It had been over a year since the day you lost him... A year spent in agony. A year spent searching for any resolution possible... A year you decided to change, for the better in some ways, and for worse in others, but it was all worth it to get Dean back. The man you loved more than your own life. The man you hadn't even had the chance to apologize to. You were so hell-bent on getting him back that it blocked your better judgment leading you further on the path to your own destruction, but to you, it was all worth it. It would all be worth it for you to get your green-eyed hunter back into this world.
Crowley had released you from your contract that year ago. He said he didn't want you to get any nasty ideas and refused to let you have more power than you possessed on your own. He kept you in Hell as a prisoner, where he let you get to know Kevin more. You spent hours with Kevin every day as he read the forsaken Demon tablet. He didn't trust you at the beginning but gradually he realized that you were not like the other demons, and the way they treated you was far worse than they treated him. You were the one that suggested he should escape with the tablet and helped him devise the plan, he begged you to come with him because he didn't know how to face the world alone, but you promised him that as soon as you got Dean back, you would find him.
That was months and months ago. You knew he escaped because Crowley set up a torturing session as punishment for helping him, but you were still not sure if the kid was still alive. It made you sick, but you pushed it aside to search for Dean. When you finally made your own escape due to some misplaced knives and help from a neighborhood healer you immediately turned to find all of Bobby's copies of everything he had ever found about purgatory. It took you a month or two before you found what you were looking for - the escape hatch from purgatory that human souls could cross through, but then it left you with a dilemma. How would you get there? How could you tell Dean where to go? Was Dean even alive still?
You pushed the last thought from your mind as you devised a plan. You knew you couldn't reopen purgatory without risking so much evil getting out, so instead, you decided to make yourself a monster. You tried to convince vampires, werewolves, or any other monster that could convert you, but everyone refused, saying that they would rather put your head on a spike than give you additional power, so you resulted to do this a different way. A spell.
You had found it while looking through an old spellbook you kept in your storage locker in Maine and so happened to find the page about collecting specific items to shift your entire being into a monster type, and you knew that even if you couldn't get back from purgatory, it would be worth it for Dean to return to this world. You then went searching for Sam because you knew yourself well enough at this point that you were unsure what undergoing a transformation like this would do to you... What it could bring out or if you could contain it.
You found him, happy, with a girl and a dog. A sight you never thought you would see from Sammy... you just wished Dean was here to see it. So you left without even saying hello on your goose chase for items to shift you into a monster to gain access to purgatory.
***
You composed yourself before taking your seat in the shadows. You didn't want anyone to recognize you until the time came. Soon enough everyone sat down and the auction began. "Our first item, the amulet of Hesperus. Let's start the bidding with, um, three tons of dwarven gold?" You watched as Plutus scanned the crowd watching gleefully as people bid, fighting tooth and nail for items he had collected, but what caught your attention above all else was the man sitting next to him. He was taller, slim, with dark brown eyes and blond hair. You had never seen him before but something about him made your nerves stand on end. He had a warm smile that you thought for some reason would haunt you. Something was off about him, but you couldn't tell what. He seemed human enough, but you were unsure what he was doing here and more so, what he was doing with Plutus.
The bidding continued for a long time until your item that Beau had told you had come into Plutus possession came up. "Next we have 10 oz of the blood of Cerberus. Can we start with, let's say, 2 billion?"
You stood up and walked out of the shadows as you felt all eyes turn to you. You heard whispers amongst the guests as you stood your ground, staring at Plutus.
"One contract" you state simply.
You watched as he smirked and shifted in his seat.
"Sparta, I didn't even realize you made it," he says with a devilish grin, you would have kept your eyes on him, but the blond man next to him made your blood run cold from his sickening smile that grew even wider.
"I came in late" you state simply, shifting your attention back to Plutus.
"A contract? Like a work contract?"
"Exactly" you state, and you stare as you hear more murmurs across the crowd.
"It's a one and done deal though. I do one job and only one job, then I am done."
You watched as he rubbed his chin and leaned back in his chair eyeing you when the blond man whispered something in his ear.
"What kind of work?" Plutus asked.
"Anything you desire. I even wrote the contract here," you say pulling it out of your jacket pocket. You walked up to Beau who took it and handed it to Plutus. You watched as he read it over and the man next to him nodded.
"Deal"
At this, the crowd started murmuring again and you felt a wave of relief spread over you at the words. The last ingredient was finally yours, and soon enough you would get Dean back into this world. You turned around to return to your chair when you see two emerald eyes and short dirty blonde hair catch your attention and you could hardly breathe... Dean. Your Dean.
You felt frozen in place and you're breath hitched in your throat as tears stung your eyes but after a moment of sharing a gaze you became aware of the awkward stares people were giving you and you hurried back to your seat. You felt your heart beating out of your chest as you thought about how he was just meters away from you, safe and sound. You felt like jumping out of your seat and running over to him to pull him into a deep kiss but knew that that was out of the question, and you felt stupid for feeling so giddy like a schoolgirl, but quickly your happy thoughts were replaced by more pressing matters-
"Our next lot, the Word of God... " Beau says as he holds up the tablet. Your eyes went wide, how could Beau had not told you about this? But again, he just called to inform you about what you were explicitly searching for, so you couldn't really hold it against him. "...capital 'G' – very old, very rare."
"Three billion dollars" you hear from an all too familiar voice. You looked over as he stood up. You watched as he flicked his eyes towards you before looking back at Plutus.
"The Mona Lisa." The boy next to him said. He was wearing, what looked like a Weiner-stand uniform that threw you off, but after watching him you could tell he was an angel.
"The real Mona Lisa, where she's topless." Crowley pipes in and you couldn't help but roll your eyes.
"Vatican City."
"Alaska."
You were about to stand up and tell the two to shut up because it was getting old and none of the places would even compare to what Plutus was wanting, but luckily Beau did it for you in a more polite manner.
"Palin and a bridge to nowhere? No, thanks."
"All right." Crowley said after a second "The moon". If it weren't for the fact you felt someone's eyes on you, and you wanted to appear professional, you would have totally facepalmed at Crowley's stupidity. What would anyone actually want to do with the moon?
"Ah. I'm sorry, gentlemen. It seems that our reserve price has not been met. So in order to stimulate the bidding, we're going to add an item to this lot..." You watched confused as Beau pointed towards the audience. "...Kevin Tran, Prophet of the Lord."
You gasped as you see Kevin suddenly chained to the side of the stage. How could you have not seen him here with Dean?
"No!" you hear from the audience. It was heart-wrenching and you could only imagine it coming from one person. Kevin's mom. He had told you all about her, and you told him you would help find her later, but promised that Crowley would actually keep her safe for now. It wasn't really something you could promise at the time, but you knew how Crowley worked and the soft spots he had, and above all else, you knew that you had to first get Dean and that everything else would come later.
"Mr. Tran is the only person on Earth who can read this tablet, which makes them a perfect matching set." Beau continues with a smile. "So, do I hear a bid of, um –"
"No, stop!" you hear again from the same female voice from before. You shift in your seat to see her. You could see where Kevin got his looks. "I'll give you whatever you want. I have a 401(K), my house." she pleads and it made your heart sink as you heard Plutus chuckle from the stage.
"Good effort, Ms. Tran, but I'm afraid this is a little out of your price range," Beau says trying not to chuckle as well.
"My soul." She says as her voice breaks and you felt your heart skip a beat.
"Mom, don't!" Kevin yells, but it was too late.
"I bid my soul!" she cries. You notice Sam and Dean both turn to Mrs. Tran trying to convince her to take it back as Plutus begins to talk.
"Interesting," he says once again rubbing his chin.
"If it's souls that you're after, I can give you a million souls," Crowley says standing up once again. You knew it was improbable but you were really hoping Plutus would take Crowley's deal. You had promised Kevin that you would help keep him and his mom safe but again you fell short, as usual.
"So we have a deal?" Crowley asks with a small smirk, thinking he had one the game.
"It's not about the quantity, chief. It's about sacrifice. This little lady's soul is the most valuable thing she has. It's everything. Are you willing to offer everything, Mr. Crowley?" Plutus says.
You had enough. You knew Crowley wouldn't give up anything he truly loved, so you decided to step up. Too many promises had gone unfulfilled and you needed to make it right. Even if that meant sacrificing it all.
"I..." you start as you stand up, and all the eyes shift back to you. "I bid my own soul"
You watch Mrs. Tran who looks at you with pleading angry eyes. She didn't know who you were so was probably just angry that you were attempting to buy her son out from under her. Your gaze shifts to look at Sam who was giving you a sad look, and then to Dean who had pain written all over his face, so you had to turn away as you fought back tears.
"Very interesting Sparta," Plutus says watching you from his seat.
"But you don't have enough soul left for it to be worth my time. It's damaged and dirty, and... monstrous" he says with a smirk.
"So Congrats, sweetheart," He says turning to Mrs. Tran.
You watch as she stands there stunned and Sam tries to comfort her. Crowley left the room, no doubt fuming with anger, and Dean was looking at you with a stone-faced expression. You felt sadness fill your heart from losing the bet, for having Mrs. Tran feel so desperate she had to sell her soul, and you could tell Dean felt that way too. The look you both shared, held more words that you could express. It was one of the things you had always loved about being with him. You could understand each other, most of the time, but you felt the hair on your neck start to stand on end as the audience stood up to leave now that the auction was over. You knew someone was watching you and you turned toward the stage where the blonde man stood smiling at you. You squinted your eyes at him, but he just continued to stare at you with his sickening warm smile, but your attention was then caught by the figure behind him, Kevin. He was looking at you with anger and tears in his eyes, and you couldn't help but feel your heartache for him. For his mom. For the situation. For leaving. It seemed like nothing you did, or would do would ever be enough, and suddenly he was gone.
You sat there as people gradually left the room. You watched as Sam and Dean stayed in their seats waiting to talk with Mrs. Tran, alone. As you watched the final few exited the room when a hand landed on your shoulder making you jump a little in fright.
"I am glad you were able to get what you wanted Sparta," Beau says with a smirk.
"Thanks," you say looking up at him. You had known Beau for a while. You wouldn't consider him a friend by any means, but when he needed help over the years with various treasure hunts he could rely on you.
"Beau" you began and he sat down next to you straightening his tie and fixing his hair. "Do you think there is any way to get Mrs. Tran out of this?"
"For the right price, maybe," he says with a devilish grin. You nod, thinking through what you could offer that he would find interesting.
"What about your own private island" Crowleys voice says from behind you.
You turn and look at him as he smiles.
"Nice to see you Sparta. Long time, no see," he says before looking back to Beau. "So we have a deal?"
Beau smiled and after the arrangements were made you pulled Crowley aside.
"You think I am just going to let you take Kevin and the tablet?" you ask as you glare at him.
"Of course I wouldn't expect you to let me, but it is what I am going to do." He says turning around, but you grab his shoulder and force him to look at you in the eyes, feeling your anger rush over you.
"You are not getting away with this" you seethe, but he just smirks at you.
"I guess we will see," he says before walking away. Two guards from the nearby corridor were watching you, to make sure that no fighting happened on-premises and you knew you couldn't risk being thrown out, especially knowing Dean was just across the room. You quickly turned around and approached the distressed Mrs. Tran and both Sam and Dean.
Dean noticed you first and immediately stood up, as Sam followed suit. You slowed down once you got close, not wanting to rush things or assume things were good between the three of you since that last you had talked, well, things were not as good as you wished they were.
"Y/n" Dean says. He sounded like the wind was knocked out of his lungs as he said your name, and you couldn't keep the small smile from your face.
"Hello Dean," you say as your smile widens.
He pulls you into a hug you react, quickly pulling him close and burying your head into his chest. "I... I thought I lost you" you say as tears swell up in your eyes.
"I am not that easy to get rid of sweetheart," he says pulling away too soon, you felt a tear roll down your face and you quickly wipe it away as Sam gives you a hug as well.
"We thought you were dead," Sam says letting you go.
"As a wise man once said, I am not that easy to get rid of," you say with a wink and the boys smile at you as you stand there in awkward silence.
"Who's the bitch?" Mrs. Tran says and you turn your attention to her. She was glaring at you with hard-set eyes and crossed arms.
"Mrs. Tran- " Sam starts but you quickly interrupt.
"I am y/n," you say softly, and you watch as her eyes soften and her composer returns to the shambling mess it was before.
"The y/n? The Y/n Kevin told me about? Who helped him escape?"
"The one and only," you say as you sit down across from her. She quickly moves and gives you a hug which caught you off guard and you rub her back trying to soothe her.
"How can I thank you?" She asks and you shake your head.
"Mrs. Tran, getting your baby boy back safely is the only payment I need," you say and she nods, and lets you go. She wipes away her tears and you give her a small smile.
"Can I have a minute?" she asks and you nod as you stand up as the boys both give Mrs. Tran an understanding nod and make their way out of the room. As you pass the door you nod to Beau, giving him the signal, and exit the room.