Chapter 11- Crossroad Blues

Her plan was simple. Get out before either Winchester had a chance to stop her. Okay Elliott thought it wasn't really a plan, but it was all she had. She needed to move before they caught on and stopped her. Sam was still in the shower but she was sure he would be done any moment now, so she had to hurry. As Dean turned away from her to clean up the room she made her first move. Her guilty conscious did not deter her from digging through Sam's discarded jean pocket to snag the keys to Max's- she paused at the thought. Was the Beast really hers now? No, she reminded herself, Max was coming back. It was his truck not hers. It would always be his.

Grabbing her jacket and carton of cigarettes Elliott cleared her throat. "I'm taking a smoke break." She announced to the other hunter. Dean brows raised but hid his stunned expression a second later.

"Okay, let me get my boots on,"

"No. Dean thanks but no. I kinda just need a moment alone." Elliott excused with sad eyes that she didn't have to fake. Honestly it wasn't a complete lie, she did need a moment alone. Dean looked conflicted but nodded. It took him a great amount effort to turn from her and continue packing. She would be lying if she had said she wasn't scared. She was very scared, but the way she saw it there was no other choice.

Once out the door she made a B line for the Beast, lighting her cigarette with shaky hands as she went. Not caring about bringing her cigarette into the truck, she got in quickly doing her best to stop the bombarding of memories the inside of the cab gave her. The truck started with a very loud growl that she was sure they would hear. Elliott pulled out of the parking out as fast as she could, refusing to look back and see them coming out of the motel room in shock. Knowing the Winchesters if given a chance would convince her not to go through with it, she pulled out onto the road turning the motel now out of sight.

Sam had just gotten out of the shower, dressed already as he started toweling his hair. He tilted his head to the side forehead crinkling only seeing his brother in the room. Then his heart dropped at the sound of Max's truck growling to life. Dean met his eyes wide and panicked before they both sprinted to the door. Just as they burst out the motel room, the rusty pickup turned the corner and disappeared.

"What the? Where the Hell is she going?" Sam scowled turned on Dean, forgetting his wet hair as it dripped.

Dean stared at the corner the truck disappeared from baffled. "I don't know, said she was taking a smoke break,"

"That is not a smoke break." Sam barked. "What did she say. Where could she be going Dean?"

"I really don't fucking know." Dean defended. "She hardly said a word while you were in the shower. I mean like didn't even respond to me that much. I think I did eventually get her to calm down though, after I-" Dean paled, eyes going wide. He felt his blood run cold. "Shit!" Dean shouted and before Sam could even respond Dean raced back into the motel grabbing his keys and ran back out.

"Dean?" Sam nearly shouted his voice thick with worry, but followed his brother to the Impala. Dean shot him an equally guilty and worried glance before responding.

"Crossroads."

"What?!" Sam roared in the passenger's seat. Dean had already started her up and was reversing without looking. Then shot out of the parking lot like a bat outa Hell.

"I didn't mean to!" Dean yelled back. "I was just trying to comfort her."

Sam just gave Dean a furious glare, waiting for his brother to continue. Then he opened his phone to track her gps.

"I uh, I may have mentioned something about when you died-" Dean admitted shamefully. Sam groaned at his brother, anxiously going back to his phone to track Elliott. "Sammy, I'm sorry. I'd never-"

"I know Dean." Sam growled. "I just can't lose- We need to stop her Dean." Anger morphing into fear.

Elliott released a shaky breath looking down at the little wooden cigar box, that she'd just set in the dirt hole. It was now or never Elliott told herself and filled the hole with her uncasted hand at the center of the crossroads. Finding a crossroad hadn't been difficult. They were still somewhere in nowhere Nebraska, there were tons of unpaved dirt crossroads. She stood up eyes still puffy and red, from her cry session on her way here.

"Aren't you a cute one." A sly voice purred behind her. She whipped around to face the demon. He was using a very attractive looking man as a meatsuit. Tall though not as tall as her giant, his black hair was shorter than Sam's but longer than Deans. The demon's ice blue eyes clouded over with red as he gave her a lopsided smirk.

"I'm here to make a deal."

His red eyes narrowed at her and tilted his head slightly, sizing her up. Elliott's confusion was clear as day, brows knit together. She took a warry step back. The demon just took two larger steps closer. His eyes widened after a moment.

"You're her." The demon purred again this time with more enthusiasm. Elliott held her breath when he tutted. A wicked grin curled on his lips. "I know someone who is looking for you Ellie."

Only then did Elliott remember the yellow eyed demon and her time captured with him. She paled, stumbled backwards trying to distance herself from the demon. "I don't know what you're talking about-"

"Ah, ah." The demon scolded taking slow but long strides forward, until she was backed up against a tree. Only a foot away and within reach. "You know exactly what I am talking about, there is no way you could forget what he did to you. I don't know how you escaped him the last time, but it won't happen again." He reached out to her taking her chin roughly in between his forefinger and thumb to tilt her head up to meet his.

"Azazel, has nothing to do with this." She snapped with more courage than she thought possible.

"Azazel?" The crossroads demon threw his head back and laughed.

"I'm here to make a deal. My brother Max's life for mine." Elliott bargained bravely jerking out of his grasp. The demon barked louder as he doubled over, wiping at his eyes.

"Oh, honey. Your soul is not for sale." The demon's laughter died, looking at her with pity. "You are already claimed. Let's get things back on track, shall we?"

No, Elliott deflated. She needed Max back. She needed to make the deal. This couldn't be happening. "-but Max," Elliott breathed. She couldn't leave here without Max. "Please-I, I don't belong to anyone. Just make the deal."

"Now are you going to come without a fight? Because the reward will be greater if I bring you in with little damage." The dark haired demon taunted completely ignored her.

Elliott trembled at the thought of going back to the small concrete prison. Being strapped down to the cold metal table and injected with demon blood. Or dangling from the ceiling being tortured to teach her 'obedience'. Then a lightbulb went off. Maybe she could still make a deal to bring Max back.

"You want me to come willingly, I want my brother back. I'm sure we can make some sort of deal." As much as the idea terrified Elliott, being tortured and slowly turned into a monster would always be the better option if it meant Max could live.

"Hmm." The demon's lips set in a hard line as he hummed. The roar of the Impala interrupted the growing silence.

"Do we have a deal?" She rushed turning to the demon. She needed to do this fast before Sam and Dean stopped her. The demon's red eyes glistened, amused at the impending drama. Baby hardly stopped before Sam and Dean came rushing out, halting in their track's wide eyes full of terror. They stood only a few feet away, to the crossroads demon and Elliott.

"Elliott please, tell me you didn't." Sam pleaded voice thick with emotion, taking in how close the demon was to her, its hand reaching out to rest on her shoulder. Elliott swallowed hard feeling like a failure.

"Not yet." Elliott hesitated before turning back to the demon. "Do we have a deal?"

"No!" Sam shouted moving to step forward, but stopped when the red eyed demon shifted behind Elliott. Hand wrapped tightly around her throat.

"Sorry sweet cheeks." It answered loud enough for Sam and Dean to hear. The crossroads demon's hot breath landed on her ear. "I don't need you to come willingly, it would just be easier. So, no deal."

"Nooo!" She felt her heart ache for the millionth time that day. Eyes began to fill, and she fought back the sob in her throat. He wasn't coming back. The demon wouldn't deal with her because she was a freak. Because she apparently had some fucked up destiny ahead of her. She just wanted her brother back damnit!

"-and like I just told you honey, I couldn't make a deal with you if I wanted to. No one can. This cute little ass is already claimed." The red eyed bastard slapped Elliott's ass then snickered when she gave a startled sob and threw a punch behind her that missed terribly. Sam snarled growling almost lunging at the handsy demon. He slowly took another step closer inching his way toward her.

"The Hell does that mean?" Dean barked not only needing to know but to also help distract, so Sam could get closer to pull Elliott away.

"Exactly what it sounds like dude. She. Belongs. To. Someone. Else." He pronounced each word as if talking to a small child.

"Who?" Dean demanded, glaring daggers at the bastard. Elliott didn't care what was going on at the moment. Did it even matter what happened next? The only hope she had of seeing her big brother's bright mischievous face again was gone. Her hope ripped away from her and stomped on like a piece of garbage. What happened next didn't matter to her, because right now her heart ached and life was unreal.

"Well it ain't Azazel." The demon snickered. "-not my place to say. Now say goodbye to your little friends Elliott, I'm about to get a very big reward for bringing you in." He moved his hand down from her throat to her shoulder then trailed it down to her arm. He grasped her already throbbing arm above the bulky cast. His bruising grip had her squeak, surprised by the pain.

Sam moved fast. Lunging at the him, demon knife in hand. The hunter got a slash at its face the slice on its cheek sizzled orange. Its grip loosened and Elliott retched her arm free as it stumbled back. Sam took advantage and, in a flash, reached out snatching Elliott away from the crossroads demon. Pushing her behind himself before he moved to attack, but before the blade could drive home the demon threw its head back, screaming while spewing dark black smoke into the morning air.

"Damnit!" Sam roared furious that the demon got away before he could question or kill it. That was before he turned to round on Elliott, but Dean got to her first.

Dean gripped her upper arms, tight enough to leave marks. "The Hell were you thinking?!" Dean bellowed loudly making the girl flinch in his hold.

She couldn't answer him, couldn't find her voice. Wide red puffy eyes were refilling, there were dried tear tracks down her cheeks and her chapped lips were parted as stared up at him in shock. Sam could see a multitude of emotions play out across her stunned face. Fear, anger, guilt, panic, distraught, pain, round and round like a tornado.

When Elliott didn't answer, Dean's grip tightened even more and he shook her. "Answer me!"

"Dean!" Sam shot forward to push his brother back. Although Sam himself was originally planning on doing the same thing his older brother was doing now, he couldn't stand by and watch her like this. Dean shot him a glare and turned back to Elliott to continue.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Elliott spat at Dean. Anger blooming in her chest, drowning her other emotions. "You have no right! You did the exact same thing for your brother! How is this any different?"

Dean was caught off guard. Elliott's accusations were true, and they all knew it. Opening his mouth to give her a quick retort he hesitated. When it took him too long to respond Elliott spoke again.

"It doesn't even matter." Elliott let out a defeated sigh, shoulders slumping. "It didn't fucking work. I'm the only one in the world that can't sell their soul."

"Thank god." Sam mumbled under his breath, then ran a shaky hand through his shaggy main. Elliott turned to him crossing her arms over her chest which was difficult due to the bulky cast, glaring up at him. The glare didn't last, it fell and she turned away too heartbroken to stay mad.

Sam bit the inside of his cheek puppy dog eyes boring into her. "Ellie, I get it. I do, but Max wouldn't want this. I can tell you from experience. When Dean made a deal for me, I-I was furious with him." Sam stammered stepping close and pulling her into a tight embrace as if he was making sure she was still there. "-but when he went to Hell? When he was dragged to Hell and tortured because of me?" He sighed quickly glancing up and over her to his brother before looking pulling her back at arm's reach to look directly at her. "I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone."

Elliott eyes were spilling over again and she hated it. How can she have any tears left. Surely, she should have dried up by now. Sam's words and puppy eyes were getting to her and she heaved a sob trying to stay mad but failing miserably.

"But, he'd- he'd be alive."

"I know he was your brother and I know how much he means to you -but please, I've lost so much already, Ell. Please don't make me lose you too?" Sam's wet puppy dog eyes were pleading her. She couldn't take it, and wrapped her arms around his waist hiding her face in his chest. He instantly wrapped his arms around her. As he embraced her, he closed his eyes and let his head fall back with a relieved sigh. She was here, she was safe, in his arms, and no one was going to take her from him. Not even herself. Then leaned down to place a soft kiss on the top of her head resting his chin on it.

When her tears dried Elliott let go and stepped back. "Sam I'm not going to say I'm sorry. Because I'm not." She watched his face twist with hurt but he let her finish. "-but I am sorry for what I put you through. Both of you." She turned to Dean and gave him an attempted smile. He gave it right back.

"Like you said Princess, I can't say anything. As much as I want to, and fucking want to." Dean's voice ending in a growl and he gave her a pointed glare before he continued. "I just, I've been down there Ellie, and you don't belong there."

"We need to get out of here." Sam cleared his throat, he was still on edge knowing he almost lost her.

Sam led Elliott back to the truck, taking her keys from her trembling hands. There was no way she could drive like this. He was surprised she had been able to drive out here to begin with. The couple followed Dean. The Impala leading the way. Elliott was confused when instead of the motel the pulled up to a secluded creek, surrounded by trees. Wordlessly she looked to Sam for an answer, only to find his sad puppy eyes again. Then in her peripheral vision Dean pulled two axes, rope, and a canister of gas from the trunk of the Impala.

Dread pooled in her gut at the realization, of why they had come here. Her face contorted, not ready for this. She would never be ready for this. Sam instructed her to wait in the truck, letting his lips meet hers in a soft kiss, tucking a strand of blonde behind her ear. When she opened her mouth to protest, wanting to help build the pyre, he hushed her. Wiping away a single tear she hadn't known fell. "Let us handle this babe."

Elliott sat there in the truck silently tear stained face blank and dazed, watching as the brothers chop down and gathered wood to build the pyre. After the first twenty minutes she had decided to help despite what Sam said. She needed to help. This was for her big brother, Max. her heart panged at just his name. She took a deep inhale steeling herself. Then went to grab the door handle, she deflated immediately. Tears pricked her puffy eyes again at the sight of her useless arm in the cumbersome cast. There was no way she could wield an axe right now. She was completely and utterly useless. She couldn't even help build the pyre for her own brother's funeral.

A frustrated roar escaped her throat, before she started punching at the dashboard with her good hand. On the third hit the glovebox popped open, revealing a used pack of colored sharpies. She let out a sad grimace at the sight.

When it was time and Sam finally came to collect Elliott from the truck, he found her sitting in the back bed. She was staring off into space arms wrapped around her torso holding herself. After he had coaxed the blonde gently from the truck bed, he shucked off his canvas jacket maneuvering her arms slowly into it. When he got to her casted arm he paused, tracing his finger lightly over the familiar looking doodles on it.

"He was supposed to get me back." Elliott whispered voice thick with emotion she was obviously trying to hold back. Her eyes locked on to the girly hippy flowers she doodled on the thick white plaster that covered her forearm. "He was supposed to –to draw-" Elliott stammered then sighed giving up on her sentence. Sam gently maneuvered her doodled covered cast threw the sleeve before speaking.

"It's perfect." Sam spoke softly, stroking her hair a few times, meeting her glossy hazel green eyes. "He'd be laughing at you right now." Elliott gave him a wet huff. "Come on, it's time babe."

Sam led her to the perfectly built pyre. Max was already on top wrapped in a sheet of white. It was obvious that Dean had to wrap him in a few sheets, to hide the blood that had seeped through the first one or two. Dean handed her the zippo solemnly. It took her a while but with Sam's encouragement she was able step forward and do the task herself. It lit up at once causing the air around them to warm in the chilling evening. Elliott felt all cried out yet she was still able to shed a few more silent tears.

Leaning back into Sam's embrace needing him more than she ever thought she would need anyone, she watched until the flames slowly died. Her back was against the giant's warm chest his long arms draped around her encircling her waist. His strength was the only thing holding her together and she knew it. Elliott sunk into his support though she knew she didn't deserve his comfort. After all she was the one that was too slow, and got her brother killed. She was a freak of nature and couldn't even use her ability to save her brother when it counted the most. What was the point of being a freak if she couldn't save him? Knowing to keep these thoughts to herself, it wasn't worth Sam or Dean trying to comfort her when she didn't deserve it. Her big brother was really gone, life would never be the same again.