Run, Sam, Run

There was too much at stake to give in now.

Too many lives had already been sacrificed; and it would be a waste if he didn't keep saying no. Those deaths had to mean something. A life was too precious to merely be considered as the side effect of a war.

It was a tragedy. And there was no way he was just going to fold now and throw it all to the wind.

Even if it killed him every day was alone.

...

"Sam, please. Sammy, I'm begging you... pick up the phone. I promise you we can get through this together."

"Hey, Sam, it's me again. Where the hell are you? Call me back."

"I got some news from Bobby today... Looks like we were right about the horsemen. Heh. you're not going to make me hunt the sons of bitches down by myself are you?"

"Hi. It's been three months already. Call me."

"Sammy, what the hell was that?! You see me and you just run away? What is going on? You don't have to hide from me. We can take down Lucifer together. Stop running! Just... sigh ... just... please, come home."

"Come on, answer. I can't do this anymore if you're going to ignore me. I need to know you're okay."

"...You're never going to come back are you? Fine. Just... stay safe. Stay alive and when I kill this motherfucker, I am going to call you. And you can come home."

.

It had been six weeks since Sam had heard from Dean.

The phone calls used to come every day. It broke Sam's heart to hear the hurt in Dean's voice; although he never called him back. He couldn't risk even that.

But he still listened; he sat on the bed of whatever hotel room he was staying in at the moment, and played each and every single voicemail. It was painful, but at least it let him know that Dean was still out there, hunting.

Sam knew he shouldn't have run away. It was a betrayal so deep that the boys could probably never repair it. Years of trust, of being the only thing the other could count on... And he had given it all up.

But he had no choice. Lucifer was after him. The lord of the underworld was going to hunt him down and take him over. Use his own hands, the ones that had saved countless lives, to send the world up in flames.

And in some twisted way, Sam knew he had no chance of holding out. Sure, he could say no. He could deny Satan until his face turned purple. But that would only last for so long.

At some point, Lucifer would find him. He would tear apart everything Sam loved just to make him say yes. He would threaten innocent people to force Sam into surrendering. And there was nothing he could do.

Except push away the only family he had left, and hide. Keep running, keep hiding, and stay clear of anything or anyone Lucifer could use against him.

So far it had worked. Thanks to Castiel's handiwork on his ribs, he wasn't as easy to find as he could have been.

But, he still had to watch his back; demons were literally everywhere. Since the impending apocalypse had been sent into overdrive, the demonic activity had escalated to a shocking height.

He wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do in the long run. He only had the plan of running.

Keep running.

Never stop running.

Don't call Dean.

Don't talk to anyone.

Don't stay anywhere for more than one night.

No one was following him, and he was doing a good job of maintaining a low profile. His relationship with his brother... that had just gotten caught in the crossfire. The casualty of a war they were pulled into and trapped in.

Of course Dean would somehow stop the end of the world, with or without him; he had faith in that.

But somewhere deep down, Sam dreaded the moment he would have to go back and face his older brother. It was hard enough to hear the raw feeling in his voice; but to see it all in his eyes, in person... It would kill him. No doubt about it; he would die inside.

Hatred consumed Sam, making his hand clench into a fist and shaking him to his core. What gave Lucifer the right to stake a claim on his body? Why did Sam have to sacrifice a chance at a normal life, because of these damned angels and their family affairs? Why were he and Dean wrapped up in this twisted destiny?

He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. It was too late to be stressing over this again. It was the way things were, simple as that. And nothing he could do could change them. Not right now, not without a clear grasp on what would stop it all.

Sam threw a glance at the clock on the wall and sank back into the bed. It was well past 3AM, and if he wanted to get a good start on the road tomorrow, then he needed to get some rest.

The ticking of the second hand quickly faded into the background as he slipped off into the sweet relief of sleep. .

...

"Aw, shit!" Dean Winchester regained his balance and glared disdainfully at the fold of carpet that had almost sent him tumbling to the floor. He shut the door of his hotel room after entering, tossing his jacket over the back of a nearby armchair. Then he fell back into bed and let out an airy sigh.

His eyes strayed over to his cellphone. It had been awhile since he last called Sam. Maybe he should let him know what's been happening...

Not that Sam would even get the message.

He had disappeared with no warning and had never even had the decency to even say goodbye. It wasn't hard to guess that he thought it would be easier to stay under the radar if he were completely lost to the world; untraceable, invisible. Even Castiel had had no luck in finding him.

Once, Dean and Sam had run into each other, almost literally, but he had turned tail and been consumed by the night.

Dean felt like the earth had been pulled out from under him when he saw the look of terror in Sam's eyes and saw him fleeing like a frightened rabbit. For all their lives, they had been each other's anchors; always there for protection and comfort. And to witness his little brother's abandonment not once, but twice...

It made Dean sick. He felt responsible somehow. It wasn't his fault, of course; but he had promised to keep Sam safe. He would do anything for him, anything at all. But now, it was over. And it could never be taken back.

Sam would never forgive him for letting him down. He didn't think Dean could take care of him; that was why he had left. It was obvious.

If he had trusted Dean at all, he would have known that the other hunter would never let anything happen to him. But he felt more secure out there on his own; which made Dean feel terribly inadequate.

But, if he could kill the devil, then he could get his brother back. And he could start trying to earn Sam's trust again.

But killing the devil... That had to be next to impossible. Maybe Castiel knew of some way to do it; or could at least help him to find a way to put Lucifer back in the cage.

And if not... it would still be nice to see a friendly face.

...

Two weeks ago, Lucifer had gotten word from one of his demons that they had finally located Sam.

Now he stood outside of the young hunter's motel room. It was almost laughable that Sam thought he could hide from his rightful owner. He was like a puppy playing a dangerous game with someone who disliked losing.

This hide and seek match had gone on long enough. Now it was time to remind that wide eyed puppy who his master was.