Hello again, everyone! I'm churning out chapters pretty quickly over here. I would wait to post each chapter, but I'm too impatient. but, when I hit a road block, I hope you'll all be patient with me! I have a few ideas as to where I'm headed with this story, but if anyone has any suggestions, I would be happy to hear them. Enjoy chapter 4! [Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC]

Sam and Dean poured over all the books in the library on the subject of demons. There were thousands, so they anticipated a long night. Cas had been working all the angel tricks he knew, but nothing was working. Those damn cuffs just weren't coming off. Ivy had been burned and healed a few more times since they had started and she was currently resting in Dean's room.

"Maybe we should call it a night." Sam said, closing his tome. "It's not like Crowley can get to her while she's here." Dean sighed deeply and shut his book as well.

"Yeah, you're right." Dean conceded. He leaned back in his chair, and looked to his brother. "What's so special about this girl? Why does Crowley want her so badly? He's had his goons after us ever since we captured her."

Sam shrugged. "Maybe because she's rare. He's created a new breed. Maybe he can't do it again."

"Yeah, but if she's so special, why have her working the crossroads?"

"Have you seen her, Dean? She's not exactly a formidable opponent." Sam scoffed. "She's been through a lot though. It must have been rough." Dean nodded solemnly.

"He could be conditioning her." Dean suggested, but he didn't elaborate his idea.

"Hi." Sam and Dean both jumped at the sudden noise. They turned and saw Ivy standing in the doorway. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She was standing there in one of Dean's white shirts and a pair of his sleep shorts. Dean noticed for the first time how small she looked. His shirt was big on her, but the shorts fit her well. She had this look about her that made her seem so...breakable.

"How are you feeling?" Sam asked.

She stepped into the room and Dean saw that she was barefoot. Her steps were short and delicate, and he watched her with interest.

"Better." She replied, pushing a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Thank you for the clothes." She said, looking at Dean. He nodded and turned back to his book, opening it again. "Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked, this time looking at Sam. He didn't respond at first and by the look on his face, Ivy got the feeling he still didn't really trust her.

Standing up from the table, Sam glanced at Dean and then to her. "We were actually about to call it a night." He said. He gathered his things and walked out of the room, not looking back. Ivy heaved a sigh and sat down a few chairs down from Dean, idly flipping through the pages of an old book.

"Don't take it too personal." Dean said, taking a sidelong look at her. She looked up at him, and the pain was evident on her face. Sam was right, she had been through a lot. "Don't worry. We will find a way to get those off of you." He gestured towards her cuffs and she smiled. It wasn't a real smile though. It was a smile that said, 'I know better than to even hope for a good outcome, but thanks for the kind sentiments'. She looked as if she knew she was going to die soon, and she accepted it.

"Is Castiel here?" She asked. Dean shook his head.

"He's off somewhere trying to find a way to get you out of those handcuffs." He replied. Ivy rubbed her arm and looked away. She wasn't sure if Dean trusted her either. Her chest felt heavy and she just wanted someone to talk to, someone who wanted to talk to her. Feeling awkward, she stood up and was going to leave, when Dean stopped her.

"I'm sorry I tried to kiss you." He said. She turned to look at him and his face had a big cheesy grin on it. Not expecting it, she burst out laughing and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Dean continued to grin, taking pleasure in the fact that he made her smile genuinely. She looked nice when she smiled. Dean cleared his throat and stood. "I guess I'm going to call it a night as well. You can stay in my room."

"Where are you going to sleep?" She asked, following him as he walking into another room. She watched him kick off his boots, and then fling himself onto a couch. He looked back at her and grinned. Ivy shook her head and laughed softly.

"Thank you." Ivy said, another genuine smile gracing her lips.

Dean shook his head, "Don't mention it. I've slept on many couches in my time." He put his arms behind his head.

"No, I mean, thank you for helping me. And for being kind to me when you had no reason to." She felt her cheeks warm up and she looked down at her feet shyly. "It means a lot to me."

Dean sat upright on the couch and leaned over his knees. "I know we haven't been very accommodating to you though. Tying you up, keeping you in the basement...burning you."

"You didn't know." Ivy interjected, but Dean continued.

"Sammy and I haven't had the best track record with demons." He paused. "Or women." He rubbed the back of his head and then continued, "But, we're going to help you. One way or another. I do have one question though."

"What is it?" Ivy asked a little nervously.

"How did you get involved with Crowley in the first place?"

Ivy didn't quite know how to answer that. She knew that he had a right to know, but even she didn't know the full story. "I'm not sure. But, it has a lot to do with my father." She stopped for a moment, trying to think of what to say next. Dean patted the spot next to him on the couch and she meekly went over and sat next to him. But, not too close. "My father made a deal with Crowley. Since he disappeared when I was young, I couldn't tell you what it was for. He left me on my own, but I didn't mind much since he was mean to me." Ivy clenched her fists in her lap, recalling all the horrible things her father did to her. "I was on my own until one day a few months ago, I was attacked by a hellhound. He clawed me up pretty good. Left a scar." She closed her eyes as she remembered the terrible ripping sounds and the blood that had been pooling on the ground. Her blood. "Then Crowley showed up and told me that I owed him my soul, because my father somehow skipped out on his deal."

"And then he made a deal with you." Dean interjected, and Ivy nodded.

"He said I could live and keep my soul if I worked for him. But it's not work, it's slavery." She said sadly. Dean nodded in understanding, and tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder. Ivy flinched slightly at the contact, but didn't shrug him off.

"We'll figure this out and set you free. I promise." Dean said, looking directly into Ivy's forest green eyes.

"I hope so." She said. "But please," she said looking back into his own green eyes pleadingly, " Don't get yourselves hurt on my account. I don't think I could live with myself."

Dean scoffed, "Sammy and I are pros. Don't worry about us." He sounded so sure, but Ivy wasn't convinced. They were going up against the King of Hell.

As Ivy went back to Dean's room, she wondered how she could help Sam and Dean in their fight against Crowley. She lay in Dean's bed, and chided herself for being so weak and useless. All this time she had been stuck in the past, whining over her current position, but she never tried to do anything about it. Even though she wasn't sure she could do anything, it would have been better to try than to sit back and let her life be stolen away.

Now it wasn't up to just her, however. Having help made her feel comforted slightly. She just had to have faith that things would work out.

One way or another, Ivy was going to be free.

There it is! Hope you liked it. Let me know what you thought and look out for chapter 5!