Fifteen minutes later Jamie heard the sound of the Impala approaching the motel. About two minutes after it coming into her hearing capability she heard Dean parking his baby, exiting the car, grabbing some paper bags and closing the door before walking down the stretch of sidewalk that lead to the staircase.
Jamie raised her gaze to the doorway as Dean turned the knob. His gaze upon entry immediately went from her, to Sam, and back to Jamie.
Jamie suspected though that the second look in her direction was for the peculiar position Castiel was sitting in.
"Everything good in here?" Dean asked as he kicked the door shut behind him.
"Hm?" Sam stopped what he was doing to raise his head in his brothers' direction. "Oh. Yeah."
Dean dropped the two paper bags he was carrying and drink try with two coffees onto the empty side of the round table his brother was situated at. "And what's up with, Cas? You put him in time out?"
Sam shrugged. "Jamie asked him to sit, so he sat."
Dean pulled out his coffee and turned to the pair of quiet beings in the corner. "He okay?"
Jamie nodded, having been watching and listening to everything. "At, least, I think so. He was talking earlier, but then he got quiet and I think he's like meditating or something. Does he do that?"
Dean shrugged. "How you holding up?"
Jamie shrugged. "Not so bad I guess."
Dean gave a nod before sitting down at the table with Sam. "Find anything?"
Sam glance up as Dean rummaged through one of the bags. "Nothing yet. I did find out there have been three missing persons reports in Johnston in the last two months though. Two girls, one guy. All had minimum wage jobs, lived alone, and they're families didn't live in North Carolina. None were in a relationship either. It's not exactly an indication of vampire's, but it's something. Maybe these guys are smart and not leaving bodies behind, and are going after people who are loners."
Dean bit into a muffin with bacon, eggs, and cheese, and what looked like extra bacon.
"Could be. Jamie moved from home."
"And I asked her if she's close with a lot of people here. She's not. Just her friend Stephanie."
Dean sighed and handed a wrapped sandwich to his brother who unwrapped it and found a muffin sandwich with eggs, cheese, lettuce and tomato.
"Thanks, man."
"Yeah, yeah."
Jamie turned her attention from the two boys towards the angel when he looked in her direction for the first time in twenty minutes.
Jamie smiled a little. "You okay?"
"I was talking to one of my brothers."
"Oh. You guys can talk to each other?"
"Yes. We can all communicate from any location. I did not believe that all my brothers and sisters would find it a very important matter to assist in, but Hesediel has always found an interest in the worlds monsters."
"So there's one more angel who's not a dick with wings." Dean piped up from his spot at the table.
Upon hearing the angel speak, both brothers had turned their attention on the pair in the corner.
"Did he know something?" Sam asked.
"Yes. From a journal written a long time ago 1823 by a man named Joseph Miner. Joseph's journal tells of how his town was suffering from vampire attacks and how one fateful evening his wife was forced to feed on vampire blood. They knew enough from previous attacks that those fed vampire blood would become the very thing that turned them once they gave into their new thirst for blood. So Joseph reinforced their room for his wife's protection and tried to find a cure for her. He came across on old scripture that had been transcribed from ancient Romanian text that spoke of a possible cure that had never been tested because the victims had always feed before it could be attempted or the main ingredient could not be obtained. Another reason, like the one that befell Joseph's wife, is that the one in transition died of starvation. Joseph had returned from his trip in a weeks' time to find that his wife had passed within three days of being turned. In grief, Joseph sent the scripture he had found and his journal to his parents before taking his life in the room his wife had died in. The scripture had been lost, but Hesediel had found the journal in a library where Joseph's parents had wanted his things to go in their passing."
"What's the main ingredient?" Dean asked from across the room.
Castiel turned and looked to the hunter. "The blood of the vampire who turned Jamie."
"Which means we gotta get you back home." Sam said aloud.
Castiel walked over to the night stand and started jotting something down.
"We already know where this guy lives. This'll be a piece of cake. The drive from here to your place we can do in ten hours. So don't start thinking you're gonna starve to death, Jamie. We've got plenty of time to fix this."
"Okay."
Castiel tore the piece of note pad paper and handed it to Dean. "These are the other ingredients that you will require. I also wrote the location I found Jamie at. There should only be one ingredients that will be trouble for you to obtain. I will acquire it and bring it to you in due time. For now, I must be going."
"W-what?" Jamie stared at Cas with worry and confusion.
Castiel turned to Jamie. "I have been ignoring a summons from my superiors in order to hear the story from Hesediel so I could retell it to you. Now that I have done so, I must answer their call before they decide to find out why I have not answered. I will find you again once I have heard from them and retrieved the necessary ingredient."
Jamie frowned. "I'm sorry. I know you're busy, you all are, but a ten hour car ride with just the guys sounds dangerous…for them. I know you guys trust me and all, but I don't trust myself at all, especially without Cas. I won't risk it."
Everyone grew quiet as they tried to find a solution.
"I could put you in a deep sleep." Cas offered after a moment of silence. "One that should last long after you arrive home. Long enough that I should have returned by time you awake."
Jamie smiled and then looked to the two brothers. "Is that okay? I'd hate to just be sleeping on the ride there on you guys."
Dean smiled. "It's fine. I'd rather you be comfortable, rather than worrying the whole time and sticking you in an even more confined space with what you're hungry for in the front seat tempting you the whole way."
"Dean's right." Sam added. "We both just want to get you through this any way possible. Especially if that means you won't be in pain."
Jamie smiled at the pair. "Thank you."
"Then I shall put you to sleep."
"Thank you, Cas."
"Of course, Jamie. I will see you soon enough."
Jamie grinned at him before moving to the other side of the bed. "Should I lay down?"
"Yes."
Jamie did as told and Cas gently pressed two fingers to her forehead, putting her into a very deep sleep. Once she was under, he turned to the brothers. "As I said, I'll return in due time."
Dean blinked and regarded Sam when he took the paper from his fingers.
"Cas is right." Sam said. "We actually have some of this in the trunk and the rest we can find along the way."
"Alright. Good. Let's get a move on."
…
The boys found themselves in another motel in Johnston, North Carolina just after eight at night. They had stopped briefly for some lunch and then some dinner on the way to the motel. With minimal traffic, and even the two extra stops for the items on the list they had made it in good time. Jamie had already been taken from the car and placed gently on the bed farthest from the window that would bleed in light in the morning.
Dean and Sam finally sat at the table, their belongings tossed on the ground to be dealt with later.
"We should wake up early and deal with the nest just after sunrise. Bottle up the blood of everyone and take it back here to use for the spell."
Sam cocked an eyebrow with an amused grin as he pulled their dinner from the bags. "And how do we know which blood is the one of the guy who bit Jamie?"
"Uh…" Dean unwrapped his bacon double cheese burger as he thought about it. After a minute he put a finger in the air and smirked at his little bro. "We label each blood sample one through however many and take a pic with the blood sample and vamps head near it to identify. Jamie just has to point to the head that bit her."
Sam shook his head with a reluctant laugh. "That would work if she saw who had bit her." He poured a light vinaigrette dressing over his salad.
Dean deflated instantly. "Oh yeah." He bit into his burger.
"Maybe we could just pour all their blood into the mix. One of them's gotta be right." Dean offered up after he swallowed.
Sam shrugged, stabbing at his salad. "Maybe, but it's probably best to be sure."
"Yeah." Dean agreed around a mouthful of chewed burger.
The relaxed mood shifted in seconds. The truthfully, mediocre, and yet still delicious food was abandoned by both men as the door to their room was cracked open, hitting the back wall hard enough to leave a dent in it. The brothers instantly got to their feet, twin chairs clattered to the ground in the process.
Sam had but seconds to turn and block the charging body, he hadn't even registered who or what was attacking.
Dean, who had been facing the entrance, was able to see the second man walk in, with sharp teeth barred as he scanned the room. When his gaze found Dean's and he sneered, the older Winchester lunged for their duffle with the machetes they had taken out for their hunt in the morning. They had planned on sharpening then after eating.
With a flicker of relief Dean gripped the handle of one, ready to defend himself from the second vampire.
But the vampire was fast.
Before he could even turn he was tackled, and pushed right back against the wall. He lost his grip on the machete as the wind was knocked out of him.
As his gaze briefly followed after his only defense he caught sight of something. Quickly he redirected his attention. He found Sam in a similar position, pinned to the wall by the door.
Finally he looked to the vampire who had him ready to try and buy some time.
"Can I eat him?" The young man holding Dean asked suddenly.
Sam watched as the older man who had him sighed with annoyance. "We didn't come here to spill blood. Eric told you to bring his mate back to the nest, how about you do what is asked of you since you failed the first time?"
"How do you think we should do that with them here?" The young man questioned with a sneer.
"I'm gonna guess that you're the sleeping guard that Jamie slipped past." Dean teased with a grin.
"Shut up!" He squeezed harder. "We should just kill them, whether he ordered us to or not. They are either gonna kill her or use her to find and kill us. I think Eric will thank us for getting rid of two hunters who tried to hurt his mate."
The young man looked back over at his friend. The older vampire looked as though he was contemplating before something caught his eye.
"Casey!"
Casey's grip slacked and Dean was relieved as he could breathe a bit easier. The young vampire reacted too late though, Jamie had already swung down hard with the machete and severed one of his arms.
Casey released Dean altogether as he screamed, clutching at his bleeding stub.
Jamie's teeth were extended, her eyes wide. "Is it his heart? How do I…?"
"Head." Dean rasped. "Cut it off."
Jamie shifted her stance and swung hard, cutting his head clean off. It dropped and his body followed.
Jamie stood over him, chest heavy, blood splattered, with a look of petrification.
….
Jamie sat in the ferris wheel bucket aware that she was dreaming. The wheel was quite large and so she was quite high and she loved it. The view was still and beautiful. There was a field all around her, filled with flowers of all different shapes and colors. A distant mountain range loomed far away. Sometimes a bird swooped by.
Jamie just sat there quietly drinking it all in. It was pure peace. There were no sounds of wind or buzzing of insects, no smells, nothing at all.
After a long uncertain amount of time Jamie stirred from her near trance like state of peace. Her head twitched to the left. Jamie thought she had heard the faint sound of wood splitting. It was quickly proceeded by a loud thud. Jamie's heart began to race. Listening closely she gasped when she heard Sam and Dean. It sounded to her like they were struggling.
Something was wrong.
Jamie knew she had to wake up, but when she tried she could not. She struggled before her eyes popped open and she looked to her left. She saw Sam fighting with an unknown man. Jamie rolled off the bed as quietly as she could, trying to calm down and think about how she could help.
She found her way to the end of the bed and peeked out, a blade suddenly slid into view. When she looked in the direction it had come from she found herself staring into Dean's green eyes. He was pinned to the wall, another man, holding him by the throat tightly.
When he looked away, Jamie tentatively reached out and grabbed the blade, bringing it closer to her.
"Can I eat him?" Jamie heard the one who had Dean pinned ask.
"We didn't come here to spill blood." She was relieved to hear the other say. "Eric told you to bring his mate back to the nest, how about you do what is asked of you since you failed the first time?"
Jamie startled after hearing the name Eric. And grew even more alarmed when she realized that the man holding Dean was the vampire who was supposed to be watching her. She peeked out and peered at him closer and sure enough it was the young man slouched in the chair.
Jamie ducked back and heard Dean express her very thoughts.
"Shut up!"
Jamie heard Dean choking and panicked. The vampire was going to kill him intentionally or by mistake. She got to her feet fluidly, gripping the blade tight.
"We should just kill them, whether he ordered us to or not. They are either gonna kill her or use her to find and kill us. I think Eric will thank us for getting rid of two hunters who tried to hurt his mate."
Jamie stalked towards the man with a singular mission.
Dean was in pain. He couldn't breathe. She didn't know how to kill him, but she knew how to make him let go.
The other vampire turned his head. As she raised the blade with both arms, she realized that he could probably see her.
"Casey!"
Jamie swung down hard, scared, but determined.
She felt her teeth extend as the limb fell to the floor. Splatters of blood hit her arm and clothes. She raised her gaze to Dean, who was catching his breath. Casey was still screaming. "Is it his heart? How do I…?" She could hear her voice shaking and registered the sheer panic.
"Head." Dean rasped. "Cut it off."
Jamie shifted her stance, staring into Casey's eyes as he looked to her wide eyed. Jamie sucked in a breath and swung hard, cutting his head clean off. It dropped and his body followed.
Jamie stood over him, chest heavy, blood splattered, with a look of petrification.
She jumped when Dean took her arm holding the blade, his gaze capturing hers.
"It's okay, Jamie." He soother her. "You're okay. You did great. You can let go."
Jamie nodded and let him take the blade. She felt her teeth retract as he stepped in front of her.
Calming down, Jamie saw that the other vampire had reversed his position. He now had Sam in front of him like a shield.
"I know you." Jamie realized with a quirk of her head.
Dean glanced back at her.
"You came in with Eric on his first night at the bar. After that I never saw you again. So your Eric really is my Eric. And you're Nick."
"That is my name and Eric is the man you know."
"He's a vampire." Jamie thought aloud. "He turned me."
Nick nodded. "Yes he did. He has a bad habit of playing games and not taking things seriously, but he was serious about you. I advised him against it, but as you might know, he does what he likes."
"But I don't want to be a vampire." Jamie responded helplessly.
"He'll be heartbroken to find out."
"Who the hell cares!" Dean interrupted. "Let go of Sam."
Nick tugged Sam in the direction of the opened door. "As I said before, we only came to retrieve her. Seeing as that isn't possible I shall leave. Though I'm sure we shall be seeing each other again soon."
When his back faced the outside he let go of Sam and disappeared.
Jamie wiped at her face and came away with a smear of blood. She looked at the body of Casey with remorse. She had never killed anyone before.
"Jamie, you alright?"
She flicked her head up at Sam. She thought to lie. She thought to not answer and wash the blood off her face. She thought about Eric smiling at her.
Jamie shook her head and held back tears. "I feel…too much."
Sam look like he understood what she meant which oddly made her feel a bit better. "Maybe you should sit down?" He gestured towards the bed. "Take a minute."
Jamie nodded and even allowed him to help her to the bed. His touch was light against her arm and back. He crouched and she found herself eye to eye with him. She realized again how tall he was. She saw Dean close the door and stick a chair behind it when it didn't stay and proceed to sit in said chair.
"I'm glad that you are still with us." He offered a small smile.
Jamie returned a tired smile. "I'm glad you guys are okay. They were gonna kill you because of me."
Dean made a boisterous sound of disagreement. "Lots of things have tried to kill us."
Jamie glanced at him with a soft smile.
"Jamie," Sam began drawing her attention. "when did Eric first show up at your job?"
"About two months ago." She realized then that it lined up with the disappearances. "With Nick at first, like I said. He was very friendly, which was a welcome relief that night. I had…there was this stupid bunch of guys at the bar that kept flirting with me. Wouldn't take a hint or no for an answer. But Eric was kinda soft spoken and kinda gentlemanly. He started to come in regularly after. Two to three times a week, always after ten. He like to talk to me he said. He also liked how I made his Rusty Nail. But he was always alone. Well, except for like two weeks ago or so. Two grungy looking guys came up to him. He looked bothered to see them and they looked at me. Not just a glance, but really staring and really creepy. Eric got their attention again. He looked mad and then they were gone. I didn't ask him about it and I never saw them again."
"Was he there the night you were attacked?"
"Yeah. We talked for a good portion of the night, but he left before me. Like a good two hours before my shift ended. I mean, I know Nick said it was him, but it's still kind of weird."
"He wanted you for a partner, it's not that weird."
"Yes it is." Jamie exclaimed. "That means he likes me."
Sam chuckled. "Seems like you like him too."
Jamie blushed. "He was nice and I thought he was a normal guy. Figures he's a blood thirsty vampire that preys on people. Only weirdo's like me."
Sam tried to hide a smile. "We'll at least we know who's blood we need."
"What now?" Jamie asked. "Eric's sounds like the nest leader. So there will be a lot of people protecting him, right?"
"Depends on how big his nest is." He tried to sound hopeful. "But first, how about you clean up. We still have plenty of time to figure things out. There was a store up the road where we can get you a change of clothes."
Jamie nodded. "Okay." She looked around and at herself and back at Sam. "Okay."
Sam stood as Jamie got to her feet and found her way to the bathroom.
….
Jamie eventually exited the bathroom with wet hair pulled into a loose bun and gray sweats and marron tank top that was bought for her. Dean had gone to the store and delivered the clothes to her before she was even finished.
Sam was in the room picking up a chair. He looked to her, holding onto the back of the chair. "Hey. How you feeling?"
Jamie wondered closer seeing that Casey's body was gone, leaving behind a ring of blood as the only evidence of his brutal death. "A little better. Is Dean burying the body?"
"Yeah. He should be back soon."
Jamie sat at the edge of the bed she woke on. "How are you?"
Sam regarded her with a ting of surprise before he walked over to the adjacent bed and sat down to face her. "I'm fine. We're fine, Jamie."
She smiled a little. "So, what do we do now? Should we change motels or something?"
Sam shook his head. "Once a vampire has your scent, it's for life. They would find us no matter what. Though they might see it coming, we think we should try an attack at dawn."
"We don't have to kill him, do we?" Jamie asked quietly.
Sam's lips pressed thin. "No, but I don't think he will give us his blood willingly considering he turned you for a reason."
"Maybe I could come with you guys and talk to him. He won't hurt me. I'll explain things and maybe he'll understand. He may be a vampire, but he is kind. He can't be that bad."
Sam stared at her, understanding her logic, but not willing to agree to it. He didn't know this vampire and in his eyes he had already hurt Jamie whether it was intentional or not.
"Even if he did agree to give you his blood to cure you, Eric and his nest are still a threat to others Jamie. We already know that two people have been taken by them for food. We have to kill the nest so no one else is hurt."
Jamie lowered her head with her hands clasped in her lap. "You're right. I know."
Please forgive my history I added in this chapter. All made up of course. I tried to make it as believable as possible. I also I hope I'm not butchering our beloved characters. I feel I have the most trouble with Sam. Thanks for all the follows/favorites. A special thank you to SuperWolf1967 for my first review!