Hi all. I'm so sorry for the delay in getting this chapter done and posted. With everything that's been going on, well lets just say it's been a bit crazy and I have had a difficult time getting my mind back into writing mode. Thank you all so much for your kind words regarding my dad's passing. It meant the world to me! Anyway, I will let you get to the chapter. Thanks sl much for your patience!

Cindy

A shadow moved fluidly across the dirty, dusty floor and drifted noiselessly into the room where the three Winchester brothers slept, the two elder brothers flanking the younger, protective even in sleep. The shadow came to a stop at the feet of the youngest and lingered there for several minutes before once again moving forward until it was directly over the sleeping hunter's chest. The shadow shifted until it hovered parallel over Sam's body, just an inch separating it from the one it seemed enthralled with. The shadow lowered over Sam until it completely enveloped him, the young man whimpering in his sleep as tendrils wound through his hair and under his head.

"Samuel…you've come back…," the shadow whispered as it wrapped around the sleeping man, lifting his body from the floor and effortlessly carrying him from the room, away from his brothers and protectors. Silence filled the room, and the brothers slept on, unaware of the danger amiss.

sn sn sn sn sn sn sn sn sn sn sn sn sn

Dean awoke with a start, instantly aware that something wasn't right. He turned his head, his green eyes squinting into the darkness. His eyes widened when he saw the empty space between he and Daniel. He was on his feet in no time and scanning the room with only the dim glow of the moonlight coming through the dirt encrusted windows lighting his way. When he did not see any hint of his little brother, he moved to where Daniel lay sleeping and nudged him with the tip of his boot. Daniel groaned as he came awake, his dark eyes blinking up at his younger brother with confusion.

"Wh-what? Dean…what's wrong?" Daniel rasped as he pushed up from the floor.

"Sammy's gone…we gotta find him," Dean answered, the young man frantically digging for his flashlight.

Daniel glanced around the darkened room then back at his brother. "Are you sure he didn't just go to take a leak or something?" he asked as he relaxed back onto his blanket.

Dean paused in his search and blew out a quick breath. "Uh…never thought about that," he mumbled.

"Dean, we talked about this. Sam's not a kid anymore," Daniel said.

"Yeah, yeah…give him some space…blah, blah, blah. I remember, Danny."

"Look, Dean…you know I get it…you know I do. We've almost lost him so many times and all I want to do is keep him with us all of the time, but that's not fair to Sammy. As hard as it is, we have to let him live his life his way. We…," Danny suddenly stopped as a faint whimper reached his ears. He looked at Dean and could tell by the way his green eyes widened that he had heard it too.

"Sammy," Dean whispered fearfully as he looked at his brother.

Daniel scrambled to his bag and pulled his flashlight free. He was on his feet in seconds, leading the way out of the room, Dean right on his heels. They rushed into the entryway, the beam from Daniel's flashlight sweeping through the dimly lit room. Another soft whimper drew the brother's attention to the stairway and both gasped when they saw Sam standing precariously on the top step.

"Sammy…what are you doing?" Dean called softly, fearful that if he shouted his brother would startle and loose his footing.

Sam's half closed eyes lifted and looked in his brother's direction. Both Dean and Daniel started for the staircase, but then something caught their eye and they stopped, both somehow and suddenly unable to move. Their eyes widened as the darkness behind Sam began to move. Slowly, the darkness began to flow over Sam. It wrapped itself around the young man as if in a lover's embrace, tendrils of darkness caressing his face, winding its way through his hair, drawing his head slightly back. All the while, Sam let out scared whimpers, a steady litany of "No…please, no…" falling from his lips, panicking his brothers as his frightened words reached their ears.

"Let him go!" Dean shouted, the young man seething as he tried to free himself from the invisible force that held him in place.

Beside Dean, Daniel too struggled to move, his dark eyes never leaving the horrifying scene at the top of the stairs, his baby brother's cries breaking his heart and hardening his resolve to get to the son of a bitch who was causing Sam pain. Both brothers jumped when suddenly the darkness completely enveloped Sam and the youngest Winchester cried out in fear and pain.

From somewhere within the darkness a hissing whisper emanated, the words it said enraging both brothers and they tried desperately to move, their eyes catching glimpses of their brother's terrified face every few seconds as the dark shadow flowed around him.

"Mine…he is mine."

"He is not yours! You let him go!" Daniel screamed, his face turning red at the strain of trying to free himself.

"He killed me…he destroyed my dreams. Now he is back and he will serve his purpose. He belongs to me."

"You freak son of a bitch! You get your freakin' paws off my brother!" Dean shouted.

"As you wish," the voice called and then without warning, Sam pitched forward out of the shadow, his arms weakly pawing at air as he tried to catch himself. Dean and Daniel were suddenly free, their screams of alarm mingling as they sprang forward and up the first flight of stairs. Sam's body hit the first step with a sickening crunch. He tumbled down the stairs, his limp frame coming to rest face down on the landing just as Dean and Daniel reached it.

The brothers dropped down beside Sam, their hands immediately searching for any injuries. Blood was smeared over the side of Sam's partially hidden face and Dean turned his head to look up the stairs, his eyes narrowed in a murderous glare.

"I will destroy you, you bastard!" he hissed through clenched teeth. He immediately turned his attention back to his brother when Sam moaned.

"Dean, we have to get him out of here, but I'm not sure we can move him," Daniel whispered urgently. "We have to figure out how badly he's hurt, but with that…thing up there…"

Dean reached over and patted Daniel's arm then quickly got to his feet. He stepped around his brothers and moved to the top of the lower set of stairs.

"Dean….what are you doing?" Daniel called softly as he instinctively inched his body around his fallen brother so that he shielded Sam from the shadow that still lingered at the top of the staircase, but could still see if it made a move toward them.

"I'll be right back…just keep checking Sam over," Dean called back before suddenly bounding down the stairs.

"Shit!" Daniel hissed under his breath, his dark eyes moving to see what the shadow was going to do. He was surprised to see that it hadn't moved.

Dean was back in less than a minute, a canister of salt in one hand and an iron fireplace poker in the other. The brother's duffels were slung over his shoulders, which he dropped on the landing beside Daniel once he reached him. His gaze warily moved to the top of the stairs where the shadow still lingered.

"What the hell is it doing?" he whispered as he opened the salt canister and moved to the base of the stairs.

"I don't know," Daniel answered. "It's freaking me out though."

"Yeah…freak ass spirit…or whatever the hell it is," Dean added as he began to lay down a salt line around the edges of the landing. He looked up as he sensed movement and sucked in a breath when he saw the shadow start to flow down the stairs. He hurried his movements and finished the salt line just as the spirit reached the landing. "Try getting to our brother now, you fuckin' freak!" he hissed.

"He is mine."

Dean glared up at the shadow then dropped the salt canister and moved around his brothers where he dropped down to his knees beside side, opposite Daniel. "How is he?" he asked, his fingers moving to the cut he could see just above Sam's temple.

Daniel looked up and shrugged lightly. "I think his arm is broken, but I don't feel any broken ribs. I just don't know about his back," he answered worriedly.

"We have to get him out of here, Danny," Dean said as he cast a quick glance up the stairs. He flinched when he saw that the shadow was gone.

"I know we do, but I don't want to chance paralyzing him if he's injured his spine."

"Shit!" Dean hissed under his breath. Sam's sudden moan brought both brothers full attention to their fallen sibling. "Hey, Sammy…that's it…wake up, kiddo," Dean whispered as he leaned over the younger brother so he could better see his face.

"Wha…" Sam murmured. He tried to roll over as his eyes fluttered open and Daniel gently pressed down on his arm.

"Sammy, stay still. We don't know how badly you're hurt yet," he said.

"I…it…what happn'd?"

"We don't know, kiddo. Just let us worry about that," Daniel answered. "Sammy…we need to get you out of here, but we can't move you until we know it's safe."

"I…I'm fine…"

"You were pushed down the stairs, Sam. You could have hurt your back," Dean said.

"m' back doesn't hurt…'m fine."

Dean glanced up at Daniel then back down at his brother. "Sammy, move your legs for me," he said.

Sam groaned as he rolled slightly and moved his legs. "See…fine."

Dean smiled and patted Sam's arm. He looked up and met Daniel's eyes. "What do you think?" he asked.

Daniel pursed his lips and shook his head. "We have to get him out of this house. I think we have to chance moving him," he answered.

"Yeah…okay," Dean said then looked down at Sam. "We're gonna roll you over, Sammy. Just let us do the work, okay?"

Together, Dean and Daniel rolled Sam's body over in on fluid motion, ever careful of his injured arm. Once they had him on his back, they were able to fully evaluate for any other injuries he may have. Once they determined that the broken arm was the worst of it, they prepared to get him out of the house and away from the threat.

"Sammy, we're gonna get you up. Do you think you can stand?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah…let's just get out of here," Sam groaned.

They got Sam up from the floor, his arms draped over their shoulders. They turned for the steps, but suddenly stopped when the shadow appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

"Son of a bitch!" Dean hissed. "Can you handle Sammy for a few?" he asked as he glanced over at Daniel.

"Yeah, of course. What are going to do?" Daniel answered.

Dean grinned, made sure Daniel had Sam securely in his grasp then knelt down and grabbed up the fire poker. Leading the way, he smirked as he stepped over the salt line and descended the stairs. The spirit moved toward him, but Dean was ready. He swung the poker, slicing through the shadow. A scream of rage filled the air as the spirit disappeared. Dean rushed back up the stairs and took Sam's arm once again.

"We have to hurry…don't know how long that will keep that fucker away!" he shouted.

Together, they eased Sam down the stairs and started toward the door. Suddenly, the shadow reappeared, blocking their path. "Son of a bitch," Dean seethed as he raised the poker.

"He is mine!" the spirit screeched as it shot toward them. Dean swung his arm, missing the spirit as it disappeared then reappeared behind them.

"Get Sam out of here!" Dean shouted as he let go of his brother and turned toward the threat.

Daniel nodded as he hoisted his duffel up higher on his shoulder and practically dragged Sam for the front door. He heard Dean growl and then a screech as the spirit was obviously sent to wherever spirits go when sliced through with iron. He was just going out the door when Dean caught up again and together, the two brothers got their half conscious brother through the pouring rain and to the Impala. They gently laid his shivering frame out on the back seat then both moved to get into the front seat, Dean behind the wheel. He turned the key and surprisingly, the engine roared to life. The brothers looked at each other in disbelief. Dean put the car into gear, gunned the engine and sped away, eager to put as many miles between the house and his little brother as possible.

Inside the house, the spirit fumed and screeched. Fury ripped through it as it watched through a window as the black car sped away.

"You are mine, Samuel, and you will be back!"

The spirit disappeared with one final scream, knowing that the boy would return.

Well, that's it for now. I hope you all liked it. Please let me know...and thanks again for being so patient with me. I will try to get the next chapter done and posted faster than this one, but no promises.

Cindy