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“We have to go,” Sam insisted. He tried to raise me by the elbow, and I whimpered at the slight pull. “I knew you were hurt.” His tone was angry, but also full of concern.
“I think we’re all dealing with a few injuries here,” Luke added. “Let’s fucking go.”
Several boats hung on thick black lines. We followed Sam and piled into the one he had loaded. I could hear the rushing of water all around us. The ocean was right below the thin metal grating that lined the floor under the tender. Sam scurried around the machinery, hitting buttons and codes. Underneath us, the floor moved and screeching metal revealed rushing water in its place.
“Just the release now,” he yelled. “You are going to drop, but I’m coming.” He pulled a yellow crank downward, and the boat jolted. We all steadied ourselves from the sudden drop. Then the boat lowered at a slow pace as Sam made his way back to us.
“You ungrateful fucking bastards,” someone yelled from the hallway. I knew the voice and the man behind it.
“Sam, that’s Dean. Run!” I screamed, but Dean had already sprinted into the room with his gun drawn.
“You piece of shit. I should have killed you when I had the chance in the medical bay, but Luke was too much of a pussy. Well, it looks like you aren’t such a pansy-ass now, doesn’t it?” Dean barked. He pointed the gun towards the boat that continued to lower at an excruciatingly slow pace. I covered BeLew with my body. I wanted to send them down below, but I had no idea where that entrance was or if the movement would make Dean shoot.
“Dean, if you are pissed at me, then deal with me. Leave them all out of it,” Luke shot back.
“You know I’m pissed at all of you.” He waved his gun around like a maniac. His eyes were wild and the veins in his neck throbbed. He ripped open the top buttons of his shirt and rubbed his free hand across his neck and throat. I had seen Dean angry, but never like this. It was his mannerisms and stance that were different. He came across as jittery but focused.
He was high as fuck.
“I’m the only reason you are all alive - and what do you do? You steal from me. You take my woman. You try to fucking leave. And go where, you idiots?”
“Dean, let them go,” Sam interjected. “You want me dead, fine, but let them leave.”
“And, you. I mean, where the fuck did you come from? Who invited you to the party, you asshole? God, I should have killed you so long ago. Why the fuck did I wait so long?”
The scream that left my throat was foreign to everyone, even myself. “Dean, no,” I screeched. My body shook and my voice was hysterical. “I know how much you have done for us and me, but you know it was for yourself, too. I can’t stay here. If you ever loved me, if you still love me, please, I have to leave this place.”
Dean paused with his gun pointed at Sam. He cocked his head to the side, still eye to eye with him. The boat made a thud as it hit the water and rocked back and forth, begging for release.
Seconds felt like an eternity while Dean kept the barrel of his gun pointed at Sam’s face. I heard Lori whimper, and Luke moved beside me.
“You know what true love is?” Dean croaked. “It’s dedication.”
The shot exploded in my ears, and a dull ringing took its place.
I closed my eyes, and I was back in the field. I saw my sister fall to the ground and the boys running away. Her dead body lay motionless in front of me. I refused to open my eyes and see Sam the same way.
“Rowan,” I heard from behind me. The voice sounded like an echo. “Rowan,” louder this time. I shook my head and covered my face with my hands.
Lori shook me. “Rowan,” I heard Luke calling my name. “Rowan, open your eyes. I’m sorry that was by your head. It was my only clear shot.”
I curved toward his voice but kept my head low, terrified of what I would see. “I still had the gun,” Luke explained. “Those pricks never knew I had it in the first place.”
I met his gaze in shock. He had what my sister would have called a shit-eating grin on his face. I twisted myself back around to see Sam mid-jump from the dock.
”Is he dead?” Luke asked.
“I’m not staying to find out,” Sam answered. “And excellent shot, by the way.” He grabbed me and crashed his mouth on mine in a quick kiss. “I’d like to finish that when we are safely away from this shithole.”
“You know,” Luke pointed out. “Rowan seems to have this kissing habit when being whisked away on a boat.”
“Not funny yet, Luke,” Lori scolded. He wrapped his good arm around her and they kissed, breaking only when the boat shot forward, leaving the Thalassa. I ushered the boys below as we made it into open water. After settling the children, I walked back out to be by Sam and leaned into his side while he steered. I searched the dock for any sign of Dean. I thought for a moment I saw movement, but I was out of his reach. After all these years, maybe I could live without being bound to Dean Riggs.
We rode to the islands in silence. With little to say, we huddled together, looking outward until the shoreline came into view.
”Is that our new home?” Beau asked.
“For a bit,” Sam answered. “We may be nomadic for a time. Do you know what nomads are?”
