A/N: I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to post again. My life is so screwed to hell right now. I'm just trying to wrap my head around pulling in my next breath. also, for some reason I can't receive your reviews. I know they're there. I think around 20, but I can't find them so I can't respond other than to thank you here. if anyone has any insight into what's wrong I'd appreciate a PM.

Enjoy chapter 2 and I will try to post chapter 3 when I get my head wrapped around my life. I'm trying. I promise.

Chapter 2

"S-sammy?" Dean stammered, his body trembling from where he hung, arms stretched painfully tight above his head, bound hands fastened to a hook hanging from the ceiling. He balanced on his toes, his shirts and boots gone, leaving him wearing nothing but his jeans, the socks on his feet and clammy, sweat and blood streaked skin.

"Nn…" Sam moaned, head lolling on his neck. He was in a similar position to Dean, also stripped down to blood stained skin, jeans and socks.

"C'mon Sammy. Wake up." Dean said between chattering teeth. Sam's head finally lifted and his swollen, dark circled eyes opened. He straightened his head between his stung up arms and had a hard time getting it to stop continuing backwards.

"Agh!" He cried when it pulled at his raw neck.

"Hey." Dean said, getting Sam's attention. "You okay?"

Sam pivoted on his toes, wincing at the pull in his arms, and looked at his brother through one swollen and one blood caked eye. "Dean?" He swallowed to moisten his dry throat. "Thank God." Sam all but whispered. "I guess I'm all still here. What about you?"

"Feel like I've been hit by a truck, but nothing's missing." Dean tried to smile, but the pain in his beaten face turned it into a grimace, his lip splitting open again and a drop of crimson blood rolled down his chin into his stubble. He sobered. "So. Vampires, huh?"

"You've seen a really pale, black haired woman?"

"Uh, yeah. She's the one that seems to be callin' the shots."

"She's the alpha's second, Dean."

"Come again?"

"She said she was the alpha's lover."

"Eewww…So she really is the clown leading this circus."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"So what the hell does she want with us?"

"You're about to find out." Anaya said as she walked into the diffused sunlight that filtered into the room from the high window in the far wall. She stopped and appraised her guests, looking over the twin stacks of sweaty flesh that dangled from hooks in front of her. She stepped up to Dean and ran her fingers up his torso from his navel to his neck. Chills skittered over his flesh from both her clammy hand and sheer disgust. He tried to kick away from her, his shoulders pulling as he lost his precarious balance on his toes. She flicked her wrist and gripped Dean by the throat, squeezing tightly. Dean gasped for breath, choking as her nails dug in.

"STOP!" Sam cried as his brother's face became an awful mottled shade of red/purple. Anaya released Dean and whirled on Sam.

"Ooh, someone has guts." She got in his face, her eyes reflecting the sunlight with an icy silver glint. "How about I expose them for all of us to see." She hooked her fingers and, starting at Sam's collarbones, she raked her talon like nails down his torso, stopping when she clawed grooves in his skin all the way to his waistband.

"Argh!" Sam screamed, chin dropping to his chest as he tried to breathe through the agony.

"Sam!"

"M'okay." Sam breathed, "M'okay." His head fell back as he panted for breath, barely managing to stay on his feet. Dean watched as blood rolled in tiny rivers down over Sam's waistband from the five long gouges in his skin.

Anaya grinned and licked her fingernails clean of Sam's blood. "I still don't know just what makes you taste like fine wine, but I will find out." She patted Sam on the cheek just as he managed to lift his head, causing him to flinch. "Until then, boys, make yourselves comfortable."

"Sure thing. Just fetch us a couple recliners, maybe a thirty pack, a little porn maybe… Oh, and one more thing… GO TO HELL, BITCH!" Dean growled, his voice a little hoarse.

"You just don't learn, do you hunter?"

"Only thing I learned was ways to kill skanks like you." He snarled in reply.

Anaya mock shivered. "I'm just so scared." She reached up and gripped Sam's hair at the back, painfully wrenching his upper body toward her. She plastered her ruby lips to his, grinding until she tasted blood from his re-split lower lip. The pull on his torso from his imprisoned arms had him rasping for breath when she let him go. He felt blood trickle down his chin. "I think I'll just let you two stew in your delicious juices for a while." She reached a finger out to the drop of crimson on Sam's chin and touched it, and sticking the finger between her lips, she sauntered out of the room.

Sam's head bowed as he fought to stay on his toes. His breathing was short and harsh. Dean cast a worried glance at him. "You alright?"

"I'm hurtin', man." Sam said, the words clipped and breathy sounding. "She's, ah…been feeding." Sam spun, attempting to show Dean the wound on his neck, which he felt oozing again from her rough treatment. His knees buckled and pulled hard at his arms.

"She bleed on you?"

"No. More…interested in… playing with me." Sam answered as he struggled to regain his footing.

"Okay." Dean moved himself around in a circle, wincing when his feet wouldn't support him completely. He took in their surroundings, trying to put together an escape plan.

Dean jumped as Sam's knees buckled again and he groaned. "Sammy?" Sam struggled to stand again. "Hey!"

"'M-okay." Sam said, finally locking his knees and managing to regain his balance on his toes.

Dean looked up at his restraints. "That's it, I gotta get you outta here."

Dean pulled down on his arms, trying to loosen the ropes around his wrists. Blood began to trickle down his wrists from the abrasions the coarse twine created. Dean took advantage of the slippery fluid and worked his hands furiously, coating the rope in his own blood. He pulled again and the ropes slid closer to his hands He stretched up and worked some slack into the area where the knot rested in the eye of the hook. A spring mechanism, like a flap, was closed against the tip of the hook, making it impossible to just yank the rope off of the hook. He pushed himself as high as his toes would allow and edged one of the overlapping ropes through the mechanism and over the point on the hook. Dean allowed himself to relax, watching the rope carefully to see if any slack developed. He felt it loosen just slightly as the knot tightened but the loops around his bound wrists actually picked up the slack from the knot. He allowed himself a silent cheer, catching Sam's lolling head out of the corner of his eye.

"You still alright?"

"Yeah…." Sam breathed.

"Okay." Dean said, stretching up on his toes and working at the ropes again. Dean slid the rest of the ropes through the hook and nearly cried out when his pulled shoulders suddenly dropped, almost carrying him to the floor. Dean bit through his tongue to remain quiet as he quickly and quietly searched the room to find something to cut his bindings. He finally found a discarded piece of metal in the corner of the room. Its rusted, sharp edge made short work of the rope and he went back to Sam. "You gotta keep quiet Sam. I know you hurt, but you gotta keep your mouth shut." Dean reached up, ignoring the twinges in his legs and shoulders. He released Sam from the hook, lowering his arms gingerly. Sam stifled a pain filled groan, leaning heavily on Dean.

"Easy, easy." Dean whispered to Sam.

"Gotta sit…down." Sam groaned. His knees buckled. Dean held him up.

"Can't risk it Sam. We gotta get the hell outta here." Dean leaned Sam against the wall, holding a hand against his shoulder until he steadied himself. Dean cut the ropes around Sam's wrists, working circulation back into his fingers. Dean looked his brother over for other injuries, not liking how red the scratches and the wound at Sam's neck were. Dean saw that Sam's neck wound was still oozing. That pissed him off.

Dean leaned closer to Sam and caught his wavering attention. "Hey, I'm gonna go after our stuff, take the head off our hostess and get us the hell outta dodge."

He moved to step away from Sam but stopped when Sam reached for him. "Dean…" The older hunter looked at his brother. "Let's just go…I don't…don't think I can fight." Sam started to sag, his face paling. Dean caught him, a little more roughly than he intended, leaning Sam back against the wall. Dean saw their clothes and boots in a pile in the corner of the room. He grabbed them and quickly slid into his tee, and his boots, not bothering to lace them up. He helped Sam slide his stiffened arms into the sleeves of his flannel shirt, fastening two of the buttons and neglecting the rest. He helped Sam into his boots and steadied him as his knees buckled again.

"Hey!" Dean harshly whispered, "I just need you to keep it together. I'm not gonna do anything stupid. Gonna get you outta here. That's it."

"Okay." Sam whispered. Dean slung Sam's arm over his shoulder and supported his brother's weight, moving as silently as possible out of their prison and towards the closest exit.

"Going somewhere?" A voice asked. Jason stepped out of the shadows. The dark haired vampire was still wearing Dean's leather coat.

"That's mine." Dean growled, gesturing to the jacket.

Jason bared his teeth. "Why don't you take it back then?"

"Oh, I plan to." Dean let Sam move away from him and he took a fighting stance, feet spread, arms relaxed but ready.

Jason laughed. "You think you can take me?" He took the coat off and tossed it carelessly over an exposed water pipe.

At the same time, Dean raised the sharp piece of metal that he had used to cut their ropes.

"He can't but I can." Sam said, catching the vampire's attention from behind him. The vampire's chuckle was cut abruptly short as his head rolled. Sam lowered the bloody machete, watching the body fall to it's knees, then forward. "Found our gear, Dean." Sam said, smiling wanly. He lowered the weapon and it fell from his fingers as a strong arm closed around his neck from behind.

"I should thank you for dispatching him. He's been a pain in my ass for three hundred years."

"LET GO OF HIM, BITCH!" Dean growled, stepping up to face her. Anaya's arm tightened and pain radiated from the wound. Sam felt it begin to seep blood again.

"Mmm-mmm, there's that smell again. There's just something…intoxicating about it. Her teeth descended and she fastened her mouth to the rich blood trickling from Sam's neck, biting deep again.

"Aah!" Sam cried, eyes scrunching tight against the pain. He fastened his large hand around her smaller arm and tried to pull her off. He couldn't break her hold. Sam's face quickly paled, high spots of red on his cheeks the only color Dean saw. Sam's hand loosened on her arm and he struggled to keep on his feet.

Dean lunged for the Colt which he had concealed from Anaya's view when he stepped toward her. It was resting in the dead vampire's waistband. He rolled and brought the gun up smoothly, firing when she lifted her lips form Sam's neck and hissed at him. The bullet burned through her forehead right between her eyes, smoke rising from the black ringed wound. Light flashed though her body, seeming to come from her blood vessels. It flashed in her eyes and she released Sam, falling backwards to the floor. Her body arched as light flashed one more time and then was still.

Sam staggered away from her and slid to his knees, his neck now bleeding profusely. "Sammy!" Dean rushed to him, sliding to his own knees and catching him when he sagged. Dean clamped his hand to the wound. Visions of Cold Oak flashed through Dean's mind, making his stomach churn. "Hey! You stay with me, you hear me?"

Suddenly Dean stiffened, quickly grabbing and raising the bloody machete when he heard a whisper of noise in the darkness. The blond female vampire came out of the darkness, her eyes catching dim light and glinting like a cat's. She held out her hands in surrender.

"I'm not going to hurt you." She said, stopping before she got close. Dean noticed she was careful to stay upwind, and hesitant about approaching them.

"Um…why?"

"Dean…" Sam pleaded, leaning heavier on his brother.

"I don't feed on humans." She said, coming just a step closer, hands still raised. "Anaya killed my little sister in front of me before she turned me. She's kept it over my head for years."

"I heard you. You disappeared and someone screamed." Dean accused, not lowering the weapon an inch.

"That was me."

"Like I believe that."

"Believe it, don't believe it. I'm willing to help you get past the others and get your brother out of here safely."

"Why would you do that for us?" Sam near whispered, Dean steadying him as he wavered on his knees.

"Because I don't want her to succeed in taking another little sibling from his family." She extended her arm and crouched slowly, putting a small plastic case on the floor between herself and Dean. "It's a med kit. Take it and field dress his wound before he bleeds out. We can't risk the others smelling fresh blood." She backed up another step almost involuntarily. "It's almost overpowering."

Dean reached for the med kit, quickly popping it open and rummaging inside. Everything was there, wrapped and sterile. Dean eased Sam back against the wall, his brother nearly limp. Dean's hand slipped in the blood on Sam's skin. Sam grimaced, his eyelids fluttering as he struggled to stay conscious. Dean quickly peeled gauze and clamped it to Sam's wound, feeling it become saturated in seconds. "Damn."

The vampire crouched down where she stood, still moving slowly, barely risking a breath. "I can help." She said, her voice clipped.

"You're not touchin' him!"

"Easy. I meant I can hand you what you need. I'm not going to touch him."

Dean glanced down. "Um…yeah. Sorry."

She began peeling open sterile gauze patches and carefully handed them to Dean, touching nothing but the smallest corner with her fingernails only. Dean laid patch after patch over the blood soaked one beneath it. Finally by the sixth patch, the blood had slowed with Dean's steady pressure. Sam was barely moving, his skin nearly matching the pristine gauze that the vampire handed to him. Jen opened a roll of gauze and handed it to Dean, watching as he wrapped it around his neck, tight enough to hold the gauze in place but not tight enough to strangle his brother.

"What's your name?"

"Jen."

"I think the bleeding is under control for now. Let's get him outta here." Dean stood, his own abuse making him stifle a groan as it abruptly caught up to him. He hauled Sam's jell-o like form up against his own and looped Sam's arm over his shoulders. He felt Sam try to lock his legs and hold his own weight. "It's alright, Sammy. Gonna get you outta here."

"With Jason dead, and Anaya, the others are fledglings, easy pickings. Let me handle them."

"Not gonna stop you. He can't fight, and I'm not lettin' him outta my sight."

Jen led the way, carefully snaking her way through the house. Some of the young vampires were sleeping, some of them had left to hunt. She rounded the bend and smacked into a man who looked about Dean's age. "Whoa, Jen, who-" She cut him off when she ripped his head from his shoulders. His body dropped and she rolled his head off into the darkness. Turning, she motioned Dean forward. Sam slumped a little further and Dean struggled to hold his weight, his sore shoulders and ribs protesting loudly. Sam's eyes now spent more time closed than open and he was shivering, going into shock.

"C'mon, I'll get you out of the house as quick and quiet as possible.."

Dean hefted Sam a little higher, tightening his grip. Sam moaned low, head lolling against his shoulder where it lifted to loop over Dean's shoulders. "Easy Sammy."

Dean stiffened when he heard Jen round the last corner toward the exit and the ensuing scuffle when she tackled another fledgling vampire. Her low growl sounded out and a female's head rolled towards Dean and Sam's feet. Dean shoved it away with the toe of his boot and followed her into the night.

"Go!" she hissed. "They all know she's dead now. They're trying to find you! Hurry!"

Dean steadied Sam, and he felt his brother try to help, to run when Dean started running. Dean took the hint and moved as fast as his brother could move. Within a minute the Impala came into sight. "Thank god."

Dean lowered Sam into the back seat, his brother still fighting to stay conscious. "It's okay Sammy. Gimme two minutes and I'll get us the hell outta here."

Dean quickly scooped the box containing the plug wires off the ground where the hillbilly vampires had left it. Ripping into it, he had the new wires fastened to the plugs and the distributor within minutes.

He slammed the hood and jumped behind the wheel. The engine fired and Dean quickly pulled onto the road, tires squealing in protest. He drove in tense silence until the town was far behind them.

"Dean?" Sam said, his voice a rough whisper.

Dean instantly pulled over and slid from the wheel. He opened the back door, steadying Sam as he slumped. "Easy, easy. You alright?"

"Think it needs cleaned. It's burnin' pretty hateful."

"I wanna get as far away from this hell hole as possible before we stop. Can you stick it out?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, I know it's not the Hilton, but get some sleep."

"Not gonna argue." Sam said, Dean having to strain his ears to hear.

"Hang in there, Sammy." Dean said, worry clouding his eyes. Dean watched Sam lean back against the seat gingerly, his eyes drifting closed, pain pinching deep lines around them.

Dean slid back behind the wheel and pulled out onto the road. When he finally stopped the car, his eyelids were drooping, muscles protesting every movement loudly. His rope burned wrists were screaming beneath his shirt cuffs. He had pulled into the parking lot of a motel made of small, but well kept cottages, each set apart from the other. Dean was looking forward to a private room. He quickly exited the car and made his way to the center cabin, which served as the office. He walked inside and saw a gentle looking old man behind the counter.

"Can I help you, son?"

"Yeah. Wanna rent a room."

"Sure. Just sign the book. You have a credit card?" Dean handed him a card and signed the book to match the name on the card. The clerk ran the card and handed them a key. "It's the last one to the left. Enjoy your stay."

"Thanks." Dean replied, palming the keys and walking back to the car. He moved the Impala to the space in front of the small cabin and shut the engine off. He eased his aching body from the car and opened the back door. "Sam? Hey." Sam stirred and opened tired eyes. "Let's getcha inside. Then I'll grab our crap."

"Okay." Sam mumbled, allowing Dean to help him from the car. Dean looped Sam's arm over his shoulder and they walked slowly inside. Dean lowered Sam to the bed and trudged wearily to the car, retrieving the bare minimum of stuff to get them through the night.

He went back into the room and finally settled in to properly care for his brother's wound. Dean cut the gauze strip that wound around Sam's neck and carefully peeled back the layers. He noticed that the wound was still raw, oozing the smallest of amounts. Sam stirred and his eyes opened, fearful for a split second until he registered the comforting feel of a bed and Dean's hand on his shoulder.

"It's probably gonna be easier if you pass out, Sam."

"I'm not that lucky." Sam ground out, swallowing hard against the gravel tearing at his vocal cords. "Just… do it."

"Okay." Dean said, too tired to argue, and not liking how red the wound was becoming or the fact that that red discoloration was spreading.

"Whiskey or holy water first?"

"Whiskey. Might numb it."

Dean nodded his assent and uncapped the small bottle of whiskey kept in the med kit. He pinched it between his knees while he tucked the towel he grabbed from the bathroom in under Sam's neck. He poured the liquid over the wound, holding Sam's shoulder down as he tried to buck from the bed. The muscles in his shoulders tensed as Sam fought to keep from re-opening the wound. It started to seep more anyway.

"Can't get the damn thing to clot." Dean growled.

"Remember dad's journal saying he thought that vampire saliva was an anticoagulant." Sam made it a statement. "Just clean it good and patch it up."

Dean dabbed the wound dry of the whiskey and then poured holy water over it. The water hissed and bubbled, Sam crying out at the fire streaking through him. He had to move quick to hold Sam down. The youngest Winchester finally went limp, breathing shallow as sweat beaded on his brow. His eyes stayed closed, the lines finally smoothing out.

"Thank god." Dean muttered. He patted the wound dry again and then began to stitch it, using tiny stitches to close the ugly bite marks. An hour later Dean finished and cleaned everything up, including himself, carelessly tending his own scratches. He swallowed four Tylenol with a mouthful of whiskey. Checking that Sam was resting comfortably and out of immediate danger, Dean kicked his boots off and laid down on his bed. He was asleep in seconds.

A/N: Thanks for reading and I will try to make this right. Please review! I so need to feel better.