Chapter 84

When everyone got finished eating they all decided to call it a night. It was late and they all had been through a lot. They decided that they'd talk about Nemesis and how to destroy him in the morning. Jack and Brad both went to their rooms. Sam and Dean stayed in one of the guestrooms and Bryan and Tony in another. John decided he'd sleep on the sofa bed in the living room.

Upstairs in their rooms, Dean took out some fresh clothes that he'd had in his duffle bag. "I'm going to go take a shower," he said. Sam nodded but didn't say anything. Dean shook his head and went into the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later he finished up and came back into the bedroom. He looked at his brother. Sam was still sitting in the exact same spot where Dean had left him. He had not moved. He looked dazed. Dean became increasingly worried. He finished drying his hair, threw the towel on a chair and grabbed a t-shirt. When he had put it on he walked over and sat down on the bed beside Sam.

"Sammy," he said concerned. Sam looked at him questioningly. "What's wrong," asked Dean.

"Nothing," Sam replied. "I'm just tired. All of a sudden I'm exhausted." Dean had a feeling it was something more than just being tired but he didn't press it. Not at this time.

"I know. Look, why don't you go take a shower? It will make you feel better."

"Okay," replied Sam and got up, but instead of going to the bathroom, he headed for the bedroom door.

"Sam," said Dean a little shaken. He grabbed his brother's arm to stop him. Sam turned and looked at him as if he'd just seen him. "Where are you going? The bathroom is that way," he said as he gestured with his hand.

"I know," replied Sam.

"Then why are you going the wrong way," he asked perplexed. Sam looked at his big brother and blinked as if he was coming out of some deep trance, then he looked at the bathroom door. "I don't know," he admitted. "I thought I heard somebody call my name."

"Sam nobody is calling you. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I guess so," came his reply. "I just don't know." Dean took him by the shoulders and turned him until they were facing. "What is it," he asked but Sam didn't have an answer for him. Dean took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay. Go and take your shower. I'm going to go downstairs and fix me another sandwich. Do you want one?" Sam shook his head. "I'm not hungry," he said.

"Okay. I'll be right back then." Sam nodded and went into the bathroom. Dean waited until he was inside and then walked out into the hall. He looked at the door and decided he had no choice. All the doors had locks on them. Jack made them to be locked on the inside and the outside. Although Dean didn't want to do it, he locked his brother in. He just stood there for a minute and stared at the door trying to think.

He knew that something wasn't right. Sam was acting very strange and he didn't want to take any chances with him. He walked downstairs. As he walked he wondered if Nemesis had somehow gotten inside Sam's head.

He walked into the kitchen. John was sitting down at the table drinking coffee. "Hey," said Dean.

"Hello son," John replied. "Where's your brother?"

"He's taking a shower." Dean wondered if he should tell his dad how Sam was acting. He decided he should. "Dad?"

"Yeah," asked John and took another sip of his coffee. "What is it?"

"Sam is not acting right dad," replied Dean.

"What do you mean?" asked John instantly alarmed.

"He's not acting right. He's acting strange. He keeps saying he hears somebody call his name but nobody's there. He don't act like he knows what to do."

"Do about what?" asked John as he set down the coffee cup. He gave Dean his full attention.

"About anything. He looks dazed. I locked him in the room."

"You did what?" asked John.

"I locked him in. I didn't have a choice. I had to dad. The way he's acting is making me nervous. We've been here before. I don't want him taking off." John thought for a few minutes and then nodded. "Okay," he said. "Let's go talk to him."

"Good idea," said Dean and he and his dad walked back up the stairs. Jack came out of his room just as they reached the top. He saw the concern on both of their faces and was instantly put on alert.

"What," he asked simply. Dean looked at Jack. John touched his son's shoulder. "Go in there with him. I'll fill Jack in and we'll be right there."

"Yeah, okay," answered Dean and went on down the hall to the room that they shared. Cautiously he opened the door and peered inside. "Sammy?" he asked and walked on in. "Sam," he said a little louder. "Where are you?" He jumped as the bedroom door slammed shut behind him. He closed his eyes, his instincts telling him that this wasn't good. He opened them again and turned slowly to face him.

Sam had been standing behind the door. When Dean walked in, Sam slammed it closed, startling him.

"Sammy," Dean said nervously when he saw the way he was looking at him. He shook his head when he saw the gun in his baby brother's hand. He eyed it warily. "Put it down Sam," said Dean and raised his hands, palms out when he wouldn't. "What's going on? What's the matter with you?"

Outside the room, when the door slammed shut Jack and John knew something was going on. They rushed to the door. John knocked. "Sam, Dean, open the door. Are you two okay?"

Sam walked over to where Dean stood. Dean kept an eye on him and the gun. "Come on Sammy, please. Put the gun down. You don't want to hurt anybody, especially me." He kicked himself mentally for not taking the gun with him when he left to go downstairs. Why didn't he think to do that," he said almost out loud.

"You locked me inside this room," Sam said in a low voice.

"I know Sammy," replied Dean. "You're acting strange. I was afraid you'd leave. You keep hearing voices calling you and I don't want you to start following after them because they're in your head, not outside this house. Sam, Nemesis is messing with your head. Trust me on this. I know what it feels like."

Sam just looked at Dean. He blinked several times. Dean stood where he was and waited. He didn't want to spook Sam.

"Sam!" yelled John from outside the room. He heard him but wouldn't answer him. John turned toward Jack. "Talk to him," he ordered. Jack looked back at him. "What?" he asked.

"Talk to him in his head. Do your thing." Jack shook his head. "I don't know it that would be a good idea."

"Why not," replied John. "It's what you do."

"It is but Sam's already hearing voices in his head. Me talking to him could push him over the edge. We don't want that."

"Well what do you expect we do," asked John. Jack held out his hands and then turned to knock on the door. "What's going on in their Dean? Are you okay? Is Sam?"

"No Sam is not okay. He's got a gun pointed at my head."

"What? Oh shit. Sammy!"

Inside the room, Sam heard his dad. He heard Jack. He watched Dean and made no attempt to lower the gun. "Sit down Dean," said Sam. Dean shook his head. "Sam," he tried again.

"NOW!" Dean nodded. "Okay," he said. "Just take it easy." He sat down on the bed. Outside John was getting even more nervous. So was Jack.