Delusions

A/N: In this story, the supernatural elements that have taken place thus far have all been in Lucifer's head. Also, since everyone is human here, Malcolm Graham woke from his coma naturally, but still went insane due to the trauma.

Amenadiel had been telling the truth when he told Chloe Lucifer's claims of being the Devil were lies. Well, he was being mostly truthful. He downplayed the situation quite a bit. He had her thinking he made up a story to cope with a bad childhood and eventually started to believe his own lies. He did that preserve his brother's dignity. He didn't want her to know how bad it truly was.

The truth was that Lucifer, or Sam, which was his real name, had a psychotic break. He suffered delusions that eventually caused him to break completely from reality. His so called 'Hell' was actually a mental institution their father was forced to put him in several years ago, one he'd escaped from with the help of Maze, another patient there.

When Amenadiel told Chloe this was all because of a difficult childhood, that was sort of true, but it wasn't the way h implied. Sam wasn't abused or anything, but life wasn't great to him as a kid. Things had been difficult for him starting with his mother's death.

When Amenadiel found his brother again after several years of searching, his plan had been to call his father and get Sam back to the institution. However, Amenadiel quickly decided that maybe it would be beneficial to try a different tactic. He decided to play into his brother's fantasy world for a bit and get him to trust him again. Of course he didn't tell his father about this because he knew the man would not approve. His father was a doctor. He believed in medicine and therapy. He wouldn't like Amenadiel's idea. Amenadiel's, however, believed his idea was worth pursuing. His brother wasn't as bad as he had been. Yes, he was still very far from reality, but he was doing well otherwise. He could function in day to day activities and he was at least getting some professional help. He was much more open to Linda Martin than he had been to any other psychiatrist.

Amenadiel had just walked into his apartment when he heard his phone going off, signaling that he had a video call. He took it out and looked at the caller ID. When he saw who it was, he hit ignore.

Amenadiel went over and poured himself a drink. He had only gotten a sip in before the phone rang again. This time, he didn't even bother looking at it.

Mere moments after the ringing stopped for the second time, his computer went off, indicating a video call.

Amenadiel sighed and walked over to his desk in the living room, which held his laptop. He opened it up and accepted the call, coming face to face with his father.

His father, Samuel, resembled his younger brother. He had short black hair with some gray streaks and blue eyes. He was wearing black dress shirt with a matching black blazer. It was logical that he looked so much like younger son. He was his son by blood. He'd adopted Amenadiel when he married his mother.

"Hello, Father," Amenadiel greeted. He addressed the man as 'Father' rather than 'Dad' to preserve his biological Father's memory.

"I don't appreciate being ignored, Amenadiel," his father said sternly in a thick British accent.

"I didn't mean to ignore you, Father. I've just been busy," Amenadiel lied.

"I don't like being lied either. You've been dodging my calls for weeks. Where is he?" Samuel asked.

"I don't know…"

"Do not lie to me again, Amenadiel!" Samuel said in a raised voice.

Amenadiel cringed a little. "Los Angeles."

"How long have you known that?" Samuel asked, his tone indicating that he knew he wouldn't like his son's response.

"A few months," Amenadiel spoke quietly.

Samuel was quiet for a few moments, settling for glaring at his son. When he did speak, his voice seemed to be made of steel. "I see. I will be there by the morning. When I hang up with you, you are to call the mental health authorities immediately. We will discuss what you could've possibly been thinking when I arrive!"

"Father, wait. I don't think we should go that route right now. I don't think putting Sam back in the hospital is going to do any good. It hasn't so far. That's why I didn't call you. I wanted to try to handle it differently," Amenadiel said.

"And what exactly did your plan entail?" Samuel asked.

"I just wanted to try something different. I decided not to fight him on his delusions. I played along. I let him think we really were sons of God and he really was the Devil," Amenadiel said.

Samuel leaned forward and looked at his son in utter shock. "Are you out of your mind? This is not a game, Amenadiel! Your brother is ill, and you toying with his mental health!"

"No, I'm just trying to find another way to help him. Forcing treatment on him didn't work. I thought if I played along, I could get closer to him, and he might start to trust me more. I think it's working. We're a little closer. I think it could work. It's not like it was before. He's doing better," Amenadiel said.

"If he still thinks he's the Devil, I fail to see how that's the case," Samuel said.

"He's getting closer to people. He has friends that he trusts, and aside from the fantasy he's created, he's taking care of himself well enough," Amenadiel said. Well, that was sort of true. His brother lost himself in vices, like drugs and alcohol, but he was at least taking care of himself for the most part. Amenadiel decided not to mention that part to his father though. "He's also under the care of a psychiatrist."

Samuel looked surprised to hear that. "Sam is willingly speaking to a psychiatrist?" Psychiatrists had always been forced on his son in the past. He refused to accept that anything was wrong with him.

"Yes. I think deep down he knows he needs help. This woman has been good for him. He sees her a couple of times every week. I think she's helping him in a way no one else has been able to," Amenadiel said. That had been the real reason he deceived Linda. He wanted to know how his brother was doing and see if she was up to the task of treating his issues. "Father, I think we should give this a chance. This could help in a way nothing else has. He could get better. Isn't that what you want?"

Samuel narrowed his eyes at his eldest. "Do not try to guilt me, Amenadiel. Of course, I want Sam to get better. Do you think any part of me liked seeing him locked in that hospital, comparing it to literal Hell. He is my son!"

Amenadiel felt bad immediately. He knew he went too far. "I'm sorry, Father. I didn't mean to imply you didn't want what was best for Sam. I just think we should try something else."

"This is a dangerous game you're attempting to play. It could make things worse."

"I don't see how much worse it could get. Please, Father, just try it. I know you're a firm believer in the traditional treatments, but Sam won't cooperate with them. If he doesn't, they have no hope of working. That's already been proven," Amenadiel said.

"I want the name of his psychiatrist," Samuel said.

"Doctor Linda Martin. She's not famous, like the ones you've consulted, but she's good," he said.

"I'll be in touch. Should I call you, you will answer. Is that clear?" Samuel asked in a steel tone.

Amenadiel nodded. "What are you going to do. Are you going to have Sam committed again?"

"I will contact you soon," was all Samuel said before cutting off the call.

Amenadiel sighed and closed his computer. He sincerely hoped that whatever his father decided would help his brother.