Last chapter of season 1! I'm…I'm actually really proud of this one. I just…this whole story's coming together much better than I ever thought it would and people are actually liking it and…wow just. Yeah. I'm happy :)

Disclaimer: I only own Lucy!

~o~

Chapter 10
Hello, Old Yellow Eyes

Gradually, the girl raised her head, moaning in pain and effort. We got a better look at her. Blood dripped from a corner of her mouth and down to her clothes. Her eyes were sunken and defeated, with large, dark circles beneath them. Traces of tears caused by her suffering clung to her dark lashes. She looked…broken.

"She's still alive!" Dean marveled. Urgently, he turned to Bobby and ordered, "Call 911. Get some water and blankets!" Bobby immediately obeyed, rushing off to perform the tasks given to him. I hurried to the girl's—the real Meg's—side and knelt down beside her. A stray blonde hair had fallen into her bloody lips, and I shoved it away, gently cradling the girl's head.

My brothers freed her wrists from the rough rope binding her. "Th..ank…you…" she croaked, barely above a whisper. My brothers and I shushed her.

"Shhh, don't try to talk. The ambulances are on their way," I soothed, stroking the girl's hair comfortably.

"Come on, let's get her down," Dean suggested to Sam and I. My brothers held her from under her knees and across her upper back, while I held her head up. She whimpered and groaned as we lowered her, even with how tender the three of us were managing to be. I couldn't even imagine the type of agony she was in. I assumed almost every single bone in her body must have been broken or beaten in some way.

She gasped as I laid her head down and breathed, "A year…" My brothers and I waited for her to elaborate, willing her to take as much time as she required. "It's been a year. I've been awake…f-for some 'f it. I couldn't move my own body…" I pushed her bangs away from her eyes as we listened to her intently. The majorly pessimistic part of my mind told me this could be her last words. So I wanted to assure she was heard.

"The things I d…id—it's a nightmare," she finished, sputtering over her words. I softly shook my head, giving her my kindest look.

"That wasn't you," I denied in a murmur.

"B-But I saw it…as if 't was," the girl breathed.

Dean asked, "Was it telling us the truth about our dad?" Both Sam and I shot him disapproving looks, to which he retorted, "We need to know." In the back of my mind, I knew he was right. I just didn't desire to watch this girl suffer anymore.

"Yes," the real Meg gasped. "But it wants…you to know…that…they want you to come for him."

"If Dad's still alive, none of that matters," Dean stated. At this point, I positioned the girl's head onto my lap in an attempt to bring her as much comfort as possible. Bobby returned soon after, carrying both a fresh glass of water and a blanket. I assisted her in raising her head, so she could sip at the water. I also spread the blanket across my lap for her to return her head to.

"Where is the demon we're looking for?" Sam questioned her delicately once she finished her sip and rested her head on my lap once again.

"Not there…Other ones. Awful ones," she wheezed.

"Where are they keeping our Dad?" Dean offered next.

"By the r-river," she replied. I realized too late that she was taking her final breaths. "…Sunrise…"

"Sunrise? What does that mean?" Dean tried. But I gazed down at the lifeless girl mournfully. What a terrible way to die. Dean wasn't prepared to give up. "What does that mean?"

"Dean!" I scolded, glaring up at my brother. I lowered my voice, and my gaze softened considerably. "She's gone."

The four of us all gazed upon the departed young girl. She must have been around my age…maybe a little older. Far too young to die. Somberly, I graced my hand along the girl's face and lightly closed her eyes for the final time.

~o~

My brothers and I bid our goodbyes to Bobby and headed to Jefferson City, Missouri, where the demon Meg had instructed us to go. Sam came up with the brilliant idea to protect the Colt from demons in the trunk of the Impala by diagramming devil's trap on it. Dean was originally, and I assume still, opposed to the idea due to the fact that he wanted to drag the Colt with us; but he eventually agreed.

In Jefferson City, we discovered what Meg was explaining when she said that Dad and the demons were "in Sunrise". We found an apartment complex so named 'Sunrise Apartments', located directly beside a long river. It was pretty intelligent of the demons actually to disguise themselves as normal civilians. Of course, that made our job loads more complicated. Dean brainstormed the idea to trigger the fire alarm, which would hopefully evacuate every innocent inhabitant. And when our plan was in effect, we portrayed different tasks. Dean distracted the firemen surrounding the building, while Sam broke into a firetruck to steal disguises and I kept watch for both curious workers and rogue demons.

Our plan resulted effectively. Dressed in full firefighter gear, my brothers and I stopped outside a certain apartment when our EMF detector went off the charts. We nodded at each other and knocked on the door. One of the demons unlatched the door's lock, and my brothers and I burst in, spraying the demons with holy water from tanks we carried. Between the three of us, we easily overpowered the two weak demons, shoving them into a closet and salting a circle around it.

As soon as the demons were stuffed in the closet and out of our worry, we stripped our heavily, dense firefighter outfits, returning to our normal clothes. Together, we pushed our way through the bedroom door. There he was. Our Dad was spread across the bed with restraints holding him to it. He was unconscious and slightly bloodied.

I almost instantly jogged to his side, setting a knee on top of the bed. I placed a soft hand on the side of my father's face worriedly, checking for any signs of life. "Daddy?" I whimpered, grazing my hand along his soft, black hair. Dean was next to his side, but Sam remained in the doorway.

"Dad?" Dean questioned nervously and leaned down close to him. After a moment, he rose, looking between Sam and me. "He's still breathing. Dad! Wake up!" Dean grabbed Dad's jacket and used it to try to shake him to consciousness. I kept my hand near his face, gently brushing the skin there. Sam took a dissimilar approach to the situation, and instead recovered a bottle of holy water.

He wanted to test it. Just to make sure. And with a few flicks of the water upon his still body, we were able to confirm that Dad was indeed, not possessed. Additionally, the water jolted him awake. Dad stirred, lifting his head slightly to glimpse at his middle child. "Sam? Why are you splashing water on me?" he whispered. Sam and I both chuckled.

"Dad, are you okay?" Dean inquired, concerned. Dad lay back down wearily.

"They've been drugging me," he sighed. "Where's the Colt?"

"It's safe, Daddy," I replied, my eyes flicking over to Sam. "Sammy's idea."

Dad nodded. "Good kids…good kids." I felt a burst of pride. And with that, the three of us lifted Dad and we struggled our way out, being attacked by numerous demons. On the outside of the hotel, I thought we had finally gotten to safety. I spoke way too soon.

A demon appeared out of nowhere, knocking Sam off his feet. The demon straddled him, delivering punch after punch. Dean placed Dad gently on the ground and sprinted to Sam's aid. I wasn't too far behind. Dean made an attempt to kick the demon in the face, but it was ineffective. With a wave of its hand, the demon sent Dean flying through the air and crashing straight onto the windshield of a car.

Fury bubbled in me, and I grabbed the demon's closed fist before he could use it to beat my brother yet again. I felt that power surge within me simmer to the surface and I was able to yank the demon from his straddle hold on Sam. I wrapped my arms around its throat, in an effort to strangle it. But it was too strong for me.

In a swift action, it swung me around and nailed me to the hard pavement on the street below. He positioned a rough knee painfully on my stomach, and grabbed both sides of my head. He slammed my head to the ground once…twice…and thrice. My vision steadily faded blotch by blotch. The very last thing I heard before I blacked out was an earsplitting gunshot.

~o~

My head was pounding against my skull. I felt slightly nauseous and when I tried to open my eyes, my vision was blurred. Dizzily, I quickly shut them before I could allow it to come into focus. My sense of touch kicked in and I realized I was lying on a stiff bed on my side, with a soft pillow underneath my head. Distinct mumbling was present and slowly but surely the voices became coherent. I recognized them as my brothers'.

Gradually, events came back to me. I remembered the apartment complex. I remembered the fire department and wearing the bulky uniforms. I could recall Dad unconscious on the bed, and splashing him with the holy water. And lastly I remembered the demon that attacked my family and me. He knocked me out by slamming my head repeatedly against the ground. Damn, that hurt!

How could I let myself get overpowered so easily by a demon? I felt ashamed. He tossed me to the ground so effortlessly. From the way they were speaking together, my brothers seemed to be fine, but I could have let them and our Dad down. Temporarily, I pushed aside the thoughts that were causing my head to throb and instead eavesdropped on my brothers' conversation, still keeping my eyes shut.

"Hey, Sam?" voiced Dean, sounding troubled. "You know that guy I shot? There was a person in there." Briefly, I recollected that I caught the bang of a gunshot just before I slipped unconscious. 'There was a person in there'. Dean must have been mentioning the demon that knocked me out. He must have shot it…with the Colt.

"You didn't have a choice, Dean," Sam reassured softly. "It was about to kill her." I felt a shock. Maybe that demon hadn't been finished with me after it hit me unconscious. It had…it had gone for the kill. And my brother saved me.

"I know," Dean said quickly. "That's not what bothers me."

"Then what does?"

There was a long pause. And then Dean swallowed and replied, "Killing that guy; killing Meg. I didn't hesitate. I didn't even flinch. For you or Lucy or Dad, the things I'm willing to do or kill it's just…it scares me sometimes." I felt a lump in my throat and a rush of love for my oldest brother. Guilt followed with the thought in my mind that I was too feeble, and he was forced to come to my rescue.

"It scares me that I can't," I blurted, rustling from my position on the bed. Both of my brothers started in surprise, unaware of my wakefulness. Sam hurried to my side, making sure I kept my head down.

"Take it easy, okay? You hit your head pretty hard," Sam babied. I sat up despite his protests, ignoring my pounding skull.

"That's the point," I persisted. Dean furrowed his eyebrows and moved to sit on the edge of my bed. Or…whoever's bed this was. Now that I think about it…I had no idea where we were. But I disregarded that for the moment and continued, "I can't even handle one little demon? How the hell am I supposed to help with the big ones? Like the demon. I'm…I'm weak, guys."

"Hey!" Dean asserted. I looked him in the eyes. "Lucy, you are not weak. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met, and I'm not just saying that 'cause I'm your big brother. These demons are unpredictable. They're tough motherfuckers, okay? You can't beat 'em all. That's why we're all together. We help each other."

"You're brother's right, Lucy."

The three of us siblings turned in unison. Our Dad had snuck into the room at some point when we were speaking, and listened in to the ending of our conversation. I felt a wave of relief when I observed that he was basically unharmed, despite a healing cut on his lip and some scratches on his face.

"And you shouldn't be scared, Dean," Dad continued, smiling at his oldest son. "You did good."

Dean couldn't figure out what to reply. Staring at Dad, he settled on, "You're not mad? For using a bullet?"

"Mad?" Dad questioned and shook his head. "I'm proud of you. You know, Sam and I, we can get pretty obsessed. Lucy struggles with keeping her focus—gets dependent sometimes. But you – you watch out for this family. You always have."

Dean was speechless. Dad's never said anything like that to him before. Dad wasn't exactly one to wear his emotions and it was a bit challenging to read him. Needless to say, Dean was baffled and slightly concerned. "Thanks," he muttered. From outside, the wind rustled against the window, and the lights zapped and flickered.

My family marched to the largest window and peered outside. I hopped up from the bed without thinking and dizziness instantly dominated me. I grabbed the wooden table in the center of the room to steady myself. Slowly I moved to the counter, resting there and halting my trek to my family.

"It found us. It's here," Dad stated, turning to my brothers and me. "The demon. Alright, Sam, lines of salt in front of every window, every door."

"Already did it," Sam countered.

"Check it, okay?" Dad ordered and Sam obeyed, leaving the room. Dad turned to me and insisted, "Lucy, just stay there. I don't want you straining yourself, I can tell how lightheaded you are right now. Dean, you got the gun?" Dean nodded. "Give it to me."

Pulling the gun out of his jeans, Dean replied, "Sam tried to shoot the demon in Salvation, it vanished."

"Yeah, I noticed that. Are you sure this gun can kill it?" I inquired doubtfully. Dean continued to hold his hand out.

"Yeah, I'm sure. And I won't miss," Dad reprimanded. "Now the gun. Hurry." But Dean was reluctant. I scrunched my eyebrows at him, wondering what he could possibly be thinking. This was the demon! Why was he acting so weird around our Dad? "Son, please."

I grew even more puzzled as Dean took several steps backward in caution. I shook my head. "Dean, what are you doing? Give it to him!" But he denied me as well.

"No," Dean rejected, shaking his head at me. "No, Dad would be furious. You and I both know how pissed he'd be that I wasted a bullet." He turned his eyes to Dad, who appeared just as bewildered as me. "He wouldn't be proud of me. He'd tear me a new one." He raised the colt, cocked it and concluded, "You're not our Dad."

Though I admit he had a point, I didn't believe it. It was crazy! We checked—he wasn't possessed, we made sure of it. "What do you mean he's not Dad? Who else would he be?" I cried. Dean only barely acknowledged me.

"Listen to your sister, Dean. It's me," Dad opposed.

"I know my dad better than anyone," Dean denied determinedly, "and you ain't him."

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Dad exclaimed, throwing up his hands.

"I could ask you the same thing," Dean retorted lowly. Sam re-entered the room and felt a bolt of shock at the sight in front of him.

"Dean, what are you doing? Lucy, what's going on?" he inquired, alarmed. I crossed my arms, leaning my body on the counter to remain steady.

"Dean thinks Dad's…well, not Dad," I responded.

"Because he's not!" Dean hollered, notably become more upset.

"Your brother has lost his mind," Dad growled.

"I think he's possessed. I think he's been possessed since we rescued him," Dean explained. He and Dad were having a stare down with each other, and my eyes switched between them uncertainly.

"Don't listen to him, kids," Dad said, addressing Sam and me.

"How do you know?" Sam asked.

"He's—he's different," Dean stammered.

"What do you mean different?" I blubbered.

"You know, we don't have time for this!" Dad snapped at Dean particularly, but also spared glances at Sam and me. "Kids, you wanna kill this demon, you've gotta trust me." Distressed, my eyes flicked between Dean and Dad. I chose not to choose. Instead, I pushed away from the counter and gripped Sam's arm. He glanced down at me, giving me a hopeless look. I returned it, letting him know I was just as lost as he was. "Sam? Lucy?"

I lowered my eyes to my shoes. Sam gaped at Dad debating the choice in his mind. Finally, he shook his head. "No," he said, moving us both towards our brother. I didn't look into my Dad's face, terrified that I'd see disappointment and betrayal there.

After a pause, I heard my father scoff. "Fine. You're so sure, go ahead…Kill me." I dug my nails into Sam's arm, biting down on my lower lip and forcing the tears that sprung to my eyes away. I had to trust my brothers on this. They goddamn better understand what they're doing. Dad was silent for even longer this time and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dean start to falter, the gun in his hands lowering little by little.

I heard my father inhale and I took that moment to glance up. A smirk played on his face, and at that instant was when the uncertain feeling washed over me. "I thought so." My eyes widened—suddenly everything about him was different. He sounded…evil. And when he looked up…I discovered why.

I gasped when I spotted the hideous, sickly yellow eyes of the demon. Before I comprehended what was happening, I was flung backwards. But I never collided with the wall. In midair, heat burst around me and I hovered in front of the wall and dropped to the ground gently. My brothers weren't as lucky. Sam smashed against the wall with a grunt of pain, and Dean slammed into the opposite wall, releasing the Colt.

Though I seemed to not be under the demon's force like my brothers, I was still unable to budge. With a start, I recognized that the glowing light emanated from my body once more. It was the source of the warmth, and most likely the force that protected me from smashing into the wall behind me. In horror, I watched as the demon—Yellow Eyes—retrieved the abandoned Colt from the ground. Twisting it in his hands, he turned and glared right at me.

He began to chuckle—darkly, malevolently, mockingly. I shuddered. "Your little guardian…so eager to protect you," the demon laughed. Wait…what? His scornful smirk transformed into a terrible snarl. A look I definitely never fancied to see on my Dad's face ever again. "Oh, I hate those filthy bastards."

One little statement, yet it raised so many questions in me. My mind racing, I managed to get out, "Guardian?"

The demon's smirk returned and I gulped. "Long story. And just your luck, I'm not willing to tell it, kiddo," he jeered. He gave me a look of disgust and his eyes darkened. "No, I want nothing to do with you and your…species." My breath stopped. What the hell did he mean by that? I thought with absolute terror. The demon moved on from me, returning his focus to the gun in his hands and my brothers.

"What a pain in the ass this thing has been."

Sam breathed heavily. ""It's you isn't it," he sneered. "We've been looking for you for a long time."

"Well, you found me," Yellow Eyes smiled.

"But the holy water?" Sam asked. I nodded.

"Why didn't it burn you, it should have burnt you!" I added frantically.

"You think something like that works on something like me?" the demon ridiculed. I slumped in defeat. Sam attempted to push himself away from the wall, but the effort was pointless.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Sam growled, eyes blazing in fury.

"Oh, that'd be a neat trick. In fact," the demon jested and set the Colt down on the table, "here. Make the gun float to you there, psychic boy." My eyes met Dean's worriedly. It terrified me that he was aware of everything that was occurring with Sam…and me apparently. Sam glanced at the gun. Nothing happened. Whether he had even tried, I have no idea.

The demon mockingly chuckled at Sam, and turned away from him. His attention shifted to Dean, who was snarling at him from across the room. "Well, this is fun. I could've killed you a hundred times today, but this...this is worth the wait." I gritted my teeth furiously.

Addressing Dean, Yellow Eyes said, "Your Dad – he's in here with me. Trapped inside his own meat suit. He says "hi", by the way. He's gonna tear you apart. He's gonna taste the iron in your blood." My lower lip trembled and I attempted to lunge at him. But it was almost like something held me back…like something was shielding me from the demon.

Dean glowered. "Let him go, or I swear to God –"

"What? What are you and God gonna do? You see, as far as I'm concerned, this is justice." The demon advanced closer to Dean and I tensed over-protectively. That son of a bitch better leave my brother alone. "You know that little exorcism of yours? That was my daughter."

"Who…Meg?"

"The one in the alley? That was my boy. You understand?"

I sighed. We killed his family. Yellow Eyes had a family. And we killed it. Great. "You've got to be kidding me," Dean scoffed.

"What? You're the only one that can have a family? You destroyed my children. How would you feel if I killed your family?" the demon judged. Then, he smiled. "Oh, that's right. I forgot. I did. Still, two wrongs don't make a right."

"Oh that's it—"I growled, lunging. The force once again restrained me. I nearly screamed in frustration. Yellow Eyes glimpse at me in amusement, which only boosted my rage.

"You son of a bitch," Dean spat.

Sam intervened, much calmer. "I wanna know why. Why'd you do it?"

The demon spared a look at him. "You mean why did I kill Mommy and pretty little Jess?" He turned back to Dean and peeked at me, smirking. He backed up a few steps and informed, "You know, I never told you this, but Sam was gonna ask her to marry him. Been shopping for rings and everything." He turned his attention to Sam, "You want to know why? Because they got in the way. In the way of my plans for you, Sammy. You...and all the children like you."

I swallowed. "Children like him? You mean like…like the psychic children? The kids like…Max Miller?"

The demon grinned and pointed a finger at me. "You know, you are the smartest one of your kind I've met. You catch on quick!" I narrowed my eyes at the demon. There it was again. The species comment. The way he said it…he wasn't talking about humans. He was implying that I was…well, not human. And that scared the shit out of me.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Listen, you mind just getting this over with, huh? Cause I really can't stand the monologuing." I couldn't even smile at my brother's antics.

The demon abandoned Sam, and crowded himself to Dean. "Funny, but that's all part of your M.O., isn't it? Masks all that nasty pain, masks the truth."

"Oh, yeah? What's that?"

"You know, you fight and you fight for this family, but the truth is they don't need you. Not like you need them," Yellow Eyes taunted. The fury inside me grew even hotter, if possible. That was a lie. "Sam – he's clearly John's favorite. Even when they fight, it's more concern than he's ever shown you. And dear, sweet Lucy—daddy's little girl. Oh how he loves his baby girl. Much more than he's ever loved you."

"You're wrong," I growled menacingly. Entertained, the demon raised an eyebrow at me.

"That so?" he derided.

"Yeah. That's so," I hissed, baring my teeth. My voiced oozed a threat. "Cause you know what? I need him. My brothers and my father—who you're so kindly possessing—are my world. Dean has been there for me my whole life. He dedicated his life to me and to Sam. So yeah. You're wrong. Cause I damn well need him."

If I had peered at Dean, I would have seen that his eyes softened considerably. But I kept my eyes trained on the demon, who glared at me. In a low voice, he refuted, "Bet you feel all brave behind that forcefield your little friends set up for you." I huffed in frustration, getting really sick of the indirect, confusing answers he was spewing. He started to advance towards me, but Dean stopped him.

"Stay the hell away from my baby sister!" he roared ominously. When the demon whirled around, Dean distracted him from me, continuing, "And I bet you're real proud of your kids, huh? Oh wait, I forgot. I wasted 'em."

The demon didn't reply. In fact, he didn't seem to be affected at all. His head hung downward for a slight moment and I glared at him curiously. Then, his head shot up sinisterly. And Dean wailed in misery. In horror, I watched as blood poured from his chest, soaking his shirt on the left side.

"DEAN!" I shrieked and made a repeated attempt at a pounce. Again, I was prevented. This time, I actually did scream in frustration.

"Dean, no!" Sam shouted. Dean squirmed in pain, trying desperately to break away from the demon's hold on him as well as the torture it was aiming at him.

"Dad! Dad, don't you let it kill me!" Dean howled, and then cried out in anguish again as the demon gazed at him more fixedly. I felt hopeless…completely and utterly hopeless. Screw what Dean had assured me…I wasn't strong! I was weak. Tremendously and absolutely pathetic.

"Daddy, break away from it!" I called as an ultimate endeavor. "You can control it! Please, Daddy!"

"Shut up," the demon growled nastily at me. The shield around me blazed brighter. Dean hollered loudly, the pain blinding him to all other senses. Vulnerable tears dripped from my eyes and I muttered 'Dean, Dean' repeatedly as he suffered. Blood sputtered from my brother's mouth. With a final glare, Dean slumped and his eyes closed.

"Dean! No!" Sam bellowed at the top of his lungs, continuing to struggle against the force pinning him. I could only sob frantically, collapsing to my knees. No. Not my brother. Not Dean. Anyone but Dean. Anyone but my family.

"Stop." My head shot up at my Dad's voice. That most certainly was not the demon. That was my Dad. He did it. He regained control. "Stop it." Sam's feet hit the floor and I realized he was free. I felt…liberated myself. Checking my arms, I noticed the glow had faded. But I was frozen stiff.

Sam didn't waste the opportunity. He sprinted to the Colt, stumbling over himself and pointed it directly at Dad. When Dad faced him, I felt nauseous as I found that my dad's brown eyes had vanished. I stared into those foul yellow eyes once again.

"You kill me, you kill Daddy," Yellow Eyes reminded my brother.

"I know."

Without hesitation, Sam fired the Colt, shooting our father unswervingly in the leg. A small shriek of fear escaped me and I watched as electricity jolted from the wound, and throughout my Dad's body. He crumpled to the ground. Dean was next. The invisible force against him was lifted, and he fell to the floor. Sam was at his side in an instant.

As Sam fussed over our injured brother, I crawled over to our Dad. "Daddy?" I gasped, still weeping slightly. Though I was extraordinarily concerned for my oldest brother, it was my Dad who was unresponsive. I ignored my dreadful thoughts and placed a hand over my Dad's. I took it, and tried to shake him awake. "Daddy? Oh, please don't do this to me. Daddy?"

I felt a presence beside me, and I noted that Sam had joined me. "Dad?" he questioned, uncertain. "Dad?"

Dad suddenly came to life, taking a hissing, jagged breath. I jumped back, startled. "Sammy!" he yelled. "It's still alive. It's inside me, I can feel it. You shoot me. You shoot me! You shoot me in the heart, son!" Sam initially obeyed, aiming the gun straight at our Dad. "Do it now!"

With wide, panicked eyes, I looked up at my brother. "No, Sam!"

"Sam, don't you do it. Don't you do it," Dean entreated, shaking his head painfully. Fresh tears exploded from my eyes as Dad continued to scream at Sam.

"You've gotta hurry! I can't hold onto it much longer! You shoot me, son! Shoot me! Son, I'm begging you! We can end this here and now! Sammy!"

My head was shaking frantically and I repeatedly muttered, "No," through choked sobs. Dean whispered weakly, "Sam, no." Sam hesitated for just a little bit too long.

Abruptly, Dad's head was thrown back. Smoke erupted from his mouth with an extensive, thunderous bellow. I stumbled back against the wooden table behind me, practically knocking it over. I panted, terrified. Just like the routine with Meg, the smoke pooled on the ceiling and shot towards the ground, eventually disappearing into the floorboards. My Dad lay breathless on the floor.

It wasn't exactly a victory…but I'd take it.

~o~

Dean's head rested on my shoulder. He was only partially conscious. My grip on him was so tight, I was surprised I wasn't harming him further. Sam was in charge of the wheel, pressing the Impala speedily down the road and to the nearest hospital. From the passenger seat, Dad winced in the pain caused by his wounded leg.

"Just hold on alright? The hospital is only ten minutes away," Sam reassured, mostly to Dad, but he additionally met my eyes in the front mirror. I nodded, giving him a soothing of a look as I could muster.

"I'm surprised at you Sammy," Dad admitted. "Why didn't you kill it? I thought we saw eye-to-eye on this. Killing this demon comes first—before me, before everything." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I knew he was willing to sacrifice himself to do in this demon. That's just…him. But my family was damn well more important to me than a measly kill.

"No sir, not before everything," Sam rejected.

"You're insane if you think I'm gonna put a hunt—put revenge—before my family," I whispered from the backseat. Dean shuffled, trying to look at my expression; but I calmed him, stroking his hair. Dad stared at me from the mirror. "Think if it was me. Think if it was Dean or Sam. Would you honestly kill one of us…for that demon?"

Dad stared for a moment longer, and then dropped my gaze, shaking his head. "No…no you're right. I would never." I nodded, satisfied that my point was absorbed.

Sam inhaled and began, "Look, we've still got the colt. We still have the one bullet left. We just have to start over alright? I mean, we already found the demon—"

I never saw it coming. I didn't realize what was happening until a searing pain slid across my neck. Blinding lights collided with the side of the Impala and glass shattered everywhere. I was choking. Warm, thick, coppery liquid poured onto my neck and chest and dribbled out of my mouth. Numbness initiated in my head and extended hastily to my whole body. My vision blacked.

And then…there was nothing.

~o~

Yes. I am Satan. Hello.