Hey, guess what!? I'm back! Finally! Crazy, hectic month...insane! Things have slowed down again, at least for a few days. Was able to get this chapter done today, thank goodness! Thank you all for the wonderful comments on the last chapter. I hope you like this one as much! On with the story!

Cindy

"It was the yellow eyed man."

John pulled back and eyed his eldest son warily. "The yellow eyed man? But, why…where did he come from?"

"I don't know, Dad," Daniel answered with a sigh. "I just saw him standing there in the trees, watching us…watching Sam. It had to have been him who slowed Sam's fall."

"Okay, we've established enough that he has a fixation on Sam from the past so if he was going to save Sam why let him get hurt at all? You said he had a bump on the head…why let that happen if his intention was to save Sam?"

"Maybe he's a sadistical bastard. Who knows. Maybe he didn't want Sam to die, but he doesn't have a problem with him getting hurt?"

John seemed to consider that for a moment before he shook his head and started up the stairs again. "Let's just get to Dean and Sam and we'll worry about the yellow eyed man's intentions later. Do you think Sam will need a hospital?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I don't think so. It looks like he only has a mild concussion and Dean and I cleaned up his chest. We had to do some stitches, but all in all, the kid is more exhausted from blood loss than anything I think," Daniel answered.

"Blood loss? How much did he lose?" Caleb asked worriedly.

"Quite a bit, but not enough to warrant another trip to the hospital. I really don't think we can take the chance of taking Sam in again so soon after his first visit."

"Yeah, you're right. We can't risk it. We'll find a motel a few towns away and let him rest for as many days as he needs. We'll keep a close eye on him and if it looks like he needs a hospital, we'll deal with it then," John said just as they reached the top of the stairs.

"Sounds good, Dad."

John nodded as he headed toward the front of the old house. He stopped when Daniel made move toward the staircase that led to the upper floor. "Where're you going, Danny?" he asked.

"I need to get out shotguns. In our rush to get to Sam we left them in the hallway," Daniel answered as he started up the steps.

John nodded then turned to Caleb. "Go with him, Caleb. I know the freak is finished, but I just don't want anyone to be alone in this house and I have to get to Sam and Dean," he said.

"Sure thing, Johnny," Caleb said as he hurried to the stairs and followed Daniel up.

John watched his son and friend ascend the stairs and when they reached the top floor he hurried out the door and to the Impala where he knew his other two sons waited. He reached the car and opened the back passenger door. He leaned down and peered inside, the exhausted man smiling as he saw both young men asleep, Sam's head pillowed on Dean's lap and Dean's hand protectively draped over Sam's chest. He reached into the car and took Sam's hand in his.

"Oh, Sammy…I'm sorry you had to go through that, kiddo," John whispered, his dark eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Though he had barely spoken the words out loud, it was still enough to bring Dean from his sleep. The middle brother jerked awake, his green eyes wide before he realized it was only his father and not a threat that needed to be taken care of.

"Dad," Dean breathed out in a relieved tone. "Did you get the son of a bitch?"

"Yeah, we got him. He was a tenacious bastard, but we sent him to where he belongs. He won't be bothering Sammy anymore," John answered with a tired smile.

"Good…that's good," Dean said before glancing over John's shoulder toward the house. "Where's Danny and Caleb?" he asked a bit nervously.

"They went up to get your shotguns. They should be coming out any second," John answered as he continued to hold his youngest son's hand, his thumb tenderly brushing over the back as he watched Sam's bandaged chest rise and fall in slumber.

Dean nodded then visibly relaxed when he saw his brother and Caleb step out of the house and onto the porch. "Sorry, Dad," he said softly as he let his gaze drift back to his father.

John lifted his eyes and gave his son a quizzical look. "For what?" he asked.

"For leaving the guns. For letting that bastard get Sam away from me so he could throw him out the window. If we would've lost him…I don't know…" Dean answered before his words were cut off with a soft sob.

"Hey, look at me, Dean," John said as Dean's head fell, his eyes cast downward to the back seat floor. "Dean," John said again then smiled when green eyes met his. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You got your brother out of that house alive and that's as good as we can ask for in this situation," he said.

"But he almost died, Dad! I had him and I let that bastard take him from me! He could've died from the fall out the window! I…"

"He didn't die, Dean. He's here, alive…because of you and Danny. Nobody is to blame for what happened to Sam except for that bastard magician! Do you hear me, son?" John cried as he felt Dean's anguish and guilt coming off the young man in waves.

"Dad…"

"It wasn't your fault and the sooner you understand that the better you will be able to take care of your brother. Sam needs you, Dean. He needs you and Danny more than he needs anyone else right now. Neither one of you should be blaming yourselves for something you had no control over so you need to stop wallowing in this guilt and get over it. You can't properly watch out for Sammy if you're distracted by your emotions," John said a bit harsher than he wanted to, but he needed to nip Dean's guilt in the bud before it grew to be a distraction.

Dean nodded as he dropped his chin again. "Yes, sir. Sorry," he said softly.

"Dean, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted, but I need you to give yourself a break here, okay?"

Dean lifted his eyes and smiled sadly. "Yeah, okay," he said before he looked past John and his smiled widened. "Took you two long enough to get a couple of guns. You decide to take a nap or something?" he asked as Daniel and Caleb stepped up to the car.

John stood up and allowed his eldest son access to his brothers, the man smiling as Daniel immediately went to work checking over his two younger siblings. "We went through the room that asshole had Sammy in to find all of his stuff. His clothes are trashed, but we didn't want to leave them there in case anyone went in there," Daniel said as he smiled softly up at his younger brother.

John clapped Caleb on the shoulder and smiled. "Good…that's good. Now what do you say we blow this town. I want to get Sammy as far away from this place as possible and get him into a proper bed," he said. "Plus, you two look like you could use a few winks as well," he added as he peered in at this boys.

"I'm gonna keep watch over Sammy. You need the sleep more than me," Dean said, his eyes remaining on his sleeping brother's face.

"How about we take turns keeping watch and sleeping," John said as he knew exactly how his sons were feeling. "I'm taking first watch," he added before either Daniel or Dean could say it.

"Dad…"

"That's an order, Dean."

"Yes, sir," Dean said with a sigh.

"Good. Now that that's settled, what do you say we get back to the motel and get our stuff together and get out of this town."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Caleb said. "Just one problem…how are we all gonna fit with the half pint taking up the entire back seat?"

John chuckled as he once again clapped his friend on the shoulder. "I guess you, me and Danny will have to scrunch into the front seat, Caleb," he said as he made his way around to the driver's door.

"Wonderful," Caleb mumbled before opening the front passenger door wide and motioning to Daniel to climb in. "After you, princess," he said.

Daniel narrowed his eyes and glared at his friend. "I'm not getting in the middle. You get in the middle," he said.

"I'm not riding all scrunched up to your daddy's side. You're the youngest, you ride in the middle."

"What does that have to do with it? This is practically my car…I'm not riding in the middle!"

"You two better get into this car right now or I'm gonna leave your asses behind!" John spat from the driver's seat. "Caleb, get in!"

Caleb's mouth fell open as Daniel chuckled, but he climbed in and scooted to the middle of the seat. Daniel climbed in after, a wide grin gracing his handsome face as he pulled the door shut as quietly as he could to avoid waking his youngest brother.

Caleb huffed as he crossed his arms over his midsection and glared out the windshield. "You two suck," he hissed.

"Aw, quit pouting, Caleb. It's not so bad," Dean called amusedly from the back seat.

"You ain't sandwiched between two stubborn Winchesters so shut your trap, Dean!"

"Been there, done that," Dean said with a chuckle. "Besides, it's only to the motel so quit your whining."

John laughed as he started the car and pulled away from the curb. It felt good as the despised old house disappeared from sight. John sighed softly as his thoughts went to thewhat ifs and the could have beens. What if the yellow eyed man hadn't been there to save his son? Things could have and would have been so much worse. What if Daniel hadn't found Samuel Worthington's journal? What if John hadn't found the spell book? What if they hadn't gotten to the house in time? They could've lost Sam forever, just like they almost had so many times before. John shook the thoughts from his head as his eyes drifted to the rearview mirror. His baby was alive…a little worse for wear, but alive. All of his boys were safe. Caleb was beat up, but safe. That's all that mattered and the what ifs and could've beens could just suck it for all he cared. His family was intact and stronger than ever. John smiled as he cruised down the street. He knew that he had much to think about, but at this moment all he cared about was right in the car with him. They were bruised and bloodied, but they were all alive and John couldn't ask for anything more than that.

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The room was dark save the soft glow from the television that sat in the corner at the foot of one of two beds. John was tired…more tired than he had been in ages, but that didn't keep him from staying awake, diligently watching over his youngest son. Dean and Daniel slept in the bed nearest the door while Sam rested in the bed John was seated next to. The empty side of the bed next to Sam beckoned the seasoned hunter, but the father knew that if he answered the call, he would succumb to sleep and that wasn't going to happen. He needed to be awake and alert if Sam needed him. Caleb slept in the adjoining room, the young man planning to get an early start in the morning as he was needed on another hunt in Washington state. John was thankful for his friend being there, but was also looking forward to it being just he and his sons again. With Sam away at college, things just weren't the same and John had been looking forward to Sam's summer break as much as his sons had. He was committed to spending as much time away from hunting during the break as he could, though he knew it was highly improbable that their help wouldn't be needed at some point along the way.

As John sat watching Sam sleep, his thoughts went to the events in San Francisco, especially to the appearance once again of the yellow eyed man. The man had helped them before when Sam had been in the clutches of Trenton Wilcox, but then, as now, John didn't believe that the man's intentions were innocent. John knew that he wasn't a man, not really. He'd done the research. The yellow eyes gave him away. He was in fact a man possessed by a very strong demon. The why of the situation was what kept John's mind moving a mile a minute. Why was this demon helping Sam? What did he want with the boy? As much as John was thankful to still have his youngest with him, alive and well, he was just as fearful as to the demon's intentions. John sighed as he reached out and tenderly brushed his fingers over Sam's cheek.

"Whatever he wants, Sammy, I promise you…he will not get it. I'll die before I let that happen," John whispered as Sam slept on, oblivious to the fear held within his father's heart.

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Three Weeks Later – Singer Salvage

"So, Sam seems to be getting along just fine now," Bobby Singer said as he leaned against the doorframe of his home's open front door, his gaze ever watchful as the three Winchester brothers talked amongst themselves in the dried up grass of his front yard.

John glanced up at his friend and nodded lightly. "Yeah, he's pretty much all healed. Some of the deeper cuts are still bothering him some, but other than that he's doing a lot better," he replied.

"You should have brought him here sooner, John. No reason to spend money on a motel room when I have enough room here," Bobby chastised as he stepped out onto the porch and stood next to his friend.

"Yeah, I thought about it, but I just…I wanted to spend some time with my boys and…"

"No need to explain. I get it, Johnny," Bobby interrupted with a smile and a clap on John's back. "You wanted some time with 'em by yourself."

John smiled as he watched his sons across the yard. "Yeah…with Sammy away, it doesn't happen nearly enough and it won't be all that long before he goes back in the Fall."

"I hear ya. Just know that my door is always open for you and those idjit boys of yours," Bobby said.

"I know…thanks, Bobby. I think maybe, if it's okay with you, we'll spend a week or two here?"

"Spend as much time as you want. Like I said, the door is always open."

"Thanks…I really appreciate it."

Bobby nodded as he continued to watch the boys he considered family. "What do you think those three are talking about anyway?" he asked his friend.

"Who knows with them. It could be anything," John answered as he turned suddenly serious eyes to his friend. "So, have you found out anything that could help us figure out who our yellow eyed stalker is?"

Bobby sighed as he reached up and removed the cap from his head. He brushed his hand through his thinning hair before replacing the cap and turning to meet John's gaze.

"Not much, Johnny. I know that yellow eyed demons are basically the army generals of Hell. I found a name for one of the yellow eyed generals… Azazel…but no way to tell if that's your demon or not. This Azazel seems to be a pretty high up there general. What he would want with Sam is anybody's guess," Bobby explained.

"Shit, Bobby. I wish I knew why this was happening! Why Sam?" John cried in frustration.

"I wish I knew too. We just don't have enough information to go on."

"I know, Bobby. We just have to keep looking. We have to find out what this demon wants so we can stop him."

"We will, Johnny. We will."

The two hunters watched the brothers for few minutes more before they turned and made their way back into the house. They knew the young men would be safe as long as they stayed close to the house. Bobby had protections set up all around his property and the boys knew to stay within that line of protection. With a look over his shoulder and sure that Dean and Daniel had things covered, John shut the door behind himself and left his sons to their secret conversation.

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Sam stopped by one of the rusty cars that lay piled in Bobby's salvage yard and leaned up against the hood. He sighed as his brothers took positions beside and in front of him. "You guys, I'm fine. You don't have to guard over me like I'm five again," he said with a small huff.

"You weren't fine a few weeks ago, Sammy. You were far from fine. We nearly lost you," Dean said as he leaned against the car next to Sam.

"But you didn't lose me and I'm fine now. You have nothing to be worried about anymore. The magician's spirit is gone and it couldn't get to me here even if it wasn't."

Dean and Daniel exchanged a quick look before turning their attention back to Sam. "We know the spirit is gone, but it's still too fresh in our minds to just let you wander off on your own, kiddo," Daniel said with an apologetic smile.

"I saw that look…what are you guys hiding?" Sam asked as he crossed his arms across his still sore chest.

"Look? What look?" Dean asked.

"The look you two gave each other. You're keeping something from me…what is it?"

"Sammy, we're not keeping anything from you. We're just worried about you…that's all," Daniel answered softly.

"What's going on, guys? You two follow me around like I'm gonna disappear at any moment. Dad's been talking to Bobby constantly over the past weeks about some sort of research and now he brings us here to stay for a few weeks? Something is up and I want to know what it is!"

"Nothing's up, kiddo. Dad brought us here so we could have some downtime for a bit. You go back to school in a few months…I think he just wants to spend some time doing nothing for a change," Dean explained.

"But what about the research he has Bobby doing? What's that all about?"

"Probably just more research into what took Mom," Daniel replied.

Sam glanced from one brother to the other and sighed. "You guys aren't lying to me are you? I mean, I'm 20 years old…you don't need to keep me in the dark about stuff," he said.

"Look, Dad brought us here so we could relax and hang out for awhile. He wants you to be 100% before he even thinks about taking on a hunt and I think that he was too freaked out by what happened in San Francisco to leave us to do any hunts. As for the research, who knows what he and Bobby are up to," Daniel said.

Sam shook his head as he looked out over the heaps of broken down cars. "Something kept me from hitting the ground after the magician threw me out that window. Like you said, Dad's freaked out about it…I know you guys are too. I heard Dad talking on the phone to Bobby about Trenton Wilcox a few days ago. Why would he be talking about him? What does he have to do with anything?"

Dean leaned into his brother and draped his arm over the younger man's shoulders. "When he found out that you were missing, Dad was so scared…we all were. It brought back memories, you know? It wasn't all that long ago you went missing when Wilcox took you from us."

"I've been taken since then…remember Randy Gregory? Why was Dad talking about Wilcox and not Gregory?"

"I don't know, Sam. Maybe because both Wilcox and the magician's spirit kept saying you belonged to them? Gregory was all about getting revenge on Dad, Danny and I…the others were about those freaks thinking they owned you or something. In any case, we were terrified we wouldn't get to you in time…and we nearly didn't. Can we please just drop this now?" Dean pleaded.

Sam sighed as he turned to look at his brother. "I'm sorry…I just feel like I'm being left out of something. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but…I shouldn't have survived that fall. And why would the magician's spirit think I belonged to him anyway? You guys have only told me bits and pieces and it just feels like I'm being lied to! I hate it!" he cried as he suddenly pushed to his feet and ran to the house, Dean and Daniel right on his tail.

Sam burst through the front door, barely sparing a glance at his father and Bobby as he stomped up the stairs and slammed the bedroom door behind him. Dean and Daniel came through the door and stopped when John stepped in front of them.

"What the hell happened?"

"He heard you talking to Bobby about Wilcox. He knows something is going on and he knows we're keeping it from him. He knows he should have died in that fall and he knows there has to be a reason why the magician wanted him. He knows we're lying to him and he's pissed!" Daniel spat as he made a move to go around his father and up the stairs.

"Damn it!" Bobby hissed as he brushed his hand over his face.

"Dad, maybe we should just tell him," Dean said.

"No! He doesn't need to know that he has a demon stalking him and he doesn't need to know that he is Samuel Worthington reincarnated!" John snarled.

"So, what are we going to do then?" Daniel asked.

"We figure this all out and we don't tell Sam!"

"Tell me what, Dad?"

The four hunters turned their faces up to see Sam standing at the top of the stairs, his eyes filled with pain, fear and anger.

That's it for now folks! I think one more chapter will finish this one up. Will try to work on the next chapter as much as I can but my busy time starts again next week. Thanks for reading!

Cindy