Sam paced in his room, tugging at his hair as he tried to avoid the signs of Rachel in it, but failed. Her shampoo lingered on his sheets, her bag of clothes nestled on the left side of the bed, while a small pile of laundry grew in the corner. He could tell she had tried to hide it, probably until she figured out where to put it, but he noticed the lacy underwear right away. The very idea of her using herself as bait made him ill, let alone telling her that he couldn't be with her. He picked up the first thing he saw, a book on a shelf, and chucked it into the wall, missing the open space and sending it flying into the lamp that sat on his desk. It fell to the ground, shattering, and with a sigh, he sat on the end of his bed, defeated.

"Sam?" Dean asked, knocking on the door.

"I'm fine, Dean," he replied, knowing he must have heard the crash.

"Let me in."

"It's open."

Dean opened the door, quietly coming inside and shutting it behind himself. "Look, about Rachel—"

"She can do whatever she wants," Sam interrupted, his tone stiff as he looked at the floor.

With an arched brow, Dean stepped closer. "Sam, you know you won't allow that, even if you say you will."

"She wants to. What can I do? I tried. She ignored what I said. So …" He looked up, lips pressed tightly together. "So whatever."

"You're not very convincing right now."

"It doesn't matter. She'll likely leave soon anyway."

"Why?" Dean asked, confused.

"Because I told her I couldn't be with her if she did this."

Dean rubbed his eyes. "Well, that was a dumbass move."

"Dean, I can't sit back and watch her do this," Sam argued. "I won't. If she wants to, great. I'm not endorsing it."

"We risk our asses multiple times a day. Why is this different?"

"Because it is."

"Because of Jessica, Madi-"

"Don't," Sam warned, glaring at Dean. "Don't go there."

Dean ignored him. "That's what this is, Sam. I get it. I get you're scared. But not having her back right now would be worse than being there to protect her."

"In case you haven't noticed, Arioch has at least tried twice to take her, both times we were extremely lucky to stop him. Hell, Cas couldn't even take him down. But you want to send her out as bait?"

"The difference with Rachel is, she's a hunter."

"She's been hunting for two years, Dean."

"That's two years of her kicking ass without you."

"Not against a grigori who wants to rape her."

Dean inhaled deeply. "Then protect her," he concluded. "Have her back."

"If she were involved with you, would you let her do this?" Sam countered.

"I'd be scared shitless," Dean replied, holding Sam's gaze. "But I know I'd do anything to protect her, and that my brother would have her back. I know we'd never let anything happen to her."

"We can't always control it."

"No. But life can't be controlled, Sam. Hell, we're living in a world where angels are mostly assholes, and there are other worlds with all kinds of scary shit." He patted Sam's back. "I haven't seen you look as happy as you did this morning in a long time. And I haven't seen anyone who witnessed something like Rachel did last night look so at peace. That doesn't happen every day."

"I know it doesn't, which is why I can't pretend I'm alright with this."

Sam left his own room, Dean shutting his eyes and hanging his head, opening them a few moments later when he heard someone come in. Rachel quietly moved toward her bag, gathering some things and stuffing them in. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," Dean said, intercepting her as she tried to pack. "Look, I know you're pissed at Sam, but you're not leaving here, kid."

She eyed him. "As I told your brother, you don't get to control what I do."

"Rachel, there's a grigori out there who wants you. Do you think it's smart right now to leave probably the only safe place you can be at?"

Rachel looked down. "I can't be here. I can't sit around and do nothing, Dean."

Dean tipped her head up with a gentle finger to her chin. "My brother is absolutely insane about you," he murmured. "So much so, that he's acting like a giant asshole because of it. But he cares about you, and so do I. The smart thing right now is, avoid him while you're mad at him, but don't leave. Hell, this bunker is big enough for it. Leaving is a guaranteed ticket to Arioch's supper table."

"Why doesn't he trust me?" she asked, looking at Dean. "You do."

"He does trust you, but he's afraid, Rachel. Because, like I said, he really, really, likes you." Dean patted her on the shoulder. "Take the time to be pissed, but not outside the bunker, okay?"

She drew in a deep breath, still gripping her bag. "Can you fix the thermostat in the other room? I … I can't sleep in here."

Dean pressed his lips together, giving her a small nod, following her out of the room.

When Dean left, Rachel sat on the bed of the guest room, digesting her argument with Sam. She knew he meant well, but it was difficult to see him so adamant to dismiss the best way to catch Arioch. Sure, it wasn't an easy choice to come to, but they were hunters-this is what they did. They hunted things, not hid from them. He wouldn't second guess giving himself up to catch Arioch, but he all but wanted to lock her in a tower and throw away the key.

Slowly, the room warmed up, but it wasn't nearly as warm as Sam's room had been. He was an amazing man. Kind, generous, passionate, sensual, strong, loving. Too loving, maybe. His affection was what kept her from getting justice for Hailey. She knew Dean was right, that seeking out Arioch on her own wasn't a good move, but sitting in the guest room of the bunker twiddling her thumbs wasn't exactly making any progress either.

Rachel's phone rang; she looked at the caller ID, not recognizing the number. "Agent Markson," she said.

The baritone voice on the other end laughed. "Who are you fooling, Rach?" the man asked.

Rachel smiled. "Oh my God, Vance! Where the hell have you been?" Vance Matthews was one of the first hunters she ever worked with. He was a dashing guy with cropped blond hair and dark brown eyes, a bit smaller than the Winchesters, but incredibly skilled and sweet. He was her first crush after Alex, but he was with his girlfriend, Gina, so she never made a move. They hunted a few times together, but their meetings were sporadic at best.

Vance grinned. "Phone's dead. Using Jimmy's. I've been holed up underground, searching for the same damn Chimera we were until you ditched me last week."

"Shit," she murmured. "I'm sorry. I … got sidetracked."

"I heard," he continued to tease. "Rumor has it you're in Lincoln?"

"Yeah, I'm after a grigori."

"Shit, Rach." Vance's tone turned serious. "What the hell are you doing after something like that?"

Rachel swallowed, feeling the tears threaten to escape. "It killed Hailey, Vance," she whispered.

The other end was quiet for a moment. "Where are you?" Vance asked, determined. "I'm coming to help." She knew his help could be good, but she also knew what kind of waves it would make.

"No," she said quickly, "you need to work on the Chimera, and—"

"Fuck that," Vance said softly. "Jimmy can lead that. I need to be with you right now."

"But Gina—"

"We, uh … we split."

Rachel swallowed. "Oh. I'm sorry."

"I'm not letting you do this alone, Rach. What motel are you at?"

"I'm … I'm not in Lincoln at the moment."

"Well, where are you?"

"Lebanon, Kansas."

"Which motel?"

"I'm …" Rachel paused, feeling the ghostly touch of Sam's mouth on her skin. "I'm with the Winchesters."

Vance drew in a breath. "The Winchesters?"

"Yeah."

She could tell from his tone that he was pissed. "Those guys are trouble, Rach. They attract all kinds of shit."

"They've been good to me," she admitted, feeling nervously torn.

"Still, you're not safe if you're around them," Vance insisted. "They've got a reputation for losing hunting partners. Two control freaks. Look, I'm in Chicago, but I'll be in Lebanon by morning."

"No! Vance, you don't—"

"Rach, I have your back. Those assholes will just have to deal with it."

Rachel smirked. "So sweet, just like a big brother."

Vance smiled, his tone sending chills up her spine. "Or like a guy who cares about you."

She digested his words for a moment. "Vance," she said softly, trying to suppress her nerves. "I don't think they'd just like you waltzing in here."

"Screw those Prima Donnas," Vance growled.

"Just, stay put. I'll talk to them, okay?"

Vance sighed. "You're killing me, Rach. Alright. But you call the second you need me, you hear?"

"I will."

When Vance hung up, Rachel pulled the phone away from her ear, eyes wide. "Oh shit," she whispered, reality setting in. In so many words, Vance just admitted he liked her. And Sam, the man who made her feel so safe, was brooding in the library. Sam was not going to like that he had competition, even if she wasn't planning on pursuing Vance. She drew in a deep breath. It didn't matter. They needed help with Arioch, and like it or not, Vance had a lot of skill and experience. She would suggest his help.

And Sam would just have to deal.

Sam looked up from his laptop as Dean came back into the library. "Anything?" Dean asked, coming over to his brother's side. Sam shook his head. "Look, about Rachel-"

"Just …" Sam sighed. "I don't want to talk about it right now."

"I get it. But you should know she moved out of your room." Dean folded his arms over his chest. "You had a good thing going, Sammy."

Sam ignored him, looking back down at the laptop as Castiel blinked in. "Anything?" Castiel asked.

"If we are able to cast this binding spell in Arioch's presence," Sam began, "we can ground him long enough to put a blade through him."

"Great, what do we need?" Dean asked.

"Something none of us are going to give up," his brother sighed. "A soul in exchange."

"We could use a banishing sigil," Dean suggested. He looked to Castiel. "He would go down with one of those, right?"

"Yes," Castiel replied, "but the problem is getting him to stay long enough for the sigil to be completed."

"And it would also banish Cas," Sam murmured.

"So, Cas couldn't come," Dean concluded.

"You don't want to face Arioch without power," Castiel warned. "I was barely able to contain him myself. He would decimate you both."

Sam tapped his chin. "What about a suppression sigil?" he asked, eyeing Castiel.

"Worked on Lucifer," Dean said with a nod.

"It is a very brief window of time," Castiel argued.

"We don't have a ton of options, Cas."

"What if we summoned him?" Sam said, receiving an arched brow from Dean.

"Summon him where?" Dean asked.

"Here. In the dungeon. Then, we could have an imprisonment sigil already in place, trapping him. It would give us time to enact the suppression sigil, then kill him."

Everyone was quiet. "It's not a terrible idea," Dean finally said. "Once we summon him, someone has to enact the suppression, and someone needs to spear him. And at least one person has to have Rachel's back."

Castiel didn't look happy. "You do realize that if you're unable to kill him, you have willingly invited him into the bunker. He could come at any time."

Sam drew in a deep breath. "Yeah, that probably won't work." He rubbed his eyes. "So, what's left, then?"

"A whole lotta nothing," Dean sighed.

"We'll keep looking," Sam resolved.

Rachel quietly stepped into the library, catching the three men's attention, especially Sam's. His brow wrinkled as he saw her hesitance. "Guys, I …" She paused, drawing in a breath. "You need to know that I didn't plan this, but I … I think it could end up helping."

"Didn't plan what?" Dean asked.

"I just got off the phone with a hunter friend of mine, Vance Matthews. He's offered to help, if we need it."

Dean's brow shot up. "You called him?"

"No. He called to check up on me when he heard I was in Lincoln. He was concerned," Rachel replied, a little stiff.

"Concerned about what?" Sam said, standing with purpose.

"About what happened with Hailey," she said, meeting his eyes. "We've worked together before. He's a good hunter. I mean, we aren't really moving forward with this right now. He's got experience with nephilim. It can't hurt to have another mind on this one."

"I've heard of him," Castiel said quietly, gaining everyone's attention. "He led the take down a nephilim-led sex trafficking ring in Pennsylvania."

"That's a thing?" Dean asked.

"Unfortunately."

Dean ran a hand over his face. He glanced over to Sam, who looked like he was ready to kill something. "So, he could still have contacts of those who might know Arioch."

"Potentially."

"James Gray knew about Arioch," Rachel added. "There's bound to be others who know about him. Maybe Vance can bridge the gap."

"James Gray is psychotic," Sam argued.

"He wasn't completely off base," Rachel shot back.

"We don't need help," Sam insisted.

"Last I checked, we didn't have any viable options other than trying to get some outside help." She narrowed her eyes. "Aside from you letting me do my job, that is."

Sam turned away from Rachel, trying to focus on something—anything—but her beautiful eyes. He had no idea who Vance Matthews was, but he hated him already. "Convenient how he turns up now," Sam muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Where was he when Hailey was first taken?" Sam asked, turning back to her.

"Hunting, Sam," Rachel replied, searching his eyes. "Doing his job."

"We don't need him."

Rachel scoffed. "Your way or no way, right Sam?" she muttered, looking at Dean. "Do you agree with him?"

Dean pressed his lips together. "Sweetheart. You're really going to toss me in the middle of this clusterfuck?"

Frustrated, Rachel stormed out of the library. The three were silent as they listened to her stalk back to the guest room, wincing as the door slammed shut. "Well, that went well," Dean said.

"What the hell is she thinking?" Sam growled, pacing away to a bookshelf.

"That she wants to get a jump on Arioch?" Dean suggested.

"We don't even know this guy!" Sam argued.

Dean approached his brother, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Sam," he said gently, "I know you're on edge, but you've got to take a step back and look at things for the good of the case. I mean … she's trying. She's trying to find a way. That's what you wanted, right? An alternative?"

Sam drew in a deep breath. He knew Dean was right. Still, he was aching, dying inside from the fight with Rachel. He was desperate to hold her, to kiss her. He couldn't, though. He couldn't be with her if she refused to let him protect her. "Fine," he muttered. He walked back over to his laptop, shutting the lid and heading toward her room. "I'll let her know."