Once More From The Start

Reviewer Response:

adaddario: I'm just as excited and scared for this chapter, mainly because there's only like three points that I know for sure and I'm letting my mind come up with the rest.

Eight Months Ago

He watched the girl, tapping his fingers on the bench as he studied her. The bleach blonde hair, the smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, the playful behaviour that seemed just a bit too forced. She was lost in love with a man she clearly thought wasn't in love with her.

Young people.

He admired her, just as he had been doing for a few months now. He had spoken with her, bumping into her casually at the supermarket or catching her as she browsed through the mall. She was such a clever girl, wise for her age. He had grown an interest with her a few months ago when she had been standing behind him in line at a coffee shop and he had decided to pay for her drinks, which had started the pleasantries. He made sure every meeting seemed random. If she changed her grocery day, he wouldn't come out. She was relatively good at keeping a regular schedule and so he kept a schedule.

They didn't share names and he never approached her at the supermarket when she was with someone else, just random little "hellos" and a few remarks about the day or week or weather. He had asked on her depression and she had lightly waved him off, stating she wasn't depressed. But by that point, he knew better.

She was beautiful really. Despite her sadness, or perhaps because of it. He watched as she ran with the people around her. He watched as she sprung herself out of the sand and catapulted onto the back of a tall young man. He laughed, looking back at her as his hands grabbed her thighs to keep her up.

The beach was full of people like them but only that group had the matching tattoos. Those people were close to each other, too close for his liking and his plans. He frowned, irritated as he thought over everything. That girl, he knew, he had to have her. But those people, well they were just in the way. He needed an out, something to distract, make everything work.

"What's this for?" Another man joined him on the bench. The gun holstered at his side and the flashy badge did nothing to intimidate the first man who barely acknowledged them. "I'm a busy person you know."

"Not when I need you, Michaels." The first man declared. The one addressed as Michaels sighed as he turned to look at what was so interesting. "What do you know of them?"

"They're a gang." Michaels replied, bitterly.

"And that blonde one? The one on Gigantor's back." The man questioned, eyebrow raising. "Anything you can tell me of her?"

"At the moment, no." Michaels remarked. He glanced curiously at his companion. "Is she the latest then?"

"I find her...compelling." The man mused with a tilt of the head.

"I'll see what I can dig up." Michaels muttered.

"You're such a good officer of the law." The man laughed slightly.

SLTD***SPN***SLTD***SPN

"Her name is Holly Amers, her parents are Alistair and Lillith." Michaels announced, putting the folder in front of the man in the near empty late night diner. The man lifted an eyebrow and opened the folder, looking at the photo of the young woman. "Lillith died several months ago."

"Interesting." The man muttered, flipping through the records. His eyes flashed over hospital reports and declared notices of domestic issues. "I think we should reacquaint father and daughter."

"But I thought you wanted..." Michaels stated.

"You never move your queen first." The man stated, rolling his eyes. "You let the pawns go." He ran a finger over the picture that would soon join his collection. "Take out those gang members, I want her helpless and alone. But not too alone. When the time comes, make sure daddy dearest is cared for."

"Mr Crowley...I...the man she was with...is the brother of one of my coworkers." Michaels let out, his eyes watching the other man carefully. There was nothing for a few seconds and then a smile came across the man's face.

"Really? Well then...things just got much more fun." Crowley declared.

SLTD***SPN***SLTD***SPN

Present

Dean looked around Meg's car and crouched down, picking up her phone from where it rested, cracked and powerless, just under the vehicle. Castiel circled around to him and frowned as his partner stood up.

"What is going on?" The older man muttered, not liking the turn of events.

"Hell if I know." Dean sighed, rubbing his head. He paused when his phone went off and then a second later Castiel's did the same. The two looked at each other then took out their phones and checked them. "Sam."

"Gabriel." Castiel announced. They moved away from each other and put their phones to their ears.

"What's up bro?" Dean asked. "The girls giving you trouble?" He didn't get a coherent response. What he got was the sound of sniffles and tears and a little girl in the midst of panic. Dean blinked, trying to figure it out, and then everything in him went cold. "Carly?"

"I...I...d-don't...know...wh-where anyone...is." Carly cried. Dean tightened his hand on his phone as he listened to the little girl. He snapped his fingers to get Castiel's attention and the other man turned around, anger on his face at whatever Gabriel was saying. Dean pointed at the car and took off for it, making his move to get back to the building.

"Carly, sweetie, you gotta break for me, can you do that?" Dean instructed. He cringed at the sound of her sniffing back probably a monster size of snot. He didn't what it was about crying children and snot but the two went hand in hand.

"Ch-Christie...was here...with Sam." Carly explained. "And...and then...she tried to grab me...b-but I hit her...and ran...into the bathroom. T-there was a m-man...and...I heard...noises. E-e-ever thing...got quiet...and...and...I looked...and they was...all gone."

"Okay...baby...I need you to go see Mrs Braedon alright." Dean declared, glad that his voice was calmer than he actually felt. "She'll take care of you."

"I WANT YOU AND HOLLY!" Carly yelled with a fresh wave of cries. Dean flinched, his heart ripping in his chest as he sighed.

"I know sweetie, I know." He muttered. "I promise I'm gonna get her back. But you need to stay with Lisa okay. Can you be a big girl for me right now? I need to know that you're safe with her. So you have to leave Sammy's apartment, get in the elevator, and go to Lisa."

"Okay." Carly agreed finally.

"Okay, I love you, alright? You know that, right?" Dean pleaded. There was sniffles on the other end that just broke his heart. "When you get to Lisa's, you tell her that this is very important and that she has to message me to let me know that you're there."

"Okay." Carly agreed.

"I'm gonna get Holly back, I promise." Dean swore.

"Be careful." Carly whispered. "And...I love you too."

"That's my girl." Dean muttered. He kept the phone at his ear after he heard the click of Carly hanging up, his eyes swimming with the unshed tears of hearing all that pain and fear in the three year old's voice. The sick bastard behind all this was going to pay deeply.

"Gabriel knows what the note says." Castiel stated as he joined his partner. "It's an address."

"Great, probably where this sick son of a bitch has Holly and Sammy and most likely Meg." Dean spat out bitterly. He filled Castiel in on what Carly's call was about and checked his phone when it dinged signalling the message from Lisa that Carly was at her place and in tears. Dean sent back a message saying that he'd explain later and it was dangerous.

"It's going to be a trap." Castiel remarked suddenly as they were driving. "This guy kills your friends and leaves this message with an address...and then grabs these three. It's gotta be a trap."

"Well we don't have the backup we had last time." Dean remarked. "Guess we're just going to have to wing this one."

"I can't believe...Christie." Castiel muttered. Dean said nothing, feeling the same. The girl had been sweet, good for Sam. She got along with all of them. But she had tried to hurt Carly and that instantly made her bad. Whatever happened next, that woman was in deep shit for trying to lay a hand on Dean's little girl.

SLTD***SPN***SLTD***SPN

Seven Months Ago

"Thanks man, I can't tell you how helpful you've been." Dean stated with a smile. He held out his hand and Crowley happily shook it.

"Just doing my business." He pointed out. "I get paid whether there's a body in the box or not."

"That's a little morbid but I appreciate what you've done." Dean remarked seriously.

"I hope everything works out for you, Mr Winchester." Crowley spoke softly. He put his hands in his pockets for just a moment before he lifted one to pat at the coffin next to him. "Shame that such a beauty will be under the earth for years to come."

"People go all out on these things." Dean mused with a shake of the head.

"All done here?" Sam asked, peeking into the room. His bruises were healing up and Crowley smiled politely at the young man. "No offence Mr Crowley but funeral homes sort of just...creep me out."

"None taken, they do that to lots of people." Crowley pointed out. "But the dead don't ask for refunds." The brothers exchanged a slight look before they laughed politely.

"Dude's a little morbid." Dean muttered to Sam, not knowing that Crowley heard.

"Just leave everything to me, lads, no worries." Crowley announced with a smile.

"Great." Dean agreed with a nod. "And you got the new address for billing right? Don't wanna...move and have you think that I'm gonna stiff you and all. I'll have everything paid off."

"I have it, Mr Winchester, don't fret." Crowley assured. Dean nodded and left with his brother. Crowley watched them drive away through the mirror and escaped into his private office. He opened a cabinet, several pictures covering the inside of the same blonde woman. He frowned slightly, not liking the idea of having to adjust his plans.

"They're moving." Michaels stated as he limped into the office.

"Yes...they are." Crowley muttered.

"Are...we giving up?" Michaels asked, frowning beneath his bandages.

"We're expanding the playing field." Crowley declared with a smile. He reached up a hand and brushed it over one of the pictures.

So it may take a little longer, but patience would ensure he got what he wanted.

SLTD***SPN***SLTD***SPN

Present

Sam banged his fists on the door and rammed his shoulder into it. Further back in the room, Meg sat, barely conscious with a gash on her head. Sam had worked on waking her up before he attempted to break out of where ever they were. When he was sure she was coherent, he had gotten to work on the door, occasionally talking to the brunette to make sure she was still with him.

"Christie...god...I can't believe her." Meg muttered, pressing her sleeve against her head to try and stop the bleeding. Sam sighed and rubbed his shoulder before looking at her. "I'm so sorry Sam."

"For what?" Sam asked.

"Introducing you." Meg pointed out. "You sure they got Holly too?"

"Yeah, positive." Sam replied, frowning. "Just...wish I knew who this guy was. What the point of this was." Meg sighed, knowing this whole thing was going to pull at the man.

"Okay kids, time for a field trip." Both of them looked up, their eyes widening at the sight of a disfigured Zachariah on the other side of the door. The man opened it and they could see the deep scar on his face and a chunk missing from his nose. He had a gun pointed at them, a wicked grin on his face. "No funny stuff now, come on. The show's about to start."

Sam frowned and helped Meg up, watching the colour drain out of her face as she got to her feet. She leaned heavily on him as they walked ahead of their once previous tormentor. He barked directions to them and they turned whenever he said. Finally, they reached a door and went through it into a relatively bare but not unpleasant looking room. Occupying a large chair was the man who had taken them. To his left sat Christie and on his right, her head down and hands gripping at each other in her lap, was Holly.

"You son of a bitch, let her go!" Sam snapped, eyes falling on his friend.

"But...she wants to be here." The man declared, seeming surprised by the outburst. "I'm a little disappointed in you Sam, you don't recognize me?" Sam just glared at him until the wheels turned and suddenly recognition came upon him. He stared at the smiling face.

"Mr Crowley from the funeral home?" Sam questioned.

"I've been watching you all for a very long time." Crowley pointed out with a slight nod. "It wasn't easy, getting to my beloved. A lot of people had to die. But you'll see, it'll all fit, it'll all make sense."

"What?" Sam asked, staring in disbelief as he tried to piece together what was being said.

"Now I just need your brother." Crowley informed the young man. "And then...oh Sam...in then, things will really get interesting."

Yep, done already. Like I said at the top, this all just basically was off the top of my head. It wrote itself pretty much. I knew I was going to have it be Crowley and I knew Holly was going to know him somehow. Those flashbacks were actually written after the present stuff was written, making itself up as it went, piecing itself together. Kinda cool how it came out that Crowley was actually pulling the strings behind Zachariah and Alistair in the last story.

The next chapter shouldn't be too far away, actually already got it going, just gotta twist and tweak and work things to fit.