A/N

Sorry for the long delay. I just got caught up with exams and stuff - yes, I'm taking a summer course (sigh). I also received my Supernatural season one dvds boxset and finished watching the whole thing. LOL, what a ride! You guys are so lucky you get to watch it on tv. Here in Kuwait we don't have that luxury and I have to wait for the dvds of whatever release to watch it.

Anyway, here is the next part. As usual it's unedited and full of mistakes. I'll try to fix it as soon as possible.

Unconditional

Part 5

Dean came awake with a jolt. His eyes darted wildly around and his breath hitched erratically, yet he couldn't grasp the reason behind his own panic.

"Dean, calm down," he heard a soft voice say and turned around to stare at its owner.

Layne smiled at the confused man. "It's allright now."

"Wh-What happened?" Dean demanded groggily, still confused.

"Well, that could be summed up in 'I told you so,' tough guy."

"Huh?"

"Remember, I told you this was going to happen if you exert yourself? Your body just couldn't take the abuse any more."

Realization finally hit him-Dean swallowed. "Sam? Is he okay?" Damn, he remembers the look of terror on his brother's face right before he passed out. Sam must be worried sick by now.

Dean missed the sad fleeting expression that ran across Layne's face.

"Why isn't he here?"

Layne was about to answer when she caught someone standing at the door. "You have a visitor," she smiled softly at Dean before she turned to leave.

Dean blinked as he turned toward the open door, fully expecting to see his brother limping his way to the room, but what he saw caused his eyes to widen in surprise. "Dad!"

"Hey, Dean. How are you, son?"

"But? You said-?" Dean was at loss of words, he swallowed. "When did you come back?"

"Yesterday," John answered matter of factly as he approached his eldest son's bed.

"Did you see Sam?"

John paused a moment before he nodded his head. "I did."

"How is he?" then turning to look around, "Why isn't he here?"

"He-uh," John trailed of, "he's resting right now."

Dean stared at his father, his eyes narrowing as a frown began to itch its way to his handsome face, "Is something wrong with him? Dad, tell me? IS he okay?"

"He's okay, just calm down."

"Then what is it?" Dean demanded not fully convinced.

"He's just tired."

"Really?"

"Yeah," John nodded, "He needs plenty of rest, just like you do."

"I'm fine."

John squinted at him, and Dean had to smile. "I'll be fine, really."

"Get some rest."

"Okay." Rest sounded good.

"You want me to stay?"

"No, I'll be fine. Go check on Sammy."

"Okay."

Dean closed his eyes and few minutes later his breathing evened out and he was once again deeply asleep. John exited the room quietly. Once outside, he leaned against the wall heavily and ran a tired hand over his face, a heart felt sigh escaping his soul.

"You okay?"

John nodded at Layne tiredly.

"You didn't tell him?"

"No, "John admitted, "there's no point in telling him now."

"Okay," Layne smiled sympathetically and watched as the eldest Winchester walked away with heavy steps.

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

"Hey."

"Hey," Dean smiled lazily at the petite nurse.

"How are you feeling this morning?"

"Better," Dean admitted with a yawn. She smiled. "That's great."

Dean looked around his room and frowned. It was the third time he woke, and still no sign of his brother. "Hey, Dana, you know how my brother's doing?"

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

John was walking to Dean's room when he was taken aback by his eldest son storming out of the room. "Dean?"

Dean glared at his father, and John could see the anger burning in his son's eyes. "Why the hell didn't you tell me!"

"Dean, calm down," John ordered evenly as he laid a hand on Dean's shoulder.

"Calm down!" Dean shrugged his father's hand roughly, "Calm down! My brother almost died-No wait- he did die and came back, and I'm the last person to know that!"

John sighed, "Keep your voice down. Remember we're at a hospital."

Dean's eyes remained burning with anger but at least he stopped shouting.

"I was going to tell you but I didn't want to upset you before you get the rest you needed."

"You had no right!"

John looked angrily at his son, "I don't like that tone of yours, Dean."

"I don't care."

It was John's turn to glare back at his son.

"I want to see him."

John nodded, "Fine, but first there are some things you need to know."

Dean stopped and allowed his father to lead him to a nearby chair. They sat down.

"Go on. I want to know what happened."

"The demon was leading me into a trap," John began steadily, "Once I figured that I came back."

Dean remained silent and waited for John to continue.

"I checked on you first and they told me you were exhausted and needed to rest. Then I went to see Sam. He was pretty upset about your condition and they had to sedate him in order to calm him down."

Guilt flashed over Dean's face.

"When he woke up I had to assure him that you were allright in order to calm him down. Once I started to talk to him, I realised that he was hiding something."

Dean looked down. "I couldn't get him to talk," Dean admitted. "When I tried he panicked and had an attack, scared the hell out of me. The doctor said not to get him upset, " Dean explained not realising that he had stopped being angry with his father.

John nodded. "I wanted a chance to talk to him alone, so we took a walk after he checked up on you. At the elevator-" John paused.

"What?"

"It showed up."

Dean felt a chill running through his system. "What showed up?"

"The demon."

Dean's hands turned into fists, "It didn't hurt Sammy again, did it?"

"It possessed a doctor. It started to talk, taunting Sammy. Sam looked scared, and all I wanted was to protect him, but I failed. That son of a bitch fled the doctor's body and entered Sam."

Dean's eyes widened.

"It only lasted a moment, then it exited his body and vanished through the ground. But when I checked on Sammy, he was not breathing and his heart had stopped."

Dean had to mentally control his overwhelming rage.

John sighed again. "I started CPR right away and soon he was rushed into ER. After awhile they told me they were able to save him."

"He's okay?"

"Physically yes."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Dean, Sam hadn't spoken a word since he was brought back."

Dean's eyes widened again this time with unspeakable fear.

"Not a brain damage," John assured quickly, "Nothing's physically wrong with him, they assured me."

"Then why isn't he talking?"

"I think it's your brother's way to shut out the reality of what had happened to him."

"Dad," Dean spoke slowly, "do you know what happened to Sam?"

"No."

"But you have an idea." Dean retorted.

"Dean-"

"Fine, I won't ask. Anything else?"

"I need you to keep a close eye on your brother."

"You're leaving again."

"Yes, I'll do some digging around. We'll get you both out of here as soon as you're up to it."

"I'm up to it."

John nodded approvingly, "Now let's go check on Sam."

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

The moment Dean caught a glimpse of his little brother curled on the bed, he felt his insides churn. Sam looked so small and fragile. Dean swallowed a lump as he approached him.

"Hey, Sammy," he said in the best care free voice he could muster.

Sam didn't move-didn't turn his way or make a sound. Dean sighed.

"And here I thought you were gonna be happy to see me!"

Again no reaction.

"They'll finally let us out of here, Sammy, hear that?"

Nothing.

Dean sighed and looked up at his father sadly. John nodded encouraging him to keep talking.

"You do want to leave, don't you? Because if you want we can stay."

John exited the room, leaving the two brothers alone. Dean kept on talking-rambling about nothing in particular. Joking about hospitals, nurses and everything. Sam kept silent and still as if Dean didn't even exist. John came back and told them that they could check out the day after tomorrow. He soon left to do the necessary arrangement.

Sam remained silent and didn't speak a word until the night of the next day. Dean had stopped talking then, more because his throat hurt than anything else. He was startled by a slight movement from Sam.

"Dean?"

Dean tried not to leap in joy at the soft small sound of his brother's voice. He regained control quickly. "Yeah, Sammy?"

"I'm hungry."

A smile spread on Dean's face. "That's my boy!" he approved. "Let me tell them to bring you something."

"Don't want their food."

"What do you want then Sammy?"

"Maybe, pizza?"

Dean smiled,"Okay pizza boy, I'll go order one as soon as dad comes back." Dean was not about to leave Sam alone. He didn't trust him alone with himself-not yet anyway.

John came back, and was surprised to see Dean grinning in his face.

"What?" he demanded.

"Sammy's hungry and want me to order pizza."

"Is that so, Sam?" John looked eagerly at his son and felt relief overwhelm him when Sam nodded in reply.

"I'll go order," Dean jumped off and out of the room.

"Could you get me coffee too," Sam requested just as Dean reached the door.

"Sure."

John walked slowly inside and sat on the bed Dean was sleeping on. "You okay, son?"

Sam breathed deeply. John noticed Sam's attempt to raise his head and meet his eyes and failing. Sam kept his eyes glued to the floor. "I'm going to tell you what happened," Sam told him in a whisper, "but-"

"But what, Sam?"

"I don't want Dean to know."

John frowned at that but remained quiet.

"It made me do things." Sam began quickly as of afraid he'd lose the courage if he didn't, "It told me to listen to it but I refused to do anything it wanted, but then it forced me drink something and that's when I agreed. I could still think but it was like I couldn't say no. I just wanted it to end. It told me if I do what it wanted it will let me go so I did," Sam swallowed.

"It explained to me how to enter someone's mind and unlock thoughts. And then it took me to a room and there was this girl," Sam licked his lips nervously, hands shaking, " He told me to enter her mind as practice, and I did," Sam began to rock and John was about to reach for him but Sam continued before he could, "She was only a girl-an innocent girl and I killed her."

"Sam-" John began.

"She died in front of me dad," Sam couldn't stop the sob that shook his body, "She died. I killed her."

"It's not your fault Sam. It made you do it."

Sam shook his head. "No, I knew what I was doing and I did it willingly."

John remained quiet.

"That was one thing."

John closed his eyes, knowing that what's coming next would be worse.

"It did something to me. I don't know what exactly-but," Sam stopped and forced the next words out of his mouth, "It gave me some of its blood."

John's head was downcast. "Its blood is running in my veins right now-I could feel it and it makes me sick."

"Sam-"

"The worst part, dad?"

John paused.

"It said it wasn't the first time I had its blood. I had it when I was an infant-that night mom died. And what's worse? It said you knew all along."

John shook his head. "Sam-"

"You knew!"

"Sam, son-"

"You knew and you didn't tell me!"

John just stared at his son, at loss of words.

"It said I belonged to him then but the ritual had to take place three times. It's been two times already. It wanted to get into my head. I refused but at the elevator-when it entered me I let it into my mind and it played with it for two whole days. I could hear it speaking talking to me. I could feel it changing my thoughts. It's driving me crazy, dad."

"We'll find a way-"

"Find a way to what?" Sam finally snapped.

"To help you, Sammy?"

"I don't believe there is any way to help me, dad. I know that now."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do," this time when John looked up he could see Sam looking right back at him-eyes unwavering.

"What are you saying Sam."

"There are only two ways left."

"Which are?"

"I leave and face that thing alone-or,"

"Or what, Sammy?"

"Or you kill me right now, 'cause dad, I can feel it controlling me already."

"Sorry, not gonna happen Sammy." Both Sam and John whirled around and stared at Dean's stony face as he leaned against the door.

'He heard,' Sam's head reeled fearfully as he looked right into Dean's eyes.

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

Sam swallowed hard, and forced himself to remain in control. "You don't know anything, Dean."

"Yeah, well I know few things, Sammy. I know you will do nothing stupid from now on-like escaping or hurting yourself like you did before-I won't let you. I also know that we'll find a way to deal with this thing and help you, and I also happen to know that fucking bastard's going to pay big time."

"I'm leaving."

"You're not," it was John's turn to speak.

Sam looked at him hard. "I will."

"No you won't little brother."

"Damn it, stay out of this Dean."

A shadow passed over Dean's face. "Sorry, can't do Sammy."

"I'm just gonna leave," Sam told them as he shook his head, "You can't stop me."

"Try me, little brother."

"It has control over me, Dean. I could turn evil and-" Sam trailed off.

"I don't care."

Sam glared at his brother, his previous fear and nervousness replaced by stubbornness and unreleased anger and frustration. "Got a plan?"

John cleared his throat. "We leave first thing tomorrow morning. I already have a room ready for you. You and Dean are going to stay put for awhile while I figure out our next move."

"You mean hide."

"Call it whatever you want. You do what I ask and hopefully we'll have this thing solved in no time."

"Dad, if you could solve it you would've twenty years ago. There is no way I'm going to get free of this I know it."

"You know I'm beginning to get tired of your attitude," Dean growled, "I'm starting to think I liked you more not talking."

Sam glared at him.

"We do what dad says and stay put for awhile. It might do you good."

"Whatever."

"Yeah, whatever."

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

The drive to the motel was a quiet one . Dean kept glancing at Sam and Sam kept avoiding eye contact and John just kept driving-an unhappy frown never leaving his face.

"Here, let's get you two inside."

"I'm okay," Dean announced shrugging off John's help. Both turned to Sam who made it to his feet without help and grabbed his crutches gingerly, making a silent statement that he wanted no help either.

Once inside, Dean crashed on the arm chair and closed his eyes tiredly. Sam sat on the bed without a word and stared at the closed window.

"Don't even think about it, Sam," Dean barked without opening his eyes, "You're not going anywhere."

Sam said nothing, and Dean peeled his eyes open a minute later to find that Sam was stretched on the bed, eyes closed. He sighed. Damn, why do things just kept getting more and more complicated?

John brought the rest of their things from the car but didn't bother to get them in place. He prepared to go.

"Already?" Dean said, and John could sense the bitterness lacing his words. He glanced briefly at Sam's sleeping form, before motioning for Dean to follow him outside.

For a brief moment, the two just stood there staring wordlessly at each other. John cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry," he began slowly.

"For what?" but the scowl on Dean's face told John that Dean knew exactly what his father was apologizing for.

"For not telling you everything."

"You're still not telling me everything, dad."

John sighed and ran a shaky hand over his face. "Sometime after the accident I took Sam to a priest – a man of vision and knowledge on our kind of business. He told me about Sam. He told me that the demon did something to him that night. There were some invisible wounds on Sam's arm and he told me that the demon had given him some of its blood. It was some kind of blood ritual. I asked him to help me and he agreed, only he was lying."

John stopped talking as a painful expression clouded his eyes. Dean frowned, the more he heard the more he hated what he was hearing. Hell, he was scared. He licked his lips nervously, "Go on."

"He took Sam to a room and told me to wait outside until he finishes performing whatever he wanted to perform, but I had a bad feeling so I entered the room and found him holding a knife ready to slit Sam's throat."

Dean's breath caught and he struggled to maintain a steady face.

"I stopped him," John said slowly, "He told me that I just made a mistake. That Sam was lost forever and there was no way to get him back. I demanded to know what the demon wanted from Sam but the man didn't know. He knew that the demon will never leave Sam alone. He told me he'll be back for him. He told me that the demon wanted Sam for something evil and that my only choice is to kill my son. Of course I refused, but he was not about to let me go. He wanted to kill Sam so badly. That's when I did what I had to do to save Sam."

"You killed him."

John's silence was confirmation enough. Dean looked at his dad, "I would've done the same thing."

And then both father and son looked at each other's eyes, and a silent agreement was laid upon them, 'They would do whatever it takes to save Sam's life-killing and destroying whatever threatens his life or stood in their way no matter what ...and to the very end.'

"It's the second time now."

"What do you mean?"

"The demon has to do whatever it does to Sam three times before Sam becomes completely his."

"Not going to happen," Dean stated angrily.

"I thought I could protect him from that, but I was wrong."

"He will not get Sam, dad. I swear to God, I would slaughter that son of a bitch myself before he touches Sam again."

John stared at his son for a moment, "It's not only the demon I'm worried about now."

Dean looked at him quizzically.

"Some people- a group- more than one group actually, they know about the demon and they took it upon themselves to destroy all his evil plans."

"That's good, right?"

John shook his head sadly, "They want Sam dead, Dean. They tried to kill him more than once-I've been fighting them for a long time. Their attempts to kill Sam stopped once the demon disappeared. Now that he's back again-I'm sure so will they. Your brother is in serious danger."

"I'll protect him."

"I know you will, and so will I" John told him, "I want you and Sam to stay put for now and keep it low. I want you to keep a close eye on Sam. That bastard entered his mind and messed with his head, and God knows what he might do. He might be of danger to you and to himself. I wish I could stay-"

"I'll take care of it."

"You do that, son."

"You take care yourself too, dad. You're no good to us dead."

John nodded, and for a second he was so overwhelmed with emotions to speak. "We'll find a way to save Sam. I promise."

"Yeah," Dean stressed confidentially, "I know we will, because the way I see it, there's no other option."

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

So let me know what you think. Now you have a pretty good idea where this story is heading. Turned to be slightly darker than I intended. Of course I don't write death fics so you know I won't kill anyone. However that doesn't mean I won't torture them wink