Sam's POV

I painfully lifted my head to see Cole, this time brandishing a knife. "C'mon Sam. Where's Dean-o? He doesn't care about you. He doesn't give a crap about you. Just let it go or things are going to get ugly."

I spit at his feet, blood mixed saliva.

"Wrong answer." The knife blade rested over my finger, ready to cut, but my cell alerted a voice mail first. "Who could this be? You're brother maybe?" He put the cell on speaker and Ivy's name and number flashed on the screen. "Now who is this?"

"No one you need to worry about." I clenched my jaw, eyes narrowed.

"If Dean's looking for her, I'm going to worry." Cole spun his knife in his fingers thoughtfully. "Actually this might be to my benefit. I'll tell Dean-o where his girl is at and meet him there."

"You don't know where she is. How do you plan on finding out?" I'd never let him know. He could cut off all my fingers before I let him use me to find Dean. And no way was Dean finding Ivy.

"You're going to find her for me. You're going to call her and ask her where she is. Beg her to stay safe." I scoffed, about to deny it. "And if you say no, I will tie you to the back of my car and drive until I find her and before I giver her over to the savage you call a brother I will force her to look on your dead body and tell her, 'This. This is the reason you will die. Because this man loved his brother more than any other human life. Because a monster meant more to him than anyone else.'"

I paused. I couldn't bear the thought of letting Dean find Ivy. As Bobby's niece she'd been a part of our life since before we could remember. We were all she had. Dean and I loved her as one of us and she'd trust me not to let him get to her. But if I could get there first somehow, if I could find Dean before he found her maybe we could be okay. Otherwise her and Cole would be goners. "Fine. I'll call her. But let me say goodbye."

"Thought you'd come around."

Cole hit a few buttons before holding the phone under my face, speakerphone on. "If I think anything sounds out of the ordinary I will take a hammer to your kneecap."

"Sam!" My heart broke at her hopefulness and I had to pause to keep my voice from breaking.

"Hey, Ives. Listen, I'm sorry I haven't called you back, been looking for Dean. I got a little caught up. What's up hon?"

"It's, it's Dean, Sam. He knew I was in the Bunker. I had to get out of there. I'm at a motel in Haysville, couple hours outside of Lawrence. It's called The Red Run, Room 17. Please just- just come fast. Okay?" I could hear her fear, hear the shake in her voice. Swallowing hard, I nodded.

"Okay. I'll up be there as soon as I can. But lock all the doors, arm up okay? And…" I breathed out, slowly. "I love you Ivy. I mean it. No matter what. You mean the world to me and I will always, always protect you, okay? Ivy, I need to hear you say okay." Biting my lip hard, I tried to keep my voice steady.

"Okay, Sam. I love you, too. Are- are you okay? I mean should I be worried?"

"No. No, I'm okay Ives. Just keep yourself safe okay? I'll see you soon." Cole hit the end call button.

"Perfect. Red Run, Haysville, Kansas. Room 17." Before he could continue, another phone rang, his this time. He turned away, pacing around the warehouse, talking to someone in a hushed voice. Running my hands along the back of the chair, I felt a sharp pain split through my finger, and my hand became slick with blood. Carefully feeling for the edge again, I found a nail jutting out of the back of my chair and began to run the duct tape around my wrists over the edge until I felt the pressure relieve itself on my wrists. Moving fast I grabbed my bag and bolted.

After an hour or so, I pulled off to the side of the road, rummaging in my duffel for my cell, praying that Cole had dropped it back in the bag. He hadn't. Slamming my palm against the wheel, a string of curses flew from my mouth. I'd just have to get to Ivy before Cole could tell Dean where she was and Dean could get there.


As Bobby's niece, Ivy was well-versed in pain and suffering. She'd lost her mom, dad, and older brother when she was nine. She'd sat with them for days, holding her mother's hand until Bobby visited his sister's house and saw the handiwork of a werewolf. We'd grown up with Ivy, and Bobby made us promise that we wouldn't let anything happen to her. I'd never thought that'd mean hiding her away from Dean, though.

They'd always had a thing for each other- even when they were little Dean would pull her hair and she'd punch him back. Two years older, Dean had always towered over her tiny frame, grinning down at her. A couple years ago I'd gone to talk to Dean and found them asleep together, quietly wrapped around each other. It was new, different, especially when they were bold about their relationship. But I loved them both and I'd seen how Dean would look at her. She was his world that much was obvious.


It took too long to get to the motel. I could feel it even as I hit the gas and heard the engine roar. I wasn't going to make it. An hour later I squealed into the parking lot, tires leaving lasting marks on the road. I threw the Impala into park and grabbed my gun, moving slowly down the row of doors. I could tell before I'd reached her room that Ivy wasn't there, the door was open a crack, blood splattered the walkway. Pushing the door open, I found Cole, bled out from a knife wound to the chest. I continued moving through the room, sweeping the room with my flashlight and gun. Kneeling over Cole, I felt for a pulse and found nothing.

"I tried. I'm sorry." My cell rang loudly and I jumped up, searching through Cole's pockets for the source of the sound. "Hello? Ivy?"

"Try again."

"Dean."

"Sammy! It's been a while."

"Where's Ivy?" I demanded, trying to keep the fear from my voice.

"She's right here. Ivy? You got something you want to say sweetheart?" There was murmuring, and a muffled Sam was yelled from the background. "See? Perfectly find. Now let's talk."

"Yeah, let's talk deal. You give me back Ivy and I don't bother you ever again." I was begging with him, pleading and he knew it.

"Mmm. That might have worked before but not now. You brought this on yourself and now Ivy's going to spend some time with me. So here's what we're going to do. You come near me, you try and find her… Ivy's never going to see the light of day again. Stay away and you can sleep easy knowing she's alive. Come near me and that will change."

"Dean… please don't do this. Please-"

"It's too late Sammy. Sorry. Now say goodbye to Ivy." I heard a gasp of breath.

"Sam. It's okay. It's… I'll make it." I almost smiled hearing her voice. She'd seen way too much crap and she fought through it. And she was still fighting. I could hear it in her.

"I'm sorry I couldn't- I'm sorry Ives. But we'll get him. I promise you. Me and Cas, we'll-"

"Good talk Sam, but don't give her any false hope, yeah?"