*Sam*

It's going on almost half an hour now and I still can't believe that Yellow-Eyes is actually, truly gone. A lifetime's crusade finally over.

I'm filled with an intense feeling of relief and a heavy weariness - I guess the last two years catching up. However, I'm also plagued with a gnawing dread because this was over way too easily. Well, easy for me and Dean. Nothing this easy ever comes without a price. And I fear what the price is.

I glance over at Dean who is standing alone at the Impala. He seems aloof and calm. And it absolutely seems like an act - forced. It increases the dread - confirms it, honestly.

I excuse myself from Bobby and Ellen, who are talking quietly together about the opening of the Hell gate; their tones worried and urgent. I'm just as concerned about the Hell gate having been opened and what it's released, but I can't do anything about that at the moment. However, right now, there is a conversation that I need to have with my brother.

When I reach Dean he doesn't look at me; his eyes focused on the ground. And I know it's because he purposely means to avoid meeting my eyes - to keep something hidden from me.

I frown.

"You know, when Jake saw me...," I start cautiously, watching him intently; he still doesn't look at me but I see him tense. "It was like he saw a ghost." When he doesn't respond, I add, scoffing, "I mean, hell, you heard him, Dean. He said he killed me."

Dean looks at me sharply then. "Well, obviously he was wrong," he states sternly.

I glare at him, faintly insulted that he thinks I'm that stupid.

"I don't think he was, Dean," I counter, and then ask gently, pained, because...I know the answer, I just want him to tell me - to confirm my fears, "What happened...after I was stabbed?"

"I already told you," Dean says curtly, his gaze averting once again.

I give a mirthless, breathy laugh, turning my focus to the graveyard around us. "Let's pretend you haven't forgotten that you're talking to me, yeah?"

I feel Dean look at me deliberately. I turn to meet his eyes, asking with a look that he stop lying to me.

He sighs heavily, rubbing at his mouth, and then gives me a forced smile. "Come on, Sam. We just killed the Demon. Can we celebrate for a minute?" he nearly pleads.

I look away from him in disbelief, huffing exasperatedly. "I can't believe you!" I snap, shaking my head, glaring at the ground before turning it on him. "I can't believe you did that. How could you?"

Dean then sighs, defeated, finally dropping the act and asks "What was I supposed to do?"

"Let me die!" I answer sharply, honestly.

Dean shakes his head. "No. Not an option," he states firmly and then looks at me earnestly. "I'm supposed to look out for you. That's my job, and I did my job."

I give a disbelieving laugh and turn from him, trying to find a state of calm - might as well as ask the sky to rain ice cream.

He grasps my shoulder suddenly, firmly, turning me to face him. "Hey! Don't get mad at me," he demands but then softens his tone when he says, "Don't you do that. Not about this." After a moment of silence between us, he impresses, "I had to do it."

I want to argue but know that it would just lead us in circles, and currently, I am just too tired. It just hurts to know he honestly believes that.

I then take a deep, steadying breath and ask, my voice barely audible, "Ten years, then?"

Dean lets go of my shoulder, leans back against the Impala as if he needs the support before he says softly, "No. One year. I got one year."

I too lean back against the Impala then, needing its support because his answer feels like a punch to my gut, leaving me breathless.

One year.

Of course, one year, I think bitterly, tears surfacing. Why would he get the full ten years? He's a Winchester - of course, he'd get shortchanged nine years. Although, if I were to be honest, I'm actually surprised he got a year. It could have easily been hours just like with dad. A year is a twisted, bittersweet blessing.

"Sam?" Dean prompts, looking at me worriedly. Like I'm the one who needs to be worried about - I'm not the one who swore my soul to an eternity of Damnation.

I wipe my eyes roughly. "God damn it, Dean...," I start but lose the momentum, suddenly feeling drained and defeated.

Dean looks at me unsurely. Like he might want to apologize but we both know he'd be lying and I've never been one for empty gestures.

After a moment of silence, Deans asks, heartfelt, "Just don't be mad, Sammy, please? I can't take you being angry with me. Not with just a year..."

I look at him incredulously, almost snapping that he deserves my anger; that he really deserves a beating, but my anger quickly dissipates at the sincere pleading in his eyes.

God, how the part of me that resents and nearly hates him wants so dearly to punish him; to tell him that he did this to himself, that he earned my anger, but...he's right. I don't want our last year together tarnished with anger, bitterness, and regret either. Although, I don't want a last year with him, period; but he's taken that decision out of my hands.

In the end, I decide - for his sake - that I'll keep the anger limited, but that doesn't mean that I approve of or accept what he's done.

And then, suddenly, I realize, I don't have to accept it.

We've broken a Deal before! I figure a Deal is a Deal, we can break Dean's.

I look at him resolutely then. "I'm not mad. Right now," I explain seriously. "I'm gonna get you out of this. I don't care what it takes," I promise vehemently and then add, "And then I'm seriously kicking your ass and giving you the silent treatment for at least six months before I kick your ass again, and maybe after that, I'll start talking to you again."

Dean gives me a surprised look while trying to suppress a small, amused smile before his expression settles on sadness. "As long as you're not mad at me for my...last...you know."

My anger rises at his skewed priorities but I swallow the argument when the crunching of leaves alerts us to Bobby's and Ellen's approach.

Dean and I quickly school our expressions and demeanor into something easy and collected, not wanting to share our new predicament just yet. However, I notice Bobby looking at us intently - searching. So, I figure that he knows about Dean's Deal and seems to be searching for if I know.

I feel a flare of anger that Bobby knew before me and didn't say anything. But the anger is only fleeting because I'm sure Bobby only kept it from me because Dean begged him to. The anger then returns to Dean for even creating this situation.

"Well...Yellow-Eyed-Demon might be dead but a lot more got through the gate," Ellen states, standing next to me, looking at us curiously. I'm guessing Dean and me aren't being as furtive as we think. Thankfully, she doesn't look like she's going to pry.

"How many, you think?" Dean asks, actually looking grateful for the change of topic.

"Hundred. Maybe two hundred," I answer, remembering Yellow-Eyes' plans. "It's an army. He's unleashed an army."

The four of us share a worried, somber look before Bobby says, serious and significant, "Hope to hell you boys are ready. 'Cause the war has just begun."

Dean looks at me and gives me an easy smirk. "'Course we are."

I roll my eyes. "Not like we have a choice," I state, hating that the escaped demons will end up being an irritating distraction from trying to find a way to break Dean's Deal.

Ellen sighs heavily, tiredly. "Good luck, boys," she tells me and Dean sincerely. "I've gotta go. Got a burned down roadhouse to deal with and...friends to lay to rest," she says, slightly teary-eyed.

Bobby puts a hand on her shoulder. "Need help?"

She shakes her head. "I'll be fine, Bobby. Just give me a ride to the bus station," she says with an appreciative smile before heading back to the main road towards Bobby's car.

Bobby lingers and then looks at the two of us. Dean seems to take that as his cue to run - coward.

He claps Bobby on the shoulder. "Well, we should get back on the road. Got work to do," he says quickly, easily. "Right, Sammy?" he says to me pointedly.

"Yeah, sure," I agree plainly.

Dean then slips into the car quickly. I turn to follow suit but Bobby grabs my arm to stop me. He pulls me a little ways away from the car.

"You know?" he asks me seriously.

I give a scoffing, bitter laugh. "Of course, I know," I say, unable to stop the anger from tingeing my words. "How long were you going lie to me? How long were you going to let him lie to me? How long were you going to keep me in the dark? The day they came for him?!" I demand.

Bobby gives me a stern look. "I knew you'd find out before then. Your brother is a terrible liar when it comes to you," he says simply and gives me a pointed look as he says, "As you know."

I give him that, and nod, forcing the anger to simmer. "Yeah," I concede. "So, what do we do?"

Bobby shakes his head, looking just as devastated as I feel. "As far as I know, nothing. There's nothing that can be done."

"No. I don't believe that. We've broken a Deal before. We can break his," I argue firmly.

He gives a humorless laugh. "You really think they'll let it be broken? You got lucky with that other Deal."

"Then I'll just have to get lucky with Dean's Deal, too," I decide.

"Kid," he starts but falters. He then gives a weak chuckle. "I almost forgot that I was arguing with a Winchester. You're gonna try no matter how futile." He sighs resignedly. "Well, then I'll help; as best I can."

I give him a grateful smile. "However you can. If you can. I'll take all the help I can get," I say earnestly.

Bobby and I both jolt when Dean starts up the Impala, revving the engine loudly.

"Get in the car, Sam, or I'm taking off without you!" Dean calls impatiently from the car.

It's an empty threat but I know Dean, like me, just wants to get as far away from this place as possible, as soon as possible.

"I'll get in touch with you as soon as I have something," Bobby promises.

"Thanks, Bobby," I say.

He heads for his truck and I return to the Impala. As soon as I close the door Dean is gunning it for the highway.

After a minute of silence, Dean asks, "So, what did Bobby want?"

I roll my eyes. "Don't ask stupid questions, Dean," I reply simply, giving him a pointed look.

Dean sighs then. "Sam, leave the Deal alone. You can't break it. And I won't let you waste your time trying," he says seriously.

I look at him incredulously. "You really expect me to just accept it? To just let you go to Hell at the end of your year?"

Dean flashes me a grim look. "No. Not at all." And then says, softly, "But I'm asking you to."

I turn to look out the passenger side window as I'm overwhelmed with anger and resentment; sighing harshly, shaking my head, I argue heatedly, "I'm not accepting that you're dying in a year, so, you don't get to make last requests."

He then glares at me. "Damn it, Sam! Leave it alone or I swear to God I'll find some no-name town in the middle of nowhere and ditch your ass there," he threatens, almost sounding serious.

I give him a hard look. "Try," I challenge sharply.

Dean suddenly pulls off to the side of the road, and for a moment I fear that he's making good on his threat.

He parks the car but leaves it running. He turns to face me fully, looking like he's got something important to say but he doesn't say anything, just simply studies me.

"Fine," he starts cautiously. "Look all you want, but you find a way to break the Deal and I'll make sure you don't execute it."

I scowl deeply. "I don't get it! Why you don't want the Deal broken?!" I exclaim frustrated and then look at him unsurely. "I mean...do you want to die?" I ask, fearing that he actually does. Because if he does, how do I save him if he's unwilling to save himself?

Dean shakes his head and sighs tiredly. "Of course not, but...just leave the Deal alone. Please?" He looks at me earnestly.

"No," I state decisively. "I'm going to look. I'm going to save you. But, I give you permission to try and stop me," I state honestly.

Dean looks at me thoughtfully before gives an amused breathy laugh, and nods. He takes a moment before he says, easily, "Fine. You can look; you find a way, I'm going to stop you. There's no trying about it."

"Fine," I say simply.

"Fine," he responds, shifting the car into Drive and pulling back onto the highway.