The Hard Sell

By: Tidia

Beta: That Girl Six for first draft, it has undergone many changes and any leftover mistakes are mine.

Author's Notes:

There are quotes by Mark Twain, George Shaw, and Isaac Asimov used in this fic. When possible I have tried to alert the reader. You will also notice that there are names in the beginning of each part- that will alert you to the point of view being used (trying something new). This fic's placement in the timeline is after Dark Side of the Moon, and will only include the show up to that point.

We will try to incorporate future episodes in the remaining story to the pentalogy, however we are reserving the right to disregard episodes too. (Kripke and Gamble have not learned to work with us.) If you know what is going to happen in this fic, please do not guess on the public reviews.

Part 1

Nicholas

Nicholas pulled off the newspaper boy hat and ran his fingers through his hair. The crowd leaned forward in his pause. He needed to gather his thoughts so they would understand. "Why shouldn't there be Heaven on Earth?"

It was a rhetorical question, but he always hoped someone would try to answer it. Instead the participants looked around, glancing to the other participants for validation or the answer. Nicholas kept his cap off and placed it on the podium. He was speaking without notes, finding speaking from his heart more trustworthy. "Why are you all trying to be so good now for a future promise, long into the future? One that we have no confirmation on?"

"What do you mean?" called out a man from the audience of twenty.

Nicholas smiled. He was not going to be patronizing. "Do you know what Heaven is like?"

The gentleman bristled, screwing his face back. "No, but The Bible—"

Nicholas interrupted, placating with his hands because he did not want the people to leave until they heard his message, told others, and increased numbers in the group. "Friends, I am not an atheist. I believe in God."

"Amen," called out a woman, and the others laughed.

Nicholas joined in the merriment. He was happy after all, and soon his audience would be, too. "I believe in a god that created angels—angels who are eternal with painless, happy lives. Then he created humans—Man who has a short life, which during that life must earn happiness while being thrown miseries. Does that sound about right?" Nicholas had altered Mark Twain's words only slightly. The great American writer had the right idea.

"Yeah!" came the reply from the anonymous back row. Those that were in the back were on the fringe, unsure if they wanted to join the others, but testing the waters.

He knew what to say to them. "So I used to spend my life fearing Hell, not going after what I wanted. But then I thought, why not go for it? Why not be happy here on Earth?" It had been the best decision he had ever made, opening so many doors for him, creating a purpose and position for himself. "So I am happy, and I want you to be happy. What will make you happy?"

There was the silence of disbelief. There always was in every town. He wanted to give them some ideas. "Who wants to be rich?"

People raised their hands earnestly, sitting in the folding chairs of the senior center which allowed the room to be rented out in the evening.

"How we going to do that? Rob a bank?" The gentleman who had spoken earlier about The Bible stood up.

Nicholas jumped down from the stage, placing himself between the exit and the man. "Yes. Think about it. The reason why bank robbers get caught is because they get greedy. But a note, gloves, a disguise, and a getaway, then you've nabbed yourself some money. Then for bigger stakes there is embezzlement." Nicholas backed away, leaning against the stage.

"You sure this isn't one of those financial planning seminars?" a woman said in a slightly panicky voice.

"No," he answered the woman's question. "I see you shaking your head because you believe in convention. That's what stopping you from happiness. You need to think around the boxes and worry less about ramifications to your soul."

"What about jail?" one of the women asked.

"Don't get caught. If that is the only thing you need to concentrate on, then you can get around that." Nicholas rolled his eyes. "I can vouch for that." He played with the heavy gold ring on his finger. "This is not a way to make a great living. But I'm doing fine because I went out and got what I needed to live like an angel on Earth." He laughed at his inside joke. "This is not hard work, not like you—" He pointed to a man in the front row.

"Me?" The well groomed man brought his hand to his chest. "I love my job. And I have Prada."

"If it's not money, then usually it's love." It had to be one of the base emotions to make people react and change.

The man's lips turned down. "I can't find anyone to be there for me. To meet my needs."

There were only so many choices when it came to love. "Maybe you are just looking in the wrong places. So many times we don't go after what's right in front of us because the other person may be taken."

"Or heterosexual," the man shivered.

Nicholas heard the bell ring in his mind. "Go for the person who has been there for you. Take away anyone or anything that gets in your way. That love should be yours on your terms that will make you happy. What are you waiting for, to be together in the afterlife?"

"This sounds too simple," said one of the men from the back row.

"Best things are simple. It's not wrong." Nicholas pushed himself up so he was sitting on the stage, admiring his Brioni loafers. "Find your Heaven on Earth, not after you die."

(((((())))))

Joshua

Joshua agreed with Dean that they needed the information Malachi offered, but by accepting the scorned Advisor's tutelage, Joshua had given up some control.

Each meeting was a revelation; therefore he had consulted with Dean about keeping a separate journal from his usual, which would in time be placed in The Tomb. The first Advisor journal, unless the others were found. Perhaps having the discussion over the holidays was poor timing. Dean said Joshua was overanalyzing and to enjoy some time under the mistletoe with Carolyn, but Sam agreed with him.

His work with Malachi would remain secret for now. It was undecided if the future Triads would have access to what Joshua learned. Joshua tried not to think about the apocalypse being the end of the world; he had to be working towards a future.

In keeping the journal, Joshua was able to assert some control in his commentary. In their first meeting Joshua attempted to set a professional tone. Malachi skirted around, looking to be friendly and praiseful about Joshua's ability to translate the Sicilian dialect.

Joshua was not flattered. This was a temporary situation for him, not a long lasting relationship. Adam had loaned the cabin to him, eventually when he was finished, he would burn it and arrange for payment through The Brotherhood.

In the first meeting Joshua was impressed to learn about herbs that would quicken the effects of certain spells. Caleb had asked Joshua to call after the completion of each meeting. Joshua assumed it was Caleb could pester him, but then he realized as The Knight, Caleb was concerned that if Malachi turned, Joshua would be unable to deal with the demon witch alone.

Malachi was already taking advantage of the situation, moving into the Wilmington Ranch. Where it had been once cursed for him to set foot on the land, he was now free to live there. He split his time between there, L.A. and New York City in order to pursue his career.

At the second meeting, Malachi deemed Joshua worthy to learn a Triad Power protection spell. When done successfully it would provide The Triad with a shield.The day was spent preparing the spell work, which would be completed by the Triad members. Dean, Sam or Caleb need not be together for the spell to work- just an incantation and a talisman.

Many times Joshua had to ask Malachi for more personal space, but Joshua did not tell Caleb, instead he focused on the spell, which Caleb was only too eager for The Guardian and The Scholar to use.

When it failed, it did so in spectacular fashion. Sam and Dean were killed by hunters. Thankfully, Caleb was notified by Castiel that all was not as it seemed. Caleb did not blame Joshua, nor mention the failure of Triad Power.

The spell in theory should have worked. Malachi's theory was that Dean was influencing the magic because he had gone to Hell. Joshua believed the influence was because of Sam and Caleb's demon connection. However, Merlin had been part demon, and started The Brotherhood. He also may have been part angel so Dean being a vessel for Michael should have negated Malachi's theory. Maybe there were higher plans at work.

It made Joshua shy about Triad Power, but Dean and Sam needed more choices to stop the apocalypse. Their trip to Heaven had changed them, added a sense of desperation, though there was nothing in Dean or Sam's description of their experience that could explain it.

Joshua committed to his studies. However, he was not pleased when he found Malachi sitting in his office as he returned from lunch two months after their teacher/student relationship started.

"What are you doing here?" Their meetings were always scheduled to give Joshua an illusion of some power.

Malachi was stretched out on the couch in Joshua's office, flipping through a magazine. "Drew let me in. He's a keeper." Malachi winked.

"I'm letting you out." Joshua remained standing. "This is not the time or place for a meeting."

"I was looking for representation. I'm planning for a long career."

Embodying a male model, which Joshua tracked down to find was reported to have a drug problem and overdosed; only the information was wrong, and he was making a comeback, a miraculous comeback. "As a male model? Because usually it is not a long term business."

"Maybe acting or some commercial work? Maybe I'll open a restaurant. I just know I like this." Malachi stretched his arms wide on the couch. "But you know how it is. Do you think Carolyn would have agreed to marry you if you were not a handsome devil?"

Carolyn was a closed subject. "The firm cannot represent you. Thank you for coming." Joshua pointed to the door.

Malachi shifted his legs, placing them on the floor. "I can wait for you at home. I have yet to meet the bride-to-be."

"And you are not—ever. She is not involved in this." He was protective of her and their relationship, especially as they made their wedding plans. They were getting married at the same place her grandparents had been wed, although Mackland had offered to pay for the wedding without limits. Carolyn hadn't been tempted by the Ames fortune, which could have made her truly royalty for the day. She wanted a simpler setting, which made Joshua want to do anything to make the day special for her.

"So I guess I won't be getting an invitation to the event of the century?" Malachi shrugged his shoulders. "I could go as Drew's date." He pushed his longer blond hair off his face.

Joshua raised his eyebrows. He was not going to rise to the bait. He knew from working with Malachi that the old witch was always looking for a reaction. Joshua would not admit that it kept him on his toes and deterred the calmness he tried to project.

"Fine, whatever makes you feel comfortable." Malachi leaned forward. "I thought it would be interesting to shadow you today, since we are building a close relationship."

Joshua shook his head. Malachi liked that his eccentricities and boldness were better accepted in this new world than the past he had come from. "This is not 'bring your disgraced Advisor to work' day. Don't come back here."

"Drew likes me." Malachi stood up.

Joshua opened the door to his office. "He doesn't know you."

"He'd like to though." Malachi looked over his shoulder. "Like Leah wants to get to know you better."

Leah, the current head of Joshua's coven, was impressed more than ever with Joshua's ability, especially since he had shown her some of things he had learned recently. Where once he noticed harmless flirting on her part, there was now intense interest he attempted to dissuade. "We have a professional relationship. Stop insinuating."

"Joshua, I am surprised you are not aware of how much sex appeal witches have." Malachi adjusted his shirt, and went out the door giving a nod to the people he passed.

Malachi kept his word and did not return to the office, and over the course of the next two months they stuck to their arranged schedule. Joshua wondered if it were to relax him, make him feel comfortable and let his guard down.

Where Joshua was usually so direct, confident and well-trained, he was now having doubts. There was a lot of pressure for him to succeed, and his failure had been gross, He was worried it could be repeated with catastrophic results. Carolyn was picking up on this change and on his excessive secretiveness. He wanted to call his mother for advice, but he couldn't involve her either. Advice from Dean, Caleb, or Sam was out of the question when it came to women. He was lost in pensive thought instead of paying attention to the internet campaign of one of his clients when Drew entered, back flat against the glass door. "Drew, I'm expecting a conference call with the florist and Carolyn. If you can put that through . . ."

"I need to talk to you. To be honest."

Joshua only spared him a glance. He wasn't in the mood to give an opinion of Armani versus Zegna or the topic of the moment. "Drew, I told you that you're invited to the wedding, but I'm not sure if I can seat you with Caleb or Adam. . ."

Drew came forward, hands planted on Joshua's desk. "It's not about that. It's about you. I've known you for a long time. We work well together."

Joshua gave Drew all his attention. "Is this about a raise? It's a budgetary decision, not mine, but I've said I will do my best."

Drew inhaled deeply. "I love you."

Joshua did not move, instead going into himself to check on his heartbeat. He wanted to use an expletive but remained calm. Perhaps a muscle twitched, but he held himself as still as possible, frozen.

"Did you hear me?"

Joshua moved his hand in a jerky motion to grab the file on his desk to skip over what Drew had said. He had a fiancé, a future nervous bride. He couldn't deal with a delusional admin. "Here is that file I was talking about earlier. If you can contact—"

Drew came around, then rested his hip on the edge of Joshua's desk. "No, I am about the here and now. I love you."

Joshua rolled his chair, glad there was some space between him and his assistant. Drew had a before unseen gleam in his eyes. He looked through the frosted glass door, seeing people were working at their desks, not paying attention to his office. They would only see shadows through the door, designed for privacy and for its aesthetic effect. "In what sense?"

Drew walked his fingers closer to Joshua. "In the sense that I think you should break your engagement to Carolyn and run away with me."

Joshua pushed his chair away from the desk and Drew. "What?" He mumbled Cristo under his breath. He had never, never given Drew any inclination of any interest. Never. He had listened when Drew prattled on about fashion and his crushes on Caleb and Adam. He may have encouraged the crush on Caleb.

"It's about going after what I want." Drew pushed off the edge of the desk and closed the distance between them.

"This isn't like you." Joshua stood up, using his height advantage.

"This is the new me." Drew looked him in the eyes, not backing down.

"Go back to the old Drew, and we'll forget this ever happened." Joshua winced at the extortion.

"I don't want to forget. If Carolyn was out of the picture would you consider—"

Joshua felt his stomach twist at the threat towards his fiancé. "No."

Drew must have sensed he had gone too far, maybe because Joshua had clenched his hands into fists. "I like her, but she has no fashion sense, and I imagine she is a bit of a prude. And she buys those fake bags thinking no one knows. I know. Your fiancé is financing the drug trade."

Joshua studied his assistant. Drew looked the same- shiny, expensive shoes, tailored pants, a Thomas Pink shirt, with matching tie and vest. "What's gotten into you? Have you been drinking? Did you take something?" Drugs would explain Drew's hallucinatory behavior.

"No, this is life, my life." Drew beat his chest, then rubbed it. "And I should thank your friend Malachi."

"Malachi is not my friend." He had to say that out loud for himself, too. "What are you thanking him for?"

Drew became more animated. "He said to check out those meetings about Heaven on Earth, said he heard good things about them." Drew gestured to the outside, then brought his hand back, placing them in a prayer position. "You should listen to him, come with me to one of his seminars."

Joshua groaned, a hand to his forehead. He could not deal with this—the apocalypse, The Triad, Malachi, and the wedding was enough. "Drew, what have you become involved with?"

"They're free." Drew kneeled by Joshua on the wood floor. "Come with me. I promise it will be worth it."

Joshua gestured for Drew to get up. "I'll come, but you need to stop this. I'm getting married to Carolyn. She's calling in fifteen minutes about our wedding plans." Joshua closed his eyes. "Don't cross your fingers behind your back either."

Drew brought his hands up. "See, you know me. . ." Joshua's look had Drew deter from his continuing thought, "but, okay, I'll promise as long as you come to one of the meetings."

He needed help. It was tempting to call Malachi, since he had sent Drew to these life changing meetings. However, Malachi was a demon, Joshua reminded himself. Instead, Joshua knew one person who was interested in cults, this sounded like a cult situation. He could also divert Drew's attention onto someone else. "Can I bring a guest?"

Dean

Boo ran out in front when he saw the Impala. The dog had the restraint not to jump on the black paint which Dean had spent a few hours teaching him with positive reinforcement. He wished positive reinforcement worked with humans. Dean turned to his brother before they got out. "Dude, this is just a pit stop."

"It's your house, Dean." Sam looked at the front door with longing. They had been on the road so long with infrequent breaks.

Dean was not going to give into his brother's complaints, because then he would be lured in by his own to give into rest. "And we have angels and demons to deal with, Sammy." Dean stepped out of the car so that Boo wound his way through his legs. "Just drop off the laundry and grab some more clothes. I'll pull that stuff from The Tomb that Bobby was interested in."

"One night, Dean." Sam slammed the door. "I want to sleep in a bed that I don't have to worry is infested with bugs."

Dean got inside the house, bending down once to pat Boo. "I told you not to listen to Ryan Seacrest." All of the motels had cable and E! News, which Sam was drawn to, however, Dean could take this addiction over that of another sort. He could also tease his brother, though it sounded stressed instead of jovial.

"Shut up," Sam replied, dropping the laundry by the basement door.

Dean ignored his brother and went into The Tomb, finding the book Bobby had requested. He then searched the shelf for the small chest. Sam was seated in the kitchen having a neatly made sandwich, cut in half, crusts removed. Dean pulled the half sandwich away, taking a bite before Sam could protest. Sticking to old hat made things seem normal, even if Dean realized they were far from it.

"I was eating that," Sam added and tried to pry Dean's hands away from the small bite left. Sam was making an effort to play along.

Boo alerted them to the phone ringing by barking, in case they hadn't heard the shrillness of the dated phone. "Who the hell has this number and knows we're here?"

Sam got up to get the phone, eyeing the remaining sandwich Dean shoved in his mouth. "Hi, Missouri." Dean rolled his eyes at his brother. "Yes, it was a nice ceremony; yes, he's right here." Sam held up the phone. "She wants to talk to you."

Dean raised his middle finger to his brother while his mouth was filled with ham and cheese.

Sam was smug and whistled on his way back to the refrigerator, pulling out the fixings to another sandwich. It looked like it was going to be better than the last one. Sam was purposefully thwarting his attempt to get out of the house quickly. Dean knew it was more than sleeping in a bed. Sam was making amends to him, an olive branch that Dean struggled to accept on a daily basis.

"Missouri, we're kinda busy. Can I call you back?" Dean started, trying to stop his brother from putting mayonnaise on a slice of bread by making gestures with his hands that Sam was ignoring as he popped open the pickle jar.

Boo wasn't helping; he was by Sam looking for scraps to drop.

"No. I need you boys, all of you, to come to Kansas."

Dean was alert. "The whole Triad? Trouble?" Sam looked up from his masterpiece sandwich to take interest.

"Nothing like that. I can take care of myself. But I need you to listen to me—Sam, Caleb, and Joshua, too."

Dean shook his head towards his brother. "Missouri, I can't get The Triad together at the drop of a hat. Caleb's helping Josh." Joshua had called The Knight about possible cult activity nearby. It had been difficult for Caleb to separate from them after the last time they died, but there were other hunts. He also did not want Caleb caught up in the battle of wills. Dean had spent too much time in the middle of two Winchesters to put someone else in that impossible position. He had no doubts his best friend had his back, but he also didn't want to make Damien choose sides. "This is going to have to wait."

"Don't you take an attitude with me." She hissed, and Dean swore he felt the back of a spoon swat his head. "You were always a stubborn child."

"It's worked for me so far," Dean quipped, allowing Missouri some leeway.

"Fine. If you cannot come to me, then I'll come to you at the farm."

"We're leaving the farm, heading to Atlanta." Castiel had mentioned some demon activity in Georgia. It was more pressing than Missouri's mystery.

"Boy, I am asking nicely. I know you boys are busy. I can meet you at Joshua's home."

"You might want to ask Josh about that. I think he and Carolyn are shacking up." Dean was being considerate. He wouldn't want Missouri to break up his time with a girl. "Missouri, you have to make it worth our while. Throw a guy a bone. I shouldn't have to tell you how this works."

"You need to make time for me, Guardian. The Brotherhood is at stake."

Dean hunched his shoulders. He was in no mood to deal with Missouri and her psychic eccentricities. "Tell me something I don't know." The world was at stake, his brotherhood with Sam was at stake – there was a lot riding on him.

"Don't sass me."

He rolled his eyes. She was trying him, but he would do what she asked because of her previous service to The Brotherhood, and her friendship to his father. Missouri was ultimately responsible for them meeting Pastor Jim and Mac. He owed her. Dean also recalled how she forced him to memorize the lines for The Triad ceremony. It would be a short visit.

North Carolina and Georgia were close. They'd meet Missouri, have a little meeting to make her feel better, then head to their hunt. "We'll get on the road tomorrow," he replied. "Missouri, this better be good."

"No, it's bad, Dean. Very bad."

On that ominous note he hung up the phone and called Boo to him, giving him a pat. There was a shiver of worry in Missouri's words. He almost didn't want to meet her, but there was no where to run. "Well, Sammy looks like you got your wish. We're staying for the night, then heading to Josh's."

"What's going on?" Sam licked his fingers, then wiped them on a napkin.

Dean pulled out a beer from the well-stocked refrigerator. He was going to fix himself a sandwich, too, possibly coerce Sam into making one for him. "I don't know, but I hope Josh has enough room for us."