A/N: Hello again all-sorry for the long absence, uni has been really hectic and busy lately. It will likely be the Xmas holidays before I can post agin because I have exams coming up in a few weeks-I just wanted to do one last post and apologise of the wait. It's a long chapter so I hope hat vaguely makes up for it!

The door gave a groan of protestation at the weight repeatedly thumping into it. It wouldn't hold off the vampires for long.

Sam's dark eyes scanned the bar for anything that he could use to aid their defences, the adrenaline pumping through his system keeping the pain from the bullet wound to a barely-there throb. His gaze landed on several rifles behind a locked case...they wouldn't kill the vampires, but they might slow them down...

"Jason, get the bar tender out here and tell him to open that case of rifles and get anyone you think can hold out against the vampires out here now." He ordered, not noticing the ease with which he fell into the role of commander.

The young cop nodded jerkily and ran over to the back door. A moment after he opened it the patrons inside surged out angrily shouting and cursing.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Get outta my bar!"

"You think that was funny?!"

"Hey! Hey! That's enough, everybody be quiet!" Sam shouted above their din to be heard, his booming voice hushing them all as eyes turned to watch the tall, authoritative stranger in their midst. "Thank you," he continued after they quieted, "Todd? I need you to open up that case for me. How many of you can use one of those rifles?"

"What's going on?"

Sam turned to face the angry voice, and blinked stupidly for a moment at the face that met his gaze...the man looked like he could be Bobby's brother...it was uncanny and unnerving.

Dude, he even wears the same hat...

He shook himself to clear his wandering thoughts.

"Eh," Sam hesitated, knowing how crazy they would think he was, that he couldn't risk them turning on him...he was their only hope of survival, "Just please, can you all do as I say-I know it seems crazy but you have to trust me. Please!" he implored.

The Bobby lookalike agreed with a reluctant nod after casting his shrewd gaze around the room and Sam gave a grateful nod before turning back to the now silent crowd gathered before him, all looking to him for answers. Their fear was almost tangible as the doorway shook in its hinges once more.

"Okay-those of you who can and are willing to use a rifle, come with me, the rest of you, sit tight out back until one of us come and tell you it's safe to come out. Do not, under any circumstances come out-it's too dangerous and I'm not gonna lie to you, you could die. That last part goes for all of you." Sam stated levelly, gentle, understanding eyes falling on each of the patrons before him, "Now, is anyone willing to help me? Anyone at all..?"

Silence wrapped around Sam and for a moment a crushing loneliness and need for his brother welled up inside him before Todd stepped forward.

"I'll help ya son" he said, concerned eyes roving over the already battered young hunter. Sam smiled gratefully in return, tears welling in his eyes as a few other men stepped forward until only a few old men stood behind, either too weak to hold a gun or too cynical to believe him. He didn't care which.

"Thank you, all of you." He said around the lump in his throat before turning to Jason.

"I need you with me. Can you do that? If you don't think you can handle it I get it, I do. But I really need your help Jason..."

"I got your back Sam." Jason said stoically, puffing out his chest in a way that reminded Sam painfully of his brother's absence.

"Okay," he sighed, absently rubbing at an ache in his temple, "Here-soak as many arrows as you can in this..." Sam then showed Jason how to load, aim and fire the crossbow, ignoring the whispers around him and the stares of the people surrounding them as they loaded their own guns.

"Look I know this all seems completely insane, and I know you're all scared, but I am not the bad guy here. I'm here to help-"

Sam's words of reassurance were cut off as glass shattered off to his left, showering him in its deadly spray. Without missing a beat he unsheathed one of the machetes and turned to face the now open window, eyes strained for any sign of movement as he crept stealthily onwards.

His posture screamed out that he a hunter; he was tense and alert, body coiled like a tight spring. His senses sought out his enemies as he stood there on the balls of his feet, machete held loosely in hand, unperturbed by the breeze wiping his hair into his eyes.

"Jason," he whispered, not removing his gaze from the window frame. The young cop came to his side, his large eyes full of fear and determination. "Stay here, shoot if anything comes through..."

Only when he trusted Jason was in position did Sam allow his gaze to track around the rest of the room; his motley crew were scattered about clutching their rifles, eyes shining in fear and resignation, and his crude defences mocked his trained eye as he weighed up how long they would hold.

There was nothing else he could do.

"Todd." He called the older barman to him, "I need you to take one of these, think you can handle it? Good, only use it if you have a clear shot," he handed the second crossbow to Todd, aware the man had watched him show Jason earlier. "The rest of you, stay hidden as far as possible-don't put yourselves in danger by shooting at these guys when they come in-it won't do anything except make them mad. Only shoot them to buy someone time if they really need it. If any of them get close to you do not attempt to take them out by hand."

A moments silence ensued before mayhem took reign: Glass blew inwards from the remaining windows as gunshots were loosed, wood splintering amongst the deadly shards as bullets found purchase on rudimentary defences; cries of shock and fear sounded as the main doorway disintegrated in a cloud of dust. The vampires passed through its veil, cloaked by shadows.

Sam stood his ground as the vampires entered the bar, machete held at the ready as they approached him, snarling insults as they crowded in. It was obvious they were there for him, clear that he posed the threat to their survival.

But they didn't strike him...their eyes warily caught upon the bloodied machete in his hand, and the bloodied crossbows pointed at their chests. For a time no one moved and all was utterly still until a nervous slip caused a bullet to eject from a rifle. It embedded itself in Karl's chest. And then; chaos.

Sam's hand whipped out speedily slashing at the first of his attackers, causing a female vampire to writhe in pain for a moment as she clutched at the poisoned wound gaping across her abdomen. She staggered backwards to be caught in another's arms, crying out in agony as the dead man's blood permeated her veins and arteries.

"Dead man's blood!" she gasped, gurgling out a few pained breaths, "He knows our weakness..."

The large vampire holding her growled out in anger, settling his compatriot against a wall. Seconds later an arrow pierced her shoulder.

"Don't waste the arrows!" Sam yelled, alert eyes tracking the motions even at his periphery. He staggered back a step as a gunshot narrowly missed him. "Shit!" he cursed, aware of a sudden unanimous assault on him as several fists strayed dangerously close. He cut down another of the vampires as it got too close to him, horrified to find that despite his efforts he was being backed into a corner. I have to move...

Dark grey eyes locked onto Sam, narrowing as they found purchase on the large weapon he still wielded. That was the only thing stopping them from overpowering the young hunter, Karl mused.

"Disarm him!" Karl roared, shoving his way past Jason, who was, for the second time in as many days, thrown into a wall like a limp ragdoll. He was of no concern now. His crossbow clattered uselessly to the ground.

"Jason! Shit. Jason!?" Sam called out, straining to see if his young friend stirred from his collapsed position whilst parrying a well aimed blow with a table leg. Suddenly his back connected with solid wall. Sonuvabitch! What do I do?! What do I do?! What do I do?!

A leering grin flashed before him, blocking his only means of escape, fangs glinting menacingly in the dim moonlight filtering through the shattered windows to cast lumpy shadows on the floor. Slitted, emotionless eyes took on an inner light, glee emerging from the inky blackness to shine out in stark contrast to the despair and determination residing in Sam's own gaze.

"Put down the knife and we promise not to kill your brother..."

Sam immediately stiffened, back going rigid against the wall behind him, suddenly thankful for its solidity as his knees began to quake. He jutted his chin out obstinately and shook his head once sharply, "You're lying," he spat, trying to disguise his momentary hesitation.

"You think so?" a cold laugh as Karl pushed past his few remaining unharmed fellows to stand fully before Sam. He towered over the young Winchester, an ominous tone entering his voice as he continued with a smirk, "Put it down or I will kill Dean myself while you watch as I tear him apart, limb from limb. I could feed on his flesh, and you would be powerless to stop it. Do you doubt that I would?"

Karl watched the sweat and blood roll languidly down the side of Sam's face, saw his muscles twitch in response to the irritation, and he licked his tongue across his teeth, aching to feed on one with such a strong scent. He noted the throbbing of Sam's heart, the irregular pattern to the beats...and his eyes strayed to the blood pooled over his arm, still pumping out vital liquid. This one wouldn't last much longer- he was losing too much blood...

"Do you doubt it Sam?" he asked again, lips curling into a malevolent smile for a fraction of a second before he swiftly turned, "I can prove it to you!"

And before Sam even registered Karl had moved, the vampire was squatted down before Jason, fangs already in place as he tilted the young man's head to expose his neck.

"NO!" Sam screamed, bursting forwards as he launched the machete in his hand. It connected with its target with a sickening crunch.

Alarm set in a moment later as realisation sank in.

You have no weapon! You have no weapon, idiot!

Sam reflexively took another step as Karl stood and faced him once again, all the while ignoring the hail of bullets penetrating his chest. They were of little consequence compared to the machete wound.

"You'll pay for that Winchester!" Karl snarled, removing the blade from his back with another sickening crunch. Sam felt his stomach revolt and he swallowed hard to keep back the bile fighting to rise in his mouth.

I'm done for...

The machete swung around in a wide arch that Sam only narrowly avoided. But he fell off balance, staggering back into the wall, hands thrown out before him to stop the grabbing hands tugging at him. He only managed to block a few punches before Karl had pushed his fellows aside once more to swing at him with the machete.

If I can outlast him until the blood kicks in I might have a chance...

Sam jumped to the side and landed in a roll, coming up to land a solid left hook to a vampires jaw before kicking out his leg to catch Karl in the kidneys. The two grunted in unison as they momentarily staggered a little, both growling in anger as Sam bobbed before them at the ready, his body slinking into the open space of the bar to allow himself room to manoeuvre.

The machete clattered to the floor as Karl swayed and fell to his knees. Sam didn't waste another second in thought as he dove towards it, hand grappling at the hilt as Karl strained his shaking body towards it too.

A boot closed in on his hand and Sam let out a sharp cry of pain as he felt the joint pop out of place, grinding. The machete disappeared from his line of vision as he felt his head pulled back by a tight, harsh grip on his hair, but he felt its tip resting at the hollow of his throat stinging slightly as it pierced his flesh.

"Everybody put down your weapons or I kill him!" the voice said behind him.

Sam jerked to his knees as his assailant pulled back more tightly on his hair to give the room a full view of the great knife digging into his bobbing Adam's apple.

"NOW!"

Sam tried not to flinch as the voice roared but failed miserably, allowing the tip of the well honed blade to slice at the tender skin of his neck.

A throaty laugh followed by a lustful gasp sighed into his ear, "Mm don't you smell sweet...bet you would taste even better..."

Oh God no! Sam's mind revolted as a tongue flickered out across the line of red on his neck. He stilled his squirming motions as he swayed closer to the machete, fearful of how much blood he already knew he was loosing...he could hear it surging again, pounding...the wave ebbing away...

Ebbing away..? Not good.

A clatter focussed his wandering thoughts, the pain receding a moment as he pushed it from his mind. His eyes met the barman's...Todd...the older man's weathered face was pinched in concern and fear, his eyes radiating terror and sorrow as he kicked aside his crossbow.

Sam blinked slowly to clear his gaze, accepting the apology held in Todd's eyes.

"Better, now you come with us," Sam staggered as he was pulled upright, his vision swimming and tunnelling alternately. Laughter rang true in his ear, a muttered 'weak' causing him to try and pull himself together again.

"Haha, valiant attempt Winchester-but it wasn't good enough!"

They're right, I failed, I've let Dean down...Sam slumped against the arms holding him in restraint, not bothering to fight anymore. He just wanted to see Dean.

"Yes it was"

Suddenly Sam heard a sick crunch and he was dropped to the floor, the vampire holding him staggering over him to fall and embed the arrow in its chest further. He looked up, startled, and Jason stood before him, another arrow already fitted into the crossbow as he pulled Sam up by the arm.

"Come on Sam, you can do this!" he said shoving the machete back into Sam's hand.

The young Winchester's confused mind struggled to catch up with what was happening but his body quickly regained its ability to function, his hand striking out to catch the last remaining vampires once Jason had shot them. John had trained him well.

His chest heaved as he fought to regain his breath, the rapidly waning adrenaline in his system giving way to a spiking pain underlain by a resonating ache. God he hurt.

A hand closed over his arm to steady him but it gave little comfort to him, instead ripping a scream of agony from his throat as it covered the bullet wound. His ringing ears managed to catch a heartfelt apology before darkness descended and stole him away, his last coherent thought of his need to get to Dean...