Fic: I Remember You - Chapter 17
Title: I Remember You
Author: gidgetgal9
Summary: Sam wakes up in a hospital with no memory. Will he learn the truth about what happened to him in time to save himself? S3 Not a death fiction!
Disclaimer & Rating: Please see Chapter 1
Previous Chapters
I Remember You
Chapter 17
Dean felt Sam slowly calm down in his arms. He knew the boy was drained from the way he sagged against him. Damn Demons, and the emotional toll they had taken on his little brother.
Sam slowly pulled away, wiping tears and snot with his sleeve. Normally, Dean would have made a comment to lighten the mood, but he found he couldn’t. He was too emotionally exhausted himself to speak, so the two sat in quiet for a little while.
It ended up being Bobby that broke that quiet, as he stepped up to the car. “Boys?” The elder hunter was staring at them with concern.
Dean broke into a weak smile. “Hey Bobby, just the man we needed to talk too. Uh, Sam, it’s getting a bit chilly out here, wanna head inside and talk to Bobby?”
Sam gave both men a nod and slowly disentangled himself from the human ball he had made in the car.
Dean followed, and noticed that Bobby still had a concerned look planted on his face. Dean wanted to give the man a reassuring smile or gesture but couldn’t. With Sam facing down emotional demons and unknown rituals, it was hard for Dean to be positive.
Dean followed Sam who made his way into the house and plopped down on the couch. Dean took a spot next to his brother while Bobby slowly lowered himself down in one of the easy chairs.
There was an awkward silence and then Bobby cleared his throat and spoke. “Uh, so I take it that we have something to discuss?”
Dean glanced over at Sam to see if his little brother was going to fill Bobby in. To his relief, it seemed Sam had control over his emotions and was ready to talk.
Sam shuffled around on the couch and then spoke. “I admitted to Dean that even though Mara is dead, I still feel off.” Sam paused and cleared his throat. “Uh, I feel tired and weak just like I did before when she was controlling me, and I’m still having dreams. So I wonder if I could still be bonded to her?”
It was Bobby’s turn to shuffle around uncomfortably. “Huh, well I’ve never run across this before, but I suppose it’s possible. If she was a strong enough demon and the binding ritual she used was powerful enough, it would make sense for you to still be under her influence.”
Dean whole body tensed at Bobby reply. “Is there any way to be sure?”
Bobby shook his head. “Nope. We can go ahead with what we have planned and if Sam still feels off after the reversal ritual, we can try to break the blood bond.”
Dean was about to reply when his brother spoke up, venom and hate in his voice. “No, we’re going to break this bond now. I can’t do this anymore. It ends as soon as possible. I don’t want to do the ritual and get my memory back only to be still linked to the demon.”
Dean could understand his brother’s frustrations and fear but was afraid of the emotional toll the reversal would take on Sam. “Bobby, what would breaking the blood bond entail?”
Bobby cleared his throat. “Not sure. I’d need to do a bit of research.”
Sam nodded. “Then let’s do this because the sooner we break this bond the better.”
Dean gave his brother a reassuring smile, but inside his stomach clenched. His big brother instincts were in over drive, telling him to be worried.
-0-
Bobby was ready, well, as ready as he could be. He knew that Sam wanted to get things over with as soon as possible, and while Bobby didn’t want to rush things, the fact was it would benefit both of the Winchester boy’s mental health to get things done soon.
He found the boys in the kitchen drinking coffee.
Sam spoke first. “Did you find out what we need Bobby?”
“Yep, or at least I think so.”
Dean bristled. “You think so?”
“Damn Dean, I’m doing my best here, but the fact remains we are dealing with a lot of unknowns.” Bobby sighed in frustration. He understood why Dean was on edge he shared the frustration, but they were as close to an answer as they were going to be.
Sam swallowed hard and spoke. “What do we need to do to prepare?”
“We need to build an altar. One long enough to hold you and wide enough so that we can draw protective symbols on it.” Bobby watched Sam’s eyes widen with fear for a brief moment before he composed himself.
Dean noticed it too. “Sam we’re basically going to have to recreate the ritual that got you into this mess. Are you going to be up for that?”
Sam wiped his hand down his face in frustration. “I can do this. I’m not gonna lie. It makes me nervous and it’s not something that I look forward too, but it needs to be done. I need to be me again.”
Bobby couldn’t help but feel pride for Sam’s bravery at that moment. “I have an idea about how we can go about building an altar. I thought we could weld together a couple of the older car hoods I have out back and lay them across my shop tables. That should give us enough room.”
Dean nodded in agreement. “Oh yeah, you have those two seventies model Ford Thunderbirds and the hoods on them are really long. Long enough for Sasquatch here.”
Sam smiled. “Jealous much?”
“Whatever dude, I’m not the one that has to shop in the big and tall section for my clothes.” Dean huffed out with a smirk.
Bobby fought a smile listening to the boys go out it. He hated to break up the banter, but they needed to start preparations.
“Boys, enough already. Let’s get this show on the road. Dean, I want you to help me pull the hoods and weld them together. Sam, would you go out to my shop and bring out the three small work tables? I figure doing this outside is going to give us enough room to move around.”
“Yeah cause Paul Bunyan here laid out is going to need a lot of room.”
Sam very quietly replied. “Shorty says what?”
Dean promptly replied. “What?”
Bobby couldn’t help but laugh with Sam on that one. Dean turned bright red as he got the joke.
“Bitch!”
“Jerk!”
Bobby hated to break up the party but it they needed to get moving. “Boys! Let’s get going.”
-0-
Sam was nervous. Hell he was so anxious, his body wouldn’t stop sweating.
In a few minutes, they would try and reverse the blood bond and the memory loss ritual.
Bobby looked up from placing the make shift alter together. “Sam, I’m going to need you to lie down on the altar before I draw the symbols around you. I can’t have you smearing them as you climb up here.”
“Sure Bobby, anything else that I need to do?” Sam shifted nervously in place.
Dean cleared his throat and Sam turned his attention to his brother. “Sammy, we need you to remove your shirt. As a precaution, I’m going to draw protection symbols on your chest and arms.”
Sam swallowed hard. He wanted to question his brother on this action but knew better. Dean was barely holding it together and if drawing the symbols made Dean feel better, Sam wasn’t going to argue about it.
“Okay.” Sam first took off his button down shirt and then removed his t-shirt. His body shivered in the cold.
“Sorry Sammy, I know it’s cold outside and laying on the altar is going to feel colder than a witch's tit, but I don’t see another option.” Dean gave Sam an apologetic smile.
Sam wanting to lighten things a bit, decided to reply with a brotherly snark. “Nice visual Dean.”
Dean smirked, “Sorry to offend virgin ears with the word tit.”
Bobby cleared his throat. “If it’s any consolation Sam, this shouldn’t take long. So the sooner we get this done the sooner you can relax inside with a cup of coffee.”
Sam nodded. He remembered the dream memory of the ritual, and how it had been over in a matter of minutes.
Taking a calming breath he approached the make shift alter and gingerly sat down. He then took another breath and laid himself down on the cold metal platform. It was a smooth cold surface, and it made him shiver with more than just the cold.
Fear, anxiety and cold all rushed his body leaving his body tense and his skin full of goose bumps. His nipples were pebbled from the cold and he was having trouble catching his breath.
Sam nearly jumped from the altar when he felt a warm hand touch his arm. He had been so caught up in his panic that he hadn’t noticed his brother approaching.
“Whoa, there Sammy, it’s just me. You need to calm down, okay? Concentrate on your breathing, in and out.” Dean had moved his hand from Sam’s right arm to his hand.
Sam took comfort from his brother’s touch. The last few weeks with no memory had been hard but the connection he felt to this man who was his brother had gotten him through.
He once again felt the need to remember this person, his brother. That helped ground him and allowed him to relax so that they could proceed.
“M’ okay Dean. We can start.” Sam was shocked at how lost and quiet his voice came out.
Dean gave his hand a squeeze and let go. “Alright, first things first Sammy! Time for me to get the markers out and draw pretty pictures on you.”
Sam grinned, “Uh about that Dean, I only want protective symbols, not women’s body parts drawn in permanent marker on my chest.”
Sam caught the twinkle in his brother’s eyes, and spoke again. “Or men’s body parts!”
Dean chuckled. “Dude, you’re no fun. Fine, I’ll only draw the protective symbols, and maybe a smiley face or two.”
Sam gave a fake huff. “Maybe I should let Bobby do this.”
Bobby grumbled from the end of the altar near Sam’s feet. “Sorry Sam, I’m busy drawing symbols on the altar. I don’t have time to babysit your brother, so you’ll have to trust him.”
Dean hovered over Sam with a black marker in hand. “Yeah Dude, trust your brother.”
Sam swallowed hard. His nerves were still on end, and the only thing keeping him going was his innate trust of Dean.
“Fine, just get it over with Dean.”
Dean nodded and lowered the marker to Sam’s abs. Sam couldn’t help but flinch a bit as the marker touched his skin.
“Sammy, I see you’re still super ticklish. Try and stay still dude, you don’t want to mess up my awesome art work do you?”
“Sorry, I’ll try to be still.” Sam replied quietly and closed his eyes.
Sam decided to try and block everything out and just concentrate on his breathing. It worked because in what seemed a matter of minutes, Bobby informed him that they were ready.
Sam opened his eyes and noticed Dean watching him with concern written all over his face.
“Sam, you ready for this dude?” Dean took Sam’s hand again.
“Yeah, I think so. What do we do next?” Sam asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer.
Bobby moved closer to Sam. “Well son, I think it would be best to break the blood bond and then move on to the memory reversal.”
Dean squeezed Sam’s hand. “I’m gonna let Bobby perform the ritual and I’ll just be right here for support little brother.”
Sam nodded. “Let’s get this over.”
Bobby moved away from the altar and then returned with a tray. “Alright Sam, first I need to clean your arm. We will have to spill blood from your arm using a silver knife. I’ve cleansed the knife already, but I need to clean and purify your skin with holy water and alcohol.”
“Okay.” Sam answered the man and then closed his eyes. Once again, Sam tried to concentrate on his breathing.
He felt Bobby grab his right arm. Dean’s grasp still held his left hand tight. Sam tried to focus on Dean’s touch, ignoring Bobby’s.
Sam flinched as cold liquid was poured over his right arm. He then felt it being dried off. Once his skin is dry he feels his arm being swabbed with another cold liquid.
Unbidden memories started invading his mind. It was his dream memories of walking with Jess into the college lecture room. Figures cloaked in brown robes, with one person dressed in a black robe.
There is a peaceful feeling was she spoke to him.
“Hi Sam, Jess has told us all about you. My name is Mara, are you ready to join our family? It is sad that yours has forsaken you, but we will take you in tonight as one of us. Forever, you will belong to our family.”
The peaceful feeling left him as he stared into Mara’s face.
The scenery changes and he finds himself at Bobby’s pond facing Mara. His body tenses in fear.
Memories flood his mind.
Mara laid her hand over his forehead and closed her eyes. “Shhh, let me … oh isn’t this delicious, you still don’t have your memories do you? I thought someone as resourceful as your brother would have found a way to restore them. Well, tell you what, let me give you one of them back.”
Mara’s hand on his forehead began to feel warm and then it burned his skin. His head felt like it was about to crack open as she pushed a memory inside. Sam tried to breathe through the intense pain as pictures - memories flashed in his head.
The memories that were forced in his head felt more intense this time. He felt himself sweating despite the cold and strong hands were holding him down as the memories continued to assault him. Sam tried but couldn't shut them out.
Sam was lying in a hospital bed. A group of robed figures surrounded him. Mara was next to him, with a knife in hand. “Once we share blood you will belong to me Sam.”
Sam watched as she drew blood from her forearm and then his. He felt phantom pain in his right arm as he remembered the pain from the ritual. Once his blood mixed with hers, the pain had been intense. It had caused him to lose consciousness.
“See Sam, I told you that you belong to me. Now you remember.” Mara purred in his ear.
Sam struggled to breathe, to pull in air. His eyes shot open and he spotted his brother holding him down, concern and panic flitting across the man’s face. Sam tried to focus on Dean, but his body wouldn’t co-operate and soon he was pulled into darkness.
-0-
Part of Dean had wanted to perform the ritual, to be sure it was done right. Part of him wanted to be there for his brother during the ritual and that part won out.
Watching Bobby prepare to cut into Sam’s arm, made Dean realize he had made the right choice.
Sam started to squirm a bit while Bobby poured Holy Water over his arm. Dean could tell that his brother was either beginning to panic or the ritual was already taking hold.
Bobby began to dry Sam’s arm. “Dean, I’m not sure what to expect, but once we start this, we need to finish it. I think the kid is already feeling the power of the symbols. You might need to restrain him so that we can proceed.”
Dean swallowed hard. “Yeah.”
He then moved his hands up to Sam shoulders applying weight there. “I’m here little brother and this will be over soon.”
Dean could tell that Sam was lost inside his own head when the kid didn’t respond and began to struggle.
Bobby held the kids arm tight as he swabbed it down with alcohol.
Dean had to apply more weight as Sam began to writhe around on the altar. The kid was mumbling words, but not loud enough for Dean to understand. Sweat was pouring off of Sam, and Dean could tell that his little brother’s skin was becoming heated.
Bobby picked up a note card with the words for the ritual written on it. “Ready Dean?”
“Hurry Bobby.” Dean pleaded, he could tell Sam was in pain and he wanted it to end.
Latin began to flow off of Bobby’s lips.
“Quondam vinculum per cruor , iam infractus per cruor. Cruor spilled hodie est pro Sam Winchester quod haud alius.”
Sam began to whimper in pain. Dean wanted to stop the whole thing, it was killing to hold his brother down as the kid struggled in pain, but he knew they had to finish this for Sam to be free.
Dean watched wide eyed as Bobby picked the small silver knife from his tray and carefully moved it across Sam’s arm. It wasn’t a deep cut and Bobby had to squeeze to get the blood to flow.
Dean’s attention was drawn back to Sam as the kid cried out in pain. Sam’s whole body tensed as it struggled for breath.
“Sammy, you’re okay, breathe.” Dean screamed out and he was relieved when Sam’s eyes shot open.
Dean’s relief was short lived as he watched Sam’s eyes roll back in his head and the kid passed out.
-0-
Bobby hadn’t known what to expect with this ritual. He had hoped that it would be pretty straight forward and that Sam wouldn’t have any ill effects, but he had been wrong- very wrong.
The kid lay lax in his brother’s arms. It had been twenty minutes since they had finished the ritual and Sam hadn’t moved. Bobby had carefully tended to Sam’s knife wound as Dean tried to get his brother to wake with no avail.
Dean finally let go of Sam and slowly laid him back down on the altar. “Bobby we should take him inside.”
“I know Dean, but I really think we should just finish this.” Bobby waited for Dean to argue but was shocked when the fireworks didn’t start.
Dean sighed and wiped his hand across his face in frustration. “I was thinking Bobby, could we finish the other ritual with him being unconscious? It might be easier on him that way.”
“I think it would work just fine. Are you ready to move on then?” Bobby was shocked when Dean nodded and returned to Sam’s side taking the kids left hand in his.
“Yeah, let’s finish this.” Dean said never taking his eyes off of his brother.
“I need to get this potion in him.” Bobby held up the small vile that he had on his tray that was on top of the altar. “If I pour it in can you get him to swallow?”
Dean nodded. “Yeah, I’ve done it before.” Dean let go of his brother’s hand and moved to lift his head off of the altar.
Bobby used his hand to open the kid's mouth and then slowly poured the potion. Dean moved his hand over Sam’s throat helping him to swallow the potion.
“Alright, we wait a few minutes for the potion to start working and then I need to recite the reversal spell.”
Dean nodded as he gently laid Sam’s head back down and returned to holding the kids hand.
Bobby picked up the note card with the ritual written on it. He went over the words as they waited for the potion to take effect.
It wasn’t long before Sam became restless; his body jerking in spasms. The kid began to whimper and Dean looked at Bobby in concern.
“Why can’t any of this be easy? Better get started.” Dean’s voice was full of frustration and concern.
Bobby nodded and began to read the words on his card.
“Monumentum ut erant captus , es occupo ut reverto.”
Sam began to struggle and Dean held the kid down. And just as before, Sam’s eyes shot open as he screamed in pain and then his body went lax as he was pulled into unconsciousness again.
Dean pulled his brother to him. “Damn it. I thought the other hunter’s said this went relatively easy for them.”
Bobby shrugged. “I’m guessing that in some hunter’s experiences this was easy. We better get the kid inside.”
Dean quickly had his brother in a fireman’s carry and was following Bobby to the house.
Once they had the kid comfortablly laid out on the couch with blankets, Bobby broke the silence that had lingered.
“I’m gonna make some coffee, it might be a long night.”
Dean nodded in agreement with his eyes never leaving Sam. The elder brother had pulled one of the easy chairs next to the couch and he held Sam’s lax right hand in his.
Bobby sighed as he took in the Winchester boys, it was going to be a long night.
Chapter 18 Here