Disclaimer: Of course I don't own them.
Author's Note: Another season, another set of tags. I'm wondering if I'll be able to tag every episode this season… Wouldn't count on it, but it's fun to try. *g*
This particular tag is intend as the first half of a two-parter, but the second part will only go up after Dean's cured.
Summary: Dean's having fun. Crowley is careful. Tag to 10.01, Black.
Bête Noire
Being a demon is fun.
Dean's missed fun. He remembers having it, once upon a time before Abaddon, before Purgatory, before Lucifer and Ruby and Alastair and Azazel. Before Sam got all intense and serious.
Of course, Dean was stupid to let Sam's broodiness affect him. He realizes that now. Sam's always got some problem, dying from the trials, or Lucifer in his head, or demon blood, and Dean's always the one stuck trying to fix it. And, come on, Sam's a grown man, and it's not Dean's fault he's too much of a helpless little brat to clean up his own messes. Dean should've stopped holding his hand years ago.
Well, better late than never.
Dean Winchester is officially, finally, officially and absolutely, finished picking up after Sam. Just like he told the guy on the phone – Dean has a vague feeling he knows his name, but it's not worth trying to remember.
Sam got himself caught, probably doing something stupid like trying to find Dean when Dean specifically, categorically said he didn't want to be found.
Not that he expected it to work. Sam's just as stubborn as their Dad ever was.
He'd be worried, but Sam doesn't have Dad's nerve. If Dad had been alive, he'd've done anything necessary to 'save' Dean, and that would've included killing him once he realized Dean wasn't about to let himself be cured.
Sam's not going to kill him. He might talk big and think he can, he might go so far as putting the knife to Dean's throat, but when it comes to the point, Sam'll back down. Dean knows that now, because after all Sam's big talk about letting each other go for the greater good, when Dean was dead Sam did exactly what they'd both sworn never to do and summoned a demon to make a deal.
Dean scoffs.
That's all done with.
He even feels a little sorry for Phone Guy. He probably knows, or heard about, the old Dean, who was an idiot and a pushover and would've dropped everything and gone running to prevent precious baby Sammy from getting a paper cut.
New Dean… Well, New Dean knows better. Sam got himself into this mess. Sam can get himself out of it.
He has to admit, though, Sam seems to have got with the new program quick enough. He didn't sound like he expected a rescue… Of course, he didn't make a sound at all until Phone Guy hit him. Stubborn.
If he does get himself out of this – that's a possibility, as long as Sam's death wish doesn't get in the way – it might be best for Dean to kill him. That'll prevent people from using him to get to Dean –
Wait. Wait, wait, wait.
What is he thinking?
It's perfect if people use Sam to get to Dean. It'll be a while before people who knew the old him, stupid nursemaid Dean, realize he's changed, if they ever do. Sam's ridiculous sense of loyalty will keep him from telling anyone Dean's a demon, in case other hunters come after him. So Sam'll keep putting himself out there like the idiot he is, and Dean's enemies will get to him, and it'll be perfect because that'll keep them from getting to the things thatactually matter to Dean now.
Like…
Well, there's only one thing that matters to Dean now.
Dean smirks to himself.
He'll have to kill Sam if the kid looks like finding a way to 'cure' him. If there's one thing Dean knows, it's that he doesn't want to go back to being the dumbass who didn't realize how much easier his life would be if he learnt to –
There's a cleared throat next to him.
Dean scowls. "What do you want, Crowley? I told you, I'm not interested in your stupid plan. World domination is pointless, and it has a high mortality rate. Give me beer and girls for eternity and I'm good."
"I can see that." Crowley sits, uninvited, next to Dean at the bar, signaling to the bartender for a drink. "I thought you might want to know that some ex-military man named Cole has your brother."
"Phone Guy? Yeah, I spoke to him already." Dean grins into his beer. It's so much fun doing the opposite of what people expect. "I told him Sam brought this on himself. I'm not running after him. And he can tell Sam that while he slits his throat."
Crowley chokes on his first sip of whiskey and soda. "You… You think Sam's going to get his throat slit?"
Dean shrugs. "Probably not. He's got a way of getting out of trouble. Sometimes. Hey, Crowley?"
"Yes?" Crowley asks warily.
"You're good at… scheming and stuff, right? Plotting?"
"You're talking to the man – well, demon – who rose from being an unknown downtrodden peasant in Scotland to King of Hell. Of course I'm good at scheming."
"Good, maybe you can help me out. You think I should kill Sam? If Phone Guy doesn't do it for me?"
Crowley puts down his glass, looking at Dean carefully. "Is this a trick question? Are you going to hack me to pieces with that little knife of yours if I don't answer right?"
"No, no, I'm serious. Listen. I need some advice."
"Wait." Crowley takes out his cell phone, flicks through a couple of screens, and puts it on the bar between them. "I'm recording this. I hope you don't mind. Lawyer's orders."
"You have a lawyer?"
"I'm King of Hell! Go on, now, tell me about the advice you need."
Dean's not an idiot, either. "You're recording this to send Sam, aren't you?"
"I wouldn't do that. I'm recording this as insurance."
"Insurance?"
"On the off-chance – the very remote chance – that Moose finds a way to turn you… back into what you used to be –"
"You think he will?"
"I've learnt not to underestimate Winchesters. Anyway, if he does, I need to make sure you two don't come after me. How do you think human Dean would react to knowing that, if I die, Sam's going to receive a recording of this entire conversation in every email account he has and on all his cell phones?"
"Sam's not going to turn me human."
"Then you've got nothing to worry about. Humour me."
Dean shrugs. "Whatever makes you happy, man. You need the sound of my voice to put you to sleep at night, just say so."
"I'd rather have Sam. Imagine how I could make him scream for me."
"You trying to get me riled up?"
"Just testing the waters. So… Does this mean Sam Winchester is no longer off-limits? I can tell my demons he's fair game for anyone who can take him down?"
"That's what I wanted to consult you about. Do you think I need to kill him?"
"The answer to that question is always yes."
"I don't want him to turn me back. But the good thing about having him alive is that he's a distraction. Anyone who's anti-Winchester will go for him first. He's the easier target."
"You realize that won't last much longer?"
"You think Phone Guy's going to manage to kill him?"
"He's mortal, Dean. You're not. Not anymore."
"Sam's mortal," Dean says thoughtfully, a slow smile spreading across his face. "That's awesome."
"That's how I look at it whenever a hunter gets too close."
"How long do you think he'll live? I mean, Lucifer and the trials and all that… Has to have messed up his body, right? You think Castiel's healing fixed it?"
"Doesn't matter. Hunters don't have much in the way of life expectancy anyway. But that doesn't answer your question. If you really want to be sure he doesn't turn you back…"
"Kid's stubborn."
"He is."
"You know how much easier our lives would've been if Sam hadn't been Sam? Man, I was so stupid working so hard to keep him safe. If I'd known how liberating this would be, I'd've stopped worrying about Sam years ago."
"In fact, you think your life would have been far better without Sam in it."
Dean laughs. "You're trying to make me say stuff you think you can use to blackmail me. Just as stupid as Phone Guy. My life would've been way better without Sam in it, and you can tell him I said so." Dean takes another gulp of beer. "You're right. I should get him out of the way. It'll suit both of us. He's always whining about how he's willing to die. And me… Even if he does take the demon out of me, or whatever, I'm not going back to being that Dean. Not now that I know how much better this is."
"You may find that Sam's harder to kill than you think. I should know."
"For you, maybe. I taught the kid all his moves. I can take him down. And I have one advantage you don't."
"Maybe you do." Crowley picks up his phone. "So… Are you going to kill him?"
Dean opens his mouth to say yes and –
Hesitates.
"Not if he stays out of my way," he says at last. "I said I'd leave him alone if he didn't try to come after me. I'm a man of my word."
"Are you? That's new."
"I'm a demon now. I have to keep my end of the deal."
"All right then." Crowley throws back his whiskey and gets to his feet. "It's not breaking your word if I send someone after him, is it?"
Dean grins. "Have at it."
"You threatened to kill Cole."
"He tried to blackmail me. Are you trying to blackmail me?"
Crowley looks down at his phone. "Believe me, Dean," he says. "When I try to blackmail you, I'll be making sure I can threaten to do something you would go to any lengths to prevent."
"If your guys manage to kill Sam, neither of us has anything to worry about."
"If," Crowley agrees.
But his expression is wary as he gets to his feet.
Dean watches Crowley walk off and turns to the bartender. She's hot and blonde and desperate, if the way she's undone her top two buttons is any indication.
"Hey, sweetheart," Dean drawls.
"Hey yourself." She puts another beer in front of him. "On the house." She leans on the bar, making sure he has a good view down her shirt, before saying, "So how are you today?"
Dean's a demon. He's forgotten how to feel and Crowley's off arranging to assassinate his brother.
He smiles slowly. "Never better, sweetheart."
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