Breathe Life Into Me

Sam’s POV

“Is it true you and Chester…dated a ways back?” I asked Sara Alcott as the three of us sat on her front porch.

“Well, that is an odd question for the FBI, isn't it?” she said smoothly.

“You wouldn't believe the awkward questions we've had to ask people” Brit smiled at her and she laughed.

My eyes shifted to Brit’s face and I felt…conflicted…confusion…knots in my stomach. Having her so close…working on the same team…doing all of this together again…it was all the little stuff that was getting to me. The little stuff that had made me fall in love with her in the firs place. The way she smiled at the witnesses…the way she comforted the victims…the compassion and sympathy she felt toward those who were going through the losses…and the pain she had felt for the deceased. She may claim to be different but when I look into her eyes…I still see the same Brittney I fell for.

“Yeah. Well, yes. Yes. Me and that old tomcat, Chester, we went to prom together. That's about it”

“And that's all?”

“Well, I wasn't exactly a good girl, if that's what you mean. And after that, I-I thought that Chester and I were gonna be hot and heavy. But it just wasn't meant to be. And, uh, a week later, he eloped with Mary”

“Did you speak much to Mary or Chester again after that?” I asked.

“Well, I'd see them about, you know, picnics and such. But Mary kept Chester on a pretty short leash. Honestly, I'd moved on, but it seems she never did”

“And why do you think that is?” Brit wondered.

“Well, I guess in her mind, I was a reminder of Chester's betrayal” We just nodded.

“So, if that's all…”

“Yes, thank you very much for your help” Brit said to her and we both headed off her porch.

I felt myself stop though and I turned back to look at the gorgeous white house that an All American family would only dream of having with their white picket fence and two kids with a baby on the way.

Flashback

I looked at the clock. 1:32 AM. I looked back at the ceiling and shut my eyes tight trying to ignore the ache in my chest. “It's been a long time since I let myself go like that” Amelia spoke causing me to open my eyes again.

I looked down at her. “Yeah…I know what you mean” This was the first person since Brit…I never thought I’d be able to…but I did….

“You asked me if I lost someone. I did. My husband. He died in Afghanistan eight months ago”

“That must have been…umm I can't imagine” I lied to her and swallowed the lump in my throat. “Yeah. We were together forever. Or at least it seemed that way. Then one day…Don just enlists. Didn't ask me, just said something about wanting to do the right thing. Next thing I know, he's off overseas and I'm all alone. I got a couple letters, some phone calls…and then a knock at the door. Just like that. And everywhere I looked, all I could see was judgment and pity and just this constant reminder of Don everywhere. So I moved here…and became even more of a hot mess than I already was. And you hit a dog” she told me her story and for the first time I understood her. I felt closer to her…which I hated.

I felt her wrap her arms around me tighter and all I did was hold her closer and try to fill my void…to try and forget about her…because I knew she would never come back…and I needed to move on…move on to whatever I needed to get by….

End Flashback

“Sam…Sam?!” Brittney’s voice came through to me. I spun quickly to see her waiting by the car. “You coming?” she looked at me strangely. I couldn’t even get the words to come out. “Are you alright?”

“Yea…lets go” was all I said as we got in the car and drove off.

The ride was silent…again. “Hey uhh you should know…that I’m not angry with you. It’s just Dean, he’s…”

“Why? Benny’s just as much my friend as he is Dean’s” she suddenly snapped at me.

“But…I didn’t…” I tried to get her to talk to me and just be agitated with me.

“I think it’d be best if we don’t say anything for the rest of the ride to the motel. I’ll call Dean to tell him about Sara” she said and dialed, putting him on speaker.

“Hey, you're on speaker” his voice came in.

“Sara Alcott's clean, if you look past the fact that she and Chester knocked boots on prom night back in the day”

“Okay, so…Mary has a grudge against Sara, and Scott has a grudge against Jeff. Besides the fact this is making my head hurt…how does this add up to a ghost?”

“Guys! Bobby has it right here. Green goo equals a specter” Garth shouted.

“Which equals ghost, right?”

“Mm, yeah, kind of. A specter is an avenging ghost. It possesses you and finds out whatever betrayals you're feeling and forces you to act on them”

“Bobby say anything in there about how we hunt these things?” I asked.

“Uh the last specter he encountered rose shortly after someone desecrated a nearby grave. Which there was a grave desecrated locally three days ago. It says here…oh. This could get awkward”

“What?” Brit and I asked in unison. I exchanged a look with her and then averted my eyes back to the road. At times like this I wish Mel was here to help me get into Brit’s mind….

Brit’s POV

“The unknown soldier? You're kidding me, right?” Dean hissed as we were creeping around in the town’s cemetery at night and heading right for the tomb where the body was.

“Mary Lew steamrolled her husband the day after this place was vandalized. Do the math” Garth said.

“But I thought the unknown soldier was buried in Arlington” Sam said.

“Yep, but this is the Confederate tomb of the unknown soldier. See, the idea was, they took a faceless, nameless soldier they couldn't identify, and they buried him here to commemorate all the soldiers who died” “Did you learn that in college?” Dean teased.

“Nope. Civil War re-enactments. Once a year, every year. Don't hate”

“Burn a Confederate soldier's bones in a town full of rednecks? Sure. Why not” I sighed with a shrug.

We slid the door open and walked into the tomb. “Place doesn't look disturbed to me. What's the police report say?” Sam questioned.

“Uh, they think it was just some kids messing around. They found some beer cans, some graffiti. Oh and the casket was open when they got here, but they closed that back up”

“Yeah, but not before Casper had a chance to make a run for it” Dean said.

“So, what? If they never touched this, none of this would be happening?” I asked.

“Yeah, according to Bobby”

“All right, well, let's get this party started” Dean said and went right for the coffin. I saw Sam bend down to inspect something.

“Sammy, you want to give us a hand over here?” Dean grunted as I quickly spun around to try and help him push the top off. Sam came over and with his help we all got it off revealing the bones, uniform, a sword and a gun.

“Whoa. Check out this hardware. Do you guys know how much this is worth?” Garth asked.

“Yeah, but why open it up if you're not gonna take anything?” Dean wondered.

“I don't know. Maybe the cops showed up and they had to split fast” Sam said.

“You sure this will work, even on a specter?” Garth asked.

“It's a ghost, isn't it? You burn its bones, the ghost disappears” So we proceeded to pour the fluid over the skeleton and Dean got ready to set it on fire.

“All right. All right. All right. Uh, I kind of feel like we should say something, all right? Don't you? Just…a little…” Garth suggested.

We all exchanged a look. “Sure” I nodded.

“We won” Dean grinned and tossed the match, setting it all on fire. Garth hung his head and I just patted his back, chuckling a little to myself.

We headed back to the car. “Brittney, Wait” Sam grabbed my hand to pull me back away from Dean and Garth. But Dean stopped in his place to turn and actually wait for me. I looked up at Sam to see he was shocked by his actions…seeing him choose someone else over him for a change. Dean was choosing my safety over Sam’s requests. He wanted to make sure I was okay…no matter what Sam wanted.

I looked back at Dean and nodded so he walked back to the car with Garth. “Wow…it’s like he doesn’t even trust me anymore” he commented.

“Can he?”

“Shouldn’t I be the one doubting his trust?”

“None of us should be doubting each other at all. That’s what our problem is. We’re in this rut where all we have is each other but we’re turning on each other…and I don’t know how to get passed it because you aren’t here with us…you aren’t here with me…you’re stuck last year with Amelia” I tried so hard not to cry and I saw how he was at a loss for words.

“How do you know her name…?”

“Does it really matter?” So I just turned on my heel and headed for the car.

~

The next day we found out about another murder at the police station. Blood was everywhere. So burning the bones definitely didn’t work. Plan B was to find out if there were any objects that the specter was maybe attached to and maybe removed from the grave. We talked to the deputy and said our murderer was heading for the hospital so now Dean and I were on our way there while Sam and Garth found out what they could about this unknown soldier.

“So what’s wrong with you and Sam now?” he asked me.

“He doesn’t blame me for being friends with Benny” I muttered.

“So isn’t that a good thing then?”

“Just shut up and park the car” I spat.

He did so and I jumped out. He raced after me as we ran into the hospital asking people if they’ve seen a crazy man walking around with a rifle. We managed to find him right before he was about to kill another innocent guy. He pulled the trigger but nothing happened.

“Looks like you're shooting blanks” Dean commented and punched the deputy in the face.

He snapped his head back but then looked back at us without the smallest dent on his face. “Hey, that tickled” he grinned and punched Dean so hard he fell to the floor and even made some cracks in the tiles.

He went to approach him but I ran forward, kicking him back into the wall. He quickly grabbed me by the leg and swung me around and over the nurses’ station’s counter. I pulled a phone and a computer on top of me in the process along with millions of papers, pens and staples. I reached up to latch onto the desk and pull myself back up just as I saw the specter lift Dean up.

“There's unfinished business, thanks to you…oh, the specter likes you” he sniffed Dean.

I made a face and grunted getting around to the other side. “Oh, yeah? Why don't you tell him to come on out here and we'll make promise bracelets” Dean quipped and then the specter flew him across the room and into a wall.

“Karl, you don’t have to do this…” I started.

But he just charged at me and tackled me to the floor. I felt my head smack against the cemented tiles and next thing I knew I could feel him slip something onto my finger…and then I blacked out.

Sam’s POV

Flashback

I had woken up to a draft to where it was once warm. I opened my eyes to see Amelia dressed and already ready to walk out the door. “Hey” I voiced.

“Hey. Uh, just lock up when you leave. I'm late” she spoke softly and picked up her keys. “

Wait, what?” I sat up.

She turned to face me in a huff. “I just think it's better if neither of us get the wrong idea here”

“Okay…” What’s that supposed to mean?

“And I know I said a lot of things last night, and I know I can't ask you to forget them. But just…do”

“Why?” I asked gently.

“Because I don't need your pity. I don't need you looking at me the way they all…like that” she gestured to the look on my face apparently. Brit liked every look I had on my face…even the pity and the sympathetic looks….

“Wait, you think this is pity? Amelia, I'm glad you told me about Don. It helps me understand”

“How messed up I am? You think I don't know that? You don't have to feel sorry for me, Sam”

“I didn't mean it like that”

“Yeah, well, like I said, I'm late. So…”

And with that she left….

End Flashback

“You do know there is a good reason he's called the unknown soldier, right?” the librarian spoke as she led us through the library.

“Right. Uh, we were just hoping maybe a theory or two had been a floated around over the years. Something local, maybe?” I tried.

“There is one” she pulled out a book and flipped to a page with even a picture on it. “Corporal Collins of the Union shot and killed his brother, Vance, who fought for the Confederacy. Local boys”

“Wait, so two brothers fought on opposite sides of the Civil War?”

“Legend has it that Vance swore vengeance on his brother with his dying breath. Years later, consumed by guilt, no doubt, the corporal dug his brother up where he'd buried him on the battlefield and brought him home”

“Are you suggesting this Vance guy is the unknown soldier?” Garth asked.

“That's one theory, anyway”

“What's that?” I asked, pointing to the necklace around the soldier’s neck.

“Most of the soldiers were poor farmers, so the families would give them a penny on a string. It was for good luck, and in case they ever got lost, they always had a penny for food or drink”

“A penny…but there’s also a ring” I noted.

She chuckled. “Yes. There’s a back story that says growing up the brothers were always after the same girl and finally when it came down to it. Vance had won his first victory and to show his love and appreciation for his true love he wore her ring around his neck”

I looked at Garth. “Call Dean” I ordered. He nodded.

~

Neither Dean nor Brit were answering their phones so we raced back to the motel…just to find the two of them there already waiting for us. “Dean? Brit? What the hell, guys? We went to the hospital. You're not answering your phones…” I started, moving my eyes from them to Dean’s phone which was loudly ringing beside them.

“You should have looked for us when we were in Purgatory” they both snapped, whipping out their guns, springing to their feet. I watched the black goo come seeping out of their ears and I froze in my spot.

“Come on…I know it's not you in there pulling the strings” I tried.

“Shut up!” they both grunted.

“Don't!” Dean pointed at Garth who made a move for his belt. Brit stayed steady on me. “You never even wanted this life. Always blamed me for pulling you back into it” Dean continued.

“That's not true” I spoke slowly.

“Really? 'Cause everything you've ever done since you climbed into my ride has been to deceive me”

“What do you want me to say? That I've made mistakes? I've made mistakes, Dean”

“And Amelia? Was she a mistake, Sam?”

“Brittney…” my voice cracked.

“It’s not really them, Sam” Garth reminded me. But it was them. This is how they really felt: betrayed.

“Shut up! Mistakes? Well, let's go through some of Sammy's greatest hits. Drinking demon blood, check, being in cahoots with Ruby, check” Dean listed.

“Having sex with my best friend, check”

“Who was also my…” Dean gripped his gun tighter out of anger and shut his eyes, not even able to choke the rest of his words out. “And then there’s not telling me that you lost your soul and running around with Samuel for a whole year, letting me think that you were dead while you're doing all kinds of crazy. Those aren't mistakes, Sam. Those are choices!” he yelled at me.

“All right. You said it. We've all played a little fast and loose” I said lightly as I slowly started to make my way toward them.

“Yeah, we might have lied, but we never once betrayed you. We never once left you to die” Brit had tears in her eyes now.

“And for what, a girl? You left me to die for a girl?” Dean yelled.

Then before either of them had a chance I punched Dean back and slid my foot under Brittney so she collapsed to the floor but Dean got up too fast for me to think and he head butt me across the room. When I got my vision back I saw Garth was standing in between us.

“Garth, don't”

“No, he won't kill me. His beef isn't with me. You're not gonna shoot me, are you, Dean?”

“Move”

“Come on, Dean. You do not want to kill your brother. You been protecting him your whole life. Don't stop now”

“He left me to rot in Purgatory!”

“All right. All right. Maybe he did. I don't know. I wasn't there. But I'm sure he had his reasons”

“Just like you had your reasons for Benny”

“Who?” Garth looked back at me.

“Benny has been more of a brother to me this past year than you've ever been! That's right. Cas let me down. You let me down. Even Brittney let me down. The only person that hasn’t let me down is Benny…” A shot went off.

I shut my eyes quickly…but when I realized the grunt wasn’t my own and that it was Dean’s I opened them again to see him fall to the ground with a bullet wound in his arm.

“I let you down?” Brit looked down at him with eyes filled with hatred. “I was the one that wanted to go back for her! You said that there was no hope! That there was nothing we could do! You said we would go back for her! But you’ve stopped trying! You let me down, Dean! You thought I wasn’t able to take care of myself well you know what I am so tired of everyone assuming little, fragile Brittney can’t take care of herself or that she can’t handle it!” she screamed and I was ready for her to let off another shot and end his life.

“But…you were also there…when no one else was…you were there to keep me together…to make me stronger…to make me become this person I never thought I could be in order to survive…so you’ll live…” She tilted her head in my direction and when I looked in her eyes…I saw emptiness. They were pools of black holes. She pointed her gun at me. “You left me to die for another woman right after you promised it would be me forever and always…and that I can never forgive. If anyone’s going to kill you…it’ll be me” A tear slid down her cheek.

But then Garth kicked up his leg into her hand and the gun flew across the room. Next, he threw his arm forward, grabbing her hand to pull her close and then he pushed her back and held the ring up in the air. Then, Dean stood to his feet but Garth stepped up, punched him in the face so hard Dean flew back into the dresser and the coin flew to the ground.

“Ow! God!” Garth groaned, shaking out his hand. I watched him pick up the penny.

“No! Garth!”

“It's cool. It's all good. I'm cool” he sighed, holding up the possessed objects.

I just relaxed in my spot and watched Dean and Brit recollecting themselves, wiping the goo from their ears and Dean was wincing from the bullet in his arm.

~

Dean and Brit were walking Garth out. Now that the case was over it was time to move on…I wish we could all move on….

Flashback

I knocked on her door and I couldn’t remember the last time I was this nervous to see someone. She opened it and immediately tried to shut me out. “Sam, I can’t…”

I held it open instinctively. “I don't pity you. Okay? I don't. You and I…we're a lot of things, but we're not to be pitied. Look, I lost my brother, Dean…along with my best friend and my girlfriend a few months ago. It felt like my world imploded and came raining down on me, and…I ran. Just like you”

“Is that supposed to be a pep talk?”

“Yeah…sort of”

“Because...see, now I pity you” she smiled and walked inside…so I followed her.

“Well, I mean, that wasn't really my point”

“Yeah, well, bell's rung on that one, so…”

“So, uh... so what now?” I asked as we both sat down on the couch.

“I don't know. You want to talk about it?”

“Last night?” I furrowed my eyebrows.

“No. Dean and your girlfriend you pervert” she laughed and I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that. Do you want to talk about Don?” She hesitated. So I reached slowly for her hand. “Hey, I'd like that, too” I told her honestly.

I think this is what I needed. She was what I needed. Just someone to talk to. Someone to be with and maybe just…be around. She was caring…and sweet…and strong-willed…Brittney all around. Maybe that’s what drew me to her. Maybe that’s made me stick around. I had something I always wanted to have…with Brittney.

End Flashback

Brit’s POV

Dean and I watched Garth drive off and I think I might actually miss the guy. It’s really not a wonder why he wasn’t effected by the coin or the ring. He’s so at peace with everything and everyone. He has no regrets…no grudges…he’s the perfect human being. He’s strange but that’s what makes him different and someone you just want to be friends with and someone you want to be.

“How’s the arm?” I murmured not even able to look Dean in the eye.

“I’ll survive”

I could feel him eyeing me. “Dean…Garth told me what I said…and you have to know that I don’t blame you…”

“Why not?” I looked up at him as he looked up to the sky. “I would” he shrugged. “Look…it’s like you’ve said…all we have is each other. We can’t keep dwelling in the past. We have to move forward and focus on what to do next” He looked down at me. “You know I’ll always have your back, right?”

I nodded. “Same” I murmured. “But don’t be having my back if you’re gonna go soft on me” I tried lighten the mood.

He chuckled. “You got it”

He shoved his hands in pockets and headed up the steps to the room to call for Sam to come outside. I was scared. I couldn’t remember what I said to Sam and Garth wouldn’t tell me. I’m pretty sure he didn’t even tell me everything I said to Dean. I watched the two of them walking over to me and they were already fighting.

“But what? But you didn't mean it? Oh, please. You and I both know you didn't need that penny to say those things” Sam said to him.

His eyes met mine for a split second and then looked away again as if embarrassed. “Come on, Sam” Dean begged.

“Own up to your crap, Dean. I told you from the jump where I was coming from, why I didn't look for you. But you? You had secrets. You had Benny. And you got on your high and mighty, and you've been kicking me ever since you got back. But that's over. So move on, or I will”

“Okay. I hear you”

“Good. You know what? Hear this, too. I just might be that hunter that runs into Benny one day and ices him” My eyes widened. “I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, won't we?”

“Yeah. Yeah. You keep saying that” They both got in the car and I just stood there, hanging my head as thunder sounded in the sky. Mel…what can I do?