SECRET KEPT

AUTHOR'S NOTE\DISCLAIMER

Needed a break from my other fic. I got the idea for this story after reading a fic in which Dean had seen The Demon when he was four and been made to promise not to tell anybody. Then I got to thinking, what if it had been Sam that had been forced not to tell anybody about his run-in with The Demon? For the most part, this will take place after the crash with some lines from "In My Time of Dying" with an AU plotline, so disregard anything in season two. However, the first three chapters are before that.

PROLOGUE: FORCED PROMISE

Thirteen-year old Sam Winchester clutched his knife and looked around the forest intently. Where was this stupid Wendigo? He just wanted it dead. The sooner they were done with the hunt, the sooner he could get back to school. There came a rustling and the boy turned around. What was there? The boy narrowed his eyes. Whatever it was, he'd be ready. He had been taught by the best: his brother and father. The rustling came again. Sam straightened his shoulders and held his knife level.

"Easy, Sammy," an unfamiliar voice sneered. The boy watched as a man about his father's age stepped out of the forest.

"Who are you?" Sam wondered.

"No one really important," the man responded. Sam stared at the man and stiffened. There was---there was somethin' about this guy he didn't trust.

"Who are you?" he asked again.

"Like I said, no one important," the man responded.

"Da---" Sam's voice died as he was slammed against a tree. Then, it hit him.

"It's you," he said. The Demon smiled evilly.

"Very good," it stated.

"D---" Sam's cry for help was cut off by the airway in his throat collapsing.

"Listen up Sammy, I want you to stop hunting me," The Demon told him. Sam shook his head. No way would he give in to this freak. "Boy, you stop hunting me, or I swear I'll kill Daddy and big brother, which means you'll be all alone, no one to protect you," he threatened. Sam's eyes widened. He couldn't---he could risk Dad or Dean. They were all he had.

"They'll---be---okay?" the boy managed to choke out. The Demon grinned. He had the boy and he knew it. "Of course they'll be okay if you don't hunt me. I promise," he continued. Then, "I take it we have an understanding?" Reluctantly, Sam lowered his eyes in deference.

"Good boy," The Demon smirked. Then, he released the boy and then disappeared. Sam coughed violently as John and Dean ran off.

"Sammy! What happened?" John asked. Sam could only cough.

"Hey, you okay?" Dean questioned. His only answer was more coughing.

"Come on. Let's get out of here," John suggested. The trio hurried to the 1967 Chevy Impala. Dean helped Sam into the back seat, and John took off.