Chapter 38

The target walked from the restaurant with bags in his hands and headed for the illegally parked SUV. He opened the back and sat the bags inside and suddenly felt the prick of the dart in his neck and reached for it. Dean was on him instantly and hustled his body into the back.

"Quick Cas, get the cuffs on him." Dean said holding up his arms so Cas could clamp the special cuffs on him. "Take him to the house I'll meet you there." he instructed him as he gave the guy a shot of a strong acting sedative to be sure he stay out. The cuffs would keep him from smoking out and from doing anything supernatural.

"Of course Dean." Cas said starting the SUV and pulling away from the curve.

"I will see you back at the house Squirrel." Crowley said disappearing from his sight.

Dean watched him drive away and headed for the Impala to follow. He didn't like working with Crowley, but right now they didn't have a choice and its better to keep your enemies close in times likes these. He sent a text to Sam to let him know they were on their way and to be ready. He caught up to Cas and followed behind him keeping an eye out for any trouble. It took them thirty minutes to get back to the house and Dean stopped beside him. He saw Sam standing on the porch waiting for them.

"Help me Cas." Dean said opening the back and jerking the guy out letting him fall to the ground. They grabbed his arms and drug him toward the porch not caring if he got injured.

"I've got the room ready." Sam said opening the door and allowing them to enter. He closed the door behind them and quickly followed them into the room watching as they sat the demon in the chair and chained his arms down. His eyes grew wide and he sucked in a sharp breath when the guy's head rolled sideways and he recognized him.

"Wait, don't we know him?" Charlie asked as she stepped into the room to see the guy.

"Sammy?" Dean questioned when he saw the color drain from his face and he looked sick. "What's going on?"

"This guy was a friend of ours in college, Brady." Charlie answered for him when she saw Sam's reaction. "Sam sit down." she told him guiding him to a chair nearby.

"Come again?" Dean said in shock as he looked at the guy tied to the chair. "He went to college with you?"

"He introduced me to Jess." Sam said as his mind started working in overdrive and unspeakable thoughts started surfacing making him grow angry. "I need to talk to him, when will he wake up?" he growled out pushing up from the chair after a few moments and heading for Brady.

"Cool your jets Tiger." Dean said stepping in front of him and stopping him from attacking this Brady guy. He knew that look in his eyes and didn't want blood spilled yet. "Go on Sammy, he won't be waking up for a bit. You need to get yourself under control." he told him quietly not letting him step past him. Sam pushed Dean trying to get him out of the way, but Dean grabbed his arm and held him tight. "Cas, watch him." he growled before dragging Sam from the room.

"I told him he shouldn't be here." Crowley smirked once he saw Sam still knew him. Things were starting to get interesting and he wondered what other little tidbits he might uncover before this was over.

spn

Sam jerked his arm out of Dean's grasp as Dean pulled him out on the porch. He stepped to the railing breathing hard as his anger built up inside of him and he wanted to let the beast out. All kind of imaginable thoughts had filled his mind of his in college time with Brady and to find out he's a demon was pushing Sam over the edge.

"Okay I get it bro, you're wondering if he was a demon back then too and if he was keeping an eye on you." Dean started knowing how his brother thought. "You gotta pull it together man...You can't let this throw you off your game. We'll get some answers and then you can roast the sonovabitch."

"I wonder..." Sam started but couldn't seem to get the words out as he growled in anger.

"Wonder what Sammy?" Dean asked softly knowing his brother felt betrayed, used, abused and mistreated.

"How long..." he said through clenched teeth. "How long was I being watched? Could everyone I knew and befriended have been a demon? How much influence did they have on me and the paths I took? It's like I never really had my own life only what was chosen for me." he whispered hoarsely as he ran his hand through his hair trying to make sense of it all.

"Look bro, those may be questions that never get answered, but look at yourself...I don't see you giving in to the dark side or going all serial killer on me. Whatever they tried to do in the past still didn't change who you are Sammy. Let it go and let's move forward, okay?" Dean said trying to reason with him. He knew this was really screwing with him and messed his mind up. "We've got two Horsemen to find and the devil to put back in a cage."

Sam closed his eyes as he fought to control the beast within him. The thoughts of people he deemed friends being demons was unspeakable and he wondered if Brady had anything to do with Jess's death. Tears sprang to his eyes when what happened to her filled his mind and swore he'd get his revenge on whoever did that to her. And now just maybe he'd get a chance to do that. Sam squared his shoulders and pushed all emotions deep, deep down so they wouldn't hinder him before turning to Dean stone faced and ready to face him.

spn

"What the hell are you doing?" Dean growled at Crowley as he skillfully carved a sigil into Brady's chest.

"Keeping him trapped inside this body. Don't want him smoking out and warning anyone now do we?" he asked looking up from his handiwork.

"Cas?" Dean questioned.

"It seemed like a logical thing to do. I can wake him if you like?" he asked looking to Sam and seeing hatred and death in his eyes.

"Sam, are you alright?" Charlie asked not liking what she was seeing in him. She had never seen him this way before and she was frightened for him.

"I'm fine." he said quietly and with a hint of danger in his voice.

"There, now you can start questioning him." Crowley said stepping back to admire his work. "Have ta say, I'd made a good artist, don't you think so boys?"

"Do it Cas." Dean told him picking up the demon knife and gripping it tightly ignoring Crowley's remark.

Cas moved to Brady and pressed two fingers to his forehead and stepped back. He watched as the demon started coming to and tried to figure out where he was as he pulled on his restraints.

"Charlie, I think you need to go in the other room." Sam told her knowing she didn't need to see this side of the coin. He didn't want to frighten her anymore than she already was.

"No Sam I..."

"Sam's right, Cas take her outside." Dean agreed studying the guy as he started moaning and waking up.

"As you wish." Cas said taking Charlie's arm and leading her out of the room. He didn't like what was going to happen, but they needed answers fast.

"Where am I?" Brady asked as he shook his head and waited for his vision to clear. He looked at the three standing in front of him and smiled when his eyes landed on Sam. "Why if it isn't Sam Winchester, good to see you again. How long has it been now? I heard you were around and wondered if we'd see each other."

"How long have you possessed Brady?" Sam growled as he clenched his fists in anger. He needed to know this more than anything.

"Oh well...Let me see..." demon Brady huffed as he pretended to think on it. "I guess it was freshman year when dear old Brady went home for Thanksgiving. You know I came back a different person."

"I remember that, you started drinking, doing drugs, skipping classes..." Sam said as he pulled up those memories.

"And my best friend Sam Winchester tried to get me back on the straight and narrow. You tried to take care of me and get me to work harder when all I wanted to do was party. You just couldn't understand why I was throwing everything away now could you." he laughed loudly. "But I did do one good thing for you Sammy boy, I introduced you to Jessica. Dear sweet Jess..."

"Why?" he demanded. "Why were you watching me?"

"Oh to keep you in line and interested. It gave you a reason to want to stay there and not go running back to dear old Daddy and your brother." Brady said looking to Dean when he said it.

Dean's face clouded as he butted in wanting to get answers. "Where's Pestilence at?"

"Now why should I tell you? You can't stop what's going to happen."

"I don't have time for games." he said running the demon knife down a cheek making Brady cry out in pain.

"Tell me and it won't be as painful for you."

"Do your worse, still won't change my mind. I know my place and what's going to happen to me. I've been promised at top position when Lucifer takes over."

"Let me have a go." Crowley said stepping around him. "What's say I go visit a few colleagues and let them know just how helpful you were in finding a Horseman? You couldn't wait to spill your guts." he said with a smirk and gloating look on his face before disappearing.

"No! You can't do that!" Brady yelled knowing what that would mean to him. "You just screwed me and I'll have no where to go. Guess I'll have to settle for plan B, go to hell and claw my way back."

"What makes you think you'll be leaving here alive?" Sam questioned. "Why was Jess killed?"

"Oh sweet little Jessica..." he bragged. "I really wanted to take my time with her, but you came back early. I kind of wished I had kept her for myself instead of letting you have her. Was she a good lay there Sammy? You were thinking of asking her to marry you weren't you? Oh well we couldn't have that. She had to go 'cause you were getting weak Sammy boy. You were losing your edge. We needed to get you back in the game and what better way than to kill your girl just like your Momma. I took great pleasure in being allowed to do that..." Brady boasted but was silenced as Sam hit him so hard the chair toppled backwards to the floor.

"You're going to die for that." he yelled jerking him back up to hit him again.

"Alright, every demon around is gunning for your hide." Crowley said when he appeared straightening up his jacket and tie and wiping the dirt from his suit.

"You just condemned me to the fire!" Brady screamed at him.

"Tell us where your boss is and we'll make it quick." Dean demanded. "You're not smoking out so it's your choice who takes you out."

"Alright, alright, at least if you do it I cam come back and grab another meat suit." he huffed giving in to him. He recited an address and Crowley disappeared to check it out before they finished him.

"He's there." Crowley said when he appeared again in the room. "Now that that's done I'm gone."

"It doesn't matter; his plan is already in motion. Pretty soon the entire country is going to be the walking dead." Brady laughed harshly. "You're not going to stop him like you did the other two."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It has to do with the vaccines doesn't it?" Sam asked when he started putting the pieces together.

"The trucks should be rolling out within the next couple of hours all those poor people getting the flu and hoping the flu shots will help..." he preened. "It'll be spread nationwide in weeks and humanity will fall!" he laughed harshly.

"We'll stop the trucks, he's all yours Sammy." Dean said digging out car keys for Brady's vehicle. Charlie had found a facility that was getting ready to ship cases of the vaccine out and it was on the other side of town. He knew they had to stop those trucks from leaving and destroy the contaminated vaccine. "When you're done, head for those warehouses Charlie found."

Sam took the offered keys, nodding his understanding and waited as Dean grabbed up the weapon's bag and went in search of Cas and Charlie. He walked slowly around the chair before coming to a stop in front of demon Brady as darkness swirled and grew and needed to be released.

"Go ahead, do it, but I'll be back. I'll claw my way back out of the pit and find me another meat suit." Brady sneered not knowing what Sam was now capable of doing.

Sam laughed harshly as he released the beast within him. "Don't think that's going to be happen Brady. You see I've learned a few new tricks and where you're going you'll never be able to return to here or to hell for that matter. No, you'll be lost forever and will never be able to hurt anyone again."

"What do you mean?" he asked as fear crept into his voice.

"I'm sending you into the Empty where nothing returns from." he stated as he raised his hand and began to pull the demon's soul out and shred it slowly and painfully. "This if for Jess, she never deserved what you did to her." he growled letting the full force of the beast free.

Brady cried out and jerked on his bindings as streaks of energy raced through his body devouring his dark soul. He was diced, shredded, and ripped apart with such force his agonizing screams turned to hoarse, raw illegible sounds, but Sam didn't stop, he continued his onslaught. He wanted to make him suffer for all the evil he had done and especially for taking the love of his life away from him. He didn't stop until there wasn't a single cell of the demon left in this world. Sam huffed hard several times as he stumbled to the wall and let his body lean against it. He gave himself a few minutes to recover before looking one more time at the dead body of someone who had been a friend to him when he first got to college. He didn't deserve the pain and suffering the demon put him through and hoped he could find peace now. Sam knew without even checking that Brady's soul was not there anymore. He had been destroyed by the demon long ago and all that was left was a lifeless body. He headed out of the house and to the vehicle to head for the others and help stop the plans Pestilence had put into motion. Sam felt more alive than he had in a while and wondered if it was because he was one step closer now to stopping the devil. They had a location and things were moving forward again and another ring was in their grasp.

A/N: Now they have a location for another ring. Thank you to all who are taking this journey with me. I hope you are enjoying the read. Remember during this holiday season to take a moment and breathe; don't let it stress you out. Reviews are great. NC