Disclaimer: See chapter one

This is a extension of a sort from authoressnebula's Don't Say a Word. It's dark and graphic. So BE WARNED!

Okay, this is it! The epilogue! I apologize for those who wanted an extended recovery time, but I thought this would be best. It's kinda abrupt and it's not very well written and It's probably a horrible ending, but it's an ending :P

I am considering a sequel, but if I do start one, it won't be for a while.

BTW, there's a poll on my profile. It's basically asking about some story ideas I have. Any input would be GREAT so please vote!

Enjoy chapter twenty-seven, the final chapter!

Epilogue - Seven Years Later

Sam sat quietly on the bed, staring at the letter in his lap. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. This was not going to be easy.

Dear Mr. Winchester.

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Stanford...

Yeah... not easy at all.

While over the last few years, Sam has gotten better in social situations and Dean and Bobby have let up on their over-protectiveness, Sam highly doubted they would let him go that easily. Hell, Sam wasn't even sure if he'd be able to go. Chances are, he'd see the campus, full of people... and run like hell back to the greyhound.

But he wanted to go so badly. To learn everything there was to learn, to pursue something and to achieve...

While hunting wasn't as large a part of their lives as it was with John, they all still hunted quite a bit. Enough that it was still a very large part of their lives. Sam knew Dean couldn't live without it and he knew Bobby would never ignore it.

But he just wanted to be normal. While a college campus did seem scary, it also brought a kind of feeling of safety. A haven away from the supernatural and the hunting.

Sam sighed. Okay, so all those reasons were really not the main reason Sam was reluctant to go. Although they were all valid and true reasons, the main reason was that Dean wouldn't be there.

Ever since the... incident with John, Sam had barely left Dean's side, even through all these years. Although they did go their separate ways when they went to school or when Dean was working an odd job, Sam was still largely emotionally dependent on Dean. And he didn't know if he'd be able to survive in a place like a college campus.

Sam sighed. This would be the ultimate test. To prove that Sam could go out, that he could live his own life and take care of himself. Wasn't that the main goal? To live independently? He can't just go on living off of Dean and Bobby for the rest of his life.

His leg was jigging up and down anxiously. He blew out a breath and sat up straight. Well... It's now or never. He stood and headed down to the dining room, where he knew Dean was, eating lunch.

"Hey, Dean."

"Mmm..." He held up a finger as he finished his bite of sandwich. "'Morning, Sam! Been asleep for a while."

"Not really..." Sam took a seat next to his brother. (He still couldn't believe he was taller than his brother. And Dean wouldn't stop bitching about it!) "I was... in a contemplative state."

Dean chuckled. "Oh really." He took another bite and chewed it slowly, seemingly in a contemplative state himself. "Does this have anything to do with that acceptance letter?"

Sam froze in his seat. He didn't bother asking Dean how he knew, he always just seemed to know. Sam hesitantly placed the letter on the table. "Got accepted into Stanford," he said quietly.

A huge grin appeared on Dean's face. "Why you so shy about it!? That's amazing, Sammy!"

Sam allowed a small smile. "You think?"

"Hell, yeah!" Dean watched the emotions change on Sam's face. "Do you want to go?"

Sam shrugged. "I don't know."

Dean sighed. "I think you should go."

Sam looked at Dean surprised. "Really? Mr. Never-Let's-Me-Outta-His-Sight?"

Dean lightly hit Sam on the arm. "Bitch."

Sam rubbed his arm in mock hurt. "Jerk."

"Talking strictly about the education there..." Dean continued, "Do you want to go?"

Sam nodded. "More than anything."

"So you hesitation is about the... social aspect?"

Sam looked down at his hands, a little ashamed, before nodding.

"Hey..." Dean placed a finger under Sam's chin and forced their eyes to meet. "It's perfectly understandable."

Sam gave a bitter smile. "But kinda a problem." Sam shook his head out of Dean's grip. "It's been seven damn years! And I'm still..." Sam growled in frustration.

"Hey! Do not beat yourself up with this! You could be much worse. You could have not been able to handle it and be curled up in the corner of some insanity ward. Instead you've got your self-independence streak going for you, not to mention a stubborn streak..."

Sam smiled. "What if they find out and reject me out of hand?"

"Then they don't deserve to be your friends in the first place. Trust me, Sam. The ones that deserve to be your friends are the ones that treat you like you should be treated."

"Like a slut?" Sam murmured.

"Don't start that again. You're not a slut, or a fuck-toy, or anything else of that manner, and you know it."

"I know I know it. Problem is, do they know it?"

"It's like I said before, they treat you bad, they don't deserve your friendship in the first palce."

Sam sighed. "But it's not like I make friends easily. What if I end up all alone and - ?"

Dean pulled out his cell. "I'm never out of range, Sam. No matter what time of the day it is, I'll pick up."

The front door opened and Bobby walked in with a pile of research overflowing out of his arms. "Hey, boys."

"Hey, Dad," they replied.

He scoffed when he saw the brothers just staring at him with shit-eating grins. "Git over here and help an old man out!"

"Same old man who can fight off a wendigo?" Dean mocked.

"And a werewolf?" Sam chimed.

"At the same time?" they both chorused.

"Shuddup," Bobby growled as he dropped the research on the table. He paused when he saw the letter. "What's that?"

Sam quickly grabbed the letter and folded it up. "Nothing."

"Sam got accepted into Stanford," Dean said with a smile.

Sam huffed. "Bitch," he mumbled.

Bobby blinked in surprise. "Didn't know you applied."

Sam stuffed the letter in his pocket and shrugged. "Didn't think I'd get in, anyhow."

"But you did," Bobby said with a smile. "And you want to go."

Sam ground his teeth together. Rather than making it easier, they were making it much harder. "Yes... but I don't know if I want to leave."

Bobby stared at Sam for a moment. Then he sighed. "Why don't you go for a semester? If it's not what you want..." Bobby shrugged. "We'll pick you up."

Sam bit his lip and started to shake. "Really? You don't think I'm just leaving you guys behind or something?"

"What?" Dean said. "Is that what your worried about?"

"Kinda. Yes. No. I dunno."

Dean placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. "C'mon, Sammy. Just one semester. Then you can come home. Or who knows! You might want to stay."

Sam pulled out the letter again and looked at it. It was practically his ticket to his own life, his ticket to proving that he can be his own person. This could be what finally sets him free from the degradation and humiliation he suffered all those years ago.

His eyes shining with wetness, he looked up at his family and said. "Okay."

THE END! And... What did you think? Review and please tell me!

I'll probably be starting a new story soon. At this point it looks to be either "John comes home to find sons tortured" or "John and Mary want to adopt, find Sam and Dean who have unique problems of their own." I'll probably start one of them sometime this week. Check it out if you're interested.

PLEASE REVIEW! THE DRAGON'S HUNGRY!