CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: Snowballing Part Two

"All the progress you've made in the past two hours, Sammy, I gotta say I'm proud." Azazel quipped, patting the young demon on the shoulder. Sam was still trying to catch his breath, eyes locked on the limp body tied to the chair in front of him.

The youngest Winchester pulled a silver flask from his back pocket, taking a swig, not even bothering to wipe the leftover blood from his bleeding nose and his 'snacks' from his face.

"You feel good, champ?" The yellow eyed demon questioned, excitement radiating off of him. Sam nodded slowly, replacing the container in his pocket. "I'm gonna tell you something about that brother of yours and I need you to listen real close."

….

"Spooky." Dean noted as Ellen, Jo, and him walked up the graveled path leading to the ghost town. The falling apart houses looked as if they could be knocked down with a gust of wind, making the demon feel uneasy about the situation his brother was in.

Faintly in the distance, the rescue party heard disgruntled noises coming from one of the buildings a little ways down from where they were. The three exchanged glances before moving forward, the two hunters having their guns raised and flasks of holy water in their jackets.

As they approached the building, Dean gestured for Ellen and Jo to stand on both sides of the door so he could kick it in. After making sure everybody was ready, he knocked the door open with one swift kick and a horrible feeling in his gut.

…

"You want me to do what?" Sam questioned, somewhat exasperated as he tried to digest exactly what Azazel had told him.

"Dean-o wants to take you home. He wants to get that blood you love so much out of your system and have you quit cold turkey." Yellow eyes explained, trying to make it sound like a betrayal.

The youngest demon shook his head, feeling his back pocket reflexively to protect what was in there. "Dean wouldn't do that. If I tell him that it's no big deal, he'll drop it." Sam tried to reassure, waving his hand dismissively.

The old Sam could see what was wrong about this situation. But with Azazel's blood coursing through him, it was like his moral compass was all out of whack. The youngest Winchester really thought what he was doing was right.

"What are you gonna do Sam? If big bro comes barging in here are you going to stop him?" Yellow eyes pressed, hearing the slight creak of stairs from outside the door.

The tall demon looked conflicted, not sure what to do. He needed time to think.

But he didn't have time.

The door was being kicked open.

"Dean, so glad you could join us." Azazel welcomed, amusement lacing his tone.

Sam's feral gaze met his brother's concerned one, confusion rushing through him, not sure what to do.

"Sammy?" Dean breathed, taking in the bloodied state of his little brother. The youngest demon had dried crimson around his nose and mouth, his eyes ferocious as he watched the elder demon closely.

"What did you do to my brother?" Dean barked, his dark cruel eyes resting on Azazel.

Yellow eyes casually shrugged, looking pleased with himself. "I just gave him the push he needed."

A shot ringing out brought all eyes to Ellen, her hands gripping her pistol tight, the barrel still trained where the bullet had gone through Azazel's chest.

The yellow-eyed demon made a 'tsking' noise as he took a step forward. With a flick of his wrist, the two hunters in the room were sent flying through the glass windows, shards of glass flying everywhere.

Dean shielded his face, eyes and mouth wide as he didn't hear any indication of life coming from outside where the girls had gone. His obsidian orbs fastening on Yellow eyes, the eldest demon took a threatening step forward only to have his brother push him back. Dean's brows creased in bewilderment, eyeing Sam like he had lost it.

"Dean, calm down." The youngest demon tried to soothe, noting how his brother only got angrier.

"Calm down?" He spat, not trying to hide the venom in his tone as he shoved his brother back. "Calm down?! Sam, you know who this is! He's brainwashed you-"

The youngest Winchester cut Dean off with a hand motion, sympathy in his features as he tried to reason with his murderous brother. "Dean, he's helping me. Teaching me things."

"By having you drink his blood? Sorry Sammy, last time I checked that was not something normal people do." Dean retorted, disgust leaking into his tone.

Sam looked pissed, his eyes becoming enveloped with darkness as he stared as his brother defiantly. "We're not normal Dean. Hell, we're not even people. What's your problem?"

"My problem," He began, pointing an accusing finger at Azazel. "Is that you are letting this bastard trick you into doing something that's not you."

Yellow eyes took a step forward and rested an authoritative hand on Sam's shoulder. "I told you Sam, your brother is trying to get you to stop. What are you going to do?"

Recognition passed in both the Winchester's eyes, Dean's because he knew he was royally fucked and Sam's because he knew what he had to do.

Just as the youngest demon's hand begun to rise, Dean held out his and sent his brother flying into the wall, knocking him unconscious before he returned his attention to Azazel.

The yellow-eyed demon gripped Dean's throat with calloused hands, slamming him against the wooden walls that creaked in protest.

"I bet you're full of questions Dean-o. Since we now have some time, wanna satisfy you're curiosity while you can?" Azazel teased, relishing the eldest demon's distress.

"Where's my mom?" Dean croaked. Yellow-eyes released him, chuckling slightly as he walked away from the demon who fell to the floor, his back to him.

"Out of everything you could've asked, it was that. Typical Dean, always looking out for his family. By the way," Azazel paused, turning on his heels with a cruel smile plastered on his face. "How's that father of yours?"

The eldest demon staggered to his feet, a remark on the tip of his tongue as his mother appeared a few feet in front of him.

"Mom?" He breathed, unshed emotions flooding his senses.

"Dean, do you remember our conversation two months ago?" Mary questioned, her tone soft as she eyed her eldest son with regret, both of them completely ignoring Azazel who was standing behind Mary.

Dean nodded, his features a solid rock as he faced his mother, this time not moving to close the three foot gap between them. "I've done all I can. But Sammy- he gave in to the stuff." He glanced, looking defeated, at his unconscious brother who was lying on the hardwood floor.

Before Mary could respond, Azazel stepped forward and rested a protective hand on her shoulder. "Mommy dearest knew he would." Yellow eyes purred, his spiteful gaze never leaving Dean's. "But because I asked her not to tell you, she didn't."

Mary looked down, shame overtaking her features as she thought about the situation she was in, wishing to hell she didn't have to do this to her kids; wishing she didn't have to do this for her kids.

"Mom?" Dean began, bringing his mother's attention back to him. "Why didn't you tell me? Back in our house, you could've said something!" Dean yelled, pain lacing his words.

Mary's eyes shine bright with tears as she looked into her son's eyes, wanting nothing more than to explain everything to him. "I had no choice." She finally relented, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dean scoffed but his attention immediately fell on Sam who was groaning and getting to his feet. When he turned back, Mary was gone.

"Sammy-" The eldest demon started before he was locked in place, excruciating pain blossoming in his chest as his brother shut his eyes and started to clench his fist. "Sam- stop-" Dean forced out through clenched teeth. He fell to his knees, features starting to flash a bright orange right when the heavy footsteps of a man sounded behind him.

"Azazel." A deep voice spat, walking into the room like he owned it.

"John?" Sam asked, his hold on his brother momentarily letting up as he spotted the gruff hunter. The elder demon fell unconscious on the hardwood floor, face first.

The clicking of a gun's safety being turned off sounded through the room as an aged gun was pointed directly over the yellow-eyed man's heart. "I suggest you leave before I bury this bullet in your skull." John threatened, tearing his concerned look from his youngest son.

The yellow eyed demon paused, weighing his chances of winning against the legendary colt. "No need to ask me twice." Azazel quipped, smugness evident in his tone right before he vanished.

"Sam," The old hunter started, nodding at Ellen who was making her way up from behind the youngest demon with handcuffs glistening in her hands. "You gonna come back with us?" He questioned, keeping his voice calm. He glanced at his eldest son, hoping he was okay.

Looking as if he was about to argue, Ellen took her opportunity and lunged forward, rendering the young demon powerless as she finished cuffing him.

….

"What happened back there?" John demanded, his eyes briefly leaving the road to make eye contact with his youngest son.

Sam looked ashamed, everything he had done the past two days finally coming back to him as he caught sight of his brother's still out cold form riding in the backseat of the Impala in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately for Sam, Ellen and Jo had offered to drive John's truck back to Bobby's for him while the old hunter took his boys in the black Chevy. The youngest demon down casted his eyes to his still bound wrists, obviously not trusted by his father.

"I don't know." He answered weakly, not able to come up with a good excuse as they pulled into Singer's Salvage Yard.

John put the car in park with a sigh, resting his hands in his lap while he tried to think of what to say. He knew he was partially to blame for this. Maybe if he hadn't left his kids when they needed him this would've never happened. So instead of chastising the exhausted demon, he did what a good father would do.

Fishing the silver keys from his front back, the old hunter undid the cuffs and patted Sam on the shoulder. "Why don't you go get some rest? I'll bring Dean in and keep an eye on him. You look like shit and need to sleep." He ended, a small smile tugging at his lips.

The youngest demon just nodded curtly before climbing out, stretching his long form after being cooped up for hours before making his way inside for some deserved R&R.

….

TBC

Please continue to read and review, it lets me know you guys still enjoy it. Also, next chapter or the one after that the boys will be on another good old fashioned hunt. So stay tuned. If there's anything you want to read about (specific case, person, quote) let me know and I'll try to include it. Or if you have constructive criticism, I'd still love to hear it. Thanks for reading.