Note: a very short chapter, I know. I'm completely swamped at school. You have no idea. I was in lectures till seven in the evening yesterday. I'm exhausted.

Chapter 8.

A strange scene could be observed in Bobby's living room. Two hunters sitting across from a vampire, all three of them looking a little stretched. Eric was sitting on the edge of his chair, elbows on his knees, head down. Dean and Bobby kept exchanging glances, wondering if they should say something or let the vampire take his time.

Eric had explained about his capture: he had been taken and tortured to the point where Ruby managed to possess him. He had periodically tried to break through, espcially when Sam had found him, but he had not been able to until Sam started reaching out to him.

Part of Dean wanted to blame Eric for Sam, but he knew he couldn't. Even if Sam had thought Eric had been the one who wanted him to drink, it had still been his choice.

'At first, Sam thought Ruby was offering him vampire blood,' Eric spoke slowly, each word dragged out kicking and screaming. 'He believed it would make him strong without becoming a slave to demons. Then, when Ruby realised my vampire blood was diluting her powers, she convinced him it had to be demon blood.'

'So, the vampire/demon combo did nothing to him?' Dean asked.

'It did something,' Eric admitted, 'I am not sure exactly how it effected him, but I do know one thing: it reawakened his thirst.' Dean shifted uncomfortably at the word. His mind kept conjuring up pictures of Sam's face covered in blood, or worse, with fangs like a vampire or black eyes like a demon.

'He still drank your blood, believing it was V,' Dean muttered.

'He trusted me completely,' Eric said curtly. 'Ruby told him he had to drink so he could kill Lilith.'

'You know we can't kill her, right?' Dean asked, just to make sure they were on the same page. Eric nodded.

'I had a unique insight into her mind while she was… inside me. Her true objective is known only to her and Lilith. Even other demons believe she is a traitor.'

The three fell silent. Eventually Bobby got up to get the humans a drink, and Eric said he had to go out before the sun came up.

'You're welcome to stay in the basement,' Bobby said, thought the tone of his voice wasn't enthusiastic.

'I must sleep in the ground, and then drink the moment I rise.' He noticed the look on Dean's face, and added, 'True Blood, that is.' Dean shrugged one shoulder, like it wasn't his business.

'And if Sam asks for you?' Bobby asked. Eric rose and went to the window, looking at the lightening sky.

'Tell him I will return when I can.'

He disappeared so fast Dean only felt the woosh of air as the vampire moved past him out the door. Bobby made a grunting noise and filled his glass more, getting Dean a double as well. After Dean had downed the drink, needing the courage from the burn, he sat the glass down on the table forcefully and went to the kitchen. He got a glass of water and descended to the basement.

Sam's eyes were wide and hopeful when Dean pulled the door open, but when the "captive" realised who it was his face fell with guilt and he looked away. He looked so thin on the bed, due to the fact that it dipped so much Sam's body looked like it was collapsing in on itself.

'I… I brought you some water,' Dean said, coming over to the bed. Sam's face was pinched tight.

'Thanks, I'm not thirsty,' he said. Dean nodded, more to himself than Sam, and decided to set the glass down on the floor by the bed for the moment. He went outside and got one of the chairs they had removed from the room when "remodelling" it for Sam, and placed it by the bed. He sat down heavily, waiting for Sam to turn his head, but his brother didn't. That was fine, Dean thought, for he wasn't sure he could say anything with those puppy eyes staring at him.

'Eric told me the whole story,' he said. He waited a beat to see if Sam would react. Nothing. 'If you want me to say it wasn't your fault, I could, but I don't think either of us want to hear it.'

'It's my fault,' Sam said. Dean could tell immediately from his brother's voice that he was holding in a flood of emotions, and the dam was going to break any minute.

'Sam,' Dean sighed. 'I'm not gonna lie. I want to cut that vamps head off so much I-' He got up to pace, feeling on edge. 'But if it wasn't for him, you wouldn't even be here, so I guess we're stuck with him.' He stopped when he had come round to the other side. Sam's eyes were closed, squeezed shut in pain.

'You don't understand,' Sam gasped. 'I wanted to drink. When Eric- Ruby told me to, I was relieved, overjoyed even, like he'd given me permission.' Dean wasn't sure if that was the truth coming out of Sam's mouth, or more guilt.

'Just… just detox, all right? You get through this and we'll help you keep clean. Eric will start wearing a anti-possession charm and it'll be okay.' Now who was talking out of guilt?

'Just go, please,' Sam whispered, pulling weakly at the restrains, tears running over his nose and down his right cheek. Dean almost turned to go, but a thought occured to him:

He had allowed them to split up before, and look where it got them. He had turned away from Sam due to his own misplaced righteousness, even though he had known deep down it was a mistake to split up.

Sam had a problem, sure, but he was still Sam. Looking at his little brother, tied to the bed and shaking with guilt in an attempt to keep the sobs in that would come the second he was alone, Dean knew it was all bullshit.

The demon blood wasn't a part of Sam. It was in him, but it wasn't him. It was like being possessed. Sam couldn't control himself all the time. He had slipped up, lost control for a second due to an incredible temptation. In a way, there wasn't anyone to blame but that Yellow Eyed demonic bastard.

Dean fell to his knees by the head of the bed, reaching out to push Sam's hair out of his eyes. Sam tried turning his head even further to the left, straining his neck to push his eyes into the pillow, but it was impossible.

'I'm here, Sammy,' Dean whispered, feeling utterly helpless and yet more determined to help than he had in a long time. He felt the power of just being there, of not turning away. 'It's gonna be okay, we're getting through this together and then… you'll be okay.' Before he could change his mind, he leaned down quick and pressed a kiss to Sam's forehead. He hadn't done that since they were kids. Getting up quickly, he left the room, closing the heavy door behind him. After it was closed, he could still hear Sam release his sobs.