Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter8
Sam parked the Impala in the driveway of a well kept two story house, feeling bad for taking Dean from his nice life but reminded himself it wasn't his fault. He hadn't been the one to give out misinformation after all. He looked at the passenger seat to find Dean's hands balled into pained fists and he placed a hand over them, squeezing gently. Dean looked at him and managed a shaky smile so Sam got out and walked around to Dean's door, gently helping him out and up the path to the front door. Dean could have unlocked the door but instead he knocked, unsure of their welcome once his Mother realised. They heard the door unlock and then Mary Winchester was there.
"Dean?" Mary smiled and then she got a good look at her son and gasped. "What happened?" She demanded stepping back.
"Come in Sam." Dean whispered tiredly and Sam was able to step inside. Mary gasped and lunged, grabbing a blade from its hiding place.
"What have you done to my son vampire?"
"Mom no, Sam didn't do this." Dean hissed in pain as he tried to get between them. Since Mary knew what he was Sam gently picked Dean up, cradling him close.
"Dean needs to rest; the trip was hard on his injuries." Sam told her, not even trying to make eye contact in an effort to help her calm down.
Mary stared at the vampire holding her son and finally nodded, leading him into the lounge room, watching the gentle way he treated Dean, as if he were more precious than gold. Once Dean was comfortable it stepped away and Mary went to her son, lifting his shirt away to look at the wounds. "Oh Dean." She whispered as she saw the bruising and healing wounds.
"Mom I….." Dean trailed off; tears in his eyes and Mary hugged him gently.
"Why aren't you in hospital?" She asked softly. "I'll drive you."
"No Mom, I can't…..they'll see and know…." Dean choked and Mary frowned.
"Know what baby?" Mary asked in dread and watched her son look at the vampire who slowly moved to Dean and pulled his shirt away from the neck, showing a rather distinctive wound. Mary gasped and reached out to trace the healing bite, pulling back when Dean flinched. "What….what bit you?"
"Wereleopard." Dean whispered, not looking at her and she knew why.
"Are you infected?" She asked despite knowing that for him to be so well healed….Dean looked at the vampire and held out a hand to it. The vampire took his hand tenderly and smiled at him and Mary stared. Was it possible the vampire actually cared for Dean?
"We think so Ma'am." The vampire answered, he had a gentle voice and despite being even taller than Dean there was something non-threatening about him. "Dean's healing too fast even with the help I gave him."
"Help?" Mary asked suspiciously.
"Mom it's okay, please." Dean whispered, eyes pleading and she put the knife down finally. Mary reached out and brushed Dean's hair back from his face. Dean leant into her touch; obviously relieved she was still willing to touch him after hearing he was probably infected.
Mary didn't know what to do. Dean was her son and she loved him but if he was infected…she knew what her parents would have said, what they would have done. A silver bullet through the heart, quick and clean to spare him pain. But she couldn't do it. He was her son! Her life. John….what they had wasn't really a marriage, not anymore. Dean was her only reason for living these days.
"Mom?" Dean whispered and she smiled at him. Dean shuddered, a few tears gathering in his eyes as he realised he wasn't being kicked out or shot.
"So one week left till the full moon…." She trailed off as the vampire nodded. "What are the chances Dean will change?"
"Even before I helped Dean he was healing but I went out to feed and came back to find him…well if I hadn't interfered Dean would have died. So…"
"So there's no way to know if he's really infected."Mary finished. "Dean how did this happen?" She asked and Dean looked away.
"I was at a bar, got drunk, was walking back to my motel then there was pain."
"I found him in an alley with the leopard on him, a minute later and Dean would have been dead. I've been looking after him since then, I knew if I took him to a hospital they would send him to one of those new halfway houses and that'd be it."
"You….you're the guy Dean was with in New York." Mary whispered and Sam nodded.
"We met at a club, danced together and Dean agreed to leave with me, I did not coerce him in any way."
"It's true Mom, I chose to go with him. Didn't know he was a vampire at that point but I wanted it." Dean added and then winced and Mary watched as the vampire removed a pill bottle from his pocket. Dean sighed but swallowed two.
"I did roll Dean's mind later but just enough that he wouldn't realise what I was. When I left I undid it."
Mary looked between them, she believed Dean but the vampire? Could she believe it hadn't forced her son? She glanced at the hazel eyes and then down, not willing to risk being caught by its powers. "Why?" She asked.
"Because I care about Dean, a lot. I was in New York to deal with some rogue shifters…but I was misinformed about their numbers, if I hadn't been then Dean never would have been attacked. I promised Dean that I'll help him until he can control his beast so that he doesn't hurt anyone. There might be away to stop the change but Dean hasn't decided yet, he wanted to come home before making the decision." Sam explained.
"There's a cure?" Mary demanded and Dean yawned, the drugs kicking in. Sam slowly sat beside him and Dean shifted so his head was on Sam's lap, cuddling into him as he began to doze. She saw the vampire smile softly and run his fingers through Dean's hair, soothing him.
"I don't know if it will work Mrs. Winchester. I don't exactly mix with my own kind so I don't know if it's been tried before."
"You're going to try and turn him?" She challenged and Sam shook his head.
"No, I know that wouldn't work and….I wasn't exactly willing myself, I've never turned anyone and I don't plan to."
"How old are you?" Mary asked, unable to help being curious and he smiled at her.
"A lot older than I look." He teased. "Guess I haven't introduced myself. Samuel Colt." His introduction made her gasp. "Yes, that Samuel Colt although I have no idea where the gun is these days."
"You were a hunter?" She asked and Sam shrugged.
"I'd already been a vampire for a while when I made the gun Mrs. Winchester. I made it for a friend who was human and a hunter." He explained.
"Incredible…..so this cure?"
"It might not work, it's already been three weeks, if he's infected the virus has spread through him and started the changes. And I'm not sure this will stop it." Sam told her and then stared as she laughed.
"Sorry, just never imagined a vampire babbling before." She told him and Sam ducked his head shyly. "You're not…you really do care about Dean." She whispered and he nodded. "So this possible cure?"
"It isn't just…it would tie Dean and I together for life. Dean will be immune to disease, poison…..old age." Sam hesitated on that one but she was Dean's mother and hadn't reacted badly to the fact her son could soon turn into a cat.
"So what? All the perks of being a vampire without any of the downsides?" She asked sceptically, it sounded too good to be true.
"He'll still be able go to church, wear a cross, all those things." Sam assured him. "But if I die he will follow. I may be able to survive his death."
"May….you've already….." Mary accused and Sam sighed.
"He was dying so yes I started the process, it's halfway done. It was that or watch him die and I couldn't doit. Dean….it's been a long time since I've known someone like him."
"You'll keep him safe?" Mary asked and Sam gently stroked Dean's face as he slept due to the painkillers.
"As safe as I can." Sam promised her. Mary nodded and then froze as they heard a truck. "Mrs. Winchester?"
"It's John. He can't find you here." Mary answered and Sam nodded, scooping Dean up gently. Dean mumbled in protest. "Shh baby, Sam's going to take you some where safe."She whispered and drug glazed eyes fluttered open briefly.
"Mom?" Dean asked and she smiled.
"You call me later okay?" She asked but Dean was already asleep again so Sam nodded and then they were gone, too fast for her to see.
TBC…
