Chapter: 12

Dean walked into the warehouse, he had the demon blade in his shirt and he was holding his pistol in his hand, his finger on the trigger as he walked forward, deeper and deeper into the warehouse. He looked out from behind the wall and spotted Sam. His head was hanging forward and he looked extremely weak. Dean walked forward cautiously and couldn't believe what he saw. Sam's wrists were swollen and bruised from the ropes and his arm were stained red with blood from months of having Azazel's blade dragged across them. He had small circle shaped scars all over his arms as well from the poker and Dean could see his shirt was singed as well, he didn't wanna know what it looked like under the clothing. Dean lifted Sam's head and he was shocked once he saw how bad his face looked, scattered with cuts and bruises almost everywhere. His chin was bloodstained as well.

"Oh Sammy, what the hell did they do to you?" Dean questioned.

"You're too late Dean" a deep voice sounded from the shadows. Azazel stepped out and Dean aimed the gun.

"Oh come on now Dean, we both know that's not gonna kill me" he chuckled. Dean pulled out the demon blade and smirked.

"Ah, now where did you get that?" Azazel questioned.

"You're gonna pay for what you did to him" Dean said through his teeth.

"Am I?" Azazel asked, "I don't think you understand who you're dealing with."

"I don't care if you're Lucifer yourself" Dean said, "I'm gonna make you suffer, nice and slow for this."

"Dean we both know you can't kill me, not when you're distracted worrying about Sam. You Winchesters" Azazel laughed, "Family will always be your weakness, and one day Dean, your brother is gonna be the death of you."

"Can we just get this over with, because I'm really sick of hearing your blabbering…" Dean started. Azazel threw him into the wall and Dean smacked his head hard. As he was pinned there Azazel walked towards him, picking up the pistol off the ground.

"Hmm, never really understood the fascination with guns" Azazel started as he put his hand on the trigger and aimed. Dean flinched as he looked down the barrel of the gun and then he felt the sharp sting of a bullet making its way into his shoulder. He yelled in pain and Azazel chuckled.

"Oh, you know what, now I get the satisfaction of using a gun" he said as he walked towards Dean and dug his thumb into the fresh wound. Dean squeezed his eyes shut and gasped in pain as he grabbed Azazel's arm. The pain was so severe that it sent sharp pains through his skull and made his eyes water. "What's this?" Azazel questioned, "The fearless Dean Winchester, actually showing pain? I thought you were stronger than this Dean" he laughed. Just then a flickering went through the demon's eyes and he fell to the ground. Dean was released from his power and he held his hand to his shoulder as he clenched his teeth together.

"Sam?" Dean asked in surprised. Sam stood before him, a dark look was in his eyes, and his hand still clenched the knife, his knuckles were white, Dean looked concernedly over at him and took a few steps towards him slowly, he held his hands cautiously in front of him. "Sammy?"

"Dean" Sam said huskily as he stood frozen in his same spot.

"H…How'd you get out of the chair?" Dean asked.

"The ropes were loose" Sam replied morosely.

"I just saw them Sam, they were tied tight, your wrists… I mean look at them Sam they're swollen." Sam glanced down at his wrists and then back at Dean.

"What are you doing here Dean?" Sam asked.

"What do you mean what am I doing here?" Dean demanded, "I came to bring you home."

"It sure took you long enough" Sam said darkly as he moved towards Dean and Dean took a few steps back.

"I looked for months Sam, I'm sorry it took so long alright?" Dean explained.

"Do you have any idea, the absolute hell that I've been through these past few months?" Sam demanded, he was on edge and his voice was rising.

"Look I said I was sorry Sam, you need to calm down" Dean said. Sam slammed Dean into the side of the warehouse where he had been held by Azazel just moments before. His hands were around Dean's throat.

"S…Sam" Dean gasped, "Let… go." Sam continued to choke him and Dean brought his knee up into Sam's gut. Sam doubled over and Dean scrambled towards his gun, before Sam could grab him again Dean smashed the butt of the gun into Sam's temple and Sam fell to the ground. Dean inhaled sharply and once again felt the shooting pain of his bullet wound. He crawled over to Sam and looked at his brother, he had never felt more betrayed or hurt then he did in that moment.

Dean drove in the car and glanced over at Sam as he lay unconscious in the passenger seat. The new gash across Sam's temple was oozing blood now and Dean felt a wave of guilt hit him. He never thought he would have to hurt his little brother. Ever since they were kids and Sam had first suffered under the fists of their father, Dean had vowed he would look after him, protect him, he never imagined a day where he would have to hurt him. As the two arrived home Cora came running out the second they pulled out. She saw Sam and ran over to his door. Sam began to wake.

"Cora don't!" Dean shouted as he got out and grabbed her, pulling her back.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, "I wanna see Sam!" Dean winced in pain as she writhed in his hold, her shoulder throbbing in pain. Sam got out and ran over to them.

"Dean let her go!" Sam shouted.

"Sam?" Dean questioned.

"It's me Dean" Sam said, "I promise." Dean looked at him skeptically and Cora wretched herself out of his arms. She ran over to Sam and he kneeled down to hug her. She finally let herself cry now that she was in the safety of Sam's presence. Suddenly she felt his hold tighten and fear flooded her bloodstream instantly. It was her vision. Sam's eyes flicked black and he tightened his grip. Cora gasped and she felt like her ribs were about to crack. "Sam!" Dean shouted as he ran over to them and grabbed Sam around the neck, choking him to release Cora. He let go and Dean tried to pin him down. Cora fell to the ground with a sharp intake of breath. "I'm sorry Sammy" Dean said as he once again knocked him out with the butt of the gun. Cora's eyes were full of tears and they threatened to spill over. But the moment Dean looked over at her she held them in, too scared to let them fall. He didn't even ask her if she was okay but simply pulled Sam up and took him towards the house. Cora was left sitting in the gravel. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Her protector had returned and now he was gone again in a matter of seconds. All her hope was shattered. How could Sam have tried to hurt her? She always thought he was the one person she could depend on, the one person who would never cause her harm. Something had changed in him, and for some reason she didn't even care to know what. She didn't care, she felt empty.

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