Two days later, Sam received a call from another hunter who claimed to have seen Dean. He immediately set out to find his brother while Josie stayed home, still decorating the bunker with new devil's traps and sigils. She was completing the final stroke when the loud slam of a door echoed through the corridors of the bunker, followed by Dean's voice.
"Oh Sammy, I'm home, come out and say hello to your brother, I brought you a present too," the demonic Winchester called out and strolled leisurely, step by step, down the stairs.
Elegantly, he wielded the bony blade in his hand and gazed at it in love. It lent him power and at the same time drew him deeper and deeper into damnation.
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"Sam's not here, you'll have to deal with me," Josie hissed, angel blade gripped tightly in her hand.
Even if this could only kill Dean temporarily, it would be enough to get him into the dungeon. At least, that's what she hoped.
"My sweet darling, Josie, how I've missed you," Dean gushed in a sarcastic tone, coming toward her.
He didn't exactly seem like he intended to kill her on the spot, but more like he wanted to get close to her one more time before he did.
"Come on, put that thing away and I won't hurt you," he begged, sounding like the old Dean, but it was just an act.
Josie stopped and didn't think of letting go of her weapon. Especially not when Dean reached out and gently stroked her cheek with the tip of his blade. If she had done that with the angel sword, the knight of hell would have felt a searing pain, but his weapon was blunt, yet no less painful, thrust into someone's chest.
"You've changed, you seem so broken. It's not my fault, is it?" he teased, lifting her chin with the tooth-studded knife so that she looked him in the eye.
"I could say the same about you," Josie countered through clenched teeth.
"Hmm, I like it when you're angry, I don't know what I liked about that wallflower act".
"This version of you is a real douchebag"
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"This version, honey, is what I really am. I just never wanted to admit it to myself" he asserted confidently, taking the blade away only to take a step towards her.
Instinctively, Josie wanted to back away, but she bumped into the door frame. She saw Dean's face, but behind it was a monster and this beast was the first thing she was actually afraid of. Dean could literally smell her fear and was clearly enjoying it. Gently he reached for her hand with the angel blade and took it from her with ease. It landed on the floor with a clang and rolled away a bit more, far enough that Josie couldn't reach it as easily.
"I told you I wouldn't hurt you if you didn't hurt me! I just want Sam, I can take care of you later," he informed her, touching her cheek with his fingertips.
Disgusted, Josie contorted her face and held her breath unnoticed. Her entire body was tense, and adrenaline was pumping through her veins. Everything in her screamed for escape or defense, but it was still Dean, and the little spark in her hoped there was still some humanity lurking in the Knight of Hell. With a shaky hand, she grasped his and closed her eyes. Confused that she didn't stop him from letting her go, the demon took her face in both hands and looked at her features.
"Dean," she murmured softly, "kiss me."
It was like a cry for help, the last attempt to reach the real Dean.
"Oh there it seems someone changed their mind, just a minute ago you were going to kill me" he grinned and raised an eyebrow.
"So will I, after all I promised you," she growled, stretching toward him.
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Dean inhaled deeply as he felt her lips on his. The sting in his heart felt stronger than he thought it would, until he realized it wasn't the kiss that was choking him.
Disbelieving, he staggered back and looked down at himself. A demon knife was stuck deep in his chest. For a moment, Josie could see the real Dean, his horror at her betraying him. Unsuspecting of how hard it had been for her anyway. She had definitely imagined her first kiss with him differently, but she had no choice, or he would have discovered the demon knife and possibly used it against her. The demon in him was unpredictable, after all, especially when he was near his blade.
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"You actually got me," he croaked with effort, sneering and coughing up blood before sinking to his knees.
"I don't care what kind of monster you are, Sam and I are not going to stop to get you back if I have to kill you every day to do it," she tearfully explained to him, releasing her grip on the knife.
Motionless, the demon slumped to the floor and beside him Josie. Sobbing, she called Sam and told him what had happened. When the Winchester returned Josie was in the process of mopping up the trail of blood she had caused when she dragged Dean into the dungeon.
"Where's the blade?" inquired Sam, following the trail of blood across the bunker with his gaze.
"In the safe," Josie replied coolly.
Actually, Sam wanted to check on his brother, but seeing the woman in this condition broke his heart. He crouched down next to her and put an arm around Josie.
"I killed him, I didn't think I was capable of it," she croaked in a quivering voice.
"That wasn't Dean. Not our Dean!", Sam comforted his hunter girlfriend, taking the blood-soaked rag from her hand.
As if she were a wet sack, he pulled her up and led her into the dungeon. Josie had already pinned Dean to a chair and put the chains with the devil's traps on him. Now they just had to wait for him to wake up thanks to the mark.
