A/N Once again, a heartfelt thanks to all of you out there! You are amazing!

Also, I'm so sorry if this chapter feels a little bit slow. I promise that things pick up again in the next chapter. :)

Chapter Four

Sam stared at Jesse with shock. "What are you doing?" he demanded.

Jesse smiled slowly, his teeth showing. "Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."

Leaving his line of sight, Jesse began to rummage around in the small kitchen. Sam gave up any pretense of compliance and began to tug and twist urgently on his wrist. The skin there was already tender and starting to bruise.

"I can hear you rattling away in there, just so you know," Jesse called from the kitchen. Sam twisted, rolling off the couch so that he was closer to the radiator and had greater leverage with which to pull against the metal cuffs. If he could just…

But no, Jesse was striding over, looking positively giddy. He had a large linen napkin in his hands that he was rolling up.

"What do you want?" Sam asked, shoving himself back into the corner as far as he could. Jesse didn't respond as he gracefully swung his legs over the back of the couch and then slid down so that he was sitting cross-legged there.

It was a smart move. It put him well out of the way of Sam's arm or legs, but within touching distance of Sam himself, and any plan of attack vanished.

"What are you doing, Jesse?" Sam tried again, leaning as far back as he could in an effort to put some distance between himself and the vampire.

"Hold still," Jesse ordered lightly as he fought to get a hold of Sam so that he could reel him in closer. He finally snagged a handful of Sam's hair and yanked his head forward ruthlessly. Keeping him pinned, Jesse tried to force the rolled-up linen into Sam's mouth to act as a gag but Sam thrashed his head side to side, trying to fend him off.

Jesse was stronger, however, and the small battle ended with Jesse tying the gag so tightly that it was cutting into the corners of his mouth.

Sam panted around it, staring hard at Jesse.

Jesse smiled softly, his gaze even. "I wouldn't be so flippant if I were you. Aren't you a little bit curious about what is in store for dear old Dean?"

Sam hadn't thought beyond 'this is bad', but the mention of his brother brought a cascade of cold fear that pooled heavily in his brain.

"Where's Dean?" he tried to ask, but Jesse arched an eyebrow.

"You've got a little something in your mouth. I can't hear you," he stated, his eyes sparkling. "You know what? I'll guess. Don't worry about it, you aren't about to die this very instant. I need you alive for the moment."

And wasn't that just buckets of sunshine and daffodils? Sam must have succeeded in getting at least some of his displeasure across because some of the humor fled from Jesse's face. He rocked back on his heels, regarding Sam carefully. They stared at each other, neither willing to blink.

Jesse finally shook his head and began to dig through his pockets. He pulled out a syringe and Sam immediately pressed himself further into the wall.

"I mean, I need you alive, but I also don't trust you. So, no hard feelings, huh? I need to finish up my business with Conrad, and can't have you trying to escape. If it makes you more comfortable, you can count backward from ten."

He reached over, grabbing Sam by his hair once more to hold him still, and the needle slid easily through the skin on his neck.

Sam blinked, the room doing a slow twirl. Against his own will, his head began to sink forward, his muscles forgetting how to work. And then he was gone.

#

It didn't take Dean long to pick up the hysterical screaming of a small child.

Increasing his speed, Dean weaved his way through the trees with his machete at the ready until he could see the vampires. There appeared to be just two of them, and they were struggling to move their victims speedily through the forest, which was good for Dean. Not so good for them.

Dean paused, panting lightly and trying to evaluate the situation, before melting back into the trees off to the right. He could easily outstrip them and circle back around to cut them off from the front. Finding a large firtree that provided the cover he was looking for, Dean ducked into position and waited.

It did not take long for the vampires to appear.

Robert was dragging Alice by the arm, while a female vampire was holding onto a squirming little girl, Lilly. Huh, the toddlers were twins.

"Please, please, just let her go, I'll do anything, I—" Alice twisted, trying to look into Robert's face and he slapped her hard enough that Dean heard the crack.

"For the last time, bitch, shut up and keep moving, or I will kill your kid right now," he snarled, yanking her back up by the hair and electing a pained cry.

"Oh, he wouldn't do that, would he? Not to someone as cute and as snuggly and warm-blooded as you, huh, you delicious little thing," the female vampire cooed, making a truly terrifying face that only made Lilly scream all the harder.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Dean had had enough, gripping his blade tightly, he breathed out slowly.

The female vampire was moving past him, glancing behind her as she went, and Dean stepped out and swung the blade with all the strength that he possessed.

She ran right into it and her head rolled backward and onto the ground with a thunk as her lifeless arms released the child.

Dean lunged forward, catching Lilly by the lapel of her pajamas just before she hit the dirt. Setting her down as softly as he could, he stepped over her and set up a protective stance.

Robert let out a shocked, mournful, cry as he lurched forward towards the vampire, but Dean's machete had him coming to an abrupt halt. Twisting Alice viciously around, he hugged her to his chest as an arm went around her throat.

"If you want her to live, hunter, then you will put down your weapon," he snarled, his voice coated with emotion, but Dean just shrugged. Lilly was still screaming, and he reached one hand behind him to nudge her protectively back behind him.

"I'm sorry, was it date night? Looked like date night," he said casually, lighting swinging his blood-flecked blade up into a threatening position.

Robert's face screwed up with grief as he let his teeth drop, leaning towards Alice. "I won't hesitate."

"Hold up—" Dean called, relaxing his grip slightly on the machete. "No need to be hasty. Think about this. You let Alice go, and I'll make sure your death is quick."

Robert did not stop to think about it, backing up another step and pressing Alice closer to him. "She will still be dead even if I die. And that is not what you want, am I right?"

Dean let go of Lilly and took another step forward. Something flickered in his peripheral vision and before he could respond Amelia slipped through the trees directly behind Robert.

Her face was twisted in enthusiasm and malice, and she appeared to be vibrating with excitement.

"Hello, Robert."

Robert whirled around, his jaw-dropping. He stared at her, his eyes wide and terrified.

"Amelia."

Her lips quirked upwards and before Robert could do anything, she was jabbing a syringe full of dead man's blood into his chest.

He gasped, seizing slightly as his limbs lost control and he slumped to the ground. Alice wrenched herself free with a sob and stumbled towards Dean, who caught her against his chest, one arm coming up to wrap around her shoulders.

"You wouldn't…?" Robert's voice was hoarse, his eyes wide and terrified as his sister stood over him.

"You know, I said that once to you," Amelia seethed, her chest heaving with elation.

Dean glanced between them, before looking down at the woman in his arms as she lurched down. "Woah, easy, I've gotcha," he began but she was only grabbing Lilly who was grasping at her, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. Sobbing as well, Alice clutched the child closer to her.

Sympathy stirred in Dean's chest, and he glanced back over at Robert and Amelia.

"I told you that this day would come. You never should have said what you did, or cut me out," Amelia was positively crooning as she leaned over Robert. "I swore over mother's body that—"

"I'm going to the campsite. Meet me back at the van when you are done monologuing," Dean broke in loudly and felt more than a little satisfaction when Amelia's face twisted back up into a snarl of irritation.

Perfect timing.

"Leave," she ordered and Dean wrapped his arm tightly around Alice, preparing to take at least some of her weight. "Wait!" Amelia turned sharply. "Leave the machete behind." She grinned darkly down at Robert whose face had gone very pale.

"Please," he managed to croak out.

Dean shrugged, dropping the blade into the grass at his feet and turning his attention to Alice.

"Can you stand?"

"Please!" Robert had rolled onto his side, his hand outstretched towards Dean.

"Can you stand?" Dean repeated.

"I—" Alice took a deep breath, looking as shellshocked as her husband had been. "We were just camping. It was supposed to be a treat for the kids, a reward for being so good over the summer."

Dean sighed. "Your other kids are safe, I left them with your husband. Here, lemme take Lilly. You just worry about yourself." He gestured towards the toddler and Alice reflexively clutched her closer. Dean softened his stance and waited for a moment. Alice looked away but nodded even as she buried her face in Lilly's shoulder.

Dean pried Lilly gently from her mother's arms and tucked her onto one hip.

"Turtles move faster than you do. Get out," Amelia snapped and Dean smirked again.

However, his movements were gentle as he wrapped his arm around Alice's waist. "Easy does it," he coached as they began to walk.

"I beg you!" Robert cried one last time, his face terrified as Dean began to shepherd Alice away, but Dean felt no pity, not when he was carrying the intended victims of Robert's attack back to their family. Amelia could do with him what she would. Her time was coming soon enough.

Dean hadn't felt like it had taken him long to track down Robert, but the walk back felt like it was stretching into eternity. Alice wasn't wearing any shoes and seemed to be in shock as she stumbled along.

It was a relief to hear the soft sounds of voices, and Alice picked up her step, breaking away from Dean to hurry into the clearing.

"Dale!" she half sobbed, seeing her husband lying on the ground. The other toddler, the boy, came running up, and almost tackled his mother to the ground with the force of his hug. She clutched him close, opening her other arm to welcome in her oldest as well. Dale raised himself up on an elbow, watching the reunion with tears in his eyes. He was still bloody and pale, but he looked more stable than the last time Dean had seen him.

Lilly began to squirm in his arms and Dean moved a couple of paces further to set her down. She stumbled forward, her chubby baby legs barely supporting her, and Dean quickly reached out, bracing her up before she fell, and gently pushed her into the group hug.

If nothing else went right tonight, at least this had. At least this family was safe and whole.

He moved forward, lightly grabbing Alice's shoulder. "Do you have a phone that gets reception?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know. We had a satellite phone, in the tent," she said, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve and Dean nodded. He passed by Dale, and paused to check the wounds over more carefully—it was still bleeding and would probably scar, but he would also more than likely live if he received medical attention—before ducking into the tent and sorting through belongings until he found a phone.

Crawling back out of the tent, he passed it off to Alice. "Here, call 9-1-1. They'll help you but until they get here, don't move, keep your husband still, keep pressure on the wound, and keep his feet elevated."

"Wait!" Alice's hand shot out, wrapping around his wrist. "Where are you going? You can't leave us."

Dean gently untangled her fingers. "I have to go, but you should be safe now."

"No, don't leave us, please…"

Dean sighed, bowing his head. The terror was clear in her eyes. "Look, one day this is all just going to be a bad nightmare," he said, folding her hands in his and squeezing.

Tears were sparkling in her eyes again and Dean stood, uncomfortable.

"Thank you. For saving us," Alice whispered and Dean nodded. He had only taken a few steps when someone jerked on the hem of his coat and he looked down in surprise. The oldest girl stood there.

"Thank you," she repeated, before bursting into new tears and wrapping her arms around his waist, and hugging him tightly. Dean jerked back reflexively, unsure what to do. He awkwardly wrapped his arms around her, patting her back once or twice before he disentangled himself and hurried away into the trees.

Something twisted in his chest, the heartfelt thanks of the family rocking him for some reason that he couldn't even put his finger on. Maybe it was because he wouldn't have been able to save them if Sam wasn't sitting alone in a cabin with a vampire.

Would he have traded their lives for Sam's?

He wasn't sure, but the question made him feel slightly sick.

Dean made his way back to the car, trying to shrug off the dark feeling in his gut.

Amelia wasn't there yet, but that did not exactly surprise him. He was sure that she was still whining about all the wrongs that had been done to her by Robert. No one could give speeches like those supposedly wronged.

Popping the back doors of the van, Dean gazed around the interior, looking for anything that he could use as a weapon. Now that he had delivered Robert to Amelia, things were likely to get nasty. Taking out his unused vials of dead man's blood, Dean selected two, shoving one down his sock, while the other went up his sleeve.

Probably not the best hiding spots, but it would work for the moment. He hesitated, before shoving the rest back into his pocket. It was a risk-taking two as it was, but he didn't think that Amelia would count.

The van didn't yield anything else, and Dean began to pace, checking his watch every time he did a lap.

When seven minutes had passed and Amelia was still not there, Dean rolled his eyes and set off to search for her. He did not have time for this.

Dean found Amelia almost exactly where he had left her, standing over Robert's body.

Only now his head was a good foot away from his neck.

Amelia breathed in deeply, her eyes wide with lust and glory, and Dean's stomach tightened.

"Take a picture, you can put it up on the fridge and stare at it, but let's go," he growled.

"Do not talk to me, I am savoring the moment…" Amelia bounced onto the balls of her heels, grinning. Tilting back her head, she let out an excited scream that made Dean flinch and fight the urge to cover his ears.

"Are you leaving the body, or are you taking souvenirs back?"

"You do not get to ruin this for me, Winchester," She flipped her hair over her shoulder, her position relaxed as she rode the high of the kill. It irked Dean more than he could say that he knew how she felt.

"C'mon, hurry it up, let's just go. He's as dead as he's gonna get and if we aren't careful the authorities will be here soon. Your victory will be less enjoyable if you have to spend it behind bars."

"You," Amelia turned to face Dean, irritation creeping back into her features "have the patience of a four-year-old. How your brother puts up with you, I do not understand."

"It drives him up the wall, you two can share stores after we get back. Let's go." He turned on his heel, rolling his hand in the direction of the trees.

Amelia snorted. "You think you are funny, but you really, really, are not."

Dean shrugged, like that was any revelation to him coming from her, and moved to hover at the edge of the trees, turning back in complete exasperation when he saw that Amelia had not moved. She was crouched down next to her brother's head, pulling out a small knife.

"Oh, gross."

Turning away, Dean began to march back through the trees.

Amelia caught up with him when he was almost back to the van. They did not speak as Amelia began to drive off the mountain, passing an ambulance on the way. The sight made Dean relax a little. Dale and Alice would be alright, or at the very least they had help now.

The drive to the nature reserve had seemed to stretch into an eternity, but the drive back felt like it was over almost as soon as it began.

Dean was out of the van once Amelia put it into park, nervous energy dogging his movements. The syringes were a comforting weight against his leg and in his sleeve, and he rolled his shoulders, preparing himself for whatever was about to happen.

Whatever came next, he and Sam were going to face it together.

Dean hesitated for a moment, pretending to drop down and tie his boot while allowing Amelia to get ahead of him. Sam's worry, and even his own, that some sort of trap was in store for them was in the forefront of his mind. Amelia pulled out her keys, struggling for a moment with the door, and Dean palmed the syringe from his sleeve, holding it loosely between his fingers.

The lock finally clicked, and she shoved it open.

Dean was not prepared for her sharp inhale, nor the way that she flinched back, horror spreading across her face.

Heart pounding, Dean leaped forward and felt his stomach clench tight.

Conrad was lying on the ground, twitching, as his wide eyes stared unseeingly at the ceiling. He was making a horrible, gasping sort of sound that no creatures should ever make. Dean shoved past Amelia who had gone down onto her knees next to Conrad, his eyes jumping to the couch, to where he had left Sam, but it was empty.

Amelia let out a sobbing wail behind him as Dean spun in a circle, searching through the one-room cabin.

"SAM!" he bellowed a hint of panic filtering into his voice. Silence was his only answer. "SAMMY!" he tried again, his heart pounding somewhere up near his throat. It made no difference, Sam was gone.

#

The first thing that registered through the fog in Sam's head was that his shoulder was on fire. The second was that his wrists had been extended over his head and that his body was swaying slightly in rhythm to the sound of an engine. The movement sent throbbing bolts of pain along his arm and up into his neck that made his eyes involuntarily fill with tears before he was even fully awake.

Gasping raggedly, Sam shifted to the side, trying to take the weight off his bad arm. It helped, but not by much. Forcing his eyes open, he frowned, trying to make sense of the grainy brown fuzz that was all that he could see.

That wasn't normal or right and Sam blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear his vision. His brain finally caught up with him when he realized that some sort of bag had been pulled over his head and was the cause for the unclear vision. The gag was also still firmly in place.

Not good, on so many levels.

"You awake, Winchester?" The voice came from his left and Sam turned his head in that direction. He knew that voice, he knew what was happening…Sam racked his brains frantically for a moment as his abused mind worked on piecing together fragmented memories.

Jesse. It was Jesse. Jesse had come back, possibly murdered Conrad, and taken him hostage.

He had no clue what was going to happen now, or where Dean was.

Jesse seemed to sense his internal panic because he chuckled loudly, turned the music up, and began to sing loudly.

Sam hung there, feeling even more helpless.

He had no clue what time it was, but surely Dean was back to the cabin by now or at least done with the hunt. If he was back in the cabin, then he was probably freaking out; he didn't handle Sam disappearing very well.

The vehicle took a sharp turn and Sam slid to his right, his head thudding against the glass window. His shoulder violently protested the movement, sending a spasm of pain through his whole body and wrenching a muffled moan from him. He bit down sharply on the gag, riding the pain through.

When he could breathe normally again, Sam gingerly twisted his good hand, trying to figure out his bonds and—more importantly—if he could break free. The sling had been removed, and both of his wrists had been handcuffed to the safety handle? It felt like the safety handle. Whatever it was, it was doing no favors for him.

Damnit, he probably wasn't even going to be able to move his arm if he did get free. That meant whatever plan he came up with, he was going to have to accommodate for a bad arm. And wasn't that just exciting.

Tentatively, Sam pulled at his good wrist. His earlier efforts left the skin there already tender and bruised, but there was no give. He tried a little bit harder, putting more pressure on it while holding his breath.

He could feel Jesse's eyes on him, watching his every move, and Sam was sure that a knife was going to be stabbed into him at any moment, but nothing happened. So, either Jesse didn't care or he was not paying Sam any attention.

Holding his breath, Sam tried his other wrist against his better judgment. Stars immediately burst in front of his eyes as his whole body flinched and his airways seized up as he tried to work through the resulting pain.

Jesse increased pressure on the accelerator, the engine revving as he sped up.

The loud ringing of a phone cut through the tense silence and Sam jumped, immediately regretting his action when his shoulder protested ferociously. Jesse brushed against him, sending him swinging as he searched for the phone and Sam cursed through the linen gag.

"Yeah?" Jesse asked, his voice changing from brisk to smooth and Sam stilled, listening intently to the one-sided conversation.

"Yup…uh-huh. We should be there by two at the latest."

Sam tensed at that. Two…not that he knew how long that gave him to get out of this pickle because he couldn't see a clock. Hell, he didn't even know how long he had been in the car. It could have been hours, or it could have been minutes.

Jesse was silent for a long moment. "I mean," he finally began. "When I say unspoiled, I mean that he is alive—no, I know, I know. Listen, I did the best that I could, I wasn't exactly working with the best situation…You know the damn Winchesters, give them an inch and they walk all over you." He cut himself off again with a frustrated huff, and it was another minute before he spoke.

"Look, I promise you that he will be alive upon delivery…yeah, see you in a little bit."

The phone snapped shut and then Jesse elbowed him roughly in the side, sending him swinging again and wrenching another moan from him. "You hear all that? Exciting, isn't it?"

Sam could agree that it was going to be exciting, but hopefully not in the way that Jesse was thinking.

Jesse went back to singing, if a little bit more subdued now while Sam continued twisting his good arm, but the phone call had given him something to think about.

He was being sold, that much was clear. His first question was to whom…and that was the terrifying part. Over the last year, he and Dean had made plenty of enemies. Their Dad had even more. And none of them were ones that Sam wanted to encounter again, especially under the present circumstances.