Ooo, this is an important one. And in the words of Radar O'Reily, "That is all." Sorry if you don't get the reference. And DON'T panic. It doesn't mean I'm done with this.

Disclaimer: After this chapter, I should at least be allowed on set and get to drive the Impala. I'm exhausted!

Then:

"We'd like to help."

"What exactly are you proposing?"

"We'll handle your topside issues for you. Like…'Hunters for Hire'."

Now:

Bobby cleared his throat in an obvious disagreement to Dean's statement, but Dean just barely raised a hand to quell the argument. Dean had a plan and even though it made Bobby nervous, he'd be a fool to go against Dean's gut instinct.

"You seem to think I need help with, as you put it, topside issues."

"No, I think you need better help."

Crowley considered this for a moment, stroking a lone finger across his bottom lip. This was the best game of chess he'd played in the better part of a century and he was almost tingling with excitement at the thought of his opponent's next move. Completely unconcerned with his own move, because as the King of Hell all he had to do was hold up a hand and the board would be wiped clean. It was a win-win situation.

"It's a win-win situation," Dean stated plainly. Crowley was slightly taken aback, his own thoughts being thrown back at him. "We're hunters, Crowley. It's what we do. You have work for us? We wanna work. We're the best there is and you know it. What have you accomplished in the last year? You pull a soul outta Hell and throw it back in the body of an old man, no offense Bobby."

Dean's apologetic eyes quickly searched for Bobby's only to find dark eyebrows hanging very low on his forehead. There'd be time later, so he continued. "An old man, who by the way has been dead and out of the game for over thirty years. Toss in his three bumbling sidekicks, none of whom would know a real hunter if one walked up and put a salt round in their ass. And the one good asset that you do have," nodding his head towards Sam, "is left in the dark about the work he's actually being given. That's not good business sense, Fergus. You've put the wrong people in charge, but we can still salvage your little operation. If you give us the chance.

"Say I am interested. Why do I choose you lot? What's in it for you?"

"It's simple. Being a hunter is hard livin'. You make life a little bit easier for us and we'll return the favor."

Crowley was about to throw Dean an approving comment when the young man added, "You can start by returning Sam's soul." And then it was gone. The thoughtful look on Crowley's face was replaced in an instant with one of firm resolve and Dean watched Sam's chance slide away from him.

"Dean, Dean, Dean. What am I to do with you? You almost had me sold there, Mate. If I we're being truthful, I was sold." There was a collective inward groan from the hunters in the room at what was apparently a missed opportunity.

"If you ever decide to give this lovely lifestyle up, please be sure to look me up. I'd be more than happy to add you to my sales crew, if you catch my meaning." Crowley stood and pushed himself back from the table.

"But I am afraid I will have to decline your very interesting offer. It's been a lot of fun, boys. We'll have to do this again. Thanks very much for the Scotch." Dean scrambled from his chair in a frantic attempt to stop Crowley from leaving them high and dry.

"Wait." Sam's level tenor voice rang quietly through the room, successfully stopping all motion. "We just need a few answers. Can you, can you give us that?"

Once again, Dean noted Sam's use of 'we'. It bothered him. If he could have one wish, right then, it would be that Sam could own his problem. Make it all his and stop letting this be about Dean's issue with Sam. It wasn't Dean's intention to retrieve Sam's soul for himself. He was doing this for Sam. Right?

Crowley closed his eyes and sighed deeply taking a moment to think on it and then rolled his eyes. "Fine. I've become such a softy in my old age. What do you want to know?"

Dean threw and panicked glance at his brother. God, please ask the right question, he begged silently. Don't let me be the one to screw this up for you.

"You…don't have my soul. Do you?" Sam shook his head like he already knew the answer.

"No." Crowley's head shake was perfectly timed to match Sam's. "No, I don't."

"But, you know who does," Bobby contributed quietly.

"I believe I'm going to need another drink," Crowley found his seat again and refilled his glass. "Shall we reconvene the meeting? Bobby, care to join us?" Dean turned his chair around and subconsciously inched it closer to Sam's, leaving Bobby to occupy the chair directly next to Crowley.

"Don't go getting any kinky ideas," he stated gruffly.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Crowley responded innocently. "It's not a who, but a where." After a few puzzling looks were passed back and forth across the table, he spared them all the trouble of asking. "After Stretch here took back his body and cast Lucifer back into the cage…well, let's just say that Lucifer is no longer the 'Morning Star' hero of Hell. I'll never be able to say that we'll be rid of him, but there's no demon left that will follow him either. It was a struggle for a while, what with no leader. But as they say, those with the most toys, wins. And Boys, I have one gigantic toy box." He grinned, taking a moment to appear really proud of himself.

"And Sam's soul?" Being the voice of reason didn't make Bobby the patient voice of reason.

"Do take care, Robert. I am doing a great favor for the three of you out of the goodness of my own heart and I am only here as long as I am enjoying myself. You'd do well to keep me happy."

"You don't have to prance around, Your Highness." Bobby offered up a mock bow that made Crowley grin with delight.

"Oh, I like that. Think I'll make that a requirement from now on." At Bobby's undisguised look of annoyance, His Highness continued. "Anywho. It was decided pretty earlier on that Lucifer couldn't be allowed to keep Sam as his pet in the cage. Why reward bad results with the benefit of your own man shaped chew toy? But removing Sam from the cage only brought on new problems. How do you keep a human body in Hell? Souls, yes of course. But as for a body, there's just no precedent. I do have to pat myself on the back for this ingenious plan of mine. The law of supply and demand, who knew that early twentieth century economists would nail it so well? I saw a need and I filled it, with your brother no less. And Granddad. How did you know about Grandpa Campbell anyway?" He turned proudly to find Dean's face twisted in an ugly expression, somewhere between fury and desperate curiosity.

"That his soul was in Hell? I didn't. You just confirmed it." Dean got real quiet for a moment and anyone that knew Dean could see the buildup coming. The tension in his shoulders shifted forward and settling in his jaw. The muscles ached so badly because he was fighting so hard to not come unhinged. Well, if you're gonna fail…fail big.

"I've just got one question for you though. Why? Why bring my brother back without his soul? What good does that do him? Or me? Or anyone? What good is he without his soul?" Once he started, Dean found it hard to stop. The onslaught of emotion was crushing, especially when he looked up to find Sam staring at him, emotionless. "Who would want this? An emotional bankrupt brother who cares nothing for anyone or anything around him. He looks at me with these unseeing eyes, like he's looking at a stranger. God, thinking he was gone, it hurt so much. It was unbearable, the weight of the grief. But this, this is a thousand times worse. I was better off back where I was; not knowing. But how can I leave him now? Like this. Especially now, knowing what I know." He finally pulled his bleary eyes away from Sam's impassive face to look pleadingly at Crowley.

"So please, I'm begging you," and he was. His eyes filled with unshed tears and his voice husky and raw, "Please answer me why?"

"Because Dean. What other choice did I have?"

*There may be a few mistakes in this one. It's well after my bedtime and I was just determined to get this up tonight. So, please! Please! When you find one, forgive me and then immediately send me a PM so that I can go back in and correct them.