DISCLAIMER

Supernatural belongs to the WB. I only own Max Nordstrom and some of his powers, though I got others from this episode of Smallville where this football coach was able to burn people just by touching them. Deals with cutting which I know about from "Higher Ground" and a movie called "Secret Cutting".

Sam and Dean whirled around.

"Can I help you?" the man asked again.

"Are you Dr. Nordstrom?" Sam queried.

"Yes. And you are?" came the response.

"I'm Sam Winchester and I really need to talk to you," Sam said.

"Son, I'm really busy---" Dr. Nordstrom began to say.

"Please!" Sam interrupted. "I realize you're busy, and normally, I wouldn't press it, but---I'm spinning out of control, and---I---I need your help," he continued. Dean stared. He could almost swear that Sammy was being truthful.

"Okay. I---guess I could see you," Dr. Nordstrom agreed.

"Great," Sam sighed in relief. Then, "Dean, do you mind?"

"What? Sammy," Dean objected. Is he crazy? What is he doing? he wondered.

"Dean, please," Sam insisted. Yeah, he knew splitting up wasn't the smartest thing to do, but he'd never have the courage to do this in front of his brother. Dean was about to object again, when he saw the pleading expression in Sam's eyes. Whatever was going on with his brother, it was obviously important enough for him to send him away.

"All right, man," Dean sighed. However, he shot his brother a look that indicated that he thought it was a bad idea. Sam waited until Dean was out of the room to turn to the man.

"Now, how can I help you?" the older man asked. Sam rolled up his left shirt-sleeve.

"Oh, son," Dr. Nordstrom breathed, taking his arm and looking at the marks. "Why?" he asked, motioning for the boy to sit down in a chair, as he did so

"'Cuz I feel so bad and I have no other way to deal," Sam answered, covering his arm back up, and taking a seat in the other chair.

"What about your friend?" Dr. Nordstrom wondered.

"Dean?" Sam scoffed. "My older brother doesn't talk. He likes to avoid what he calls 'chick-flick moments'," he continued.

"When did it start?" the doctor queried.

"When I was young. My father and I---we didn't get along. And I---I didn't know what else to do," Sam admitted.

"Did he ever hurt you?" came the next question.

"No. He never raised a hand to me. He just---" Sam trailed off.

"He just what?" the man prompted.

"My mom was murdered---when I was a baby. And he just kinda---fell apart. He raised us to look for the---man---that killed her. It was all he cared about," Sam said, looking down.

"Do you feel like he neglected you?" the doctor asked.

"Sometimes yeah," Sam nodded.

"But that's not everything, is it?" Dr. Nordstrom asked. Sam looked up, genuinely surprised.

"What are you talking about?" he wondered. What's he mean by that? he wondered.

"Come on, Sam. You know what I'm talking about," Dr. Nordstrom questioned, his voice darkening. Sam sat up straighter, instantly on guard. Maybe it had been a bad idea to send Dean away.

"No, I'm afraid I don't," Sam said carefully.

"Come on, Sam. The way your brother ignores you---you hate that," Dr. Nordstrom continued.

"My brother doesn't ignore me," Sam corrected.

"You hate it when he calls you 'Sammy', but he does it anyway," Dr. Nordstrom stated. Inside, he was smiling. Really. Is this human that stupid? he wondered. Just who did this kid think he was dealing with? Sam didn't answer, but just stared. How had he known? Unless---they had been right. And this guy wasn't human at all.

"What are you?" Sam questioned, standing up.

"I was waiting for you to figure it out, Sammy-Boy," Dr. Nordstrom sneered, also getting up. Sam threw a left punch, but Nordstrom quickly caught the wrist. Sam screamed as searing pain pierced his skin. Then, he threw Sam across the room.

"Foolish boy. Did you really think you could stop me?" he asked in his true voice. Sam looked up to see that although he still looked the same, the man's eyes were now red.

"So that's it. That's how you've been killing them. You've burned the oxygen out of them," he gasped. Sam inched his way towards the door.

"Yes. Run away. No one will believe your story," the demon sneered. Sam stood up, opened the door, and ran out.

"Sam!" Dean cried in surprise as his brother stumbled up to the car..

"We gotta get back to the room," Sam groaned. Without another word, Dean headed for their motel.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Yes, I know Sam's right-handed and it would've made more sense for him to throw a right punch, but I have something in mind, and I needed him to use his left hand.