Author's Note: I'm back! After relaxing after what was the huge undertaking known as the "3rd Annual 25 Days of Hurt!Sam" I'm ready to get back to work. And the best way to kick that off is to have some hurt!Sam goodness. So, this will be an AU of "The Song Remains the Same" and will be a relatively short story, like 4 or 5 chapters. Please enjoy!

"I don't know where I'm goin'

I think I'm out of my mind

Thinking about time."

—Hootie and the Blowfish, "Time"

The answer is still no, because Sam is my friend.

Anna shook her head, disgusted.

She'd pinned all of her hopes on Castiel, trusting that the angel would see the reason behind her plan. Surely, all of humanity was worth more than just one human's life. Yet, the determined glint that entered the angel's cerulean eyes convinced her otherwise. Castiel had allowed emotions cloud his judgment. He couldn't be trusted and now he would redouble his efforts to keep Sam safe. Even if she could find him—which was nearly impossible thanks to the markings on his ribs—there was no way Castiel would leave Sam defenseless.

She needed a new plan and fast.

With every second that ticked by, the Earth was hurtling closer to the apocalypse. She couldn't allow that to happen. She needed to gather her strength and find some allies like—

"But Dean—" Her voice faded away immediately. Even if she could enter Dean's dream and convince him to meet her, he would never see her point of view. She knew how much he cared for his brother, much to the world's detriment. What's more, she was sure Castiel was on his way to warn the eldest Winchester brother right now. She didn't have time to risk waiting and recruiting other angels.

Heaven had entrusted this task to her—she had to find a way to fulfill it.

But how?

A gentle breeze blew through her hair, carrying a voice to her ears.

"Could you believe that crap?" A teenage girl growled into her phone as she sat on a park bench. "I mean, he's a time traveler? Couldn't he just travel back in time to fix the whole thing before it even began?"

Anna had never had witnessed a sign from her Father before, but in that moment, she knew it was His will guiding her to this solution. She would go back and destroy Sam before he could reach this point. Ideally, if she had the power, she'd go back to destroy Mary Winchester before she could ever conceive Sam, but she was weak. Her grace wasn't as strong to guarantee her a safe trip that far into the past.

She'd pick another time—another moment where Sam was vulnerable—and then she'd extinguish him.

It was that simple.

"So, Anna wants to kill me?" Sam asked softly.

Dean glanced over at his little brother sitting on the edge of the bed. Sam was taking this surprisingly in stride ever since Castiel arrived with the news that the rogue angel was out for his blood. In fact, if anything, the youngest Winchester was calmer and more collected than even Dean was in this moment.

"It would appear so." Castiel muttered.

"Well," Sam ran a hand through his hair, biting his lower lip, before sighing. "Is it a good plan?"

"C'mon Sam—" Dean began to shake his head, voice drawn and tight.

"No." The angel interjected immediately, his gaze locked on Sam's. "No, it is a bad plan."

Sam huffed out a dark chuckle, grimacing somewhat as he glanced up at his brother.

"Dean—"

"You heard him." Dean interjected sharply. "It's not going to happen."

Then, in a softer voice, Sam added, "But's it's Anna—"

"She wants to kill you." Dean stated sharply. "The Anna we knew . . . this isn't her."

"Indeed." Castiel replied, crossing to Sam and placing a hand on his shoulder. "We will find another way to stop the Apocalypse." A small smile graced the angel's lips. "You two taught me that there is always another way."

"Damn right, there is." Dean grinned, beaming as he faced the two of them. "So, let's just figure out what we're going to do next, okay?"

It took Sam awhile to answer but when he finally does, it's with a soft smile on his lips, "Yeah, okay."

And so they do what they do best—they get to work.

—In the past

Sam Winchester knew only two things in absolute certainty.

One, his father was committed to being a hunter and as such, expected both of his sons to follow this path and two, he could not allow himself to be sucked into this lifestyle. So, slowly, but surely, Sam had been gathering supplies, preparing for his last resort—running away.

That's what he had done, escaped from Dean's careful eye and now he found himself in Flagstaff, Arizona, baking under the warm sun and wondering what the hell he was supposed to do next.

Dean must be sick with worry or boiling over with anger, the youngest Winchester notes with a grimace. Probably a bit of both, but Sam had tried his best to convey to his older brother that he wasn't happy with his life, but Dean hadn't understood.

What other choice did Sam have? Running away was really his last resort. Now, he would have to find somewhere to stay and figure out his next move.

"Excuse me." A pale woman with fiery red hair brushed past him, her hazel eyes piercing him as she moved past. It was almost as if she knew him from somewhere, that was how intensely she was staring at him, but then, she was gone, disappearing into the crowd of people on their way to work.

"Weird." Sam muttered, but then forced himself to refocus. He needed to find himself somewhere to stay.

That had to come first.

Anna felt ill, so ill that she could practically collapse on the ground before her. Time travel truly did take a toll on angels, but even as she forced herself to keep walking past the clueless humans that surrounded her, she couldn't help but beam.

She had Sam Winchester in her sights.

He was young here, probably 13 or 14 which would make her job easy. As soon as she recovered fully, she would find him and then kill him. She would make sure there wasn't a trace of him to resurrect. She would save the world and earn the respect of Heaven.

But more importantly, she'd be atoning for her past mistakes.

So, come tomorrow, Sam Winchester would be dead.

Anna would make sure of it.

Author's Note: Next chapter, Anna makes a move, Sam suffers the consequences of it in the present and Castiel makes a decision. Please review if you have a moment. Thanks!