Chapter 14

"I don't think I can," replied Sam.

"Yes you can. Stay with me Sam. Hang in there okay?" Brad was very worried. Sam just didn't look good at all. He knew he was very close to having a mental breakdown. "Listen. You've done everything just like you were told. If you hadn't then I have no doubt that Dean would be dead now, but you've got to hold it together man. Okay?"

Sam nodded but he could feel his sanity slipping inch by emotional inch.

"First Sam, I want to hear everything that's happened. I've only heard pieces of it. That son of a bitch on the phone just told me some. I've heard some from all of you and I've been there since it's started but I need to know everything," said Brad.

Sam shook his head and looked around the car. He could still feel himself and Brad being watched. He was afraid to say anything.

"Maybe they're listening to us right now Sam, maybe not, but it doesn't matter. They already know everything you're going to tell me because they did it to you."

Finally Sam nodded and told Brad every detail of his day, not leaving out anything. Brad listened and interrupted only a little to ask questions. When Sam finished Brad sat with his eyes closed growing angrier all the more.

"What are we going to do first," asked Sam.

"Get something to eat," Brad replied.

"What?" asked Sam, "I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat. It'll help keep you focused.

"Brad….I….." said Sam.

"You're going to eat Sam. You haven't eaten all day. You're running on empty," said Brad. He took the pad and pen that he'd picked up earlier and wrote Sam a note hoping that they couldn't see what he was doing.

"You've got to eat," repeated Brad as he wrote. Sam got the message. Keep talking like Brad wasn't writing.

"I can't," said Sam. Brad handed the note to Sam. It said:

I need to talk to you outside of the car where they can't see us or hear us.

Sam read the note. "Brad," he said the whole idea making him nervous.

"You're going to fall out if you don't," said Brad and wrote:

If we go into McDonalds we should be able to talk. I need to talk to you.

Reluctantly Sam nodded. They got out of the car and went inside, ordered and then sat in the back away from everybody.

"What do they want?" asked Sam.

"You Sam. They want you," answered Brad.

"Why? I don't understand," cried Sam.

"I don't either. He didn't tell me that. He just said he wanted you. You're essence what ever the hell that means," said Brad. Sam just looked at him.

"My powers?" asked Sam.

"No. He didn't say that. He just said he wanted you. That's all he said."

"I don't understand," said Sam. "If he doesn't want my powers then I don't know what he wants."

"I don't either Sam."

"You were on the phone for longer than 3 minutes. What else did he say?" asked Sam turning into his friend.

"Look" said Brad. "Let's get back to the house."

"What aren't you telling me," asked Sam.

"Nothing. Let's go," said Brad.

"What?" asked Sam confused? "Why did they want us to come here if that's all they wanted to say?" Sam knew Brad wasn't telling him everything which made him even more nervous.

"To make sure you do what they say," said Brad. "The kidnapper said it was a test."

"I only have 52 hours left Brad and I still don't know what they want from me. What you're saying they said could mean anything."

"I know,' answered Brad. "Apparently he likes playing mind games. Come on. Let's get back and hope to God that Tony, Bryan and Jack are still there."

"Oh God," said Sam remembering his friends. They jumped up and ran outside and to the car. Brad drove them back to the house.

Sam started to jump out. "No," said Brad. "Stay here. If they want you then stay here." Sam nodded. Brad ran frantically into the clinic and let out the breath he was holding when he saw that his brother and friends were right where they left them. Tony and Bryan jumped up as Brad ran over and unlocked the door.

"Where's Sam?" asked Bryan fearfully.

"I told him to stay in the car. I didn't know what I'd find when I walked in. I wasn't sure you'd all still be here or not, so I decided to look first. Sam couldn't take it if anybody else got kidnapped," said Brad and Tony nodded and ran out the door. He was afraid to leave Sam outside alone. Brad went over to Jack and checked him out.

"Is he okay," asked Bryan.

"Yeah but he'll be out of it for awhile yet," said Brad. Bryan nodded and he and Brad went outside to join Tony and make sure Sam was okay. Sam just sat there and stared, not moving. Bryan walked over to the passenger side and opened his door.

"Come on Sam," he said. Sam slowly got out of the car and just stood there. Bryan took him by the arm, because he looked like he was about to fall and led him back inside the clinic. He looked at Jack who was still unconscious and then at Tony and Bryan.

"I'm so sorry," said Sam. "I didn't want to do it. I didn't have a choice."

"We know. It's okay. How are you?" asked Tony. Sam shrugged and Bryan led him over to the couch. Brad filled everybody in then took the notebook and while he was talking, wrote:

Is there anywhere that's not bugged?

He handed the note to Bryan, who mouthed. "Bathroom." Brad nodded and he and Bryan went into the bathroom.

"You sure," asked Brad.

"Yeah pretty sure," answered Bryan. "I checked everywhere and Tony and me have spoken in here and nothings been said about them knowing."

"Good," said Brad.

"What happened," asked Bryan?

"It was a wild goose chase," answered Brad. "They just wanted to make sure Sam kept doing what they told him to do. They spoke to me. They told me just what was happening to Dean right now. He's in a whole lot of trouble Bryan. They're hurting him continuously."

"Did you tell Sam?" asked Bryan. Brad shook his head. "No," he said. "I couldn't. He doesn't need to hear that right now but he knows I'm keeping something from him." Bryan shook his head. "What kind of deranged psychopaths are we dealing with?" He looked at Brad's face and noticed the nervousness. He knew there was more.

"What is it?" asked Bryan?

"They're messing with that kids head Bryan. When they called, Sam answered. Dean was on the phone. While he listened they hurt him and made him scream. You could hear the pain in his voice. Then they made Sam give me the phone. I know part of what they want."

"What," asked Bryan? "Tell me."

"I don't know their ultimate goal for him but I know some."

"What?" asked Bryan again, not really sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"They want to drive him crazy. They want to let him know who's in charge. They want to make sure he stays cooperative. They want him to snap and I'm afraid it's working. He's afraid to move. He's afraid to breathe. He's afraid to do anything unless they tell him he can. I know there's more to it, but that's part of it. He's afraid for his brother's life and what they're doing to him right now as well as what they're going to do. He's afraid to make waves without they're permission."

Bryan leaned back against the door then after a few minutes opened it. He walked over to Sam and sat down by him.

"How ya holding up?" he asked? Sam just shrugged again afraid to say the wrong the thing for fear they were listening to him and watching him. He knew they were. He could feel them.

"They didn't tell me anything," said Sam and looked at Brad. "He won't tell me all he knows." Bryan looked at Brad also. Sam continued. "It's been 8 hours and I still don't know what they want from me."