WHO: Sam Winchester and YOU? WHAT: Someone has been nine kinds of paranoid lately. Time to double up on security. WHEN: Afternoon. WHERE: Wal-Mart. He wants to be on peopleofwalmart.com, okay?! RATING: PG.
Carts filled with food, clothing, and home decor whizzed past one another, creating the perfect combination of a prime example of ordinary routine. Normal people, getting normal things for their homes and lives. It was something that Sam had once yearned more than anything in the world and now, as he was pushing his own shopping cart, he couldn't help but pity them. Being oblivious to the terrors that were really out there was probably a nice sort of thing, but it didn't stop the monsters from coming. It didn't stop the world from flipping upside down and inside out to the point where it took everything you loved away and threw it back in your face, all fucked up and more confusing than ever. Sam bit down on his lip and peered into his cart. It was filled with rock salt, lighters, and empty kerosine containers. Stuff for the house. Stuff to keep them safe. More importantly, stuff to keep her safe.
It was common knowledge that, after a while, if a person kept up with the hunting gig long enough, they'd start veering off the deep end. Sam didn't think he was crazy, but he was pretty aware that he was going from cautious to paranoid in the blink of an eye. It made him think of Bobby, who always poured holy water into every drink offered. Or Rufus. Bastard was so paranoid, half the time he wouldn't even open his front door unless he knew for sure who was standing on the other side. And even then, he'd have had a shotgun in his hand to be sure. Sam was starting to feel that way. He had to double check everything, he had to make sure every inch of his home was contained and secure, and he had to start taking control of things again, because god only knew how long he'd gone without the steering wheel under the palms of his hands.
Not since the demon blood. That's when you lost control of everything, a mocking voice challenged in his head. Sam tightened his grip on the cart and veered his way toward the front of the massive store. He needed to get home. There were a few places he needed to reinforce with more salt and Sam really didn't want to leave Ruby alone more than he had to in order to take this trip. He'd been hovering - a lot - since she had gotten back. Sam was afraid if he left her alone for too long, she'd vanish. Just like she had before. Then once she was gone, everyone else would be, too. Dean. Mom. Adam. Everyone. Sam didn't think he could do it again.