Re-reading this chapter, I really didn't like it. So this is a repost of Chapter 8


The drive back to Huntersville was slightly stressful. They decided to only stop for gas and get food at the truck stops. When the family stopped at the first gas station, Dean pauses for a moment before he got out of the car. He glances at Sam in the passenger seat. He takes in the sight of the baby sister he had though the family would never see again.

After they had left the motel, Sam had taken out the pins that held her hair up, leaving the long curls to cascade down her back. Over time the curls had lost a lot of the look of having been done with a curling iron to become more natural looking. And Dean had to wonder if that really is Sam's natural look. In his Mom's oversized sweats and t-shirt, Sam just looked like any teenager on a road trip, comfortable clothes and all.

Sam had been less of a conversationalist than Sadie had been; so Dean isn't entirely sure when Sam had curled up against the passenger side door and fallen asleep. He doesn't know how she would react to being woken up, so Dean tries to do it carefully.

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty." Dean said as gently put a hand on Sam's knee.

Sam startles awake; clearly disoriented and on high alert. And for a moment Dean worries that Sam is going to make a grab for one of her weapons that he is sure Sam had grabbed and hidden before they had left the motel. But Sam doesn't, and Dean can almost see the moment that her memories catch up to her and she relaxes slightly. She glances around her surroundings, as if trying to figure out where she is.

"We stopped to get some food." Dean explained, "Also if you need to make use of the restroom, I suggest you do it now. We'll be getting into the hills soon, and there isn't a lot of options for a restroom then."

Sam just nods a little unsteadily, and tucks a few wayward strands of hair behind her ear. As Sam does that, Dean's eyes fall on the scar on Sam's wrist.

Dean knew that the reactions that people would give to seeing the scar would range. At best, someone would think Sam is a wild teenager and, not knowing the meaning of the symbol, just assume that Sam had done it to herself. Some might actually know the meaning of the sign and its association to the demonic and believe Sam is part of a gothic cult. Others might take the scar as a sign of abuse; and they'd be lucky to get away before the police are called.

The fact is that Sam couldn't go into public with the sigil visible. So Dean removes the watch he is wearing and passes it to Sam who looks at it questionably before looking up at Dean.

"Put it on to cover the scar." Dean orders before he gets out of the Impala. Sam watches him get out of the car and stares at the vacant seat for a moment, before she looks at the watch in her hands. Sam studies it carefully for a moment before placing it around her wrist and cinching it tight around the scar around her wrist. The wrist band is still warm from Dean and Sam takes a slight sense of comfort from it. Once it is secure, Sam gets out of the Impala in time to see John's truck pull in next to the Impala.

Before either parent could get out of the truck, Sam heads for the store. When she gets inside the truck stop, Sam looked around the store. She didn't bother to hide the fact that she is staring; Sam had never been in a place like this before.

Wondering around the store, Sam soon finds the restroom. Going into the women's, Sam pauses at locking the door behind her. Slowly Sam turned the lock of the door. "I'll be able to unlock it." Sam says quietly to herself, "I'm not trapped."

Instead of using the restroom, Sam stood in front of the mirror for what seemed like forever, staring at the reflection of her face. Although she had seen it before through Sadie's eyes; Sam can't help but feel like it is the first time. She is seeing herself without the taint of a demon inside herself. Her dark hair spilled loose over her shoulders to half way down her back. Bluish-green eyes stare back at her from the mirror, and Sam wonders if she really looks as uncertain as the girl in the mirror.

Turning on the faucet, Sam cups her hands under the flow of water before bringing the water up to splash on her face. The cold water felt good, and more importantly it felt real. It reminded Sam that she is in control of herself, not a demon.

Finally pulling herself together, Sam moves away from the sink and goes to the door. Slowly turning the lock, Sam opens the door. Exiting the restroom, Sam notices Dean grabbing sandwiches from the cooler.

"Hey Sam, get what you want to drink with lunch." Dean says as Sam approaches.

Sam eyes the bottles in the cooler, idly wondering what might be a good choice. She had never had any of it before. Some of the bottles she had to wonder just what exactly was in them. What is the difference between a Coca-Cola and a Pepsi? They looked the same to her. Or what exactly is a Fanta? Finally, Sam decided on a bottle that said 'Sprite'; at least that one had no color to it, meaning didn't have any blood in it.

"I hope you like roast beef, it's all they have right now." Dean said as he hands Sam a sandwich, which she looks at carefully, the meat is still a little rare and Sam can see a bit of blood in the package.

Sam didn't really want to eat the sandwich that Dean gives her. In fact, all she did is take a look at her food before she looks like she is going to get sick.

"You ok, Sammy?" Dean asks, noticing the lack of color in Sam's face.

"Not really. The meat's still bloody." Sam has been forced to take so much blood over her life that the thought of consuming any more was enough to turn her stomach.

"It's suppose to be that way." Dean said about to pay for the sandwiches. He notices that Sam pales even more, if that is even possible.

"Alright Princess, we'll get you a salad." Dean said with a playful jab. He is sure it's more than Sam being prissy, but Sam seems determined to not say anything more than she has to on the subject. Fortunately the convenience store has salads in the cooler next to the sandwiches. Dean quickly swaps the sandwich for the salad and pays for it along with his own food.

Sam had never had a salad before, and this one would normally leave a lot to be desired; but at least this didn't look like a piece of burnt and bloody flash. As Sam has that thought, she gently presses the sigil burned on her wrist. As she pressed it, her mind was pulled into the past when the scar was inflicted.

Five year old Samantha stood in the lineup for roll call. Surrounding her are the forty other children Sir called his 'special children'. To anyone looking in from the outside, the group looks like a large, well behaved, kindergarten class; the kids are standing quietly beside desks that look like a normal school. But what isn't normal is that in the front the 'teacher' is standing beside a cauldron that contains a raging flame.

"Today, you all become warriors as you begin to take the next step to fulfill your destiny and obligation to the forces of darkness." Azazel addresses the class as they stand in front of him. "You are all progressing excellently. And will one day be proud warriors. When your name is called, come stand in front of me."

Azazel removes a branding rod from the fire. It glows red hot as the flame from which it came. He looks over the group, deciding who should be first. Finally his eyes land on his personal favorite. So young, but such a strong will; it is time that Azazel begins to try to break her. "Samantha." He calls.

Sammy moves from her spot and goes to stand in front of Azazel. Azazel hands her a cup with a red substance in it. Sammy just stares at it for a moment before Azael tells her: "Go ahead, Samantha. You need to drink it."

Sammy drinks the liquid in the cup. Although she has been forced to drink Demon blood many times before, it still almost makes her gag.

Taking Sammy's right hand, Azazel presses the branding rod onto her wrist. Samantha makes a small whimper and tries to pull away from the pain. But Azael's hand clamps down on her small arm like a vice and holds it in place as he presses a little harder on the branding rod. His voice is hard as he says: "Fight it, Samantha. You must always control yourself, the pain is an honor. It is something to make you strong. Fight it, defeat it, and control it."

Finally he removed the brand from her wrist. Sammy dares a look at her arm. The wound is raw and red with bruising around the burn. It still hurts, but Samantha refuses to cry; she doesn't want to face the consequences for crying. Instead she waits to be allowed to return to her spot.

Azazel moves away from Samantha and addresses the group as a whole. "If you can control your pain, it will make you stronger than your enemy. They can't weaken you due to pain, and it will allow you to inflict pain to your enemy."

"Samantha, you may return to your desk." Azazel said. Sammy complied and returned to her desk although she didn't dare to sit down until Sir ordered them to sit down. There is a punishment for that too.

It was that night that Sadie possessed her for the first time. Over the next ten years, Sadie would take control over her for more times then she wasn't. Sam never embraced her though; she wanted to have choices, control of her own life. It was hard to believe that she had forced Sadie out of her body. She wants to believe that it was over, but Sam knew it wouldn't be easy. She is going to have to rely on the Winchester family to help her. She didn't know much of anything about the outside world; and her best chance of survival is to stay with these people, the hunters.

Sam is shaken out of her thoughts by a hand on her shoulder. Looking at the hand's owner, Sam is met by the concerned gaze of Dean. "You ok, Sammy? You seemed about a million miles away."

"I'm ok." Sam answered in a tone that meant she would say no more about it. Sam then turns and leaves the store, not even bothering to look to see if Dean is following or not.