Dean and Jack had been tracking Sam or Samael, as he was known throughout the hunter/demonic world, for three weeks

Dean and Jack had been tracking Sam or Samael, as he was known throughout the hunter/demonic world, for three weeks. Jack had looked up the archaic reference in one of Bobby's books and after reading it, Dean had gone on a two day whiskey bender, which resulted in two black eyes, a busted nose and several cracked ribs from a bar fight.

Samael is a notorious name in Christian tradition and demonology, a figure who is known as the accuser, seducer , and destroyer. In rabbinic lore Samael is identified as the Lord of the Angel of Death. In the Secrets of Enoch (Enoch II) he is a prince of demons and a magician. Samael is sometimes considered to be the true name of Satan. The etymology of his name is thought to be a combination of 'sam', meaning "poison/ venom", and 'el', meaning "of God"; thus he is the "poison of God".

Tracking Sam had turned out to be absurdly easy. Instead of going to ground as Dean would have predicted, Sam became more and more prominent as the weeks went on. Taking on the pseudonym of Sam Laezaz, Sam had somehow integrated himself into the highest ranks of New York society and within the month was seen being wined and dined by some of the most influential men and women in the country.

The hunter community, or what was left of it after the destruction of Harvelle's, watched and plotted Sam's downfall and death. A couple had actually tried assassination, much to Dean and Jack's dismay. However, Sam always seemed to be one step ahead, to know where the traps lay. Hunters were found dead on rooftops across from Sam's New York apartment, in the garage where he parked his new Ferrari, in the kitchens of the restaurant Sam had just left, most with a rifle still in their cold hands, no apparent cause of death. One assassination attempt was actually caught on film and Dean watched over and over as Sam turned towards the shooter, eyes narrowed, and ducked for cover seconds before the shots rang out.

Hunters weren't the only ones dying. Everywhere Sam went, a trail of bodies followed. It was never anything that could be attributed directly to Sam. An apartment fire that killed forty-three people, including a group of men long suspected to be involved in a child pornography ring. An exploding meth lab that took out one of the most notorious drug dealers in the city plus 19 of his "associates" and their families. A carbon monoxide leak at an exclusive resort that killed the ten top executives of the First Land Bank, along with their families, who later were found to have embezzeled over 43 million dollars in pension funds. While the "accidents" had the feel of divine justice, the deaths of the innocents caught in the cross fire mounted.

Dean strode into the kitchen where Jack and Bobby were pouring over books, trying to find away out of the deal. Sitting down at the table, Dean heaved a sigh. Jack looked up and seeing his brother was paler than usual asked, "What's wrong?"

"You mean other than I am going to die in five days and go to hell, which I did for my brother who I then couldn't save from going evil?"

Jack smiled a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, other than that . . ."

Dean made the effort to return the smile even though they both knew they were just going through the motions. "I just saw Sam on t.v. . . "

"Doing what?" Bobby asked.

"Well, it looked like he was attending the opening of a film or party or something. He was with - oh god, I can't believe I'm saying this – Paris Hilton."

Both men stopped what they were doing to look up at Dean, expecting him to yell, "Gotcha!" at any moment. When that didn't happen, Jack let out a low whistle.

"Wow, I knew he had gone evil and all . . . but this . . ."

Dean snorted. Running his hands through his short hair, he stood and moved to the refridgerator to get a beer. Popping the cap off the bottle, he leaned against the counter watching his youngest brother and the man who had become like a second father to him. Dean took a swallow of the beer and took a deep breath. "I'm going to New York."

"I'm sorry, what?" Jack said looking at him incredulously.

"I'm going to New York."

"Boy, that is the worst idea you have had in a while. We only have a few days to figure a way out of this deal. Course we won't have to worry about it if you go traipsing into the lion's den, offering your head on a platter," Bobby commented wearily. He knew it was useless to argue with a Winchester when they got that particular look in their eye but he felt obligate to try – if anything out of consideration for Jack.

"There's nothing I can do about the deal," Dean replied in a quiet, steady voice. "And I have accepted that. But, I can't accept that it was all for nothing. That I can't save Sam from himself. I won't."

"Is it worth dying for?" Bobby demanded.

"Sam won't hurt me," Dean answered, unable to look Bobby in the eye for fear he would see the doubt swirling there.

Jack sighed and rubbed the moisture from his eyes. He had already lost Sam and was getting ready to lose Dean. "Do you really think you can get through to him, Dean?" Jack asked, trying to keep the hope out of his voice.

"I don't know," Dean said honestly. "But I have to try . . ."

Jack stood up. "Then, I'm going with you . . ."

"No!" Dean yelled. Making a visiable effort to control his outburst, Dean lowered his voice. "No, I won't risk you getting hurt."

"I thought you said he wouldn't hurt you."

"I don't think he will but I've been wrong before. And if I'm wrong this time, then all I lose is a couple of days." Dean said, his hazel eyes burning with intensity as he looked into his yongest brother's blue eyes. "I won't lose you too."

Jack watched from the porch as Dean threw his duffel in the trunk of the Impala. He still couldn't believe that Dean was just going to confront Sam like this. Jack chewed on his lip, trying to keep his anger under control. Dean needed to be concentrating on getting out of the deal. They could worry about Sam later.

Ever since Jack and Dean had been kidnapped, their relationship had changed. Jack realized that Sam wasn't the only brother he could depend on and the thought of losing Dean was tearing him apart.

Dean wandered back to the porch and sat down on the front step, looking up at the stars. Jack sighed and joined him, sitting shoulder to shoulder with his eldest brother. "I wish you would reconsider this. We really need you here – we have to figure out a way to stop your deal."

Dean sighed. It was like talking to a miniature Sam and it made his heart – and his head - hurt. "There is no way to get out of the deal. I get out the deal and Sam dies."

Jack stood up aburptly and paced a couple of feet into the junkyard. Turning, he faced Dean and said, "So, what . . . I'm just supposed to give up? My mother has been murdered, my brother has turned into the anti-christ and you are going to be torn to bits by hellhounds and I'm just supposed to what . . . accept it? No! Hell No! I am tired of losing people I love . . ." Jack's voice had gotten steadily louder as his feelings came pouring out. By the time he finished, he was slightly breathless and the windows in the house were shaking in their frames.

Dean's heart swelled as well as his pride. He realized that somehow, Jack had stopped being his father's son and started being his brother. Outloud he said, "Hey there Anakin – get a hold of it before you spend the next three days replacing Bobby's windows."

Jack looked up startled and the windows were immediately still. Throwing himself down by Dean again, he muttered an embarrassed "sorry."

Both boys were quiet for a moment. There was so much they both wanted to say. Instead, Jack went with what he knew would make Dean more comfortable. "Besides, I don't think you can call me that anymore. If anyone is Anakin Skywalker – it's Sam. I'm more like Luke – or Han Solo."

Dean snorted. "I am so Han Solo. You are more like Ci-Threepio." Jack smiled but flipped him the bird all the same.

After a minute, Jack asked, "You're coming back, right?"

Dean stood suddenly, looking away. "Sure, I'm coming back – and I'll probably have a very embarrased Sam with me."

Jack stood up and nodded even if he didn't believe Dean. "Yeah, well, I'd be pretty mortified too – especially after that Paris Hilton thing . . ." he said walking his eldest brother to the car.

"No doubt." Dean turned, saying, "Well, I need to be on the road." Putting his hand on Jack's shoulder, he looked as his youngest brother. "You take care of yourself."

Jack reached around and put his hand over Dean's. "You too. I'll see you soon."

Dean nodded and got into the Impala. Rolling down the window, Dean smirked. "And don't let Bobby talk you into trying his home brew. It'll eat a hole a hole right through you and probably leave you sterile."

Jack smiled. "Right – no bottles with XXX on them."

"Nope – just movies!" Dean pulled the car onto the dirt road Jack watched him drive away until he could no longer see the tail lights.

Sam rolled away from the buxom blonde, having satiated his lust moments before. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he blew out his breath angrily.

"Get out," he said, not looking at the woman lying in the bed.

"But I thought we could . ." the beauty purred

Sam's head whipped around and for a moment his eyes flashed orange. "I said get out."

He paid her no mind as she scrambled for her clothes and left the room. Rising from the bed, he quickly tied a robe around his lean frame and stalked over to the bar, anger in his stride. Quickly fixing himself a drink, he searched his mind for the source of the discontentment.

For the first time in Sam's life, he was in control. He made his own decisions without concern for others. He protected those he wanted to protect and destroyed those he didn't. But for some reason, it wasn't enough.

Sam sighed. Although he had been tricked into accepting the demon Oray, it was the best thing that he had ever done. Of course, he had immediately killed the demon that he had been led to believe was Lilith, and the woman it had been inhabiting. If he was going to lead this army, he had to immediately establish the fact that NO ONE plays Sam Winchester for a fool.

Once his dominance had been established, one of the first things he had done as Samael was to issue an edict that had named Dean, Bobby and those who had been close to him as off limits – no demon of his was to go near any of them. That of course didn't extend to Lilith's soldiers but it was the best he could do for the moment. And while his brother may not understand what he had done, Sam believed he had moved himself into the perfect strategic position. For the first time in his life, Sam could protect Dean instead of the other way around.

When Sam had first gone through the metamorphisis, he had effectively cut ties with those who were most important to him. He knew he would never convince them that this was really for the best – that this really had been his destiny. He wondered now if he had acted too hastily. While Sam was surrounded by those who respected – even worshipped him, it wasn't the same. He didn't have anyone he could really talk to . . . plan with . . . clelebrate with. He knew without a doubt that any one of his people could turn on him in a minute. It was the nature of the demon.

However, Samael wasn't a pure demon. His soul was a true mixing – a hybrid – and some part of it still longed for the one person he could trust implicitly. His mind dwelt on the date and Dean's impending death. He was still determined to stop it – just as he had when he had been purely human. And strangely, the reasons hadn't changed all that much. Sam wanted his brother with him - to fight the war by his side.

Afterall, it was not as if it was really all that different now. They would still be killing demons – at least until they had defeated Lillith's army. And now Sam could give Dean a true edge in the fight. Sam had the power to make Dean virtually indestructible. He could make sure that Dean would never suffer the fate that their mom and dad and Jess and Brother Jim and Ash and so many others had. He could arrange it so that Dean would never die – that they would be brothers forever.

Sam swallowed his drink in one swallow and moved to the balcony to take in the Manhatten skyline. Yes, Sam thought. Even with all this, I still want Dean with me – I don't need him but I want him here. The question was how to make that happen.