CHAPTER TEN: TROUBLE IN PARADISE

Jessi gladly followed Nick out of the bar. She didn't understand why this weird girl with the pointy ears was following her, but she didn't want to stick around and find out. As they walked, she ticked her gaze over her shoulder, making sure the girl wasn't following.

"So, you're her, aren't you?" she heard Nick ask.

"Huh? Her who?"

"The vessel of the Winchester's angel?"

"I-I'm sorry, I don't...know what you're talking about."

Nick looked at her, letting her go. "I know you are."

As soon as Nick let her go, she tried to move, but two more hands grasped her arms, holding her in place. She struggled, trying to find the best way out. "No, let me go!" she yelled.

Suddenly, Nick touched her head, causing her to black out.

Flare ran out, following Jessi and the man. "Hey, meat head!" she yelled once she saw him with Jessi "Drop the girl and leave, now."

Nick turned on her. "You don't know who you're talking to, girl." He stepped closer to her, leaning into her, whispering in her ear. "I...am...Lucifer." He pulled back, grabbing Jessi's arm and disappearing, taking her with him.

Flare just stood there, her face pale and jaw agape. She felt sick. "C-Cas!" She called quietly, hoping he would come. But when he didn't, she slowly pulled her cell phone out and called Bobby.

"Bobby, your cell's ringing," Dean said, not taking his eyes off the road.

Bobby pulled his cell out of his pocket. "I can hear it, you idjit." He flipped it open. "Hello?"

"B-Bobby...d-don't b-bother l-looking for Jessi." Flare took a deep breath. "H-He has her...I froze and h-he got away."

Who has Jessi?" he asked, confused. "Don't tell me you let Lucifer get her?!" He looked over at Dean, rolling his eyes.

Flare was silent for a moment. Finally, she yelled, "Yes! Lucifer has her, Bobby. How am I gonna get her back?!"

"Dammit, Flare!" Bobby yelled. "Why did you let him get her? I don't have the slightest clue how to get her back. Where are you?"

Flare closed her eyes. "I'm at the Lucky Stars Bar...out back," she said, her voice full of defeat. "I'm sorry." She hung up the phone. Slowly, she looked down at it, finding Sam's number and calling it. She sighed when it went to voicemail. "Hey Sam. I-It's me. I..." she took a deep breath. "H-He got Jessi...and I'm going to go and find her. So I have to...part ways for a short time. I lost her and I have to find her. I love you, Sammy." With that, she hung up the phone. Flare sighed before she walked out of the ally; on her way to find Jessi.

Ellen looked at Jo then at Sam. "What's wrong kid?"

Sam looked at Ellen. "I just don't want to be trapped here," he explained. "I want to be out there, with Dean. I just...I want everything to go back to the way it was before."

Ellen sat next to Sam and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, it will be."

Sam smiled at Ellen. He knew she was just trying to help, but she wasn't doing a very good job. He scooted up on the bed, laying down, turning his back to her. "Uh, I'm just really tired," he whispered, trying to hold back the tears. "I think I'm just going to go to sleep." He closed his eyes. "You guys can go, I promise I won't try to leave."

Ellen stood. "You sure you want to be alone right now?"

Sam nodded sleepily. He didn't want to be alone, no. But at the same time he didn't want Ellen and Jo watching over him like hawks. And besides, the person he wanted to be with wasn't there, so he was going to have to settle for being alone.

"Don't tell me--" Dean started, only to be interrupted by Bobby.

"Lucifer has Jessi," Bobby cut him off. "Dammit, boy, what the hell are we going to do, now?"

"I don't know, Bobby," Dean huffed, confused as to why Bobby was asking him what to do. Bobby was the smart one. Dean was just the adorable one.

Jerking awake, Sam realized that he was sweating. Damn, the nightmares were back. Slowly, Sam looked at his phone, seeing that he had a voicemail. Quickly, he opened it, punching in his password. It might have been Dean, and then he could talk to him about this issue that has been pressing down on him since they left the monastery. His heart sank a little when he heard Flare's voice on the other line. Not that he didn't want to talk to her, it was just that he wanted to talk to Dean more.

He listened intently as she explained the situation. He closed his eyes, wondering how long she would be gone. Wondering why he didn't seem to care that much that she was leaving. He did love her, but lately, with everything that was going on, he just didn't think he had the time, or the patience to be in a relationship, now. He needed to get things back to normal with Dean, first.

Once the message ended, Sam punched the END button. Then, he called Dean, waiting for him to answer. He was no use to Dean here. He wanted be out there, helping. Not stuck in the motel being babysat by Ellen and Jo. He was better than that.

Bobby was getting restless. "Drive faster, you idjit!" He rolled his eyes. "Castiel is going to tear you a new one for losing Abbey's vessel."

"I didn't lose her," Dean corrected. "Flare did."

Bobby rolled his eyes. "That only works in children's court, boy. Castiel told you to watch her and you didn't. Now, Lucifer has her and all Hell is going to break loose. Again." Bobby pulled out his cell phone and called Flare again.

Dean frowned. "He is going to kill me," he sighed.

Flare glanced at her cell, seeing Bobby's name. She ignored it. She didn't really feel like being yelled at right now.

"Dammit," Bobby breathed, closing his phone. He looked at Dean when he heard his words. "Well, don't expect me to help you, boy." He opened his phone again and dialed Flare's number. He could do this all night until she answered.

Flare answered her phone. "Dammit, Bobby, leave me alone! I'm going to clean up my mess. I'm going to find Jessi if it's the last thing I do!"

"Didn't anyone ever tell you to respect your elders?" Bobby spat. not liking Flare's tone. "Now, I told you to stay the hell put. So do it. Dean and I will be there in less than two minutes." He looked over at Dean. "Especially with the way he drives. And there's no use going off and getting yourself killed. So wait!"

"You don't need to get yourselves killed for my mistake. So don't even bother coming. I'll be gone."

"Flare, I swear to God, if you leave that spot, Lucifer won't even have a chance to kill you because I will do it myself." Bobby huffed, knowing that wasn't the right road to take to get his way. "Listen, just...think of Sam. How do you think he'd feel if he knew you were walking into a trap that will surely kill you?"

Meanwhile, Dean looked at his now ringing cell phone. "Yeah, Sammy?"

"Dean?" Sam sighed, glad Dean had answered. "I need you to call Jo and Ellen. Tell them to let me leave. I don't want to be stuck here. I'm no good here. You and I both know I can do something out there to help. Please?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Sam, your going to hurt yourself. You need to sleep."

"No, Dean, I don't want to sleep. I already slept when I was out cold," Sam complained. "Just, please, do this for me. Call them and get this all squared away, and then tell me where you're headed. I'll rent a car and get there as fast as I can."

Dean sighed "Fine. Have you heard from Flare, though?"

Tears started to roll down Flare's cheeks. "Tell him that I love him and I will see him soon. I can't let you guys die because of something I did. I can't lose another family."

"No, Flare," Bobby protested. "If you want him to hear that you're going to have to tell him yourself." Bobby climbed out of the car as Dean pulled into the lot. "Now, I mean it when I say don't move." He motioned to Dean to grab Flare who was standing with her back turned about a yard in front of them. His only thought was to keep her on the line long enough to distract her from Dean.
Sam bit his bottom lip. "No, I...haven't heard from her since you guys left," Sam lied. "Why, is there something wrong?"

"She's going after Lucifer, Sammy. Alone."

"I'm sorry, Bobby," Flare said, hanging up the phone and taking off.

"Dammit, boy! Why don't you get that phone from out of your ass and pay attention?!" Bobby yelled, seeing Flare run off.

Sam cringed when he heard Bobby yelling at Dean. "Um...so, why is that bad? I mean, it's not like she's going to find him. Unless, you know, he wants to be found. I mean, we haven't been able to find him and we're ten times better than she is at tracking. I don't think we have to worry about her."

"Sam, you know how she is. She will stop at nothing to save someone. Kinda like you, Sammy," Dean said, glaring at Bobby.

Sam rolled his eyes. "I know, Dean, but this isn't just some demon. It's Lucifer. Ruler of Hell. Flare will not find him if he doesn't want to be found. And if he's torturing Jessi, I'm guessing he doesn't want to be found." He sighed. "Just call Jo and Ellen. Tell me where you are, and I'll be out as soon as I can."

"Fine," Dean said, hanging up the phone as he turned to Bobby. "He...doesn't seem to care."

"Don't give me that look, boy," bobby ordered, gathering some weapons from Dean's trunk. What was it with these young kids today that they thought they were in charge? Well, he would have none of it. "And what do you mean, he doesn't care?" Bobby asked, surprised. "What did he say?"

Dean told Bobby what Sam had said. "I just don't get it."

"There's something wrong with your brother, and you need to fix him," Bobby ordered.

"I mean, Flare could die...and he doesn't care?!Why?!"

"I don't know, boy, he's your brother!" Bobby yelled, rolling his eyes at Dean's mindset that he knew everything.

Sam pulled from the bed, throwing his hand to his abdomen as his gash stretched, pulling at his stitches. He walked out of the room, almost running right into Ellen. "Ellen, hi," he squeaked. "Um, I'm going to leave, now. Dean said I could."

Ellen crossed her arms. "Really? When did he say that?"

"I, uh, just talked to him on the phone. You can call him if you want to."

"Jo, call Dean," Ellen ordered.

Jo picked up the phone and called Dean. She smiled when she heard his voice on the other line "Hey, Sam's trying to leave. He said you said it was okay. Is it?"

"Yeah, it's fine Jo," Dean mumbled before he explained what was going on.

"She what?!" Jo squeaked. "What is she thinking?! He'll slaughter her!" She looked over at Sam, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Does-Does Sam know?" She nodded to her mother, letting her know Dean said it was okay for Sam to leave.

"See?" Sam asked, looking at Ellen. "I told you Dean said I could go. Now, could you please move? I have to get to him. He needs me."

Ellen frowned before she stepped out of the way.

"Yeah, he knows. But he doesn't seem to care," Dean replied sadly. "I don't know what is going on with him."

Sam stepped out the door, closing it behind him. He searched the parking lot, looking for a suitable ride. He found a cherry red mustang, and walked towards it. He opened the driver's side door and climbed in. Leaning forward, he managed to hot wire the car, the engine roaring to life. He pulled out of the parking lot, on his way to wherever Dean and Bobby were. He wanted to help. To prove to them, and himself, that he was still useful.

"He doesn't care?" Jo asked in disbelief. "What makes you say that?"

Dean sighed before telling Jo what Sam had said.

"That's odd," Jo said. "I thought Sam and Flare were, like, joined at the hip, nothing can separate them from each other, I love you to pieces couple. Why wouldn't he care?"

"I don't know, Jo. It is just really odd. I'm kinda worried about them."

Sam pulled into the lot, seeing Dean on the phone and Bobby gathering weapons. He killed the car's engine, walking over to Bobby. "Who's he on the phone with?" he asked, nodding his chin in Dean's direction.

"He's still talking to Jo," Bobby answered. "Here, give me a hand with this stuff, you idjit." Sam took the weapons Bobby was handing him, his eyes intent on Dean. He wanted to know what they were talking about, but he was too far away to hear.

Bobby walked over to Dean, seeing that he was still on the phone. "Dean, you can talk later, you idjit!" he yelled. "We need to move now. Wrap it up!" Sam couldn't help but smile as Bobby ordered Dean around like he was some child and Bobby was his father.

Dean sighed. "I'll talk to you later," Dean said hanging up the phone. "So, where do we start?" he asked.

"I don't know," Bobby answered. "I've been trying to call her again, but I got no luck. Maybe you should give it a try while we walk that way. You know, where she ran in the first place."

Dean nodded before calling Flare's number.

Flare ran as fast as she could. She had no idea where she was going, but also no intention of stopping. She needed to find Jessi. If Lucifer had her for too long, she had no idea what might happen to the poor girl. She stopped when she heard her phone ringing again. Flare sighed. \"What the hell do you want Dean?"