Chapter Thirty-Two

I tossed my duffle bag around Dean, causing it to land in front of him just as he moved to close the hid-a-door over their stash of weapons. He rolled his eyes at me, snatching up the duffle and closing the lid. Dropping my duffle, he closed the trunk. Dean turned to face me, leaning against this car as his eyes roamed somewhere behind me.

"You good?" He asked.

"Five by five," I told him, forcing a smile.

The truth was that I was not good. I was worried about what we were about to ride into, worried about the dormant demonic power Sam had inside of him, and I was pent up sexually. I wanted to crawl under a blanket it, take a nap, and wake up with the world not so chaotic. I couldn't just turn away though, I couldn't abandon the Winchesters. Plus, there was no where to run from this. You can't out run a hellhound. I felt like all I could do was focus on each moment, on each next step, not the future. If I let my mind go there, I'd surely crumble.

"You?" I asked Dean, fixing my eyes on him.

Looking from his emerald eyes to his soft lips, my cheeks flushed. Remembering his touch in the basement, the feel of his hands on mine. I wondered if he was thinking about it, too. We had been so close to losing ourselves in each other.

"Oh, I'm fantastic," Dean forced his own smile, looking down at me with a perfectly blank face.

"So great are we," I muttered, rubbing my lips together, "In case we don't get the chance later… I just wanted to say-"

Dean held up his hand, stopping me from talking, "No chick flick moments."

I opened my mouth to speak, there is so much I needed to say. How I thought he was a great man, how handsome he was, how much better he made my life. But I couldn't bring myself to say any of those things, because when I looked in his eyes it was like everything that needed to be said had already been said. We hadn't gotten the chance to be together, and that would probably be one of my greatest regrets. But I know what he thought of me, and he knew how I felt about him.

"This is awkward," I jumped at Sam's sudden appearance beside me. He gave us each a sad smile in turn, his own hurt flashing in his eyes, "We should go."

Neither of us spoke as we filed in to the car, Sam and Dean in front with me in the back. Dean turned the key to start the car, but the engine only turned over. It wouldn't start. He tried again and again, but the engine didn't kick to life. A shadow pasted my door and Bobby knocked on the roof of the car. He held up a metal piece I assumed went to the Impala engine.

"Where do you think your going?" Bobby asked.

We all shared a look then got back out of the car. I stood by Dean facing Bobby, feeling like a teen that just got caught sneaking out of the house. I bowed my head, unable to meet the stern look Bobby was giving each of us in turn. Sam came around the car to stand beside me, sandwiching me between him and Dean.

"We got the knife," Dean said as way of explanation.

"And you intend to use it without me?" Bobby asked, his face growing darker, "Do I look like a ditchable prom date to you?"

"No, Bobby, of course not," Sam insisted, looking as guilty as I felt.

"This is about me and Sam, okay?" Dean said, "This isn't your fight."

"The hell it isn't!" Bobby snapped, getting into Dean's face in to short strides, "Family don't end with blood, boy. Besides, your taking True with you."

"That's different-" Sam begun, but Bobby cut him off.

"You're playing wounded," Bobby said, no trace of anger or hurt in his face, "Tell me, how many hallucinations have you had so far?"

I stared at Bobby. It took a few seconds to register what he was saying, my eyes darted to Dean. His face was perfectly blank, which told me that he was having hallucinations. I hadn't considered that having hellhounds hunting you down could cause psychological problems; I hadn't learned much about what happens after a demon deal from the Circle. And since selling your soul was illegal, I hadn't given it much thought.

"How'd you know?" Dean asked Bobby.

"Because that's what happens when you got hellhounds on your butt, and because I'm smart," Bobby said.

"Too smart," I said, flashing him an apologetic smile.

"I'll follow," Bobby said, holding up the missing part of the Impala for Dean to talk. Walking over to his own car, "Don't be stopping to pee every ten minutes, either."

Dean fixed the engine and then we filed back into his car, not waiting anytime we got on the road.

"Hey, Dean," Sam said.

"Yeah?"

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

"No." Dean said, "No, no, no, no, no."
"'No' what?" Sam asked.

"You're not gonna bust out the misty goodbye speech, okay?" Dean said, "What is it with you two? I mean, if this is my last day on Earth, I do not want it to be socially awkward. You know what I do want?"

Dean cleaned on the radio and the car was suddenly filed with Bon Jovi's Wanted.

On a steel horse, I ride! I'm wanted, dead or alive!

"Bon Jovi?" Sam asked.

"Bon Jovi rocks, on occasion," Dean said, holding up his finger to make a point.

"AND I WALK THESE STREETS!" Dean sang, his deep voice off key. "A LOADED SIX-STRING ON MY BACK! I PLAY FOR KEEPS!"
"Come on," Dean said, slapping Sam on the arm. "We need backup, True!"

"'CAUSE I MIGHT NOT MAKE IT BACK!"

"I've been everywhere," Sam sung.

"Oh, yeah!" I chimed in.

"BUT I'M STANDING TALL!" We all sung together, "I'VE SEEN A MILLLION FACES, AND I'VE ROCKED 'EM ALL! 'CAUSE I'M A COWBOY! ON A STEEL HOURSE, I RIDE! I'M WANTED."

"WANTED!" Sam sung loudly.

"DEAD OR A LIVE!" We all chimed in together again.

Sam kept singing, but I could see Dean's face fall from the back seat and with it my spirit. Sam didn't seem to notice because he laughed, and continued singing the song. The impala engine roared as he sped along the black top. Sirens wailed suddenly behind us. I glanced behind us intime to see a cop car whip out of a side round and tail us.

"We getting pulled over?" Sam asked.

"That's usually what that sound means," I said.

"I got a busted taillight," Dean said. I was surprised he hadn't gotten that fixed, considering how much he loves this car. "It's not like we're in a hurry or nothin'."

Dean pulled over to the side of the road, the officer pulled to a stop beside us and silenced his sirens. Sam dug out the proof of insurance while Dean rolled down his window. The officer got out of his car and walked toward us, shining his flashlight into the car.

"Problem officer?" Dean asked.

"License and registration, please," the officer said. Dean stuck his hand out the window, holding the info out for the officer. "Did you realize you have a taillight out, Mister… Hagar?"

"Yes. Yes, sir," Dean said, "Uh, you know, I've been meaning to take care of that. As a matter of fact…"

Dean opened his car door, slamming against the officer. He cried out in pain as he was knocked backwards. Dean was out of the car in a flash.

"Dean!" Sam called at the same time I yelled, "Whoa!"

I slid across the seat and was out of the car, standing at the ready as Dean landed two punches across the officer's face. Sam ran around the car to join us, just a Dean whipped out the demon knife and jabbed it upward into the officers' jaw. He flashed orange, his skull illuminating like an x-ray. Smoke drifted out of his mouth as Dean pulled the knife free, letting the officer collapse on the ground. Bobby's car pulled up, he had barely parked before he was out of the car and jogging toward us.

Bobby looked from the dead cop to Dean, "What the hell happened?"

"Dean just killed a demon," Sam explained. "How'd you know?"

"I just knew," Dean said, "I could see its face, its real face under that one."

We were all quite for a moment, sharing looks of shook and amazement. It was Bobby who broke through the haze, "Well, lets get this cleaned up."

Sam and Dean lugged the cop's body into the driver's seat, before the three of them pushed the car off the road. I glanced around for any other cars before following after. Together we found sticks thick with leaves to cover the car, breaking of branches from the nearby trees. Dragging branch after branch over, I arranged them as best as I could.

"So, what, now you're seeing demons?" Sam asked.

"I've been seeing all kinds of things lately, but nothing like this," Dean said, tossing another branch on the car.

"Actually, it's not all that crazy," Bobby explained.

"How is it not that crazy?" Dean demanded.

"You're transversion between two realms," I said. It was the only thing that made since, following hallucinations reality was the next thing to blur. He was knocking on death's door, looking thought the windows. Seeing what know one else could because there was no point in the elusion any longer.

"Exactly," Bobby went on, "You got just over five hours to go? You're piercing the veil, Dean, glimpsing the 'B' side."

"Like windows," I elaborated.

"Little less new age, please," Dean said, pursing his lips at Bobby and I.

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

"Well put," I smirked at Bobby.

"Thank you," Dean said sarcastically.

"It'll actually come in pretty handy," Sam said, the gears in his head working out a plan already.

"Oh, well, I'm glad my doomed soul's good for something," Dean said, unsatisfied by this turn of conversation.

"Damn right it is," Bobby argued, "Lilith's probably got demons stashed all over town. We can't let 'em sound the alarm. If she knows we're here, we're dead before we started."

"Wow, this is a terrific plan," Dean muttered, "I'm excited to be a part of it. Can we go, please?"

Our feet crunching on the fallen debris on the ground, we made our way back to the cars. We loaded up without another word and headed off. We reached New Harmony twenty minutes later. Sam navigated Dean to the street Bobby had pulled up from Scrying and we parked the cars a few blocks over. Exiting the cars, we loaded up on weapons like we hard rehearsed it. None of us spoke as we headed to the house Lilith was vacationing at.

We found a window, looking in on a brightly lit dining room where a family appeared to be celebrating a birthday party. Bobby pulled a couple of binoculars out of his duffle bag. He handed one to me, and Sam took the other. Looking through them just as a woman with dark hair walked into the room with a large cake, I scanned the other faces. There was a man with his back to me, across from young blond girl, and an older gentleman sat at the end of the table. Their shoulders of the adults where tense and the girl looked angry, staring at the older man.

"It's the little girl," Dean spoke softly, sounding horrified, "God, her face is awful."

The words had no sooner left his mouth when the girl lifted her hand and twisted it. The older mans head twisted around sharply, his neck breaking. I stared in horror as his head fell to his plate. I looked at the innocent little blond girl, in her pretty pink dress and a happy smile on her face. Lilith was one sick fuck.

"All right, then let's go," Sam instructed. I lowered my binoculars, mentally reading myself for what came next. Sam turned, walking behind Bobby and Dean, "We're wasting time."

"Wait," Dean reached out and grabbing Sam as he walked past.

"For what?" Sam demanded, facing his brother, "For her to kill the rest of them?"

"Yeah, and us too if we're not careful," Dean pointed out, he looked back across the way, "Look, see the real go-getter mailman on the clock at nine P.M.?" We all turned to the mailman, tossing letters into his vehicle. Dean pointed at a man sitting next to the window in a nearby house who was reading a book and smoking an old pipe, "And Mr. Rogers over there."

"Demons?" Bobby asked.

"Yes," Dean conformed.

"Okay, fine, we ninja past those guys, sneak in," Sam said as if it was that simple.

"And, what, give a Columbian necktie to a ten-year-old girl?" Dean demanded, "Come on!"

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

"You think?" Dean asked.

"This isn't just about saving you, Dean," Same went on, "This is about saving everyone."

"She's got to be stopped, son," Bobby said softly.

"True?" Dean rounded on me.

I took a deep breath. I didn't relish the idea of killing a child, but the simple truth was that one life wasn't worth the life of the many. We could save countless lives by killing Lilith, countless children. The sacrifice of one to spare future pain and suffering. It would eat me up, but it had to be done.

I didn't have to say anything, Dean turned away from me, "Oh, damn it."

"So, what's the plan?" Sam asked.

"Well have to take out the mailman," I nodded toward him, "He's guarding the front door."

"There's no telling how any demons they have in the other houses," Dean added, "There could be a small army."

"We need to find a way to distract them, or get rid of them," Sam nodded.

"This is a pretty expensive subdivision," Bobby said, "I bet they have sprinklers in the yards. We bless the water supply and turn them on, a wall of holy water to keep them out."

"Wow," I smiled at Bobby, "You are smart."

"Shut up," Bobby grumbled at me, rolling his eyes. I was serious though, that was a killer idea.

"Alright," Dean's tone took on that authority it usually did before he started dishing out orders, "Sam and I will gank the mailman. Bobby, take True to bless the water. When you're done find a place to hide out, Sam and I will take care of Lilith."

"Um, no," I shook my head at him, "I didn't come all this way to sit on the side lines."

"True-"

"Would you, Dean?" I demanded.

"We don't have time for this!" Dean snapped.

"Then stop wasting time!" I shot back.

Dean threw his hands in the air, "Fine! Go with Bobby and back him up while he blesses the water, then go around to the back door. Sam and I will go through the front. Happy?"

"Ecstatic," I told him.

"Come on, kid," Bobby nudged me.

Sam and Dean went their own way, while I tagged behind Bobby around the side of the house. I'm glad he knew what he was looking for, because I had no idea. He knelt down over a plastic green lid of a hole in the ground and stuck his finger inside a little hole at the top. He pulled it way to reveal the water valve. There was a plastic lid over the tunnel, blocking us from the water. Bobby set his duffle down and dug inside it, pulling out a wrench. He leaned forward and begun losing the lid.

"Do you think of everything, pops?" I asked, watching him work.

"When you've been doing this as long as I have, you know there's no such thing as being over prepared," Bobby huffed at me, "And don't call me pops."

Smirking I straightened up and looked around. We where up close to the side of the demon house, the windows of the other houses where dark or had their curtains drawn. There was nothing out of the ordinary, but there was still a sense of unease in the air. This was a good plan, it could work. It needed to work.

"Exorcizo te, creatura aquae," Bobby begun, holding a rosary over the flowing water, "In nominee dei patris omnipotentis et."

He dropped the rosary into the water and I added, "Et in virtute spiritus sancti."

"I know how to bless water," Bobby snapped.

I shrugged, "I'm just trying to help."

Bobby tossed his wrench back into his bag before pushing himself to his feet, "We need to find where to turn the water on."

I pointed at the whole, "It's not in there?"

"If it were, do you think I'd say we need to find it?"

"You could be testing me."

Bobby tossed his duffle into my arms, "Just come on."

After a few minutes of searching we finally found where to turn on the water. Bobby quickly twisted the handle and the sprinklers shot to life, spray water into the air around the house. Bobby took his duffle bag and gave me a look that told me to be careful. I nodded to him, then made my way around to the back of the house. I stuck to the shadows, hoping to make it without drawing attention to myself. Luckily, it seemed the main focus of the demons was on the front door. Climbing over neatly cut bushes I landed in the backyard of the house, separated from it by the sprinklers.

I didn't hesitate, and ran through them. Cold water seeped through my clothes, but I ignored the chill as I climbed the back-porch steps. I tentatively twisted the knob; the door was locked. Reaching into my boot, I pulled out my lock picking kit and got to work. There was a satisfying click and I turned the knob again, pushing the door open. Pulling my holy water out of my pocket, I headed inside.

The house was dreadfully quiet, not even my steps creaked the floorboards, until a scream from upstairs filled the air. There was a commotion, then feet thundering down the stairs. I followed the noise, hearing Dean's voice. I walked into the living room where Sam, Dean, and Ruby all stood.

"I'm not going to let you go to hell!" Sam shouted as Dean grabbed hold of his arm and spun him around to face him.

"Yes, you are!" Dean shouted back. They stared at each other, their chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Dean's back was to me, but Sam's face was full of rage. Angry at his brother for even hinting that he could let him die. Dean took a deep breath, "I'm sorry. I mean, this is all my fault. I know that. But what you're doing, it's not gonna save me. It's only gonna kill you."

Tears filled Sam's eyes, his anger turning to pain, "Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Keep fighting," Dean told, "And take care of my wheels. Sam, remember what dad taught you, okay? And remember what I taught you."

"I'm sorry, Dean," Ruby said, "I wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy."

Dean's head turned to Ruby, then flashed to me. Turning around he took a deep breath, his emerald eyes focused no me, "Promise me that you'll take care of Sam. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

"I promise," I whispered, my voice thick with unshed tears.

Dean took a step forward, reaching up he placed his hand against my cheek. His skin was warm and rough against mine, sending a tingle across my skin, "I want you to know, that if it could have been anyone, it would have been you."

I opened my mouth, but the clock stroked midnight. Loud chimes echoed around us, each one like a blow to the chest. Dean dropped his hand, his eyes swimming with tears. As the last chime faded, Dean turned back to Sam. A dog begun barking somewhere in the house, growling and snarling.

"Hellhound," Dean said, his head turning to the right.

"Where?" Sam demanded, both of us looking in the same direction of Dean.

"There," Dean said, nodding his head in its general direction.

With a vitious park, Dean spun around. He grabbed hold of my arm, pulling me out of the door behind me. Ruby and Sam followed on our heels as we ran through the house, ducking into the first room we came to. Dean pulled out the goofer dust, Ruby and Sam slammed the door shut for Dean to sprinkle along the door. Dean tossed the bag to me and I ran to the window, spreading the dust in a line along it. Once the dust was in place, the barking stops.

With a chance to breath, I looked around the room. We were standing in a small, modestly decorated steady. Double doors protected us from the hellhound, and a desk sat in front of the back window. Dean was standing in front of the desk, his chest heaving. Ruby who was still standing by the door, turned to Sam.

"Give me the knife," Ruby demanded, "Maybe I can fight if off."

"What?" Sam shot back, his face twisting in confusion.

"For how long?" I asked, "Wont they just send more? Or another one?"

"It doesn't matter," Ruby snapped, holding her hand out for the knife, "The dust won't last forever."

Sam looked from Ruby to the knife, seeing no other options he moved to hand it to her, but shouted, "Wait!"

"You want to die?" Ruby asked, turning her cold eyes on him.

"Sam, that's not Ruby," Dean shouted, "It's not Ruby!"

Eyes going wide, Sam tried to stab her, but she flicked her wrist sending him flying into the wall opposite me. The knife slipped out of his hand, clattering to the floor. I reached for it but she spun. With another flick of her hand, she sent me slamming into the far wall. The air left my lungs in a gush, the tips of my toes barely touching the floor. Lilith rounded on Dean, sending him slamming onto his back atop the desk behind him.

"How long you been in her?" Dean asked, lifting his head as he struggled to rise.

"Not long," Lilith said, her voice full of sickly-sweet innocence as she looked down at herself. She blinked, her eyes flashed white, "But I like it. It's all grown-up and pretty."

"And where's Ruby?" Sam asked, thought I felt he should be more concerned with our asses and not the other demon.

"She was a very bad girl, so I sent her far, far away," Lilith said, turning her attention to Sam with a wired twitch of the neck.

"You know, I should have seen it before," Dean smirked, "But you all look alike to me."

Lilith pouted for a moment before turning her attention back to Sam, walking toward him slowly, "Hello, Sam. I've wanted to meet you for a very long time."

Standing on her tippytoes, Lilith took hold of Sam's chin, her nails digging into his skin and pressed her lips to his.

"Your lips are soft," Lilith told him.

Sam attempted to pull his face from her grip, "Alright, so you have me. Let my brother and True go."

"Silly goose. You want to bargain; you have to have something that I want. You don't," Lilith flipped around, facing her white eyes on me, "And you."

"Fuck you," I shot at her, I was in no mood to converse with the demon about to kill us.

Lilith only smiled as she walked toward me. She ran her hand down my hair then cheek, looking me up and down, "I've been wanting to get my hands on you for a while, but I promised Werzelya that she had first dibs."

"How very thought full of you," I spat, trying to wiggle out from under her touch as she ran her nails over the exposed skin of my chest.

"There are a lot of rumors about the Van Helsing bloodline," Lilith went on, enjoying the unease she was causing me, "Legends really."

"Superstition," I informed her.

Lilith smiled, running her hound down the middle of my chest and over my stomach, "I can't wait to carve into you and see what I can find in your genes."

"So, is this your big plan, huh?" Dean asked, mercifully dragging Lilith's attention away from me, "Drag me to hell, kill Sam, torture True, and then what? Become queen bitch?"

"I don't have to answer to puppy chow," Lilith said. Stepping away from me, she meandered toward the door and took hold of the handle. Fear shot through me as she pulled open the door, "Sic him, boy."

The room was filled with the lowed growl of the hellhound, I felt more then saw the hellhound bound into the room. Dean screamed as he was ripped from the desk, the hellhound tearing into his leg. Long dark red gashes formed in his upper thigh, blood pooling on the floor. Dean tried to get away, rolling over as more blood gushed from his shoulder. I tired to pull myself free of the wall, my vision blurring with tears.

"DEAN!" I screamed, desperate to get to him.

"No! Stop!" Sam yelled, his voice thick with pain as Dean's screams grew louder, "Stop it!"

"Please!" I begged.

Lilith only smiled as Dean rolled onto his back, long gashes slicing into his torso. His shirt was cut to ribbons, stained with his blood as it pooled around the wound. Dean's eyes widened as he fell silent, his body convulsing. I wanted desperately to look away, but I couldn't. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move. He was dying and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

"Stop it!" Sam begged, looking helpless between Dean and Lilith, "No!"

"Yes," Lilith said, her voice full of pleasure.

She lifted her hand at Sam and a blinding white light filled the room, I closed my eyes against it. It seemed to last forever, when the light faded, I opened my eyes slowly. I was still pined against the wall, but Sam had collapsed on the floor. Lowering his hands from his face, he peered up at Lilith in confusion. Lilith was standing a short distance from him, her whole-body trembling. Slowly he pushed himself to his feet.

"Back," Lilith panted, shooting out her hand. Sam didn't fly backwards like before; anger filled his face. He stepped forward, forcing Lilith to step back, "I said back!"

Sam only marched on, unaffected by Lilith's demonic powers. It was both scary and impressive to watch, maybe it had something to do with his dormant powers. His pain had awakened some part of it, allowing him to defy Lilith. He stooped down and grabbed the demon knife from where it was on the floor, straightening with a look of pure hatred in his eyes, "I don't think so."

Sam pulled his arm back, the knife held tightly in his fist. He swung his arm down but Lilith let out a scream, throwing her head back as black smoke spewed from her mouth. It disappeared up a vent in the ceiling, the vacant body dropping to the floor. Without her holding me in place, I dropped to the floor. My knees buckled and I crashed to the floor with a crack, but I felt no pain. I collapsed onto my side, laying there unable to move as I stared at Dean's blood-stained body. His green eyes staring blankly ahead, unfocused, dull.

Dead.

I wanted to scream, to cry, to rip out my hair and curse. I wanted to punch something. To stab something, anything. To tear something apart. I wanted the world to burn and then to be right again. But I couldn't do any of those things. I couldn't breathe. Silent tears ran down my cheeks. My chest felt as if it had broken open and everything that I was spewed out onto the ground leaving me hallow. Empty. Broken. Dying.

Sam lowered his hand, the knife clattering once again to the floor. It sounded to loud in the silence of the room. Tears flowed down his cheeks, walking slowly over to his brother. A sob escaped him as he knelt down and pulled his brother into his arms.

"No," he whispered, "No. Dean."

One Week Later

Sitting on top of a small brick wall acting as a fence of a dog park, I spun the stainless-steel ring that once belonged to Dean around and around my finger. It was far to big for my slim hand, so I kept it on a chain around my neck. Bobby had given it to me when we had buried him, claiming that Dean would have wanted me to have it. I didn't know if that was true, but I took it all the same. It was something I could cling too, something to keep me grounded. Hopefully. I tucked the ring back under my shirt, it was arm against the cold skin of my chest.

The time after Dean had died seemed to blur, the hours and days passing with no relativity to me. I couldn't feel anything outside the hollow ache in my chest, it was slowly consuming me. I briefly remember Sam and Bobby arguing about Dean's funeral, Sam wanted to bury him so he would have a body to return too. Bobby wanted to give him a pyre. I said nothing, a part of me hoped Sam would be able to pull it off.

I closed my eyes against the memory of Dean's funeral. Dean had been cleaned up and new clothes. He eyes were closed, his arms folded lightly across his abdomen, his hair combed neatly on his head. Dean hadn't looked like he was sleeping. He was pale, his skin sunken in slightly. I wish he was sleeping, that this was all a fairy tale and I could just press my lips to his in a flawless kiss and wake him up. We could ride off into the sunset in the Impala and live happily ever after. But this wasn't a fairy tale. No matter how much I dreamt he would wake up, I couldn't make it happen. I felt myself slipping a little more under the surface of what was once me.

I was sorry that Dean died, sorry that I couldn't save him, sorry that I hadn't been better or stronger. I wish we had had a chance at finding out what was going on between us, a chance at something real. I hated him for making that deal and leaving me, and I hated the whole world. Dean was a great man and a great hunter, and he deserved to live a life free from all this pain. I couldn't bring myself to say any of that at his funeral when Bobby asked if I had anything I wanted to say, because it didn't matter. It didn't change anything. Dean couldn't hear me.

Pulling myself from the dark thoughts I looked around me. It was night it some small-town Sam had asked me to me him in. We had barely spoken since we buried Dean. Sam had disappeared into the night with the Impala while I slept, and received a very angry call from me in the morning. I had promised Dean I would look after Sam, but I couldn't do that if he kept running away from me. He had called me a few hours ago, wanting to meet up.

Sam was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago. I looked around, seeing a large wobbly shadow heading toward me on the street. It stumbled, walking under a street lamp and I saw that it was Sam. His eyes falling on me, he quickened is pass to stand before me.

"True!" Sam slurred, alcohol breath whooshing against my face. He placed his hand on my shoulder, his other hand holding the neck of a beer bottle, "You made it!"

I shoved Sam way from me, "Dude, you reek!"

"I know," Sam waved me off, "That's not the point. I need your help!"

"With what?" I couldn't deny the hope that shot up in my chest that he had found a way to bring back Dean.

"I know how to get Dean back!" Sam said enthusiastically, reaching forward to place his hand on my shoulder again. He missed and fell forward. I pressed my hands against his chest and pushed him away from me again.

I held onto his jacket to keep him steady. My faith in him was quickly dwindling, he was way to drunk to be thinking straight. "What's the plan?"

Sam gripped my wrist and pulled himself free, simultaneously pulling me off the wall. Not releasing his hold, Sam pulled me along behind me. "There is a cross road nearby!"

"Whoa, Sam," I struggled to pull myself free, but his grip was like iron, "Sam, this is stupid."

"I've tried," Sam muttered to himself, "But you, you're a Van Helsing!"

"What does that have to do with anything?" I demanded, twisting my hand inward and pulling.

Sam turned around to face me, his eyelids drooping, "Do demon will make a deal to trade me for Dean, but Lilith wanted you. You summon a crossroads demon, and we trade you for him."

There were no words to express the feelings I felt toward Sam at that moment, rage bubbled in my chest. Drunk or not, I slammed my first into his face.

To be continued…