Dean had parked the impala down the street and was standing in the middle of the crossroads. He held the tin box, his hands shaking the longer he held it. He threw it roughly down in the hole he had dug earlier and used his boot to cover it. Just when Dean had thought his heart had managed to repair itself to be at least semi-functional (in other words held together with duck tape), he felt it shatter again in a matter of seconds. The cross-roads demon who stood before him was in possession of Nichole's body. It was Nichole who stared back at him. She looked like hell, with a busted lip, broken arm, and covered in bruises but it was her. The only difference was the blood red eyes. "Son of a bitch," Dean muttered feeling the breath catch in the back of his throat. Demon-Nikki stood casually admiring her body.
"Well, Winchester. I must say you have excellent taste in women. This meat suit is smoking, a little damaged but smoking none the least." she said grinning staring him down.
"Shut the hell up," Dean growled digging his heels into the dirt road so he didn't go charging at the demon, after all this was his only shot. "You know what I want. Let's just-"
"Ah yes. The deal. You want me to bring your precious booty call back to life. I gotta say lover boy that's going to cost you."
"Don't care."
"Really?"
"Yes," Dean spat through clenched teeth.
"Tell you what," Demon-Nikki said as she circled Dean, "Since the King seems to favor you, your brother and the owner of this particular meat suit, I'll cut you a deal. The price is of course your soul, but collection date is in 10 years." She stood behind Dean and blew lightly on his ear. "That's the deal. Take it or leave it." Dean spun around to face her.
"What game are you playing?"
"I'm not playing games. I'm doing my job."
"Your job is to collect souls quickly, ten years?"
"Like I said the King favors you, everything has its perks." She replied waggling her eyebrows. Dean bit down on his lip.
"Deal," He muttered.
"What was that I couldn't quite hear you?" the demon taunted taking a step back.
"I said deal you son of a bitch!" He shouted. The demon cackled and leaned forward to seal the deal.
"Hey! Get the hell away from my fiancé!" A voice screeched from a bit down the road. Dean froze. He'd know that voice anywhere. Dean didn't have much time to process before Nichole's ghost phased in between him and her physical body. Nichole shoved her body backward standing in front of Dean.
"Hunters, always ruining deals," the demon muttered. Nichole whipped around glaring at Dean.
"What the hell are you doing?" She demanded growl present in her voice. Dean stood almost stunned. He reached a hand out to touch her hair but she shifted away. A look of hurt spread across his face. Laughter broke up the reunion.
"Should I give you two a moment, or can we finish the deal?" The demon asked glancing between Nikki and Dean. Dean stole a quick glance at Nichole and she looked up at him.
"Dean don't-"
"You'll forgive me," he muttered walking through her. Nichole groaned in frustration and used all her might to send him flying back into an alley wall.
"I'm not worth this!" She shouted, trying not to cry.
"Yes you are! You wouldn't be dead if I had done my job! This is my mess and I'm going to fix it!"
"Dean this is nobody's fault!"
"Yes it is! I wasn't there to protect you and now you're dead!"
"I knew the risks of getting involved with hunters and I did it anyways! I'm the one who wasn't careful during the hunt. I'm the one who wasn't checking everything I should. I'm the one who decided I'm the one who was stupid and charged in head first without considering anything! So don't you dare blame yourself for my death!"
"It's my soul! I'll do with it what I please!"
"It's also me your trying to bring back! I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing that in however long you would be ripped out of my life because you sold your soul for me! I wouldn't be able to forgive myself." Nichole was trying so hard to stay angry but inside she was breaking. Some how she knew that Dean was going to stubborn but she honestly hadn't expected this. Dean was stupid and he's done some stupid stuff, but he'd already gone through the business of selling his soul and going to hell. Why is he trying to go through that same agony again?
"Nichole!" Sam shouted as he ran up the street. Nichole glared at him over her shoulder.
"Don't even get me started with you! Why the hell haven't you given me a hunter's burial?!"
"It's been one day! Give us a break!" Sam replied trying to defend himself. Nichole rolled her eyes
"Yeah whatever! Just get over here and help me with-" Nichole turned to look at Dean but suddenly discovered he was no longer pinned to the alley wall. "No!" She shrieked turning just in time to see Dean force his lips onto the demon version of herself. It was kind of weird to see herself kissing someone, but Nichole didn't have time to really consider the notion before feeling a familiar pain rip through her. Her physical form collapsed into Dean's arms as the demon left her body. Nichole took in a sharp deep breath and found herself suddenly staring up at Dean. She felt a sense of guilt pang in her stomach and using her good arm punched Dean hard in the shoulder. He winced at first and then clutched her to his chest.
