Yawning wearily and dragging a hand across his face, Dean shook his head and peered out at the gradually lightening morning. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he saw the high-set square lights of the closely following motor-home and frowned in thought as he also caught sight of the slumped figure on the back seat.

His focus on the road ahead, he watched Mina sleeping restlessly on her side, her head propped on a pile of shirts on the window edge. The bruising to her face was darkening with time and he watched her grimacing at whatever dream was troubling her.

"Hey …" He glanced round and reached out to place his hand on her shoulder before then looking forward again.

"Mmm?"

Dean watched in the mirror as she stirred and frowned in concern as she winced in pain and touched her fingers to her face. "You okay?"

"Do I look okay?" She husked quietly.

Dean shrugged, "No, you look like crap." He smiled thinly, "Just thought I'd make sure."

"Great. Thanks."

"We're nearly there." He continued, idly stroking her shoulder, "Then we can get you some ice and shit."

Mina opened her eyes and blinked in the growing brightness. "I just need a bed."

"Yeah," Dean agreed lightly, "I've slept enough times in this car to know how uncomfortable she is." He watched her reflection as she slowly turned onto her back and leaned against the door, groaning in discomfort. "Maybe you should have stayed in your RV?"

Mina turned her head to look at him and smiled thinly. "I guess I didn't want to be alone."

Dean nodded in understanding and turned his full attention back to the road, pulling his hand away from her. He then felt her fingers wrap around his and held his breath as she took his hand in both of hers.

"Thank you."

Dean nodded in silence.

"I really thought he was going to kill me." Mina continued quietly, her face crumpling as she swallowed back tears.

"Hey …" Dean squeezed her fingers gently, "It's okay."

She suddenly gave a brief laugh, "It's a million fucking miles from 'okay', Dean!" Mina then saw the dismay in his face and sighed loudly. "Shit! I'm sorry - I know what you meant."

Dean glanced back at her with a smile and gave her fingers another brief squeeze. His shoulder ached from the odd angle he had his arm over the back of the seat and he adjusted his position slightly. "Hey, Mina …? What did he mean by you 'blocking' a demon?"

"I don't know," Mina closed her eyes and shuddered at the memory. "There was this black shadowy thing and it attacked me. I didn't know what was happening but … I guess that was what he meant."

"You saw the demon?" Dean asked in interest.

Mina was quiet and kept her eyes closed.

"Hey." Dean gave her hands a gentle nudge.

"Dean, I …" She sighed and then suddenly smiled as she saw him raise his eyebrows in impatient curiosity. "I can sort of see evil things." Seeing him suddenly grinning, she groaned in dismay, "Yeah, I know. I'm a complete freak."

"No!" Dean laughed, "God, no. It's just …" He shrugged slightly, "I just wonder what it's like to meet normal people."

Mina smiled back at him, "So-called 'normal' people are boring."

"True."

"Psychos are far more interesting." Mina continued merrily.

Dean glanced back at her, "Hope you're not classing me in that category, missy!"

"As if I'd have the nerve!"

"Wait ..." Dean frowned suddenly, "Please tell me you weren't born in 1983 …?"

"What?" Mina chuckled, "No, 1981. Not that you should ask a lady her age." She saw the smirk on his face and gasped in offense, "Just you dare!"

Laughing easily, Dean watched the road unfolding between the trees and took a deep breath. "So … these evil things you can see …?"

Mina shrugged slightly, "I guess you could say I can see an aura around people." She began carefully, "Dead things don't have one."

"Like vampires?"

"Yup." Mina agreed happily, "Those evil fuckers stand out from the crowd like bikers at a quilting bee."

Dean sniggered in delight.

"But … demons are a new one …" She shivered in emphasis, "Ugly sons-of-bitches ." She saw Dean nodding his approval at her description and smiled in amusement. "Especially that yellow-eyed shit-head." Feeling the shudder in his hand, Mina watched him glaring angrily through the windshield. "I take it you guys have quite a history …"

Dean gave a small nod, clenching his jaw and offering a low groan of confirmation.

Waiting patiently, Mina watched him frown in thought and then sighed in disappointment as Dean's phone rang and she released his hand so he could answer the call.

"Sammy!" Dean offered merrily.

Mina rested back against the seat and closed her eyes, listening to his cheery conversation with his brother. She then heard him teasing, saying something about phone sex and she gasped in mock horror, thumping his shoulder playfully. "Eww!" She complained, unable to hide her smile, "That's nasty!"

"Man," Dean groaned, "Tough crowd." He ended the call and snapped his phone shut, glancing at Mina with a cheeky grin.

"Gross."

"What? I worry about the guy! He's so not getting any on a regular basis." Flinching from another punch, he rubbed at his shoulder and laughed merrily. "It's really not healthy."

"Enough!" Mina gasped, chuckling as he lifted his hand to deflect another punch. "You're one of those evil older brothers who's always ribbing, aren't you." She saw his grin widen proudly and shook her head in dismay. "Poor Sam."

"Oh, that's right!" Dean exclaimed in mock offense, watching his brother over-taking them in her motor-home and waving at them merrily. "Take his side. Girls always do. It's the floppy chick-flick hair, isn't it? That and his 'poor little puppy-dog' eyes!"

"Jealous?"

"Not much."

Mina laughed and swung her legs off of the seat to sit upright. She leaned her arms over the back of the front seat and rested her chin on her hands. "You don't need to be."

"Oh?" Dean glanced at her in intrigue. "What do I have going for me then?"

Mina frowned intensely, "Hmm …"

"Oh, fuck off!" Dean snorted.

Grinning mischievously, Mina continued her exaggerated search for answers. She then gasped and patted the leather seat.

"Well, yeah." Dean shrugged, "The car's a carefully crafted pussy-trap - "

"Yuck!" Mina laughed, slapping his arm.

"Hey! What's with the hitting me?" Dean defended, his smile then dropping from his face as he spotted something in his rear-view mirror. "Oh, crap …"

Mina turned to look behind them and frowned as she saw also the patrol cars.

"Take it easy, Sammy …" Dean muttered, watching the RV before them and glancing at the approaching cars. "It might be a coincidence."

"You think?" Mina urged, seeing the answer in the worry on Dean's face. She then jumped as the sudden whoop of a siren blast startled her.

"Just relax." Dean offered, pulling the Impala towards the side of the road and easing a little on the gas.

Mina rested forwards again and watched Dean's anxious face as he kept an eye on the patrol cars in his mirror.

"There you go …" Dean sighed in relief and glanced a smile at her.

Mina watched the patrol cars pass by them, noting the disinterest from the two drivers as they charged by. She looked back to Dean and saw renewed concern in his tired eyes. "What?"

"That's the sheriff from Wilton." Dean replied quietly, "I think we might be in - wo!" he braked hard as the RV ahead of them slowed suddenly. Swerving to avoid clipping his front fender on the back of the motor-home, he then quickly regained control and gasped as he saw the two patrol cars blocking off the road. "Trouble!" He concluded and pulled the Impala to a halt beside his brother in the stationary motor-home.

Glancing up through the passenger window, Dean could just see his brother's equally worried face and groaned in frustration. "Shit!"

Mina watched the officers climbing quickly from their cars and held her breath as she watched them draw their guns. "Dean …"

"Just be cool." Dean urged softly, turning to place his hand on her shoulder. "No matter what happens."

Terrified and unable to speak, Mina nodded in agreement.

"All of you. Get out of your vehicles. Slowly!" Came a shout over one of the patrol car's loud speakers.

Dean nodded and raised his hands in surrender. Glancing worriedly at Mina, he slowly opened the door and stepped out of his car.

"Dean?" Sam demanded in a panic as he climbed down from the cab of the motor-home.

"Stay calm." Dean replied quickly, offering his brother a quick smile and raising his hands above his head.

"This is your only warning. No sudden moves. Kneel down and place your hands on your head." Sheriff McCreedy ordered over the loud speaker, her gun trained on Dean.

"Do it." Dean urged, aware of Mina stepping up beside him. "It'll be okay."

"You think?" Sam hissed, sinking to his knees and lacing his fingers on his head.

Dean copied his brother and glanced at Mina as she also followed suit. He then heard the sound of engines approaching at speed behind them and closed his eyes. "Or not."

Seeing their back-up arriving, Sheriff McCreedy and her deputy stepped out from the shelter of their patrol car doors and walked slowly towards their three captives, their guns trained on the two brothers.

"What seems to be the problem, Sheriff?" Dean asked calmly.

"You shut your mouth!" She barked back angrily, carefully keeping her distance, "Just do as your told."

Dean's heart was racing as he watched her approach and his head was spinning, both with possible reasons for their interception and also any chance they might have of escape. He then heard the back-up vehicles skid to a halt somewhere behind them and was aware of Sam glancing behind them in a panic.

"Oh dear oh dear." Came an amused voice behind them.

Dean watched Sam frowning in confusion and then turned to see for himself the black-suited man that walked along the road towards them.

"You're in quite a lot of trouble, kids." The man smiled, buttoning up his jacket and moving to stand in front of them."

"Dean - !" Mina hissed.

Dean turned to her and saw the paleness of her face amid the bruises and the tears in her frightened eyes. He groaned as he then realized who this man must be and he looked up calmly, meeting the man's amused gaze.

"What exactly are we supposed to have done?" Sam asked quietly.

"Well, let me see." The man opened his jacket and took out his ID, seeing the dismay on the boys' faces. "Impersonating a federal officer is a serious crime." He continued, smiling easily at Sam. He then turned to Dean and his smile faded. "Killing one is quite another matter."

Dean's heart leapt into his throat and he stared in horror at the agent. He then saw a tell-tale flash of yellow light in the man's eyes and cried out as the deep scar across his chest suddenly burned painfully.

"Dean!" Sam gasped, watching his brother double forward and sob in agony.

"Stop it!" Mina shouted angrily, hurrying next to Dean and grabbing his shoulders. She held onto him and could hear him whimpering weakly, his body trembling.

"Don't do this!" Sam demanded in fury, "Leave him alone! It's me you have plans for! Take me!"

"Indeed." The demon agreed and the light in his eyes faded.

Dean grunted a sigh of relief and slowly sat back up, clutching at his chest and trying to catch his breath. He sank onto his heels and rested gratefully into Mina's arms.

"I do have plans for you, Sammy." The demon stepped closer to Sam and smiled down at him. "Just not yet." He shrugged and placed his hands in his pockets calmly. "Still. It would be useful to get your pain-in-the-ass big brother out of the way."

Mina watched the shadows moving behind the agent's face as he turned his head back and she held on tightly to Dean. She saw the demon's eyes flash briefly and closed her own eyes as Dean tensed against her, a moan catching in his throat.

The demon sighed and headed back over towards Dean, his gaze then moving up to rest on Mina's frightened face. "And you … my clever little Indian … you have provided the perfect opportunity to get rid of him."

"No!" Mina clutched Dean closer to her and shook her head. "Leave him alone, you sadistic bastard."

"Oh, I shall." The demon nodded, "Very alone."

Mina frowned and watched in fear as the demon turned to the other officers and waved his hand dismissively. "Arrest them."

Sam sat in the tiny interview room in the small station house and peered out at the clouds that gathered appropriately over the town. Frowning in concern, he desperately wanted to call Sarah and let her know where he was. Sure that she would be going out of her mind with worry, he closed his eyes and hung his head.

"Sam Winchester?"

"Yes?" Sam looked up as the door opened and he saw a middle aged man approaching him, flicking through a thin file. He saw the ID pinned on the man's belt and Sam held his breath.

"Reynolds!" The Latino man shouted.

Sam's eyes followed the man warily, watching as another, younger man hurried to join them. He watched the two of them sit opposite him at the table in the centre of the room and watched the first man roll up his shirt sleeves and sigh wearily.

"My name is Tim Burton. I'm your state-assigned legal counsel." The man introduced himself and nodded to his colleague, "I believe you've already met Field Agent Simon Reynolds." He opened the file up on the table before him and frowned. "Now, Sam … impersonating a federal officer is a serious offense." Burton began quietly, looking up at Sam and regarding him in interest. "However, I understand your desperation in tracking down your cousin."

Sam paused in uncertainty, hoping it was not obvious, and then nodded briefly.

Taking a piece of folded paper from the file and placing it on the table between them, the attorney shrugged slightly. "Your cousin's boyfriend sounds like a nasty piece of work."

Sam stared down at the fake 'wanted' poster that he had created himself and swallowed hard, his heart racing. "Yes, sir." He managed.

"I can appreciate how worried you were for your cousin's safety." The attorney nodded, "And the people of Wilton confirm that you and your brother were searching frantically for her."

Clenching his hands together beneath the table, Sam kept his gaze on the doctored photograph and managed another nod.

"It's only right. Family has to stick together." Burton offered, ignoring the derisive snort from his colleague.

Looking up at Burton, Sam thought he saw the man smile briefly.

"Under the circumstances," Burton continued, "And considering this is your first offense. I have advised that the charges against you and your cousin should be dropped."

"What?" Sam gasped, "I mean. You have?"

"Yeah." Reynolds scoffed, glaring in annoyance at Sam, "Can you believe it?"

Burton nodded slowly and then gave a loud sigh. "But the evidence against your brother is pretty damning. I mean …" He put down the file and leaned back in his chair. "His prints are on the murder weapon and … despite the testimony of your cousin that he was defending her and mistook the agent for him - " He pointed to the photocopied poster. "The FBI are keen to prosecute."

Sam stared at Burton in horror and could not believe what was happening.

"He's looking at life." Reynolds smiled happily.

"What?" Sam mouthed, watching Burton nodding sadly.

"Well." Burton stood and tucked his hands into his pockets, "You're free to go. Your cousin will be through in a few minutes and you can both collect your possessions and leave."

"But …" Sam watched Reynolds walk over to the door and open it for him. "What about Dean?"

"Oh, you'll be able to write to him." Reynolds chuckled.

Sam stood slowly and shook his head in confusion. "What? You can't do this! I mean - "

"Don't waste your breath, kid." Reynolds sneered and headed out of the room.

"There's nothing I can do."

Sam turned back to Burton and watched him shaking his head in dismay. "But …" His heart slammed against his throat and he watched in confusion as Burton held out his hand.

"Good luck, Sam." Burton smiled.

Feeling the small piece of paper that Burton held in his palm, Sam smiled and carefully took it from him. Sliding it into his pocket, he then noticed for the first time the design on the man's tie and it was all he could do not to laugh in delight. "Batman fan, huh?"

"You know it." The attorney smiled broadly.

"Yeah … I guess you think the first film was the best version."

Burton laughed gently and wandered from the room. "Now whatever would make you think that." He muttered and was gone from sight.

Sam forced his happy grin from his face and headed quickly from the room, aware of Agent Reynolds glaring at him in disapproval.

XXXXX

The small room seemed to be shrinking in on him as the minutes ticked by. Dean leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing and calm his mind. It had been over an hour since he had spoken to anyone and he could imagine the demon watching him through the mirrored glass, waiting for him to squirm.

When the door suddenly opened, fresh air wafted inside and Dean then saw the young woman that entered. She left the door open and gave Dean a cautionary glance as she picked up a chair from the corner of the room and sat down opposite him.

"Are you gonna let me know what's going on?" Dean asked dryly, "Please?"

She placed the file she held on the table, folded her arms and regarded him in interest. "Like you don't know."

"Oh, you have no idea …" Dean muttered and looked down at his cuffed hands with a heavy sigh. He was then aware of another person entering the room and looked up to see Agent Cole smiling merrily at him.

"Hello, Dean.'

Dean glared angrily, hate making adrenaline rush through him.

Agent Cole closed the door and took a deep breath. "Officer Sheridan here is on her first assignment with us." He headed across to sit down beside the young blonde and his smile grew. "You can imagine how eager she is to make her first case."

Dean held Cole's gaze evenly and then turned to the woman, seeing a slight uncertainty in what she obviously hoped was a calm stare.

"Go ahead, Clare." Cole offered merrily.

"We have reviewed your testimony, Mr Winchester." Sheridan began, somewhat nervously. "And … although your story matches that of your brother … the evidence is still there - "

"That you murdered a Federal Officer." Cole interjected, with glee.

Dean frowned in annoyance at the demon and then turned back to Sheridan, seeing her hesitate. He watched her wait for Cole's signal to continue and his frown grew as he wondered just what the deal was here; whether Cole's story about her was true or whether she was being forced to portray her part.

"You say you were acting in defense of your cousin." Sheridan offered.

Dean nodded, "The son-of-a-bitch was attacking her."

"Hmm … "

Cole leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. "What would a decent, loyal, federal officer be doing attacking an innocent young woman?"

"You tell me." Dean retorted angrily, unable to hide his open hatred.

"There is evidence that Agent Murphy and your cousin had something of an altercation." Sheridan offered, wary of the fury in Dean's eyes. "Our tests confirmed his DNA but … we also found traces of your semen. Which complicates things."

Dean's stomach turned and he stared at the young woman in horror.

"Yeah, Dean." Cole sat back up and folded his arms in interest, "What were you doing banging your cousin?"

"You bastard." Dean husked through clenched teeth, fighting the urge to make a futile attempt at lunging for him. "I swear, I'm gonna - "

"You're gonna what?" Cole laughed, "Threaten me in front of another officer?" His smile faded a little. "Oh, please do."

Dean held his gaze and then saw the slightest flicker of yellow in his eyes. Clenching his fists against the burning across his chest, he hung his head and sighed out a low moan.

"You see." Cole continued, "You're kinda fucked."

Dean closed his eyes, trying to block out the demon's words. He took a deep breath and let it out steadily, counting slowly.

Cole watched in annoyance as Dean remained still and then smiled thinly. "Fucked." He repeated in a whisper, "Just like Mina was."

And suddenly Dean understood. Sheridan's words span round in his mind and he thought back to the scene in the forest clearing. Hot tears welling in his eyes, Dean recalled how carefully Mina had been walking and how her face had screwed up tight that first time she sat down. Choking on a sob, he clenched his interlaced hands together so hard that his fingertips almost broke the skin of the back of his hands. "God … how could you…?"

"What?" Cole laughed, "You mean, how could you …?"

Dean blinked away tears and lifted his head, watching Cole in sympathy and smiling as he imagined all the many tortures he was going to somehow inflict upon the demon within.

"Y'see," Cole stood and walked along the side of the table. Placing his hand on Dean's shoulder, he sighed contentedly and smiled down at him. "We're looking at a very different story unfolding here …" He stepped behind him and now had both his hands on Dean's shoulders. "We think that you and your 'cousin' had a secret thing going on …" He leaned forward and moved his mouth close to Dean's ear, "But darling Mina was also fucking the FBI agent who was working on her ex-boyfriend's case … you found them together … and you killed him."

"No." Dean husked.

"And you were so mad with jealous rage that you then turned on her."

Dean looked across at Sheridan's pale face and his heart sank as he saw the contempt in her eyes. Suddenly he wanted to shout, scream, grab her by her shoulders and shake her - anything to make her understand that he did not do this. He simply was not capable.

"Well?" Cole urged, standing back up straight and walking back round to face him.

Dean held Sheridan's gaze and his throat tightened as she closed her eyes and looked away, unable to face the thing that she was being led to believe he was.

"There's nothing I can say to prove otherwise." Dean muttered under his breath.

"Nope." Cole smiled. "Of course, Mina is defending you but … perhaps she is simply too terrified to tell the truth." He laughed gently and leaned down to flip open the file on the table. "Not that I blame her after what you did to Agent Murphy."

Dean then had an answer to one of his questions as Sheridan covered her mouth and fled the room, her inexperience obvious. He looked down at the photograph Cole had revealed and his own stomach turned. Recalling the damage his shotgun had done when Mina shot Murphy and sure that it had not been as bad as the photograph showed, he looked up at Cole and shook his head. "You are one sick puppy, you know that?"

Cole's smile faded slightly and he stepped closer, leaning his head down towards Dean. "Do you have any idea what they will do to you in prison?" He said quietly, open hate evident in his face. "Pretty boy like you? They'll be lining up to have a share." And he then laughed icily, "The irony is perfect. You'll be hated and ultimately destroyed by the very people you have been trying to save."

Holding the demon's gaze as steadily as he could, Dean could feel his world crumbling around him as he started to believe in his heart that - one way or another - it was over.

Tbc ...