Opening the front door and stumbling inside, laughing merrily, Sarah waited for Sam to follow her and then gently pushed the door closed. She put down her shopping bags and shrugged off her jacket, still chuckling as she watched Sam do the same.

"Hey!" Sam greeted the two men in the lounge merrily and gave a weary sigh.

"Man oh man," Sarah smiled happily, "That has got to be the weirdest shopping trip I've ever been on!" She placed a collection of paper bags on the centre table and flopped into one of the sofas with a weary sigh.

Sam nodded eagerly, "Some of those stores are freaky." He perched beside Sarah and patted her arm merrily, "And I swear we could have bought a Mogwai in that little basement store in Chinatown!" Laughing at the idea, he turned and saw his brother and Jay watching them with sombre faces. "What …?" Sam's merriment faded quickly and he looked between the two of them urgently. "What's wrong?"

Sarah sat forward and linked her arm around Sam's, hugging him close to her. "What's happened, guys?"

"Mina." Jay began quietly.

Sam looked around worriedly, his brow furrowing. "Where is she?"

"Upstairs," Dean replied, his voice trembling as he looked to Jay for support. "She … well …"

"What?" Sam demanded in a panic.

"She's been infected," Jay sighed, hanging his head and rubbing his hand over his face.

"Infected?" Sarah looked from Dean to Jay and then turned to Sam in confusion.

Sam leaned closer to her and placed his hand over hers. "With vampire blood?" He surmised, looking to his brother for confirmation.

Seeing the horror in Sam's face, Sarah suddenly understood and inhaled a gasp. "Shit!"

"When?" Sam asked warily.

Dean took a deep breath and then cleared his throat. "That last fight … behind the market in Wilton." He shrugged wearily, "We think."

"But - " Sam shook his head slowly. "She's not - "

"I know." Dean nodded and threw up his hands in despair, letting them thud back down into his lap. "We've been going over and over everything and …" He looked to Jay and groaned in annoyance.

"All I can think," Jay offered quietly, "Is that it's something to do with these." He rolled up his shirt sleeve and showed them a large tattoo on the inside of his arm.

Sam frowned in intrigue and moved forward to have a closer look. "That's a shield pentagram." He muttered, glancing at Dean, "Like the ones in Bobby's almanac that I drew on your car."

Dean managed a small smile and nodded an affirmative. "Don't remind me."

Sam shrugged and turned back to Jay. "It prevents possession, right?"

"Yes," Jay smiled thinly, "Shincheii - that is, my father - Mina's grandfather. He drew them on all of us at birth."

"We think perhaps it's stopping her 'turning' …" Dean continued quietly, "But … there's not much to go on …" He stroked his hand through his hair and let his fist rest at the back of his neck for a moment. "I called Bobby and Ellen but … no one seems to know what the prognosis might be in something like this."

"Shit …" Sam regarded them both in silence and then took a deep breath. "Perhaps we need to ask a vampire …"

Dean laughed suddenly and sank back against the sofa with an exhausted sigh.

Jay groaned and watched him in sympathy. "All we can do is keep an eye on her." He shrugged, "We just don't have any other choice."

"Except - " Sarah watched the three of them turn to her and shrunk away from their suspicious glares. "What?" She defended, "I'm just saying what you're all thinking."

"It's out of the question!" Dean shouted suddenly.

"Dude!" Sam cautioned gently.

Dean turned to his brother saw him frowning in uncertainty. "No." He grated and got to his feet. Looking down at Sam, for a moment he seemed about to say something more but then shook his head and headed towards the stairs.

Sam watched his brother leave and leaned further against Sarah, feeling her gentle support. "I can't believe this."

"I know." Jay agreed in a whisper, "But …" He shook off his sadness and stood to peer into the collection of bags they had brought back. "We can still work on sorting out your demon problem."

"Yeah," Sam agreed quietly.

"Unless ..." Jay smiled thinly, "Look, you're welcome to stay the night and we can deal with this in the morning."

"No," Sam slid down from the sofa and knelt beside the table, emptying out the closest bag and sorting through its contents. "If it's okay, I'd rather focus on this."

"Sure." Jay nodded, "I'll go put some more coffee on."

XXXXX

Knocking lightly on the bathroom door, Dean waited for a reply and leaned his face against the cool wood. "Mina ...?" He called gently, "Are you okay?" There was no sound from within apart from the running shower and he tried the door handle. Dean frowned as the door opened and he warily pushed it open. "Mina?"

It was dark in the large room and he paused cautiously before he then stepped further inside. "Mina?" Light from the hallway behind him lit up the wide shower cubicle and he peered closer, just able to make out her hunched figure behind the frosted glass.

"Hey …" Dean switched on the lights and blinked in the sudden brightness. Closing the bathroom door, he then turned and saw Mina had made no response. He hurried across to the shower and pressed lightly on the door, the magnetic lock giving easily. Opening the door further, he felt the cool air inside the cubicle and his frown grew. "Mina?"

She was sat in the far corner under the torrent of water, hugging her bent legs close to her chest and resting her head on her knees. Dean then saw she was shivering and he reached out to touch the water, gasping as he felt the icy cold.

"Oh babe …" Dean kicked off his boots and stepped into the shower, shuddering as freezing water splashed onto his clothes.

"I thought - " Mina began quietly, her teeth chattering, "I just wanted to wash it all away."

Dean watched her in dismay and felt his throat tighten. "You could always use warm water though …" He offered, moving closer to her and warily reaching over to adjust the taps.

"I can't - " Mina kept her head down, her shaky words muffled by her legs. "I feel so numb."

Smiling despite his concern, Dean crouched down and sat with her in the pool of draining water in the bottom of the cubicle. He put his arm around her and gently pulled her towards him.

Mina leaned into his side and rested her head on his shoulder, her body shivering uncontrollably. She moaned in gratitude as he placed his hand on her head and held her close to him, rocking her gently.

"We'll find an answer …" Dean whispered into the noise of the water and nuzzled his face into the top of her head.

"How?"

Dean closed his eyes and squeezed her shoulders a little tighter. "I don't know."

"Dean?"

"Yeah, babe."

"I - " She slid her arms around his waist and groaned weakly. "I'm so sorry."

Dean opened his eyes and peered down to make out her pale face amid her soaking wet hair. "What for?"

"Everything."

"Everything?" Dean echoed, a sudden smile pulling at his lips. "That's a hell of a lot."

Mina gave a small sigh and buried her face into his neck.

Dean held his breath and for a moment dare not move. Aware of her mouth against the skin of his neck, he could not help the fear that filled his thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he then forced himself to relax and leaned his cheek against her head.

"Hey … Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"If I - " She coughed slightly and held him a little tighter. "If you need to, will you - "

"No." Dean said quickly, "That's not going to happen."

"But - "

"No!" Dean moved back from her and lifted her chin to look at her weary face. "Don't even think it, okay?" He placed his hand on her cheek and stroked her skin gently. The burns from the blood potion had all but healed and he swallowed back the lump in his throat. "It'll all be fine, okay? I'm gonna look after you."

"God!" Mina smiled suddenly, "I've never needed looking after, my whole life!"

"Well, then maybe it's time to start." Dean retorted calmly.

Mina leaned back and regarded him in interest. She then gave another smile and shook her head. "How am I supposed to take you seriously when you're sitting fully clothed in a shower?"

Dean grinned and looked down at his soaked shirt. "What?" Lifting his head, his smile grew and he reached up to undo the buttons.

"No." Mina placed her hands over his and shook her head slowly.

"It's okay," Dean turned his hands, taking hold of her fingers and leaning his head down to brush his lips across her fingertips.

Mina stared at him in uncertainty, tears mingling with the water that ran over her face. "But - "

"Don't," Dean shook his head and moved closer, placing a kiss on her mouth. "I know who you are, Mina." He felt her relax a little and reached up to comb his hand through her wet hair. "And I know what I'm doing."

Mina inhaled sharply, her face tight as she tried to hold back her tears. She nodded and lifted her chin to place her mouth against his, her lips trembling as she kissed him.

Dean unbuttoned his shirt and dragged the sopping cotton from his body. Throwing it through the open cubicle door, he then felt her hands on his skin and sighed happily. She then fumbled with his belt and he gently pulled her hands back, smiling down at her. "Take it easy," Dean suggested quietly, leaning forward and resting his forehead against hers. "I want to make love to you … okay?"

Mina nodded and closed her eyes, a small sob catching in her throat. She then leaned back against the wall of the shower and arched her neck, letting the water pummel her face as Dean moved forward onto his knees and began to kiss her throat and her shoulders.

Taking his time, Dean stroked his fingers down her chest and traced the dark puckered skin around each nipple. Lowering his head, he licked her wet skin and felt her tense in anticipation. His head spun dizzily as he heard her whimper of response and he let his hands move down over her abdomen.

"No!" Mina gasped suddenly and grabbed his wrists, pulling his hands away from her and struggling to catch her breath. "God, no! I can't!" She pushed him back from her and hung her head, her shoulders shaking as she cried.

Dean let his eyes move down her body, his chest aching as he saw the bruises on her inner thighs and suddenly remembered. He clenched his fists and sank back on his heels, dizzy lights dancing behind his eyes as anger flooded through him.

Mina sank forward, resting her forehead on his chest. "You've no idea how much I want this but - " She groaned and shook her head slowly.

"I'm sorry." Dean wrapped his arms around her and sniffed back tears. "God, I'm so sorry, Mina."

Mina nodded and edged away from him, slowly getting to her feet and stepping out of the shower. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body before then perching on the lid of the toilet and hanging her head.

Turning off the shower, Dean peeled off his sodden jeans and shorts, wringing out as much of the water as he could. He then climbed from the shower and laughed nervously as he grabbed a towel. "You think your uncle has a tumble drier?"

Mina nodded slowly, avoiding his gaze and combing her hair from her face with her fingers.

"Hey …" Dean walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, careful to avoid touching the fresh scar that only 24 hours before had been a fresh, bleeding gash.

"Please … just hold me." Mina husked, resting her cheek against his abdomen and wrapping her arms about his waist. She held him tightly for several minutes and then turned her head to press her lips into the taught skin of his stomach.

Dean stroked his hands over her back and shoulders and leaned down to place a kiss on her head. He then closed his eyes as she slowly slid her hands around his waist and under the folds of the towel. He bit his bottom lip and his knees buckled, threatening to collapse beneath him as her fingers stroked up inside his thighs. Placing his hands on her shoulders for support, he shuddered as she took hold of him and she then parted the towel.

Feeling her hot breath against his stomach and then her tongue against his skin, Dean grunted and doubled over. He knelt down on the bathroom floor and tried to catch his breath. Smiling sheepishly, he looked up at her amused expression and gave a small laugh.

Mina slid down onto the floor and knelt before him, pulling the towel from his waist. Her smile faded as she watched him respond to her touch and she kissed at his mouth hungrily. Pushing him gently backwards onto the tiled floor, she sat astride his legs and kissed his face and neck, aware of him trying hard to stay calm.

"You - " Dean cleared his throat and frowned as he reached up to place his hand on Mina's cheek. "You don't have to do this."

"Are you kidding?" Mina chuckled softly, reaching her hand down and guiding herself onto him.

Dean watched the pain that crossed her face and held his breath as she gently eased him inside her and gave a small whimper as she then quickly backed away. He frowned in concern as she hung her head and tears dripped onto his chest. Kissing her forehead, he stroked her wet hair and sighed softly. "It's okay … it's okay, babe …" Resting his lips against her skin, he sighed out a gentle whisper, "I love you …"

Mina flicked her head up with a gasp and stared at him in wonder. She then smiled and leaned down to kiss his mouth.

"I guess I shouldn't …" Dean continued quietly against her mouth, "But I do."

"Yeah," Mina breathed, licking his tongue and moaning softly as she again lowered her hips. "I know just how you feel."

Dean grabbed her waist and threw back his head, hissing through his clenched teeth as she sank against him and moaned in contentment and relief. He could only manage a few minutes of her careful rocking against him before he arched his back and clutched at her shoulders, shuddering in delight.

"There …" Mina rested on top of him and sighed happily. "That's better."

Dean laughed softly and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Glad to be of service."

Mina pushed herself up on her arms and smiled down at him. She watched him gazing contentedly up at her and her smile slowly dropped away. "We're so fucked … aren't we."

Dean stroked her hair back from her face and sighed heavily, nodding in agreement.

"What the hell are we supposed to do with this?"

"I don't know," Dean answered honestly, lifting his head to kiss her lips. He sighed as he rested back and regarded her sincere face. "Enjoy it." He suggested quietly, "Whatever happens."

Mina smiled and nodded in agreement. Relaxing her elbows, she sank back down and nuzzled her face into his neck.

Dean stroked his fingers up and down the bare skin of her back and stared up at the ceiling. Tears began to pool in the corners of his eyes and he blinked them away, trying to keep his breathing steady as his throat tightened.

Closing her eyes and breathing in the warm scent of his damp skin, Mina smiled and moaned happily. And then she was aware of the steady throbbing of the vein in his neck and sudden adrenaline rushed through her. Feeling the blood rushing in a gentle rhythm against her cheek, her head began to spin dizzily and she suddenly gave a small gasp.

"What?" Dean urged, watching in concern as Mina pushed herself up off of him and backed quickly away. He saw her close her eyes and cover her mouth, tears falling from her closed eyes. Instinctively touching his neck, he was relieved to find the skin undamaged and then groaned as he realized just what he was doing.

Sitting slowly upright, Dean wrapped his towel back around his waist and edged closer to her. "Hey …" He placed his hand on her arm and could feel her trembling. "Oh, honey …"

Mina opened her eyes and turned to look at him. "So … how long?" She cleared her throat quietly, "How long before I become a danger to you?"

Dean shook his head and gave a slight shrug in reply.

Lowering her head, Mina looked at the oddly shaped scarring on the outside of her thigh and traced the straight lines with her fingers.

"You know …" Dean reached out and took her hand in his, "One time, Sammy and I came across some vampires who … well, they've chosen not to … y'know - "

"Kill?"

Dean saw the anger in her eyes as she looked back up at him and his shoulders sank. "Mina … please …"

"What?" Mina demanded icily, "When are you going to accept this?" She slowly got to her feet and headed for the door. Grasping the handle, she paused for a moment and hung her head. "I guess I should be grateful ..." She offered in all but a whisper.

Dean frowned and watched her in uncertainty.

Mina opened the door and turned back to him. "At least I got to meet you." She said softly and left the room.

Closing his eyes and nodding his head forward, Dean heard the door close and angrily thumped his fist against the hard cold floor.

XXXXX

Reaching across the table to stab his fork into another mouthful of noodles, Sam read through the book propped open in his lap and frowned in thought.

"Here it is." Jay sipped at his bottle of beer and pulled free one of the sheets of paper lying on the sofa beside him. He read the information again and nodded slowly. "The demon will be vulnerable if we can …" Frowning at the text, he shook his head slightly. "Make it 'as man'?"

Sam looked up at Jay in interest and put down his fork. Finishing his mouthful, he held out his hand and took the print out from Jay. "You're sure about the translation?" He asked quietly.

Jay shrugged, "My grandfather spoke Cheyenne most of his life. I'm pretty sure he's got it right."

Sarah watched Jay in interest and smiled in wonder. "So. He really was a genuine medicine man?"

"Yeah," Jay laughed softly, "Just like you'd imagine. A crazy old guy who lived in a leather tent and spoke in riddles." He smiled at the memory and then sighed loudly. "He died when I was twelve but I can remember my father taking me to see him a few times. And - man - it was like stepping back in time …"

"Amazing." Sarah breathed in awe.

"The history and traditions were passed on through stories," Jay continued, "But my father - Mina's grandfather - he was afraid they would be lost and decided to write them down." He nodded at the scattered pages beside him. "And my elder brother asked him to translate it all. He wanted to publish it someday but ..."

Sam looked up to see Jay lost in his thoughts and glanced at Sarah. "Maybe you should do it for him." He offered quietly, "In his memory."

"Yeah." Jay smiled and took a deep breath. "Maybe." He nodded to the page Sam held and shrugged slightly. "Well?"

Sam raised his eyebrows and sighed heavily. "I agree. We need to conjure it and then kill it with the arrow."

"Great."

Sam spun and saw his brother descending the stairs.

"As easy as that, huh?" Dean smiled.

"How is she?" Jay asked quietly.

Dean knelt down beside Sam on the floor and peered in interest at the books and odd-looking ingredients scattered over the table. "Asleep." He replied quietly and then smiled in amusement. "So. What are we baking?"

Sarah handed Dean a bottle of beer and laughed softly. "Death-by-chanting-and-stinky-herbs-cake."

"Ooh, tasty!" Dean enthused and raised his beer to the three of them. "My favorite kind."

Sam smiled and offered his brother some of the take-out meal they had ordered.

"So." Jay took a deep breath and turned to Sam. "We go to the museum and retrieve the arrow. You need to cast the conjuring trick your friend described and then we do as this says." He smiled thinly, "Perform the ritual and shoot the son-of-a-bitch through the heart."

"Bugsy I get the crossbow!" Dean exclaimed through a mouthful of special fried rice, raising his hand eagerly.

Jay laughed and saw the others were equally amused. He raised his beer and smiled merrily. "Seems we have a plan." He offered and then jumped slightly as his phone rang. Standing from the sofa, he grabbed the handset and answered the call.

"Hey, honey!" Jay sat back down and watched the three of them regarding him in interest. "No, the guys and I are just having a few beers." He listened to the phone for a moment and his smile grew. "That sounds like fun, babe. Yeah, sure! You have fun. I'll see you in the morning." He nodded and laughed softly. "I will. Yeah. Love you too." Ending the call, he sighed I relief and gave another small laugh. "Rachel's going back to one of her friend's places."

"Handy." Dean acknowledged, finishing his beer.

"Very!" Jay enthused, indicating the various bags and trinkets on the coffee table. "I wasn't looking forward to explaining all this."

"True." Sarah nodded.

Sam handed the print-out he held back to Jay and moved closer to the table. "Right … let's get this party started, shall we?"