Legalities: Supernatural belongs to Eric Kripke and the CW Network. I am not making any money from this. I am simply playing in the amazing sandbox that is the Supernatural Universe.

Warnings: This is my take on what would have been bad enough to send Sam into a confessional as a child. Taken from a comment made by Sam in the season 8 finale "Sacrifice".

It's unabashed hurt Winchester. Dean suffers because of a choice that Sam makes in a moment of selfish anger. Will he get the chance to make things right before Dean is destroyed forever? Can their father put aside his own obsessive anger and his need to hunt long enough to track down both Sam and Dean? Or will his obsession destroy his sons.

If you do not like the violence, then DO NOT read this story. It revolves around the brothers and their relationship and this idea wouldn't leave me alone. So here is my take on the one and only time Sam confessed his greatest sins.

Rating: T with possible upgrade to MA at a later point if it takes a really dark turn.

NO SLASH/ BROTHERLY LOVE AND FAMILY ANGST ONLY Please excuse any problems with proof reading on this one.

Please Review if you want to see this one continue.

Chapter Nine

Friend or Foe

Bobby was swearing all the way out to his car. The text message from Sam hadn't given him much to go on. And John was going to be seriously pissed with his youngest…and maybe Bobby too. Although, it wasn't the first time that Sam had given one of them the slip…obviously. Since that was what had started the whole thing.

So his only real lead was that he knew that Sam was out there tracking the thing that had taken Dean. The thing that was sadistic and pissed enough at the boy's father to take and use Dean as bait. Which meant that if it got a hold of Sam, it could manipulate Dean and John in ways that defy description. What the hell had that kid been thinking?

The road flew by as he pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The old engine whining as Bobby coxed more speed out of it. Good thing he'd done that work on the engine lately. These Winchesters were gonna be the death of him. Especially Sam and Dean. He thought absently. He passed the turn for Route 2 and he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He was so kicking that boy in the ass when he caught up with him.

XXXX

Sam followed the jock into the dark interior of the old building. His nose wrinkling at the foul smell inside. Like rotten eggs mixed with dirty moldy socks. He gulped down the distaste and slid along the wall. There was very little light and he knew that he was taking a huge chance trusting this guy. But something in the way that he'd looked in the field made Sam think that he could. He was pretty sure Dean would slap him up one side and down the other for even considering trusting the dirt bag. But he couldn't chance coming in here completely blind. And there was no way in hell he wasn't coming after Dean.

"It's this way." Josh whispered and pointed down a dark set of stairs.

Why is it always the scary ass basement? Sam wondered as he pulled his lower lip between his teeth in apprehension.

Sam squinted into the darkness. He couldn't see much of anything, but he could hear something at the bottom of the stairs. It was a soft wheezing sound, could've been a voice or a rat…God I hope it's not a rat. Neither him nor Dean liked the skittery little creatures…with their beady freaking eyes and long teeth. "This better not be a trap." Sam growled softly. He leaned toward the other boy. "Because I will kill you if it is." It wasn't a threat it was a promise. One that, in that moment, Sam was positive he would keep.

Josh turned brown eyes in his direction; a chill ran along his spine at the cold look in Sam's eyes. "It's not. I want out…something tells me that you're my only chance." He looked down at the floor and then started down the steps ahead of Sam.

Sam had no clue what Josh was talking about, but it did assuage his fears somewhat. He reached down and pulled out the holy water before following Josh to the lower level. His pistol gripped tightly in his other hand. They were moving slowly along the wall, so neither of them was prepared when the entire area flared with bright white lights.

They both stumbled to a stop and reached up to shield their eyes. Sam brought the gun up and pointed it out in front of him. After a moment his eyes adjusted a bit and he was able to make out several hanging cages. Most of them appeared to be empty…except one near the back of the room. Sam scanned the area; he had no clue what had set off the lights. But as his gaze landed on the one occupied cage, he no longer cared.

There hanging from a chain in a cage, like some god-damned bird was Dean…in a tiny that was far too small for someone over six feet tall. Dean's head was lolling against the thick bars of the cage. Sam couldn't see his face, but he was shocked at the shape of his brother's body. He was naked from the waist up. A multitude of deep purple bruising covered his side and there was a ghastly gash across his shoulder. Beneath the cage was a puddle that appeared to be a mixture of blood and sweat…or maybe some other body fluids. Sam wasn't exactly sure, but the whole thing made his skin crawl and his stomach churn in rage.

That son of a bitch had done this to Dean. His gaze flashed to Josh, who wouldn't meet his eyes, before he was rushing forward in an attempt to get Dean's attention. Oh God…please don't let me be too late. He prayed as he slid to a stop just beneath the cage. Sam hadn't realized that it was suspended more than twelve feet off the ground. And he couldn't see where the chain was anchored.

"Dean?" He called in a desperate whisper. A flutter of fear moved through his heart when he saw no response from his big brother. Dean would crawl back from the brink of death if Sam called him…if there was one thing that he knew; it was that his brother loved him. He looked over at Josh and gestured with the gun. The kid moved toward him, his hands clasped together and the knuckles white from wringing them together. "What's wrong with him?"

"I…I don't know exactly. They kept injecting him with some drug." He finally lifted his eyes and then looked away quickly at the anger radiating off the younger Winchester.

"What was the drug supposed to do?" Sam knew that Dean didn't do any type of drugs. Never had. Okay, well he would sneak a beer or two from their father, but that was it. If they'd been giving Dean something to alter his perception, then what did that mean for his brother? What the hell did Dean think was real at this point? Because their lives were screwed nine ways to Sunday without any help…

"He kept calling your name…that's all I know. I swear." Josh said as he backed away from Sam.

"Oh Dean…" Sam whispered and lifted his gaze back to his brother's beaten body.

The lights flipped out and Sam found himself in complete darkness. Josh whimpered and must have fallen, because Sam heard the scuffle of feet and then a thump. He carefully backed up to where he knew that the wall had been. Once he had his back up against it, he lowered himself into a crouch.

"So it is true…if you built it…they will come." A voice that Sam vaguely recognized lilted through the air and he pulled in a slow breath before rising back to his feet.

"What did you do to my brother?"

A flame flickered to life and Sam was able to make out the outline of a man beneath Dean's cage. His brother shifted and then a moan of pain, like nothing Sam had ever heard, split the air. The candle rose until it was floating right in front of Dean's cage…his older brother's green eyes were wide open and unblinking as he stared at the black flame.

"It's just a memory loop…with some enhancements." The man said as he stepped under the softly glowing light. Sam blinked in confusion. His hand started shaking and the silver flask of holy water flipped out of his grasp and slid across the floor. "Now that's not very nice."

"Mr. Willis?" He asked before moving along the wall to a better vantage point. "What the hell are you doing?"

Willis titled his head in condemnation. "I think you know." His eyes flashed black and Sam gasped at the very real situation he now found himself in. He'd never seen an actual demon and was more like looking into the darkest depths of a twisted soul...

He'd thought that if he could find Dean…he could get his brother out of the area before the demon even suspected anything. But as he considered what he was now faced with, that didn't seem like a very viable plan any more. He clenched his teeth together as Dean shifted and a hiss of pained anguish erupted from his brother's chest. Sam's eyes lifted and he winced when he saw the raised flesh along the wound on the arm.

Infected big time. He thought silently. He never forgot that the demon wasn't that far away from either him or Dean…but he also tried to keep an eye on what was happening in that cage. Something about that candle had literally woke Dean up. "Would you like to see?" Willis asked before stepping forward and suddenly the cage was lowering itself to the ground.

Sam stood frozen to his spot on the stone floor. His heart thumping in his chest like a set of bongo drums. His eyes were focused on his brother as the cage settled on the floor and popped open. Dean literally rolled out of the thing onto the floor, his eyes still glued to the flame on the candle. Sam's eyes flashed up to the demon. "What have you done?" He whispered.

Dean's body was covered in multi-colored bruises. The older ones starting to take on the sickly yellow and green hue of healing, while the newest ones were a deep amethyst color. The shorts were barely hanging on as Dean stayed crouched on the floor, his eyes lifted up to the candle. Sam's sucked in a shocked breath when he saw the gash on his brother clearly. It stretched from just below his neck down to his elbow and it was a nasty red color. Sam swallowed and stepped toward Dean.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. The flame on the candle winked out and they were dropped into darkness. A howl of anguish cut through the air and it took a moment for Sam to realize that it had come from Dean. "Sammy…oh god...no."

The demon laughed and the sound echoed through the basement. It sent chills racing through Sam and he stumbled forward toward the sound. All he wanted was to see his brother.

"I wouldn't if I were you." The demon said into the darkness.

Sam ignored it and moved forward carefully. He pushed his gun into the waistband of his jeans and stretched his arms out in front of himself. "Dean?" he called softly. A skitter of sound echoed back and Sam took a deep breath. "Dean? It's Sam."

In a moment something solid slammed into Sam's mid-section and he doubled over in pain. He dropped to his knees and threw his leg out sending his attacker to the ground. He couldn't see anything and he wasn't sure who was attacking him. Was it Josh? Or maybe…the demon? A loud "umph" was his only answer. Fingers wrapped around Sam's ankle and he was pulled toward his attacker, his own nails crawling into the floor. A forearm smashed down on his lower leg and he heard the distinct sound of something cracking. Fiery pain lanced up his leg and he bit through his lip trying not to cry out.

Sam kicked back with his good leg, catching the guy in the face. "Argh…"

The sound of Dean's voice froze Sam in his spot. He'd just kicked his drugged brother in the head and his drugged brother had just broken his leg. Dean clawed at the leg and rolled over until he was able to slide Sam under him, just as his fist descended the lights flared on.

Sam gasped when he recognized Dean. He threw his hands up to try and protect his face, but it was Dean's recognition of Sam that stopped the debilitating blow. His brother scrambled backwards, the blood from his nose running down his face where Sam's kick had connected. His hands pulled at his temples in clawed versions of his fingers. Dean's bright green eyes were wide in horror as he tried to understand what he was seeing.

"Sam…No…no…you're dead…you're dead…" The broken voice sliced through Sam like a white hot blade.

Dean shook his head and continued scrambling away from his little brother. The demon laughed and clapped jubilantly.

"Oh my god…I couldn't have planned that better." He stepped forward and Sam found himself pinned to the floor on his back. Dean was slammed was into the wall with the chains, his eyes still wide with confusion. "Guess I get two for the price of one."

Sam tried to roll over, but the more he strained against the invisible bonds, the tighter they got. Now he could smell the sulfur that had been hidden from him when he'd entered the building. His leg was sheer agony, but when he looked at his brother and the tattered look on Dean's face…he kept silent.

XXXX

Dean was locked inside his memories. He knew that he seen Sam…but had it been the real Sam? Or were they trying to trick him. His head felt as though an ax was trying to split it open. He blinked as he looked down at the boy on the floor…with his leg twisted under him and a pleading expression in his familiar blue-green eyes. Something popped inside Dean and guilt flooded in… "Sammy…" He'd hurt Sam.

Just behind the guilt rage flooded through him. Dean screamed and the veins stood against his pale skin as he strained against the demon hold. The demon was moving silently toward Sam and the sight of his brother's eyes going wide in fear and pain was almost more than he could handle. "Leave him alone!" He growled out. Shivers racking through Dean's body as he struggled.

"Oh, I'm not going to touch him…you are." It hissed with a grin.

Sam blinked and his eyes flashed to Dean's. "Wh…what?"

"Did you think I was going to let this pass by? An opportunity to watch you two destroy one another…"

XXXX

John swore when he stomped back to his pickup. The weather was shifting and there was a storm coming into the area. Any tracks that were out there were going to disappear as soon as that cloud opened up. He hadn't found any sign of Dean or that damned demon near the barn. His cell phone had been silenced the whole time in an attempt not to alert anyone or anything of his approach. A crack of thunder pulled his gaze up and the smell of ozone told him he didn't have much time.

He reached into his pocket and pulled the phone out. John had several missed text messages…they were from Bobby. "Damn-it Bobby…" He opened the messages and his blood froze.

Sam went after Dean. He's off route 2…he tagged along with you. Went to the old warehouse. Meet me there. –Bobby

"Jesus Christ…" John breathed. He shook his head and brought his hand to his face scrubbing it down in a combination of fear and frustration. He grabbed his phone and dialed Bobby's number.

Bobby picked up after one ring. "John…how fast can you get here?"

"Why? What happened?" John asked as he went to the back of the truck and opened the box, searching for more weapons. He leaned his phone between his cheek and his shoulder; another crash of thunder had him throwing his gaze in that direction.

"Sam went inside. I couldn't catch him fast enough…pretty sure that bastard is inside with him…"

John stopped and leaned against the truck bed for a moment. Am going to lose them both here? He glanced up. Mary, watch out for our boys…just till I get there. "Is Dean there?" He almost couldn't bring himself to ask.

"I don't know. But chances are pretty good. It's the abandoned factory behind the hill off the highway." Bobby said quickly. His own eyes were pinned on the door…the only door into the place. The change in weather couldn't be a good sign.

"I'm on my way." John barked out as he slammed the lid shut and took off at a run.

TBC…

Author's Note: And now John's on the way and it's getting heated. Sam and Dean are in the same place and the demon isn't done messing with them. Bobby's closer and going in first but can Sam and Dean come together to save each other? Next chapter will let you know. Thanks to everyone that read and reviewed the last chapter…dandy44, janiekm, nurple-girl, Dean's Worshiper, Beakers47, kracken96, Nina Ferraro, babyreaper, Idreamofivan, sylvie-winchester, and DearHart. Much appreciation to you all!

To all of you that celebrate Christmas, hope it was a Merry one. And to those of you that don't, hope you had an excellent day!

PLEASE REVIEW: We're on the cusp of rescue, so please let me know what you think so far.