XXXXXX

Dean and Buffy stood in the doorway talking with the doctor as Sam laid in the hospital bed behind them.

"Mr. McVie, your brother has suffered significant trauma. We've gotten the internal bleeding under control, but the head trauma is the largest concern. There is still significant swelling," the doctor explained.

"Alright, doc. Lay it out for me. What does all this mean?" Dean asked, gripping Buffy's hand tighter.

"Your brother is stable, but the prognosis isn't positive. It is highly unlikely your brother is going to regain consciousness."

Dean stumbled back ever so slightly as his eyes darted to Sam. Buffy let go of his hand and wrapped it around his waist as she supported his weight to keep him upright. His gaze shifted back to the doctor. He watched as the doctor's lips moved and he could hear his voice, but Dean struggled to process what the doctor had actually said.

"Thank you, doctor," Buffy's soft voice rang out as the doctor turned away.

Wordlessly, she led him to the chair next to Sam's bed. He sank down into the chair and gripped Sam's hand.

Buffy stroked the back of his hair lightly before she leaned down to kiss his temple, "I'm going to go update, Bobby. Are you okay here for a few minutes?"

Dean uttered a sound of acknowledgement. Buffy gave him one last measured look before she sighed, "Okay, I'll be right back." She squeezed his arm as she turned to leave the room.

Bobby stood in the waiting room. As Buffy approached he stopped pacing.

"What did the doctor say?" Bobby asked urgently.

Buffy shook her head, "It's not good," Buffy cautioned quietly. "They don't think he is going to wake up."

Bobby sank into the chair behind him and Buffy sat beside him. She reached out her hand and Bobby gripped it. They sat silently for several moments before Bobby dropped her hand. He inhaled sharply and rubbed his hands over his face as he stood.

"Okay, then," he shook his head, "I think I need to head back–"

Buffy looked up at Bobby in surprise, "Bobby–"

"Something big's going down–- end-of-the-world big," Bobby interrupted her.

"But, Bobby," she tried again sadly. She knew Bobby cared for Sam and Dean as if they were his own children. He needed to be here.

"You know better than anyone, apocalypses don't wait. We need to figure this out," his voice turned bitter "and we can't do that from a damned hospital room!" Bobby exclaimed, leaving no room for argument.

Buffy gave him a knowing look. She understood. The battle, the fight, it didn't stop. It didn't matter that Sam was hurt. Bobby gave her a nod. He turned to leave, but turned back abruptly as if he wanted to say something else.

"I've got him," she answered his unasked question before she continued, "Call me when you find something."

Bobby gave her a sad nod before he turned to leave through the hospital doors. Buffy watched as Bobby left. With a tired sigh as she headed back to Sam's room.

As she walked the halls, she felt herself hoping that the powers above wouldn't rip Sam away from them. She loved Sam and she didn't want to lose him. He'd been a part of her family for years. But most of all, she hoped that Dean wouldn't have to experience the loss of his brother.

XXXXXX

Dean held Sam's hand silently as he tried to process exactly what the doctor had told him. Sammy, his baby brother, wasn't going to wake up. Too much damage had been done. Dean pushed those thoughts away as he looked at his brother's face.

He was struck with a memory, "You know, when we were little…you couldn't have been more than five…" Dean whispered to Sam, "You just started asking questions. How come we didn't have a mom? Why do we always have to move around? Where'd dad go? When he'd take off for days at a time." A sad smile appeared on his lips, "I remember, I begged you, 'Quit asking, Sammy. Man, you don't want to know.' I just wanted you to be a kid...just for a little while longer. I always tried to protect you… Keep you safe– Dad didn't even have to tell me. It was just always my responsibility, you know?"

Dean gripped Sam's hand tighter as his eyes filled with tears, "It's like I had one job... I had one job... And I screwed it up. I blew it. And for that, I'm sorry. I guess that's what I do. I let down the people I love. I let dad down. And now I guess I'm just supposed to let you down, too," he scanned Sam's face desperately, hoping his brother would tell him he was being ridiculous, but Sam remained silent, unmoving.

"How can I? How am I supposed to live with that? What am I supposed to do? Sammy. God. What am I supposed to do?" he begged. "What am I supposed to do?!" his chair scraped against the floor as he stood, the anger and frustration took over.

A wave of calm came over Dean as he suddenly knew what to do. Sam wasn't supposed to die, but he was. His dad had brought him back from the literal brink of death. He'd accepted his fate. He'd been walking into that light when he had been dragged back into his own body. If his dad had been here instead of him, Sam wouldn't be in this mess. Dean was sure of it. Dean gave his brother one last look as he left the room. Removing his keys from his pocket as he walked down the hall with determined strides.

"Dean?" He heard Buffy's concerned voice call out to him.

He ignored her. Dean knew what he had to do, but if he stopped, if he talked with Buffy. He knew she'd make him admit his plan and he knew she was the only person in the world who was capable of stopping him.

"Dean, where are you going?" Her voice was louder as she questioned him again, but Dean just kept walking, forcing himself to stare straight ahead.

"Dean, wait!" He heard her call after him. He flinched from the panic he heard in her voice, but still he didn't stop as he pushed his way out the hospital doors.

He'd made it to the Impala, when he felt Buffy's hand grip his arm.

"Dean?" she questioned him, her eyes wide with desperation, "Where are you going?" she asked again, tears filling her eyes.

Dean felt the tightness of her grip on his arm. It wasn't painful, but it was clear he wouldn't be leaving without an explanation.

"I'm going to make a deal," he answered unable to meet her eyes, "I'm not supposed to be here, but Sam is," he attempted to shake his arm from her, but she held tighter.

"Dean, no!" She protested desperately.

His anger flared, "There is nothing else to be done!" he yelled as he met her eyes, but his temper cooled instantly when he looked into her tear filled eyes, "Let me go," he begged softly, "Let me save my brother."

Buffy wanted to be angry. She wanted to yell at him for being stupid for even considering something so careless, but deep down Buffy understood. Buffy had jumped into a hell portal for her sister. How could she ask him not to do everything in his power to save Sam? Her grip started to loosen on his arm, as she prepared to let him go. But as the sad and thankful look crossed Dean's face, she suddenly remembered something.

Her grip tightened instantly on his arm,"I think there is another way!" Dean looked at her with skeptical irritation, "Please," she begged, "let me just make one phone call."

Dean couldn't resist the pleading look that overcame her face, "One phone call, then I'm gone," he insisted gruffly.

Buffy nodded. She stepped away from him as she pulled out her phone, but her eyes remained firmly planted on him prepared to stop him if he made the slightest move to take off.

"Hey, honeybun, what can I do for you?" Lorne asked as he answered the call and Buffy let her eyes drift away from Dean as she spoke.

Dean watched as Buffy talked adamantly on the phone. He only heard parts of her conversation as she talked in hush tones, but words like, "worth the risk" were words he never liked hearing in regards to Buffy.

Buffy approached him still on the phone, she had a slight look of reassurance. She moved the phone slightly away from her face as she spoke, "There is going to be a portal opening here in just a few moments. We'll need to go through it. On the other side is a set of trials that can save Sam," when Dean shot her a skeptical look, she reassured him, "with no damning souls to hell."

Before Dean could reply a bright light split the air in front of them.

"Thanks, it's open," Buffy spoke into the phone.

Dean heard the speaker on the other line say, "Good luck, sugar plum" before Buffy clicked her phone shut.

Buffy moved to stand next to him. She gripped his hand, "You ready?" she asked.

Dean nodded his head and together they stepped through the portal.

XXXXXX

As they stepped through the other side of the portal Dean noticed they were standing on a high dive platform. Dean looked around and became worried when his eyes locked on the empty pool below. He looked questioningly at Buffy.

"It's a test of faith," she explained. "It's going to be okay," she reassured him with a deep breath. Her body relaxed as she shifted toward the edge of the platform.

Suddenly, Dean flashed back to watching Buffy swan dive into Glory's portal. "No!" he shouted as he grabbed her arm. He pulled her back to face him, "You can't do this Buffy. I can't keep losing you."

"Dean, this isn't–-" Buffy tried.

Dean shook his head. He'd already almost lost her too many times. He pulled her into his chest in a tight embrace.

"This is how we get Sam back," she whispered against his chest before pulling back to look into his eyes, "I'm going to be okay."

"I know you will," Dean met her lips with a searing kiss before he pushed her to the side. He ran and leapt from the platform before she could stop him.

Just a few inches from the hard concrete landing a portal opened. He wasn't falling anymore, he was standing. He whipped around trying to find his bearings. He stood alone in a dungeon-like chamber. There were stone walls that held several false passageways and to his left was an arch with a single iron gate.

"Well, we certainly have faith. Now we'll test your valor," The Valet informed as he appeared in front of Dean.

Dean's head snapped to face the newly appeared man, "Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm here to assist you with your trials, of course," The Valet informed him.

Dean realized he probably should have asked Buffy for more information about the trials. Sam definitely would have called him out for being a bonehead for literally jumping before asking. But when the portal had appeared all he could think about was saving Sam and then he'd been absolutely terrified of watching Buffy jump and he had just reacted.

"What exactly are these trials?" Dean asked with cautious curiosity.

"In good time," The Valet offered dismissively as he waved his hand.

Buffy appeared in the archway to his right.

"What is she doing here?" Dean demanded dangerously, his eyes flicking between Buffy and The Valet.

"You wish to save your brother's life, correct?" The Valet asked, completely unfazed by Dean's threatening tone.

"Yes, but–"

The Valet cut him off, "You need collateral. You complete the trials, we make your brother well. You see the bargain here is life. Typically, we'd only accept the life of the one you are trying to save, but you see," his voice becoming almost giddy, "the life of the slayer, well that is far too good to pass up."

Dean looked at Buffy with terror filled eyes, but she simply smiled back reassuringly. He turned back to The Valet, "What happens to her if I fail?"

"She dies," he responded, his tone patronizing as he glanced at his watch, "Now, we really must get started. Ms. Summers," he turned to address Buffy, "I will have you wait in the antichamber with an iced drink."

Buffy vanished before Dean's eyes.

"As for you, Mr. Winchester," The Valet continued, "I will need your shirt, shoes, and any weapons you have stashed away."

Dean didn't like this. He should have known when she said, there'd be no damning of souls, it was too good to be true. Now, not only was Sam's life on the line, but so was Buffy's. If he failed, he killed them all. Dean tugged off his flannel shirt and tossed it at The Valet.

"Very good, sir" he said as he caught the garment. As Dean continued to remove the requested clothing he continued, "Your trials will consist of three separate challenges. I should warn you that in a few moments, no living thing will be safe in here," he glanced around the room as Dean unstrapped the holstered knife around his calf.

"I figured that much out," Dean growled impatiently, "Shall we get this show on the road?"

"Best of luck," The Valet offered cheerily as he vanished.

The iron gate began to open, Dean could hear a growl echoing through the chamber. A yellow skinned demon came through the door. He wore a chainmail chest piece with a sword strapped to his back and in his hands he carried a large hook on a chain.

"Son of bitch," Dean muttered to himself as he immediately had to dive away from the swinging hook.

The demon was on him in an instant. He kicked Dean in the ribs sending him flying back into one of the chamber walls before drawing his sword. Dean groaned, but forced himself to his feet as the demon moved closer.

The demon swung his sword wide. Dean ducked out of the way and enabled himself to land a kick to the demon's knee. The demon dropped down, but swung his sword widely. Dean jumped back, but was unable to fully avoid the sword's sharp edge as it sliced across his chest.

The demon turned to face Dean as it swung its chained hook overhead. Dean quickly darted into the outer path of the chamber. Dean ran a few steps to ensure the demon followed him before he ducked around the corner of an archway. He remained out of sight as the demon stalked after him. When the demon came into view, Dean jumped out, shoving the demon against the wall. He grabbed for the hook and slammed into the demon's skull. He started to back away, but he had no time to feel victorious as the demon simply turned to face him.

The demon swung his sword, Dean leapt back, narrowly avoiding the blade. Dean continued his defensive avoidance as he considered his options. He knew he had to get the sword, but didn't see how. As he dove away from yet another swing of the sword, Dean spotted the torches mounted on the wall. An idea formed. Dean dodged another swing, moving himself toward the outer edge where he stood next to one of the torches. Dean ripped the torch from its mount and began swinging it at the demon.

The demon backed away from the flames. Dean lunged forward, searing the demon's neck with the torch. It reared back in pain dropping the sword. Dean dropped his torch and picked up the sword. He swung quickly, the demon's head fell from its body, rolling a few feet away from its collapsed body.

Dean sighed with relief as the sense of victory filled him. He began to move toward the iron gate, but it remained closed.

"What the hell?" he shouted. "I defeated the—" the sound of the chainmail scraping against the ground stopped him. He turned to look back at the dead demon, "Oh, hell no," Dean muttered as the demon's body dragged itself toward its head.

Dean sprinted toward the severed head and stabbed it through with the sword. He glanced around as the demon's body continued to approach. He placed the sword with the skewered head into the empty mount from his torch. As the demon's body stood to continue its approach, he ripped the chained hook from the head. He moved toward the body, he drove the hook through one of the demon's shoulders. He dragged the flailing body across the chamber toward a mounted metal ring. He pulled the demon's body from the ground and wrapped the chain around its body several times, binding its arms to its body. Once the demon's body was bound tightly he took the end of the chain and secured it around the metal ring. The demon's head continued to growl as its body wrestled against the chains, but the iron gate opened.

Dean rushed forward, but he suddenly became cautious as he moved through the gate, worried for what was going to come next. No sooner had he cleared the archway the iron gate slammed shut.

Dean surveyed the dark hallway before him. The sound of moving stones met his ears and the hallway ahead of him was illuminated by the night's sky as the rooftop slid open. The hallway had crosses scattered across the floor and up the walls. At the end, there was a door, but in the middle of the hall stood a basin. As he approached the hallway the crosses began to glow red hot.

Dean stopped. He closed his eyes. He took several deep breaths as he prepared his body for the pain he was about to endure. He was thankful he had stopped Buffy from diving off the platform. He would have never forgiven himself if she had suffered as he was about to. He steeled himself for the pain with one last deep breath before he was sprinting across the floor.

Dean was able to push past the pain, but what was harder to ignore was the sizzling of his skin and how the smell of his own flesh burning filled his nostrils. Dean stumbled and he fell against the wall. Suddenly his whole body felt like it was on fire. He screamed in agony, but he pushed himself up, his skin bubbling and peeling away as he continued on.

Dean fell against the wall next to the door as he reached the end of the hallway; he was thankful for the reprieve from the burning crosses. His body sagged as the searing pain of his burnt flesh overcame him. But he forced himself up and pushed on the door, but it didn't open. He pushed harder, but it wouldn't budge. As he looked over the door, he noticed the slot for a key. He looked around the door, but there was no sign of it. He turned around to face the burning crosses he'd just escaped and his eyes met the basin.

Dean sighed in near defeat. He'd have to go back across the burning floor. His body hesitated. He fought against the incredible pain that wracked his body. He trembled at the thought of crossing the burning floor again, but if he didn't finish this trial, Buffy and Sam were dead. He couldn't let that happen.

Ignoring the pain he sprinted back towards the basin. Thankfully once again the floor just around the basin lacked the red hot crosses. As Dean peered into the basin he spotted the key. The water inside the basin began to bubble as it boiled. Without a second thought Dean plunged his hand into the water to retrieve the key. He screamed as the water scolded his hand and forearm. The key seared itself into his palm as he pulled his red and bubbled hand from the water.

He raced back to the door. Stumbling as his feet could no longer take the searing pain. He wondered if he'd have any flesh left on his feet. His vision was blurred and his body shook from the immense pain that coursed through his system. He struggled to get the key in the lock, but he continued until he felt the key slip into the lock. He turned the key and the door gave way.

Dean fell to the ground on the other side of the door. The cool stone felt pleasant against his seared skin. He hissed in pain as he shifted to look around. Dean's body trembled as he laid on the ground. He'd made it through two trials. One left, that thought filled him with dread, but there was no option to quit. Sam and Buffy's lives hung in the balance. With strength he didn't know he had, he pushed himself up and limped down the hallway. He was determined to make it through. He wouldn't fail Sam or Buffy again.

He made it only a few steps before suddenly manacled chains wrapped themselves around his wrists and ankles, halting his progress. They pulled him taut, forcing his arms and legs apart. Dean groaned in pain.

The Valet came around the corner clapping, "Well played! You fielded our strokes from end to end. My hat's off to you, Mr. Winchester. Of course, there is one final challenge."

The wall in front of him made a groaning noise as stakes protruded from the walls.

"What is this?" Dean asked fear rising in his gut.

"You see sir, death is the final challenge. We can't restore one life without taking another. You see? In order for your brother to live, you must die," The Valet walked to the wall, "If you'd like to pray," he placed his hand on the lever, "now would be the time."

He'd wished he could have said goodbye, but the choice was easy. His life in exchange for Buffy and Sam's. He'd make that decision every time.

When The Valet had still yet to pull the trigger, Dean shouted impatiently, "What are you waiting for?!"

"You sir, I can't proceed without your permission and you've earned a choice," he answered and with a wave of his hand, all of Dean's wounds were healed, "You can accept your death so your brother may live or…"

"Or what?!" Dean snarled.

"Leave," The Valet stated as though it were obvious, "Refuse the challenge and walk away. No one will stop you. Our doors are all open to you. You've done that yourself."

Dean scoffed, "Leaving Buffy and my brother to die?"

"Correct," The Valet confirmed with a nod.

"Well, then, there is no choice, pull that lever," Dean declared without hesitation.

The Valet smiled with a slight laugh as he pointed at Dean, "I knew I liked you." He smiled mischievously, as he once again moved his hand away from the lever, "Unfortunately, there's a slight problem."

Dean's stomach sank as he cautiously focused on The Valet, "It is all very well and good that you'd trade your life for your brothers, but as your life was already traded for another's, your life cannot balance the scales," The Valet explained.

"Then what has this all been for?" Dean demanded.

"Worry not, Mr. Winchester, we can still make a bargain," The Valet assured.

Buffy appeared before him, The Valet held a large knife to her throat, "Death has always been her gift, you see."

Dean's eyes met Buffy's, "No," he whispered.

He turned his furious gaze onto The Valet, "It's supposed to be me!" he shouted as he fought against the chains. He screamed out in fury and agony as his shoulders nearly tore from their sockets. Despite his vigorous struggle he was unable to break the hold of the tight chains.

"Dean–" Buffy attempted to reassure him, but The Valet spoke again.

"Hmmm, this does seem awfully unfair and I really do like you." The Valet paused, as if he were thinking over his options. Dean saw through the ruse and met The Valet's eyes with a look that promised a painful death.

Unfazed, The Valet smiled, "I am willing to offer you a one time deal. You choose to end the trial, I'll wave that pesky collateral clause just this once. Buffy lives, but your brother dies. Or and here's where it gets good," his voice became giddy with cruel excitement, "I put Buffy in those chains and in addition to your brother waking from his coma I'll let you walk away because the life of this particular slayer is so valuable."

Dean shook his head. His face contorted with physical and emotional pain. It was supposed to be him. He turned his tearful eyes on Buffy. He couldn't do it, he couldn't doom his brother, but he wouldn't sacrifice her life. He'd vowed to himself, after Buffy had been resurrected and again when she had awoken from her coma, that never again would he allow her life to be on the line. Then he'd come here and she'd become the collateral. If he failed, she died. Guilt coursed through his body, but he had been comforted that her life was in his hands and he'd lay down his life to save hers. And he'd done just that. He signed his life away, but he wasn't good enough and now the cost was her.

"Save your brother, Dean," Buffy ordered with a teary smile as she watched Dean crumble before her. "It's okay…save Sam," she insisted.

The Valet spoke again, "I need an answer, Mr. Winchester. The life of the slayer, so your brother can live or the life of your brother, so the slayer can live? What's it going to be?"

"You son of a bitch," Dean pleaded, "It was supposed to be me! You were supposed to take me!"

"Dean, it's okay," Buffy soothed, tears welling in her eyes as she repeated, "Save Sam."

His pained eyes fixed themselves on Buffy. How could she ask him to do this? Why was it always her? She traded her life for her sisters and now she was willing to trade her life for his brother's. Dean couldn't imagine his life without Sam, but he'd experienced life without Buffy and he couldn't live through that again.

"Just take me!" Dean shouted as he continued to struggle against his restraints. He turned begging eyes onto The Valet, "Please!" he cried desperately.

Dean's refusal to make a choice annoyed The Valet, "You have until the count of three, but be warned, if I make it to three without an answer, you all die," he smiled viciously as he began to count, "One…"

Dean struggled violently against the chains. He screamed out in protest, but Buffy just smiled at him gently.

"It's going to be okay," she said with a determined look in her eye.

He could tell she had a plan. Dean met her eyes with a pleading look, begging her to rethink what she was about to do as The Valet spoke again.

"Two…"

That was when Buffy moved with lightning speed. She grabbed The Valet's hand, tugging with such force that he flipped over her shoulder forcing him to release his grip on the knife. Dean watched in horror as Buffy held firmly onto the knife and turned it towards herself. She whispered, "I love you," as she slammed the knife toward her gut.

The cries of protest lodged in his throat as he desperately fought the chains. But then suddenly Buffy wasn't moving. She was frozen in place.

The Valet stood and brushed himself off. He looked curiously at Buffy, then back at Dean as he snapped his fingers.

They appeared in a small stone room. Buffy no longer had the knife in her hands and Dean was now fully dressed, as he had been before the trials had started. As Buffy took in their surroundings Dean wasted no time in pulling her into his arms. He had tears streaming down his face as he placed a kiss to the top of her head. His grip tightened around her as he tried to envelop her with his own body. Dean was overwhelmed with joyous relief that he hadn't lost her again. That she was alive and unharmed.

"Congratulations," The Valet stated, "You both passed the final test."

Simultaneously Dean snarled and Buffy questioned, "Both?" Buffy pulled herself from Dean's embrace to face The Valet.

The Valet chuckled, "Yes, you see. Ms. Summers had originally planned to undertake the trials, but you stopped her Mr. Winchester. We already knew you'd sacrifice yourself for her and we simply couldn't let her remain untested," he explained with a wave of his hand triggering a set of stairs to appear behind him.

Dean's body radiated fury as he looked at The Valet. It had all been a nasty trick. He'd been forced to face life without Buffy all because he'd completed the last trial when he'd stopped her from diving off the high dive.

"What about Sam?" Buffy questioned squeezing Dean's hand trying to calm him to reassure him that they were both okay.

"Once you step through the gateway," The Valet explained, pointing to the stairs behind him, "you will receive your earned reward."

The Valet vanished into thin air signaling the end of their trials.

Dean pulled Buffy back towards him, his hands on her shoulders, "Don't you ever fucking do that again," his voice was angry, but his eyes were filled with pain. "I can't lose you again," he added softly as he tugged her back into his arms burying his head into her hair as he held her.

"I couldn't lose you," Buffy replied softly, pulling him into a love filled kiss. She pulled away with a whisper, "Let's get back to Sam."

Dean nodded, but he was not done with this discussion. However, this certainly was not the place to talk this through with Buffy. Plus not only was he anxious to leave this place, but he was desperate to see his brother.

Buffy and Dean walked toward the exit. They had only made it up two stairs when they suddenly appeared next to the Impala back in the parking lot outside the hospital.

XXXXXX

Dean sprinted down the hallway to Sam's room. He ignored the calls of the nurses to slow down. As he turned into Sam's room, he skidded to a stop. There was his brother, sitting up in his bed, flicking through the TV channels as though nothing had happened.

"Dean?" Sam questioned as he noticed his brother standing in the doorway.

"Sammy!" Dean strode forward and wrapped his brother in a tight hug.

Buffy appeared in the doorway just a few moments later. As she watched the brothers reunite a tearful smile spread across her face. She was thankful to be alive, but she would have gladly given her life a thousand times over to ensure this moment.

Dean pulled back, sniffling as he wiped away his tears, "Have the doctors checked you out?"

"Not yet," Sam replied, looking at Dean curiously, "I freaked out the nurse pretty bad when I woke up. They called for the doctor, but he hasn't made it back to the hospital yet." Sam looked over his brother with slight suspicion, "Where were you? When I asked about you the nurse said you'd rushed out of here."

"Sam, I had a few things to take care of and you were resting," Dean lied as he continued to take in his brother. He seemed fine, but he definitely wanted to hear that from the doctor. He took a deep breath, finally the tightness that had gripped his chest since Sam's disappearance lifted.

Sam could tell there was something off with Dean and the way the nurse had been surprised when he had woken up. Something wasn't adding up. "What happened, Dean?" Sam asked his brother, his eyes darting curiously between Buffy and Dean.

Before Dean could answer Buffy interrupted, still leaning in the doorway, "I'm gonna go, so you two can talk. Plus, I should give Bobby a call and update him on Sam." Her eyes met Sam's as Dean remained silent. "It's good to have you back," she offered gently before she turned and walked down the hall towards the waiting room to place her call.

"What happened Dean?" Sam asked again as Buffy's words confirmed his suspicions. When his brother remained silent Sam prompted Dean again, "Clearly something big went down. The last thing I remember was fighting Jake and then the next thing I am waking up here," he gestured around the hospital room.

"There isn't much more to it than that," Dean answered as he sat in the chair next to Sam's bed and kicked his feet up onto the bed. Dean didn't want to get into this now. He wanted to know that Sam was really and truly okay before they had a conversation about the trials.

Sam shot his brother with a look of annoyance, "Bullshit, Dean, that nurse didn't freak out for no reason," Sam pointed out before he asked again. "What happened?"

"Sammy, you got hurt, we got you to the hospital. Let's just wait for the doctor to give you a clean bill of health before we talk about all this," Dean pleaded with his brother, but Sam was undeterred.

Sam continued to stare at his brother expectantly until Dean gave in with an exasperated sigh, "Okay, Sam," his hand covered his mouth and he rubbed his jaw a few times, "You fought Jake and Buffy stepped in before could get in the killing blow, but unfortunately he'd already done a lot of damage." Dean's voice suddenly became heavy with a mix of loss and regret, "The doctors told me you were never gonna wake up, Sammy. So I…"

"What did you do Dean?" Sam asked frantically.

"I went to make a deal-"

"Dean, no. Tell me you didn't," Sam interrupted as he turned his fearful eyes on Dean, "Not like Dad…"

Dean let out a shuddered breath, "Buffy stopped me."

Sam felt an immediate sense of relief, but then why was he awake? "Then how am I here, Dean?" he asked, confusion lacing his voice.

"She stopped me from making a deal with a crossroads demon," Dean continued, "because she took me to complete a series of trials that could save you."

Sam's eyes turned on him suspiciously.

"No soul selling," Dean reassured,"All I had to do was make it through alive, Sammy," he smirked and added with a shrug of his shoulders, "Nothing we don't do on the regular."

Sam knew that Dean was downplaying how dangerous the trials had been, "Dean, you shouldn't have done that. How could you risk your life like that?" he pleaded.

Dean's confident facade slipped ever so slightly, "Don't get mad at me. Don't you do that," Dean protested, "I had to. I had to look out for you. That's my job."

"And what do you think my job is?" Sam questioned his brother in exasperation. Before Dean could respond he continued, "You've saved my life over and over. I mean, you sacrifice everything for me. Don't you think I'd do the same for you? You're my big brother. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"You were dying, Sam," Dean countered emphatically.

"Yeah, but you have Buffy," Sam stressed, "I'd never be able to live with myself if I was the reason you two couldn't be together."

Dean shook his head, "Buffy understood this was something I had to do."

"So Buffy, just let you undergo these trials alone?" Sam asked suspiciously.

"Not so much," Dean smirked, "I pushed her out of the way and dove through the portal before she could."

"Why did you have to push her out of the way?" Sam questioned in surprise. It sounded like these trials were a solo gig, had that meant Buffy had planned to undergo the trials to save his life?

Dean forced himself to laugh as he joked, "Couldn't have you going all Disney Princess on me and get you thinking you needed to thank her with the full Sammy experience," he added with a grimace.

Sam rolled his eyes before he asked, amusement evident in his voice, "How pissed off is she?"

"Enough to kill you myself, Sam Winchester, if you ever worry us like that again," Buffy answered as she walked in from the hallway. "I'm serious," she added as she took note of Sam's amused expression as she moved across the room to sit in Dean's lap.

XXXXXX

The doctors had been skeptically amazed by Sam's sudden recovery. They wanted him to stay a few nights for observation and more testing, but Sam would not be swayed. The yellow-eyed demon was out there and time was of the essence to stop whatever plans he had.

Sam signed himself out of the hospital against the advice of his doctors and much to the annoyance of Dean who had wanted him to stay put for at least the night to be sure everything was really okay. Sam was sore, but he felt fine enough to hunt. Dean had finally relented and made his way out of the hospital to pull the Impala up to the hospital's exit. This left Sam alone with Buffy and he planned to use every second to his advantage.

"Buffy?" Sam asked, drawing her attention to him, "Dean made it seem like he did the trials instead of you. Why you?"

Buffy looked at Sam cautiously. She didn't know what to tell him. Dean clearly didn't want Sam to know the extent of the trials and she was going to honor that, but she knew she was going to have to give Sam some sort of explanation and she could honestly tell him why she was ready to risk her life for his, "You're my family," she answered truthfully with a kind, gentle smile .

Sam knew that wasn't the full answer, but he sure as hell couldn't dispute her. She was his family. She'd been a part of his life since he was 15 years old. It had been her death that had made him realize how much he wanted out of the life; he'd left for Stanford only a few months later. Sam found himself fondly lost in thought. Buffy had shone up at his dorm just a few weeks after she'd been brought back. He didn't know if Dean even knew about it because he knew he'd never told him. At first, she'd threatened him within an inch of his life for how he'd treated Dean, but as he explained his wish for a normal life, one away from the darkness and the monsters, she'd supported him. He'd heard the argument over the phone when Dean told her he'd picked him up to track down their missing father. She had fought furiously for him to have the normal life he craved. Despite the fight she'd had with Dean, she'd arrived immediately after the news of Jess' death. Buffy had shown up for him time and time again. This time hadn't been any different.

"You okay, Sam?" Buffy prompted gently, concern etched on her face as she pulled him from his thoughts.

"Yeah, just thankful that I have you and Dean," Sam answered softly before he cleared his throat, "and ready to get out of here."

Buffy smiled at his genuine show of emotion as she gripped the wheelchair in front of her, "Ready for your ride?" she teased.

Sam's face broke into a playful grin as he sat down in the chair, "Are you even allowed to drive?"

Buffy smacked his shoulder, "You better be nice or I'm calling shotgun," she threatened as she wheeled him from his room.

"I'm being released from the hospital, there is no way Dean would let you steal the front seat from me," Sam boasted.

"I guess we'll just have to put it to the test then," Buffy said with far too much innocence in her voice.

As she pushed him through the hospital doors, there was Dean leaning against the hood of the Impala on the passenger's side.

"Took you guys long enough," Dean grumbled trying to hide his concern, "everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, Dean," Buffy answered before her sly grin returned, "But you could help us settle something?"

Dean's eyebrows raised as an amused smile crossed his face, "Oh yeah, what's that?"

"I called shotgun, but Sam says you won't let him sit in the back," Buffy added with a dramatic pout to her lips, "but you wouldn't make me sit in the back would you?"

"Of course not, sweetheart," Dean cooed before looking at Sam, "Sorry, Sammy, shotgun rules are shotgun rules."

Sam rolled his eyes at Buffy's blatant manipulation as she squealed and jumped into Dean's arms planting a kiss on his lips. She had intended it to be a quick kiss, but as she attempted to pull away, Dean tightened his grip on Buffy and pulled her in for a much more passionate kiss.

Sam cleared his throat with playful annoyance, "Can you two get it on later? Ya, know when we aren't in front of a hospital."

"Shut it, bitch," Dean grumbled as he pulled away from kissing Buffy and put her on the ground.

"Jerk," Sam grumbled back.

Buffy turned back to Sam as she opened the passenger door, "Lucky for you, Sam, I'm a gracious winner and I am still going to let you have the front seat."

"Thanks," Sam snorted as he stood from the wheelchair and slid into the front seat.

Buffy kissed his cheek in a gloating victory before she shut the door and wheeled the chair back into the hospital doors.

They'd been on the road for a few hours when Sam had noticed that Buffy had fallen asleep as Dean checked on her in the rearview mirror for the millionth time. He looked at her like she might disappear. Sam sighed, it was clear that something had happened during the trials. Something that had left Dean rattled about Buffy.

"Spit it out, Sammy," Dean said, glancing in his direction before his eyes focused back on the road.

"Did something happen to Buffy during the trials?" Sam asked, he knew he was onto something when Dean's jaw tightened.

Dean turned his head from the road for a split second to meet Sam's eyes with a serious look, "Drop it, Sam," he growled.

"Dean," Sam whined, "What happened? You and Buffy are both being too tight-lipped about these trials for nothing to have happened."

"There's nothing to talk about, Sam," Dean insisted, as he stared straight ahead and turned up the radio.

"Fine," Sam gave in. He knew something had happened because the last time he'd seen Dean looking at Buffy like that had been after her coma. But he also knew he wasn't going to be able to get his brother to talk about it now. He vowed that after they figured out what the yellow-eyed demon was up to, he'd get the full story.

The rest of the ride had been nearly silent, except for the Led Zeppelin cassette that played throughout the drive. When they arrived at Bobby's, Dean turned in his seat. He traced Buffy's face with his finger tips, tucking the hair that had fallen over her face behind her ear, "It's time to get up, lazy bones," his voice soft and playful.

A sleepy smile spread across Buffy's face, until Dean said the words, "We're here." And then a look of nervousness flashed across Buffy's face, but it disappeared quickly behind a forced smile. Both Sam and Dean caught the look. They glanced at one another questioningly before they shrugged it off.

They stood at the door as Dean knocked. Sam again took note of Buffy's odd behavior. She stood behind him and Dean, shifting in her stance as they waited for Bobby to answer.

"Get your asses in here," Bobby said as he opened the door.

Dean stepped through first before Sam and then Buffy followed him.

Bobby patted Sam's back, "It's good to see you up and around."

But neither Sam nor Dean missed how Buffy wouldn't meet Bobby's eyes as she entered the house. She'd quickly tried to fade herself into the background without any greeting and Bobby seemed to be doing his best to ignore her presence.

"Okay, you two," Dean waved a pointed finger at Bobby and Buffy, "what's going on here?" Dean asked, his serious gaze landing on Bobby.

Sam sighed, he hoped that this would not turn into an argument, but Sam knew Dean. No one hurt his Buffy and got away with it. Not Bobby, not even their father.

"Dean," Buffy soothed as she placed a calming hand to his shoulder. "It's okay. We've got bigger things to focus on."

Dean bristled, anger flared in his eyes. Sam knew that had been the wrong thing to say to Dean. Buffy had just confirmed that Bobby had done or said something to upset her.

"What the hell, Bobby?" Dean questioned with barely restrained anger.

Bobby didn't back down, rather he stepped forward. Here comes the argument, Sam thought to himself and he braced himself for the yelling.

"Sam," Sam was surprised to hear Bobby speaking to him, "There are some books in the trunk of my car, would you lug them in for me, while I speak to your brother and Buffy?"

Sam knew he'd been dismissed, and a part of him wanted to stay because this fight would likely answer some of his lingering questions, but he wasn't going to argue. He was happy to be out of the line of fire as Dean's rage started to bubble at the surface.

"Dean, calm down," Buffy tried again to defuse the situation as Sam left the room.

"No, Buffy," Dean pushed back, "Now, one of you tell me what the hell is going on."

Buffy sighed, "We had a slight disagreement when I spoke with him on the phone after the trials," Dean narrowed his eyes at her as he tried to discern if she was being truthful.

"What could you have disagreed about?" Dean asked confused, "We got Sammy back."

"It's because she let you be an idjit and risk all three of your lives!" Bobby fumed.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about," Dean turned a furious glare on Bobby, "She didn't just let me, she was going to do the trials, I stopped her, Bobby!"

"Right," Bobby scoffed, "Like you'd ever would have let her complete them. It was reckless and dangerous to tell you about those trials. We had time to figure out how to help Sam, but she threw you right into the deep end."

"She told me to stop me from making the goddamned crossroads deal!" Dean shouted and then he noticed how Buffy flinched at his admission.

As Bobby absorbed the information Dean had just revealed, his eyes softened as he observed Buffy.

Dean quickly took note of Bobby's surprise. He glanced at Buffy, "You didn't tell him that part of the story did you?" he asked, his voice was near a whisper.

Buffy shook her head, "It didn't seem like the time," she offered back quietly.

Dean turned back to Bobby just in time for him to explode into a new angry rant, "You stupid ass! What is it with you Winchesters, huh? You, your dad. You're both just itching to throw yourselves down the pit."

Dean had enough sense to turn an apologetic gaze in Bobby's direction. Bobby huffed as his anger left his body, "Don't you ever do something like this again, ya hear," Bobby demanded, "You three are the only family I got left."

Buffy rushed forward and wrapped Bobby in her arms. Bobby sputtered for a moment, he shot Dean an annoyed look, but Dean could tell that Bobby was truly enjoying the embrace as he wrapped his arms around Buffy.

"Hey guys," Sam called as he opened the front door, "Look who I foun–" Sam stopped in shock as he caught sight of Buffy and Bobby hugging. This was definitely not what he'd thought he'd be interrupting.

Bobby grumbled about emotional girls as he stepped away from Buffy's hug, but he couldn't stop himself from squeezing her shoulder in his hands as he turned towards Sam.

"Now, what were you saying?" Bobby asked.

"It's Ellen," Sam revealed as he pulled her forward into sight.

XXXXXX

"Ellen!" Dean rushed forward with Buffy. They wrapped their arms around her, thankful she had somehow made it out alive.

Bobby moved back toward his desk and grabbed a bottle of whiskey, a shot glass, along with his silver flask of holy water. His eyes never left Ellen as he walked back to the small round table in his study.

"Why don't you come in and have a seat?" Bobby called over to Ellen, his voice laced with caution.

Ellen gave Bobby a nod as Dean and Buffy released her from their grip. She sat across from Bobby as he poured the shot glass full of holy water. He slid it to her across the table.

Ellen smirked as she picked up the shot and flung it back, meeting Bobby's eyes as she swallowed. She slid the glass back to him, "Whiskey now, if you don't mind."

Bobby chuckled and poured the shot. This time he gently placed it in front of her.

"What happened?" Buffy questioned softly.

While Dean questioned a little more harshly, "Where have you been?"

"I had to track down Jo. I made sure she was safe before I headed here," Ellen answered Dean's question first, but before she could answer Buffy's question Bobby interjected,

"You didn't think to call?"

"I didn't have your numbers in my cell," Ellen explained, "I only use the Roadhouse phone for business, and I didn't want to risk Jo callin' and having the demons come after her too."

"How'd you even get out, Ellen?" Dean asked in wonder as the images of the burnt out Roadhouse and the charred bodies flashed through his mind.

"I wasn't supposed to. I was supposed to been there with everybody else. It was just dumb luck," she scoffed. "We ran out of pretzels," she shook her head in disbelief as she muttered mostly to herself, "of all things."

Buffy reached out and grabbed Ellen's hand with a reassuring squeeze. Ellen accepted Buffy's comforting gesture as she gripped her hand and returned the gentle smile. The flood of emotions overwhelmed Ellen, she brought her shot of whiskey to her lips with a shaking hand and swallowed with a wince.

"Anyway," she took a deep breath, "that's when Ash called–panic in his voice. He told me to look in the safe as the call cut out," she recounted, "By the time I got back, the flames were sky-high. And everybody was dead," she sighed as she added, "I couldn't have been gone more than fifteen minutes."

Buffy squeezed her hand again as Sam offered a quiet apology.

"A lot of good people died in there… and I got to live. Lucky me," she finished bitterly as she drew back in her chair and released Buffy's hand.

Everyone one remained silent for a moment, as they observed Ellen. She'd been through something truly terrible and was clearly on edge. She'd lost so much in the past few days and they understood that more than most, but this time they'd been lucky. They'd all made it out with their lives.

Bobby was the first to break the silence, "Ellen," he prompted, "you mentioned a safe?"

"Yeah, the hidden safe we keep in the basement," Ellen explained.

"Demons get what was in it?" Bobby asked curiously.

"No," Ellen smirked as she pulled a map out of her jacket's inside pocket. "I'm not quite sure what Ash knew about this," she offered as she unfolded it and laid it on the table.

"Wyoming?" Dean questioned looking at Bobby, "What does that mean?" as he pointed to the black X's that formed a circle on the map.

"Well, I'll be damned," Bobby declared softly as he stood and moved back to his desk.

"You got something, Bobby?" Sam asked cautiously.

"Of course he does," Dean scoffed, his face shifted at the obviousness of Sam's statement before turning his attention back to Bobby with a smirk, "He's Bobby."

Bobby rolled his eyes at the brothers as he placed his own map on the table. "I noticed in the past two days," Bobby explained, "demonic omens skyrocketed out of nowhere…like a frickin' tidal wave. Cattle deaths. Lightning storms, all around–"

"Southern Wyoming," Sam finished.

"Exactly," Bobby continued as he pointed to a small area of his map, "except this one area is totally clean, spotless. It's almost as if—"

"The demons are surrounding it," Buffy finished.

Sam and Bobby looked at her with mild surprise.

"What, the bad guys always go where the power is," she stated obviously before she continued, "The big question is what's keeping them out?"

"The empty area matches the area between the X's on Ash's map," Bobby pointed out, "But I'm not sure what it all means. This is gonna take me sometime. Why don't you all get some rest, while I look into this," Bobby offered.

Dean didn't need to be asked twice; he was out of his seat and pulling Buffy out of her chair the moment the suggestion had left Bobby's mouth. The weight of Buffy's resistance and the piercing sound of her chair scraping against the floor made him pause. He glanced around and noticed the amused looks on the faces of Bobby, Sam, and Ellen. He coughed uncomfortably as he looked at Buffy, her face blushing a deep shade of red with embarrassment.

He laughed awkwardly, "Buffy and I aren't much for the research types…We're much more of the point and kill types," Dean tried to sound more serious, "Clearly, whatever is happening is big. I figure we should rest up while we can," Dean finished, unable to hold back his smirk, "Right, Buffy?"

Buffy eyes shot to the floor, avoiding Sam's knowing look, as she mumbled a sound of agreement.

"Oh hell, just get on with it, ya idjit," Bobby said in annoyance, rolling his eyes at Dean.

Dean pulled Buffy out of the study and up the stairs to the room they often called their own.

Sam and Ellen shared a small laugh at the couple before they joined Bobby in his research.

XXXXXX

Dean pushed Buffy up against the door as soon it was closed. His lips, unable to wait a moment longer, met hers with a fiery kiss.

"Dean," Buffy whined, pulling away from the kiss.

Dean was not deterred, he simply placed feathery kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

"Dean, I'm serious," she pushed him back lightly despite the clear enjoyment in her breathy voice.

Dean sighed and looked at Buffy with mild frustration, "What's the problem, babe?" he asked before he returned back to kissing Buffy's neck.

"Everyone is just downstairs," Buffy offered weakly as the pleasure filled tingles coursed through her body.

"We can keep quiet," Dean murmured against her skin before he looked up at her with a smirk, "Well at least I can." He moved in to kiss her lips again, but she stopped him with a hand on his chest.

Dean stopped. He grabbed her hands and led her wordlessly to the bed. He sat down as Buffy toed off her shoes. Dean pulled her into his lap as he swung his legs onto the bed, not caring to remove his boots. That was until he saw the slight glare Buffy sent his way. With a sigh and slight roll of the eyes, he shifted her out of his lap and onto the bed before he swung his feet back around so he could unlace his boots before he kicked them off. Once his boots had been successfully removed from his feet, he kicked his legs back up onto the bed. He pulled Buffy back into his lap and wrapped his arms around her.

"Babe," Dean started cautiously, "What's going on? We've had sex at Bobby's dozens of times."

"It's just," Buffy's cheeks turned pink with embarrassment, "we normally sneak away or wait until everyone has gone off to bed. We didn't exactly leave anyone with any doubt of what we'd be up to."

Dean sighed gently. He knew Buffy hated making people openly aware of her sex life. Most of the time he treaded carefully on the line, but after surviving the trials he needed her and when Bobby had given him the window he'd crashed right through it.

"I'm sorry, I embarrassed you," Dean offered, sincerely kissing her temple.

Silently accepting his apology Buffy snuggled deeper into his embrace. As Dean felt her body relax against his own he spoke up, "But you know," Dean teased, "if they are already thinking it…." He raised his eyebrows suggestively as she turned back to look at him.

"Ugh, you're such a jackass," Buffy cried out as she playfully slapped his chest.

Dean pulled her closer, placing a kiss to the top of her head, "Yeah, but I'm your jackass," offered lovingly before he began to graze his hands over her body, increasing the pressure as he moved to kiss her ear and neck.

Buffy moaned softly as she felt the heat of desire, building in her body.

Dean smirked when Buffy shifted positions so that she was straddling his waist. As Dean's hands roamed her body with a sensual pressure only pausing for playful squeezes, Buffy gave in to her own desire. She wanted Dean as badly as he wanted her. She pulled him into a searing kiss marking her consent for him to continue.

XXXXXX

Bobby sat at the small table reading over several volumes while Ellen had made her way into the kitchen to rustle up some food. Sam sat on the couch, his eyes growing heavy as he re-read the same passage. Sam didn't want to admit it, but he was tired and his body hurt. He probably should have taken Bobby up on his offer of rest. Though it was unlikely if he'd gone upstairs he'd have gotten much rest.

A loud thump startled him back into alertness. Bobby had sat the book down with a victorious smile.

"You got something?" Sam asked.

"More than just something. Go grab the two love birds," Bobby ordered before he called for Ellen.

Sam made his way up the stairs. He approached the room that had always served as Dean and Buffy's when they stayed with Bobby. He paused just down the hall from the door, he didn't hear any noise coming from the bedroom. He was thankful for that, he'd been scarred a few times from carelessly stumbling in on them. He knocked quietly at the door.

"Dean, Buffy…?" Sam called through the door.

"Yeah, Sammy," came Dean's sleep filled voice.

Sam smiled, pleased his brother had actually gotten some rest, "Bobby's found something. You're needed downstairs."

"We'll be down in a minute," Dean called back and Sam made his way back down the stairs.

The group had gathered around the book and maps Bobby had laid out on the table. Ellen and Buffy sat across from one another with Bobby and Sam standing between them. Dean leaned casually against Buffy's chair, his hand playing with the ends of her hair.

"So Bobby, what ya got?" Dean asked, he knew Bobby must have found something big to gather them all around the table together for the reveal, but a big part of him just wanted to be back in bed with Buffy.

"Each of these X's," Bobby pointed to the marks Ash had made on the map, "is an abandoned frontier church… all mid 19th century. And all of them built by Samuel Colt," Bobby explained.

"Samuel Colt?" Dean asked in surprise, "The demon killing, gunmaking Samuel Colt?"

"Yep, and there's more," Bobby confirmed, "He built private railway lines connecting church to church. It just happens to lay out like this," he continued as he used a sharpie to draw the railway connections.

"Is that what I think it is?" Dean thought out loud, "because to me that looks like a…"

"It's a devil's trap. A 100-square mile devil's trap," Sam finished for Dean.

"That's brilliant," Dean was impressed, "it's built with iron lines demons can't cross."

"I've never heard of anything that massive," Ellen commented in disbelief when she met Bobby's eyes.

Bobby shook his head in agreement, "No one has, Ellen."

"And after all these years none of the lines are broken?" Buffy asked looking at Bobby curiously, "I mean, it still works?"

"Definitely," Sam answered pointing to Bobby's map, "All these omens Bobby found. I mean the demons, they must be circling and they can't get in."

"Yeah, well...they're trying," Bobby cautioned.

"Why? What's inside?" Ellen asked immediately.

"All I've been able to find is an old cowboy cemetery right in the middle," Bobby pointed to the center of the devil's trap.

"Well what's so important about a cemetery or...what's Colt trying to protect?

"Well, unless…" Buffy offered cautiously.

"Unless what?" Bobby asked as the group turned to look at her.

"He was trying to keep something in?" Buffy proposed, "I mean it is a devil's trap. If he'd just wanted to keep demons out he could have those iron lines arranged in any shape."

"Buffy's right," Sam confirmed, "There has got to be something real nasty hidden away in that trap."

"Well that's a comforting thought," Ellen remarked under her breath with a shudder.

"Could they do it, Bobby?" Sam asked, "Could they get inside?"

"This thing's so powerful, you'd practically need an A-bomb to destroy it. No way a full-blood demon gets across."

"I know who could– Jake," Sam offered, drawing the group's full attention, "It makes sense, when the yellow-eyed demon visited me in my dream when–"

"What?" Dean boomed, his face a mix of worry and anger as he looked at Sam, "You're just telling us now?"

"It didn't seem important before, but…" Dean went to interrupt, but Sam hushed him, "when the demon came to me he mentioned that he needed a leader for his coming army on the full moon."

"The full moon?" Bobby asked as he looked at his watch, "That's in 18 hours."

"Then we better get moving," Dean ordered.

XXXXXX

As night fell Jake entered the cemetery, the loud squeaking of the gate signaled his presence. The group tensed, but held their hidden positions and allowed Jake to make his way through the cemetery until he stood in front of the Devil's Gate.

Jake pulled the gun from his pocket when Sam made his move, "Howdy Jake" Sam called out as he approached with his gun drawn.

Jake whipped around surprised not only that he wasn't alone, but to hear Sam's voice. Jake glanced around the group, all of them except the tiny blonde had guns pointed at him. The young blonde had the red ax he'd tried to steal from her just a few days prior, but he focused his gaze back on Sam.

"You should be dead," Jake accused shakily, "I felt your bones and skull cracking."

"Yeah, well, next time you should finish the job," Sam shot.

Jake visibly grew more and more agitated from being surrounded by the group. He started to raise his gun with his eyes fixed on Sam.

"Okay, take it real easy there, son," Bobby tried to defuse the situation.

"And if I don't?" Jake sneered, his eyes never leaving Sam's.

"Wait and see," Sam taunted as he re-aimed his gun at Jake's head.

Jake scoffed, "What? You a tough guy all of a sudden?"

Buffy slowly began to creep forward, but Jake noticed her movement and turned his full attention to her, "Freeze, Super Bitch" he ordered, his pupils flashing yellow.

Buffy's body became frozen, unable to move or speak as her eyes flashed yellow. Jake smirked and laughed maniacally as he focused his attention back on the group in front of him.

Dean's eyes shot to Buffy, but despite the urge, he didn't rush to her and focused his attention back on Jake, "I'm gonna enjoy wiping that smug smile off your face, you little bitch," Dean threatened with a steely glare.

"You're gonna kill me?" Jake jeered as he met Dean's eyes, daring him to make a move.

"It's a thought," Sam offered seriously, drawing Jake's attention back to him.

"You had your chance, Sam, but you couldn't manage it. I had you down and if your supergirl over there hadn't made an appearance you'd be dead," Jake continued excitedly, "Watch this."

His gaze shifted to Ellen, "Hey, lady. Do me a favor, put that gun to your head," his pupils flashed yellow again as he smiled.

Ellen's arm began to shake as she attempted to resist the command, but she was unable to fight the order. Her hand continued to shake as the gun rested against her temple.

Jake focused his attention back on Sam, "That Ava girl was right. Once you lean into the powers, there's all sorts of new Jedi mind tricks you can learn."

"Let them go," Sam demanded, his eyes flicking between Buffy and Ellen.

"Shoot him," Ellen's voice trembled as she gave the order. Her hand continued to shake as she attempted to fight Jake's control unsuccessfully.

Sam's focus shifted to Ellen, she was scared, but she wanted him to shoot. Sam forced his gaze to Buffy's face. She was standing frozen in place, but from the look in her eyes, he could tell she understood what he needed to do.

"I said, let them go," Sam repeated firmly, his voice deadly.

"You'll be mopping up skull before you can get a shot off," Jake cautioned. "Everybody put your guns down," he ordered the group before his eyes focused back on Ellen, "except you, sweetheart."

Dean looked at Ellen. Jake was dangerous, he'd almost killed Sam and now was threatening Ellen's life. He didn't want Ellen to get hurt, but Jake had to be stopped. As he continued to watch her he saw Bobby drop his gun and he reluctantly followed suit. Sam, however, kept his gun trained on Jake.

"You need me to up the stakes?" Jake asked with malice, before his eyes flicked to Buffy, "If I give the word, she stops breathing."

Dean's anger flared, "You son of a bitch, you—"

"Dean!" Sam cut him off and immediately put his hands up in surrender before dropping his gun.

"Okay," Jake said with a satisfied nod, "thank you."

Jake gave Ellen one last look before he suddenly turned toward the Devil's Gate. Dean and Bobby jumped toward Ellen. Dean grabbed her hand and forced the gun to point straight in the air as Ellen pulled the trigger.

Sam reached for his gun and shot as Jake turned The Colt to the left, unlocking the Devil's Gate. Sam shot several more times causing Jake to fall to the ground. Sam moved to stand over him with a murderous look.

"Sam!" Buffy called out as Jake's control over her fell away, "Don't!"

But Sam ignored her plea and pointed his gun at Jake. Jake gasping for breath began to beg Sam for his life, but Sam didn't listen, instead he pulled the trigger three more times. Killing Jake.

Everyone looked at Sam in shock, surprised by his cold demeanor, but they didn't have time to dwell on Sam's actions because the sounds of the Devil's Gate unlocking echoed through the cemetery.

As the lock stopped spinning, a loud thud could be heard before the door started to rattle.

"Oh, no," Bobby uttered.

"What is it?" asked Ellen.

"It's hell," Bobby replied, a slight tremor in his voice.

Dean and Buffy rushed forward. Dean turned the gun back and yanked it out of the door, but that had no effect. The doors continued to rattle and shake and an orange glow began to seep through the door.

"Take cover! Now!" Bobby ordered in a panic as he turned towards the grave stones behind them.

Ellen, Bobby, Sam, and Dean listened without hesitation and fled for cover as the doors began to squeal under the strain. But Buffy didn't run, she stayed and she pressed her back against the rattling door with all her might as she willed herself to hold the door until the others were safe.

"What the hell just happened?" Dean yelled as he dove behind a large gravestone.

"That's a Devil's Gate, a damn door to hell," Ellen yelled back.

That was when Dean noticed that Buffy wasn't with Ellen or Bobby. His head snapped towards Sam, but she wasn't there either. The loud groaning of the doors continued to flood his ears and that was when Dean's heart sank. He peered over the tombstone he had ducked behind and there she was. Her back pressed against the door, her arms spread wide. The strain of the rattling doors behind her was evident on her face.

"Buffy!" Dean called, but Sam held him back as he lunged forward. "Get off of me, Sam," Dean fought against Sam's grip as he was pulled down to the ground, Sam refusing to let go of his brother.

"Buffy would kill me if I let you go," Sam offered, hoping it would stop Dean's resistance, but instead Dean fought back harder,

"I'm gonna kill you first. Let me GO!" Dean shouted, but Sam held strong as the groaning of the gate grew louder.

Buffy heard Dean's call and gratefully watched as Sam held him back. Despite the strain on her body, she continued to press back against the doors. The tumult of growls behind her left her uneasy, but she attempted to calm herself with a joke as she pressed her body harder against the gate's doors, "This works the glutes and the core," she murmured to herself.

But the sudden burst of force that came from behind the doors sent her flying across the cemetery enveloped in the plumes of the demon's black smoke. A loud crack sounded through the air as her body hit the obelisk in the middle of the cemetery. Buffy landed on the ground with a groan, her body curled in pain as she fell unconscious.

"Buffy!" Dean cried out as the Devil's Gate exploded open.

"Come on! We got to shut that gate!" Ellen ordered as the gates flew open and the rush of demons began to escape.

Sam released his hold on his brother as he rushed forward with Ellen and Bobby, but Dean didn't follow, his eyes instead sought out Buffy.

As he scanned the graveyard as a loud clap of thunder sounded. Dean's hand instinctively curled around the colt as a realization struck him. The demon had gotten the colt from his father so that must have meant the yellow-eyed bastard had given it to Jake.

Dean pulled back the hammer as he continued to scan the cemetery this time for the yellow-eyed demon. Almost as if Dean had summoned him with his thoughts, the demon appeared in front of him. Dean raised the gun, but the yellow-eyed demon just smirked and telekinetically pulled the gun from Dean's hands to his own.

"A boy shouldn't play with Daddy's guns," the demon taunted before he sent Dean flying through the air with a flick of his head.

Dean's head hit a headstone as he fell to the ground causing a large gash. He winced in pain as the blood trailed down his face and entered his right eye. Dean shook his head, attempting to regain his focus. That was when he saw Buffy's prone form laying a few feet away. He started to crawl towards her when he was stopped by Sam's voice.

Sam, Ellen, and Bobby were struggling to close the doors against the force of the escaping demons. Sam found himself once again impressed with Buffy's strength. He knew she was strong, but when working jobs she didn't always seem so different from himself or Dean, but she'd held these gates and he doubted anyone else would have been able to.

Sam turned to put his back against the door hoping it would give him more leverage, but that was when he noticed the yellow-eyed demon stalking after his bleeding brother.

"Dean!" Sam shouted as he abandoned his position against the door of the Devil's Gate.

He ran for the demon and readied himself to lunge, but instead of feeling himself flying towards the demon, he was thrown back. His back met the hard wood of a tree trunk and he groaned with pain as he slid to the ground.

The demon turned his gaze to Sam with a smile, "I'll get to you in a minute, champ. But I'm proud of you—knew you had it in you."

The demon turned his full attention back to Dean and threw him back against a tombstone unable to move away. The yellow-eyed demon moved forward to crouch in front of Dean, a delighted smile on his face, "I got to thank you. You see, I couldn't have saved Sam unless a deal was made. I know, red tape– it'll make you nuts. But thanks to you, Sammy's back in rotation," he cheered gleefully. "Now, I wasn't counting on that, but I'm glad. I liked him better than Jake, anyhow. Though it would have been much sweeter had it cost you your own soul," the demon glanced over at Buffy's unconscious body, "but that pesky little slayer of yours—"

"You stay away from her," Dean sneered, he didn't have much hope of making it out of this encounter with the demon alive, but he'd be damned not to do everything in his power to protect Buffy.

The demon chuckled, "She's not exactly much of a threat. Her heroic stunt may have saved you from the demonic explosion, but unfortunately for you, it doesn't look like she's gonna come around in time to save you. A pity, really," the demon finished with a nonchalant shrug, "I would have loved to see the look on your face as I snapped her neck."

The demon stepped away from Dean, "Anyway, thanks a bunch, I knew I kept you alive for a reason, until now that is," the demon said as pointed the colt at him.

Dean felt it in his gut, he was about to die, but despite his fear, he refused to close his eyes. Instead he stared straight into the yellow eyes of the demon that had killed his mother and father. As the demon cocked the gun Dean noticed a flashing spirit just behind the demon. His eyes widened with surprise as the spirit took the shape of his father behind the demon. John's spirit wrapped his arms around the demon and snatched its essence from the host.

Dean watched as his father's spirit struggled with the demon as the host's body fell to the ground. Dean was released from the demon's hold and he dove for the gun that laid in the hand of the body before him. As Dean's hand gripped the gun, John's spirit was overpowered by the force of the demon and thrown back.

Dean threw himself back against the headstone as the demon re-entered his host's body. As the demon stood, his yellow eyes were met with the colt pointing directly at him. Dean pulled the trigger.

The demon's look of shock was permanently etched on his face as the bullet flew into his skull between his eyes. His body twitched several times as his essence was burned away into a final death.

Upon the demon's death the force of hell that seemed to be keeping the Devil's Gate open released and Bobby and Ellen slammed the doors closed.

Dean stood, his cold, hardened expression melted away as his father's spirit approached him with tears in his eyes. Dean couldn't believe that his father was standing before him. And for possibly the first time in his life, his father looked truly proud of him as his hand touched Dean's shoulder. John's gaze turned to Sam and he gave a small smile before he patted Dean's shoulder one last time, a tear rolling down his face. He stepped back and became enveloped in a blinding white light that illuminated his vestige and with a final smile his spirit dissipated into a glowing white smoke.

Sam and Dean's eyes met. They shared a powerful look of closure as relief flooded their bodies. Sam wrapped Dean into a powerful hug. Dean embraced his brother tightly, tears rolling down their faces. Over Sam's shoulder Dean noticed Bobby kneeling on the ground as he tried to rouse Buffy back to consciousness. Dean pulled away from his brother silently to make his way over to them.

"Girly, you've got to stop scaring me like this," Bobby's whispered words met Dean's ears as he came up behind Bobby.

Dean paused and held his breath as he readied himself. During the fight with the demon he hadn't allowed his thoughts to fully comprehend Buffy's state of possible injury, but the fact that she had remained unconscious through the battle had him worried. She'd taken a direct blast of demon energy and been thrown hundreds of feet. He was snapped from his thoughts by Bobby's voice.

"Just what exactly were you thinking when you tried to hold shut a doorway to hell?" Bobby asked with worried agitation.

Dean pushed himself forward around Bobby. As he moved closer his eyes met her beautiful green orbs and he let out a deep sigh of relief as the tension in his chest released.

"You know, I have closed a mouth of hell before," Buffy quipped with a slight wince as she moved to sit up.

Dean heard Bobby let out a low rumbling chuckle as he moved forward to help Bobby get Buffy up. Dean gripped his hand under her arm so that he and Bobby could support her weight. Buffy wobbled slightly on her feet, but as she steadied herself, Dean shifted to support more of her weight wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her into his side.

Bobby released his hold on Buffy's arm and moved to talk with Sam and Ellen, giving the couple a moment to themselves.

As Buffy's body steadied again, Dean shifted them so Buffy was pressed into his chest enveloped in his tight embrace, his chin resting on her head.

"You got your demon," Buffy whispered happily against his chest.

"I didn't do it alone," Dean answered as he held her tighter and tears rolled down his face.

Sam approached his brother and Buffy who were still locked in a deep embrace.

"Dean?" he questioned softly.

Buffy shifted herself to Dean's side, but he didn't release his snug hold on her waist. She smiled lightly at Sam as she wrapped her arm around Dean's waist.

"Do you think Dad really climbed out of hell?" Sam continued with stunned disbelief.

"The door was open," Dean answered. A small smirk formed on his face as he continued, "If anyone's stubborn enough to do it, it'd be dad."

Sam smiled before he asked, "Where do you think he is now?"

Buffy felt Dean's breath hitch and she squeezed his waist, "He's at peace," Buffy answered with a quiet confidence.

Dean kissed Buffy's temple as Sam looked at her grateful for her reassurance.

Sam chuckled lightly before he spoke, "I kind of can't believe it, Dean. I mean...our whole lives, everything...has been prepping for this, and now I…," he laughed lightly with disbelief, "I kind of don't know what to say."

"I do," Dean replied confidently as he released his grip from Buffy's waist.

His hand remained on her back as he checked to make sure she was steady on her own. When she gave him a gentle nod, he moved his hand away. Dean walked back to the body that had held the yellow-eyed demon, Sam following closely behind him. He crouched down over the body and said, "That was for our mom, you son of a bitch."

Sam put his hand on Dean's shoulder and they remained like that for several minutes as they absorbed their new reality, the demon that had killed their mother and father was no longer alive, their hunt for him was over.

Sam clapped his brother's back, "We did it, Dean."

Dean smiled at his brother, "We sure did, Sammy." But then Dean's look turned to one of seriousness, "But if you ever keep me back from helping Buffy again—"

"You'll do nothing, Dean Winchester," Buffy interrupted as she stood between the brothers and Dean glared at her playfully.

A teasing smile came across Sam's face, "Dude, she's scarier than you are. I'm gonna do what she wants me to."

Buffy laughed lightly, "See Dean, why can't you be more like your brother?"

Dean chuckled softly, before he turned a devilish smirk to Buffy, "Oh, you're gonna be glad I'm not when I get you into bed tonight."

"Jerk," Sam exclaimed in playful outrage.

"Bitch," Dean immediately replied as he wrapped his arm around Buffy and led them out of the cemetery.

XXXXXX

Dean held Buffy's hand tightly in his own, as the group neared the vehicles. A smile took over Dean's face as he allowed himself to fully feel the happiness of this moment. The yellow-eyed demon was dead and he had both his brother and Buffy by his side. It was the life he'd always wanted, but the one he'd always been too scared to hope for.

"So Dean…" Sam noticed his brother's contented smile, "what's next?"

"We saved the world, I say we party," Buffy answered playfully.

"Oh, I don't think so, sweetheart," Dean answered with a light chuckle, "Your ass is headed straight for bed for at least a week–" Buffy made a sound of disapproval, but Dean looked at her seriously, "Buffy, you took a huge hit tonight. You're lucky I'm not dragging that cute little ass of yours straight to the nearest hospital."

Buffy huffed and sent a glare in Dean's direction as she mumbled under her breath about stubborn men and slayer healing.

"Well," Ellen cut in hoping to defuse a brewing argument, "The yellow-eyed demon might be dead, but a lot more got through that gate."

"How many, you think?" Dean asked as he opened the trunk to the Impala.

"Hundred. Maybe two," Sam offered, "He's unleashed an army."

"Hope to hell you guys are ready," Bobby stated shooting pointed look at Buffy, Sam, and Dean, "'Cause the war has just begun."

Buffy groaned slightly at Bobby's words. He and Giles were so much alike. Just like after the final battle in Sunnydale, Buffy had wanted to bask in their success, but there was Giles telling her about another hellmouth and here was Bobby telling them there was now a war to fight. She didn't even try to resist her urge to roll her eyes dramatically.

"Well, then," Dean started as he placed the colt into the trunk. He shot a look to his side and noticed Buffy wasn't watching so he reached for the box that he'd kept hidden away for the last several months. "We got work to do," he continued as he shut the trunk, "but first there's something I need to do," he grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her attention to him.

Buffy looked at Dean curiously then she noticed the box in his hand and suddenly her breath hitched as a stunned smile threatened to cross her face. Is this really happening? She wondered to herself.

Dean grew slightly nervous and he cleared his throat, "I'm not one for big romantic gestures and you've never seemed to mind, but uh," Dean fiddled with the box in his hand, "I've been waiting for the right moment and I realized that right now, you and I, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, at least more than we've ever had."

Dean opened the box to reveal a modest white gold ring with several small diamonds along the band. Buffy let out a small gasp as tears welled in her eyes. Her mind raced as she tried to fully absorb the moment. She could hear Dean's sweet words, but nothing really settled until she heard the words, "Will you marry me?"

Buffy lunged forward and she wrapped her arms around Dean's neck, "Yes," she answered as her lips met his in a lusciously tender kiss.

Dean smiled against her lips for just a moment, before he fully reciprocated the kiss, his hand threaded into the hair on the back of her head and he pulled her in close to deepen the kiss.

Sam cleared his throat softly, hoping to get his brother back on track with his proposal because from the looks of it Dean was ready to pull Buffy into the backseat of the Impala, uncaring of those surrounding him.

Buffy pulled back from the kiss a pink tint evident in her cheeks despite the darkness of the night.

Dean cleared his throat again as he stepped back and focused himself on the task of slipping the ring onto Buffy's finger. He would remember to look on Buffy's face forever, her eyes shining bright with love and happiness as her lips spread into the brightest delighted smile he'd ever seen. She'd never looked so beautiful.

"Well hell," Bobby grumbled happily at the couple, "It looks like we do need to party."

The End

A/N 2: Thanks for reading. I do need to add an additional disclaimer, I did use some original dialogue from Angel. I didn't want to spoil the trials scene with my earlier disclaimer, so please remember I own nothing Joss Wedon has ever created.

I do hope you enjoyed this story. I sure had a lot of fun writing it. I'd love to hear from you. I will let you know that I do have a couple of ideas for other rewrites already in the works, but if there is an episode you are dying to see, let me know.

If you are curious about the look of the ring Dean proposed to Buffy with. I used the Petite Diamond Tempo Ring by Melanie Casey as my inspiration. I think it is beautifully simple with a wonderful inspiration behind it. Plus the cost seemed reasonable for Dean.

Thanks again for reading. Until next time. :)