The dark entity squirmed and writhed under his grasp, but he overpowered it with ease. Within seconds the demon was free if its fleshy home, and screeching the sounds of pure evil. Sam allowed a small smile to grace his face as he threw the stain back to its place of birth.

Sometimes the victims lived, other times they didn't. When they didn't, Ruby helped Sam dig a ditch into which they could bury the salted and burned body, giving it eternal rest. Their work had become much more systematic – more of a process they would mimic on each case.

Ruby followed Behind Sam. She followed him into the hotel room, ate when he ate and feigned rest as the hunter slept in the next bed. It had been two weeks, but there was not reason for Sam to forget he had the ability to condemn her to the ultimate damnation she had once suffered. Sam was much better than he used to be – stronger and faster. Ruby believed that the only reason Sam had not managed to send her back to Hell last time was that he was slow enough to hesitate. Today, Sam was done in no more than a minute, and Ruby didn't doubt that with practise he would only get faster.

These circumstances gave he illusion that Sam Winchester was hr master, and although neither thought of their relationship in such terms, Sam had the power any master held: power over her life. Although it was against her nature and will, Ruby had taken on some form of obedience and submission towards Sam. It was apparent to them both that he was in control.

***

Sam woke to find himself alone in the musty hotel room, hints of sunlight splaying across the greyed carpet. With a yawn and a stretch, Sam washed and dressed, clearing the room and checking out. He would wait for Ruby by the car. Outside in the morning air, Sam closed his against the chilly breeze, feeling its weight – or rather, how weightless it was. He could feel energy much better now. Everything had an energy – air, water, earth, people. He could find the density and darkness in them all. Demons were the darkest and most dense of all, and Sam could locate them much easier now. The limits of his mind had broadened. He could only sense one such being at the moment, but he had felt her presence so often that Ruby now felt different from others – more familiar, less dark.

"The room's cleaned out and packed?"

Sam swivelled around from his position on the Impala's hood and saw Ruby sauntering towards him. He nodded.

"Good, 'cause we've got some demons to hunt."

Sam jumped off the head without question, positioning himself in the driver's seat as Ruby slid in beside him. He caught the bag of scones she'd picked up from the local bakery, biting into one and asking, "Where to?"

Ruby hesitated but for a second, before answering. "Pontiac, Illinois."

She saw him stiffen ever so slightly, pausing between chews, but Sam tried to shrug off the memory and pulled out of the carpark. Ruby kept her eyes to herself, and let Sam believe his flinch had gone unnoticed, but Ruby knew from the moment the whispers of the demons' location reached her ear, that everything Sam had tried to hard to bury in his mind would not lay forgotten in the town where Dean was buried.

***

The was just appearing over the low skyline by the time they reached Pontiac, settling into a peculiar hotel with animal print on the walls and a severe lack of lighting.

Sam hadn't said too much, and Ruby didn't blame him. He didn't have much incentive to speak so she decided she'd be practical and explain what she knew.

"So we got to Tennessee a few days too late to catch these guys. But these demons only arrived in town a few hours before I heard. I doubt they're in such a rush that they'll bolt this quickly. Besides, you know as well as me that when demons travel in packs, unless they're being threatened, they like to settle in."

Sam nodded, but judging by his empty face Ruby knew in a few hours he wouldn't remember a word she said. She wasn't going to push the matter, especially not with his memories so close and beer in the fridge.

Ruby sat on the couch beside Sam, pulling a piece of pizza from the box for herself. She didn't know if it was this room or this town, but there was a weird vibe in the air. Like the uncertain sensation right before you realise it's a stomach ache. There was something unsettling about this place; she wondered if Sam felt it too. Looking over at him, he seemed oblivious.

After a few hours of sleep, Sam and Ruby returned to the Impala in the late afternoon and headed out for a drive around town. If they came within range of any demons, Sam would know. They roads weren't busy, and neither was Sam's mind. Ruby drove, giving him the opportunity to concentrated on his surroundings, but nothing had cropped up on his radar.

"No sign?"

"None."

Ruby screwed up her face in confusion. "I don't understand."

Sam eyed the people on the sidewalk. He couldn't even feel them.

"There's something weird about this town," he mused aloud, squinting as they drove along a street facing the setting sun.

"Can you feel anything like demons at all?"

"I can't feel… anything. Not the people, the woods just outside town, not even the air. And I know all those things are there. There's something else… something blocking the energies of everything else."

"What do you mean?"

"Its like a blanket; its covered up every other energy in town. Its powerful."

"Are you sure its not the demons? It could be a while bunch of them."

"No; this is different. This doesn't have the same tine as demons. Its… light. There's no darkness at all, and even air holds more density." Sam rubbed his forehead, relaxing his mind and releasing the energy from his thoughts. He'd never felt anything like it. His head began to throb gently.

Ruby suggested retiring for the evening, less out of concern for Sam than the fact that the unusual presence all around them was a little too foreign for her liking. After picking up a greasy dinner that Sam regretfully thought Dean would approve of, they returned to the hotel room.

***

Sam had insisted they return to the streets after having rested and eaten their fill. However, once he woke he realise he had in fact fallen asleep and slumbered right through the night. Although annoyed that he had squashed his own plan, Sam was satisfied with staking out the town today.

The sound of the shower in the next room disappeared, and Sam decided that a shower didn't sound like a bad idea. While collecting his things, Ruby exited the bathroom, half-dressed with dripping hair. An odd sight to outsiders, yes, but their relationship was such that neither thought much of this turn of events, and pushed on as if it were the norm.

Sam welcome the hot water, content to stand under the gentle flow of the first shower he'd had in a month with pressure, but he barely made it under the shower head, and this was infuriating enough for him to finally turn off the water and take his leave.

Dressed and almost ready, Sam slipped Ruby's knife into his back pocket where it belonged, and went to find a clean over-shirt. Ruby appeared by his side, still half-dressed, although her hair was now dry.

"If we do find these demons today, we're going to have to plan how we taken them out. There's no use storming in there when you can only work your magic on one at a time, and I'm pretty sure they're not going to wait patiently."

"I know, Ruby," Sam huffed, exasperated. "We're been doing this for a while. And you know, it wouldn't be too much if you cleaned up after yourself behind the scene too. You seem to be taking over my bag too." Sam pulled a few of her things from the depths of his bag, pushing a pink undergarment down beside the bed.

There was a knock at the door, and Sam let Ruby get it as he returned to the bathroom, retrieving the small, golden amulet and placing it around his neck.

------------------------------

A.N.// So this story is supposed to fill in the 4 lost months while Dean was in Hell. I finished this final chapter at the moment that Dean & Bobby knocked at the door in the episode 4x01, so i've tried to completely fill in the time we missed out on. Lots of fun to write, and i hope i get more ideas like it soon =D Thankyou to everybody to read and reviewed! I really appreciate it. You guys all rule!