6:02 p.m. – the day Dean's deal is due
The crossroads outside of Cold Oak, South Dakota was dry and dusty. Dean pulled the Impala well off the edge of the road into some brush to keep some local yokel from hitting it. Lovingly, he ran his hand along the dash of the vehicle that had been his home since he was four years old. He pretended not to notice the slight tremor in his fingers and ignored the churning in his stomach as he slowly climbed out of the car.
The sun was sinking low in the west. Dean wasn't really sure how all this worked. Did he have till midnight? Maybe until the exact time that he had made the deal? As Dean leaned against the hood, he decided he would just as soon get it over with. At least, that's what he thought until he heard the first hellhound howl.
"It's okay, you're okay, it's okay," Dean muttered to himself over and over, like a mantra, trying to stay calm – or at least not puke. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a figure in the distance. Dean tested his legs before fully standing. Although they were shaky, he thought he would be able to make it.
Slowly walking towards the figure, Dean's mantra moved from "It's Okay," to "Oh God, Oh God, Oh God" as he eyed the tiny blond girl with the two snarling beasts beside her. Coming to a halt at the middle of the crossroads, Dean closed his eyes, trying to summon strength from any source he could find – the memory of his mother, the desire not to disappoint his father, his love for Sam and Jack. Slightly calmer, Dean looked at the child in front of him and the demonic smile on her face.
"Dean, Dean, Dean," she cooed in a child like whisper. "All alone? No one to come and support you in your time of need? You were so quick to sacrifice yourself. Where are your lovely brothers now? Where is your savior?"
Dean worked to bring moisture back to his mouth. When he spoke, he didn't recognize his own voice. "Leave my brothers out of this, you bitch."
The little girl laughed with evil delight. "I'm afraid I can't do that. Now that you are out of the way, nothing will stop me from finally ridding myself of Sam Winchester."
"Yeah, you've had a real easy time of that so far."
Lillith smirked. To Dean's surprise, she said, "You're right. Maybe I'll have a crack at that Jackie boy. I bet if I showed up wearing your meatsuit, he wouldn't hesitate to do whatever I asked – even to kill his 'evil' brother Sam. He looks up to you so . . ."
"I'll kill you myself, you damn bitch" Dean said, fear forgotten as he threw himself at the demon.
Lillith laughed as she waved her hand, throwing Dean twenty feet. Dean landed hard on his back, which knocked his breath out of him. As he struggled to get to his feet, he heard Lillith say, "This is going to be so much fun! Sick'em boys!"
Dean couldn't move back quickly enough to avoid the hellhounds and screamed as he felt the first hound sink its teeth into his leg.
5:10 p.m.
Bobby knew something wasn't right. It was too quiet downstairs. Moving lightly down from the attic, Bobby peeked around the corner and swore at what he saw. Moving quickly to the sink, he grabbed the washcloth, doused it with cold water and knelt down beside Jack.
"Jack! Boy, you gotta wake up!"
Jack's eyes slit open when the cold water hit his face. "Bobby? What happened?" he stuttered.
"You let him get the drop on you, you idgit!" Bobby replied, hauling Jack to his feet.
Jacky's eyes widened in a panic as Bobby's words sank in. Glancing down, Jack noticed Dean's ring and amulet in his hand. "What? When? Where did he go?"
"If I know Dean, he's half way to the crossroads by now. Damn it! We have to move."
"Yeah, I just need to grab my mom's grimoire and the athame."
Bobby turned and headed out the door towards his truck, yelling, "Well, hurry up boy. We have a good hour's drive and we need to make it by sundown."
Jack rushed upstairs to his room, looking around wildly for his mother's grimoire. Digging through he bag, he pulled it from the bottom and turned to grab the dagger from the desk. However he pulled up short at the sight of Ruby twirling the blade in her hand.
"I need that," Jack said firmly but not moving.
"I know. You know, this knife can't really hurt me. I mean it would sting if you stabbed me but it won't really do any real damage. Demons don't have souls - they have . . . essences I guess you would call it. You can't catch my essence with this thing."
"Uh huh," Jack said slowly, confusion on his face. "Well, as interesting as that is . . "
Ruby continued as if Jack hadn't spoken. "However, MY knife," Ruby pulled said knife from the back of her jeans, holding it up next to the athame. "My knife can't hurt you – unless you know, I get a lucky shot." Slowly Ruby walked towards Jack until she was standing right in front of him. Pointing with her knife, Ruby continued her commentary. "You know if I nicked an artery or got you in the heart, you'd die but if you were a demon, well, that would be different. If you were a demon I wouldn't even half to hit you in a vital organ. As long as I got it in you," Ruby said with a small jab and a smile, "your essence would simply disintegrate."
"Could it kill Lilith?" Jack asked as he felt the hope rise in him.
"Maybe," Ruby answered with nonchalance. "If I could even get close enough . . . but the point is, our knives have the exact opposite effect . . ."
"I don't know what this has to do with . . ."
"Maybe nothing . . ." Ruby said spinning around and heading towards the door. At the doorframe, she looked back at Jack, "or maybe everything. You never know." Ruby threw Jack's knife back to him. "Just something to keep in mind!"
Jack juggled the knife, trying desperately to get hold of it without cutting himself. Once he had it by the grip, he looked up angrily, ready to cuss the demon out, only to find himself alone. "Crazy bitch," he muttered to himself as he bounded down the stairs.
5:45 p.m.
Samael looked out over the barren wasteland that was South Dakota. The anticipation of the fight to come, the final closure on so many things, had Sam's nerves humming with power. As Sam rubbed his hands together, actual sparks flew to the ground.
He had been waiting for this night for a long time. Sam was confident that once Dean was truly faced with the prospect of death and eternal damnation, his survival instinct would kick in and he would join Sam. While, his initial conversation with Dean had been disappointing, Sam believed once Lillith was dead, Dean would do what he had done his whole life – stand at Sam's shoulder. Dean didn't really know how to do anything else and Sam wanted him back.
And just in case Dean had second thoughts, Sam had a plan in place to remove any reason for Dean to say no. "I mean, if Jack and Bobby were killed in the ensuing fight, well that wouldn't be my fault – at least it won't look like my fault," Sam said to himself. "And just in case that little mongrel doesn't show up, well, accidents happen." Either way, after tonight Sam and Dean Winchester were going to be back together again – the way they were supposed to be. It would be the two of them against the world and the world didn't stand a chance. Yes, Sam had waited for this day and found himself impatient now that it was here.
Sam grimaced as a pain tore through his right leg, making his eyes flash orange. Concentrating briefly, Sam faded from sight.