The street was quiet now, too quiet. The creature was gone, the adrenaline fading, leaving nothing but the echo of your footsteps and the sharp sting in your side where the blood wouldn’t stop spreading. You leaned harder into the wall, trying to catch your breath, trying to keep your knees from giving out. Sam was a few feet away, reloading out of habit, eyes darting into the dark as if he couldn’t quite believe it was finished.

You told yourself you could hide it until you got back to the car. Maybe longer. He didn’t need one more weight dragging him under. But then his head turned at just the wrong moment, and his gaze locked on the way your body slumped against the bricks. His expression shifted instantly—frown collapsing into wide-eyed disbelief.

“…no.”

He dropped the gun like it burned him and crossed the distance in seconds, his hands already reaching, trembling as he brushed your jacket back. The breath rushed out of him when he saw the blood. “God, no—” His voice cracked, raw and unsteady. “You’re—why didn’t you—” He cut himself off, shaking his head like he couldn’t process it fast enough.

He pressed his hand over the wound, not hard enough to hurt you, but firm enough to stop the bleeding, his other hand gripping the back of your neck to hold you upright. His touch was everywhere at once, frantic, desperate.

“I should’ve been there.” The words tumbled out in a whisper, choked and furious, but not at you—never at you. “Dean’s across town, I should’ve—dammit, I should’ve—” He swallowed hard, eyes shining in the dim light, like he was already seeing the worst-case scenario play out.

Your knees buckled, and he caught you, dragging you against his chest. “Stay with me, please. Just—don’t close your eyes, alright?” His voice broke again, softer this time, a plea wrapped in panic. His thumb brushed your jaw like he was memorizing you, like you might disappear if he looked away.

He kept muttering under his breath, promises you weren’t sure were for you or for himself. “I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not like this. I can’t lose you too.”