Hey! Here's the next chapter! Sorry it took so long, but real life, you know. :) There's going to be another chapter soon, hopefully. Thanks for reading and please review! :)


Dead silence met Sam's words. John stood nearby, shock clear on his face. Dean was frozen, a myriad of emotions crossing his face: disbelief, worry, and anger.

Dean was the first to react. "What?" He was already pacing at the foot of Sam's bed, running his fingers agitatedly through his hair, looking like he really wanted to hit something but had no outlet.

John took a step forward. "Sam, I need you to tell us what happened. Did the hunter say anything to you?"

Sam winced in pain as he shifted slightly on the bed, snorting as the man's words came to mind. "Yeah. He said he was going to 'put [me] down like the dog [I was].'"

Dean stopped pacing and looked at Sam, a smirk crossing his face. "He really said that? Seriously? Wow. That's…really stupid." Dean was struggling to find humor in the situation, his brother's pain and the result of the hunter's attack clear for him to see.

John sighed. "Theatrical and ridiculous, but the threat is very real." He reminded his sons.

Sam frowned, any humor he might have found disappearing. "Yeah. The threat is definitely real. The hunter said he compared me to a dog because like a dog after a bone we chased after this hunt, even though it was a fake, set up by him and his friends." A dark look crossed Sam's face. "He said I'm the supernatural, so whether or not I did anything wrong, that means I have to die. He was prepared, skilled, and he had friends."

John paused at that. "Did you see how many?"

Sam grimaced. "No. I was pinned to the ground at that point and he had been using my head as a punching bag. Everything was a little blurry."

John scowled, glancing at his eldest son, who looked like he was about to blow a head gasket. "Dean, watch over your brother. Don't leave his side, don't let anyone in. I'm going to go call Bobby and Pastor Jim and tell them to keep their ears open. We need to know how many hunters know about Sam's visions and how many could possibly be after him. I'm also going to go back to where Sam was attacked and see if I can find anything that could lead us to these hunters or at least tell us who they are. Pack up. We can't stay here."

Dean nodded, sticking his gun in his belt, beneath his over-shirt, watching as John left the motel room. Turning to Sam, Dean frowned as he saw the distant look in his baby brother's eyes. What aren't you telling us, Sammy?

Dean sat gently on the bed beside Sam, giving him a knowing look. "Sam, what's going on in that big head of yours? I know you left something out, Sam."

Sam couldn't meet his eyes. "It wasn't anything important, Dean."

Oh no you don't. I won't let you off that easy. "Let me be the judge of that, Sam."

Sam glanced at him, then stared back down at his hands. He was quiet for so long that Dean was sure he was going to have to force an answer from his brother. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft and controlled, a sure sign that Sam was trying to hide emotion. A Winchester-specialty. "He called me a demon."

Dean stifled a sigh. Sam had been very sensitive about his "powers" since he got them. His dad's reaction to them had not helped and Sam was always afraid they were evil. As hunters raised by a hunter, Dean could see why Sam was so worried, but it bothered him that it took so little to shake the kid up where his powers were concerned. He always has been the sensitive one. Poor little girl…..

Dean sighed theatrically, using his "I'm the big brother talking to the rather slow younger brother and I'm being amazingly patient" voice. "Sam. The hunter was crazy. We don't take crazy people seriously, Sammy. And, FYI, people are way crazier than the supernatural most of the time. Don't take his words to your sensitive little heart, Sammy."

Sam rolled his eyes, but Dean could tell that his words weren't sinking in. Fine. Chick-flick moment it is. What I do for you, Samantha… Such a girl. The thought had no sting though. Dean would always do what it took to keep his brother safe, even if it was safe from his own thoughts, fears, and doubts. "Sam, you have saved hundreds of lives with your visions. Demons don't save lives, Sammy, they take them. You may have a supernatural ability, but clearly that doesn't necessarily make you evil. No matter what the source of your ability, you are not a demon. You are not evil. I'm done talking about this, Sam. You are not evil. End of story, big brother's word is law, no more discussion. Okay, Samantha?"

Sam rolled his eyes again, but he was smiling and Dean knew his kid brother's hard head had finally been penetrated. "'Big brother's word is law'? And you say I have a big head?"

"Yes, #$%^&."

"Jerk."

….

"Sam. Hey, Sammy! Sam! You listening to me?" Dean frowned as his brother remained at the window, apparently lost deep in thought. What the heck….? Dean walked up behind Sam, reaching out and tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention. He jumped back as Sam started violently, swinging around. It only took a second for his baby brother to get his expression back under control, but Dean saw the bright fear in Sam's eyes before a scowl took its place.

"What the heck, Dean?"

Dean knew Sam had been on edge the last two weeks since the attack, but this was getting out of hand and Dean couldn't help but be worried. Apparently that attack scared Sam more than he's been letting on. "Sam, what is going on with you? You've been really jumpy."

Sam turned back to the window, his face remaining composed, but his eyes giving him away.

Dean had raised the kid. There was no way he was going to hide behind the Winchester mask successfully. "Sam."

Sam winced at the tone, then finally sighed. "It's been two weeks, Dean. Two weeks and not one sign of them. Where are they? Sometimes I wish they'd attack just to get it over with."

Dean sighed, clapping Sam on the shoulder. "Don't worry so much, Sam. Dad and I have your back. You're healing up and we're ready for them. Just relax."

Sam shot Dean an exasperated look. "Yeah, I'll relax. How the heck can you expect me to relax, Dean, they almost killed me and we don't know who they are or where they are. You relax, I'll think I'll be prepared instead."

Dean slapped Sam upside the head, giving him a sharp look. "Sam, you are so uptight! You're more stressed than prepared. You didn't know I was behind you, kiddo. You want to be prepared? Then be relaxed but aware. Don't let them know they're getting to you. Hunters that are sadistic enough to want to beat you to death as opposed to just shooting you…they want to get to you, they want to watch you sweat."

Sam was quiet for a second, then finally nodded, fighting a smile. "'Big brother's word is law', right?"

"You know it."

…..

Sam stepped out of the car, stretching lazily, gazing around at the diner they had stopped at. The parking lot was almost deserted because of the time of day. Sam sighed, heavily. Relaxed. I'm relaxed. Totally, perfectly, completely relaxed.

"Yo, Sammy!"

Sam turned to look at Dean. The sudden sound of gl*** breaking had him flinching away from the window, having just a second to glance startled at Dean, before his brother was grabbing him and pushing him back into the car.

"IN! GET IN!"

Nearby, five hunters were climbing into three different cars, cursing distantly at the missed shot.

"COME ON!" his dad was shouting, Dean slamming his door shut, the Impala's wheels squealing as the car shot out of the parking lot.

"Crap, that was freaking close!" Dean turned to look in the back at Sam. "Sam, you hurt?"

Sam shook his head. "No. No, I'm okay."

"Buckle up, boys. They're following us."

And the race was on. John skidded around street corners, trying to keep away from the three pursuing cars, trying to lose them.

Sam kept his head down as best he could, not wanting someone else to take a shot at him. Crap, what I have gotten us into? Sam fought back the guilt that threatened to overwhelm him. So NOT the time! Pull yourself together!

A sudden curse from John had Sam and Dean bracing themselves, the brakes squealing as a large truck moved into the street in front of them, the three cars stopping behind them. Their escape was blocked.

Resigning themselves to fight, the three Winchesters climbed out of the car. The hunters were already out, their eyes all on their prey: Sam.

Sam resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably under the scrutiny, instead raising himself up to his full height, refusing to be an easy target for these psychos. Obviously, they were past reasoning.

A low growl from Dean was all the warning Sam got before he felt a firm, but gentle hand on his arm, pulling him back. Dean smoothly stepped in front of him, his arms at his side, but his whole body tense, ready to move at a moment's notice. The message was clear: Don't touch my brother, you stupid ^#$%$#&^#$%$#.

One of the hunters took a step forward, his hands up placatingly. "Look, guys, I understand little Sammy here is special to you, but you must see that he is a danger. He's supernatural. You guys are hunters, you should know better than to let him live. I can understand if you don't want to do it yourselves. Just give him over to us and we'll take care of it. We'll even make it quick."

Sam flinched at that, even while Dean snarled viciously, "Over my dead body."

John's face darkened, but he said nothing.

The hunters began to subtly shift their stances, preparing for a fight. "This is your last and only chance, Winchester. Hand him over or your entire family is a target."

John's response was cut off by the distant sound of sirens. The group of hunters all tensed, before the hunter who had been speaking scowled. "This isn't over. Next time, we'll go straight through you. You can't keep him safe forever."

The hunters jumped into their cars as the sound of sirens began to get closer.

John looked over at his boys, both of whom were grimly sharing glances with the other. "We'd better get out of here before the police arrive."

The family drove in silence for several hours. All lost in their own thoughts, though they seemed to all be along a similar line: We are in SO much trouble.

Finally, John broke the silence. "This has officially gotten out of control. We're going to need backup. Dean, call Bobby tell him what happened. Tell him we need Pastor Jim too. We're going to Bobby's house."