22. "I'll Never Get a Break."

Nothing should surprise me, really. I was with hunters that hunted all things supernatural. Nothing should weird me out either. Not that this did, it seemed kind of out there to do it. But we were going up against the Devil soon, so why not have a little fun?

Our version of fun: seeing Ellen face off against Cas in a drinking game. Originally I had been the opponent, but Ellen took my place. It was better to watch anyway.

Our gang had reassembled back at Bobby's place. Speaking of the man, he and the Winchesters were in the study, which had a clear view of the small kitchen, where Jo, Ellen, Cas, and I all were. I watched passively as Ellen downed a fourth shot glass. She'd already swallowed three. Jo hovered near the refrigerator, watching, like me, as her mother downed the final glass. All of her glasses were now upside-down and empty.

"All right, big boy," she challenged Cas.

"Well," said Cas. My mouth parted in awe as Cas effortlessly downed all five shots in a row, without any kind of pause in between. I nudged Jo, and she and I erupted into silent giggles. Never thought I'd see an angel take part in a drinking game. It was even funnier to watch him be convinced to take part in one. "I think I'm starting to feel something."

"You're pretty quiet," Jo whispered to me.

"Not much for end-of-the-world fun," I mumbled.

"You've never drank? Not even once?"

"I wasn't about partying hard."

"Oh, so a scholarly girl?"

"Pretty much. Rule-follower, good girl, that sort of thing."

"Well, you might as well throw it out the window." She offered me a dark bottle, already opened. "Live a little, you're in a different world now."

I took a tiny sip and nearly gagged. Jo hit my back lightly.

"Lightweight," she teased me. "You get used to the taste."

"I can't believe I'm actually caving in to peer pressure."

"You're not twenty, Dakota. It's okay to drink." Jo took another swallow of her drink. "Why do you think I offered you up as victim for the game?"

Ellen was setting up for yet another round, filling her glasses and Cas's with more alcohol.

"We can't go extreme on this, we need to be functioning tomorrow," I said carefully.

"Oh, Dakota, don't become the mother, that's supposed to be my job," Ellen scolded me playfully. "Come on, take my place." She looked at me expectantly.

"How is it that I'm so willing to cave tonight?" I repeated as I slid into Ellen's chair. "I'll probably vomit."

"Nobody's betting money. Think of this as building a tolerance."

I shook my head as I picked up the first glass. I exhaled before throwing it down my throat. I coughed violently, with Ellen lightly patting my back and chuckling. I could see Cas looked mildly concerned for my coughing fit, but he didn't take action.

"Cas, you and I have some business to discuss once this is done," I told him as I picked up shot number two. I took a breath before downing it. I made a face but flipped the glass upside down. My head was already buzzing. I had to stop. I wasn't sure how effective this alcohol would be on my mind and body.

"Business?"

"You finally got Dak in on it?" Dean said as he strolled into the kitchen, making it cramped further. He clapped me on the shoulder. "That a girl."

"You all are such bad influences," I said mildly as I downed the third glass.

"We're not making you drink, you're picking up the glass."

I stopped after the fourth. Cas once again blew me out of the water, downing all five drinks. I shook my head, feeling everything spin violently. I clawed my way out of the seat, nearly face planting on the floor. Sam appeared out of thin air to catch me.

"Now I understand why I don't like drinking," I slurred.

"Come on, Kota." He helped me right myself.

"Everybody get in here!" Bobby called. "It's time for the lineup. Usual suspects in the corner."

"You really think that's a smart idea? I'm not looking photogenic right now, Bobby!" I shouted.

"Oh come on, Bobby," said Ellen, as Sam led me into the room with her right behind us, "nobody wants their picture taken."

"Hear, hear," Sam agreed.

"Shut up," Bobby said. "You're drinking my beer."

"I guess that's fair," I said before belching loudly. Instead of apologizing, I giggled hysterically.

"You're a lightweight, are you?" Bobby said amusedly.

"Shut up!" I said playfully. "I've already had enough people tell me that!"

"Come on, Kota, you got to cooperate," Sam told me seriously. "You're not skipping out on this if none of us are."

"Ugh, fine." I leaned against Sam as Bobby was fiddling with the camera that was placed on a tripod on the other side of the room. From the corner of my eye, I saw Cas make his way in.

"Anyway, I'm gonna need something to remember your sorry asses by," Bobby said lightly.

Everyone else filed into the room, figuring out their positions. I squeezed myself beside Ellen and in front of Sam. Bobby got himself just in front of me. Fortunately, I was tall enough to not be hidden.

"Ha! Always good to have an optimist around," said Ellen.

"Bobby's right," said Cas. "Tomorrow we hunt the Devil. This is our last night on Earth."

Even with alcohol in my system, the happiness got sucked out of me. Cas's words rang in my head. This is our last night on Earth.

The flash of the camera went off. I looked around. No one had smiling faces anymore. No amount of alcohol could prevent the fact that there was a high chance that we'd all die tomorrow. For some reason, the Russian roulette game we were playing didn't scare me. I'd had brushes with death before. I'd come face-to-face with Lucifer before, but that was different.

I felt a little more confident that we had numbers on our side. Still, he could easily have numbers of his own. No matter what, we'd always be outnumbered.

We all disbanded, a solemn air hung above our heads. The crushing reality was so dense it almost stuck to our clothes. I stepped outside to let the air calm me down. I bounced in place. This was insane, what we were about to do. I mean, we were about to attempt to kill the Devil himself. How many people could say that?

"Kota?"

"I'm not running, if that's what everyone believes," I said. "I'm no hunter, but I'm in just as deep as you all are."

"You don't have to go tomorrow."

I turned to Sam. "Of course I have to! I can't just sit back and watch as you go down with one less tomorrow! I'm coming with you."

"Don't you think you might need a break from this?"

I rubbed my forehead. "Sam, I'll never get a break."

"Bobby's not going, you can always bunk with him."

I shook my head vehemently. "No, I'm going."

"Is this the alcohol talking?"

I gasped. "No, it isn't. I'm stuck in this crazy world, I better roll with it for as long as I can. I'm decent with a gun. Besides, I know everyone will protect me if I get into trouble. And let's face it, you know I'm right. Another number won't hurt, it'll only help us."

Sam sighed through his nose, looking at me critically. "Dakota..."

"I can play the puppy card, too, Sam. That's not just your thing."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know how this'll go: you'll say a bunch of stuff, and then try and trick me into staying here with Bobby with your eyes. Well, it's not gonna happen." I crossed my arms.

"Just come back inside. It's getting late." He grabbed one of my arms gently and guided me towards the house. "You need to sleep the alcohol off anyway, since you're so adamant about going."

I smiled to myself. Two could play the game, but only one could win. Tonight, the victor was me.

***

"No, no, no, no," I muttered to myself, looking around. "No, no, no, no..."

Somehow, I was the last alive. Ellen and Jo had been the first to get killed, then Cas had gone down fighting. Somehow I thought angels were invincible. Nothing in this world seemed to be except for the freaking Devil.

Lucifer waited to deal with Sam and I last. He'd taken out Dean, though Dean had fought until he absolutely couldn't. Sam died defending me, and now here I was, a frantic, traumatized mess over his bloody, mangled corpse. Lucifer hadn't been merciful in his kills. He was Satan, after all.

Lucifer expanded my lifespan longer than the rest. I didn't understand why. I bent over Sam, keeping the sobs in but letting the tears fall. I couldn't save them. I never could. Just like I couldn't save my family.

I froze when the hand fell onto my shoulder. I stared at the floor, mute. I sniffed.

"It doesn't have to end like this, Dakota," he said softly. "You can live."

"Just do it already," I snapped lowly. "You've already killed them. Just off me."

"And miss the chance to offer you to join me?"

I barked out a laugh. "I'll kill myself before I join you. No, no!" I was pulled away with an arm around my neck. My nails scratched the arm that suffocated me. Lucifer had me on my tiptoes. He gave me the perfect view of dead friends.

"It's a game of survival now, Dakota. You can save yourself. All you have to do is say yes."

"If Sam didn't, I won't either." I yipped as the arm constricted me further. Black spots popped into my vision. "I would rather not live in the world that you'll make."

"You're really eager to join them, aren't you? I bet your parents miss you, and I'll bet your life Monica does too."

"Go to Hell."

"Been there, little girl. Doesn't suit me. Now, you're sure you want to go?" His breath was right on my ear.

I closed my eyes, already seeing white. I'm coming, guys. There's no point in hanging around in a post-apocalyptic world if I'm with nothing but demons and strangers. Make room for one more.

"Yes."

***

"Hey, hey, Kota," said a quiet voice. "It's okay. You're safe. It's okay. Open your eyes, Kota."

I got my eyes open to see Sam hovering over me. My chest was pounding heavily thanks to my heart beating against it. I looked around to realize I had been put to rest on the floor—not the most comfortable place in the world. Dean was on a loveseat. Sam had been on the couch I was next to—no wonder he had come to me so fast. I looked at him with terrified, gray eyes. I jumped onto him and hugged him tight. He was taken aback, but he settled into it.

"It's gonna happen, Sam," I whispered in horror. "He's gonna win, I just know it!"

"Shh, he's not." He rubbed my back. "It was just a bad dream, Kota. It's not gonna happen."

"How do you know for sure, huh?" I hissed. "How do you know?"

"I don't," he said plainly. "But what I do know is that you need to calm down and get some sleep. This is why I want you to stay here tomorrow, in case things go south."

"N-no, I want to go."

He gave me a sympathetic, lopsided smile. "You're the most confusing person I've ever met, Dakota."

I sniffled. "I'll get through this. I just have to let it out tonight so I'll be good for tomorrow."

"You might be overtired by then."

"When we're attacked, I'll wake." I failed at a smile. "I'm sorry I woke you, Sam. I didn't mean to."

"It's fine." He rested his chin on my head. "Are you gonna be okay now?"

"Just—just...let's stay like this for a little longer?" I suggested timidly. "I—I don't think I'm ready to fall asleep yet."

"Whatever you want. Here." I climbed off him as he perched himself on the floor beside me. "I'd rather be right here than have to roll off the couch again." I settled right next to him. "I'll be right here if anything happens."

"T-thank you." I gave him a watery smile. I looked over at Dean, who's knocked out cold. "Weird question, but do Dean and Jo have something going on?"

"Hard to say. My bet is on yes, but nothing's taken off yet. Why?"

"Just making conversation." I yawned. I put my eyes on the ceiling, my hands rested on my stomach.

"We'll get through this, Kota. We will."

"We've got luck on our side?" I asked patronizingly.

"You haven't been around us long enough to know that's not true." He snorted a laugh.

"You've got to have some, you're still kicking."

"It's been a lot of dumb luck."

I rolled my eyes. "Let's see how much we get tomorrow." I yawned again.

Closing my eyes, I let my head fall whichever way it wanted to. I felt sleep try to pull me away from my body, but something pulled me right back. I knew I hadn't done the action in my sleep or involuntarily. It had to have been on Sam's end.

My hands had been pried apart, feeling big fingers interlock with one of them to lie at my side.

**Lucifer seems to appear in her dreams a lot, huh? (Yeah, yeah, she's only had...what, three? He's starred in two of them.) I didn't realize just how much he did; anything that came to mind, I wrote.

Speaking of anything that came to mind, that little Sakota moment at the end, am I right? :) I'm not keeping them entirely detached from each other; they haven't even kissed yet! But we all know it's coming. I know specifically when too. You'll all read that chapter soon enough, readers.

Have some patience, and curb your wait with some fanart. I'd really love to see some!**