"This will never end,
'Cause I want more,
More, give me more,
Give me more…"

Fever Ray—"If I Had a Heart"

"Oh, come on," Dean practically purred, his voice low and undeniably seductive. The demon had a pretty petite woman backed up against a shady alley wall, both hands pressed against either side of her head. The brunette didn't look impressed, her head falling to one side and one hand coming up to push at Dean's chest. A chill ran down her spine as soon as her fingers touched him, and her eyes went wide—the woman staring up at Dean with awe and desire in her crystal blue eyes, and heart.

Dean smiled at her knowingly, his crowfeet ominous in ways that stole away their charm and innocence. The woman about swallowed her tongue when his eyes flashed black.

"…Who'da thought that a Winchester would be knocked down so far?" The woman cackled and her eyes suddenly matched Dean's own, the ebony twinkling in the sun. Dean smirked and pressed all the more closer, the demoness letting out a shocked—pleased—sound as the feeling from before washed over her.

It was pure evil, strong, and unbelievably carnal. Brilliant.

Dean Winchester was Hell incarnate and she absolutely loved it, her facial expression of pleasure giving her away.

"Now, I'm going to ask again," Dean told her huskily, his hands balling up into fists upon the wall, caging her in. "And don't give me any bullshit, got it?"

"Whatever you want," the demoness breathed and wrapped her arms around his neck, his darkness wrapping her around his finger. The demon drew her in like a fly to light, and Dean used this to his advantage.

"Where is Crowley?" Dean asked for the second time, his arms pulling her ever the more closer to his muscled body, his lips pressed to her ear. The demoness grunted at that, her face pressing into Dean's tanned neck. She pulled back, the hellish creature looking at him, pouting. A wicked smile warped her lacquered lips and she leaned in closer to his mouth, the swell of her upper lip catching onto his own.

"Crowley who…?" The vile creature taunted, one leg curling over Dean's own, the demon clearly not wanting to tell him—no matter how irresistible he seemed to be to her. A hellish growl pressed sharply against Dean's vocal cords, the demoness letting out a groan from deep within at the evil of it.

He was so perfect—so dark, yes! Where had this evil been hiding? In a Winchester no less!

Suddenly something seemed to be tugging on Dean's soul, his inner darkness wanting to be let out, and Dean let it out. His plump lips parted as a black smoke pushed against his teeth, the vile vapor whishing around wistfully before finding its target: the demoness' mouth.

The possessed woman looked shocked at the intrusion but ultimately did not fight it, her ebony eyes seeming to lose some of their shine as they stared at Dean patiently. Dean smiled at her deceptively sweetly, one of his hands coming up to cup her cheek.

"Ah, an improvement, silence," Dean told her honestly, his hand falling to her neck, his fingers curling. "Now, show me all that you have seen."

Sam's hope was starting to fade. It had been nearly two days since Dean had left them. Well, one day, twenty three hours, and thirty five minutes to be exact—but it was enough. Way too long…

Castiel and he had checked motel after motel—a number somewhere in the mid-thirties now. Nothing; Dean was nowhere to be found…

He had completely vanished.

Dean.

A demon.

Gone.

Poof.

Sam had not slept, no matter how hard Castiel had pressed. Deep purple bruises lay heavily under the hunter's eyes but he would not shut them. He could not shut them.

They had to find Dean. Sam had to find his brother and bring him home…Even if that meant restraining him and dragging him by force. He had done it before, surely it could be done again, right?

God, Dean was a demon, and Sam couldn't help but blame himself. He should have seen the change in Dean—in his eyes. Dean was just fading so quickly and Sam just couldn't catch all the pieces. Sam ultimately let Dean fall—like usual.

Sam felt as if he had failed Dean again—again. That, somehow, he could have stopped the Mark from changing Dean…

Could Sam have possibly saved his brother? How could he do it now…?

"He's not in this town anymore," Castiel said as he manifested back into the car. Sam cursed loudly and about went off the road, his eyes blinking in shock and annoyance.

"You really have to stop that, Cas! You're going to give me a freaking heart attack!"

"I-I'm sorry," Castiel said and looked out the passenger window, his skin pale and almost gray in hue. Sam looked at him curiously, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked back at the road.

"It's okay, man," Sam told him and nudged the angel with his right elbow, gaining his attention. "Just warn me next time, okay?"

"Of course," said Castiel, the angel giving his friend a soft smile, his blue eyes hollow. His facial expression turned solemn as he looked out at the road, his eyebrows narrowed. "How are you, Sam, really? I'm sorry that I can't find Dean…He-he has somehow hidden himself from my eyes." Castiel looked down; the angel hoping Sam didn't catch on to his damning situation.

He was slowly losing control over his abilities, and he was getting weaker by the hour, it seemed. Castiel's time was starting to wind down—now of all times.

The angel's fists clenched involuntarily, Sam's stare falling upon how they lightly quivered upon his black slacks.

"Hey, don't worry about it," Sam told Castiel, the hunter beaming him a smile—a weak one. "Dean is smart…He took the Impala after all. He probably has hold of a few hex bags…" Sam looked sickened at the thought but straightened his features as Cas looked at him curiously.

"You've exhausted yourself, Cas. Maybe you just need to rest a bit, okay?"

"Ridiculous," Castiel almost snapped, jaw rigid, and voice sharp. "I am not weary; it is you who should rest, Sam."

"Touché," Sam said simply, the hunter not having the energy to fight with a pissed off angel.

Sam wasn't stupid, he knew something was definitely wrong with Castiel—something seriously wrong—but he was afraid to ask. Sam was also pissed off.

Castiel was freaking gray for God's sake! Who was he trying to fool here, and why would he hide his pain from Sam? Wasn't Sam also his friend?

It was these questions that pushed Sam forward, the hunter clearing his throat awkwardly as a wave of unease had settled in the car.

Castiel looked at him suspiciously and Sam looked back at him, his Puppy-Dog Look on full blast. Castiel almost groaned.

"What is it, Sam? You are doing what Dean has called 'Sam's I-will-get-what-I- want face…'"

Sam looked shocked at that, his eyes flickering to the road and back as a small smile quirked his lips. Even Cas looked a tad bit lighter as memories of Dean before the Mark filled both of their minds.

"Did he really?" Sam laughed and his eyes looked misty—lost. Castiel's facial expression fell as he nodded his head, his blue eyes glassy.

"Yes, he did," Castiel replied properly, his eyes sympathetic in ways that made Sam recall why he made 'The Face' in the first place.

"Hey, Cas…" Sam started and the angel hummed back at him, his eyes on the road. "Are you all right? I mean, dude, you look seriously sick…You know you can talk to me, if you need to, right? I know that I'm human, and all, but I consider you my friend—family even. So this is really important to me—to me and Dean, okay?" Castiel looked undeniably uncomfortable as he fought with the right comeback. "Oh, and don't lie to me, okay?" Sam said warningly as Cas opened his mouth to reply. Castiel immediately shut his mouth, the angel looking guilty as hell.

"I swear, if you pass out, or die, on me—on my watch—I will freaking resurrect you and kill you myself, got it?" Not to mention Dean will freaking murder me… Sam thought to himself as he eyed the angel warily, the hunter watching the ethereal being's reaction carefully.

Castiel sighed long and hard, the angel looking down at his hands. Silence seemed to go on as Sam waited for a reply, the hunter's heart thudding dejectedly in his chest with each passing second.

"I-it's my grace," Castiel finally said after forever, the angel looking out the window again—his facial expression hidden from Sam's curious eyes.

"What about your grace, Cas?" Sam urged despite how his hands threatened to snap the steering wheel.

"…Running out," The angel murmured, his voice almost too soft to hear.

"What?" Sam asked, confused, his eyebrows narrowed as he watched the road before them.

"I said it's running out!" Castiel snapped and Sam immediately swerved to the shoulder of the road, the angel looking sicker as his eyes practically swam in his head.

"What the hell do you mean 'it's running out?!'" Sam roared, his voice mocking Cas' own. Castiel narrowed his eyes. Sam looked at Castiel absolutely horrified, so many questions flooding his mind. He focused on two, the hunter half choking on his tongue:

"Can that even happen?! When did this start happening?! Dammit, Cas!" Sam ended in a note that was pure Dean and Castiel's eyes widened a bit.

"Calm down, Sam," Castiel told him simply, his blue eyes dark. "To answer your questions: yes, and a few months ago." He said it so simply that Sam looked completely gob-smacked, the man's arms high up in the air in utter awe.

"What the actual hell, Cas?! Why didn't you tell us? We could have done some—!"

"Because it wasn't important!" Castiel snapped back at him, his eyes sharp. Sam immediately shut his mouth, the hunter looking as if the angel had slapped him across the face. Perhaps it was better if he had.

Sam immediately put the car in drive, the vehicle's wheels screeching upon the pavement. Cas let out a shocked sound and grabbed onto the handle over the door, the angel looking at Sam incredulously. Sam nearly growled aloud, his foot pressing harshly on the gas, not particularly giving a damn when the car swerved a bit to the left.

Who was Castiel to look at him like that? Shouldn't it be reversed?

"God, you're such a freaking dick!" Sam growled out as he sped down the road. Castiel's eyes darkened, the blue teary and weak, and he nodded his head solemnly.

"I think it's better if we part ways for a while." Sam looked at him then, eyes wide, and what he saw broke his heart. Castiel had tears in his eyes. Tears.

"Cas, wai—!"

"Good bye Sam," Castiel said simply and was gone before Sam could finish.

Dean pulled up to a horrendously flashy bar, a huge neon pink sign that said, "Girls, Girls, Girls!" flashing annoyingly in his eyes.

Of course Crowley was here.

Ass.

Dean patted his jacket pocket, the Demon Blade tucked away safely there. It wasn't the Blade but it was the best he had at the moment. Hopefully that would change soon…

Dean looked at his left hand, the memory of the Blade still fresh and the flesh of his palm still tingling with excitement. He closed his eyes and breathed in deep through his nose, his nostrils flaring.

"Not yet, not yet…" The demon murmured to himself warningly. He then looked at the mirror and willed his black eyes away, his crystal green staring back at him.

"Not yet."

"Crushed and filled with all I found,
Underneath and inside,
Just to come around,
More, give me more, give me more…"

Fever Ray— "If I Had a Heart"

A/N: Sorry for the wait, guys. Midterms and such…Ugh.

If you see any errors please let me know! :D

Comment? :)

Best wishes as always,

Lthien