well, i've been productive today. a one shot and a chapter. :) sorry for the wait, thank you all one again for the great reviews, i hope you're all still enjoying the story. :)

AFTERGLOW

Chapter 10

Sam ran through the crumbling first floor of the house, his heart hammering in his chest. He'd gotten Dean back, so why did it still feel like his brother was miles away? He grabbed the duffel he'd dropped by the door, pulling out the salt and gasoline— he was ending this, now. Arthur Sumner had taken too many people already, and Sam wasn't about to let the spirit take his brother. He had no idea where the angry caretaker was, and he just prayed it hadn't attacked Dean and Kerri. Neither was in a position to defend themselves, and Sam berated himself for leaving them behind. But he had to destroy the spirit, there was no other way, and destroying it meant leaving Dean and Kerri's side.

Sam could feel the cold wind begin to pick up as he worked his way around the ground floor, the air around him becoming charged as the spirit tried once again to manifest. They were out of time. The entire house was crumbling around them, the groaning and creaking of the old structure growing louder as Sam worked, dust raining down from the floors above. Once he was certain he'd saturated the space, he turned back to where he'd left his brother and Kerri.

"Hey, you two alright?" Sam asked, peering through the broken wall. He knew he couldn't get them through the same opening Kerri had used to enter. Despite the danger, the young hunter had to break through closer to Dean. There was some sort of obstruction blocking him from the pair, which, in hindsight he should have seen coming— when was life ever easy for them?

"We need to get out of here, Sam." Kerri answered, and Sam felt his heart sink. He knew his brother was sick, knew he was suffering from sever dehydration, but still, the young man wished Dean had been the one to answer him. He needed to hear his brother's voice, needed to see the older man for himself before he let himself believe he really had Dean back.

He could see Kerri trying to shift Dean's much larger frame even though they both knew she didn't have a chance of moving him. "Don't move, Kerri."

"Sam, you can't fit through the opening, I'm coming to you."

"Ker, for once in your life just listen. Stay still, I'll break in down there."

"Sam, this whole place is gonna fall in on top of us."

Sam sighed. He could hear the worry and fear in her voice, and he knew she was quickly losing her composure. But the young hunter also knew they only had the one option. "We gotta get out of here, Kerri. Get him ready, I'll let you know when I'm gonna break the wall, then we move."

Sam moved toward them, his breath coming out in cold puffs of air— Sumner was close. He gripped the hammer tight, taking a steadying breath before swinging, everything was going to have to happen in a few short seconds. "Ready?" Sam called, pulling back the sledgehammer, already starting his swing before waiting for her reply.

It was instantaneous. The hammer slammed through the wall, sending dust and debris raining down on Sam as the brunette pulled back and swung again. The second swing took out even more of the old house, Sam having to cover his face and head as a section of ceiling fell far too close for comfort. He dropped the sledgehammer, jumping into the wall as an angry scream ripped through the house.

"Kerri—." But Sam didn't need to say anything else as Kerri was already shifting Dean into his outstretched arms.

Sam's heart beat fiercely in his chest when he took Dean's limp form from Kerri's arms. Dean was pale, too pale, his lips chapped, cheeks red from a slowly growing fever. He limps were twitched in what Sam knew was the beginnings of a seizure. God, they were too late. He'd been too slow, hadn't put two and two together fast enough and he was losing Dean because of it. It was like the hunt in Wyoming all over again. He'd found Dean, but that didn't mean his brother was out of danger and once again Sam felt helpless.

The retort of the shotgun broke Sam from his tumbling mind, Kerri kneeling by his side, shotgun in hand. Sam could feel the charge in the air and knew their time was up. Arthur Sumner was making a last stand, and he was determined to take Dean into hell with him. Sam turned all his focus toward his brother, knowing Kerri could cover them and retrieve their weapons. He heard the shotgun blast again as he pulled himself to his feet, swinging Dean over his shoulders in a fireman's carry.

Sam made it no more than two steps before he heard the front door of the old house slam shut, the young hunter sinking to the ground with his brother even as Kerri checked the door— but he knew what she'd find.

"It's locked. I can't get through."

Sam was spent, his nerves going into over drive as he knelt by his unconscious brother in the crumbling house. He was not going to lose— he refused. Has could hear a torrent roaring in his ears, could feel a fire growing inside him. He was tired of losing, tired of having the darkness steal away what he love the most. He needed to save his brother, he needed to save Dean, every fiber of his being called for it.

Sam was vaguely aware of Kerri's voice but he couldn't focus on anything other than the growing melee around him. The spirit was fighting him for his brother, but Sam refused to give up the battle. He could feel the air around him grow deadly still, the charge growing like static electricity, making the hair on his arms stand on end. He could see Evelyn's eyes again, the pale orbs shinning in front of him, almost like she was there, watching him. She'd lost, but he wouldn't.

Before Sam could even register what was happening the once sealed front door flew open, the wall behind him crumbling to the ground with the force. And Sam didn't waste a second. He pulled Dean over his shoulder once more, ducking around a falling piece of the upper floor as he told Kerri to light it up. He didn't know where Sumner was and he only hoped Kerri was following after him when he felt the heat of fire at his back. The place was burning, but the hunt was far from over.

Sam fell into the grass a few hundred feet from the house, his lungs burning from the smoke and strain of carrying his brother. He could hear the spirit's final screams as the building collapsed and burned, Arthur Sumner's reign of terror was finally over, but Sam was afraid the spirit would still lay claim to its final victim. The entire world stood still when Sam looked down at Dean. The older man was awake now, or at least semi-conscious, probably from all the jostling. He was looking up at Sam, his green eyes glazed and unfocused. He looked so lost, so broken.

"Sm." Dean breathed, though Sam knew what his brother was saying.

"Yeah, Dean, I'm here." Sam coughed, cursing as he pulled out his cell phone and saw no signal. Who the hell was he gonna call anyway? They couldn't go to the hospital, not with Hendricksen on their tale. God, they were so beyond screwed.

"Sam." Kerri's voice broke through, making Sam look up. Kerri was covered in soot and coughing, but she was alive and at that moment it was all Sam knew he could ask for. "We gotta get him to the hospital."

"No." Sam's voice broke. Dean was in critical condition, his body failing even as he laid in the damp grass. Despite everything his brother had done, despite all the people Dean had risked his life to save he was still left broke, still left dying with no place to go. "We can't. The FBI, there was this hunt—."

"It's ok, Sam." Kerri answered, her voice soft, a comforting hand resting on his shoulder. At that moment Sam wanted nothing more than to crumble into the comfort of the older girl, to let go of all the responsibility and let someone save him. Kerri had always been there, picking up the pieces when Dean had been hurt on a hunt, and Sam had forgot just what a comfort she had been. "I know someone."

"Where? Who?" Sam asked, locking eyes with the redhead.

"A friend back near Valley. He's a doctor, works at one of the clinics, he'll help."

"He'll ask questions."

"No, he won't."

"Ker, I don't know."

"You can trust him, Sam. I promise."

Her promise was all the young man needed. Kerri was a good judge of character and if this doctor was someone she trusted, then Sam knew he was Dean's only chance. Sam didn't waste anymore time getting Dean into the Impala— leaving the burning remains of Arthur Sumner's house in their rearview mirror.

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Brian Mallory rubbed his tired eyes, the too bright light on the desk blinding him. He hated paperwork, but it had to be done. He'd run his own small clinic for six years now, and he'd never once looked back. He'd done his residency at a big name hospital in California, and his fellow doctors had told him he was in for a bright, star studded future in medicine. But Brian wasn't in it for glory, he was there to help people, to give people a chance. He thought the big university and city hospitals were the way to go, but he'd quickly learned that wasn't were his future lied.

The bigger the hospital the more red-tape he found himself wading through. Every way he turned there was someone asking him to fill something out or someone being turned away at the door because they couldn't afford the services. It was stifling. It wasn't that he had anything against his fellow doctors or the hospitals themselves, he just wasn't cut out for the fast pace life of the Hollywood hospital scene. And so, six years ago he'd packed up and moved to a tiny little town that needed help. The closest hospital to Valley, Wyoming was an hour's drive away, and the local doctors offices reminded Brian of something out of an old western. But hell, it was that very small town charm that led him to the clinic in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

It was peaceful in Valley, and he used to joke with his parents that driving to Valley was like driving back in time. It was beyond quaint, more on the forgotten end of things, but Brian loved it just the same. One of the drawbacks, though, was that he ran everything himself, which often had him up at all hours of the night filing charts and ordering equipment and taking care of the general office maintenance he couldn't get to durning the day. He'd had a secretary of sorts for a little bit, but that memory always opened old wounds, and Brian found that, alone in the middle of the night what had once been was a bad thing to dwell on.

He was pulled from his thoughts by the deep guttural growl of an engine, the car's tires crunching against the dirt and gravel parking lot. He glanced up at the clock, it was 2:30 in the morning, and experience told the thirty six year old doctor that whatever was about to come through the door wouldn't be good. He threw on his lab coat and stethoscope, moving out into the parking lot to head off whoever was out there. He wasn't an idiot, midnight calls weren't his normal riding accidents or scraps and spills— no, it was normally things of a less legal nature.

And, the minute Brian laid eyes on the men before him, he knew the police were probably close behind. "Can I help you?"

"My brother." The tall man began, pulling an almost unconscious man from the car and draping him over his shoulder.

"Whoa, what happened?" Brian began, trying to coax the man back into the car, knowing if push came to shove he was going to get his ass kicked.

"We don't have time for this, my brother's dying." the man pushed back, his eyes flashing dangerously. Whoever these men were, they were trouble.

"If you don't cooperate I'm going to have to get the police involved."

"I don't have time for this."

"Brian." Brian froze at the voice, his heart hammering in his chest as a lump formed in his throat. He spoke to her on the phone monthly, checking on her, making sure she hadn't fallen into a black hole somewhere— but it was rare when he saw her in person. And now here she was, showing up at two a.m with two very dangerous looking men.

"Kerri? What the hell is this?"

"Please, Brian, we need help."

Brian looked between Kerri and the tall man, moving to the redhead's side before addressing the man. "Second room on the right, there's a gurney there, I'll be right behind you."

"Thank you." and with that the man vanished into the clinic.

"Kerri," Brian began, grabbing Kerri by the arm as she made to follow. "Are you alright, what'd they do to you?" he asked, noticing her attire, a large bruise already forming by her collar bone. She was noticeably thinner then the last time he'd seen her, her face drawn, eyes sunken and dull. It looked like she'd been through hell and back.

"They didn't do anything."

"Ker, don't lie. Did they get into your house again? I mean, they never caught the guys last time."

"Brian, I swear they're my friends and they didn't do anything."

"Ker, they're vagrants. I mean, how are they your friends?"

"Can you help them or not?" Kerri stated coldly, her piercing blue eyes locking with his.

"Yes, but I'm contacting the police."

"No. No cops."

"What's going on with you? I mean, you leave me, which I guess I understand, with your family and all. And then a few month ago you up and start vanishing for days at a time. You're sick, I could hear it in your voice and I can see it now. And I haven't forgotten someone attacked you at home. And now you're showing up with two guys that are wanted by the police?"

"You know me, now please, just trust me. We don't have time."

Brian sighed, knowing he would never be able to outlast Kerri. He'd been with her long enough to know that once she sent her mind to something she was going to accomplish it, no matter what. "What happened to him?"

"He was trapped, we couldn't get to him and couldn't get help. He was without water for a few days."

"A few days?" Brian asked, leading the way into the clinic.

The gruff looking younger man looked far softer in the bright lights of the exam room. He was tired, Brian could see it plain as day, his shoulder slumped as he ran a hand over the other man's forehead, holding him firmly against the gurney as he promised help was on its way. Yes they still looked like escapees from a slasher film, but if there was one thing Brian had learned it was not to judge a book by its cover.

Brian let the man talk, working around the pair as he set up an IV, knowing he had to get the patient hydrated if there was even gonna be a chance to save him. The moment he tried to insert the needle, though, the brunette turned on him like a pit bull. "What're you doing?"

"Kerri said he was without water, I'm giving him an electrolyte solution."

"Sam." Kerri began, and the brunette, Sam, immediately stood down. And like an alarm bell going off, the young man's name sank in. This was Evelyn's Sam.

"You're one of the Winchesters?" Brian stated, sparing Sam a glance before turning his full attention to the other man, Dean if his guess was right.

"Kerri told you?"

"Not Kerri, more like the whole town of Valley. You two were more like an urban legend. I honestly wasn't sure you were real till Evelyn showed me a picture."

Based on what Sadie Miller and the other residents had said about the Winchesters Brian was sure the brothers had died long before hand, either that or ended up in jail somewhere. And, based on their current actions, he figured the town's stories of them weren't far off. But then, Kerri wasn't the kind of person to get mixed up with trouble. She was too smart to fall for the 'bad boys', she just didn't have time for that. Kerri was the kind of girl that knew what she wanted in life and never let anything hold her back— at least she'd been like that before her sister's death. Losing Evelyn had changed Kerri in ways Brian had never thought possible.

"I need to get some blood so I can test it against later samples and see if the therapy's working." Brian directed his attention to Sam, knowing the younger man was watching his every move. He could see the tall kid's muscles relax at the explanation, the reality of his entire experience finally showing through his eyes. "Do you need to sit down?"

"No, no I'm fine."

"Ok, Sam. I'm gonna get some samples then I need to talk to Kerri, you can stay with your brother."

"Is there anything else you can do?"

"At the moment, no. He's in and out of consciousness so hopefully he won't need to be transfered to an actual hospital. If his electrolytes bounce back he should be fine. He's young and healthy."

"Ok," Sam began, sinking into a chair by the bed. "thank you."

Brian just nodded before taking Kerri by the arm and leading her from the room. He was worried about her, and every fiber of his being needed to keep her safe. Yes, she'd given him back the engagement ring but that didn't mean she was out of his heart and mind. The two men in the clinic were dangerous, he could see that, and he wanted to make sure Kerri understood exactly what she was getting herself into. Yes, she'd known them as children, but that was a long time ago, and not everyone remained honest and trustworthy when they grew up. Kerri may have seen the boys as her personal heroes, but Brian knew they were far more dangerous then his ex-fiance could imagine.