A/N: Part of this chapter picks up at the end of Season one and the start of Season two, ep one. This episode is important to the story but I didn't want to rewrite it out.

For those not familiar with the episodes; basically, the Winchesters go after John who has been abducted then the Yellow-eyed demon shows up. They manage to get away just for Dean's car to be hit by a truck. Dean finds himself not in his body anymore and John is in a position of making a deal with a demon to save the life of his son at the expense of his own. Which is when Harry waltz in. Enjoy.

xXx

Harry looked around with the frown as the lights flickered. He leaned back in his chair and waited. He could feel the wisp of dark magic on the air and the smell of sulphur. He was over running. Moments later he heard a knock on his door and he sighed. Harry waved his hand to unlock the door. If the demon was being polite enough to knock instead of just knocking down his door then he could be as well.

"It's open," Harry called.

The door opened slowly and the man hesitated before he stepped into the room. His move putting the demon on the wrong foot before they even started. Harry knew him for what he was as he looked around before closing the door behind him. Yellow eyes focused on him and Harry waved his hand to the other side of the table in offer. The body may look different but it was the same demon as the man gave him an arrogant smile.

"I hear that you been looking into my children," the demon said with a southern drawl.

"I heard that you tried to kill the Winchesters," Harry retorted as the man took a seat across from him. "I'll have you know that I like the Winchesters."

"So do I," the Yellow-eyed demon announced. "Sam is one of my children after all."

"I find that strange," Harry commented as he leaned back in his chair and looked at the demon before him. "Just what do you get from giving your blood to children? There are plenty of demons running around with stronger powers then these kids. You have stronger power. Are you not playing well with your other demon friends? Are you in need of mini minions?"

"My children are special," the Yellow-eyed demon stated. "Perhaps we can work out a deal. I hear that you are looking for an item…"

Harry raised an eyebrow in question at the same time that he felt suspicion at the demon's words.

"And just what kind of deal are you thinking?" Harry said slowly. "Even if you have something that I want. What would I bring to the table?"

"I just want you to stay away," the Yellow-eyed demon said with a level stare. "Just stay away."

"From what?"

"The Winchesters."

Harry stood suddenly then felt it, that instinctive knowledge that he was needed and he stared at the demon. A smile curled up the demon's lips with a glint in those yellow eyes.

"Well," the Yellow-eyed demon pressed. "You stay away and I'll help you find that archway."

Harry didn't have to think twice as he pulled his wand and flicked it. Everything packed up around him and disappeared. The Yellow-eyed demon jumped to his feet and threw out a wave of power. Harry growled and with a thought he apparated before that power could hit him. He let that feeling at his core dictate where he was going and wasn't surprised to arrive outside a hospital.

He strolled up to the reception desk and smiled at the lady behind the counter.

"Can I help you?" The woman asked.

"Did a Winchester happen to arrive here?" Harry questioned.

"Winchester," the woman muttered as she looked the name up. "Here we are…I have a Dean Winchester in ICU."

"Which level?"

The woman told him where to go and Harry made his way further into the hospital. He didn't like places like these since he was surrounded by the dead and dying. For a Master of Death, it was never pleasant. He just knew it was a matter of time before word got out that he was here. He found Dean's room and knocked before he stepped in.

John Winchester looked up at him from his chair beside Dean in the bed. The young man laid there hooked up to a couple of machines. While the spirit of his son stood beside him. Harry knew that no one else would be able to see Dean's spirit form and he wondered how he'd managed to get into that position. He knew that Dean could be a stubborn but this was taking it to new levels.

"Harry?" John whispered. "Did Sam manage to get a hold of you?"

"No," Harry answered as he closed the door and stepped further into the room.

"Harry!" Dean yelled at him from beside his body. "You must see me! You have magic and all that. Come on, man!"

"How did you know to come here?" John asked.

"A certain Yellow-eyed demon came to see me," Harry said as he ignored Dean while he waved and jumped around. "He wanted to make a deal with me."

"What!" John yelped and stumbled to his feet.

"Calm down," Harry said. "I'm here now."

"Yeah," Dean stated. "It's because of that damn demon that we are here!"

"Can you do anything for him?" John asked. "You are the Master of Death. Can't you just pull him back?"

"Master of Death?" Dean splattered. "What the fuck is that!"

"It doesn't work that way," Harry sighed. "There is a balance in everything and Dean isn't dead. He's more sitting in limbo."

"Then what do I do?" John sobbed as he sat back down and bowed his head.

"Whoa," Dean whispered and Harry resisted the impulse to look at the spirit. "What kind of power do you have, man?"

"Not doing something stupid would be the first thing," Harry commented and John sighed.

Suddenly the door opened and Sam walked in then paused. John sat up in his seat and looked at his son. His whole demeanour changed as he adjusted his arm in its sling. Sam looked just as beaten up as his father as he stood in the doorway. It seemed that Harry had missed out on the whole adventure and he was sure that the Yellow-eyed demon had gone out of his way for that to happen.

"Harry?" Sam questioned. "When did you get here?"

"Just now," Harry answered. "Why don't you take your father to get something to eat? You both look like you need it."

"Um, yeah." Sam answered.

"Wait!" Dean yelped. "You're not going to leave me with some Master of Death! Sam…SAM!"

Sam and John walked out of the room and Harry was left alone with the spirit. Harry looked down at the man in the bed and sighed. He knew what would have to happen next and he wasn't looking forward to it.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Dean demanded.

"No," Harry said and turned to the spirit and Dean started. "I'm not just going to stand here and look at you, Dean."

"You can see me!" Dean yelped.

"And hear you," Harry stated. "I knew that you would still be talking even after you were in the ground."

"Well fuck you too," Dean exploded and Harry gave him a minute. "How're you going to fix this! And there is something in this hospital!"

"Of course there is," Harry said as he took a seat beside the bed. "It's a hospital, Dean."

Dean paused at that answer.

"But this thing is killing people!" Dean cried while Harry leaned back in the chair.

"Are you sure?" Harry questioned. "Or are they helping them cross over?"

Dean went to say something then paused. It looked like sitting in limbo was making the man think before he opened his mouth. Harry didn't see it lasting.

"What are you going to do then?" Dean demanded. "What about me?"

"I'm waiting, Dean," Harry told him.

"For what?"

"For me," a woman announced as she appeared in the room and bowed her head. "Master."

"Who are you?" Dean squeaked as he stepped closer to his body.

"She's a Reaper," Harry answered and the woman smiled. "They keep the balance."

"Didn't you say that you keep the balance," Dean demanded and the woman laughed.

"I said there is a balance," Harry remarked. "Not that I keep the balance. She and other Reapers keep the balance. So, what do I have to do?"

Harry addressed the Reaper with the question. She looked at him then Dean with a sigh.

"One soul," Harry reasoned. "What is he worth?"

"Hey!" Dean yelped. "I'm priceless!"

The woman laughed lightly and gave Dean a soft look before she reached into his chest and Dean gasped. She pulled something light out and the two men looked at that glowing mass. Harry groaned when he looked at how bright the ball of light was. He stood and stepped closer.

"Hey!" Dean repeated. "What's that? What are you going to do?"

"That is what you are worth, Dean Winchester." Harry stated. "That is the cost of your soul."

"My soul?" Dean uttered as his eyes locked on the glowing mass in the woman's hand. "Shouldn't that be…well, I don't know. In my body!"

"Yes," Harry agreed as he reached out and let his hand hover over the light. "This is going to hurt."

"Sorry, Master." The woman said with sadness in her eyes. "But that is the price."

Harry nodded and took in a deep breath before lowering his hand into the mass. He screamed as pain jolted through him while he felt what Dean had in the accident. He had a vision of headlights, raining glass and the sound of metal on metal. Screams on the air which could have been his while his knees hit the ground and the lights flickered. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he could hear Dean calling his name before the world went dark…then the visions started.

xXx

Sam and John hurried down the hallway as people rushed towards Dean's room. They could hear screaming and rushed into the room to see Harry convulsing on the ground as he yelled. The medical staff descended on him and his yells tapered off slowly. Sam and John stood to the side of the room and just watched the scene with wide eyes.

"That son of a bitch!" John cursed suddenly and Sam looked at him. "He planned for us to leave. He played us!"

The medical staff quickly had Harry up onto a bed and wheeled him out. Sam grabbed the Doctor's arm as he went to pass them and he stopped.

"He's our friend," Sam said. "What happened?"

"We think it was an epilepsy fit," the Doctor told him. "He'll be in room eleven if you want to see him but we did have to sedate him."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Sam," John called and they looked over. "Dean's awake."

"He's awake!" The Doctor exclaimed and rushed over.

Sam and John shared a look.

xXx

"I'm not sure how to say this," the Doctor remarked as he looked at Dean's chart. "But Mr Winchester should be able to leave tomorrow."

"About time," Dean cried. "I'm sick of seeing this room!"

Sam and John shared a look before focusing on the Doctor again.

"Yes, well." The Doctor huffed.

"What about Harry?" Sam questioned.

"We'll be keeping him here until he wakes up at least," the Doctor told them. "Are you sure that you don't know who his next of kin is? We still have to file his insurance details."

"No, sorry." Sam said as he sat in the chair next to his brother's bed.

"His vitals are looking good," the Doctor continued. "We think that he should be waking soon. I'll just check in on him now."

The Doctor left and the Winchesters shared a look as Dean sat up in the bed. John looked down at the floor while his arm hung in a sling.

"He saved my life," Dean stated as he sat on the side of the bed then looked at his father. "You called him the Master of Death."

"What?" Sam gasped as John looked at Dean in surprise. "What is that?"

"What a demon called him," John said.

"A demon?" Dean pressed. "You met with a demon and he called Harry the Master of Death?"

"She," John corrected, "and it was Harry that summoned her."

"Just who is he?" Dean asked with a frown. "I own him my life but just who is he?"

John shrugged a shoulder, "that seems like a hard question to answer."

"In a way."

The Winchesters started as Harry stood in the doorway. He looked rough as he leaned into the frame and they could see a nurse hovering nearby. Harry shuffled into the room and Dean patted the bed next to him. Harry gave him a nod as he eased himself down. He looked like he hadn't slept for a week and yet had been out of it for three days. His hair was even messier than normal and the darkness along his cheeks and chin made him look older.

"If you are expecting me to tell you just what and who I am then you will be disappointed," Harry remarked as he rubbed his face with a grimace. "Just be glad that my talents still work here or Dean would still be knocking on Heaven's door."

"You think I would go that way?" Dean asked and Harry snorted. "Always thought it would be the other way."

"If you want to have the religious debate," Harry intoned. "Then yes, I'm sure that you would be heading up to annoy them before they would have enough and probably throw you back."

Sam smirked at his brother as he looked shocked by those words. John just watched everything with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"The Doctor wants me to stay here another day but we need to leave and soon," Harry told them. "What I did will have sent out waves and we need to be gone before the sharks move in on the scent."

"Demons," John uttered and Harry nodded. "You don't look up to tangling with demons."

"That's why we need to leave," Harry said and slowly stood. "I need to fill out some paperwork and book in at a hotel then I'll be back."

The man slowly shuffled from the room while the Winchesters watched him.

"He'll need us," John mentioned. "I'm sure that he'll book a room for all of us."

"He seems to have the money behind him?" Sam remarked and John nodded.

"I don't ask," John muttered. "You learn not to ask with Harry."

xXx

Sam looked around the large hotel suite that Harry had booked. He'd never stayed in a place that had multiple rooms and a full kitchen unless they were squatting. It was almost the size of an apartment and Sam tried not to think about how much it was costing a night. Dean laid sprawled out on the lounge in front of the TV. He past him and looked into one of the bedrooms to see Harry asleep on the bed. The man looked like he'd just face planted into the mattress and fallen asleep that way. He was still dressed in the clothes that he'd left the hospital in minus his shoes.

He walked further down the hall to see his father seated on the bed in the other room. He sat there with the Colt in his hands and was just staring at it. Sam went to walk back to the living room when John looked up with old eyes. They'd had a rough relationship and Sam gave him a small smile.

"Come in," John called as he placed the gun beside him on the bed.

Sam walked in and looked around before he focused on his father.

"Harry has been keeping me informed on what he's found out about you and that demon," John said and patted the bed beside him.

"I'm not a demon," Sam muttered and didn't sit down.

"No, you're not." John sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Are you staying with us?" Sam asked.

"No," John answered. "Once Harry is on his feet again then I'll be leaving."

"Why?" Sam demanded. "Why are you always running away from us?"

"I'm not running away," John retorted with hard eyes as Sam crossed his arms over his chest. "It's for everyone's protection."

"What does that mean, Dad?"

"You can't control your powers," John said and Sam started. "And the demons are after me and now the Colt-"

"You know about what I can do?" Sam cut in.

"Of course," John said.

"Harry told you," Sam grumbled.

"I knew before I met Harry," John told him. "You showed your power when we had that fight."

Sam started at that, "is that why you left?"

"One of the reasons," John said as he sat forward on the bed. "But not because of what you showed, Sam."

"Harry has changed you," Sam remarked.

"In which ways?"

"Blunted your edge," Dean said from the doorway. "I could hear you and was hoping to stop a fight."

John sighed as he looked at his sons and could understand why they would think that Harry had changed him. He'd been on his own for so long and then Harry had come along. He reached out beside him and picked up the Colt. He looked at the gun and knew that Harry had stopped him from doing something stupid. Something that could have cost him a lot but he hadn't been willing to lose Dean or Sam. It was his biggest weakness and yet what kept him fighting.

"I wouldn't say that he'd 'blunted my edge'," John countered. "He just has a way to make you focus on what's important."

"Yeah," Dean stated. "Finding this demon and killing it."

John looked down at the gun before he held it out to Dean. His son started before taking it in his hand and looking it over.

"Saving this family," John stated. "Finding out what this demon blood has done to Sam and how we can either harness the power or stop it."

Harry then appeared at the doorway as he ran a hand through his tangle of hair. He grimaced when his fingers got stuck and he had to untangle them.

"What are you lot talking about?" Harry asked.

"Killing demons," Dean said bluntly. "Sam's powers and how you have changed Dad."

"Did a conversation about dinner come up?" Harry asked mildly and air in the room seemed to lighten. "Cos I could go for chicken nuggets."

"What!" Dean yelped. "With everything going on. You just want to order chicken nuggets?"

Harry laughed and the brothers could understand the change in their father at that. Harry was the lightness to their darkness as Dean held a weapon that could kill a demon in his hand. He slowly brought it up and pointed it at Harry.

"Dean!" Sam shouted. "What are you doing?"

"Will this kill you then?" Dean questioned as he held the gun up.

"Dean," John ordered. "Put the gun down."

Harry just held his hands out to his sides as he looked at Dean and he knew the truth. Dean slowly lowered the gun and felt Sam take it from his fingers but he didn't care. Looking into Harry's green eyes in that moment he was proven wrong. The man before him wasn't the light to their darkness, he just knew how to hide it better. His father then wacked the back of his head. He yelped and ducked his head down in surprise.

"Damn boy." John grumbled and Harry chuckled.

"He can drive then," Harry said with a grin. "Come on, chauffeur."

The Winchester just looked at him before Dean grinned and stepped forward. Harry just turned on his heels and Dean followed after like a puppy dog. Sam and John were left alone in the room.

"Do you think they will kill each other?" Sam said into the silence.

"I doubt that," John sighed as he sat back on the bed. "Harry did save Dean's life."

"And Dean just held a gun on him."

"I don't think that Harry will take it personally."

"He's a little strange."

"That doesn't begin to cover it."