"I've been having these dreams," Sam began once he, Dean, Bobby and Cas were all gathered in one of the small rooms at the back. Bobby frowned, Dean raised a suggestive eyebrow, and Cas… Cas remained unchanged.

"I've been having them for a while actually," he continued quickly, not giving anyone the chance to comment. "Since before Jess and Kyle disappeared. And up until now I couldn't really remember most of them. Couldn't remember enough details for any of them to seem significant. What I did remember, I'll admit, could've just been a manifestation of latent anxiety. So initially, I dismissed them..."

"But?" Bobby prodded when Sam seemed to stall.

"But," Sam continued, taking a deep breath. "The last one definitely stuck. And it's not something I can dismiss. It was about getting Jess back, and I had it right before we got her. I knew I was gonna get that call from the hospital before it even came through."

"Yeah well, obviously," Dean countered, tolerance for humouring his brother's ideas seeming to have dissipated remarkably quickly. "You wanted Jess back, so you dreamt about it, probably not for the first time. And then it happened. Wishful dreaming come true, thankfully."

"There was nothing wishful about that dream, believe me." Sam shuddered at the memory before continuing. "Besides, I've already considered that. Even if it were true about this latest dream, it doesn't explain all the ones before. Like I said, I don't remember them completely, but I remember enough now to know it doesn't make any sense for me to have been having them. And I was having them before Jess and Kyle disappeared, before I would've even had any reason to be anxious."

"You didn't mention it." Dean said, throwing it out like thinly veiled accusation. "You've never once mentioned it in fact."

"Well I'm mentioning it now." Sam said, trying his best not to snap.

"You're a hot shot lawyer though, right?" Dean retaliated, shrugging his shoulders dismissively. "Probably the stress of a case–"

"No." Sam cut in. "No, there's no way these dreams have anything to do with my work."

"Not even your extracurricular work?"

"No," Sam replied, teeth gritting hard to maintain his temper as he tried to ignore his brother. "Besides, this last one? There was something off about it." He shook his head before turning to the others. "It just felt… real, you know? There was this woman, a blonde, like the woman Jess described. She said a lot of things that didn't make sense at the time, but they do now. Well, most of them. And everything about it just felt different. Felt off. No, I'm convinced it wasn't just a dream."

"What do you think it was?" Castiel asked, his gravelly timbre giving away nothing about what he was thinking.

Sam took a deep breath before saying out loud what he had only conceded to himself silently up until then.

"I think it was a communication. From whoever or whatever took Jess. From whatever still has Kyle. From the blonde woman. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm certain of it."

"Oh come on!" Dean retorted, clearly not willing to consider the idea. "You're saying you had a vision?" He said it as though it were a dirty word, not bothering to hide his scepticism.

Sam's instincts were to rise to his brother's challenge, but Bobby stepped in with a question, curtailing any potential argument from ensuing between the siblings.

"What exactly did this woman say to you to make you take the dream so seriously?"

"She mentioned Castiel for a start." Sam replied, flicking his gaze towards the angel. "Not by name, but she referred to an angel, saying you had something to do with why it had been difficult for her to get a hold of me. And this was before I even knew angels existed. I'm guessing she meant the warding on my ribs," he shot an accusatory glance at Dean, deciding to censor other details of the dream for now, before returning his attention back to Bobby. "And all the warding in the Roadhouse. Oh, and she told me her name was Lilith, if that means anything."

Sam hadn't thought mention of such an inconsequential name would have had such a consequential impact, but the instant he said it even Dean sobered up.

"Lilith?" Castiel repeated, seeking confirmation, seeming to somehow become even more serious, as if that could be possible.

Sam nodded, realising the change in all of them. "You've heard of her," he surmised, shifting his gaze between the three men. Dean began to shake his head, his trademark dismissive gesture, but Sam cut him off before he could even begin.

"Don't even think about lying to me Dean. Or any of you, for that matter. My son is out there, with this woman, or whatever the Hell she is. So don't you dare pretend it's got nothing to do with whatever you're all involved in. And for the record, I know about the Apocalypse. I know you're all trying to stop it. And now I know this Lilith or whoever is connected to it all somehow, pulling the strings since god knows when. She has my son. So just be straight with me and tell me what the hell's going on. All of it."

"What exactly did Lilith say to you?" Castiel asked, drawing Sam's attention.

"So she is real." Sam responded, satisfaction mixing with dread at the affirmation. His brain raced to recall what she had said, realising suddenly the significance it held. "She said she had many names, and that she was the first. That Lilith was the first. And her eyes turned white. And," he fixed Dean with a stare, memory of the dream returning more cohesively with the forced recollection. "She said that I should ask you about her. Said something about my, about our, bloodline. Or my birth right or something. Who… what, is she?"

Dean was clearly reluctant to go forward with whatever was about to come, but Sam was beyond caring. He repeated his question, turning instead to Castiel and pressing him for the answer.

"Who is Lilith? If she has my son, none of you has the right to keep me in the dark any longer."

There was a fraction of a pause before the angel relented, and Sam was surprised that Dean didn't try to stop him.

"Lilith was, is, a demon, released back onto Earth. As she told you, she is the first demon, created by Lucifer himself."

"Created how?"

"Like all demons, she was human once. Until Lucifer corrupted her, twisted her soul, a violation of nature intended to serve no other purpose than to spite our Father. She was the first demon to ever be created, preceding even Azazel and his kin. It was her creation, in part, which led to Lucifer being imprisoned by my Father in Hells' Cage. It is that same Cage that Lilith is now attempting to open, in her quest to set Lucifer free."

"And freeing Lucifer, opening his cage, that'll bring about the Apocalypse?"

"Yes."

"So what does that have to do with my son? What does it have to do with me?"

"We don't know." Dean sighed, but Sam found his brother's words hard to believe and Dean reacted to Sam's frustration. "Seriously, we don't. For all we know it's got nothing to do with Kyle. Or you. Any of you."

"Balls." Bobby said, before Sam had a chance to retaliate, his outburst causing both brothers to stare at the older hunter in surprise.

"She has his son." Bobby continued, shaking his head at Dean, clearly not impressed. "She's been communicating with him. Not you. Not your angel buddies. With him. Directly. Despite all your efforts. How much more involved does he need to be before you pull your head outta your sandy ass and realise you can't protect him? Or keep him out of this? He's already a part of this, whether you like it or not. What we don't know is why." He turned to Sam, features softening a touch. "What else did she say to you Sam?" He prodded gently. "In your dream, or vision or whatever it was, was there anything else she said?"

Sam ran a hand through his hair, taking a few steps around the room as he gathered his thoughts. "She said… She said it was a surprise to learn of our existence, Dean's and mine. That Azazel had slipped up where our parents were concerned. Said something about Dad being responsible for her release. And…"

"What?" Dean prompted reluctantly, picking up on his brother's discomfort and reacting with instinctive concern despite his personal qualms.

"And," Sam continued, swallowing down bile as the memories returned. "I think the demon that was possessing Stacey, our neighbour, I think Lilith set it all up. Made Stacey kill her own son so that Jess would befriend her, get close to her. All because she needed Kyle. Lilith, she needed Kyle for something. Except she made it seem like Kyle isn't right for whatever she needs. She said she wants me because Kyle's not … he's not taking the blood as well as I would have." He looked up, passing his gaze between the others. "What the hell does that mean?"

Dean seemed to have paled as Sam recalled details of his dream, and the change in his brother's countenance wasn't lost on Sam. "Dean?" He pressed, locking eyes with him.

"Since you know so much," Dean commented, sending a pointed glance towards Bobby before focussing on Sam again. "I guess you know about the special children?" At Sam's nod of affirmation Dean sighed, looking weary as he relented. "Well, it's what Azazel did to them when they were kids. What he did to them to make them that way. He… He fed them his blood."

Sam's mouth went dry. "But Azazel's dead. You killed him."

"It does not need to be Azazel's blood." Castiel supplied. "Simply the blood of a first demon, created by Lucifer. And Lilith is the first, before any other. Her blood is much more potent."

"Potent? What the hell does that even mean?" Sam rubbed a hand over his face. "Jesus! So she's feeding my son her blood," he surmised, the sick feeling spreading through him as he fought to retain his composure. "Why?"

"Azazel fed his blood to create a group of super soldiers," Bobby supplied. "Like I told you about, like Jake Talley. He made them fight it out till only Jake was left, so that Jake could open the Gates of Hell, just like he managed to."

"That makes no sense." Sam said shaking his head. "If Jake already did that, why would Lilith feed her blood to my son? What does she need him for?"

"Opening the Gate is not the sole purpose of the chosen blood bonded."

While Bobby and Sam both turned to face Castiel at this, Sam noticed Dean's lack of response, and realised that his brother already knew whatever the angel was about to reveal. Clearly Bobby was as much in the dark now as Sam was, but that knowledge didn't bring Sam any form of solace right then.

"The true purpose of the chosen," Cas continued. "Is to release Lucifer from the Cage, and to then serve as his ultimate vessel on Earth for the final battle. For what you call the Apocalypse."

"But they've already got Jake for that." Dean snapped. "What the hell do they want Kyle for?"

"It's me she wants." Sam corrected grimly. "Not Kyle. Kyle is a means to an end. A means to me."

"Fine. My point still stands. They've got Jake. They don't need you or Kyle."

"I have always been puzzled by that." Castiel said, turning to Dean and addressing the hunter's annoyance with his own unassailable calm. "Their choice of Jake Talley in favour of Sam. The most tactical choice would have been for Sam to be Lucifer's vessel."

"How'd you figure that?" Dean asked, seeming offended at the suggestion.

"He is your family." Cas highlighted. "And there is clearly nothing you value more than your family, more than your brother. You would, after all, struggle to kill Sam more than you would any other vessel. Certainly more than you will struggle to kill Jake Talley. But if not Sam, then Kyle would be the next best choice. He is your nephew, your family. I am surprised they did not use that to their advantage sooner."

"Well they couldn't get to him. To any of them." Dean continued, talking now exclusively to Cas. "You and I made sure of that. And besides, they did try. Years ago, remember."

"What do you mean 'they did try?" Sam asked, raising his voice, forcing Dean and Castiel to acknowledge him. "Tried what?"

Dean squirmed, hesitating under the stares he was receiving from both Sam and Bobby. The collective intensity seemed to do the trick because he relented.

"The night Mom died," he said, meeting Sam's gaze briefly before looking away. "She was in your nursery because Azazel was there. Dad thought she caught him trying to turn you into one of his special children. We think Azazel killed her because of that, because she tried to stop him."

"We?" Bobby asked sharply, clearly hearing these new details for the first time. "Far as I recall, John never mentioned Sam being one of those kids."

"Dad suspected," Dean acknowledged, ducking his head at the admission so as to avoid Bobby's scowl. "He wasn't sure but… Once he figured out what Yellow-Eyes was, what he was up to, then, well… he seemed pretty convinced. He didn't tell me much other than he wanted to keep an eye on Sam. Wanted to make sure I'd… take care of things if anything ever happened. In case Azazel had succeeded that night and Sam went… you know… weird at some point."

"Wait…" Sam cut in, the gut-wrenching revelation that their mother had died to protect him having ebbed enough to let the implication of the act finally sink in. "So you're saying I have demon blood in me?" He felt sick all over again as he articulated the realisation, wondering if he had somehow passed it on to each of his children and infected them with it. "How long have you known?"

Dean held up his hands defensively. "He told me a while before he went off and got himself killed. And for the record, he didn't include me in that suicidal plan. In any of it." He said, pointedly inflecting the last part of that and hoping Sam would take the hint. Hoping Sam would keep his mouth shut about the deal.

"But you knew? About Azazel and me and Mom?" Sam spat back, the anger growing with the sickness. "All these years, you've known and you didn't think to tell me?" He edged closer to his brother, his fists balled up and clenched tight. "Even the other night, when I asked you for the truth! You couldn't think to tell me!"

"You don't have demon blood in you." Dean appeased.

"How can you be sure? Is there any reason why I wouldn't?" Sam retorted, referring to the price John had asked for in exchange for his soul. He'd thought after the argument with Dean that John had sold his soul to cure him of cancer, but now he was beginning to wonder if it was something much more sinister. But he also already knew that Bobby didn't know about that, and as much as he didn't want to be any part of perpetuating Dean's secrets, he also knew this wasn't the way Bobby should find out.

"You don't have demon blood in you. Dad was wrong." Dean said, looking uneasy. "He thought you might have done but," he shrugged. "He was wrong. I mean he must have been, seeing as you didn't go all Sylar-mutant psycho a few years back the way all the other special freaks did. Mom must've managed to save you that night. Dad thought she hadn't, so I'm guessing he confronted Azazel, tried to get revenge, for everything, and died for it. But he was wrong. Azazel killed mom but he didn't turn you."

"It is true." Castiel stepped in, siding with Dean as he addressed Sam. "You did not display any symptoms similar to the others. Your mother must have prevented Azazel from recruiting you."

"No, that doesn't make any sense." Sam shook his head, still processing all the new information and trying to ignore the irritating reminder that Dean had been keeping him in the dark about things in their life for longer than Sam could have ever imagined. He tried to recall more details of the dream, details of which seemed to have splintered and buried themselves in all corners of his mind. "Lilith said if they'd known about me from the start. If they'd known, Azazel would have marked me. By which I guess she meant fed me his blood. The way she said it made it seem like they had no idea about me."

"Which just goes to prove you don't have demon blood in you. Or she was lying coz she's a demon bitch from hell and demons do that." Dean retorted. "Besides, Mom was killed that night by Azazel. Dad saw him. Why else would Azazel have been there? He must've never got to finish the job coz Mom interrupted him."

"There would have been nothing to stop Azazel from finishing what he started after he killed Mom." Sam persisted, sensing that he was still missing some part of the puzzle, that the pieces they had weren't adding up to form an accurate picture. "And Lilith wants me to be one of them. That's what she said. That I'm the one they want, not Kyle."

"It stands to reason." Castiel interjected. "That they would still want Sam, even if an earlier attempt had been thwarted. In fact, I'm surprised they waited so long before making such a tactically advantageous move as this."

"They only made their move now because the guards who should have been keeping an eye on him went AWOL." Dean snapped.

"But regardless," Cas volleyed. "It is curious they didn't try harder in the intervening years."

"Because up until now, we did a good job of keeping him safe." Dean retorted.

"Perhaps." The angel conceded. "But with you as the Michael Sword, it seems strange to not exploit such an obvious weakness in you."

"Obvious weakness?" Dean retaliated, hackles rising at the angels comment.

"What's a Michael Sword?" Sam asked, turning to Bobby for an explanation when neither Dean nor Castiel seemed to have heard him.

"Far as I know," Bobby responded, addressing Sam. "The Michael Sword is just that; a sword. If you believe the lore, it's what the archangel Michael will use to defeat Lucifer."

"So why'd he call Dean that?" Sam asked, but Bobby simply shrugged, seeming as confused about the phrasing as Sam was.

"Your brother is your greatest weakness Dean." Castiel continued, seeming surprised by Dean's reaction and oblivious to the conversation between Sam and Bobby. "Surely you know this."

"Greatest weakness? Oh, so now there's a list?"

"Dean, I simply meant–"

"No I guessed what you meant."

"Why'd you call Dean the Michael Sword?" Sam asked, directing his question towards Cas and raising his voice in order to again break the exclusivity of Dean and Cas' exchange. The two turned to stare at him, his question having finally caught their attention and preventing Dean from responding further to the angel's latest statement.

"Dean is the Michael Sword." Castiel answered before Dean could check him.

"What does that mean?" Sam pressed, pushing for a better explanation.

"It doesn't matter." Dean replied, quicker this time than Cas.

"Oh no, you don't get to gloss over anything. Not after everything else that's just come out." Sam said, halting his brother's rebuttal and turning to Cas for a response. "What does that mean: Dean is the Michael Sword?"

"Cas." Dean said, by way of warning and the angel turned to him.

"You said you would tell your people when the time was right and I have respected your choice. But the time has run out Dean. These senseless arguments are getting in the way of what needs to be done."

"My point exactly!" Dean snapped sharply, firstly addressing Cas, then all of them in turn. "This is pointless. All we should be focussed on right now is getting Kyle back. Talking about things that don't matter is a waste of time."

"Is this about you saying yes to Michael?" Bobby asked suddenly, eyes narrowing as he glared at Dean. "We talked about that. We decided you weren't gonna do anything without discussing it first."

"No." Dean responded. "You talked about it. I didn't agree to discussing anything. And for the record, I'm getting real damned tired of everyone acting like I owe them an explanation. I don't. Let's get that straight once and for all; we're not in this together. This is not a democracy. I'm the one out there, I'm the one dealing with this 'crap-storm' as you like to call it. Not you. Not Ellen. Sure as hell not Ash or Jo or any other damned hunter that drags their sorry ass through here when the mood takes them. It's me."

"So you think what?" Bobby retaliated. "That just because we're not standing out there next to you reading Hail Marys over demon smoke, it gives you a free pass to be reckless?! To go with whatever half-baked idea comes into your head?"

"Like I said," Dean growled. "Not a democracy."

"Son." Bobby said, shaking his head, but Dean cut him off.

"I've got a job to do. And I'll do whatever it takes to get it done. And if that means saying yes to Michael, then yeah, I'll say yes to Michael. But if I do? I don't need to ask your permission Bobby. Hell! I don't even have to tell you. I just need to get it done."

"Even if getting it done gets you dead in the process?" Bobby countered, frustration leaching into his voice.

"Woah!" Sam jumped in, unable to stay on the side lines any longer. "Dead? Why? What's Michael asking?" He looked between the two hunters waiting for an explanation.

"Apparently," Bobby replied gruffly, eyes still fixed on Dean. "Your idjit brother is intent on getting himself killed by allowing Michael to wear his sorry hide into the Apocalypse. A prize fight in which there's no telling who'll win."

"Wear him to the Apocalypse?" Sam shook his head in confusion. "Bobby, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Angels need a human host to exist here on Earth. Like him," Bobby gestured towards Cas. "What? You thought Columbo over there is what angels really look like?"

Sam stared at Castiel, suddenly somewhat disgusted. "You're possessing someone?" Sam asked unable to keep the shock and revulsion from his voice. "Like a demon?"

"He's not possessing anyone!" Dean responded, jumping to Cas' defence before the angel could respond himself. "Angels need permission."

"Dean is correct." Cas supplied. "As is Bobby. In our true forms, humans could not tolerate us. Nor could we exist so easily amongst you without being tethered here on Earth."

"So if this isn't your 'true form', then whose is it?" Sam asked cautiously, not sure he wanted to know the answer, remembering suddenly what Lilith had said about her body.

"This is Jimmy Novak. It is his body that I currently occupy. And unlike demon possession, he gave me permission to enter, just as he may reject me at any time. I assure you, Jimmy is at peace with his decision. I would not exist in this form if he were not… I could request that he speak with you, if you wish. However it is usually his choice to remain dormant."

"So this… Jimmy guy, he's not dead?"

"No."

"And if he changes his mind or if you leave? What then? What happens to him? Does he end up in a psych ward like Stacey?"

"No. Nothing happens to him. His human life would continue as before. I would erase his memory of me if he so wished, but other than that, there would be no ill consequences for him in being my host."

"So wait, let me get this straight." Sam continued. "Dean's gonna be a host for Michael?"

Castiel nodded. "Not just a host. Michael is an archangel. Dean is his true vessel. The only host in which Michael's true power can ever reside outside of Heaven. The only vessel through which that power can be fully realised and unleashed here on Earth. That is what makes Dean the Michael Sword, Heaven's most terrifying weapon."

"And Dean's gonna be fine?" Sam pressed.

"Your brother is aware of the risks," was all Cas said.

"What are the risks?" Sam pressed, but Dean intervened before Cas could respond.

"They're none of anyone's business is what."

"Balls to that." Bobby shot. "So you've already decided to say yes to him. And you were gonna share this little gem with the class when exactly?" He demanded angrily, annoyance flashing openly in his eyes as he glared at Dean.

"Well now it's shared." Dean snapped. "So everyone can get off my case and move on."

"Move on? You're gonna strap yourself to a nuclear warhead and you want us to just move on?!"

"Yeah, that's exactly what I want!" Dean barked, anger fully spilling over. "Coz we got more important things to be focussing on instead of wasting time talking about endgames that might not even happen. Right now, we've got a kidnapped child to find. So explain to me how this discussion is helping with that?"

Bobby glowered, angered in return at Dean's attitude but unable to negate the validity of his point.

"Fine." he scowled. "How 'bout we figure out why in the Hell those demons want Sam? It's not to get to you, I think we got that much figured out."

"I think it's like Cas said," Sam put in, unhappy with all the revelations but eager to refocus the conversation back to finding his son. "To pit me and Dean against each other."

"But why now? Why wait?"

"Coz we had him covered up until now!" Dean replied, still agitated.

"No Bobby's right." Sam chimed in. "Something doesn't add up."

"What needs to add up? She has Kyle. We need to get him back. How hard is the math here?"

"If Mom stopped Azazel that night," Sam reasoned, ignoring Dean's frustration. "Why didn't he come back to finish the job? Dad wasn't a hunter back then, there would have been nothing to stop Azazel."

"OK so maybe Dad was wrong." Dean snapped, throwing his hands up in the air. "Maybe Azazel killed Mom before she could stop him. Which makes you just another one of those freaks. I mean, let's forget that you haven't had any of the symptoms. Or that you just happened to miss the playoffs when all the others went head-to-head in the mother of all sudden deaths. But no, let's just ignore all of that and assume you're a freak too Sam. Sure would explain a lot."

"It seems reasonable to assume that both are true." Cas stated, having up until then been quietly considering the suppositions that were being thrown back and forth between the others.

His statement was met with a confused silence.

"Perhaps Mary did thwart Azazel's earlier attempt when Sam was an infant," he clarified. "But perhaps Azazel considered the failure of no consequence back then, not worthy of remedying. But now, with Dean having been revealed as Michael's vessel perhaps that is enough of a spur to pique Lilith's reinterest in you."

The three men considered this, each taking a moment to feel the idea out.

"Huh." Sam said at last, being the first to respond. "That actually might make sense. I mean, Lilith said Azazel messed up where I was concerned. That if they'd known about me they would have gotten to me sooner."

"Since when do you consider her word to be Gospel?" Dean quipped, still irritated for some reason.

"Since she told me I would get Jess back and we did." Sam snapped. "Since she's the one who most likely has my son and is willing to make a trade."

"A trade?" Dean shot incredulously. "Oh now who's leaving things out? Hell! We don't even know for sure if she's got him!"

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes to find out." Sam shot back.

"Sam." Bobby intoned. "Your brother's right. You know that whatever she told you, whatever she offered, you can't trust her."

"Well what else is there? Do any of us have a way to get my son back? Do we have any leads?" Sam looked between them all and although there had been no accusation in his tone, no one was able to meet his eyes. "I mean you're right Bobby. I don't know if any of what she told me is true. But it tallies with what Jess remembers. It's the first thing that feels like a lead. No matter how much we argue about it, it's still more than anything else we've got."

Bobby sighed, taking off his cap momentarily to run a hand gruffly over his scalp.

"You both got one thing right," he agreed finally, readjusting the cap. "Arguing aint getting us squat. There's no way of knowing what really happened, not that night in the nursery, nor 'bout whatever happened the day John died. 'Less you angels can fly through the space-time divide."

He'd of course meant it as a joke, but the angel responded all too earnestly.

"We can. But such acts must be sanctioned by Heaven and such cases are exceptionally rare. This most certainly would not be one."

"So, unless someone's got an inside track on Lilith and what she knows," Sam surmised. "We just have to take her word for it all." He then scoffed humourlessly. "I mean, it's not like we can just call someone up and ask."

His last comment had been intended as flippant but it seemed to trigger something in his brother.

"Aw crap." Dean said, rubbing a hand over his face, an action that left his features suddenly looking even wearier than before. "I think I know a guy."


tbc

Thank you for reading!

AN: Sylar is the psychotic mutant with psychic powers in Heroes.


Guest: Aw thank you... but are you sure you meant creative mind and not devious... deranged... disturbed etc? hehe Thank you! I appreciate it and I'm glad you're enjoying it :-)

Kathy: You're welcome, and thank you, as always :-) The last one was a dense chapter wasn't it? I'd actually intended to edit before posting, but ended up writing about 1 or 2k worth of extra dialogue! I'm glad you enjoyed it :-) I felt a bit sorry for Sam though, I have to admit.

LongLiveBRUCAS: You're comments always make me smile so much! I love how much you engage with the story, I can imagine you shouting at the screen! I'm sorry Sam annoys you so much, but I swear, it's not my fault! I can't change the way he is! And you're always on point with whatever's coming next (like talking about the dreams etc.). Thank you! :-)

Shazza19: Thanks Shazza! I agree, it is Sam's fault, but I still felt sorry for him. Hopefully though the brothers will mend and build some bridges before this is all over... we'll see :-)