A/N: Thank you for all of your support. Keep reading and enjoying. Oh, and there's more dreams in this chapter, so if it's italics, it's a dream.

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CHAPTER NINE: THE DEVIL IS MY ALLY

Sam opened his eyes, hating the sun at this particular moment for waking him up. He hadn't gotten much sleep last night, and the last thing he wanted was to be up at seven in the morning. He ticked his gaze over to Dean's bed, noticing that no one was there. He shook his head and a smile crept across his features at the thought of Dean getting his ass kicked and having to sleep in the Impala with bruises all over his body and aching. He knew Dean was going to be cranky today, so he closed his eyes again, begging for sleep to come for just a few hours more. He pulled his hands up behind his head and closed his eyes tighter, practically pleading to the heavens to let him sleep again. "So tired," he whispered, smacking his lips together.

Flare walked out of the bathroom, her hair still damp from the shower she had just taken. She smiled when she saw Sam. Sitting next to him, she began to sing a lullaby her mother used to sing to her while she was trying to sleep.

Sam pulled Flare on top of him, holding her close. "Stay here with me for just a little longer. Then, we'll go find Dean and Abbey." He planted a soft kiss against her damp hair.

She smiled, laying her head on his chest. "Sure, Sammy." Sam smiled also, glad, in a way, that Dean wasn't here to tease him about this moment inevitably ruining it for him. Suddenly, Flare looked up at Sam. "If you don't mind me asking, what was that nightmare you had about last night?"

"Hmm?" Sam mumbled, caught up in the moment momentarily. "Oh, uh, it was just...that thing with Dean about a year ago," he lied. "When he went to Hell; when he died. I was in the room. I saw it all. I still have nightmares about it sometimes. That's all. It's no big deal."

Flare nodded. "I'm sorry I brought it up." Sam tightened his grip on her, letting her know he didn't mind.

Abbey stretched as much as the Impala would allow. This car wasn't big enough for both her and Dean. She looked up at Dean, realizing he was still fast asleep. She reached for the door handle, pulling it open. She laughed hard as a very naked Dean fell onto the pavement. "Rise and shine, Princess!" She grabbed his leather jacket and used it as a blanket while she picked up her clothes from the floor. She needed a shower, bad. Still smiling at the thought of someone seeing Dean naked, she pulled her jeans back on, fiddling with her shirt before pulling it on, too.

Quickly, Dean jumped back into the Impala, hoping no one had seen him. He shot Abbey an angry look, pulling his jeans on to avoid another incident.

Abbey laughed. "What are you looking at?" she asked, knowing but wanting to hear him yell at her. She liked the relationship she had been having with him before last night, and she didn't want anything to change. And if that meant she had to be bitchy, then bitchy she would be. Dean shook his head, and Abbey bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from smiling. "Is something wrong, Dean?" She kept her eyes on him, wanting to watch his expression change when he told her what he was thinking.

"Nothing's wrong," Dean answered with a smirk.

"Liar," Abbey countered. "Why do you insist on lying to me? I can read your mind, you know?" She punched him in the arm, lightly. More of a love tap than anything. After all, she didn't want to start another fight with him and have a repeat of last night; well, at least not right now.

"Maybe I think it's more fun."

Abbey smirked, shaking her head. "Have I mentioned lately that I hate you?" She looked away, shaking her head again. "Asshole."

"I hate you, too," Dean laughed, stepping out of the car fully clothed from the waist down. He couldn't exactly put his shirt back on since Abbey had torn it in half.

Abbey smiled, getting out of the car, running ahead of him and knocking on the door. "I call first shower. I need to get your stink off of me."

"Whatever," Dean answered, a bit insulted. "I don't stink."

Sam groaned, hearing the knock on the door. Her threw his head back into the pillow farther, groaning, "No..."

"Do we have to answer that?" Flare asked Sam quietly.

"Please, no."

"Twenty minutes longer outside won't kill them."

Sam smiled, silently agreeing with her.

Abbey rolled her eyes, banging on the door once more. "Flare! Let me in! I know you're awake!"

Flare moaned in protest. "Go away."

"Sorry, not happening sis. I need to take a shower."

"Fine," Flare mumbled, getting up and unlocking the door.

When the door opened, Abbey smiled at her sister. "Thanks, sis." She walked to the bathroom and turned on the water, stepping into the shower.

Sam stared at Dean when he walked in. "Dude, where's your shirt?"

Dean pointed at the bathroom door. "Abbey tore it in half last night."

"Okay, enough," Flare said with a disgusted look on her face. "I really don't want to hear this."

Sam matched Flare's disgusted look and said, "I agree. Sorry I asked." He shivered as to make the mental image go away. Why did I even have to ask, he thought.

Dean shrugged, walking over to his bed and sitting down. "Whatever."

Flare looked at Sam. "I am not sitting in the back of the Impala. Ever."

"Oh, don't worry, Flare," Sam comforted. "It's not the first time he's had sex in the back of the impala. And honestly, it probably won't be the last."

"I have no idea how you are related to him," Flare said, shaking her head.

Sam shrugged , unable to give her an answer.

Abbey walked out of the bathroom, catching Flare's last question. "What's the matter, sis? Young Sammy here can't get it up in the sack like big brother can?" she asked, wrapping a towel around her hair to match the one around her body.

"Hey!" Sam yelled, offended as Dean burst out in laughter.

Flare couldn't help but chuckle, however she quickly redeemed herself. "At least we love each other. Which is more than we can say about you two."

Abbey stopped dead in her tracks at Flare's words. Images of her life before she had become part of Flare's family flashed in her mind Her father; strong and brave, that stern look he always wore on his face clear in the candlelight. And her little brother, so small and innocent. They were all alive and well, just like they had been before the night the demons came for her. Her father did his best to fight them off, while Abbey ran through the woods, holding her brother's hand. Eventually, though, the demons caught up. Two of them ripped her brother apart in front of her while the third held her down and made her watch. That's what had happened to the people she had loved. "Love is overrated," she said in a low voice, closing her eyes against the tears that began to well up in her eyes. "All love brings is pain, and heartache...and death." She walked out of the house, not caring that she was in only a towel.

Flare frowned, feeling bad about what she had just said. "Ill be right back," she said, following Abbey out of the house. "Abbey, what do you mean by that? Not everyone around you that you care about dies. Mom and Dad, they could have gotten away, but they chose to save us." Tears began to roll down Flare's cheeks as she continued. "I blame myself for that night. I always wonder, if I would have used my powers then, could I have saved them? What if I wasn't such a scared little baby? I could have stopped it...if I would have just been more brave."

Abbey looked at Flare. "It's not your fault. It's mine." A tear fell from her eye. "The demons that night, when you and me were pretending we were princesses, they came for me. Just like they did with my family before you." She sniffled, looking down at her hands as they fidgeted. "If it weren't for me, they would still be alive. All of them. My parents could have lived a long and happy life together and so could have yours. My little brother, he could be like Sam, now; all grown up, happy, for the most part. He could have gotten a girlfriend and we could have become gal pals and talked late at night. Aaron could have gone to prom. And he could have had a life." More tears fell as she spilled her guts to her sister; all of the things she had pent up for so long. "But no. He was ripped apart into tiny pieces by two demons while I was forced to watch." She closed her eyes and titled her head up to the sky. "He was four years old, goddammit! Four!" Her breathing became ragged, and it became harder to talk. "And now, because of me, his body is in the ground, rotting. Just like everyone else I love. You're all I have left, Flare. And I feel awful about putting you in danger this way, because they'll come back for me. One day. And I don't want them to hurt you." She gathered herself, looking her sister square in the eye. "And I won't allow myself to fall in love with a Winchester. There's only two of them left, and if I allow myself to fall for Dean, then he'll die, and Sam will be alone." She looked at the ground again. Finally, she turned and walked towards the street. "Please just leave me alone. I need a few minutes to myself. Please, just go."

Flare nodded. "Abbey, just remember one thing; you're not alone in the world. Not at all." She turned and walked back into the house, her cheeks stained with her tears.

Abbey continued to walk, barely hearing what her sister was telling her. Yeah, right. She was alone in this world. The only time she ever felt anything anymore was when she was either gearing for a fight, in a fight, or with Dean. She had been with many guys, but Dean was different, and it wasn't just during sex. All he needed to do was be in the room with her to feel a connection. It was weird. After Flare's parents had died, Abbey went into a shell, building walls and not letting anyone in. At night, while Flare slept, Abbey would go to the nearest bars and pick up any man she could find. Of course, she would use him and lose him and be back in the forest before Flare even knew she was gone. But there had never been any connection with them like there was with Dean. As she walked, she wished Dean was there, now, holding her, letting her know everything was going to work out for the best; but they were mad at each other so that probably wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

Sam looked at Flare as she walked in, instantly walking to her side and pulling her into a close, tight embrace when he realized she was crying. "It's okay, Flare," he whispered, comforting her. "You shouldn't let Abbey get to you this way. She doesn't mean what she says half the time any way. You told me that yourself." He began to rock slightly. "Shh," he whispered, soothing her.

Flare began to sob. "It's all my fault."

"No," Sam whispered pulling her closer, holding her tighter. "It's not your fault. It's not your fault." Meanwhile, Dean walked out of the room, on his way to find Abbey again.

"You weren't there. How would you know?" Flare asked.

"Because, Flare. I just do. I blamed myself for my mother's death, too when I was older. But now, I know it wasn't me."

"I should have done something. But I just ran. I could have stopped it."

"You were young. And scared. It wasn't your fault." He pulled away, looking into her golden eyes. "Come on, let's get you to bed. You look exhausted."

Flare calmed down a bit, however she was still crying. "I just woke up."

"And all the stress of everything that has happened this morning is taking its toll on you. Flare, please?"

Flare nodded, laying on the bed. "Sam, stay with me, please?"

He crawled onto the bed with her, wrapping his arms around her. "Of course I will."

Abbey stumbled upon a closed shop. She saw clothes inside. Quickly, she punched the glass door, wincing as her knuckles broke open and began to bleed against the sharp glass shards. She walked inside and pulled on an AC/DC T-shirt and a pair of baggy jeans with holes in the knees. Throwing her towels in the corner of the shop, she walked out, feeling a little better. Violence and destruction always made her feel better. However, there was a burning hole in her gut as she thought about how alone she felt. She sighed, sitting on a bench near the store she had mugged. All of this emotion shit was pissing her off.

Finally, Dean caught up to her. "Hey Abbey, are you okay?"

She looked up at the sound of Dean's voice. At first, she didn't believe he was standing there. "What are you doing here?" she asked. Abbey looked down that the ground, fiddling her thumbs. "I-I thought you were mad at me."

Dean shrugged. "No," he said sitting next to her.

"So, what are you doing here?" Abbey asked, shifting uncomfortably next to him.

"Well, Flare came back into the room crying, so I wanted to see if you were okay."

"I'm fine," Abbey lied, inching away from Dean.

Dean frowned "You sure? You don't have to lie about this."

"I'm sure, Winchester. I don't want to talk about it.. Geez, you're like a dog with a bone, can't we just drop it?"

"Fine. Sorry for caring."

Abbey rolled her eyes. "Why did you even come out here? I told Flare I wanted to be alone. Newsflash: this, isn't alone."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I'll leave."

"Wait, no!" Abbey yelled, throwing her hand out and grabbing Dean's wrist to stop him from walking away from her. "Please? I didn't mean that. I--" she looked down, removing her hand from Dean. "Will you just...stay here with me. Not talking?"

Dean nodded, reclaiming his seat. "Sure, Abbey." Abbey scooted closer to Dean, curling up beside him, resting her head on his chest, hearing the soft thump thump of his heart. He wrapped his arm around her as she cried softly into Dean's shoulder. For the first time since she had been possessed, she felt safe. Warm. And loved.

Flare tossed and turned in her sleep, her nightmare feeling so real. Sam held her tighter, ceasing her movements. Gently, he planted a soft kiss on the top of her head. Tears ran down her cheeks as she wore a pained expression. "Flare?" Sam asked. "What's wrong, sweetie? Come on, talk to me."

In her nightmare, everyone Flare cared about was being killed by the same demons that killed her parents. Sam, Abbey, everyone. Even Dean. "No, stop," she mumbled, continuing to toss and turn. She began shivering. "Please, stop."

"Flare?" Sam asked, shaking her slightly. "Flare, come on, wake up. You're having a nightmare. Flare, come on."

Suddenly, Flare's eyes shot open. She was still shaking. "Flare? What's wrong?" Sam asked, concerned.

"J-J-Just a dream," Flare stuttered, continuing to shake. "It was only a dream."

"Okay. It's okay," Sam calmed. "Do-do you want to talk about it?"

Flare looked at Sam, weary. "E-Everyone I care about was killed in front of me by the same demons that...killed my parents. Sam, I saw you die," she explained, her voice full of fear.

Sam was shocked. He couldn't speak. Instead, he pulled her back into his chest and held onto her for dear life. Was Flare's dream connected to the one he had about Lilith last night? What if Lilith was rising? Would he and Dean be able to stop her? And if so, how? Where would they begin.

"Dean, I--" Abbey pulled away, scooting to the end of the bench, as far away from Dean as she could get. "I can't do this."

Dean frowned. "Why not?"

The tears fell from her eyes again, staining her cheeks. "Dean, I can't fall in love with you. Because--" she looked away, not wanting to finish telling him her fears of what would happen.

Dean gently pushed a stray piece of hair out of Abbey's face. "Because what?"

Abbey moved her head away, shrinking into herself so she could try to hide from Dean. "Because if I allow myself to fall in love with you..." slowly, she looked into his deep, jade green eyes. "...you'll die. Everyone I love dies." More tears fell, and she looked away again. "I already put Flare in danger every day. And I won't--" looking into Dean's eyes again, she finished, "I can't do that to you."

"Abbey, I love you," Dean admitted. "I'll take the risks."

"Don't say that that to me." Abbey stood from the bench, backing up away from Dean. "You might want to take the risk...but I can't. I won't be responsible for your death." Suddenly, Abbey turned away from him and ran as fast as she could; and as far away from Dean as she could.

Flare was very pale. And she was shaking, a lot. She felt sick. Sam knew the dream had shaken her up, so he stood. "Come on, Flare. I'm going to make you some tea. And while I'm doing that, I think you should take a nice, long, hot, relaxing shower. Take your mind off of everything. It helps me." He smiled at her, trying to comfort her.

She nodded, standing. "I'm scared. What if it comes true, Sam?"

"It won't, Flare," Sam promised. "I won't let it."

Again, she nodded before walking into the bathroom, she locked the door and turned the shower on all the way to hot before she shed her clothes and got in. The hot water felt wonderful on her bare skin. She closed her eyes as steam filled the room. She only stayed in the shower for about twenty minutes, though, no matter how good it felt.

Abbey ran until her legs gave out. She fell to the ground, feeling defeated and alone. And scared. Her body hurt; her legs from running, her lungs from lack of oxygen, and her feet from pounding into the pavement so many times. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. Too many tears had been shed by her already, and she just couldn't cry anymore. Wanting to sleep, she crawled to a nearby bench and allowed it to claim her. Her eyes drifted closed, and her breathing became more steady.

Abbey fought against the restraints that were binding her to the chair.. Again, she was tied up. Geez, these demons really had a thing for bondage.. When she figured struggling was useless, she ceased her thrashing. Suddenly, she saw movement in the next room. "Hello?" she asked, straining a bit to get a better look at the newcomer. "Sam, is that you?"

Dean started to follow Abbey again. "Abbey? Abbey, where are you?" He was beginning to get tired of running after her all of the time.

"Sam?" Abbey asked, struggling against the bindings once more. Suddenly, Sam was in front of her; well, it looked like Sam at least. His eyes turned pale blue as he reached out and touched Abbey's forehead, causing her to fall into unconsciousness.

Suddenly, Abbey was in the motel bathroom, staring into her sister's gold eyes, scared and alone. She reached out for her, but could not touch Flare because Abbey wasn't actually there. Not in the flesh anyway. Abbey was a spirit.

Flare looked into the mirror for several long seconds. Finally, she punched it, causing it to shatter. "Dammit," she hissed as her hand broke open.

Abbey closed her eyes, wondering if the punch through the mirror would hurt her. It didn't. Suddenly, she began to flicker, and she was in the room, now. She opened her mouth to speak to her sister, but nothing came out. She was scared, and her face showed it. Again, she tried to speak, and again, nothing happened.

Flare wrapped her hand in a towel, which quickly became red with blood. She glanced over to the other side of the room, seeing Abbey. "W-What...the hell?" she gasped.

Abbey wanted to cry. She didn't know what was happening to her, but she did know that whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Reaching for her sister, she tried to grab hold of her arm, but her fingers just went right through her skin. Quickly, she pulled back, shaking her head. No, no, no she thought. This couldn't be happening to her. She was a ghost. So, did that mean...she was dead? Still fighting the need to cry, she at her sister, begging her to help.

"Oh, my God," Flare gasped. "Abbey?"

Sam pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Dean's number. "Dean, man, where are you? You've been gone for over an hour, now."

"I'm looking for Abbey. She ran off again," Dean explained.

"Dean, I really don't think that's how you should be spending your time. There's something wrong...with Flare. We need to get out of this town. We need to go find Lilith, Dean. She must die. And we're running out of time.. 38 seals have already been broken. And we haven't done a damn thing to stop it. Stop Lilith, and stop the apocalypse, Dean." Sam sighed. Dean had hung up on him.

"S-Sam!" Flare yelled.

Sam threw his phone on the bed and ran to the bathroom door. He tried to open it but it was locked. Beating frantically on the door, trying to get it open, he yelled, "Flare! Flare, what's wrong?!"

Flare just looked at Abbey. "No, no, no," she begged.

"Flare! Open the door!" Sam was frantic. He was so scared that something bad was happening to Flare. He took a step back and kicked the door, barely allowing it to fall before barreling into the room. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Abbey. "Abbey?" he asked.

Flare was pale again. "No, no, no," she whispered. "Not you, not you."

"Dean," Castiel whispered, suddenly appearing in front of him. He was wearing a weary expression, and he looked worried; scared. "We need to talk."

Dean sighed. "What is it, Cas?"

Castiel looked around the street. "Not here. It's not safe. They could be listening. Watching." Slowly, he pulled a folded slip of paper out of his pocket, handing it to Dean so no one could see. "Here. Meet me here. Go now!" Suddenly, with the flapping sound of wings, Castiel was gone.

Dean walked to the location on the paper Castiel had given him. A warehouse? he thought, wondering what Castiel would be doing here.

"Here, we can talk privately," Castiel said, walking in front of Dean. "Look around, Dean. Anything familiar?" Castiel didn't wait for an answer. "This is seal number 39, Dean. And it's about to be broken." He walked to the other side of the room and kicked a large piece of wood into the wall. He frowned, looking at the ground. "Come, Dean. Look now and tell me if you see anything familiar."

Dean fell to his knees, fighting the tears that threatened to fall as he saw Abbey's body on the ground. "No, no it can't be."

Castiel looked down at Dean. "She is not dead. However, the demon does have her." Castiel bent his knees, squatting to Dean's level. "We need her back. If she aligns with the demon, the seal is broken and we are one step closer to the apocalypse." Castiel put his hand on Dean's shoulder, right where the welt was. "Dean, you must stop Abigail from becoming an alley of the devil." Something in him broke as Dean looked at him, a single tear falling from his eye. "You know what must be done, Dean. For it is the will of God." With that, Castiel was gone.

Flare curled up into a ball on the bathroom floor, sobbing as she continued to scream, "No!"

Suddenly, Abbey began to flicker, in and out. Her breathing became heavy and she opened her mouth to scream for Flare to help her, but she couldn't get the words out. Meanwhile, Sam fell to his knees beside Flare, picking her up and pulling her into his chest, holding her head close to his pectorals. "Don't look, Flare. Don't look." Flare sobbed into his chest relentlessly.

"S-S-She's gone," Flare sobbed. "I'm alone."

Finally, Abbey appeared in the warehouse. She looked around, wondering where she was now. She gasped as she stared at her lifeless body on the ground beside Dean. No. No, no, no, no. I'm dead?

"No, you're not dead," came a voice from behind her. "Just...sleeping."

She spun, staring at the newcomer. "Sam?"

"Nah, not really. Just...what you like to perceive. Now, we have business to talk."

"Not interested."

"Oh, I think this will get you going." Abbey looked at Sam. "You see, if you join us, we can guarantee Dean and Flare will be perfectly safe."

Abbey's eyes grew wide. "And what if I don't agree?"

"Then, they die right now." Sam smiled. "Your choice."

"I don't believe you. Demons lie."

"Fine. " He shot his hand out and made a fist. Suddenly, Dean began to cough and convulse in front of them. "Like I said, your choice."

Abbey gasped , wanting to cry again. "Okay! Okay, stop! I'll do it! I'll join your side! Just stop, please, you're killing him!"

Again, Sam smiled. He dropped his hand to his side, and Dean was fine again. He turned on her. "Excellent. Now, let's seal the deal, sweet heart." He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into him, their lips smashing together with bruising force.

Abbey began to choke, and she sat up, grabbing at the dirt on the ground around her. She was back in her body. And she was staring right into Dean's perfect jade pools.

"Abbey?" Dean gasped, hugging her. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay!"