They could see her, smell her, almost taste her, she was so close. They had been watching for weeks, waiting for her to leave the protection of the house. So far she had been too careful, and now finally here she was within feet of the boundary. They stayed quiet and still, impossible to detect in the shadows, watching with their obsidian eyes and enjoying the human's scent and emotions. They thrived not only on human blood but also on their strongest emotion, fear. They were starving, it had been too long.

They would have moved on to easier prey, except, they sensed that this one was different. Feeding on her would be special, she was cunning and brave, feeding on her family and then killing her slowly would cause her the ultimate agony. Normally, they would have attempted to enter the house but, she was too careful and the property was too dangerous for them.

They had worried when the others arrived; the others were dangerous they, could sense it. But now, they had ties to the family, killing them would simply add to the emotions they were yearning to feed on.

They remained in the shadows, soon now, they knew they would get their chance soon.

888

Dean gathered Sara's warm body against his own. He liked the fact that she was tall, her long legs fit perfectly against his. Her hair smelled like strawberries, her skin felt smooth and soft. He placed a hand on her heart shaped face. Her eyes were closed, her dark lashes lay against her cheeks, heavy shadows rested beneath her eyes.

"Hey," Dean said, asking for her attention. Sara opened her eyes and looked up at him, a faint smile pulled at her lips. "Sara, you are strong and brave. They're going to be okay, you'll take care of them I know it. They'll grow up strong and safe and it will be because of you."

Sara stared up into Dean's eyes and saw the sadness. "Dean, you did a wonderful job with Sam, I would be so proud if my boys turned out half as well as you and Sam. I know what you've done for him, what you've given up. I know what you've sacrificed Dean."

Dean looked at the woman he held in his arms, it took a moment for him to find his voice. "Sammy turned out okay, didn't he? I mean for the way we were raised, he's really good, you know. He always does the right thing." At this Dean paused, when he continued his voice was even lower. "He makes me proud."

Sara stared up at Dean and laid a hand on his face stroking his cheek gently. "No, Dean, that's not what I said. You and Sam are both men that any mother would be proud of. And don't try to act as if you didn't raise Sam. He talks you know, he talks a lot. Once he gets going he just kind of rambles, he talked about anything and everything."

At this Sara smiled and rolled her eyes. "He reminds me so much of Michael. Anyway I know, I listened and I know what you've done for him. When you look at Sam you should be able to see yourself in everything he does, I do. You're the one that told him what he needed to know to be a man."

Dean closed his eyes against the feelings that Sara's soft words evoked. He held her for a long time, hammock swinging in the breeze. He thought she had finally fallen asleep when, she said, "Dean?" A question in her voice. "You're Dad, Sam told me, what you think he did."

Dean pulled away from Sara resting on his back his arms beneath his head. Sara felt the cold night air as soon as he moved away. She didn't want to say anything that would hurt him, however, if she could give him some semblance of peace she had to try.

"Dean, Sam said that John traded his life for yours. I just want you to hear me Dean. I know how angry you must be with him. I know it must be eating you alive, but I just want you to listen. If I had been in your Dad's position, if one of my kids were lying in that hospital bed dying, no hope left. I would call upon the devil himself to save them. My life when compared to theirs is only a means to an end." She leaned upon Dean willing him to open his eyes and look at her.

She only continued speaking once she saw the clear green color of his eyes. "Dean, what would you have done, if it had been Sam? What would you be willing to give up in order to keep Sammy safe? You've already given up your life to keep him safe, would you hesitate to give up your soul?" She laid her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, feeling his warmth. "I wouldn't and your Dad didn't. He gave up his life because knowing that you were dead would have killed him anyway."

Dean pulled her against him, holding onto her tightly. He buried his face in her hair and waited for the ache that her words had caused, to ease. As he lay there he realized that some of the pain from his father's death had also eased. He felt as if he could breathe for the first time in a long while. Sara was right; Dean had prepared himself his whole life, to be a sacrifice for Sam. To take his place, or to stand beside him. Whichever would be required. He finally accepted that right or wrong what his father had done, he had done for love.

Dean placed his hand on Sara's face and kissed her as gently as he knew how. He pressed kisses against her closed eyes over and over again before pressing his lips fully against hers. Giving no quarter, allowing her no moment to think, only allowing her to feel.

Sara felt like she was on fire. His work roughened hands were gently tracing the lines of her face and her neck. His mouth made it impossible for rational thought. She could hear herself chant, more, more, more she wasn't' sure if the words ever made it outside of her head.

She felt a charge when Dean's hands suddenly moved beneath her old battered sweatshirt. She was completely overwhelmed.

Dean couldn't stop running his hands over Sara's smooth skin, he knew that she was his for the taking; there was no hesitation on her part. She was with him at this moment completely. At this moment. Suddenly, Dean slowed his hands and mouth. He had come to know Sara well over the last week. He had come to admire both her values and her courage. He pulled back completely, hands shaking.

"Sara, I want you. I want you now. But I can't keep you, you realize that right? That for us, it can never be anymore than right now," Dean whispered, the words, cursing his stupid honor for not just taking what he could, while he could. He knew her, he knew that if given a moment to stop and think he knew what her answer would be.

Sara tried to focus on Dean's words. She blinked up at him, trying to slow her pounding heart. She knew what he was saying, hell, only a little while ago the same thoughts had run through her mind. She choose her words carefully, smiling up into his beautiful eyes.

"Dean, I'm not built this way. As much as I want this, and I really want this I can't. You need to be free, you have a job to do and so do I. I can't be with you like this and not have it change me."

"As it is you and your brother have so tangled yourselves in my heart that you'll be a part of me forever. I can't afford to regret any decisions I make, my life is not my own." Sara dropped her eyes to the amulet he wore around his neck. She reached up her hand and touched it gently.

Dean lifted her chin so that she was looking at him. He searched her eyes, and said, "I knew, and you're right, but I want you to know if my destiny was my own. I would stay here and make a life with you and your kids." Dean looked at her, his gaze steady. "I will make one promise, when we leave here. You need me for anything, and I will move heaven and earth to be there for you. I promise." He kissed her one more time, a soft fleeting kiss.

Dean leaned back pulling her with him and simply held her. She lay against his cheek, and said, "Will you leave soon?"

Dean didn't know how to answer; Sam and him had scoured the area and had been unable to find any proof that there was something wrong. All they had was their instincts on full alert. "To be honest I'm not sure. I've been putting away the money that Brian's been paying me. I wouldn't mind earning a little more before we pull out. Is that alright?"

Sara suddenly shifted trying to see into his downcast eyes. "Dean, look at me, look at me." As he reluctantly raised his eyes he felt her gaze turn fierce. "You've felt it too. That's why you and Sam are still here. You know something's wrong."

Dean shook his head "I don't know, Sara, we've looked we can't see anything wrong, it just feels..."

"Wrong, wrong in a big blaring way that never quite leaves you. I know, I've been trying to ignore it. To tell myself that I was making things up, but." Sara suddenly felt so tired, she hadn't slept in weeks. She was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted. At this point she was afraid that when it finally happened when the ball finally dropped she would be too tired to save her small family.

Dean looked at her seeing the signs of exhaustion, of defeat. He suddenly shot her his best smile, big and full of teeth. "How, about you let me take you to bed" he said, in his slyest tone. He allowed his seriousness to show thru. "How about, you let me take you to bed, and hold you while you sleep. The kids aren't here; we know we're safe in the house. Let me help you, Sara. You spend your life reaching out to others in a dozen different ways, caring for them tirelessly. Let me help you at least while I'm able."

Sara saw the kindess in the gesture and it simply overwhelmed her. She nodded tears rolling down her chin. She simply, said, "Thank you."

Dean rolled out of the hammock in one swift motion, he felt a prickle of unease touch his neck as he put his back to the forest behind him. He choose to ignore it, like he had said to Sara, there was no doubt that the house was safe. Whatever it was could have one more night. Tomorrow he would hunt it down and destroy it. Tonight, was about saving someone in a different way.

Sara lay on the hammock as Dean rocked out. She smiled up at him wiping the tears from her eyes. She saw him glance behind himself, toward the forest and felt unease crawl up her spine. Before the thoughts could form, he reached down and picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. Hand firmly planted on her backside, she dangled down his back.

Dean listened to Sara's laugh as he walked into the house and headed up to her room. As he entered he realized that he had been in every corner of this house except this room. The room was a warm coffee color, dominated by a huge king bed centered against one wall. The caramel colored bedding was beautiful, and the rug was thick beneath his boots. As he carefully set Sara down on the big bed he noticed the framed artwork on the walls.

He laughed as he saw the different inscriptions on the pieces; Sara had built herself quite a gallery. Dean turned toward her lifting an eyebrow as he said, "They're beautiful, you're lucky you know."

Sara nodded and looked proudly at the collection of finger paintings, drawings, and stories that lined the walls around her room. She went to bed looking at her children's accomplishments and she woke the same way. It gave her a sense of comfort and peace.

Sara watched as Dean kicked off his boots and took off the button down shirt he was wearing. Sara moved to the big bed and carefully slid in. She watched with lowered lids as Dean moved about the room lowering the shades at the windows. She saw him smile as he noticed the symbols carefully printed on each blind.

Dean looked at her lying on the bed and felt peace. He was doing the right thing, he couldn't offer her anymore, and she wouldn't accept anymore. He lay down beside her, gathered her warm body close, and felt a sense of rightness begin to flow thru him.

Within moments, all that could be heard in the room was the rhythm of gentle breathing. They remained like that thru the night and into the morning. As morning came and went, they both remained oblivious to the danger that was mounting.

888

Sam looked up from the manuscript he was reading to glance at the clock once again. He had woken up around seven o'clock this morning, and quickly realized that Dean's bed hadn't been slept in. He wasn't overly worried he would have been blind not to realize that Sara and Dean were becoming closer and closer.

Sam felt a mixture of joy and sadness at the thought. They belonged together, they would have been so right. But Sam knew that life just wasn't that simple. He only hoped that when he and Dean finally left this family behind, there would be no hard feelings between the two. Sam had every intention of coming back to this house in the woods and he would fight even his big brother if he tried to stop him.

A visit from time to time would only be a benefit for both the weary hunters. Sam had come to think of this place as home. A home, he may not be able to stay in, but still a safe harbor. Someplace to focus on when things got bad, as they tended to do.

Sam glanced at the clock once again, he couldn't wait any longer. He hadn't seen Dean since they had returned from the bar last night. Sam grinned to himself at the way Sara had kicked Dean's ass in darts. She had her throw perfected. Sam probably should have warned Dean, he had come across the board down in the basement with hundreds and hundreds of pinpoints and even larger slices that showed how much time she spent practicing.

Sam mounted the stairs carefully; he didn't want to disturb them he just wanted to be sure they were okay. He had been feeling more and more uneasy as the day progressed. Now at nearly eleven o'clock in the morning he was starting to jump out of his skin.

Sam approached Sara's door, noting that it was partially opened. He listened for a moment but could make out no noise. He walked toward the opening and carefully looked in.

Sam could make out in the dim light Dean laying on his side an arm wrapped around Sara's waist. He quickly turned away and headed back down the stairs. He was glad that Sara had finally found the peace she had been missing.

As Sam entered the kitchen he noted that Jack was standing by the door, asking to go out. Sam decided that a walk with the dog was a good way to shake the uneasy feeling he had. He would patrol the property and see if he was able to find something to share with Dean later.

888

The big dog danced as he realized that the man was going to walk with him. He immediately forgot the bad feeling he had when they began walking through the yard. The dog danced and played happy to be with the man, who was always quick with a kind word and an ear scratch.

As they neared the property line the big dog became worried. The man was watching, careful of where he walked but the dog knew. He knew that they were out there. They had been calling to the big dog for a while. He knew though that they were dangerous and that the girl would not want him to leave the property. He had ignored the call, sensing the danger in it.

The man kept stepping closer and closer to the property. The big dog had been trained to prevent the girl's young ones from crossing this line. It was his most important duty. He was confused though, the man wasn't one of the girl's, he smelled different. But the girl treated him as if he was her's. In a moment's decision the big dog decided to treat him as such.

Just as the young man stepped over the boundary, the big dog quickly acted as he had been taught. He moved around the man blocking his way, using his big body and a series of woofs he began herding the big man back onto the property.

The man held up his arms, telling him he was a good dog. The big dog ignored the comments and continued forcing the man back. The big dog was concentrating so hard on pushing the man away from danger that he barely even registered the pain that flared in his rear leg.

He let out a growl and lunged at the man one last time, forcing him to back up. Back up onto the safety of the property. The dog then turned and faced his attacker. The fear that ran through him almost made the big dog run. His leg would no longer support him and he knew that he would not be at full strength to defeat whatever had hurt him. He knew what his job was, he had always known what the girl expected. His life for the young one's, his life for hers.

He gathered himself to jump at at the shadow that was before him. He couldn't see the danger but knew it was coming from the shadows.

888

Sam didn't know what was wrong, one moment Jack had been wandering by his side. And the next he had turned on Sam and was forcing him backward toward the house. For one crazy moment Sam thought that the dog had gone mad. That Dean had been right about more than just Jack's resemblance to the infamous Cujo. The more that Sam tried to push forward the more the aggressive the dog got.

Suddenly, Sam felt an evil that made him want to turn and retch. He saw Jack's back leg kick out from behind him and suddenly a bright bloom of blood began spreading on Jack's back leg.

Sam pulled his .45 from his pocket, just as Jack began growling and snapping still driving him backwards. Sam couldn't see anything other than the shadows of the forest. Then he noticed that the area behind Jack seemed unnaturally dark as if the light was being sucked from the area.

Sam out of options took aim at the deepest part of the shadows and fired rapidly. He heard a cry and for a moment saw something behind the dog. Jack didn't flinch at the sound of gunshots he simply lunged at the last moment throwing his not inconsiderable weight against Sam and toppling him backward, much as he had when Sam had first met him.

Sam felt the dog, collapse partially on top of his left leg. Sam pulled his gun up again and took aim. He relaxed slightly as he narrowed his gaze toward the shadowed woods. Everything seemed normal again, yes, it was still dark, but the all encompassing shadow was gone.

Sam ran his hands over Jack whispering to him, telling him that he had done good. He looked to the house find Sara sprinting toward them, bare feet flying, shotgun in hand. Dean followed running full out, gun in hand but she was far outpacing him.

Sam called out "Sara, slow down it's okay, Jack's been hurt." Sam winced as he thought of the damage the ground was doing to Sara's feet. He watched her slow slightly, gun at the ready scanning the forest before Sam.

Dean never slowed, he simply ran, moving ahead of Sara and Sam putting himself between them and the forest. Sara slid to a halt beside Jack, she quickly scanned the area around them and grabbed hold of the big red collar that Jack wore around his neck. She pulled urging Jack to his feet, over and over again, she yelled at the dog to move, panic seeping into her voice.

Jack moved another three feet toward the house, before Sara allowed him to sink to the ground. She wrapped her arms around the dog's neck and began to lovingly praise his bravery. "Jacky, you're the best boy. You did good you kept him safe, good job." Sam listened as she kept up the never ending litany.

Dean barked out "Sam, you okay?" At Sam's reassurance, Dean said, "Head up to the house, Sammy, we need something to carry him out on." Dean's eyes never left the forest.

Sam took off at a run, heading for the garage. Sara watched Sam run toward the garage, and said to Dean, "We're safe, the yards protected. We're far enough back now, nothing will cross onto the property."

Dean nodded and moved to Sara's side running his hands through the dog's thick fur. He glanced at the dog's hind leg and quickly pulled off his tee shirt holding it to the ragged wound. He looked up as Sam approached carrying a piece of plywood, a blanket, and the first aid kit from the Impala.

Dean quickly dressed the wound on the dog's leg and spread the blanket under his head. "I'm going to pick him up in sections and you two will keep sliding the blanket under him as we go. Ready?"

They worked quickly and efficiently trying not to cause Jack any more pain. He was already unconscious from the blood loss. As they finally had the blanket under him they used the four corners of the blanket and lifted the dog onto the plywood. Then they each lifted him and began the trek back to the garage. As they neared the garage, Sara quickly moved the rear seats of the mini van, making room for the dog. Sam quickly ran into the house grabbing a shirt for Dean and the keys for the van.

As Dean got into the drive's side, Sam slammed the gate to the van shut, just before he did, he noticed that Sara hadn't bothered grabbing shoes. He spared a glance for Jack noticing just how shallow his breathing was. Sam said a quick prayer for the dog that had saved him and got into the van.