Chapter One: You Bet Your Life
Sam stared out the windshield of the Impala, his heart hammering nervously in his chest. He took a deep, steadying breath and opened the vehicle's door, the creak of squeaky hinges sounding extremely loud in the quiet surrounding the young man. Crickets chirruped in the tall grass on the sides of the dirt road and somewhere off in the distance a dog barked.
Sam peered into the interior of the classic Chevy, smiling slightly at the brown paper bag sitting on the passenger seat, his brother's name scrawled on the packaging in black marker. The hunter closed the door softly and walked around to the trunk, his shoes crunching on the bits of gravel on the road.
Sam had told Dean he was going to pick them up some dinner from the small restaurant they had passed on their way into town- and Sam hadn't lied, exactly- but he also had other intentions tonight. A full, bloated moon cast a silvery glow on the world, turning everything ghostly and pale.
Gathering what he needed from the trunk, Sam began walking down the road at a deceptively leisurely pace. He was really just trying to enjoy the sights and sounds around him; the grass jeweled with night dew, the millions of diamond-bright stars, the wind sighing across the field, the singing of the crickets and the mournful calling of an owl.
Sam stopped once he reached the crossroads and his thoughts turned to his brother. Dean would kill him if he knew what he was about to do. Sam grimaced; if it even worked. Dean had been adamant that any form of trying to rescind the deal would end badly. What Dean hadn't remembered though, was that the Winchesters were a stubborn lot and Sam had his fair share of that particular family trait.
Besides, Sam thought to himself as he knelt down and began carefully digging in the very center of the crossroads, it's my fault Dean made that deal in the first place. If I had just been a little bit faster, a little bit smarter, Jake wouldn't have killed me.
Dean never would have let something like that happen, Sam told himself. I'm just a screw up… I've always been a screw up. Dean's the better hunter. He shouldn't have been forced to make that deal in the first place.
Sam wiped surreptitiously at his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket and settled the cigar box into the small hole he'd made.
Dean had weeks left and Sam had finally snapped. He couldn't take the thought of living in a world without his big brother in it. Although Sam had tried this before only to be scoffed at every time, he couldn't help but make one last-ditch attempt. If it worked, Dean would get a new lease on life, he'd be able to continue doing what he did best (and loved to do) save people and hunt monsters… if it didn't, well, Sam had decided that he wouldn't have to be without his brother for long because he would gladly end his own life before he drowned in grief.
Straightening, Sam closed his eyes for a moment as he waited, feeling the cool breeze brush his bangs back from his sweaty brow.
The change was nearly imperceptible but Sam knew when the demon had arrived. He slid his eyes open and smiled grimly at the sight of the beautiful young woman standing before him. She was lithe and tall, her milky skin almost shone in the gloom, her red hair nearly reached her waist as it fluttered in the wind. The tight black dress she wore did not leave much to the imagination.
The Crossroads demon blinked and her clear blue eyes turned a crimson red. She stepped forward, smiling before gasping and making a face once she recognized the young man who had called her.
"What part of 'your brother's hellhound chow' don't you understand?" she hissed, anger contorting her pretty face into a grotesque mask. She half-turned, tossing her fiery hair arrogantly.
"Wait!" Sam cried, reaching out with one hand as if to grab hold of the woman and stop her.
The demon paused and rolled her eyes.
"Please," Sam begged and cringed. The woman smirked and put her hands on her shapely hips.
"The Devil knows why I'm going to but I'll hear you out," the woman commented, "I could always use a good laugh."
Although the demon didn't seem to enthusiastic, she wasn't leaving so Sam decided to take that as a start at least.
"Let Dean go," Sam commanded, "Tear up his contract."
The woman breathed a sigh, "You know if that happens you die, right?"
Sam nodded quickly. He'd heard this all before.
"I know and… I'm alright with that," Sam answered and the demon raised an eyebrow.
"That's just great, honey," the demon mocked, "But I'm also sure you know that I can't do anything about Dean's contract."
"Lilith has it," Sam confirmed, his heart falling.
The woman held her hands out, "So you see? My hands are tied. Why don't you try talking to the queen bee herself?"
Sam clenched his jaw, "Because I'm talking to you!"
The demon chuckled, "And I'm flattered that you think I'm so important but you are really barking up the wrong tree. My advice, go back to whatever run-down motel you're staying at and enjoy the last few days with your big brother."
"I'm not asking for the full ten," Sam ignored the demon, "Give me a year, like Dean got, that's only fair."
"You really are not in the position to be bargaining with me," the demon warned.
"Six months," Sam continued, "Eight weeks, a day, and hour… I don't care!"
The demon seemed taken aback by how persistent the young man was, no one suggested less time Topside. Lilith had said the younger Winchester had spirit and now that the Crossroads demon had seen it first hand, she was intrigued. It was clear that Sam Winchester was willing to do anything as long as it would mean tearing up his brother's contract.
A genuine smile touched the demon's lips, "Okay, here's what I'll do. Because you are just too adorable when you're desperate, I'll talk to my superiors and see about making Dean's deal disappear. I'm not promising you anything, you understand. Lilith really wants your brother Downstairs so this might all be for naught."
Sam nodded, emotion clogging his throat. Dean might soon be free of his deal.
The demon blew Sam a kiss, "Now don't go anywhere, I'll be right back."
As soon as the woman disappeared, Sam sagged, feeling as though a heavy weight was pressing down on his shoulders. If this worked, if the demon somehow managed to convince her superiors to scrap Dean's deal, Sam would be at peace.
Minutes passed and the young man was beginning to think that the demon had played him. He wouldn't have been surprised if that was what happened. Getting ready to go back to the car and drive home to the motel, Sam took a step forward and paused when the demon appeared once again.
Her expression was unfathomable and Sam wasn't sure if that was good or not.
"You thought I'd skipped out on you?" she asked, her lips lifting into an amused grin.
Sam scowled but didn't answer.
"Smile Sam! Dean's off the hook!" the woman exclaimed and the young man's frown melted, his eyes widening in astonishment.
The moment of happiness and excitement- relief- dried up quickly and Sam approached the demon.
"How long do I have?" he asked nervously, eyeing the woman. For all Sam knew, he had an hour to return to his brother and say his goodbyes.
The demon shrugged, "Oh, I don't know…"
Sam's heart skipped a beat, "What do you mean? Dean's contract is gone, right?"
"Oh, it is, Sammy," the woman nodded, "I watched Lilith tear it up, myself."
"Then how much time do I have?" he asked again, an uneasy feeling creeping into his stomach.
The demon's smile widened, she was enjoying stringing the young man along.
"Don't worry," she told him, "You're not becoming kibble anytime soon."
Sam wasn't sure what to think about that. Demons never made a deal without demanding something in return.
"I'm not going to Hell?" Sam asked, feeling like he was missing something that should be obvious.
"No," the demon assured him, "But that doesn't mean there's no consolation prize."
"What do you want?" Sam wondered out loud. If the demon didn't want his soul, what else was there to give?
"You," the red-haired woman answered simply, smiling at the confused expression on the young man's face.
Sam unconsciously took a step back from the demon.
"What are you talking about?" Sam asked, unable to hide the fear that had crept into his voice. His palms were slick with sweat and a drop slid sluggishly down his spine despite the cool night.
The demon's eyebrows furrowed, "Oh so now you want to back out? Did you really think Lilith would release your brother from his contract and let the two of you go on your merry way?"
Sam shook his head, unable to find his voice. Why was he suddenly so frightened? He knew that if he made a deal with a demon he'd have to pay. He had come to terms with the fact that he would likely be a hellhound chew-toy so why did this scare him so?
The woman brushed her host's hair away from her face and sighed, "Look, you're smart; I know you are so I'll explain it to you. That's more than most other people get when they deal with the likes of me."
Sam nodded and wiped his hands on his jeans.
"I know you were hoping to get the grand tour of Hell," the woman smirked, "But Lilith had other plans and you know nobody's going to argue with her."
Sam shuddered at the thought of the ancient demon. He looked the woman in the eye, waiting for her to speak.
"You're familiar with the idea of indentured servitude, right?" the Crossroads demon grinned, her teeth very white against her pale skin.
"Y-yeah," Sam muttered, his heart pounding like a jackhammer in his chest.
"Well, now that we've got that out of the way," the woman told him, "There's a contract with your name on it. All you have to do is seal the deal and Dean's free as a bird."
Sam's brow furrowed, "But you said Lilith already had his contract destroyed."
The demon inclined her head, "Did I say that? I guess that's partly true. Consider Dean as being on parole, if you go through with this deal, Dean's contract goes poof! If you have second thoughts than your big brother gets a ticket to ride the Hellfire Express, just like before."
Sam lowered his head, thinking.
"When does my contract start?" he asked as confidently as he could manage.
The demon smirked, "As soon as we kiss, sweetheart."
Sam drew in a quick breath. He thought he'd have more time… time to say goodbye to his brother. Then again, why should he be so lucky?
"Alright," the young man whispered, determination pushing him forward.
The demon stepped up to him and raised her arms so that her wrists rested on Sam's shoulders. The young man ducked his head down, his hands grasping her waist.
Sam closed his eyes as he kissed the woman, feeling as though the demon was sucking the very life from him. Sam frowned; tasting cinnamon predominantly on the host's lips and something else, something foul just underneath… sulfur. He didn't pull away though; he would let the demon make the first move. He didn't want to fuck this up.
The young man felt himself gasping for air when the demon finally released him. The woman smirked when she saw tears well up in the youngest Winchester's eyes.
She raised one hand and pressed her palm against the back of Sam's head, inclining his head down towards her again. She stood up on her tiptoes and her lips just brushed his ear.
"Remember," she whispered in a husky voice, "You're doing this for Dean."
Author's Note:
1. Thanks to AlxM for helping me out with the idea for this fanfic.
2. Chapter title comes from a song of the same name by Rush.
3. Please leave a review! They're sweeter than cookies!
