Dean felt chilled to the bone, he had been cold before, but never this mind numbing, breath stealing cold. Tightening his arms around the girl that leaned against his chest, he once again, glanced back toward Sam, grateful that his brother's headlight shone bright in dark night. Twice now, Dean had found himself nodding off, and ever since he had been riding with the visor of his helmet up, the cold air helped at first to keep him awake but now it was simply numbing him.

The trees that lined the path, kept it well defined, enabling the men to follow it easily. As they road through the forest in an unending line, the path continued it's steady descent down the mountain side. The full moon illuminated the clearing, leaving the surround forest cloaked in shadows. Quiet and still the forest around them seemed devoid of all life. Granted the machines they rode were loud enough to rouse the dead, but even so, earlier today they had passed all manor of living creatures. Everything from scrawny deer looking for a bit of leaf or dead grass, to a small rabbit that had simply sat back on it's haunches watching them pass. Then night had fallen, after the darkness became all but complete they had seen no more signs of life.

Dean shifted in his seat his tired eyes, scanning the woods on either side of him. For the last hour, he'd become more and more convinced that their passage through the woods was being marked by something. Unable to tell where the threat was coming from, he had picked up speed hoping instead to outrun it. The greater speed had instead caused his sled to bog down. Wasting precious minutes in the cold, trying to free the snowmobile had convinced Dean that a steady pace at about 15 miles an hour would have to do.

Dean glanced over his shoulder and felt his heart leap into his throat at the sight of Sam's sled overturned behind him. Turning sharply, his sled kicking up a spray of snow, Dean had to make a grab for Jen as she began to slide off. He could tell by her boneless posture that she had either passed out or fallen asleep. Staring into the dark, he tried to pinpoint where Sam had gone. It was only when he nearly ran over him in the dark that he realized Sam hadn't crashed, he'd just managed to tip his sled.

Dean's first instinct was to leap off and go to his brother; unfortunately, he still had to contend with Jen. Tapping her cheek repeatedly, he finally got her to open her eyes. Explaining that he needed to check on Sam, he felt relief spread through him at Jen's whispered, "OK". Propping her up so she didn't slip off, Dean then turned his attention to Sam. His brother was lying trapped, his leg caught underneath the sled. He had removed his helmet, and sat wearily waiting for Dean.

Sam slipped his helmet off, wincing as the movement jarred his knee; his leg was trapped at an awkward angle beneath the sled. Although he didn't think he'd done anything other than wrench his knee, he couldn't be sure until Dean helped him right the sled. As Dean approached, Sam couldn't help but glance around for the reason he'd dumped the sled in the first place. Driving along on auto-pilot, barely aware of his surroundings, conscious only of the drone of Dean's sled and the dim light shining from his brother's headlights, he had been startled out of his semi-comatose state when something darted between the trees. Focusing hard, he had tried to find the dark shape again, and had lost control of the sled.

"What the hell, Sammy, you could have killed yourself. What were you thinking?" Dean groused as he forced his cold and stiff body to move towards his brother.

Sam eyes peeled on the forest that surrounded them quipped, "I figure I'm so cold hell would be an improvement."

Dean grinned slightly and reached towards the sled; bracing his feet in the ever-shifting snow, he readied himself to push the sled erect once more. "Please, as if they'd take you. There's only room for one more Winchester in hell and I've got already got reservations."

Sam groaned, as Dean hefted the sled up, quickly pulling his leg free, Sam then added his muscle until the sled was once again upright. Feeling his knee gingerly, Sam ignored his brother's poor attempt at humor. "I saw something, there's something chasing us."

Dean whipped around his eyes fixed on the pitch black forest, his feeling of unease intensified. "Get your sled started, Sam, we've got to keep moving." Dean began to move towards his own sled, skirting Sam's. As he moved across open ground, something knocked his feet out from under him, knocking him to the ground.

Sam had just straddled the sled, when he saw Dean fall to the ground. Pulling his gun, he fired three shots into the woods directly behind Dean's now prone body. Snarling in satisfaction at the sound of a high-pitched squeal, Sam slid to the ground favoring his knee. "Dean, you alright?" he called out as he moved towards him. Sam came within a foot of Dean's prone body when he heard a rumble. Glancing up, he scanned the area, hope flooding through him.

Dean groaned, the cold snow driving out what little warmth remained. Rolling over he glanced down at his legs, from the knees down, they were tied together with white strands of silk. Using his bowie knife Dean struggled to cut the bonds, his glance never straying far from the surrounding woods. Finally, he struggled to his feet, ignoring his protesting body. "Sam, we've got to haul ass, they won't hang back long."

Sam nodded to Dean and headed for his sled, before he could climb on though he stopped. Listening intently, he realized that the sound he had been hearing was the roar of engines approaching. Focusing his eyes on the forest he called out, 'You hearing that, Dean?"

Dean nodded his eyes glued to the woods behind him, "Yeah I hear it, Sammy. Keep an eye out, I get the feeling the little buggers aren't going to wait much longer."

Sam nodded turning his back to Dean he focused on his side of the woods, as the sound of the snowmobiles increased his unease intensified.

Jen dwelled in a cold so deep she felt as if she would never escape it. Unable to fight any longer she barely noticed when the motion of the sled stopped, or Dean had left her side. It was only as the gunshots ripped through the forest, that she found the will and strength to open her eyes. Trying to focus, she glanced about, spying Dean's still figure on the ground, and Sam poised near him gun in hand. Her heart in her throat, it had taken long moments for Jen to realize that Dean was all right, and it was truly only as he began to stand that her panic began to recede.

The noise of the sleds had simply been noiseless background sounds until Sam had pointed them out. As soon as he did, Jen recognized the noise for what it was, the sound of snowmobile engines coming at a fast clip. He heart began to race, at the sound, finally, she thought to herself, rescue. She had known he would come from the first minute, she had realized that she needed help; she had known he would find her. Unable to contain her happiness she let out a burst of sound, a whoop that would have rivaled any Indian war cry.

Dean couldn't help but grimace at Jen's cry. To him the snowmobiles didn't indicate help, they simply added to the number of people he would now have to keep safe. The creatures that they faced wouldn't hold back simply because of an increase in numbers. No, they would still attack and Dean was betting that the so-called rescuers would be nothing more than a liability. Waiting grimly for the sleds to find them, Dean only hoped that they would be willing to take direction from him, if not none of them were likely to make it off the mountain alive.

As Joe took the bend in the path at top speed, he slowed in an instant at the sight of two sleds parked in front of him. It took only moments for him to recognize the slumped figure on the first sled. Fighting down a burst of elation, he quickly stripped off his helmet and slid off the sled. Not even bothering to acknowledge the two men that stood near his sister, Joe headed straight for her.

Jen made a move to slip off her sled and head toward her brother, as she did, strong hands wrapped around her middle. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Sam, his attention still on the surrounding woods, his strong hands wrapped around her waist.

"Don't get up, Jen, we're going to need to make a break for it." Sam let go, once he saw her nod in agreement.

Joe practically growled when he saw the taller of the two men prevent Jen from coming to his side, "Why don't you keep your hands to yourself, bucko." As Joe approached, he noticed the weapons held by both men, a quick glance at the two assured him that the shorter one posed the highest threat. Moving between him and his sister, he folded his arms and glared. "Who the hell do you think you are, that's my sister you've got."

Dean raised a brow, "Bucko? Okay." Dean drawled the words, allowing the sneer on his face to be mimicked by his words. "Listen dude, we've done nothing but help your sister. Ask her we're the good guys."

Sam watched as Joe, took a step closer to Dean trying to intimidate his brother with his larger side. Knowing that Dean's temper was already tight, Sam joked, "Why do they always assume you're the one to watch Dean, huh? Why is that?" Dean swung to face Sam and even in the dark Sam could see the flash of a white smile.

"It's that baby face, Sam. You're just too sweet looking."

Sam snorted and rolled his eyes, "Yeah, it's actually the fact that you look like a criminal that does it I'm thinking."

Steve approached the men warily; hanging back, he took a moment to get a grip on what was going on. Joe as usual had barreled forward without a thought. Though he loved his cousin, he above all knew all his faults. His cousin was bullheaded and too quick to react. Steve on the other hand never rushed, he liked to scope out a situation before making a decision. It took only a few minutes observation to note the relaxed way Jen sat, her small smile just visible in the dim light of the headlights, as the two men bantered back and forth. Steve nodded to himself, so Jen wasn't being threatened in any way, good. Easing up on the men, Steve noted the firearms in their hands, he also noted the intense way they were studying the surrounding area.

Coming abreast of Joe, Steve asked, "So, Jenny, what're we looking for, bear?"

Jen sighed in relief as she watched her cousin remove his helmet. Knowing he would do his best to help control Joe's uncertain temper, Jen blurted out, "No, it's a giant..." Jen paused in confusion as Dean's voice overrode her own.

"Giant Bear, that's right. So we'd better get moving." Dean nodded to Sam to mount up. Starting out toward his own sled he was suddenly confronted by Jen's big brother.

"We're not going anywhere till you start talking tough guy. I wanna know who the hell you are, why Jen's being drug through the countryside, and what's going on?"

Dean couldn't help himself, he glanced toward Sam and said, "Is this guy for real, first bucko, now tough guy?" Turning his attention to the man in front of him, Dean smiled "My name doesn't concern you, your sister chose to live, and we're freezing to death. That answer your questions, now shut up and mount up."

Joe couldn't believe the smart mouth on the man in front of him. Determined to teach the guy some manners he drew back a fist. He never had a chance to throw the intended punch though, because just then all hell broke loose.

Dean saw the punch coming but before he could duck, he saw the younger man fall to the ground. Not waiting to see what had caused it he yelled to the blonde man to mount up, and signaled Sam to move out with Jen. Reaching down, Dean grabbed the arm of the man on the ground and drug him towards his own sled, firing his gun towards the woods. Once they had reached Dean's sled, he bent down and with two quick flicks of the wrist cut through the silk that was binding Joe's legs.

In one smooth motion, he grabbed Joe's hand pulled him up and settled himself and Joe on the sled. Gunning the engine, Dean headed for the blond man's taillights. Sighing in relief as they left the clearing behind, Dean ignored the yelling that was coming from his reluctant passenger.

Joe wasn't sure what had happened, but he did know he was being forced to abandon his sled. Yelling at the man in front of him he quickly decided to forget about jumping off as their speed continued to climb. Instead, he settled for trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Dean continued to follow the sled in front of him for about two miles before flashing his lights in signal to slow. Red flared in the dark night, as the brake lights from the two leading sleds flashed in response. Flashing the lights again, Dean pulled up behind the blond as the leading sleds stopped completely. Climbing off, he ignored the continued questions of his passenger, moving to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sam, he waited impatiently as Jen hugged, first her brother and then the other man.

Jen wrapped her arms around Joe, warmth flooding through her as he enveloped her in a bear hug. "Am I glad to see you," she heard him whisper. Jen pulled back a bit and grinned tiredly "I'm glad to see you too." Releasing her brother, she moved on to Steve, who was leaning causally against on of the sleds, a big grin on his face. Hugging him close, she whispered in his ear, "Help me calm him down, these guys really did save my life." Jen stepped back, Steve's arm resting casually on her shoulder and waited for the barrage she knew was coming.

Joe felt his body sag in relief at the sight of his obviously unhurt sister. A moment later anger spread through him as he thought of all that could have gone wrong. Holding up one hand he took a step closer to her, lifting a finger he counted off, "First, you lied about where you were going. Second, you left town when you knew you weren't allowed. Third, you head off with two strangers, who might I add, look like serial killers. And fourth, you're traipsing about the mountainside instead of holing up at the cabins like you should have." Crossing his arms, he waited for a response.

Jen knew the best defense was a good offense when dealing with her brother and his temper. Standing toe to toe with him she put her hips on her hands and asked, "Where've you been? I've been missing for over two days now and you're just now coming to the rescue."

Sam exchanged a smile with Dean and Jen's cousin impressed with how the tiny girl managed to put Joe back on his heels. Sam's grin grew broader as Joe backtracked trying to explain the difficulties he'd encountered while trying to find his sister. Sam's gaze moved towards Dean once again as he noted his brothers, rigid stance.

Dean knew within moments of stopping that they were once again, being surrounded. "Joe are there any caves nearby, we need to find shelter for the night. We'll never be able to stay ahead of them."

Joe turned toward the older man, "Listen, I don't know what the hell happened earlier but I do know that the most dangerous thing we have to deal with right now is freezing to death. The bears are still in hibernation and there's no mountain cats left in the area."

Dean looked at Jen, his eyes pleading with her to do as he asked.

Jen struggled to find a way to get Joe to act without too many questions. Finally, in desperation she put a hand to her head and sighed dramatically. "I feel faint, Joe, I can't go on."

Joe immediately put an arm around his sister, supporting her, his face contrite as he took in the exhaustion reflected on her face. "Okay, kid, we'll get you somewhere warm and safe, just hold on." Turning to Steve, he asked, "We're near Crater Ridge right."

Steve nodded, his mind already following his cousin's thoughts, "Yeah, we're, less than a mile away, the ranger station should have supplies." Steve was already moving towards his sled, his eyes darting from tree to tree.

Dean nodded, "Jen, you ride with Sam, Joe and Steve can share." Turning towards Jen's family Dean swept his arm toward the trail. "Gentlemen, we'll follow your lead."