Mute

A voice in the dark

        He stopped halfway across the back yard as troopers were rushing towards him. He held his hands up in surrender. He’d gladly pay for doing what he had just done to keep Sam safe from Sand forever. Only the troopers didn’t stop to take him into custody, they moved past him. They went to secure Deacon’s weapon and body. He was shocked, he just knew he was getting hauled away for the fight they had just watched.

        “Jace!” He turned at Jason’s voice coming to him, having turned to watch the troopers go past in shock. Big mistake, his world tilted and spun all at once. Several arms caught him as he hit the ground. “Come on, stay awake.”

        “Jace come on. I need a med helicopter now, agent down.” That was Dean’s voice. He felt Dean’s hands and Jason’s pressing on his bleeding wounds. Someone had him in their lap, their softer hands holding his head from lolling side to side in pain. He forced his eyes open, the world was still spinning but at least it was the sky so it didn’t seem to spin so fast.

        “Jason.” He tried to reach for the older man, his hands reaching and falling as his strength faded. He kept reaching around, for what he wasn’t sure but he had to find it. His fingers were reaching, even when his arms lost their strength. “Sam. Where is Sam?”

        “She’s holding you right now, Sam honey let him see you.” Jason said as a trooper was handing him gauze and bandages. His head bobbed due to his lack of control as she shifted around under him.

There it was, his peace. No darkness, just blue. Icy tundra blue ringed in and out with deep sea blue, and white sea foam riding the waves. His Sam. He feebly reached up to her, his hand missing her cheek and brushed her hair aside. He frowned, his hickey had faded days ago. But still, if he was going this is how he wanted it.

        “Jace!” A voice he’d never heard before echoed endlessly as the darkness came to take him. This wasn’t the sand of Afghanistan, just the dirt of Texas, here he would stay.

------Midnight--------

        “The doctor said he could wake up anytime. His lung was only partially collapsed so no surgery. He has some broken ribs obviously and lots of stitches and a few staples. And one hell of a concussion.” He frowned, who the hell was Dean talking to? And who got their ass handed to them so bad?

        “Mind talking a little softer Dean?” He growled as he pulled at the oxygen mask strapped to his face, what the hell was this? Jason’s hand landed on his firmly, forcing him to let the annoying thing go. Then he knew, it was him, he was the one laying in a hospital. “What the hell?”

        “Jace, son I will pull rank if I have to. Be still and leave the medical equipment alone. THAT IS AN ORDER!”

        “Sir. Yes, sir.” He mumbled out of habit. He almost let the dark come for him again when his eyes shot wide open, “where is she?”

        “Calm down.” Jason motioned to be quiet and pointed to the corner where a rolling hospital recliner stood in the corner of the room. “They had to sedate her. She was a mess, she needs the rest.”

        “Is she …,” No he had to know first the darkness would have to wait a minute, “is she all right?”

        “She is fine physically.” Jason reassured him with a sigh.

        “Thank God.” And black. He heard the voice still, the echo still bouncing around his aching skull. Stay a while, let me find you, don’t leave without me.

-------Morning next day-------

        “Sam, Honey Bear, you have to eat something.” He scrunched his eyebrows as he frowned. He finally forced his eyes open to see Jason desperately trying to get Sam to eat.

        “Samantha.” He called out to her as loudly as he could, barely a whisper, but she heard him. Her head snapping up just before she rushed to his side. She gingerly took his hand that had i.v tubes inserted and taped to it. “You all right?”

        She nodded, tears in her eyes. She signed, ‘I am okay.’

        “It’s over now.” He said weakly. Dean came up on one side of the bed and Jason alongside Sam. They both were looking tellingly at Sam, what didn’t he know? “what is it?”

        “Go on, show him.” Jason urged her. Jace just knew she’d been hurt after all. She swallowed hard, closing her eyes in preparation. This couldn’t be good.

        “Jace.” It was slow. It was unsteady and unsure, but the voice he’d heard just before he blacked out had found him. And it came from his Sam. She opened her eyes and let them drift down to meet his, waiting.

        “Say that again, one more time?” He pleaded, squeezing her hand with what little strength he could muster.

        “Jace,” she seemed surprised to hear her own voice. He squeezed her hand in his. His beautiful Sam had a gorgeous voice.

        “How do you feel Jace?” Dean spoke up when silence yawned as he stared up at Sam’s smile.

        “Like hammered s***,” He shifted himself around without thinking and groaned his way into a coughing fit. “What happened to all of them? Any get away?”

        “A couple deputies got caught just this morning early.”

        “The sheriff?” He vaguely remembered the rifle shot from Jason’s window.

        “Dead as a doornail.” Jason announced triumphantly. Jace sighed in relief. If it didn’t hurt like a b***h he’d laugh at the sour look Sam shot her father.

        “You know, the damnedest thing happened during all of that.” Dean said cryptically. “One of Deacon’s men turned on him. Cut the man’s throat for him.”

        “What a tragedy.” Jason winked down at Jace.

        “Good riddance.” Jace declared, “when can I go home?”

        “Not until the doctor says so son,” Jason warned. Jace nodded.

        “I want a nurse in here.” Jace demanded, “I want Sam to lay up here next to me.”

        “They won’t let you do that,” Dean demanded.

        “Then I’m leaving right now.”

        “J..just go d..do it.” Sam looked at her father angrily as she signed along with her spoken words.

        “Yes ma’am.” Jason nodded and hurried out the door.

        “Bossy thing ain’t she?” Jace laughed with a wobbly smile.

        “Seems to suit you just fine.” Dean laughed.

        A few minutes later, a few threats of going a.m.a, and a swear word or two and Jace had his Sam snugged up tight to his side. Now he could sleep in peace. The breath from her nose sending puffs of chills over his bandages.

        “Sam, I have to tell you something.” He said, on the verge of going to sleep again. She looked up at him with those soft as cloud eyes, she was just as exhausted as he felt. She nodded. “I love you.”

        “I love y..you.” And with that he passed back into the dark, but now the dark was different. Now he had a beautiful pair of blue eyes watching over him as he recovered.