Chapter 25

Jack began to pacing the room. He was worried about Dean because he had been given 3 rounds of antibiotics, but his fever was still very high. It had only come down to 104F, which was a little better, but not good enough to suit Jack.

"Here's what we're going to do. Bryan you strip him down to his boxers. Tony you go get me all the ice you can find. I'm going to run a tub of water and give him an ice bath. That, plus the antibiotics should bring his temperature on down." They all did what Jack said and Dean was put in the tub. Everyone waited and prayed that this would work. If it didn't Jack didn't know what else to do. They didn't have to worry because about an hour later his fever was down to 99F and he woke up.

"Hey," said Bryan. Dean looked over at his friend.

"What the hell," asked Dean. "I'm freezing to death." Bryan just laughed.

"Welcome back, Dean," he said. "Go ahead and get dressed." Bryan left Dean to do just that.

He came out of the bathroom looking a whole lot better, then he saw Jack, who thought Dean was going to jump him again, but he didn't. He just walked over, looked in Jack's eyes, and said. "Thanks." Jack blew out a breath.

"You're welcome. How do you feel?"

"Better," said Dean and walked right on over to the door.

"Where are you going?" asked Bryan grabbing his arm.

"Bryan I've got to go back. Please. He will kill Sam if I don't." About that time the phone rang and Bryan answered it.

"Hello," he said.

"Put Dean on the phone." said Victor.

"He's still unconscious," said Bryan, looking at Dean.

"Put him on the phone. Now Bryan. I'm in no mood for games," said Victor. Bryan sighed and held out the phone for Dean.

"I'm here," said Dean. "Where's my brother, you son of a ...,"

"Be careful Dean. You're there, and I'm here. Sam's with me, so I would be very careful if I were you," said Victor. Dean shut his mouth.

"Good," he said when he realized that Dean wasn't going to say anything else. "Get your butt back to that warehouse, or I will kill Sam and you know it."

"How do I know that you haven't already," asked Dean through clenched teeth.

"Well you're just going to have to trust me on that Dean?" said Victor.

"Trust you," laughed Dean. "Are you serious. No way. I wan't to talk to him. If he's already dead I have no reason to go back there." Victor didn't say anything for a few minutes, but then he held the phone down to Sam.

"Talk to your brother." he said.

"Dean!" said Sam.

"Sam!, Are you ok? Are you hurt?" Sam was silent a few minutes, but then said. "I'm ok." Dean knew he wasn't or he wouldn't have paused before he answered. "Your not ok, are you?" asked Dean. Sam sighed. "No, I'm hurt."

"I'm going to get you out of there Sam, I mean it," said Dean.

"Dean listen to me. Stay away from there. Don't go back! Don't..."

"Sam!" yelled Dean. He heard a slap, then a grunt, and then Victor was back on the phone.

"Satisfied," he asked. Dean didn't say anything.

"You have 1 hour to get your ass back to that warehouse or your brother will die! Come alone Dean. Do you understand!" said Victor.

"Yes," said Dean and Victor hung up the phone Dean looked at Bryan.

"Forget it," said Bryan. "I'm not letting you go back there. Sam's not at the warehouse. You'd be walking into a trap and you know it."

"I don't care!" screamed Dean.

"I do." said Bryan.

"He's my brother and he's going to die if I don't go back," cried Dean.

"Dean,..." said Bryan.

"We're going to have to let him go back," said Tony.

"What," asked Bryan. He checked Tony's eyes. They were clear.

"We don't have a choice. We'll back him up." said Tony. Bryan looked at his partner and then at Jack.

"He said to come alone," replied Dean.

"You can forget that." said Tony. "That is not going to happen." He turned to his partner. "Bryan, we have to let him go." Bryan shook his head and looked at Dean.

"It's the only way to find out where Sam is," continued Tony.

"I don't like it Tony. It's going to be a trap, you know it is." said Bryan.

"I don't like it either, but we don't have a choice," said Tony. Bryan looked at Dean again. "Ok," he said reluctantly, but he wasn't happy about it at all.

"Thank you," said Dean and started for the door. Bryan grabbed his arm. "You be careful. We'll be right behind you." Dean nodded and Bryan let him go. He ran outside. They had gotten the impala from the other motel and that's what Dean drove to the warehouse in. Tony, Bryan and Jack got in Jack's car and followed.

An hour later Dean pulled up to the warehouse. He jumped out and headed for the door, moving slowly and watching for any signs of movement. He reached out for the handle, but froze as he felt a gun being pressed to his head. He held his hands out to the side and hung his head. He was hoping he'd at least have gotten inside first.

"Put your hands on the wall Dean," said Michael shoving him closer to it. Dean did as he was told and Michael searched him. When he was finished he turned Dean around and pushed him back against the wall with his gun.

"Welcome back," said Michael. "I missed you." Dean smirked, but didn't say anything. He glared at Michael, who just grinned. "Tell me Dean, where are your friends?" He caressed the gun down his face. Dean wasn't expecting him to ask that question, but he said, "Back at the motel."

Michael laughed and grabbed Dean around the throat, shoving his head back against the wall. He grunted at the impact. "Now I don't believe that. Not for a minute," said Michael. "They're not going to let you come out here by yourself. Where the hell are they?"

"They didn't come with me," said Dean and Michael nodded. "You want to play games. Fine!" He pulled Dean away from the wall and forced him to his knees. "Come out, come out where ever you are," shouted Michael. "If you don't, I'm going to blow his damn head off." Michael placed the gun to Dean's head.

"They're not here!" cried Dean.

"They're not going to let you come by yourself. I'm not stupid Dean, and I'm really not in the mood for this." He yelled into the night, "You have 5 minutes to get out here or I will kill him!"

"Shit!" said Bryan as he saw Dean on his knees. "I'm going out there."

"No your not," said Tony and Jack at the same time.

"Three minutes," yelled Michael, cocking the gun. Dean closed his eyes. "I'm about to kill him! 1 minute! GET OUT HERE!!!!! NOW!!!!"

"Ok," yelled Bryan. "I'm coming, just don't hurt him."

"Bryan!" hissed Tony, but he was already halfway across the yard. "Son of a bitch," he said. "If they don't kill them, and we get them out of there, I'm going to!"

"Why hello there Bryan. How are you?" said Michael. "Now, how'd I know it'd be you? GET OVER HERE!!!" Bryan raised his hands and walked over. Two men came out of the shadows and grabbed him, holding him still, while Michael searched him. "Where are the others," he asked.

"Back at the motel," replied Bryan and looked at Dean. "You are one hard headed son of a bitch, do you know that? I told you not to come back here!" He hoped that Dean caught on to what he was doing. He didn't want to alert Michael that Jack and Tony were outside. Dean understood and played along.

"I'm sorry," said Dean. "I had to come. They said they'd kill Sam if I didn't, so when you went to the bathroom, and while Jack and Tony were not there, I snuck out and came here."

"Yeah, well now we're both prisoners," said Bryan.

"I'm sorry," said Dean again, "But he's my brother. You'd do the same for Tony." You're doing the same for me, thought Dean. They both looked at Michael to see if he bought it, and apprarently he did. They both breathed a little easier. It was going to be up to Tony and Jack to get them out, and they didn't need to get captured to.

Michael nodded. "Inside," he said, opening the warehouse door. Bryan and Dean walked inside.

"Over there," said Michael gesturing toward the cell. Bryan and Dean walked over. Michael unlocked the door and shoved them both inside, then came in behind them. He cuffed one of Bryan's hands to the bars and turned to Dean.

"Take off your shirt," he said.

"Why?" asked Dean, 'you've already searched me."

"Take it off!" said Michael again in a tone that told Dean he'd better obey. He sighed and took off his overshirt, but left the tshirt on. Michael walked closer.

"Now what do we have here?" he asked as he removed the knife that Dean had strapped to his arm. He placed the blade against Dean's throat. "What are you trying to do, commit suicide or something?"

"Can't blame a guy for trying," said Dean.

"I see you feel better, " said Michael. "I'll have to fix that." He hit Dean hard in the face, knocking him down to the cot! Pain exploded in his jaw and he tasted blood. He cuffed Dean's hand to the rail and walked over to Bryan. He uncuffed him and held the knife to his throat. "You and me, have some unfinished business to take care of." he said. Bryan didn't say a word.

"Take your shirt off," said Michael and Bryan obeyed and removed his shirt. He had not strapped any weapons to his body, so Michael came out of the cell, locked the door and uncuffed Dean. Then he went to call Victor. Several men stayed behind to guard them.

Bryan walked over to Dean. "You ok," he asked. Dean nodded and rubbed his jaw. "What are you doing here Bryan? I told him you were still at the motel."

"Yeah I know, but he wasn't buying it, so I figured I'd better do something, before you got yourself killed."

"Thanks," said Dean.

"I'm not going to let you go through this by yourself. You're kinda like my kid brother, you know?" Dean smiled at that.

"What," asked Bryan.

"Nothing, I've just never had a big brother before. I've always been the big brother."

"Well, now you have three." Bryan looked a the men and knealt down to whisper in Dean's ear. "Tony and Jack are outside." Dean nodded. Bryan raised up. "How are you feeling?"

"Ok, I'm just worried about Sam. He didn't sound good on the phone and I know he's been hurt."

"We'll get him back Dean. Sam's going to be ok." Dean nodded but he had never been so scared in his life.