"Tessa." Dean said, acknowledging her presence with a tilt of his head. The reaper had materialized to claim the soul of the man Dean had just killed with his Jawbone knife.

" Still as cute as ever," he grinned engagingly, "though I'm wondering why I'm being honored by you making yourself visible to me."

:

Tessa sighed as she watched Dean clean the blood from his knife with a rag. "I suppose I've developed a soft spot for you, Dean, though heaven knows why. Somehow you being a vengeful demon doesn't fit in harmony with the universe."

"Well, thank you, Mother Teresa, for trying to get my soul back on the right side of virtue but, firstly, I've discovered that being a demon suits me fine, and secondly, it's none of your damn business."

"Don't say I didn't try," Tessa huffed, "but as usual you're a stubborn moron and that's even before you took on the Mark of Cain. Well, I have to get on with my job. I presume this man you just killed is not going to be happy when he arrives at his destination."

:

Dean shrugged. The fate of his current victim couldn't interest him less.

"The asshole sold his soul for the most terrible of reasons. There's nobody that deserves Hell more. I'd love to be able to work on him myself, " Dean added with a wolfish scowl.

"It's not my job to judge," Tessa replied curtly. "To me, they are all confused souls. I just take them where I'm told to."

:

She turned as if to go then hesitated. "By the way, Sam is looking all over for you, Dean, and I've never seen a human as desperate as he is. Why don't you go and search him out? Maybe you can find a way to reconnect. You've always been there for him, why desert him now?"

"The last thing Sam needs is another demon in his life, " Dean retorted. "I left him a note telling him not to come looking. Without me around he can choose to do whatever the fuck he wants, go back to College, marry some woman, have kids, get a dog. Anything he likes!"

"So, by not letting him find you you're being generous and altruistic?" Tessa huffed.

"If you wanna put it that way."

:

The reaper sighed. " At times I wonder how you and Sam can be so attuned to each other and at other times so dumb. Sam is never going to stop looking until he finds you, Dean. I know it and so must you.

Leaving him a note and disappearing only makes him more obsessed with finding you. Even if you don't want him at your side, try talking it through. That way he might even listen and do as you ask."

:

Dean rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the advice, Doctor Phil but you seem to forget that I'm a demon. I can be kinda dangerous when the moment takes me, and Sam has the unfortunate ability to fuck with my emotions.

Instead of talking, I might end up throttling him, and if you're being such a prissy bitch now, Tessa, how are you going to feel if you have to come and reap Sam's soul?"

"You're lying through your teeth," Tessa shot back. "If there's one thing you'd never do, it's kill your brother."

"I'd rather not put it to the test, " Dean grunted. "Out of sight, out of mind, and out of harm's way. That's the best situation for Sam. When the adrenaline of the hunt to find me wears off, he'll realize it's better this way. "

"You could always go back to being human. I've heard there's a cure…" she offered.

"That's never going to happen. Now get your ass off to where it should be, Tessa. I've had enough of your preaching for today."

:

" Being a demon hasn't improved your manners, I see, " Tessa scowled with a toss of her head, before taking hold of the waiting soul and disappearing.

"Good riddance, " Dean grumbled to himself as he transported back to Crowley's Bar. " She reminded me of what would be waiting for me if Sam ever showed up. Teary-eyed moralizing!"

:

Unfortunately, Sam had already found out where Dean was hanging out, and was just about to walk into the same bar.

Demon Dean facing up against a determined Sam Winchester out to save his brother? Dean didn't stand a chance!

The End