Author's note: I truly wasn't planning on continuing with this AU story. But, hairy trantual, hidden in the banana crate said I had to. I don't post often in chapters. It is not in my nature to do so. And I rarely write AU type stories. So for me…this was nine counts of crazy. But, I enjoyed working with 'crazy' -- and I hope you enjoy 'crazy', too. Thank you for you time.

** Per usual…I only own my dreams…good, bad, or ugly.

TAINTED BLOOD

Chapter Two

By: Karen B.

I dedicate this story to my dear friend, talented writer, and shining light -- Shawne 'Til Dawn

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Previously on Tainted Blood:

Now you don't see that everyday!" The familiar voice shouted.

Sam jerked back, pulling away from the demon's arm. He turned to find Dean standing in the motel's open doorway behind him. Dean's expression -- ultimate disgust.

Nightmare or real. This time Sam was certain.

"Dean," Sam muttered in shock.

"Sam! What the hell are you doing?" In a blur, Dean had the demon killing knife raised high above his head. "I'm going to kill you, you bitch!" He advanced forward, fury in his eyes.

"Dean, wait." Sam stumbled to his feet. One step forward. Two steps backward. Swiping demon blood from his lips. "Let me explain." He composed himself taking up position and standing his ground in-between Dean and Lilith. "Just let me explain."

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"Explain what, Sam? Explain to me why my baby brother would rather suck the blood from the arm of that demon bitch, then to suck face with a pretty, human girl!" Dean took another step forward, glaring at Lilith who still sat on the bed not having made one threatening move.

"Dean, just --"

"No, Sam! There's nothing you could say that would explain this!" Dean gripped the knife tighter prowling closer. "How long has this been going on?"

"Long enough," Lilith giggled, looking overly amused.

"No one asked you, bitch!" Dean shouted, glancing past Sam's shoulder. "Sam, get out of my way, so I can gank her!"

"That'd be queen, bitch to you," Lilith said, never taking her sights off Sam.

Dean starred into Lilith's eyes, his gaze searing hers, and said, "All this friggin' time?" he asked, lips pressed into a thin line and quivering. "All this time you were pretending to be Ruby." It wasn't a question. Dean knew the answer.

"Yes, Dean. All this time."

"Sam, cover your eyes, you don't want to see what I am about to do."

"Dean, I can't let you."

"What do you mean you can't?" Dean flung his hand in the air in frustration. "She's been lying to you, dude! You've been drinking her blood," Dean gagged. "Think about what you're doing!"

"I did think, Dean, and I made a deal."

"Break it."

"It's solid."

"What kind of deal?" Dean snarled, his heart breaking, and hand shaking with the need to ram the sharp blade into the demon's heart -- if she had a heart.

"A deal of a lifetime, Dean," Lilith interupted. "The Sammy you know won't exist much longer. He made a deal that will fore fill his destiny." Lilith proudly crossed her arms over her chest. "Stupid, boy."

"You ever been bitch slapped, bitch?" Dean's hand trembled with fury as he lunged toward Lilith.

"Dean, no!" Sam shoved him backward.

"Sam!" Dean yelled his dismay, straining against his brother's hold. "What the…she's a friggin' demon. Why are you protecting her?"

"Dean, what I'm doing --" Sam eased off his hold on Dean. "It's going to save the world."

"You arrogant, bastard!" Dean ground out between tightly clenched teeth. "You can't believe that. Whatever she told you…Sam, you have to know it's a lie."

Lilith snorted, leaning back on her elbows against the unmade bed. "Very amusing. I'm going to enjoy this little preview of what is to come."

Ignoring Lilith, Dean's eyes racked over his brother half in shock, half in disgust.

"Dean, I can never make you understand. Just go," Sam said with such sadness it nearly drove Dean to his knees.

"I don't know who you are anymore, bro!" Dean paced back and forth. "I haven't known you since…"

"Since hell, Dean?" Sam questioned. "Because I haven't known you either. Hell took my brother from me and spit back somebody I hardly recognize."

"Come on!" Dean slammed his fist into a nearby dresser, so hard he stumbled backward. "Some hotshot college boy you are! You're really going to let a demon tell you what to do?" You're really going to take everything dad every taught us, believed in, fought for, friggin' sacrificed himself for, and flush it like a dead pet goldfish?" Dean pointed the tip of the knife at Sam's chest. "You're going to let demon spawn here come between us? She's going to kill you, Sam. She's going to kill you …and set Lucifer free. And you're friggin' helping her do it, man!" Overwhelmed, Dean turned away, tears springing to his eyes. "Remember once you asked me to watch out for you, Sam? Remember that? Remember you told me if you ever became something that you're not -- I should stop you?" Dean's tone dropped to a whisper. "You're there, Sam. Right in front of me. I'm looking at my baby brother, but you aren't him. You're turning into that monster you feared for so long." The words left a biter taste in Dean's mouth.

"Dean," Sam gasped. "That's not how it is."

"That is exactly how it is, little brother!" Dean whirled around, every muscle twitching with anger and fear.

"Nice performance." Lilith pushed herself off the bed and stood next to Sam, clapping her hands. "But, I'm afraid it's time, Sam." Red polished fingertips gripped Sam's forearm. "Time to pay Lucifer his dues."

"Sam." Dean breathed his denial.

He'd given everything he ever had to Sam his entire life, and Sam had just tossed everything back in his face. Deep inside, Dean felt a fiery ache. A blaze so hot it hurt worse than the flames of hell. He had to keep Sam safe. Had to save him. Could love alone destroy a man?. If so -- let it. He loved Sam. More than anything. If he had to die again, go to hell again to save his brother -- good.

Doing his best to ignore the burning pain, Dean yelled, "Back off him! Now!" Dean wanted to rip the she bitch apart, but he couldn't hurt Sam in the process.

Lilith seemed to read his mind and smiled wickedly.

"Sam," Dean glanced back to him. "Let me at her."

"I can't." Sam mumbled, his eyes taking on a glazed look. "Everything," he mumbled.

"Sam!" Dean's stomach clenched.

"Awe, Sammy, I do believe your brother is jealous of us. Dean, you can't stop the hand of fate."

"I'll rip you a new one -- fate, too!" Dean lunged forward, stirring the air like a merciless hurricane, slamming Sam to the floor with a groan. "You're dead," he turned, knife poised, ready to shove its point into Lilith's heart.

Lilith had that same wicked smile pasted on her face. Suddenly, her head snapped back, black smoke pouring out of her mouth, snaking across the room, and jamming down Sam's throat so hard his body convulsed against the dirty carpet.

Nooooooo!" Dean screamed in terror, watching Lilith's old host fall lifeless to the bed.

Horror and realization hit Dean hard, but not as hard as demon Sam's out- of-the-clear-blue right hook across his cheek. The last thing Dean saw was his baby brother straddled over him, staring down with black as pitch eyes -- Sam had given over to the dark side, and Dean couldn't stop him.

"Sammy," Dean's eyes fell shut.

TBC…