It's update time! Thanks to all the readers and reviewers. You continue to make my days happier! I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Cindy.

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Sam sat on the edge of his bed, his shoulders hunched as he rubbed absently at his aching forehead. He hadn't been feeling well the past few days and was unsure how he would be able to concentrate when his head was pounding, he was dizzy and he felt like knives were piercing his abdomen. Isaral stood, quietly watching the young man as he massaged just above the bridge of his nose. Sam hissed suddenly and pressed his other hand firmly to his stomach.

"Let me help you Samuel," Isaral said in his soft voice.

"No...no, I'm fine. It's just the heat. You can't be healing me every time I get a pain or sniffle Isaral," Sam replied as he straightened up, not quite succeeding in erasing the pained lines from his face.

"You need to be able to concentrate without distraction," Isaral stated, his pale eyes never straying from Sam's tense face.

"I'm fine Isaral, really. Let's continue...okay?" Sam said softly as he relaxed back on the bed, closing his eyes.

Isaral stared for a moment then lowered himself onto the chair next to the bed. "Very well," he said as he rested his hand on Sam's chest. "Now concentrate. Imagine yourself pulling all of your power into a tight ball then imagine you're holding it to your chest. Feel the pressure build, but keep holding. Do not let go until you feel you can't hold on any longer. I know it's hard Samuel, but you have to hold on as long as you can if you are to succeed," Isaral said softly as he gazed at Sam's sweating face.

Sam's body trembled with exertion as he listened to Isaral's instructions. He could feel the pressure in his chest build and build until he found it hard to breathe. He continued to hold onto the pressure, his dizziness threatening to overcome him. Without warning, his eyes flew open and the pressure was instantly released. He sat up quickly, grabbing his head and stomach at the same time, his wide eyes turning to Isaral.

"Samuel, what is it? Are you okay?" Isaral queried, his hand coming to rest on Sam's shoulder.

"I...I have to go. Dean's in trouble...he needs me...I feel it," Sam stammered as he jumped up from the bed. Isaral reached out to steady the young hunter when he teetered somewhat at rising.

"Samuel...no. You are not ready. You must stay here," Isaral said, grasping Sam's forearm.

"I have to help Dean Isaral. I can do this. I'm ready..." Sam replied, rushing for the door, all the while trying to push away the dizziness and stomach cramps that attacked him.

Sam hurried out into the night with Isaral right behind him. He didn't quite know what was happening but he did know Dean was in serious trouble and he wasn't about to leave him out there just so he could remain safely tucked away behind the salt lines.

"Samuel! You cannot put yourself in harms way...not yet," Isaral pled.

Sam turned, his eyes falling on the fair haired messenger. "I can't let anything happen to him Isaral. If I don't go and he dies, then everything I'm doing, am going to do will be in vain," Sam said, his eyes beseeching his mentor.

"Is Dean the only one you're doing this for Samuel? What about everyone else who is depending on you, whether they know it or not?"

"Of course Dean's not the only one I'm doing this for, but he is the most important one I'm doing it for. I'm sorry Isaral, I have to go," Sam said softly, then turned and ran off into the night.

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Dean lifted his pain filled eyes to glare at the red headed demon who still held the rusty rebar that pierced his thigh. He could hear the brothers struggling groans as they were dragged to the tree where he was being restrained.

"This isn't going to work. Sam isn't going to fall for any of this, so you may as well let us go and then you can go crawl back under the rock that you crawled out from under," Dean hissed venomously.

The demon laughed, sending a chill down the hunter's spine. He once again twisted the rebar, forcing another scream to tear from Dean's lips. "Sammy boy will come, and he will be ours."

"Don't call him that!" Dean spat, blinking his eyes against the darkness that crept into his vision.

"Oh, that's right. Only big brother gets to call him Sammy. Well...I don't think Sam-my likes it too much Dean. It is kind of demeaning, don't you think?"

"It's...endearing," Dean seethed through his teeth.

"It's childish," the demon replied.

"You know what, you don't know anything about me or Sam, so piss off carrot top!" Dean spat.

"I know Sammy believes your dad loved you more than him. I know he feels inadequate when compared to you. And I know he'd die to protect you and that's why I know he'll show up," the demon snarled.

"You don't know jack shit! My dad loved Sam just as much as me and Sam knows it!"

"If your daddy loved Sammy so much, why would he tell you that you may have to kill him? Sounds to me like daddy didn't have too much faith in our little Sammy boy."

"Shut up you son of a bitch! And don't call him your Sammy, he belongs to no one!"

"Oh, so he doesn't belong to you? 'Cause I gotta tell you, you sure treat him like he's your property."

"Where do you get your information asshole? Sam doesn't belong to me or anybody else dick weed!"

"I get my information from whom Sam does belong to. I get it from Azazel, who happens to keep a pretty close eye on you Winchesters, especially young Sammy. I've talked to your daddy a few times too, whenever I've gotten down to the pit. He sends his regards by the way."

"I'm gonna..." Dean started, but was cut off when Sam burst through the treeline, his eyes frantically surveying the scene before him.

"Get the hell away from my brother you son of a bitch!" Sam screamed as he neared the group of demons and hunters.

"Or you'll do what exactly?" Carrot top taunted, giving the rebar in Dean's leg another twist.

Sam saw Dean flinch, could see the pain in his eyes, and fury burned through him like a forest fire raging through a tinder dry forest. He lowered his head but never let his eyes leave the demon's face. The smiles that had been on the five possessed men's faces quickly disappeared as they were pushed away from the three hunters by an invisible force. Dean slid to the ground and the brothers cautiously reached down and grasped his arms. They looked up to Sam whose face held the look of deep concentration.

"Jakota, Bryan...get him out of here. Get him to Maggie," Sam commanded, nodding slightly when the two men lifted Dean up between them.

"What about you Sam? You're coming, right?" Bryan queried nervously as he gently lifted Dean's leg up at the same time Jakota lifted the other.

"No...I have to take care of this first," Sam replied.

"No way Sam!" Dean spat, trying desperately to stay conscious. "You two better not leave him!"

"Go! Now! I can't hold them much longer!" Sam shouted.

The demon possessed men began to slowly move forward once more and Sam glared at the brothers as they shuffled their feet, unsure of what to do.

"Move! Get him out of here! I can handle this," Sam spat.

"No! Don't you dare!" Dean cried, but his voice had lost all of its force.

"Get him to Maggie!"

The brothers glanced nervously at each other then quickly took off, carrying Dean between them. Dean sluggishly twisted his head to look at Sam and the last thing he saw before the darkness claimed him was his baby brother being surrounded by the five demon possessed men.

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Hmmmm...was that a cliffie I left? I wouldn't do that would I? I mean, that would be mean! Making you wait until tomorrow to find out what happens next. Huh, maybe I'll have to post another chapter tonight to make up for being such a meanie! I'll think about it! Take care and be sure to let me know what you think. Love to you all.

Cindy.