Hey!

As promised, it is Tuesday and here is the second chapter. Thank you all for following, favoriting, and/or reviewing! We really appreciate it. This chapter should have a little more action as the story starts to kick off.

Disclaimer: We do not own Supernatural.

Warnings for this chapter: As always, some language, and once again, inaccurate descriptions of what goes on in a mental institute. We mean no offense to anyone really suffering from any of the mental illnesses to be mentioned - the story is purposefully inaccurate for plot reasons.

"Honesty" - Billy Joel

Jared walked down the hall, sighing softly to himself. He'd had to go in and update Jensen's chart with the information on his backslide. And the poor guy'd been doing so well, too… No fits for a whole week, then wham, out of the blue… The official diagnosis was Dissociative Identity Disorder, but Jared knew DID when he saw it. Something was definitely off about this case, but Jared knew that once they figured it out, they'd have Jensen's meds stabilized and get him back home in no time.

As he stopped to put Jensen's pill bottles away, he noticed something that made him groan. Oh, great. Someone had left the computer lab open again. He sighed, turning around to go lock up. Training new staff was the worst...

He walked inside, only expecting to have to shut things down and turn off the lights, when he saw Jensen standing in the middle of the cramped room, pacing back and forth impatiently, phone in hand.

...That wasn't right. Jensen knew better than to go into the computer room outside of the scheduled patient use hours, meaning… Crap. Dean.

Jared cleared his throat, crossing his arms. "Jensen…"

"Son of a bitch…" Jensen - or, probably more accurately, Dean - sighed, hanging up the phone.

Jared let out a disappointed sigh, trying his best not to become irritated. Still, he almost felt… betrayed that Jensen had lied to him. "You didn't take your medication. That's why you wanted to know how long it would take to kick in. 'Twenty minutes of crazy?' Ha, more like twenty minutes when you could act like 'yourself...'"

'Dean' only rolled his eyes. "C'mon, 'Jared.' Something's up here, and you gotta let me figure out what it is."

No, Jared did not 'gotta' let him figure out anything, mainly because there was nothing to figure out.

His expression hardened. Patient or not, Jensen - Dean - whoever - was totally aware of what he'd done. Part of rehabilitation was getting him to take responsibility for his actions like anyone else.

"Don't give me that look. You lied to me! Never - whether you thought you were Dean or not - never once have you actually flat out lied to me." He shook his head and took a deep breath. There was no point getting personal. He'd made his point. "This has gone way too far this time, 'Dean.' Come on, we're giving you your medication. Now. And this time, I'm going to make sure you actually take it."

Jensen shot him a glare. "Yeah, right. Look, I know you don't believe me, but your name is Sam Winchester. You're my little brother. And something's making you forget all that. I've started to narrow it down to a couple of specific things that could be causing this, but I just gotta-"

Jared cut him off. "No." He sighed. He hated being so abrupt with any of his patients, but it couldn't be healthy to let Jensen keep going with this delusion. "There are no demons, alright? There's no 'Cas;' there's no 'Bobby,' and your father's name wasn't even John. Come on… Don't make me sedate you. Please." It wouldn't be the first time he'd had to do it and he was willing to, but he was really hoping to avoid it.

He always hated it when Jensen pulled some stunt like this. His multiple personality had a habit of being much too clever for his own good, which usually caused much more trouble than any of the institution's security guards really needed to deal with, and ended with either tasers or sedatives.

Jensen shook his head, letting out a sigh. "Sorry, Sam. But I gotta figure out what's doing this to you and put a stop to it."

"Nothing's doing anything to me, okay?" Jared sighed, pulling out a needle containing a light sedative, just in case. "Just come with me. You're going to take your medication."

Jensen noticed the needle - of course he did- and took a step back, raising his fists in a defensive position. "Oh, like hell I will."

Jared cursed under his breath. Was Jensen actually going to try to forcefully get out of taking his meds? That had never happened before - not with Jared, at least. Most of the time, because of his delusion that the two of them were related, 'Dean' gave in fairly easily when Jared asked him to do something or go somewhere. Something about "stupid puppy-dog eyes."

"Don't fight me, Jensen…" Jared kept his tone as calm as possible, taking a slow step forwards. "Just come with me, yeah?" For a moment, it looked like Jensen was really considering it, and Jared started to relax, when -

"Gah!" He cried out sharply from both the sudden pain and the initial shock, and then cursed loudly as pain continued to shoot up his arm. Jensen had him in a sturdy arm bar, one calloused thumb pressing into the crook of his elbow and the other wrapped tight around his fingers, pulling them back and forcing his wrist up at an unnatural angle that just hurt more when he tried to squirm away.

Jared struggled to free himself, grimacing and trying not to panic. What the hell were you supposed to do when a patient actually physically attacked you?! "Jensen, let me go! Now. You're just making it worse for yourself… Think about your family!" With his big guns pulled out, all Jared could do was hope the thought of Keegan and Camari would get through to the other man.

Jensen only tightened his grip. "Don't you get it, Sam? You are my family! You're all I have left, and I just…" He swallowed, and Jared could hear the real pain in the other man's voice. "I can't lose you too."

Jared took a deep breath, reminding himself that even if this wasn't real… it was real to 'Dean.' He had to be kind with this, but with pain still shooting in his arm, that kindness was starting to wear thin. "I'm not your brother, Jensen. ...I'm sorry, but I'm not. I never was, never will be. We did not grow up together, if you'd just get that through your stubborn head… Just let me go, Jensen."

"I'm not Jensen!" 'Dean' shoved Jared away, causing him to stumble back, before making a break for the door.

Jared blinked dumbly after him for a second, still in a bit of disbelief, then let out a regretful sigh, picking up the phone. Dr. Sheppard and needed to be informed of this so he could call the security guards.

Sheppard picked up fairly quickly, thankfully. "Hello?"

His voice was brisk and to the point. "Dr. Sheppard, Mr. Ackles is trying to make a break for it… again."

"I see," came the British accent in reply, tinny through the phone's speakers. "I'll sound the alarm."

Jared muttered a quick thanks as he hung up, running out after Jensen. The guy'd have an easier time with Jared than with the guards, who wouldn't hesitate to pump him full of enough sedatives to knock out a horse.

It took him almost a full five minutes to track Jensen down, and then just when he thought it couldn't get any worse…

He rounded the corner, freezing in slack-jawed horror when he saw Jensen calmly swinging a leg over the ledge of a second story window.

"Jensen!" he yelled, in a total panic now. "Don't!" Oh god, oh god, oh god...

'Dean' rolled his eyes, as if Jared had no reason to freak out over the small fact that his patient was just about to jump out of a goddamn window. "I'm not jumping, you idiot." The statement would've probably been more credible if he wasn't currently swinging his other leg out the window, perching precariously on the narrow ledge.

Jared started to run towards Jensen quickly, hoping to get there in time to stop him before the crazy daredevil did something incredibly stupid. True, the fall likely wouldn't kill him, but he could easily break something - and Jared only hoped it wouldn't be his neck.

"Jensen, wait!" Jared was only a twenty or so feet away from him now, but then his shoes were slipping on the linoleum floor, and the ground was rushing up and-

'Dean' looked up at him, and wait, were those tears that Jared saw in his eyes? "I'm coming back for you, Sammy. Promise."

In a last ditch, desperate effort to snap the other man out of his delusion, Jared shouted the only thing that came into his head. "I'm not Sam!"

And then Jensen jumped.

Jared's heart nearly stopped as he finally reached the window, and he was pretty sure he didn't breathe until he saw Jensen roll, alive and seeming to be in fairly good shape, all things considered.

Jared heard the familiar shouts of security guards from outside. They would have been already informed of the escape attempt, and would bring Jensen back in - probably sedated.

Jensen's eyes flashed betrayal as he glanced up at Jared, still looking on helplessly from the window. The meaning of the stare came across loud and clear, and Jared was the one to break the eye contact first, glancing away as Jensen broke into a limping run. Great...

Why did Jensen's multiple personality have to be such a risk-taker? And one with a freakishly high pain tolerance, Jared added mentally. It was just his luck, really...

Jared reached the door leading to the stairs, and he ran down them as fast as possible. The chances of Jensen getting tased and/or sedated at the end of this had gone up to ninety-eight percent.

By the time Jared was outside, the security guards had caught up to Jensen, leaving him just in time to see one of them stick him in the arm with a sedative.

"NO!" He could hear Jensen scream and saw him thrashing to get away, a heavy pit forming in his stomach at the scene.

Jared ran over quickly, the knot in his stomach clenching even tighter to see that Jensen was crying - probably a side-effect of getting sedated on top of already having a bad day.

The other man was practically incoherent, mumbling something that Jared couldn't quite make out. Suddenly, though, Jensen looked up and managed to lock his eyes on Jared's face. "S'mmy... 'm sorry…"

Jared kept his face perfectly calm and soothing as he walked over and knelt down in front of the crying man. "Just let the sedative do its thing, Jensen. It's okay. It's all going to be okay."

It was obvious that 'Dean' was forcing his eyes to stay open, fighting the drugs with everything he had - which wasn't a lot. "No... S'mmy…"

Jared sighed. Neither Jensen nor 'Dean' were usually very emotional. How much freaking sedative had the guards shot him up with?! "Just go to sleep, Jensen… You'll remember everything when you wake up…"

As Jared murmured empty assurances, Jensen's eyes slowly started to slide closed. "'S all my fault… 'm sorry… not fast 'nough to save you…"

Jared couldn't keep his heart from twisting at the obvious pain in his patient's voice - a broken ankle and drugged half to oblivion, and 'Dean' was still apologizing for not keeping him safe. "Stop fighting it, Jensen…" he soothed. "It's all going to be alright."

He glanced up from his charge to see Dr. Sheppard casually strolling toward the commotion, smirking smugly. "Well, then," he commented in his British accent, not even bothering to kneel down to Dean's level. "Another escape attempt failed?"

Jensen's eyes widened, despite the sedative. "S'mmy... 's him…" Jensen started struggling to push himself up. "Y'can't have 'm. 'S my brother."

Sheppard seemed mildly amused. "Can't have who, Jensen? Last time I checked..." he leaned over, chuckling, "You don't have a brother."

Never once had anyone accused Sheppard of being too compassionate towards any of the patients. But this was a new low, even for him. Mocking a patient's illness?! And while they were hurt and drugged, no less. Hell, the poor guy was barely even conscious. Jared cast the older man a warning gaze, but if he noticed, he didn't acknowledge it.

Jensen shook his head stubbornly. "Doesn' matter wha' you think... or even if he's not. F'mly don' end wi' blood…" His head drooped a little, and Jared thought he was finally done before the battered man forced his gaze up again. "You can't hurt 'm."

Jared put a hand on the man's shoulder. God, Sheppard could be a douche sometimes... "Hey, Jensen… No one's going to hurt me, alright? Whether I'm your brother or not. I need you to calm down and stop fighting the sedative… It's only going to give you a bigger headache when you wake up."

Tears rolled down Jensen's face as he started sagging down weakly. "Jus' want you t'be safe..".

"I know, buddy…" Jared sighed. That really did seem to be all 'Dean' wanted - to keep his imaginary brother out of harm's way. Well, that, sex, and "better food - this hospital stuff sucks ass!" He started to rub soothing circles into Jensen's back. "I'll be there when you wake up. Just go to sleep…"

Jensen smiled a little. "Trus' you, S'mmy…" Finally, the man gave into the sedative, his eyes drooping shut as he allowed his body to slump to the ground.

Sheppard rolled his eyes. "Another outburst? Seriously?"

Jared swallowed, frowning at Sheppard's tone. "He's getting better… Just didn't take his meds." He sighed. "I should have kept a better eye on him."

Sheppard shrugged. "Well, it's not exactly your fault the kid's lost it. ...I'll call someone from orthopaedics to set that ankle. "

Jared nodded, watching as two of the guards picked Jensen up, placing him on a stretcher and wheeling him back inside. Jared started to follow them, but Sheppard pulled him aside.

"Look, Jared…" Sheppard looked at him, and Jared could tell by his tone that he wasn't going to like what the other man said next. "I know you and Jensen have been working well together... But I don't think we can take care of him here anymore."

What?

"What do you mean?" Jared swallowed, more than just a little bit confused, but definitely not liking where this was going.

"I mean that maybe we need to move him up to the state institution for longer term care," Sheppard explained what Jared had already guessed.

"From what I observed, he was doing better, sir," Jared stated quickly. "He just… had another fit and somehow avoided swallowing his pills. We just need to make sure he's actually taking his medication. This is the closest institution to his family. They'd have to take a large amount of time out of their daily schedule to visit him if he went somewhere else."

Sheppard only sighed. "I don't think we can deal with such a volatile patient. Jared, he attacked you. He's hiding meds. This is the second escape attempt that's gotten outside the building. We simply aren't equipped to deal with him here and you know it."

Sheppard had a point, as much as Jared disliked the notion of Jensen going somewhere else. It was just because he didn't want to see the man separated from his family, he reasoned with himself. That was the only reason he cared so much about Dr. Sheppard's surprise announcement.

He frowned. "I know, sir. But...I just have trouble believing he'll do any better there. He thinks I'm his brother. Take him away from here and he might grow worse, even more volatile. Even his fake self isn't usually that dangerous. He just needs to be a bit more controlled."

"It's not healthy," Sheppard told him sternly. "The relationship he has with you. You heard him; he's so determined to protect you he doesn't even care if you're his brother or not. You're not supposed to get attached to the patients like this, Jared."

Jared nodded slowly. "I realize that, sir. I understand. Is it alright if I'm the one who tells him? If 'Dean's' the one conscious at the time, I don't think he'd react well to anyone else giving him the news. Especially not you, when he thinks you're some sort of… demon or something."

Sheppard nodded. "The state institution is only a day's drive away," he added. "His family could make a trip up every weekend, so no need to worry about that."

"I suppose they could," Jared conceded. Somehow, that didn't make the empty feeling in his gut at the thought of Jensen's transfer go away. "Thank you, sir," he said, only because he knew that was what he was expected to do.

"It's no trouble, Jared," Sheppard said, smiling and clapping him on the shoulder. "I just want what's best for him... and for you, naturally."

Jared frowned, looking at him. "For me?"

"I've noticed that you've gotten rather attached to Jensen while he's been here," Sheppard explained. "This might be better for everyone. Who knows, hmm?" The older man shrugged, seemingly indifferent to the situation.

Jared nodded. "I understand. I'll give him the news once he wakes up."

"He'll be leaving once he does. I've already informed his family," Sheppard said.

"So soon?"

"I'm not one to waste time. For what it's worth though, you've seemed to have made progress with him. I do think the squirrel's going to pull through eventually." Sheppard gave him an attempt at a reassuring smile - which really wasn't all that reassuring.

"...Yes, sir," Jared sighed. If getting this news stung, giving it to Jensen - or worse, 'Dean' - was gonna be… Well... he didn't really want to think about it.

Oh… Nothing can ever be easy, can it? We'll leave you there and see you next Tuesday! Please remember to leave us a review to tell us what you thought! - Mimzy and Pixie