Nope, don't own them, but if I did I'd be working down my fantasy list right about now.

Thank you to my friend Daisymay for letting me use part of her amazing story 'All roads lead to…' Read it, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks to my great beta Kelly for her amazing help with this, many extra cookies are coming your way!

Set after Bloodlust.

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The Impala growled down the road, kicking out dust as it went, almost like the car was attempting to exact it's own revenge on the cop currently running the brothers out of town.

Dean gripped the wheel as the Impala let out another growl, this was her job, to protect them both she'd cocooned them as boys, helped teach them to drive, protected their weapons, their secrets, their tears and their blood. That was her role, and she embraced it, and in return Dean had lovingly restored her, brought her back to full health, better health.

Sam sat rigid in the seat beside his brother, they were past the city limits, they were far into the desert yet still the cops followed. He glanced toward Dean but the only emotion on his sibling's face was that of grit determination to get the hell out of the half-a-horse town and back to civilisation.

The lights behind them suddenly went dark, there was nothing as far as Dean could see except the desert and the moon. He relaxed his grip on the wheel, stole a sideways glance and crooked smile to Sammy, who visibly relaxed and let out a long held sigh.

"I didn't think they were gonna let us go!"

"Yeah, well, hick towns and their law rules. They do so love a power trip Sam."

"I thought at one point they were just going to shoot us on the spot."

"Man, I felt like I was in an episode of the 'Dukes of Hazard'."

"I'd be Bo ya know."

"What? No way, you'd be Luke."

"Like hell I would, I'd be Bo and you know it."

"Whatever Dude."

Dean relaxed his shoulders and sank further into the seat, allowing the hum and vibration of the Impala to soothe his nerves. They'd been investigating a possible Poltergeist that had been tormenting a family. Unfortunately the local police didn't take kindly to two strangers coming in and solving the mystery, saving a family, where they had failed. They also had a problem believing the family when they said it was something supernatural that the boys had saved them from. The cops had blamed the boys for the disturbances, although it killed them that there was no proof. So here they were, being run out of town again, and not too soon as far as Dean was concerned. The older of the two cops, a man named Phil Harper, had a look in his eye that Dean had seen before, seen it in the eyes of Gordon Walker, it was a sadistic one and one that screamed danger. The man had taken an instant dislike to the brothers, and with no other towns close enough to worry about, he'd made his dislike known and had knocked Dean out with a sneaky crack of the gun to the back of his head. When he'd come to, he was sitting in the passenger side of the car, Sam at the wheel , heading out of town with the cops keeping a close tail behind. After a quick stop to swap places, more so to annoy Phil and his mentally challenged partner Mike, they'd made quick work of the dust road out of the sleepy town.

Sam sank back in the seat and allowed his eyes to drift closed. This was only their second gig after setting the vampires free, saving them from Gordon and his need to kill everything, regardless of the circumstances. Yet through all that, the need to get Dean away from the man had been the greater want in Sam. There was a look in his brother's eyes, complete desolation, a lack of everything and anything. He'd seen that look when Dean had taken his anger out on the Impala. His brother didn't know it but Sam had watched, had witnessed the melt down, the absolute out pour of anger and grief, and he'd been thankful. It was a terrifying moment, but at the same time a reassuring one to Sam; Dean hadn't completely closed down, and he was letting some of that emotion out.

As the Impala snaked it's way through the sand covered valley the boys relaxed and enjoyed the silence of each other's company, the sound of the car easing Dean's headache. He had wanted to smack the guy back but, due to a small case of unconsciousness and Sam's quick acting to get them in the car and out of town, he'd had to forgo that particular revenge.

Still, he was patient, he could wait. The engine purred beneath him, wrapping him in a warmth that soothed him to the core. There was another sound though, beneath the purr of the engine, Dean frowned as he tried to concentrate on the foreign noise, was there something wrong with the car? Engine maybe? Didn't sound like that kind of noise.

He sat bolt up right as the realisation hit.

"SAM!."

As Sam jumped to the sound of his brother's voice the car was hit hard from behind and sent skidding across the road. Sam fell forward and smacked his head on the glove compartment, Dean attempted to reach for him but between keeping the car on the road and his brother upright and safe something had to give. He braced himself against the seat and held Sam back firmly as the car skidded across the sand covered ground and smashed into a rock fifty yards from the road.

In the distant recesses of his mind a small white light began to register, slowly growing in size and moving toward the foreground with a dizzying speed. Slowly he became aware of feeling, something slumped on his arm, pinning him, and something else, some other sense was trying to wake him up. With a moan of protest Sam began to move toward greater awareness of his surroundings. He blinked slowly and through sheer will of force kept his eyes open. Dean was laying across his arm, head in his lap, blood making a lazy trail down the left side of his face. A careful turn toward the driver side window, the cobweb of cracked glass, the realisation they were not alone.

"Thought you'd get away easily didn't you boy?".

Sheriff Phil Harper pulled open the drivers side door of the Impala and pulled Dean from Sam's arms before he could even register the act. Dumping Dean unceremoniously onto the cold desert floor, Phil delivered a smug kick to the downed man's side before turning his attention back to the dazed man still sitting in the car.

"I don't like strangers boy, and you two are the strangest I've ever had the unfortunate luck to meet."

"What do you want?"

"Get out of the car."

Sam turned toward Mike Grant, who stood menacingly beside his window, gun drawn, eyes tracking Sam's every movement.

"Get out. Now."

Ignoring the ache that was creeping across his entire body, Sam carefully extracted himself from the car, his body barely from the vehicle when Mike grabbed him and roughly pushed him to the ground. Sam could do nothing but watch as Phil made his way around the car and stood next to his partner, both had guns drawn, both had a look of benevolence across their features.

Shit.

Swallowing carefully, determined to show no fear, Sam sat himself on his knees, hands resting in his lap, and he smiled at the two.

"Did we run a red light? Speed? Miss a yield sign?"

"You think this is funny boy?" Phil leaned down, his current height advantage over the younger man only an illusion which they were all too aware of.

"You tell me, should I be laughing?"

"I'm gonna beat the tar outta you boy, I don't like strangers in my town, poking around, putting their noses where they don't belong. That family, they didn't need you spinning those kinda lies about ghosts and what not. Who do you think you are, to come here and scare innocent people?"

"You're right, I'm sorry, you could scare them enough without us helping."

Phil smiled a slow, menacing smile as Mike stepped forward, mace in hand.

"Gonna teach you such a lesson, you ain't never gonna forget it, ain't that right Phil?"

"Damn straight."

"You men wanna step away from my brother before you knock him out with your bad breath?"

Dean stood as best he could, put on his best 'I'm a Winchester and I'm scary' face and attempted to ignore the fact that the desert was dancing before his eyes and he was sure he was standing on quick sand. One glance down at his brother and he knew he'd fallen short of looking scary, he just hoped he looked at least a little intimidating, or at least bought Sam some time to build up to scary on his behalf.

"Nice of you to join us boy." Mike took a step toward Dean, mace extended.

"Man, please tell me that's a can of right guard, this desert has got me stinking like a skunk."

"You think this is funny?"

"I don't think this is funny at all. Step away from my brother."

The low tone and deep growl of Dean's voice caused both men to pause in their advancement. They took in the stranger's hunched shoulders, determined stance, hands behind his back, concealing…a weapon? They didn't know and for the first time since their little fun plan was concocted both men paused and began to rethink the intelligence of their entertainment. They'd only done this once before, and it had gone a whole lot more smoothly than their current hunt.

Dean stood his ground, despite the fact it didn't seem all that steady. He kept his eyes on the two imbeciles in front of him, yet in the corner of his vision was Sam.

Slowly rising from the ground.

Slowly walking forward.

One step.

After another.

As his brother came up behind Mike the deputy caught the glint in his prey's eyes and abruptly turned, spraying mace as Sam ducked, his eyes caught enough to cause his vision to swim and tears to stream down his cheeks. Dean ran forward, as fast as his unsteady legs would carry him and with both arms outstretched, floored the men before they had a chance to turn their attention back to him.

"RUN SAM!"

With his hands to his eyes and his mind still reeling from the pain Sam could only hope his brother was right behind him. He turned and ran into the dark abyss of the desert. The cold air in complete contrast to the searing heat of the day helping to keep him alert, he ran as far as could, the sound of his feet smacking into the sand reverberating off of the surrounding boulders.

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