Sam entered his apartment and sighed as he leaned against the door he had just closed. The evidence of how much trouble he was in lay in front of him. The table still had the wine glasses and dinner plates perfectly positioned, although Sam suspected the woman who had placed them there had long since gone back to her own home.

"Dammit."

Walking into the empty apartment, Sam dropped his backpack onto the couch. He was exhausted. It had been a long night, even longer than it should have been. He'd promised Andi he'd meet her for dinner, after he got off work at the Bench. She had teased him, promising to make him a dinner he wouldn't forget - and perhaps a dessert afterwards he'd love even more. It hadn't taken much for Sam to convince Sock to get out for the night after that conversation. Sock had been all too willing to let Sam have the apartment when he found out his best friend might finally be getting - in Sock's words 'nooky' - from the girl he'd been chasing after for what seemed like an eternity. He said he needed his mom to do his laundry anyways.

But of course, the second Sam had clocked out, the staffroom he'd been in quickly dissolved into a crime scene, with three dead bodies gruesomely displayed in front of him, and a Devil grinning at him. A new assignment, a new vessel, and a new ultimatum had ensured that Sam wouldn't be keeping his 9 pm date with Andi.

Watching the morning sunlight stream in through the window, he sighed to no one in particular. "I'd only really wanted dinner."

Unfortunately, an all too familiar voice answered back. "You sure about that, Sammy? Just the dinner, and not the dessert?"

Turning around, Sam saw the Devil standing behind him. Irritated by the reminder about how he had no privacy, he tried to draw a line. "That's none of your business."

"It is my business, when it interferes with you doing your job."

Sam let his anger get the better of him. "How? How was a simple night with my girlfriend interfering with my job? I didn't even have a job before I made plans for last night!"

The Devil simply said nothing, and walked over to the table to survey the wine bottle Andi had brought. Tsking, he shook his head. "I bet she got this from the local grocery store."

A realization hit him, and Sam accused the Devil, "You set me up, didn't you? You knowingly gave me that assignment so that I wouldn't make dinner."

The Devil shrugged. "Guilty, Sammy. You caught me."

Deflated, and knowing the Devil preyed on weakness, Sam struggled to keep the pleading out of his voice. "Why? You said I could be with her, as long as she doesn't learn the truth. You know how hard I worked to get her. How long it took. How hard I've been working to keep her, because of all the lies I have to tell her. You know all that."

"I know, and I feel awful about you missing yet another date with Andi."

Sam snorted. "Don't. Just don't. Don't pretend you give a damn when I know you don't. I just want to know why."

"You are always stupid when it involves that girl, Sam. I have to admit I don't like it."

"Well, you know what you can do about that." Sam snapped back. The Devil raised an eyebrow, and Sam immediately realized his mistake. Resentfully he added on, "I only meant, you can always just forbid me to see her. It's not like I can tell you no."

The Devil smiled coldly, and Sam felt the beginnings of fear. It dawned on him that this might not be about Andi, or his job performance. "That's right, Sam. You can't say no, can you?" Acting as if he was musing aloud, the Devil said, "What an interesting thought. What would you do if I forbid you from something you loved? Told you you couldn't see your family or friends again? Cut you off from all you've known before?"

Suddenly, Sam knew what was happening. The Devil knew about yesterday morning. At the time, Sam thought he'd gotten away with it and the Devil didn't know. Obviously, that had been wishful thinking. He clearly did know, and Sam was about to pay for it. The fear intensified into a near terror. Thoughts of no friends, family, money, job, shelter, car, clothes, or food crept into his mind. He wasn't ready for this.

Barely more than a whisper, Sam tried to apologize. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

This time the smile was more warm and genuine. The Devil walked over and put an arm around Sam's shoulder. "I know you won't, Sammy. That's one of the things I love about you. You always learn your lesson." Ruffling Sam's hair, he added, "And you've learned your lesson here, haven't you Sam?"

Sam merely nodded.

The Devil walked back over to the couch and looked in the backpack. "Is Neesam in here?" Sam nodded again, still unable to speak. The Devil gave a wide grin and clasped his hands together. Acting like Neesam was a new toy he couldn't wait to unwrap, he directed Sam, "Make sure you turn him in today. I have big plans for our little troublemaker."

"Yes."

"And Sam?"

"Yes?"

"You did a good job last night. Take the day off and have some fun. You deserve it."