"Hey… Dean?! Are you okay?"

Dean blinked. He wasn't sure where he was. He could hear AJ's voice echo for a moment, but there was no sign of him. The apartment was covered in plants of all sorts; a pot with branches coming out of it at the door, a basket with a flower arrangement on the coffee table; a vase with roses in it by the television set. A painting of a field of sunflowers hung above a clean white couch.

Dean tried to open his mouth, call out AJ's name, but it didn't cooperate.

On the floor was a woman Dean recognized, despite the millions of cuts all over her body. She was covered in her own blood.

Carmella.

Dean's mind was flooded with facts about Carmella. She wasn't from the Jersey Shore at all; she was from Staten Island. There was no run down shack; as it turns out, she was the one with the doting father, the proud mother. She wanted to be a beautician. She had a cocky ex she was hoping to get out of her system.

She was hoping the bald, suited demon looking over her would stop hurting her. She was afraid to die. Her thoughts made it clear that it wasn't Dean she saw standing above her; it was Christopher. Dean had been through this before, trapped in Sami's memories ever since he died, but he'd never even drank from Christopher.

Christopher found out about Carmella and Alexa. They'd only spent one night with Dean and they were paying for it.

"Please..." Carmella was barely audible, not moving at all.

Dean wanted to help her, but instead, his hand rose under its own volition.

A large cut appeared across Carmella's neck, her skin splitting as if a knife were involved. She gurgled, choking, and Dean walked right over her. He couldn't stop his own feet. He was heading for a door, and the closer he got, the clearer he heard Alexa's thoughts. Dean was way off on her; her father was no longer in this world. Her dye was a rebellious phase. Her mother was controlling. Alexa had no idea what the future held and was utterly afraid of it.

Alexa was currently afraid she and Carmella had no future. She was trying to whisper on her cell to the police, sitting under a couple of pink parkas in a closet. Her knees pulled into her stomach. Dean knew if Christopher didn't want to be caught, he could've got her at any time, hurt her before... Christopher wanted an audience.

"Please, I think my friend is dying, please come quick..."

Dean had fallen apart from the thoughts of one man, unable to get back into feeding right away without the fear of another's memories joining Sami's in his dreams. Christopher had multiple prey thoughts in his mind, heard them as he approached. Did Christopher get off on the fear? How could he hurt someone knowing exactly who they were inside and out, seeing their hopes and dreams like this?

The door opened. Alexa looked up, black tear streaks marking her cheeks. Her head shook and she screamed into the phone.

Dean smirked at her, his hand raising.

Alexa's ankle rose into the air, and she was dragged by her ankle out of the closet.

Roman licked his hands, taking every last drop of blood off of them.

The carcass below him was the least of his worries. He stood up, testing each leg. They still felt heavy, but the food was helping. He had to be ready for whenever Christopher showed back up. The demon was tricky, but Roman had proved in Christopher's own home that he could tear into his flesh.

Despite the cost to them… particularly to Seth… Roman can't help but feel grateful for Dean's fascination in AJ. Getting to stretch out his legs and fight a worthy opponent… something he hadn't done in ages. Like Seth and Dean, Roman had his reasons for hiding away from the world, but they all felt foolish when Roman knew what he could be doing. Who he could be fighting.

His nose twitched. Christopher's blood, particularly after being utterly exposed to Roman, after being in his mouth, is the most pungent thing when he reappears. It was just as alluring as AJ's, and if Dean wanted to keep the human to himself, Roman would settle for consuming the demon husband.

Dean could see into Wes' mind before he even got to the door. He had just watched the cops that came before him, learning all their histories, praying that Christopher didn't kill them all. One had a pregnant wife; one had a litter of seven, all under the age of ten. Dean's stomach lurched at the thought of Christopher snuffing them all out like he did Carmella. But they were all safe, and once they were convinced there was no one in the apartment, they called for Wes and his partner.

Wes had stared down a vampire, empowered by a bum ear. Seth had been so amused by Wes' show of defiance that he'd told him everything, told him that he tried to keep from eating people by stealing a few blood bags. Wes had been utterly captivated by Seth, and did his best to ask questions all night. He thought he was a toy of Seth's at first, but he had been addicted to the thrill and didn't want to leave Seth alone. Seth had told Wes he loved his determination, the way Wes looked at him like no one else mattered, loved the way Wes fucked him into the mattress and didn't complain when Seth went too far.

Wes loved Seth more than anything in the world.

Wes was about to die and there was nothing Dean could do to stop it.

I'm going to fucking kill you, Christopher.

Alexa was bleeding heavily. Dean had inflicted every cut, slowly, his stomach churning as he relived Christopher's rampage. If they didn't do something, she would die. The officer was just holding her hand.

"He's here… he's here…"

"Miss, we checked around, no one's here. Please, hang on."

The officer thought Alexa a goner.

The door opened, and there was Wes, in his uniform and all his gear. Dean's lips curled into a smile, though he felt sick knowing what Christopher was about to show him. He thought Christopher was going to make him pay… not Seth. Seth didn't even want to be involved.

"He's here…"

"Who's here?"

Wes knew a demon was behind this. He had no idea a demon was behind him.

Roman snarled, sniffing out the area. A fence, smeared with purple blood. His tongue slipped out of his mouth, tasting. It was still wet, still somewhat fresh, but the source was nowhere to be found. All he could smell was the drying blood.

Another dead end.

Roman found the purple blood smeared on random objects… a stop sign, a mailbox, a dog house… until the scent of the fresh source reappeared to his nose. The spread out objects confused him, offering multiple locations where Christopher was nowhere to be found. The demon was messing with him. Teleporting around.

Roman couldn't wait to sink his teeth into the asshole.

Dean's eyes blinked open. AJ was looking over him, concern written on his face. One hand was under Dean's head; the other was on his arm, shaking him. Dean struggled to catch his breath, attempting to sit up. He needed to prove this wasn't another one of Christopher's memories.

"Easy, easy." AJ whispered. "Just lie down."

Dean did as he was told. Eyes darting around, Dean realized he was back in the church. Christopher couldn't enter churches. "What happened to me?"

"We were talkin' and… you just… your eyes rolled back and you fell on the floor." AJ rubbed his arm. "What did he do to you?"

Dean shook his head. That had never happened before, but… if Dean could take memories, and Christopher could enter people's heads… he wondered if he was more susceptible to Christopher's powers. Another thing Dean didn't think through before he took on another demon. "Nothing, nothing… he just got in my head, is all."

"Honesty, remember?"

Dean chuckled at hearing that, but knew he couldn't. AJ was already worried, and Dean had to do whatever he could to keep AJ from running off. "He showed me his past."

"…my past?"

Dean shook his head. AJ looked particularly petrified at the idea that Dean had seen something about him. "He's just blowing smoke."

"Dean, what did he show you?"

"I really like hearing you say my name."

"You can't charm your way out of this one."

"You think I'm charming?"

"Get off me." AJ pushed him, but Dean couldn't help but note the small smile on his face. Much better.

Dean forced himself into a seated position on the floor, next to AJ. "Thanks for taking care of me."

AJ shrugged. "I was afraid he found a way in here."

"Just into my head."

Suddenly, AJ stood up, and Dean immediately followed, trying to cut him off before he could try it. Despite AJ walking to the back of the room, Dean couldn't risk AJ making a run for the door. AJ twisted, staring at him a moment. "Bathroom."

"We can find it together."

Blood. More blood.

Christopher's smell was replaced with something else. Human blood. Open, in the air. Suddenly, all he could think of was the girls, of Wes the EMT. Who was dead now? Was it another lure? Roman sprinted, hard. As he ran, he looked around, realizing where he was heading. He'd driven down this road slowly just yesterday.

Oh shit.

Roman quietly walked into the garage. Two bald men, in the same coveralls as AJ, dead. The smell of blood and gasoline was overwhelming. One was crushed under a car, blood seeping out around his head. The other was on the floor, screwdrivers throughout his bloodied body. Hands, chest, head, left ankle. Roman shook his head. He didn't want to be the one to tell AJ.

"You can kill all the humans you want buddy, you're a dead man once I find you." He went over to the one riddled with tools, smelling him. He couldn't tell when Christopher left; it couldn't have been that long ago. Why was he running?

His head whipped around, sniffing the air. Christopher. Close. He rushed to a corner, only to find another blood smear. It was still dripping down the wall. His head turned again, smelling the demon. He was here. Roman ran over, but his eyes caught the purple stain on the door before he even got close. He twisted around, looking around the garage for him.

All he could smell was blood and smoke.

Roman howled, running to the front of the garage, only to find it aflame. The fire was moving abnormally quickly, making a wall, blocking his way out. He moved away, trying to escape the heat, and he saw Christopher. The demon grinned, and he dropped something on the ground. More smoke. The wall behind him immediately caught ablaze, and the demon disappeared right in front of his eyes.

Roman backed into the middle of the garage, away from the inferno. The gas and something far more sinister were making the flames catch faster, and Roman needed to escape. His eyes darted around for an exit, anything to get through the fire. The wail of the smoke alarm went off, but the sprinklers never came on.

This trap was for him after all. And it was all too easy.

Something flew out of the flames, so quick Roman almost didn't catch it. Roman screamed as it tore into his side. He reached to yank it out, but as soon as he touched it, he yanked his hand away with a gasp. Whatever it was, it was almost entirely silver. A second one flew out of the flames, into Roman's leg. He dropped down in pain.

There was nothing he could do about the dozens that flew at him at the same time.

"Hey, you hungry?"

AJ insisted he remain on the other side of the door, showing him there was no way he could escape the basement bathroom. Eager to keep him calm, Dean had done just as he asked, leaning against the wall. The sound of running water told him AJ was just about done.

"No."

"I can get Roman to pick up something for you."

"I'm good."

"You have to eat."

"So do you."

"Is that an offer?"

AJ opened the door to the bathroom, glaring at him. "Stop that." He looked around. "Why didn't you turn on the light?"

Dean shrugged. The only light was coming from the small bathroom. It was the kind of small talk question he couldn't have imagined AJ asking just yesterday. Then again, in the last 24 hours he's probably talked more with AJ than he had anyone else. He knew more about AJ than his own roommates, Seth who he swore was in denial about his relationship with Wes, and Roman… who he still knew nothing about.

Dean nodded toward the hallway, and began to walk. It took a moment for AJ's steps to fall into time with his. "Where are you going?"

"Don't Christians have bread or crackers or something? Come on, let's find you something to eat." Dean turned to him. "Better than just sitting on the carpet upstairs waiting for an update, right?"

AJ shrugged, and Dean took that as a yes.

The first door they found was locked, and before Dean could try to pry it loose, AJ grabbed his arm and gave him a warning glance. The second door wasn't, and inside there was a colorful rug and a chalkboard. Little bean bag chairs were all over the floor, and a shelf held a bunch of thick board books with titles like "Daniel in the Lion's Den" and "David and Goliath."

"Nursery?"

"Sunday school."

"They just send their kids to the basement?" Dean walked inside, lowering down onto one of the bean bags. It curved to fit his body, the beans sliding easily. What a cozy way to hear about a small guy and a slingshot.

"Come on, let's go."

"We should take one upstairs. It's better than the wooden benches."

Of the rooms that were open, most were classrooms. The books became thicker though their pages turned thinner; the bean bags turned into small desks. The older you get, the less comfort there seemed to be. But the last room was exactly what they were looking for; a small pantry, filled mostly with canned goods.

"Well, did I deliver or what?" Dean smiled at AJ, before gesturing to the room. "Go pick something out."

AJ grabbed very little. A can of peaches and a roll of crackers. He slid down on the floor, and Dean followed. Dean took the can, biting down on them to open them, moving it around to cut them open. The juice was disgusting, Dean spitting to the side at the artificial sweetness.

"I always wanted a living can opener." AJ drunk from the can, using his teeth to drag the peaches into his mouth.

Dean's nose wrinkled. "How can you eat that?"

"How can you eat breath?" AJ shot back, making Dean chuckle. "Do you pee?"

"What, the bathroom? Nah, uh, no waste from people's energy. My dick's specifically for charming folks."

AJ's eyes were on the makeshift picnic in front of him at that. "Charming?"

"I'm probably the best lay you know."

"How do you know?" AJ asked, a peach wedge sticking out of his mouth.

"Well, I don't know if you know this, but when you're good in bed, there's usually signs you're good."

"No, serious. Your power is making people wanna do stuff for you, right? How do you know if it was you or an order at work?"

Dean stared at AJ. "How dare you."

All he got in return was a smug little smirk.

"We can put it to the test, you know?"

"Hm?"

"I mean… you're the only being I've met completely immune to my powers. We could see if I can please you…"

"We're in a church."

"Is that your only reason to say no?"

AJ shook his head. "Look, uh… a can of peaches and sending your creature friend after Christopher doesn't change things, you know? You're still the demon that stalked me to my job and got me into trouble."

"Please don't be dead." Dean recited. Four words via text that mattered more than most anything he'd ever received. "Only reason I'm in this church and not with Roman is because you begged me to come here."

"Why do you want to save me in the first place? Stealin' my energy that important to you?"

"Why do you want to save me?" It was deflecting, but Dean needed to. He had no idea what to say in response to that line of questioning.

"Told you. No one else should die for me." AJ pulled his knees into his chest. "Wes… meant a lot to Seth, huh?"

"Yeah." Dean nodded. "He did." He reached for the crackers, pushing them towards AJ. "Let me know if you want anything else."

AJ finished his meal in silence, but didn't ask for anything else. Dean grabbed a couple of the peach cans and cracker packages, deciding they were a pretty safe bet if AJ needed more food. A part of Dean wanted to feed, but AJ was the only one around and AJ's energy wasn't edible. Hopefully Roman would come back soon with good news.

The two walked down the dark hall in silence. Dean hadn't meant to put a damper on AJ's mood, but there was little they could do to escape the situation they were currently in. Once Christopher was dead, Dean could start work on making AJ smile more.

"Hey, AJ?"

"Hm?"

"When we kill Christopher, what's the first thing you're going to do?"

"When?"

Dean offered him the staircase back into the main floor. AJ nodded, walking up, Dean following behind him. "Yeah. When he's dead, what's the first thing you're going to do?"

AJ turned around, looking down at him. It was quiet. His answer was almost a whisper. "I think I'd like to go home. I haven't visited my parents since the funeral."

Visited. Dean felt cold at the euphemism.

"That's not an invitation, by the way."

"Oh, come on. You really think I'd stalk you to Georgia?"

AJ just gave a look in response. Considering all that had happened in under two days, it was a fair response. Dean nodded. "I'll wait for you to come back if you want."

AJ turned back around, walking through the door. Dean followed behind him, closing the basement door. "If I have my way, I'm never coming back."

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

They both twisted to look at the door. They eyed each other—Roman wouldn't knock. Dean knew exactly what that meant, anger at the demon making him snarl. Dean put the food down on a pew, before walking slowly up the aisle. He didn't have to look behind him to know that AJ was right behind him.

"Pastor?" AJ asked hopefully.

"Don't think he'd knock, he's got keys. Stay here."

AJ didn't listen. Dean reached back, pushing him behind him, but those steps still followed. Dean looked back at him.

"Go back."

"Open the door."

Dean shook his head, before resting his hand on the door, pushing it open. Dean's breath caught in his throat.

Oh fuck, no.

Dean immediately twisted around, grabbing AJ as quickly as he could. One arm around his back, one hand resting in his hair. He pushed him into his body, his hand pressing AJ's head into his shoulder. He couldn't see. Oh fuck, he couldn't let AJ see that.

"Don't look."

"What is it?" Muffled.

"Don't look." Dean squeezed harder when he felt AJ try to pull away. He was stronger, he could keep AJ from looking.

"Dean…"

Let him see, Dean.

Dean shook his head. Trying to will Christopher's voice out of it. Dean didn't know what to do… he was afraid if he moved, AJ would see outside of the church. He couldn't close the door in this position.

It's his present, Dean. Let him see it.

Dean wrenched his eyes shut, but that just made him remember exactly what he saw. He could feel AJ moving against him.

"You know, my love." That stilled AJ. Dean couldn't even feel his breath against his shoulder. It was the first time Dean had heard the demon's actual voice, smooth and cruel. "If you wanted to go to Georgia, I could've taken you."

Dean rubbed his hand against AJ's head. He couldn't hold him like this forever. "If I asked you to just go deeper into the church, not look…"

"What did he do, Dean?"

There was his name again. He couldn't think of another way to protect AJ. Dean reluctantly let go. AJ stepped forward, and he gasped. Before Dean could do anything, AJ fell forward, puking right at the doorway of the church. Dean turned to him, kneeling, hand on his back as he coughed up chunks of processed peaches and crackers.

Roman was dead. His massive body was spread on the ground in front of the church, ropes tying his arms and legs to what looked like wooden pegs in the ground. Roman was a mess; bloody, riddled with silverware. Butter knives and salad forks, shoved into Roman's body unnaturally. His eyes were wide open, glassed over. His skin was blackened, exposed in some places.

Right in front of him, at the foot of the stairs, was Christopher. He wasn't even ruffled. As opposed to the fight which supposedly left him bloody, there was not a single scar on his body. The shirt was unbuttoned at the top this time, revealing what looked like a black key.

"All for you, AJ," Christopher called out. Dean could see AJ's eyes dart to all the passersby, a young couple, an old lady with two young children, a group of three laughing men. For some reason, none of them seemed to even notice the dead demon lying out on the street… but something told Dean that AJ was hoping that Christopher didn't notice them. AJ's lips and chin were both covered with puke.

"Chris, please, don't do this…"

"You haven't called me that since we got married." Christopher gave him an affectionate smile. It was as if Christopher saw no one but AJ; that kind of fixation scared Dean. "We're going home tonight, love. I'll come collect you soon."

You're out of allies, Dean. But don't you worry. I won't burn the church down until after my husband is back with me.

Christopher didn't even look at him. He waved at AJ, body disappearing as he did. Dean went for the door, closing it, before turning back to AJ. His hands slipped under AJ's armpits, gently pulling him onto his feet. AJ didn't even fight, allowing Dean to right him. "Uh, I guess we can go back downstairs, clean you up…"

"I knew it was hopeless."

Dean held him close at the sentiment, arms around him from behind. He really couldn't pretend to be cocky about this anymore. Roman was dead and Christopher didn't have a scratch on him. Was the fight before a fluke? Maybe Christopher just needed some time in Roman's mind, figure out the weaknesses, before he killed him. Maybe Christopher just allowed Roman to get overconfident.

"Dean. We can't stay here forever."

Dean nodded. It was true but he just needed time to think up an alternative. "Let's go clean you up."