Chapter 21 - Misleading Images

'NO!' yelled Sam in pain as Jacob inserted another does of the drug into Sam's system.

Sam screamed in pain again as his body burnt up inside. It was over not long after, and he lay, sweating and shaking in agony.

'Do you know what this is Sam?' asked Aaron as Jacob prepared another dose. 'The CIA use it when they need to get the truth out of people. After each does the pain gets worse…and you'll feel like you'll die from it. But it won't kill you. That's the beautiful part…we could give it to you every 5 minutes for the next day, and you wouldn't die, you'd just be in tremendous pain.'

Jacob inserted another dose, and Sam was overwhelmed with agony again. Aaron laughed maliciously, and held up a hand as Jacob went to measure another dose.

'That'll do for now,' he said. 'I have better plans for the rest of that drug. Come and get him in 15 minutes though, and take him to the soundproof room.'

'Yes sir,' replied Jacob, his eyes glistening.

They exited the room, running into the other three.

'I hope you all know what your doing!' threatened Aaron. 'I want this to work…such a sweet revenge to John Winchester; making his son go crazy. I know he can see me.'

'I think it's an excellent plan sir,' commented Anthony. Aaron smiled wickedly at this.

'I know. Go get Dean now…it's time we drive his brother insane.'

Dean didn't even bother looking up as Marc entered his room. He was busily examining his burnt hands tenderly, trying to ignore the pain that still shot through them.

'Do you wanna see your brother Dean?' Marc asked, his voice not at all friendly.

This caught Dean's attention.

'Of course I do!' he managed to say back. He wasn't entirely sure though; they could just be messing with him.

'I want you to walk with me…you try anything funny, and we'll kill him,' warned Marc, releasing the shackle. 'I have orders to report back in five minutes, and if I don't, they'll know you got me.'

Dean just nodded numbly. After the little guillotine stunt he knew he shouldn't mess with them…at least, until Sam was safe. Marc hauled out his gun and motioned for Dean to walk ahead.

Dean hesitated, but walked out the door.

'Where am I going?' he asked.

Marc just gripped his arm and led him down the hall and up some stairs, and stopped in front of a door. He pushed it open and gave Dean a small shove inside, then locked the door.

Dean looked around his new surroundings with disappointment. It was just a bare room, except for a window that looked into another room. When Marc had said 'See your brother', he had meant see him, not talk to him, and not be with him. Obviously Sam would be put in the other room. Well, as long as Sam could see him, to know he was alive.

As he stood in front of the window, he saw the door to the other room open, and his brother was dragged in. Horror struck Dean at the site. Sam wasn't even struggling; he just hung limply in their arms. The door to Dean's room opened and Aaron appeared beside him.

'Something wrong Dean?' he mocked, as Dean continued staring straight ahead.

He watched as Sam's arms were chained above his head, his feet thankfully still firmly on the floor. Jacob approached with a needle and Sam tried backing away, but the substance was inserted into his system easily.

'What are you giving him!' Dean asked, his voice raised. 'What have you been doing to him!'

He spun and punched Aaron across the face, and pinned him to the wall. Aaron just smiled in amusement.

'We've been giving him a drug that burns up his insides,' Aaron said with a smirk, staring directly into Dean's eyes. 'And that was just a little something to prevent him from sleeping. We're going to make him insane. And guess what Dean? He can't see you. Why would we let him after we went to so much trouble making him believe that you were dead?'

'YOU SON OF A BITCH!' yelled Dean, swinging another punch.

Aaron disappeared before connection was made, and Dean's fist hit the wall hard, fracturing some fingers. He gritted his teeth against the pain and turned, expecting Aaron to be behind him, but Aaron was gone. With a shaky sigh he moved back to the window, cradling his hand, and watched Sam.

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Sam barely knew what was happening as he was dragged from his room. He could barely think. He didn't want to. His dad was dead, his uncle, his brother…and now he was at the hands of the psycho son-of-a-bitch that had killed his mum and Jess. He had nothing to live for. He was dragged into another room and forced to his feet, and his hands were chained high.

He saw Jacob coming with a needle again and moved away in protest, but he was so weak that he had no chance. The drug was inserted into his system, and he could feel it spreading, leaving his body aching. He tried closing his eyes, but the drug forced him to remain awake. He watched as Jacob and Anthony left the room, and wondered what they were up to. In the state he was in, he still observed the small room. A mirror stood in front of him, daring him to look at himself, and in the corner of the room, attached to the roof, was a lone speaker.

He shook his head in disbelief as the steady sound of water dripping hit his ears. It was so loud…so echoing. It shot through his head like lightening, bringing back all those memories from the other day. It got increasingly louder, it echoed more…the stupid drip…drip…. drip….

He wrenched his eyes shut, trying to block the sound from his brain, his face screwed up in concentration. But it kept breaking through, and it drove him insane having to listen to it.

As his eyes slowly opened in defeat, his head rose, and he stared at himself in the mirror. This is what it had come to. But beside his image, was another. His eyes widened at the sight, and he turned his head to look behind him, to prove the image wasn't fake.

'Dean-' he began, but stopped immediately, his heart sinking. There was no one there. His head turned back to the mirror, where his image sat alone, and his head sank down in disbelief. He could've sworn he'd seen Dean…but how could he have? Dean was dead. This was so unfair.

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Dean watched his brother, confused. What was Sam looking at? Why had be looked so hopeful; then so defeated?

He looked up in anger as Aaron entered again.

'Calmed down?' grinned the demon. 'I thought I'd let you know what's going on around here.'

Dean just stared defiantly back. There was no point even trying to hurt Aaron. The last thing he needed were two broken hands.

'I've heard that if you play something loud enough, and long enough, they can go crazy,' began Aaron. 'Right now your brother is being treated to a recording of a tap dripping…it's extremely loud and echoing, and is probably shooting right through his head right now.'

Deans face screwed up into an angry scowl, and his eyes went dark.

'And then…' continued Aaron. 'You don't realize it, but the other side of this window is a mirror for Sam. And at times, I can make it go transparent, so he can see into this room; see you.' Aaron grinned. 'It worked a treat. He saw you, thought it was a reflection; thought you were alive…then while he wasn't looking I made it a mirror again, and you weren't there after all.'

Dean was speechless. Why would a demon go to this much trouble?

'Why don't you just kill us,' he said through gritted teeth, fighting all urges to pummel this guy as hard as he could.

'It's more fun this way,' said Aaron.

'That's the only reason you brought me here, isn't it!' Dean suddenly yelled in realization. 'So you could trick my brother into thinking I was alive!'

'Guilty.'

Aaron disappeared and Marc entered, gun pointed.

'C'mon, times up. Back to your room!'

The anger welled up inside Dean, and he ducked his head, ramming into Marc as hard as he could. They both crashed to the floor, Marc hitting his head hard against a wall. Dean dragged him into the room and bolted the door shut, before moving to the next door that led to Sam. A combination lock held it shut.

'SAMMY!' he screamed, pounding on the door. 'SAM!'

The door was solid steel, and Dean knew he wouldn't break through it. His eyes settled onto the lock, and he tugged at it frantically, but his hands were too sore to get a grip on it. He kicked the door as hard as he could, but it didn't even budge.

He heard a noise behind him, and went to turn, but something slammed him across the head, rendering him unconscious.

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Hello my darlings...i'm sorry it took so long to get this up...but i've been having my ass slammed by the flu. but i'm back! so it's all cool :)

i hope this chap was ok...

and i'd like to thank my new beta Steff, and all of you guys who reviewed :)

Nikki