It was the sound of gunfire that quickened her steps. Up and into the garage with little more than a glance, Sara kept her gun in hand. Her dad had been the one to suggest connecting the basement to the garage, at the time she'd been a bit hesitant. It was the idea of being able to access the basement without having to tromp through the house that had changed her mind. She figured with three kids, a ready-made basement entry would be a benefit in the long run. The stair well was on the far side of the garage, next to the mini-van's parking spot. A low wall kept people from accidentally stepping into the stairwell, and made the access near invisible unless you were looking for it.

She had expected to find her red mini-van occupying one of the garage spaces, and the Jeep was no surprise. However, the cherry red El Camino was a shock. Anger flashed through her at the sight of the bastard's car. She found herself fighting down a sudden urge to take a bat to the shiny red paint. How she'd love to take her anger and fear out on the car. Instead, she gathered her control and sidestepped it as she headed for the interior door.

The sound of gunfire was enough to make her pause. Although, the urge to help was strong, she had no delusions when it came to her own skills with a gun. She could shoot, and even better, she could hit what she aimed for. Yup, as long as the target stood perfectly still, allowing her the time necessary to line up the shot, she was your girl. However, she had a feeling that Gordon Walker would be less than cooperative if Sara ever did get the chance to point a gun his way.

She shoved her fears away, after all, she had made a decision, and she planned to stick with it. So, she listened and she waited. It wasn't long before she heard the sound of breaking glass and the sound of the gunshots seemed farther away. As she wrapped her hand around the doorknob, she drew a deep breath, and eased the door open. Careful to make no noise, she eased her way in, shutting the door behind her. She was in a small hallway, in front of her was the door to the brother's room, and to the right was the opening to the dining room.

For a moment, the memory of the first time she had met Dean flooded her, filling her with emotion. The brothers had been on a hunt. Injured, worn down, and in need of a place to recuperate, Bobby had sent them to her. By the time the brothers had packed their bags two weeks later, they'd become part of her family.

She'd found herself drawn to Dean from the start. To some he was a mystery. To her he was an open book. She not only understood him, but she sympathized with him. She knew what it was to be dependant on the happiness of others for your own happiness. She'd been living that way for a couple years now. Ever since the night her husband had died. That night Sara had learned that human monsters weren't the only ones creeping through the night. It was then she'd become ferocious in protecting those she loved. She understood what drove him to put Sam first. She understood and truthfully, she admired it. In Dean she'd found her counterpart. Resolve firmed Sara's backbone. She'd made a promise and she intended to keep it.

888

Dean advanced on Gordon, his hands bound behind his back, the chair hampering his movements. He couldn't find it in himself to care. Anger had finally overtaken him. He knew it wasn't good, uncontrolled emotion only clouded your judgment, it did nothing but increase mistakes. His father had drilled that into his boys from the start. Right now, though, Dean found he didn't give a shit, in fact, he welcomed the anger as he stepped up to Gordon. At that moment every word his father ever said slipped away to be replaced by a white-hot blaze.

"I'm gonna rip you apart," Dean snarled, as he advanced on Gordon.

Something in his tone must have led Gordon to believe Dean's words. Rather than take on Dean, even strapped to a chair, Gordon chose to flee. Barely dodging the kick that Dean sent his way, Gordon rolled and scrambled to his feet. As he turned to face Dean, his lip curled up in a snarl.

"You're gonna have to catch me first Dean, good luck with that." Gordon nodded to the cuffs and chair that were dragging Dean down. Eyes pinned to Dean, Gordon scanned the kitchen floor before diving for his gun that had slid under the kitchen table. He never made it, Dean's kick connected this time, catching Gordon in the ribs.

Although, Dean wasn't able to put a lot of force behind the kick, it was enough to stop the other man from reaching the weapon. Before he could strike again, Gordon was on his feet, one arm wrapped tight around his ribs. Dean stood well back, waiting for the moment to strike again. As far as he was concerned he could do this all night. It wasn't as satisfying as ripping Gordon limb to limb but it would do.

Gordon's eyes flickered from the gun to Dean, weighing his options he seemed to come to a decision. He began backing toward the door. "I'm gonna get going, I'll give Sammy your love." With these words, Gordon darted out of the room.

Dean watched as Gordon ducked out heading for the back door. He let loose a curse and began struggling with the chair strapped to his back. His only option for getting free was to break the chair. Gordon had used his head when he'd cuffed him. His hands were spread in such a way that even if he found a pick he couldn't work it. He tried sitting and rocking, repeatedly he slammed his back into the spokes behind him hoping to separate them from the chair seat. Not able to care about the damage he was doing to himself, Dean's only thought was for his brother.

"Dean stop."

Dean actually rocked back a few more times before the voice registered. The moment he stopped a hand grasped his, stilling the motion of his hand. Instinctively, he'd been twisting and turning his hands in the cuffs, fighting to free himself.

"Easy, Dean," Sara rasped, her voice was so low he barely recognized it.

A moment later, Dean heard a faint click as his right hand suddenly came free. Determined to get himself under control, he dropped his head to his chest as Sara worked to unlock his other wrist. His need to find Sam was second only to his relief at having Sara near. As his other hand fell free, he stood and turned. With one arm he pulled her to him, crushing her against his chest. He held tight as her arms snaked around his waist and she pressed her face against his chest.

They stood that way for a moment, as he focused on the feel of her in his arms. Regardless of what came next Sara was safe and in his arms, for the moment that was enough. At last, he released her, pushing her back he struggled to contain his anger as he took in her abused face. He'd seen her earlier but his fleeting glimpse hadn't been enough to really see her injuries, unlike now.

"Damn, Sara." He breathed as he traced one finger over the bruises on her neck. He could clearly make out the fingerprints Gordon had left behind. He now understood just why her voice had been so low. The pain in her throat must be incredible. Careful not to add to it, he traced his finger up her neck to her jaw line. The red welt that ran the length of her jaw and radiated upward would most likely be the darkest of purples by tomorrow. Her lip was split in two places and her left eye was swelled nearly shut. He felt a moment's relief that she was wearing her glasses, he couldn't imagine how much it would hurt to have to pry that eye open to remove a contact. He ran his fingers up her cheek and carefully prodded the lump that stood out at her hairline. Her gasp told him just how bad it hurt.

"Sorry," he muttered as he dropped his hand to her shoulder. Guilt swelled as she stared up at him, fear twisting her features.

"Where's Sam? Where's Gordon?"

As she rasped out questions, faster than he could answer them, he struggled for control. He knew he needed to go, to help Sam and find Gordon, but the idea of leaving Sara hurt more than any physical abuse he'd suffered. "Sam..." Dean's voice trailed off as he looked over his shoulder and out the kitchen window. Nodding toward the window he said, "Sam's out there somewhere, Gordon went after him." Dean watched as the fear drained out of Sara's face only to be replaced with anger.

"What are we waiting for, let's go get the bastard." Sara turned toward the dining room.

Her movement threw Dean off for a minute, slow to react she was already through the archway before Dean snagged the back of her shirt and yanked her back. He was expecting her anger, he wasn't expecting her cry of pain. Gathering her against him once more, he ran his hands lightly down her sides. "What's wrong? What did he do?" Sara only struggled for a minute before she relaxed against Dean.

"It's nothing, I think he bruised a couple ribs." Sara turned in his arms, fear and anger seemed to be her warring emotions. "We have to get him, Dean. Now. He knows too much, he could find the kids, my parents, even Brian," she pleaded.

"We're not going anywhere, Sara. You're going to take the Jeep and run. Go to your folks. I can't do what needs to be done if I'm worried about you." Dean's voice left no room for argument. Well at least that's what he thought. Sara's opinion apparently differed.

"Oh, you're going to handle everything, huh? Is that it, I'll just get in the way. Like I got in the way by un-cuffing you. Like I got in the way by distracting Gordon so you could get upstairs. Yeah, I can see what a liability I've been so far." Sara's anger was palpable, her brows were lowered, her lips thinned and her jaw was clenched tight. All of this Dean could ignore. It was the fear he read in her eyes that stopped him from berating her. He had brought this down on her, he was the cause of that fear. As if her life wasn't hard enough he'd left her vulnerable to the evil that stalked him daily. For that, there should be no forgiveness. He needed to push her away, for her own safety and his sanity he needed her gone. He knew of only one way to ensure that.

Ignoring the throb in his head that echoed the pain in his heart, Dean bent over and put a shoulder to Sara's middle, and then lifted her up and over his shoulder. He knew he was causing her pain, hell, her small hard fists thudding against his back were causing him pain, but he also knew he had little choice. Careful not to jostle her anymore than necessary he ignored her protests and headed out of the kitchen toward the garage.

888

"Put me down. I swear to god, Dean put me down now or so help me, I'll-"

Sara's threat was cut off with a gasp as Dean slapped a hand to her rear and said, "Quiet".

Tears of frustration threatened to overwhelm her as she continued to struggle. Dean was right, screaming like a fishwife wouldn't help anyone, and it wouldn't stop Dean from acting like an ass. As he hauled her through the dining room, skirting around the overturned table, she tried a different tact. Allowing the tears to fall, she began sobbing. It was almost frightening how easy it was for the day's struggles to overwhelm her, one moment she was faking and the next she was out of control. The worst was the pain in her throat, every sob that ripped through her increased the ache.

As he pulled open the door to the garage, she allowed herself to acknowledge it wasn't working. With effort she regained control, little by little her sobs turned to sniffles as he struggled to open the Jeep's door while maintaining his grip.

"Dean don't do this, don't. I won't go, there's nothing you can do that will make me leave," Sara threatened as he dropped her into the driver's seat.

She couldn't tear her eyes away from him as he met her gaze. His eyes were dead, the ever present spark that was such a part of him was gone. Instead, they were dull and lifeless, his full lips thinned, and his jaw clenched. "Dean, please?" Was the best she could do. She knew it was bad when her plea changed nothing.

"Sara, go. Go home to your family. Just stay away for a couple days. You have my word that when you return Gordon'll be gone, it'll be as if this never happened." His eyes remained locked on hers, his voice and face void of emotion.

His last words crashed through her, his meaning clear. It wasn't only Gordon's appearance in her life he would erase. "No, please Dean, No." Sara wasn't even sure what she said, she only knew the tears began again.

Dean backed up a step careful to stay out of her grasping reach and shook his head. "I should have done this from the first. I wanted to, but I allowed Sam to cloud my judgment. I knew how desperately he wanted a home and you offered us one. It was wrong to take advantage and I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you or your family." Dean's gaze never wavered, his flat blank stare met hers without a glimmer of life.

As she searched his face for some flicker of hope she turned his words over and over in her mind. He'd never wanted her, she was just part of the package, another piece of apple pie normal for Sam to enjoy. Somehow, the thought didn't surprise her. After all, she of all people knew just what Dean was willing to do to make Sam happy. Even if that meant tying himself to an older woman, a woman with so much baggage in her life she could barely carry it all. She was so stupid to think that a man like Dean would have wanted her, her and everything that came with her.

"Just go, Sara."

Sara very nearly argued, it was the sound of gunfire that brought her to her senses. She couldn't do this. Sam was in danger. She wouldn't do this. She was strong. She could do this. She could give him what he wanted, even if it meant the end of her world. Careful to avoid meeting his eyes she nodded and croaked, "Go find Sam." She reached over, ignoring the pain in her ribs, and opened the glove box. It took only a moment to find the spare key she kept there.

"Just open the door and as soon as it's high enough you get out. I'll keep Gordon busy. Go to your kids, Sara, they need you. I don't," he said as he slammed the car door.

Sara wasn't sure how she managed it but, she pressed the garage door opener and started the Jeep. The hardest part was shifting, her hands were shaking so bad she was having trouble gripping the shifter. A quick glance out her rearview showed Dean darting outside gun in hand. Sara didn't bother to wait for Dean to engage Gordon. She simply put the jeep in reverse and tore out of the garage, swinging into the turn-around she changed gears and headed up the drive.