Episode based chapter. Takes part during Remember The Titans. Contains dialogue from that episode, which obviously I do not own and am merely borrowing for the story.

Chapter 7:

A Father's Sins

It was meant to be a routine Zombie hunt, a distraction while they waited for Kevin to call them with another trial. - And if he were honest, it was also a welcome distraction from his growing fears surrounding his increasing ill health and Alfie's future. - They were meant to head to small town Montana and put the thing down. Sam could never have imagined that what they'd find was in fact going to be a damn Titan. What was worse was just how much he found himself empathizing with the God. He knew just what it was like to suddenly discover you're a father, a child that was suffering because of you. - Whose future might be filled with pain and torment.

"Why are you doing this Sam?" Prometheus asked, looking up from the graveside.

Sam met his gaze briefly before going back to his digging. "We need a bone, so I dig."

"No. I mean for us. - This isn't your problem, you're risking your life."

Sam looked up again. "Why'd you risk yours to steal that fire?" he countered.

"That's a good question." Prometheus sighed, thrusting his shovel deep in the earth. "Good question, wish I could remember."

"Trust me on this, It was worth it. You pretty much saved the whole world."

Prometheus huffed dismissively. "Yeah, I guess, but none of that… - None of that means anything unless I can save my son."

Sam felt his chest tighten, his hands beginning to shake as he watched Prometheus continue to work, a look of desperation on his face. He'd been feeling exactly the same way lately, but he hoped beyond hope that by saving the world, he saved his son too. He hoped that closing the gates of hell meant Alfie wouldn't suffer the eternity of pain and torment he'd been promised.

He went back to helping; his head spinning so wildly that he almost dropped his shovel. He wanted to tell the man he understood, share with him that he was a father too, but he couldn't. He couldn't tell anyone, couldn't trust anyone with that information for fear of….

Prometheus was trying to save his son from Zeus, while he was trying to protect Alfie from heaven and hell. Keeping silent was everything, no matter how much he wanted to share his joy and fatherly pride. - Especially with Dean. - But all he could do, was dig.

~~~There Are No Lies, Only Truths Not Yet Told~~~

They should have known it wasn't going to be simple, they'd met enough ancient Gods to know they didn't give in easily. - If at all. Instantly the memory of Kali flashed though his mind and he shook it off quickly, now wasn't the time to be distracted by the past. He slammed the door closed on those thoughts knowing they lead him to the one person he didn't want to think about.

They also should have known Hayley wasn't going to just walk away with them, that she wouldn't risk calling Zeus' bluff. They should never have brought her, a mother protects her child no matter what.

Sam groaned as his back hit the concrete pillar, sending a blinding pain though his back and head.

"Balls." Dean grunted through gritted teeth.

"I trust you've met my daughter?" Zeus smiled coldly before beckoning Hayley forward.

"Hayley, don't do it!" Dean yelled, struggling against the hold the goddess had on him.

Sam's gaze flickered from Hayley to Prometheus and found himself catching the silent moment, a look passing between the Titan and the Goddess, he frowned for a moment then inhaled deeply when he realized what that look was, what it meant. Regret, Sadness and….love.

Suddenly he was back in a chaotic dining room, a pair of amber eyes meeting his over a shoulder, that same look on a face that was usually filled with such ridiculous mirth, resigned to the fate that awaited him. His heart tightened painfully, stealing his breath as he turned back to watch Zeus, his head reeling from the memory.

"I must admit, I could never have conceived such a horrible fate for such a beautiful child. Just goes to show we must all leave room for a happy accident."

Sam caught Artemis moving out of the corner of his eye and turned to watch her, that look still on her face as she glanced at Prometheus once more, then there was a spark of green as she looked from the Titan to Hayley and her son, jealousy clearly shining bright in her narrowed gaze.

"Tell me, has Prometheus experienced the child's death yet?" Zeus asked with a faux gentleness, Hayley nodding in confirmation.

Sam's head snapped around to stare at the God, his heart leaping into his throat at the cold excitement he heard in the man's voice. It sent a shiver through him, his already crowded mind conjuring up yet more thoughts.

That on the earth they shell never obtain peace and remission of sin, for they shall not rejoice in their offspring; they shall behold the slaughter of their beloved, shall lament for the destruction of their sons, and shall petition forever, but shall not obtain mercy and peace.

Sam took a breath; his lungs and throat burning with it, he closed his eyes and shook his head again, trying to dislodge the thoughts, he was working, he had to focus on what was in front of him.

"How did he take it? - Did he hurt?" She nodded again and Sam swallowed at the vicious joy that rumbled from the God's mouth. "Good."

In the blink of an eye, Prometheus was on his knees, his face contorted with pain and perhaps even fear.

"Imagine a thousand children all dying in unison. Only then would you understand my pain."

Sam turned to Artemis, her eyes wide and almost glistening in the dim light of the abandoned building.

"But we can't always have what we want, so….one will have to do." Zeus sneered.

"No!" Hayley protested before Zeus silenced her with a flick of his hand, forcing her away from her son.

"I have a special job for you, my little friend…."

Sam clenched his jaw, trying to fight the magical hold confining him to the wall, his mind filled with visions of his own son, the torture, blood and death, the memory fresh and painful.

"Artemis."

Sam jaw tightened further; he heard the bone grind and protest furiously as Artemis walked over to them. On command, they were free and walking away from the scene, Sam's heart pounding in his ears as he glanced back at the scared little boy.

The click, click of the Goddess' heals were like a death knell on the concrete as she walked them further and further away, Sam's anger boiling away beneath his flesh. He needed to save Prometheus and his son. He only hoped he was right. "Know who this is Dean, walking us to our deaths?"

"Don't know, don't care." his brother grumbled angrily.

"It's our God, Artemis. The Goddess of hunters."

"Wow, that's fascinating." Dean dismissed.

"See she's who we'd pray to for courage when hunting the Gorgon, or the Minotaur. Of course she's not really worship-worthy anymore, having lost a step and all." Sam scoffed, looking back at her mockingly.

He grunted as he hit the wall face first, smirking to himself. So far, so good.

"The hell I have."

"Really, Sam? You're trash talking a God? Seriously?" Dean grunted beside him; his face pressed to the cold concrete.

"Still full of power, really? So why'd it take you seven years to track down Prometheus?"

"He was hiding."

"Hiding? From you? So the God of Hunters couldn't find a shack in Montana? - Or maybe it's that you didn't want to find him." Sam gritted his teeth as pain radiated though his body.

"Ahh, good Sammy, doing great."

"Your Dad's going to kill that kid you know?"

"Don't worry, he'll come back. - I like you." Artemis whispered, pressing her blade to his cheek.

"He's in love with you, you know. He told us." Sam said quietly, as if sharing some great secret.

"You lie."

"Okay, sure, yeah. Believe whatever you want." he held his breath, he needed her to believe him, he had to convince her. As if on cue, Prometheus' agonized screams rang though the building, ricochets off the walls. Sam swallowed, straining to look at the Goddess.

"What did he say to you?" She demanded and Sam fought not to grin from ear to ear.

"This wasn't the first time he escaped the mountain. - That you let him go free as long as you could hide your tryst from the old man."

"The hell he said that, his brain is mush." Artemis huffed disbelievingly.

"Oh yeah, then how'd I know? What, have you spilled it to anyone? Homer? Hesiod? Herodotus? - Huh, of course not, you were afraid Big Daddy would find out that you fell for the person he hates most in this world." Sam's heart skipped; his words hitting a nerve he wasn't even aware of. "Of course, when you saw the zombie article, it kinda forced your hand. You had to come hunt him down, no matter how much it hurt. You know what? Go ahead, kill us and let your father slaughter that boy, over and over again, that won't leave a mark." he held his breath, his eyes closed as he waited for the Goddess' reaction.

A moment later the hold slackened and he turned to face Artemis, their eyes meeting, like she was trying to judge if he'd been telling the truth; he didn't realize he was such a good liar until she turned and rushed back the way they'd come. Dean shot him a look before racing after her, Sam releasing the breath he'd been holding as he quickly followed.

They entered the room behind Artemis just in time to see Zeus gearing up to kill Oliver.

"This has to stop, father!" Artemis interrupted; drawing back on her bow.

Sam pushed Dean to the side, getting out of the way of the inevitable fire-fight; holding his breath as the gods faced off, his heart thundering painfully with hope and fear.

"He's the reason we're here and not ruling the world. He's the reason they have forgotten all about us!"

"Let. Them. Go." Artemis commanded. "All of them."

"I am your father and you will obey me!"

"You were once my father, now you're someone else." letting the arrow fly.

Sam gasped as Artemis' arrow imbedded itself in Prometheus; his eyes wide as he watched the Titan slowly succumbing to death, finally. His heart tightened as he saw Prometheus look to his son, his fingers wrapping around the shaft of the arrow, forcing it deeper into his chest and through to impale the God holding him as a shield. Zeus' eyes wide with surprise as his heart was pieced through.

Sam covered his eyes as bright blue lightening lit the building. When he looked back both Prometheus and Zeus were lying dead together, crumbled on the floor.

~~~There Are No Lies, Only Truths No Yet Told~~~

"Dad?" Alfie grumbled sleepily down the line. "What's wrong?"

Sam inhaled slowly; rubbing at his eyes as he stared at the distant glow of the pyre. "Nothing." he sighed. "I just…needed you to know…I - I love you." he heard the rustle of sheets.

"What?"

"I love you. - And I'm proud of you, getting through everything that's happened. - And… I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me."

"Dad, are you okay? You sound…"

"I'm fine. - I… just a tough case and I wanted you to know in case anything happens to me."

"What's going on, Dad?" Alfie demanded firmly. "What's going to happen to you?"

Sam took another deep breath, he'd been trying to deny it for weeks but deep down he knew he wasn't going to be walking away from the trials in one piece. "You know the life I lead, something might happen and I don't want…." he choked on the words, wiping at his stinging eyes. He'd never in a million years imagined he'd be in this position, having to say everything he felt just in case, but he knew from experience that every phone call might be his last, that every hunt might be the one that finally takes his life. - He'd missed telling Jessica he loved her. He'd missed telling Gabriel….He didn't even know what he sure have said to Gabriel, but he wasn't going to not tell his son. He needed Alfie to know that much at least.

"You'd tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?" Alfie asked cautiously.

"Of course." Sam lied; hating himself as the words rolled off his tongue, but he had to lie, he couldn't drag Alfie into this. He'd already caused him enough pain. "I have to go, you go back to sleep, I'm sorry for waking you."

"Its fine, I don't mind. If you need to tal…"

"Go back to bed, night son."

"Night…Dad."

Sam moved the phone away from his ear only to put it back when he heard Alfie calling him. "What?"

"Just so you know, I love you too."

Sam's heart swelled in his chest and a tear slipped down his cheek. "Night." he croaked.

"Night."

Sam hung up reluctantly; sliding his phone back into his pocket and forcing the tears back behind his eyes, rubbing at his face, his palm coming away wet. He took a moment just watching the firelight before slowly turning to look at Oliver, silent and small as he perched in the open boot of Hayley's car. Awkwardly he walked over to join the small boy, lowering himself down to sit silently beside him, unsure what to say or do.

He was a father yes, but he hadn't been a father. He'd pretty much been handed the prize without all the hard work that went into it, which didn't make him feel good at all. He would have wanted to be there, see Alfie grow up, see his first steps, hear his first word. Sure, he'd seen them on DVD, thanks to Katherine, but it wasn't the same as experiencing it first hand.

"You know what?" he started nervously. "How's about we go get some ice cream sundaes?"

"No. I'd like to stay." Oliver replied flatly; looking over to the fire, then down at his feet.

Sam stared at him for a long moment, unsure once again what he was meant to do. Finally, he simply turned to watch the light through the tree, his thoughts drifting.

~~~There Are No Lies, Only Truths No Yet Told~~~

"Well, un, here's to that crazy little wild card called love." Dean said; handing Sam the foil covered burger.

Sam looked from his brother to the food; they'd left Hayley and Oliver over an hour ago and Dean was back to normal, while all he'd been able to think about was that little boy never knowing his father. Always carrying the nightmarish memories of the night's events, knowing his father had sacrificed himself to save him. - And every time he thought of that, he thought of Alfie.

"How'd you know that Artemis had the hots for Prometheus, anyway?"

"Intuition." Sam replied. "Huh…luck."

"Yeah, well, whatever it was, it worked. Pretty much. As least the kid's alright."

Sam stared at the passing highway, since his conversation with Alfie he hadn't been able to stop thinking about who was going to look out for him if he didn't survive the trials. While he feared his brother's reaction and who else might find out, Alfie's safety was his paramount concern. "You know…" he started; turning to look at Dean. "I'm starting to think maybe I was being naïve."

"What you talkin' about?"

"When I said I could will myself into coming out of these trials unscathed."

"No, no, no. Stop the sullen emo crap, alright? That's…. you're not gonna die like Prometheus." he insisted angrily.

"How do you know, Dean? - Bobby, Rufus, now Prometheus, you think any of them chose death? No, the life chooses for them."

"Yeah, well, you promised okay. You promised to live a long Clark Griswold life full of prostate exams and colonoscopies."

Sam sighed; they'd been through this before, Dean knew better than anyone you couldn't always keep your promises.

"Alright? You're not welshing on that deal, not on my watch. If you die, it's going to be because of something normal."

Sam stared at his brother, the stubbornness in the set of his jaw, Dean was going to get him through these trials, even if it killed them. "Like a heart attack?"

"Exactly. - Yeah eat your burger."

Sam looked down at the silver foil, the weight on his shoulders no lighter than it had been a few minutes ago, but the doubts a little less overpowering with Dean's determination. If Dean thought he could do this, then he could do it. He wasn't going to let either Dean or Alfie down again.

~~~There Are No Lies, Only Truths No Yet Told~~~

"Did you know about the angel tablet?" Sam demanded angrily; his back pressed against the wall, his gaze flickering to the corner of the gas station fearing Dean might interrupt his call. Alfie was silent on the end of the line, too silence. "Alfie?"

"Angel tablet?"

"Yes. Did you know?" Sam frowned; his hand curled tightly, hating the harshness of his voice.

"N….I… I don't…"

Sam winced at the pained heavy breathing coming through the line and kicking himself. He could only imagine Alfie was having a flashback; either to his time in heaven or his time with Crowley.

When he'd seen Meg, beaten and bloody on the floor of that motel bathroom the first thing that had entered his mind was Alfie, the whole nightmare that had left a deep festering scar in his heart. "It's fine." Sam more gently, taking a deep slow breath to calm down. He was angry at Alfie, no, his fury was aimed at another angel, the one he'd considered a friend but now…wasn't even sure he knew anymore.

"Do - Do you have it?" Alfie stammered.

Sam rubbed at his eyes. "Cass has it. - But he'd MIA again."

Alfie inhaled slowly, just breathing.

Neither spoke for a couple of minutes, Sam listening to his son's shaky breaths, his mind replaying the events of the day. He hadn't been sure, how he was going to react upon seeing Cass again, part of him had hoped he never would and that was a terrible desire after so many years of friendship, but Sam couldn't shake the anger he had towards the angel. It didn't matter that Cass was being manipulated or controlled, or that Cass hadn't known 'Samandriel' was his and Gabriel's son, he'd killed him and that was all Sam could see when he looked at the angel. The only thing that had stopped him from killing the angel where he'd stood was Dean, and knowing they didn't answers.

Finding out that despite suspecting something was wrong with Cass, Dean had prayed to him had left Sam with an odd sense of betrayal, but then Dean didn't know about Alfie any more than Cass had, so…

"Do you know….an angel named Naomi?"

There was another sharply drawn in breath that made something in Sam's chest tighten.

"Naomi?" Alfie whispered before falling silent.

"Alfie? - Alfie!"

"She…." he trailed off breathlessly. "Stay away from her. Dad you have to stay away from her, she's…. - She's dangerous."

Sam's brows drew tighter together, pushing himself off the wall. "Alfie, what did she…?"

"Just trust me, whatever she's up to…. - Stay away." he pleaded desperately.

"Okay, okay." he listened to his son practically gasping for breath down the line and winced at the knowledge that he'd brought back…something. Something painful. "I'll try and drop by to see you."

Alfie didn't reply, the sound of his breathing erratic and heart-breaking.

"Alfie, just breath, its fine. She doesn't know you're…." he trailed off as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. "I have to go, I come see you soon."

"Y-yeah."

Reluctantly and with a heavy heart Sam hung up just as Dean turned the corner of the building, frowning at him suspiciously. Sam met his brother's gaze and inhaled slowly, Dean's words from only an hour ago haunting him. "I can't take anymore lies." He'd almost told Dean everything right there, but he couldn't and now he didn't have the excuse that it was because of Cass. - If Cass really was free of heaven's control. - Now, he had to face the fact that he was scared of what Dean would say and do. Scared of that look of disgust and disappointment. Just like when he'd found out about his relationship with Ruby. Except it would be a thousand times worst. "We all gassed up?"

Dean stared at him silently for a moment before nodding. "I just need to…" he gestured to the restroom.

"Right, I'll meet you back in the car." Sam sighed; slipping past Dean and walking quickly away.

Back at the car he closed his eyes and let his head rest back against the seat, instantly he saw Meg, falling at Crowley's feet. He hadn't gotten any answers from her, all those questions that had been rolling around in his head for weeks now. Weeks of researching what he could about Nephilim and the fallen angels, Azazel's name coming up over and again, leading him to question much of what he thought he knew about the demon. It had made him wonder about Meg. Azazel had said that she was his daughter, though at the time, he'd brushed it off as metaphorical, but now he had to wonder.

And if Meg was his real daughter, was she conceived when he was an angel or a demon? Was she a Nephilim like Alfie, banished to hell for the sins of her father? He hadn't expected to see her again and then when she was stood in front of him, he hadn't gotten the chance to ask. - Now, he never would. He'd never know if Alfie would end up like her, a demon with the soul of an angel.

Sam startled when the Impala door opened suddenly. He turned to watch his brother slide into the driver's seat and start the engine, but before Dean pulled away from the gas station, he met Sam's eyes with concern and increased suspicion, silently waiting for Sam to break and spill every thought in his head.

"Can you drop me off at the next town?" Sam said instead.

"Why?"

Sam didn't flinch. "A friend called, wants to see me."

"A friend?" Dean pressed; his brow raised inquisitively.

"Yes, a friend. I'm allowed friends." he replied harshly.

Dean inhaled slowly through his nose. "I…. - I thought we'd been through this? I thought you'd made your choice?"

"I have." Sam insisted. "It's not Amelia."

"Who then?"

Sam clenched his jaw and turned back to stare out the window, not bothering to reply. It was none of Dean's business who he saw, who he spent time with.

"Sam? - I'm not just letting you go off when you're…."

"What?" Sam snapped; turning sharply to meet Dean's gaze furiously. "Broken? Damaged? - Beyond help?" he took a breath through his nose. "Look, I might not… - Whether you like it or not, this isn't looking like its going the way either of us wanted it to, so yeah, I want to go see some people, tie up some loose ends."

Dean stared at him, his jaw tight, the muscle ticking away like a clock counting down the seconds. Sam knew Dean didn't want to face the facts, hell he didn't want to face the fact if he were honest, he'd lied to himself when he'd started the trials and he'd hoped to continue to lie to himself to the very end, but after what Cass had said, he knew he couldn't anymore.

He waited silently for Dean to argue, but his brother simply twisted in his seat and pulled away from the pumps and out onto the empty highway. Not saying a word to him as he carried them towards the nearest town, where Dean dropped him off and left.

A/N: So this was one of three episodes that really inspired this whole Samandriel plot line. From the moment I first saw it, it felt like the writers were trying to hint at something. It's the first in three episodes involving parents/children that seem to have Sam slap-bang at the center of them. In this episode particularly, I couldn't help but see the similarities between what Zeus is doing and what (in this universe at least) God has done. He's going to punish Samandriel ultimately for what his father, Gabriel did. Breaking one of his rules by falling in love and having a child with a human. And what make it so wonderful for me personally is that I didn't have to change a single thing, the dialogue and scenes could so easily have meant something you weren't seeing. What is said and done, Prometheus' sacrifice almost mirrors Gabriel sacrifice. How Sam is the one that's left behind with Oliver. It was like the writer wanted this story to exist.

I'm still not sure how I feel about Alfie calling Sam dad. Is it too soon? Part of me thinks it is, but another part feel that considering what their lives are like and that Alfie has always know Sam was his father even if he hadn't actually met him, it's pretty logical that he'd call Sam dad. - I kinda imagine Gabriel saying something like 'Your Daddy Sam and Uncle Dean are off fighting monsters.' Or 'once upon a time, Daddy Sam…' and so on.

As I said in previous chapters, reading about the fallen angels, specifically Azazel has left me with a theory about Meg and her origins, especially as it was never really covered on the show. We know the Ruby was a witch but nothing about Meg, and I can't help but wonder if that little bit of fallen angel in her is the reason, she was drawn to Cass. (Obviously other than the fact that he's Cass.) that maybe his grace called out to that tiny little spark of her Nephilim grace. (assuming that Nephilim have grace.)

Source material: Fallen Angels and the Origins of Evil [Chapter: the Book of Enoch - 12:7]

Again thank you all so much for your continued support of this series and I love the review, hearing from you is so fulfilling, it lets me know I'm on the right track with this. As always, questions are welcome. And if you feel there is something I should tag, please let me know. I'd hate to upset anyone.

Oh and one last thing, did anyone else feel a little creeped out by Oliver, Prometheus' kid? Cause he creeped the hell out of me, especially at the end.