A/N: Please be advised that this story is posted and complete at another website and has been since September. Any similarities to any actual characters from the last few episodes are ...well...whatever.

Chapter 10

Sam couldn't believe is eyes. He couldn't believe he was actually looking at his father. He'd seen him climb out of the hole Dean had so crudely dug with his bare hands, heard her address him by his full name, and yet, he couldn't seem to wrap his brain around what he was seeing. He also couldn't wrap his brain around what he was hearing, either. She was taunting Dean relentlessly, each word she spoke driving a pain deeper and deeper into his heart, into his soul. He felt every jab she took at him, and it made him feel like he just wanted to die. His heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces, each one being crushed under an unbearable weight. He wished he could take all his brother's pain away, but knew he never could. She was ruthless, her words more and more malicious with each one that came out. Sam could see Dean had reached the end of his rope, witnessed him starting to sink, and knew he was going to drown.

He also knew that everything he felt right now came from, and him alone. The connection between Dean and Sam had been broken somehow. Sam knew she must have done it, and maybe he should be grateful. When he saw his brother lying on the ground, curled in a ball, shivering, dying, he knew that would have killed him. Then he heard Dean answer her inhuman barrage, and knew things just went from bad to worse.

"No, Dean. Please, don't."

It was all Sam could say before dropping to his knees, his own tears streaming down his face this time. And in a blinding flash of light from the screen, his brother's desperate begging and his father's silenced protesting was the last scene he'd see.

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She stared at her plaything as he writhed in total emotional turmoil on the hard ground. She knew she'd won, and for that, she was grateful. She was not happy about the way she had to do it, but she felt the ends justified the means. With the wave of her hand, a blinding flash of light struck, and everything disappeared. Dean, John, everything. She stood in what appeared to be some kind of chamber, and turned to face the fuming figure that stood next to her.

"I have won, Samael, of great king of demons. I claim myself as victor, and demand my reward. He has completed every task you have demanded, just as I knew he would. I told you he'd do anything for his family, even die for them, just like his father did for him. I also told you that he loves his father as much as his brother, or even more, and would trade himself willingly. How could you ever have doubted that?"

"You did have to do quite a bit of convincing to do at the end, didn't you? Are you sure he gave himself willingly?"

"Oh, I'm sure. My words had nothing to do with his decision. He made that the moment he knew he could give himself in trade. Now, I know you will keep your word, won't you, and give me what's mine?"

"Lilith, you doubt my integrity?"

"You are the original fallen angel, are you not? I should think you have no integrity."

"What is your obsession with being mortal, my dear? You are the queen of all demons, and yet, you wish to live among those filthy pieces of flesh. Why?"

"Because those 'filthy pieces of flesh' are more intriguing then all of the evil in hell combined. I want to experience what they do, live like they do, feel like they do. I would never expect you to understand. Haven't you witnessed enough here alone to want to live like them, even for just a little while."

"So, your bored. Is that it? Just go up there and possess one then. Live through one of them, don't become one."

"It could never be the same. We have no feelings other then hate, and loathing, even for each other. We live to hurt, kill, and destroy. We could never feel the things that they do. My wish was to be mortal. You challenged me, I accepted. My pawn has taken your king, and you are in checkmate. Give me what I rightly deserve, and what Dean has earned. That was part of the bargain, after all."

"Dean has earned nothing yet. There were five challenges, remember? He agreed to play your game, he solved all your riddles, he freed his father, and agreed to give up his soul to save his dear old dad and Sam, but you seem to have forgotten one thing. He never called you by name. If he's so sure he's figured you out, he must call you by name for me to be certain. I guess your game is not quite over yet. What is this obsession you have with these Winchesters, anyway?"

"I admire their strength, and commitment to one another, even after our son has all but destroyed them. He's a vengeful child. I'm just returning what should have never been taken in the first place. He overstepped his bounds with that deal. I plan on setting it right before I leave."

"And leave you shall, once the last task is complete. Just remember, once you leave here, you can't come back. You will wander the earth forever, until God decides what to do with you."

"Guess I better start my penance now then. What's a couple more millennium? At least they won't be spent here."

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The flash of light had been brilliant, it shocking Dean from his tortured thoughts. He was no longer lying on the dirty ground, no longer in the filthy cemetery, and no longer in the presence of his father. He was also in more kinds of pain then he could possibly imagine. Every inch of his body hurt. He was exhausted well beyond the point of no return. His heart had been ripped in two, sewn back together, then ripped apart again, only to be shoved back into his chest in pieces. He was a totally broken man.

He was floating in that empty, black void again, right back where he started from. He was almost thankful. He didn't want to hear the sound of his own breathing, or the sound of his own pulse in his ears. He just wanted to get this over with. Once he knew his father was back with Sam where he belonged, he didn't care what she did to him, so he floated in the void, and waited.

"Dean, we are not quite through, you and I. You must do one more thing before I release your father, giving him back what's rightly his." Her voice was soft and soothing. It sounded like she was trying to comfort him, make him feel like everything would be alright.

"What? Just tell me, and I'll do it. But I want to see for myself."

"Like father, like son. I guess it's true that apples don't fall far from the tree. So mistrusting. Oh well. Pledge yourself to me, and me alone. Then your father will be free."

"What? Have the fires of hell totally fried your brains, or were you just created stupid?"

"No to either. It's a simple request. It will give you everything you want, and it's just a few simple words. If you know me, you'll pledge yourself to me. It's that simple. Promise to serve me for all eternity."

"Lady, you got real ego complex. Fine, if my dad goes, I promise to serve the Queen of Hell for all eternity. Happy now?"

"Not quite. 'Queen of Hell' is not the name god gave me."

"Guess he didn't look ahead at the big picture, did he?"

"No, the guy can't take a joke either. Bans you to hell for all eternity when you piss him off. You'd do well to remember that, Dean. Just get on with it, will you."

"Fine, I pledge to serve Lilith, Queen of Hell, for all eternity. Pastor Jim would be so proud of me, I did listen to him when he talked, sometimes."

"There, was that so bad?"

"You really want an me to answer that?'

In another blinding flash of light, Dean found himself lying naked on a hard, cold surface. He couldn't help but shiver as his body finally started giving in the exhaustion it felt. His mind was so clouded, his thoughts so scattered, he wasn't sure what was going on around him. He knew one thing without a doubt. Pain was pain, no matter where you were. Everything still throbbed, from head to toe. His eyes started drifting shut, grateful for the first time in days to be closed, and his brain just shut itself off.

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It seemed like forever since the screen had gone blank, both Sam and Bobby sitting in silence. Until the harsh flash of light from under the bathroom door invaded the room. They looked at each other, both wanting to race in, neither sure of what they'd find.

"Bathroom's the god damn gateway Sam. Either she's in there, or she sent something back. You ready to look?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

They both stood in front of the door, but it was Bobby that had to open it. Sam just couldn't bring himself to do it. He swung in fast, the door only opening a few inches before hitting hard against something blocking it on the floor. He squeezed his head in the opening enough to see the bruised, battered, and bloody form of Dean, still curled up in the tight ball they'd seen him in before everything went lights out.

"Shit. I can't get the door open Sam. Can you squeeze in there and move him so we can get him out?"

When Bobby moved out of the way, Sam shoved through the little space he had, driving the door even harder into his unconscious brother's body. He didn't care, he just wanted to make sure he was still alive. What was one more bruise? They covered his body anyway. Holding his breath, he felt for a pulse. He knew the body in front of him was alive, it was shivering uncontrollably, but he needed to feel the steady rhythm under his fingers to truly believe it. The second he did, he let the breath out, grateful that he was at least alive physically.

"Bobby, give me a blanket. He's freezing." Sam screamed at the older hunter.

Bobby ripped the comforter off what had been Dean's bed, noticing the odd remnants were gone. His ring and necklace still there, but the rest wasn't. He shoved it through the bathroom door, and Sam took it eagerly, draping it across his brother as he tried lifting him up to wrap him in it, almost like a baby. He held Dean's head and shoulder in his lap, rocking him like a sick child. He didn't want to let him go.

"Sam, we need to get him off the floor and into the bed. He needs some kind of medical attention, whether it be us or a hospital."

"No hospital Bobby, Dean would kill me."

"What if it's not him, Sam?"

"What're you talking about Bobby, of course it's him."

"You heard Dean, what he said. What if that's not your brother? He traded himself for John, you heard him."

"I know."