"There." Dean says, cutting the excess bandage off with a knife.

Alex watches in disbelief as he deposits the blade back into his pocket. "So you're a fake fed who destroys demons and carries a knife with him everywhere he goes?"

"Pretty much." he nods, shutting the trunk of the impala.

"That sounds...dark." Alex replies, apparently unfazed. "So, if the demon was destroyed, why are you guys still hanging around?"

Dean sighs. "It's complicated."

"If you say so... In fact, where is your 'brother'?"

"Sammy? Oh, he'll be fine." Dean answers offhandedly. "I'm just hoping you make it home alright."

Alex laughs, clutching his bloody bandage. "This is the part where you offer to drive me home."

Dean places his hands on his hips, looking less than enthusiastic. "You're really pushing it you know."

"Well the alternative is to take me home with you." Alex raises his eyebrow suggestively.

"Ok, your place it is." Dean responds instantly, and opens the doors of the impala for Alex to step inside.

"You're insane!" Ruby snaps down the receiver of Sam's mobile phone. "You can't take on Lilith! You're not strong enough!"

"I took down Cory easily enough." he brags.

"Cory isn't anything special. Sure, he's powerful, but nothing on the scale of Lilith."

"I just want to know if it's possible. Could I summon Lilith if I wanted to?"

Ruby sighs. "Star-summoning is rarely used, because of its unreliability. People often get the dates wrong, or the demon can refuse to appear."

"Do you think Lilith would appear?"

"Considering she wants your head on a plate, it's probable. I suggest you turn back now, Sam. This isn't gonna do anyone a favour."

"If you gave me more, I would be more powerful!"

Ruby sighs down the phone. "I'll be there as soon as I can. But make sure Dean isn't with you. And definitely no angels."

She hangs up. Sam checks his phone for any message from Dean. He is slightly disappointed to find none. He switches it off and drops it back into his pocket. The time is now 16:45. Just a few more hours until nightfall.

The fog is still thick as the impala arrives on Alex's doorstep. The house is shadowed by tall trees which tower over the front yard. All the curtains are drawn, and it almost appears abandoned.

"Thanks for wrapping me up, Doc." Alex smiles gratefully as he steps out of the car. "I feel pretty sober now."

"No problem." Dean nods dutifully, and follows him onto the porch.

Alex inserts the key into the lock and opens the door. Before he steps inside, Dean coughs. "I know it's hard, you know...grief and stuff. I went through it with my dad."

"I'm sorry about that." Alex replies solemnly.

"Yeah, just...don't do anything stupid."

"Like what? Kill myself? Believe me, I've tried." Alex remarks, and turns to enter the doorway.

"I would have done the same in your situation. Are you sure you don't want me stay over? Maybe keep you company?"

Alex's mouth opens in utter surprise. "Is this really how you get into people's pants?"

"No, no - I wasn't saying - no!" Dean says in a fluster. "No, the truth is...I don't have anywhere to sleep tonight, besides my car. I was really hoping for a room."

Alex sighs with uncertainty. "I don't know, Dean...I kind of wanna be alone right now. I hope you understand..."

"Of course, no problem." Dean smiles, making no attempt to disguise his disappointment. "Well, I'd better go. You don't want me hanging around here any longer..."

He turns back towards the road, when Alex reaches out and pulls him back by the sleeve of his leather jacket. "Dean, don't go...not yet. Let me at least make you something to eat."

Deans grins. "Sounds good to me!"

He enters the darkened hallway of the house. Alex closes the door, shutting out the dampening fog and the cold air with it.

Beside the door is a wooden coat-stand, with two jackets hanging down from its pegs. There is also a wooden table with a dusty lamp on top, an overflowing letter-rack and a vase of wilted flowers. Dean ignores these and creeps towards the end of the hallway, which leads to the kitchen.

Alex flicks the light-switch and illuminates the kitchen. There's a sink, a stove, a fridge and a toaster: a typical household. Dean seats himself on a stool beside a granite worktop.

"Make yourself at home, why don't you?" Alex says sarcastically and opens the cupboard. "Well, we have pasta, pizza, rice, noodles, steak, ham, eggs..."

Dean ignores him as the list goes on, instead eyeing the fridge door. Alex pauses and finally notices his curiosity. He sighs and strolls towards the fridge door, letting the light flow through. He bends down to reach the bottom shelf and grabs a beer.

"I was hoping to save these." he says bitterly as he places the can on the work-surface in front of his thirsty guest. Dean beams like a child opening a gift as he pulls the key and cracks the can open.

"So like I was saying: is pizza ok?"

"Pizza's perfect." Dean smiles, sipping his beer. "Though maybe you shouldn't be using an oven in your condition."

"Well instead of sitting on your ass over there, why don't you do it?" Alex retorts.

"Some host you are..." Dean grumbles, abandoning his beer on the worktop as he goes to attend to the stove.

In just a few minutes, Dean removes a freshly-cooked freeze-dried pizza for him and Alex to share over the worktop. As he eats, Dean begins to notice the details of the house: there are flowers in almost every room, but all of them are wilted; there is a photograph on every wall, depicting the happy couple that once were; Alex watches his every bite with big blue eyes. Those eyes...they remind him of someone.

Rather than a guest, Dean suddenly finds himself an intruder in someone's home. He abandons his last slice of pizza and stands up. "I should really go now. I've outstayed my welcome."

"But what about the pizza?"

"Thanks for the beer!" Dean calls as he walks straight out of the kitchen towards the door.

"Dean, wait!" Alex chases him down the hallway in confusion. "Where are you going?"

"I've been taking advantage of you!" Dean explains as he reaches the front door. "I came in, puppy-dog eyes, and took your beer and your pizza and demanded to stay over!"

"Dean, I invited you in!" Alex reminds him. "You're running away from me, aren't you?"

"Goodbye Alex." Dean ignores him. "Stay strong."

Dean goes to shakes his hand, but Alex has other ideas. Instead, he grabs Dean by the cheeks and kisses him firmly on the lips. Dean wants to pull away but he can't; his instincts have failed him.

Alex eventually releases him and steps back in horror. "Oh my god...I can't believe I just did that...oh my god, I'm so sorry."

"No, it's fine." Dean says awkwardly, scratching the stubble on his cheek. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have come here."

"No it's my fault for letting you in." Alex says regretfully.

The silence between them lingers, becoming thicker and thicker as time passes by.

"Again, thanks for the pizza." Dean interrupts. "And the beer...and the kiss."

Alex sighs. "Oh for god's sake, just stay."

Dean steps forward and embraces his host. This time, he initiates the kiss: and this time, he isn't afraid to enjoy it. For as long as a few minutes, Dean and Alex stay wrapped in each other's arms, until Alex guides Dean to his place on the sofa in the lounge...