Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun!

End of Innocence

Chapter 13 – Banished

Peggy shook her head. "I'm sorry Nick, I had to do it…it was the only way to stop the demon."

Dean just looked at the scorched mark on the floor, a single tear making a track down his face as he sobbed a single word. "Sam"

Nick shook his head, unable to believe that Peggy had burned Sam alive. "Peggy, you lied to us…you intended to burn Sam all along. You should have trusted us, you never gave him a chance!"

Nick watched as Peggy began to shake her head. "No, I'm sorry…I should have explained, it's not Sam…but then why would you believe different of me…I'm the one who set the fire that killed everyone here…everyone always thinks I'm bad, but I'm not!" The small ghost actually stamped her foot in frustration as she moved closer to Nick.

"What do you mean it's not Sam?" Nick asked

Dean's head snapped up at Nick's comment. If this wasn't Sam then who? "It's Wendell Nick, she burned the body of Wendell so that the demon couldn't come back."

Nick looked at Peggy and saw her nod her head in agreement. "That's right. I had to destroy the body while Sam had him distracted. All the other times, he was able to stop me, but not this time. This time I was able to burn Wendell's body."

Nick sighed, not sure if he was glad or more concerned at the news. "Where is Sam now?" Nick asked quietly.

Peggy nodded towards the open doorway of the room they had been in before. "He's in there. We helped him move into the protected room. The demon won't be able to leave Sam…but you must hurry with the banishment rite…Sam is getting weaker!"

Nick turned to Dean. "Quick…we need to banish the demon before it takes over Sam completely." Nick ran into the room, followed closely by Dean.

Dean saw his little brother sitting in the corner of the room, his knees pulled up to his chest as he rocked back and forth muttering softly to himself. Dean knelt beside Sam and grabbed Sam by the back of the neck, pulling his head to meet his own. "Sammy, you stubborn…I swear when this is over I'm going to really kick your ass. You hold on Sam, I'm going to fix this…just hold on ok?"

Dean grabbed his father's journal and noticed that a page was turned down on a banishment rite. "Nick, is this the rite that Peggy thinks we should use?" Since they didn't have time to research the type of demon, he'd have to hope that the kids knew how to get rid of the bastard.

"Yes, Dean…she showed it to me just before Sam decided to take things into his own hands…I'm really sorry Dean." Nick felt even more responsible, he should have watched Sam closer.

"Nick, believe me…when Sam makes up his mind to do something…nothing can stop him. I should know…I've been trying ever since he was 6 months old!" Dean reached into his pack and pulled out the container of rock salt. He quickly placed a ring around Sam. "Ok Nick, no matter what happens, you need to try to keep Sam inside the salt ring. Otherwise the demon could materialize long enough to escape."

"Don't worry Dean, this time I won't let you down." Nick walked over and stood just outside the salt ring ready to help if needed.

Dean nodded and began to speak the banishment rite.

Sam was getting tired. He had been fighting the demon for what seemed like forever. "You think you have me beat Sam! Your little friends have just made sure that I will never leave you!"

"It must really hurt to know that you were bested by a little girl. You're daddy's going to be real proud of you!" Sam shot back as he felt himself thrown back by the force of the demon. But Sam wasn't ready to give in. He rose on unsteady legs and pushed back, smiling in satisfaction at the shocked look on the demon's face.

"Ok Sam, I've had enough of this playing around!" Before Sam could react, he felt pain explode in his mind, blocking out rational thought as he went down on his knees. He knew that he must be screaming, at least he was in his mind as the demon began to push past Sam's defenses to get control. Sam could feel himself beginning to lose control.

Suddenly, Sam saw small shapes forming a wall in front of him. He blinked as he saw the children who had come to him before now placing themselves between Sam and the demon.

The demon snarled. "You fools. As soon as I take over Sam, I'm going to make you all wish you were never born. You will all serve my father!"

Sam once again stood and placed his hand on the shoulders of two of the children standing in front of him. "You will not win this time demon…you may have been able to beat these children, but together with me, you don't have a chance."

Sam could hear the soft chanting in the background and smiled. Dean was here. Now he knew that the demon would be defeated. Sam channeled all his remaining energy and pushed the demon back, pinning him with the force of his hatred. "You hear that you bastard…that's my brother reciting the rite that will send you back to hell…you'll be seeing your daddy real soon and when you do you can give him this message for me. He will never use me and I will do everything in my power to make sure that he and all his minions are sent to hell permanently!"

Sam watched as the demon screamed while it struggled to get free. As the final phrase of the banishment rite was said, the demon turned to glare at Sam. "You will never be free of my father! You fool, he is only toying with you. When the time comes, you will be his and he will make you pay for what you have done today…he will make you argh!" The demon disappeared and Sam felt himself sinking…the darkness that he had been holding at bay finally caught him and he fell unconscious.

Nick stared in horror as a thick cloud of black smoke rose from Sam's mouth as he screamed. The scream seemed to go on forever, but once the demon had vanished there was nothing but silence. It was almost as if the world was holding it's breath. Nick jumped forward and caught Sam as his body fell forward. "Dean, I don't think he's breathing!" Nick yelled.

Dean dropped his father's book and quickly helped Nick lay Sam down on the floor. He felt for Sam's pulse but couldn't find one. "Damn it Sam…you said you could handle this bastard! Don't you dare die on me!"

Dean immediately started CPR while Nick began to breathe for Sam. Both men worked quietly, ignorant of the circle of children that was forming around them. The children closed their eyes and concentrated. A soft white glow seemed to envelope Sam's body as the children continued to provide some of their own energy to help the man who had set them free.

Suddenly, Sam gasped and began to cough. "That's my boy!" Dean said as he helped his brother to sit up. Sam's eyes blinked, trying to focus. For a moment, he shook his head in amazement as he thought he saw over 30 children standing around him. He smiled as he saw them return to the children that they could have been, the fear was gone from their eyes. He looked at Dean and noticed that his brother had tears in his eyes. "What happened?" Sam whispered.

"Nothing much, you just took another 10 years off my life Sam!" Dean watched as Sam struggled to keep his eyes open.

"Dean?"

"Yes Sam?"

"Can we go home now?" Sam asked, the exhaustion from his ordeal showing in the lines of pain on his face.

"In just a moment Sammy. You just rest while Nick and I finish up here. Then we'll head to the hospital."

"NO! Dean, please no hospital!" Sam bolted up…the memory of what had happened to him hitting him full force and causing his breath to come in short gasps.

Dean could have kicked himself. "Ok Sam, calm down. We'll go back to the hotel, but if you continue to get worse, I can't promise that I won't take you to the hospital."

Sam nodded, too tired to answer. As he closed his eyes, he just hoped that the voices that still lingered in his mind would let him sleep.

TBC

Raven524: See, I actually am letting Sam take a little cat nap! Hope you are still enjoying the story and don't forget to press the little button. It really does help me type faster!