AUTHOR'S NOTE: My sincerest apologies for the 2-year gap in updating this story. This was originally a oneshot, but it ran away from me. Then my PC crashed, taking away chapters I've already worked on...there is not enough excuses, I know. I am trying my best. Thank you for those who still read this anyway. Oh, this work has never had any beta's , so all mistakes are mine!

DISCLAIMER: I wished. I hoped. I even asked Santa. But I've been a bad girl...so no dice.

NEARLY LOST YOU
by Tari Palantir

Dean has always prided himself on how well he knew his little brother. Even his Dad knew that when it comes to Sammy, Dean knows best. He knew what Sam was feeling even before the kid told him anything. He also knew that Sammy's patented puppy-dog eyes are his best charm, since even him and his Dad were not always immune to its power.

Sam's eyes broke his heart now. Gone were the green orbs that glinted with flecks of mischief when he smiled. Gone was the innocent curiosity that made Sam, well, Sammy.

The kid was looking up at them now, first at their Dad, then at him, a curious look on his face, like a scientist watching his newly-discovered creatures.

"Do you like them Samuel?" the demon whispered, bending to peer into his young charge's eyes. "I kept them up there for you."

Sam nodded, smiling slightly.

The demon then turned to the two pinned Winchesters. "Do you like Samuel's new look?" he mocked, chuckling. "It suits him right?"

"What have you done to him?!" John seethed, now struggling desperately at the invisible bonds keeping him from saving his youngest.

"Relax, John," the demon replied. "I just merely influenced him. The kid needs a nudge in the right direction, that's all."

"What do you mean by influenced?" Dean asked angrily. "He looks possessed to me!"

The demon smirked. "Possessed? Do you see any other demons around here?" He leaned in again to smell Sam's hair before grinning at the two hunters. "Consider this as a preview of Samuel's true nature."

He lowered Sam gently on the floor, making the kid stand in front of his family. Both elder Winchesters watched, as their youngest member walked towards them. Sam stopped and looked up at his family, and Dean saw that there was no recognition in those black eyes.

Sam's dark orbs stared up at him, one eyebrow quirking up with mild interest, as if surprised that a grown-up like him is stuck on the wall. His brother's gaze then turned to the other person beside him, who was also shaking in mute horror.

"Christo."

Dean jerked his head towards the sound, and realized that his father has spoken. He then quickly turned back and looked down at Sam, dreading the kid's reaction.

His father told him that possessed people flinch at the name of God. He even told Sam to practice saying the word, just in case. He wasn't sure that Sammy even knew what it was for. He just told him to say it to check if a person was a "bad man".

But Sam only cocked his head slightly to the right, his forehead scrunched not in pain, but in confusion. He looked back at the yellow-eyed man standing behind him, silently asking for an explanation.

It was definitely not the reaction they were hoping for.

"Now, Samuel," the demon replied to the unspoken query. "You should never say that word. That is a very, very bad word."

At Sam's nod, he continued. "Now, what did your teacher say about people who say bad words, Sammy?"

Both Winchesters froze as Sam turned back to look at them, a creepy smile slowly forming on his lips.

"We put them on time-out."


Sam stared at the old house in awe. It really looks like the one in Daddy's picture! he thought. He clutched Dean's hand a little tighter as he felt a twinge of apprehension in his gut.

"It'll be okay Sammy," his brother murmured, soothing his fears. We won't stay here for long anyway, just until we find Dad."

He nodded, swallowing hard. He slowly let Dean tag him along towards the abandoned house. A sudden thought caused him to falter, stopping their progress.

"What is it, Sam?"

He looked up to his brother's concerned face. "What if there are monsters in there? What if they eat me?"

Dean rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. "There aren't any monsters inside the house. And even if there were, I'll be right here to protect you." He gently coaxed Sam towards the door. "C'mon, we need to put our stuff in somewhere safe so we can find Dad already."

"But what if there are demons?" he suddenly blurted out, and Sam covered his mouth. Oh no, now he'll find out!

Sure enough, his older brother's eyes narrowed at his question. "Demons? Where did you learn that word, Sam? Who told you that?!"

He looked down, not wanting to answer his brother. Great, now Dean's mad at me…

"Sam, I know for a fact that I never taught you that word. Care to tell me who taught you that?"

Sam met the inquiring gaze of his sibling, chewing on his bottom lip in shame. "I heard it from Daddy."

"From Dad? When?" Dean wanted to know.

"I heard him talking one time with Uncle Bobby," he admitted. "He said a demon took Mom away from us. But I swear, I didn't mean to, Dean! I was just looking for my green crayon."

Taking a deep breath, he waited for his brother to get angry at him. Dean always told him not to "butt in other people's business" and to "quit asking stupid questions".

Dean surprised him though. Instead of getting angry, he just gave out a short sigh and huffed. "Well, in that case, there's nothing we can do about it now. Just don't blame me if Dad asks how you knew, okay?"

Sam nodded.

"Sam..." his brother prompted.

"Okay, I promise."

"You better, squirt," Dean replied. "He'll have my hide if he finds out, that's for sure," Dean muttered, more to himself than to Sam. He started leading Sam towards the door again.

"Hey, Dean?"

A sigh. "Yes, Sammy?"

"It's Sam. Can I ask you a question?"

His brother snorted.. "Uh, you already did, kiddo. But you can ask another one if you want."

Sam took a deep breath before continuing, "What is a demon?"

Dean suddenly stood still and stared off for a quite some time that Sam thought he was sleeping with his eyes open.

"Dean?" he prompted, shaking his older brother slightly by his waist. "It's okay if you don't want to answer…it's a stupid question anyway."

At that, Dean finally turned to look down at him, his eyes suspiciously bright and moist. "You know, Sam? I really don't know", he answered. "Dad never told me much."

"But trust me on this bro, demons are bad news. Stay away from them, you hear me?"

He gave a firm nod, startled by his brother's behavior.

His brother then turned his attention back to their destination. He gently turned the knob, cringing when the door gave an ominous creak.

"C'mon, Sammy, let's come inside."

Sam gulped down the still-present feeling of uneasiness and nodded, stepping towards the entrance to their old home, still clutching his older brother's hand. For a moment he thought he heard someone say "Christo", but he quickly dismissed the thought and figured he was imagining things again.


Sorry it's short, but it's better than nothing right? Happy holidays! --- Tari