Summary - What if Sam wasn't the only one who was around Dean the last three months before his deal was up? What if there was someone else? This story follows Sam, Dean, and Apple my original character as they try to get Dean out of his deal; though Apple doesn't exactly know about Dean's deal until it's almost too late. What happens if they can't save him? Is Dean really gone forever?

Author's Note - This follows the last six episodes of season three, I just added my own character into the mix and a few more things. I don't own any of the characters or the episodes, just Apple and the plot following the last episode. Let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcome. I'd also appreciate reviews, or anything just so I know how I'm doing with this. My first SPN fanfic, so yeah, I'd like to know what you guys think.

It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah

Chapter Eight

Dean and Apple walked into the main room. They had left Sam alone so he was able to finish his part of the plan. Apple sighed as she watched as he joined them in the room with everyone else.

"Get the equipment to work?" Dean asked.

"Yeah." Sam replied.

"So?"

"So this is insane," Sam said.

"You win understatement of the year," Ruby quipped, her tone full of sarcasm.

"Look, I get it. You think..." Dean started but Ruby had quickly cut him off.

"I don't think! I know. It's not gonna work." Ruby stood up and started to walk away. "So long."

"So you're just gonna leave?" Apple asked.

"Hey," she started. "I was gonna kill myself to help you win. I'm not gonna stand here and watch you lose. And I'm disappointed. Because I tried, I really did. But clearly, I've been on the wrong horse. Do you mind letting me out?" Most of what she had said was for Sam, Apple and Dean could tell that much just by the way she looked at him.

They watched as Sam once again scratched the paint and let her out. Ruby climbed through the window and stood before the demons. "I'm leaving. Who wants to stop me?" She asked before she walked through the group of demons and left the humans inside the building.

- - - - -

Apple looked over at Dean as they walked through the mostly deserted building. She sighed as they separated from each other so they could do their own part in Dean's brilliant plan. They opened the doors and brushed the salt and symbols away, prepared to fight the thirty or more demons that waited for them on the other side.

"You ready for this?" Dean asked as threw her a gun.

Apple cocked her gun and grinned over at him. "You bet your ass."

The joined up with the group again and prepared to fight. Once the demons had made their way into the building, there was chaos all around. Guns were fired left and right, holy water was splashed at the demons who burned and hissed in fury. Apple had never felt such an adrenaline rush in all of her life. She splashed a woman, who was about her age, in the face with holy water before shooting her with her gun.

Dean and Sam managed to get quite a few down, and even Hendrickson hadn't done so bad. Apple grabbed Nancy and the two girls grabbed a few bags of salt and headed to the roof. Once on top, they carefully made their way down to the ground.

"You go left, and I'll go right." Nancy nodded before she headed off in the direction Apple had instructed.

Both girls sprinkled the salt around the windows and doors and effectively trapped the demons inside. Apple met up with Nancy and slipped into the building.

The sight they were met with wasn't exactly one Apple had wanted to see. She knew it was part of the plan, but she still didn't want to stand back and not do anything as her boys were backed into a corner and pinned to the wall by a female demon. She curled her fingers into fists as she watched the scene.

"Hendrickson, now." Dean yelled.

Sam's voice filled the building, the exorcism he recited filtered through the speakers . They watched as the demons screamed, and fled the human bodies. Dean and Sam fell from the wall as Hendrickson walked in. The small group exchanged glances.

- - - - -

"I'd better call in,"Hendrickson said as everybody started to leave. "Another story I won't be telling."

"What are you gonna tell them?" Apple asked.

"I'm going to kill you guys." He said. Apple, Dean, and Sam exchanged looks before they stared at Hendrickson. "Sam and Dean Winchester, and Apple Delaney were in the chopper when it caught on fire," he said. "Nothing's left. Can't even identify them. Rest in peace, guys." Everyone shook hands before the trio headed to the Impala.

- - - - -

A little girl walked into the police station, she held tight to the hand of a woman. "Well hey there," Nancy said as she cleaned up from the mess earlier.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for two boys," said the girl sweetly. "They're brothers. One's really tall, and one's really cute?"

Nancy laughed. "What's your name, sweetie?"

The girl paused for a second. "Lillith." Her eyes changed to a horrible white color. Hendrickson moved forward with a gun, the girl held up her hand and there was a bright flash of white light.

- - - - -

Sam, Dean, and Apple relaxed in their beds as they watched an infomercial on George Foreman grills. Apple cocked her head to the side as they heard a knock on the door. Dean slid from beside her, walked to the door, and opened it.

Ruby walked in and looked at Sam who she noticed had the remote beside him. "Turn on the news."

"The community is still reeling from the tragedy that happened just a few hours ago," a reporter said. "Police believe a gas main ruptured, causing a massive explosion, and claiming the lives of everyone inside. Among the deceased at least six police officers and staff including Sheriff Melvin Dodd, Deputy Phil Amichi, and Secretary Nancy Fitzgerald, as well as three FBI agents identified as Steven Groves, Calvin Reidy, and Viktor Fitzgerald, as well. Three fugitives in custody were also killed."

Apple, Sam, and Dean fell silent, horrified at the turn of events. They had just saved them, everyone had been safe. How could this have happened? Ruby looked at the two boys and one girl.

"Must've happened after we left," Sam said as he lifted his head from his hands.

"Considering the size of the blast, smart money's on Lillith," Ruby said as she tossed small bags to Dean, Sam, and Apple.

"What's in these?" Apple asked.

"It'll protect you. Throw Lillith off your trail – for the time being at least."

"Thanks." Sam said quietly.

"Don't thank me. Lillith killed everyone. She slaughtered your other precious little virgin as well as half a dozen other people. So after your big speech about humanity in war, it turns out your plan? Was the one with the body count. Do you know how to fight a battle? You strike fast, and you don't leave any survivors, so no one can go running to tell the boss. So next time? We go with my plan." With that said, she turned from them and walked out of the door.

Apple, Sam, and Dean looked at each other, all three felt the same way; confused and upset.

+chapter title: hallelujah – jeff buckley