Chapter 89

Brad entered the kitchen cautiously. Jack was sitting at the table with his back to him. He had his head in his hands. "Jack?"

"How are they," asked Jack. He looked out the kitchen window. It was a beautiful day. He wished he didn't have all this on his shoulders. He wished he'd never inherited any powers. What ever happened to his nice quiet life?

He turned when Brad didn't answer him. "Brad?" He was standing at the doorway. He began to sway. "Hey!" said Jack suddenly worried. He jumped to his feet and ran over to his brother.

"He's using Sam," said Brad as he shook his head to clear the fuzziness and to shake off the headache that was beginning to hammer at him. "He's using him like a vessel. The hold is strong. It's filling him up with hatred and he uses that hate to feed its own energy. It's potent, but not without vulnerability." He walked over to the table and had to grab on to the edge to keep from falling.

Jack was at his side in an instant. Bryan, Tony and John came inside to join them. One look at Brad and they all began to worry. "Brad," said Tony and walked over. He and Jack helped him to sit down. Bryan looked on questioningly. "What's the matter with him," he asked.

"John," said Jack. John looked at him expectantly. "Yeah," he said.

"You need to go upstairs. Keep Sam in that room. Don't let him out. If he get's out of this house he'll take Dean and hand him over to Nemesis. We can not let that happen. We also need to watch him because he may get mad and just decide to shoot him."

"You think that he would shoot his own brother," asked John.

"Right now I think he'll do anything. It will kill him if he does something to hurt Dean but right now he doesn't realize what he is doing. You need to make sure he stays in that room." John nodded and after one more glance at Brad went upstairs to his sons. Jack was getting nervous and a little worried.

"What is it," asked Bryan again. Brad swayed even while he sat in the chair.

"Shit!" Jack grabbed a hold of one side and Tony the other. "That's enough," continued Jack. "He needs to sleep this off. I know what to do for him."

"But," said Tony, but Brad stopped him. "He's right. He knows what I need." He let his head rest on his folded arms on the table.

"Boy you must be shaky," said Jack. "You don't usually let me hover over you."

"I'm queasy," Brad said as if he didn't hear what Jack had said. Jack nodded. "I know," he said. "We'll fix it. How's the headache?"

"It's not bad. Really. I'd have come back sturdier, but I had to come back fast. Damn it, Jack this dizziness is……" Gray began to swim at the edges of his vision. "It's not going away. I'm going under." Suddenly he could not hold his eyes opened any more.

Jack shook his head. "It's all right Brad. Go ahead."

"What's the matter with him," said Bryan shocked.

"He came back to fast. It's drained him." He touched his big brother's shoulders. "It's all right," he said again. "Go ahead." For once Brad did exactly as he suggested and didn't argue. When he went limp, Jack and Tony got an arm. "Let's get him to his bedroom," said Jack and he and Tony pretty much carried him upstairs. Jack looked worriedly at him several times as they were carrying him upstairs. "Son of a bitch!" he declared. He would curse him later he told himself, when he could fight back. For now they got him over to his bed and laid him down on it. Bryan came in behind them.

"Would somebody like to tell me what the hell is going on," he said and watched as Jack covered his brother up. "He's drained himself," said Jack offering explanation. "He had to come back to fast and he wasn't ready for that.

"So what do we do," asked Tony.

Knowing that Brad had to sleep long and deep didn't make it any easier for Jack to take. "You were gone to long," he said to the unconscious body that was his brother. He was so pale. "He has to sleep it off. I need to make a potion to help.

"A potion?" Tony looked at Jack incredulously. "You two really are warlocks aren't you?"

"Yeah, unfortunately," Jack answered. "I'll be back. Watch him. Don't let nothing happen to him." Bryan and Tony both nodded. Jack left and went down to the kitchen. He found the herbs he would need, and though it had been some time since he'd practiced kitchen magic, he steeped a pot of rue tea.

Brad was deeply asleep when Jack returned. He lighted candles and incense then slid his mind into Brad's. "You need to drink and then you can rest," he said telepathically. Brad was limp but managed to get a hold of the cup and drink, then went unconscious once again. Jack took the cup and sat it to the side and looked up at Bryan and Tony who was looking at him like he was a different person.

"What," asked Jack.

"Nothing," replied Bryan.

Down the hall Sam was still holding Dean hostage. After Brad and Nemesis had disappeared Sam made Dean go back and sit on the bed. That's where he was now. Sam had resumed his position at the door. "Bring him to me," said the voice in his head. Bring him."

"I'm coming," Sam said out loud.

"Who are you talking to," asked Dean. Sam didn't answer so Dean continued. "Sam you can't listen to that voice in your head. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are going to walk into a trap. Nemesis doesn't want to welcome you or me into the family. He wants to destroy us both, and the others to. Please listen to me!" Outside the bedroom door, John was listening. He knocked softly.

"Sammy," he said. "Can I come in?"

"No," said Sam.

"I want to talk to you?"

"Dad," said Dean nervously. "Don't come in."

"Are you okay son," he asked. Dean eyed his brother and nodded his head, even though John couldn't see him. "I'm fine so far. Dad, Sam's on edge. Be careful."

"I know. Sam…"

"Stay out!" shouted the young hunter.

"I will Sam, just don't hurt your brother. You'll never forgive yourself if you do." As John continued to talk to Sam, Dean decided that he had to do something and while John had him distracted, this could be his only chance. He got to his feet slowly. John, on the other side of the door, must have known what Dean was thinking because he tried to keep Sam talking. When Dean thought that John had sufficiently distracted Sam, he made his move. Swiftly he rushed up to his brother. It was a mistake.

"NO!" yelled Sam and spun around, just as Dean reached him. He backhanded Dean hard before he knew what had happened and sent him sprawling back against the bed he had previously been sitting on. Sam turned and faced him. Before Dean could recover, Sam had the gun right between his eyes. "DAMN IT SAM!" yelled Dean but raised his hands. Sam didn't say a word, but his action spoke volumes. Dean froze as Sam cocked the hammer.

"WAIT!" shouted Dean. "DON'T!" He didn't move a muscle. "Okay Sam. You win." Sam, full of anger, stared.

"Sammy!" yelled John from outside the door. "DEAN!" he yelled nervously when Sam wouldn't answer. Inside the room brother faced brother. Dean stayed where he landed on the floor and just waited. He didn't know what was about to happen but he did know that Sam looked wild.

"Shit," said Dean but stayed where he was. He kept his hands up where Sam could see them and waited to see what he was going to do. The only thing he thought was that he had to reach Sam before it was too late. He hoped the others had another plan. He didn't take his eyes off of his little brother or the gun that was pointed at his head. He didn't move. He just waited.