Sam, Dean, Lucie, with Cadence on her lap, and Harriet were sitting at a table, Sam with his laptop open. On the screen, there was a mugshot of Dean from the St. Louis Police Department.
"So much for our low profile," Sam said. "You've got a warrant in St. Louis, and now you're officially in the Fed's database."
Dean grinned. "Dude, babe, I'm like Dillinger or something."
"Dean, it's not funny. Makes the job harder, we've gotta be more careful now."
"Well, what do they got on you?"
Sam muttered, "I'm sure they haven't posted it yet."
"No accessory? Nothing?"
"Shut up."
Dean laughed. "You're jealous."
"No, I'm not!"
"Uh-huh. All right. What do you got on the case there, you innocent, harmless young man, you?"
Sam 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?"
"Two days earlier."
"Did he actually say black dog?" Lucie asked, stroking Harriet's hair as she coughed. "Hattie, you okay?"
"It hurts, Mommy," Harriet whined.
"I know, sweetie."
"Yeah. A vicious, wild, black dog," Sam said. "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. Well, maybe."
"What's the lore on it?" Dean questioned.
Sam passed Dean the pages. "It's pretty vague. I mean, 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-"
"Yeah, I bet they could hump the crap outta your leg, look at that one, huh?" He held up a picture and smirked; Sam glared and Lucie frowned; his smirk slipped. "What? They could."
Lucie met Dean's eyes. "Sam's right. These are dogs you can't see with the naked eye. We need to be careful."
APARTMENT
In a posh, well-lit room, Sam, Dean, Lucie, Harriet and Cadence were in suits and dresses and interviewing a man.
"So, you and Sean Boyden were business partners for almost ten years, right?" Sam questioned.
"That's right," the man said. "Now one more time, this is for...?"
"A tribute to Mr. Boyden," Dean explained. "Architectural Digest." The man laughed. "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," Lucie noted. "Any idea why he'd do such a thing?"
"I, I have no clue, I mean he lived a charmed life."
"How so?"
"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?" Dean asked.
"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 Lloyd's. A complete dive."
"Right. So what changed?" Sam wondered.
"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..." He cut off abruptly.
"What?" Dean and Lucie asked.
"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?"
STREET
Dean exited a building designated Animal Protection Agency, still wearing his suit. Sam, Lucie, Harriet and Cadence were waiting in the car. Dean got in the driver's side.
"So," Sam and Lana said.
"Secretary's name is Carly," Dean informed. "She's 23, she, uh, kayaks, and they're real."
"You didn't happen to ask her if she's seen any black dogs lately, did you?" Sam asked.
Dean held up a page. "Every complaint called in this week about anything big, black, or dog-like. There's 19 calls in all. And, uh," he pulled off a Post-It note,"don't know what this thing is."
Sam took it, read it, and laughed. He glanced at Dean. "You mean Carly's MySpace address?"
"Yeah, MySpace, what the hell is that?" Sam laughed again. "Seriously, is that some sort of porn site?"
"No," Lucie answered with a laugh. "It's a social networking site."
"I wish," he muttered.
"Dean, children."
---
They made their way to Dr. Pearlman's house and knocked on the door.
"I swear, if this is another freakin' Pomeranian barking in the neighbor's yard..." Dean trailed.
The door opened to reveal a young woman.
"Afternoon, ma'am," Dean greeted, pulling out an ID. "Uh, Animal Control."
"Oh, someone already came yesterday," the woman said.
"Oh, we're just following up," Sam explained. "We're looking for Dr. Sylvia Pearlman?"
They entered.
"The doctor, well, she, I don't know exactly when she'll be back, she left two days ago."
"Okay," Sam said. "And you are..."
"I'm Ms. Pearlman's maid."
"So where did the doctor go?" Dean questioned.
"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," Lucie answered, holding her daughters' hands. "You know, you didn't ever happen to see the dog yourself, did you?"
"Well, no. I never ever heard it."
Dean took a photograph off the wall of Dr. Pearlman at a bar with two friends.
The woman continued. "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," Dean said. "She's gotta be what, 42, 43? That's pretty young for that job."
"Youngest in the history of the place. She got the position... ten years ago?"
"Huh."
"Huh," Sam repeated. "An overnight success. Ten years ago."
"Yeah, we know a guy like that. Oh, look at this." He held up the photo and flipped it over to show writing on the back. "Lloyd's Bar."
---
At another motel room, Dr. Pearlman, terrified and disheveled in appearance, paid for another night and chained the door.
CROSSROADS
Dean, Sam, Lucie, Harriet and Cadence pulled up outside Lloyd's Bar and got out. As they walked towards the bar, Dean noticed some yellow flowers growing by the side of the road and stopped.
"Hey," Dean called.
"Yeah?" Sam and Lucie asked.
"That's weird."
The yellow flowers were growing on multiple corners.
"What?" Sam wondered.
"Think someone planted these?" Dean questioned, picking up Cadence before she could touch the flowers. "Let's not touch those, okay?"
Cadence frowned. "I do?"
"Sorry, Cady. No touching."
"Wook?"
"Of course you can look."
Lucie took Harriet's hand with a frown as she looked around. "Middle of all these weeds?"
"These are, uh, what do you call 'em?"
"Yarrow flowers?" Sam answered in a questioning tone.
"Yeah. Used for certain rituals, aren't they?"
"Yeah, actually. Summoning rituals," Lucie answered.
"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 two think?" Sam asked.
Lucie looked between the brothers. "Let's find out." She walked to the center of the crossroads and looked around, measuring. "This seem about the dead center to you two?"
Dean handed Cadence to Sam and walked up to his wife and elder daughter and dug a few inches into the hard soil and hit something solid. He stopped.
"Yahtzee," Dean said.
Dean dropped the shovel and he and Lucie dug with their hands. He pulled out an old rusted box and opened it. The box contained, 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," Dean said. "And a black cat bone."
"That's serious spellwork," Sam noted. "I mean, that's Deep South Hoodoo stuff."
"Used to summon a demon."
Lucie shook her head. "Not just to summon one. Crossroads are where pacts are made. These people are actually making deals with the damn thing. You know, 'cause that always ends splendidly."
Sam nodded and Dean 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."
---
Dr. Pearlman's room was broken into by something invisible and sharp claws dug into her legs, leaving bloody trails. She was pulled across the floor, grasping at the bed sheets and screaming.
---
Sam thought for a moment. "So it's just like the Robert Johnson legend, right? Selling your soul at the crossroads, kind of deal?"
"Yeah, except that wasn't a legend," Dean said. "I mean, you know his music." Sam shrugged. "You don't know Robert Johnson's songs? Luce seems to recognize that name. 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 frowned, Dean rolled his eyes, and Lucie stared at Sam while Harriet tilted her head. "The story goes, he died choking on his own blood, he was hallucinating, and muttering about big, evil dogs."
"And now it's happening all over again."
"Yeah."
"We've gotta fire out if anyone else struck any bargains around here."
"Great," Lucie muttered. "So we gotta clean up these people's mess for 'em? I mean, they're not exactly squeaky clean. No one 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?"
"Somebody goes over Niagra in a barrel, you gonna jump in and try to save 'em?" Dean questioned.
"Dean. Lucie."
"All right. Fine." He paused a beat. "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."
---
They made their way to Darrow's home and walked up a set of wide, wooden stairs to the fourth floor of an apartment building.
"What's this guys's name again?" Sam asked.
"George Darrow," Dean replied. "Apparently quite the regular at Lloyd's. Though this house probably ain't up next on MTV Cribs, is it?"
"Yeah. So whatever kind of deal he made-"
"Wasn't for cash. Oh, who knows. Maybe this place is full of babes in Princess Leia bikinis." He smiled at his wife. "I'd love to see you like that." Sam sighed and Lucie rolled her eyes. "No, I'm just saying, this guy's got one epic bill come due. Hope at least he asked for something fun."
Lucie glanced at him and shook her head with a light sigh.
They reached the landing and stopped in front of apartment 4C. The floor was dusted with a fine black powder.
"Look at that," Sam noted.
They crouched down, fingering it.
Dean frowned. "What is that, pepper?" He brought it near his mouth, pulling Rose's hand away before she could put it near her mouth.
The door opened to reveal George - a middle-aged man with graying hair, wearing a grimy T-shirt and an open button-down.
"Who the hell are you?" George demanded.
"George Darrow?" Lucie questioned, holding her nervous daughters' hands.
"I'm not buying anything."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, looks like you went for the wrong shaker there," Dean said. "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." He held up the small picture. "Tell me. You seen that Hellhound yet?"
"Look. We want to help," Sam reassured. "Please. Just five minutes."
George showed them in and poured himself a glass of whiskey. The studio apartment was filled with paintings, completed and half-finished, and a table held painting supplies.
"So what is that stuff out front?" Sam asked.
George stared at them and they looked back blankly. "What, you boys and lady think you know somethin' about somethin' but not Goofer dust?" He tossed Dean a brown sack, tied close with twine and Dean caught it.
"Well, we know a little about a lot of things," Dean said. "Just enough to make us dangerous."
George looked at Lucie and she gave him a look, warning that she wasn't to be trifled with.
"What is it?" Sam questioned.
"Hoodoo," George replied. "My grandma taught me. Keeps out demons."
"Demons we know," Lucie said.
"Well, then. Maybe it'll do you some good." He walked towards a chair. "Four minutes left."
Dean and Lucie glanced at Sam, who took the lead.
"Mr. Darrow," Sam said. "We know you're in trouble."
"Yeah, that you got yourself into," Dean added.
Sam's words were half-directed at his brother. "But it's not hopeless, all right? There's gotta be something we can do."
"Listen. I get that you boys and girl want to help," George told them. "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."
"What'd you do it for?" Dean asked.
"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?" Lucie questioned.
"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," Sam said.
"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?" Dean asked. "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," Sam argued. "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. Okay, boys, girls. Time you went, go help somebody that wants help."
"We 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."
The five left as George started painting.
EXT. HUDSON HOME
Dean, Sam, Harriet, Cadence and Lucie approached Evan's front door. Sam knocked. A moment later, Evan opened the door.
"Yes?" Evan asked.
"Evan Hudson?" Sam questioned.
"You ever been to a bar called Lloyd's? Would have been about ten years ago," Dean said.
Evan, terrified, slammed the door and latched it.
"Come on, we're not demons!" Lucie cried.
"We got no black eyes!" Harriet said. "We have blue and green ones."
Inside, Evan bolted into a back room.
Sam looked between his brother and sister-in-law. "Any other bright ideas?"
Dean stepped back and held out his arms, then kicked down the door. They entered. Outside the back room Evan had just entered, Dean prepared to kick down the next door down. Sam and Lucie stopped him.
"What-" Sam and Lucie began, looking at him pointedly.
Sam turned the handle and pushed the door open gently. The room was quiet as they entered.
"Evan?" Sam and Lucie called.
Evan jumped out from behind a bookshelf, causing Harriet and Cadence to scream. "Please! Don't hurt me."
Sam held his hand out, pacifying. "We're not going to hurt you, all right? We're here to help you."
"We know about the genius deal you made," Dean said.
"What? How?" Evan wondered.
"Doesn't matter," Lucie answered. "All that matters is, we're trying to stop it."
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"Well, you don't, but you're kind of running low on options there, good sir."
Evan swallowed and started pacing. "Can you stop it?"
"Don't know," Sam admitted. "We'll try it."
"I don't want to die."
"Of course you don't, not now," Dean said.
"Dean, stop," Sam and Lucie told their brother/husband quietly.
"What'd you ask for anyway, Evan? Huh? Never need Viagra? Bowl a perfect game? What?"
"My wife," Evan informed.
Dean laughed. "Right. Gettin' the girl. Well, that's worth a trip to Hell for."
"Dean, stop," Sam and Lucie repeated.
"No," Evan said. "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 questioned.
"Julie was dying."
"You did it to save her?" Lucie 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 Evan as he said, "You sure about that? She and I think you did this 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?" He couldn't look at his wife for fear he'd break down. If he lost her, or their daughters, he didn't know what he'd do.
Sam and Lucie put a hand on Dean's chest, pulling him back as Sam said, "Okay, that's enough. You just sit tight, all right? We're going to figure this out."
Sam and Lucie followed Dean into the hallway. "You all right?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Dean said. "Hey, I got an idea." He pulled out the Goofer dust. "You two throw George's hoodoo at that Hellhound, keep it away from Evan for as long as you can and keep the girls safe. 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?" Sam wondered.
"I don't know, awhile. I mean, it's not easy for those suckers to claw their way back from Hell and into the sunshine."
"No. No way," Sam and Lucie argued.
"You're not allowed to say no, Sammy, Luce, not unless you've both got a better idea."
"Dean, you can forget it, all right?" Sam said. "Lucie and I aren't letting you summon that demon."
"Why not?"
"Because she and I don't like where your head's 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 Lucie and I know why."
"We don't have time for this."
Dean brushed past Sam and Lucie, but was stopped by a single word.
"Dad," Sam said. "You think maybe Dad made one of these deals, huh? Hell. I've been thinking it. Lucie's been thinking it. I'm sure you've been thinking it too."
"It fits, doesn't it?" Dean replied quietly. "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?"
"I think I hear it!" Evan yelled from inside. "It's outside!"
Dean pointed to Evan's direction. "Just keep him alive, okay?"
"Dean..." Sam and Lucie called.
"Go!"
CROSSROADS
Dean made his way to the crossroads and cut up his photo and placed it in George's box of Hoodoo Magic. He buried the box at the dead center of the crossroads and scraped the dirt over with his hands. As he stood, a beautiful young woman in a black dress appeared behind him.
"So," the demon called. "What brings a guy like you to a place like this?" He looked at her appraisingly, and she looked at him. "You called me?"
"I'm just glad it worked," Dean admitted.
"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 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. What can I do for you, Dean?"
"Maybe we should do this in my car. Nice and private."
"Sounds good to me."
They strolled to Dean's car.
HUDSON HOUSE
Sam was sprinkling the dust in a line before the windows, then started making a circle of it around Evan, who stood in the middle of the room.
"What is that stuff?" Evan asked.
"Goofer dust," Sam and Lucie, who picked up her youngest daughter and taken her elder daughter's hand, replied.
"You serious?"
"Yeah," Sam replied. "'Fraid so. Believe me, don't believe me, whatever you want. Just whatever you do, stay inside the circle, all right?"
Evan nodded.
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 demon replied.
"I want Evan Hudson released from his contract."
"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 her warily.
HUDSON HOUSE
Evan was hugging himself, standing in the middle of the circle that Sam was just finishing. He shook the bag and got out the last grains.
"That's the last of it," Sam told Evan.
CROSSROADS
"You did know about your dad's deal, right?" the demon questioned. "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?" the demon said. "You've got to be kidding me."
HUDSON HOUSE
Evan whirled around at an unheard sound. "You hear that?"
"No, where?" Sam and Lucie asked.
Evan heard the demonic growling. "Right outside the door."
The doors began to rattle violently and Sam stepped inside the circle, pulling Lucie, who was still holding Cadence and Harriet's hand, with him.
As they stood side by side, they stared tensely at the rattling door.
"Just don't move, all right?" Sam said. "Stay where you are."
CROSSROADS
"You stupid, stupid... I should rip you limb from limb," the demon said angrily.
She slammed the car door shut and advanced on Dean, who backed up towards a wooden structure.
In a pleading tone, Dean told her, "Take your best shot."
"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." Dean 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." 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."
HUDSON HOME
The rattling became louder, more violent, and then suddenly stopped.
"Do you still hear it?" Sam asked.
"No," Evan replied. "Is it over?"
A rumbling sound came from a grating by the wall. They both whirled to stare at it and it burst outward, kicking dust into the room.
"It's here!" Evan cried.
Lucie held her daughters tighter.
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. 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?" Dean asked. "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, Lucie, Harriet, Cadence. The Winchester boys and the darling wife and precious daughters all reunited." She advanced on him. "Look. Your dad's supposed to 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 close to him and he turned and walked further back.
"You think you could..." Dean 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."
"Gone." She glanced to Dean.
Dean circled around the demon and pulled out John's journal.
HUDSON HOUSE
The barking was growing louder and louder. Invisible Hellhounds surrounded Sam, Lucie, Harriet, Cadence and Evan.
"No! Back inside the circle!" Sam and Lucie ordered.
Deep claw marks were gouged into the floor in a path towards the circle and stopped just before the edge.
CROSSROADS
Dean opened the journal and held a rosary in one hand.
"What are you doing?" the demon asked.
"Oh, you're just gonna go on a little trip," Dean replied. "Way down South."
"Forget Evan. Think of your dad."
Dean considered the demon's offer briefly and began the exorcism. "Regina terrae, cantate Deo..."
Dean continued the exorcism, circling the demon, who began to flinch and convulsed.
HUDSON HOUSE
Sam, Lucie, holding Cadence and Harriet's hand, and Evan backed away slowly as the wind started to eat away at their protective circle.
"Circle's broken," Sam and Lucie noted. "Come on!"
They pulled Evan from the room and down the hall. Sam, Lucie, Harriet and Evan darted into a storeroom and slammed the door behind them. Sam and Lucie, holding her daughters tighter, braced themselves against it and the Hellhounds started pounding it down.
CROSSROADS
"...in potentis Magnife!" Dean finished.
"Wait!" the demon cried.
HUDSON HOUSE
The violent pounding stopped and everything went quiet. Sam, Lucie and Evan looked around, panting. The girls were crying.
CROSSROADS
Dean and the demon were locked in a passionate kiss. The demon broke it and he stepped back and blinked.
"What the hell was that for?" Dean asked.
"Sealing the deal," the demon replied.
"I usually like to be warned before I'm violated with demon tongue."
"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, glancing up at the Devil's Trap and fingered the rosary.
"You're gonna double-cross me? Funny how I'm the trustworthy one." Dean 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 and stashed the rosary away. He climbed up and broke the protective cycle above her head and she stepped out.
"I gotta tell you. You would have never pulled that stunt if you knew."
"Knew what?"
"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 her. "How about I send you back there?"
She threw her head back and 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 slumped to the ground, confused.
"What... how did I get here?" the girl asked.
ROAD
Dean was driving down the road, Sam brooded beside him, and Lucie was sitting in the back with a frown and Harriet and Cadence were in their car seats, sleeping.
"Demons lie all the time, right?" Sam said. "Maybe she was lying."
"Come on," Dean replied. "That really what you think?" Sam looked down. "How could he do it?"
"He did it for you."
"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."
"How many people do you think Dad saved? Total?"
"That's not the point, Sam."
"Evan Hudson is safe because of what Dad taught us. That's his legacy, Dean. But we're still here, man, Lucie. So we keep going, for him." He paused a beat. "Dean?"
"Yeah."
Lucie spoke in a gentle tone. "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?"
Dean stared straight ahead, then glanced out the window. He reached forward and turned on the radio on full blast and didn't say a word.
Lucie and Sam shared a concerned look.