Chapter 10 — Caged Heat
"You're late," a demon says as the trio climbs out of the Impala. Addison glares as she pulls the handcuffed rougarou out of the backseat. She wasn't a big fan of the arrangement that they had made with Crowley, but she didn't say anything about since Sam's soul was on the line.
"Traffic was a bitch," Dean snaps, grabbing the rougarou from Addison. He leads it forward and another demon grabs the rougarou.
"One rougarou," Sam tells them.
"Where's Crowley?"
"Fucking a hooker in a sweet spot called none of you business," one of the demon answers.
"Oh! Look at that, guys, demon trying to be funny."
"Oh. Is that what just happened," Sam replies.
"Night, girls," the demon replies.
"Wait, wait, hold up, hold up. Are we ever gonna see Crowley again or is he just gonna keep sending his demon extras to pick up his laundry," Dean asks.
"I'm sorry, I know you're speaking. I see your lips moving, but I can't understand what you're saying cause I don't speak little bitch." The demon turns and climbs into a black SUV.
"Remember when we used to gank demons," Dean says as the SUV drives away.
Addison sighs. "We all miss those days, Dean."
"No, fuck it. I'm done," Dean announces as they enter the abandoned house they were staying in. He goes right over to where the cooler was sitting and pulls out an empty glass. Addison sighs as she pulls off her jacket.
"Dean, calm down," Addison says.
"We've been going on these fucking Crowley runs and it's not getting us anywhere, Ads."
"Dean—"
"I mean, the only thing that's really changed is now I need a daily rape shower."
"No, you're right. Let's go with plan B. Oh, wait, we don't have one. So until we can find one, just lay back and think of Sam's soul."
Dean shakes his head in disbelief. "Dean, if you wanna get my soul back, that's what we gotta do, okay," Sam tells him.
Dean looks at Sam. "You even want it back?"
"I'm working for Crowley, aren't I?"
Dean walks over to the mantel and pours a glass of whiskey. "Yeah, well, who says he's gonna hold up his end, you know? It is Crowley. You ever think of that? Right?" He turns around only to find that Sam and Addison are gone. "So I guess the moment's over. Is that what you're saying? Sam? Ads?"
He sets his glass down and pulls out his gun. He moves past the front door and into the next room where Sam and Addison were lying on the floor, unconscious. A man comes up behind Dean and hits him on the back of the head.
Addison groans and opens her eyes. Pain erupted from the back of her head and she winces. She was tied to chair, as were Dean and Sam. "Lovely," she mutters, seeing the demon standing across from her.
"What now," Dean asks as Sam wakes up.
"I think I know who can you can ask," Sam replies as footsteps near. Addison turns and sees Meg walk into the room.
Dean glances over his shoulder. "Evil bitch."
Meg places hand on Dean's shoulder. "Keep sweet talking me. This could go a whole new direction."
"Meg. I've been dying to see you again."
"Well, here I am, big boy. So, what should we do now?"
"How about I rip you to shreds?"
"Kinky, I like. But a little Q&A first, if you don't mind. Now, where's your boss?"
Sam scoffs. "You think we work for somebody?"
"I happen to know for a fact you've been juggling Crowley's orphans. Now, where is he?"
"Don't know, don't care."
"But you've been working his beat for months."
"Doesn't mean we get face time."
Meg exchanges a look with the other demon. She climbs onto Addison's lap. "Where does he take all those things you snatch up for him? I bet you an all day sucker that's where His Majesty's holed up." Addison stares back at the demon. "Okay, officially over the foreplay." Meg places a knife against Addison's neck and and turns to Dean. "Satisfy me or I please myself."
Sam laughs. "Something funny, Sam," Dean snaps.
"Yeah. Meg," Sam responds.
Addison glares. "You know from where I'm sitting—"
"Don't worry, she can't do jack squat. She's totally fucked."
"Sam, you're not helping."
"Look at her. She's furious. If she could kill you, she'd have done it by now. She's running."
Meg lowers the knife and turns to Sam. "Am I?"
"Judging by the level of flop sweat on all of you, yeah. Which means you're running from Crowley, which makes sense." Meg climbs off of Addison, who lets out a relived breath. "Crowley would wanna hunt down all the Lucifer loyalists now that he's big man on campus."
"How would you know?"
Sam shrugs. "It's what I'd do. She can't kill us. She needs us to get her to Crowley so she can stick that knife in his neck. It's him or her."
"Well, I hope you both lose," Dean comments. "But good luck."
"So you know what you gotta do now, right?"
"Let me guess, you're gonna tell me," Meg says
"Work with us."
"Whoa, what," Dean incredulously asks.
"We'll hand you Crowley with a bow on one condition. We go with you and you help us wring a little something out of him before you hack him to bits."
Meg stares, curious. "What?"
"Doesn't matter. Question is, can you get us what we need?"
"I apprenticed under Alastair in Hell just like your brother. So, Dean, can I make Crowley do whatever I want?"
Dean glares at the demon. "Yeah, she can."
"It's a deal then. Hugs and puppies all around."
"You gonna untie us?"
"Please, don't pretend you don't enjoy it."
Meg and the demons walk out of the house. One of the demons pauses by Dean. "You gonna kiss me," Dean snaps. The demon walks past him.
Once they're free from the ropes, they walk out of the room. "What are you doing," Dean demands.
"What do you mean," Sam replies.
"I mean, what are you doing?"
"Dean, you wanted to screw over Crowley. Merry Christmas." Dean stares in disbelief. "What?"
"You wanna work with a demon again?"
"We're working with demons now. I'm doing this because I wanna stop."
"She killed Ellen and Jo."
"I know, but you can't look at this emotionally, Dean. We need her."
"The fuck we do. That little bitch is gonna screw us over so fast—"
"Of course, which is why we'll screw her first. Meg and her little posse are dead the second we're done with them."
"If they don't kill us first," Addison argues.
"Oh, they won't. Because we're bringing insurance," Sam tells them.
Addison frowns. "Insurance?"
"Cas."
"You really think he's gonna come down here and help when he's got the civil war currently waging upstairs," Addison argues.
Sam turns to Dean. "I'm with Ads on this one," Dean says. Sam walks out of the house.
Addison shakes her head and grabs a duffle bag before sitting at a table. Dean joins her and a comfortable silence settles over them. The door opening causes them to turn and watch as Sam enters with Castiel. "You actually showed," Dean says. "Wow, Sam, I guess we owe you a chicken dinner. What happened?"
"No big. This is what friends do for each other," Sam replies.
The trio hangs back as Castiel sets up a spell. "It's not working," Castiel states after finishing the spell. "Crowley's hidden from me."
"Well, looks like we're gonna have to try this the hard way," Dean says.
The hard way involved breaking into Samuel's office on the Campbell compound. A light turns on and the group turns to see Samuel enter with a pistol. "Can I help you," he asks, putting up his pistol. "What do you want?"
"We wanna know where Crowley is," Dean answers.
"If I even knew, why would I tell you?"
"Because you're our grandfather."
"Samuel, I'm gonna get my soul back," Sam says.
"Who says you can get it back?"
"Me."
"I'd like to help, but I'm sorry."
"It's your grandson's soul," Addison argues.
"I can't."
"What is wrong with you," Dean asks. "You wanna work with Crowley?" He glances at the angel. "Cas, can you give us a minute?" Dean moves toward Samuel. "We're your blood. But if you don't wanna help us, I can't make you. But I just gotta know why. What is Crowley holding over you? You owe us that." Samuel turns and takes a picture out of a desk drawer. He hands it over to Dean. "Mom?"
Samuel sighs. "He's gonna give her back to me."
"Crowley's gonna bring Mom back from the dead?"
"You tell me you don't want her back." Samuel sits down behind his desk. "You know the one difference between us. You know how to live without her."
"Look, I know how you feel."
"No, you don't. She's my daughter and she's dead. And I can do something about it."
"You really think Crowley's gonna make good here?"
"He brought Sam back and me."
"Trust me. Don't go down that road."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying stop trying. It's gonna go nowhere good. Samuel, I know we've had our differences, but I'm your grandson. And I'm telling you that this is wrong for so many reasons."
"You hypocrite."
"I'm asking you to learn from our mistakes. Doing this, this is how the bad guy gets us every time. It's our Achilles heel. Apparently, it runs in the family. We will figure something else out, okay?"
"I'm sorry, Dean, but—"
"Fine. Fine, you bring her back. But what are you gonna tell her, huh? You gonna tell her you made a deal with a demon? That you wouldn't help out her sons?"
"All right, that's enough. Just get out." Dean stares at Samuel, then walks out of the room. Addison quickly follows him with Sam bringing up the rear.
Addison sighs and leans back in the chair. She, Dean, and Sam had been researching for a couple of hours. Castiel was sitting on the couch, watching TV. As she stretches, she can feel Sam watching her. She rolls her eyes. "You're such a perv, Sam."
"You're the one that's putting them on display, Ads," Sam leers.
"It's very complex," Castiel comments.
"What," Addison asks.
"If the pizza man truly loves this babysitter, why does he keep slapping her rear? Perhaps she's done something wrong."
Dean looks up. Addison was trying to hide her laughter. He looks over at the angel. "You watching porn," he asks. "Why?"
"It was there."
"You don't watch porn in a room full of people. And you don't talk about it. Just turn it off." Castiel looks down at his lap. Dean throws up his hand. "Now he's got a boner."
A knock comes from the door. "It's probably the pizza man for Cas," Addison teases, standing up. She walks over to the door, inwardly smirking when she feels Castiel intently watching. She opens the door and rolls her eyes seeing Samuel.
Samuel walks in. He eyes the TV and Castiel. "This what you three do, sit around watching pornos with angels?"
"We're not supposed to talk about it," Castiel states causing Addison to laugh.
"Why are you here, Samuel," Dean asks, ignoring Addison and turning off the TV.
"It's what Mary would want," Samuel answers. He drops a map on the table. "Now, this is what I know. Whatever we bag ends up there. That's where he tortures 'em, interrogates 'em, I don't really know. Only been outside the place, but it's a death trap. Nothing gets in that Crowley doesn't want in and nothing gets out, period."
"Well, thanks."
"I wish you wouldn't do this."
"Come with us," Sam says.
Samuel shakes his head. "I may be soft, but I'm not suicidal," he tells them, then walks out of the house.
Sam makes a call to Meg and the group walks outside to find the demon waiting with more demons. "Remember me," Meg says to Castiel. "I sure remember you, Clarence."
"Why are we working with these abominations," Castiel asks.
"Keep talking dirty. It makes my meat suit all dewy."
"Okay," Addison says. "We know where Crowley is."
"Great, do tell."
"Yeah, tell you so you can just leave us for dead," Sam counters.
"You three have serious abandonment issues, you know that?"
Sam moves forward. "We'll show you, all right? But we're all going together."
"What? I'm just supposed to trust you?"
"No, you're not that stupid. Give me the knife."
"No, I'm not that stupid."
"Do you want us to take you to Crowley or not?" Meg reluctantly hands over her knife. Sam turns and stabs the demon standing to Meg's right. He holds out his hand. "You saw him. He was more interested in killing us than getting the job done. I just did all of us a favor."
Sam turns and start to walk away. "Hey. You just gonna keep that," Meg calls.
Sam glares at Meg. "You took this from us. I'm taking it back. We leave in one hour."
Dean, Addison, and Castiel watch as Meg and the demons leave. "Well, this gonna be fun," Addison mutters.
Crowley's hideout turned out to be an abandoned mental hospital. There were lights on in a few of the rooms, but they couldn't tell anything else about the place. "Seems pretty quiet," Dean states, as the trio and the demons stand on a hill over looking the hospital.
"It's not. I can feel it. Meet me at the side door," Castiel replies, then vanishes.
They have no problems making their way to the side door and meet up with Castiel. "This all seem a little to easy to you," Dean asks.
"Way too easy," Addison answers, then enters the building.
The hallway was dark and leaves were scattered on the floor. Some of the rooms held corpses while others had still alive monsters. They move further into the building. "Wait," Castiel says.
"What is it," Dean asks.
Growling comes from down the hallway. "Damnit. Here come the guards," Meg says.
"Hellhounds. Go." The group takes off running with the hellhounds close behind. The hellhounds manage to take out the two demons that Meg had brought. They pass a set of doors and the boys slam them shut. Addison pours salt at the bottom of doors while Dean jams a stake to hold them shut. "I knew this was a trap."
"What do you want, a cupcake?"
"That should keep 'em out," Addison says.
"Not for long. How many are there?"
"Lots," Meg answers. "I'll be pulling for you from Cleveland."
"What?"
"I didn't know this was gonna happen. Bright side? Them chewing up my meat suit ought to buy you a few seconds. Seacrest out." Meg opens her mouth to smoke out, but nothing happens.
"It's a spell, I think, from Crowley. Within these walls, you're locked inside your body," Castiel explains.
"Karma's a bitch, bitch," Dean says. Sam pulls out the demon killing knife. "What are you gonna do? You gonna slash at thin air until you hit something?"
Sam holds the knife out to Meg. "You can see 'em. Take this, hold 'em off. It's out best shot."
"At Crowley. Take it and go," Meg replies. "You kill the smarmy dick. I'll hold off the dogs."
"Well, how are you gonna do that..." Dean trails off when Meg kisses Castiel. The trio awkwardly stand there as Castiel presses Meg against the wall and they continue to kiss.
Castiel steps back. "What was that for," Meg asks.
"I learned that from the pizza man," Castiel says.
"Well, A plus for you. I feel so clean." Meg holds up Castiel's sword. "Okay. Gotta go."
"Those work on hellhounds," Addison asks.
"Well, we're about to find out. Run."
Not needing to be told twice the trio and Castiel run down the hallway. They enter a dark stairwell. "I can't see jack," Dean complains. A bright light flashes and Castiel vanishes. "Cas?!"
Addison tenses seeing Samuel standing by the banishing sigil. "Dean."
"You sold us out," Dean angrily accuses. Hands grab them from behind and they each struggle to get out of the demons' grips. "Damn you, Samuel."
"Yes," Crowley says, entering the room. "And I have to say, best purchase I've made since Dick Cheney."
Dean glares. "Hiya, Crowley, how's tricks?"
"Above your pay grade. Been working. Big things. Alas, you'll be too dead to participate."
"Really?"
"Shame I have to do away with you three. Rather enjoyed your indentured servitude."
The demons lead them down in a hallway and shove them into three separate rooms. Addison stumbles as she's shoved into the room. "Sam? Ads," Dean shouts.
"Yeah," Sam faintly replies.
"I'm standing in pee!"
"Consider yourself lucky!"
"I think I'm gonna puke," Addison shouts back, slowly standing up. The room was dark. She wipes her hands on her jeans. She could hear Dean talking to Samuel. The door opens and she turns to see two demons. They grab her and drag her out. Addison struggles to get away, but they tighten their grip on her and force her into another room. Dean manages to catch her before she can hit the floor. This room was bigger. A tub was filled with gunk and what looked to be intestines.
"You okay," Dean asks. Addison nods. He grabs her hand and pulls her close as they search around the room. Dean pushes back a bloodied plastic curtain to find a half eaten man lying on the floor. The door burst open and they turn to see the demons shove two more people in.
"Enjoy," one of the demons says as it closes the doors.
"All right, all right, Shawshank's a great flick but let's skip the shower scene, huh," Dean asks.
"Look. Breakfast," one of the men says. The monsters rush at them. Addison groans when she's tackled to the floor. Dean runs over and delivers a kick to the ghouls stomach. The other ghoul wraps an arm around Dean's neck.
"Fucking hate ghouls," Dean forces out. The first ghoul runs at Addison and she delivers a round house kick to his head. She runs up behind the ghoul and snakes her arm around his neck forcing him to release Dean. The ghoul backs up and Addison grunts when she hits the wall. Dean punches the ghoul a couple times before the other one shoves him to the floor. Addison lets go of her grip on the ghoul and manages to block the punch that's aimed for her. The ghoul wraps a hand around her throat just as the doors burst open. She falls to the ground as the ghoul goes to deal with the newcomer.
Addison stands up just in time to see Sam slams a pipe through the ghoul's head. The trio runs out of the room. Screams get their attention and Dean and Addison enter a room to see Meg tied to table. Christian was standing in front of her and Meg starts laughing. "What are you laughing at," Christian asks.
Dean grabs the knife out his hand and stabs the demon in the back. "Dean Winchester's behind you, meat sack," Meg answers. An orange light flashes and Christian falls to the ground.
Sam runs into the room. "We should go." Dean and Addison release the straps around Meg's wrists. After Meg gets dressed, the trio gets to work setting up a trap. Dean pulls the fire alarm. And it doesn't take long for Crowley to come investigate.
"You should be ghoul scat by now," Crowley says. Sam runs up behind the demon and slams a wrench across the back of his head. Crowley falls to the ground and the trio stand in front of him. Dean pulls out the knife as Crowley stands up. "Really necessary? I just had this dry cleaned." Crowley looks up and finds a devil's trap painted on the ceiling. "So to what do I owe the reach around?"
Meg enters the room. "Crowley," she greets.
"Whore."
"Okay. You know what?" Meg raises her hand and makes a fist. Crowley doubles over, coughing up blood. "The best torturers never get their hands dirty. Sam wants a word with you."
"What can I do for you, Sam?"
"You know damn well. I want my soul back," Sam answers.
"And here I thought you just grew some balls, Sam," Meg comments.
"Well?"
"No," Crowley replies.
"Meg," Dean says.
Meg steps forward and makes a fist once more. "I can't," Crowley tells them.
"Can't or won't," Sam asks.
"I said can't and I meant can't, you mop headed lumberjack. I was lucky to get this much of you out. Going back in there for the sloppy bits? No way. I'm good, but those two in there? Forget it."
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"You don't. But it doesn't change anything. I'm telling you. Sam, why do you want the thing back? Satan's got one juicy source of entertainment in there. I'd swallow a rag off a bathhouse floor before I took that soul. Unless you want to be a drooling mess."
Addison glances at Dean and finds that he's unsurprised at the revelation about the condition of Sam's soul. "Sam, I hate to say it, but he's right," Meg tells him.
"Yeah, right, I get it, thanks," Sam replies. "He's all yours."
"What? Are you crazy? He's our only hope," Dean argues.
"You heard him," Sam interrupts. "He can't get it. He's useless."
Dean takes out the demon killing knife and holds it out to Meg. She takes it with a grin and moves closer to Crowley. She stops right outside the devil's trap. "You'll let me back out, right," Meg asks. Sam nods and Meg steps inside. "This is for Lucifer, you pompous little—" Crowley grabs Meg's wrist and sweeps her feet out from under her. He grabs the knife and tosses it into the ceiling, destroying the devil's trap.
Crowley steps out of the trap. "That's better." He waves his hands and the trio goes flying into the walls. The knife flies down from the ceiling and into his hand. Meg stands up. "You don't know torture, you little insect."
There's a flutter of wings and Castiel appears. A burlap bag was in his hand. "Leave them alone," the angel orders.
"Castiel. Haven't seen you all season. You the cavalry now?"
"Put the knife down," Castiel orders.
"You that bossy in Heaven? Hear you're losing out to Raphael. The whole affair makes Vietnam look like a roller derby. Hey, what's in the gift bag?"
Castiel reaches into the bag and pulls out a skull. "You are."
"Not possible."
"You didn't hide your bones as well as you should have."
Crowley lowers the knife and claps. "Cookie for you."
Castiel drops the bag to the floor. "Can you restore Sam's soul or not?"
Crowley snaps his fingers and the trio slide down from the walls. "If I can help out in any other—"
"Answer him," Dean snaps.
"I can't."
Castiel holds a hand over the bag and it goes up in flames, along with Crowley. The trio steps forward towards the pile of ashes. Sam grabs the demon killing knife as Meg disappears. "Well, she's smart. I'll give her that," Dean says. "I was gonna kill her too. Of course, I'd have given you an hour with her first."
"Why would I want that," Castiel replies.
Addison shakes her head. "I say we just get out of here."
The trio and Castiel make their way to where Dean had parked the Impala. "Thanks, Cas. If it hadn't have been for you..." Dean trails off.
"Crowley was right. It's not going well for me upstairs," Castiel tells them.
"If there's anything we can do—"
"There isn't. I wish circumstances were different. Much of the time, I'd rather be here."
"Cas, we know you got a steaming pile on your plate. There's no need for apologies. We're your friends."
"Listen, Sam. We'll find another way."
"You really wanna help," Sam replies. "Prison full of monsters. Can't just leave 'em, can't let 'em go."
"I understand," Castiel responds then disappears with flutter of wings.
"Cas' right, you know," Addison says.
"About," Sam asks as Dean looks at her.
"About your soul. We'll figure something out. I can call my dad-"
"No, we won't."
"Because Crowley said—"
"You both heard what Crowley said. And I heard what Cas said."
Addison frowns. "What'd Cas say?"
"Putting this thing back in would smash me to bits."
"We don't know that for sure," Dean argues.
"You know what? When angels and demons agree on something call me nuts, I pay attention."
"You say this now? After we practically died trying to—"
"Exactly. We almost got ourselves killed. I mean, how many times do we risk our asses for this? Enough's enough. I don't think I want it back."
"You don't even know what you're saying."
"No, I'm saying something you don't like. You obviously care a lot. But I think maybe I'm better off without it."
Dean shakes his head. "You're wrong. You don't know how wrong you are."
"I'm not sure about that," Sam tells them, then starts walking away.
"Sam, don't walk away. Sam. Sam!"