Back at the crossroads…
"You stupid, stupid…" The demon slammed the car door shut and advanced on Dean, who backed up towards a wooden structure, "I should rip you limb from limb."
"Told him that wouldn't work." Angel stepped out from hiding behind the wooden structure with a smirk of her own, "You know how men are though. They never listen."
"Angel Winchester." The demon scoffed and snarled from her to Dean, "Didn't know I was being graced with two Winchesters in one night."
"It's a special night…" Angel regarded her, "Now you were saying how you were going to rip my little brother limb from limb?"
"No… Not yet…" She smiled, "I think i'll have some fun with the both of you first."
"And why's that?"
"Because your misery's the whole point. It's too much fun not to watch. Knowing how your daddy died for you two, how he sold his soul. I mean, that's gotta hurt." She walked until she backed Dean up against a wooden railing, Angel moved to help him but he motioned to stop her, "It's all you ever think about isn't it, Dean? You wake up and your first thought is, 'I can't do this anymore.'" Her head turned slightly, "And you. You're all lit up with pain that never stops. Pain and guilt that you can't get rid of. I mean, you both loved him so much, and it's all your fault that he's rotting in the pit. You blew it! Both of you!" She backed up slightly, "But I could have given you what you need."
Angel shuffled forward with a glare as she crossed her arms, "And what's that?
"Your father." She turned back to Dean, looking him in the eye, "I could have brought him back. Your loss. Seeya. I wish you a nice long life."
Dean stopped her, looking to Angel briefly, "Hold on."
The demon stopped, smiling as she turned to see him standing beside Angel beneath the wooden structure, head down, "You're lucky I've got a soft spot for lost puppies and long faces. I just can't leave you like this. Besides. You didn't call me here to bargain for Evan. Not really."
"You can't bring him back…" Angel regarded her for a long second, "That's not possible."
"Of course I can. Just as he was. Your dad would live a long and natural life, like he was meant to. That's a promise."
"And what do you want?"
"Your brother's soul."
"No-"
Dean hurriedly interrupted before Angel could dismiss the demon, "What would happen to me?"
"I could give you ten years. Ten long good years with him. That's a lifetime. The family can be together again. John, Angel, Dean, Sammy. The Winchesters all reunited." She advances towards them, "Look, your dad's supposed to be alive. Both of you are supposed to be dead. So we'll just set things straight, put things back in their natural order. And you get ten extra years on top. Plus I'm only asking for one of you in exchange for him. That's a bonus."
Dean nodded, "You think you could…" He shrugged as he smirked from Angel back to the demon, "I don't know, throw in a set of steak knives?"
The demon took a few more steps forward, "You know, this smart-ass self-defense mechanism of yours-"
She stopped abruptly and looked up. Above her head, on the ceiling of the wooden structure, was a Devil's Trap.
She glared at them, "Let me out!"
Angel laughed, "Not gonna happen, but I loved watching the show."
"I said let me out! Now!"
"Sure." Dean eyed her, "We just gotta make a little deal here first. You call off your Hellhounds and let Evan go. Then we'll let you go."
She glared, "I can't break a binding contract."
"Hmm. And by can't you mean don't want to? Last chance. Evan and his wife get to live to a ripe old age. Going, going…"
"Let's talk about this."
"Okay, gone."
He nodded at his sister who circled around her as she pulled out their Dad's Journal. She opened it and held a rosary in one hand.
The Demon stiffened, "What are you doing?"
"Oh." Dean grinned from beside Angel, "You're just gonna go on a little trip. Way down South."
"Forget Evan. Think of your dad."
Angel shook her head and began the exorcism, "Regna terrae, cantate Deo…" She continues the exorcism, circling the Demon who began to flinch and convulse, "In potentis Magnife!"
The demon screamed, "Wait!"
Dean put a hand up to stop Angel. The Demon grabbed Dean and locked him in a passionate kiss sealing the deal. She broke it and he stepped back away from her in disgust as Angel looked between them in horror.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Sealing the deal."
Dean wiped his mouth, "I usually like to be warned before I'm violated with demon tongue."
"Evan Hudson is free. He and his wife will live long lives."
Angel raised a brow, "And how do we know you're not lying?"
"My word is my bond."
Dean scoffed, "Oh, really?"
"It is when I make a deal. It's the rules. You got what you wanted. Now let me go."
Dean stepped back, glancing up at the Devil's Trap before he looked at Angel who palmed the rosary.
The Demon glared, "You're gonna double-cross me? Funny how I'm the trustworthy one." Dean shrugged and Angel just continued to glare at her, "You know, you renege? Send me to hell? Sooner or later I'm gonna climb out, and skinning Evan Hudson will be the first thing that I do."
Dean smiled tightly before motioning to Angel who stashed the rosary away. He climbed up and broke the protective circle above the demon's head.
"I gotta tell you…" She steps out, "You would have never pulled that stunt if you knew. Either of you."
"Knew what?"
"Where your dad is. You should have made that deal. See, people talk about hell, but it's just a word. It doesn't even come close to describing the real thing."
Dean angered, "Shut your mouth, bitch."
"Dean…" Angel grabbed him, "Relax."
The Demon continued taunting him, "If you could see your poor daddy? Hear the sounds he makes 'cause he can't even scream?"
Dean shuffled Angel away from him before advancing on the demon, "How about I send you back there?"
She threw her head back and black ichor poured out of her mouth as she screamed. Dean backed up until he's beside Angel against the wooden structure again. The Demon was gone, and the girl who had hosted it slumped to the ground in confusion.
"What… how did I get here?"
"Its okay." Angel went over to her, "You're going to be okay."
Back at the Hudson house…
The rattling steadily became louder and more violent, before it stopped suddenly.
"Do you still hear it?"
"No." Evan shook his head as he looked at Sam, "Is it over?"
A rumbling sound came from a grating by the wall and they both whirled to stare at it. The grating burst outward, kicking dust into the room.
"It's here!"
The barking grew louder and closer as invisible Hellhounds surrounded Sam and Evan.
"No!" Sam pushed him back as he tried to run, "Back inside the circle!"
Deep claw marks were gouged into the floor in a path towards the circle but they stopped just before the edge. As wind started to eat away at their protective circle, Sam and Evan backed away.
"Circle's broken. Come on!"
Sam pulled Evan out of the room and down the hall. They darted into a storeroom and slammed the door behind them. Sam braced himself against it as the Hellhounds started to pound it down. Suddenly violent pounding stopped and everything went quiet. Sam and Evan looked around, panting.
