Hello all. I am so sorry for the long time in coming for this update. My head just hasn't been in the right place to write it. But I'm back now.

I hope you like this chapter, there is only one more after this one.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.


Death was searching the universe, trying to find God so that he could come and help place the darkness back into her cage when he felt it. It was a very special Death calling him. One he had marked as his own to deliver, once more Sam Winchester was going to die, again. With that realisation Death abandoned his search and made his way sedately to the Winchesters home. There was always a chance that Dean would find some way to save Sam after all, and he would much prefer not to have a wasted the trip. But what he saw when he got there was something he had not expected, for while yes, there was Sam unconscious on the bed and Dean on his knees in prayer for help from anyone, on the floor was his youngest brother, infected by the looks of it by the same disease as Sam.

"What did you do Pestilence?" He asked as he knelt besides the dying being. There were only three beings in existence who had the power to do what had been done here. He was one of them, and the other two where the God and the darkness. The question was, how had she got to Pestilence?

"I'm sorry brother. I failed. I made a deal with the darkness, a way to destroy the world. But she insisted that Dean Winchester be not harmed so I gave her my strongest disease and she altered it. But I did not realise she had changed it so that I to would be infected. I'm sorry, please forgive me." Pestilence whispered as coughs racked his body and blood seeped from his dry and cracking lips. He was begging Death for absolution at his end, even though he knew he didn't deserve it. But he needed to know that his brother did not blame him for whatever befell them all as a consequence of his actions.

"she insisted Dean lived did she?" Was all Death said in reply as he got up from the floor and moved so he could study the man who had sliced him in two with his own scythe. He had not been too pleased by that action, but he had always known that Dean was special. Ever since he had walked into the pizza pallor in Chicago to ask him for his ring. But now he had to decide what he was going to do. He could save his brother, and subsequently Sam as well, or he could let Pestilence die for his wounded pride and craving for power and acclaim. Hmm, it was a tough decision, but if he wanted Amara removed from the earth he was going to need the Winchesters on his side, not hers. As such he settled himself into a chair and made himself visible to the only conscious human in the room.

"You are praying to the wrong God, Dean. It's his sister who did this, and it is only she who can undo it." he said in a calm tone surprising the man kneeling on the floor so much he fell backwards as he turned to see who had spoken.

"Death? What? But… I killed you." Dean replied with shock in his voice at the sight of the man in front of him.

"Do you really think you have that power Dean? I am disappointed, I thought you had more brains than that." Death replied amiably. When would the Winchesters learn that they could not defeat Death, just put off their meeting a little longer each time?

"you can't take Sammy, I won't let you." Dean said as he recovered, moving so that he was in front of his brother with his arms out. He knew that it was pointless, but he couldn't lose his brother. Not like this, not now. He couldn't fight the darkness alone.

"Unless you can get Amara to reserve what she has done to him, there will be nothing you can do." Death answered simply staring at the man in front of him hoping he would make the decision he needed to make. There was no way Death could get an antidote without Amara here after all.

At that sentence Dean understood, and taking a deep breath he nodded before resuming his kneeling position and closing his eyes.

"Amara, its Dean Winchester. Please I need your help. Please come to me." He whispered sending the prayer across the world and wondering if he was truly doing the right thing. If this was what Sam would want him to do. But he had no choice, he couldn't' go on without his brother. Not if there was a chance to save him.

"I will always come when you call Dean." Came a female voice from the other side of the bed.

Opening his eyes he looked up into the face of the darkness and he felt the usual sense of peace settle over him when in her vicinity. It was strange and it was wrong and he tried to fight it, but he failed at every turn.

"Hello Amara." Death said standing from behind Dean and moving her eyes from staring loving at her human to him, where they hardened.

"You." she spat she could not believe he was here.

"Yes, me." Death responded with a nod and moved so he was standing at the foot of the bed with Dean on his knees on one side and Amara glaring at him on the other. The position was also subsequently in front of Pestilence who was dying on the floor, yet still taking in every word and movement from the three players in front of him. Though in truth he thought, there were only two players, Dean had always been and would always be a pawn.

"What are you doing here?" Amara asked Death with hard eyes. She did not want nor need his interference in her plan.

"I have come to take Sam Winchester's soul, unless you are inclined to save him." Death replied simply, though he made no move to touch the unconscious Winchester.

"And why would I do that?" Amara asked smirking at him. Sam was a tool to her. A way to get what she wanted from her human on the floor.

"I'll do anything you ask, just please, save my brother." Dean begged right on cue making Amara turn to stare at him with benevolence as she smiled.

"Dean. I wish it had not had to happen this way. I wish you would have joined me before now. But yes I will save your brother for your allegiance." She said in her silky tones, offering the deal she had come here to make.

"That would work, of course I offer a counter proposal." Death said before Dean could reply and join her side.

"You have no say in this old man." Amara spat at him raising her hand as if she intended to remove him from the room, though all Death did in response was raise one eyebrow at her.

"Ah but I do. I can kill Dean with just a thought. Save Sam and my brother without making any deals and I'll let him live. Make that deal and he will die." Death replied in his usual measured tone.

"You think he means that much to me?" Amara growled at him. How dare he try to play her? She would not stand for this behaviour.

"I know he does. I know the rules of your cage Amara, do not forget who I am." Death responded sternly as if he was chastising an earnt child.

There was a beat of silence as Amara contemplated Death's words and Dean held his breath in the hopes that she would take Death's deal, he would prefer not to make one himself.

"Very well." Amara sighed. She knew in this she had no power. So with that decision made Death handed her a vial which she once again smashed in her hand producing her blood once more, though rather than filling another vial and handing it to anyone she simply let the blood drip down onto the floor until there was enough that the antidote with take effect.

Once done she turned to Death and glared at him once more. "This isn't over."

"No, I never thought it was, but it is not me you will be fighting." Death replied with a nod of his head in a strange type of respect.

With that Amara disappeared in a swirl of black smoke leaving Dean looking down at Sam and hoping she hadn't lied and that he would be well again.

All the while Death, no longer visible to Dean's sight, had moved to his brother's side once more.

"Thank you Death, thank you." Pestilence said reaching out for his hand as he took a deep breath of the cleansing air.

"We will talk about this later. When you are well." Was all Death said, giving his brothers hand a quick squeeze as he left once more on his hunt for the one who could put an end to this all.