A/N: I am back. Surgery went well and now I have a long road ahead to let it heal. Thank you for all the warm thoughts and prayers. NC

Chapter 17

Time moves differently in Hell than it does on Earth. A day on Earth was like a hundred and twenty days in Hell, give or take a few. John had no concept how long he had been held in the stone cell as he slowly started coming around again. Alastair had taken his time with the last torture session and made John suffer unbearable pain trying to break him. He would always ask the one question before killing him. 'You can get off the rack if you will pick up the knife and begin torturing soul. Just say yes,' and his answer had always been, 'Go to hell'.

His bloodshot eyes looked up to see a female standing by the table picking up things from it and looking at them. He watched with hooded eyes as she chose a weapon and moved toward him.

"I got to hand it to you John, you have lasted far longer than I thought any human could against Alastair's torture," she praised him. "Then I got to thinking, what would really give you the incentive to do as we ask? And then it came to me." She snapped her fingers and two demons came through the door with someone struggling between them.

John's eyes widened in shock as he recognized his son. "Sammy?" he questioned in a hoarse voice.

"Dad, please, what's going on?" Sam cried out as he was shoved to his knees and restrained.

"Let's see how you like watching your son being tortured," Lilith goaded grabbing a hand full of Sam's hair and jerking his head back. She smiled evilly as she ran the knife down his cheek and peeled the skin back in one long strip.

Sam screamed in pain as he begged John to help him. John pulled on his restraints only causing his wrists to bleed as he tried to reach his son. He watched her jerk his shirt open and slice into his chest soaking Sam's clothes in his own blood. He stopped struggling when suddenly a voice he knew whispered in his head. 'Dad we're coming for you, hold on. We're almost there'. John looked to the body that looked like his son and reasoning started taking hold.

His Sam had power; he would not let himself be taken like this. A scene took shape in his mind of when Sam told him about his powers and that he had warded himself where he could not be found by demons or possessed by them. He made John go get the anti-possession tattoo too, thought that had been shredded now, but he deemed a possessed person could not do what they needed done. It had to be a human soul. The words started sinking into his shattered mind. This was demons he was dealing with and they could make you do and see all kinds of things. No matter how much he looked like Sam; John knew that was not his son.

Lilith grew impatient when John stopped reacting to her torture of Sam. She looked at him and saw a steely defiance in his eyes as he glared at her, his head held high. She screaked at him as she lunged burying the knife into his chest, time and time again until he was dead. Her breath came out in ragged pants as she swung her head to see Alastair clapping in the doorway.

"I see you've not lost your touch my dear," he commented.

"You've got to work harder; my father is getting impatient that you are not following through with the plan."

"He is cracking, it won't be much longer now. He will break."

"What about his sons? Should we kidnap them and let him really watch their torture?"

"No, the youngest one is dangerous, as a last resort we could take the older one. Give me a few more days with him."

"Fine, but I will not wait much longer," she sneered before stalking away. She slit the throat of the fake Sam and tossed him in the corner so John could look at it and be reminded of the death.

Alastair looked at the dead body knowing he would have to wait now for it to regenerate before he could begin his torture. He was miffed at Lilith for intruding on his workspace but was treading lightly since she was Lucifer's first born and when he rose, he would not take kindly to her being denied her pleasures. He stalked away to see to other matters until John was whole again.

spn

No one knew how long they had been following the hellhounds through the bowels of Hell, but no one complained. They came to an abrupt halt and Sam fell into Juliet before he could stop his forward momentum.

"Sorry Juliet," Sam told her as he looked at a barred door in front of them. There was sigils and ancient writing etched into the door and both hounds were growling and scratching at it. "We need to break this down."

"I can help with that," Castiel offered moving around the brothers and standing at the door. He placed a hand in the middle of it and frowned slightly as his grace began to build and suddenly the power was unleashed tossing the door aside and allowing them entrance.

The hounds were the first to skirt around Castiel and race into the chamber getting a strong scent of the human they were ordered to protect. Sam and Dean stepped into the room and saw tunnels leading from it in different directions.

"Where'd they go?" Dean asked deciding now might be a good time to pull out the demon knife.

"This way," Castiel replied as his hearing picked up the hounds huffing pants. He led the brothers down one of the tunnels, keeping his ears trained on the hounds.

All three stopped in their tracks when the tunnel opened into a large chamber that had a dozen demons suddenly looking up at them. They formed a barrier so they could not pass, and Sam stepped forward.

"Afraid you guys chose the wrong side, Crowley might be forgiving, but I'm not," he growled at them. Sam glared at the six standing in front and suddenly they burst into a cloud of black dust that drifted slowly to the ground.

The remaining demons looked in shock and fear as half their numbers were diminished. Whispers were racing through the others on who this was and 'Boy King' was mumbled. Dean could not hear what they were saying but he could see the fear on their faces and looked to his brother who was standing tall and presenting a deadly threat to them.

Castiel could hear the whispers and looked at Sam in surprise knowing now what he could not see at first. He was the one tainted by demon blood and was destined to rule Hell. He was not sure why this demon named Crowley had the throne, but he had a feeling Sam had allowed it. There was a darkness inside of him, but there was also a shimmering light that pulsed brightly never quit letting the darkness take over.

"Who's next?" Sam asked as he raised his hand to snap his fingers.

The demons scattered in different directions, none waiting to end up like the dust piles on the floor. Sam moved forward and let his senses reach out searching for their father. He could feel him, he was close. He headed down a tunnel and stopped short as a demon stood by himself staring at them with white eyes.

"I see you found your way into my domain," Alastair said. His voice was smooth and silky as he studied the three intruders. "It will do you no good, you cannot stop what is destined to be."

"Dean, go find Dad, Cas go with him," Sam said in a calm, clear voice. He shifted the pack to Dean and held it out to him.

"No Sammy, I'm not leaving you," Dean insisted taking the pack from him.

"Cas, take him, I've got this," Sam ordered pushing Dean down a tunnel away from him but never taking his eyes off the demon.

Castiel puzzled on the name he was called but did as he was requested. He grabbed Dean and headed down the tunnel away from the youngest Winchester. Dean cussed and struggled to get free but could not break the firm hold the angel had on his arm.

"I need to help my brother," he growled at the angel.

"I think your brother can take care of himself. He wants us to find your father and rescue him."

"Damnit Sammy," Dean hissed as he gave in and did not fight any longer.

spn

Once Sam saw Dean was gone and safe, he focused his full attention on Alastair. He could feel the forces beginning to build and pulled even more in as he slowly walked toward him.

"So, you are Azazel's favorite little pet that he chose to start the war?" Alastair questioned. "You know I would have thought it would have been your brother. He seems a more…Fitting candidate."

"Leave my brother out of this. I'm going to kill you."

"Sam, Sam, you think you're strong, but you don't have it in you. You're too weak and soft to do me any harm."

"I've learned a few things since Azazel took me. You might be surprised."

Alastair waved his hand like swatting away a bug and Sam was thrown backward but he caught himself before falling. He grimaced from the blow, but it did not slow him. He rose to his full height, brushing off his hands as he stepped back toward Alastair and threw out his hand making him crash into the wall behind him. Sam eyes were burning darkly as he moved closer. Alastair was on his feet and hit Sam again with his powers only to move him back a few feet but not take him down. Sam grinned in triumph when he saw a hint of fear on the demon's face. He raised a hand and squeezed it into a fist as he searched until he latched onto the demon's soul.

"This can't be!" Alastair screeched as he felt his soul being constricted inside of him. He lashed out again and saw blood drip from a cut on Sam's face, but that did not ease the strangle hold on him.

The blow came and Sam took it feeling a wetness on his cheek, but he ignored it and centered all his focus on slowly tearing the black soul to pieces a little at a time. He felt a stab of pain in his chest that only made him angrier and tossed Alastair back against the wall so hard rocks crumbled from it. He held him there while he destroyed the demon from within and then formed a small fireball in his hand to toss on the body. Sam stood there taking in deep breaths as he watched the body being consumed by the fire until there was nothing left but ash.

"I told you I was going to kill you, you sonovabitch," Sam whispered as he held his head high with his victory. With Alastair dead, Sam turned on his heels and went in search of his brother and Castiel, hoping they had found their father.

A/N: Sam has taken care of Alastair and now to find his father. Hope you enjoyed the drama. Only a few more chapters to go and this journey will be over. Reviews would be great. NC