Thank you so much Jenjoremy for beta'ing and being awesome. Also thanks to SandraEngrstom2 and Gredelina1 for all the help and support.

For all of you that have made it this far with me, thank you so much. I appreciate every reader and every review. I sincerely hope you will join me in the next story, too.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Bobby was setting up a complicated contraption on the desk and Sam was pacing back and forth behind him with the phone to his ear.

"C'mon, Ash! Give me something!" He listened for a moment with a scowl on his face. "Work faster then!" he growled.

Dean closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated on breathing. It was easier with his eyes closed because then he couldn't see their faces twist and transform into something rotting and corrupt. It wasn't real, he knew that, but it didn't stop it being terrifying.

Not real. Not real. Not real.

"Dean!" The stress in Bobby's voice made it clear that it wasn't the first time he'd tried to get his attention.

Sam stopped mid-pass and stared at him.

Dean swallowed and licked his lips. "Sorry. What?"

"Are you okay?" Bobby asked.

Dean nodded. "Yeah. Fine."

"You're hallucinating, aren't you?" Sam said.

Dean avoided meeting his eye as he said, "Yes," quietly, but he heard Bobby's sigh and Sam's soft groan. "It's okay though," he hurried to reassure them. "I know it's not real."

"It's not real," Sam said firmly. "And it's not for long. Okay? We're going to fix this."

Dean looked gratefully at him. "I know."

Bobby turned his attention back to the contraption on the desk and after another moment staring at his brother, Sam went back to his phone call. "Ash, find me something now!"

The problem was that they were coming down to the wire. It was ten in the morning. Dean had fourteen hours until the hounds came for him, and they still didn't know where Lilith was.

According to Sam, Ruby was out looking. He'd slipped out to meet her early that morning, to get his hit of blood and to try to nail down a location for Lilith. Dean hadn't seen her since that brief flash of her presence before she'd disappeared back at the warehouse. He thought of her sometimes, and tried to decide how he felt about her, but the only thing he was sure of was that he was confused. He didn't know whether he hated her for giving Sam the blood or was grateful for it as it might be the thing that made it possible for Sam to save his life.

"Here goes," Bobby said, drawing Dean's attention and gaze to the desk. There was a crystal pendulum hanging from a silver chain suspended over a map. As Dean watched, Bobby set it swinging and stepped back. It circled slowly at first and then picked up speed as Bobby started to chant in Latin. They all watched, transfixed as it swept over the map, Sam with the phone held loosely at his side.

"Come on. Come on," Bobby chanted.

Suddenly, it stopped, the tip of the crystal resting on a point of the map in Montana.

Bobby bent over it and said, "Snake Creek!"

Sam lifted the phone to his ear again. "Hear that, Ash? Snake Creek. What's there?"

Bobby locked eyes with Dean over the map. "We've got her, boy. We've found her."

Dean nodded and tried not to shudder as Bobby's eyes flickered black.

Not real.

Sam dropped the phone down onto the table and said, "Ash says it's a small town in the north. There's not a lot there other than farms and people. There's also some big-ass signs."

"And he didn't think it was worth mentioning those signs before now?" Bobby asked bitterly.

"He did," Sam said. "But there are also big signs in thirteen other states right now. Demons are gathering."

Celebrating, Dean thought. It was a shame they'd have nothing to celebrate soon when Sam sent their big boss packing.

Bobby bent over the map again and then made a note on a piece of paper. "Well, we've got coordinates for this particular demon, so what do you say we get going."

Dean nodded and tried to stamp down the fear as he thought about the ticking clock counting down the hours they had to get to Lilith before the deal came due.

Sam will do it.

"Come on then," Bobby said briskly. "Let's get going."

Dean rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I don't know, Bobby. Maybe you should stay here."

Bobby raised an eyebrow. "You think? Sure. Why not? I have been at every other seminal moment of your life since you were four years old, but I should skip out on the day you're saved from Hell because there's better things for me to be doing. I could bake a cake for when you get back maybe."

"This is dangerous, Bobby."

"Hellhounds usually are," he said dryly.

Dean winced and Bobby looked apologetic.

"We only have two weapons," Sam said calmly. "The knife and the colt. What are you bringing, a peashooter?"

Bobby scowled at him. "I'm bringing more years experience than you've been alive."

"Which will really help. Maybe you can research Lilith to death."

Bobby reddened and Dean stepped between them. "Bobby, we're trying to keep you safe."

"I'm coming," Bobby said implacably. "I am not sitting home and twiddling my thumbs while you two go facing off with this bitch."

Sam shrugged. "Fine. If you're coming, you'll need this." He held out the demon knife.

Bobby frowned as he took it. "And what will you use?"

Sam exchanged a dark look with Dean. "I'll be fine." He walked away into the kitchen and through the door.

"What does he mean?" Bobby asked.

"Nothing," Dean said quickly.

"You're lying to me."

Dean smiled grimly. "Today, I have the right."

"Fine," Bobby said. "But tomorrow you won't have the right. The three of us are going to sit down and have a talk about this."

"Absolutely," Dean said, thinking that tomorrow Bobby would already know just how Sam planned on defending himself because he would have seen it all. That wouldn't matter though, as it meant there would be a tomorrow for them all.

They were powering along I-94 on the last thrust of their journey, Bobby on their tail in his Chevelle, when Dean leaned over to turn the radio down. They hadn't been silent for the drive; they'd talked about inconsequential things such as memories of their youth and plans for their future, with Led Zeppelin as background for their conversations. They'd both agreed that the next day was the first day of vacation for them. They weren't going to hunt for at least a month, no matter what came along. It was going to be pure relaxation time. Maybe they'd go somewhere with a beach.

Dean turned the music down now though because there was something he needed to say and he wanted Sam's attention on him. "Thank you, Sam."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "For…?"

"For everything. For not staying gone forever. For coming back for me again and again. For this past—"

"Stop!" Sam said harshly.

"What?"

"You're saying goodbye," Sam growled. "You're not dying so you don't need to say goodbye."

"I'm not saying goodbye," Dean said calmly. "I'm saying thank you."

"You don't need to say that either."

"I do. I need to say it for myself. I am so grateful I found you again." He stared out of the windshield. "Did you know that before you called Bobby's for that book, we thought you were dead?"

Sam shot him a sharp glance. "Why?"

"News came in about Jim and Caleb, and Dad, but no one was talking about you. We thought you had been killed, too. I was grieving when Bobby called to say he'd heard from you. Best damn phone call I ever got. Not only were you alive, you were coming to see him, too. For the first time in eleven years I was going to see you again. Then I saw you and you were…"

"An asshole?" Sam suggested.

"You were different," Dean corrected. "And I thought there was no hope. But there was. I'm saying thank you for that, for letting me in again and giving me my family back."

Sam stared through the windshield at the road and nodded slowly. "Thank you, too. I have been an asshole about this, and that's not fair, but thank you for coming back for me and for…"—he swallowed—"the deal. I hate it. I hate that you made it and what you risked, but you saved my life and I should have thanked you for that a long time ago." He looked at Dean as he said, "Thank you, Dean."

Dean knew just what a challenge it had been for Sam to say those words, and the fact he had done it meant a lot to him. "I would do it all again in a heartbeat," he said sincerely. "You are worth it."

Sam shook his head but didn't speak. He obviously didn't believe Dean, but he could perhaps relate to that feeling. He was risking everything, preparing to give it all up, to save Dean by using his powers and drinking the blood. He thought that was the end for him just like Dean's deal should be for him. It wasn't for either of them. Sam would save him and then he would save Sam. That was what they did because they were family.

Dean had his phone out and was directing them to the exact coordinates Bobby had tracked for them for Lilith.

Many times on their demon tracking expeditions they had arrived to find that the demons had already moved on before they got there. That hadn't happened this time. As they passed into town, they were met by one of the worst storms Dean had ever seen. Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rolled overhead. The wipers were whipping back and forth but visibility was still bad as the rain pelted the car.

"We're almost there," Dean said. "Just another half mile."

Sam leaned forward and peered out the windshield. "I don't see anything. I can't imagine Lilith standing in a field in this weather."

Dean tried to focus through the rain out his window. A flash of lightning lit the horizon for a moment and he saw a dark shape. "There's something there. See?"

Sam shook his head. "I don't…" Lightning flashed again. "What is that?"

"No idea," Dean said.

It soon became clear what it was as they got closer. It was a school. There was a line of yellow buses in the parking lot and a sign declaring the place as Snake Creek Elementary School.

"Why the hell would she be in a school?" Dean asked.

Sam didn't answer. He was steering the car into the parking lot and pulling over. He paused for a moment, looked at Dean and then they both climbed out, getting soaked to the skin almost at once. Bobby pulled over beside them and as he climbed out and looked around the lot, he moaned. "Balls!"

"What?" Dean asked.

"Rufus!" He was pointing to an old Ford Taurus parked on the other side of the lot.

The door opened and a man climbed out and made his way over to them. He came to a stop in front of them and narrowed his eyes at Bobby. "Singer, you old bastard, what are you doing here?"

"Me? What about you?" Bobby asked. "Thought you retired."

"A man see signs like this in the area, retirement goes out the window," Rufus replied. His eyes moved to Sam. "Winchester."

"Turner," he replied.

Bobby gaped at them. "Hold up! You two know each other? Why the hell didn't you tell me, Rufus?"

"That I knew another hunter? Maybe because it's not my job to keep you up to date on the people I meet, and also because it's none of your business."

"I hate to break this reunion up," Sam said, "but we've got a bigger problem right now." He jerked his head toward the door and Dean stepped back involuntarily. Two people were standing there. Except they weren't people. They were demons. Their rotted and twisted faces were repulsive and clear to Dean to see.

"Demons," he breathed.

"If there's two…" Rufus said in a whisper.

Bobby nodded. "There's plenty more." He pulled the knife from his pocket and gripped the handle tight.

"Colt?" Dean asked Sam, reaching into his jacket for it.

"No," Sam said. "We don't know if she's aware we're here yet. Gunshots will tip her off."

"What do you think, Bobby?" Rufus said. "The Denver job?"

Bobby nodded. "Yeah. Is there another way in?"

"Place this big, there's gotta be."

"What are you thinking?" Sam asked.

"Sprinkler system," Bobby replied. "We've done it before. You'd be surprised how fast demons run when it rains holy water."

"Okay," Sam said. "You two find another way in. Me and Dean will take the demons. We'll draw as many away from you as we can."

"How are you going to do that?" Bobby asked.

"Like this," Sam said, walking toward the demons with his arms spread wide and calling to them. "Come on then you black-eyed sons of bitches. Come and get what's coming to you."

The demons looked at each other, nodded, and then came to meet Sam. Bobby and Rufus disappeared around the side of the building and Dean followed Sam.

"Winchesters," the first demon hissed.

The second started to speak, but Sam was already in motion. His arm was raised and his eyes squinted and the black smoke started pouring from the demon's mouth. The first tried to run but Sam raised his other arm and clenched a fist as if holding it in place. The demon struggled but it was like an invisible hand was holding it. Sam was holding it. The demon Sam was exorcising dropped to the ground as the last of the smoke left it and Sam turned his attention to the other. It was fast, confident and awe inspiring to see. The smoke poured out of the demon and sank into the asphalt, leaving sparks and a dark stain behind beneath the downed meat suit.

Sam didn't even bother to check if the humans were alive. He just stepped around them and walked through the open doors of the school. Dean followed.

Dean heard the singing first, and it made him sick as it was a child's voice coming to them along the hall.

"Just thinkin' about tomorrow, clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow, 'til there's none!"

"Jesus," Sam whispered. "What the…"

"Maybe it's just the song," Dean said hopefully. "The CD."

Sam nodded. "Maybe." He didn't sound like he believed it any more than Dean did. "Come on."

They walked together along the hall, their footsteps echoing. Dean felt sick. There was probably a child at the end of this journey. What the hell would Lilith want with a child? It could be nothing good.

The singing got louder as they approached a door at the end marked Auditorium, and when they reached it, Dean swallowed hard.

"You don't have to come in," Sam said. "I can take her alone."

"You think she's really alone in there?"

"No," Sam said bluntly. "But you still don't need to come in."

"I do," Dean said. This was his life they were saving, and he wouldn't let his brother go in alone. It was his to risk, too.

Sam pushed open the door, and the singing swelled.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow. You're only a day away"

They stepped into a nightmare.

There were so many of them, so many demons, sitting in the tiered seats. Every one of their faces was displayed to Dean in its rotting glory. On the stage was another, a destroyed face superimposed over the image of a child. She had blonde ringlets and a pretty white dress, and she was smiling at Dean. Lilith had put a demon in a child!

Dean reached out without thought and gripped Sam's sleeve. Sam patted his hand then stepped forward, breaking Dean's grip.

"You like my singing?" the little girl asked sweetly. "I learned it just for you, Dean."

Dean shuddered.

His eyes scanned the demons in the seats, wondering which one was Lilith. He guessed the woman who sat alone in the front row. His suspicion was confirmed as she stood up and applauded the little girl.

"That was beautiful, Rosie. Truly lovely. I'm sure Dean did enjoy it. He's just a little distracted right now by his imminent death."

Sam sucked in a breath and started to raise his arm as Dean pulled the colt from his jacket. Ruby had said Lilith wouldn't allow herself to be shot at, but she didn't seem remotely afraid of them. He thought perhaps her confidence would be her downfall.

"I don't think so," she said, sweeping an arm through the air.

Dean was whipped up as if by a strong wind and thrown against a wall. He saw Sam hit the wall beside him and he groaned as the colt dropped out of his hand to the floor.

The little girl, Rosie, skipped across the stage, coming down the steps to stop in front of them. She picked up the gun and examined it. The sight of the child armed, even though she was a demon, was chilling.

"Look at the pretty gun," she said in a high, childish voice.

"Very pretty," Lilith agreed. "Do you know what these mean men were going to do with the pretty gun, Rosie?"

Rosie shook her head.

"They were going to shoot me."

Rosie's eyes widened. "Meanies."

Sam was trying to pull himself free from the wall, and his hand was fisted, but nothing was happening to Lilith or Rosie, which made Dean sure nothing could happen while he was pinned.

Dean could barely believe what was happening. Reality was washing over him and with it came paralyzing fear. Sam couldn't work his mojo; Lilith had them trapped. The hounds were going to come and there was nothing they could do to stop them.

He was going to die.

His only hope was Bobby and Rufus, and he wasn't sure what holy water would do against a demon as powerful as Lilith.

"It's okay. It's okay," Sam was chanting.

Dean realized he was talking to him. He was trying to reassure him. He did the only thing he could do for his brother; he agreed. "I know, Sammy."

"Okay?" Lilith said in disbelief, and the demons in the seats laughed raucously. Even Rosie giggled. "You're the furthest thing from okay right now. Both of you are going to die."

Dean's heart clenched. Not Sam, too. He could take anything but that.

"So, Dean," Lilith said. "We've got a little time before midnight, so let's talk. What do you think of our little Rosie? Isn't she darling?"

Rosie waved sweetly.

"I thought you'd appreciate her," Lilith went on. "You like kids, right?"

"Fuck you!" Dean snarled.

Rosie gasped. "Naughty."

"Yes, language," Lilith chided. "There's a child present."

"That thing's not a child," Sam said through his teeth.

"You're right," Lilith said. "She's nothing anymore. Rosie here had a little fun taking on this meat suit. She took a little—"

She cut off suddenly as the water began to rain down on them. It was chaos. The demons shrieked and screamed as it burned their skin, making them sizzle and smoke. They ran for the exits as one, howling with pain. Lilith ran too. Her influence gone, they were released from the wall, and they staggered forward.

Demons rushed past them and for a moment Dean didn't see what was wrong with the scene. Then it hit him; Lilith was running, but Rosie wasn't. Her ringlets and dress were damp with holy water, but she didn't look remotely troubled and her skin was clear of smoke. Her eyes were also white.

"Lilith!" Dean growled.

She giggled. "Fooled ya! Fooled ya! Silly Dean."

Dean saw Sam step forward, his hand raised and pointed at Lilith. "Goodbye, bitch," he snarled.

Lilith struggled to move, but Sam was holding her as fast as he had the demon outside. Dean watched in awe as Sam slowly clenched his fist.

"Come on, Sammy," he breathed. "You can do it."

Sam was shaking and a line of blood seeped from his nose down his lips and mouth, but he didn't stop. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist tighter.

It was working. Lilith coughed and smoke began to trickle from her mouth. Dean was exultant. He was going to do it. Dean was safe. Sam was saving him. Then Lilith raised a small hand of her own and Sam's struggle seemed to become much harder. His shaking was practically a seizure. It was a battle between them.

Suddenly, inexplicably, Lilith smiled. "Hear that?" she asked, her young voice strained. "They're coming."

Dean heard. On the wind there was the sound of a bell ringing, counting down to midnight.

"No!" Sam shouted.

"Yes," Lilith said happily. She shoved a hand out and Sam was knocked back a step. It was enough to break his concentration. His hand dropped and before he could raise it and restart his assault, Lilith swept out a small, pudgy hand and he was forced back against the wall.

"Dean!" he shouted. "No!"

Dean turned to him and smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, Sammy. I'll be fine."

"No!"

Dean heard the growl behind him and he turned away regretfully from his brother into the most horrific image he had seen in his life: a hellhound.

"Puppy!" Lilith squealed.

"Dean!" Sam bellowed.

"It's okay, Sammy," Dean said one last time. "I'm going to be fine."

The hellhound sprang forward.

Bobby knew, he knew before he reached them that it had happened, that he'd lost his boy, because of the keening human howls coming to him along the hall.

A chill of unreality fell over him as he staggered towards the door.

Not real. Not real. Not real.

He felt Rufus rest a hand on his shoulder in comfort. It was so wrong. He didn't need comfort because it wasn't real. Couldn't be real. Dean couldn't be… gone.

"Dean! No! Please no!" the voice shouted beyond the doors.

Bobby wished it would stop. He couldn't bear to hear it. There was too much pain in the voice. It threatened to break his unreality. He was scared it would make him feel, too.

He came to a stop outside the door and rested his hand against the wood. He needed to go in, but he was scared, more scared than he had ever been in his life, of what he would see.

"Come on, Bobby," Rufus said as another howl of pain rent the air. "He needs you."

That was wrong. Sam never needed Bobby anymore. He only needed Dean. And Dean was…

He pushed open the door.

He couldn't see the wounds left by the hounds because Dean was held tight against Sam. He could see his face though. His pale, young, loved face.

His skin was ashen, but that was the only sign of death. His expression was peaceful, as if he was sleeping. There was no look of pain in him.

Sam cried out again and began to rock Dean back and forth. "Dean, please. Wake up. Please wake up."

Bobby staggered forward on numb feet and dropped to his knees beside Sam. He rested a hand on his shoulder and whispered his name.

Sam looked up and Bobby saw the tears tracking down his face. He was in agony.

"He can't wake up, son," Bobby said. "He's gone."

Sam moaned in pain. "I tried. I swear, Bobby, I tried."

"I know you did."

Sam buried his face against Dean's neck and his words came out muffled. "I failed. I promised him. I broke my promise. He's gone."

Sam stood beside the mound of earth that covered his brother's body and drew a breath before making the vow he had already broken once. "I will save you, Dean. I swear I will. This is not the end."

He would save him; no matter what it took or what he had to do to himself, he would do it.

He had nothing left to lose.

Four months later.

Anna Milton jerked awake in the middle of the night, voices filling her mind. They were exalted and triumphant, and they scared her as they echoed around her head.

"Dean Winchester is saved."

So… Before you come at me with flamethrowers I want you to remember two things. One: This is not the end. There is another story coming. Two: He's out already. Anna says so.

I cried outlining this chapter. I cried writing. I cried reading it over. I cried for 2 more editing sessions and I cried when posting. If I did my job right I made you cry too. Let me know if I did.

Because I am not evil — I'm really not, honest — I am going to start posting the third story just as soon as I update this one to complete. It should be on my profile by the time you get to this AN.

Until the next story…

Clowns or Midgets xxx