Chapter 39

When Dean got Sam settled he went back outside to the Impala. He went around back to the trunk and banged on the lid. Inside Bryan winced, the echo ringing loudly in his ears.

"Bryan I know that you know that our secret compartment that holds the weapons is in the trunk," said Dean. "If I open the trunk and you're armed, I'll kill you. Understand?"

"I understand," replied Bryan. "Dean I told you I wouldn't try anything. I meant it. I want to help you." Dean pulled the gun and opened the trunk. Bryan squinted against the glare of the flashlight that he was shining in his eyes. When Dean saw that he wasn't armed, he turned off the light and pulled Bryan out of the trunk.

"Move, said Dean and shoved him toward the house. Bryan stumbled and almost fell, but regained his footing.

"Dean," he tried.

"Don't," said Dean and pushed him into the living room. There was an iron pipe cemented into the floor. Dean shoved him over to it, and took the cuffs off his hands. He was about to cuff them behind the pipe when Bryan turned and stopped him.

"Dean," said Bryan and raised his hands. Dean leveled the gun.

"Before you do that I need to go to the bathroom." Dean looked at him for a second and then nodded. "Take off your jacket and over shirt," he said. Bryan did as he was told and handed them to Dean who threw them on the couch.

"Take off your shoes and socks," ordered Dean. Bryan just stared at him. "Why, he asked.

"Because it will be harder for you to get away if you're barefooted," replied Dean.

"I'm not going to try to get away Dean. I want to help you." He looked around. "Where is Sam?" He asked, suddenly worried.

"Where you can't get to him," said Dean. "Now take off your shoes and socks." Bryan shook his head and did as he was told. He threw them over toward the couch. He was left just in jeans and a t-shirt. "Okay?" he asked. Dean nodded. "You have five minutes. Leave the door open." Bryan went to the restroom. When he was finished, he returned to the living room and waited. Dean gestured toward the iron pipe.

"You don't have to do that," said Bryan, but Dean glared and cocked the gun. Bryan took a deep breath.

"Okay! He said and walked over to the pipe. He turned around. Dean cuffed his hands behind it. "Sit down," he ordered. Bryan slid to the floor and straightened out his legs in front of him. Dean found a length of rope and tied his ankles together, then took a chain and encircled the middle of the rope shackling his feet to the floor.

"Dean come on," said Bryan.

"Do I need to gag you too?" asked Dean. Bryan shut up. Dean walked over to start a fire in the fireplace because it was damp and chilly in the house. Bryan got nervous when he put several fire pokers and iron items into the fire to heat up. He swallowed hard.

"Where is Sam?"

Dean looked at him but didn't answer him.

"Dean. I wouldn't hurt you or your brother man. You know that. We're friends." Dean got up and walked into the kitchen. He returned a few minutes later with a coke and a couple of sandwiches. Bryan watched as he pushed a panel by the fireplace. He gawked when a door opened. Dean entered.

Sam was sitting on the bed, but when Dean opened the door, he jumped up.

"Dean please let me out of here," he said.

"I brought you something to eat Sammy, and then you should try to get some sleep."

"Why are you doing this? Why are you locking me in this room?"

"I'll bring you more in the morning," said Dean ignoring his brother's pleas. "It's about 2am."

"Dean please!"

Dean looked at his little brother and said, "It's for your protection Sam. I won't let anybody hurt you. Bryan is tied up outside this room and he's dangerous." Sam shook his head.

"Bryan did not hurt me. Neither did Tony, Brad, or Jack, Dean. You're being programmed. Nemesis is manipulating you. He's giving you false memories. Now I'm going to walk out of this room okay?" Sam started toward the door but Dean stopped him.

"No you're not. You're staying right here where I put you. Now relax and eat your sandwiches."

"Dean. You need help," cried Sam. "Let us help you." He tried to walk past his brother but Dean grabbed his arm and shoved him backward.

"You're not leaving this room Sammy, now don't make me have to tie you up," he said.

"What? Dean you've lost it, do you know that?"

"I'll do it Sammy and you know it. I'm letting you stay loose, but if you make me, I'll do what I have to." Sam looked at Dean and knew he meant it. He went to sit down at the table.

"Good, now eat and try to get some rest. I'll see you in the morning. I'm just trying to protect you," said Dean and left locking his brother back inside. When Dean turned to look at Bryan he saw a shocked expression.

"You've locked him up? You've locked him in that room? Are you crazy?" said Bryan.

"Shut up Bryan," said Dean.

"Dean you can not lock Sam up. Come on! I have not hurt him. I've never hurt him and even if I wanted to, which I do not, I'm tied up, but I would never hurt either one of you. Dean you have no idea what you're doing to him right now by locking him in that room! You're his brother man!"

"I know I'm his brother Bryan and I'm trying to protect him!"

"From what? You can't protect him from Nemesis by locking him in that room because he can still get to him, and you don't have to protect him from me," said Bryan desperately trying to get Dean to see. "I would never hurt him or you!"

Dean grabbed the gun and ran over to Bryan. He straddled his legs. Bryan shrank back against the pole and tensed as Dean placed the gun right between his eyes. He swallowed hard and closed his mouth.

"I know what I saw!" yelled Dean. Bryan started to say something but Dean cocked the gun again. Bryan closed his mouth.

"I watched you hurt my brother. All of you! I saw it! It will not happen again!" yelled Dean. Bryan didn't say a word but he shook his head. Dean released the hammer on the gun and went to sit back down by the fire. Suddenly he was freezing. Bryan let out the breath he was holding. Dean just wouldn't listen, he thought. Nemesis really got to him. All Bryan knew was that he had to reach him before he did something he would regret later.

"Dean," Bryan said cautiously.

"Shut the hell up Bryan!" yelled Dean.

"One thing and then I will. I promise." Dean took a deep breath and let it out. "What?" he asked a little more calmly.

"I want you to tell me the last thing you remember, before you remember us hurting Sam?"

"Why?" asked Dean.

"Humor me," said Bryan. "Please." Dean tried to think, but he couldn't remember anything. Everything was so jumbled and mixed up. He didn't have a clear memory before the one where Bryan and the others had hurt his brother. It was all fuzzy in his head. He shook his head to try to clear his mind and looked down at Bryan.

"You can't can you?" asked Bryan. "It's called amnesia Dean. It's induced by somebody that has brainwashed somebody else. Sam said when he saw you, before Nemesis let him go, you had wires attached everywhere. To all parts of you body. He was giving you electrical shock treatments Dean, to erase your memory, and give you false ones. Ones that he wanted you to remember. Ones that weren't true." Dean shook his head.

"No," he said.

"Dean," said Bryan.

"Shut up Bryan."

"Listen to me!" yelled Bryan.

"NO!" Dean yelled back. "Shut the hell up!" He ran over to him and stuffed a cloth in his mouth and then tied a bandana around his neck to gag him. "Just shut up!" said Dean.