Title: One Word

Author: PlatinumRoseLady

Disclaimer: Don't own Sam or Dean. All I own is what's in my head – and you do NOT want to go in there. Trust me.

Drabble Challenge Word: "Face"

Word Count: 300 words. Yes, it's a tri-drabble; I'm such the over-achiever

Players: Go to Enkidu07's page, and you'll find all the usual suspects. Resistance is futile – you will be drabbleized.

Spoiler Alert: Set after "Sex & Violence"

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It was a typical job. Domestic violence victim, haunting the house where her man had stabbed her to death one night in a drunken rage. Buried her body in the backyard. Arrested, hanged himself in his cell.

She hadn't hurt anyone yet, just lingered around the yard, a sad figure in faded jeans and a bloody T-shirt.

Sam put the last shovelful of dirt to the side, poured the salt and stood back, waiting. Dean lit the matches, dropped them into the wretched grave.

They were ready for the screaming, the wind to kick up, something. At first there was nothing but the crackling sounds of the bones snapping under the heat.

"Thank you."

They both turned around, Dean reaching for his gun. She was hovering there, bare feet an inch above the grass. Shoulder-length auburn hair moved even though the night air was still. Green eyes that were large and liquid looked at them not with hate, but with gratitude. Nineteen when she'd been cut down, so very young and pretty. She floated over to Sam, Dean growling out a warning. Sam just shifted his eyes shook his head. He didn't budge; she drifted closer.

A tiny pale hand reached out, touched the side of his face. Sam tried to stop the tears, found he couldn't. She spoke so softly, her voice sweet and sad.

Just one word.

Suddenly she was front of Dean; hand on his face as gentle as a rose petal, the same word in his ear. He felt himself well up, and for once didn't try to hide it.

And then she was done, a sliver of light rising to… wherever she was meant to go.

"W-what did she say to you?" Sam questioned, even though he was pretty sure he knew.

"'Forgive.'" Dean whispered.