Chapter Twenty Two

Dean stirred again in his sleep, his dreams of Yvette, of Kay and Louise began to take on a sinister turn, without Sam to ease his racing heart he awoke with a strangled cry, sitting bolt upright it took a few moments for Dean to remember where he was. He was safe, they were free. Sam was close, he was sure.

The little weed was probably milking up Grace's attention before Dean stole it all.

Typical.

Dean rubbed a hand through his hair, pausing as the pain throughout his body caught on to the fact that it's host was now awake. He carefully swung his legs off of the bed. No way was he going to wait for the others to realise he was awake, he was starving hungry and in desperate need of coffee.

A short walk to the kitchen wasn't going to kill him.

Although Sam might if he caught him.

Ok, so, how to deal with that? Flash Grace and Nicki a smile. They'd leap to his defence of that he was sure.

Standing carefully, one arm to his ribs, one hand braced against the bed, he took a slow step forward. Sweat broke out across his brow as his thigh held it's hands up in protest to the movement. He glanced at the shower, but thought better of it. Standing wasn't going too badly with the help of the wall but he didn't think he could manage for long without needing to have a break and sit down.

Coffee first, shower later.

Dean carefully pulled on a pair of jeans, balancing himself against the wall to try to keep the weight off of his leg. He contemplated a t-shirt but knew the movement to pull it on would have knocked him flat back on his ass. Instead Dean grabbed Sam's shirt and carefully pulled his arms through, buttoning only part of the way up, he made his way to the door, sidestepping his boots, knowing his body's limitations when it came to bending to pull them on.

In socked feetand tired, but with a determination only the hardened coffee drinkers could understand, Dean Winchester began his slow walk up the path to Grace's house.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam struggled with his bonds, his wrists were tied together and laying helpless in his lap. Nicki was watching from across the room, her eyes held a wide eyed fear and a look of unbelievability. Sam felt for her as he realised this was a major case of deja vu as far as she was concerned. Grace was huddled next to Nicki, attempting to protect her niece from the predator stalking through the room, keeping to the shadows, eyes shimmering as the early morning light slowly dripped into the room through the gap in the curtains.

They were bound and grouped in the living room, usually a happy room, Grace's presence and touch had seeped into every corner and every fibre of the furniture rendering any visitor helpless against the feeling of home and love. The couch along one wall faced a reclining chair, both angled slightly toward the window along the front which looked out to the highway behind the motel. Under the window sat the TV. The carpet, a light mauve colour complimented the cream walls and pictures of various family members and friends which adorned every space.

All in all Grace had one very happy home.

Except at this moment in time. At this moment she was sat clutching her niece, back to the couch, Sam across from them with his back to the wall next to the reclining chair. Grace wasn't sure what she was more afraid of, the strange woman who had held a knife to her throat not so long ago, or the calm look in Sam's eyes as he watched the figure stalk back and forth.

So this was one of the drifters who had kidnapped her niece and Dean. If she hadn't have been so scared Grace would have voiced a few choice words to this woman.

Kate walked around the room, her anger pouring from her in waves, each one crashing against Sam as he watched in silence. Different scenarios playing through his mind, the consequences of every action considered and then discarded. There was no way out, not unless a distraction could gift him with time to get his hands untied. Kate walked forward and knelt before him, her legs either side of his as she lifted his bound hands up toward her.

"You enjoyed killing them didn't you?"

Sam remained silent, fighting the urge to pull his hands away from his tormentor.

"You enjoyed watching their blood drain and their lives evaporate didn't you?"

Kate pulled Sam's hands higher, toward her mouth, the blood from his split knuckles causing an excitement to dance within her eyes as they shimmered across his face, taking in his stoicism, he held her gaze , only his eyes betraying his fear.

"You and yours killed mine"

"You and yours killed many more of mine" Sam raised his eyebrows , preparing himself for any reaction.

Kate smiled, leaned forward and began to lick the blood from his hand. Despite his minds insistence on not showing any fear his hands bucked and tried to pull away. The gasp from behind Kate only caused her to smile as she played her tongue along the breaks in his skin, relishing the taste of copper and fear, allowing her eyes to linger over his lips.

Nicki watched in horror as her nightmare replayed itself again, only this time it was a different brother, what was with these people?

She began to edge forward slowing, shushing her protesting Aunt with one look. Bit by bit Nicki crawled forward, bound hands supporting her weight as she tried to make it to her feet undetected.

Kate continued to lick Sam's hands, around a tongue of blood she said "Another move lady and I'll be feasting on your Aunt before you've made it to the door"

Nicki froze. Half way to standing. Kate gave Sam one more playful smile and stood, walking in slow circles around Nicki she smiled at the feisty girl and tilted her head forwards as she walked.

"You think you're brave?" Kate raised her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side.

"You think you can take me? Do you know what I am?"

Nicki nodded slowly, swallowing nervously but attempting to keep the fear from taking over her body, from infesting it's poison into her nerve endings.

"Did you kill any of them?"

Nicki raised her head slowly and tried to look anywhere but at the vampire before her. Kate stopped pacing, leaning in so that Nicki's breath brushed through her hair, she relished the feel of the life, the smell of the salt from unshed tears. She sensed, pain. Kate frowned and tilted her head again.

"You killed them, yet, there's something else isn't there? Someone else you've killed?"

Nicki sucked in a deep breath before she had time to stop the reaction.

Kate smiled.

"Who else have you killed? Who's life have you snatched away? Hey?"

Nicki looked away as a rogue tear fell down her face. Kate leaned forward and licked the moisture from her skin.

"You blame yourself? I taste the fear, I taste the grief. Do you want the pain to end?"

Sam looked up alarmed, this was not good. He knew what Kate was doing and that was oh so not good.

"I can take it away, I can make the pain disappear. I can take you so high you'll never want to come down"

Nicki looked Kate in the eyes for the first time, looked deep into the brown, morphing to sliver flashes as her pupils took in all the available light in the room. This creature, this thing thought she could help her? Take away her pain? But without pain, without feeling what else was there? Nicki listened to her Aunt behind her, quietly sobbing, begging for Nicki to be let go, her words cut deep as Nicki realised the lengths her Aunt would go to protect her.

"Please, please miss, take me instead, please don't hurt her, please don't"

Kate looked over Nicki's shoulder and down at Grace.

"Why would I want you old woman? Why would I want someone so weak when I could have someone so strong? Why would I want to trade her for…"

Kate stopped and sniffed the air again, she looked directly at Sam and smiled.

"Ahhh, and now we're all here"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

You guys know how much i love you and your reviews!