The next morning there was a knock at the door. "Kids?"

Piper was already awake. "What's up, Bobby?" she asked gently, hoping to let Dean sleep if it was something she could handle herself.

He hadn't slept well, and had another nightmare in the night. He had grabbed her, but she had been able to wake him up almost immediately. He had said nothing, just held her to him until they had another round of rough, desperate sex. Piper was going to be sore for days, and she could feel bruises on her hips where he had held her.

"I found Sam," Bobby said tentatively on the other side of the door.

"We'll be down in a minute."

She waited until she heard Bobby on the stairs before she started to shake Dean, leaning away from him. "Dean, baby, we gotta get up now."

He woke with a start, but tried to cover it by smiling at her. "Morning, kitten."

She leaned into his long, slow kiss for a moment before pulling away, smiling at his dissatisfied grumble. "Dean, we have to leave this bedroom eventually."

He grinned and ran his hand through her hair, tilting her head back to lay kisses on her neck. "Why?"

"Because, not only do I need to recover a little, I think Bobby found Sam." She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Dammit, Finley.

He was frowning, ignoring the second part of her statement. "Recover?"

She stopped his hand when it tried to pull the blanket off of her. "Dean," she said softly, meeting his eyes. "It doesn't matter, please don't."

He looked at her for a long moment, then ignored her and pulled the blankets up to gaze down her body. He stopped at the ring of bruises around her hips, much darker than they usually were. Even though it was a serious matter, those green eyes on her sent shivers up her spine.

He sat up, hands under her knees pulling her legs around his waist as he pulled her into the light. "Dammit, Piper, why didn't you say something?" He glared at her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Because I didn't notice, Dean. I needed you last night."

He was still frowning, but his eyes had softened. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

She smiled and leaned away from him to stand. "You didn't."

xxxxx

Sam was in a motel in Pontiac, Illinois, not very far from where Dean had come back. They were walking down an unkempt hallway, stopping at room 207.

Dean knocked, and the door was opened by a pretty woman wearing only a tank top and panties. She looked like she had expected them. "So? Where is it?"

Piper frowned. "Where is what?"

"The pizza…" She examined them warily. "That takes three people to deliver?"

Dean shook his head. "I think we got the wrong room."

Suddenly Sam stepped into the light. Piper sucked in a breath. He had pretty much ignored her since the three month anniversary of Dean's passing, and they had gone back to radio silence. He looked grim. He looked like he had a secret.

Piper's eyes narrowed as Sam laid eyes on them.

She placed a hand on Dean's back in comfort as he tried to control his emotions. "Heya, Sammy."

Dean stepped into the room, past the young woman in her underwear. Piper followed, with Bobby behind her. Sam suddenly lunged at Dean, pulling a knife from his pocket.

The young woman screamed, and Piper pushed her away and ran to stand between the brothers. Bobby pulled Sam back, with some difficulty.

"Who are you?" Sam shouted, angry.

Dean scoffed, trying to push past Piper, who didn't let him. "Like you didn't do this?!"

"Do what?"

Bobby was trying to convince Sam. "It's him, we've been through this already, it's really him."

Sam slowly stopped struggling, unable to keep his eyes off of Dean. "What…"

Dean came forward slowly, staring at Sam. "I know, I look fantastic, huh?"

Bobby had let go of Sam. Sam stepped forward and pulled Dean into a long, tight hug.

Piper felt tears come to her eyes, watching them. This was what all of this had been about. She met Bobby's eyes, smiling at the tears there.

"So are you two like... Together?"

They had all forgotten about the woman who had answered the door. Piper turned and narrowed her eyes at the young woman. Ice brushed the base of her spine. She didn't like her.

Sam was taken aback by her presence, too. "What? No. No! He's my brother."

She nodded, unbelieving. "Uh… Got it. I, I guess. Look, I should probably go."

"Yeah. Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Sorry."

Piper watched silently as the young women gathered her things. When she got the door, she turned to Sam. "So, call me."

He gave her a tight smile. "Yeah, yeah, sure thing, Kathy."

"Kristy."

"Right."

Piper was glad when the woman was gone. She turned back and stood next to Dean, who had his arms crossed and was staring at Sam suspiciously as the younger brother sat down. "So tell me, what'd it cost?"

Sam looked up at him, confused. "The girl? I don't pay, Dean." Piper rolled her eyes.

Dean was not amused. "That's not funny, Sam. To bring me back. What'd it cost? Was it just your soul, or was it something worse?" Piper put her hand on Dean's back again, trying to convey comfort.

Sam was shocked. "You think I made a deal."

Bobby nodded. "That's exactly what we think."

Piper chuckled darkly. "Kind of the Winchester way."

Sam stared at her for a moment, and she met his eyes. He had totally dropped her when Dean had been gone. They should have leaned on each other, and he had left her hanging. Screw you, Sam, she thought venomously.

"Well, I didn't."

"Don't lie to me," Dean snapped.

"I'm not lying."

"So what now, I'm off the hook and you're on, is that it? You're some demon's bitch-boy? I didn't want to be saved like this!" Dean shouted, advancing on Sam.

Sam stood, glaring at his brother. "Look, Dean, I wish I had done it, all right?"

Dean grabbed Sam by the front of his shirt. "There's no other way that this could have gone down! Now tell the truth!" Piper stepped forward to put a hand on Dean's shoulder, and tried not to take it personally when he shrugged her off. This was a moment between them. She stood back next to Bobby.

Sam broke Dean's grip angrily. "I tried everything. That's the truth. I tried opening the Devil's Gate. Hell, I tried to bargain, Dean, but no demon would deal, all right? You were rotting in Hell for months. For months, and I couldn't stop it. So I'm sorry it wasn't me, all right? Dean, I'm sorry."

Dean stepped back, his face relaxing a little. "It's okay, Sammy. You don't have to apologize, I believe you."

Sam looked at Piper. "Was it you?" he asked softly. Dean swiveled to glare at her, too.

She shook her head. "No."

Dean nodded, believing her. Sam was incredulous. "So, what, you just believe Piper, but not me? Why?"

Dean shrugged. "She's smarter than both of us."

"Don't get me wrong," Bobby interrupted, "I'm gladdened that Sam's soul remains intact, but it does raise a sticky question."

Piper nodded and made eye contact with Dean. "If we didn't pull you out, then what did?"

They made their way to the couch. Piper was going to let Dean and Bobby sit, but Dean pulled her down onto his lap. He had been affectionate before, but he was very hands-on now, like he wanted to remind himself that she was still there. Piper let it happen without a word. If he needed this to be okay, then she would let him have it. "So what were you doing around here if you weren't digging me out of my grave?" Dean asked, accepting the beer Sam offered.

"Well, once I figured out I couldn't save you, I started hunting down Lilith, trying to get some payback."

Bobby scoffed. "All by yourself. Who do you think you are, your old man?"

Sam had the decency to look ashamed of himself. "Uh, yeah, I'm sorry, Bobby. I should have called. You, too, Pipe. I was pretty messed up." Piper smiled back at him when he offered her a tentative smile. She never could stay mad at Sam for very long.

Dean pointed to a pink bra that was sticking out between the sheets of the bed. "Oh yeah. I really feel your pain."

Sam chuckled. "Anyways, uh, I was checking these demons out of Tennessee, and out of nowhere they took a hard left, booked up here."

"When?"

"Two days ago."

Dean tensed. Piper wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "When I busted out."

Bobby looked at him. "You think these demons are here 'cause of you?"

Sam was confused. "But why?"

Dean shrugged. "Well, I don't know. Some badass demon drags me out and now this? It's gotta be connected somehow."

Bobby considered him for a moment. "How you feelin', anyway?"

Dean smiled. "I'm a little hungry."

Piper laughed. "You're always a little hungry." He squeezed her tighter.

Bobby shook his head. "No, I mean, do you feel like yourself? Anything strange, or different?"

Dean huffed. "Or demonic? Bobby, how many times do I have to prove I'm me?"

"Yeah. Well, listen. No demon's letting you loose out of the goodness of their hearts. They've gotta have something nasty planned."

"Well, I feel fine."

Sam frowned. "Okay, look, we don't know what they're planning. We got a pile of questions and no shovel. We need help."

Bobby snapped his fingers. "I know a psychic. A few hours from here. Something this big, maybe she's heard the other side talking."

Piper nodded. "It's worth a shot."

Bobby left the room to make his call. Dean tapped Piper on the thigh and she stood. He stood, too, placing a hand at the small of her back to guide her out.

"Hey, wait." Sam stood. "You probably want these back." He reached into his collar and pulled out the amulet that he had given Dean so long ago. He then pulled the silver ring Dean always wore and the leather bracelet from Piper out of his pocket and handed them all to Dean.

Dean took them, silent for a moment. Piper could tell he was fighting with his emotions again. "Thanks."

"Yeah, don't mention it."

Dean slipped the ring onto his finger, the bracelet onto his wrist, and pulled the amulet over his head.

"Hey Dean, what was it like?"

Piper tensed. What the hell? She couldn't understand how Sam could ask. Obviously, hell was unpleasant, especially if his nightmares were anything to go by.

Instead of getting mad or quiet, Dean shrugged. "What, Hell? I don't know, I, I must have blacked it out. I don't remember a damn thing."

Piper let her face go blank, trying not to reveal anything. Why was he lying about remembering hell? What awful thing could have happened there? The thought upset her so much she stepped forward and slipped her hand into Dean's, interlacing her fingers with his big ones.

Sam was nodding. "Well, thank God for that."

Dean nodded, too, squeezing her hand almost imperceptibly. "Yeah."

xxxxx

They were in the Impala, and Piper was almost on cloud nine. She had missed being in the backseat with the brothers up front, talking about a case. Of course, this case was different, but the feeling was the same.

"There's still one thing that's bothering me."

Sam looked at Dean. "Yeah?"

Dean nodded. "Yeah, the night that I bit it. Or... Got bit." Piper reached forward and smacked him lightly on the back of his head as he chuckled at his own joke. "How'd you guys make it out? I thought Lilith was going to kill you."

Sam met Piper's eyes in the rear view. "Well, she tried. She couldn't."

"What do you mean, she couldn't?"

Sam shrugged. "She fired this, like, burning light at us, and... Didn't leave a scratch. Like I was immune or something. I covered Piper, and we were both fine."

Dean frowned. "Immune?"

"Yeah. I don't know who was more surprised, her or me. She left pretty fast after that."

Dean thought for a moment. "Huh. What about Ruby, where is she?"

"Dead. For now."

Dean was silent for a moment, biting his lip. Piper kept her eye roll on the inside. Why couldn't he just ask what he wanted to ask?

In a moment, he did. "So you've been using your, uh, freaky ESP stuff?"

Sam was surprised. "No."

"You sure about that? Well, I mean, now that you've got... Immunity, whatever the hell that is... Just wondering what other kind of weirdo crap you've got going on."

"Nothing, Dean. Look, you didn't want me to go down that road, so I didn't go down

that road. It was practically your dying wish."

xxxxx

"So, you hear anything?"

They were at the psychic's house. Piper liked her, she seemed capable, and strong.

Pamela was shaking her head. "Well, I Ouija'd my way through a dozen spirits. No one seems to know who broke your boy out, or why."

"So what's next?" Piper asked, curious.

The psychic grinned at her. "A séance, I think. See if we can see who did the deed."

Bobby got a little pale. "You're not gonna... Summon the damn thing here?"

"No. I just want to get a sneak peek at it. Like a crystal ball without the crystal." She said as she led them into a small, dimly lit room.

Dean nodded and followed Piper, who was following Pamela. "I'm game."

When they walked in, Pamela was spreading a black tablecloth covered in symbols over a table in the middle of the room. She squatted in front of a cabinet, and Piper could have strangled Dean for ogling the "Jesse Forever" tattoo sprawled across Pamela's back.

"Who's Jesse?" Dean asked. Yep, he's going to have to die.

Pamela smirked over her shoulder. "Well, it wasn't forever."

Dean grinned. "His loss." Piper glared at him evenly. Terrible, really, I just got him back.

Pamela stood and grinned at him. "Might be your gain."

She walked away with candles in her hand, and Dean turned to Sam. "Dude."

Sam was staring wide-eyed at Piper, who was thinking how convenient it was that one could put a body in Baby's trunk. "Piper's going to kill you, Dean."

Before Dean could respond, Pamela passed through again, smiling at Sam this time. "You're invited too, grumpy."

Dean turned to Sam. "You are not invited."

Piper rolled her eyes and smacked Dean on the back of the head as she walked through the doorway. "Neither are you, jackass."

They gathered around the table, Piper squeezed between a laughing Sam and a grumbling Dean. Piper pointedly ignored him to watch Pamela light the candles.

Once she was done,the psychic joined them at the table. "Right. Take each other's hands." Piper took Sam and Dean's hands, trying not to soften when Dean gave hers a squeeze and pulled it to his lips to kiss it. Remember that he's a jackass, Finley, she tried to tell herself.

"And I need to touch something our mystery monster touched," Pamela continued, winking at Piper after witnessing their exchange.

Dean looked nervously at them, then pulled off his outer shirt. He pulled up his left t-shirt sleeve to reveal a hand shaped brand there. Piper glared at it, then him. "How did I not notice that during the two days we spent without clothes on?"

Dean grinned. "I kept you busy, kitten." His grin widened at her growl.

Sam stared at both of them. "That's why it took you two days to come find me? You two were screwing?"

Piper gave Sam an even stare. "You were AWOL, we had to find you first." Without waiting for him to respond, she turned back to Dean. She lifted her hand to gingerly touch the spot, noticing how his eyes darkened. "Does it hurt?" she whispered. For some reason her breath caught when he shook his head slowly at her.

Bobby cleared his throat. Piper blushed and Dean huffed when they looked up and everyone was looking at them with varying degrees of amusement. "As much fun as this was," Bobby drawled dryly, "Can we please get back to it?"

Dean nodded and turned so Pamela could to touch the brand. When the other put her hand on Dean's arm, Piper smothered the wave of possessiveness that washed over her. Which one of you is the jackass now? she thought to herself as she closed her eyes.

Pamela started chanting."I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle. I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle. I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle."

Piper jumped as a television the other room flicked on to static, but Pamela continued fearlessly. "I invoke, conjure, and command... Castiel? No. Sorry, Castiel, I don't scare easy."

Dean's hand tightened on Piper's. "Castiel?"

Pamela nodded. "Its name. It's whispering to me, warning me to turn back." The table had started to shake. "I conjure and command you, show me your face. I conjure and command you, show me your face. I conjure and command you, show me your face. I conjure and command you, show me your face."

Piper's stomach was doing flips,and the hairs on the back of her neck were standing straight up. "Maybe we should stop," she said nervously.

"I almost got it. I command you, show me your face! Show me your face now!"

Suddenly the glass of the candles shot upward, and Pamela started screaming. When she opened her eyes, flames were shooting out of them, too. Piper screamed and let go of the brothers' hands to run and kneel next to her, opposite of Bobby.

"Call 911!" Bobby was barking at Sam.

Sam ran into the best room and Dean knelt next to Piper, looking miserably at Pamela.

The prone woman's eyes flew open to reveal bloody, raw sockets. Piper put her hand over her mouth as Pamela started sobbing, "I can't see! I can't see! Oh, God!"

xxxxx

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.