Thank you all for reading and leaving such awesome comments for me. Here is the next chapter and as what has become the norm for the weekends, I will probably have another chapter for you tonight. Enjoy.

Cindy.

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Joel Masters entered the small kitchen in the mess hall, intent on starting lunch before the throngs of hungry hunters flooded the building. There had been increased demon activity lately, so the hunters had been kept quite busy. Joel stopped when he saw Tara Stanton pouring the contents of a saucepan into a large bowl.

"Hey Tara, what'cha doin'?" he asked, amused when Tara jumped slightly.

Tara turned and smiled, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Oh...Sam's not feeling well so I thought I'd take him some soup," she replied lightly.

"Still? Man, he's having a rough go of it isn't he?" Joel remarked, pulling packages from cupboards to be used for todays lunch.

"Yeah...I guess the doc thinks he picked up a bug or something. Hey, what happened?" Tara asked when she noticed the shiner Joel was sporting.

Joel reached up and fingered his eye, a sheepish grin curling his lips. "Oh, this? We had to do cleanup on some guys who were possessed. Sam took care of them last night and one of 'em was pretty freaked. Got in a lucky punch on me."

"Oh...really? Sam took care of them?" Tara asked with genuine interest.

"Yeah. I guess they got the jump on Dean and the Troy brothers. Sam showed up and saved the day. Took 'em all out himself."

"Wow. How many were there?"

"Five. One of 'em put a piece of rebar through Dean's leg. I guess that healer guy did his mojo on him. From what I hear, Dean was pretty pissed though."

"Why was he pissed?"

"When Sam showed up he made the brothers take Dean to the doc. They left him there, alone."

"Huh. How did Sam fight off the demons on his own?"

"Well, supposedly he used his psychic mind thingy on 'em. I'm really beginning to believe we can win this war. If Sam can take 'em out like that, maybe we stand a chance."

"Yeah, maybe," Tara agreed, then placed the bowl of soup on a tray and headed out the door.

Tara carefully walked across the grounds, not wanting to spill the soup she had made for Sam. She approached Sam's quarters and smiled when the hunter that stood guard there opened the door for her.

"Thanks Hank, appreciate it," she said as she stepped into the room.

Sam was propped up against the headboard of his bed while Dean stood watch at the end of the bed. Maggie was perched on the side of the bed, holding a stethescope to Sam's chest and listening intently. Dean turned when Tara entered the room and moved to take the tray from her. Tara smiled and turned her eyes on Dean.

"Thanks. How's he doing?" she asked, concern filling her eyes.

"He seems better today. What's this?" Dean replied, eyeing the bowl.

"Oh, I thought Sam might want some soup," Tara answered as she moved toward the bed.

Maggie pulled the scope back from Sam and patted his arm softly. "Everything sounds good Sam. Your color is better. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better doc. I think maybe I'm on the mend," Sam replied warmly.

"Well, it certainly looks that way. I want you to rest today, get something light in your stomach and we'll see how you're doing tonight."

"I have things to do Maggie. I feel better, really," Sam protested.

"Sam, you could relapse if you try to do too much, too soon. Just rest today, okay?" Maggie said, arching her brow.

Sam rolled his eyes then smiled. "Yes Mommy," he quipped lightly.

"Hey Sam. Feeling better huh?" Tara inquired from behind Maggie.

Maggie stood and nodding, she left the three hunters to talk in peace.

Sam nodded his goodbye then turned his attention to Tara. "Tara, hi. Yeah, I'm better, but my two moms won't let me go out and play," he whined, pushing out his lower lip slightly.

Tara chuckled lightly. "Well, I think they're right. You still look pretty tired. I brought you some soup. I thought you may need to get something in your stomach and this is what my mom used to fix me when I was sick," Tara said, looking at the tray as Dean set it on Sam's lap.

"Thanks Tara. It smells good. I'll try to get some down," Sam said, taking a spoonful into his mouth.

"So, I hear you took out some demons last night all on your own. Is that true?"

"Um...yeah. They were hurting Dean and the brothers, so...yeah," Sam replied, taking another spoonful of the tasty broth.

"You really can kill demons with your mind? That's...unbelievable. I...well...it's awesome Sam."

Both Sam and Dean eyed Tara curiously. Tara noticed their confusion and decided she should explain.

"I didn't really believe you could do what I was hearing you could when I first came here. I thought we all might just be signing our death warrants by coming. But now...you're the real deal, aren't you? You can save us?"

"Hell yeah, he can! That's why we're here Tara," Dean said proudly.

"Yeah Tara. I'm the real deal. I've fought against these abilities for a quite some time now. But Isaral helped me to understand how much I'm needed to win this war. I figured if God sent his messenger to me, then it must be my destiny to fight this battle," Sam said, his hazel eyes shining with determination.

Sam lifted another spoonful of broth to his lips and slurped it in as Dean and Tara watched. He ate two more hearty spoonfuls and was just raising another to his lips when without warning, Tara swiped the bowl off the tray, the contents splattering the bed and floor as the bowl rolled under the nightstand.

"Tara! What the hell?" Sam cried, his eyes wide with confusion.

Dean stepped up to Tara, grabbing her wrist and pulling her up from where she was seated.

"What was that for Tara?" Dean asked.

"H-he can't eat it. Please, I'm sorry. Just..." Tara stammered.

"Why can't he eat it?" Dean inquired, his grip on Tara's wrist tightening.

"Dean...you're hurting her," Sam said from the bed as he pushed the covers aside and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

"Stay put Sam! And you...answer me!" Dean spat.

"It's...uh...Sam, I'm so sorry...I," Tara started, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Tara! Why can't Sam eat the soup?"

"It's poisoned! Okay!?" Tara cried as she collapsed onto the chair and buried her face in her hands.

"Hank! Get in here!" Dean yelled toward the door.

Hank opened the door and stuck his head in. "What's up?"

"Get Bobby and Maggie here. Now!"

"Uh...sure thing," Hank said, his wary eyes taking in Sam's shocked face and the hunched over, crying form of Tara.

Dean turned and moved himself so that he was in between Sam and Tara, sitting on the edge of the bed and glaring at the still weeping hunter.

"Tara...what did you put in his soup?" Dean asked as calmly as he could, barely masked rage hiding just beneath the surface.

"I...uh..." Tara tried to speak, but her sobs prevented any discernable words from leaving her mouth.

"Quit your fucking blubbering and tell me what's in the fucking soup!" Dean seethed, his hands clenching into fists as he willed himself not to reach out and strangle the traitorous bitch.

"It's a-arsenic...oh God...I'm so sorry!" Tara cried.

"Fuck!!" Dean spat, turning to Sam with worried eyes. "Are you feeling okay Sam?"

"I-I'm okay Dean...a little dizzy..." Sam said, wiping at a trail of sweat that trickled down his face.

By the time Bobby and Maggie arrived, Sam was retching violently into the trashcan beside his bed. Tara was on the chair crying and gazing worriedly at Sam. Dean sat on the edge of the bed next to Sam, rubbing circles on his back as the ill hunter continued to heave into the can. Dean threw quick, fury filled glances at Tara before turning his attention back to his ailing brother.

Maggie rushed to the bed and dropped to her knees in front of Sam. She gently placed her hand on his forehead and pushed his head up slightly so she could see his eyes. His pupils were blown wide open leaving only a small amount of hazel iris visible.

"What happened Dean? He was better just a little while ago!" Maggie queried.

"Well...our little Tara here decided it might be nice to poison Sam with arsenic," Dean spat sarcastically.

"What!" Bobby cried out, moving up to Tara and grabbing her arm.

Bobby pulled the distraught woman up from her seat and spun her around, his eyes flashing to Sam before turning back to Tara.

"Why? What possessed you to do this Tara?" Bobby spat, his grip tightening on the frightened woman's arm.

"Wait Bobby. I need to ask her some questions first," Maggie said as she stood, leaving Dean to care for a now prone Sam.

"Ask away doc, she ain't going anywhere," Bobby said, never loosening his grip.

"Tara, how much arsenic did you give Sam? How long has he been consuming it?" the doctor asked, keeping her anger at bay for Sam's sake.

"Uh...I-I started a f-few weeks ago. Just...just small amounts at first. But he wanted Sam finished so...so I started putting in m-more," Tara stammered, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.

"So, that's what the special fruit smoothies and homemade salad dressings, just for Sam were. A way to poison him?" Dean said, his face a mask of calmness.

"Yeah...I'm so sorry..."

"Who wanted you to do this Tara?" Maggie asked.

"Gordon, that's who. Right Tara?" Dean spat from his seat on the bed.

"Y-yeah...He shot Sam because I was taking too long...he wanted Sam dead," Tara responded. "I...I tried to tell him he was wrong about Sam, that I couldn't do it, but..."

"But what Tara?" Bobby asked gruffly.

"He said he'd kill me if I didn't follow through with the plan."

"Tara, how much arsenic was in the soup?" Maggie queried.

"It...it was...a massive dose," Tara cried remorsefully.

"Son of a bitch!" Dean shouted, crossing over to Tara and suddenly grabbing her throat.

"Dean! Stop it...let her go!" Maggie screamed as she frantically attempted to pull Dean's hands away.

Tara gasped and choked, her face turning red as Dean squeezed harder.

"Get off Maggie! This bitch has been poisoning Sam!" Dean shouted venomously.

"You're going to kill her!" the doctor cried.

"That's the goal!"

Bobby jumped in and grabbed Dean's wrists, squeezing forcefully as he tried to dislodge Dean's hands from Tara's throat.

"Dean, ya idjit! We may need her!" Bobby hollered, pulling Dean's hands free.

Tara gasped and coughed and Dean started for her again, but was halted when Sam started retching again. The young man was so weakened, all he could do was roll to his side and vomit over the edge of the bed. Dean and Maggie rushed to his side, Dean nearly knocking the chair over in his haste to get to his little brother.

"Tara, when you say massive dose...exactly how much do you mean?" Maggie queried, concern etching deep creases in her brow.

Tara stared feebly at the scene, her mouth open but no words came from it.

"Tara! How much?" Bobby shouted as he shook the woman.

"Enough...enough to kill him..." Tara managed.

Dean growled low in his throat and seemed ready to pounce again but Sam's pitiful moans held him to the spot.

"How much did he eat?" Maggie asked.

"Uh...five, six spoonfuls I guess," Dean mumbled as he pushed sweat soaked bangs from Sam's glassy eyes.

"Okay...um...I don't think he got a lethal dose but he's still in danger. He hasn't been ingesting it for very long. We need to get him to the hospital immediately. They may need to decontaminate him with a gastric lavage, and he'll need to be put on IV's to keep him hydrated. They'll also want to put him on either Dimercaprol or Succimer," Maggie stated, indicating to Dean that they needed to move it.

"Bobby, have Hank take Tara and lock her in the supplies shed. I want a guard on her 24/7. Have Jakota bring his truck here. I don't want Gordon seeing the Impala," Dean instructed as he continued to comfort his nearly unconscious brother.

"Dean, what about Isaral? Can't he help?" Bobby asked.

"N-no...he needs...to rest; recharge," Sam whispered, his eyes squeezed shut, his body trembling.

"Bobby, I think this was caught in time. If we need Isaral, we can take him to Sam later," Maggie stated as she held her stethascope to Sam's heaving chest.

"Hey doc. What's a...geriatric lamaze?" Dean asked.

Maggie chuckled despite herself, then answered. "Not geriatric lamaze Dean. Gastric lavage. It means they may need to pump Sam's stomach."

"Oh...okay. That's it? Just pump his stomach?"

"Yes. If there's anything to pump."

"So...he'll be okay? You're sure about that?"

"I can't be 100 percent Dean, but I am reasonably certain he will recover. However..."

"What? However what?" Dean asked with alarm.

"People who have had arsenic poisoning can and usually do have lingering health problems. Usually for life," the doctor explained.

"Like what kind of lingering health problems?" Dean asked, his fingers running through Sam's long hair.

"Nerve damage, numbness in extremities, migraine type headaches usually. Some who have had high doses or prolonged exposure end up in wheel chairs or...or they die," Maggie replied sadly.

"But Sam hasn't been exposed for very long. He won't have any of that right?" Dean asked warily.

"He shouldn't, no. At least I hope not."

"Thanks doc. For everything," Dean said, his hand landing lightly on the woman's shoulder.

"No need for thanks Dean," Maggie replied, turning her head when the door opened.

"We're ready Dean," Bobby said, walking to the bed to help Dean lift Sam to carry him to the waiting truck.

Once they had Sam loaded into the backseat, lying down with his head on Dean's lap, Bobby got behind the wheel and Maggie slid into the front passenger seat of Jakota's truck.

"Jakota, make sure Tara is fed and has plenty of water. It'll be hot in that shed and I don't want her getting heatstroke or dying from dehydration," Dean instructed.

"Why do you care what happens to her? I mean, with what she did to Sam and all," Jakota inquired.

"I don't care, but Sam will. He doesn't need to worry about her. Besides, Bobby was right, we may need her," Dean replied, his hand gently cupping Sam's face, his thumb rubbing comfortingly over his sleeping brother's cheek.

"Okay Dean, we'll take care of her."

"Thanks Jakota. You and Bryan are in charge until Bobby gets back. Stay alert and safe."

"Will do...take care of Sam," Jakota replied, his worried eyes resting on his unconscious friend.

"I will. He'll be fine Jakota," Dean said, hoping he was right.

Jakota nodded and closed the door softly. He watched as the truck drove away, turning his head when Bryan stepped up beside him. They both watched until the truck was out of sight then they turned their gazes to the shack that housed the turn coat.

"Take her some food and water Bryan. I'm afraid if I see her now, I'll kill her," Jakota hissed, his eyes dangerous.

"Is Sam gonna be okay?" Bryan asked, fear making his voice shake when he thought about the man who was only a few years younger than himself.

"I hope so...I really do. For all our sakes," Jakota replied before walking away.

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So, now you all know who the traitor is. The question is, what will Tara do now? Will she live long enough to redeem herself? I guess you'll have to keep reading to find out. Until tonight.........................

Cindy.