DEAR JACK,
Somehow, I'm still alive
And yet, I still feel as if I'm drowning.
Maybe it's the idea of leaving you that's killing me.

❂

AFTER RETURNING BACK HOME THINGS AROUND CAMP HAD BEEN AWFULLY QUIET. Mary and Jack had worked with the camp to ensure that their protection was the top priority. Michael's attack at his fortress on their group had caused many to worry and panic, especially with Bobby away for some time.

Today had felt that there was something different in the air. Jack had felt his mood increase through out the day, and everyone else seemed to be at a calm. There hasn't even been the worry that something big could occur soon with the world so quiet. Today just felt special.

There was a pep in his step as he waved to Mary while passing by. In his other hand, he allowed a flower to dangle in between his fingers from a kind woman that had thanked him for his troubles. Jack had wanted to spread that kindness, and who better than the person he cared most for.

As he had followed the path through the camp, he had felt his smile disappearing as he approached Rose. Once again she had not sat alone and just as he imagined, their conversation would most likely not be private. Trying to hide his disappointment, he had made his way over as Rose had kept her head down, listening as Constance talked in a hushed whispered.

"Hello," he said, keeping his eyes only on Rose. When she had lifted her head up, he could see the boredom settling in her eyes. However, the corners of her lips had turned upwards as she met his eyes. Standing up, she had brushed away Constance's hand attempting to hold her back as she stood before Jack. "Hey, don't you have some heroic duties or something?"

He gave a small shrug. "Everything's quiet today. I'm sure no one will notice I'm gone."

Standing up next, Constance shook her head. "They always need more people watching the boarders of the camp. For all we know, Michael could be coming. He did best you at his fortress."

"That was..." Jack's voice trailed off as he tried to find an explanation to the loss of all those that died.

Rose, on the other hand, had not been all impressed with Constance's need to tear down Jack. "Michael was a no-show. Too much of a coward." She sighed as she frowned at Jack in turn, "She is right though. Constance has some ideas on how we can take on Michael and..."

Rose's voice was cut off as Constance cleared her throat loudly. "We're still discussing it. Just like we had discussed it staying private."

"Right," Rose nodded. In the distance, a bell had rang out to signal the arrival of someone at camp. Whether it be new comers or Bobby returning, it was enough to catch Jack's attention. "You should go check it out," Rose instructed.

"You can come with," he offered, hoping to take some time away from Constance. Watching as Constance's arm wrapped around Rose's, Jack frowned just as Rose did.

"I shouldn't. No one likes a demon."

"Exactly why she should stay with me. I'll keep her out of view and safe," Constance added in. It had been her job to ensure that Rose had kept her distance from the rest of the camp as to not lose her to anyone else— especially Mary Winchester.

"No one will mind," Jack reassured her. "Mary has been asking to see you soon too. She says you stopped talking to her."

"I'm sure Mary can survive without Rose. Doesn't she have her own children to worry about? Her boys from another world? I've been telling Rose that you two should stop worrying so much if they'll come, they'd need someone strong enough to get them here and from the sound of it, they either don't have that kind of magic or simply don't care to return."

"They'll come," Jack stated. His confidence had never faltered, but when Rose had looked down, he knew she had believed every word that Constance had spoken. "Rose, you should come with. Lunch is soon anyways."

"She doesn't eat, she's a demon," Constance spoke harshly. "Don't you have people to greet? You are the poster boy around camp, aren't you?"

"You should go, Jack. I'll catch up soon," Rose said, giving him very little options. Had she put up a fight, it would've been easier, but the only one that she had rarely ever gone up against was Constance. Backing up, Jack had watched as Constance's grip on Rose tightened, pulling her back closer to her. With Bobby gone, Constance's only fear had left the camp and gave her an opening to find a place to settle in. Jack's eyes settled down on the flower in his hands. He had debated giving it to her just as he had  planned, but knowing Constance wouldn't allow it or make a comment, he let it fall out from between his finger tips, forgotten about all together.

Keeping his emotions put together, Jack had a plan to greet the arrivals and the speak with Mary on what they should do next. Michael had been quiet, but their concern with camp had never faltered. Constance was a force to mess with and neither were sure how to act with Rose caught in the middle.

Rose had shook off Constance's arm as she went back to take a seat. "I didn't mean to tell Jack you had plans. I thought you'd want him to know, he could help. He's stronger than me and..."

"He's a boy," Constance corrected. "You're distracted by him and this silly idea of finding this so called family your father made with hunters. Tonight, we leave."

Quickly standing up, Rose was surprised and unwilling. "Tonight? You said we had another week at most. I haven't even told Jack or Mary."

"Please," Constance scoffed. "Jack will be fine without you. Everyone here adores him, I'm sure he'll find another girlfriend to drag into his messes. And Mary is..." Constance audibly gagged to show her true disgust with Mary. "She wishes she was your mother and failing in the process. Has she come to check on you recently? No. I have even offered to do any sort of work around camp so you two could spend time and she refused. I say she's disgusted with demons."

Rose turned around to avoid looking at Constance. The last thing she wanted was to see the heartbreak on her face. Constance was filled with lies and manipulation, but Rose had been blind to it all due to the drive to finally have a mother in her life. This was the one she was stuck with, and Constance made sure she felt she had no other option.

"And those boys you keep talking about, it's embarrassing, really. You talk highly of men that have no issue leaving everyone you care for dead. Just like that good for nothing grandmother of yours that would want you dead simply for what's corrupted your soul."

Constance's eyebrows furrowed as she came to realization that Rose had purposefully kept her back to her at all times. Approaching her slowly, she had reached out, yanking Rose to turn back around. By grabbing her face with one hand, Constance squeeze her face as she forced Rose to look at her. "Grow up, Rose. You're a demon and a witch, you don't stoop as low as you have. Hunters and angels... it's unhealthy." Shoving her back as she released her grip, Constance put a fake smile to her face. "Get your things together to leave tonight. You keep it to yourself, do you understand?"

Rose gave a silent nod while a deep frown had formed on her face. Constance had watched her for a moment before finally believing Rose. "Don't pack too much, we have a long way to go."

Rose nodded once more before quickly turning on her heel and rushing off. As long as Constance believed she was going to prepare to leave, she had a few moments to spare without her to at least wish Jack good luck and say her goodbyes. For all she knew, it could very well be the last time she would see him.

Rose was silent as she headed towards the main entrance into camp. Drawing attention would only cause Constance to come searching for her and most likely make their departure time much earlier. As she had begun to grow closer, a familiar voice had called out through the trees. He sounded desperate and furious all in one. "Where is she? Is she here? Is she okay?"

Dean Winchester was looking for any win. Sam had died along the way here and he needed to know that coming here would bring him everything he needed. Mary and Jack were enough, but he needed to know he had Rose as well.

Mary had nervously glanced over to Jack, staying calm with her words. "Dean, she's fine, but you need to understand..."

Unable to listen to Mary, he had spotted Rose as she stopped in her tracks the moment they had locked eyes. It had felt like all too much to see him. After every bit of doubt that Constance put in her head, she thought she would never see him again.

Her eyes had slowly traveled from Dean to Cas as she tried to understand their presence at camp. Dean, on the other hand, had different ideas. Making his way over, he had engulfed her into his arms. His eyes were squeezed shut tight, soaking in the moment, knowing that if anyone was going to give him the hug he needed after losing Sam, it was her.

But Rose didn't wrap her arms around him. She had stood awkwardly with her arms down to her side as she awaited for him to finally let go. It never helped that Constance's voice had always been in her mind, reminding her who was really her family.

Taking notice of the strange encounter, Cas had narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he looked over to Jack. He had been unsure if he should speak up or not, but the Rose he had seen was not exactly the same as he last remembered. Darkness covered her and the soul he saw was twisted in ways that had him turn away from her in pain.

Standing back after Dean had let her go, Rose had looked around the group. "Where's Sam?"

Dean looked down at the mention of Sam. His silence was enough to give her the answer she needed. Roses eyes stayed on him as a feeling inside her grew stronger. "He's not dead," she said plainly, but the wind had begun to pick up around them as her powers became much more than she could handle. "Where's his body?"

Dean looked up to her soon to have his eyes travel to the trees starting to sway in the wind as it had grown stronger. Her feelings for Sam had had given her a feeling that was uncommon for a demon and something that Constance would disapprove of the moment she had noticed.

"Why didn't you to save him?" She questioned loudly, looking to both Dean and Cas. "You're supposed to always be there for him, so why weren't you there? Why are you here?"

Mary had extended an arm out, only for Rose to shove it away. "I don't need you to tell me to relax. I'm fine." Taking a step back, she swallowed hard as she forced down the way she had felt. "I'm fine," she repeated once more.

Looking up to the sky, Mary had awaited for the trees to come to a stop and the wind to begin to die down. The moment they had, a relief had swept over her until she leveled her eyes to meet Deans.

A stern look had spread over his face, washing away all the sorrow it had once held. "Someone better start explaining." When no one had jumped to tell him everything, his voice grew loud to ensure everyone had heard him. "Now!"

Mary extended an arm out to Jack, stopping him from doing the explaining. She felt it was on her to explain. Ever since Rose had become a demon, Mary had felt that the guilt was all on her. Had she fought harder to keep Rose away from Constance, then she could have kept her safe. "Dean, she's fine. Why don't you come with me, and we can talk about Sam."

Pushing passed her, he had adjusted his bag on his shoulder, leaving Mary to trail after him. It was easier to take everything one at a time and as long as Rose was alive, he could get answers eventually.

Making his way over, Cas had kept his eyes narrowed on Rose as he looked her over. "You are not fine. Somethings wrong."

Coming into view, a new face had decided to steal the spot light, "Yup. She's totally a demon," sticking his hand out towards Jack and Rose, he grinned happily, "Names Gabriel. Sure Cassy here told you all about me. Let me guess, never shuts up about me?"

Looking to one another, Jack and Rose were both confused with the presence of this angel. "We've never heard of you," Jack said as he turned back to Gabriel.

"I leave for one second and you all manage to get yourselves in trouble. Care to explain?" Cas questioned.

Rose had been uncertain if she should talk to Cas about everything that had happened. There was no hiding that something was wrong, but the trust she had for them had seemed to slip away from her the longer they had been apart.

"We messed up," Jack said nervously. "I-I tried to save her but she wouldn't let me and..."

"I'm still alive," Rose said plainly, hoping that stopping Jack from continuing would make it easier for her to leave tonight. Cas had went to open his mouth to correct her statement, but the sound of the bells around camp had been enough to catch his attention. There was another arrival to camp, but they were uncertain who could have made it.