Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. I started this some time ago, but some potentially terrible news made it impossible to focus enough to edit and finish it. Now that panic has worn off and I'm stuck waiting… I need to shift my attention back to something productive. My brain has to get its ass off the couch. So, here goes…

Vermillion, South Dakota

The Impala fishtailed as Alice maneuvered the off ramp. Bobby was a minute or two behind her, coming from the North. She wasn't sure yet how they were going to get Sam to come with them; but they hadn't come this close to a cure only to lose him now, even though she wanted to thrash him enough so he'd never forget it.

She sped past a few flickering street lights and frowned as she cruised under them. She was getting close to the demon den. It didn't matter that she had only been to the bar once before, she knew the way. She was tempted to grab a can of gasoline and burn it to the ground, just as she had threatened to the last time she had met Charlotte.

High beams flashing in her rearview mirror told her Bobby had finally caught up to her. She pulled into the bar's parking lot and killed the engine. She knew they needed a plan but she really just wanted to go in, grab Sam by his hair, and march him back out like a spoiled child.

Bobby tapped on the window and motioned for her to get out of the car.

"We need to have a plan before we go in after him," Bobby said as soon as she opened the door. "He's not going to come easily."

"Anything we can use to bargain with him?"

"He's not thinking right, Alice. He thinks he's doing the right thing to save or find Dean. Hell, what the demon told him about Dean's soul might even make him more determined to find him. It's hard to think of Dean's soul being in Hell…but for Sam, he knows what that means. He knows what that did to Dean the first time. But this…this not knowing where Dean's soul might be; it's probably worse for him."

"Doesn't matter what he's feeling, Bobby," Alice snapped as she yanked the trunk open. "He's going to Sioux Falls, getting cured, and then we can all sit down and talk about finding Dean's supposedly missing soul…I can't believe he ran off!"

"I can," Bobby muttered as he and Alice rifled through the trunk. "You haven't ever seen his addiction before. Last time, he put Dean down hard and ran off; left his brother unconscious and bleeding in some hotel room. He's not himself and he's not thinking clearly."

Alice gripped the edge of the trunk; she was angry. "So how do we get him back?"

Bobby tossed a knife back into the trunk in frustration. "By any means necessary, but we certainly need him alive if we're going to try and cure him."

"And if we can get him back, how do we transport him? Aside from the attitude, we're going to have to deal with the addiction. His withdrawal left him being flung all over the place. Not exactly a prime candidate for riding shotgun."

Bobby shrugged. "Hog tie him? Duct tape and a tarp? Break his legs? Drag him behind the Impala? I don't really care what we do, so long as he gets back to the house."

Alice's eyes narrowed as she peered into the trunk. "He said Sam had more demon blood in him than human blood….," she mused aloud. "Any chance that means a devils trap would hold him for a little while?"

Bobby crossed his arms over his chest. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"When I spoke with—the demon I got blood from, he said Sam had more demon blood in him than human blood. Technically he's not a demon, but he is full of demon blood. So is there any chance we can throw him in here," she asked as she pointed to the devil's trap drawn inside the trunk. "Ever tried it?"

Bobby scratched at his beard. "I don't know but we might as well try it… I'm more worried about how we're going to catch him." Bobby upended a bag in the trunk. "I brought all of the left over sedatives I could find. I don't think we can get close enough to use them though. And even if we could, there's no telling if they'd work."

"What if we add the sedatives to something he wants," Alice said as she pulled a full syringe of demon blood from her pocket. "He might not notice right away."

"Alice, he's got demons on tap in that bar," Bobby snapped. "What's going to make Sam want that?"

She glanced from the syringe to his face. Fear of losing Bobby's trust couldn't outweigh Sam's life; sometimes the truth would do more damage than a thousand lies but you had to buck up and take the hit. She took a deep breath. "Because this isn't just any demon blood. The demon back in the hotel…I summoned Crowley."

Charlotte's Web, Vermillion, South Dakota

He watched as the black smoke swirled on the ceiling, the demon desperate to descend back to Hell. A cruel smile flashed over his face before he reached out and forced the demon back into the body of the young woman before him. Biting into her sliced wrist gave him the rush he needed. He was powerful, far more so than he had ever been before. The hunger may have been satiated by the room full of possessed people, but the real power was Crowley's blood. His powers had returned and with it, a coolness he hadn't felt in some time. This was how he should have been hunting all those years. Not with a knife in his hand, but as the weapon he was.

Casting the bloodless body away from him, he looked around the room searching for any demon he had missed. Bodies littered the floor; one or two were still slumped over the bar. He grabbed a set of car keys off the floor and headed toward the main door. If he intended to keep his powers and find Dean, he needed to move on before Bobby or Alice found him. The news of a demon den slaughter would travel fast and the last thing he needed was a hunter hounding him. He was nearly to the door when he paused and slowly turned around. He cast a glance around the room while trying to spot the source of the sudden power he felt. Someone was alive; someone maybe more powerful than him. He spotted the light coming from under the door across the room. It was painted black, and while no sign indicated what he'd find, he could feel the power that lay behind it. He didn't bother to wipe the blood from his mouth as he turned the handle and strode into the room. Incense lazily filled the room, making it difficult to see.

"I know you're here," Sam said confidently. He couldn't see anyone, but he knew he wasn't alone.

With a loud 'snap', candles flickered to life, illuminating the woman sitting across the room. "We're closed."

"Closed? The bar is definitely closed, but you—you look very much like you're in business," Sam said with a cocky smile. He could almost see the power rolling off her, but something was different about her. She wasn't just some run of the mill demon.

She folded her arms and stared up at him. She could feel the power pulsing through him, threatening to burn a hole right through his soul. Surely he wasn't someone who needed a deal, but then he hadn't killed her yet. Maybe she could talk her way out of her own death. "Demon blood; that's an interesting choice for someone like you."

Sam's smile faded. "Like me?"

"Human, tainted but still human. Didn't your momma ever tell you that demon blood will kill you?"

Sam stepped closer. "Shut up."

"Did I touch on a sensitive spot, demon boy? Maybe we should talk about something else then."

"I'm not here to talk. Or didn't you get that message," Sam said as he gestured to the open door, a lifeless body visible in the far room behind him.

"The blood you've got burning you from the inside, that's only going to last you so long," Charlotte said knowingly as she gestured to the chair across the table. "I can see it, it's burning bright, hot, and fast. It'll fade and when it does, you'll fade with it. Maybe you should be looking for a more permanent solution to quench that thirst."

Glancing at the door behind him, Sam dropped into the chair. "How?"

Charlotte hadn't missed the way he had checked the door. "Someone hunting you? Anyone I might know?"

"Maybe," Sam said flippantly. "Bobby Singer. You know him?"

Charlotte settled deeper into her chair, considering how this could play out. If she helped Bobby's target to escape, there was no way Bobby would leave her alive. But if she helped Bobby catch him, her reputation would be ruined. "I know Bobby. Maybe you should move on before he gets here."

Sam glanced around the room. "So you're her…. his Vermillion contact, huh? The one that shook my brother loose from the Fay? Charlotte, right?"

Charlotte stiffened slightly in her chair at the mention of the Fay. So this was one of John Winchester's boys. She hadn't had a Winchester in her den in a long time and hadn't expected to again, not until her dying day. She also knew that no matter what he wanted, that no matter the reason he had chosen to darken her doorway, she wasn't able to strike him a deal. No matter how tempting it may be. "I never expected a Winchester to be addicted to something as low as demon blood. Bobby must be so proud," she jeered. "You'll be disappointed to know that I can't help you. No one can secure a deal with a Winchester, not these days."

Sam's anger made his skin flush as he reached out toward her, flexing his power and crushing her windpipe without even touching her. He watched as she began to choke and fight against his hold; he could feel the power in him not growing fainter with use, but stronger. He finally released her and smiled cruelly. "Then let's find a way to the break those pesky rules, shall we?"

Vermillion, South Dakota

Bobby refused to look at her as she emptied the trunk; he would deal with her later. He wanted to yell, curse, and send her packing but right now he needed her right by his side; ready to keep another pain in the ass Winchester alive. He glanced up at the neon sign that illuminated the parking lot. For having so many cars in the parking lot, the bar sure was quiet. No music could be heard and the blind man who usually stood outside the door was nowhere to be seen.

Bobby slipped the syringe that held Crowley's blood back into his jacket pocket. There was no way he'd give Sam any more than he'd already had; if he died before they cured him, he'd die human at least. He grabbed an empty syringe from the first aid kit and held it out to Alice. "I'm going to need half a syringe full; we'll mix it with the worst of the sedatives and just hope it slows him down enough for us to shove him into the trunk."

Alice glanced at the syringe between them and went back to shifting hunting gear into the backseat, awkwardly shoving things past the crate of Dean's bones. "You sure you don't want to do it yourself? He's already full of demon blood; we might not want to add phoenix blood into the mix."

"Can't. Mine's too human. He'll catch onto us before we've even got a chance to fool him. We'll have to take our chances and hope it doesn't make it worse," Bobby mumbled as he glanced toward the bar. The quiet was starting to wear on him. He knew they couldn't rush right in, but he just wanted to get this over with. She grabbed the syringe from his hand before turning away and rolling up her sleeve. She yanked the cap off with her teeth and jammed it in before realizing how difficult drawing the plunger out would be with one hand. She stared at it for a second before turning back to Bobby.

Without a word he reached for the syringe and drew out the plunger, pulling it loose when it was half filled. He glanced up at her face and cleared his throat, holding her gaze as he spoke. "We'll talk about everything later. Right now, we just go in and get Sam, got it?"

Alice nodded and turned away, rubbing at the sore spot in her arm. She may have been much older than Bobby, but this was his turf. She'd follow his lead anywhere.

Charlotte's Web, Vermillion, South Dakota

"I can't secure you a deal. Certainly not when Crowley's got a ban on Winchester deals these days," Charlotte tried to explain. "Besides, you'd need a big payment for what you're asking for, and quite frankly, you don't have much to offer."

"And what exactly are you offering," Sam asked.

"I can't cure you—"

"I never said I was looking for a cure," Sam snapped. "Do I look like I need a cure? I want one of two things—either you find my brother's soul and give it to me, or you find a way that I can keep from needing to hunt down fresh demons every day. Those are the only things I'm willing to pay for."

"And how will you pay for one of these?"

"My soul—"

"Your soul is a little too demonized at the moment to be worth anything," Charlotte mused with a confident smile. "You'll need something else."

"I don't have anything else," Sam snapped.

"To bad…," she cooed as she smoothed her hair.

Sam frowned. He glanced at the door behind him; he really needed to move on.

"I could ask my boss…see if I can get you some sort of extension," Charlotte offered with a twisted, optimistic smile. She didn't know why Crowley had a ban on the Winchesters, but she figured he'd want to know that Sam had turned up at her door, on the run, full of demon blood. "Who knows, maybe he'll be willing to make an exception for you."

"How quick can he get here?"

Vermillion, South Dakota

Alice pulled the door open and kept an eye behind them as Bobby eased through the open doorway, disappearing into the quiet building. They had finally decided on rock salt rounds, hoping that the nonlethal ammunition would save them from burying the last Winchester. She took a second to glance once more around the parking lot. It was eerily quiet outside. Moving silently through the door, she nearly bumped into Bobby. He was standing perfectly still, his gaze sweeping the room. She stopped in her tracks. The room that normally held all manner of sin, loud music, and mirth was now little more than a slaughterhouse. Bodies littered to the floor and bar; no pleas for help or even slight movement could be heard. She moved beside a young woman and used the toe of her boot to roll her over. Sulfur coated her mouth and nose, but it was the long, deep slice and teeth marks in her arm that made Alice's stomach turn.

Bobby motioned toward the plain black door on the far wall, a faint light shining from under it. Moving silently through the dim light, they kept their weapons up and moved toward the far door. Bobby eased the door open and surveyed the room before stepping inside the room.

Once again he was reminded of how badly he hated incense. The low burning candles did nothing to illuminate the large room, but it didn't matter. Sam was standing behind Charlotte's chair, holding a knife to her throat. "Bobby, leave."

Bobby didn't lower his gun as he took a step closer. "Listen to me boy, you need to come with me."

Sam tightened his grip on the knife and yanked Charlotte's head back, exposing her throat. "I don't want to hurt anyone, but I will."

"Seems like you've already hurt plenty of people tonight Sam," Bobby said as he took another step closer. "Put it down and let us help you."

Anger flared through him. "Those were just demons! You can't tell me that killing them was wrong!"

"Killing, no," Bobby replied. "But draining the blood out of them, drinking it, fueling that darkness inside you, that's not right and you know it! You're killing yourself."

"No! That's where you're wrong. I'm getting stronger. Now, walk back out that door and let me finish what I started."

From her place outside the doorway, Alice listened to Sam's words. Bobby had been right; she didn't know this Sam. Raising the shotgun in her hand, she stepped into the room and stepped next to Bobby. "Sam, time to go."

Sam laughed and clamped a hand tightly on Charlotte's shoulder, pinning her in place under the knife. "I don't think so. You can't shoot me now, Alice; not after all you've done to help me."

Alice frowned at his words and motioned toward the clock on the wall. "How long do you think these lower level demons will keep your addiction in check? How long before the shakes are back? How long before you need the good stuff?"

Sam shifted on his feet, glancing between the clock and Alice. "I can handle it."

"Sure you can," Alice said as she took a step towards him. She was getting angry and her patience was nearly gone. "That hunger…I'm sure it's fine for now, but give it a few hours—you'll be a crying, whining, pathetic little puddle of pain."

"Jesus, Alice," Bobby muttered as he glanced at her.

She ignored him and took another step toward Sam. "And that hallucination of Dean? The one that told you to all those horrible lies? He'll be back. He'll be bigger, meaner, and this time you might not can shut him up!"

"I can handle it!" Everyone in the room cringed as he yelled. "Besides, with Charlotte here, I have a way to deal with all that."

"Did you make a deal, Sam," Alice asked. She shifted her attention to Charlotte, her eyes burning bright as she glared at the woman. "Did you help him?"

Charlotte didn't move; she flinched as Sam held her tighter. She stared at Bobby, slightly shaking her head.

"She will," Sam snapped.

"You think we're going to just let you walk out of here," Bobby exclaimed. "We've found a way to help you and you're coming with us whether you want our help or not!"

Sam's temper flared. "I didn't ask for your help, Bobby! For once, listen to me! I can find Dean, and fix everything. You just have to leave. I can fix everything."

Alice took another step toward Sam, but her eyes were locked on Charlotte. "I will kill this bitch before I let her make you a deal. Your soul is worth a lot more than whatever she's offering you."

"GET OUT!" The mirror on the wall shattered as Sam's tempter flared.

"Not a chance," Bobby snapped. "Not unless you're coming with us."

Sam laughed and moved away, dragging Charlotte with him. "You want me to come with you? You sent Alice to hunt me down! That other hunter—she nearly blew my head off! I'm not going back."

"Listen to me, Sam—" Alice snapped as she took another step toward Sam. She knew she couldn't stop Sam, but she wasn't going to let Charlotte leave with him.

Sam's hand shook as he raised it at Alice, silencing her with a mere glance and a closed fist. She tried to speak, only to find her words wouldn't form. She coughed and choked as she tried to find the voice Sam had stifled by sheer demonic will. She stepped closer to Sam, leveling her weapon at Charlotte. With a flick of his hand, he threw Alice across the room and pulled Charlotte toward the door. "I'm done listening!"

Bobby shifted to block the door. "You can't, Sam. I can't let you leave."

"I'm not asking for your permission!" Heat poured from his skin as the dark power mixed with his temper; he flung Bobby to the floor, landing in a pile near Alice. Dragging Charlotte from the room, he was halfway through the bar when Alice tackled him. Sam grabbed a handful of her red hair and slammed her head onto the hard floor. "I am not going back just so you can throw me in the panic room!"

Crying out in pain as her skull met the floor again, Alice lashed out at Sam. A firm backhand sent her back, blood in her mouth. Rage poured from her but still, she couldn't speak. Sam seemed to understand and chuckled menacingly. "What? Cat got your tongue?"

Alice staggered to her feet and tried to see through the blurriness that was blinding her. Her head throbbed as blood trickled down the side of her face. He lashed out at Alice, sending her back to the floor. "You should have let me just die back in that bathtub! You could have just buried me too!"

Sam grabbed a handful of her hair once more and brought her head against the hard floor again. Blinded by his rage at Alice, he didn't see Bobby coming up behind him. Bobby pulled the syringe from his pocket and grabbed Sam's arm as it rose again to strike Alice. "Stop, Sam! You'll kill her," he yelled as he forcefully shoved the needle in and emptied it as Sam tried to displace it from his shoulder. Not bothering to remove the syringe, Bobby shoved Sam away and grabbed Alice. Propping Alice against the far wall and out of Sam's reach, Bobby grabbed the shotgun from the floor as he headed back for Sam. He knew it would take a while for the sedatives to take effect, if they even would. It would be days before Sam would need more demon blood, given how much he had consumed in the bar. He couldn't let Sam go now, if he got away, it could take weeks to catch him again.

He watched as Sam tried to reach the syringe that still hung from his shoulder. "You might as well give it up."

Sam staggered toward the bar and grinned maliciously when Charlotte tried to dash from the bar to the door. He felt the power burn through him as he raised a hand and effortlessly pinned Charlotte to the wall. The power was intoxicating and painful at the same time. His skin was on fire and his head throbbed with the effort to keep Charlotte in place, and yet he had never felt more in control. His hand shook slightly as he approached Charlotte, her small frame pinned to the wall. He moved to her, and leaned against the wall next to her, catching her eye with a faint smirk. "I'll take that deal now."

"You still can't pay for it," Charlotte muttered sadly as she knew her words were her own death sentence.

So...next chapter in the works already. Cas isn't speaking to me. Might have to make a deal.