Sam looked up at the door. He half expected Bobby to walk through it at any minute. He was really glad that Bobby was letting him do this one on his own. He wasn't entirely sure why, but he wanted to be alone with Ruby - even if only for a few minutes. There was something terrifying and yet fascinating about her all at the same time.

Sam turned his concentration back to the task at hand. He had almost all of the symbols needed already drawn on the dark concrete floor of the empty warehouse. He concentrated on the last - and most difficult - symbol, making sure the curves and lines were exact. He stood up and stared at the completed piece on the floor below him. It all was just right. Sam looked around the room one more time before dropping the last bit into the urn at his feet. He watched almost in a trance as the flame of unreal colors flashed up brightly, then burned out.

"Why, Sam. And to think, all this time you left me down there, I thought you didn't love me." Ruby stepped out of the shadows with a trademark grin on her face.

The dark hair, deep brown eyes, and olive colored skin were in such contrast to the ivory skinned blond she'd occupied before. Sam was surprised, and oddly attracted. "New body?" he asked - just something to break the ice a little.

Ruby looked down at herself before looking back up at Sam, an impish little smile on her face. "Yeah. Just thought I'd try someo... something new on for size. Why? You like it?"

Sam stared at her, trying not to let his thoughts run away with him, and failing miserably. He couldn't help it. She just... fascinated him. It was the only word he could think of. "Whatever, Ruby. Look, I need your help."

Ruby looked at him surprised. "You finally ready to learn some new tricks?"

Sam rolled his eyes skyward and let out a heavy sigh. "We've had this discussion before. You know that's not why I called you here." It was the truth, after all. They really had been through this at least a hundred times. It felt that way, anyway.

Ruby shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "Oh well. Can't blame a girl for trying. So why exactly am I here, Sam?"

Sam looked at her as though he thought she was crazy. She had to know what was going on. "You really mean to tell me that you have no idea what's going on?"

Ruby raised her eyebrows at him inquisitively. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Sam."

Sam crossed his arms over his chest. "Okay, how about this? Why don't you tell me what you know about soldier demons."

"Soldier demons?" she asked quickly. "I don't know. The same as everybody else," she said with a shrug. "They are bound by the laws of hell - can't get out unless carried out. And that NEVER happens anymore."

"Well, it's sure as hell happened now. And the one that got out is loose."

Ruby scoffed at Sam as if he were crazy one now. "Yeah, right, Sam. One thing I do know for sure about them is that they can't live without a human host."

Sam took an angry step forward, his rage starting to flare. "Then tell me why in the hell I just spent the last four days being held captive by that now has Dean?!" he shouted.

Ruby could tell just by the look on his face and the flash in his eyes that he wasn't jerking her chain. She took a step forward so that now the two were standing within inches of touching distance. "Sam, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I don't know how one could have gotten out - let alone gotten loose."

Sam felt his angry stance start to slip a little when she stepped so close to him that he could literally feel the body heat coming off the girl Ruby now possessed. He looked down at her, his green eyes locking with her chocolate brown ones. "What do they want with Dean, Ruby?"

Ruby took a step back and again scoffed at Sam. "Come on. You know it's not Dean they want."

Sam felt the anger rising up in him again. "How do you know?! They kept saying that Dean has something they want. Dean doesn't have anything! You have the knife and Bela took off with the Colt months ago!"

Ruby looked at Sam and held his gaze for a long time before speaking. "You really don't know, do you?"

Sam's frustration was acute by now, and he was ready to strangle her right there on the spot. "That's what I've been trying to tell you! I don't know what the hell is going on, but I want some damned answers! Now!"

Ruby finally nodded and again stepped forward, this time reaching out and touching Sam's arm. "Okay. I'll tell you what I know. But you'll need to be sitting down for this one. And I need food. Well, okay, I don't need it, but the body I'm occupying sure does, and French fries and a burger sound absolutely wonderful right now."

sam looked at Ruby and wanted to protest, but right now, he didn't see how he could do that. She had answers - answers that he desperately needed. "Fine, let's go."