Dusk has finally settled over Blue Mountain. Sam treks up the mountain path alone, carrying a tin box containing the ritual's ingredients. Unlike the previous night, when he and Dean went to investigate the death-site of Joshua Wolfe, the birds are not singing. As he ascends higher and higher, the fog thins out, until finally, the sky is visible above him. Yet, there are no stars; just clouds.

Sam sighs, and decides to take his chances. However, before performing the ritual, he decides to check his phone. The screen is blank: no messages from Dean. He feels his heart sink with a heavy sadness. How could his brother just abandon him like this? Could he really not bear to confront him since their argument, almost twelve hours ago?

It's time to man-up, and be the bigger person, Sam thinks, and dials Dean's number.

The phone in Dean's jacket pocket rings. Dean is fast asleep on the sofa, too deep to awaken. Alex raises his head as it lies on Dean's bare chest. He rubs his eyes and reaches into the pocket of the leather jacket. He answers the phone.

"Hello?"

"Wait...who is this?" Sam asks with suspicion.

"It's Alex." he answers. "Alex Porter."

"Alex? Where's Dean? Is he with you? Is he hurt?" he asks anxiously.

"He's fine. Is this Sam speaking?"

"Yes, this is Sam."

"Dean's sleeping right now." Alex informs him. Sam raises his eyebrows in astonishment. "Do you want me to pass on a message?"

"Um...yeah, sure." Sam says warily. "Tell him...erm...that I'm on Blue Mountain right now...and I'm gonna do it."

"'Do it'?" Alex questions.

"Don't ask." Sam warns him. "Just tell him that I'm gonna do it, and if he wants to join me, then I'll wait here until midnight. Got that?"

"Yeah..." Alex replies assertively.

"Well...erm...I hope you had a good night..." Sam says awkwardly.

"Um...thanks...bye Sam..."

Sam hangs up the phone, utterly astounded by Dean's whereabouts. He stands alone in the chill December night and waits patiently in the hope that his brother will appear by his side.

"Dean, wake up!" Alex says urgently as he shakes the sleeping body on the sofa. "Sam called! He says he's 'gonna do it' and he wants you to 'join him'! He's not gonna commit suicide, is he?"

"What?" Dean frowns, barely opening his eyes. "No, of course not!"

"Then what? Are you both gonna join some satanic cult on Blue Mountain?"

"I sure hope not..." Dean mutters. "Alex, go back to sleep..."

"No, Dean! This sounds important! I want to know what's going on! Why do you keep visiting the place where my ex-boyfriend was murdered?"

"I promise you, Alex, it's not important!" Dean snaps. "And what do you mean, 'ex-boyfriend'?"

Alex stops and stares into Dean's sleepy eyes. After a long pause, he recomposes himself and continues. "It sounds like your brother needs you. And you're just lying there pretending not to care."

Dean eventually opens his eyes properly, and is finally able to process the information Alex has given to him. Yes: he does care. And rather than sleeping with strangers, he should be out there protecting his brother.

"Get me my jacket." he instructs Alex.

"Would you like your pants to go with that?" Alex smirks.

Soon, Dean is fully dressed. He ties the laces on his boots while checking the time on the mantelpiece clock: 23:11. Dean marches purposefully towards the front door and out to greet the impala. He inserts the key into the ignition and is about to release the handbrake when the passenger door opens.

"What do you think you're doing?" Dean snaps.

"I'm coming with you, duh!" Alex replies. "You don't think I'm just gonna let you sleep with me and then abandon me, do you?"

Dean clenches his jaw in frustration. "Fine. But you don't breathe a word of this to Sam."

"Which part? The pizza, the beer, the sofa..."

"You know damn well what I'm talking about." Dean says severely. "Now get your seatbelt on."

Alex smiles and obeys. Dean removes the handbrake and shifts the impala into gear. The car speeds down the foggy road towards the invisible mountain.

Sam stands shivering on the mountainside as the clouds swirl ominously above him. The time is almost 00:00. He prepares himself to confront the bane of his life; the demon which sentenced Dean to four months of torture, then caused the brothers' relationship to fracture with mistrust. Sam could feel the bitter rage bubbling through his fiery blood.

It's 00:00. Midnight. And still no sign of Dean. Sam sighs in defeat, and opens the tin box in his hand. There's a photograph taken from one of many fake ID cards, along with a small branch of sweet-smelling yarrow plant. He closes the lid gently and places it into the hole. Covering up the soil with his hands, Sam wipes the dirt on his jacket and waits patiently, his hand in his pocket.

"Oh God, not you again." a familiar voice snorts.

To his surprise, Sam turns to see a fully-grown man, with ash-blonde hair and a hint of stubble on his brown face. "Cory?!"

"You don't get rid of me that easily, Sam Winchester." he snarls. "If it hadn't been for Lilith's 'get-out-of-jail-free' card, I'd still be down there receiving the third-degree from the boss."

"I need to speak with Lilith." Sam explains.

"Lilith?" Cory says, astounded. "You want to speak with Lilith?"

"It's private."

"Well I'd love to help you, Sam, but Lilith is on a very important business trip right now. Ever heard of the 66 seals? Sorry, I mean 22." he smirks. "Would you like me to pass on a message?"

"I need her here, right now." Sam says urgently. "I want to make a deal."

"Oh well, honey, I could do that for you." Cory winks.

"Not this kind of deal." Sam shakes his head with a sneer.

"Oh really?" Cory raises an eyebrow. "Try me!"

"Sam!" Dean calls through the forest.

Sam's ears prick up instinctively and he turns to scan the darkness. "Dean!"