Posting this one early too, I need to make room on my phone for more writing. Next chapter will be posted on Sunday.

Constructive criticism welcome!

Enjoy!

Sam had just finished telling Cas about the odd night he had with the demon. The angel looked just as confused as Sam had felt. Sam got down to business, "Is what he said about the hunters true, Cas?"

Castiel slowly paced around the room. "I'm not sure, I'd have to ask around. Do some research. Are you sure about accepting his offer to help, Sam? What if it's a trap?" Cas asked, concerned.

Sam sighed, "I don't have much of a choice, Cass. He's the only lead I've got. Find out what you can about him, okay?"

Cas nodded and looked Sam in the eyes, his gaze soft. "How are you sleeping, Sam?"

Sam shook his head, "You saw for yourself out there. If you and Dean hadn't started fighting... " Sam chuckled nervously.

Castiel understood and smiled sadly at the hunter. "We'll find Zepar one way or another, Sam. I swear it." The angel stated with conviction. "Until then, I need to have a word with your... Guest." Castiel said firmly.

Sam sighed warily, "No fighting." He mumbled softly as he passed the angel out of the room. He strolled in the kitchen to see the demon holding his now empty bottle of tequila. "Seriously?!" He snapped in annoyance.

Dean shrugged casually and smirked at Sam. "What can I say, I like to drink when I'm pissed."

Dean glared at the angel as he entered the kitchen and tensed in preparation for a fight. "You here for round two, fruit bat?" Dean growled.

Cas glared back at the demon. "I promised Sam there'd be no more fighting. Don't make me break my promise, parasite." Castiel snapped at the demon.

Dean's eyes flashed black. He hated being called a freakin parasite! "You know I'm a human-demon hybrid, right? This is all me in here, bitch." He snarled.

Sam shuddered at the word and Dean clenched his jaw as he realized his mistake, all anger leaving his now normal eyes. "Sorry Sam." He apologized.

He was concerned about the hunter. Sam had obviously had a really bad dream. Dean wondered if Zepar was behind it.

Castiel watched Dean curiously before he cleared his throat and stepped towards the demon. Dean stiffened and scowled at him. "Before I leave you must give Sam back the demon killing knife."

Dean narrowed his eyes at the angel, "And why the hell should I do that?" He asked softly, hatred in his voice.

"I won't leave until you give the blade back to Sam, demon." Cas demanded strongly.

Dean sighed and looked Sam in the eyes, he couldn't help the pissed off glare that flashed in his eyes. He took the knife out and placed it on the kitchen table. Castiel picked up the knife and brought it to Sam.

"Are you sure you'll be okay alone with the demon?" Cas asked with concern.

Sam nodded as he tucked the knife into his belt, "I'll be fine, thanks Cas." Dean rolled his eyes as he turned around to glower out the kitchen window, seething.

"Let me know as soon as you find out anything." Sam said to Cas before the angel nodded and disappeared.

Dean relaxed slightly as he felt the angels presence disappear. "So, you gonna try to kill me now?" Dean asked as he turned back around to face Sam.

Sam exhaled, tired and annoyed. "No." He mumbled before walking back into the living room and sitting on the couch. He put his face in his hands and sighed again.

Dean followed him into the living room. "You okay? He asked the hunter.

Sam looked up at him, "Fine."

"Bullshit", Dean snapped, "What the hell was that before?"

Sam leaned back into the couch, away from the demon. "If you must know... It was Zepar." He said softly, barely able to control his wince at the demons name.

"Zepar? He hurts you in your sleep?" Dean asked, confused.

"Yup. Every damn night. I haven't slept more than a couple hours a night in months." Sam mumbled.

Dean sat in the chair next to the couch. "Shit. Do you know why he's targeting you?" Dean asked curiously. Sam tensed and swallowed nervously, dropping his gaze to the floor. "Nope", he said hoarsely.

Dean clenched his fist, he knew the guy was lying. Well, at least he got some truth outta the damn hunter. "Right. Well, you hungry?" Sam nodded as Dean walked into the kitchen to find some food for them both.

Dean and Sam, after finishing their breakfast, went back to the living room. Dean sat on the couch, he noticed some of Sam's tension went away if he sat down. He cleared his throat before asking, "How much do you know about Zepar?"

Sam flinched slightly at the name, his most recent dream still fresh in his mind. "Everything", he answered, peeking at Dean warily.

"So you know he's a duke of hell that commands 26 legions of the damned?" Dean asked bluntly.

"Yup." Sam snapped.

The demon sighed wearily before saying, "That's a lot of crazies to deal with if you want him dead. What's your plan, anyway?" Dean asked.

The hunter raised his eyes to meet Dean's. "Don't have one yet." He replied hoarsely. Dean stared him a few seconds before laughing a bit. "You're kiddin, right?"

All humor left Deans face when he realized the hunter was dead serious. "Are you freakin nuts?! Zepar is one strong son of a bitch, you need more than a human hunter and one angel to take down him and his legion! I know you're probably sleep deprived but think for a second, before you get yourself killed!" Dean snapped in anger.

Sam took a step away from Dean as the demon yelled at him. He knew the guy was right, what Dean and Cas didn't know was that Sam didn't give a damn if he made it out of this fight alive. He was worn out, broken. A shell of his former self before Lucifer's pit and Zepar happened.

Sam gulped, trying to hold back tears. The sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety were too much to deal with all at once. He turned and walked into the kitchen, leaving Dean in the living room.

Dean stood up as the hunter left, surprise on his face. What the hell? He hadn't yelled that loud at the hunter... Had he? He slowly followed Sam as he caught a faint smell of salt water. He saw Sam's shoulders shake slightly and tensed as he stopped in the doorway to the kitchen. "Hey, Sammy, you okay?" Dean asked carefully.

Sam tensed and took a deep breath. "Yeah, fine."

Dean shook his head, "Quit lying to me kid." He walked up behind Sam and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

Sam jumped and shied away quickly. "D-don't touch me. I can't handle being touched." He said warily, his eyes meeting Deans fearfully.

Dean raised his hands, palms out, and took a step back. "Easy Sammy. I didn't know, okay?" Dean said gently, a wave of sadness ran through him at the hunters fear of a simple touch.

He exhaled and dropped his hands as Sam lowered his gaze back to floor as he slowly backed to the wall.

Dean carefully walked up to the hunter. "Sam, you okay?" He asked softly, trying to meet Sam's eyes.

"Fine." The hunter mumbled in response, keeping his eyes on the floor submissively.

Dean sighed softly and tried to get the hunters mind off his fear, "When's that angel of yours coming back?"

Sam raised his head, thinking. "Soon, tomorrow maybe. Why?"

Dean replied, "I need him to bring me somewhere."

Sam looked at Dean curiously, "Where? Why?" He asked, confused.

Dean sat in a wooden chair beside the kitchen table, "I need to get my car from the bar you two stole me from but I can't remember where the hell it was."

Sam smirked, "Why do you have a car? Can't demons teleport?" He asked, a bit of humor in his voice.

Dean sighed as he answered, "I'm half human, Sam. Most things I rock at, a few I suck at. Yeah, I can teleport but it takes a lot outta me. I'd rather have your winged pet bring me."

Sam frowned, "I didn't know that. And take it easy on Cas, he's a little blunt but he's a good guy."

Dean snorted. "Yeah, right." The demon replied sarcastically.

Sam glared at the demon, suddenly feeling pissed off. "I trust Cas more than I'd ever trust you, demon. So shut it." He growled.

Dean stared at Sam, his eyes hard. "What the hell have I done that's so terrible? Huh hunter? Tell me." He asked, his voice low.

Sam snorted in derision, "You mean besides molesting me?"

Deans jaw clenched, his hands closing into fists as anger coursed through him, "I did that because you kidnapped and stabbed me. Consider it repayment for being a dick." Dean growled menacingly. "Anything else, princess?"

"You mean besides the fact that you're a black eyed monster that kills hunters?!" Sam yelled at Dean, his fear and stress he felt over the past few hours turning to anger and rage.

Deans eyes flashed black and stayed that way as he bolted out of the chair, stopping a few inches away from Sam, their noses nearly touching. "You mean these black eyes?" Dean growled softly, his ebony orbs staring daggers into Sam.

Sam's muscles tensed, he leaned as hard against the wall as he could, his temper tantrum fading quickly. He gulped nervously and warily held Deans gaze, wondering what the pissed off demon would do.

Dean, seeing the fear in Sam's eyes, turned and briskly walked from the room, "I'm taking a shower." He called tensely to Sam, a hint of anger ringing in his voice.

The hunter sighed and relaxed his muscles. He didn't mean to be such an ass to the demon. Dean was right, other than their first interaction the demon hadn't even threatened to hurt Sam. He ran his hands through his hair, feeling a bit of guilt. He sat at the kitchen table and placed his head in his hands as he heard the shower turn on. Apparently the demon had no problem finding the bathroom on his own.

Dean angrily undressed himself as he turned on the shower. "Freakin hunters", he mumbled to himself. He got in the shower and washed himself, his eyes returning to normal color as the anger slowly left him at the feeling of the relaxing hot water running over his body.

He sighed and turned off the shower once he was clean. He put his boxers and jeans on. As he went to put his shirt on he paused. "Shit" he snapped softly. There was a big bloody hole in his shirt where Sam had stabbed him. He threw the shirt in the trash and walked out of the bathroom to find Sam. The bitchy hunter was gonna lend him a damn shirt, one way or another.

Sam had moved to the living room and was sitting on the couch researching on his laptop about Zepar, trying yet again to find the demons weaknesses. Other than women, it appeared the douchebag didn't have any.

Sam closed his laptop and slid it off his lap, groaning in frustration. He saw movement in the corner of his eye and turned to see a shirtless Dean. Sam tensed and jumped off the couch, sweat beginning to form on his brow. He fearfully stared at Dean as he backed away until he hit a wall. "Dean stop! I'm sorry, okay? Just don't... " Sam choked a little as a lump formed in his throat and tears shined in his eyes.

Dean halted as he heard Sam's words. "What? Sam... How many times do I have to tell you I won't hurt you?" He snapped.

Dean closed his eyes as Sam cowered and dropped his gaze to the ground passively. Dean took a deep breath to calm himself as he slowly backed away from Sam. "Easy Sammy. You're safe. I'm not gonna touch you, okay? I just need to ask you for a shirt. You kinda ruined mine during the... Incident." Dean said calmly.

He watched Sam's body language. "Take slow, deep breaths Sammy. Relax, okay?" Sam did as Dean suggested and slowed his breathing.

Dean softly spoke again, "I need a shirt from you, dude. Can you get me a shirt?"

Sam nodded and walked quickly to his room, grabbing a black t-shirt. He turned to go back to Dean and froze as he saw the demon blocking the door. He started shivering and backed up a few steps. Sam squeezed his eyes shut trying to halt his panic attack. A muscular half naked man blocking him in a room was all too familiar. He dropped the shirt and grabbed his head as he stumbled backwards into the wall, flashbacks slamming him in the face.

Dean lunged forward and grabbed the shirt as Sam dropped it. He pulled it over his head quickly and grabbed the hunters shoulders, shaking him slightly. "Sam, open your eyes kid. You're safe, you're not being hurt now."

Sam whimpered and slowly sunk to the floor. He curled into a ball, well into a PTSD attack. "No, no, no, no, no... " he groaned, terrified.

Dean sunk to the floor with him and wrapped his arms around Sam, resting his chin on the hunters shoulder. He rocked him back and forth slowly, shushing him. "Easy Sammy. It's okay. It's not real. Easy buddy, you're safe now." Dean said softly as he rocked the hunter.

Sam finally opened his eyes, his face wet with tears. He felt arms wrapped around him and uncurled from his protective ball. He raised his head and found himself a couple inches from Deans face.

They locked eyes, Deans filled with concern, Sam's filled with fatigue and fear. Dean leaned back, giving Sam some space. He kept one arm on the mans shoulder and gently shook it, "You back?" He questioned quietly.

Sam nodded, feeling numb and worn out. He barely noticed Dean was touching him. "'M sorry. That happens sometimes. I can't control it." Sam mumbled weakly.

Dean shook his head, "Don't you dare apologize. It's not your fault." He replied firmly.

Sam's eyes drooped in exhaustion, the panic attack had sucked all energy from him. He slumped against the wall and yawned.

Dean grabbed both his shoulders gently, "Come on, get up." The demon carefully pulled Sam to his feet and laid him on the bed, "You just relax, okay? Sleep it off." Dean stated.

Sam went rigid, fearing what would come for him in his dreams. He looked at Dean, his eyes half closed and full of vulnerability. "Don't leave. Don't leave me alone, Dean. Please... " he begged nervously.

Dean stared at him concerned, "Don't worry, Sam. I'll stay here with you." Dean covered Sam with the blanket after pulling off his shoes. "I'll be in the chair, okay? You get some rest." Dean said softly as he backed slowly from the bed.

"'Mkay." Sam mumbled softly as he drifted off to sleep.

Dean sat in the chair and sighed, closing his eyes before pinching the bridge of his nose. He shook his head and looked at Sam, now fast asleep, and asked hoarsely, "This is more than a rape. What the hell happened to you, Sammy?"