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Chapter title borrowed from the Bee Gees.

No, this isn't the last chapter.

On with it, shall we?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX- FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL

Time was running out.

Dean's deal would be over in a matter of hours, if we didn't do something.

My throat went dry as I looked at him.

What would I do without my big brother?

I didn't have the words to tell him what he meant to me.

Cas, sensing my distress, looked over at me, but for once, I ignored him.

Sam, though, seemed to know what to say.

"Hey, Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"You know if this doesn't...uh...this doesn't go the way we want, I want you to know-"

Dean interrupted quickly.

"No. No-no-no-no. You're not gonna bust out the misty goodbye speech, okay? And if this is my last day on earth, I do not want it to be socially awkward."

Sam looked down, subsiding fast.

Cas' eyes narrowed in disapproval.

Dean turned back to the road.

"You know what I do want?"

He reached down to the radio, switching the dial.

I raised an eyebrow as Bon Jovi's 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' blasted out of the speakers.

Sam seemed puzzled too, and Cas' expression was almost pained.

"Bon Jovi?" Sam said doubtfully.

"Hey, Bon Jovi rocks," Dean insisted.

"On occasion," He added.

He looked back at us, then began singing along, ignoring his tunelessness.

"And I walk these streets, a loaded six-string on my back,

I play for keeps,"

He nudged Sam pointedly.

"'Cause I might not make it back. I've been everywhere."

"Come on. You too, Bambi," He swung his head over to me.

"Oh, yeah," Sam started grudgingly, fighting back a smile.

"And I'm standing tall," I began, lips twitching at Cas' face as I sang.

Sam laughed, and the three of us sang together, our voices joining in tandem.

"I've seen a million faces, and I rocked 'em all,

'Cause I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride,

I'm wanted."

Sam was enjoying himself.

"Wanted!"

We started again together.

"Dead or alive..."

My voice dwindled as I realized who the lyrics fit with.

Cas placed a hand on my shoulder as I fell silent.

Dean's smile faded.

The radio continued on.

"Dead or alive..."

~Supernatural~

I glanced at Dean uneasily as we spread branches over the police car, hiding it from view.

He'd seen the demon even before Cas had.

Bobby eyed him contemplatively.

"What?" Dean snapped.

"You've got over five hours to go. You're piercing the veil, Dean. You're glimpsing the B-side."

Dean made a face.

"Little less new age-y, please."

Bobby glared at him.

"You're almost hell's bitch. So, you can see hell's other bitches."

Dean reared back, surprised.

"Thank you."

"It's not necessarily a bad thing," Cas stepped around me.

"Lilith will have demons all over town. She knows we're here, we're dead before we start."

"Awesome," Dean said sarcastically, walking ahead.

We followed him.

~Supernatural~

"That's her," Cas pointed at the little girl sitting inside the house.

"That's Lilith. I could sense her a mile away."

"Alright then, let's go," Sam put down the binoculars. "We're wasting time."

"Wait."

Cas strode forward.

"There are demons surrounding us."

He disappeared for a few minutes, and I waited anxiously, jumping as he promptly returned.

Cas' hands were stained red.

"So, now what?" Dean demanded.

"We go inside and give a columbian necktie to a ten year old girl? Come on!"

I laid a hand on his arm.

"Look, Dean, I know it's awful."

Dean rolled his eyes.

"You think?"

"This isn't just about saving you, Dean," Sam said quietly.

"This is about saving everybody."

Bobby cocked his gun.

"She's gotta be stopped, son."

That's when we noticed the demon staring at us.

~Supernatural~

Dean was just about to dump the body when Ruby suddenly appeared, shoving him into the fence.

"I'd like my knife back, please. Or your neck snaps like a chickenbone."

"You're not going to get it," Cas appeared just as easily as Ruby did, wrapping his hands around her throat.

"Let him go."

Ruby swore, releasing Dean with a scowl.

"It's mine," She growled.

"You'll get it back after this is over," Sam came up behind Cas.

"It's already over," Ruby hissed.

"I gave you a way to save Dean, and you shot me down. Now it's too late. I'm not gonna let you die too."

Sam's eyes tightened.

"Try stopping me, and I'll kill you, bitch."

Dean was looking in the other direction.

"Guys, have your little catfight later. There are more demons."

I glanced at the house across to us.

Several pairs of cold black eyes stared back at me.

So much for the element of surprise.

~Supernatural~

Cas pushed me behind him as we stared at the sleeping girl.

The woman on the bed shook with fear, but her eyes were steady as she looked at the knife in Sam's hand.

"Do it," She said.

Sam hesitated, looking at the sleeping face of the girl.

I choked back my nausea.

Could we stand to kill a little girl?

I spared a look at Dean, and I had my answer.

Yes.

I could.

If it would save Dean.

The knife wavered in Sam's hand.

He waited too long.

The girl woke up with a scream, and Cas pulled Sam away.

"Stop! It's not her!"

...

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

"Shut up," Cas snapped back, losing his patience for the very first time, at least in my presence.

"Alright Ruby," Sam looked at her expectantly. "Where is she?"

Ruby glared at us.

"I don't know."

We entered the livingroom, and I looked out the window.

I hoped the holy water in the sprinklers would work.

Sam seemed to voice my thoughts.

"Could she get past the sprinklers?"

Cas' face was tense.

"Easily. It's nothing for a demon of her caliber."

"Okay, you win."

Sam's shoulders slumped, and he exchanged a look with me.

I understood at once, and suddenly, I was on his side.

There was nothing we wouldn't do to save our brother.

I knew that now.

"Show us," I said unwillingly.

Ruby looked at us questioningly.

"What do you mean?"

"To save Dean," I hissed. "Tell us what to do."

"What do you need me to do?" Sam didn't notice Dean behind him until he grabbed us by the shoulders.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Shut up, Dean," I said curtly.

"Ruby!"

"Absolutely not," Cas' fingers wrapped around my wrists, pinioning me completely.

Ruby didn't fight him.

"You had your chance. You can't just flip a switch. We needed time."

And now we didn't have it.

"There's gotta be something," Sam said desperately.

"There's gotta be a way," I insisted. "Whatever it is, we'll do it."

Sam and I struggled as Dean grabbed us from behind.

"Don't!" I spat.

"I can't let you go to hell!" Sam and I screamed at the same time.

"Yes, you are!" Dean yelled back.

We looked at each other for a long moment.

Dean's eyes were bleak, but calmer.

"Yes, you are."

We stared at him, and my breath came out in harsh pants.

"I'm sorry," Dean looked away.

"This is all my fault, I know that. But what you guys are doing, it's not gonna save me. It'll only kill you."

"No!"

The tears ran down my cheek, and I ignore Cas' attempts to soothe me.

"No!"

I screamed louder, and I sobbed now, reaching out for Dean.

Dean, for once, didn't say anything, simply wrapping his arms around me tightly.

"Ssshh," He whispered as I buried my face in his shoulder.

"It's gonna be okay, Bambi."

But it wasn't.

It never would be, because I'd never see my big brother again.

Sam's cheeks were wet too, as Dean finally let go of me.

"What am I supposed to do?" He whispered, and he seemed to revert into a lost little boy all at once.

"Keep fighting," Dean said, and I bit back a sob.

"Take care of my wheels. Sam, remember what Dad taught you, okay?"

Sam nodded, holding back his tears.

I couldn't control mine as Dean gave me a hard stare.

"Take care of each other, okay? Or I'll haunt your ass, I swear."

"I will." My voice cracked.

Dean's voice was thick as he continued.

"You're what I've got left, all of you. Keep yourself safe."

Dean clapped Cas on the shoulder.

"And you keep your promise, Cas."

Cas looked at him grimly, but he said : "I will."

And it seemed all too final at that moment.

Too real.

I flung my arms around Dean tightly, barely holding myself together.

"You're the best big brother ever," I whispered softly.

The clock struck midnight.

The hellhounds started howling, and Dean looked back at us one last time.

"Remember what I taught you."

His eyes were shinier than before, and I knew that this would be the last time I would see Dean Winchester cry.

Ruby stood uncomfortably in the corner.

"I'm sorry, Dean," She said, and actually sounded halfway-sincere.

The hellhounds howled again.

~Supernatural~

The door shuddered as we lined it with goofer dust.

Cas' face was furrowed in concentration as he held the hounds off.

"Give me the knife," Ruby said quickly. "Maybe I can fight them off."

Sam looked up at her, confused.

"What?"

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

Cas' eyes suddenly widened.

He was afraid.

And that made a cold line of fear crawl up my spine.

Cas wasn't afraid of anything, unless...unless it was..

"Wait!"

"It's not Ruby!" Cas yelled. "Drop the knife. It's not her!"

But it was too late.

She sent us flying into opposite walls, pushing Dean on top of the table.

Cas couldn't move, either.

"How long have you been in her?" He asked expressionlessly.

Ruby's entire face changed it's expression, becoming almost childlike.

This was Lilith.

I could feel it.

"Not long."

She looked down at Ruby's body.

"But I like it. It's all grown up and pretty in here."

She looked up at Dean, and her eyes turned milky white.

"And where's Ruby?" Sam demanded.

Lilith's eyes turned back to normal.

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

She tilted her head with every step, and I could hear her neck crunch.

Lilith slowly walked over to Sam.

"Hello, Sam. I've wanted to meet you for a very long time."

She grabbed hold of his chin, stroking his cheek.

"Your skin is soft."

She snapped her head around to me, trailing a finger down my neck.

"And you must be Odette. I've always found you fascinating..."

"Too pure," She dug her nails in harder, drawing blood. "But fascinating."

Lilith smiled at Cas.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Castiel. I've caught myself a real, live angel. I'm gonna enjoy tearing your wings."

Cas' eyes didn't even flicker.

"Lilith," Is all he said, but it was enough.

Every syllable dripped with hatred.

"So, this is your big plan, huh?" Dean grunted.

"Drag me to hell. Kill them all. And then what? Become queen bitch?"

Lilith sneered.

"I don't have to answer to puppy chow."

She crossed the floor in one smooth movement, flinging open the door.

A predatory grin flashed over her face.

"Sic 'em, boy."

Invisible furrows scratched themselves onto the floor, and an invisible force dragged Dean down by his legs, ripping into them viciously.

Dean yelled in pain.

"No! Stop!" We shouted together.

Lilith watched as Dean struggled on the floor.

The hellhound attacked his chest, leaving long, bloody claw marks.

Dean screamed in pain.

"STOP IT!" I screamed.

Lilith just watched with a sleek, satisifed smile.

The hound slashed Dean on his back and shoulder.

"No!"

Blood gushed out of Dean's wounds.

I stared in horror.

"STOP IT!"

We screamed again.

Dean's breath now came in rattling gasps.

"NO!"

Lilith smiled widely.

"Yes."

Dean's eyes dulled.

She held out her hand, and it filled with white light.

Sudden rage rushed through me, and I screwed my eyes shut, willing it to stop.

It retracted all at once, and Lilith's eyes returned to normal.

She blinked, shocked.

I stood up, oddly numb, walking towards her.

"Back," She said, pupils dilated.

I took a deep breath, moving forward.

"I said, back!" Lilith repeated shakily.

I slowly picked up Ruby's knife.

"I don't think so."

My voice no longer sounded like my own.

I hefted the dagger, poised to strike.

Black smoke billowed out of Ruby's body, passing through the ventilator.

Lilith was gone.

I turned around, and I sunk to my knees next to Dean's motionless body, unheeding of the others around me.

My sobs were choked and jagged, and I cradled Dean's head in my arms.

"No...no...no..."

I rocked back and forth, but there was no denying it this time.

Dean was dead.