In My Time of Dying

White lights blinded Mak. What time was it? What the hell happened? It took a moment for Mak to open her eyes, but when she did a white ceiling and white walls surrounded her. As she stood, her whole body ached in pain. She looked down at herself. She was barefoot, wearing snug blue hospital pants and a v neck white t shirt that showed her boob crack. Her blonde hair was a curled mess sitting around her shoulders. How did she get to the hospital? The last thing she remembered was being in the car with Dean... The car... there was a crash! Where were the guys? Mak ran out of the hospital room to the hallway.

"Hello?" she called out to a nurse walking by. "Excuse me," The nurse ignored her. Didn't even look at her. What the hell? "Excuse me!" she exclaimed.

"Mak?" She whipped around at the sound of Dean's voice. She turned to see Dean standing by the door of a room. He wore blue hospital pants and a white v neck t shirt. She ran to him and jumped into his arms overjoyed he was even alive.

"Thank God you're alive," she breathed into his neck as he held her close. He buried his face into her neck not saying anything. His warm muscular arms held her in place for what felt like an eternity. She could feel the scruff of his chin lightly scratch her neck with every breath he took. His entire embrace was so warm and comforting she could just melt right into him. She never wanted to leave. "What the hell happened?" she asked pulling back. Though when she finally looked at Dean's face, she noticed the sunken dark expression. "What's wrong?"

"You can see me?" he asked.

"What do you mean of course I can see you." she said as Dean put her down. He took a step back.

"You can feel me? A-a-and hear me?" he asked water welling up in his eyes. Was Dean about to cry?

"Yes Dean, I can hear see and feel you," she giggled. "Why are you asking weird questions?"

Dean swallowed hard as a tear fell down his cheek. He looked into the room he had been standing in front of. She followed his gaze and the smile disappeared from her face. Her stomach dropped and her heart turned cold and confused. Her fathers agonizing cries now became apparent to her as she stared at her own body laying on the hospital bed. Eyes closed and tubes sticking out at every which angle. A large breathing tube was stuck down her own throat and a neck brace around her neck. Cuts and bruises lined her arms and face.

"How is this possible?" she asked walking over to her body. Her dad sat in the chair next to her bed holding her hand. His wrinkled face drained of color, and eyes puffy red.

"The car accident," Dean chocked out. "You weren't wearing a seatbelt," he paused. "A trucker t-boned us, I lost a lot of blood, you broke your neck." More tears slipped down Dean's cheek and she felt more of her own.

"So we're dying?" she asked as tears poured down her face and Dean nodded. "No," she ran over to her father kneeling down in front of him.

"Daddy, I'm right here," she said. His cheeks were stained from the tears he'd cried, his eyes red and bloodshot. He didn't look at her. He acted like he couldn't even hear or see her. He just stared at her face connected to all the tubes.

"Daddy look at me!" she screamed tears pouring out of her eyes.

There was a knock at the door and in walked Sammy. He had cuts and bruises all over his face. Bobby didn't even bother to look at him.

"I brought you some coffee," Sammy said in a raspy cracking voice. She could tell from his bloodshot eyes he'd been crying too. He walked forward, passing right through Dean proving that what Dean said was true. Mak stood up and looked at her father.

"He's talking to you dad," she said but he didn't acknowledge anyone.

"They can't hear us," Dean said. "Can't see us, I've tried."

"I'll leave it right here," Sammy said setting the coffee cup on the counter next to her bed. "Has the doctor come in yet?"

Bobby still didn't answer Sam. Didn't even look at him.

"Daddy answer him! What did the doctor say?!" she screamed. "Daddy answer him!"

"Mak," Dean said softly grabbing her arm and pulling her into him.

"I can't be dead!" she cried throwing her hands over her mouth as tears streamed down her face. "I'm all he has left,"

"Look Bobby, I'm sorry," Sammy said.

"You're sorry?" Bobby asked finally acknowledging him. "You're sorry that my little girl, is dying?! Damn right you better be sorry! She's dying because of your dumbasses! I should've known better than to let her get involved. I shouldn't have even opened the damn door! Yours and your daddy's obsession got my little girl killed!" Bobby's voice cracked saying the last sentence breaking Mak's heart. She watched her father, a man who could do anything, a man who was a rock in the wind and a hell of a force to be reckoned with, crumble into the shell of a broken man. "Don't tell me you're sorry," he said with an exhaustedly painful sigh then sat back down in the chair. Mak looked at Sammy who also had tears rolling down his cheeks. He looked from Mak's face to the ground and nodded. He turned and walked out the door.

"Daddy, its not his fault," Mak cried attempting to grab her fathers hands. Nothing happened. She couldn't grab his hands, her fingers just passed through them. "Daddy! I did this! Its because I wasn't a good enough hunter! Daddy its because of me!" she cried and cried. He had to know that. He couldn't blame the Winchesters because it wasn't their fault. She left with them willingly. This was her decision.

"Come on, Mak," Dean said grabbing her shoulders. "Let's get some air,"

"No, I can't leave him," she said pushing Dean away. "Please just leave me,"

"Mak," Dean pleaded.

"I said leave me alone," she repeated. Dean took a step back pain shooting through his chest. She needed space and he was going to give her that. But no matter what, he was going to tell her the truth.

Mak didn't leave her fathers side. Even as the sun sank in the sky, as long as he sat there, she sat with him. He didn't speak, didn't say anything when the nurses came in to feed her. Eventually the doctor came in, told him everything that was wrong with her. Her spinal cord had been severed and now spinal fluid was spilling into her lungs and her brain was swelling. She had no chance at surviving without any of these machines and even if by some miracle she did, she would be paralyzed from the chest down eventually causing suffocation. In other words, she was a lost cause. She sat in the window seal in the hospital room. Her dad didn't say a word, he just sat there, watching the machines breathe for her. He never left the room, not once. She just sat and watched the sun go down in the sky. Who knew if she was going to see it rise the next morning.

"Oh sweet girl," Bobby said through tears holding her hand. "I promised your Momma I was gonna take care of ya. Bang up job I did,"

"It's not your fault Daddy," she cried. She sat on the window seal, her back to the outside world. "I wanted to be a hunter."

"Maybe if I had just taken ya out on hunts with me," Bobby said quietly then wiped a tear away. "You're momma would be proud of ya," his voice cracked. "I never could tell her no either. You two are just so damn alike."

"Daddy," she breathed letting more tears fall from her eyes. She walked over and sat on the bed next to her own body.

"I don't know if you remember much of her," he said clearing his throat and pulling out a handkerchief. "You were a fussy baby, never let neither of us get any sleep. Your momma would walk in there no matter the time of night and sing to ya until you fell asleep." Bobby put the stained green handkerchief to his face and wiped a few more tears. "She had a beautiful voice, your mother did. Sometimes I'd wake you up early from a nap just to listen to her sing."

Mak smiled. She never knew that. She had only faint memories of her mother, most of which were from the night she died. Sometimes she would hear a woman's laughter and see a bright smile that she knew belonged to her mother. She had pictures of her, Bobby showed them to Mak often. He always talked about how he was so happy when she was born looking like her mom instead of himself because he had one ugly mug. Mak would always laugh at his ridiculousness.

"She was so beautiful," Bobby said. "Just like you,"

"You always say that," Mak let out a laugh.

"I know I always say it but its true," Bobby said. "I knew the moment you were born you were gonna give me trouble. Any boy would be stupid and I'd have to chase them off." Mak laughed remembering when she was 15 and brought her first boyfriend home. Aaron Mackovitch, she smiled. He was in her shop class, and was the only boy brave enough to sit next to her. Bobby had caught him dropping her off after school one day even though she specifically told him to drop her off around the block. Bobby chased him off with a shot gun at dinner that night. "You thought I didn't know about Dean..." he paused. "Anytime they're around you two seem to vanish..." He paused again. "Why'd it have to be a Winchester?"

"Daddy it's not his fault," Mak pleaded. "He's a good man, He's rough around the edges but his heart is in the right place. He's a good man and I love him."

Suddenly a whoosh sounded by the door. Mak turned in time to see a white figure fly down the hall. She looked at her dad who didn't move. Maybe he didn't see it. Of course. Curiosity filled her and she reacted. She walked out of the room. She saw the white figure turn into a room just down the hall. Then a series of alarms went off and nurses ran down to the room. Mak followed.

"Get away from me!" she heard Dean yell as she ran into the room. Doctors surrounded Dean's body on the bed. The same ventilator tubes that were attached to her body were attached to his. The white figure hovered over his body. "Get away!"

Dean, the spirit Dean, grabbed the white figure by the arm and pulled. It made a hissing sound then pushed Dean off of it and disappeared back into the hallway. Mak watched amazed and confused then ran over to help Dean up.

"What the hell was that?" she asked.

"A reaper," Dean answered. A reaper? They really were going to die.

The monitors quieted down and the nurses left. Dean walked over to his body.

"We're not going to take this sitting down," he said. "We're going to fight this and we're going to live." he turned back to Mak. "Do you understand me? I'm going to bring you back if it's the last thing I do."

"I know," she nodded then ran her fingers through her hair then resting her hands on her hip. "Okay so a reaper is after us, if we figure out how to kill the reaper it wont be after us and we can jump back into out bodies."

"Right uh, yeah," Dean said. "What do you know about reapers?"

"They're angels of death, they come to people on their death bed and convince them to go to the other side. Sometimes people see a loved one, a family or a friend, they can change shape..." she trailed off and Dean raised his eyebrows. "That's it, that's all I know."

"So no way to kill it," Dean sighed.

"Maybe, I-I don't know," she said.

"Great," Dean sighed.

"I'm sorry, I know a lot but I don't know everything," she said.

"It's okay," he said looking at his body, his hands on his hips. Then he looked at her. "We'll figure something out."

Mak nodded then walked over to the small dresser at the side of the room leaning back on it.

"How's your dad?" he asked.

Mak shrugged. "He won't stop talking about my mom, about how he never should've let me leave with you guys."

"You shouldn't have," Dean said.

"What?" she asked him confused.

"If you hadn't come with us you'd be alive." Dean said.

"And you wouldn't have even made it this far, you'd already be dead." Mak said.

"Better me than you,"

Mak paused before responding. What was he talking about? "How can you even say that?" she asked astonished. "After everything you've done... Saving people, killing these monsters. The world needs you Dean."

"None of that would matter..." he paused. "If you weren't in it."

"What?" she asked. What was he saying? Why was he talking like this? Where was he going with it? "Come on stop messing with me,"

"I'm not messing with you I'm being serious, Mak. No matter how many people I go out there and save, no matter how many sons of bitches I kill, not a damn one is going to matter if you're the one I can't save." he said.

"You're giving me way too much credit," she argued. "I've never even been on a hunt before, I've never had the chance to save anyone. Compared to you my life doesn't matter-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." Dean boomed. "Don't stand here and tell me your life didn't matter because it did! It still does damnit!"

Mak shrank back in fear. Dean had never yelled at her like that before. She didn't know what to do. Why was he so mad at her?

"Do you not realize how much your dad needs you... how much I need you?" he asked a confused yet still angry expression on his face.

"What are you saying?" she asked.

"I'm trying to get you to realize that I freaking love you okay?" he said though it sounded more like a question. Confusion filled Mak's brain. "And I'm not talking about that high school crush bullshit, I'm talking I can't freaking do anything without thinking about you." Why was he saying this? What kind of love was he talking about? Is he just saying this because they're both about to die? "Mak say something," his voice was softer now, less anger and more vulnerability.

"I-I don't know what to say," she chocked out, her throat becoming dryer than a desert.

"I told you I love you," he said getting angry again. "You can't say anything to that?"

"No, Dean that's not what I mean it's just..." she trailed off.

"Just what?" he asked.

"I've been waiting my whole life to hear you say that." she said shyly looking down at the floor. "And now you want to say it when we're about to die." Tears once again filled her eyes.

She heard Dean sigh. "Mak don't cry," He approached her and put his arms around her shoulders.

"Well what do you expect me to do?!" she yelled looking up at him, slightly pushing him away. He had a look of concern and surprise. "I've idolized you since the day I first met you, I fell in love with you the night we first kissed and now that we're dying you want to say that you love me too?"

"I-I didn't know you felt the same way," he said almost embarrassed, taking a step back from her.

"Of course I love you," she said. "It was never just sex to me Dean."

Dean let out a breath and smiled at the same time. "Me neither,"

"Then why didn't it change? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"I'm not good enough for you Mak," he said shrugging his shoulders. "Even your dad knew that."

"My dad wanted to keep me locked up in a supernatural library. You really think he knew what was best?" she asked. "Don't get me wrong, I love my dad but Dean..." she walked closer to him taking his large callused hands into her own. "He doesn't look at you the way I do." she placed a hand on his firm chest just over his heart. "He doesn't see how big your heart is, or the burden you carry on your shoulders. He doesn't see the real you like I do."

"I'm not sure I do either," Dean gasped. "All I ever wanted was to protect you and I treated you like crap."

"No you didn't," Mak responded.

"Yeah, I did," he said. "I should have told you, I should've made you more than just a booty call."

Mak let out a chuckle. "Yeah you think?" Dean cocked his head to the side. "I'm just joking."

"Forgive me?" Dean asked.

"There's nothing to forgive you for," she said. "I'm the one that always answered the phone."

Dean smirked. "You did didn't you?" He grabbed her waist and pulled her close.

"Yeah I did," she said sliding her hands up his chest and around his thick neck.

"Thank you," he said.

"For what?" she asked.

"For answering when I needed you the most." he said. She smiled. He leaned towards her until there wasn't any space left. His lips danced across hers, fitting perfectly into sync. Her hands grabbed his shirt and pulled him close as he gently pushed her into the wall. She kissed him back as soft firecrackers ignited in her chest. His breath tickled her cheeks as his soft moans overtook her. His body pressed tightly against hers as her fingers gripped his shirt. He moved his rough hands down her body to her legs grabbing them and hoisting them up and around his waist. He carried her to the second be in the room. Empty, he laid her down onto it as he crawled on top of her while kissing her with a hunger that satisfied her very core. She let him take over her. She laid down and he crawled on top of her, his hands exploring her body. This time however, this time was different. He caressed her body with a burning passion she had never felt before. With every touch of his fingertips left a fiery ignition across her body. His lips left soft wet sensations everywhere they went. Her body curved and contorted to his warm touch. She watched his bare muscles move to please her and hold her close to him. They moved together in sync as one, holding each other as if they would lose each other if they broke apart.

She held Dean close, letting his breath tickled her nose as they laid there naked in the hospital bed. Dean brushed her hair out of her face and smiled.

"What?" she asked.

"I think that's the best sex we've ever had." he said and she laughed.

"I mean we could've had this sooner had you confessed." she said.

"I know I know, I'm kicking myself for it now alright cut me some slack." he said. Mak let out a laugh. "I love you."

"I love you too Dean," she smiled. Suddenly, a pain grew in Mak's stomach. "Ow,"

"What's wrong?" Dean asked looking down at her.

"I don't know," she said as the pain intensified. Then her vision went black. Some how she appeared clothed in her room, the same white figure that she had seen over Dean was now hovering over her, doctors and nurses swarmed her body. The white figure reached out to touch her.

"No!" Mak screamed running towards it. She grabbed it's arms. "Get away!" The hissing sounded again and Mak was thrown back into a body. When she fell to the ground and turned around, she found it was Dean.

"Man we gotta hurry them along." Dean said and she nodded. Not long after the doctors left, Bobby and Sam appeared in her room carrying something. What did they find?

"This is so stupid," Bobby said setting down a large rectangular package on the rolling table. Dean and Mak approached to see a Ouiji board.

"A Ouiji board guys... really?" Dean asked though they didn't hear.

"Maybe," Sammy said taking it out of the package. "But what if it works?"

Sammy placed it on the table and they both put their fingers on it.

"Mak?" Sammy asked. "Dean?" Mak looked at Dean confused then walked to the board. She placed her fingers on the triangle piece and focused on moving the piece. She moved it to yes.

Sammy let out a breath and smiled. Bobby looked at Mak's body.

"O-o-okay, which one of you is it?" Sammy asked. "Are you okay?"

Mak spelled out the word: both okay.

"Thank God," Bobby said. "Oh sweet girl I'm gonna figure something out okay?"

"Tell them we're hunting," Dean said standing right behind her. She did as Dean said and spelled the word: hunting.

"Hunting?" Sammy asked.

"Hunting what?" Bobby asked.

Mak spelled out: Reaper.

"Reaper?" Bobby asked, his expression turning grave. "A reaper is after you guys?"

Mak moved the piece to yes. Bobby took a step back putting a hand over his mouth.

"Balls," he muttered.

"Okay, so we figure out how to kill the reaper and we save them." Sammy said.

"That's impossible," Bobby said. "You can't kill death,"

"You're telling me that in all those books, there's not a single hint at how to kill a reaper?" Sammy asked.

"Not that I've come across." Bobby answered staring at Mak's face.

"Maybe my dad knows something," Sammy said and walked out of the room. Bobby looked down at the board then back at Mak's face. He too then walked out of the room. As soon as he did a woman with short black hair in a long beautiful black dress appeared in the door way and she stared right at Mak and Dean.

"I've been looking for you two." she said.

"You can see us?" Dean asked curiously.

"Dean, she's the reaper," Mak said getting a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"What?" he asked.

"Follow me," she spoke then turned and walked out of the room. The two looked at each other confused then followed. They followed the woman to an empty room.

"What the hell is this?" Dean asked. "Why are you after us?"

"Isn't that pretty obvious?" the girl responded. "It's your time,"

"No its not," Dean said. "There's a war going on out there and we have to stop it."

"You aren't the first soldier I've plucked from the battle field Dean. The war will go on without you." she answered.

"No," Dean responded. "Mak doesn't deserve this."

"This is life guys..." the girl said. "This is what happens you cant fight it,"

"Yes we can," Mak Spoke up. "We can and we will."

"Our families are in danger, we're not going to leave them with this mess." Dean said.

"What happens to them after this is out of your control," the girl said. "There's nothing you can do about it. You two gave it your all, you've been given a warriors death."

"We're not going to rot in the ground while our families die." Dean said starting to get angry. He stood between herself and the reaper as if he could somehow protect her from passing on without him. "We're not going with you no matter what you do."

"Fine," she said. "I can't make you come with me. But you wont be able to get back into your bodies. Sure you can stay but you'll stay here for years. Disembodied, scared, lonely,"

"We wont be alone," Dean interrupted. "We have each other," he turned and grabbed Mak's hand giving it a reassuring squeeze though she couldn't help the sickening feeling growing in her stomach.

"Whether you are together or not, eventually you'll go mad, get violent. They always do." she said.

"What do you mean?" Mak asked confused.

"How do you think angry spirits are born?" she asked them. Mak had never thought about it before. The things they hunted, how they became what they were

"Dean, maybe it is our time," Mak said softly.

"How can you say that?" Dean asked. "Not after everything we've been through."

Mak sighed. "If what she says is true... We can't become the things we hunt."

"I know, but Sammy, he just needs a little more time." Dean pleaded.

Mak approached him and placed a hand on his cheek. "How long are you going to say that for? It's been days, no one has come up with anything."

"Mak, don't give up on me," he pleaded.

"I'll never give up on you," she said placing her other hand on his chest. She stood on her toes and gently kissed his lips. She then pulled away. "I'll always love you,"

"I'll always love you," he said softly, a tear rolling down her cheek. He quickly brushed it away. Then she turned back to the reaper.

"We're ready." Mak said and the girl smiled.

"You're making the right decision." she said standing up. However when she did, voices filled the halls and the ground began to shake.

"What is that?" Dean asked.

"It's not me," the girl responded.

Black smoke came pouring out of the vent in the wall and towards Tessa.

"No you can't do this!" she screamed but it was no use. The black smoke poured into her mouth until there was no more. Tessa's eyes turned yellow and she snapped her head to look at Dean.

"It's you lucky day kid," she said in a deep voice then put her hand on Dean's forehead. He let out a scream and then vanished.

"What the hell id you do to him?!" Mak screamed grabbing Tessa by the throat. She laughed her yellow eyes staring at Mak in amusement.

"Sorry kiddo, only one born again bus ticket but guess what?" she smiled. "I'll do you a favor and take care of this reaper for a while. Say your goodbyes," it finished in a sing song voice then black smoke poured out of the girl's mouth. When Mak let go of her she dropped to the ground. Mak took a step back confused as to what just happened.

"Dean?" she called out but there was no answer. She heard the alarm of machines and hurried footsteps of nurses in the hall. She followed them to Dean's room where she saw Dean choking on the breathing tube. He was back, but she wasn't. The doctors came in and removed the tube amazed he was even alive. She walked over to his bed, tears in her eyes. She would have to move on without him.

"Dean?" she prayed he would hear her. She placed a hand on his cheek and he still didn't look at her. Instead he looked around the room confused.

"Dean!" Sammy exclaimed running in. "You're alive,"

"Yeah," Dean scoffed. "I guess I am. What the hell happened?"

"You mean you don't remember anything?" Sammy asked.

"No, why?" Dean asked.

"Well, we were all in a car accident," Sammy said. "You and Mak..." he trailed off.

"Me and Mak what?" Dean asked alarmed.

"You guys were hurt pretty bad," Sammy said.

"How bad?" Dean asked alarmed. "Where is Mak?"

"You guys were hunting a reaper," Sammy answered. "Because it was after you guys."

"A reaper?" Dean asked curiously. "How did I shake it?"

"I don't know," Sammy said.

"What about Mak is she okay? Where is she?" Dean asked.

Sammy shrugged his shoulders. Mak was still here. She hadn't come back like Dean did. She wasn't going to. She was going to die. Mak walked out of the room and to her own where Bobby was still sitting in the chair, slumped over laying his head on her bed. She was still attached to the tubes. She walked over to her dad and touched his shoulder. She bent down and kissed his cheek. As she did, she couldn't help the tears pouring down her cheeks. Then Dean appeared at the door. Limping, he made his way to her bed waking up Bobby. Dean didn't care however. He fell to his knees and grabbed her hand.

"Come on Mak," he pleaded pressing her hand against his lips.

"Dean what are you doing here?" Bobby asked shocked.

"I shouldn't be here," Dean said. "It should be Mak. Come on baby just wake up." he put his hand on her forehead but she didn't move. Sammy stood in the doorway watching, and then John came in. Mak walked over to the ouiji board Sammy had left sitting on the floor and began dragging around the puck until Sammy noticed.

"Guys," he said and ran over to it. "I think she's trying to tell us something." The four men ran over to the board.

She spelled out "Reaper not gone"

"What does that mean?" Sammy said. "How the hell did Dean lose it and not Mak?"

She then spelled out: "Dad don't blame self or Winchesters, I love you."

"I love you too Mak," he said tears in his eyes. Mak put no effort in stopping the water fall of tears streaming down her face.

She then spelled out "Sammy not freak, be safe lil bro"

Sammy laughed but then fell silent realizing what she was doing. Even more pain filled Mak's heart as she looked at Dean.

"Dean," she said softly placing a hand on his cheek. She leaned forward and kissed his soft lips one last time. Then looked at the board. "Dean I will always love you"

"Mak," he said then turned to look at her body. Mak watched him walk to her and grab her face in his hands then press his lips against her forehead. "Please don't leave,"

"I'm sorry," she cried. Then a hand appeared on her shoulder. It was the reaper.

"You're making the right decision." she said.

"I will go under one condition." Mak said.

"Okay," the girl said.

"Dean can't trade his soul for mine. Once I'm gone, I'm gone and he gets to live a long life." Mak said.

"I can arrange that." she said.

"Okay," Mak turned to her. Then she walked with Tessa to a large brown door in the middle of the hallway. Mak approached it, then opened it blinded by a brilliant white light. She took one last look at Dean and her father, who were now being held back by doctors as her heartbeat stopped and then stepped through the door.