Read 'em and weep, the dead man's hand again,
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die,
The only thing you see, you know it's gonna be: the Ace of Spades
-Motörhead

11 P.M. Nuttal Mann's Saloon No. 10, Black Hills, South Dakota

Dean sits at the table, observing his opponents, as the dealer doles out the cards. He avoids eye contact, clandestinely watching their movements and their facial expressions.

The first card in his hand is the eight of clubs, the second: the ace. The eight of spades comes third, followed by the ace of spades. Two pair ain't bad, and Motörhead rocks!

Taking a sip of his drink, Dean tries to recall what he knows of cartomancy. The ace of clubs signifies an increase of wealth and extreme prosperity. I can work with that. The eight of spades represents disappointment and opposition, the eight of clubs: opposition and recklessness. He frowns. The ace of spades represents bad news, the loss of someone close, the death of someone near. That sucks.

Card meanings aside, there is something else about this hand that tickles at the back of his mind. It holds some significance of interest to him, but he can't recall what. He examines the e cards carefully. Two eights, two aces. All black, the bullet suits.

Shit. He nearly sprays his drink through his nose when he realizes. Two aces, two eights. The other players look at him skeptically, trying to glean information about his hand from his reaction, perhaps hoping he'll fold.

He should. If he were a wise man, he'd quit now. He'd grab Sammy and get the hell out of Dodge, but he doesn't. Dean Winchester is no wise man, though he's no fool either. When the devil already holds the liens on your soul, you have very little to lose, you don't just walk out on a hand like this.

Two eights, two aces: the Dead Man's hand.

He appreciates the irony, actually. Legendary wild man and gambler Wild Bill Hickok was holding this very combination, when he was shot to death, right here in this Deadwood saloon. No one can swear what his fifth card was; some say it was the nine of diamonds, the five of diamonds, or maybe the queen of clubs? Whatever the fifth card, Bill ended up full of lead.

Now here Dean sits, playing for his future. He hopes for the queen of Hearts, "Lady Luck" herself, maybe another ace? He holds his breath, waiting for the final card to be dealt.

He picks up the four of diamonds. Crap. Four: as in four walls to keep you in, four sides of a box – because he really needs reminders of coffins, these days. A shitty four of diamonds with the ace of spades means nothing but trouble, he thinks.

He looks across the bar to where Sam is sitting, engrossed in something on his laptop, probably looking for some way to free him from the deal. He looks up with a smile, and Dean recalls a second interpretation of the card: good fortune, a change for the better. That, with the old ace of clubs, could bring good things.

When the bets are placed and the ante's raised, he goes all in. The dealer asks him if he's sure he wants to do that, his eyes flashing black. Dean isn't thrown, he doesn't even flinch. He lays his cards face up on the table and leans back in his chair, cracking a lazy grin at his opponents.

"Read 'em and weep."


Author's Notes: Nuttal Mann's Saloon No. 10, was a real saloon. Wild Bill really was shot there, and it is believed he was holding that hand (sans four of diamonds) when he was killed, hence the name "Dead Man's Hand." I know little about poker, so if there are inaccuracies regarding the dealing or ante or bets please advise and I'll do what I can.