Title: Deals With Demons
Rating: K+
Wordcount: 221B
A/N: If you don't watch Supernatural, you won't make much sense out of this chapter. I'm sorry to exclude you, but I couldn't resist putting this in.

He was desperate. So desperate. Desperate enough to try this. He didn't even think it would work. There's no way it could work. He'd officially lost his marbles.

But he wanted Sherlock back so much.

He threw the burning match into the bowl, hoping against hope…

He wasn't surprised when nothing happened, but he was disappointed. Sighing in resignation, he pocketed the match box.

"John Watson, I believe." The voice came from behind him, and John whirled around in surprise. Before him stood a man in a well-tailored suit. "The name's Crowley. I take it you want to make a deal?"

He wasn't what John had expected, but he didn't mention it because it didn't really matter now. Nothing mattered except Sherlock.

"I want him back," John choked out.

Crowley shrugged. "I'd love to give him to you, pet," he said, examining the skull on the mantle. "Really I would. But I can't."

"Why not?" John demanded. "Ten years, then you get my soul. That's the deal."

"I know the deal," Crowley snapped. "But I can't give him back to you because he's not dead."

"What?" John whispered.

"Not only that," Crowley continued, "but I can't bring him to you. He's under the Winchester's protection. Apparently they need him."

"Who are the Winchesters?" John demanded.

"A pair of really annoying blockheads."