"So what else did Starina say when you spoke to her?" Dean asked, wanting to continue the conversation from earlier as they drove back to the farm.

"Not much, only that she's lived here about a year and she's studying horsemanship," Sam answered. "Is it just me or am I seeing a pattern here?"

"Huh?"

"The blackouts and the ghost sightings, everyone you spoke to said they started last year, right?" Sam asked and Dean nodded. "And Starina, who happens to have some kinda psychic abilities, moved here last year. And you said the woman at Town Hall told you she thought Starina might've fallen out with her family?"

"Yeah," Dean nodded again, wondering where this was going.

"What if she's being haunted by whatever's causing the blackouts?" Sam reasoned. "What if she came here to get away from it and it followed her?"

Dean seriously considered this. It wasn't the first time the brothers had heard such stories, people fleeing to another place to escape some horrible monster or spirit only to discover that said monster or spirit had followed them to their new location. It stood to reason that perhaps Starina was in the same situation and either didn't realise or knew exactly what was happening but was too afraid to ask for help.

"I think you might be onto something," Dean said after a moment's thought. "Something's haunting her at home, so she runs away to escape and it tags along with her."

"It makes sense," Sam nodded. "It also explains all the horseshoes. Maybe she hasn't told us about it because she's scared? I mean, she's about to give birth so she must be worried sick about the babies' safety."

"Can't say I blame her," Dean agreed. "But if that's the case the only problem remaining is getting her to tell us what's haunting her."

"We should ask her about it," Sam said as they turned into Starina's driveway and drove back into the farmyard. "Let her know we'll help her."

"Sounds like a plan," Dean said, switching off the ignition and getting out. "When do you think we should bring it up?"

Sam paused. He hadn't thought that far ahead but was saved when the glass sliding door opened and Donovan stepped out, eager to greet Starina who was already trudging across the yard with her shopping bags. She put them down as Donovan hurried to greet her, wrapping his arms and his wings around her as though she'd been gone for weeks instead of hours.

"You still think he got her pregnant on purpose?" Sam asked as they watched the tender exchange.

Dean didn't answer right away. He was still conflicted about Donovan and certainly had no idea what to think of his relationship with Starina. "I dunno Sam," he muttered. "He might be all mushy and lovey-dovey now, but what happens once those kids come? What then?"

"Dean, I really think he loves her," Sam insisted. "Starina said that Donovan's clan weren't like other dragons. Maybe she's right?"

"Well I still don't trust him," Dean said as they began to walk slowly towards the house. "I think we oughta stick around until she has the kids and make sure he doesn't kill or abandon her afterwards."

Sam huffed and rolled his eyes but said nothing more as they followed Starina and Donovan into the kitchen. Starina was putting various groceries away and both of them were chuckling rather heartily about something. It was the first time the brothers had seen Donovan actually smile.

"What's so funny?" asked Dean.

"I was just telling Donovan what happened when my brothers were born," Starina giggled as Donovan fell silent and went back outside; clearly not keen on being social. "They're twins and my mother worked right up until she went into labour. She was in the middle of teaching a class when her water broke and one of the grooms called the vet instead of an ambulance!"

"What?" Sam chuckled as Dean snorted, trying not to laugh.

"True as I'm standing here," Starina giggled. "But everything worked out, though. The vet was a friend of the family and helped out until the ambulance got there. My brothers were born two hours later. I was so disappointed they weren't girls but I wouldn't trade those dropkicks for anything. Come to think of it you two kinda remind me of them."

"Uh...thanks?" Dean said slowly, unsure whether that was a compliment or not.

Everyone fell silent and glanced up at the ceiling as thunder rolled overhead again. Sam and Dean didn't miss the worried expression that crossed Starina's features for a split second before she was all business again.

"I'd better get the horses in," she stated as she walked around the counter and towards the sliding door. "Do you guys wanna come? You're going to be here for a few days so you may as well meet the rest of the family."

Deciding this might be a good opportunity to try and ask her if she was being haunted by whatever was causing the blackouts the Winchesters agreed and followed her outside and across the farmyard where she paused at the fence and let out a long, high-pitched whistle.

"Óró!" she called out loudly, her voice echoing across the paddock. "Óró!"

"What's that mean?" asked Sam.

"It's Gaelic," Starina explained, still gazing out across the field. "Hundreds of years ago it was a call to arms for warriors to gather and prepare for battle. I've taught the horses to come to me when they hear that call."

As if on cue there was a distant sound of hoofbeats and five horses and a foal came trotting and cantering towards them, tossing their heads and snorting and whinnying. Sam recognised Josey and Priscilla, but following them were a beautiful palomino mare with a tiny little cream-coloured foal tottering alongside her, a big black and white pinto and a dappled grey. Starina smiled widely as they came up to the fence and she slipped carefully between the rails.

"Uh Starina, should you really be going in there with them?" Dean asked, a bit concerned about her being around the big, stomping animals.

"It's alright, these guys know me very well," Starina sounded perfectly calm as she walked up to the grey *gelding and hugged him like an old friend. "This is Taser. He used to be a police horse. His owner retired and couldn't keep him so I said he could stay here with me and be a school horse. He loves kids."

"You teach riding?" Dean asked as the horses continued to gather around her.

"I teach kids, well I at least I did before I fell pregnant. My mother was a riding instructor and I've learned from her," Starina said as she went up to the pinto next and petted him. "This one's Tonto. I rescued him from slaughter with Priscilla, who Sam's already met. And there's Josey, her owners couldn't handle her so I offered to take her and school her properly."

"And that one?" Sam asked, pointing to the palomino and her foal.

"This is Epona," Starina practically beamed as the mare stood at her shoulder and nudged her. "I found her wandering around in a field not far from here. I tried to find her owners but nobody claimed her so I took her in. And the little skinny thing hiding behind her is Tennessee, she's two weeks old."

"Isn't Epona character in a video game?" asked Sam, raising an eyebrow. "The Legend of Zelda or something?"

"Yes, but that character is also a horse," said Starina, ignoring Dean as he muttered, "Nerd!" under his breath at Sam. "Fitting considering that Epona is a Celtic goddess said to protect and have power over all equines. In fact she's one of the most prominent goddesses in Celtic mythology."

"Those horses really seem to like you," Sam observed with a smile as the horses gathered around her as though she were one of their own.

"I guess you could say that they think of me as part of the herd," Starina grinned as little Tennessee nibbled on her fingers. "I've worked with each and every one of them; gaining their confidence and helping them learn to trust again, giving them hope when they had none. They're as much a part of me as I am of them. A bond like that runs very deep."

While she was talking Sam and Dean exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to try and broach the subject of the haunting.

"Hey uh, Starina?" Sam started and Starina looked up. "What was your home life like before you came here?"

"It was perfectly fine," Starina answered easily. "I had my parents, my brothers, the riding school, and the horses. I'd not long taken over the school after my parents retired and was very happy. It's a real joy to teach future generations the art of horsemanship. Why do you ask?"

"Were there ever any problems? Anything that might make you wanna leave?" Dean pressed.

Starina frowned a little at this. "No, I left to do an apprenticeship with a horse trainer, that's why I came here."

"You sure about that?" Dean asked and Starina's frown deepened. "Sure there's not something you wanna tell us?"

"About what?"

"Starina, when you left home did something follow you?" Sam asked. "Something that might've been causing you and your family problems?"

For a split second Starina looked like a deer caught in the headlights and she visibly stiffened. "Uh, I...I..."

"Listen, Starina if something followed you here we can help you," Sam went on. "But you've gotta tell us what it is."

Starina looked as though she wanted to run away and seemed on the verge of hyperventilating, but before anyone could say anything else they were reminded of the oncoming storm by another rumble of thunder, which seemed to snap Starina back to reality.

"I have to get the horses in," she muttered distractedly as she started walking towards the barn. "If you guys wanna charge your phones you'd better do it now before the storm hits."

The Winchesters could only watch as she walked away in the direction of the barn, the horses all following her like a row of ducklings with Tennessee bringing up the rear alongside her mother. Dean turned around with an impatient sigh.

"That went well," he muttered.

"She's scared, Dean," Sam said knowingly. "You saw the look on her face just now. She probably doesn't want us getting involved."

"We're already involved Sammy whether she likes it or not," Dean said shortly. "First thing tomorrow I wanna go out to that pylon and take a look around, she wasn't too keen on us goin' out there and I know it's not because she's scared of getting zapped. Something's out there and we've gotta find out what."

"Well she does have a point," Sam reasoned. "Going near that pylon's gonna be risky."

"Sam, since when is anything we do not risky?" asked Dean.

Sam didn't have an answer to that. He knew his brother had a point too, on both matters, and if Starina wasn't going to be straight with them then they really had no other choice. He sighed as thunder rumbled again and Dean pushed himself off the fence.

"We'd better do as she says and charge our phones while we can," Dean went on. "I wanna call Bobby and ask him if he's heard of any spirits or monsters that like to cause blackouts."

Sam nodded and they both walked back to the house, Sam glancing over his shoulder towards the barn as they went. Unbeknownst to them Starina was leaning heavily against a beam, both hands pressed to her swollen stomach as she tried to calm her breathing.

"Starina?"

Still breathing pretty hard Starina turned and Donovan was standing in the doorway, a look of his concern on his features as he hurried over and gently gripped her shoulders.

"Starina, what is it?" he asked urgently, looking into her eyes. "Is it the babies? Are they-?"

Starina shook her head. "Not... the babies," she breathed, still trying to compose herself. "S-Sam... and Dean... they're..."

Donovan was immediately on the defensive. "Did they hurt you?" he growled. "What did they do to you? Tell me so I can rip them apart!"

"Donovan, please," Starina begged. "They haven't done anything. They're... they're getting too close. They know that something followed me here from England."

The dragon's golden eyes widened. "Did you tell them?" he asked more gently.

"I didn't need to, they figured it out," Starina was on the verge of tears. "Curse them for being so perceptive!"

Donovan drew her into his arms and hushed her as she sobbed into his shoulder, gently stroking her beautiful auburn hair as he sat cross legged on the floor and cradled her in his lap.

"What am I gonna do, Donovan?" she sobbed, clinging to him as though for dear life. "If they get involved...they'll die. He'll kill them... I know he will!"

"Starina, you don't know that," Donovan tried to soothe her. "They're hunters, aren't they? If they're as strong as you say they are..."

"I can't let them get involved Donovan, I just can't," Starina cried. "It's my curse, my burden to bear. Too many innocents have already lost their lives because of that...that thing. I won't let him kill them, too. I won't!"

Donovan gently rocked her back and forth, unsure of what else he could say to comfort her, until her sobs softened and eventually stopped. Realizing she'd cried herself to sleep Donovan carefully stood and carried her bridal-style back to the house where he gently laid her down on a sofa in the study which was just off the kitchen. He drew a blanket over her and gazed at her sadly for moment before kneeling down and gently pressing his hand to her belly, smiling when he felt the babies move. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his mate, but this was out of his hands. All he could do was hope that the Winchesters would prove to be trustworthy after all and maybe, just maybe, they could help Starina see this through.

While this was happening Sam and Dean were in the guestroom, Sam tapping away on his laptop while Dean was talking on his newly charged phone to Bobby.

"So you're sure there's nothing in any of those old books about power-sucking spirits or monsters?" Dean asked, making Sam look up from the keyboard. "Okay, what about Empaths? Yeah, that's pretty much the same thing Sam said. Yeah. Okay, thanks Bobby."

"Dead end?" Sam asked as Dean hung up.

"Bobby says there's no spirit or monster he's ever heard of that can cause blackouts like this," Dean said tiredly as he flopped himself down on his bed. "He said it's possible that the power plant could be the source but if that was the case all of Texas would be in the dark."

"And it's only this town that's being affected," Sam added.

"Which leaves us stuck at Square One," Dean concluded irritably. "This would be so much easier if Starina would just tell us what the hell's going on!"

"We can't exactly force her," Sam pointed out as he glanced back at the screen. "And she's pregnant so interrogating her is outta the question."

"Maybe we don't have to," Dean said thoughtfully.

"Dean? What're you thinking?" Sam asked, looking up again.

"Starina's still out in the barn right?" Dean asked as he sat up. "Why don't we have a poke around, see if we can find what she's hiding?"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Sam said hesitantly. "She could come back any minute."

"Do you have a better suggestion?" Dean asked as he got off the bed. "C'mon, it'll be quicker if you help."

Sam frowned disapprovingly but set the laptop aside and followed Dean into the hallway. The first door Dean opened was obviously the nursery if the two cribs, rocking chair, change table and chest of drawers with stuffed animals sitting on it were anything to go by. The room next door to the guestroom turned out to be Starina's. There was a queen sized bed, a dressing table and a chest of drawers but what peaked Dean's interest was the huge wooden trunk at the foot of the bed.

"Wonder what kinda treasure she's hiding in here?" he thought out loud as he went over and knelt in front of it.

"Dean, we shouldn't be doing this, it's an invasion of privacy," Sam said uncomfortably, staying standing in the doorway.

Dean ignored him and lifted the lid of the trunk. Inside were a huge photo album and other wooden boxes of varying size and age. The first box Dean picked up was a small chest about the size of a shoebox and very heavy.

"Whoa, check it out," Dean motioned to Sam as he opened it.

Curious now, Sam went over and peeked over Dean's shoulder at the contents of the box and his eyes widened in astonishment. Inside the box were hundreds of ancient looking gold coins.

"Holy crap!" Sam said as he picked up one of the coins to get a better look. "Dean! This is... is this I what think it is?"

"Solid gold," said Dean. "If the weight of the box is any indication I'd say all of this is gold."

"Oh my God," Sam marvelled, turning the coin over in his hand. It was the strangest looking coin he'd ever seen. It was clearly very old and had what looked like a horse and other unrecognisable symbols on it. "How much do you think she's got in there?"

"This box weighs a ton so there's more than a few," said Dean as he picked up a coin as well and looked at it. "How much does gold sell for these days, Sammy?"

"I'm not sure, but I know it's very valuable. Why?"

"Starina says she came here to do an apprenticeship with a horse trainer, right?" Dean went on and Sam nodded. "But we've pretty much established that's not why she's here. How's she supporting herself without a job? How's she paying to keep those horses fed? And how is she able to afford two cars and two quad-bikes?"

"What're you getting at?" Sam asked, frowning. "You're not saying she stole these?"

"Well I don't think she found them on the beach with a metal detector," said Dean doubtfully. "Let's see what else she's got in here."

But before they could open any more of the remaining boxes the sound of movement downstairs alerted them to Starina's presence, stopping them in their tracks. Quickly and quietly they put everything back in the trunk, careful to place whatever they'd touched back exactly how they'd found it so that Starina couldn't tell they'd been moved. Dean silently closed the lid and followed Sam back to the guestroom. Dean sighed with relief as he sat on his bed.

"Whew, that was a close one!"

"No, that was too close!" Sam scolded as he grabbed his laptop and sat on his own bed. "We are not doing that again!"

"What? Why not?" Dean asked with a chuckle. "Wasn't it fun?"

"What're you, five?" Sam frowned.

Dean just continued to chuckle to himself and took something out of his pocket.

"Dean, you didn't take one of those coins, did you?" Sam asked suspiciously.

Dean smirked and held up the gold coin between his fingers. "Yep, sure did," he said smugly.

"Dean you've gotta put it back! What if it's a family heirloom or something?"

"Relax Sammy, I'm not keepin' it," Dean said and took out his phone. "I was just gonna take a picture and send it to Bobby. He might be able to tell us what kinda coin it is. First chance I get I'll put it back, I promise."

"You'd better," Sam warned. "Because if Starina finds out you took it..." he trailed off, neither of them wanting to think how Starina would react if she knew they'd been snooping around.

There wasn't much talk around the table that night. When Sam and Dean had gone downstairs to see if Starina wanted help with dinner again they noticed that her eyes looked puffy like she'd been crying but if it was because of the failed conversation from earlier she gave no indication and remained casual as she doled out rather hefty servings of Irish stew and home-baked dinner rolls. Donovan only ate when he was hungry and preferred to hunt for prey rather than eat cooked meat so he was absent, but nonetheless neither of the brothers said anything more about the matter, that was until they were helping out with the washing up afterwards.

"Tomorrow morning we're goin' up to that pylon to take a look around, see if we can find out what's really goin' on around here," Dean said out of the blue, causing Sam to nearly drop a plate he was drying.

"Dean!" he hissed.

"Sounds good," Starina said, her tone still casual. "If you're absolutely certain there's something out there worth investigating then we'd better check it out. What time? I'm usually up around four thirty..."

"Whoa, not that early!" said Dean who hadn't expected that response.

"After breakfast then?" Starina suggested, fiddling with the corner of her tea towel.

"Uh... okay?"

"Great."

She hung up the tea towel and walked out of the kitchen and into the small study just off the kitchen where she sat in front of a computer, put a set of headphones on and began rapping away at the keys. Sam looked over at Dean who was still standing there with his mouth hanging open.

"What was that about?" Sam demanded, keeping his voice low so Starina wouldn't hear.

"That wasn't supposed to happen," said Dean, also speaking quietly.

"Wait, were you trying to trick her into telling us what followed her here?"

Dean looked at the floor. "Maybe..."

"Dean!"

"Hey, she didn't want us goin' out to the pylon for a reason," Dean bit back. "And now she's changed her mind? Doesn't that sound a bit suss to you?"

"You think she's bluffing?"

"I know she's bluffing," Dean insisted. "Something is out there and we've gotta find out what."

Once they'd finished cleaning up they went back upstairs. The power didn't go out that night despite another raging storm, but the lights did flicker from time to time which put both brothers on edge as they sat on their beds preparing their weapons for whatever awaited them the next morning, which couldn't come soon enough for Dean. He was the first to wake this time and woke up Sam by tossing a pillow at him.

"Rise n' shine, Sleeping Beauty!"

Sam frowned at him as he sat up. "Hardly the time for a pillow fight, Dean," he muttered sleepily.

When they went down to breakfast Starina was already there and breakfast was on the table, which mostly consisted of bacon, scrambled eggs, fried tomatoes and buttered toast.

"About time you two got up," Starina said airily as she sat a full coffee pot on the table as well. "I was nearly dying of boredom down here. Do either of you have sugar in your coffee?"

"I thought you didn't have coffee?" Dean frowned.

"I bought some while we were out yesterday," Starina explained. "I figured that since you're going to be here until that new battery arrives I might as well grab a jar. Now dig in, we've got work to do."

"Uh, "we"?" asked Dean as Starina set a little dish of sugar cubes on the table as well.

"Yes, "we"," she said briskly. "I'm going with you."

"Um, Starina, it's probably better if just Dean and I go," said Sam cautiously. "We're going out to a pylon after all its gonna be dangerous. I mean, think of the babies."

"I'm aware that it's dangerous," Starina said curtly. "This is exactly why I'm going with you. And don't worry about the babies, they're very well protected. Now eat up, I'll meet you outside."

The tone of her voice made it so clear that she'd made up her mind and was going with them whether they liked it or not that Sam and Dean decided that it was pointless to argue with her and quickly got through with breakfast before heading out to the farmyard where Starina had her truck parked and was waiting for them. As they were about to leave Donovan turned up and took her aside out of their earshot.

"This is foolishness, Starina, please reconsider," Donovan pleaded.

"I have to go with them, Donovan," Starina said as she gently cupped his face. "I have to make sure that thing stays where I trapped it. The spell should've held but I have to be certain. Don't worry, I'll be fine, okay?"

Donovan hugged her. "Please take care, my love," he whispered. "I don't want to lose my family, not again."

"You won't," Starina whispered back. "See you soon."

As the dragon went back to the house Starina returned to Sam and Dean who were waiting for her by the truck, neither of them missing the troubled expression on her face.

"Everything okay?" asked Dean.

"Yeah, it's fine," Starina said distractedly, then noticed the bag Sam was carrying that had their weapons in it. "What's with the heavy artillery? I didn't think we were going into battle."

"We don't know what we're dealing with Starina, whatever's haunting this town could be dangerous and we might need to defend ourselves," Sam explained.

Starina went slightly pale but shrugged."If you say so," she said as she climbed into the driver's seat while Sam rode shotgun and Dean sat in the back (Sam's legs were too long for him for fit comfortably in the backseat.) "Alright boys, hang on, it's gonna be a bumpy ride," Starina said as she shut her door.

And it was indeed a bumpy ride. It was five miles to the pylon and every inch of the dirt road seemed to be made up of nothing but stones and potholes, nowhere near as smooth a ride as the brothers were accustomed to. At one point Dean thought he was going to throw up.

"Not getting green around the gills back there?" Starina asked.

"Not yet," Dean groaned, holding his stomach.

"Well stick your head out the window if you're gonna puke," Starina smirked a little. "We're nearly there."

When they finally pulled up a safe distance from the pylon Dean got out and stood with his hands on his knees as he tried to breathe deeply and not lose his breakfast.

"Breathe through your mouth, Dean," Starina advised as she got out too.

Sam winced as he got out of the truck and rubbed his back. That ride had been very rough and his back was killing him. Once Dean was feeling better they lowered the tailgate and began to arm themselves. While they were doing this Sam noticed that Starina had gone strangely quiet. She was leaning against the truck with her arms wrapped around herself as though she was cold, but it was a warm, though cloudy, day and there was very little wind. She was also staring at a little wooded area on the opposite side of the field the pylon was standing in.

"Everything okay, Starina?" he asked.

Starina jumped as though she'd been poked with an Angel Blade. "Huh? Oh y-yeah, I-I'm fine."

Dean frowned as he noticed this behaviour as well and he and Sam exchanged a glance. She had seemed fine a few minutes ago, what had her spooked all of a sudden? They continued to watch her as they worked and Starina had indeed become very edgy. She continued to stare at the treeline and every little noise made her twitch, like she was expecting a bomb to explode or something.

"Alright, all set?" asked Dean as he shut the tailgate again.

"All set," Sam nodded. "Starina, you'd better wait here."

"Don't go too close," Starina warned.

The brothers spent the next several minutes scanning the area, looking for any signs of what might be causing the strange lights that the locals kept seeing. Because of the close proximity of the electrical wires there was no point in using an EMF reader so Sam and Dean had to go in literally blind while Starina watched from the truck.

"Find anything yet?" Dean yelled from across the field after they'd been searching for about forty five minutes.

"Nothing yet!" Sam shouted back.

Dean huffed with annoyance and glanced over at Starina who was still staring at the trees on the other side of the field. He wished that she would make this easier by telling them what was haunting her but clearly she was either too scared or too stubborn, or both, to say anything.

"Hey Dean!" Sam yelled, pulling Dean out of his thoughts. "I think I got something!"

Finally! Dean thought as he hurried over to his brother who was standing on a patch of dirt.

"Look at this," said Sam, pointing.

Dean followed his glance. The grass seemed to be green and healthy everywhere except for a six-foot wide strip that seemed to form a winding path down to the wooded area on the fence line, as though something had walked in that direction and killed the grass as it went. The grass hadn't been trampled, it was simply dead.

"What d'you make of it?" Sam asked, crouching down beside Dean.

Dean frowned and scooped up some of the soil only to find it completely devoid of moisture even though it had rained heavily the previous night and the night before that. He also noticed there were several dead birds lying around, as though they'd just dropped out of mid-air over that particular spot. Standing up and walking to the nearest one he crouched down again and brushed his fingers over it.

"It's still warm," he said to Sam, speaking over his shoulder.

"So whatever did this was here recently," Sam said as he looked around. "Probably just a few minutes ago."

"Then it can't have gotten far," said Dean as he stood up again and looked around for tracks or pressure marks in the grass, trying to figure out which way it might have gone.

"Dean, over there!" Sam shouted.

Dean looked were Sam was pointing. There near the concrete base of the pylon was a ball of white light, floating in mid air like a balloon on a string. For a moment neither of them said anything, too shocked to form words, but then for some reason they both felt compelled to go towards it. Like moths to the flame the brothers felt themselves being pulled towards the light, neither of them able to take their eyes off it as it floated there. Starina, who was still standing by the truck, noticed that they'd stopped to look at something on the ground and for a moment couldn't figure out why they were moving towards the pylon even though she'd warned them to stay away from it. But then she saw the ball of light and her eyes widened in horror.

"SAM! DEAN! LOOK OUT!" she screamed as she ran towards them. "GET OUTTA THERE!"

Right as her scream broke them out of their strange stupor there was an almighty, deafening crack and a massive bang as the base of pylon exploded and the tower began to fall, tipping right towards Sam and Dean.

"RUN SAMMY!"

They both turned and hightailed it in the other direction, but the tower was falling too fast and there was no way they could outrun it. Dean could the hear the buzzing and cracking of the wires being ripped from the tower and knew that if the tower didn't crush them to death then they'd be electrocuted. They both hit the ground and curled into the foetal position even though they knew it was useless and waited for the inevitable impact and, no doubt, their deaths. But it never came. They could still hear the wires buzzing but amazingly they weren't being jolted at all. It fact they hadn't even heard anything hit the ground. Dean cracked one eye open and a steel beam was mere feet from his face. And what was that green glow? It was so bright it made his eyes ache. He looked over at Sam who glanced back at him looking just as stunned and bewildered. Then they heard a whimper and when they looked for the source their mouths fell open.

"Ard-Shagart, cuidigh liom, Ériu, cuidigh liom."

Starina was standing just off to the side, hands outstretched and knees bent as though she was trying to lift something. Her entire body was engulfed in bright green light and she was visibly shaking. Around her feet rocks and pebbles began to float off the ground of their own accord and her hair floated as well. Blood dripped from her nose and beads of sweat the size of pumpkin seeds were dripping down her forehead as she opened her eyes which were also glowing.

"G-get outta there you idiots!" she growled furiously, her chest heaving with exertion. "M-move it!"

"Dean, c'mon!" Sam yelled.

He got to his feet and gabbed Dean by the collar and dragged him out from under the tower which was still floating in the air, apparently held up by whatever power Starina was using. As soon as they were safely out of the way she let up, closing her eyes as the bright green light vanished and the tower crashed to the ground. For moment all she could do was stand, shaking and breathing hard as though she'd just run a marathon. Then suddenly a dark shadow materialised right behind her, taking the form of a cloaked figure with glowing red eyes that was holding a huge knife.

"STARINA GET DOWN!"

In the time it took to blink Dean was on his feet and he crash-tackled the thing to the ground, wrestling with it for a moment before it let out a loud hiss and threw him off, backing away from him as if he'd burned it.

"W-What are you?" the thing growled, still backing away. "Who are you?"

"Your worst Goddamned nightmare, you shadowy sonovabitch," Dean spat.

The thing turned in Starina's direction, red eyes narrowing as Sam moved so that he was standing protectively in front of her, rock-salt loaded shotgun at the ready.

"Hunters..." the thing whispered, voice dripping with venom and anger. "So Starina, you decided to seek help from hunters, did you?"

"N-no," Starina gasped, trying to push Sam out of the way. "P-please...l-leave them alone...t-they're not-"

But the thing let out an evil cackle and disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

"No...no..." Starina breathed as her eyes rolled back and Sam caught her as she collapsed.

"Whoa! Starina!" Sam cried as he carefully lay her down and Dean rushed over. "Hey! C'mon Starina, talk to us!"

"Nononono, c'mon don't do this," Dean muttered, gently patting Starina's face. "C'mon Starina, open your eyes!"

Sam pressed his fingers gently into the side of her neck. "She's got a pulse, but it's weak."

"Crap!" Dean yelled. "C'mon we've gotta get her to a hospital, now!"

"Whoa wait," Sam protested. "We can't take her to a hospital."

"What? Why the hell not?"

"Because she's pregnant to a dragon, remember?" Sam pointed out. "We take her to a hospital and they're gonna do an ultrasound..."

"And it might show that the babies are dragons," Dean said, realising they couldn't take that chance. "Get her up, we'll take her back to the house and work out something there."

Sam easily scooped Starina up and carried her bridal-style back to the truck where they carefully lay her down in the backseat, Dean getting in as well to make sure she didn't get bumped around too much. Sam jumped into the driver's seat and sped back to the farmhouse as carefully as he could.

"C'mon Starina, wake up," Dean muttered, patting her face again as she lay across his lap. She was starting to feel cold and now he was worried that she might be dying.

"How's she doing back there?" Sam asked from the driver's seat as he struggled to keep the truck on the road.

"Not good, she feels cold," Dean responded, struggling out of his jacket and draping it over her, drawing a low moan from her pale lips. "Starina? Hey! C'mon, talk to me!"

"D...Dono...van..." she murmured but her eyes stayed closed. "Ba...babies..."

"Hold on, Starina, just hold on," Dean urged.

"Stay with us, Starina," Sam chimed in from the front seat. "We're nearly there!"

"D...Dean..." Starina moaned softly, her voice barely a whisper. "S...Sam...I...sorry... for...give...me."

Dean glanced up at Sam who looked worriedly back at him through the rear view mirror before turning his attention back to Starina. "Don't worry about it, just hang in there, okay?"

They made it back to the farmhouse in just over five minutes. Donovan was on the back porch and at first looked puzzled as the truck skidded to a halt and Sam got out of the driver's seat instead of Starina, but then a look of pure panic crossed his features as Sam lifted a lifeless Starina out of the backseat.

"STARINA!" he yelled, rushing over and looking utterly distraught as he took her from Sam's arms. "Starina? Starina! Please speak to me!" he begged, then turned his gaze on Sam. "What happened?"

"We'll explain later, let's just get her inside!" Dean ordered as he ran around the ride of the truck.

Much to their surprise Donovan obeyed and they hurried into the house, Donovan carrying Starina into the study and laying her on the sofa where he quickly covered her with a blanket.

"What happened?" Donovan asked again, kneeling next to the sofa and tenderly cradling Starina's pale face. "It was him, wasn't it?"

"Who?"asked Sam.

Donovan looked up, his eyes now full of anger. "The thing!" he growled. "The shadow-creature that followed her! He did this!"

"Wait, you knew about it?" Dean demanded, his blood boiling. "Both of you knew about that thing and you didn't say anything?!"

"Dean, not now," said Sam urgently. "We've gotta get help or Starina's gonna die!"

"Irene," Donovan muttered.

"What?"

"Irene, Starina's midwife," Donovan said. "She'll know what to do. Her number's on Starina's phone, she left it on the counter."

While Sam rushed to make the call Dean glared at Donovan, still furious that neither he nor Starina had told them about the shadow-creature.

"Alright, start talking," Dean ordered. "What the hell was that thing and why didn't you tell us about it?!"

Donovan glared back at him, totally unfazed by Dean's harsh tone. "It's Starina's choice whether or not she tells you anything," he snapped, sounding just as angry. "She's my mate and she confided in me, I will not betray her!"

"Oh yeah? And what about when she pops those kids out, huh?" Dean shot back. "Will you still be loyal to her then?"

In an instant Dean had a massive clawed hand at his throat as Donovan seized him by the neck and shoved him up against the wall, his feet dangling at Donovan's knees. Furious golden eyes stared back into Dean's jade-green orbs as the dragon held him painfully against the wall. Hearing the noise Sam rushed back into the room only to get a swat from Donovan's tail when he tried to intervene.

"How dare you!" Donovan bellowed, his body trembling with rage. "Do you really think so little of me, just because you've had one bad run in with one of my kind? Yes, Starina knows of your past, she told me how you feel about monsters, said I should try to accept you because not all hunters are the same. Well, I'm starting to think that I should've shredded you the minute I laid eyes on you! Then none of this would've happened!"

"D...Donovan...no..."

Both Donovan and Dean glanced at the sofa where Starina, who was still ghostly pale, had her eyes open and was reaching towards the dragon with a trembling hand. Donovan instantly dropped Dean, coughing and gasping, to the floor and hurried to Starina's side while Sam went to check on Dean.

"Starina?" Donovan said quietly, all aggression gone as he tenderly brushed her hair off her forehead and took her outstretched hand. "I'm here, my love."

"P...please," Starina murmured weakly, sounding as though she was fighting to stay conscious. "Not...fault..."

"What're you saying?" Donovan asked softly, leaning closer.

"Sam...Dean..." Starina whispered. "Saved...me...protected..."

Donovan looked over at the brothers who stared back at him warily, Dean still coughing from being choked and Sam bleeding from his lip and sporting a black eye as he helped Dean to his feet. Donovan looked back at Starina and she nodded, squeezing his hand with what little strength she still had before going limp again.

"Starina?" Donovan gently shook her. "Starina! Starina, please wake up!"

"Forget it Donovan, she's out-cold," Dean muttered, his voice hoarse from coughing.

"I spoke to Irene," Sam spoke up and Donovan glanced at him. "She's on her way."

Donovan gave a nod and turned his attention back to Starina. "Hang on Starina, help's coming," he murmured to her. "Just stay with me, okay? Stay with me."

Dean began to regret mouthing off at Donovan the way he had. It was blatantly clear now how much the dragon cared for Starina as he watched him plant himself on the floor by her side, quietly begging her to hold on. He opened his mouth to say something but an insistent knock at the door silenced him.

"That must be her," said Sam as he rushed to answer it.

When he opened the door there was middle-aged, red-haired woman standing on the doorstep carrying an old-fashioned medical bag and beside her was a younger woman with short, cropped brown hair and blue eyes.

"Are you Sam?" the red-haired woman asked in a heavy Irish accent. "I'm Irene and this is Marie, my daughter."

"Yeah, I called you," Sam nodded as he stood aside to let them in. "Starina's through here, she doesn't look good."

Irene and Marie hurried to the study and Donovan looked up, looking relieved when he saw them. It was clear to Sam and Dean that Irene and Marie knew Donovan since they didn't both run out of the house screaming.

"Please help her, Irene," Donovan pleaded, standing up so he could move out of their way. "She's getting weaker by the minute."

"Don't worry Honey, we'll do what we can," Irene promised as she set her bag down and took Donovan's spot next to Starina.

"Can you tell us exactly what happened?" Marie asked, looking at Sam and Dean. "Tell us everything."

The brothers took turns explaining what they'd been doing in the lead up to the incident with the base of the pylon exploding and how Starina had somehow stopped the tower from falling on them. When they got to part about the shadow creature both women tensed and exchanged worried glances.

"Oh Starina, you foolish girl," Irene sighed sadly.

"It's him, isn't it Mom?" Marie asked. "The thing you told me about."

"There's no time to explain now," Irene said sharply. "There're more pressing matters at hand. Starina's life force is failing and she'll die unless we act. You three," she barked at Donovan, Sam and Dean. "Wait outside."

Donovan looked like he wanted to protest and so did Dean but a sharp, "OUT!" from Irene sent them all scurrying into the kitchen as Marie shut the door to the study behind them. Donovan stared helplessly at the door as Sam and Dean sat at the table, both their heads overloading with questions they were now itching to find answers for, but all they could do now was wait and hope that Starina would survive to tell them.

AN: * For those not familiar with the term, a gelding is a male horse that's been castrated.

Please R/R and stay tuned!