Running with the Devil

Dean Winchester

My brother is the only person that I can count on and the only person that I will do anything to protect. We've been to Hell and back for each other. I would do it again to save him. Though we've had trouble along the way, he's pulled through for me and been there when I needed him. And he's always proved that he will have my back.

But that was before. Now I don't know who he is. He's missing the most important part of himself—his soul. And of all the things Sam should be missing, his soul is not one of them.

I can't trust this man. He's not the Sammy I know. He's harder and cares less and he's willing to do anything just to solve a case. Hell, he even watched me get turned. And the fact that we're working with Crowley still hits me the wrong way. I know it's to save Sam but at the same time it goes against everything we are.

Now we're working on another vampire case.

If I'm just being frank here, I could still go a few months without having to deal with any vamps again, especially after what happened with Lisa and Ben. Sam, on the other hand, thinks it's the perfect time to go in. He says these ones are a different kind. They're not connected to the Alpha we've already dealt with and so they might be "instrumental in helping Crowley find purgatory." If that makes them any better or worse I don't know, but we'll see.

We're in a town called Mystic Falls, Virginia. There's something in the name that just seems like an invitation for anything supernatural (based on the number of deaths in the last eight years, missing blood bags, and "animal attacks" I'm gonna say it was gladly accepted). But it's early when we get there and the sun is rising so we decide to get a room and crash for a little.

Sam's not there when I wake up. It's only a little after two in the afternoon but he's nowhere to be seen and his bed doesn't even look like it's been touched. He did say he doesn't sleep anymore. I probably should have thought about that. I guess he's off doing research or God knows what. Without his soul, Sam seems to like passing the time by solving cases and getting laid. I'd almost be proud of him if it wasn't done at my expense sometimes. But it's a little early for that anyway and in a small town like this I don't know how many "girls" he'll find willing and ready to have a go. He's probably just at the library checking out the archives.

Maybe I should go off and do my own research while he's gone. I could look for another way to save him. I don't know how I'd do it, but I'm sure there's a way. There has to be a better choice than Crowley in this mess. And somehow I will find it. Or I'll be stuck running with the devil instead.

It's hard to work on an empty stomach though so the first thing I do after waking up is find somewhere to get a beer and a decent sandwich. That search brings me to a place called the Mystic Grill. It seems like a good enough place to eat on the outside so I take my chances. What I notice when I walk inside are eyes on me. I turn to see the bartender staring at me. I'm used to people in small towns keeping an eye on the newbie to the bar but there's something different with this one. She looks at me almost like she recognizes my face and is suspicious. I have to admit, she's gorgeous, with long curly hair, caramel skin, and bright green eyes. But I'm sure I've never seen her before. We've never been anywhere near this town (though that fact alone surprises me) so there's no way she would know me.

But she keeps staring, unwavering under my gaze in return. So I accept the challenge and walk over to the bar.

"You know they say it's rude to stare" I say as I take a seat. "Haven't you ever seen a pretty face before?"

She cocks her eyebrow at me and smirks. "Sorry, just trying to place your face. I don't think I've seen you around here"

"No, I'm just passing through."

"Right" she says with doubt in her voice. "Well, what can I get you while you're here?"

"Can I have a beer and a bacon cheeseburger, extra bacon?"

"Coming up," she says and hands me a beer.

After she walks away to place my order I take a glance around the place.

There's really nothing special about the place. It's your standard small town bar/restaurant but I can't help but feel like this place has seen a lot. The whole place looks new, almost like it's been rebuilt from the ground up. I wonder what happened.

The people look pretty normal too but I know not to trust outward appearances. The women all look like beautiful southern bells and all the men look like gentlemen ready to protect them and that's what catches me. A majority of them look like behind the façade they have on right now, they're aware of the fight that's out there. It's in the eyes. Half of them have hunter's eyes. I take a note to remember that.

A smooth voice brings me back to reality.

"Here you go" she says and places my burger in front of me with a plate of fries.

"Wow, that was fast" I say and take a look at the food. To have been done so quickly it still looks amazing.

"Yeah, that's Matt for you. Bacon cheeseburgers are his specialty so he's used to making them. There were a few orders before yours with the same thing so he was making an extra to be safe," she explains.

I raise my eyebrows at her and take a bite. It has to be the best burger I've had in years.

"My compliments to the chef," I say in between bites.

She smiles at me and goes back to work.

A hand on my shoulder catches me off guard and I almost choke.

"Dammit, Sam!" I exclaim.

"Sorry Dean, I didn't know you were so jumpy. Must have been the fairies" he says with a laugh.

"Yeah, that's not funny yet."

"Oh well. I found something. It's not just vampires that we have to deal with here" he says nonchalantly.

"What?"

"I'll tell you in a minute" he whispers quickly when the bartender comes back.

She's seems different when she comes over to us. Her guard is up even more than it was before and she looks at Sam strangely. I can't put my finger on it but it's weird.

"I told you I'd be seeing you soon Bonnie" Sam says beside me. I look at him for a second. Bonnie. He's on a first name basis with this woman?

"Yeah, I didn't think it'd be so soon though," she says in response.

"Working can make a man hungry" he says and they look back at each other warily. There's some kind of tension there like they don't trust each other. For two people who just met earlier it doesn't make sense.

"I suppose it does. Want the same thing as your brother?" she asks. Sam turns to me for a second and my gaze turns to her. How does this woman know I'm his brother?

"Yes I do," he answers back.

"Coming up," she says as she hands him a beer and places his order eerily exactly as she did for me.

"What the hell was that? Who is that girl?" I ask the second she's gone.

"Part of what we need to talk about later."

"Excuse me?"

"I found something when I was researching this place. A legend about a witch that created the Other Side" he says.

"What the hell is 'the Other Side'? and how does some random legend help us?"

"Legend says she created it so that the immortal she loved and helped create would be with her after he took the cure that would bring him his death. This "Other Side" that the witch created is a place where supernaturals go after they die. It's neither Heaven nor Hell."

"So what you're saying is that a witch created Purgatory?"

"Yes."

"And that Bonnie girl…"

"Is our key to finding it."

Disclaimer: I own the story but the characters are the property of the CW.

A/N: I think this chapter is semi over the place but it comes together. I'm not sure who I'm pairing in this story yet to be perfectly honest but I'm going by what feels right for where I want to go with it.

Thanks for the reviews! And know that more are always welcome.