A/N 1 Okay, firstly apologies for this late arrival. No excuses. It's late. But it's finished!
A/N 2 Secondly, thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, alerted, and even favourited. I appreciate it very much!
After an age spent listening for any untoward sounds and with images of the demon alternating with Earl's slashed face, flickering in and out of her mind, Kelly had finally succumbed to sleep. Waking now, and getting out of bed, she winced as she put weight on the leg Dean had kicked the previous day. Overnight, a very large bruise had blossomed on her thigh, with the cleats from his boot clearly defined in black and purple.
Remembering the previous evening, she felt embarrassed at suggesting to Dean that he could stay with her. Even though she hadn't intended for anything to happen – a reassuring presence was really all she had wanted - she still felt a little hurt at his refusal. She looked out of the window to a white covered world. But there was a line breaking up the pristine white blanket – a trough in the snow – all the way from the house, past the barn and into the tree line. Deep into the woods and well off the access road, Kelly could see tendrils of smoke curling up through the tops of the leafless trees.
She got dressed and after checking on a very peaceful-looking Sam, she went downstairs. The coffee pot was half empty and two mugs were on the kitchen counter. Looking around, she also spotted that the broken window next to the front door had been boarded up. Earl and Dean weren't letting their various injuries hold them back from their tasks it seemed.
***
Sam woke to the tantalising smell of fried bacon.
"Morning Sam. Thought you'd like some breakfast." Kelly brought a tray in with fold out legs and placed it over his lap on the bed and helped him sit further up. Sam surveyed the bacon, eggs, toast and coffee
"Thanks Kelly – not just for this. You know - for everything."
"It's okay. We get whiteouts here a lot in winter. Never know who's going to need your help. Oh, and by the way, it stopped snowing."
Sam noted the complete absence of any reference to a demon or anything supernatural, but didn't comment on it. He couldn't really blame her for wanting it all to just go away.
"Tuck in before it gets cold."
He didn't need asking twice and set to work.
""I'll take a look at your burns when you're done – how're they feeling anyway?"
"Oh, you know - not too bad."
"Hm, personally I'd have thought they'd be pretty painful – specially on the broken leg." She arched both eyebrows at him and he gave her a sheepish grin.
"They're killing me."
"Eat up. I'll be back."
***
Earl and Dean had dragged Jareld's finally dead body a long way into the woods. Neither of them wanted Kelly to ever come across the remains. Neither of them wanted Kelly to be hurt. They paused to watch the demon burn. The flames lit up their faces – Earl's was a study in concentrated stillness, slashed through with long, angry red welts. Dean's face appeared impassive at first glance, but the muscles under the surface were in constant motion.
"This done?"
"Yeah."
"Snow stopped." Earl glanced skywards, frowning at the still snow-laden cloud above them. More was on the way.
"Don't worry, we're leaving."
"Right."
They started back to the farmhouse, neither of them speaking, but when Dean stumbled Earl was there to hold him up and supported him all the way back, only letting go as they reached the barn. Dean made it into the house, feeling increasingly light-headed, and more or less fell onto a chair. The morning's exertion had taken its toll and he had virtually run out of steam. Earl rinsed the mugs they had used earlier and refilled them – placing one in front of Dean before taking a seat in his usual chair.
Kelly had been dreading seeing Dean, but one look at his dejected frame and pale face and everything else was forgotten.
"Dean, you don't look so great."
"I'm fine, just need some coffee." He picked up the steaming mug but couldn't hide the trembling in his hand. Using both hands, he managed to get the mug to his lips without spilling the contents.
"I think you need to lie down. And I need to clean those wounds on your neck."
"I can do it."
"I know that Dean, but right now, you don't need to."
Dean didn't have the energy to argue and simply nodded.
"How's Sam?"
"He had a good night, and he's probably finished his breakfast by now. I said I'd look at his legs."
Any other time, Dean would have come back with a snappy and inappropriate comment, but not this time.
"Here, eat something and when I get back I'll bandage your neck." Kelly put a plate of food in front of him and left. Earl was already half way through his own breakfast.
Dean looked at the food like it was something that needed to be salted and burned. Certainly he didn't want to eat it. That would require an effort he just wasn't capable of right now. Eyeing the sofa in front of a newly started fire, he moved over to it and lay down. Earl pulled a blanket over him, but he was already asleep and didn't even notice.
When Dean next woke up his neck felt stiff and putting a hand to it, he discovered a bandage had been secured there. He was warm and surprisingly comfortable and not really inclined to change that, but he had work to do so swung his legs out from under the blanket and pulled himself upright. Apart from some brief dizziness, he felt better than he had earlier. It was still daylight, but there didn't seem to be anyone around and other than the odd crackle and hiss from the fire, it was very quiet.
He slipped on his jacket, and, finding them stuffed into the pockets, also put on Jim's gloves. Funny how they fit so well. He opened the front door and breathed deeply. The icy air was fresh and bracing and just what he needed. It was way too warm inside… and comfortable. He picked up a snow shovel left leaning against the wall on the porch and shovelled snow off the front steps. Then he set to work shovelling a path towards the Impala.
***
Earl had gone to his room after Kelly had looked at the wounds on his face. They were clean and though they looked awful, there didn't seem to be anything to worry about. Kelly went to Sam's room. She was starting to feel like a nurse on rounds.
"Hey Kelly."
"Hi Sam – breakfast okay?" She smiled, seeing the clean plate.
"Yeah, it was great. Don't often get home cooking."
"So I gather."
Sam stilled.
"Dean told you about us?"
"Yeah."
"About how we're orphans?" Sam was pretty sure his heart was about to stop.
"And all the other stuff."
"Where is he?" Sam's voice came out a little more tightly pitched than he would have wanted.
A slight frown passed over Kelly's face.
"Oh, he's outside."
"Doing what?
"He's digging your car out of the snow. He wants to get you to the hospital as soon as possible Sam."
"Huh! Never known Dean to be so keen to get to a hospital!"
Kelly went to the window. She could see Dean from there, shovelling at the snow around the Impala.
"Yeah, he's keen alright."
"How's Earl doing?"
"Earl is just fine too. Sam are you alright?"
"Yeah, uh, Kelly could you get Dean to come up please?"
Kelly looked puzzled.
"Sure."
Kelly trudged through the path Dean had cut through the snow drift to the car.
He looked up. Sweat pouring off him despite the icy temperature.
She clocked Jim's gloves immediately and he knew it.
"Sam asked for you."
"Could you tell him I'm a little busy digging us out of here?"
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"Tell him yourself." He said to her retreating back.
"Godammit!" Dean threw the shovel down and marched back to the house.
"Yo Sam! What's up?"
"More to the point, what's up with you and Kelly?"
"What? Aw! No. Not having this conversation. " He was halfway out of the room.
"Dean! "
"What?" Dean shouted. His face was all anger, and his tone a definite signal to Sam to leave it alone.
"You care about her don't you?"
"What? No! Shut up! Sam we are getting out of here as soon as I dig a path for the car. Don't be getting all up close and personal with these people, okay?"
"Why not?"
"Because…."
Earl appeared at the door.
"I'll give you a hand."
Hours passed. Earl and Dean didn't need to speak as they methodically shovelled at the snow. Both knew it was best for the Winchesters to leave.
Kelly emerged from her room and checked on Sam, who had fallen asleep. She looked out of the window to see what progress was being made. Grimly, she realised it wouldn't be much longer. They had cleared a path to the front door and were well on the way to clearing another to where the trees overhung the access track. That was mostly clear of snow and the main road would have been cleared by snow ploughs by now. There was nothing to keep Dean from leaving. A lump formed in her throat that she just couldn't seem to shift.
***
Dean drove the Impala right up to the front door of the house and Earl carried Sam down. He and Dean manhandled Sam into the back seat, where he could just about keep his legs straight. He had insisted on putting jeans on. As a result his legs were on fire, and his ankle was throbbing, but he was as comfortable as they could make him, with a cushion at his back and a blanket covering his midsection. Dean shook Earl's hand.
"Thanks for everything Earl. I'm really sorry you guys got involved in all this."
"Not a problem. See you around Dean." But of course they both knew that wasn't going to happen. Dean cast a quick glance up at Kelly's bedroom window. She hadn't come out to say goodbye and in a way he was relieved. It was easier this way.
He drove off, watching Earl standing staring after him in the rear view mirror.
It was several days later that Kelly found Dean's belt under the bed. Sam's teeth marks were still clearly visible on it. She was pretty sure Dean wouldn't be back to collect it.