Well, I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter. Now, I know you all are wondering just what it would take for Sam to make a deal. You will find that out in this chapter. I hope you liked it. I can't even get into my email now, so for all those that commented, I will read them as soon as I can get in.

Cindy.

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Dean sat at the table in Bobby's room, his leg bouncing up and down as he nervously stared at the angels who stood near the door. Bobby sat in the chair opposite Dean and he too waited anxiously for Castiel or Uriel to speak. Dean's eyes wandered to the wall separating him from Sam and the only thing he could think of was how much he wanted to be there, watching over his brother. He didn't want to hear about Sam's deal he had decided, fearing he would completely lose it when he finally found out exactly what Sam had done. Bobby's gravely voice brought Dean's attention back to the room and he glanced at his friend before moving his eyes back to the angels.

"So…what exactly did the little idjit do?" the grizzled hunter queried.

"Sam made a deal that if he's able to hold on through the entirety of his time in hell, he will be freed from the curse that was placed upon him when he was six months old," Castiel answered.

"What do you mean? How will he be free?" Dean asked, his curiosity peaked.

"If Sam can withstand the torture for the four months he's in hell, his blood will be cleansed of the demon blood and he will no longer be sought after to lead the demon army," Uriel explained.

Dean's blood ran cold as he listened. His mouth went dry as his heart rate sped up. "So," he said, his voice trembling. "All Sam has to do is endure forty years of having his flesh and muscles sliced from his bones, or burned away, just to be returned to normal and then have it start all over again and he will be free of the demon blood and the powers? That's it? Is he fucking crazy!? I didn't make it forty years! What made him think he could? For God's sake, I only made it thirty years!"

Dean didn't notice the curious look he received from Bobby, his attention firmly on the angels.

"He felt he had to try Dean. He believed he had to do something to change his destiny…to keep you and the world safe from what he could become," Castiel said softly.

"Dean? What do you mean when you say forty years?" Bobby had to ask, his curiosity not allowing him to let that bit of information go unexplained.

Dean turned to Bobby, his eyes blinking as if he'd forgotten Bobby was sitting across from him. "What?" he asked.

"You were in hell for four months Dean, but you said forty years. What does that mean?" Bobby replied.

"It means that it may have been four months here, but it was forty years there," Dean answered with a whisper.

"Shit. And what did you mean when you said you only made it thirty years?"

"Can we talk about this later Bobby? I need to find out about Sam."

Bobby's look was all Dean needed to know Bobby wouldn't wait for his answer. Dean let out a heavy sigh then swallowed hard before replying. Bobby got the distinct feeling he wasn't going to like what he heard, not only for what it meant for Dean, but also for Sam.

"It means I made it thirty years before I couldn't take it anymore…before I begged to be off that table…away from that fucking knife. It means that in order to get off that table, I had to become the torturer…"

"Shit Dean…I'm sorry…"

"Don't be Bobby. I put myself there and now I've put Sam there…"

"Sam put himself there Dean…you can't blame yourself for that."

"I sure the hell can! I told him he was something that I'd hunt Bobby! Basically let him believe I didn't think he was human anymore…I drove him to this and now he's there…"

Bobby ignored the fresh tears in Dean's eyes as he reached across the table and grasped his forearm comfortingly. He made sure Dean was looking at him before he spoke. He smiled softly when Dean's green eyes focused on him.

"Dean…you didn't drive Sam to this. He knows you don't think of him that way. This has been a long time coming. I thought he might do something drastic but then once you came back, I thought he'd be okay," the older hunter said, hoping Dean would take it to heart, but not really believing he would.

"Thanks Bobby…really…but, you didn't see his face. You didn't see how much I hurt him with those words. If he didn't think he was less than human before, what I said certainly pushed him there. This is on me…completely…"

Bobby shook his head as he pulled his hand back over the table.

"Stupid ass, stubborn Winchesters…gonna be the death of me…" he muttered as he collapsed back in his chair. Dean's voice brought his attention back to his young friend.

"So…what happens if Sam doesn't make it the full forty years?" the younger hunter queried, his voice shaky with fear.

"If Sam gives in, he will still come back after the four months are up," Castiel answered.

"But…?" Dean coaxed.

"But, he will belong to Lilith. He'll be able to stay with you until Lilith decides it's time for him to go with her, then he has to freely give himself and his powers over to her," the angel explained, his intense gaze never leaving Dean's shocked face.

"Wh-what?" Bobby's disbelieving voice sounded when Dean made no sound other than a pained sob.

"It may be minutes, hours, days or even weeks, but once Lilith summons him he has to go and he will no longer be the Sam you remember…the brother you love," Castiel continued, his answer still directed at Dean.

Dean stared in disbelief at the angel, his body trembling with sorrow, fear and unbridled anger.

"You let him make this deal? You…you encouraged him? Why? Son of a bitch! How could you let him do this!?" Dean screamed with fury.

"It was his choice…his decision. We merely guided and advised him…"

"You guided him toward the decision he made! Shit! I'm gonna be fighting my own brother…he'll be the enemy…"

"Dean…give Sam a little more credit," Castiel said softly.

"I am…but, I've been through it. I know what he has to go through. I didn't make it…how can he?" Dean whispered brokenly.

"He has to or…"

"Or…Lilith gets him…"

"He set up a failsafe Dean. That's what he wanted from us," Uriel said.

Dean looked at the angel and blinked in confusion. "What?" he queried.

"Lilith won't get him…either way, Lilith has lost and she doesn't even know it," the dark skinned angel said in reply.

"H-How?" Dean asked softly.

"If Sam fails, we kill him upon his awakening…"

"What!? No friggin' way!" Dean screamed incredulously.

"It's what Sam wants. He asked if it would work. If he failed and if we kill him, would that keep his soul away from Lilith so that she couldn't use him against mankind. It will," Castiel explained.

"The little shit thought of everything," Bobby murmured, shaking his head in admiration.

"Not everything. Did he realize that once he was gone, the demons would be coming at me full force? They're probably pissed that I got out. With Sam down there…" Dean was cut off by Castiel's even voice.

"He thought of that too, Dean. Part of the deal is that no demon can come after you...Bobby either. No demon can hurt you or have you hurt in anyway or it's off and he walks away, free of the demon blood. If a demon so much as breaths their foul stench on either of you, Sam wins," Castiel explained.

"How the hell long did the little bitch think about this?" Dean wondered aloud.

"It was very important to Sam that he not be used as a puppet against you…against any human. He surprised me. I was wrong about him," Uriel said.

"Ya think!?" Dean snapped at the angel.

"So…Sam didn't make this deal directly with Lilith…what does the crossroad demon get out of this?" Bobby asked in an attempt to avoid a fight between his friend and Uriel.

"Sam would be Lilith's puppet, her General, but he would be the crossroad demon's toy. She can play with him any way she wants as long as he isn't needed on the battlefield…"

"What?" Dean cried.

"We know what she wants from Sam. We heard her…saw her that night. Let's just say…she's a naughty little demon," Uriel said.

Dean felt sick, the thought of the crossroad demon's hands on his brother, doing horrible, ungodly things to him made the bile rise so fast he barely had time to grab the trashcan near his chair before the contents of his stomach made their appearance. Bobby was by his side in a flash his firm grip on Dean's arm, free hand rubbing circles on his back. Once Dean finished retching, he looked up with watery eyes, the anguish in their depths breaking Bobby's heart.

"It won't come to that Dean," Castiel said softly, bringing the hunter's attention around.

"Yeah…'cause if he doesn't make it forty years…you'll kill him as soon as he wakes up," Dean said bitterly.

Castiel nodded as he looked at the floor. He lifted his eyes again and smiled sadly.

"You should take Sam to Bobby's. Keep his body safe until he returns. He won't…deteriorate. And Dean…don't go looking for demons to try and get them to hurt you…it wouldn't be good for Sam," Castiel warned.

"What? I wasn't…yeah…okay," Dean stammered, forgetting that the angel could read him so easily.

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Dean stepped back into his room. He and Sam's room. His eyes immediately fell on Sam's still form. He trudged tiredly to Sam's bed and sat next to his brother, his fingers reaching up to tenderly caress his cold cheek.

"You thought of everything didn't you little brother? You always were way too smart for your own good," Dean whispered as he lovingly gazed upon Sam's peaceful face.

Dean rubbed his free hand over his face then looked at Sam again.

"You be strong Sammy. I know what you're going through, but you have to make it kiddo. I can't see you die again. I just can't."

Dean pulled away and collapsed onto his bed, the exhaustion he felt pulling him into a much needed slumber. He would sleep dream free, at least this once, but the nightmares would begin soon enough.

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Well? I hope I didn't disappoint you all with the deal. You had to wait so long, I hope it wasn't a let down. Anyway, please let me know what you think.

Cindy.