3.16 What's Dead Should Stay Dead, An alternate season finale.

This is my take on what could’ve happened at the end of season 3, my very own season finale. My intention was to write this story in a way that it really would seem like an actual episode. I hope you guys like it. I intend to write an alternate season 4 if you guys like this story. All kinds of feedback are highly appreciated.

TITLE: 3.16 What’s Dead Should Stay Dead.
AUTHOR: Samuel Colt.
STATUS: Complete.
SUMMARY: With two days before Dean’s deal comes due, Ruby shows up with an escape plan, which may represent a lost bigger than the gain.
RATING: I’m not sure about the exact letter that goes here, but the content, language and situations are on the same level that those on the actual TV show.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Supernatural or any of the main characters. This is just Fan Fiction written for fun.

3.16 What’s Dead Should Stay Dead

Teaser: Last Goodbyes

Sam and Dean are staying at a motel room at night. Sam’s sleeping. Dean is tossing and turning awake, unable to sleep. He hears scratching outside the door. He gets up and cautiously checks outside. There’s none there.

Dean wanders outside the motel. He keeps wandering until he finds himself at a crossroad. He looks around, looking a bit scared. He turns and finds a woman dressed in black. The same woman the Crossroad Demon possessed the first time he met her.

CROSSROAD DEMON: Hey there, Dean.

Dean looks at the demon, with fear in his eyes. He hears a growl. The demon looks down, but there’s nothing there.

CROSSROAD DEMON: Time’s up, sugar.

Dean turns around and runs, hearing angry barking sounds behind him. He runs along the empty road until he finds a new path. The demon is there. He’s back at the crossroad again. The dog goes silent. The demon smiles at Dean. Dean starts running again, and the barking resumes, but he ends up back at the crossroad. Once again, he runs, walking out of the road and into the field, trying turn after turn, but always coming back to the crossroad.

CROSSROAD DEMON: There’s no running away from this, Dean.

Finally the barking becomes louder and angrier, Dean turns around and gets knocked down. The barking sounds are replaced by chewing sounds. Dean screams.

Dean is sitting at a couch, looking serious.

DEAN: So that’s why I couldn’t stay, I knew I wasn’t going to be around much, so it was better if I left.

After a moment of silence, Dean stares at the person he’s talking to.

DEAN: Say something.

The person he’s talking to falls on the back of a couch opposite to Dean. It’s Lisa Braeden. Lisa sighs.

LISA: God. This is so… God.

DEAN: I know.

LISA: Your brother died, so you offered up your own soul in order to bring him back, and you got one year to live, which is coming due in a week.

DEAN: That pretty much sums it all up.

LISA: So, you came to say goodbye.

DEAN: It felt like the right thing to do.

LISA: Why did you stay here? Why spend two of your final days here instead of finding a way out of your deal?

DEAN: I’ve tried, Lisa, I’ve tried. But there’s no way out of it.

LISA: I’m gonna miss you, Dean. Ben’s gonna miss you.

DEAN: I know.

Lisa’s eyes water.

DEAN: Come on, no tears, alright?

Lisa nods, still with watery eyes. Dean stands up.

DEAN: I have to go, or my brother will kill me before my time is up.

Lisa chuckles bitterly and stands up too.

LISA: Goodbye, Dean. It was great to get to know you. And I’m glad you came back, even if it was just for a while.

Dean and Lisa hug.

LISA: You’ve said goodbye to Ben?

Dean nods.

LISA: Goodbye, then.

Dean heads to the door, but after he opens it he stops. He turn around as Lisa jumps at him and kisses him.

Dean walks out of the house. Lisa is standing outside the door watching him leave. Dean gets inside the Impala and starts the car. He waves at Lisa. Lisa waves back at him. Suddenly her face distorts, her skin going gray and cracked, eyes empty. She moves her head from left to right and shows fangs and a horrifying face. Then she goes back to normal. Dean stares at her horrified, Lisa seems to notice. Dean smiles unconvincingly and waves again, then leaves. Lisa follows him with her eyes, concerned.

Dean drives for a while until he finds a girl standing right in the middle of the street. Dean stops the car and gets out. The girl looks like she’s in her twenties and is wearing a white, torn dress. She has long black, wet hair, some of it falling on her face and water dripping all over. She’s standing with her head down but here eyes looking up at Dean. The girl’s skin has a light shade of blue and her eyes are red, as if she had been crying for a while.

DEAN: Hey, are you okay?

The girl doesn’t respond. Dean gets closer.

DEAN: Hey!

A car passes by and honks the horn at Dean.

DRIVER: Get out of the road, you idiot!

Dean turns to look at the driver, then back at the girl. The girl is gone.

I hope you like it and I’m eager to read your feedback.

Act I: A Way Out

Clinton, Utah

One week later

Sam walks into a motel room, a brown paper bag in his hand.

DEAN: Hey there, Sammy!

Dean is sitting on the bed, grinning widely.

SAM: You’re back.

DEAN: Glad to see you too, Sammy.

SAM: How was Cicero?

DEAN: Great, lovely weather.

Sam rolls his eyes.

SAM: Was Bobby right? Were there any signs of demonic activity?

DEAN: All the way from Indiana. Looks like those demons are really worried I’m gonna make it out of this alive. [cocky] Guess they know who they’re dealing with.

SAM: Do you think they followed you here?

DEAN: Nah. Don’t think so. It would be a good thing, though, would be so much easier to kill that Lillith bitch if she just dropped by our doorstep.

SAM: Except we don’t know how to fight her.

DEAN: Right.

Dean falls silent and stares at the floor.

SAM: Hey. I know we’re running out of time, but we’ll find a way.

DEAN: It’s two days before I kick it, I think running out of time is a but of an understatement.

SAM: We’ll find a way.

DEAN: Guess this is how you must’ve felt in college, huh? Known about the final paper the whole term and two days before the deadline you’re still in square one.

Sam chuckles and sits on the bed besides Dean.

SAM: Glad you’re not letting it bring you down. You just have to keep it that way until we find a way to destroy Lillith.

DEAN: And a way to find her.

Malheur, Oregon

A group of nine to ten year old children are playing marbles at a suburban street. A little girl with light brown hair tosses a marble and wins. The girl rises her arms as a sign of victory.

GIRL: Yes! I won again!

The rest of the kids look bummed.

BOY: Not fair, you always win.

An adult couple walks a couple of feet behind the kids.

MOTHER: Sally, time to get back to the house.

GIRL: Yes, mummy.

The girl picks up all her marbles and runs towards the couple. The rest of the kids leave in different directions.

GIRL: Anything?

MOTHER: One of the brothers was in Cicero last week, but we lost track.

GIRL: Again.

The couple looks down, ashamed and scared.

MOTHER: That Ruby bitch must’ve given them hex bags to keep me off their trail.

FATHER: We’ll keep looking.

GIRL: No. You’ll lose them again. It’s time we make them come to us.

The girl turns her back on the couple and looks at the street. The other children are heading to their respective houses. A woman comes out of one of them, a boy is heading towards her. The girl’s eyes go white, suddenly, a vicious wind starts blowing on the street. The kids run towards their houses. The wind grows stronger, leaves and papers fly all over the street. A light pole is ripped off the ground and flies directly to the mother waiting at the door for her child, killing her.

BOY: [terrified] Mom!

The girl keeps standing in the middle of the street, her hair falling on her face, her eyes still white, the wind gets stronger.

Back in Clinton at night, Dean is at the motel room, packing. Sam walks in.

SAM: Going somewhere?

DEAN: Hey, just got a call from Bobby, looks like he’s found Lillith.

SAM: Yeah, where?

DEAN: Malheur, Oregon. Freaky windstorm, three deaths. And according to Bobby, temperature fluctuations and electrical storms all over the county over the past three weeks. Look’s like she’s settled down.

SAM: So we’re just going to Oregon.

DEAN: We’re not, I am.

SAM: Seriously. You actually expect me to sit here while you’re off to kill Lillith and wait for you to come home? Do you want me to have dinner ready for when you get back?

DEAN: This is my fight, Sam. I don’t want you to get killed.

SAM: So, what exactly do you expect to do once you get there? We have no idea of how to kill her, and we have no Colt.

DEAN: I’ll figure something out.

SAM: Dammit, Dean, you’re doing it again, that crap you do whenever you’re scared.

DEAN: Sam…

SAM: Figured since you’ve got nothing to lose, why not go and jump straight to Lillith, right?

DEAN: And what do you want me to do? I’m dead in two days anyways and I’m not just gonna sit there and wait for it. Dammit, I’m not going down without a fight!

There’s a knock on the door. Sam gives Dean a this-isn’t-over-yet look and heads to the door. Ruby’s outside. She makes her way in as she talks.

RUBY: Hey, boys.

Ruby stops when she sees Dean’s suitcase.

RUBY: Where are you going?

DEAN: None of your business.

RUBY: So I see you’ve heard about Oregon.

The boys don’t respond.

RUBY: And you, smart boys, think you’ve got what it takes to go against Lillith.

DEAN: Like I said, none of your business.

RUBY: You know this is a trap, right? That Lillith wouldn’t actually reveal herself that easily.

The brothers look at each other.

RUBY: Right?

The brothers silence makes her snort in exasperation.

RUBY: You don’t stand a chance against her.

DEAN: Like you care.

RUBY: I care!

SAM: If you care so much, why didn’t you tell us Lillith holds Dean’s contract?

RUBY: So you two could go running right towards her? Yeah, that would’ve turned out well. Like I said, you don’t stand a chance.

SAM: Maybe we do, if you come with us.

DEAN: Sam.

RUBY: Those demons know who I am. You can approach Lillith undetected if you keep with you the hex bags I gave you. Me, being with you would only give you guys away.

SAM: Then let us have your knife.

RUBY: A knife. You want to charge Lillith with a knife. Did you two morons grew even more stupid since the last time I saw you? Lillith’s not a little girl, you know.

DEAN: Got a better idea there, princess?

RUBY: I may. I know a way out of your deal.

DEAN: Yeah? And how many virgins do we have to kill this time, huh?

SAM: Dean…

RUBY: You need to make a new deal.

SAM: A new deal? With who?

DEAN: Doesn’t matter who, none’s making anymore deals here.

RUBY: After I became a demon, after I made it clear which side I was on, a demon approached me. A big player.

SAM: You’ve been working for somebody else this whole time?

RUBY: This demon told me about the coming war, he recruited me.

DEAN: So you’re telling me there are good demons out there, who want to fight on our side.

RUBY: Not all demons want the same, Dean. I’m not trying to pretend we’re all good, or that we’re good at all. If we’re demons, that’s because were not. When he first met me, he didn’t understand how I could still remember what it’s like to be human, he couldn’t, I don’t think he understands now. It doesn’t matter, what’s important is that he’s fighting against Lillith’s.

DEAN: Yeah? Why?

RUBY: He knows what will happen if demons take over. It is called hell for a reason, Dean. Up here, it’s like heaven to us. If demons win this war, they will make hell on Earth. Most of demons don’t see it that way. All they see is a lot of idiotic humans destroying the gift that was given to them, and they’re not mistaken. But they think they’ll do it right, and that’s where they’re wrong.

SAM: So this demon is willing to let Dean out of his deal why again?

RUBY: The war that’s coming, we need you alive for it. Both of you.

DEAN: Yeah? So Sam can become the Antichrist you always wanted him to be, am I right?

Sam gives Dean an angry look.

SAM: This deal, how does it work?

RUBY: I know a way you can escape from your deal, a loop in the contract that can get you out.

DEAN: And if I do, Sam dies.

RUBY: That’s right.

Both brothers give panicked looks at Ruby.

DEAN: You want me to kill my brother so I can live?

RUBY: Then you make a new deal to bring him back.

SAM: But Lillith holds all contracts like this. She wants me dead, remember?

RUBY: Lillith doesn’t hold all contracts. Ask your dad.

Sam and Dean look at each other uncomfortably.

RUBY: The demon you made your deal with worked for Lillith, I know someone who doesn’t, she’ll give you a deal.

DEAN: And your boss will hold the contract?

RUBY: He’s not my boss, and yes.

SAM: So, what? Dean gets to live for ten more years. Ten years from now, we’ll be right where we are now.

RUBY: No, he gets to live for as long as he wants. As long as he keeps hunting, that is. He quits, he dies.

The brothers look at each other again.

RUBY: Think about it, when you make your mind you let me know, but remember, the clock’s ticking.

DEAN: There’s nothing to think. We’re not doing it.

Ruby sighs.

RUBY: Dean…

DEAN: No, no “Dean”. I am not putting my soul for sale again. But you’d love that, wouldn’t you?

RUBY: When are you going to start to trust me?

DEAN: Never, because I know sooner or later you’ll come to bite us in the ass like the backstabbing bitch you are.

RUBY: Dean, what took you so long? [to Sam] Talk to him. I’ve gotta go.

Ruby turns to the door and leaves. Sam stares at Dean for a long time.

DEAN: I know what you’re thinking, but no, we are not doing this.

SAM: Dean, would you think about it for a second? It’s a way out, it’s what we’ve been looking for this whole year.

DEAN: We’re not taking any help from demons, Sam.

SAM: We can’t do this by ourselves, if we could, everyone who’s ever made a deal would be still alive.

DEAN: It doesn’t solve anything, Sam. You said it yourself: when my deal is due we’ll be back where we are.

SAM: Do you plan quitting hunting anytime soon? Because you’ve made it pretty clear to me over the past three years that you’re not quitting this life. Ever.

DEAN: Because I don’t want to, not because I can’t, there’s a difference.

Dean grabs his suitcase and heads to the door.

DEAN: I think I’ll stick with my way, Sammy, I gotta go now, Bobby is waiting for me at the Oregon-Idaho border.

SAM: So you’re taking Bobby with you but not me?

DEAN: He’s just gonna tell me what he knows, I’m going after that bitch alone. Like I said: this is my fight.

SAM: Like Bobby would let you. Or like I would. We’re in this together, Dean, and you’re not facing Lillith without me.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Act II: Seeing Things

Oregon-Idaho border

It’s dawn. The Impala stops in the middle of an empty highway. Booby’s waiting for them standing outside his car, next to him is Ellen. The boys come out of the Impala.

DEAN: Ellen.

ELLEN: Hey there, boys.

Ellen gives Dean a hug.

SAM: It’s nice to see you again, Ellen.

ELLEN: Same here.

DEAN: I think we haven’t seen you since…

ELLEN: Wyoming.

DEAN: Yeah.

SAM: [to Bobby] So, Dean says you found Lillith.

BOBBY: She’s in the suburbs. She has killed three people already: a woman, two children.

SAM: So how do we stop her?

DEAN: We are not doing anything. I am not putting you in harms way because of this.

ELLEN: Lillith has already killed three people. This is a hunt, just like any other.

DEAN: She’s killed them to lure me to her, I give her what she wants and it’s over.

SAM: So, of all times, this is when you decide to believe what Ruby says.

ELLEN: Who’s Ruby?

The boys looks down.

SAM: She- She’s a- She’s a demon.

ELLEN: A demon you are familiar with, I see.

SAM: She has, ehm, helped us a couple of times. She helped Bobby fix the Colt.

ELLEN: Helping you? Does that mean she’s fighting on our side?

DEAN: She’s not on anyone’s side, she’s just looking out for herself.

SAM: You don’t know that.

DEAN: Yeah, Sam, I do, and so do you, you’re just too blind to see it.

ELLEN: This Ruby, did she tell you anything about what we’re up against?

SAM: Nothing, just that we’re out of our league.

BOBBY: Well, she ain’t wrong about that.

DEAN: That might be right, but the fact is that we’re here, on our own, and we need to move fast, before she decides to kill more people just to get to me.

ELLEN: Are you sure this is wise? You just said this is just a trap and we’re walking right into it.

DEAN: What other choice do I have? After today I’m dead anyways.

BOBBY: We better get moving, then. We’ve got less than twenty hours to do this.

Bobby and Ellen get inside Bobby’s Chevelle as the brothers head to the Impala. As Dean gets the keys out of his pocket and opens the car door, he glances at Sam. He’s face distorts, his skin going gray and cracked, eyes empty, just like Lisa’s face distorted before.

DEAN: Hey, Sammy.

Sam looks up.

SAM: Do you mind driving for a while? All this crap about the deal and Lillith is wearing me down.

SAM: [confused] Hum, sure. You would think that being your last day on Earth you’d like to spend some time with your girl.

DEAN: Ha! Very funny.

Dean throws the car keys at Sam, who catches them skillfully.

Sam and Dean drive in the Impala following Bobby’s car. Dean is looking absently outside the window as they enter a small town.

SAM: You okay, man?

DEAN: I’m fine.

SAM: Look, I know you don’t want me to say this, but if- I mean if we don’t.

DEAN: Don’t.

SAM: What?

DEAN: Whatever you’re going to say, don’t say it.

SAM: Dean…

DEAN: I know.

SAM: You know what?

DEAN: What you’re gonna say, I already know.

SAM: I’m sorry, Dean.

DEAN: Don’t apologize, none of this is your fault.

SAM: Of course it is.

DEAN: Why, because you died? Because turned out dad was right and I had to keep an eye on you all the time or else you’d get yourself killed? I know you think that, Sam, but you’re wrong. This isn’t your fault, I made this decision on my own, and I don’t regret it. If I had to go back and do it all over again, then I’d do it again.

SAM: Maybe you’ll have to.

DEAN: We’ve talked about this.

SAM: No, you’ve talked about this. Dean, don’t you see this is a…

Dean suddenly gets alarmed about something he sees outside the window.

DEAN: Shut up.

Dean gets his cellphone out of his jacket and dials.

DEAN: Hey, Bobby? Don’t go any further, turn right and head to the first motel you see two miles from here, we’ll follow.

SAM: Dean, what is it?

DEAN: The town’s full of demons.

SAM: What? How do you even…

DEAN: Shut up and drive. Not too fast, we don’t wanna draw to much attention.

Sam speeds and turns left right behind Bobby.

The boys arrive outside a motel in a deserted highway. Bobby and Ellen are already waiting for them. Sam and Dean get out of the car.

ELLEN: What is it, Dean? What happened?

DEAN: Demons, they’re all over town.

ELLEN: How did you know?

DEAN: I could… I could see them. I could see the faces underneath the bodies.

SAM: How is that even possible?

ELLEN: It must have something to do with you’re deal, right?

BOBBY: Makes sense, you’re practically one of them now.

SAM: So the whole town is possessed?

DEAN: No, not everyone, but the more we drove the more of them I saw, there must be dozens of them surrounding Lillith.

BOBBY: And I bet that ain’t the only thing you’ve been seeing lately, is it?

Sam is seriously concerned now, he looks at Dean with surprise and fear in his eyes, Dean notices.

DEAN: No, I- I’ve… Some times, the faces, people’s faces, distort, they look awful, I don’t know how to explain it, like… like they don’t look human anymore.

BOBBY: It’s known to happen. The closer you get to your deadline, the more of the other side you get to see. There’s hallucinations, voices…

SAM: For how long?

DEAN: A couple of weeks.

SAM: You’ve been seeing demons for two weeks now?

DEAN: No, not demons, Ruby looked normal to me last night. Just hallucinations: distorting faces and… and the girl.

BOBBY: What girl?

DEAN: I keep seeing this girl, like a ghost, she appears sometimes.

SAM: What does she look like?

DEAN: I don’t know, thin, pale, like- like her:

Dean points somewhere across the road. The girl Dean saw in Cicero is there, in her white, torn dress, her hair still wet. Just like before, she’s standing with her head down but here red eyes looking up at Dean.

SAM: Wait, I can see her. Is she a ghost?

ELLEN: I don’t see anything.

BOBBY: Neither do I.

ELLEN: Boys, what exactly are you looking at?

DEAN: Looks like a ghost.

SAM: But it can’t be, why only us can see her?

A truck passes by blocking the view of the boys. When the truck is gone, so is the girl.

SAM: She’s gone.

DEAN: What the hell was that?

SAM: Do you know anything, Bobby? Is this supposed to happen when a deal is about to come due?

BOBBY: It can’t be related, or else you wouldn’t be able to see her too, Sam.

DEAN: So what is it, a case? Can’t lost souls find someone else? This is my last day on Earth, damn it!

SAM: I don’t think this is a case, you said you’ve been seeing her for weeks.

DEAN: I don’t know what t think now.

ELLEN: Doesn’t matter. What’s important now is that we need to get ready. If we want to stop Lillith, we better figure out a way to get past those demons.

SAM: You’re right. Do you think they know we’re here?

DEAN: We drove across the town’s main street, not exactly a inconspicuous way to go.

BOBBY: That means Lillith’s probably gonna be waiting for us, we better be careful.

They all head inside the motel.

Ruby is walking down a street of suburban houses. She looks around cautiously as she walks. There’s none around. Ruby approaches the window of one of the houses and peeks inside. The house looks deserted.

WOMAN: What do you think you’re doing?

Ruby turns around, panicked. A girl in her early twenties is there. She has long, brown, curly hair and blue eyes.

RUBY: I was just…

WOMAN: She called, the brothers are here. It’s time.

The woman turns around and rapidly walks along the street. Ruby follows.

RUBY: You’re new around here, aren’t you?

WOMAN: Yes.

RUBY: What’s your name?

WOMAN: Bela.

RUBY: [muttering] Bela…? [to Bela] Wait! I know where you can find them.

Sam and Dean are inside a motel room. A suitcase is open on the bed, filled with guns and knives. Sam is cleaning a gun while Dean is sharpening a machete.

SAM: You know none of this is gonna work against an army of demons, right?

DEAN: We’ve done it before, Sam.

SAM: Yeah, in a police station, with half a dozen other men. This is different.

DEAN: Hey, if you wanna back down, you’re free to do it.

SAM: That’s not what I’m saying, Dean, and you know it.

The door slams open. Bela is standing there. Sam and Dean jump in surprise. Bela coldly stares at the brothers as she slowly steps inside the room. Sam discretely reaches for a flask of holy water from the backpack on the desk beside him. Bela notices and sends Sam flying with a wave of her hand, pinning him to the wall. She turns at Dean and sends him towards the opposite wall. Bela approaches Sam and takes out a knife.

RUBY: Stop.

Bela turns at the door. Ruby just walked in.

BELA: Why? Dead or alive, those were the orders.

RUBY: Just wait.

BELA: Then why did you lead me here if you don’t wanna kill them?

Sam and Dean exchange shocked looks.

RUBY: Just let me handle this.

BELA: Oh, I see, you wanna be the one who kills him, don’t you? Looking for the reward on his heads.

DEAN: [smirking] Knew it: sooner or later.

BELA: You know them?

RUBY: Sorry, Bela, I guess the charade’s over.

SAM: Bela?!

Ruby takes out a jar of holy water, opens it and splashes it all over Bela. Smoke starts coming out of her as Bela falls on her knees and screams. Sam and Dean are automatically released. Ruby splashes more holy water over Bela as the brothers get back on their feet. Ruby takes out her knife.

RUBY: Get out of here!

Sam and Dean rush out of the motel room. Sam grabs his backpack before leaving.

Sam and Dean wait for Ruby outside the Impala parked in front of the motel.

RUBY: What kind of morons walk into a town full of demons and don’t draw Devil’s traps on the doors?

SAM: Did you just call her Bela?

RUBY: That’s right.

DEAN: Bela? As in… as in Bela?

RUBY: As in the one who stole the Colt right under your noses? Yep, that’s her.

DEAN: How did she turn into a demon so fast? You said it could take centuries. On second thought, probably there wasn’t much soul left to burn.

SAM: And how did you even know her?

RUBY: When you told me the Colt got stolen, looking for her was the first thing I did. Too bad she had already given it to Lillith by the time I got to her.

SAM: She acted like she didn’t even know who we were, like we were just the guys Lillith ordered her to kill.

DEAN: Which we are.

RUBY: That’s what hell is all about, SAM: forgetting.

DEAN: Speaking of hell, isn’t she supposed to be rotting there?

RUBY: There’s only one way a demon can get out of hell: if you summon him.

SAM: Who would summon Bela?

RUBY: Lillith. You know she owns her soul. A snap of her fingers and every demon she owns lines up in front of her within seconds.

Ruby casts a meaningful glare at Dean, who realizes what Ruby is saying.

SAM: Why did you bring her here, Ruby?

Ruby approaches Dean as she talks.

RUBY: Just to show Dean what he’s getting into, what’s he’s about to become. I just hope you’re ready to become Lillith’s bitch.

Dean looks annoyed and disgusted.

RUBY: What’s the matter, Dean? You can see my face, can’t you? You can smell the sulphur in my breath, am I right? You’re almost there, Dean.

Ruby looks down at Dean’s watch.

RUBY: Only fourteen hours to go. It’s funny: how you won’t accept help from a demon when you’re so close to become one. What are you gonna do Dean? Hunt us? Pretend you’re still human when you’re eyes go all black? Eternity in denial, it can be a pain in the ass.

DEAN: Takes one to know, doesn’t it?

Ruby chuckles mockingly.

RUBY: I’m a freak of nature, Dean. No other demon has ever remembered what was like to be human. Some may remember their name, some may even remember they were humans way back when, but none could ever tell you what was it like. So I wouldn’t get my hopes of being a “good” demon too high if I were you.

DEAN: You think you’re good, Ruby?

RUBY: I’m not. But I’m as close as a demon can get, and that’s closer than you’ll ever be.

Ruby takes a moment to enjoy Dean’s seriously concerned look.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Act III: Malheur

At a suburban house, Lillith’s staring out the window, her eyes white. The little girl’s mother walks in.

MOTHER: You called?

LILLITH: Bela’s dead.

Lillith’s eyes go back to normal.

MOTHER: The new one?

LILLITH: It won’t be long before they get here.

MOTHER: So it worked.

LILLITH: Be prepared, I know the brothers, I’ve studied them. If they’re coming hat means they’re not alone.

MOTHER: Ruby?

LILLITH: And more.

The girl’s mother walks out.

Back at the motel, Sam and Dean are loading the trunk. Sam stares at Dean the whole time.

DEAN: Quit looking at me like that, Sammy.

SAM: Dean, I know, I know you don’t want to make a deal with a demon again, I know it’s not the ideal, but if you think about it, it’s safe: a deal is a deal, there is no way around it. If you keep your end of the deal so do they, whether they want it or not. So, as long as you keep hunting, you get to live.

DEAN: And what if I don’t wanna hunt forever, huh? Have you ever thought of that?

SAM: Are you serious? I mean, would you actually consider quitting the hunting?

DEAN: I don’t know, maybe, I could, you don’t know that. Maybe… maybe if I really got to live, I would like to do something else. If there’s one thing this whole thing has made me realize is that life’s too short.

SAM: You saw Bela back there, you saw what she has turned into. It’s been, what? Three weeks? She doesn’t remember who she was, she doesn’t even remember she was human.

DEAN: That’s because she wasn’t human even when se was alive, Sam. It probably took five minutes to cook that skank’s poor excuse of a soul into a demon.

SAM: So what? As long as it takes over five minutes it’s fine by you? What is it with you? One year ago you didn’t even hesitate to throw yourself at the Crossroad Demon, what’s so different now?

DEAN: That I’ve learned, Sam. Nothing good comes out of making deals with those things. And I am not going to kill you, I am not going to watch you die again.

SAM: You’ll bring me back.

DEAN: Maybe that’s what I’m scared of!

SAM: Wh… Dean, what are you talking about?

DEAN: Nothing.

SAM: Dean, what are you not telling me?

Dean sighs.

DEAN: Back in Wyoming, when the Yellow Eyed Demon held me down, he told me something.

SAM: What did he tell you?

DEAN: That what came back… that you, may not be one hundred percent Sam.

Sam snorts.

SAM: And you believed him?

DEAN: I don’t know what to think, Sam. You’ve changed, you’re not the same you were one year ago. You used to get all pouty whenever we killed a demon, or even exorcised it. Now you’re colder, ruthless. Hell, you went all Schwarzenegger on Gordon and killed him with your bare hands.

SAM: I was just trying to be more like you, Dean. Look at me in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t’ have done the same. Hell, that demon in Massachusetts, the one that tricked all those witches, you stabbed her over five times before you decided she was dead. It’s a little hypocritical, don’t you think? Whenever you go tough, you’re a good hunter, but whenever I do, I’m the Antichrist!

Dean looks at Sam startled, unsure of what to say.

SAM: Nothing’s going to happen to me, okay? Hey, Dean, look at me. I’m going to be okay.

DEAN: Of course you are, because we’re not making anymore deals.

Dean steps away from Sam and heads to the Impala.

DEAN: Are you coming? We’ve got a demon to impale.

Sam sighs in frustration and follows Dean into the Impala.

Dean’s Impala drives into a suburban street, Bobby’s Chevelle behind him. Ruby is standing on the sidewalk, waiting for them. Both vehicles park in front of her. Dean, Sam, Bobby and Ellen step out of the cars. Ellen looks disapprovingly at Ruby.

ELLEN: I guess you’re Ruby.

RUBY: Goodie, now there’s five of us… against over two dozen demons.

SAM: If you want to help it’s fine, but if you’re just gonna stay there bitching about everything, please just leave.

RUBY: Don’t be stupid. You need me..

DEAN: I thought you said you couldn’t come with us.

RUBY: She knows you’re here anyway. Now let’s get moving, Lillith’s a block from here.

DEAN: Does she know we’re this close?

RUBY: Not yet, but the minute we put so much of a foot on the street, she will. She’s got demon’s guarding both ends.

SAM: Everyone in the street is possessed?

RUBY: Not all of them, she’s got some hostages.

DEAN: We’ll leave the cars here, I’ll go at the front, if I identify anyone as a demon, I’ll strike him

RUBY: Strike him with what, exactly?

SAM: Palo santo, holy wood from Peru, it…

RUBY: I know what palo santo is. It won’t kill them but it will paralyze them. I’ll go with you, I can see them too.

SAM: No, it’s better if we split. We go on both ends of the street, Dean on one side, Ruby on the other. If you see a demon…

Sam opens his backpack, showing a lot of pointed palo santo stakes inside.

SAM: …you stab him, and leave the stake inside them, so they stay put.

ELLEN: Then we’re killing all the hosts of the demons.

Dean casts a see-my-point? look at Sam.

SAM: I know, but I don’t see any other option.

RUBY: Neither do I. Let’s go, Sam.

DEAN: I’m not leaving you alone with my brother.

BOBBY: I’ll go with them, you stay with Ellen.

The group splits.

It’s getting dark. Dean and Ellen sneak behind a group of bushes. They see a couple of men smoking, chatting and laughing, like two friends who just bumped into each other on the street.

ELLEN: Demons?

DEAN: Yeah. They must be the guards Ruby talked about.

ELLEN: So what’s the deal with Ruby? She shows up, offers her help, what does she want?

DEAN: She says she wants to kill Lillith. Me? I think she’s just waiting for the right time to get our asses killed.

ELLEN: Hey, Dean.

DEAN: Mhm?

ELLEN: I know Bobby gave you a hard time for making that deal. I just want you to know I understand why you did it, I know how important is Sam to you, and if I had to do the same for Jo…

DEAN: What else is family for, right?

ELLEN: Right.

Sam, Bobby and Ruby are on the opposite end of the street, hiding behind a truck parked on one side. They stare at two men guarding the street. The rest of the street is empty.

SAM: Where are the rest of the demons?

RUBY: Inside the houses.

SAM: And Lillith?

RUBY: [pointing] That big house right in the middle.

SAM: Does she have the hostages with her?

RUBY: They’re in that house over there.

SAM: So we move in now?

RUBY: Yes.

Sam, Bobby and Ruby come out of their hiding place and run right towards the two demons standing in the middle of the street. The demons turn at them angry as their eyes go black. Sam, Bobby and Ruby jump at them, stakes and knife in hand.

Dean and Ellen look from the other end of the street. The demons guarding their side turn to look at the side where the others are fighting.

DEAN: Now!

Dean and Ellen come out of the bushes and head to the demons. They move fast and barely give them time to react as they plunge the stakes right into their hearts.

On Sam’s side, Ruby has managed to kill both of the demons.

RUBY: The hostages are in that house.

BOBBY: I’ll take care of them.

RUBY: Sam should go. You know Lillith wants you dead, Sam, you can’t just walk into her house.

SAM: I’m not leaving Dean alone.

Bobby heads toward a house on one end of the street as Sam and Ruby head to the big house in the middle. As they run, they see the lights inside the houses going on, and people looking outside them, with black eyes.

SAM: How many of them are there inside the house?

RUBY: I have the feeling Lillith might be waiting for you alone.

Sam and Ruby arrive at the big house at the same time Dean and Ellen do.

DEAN: Where’s Bobby?

SAM: He’s taking care of the hostages.

ELLEN: This is it. We might as well get in.

They approach the house and Sam starts picking the lock. Dean, Ruby and Ellen look around. They see the demons coming out of their houses.

DEAN: Sammy, you better hurry up.

Sam finally gets the door open and they all get inside.

Inside the house, everything is dark and silent.

DEAN: Where is everybody?

RUBY: [whispering] Shhhh.

SAM: You two go check upstairs, we’ll stay in this floor.

Dean and Ellen obey as Sam and Ruby walk across the living room and then head to the kitchen.

RUBY: Any luck convincing Dean?

SAM: He’s not doing it. Hey, tell me something: when you first told me you could save my brother, was this your plan all along?

RUBY: No, my plan was to get you to kill Lillith, but despite my best efforts I couldn’t get you ready for it.

SAM: What exactly did you want me to do?

RUBY: I told you Sam, you are special, with just a tiny bit of training you could’ve gone from visions to full on explosive power. You could’ve taken Lillith out in the blink of an eye. But I needed you to be focused, and with your attention on anything but saving Dean…

SAM: What did you expect? He’s my brother.

RUBY: I know, but still you have to let him go. Dammit, Sam, you just don’t get it: you have to let him go. [she snorts] I’m deluding myself. Two hundred Tuesdays and three months without him and you still couldn’t let him go.

SAM: How do you… Did you send the Trickster down on us?

RUBY: He was ready to kill you both the minute he spotted you, have you slaughtered by the angry spirits you hunt or something like that, you know his style. I convinced him there were better ways to have fun with you. Now I see it was all for nothing.

SAM: [furious] Do you have any idea what it was like to go through all those Tuesdays?

RUBY: [looking up] Shush!

Sam looks up too.

Upstairs, Dean and Ellen walk stealthily along a small corridor. Dean’s in the lead and they both have their stakes in front of them. They approach a door. After getting an approval look from Ellen, Dean kicks the door open. They look inside: it’s a little girl’s room. The walls are painted in pink and there’s a big bed right in the middle.

Lillith is sitting on a chair in front of a dresser, combing a doll. Lillith looks up to the mirror in front of her and sees Dean and Ellen standing at the door. Slowly, she turns around and looks at them, still brushing her doll’s hair.

LILLITH: Dean.

Dean and Ellen burst inside the room ready to stab Lillith. She flips her hand and sends Ellen flying against a wall, where she passes out. Lillith turns her sight on Dean.

LILLITH: I was wondering when you’d come.

DEAN: Yeah? Well, now you have me. That’s what you wanted right? You can stop killing now, I’m not going anywhere.

Lillith just laughs, still behaving like a little girl.

LILLITH: How cute, you thought I did all this just to lure you to me? Sweetheart, you’re already dead.

As she speaks, she approaches Dean with her hand open and pointing at him. Dean is slowly pulled against a wall and lifted up.

LILLITH: Your brother, on the other hand…

Sam and Ruby rush up the stairs. As they get to the second floor, Sam stops Ruby.

SAM: Give me your knife.

Ruby obeys without a word. They look at the light coming out of a room and head there.

Outside Lillith’s house, all demons are waiting for orders standing by the front door.

At the hostage’s house. Bobby’s getting everybody out through the back door.

BOBBY: [whispering] Don’t make a sound and get the hell out of here.

Bobby runs to the main entrance. He sees the demons outside Lillith’s house. He stealthily gets out of the house with a backpack on his back. He takes out a bag of salt and spreads it on the street, making a line that divides the street.

Sam and Ruby walk in. Lillith smiles happily, like a child who’s just been handled an ice-cream.

LILLITH: Hey, Sam! We were just talking about you.

SAM: Let my brother go.

LILLITH: Relax, I’m not going to kill him. He’ll be dead in four hours anyways and I wouldn’t want him to miss this.

SAM: Let him out of his deal.

LILLITH: I’m afraid I can’t. But hey, don’t worry, I know how much you care for each other, I won’t keep you apart for too long.

Lillith’s eyes go white as she lifts her hand and points it at Sam.

LILLITH: It was fun meeting you, Sam.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Act IV: Weaseling Out

The whole room is filled with light. Dean looks away and narrows his eyes, Ruby and Sam look down and cover their eyes with their hands. Suddenly a high pitched sound fills the room, followed by a loud deep voice.

BOBBY: [off] Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica, in nomine et virtute Domini Nostri Jesu.

Outside the house the glow from Lillith’s room is coming out of the window. The demons turn their sights at Bobby, who’s standing behind them with a loudspeaker in his hand. The demons notice he’s in between two lines of salt. Bobby continues the exorcism.

BOBBY: Christi, eradicare et effugare a Dei Ecclesia, ab animabus ad imaginem Dei conditis ac pretioso divini Agni sanguine redemptis. Non ultra audeas, serpens callidissime, decipere humanum genus, Dei Ecclesiam persequi, ac Dei electos excutere et cribrare sicut triticum.

Back at Lillith’s room, the bright lights goes out and Lillith’s eyes go back to normal. Lillith holds her head as if she was having a headache. Dean is released from his grip and falls to the floor. Lillith makes a second attempt to attack as her eyes go white again. Sam jumps at Lillith with the knife but she sends it flying out of the window, smashing the glass. Lillith’s pain seems to be increasing. Ruby is also suffering the effects form the exorcism.

BOBBY: [off] Imperat tibi Deus altissimus, cui in magna tua superbia te similem haberi adhuc præsumis; qui omnes homines vult salvos fieri et ad agnitionem veritaris venire. Imperat tibi Deus Pater; imperat tibi Deus Filius; imperat tibi Deus Spiritus Sanctus.

SAM: We need to get out of here, now!

Ruby, still in pain from the exorcism, heads towards Ellen and shakes her to wake her up. Ellen opens here eyes and sees Lillith on her knees holding her head.

SAM: Let’s go.

Ellen gets quickly back on her feet as Ruby helps her up. They all run outside.

Outside the house, all demons are on their knees holding their heads. They run past them and Ruby picks her knife up the ground.

BOBBY: Imperat tibi majestas Christi, æternum Dei Verbum, caro factum, qui pro salute generis nostri tua invidia perditi, humiliavit semetipsum facfus hobediens usque ad mortem; qui Ecclesiam suam ædificavit supra firmam petram, et portas inferi adversus eam nunquam esse prævalituras edixit, cum ea ipse permansurus omnibus diebus usque ad consummationem sæculi. Imperat tibi sacramentum Crucis, omniumque christianæ fidei Mysteriorum virtus.

They all run towards Bobby and get behind the salt line. Ruby doesn’t, she stands in pain on the other side of the line. Sam kicks some of the salt and lets her in, then he restores the line. A roaring sound comes out of Lillith’s room. They all look up and see black smoke coming out of there. The demons outside the street leave their bodies too.

DEAN: We need to get out of here!

They all run past the second salt line, Sam kicks it so Ruby can walk out and they all run away.

The five of them arrive at the street where they parked the cars.

RUBY: I know somewhere we can go. It is safe.

SAM: [to Bobby] Get you and Ellen to a safe place. We’ll go with Ruby.

Bobby looks like he disagrees but a roaring sound nearby makes him react. He nods and gets inside his car with Ellen. Sam, Dean and Ruby head to the Impala.

Boise, Idaho

Sam, Dean and Ruby drive on the Impala. There are empty fields on both sides of the road. The wind attacks everything around them furiously. The sound of thunders fills the air. A tree branch hits the windshield.

DEAN: Damn it!

SAM: Do you know where we’re going?

RUBY: Yes.

SAM: Is it safe?

RUBY: Yes!

DEAN: Just so we’re clear, we’re only coming with you for hiding, none’s making any deals.

SAM: Dean…

DEAN: I mean it, Sam.

RUBY: I get it! You’re stubborn and stupid, and you’re gonna die in less than two hours. Are you happy now? Now, would you shut up and drive? Let’s make sure at least one of two idiots make alive to tomorrow.

They all drive for a while in awkward silence. After a while, Dean turns on the radio. Some weather report comes out of the speakers.

WEATHER MAN: [voiceover] What looked like a beautiful day this morning seems it was just the calm before the storm. We’re expecting strong winds and heavy rains over the night, we recommend to stay inside of your houses and not come out unless absolutely necesse…

Dean switches the station, AC/DC’s “Stick Around” is on. Dean smiles and beats the steering wheel at the rhythm of the music as he drives. After a while, the radio starts picking up some interference, going on and of and it finally goes off. Dean, Sam and Ruby look out the windows and at the clouded sky.

SAM: Looks like they’re getting closer.

RUBY: Drive faster.

Dean obeys without a word. After a while the landscape around them changes: they’ve left the abandoned field behind and the road enters some woods.

RUBY: Stop here.

Dean stops the car, they all get out.

RUBY: This way.

Dean turns to look at the Impala. A loud thunder strikes menacingly.

RUBY: Just leave the car here, let’s go.

Sam, Dean and Ruby run into the woods. The wind keeps getting stronger and stronger. A tree crashes down blocking their path. They stop right on time before it crushes them. The sky is suddenly filled with streams of black smoke. They keep running. Finally they reach an old cabin in the middle of the woods. Ruby knocks. A brunette woman dressed in black opens the door. The woman flashes her eyes, they’re red.

CROSSROAD DEMON: Get in.

They get inside. The cabin is small, there are two doors opposite to the one in the entrance. A grandfather clock is in a corner. Ruby throws a bag of salt at Sam and a spray paint canister to Dean.

RUBY: Start with the Devil’s traps.

Dean starts drawing the Devil’s trap on the door while Sam sprinkles salt over the window ledges.

DEAN: What if the demons traps us here? What if we go boom like that police station back in Colorado?

RUBY: There’s a hidden tunnel on the back, it’ll get us out of here safely.

Dean finishes drawing the Devil’s trap, Sam tosses the empty salt bag on a corner.

SAM: So, how do we get Dean out of his deal?

DEAN: You don’t.

SAM: Shut up. Ruby?

RUBY: I know a spell, it will make us go forward in time.

DEAN: Sam, don’t.

RUBY: Dean’s deal is due tonight at midnight of Saturday the 17th.

SAM: You want us to skip Saturday and go straight into Sunday.

RUBY: Yep.

SAM: If Dean makes it alive to Sunday, he’s out of his deal.

RUBY: And you die.

Sam nods energetically.

SAM: Let’s do it.

DEAN: Am I invisible or something? Being about to be a corpse suddenly makes me irrelevant? I said no.

SAM: Start the spell, Ruby.

Ruby takes out a piece of chalk from her jacket and starts drawing symbols on the floor. Dean approaches her but Sam gets in the way.

SAM: Dean, don’t.

DEAN: Back off of me, Sam! I said we’re not gonna do it.

SAM: Damn it, Dean! I’m not gonna let you die!

DEAN: The hell you are!

Dean makes another attempt of grabbing Ruby but Sam holds him by his jacket and pushes him against the wall.

SAM: No, I’m not!

DEAN: This is it, Sam, my time’s up. You need to let me go. Please, Sam, I’m begging you, just let me go.

Sam shakes his head, tears in his eyes.

DEAN: Keep on with the hunting, kill Lillith, along with any other son of a bitch that comes in your way.

SAM: [crying] I can’t.

The grandfather clock ticks and begins to strike midnight. Dean and Sam turn to look at it.

DEAN: I guess this is it.

SAM: [crying] Dean…

Ruby stands up.

RUBY: Everybody inside the circle.

SAM: I’m sorry, Dean.

Sam shoves Dean into the circle drawn on the floor. The circle has all sorts of symbols in and out of it. Ruby and the Crossroad Demon get inside as well.

SAM: I cannot say goodbye to you.

Sam gives Ruby an approving nod.

RUBY: Ventus tempus recolligo. Affero al aut propero meus via. Vado meus iter itineris protinus. Permissi cras essere hodie.

The storm outside gets stronger, the clock’s chime is still ringing, Sam looks at it. The hands are moving rapidly. After they circle the clock twice, the chime stops, so do the sounds of the storm. Everything’s in silence except for the clock ticking. The brothers look around, looking for any sign that anything’s changed.

RUBY: This is it: midnight of Sunday the 18th.

Dean turns to look at Sam, his eyes widen in horror. Sam takes one hand to his back, then he looks at it; it’s covered in blood.

DEAN: Sam…

Sam collapses to the floor, dead. Dean gets down to the floor and holds him. After a few moments staring at the dead body he stands up and turns at the Crossroad Demon.

DEAN: Alright, bring him back.

Dean and the demon approach to kiss, but then a gunshot is heard. The demon’s eyes and face light up in a bright, orange color. Smoke starts coming out of her body. The demon falls to her knees and dies. Dean and Ruby look in horror, then they turn their sights to the door. A little girl is standing there, with the Colt smoking in her hand.

THE END

I hope you guys enjoyed it. I'd really love to read your feedback. Any comments, critique and suggestions will be highly appreciated, since I intend to write more.