The elevator doors opened on the ground floor and Dean stumbled out, he didn't get far before a blow to the head knocked him to the ground.

Brady stood over him "…good meeting Dean. You know, I'm excited."

Before he could continue in his assault Hayley appeared behind him and dropped a sack covered in a devil's trap over his head. She kicked him in the back of the knees making him fall forward and swung her boot into the side of his head, he crumpled to the ground and didn't get up.

"Evening." She said, flicking some hair out of her face.

"What the hell was that?" Dean asked.

"That, was perfect." She smiled, holding her hand out to him.

"Perfect?" He took her hand and let her help him get to his feet, "He didn't want the rings. He wanted me." They were stood close to each other now, Dean couldn't help but stare into her eyes, now he knew what she was he couldn't help but find them slightly angelic.

"Imagine the surprise on your face." She whispered.

"What?" Dean's eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

She smirked at him and stepped back, walking over and crouching over Brady to tie his hands behind his back, "Your ignorance and misinformation –I mean, completely authentic. You can't fake that." She looked up at him and saw that he was still staring at her with the same look on his face, "What? It went like clockwork."

"Not for me, you bitch!" Dean snapped.

She stood up and grabbed Brady by the collar, dragging him behind her as she walked to the door, "That's what you get, working with demons."

Together they picked up Brady and dragged him to the Impala, Dean started pulling him towards the trunk, "No, not in there." Hayley said, tugging him to the backseat, Dean only rolled his eyes and helped load Brady in, then got in behind the wheel while Hayley walked around the car and slipped into the passenger seat.

Dean put his foot on the gas and they were soon speeding off, without wasting any time Hayley pulled out her phone and called Crowley. "We've got him…yeah we're just driving back now."

"Very well done." Crowley said from the backseat. Dean jumped in his chair, "Jesus man! Give a guy some warning!"

"Very sorry." Crowley ripped Brady's shirt open and without hesitation began to carve a sigil onto his torso.

Dean whipped his head around to see what Crowley was doing before looking back at the road, "Hey, hot stuff, watch the upholstery!"

"Up yours, mate. This bit of carving will tie our friend here down. No zapping off, no smoking out -Locked in the meat suit...An important piece of our bargaining strategy. Now, up here, we don't want I-50. Take 93 north."

Dean frowned in response, "What are you talking about?"

"Dean," Hayley started, somewhat hesitantly, "we can't take this guy back to your brother."

"Why the hell not? Crowley, explain!"

"They got history, alright?"

Dean slammed on the brakes and the Impala screeched to a halt. "Shit dude!" Hayley exclaimed, wide eyed, "The hell?!"

"Either of you want to go anywhere, you start talking." He looked between them and watched as they exchanged glances with each other, "What history?"

Hayley looked at Dean and then back at Crowley, she was far from stupid but Crowley was the brains behind their plans. She raised her eyebrow at him, hinting for him to take the lead and explain the situation to Dean. Crowley sighed and Dean turned towards him, "Brady back here, he went to school with your brother."

"And you didn't think this was important information? Why didn't you just tell us?!" Dean yelled.

"Seriously?" Hayley snapped, "you don't see the problem with that bright idea? You really think that if we had told you the full truth Sam wouldn't have gone charging straight in? We'd have ruined our only shot and you know it."

Dean stared at her, silently fuming, before turning to look straight ahead, he closed his eyes and took a few deep breathes. "We go back to house."

Hayley pinched the bridge of her nose, "Dean-"

"We go back to the house!" Dean interrupted, "Let me worry about Sam."

"Fine," Crowley sighed, "Let's go."

Sam was sat on a bed waiting for them to come back, they'd been gone for over 2 hours and he hadn't heard anything from Dean, he was starting to get antsy. At that moment, the sound of the Impala could be heard getting louder as it approached the house and then the front door was banging open and then closed, Sam practically leaped down the stairs, coming face-to-face with Crowley. "Where's Dean?" He asked without hesitation.

"Now...For the record, I'm against this. Negotiating a high-level defection - It's very delicate business."

Sam frowned, "What are you talking about?"

"I begged Dean not to come back. We should be miles away...from you. He replied with a colorful rejoinder about my 'corn chute'."

Sam scoffed but Crowley ignored him, "So, go ahead. Go -ruin our last best hope. It's only the end of the world."

Sam walked past him and into the room where Dean and Hayley stood, either side of a hooded man tied to a chair. Dean looked over at Hayley, she looked back at him before rolling her eyes and walking from the room. She came into the hall and saw Crowley casually leaning against the banister of the staircase, walking towards him she could see he was looking incredibly annoyed.

"So, this went to plan."

Crowley eyed her before bringing his gaze back to the doorway of the room that held their leverage, "Winchesters," He said slowly, "They do know how to throw a spanner in the works."

"Do you think Dean can keep Sam under control?" Simultaneously shouting could be heard from the other room before Sam appeared, being pushed out of the room by Dean.

"Well he's doing a great job so far." Crowley said quietly.

"Get out of my way!" Sam shouted.

"No." Dean said firmly.

"Get out of my way, Dean." He growled.

Dean grabbed his brother by the forearms, "There is only one way to win, and it ain't by killing that thing in there."

Crowley pushed himself off from where he was leaning and walked towards them, "Well...sounds like you got him nice and fluffed. Thanks so much." He passed them and walked into the room that held Brady, Hayley hot on his heels.

Brady eyed them both as they entered, eyes lingering in Hayley as he looked her up and down, a smirk on his face, Hayley crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow in response. Crowley watched the exchange and cleared his throat, Brady tearing his gaze away from the girl and looking at Crowley with disdain.

"Look...do the math yourself. If Lucifer wins, he'll turn this place into his kingdom. When the Morningstar cleans house, we all get the mop."

Brady smirked again, "He created us. Why would he destroy us? That makes no sense. Well, he'd maybe get rid of the abomination you seem so fond of," He looked back at Hayley, "Sorry darling, not even an ass like that will keep you safe."

Hayley looked over at Crowley, his eyes flashed red and she was sure there was a hint of a snarl on his lips, but it was gone before Brady looked back round. Hayley wasn't surprised, as a demon Crowley didn't feel human emotions, yet when it came to her he could be very protective.

"Look at who -at what he is. Then take a look at what we are."

"Maybe you should be a little less worried about our necks and be a little more worried about yours."

"Has crossed my mind. That's not really the point."

Brady sneered at him, "Actually, Crowley, that is the point. No one will know greater torment than you. Lucifer is never gonna let you die. As for me, I know the score. I'm dead, whether I tell either of you anything or not. So, I think I'll die on the winning side, thanks."

Crowley looked at him for a second, "Good talk. Cheers." He finished, placing a hand on the small of Hayley's back and escorting her out of the room, he leaned in close "Looks like we're on to plan B kitten." He whispered as they left the room.

They found Dean stood alone frowning, he looked between them as they approached, "Well, how'd it go? He buy your girl scout cookies?"

"Not yet. Where's your moose?" Crowley asked.

"He's cooling off."

"All right, then. Get bent."

The frown was once again present on Dean's face, "You going somewhere?"

Hayley scrubbed at her face, letting her frustration in for a second, "He won't budge, so now we go put our asses on the line."

Dean looked at them both, eyebrow raising, "What are you gonna do?"

"Exactly the kind of desperate swashbuckle We've been trying to avoid. Now we go kick open a hive of demons." Crowley said bitterly.

"This whole bloody ring business better work." Hayley added, then in a blink of an eye they were gone.

It had been quick and easy, Hayley was almost disappointed. A few slices and a lot of kicking (she loved kicking) later and it was done, easy peasy. She was wiping off her blades and watching Crowley intimidate a young demon, in moments like this she could really watch and take him all in. He wasn't tall, but neither was she, it meant that she didn't have to look up to talk to him, it made her feel that she had more dominance during their social interactions. He also wasn't well built, not like the Winchesters, but that didn't make him less attractive, he was extremely charming and God did he know his way around the bedroom.

They weren't a couple, not even close, they just knew what the other liked and had fun doing it, although Hayley had noticed a shift in their relationship. In the beginning, Crowley had approached her, he wanted the throne and knew his best shot would be to team up with her. She wasn't so happy with the idea at first, being some demon's battle accessory was not something she was into, but for a demon Crowley had turned out to be a decent guy. He had been standoffish at first but now they were closest thing the friends that a demon and a nephalem could be.

She had been so used to being shunned by every supernatural being that having someone be nice to her was foreign, she was an 'abomination' and that's just how it was, she was too heavenly for hell and too hellish for heaven. But this didn't stop her being a fierce fighter, she was centuries old and had spent most of her life in Purgatory learning to fight for her life after being thrown in there by good old yellow eyes for being too much of a threat, he thought it was a great way to get rid of her, but she only came back stronger.

After spending years developing her abilities she found that she could open the door that led back to the real world, however using that much power comes with consequences, not only can she not remember the next 72 hours between her coming back through the gate and ending up in some hospital in Minnesota but something had torn inside her, she lost some of her supernatural abilities and instead it was replaced by something that she can only describe as human. Where there was an unknown emptiness before, there was now a glimmer of emotions. At first that word, it had felt dirty in her mouth, but now she enjoyed them, they made her stronger, made her decisions smarter, she had sworn that day that she would never hurt another innocent human again and she had kept that promise, not that it changed how the angels viewed her.

When Azazel had heard that she was back he had increased his demon security and sent a pack of his attack dogs out to get rid of her, she had killed them all and sent the decapitated head of the biggest one back in a box tied up nicely with a bow, they had left her alone after that.

She was broken from her thoughts by the young demon stumbling past her to run out the door, she watched him go and then turned back to find Crowley looking at her with what could have been concern on his face.

"You ok love? You normally like to play a little rough with the kiddies."

"Yeah fine." She replied, "Just thinking back on what a shit show my life has been so far."

Crowley frowned and crossed the room towards her, placing his hands on either side of her face to make her look at him, "and where pray tell, is all this coming from?"

"He called me abomination." She said simply, looking at Crowley's chin rather than meeting his eyes. She hated that term, it made her feel like there was a rock in the pit of her stomach, just another label for people to use to ostracize her. She'd never known loneliness until she came back from Purgatory.

"You're going to let the words of a nobody through? I promise you kitten, when we're done with him I'll let you gut him. Slowly." He gave her that smile that he reserved only for her, sly but with a hint of sweetness behind it.

She finally met his eyes, "Thanks, but I was thinking that Bullwinkle could have him."

"Fine, I'll have to think of another way to cheer you up." He leaned in and she pushed herself towards him instinctively, closing the space between them so their bodies were pressed together and letting him completely dominate her with a kiss. It was over quickly though as Crowley pulled away, "Come on darling," he purred, "We better not keep those knuckle draggers waiting." She laughed in response and they were gone.

They appeared back in the house and walked into the room where the Winchesters were stood talking with Brady. "God. The day I've had. Good news. You're going to live forever." Crowley smiled.

Brady's eyes widened, "What did you do?"

Crowley strolled further into the room and stood directly facing Brady, "Went over to a demons' nest –let Hayley have a little massacre. She must be losing her touch, though - Let one of the little toads live. Oops. Also, might have given said toad the impression that you left your post last night because you and I are -wait for it -Lovers in league against Satan." He chuckled.

Brady looked down and sighed, when he looked back at Crowley he received and evil smile. "Hello, darling. So, now Death is off the table. Now you get to be on the boss's eternal-torment list with little old me."

Hayley moved to stand next to Dean and couldn't help the satisfied smirk that crept across her face, Brady was outwardly panicking now, "Oh, no, no, no, no. No."

Crowley continued undeterred, "Something else we have in common -apart from our torrid passion, of course -Craven self-preservation. So, now, why don't you tell me where Pestilence is at?"

Before Brady could answer there was the sound of far off howling and everyone froze, Hayley looked over at Crowley, this was not a part of the plan.

"Oh, God, Crowley." Brady muttered.

Dean turned to Hayley, already in a fighting stance. "Was that a hellhound?"

"Yep." She said.

"Why was that a hellhound?"

Crowley groaned and they all turned to look at him, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. Sam looked at the coin and then back at the demon holding it, "What's that?"

"Remember I was telling you about my crafty little tracking device?"

"Yeah."

"Demons planted one on me."

"You're saying a hellhound followed you here?" Sam's voice was raising.

"Well, technically, he followed this."

"Crowley!" Hayley snapped, now was not the time to be a smart arse.

Brady was still spluttering, "Get me out of here. I'll tell you anything you want."

"Shut up!" Sam and Hayley yelled in unison.

"Okay," Dean interrupted, trying to get a hold on the situation, "Well, then we should go."

"Sorry, boys." Crowley huffed, "No one knows more about the hounds than I. You're long past the point of 'go'." He looked at Hayley and she gave him a small nod and quickly walked from the room. He didn't waste time and threw the coin towards Dean, as he caught it Crowley disappeared.

"Damn it." Dean grumbled.

"I told you!" Sam exclaimed.

"Oh, well, good for you." Dean said mockingly, "Luckily, we have salt in the kitchen."

"I'll watch Brady."

Dean ran into the kitchen and found Hayley rummaging through cupboards, "What are you still doing here?" He asked, joining her.

"Helping save your asses." She said simply, pausing for a second as a howl sounded out, a lot closer than it had been moments earlier.

Dean rushed to the other side of the kitchen and opened another cupboard and found the salt sitting almost smugly on the top shelf. Just as he was reaching for it he was grabbed around the waist by Hayley and pulled back, seconds later the window smashed and the sound of four large padded feet hitting the ground could be heard.

Hayley pushed Dean behind her and got into a fighting stance, slowly backing up, "Easy ugly." She said quietly, "Dean, when I say go, take the left blade from my belt and go back to Sam. Got it?"

Dean looked at her for a second, "Got it."

Hayley looked at the dog in front of her, it was big, black and hairless, with blood red eyes and drool dripping from its enormous fangs. The hound coiled up ready to pounce, "Go!" She commanded, she felt Dean take the blade from her hip the same time she pulled the one from her right. She slashed at the hound as it pounced at her, not giving it time to go at her again she quickly moved backwards towards the sound of voices. The hell hound pounced again and she dived left into the room tucking herself into a roll and landing in a crouch, eyes immediately back on the hound.

Dean rushed over to her side, kukri raised and ready to strike, "Just tell me where to stick the knife and I'll do it." The hound coiled up again and with her free hand she grabbed at Dean, ready to push him out of the way.

"Hey!" A voice came from the doorway. The hound whirled round and Hayley looked up, she could barely contain the relief that flooded through her at seeing Crowley with Juliet.

"You're back?" Dean asked skeptically from her side.

"I'm invested." Crowley smiled, "Currently." Juliet looked between Hayley and the other hound and barked, arching her back.

"Stay!" Crowley commanded, Juliet stood down immediately.

"You can control them?"

"Not that one." Crowley pointed to the hound still stood between them, Hayley had to give the dog credit, it wasn't backing down, "I brought my own. Mine's bigger." He patted her on the back, "Sic him, girl!"

There was a flurry of movement as Juliet pounced on the smaller dog, throwing it into the wall and away from Hayley, who ran to Brady and cut through the ropes securing him to the chair and hauled him to his feet. Sam took him from her and started ushering him through the door and out of the building.

Dean put his hand on the small of her back and pushed her out as well, "Go, go go go!" He yelled. They ran outside with everyone else and immediately started climbing into the Impala, Crowley caught her eye and smiled, "I'll wager $1,000 our pup wins."

They'd driven back into the city and parked in a quiet back alley, Crowley was stood with Brady while Hayley stood with Sam and Dean. There was a tense silence and it was starting to eat at her.

"I'm sorry." She said suddenly, not moving her eyes away from Crowley's back.

Sam and Dean looked over the top of her at each other and exchanged glances, "What for?" Sam asked after a moment.

"About your girlfriend. Jess, was it?"

He looked at her with a frown, "Why?"

She sighed deeply, her next words coming out slowly, "I know what it's like to lose someone suddenly, someone that you care about. I get it, is what I'm saying."

Both Sam and Dean were staring at her now, "Get what?" Sam asked.

"Wanting revenge," She said simply, leaning over to Dean slightly and taking the demon blade he had been clutching, she handed it to Sam, "My advice," She said quietly, "Make it slow, and make him scream."

He looked down at her for a moment then turned back to face Brady, jaw clenching. Crowley turned around and started walking towards them, Hayley and Dean joined him and started making their way down the alley, leaving Sam stood alone with the demon.

Brady frowned at their retreating backs, "Where are you going?"

Dean bent down and started to pour a salt line across the entrance to the alley, just as he was finishing he paused and looked up at Crowley, letting him pass through before he completed the line, Hayley following after him.

They walked a few more steps before Hayley stopped and whirled back around, walking back towards Dean and stepping over the salt line, "I almost forgot. Knife please." She smiled, holding her hand out.

Dean floundered for a second before taking the kukri from the inside of his jacket and handing it to her. "Thank you." She grinned, she stepped back over the line and sauntered back to Crowley, she looked back and winked at Dean before disappearing.

Dean looked down at the completed salt line and back to where she had been stood. "Damn." He said quietly.

Bobby was on the phone to Rufus, they had been working together to find the last horseman, every lead they had turning out to be a dud. "Yeah, I followed up. Nasty omens, but none of its Death with a capital "D" Well, just give me a ring if it turns into anything. And, Rufus...You watch your ass out there." Bobby sighed as he hung up the phone.

"Chin up. Cavalry's arrived." Bobby's eyes widened as he turned, he cocked his revolver, aiming it towards the two people now standing in his house. A man stood in his kitchen like he owned the place, and a young woman leaned against his kitchen counter.

Crowley raised his eyebrow, "Charming. That won't work on either of us. Name's Crowley. Maybe you've-"

"You're Crowley?"

"In the flesh-of a moderately successful Literary Agent out of New York."

Bobby pulled the trigger and fired a shot straight into Crowley's chest, Hayley's eyebrows raised in surprise and stepped forward to steady her partner.

Crowley straightened and dusted himself off, "Aah! I see you have heard of me. I liked this suit." He said, pulling his handkerchief that now had a fresh bullet hole through it from his pocket.

"What are you doing here?" Bobby asked impatiently, putting the revolver down in his lap and wheeling himself forward.

"Looking out for our best interests." He answered.

"Meaning…?"

"The boys are on to ring number 3, but we still need number 4. We're here to help."

"You two know where Death is?"

"No. Haven't the foggiest."

As Crowley leaned over to put the handkerchief on the table Bobby quickly picked up his shot gun and cocked it, aiming at Hayley, "If only he was as quiet as you." He stared at her and she only raised an eyebrow in response, "What? Nothing to say?"

Crowley cleared his throat, Bobby turned his attention and the shotgun towards him, "She doesn't get involved in business, that's my department. She's the muscle."

"Well, now that's cleared up, get the hell off my property before I blast you so full of rock salt, you crap margaritas."

"That's a mite unfriendly, seeing as I could be getting you Death's location in about the time it'd take you to reload."

"You're just gonna chat some demons up and hope they don't recognize you?"

"God, no. That could get us killed. But there is this little spell that I know." Crowley smiled.

"That so?"

"Results are 100% guaranteed."

"Okay. Then why are you snake-oiling me?"

Crowley smiled bashfully and Hayley had to admit, the guy could be a good actor, "Well, it's a little bit…embarrassing. There's this…technicality."

"Uh-huh."

"I need a little something to get the magic going."

"And what's that?"

Crowley hesitated slightly, "You make a wish. I can give you anything you want, mate - Up to and including Death's coordinates. All I need is..."

"My soul." Bobby finished.

"I've done more with less. Let's just say when they're getting their Grammys, they shouldn't all be thanking God." Crowley turned more serious, speaking slowly, "It's worth it, Bobby. Think."

"Okay. Here's my counter." Bobby raised the shotgun and fired. It hit Crowley straight in the chest and he flew back, falling to the ground as he hit the cupboard behind him.

"Ow! Bloody hell!" He yelled. Suddenly Hayley was at Bobby's side, forcefully taking the gun from him and then they both disappeared.

"Feisty." Crowley said from behind him. Bobby whipped around in his wheelchair to see them both leaning against his desk, Hayley threw the gun onto the sofa next them and folded her arms, glaring at him.

"Get out." Bobby growled.

"I'll give it right back."

"You think I'm a natural-born idjit?"

"Quite the contrary. Look, you're right to be suspicious. But I'm your ally. Enemy of my enemy and all that. I need the devil back in his stock. In fact, my delicate ass depends on it. I promise you -temporary loan. I'll give it...Right...Back."

They were back at their safe house in England, a small cottage in the north of England, a fire was roaring and Crowley was reclining back on a large over-stuffed sofa, a glass of scotch in his hand. Hayley laid with her head in his lap, her eyes closed while he raked his fingers gently through her hair.

"I wish you would get more involved in the deals darling. They'd go a lot more smoothly with your added charm."

Hayley sighed, "I've told you, I don't hurt the innocent. It's a promise I made to myself and making your deals would break that promise, and you know I never break a promise." She felt him huff and she smiled slightly, relaxing in the silence that followed.

"I think he likes you." He said suddenly, taking a sip of his drink.

Hayley opened her eyes and looked up at him, a small frown on her face, "Who?"

"Dean Winchester."

Hayley let out a laugh, "You getting jealous, Fergus?" She smirked. She closed her eyes again and waited for his witty retort but when it never came she opened her eyes and saw him looking down at her, an unreadable expression on his face. She frowned again and reached up to cup his face, thumb rubbing lightly back-and-forth over his cheek.

Now Crowley closed his eyes, putting his drink down on the side table and lightly grabbing her hand, bringing it to his mouth and kissing her knuckles, "Go to sleep kitten, you need to recharge." He said quietly. She looked at him a moment more before shutting her eyes again and as she felt herself drift into unconsciousness she suppressed the feeling that this was something much more than just a 'friends with benefits' deal.

How could a demon ever love anyone?