Dean was watching Piper sleep on his chest. Her hair was a mess, her top had twisted all around, and she was the most beautiful thing Dean had ever seen.

A week. He had one week left alive. He was terrified beyond belief, and they had been researching ways to get out of his deal nonstop for days. Sam had finally kicked them out of the library to sleep.

Idiot. How could he have dragged her into bed a year before he was going to hell? How could he have put his hands on her, knowing it would hurt her when he was gone? Selfish bastard, he thought to himself. He had wanted good things to take with him, and Piper was the best thing, but he hadn't taken her into account.

He hadn't realized he was tensing, but he must have been, because Piper stirred. "Dean?" she asked sleepily, raising her head to look at him.

He put a smile on his face, for her. "Hey, kitten, everything's okay."

She squinted at him. "Liar. Tell me."

Instead, he pulled her up to press his lips to hers slowly, then maneuvered them so she was on her back and he hovered over her. He kissed her gently and thoroughly, absorbing the soft little gasps she was giving him.

He lay a burning trail of kisses down to her collarbone, determined to not show how desperate he was for her. He scraped his teeth lightly against the place where her neck met her shoulder, savoring the soft sigh. He used his tongue to soothe the multiple red and purple marks along her shoulders, tempering his need to leave more. It wasn't fair to leave his mark on her now.

His hand slipped under the hem of her shirt, trying to memorize her soft skin and her incredible warmth. He leaned back and tugged at her shirt. She arched her back and raised her arms so he could slip it off. They were so in sync, they rarely needed to speak when they were in bed.

How could you do this to her?

Ignoring the guilt pounding at him, he bent to gently run his tongue over her hardening nipple. She whimpered and wove her hands through his hair, gently pulling him closer. He resisted for a moment, then pulled her nipple into his mouth, sucking hard enough to elicit a soft cry from her. He then shifted and paid the same attention to her other breast.

He was running the hand not supporting his weight up and down her body, exploring every part of her. He kissed his way down her stomach, worshipping her with his hands and mouth. He investigated the planes of her stomach, the hollow of her navel, the devastating curve of her hips. He kissed every little scar and mark in his path, the scars from hunting, the marks from him.

He moved lower, stopping to lift her lovely legs and drape them over his shoulders. He started at on knee and slowly made his way to her center with his mouth. He had left marks here, too, and he soothed them, too. When he was as high on her thigh as he could get without touching her core, and she was squirming, he made his way to her other knee and started over.

He gently licked into her folds, chuckling into her when she moved a pillow over her face to cover the sounds she was making. He slowly ran his tongue up and down her opening, never entering, moving back when her hips bucked into him. He brought his hand to her, slowly slipping a finger into her, savoring the moan she gave him. He looked up at her through heavily lidded eyes, the way she moved enchanting him.

He dipped his head again to slowly run his tongue over her clit, reaching up with the arm that wasn't busy to hold her hips in place. He pulled her into his mouth and slipped one, then two more fingers inside of her.

"Oh, God, Dean!" she cried into the pillow.

He didn't stop, setting a gentle but persistent pace, knowing where to go to drive her crazy. He changed the angle of his fingers, curling them until he hit the spot that devastated her, sucking hard, briefly, on her clit.

Her orgasm tore through her, and he felt this moment sear itself on to his heart.

He moved back up to her, licking his way back up her body until he was nuzzling her neck and moved himself to press against her entrance.

He leaned back to meet her eyes. "Look at me, kitten." She opened her eyes, still breathing hard. He cupped her face with his hand, fighting the emotions trying to come to the surface. Her eyes widened, and he pushed himself slowly into her, watching her face as she whimpered.

He set a loving, slow pace, nuzzling her and kissing her while he moved in her. Sooner than he wanted, he felt his rhythm start to become erratic. He reached down to touch her again, sealing his mouth over hers to swallow the cry she gave as she came. She bit his bottom lip gently, sending him over the edge. He pressed his forehead into her shoulder, still fighting with emotions.

He rolled onto his back, taking her with him, settling her onto his chest. He kissed her forehead and held her close, unable to say anything. She seemed to sense that he couldn't, because she nestled her head under his chin and stayed silent.

He had made love to her. Not had sex with her, but actually made love to her. Shit. He was in love with her. Right before he had to go to hell. Dean had never felt worse, had never felt closer to actually regretting his deal than he was right now. He pulled her down to kiss her soundly.

You're a genius, Winchester.

xxxxx

It was a Hail Mary. She knew it was a Hail Mary. But it had to work, she couldn't watch him die. She just couldn't.

She ran next to Dean, coming to a fence. Ruby appeared behind them, shoving Piper to the side and pushing Dean up against the fence. "I'd like my knife back, please. Or your neck snaps like a chicken bone."

Piper snarled, but before she could move, Sam was behind Ruby, holding her demon-killing knife up to her throat. "He doesn't have it. Take it easy."

Ruby backed away, Dean glaring at her. "How the hell did you get out?" They had left her in a devil's trap when she'd shown up at Bobby's.

Ruby made a face. "What you don't know about me could fill a book."

Dean's eyes widened and he took a step back. Piper got up and went to stand next to him. "Woah," he said softly.

Ruby glared at him. "What?"

Dean turned to his head to look at Piper instead. "Nothing. I just… I couldn't see you before, but you're one ugly broad." Piper laughed quietly.

Ruby growled and turned back to Sam. "Sam, give me the knife before you hurt yourself."

"You'll get it when this is over."

"It's already over. I gave you a way to save Dean, you shot me down. Now it's too late. He's dead. And I'm not gonna let you die too."

"Try and stop me, and I'll kill you. Bitch."

"Hit me with your best shot, baby."

Piper was looking at the house. "Guys, guys! Hey. Have your little cat fight later."

She felt her eyes widen and her skin started to prickle as they looked around. There were people up and down the street, possessed people, staring straight at them.

"So much for the element of surprise," Dean muttered darkly.

Sam was pushing them. "Go. Go. Run. Run!"

They ran, the footsteps of their pursuers echoing in Piper's ears.

They reached the house after Sam, who was kneeling to pick the lock. Piper stood behind him and turned around, joined by Dean and Ruby. "What the hell is taking Bobby?" Dean asked to no one, angry.

One of the demons had reached the lawn. Piper braced herself for a fight, but the sprinkles turned on and the demon began to scream. Piper felt a fierce grin spread across her face. "Goddamn Bobby Singer. Turned the sprinklers into holy water."

As soon as Sam got the door open, Piper felt Dean grab her arm and drag her into the house. She turned and looked around, eyes pausing at the body on the floor.

Dean was frowning. "You think Lilith knows we're here?"

Ruby nodded. "Probably."

They moved into the living room, silent, ready for a fight. Piper's nerves were like livewires, her adrenaline pumping.

Dean suddenly spun and grabbed a man who had come out of a closet, putting his hand over the man's mouth. "We're here to help. Okay? I'm gonna move my hand, and we're gonna talk nice and quiet, okay?" he whispered.

The man nodded, and Dean slowly removed his hand. Piper approached them. "Sir, where is your daughter?" she whispered as gently as possible.

He was shaking his head. "It's not... It's not her anymore."

"Where is she?" Sam asked, getting impatient.

"Upstairs, in her bedroom."

Dean nodded. "Okay, okay, okay. Listen to me. I want you to go downstairs to the basement. Put a line of salt at the door behind you. Do you understand me?"

"Not without my wife."

Piper frowned. "Yes, without your wife."

"No."

They didn't have time for this. Piper reared back and cold-cocked him, watching dispassionately as Dean caught the man before he fell. Dean didn't say a word, just tossed the unconscious man over his shoulder and walked away.

xxxxx

They were shutting the basement door behind the family when Sam and Ruby walked past them. Piper turned at Ruby's nasty tone of voice.

"Well, I hate to be a 'told you so'."

Sam glared at her. "All right, Ruby, where is she?"

The demon shrugged. "I don't know."

The four of them walked into the living room while they were arguing. Piper snuck a look at Dean. He was tense, vibrating with energy. She felt her heart start to break.

"Could she get past the sprinklers?" Sam was asking.

"Her pay grade, she ain't sweating the holy water."

Sam turned to face Ruby. "Okay, you win. What do I have to do?"

She tilted her head at him. God, Piper hated her. "What do you mean?"

"To save Dean. What do you need me to do?"

Piper understood, and while she was scared, part of her cheered. She wanted them both to be okay, but if Sam could save Dean, she wanted him to do it. They could deal with the fallout later, but if they were all together...

Dean grabbed Sam's shoulder to pull him around, but Sam resisted. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Dean snapped.

Sam pulled away from him and turned back to Ruby. "Just shut up for a second. Ruby!"

But the demon was shaking her head. Piper resisted the urge to kill her. "You had your chance. You can't just flip a switch. We needed time."

"Well, there's gotta be something. There's gotta be some way, whatever it is, I'll do it."

Dean grabbed him again and turned his brother to face him. Piper came to stand next to them, hands hovering to interfere if things got violent.

Sam was struggling. "Don't, Dean! I'm not gonna let you go to hell, Dean!"

"Yes, you are!"

Piper's world came to a grinding halt. She felt dizzy, she couldn't pull a breath in. It was too much.

Dean was calmer. "Yes, you are. I'm sorry. I mean this is all my fault, I know that. But what you're doing, it's not gonna save me. It's only gonna kill you."

Sam looked away, to Piper. She met his eyes without flinching, her tears already starting to fall. "Then what am I supposed to do?" he asked softly.

Dean sighed. "Keep fighting. Take care of my wheels. Take care of Piper. Sam, remember what Dad taught you... Okay?"

Sam nodded. Dean continued. "And remember what I taught you."

Dean turned to Piper and opened his mouth, but she couldn't. She couldn't hear him say goodbye. So instead she placed a hand at the nape of his neck and pulled him down to kiss him, hard.

The grandfather clock in the hall struck midnight. She pulled away from Dean, and they all looked around. Dean's eyes widened as he stared behind her. "Hellhound."

Piper tensed. "Where?"

He pointed. "There."

The growl sent shivers down her spine. Dean bolted, Piper and the rest following. She wished fervently that shooting the thing would help as they ran into a nearby room and slammed the door behind them.

She grabbed the bag with the goofer dust and spread it along the doorway, Sam and Ruby holding it shut. The door shook with the effort that the hellhound was using to get it open. As soon as it was covered, the door stopped shaking. Piper ran to cover the window, too.

Ruby turned to Sam. "Give me the knife, maybe I can fight it off."

Sam was confused. "What?"

"Come on! That dust won't last forever."

Dean turned to look at them. "Wait!"

Ruby glared. "You wanna die?"

"Sam, that's not Ruby!"

Piper watched as Sam and Dean went flying, then felt herself be flung hard against the wall. Something was pinning her there. She watched helplessly as Dean tilted his head to look at the demon. "How long you been in her?"

Piper's stomach rolled as the demon's expression became childlike. "Not long." Lilith. She looked down. "But I like it. It's all grown up and pretty."

"And where's Ruby?"

"She was a very bad girl, so I sent her far, far away."

Dean shrugged, trying for nonchalance. Piper's heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest. "You know, I should have seen it before... But you all look alike to me."

Lilith glared at him for a beat, then turned to Sam. "Hello, Sam. I've wanted to meet you for a very long time." She grabbed Sam's face and kissed him. Piper redoubled her efforts to break away from whatever force was holding her. Lilith pulled away. "Your lips are soft," she said as Sam tried to pull his face away.

"Right, so you have me. Let my brother go."

The demon giggled. "Silly goose. You wanna bargain, you have to have something that I want. You don't."

Dean scoffed. "So, is this your big plan, huh? Drag me to hell. Kill them. And then what? Become queen bitch?"

Lilith glared at him. "I don't have to answer to puppy chow."

She walked slowly over to the door. "No!" Piper screamed, trying to get away from the floor. "No!"

Lilith opened the door, disturbing the goofer dust. She looked at Dean and smiled. "Sic 'em, boy."

Dean tried to move, but couldn't get away. Piper's world stopped again. She could see that Sam was screaming, but could hear nothing but the tearing of Dean's flesh as the hellhound tore into him. His screams as it attacked his chest, the chest she'd laid her head on so many times.

Suddenly, sound came back to her. "Dean! Dean, no!" she was screaming, tears running down her face.

"Stop it!" Sam bellowed, somehow able to move now.

Dean wasn't screaming anymore. "Dean, Dean!" Piper sobbed, trying to go to him. "Dean!"

Sam was moving toward Dean. "No!"

"Yes." A smug voice said.

Lilith held out her hand, a bright white light starting to glow there. Sam knelt quickly and covered Piper, who was still struggling to get to Dean. The white light exploded around them, and Sam held his hand over her eyes and covered her body with his. When the light faded, they looked around.

Nothing had happened, and Lilith looked a little scared. Good, Piper thought venomously.

Sam stood and approached the demon. She held her hand up. "Back."

Sam didn't stop. "I said, back!" Lilith demanded shrilly.

Sam bent to pick up the demon knife. "I don't think so."

Lilith tilted her head back and vacated the body she was in.

Piper was free to move again. She moved to Dean, afraid to touch him, afraid not to. She touched his face, wincing as she realized his body was already cooling. "Oh, God, Dean, baby, no," she started to moan, leaving her hand on his face.

Sam was kneeling on the other side of Dean, pulling his brother into his arms. "Dean, come on, no…"

Piper didn't have any words in her. No…

Piper watched her best friend rock her dead lover back and forth, feeling a part of her shatter.

xxxxx

A/N: Hi, everyone! Here's my notes:

I own only Piper Finley, the original character. I don't own Supernatural, or the characters (heartbroken).

Reviews and comments give me the warm fuzzies and keep me going.

If there are any mistakes in continuity, canon, or geography, blame me.