|May 29, 2008|

When Dean's eyes snapped open as he heaved for air, Alex knew better than to say anything. He looked a little panicked as she glanced over to check on him, sitting up and looking down for a moment at the book he'd fallen asleep on, one of many that were thrown carelessly around the room from their unending search for answers. He made a face at the picture on the page.

"You okay?" Alex finally asked, lifting her gaze away from the screen of Sam's laptop, where she'd been doing her own research. Her blue eyes were tired, and the eldest Winchester knew immediately that she'd been up all night as well.

Before he could answer, though, Sam came in, kicking the door shut behind him. "Dig up anything good?" he asked the pair of them.

"Nope," Alex answered as Dean shook his head and closed the book, shoving it off of the table. He stared at his hands for a few moment, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Nothing good," he finally said aloud, clearing his throat and glancing up.

"Well, Bobby has," Sam said, and Alex focused intently on him, looking eager to learn anything if possible. "A way to find Lilith. Finally."

"Oh. With just...uh," he glanced at his watch. "Thirty hours to go." Dean gave a tight smile. "Why don't we just make a TJ-run? You know, some cervezas, some senioritas that aren't puppies-" Alex snarled at him for that. "We could...what's Spanish for "donkey show"?"

"If we do save you," Sam told him, "Let's never do that."

"Bloody hell," Alex muttered, "Winchester's lost his mind at last."

Sam came to sit at the small table with them, and Dean returned his eyes to the pile of books and his brother's laptop. He studied them in silence, not bothering to look up when Sam spoke again. "Dean. We're cutting it close, I know, but we're gonna get this done. I don't care what it takes, Dean. We're not gonna let you go to Hell. I swear. Everything's going to be okay."

"What he said," Alex echoed without looking away from the computer screen. She clicked on something, biting her lips as she began to read through some information, completely unaware of the terrified look that crossed Dean's face for only an instant when Sam's face changed into something that scared him.

"Yeah," he muttered when he realized it was nothing. "Okay."

"So you need a name," Bobby said as he set an older looking tracking device over a map of the country. "That's the whole kit and caboodle. With the right name, right ritual, ain't nothin' you can't suss out."

"Again, with the words I can't understand," Alex grumbled from where she was sitting on a desk not too far away, kicking her shoed feet.

"Like the town Lilith's hiding in?" Sam asked, ignoring her comment.

"Kid, when I get done, we'll know the street," Bobby said tiredly, setting to work on doing the ritual. Dean watched silently as the pendulum that hung off the bottom of the device began to swing and search the map. Alex, curious, cocked her head and hopped off the desk to come and stand beside him, watching as it came to a stop. "New Harmony, Indiana. Looks like we have a winner."

"Alright," Sam said, looking at Bobby. "Let's go."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Dean frowned at his brother, stopping him before he could move. "Hold on, let's all shut up there for a second."

"What's the problem, Winchester?" Alex said, arching an eyebrow at him.

"What's the problem?" Dean threw his hands up, exasperated. "Where do I begin? I mean, first of all, we don't even know if Lilith holds my deal. We're going off of Bela's intel? When that bitch breaths, the air comes out crooked. Second, even if we could get to Lilith, we have no way to gank her!"

"Gank?" Alex questioned, bewildered.

"Third," Dean continued. "Isn't this the same Lilith that wants your head on a pike, Sam? Should I continue?"

"Ain't you just bringing down the room," Bobby said sarcastically.

"It's a gift," Dean said with just as much sarcasm.

Sam shoved a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I'm sorry, so then what are we supposed to do, Dean?"

"Just 'cause I gotta die does mean you have to, okay?"

"Oi," Alex cut in, gaze darting between each of the three other people in the room. She folded her arms across her chest, grateful that the wound that had been left on her chest was pretty much gone. "I understand we have a goal to save this bloody moron, but we should go in smart or not go in at all."

"Thank you!" Dean muttered, giving a curt nod of approval at her words.

"If that's the case, then I have the answer. A sure-fire way to confirm it's Lilith and a way to get us a bona fide demon-killing ginsu." Sam looked determined, and Alex groaned in annoyance at that.

"No," she moaned, "There's no way in hell-"

"Damn it, Sam. No." Dean glared at Sam for suggesting such a thing.

"We're past arguing, Dean." Sam glared at his brother as he turned to face him. "I'm summoning Ruby."

"The hell you are!" Dean snapped. "We have enough problems as it is!"

"Exactly," Sam said, crossing his arms. "And we've got no time."

"It's not like it's our last choice," Alex protested, trying to keep the arguing to a minimum.

"Come on, man." Dean was clearly angry, his green eyes frustrated. "She is the Miss Universe of lying skanks, okay? She told you that she could save me...oh, wait. That was a lie."

Alex glanced at the annoyed Bobby as she added hesitantly, "Sam, she knew about Lilith. She conveniently forgot to mention that Lilith is the one who holds his soul...doesn't that make you concerned at all?"

"Okay, okay," Sam muttered reluctantly, "She's a liar. She has that knife though."

"Dean," Bobby input suddenly, capturing Alex's attention but nobody else's.

"She could work for Lilith for all we know!" Dean bellowed.

"Then give me another option, Dean!" Sam snapped back. "I mean, tell me what else!"

"Sam's right." Alex gawked at Bobby, her icy eyes wide as Dean bellowed, "No, damn it!" Bobby and Dean glared at each other for a few seconds before Dean pinched the bridge of his nose and gritted out, "Just...no. We're not gonna make the same mistakes all over again. You guys wanna save me...we find something else."

There was a beat of awkward silence. Then Alex scowled darkly and grabbed her leather jacket, yanking it on while Dean grumbled and went to sit down. Sam frowned at her, demanding to know where she was gonig, and Alex growled back, "I'm going to find something else. Don't you dare summon that demon bitch, Sam."

"Hold on a second, Alex," Bobby requested, going to get his own jacket. "I'll come with you."

Sam only glanced at his brother, not looking pleased at all about the situation they now found themselves in.


Sam studied the space before him, his eyes taking in the symbols he'd drawn as he lit the last candle and prepared himself to summon a certain demon. He didn't care what Dean thought, he'd decided, nor what Alex thought. He was desperate, and that meant doing what was necessary to save his brother.

Within seconds, he'd completed the ritual, and a voice stated, "You know, phones work, too." Sam turned on his heel immediately to face Ruby with a dark look on his face, glaring at the smile she wore. "Hey, Sam. How's it going?"

He cut straight to the point. "Did you know?"

"Gonna need a tiny bit more," she drawled, examining her nails.

"About Dean's deal. That Lilith holds the contract." She didn't answer, and his anger only grew. "You didn't think that was important?!"

"You weren't ready," she mused. Ruby lifted eyes to study him. "If I told you, you three morons would have charged after her half-cocked and Lilith would have peeled the meat from your pretty faces."

Sam crossed his arms. "Well we're ready now. I want your knife."

"You're right about one thing," she said, changing the subject. Ruby began to circle him, looking slightly amused. "You are ready, and now's the time to do it. Lilith's guard is down. She's on shore-leave." She played with a piece of hair, glancing at him again. "You didn't lose those hex bags I gave you?"

"We've got 'em," Sam replied warily. "So are you gonna give us the knife?"

"No."

"But you just said-"

Ruby gave him a look that suggested he was just a little bit insane. "You wanna charge in with one little pig sticker? It's a waste of a true-blue window, Sam. Like getting Hitler with that exploding briefcase. Forget it."

"Then how?" Sam threw his hands into the air out of exasperation, frustrated with her. "And don't say you know how to save Dean, because you don't! You told him you couldn't! You've been lying to me all along, so just give me your damn knife!"

Ruby narrowed her eyes. "You're not the one I've been lying to. " Sam snorted, a scowl appearing on his face as he clenched his jaw, and she rolled her eyes. "Sam, you've got some God-given talent." Her face twisted into a wry smirk. "Well, not God-given, but you get the gist."

"All that psychic crap?" Sam remembered the visions he'd had long ago well. "Gone. Since Yellow-Eyes died."

"Not gone," Ruby corrected, shaking her head so that her blonde hair fell around her face. "Dormant. And not just visions either. Why do you think Lilith is so scared of you?"

"Right." His voice was sarcastic now. "She's scared of me."

Ruby glared at him, annoyed with his tone. "If you wanted, you could wipe her right off the map without moving a muscle." Sam snorted in disbelief. "It's the truth, Sam."

"Desperate enough?" he challenged.

"You don't like being different." The demon shrugged carelessly, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You hate the way Dean looks at you sometimes. Like you're some kind of sideshow freak...but suck it up, because you've got a lot of ground to cover, and we've gotta do it fast. We can do it." Sam kept his gaze on the floor, gritting his teeth in annoyance. "Look," she drawled, "Call me a bitch. Hate me all you want, but I never lied to you, Sam. Not ever. And I'm telling you. You can save Dean, and I can show you how."

"So that's you? Our slutty little Yoda."

Sam's head snapped around at the sound of his brother's voice, and a soft curse escaped him when Dean continued. "Aw, I knew you'd show up. Because I knew someone wouldn't listen." Dean sent Sam a glare as he crossed his arms, stepping out of the shadows. His green eyes were hard with anger. "You're not gonna teach him anything, you understand me? Over my dead body."

"Oh," Ruby hummed, "Well you're right about that..."

"What you are going to do is give me that knife." Dean gave her a hard look. "And then you can just go crawl back into whatever slop you came from and never bother me, my brother, or the mutt again. Are we clear?"

"Look at you, including a dog in the deal," she taunted. Dean ignored that, un-amused. "Your brother is carrying a bomb inside of him, and we'd be stupid not to use it."

"Dean," Sam started, protesting his brother for just one moment. "Look, just hold on-"

"Don't Sam," Dean snarled angrily. He glared furiously at his brother. "Come on, man! What are you? Blind? This is a god damn trick!" Ruby huffed, going to protest, but Dean cut her off. "She wants you to give into this whole demonic psychic whatever. I mean, hell! She probably wants you to become her little anti-Christ super star!"

Ruby scowled. "I want Lilith dead, that's all."

"Why?" the eldest of the two brothers challenged.

"I've told you why!"

"Oh, right," Dean snapped, his tone disgusted. "because you were once human, like us, and you supposedly remember what it's like."

"You know, I'm so sick of proving myself to you and the rest of your little clan of pathetic excuses for hunters. You wanna save yourself? This is how, you dumb spineless dick."

There was a moment of silence, and then Dean shook his head and turned to leave.

Right before he swung around and slammed a fist into her face, his own looking enraged. Before Sam could make any sort of complaint or try to stop them, the two were exchanging blow after blow. Ruby didn't hesitate to throw him to the ground, smirking when he slammed down hard enough to drive the breath out of him.

Sam decided to try and intervene at that point. "Ruby!" he snapped, stepping forward.

He immediately received a fist to the face as well, and he spat blood, holding his mouth with shock on his face as he watched Ruby quite literally beat the hell out of his brother.

Suddenly, however, a moment later, Dean grinned.

"The hell are you grinning at?" Ruby snarled, her face darkened with a furious rage.

"Missing something?" Dean waved the knife that had once been her's mockingly and she bared her teeth in a feral way, enraged as she threatened to kill him. She lunged forward - only to slam into a wall that wasn't there. Her gaze shot to the roof immediately, and if she'd looked furious before, she was beyond that now. She glared at the symbol that decorated the ceiling of the basement as Dean drawled, "Like I said...I knew you'd come."

Sam simply gawked at the devil's trap, stunned.

Dean shrugged, turning away. "C'mon, Sam, we got stuff to do." He rubbed his jaws as he started up the stairs, heading back for the first floor of the house, the knife in his hand. Sam followed silently, his lips pressed together.

"Wait!" Ruby said, sounding astonished. "You're just...you're gonna leave me here?" When she didn't receive an answer, she scowled again, glowering at him from where she was trapped. She was seething with rage, and he knew it, yet he ignored her completely. "You're just too stupid to live, is that it? Then fine!" She threw her head back and laughed mockingly. "You deserve Hell! I wish I could be there, Dean! I wish I could smell the flesh sizzle off your bones! I wish I could be there to hear you scream!"

"And I wish you'd shut your little trap, b ut we don't always get what we want, now do we?" Dean shot back.

There was a smirk on his face as he climbed the stairs, a smug little look as he thrust the blade he'd managed to steal into a special spot in his leather jacket.

Bitch.


"We're just going to let Ruby rot down there?"

Dean arched a brow as he picked up his gun, loading it with silver bullets. The next gun he picked up, he put in iron bullets, and he continued doing it, filling each gun with different kinds of bullets in an attempt to try and find some kind of solution. "That's the idea."

"Dean," he protested, "What if she's right? What if I could take out Lilith?"

Dean paused, and then slammed his gun down angrily, glaring at him almost doubtfully. Sam glared back. "What?" the eldest brother finally huffed. "You gonna give her the Carrie-stare and Lilith gets to poof?"

"I don't know what she meant," Sam admitted, "But you know, maybe we could just go ask her-"

"Sam, we have the freaking knife. We don't need anything else she's offering!" Dean set his gun down after clicking the safety on, and then moved onto the next weapon. "We aren't going to try anything that won't work for certain."

"Dean," Sam pleaded as he followed his brother. "Listen. Last time she snapped her fingers and put thirty demons on our ass. All we have is one little knife. I mean...like you said! We need to go in smart or not at all!"

"This ain't smart, Sammy," Dean said without a hint of emotion. He glanced over at him, green eyes glinting. "Sam. We're not going to be making the same mistake all over again."

"What does that even mean?" he said, exasperated. He crossed his arms, and Dean silently decided that he looked like a pouty child being told he couldn't get some new toy.

"Don't you see a pattern?" Dean went back to loading weapons as he spoke, voice quiet. "Dad's deal...my deal...now this? I mean every time one of us is...up the creek, the other is begging to sell their soul. That's all this is. Ruby's just jerking your chain down the road, Sammy, and you know what it's paved with, and you know where it's going." He dropped down to sit in a chair, putting the gun back down as Sam shook his head in disagreement.

Sam sat across from him, glancing over to make sure that neither Bobby or Alex had returned yet. "What do you think is gonna happen?" he said quietly. "I can handle it."

Dean scowled. "Why even risk it?" Sam's answer came quickly and firmly, and a swell of emotion flooded him. "Look how that turned out, Sammy. All I'm saying is that we're each other's weakspots. The mutt's not included in this, by the way. Just you and me and maybe Bobby. And those evils sons of bitches know it. They're using it against us."

"So what?" Sam growled, "We just stop looking out for each other?"

"We stop being martyrs, man," Dean corrected. He picked up the knife and twirled it expertly, years of experience allowing him to do such a thing. "We take this knife, and we go after Lilith the way Dad taught us to. And if we go down, then at least we go down swinging. You with me?"

Sam blinked a few times as he stared at his brother. Suddenly, he gave a choked laugh, pressing a hand over his eyes and shaking his head. "I think you totally should have been jamming to "Eye of the Tiger" right there."

"Bite me," he said back, smiling happily at the fact that his brother was on board with him. "Totally rehearsed that, too. Indiana." Sam looked up, peeking between his fingers like a child playing peek-a-boo. "Tell me something, Sammy...what's a demon do for fun?"


Outside, Sam and Dean loaded the Impala up with their weapons of choice, and Dean left his brother to do so. He twirled the keys around his finger, and then slid into the driver's seat to start the car, only to stop when it didn't even make a sound. Sam glanced questioningly into the car, and he frowned, trying again.

Suddenly, there was a breath on his ear, and a voice cooed, "And where the hell do you think you're going, Winchester?"

Dean swore, nearly falling right out of the car in shock as Alex glared at him, chin resting on the seat with an angry look in her icy eyes. His own darted towards Sam, only to discover an irritable Bobby dealing with him. Huffing, he told them, "We got the knife."

"And you intended to use it without me," Bobby retorted. Alex slid from the car and danced over to stand beside him, hands on her hips. "Do I look like a ditchable prom date to you?"

"No, of course not," Sam protested, but that only made Alex growl, showing her teeth aggressively.

"And what about me?" she challenged. "You didn't just drive six hours west to help my family for no reason a while back. So...am I not allowed to return the bloody favor?"

"Look," Dean grumbled as he climbed to his feet, burshing himself off. "This is about me and Sam. Mostly me. It's not your fight."

"The hell it isn't!" Bobby snapped, looking hurt by Dean's words. "Family doesn't end with blood!"

"Bobby-"

"How many?" Alex said suddenly, her eyes locking on Dean. She licked her lips thoughtfully when he looked her way and she rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. How many hallucinations?"

Sam looked over in confusion, then looked to Bobby. "What's she talking about?"

Dean scowled. "How'd you know?"

"You've got hellhounds after you, sweetheart," she taunted. "And because Mr. Singer is incredibly and brilliantly smart when it comes to helping with research."

Bobby tossed something to Dean, who caught it. He stared at the piece to his car with a shocked look, and then exchanged a look with Sam. Sam shrugged helplessly; he hadn't ratted them out, why would he?

"I'll follow," the older hunter said simply, turning and making his way over to his own car. "And Alex is riding with you freaks to make sure you don't leave me in the dust. Don't forget, Dean, I know you two idjts better than you think. I can hunt you down if I have to."

Alex beamed. "Don't worry, you won't have to," she promised.

Dean only groaned in exasperation and stormed over to the front of his car, where he went to work on fixing his car so that it would work. Smoothing a hand lovingly over the hood of the Impala in thought and wearing a longing look, he shoved the hood up and set to work.

Tick tock, he thought drily.

Time was ticking, and they had a demon bitch to hunt.


The drive was a long one. And it was pissing him off beyond belief.

Alex was in the backseat, dozing the entire way, feet propped up and practically hanging out the window. She hadn't dared to shift into her canine form to be more comfortable; she didn't want to risk the seats with her nails. Every now and then, she'd felt the glares in the mirror, the scowl that crossed his face as he thought of something unpleasant.

In contrast, Sam didn't seem all that bothered. Alex guessed he was relieved to have some extra help in trying to save his brother.

It was while this was going on that the piercing sound of sirens filled her sensitive ears.

Alex shrieked in surprise, slamming her hands over her ears as Dean snickered and simply pulled over like he was supposed to. Sam looked a bit confused about the matter. "The hell?"

"Busted tail-light," Dean said with a shrug. "Not like we're in a hurry."

Alex listened to the upcoming footsteps of the cop and hurried to buckle herself in so that they didn't get in trouble for that. She supposed she could have shifted. That would have been a lot easier than fumbling with a seat belt for a few seconds.

"Problem, officer?" Dean asked as he rolled the window down.

Alex's nose was immediately overwhelmed with the smell of sulfur.

Growling under her breath, she listened to Dean and the "cop" exchange a few words. Sam glanced back at her in silence only to see that her face was hard, her teeth bared and eyes flashing with anger.

"As a mater of fact..." Dean suddenly trailed off and then nailed the man with the car door, rushing out after him. Sam swore and dove out of the car to try and yank Dean off of him, and Alex scrambled into the front seat to hop out herself.

Dean wrestled with the officer for a moment before cracking a fist across his jaw. He swore when his knuckles flashed with pain, and then yanked the blade hidden in his jacket free to thrust it into the demon's chest, driving it in as hard as he could. The demon screamed in agony before going limp.

He sat back, panting, and Alex jumped when she heard another car pull up behind the cop car. She whirled around, ready to strike with her blade, only to discover that Bobby had appeared, his eyes flashing with shock at the sight before him as he climbed out of the car.

"What the hell happened?" he demanded.

"Winchester nailed a demon," Alex explained, licking her lips. She glanced questioningly at the heavily breathing Dean, and then looked up at Sam with a worried look.

"...just knew," he said finally. "I could see its face. Its real face. Ugly bastard."

There was a tight smile on Sam's face as he told his brother, "Well, we need to hide the body. Alex, you mind helping me drag it? The little old man needs a break."

"Har, har," Dean said sarcastically as he moved out of the way, letting Sam grab a sleeve. Alex rolled her own up smugly and winked before easily going to work on hauling the body alongside him, determined to hide it. She matched the man who towered over her with ease in strength, and paused when they heard a car start.

"Bobby's bringing the cop car," Sam explained expertly as they dumped the body.

"Oh," Alex hummed. "You freaks worry about that. I'll take care of this." She didn't hesitate to begin stripping her shirt off, smirking when Sam huffed and immediately turned around, taking her clothes as she shoved them at him. She thought she saw a flush on his cheeks when her underwear was shoved into his grasp, and snickered before shifting.

Shaking her fur out after the transformation had ended, Alex flicked her tail, took a deep whiff, and then began to dig as quickly as she could, powerful front legs pummeling at the earth. She heard Sam shove her clothes at Bobby so that he could help his brother hide the car.

"So you can see demons now?" Sam questioned, and Dean shrugged thoughtfully. He gave a muffled response about seeing things, and Alex huffed impatiently when his answer wasn't as clear as she would have liked.

"It's not actually all that crazy," Bobby said almost thoughtfully, not at all bothered by the holding of Alex's clothes. He gave her an approving nod as she gingerly grabbed the body with her jaws and dragged it into the decent hole she'd made. She hopped out of the hole and went to work on covering it again, her face covered in dirt. "You've got...what? Five? Five hours to go. You're piercing the veil, Dean, seeing the other side."

"Repeat that in a language I can understand?" Dean muttered, tossing branches over the cop's car.

"You're almost Hell's bitch," he said bitingly, annoyed with the eldest Winchester. "You can see the other bitches. On the other hand, it'll be useful."

"Aw, thanks, Bobby," Dean gritted out sarcastically. "Glad to know my doomed soul is good for something."

Alex trotted over as they spoke, shaking the dirt off of her fur and turning before shifting, snatching her clothes up. No time to be decent, she decided as she yanked her clothes on, ignoring Dean's smug little look as he watched. "The bitch has probably got demons everywhere. If they sound the alarm, we're dead before they see us, so your little ability will help us keep from being seen."

"Exciting, can we go?" he muttered, turning away once she'd yanked her shoes back on. He crossed his arms. "The longer we wait, the less time we have."

"Right," Sam muttered. "Let's go."


Much, much later in the evening found a thoughtful Dean examining the only normal seeming family through a pair of binoculars. Sam stood beside him, and Bobby nearby with a canine Alex, whose nose was in the air, seeking out any scents they needed to be wary of. She sneezed quietly.

It reeked of sulfur.

"It's the little girl," Dean said finally. "Ugly little face she's got there." He handed the binoculars to Sam, who tucked them away.

"Alright then," he said firmly. "We're wasting time, let's get a move on." He moved to start forward, only for Alex to slide in front of him, her tail whisking anxiously behind her as she nearly tripped him. "Watch it, Alex!"

"No, she's right," Dean hissed as Bobby raised an eyebrow at her. "See the mailman at nine o'clock?" He gestured to a man who wasn't far down the streets, sorting through mail with a thoughtful look. "And that guy. Over there." This time, he pointed to an elderly man who was simply smoking a pipe on his porch, reading a book. "Demons."

"So what you suggest we do?" Bobby asked. His gaze studied the situation with the expertise only years of hunting could give someone.

"Ninja pass 'em," Sam supplied, "Sneak in."

"Then what?" Dean demanded. "Pounce on a ten year old girl? Come on, man!"

"It's awful, I know," his brother protested, "But this isn't just about saving you. This'll save a lot of people."

"She's gotta be stopped, son," Bobby agreed quietly, and Alex jerked her head quickly, fur quivering in the breeze.

"Damn it," was all Dean said. He stood there in silence, close to his brother for a few moments before his head snapped up. "I got an idea...let's try this..."

It wasn't long before they'd put Dean's new plan in action.

Aware of her part in the plan, Alex slunk off side by side with Dean, determined to keep the eldest Winchester safe for the time being. Even if they weren't the best of friends, she recognized the somewhat trust between them; she'd have his back, even if he didn't have hers, and that was something both were well aware of, though Dean claimed to not trust her for a second.

"Ready?" he muttered as they watched Sam slide behind a house, waiting.

Alex gave a soft and confirming woof, crouching down.

Dean gave it a moment before purposely slamming his knee into a fence beside them, and the mailman - the demon - snapped its head around to stare at them. Dean pretended to be shocked, a deer in the headlights, and then tore off with the demon right behind. Alex lunged after him snarling and snapping at the demon's heels. It whirled around with a scowl to latch strong arms around her neck, aiming to snap it, but while she had its attention, Sam swung out with Ruby's blade, driving it between the demon's shoulder blades.

Alex squirmed out from under the demon's body, tail flicking and her hackles raised angrily.

"Sorry," Sam uttered, glancing around to see if they'd been seen. "I'll go deal with Mr. Rogers over there on the porch. You guys hide this sucker."

"Got it," Dean agreed. Alex latched her jaws on the dead man's shoulder and began to haul his body backwards, snarling at Dean when he simply watched lazily for a few moments.

They eventually managed to deal with the body, and it wasn't long before she was panting for breath, tongue lolling out the side of her mouth as she trotted beside him, both making their way towards where Sam was openly dealing with the pre-mentioned demon. Alex glanced around for Bobby; the older hunter was nowhere in sight, busy with putting holy water into the sprinklers.

It was while they were making their way in the direction of Sam to help him with the body that Dean suddenly swore, a hand darting out to slam him viciously against a privacy fence. Alex snarled and immediately lunged at their attacker, her teeth bared.

"Back off, mutt," Ruby hissed, her hands tight around Dean's throat. "I'd like my knife back, please. Or I'll snap your fuking neck like a chicken bone."

Alex stood there, fur bristling and a growl in her throat as she flashed her teeth in aggression, uncertain of how to reach Ruby's own throat without letting her kill Dean before his time.

A glint in the darkness helped her calm down as the knife she was looking for suddenly appeared at her throat. A dark-eyed Sam glared at her as he ordered, "Take it easy. He doesn't have it."

Ruby swallowed, releasing Dean with clear reluctance. Alex slid between them, her side brushing against the Winchesters' knees as Sam slid around to stand beside his brother, both glaring at the demon. "How the hell did you get out?" Dean rasped, rubbing his throat in thought.

Ruby gave a cold smirk. "What you don't know could fill a bible, Dean."

"Yeah, yeah - holy hell," he suddenly said, smirking as his eyes widened. His gaze darted away, flicking back every now and then. "You're one ugly son of a bitch."

Ruby bared her teeth similarly to Alex. "Sam, just give me the damn knife before you cut yourself."

"I'll give it back when we're done," he retorted.

"It's already done," she seethed. "I gave you a way to save the idiot and you shot me down! Too late now. He's dead. And I won't let you die, too."

Alex grumbled irritably, and she only glared hatefully at the skinwalker, clear in her intent to get the "mutt" killed as well.

"Try and stop me," Sam challenged. "Bitch."

"Hit me with your best shot, baby," Ruby purred back, only to be cut off when a snarl escaped Alex. All of them looked over to discover a pair, what might have been a man and his child, standing on their porch staring at them. The next house over, there was another demon, and a couple across the street.

"So much for the element of surprise," Dean said bitterly, glaring accusingly at Ruby.

"Go!" Sam ordered, shoving Dean forward. Alex yelped when he tripped over her for a second, scrambling forward. She raced after the pair as they shot towards the house Lilith was hiding in, Ruby not far behind with a huff. The demons sprinted after them.

Sam nearly tripped over his own feet climbing the stairs of the porch, shoving a hand into his pocket for his lock pick. "What the hell is taking Bobby?" Dean bellowed as he fumbled with the pick.

"I'm trying," Sam hissed. Alex growled impatiently, pacing.

Suddenly, there was a soft sound and the sprinklers sprang to life. A demon that had sprinted onto the lawn fell with a scream, smoke leaving her body. Dean smirked, and then laughed as demons gathered around the lawn. "Good job, Bobby!" he praised, pumping a fist.

That laughter vanished the second they set foot in the house, Sam nudging the door open after finally succeeding. He dug Alex's clothes out of a pack on his back, shoving them at her as she shifted into her humanoid form, her lips curved into a smirk as she tugged her jeans on.

His laughter wasn't gone because of her though, she realized as she turned and nearly tripped over the body that was sprawled across the floor.

"You think she knows we're here?"

"Probably," Ruby uttered, looking around. Sam slid into a room, the knife at the ready, and Dean slid after him. Alex pulled her own weapon out, twirling it as she indicated that Ruby should go next. And she did, Alex slipping in behind her.

The two caught up in time to see Dean slap a hand over a terrified man's mouth. He jumped and Dean shushed his scared sounds away as he whispered into his ear, "We're here to help. We're gonna talk nice and quiet, kay?"

He nodded, and when Dean removed his hand, he whispered mournfully, "It's not her anymore. My daughter..."

"Where is she?" Sam questioned.

"Bedroom," he murmured, "Upstairs."

"Okay," Dean said carefully. "Listen to me. Go downstairs to the basement and put a line of salt at the door behind you, do you understand me?"

"Not without my wife," he began to argue, and Dean, in no mood to deal with people's protests, simply decked him, knocking him out immediately. Alex growled softly in disapproval, but he ignored her and swung the man over his shoulder, jerking his head in the direction of the stairs. "Sam."

"On it," he muttered and headed for the stairs. Ruby slid after him, refusing to let her blade out of her sight.

Alex arched an eyebrow as she opened a door for the eldest Winchester. "Trusting me, are we?"

"Shut up and get the salt, puppy," he muttered, annoyed.

She did just that and within no time, they'd finished making sure that the owner of the house was safe. Alex tucked the salt into her pocket somehow, and together, they jogged quietly towards the stairs, darting up them to join Sam and Ruby.

The second they were in the room, Dean lunged forward, however, swearing and snatching up his brother's wrist just a second before he plunged the knife down towards a sleepy child, the mother quivering in fear.

"What the hell, Dean!" Sam snapped, and then nearly jumped when the girl screamed and burst into tears, sobs leaving her lips.

"It's not her!" Dean replied, shaking his head violently. "It's not the girl anymore!"


"Alright, no matter what you hear," Alex told the mother gently, her hands on her shoulders and a kind look in her blue eyes. "You and your daughter and your bloke need to stay in the basement." She pushed her towards the basement door, and then closed the door after making sure that the salt was properly set. "Kay. Now what?"

Ruby's lips curved into a smirk. "Well, I hate to be the one to say I told you so, but...I told you so."

"Where is she, Ruby?" Sam demanded tiredly, the knife still in hand.

"I don't know," she snipped, and leaned against a counter in the kitchen that housed the basement's entrance. Alex watched Dean's expression tighten with anger towards the demon and gave a growl herself.

"Could she get past the sprinklers?"

"She ain't sweating the holy water," Ruby chimed back, not the least bit concerned.

Alex saw it coming a second before he spoke. "What do I have to do, then? You win. Tell me." Ruby blinked, confused, and he clarified, "To save Dean - ouch!" He rubbed the back of his head and gave his brother a glare when he whacked him over the back of the head.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Sam?" Dean snapped.

"Shut up for a second," Sam retorted, "Tell me, Ruby!"

Alex's lips twitched when Dean's green eyes flashed with a brief rage at the fact that he'd been told to shut up. But her eyes proceeded to lock on the clock in the living room as they meandered into it, somehow still talking and arguing while doing so, and her heart twisted at the sight.

Only minutes were left.

She wasn't fond of Dean. Well, maybe she was. She admired his ability to ignore his fate for the most part.

And she didn't want him to die and go to Hell.

In no way did he deserve that.

Dean had apparently come to the realization that nothing was going to happen to change his fate by this point and said fiercely, grabbing Sam's shoulder and giving him a little shake. "You're going to let me go to Hell, Sam. I'm sorry. This is all my fault, and I...I know that. But what you're trying to do? It's not gonna save me. It's gonna kill you."

Sam looked miserable as he demanded, "Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Keep fighting," Dean replied. He glanced at Alex, who gave a curt nod. She'd try her damn hardest to take care of his little brother, just like she'd promised. Her blue eyes held not a trace of the emotion that suddenly swelled in her heart. "Take care of my wheels. Remember what Dad taught you...okay, Sammy?"

Sam nodded.

"And remember what I taught you," he added softly.

Suddenly, the clock chimed midnight.

Sam gave him a look that broke Alex's heart, and she took a step forward as Dean gave a tiny smile, clearly struggling to keep himself calm as the sounds of something they couldn't hear filled his ears. His head snapped around, and his gaze locked on a spot. "Hellhound. There."

Alex tightened her grip on her blade. She could smell the shift in the air, even if she couldn't see it. Dean's smile was long gone. Ruby's face twisted as she stared, and suddenly, Dean whirled and bolted. Ruby wasn't far behind and Sam dove after them. Alex hesitated only briefly before turning and charging forward. She slammed the doors shut behind her, pressing her back against them.

Thanking the heavens when Sam darted over to join her, helping her pin the doors shut. Dean went to work on spreading dust around the room to try and keep the hellhounds from getting in, and Ruby shouted over the noise, "Give me the knife! Maybe I can fight it off!"

Alex gave her an incredulous look. "Are you bloody kidding me?" she shouted.

"Come on," Ruby urged, "It won't last forever!"

Alex went still as the force throwing itself against the door stopped, and it clicked in her mind as Sam moved to hand over the blade.

"Don't!" she shrieked, lashing out with her blade. "That's-"

Ruby paused, and then sighed, flicking her wrist. Alex cut off and was sent flying with a yelp and Dean whirled around to attack, but she did the same to him as well. Dean grunted as he was slammed onto a table and trapped there. Ruby's face lit up and her eyes rolled back, revealing white instead of the black of normal demons.

Lilith giggled. "Haven't been using this body long...but I like it. It's all grown up and pretty."

"And where's Ruby," Sam demanded angrily.

Lilith glanced at him, her eyes returning to their normal state. "She was a very bad girl, so I sent her far, far away," she purred.

"You know," Dean drawled, grunting as he tried to force himself upright but unable to. "I should have noticed, but you all look like a bunch of ugly sons of bitches to me."

Lilith's smile faltered just barely, and Alex growled softly when she turned towards Sam, her feet kicking desperately to free her. "Hello, Sam," she continued as she made her way over to him. Ignoring his protests, she grabbed his chin. "I've been dying to meet you."

Alex made a sound of disgust when Lilith forced a kiss onto the poor Winchester, who yanked free finally.

"Your lips are soft," the demon hummed.

"Let Dean go," he demanded.

Lilith giggled again and tapped her lower lip, almost stroking it. "Silly goose. You want to bargain, you have to have something that I want, and neither you nor the skinwalker do."

"So this is your big plan, eh?" Dean gritted out. "Drag me to Hell, kill Sam. And then what? You the queen of bitches? 'Cause if that's the case, you'll have to deal with the mutt."

"Wanker," Alex bit out.

"I don't have to answer to puppy chow," Lilith mused. "But I'm sure there's a special place in Hell for the skinwalker. Always looking for experimentation subjects. They're good for figuring out the best ways to hurt people..." Alex's eyes snapped over to her when she slid over to the door, purring, "Sic 'em, boy," just a split second before opening the door.

"No!" Sam shouted, but it was too late.

He and Alex couldn't see the hellhound, but they could sure as hell see Dean scream in pain as it grabbed him and dragged him from the table she'd pinned him too, not hesitating to set to work on ripping into him.

"Stop it!" Sam bellowed as Lilith laughed, watching eagerly.

Alex made a strangled sound as tears sprang to her eyes.

No one deserved this kind of death except maybe Lilith herself.

Dean's screams suddenly cut off, his breathing ragged and Sam howled for Lilith to stop; Alex's mouthed the words in agreement, her heart pounding in her chest as Dean simply lay there, no longer struggling against the creature as it shredded him.

"No," Sam whispered.

"Yes," Lilith purred back and then lifted a hand. Alex began to struggle again, terrified as white light began to spring into existence, gathering around her fingertips in a dangerous wave of agonizing heat - until she stopped.

Confusion filled her face first, followed quickly by shock. Sam scrambled backwards and pressed his face, huddled fearfully with his hands in front of his face as he pressed into a corner. Alex suddenly found herself freed and she collapsed to her knees, blade clattering against the floor.

Lilith took a step back, and then whispered something as Sam looked at her and climbed to his feet, her face twisting with fear. "Back," she breathed.

He took a deep breath and stepped towards her hesitantly, and then again. Alex lined her blade up with her arm and then crawled on her hands and knees to check for Dean's pulse, knowing deep down that there would be none.

"Back, I said back," Lilith gasped as Sam scooped up Ruby's knife and moved closer.

"I don't think so," Sam hissed, his expression twisted with hatred. He moved to lunge and stab her, but before he could, Lilith left, smoke exploding out of what had once been Ruby's body before it crumpled, dead.

Sam stumbled over to where Alex was sitting there limply, tears gathered on her eyelashes as she looked up at him. He was soon crying as well, looking like the little brother that he was to the now dead Dean. He dropped beside her and cradled Dean's head against him, breathing, "No..."

Alex buried her face in her hands.

She'd held a reluctant respect towards the eldest Winchester, even if he'd hated her. She'd even liked him at times.

And now...

Dean Winchester was dead.


Another quick chapter...:D