AN: Hey, guys! I'm glad that some of y'all like this story! Thanks for not giving up.
Team Free Will stood outside of the door to the abandoned warehouse. Ruby was still muttering about how the boys always want to go in with half-assed plans. Cas stood stoically next to Meg, but not really understanding why he wanted to be near the demon. Meg was trying not to laugh listening to Ruby grumble. Dean was only half-listening to what Sam was saying. Sam himself was trying to come up with a little more of a plan. Lucy was two seconds from telling Sam that no one was listening.
After a second, Sam, Dean, Lucy, and Ruby went in, leaving Meg to wait with Cas. Dean led the way as it was Jo that was being held there. He started to go left, when Ruby said softly, "Hold on, loverboy. Demons that way."
To Dean's credit, he was able to hold his tongue and settle with just glaring at her. When Ruby began to lead, Dean's glare intensified, and he entertained the thought of shooting her for only a second.
"Sigil," Sam whisper-alerted the group. They then noticed a few more near that one. Soon they'd painted over each sigil they found in the building.
"Was that all of them?" Lucy asked, hesitating.
"Yes," Castiel said from behind her, making her jump. Meg started laughing from next to the clueless angel that was now being glared at by the small, blue eyed hunter.
"Hasn't anyone ever taught you how to knock?" The British accent of the King of Hell sent shudders down everyone's, even Cas's, spines. He looks at each of them in turn, but only said something to Ruby. "Ah, Ruby, long time."
The demon in question, swallowed down the bile rising in her throat at the memories of hell involving the former crossroads demon. She glared venomously at him. Her body relaxed only slightly when she felt Sam's hand on her shoulder. She shrugged him off, not wanting Dean to blow up at him and at her. The thought surprised her. She was a demon, why did she care?
"Go back to hell, you son of a bitch," Lucy growled.
Ignoring the last comment, Crowley looked at Dean. "Alright, Squirrell. I'm still a crossroads demon. I can't resist a good trade. Give me Ruby, and you can have your girlfriend back."
Dean glanced over at Ruby and saw her stiffen. She looked over at him and nodded, but her eyes were filled with fear. "No deal." Ruby's eyes widened.
"Dean -" she started.
"- I said no deal."
"Fine," Crowley sighed. "Good luck getting to her," he taunted, before vanishing.
It was then that they heard the growling of hellhounds.
"Hey, Dean, your favorite," Meg joked half-heartedly.
"Hellhounds," he said, sending Meg a glare. "And you've made that joke before."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Move!"
And they did. They ran through the halls of the warehouse, until they got to a heavy metal door. After Dean realized it was locked, Sam began to frantically pick the lock. Ruby, Meg, Cas, and Dean held the hounds back until they could finally get into the aforementioned room. Once inside, they all took a deep breath before looking around at each other and the room. A silent moment passed before realization hit them all. Every heart sank, even the demons'. The air was heavy until Ruby finally said what they had all been thinking. "Where's Lucy?"
No one had heard her scream or cry out. They had no idea where she was.
