Dean reached for Devon's hand as they walked towards Bobby's room. Before they could knock, the door opened and Dean stepped back, a little surprised, as Ellen stepped out from behind it. "I'll go grab us some breakfast and coffee, be right back," she called over her shoulder before she turned to say, "Morning," to the two of them. Dean smiled and nodded, and as Ellen backed Bobby's car away from the building, he shot an incredulous look at Devon, who shrugged.

They walked into the room as Bobby stuck his hat atop his head, nodding towards them. Dean stared at the older man for a moment, then finally took a breath and asked what was on his mind. "Bobby, you didn't use the old 'this could be our last night on earth' line on Ellen, did you?" Devon fought to smother a smile as Bobby frowned Dean's direction.

"Hell, no!" He turned his back on them, stuffing his wallet and other items into his pockets from where they lay scattered on the table. "She used it on me." Dean quickly squelched a burst of laughter with a fake cough, turning away before Bobby could see his face, and Devon bit her lip, busying herself with straightening the curtains to avoid facing him for a moment.

They were saved by Sam and Nicole knocking on the door, and Dean answered it with a sigh of relief. Bobby turned as Nicole walked in, nodding a greeting. "How you feelin', Reb?"

"I'm okay, Bobby." Nicole smiled at him, a little nervously at first, but becoming more genuine as Bobby shot a wink her way.

"Don't worry, girl. You've got this," he said firmly, patting her on the shoulder as he passed by her, going to grab his phone from the bedside table.

"He's right, Nicole. We'll keep him distracted until you have a clear shot. That platform is close enough, shouldn't be any problem for you. You're a hell of a shot." Dean was looking at her straight-on, and Nicole took a breath, nodding, taking a little courage from the confidence in his gaze.

"Thanks, Dean. I'll be fine. Just need a little coffee to get me going."

Before long, Ellen was back with breakfast and caffeine for them all. They shared breakfast together, all a little preoccupied and quiet, and within the hour they were heading out to the vehicles. Ellen popped Bobby lightly on the rump as he left her side to go to the driver's side door of his car, and Sam caught Dean's eye, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

Sam and Nicole crawled into the back seat, and as Devon closed her door, Sam blurted out, "What the hell was that about, Dean?"

Dean laughed, a low chuckle that made Devon smile. "Ellen and Bobby spent the night together. You know, possibly their last night on earth and all."

"Bobby used that line on her, and she went for it?"

"Nope." Dean threw Baby in reverse, and then into drive to follow Bobby out of the driveway. "Ellen used it on him."

Nicole broke into loud laughter, joined by the others. "Atta girl, Ellen!" she said, and let out another burst of laughter as they headed down the road to their destination.

The laughter was gone by the time they pulled in by the old warehouse building and parked beside Bobby's car. Dean shut off the engine, and the silence seemed almost eerie as they sat there for a moment, unmoving.

They finally got out of the car, closing the doors, and Dean walked around to the trunk. He opened it, looking down into it, and jumped just a little as Devon slid her arms around him from behind. He turned to face her, almost taken aback at the love shining in her eyes. He raised a hand to touch her face, his fingers gliding gently over her cheek, then down to her neck and under her hair, pulling her close as he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her softly. "You ready for this?" he said, his voice low, almost a whisper.

"Yes. I am. Let's get rid of this thing so we can get on with our lives." His lips curved in a one-sided smile, and he lowered his head once more, kissing her a little harder this time, his tongue dancing briefly with hers.

"Okay. Let's kick it in the ass." They grabbed the weapons from the trunk, entering the building. Bobby had finished putting the ingredients into the bowl set in the center of the devil's trap, and he straightened as they came in. Devon handed out the iron rail spikes, giving each person two of them to keep in their pockets, and handing each one an iron bar or poker as a backup. They each had sawed-offs loaded with the iron buckshot rounds, and Nicole carried the Colt, tucked into the back of her jeans. Sam walked her over to the little loading platform where she would be hiding, waiting for the opportunity to put a bullet into the demon.

She went up three of the steps and turned towards him, face to face for a change, and took his face in her hands. "You'd better stay safe, Sam. You hear me?" He looked down for a moment, a smile making his dimples wink, and Nicole sighed. "I love you, you know." She kissed him, her arms tightening around his neck as he held her close, then rested his forehead on hers.

"I love you, too, half-pint." They looked into each other's eyes for a moment, then Sam raised his head and nodded shortly as she flashed him one last, sad smile before going up the rest of the stairs and taking her place behind the crates on the platform. She found a good spot where she could see the room and had a clear shot at the center of the devil's trap, pulled up a crate, and took a seat.

"Are you kids ready?" Bobby asked, standing behind the bowl, a matchbook in his hand. Devon took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart, and smiled tremulously at Dean as he gave her hand a squeeze, then moved to his position a few feet away on her right. Sam was to her left, and Ellen and Bobby would be on the other side of the trap. Devon laid her poker down on the concrete next to her, checked her sawed-off, and felt in her jacket pocket for the spikes. Then she closed her eyes for a second before nodding at Bobby. Once he had made eye contact with each one, receiving their okay, he lit a match and dropped it into the bowl, then read from John's journal. His voice echoed in the empty building as he read the summoning spell, then stepped back outside the devil's trap to wait. After a moment of complete stillness, the evil thing spoke as it turned to fix its yellow-eyed stare on Dean.

"Well. I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Dean Winchester. Your daddy summoned me, that didn't go so well for him, did it?" The creature, inside its human host, turned slightly to look at Sam. "And Sammy. I can't tell you how disappointed I am in you. You were my golden boy. You were always my favorite. You screwed up years of work and planning, and I'm afraid you're gonna have to be a man and take your medicine." Devon shuddered as the demon's eyes came to rest on her, and she instinctively raised her shotgun to her shoulder. The demon smiled. "And who have we here? Dean, is she yours? Very nice. What's her name?"

A hate-filled sneer spread across Dean's face. "You'll never know her name, asshole."

The smile faded from the demon's face. "I'm going to enjoy killing you almost as much as I'll enjoy killing little Sammy, here." He gestured towards Sam, and Dean's lip curled.

"Sorry, but you won't be leaving that devil's trap," Dean snarled, lifting the Colt lookalike up to aim at the monster.

The demon cocked its head, a smirk on its face. "Who says I have to leave it?" With a gesture of its arm, the creature drew Devon towards it so quickly that there was no time to react. Dean called out, but it was too late, and she stood in the devil's trap with the demon's arm holding her securely to its chest as her terrified eyes looked at Dean.

He looked back, desperate frustration on his face. "Let her go! She has nothing to do with this."

The demon sneered at him again, raising its hand to stroke down the side of Devon's face as she squeezed her eyes shut, and Dean ground his teeth together in anger. "You're the one who summoned me, and you brought her along to aim a gun at me. She has just as much to do with this as you do." Devon shook as the demon lowered its head and ran its tongue along the side of her face, and nausea almost overwhelmed her.

"Don't touch her, you filthy..."

"What are you gonna do, Dean? Shoot me? Come one, you've got the Colt. Shoot me. Right through the chest. Of course, the bullet will have to go through her, too. But if you wanna make an omelet, you gotta break a few eggs." Dean stared back into the eerie yellow eyes, shaking with rage. "Dean, I don't have all day. If you're not gonna kill me, then what's the point?" With a wave of its arm, it sent Dean's pistol flying several feet away, clattering on the concrete. Dean's shotgun was on his shoulder before the echo died.

"Bobby Singer, you let him move forward with this plan? Not very well thought out, was it?" A jerk of the demon's head sent Bobby and Ellen tumbling across the floor, and Dean's eyes widened as he looked at his brother, who was wearing the same expression. As he looked back towards the devil's trap, he met Devon's gaze as she was slowly reaching into her pocket, and fear squeezed his heart. He watched as she very slowly drew one of the spikes from her pocket as the demon watched his handiwork, chuckling to himself. Devon clenched her teeth and drove the spike back into the demon's belly, and it howled with pain as it burned, smoke pouring from the wound. Its teeth bared in fury, it sent Devon flying across the room, and she landed with a crash on top of a pile of crates, crying out with pain.

"Play time is over, boys," the demon shouted, and it raised its arm, clenching its fist, causing Dean to cry out in pain as he was driven to his knees. "Don't worry, Sammy, you're next." As Azazel moved to increase Dean's torture, a shot rang out, and the demon turned towards where Nicole now stood, fire in her eyes as she shouted, "You won't get the chance, you son of a bitch." The demon began to shake, light from the bullet wound in its head glowing brighter and brighter until the body dropped, lifeless, to the concrete and the last few sparks from the wound faded out.

Dean rose to his feet, wincing in pain, one arm wrapped around his torso, stumbling back to where Devon had landed. Her eyes were fighting to open, and she groaned loudly as Dean dropped to his knees beside her. "Devon." He reached for her, slipping a hand behind her back as he helped her to a sitting position, and she cried out in pain as she tried to lean on her left arm. "Are you all right?" he asked, reaching to cradle her arm in his hand, running his other hand over it carefully as she reared her head back in pain. "Baby, I think this is broken. Let me help you up." He took hold of her good arm, helping her stand, then putting his arms around her, holding her tight as she held her arm out to the side. He fought his emotions, squeezing his eyes shut until he had a handle on them, trying not to think what could have happened, what he could have found when he came to her side. She clung to him with her good arm, her hand clutching at his shirt.

Sam turned, having just finished checking on Bobby and Ellen, and Nicole bounded into his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist. Bobby helped Ellen sit down on a nearby crate, and she nodded as he spoke softly to her. Nicole was shaking, and Sam pried her loose from his frame, setting her on her feet and bending to look into her eyes. "Nicole, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

She shook her head slowly. "No, I'm fine. Devon!" She turned as Dean helped Devon walk slowly towards them, but stopped short of giving her a hug as she saw the way she was cradling her broken arm. "Oh, Devon. I'm sorry."

Devon smiled weakly, her face pale. "I'm okay. You killed him. You did it, Nicole." Dean walked Devon over beside Sam, who put a careful, protective arm around her shoulders, then turned and grabbed the tiny blond in a bear hug. Nicole was quiet for a shocked moment, then laughed, hugging him back.

"Dean, we need to get Devon to a hospital," Sam said quietly, watching her pale face with concern. He helped her to a crate near Ellen, and got her seated as Ellen smiled at her.

"That was a gutsy move, girl. Stabbing him with an iron spike. He could have killed you, Devon."

Devon smiled, shaking a little, fighting a wave of nausea. "But he didn't. He would have killed me, anyway, so it was worth a shot. And now he's dead, and Sam and Dean are free." Ellen smiled as Devon looked at her, making a brave attempt to smile back.

"Dean, are you okay? The last time you tangled with him, you had massive internal bleeding," Sam said as Nicole stepped away and let him put a hand on Dean's shoulder.

"I'm fine, Sammy."

"Bobby, we need to get these two to a hospital," Sam said, his mouth tight with worry as Dean continued to clutch his midsection.

"I said I'm fine, Sam." Dean's jaw was clenched as he stubbornly fought his pain. "Just take Devon, I'll help Bobby clean this up."

"Dean! Get your ass in the car, you idjit! Nicole, you and Ellen take them to the hospital, Sam and I'll clean this up, and then we'll meet you there. And get Ellen checked out, too."

"Bobby Singer..." Ellen started to protest, but Bobby cut her off angrily.

"Woman! Get in the car!" Bobby shouted. Ellen's eyes widened a little, but she stood and put an arm around Devon, helping her towards the door. Dean sent a stubborn glare Bobby's way, but followed behind them, and Nicole stood on tiptoe to kiss Sam before leaving.

They made their way to the Impala, and Nicole held her hand out, staring up at Dean, ready for an argument. After hesitating for a few seconds, he rolled his eyes, reaching into his pocket for the keys, and handed them over. Then he helped Devon into the back seat, crawling in after her, putting an arm carefully around her.

Nicole started the engine, smiling a little to herself at the rumble, and Ellen folded her arms over her chest, a stormy look on her face. "That man has never raised his voice to me before," she grumbled, and Dean snorted softly from the back seat.

"You're lucky."

-

Devon sat beside Dean's bed, her left forearm and hand completely covered by a plaster cast. Dean laid there, staring at the television, those little dimples above his mouth, the ones that showed up when he was frustrated or perturbed, firmly in place. Devon stifled a smile as she looked at him, standing up to bend over him and kiss him softly. "Don't be grumpy. Sam was right. You needed a transfusion, and they had to make sure there was no more internal bleeding going on, Dean. You only have to stay for one night. I'll stay with you." She kissed him again, and he responded this time, his hand sliding up her arm, gripping her firmly and pulling her closer. The sound of someone clearing their throat stopped them, and Devon blushed, trying not to smile as the doctor entered the room.

"Mr. Warren. Seems that your internal bleeding has stopped. If you took a fall like that, I can't figure out why you're not showing any external bruising, but at any rate, you're going to be fine. We want to keep you overnight for observation, but you should be able to leave in the morning."

Dean nodded, reluctantly agreeing with the doctor, who turned his gaze on Devon. "Miss Nolan? How's the arm feeling?"

She smiled a little, shrugging. "It's okay."

"I can prescribe some pain pills..."

"I'm fine, really."

Dean took her hand, a smile on his face as he looked at her, a glint of pride shining in his eyes. "She's pretty tough, doc."

The doctor smiled. "Apparently. Well, get some rest. I'll be in at around nine to check you over, and then you can probably go home."

After he left, Devon grinned at Dean. "Mr. Warren?"

"Hey, have to go with what my insurance card says, don't I?" His smile faded slowly, his eyes travelling over her face. "Come here." He tugged gently at her hand, pulling her back towards him, and his hand came up to touch her face as he kissed her, then laid back to look into her eyes. "I thought for a minute that I was gonna lose you."

Devon laid her head on Dean's chest as his fingers played through her hair. "No way. You're not getting rid of me that easy."

"Dean? You okay? What'd the doc say?" Sam asked quietly from the doorway before stepping into the room, Nicole beside him, clinging to his hand.

"Gave me some blood. He said the bleeding's stopped. I can go home in the morning, after he checks me over."

Sam smiled, relief evident on his face, nodding. "Good. Devon, how's the arm?"

She held up her cast. "I'll be okay, just have to wear this dumb thing for six weeks."

Bobby and Ellen came into the room, and Bobby nodded his head to Dean. "Son, glad you're gonna be okay." Devon rose to her feet and came to the older man, and he opened his arms, hugging her tight for a moment. "You, too, Devon. Your daddy would have been proud of you today."

Devon smiled up at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Thanks, Bobby. I think maybe he would have been proud of all of us."