A/n: Thank you everyone for being understanding from my previous post. Thank you everyone for reading, reviewing, following and/or favoriting. A special thank you to hectatess, VegasGranny, and LilyBolt for your last reviews.

Chapter 18

"You should've seen him Bobby," Dean said into his phone having stepped out of the room to get both fresh air and privacy. "He was freaking out and yelling at no one."

"Somethin's definitely not right," the older man agreed. "Just not sure what."

"Stress maybe? Or...I don't know."

"Or..." The hunter started.

"What?" The other end of the line was silent for awhile causing Dean to get nervous. "Or what Bobby?"

"We don't know everythin' that went on with him."

His friend's words weren't a comfort and the way he appeared to be beating around the bush about what he was thinking was only making the older Winchester's heart beat faster.

"What're you saying?"

Bobby sighed heavily. "I'm sayin' maybe this is all part of what that angel of yers was goin' on about. Maybe this has to do with him bein' part-"

"Don't," Dean closed his eyes. "Don't say it."

"I know you don't wanna hear it, but it's the only thing I can think of that makes sense. You know damn well this has nothin' to do with stress. That boy's been under more stress than just about anyone, and I can't even imagine what he was goin' through after that night in the cemetery." It was silent again between the two men, only the light breeze that had picked up was heard. "I really hate to say it, but I think there's only two people that may have an idea as to what's causin' yer brother to act like this and one of them isn't a person."

Dean scoffed and shook his head. "Maybe you and Sam trust him but after the shit he pulled, I don't."

"Then I suggest that you talk to Sam."

"Sam isn't going to tell me."

"Well he's gonna know a lot more than anyone else," Bobby countered.

Dean sighed. "Will you talk to him? He gets defensive with me and then we end up at each other's throats."

"You don't have to tell me."

"Exactly!"

A pause and then another sigh from the hunter on the other end of the line, though this time it was a tired sigh. "Alright. I'll finish up here and get back to you boys as soon as I can."

"Thanks Bobby."

"Just try not to kill each other, ok? Or chase yer brother away."

"Right," Dean said in small voice, before hanging up. He didn't move right away, trying to take in more of the fresh air and silence before re-entering.

XXX

Sam had peeled off his long sleeve, and was now pinching the top of his grey t-shirt with his thumb and index finger waving the cotton back and forth fanning himself. His still wet hair clung to his head and his eyes darted around, locking on his brother as he entered.

"A bit young for menopause, aren't you Samantha?" The older Winchester joked.

"I don't know what's wrong with me," Sam panted continuing to try to cool himself ignoring his sibling's jab at him.

"Let's see...It's winter, heater's not on, you did just get out of the shower..." Dean listed. He stopped walking, then his eyes lit up as though an idea had come to him and a wicked grin curled his lips. "Maybe you need another hit." Sam's eyes grew wide and he audibly gulped and involuntarily stopped fanning himself.

"What? Dean what're you talking-"

"Give up the act Sam. I know, ok?"

"You-you know? You know what?"

"All about your demon blood cravings. I mean that's why you're all tweaked out, right? You've got an itch you can't scratch." He walked towards his sibling. "A craving you can't kick." Sam didn't say anything, just shook his head causing water droplets to fly from his hair. "Why fight it? Just give in. You know what they say, if your body's craving it, you probably need it. And believe me Sam, you need it."

"Why're you saying this?" The younger man asked nervously taking a step back as Dean stepped closer.

"Family's suppose to support each other, right?" The older Winchester shrugged. "So, I'm supporting my little brother. The stuff makes you strong, makes you feel nice and powerful. I noticed that when you put me in that choke hold without even touching me."

"Dean I told you I'm sorry. I thought you were-"

"A demon, I know. It's ok Sam, I'm not mad. In fact I'm impressed. Never knew you had it in you. No wait, yes I did. From the moment I entered your bloodstream and became part of you." Dean's eyes shone the same inhumane yellow he had seen before. Seeing Jessica with those eyes prior was uncomfortable enough, but to see his brother with the same eyes he'd seen him with before when he'd been possessed by Azeazel, it was more than unsettling. He never wanted to see those eyes ever again and the last person on earth he wanted to see them on, was Dean.

His brother began to approach him, taking one of his fingernails and running it along his wrist where a line of blood grew visible. Sam continued to back away until he bumped the edge of the bed with the back of his leg. His heart was racing and he tried to keep his gaze from lingering on the crimson line on Dean's arm.

"Come on Sam, give in to me."

"Stay the hell away from me!" The older Winchester knocked the younger down and pressed his arm to his face.

"Drink," he demanded. The younger man tried to move his brother's arm and push him away.

"No!"

"Drink!"

Sam's body began to shake uncontrollably. His eyes rolled in the back of his head and the last thing he remembered was the sound of his name being called before everything went black.

XXX

When Sam woke up again, he was confused. He couldn't move his arms and there was an unpleasant taste in his mouth. His eyes darted around and he realized he was laying on the floor between the two queen beds of the motel they were currently staying at. The sudden movement of him struggling to raise himself caught the attention of the other two men who had been in the room and they both rushed over to Sam.

"Finally," the hunter said, removing what Sam could now see was a belt from his mouth. "Are you alright Sam?"

Sam ran his tongue around his teeth trying to get the taste of leather out of his mouth before he looked first at his friend and then his brother who he noticed had a much different look on his face than the concerned hunter and was keeping his distance.

"Wh-what happened?" The younger Winchester asked as Bobby helped him slowly into sitting position.

"You tell us. Yer brother came into the room and found you seizurin' on the floor. What's goin' on Sam?"

Sam blinked a few times, his mouth open slightly and fear and confusion evident in his eyes.

"I-I don't know."

"That's the second time yer brother has found you actin' strange in the last few hours. I'm not tryin' to hound ya, but somethin' ain't right." Sam opened his mouth to respond, but instead of words, there was a knock. Everyone turned to look at the motel door, but it was Dean who moved to answer it. He looked out the peephole and then huffed and threw it open.

"It's about damn time," he snapped as the trench coated angel stepped inside. "I called you an hour ago."

Castiel turned and gave Dean a look that Sam knew only too well, having the same reaction whenever his brother would get on him like he had the celestial being. "It's not always that easy Dean," he shot back. "And in case you hadn't noticed, you aren't the only ones that are in trouble here."

"What's going on?" Sam cut in. "Why's he here?" He looked with a furrowed brow from the hunter to his brother who in return exchanged glances that gave Sam a clue as to what the answer was.

"Like Bobby said, something's not right. Feathers here is gonna diagnose you and give us the answers we aren't getting out of you," the older Winchester answered crossing his arms. The angel approached the younger brother, placed an outstretched hand on his head, and closed his eyes. The hunter and the older sibling looked between Sam and Castiel for any reaction from either. Sam only continued to frown while the angel seemed concentrated on whatever it was he was doing until he opened them again and removed his hand, letting his arm rest at his side. "Well?" Dean asked breaking the silence.

"When was the last time you ingested demon blood?" Castiel questioned the younger Winchester, his blue eyes locked onto him. Sam shifted the best he could with his hands still cuffed behind his back.

"The day Dean showed up in Kansas," he mumbled. Dean tried to prevent himself from from showing any emotion.

"When did the hallucinations start?"

"I never said anything about hallucinations," he said nervously.

"You didn't have to," The older brother commented. Sam looked over at Dean then down at the floor and then back at Castiel.

"A couple of days ago."

"A couple of days?" Dean repeated in disbelief. "You mean today wasn't the first time?" The younger man slowly shook his head.

"Are you plannin' on sharin' what you know with the rest of us?" The hunter asked the angel.

"Demon blood has an affect on Lucifer's vessels and is highly addictive to them. Once they've had it regularly, it isn't easy for them to stop it completely and altogether. The best way I can word it so that you'll understand is that Sam is going through withdrawals."

"You've gotta be kidding me," Dean said incredulously.

"I'm not kidding you," the angel replied monotone.

"Great, that's just fan-fucking-tastic," he slapped his arms to his side in defeat. "What the hell are we suppose to do?"

"What happens if he continues cold turkey?" The hunter inquired. The celestial being raised an eyebrow. "What if he continues to not drink any?"

"I'm not certain of the exact outcome, but it's likely not going to end well for him. I imagine his thirst for it will increase and he may get violent. It is possible that without it eventually his body will give out."

"You mean to tell me that if he stops drinking demon blood he can die?!" Dean shouted. "He wasn't always a bloodsucker, he was fine before he started drinking that crap."

"Right here guys," Sam chimed in annoyed at the lack inclusion. Dean continued on as though his sibling hadn't said anything.

"My brother isn't getting anymore of that shit and he's going to be just fine."

"I'm sure it would make you happy to see it that way Dean, but I'm not certain he will be."

"I'm not giving my brother demon blood!" The older Winchester roared. He looked at Castiel and then Bobby and shook his head sadly. "I won't let Sammy become a monster. I won't. I can't."

Sam nodded his head as tears blurred his vision.

"Then you run the risk of losing him," the angel answered.

"There's gotta be somethin' you can do," the hunter said. "You're an angel for God sakes. Can't you just heal him or somethin'?"

"I'm afraid it isn't that simple."

"What exactly are angel's good for? Huh?" Dean rounded on the celestial being once again. "You don't care about what happens to us humans, you can't fix my brother, you're literally here to help free the Devil and end the fucking world...I liked it better when I didn't know you existed. I thought demons were bad, at least we know where they stand. In fact I'm starting to think they're more honest then you guys are."

"I've done more for you than I should have already," Castiel shot back. "I don't think you realize the kind of trouble I've gotten myself into once they find out why they can't find you again. Don't make me regret my decision to go against my own family and everything God put in motion centuries ago to help you three," he warned. "You do what you want with Sam, but I am not your dog. You can't call on me when you need something and expect me to have an easy result for you." With one last threatening glance at all three of the men, there was a sound of wings and the trench coated angel was gone.

A/n: Thank you for reading. See you next week.