Rachel woke early the next morning tangled in Sam's thick arms, her bare flesh pressed onto his. Sweat slicked between them, her hair dried into frantic waves that spread over his body.

Sam was already awake, his hands running possessively over her as he nuzzled her hair. "You meant it?" she whispered, and he stopped, pulling her away to look into her eyes.

"Of course I did," he replied, combing her hair from her face.

"What if I'm not what you think I am?"

"I already know who you are."

"How?"

"Because I can see who you are." He kissed her forehead, whispering against it. "You're incredible. Smart. Beautiful. Sweet. Funny. Powerful. Caring. And fucking sexy as hell." She laughed, her face heating. "And you're mine," he reminded her. "You're mine to take care of and protect. All mine." Rachel clung to Sam, her tears dripping down his chest as she cried into him. "Shh," he urged, stroking her. "It's okay, baby girl."

A few moments later, she pulled away. "You call me baby girl," she said, her voice quivering.

"Do you not want me to?" he asked, threading his fingers through her hair.

"No, I do. I just … No one has ever called me anything but Rachel."

Sam examined her. She was so broken, but he swore he'd do whatever it took to fix her. "I want to kill everyone in your past." Rachel couldn't help but laugh, sniffing her tears back. "You've been taking care of yourself for far too long," Sam said gently. "It's my turn, now."

He pressed his mouth to hers, the heat shared between them rapidly stirring into a smoldering blur of lips and hands over skin. This time around, though, he was slower, gentler, attentive to her every response as he learned her favorites and sensitive places, committing them to memory. She soaked it in, letting him nurture her and care for her, her heart healing as he completed her.

It was a couple hours later that they both woke up, even sweatier than before. Sam's stomach growled, and Rachel heard hers echo it. "Hungry?" he asked, even though he knew the answer. She nodded and they stood, dressing and moving to the door. Sam stopped her, cupping her cheek as he looked down at her tenderly. "Are you okay?"

She swallowed. "I don't know."

"I'm right here," Sam assured. "You don't have to pretend with me, or with Dean."

"Thanks."

Sam combed her hair from her face, leaning in and capturing her lips in a slow, burning kiss before linking his hand into hers and leading her into the kitchen.

Dean turned to them from the oven as he took out a pizza. "There you are, Sammy," he said, sobering as he spotted Rachel. He set the tray down as she approached him, her hand finding his cheek.

"Dean," she whispered, biting back her tears, "what you did for me—"

"Rachel, you don't have to—"

"I do," she insisted, gently running her fingers over his face. "What you did, Dean, I'll never be able to properly thank you for. I know it wasn't easy. But you took the burden from me. And I can't tell you how much that means to me." She reached up and kissed his cheek, wrapping him in a hug.

"Of course, sweetheart," he said, seeing the change on Sam's face as he looked over Rachel's shoulders while embracing her. Dean smiled softly—Sam looked whole, completed. His brother was always a better man when he was in a relationship. He needed it. He was made for it. "But I never want to do it again to you," he added as he pulled away from her.

"You won't have to," she replied sadly. "It's just me now."

"For fuck sake, Sam," Dean growled, glaring at him. "Didn't you tell her?"

"Yes, I did," Sam shot back, clearly pissed at Dean.

"I didn't mean it like that," Rachel said quickly, holding her hand up to ease both of them. "I just meant that you two would be the only ones left, but you can't get possessed or whatever."

"Well, good. I was about to kick his ass."

With a slight glare to Dean, Sam drew Rachel back to himself, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Speaking off, you need a tattoo," he murmured, kissing her sensually. She blushed as she tried to paw away from him, but he kept her tightly to himself, kissing her cheek and jaw.

"Yeah, yeah, okay," Dean sighed, going back to the pizza. "That's great. Just don't make me sick, you two."

"Deal with it." Sam smirked.

Castiel blinked in, which made Rachel jump. "Shit," she sighed.

"You get used to it," Dean assured. He looked to Castiel. "Anything?"

"I couldn't find anything about Arioch circulating, and there isn't anything on angel radio," he relied, glancing over at Sam, who tightened his hold on Rachel. "The bunker is the safest place she can be right now."

Dean nodded. "Well, if you can stop swapping spit long enough, there's food here." He sat with a grin, tipping back a healthy amount of beer.

"Why would I swap spit with anyone?" Castiel asked him, brow furrowed.

"Not you," Dean corrected. "Them."

Castiel looked over at Sam, seeing his hand splayed over Rachel's hip. "Oh," he murmured with a nod. "I see. Sam is the pizza man."

Rachel shook her head. "Sorry, what?"

Sam laughed. "Nothing," he assured, kissing her cheek and guiding her to sit. Rachel took a slice of pizza, quickly sobering when she thought about the meal she shared with Sam while trying to find Hailey. She was really gone. Despite Sam's promise and presence, the overwhelming feeling of loneliness flooded her. He had said he cared for her, but would he grow tired of her? Was it novelty? Would she live up to his expectation? The questions assaulted her mind, leaving her with less appetite than before.

"Rachel," Sam whispered in her ear under the conversation between Dean and Castiel, "you okay?"

She shook her head. "I don't think I will be for a while."

His hand found her back, stroking it. "I'm right here," he reminded her. "I'm not going anywhere."

She looked over at him, attempting to hold back her tears. "Do you just feel sorry for me?" she asked. "Because I don't need charity, if that's what this is."

Sam's brow wrinkled; he took her hand and led her into the hall away from the others. "Rachel, 'this' isn't anything fake," he told her. "Period. It's not about sympathy, or charity." He kept hold of her hand, examining her eyes. "You need to believe that there can be someone who would want to be with you. You need to believe that about me." He drew her a little closer, a soft smile on his lips. "The minute I saw you, I couldn't take my eyes off of you. I wanted to know who you were—I wanted to know everything about you. And now the more I learn about you, the more it makes me want to be with you."

She pressed into him, his arms wrapping around her. "Okay," she whispered. He wasn't sure if she fully believed him, but he knew it wouldn't be an overnight fix. He would be patient. She was worth it.

Sam led her back to the table, Dean and Castiel quiet as they sat, Dean finishing off his second piece. "So," he said, chewing thoughtfully, "we know Arioch is out of juice, which means he will be on the prowl."

"So it's safe to assume he will be seeking more souls from the same type of victim," Castiel concluded.

"Right. But how do we track him before he does?"

"A spell, maybe?" Sam suggested.

"Do we have one?"

"I can look after we eat. There might be a tracking or revelation spell we can use."

"Or," Rachel said softly, "you can use me." The three men stared at her, Sam's eyes narrowed.

"Absolutely not," he argued.

"Sam, we know he wants me, so let's bypass the bullshit and throw him a bone. It's a lot easier than playing Tag with him."

Sam's jaw flexed; he was clearly pissed. "Fuck that."

"Easy, Sam," Dean murmured. "She does have a point."

Sam turned to Dean, his eyes wild. "Are you serious right now?"

Dean held his hand up. "Look, it was her suggestion, but she does make a good carrot. If we find a binding spell, maybe we can snag him when he tries to get to her."

"'Maybe?'" Sam snarled. "So you'd like to send her out to a grigori on a 'maybe?'"

"I'm capable of deciding for myself," Rachel reminded him, "so before you chew Dean's head off, remember that."

Sam squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. "I understand. But I watched Arioch nearly take you last night while I was helpless to stop him. And I'm not willing to let that happen again."

"We need to draw him out," Rachel argued. "Otherwise, more women will suffer."

"No!" Sam shouted, his palm smacking the table as he stood, surprising the others. His nostrils flared as he ran a hand through his hair. "We will find another way."

Abandoning his food, Sam headed for the library, disappearing out of sight. Rachel sighed, her head hanging. "He can't do this," she said softly. "He has to think like a hunter, not like …"

"A guy who cares about you?" Dean asked, watching her rub her eyes. "That's Sam, sweetheart. The very few times he let himself care for someone, something happened to them. He won't risk it with you."

"Then how else are we going to draw out Arioch?" Rachel challenged. "Look, I get it. But time is of the essence. If it's not me, it's another woman, if there hasn't been one taken already."

"Let him search," Dean encouraged. "He does his best thinking when he's pissed." He sighed. "And I can't believe I'm saying this, but in the meantime, go easy on him. Take his brooding Mother Hen thing as a very big compliment."

Her eyes flicked toward the direction Sam disappeared to. She sighed, slumping back against her chair. "More women will die," she murmured, defeated.

"Rachel," Castiel interjected carefully, "if Arioch is interested in procreating with you, then you are safest here."

"Then I'd better help him research at least," she decided softly, standing and leaving for the library.

Dean pursed his lips as he sat back and watched her leave, exhaling deeply. "Cas, what would happen if … Arioch … you know …?"

"Impregnated her?" Castiel finished bluntly, his voice not exactly discreet.

Dean winced. "Yeah. I mean, are the offspring just as strong as him?"

"They hold many powers, yes. And their development is much like Jack's was—rapid."

"So he could make an army pretty quickly."

"At the rate of impregnating and gestation, if there were enough women to carry them, then yes."

Dean ran a hand over his face. "Would she survive the labor?" Castiel shook his head. "Ooh-kay," he murmured, standing and snagging his beer.

"Dean," Castiel said softly, gaining his attention. "Sam's judgment will be clouded because of his affection for Rachel. Arioch will easily play into that. He cannot be alone with him. We need to make sure he doesn't pursue this on his own for any reason."

Dean nodded, tipping back a swig of beer. "Don't worry, Cas. It won't be just Arioch trying to kick his ass if he goes rogue."

Sam was hunched over a stack of books, unaware as Rachel slipped into the library. His brow was creased tightly, his eyes focused as he read pages carefully. "Sam?" Rachel asked softly, seeing him look up at her. "Can we talk?" He nodded, putting a marker in the book before standing and turning to her. She drew in a deep breath. "I'm sorry I pushed you, but I also stand by what I said," she said, wringing her hands. "I want to make sure we catch the son of a bitch, and I know using me is the easiest way."

"Easier for who?" Sam countered, stepping close to her. "How is it easier for me to see you risk yourself?"

"It isn't. But that's not what hunting is about. I'm sure there have been plenty of times you put yourself on the line to make a kill or a catch."

"That's different."

"How? Because you're a man and I'm not?"

He sighed, running his hand over his face. "No, and I know you know better than that."

"Then how, Sam?" she asked.

"Because we aren't talking a wendigo or a vamp or something we know we can kill. We are talking about an angel with a lot of power." His breath quickened, his hands flexing by his sides. "Do you honestly think I would let you do this, knowing he wants to rape you? Do you think I'd risk him violating you so we could catch him?"

"Sam, you don't 'let' me do anything," Rachel reminded him with a cool glare.

"Rachel—"

"I'm a hunter, dammit. I can handle it."

"For fuck sake, Rachel," Sam growled, "stop trying to prove yourself to me. To us." He took her upper arms into his hands, sliding them up into her hair, drawing her close. "Stop trying to do things alone. Because you're not alone anymore."

"I know I'm not. But I can't sit around and protect myself while other women suffer. I can't do that."

"Then help me find a way here," he encouraged, still cradling her head. "A way that doesn't involve dangling you in front of Arioch like a piece of meat."

"Sam, no matter how badly you want to cage me, I chose this life," she reminded him. "And you chose to bring me here, knowing that. You can't lock me away from the world. It's not up to you."

He let her go and ran his hand through his hair, tugging at the roots. "I won't let you do it."

"It's not up to you," she repeated, eyeing him.

He was clearly pissed. She saw the raw rage in him, his tall, broad frame nearly shaking with anger. He searched her eyes, jaw flexing as he clenched his teeth. After a few moments, he hung his head, rubbing his face with a rough swipe. His voice shook ever so slightly. "I can't … I can't do this, then."

Rachel felt her heart stop. "Do what?"

"I can't be with you," he said, his tone cooler than he meant it to be. "Not if you're set on doing this."

She looked into his eyes, her stomach bottoming out. "Dean said you lost ones you cared for, but in our work, there are no guarantees, and you know that."

"Hunter or not, it doesn't mean I would willing send you out to Arioch," Sam growled. "If that's what you want to do, Rachel, then you do it. But as the man who promised to protect you, I can't."

"So it's your way or no way, right?" she countered with a scoff.

"It's not about that."

"It's just about me being incapable, right?"

"No, dammit!" Sam shouted. "It's about me caring for you, alright?" He threw his hands up. "It's about me not wanting to see you do this, because I care about you very much. And yes, I'm aware it's only been days. But I do, and I won't stand back and let you sacrifice yourself."

Rachel knew he cared for her, and she for him, but in that moment, she wanted to deck him in the face as much as she wanted to be wrapped in his arms, forgetting everything in the world. The silence hung between them. She tried to speak, but was unable to. "I care for you," Sam repeated, far gentler as he moved in closer and took her hands. "The idea of this alone kills me."

She blinked hard, shivering as he cupped her cheek. "I care about you too," she whispered. "But if you care about me, then you need to trust me."

"It's not you I don't trust. It's Arioch."

"You'll have my back," she encouraged; he shut his eyes. "So I will be fine."

"Turn the tables for a moment," he said, examining her. "Would you be fine with this?"

Rachel paused, considering his question. Though she didn't want to admit it, he was right. She wouldn't be. "It doesn't matter."

"It's all that matters," he argued. "If you couldn't watch me do this, how do you expect me to?"

Her tears slipped down her cheeks, leaving hot trails on her skin. "I just want to kill the son of a bitch. I want him dead."

"As do I," Sam assured, drawing her close. "But we can kill him without using you as bait."

"Can we?" she challenged.

"I won't stop until I find a way." Rachel's head pounded, the tension eating at her. Sam wrapped his arms around her, tenderly kissing the top of her head. "We will bring Hailey justice," he promised. "Just not like that."

She pulled away, shaking her head. "We won't. Not if we don't act now. It will be too late. And like you, I can't sit idly by and let more women die to protect myself." She folded her arms over her chest. "So, I guess we're done," she concluded flatly, trying to control the quiver in her voice.

Sam felt like he had been gutted. He stared down at her for a long moment, saying nothing, but saying everything through his silence. "I guess we are," he finally replied, softer than she expected. "Excuse me."

As he moved past her, she shut her eyes, her stomach sinking as she slumped into the chair he had just occupied. It was still warm, his scent lingering in the air. With a deep breath, she opened the book Sam had been reading, trying to focus on the words, but her eyes were too blurry from tears.