Author Note:

I couldn't help notice that some of you had some issues and questions with this chapter, so I'm going to try and address some of them at the end of this page just so I don't spoil anything for the people who hadn't read this chapter yet.

A/N

Again, I would like to thank you for all your wonderful and encouraging reviews. Here's the next chapter I hope you'll find it enjoyable.

Unconditional

Part 7

It was quite dark if not for the rays of light their flashlights provided. Dean and Sam shuffled their feet out of another mud hole as they made their way, guns drawn and ready, further into the deserted ground.

"Dammit, and it's not even night yet! Why the hell is it so dark?" Dean grumbled as he shook his foot to rid it from the sticky mud.

Sam remained quiet but his stomach was doing a queasy flip flop and the frown masking his face revealed more than he wanted to let out. Only Dean didn't look into his brother's face to notice.

"You're awfully quiet!" Dean tried to open a conversation.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything, dude."

"Dean, I don't think this is right," Sam told him in a quiet voice.

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't feel right, man," Sam sighed with frustration, "I have a bad feeling."

Dean paused for a moment, unsure of what to think or say, then he made his mind, "I'm sure it's nothing Sammy. Dad said to go to that church, so we go. He wouldn't have told us to go there if it wasn't safe."

"How do you know that, Dean!" Sam snapped, "You said yourself the voice on the phone was unclear. He might've meant don't go there."

"No, I'm pretty sure he said to go there."

"Why would he send us there of all places."

"Because it's safe?"

"Why-"

"Sam!" Dean turned angry set of eyes toward his brother, "Would you stop asking questions and just do what the old man says for once!"

"I'm just saying Dean, this doesn't seem right." But the two brothers kept going anyway.

They stopped at a broken wooden bridge that cuts into a lake. "So this is the lake," Dean pointed on the map he held. That means we go right and straight and the church would be there."

Getting no answer from Sam, Dean scowled, "Hey, you heard me?"

But Sam was suddenly frozen in his place, eyes darting forward into space and haunted.

"Sam?" Dean sighed, "Let's move it," but Sam's long arms suddenly flew to grab his brother's shoulders, stopping him from taking a further step forward.

"We're going back," Sam stated in a tone firm with authority, "right now!"

"What the hell are you talking about Sam?"

"Just trust me, okay?"

Dean eyed Sam sharply before tearing out of his little brother's grip. "Let go Sam!"

Sam's hands shifted to Dean's collar and grabbed on, "Don't take another step, Dean. I mean it."

Just before Dean was about to throw another angry statement at his brother a chilling mocking voice stilled him and sent unwelcoming chills through his body.

"You know you might want to listen to that brother of yours. It's for your own good."

In a flash, both Dean's and Sam's attention was glued on the dark figure of the man standing lazily in front of them, a smile playing evilly on his lips.

Dean gathered his bearing after a beat and licked his lips nervously, "Listen Mister, we're-"

"That's no mister, Dean," Sam told evenly, his eyes locked on the man standing before them, "That's a demon."

"What?" Dean shifted his gaze from his brother to the man and back. He raised his gun quickly and pointed it at the demon, trusting his brother's words.

The demon kept his eyes fixed on Sam, ignoring Dean completely. "I see you've already progressed. Good for you," it mocked and its lips twisted into a snarl.

"What do you want?" Dean's only reason for not shooting the demon on spot was that he wasn't sure the rock salt gun would be any good.

"I want Sam. We're going to take a little trip together."

"Sorry to disappoint, but you're not going anywhere," Dean gritted before discharging his gun. The bullet made a loud impact with the demon's chest. It stared at the damage mildly and raised its head, to see that Dean was already trying to produce another object from his jacket. The demon's face twisted in an ominous frown.

"You just made a mistake boy."

Before Dean could get the holy water from his jacket he felt a powerful force yank him from the ground and pull him over the bridge and into the freezing water of the lake. Dean had little chance to fight as he felt an invisible force restrain him and pull him steadily into the lake's depth.

Sam froze as he saw his brother sink like a rock into the dark water. "DEAN!" he screamed and when the shock wore off he turned, ready to jump after his brother, completely ignoring the presence of the creature beside him.

However, Sam was tackled by an unseen hand and his run was short lived. He hit the ground with a loud thud. Sam grunted, momentarily dazed by the fall. But soon, he gathered himself and rose again only to feel something sharp claw painfully at his leg and pull, sending him back to the ground in an unpleasant impact, hardly giving him time to out an appropriate gasp.

"Easy there, Sammy. Don't make me come there and carry you. Be still and do as I say and you won't be harmed."

Sam hissed and glared at the demon with hostility. 'Dean hadn't surfaced yet which means something is very wrong! He has to do something very soon.'

"Why don't you?" Sam challenged and the demon smiled.

"Remember, you asked for it." It approached quickly and Sam braced himself for what about to come. When the demon was close enough and before it could touch him, Sam snatched the holy water bottle Dean had dropped before he fell, and splashed a good amount on the demon's front. The demon screamed and backed off, fury clouding his face. "You worthless brat!"

The momentarily distraction worked as Sam felt the claw on his feet suddenly let go. He scrambled to his feet in a flash and jumped without a second thought into the lake. The demon watched silently, a frown on its face.

At first Sam was not able to see anything but then he remembered the waterproof flashlight he had on him, yanked it out of his pocket quickly and flashed it around. After five seconds of searching frantically for his brother, Sam finally caught a glimpse of Dean's body underground. He kicked his legs and arms swimming faster to his brother.

When he reached him Sam could tell Dean was out, or was it - ? Sam didn't let himself think and instead pulled himself closer to Dean and covered his mouth with his sending whatever air he could into his brother's lungs. When he was done Sam was short of air himself. When he let go of Dean's shoulders, he was greeted by his brother's eyes glaring wearily back at him. After unsuccessfully trying to pull Dean to the surface with him, Sam let go with an apologizing look and kicked his way up with the remaining energy he had. When he reached the surface Sam began to gasp and wheeze as he withdrew a lungful of air into his painfully starved lungs.

"I'm waiting Sam!"

Sam jerked his head toward the demon and glared at it hatefully. "Let my brother go!"

The demon shook its head, "Now why on earth would I do that?"

Sam knew he was running out of time - Dean was running out of time. "I'll go with you," Sam suddenly said, "You let him go and I'll go with you."

The demon chuckled thickly, "I don't need you to come with me, I can make you come with me with or without your consent."

Sam looked suddenly helpless, desperate and true fear began to crawl its way into his heart.

"But," the demon added quickly, "I will let him go-"

Sam looked up, hopeful.

"I'll even go away-for now," the demon's voice turned serious," if you make me a promise, Sammy."

At that point Sam was willing to march into hell itself to save Dean but the demon doesn't need to know that. Sam swallowed thickly.

"I will come for you again Sam, and when this time comes I need you to come with me without questions."

Sam nodded quickly, "Okay."

"Is that a promise, Sammy?"

Sam nodded again without thinking, "Now, let my brother go!"

A minute later Sam saw his brother's body float on the water, face down. He swam to him and pulled him to land, laying him gently on the stony ground. He began to pat Dean's face urgently, "Dean? Dean, Come on, man! Open your eyes." Sam begged shakily as he raised a reluctant hand over his brother's neck, intending to search for a pulse he hopes he would find. But before Sam could touch Dean's neck, he was suddenly thrown back by the demon's power.

Sam struggled to his knees as he saw the demon approach his brother, "Don't touch him! I swear to God, you touch him and I'll kill you!"

The demon looked at him disgustingly, "You disgust me," it growled, "I honestly don't know what they see in you. You are hopeless and pathetically worthless."

Sam watched with horrified eyes as the demon placed its hand on Dean's chest. A second later Dean's body jerked and his eyes flew open, as his body was overcome by a coughing and gasping fits.

"Dean!" Sam crawled to his brother's side quickly, supporting his brother's shaking body with his arms.

The demon drew away, and when Sam was sure Dean was okay, he turned to stare at the demon. It smiled, "I'll see you soon," and then it looked right into Sam's eyes, "little brother."

Sam's eyes widened and the demon's smile widened. It walked away slowly, deliberately.

Sam forced his attention back to his brother.

Dean could feel Sam's arms around him, and he felt comforted by the mere thought of his brother being close. He closed his eyes as another coughing spasm rocked his body. The pain in his chest felt somehow better and the ringing in his ears lessened considerably and he could now make Sam's soothing voice talking to him.

"Hey, it's okay, Dean. It's okay. I'm right here," Sam kept repeating as he rocked his brother back and forth. Dean almost laughed at his little brother's way of comforting him. It was like he was comforting a child, yet the truth is, it was working damn well. He struggled to find his voice, knowing that Sam needed comforting himself.

"Sam," he rasped, "I'm okay now."

And when Dean looked up he could see Sam smiling and that brought a smile to his own lips. It felt so good to see his brother smile again. When was the last time he saw Sam smile? It seemed like a long time ago.

"Hey, Sam?"

"Yeah, Dean?"

"Next time bring a hot chick to do the mouth to mouth thing, okay?"

And then Sam did more than smile, he laughed. The first true laugh in a very long time, and it felt so darn good.

0O0O0O0O0O0O0

"Dean let's go back!"

"It's so close Sam. At least let us check it out."

Sam shook his head, giving up trying to reason with his brother. Fifteen minutes later, they stood in front of the abandoned building. "There," Dean said proudly, "we made it safely after all."

Sam sighed and followed Dean into the building. The door creaked open under Dean's weight and both brothers stepped inside quietly.

They scanned the dark interior carefully. Dean spotted a lamb and turning it on he was surprised it worked. Sam spotted another one and did the same. Few minutes later the place was considerably okay lit.

"Now, can we go?"

"Common Sammy! Don't start again. Dad sent us here for a reason."

Sam had this eerie feeling that he couldn't shake away. He watched as Dean walked farther into the hall scrutinizing every detail. Suddenly both brothers heard a cracking noise and turned around, guns boldly drawn.

Sam was the closest to the door and approached it first. Dean followed close behind. Sam poked his head outside and looked around. Finding nothing, he turned to look at Dean. Dean gave him a nod and lowered his gun, but suddenly and seemingly out of no where a figure appeared at the door. Before any of them could react a gun went off.

Dean blinked as the scene before him froze for a moment. Then he watched dumbfoundedly as Sam's knees buckled and he crumbled to the floor in a heap.

Dean stood there transfixed with horror at the sight, his eyes fixed on the unmoving figure on the floor.

The man standing on the door walked in calmly, gun still at hand. He looked down at the body laying under his feet then looked up to meet Dean's horrified eyes.

"You shot him!" Dean finally managed to speak as he raised his gun and aimed it at the man who just shot his brother.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." And then Dean felt arms grab him from behind, and he wrestled to get free - to get to his brother, but they were too many and soon Dean was forced to his knees, his gun taken away.

Dean struggled to control his anger and frustration. He watched with dread as the man who shot Sam knelt beside his brother and placed a hand over his head.

"Don't touch him, you son of a bitch! Leave him alone!"

The man ignored him as he tore Sam's buttons away with a powerful pull and exposed the young man bleeding side. He then produced a knife, and ignoring Dean's horror-filled eyes, he sank the knife into Sam's already injured flesh and began to cut deeply. Sam suddenly gasped and his eyes snapped open at the excruciating pain flaring through his side.

"NO!" Dean screamed and turned into a possessed man as he saw his little brother get tortured in front of his eyes. He kicked and fought but strong arms held him and he watched in despair as Sam continued to writhe and thrash in agony. The man held Sam's head down and stilled his arms, cutting the young hunter's attempts to get up and away from the offending pain. He kept a strong hold until Sam's strength began to desert him and he fell limply backward. Only then did the man let go of Sam and quickly twisted his knife out.

Dean watched as a pool of blood began to steadily form around his brother. He turned red hateful eyes toward the man, "I swear I'll kill you! I'll kill you with my own hands! I'll kill you all!"

The man stood up and met Dean's hateful and ominous stare, "You might not understand but I did this to help him – to save him."

Dean blinked, "Help him? Save him! Are you crazy?"

"Your brother had been touched by evil. He is tainted. Right now he is bleeding the devil's own blood away. It will purify him and cleanse his soul."

"He'll bleed to death!" Dean gritted through clenched teeth.

"Death is a low price to pay in order to purify one's soul!"

Dean shook his head, "You're crazy!"

"I'm not crazy, son. I am merely carrying out God's wishes."

"Are you telling me we're going to stand here and watch my brother bleed to death?"

For a moment the man was silent, then he slowly turned toward Sam and spoke again, "That is exactly what we're going to do."

Dean's eyes widened and his heart began to race as the meaning of the man's words hit him like a powerful blow coming from his worst nightmare.

0O0O0O0O0O0O0

Answers to the recent complains about this chapter:

Why was the demon affected by the holy water when it clearly wasn't in the season finale?

The demon in this chapter was not 'the demon' but 'a demon' like Meg and Tom who both seemed to be affected by the holy water in Salvation. Sam can somehow sense demons now, hence the demon's remark that Sam has progressed. Also, Sam is clearly still upset about what the demon had done to him so I believe he'd be a little shaken up over another confrontation with 'the demon' like the time in the elevator.

Wasn't the demon acceptance to Sam's promise a little easy?

The demon obviously didn't take Sam's word for granted. He'd make sure Sam would stick to the bargain. How? Well you just have to wait and see.

Sam seemed a little different in this chapter.

True. Obviously the time he had spent with Dean had affected him.

It's not like Dean not to listen to Sam. It's not like him to ignore Sam's concern that something bad is going to happen.

Obviously, Dean still thinks that Sam isn't in his right mind, and since the demon messed with his head, he can't really trust anything he says – maybe it's the demon talking and not Sam.

I hope the chapter make more sense now. Please let me know if you have other questions

regarding this chapter or any other chapter.

A/N

Hmm, I was planning to stop at the 'Sam is smiling' part but I couldn't help myself.

Please keep letting me know what you think. Like it? Hate it?

Also, on an added note: The original chapter was much longer but I deleted many scenes before and between the two scenes taking place in this chapter. Especially at the beginning where I had the boys go ask around about the church and go into a bar and land themselves into trouble. I was planning to use the bad guys in the bar in my next story but I guess I have to create the whole scene again. The reason why the chapter was cut down is that I lost the original draft of the chapter and since you all know I'm lazy, I didn't feel like writing the whole thing over again, even though I remembered most of what I wrote, so I ended up writing the important parts only. I apologize if the chapter seemed rushed – well, I'm pretty sure it does but hopefully the next chapter will be better.