Hey everyone. In case I don't update anymore this week, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 88

On the other side of town, Nemesis was also getting ready. He'd drank the last of the potion and sat down. Harper sat down in the chair in the corner and watched. Nemesis closed his eyes and began to float up and out of his house. He grinned and headed for the rendezvous.

"I have to go," said Sam. "I have to bring Dean."

"Why," asked Brad. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I don't know," admitted Sam. "I just know I have to go."

"Sammy," Dean continued to plead. "You can't do what he says."

"I thought I told you to be quiet," said Sam and cocked the gun. Dean closed his mouth. He looked at Brad nervously. Both of them thought the same thing. Whatever Nemesis had done to Sam, it was strong.

"Move out of my way," said Sam, his mind made up. Brad shook his head. "He wants to hurt you both. If you take him to Nemesis, you will be sorry. Don't listen to the voice in your head. Listen to us. Right now." Sam turned the gun from Dean and pointed it at Brad.

"I'm not really here," he said. "You can't shoot me." Sam cocked his head. "No," he said seeing that he could almost see through Brad. He turned the gun back and placed it at Dean's temple. Dean closed his eyes. Brad raised his hands. "But I can shoot him."

Downstairs, Jack was beginning to come around. "Hey," said Tony. Jack looked at his friend. Where was he? He thought. What was he doing there? He was having trouble focusing and was somewhat disoriented.

"Come on Jack," said Bryan. "Snap out of it." Jack shook his head and looked to his right. Brad's body was lying beside him. Jack finally remembered what happened. "How long has he been gone," said Jack. "About 15 minutes," said John as he looked at his watch. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. It just makes me weak for awhile. Has anything happened?" The three men shook their heads.

"Good," said Jack and got to his feet.

"What are you doing," asked Bryan?

"Just guarding my brother," replied Jack.

"Stay in the circle," said Tony.

"I intend to," said Jack but he walked the perimeter of it. Every now and then he'd look back at Brad. How long was he supposed to be gone," thought Jack as he tried to remember the rules. "Any word from Sam or Dean?" He asked as he looked at John. John shook his head. "Not so far," he said. Jack nodded and continued to pace.

"Sam," said Brad softly. "You don't want to hurt Dean. You know you don't."

"Get out of my way," warned Sam but Brad shook his head. "I'm not letting you out of this room until you snap out of this." Sam just stood there, the gun pointed at his brother's head.

Nemesis eyes shot open but he was in a trance. He had reached Jack and Brad's house. Suddenly Jack's eyes shot up to the ceiling.

"Jack," said Bryan suddenly concerned.

"He's here," said Jack. "I can feel him."

"What do we do," asked John.

"Stay where you are." Nemesis had entered the house. He stared at Brad and then at Jack. Suddenly, like a puppet on a string, his head jerked up, and his eyes were madness slicked thin over hate. Madness began to glow red.

"NO!" said Jack as Nemesis grinned at him. He turned and headed upstairs. Jack turned to Brad. BRAD!"

Upatairs Brad heard his brother call his name but he couldn't leave. Not yet. Not until he reached Sam. He was afraid if he did that Sam would kill Dean. Nemesis hold on him was to strong. He had to reach him.

"Don't you know that I see you," Nemesis said as he entered the hallway upstairs. "I'll kill you Brad. Before you free him you will die. Do you hear me!"

The blast of power slammed into him, a fist in the belly. He felt himself waver, then bore down. "You're pathetic," he said. "You use scare tactics and mind games to control you're prey. I need only me."

"You're death will be slow and painful Brad. I'll keep you alive long enough so that you see it all destroyed."

"We'll beat you," said Brad. "We've beat others before. Twice." He sensed the next whip of energy and deflected it. But it took all his strength, and Brad felt his link shudder as Nemesis head changed into that of a snapping wolf.

"Brad!" yelled Jack. He knelt down to his brother. He could feel the evil. It was going after Brad.

"Get back here Brad! Now!" yelled Jack. Tony, Bryan and John all stood. They didn't know what was going on but by the look on Jack's face let them know it was dangerous. Brad heard his brother call him. He turned to Sam and was torn. "Sam listen to me," said Brad. "I have to go but I want you to pay attention. I know you don't want to hurt Dean. We're not going to let you out of this room. Not until you snap out of it."

"BRAD!" yelled Jack. Brad turned to Nemesis. "You can't have him bastard. We want let you have him or his brother."

Nemesis laughed. "We'll see."

"We'll beat you. You're not the only one we've come against before. The third time is the charm.

"Brad get back here now!" said Jack and shook him trying to wake him up. Brad pulled himself back and poured back into his body. He woke up. He tried to get to his feet and staggered, and might have fallen if Jack hadn't supported him.

"Are you hurt?" At the urgency in Jack's voice Brad struggled to settle again. "Brad?"

"No, I'm not hurt."

"You were gone to damn long," Jack told him.

"Just long enough," said Brad.

"So you say," said Jack. "Finish it, and close the circle." His voice was brisk businesslike. "Before you collapse." He was angry that Brad would do that. That he would put himself at risk.

"I know what to do," said Brad. He reached for the tonic that Jack was already pouring into a cup. Because he was not yet steady, he took the cup with both hands, and he drank until he no longer felt as if his body was a mist ready to be swept away by the wind.

"Close the circle," Jack demanded. "Now." Brad looked at his brother and saw the anger. He closed the circle.

"Sam?" asked John nervously. Brad shook his head. "Nemesis has a very strong hold on him," he said as he continued to look at Jack. "I don't think I got too far."

"Well you have to go back," said John. Jack walked over and closed the circle of his friends. "The hell he does," said Jack.

"Jack," said John.

"No," said Jack. "We're going to have to find another way."

"There is no other way," said John getting angry himself. He stepped up to Jack and got in his face. Jack simply pushed him back with his mind.

"Dammit Jack stop it," said John and was about to take a step toward him again but the look on his face made even John think twice about it. Jack turned and walked out. Brad stared after him.

"What's wrong with Jack," asked Bryan.

"I was gone to long. I heard him calling me, but I wanted to reach Sam so damn bad. He has a gun on Dean and he's threatened to shoot him. I told him he's not leaving this house until he snaps out of it."

"Do you think he'd kill his own brother," asked John. Brad looked at him but didn't answer. He didn't have to. John already knew he would.

"You've got to go back," said John. "Please!"

"I can't right now," said Brad. "I'm too weak." He looked toward the kitchen and Jack sitting at the table. "I'll be right back," he said and walked into the room.