"I don't like this," Dean groused, eyes warily surveying the secluded carpark as he willed his sight to adjust in the barely-there light. The concrete structure had far too many dark corners, the curving ramps provided far too many hidden vantage points, and none of it had anywhere near enough clean exits for his liking.

"Uh-huh," Sam acknowledged, watching as his brother paced back and forth like a caged tiger. "You mentioned that already."

"Yeah?" Dean crouched down to inspect a line of the Devils Trap they were stood in, before looking back over his shoulder towards Sam. "Well, did I also mention, I really don't like this?"

Sam quirked a half grin, amused at Dean's wariness but also appreciative of it. Dean had been true to his word when he'd said he was willing to try for options other than saying yes to Michael outright. In that spirit, he'd reached out to Crowley to see if they could arrange a meeting with Jake Talley, just as Sam had suggested. The fact that it had come on the tail end of an impromptu Roadhouse meeting which Dean had called and in which he had given an awkward and gruff yet utterly sincere apology to everyone (including Jo, who had gawped) was neither here nor there. But it was possibly to avoid any further emotional confrontations that Dean had so obligingly and with such haste stomped away afterwards to give Crowley a call as soon as the 'Look, I know I've been a monumental dick and then some, but I just need you all to know that I'm sorry. So, I'm sorry. All right?' line was out of his mouth.

"Funny you should want that," Crowley's smug voice had crooned down the phone line. "Rumour has it, Jake wants to meet you boys too. Particularly Sam."

And that had Dean on red alert ever since. He'd not liked that Jake had wanted to meet. He'd liked even less that Jake had specifically mentioned Sam. When he'd questioned Crowley, the demon had simply pleaded ignorance, claiming to be a mere middleman. Willing, as he'd put it, to risk his very life and limb in order to arrange the illicit rendezvous. Dean had mumbled something in response which Sam didn't care to remember, and which Crowley hadn't seemed all too impressed with hearing, but a meeting had been arranged, nonetheless. It had taken a few days though, and Sam had been grateful for that as well, seeing as Dean had flat out refused to call for Cas to heal him. It had at least given his brother a little down time, giving his multiple injuries a chance to rest and heal somewhat. Dean still pretended not to wince every once in a while, like now when he straightened up and came back to stand beside Sam, and Sam dutifully pretended not to notice. It was the least he could do.

So, here they were. Waiting.

Sam would have said patiently waiting except that Dean was speaking again.

"I mean, I really, really, really–"

A sudden noise echoed from the shadows, a suspicion of a glass bottle rolling over gravel, and Dean instantly stopped mid-complaint.

"There he is," a male voice sung out. "Pretender to the throne." A second later Jake became visible as he strode out from beyond the reach of the shadows, a blonde woman closely flanking his side. "Sam Winchester," he continued, smiling broadly as he moved in closer towards them. "Must say, I'm a little underwhelmed. The way everyone's been talking about you, I thought you'd be… something more."

"Oh yeah?" Dean spoke, drawing Jake's attention before Sam could respond. "Sounds like a 'you' problem."

"And Dean," Jake grinned. "We never got properly introduced last time we met. You remember, don't you? When you tried and failed to stop me from opening the hell-gate. And now your brother's here. Guess that demotes you to, what? Sidekick?"

"Speaking of side-chicks," Dean cocked his head, ignoring Jake and addressing the blonde. "You must be Ruby. The demon ho even demons wanna gank. Gotta say; takes a special kind of repulsive to bag that honour."

"Yeah?" She smiled sweetly, unconcerned by the insult. "How repulsive do you have to be for Alistair to consider you his best student?"

"We heard you two were out to get Lilith," Sam cut in, sensing Dean riling at Ruby's words and aiming to prevent the tension from escalating any further. Aiming particularly from preventing any further mentions of Dean's time in Hell. He addressed his query towards Jake. "Is that true?"

Jake nodded but didn't elaborate any further.

"Then it seems like we have the same objective," Sam offered cautiously.

"Not quite," Jake replied. "Lilith is mine. Anything, any one, gets in my way," he shrugged. "Fodder for the canon."

"Maybe you didn't hear him," Dean supplied. "We want Lilith dead, same as you... That means we want the same thing."

"Oh, I hope not. At least, for your brother's sake."

"What do you mean?" Sam questioned, eying him cautiously.

"You'd know what I mean Sam, if you hadn't skipped the whole recruitment exercise. But then, if you'd been a part of that, you wouldn't be standing here today. I would've made sure of that. But now, here you are, outa nowhere. And you thought, what? You could just turn up at the finish line, take what's rightfully mine and I would just stand for that? That I would just allow that to happen?"

Sam and Dean exchanged a quick glance.

"Buddy, how many sips of the Kool-Aid have you had?" Dean threw out. "Coz you're not making any sense." Despite his flippant tone, Dean had inched his hand closer to the Colt wedged against the small of his back, tucked in the waistband of his jeans, his movements subtle and discreet.

"Lilith is mine," Jake repeated, more forcefully. "And I'm not just gonna step aside and let you take what's mine."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sam appeased. "I don't want to take anything from you. But Lilith has my son. That's all I care about. Getting him back. You can have Lilith, so long as I get my son."

"And what if you don't? What then? Wait, what was it your brother said? Sounds like a 'you' problem," he sneered at them. "Sure, I heard Lilith bagged him and your old lady," Jake continued. "Frankly, not sure why everyone's so interested in the Winchesters. I mean, Dean? Yeah, sure. I can see that. I can respect that. You're a killing machine Dean. I might feel half sorry when I have to put you down, because I will put you down. I'll be honest though, I'm thinking maybe if we'd met in another life, if Azazel hadn't interfered, who knows? Maybe we would've been friends. Brothers in arms and all. You're like me. You look like the soldiering type," he cocked his head to the side, assessing him.

"Nah, I'm good," Dean smirked. "Not on the market for dick-less douchebag friends."

"Then again, I could just as easily kill you right now," Jake responded. "Right now, just take you off the map."

"Yeah, I've heard that before too. None of you dick-less douchebags handle rejection well," Dean shifted on his feet, making it seem casual even though Sam realised his brother was assuming a defensive stance. "You really ought to work on that. I hear yoga helps. Maybe some deep breathing exercises."

Jake chuckled, for a moment utterly unconcerned, before he stopped abruptly.

"'Cept I could do it," he said in a menacing tone, the sudden shift in tempo jarringly disconcerting. "Take you out, one shot, boom. Done, just like that. That's how weak, how insignificant, you are." He stared at Dean a moment, almost glassy eyed, before he shrugged. "But what would be the point? Those angels would just bring you right back. Michael needs his meat-suit."

"That old excuse," Dean smirked, angling his body, steadying his stance, calmly readying himself to take a shot at short notice.

"Oh, it's no excuse," Jake grinned. "And to be honest I'm looking forward to it! Have a real challenge for once. Everything is so easy now, so... effortless. I'm happy to let you live till you power up. Give me something that works up a real sweat. And it'll prove my point. After I kill you, Michael, whatever, they'll have no choice but to accept me. To kneel before me. So, lucky you Dean, you get a pass, for now. But you on the other hand," he turned his attention towards Sam, and Dean instantly tensed. "No one cares if you die. And there ain't no angel gonna bring you back."

In one quick motion, Jake raised his hand and Sam staggered, bending over as he clutched at his chest, wheezing as though he were choking. In the same instant however, quicker than lightening, Dean had pulled out the Colt and taken a shot, the bullet catching Jake in the upper part of his chest.

Jake lurched backwards, his knees buckling as he went down, one hand shooting out to the ground preventing him from keeling over entirely and whatever hold he'd had on Sam gave way. Dean grabbed at Sam, fingers digging into him, pulling him upright, desperation in his features as he tried to assess the severity of damage inflicted on his brother.

Ruby had similarly moved closer to Jake, trying to help him up, but he shrugged her aside roughly as he slammed his fist down into the ground, even as the blood poured from his wound. He raised his fist and slammed down again, even harder and the ground shook. The force of the second blow caused a crack to rip its way across the concrete floor, a jagged black fissure sheering across the ground, and Jake slammed down again, harder, and the crack spread further, crossing the line of the Devils Trap and breaking the seal.

"Kill him," he spat out to Ruby, and she instantly straightened, flicking her wrist and sending both brothers flying through the air before they hit the far wall. She held them there, pinned against the wall, grinning as she sauntered towards them.

"It's a shame," she smirked at Sam. "You're kind of cute. Would almost be my type if it wasn't for the whole 'I-need-to-save-my-baby' vibe. Such a mood killer."

She held her hand out, fingers splayed apart like a like a claw and as she slowly began closing her fist, Sam's face contorted in agony, a series of sickening crunching sounds emanating from deep within his chest and he spluttered out a mouthful of blood.

"Sam!" Dean gritted his teeth, grimacing at his brother's torment, his own pain forgotten, as he fought to free himself from the wall. He managed to inch his head forward slightly only for it to be slammed back into the concrete again as Ruby turned her gaze towards him.

"Don't worry," she sneered. "I'll let you go... when I'm done with him."

"I'll kill you," Dean ground out, his teeth gritted so hard that blood covered his teeth. "I'll kill you!"

Ruby laughed, curling her fingers even more and Sam spluttered again.

"SAMMY!" Dean screamed, desperation making him frantic, before he clenched his eyes shut, forcing himself to swallow down his anger and panic, forcing himself to ignore his own pain, forcing his mind to focus. He willed himself, with every ounce of his being, to find that reservoir of strength, the one he somehow always had and that always seemed to double when it came to Sam. He forced himself to breathe and settle, knowing he needed control if he hoped to save either one of them.

"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus," he spat out, pain causing his voice to choke over the words of the exorcism, even as he forced his way through. "Omnis satanica p...potestas, ...omnis... incursio infernalis"

As though his words had inflicted some type of blow, Ruby suddenly staggered, tottering on her heels as if she'd been roughly shoved. Both Sam and Dean instantly caved to the floor, Dean scrambling towards Sam before he'd even been fully released and reaching him in time to grab him and prevent him from slamming into the ground. He grimaced at the bloody mess of his younger brother's face, unable any longer to control the panic as he clenched a fist on Sam's shirt and pulled him upright into his arms.

"Sammy! SAMMY!"

Dean placed his palm on the side of Sam's face, steadying him before his fingers traced along his neck, desperately searching for a pulse. At the feathery, weak flutter of a heartbeat, Dean almost wept, his head bending over as he breathlessly whispered a 'thank god'. Or perhaps he'd uttered a prayer. He didn't know and he didn't care because Sam wasn't moving.

"Sammy. Sammy c'mon. Wake up."

For what felt like an agonising eternity, Sam didn't respond, until Dean slapped his face gently and then, finally, his eyes fluttered open. Dean sagged in relief, his head grazing Sam's forehead.

"Dea..." Sam managed, fresh blood flowing from his mouth at the utterance. Dean attempted to quieten him, horrified at the quantity of blood, but Sam's eyes glinted up at him desperately. "Jake...?"

As though Sam's query had reminded Dean of their surroundings, Dean glanced round, unsure why Ruby hadn't re-instigated her capture and torture of them.

Cas was there, his hand clasped around Ruby's neck, holding her up off the ground even as her fingers clawed at his grip. His other arm was outstretched, palm facing outwards in Jake's direction. Jake who was no longer on the ground, had regained his feet and was similarly holding his hand out towards the angel.

Dean didn't need the director's commentary switched on to know there was some next level Jedi-Sith psychic warfare happening. He straightened Sam up against the wall, steadying him as he patted him lightly on the chest to reassure himself that his brother was okay, then instantly regretted his actions at the grimace of pain that creased his younger brothers features at the touch.

But he was alive, Dean told himself, even if just barely, and that was the main thing. But that wouldn't last if Jake and Ruby survived. Even as he thought that, Sam coughed up another mouthful of blood and his eyes fluttered shut again. It took all of Dean's will power to leave his brother there on the floor, passed out, bleeding, roughly propped up against the wall, but Dean knew he couldn't help him without angelic aid. Ignoring his own pain, he scrambled over to where the Colt had fallen from his hands when Ruby had attacked them, getting to his feet as he took aim at Jake.

The wound in Jake's upper chest should have left him floored. Hell! It would have killed a demon. But it looked as though Jake's wound was healing, the blood flow stemming somewhat.

"If I shoot you in the head, it won't be blood-loss you die of!" Dean shouted out, moving to get a cleaner shot.

"Let her go!" Jake yelled, ignoring Dean entirely, focused instead on Cas.

Normally the angel would have had no trouble destroying a demon with his touch, but Dean surmised that the reason Ruby was still alive had everything to do with whatever psychic powers Jake was wielding. Both he and Cas seemed to be in a stalemate, hands outstretched towards each other, with Ruby held aloft in Cas' grip. Seeing that Jake was singularly focussed on her (and not entirely trusting that a bullet from the Colt which should have put Jake down would have enough effect on him whether it was a headshot or not) Dean trained his gun on Ruby instead.

"May not have worked on you. Sure it won't work on her?"

That got Jake's attention, his eyes flickering towards Dean.

"Do it and I'll crush your brother's spine to pulp! I swear to your god, not even Michael could fix him!"

Dean glanced at Cas, realising from the angel's strained expression that he was struggling to hold both Jake and Ruby at bay. Judging by the stemming flow of blood from Jake's wound, it seemed he was regaining his strength. The most pressing concern for Dean however was Sam, with God only knew what internal injuries already sapping the life from him. Dean knew that without Cas' imminent help, his brother may well die at any moment. That would always be the game-changer for Dean.

He un-cocked the gun, pointing the muzzle upwards as he held both hands up in a pacifying gesture.

"Cas let her go," he growled, not taking his eyes from Jake.

"Dean," Cas re-joined through gritted teeth, clearly in disagreement.

"Sam's hurt."

It was all the explanation Cas needed and he instantly stood down. He threw Ruby from his grasp, and she landed sprawled at Jake's feet, coughing as she clutched at her throat. Jake bent down, one hand roughly hooking under her shoulder as pulled her to her feet, other hand still held out, holding Cas at bay. He was still standing crookedly, and Dean took some comfort from the fact that the bullet must still be causing considerable discomfort. Ruby tugged at Jake's arm, urging for them to leave and the pair slowly, gingerly backed away, Jake's arm still held out.

"This isn't over!" he spat as they backed away. "I told you not to get in my way! I told you! I'm gonna kill you. All of you! I'm gonna kill you!"

A final pull from Ruby took them back into the grasp of shadows, and it appeared beyond Castiel's reach, as the tension finally left his shoulder and his arm dropped to his side. He turned instantly towards Dean, who was already at Sam's side, gently cradling his brother in his arms again.

"Hey! Hey Sammy, c'mon. Don't skip out on me man, hang in there," he patted Sam's cheek lightly, then looked up at the angel. "Cas."

The angel placed his fingers on Sam's forehead and glowing white light emanated from the touch. But a few seconds later, Cas sagged backwards, the light faded, and Sam remained unconscious.

Dean was about to lash out at the angel, but it was then that he noticed how pale Cas looked. How pained and weak.

"Cas, what–"

"I've stabilised him," the angel responded, not waiting for Dean to finish. "He's safe, for now. We can move him to the Roadhouse. That will be the safest place. I can continue there."

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" It had never crossed Dean's mind that Cas could be hurt, but he was surprised at the level of fear and concern he felt right then.

"I am weakened," Cas responded, not meeting Dean's gaze. "I will recover."

"What did he do to you?"

"He... he's grown stronger than we had thought."

Dean bit his lip. "But you're gonna be okay... right?"

The angel nodded and Dean allowed himself a moment of reassurance. "But I'm guessing you can't air-lift Sam back?"

"I... I'm not sure what that means, but I suspect my answer is no."

"Figures," Dean muttered. "Can you walk?"

"Yes."

"Okay, help me."

Between the both of them, they hefted the still unconscious Sam up and made their way to the Impala. As much as Dean was verging on panic at his brother's unresponsive state, he tried to focus on the fact that Sam wasn't bleeding with every breath anymore. He even tried focussing on his own injuries, the cuts from the hunting spree having reopened, along with a few choice new ones and of course his wretched leg, all creating distractions to stave of his panic. But it barely worked, because by the time they reached the car, by the time Sam and Cas were in the back seat and he was behind the wheel, a glance in the rear-view mirror set his heartbeat into panic mode again. Because Sam was still unconscious, and Cas looked pale and pasty and close to passing out too.

As he raced to get them all to safety, he couldn't understand how it had all gone so horrifically wrong.


tbc - Thank you for reading