Faith.

"Athy? Athena—hey!"

The girl blinks, and she pulls her brows together; noticing the pain in her hands. Athena winces softly. "What...?" She looks down at her bloody knuckles.

"What's going on?" She looks around the hospital waiting room.

Everyone was staring at her. The doctors, nurses, and people waiting. Athena's eyes meet Sam's red-rimmed glassy ones.

"What's happening, Sam?"

Sam's chest tightens. His eyes trail behind Athena and sees the spots of blood stains on the wall from the girl's knuckles.

"Uh...Athena, Dean..." his voice gets caught in his throat. "...remember, he's sick."

Athena's throat tightens and her eyes start to burn. She pulls her brows together, remembering the case they were just on. Dean got injured, they rushed him to the hospital, the doctor told them there was nothing he could do.

Dean was dying.

And Athena freaked out. But she doesn't remember that part. "Well...th-there has to be something we could do, right?" She looks at Sam.

"Athena, they said—"

"No, not them!" Athena snaps, her voice cracking. "Us. We could do something."

Sam wipes his tears. He clears his throat and nods. "Yeah, we'll find something."

Athena nods her head, "Okay..." she exhales, trying to become her reassuring self. Athena wipes her tears. "Can we go see him?"

Athena stands up. Sam looks at the girl, noticing her demeanor completely change. Like her breakdown didn't just happen. Like she didn't remember.

But everyone else did.

"Uh...doc?" Sam turns to the doctor. "Can we go see him?"

The doctor looks from the child to Sam. The middle Winchester was begging for him not being up Athena's breakdown. The doctor nods and clears his throat.

"Uh—right this way." The doctor walks down the hall.

Athena grabs Sam's hand. Sam didn't mean for it to happen, but he flinched. Athena pulls her brows together, "Sam, you okay?"

"Uh—yeah, just...shaky." Sam exhales.

"We'll find something for him, don't worry!" Athena beams her signature smile.

Sam manages a smile. "Right—yeah..."

Athena's smile becomes small, still noticing how distant he was. She wanted to ask about it, but the doctor stops at one of the doors.

"This is his room." The doctor says.

"Thank you!" Athena exclaims.

"N-No problem." He walks away.

Athena watches the doctor hurry away from her. She tilts her head. "Must've had people to save."

"Yeah, must have..." Sam lightly knock son the door before opening it.

Athena and Sam cautiously enter the room. The girl's eyes shift to Dean and her heart drops into her stomach. Tears form in the girl's eyes.

Bags are under Dean's eyes and his skin was pale. He was weakly switching through the tv channels.

"Ever actually watch daytime tv?" Dean asks. "It's terrible."

"We talked to your doctor." Sam whispers.

"That fabric softener teddy bear—Ooh." Dena exhales. "I want to hunt that little bitch down."

Dean looks at his little sister. "That was a swear, Athy."

Athena shrugs a shoulder, "I know." She murmurs.

"Are you gonna charge me?" Dean asks.

"No..."

Dean's eyes shift to Athena's bloody knuckles. She stuffs her hands into her pockets.

"Dean." Sam speaks.

"Yeah..." Dean flips the television off. "Right, well...looks like you two are gonna leave town without me."

"We're not leaving you here." Athena tilts her head to the side.

"You better take care of that car." Dean says. "Sorry, I never got to teach you how to drive. But Sam'll get to it."

"You better teach her or I swear I'll haunt your ass." Dean says.

"Stop talking like that." Athena says, shifting more weight to one leg. "It's not...it's not funny."

"I mean—it's a little funny." Dean cracks a weak smile.

Athena wipes the tears from her eyes.

"Look, guys, what can I say? It's a dangerous gig." Dean shrugs. "I drew the short straw."

"That's it, end of story."

"Don't talk like that, all right? We still have options." Sam states.

"What options? You for burial or cremation."

Athena's chest tightens.

"I know it's not easy, but...I'm gonna die." Dean looks between his younger siblings. "And you guys can't stop it."

Athena runs her tongue over her teeth.

"Watch us."

☆

"He's not gonna answer."

Athena keeps her eyes on the paperwork in front of her. She taps her fingers against the table, her brows knit together.

"It doesn't hurt to try, Athena." Sam says, grabbing his phone.

"It does hurt to try, actually." Athena looks at her brother. "If he doesn't answer—You're gonna be disappointed and hurt, because Dean is dying and he should answer."

"We should at least leave him a message." Sam says. "Letting him know what's going on with Dean."

Athena gnaws on her lower lip. "Yeah, you're right." She scratches her brow and Sam catches sight of her bruised knuckles.

"You still haven't wrapped your hands?" Sam questions, worry running through his voice.

Athena blinks, she looks at her bruised knuckles and winces from the sight of the dark blue and purple surrounding her knuckles. Not only were both her hands bruised, but she could see the skin that peeled.

"I haven't had the time." Athena says. "And it's healing so—"

"Not properly." Sam stands up. "Come on..." he grabs the white bandages and walks over to Athena. He pulls a chair out from the table and sits in front of her.

"You can't have this going unchecked—it's been three days." Sam says. "And we have to be at our best if we want to get Dean better, right?"

Athena chews the inside of her cheek and nods her head. "Right. Sorry."

"You've got nothing to apologize for." Sam chuckles softly.

Athena notices Sam being cautious, like he didn't want to be near her.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Sam stops wrapping Athena's hands and his stomach turns. His mind goes back to the day at the hospital.

"Do you really not remember what happened at the hospital?" Sam asks.

Athena pulls her brows together. "I mean...bits and pieces." She moves her head side to side. "I remember some of the case and...I remember you waking me up and telling me about Dean."

Sam raises his brows. "Athena, you weren't asleep."

Athena tilts her head to the side. "What...what are you talking about?" She chuckles.

Sam looks away for a second, trying to figure out a way to explain it. Athena doesn't know why but she felt herself grow worried.

"After the doctor told us that Dean was...dying and there was nothing we could do for him." Sam shifts in his seat. "You broke down."

"Broke down? Like I was crying?"

Sam opens his mouth. "There was crying, but there was also...hands banging on the wall and screaming and...bleeding." He lightly taps the bandages on Athena's hand.

Athena looks down at her bandaged hand. "I did this to myself?"

Sam gives her a small nod and Athena shakes her head. "How could I not remember that?"

Sam shrugs a shoulder. "You were under distress." He says. "Blacking out is...completely normal."

Is it?

Athena scrunches her brows but she slowly nods her head. "Right...completely normal..."

A knock is heard at the door. Simultaneously, the siblings turn to the door.

Sam walks over to the door and opens it. Athena pulls her brows together, "Dean...?"

Her eyes light up and a smile forms on her lips. She shoots out of her seat. "Dean!"

Dean lets out a weak laugh as Athena runs over to them. She stands in front of him, remembering to not crush him in a tight hug.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Sam chuckles.

"I checked myself out." Dean answers, leaning against the doorframe. He takes a small step forward and grips the wall.

"Are you crazy?" Sam asks.

Athena takes a step to the side and wraps her arm around Dean's.

"Thanks, Athy." Dean chuckles.

"Anytime." Athena says.

"I'm not gonna die in a hospital where the nurses aren't even hot." Dean forces out a chuckle.

Athena watches Dean use his other hand to itch the side of his ear and she pulls her brows together.

Before she could call out his mask of strength, Sam speaks about it first.

"You know, this whole 'I laugh in the face of death' thing—it's crap. I can see right through it." Sam voices, closing the door.

"I'm glad we agree on that." Athena sighs, helping Dean sit in a chair.

Dean lightly scoffs, "Yeah, whatever, dude." He looks at Athena and Sam. His eyes shift to Athena's wrapped knuckles and the bags under each siblings eyes.

"Have you two even slept? You guys look worse than me." Dean groans.

"We've been scouring the internet for the last three days." Sam states.

Dean shifts his eyes to the auburn haired girl. "Have you eaten?"

Athena looks off to the side and clears her throat. "I mean...here and there..."

"Athena."

The girl rolls her head to the side. "We've been busy." She sticks her pinky in her ear and shrugs.

"Sam, what the hell?" Dean glares at Sam.

"Don't what the hell me!" Sam scoffs. "I can't shove food down her throat."

"And I can't shove food down his throat." Athena folds her arms.

Dean squints his eyes and looks between the guilt-ridden siblings. His eyes widen, "Have neither of you eaten in the last three days?"

Athena and Sam look at the ground.

"We were busy—"

"You guys need to go eat something now." Dean seethes. "I don't care—"

"We found something that could help you!" Athena blurts out. "We'll eat, but you have to listen to us."

Dean lets out a breath, "Guys—"

"Technically you don't have anything to lose so—"

Sam nudges the girl and she grunts. Athena's eye twitches, "Sorry." She clears her throat. "Just...please hear us out."

Dean shifts in his seat with a groan. He knew how determined and stubborn his siblings were. And they weren't gonna stop trying to save him.

"You're not gonna let me die in peace, are you?"

"We're not gonna let you die, period." Athena raises one of her brows.

Dean scratches his brow, "Okay, fine."

Athena raises her brows and lets out a sigh of relief. "I can't believe that worked." She snorts softly. "I am so cool!"

Dean rolls his eyes but chuckles.

"Okay, one of dad's friends, Joshua, he called me back, told me about a guy in Nebraska." Sam explains. "A specialist."

"We're going." Athena says. "If that...didn't go without saying."

"Fine, but we're going to get some food in your guy's systems." Dean slowly starts to stand up. Athena and Sam approach him and gently grab his hands, helping him up

Dean looks at Sam then Athena before shaking his head in disbelief.

"I leave you guys alone for 3 days..."

☆

"Man, you're a lying bastard." Dean groans, slamming the door shut. "And you're a lying child."

"Whoa!" Athena holds her hands up.

Dean sighs, "I'm sorry, okay? It's just—I thought you guys said we were going to see a doctor."

"I believe I said 'a specialist'." Sam states. "Right, Athy?"

"You did say that—yes." Athena nods her head.

Dean rolls his eyes and presses his side against the Impala, slowly walking forward.

"Look, Dean, this guy is supposed to be the real deal." Sam states.

"Do you want to hold my hand?" Athena holds her hand out towards her eldest brother.

Dean looks at the girl, "No."

Athena presses her lips together and raises her brows. She opens and closes her hand.

Dean sighs, he pouts his lower lip out and grabs ahold of her hand. Athena smiles and they all continue walking forward.

"I still can't believe you brought me to see some guy who heals people out of a tent." Dean seethes.

"Revered Le Grange is a great man." Someone speaks.

"Stranger Danger." She points at the lady with the umbrella. "Keep it movin. I'm the most respectful way—possible."

"I have a right to protest. This man is a fraud." Man says to an officer. "He's bilking all these people out of their hard-earned money."

"Sir, this is a place of worship. Let's go. Move it."

"I take it he's not part of the flock." Dean quips.

"Dean...he's not a bird."

Sam and Dean look at the young girl, her eyes filled with confusion.

"It's a figure of speech, Athy." Sam states.

Athena pulls her brows together. She soon raises them, her mouth open. "Oooooh..." she nods. "Okay. I get it."

"Yeah, he's not a part of the flock—not at all." Athena shakes her head.

"Well, when people see something they can't explain, there's controversy." Sam states.

"Yeah, but come on, Sam—a faith healer?" Dean scoffs.

"Maybe it's time to have a little faith, Dean." Sam voices.

"A little faith never killed anyone." Athena shrugs. She then pulls her brows together. "Unless...someone has died because of a little faith."

"Okay, you know what I got faith in?" Dean questions. "Reality—knowing what's really going on."

"How can you be skeptic, with the things we see everyday?" Sam asks.

"Exactly. We see them. We know they're real." Dean seethes.

"But if you know evils out there, how can you not believe good's out there?" Athena asks, tilting her head to the side.

"Because I've seen what evil does to good people." Dean looks at Athena.

"Well, maybe God works in mysterious ways."

The three siblings look at the blonde holding up and umbrella.

"Maybe he does." Dean chuckles. "I think you just turned me around on the subject."

Athena rolls her eyes. "Riiight—I'm sure she did."

"Not right now—I'm onto something." Dean says through his teeth. "I'm Dean." He releases Athena's hand and holds his hand out towards the girl.

"This is Sam and that's Athena."

"Hello!" Athena waves. "Stranger..."

"Layla." The blonde introduces herself.

"Not a stranger!" Athena smiles.

"So, if you're not a believer, then why are you here?" Layla inquires.

"Apparently my siblings believe enough for all three of us."

"Come on, Layla, it's about to start." A woman rushes to Layla's side.

Layla waves at the siblings before walking into the tent.

"I'll bet you she can work in some mysterious ways." Dean voices.

Athena's eyes widen, "Is she a monster?"

Sam and Dean look at the alert girl. Sam quietly chuckles, "Yeah...you can explain that one to her."

☆

"So, you really feel okay?"

"I feel fine, Sam."

Dean pulls his brows together, feeling a finger poke into his cheek. He turns and sees his little sister staring at him with wide eyes.

"Athy?"

"Yeah...?"

"Personal space."

Athena's mouth slightly opens. "Gotcha, I'm sorry. Just...glad you're feeling well." She hops off the examination table and stuffs her hands into her pockets.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spots a jar of lollipops and her eyes widen. Athena runs over to the jar and grabs it.

"We'll, according to all your tests, there's nothing wrong with your heart."

"Because he has a heart of gold?" Athena asks, trying to open the jar.

The nurse blinks. "Uh...no, because his heart is healthy. There's no sign there ever was anything wrong with your heart."

"Not that a man your age should be having heart trouble, but, uh...still it's strange—it does happen." The nurse shrugs.

"What do you mean, 'strange'?" Dean questions.

"Just yesterday, a young guy like you—27, athletic—out of nowhere, heart attack." The nurse explains before leaving.

Athena walks over to Dean. "Hey, lets test out your strength coming back." She taps the candy jar against his arm. "Open it."

Dean grabs the jar and opens it. He hands her the jar and Athena giggles. "Thank you!"

"That's odd." Dean says.

"Very odd." Athena nods.

"Maybe it's a coincidence." Sam shrugs.

Athena grabs a handful of the lollipops and stuffs them into her jacket pocket.

"People's hearts give out all the time." Sam claims.

"No, they don't." Dean says.

"Not someone that young and healthy—at least." Athena voices, tugging one of the lollipops into her mouth.

"Do we really have to look this one in the mouth?" Sam asks.

Athena pulls her brows together. "I'm sorry...who's mouth are we—"

"Figure of speech." The brothers chorus.

Athena pulls her brows together, "Why do you always teach me math and nothing about sarcasm? It's not fair."

"Why can't we just be thankful that the guy saved your life and move on?" Sam continues.

"Because I can't shake this feeling, that's why." Dean stands up.

"What feeling?"

"When I was healed, I just—I felt...wrong." Dean explains, unsure of being healed. "I felt cold, and for a second, I saw someone—this old man. I'm telling you, guys. It was a spirit."

"I didn't see a spirit." Athena says.

"Yeah me neither. I'm pretty sure if something was there, Athena and I would've seen it." Sam adds. "I've been seeing an awful lot of things lately."

"Oh, excuse me, psychic wonder." Dean slips his jacket on and turns to his siblings. "You're just gonna need a little faith on this one."

"Guys, I've been hunting long enough to trust a feeling like this."

Athena examines Dean's troubled expression. "I believe you."

Dean looks at Athena and lets out a sigh of relief. She digs in her pocket and holds out a candy. "Lollipop?"

Dean chuckles softly and accepts the candy. "Thanks, Athy."

She cracks a small smile.

"Uh—what about me?" Sam holds out his hands. "Don't I get a sucker?"

Athena turns to Sam, "Only people who believe can have one, Sammy."

Sam lets out a breath of disbelief. He looks at the eldest Winchester.

Dean unwraps his sucker and sticks it in his mouth. "Can't get one if you don't believe, Sammy."

Sam lets out a soft laugh. "Yeah, all right. So, what do you guys want to do?"

Athena smiles and hands Sam a lollipop.

☆

"He swam everyday, didn't smoke—so a heart attack just kind of seemed bizarre."

"And you said he was running right before he collapsed?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, yeah, he was freaking out—said that something was, uh, after him."

"Did he say what?" Athena asks.

"Thin air is what." The coach answers. "There wasn't anything."

"All right, thanks."

Sam and Athena start to walk up the stairs. The girl's eyes land on the clock that wasn't moving.

"Uh, sir? Your clock is broken." Athena points at it.

"Yeah. We, can't get it working." The coach states. "It froze at 4:17."

Athena quickly turns to the man.

"The same time Marshall died?" Sam asks, obviously having the same feeling as Athena.

"How'd you know?"

Athena's jaw goes slack and her stomach turns. She looks at Sam and his face was also filled with dread.

"Okay, uh—we've gotta go."

Athena and Sam quickly run up the stairs. They sprint out of the building.

"Sam—"

"Yeah, I know." Sam huffs, he tangles a hand in his hair.

"We killed someone."

Sam looks at his little sister. He notices Athena's breathing was quick and she starts pacing.

"We killed someone and Dean's never gonna forgive us!" Athena quietly whines.

"No, Athy, hey—"

Sam touches her shoulder and she flinches.

"No!" Athena steps away from him. Sam quickly pulls away from Athena.

"Okay—I'm sorry." Sam holds his hands up.

Athena inhales a deep breath, trying to keep herself calm. But nothing worked.

"We did this. It's our faults." Athena wipes her tears.

Sam crouches in front of his little sister. "We'll find out how this is happening and we'll put a stop to it. Before anyone else gets hurt, okay?"

Athena meets Sam's determined and reassuring expression. She inhales and nods her head, "O-Okay."

Athena tries to shake the nerves from her hands. "I'm sorry, I yelled at you."

Sam shakes his head, "It's gonna take a lot more than that for you to scare m, Athena."

Athena cracks a small smile. Sam felt guilt slowly rise in him after saying that. He knew after Athena's breakdown in the hospital he was scared. But that was something he would never tell Athena.

Author's Note:

If this is Athena's reaction to Dean dying right now. Just think about what's to come...