I woke to the sound of talking outside. Loud talking.

There was the four voices I knew very well, and then there was another. One much richer, that had an allure to it. But at the same time, it gave me the chills.

I washed up quickly, and was down the stair in some cargo pants, a plain tee and a flannel shirt in no time. I walked out the door to find the entourage packing the van. Great... They were going to leave without telling me.

I opened my mouth to speak but there was the figure that voice must have belonged to. A man dressed in a black suit, with a larger black coat over the top. He was balding.

"...king of the crossroads. So, shall we? Bobby, you just gonna sit there?" The man said. He was... The demon right. The one to tell them where Death awaits.

"No. I'm gonna river dance." Came the response of Bobby.

"I suppose if you want to impress the ladies. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby. Really wasted that crossroads deal. Fact - you get more if you phrase it properly. So, I took the liberty of adding a teeny little sub-a clause on your behalf. What can I say? I'm an altruist. Just gonna sit there?" The demon looked at Bobby, waiting for him to make a miraculous recovery.

And he did. Bobby, sure as rain, stood. On his own two legs, without any assistance. "Son of a bitch."

"Yes, I know. Complete..."

It was then that the shock really took effect. Bobby was standing. King of the Crossroads just standing there... "HOLY SHIET!"

It was also then that everyone, had finally noticed me. Just chillin' there watching them, well not so much now. But kinda freaking out that Bobby was standing again.

"Who are you?" The demon asked. "One of squirrels damsels?" He raised an eyebrow looking me over. "I didn't know the boys had a groupie."

I glared at the demon, restraining myself from walking over to him and putting him in his place. Physically. "NOT A GROUPIE!" I seethed.

Sam just gave me a 'not helping' look, and then he walked over to me. "Go back in where its safe."

I opened my mouth to protest, but was cut off by the look of the three hunters. Grunting, defeated and outnumbered I turned around. Heading back in, calling over my shoulder, "Fine. Just come back in one piece."

Once back in. I looked around. The place was a mess again, and I was about to stride right on out when the van raced down the lot. Off to wherever they were headed.

Leaving me with one option only. Clean. And I mean furiously clean.

Cooped up in here for months and they want me to just stay here still? Until there's nothing left to do but watch them as they get themselves killed? They already made me wait.

And all I got in return was two dead friends. Another maybe and a sack full of hopelessness. Something like I hadn't felt in a long time.

Since I was at the orphanage. Only that feeling was well placed, and it was gone by the time I was at college. And it made me realise I was on the verge of giving up again. Even as I cleaned. But I had known since yesterday that we were all like that. That we were on a knifes edge. And we were so close off going off either side.

It frightened me.

A few hours later and they hadn't returned. So I took a seat, after grabbing a bite, hopping on Sam's laptop and started some research. And then I done some more research.

But there was nothing on what I needed. No books detailing what I was meant to do. Not even some fiction. Nada. Zip. It was infuriating.

In the end, I ended up changing channels for the better part of the day. Not really looking for anything. Soon enough my lids dropped and I fell asleep to the sound of static.

Where ever I was, seemed familiar. I was on a newer couch in front of a T.V, which made sense. I was just watching it, but I was at Bobbys. In the familiar, now cleaner, lounge area.

It finally clicked when a familiar figure danced across the now lit screen. It was where I was sent as Sam and Dean endured TV land.

But how was this possible? I was asleep, Gabriel was dead, wasn't he?

And then his voice came out of the screen. "Whatever your thinking stop. It doesn't matter. You're remembering, that's what matters, okay?" Even though he was on the T.V, he looked concerned.

"You're in trouble. I can help..." Gabriel sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair. "I wish I could be there for ya kid, I really do. But you're the only one who can stop this now."

"But they haven't failed yet..." My voice came out from another point in the room. It only earned a glare from the trickster.

"But they will, and when you remember... Well. They would have. And you'll need the help." When he said that, I noticed he was wearing the creepy pizza outfit without the fake mo'.

I looked around, seeing the other me nod. It must have been a flashback, but why would I have forgotten... Unless. 'Son of a bitch.' I said. Earning no response from either.

Gabriel really was dead, and re was reaching out from the grave in a way. "The 'fail-safe' can be activated by you... But it may not work out the way you want if my bros are there. And you NEED them there for it to work."

He looked sorry then. "Make sure there both there if you do it."

"But how?" Other me asked.

"Not sure. None of us know. You're the first, sweetcheeks." He then snapped his fingers.

The static sound woke me with a start. The station was the white noise, but why hadn't it woken me before?

I looked around half dazed to discover everyone was back, then my face came back to the one closest to me. And I mean, he was close. The moose of a man was right there, too.

That in itself made me jump back into the lounge a little, and caused me to release a small squeak. "Sam..." I tried to scathe him, but failing miserably having just woken.

He just had that puppy dog look, "Sorry. But we need to talk about tomorrow." He then looked at everyone who was making their way into the room. Bobby taking a seat on the recliner, Dean leaning against the doorway, Cas standing awkwardly and Sam taking it upon himself to sit on my legs as I tried to sit up in a more presentable manner.

"What about it?" I wondered aloud.

Dean looked to Bobby, not wanting the honour. Only Cas was the one to speak up. "Dean believes Lucifer is in Detroit."

"When do we leave?" I asked, looking hopeful that they'd include me in something for once. I looked at them all, waiting for a response. But I didn't get one. "By 'we', you don't mean me? Do you?" That wounded me a little. But I knew it was coming. I just hoped it wouldn't.

"I'm sorry." Sam said. "But if..."

I raised my hand, cutting him off. "I'm sick of hearing 'sorry'. For once, I'd like to have a nice time with an old friend, and some people I'd come to call family." I stood, happy to stretch my legs after being on the couch. "I want to just sit and have some fun before everyone goes and... And..." I shook my head. "Can't we just do that for once?"

"Girl's got a point." Bobby stated. He then went and got beers for everyone. No ifs and or buts about it.

That night, we all had fun. Even the timid little Castiel, who probably didn't know what real fun was.

We all laughed, joked, played some impromptu beer pong. Truth or dare, in which I'm sure Cas got his first kiss. Even if it was on the cheek.

But even through all of the cheer, I couldn't get what Gabriel had said out of my head. And before long, I had found myself parked in the middle of the Salvage yard on some rust bucket, watching the stars.

Somehow, it all made sense. Even through the ACDC that would always announce Deans arrival. I noticed that, he had changed the dial tone on my phone to ACDC's Back in Black. That would also play as he drove up the driveway to Bobby's. But it would be unimaginably loud.

And Sam would always glare at him, knowing he would never change his ways.

The way they would say 'bitch' and 'jerk'. How it was never an insult, how it was their way of saying, and knowing, that they truly did care and love each other. That they were fine. That everything was gonna be alright.

They brought a smile to my face. But brought it down just as quickly.

It was never going to be the same again.

"You alright out here?" Sam asked and his towering form came into view. He was a giant. "Thought you wanted us to be happy tonight?"

I nodded, "I did, and still do. I just have a lot on my mind." I scooted over, patting the space next to me.

He obliged, lumbering over and filling the space I provided. "Want to talk about it."

Pulling my legs into my chest, and resting my chin on my knees, I looked over to the house. "I wouldn't know where to start. And even if I did, I wouldn't know how to tell what goes on in my head."

Sam's moose of an arm found its way across my shoulders, bringing me closer to him. "You know why we're going there tomorrow, don't you?"

I nodded a yes, then looking to his face. He was looking at the house, "I do." They were going to let him say 'yes' to Satan, to Lucifer. And let him battle it out with him in his head, and if, no when Sam won. He would walk them into the pit.

"Then you know I have to do it. It's the only chance we have." I went to protest but was cut of with a harsh glance. "I know what you're thinking. And I know, we all know that you don't know how to do it. Or you would have by now." Sam's eyes changed in that moment. "But don't worry, we can fix this."

"Sam... I... I think..."

"Annabell, stop. Tomorrow, we're going to end this. And it'll be alright." He pulled me into a tight hug. Of which I burrowed my head into his shoulder.

But what I couldn't figure out was if this was more for me, or him. He was giving up everything for us, and the Earth. In his embrace my walls came crashing down. Sobs racked my body.

This was the last time I would be able to watch the stars with Sam, the last time I could tell him things I should to save everyone. And it was the last time I'd be able to look at him in the eye without something else looking back with him.

And I didn't want it to be the last time. I would say goodbye one last time tomorrow. But I didn't know if I would be able to look him in the eye. To know it was really him for the last time.

And I wanted to tell him what the Trickster had said to me, what Gabriel had said. And I wanted to know what else might me stowed away in my head.

So I held him tighter and didn't want to let go. And we stayed like that for a while, even when the sobs ceased. And I knew he felt the same way, whatever that way was.

I decided it was time to go in. We had a long day ahead of us, and we would need the rest. "I'm gonna head in."

"Good idea." He helped me off the rust bucket.

Only to have to catch me when my legs were like jello."I can walk." I protested as he picked me up, carting me inside.

"Find her?" Dean asked as soon as he heard the front door creak open. Only to have a knowing look on his face, giving his brother a thumbs up. Only he paled upon realising I had been watching, and then a whole other face I'd never seen before was there.

"Tell your brother to stop jumping to conclusions." I grumbled. Only then noting Bobby wasn't in the room, he must be in bed already.

"Right here!" Dean waved a hand around his face, while holding a beer with the other. He was sitting on the arm of the lounge. Castiel was cuddled up on the lounge Dean was sitting on, managing to sleep through everything.

"And you better sleep. I don't want to have to end your trip before you leave." I mumbled, amazed that I was even coherent.

I felt the vibrations as Sam chuckled, "Goes for you to." I warned.

"Yes, ma'am." They both said.

"Night, Dean." I said before Sam made his way to my room. Depositing me on the bed, I kicked my shoes off as he made to leave. Covering myself in the blankets.

"Night Ann."

"Wait Sam!" I halted him as he was half way out the door. "Just... Just stay here tonight please?" I managed through a yawn. "No funny business."

He looked at me for a moment before sighing. "Okay." Sam removed his shoes, then a few layers of shirts leaving only his singlet. He then turned the light out an crawled into the bed next to me.

"G'night Sam."

"Goodnight Ann."

Snuggling into the form next to me, an arm was draped over my side. And for the first time, in a long while, I believed everything that he had said. That everything was going to be alright.