AN: Okay, so last chapter was a little strange, so hopefully I'll do better this time around. Wish me luck.


Sam called Bobby as soon as Crowley disappeared. Lucy was comforting Ellen as Dean paced.

"Would you sit down, Winchester! You're gonna wear a hole in the floor!" Lucy snapped.

"Crowley said that it was nice to see you again, you know him?" he shot back.

"He killed my dad," she responded coldly.

He froze. That was the last thing he'd been expecting her to say. "Oh."

"Yeah," she said softly. Dean sat down at the bar.

"Bobby will be here in fifteen," Sam said.

The roadhouse quickly descended back inside the roadhouse. Each of them trapped with their own thoughts regarding Jo.

Everyone's eyes snapped to the door when it opened, revealing a fairly raggedy Meg Masters. Dean jumped up, hunting knife ready.

"Woah, Dean. I'm here to help."

Before Dean could even begin to formulate a response, Cas appeared with a flap of his wings.

"Meg," he began, looking at Dean with confusion.

"She says she's here to help," Dean explained. "Why should we even consider trusting you?"

"'Cause I know where Jo is, plus I owe your feathery friend."

Dean swiveled around to face the angel in question who didn't move his penetrating gaze from the demon.

"He didn't smite me," she explained as if it were obvious. "Anyway, Crowley wants me dead, and I figured Team Free Will could use some extra help."

"Dean, she knows where Jo is," Lucy said, almost challenging him to turn down the offered help.

"Team Free Will?" he questioned.

Meg grinned at his acceptance, "It's what Crowley's goons are calling you."

"Okay, we leave as soon as Bobby shows up. Ellen, you stay here."

"Like hell I am."

"Right, until Bobby gets here." Dean repeats, ignoring Ellen's furious glare.

The old fart in question walked in seconds later. Dean looked at Lucy, Sam, Cas, and Meg in turn before saying, "Bobby, keep Ellen here, we're going to get Jo!"

The five darted out of the roadhouse followed by a string of curses that made the tips of Sam's ears burn and Lucy blush.

They were almost to the car when Meg was blindsided by a hellhound. She hit the ground with a grunt. Before any of the hunters could help her, she started laughing. "Hey, you big lump," she cooed affectionately. "They have to be morons." She pushed the hound off of her and stood.

"Why?" Lucy asked.

"They sent my own damn hell hound to kill me," she laughed.

"They didn't send her, I did," a voice announced.

"No," Meg breathed. "You're alive?" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Did you miss me?" the demon said, stepping out of the shadows. She was taller than Lucy by a few inches, and was blonde. "Sam," she said softly.

"Ruby," he breathed, stepping backwards.

"Listen, Dean, Sam, that wasn't me. I was always on your side!"

"Why should I believe you?" Dean growled.

"She's telling the truth," Meg assured.

"Lilith forced me out of the body and had another demon possess it. I was gone before she told you that she could save Dean. Before she even suggested the demon blood! And come on, why would she trust me again? Do you really think anyone would let me out of hell that quickly if I helped the Winchesters? They kept me down there and sent the other tramp in my place. Like I'd ever possess a brunette. I knew that Lucifer returning would never end well. And, I mean, I brought her her hell hound, to help you. I swear."

"She is not lying," Cas stated in his usual monotone voice. His face seemed slightly uncomfortable at the idea of spending time with two demons, but they both seemed to be kind of good.

"Are you all crazy?!" Dean shouted desperately. Getting no response, he sighed and got in his beloved impala. Meg gave him the instructions to get there, but other than that, the car ride was silent.

"Dean, I'm sorry," Ruby said softly. "Hell's a nasty place, and I really did try to keep you from there. The last thing I wanted was for Lucifer to get out."

Dean didn't reply, and the car descended back into the uncomfortable silence.

They drove for two days only stopping at gas stations occasionally. Sam drove for a few hours the second day, but for the rest of the time, it was all Dean. He couldn't lose her, not after what had just changed between them.

"Pull over," Meg ordered, breaking Dean out of his thoughts. Dean complied, and the group got out of the cramped car.

"Damn, since when do you travel with such a big group?" Ruby asked. Dean, of course, didn't answer. Both Winchester boys were keeping their distance from the demon. "Right, you still hate me."

"Where are we?" Lucy wondered aloud. "More importantly, where is that son of a bitch, Crowley?"

"A mile that way," Meg said nonchalantly.

"We could have-" Dean started.

"What? Driven up?" Meg guessed.

"They'd recognize your car, dumbass," Ruby pointed out. "Wait, do you knuckleheads still have my knife?" Sam said nothing, just held it out to her. She grinned and took it from him. "Thanks."

They walked on in silence. Each was armed with their own weapon. Dean had his gun and the Colt, Sam had his own gun, Cas had his angel blade, Meg had somehow acquired her own angel blade (her hound was guarding the Roadhouse), Ruby had her demon knife, and Lucy had her rifle and a knife in her boot.

Finally, the abandoned warehouse came into view. They couldn't see any demons outside, so they proceded cautiously.

"It is warded against angels," Cas stated when they reached a door.

"Right, we'll go in and remove the sigils, and then as soon as you can, come help." Dean stated.

"I don't know why I was expecting anymore of a plan," Ruby muttered.

"The plan is we go in and kill as many of those sons of bitches as we can, get Jo, and let Lucy shoot Crowley in the face."

"Me? Not that I don't really want to, but why?"

"He killed your dad, so he's yours."

"I'm convinced that all hunters have daddy issues," Meg said flatly.

"I am beginning to agree," Cas said in the same tone.


AN: Okay, for anyone who actually likes this story, here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long. Please review!

Oh, and for anyone who read my other Supernatural story, 'I Won't Let It', I'm attempting a sequel that may be a multi chapter fic.

Seraphina Jones