Disclaimer: Don't own, this is just merely to satisfy my own imagination.

A/N: So yeah...great things happened this weeked: back from no man's land, celebrated a relative's birthday, promo galore for Supernatural and a ribs feast. What more can a girl ask for? Except that she wished it was already September. And that's my pathetic little reason for updating late. Here are cookies for all!

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Cracking open her swollen eyes, the once snarky demon's mind swirled with agony and dread upon seeing at what her torturer would pick next. She didn't know how much time had passed, all she remembered was passing out when Dean began sewing her stomach shut. Confusion tugged painfully on her face when Ruby watched Dean crouch down next to his worktable, plugging in an old school answering machine from who knows where. Petting it lightly, he flicked the machine on, grinning when a small beep hiccupped to life.

Clapping his hands clean, the hunter rose, turning to face her. "Sorry sweetheart, but I gotta run." Nothing left to say, Dean winked once more at her before bounding up the stairs. The lights flickered off as a loud slam sealed Ruby within this twisted version of the Pit. Where the real one was loud and crowded with screams and whimpers, the heat blinding in all its fire glory; this Pit was entirely the opposite. Total silence with only Dean and her as the bone-chilling cold crept out from the cement walls turned the room into an ice-box.

Shivering in her ruined clothes, Ruby faintly heard the mighty roar of the Impala spring to life. Eyes scanning through the pitch blackness, she felt her breath quicken as her heart slammed into the fragile cage as the hunter drove off. Dean was leaving her alone in here. All alone with no food or water and demonic wards all over the place, she lay strung up in the dark with no light or sound. Eyes glistened in despair stinging the bruises and cuts.

History was repeating itself and this time there was no way out. Back in the day, after awhile in the Pit, Ruby felt confident that she knew the ropes in the place and began to do her own thing. However, someone mustn't liked her, and like a good little demon turned in his own kin. She was too rowdy and a smooth talker were the complaints. When word reached the Grand Inquisitor's ears it was too late for Ruby to try and flee topside. In a blink of an eye, Ruby found herself locked away for decades on end in utter blackness, alone with her thoughts, fears and crumpling humanity. Till all that was left was a vindictive demon willing to do anything for the first demon that would set her free. That demon was Lilith.

Tilting her head back, tears running down her cheeks, Ruby screamed through her stitches calling out for Lilith or any other demons that would hear her. None came. She was at the mercy of Dean. Twisting, she screamed out with her mind to the one person she prayed would hear her.

"Sam!"

Emptiness howled back at her. Even her toy was out of reach. And that scared her more. In a pitch black matching her eyes, a tiny part of resolve broke apart from the cracked core in those few precious minutes in the beginning of her worst nightmare.

-------------------------

Dean parked the Impala in front of the motel room cutting off the engine. Taking in a deep breath, he let the heat from the afternoon sun soak into his body as he took a minute to recollect. To merely enjoy Life's small miracles like the worn-out leather steering wheel, the sound of cicadas humming, of Ruby's bound, bleeding form locked in the pit. Any evidence of his past days' activities were gone like the mile markers that flew by the muscle car. Hopping out, green eyes darted to the side, where a few doors down two men were in the mist of a full-blown fist fight, shoving each other back and forth while a woman hung in the shadows of the doorway their yells carrying across the desolate parking lot.

"Dean!"

Turning his gaze, Dean watched as Sam flew out of the room, his bag already in hand, face darkening with rage. "About time you showed up!"

Flashing that infamous grin, Dean leaned back, popping open the trunk just as the bag went crashing inside. "Glad to see you too, Sam."

"Don't you dare start with me!" Hands on his hips, Sam used his height to tower over Dean. "How could you go off and leave me behind? I mean, really, Dean, going after-"

"Hi Dean." Alexei's curt voice cut through the tense air.

Turning as one, Dean and Sam watched as the other pair of hunters walked with an easy gait up the Impala. Rick threw a glance over his broad shoulder at the men, who were full on fighting on the tarmac grunts and curses echoing off the ground.

Dean shot his brother a hard look. He did not want to argue in public, especially in front of other hunters. Besides, like usual, his brother had ruined a perfect day with his chick-flick moments. "We'll talk about this in the car…Samantha," he snipped quietly under his breath.

Sam bit back a growl at the old, rarely used nickname. But, he knew where his brother was going. The words that would be exchanged were for their ears only. Throwing his hands in the air, a disgruntled word snapped into the air "Fine." Marching to his side of the Impala, the younger Winchester fidgeted quietly as he waited while Dean finished off his business.

Dean shrugged his shoulders, an apologetic look flashing over his features as he focused on Alexei. "Sorry, hope he wasn't like that the whole time."

Alexei shook her head softly, "Nah. But he does think that you went off to hunt a Horseman. I had to tell him something to keep him here."

Closing his eyes, Dean pinched the bridge of his nose, already dreading the loud discussion that would take place. "Thanks."

As whispered words passed between them, Rick walked quietly over to a seething Sam. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

Dark eyes narrowed in on him. "What?" snapped out the cold voice.

"That speech you were working on, think about it as a political speech."

Baffled, Sam scrunched up his face. "Huh?"

Clearing his throat, Rick lowered his voice. "Picture it, 2009, some small hicktown USA. You got two big hotshots, Lilith and you. So, you gotta work on thinking what things you can provide the Horsemen with what Lilith can't. Threatening isn't going to work because that sounds a lot like how Lilith operates." Pausing, Rick watched as the explosion within Sam cooled off into realization. It seemed that the stubborn Winchester was finally seeing the big picture. Allowing a ghost of a smirk to pass over his lips, Rick added. "Also, keep an eye out on the left field..."

Sam's eyes stared hard at him with caution. "Left field?"

"You never know who might appear and steal the thunder."

Winking at Sam as if he just shared some massive secret, Rick walked back to Alexei who stood a bit off to the side. Dean gave a quick salute, wished them good luck and jumped into the car. He was looking forward to a nice long shower and some TV, but now he would have to wait till tonight. It seemed once again he put Sam's needs above his own. Some things never changed and Dean found himself grateful in that thought. "Come on Sammy, we're burning daylight. I found us another hunt."

"Right," mumbled Sam as he leaned into his seat.

Gunning the Impala, Dean waved out the car as he pulled back onto the main road. Alexei smiled back, waving till the black car was out of sight. Shifting, she glanced up at Rick who was watching as one of the men was beating the limp figure into the ground. "Think we'll see them again?"

"Yep."

Nothing more to say and not one to waste a free night at the motel, Rick and Alexei walked back into the room, shutting the door quietly behind them.

Watching as the small city he had spent four days vanish in the horizon, Sam let out a huge sigh. Clearing his throat, Dean gave a Spark Note summary that the creature he hunted was a vampire who might have posed a threat. Now miles apart, Sam stared incredulousat his brother who was humming quietly to a Blue Oyster Cult song his peppy attitude back in full force.

"Yep, when I heard it was nearby, I wanted it out of the way so you could rest in peace. You know how I hate sitting around injured with something that can kill us right around the corner."

Sam sighed, drawing out. A quick flash of Dean's proficiency at killing vampires made him chose his words carefully. "Yeah, but it did it truly take you four days?"

A sly smirk worked its way on Dean's face. And there it was, the one thing Sam knew was left out of the recap. "Well, there was a girl..."

A loud groan filled the tiny quarter of the Impala. Throwing himself to the side, Sam hid his clenched fist. Oh, he wanted to punch his brother hard right now leading him on like that.

Dean rattled on, enjoying Sam's frustration. "Let me tell ya Sammy, she had spunk and man the way she twisted that body of hers and the begging..."

The joking tone lightened the otherwise explosive atmosphere. Once again, Dean handled every situation with ease, making the tensest situations appear almost laughable. Covering his ears, Sam tried to fight the grin and whimpered, "No more, Dean, god the images. Just stop."

Dean belted out a laugh, throwing a playful punch into Sam's upper arm. "You're such a wuss."

"Hey, I didn't ask for your sex life, Dean," Sam threw back a heated glare but the small twitch of his lips did little to back it up.

Flashing those guarded green eyes with merriment, Dean let out a wide grin as if he was the cat that ate the canary. "Right back at 'cha."

---------------------------

Ruby pulled against her restraints, spilling damp blood onto the floor from her scrapes. Dropping her head, she took in a long breath fighting back the sobs. There was no way out. The bindings were fastened on too tightly. And even if she got out, her body was still healing on the inside from all the tears and cuts.

For the past…since Dean left, she hoped to take a break from the torture, to get her strength back. But isolation was shattering her from the inside and then Dean…he continued to pour salt on her wounds despite not being there.

The first time it happened had almost given her a panic attack. She had been caught off guard and the brief infliction was fast, not a minute wasted. At first Ruby didn't understand why but now—

A click and then a cheerful voice rumbled like a thunderstorm in the night. "How's my favorite pastime today?" He knew the five minute time restraint, knew that she couldn't respond. "Well, just wanted to let you know that I'm about a state away. And don't struggle too hard now; otherwise you might accidentally slice off your own hands. Then where would we be?"

A soft beep signaled the end. Left alone once again, Ruby's mind raced to find out the reason behind the calls. They were senseless with no patterns. How many times a day he called, she didn't know. Sometimes it would be long stretches before he called and others just a few heartbeats apart. Either way, Dean's voice always was optimistic, dripping with a giddiness that scared her.

"Mornin' sweetheart. You starting to feel thirsty? Let me tell ya, this large cold beer is excellent."

"Yummm, these French fries are awesome."

"So, guess what? Guess what? Guess what? Guess what?" A long pause and she can picture Dean's wide grin, "Killed three buddies of yours today the old fashion way: deep stabs with your beloved knife. It's the only thing that I love about ya, you can make one heck of a knife…or wait, there's something else but I know you can't scream for me. Tell me, how's the stomach?"

Then nothing but dead air…till about ten cycles later or was it thirty? Cycles constituted her waking up from one mind numbing darkness to the cold bleakness of the cement room. But still this meager attempt to keep track of time was unraveling her mind. Yet one night, things changed. The click of the answering machine pulled Ruby from her restless healing sleep.

"Rise and shine," hissed Dean's voice. "Can't let you fall asleep princess."

Ruby's bindings clicked softly against the metal. Her ears strained in the dark. There was something different about the call this time. It almost sounded hollow like he was on speakerphone.

"Say hi, you runt." A swift kick followed by an umph filled the machine.

"R-Ruby…don't you sayth a thi-thing. You h-hear me, you, you w-witch!"

Dull brown eyes snapped wide open as her mind heard the voice of the demon over the phone. Dread dragged out an adrenaline rush she never knew she had. Trashing harder, she stretched her mouth open sending tiny rivulets of blood running from her lips as the string cut into the pale flesh. "N-nm."

A scream pierced through the speaker. "That wasn't part of the deal," growled Dean's voice.

"May Nicor rip'th the flesh off thy bones in the ninth level of Hell!"

An exasperated cry loosened the stitches even more, her lips stained with pink. There was only one demon that talked like that. Todd. The medieval demon had been what Ruby dare call a friend. He had took her off the metal hooks and then later showed her the ropes of handling the Pit's hierarchy. Hell, he was her only contact with Lilith and knew the truth of her mission. Todd was her only confident. And now he was in the mercy of Alastair's twisted prodigy's hands as those screams were cut off as the five minute limit ceased recording.

"N-n-n…"

"He cried like a little girl." A hot breath caressed against her ear. Despite the heat, Ruby found herself freezing. When did Dean come back? How? He had just called from the machine!

As if reading her mind, Dean leaned in to inhale her musky scent, running a small peeler down her out-stretched left arm shaving away her soft hair. "Gotta love modern technology, recording is such a blessing." Backing away, Ruby felt herself shiver in response to losing Dean's body heat. It was so cold in here.

Draping his left arm around the rack, Dean swung in front of Ruby green eyes glittering in the light of a small flashlight. "Begged, screamed, the whole nine yards Ruby."

"I-" Yet her eyes finished off the threat, blazing with unleashed fury. Throwing open all the doors, she snarled and tried to exude her demonic powers to choke Dean to death in revenge of Todd. But in her weaken, starving and dehydrated body with wounds still aching from her last session, nothing but a faint breeze passed over Dean's body ruffling his short hair.

Dean merely licked his lips like a wolf cleaning his chomps before a dying elk. "That's it, what a shame." With a swift pull, he dragged the peeler up to her shoulder spilling fresh blood.

Screams rained down like confetti between the loosened stitches as Dean whittled away with the peeler.

--------------------------------

Ond and a half weeks trickled by during those random calls to a tied up Ruby. Dean grinned and chuckled as if knowing a secret joke that no one else knew about. As the Winchester boys traveled from town to town, they couldn't escape the mere fact of Dean leaving Sam. The grudge hung in the air like a dark cloud and like all clouds it gathered till wait remained was a large thundercloud grumbling with thunder and staining with lightening. It was no more apparent than in Sam Winchester.

Every day he called Ruby's cell hoping to here her annoying voice while Dean waited for him in a safe distance. Sam craved for her sarcastic wit to seduce him into a world where his actions were just and noble. He was the reluctant hero of the story, a modern day Luke Skywalker not wanting the burden of some great power but having to use his curse as a way to stop evil at all costs without falling to the Dark Side. Running his fingers over smooth silver, Sam eyed his last remaining back-up flask that contained about half-a-day ration if he measured it out right.

A freezing tremor ran through his body. Since the Adam fiasco, Sam had upped his hits from once every three days to once sometimes twice a day. He had to restock the depleted demon blood within him without drawing any attention. Every moment he felt his powers dwindle, flaring up and dying like being on a rollercoaster. On some hunts, he would be able to exorcise a demon no sweat but on others he barely would make them choke. It didn't help that those were the days when the cramps were painful and the cold sweats drenched his clothes.

Add to the list that Dean was watching him with a wary eye now. Ever since they left Alexei and Rick, his brother had once again lost himself into the hunt. It scared Sam at how easily Dean was finding demons to kill and seemed more at ease, almost beaming with happiness after each demon was sent back to the Pit. Unlike the first insane round when Dean had his Hell confession where his brother was wearing himself down into a shell, this time it seemed as if Dean was on an never-ending adrenaline rush and it kept on building. It was especially apparent when his brother disappeared for almost two days with no indication or explanation of where he went.

But Sam kept his mouth shut till a hunt went strangely off-track. They were hunting a simple low-life demon in a backwater town. It wasn't too hard to find the supernatural creation. Yet the image of the first encounter would forever be burned in Sam's mind.

The moment the demon saw them, instead of the common fighting, his black eyes widened in fright. Sam never saw such fear on a demon, even when he was exorcizing them. The one incident that came close was the shielded terror when Ruby described Alastair. Not even a quirky goodbye was thrown into the air as the demon turned and sprinted into the busy mall as if the devil was on his tail. Dean and Sam shared a confused glance before splitting up. Sam had no luck but Dean came back hours later and with a grunt confirmed that he got the sneaky coward. The youngest Winchester didn't know why but at that moment with the light shadowing Dean's face, those green eyes flickering down with an eerie coldness, he felt his demon blood twitch with something akin to trepidation. Something was wrong.

-------------------------------------

"I've been busy you know…" Dean rattled on, telling stories about the currents hunts, how he burned a couple corpses, spilled holy water on demons, carved up Todd till he was barely recognizable. Ruby tried to block out his gruff voice, squeezing her eyes shut. Instead, his words blared as if he was talking through a microphone, painting images of the horrors he did to Todd.

Whimpers broke through the air as Dean worked carefully in breaking down every defense. "Todd finally broke you know, told me he was your contact to your boss. Then he just had to go and choke on his own tongue letting the corpse die on me. After that, I had no choice but to kill him." Disappointment at his loss was punctuated as he snapped Ruby's thumb in half once-again.

Prying the blood soaked pocket knife up against her lips, Dean swiped across cutting away the useless stitches, watching with fascination as the tiny strands fell like ash upon the red floor. Focusing back on his prey, Dean stroked her forehead fondly watching those once stubborn eyes break before him. Darting out a pink tongue, he leaned into her face, black eyes boring straight into her soul. "Who?"

The low purr resonated deeply into the demon. Blinking slowly, Ruby wanted to run into oblivion but Dean's tight grip on her scalp kept her firmly footed on reality. She shouldn't have lost control like that. She had always been able to get under Dean's skin and he had done the same in riling her up. With all her defense blown wide open with rage, Dean attacked with such skilled ferocity in his blades and slanders that there was nothing left except rubble at his feet. She had opened the door and he walked in destroying everything in his path.

---------------------------------

Sam knew Dean, better than his brother knew himself. This whole endless chasing and disappearing acts…his brother was hiding something. And it was his role, like always to figure out what it was. Moving with the caution of crossing a mine-field, Sam questioned his brother. Where did Dean go during the nights? Why all the demon hunting? Who was he calling late at night outside of their motel room? Why the cautious glances whenever they passed a church?

The smell of smoke and alcohol hung heavily around his brother's form signaling that he went to the bar. But those eyes were always sparkling, not dull with Daniels. The nightmares were non-existent as well. Sam wanted to slap himself at why he had not noticed the small changes before.

"Where'd you go this time?"

"Told ya, the bar."

"Dean, I'm getting tired of playing this game. Now tell me the truth." Burning hazel clashed with calm green. Both brothers knew exactly where the conversation was heading. What really happened back at that motel, for it was no vampire?

Breaking his gaze, Dean stared blankly towards the curtained window, a familiar statement whispered with concern. "Where the hell is Cas?"

And that was that. End of discussion for the time begin. The dance resumed once more around the pair.

--------------------------------

Swallowing what felt like crushed glass, Ruby yearned for the isolation once more. To be left alone…to make something out of this mess. She wanted it to end. A piercing scream erupted out her sore throat. Ruby couldn't believe that her body could make such a noise as Dean cleaned her infected wounds with salted iodine.

"…L-lilith…" The name erupted half-scream from her torn lips. If that white-eyed demon found out about this, she was screwed but at the moment Ruby didn't care. She just wanted Dean to stop.

Dean halted in his wiping. Ruby gazed tiredly down taking in the shadow of smugness on the hunter's face. Instead of leaping for joy or blaring out his victory as she pictured he would, Dean resumed cleaning the wounds earning hisses from Ruby.

His face and voice were glacier, no pity or pride present. "Why?"

Ruby chocked out a yelp, cursing Alastair in her mind. The dead white-eyed Picasso would be proud of his warped Michelangelo at handling her confessions. "S-Sam…b-brea…last-t-t seal."

Nothing.

Pushing away, Dean's burning heat left, making the demon sag with relief. It was short-lived however when a rough hand tilted her head back as cheap soup was poured down her throat. Gagging, her stomach rebelled but Dean clamped her mouth shut.

"You need your strength." Dean's brisk words halted any objection.

Swallowing the semi-warm broth laced with holy water, Ruby let Dean feed her in the darkness as smoke sizzled out of her mouth. In her shattered mind, Ruby couldn't help but think that if Dean was like this every time she answered a question, then hell, she might tell him everything. As a silver spoon was knocked against her tongue making her gag, reality grinded back into Ruby. She barely had time to jerk her head before she retched out the meager meal. Disgust at her thoughts and weakness forced dry heaves out of her. No, that was all she was going to tell him swore the demon. This was it, no more.

Coughing, Ruby tensed waiting for her punishment at making a mess. "D-de-an?"

Nothing except the pounding of her weakening heart responded. She was once again left in the darkness with a battered body. Head dropping upon her chest, Ruby cried out but no tears were left in her. Dry gasps echoed in her cell. She was going to die now; there was no doubt about it. He probably left to get some new supplies. Besides, if it wasn't Dean, then it would be Lilith.

"St-stupid…st-up-id."

------------------------------

"It makes perfect sense," Sam's strained voice echoed loudly in the empty motel room. Staring up at the dark blue ceiling littered with glow-in-the-dark stars, a volcano boiled deep in the youngest Winchester. Dean was out once again and late.

Dark joy of success clenched Sam's fists at his sides as the name of a single person…or creature blazed brightly before him. "He knows."

Sam was used to not seeing the angel for weeks on end, so it made perfect sense that he would not think that Castiel was behind his brother's disappearances. Reflecting back now, he realized that Dean probably spent more time with the holy creature than he let on. Sprawled out on the bed, Sam let jealousy darken his vision.

It wasn't fair. He was the one that prayed constantly, so why the heck where the angels more interested in his brother. Moreover, why was Dean more willing to open up to that small man with piercing blue eyes than him? He was Dean's brother not that feathered bird brain.

Sam flung his pillow over his face to suppress his scream. This whole situation sucked. Today the shape shifter had died a quick death and the scowl Dean wore hinted at the older man's wish that the death had been slow and painful. Dean left shortly after, getting drunk over something he didn't know about. Or that was the latest story. A part of him hoped it was about Hell or past memories involving shape-shifters, but now Sam wasn't sure it was that simple anymore.

Something must have happened on that last hunt after Adam. Sam liked to pride himself in reading through Dean's lies and that one in the car was loud and clear. The growing concern over Castiel only added fuel to the fire. And tonight, drowning in the heat flashes of his withdrawal, revelation struck Sam. There was only way Dean would disappear without notice. And those times meant dealing with the Seals, which more likely led to the Horsemen resulting in more time with the neighborhood angel. It made perfect sense when he added the angel into the mix.

Castiel.

Another round of jealousy rippled down his arms, making his fingers curl into the sheets. That angel was the root of the change in Dean. It sickened Sam more than he liked to confess that this angel was healing Dean, making him happy than Sam. Those two were on hunts and that meant in Dean's case that he trusted Castiel enough to watch his back. His brother cared enough for the angel to lie to him about their excursions. Dean might dare regard Cas as a friend…have someone outside of Sam to protect him because Sam had done such a lazy job of it in the past. How could Dean ever trust someone who failed to save him from Hell?

Taking in a heated breath, Sam tried to stop the rush of anger and misery. He was on edge, a headache building up, making him snappy and hating everything at the moment. Even if that something was himself.

He was on fire, roasting alive with Hell's flames and his own damnation.

"Ruby, where the hell are you?"

-------------------------------

Dean stood quietly outside the hanger, hands tucked warmly inside his favorite leather jacket. The cool night air was brisk, hinting at the harvest that would soon occur out here in the country. Eyes staring endlessly onto the gravel road, the hunter found himself at a cross-roads. He could either return to Sam and put on the mask once again. But soon, Sam would figure the truth out. Oh, he recognzied Sam's twitchy behavior and impatience being tied to figuring out what he was doing. And something else, but he didn't know the reason as of now. It was only fair, mused Dean, that Sam feel what he felt after his return from the Pit.

Or, he could stay here and finish off Ruby. She was so close to be totally broken and telling him everything. Alastair had once remarked that once a victim began wailing non-stop, don't quit. For that was the time to pounce on them fully, to rip them apart preventing any chances to take a breath. Dean remembered all too well how effective that technique was...to be pushed to the brink and beyond.

Eyes narrowing slighlty, Dean ran a hand over his face. Exhaustion creaked in his muscles. For a brief moment, he felt like his old self: bone and soul dead tired. Lowering his hand, Dean flicked his gaze into the starry night sky. He was almost done, one more push. Then he could take a break from torture and just leave this life behind. Maybe, he would become a firefighter finally...

Taking in a deep breath, Dean drew upon his demons, letting the Pit embrace him once more. He would stay and finish off Ruby. It might take a day or more, but this was more important at the moment. With her gone, Sam would be free and safe once more. And that was all that mattered. A soft breeze blew by, the stench of rot filling the air.

Scrunching his nose, Dean's green eyes flickered black as he spun to the source. Irritation at being interrupted trembled down his form. However, once his eyes settled, he couldn't help but berate himself. How stupid could one be? Alastair would have set him on fire with oil for slipping up like this. "I should have known you had a high intolerance to silver."

Before him, standing a few feet away, fingers looped into the belt loops, Alexei flashed a pearly white smile. Her eyes seemed to glow with an unholy light in the pale moonlight. "Nice to finally meet you face to face, Dean Winchester. I've heard much about you."

Dean's body tensed, his mouth forming a tight smile. "Same here...Famine."

--------------------------------------------------

A.N. Talk about long and a lot of stuff happening in this bad boy of a chapter. I was a bit conflicted on if I should this revelation at the ending, but I felt it was about time and thought 'why the heck not'. Hope you enjoyed!