A/N: This story is for Astronema2345 who gave me the idea. It's a short story only five chapters. I hope everyone enjoys the read. I do like to know your thoughts, please review. NC

Chapter 1

The bunker was quiet except for the creaking and soft noises of it settling with the changes in temperature. Sam rolled over in his bed and wiped his eyes as he stared up at the ceiling of his bedroom. He let his breath out slowly with a sigh as he gathered his thoughts. Things had not been easy for him over the past few months and it was even harder for his brother. He couldn't begin to sort out where things went so wrong for them. He had been ready to die to close the gates of Hell forever, but Dean had stopped him on the last step. He begged Sam not to finish it because it would kill him and he couldn't live with that. Because of Metatron, the angels fell to earth and the trials put him in the hospital on death's door. Dean made a deal with an angel he thought was Ezekiel, who tricked Sam into letting the angel possess him in order to heal both of them, but that didn't turn out like expected.

Sam lost time and memories when the angel took control and it was making him question his sanity. Cas was thrown to earth in human form and was pursued by the angels who wanted to kill him or torture him for information. Charlie was killed by a witch from Oz, but Ezekiel brought her back delaying further the healing process for him and Sam. Dean found out too late that it was not Ezekiel possessing Sam, but an angel named Gadreel. Gadreel was wooed by Metatron to his side and used him to kill Kevin by Sam's hands. Dean sought Crowley's help to expel the angel from Sam's body and the brothers were torn apart when Sam learned the truth about what happened to him. Some things he remembered, but there were blanks in his memory where he would never know what Gadreel had done or who he could have hurt.

Dean swore he would find Gadreel and end his life. He left because Sam could not forgive him for letting an angel possess him which led to him killing Kevin, and because Dean had lied to him once again and he felt he couldn't trust him anymore. He felt his life was not his own and control of it had been taken from him. He felt used, abused and manipulated. Feeling hopeless and out of options, Dean let Crowley manipulate him into taking the Mark of Cain so he would be strong enough to kill Abaddon and Metatron. Dean had no idea the burden he took on when he received the Mark or the consequences for him.

The guilt weighted heavily on Sam because he knew it was because of him that Dean had gone to such extremes measures for revenge. He had treated him so badly after Gadreel was expelled, disowned him even, that Dean withdrew into himself. He had let a canyon grow between them and had kept Dean at arm's length, isolating him and turning his back on him as a brother. Dean was carrying so much guilt and anguish and he had no one to turn to for help. He was going down a road that he might never return from. No one really knew what taking the Mark meant, but he blindly took it anyway. Now he was paying the price of his hasty choice. Ever since Dean had taken the Mark, Sam had begun to notice subtle changes in him. At first he thought he was imaging it, but when he started really looking it slapped him in the face. His brother was changing and not for the better...The Mark was taking his brother away from him. Charlie offered her help in finding the Book of the Damn hoping it would have something in it to take the Mark from Dean. Sam hadn't heard from her in weeks and made a mental note to try and get in touch with her. He was worried about her safety, but Charlie assured him he could take care of herself.

With a deep sigh, Sam pushed himself out of bed and looked at his cell to see it was still early, but knew he wouldn't get any more sleep. He got up and looked around for some clean clothes, hoping a shower would wake him up and get his muddled mind working again. He picked up the clothes and stepped out into the hall to make his way to the bathroom. Sam looked down the hall to his brother's bedroom, not seeing or hearing anything and hung his head with worry and concern for a moment, before stepping into the bathroom to shower.

Sam shed his clothes and stepped under the hot spray, tensioning at first until he adjusted to the temperature. He let the hot, strong spray beat against the knotted muscles of his back until they started loosening up before turning to take the spray in his face. He held his breath as he wiped his eyes and turned back holding his head back soaking his hair. It didn't take him long to shampoo his hair and wash his body before he was toweling himself dry. He dressed and towel dried his long hair before gathering his sleep clothes and dropping them back off in his bedroom. Sam strolled down the hall and paused at his brother's bedroom, laying a hand on the door, but couldn't bring himself to knock. He honestly didn't know what he felt for his brother yet. The distrust still hung heavy in the air for him and with Dean not being himself lately, it was hard to know how to feel. He wasn't sure if Dean was in there or not, and he wasn't sure if he could confront him yet. He knew he needed to talk to Dean and try to make him see that something was happening to him, changing him. With an unhappy look, Sam continued on down the hall toward the kitchen thinking he needed a strong cup of coffee.

spn

Sam faltered in his steps when he saw his brother sitting at the table with a half bottle of whiskey and a glass sitting in front of him. He still had on the clothes from the day before so he wondered if he even went to bed last night. He watched Dean tap a key on his laptop as he studied the screen not bothering to acknowledge Sam's presence. Sam cleared his throat, but he knew Dean knew he was standing there.

"A little early for that isn't it?" Sam asked, trying not to sound condescending as he moved to the coffee machine to start a fresh pot.

"Why don't you mind your on business and help me look for Abaddon." Dean shot back, not bothering to look up from what he was doing. He didn't tell Sam the only way he could numb the pain and block the desires was to over indulge in the strong stuff. He rubbed at the Mark as the desire for blood and violence seemed to grow stronger with each day that passed that he didn't have the First Blade. His body itched to have that surge of power rushing through him once again like the first time he held the First Blade. He had never felt anything like it before and the Mark was calling for the Blade, wanting to be reunited. At times Dean thought the Mark was hurting him because it wanted him to have the Blade. It was rightfully his now and if he knew where Crowley had stashed it, he would retrieve it and never let it go or be taken away from him.

Sam bristled by the tone in Dean's voice but held his tongue. He pinched his lips together in a tight, thin line and went to the fridge to see what they had for breakfast. He took out the last of the bacon and eggs and sat them by the stove while he searched for a frying pan. It looked like he needed to make a supply run today if they planned on eating the rest of the week.

"Bacon and eggs okay for breakfast? I'll head to the store after we eat, we're getting low on supplies." he asked his brother, looking over at him waiting for him to speak.

"Not hungry." Dean said bluntly.

Sam froze in cracking an egg and stared hard at the back of his head. Never had he seen Dean turn down bacon for any meal. He slowly dropped his hand and let the egg roll across his fingers to stop on the counter a few inches away.

"Damnit Dean! Can't you see what's goin' on?" Sam exploded louder than he meant to as he glared at Dean.

Dean's body stiffened and he slowly stood up and turned to face Sam. His eyes glistened angrily as he drew his full height and faced his brother.

"Wanna explain yourself?" he growled out in an almost feral tone.

Sam was taken aback for a moment but his anger overruled his senses of being afraid. This was not how he wanted to talk to his brother, but he wasn't backing down now. He straightened too and glared back at him tilting his head slightly in defiance.

"You're changing Dean. At first I thought I was imaging things, but it's getting worse. That Mark...It's doing something to you, changing you into something you're not." Sam tried to explain. "It demands blood doesn't it? It wants you to kill."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I feel fine, actually I feel great!" Dean exclaimed stepping toward him. "I'm seeing things much clearer than I ever have before. I'm stronger, more focused than I've ever been. I know the end game already; I just have to make it happen."

"Dean, you're slipping away from me and I don't know what to do to stop it. The Mark wants you to give in to it and forget your past life. It wants you to completely lose your humanity. I can't lose you Dean; you've got to understand that."

"Didn't think you wanted anything to do with me anymore Sammy." Dean questioned accusingly. "You made yourself pretty clear after Gadreel was expelled. I thought you wanted us to be just business and nothing else. You better be careful or I might get the impression that you cared about me. I don't see anything's changed."

"You tricked me into letting an angel possess me and that got Kevin killed! Yeah, I'm pissed off that you would do that to me after all I'd been through being possessed by Lucifer...How could you be so cruel to me? So selfish..."

"You were dying Sam and there was nothing I could do to help you. I did the only thing I could think of to save you. Guess I was wrong to do that, but right now I don't really care. All I want is to find that bitch Abaddon and end her. I have the means to do that now, so if you're not going to help...Then stay the hell out of my way."

"I can't do this right now..." Sam said throwing up his arms in disgust. He didn't know Dean anymore, not this Dean and it scared him. He looked around and found his jacket and keys before heading for the garage. He needed to get away from his brother so he could think straight. Sam got in the Impala and pulled out of the garage to head into town so he could get the shopping done. He needed to be smart about this. From what he could tell, if Dean didn't have contact with the Blade, then the Mark didn't seem to have as much influence on him. But could he be wrong? He had seen Dean absently rubbing his arm where the Mark was and wincing in pain. He never questioned him about it because he didn't think he would get a straight answer from him. Dean was being more secretive about things and shutting Sam out now and it was getting worse. He just hoped Dean didn't decide to leave the bunker as they continued their search for the Knight of Hell and the Scribe of God.

spn

"Yes my King? You summoned me?" the low level demon asked as he bowed slightly to Crowley who was slumped on his throne.

"I need you to run an errand for me." Crowley said as he looked at the scared demon.

"Anything Sire, what would you have me do?"

"I need you to kidnap Sam Winchester and keep him under wraps until his brother takes care of a little red headed problem for me."

"Sam Winchester? I thought you were helping them sir?"

"I am, but I need a little insurance that things go my way." Crowley said. "Oh and make sure Moose thinks you are working for Abaddon. No use showing my hand unless I have to."

"Yes sire."

"You need to let him get a phone and get a message to his brother. Then stop him and move to another location. Even with the Mark, Dean is not going to let his brother get hurt. He's going to double his efforts on finding her and getting rid of her. And since I have the First Blade he'll be dependent on me." Crowley smirked thinking his plan was foolproof. He would get rid of his rival and have Squirrel right where he wanted him. He pulled his ringing cell from his jacket pocket and smirked. "Well speak of the devil."

"Squirrel, do you have good news for me?"

"Have your demons found out a location on Abaddon yet?" Dean growled.

"They are looking. She's doing a good job at hiding herself I'm afraid."

"Do you have the Blade close so when I need it?"

"Don't worry, it's safe and you'll get the location as soon as it's needed."

"It better be." he accused before hanging up.

"Go, do what I said." Crowley ordered the demon that then scurried from the room.

spn

Sam wandered the grocery store picking up random items and putting it in his cart as he thought about his brother's situation and not shopping. He finally gave up and decided what he had would do for now and headed for the checkout. His mind was not into shopping and figured his might as well call it quits with what he had in the cart. If they needed more, he could always come back later when he was in a better frame of mind. Sam waited his turn in line and then headed out to the Impala. He was sitting the bags in the trunk and turned to get in the car when suddenly everything went black. The Impala stood alone with no one around it as the day moved forward.

spn

The door opened and Castiel came down the steps looking around the bunker before heading for the kitchen. He found Dean at the table studying his laptop.

"Dean, what are you doing?"

"Trying to locate Abaddon, what else?"

Castiel looked around the room and into the other searching for the other brother.

"Where's Sam?"

"He left. Said something about doing a supply run."

"How long ago?" Castiel asked, concern creeping into his voice.

Dean looked at his watch before replying, "Guess about four hours ago."

"And you didn't think he should be back by now?" Castiel questioned. "Where does he usually go?"

"Cool it, I'll call him." Dean huffed thinking Sam was off pouting somewhere and didn't want to come home. He listened to Sam's cell ring and go to voicemail. "He's not picking up."

"We need to go find him." Castiel demanded. "Something may have happened to him."

"I'm sure he'll show up." he replied not bothering to get up. "He's a big boy; he can take care of himself."

"I'm going to look for him with or without you."

"Fine!" Dean spat. "Just to prove you wrong I'll go. I'm driving, no arguing." he said getting up from the table and heading for the garage leaving Cas no other choice but to follow him. Dean swore under his breath when he saw Sam had taken his Baby. It wasn't that he really cared about the car, but it was the principle of the matter. They took another of the many vehicles stored in the garage and headed into town in search of Sam. Dean was pissed that Sam's pettiness was taking him away from his search for Abaddon.