There is not another like you in the world - SN - gen, PG

[tigriswolf]

Title: There is not another like you in the world
Fandom: Supernatural
Disclaimer: not my characters; title from Gilgamesh.
Warnings: AU future!fic; character death; spoilers for aired season 5
Pairings: none stated
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 805
Point of view: third

Staring down at Dean’s empty shell, at what Michael left behind when he returned to Heaven, Sam’s eyes were dry, and his mouth, his fingers clenched into useless fists.

He was so very tired of burying his brother.

Can you bring him back? he asked the small bit of the MorningStar left in him. This is your fault.

I can’t, Lucifer murmured. I’m sorry.

Yeah, Sam said. You’re sorry.

The world had been saved. Hell shoved back. Zachariah smote by Michael, Castiel lost searching for a God that refused to be found.

Sam knelt, fingers digging into the dirt, and he muttered, “You gotta stop doing this to me, Dean.”

Why did I survive? he asked Lucifer.

Because I have not yet completely left you. When I do so, you will be as much a shell as Dean, he explained gently.

Slowly, methodically, Sam filled in the hole, dumping eight feet of earth onto his brother, the last family he had. There would be no resurrection this time; Michael burned too brightly, scouring Dean’s soul from existence. There was nothing left of him except a car and a corpse—Castiel still had his amulet, somewhere in the cosmos, and his ring vanished in the fight.

What do I do? Sam asked.

What do you want to do? Lucifer asked in reply. I have only a portion of my strength. Vengeance would be pointless—saving creation merely to destroy it? Your brother’s death would mean nothing.

Sam bowed his head. I won’t do anything stupid, he muttered. Like storming Heaven to kill Michael.

He turned away from the unmarked grave and walked into the woods. It began to rain, tiny little droplets, and he wondered if they were Heaven’s grief.

Michael hadn’t said he was sorry. Hadn’t expressed any regret for killing Dean. Had left without even a nod to Dean’s sacrifice. Sam paused, turning his face up to the sky. “Did you even notice?” he screamed. “Michael! Did you even notice what he did for you?”

The rain fell harder, in larger drops. He noticed, Lucifer murmured. He noticed, and he mourns.

“If I ever see you again,” Sam shouted, “I’ll kill you, Michael!” I swear, he told Lucifer, collapsing to his knees.

He knows, my dear, Lucifer said, and Sam felt a warmth envelop his soul, the equivalent of Lucifer’s kiss.

Sam slouched on the forest floor, letting rain soak through his clothes, hoping the water might rinse him clean. Might erase his sins and his shame.

You’ll catch your death, the devil of devils said reproachfully.

“No,” Sam replied softly. “I won’t.” He couldn’t, he knew. Just as Dean was gone forever, Sam could never die. He wouldn’t ever see his brother again.

Lucifer sighed, the warmth filling Sam to the brim.

Blinking, Sam chuckled. “Are you…” he gasped through the sudden onslaught of tears. “Are you huggin’ me?”

You will survive this, Samuel. You will move on—you must move on with your life. You still—

“Hush,” Sam murmured, letting his mind wander. If he had so much power, he should be able to do anything he wanted. Go back, but not like Castiel sent Dean. He should change things.

He would change things. He had to, for Dean. Save Dean.

No, Sam, Lucifer said. You can’t. Let things stand.

You need to leave now, Sam told him, and Lucifer howled with pain as he vanished.

The power, Sam had finally realized, was not in the fallen angel. The power lay in the vessel.

A door in the depths of his soul opened, finally unlocked, and he stepped through.

o0o

Dean is four years old and playing with army men. Sam watches from the doorway.

“Hey, Sammy,” Dean says, grinning up at him. “You got big.”

This will be a dream, Sam knows. If Dean remembers. But a part of him will recognize the truth in this moment.

“Don’t say yes to the angels,” Sam tells him, crouching down. “Promise me, Dean. You will never say yes to Michael.”

“Okay,” Dean agrees. He offers Sam one of the soldiers.

Sam takes it with a smile.

o0o

His eyes opened to Dean, bright with laughter. “C’mon, dude. We’re so late.”

“Dean,” he said, reaching out. “Dean.”

Dean paused, letting Sam grip his arm. “Sammy?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”

Sam closed his eyes, feeling Dean’s skin against his. Dean, alive. He stretched out his power, untainted by Lucifer’s presence, and knew he had moments before he fully left, leaving this Sam to his Dean.

He looked at his brother and smiled, said, “I love you.”

“Sam?” Dean asked, turning to face him fully. “What—”

And Sam opened his eyes, said, “Dude, what’re we waitin’ for?” He marched past his brother into the sunlight, and Dean hurried to catch up, so that they strode side-by-side.

Comments

that would be...

[catdancerz.livejournal.com]

a yes

Re: that would be...

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[janissa11.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is amazing. YES.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you so much!

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Fascinating how ... compassionate Lucifer is here.

I love how Dean instantly, immediately recognizes his baby brother in the huge man standing in the doorway.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[caffienekitty]

I went 'bweee...' just from the cut text. Dude, you rock.

[tigriswolf]

What about it made you *bweee*? I don't think I've ever had that reaction before.

Thank you for reading!

[caffienekitty]

I don't know if can pin it down, just the implications in the whole line. I literally went 'Bweee...' I guess just the 'Dean's a shell and Sam's there alone and either being stoic or about to storm heaven, hunt down Michael and shred him' aspect. Also because I read the cut text and knew I wouldn't get chance to read the fic for 2 hours, so it was like a pre-emptive, sustained, suspended 'meep', I guess.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I had tears in my eyes reading this.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[lostinpsychosis.livejournal.com]

I love this more then words can state

[tigriswolf]

Thank you so much!

[grandiose666.livejournal.com]

i teared up. so good!

[tigriswolf]

Thank you!

[smilla02.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is so beautiful.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you so much!

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

So many layers here...wow!

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!

[twasadark.livejournal.com]

What a lovely, affecting piece. &hearts

[tigriswolf]

Thank you so much!

[transientlight.livejournal.com]

*sniffle* What a beautiful piece of writing ♥ Sam's hurt really came through and I love Lucifer's voice and how he tries to comfort Sam.

Wonderful :)

[tigriswolf]

Thank you

[ciaranbochna.livejournal.com]

Can't speak past lump in my throat. That was perfect:)

[tigriswolf]

Thank you!

[somnolentblue]

I find this version of events immensely satisfying. It's a bit sad, because Sam-prime is irrevocably lost, just as Dean-prime was, but it's also so happy because Sam grasps his own power, the brothers escape being angelic playthings, and Sam-prime being lost would make him happy in comparison to living without his Dean.

I also like the ambiguous Lucifer, and I have to admit I smirked at Zachariah's ass getting kicked by Michael.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you so much!

[faithintheboys.livejournal.com]

That hurt. But that was awesome. So very awesome.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you for reading!