Here's the next installment, enjoy!

Kevin's POV

I think I stopped breathing at about the second stair from the top.

I suck in a deep breath now, trying to calm myself down. Just one look, that's all I need. Then I'll go back upstairs and get back to work on the damn angel tablet.

I just have to see him. Just once. Because so far, none of this is real to me. Because right now, I can convince myself that all the work I've done over the past year, all the things I've sacrificed, have been worth it. But as I reach the bottom of the stairs, I see that that's not true.

Crowley sits with his back to me, tethered to a large metal chair with heavy chains that bind him indefinitely. I note the devil's trap carvings that adorn each chain, relieved to see that there's no way he can escape. Still, I'd prefer him dead.

"Well if it isn't my favorite little prophet." His booming voice startles me and I take an involuntary step back. "Come to interrogate me too? Want to learn all my dirty little secrets?" he taunts.

I stay silent, moving to stand in front of the demon that has ruined my life. He regards me critically, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Ah. Kevin. I was wondering when you'd make an appearance. It's about time," he smirks. When I still don't respond, he speaks up again, addressing me with the same detached tone.

"Oh come on Kev, now you're just going to stand there like a blubbering idiot? No questions, no interrogation? My God. With shrewdness like that, it's a wonder you all didn't succeed." He waits for what I know he hopes is an angry retort. Instead, I give him a name.

"Leslie MacLeod." The name scrapes unfamiliarly against my tongue, but it has the desired effect.

"What?" Crowley croaks, straightening up a little in his chair and making the chains rattle together.

"Leslie MacLeod," I repeat, watching his face carefully. "She was your sister wasn't she? All those centuries back? I wonder how she would feel about the thing you've become. I wonder how she would react if she saw you now..."

"Shut up." The words are choked, hesitant. It's the first time I've ever heard Crowley seem uncertain. Almost scared. I push down the wave of hope that has suddenly flooded my heart, trying to stay calm, controlled. I can't drop the ball now. I've already gotten this far.

"Be honest with yourself," I continue, noting the way Crowley's hands clamp tightly around the armrests of his chair. "Do you really think she'd be proud? You used to be a good person, a good brother. She looked up to you. She loved you. How could you do this to her?"

Crowley rolls his eyes, trying to keep the smirk in place. But there's a small sliver of something close to desperation behind his eyes now, and I latch onto it.

"She always wanted to be just like her big brother you know? Even when you started getting into witchcraft like your Mom. Even when you went too far..."

"I SAID SHUT THE HELL UP!" Crowley screeches, yanking desperately against his bonds, jerking the chains violently and huffing out deep, ragged breaths. After another bout of intense struggling, he finally sags back against the back of the hard metal chair, still panting. I soften my tone now, choosing my next words carefully.

"She wouldn't have wanted this for you. You know that. But you can change it, Crowley. There's still time to fix this. So help us. And help yourself."

Crowley stares at me for a long, loaded moment, his normally empty eyes now glistening just a little too much, his breathing halted and uneven. And then he glares at me, eyes searing into my skull.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you, Kevin Tran," he growls. "I'm going to revel in the sound of your pathetic screams when I cut out that sharp little tongue of yours and watch you bleed beneath my feet. And if you ever mention that name to me again, you can be certain that every moment you spend in Hell will be spent with me. And trust me when I say that that is not something you want."

I choke back my surprise, trying not to be thrown off guard by Crowley's sudden ferocity. He smiles then, a small, terrifying smile that has me swallowing hard against the bile that has suddenly climbed its way past my throat.

"Fuck you," I manage to spit back, retreating towards the stairs as he continues to hurl violent threats my way. By the time I get back upstairs, I'm shaking.

"How'd it go, Kev?"

I jump at the sound of Dean's voice, trying to get myself back under control. "I...uh," I stutter. "...He remembers who she is. His sister. He...he got upset. You know...like really upset..."

Dean's eyes light up for the first time in a long time. "Good, good. That's actually fantastic news," he says, slapping me on the back with a little too much gusto. "Good job kid."

"Sure," I nod. "Just make sure there's no way he can get out of those chains. I really don't want to be the King of Hell's chew-toy anytime soon. Or you know...again." I try to keep my voice light, but the fear behind my words is evident. Dean frowns, meeting my eyes.

"Kevin, listen to me. He's not getting out, you understand me? He's locked down good and tight. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, alright?"

I nod again, only slightly comforted. I try to leave, try to crawl back to the safety of my room, but Dean stops me, reaching out to grab my arm.

"You don't have to go down there again Kevin," he says. "We needed to catch him off guard that first time, but now it can just be me and Sam doing the interrogating. You did good, but you're done now, alright? Now all you have to worry about is that tablet."

"Yeah okay. Tell me when you get somewhere," I say, heading towards the stairs that lead to my room. As much as I hate the tedious task of translating the angel tablet, it's better than what I just had to do. And as much as I want to help, sometimes it seems like I'm better off just locked in my room, letting Cas and the Winchester brothers take on the world together like they always have.

Not that I'm giving up. Far from it.

It's just that sometimes I feel like I'm still the dorky honor's student with the proud mom and the pretty girlfriend. I look around at my life now and wonder how the hell I got to where I am; what I did to deserve any of this.

But I also know that I can never be the kid that I was. And as much as I'd like to go back to my normal, boring life, I know it's impossible. Knowing the things I know now, I can never go back to that. But I guess that also makes me kind of lucky, in a way.

Because I'm alive. Despite what I've seen, and despite what I know, I'm still here. And I've found something to fight for.

And most days, that's enough.

Thanks for reading! Next chapter is Cas's point of view. Thanks for sticking with me so far, I appreciate all your awesome comments!