Whisper of Angels

-1-

Ambiguity

Summary: Winchesters don't just have blind faith, they have each other.

Author's Note: Season 3 spoilers. Set post-Long Distance Call.

Disclaimer: Well, I'm sad to say my state of affairs have not changed since the last posting. I still do not own Sam or Dean, or Supernatural, or anything connected to SN…my brother's got a dog that looks like a windego though, that should count for something I think.

"Dude, I'm gonna go check out the bar." Dean said, "You coming with?"

Dean grabbed his jacket pretty sure of what Sam's reply would be. No Dean, I'm going to keep researching.

"No." Sam didn't bother to look up from the book he was looking at. "I'm gonna keep researching."

Naturally...and was he on the money or what?

Dean sighed, "Of course. Well, you know where I'll be."

Dean didn't bother to grab the keys, the bar was right across the street and this way he could easily get good and drunk--which he had every intention of doing. After his idiot move in Ohio...he'd like to drown every memory of it.

Maybe blind faith is all I have.

How stupid couple he have been, wanting to believe in something like that was nothing more than desperation. Nothing could save him now.

Nothing left to believe in.

--

As soon as Dean left, Sam pulled out their dad's journal and flipped open to the page he'd marked.

Sam pulled back the carpet, and drew the diagram his father had sketched god only knows how long ago. It was simple, and to the point. After all, the only thing he wanted was to talk to her.

Exorciziamus te, omnis immundus spiritus…

Sam paused for a moment, thinking about Dean's persistence that they don't work with Ruby…but he had to do this.

…omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolico. Invoato a nobis sancto…

The books, and the professors, soothsayers, psychics, they all knew nothing. Ruby was Dean's only chance.

Ruby was Sam's only chance to make things right.

…Dominicos sanctal ecclestial . Terogamus audi nos

There was no wind, no theatricals, just the faint smell of sulfur and a flash of light, and he was face to face with Ruby.

"Jeez, Sam, if you wanted to see me all you had to do was ask. The whole summoning thing is a bit overkill, don't you think?"

Ruby looked down at the pentagram that kept her closed in, irritated. "Sam, you mind?" She gestured down.

"Yeah," He said pointedly, "I do."

Ruby sighed, "Well, what has you in such a fine mood that I'm being leashed. Dean lurking around here too?"

"Its just you and me." Sam replied.

"Great. Now, as much as I love being caged up like this...let me out!"

"We're going to talk first."

"About what?" Ruby asked, growing pretty damn pissed with him. "How you're treating me like your common demon when I've been trailing after you saving yours and your brother's sorry asses, how you lost the damn gun that I fixed for you to keep your asses alive and breathing...stop me when I'm getting warm!" She shouted at him. Morons, the both of them, she swore.

"I was thinking you could maybe tell me why the hell you lied to me about Dean?"

"Unbelievable, all the secrets big brother keeps from you and this is the one he decides to spill." Ruby shook her head, "Idiot."

"You lied to me."

"Welcome to the real world, Sam. It happens, okay. I did what it took to get you to trust me," Ruby said. "Besides, you know, look whose talking, huh? You're just as full of secrets as the rest of us."

Sam ignored the comment. "Right, because lying to me about being able to save Dean makes you so trustworthy."

"Oh, right, because Sam, you've been so upfront and honest." Ruby shot back.

"What are you talking about? You're the one…"

"No! You Sam, you lied to your brother about Lilith wanting to string you up and devour your soul, and you are the one who keeps pretending that all those nightmares you've had recently…that they're just nightmares. Even though you know damn well they aren't."

"How do you know about the nightmares I've been having?" Sam felt a chill run up his spine at the mention.

"Its time to be grownups Sam, so why don't we just call them what they are. Visions, premonitions, whatever...not like it matters. What does matter is that the entire demonic world, they know about your visions too. God, you know, I bet Dean is going to be seriously pissed with you when he gets down to hell and finds out from some low level, 'not worth peanuts' sort of demon who looks like an eight dollar hooker that Sammy is back to being vision boy…he's gonna be pretty pissed that you didn't tell him."

"What do they mean?"

"Why do you insist on asking questions you already know the answer to?" Ruby said, with a slight smile, they had a chance at this now. She hadn't been positive the visions would come back…it just might be her saving grace. "If I were you, I'd be asking a better question."

"Can I save Dean?" Sam asked her, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Well, not the question I was aiming for…also, I'm not a freakin' soothsayer!" Ruby snapped, "If I'm helping you again, it'd be nice to have some free movement."

It was only marker, and so Sam scuffed it with the toe of his shoe, hoping to god this wasn't a mistake.

"Much better." Ruby seemed a bit more relaxed now.

"Answer the question Ruby."

"Hey, you've seen it Sam." Ruby told him, "I've only heard about it. I'd love a first hand account though."

"Screw you."

"Oh, how very Dean of you." Ruby tossed herself back on the nearest bed. "You know, you should be a hell of a lot nicer to me, Sam."

"Why did you help me?" Sam questioned.

"Still trying to figure it out, huh, Sam? Why I'm not evil?"

"I wouldn't necessarily say that." Sam told her, "You're still a demon. You're evil"

"Oh, how very black and white of you." Ruby scoffed, "Because you're one to judge, right? Being one hundred percent human like you are."

"Its different. I'm not like you." I'm not evil, I won't be.

"Really?" Ruby said, "Because I don't think so. Everyday you sit there, with the thoughts of all the things you could do screaming in your head…but you don't."

"A demon can make the choice." Sam ventured, "If they want."

"Not quite, genius." Ruby said, "Give it another go." Ruby propped herself up on her elbows as she watched him process it…and the whole world was depending on this kid, it was a damn sad state of things. "By the way, if you want to bitch about whose keeping secrets from who, maybe you and Dean should have a long chat…he's the one whose just chock full of answers.

"What are you talking about Ruby?"

"You Winchesters, you're just champs at keeping secrets from one another, John, Dean, you…and none of you seem to notice this little pattern of it not working out for you."

"What do you know?" Sam demanded of her, he was done playing games with demons.

"Your brother's terrified of going to hell, and you don't have the slightest idea why." Ruby stated.

"Because its hell." Sam spat back at her, "I think it's sort of self-explanatory."

"Not as so much as you might think." Ruby said, "Hell's not just a eternal hellfire wrapped up in a prison of misery."

"Really? Because I thought that pretty much sums it up." Sam felt a chill of fear run through him at the prospect of his brother going through all that, suffering all that for him--because of him.

"There's that but there's also the part where after years, decades, maybe even centuries, it warps you and twists you until you become…well, the things you hunt, Sam."

"No." Sam couldn't, he refused to believe that could be the truth. That after everything…Dean would be the one to become evil. His brother had given everything to make sure it didn't happen to him…he couldn't let that happen to Dean.

"Yes." Ruby corrected.

"How'd you do it?" He asked. "How'd you fight it?"

"Luck of the draw, I think. No matter how hard I tried…I couldn't get rid of my humanity." Ruby sighed, "Damn karma."

"Dean has a month." Sam said, "I have to break his deal. I have to."

"Good thing you've got leverage." Ruby said getting up from the bed with a jump. "I should go, if you're back in the game maybe I can see about re-attaining the colt for you. Give Dean my best, won't you?"

Ruby disappeared and Sam walked back over to kick the carpet back in place, covering the pentagram.

He had to break Dean from his deal.

--