Chapter Text
Sam and Dean come back a few hours later.
You're still sleeping when Sam’s hand settles over yours, gently so he won’t wake you up. It wakes you anyway.
You look up at him and smile. It is that one that means you are just happy he is there. Sam sees it. He knows that look.
You glance around the room, then back at him. “What happened? Why am I in a hospital?”
Sam stares at you. “You recognize me?”
“Of course.”
Dean steps closer. “You remember us?”
You look between them, confused by the question. “I’ve been living in a bunker with you for over a year,” you say, like this should be obvious. “And I kind of knew you even before that.”
Sam exhales slowly, and the relief in it is enormous. He starts to tell you what happened when Dr. Patel walks in.
“Hello again,” he says pleasantly, pulling out his clipboard. “I’m just going to run through a few questions again, see if anything has changed.”
You glance at Sam and Dean, confused. You don't remember him.
He goes through the basics. This time he only asks for your name so you only give him your first name. He asks if you know where you are. This time, you know the town. He nods and makes a note.
Then he asks, “What year is it?”
You answer without thinking. “2028.”
He looks up.
Sam and Dean both stare at you.
You blink. “Wait. I’m...” You shake your head. “It’s 20... 16. Right?”
“Yes,” he says carefully. “2016 is correct.”
He continues asking questions, and at the end, he casually asks the year one more time.
Again, without thinking, you say, “2028.”
Then you stop. Your eyes go to a point on the wall that is not anything, and you just think.
The doctor says something and leaves, and you don't really hear him, because you're turning it over.
You have two sets of memories, and then a third, and they keep sliding against each other like transparencies that don't quite line up.
It's very confusing, and you close your eyes to try to bring your thoughts into focus.
“No,” you whisper. “No, that’s not right.”
Sam’s voice softens. “What’s not right?”
You look up at them slowly. “My world, where I’m from. I didn’t come from 2015... or 2014. It was 2028.” Your voice steadies. “I think it was 2028 before I came here.”
Sam watches your face. “You remember that?”
“I was getting flashes of my life, before I came here. A lot of them, all at once. And then I was here, but I felt like it was 2014. Now that feels like a long time ago.” You look at Sam. “It felt like a dream. You know how in a dream you can jump between completely different things and it all feels real at the time, but kind of… sideways?”
“Do you remember waking up here?” Sam asks. “Earlier today?”
You think for a moment. “I think so. It’s not clear. It feels like something I watched happen to someone else, or like I’m remembering a dream.”
You pause.
“When I heard Super Bowl Sunday...” You shake your head. “It hit the worst memory I had. My brain just snapped back there and stayed. It was really bad.”
You stop.
“For some reason, I think when those memories came back, my mind had to process it again. That was... not fun.”
Dean looks like he has a lot to say and is choosing none of it. Heroism comes in many forms.
“But at least now I remember I came from 2028,” you say. “Yeah." you look at Sam, then Dean then back at Sam again. "It was like I told you before. No magic, or monsters, and there is a Supernatural TV show.” You gesture vaguely at both of them. “But it also has AI and self-driving cars. My memory is still pretty fuzzy about it though."
Dean considers this for exactly one second. “Do you remember any lottery numbers?”
You laugh, and it feels like something loosening in your chest. “No. I don't even think I can remember what to invest in. Besides, I can’t guarantee the same things happen here, but I can try...”
“Do you remember what happens?” Sam asks. “On the show?”
You try. You genuinely try.
But it is the same as it has always been. You can only remember as far as where you are in the timeline, and past that it's gone.
“No. I still can’t remember what happens next.” You frown, frustrated. “I have this feeling the show kept going for a long time. Longer than most shows get.”
Sam watches you carefully. “How long?”
“I don’t know. Long enough that it should have had time to end right.” You look down. “But I can’t remember the ending. It’s just fog.” You frown. “It’s so frustrating. I feel like I should know, and I just don’t.”
You look at them. “I’m so sorry. I must have scared the crap out of you guys. I guess interdimensional and time travel at the same time can really mess with your head."
You stop to think for a moment. "But, I don’t think I have any memories more traumatic than that. So, at least I know that was the worst it will get.”
You look at Sam, quiet for a moment. "Oh Sam, I'm so sorry. I didn’t remember you. That must have been… awful."
"I'm just glad you're ok now." He gives you a soft smile.
There's something in that makes your chest ache. You hold his gaze for a second, then reach for him. He steps forward and wraps his arms around you carefully, mindful of the IV and hospital bed. You hold on tighter than you mean to.
"I'm sorry," you murmur again against his shoulder.
One of his hands moves up into your hair. "You don't have anything to be sorry for."
You close your eyes. Being in his arms feels familiar in a way that settles something deep inside you. After a moment, you pull back enough to look at him. He gives you a small smile.
Neither of you says anything for a moment.
“So,” Sam says carefully, “you did have kids? And a husband?”
“Yeah, I did.”
You stop and think for a minute again. You are still untangling your memories.
“But in 2028, they’re grown. My daughter is twenty-one, and my son is almost 19.” You pause. “I can’t remember it clearly. I think I miss them as little kids more than I remember them now. I mean, I don't remember them as adults and I don't think I had much time with them once they went off and started living their own lives.”
You look up at them. “Apparently, I’m pretty old.”
“But you look younger than us,” Dean says. “Which, I mean, would have been weird. If you’d shown up older.”
“Well, Rowena doesn’t exactly look 300 years old either. You can’t really go by looks alone in this world.”
“Good point,” Sam says.
You look at Sam. “I guess that makes me a cougar.”
All three of you laugh, and it is the first real one in a while. It feels good.
“This is so weird,” you say. “I lived all the way to 2028 and then landed back in 2015, so technically I’m...”
You stop yourself. “Oh, no. Nope. We’re not doing that math. However old I look? That’s how old I am.” You say it like you are signing a law into effect.
Sam says, “Okay.”
Dean says, "Yes ma'am," and you give him a look that could strip paint.
You turn back to Sam and smile, softer now, a little shy. “On the bright side,” you say, “How many people get a second first kiss?”
He smiles back, slow and warm.
Dean rolls his eyes.
“Wait,” you say, looking at Sam. “How did you know I hold my breath when I paint details? I didn’t even realize I did that myself for a long time, and I never told you, did I?”
“I’ve watched you paint. I’ve seen you do it.”
You smile, remembering that Sam is observant, especially when it comes to you.
“Okay,” you say, looking around at the monitors, the IV, and the institutional lighting you are thoroughly done with. “Let’s get out of here.”
"Yes ma'..."
"NO."
* * *
You settle into the back seat of Baby and pull the door shut. The familiar smell of old leather and motor oil greets you immediately. Dean is driving. Sam is in the passenger seat. The radio is playing. Everything is exactly where it's supposed to be. You didn't realize how badly you needed that.
Dean pulls out of the parking lot. You lean your head back and close your eyes for a moment. Not to sleep, just to enjoy the feeling.
Home.