Chapter 14 : Greater Purpose

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by

     I lingered by the back as Sam ushered Dean towards the empty seats in the front. There were only two open, but honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to watch this. It was bad enough I was letting it happen to know that it wasn't natural, but to watch the look on the crowd's faces as this old, white-haired man saved them from an eternity of darkness was not something I wanted to witness.

     Quietness spread around the room as the Reverend and his wife took to the stage. I glanced around, watching as these people applaud him, and I caught Dean's stare. I tried to hide the scowl, but I felt the adrenaline begin pumping as a woman took Roy's s coat and placed it behind her chair.

     Something felt wrong, l but it wasn't the people or the thought of me bursting into flames in a makeshift church that put me on edge. It was the cameras set in every corner of the room. For someone so set on faith and trust, they were awfully observant.

     "Each morning, my wife Sue Anne reads me the news." Reverend La Grange started. His thick dark glasses covered his blind eyes, but he wore a smile as he addressed the followers that praised every word he spoke. "It is the Lord who does the healing here, friends. The Lord who guides me in choosing who to heal by helping me see into people's hearts."

     "Yeah, and right into their wallets."

I dropped my head, covering my face with my hands. Leave it to Dean Winchester to screw up the only chance he had at living through this.

     "You think so, young man?" La Grange addressed him, earning an embarrassed apology. "No. No. Don't be. Just watch what you say around a blind man. We got real sharp ears." The crowd let out a few soft chuckles, and the Reverend looked down in Dean's direction with a smile. "What's your name, son?" Dean hesitated but finally answered him. "Dean, I want you to come up here with me."

     The silent room erupted in applause, and I leaned back against the tent pole and folded my arms against my chest. I couldn't help but smile as I watched him try to deny the help.

     "Maybe you should just pick someone else." He insisted, earning a glare from both myself and Sam. I didn't drive all the way here for him to let this slip through his fingers.

     "I didn't pick you, Dean," the Reverend said to him. "The Lord did. "

     The crowd erupted again, but this time it echoed through my ears as I suddenly felt the whirl in my head. I stepped back, trying to keep my focus on Dean as he made his way to the stage and leaned up against the tent post as Sue Ann placed her hand on his back, helping him up the steps.

     My lips pursed, and I gritted my teeth as I tried to push away the pain, but the applause and were setting off an earthquake in my head.

     I stood there for as long as I could, but over last week or so, these fits had become increasingly worse, and I watched as Dean doubled. I rubbed at my eyes and opened them to see the Reverend holding his hands in the air.

     "Pray with me, friends."

Dean's eye caught mine, and he didn't look away. My eyes fluttered back and forth as his figure switched between my double vision, but the look of horror on his face was present on both.

      His hand went to his nose just before La Grange placed his hand on his head, and a small whimper escaped his lips.

     "Are you okay?" A woman from the side of me asked. Her voice was low as to not take the attention away from Dean. I nodded my head at the auburn-haired girl, and she placed her hand on my shoulder as my head dropped, and I stumbled to the side. "Your nose."

     I watched the droplets of blood fall to the dirt ground and pulled my hand to my face, wiping at the wetness running from each nostril. The cheering got louder, and my balance faltered, but as I heard Sam shouting Dean's name, it all started to come back to me, and I made my way quickly out of the tent.

     I rounded the side but stayed close to the wall. The tiny bit of fabric that stuck out from the poles gave me a little cover from the rain as I walked towards the back, my fingers pinching at my nose until I found a little bench to sit on.

      I pulled the edge of my scarf up to my face and wiped the blood away with a cringe. When I was a child, I couldn't stand the sight of blood - nowadays, the only site of blood that made me nauseous was my own, and I wasn't even quite sure if the blood was what was causing my stomach to swirl so violently.

    "Jesus Christ," I muttered to myself.

   The blood wasn't stopping, and I spit the metallic mixture to the ground as it seeped into my mouth. My head fell back as I continued to press on it, but my thoughts were interrupted by a soft squeal, and before I could protest, a pair of soft hands were pulling at my fingers and replacing my scarf with a white cloth.

      I stared up at the sweet smile and covered the handkerchief with my own hands as she pulled away. It was a strange encounter, not many people would randomly shove their hands into someone's bloody face, but I had a feeling that Sue Anne Le Grange was used to the gruesome.

      "Are you okay, dear?" She picked her bible back up from the bench next to me and smiled down as I shook my head.

     I didn't have an answer to that question anymore. Between the headaches, the nightmares, the lack of sleep, and now apparently, nosebleeds, I was utterly baffled as to what the hell was going on with me.

     "Why don't we get you inside and get you cleaned up?"

     "No, no." I declined. "It's just a nosebleed. I will be okay."

     She nodded and placed her hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I know it's hard to see others get their miracles." My brow raised. "I'm sure your day will come."

     I pulled the dainty white cloth from my nose, appalled by the sopping red stains, and curled it into a ball in my fist. The blood had finally stopped rushing down my nose, and I was left with a lingering thudding in the back of my head as I stared up at Sue Ann, who continued on about the services.

      "I'm not here to be healed, Mrs. Le Grange," I explained. "I really appreciate that, though."

      Her head tilted to the left, and she gave me a quizzical look. "Oh, um. Dean. I'm here with Dean and his brother."