AN: Sticking with the Fall Out Boy theme of this series, (even though you don't have to read My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark, but hey, I wouldn't mind if you did) story and chapter titles come from another one of their songs Phoenix. I've been kind if excited to meet the new character Cole, and a description for his episode says he tortures Sam, and that may have intrigued me… Don't judge.

Fat lot of good drinking demon blood did for Sam. Sure, it might have saved his ass from demon Dean once, but Dean had still managed to get away, and still get his hands back on that damned blade. God knows how many others died because of Sam's failure and weakness.

Weak. Is that what Sam was now? Too weak to stop Dean, too weak to deny his lust for demon blood, too weak to even save his brother, hell, anyone. Weakness was born of blame and desperation. They seemed to be all Sam was capable of feeling nowadays.

What else was there for him to try? Sam had performed the demon summoning ritual so many times that he would have lost count, if not for the scars left behind from shedding his blood for the spell. Not to mention all the matches he ended up wasting. Dean must have found some way to resist the ritual, either that, or he was simply that strong. That thought made Sam shiver.

Crowley too had failed to show up, but Sam figured he was just being an asshole. Sam summoned him so often that it was almost part of his daily routine. Sam hoped it would eventually get on Crowley's nerves to the point of him finally showing up. Maybe today would be the day it worked. For seemingly the hundredth time, who knows, maybe it was, Sam dropped the match into the bowl, and his eyes darted about the room hopefully.

Wishful thinking was a bitch, plain and simple. As usual, Crowley was a no-show. His expected absence always leads to another tradition.

Drinking. Not demon blood, well, maybe sometimes, but usually at a bar. He'd often drink to the point of blacking out, and in those few blissful moments he didn't have to think about demon blood, Cas's grace wasn't potentially going to kill him, and his brother was beside him, no black eyes, just their wonderful, missed, meadow green. But those few blessed seconds did nothing to soften the blow when reality came crashing back in.

The thought of drinking until he couldn't see straight gave Sam more pleasure than it should have, but the brief burn it left in his mouth at least let him feel something other than grief, and misery. Pain was better than nothing at all.

Half the time, Sam wouldn't even remember driving to the bar. He had started blocking out memories of anything dealing with the Impala, particularly driving. His eyes would always drift to the passenger seat, and the absence of a body would make him want to let go of the wheel and let some car come veering into him. The only true loss Sam could think of would be wrecking Dean's car. His own life was pretty damn useless, worthless in his eyes.

Lost in his thoughts, Sam eventually pulled into the bar, still blocking out the fact that he had driven there. The bar smelled like oak, and obviously alcohol and whiskey. There were times where John Winchester would come home smelling like just that. The stench burned Sam's nose, and he swore that he would never allow himself to be that way, He had also sworn that he'd try to be normal, he'd never go back to demon blood, and he'd never again let his brother down. Broken, broken promises.

It wasn't long before Sam was dousing his insides with beer, and longing to drown out all sobering thoughts. Instinct too became overpowered, so Sam was completely unaware of the man watching him in the darkened corner of the bar. He also didn't notice that someone was beside him, until a familiar voice spoke, tinged with that mocking English accent.

"You've really let yourself go, haven't you, Moose?"

Sam nearly choked on his drink in surprise. "Crowley. You son of a-"

"Careful now." Crowley interrupted. "Wouldn't want to cause a scene."

Sam gritted his teeth, and clenched his fists as he resisted beating Crowley until his stupid little face caved in. His voice was almost a hiss. "Where's. My. Brother?"

"Not even a hello? Rude." Crowley chuckled at Sam's obvious irritation. "Big brother's been just fine without you. Not sure what you did, but he's much more- liberating with a blade after your encounter. I must congratulate you."

The temptation to beat Crowley senseless was almost stronger that his worry for his brother… Almost. "How did you do it?"

"Do what?" Crowley apparently planned on milking Sam's misery as long as he could.

"Turn Dean into one of you."

"Oh, that." Crowley chuckled again. "Mark held on to him, mark made him into what he was always meant to be. And I must say, he's really tapped back into the skills he learned in the pit. He's such wonderful company now."

"He's not your pet." Sam spat.

"Got one hell of a bite though." He laughed at himself again. "Surely you can't deny it. You've still got a little souvenir from him, don't you?"

Sam subconsciously reached for his face, where he knew the most noticeable scar Dean had left was. Having a heated poker dragged down your cheek tends to leave a mark. Not to mentions his shoulder had been bad even before Dean had messed with it, but being stabbed there made it just a little bit worse.

"Say what you will, but Dean's something with me that he's never been with you."

Were they dating now or something? Sam still asked anyway. "What is he?"

Crowley grinned again like a child with a secret. "Free." And on that note, he was gone.

Unlike Sam, Crowley was well aware of the man eyeing Sam in the darkened area of the bar. He disappeared into the parking lot to watch the potential outcome.

Eventually, Sam came stumbling out of the bar, steadying himself against the building for a moment. If this truly was a regular thing, it was a wonder that he hadn't managed to get himself killed driving home.

Sam was promptly followed by a fairly tall man, not as tall as Sam, with spiky blond hair, and fierce blue eyes that practically radiated determination. Sam was fumbling with his keys when the man, Crowley had decided to call him Blondie, swung his elbow into the back of Sam's head.

Crowley watched Sam crumple to his knees, but he didn't go all the way down. He shakily turned towards his attacker, and was greeted with Blondie's fist. Sam's eyes were glazed, but even drunk he was still too damn stubborn, and wouldn't ever give up. Blondie repeatedly punched Sam's face, until he had finally given into the promised darkness.

Blondie dragged Sam's body toward what Crowley assumed was his own car, and let Sam drop as he began grabbing rope from his trunk.

Unseen, Crowley loomed Sam's unmoving body. "Talk about road kill." He chuckled at himself one last time, and then vanished.

Dean felt the power and ecstasy the blade granted him as he sliced through skin once more. The person beneath the blade, Dean didn't give a damn about his name, screamed again. The sound was like his new classic rock, constantly playing in his head, and he was eager to listen to it again and again.

The First Blade's power rushed throughout Dean's body, taking complete control. His body was simply the power's vessel, bending to its will, and he was thoroughly enjoying the ride.

Wouldn't it be just his luck for something to ruin it? Of course this perfect moment had to be stolen from him when his phone chose that moment to ring.

Dean grabbed the trembling man by the collar, and hefted him up. Their eyes met, and Dean allowed his to slip black, before flashing the guy a mock apologetic look. "You don't mind if I take this, do you?" Dean answered for him by letting his blade ease into the man's chest with almost loving precision. He felt the mark redden, and warm him with its satisfaction.

With his bloodied hand, he answered his phone. "Hello?"

"Hello, Dean." Came Crowley's smug voice from the other end.

"What do you want Crowley? I was in the middle of something."

"You dear gigantor has gotten himself nabbed once again. I hear that whoever took him is looking for you."

"Why the hell is that my problem?"

"He'll be vulnerable. They both will. You find him, and you can get them both out of the way. You do want Sam gone, don't you?"

"Course I do. Sammy just doesn't understand what it's like to feel strong. He'd just try to take all this away from me. Even thinks he can cure me."

"And we can't have that, can we?"

Crowley didn't have to be near him to know that Dean was grinning.

"If you'll excuse me, I've got a little brother to find."

Now that his mind was set, nothing was going to change it. It wouldn't be long before Dean's hands were glistening with Sam's blood.

I saw a clip of S10 today with Sam and whY ISN'T IT OCTOBER 7TH YET?! I'm pretty sure I'm more excited for the premiere than I am for my birthday two days later… I have a problem. Anywho, if y'all've got the time, I'd love to know what you thought so far, I love responding to reviews. I'll update as soon as I can!