A/N Set during series five of Supernatural, and season six of Criminal Minds. I really can't think of a better title, so if you've got one, please suggest it to me. Reviews always welcome, especially if you have any constructive criticism. Some mild CanonxOC romance at the end.
"Pleasant as this has been, I really must get going."
"You're not going anywhere." Dean Winchester growled, his pistol still aimed at Crowley's forehead, "Not whilst that sigil is intact."
Crowley glanced at the ground, and sighed.
"Really boys? Do have to summon a hellhound to persuade you?"
"Then why haven't you?" Sam asked, his tone almost gloating, but not quite.
"Enough of this." Alex, a fellow hunter whose hunting rifle was also trained on the demon, interrupted. "He won't help us. Exorcise him already!"
"Calm down, Alex." Sam warned quietly.
"He's unleashed the Croatoan virus on this town! The longer we wait, the harder it's going to be to get out of here!"
"Listen to me, you jumped-up toad. I did not release the virus. And as soon as you let me go, I fully intent to find whoever did. But in the meantime, I'm your best hope of getting out of here alive."
"Yeah?" Sam challenged. Crowley shot him a withering look.
"Yes, moose, I might not be summon hellhounds right now, but I can sure as hell-" he snorted "-kill some… What did you call them?"
"Croats." Dean supplied.
There was a moment of silence. Sam raised his eyebrows at Dean.
"Oh, come on!" Alex exclaimed, not missing the silent communication, "You're not actually listening to-"
The door to the village hall crashed open.
"FBI, put down your weapons!"
Alex spun around and probably would have been shot if Dean had not pulled her roughly to the floor.
"Look at their eyes: They're clean." Dean muttered to her.
Alex looked up. They were, thankfully, uninfected. There were three of them; a tall, muscled, black man who was the one who had yelled, a serious-looking woman whose dark hair was pulled back into a dark pony tail and behind them a younger man with shoulder-length mousey hair.
"Dean and Sam Winchester, you are under arrest for multiple counts of murder and attempted murder." The woman told them. Dean grinned at her. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you."
"I like her, Sammy." The female agent rolled her eyes.
"Back off, Winchester." The agent who had spoken first stepped forwards.
"Or what?" Dean demanded, getting to his feet. He stood just a little taller than the agent, who was unimpressed. He turned to Alex.
"Identify yourself."
"Alex Singer." Alex gave a sarcastic smile, "And that's Crowley." Crowley waved at the agent.
"I'm going to have to ask you to come in for questioning. Please step over here." The request was aimed at Crowley, who shrugged apologetically.
"Can't, I'm afraid, Agent Morgan."
"How do you know who I am?" The agent, Morgan, demanded.
"I know a lot of things. I know that they are agents Prentiss and Reid, and I know that, guess what," His voice suddenly rose aggressively, "I can't bloody move, because I'm stuck in a bloody devil's trap!"
There was a moment of silence.
"Excuse me?" The female agent, Prentiss, asked cautiously.
"He's a demon." Dean supplied gleefully.
"Sure he is." Morgan said dryly.
"Think about it," Sam said earnestly, "don't you think it's a little strange that you did see anyone as you drove in here?"
"How did you know that?" Agent Reid asked, speaking up for the first time.
"Because if you had, then you'd be a freaking Croat." Alex said.
"A what?"
"It's the Croatoan virus." Sam explained, his face still a picture of innocence,
"It's a blood-borne disease that turns people into violent killers, but they prefer to attack at night."
"Which is why we should be trying to get out of here, before it's too late!" Alex said angrily. Too angrily. Morgan grabbed her and dragged her to her feet. He stood at least half a foot taller than her, but she glared up at him defiantly nonetheless.
"Listen here. I don't know whether you expect us to buy this crap or whether you're all just completely delusional, and frankly I don't care, but you are going to come quietly with us or so help me God-"
"Enough!" Crowley was angry again. "Trust me, God isn't going to help you now. Now will someone let me out of this bloody trap before we all get bled over by filthy Croats!"
There was another silence.
"He's right." Alex admitted grudgingly.
"But if we set you free, what's going to stop you from just leaving?" Sam asked. The FBI agents seemed slightly stunned.
"I can't." Crowley scowled. "This trap was well-laid." The hunters seemed unconvinced. "Look, we don't have time to be arguing."
He was right. The last orange rays of sunshine were creeping steadily up the walls.
"And anyway, I'm the best conclusive proof that you have that you're not insane." He waved his hand vaguely at the FBI agents.
"Enough of this." Morgan grabbed Dean roughly, pulling his arms behind his back and cuffing him. Prentiss headed towards Sam, and Reid towards Alex.
Alex and Sam shared a look with Sam, and they both turned and ran towards Crowley. A bullet flew past Alex's cheek and she dived to the ground. Luckily Sam had already reached Crowley and scuffed the edge of the trap with his shoe.
"On your knees!" Prentiss yelled. Crowley rolled his shoulders back.
"Finally." With a flick of his hand, he sent all three agents soaring through the air.
"Crowley?" Dean asked, lifting his cuffs hopefully. There was a clink, and they fell to the floor.
"…The hell?" Morgan asked, stumbling to his feet.
"Well, you know when we told you he was demon, and you said we were delusional? Well, he really is a demon." Dean told him bluntly.
"I don't believe." Prentiss said weakly, still on the floor. Reid hadn't moved.
"Believe it, sweetheart." Crowley smirked at her.
Sam went to help Prentiss to her feet.
"The Croats should be gone by morning, so we just need to survive that long." He told her.
Prentiss nodded again, still dazed. Alex, who had gone over to help Reid, was looking down at his unmoving form.
"You better not have killed him, Crowley."
"Reid?!" Morgan turned, remembering his fallen friend.
"He's fine." Alex said, kneeling down to check his pulse, "Just knocked out. I'll find some water."
She headed off through the small side door in the hope of finding a kitchen or toilet. She was in luck; a small kitchen with lurid yellow walls awaited her. There was no sign of a bucket, so she filled a washing-up bowl with cold water. By the time she had returned to the hall, everyone seemed calmer. The agents were, somewhat grudgingly, assisting the hunters in barricading the doors. Crowley was watching silently.
"Found some." Alex said, by way of announcing her presence. Dean acknowledged her with a silent nod and headed over to board up the door she had just come through.
Alex walked over to Reid and proceeded to empty the bowl over his head. He sat up, spluttering and rather alarmed.
"Morning, Agent." Alex had meant to sound light-hearted, but ended up sounding grim. Morgan strode over and helped Reid to his feet, shoving Alex out of the way.
"You okay, pretty boy?"
"Demons…" Reid said faintly. Morgan gave him a half smile.
"Are we all done being cute?" Crowley asked, not enjoying how little attention he was being paid to him, "We have literally minutes before night falls."
"Right," Dean said, taking charge of the situation. "Croats don't register pain, but they still die like humans. Me, Crowley, Prentiss and Morgan will take the front door, Sam, Alex, Reid, you take the side door."
Morgan and Prentiss riled up at the same time.
"We're not leaving Reid with you."
"You expect us to just kill these people?"
"I'll be fine, Morgan." Reid protested.
"He's only going to be on the other side of the hall." Sam pointed out.
"And yes, unless you want to get turned into a bloodthirsty animal, you're going to have to defend yourselves." Dean told Prentiss.
There was a grim silence, then everyone began to move into position. Sam, Reid and Alex trained their guns on the door, waiting for the inevitable.
As twilight came, the attacks began. At first, a few thumps on the door. As night fell, there came the sounds of gunshots. The doors shuddered but held, barred with as much metal as they could find.
Alex almost wished that the doors would just break. The waiting was much, much worse. No one moved. The only sounds from the hall were their shallow, quickened breaths.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.