Precipice

by Mer

The Impala rumbled to a stop, engine shutting down with a sigh, wearing the dust of too many miles travelled without rest. With the creak of a door, Sam stood, stretched his legs, and breathed deeply in the warm late summer air.

"Well, Dean, here we are."

The sun lingered low and heavy in the sky, staining the striations of rock in crimson hues. Sam gazed out over the landscape of the Grand Canyon, squinting against the light with weary eyes.

We did it, Dean; we won. It had taken years and cost more than they'd ever imagined, but they'd killed that demon son of a bitch they'd been hunting all their lives. They'd won because it had underestimated them; not Sam's gift or Dean's furious strength but the bond that held them together. It was something the demon could never understand; hell, most people couldn't. Maybe that's what their father had seen, that day he made the deal that changed everything.

Sam lifted his head to the sky, glanced at the looming clouds. Now what?

He wasn't a born hunter like Dean, as much as he tried to be. He had to take his own path now. Sam had walked away from this life once, and they both knew some day he would again. Dean had always sheltered him from the heaviest burdens and made the tough decisions, the kind where a part of you slips away each time; leaving Sam just whole enough that he might have another chance at a normal life. Leaving Dean… Sam squeezed his eyes shut, forcing away those thoughts. Of all the things Dean had done for his brother, that had been his greatest gift and his greatest sacrifice.

Now they were finally free of the mission that had driven their lives. We both are, Sam thought.

Now what?

The chasm answered with thundering silence. Sam started to find the mute stillness oppressive and had a growing desire to hit the road. Some habits were hard to break.

He walked slowly to the edge of the canyon, strengthening his resolve. Sam ran his fingers over the small box in his hand, tracing the corners, etching memories in his mind. In one fluid motion he lifted the lid and threw the contents to the wind. For a moment in the dying light everything seemed still, before a gust claimed the ashes and they were gone. Now we're both free.

Sam stood alone on the precipice, lingering as sunset surrendered to night, before returning to the comforting purr of the Impala and the familiar sound of a well-worn cassette tape.