Chapter 2

Dean looked at El. She could see that he understood her, but was still in too much pain to speak. He shook his head. "Sam…." The elder brother started. He then started to cough. Blood escaped his mouth and splattered on the kitchen floor as a thin stream cascaded down his chin.

El put one hand on his shoulder to steady him a little. She then put her other hand to the side of his face. "It's okay, Sweetheart. It's okay. I'll…we'll be okay." She said. Then she realized she was not sure what she should do. She had to call Peter. She should call Peter. But she didn't want her husband to act as a federal agent. She wanted him to act as a friend. She wanted Peter to help his friend. But, she was not at all sure that that would be how Peter would act. And she didn't want Dean to end up in prison. She couldn't call 9-1-1 for much the same reason.

Dean had been sitting back on his heels. But now he was starting to sway. She knew he was about to pass out. She didn't want him to hurt himself further, so she eased him down to the floor of her kitchen. She then checked his pulse. It was strong. She decided that she could leave him, for just a moment. She picked up the phone and called June. She knew that June had a doctor friend who would make house calls. The medical man also knew how to keep his mouth shut. El also asked her about Neal and Sam. June told her that Neal was up in his apartment, and, as far as she knew, Neal didn't even know that the Winchesters were in town.

June quickly headed up the stairs as she talked to El. She was at Neal's door in moments. June then handed the phone over to the conman, and El repeated her story. Neal confirmed he had no idea that the Winchesters were in the city. June called for her driver and moments later she and Neal were on their way to the Burke's home.

June called her doctor friend on the way and told him to meet her at the Burke's. June and Neal made it to the Burkes in no time. She and the conman hurried into the house They exchanged quick greetings, then Neal and June knelt down on either side of the unconscious elder Winchester. Dean was still moaning, softly. He seemed restless and in a great deal of pain.

"Dean?" June said, as she slipped her hand into his.

Dean responded immediately to her touch, opening his eyes for just a moment. But he closed them again. The elder Winchester then turned his head in her direction when she stroked his cheek. But, he didn't open his eyes.

Neal looked at his friend. He had no idea what had happened to him. But the amount of blood on his face, hands and clothes had the conman very distressed.

"Is all this blood his?" Neal asked, concerned his friend might be bleeding out before their very eyes.

El nodded her head. Dean's shirt was ripped and stained with blood. She had cut it off as she had tried to clean him up. She wanted to be able to see his injuries. She found cuts and bruises. She checked his head to see if he had any bumps. There were none. But, it was the stab wounds in Dean's chest that worried her. They appeared to be shallow, but they still oozed a fair amount of blood.

"He's…I think they're stab wounds." El said, as she moved the gauze pads she had covering them. "They appear to be shallow. But…he, they're still bleeding."

"Shouldn't we be putting pressure on his wounds or something?" June asked.

El nodded. "I have been." She said, replacing the gauze. "They're actually bleeding a lot less than they were."

June nodded. "My driver is waiting. And I told the doctor to come here. When he says Dean's okay to move we'll get him to the mansion."

El knew that that would ultimately be the best for Dean. But, she didn't mind him staying. And she knew deep down that Peter wouldn't mind either. If not, of course, for the whole FBI's-Most-Wanted thing. But, El knew that Peter would have a problem with coming home and finding an unconscious, bleeding Winchester lying on his kitchen floor.

The doctor showed up a few moments later, followed by an impatient loud knocking at the Burke's back door. El excused herself and went to answer it. She let her visitor in, very glad to see him. And Sam was just as glad to see her. He hurried in, a glad to have found Dean, and knelt down beside his brother.