Hey guys! So, I'm having computer problems, but I wanted to update. I typed this whole thing on my phone, hence the short chapter. I'll give you an extra long one next time I update, however long that may be. Thanks for you guys that reviewed! I really appreciate your feedback. ~RingHunterWizard~

UPDATE: I extended the chapter, so there you go.


Gabriel was the one that answered the door. Of course, he didn't bother actually opening it. "This is the Novak household. If you're trying to sell something, we're not interested. If you're delivering a package, leave it on the doorstep. And if you're the pizza man, I know you're just trying to get a piece of my sweet ass, because no one can accidentally deliver pizza to the wrong house that many times." Gabriel shouted through the door.

"Open the door, Gabriel. It's me." Cas replied, rolling his eyes.

"Cas." Gabriel said, and the door swung open. "And Dean. Fancy seeing you here."

"Yeah, the hotel situation didn't really work out." Dean said, gesturing in to all the blood. Gabriel sighed, but cleared the doorway.

"Well, come on in." He said. "You're lucky that we have extra rooms." Dean and Cas walked inside the house. It was small, but cozy, with all the rooms spilling into one another. There was a tall, spiraling staircase near the door that led up to a second level.

"Where is everyone?" Cas asked.

"Mom and Michael went to pick up Dad from the hospital. They said they'll be back in 2 days." Gabriel called from the upper level. Cas looked over at Dean suddenly.

"You're hurt." He shrugged.

"Yeah? So are you." He pointed out.

"You can go to the bathroom upstairs." Cas offered to him.

"Sure." Dean started to follow Cas up the steps.

"So, um, Dean. I was thinking about what you said to me on the plane." Cas started. He didn't want to look back at Dean for fear that he would chicken out. "And I thought you were right, you know. If I was really over you, I wouldn't be like this. Ignoring you, I mean. If I was really over you, then I would be okay with us being friends again. And that would be nice. You were my best friend, Dean. So if it's okay with you, I would like-." Cas stopped suddenly, realizing that he was the only one walking up the steps. "Dean?" He called. "Where are you?"

"Here." Dean answered. "At the bottom of the steps." Cas rushed to him, realizing briefly that Dean hadn't heard anything of what he had said.

"You okay?" He asked. Dean groaned, rolling over onto his back.

"Dizzy. I think the blood loss is getting to me." He said weakly. Cas walked over carefully and sat next to Dean, inspecting the wound. Sure enough, the gash on Dean's stomach was leaking blood.

"Gabe! A little help down here!" Cas called.


When Dean woke up, he was lying on a plush bed. The covers were pulled up around him snugly. Sighing, Dean sat up in the bed. A slicing pain shot through his body and he inhaled sharply.

"Careful. It's not fully healed yet." A voice said. Dean turned towards it, and through the dim lighting of the room, saw that it was Cas. He walked over and sat on the bed next to Dean.

"How long have I been out?" Dean asked.

"Six hours. I had to stitch up your wound."

"Wait, you did this?" Dean asked, lifting up his shirt and running his fingers over the neat, precise stitches.

"We couldn't go to a doctor for the same reason we can't go anywhere else in this town." Cas answered.

"Your brother." He nodded. "Do you even know where he is anyway?" Dean asked.

"No. But even if I did I wouldn't tell them."

"Why not? He's a criminal, isn't he?"

"He was my brother first. And my brother isn't a criminal. He was forced into circumstances that he couldn't control, and he did what he could to make the best of it. I would never give him up. Wouldn't you do the same for your brother?" Cas asked.

"Sammy? Yeah, I guess I would." Dean admitted. "So, Cas, what was that you were saying about me being right and all before I passed out?" Dean asked.

"You heard?"

"Yeah. Did you mean it? About wanting to be friends again?"

Cas took a deep breath. "I did. Do you want…" Cas started trailing off. Dean smiled at him, pulling him into a hug.

"I missed you, man."

"Yeah. Me too." Cas replied.

From the doorway, Gabriel stood, watching them with a smirk. It was only a matter of time before those two got together, and he intended to be the one to cause it.


Sam was waiting in front of the old ivy building. It was 4:07 now, and he half considered leaving. So much for being punctual, he snorted to himself. After waiting another minute, he walked back to his car. If she hadn't arrived by now, she probably wouldn't come.

"Going somewhere?" A voice asked. It was Ruby, of course.

"I thought you said I 'had to be on time'. Doesn't that apply to you too?" Sam folded his arms.

"I had some… other business to take care of." She replied. "Come on, let's go inside." She walked towards the house at a brisk pace.

"Wait, I thought I was going to meet Lilith today."

"Not yet. You still need your debriefing. We collected some new information on Bela." They walked into the house together. Sam noticed Ruby carrying a large black case.

"What's in there?"

"Can't you wait for just a minute? God." Ruby rolled her eyes.

"What's up with you today?" Sam grumbled.

"None of your business." She set the case on the table with a thud and opened it. Inside there were bundles of papers and a laptop. Ruby opened a compartment and pulled out a small hard drive. "This is all the information we have on Bela. Unfortunately, it's encrypted. We need you to extract the information from it. If you do that, you can meet Lilith."

"What? But-"

"This is a test,Sam." Ruby slammed her hand on the table. "And you need to pass it. If you don't, they'll throw you aside and get someone else. And maybe that someone won't care as much about your father's life as you do."

"Why are you telling me this, then? Giving me the advantage?" Sam asked. Ruby looked uncomfortable.

"Because I care. About you." She finally said. Sam was silent. Sighing, Ruby closed the case and handed him the drive. "Get the files. Give them to me before a week is up." With that, Ruby left him.


From her small little cubicle, Lilith watched. Even Ruby didn't know that there were cameras in the house. Of course, she had had them installed after Ruby checked for bugs of any sort.

Lilith watched. And oh, how well Ruby was doing. How well she was acting. And when she told him that she was disobeying orders for him. For him! Ha. As if.

Poor Sam didn't stand a chance against her. Yes, it was all going to work out just fine.