Chapter Three

'A Lunch Date with Death'

She was still setting comfortably on top of Bobby's desk when the angel, Castiel, approached her. She followed his movement out of the corner of her eye but otherwise she gave him no attention. She seemed to be entirely focused on her wine bottle that she was holding.

"How do we know we can trust you?" He asked not stopping until he was just a little over a foot away from her. He apparently didn't understand personal space. Under other circumstances Pandora wouldn't mind this but she would trust a demon over an angel any day. She already made that mistake once.

She set the bottle back down with a thump behind her and her eyes finally rose to met his. Blue met green neither wavering. She made sure that her face showed her annoyance.

"I don't see you interrogating Crowley over his trustworthiness." She said waving her left hand in the direction of the King of the Crossroads without moving her gaze from his.

"You helped Lucifer once before." Castiel reminded her making her scoff. "How do we know your not going to double cross us?"

"I was young... and stupid. Trust me when I say I have learned from my past mistakes. I want him off the game board and locked back up in his little cage. Once this is all over you won't have to worry about me. I'll do my job and stay out of the way. I told you I'm not really much of fighter." Pandora explained to him. "Besides, what could you possibly do to me?" She questioned with a smirk.

The angel's face once again morphed to the confused puppy look. Pandora only briefly noted that it was an adorable look on him. "I don't understand."

Pandora let out a small laugh. "Oh you think I wouldn't notice. You may technically be an angel but your practically as weak as human. Do you even have any powers left?" Pandora questioned. Her eyes roamed over his figure before going back to make eye contact. "I knew you couldn't be as innocent as you look. What did you do to get kicked out of the Feather Wing Patrol?" She questioned him as she leaned forward a bit from her spot on the desk to be just a tad closer to him. "Have you been a bad boy?" She stage whispered to him with fake humor and a suggestive smile on her face.

Castiel's face hardened and Pandora watched curiously. He stepped closer to her until his face was just an inch away from her own. She forced herself to not flinch back in surprise. She wasn't use to someone carelessly getting into her personal space without her consent. Holding her ground she bit her lip as his pretty face came closer. "You have no idea of the things I've done so I suggest you keep your mouth shut and help or leave."

Pandora's eyes flashed dangerously. Her right hand landed on Castiel's chest and pushed him back with little effort. She slid off the desk top gracefully and the height difference was finally noticeable. Even with her high heals he had several inches on her but that didn't seem to bother her. Her mouth was once again quirked into a smirk but this one was more deadly then playful.

"Or what? What could you possibly do to me? Threaten me when you actually have some sort of leverage." She told him. "Now, if you would be so kind to get out of my face I have a bottle of wine to finish."

She watched in amusement as he gave her one more hard look before leaving the room, his trench coat flowing behind him.

"And here I thought I was on your bad side." Crowley spoke up from where he was perched against the table that was beside the opening to the kitchen. He had a newspaper opened up in front of him but she knew he had listened to every word between her and Castiel.

"You are on my bad side." She told him taking another sip from her glass. "Luckily for you I happen to dislike angels more than demons."

"Lucky me." He said as he looked up at her with a smile and a wink before going back to his paper.

Pandora rolled her eyes in annoyance. A few minutes passed in silence before she saw Crowley fold up the newspaper and disappear without a word. Whatever he was searching for he had found it. Sighing Pandora followed him. She appeared leaning against the right side of the brothers' car with Sam standing in front of her.

"Something you need to see," Crowley told them both as he handed the newspaper she had seen him reading only seconds ago over to Sam. He pointed to the particular article that had caught his attention.

"Niveus Pharmaceuticals rushing delivery of its new swine flu vaccine to quote 'Stem the tide of the unprecedented outbreak.' Uhh shipments leave Wednesday." Sam told them as he read the article out loud.

"Niveus Pharmaceuticals... get it?" Crowley questioned both of the boys. He was met with nothing but silence and blank looks. Pandora smiled at his frustration. "You two are lucky you have your looks." He told them annoyed. Pandora's eyes traveled down Sam's body landing on his back side and nodding in agreement. Both of the brothers were very blessed in the look department. Crowley gave her a look as he saw her still staring at Sam's behind with her bottom lip between her teeth. He finally demanded her attention when he cleared his throat.

Her eyes finally meet his brown ones and watched on in silence waiting for Crowley to explain what was the big deal about Niveus Pharmaceuticals. She had never heard of them but there was a lot of new things in the world that Pandora had never heard of so it wasn't really that much of a surprise.

"Your demon lover, Brady?" Crowley said. Pandora's left eyebrow rose in surprise as her gaze was once again directed to Sam. She didn't think he swung that way but you could never tell about people these days. "VP of distribution, Niveus. Ahh, yes, that's the sound of the abacus clacking. We all caught up?" He asked after he explained everything to them. Pandora saw him give her a look she couldn't identify before his attention went back to Sam who began speaking.

"So Pestilence was spreading swine flu."

"But not just for giggles." Dean interrupted. "That was step one. Step two is vaccine. And you think..."

"I know." Crowley told them. "I'll stake my reputation. That vaccine is chock-full of grade-A, farm fresh Croatoan virus."

"Well that just sounds lovely." Pandora finally spoke up. "Got to love Pestilence don't you?... Well actually I use to hate him. I personally always thought he was gross with little class."

"Did he ever sneeze on you love?" Crowley asked her with a humorous smirk on his face.

"He wouldn't be alive if he had." She told him with a smirk of her own.

"Hmm, so I guess you boys better start stocking up on, well, everything." Crowley told the brothers. "This time next Thursday we'll all be living in zombie land."

"Don't be so dramatic." Pandora told him with a roll of her green eyes. "I'm sure these two and Bobby will come up with something." She gave the two boys a meaningful look that basically meant 'they better find a way to fix it or else' before she walked away from them and back into Bobby's house.

Pandora grew bored as they day wore on and faded into night. She watched as Bobby, Sam, and Dean all started to gather supplies and putting them into The Impala and an old van outside. She watched in boredom from her perch on the arm of a chair in the living room. Once again a full glass of wine in her hand. Crowley had disappeared about half an hour ago and she was at the very least enjoying the break from him.

She watched Castiel move around the house sulking. Most likely feeling useless considering he was cut off from Heaven. Pandora watched him in amusement anytime he would come into her line of vision. She felt great joy in the angel's problem. In her experience with angels she always found them to be quite stuck-up, righteous, and no fun … except for a very select few.

"I guess you're coming with me?" Dean asked as he came up to stand beside her.

"Of course, you're not the only one with a date with Death you know." She told him with a smile.

"You are aware that I'm trying to kill Death, right?" He asked her. He got the impression that she was friends with Death and was hoping she wasn't going to stand in his way. So far she had done nothing but help them and he didn't need another enemy.

"Oh believe me, I'm well aware what you plan to do." She told him her smile never faltering. Dean felt like there was a hidden message in her words but let it slide. So far she was an ally and they didn't have to many of those these days.

"Good, then lets get moving. The others should have everything packed up by now."

She followed Dean outside where the three other men stood ready to stop the vaccine before it can be distributed.

"Alright, well, good luck stopping the whole zombie apocalypse." Dean told them.

"Yeah, good luck killing Death." Sam told him in return.

"Yeah," Dean said realizing not for the first time how crazy what they were about to do was.

Pandora stood to the side as Sam asked Dean about the old days when they use to just hunt wendigos. She just wanted to hurry and go find Death. The sooner they found him the sooner they could get Lucifer locked back into his cage. And once that was done she would be worry free.

"Well, you might need this," Sam told Dean as he handed him a large, deadly looking knife.

"Keep it." Crowley said appearing to the left of Dean out of no where. "Dean's covered." He handed him a weapon that Pandora would recognize anywhere because it belonged to Death himself. Unsure of what was so special about the rusted weapon Dean took it carefully from Crowley. "Death's own. Kills, golly, demon and angels and reapers, and rumor has it, the very thing itself."

"How did you get that?" The angel questioned.

"Hello, King of the Crossroads," was Crowley's reply almost like it should have been self explanatory. "So, shall we?"

"Yes, please. I'm starting to get bored with all this standing around." Pandora added. She just wanted the apocalypse to be over and done with.

"Bobby, you just gonna sit there?" Crowley asked him.

If Bobby had the power to kill by looks alone Crowley would have been nothing but smoke in the wind. "No, I'm going to river dance."

"Well, I suppose, if you want to impress the ladies." Crowley told him and glanced over at Pandora with a smirk. Pandora along with Bobby and the others all looked to him confused. "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby," Crowley began as he stepped closer to him as he spoke. "Really wasted that crossroads deal. Fact, you get more if you phrase it properly. So, I took the liberty of adding a teeny little sub-A clause on your behalf along with the bit I added about locating Pandora. What can I say? I'm an altruist. Just gonna set there?"

All of them watched as what Crowley was saying finally sunk in and Bobby stood up from his wheel chair on his own. Pandora was actually rather impressed with Crowley, as hard as she tried not to be. He didn't have to do that. From what she could tell Bobby was a very good hunter and well Crowley was one of the things he hunted. She knew there had to be something in it in for Crowley she just wasn't sure what.

"Son of a bitch," Bobby said happily as he stood on his own to feet again.

"Yes, I know. Completely worth your soul. I'm a hell of a guy." He said pleased with himself.

"Thanks," Bobby told him still in disbelief.

"This is getting maudlin." Crowley told them finally having enough after been thanked. "Can we go?" He asked and walked off without waiting for answer. With a shrug towards Bobby and the others she followed after Crowley toward the brothers' car.

"Excited?" Crowley asked her.

"Dinner date with Death... probably the only one to ever be excited about that." Pandora told him with a smile as she watched Dean make his way over to them.

"You two ready to hit the road?" Dean asked them.

Crowley made of noise of agreement. "I call shot gun." He told her with a smirk before opening the front side passenger door. Pandora didn't know what calling shot gun had to do with anything and she was left to stare at the vehicle as Dean pulled open the driver door to get in and she was left alone still staring at the car like it would bite her.

A few seconds went by before Dean poked his head out his open window.

"You coming?" he questioned. "We're kind of on a tight schedule."

Releasing a long sigh she opened the door to the seat behind him and climbed in. She immediately didn't like it. She felt trapped in the small space. As soon as she slammed her door shut Dean started the car and they began the journey to Chicago.

Pandora sat stiffly in her seat behind Dean as she stared at the back of his head. After several long, awkward minutes he finally spoke up.

"Um you okay back there?" He asked glancing at her through the rear-view mirror.

"I've never rode in a vehicle before." Pandora admitted.

"Are you series?" Dean asked surprised.

Pandora rolled in eyes. "They weren't exactly a thing the last time I was on Earth and I've avoided them since." She explained to him.

"Pandora has some nice little magic tricks of her own." Crowley butted in. Pandora thew a glare at him. "Along with her little box of tricks she can also travel much like Angels and Demons."

"Hmm, yes thanks for that wonderful explanation." Pandora told him with a sarcastic smile on her face. "But it's true I just have to know where I'm going."

"Right, sure that comes in handy," Dean said. "So... you and Death are... friends?" He asked.

"We go back as far as I can remember and believe me that's a long time." She told him. "I haven't seen him in a long time. Not since he became a horseman for Lucifer."

"And you're okay with me killing him?" Dean questioned again. He felt a little nervous about her tagging along. She had known Death a long time and they way she talked about him was with love.

"I'm not here to stop you Dean, I promise." She told him.

Dean seemed a little uneasy even after her reassurance but didn't question her anymore. Silence fell between the three and it didn't take long before Dean was blaring classic rock music out of the Impala's speakers. Pandora sighed again as she tried to relax inside the metal confinements as they continued their journey.

Pandora was the first one to throw open her door once they arrived in Chicago and had parked. The wind was starting to pick up and they could all feel the beginning of the approaching storm. Pandora looked around at the place Crowley had directed them to. A place that was surrounded in reapers. This was when she would make her exit.

"Well, it's been a fun ride but I'm kind of peckish." She told them making them both stop in their tracks to turn to look at her as she still stood in front of the car.

"I'm sorry?" Dean questioned.

"You have Crowley to direct you. I'm sure you'll find him." Pandora assured him.

"You just drove all this way and now you're just going to leave?" He questioned again.

"Exactly, I saw a pizza place about half a mile back that caught my eye. I thought before it's blown off the map I might try it out." She told giving Crowley a wink. He seemed to take what she said into consideration. She hoped he was smart enough to figure out what she was really saying... he was looking in the wrong spot.

"See you boys later... hopefully." She told them and giving Crowly another meaningful look before leaving them standing there looking at the empty spot where she once stood.

"Well that was interesting." Dean commented to Crowley. Crowley made a noise of agreement still staring at the place she once occupied.

Pandora found herself just outside of a pizza place called Rinascita Pizzeria, opening the door she found the place to be quite. Looking around briefly she saw that everyone that had been inside joining their meal was now dead and among all the bodies was a man setting peacefully at a table with a demeanor of not a care in the world. Pandora smiled as he looked up as the door chimed when she opened it.

"Pandora, I was so hoping you would join me." He said. "Please, take a seat. The pizza is delicious." He told her as he waved a hand briefly to the two empty seats surrounding the small table he was seated at.

"Of course I came. I wouldn't miss this opportunity for anything." She told him with a warm smile.

"I'm hoping we are to expect more company soon?" He asked.

"They'll figure out."

"Good," he said as he fixed her a plate with a slice of pizza on it.

Thankfully the two didn't have to wait long. She briefly caught a glimpse of Crowley looking through the front window and she threw him a small smile over Death's shoulder. She knew Dean wouldn't be much longer and she wasn't disappointed. She ignored him as he made his way through the table of dead customers until Death made Dean aware that he knew he was behind him.

Pandora enjoyed watching the back and forth conversation between the two. She stayed quite letting Death and Dean handle their own as she enjoyed her pizza.

"Well this is way above my pay grade," Dean admitted.

"Just a bit," Death agreed.

Dean stared at him for a few awkward seconds before speaking again.

"So then why am I still breathing. Setting here with you two?" He questioned. "What do you want?

Finally he had asked the question of the hour.

"The leash around my neck off." Death told him seriously. Dean looked at him not understanding.

"Lucifer has him bound to him." Pandora answered for him to clear up the confusion. Dean's focus just barely leaving Death to look over at her where she set between the two. "Some kind of unseemly little spell."

"Exactly," Death began. "He has me where he wants me, when he wants me. That's why I couldn't come to you. I had to wait for you to catch up. Luckily you had Pandora to guide you or else I would have been waiting forever. He made me his weapon; hurricanes, floods, raising the dead. I'm more powerful than you can process and I'm enslaved to a bratty child having a tantrum." Death explained to Dean.

"And you think I can unbind you?" Dean questioned. Pandora hid her laugh behind her napkin.

"There's your ridiculous bravado again. Of course you can't. But you can help me take the bullets out of Lucifer's gun. I understand you want this," Death said while showing Dean his Horseman ring.

"Yeah," Dean finally answered after a few moments of hesitation.

"I'm inclined to give it to you." Death told him.

Dean was surprised and Pandora did let out a small laugh when he asked about Chicago. Pandora took a peak out the window to see the ran pouring down much heavier then when Dean had first come in.

Death looked to Pandora for a moment at hearing her laugh before staring at the oldest Winchester brother for several awkward moments.

"I suppose it can stay," he finally decided. "We liked the pizza."

Pandora knew what was coming next and had no reason to stick around now that the most tedious parts were settled. Dean would get Death's ring and hopefully in the next few days Lucifer would be back where Pandora liked to think he belonged.

"Well, I'll leave you two to discuss the details. I feel a celebratory shopping trip coming on. I might pick up a new pair shoes. Maybe pick you up a little something for old times sake." She told them. "I'm sure I'll see you soon," she said as she glanced over at Death.

He gave her a small smile. "Of course dear," he agreed before leaning over the table to place a small kiss upon her cheek. When she turned to look at Dean his eyes were wide with shock. She smiled at him as she gracefully stood from her chair. She moved to passed him her hand gliding across his shoulder in the process. She could feel the tension in his shoulder loosen just a bit and she was sure his eyes were slightly glazed before she took her hand away.

"I'm sure we'll being seeing each other again Dean Winchester. Never could stay away from someone with such a pretty face," she told him and then in a blink of an eye she was gone.