.

Slowly, Dean pushed on the brakes, pulling up into a clearing in the forest and shutting his car off. He sat quietly for a moment, Jayne gazing at him with wonderment. She relaxed when he turned to her and leaned forward, capturing her lips in a warm kiss. She shut her eyes and leaned into his touch, pulling away after a moment.

"I'm still pissed." Jayne smiled before she nodded. Dean smiled softly back before he took a deep breath, climbing out of his car and nodding as Bobby pulled up behind him.

"Let's find Sammy."

May 1, 2007

This was it. It was now or never. Standing before the crossroads demon, Dean only had this one moment to make his decision; his soul for Sam's life. His heart was racing and his thoughts made absolutely no sense. He had memories of Sammy laughing, crying, shouting, hunting all flashing through his mind, and then he saw his brother—felt him die in his arms, and the sensation was just overwhelming. He had always promised that he'd take care of Sam, and until the day he died, he would keep that promise.

But then, he paused. As he stared at the demon, his heart sank.

This was a mistake. This was wrong. Sam was gone and that was just the way it was. That's why the angel refused to bring Sam back; what's dead should stay dead. And Dean knew it. He knew it all too well. Because his father had made the same mistake—not thinking about how the people he left behind would feel. What would happen when his time was up, and Sammy was left without Dean? What would he do?

What would Jaynie do?

Dean's eyes hardened as his hands balled up into fists. He knew it—if he made this deal and brought Sam back in exchange for his soul in hell, she'd never forgive him. She'd hate him, and she would be stuck for the rest of her life without him. And the thought made him want to cry. Because the idea of living a life without Jayne tore him apart, so he knew just how badly it would break her; this deal was wrong.

But even still, as Dean pressed his lips savagely against the demon's, he knew that there was no other way; this was what he was meant to do, all along.

Hi all!

It's been awhile since I've last been on the website! It's good to be back!

As of late, I've had a lot of personal issues comes up with not only friends and family, but work as well. Things are settling, and now I've taken to writing to sort of process and help deal with everything. Still, I'm extremely sorry about the long absence...it was much longer than I was expecting LOL

We are now getting sort of in the thick of things are far as the series plot goes. It's going to get a bit crazy moving forward. And like I've already prefaced in the last chapters, once we hit a certain point in the series, this story is going to take a bit of a turn and go on its own! I'm excited to get to that point...I'm hoping that I won't have any more disappearing acts in the near future for this story or my other story that I have going on my page!

Thank you for those who have given the time to read while I've been away. And thanks to everyone who has had the utmost patience to deal with me LOL I truly hope that whoever is here and reading this will like this chapter and the future chapters that I post.

PS. Supernatural is actually coming to an end after 15 seasons...I'm not sure how to feel about that. Bittersweet, is all I know at this time. I'll have to touch base on that again when I've stopped crying about it LOL

Reviews:

Kagz419: Hi there! Thank you for reading and leaving a review! I'm so sorry for taking this long to post and get back to you on this. But I do hope that you enjoy the growth of Dean and Jayne as a couple and then as separate characters. I really do appreciate the fact that you took time to comment! Thank you, again!