A couple of weeks later, Beth walked out to the body shop. There was an old weight bench in the corner, and Sam was spotting his brother as he did some bench presses. Beth stood and watched from the door for a moment, smiling at his progress.
"Not bad, Winchester," she said as he lowered the bar and sat up, grinning.
"That felt good," he said. "I'm finally getting back to normal, I think."
"Whatever that means," Sam teased, ducking away as his brother took a mock swing at him.
"How's the leg?" she asked, and Dean shrugged.
"It's doing okay. But my coach," he said, gesturing towards Sam, "says I should run, build up my strength a little." He headed towards her, putting a hand on her waist and kissing her softly as he looked down at her. "Want to chase me?"
Beth smiled mischievously back at him. "I'd love to, but I already started supper. It'll be ready in about half an hour."
"Okay." He bent to kiss her again. "I'll be back in a little bit." He jogged slowly down the drive, then picked up the pace as he turned onto the road. Beth watched, feeling a little sad as he went out of sight. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into Sam's understanding eyes.
"He's doing really well, Beth. Don't worry."
"I know. Which means you guys will be getting back to hunting soon." Sam put an arm around her shoulders as they walked back towards the house.
"You know, I think having you to come home to might make him a little less reckless, Beth." Sam stopped, turning to face her with his hands on her shoulders as she looked up at him. "He's got a little more to look forward to now." Sam's lips curved in a teasing smile, and Beth blushed a little.
"Don't know about that. There hasn't been any 'more' going on. Nothing but me sleeping in his arms."
Sam looked shocked, shaking his head as Beth gazed at the ground in embarrassment. "You're kidding. My brother. He hasn't...Dean hasn't even tried...I mean..."
Beth was shaking her head. "No. He kisses me, and he's made comments, and I think he wants to, but he hasn't tried-at all."
"Seriously?" Sam's eyes were wide with disbelief.
"Maybe he doesn't feel that way about me." Beth couldn't look at Sam as she expressed her most secret fear aloud, her cheeks flushing with the shame she was feeling at her own words. Sam's hands gripped her shoulders more firmly, and she looked up at him, surprised.
"Beth-I know my brother better than anybody. Trust me when I say, he does feel that way about you." Her eyes were still clouded with doubt as she looked into Sam's earnest hazel eyes. "I mean it, Beth. He's crazy about you. Apparently you're very special to him, because the old Dean would have nailed you in a heartbeat." He closed his eyes for a second, smiling ruefully. "Sorry, that was a little crude, but you know what I mean. Beth, you must mean a lot to him."
"Do you really think so, Sam?"
He draped his arm around her again as they walked to the house. "I know so, Beth. Trust me."
Shortly after Dean got back to the house and headed for the shower, Bobby pulled into the yard, followed closely by Jody's Sheriff's Department Tahoe. She trailed Bobby into the house, flashing Beth a quick smile as they walked through the kitchen. As Sam and Beth joined them in the living room, Bobby was digging through his desk, intent on finding something.
"Bethany-have you seen the map I left laying here?" He was opening drawers and rifling through them as he asked.
"Bobby-the maps are on the bookshelf in that wooden tray-remember? I showed you yesterday."
The older man stopped, then nodded. "Oh, yeah." He grabbed the map and opened it, spreading it out over the desktop.
"What's up, Bobby?" Sam asked, a concerned frown creasing his brow.
"Jody has some info that might mean a job, Sam. Sounds like it might be a vamp nest."
"Where, Bobby?" Dean's voice came from the doorway. Beth went to stand near him, and he reached an arm to draw her close to his side.
Bobby's eyes went to Beth's face, and he seemed reluctant to speak. Her eyes widened and she spoke softly, her voice shaking a little.
"Bobby, where are they?"
"Powell, Wyoming."
Dean's arm tightened around Beth as her knees buckled a little. "Are you sure? Bobby, are you sure?" She looked up at Dean, panic in her eyes. "That's just down the road from Lovell, Dean. My Mom..."
Bobby spoke again, quietly. "We're sure, Bethany. But don't worry-the boys will take care of it."
"I know, Bobby-but I have to go home." Dean's mouth came open, but Beth stopped him. "No, Dean. I have to be with my Mom." Her eyes pleaded with him. "Please, Dean." She put her hand on his face as he clenched his jaw, battling within himself. "I promise, if I see anything, we'll leave and I'll call you right away. Please."
Dean closed his eyes in frustration. "Damn it, Beth." He looked first at Bobby, then at Sam, before reluctantly answering her. "If I take you there-you have to promise me that you'll get the hell out of there at the first sign of trouble. If you even think someone might be a vamp, I want you and your family out of there." His hands gripped her shoulders, and she looked up into his eyes. "Promise me, Beth."
She nodded, a tear making its way down her cheek, and he dropped his hands to his sides, angry at himself for giving in. "Thank you," she whispered.
Within an hour their group was packed and ready to hit the road. Sam offered to ride with Bobby in the Mustang, and Beth was with Dean in the Impala. They would sleep in shifts, trading off so Dean and Bobby could get some rest before reaching Powell. Beth smiled as Jody kissed Bobby on the cheek, then climbed into the Tahoe and left the property. Dean pulled out first, closely followed by Bobby as they headed west together.
They had traveled several miles when Dean looked over at Beth, who was staring blindly out the window. "You need to get some sleep, Coop," he said softly.
Worry filled her eyes as she turned her head to answer him. "I know-I'll try." She shoved her makeshift pillow under her head and pulled her sweatshirt tighter around her as she closed her eyes.
Beth pulled into her mother's driveway shortly after 6 a.m. She turned off the engine and sat there silently, staring straight ahead, her hands still on the steering wheel. Dean had wakened when the car came to a stop, and he watched her for a moment before speaking quietly to her. "Coop? You all right?"
She dropped her hands to her lap, looking down at them for a few seconds before turning her gaze to his. "I'll be okay." Then she looked away again, grabbing the door handle and climbing out of the Impala. She was opening the back door, reaching for her bag when Dean came up behind her, pushing the door shut. She stood still, her back to Dean, not wanting to turn around and face him. She didn't want him to see the fear in her eyes, didn't want him worrying about her when he had something so dangerous to contend with. "I'm fine, Dean, I promise."
"Then why won't you look at me?" She hung her head momentarily, and he took her gently by the shoulders, turning her around and looking down into her brown eyes. "Don't lie to me, Beth. You've always said what's on your mind, don't stop now." She stared back at him, finally nodding.
"You're right-I'm sorry. Just promise me you won't be worrying about me. You need to focus on what you're dealing with, Dean. Just tell me what to look out for, tell me what to do, and we'll be okay."
His green eyes burned into hers for a moment, then he bent his head to kiss her. "I will take care of them, and you will be okay-I promise you that, Coop."
He carried her bag into the house for her, then sat down at the kitchen table and ran her through the vampire basics: aversion to sunlight and bright lights, dead man's blood, death by decapitation. He went to the trunk of the Impala and brought back a machete, honed to a lethal edge, and a syringe filled with dead man's blood. "This is only for emergencies-if you get trapped and there's no way out. If you spot any of these sons of bitches, I want you hiding, not fighting, got it? You call us, get your mom and Rick, and run. Careful at the bar, they love places like that."
Beth walked Dean out to the car, listening as he continued. "Tell your Mom what's going on, she should have an idea what to look out for, too. I'll keep in touch as much as I can-just make sure you call one of us if you think there's anything strange going on." He grabbed her into a tight embrace and held her silently for a few seconds. "I didn't want you in the middle of this," he said, his voice quiet.
Beth put a hand softly on his face, then slid it behind his neck, running her fingers through the short-cropped hair at his nape. She reached up and kissed him, her lashes wet with the tears she was determinedly holding back. "I know," she whispered, and he kissed her again with all the desperation he was feeling. Then he stepped back, climbing behind the wheel of the Impala, and starting the engine.
"You be careful, you hear me?" he said again, and she nodded.
"You, too."
In the shadows of the trees in the vacant lot next door, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt pulled a cell phone from his pocket and made a call as the Impala backed out of the driveway and Beth walked back into the house. "Kate? Yeah-the Winchesters are in the area, in Lovell. And I have good news for you. I think we have the perfect way to pay them back for killing your Luther."
That night the guys entered their motel room in Powell, all feeling a little uneasy about the job. "Something's off here, Dean." Sam dropped into a chair, taking a swig of his beer as Bobby nodded in agreement. "Body's are dropping around town here, but none of the local's have seen any strangers around? They're traveling here to feed, and then leaving? Since when is that normal? They like to set up their nest near their food supply."
Dean nodded in agreement with his brother, his brows drawn together in a frown. "I know, Sam. What's going on here, anyway?" He paced to the window, pulling back the curtain and peering out at nothing. He turned, looking first to Bobby, then to Sam. "I think we're being played. I don't know who, or why, but that's what this feels like."
Bobby nodded, his mouth pressed into a hard line. "I trust your instincts, boys. It feels off to me, too."
"So what's our next move?" Dean said, grabbing his cell phone from his pocket as it rang. "Beth?"
Her voice sounded hushed on the other end. "Dean? I think we've got some customers here that you should check out."
"How many?"
"Six."
"Get out of there, Beth, and don't let them know you're onto them. Just quietly leave, one at a time. We're on the way." Dean hung up, turning towards the door. "They're in Lovell, at the bar. Let's move."
Beth stood behind the bar, keeping her hands busy as she kept an eye on the rowdy group at the tables near the pool table. Her mother had tried to argue with her, but one look at her daughter's face had stopped her. She had quietly left out the back door a few minutes earlier, and Rick had been close behind. The woman who was seemingly in charge of the group had requested two bottles of whiskey when they came in, and they hadn't been back to order anything else, so Beth was hoping they wouldn't notice when she headed for the back room.
She picked up a box and walked that direction, glancing quickly over at the group. There was a game of pool going on, and one of the girls was dancing alone near the jukebox, the others talking and laughing loudly as they downed shot after shot. She stepped into the storage room, then grabbed a bag of trash and headed for the back door. She was halfway to the dumpster when the sultry voice of their leader startled her.
"Where you going, Beth?"
Beth recovered her composure quickly, turning to smile at the woman. "Just taking out the trash," she answered, smiling back at her. "You really shouldn't be carrying your drink outside, you know."
"Oh, there are a lot of things I really shouldn't do, but-I don't really like to color inside the lines." She waited as Beth headed back towards the bar. "My name is Kate, by the way. I did hear one of the others call you Beth, right?"
Beth gave her a tight little smile. "Yes, that's right."
"Why don't you come in for a drink, Beth?" Kate's voice was friendly, bordering on seductive, and Beth fought a shiver.
"Sorry, against the rules to drink with the customers."
Kate raised her chin, a chilling smile sliding onto her face, her eyes glowing. "Not exactly what I meant, sweetheart."
Beth felt a vise-like grip on her arm, and stared back at the woman, knowing the pretense was over. "There are people coming for you, you know," she said, staring defiantly into the vampire's glowing amber eyes.
Kate came close to her, touching her hair and bending to breathe deeply of her scent before speaking quietly into her ear. "I'm counting on it."
She stepped back abruptly, gesturing towards the door. "Get her inside." The man holding her prisoner shoved her roughly through the door, and she prayed for Dean to get there quickly.
Dean parked the Impala a couple of blocks away, and the men quickly covered the distance to the bar on foot. Sam flattened himself against the near wall, leaning to peer carefully into the dimly lit bar. He drew quickly back against the wall again, squeezing his eyes shut and gritting his teeth, taking a quick breath before moving to join his brother in the front of the building. "Dean-they have Beth tied to a chair. And we've seen their leader before-remember, the vamp nest we raided with Dad? The guy he killed with the Colt? She was his mate."
"The bitch we poisoned with dead man's blood?" Dean cursed violently under his breath. "So this was a set-up. She was after us." He looked at Bobby, fighting to stay calm. "You have the Colt?" Bobby nodded silently.
"How many?"
"Six," Sam said quietly.
"Okay, boys, two apiece, don't be greedy," Dean said, his voice betraying his false bravado. "Let's do this."
Dean kicked the door open, his machete ready in his hand. "Hey, bartender-how about you get behind the bar and serve some thirsty customers?" He looked at Beth, who was putting on a brave face for the vampire holding her captive.
"I'd love to-but I guess these guys just love my company. If you can talk them into letting me leave for a minute, I'd be glad to make you a drink."
"Oh, aren't you two just the cutest things!" Kate said, her voice like velvet but laced with hatred. She stared at Dean, her eyes glowing unnaturally. "Dean and Sam Winchester. I'm only sorry that your Daddy's already dead. Now I just have to take revenge on what's left of your family."
"Fine. Let's go. But she has nothing to do with it, so let her out of here and we can get down to business," Dean said flatly. Kate threw back her head and let out a musical laugh.
"Oh, Dean-she's a very important part of this. You see, I've been watching you. I know how much you care about her," she purred, walking behind Beth and playing with her hair as Beth tried to pull away, disgust distorting her face. Kate stopped being playful and grabbed a handful of her hair, yanking her head back and exposing her neck. Two of the male vamps nearby began showing fangs, and Dean's lip curled in a snarl.
"If you hurt her, it will be the last thing you ever do, you undead bitch."
Kate looked at him, her eyebrows arched as if in surprise. "Hurt her? Oh, no, Dean, you misunderstand. I would never hurt her. You'll be the one doing that." Before he could move, Kate bit deep into her own wrist, then pulled Beth's head back sharply. When she cried out, Kate positioned her bleeding arm over Beth's mouth. Beth fought violently, but blood ran in rivulets onto her face and into her mouth as she gagged and choked, crying.
"No!" Dean screamed as he ran towards the vampires, swinging the machete in a deadly arc and beheading two of the males in a single sweep. Bobby fired the Colt, taking down a female, and Sam took out another male with his blade. Bobby shot the remaining male, which left Kate, who still stood holding Beth's hair.
Dean stood with his machete raised, hate distorting his features. Kate let go of Beth, turning to face him defiantly. "Go ahead, you bastard. You already took my life when your father killed Luther. But now you'll lose what you love too. At least Luther has been avenged." Without further warning, Dean swung his blade, and Kate's head landed a short distance away, rolling back and forth for a second before her body lurched forward onto the floor.
Dean was kneeling on the floor in front of Beth, untying her from the chair as he yelled to his brother. "Sam-get something from behind the bar-we need her blood for the cure. Hurry!" He freed Beth and held her limp body close for a moment, then rose and lifted her into his arms.
"Bobby, do we have the rest of the ingredients?"
Bobby shook his head, his face the picture of frustration. "No-but I know where I can get 'em. Let's take her to the house. I'll go get what we need, just make sure she stays put until I get there. If she feeds, we can't save her."
Sam gave the blood to Bobby and took off at a run to bring the Impala. Dean took a napkin from a nearby table, wiping the blood off Beth's face. He threw the bloodied napkin to the floor with disgust, and headed for the door when he heard the car pull up outside. They drove to the house, and Bobby took off with the car to get the remaining ingredients needed for the cure. Beth's sobbing mother directed Dean to Beth's bedroom, and he carried her upstairs, laying her on the bed. She was groggy and weak, disoriented-and Dean remembered the feeling well. It was like being on a bad acid trip, everything distorted and amplified-the sounds, the lights, the sights. He turned off the light in Beth's room and sat next to the bed, holding her hand and hoping Bobby could find what they needed to help her. He also remembered taking the cure, the excruciating pain it caused as the vampire virus was destroyed. And now Beth would have to go through that torture. "Hang on, Coop, we're gonna fix this," he said softly, and she squeezed his hand a little in response. She turned her head towards him, her eyes unfocused.
"I can hear your heart," she whispered.
"I know." He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, fighting for control. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault." When he didn't answer, she spoke again. "Dean-not your fault, you hear me?"
"I hear you."
It seemed like an eternity before Bobby came bursting in the door, a pint jar containing a thick red liquid in his hand. "Okay, Bethany-you need to drink this. It's not gonna be pleasant, girl, I'm sorry. Wish there was another way."
Beth sat up with Dean's help, and nodded. "It's okay, Bobby. Better than the alternative, right?" She took the jar from Bobby's hand and drank, Dean's hand supporting her back, and then laid back on the bed. Bobby came closer, putting a hand on Dean's shoulder.
"Okay, son, I've got this. You go with Sam, clean up that mess at the bar before someone finds it."
"I'm staying, Bobby."
"No. You're not. Sam? Little help here." Bobby's voice was unyielding, and Sam came to his brother's side as Bobby stepped back.
"Dean, let's go. Come on. Bobby will take care of Beth. You don't need to see this." Dean reluctantly stood, looking down at Beth one last time.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice breaking as he turned and left the room. Sam looked at Bobby, who patted his back once and followed him to the door.
"She'll be okay, Sam. I'll be with her till it's over." Sam nodded, glancing at the bed, and left. Bobby closed the door behind him and went to Beth's bedside, pulling the chair closer and taking her hand. Her breathing was becoming harsher, and Bobby tightened his grip on her hand, speaking softly. "I'm here, Bethany. I won't leave you. You'll be okay, I promise."
Downstairs, Dean was just reaching for the front door when a mind-numbing scream echoed from upstairs. He turned, trying to head that direction, but Sam stopped him, gripping his arm with all his strength. "No, Dean-just go. Now." He shoved his brother back towards the door, and he jerked it open, stumbling outside. "You should come with us," Sam said softly to Beth's mother, who was crying in her husband's arms. She shook her head, refusing, and Sam nodded, walking out to join Dean and closing the door quietly behind him.
Dean drove to the bar in silence, hitting the brakes hard as he pulled up to the building. He had his gun out before he hit the door, and Sam scrambled to catch up to his brother. Before he could reach him, he had fired five bullets into Kate's dead body, shaking with rage. Sam walked up behind him carefully, putting one hand on Dean's shoulder and the other on the gun. "That's enough, Dean," he said quietly, then slowly pried the ivory-handled Colt from his brother's fingers, putting it into his own pocket. "She'll be okay, Dean-Bobby's taking good care of her." Dean was motionless for a moment, then nodded. "I'll go get the shovels."
"No." Dean still stood over Kate's body, staring down at it with loathing. "These sons of bitches burn, Sammy."
It was a few hours later when Sam and Dean pulled back into the driveway at the house. Beth's mother and Rick were asleep on the couch, and Dean headed straight for the stairs. He opened the door to Beth's room; Bobby looked up from her bedside, his eyes bloodshot and his face pale. "Bobby? Are you all right? Is Beth..."
"She'll be all right, son. I think the worst is over."
"You look like hell, Bobby." Dean put a hand on the older man's shoulder. "Go get some rest-I'll stay with her."
Bobby rose slowly from his chair. "She's sleeping right now." He looked into Dean's eyes, fighting for a moment to regain control. "She's been through hell, boy."
Dean nodded, and Bobby walked slowly to the door. "Thank you, Bobby." Bobby glanced back, nodding in acknowledgment, and stepped out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him. Dean took off his jacket and boots, then climbed onto the bed, laying down beside Beth and putting an arm over her, pulling her close. "I'm here, Coop," he whispered, then fell into an exhausted sleep.