Thank you to everyone for the reviews of my previous story, "Forgiveness". Though these two stories are tied together (a little bit) it isn't necessary to read "Forgiveness". That story answers the question of how Sam and Dean reunite. This story looks at who or what might have sprung Sam from Hell. I am trying to get it finished before Season 6 starts (can't wait!) because I'm sure the story will become AU at that point. It is turning out to be on the long side.
Disclaimer: Only the idea is mine. Supernatural and the characters therein belong to the actors, writers, directors, producers, and technicians that bring it to life. Rated T, just in case.
The young woman drove into an empty dirt field in the middle of nowhere, looked around, and decided it would do as a meeting place. She made her preparations, made a phone call, and recited a few prayers. Then she waited.
Before long, a late model luxury sedan drove toward her spot in the field. A middle-aged man got out. He was of average height, average looks, and average in every way except his luxury clothing. Oh, and the fact that he was a demon.
"So. Alexa. Got your message. Very cryptic and spy-like. Gotta say, I was impressed. You've got balls, summoning me." The demon approached the woman sitting on the fender of her grey '70 Dodge Challenger, her feet resting on the wheel.
"So happy to be of service to you," she answered, voice heavy with sarcasm. "We're waiting for one more."
"Really? Who might that be?" He took a few steps closer, then stopped. Looking down at the dirt surrounding the woman's car, he smiled, but it wasn't friendly. "A salt circle around the car? Darling. You wound me."
"Nothing less than what you'd like to do to me. Just wait for a moment or two. He'll be here."
Even as she spoke, another figure appeared in a rush of wind.
"Ahadriel. Of course. Although I'm not sure what game our dear Alexa is attempting to play. Oh, do put that away." The demon gestured at the sword the angel unsheathed as soon as he appeared.
"I do not take orders from you, filthy creature." Tall and golden, with dark chocolate brown eyes, the angel looked like a male model for the cover of some fashion magazine. But the young woman on the car knew better. Just like the demon, he would kill her if she gave him even half a chance. He left his sword out, and shifted so that he was still facing the demon when he spoke to her.
"Why did you seek to contact me?"
"Are you both able to make deals? Important, powerful deals?"
"What kind of deal?" The demon asked, even as the angel shouted, "Ending your life is not a matter for negotiations."
"Calm down for a moment, would you? You'll hurt yourself if you keep that up." She shook her head at the angel. When he stepped forward, she told him, "Uh-uh. Careful where you step." Alexa held up a bottle of holy fire. "You see those circles surrounding the car? Moats of holy fire and salt. You both stay out there. I have a few other surprises too, just in case you don't go for this deal. But I think both of you will agree to the terms."
The angel glowered at her, but the demon smiled.
"What do you want, Alexa? What could you possibly want?"
"I want Sam Winchester out of the pit, completely free of Lucifer, alive and healthy, with no trace of demon blood inside him, and in the present day. I want his brother Adam out of the pit, free of Michael. I know that because he died already you can't return him, but I want him safely brought to Heaven. I want the assurances of both Heaven and Hell that the Winchesters, Bobby Singer, and Lisa and Ben Braeden will be allowed to live out their natural lives without angels and demons trying to constantly kill them, use them, or manipulate them. I want Sam Winchester dropped off right outside his brother's house. Sane, and with his memories intact."
The angel, unable to really exhibit human emotions, still managed to look shocked.
"You filthy, cretinous, despicable excuse for life! How dare you!" He took another step closer to the figure on the car. She promptly lit a matchbook with her lighter and tossed it into the moat of holy fire. Ahadriel glared, but kept his distance.
The demon just kept smiling. "So, if we give you all that – which is quite a bit to ask for, I must say – what do we get in return? It must be something from the extra special secret recipe if you think you can get so much in return."
She answered, "That's easy. You both get exactly what you've wanted more than anything else. Wanted for years now."
The demon's grin grew impossibly wider. "Really? Oh, that is special. Let the negotiations begin. Ahadriel, I'm sure we can come to some kind of arrangement that will satisfy us both on this count. Don't you agree?"
This time, the angel smiled back. It was a chilling, battle-hewn smile. "For this prize? Yes. For this, we can definitely reach an arrangement."
She waited in the sun, inside the rings of salt and holy fire while the two unlikely allies discussed what constituted satisfactory arrangements.