† ONE [voice] - backdated to Friday morning

[upstairsbrain]

[ Hello, world. Meet new arrival, Sam Winchester. But you might not know that it's him, because he's not showing his face yet, and: ]

This is Agent Murdock. [ He clears his throat, pausing a moment. ] If anyone's out there, and can hear me, or needs help... just let me know. I'm sort of at a loss, here, and I'd like some information. If this thing is even working, that is.

[ He's confident in his tech abilities, but something's definitely up with his phone. ]

... Thanks.

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[upstairsbrain]

No-- Mom, no. [ He's definitely his mother's son. ] You didn't-- there's no way you ruined my life. There's not-- I--

[ He has to look away a minute, mouth twisted in an attempt to keep out the dry sob that's lodged in his throat. That she could possibly think she'd ruined his life when, despite what she's said, he was the reason she had been killed? ]

That's not it. [ Does she know? She has to. ] It's not just that, I'm... People die around me. All the time. People I love. And it's because of me, not them. I'm this twisted, messed-up thing, and it's always going to come back to me.

[ He swallows, grief building in his throat, burning him like acid. ]

I'm Lucifer's vessel. [ His heart pounds with the meaning of his words, ones he just heard so, so recently. ] No matter what happened in the nursery, I'm sure-- I'm sure something would've happened to you, to everyone. To get to me, to make me into--

[ He cuts off, unable to go on. ]

... I shouldn't be here, right. I'm putting you in danger again.

[momchester]

Sam. [Sharply- shockingly so.] Stop it. You are not going anywhere, do you understand me? You will not leave me- [again.] -or John. [Nice save.] Don't do that. Don't put that on yourself.

[She forces herself to soften, unsuccessfully. Whatever the truth may be in her words, it's obvious that there's something less than okay about Mary.]

Jessica was not your fault, and neither was I.

[Her hand tightens around his.]

Nobody forced Azazel and Lucifer to do what they did. You can't blame anyone but them, sweetie. You weren't even born yet when I sold away your future.

Sam, you can't lay this all on yourself. You didn't do anything to deserve the hand life dealt you. Our family is cursed because I cursed it. It's nothing you did wrong.

[upstairsbrain]

[ Jessica. Oh, God, no. His throat closes up with the shock of the word, his mind flitting immediately back to when he'd first encountered Lucifer, how the bastard had taken her form. Brief, hot anger flares up in his stomach, mingling with the grief of everything, and he has to take a moment to breathe, to let things settle, before he can speak again. ]

If you hadn't saved Dad, I wouldn't even be here at all. [ Well, it's true. ] ... We've all made choices, right? And, for better or worse...

[ He turns back to her, expression softening, some of the angst of earlier finally ebbing. ]

If there's no blame on me, then there's no way that there's any on you. You were just trying to protect your family, every time.

[ Sam squeezes her hand, gently. ]

Thank you. For that. For everything.