Author's Note: I know this one's been awhile in coming, but I honestly wasn't sure if I'd continue with the story. Writing bug bit me, though. Again, thanks to all who have been following along with Dean and Leah. :)

Chapter Thirty-Six

"Hi, honey, I'm back!" Manning taunted sadistically from the doorway. He was holding the large knife he'd shown Leah earlier, and as he moved into the room he began flipping it casually from hand to hand. "Miss me?"

Leah rolled her head slowly toward the wall, unable to watch as he approached. The words, 'It's not Dean.' ran through her mind, but no matter how much she repeated the mantra it wasn't helping. Though her brain fully understood Dean was still unconscious, that it was merely his body being manipulated by David, the problem was that she knew his body as well as she knew her own. Her damn heart could only see the man she loved, and that man was coming toward her with hatred in his eyes, evil on his mind and one extremely sharp knife in his hand.

She felt the bed sag beneath his weight and her muscles began to tighten in anticipation of the manhandling that would assuredly take place. As predicted, Manning's hand whipped out and his fingers snatched onto her jaw, jerking her head toward him. She let out a low, throaty growl.

"Now, now Leah. Let's be nice." He pinched her skin harder. "How about a warm welcome for your lover?"

She tried to snap free from his grasp, renewed anger making its way to the forefront. Leah knew trading remarks with him wasn't in her best interest, but she found herself unable to resist. "How about a cold dagger to your heart?"

He let go of her chin, the left side of his mouth lifting into a casual smirk as he made a show of examining the weapon he held. "That's doable, but are you sure that's what you want, darling? I mean, I'd be more than happy to plunge this into my chest for you but...oh wait! It's not my chest, is it?" He watched with triumphal satisfaction as her horror-filled gaze met his. "It's your call."

"You son of a bitch!" she ground out, jerking on the bindings at her wrists. For the first time since waking up in that room, Leah was almost thankful for the restraints. Had they not been in place, she may very well have found herself laying some irreparable damage on the hideous creature, which would not have been too pleasant for his handsome host.

David's eyes narrowed as he backhanded her across the face with a stinging blow. "Let's leave mommy dearest out of this." He leaned in closer, a long finger tracing malevolently along the bright red imprint his slap had wrought. "So, what's it gonna be? Dagger to Dean's heart...or a kiss?"

Tears rolled down Leah's cheeks as she clenched her teeth against the searing pain. "Sensitive about mommy, David? Guess the truth hurts. But if we're leaving her out of this, why not leave Dean out, too? We both know you could never do his body justice. What do you say you go set it down in the corner and come back to me with Nigel's? It's more your speed."

Manning slid his fingers along her throat, squeezing lightly before dipping lower to close roughly over her breast. "Such a smartass. I can see why you and Dean get along so well."

He waved the knife in front of her face. "It's show time, Leah." he said, then sliced open the front of her shirt. Staring down at her breasts, he eyed the smooth mounds covered in black lace, his breathing growing heavier with each passing moment. "I'm really gonna enjoy this. But I doubt you will!"

David gruffly clamped his mouth over her breast, his tongue flicking at the beaded nipple pushing up against the thin fabric. Leah arched upward and shuddered from the damp heat of his mouth. She hated that her body responded the way it did, but again, the inability to see anyone other than Dean left her defenseless to his touch. Her mind screamed out to fight him, but she knew there was nothing she could do at this point. Getting out of the cuffs had already proven impossible so that left talking as her only option, and whatever she had to say to David would probably only incite his anger.

There only seemed to be one way out now.

"Dean, please. I need you!" she cried.

Manning sank his teeth into the delicate skin, causing Leah's body to jerk violently. He lifted his head, his eyes dark as he glared at her. "I like my women silent and obedient but if you can't be either, I'll settle for unconscious." he snarled.

David raised the knife up high, prepared to quiet her with a swift blow from the handle. Leah yanked her head to the side and closed her eyes, waiting for the explosion of pain, but it failed to come. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. The expression on his face was a mixture of surprise and defiance, and his arm trembled as it wavered in midair.

"Dean!" His name tumbled past her lips as she recognized an intensity behind those flashing green eyes. An intensity that could only be Dean. She was thankful that he was all right and finally hopeful for a chance to put an end to this crazy encounter.

At the sound of her voice, his features softened but Leah knew it was far from over. Dean's face grew flushed and his arm began to shake violently as the battle for control raged on inside of him. Suddenly, the knife began to lower, but instead of dropping toward the bed the blade was angling in toward his body.

"No!" Leah screamed. It looked like David was going to try and make good on his threat and force the knife into Dean's chest. With no way to help, all she could do was watch and pray that Dean wasn't too weak to fight him.

Dean wished that he could reassure Leah that it was going to be all right, but he was still feeling groggy from smashing into the wall and it was taking every bit of strength he had just to keep that knife from ripping into him. Manning was proving to be one badass spirit. It had been a hell of a lot easier to beat the crap out of the loser when he was a member of the living world. Of course, he himself wasn't operating at full-speed yet, either.

In fact, when he'd first come to, he'd found himself staring down at Leah and nothing had clicked. He'd tried to take it all in - the bed, her arms bound above her head - and he thought they were in her room, about to have a round of hot sex. But then his hand started moving without him wanting it to, swinging up and coming down hard across Leah's face. He'd felt the force behind that hit, his knuckles connecting with her soft skin, and his stomach clenched. It was him, no question. Yet it wasn't. He would NEVER hurt her and she should know that, but he saw the look in her eyes. The pain. The fear. It was something he'd never forget.

As he struggled to figure out just what the hell was going on, Leah started talking and he began to piece it all together. They were at the house where Manning, or rather his spirit, was keeping her. The fact that the asshole was dead was fine with him, but if he'd known he would've brought the shotgun in and they wouldn't be in this mess. Instead, he'd been caught by surprise and knocked across the room. Leah had called him David and that would explain why he had no control over his body. He'd blanked out and the bastard had jumped inside him.

With his mind starting to clear, he tried to focus on controlling his movements, but it felt like he was stuck in one of those nightmarish horror flicks he loved to watch. No matter how hard he tried, his body kept doing things he didn't want it to do. And it was really pissing him off.

Feeling like an outsider in his own skin was the strangest sensation. He watched as Manning sliced open Leah's clothes and he knew just how ugly things were gonna get if he didn't put a stop to him. When his head lowered and his mouth began to violate her, it triggered a blinding rage, driving him on, fueling his strength. He heard Leah call his name, asking him for help, and his body shook as a rippling effect flowed from his fingertips straight down to his toes.

Though David still had the upper hand, even managing to threaten Leah, Dean could tell that the entity was weaker. As his arm lifted, raising the knife high overhead, he concentrated on his right arm and was able to exert enough control to stop its descent. Manning, however, wasn't ready to surrender so easily and Dean felt his hand turn slowly inward, the knife pointed straight at his heart.

"I don't think so!" Dean growled. He tightened his hold on the handle and started to force the blade away. His hand shook furiously for a moment, then the weapon flew from his grip, hitting the wall and clattering onto the wood floor beside the bed.

"Now get the hell out of me, you sick sonofabitch!" he demanded.

Dean felt a sudden shifting within his body, as if his insides were churning, then just as quick it was gone and he knew he'd done it - Manning was out. He started to move, but now that he was back in control of his body, the effects of the meeting with the wall earlier kicked in full force and the back of his head was throbbing mercilessly. As he sat there trying to push back the pain, he heard Leah's soft voice calling his name.

"Dean. Dean! Are you okay?"

He looked down and saw wide brown eyes filled with concern as she waited for him to answer. He gave a slight nod and tried to put on a solacing smile.

"Never better, Little Bit. What do you say we get the hell out of here?"

Dean released her right arm, then turned to work on the ankle straps while she freed her other wrist. Leah immediately reached for him, running her fingers gently through his hair as she searched out the knot at the back of his head.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked.

He nodded. "Are you?"

His warm fingertips brushed over her reddened cheek and she could see the pain reflected in the green orbs. He blamed himself, of course, and once they were out of this she'd do her best to remove that ludicrous thought.

"Yeah, and I'll be better once we get rid of Manning's bones." She eased off the bed and held out her hand.

Dean slipped his hand into hers and started for the door, slowing just long enough to retrieve his jacket from the chair and his gun from the floor. Thanks to the drum roll playing in his head, his movements were a little awkward as he led her down the stairs, but he was anxious to get them out of that house. The last thing he needed was a second round with Manning.

The pair reached the first floor and stepped into the small foyer, both relieved to see the front door and no sign of the angry spirit.

"Thank God!" Leah said quietly.

"God won't help you!"

They both turned to see the apparition near the end of the short hallway, once again clutching the knife.

"Shit!" Dean groaned, wondering when the hell luck would go his way. He shoved his jacket into Leah's hands. "Keys are in the pocket. Get the shotgun." He pushed her toward the door and wheeled around to face David Manning one more time.

TBC