( Sam can't help but sit up a little straighter at what Jack tells him, a chime of alert sounding in his nervous system without his say, because Jack's right: that's a lot more power than he had before. For the first time in years, his mind travels back to when Dean got him from Stanford and Sam's own powers began to develop. And for the first time, he looks at that situation from Dean's point of view, the balance of trepidation and fierce love his brother carried for him, watching Sam morph into something he might have to be afraid of, might have to hunt. It had to have felt at least something like this moment, precarious and unknown and chilling. If Jack really can manipulate others...
But what Jack says next tips the mental scale firmly in the direction of Sam's love - because he knows he loves Jack, he's felt like his kid for a while now, he's just never had the conviction to say it - because Sam has been on his side of this situation, too, and he knows exactly how dark that path can become if Jack follows it down. And Sam has to keep that from happening, no matter what else might happen to them. )
Hey. Look at me. This is important. ( Sam ducks his head a bit to match Jack's eyesight, making sure the kid is giving him his full attention. There's a thread of authority in his tone now, emerging from his worry, but he dampens the edge of it with quiet sincerity. ) I don't know everything you've done in your timeline, and I know people have gotten hurt. But whatever mistakes you've made aren't worth your life.
( What had gone so wrong in the future for them to decide that Jack's life was a sacrifice any of them were willing make? He can't dwell on that now, as much as the thought haunts him, so he keeps talking, hoping Jack will listen. He knows that in Jack's shoes, Sam would - did - react with disbelief and doubt, so he takes a breath and draws water from his own tainted, bloody well to make his position clear to Jack. ) And listen, I get it. I've... I've been there before. Thought that I could only make up for my wrongs by taking myself off the board. ( And he did. But it's that exact conclusion that terrifies him now; that's the last thing he wants Jack to do. ) But we're more than just the sum of our mistakes, Jack. I know it doesn't feel that way sometimes, but it's true. You don't have to prove yourself worthy enough to keep living. Do you understand?
( Some pleading slips into his voice towards the end, despite himself, because he knows more than anyone how it feels like to be an abomination. And he wouldn't wish that on anyone, but especially not Jack. But the idea of losing Jack fills him with a familiar terror, the same he's felt at the prospect of losing all his loved ones, so he has to be very clear about it. ) I don't care what this Castiel says about you. I know you, and I need you to trust me when I say we need you here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rosecarmine
cw more suicide talk
Date: 2025-08-05 08:40 pm (UTC)But what Jack says next tips the mental scale firmly in the direction of Sam's love - because he knows he loves Jack, he's felt like his kid for a while now, he's just never had the conviction to say it - because Sam has been on his side of this situation, too, and he knows exactly how dark that path can become if Jack follows it down. And Sam has to keep that from happening, no matter what else might happen to them. )
Hey. Look at me. This is important. ( Sam ducks his head a bit to match Jack's eyesight, making sure the kid is giving him his full attention. There's a thread of authority in his tone now, emerging from his worry, but he dampens the edge of it with quiet sincerity. ) I don't know everything you've done in your timeline, and I know people have gotten hurt. But whatever mistakes you've made aren't worth your life.
( What had gone so wrong in the future for them to decide that Jack's life was a sacrifice any of them were willing make? He can't dwell on that now, as much as the thought haunts him, so he keeps talking, hoping Jack will listen. He knows that in Jack's shoes, Sam would - did - react with disbelief and doubt, so he takes a breath and draws water from his own tainted, bloody well to make his position clear to Jack. ) And listen, I get it. I've... I've been there before. Thought that I could only make up for my wrongs by taking myself off the board. ( And he did. But it's that exact conclusion that terrifies him now; that's the last thing he wants Jack to do. ) But we're more than just the sum of our mistakes, Jack. I know it doesn't feel that way sometimes, but it's true. You don't have to prove yourself worthy enough to keep living. Do you understand?
( Some pleading slips into his voice towards the end, despite himself, because he knows more than anyone how it feels like to be an abomination. And he wouldn't wish that on anyone, but especially not Jack. But the idea of losing Jack fills him with a familiar terror, the same he's felt at the prospect of losing all his loved ones, so he has to be very clear about it. ) I don't care what this Castiel says about you. I know you, and I need you to trust me when I say we need you here.