"Kelly what do you need me to do?" Dean wasn't looking forward to this either – Sam had been through enough already - but it had to be done.

"We need to take off this stuff and I'll need to put some salve on his burnt skin and then we'll wrap some clean gauze around the ankle and some sterile dressing around that. Then I'll put the splints back in place and get you to tape around them as tightly as possible. It's far from ideal, but it's the best I can come up with 'til we can get him to hospital."

Kelly went to get more tape and came back with Earl in tow. Seeing Sam's worried expression, she wished she could reassure him, but there was no way out of it - this was going to hurt a lot.

"We'll be as quick as we can Sam. What can we give you to bite down on?" She looked around the room but Dean quickly unbuckled his thick leather belt and handed it to his brother. It was a prized possession and Sam understood it was a gesture of sympathy for what was to come.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Dean briefly rested his hand on Sam's shoulder.

Kelly carefully cut through the twine and discarded it. The splints and wadding came away easily and then she smeared salve as gently as could over the burnt, blistered area. Sam hissed and clutched at the sheets but tried not to move his leg.

"Okay, guys are you ready?" All three nodded. Sam folded over the belt and put it between his teeth, grimacing at the musty taste of the well worn leather. Earl placed one enormous hand on Sam's right shoulder and the other on his left thigh, just above the knee, though he applied no pressure for the moment. Dean was poised with the tape. Kelly felt very gently around the break. It felt like the ends were aligned pretty well already.

"Now!"

"Nggghhhhh." Sam's torso reared up off the bed but Earl held him firmly and his left leg hardly moved at all. Sam bit down on the leather belt. Kelly swiftly wrapped the gauze around his ankle followed by the dressing which she wound around several times. Then she positioned the splints and held them in place while Dean started taping around them as tightly and as fast as he could. Sam's head was thrown back - the muscles and veins standing out on his neck, his face red and contorted. The fingers of his free hand dug into Earl's forearm.

It was done. Dean, Kelly and Earl released their various holds on Sam and looked at him. He was bathed in sweat. The belt fell away from his mouth, leaving a thin trail of saliva across his chin. It uncurled and snaked to the floor, unnoticed. Sam's eyes were shut.

"He passed out like you said Kelly."

"No, he didn't Dean." Kelly knew Sam was semi-conscious – she'd had more than enough experience. She took Sam's hand and squeezed it. Leaning down she spoke quietly to him

"It's alright Sam, take your time." She felt the slightest pressure back and knew she was right. She looked over at Dean.

"He'sokay." She and Earl left, Earl rubbing at the red marks left on his arm by Sam's fingers.

Dean went to the other side of the bed and sat in the chair. For a long while he sat looking at his brother - battered but still there - still alive. He ran a hand across his face and through his hair and let out a long-held breath. He had seriously messed up on this one and nearly got Sam killed in the process.

He was still mentally torturing himself when Sam moved his head. His eyes were still closed and his arm flopped down onto the mattress.

"Sammy?"

The familiar voice grounded Sam. He had been floating around half in and half out of consciousness, where there was no pain. But, as he regained full consciousness, it crashed in on him again and he opened his eyes to see Dean through an agony-filled haze.

"Dean."

"Yeah Sammy?"

"Can we please not do that again?"

"Sure thing kiddo. Do you need anything?"

"I'm cold."

Dean grabbed a blanket and was about to throw it over Sam when Sam stopped him.

"Not on my legs!"

"Oh, yeah, right.." Folding it in half, Dean laid the blanket over Sam so it covered him from his shoulders down to his knees, leaving his lower legs exposed, one slathered in thick salve, the other swathed in bandages and tape.

"Dude, you're a mess."

"That's funny 'cos I feel just great." Sam's eyelids were drooping and he started to yawn but immediately stifled it. It was every bit as painful as smiling had been earlier. He was dead tired though and it was no time before he drifted asleep.

Dean decided to leave him to sleep in peace and made his way downstairs. The painkillers had worked their magic and he managed the stairs quite easily this time. He found Kelly sitting on the sofa. She looked like she had been crying. He sat down beside her.

"I'm sorry you got caught up in this mess Kelly. We'll be moving on as soon as we can and you can get back to normal."

She turned green-brown eyes to him.

"Normal? How can we go back to normal after this Dean? How do you sleep at night knowing what's out there?"

He shrugged. "I guess I grew up with it. It's just the way things have always been. But listen; there's no reason for you to worry about any other demons coming here. This one probably just discovered the abandoned house and decided it would be a good place to trap Sam. I guess it lured me here knowing Sam would follow me. "

"But you don't know that for certain, do you?" Earl had arrived with a mug of coffee for Kelly. As he handed it to her, he looked at Dean, waiting for his response, the frown on his face even deeper than usual.

"Well no, not for definite. But Sam and I have been in this business for a long time and we know pretty much how things work." Dean hoped he sounded more convincing than he felt.

Earl persevered. "But these things are after your brother, so while he's here, won't they keep coming?"

Dean thought it was a fair question and he didn't really have an adequate answer.

"Well not all demons are after Sam. This one just had a particular interest in his ability." It was kind of lame, but it was the best he could come up with.

Earl looked sceptical, but he went to get another mug of coffee for Dean.

"Dean, what exactly is Sam's ability?" Kelly asked.

"He has visions."

"Of what?"

"Well it sort of varies, but basically he sees visions of people in trouble."

"What sort of trouble?" Kelly's gaze didn't waver.

Dean was increasingly uncomfortable with the conversation, but Kelly obviously wasn't going to let it go until he told her everything.

Earl came back with the coffee and, having handed it to Dean, sat in the side chair, putting his own coffee down on the side table next to him. Now they were both staring intently at him. Shifting slightly so that he was avoiding both of them, he focussed instead on the fire.

"He sees people dying. People being killed."

"Oh my God! That's horrible! How does he cope?"

"It's not great. We cope by trying to find the people and stopping them from dying. We don't always get there in time though. Which pretty much sucks." It wasn't the total truth, but Dean didn't feel like going into the whole question of Sam's possible destiny.

Dean felt soft fingers close around his own calloused hand, where it lay on his thigh. If Earl noticed he didn't say anything. The man was discreet; you had to hand it to him. He got up and mumbled something about going to get more wood before it got completely dark.

Dean turned to look at Kelly. Her face was soft and full of compassion and he thought she looked beautiful in the firelight.

"That's what you and Sam do Dean? Travel all over trying to save people?"

"And hunting things, yeah, that's pretty much it."

"But don't you have anywhere to call home? Isn't it lonely, on the road all the time?"

Dean could hardly remember what having a home felt like.

"Uh, well you know, it's not so bad - we manage okay."

Kelly held his hand between both of hers now. Dean hadn't had anyone do that for as long as he could remember. He had no idea how to react.

"I don't know how you can stand it."

"What do you mean? stand what?"

"Not having a home of your own."

Dean's heart was inexplicably jumping around in his chest. Kelly was having a strange effect on him. Come on Dean – snap out of it!

"Ah, well I guess you just get used to it."

Earl came in with a huge pile of logs in his arms and dropped them into the large basket at the side of the fireplace. Snow was melting into glistening droplets on his hat and all over his coat.

"That should do us for the rest of today and tonight. It's pretty wild out there. Can't see more than a foot or two in front of your face." He shuffled out of the room, taking off his coat and hat as he went.

"I think that's the longest sentence he has come out with since I got here!"

Kelly laughed and Dean relaxed a little as she let go of his hand.

"Yeah, Earl is a man of few words. Well unless you give him a couple of whiskeys – then you can't shut him up!"

Dean was thinking he could use a whiskey right about now, despite the early hour. It was only just after 4pm but already dark outside.

"That's not a bad idea, do you have any?"

"Whiskey? Well yes, but you shouldn't drink on top of those painkillers."

"Aw, come on! What's the worst that could happen – I'll doze off? I bet you and Earl could use a drink too after the last couple of days."

Kelly got up and went to get the bottle and three tumblers.

"I don't think this is such a good idea Dean but if you insist, don't blame me for the consequences." She poured out three measures and handed one to Earl, who had changed into slippers and come back into the room. He sat back down in the side chair and took an appreciative sip.

"Thanks Kelly – this was a good idea."

"Don't thank me – Dean suggested it."

Earl held up his glass to Dean. "Cheers". Dean returned the gesture and took a fairly decent slug from the glass. As it burned its way down his throat and chest, he settled back on the sofa, pleased that Earl seemed to be thawing out towards him.

Kelly took a tiny sip. She wasn't that keen on whiskey really. Dean, however, was knocking his back like it was going out of fashion. And actually, so was Earl. She decided to leave them to it and go take a bath.

"I'll see you later guys. By the way Dean, I'm afraid you're on the couch tonight."

"No problem Kelly, I've slept on much worse believe me!" Dean smiled broadly at her and Kelly suddenly found it hard to walk in a straight line. She hurried off to her bath – failing utterly, to rid herself of the grin on her face.

Earl reached for the whiskey and topped up both his and Dean's glasses. Dean thanked him and they were soon deep in conversation. Earl had a lot of questions.

***

Sam slept, but Jarveld's words kept rolling around in his dreams, tormenting him. "… how proud he was of him! Guess we know which son he loved best, don't we Sam! … don't we Sam?.... don't we?" And the mocking laughter echoed in his skull.

***

Downstairs Dean was starting to slur his words as the mixture of drugs and a third whiskey started to take effect. He had put his feet up on the sofa after Kelly had gone and Earl was pretty sure it wouldn't be long before he was asleep. He waited a little longer and sure enough, Dean's head lolled to the side and he was out. Earl put a blanket over him and added a couple of logs to the fire. After checking all doors and windows were locked, he went up to his room to watch TV as it was far too early for bed. He paused on the way to check on Sam and was satisfied he was asleep and didn't need anything, and then carried on to his own room.

Kelly emerged warm, relaxed and pink-skinned from her bath. Putting on pyjamas and a thick, warm dressing gown, she headed downstairs. There she found Dean sleeping and let out a soft chuckle. She had warned him about the whiskey!

Realising no one had eaten since breakfast; she made sandwiches and took a plate up to Earl, who was watching Ice Hockey. It wasn't unusual for him to be in his bedroom – he liked time to himself but he was very happy to see the plate piled high.

"Thanks Kelly. You okay? Need me to do anything?"

"No, you're okay. By the way, thanks for your help today."

Earl was already tucking into a sandwich. But stopped then and looked up at her glowing face.

"He'll hurt you Kelly."

"What? Who?" Kelly flushed crimson.

"Dean."

A/N Just in case anyone is wondering, there is no romance in this story.