This is another story that I had finished months ago. This was also written before they found their father.

The Sacrifice

Dean and Sam were both exhausted as they left the small roadside bar where they had stopped to eat. Their only thought, find a cheap motel and get some rest. The search for their father was going nowhere and they were both frustrated and upset. Dean jumped in the driver's seat as Sam leaned down and picked up a small item lying on the ground near the front wheel of the car. He got in the car and held the item up examining it.

"What's that?" Dean asked glancing over.

"I don't know….it looks like some kind of little statue or something."

The item was a small marble figure of a devil like creature. Sam turned it over and over in his hand and then left out a little yelp of pain.

"What's wrong?"

"I cut my finger on it." Sam said as he sucked on his bloody finger then pulled it out of his mouth and looked at it. There was a pinprick puncture on it with a small trickle of blood running from it. He once more put it in his mouth and sucked off the blood.

"Let me see it."

Sam dropped the figure into Dean's outstretched hand. He looked at it and saw the thing was holding a tiny sword which now had Sam's blood on it. Dean was about to toss the thing out the window but Sam reached over and took it from him.

"Why do you want to keep it? It's just a piece of junk, get rid of it."

"No….there's something about it…..."

"Sam, it's a kid's toy."

"So? I like it."

Dean shook his head, and rolled his eyes as he started the car, he was too tired to argue. They never saw the dark robed figures that appeared behind the diner and watched them as they drove away.

Later during the night

Dean was awakened during the night by the sound of Sam moaning in his sleep. He knew Sam was prone to nightmares and usually he'd wake him up and tell him everything was okay and try to get him to go back to sleep. But he was tired and didn't feel like making the effort; instead he grabbed a pillow and tossed it over at his brother's bed.

"Wake up!" He shouted.

Sam moaned as he slowly sat up in bed. He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose as the room began to spin slightly.

"What's wrong?"

"You were groaning in your sleep again…."

"Sorry." Sam got up off the bed, pulled pants on over his boxers, then started walking to the door figuring maybe if he got a little fresh air he'd feel better. But as soon as he got off the bed he became dizzy and fell hard against a table in the room.

"What are you doing?" Dean asked annoyed now by the disturbance from his sleep.

"Sorry, just got a little dizzy….I'm going to get some fresh air."

"Okay, just keep it quiet….you don't want to wake up the other guests."

"I will." Sam left the room and went outside. As the cool night air hit him the dizzy feeling came back and he was glad there was a chair just outside their door as he collapsed onto it.

The next morning

Dean woke up and stretched his arms above his head. He felt good, sleep is what he had needed he thought as he swung his legs over the bed. He glanced over at Sam's bed and saw it was empty. He got up and walked over to the bathroom.

"Sam you in there?" When he didn't get an answer he opened the door but the room was empty. Must have gone for coffee Dean thought as he turned on the shower. He knew Sam always had trouble sleeping and more then once he had woken up to the fresh smell of coffee and Sam sitting by the bed handing him a cup.

When Dean was finished showering he went back into the bedroom and got dressed. He thought it was odd that Sam wasn't back yet but figured maybe he had just left right before he had woken up. He turned on the TV and watched for a while but began to get anxious when Sam still wasn't back a half hour later. He walked over to the door, opened it, and was startled to see Sam sitting on the chair outside their door, his head hanging down on his chest, his face red and sweaty.

"Sam!" Dean said as he gently shook his brother.

"Ohhhhhh…." Sam moaned. "What….what's the matter?….." He mumbled confused and obviously not feeling well.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me you were sick?" Dean asked as he helped Sam back into the room, his protective older brother mode kicking in.

"I'm fine….just feel a little dizzy."

Dean sat Sam on the edge of the bed then put his finger under Sam's chin and tilted his face upward and looked into his eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked, concern written all over his face.

"It's nothing….I just feel a little sick that's all."

"You're sweating like a boxer Sam….you're more then just a little sick. I think you have a fever… maybe you should see a doctor."

"No….I just need to rest a little bit….I'll be fine."

"Sammy…."

"Dean I swear I'm fine. Once I take a shower I'll be as good as new. "

"You sure?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

Dean walked over to his bed and sat on the edge of it keeping his eye on his brother. Sam wiped the sweat off of his face with the back of his hand then took a deep breath and stood up. He managed to take a few steps before crumbling to the floor.

"Sam!" Dean shouted running over.

TBC