Thanks to KToon, AlxM, TwistedDuck, and Pie Love Luci for your reviews! Glad to know I didn't disgrace Dean's character.

Also, forgot to mention that part of the last chapter was written in Jensen Ackles' brewery outside of Austin, Family Business Brewing Co. Was visiting on vacation and couldn't resist the urge to be meta.

I know I said I wouldn't be updating as frequently but I had some pretty strong feelings about the way the current season of SPN is going (like, are they really gonna ignore everything that Sam went through?!) and decided to funnel it into this short little chapter. It's 100% angst. I should be sorry, but...

The impatient rapping of fingers on a hard surface beckoned him from cozy darkness. He fought the opening of his eyes, unwilling to let the light shatter his peaceful oblivion. A soft mental tug drew his attention outside of himself. The increasingly familiar shimmer of panic that rippled inside him told him he was not alone. He pushed himself up off the carpeted floor and faced his unwanted companion, who was lounging in Bobby's living room.

An ever so slight smile tucked up one corner of Lucifer's lips as he drummed his fingers incessantly on a wooden armrest. His expression was a peculiar mix of curiosity and sympathy. The sharp blue of the devil's eyes bore into Sam's soul and he forced himself to look away, relieved when the physical discomfort constricting his chest eased.

"Sam," Lucifer spoke quietly, gently, in a way that stoked fear in the human's heart. "You know you can't keep going on like this forever. And I can literally wait forever. Why are you doing this to yourself? You have to know it's pointless."

Sam flicked his gaze up towards the fallen angel but still could not bear his frigid stare. "Not pointless. As long as I say 'no,' it's worth it."

Lucifer sighed, his tone adopting that of a disappointed parent. "You speak as if you understand what will happen. You should know better than to be so arrogant. It has been your undoing before and it will lead you astray again."

Now Sam met Lucifer's gaze in an attempt to decipher his words. "What do you mean?"

The angel's eyebrows scrunched with concern as he appraised Sam's form. "It's already starting to happen. Just look at yourself. Don't need me to explain the obvious, do you?"

Sam snapped his head down to his body and was horrified by the sight filling his vision. Vicious fleshy holes riddled his body, a steady stream of blood seeping from each one and soaking into the rug, a soft glue sealing him to the floor. Even more disturbing were the miniscule bluish-white wisps of light drifting out of the gunshot wounds. The gently illuminated curls floated out into the air before dissipating into nothing.

"What is that?" Sam asked fearfully.

"Can't you feel it? It's your soul, Sam." Sam's blood turned to ice as fear clawed into him. Lucifer leaned forward and a physical chill swept around the terrified human. "It's giving up. Now, common belief is that the human soul can never be broken, but no one knows if a soul can die. Sure, souls can be mutilated into demons… I proved that." Lucifer allowed an impish grin to cross his face before re-schooling his expression to one of concerned sympathy. "But for a soul to admit defeat and relinquish the will to keep existing… It's never been observed… Until now, perhaps." He raised an eyebrow at Sam, urging him to consider his explanation for the unsettling changes both were observing. "And do you know what will happen once your soul withers away?"

Unkempt dread locked Sam's throat and he found he could not respond, so he shook his head minutely.

Lucifer nodded graciously at the meek communication. "A body without a soul has no morals, no emotions, only physical sensation. How long do you think a body being tortured such as yours would hold out against the promise of release?"

Sam looked down, well-aware of the answer: not long.

"What's worse, is once your soul fades away, there will be no Paradise for you. You won't join your parents, Jess, or Dean in Heaven. You will rob them of eternity with you, instead forcing them to mourn your unnecessary sacrifice. The result will be the same for me, I will have my vessel, but you will have forsaken all that you love. Don't reject this gift, Sam. Say 'yes' to me now, before it's too late."

Tears tracked down his face as he considered the impossible situation before him. If Lucifer was right, which was not a given, he was running out of time. If Lucifer was telling the truth, he would get his way whether Sam benefited from it or not. In some ways though, Sam wasn't sure he even wanted paradise. For starters, he didn't deserve it. And if he were to be honest with himself, the idea of ceasing to exist was far more attractive than he would ever admit. If Lucifer were to claim him as a vessel then, at least he wouldn't be around to feel it and drown in the unforgiving shame that currently lashed his psyche.

A smile grew on Sam's face as he came to a decision. Instead of scaring him into saying 'yes' as Lucifer had hoped, his actions had instead reinforced Sam's commitment to say 'no' until the very end, even if that meant there was nothing left to say 'no.'

Sam returned his gaze to Lucifer's and held his smile. "My answer, now and forever, is 'no.' I don't care if I am erased from the universe in the process, but I'm not doing a damn thing you want. No."

Lucifer smirked at him, no hint of surprise on his face. "I know you think you're being selfless, Sam, but the level of hubris is almost mythic. How many people will have to suffer because of your stubborn will? How many more innocent children like Jesse have to die bloody because of your refusal to cooperate?"

Grief pierced his satisfaction and he curled in on himself a bit, the sorrow throbbing like a physical assault on his body. Pleading green eyes begged for salvation that wasn't his to grant. Dean. He held on to the anchoring thought of his brother and dredged up the last of that stubborn Winchester will.

"But you want to kill all of them. Me giving in just dooms them faster."

"Dooming them? You'd be dooming them to Paradise. When I win, I will have no need for Hell and its spawn. All souls will be sent to Heaven, looked after by angels for eternity. Why would you not want that? Why would you deny billions of people such a blissful utopia?"

Sam shook his head and forced his convulsing throat to still just enough to respond. "Why would I believe you? You'll tell any lies to get me to say 'yes.'"

Lucifer scoffed softly. "I told you before, I don't need to lie. I haven't told you a single lie. Think about it. Have I mislead you in any way?"

Sam closed his eyes as he thought about it. He hated to admit it, but as far as he could tell, Lucifer had been truthful with him. "No," he answered dejectedly.

"Exactly. Why would I start now? Sam, our relationship—" He paused as he saw Sam stiffen at those words. "The relationship between angel and vessel should be one of trust, of understanding. We were meant to be one." Lucifer sounded wistful. "I'm trying to make this as easy as possible for you and yet you continue to refuse me."

"Just, just leave me alone, please," Sam begged, too many emotions fighting for control. "I can't do this right now," he cried, his voice cracking.

"Oh, Sam," Lucifer sighed unhappily. In a swift motion, the archangel rose from his seat, strode over to Sam, and knelt by his hanging head. Lucifer's cold hands clasped his cheeks and lifted Sam's face to his. The disconcerting chill of Lucifer's fingers cooled the angry burning of Sam's skin, the memory of flames dancing him to his death still cruelly vivid. Sam opened his eyes, his confusion evident in his expression. The human was paralyzed with fear, his wide eyes staring into the blue depths which yearned to overtake him. Something flickered beneath the calm surface of the angel's demeanor and Sam felt both intense curiosity and profound terror.

Lucifer blinked and it broke the near-mystical trance in which Sam had been trapped. He tried to push himself out of the devil's grip but his efforts were fruitless. Lucifer held him tight, albeit gently. Expecting Lucifer's anger to lash out, Sam was too shocked to register his disgust when cold lips met with is forehead for a brief second.

Lucifer withdrew his hands and Sam crumpled to the floor. "It hurts me to see you this way, Sam, but I'll always be here waiting for you. I won't give up on you."

The strange, almost electric aura that energized Sam's body whenever Lucifer was present faded. He didn't even lift his head to check. He knew he was alone, as alone as he'd ever been in his life.

Lingering cold still clung to his cheeks and forehead, as if Lucifer's touch was as reluctant to leave as the angel himself. The cold seemed to burrow down into him and nestle into his chest. He shivered and curled into a fetal position. As he thought about what he had just experienced, about all he had experienced, tears burst forth and he didn't even try to rein them in. He let himself openly weep in the isolated landscape of his mind, well aware he would not be granted such a courtesy upon waking. He sobbed until exhaustion wracked his body and his weakened mind could sustain him no longer. Unconsciousness was a merciful nothing that welcomed him graciously into its hungry arms.

Reviews are a cold forehead kiss from Lucifer!