Have Spanish exams in May – 3 of them and a Lit one too, yay. And the best thing is happening this weekend, I'm seeing Misha Collins, Mark Pellegrino and Jim Beaver among others.

Which I know will make my brain turn into mush.

But then again.

Misha's worth it.

Anyway here's:

Crossroad Blues

Greenwood, Mississippi

Sam, Amelie and Dean were sitting at a table, Sam had his laptop open, it had a mug shot of Dean on it, from the St. Louis Police Department.

'So much for our low profile. You've got a warrant in St. Louis, and now you're officially in the Fed's database' Sam remarked with a smirk.

'Dude, I'm like Dillinger or something' Dean grinned.

'Dean, it's not funny. Makes the job harder, we've gotta be more careful now'.

'Well, what do they got on you two?'

'I'm sure they just haven't posted it yet, Amelie is listed as dead though' Sam muttered.

'No accessory? Nothing? And why's she listed as dead?'

'Faked my death 15 or so years ago'

'Why?'

'Killed someone'

'Who?'

'They were all unimportant'

'All?'

'5 men, 2 kids, 4 women and 1 fish, I was in the mood for sushi'

'11 people?' Sam asked, suspicion in his eyes.

'It's in the past' Amelie abruptly said and looked at Sam, she paused for a second before asking 'why, you jealous that Dean and I have a track record for this?'

Dean started to laugh at this, 'he is, I bet it'

'No, I'm not!' Sam protested.

'Uh-huh. All right. What do you got on the case there, you innocent, harmless young man, you?' Dean smirked.

Sam abruptly shut his computer, annoyed, and pulled out several pages of research.

'Architect Sean Boyden plummeted to his death from the roof of his home, a condominium he designed'.

'Hmm. Build a high-rise and jump off the top of it. That's classy. When did he call animal control?' Dean asked.

'Two days earlier' Sam replied.

'Did he actually say Black Dog?' Dean asked.

'Yeah. A vicious, wild, black dog. The authorities couldn't find it, no one else saw it; in fact, the authorities are a little confused as to how a wild dog could get past the doorman, take the elevator up and start roaming the halls of the cushiest joint in town. After that, no more calls, he doesn't show up for work, two days later he takes a swan dive' Sam said.

'Do you think we're dealing with an actual Black Dog?' Dean asked.

'Well, maybe' Sam said.

'What's the lore on it?' Dean asked.

Sam passed Dean over the pages, 'Amelie has better knowledge at this lore' Sam said with a glint of distrust in his eyes at Amelie.

'Uh, well from what I known there are spectral black dogs all over the world, but... some say they're animal spirits, others say death omens. But anyways, whatever they are, they're big, nasty, and you don't want to piss 'em off or well, you know'

'Yeah, I bet they could hump the crap outta your leg, look at that one, huh?' Dean smiled.

Dean held up a picture and smirked; Sam glared; and Dean's smirk slipped.

'What? They could' Dean said innocently.

An apartment:

In a posh, well-lit room, Sam and Dean were wearing suits and interviewing a man.

'So, you and Sean Boyden were business partners for almost ten years, right?' Sam said.

'That's right. Now one more time, this is for...?'

'A tribute to Mr. Boyden. Architectural Digest' Dean quickly replied.

The man laughed, causing Dean to ask, 'this funny to you?'

'No, it... it's just, a tribute. Yeah. See, Sean always got the tributes. He kills himself, leaves me and his family behind... well, he gets another tribute'.

'Right. Any idea why he'd do such a thing?' Sam asked.

'I, I have no clue, I mean he lived a charmed life'

'How so?' Dean asked.

'He was a flat-out genius. I mean, I'm capable, but next to him, I... and it wasn't always that way, either'.

'No?'

'You wanna know the truth? There was a time where he couldn't even design a pup tent. Hell, ten years ago he's working as a bartender at this place called Lloyds. A complete dive'.

'Right. So what changed?'

'You got me. But overnight, he gets this huge commission, and he starts designing... he starts designing the most ingenious buildings anyone has ever seen. It was like, the level of Van Gogh, and Mozart...' the man cut off abruptly.

'What?' Dean prompted.

'It's funny. True geniuses, they seem to die young, don't they? To have that kind of talent? Why... why just throw it away?'

On a street later that day:

Dean exited a building designated 'ANIMAL PROTECTION AGENCY', still wearing his suit from earlier. Sam and Amelie were waiting in the car.

Dean got into the driver's side and turned to face them.

'So' Sam prompted.

'Secretary's name is Carly. She's twenty three, she, uh, kayaks, and they're real'.

'You didn't happen to ask her if she's seen any black dogs lately, did you?'

Dean held up a page and answered 'every complaint called in this week about anything big, black, or dog-like. There's nineteen calls in all. And, uh,' Dean paused as he pulled off a Post-it note, 'I don't know what this thing is'.

Sam took it, read it, handed it to Amelie who took one look at Sam before they both started laughing. They glanced over Dean, who was glaring at the pair of them.

'You mean Carly's MySpace address?' Sam finally said.

'Yeah, MySpace, what the hell is that?' Dean scoffed.

Sam and Amelie just laughed again.

'Seriously, is that like some sort of porn site?' Dean asked.

Dr Pearlman's house, outside:

Amelie, Dean and Sam approached, yet another white suburban door and knocked.

'I swear, if this is another freakin' Pomeranian barking in the neighbor's yard...' Dean started, but was cut off as the door opened to reveal a young woman.

'Afternoon, ma'am' he began and pulled out an ID.

'Uh, Animal Control' Dean said.

'Oh, someone already came yesterday' the woman said.

'Oh, we're just following up. We're looking for Dr. Sylvia Pearlman?' Sam said.

Dr Pearlman's house, inside:

'The Doctor, well, she, I don't know exactly when she'll be back, she left two days ago'.

'Okay. And you are...?' Sam said.

'I'm Ms. Pearlman's maid'.

'So where did the Doctor go?' Amelie asked.

'I'm not sure. She just packed and went, she didn't say where. That stray dog, did you find it finally?'

'Oh, not yet. You know, you didn't ever happen to see the dog yourself, did you?' Sam quickly asked.

'Well, no. I never even heard it'.

In the background, Dean took a photograph off the wall: it showed Dr. Pearlman at a bar with two friends.

'I was almost starting to think the Doctor was imagining things, but she's not like that, so...'

'Hey, you know I read she was, uh chief surgeon at the hospital. She's gotta be what, forty two, forty three? That's pretty young for that job' Amelie said.

'Youngest in the history of the place. She got the position... ten years ago?' the maid said.

'Huh' Dean said.

'Huh. An overnight success. Ten years ago' Sam said.

'Yeah, we know a guy like that. Oh, look at this' Dean started.

He held up the photo, flipped it over to show writing on the back, 'Lloyd's Bar'.

A Motel Room:

In a rumpled hotel room with red curtains and sheets, a forty-something woman huddled on the bed. Her hair was frazzled and she was terrified, flinching at the slightest noise and hugging her arms around herself. She stood, pacing.

'Oh god'.

She heard a loud pounding at the door. She whirled to face it, frozen.

A man outside the door shouted, 'Ms. Pearlman? I've been calling for hours. You need to vacate the room or you gotta pay for another night!'

She opened the door and poked her head out.

'Okay. No problem' Dr Pearlman replied.

She went to the bed and opened her wallet, and pulled out some cash. As she turned back to the door, she saw the man's face stretch hideously, his mouth opening wide and eyes rolling back in his head. She gasped, tossed the money down at his feet, shut the door and chained it. She leaned against it, panting.

Crossroads:

Dean, Amelie and Sam pulled up outside Lloyd's Bar and got out. As they walked toward the bar, Dean noticed some yellow flowers growing by the side of the road. He stopped.

'Hey' Dean said, making Sam and Amelie stop.

'Yeah?' Sam said.

'That's weird' Dean answered and pointed to the flowers that were on more than one of the corners of the crossroads, they were glowing.

'What?' Sam asked, glancing over at Amelie, who had a cool unnerving expression on her face.

'Think someone planted these?'

'Middle of all these weeds?' Sam said.

'These are, uh, what do you call 'em'.

'Yarrow flowers' Amelie responded, looking directly at the centre of the crossroads.

'Yeah. Used for certain rituals, aren't they?'

'Yeah,' Sam said.

'There actually used for summoning' Amelie said and looked at Dean.

'Heh. So, two people become sudden successes about ten years ago. Right around the time they were hanging out here at Lloyd's'.

'Where there just happens to be a crossroads. You think?' Sam asked, with a raise of his eyebrows.

'Let's find out' Dean said and walked to the centre of the crossroad, he looked around, measuring.

'This seem about the dead centre to you?' he asked.

Dean dug a few inches into the hard soil and hit something solid. He stopped.

'Yahtzee' he said and dropped the shovel and started to dig with his hands.

He pulled out an old rusted box. He opened it. It contains, among other things, several small bones and a small stoppered jar that Sam took out.

'I'd be willing to bet that's graveyard dirt. And a black cat bone' Sam said.

'That's serious spell work. I mean, that's Deep South Hoodoo stuff' Dean responded.

'Used to summon a demon' Sam said and looked over at Amelie.

'Not just summon one. Crossroads are where pacts are made. These people are actually making deals with them. You know, 'cause that always ends good' Amelie said and took the box from Dean and looked further into it.

'They're seeing dogs, all right. But not Black Dogs, they're seeing Hellhounds. Demonic pit bulls' Sam said.

'Yeah, whoever this demon is, it's back and it's collecting. And that doctor lady? Wherever she's running? She ain't running fast enough' Dean said.

Motel, night:

Inside Dr. Pearlman's hotel room, the door was rattling violently. She crouched by the window, screaming. The rattling stopped and she got up warily. Suddenly something invisible burst through the window, knocking her to the ground. She scrabbled backwards along the floor, away from the scratching and growling; something (still invisible) with sharp claws grabbed her leg and shredded it, leaving bloody trails. She was suddenly pulled across the floor, grasping at the bed sheets and screaming.

Crossroads:

'So it's just like the Robert Johnson legend, right? I mean, selling your soul at the crossroads, kind of deal?' Sam said.

'Yeah, except that wasn't a legend. I mean, you know his music' Dean said and looked over at Sam, who was now shrugging at him and Amelie who was engrossed in the contents of the crossroad's box.

'You don't know Robert Johnson's songs?' he said for Sam's benefit 'Sam, there's, there's occult references all over his lyrics, I mean, Crossroad Blues? Me And The Devil Blues? Hellhound On My Trail?'

Sam just continued to frown, making Dean roll his eyes.

'The story goes, he died choking on his own blood, he was hallucinating, and muttering about big evil dogs' Dean finished.

'And now it's happening all over again' Sam said

'Yeah'.

'We've gotta figure out if anyone else struck any bargains around here'.

'Great. So we've gotta clean up these peoples' mess for 'em? I mean, they're not exactly squeaky clean. Nobody put a gun to their head and forced 'em to play Let's Make A Deal'.

'So what, we should just leave them to die?'

'There fault, you should never make deals, one way or another they turn out bad' Amelie said, looking up from the box.

'You've got impressive knowledge about this sort of thing Am, almost sounds like you know someone who made a deal' Sam remarked.

'Yeah almost' she said, a cold shadow passing over her eyes.

'Look somebody goes over Niagara in a barrel, you gonna jump in and try to save 'em?' Dean said in the hopes of diverting Sam's questions to Amelie.

'Dean' Sam said.

'All right. Fine' Dean groaned.

'Rituals like this, you've got to put your own photo into the mix, right? So this guy probably summoned this thing, let's go and see if anyone inside knows him. If he's still alive' Sam said.

Darrow home, day:

Amelie, Sam and Dean were walking up a set of wide, wooden stairs to the fourth floor of an apartment building.

'What's this guy's name again?' Amelie asked.

'George Darrow. Apparently quite the regular at Lloyd's. Though this house probably ain't up next on MTV Cribs, is it?' Dean replied.

'Yeah. So whatever kind of deal he made,' Sam started.

'Wasn't for cash. Oh, who knows. Maybe this place is full of babes in Princess Leia bikinis' Dean finished.

Sam sighed, 'No, I'm just saying, this guy's got one epic bill come due. Hope at least he asked for something fun'.

They had finally reached the landing and stopped in front of apartment 4C. The floor was dusted with a fine black powder.

'Look at that'.

They crouched down, and fingered it.

Amelie pressed one finger to the dust and pulled it back quickly.

'Ow,' she muttered as the powder burnt her finger.

'What?' Dean said to her as he stood up.

'Nothing, just looks like it protection stuff, you know like salt'

'Well, it's black so is it pepper?'

Amelie smiled nervously, and the door suddenly opened to reveal George, a middle aged man with graying hair and was wearing a grimy t-shirt and an open button-down.

'Who the hell are you?' George asked.

'George Darrow?' Dean asked.

'I'm not buying anything'.

'Whoa, whoa, whoa, looks like you went for the wrong shaker there. Heh. Usually when you want to keep something evil out you go for the salt'.

'I don't know what you talkin' about'.

'Talkin' about this' Dean said and held up a small picture.

'Tell me. You seen that Hellhound yet?'

'Look. We want to help. Please. Just five minutes'.

'You two only, not the girl, she's got the face of a devil'

Amelie didn't respond to this.

But Dean did.

'HEY! She's our friend, she's good at this sort of stuff'

George scoffed, 'look lad, this is my place, I got a right to invite who I want in here'

'Dean, drop it, I'll be fine just you go in and I'll wait out here'

'I'll wait with you' Sam said.

'It's fine Sam, you go in' Amelie said.

'No, we only need one person' Sam said and smiled that smile of his, that said 'you're not gonna move me cause I want to know what you know'

George sighed and showed Dean in and poured himself a glass of whisky. The studio apartment was filled with paintings, completed and half-finished, and a table holds painting supplies.

'So what is that stuff out front?' Dean started.

'Goofer Dust'.

Outside the apartment:

'What do you want Sam?' Amelie asked, annoyance in her voice.

'I just want to know the real reason why you killed those people'

'Seriously? This is what this is about?'

'Tell me, or I'll pour holy water in every drink you have till Dean finds out what you are'

'Fine! Look I was told to'

'Really?' Sam said and pulled out his knife from his back pocket, it was the one that had been dipped in holy water and salt.

'Yeah' Amelie said, nervously eyeing the knife that was getting closer to her.

'Are you sure about that?' he asked, pressing the knife to her throat, backing her against the wall.

'I wanted to kill them' Amelie quickly said, 'they, they were hunters, they we're getting too close to me, it was a whole group of them'

'And you killed them'

'They were preventing me from doing my job'

'Which was?'

'Making sure that you and Dean were safe whilst your father was gone for 3 weeks'

'How come we never saw you?'

'I protected you from a distance, I couldn't let the hunters know about you'

Inside the apartment:

Dean looked at George with a blank expression, 'what, you think you know somethin' about somethin' but not Goofer dust?' George asked.

He tossed Dean a brown sack, tied close with twine. Dean caught it.

'Well, we know a little about a lot of things. Just enough to make us dangerous,' Dean paused before asking 'what is it?'

'Hoodoo. My grandma taught me. Keeps out demons'.

'Demons we know'.

'Well, then. Maybe it'll do you some good' George said and walked over to a chair.

'Four minutes left' he said.

'Mr. Darrow. I know you're in trouble' Dean started.

'But it's not hopeless, all right? There's gotta be something we can do' he finished.

'Listen. I get that you want to help. But sometimes a person makes their bed, they've just got to lie down in it. I'm the one called that demon in the first place' George sighed.

'What'd you do it for?'

'I was weak. I mean, who don't want to be great? Who don't want their life to mean something? I just... I just never thought about the price'.

'Was it worth it?'

'Hell no. 'Course, I asked for talent. Shoulda gone for fame. I'm still broke, and lonely. Just now I got this pile of paintings don't nobody want. But that wasn't the worst'.

'Go on'.

'Demon didn't leave. I never counted on that. After our deal was done the damn thing stayed at Lloyd's for a week. Just chattin'. Makin' more deals. I tried to warn folks, but, I mean who's goin' to listen to an old drunk?'

'How many others are there?'

'Uh, the architect, that doctor lady — I kept up with them, they've been in the papers. Least they got famous'.

'Who else, George? Come on, think'.

'One more. Uh, nice guy too. Hudson. Evan, I think. I don't know what he asked for. Don't matter now. We done for'.

'No. No, there's gotta be a way'.

'You don't get it! I don't want a way!'

'Look, you don't – '

'I called that thing! I brought it on myself. I brought it on them. I'm going to hell, one way or another. All I want is to finish my last painting. Day or two, I'm done. I'm just trying to hold them off 'till then. Buy a little time. Now I think it's time you went, go help somebody that wants help'.

'I can't just —'

'Get out! I got work to do'.

'You don't really want to die'.

'I don't? I'm... I'm tired'.

Dean left the room to join Amelie and Sam, who had now put away the knife.

Just as Dean closed the door, George began to paint.

Outside the Hudson house:

Amelie, Dean and Sam approached Evan's front door. Sam knocked. A moment later, Evan opened the door.

'Yes?'

'Evan Hudson?' Amelie asked.

'You ever been to a bar called Lloyd's? Would have been about ten years ago' Dean cut in.

Terrified, Evan slammed the door and latched it.

'Come on, we're not demons!' Dean said.

Evan bolted into a back room when the trio got inside.

'Any other bright ideas?' Sam asked.

Evan stepped back, Sam set himself, then kicked the door down in one go. The three entered. Outside the back room Evan had just entered, Dean prepared to kick down that door too. But Sam quickly caught his leg, stopping him.

'What —' Dean started.

Looking at Dean pointedly, Sam turned the handle and pushed the door open gently. The room was quiet. As they entered Amelie called out.

'Evan?'

Evan jumped out from behind a bookshelf.

'Please! Don't hurt me' Evan begged.

Sam put his hand out, pacifying.

'We're not going to hurt you, all right? We're here to help you'.

'We know all about the genius deal you made'.

'What? How?'

'Doesn't matter. All that matters is, we're trying to stop it' Amelie said.

'How do I know you're not lying? With a face exactly like the demons, how can I trust you?'

'Dude, I'm not crossroads demon so you can trust me' Amelie said.

Sam glanced over to Amelie, she's worded that very well, I wonder if Dean will pick up on it.

'Well, you don't, but you're kinda running low on options there, buddy-boy' Dean said.

Evan swallowed and started pacing.

'Can you stop it?' he said quietly.

'Don't know. We'll try' Sam said.

'I don't want to die' Evan said.

'Of course you don't, not now'.

'Dean. Stop' Amelie said quietly.

'What'd you ask for anyway, Evan? Huh? Never need Viagra? Bowl a perfect game? What?' Dean said.

'My wife' Evan said simply.

Dean started to laugh, 'right. Gettin' the girl. Well, that's worth a trip to hell for'.

'Dean, stop' Amelie said more sternly.

'No. He's right, I made the deal. Nobody twisted my arm, that... woman, or whatever she was, at the bar? She said I could have anything I wanted. I thought she was nuts at first, but... I don't know how to— I was desperate'.

'Desperate?' Sam echoed.

'Julie was dying'.

'You did it to save her?' Dean asked.

'She had cancer, they'd stopped treatment, they were moving her into hospice, they kept saying... a matter of days. So yeah, I made the deal. And I'd do it again. I'd have died for her on the spot'.

'Did you ever think about her in all this?'

'I did this for her'.

Dean advanced on him, 'you sure about that? I think you did it for yourself. So you wouldn't have to live without her. But guess what? She's going to have to live without you now. But what if she knew how much it cost? What if she knew it cost your soul? How do you think she'd feel?'

Amelie put a hand on Dean's chest, pulling him back, 'okay, that's enough. You just sit tight, all right? We're going to figure this out'.

She pulled Dean into the hallway, leaving Sam with Evan.

'You all right?'

'Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Hey, I got an idea'.

Dean went into his jacket and pulled out the Goofer dust.

'You and Sam throw George's hoodoo at that Hellhound, keep it away from Evan as long as you can. I'm gonna go to the crossroads and summon the demon'.

'Summon— are you nuts?'

'Maybe a little. But I can trap it. I can exorcise it, and I can buy us time to figure out something more permanent'.

'Yeah, but how much time?'

'I don't know, a while. I mean, it's not easy for those suckers to claw their way back from hell and into the sunshine'.

'You'd be surprised' Amelie muttered under her breath.

'What was that?' Dean asked.

'Just, you can't. No way'.

'You're not allowed to say no, not unless you've got a better idea' Dean said.

'Dean, you can forget it, all right? I'm not letting you summon that demon'.

'Why not?'

'Because I don't like where your head is at right now, that's why not'.

'What are you talking about?'

'You know, you've been on edge ever since we found that crossroads, Dean, and I think I know why'.

'We don't have time for this'.

He brushed past Amelie, but was stopped by a single word.

'John. You think maybe John made one of these deals, huh? Hell. Sam's been thinking it. I'm sure you've been thinking it too'.

'It fits, doesn't it? I'm alive, Dad's dead. The yellow-eyed demon was involved. What if he did? What if he struck a deal? My life for his soul?' Dean said quietly.

'Evan says he thinks he can hear it! It's outside!' Sam called from inside the room.

'Just keep them alive, okay?'

'Dean...'

'Go!'

Crossroads, that night:

Dean was placing a photo of himself in George's box of Hoodoo Magic. He buried it dead center at the crossroads, scraping the dirt over it with his bare hands. As he stood up, a beautiful young woman in a black dress appeared behind him.

'So. What brings a guy like you to a place like this?'

Dean glanced over at her appraisingly as she said 'You called me?'

'I'm just glad it worked'.

'First time?'

'You could say that'.

'Oh, come on now. Don't sell yourself short. I know all about you, Dean Winchester'.

Her eyes glowed red for a moment.

'So, you know who I am'.

'I get the newsletter'.

'Well, don't keep me in suspense. What have you heard?'

'Well, I heard you were handsome. But you're just edible and unfortunately spoken for. But, I've been summoned so, what can I do for you, Dean?'

'Maybe we should do this in my car. Nice and private'.

'Sounds good to me, but what about Amelie? Huh, she won't be very happy if you cheated on her'.

Dean shrugged and they strolled over to Dean's car.

In the Hudson house:

Sam was sprinkling the dust in a line before the windows, and Amelie was making a circle of it around Evan, who was standing in the middle of the room.

'What is that stuff?'

'Goofer dust' Amelie replied.

'You serious?'

'Yeah. "Fraid so. Look. Believe me, don't believe me, whatever you want. Just whatever you do, stay inside the circle, all right?' Amelie said.

Evan nodded.

Back at the crossroads:

Dean and the demon were still strolling towards the Impala.

'So I was hoping we could strike a deal' Dean said.

'That's what I do' the woman remarked.

'I want Evan Hudson released from his contract' Dean stated.

'Hmm. So sorry, darling. That's not negotiable'.

'I'll make it worth your while'.

'Oh really? What are you offering?'

'Me'.

'Well, well, well. You'd sacrifice your life for someone else's. Like father, like son'.

Dean eyed the demon warily.

Back at the Hudson house:

Evan was hugging himself, standing in the middle of the circle that Amelie was just finishing. She shook the bag to get out the last grains.

'That's the last of it'.

Crossroads:

'You did know about your dad's deal, right? His life for yours? Oh, I didn't make the deal myself, but... boy, I wish I had'.

Dean gritted his teeth and opened the passenger side door.

'After you'.

'Such a gentleman'.

As she started to get into the car, she looked down and saw the edge of a symbol extending from below the car.

'A Devil's Trap? You've got to be kidding me'.

Hudson house:

Evan whirled around at an unheard sound.

'You hear that?'

'No, where?'

'Right outside the door'.

The doors began to rattle violently; Sam stepped inside the circle and after a moment pulled Amelie into it too.

Side by side inside the circle of dust, Amelie, Evan and Sam stared tensely at the rattling door.

'Just don't move, all right? Stay where you are' Sam ordered a shaking Evan.

Crossroads:

'You stupid, stupid... I should rip you limb from limb' the demon stated.

She slammed the car door shut and advanced on Dean, who backed up toward a wooden structure.

'Take your best shot' Dean said in a tone more of pleading than defiance.

'No. I don't think so. I'm not going to put you out of your misery'.

'Yeah? Why not?'

'Because your misery's the whole point. It's too much fun to watch. Knowing how your daddy died for you, how he sold his soul. I mean, that's gotta hurt, and your girlfriend knew all about it'.

Dean was backed up against a wooden railing.

'It's all you ever think about. You wake up and your first thought is, "I can't do this anymore." You're all lit up with pain. I mean, you loved him so much. And it's all your fault, and little one she tells more to Sam now than she does to you, that's gotta hurt too hasn't it?'.

Dean recoiled as she got more in his face.

'You blew it, Dean! I could have given you what you need'.

'What do I need?'

'Your father. I could have brought him back. Your loss. Seeya, Dean. I wish you a nice long life'.

'Hold on'.

She stopped, and smiled.

Hudson house:

The rattling of the hell hounds became louder, more violent, then stopped suddenly.

'Do you still hear it?' Sam asked.

'No. Is it over?' Evan asked.

A rumbling sound came from a grating by the wall. They all whirled to stare at it; it burst outward, kicking dust into the room.

'It's here!'

Crossroads:

The Demon stopped and turned back; Dean was standing beneath the wooden structure, head down.

'You're lucky I've got a soft spot for lost puppies and long faces. I just can't leave you like this. Besides. You didn't call me here to bargain for Evan. Not really'.

'Can you bring him back? My dad?'

'Of course I can. Just as he was. Your dad would live a long and natural life, like he was meant to. That's a promise'.

'What about me?'

'I could give you ten years. Ten long good years with him. That's a lifetime. The family can be together again. John, Dean, Sammy. The Winchester boys all reunited and you and Amelie could well, not have a family, she isn't deserving of that much but you could find out all about her'.

She advanced towards him.

'Look. Your dad's supposed to be alive. You're supposed to be dead. So we'll just set things straight, put things in their natural order. And you get ten extra years on top. That's a bonus'.

She was now very close to him; he turned and walked farther back.

'You think you could... ' Dean paused as he turned to face her '... throw in a set of steak knives?'

The demon took a few steps forward, 'you know, this smart-ass self-defense mechanism of yours...'

She stopped and looked up. Above her head, on the ceiling of the wooden structure, was a Devil's Trap. She glared at him.

'Dean!'

'Now you're really trapped. That's gotta hurt'.

'Let me out. Now'.

'Sure. We just gotta make a little deal here first. You call off your Hellhounds and let Evan go. Then I'll let you go'.

'I can't break a binding contract'.

'Hmm. And by "can't" you mean "don't want to"? Last chance. Evan and his wife get to live to a ripe old age. Going, going...'

'Let's talk about this'.

'Okay, gone'.

He circled around her, pulling out John's Journal.

Hudson house:

The barking was growing louder and closer; invisible Hellhounds had now surrounded Sam and Evan.

'No! Back inside the circle!'

Deep claw marks were gouged into the floor in a path toward the circle; they stopped just before the edge.

'Not so smart now puppy' Amelie smirked.

Crossroads:

Dean had a rosary in one hand and had the journal open in another.

'What are you doing?'

'Oh, you're just gonna go on a little trip. Way down South'.

'Forget Evan. Think of your dad'.

'Regna terrae, cantate Deo...'

Dean continued the exorcism, circling the Demon, who began to flinch and convulse

Hudson house:

Sam and Evan were starting to back slowly away from one side of the circle as the wind started to eat away at their protective circle. Amelie was holding the fort with her gun.

Suddenly the circle was broken, 'Circle's broken. Come on!' Amelie ordered.

Sam pulled Evan out of the room and down the hall and Amelie followed, walking backwards so she had her eyes on the hellhounds. Sam and Evan darted into a storeroom and Amelie just made it in time as they slammed the door behind them. Sam and Amelie braced himself against it and the Hellhounds started to pound it down.

Crossroads:

'... in potentis Magnife!'

'Wait!' the demon hollered.

Hudson house:

The violent pounding stopped; everything went eerily quiet. Sam, Amelie and Evan looked around, panting.

Crossroads:

Dean and the Demon were locked in a passionate kiss. She broke it; he stepped back and blinked.

'What the hell was that for?'

'Sealing the deal. Also wanted to see just what Little one actually has'

'I usually like to be warned before I'm violated with demon tongue. And why do you keep calling Amelie little one?'

The demon laughed at this, 'all in good time sugar, you'll find out soon, Evan Hudson is free. He and his wife will live long lives'.

'How do I know you're not lying?'

'My word is my bond'.

'Oh, really?'

'It is when I make a deal. It's the rules. You got what you wanted. Now let me go'.

Dean stepped back, glanced up at the Devil's Trap. He started to finger the rosary.

'You're gonna double-cross me? Funny how I'm the trustworthy one'.

Dean just shrugged.

'You know, you renege? Send me to hell? Sooner or later I'm gonna climb out, and skinning Evan Hudson's gonna be the first thing that I do'.

Dean smiled, stashed the rosary away before proceeding to climb up and break the protective circle above her head. She stepped out.

'I gotta tell you. You would have never pulled that stunt if you knew'.

'Knew what?'

'Many things, about Amelie but most importantly, where your dad is. You should have made that deal. See, people talk about hell, but it's just a word. It doesn't even come close to describing the real thing'.

'Shut your mouth, bitch'.

'If you could see your poor daddy? Hear the sounds he makes 'cause he can't even scream?'

Dean advanced on the demon 'how about I send you back there?'

She suddenly threw her head back; black ichor poured out of her mouth as she screamed. Dean backed up until he was against the wooden structure again. The Demon was gone, and the girl who had hosted it was slumped on the ground, confused.

'What... how did I get here?'

On the road:

Dean was driving down a dark road as Sam brooded beside him and Amelie was glaring at Sam.

'Demons lie all the time, right? Maybe she was lying' Sam said and directed most of it to Amelie as much as the crossroads demon.

'Come on. That really what you think?'

Sam looked down.

'How could he do it?' Dean said.

Amelie looked away from Sam to smack Dean around the head, 'he did it for you' she said.

'Exactly. How am I supposed to live with that? You know, the thought of him... wherever he is right now. I mean, he spent his whole life chasing that... yellow-eyed son of a bitch. He should have gone out fighting. That was supposed to be his legacy. You know? Not bargaining with the damn thing. Not this, and how did you know about his deal Am? Huh?'.

'He told me'

'When?'

'Before he spoke to you'

'Do you know what he said to me then?'

'No'

'How many people do you think Dad saved? Total?' Sam said in the hopes to divert the argument spewing up from the hunter and the demon.

'That's not the point, Sam' Dean said taking the bait.

'Evan Hudson is safe because of what Dad taught us. That's his legacy, Dean. But we're still here, man. So we gotta keep going, for him'.

'Dean?' Sam said after a brief pause.

'Yeah'.

'When you were trapping that demon, you weren't... I mean, it was all a trick, right? You never considered actually making that deal, right?' Sam continued nervously.

Dean stared straight ahead, then glanced out of the window. He reached forward and turned the radio on full blast and didn't say a word. Sam flinched and turned to look at Amelie, who was staring at him with a confused expression on her face, like she was seeing something she shouldn't, and it was only just beginning.

Review?

I can't update for a while as exams are coming up, theres 3 next week so in between my other stories and revision I cannot update as often as I'd anticipated.

But please review, it will make me profoundly happy :D