Lena wrapped Morgan in her thick pink winter coat and zipped it shut. Muttering reassurances and only taking quick glances towards the closed motel room door, she collected together their belongings and shoved them hastily into her bag.

"Head hurts." Morgan stated quietly, a worried frown lining her pale face.

"Yeah?" Lena placed her hand across her daughters forehead and gave a small groan. "I think you're just over-tired, baby." She pulled Morgan into a tight embrace and pressed a kiss into her hair. "We're leaving soon. You can sleep in the car. Yeah?" She watched Morgan give a slight nod. "And then we'll be at Aunt Emma's and she'll make you her special chocolate milk. Okay?"

"'Kay." Morgan agreed softly, her eyes heavy as a yawn began to form.

"Good girl." Lena soothed, returning to her packing and zipping up her own fleece jacket. She then heard the door opening in the adjoining room and she hurried to the partition.

"Okay." Dean announced breathlessly, "We're good to go."

"That was quick." Lena enthused.

"Of course!" Dean grinned triumphantly and then corrected himself, clearing his throat as he hastily moved past her to grab her bags. "Well … we'd best we not linger too long on just how good we are at all things illegal."

Lena tried to shoot him a disapproving glare but it failed miserably as she saw his mirth. She gave a small laugh and, lifting Morgan up into her arms and balancing her on one hip, she followed Dean's hasty retreat.

Dean paused at the motel room door and looked back at Lena, his face tight with concern. "Keep your head down and make straight for the car. Sammy will help you hide in the back."

Lena frowned in confusion.

"We figure Jerry doesn't know us," Dean shrugged, "He'll just see two strangers stealing his jeep."

"Right." Lena nodded, "And he might assume Morgan and I are still in here."

Dean nodded. "It's worth a try." He glanced outside and took a deep breath. "Ready?"

Nodding an affirmative, Lena curled her body around Morgan's clinging form and stepped from the room. Hurrying across the icy packed snow was not easy and her five-year old counter-balance made the movement even harder. But somehow she made it across the parking lot and met Sam at the rear of the 4x4. She prized her daughter from her stooped position and whispered gentle assurances as Morgan was carefully lifted into the back seat.

"Stay low." Sam cautioned quietly, helping Lena climb into the jeep.

Lena crouched as ordered and slid inside, suddenly noticing the lines drawn across the otherwise smooth covering of snow behind the vehicle. Frowning in intrigue, she paused for a moment and was aware of Sam noticing her interest.

"It might buy us some time." Sam explained quietly. "At least until the sun comes up and melts it."

Lena nodded and curled down against the seat, the tight position not easily achieved around an almost term pregnancy. She swung her legs inside and Sam carefully closed the door. Wrapping an arm around her trembling daughter, she peered between the two front seats as the brothers hurried into the jeep.

Dean glanced back at Lena and gave a small shrug of apology as he bent forwards and reached under the steering column. The plastic moulding had been ripped away, the wires exposed, and he quickly touched two frayed cables together.

The 4x4 rumbled into life and Dean shoved it into gear, glad for the firm grip of the snow-chained tires. The jeep quickly gained purchase and moved easily forwards, picking up speed as Dean guided them to the exit. He took a moment to peer back at the motel and seemed unsure, his brother placing a reassuring hand on his arm.

The unplowed road was met with equal steadiness and Lena sighed in relief as they tore from the motel as fast as Dean obviously dared. She kept to her low, uncomfortable position until they were long out of sight of the complex and then slowly sat upright. Pulling Morgan against her, as close as the seat belts would allow, she murmured her thanks and saw Dean glance in the rear-view mirror.

"Thank me when we're safe at Auntie Em's." Dean offered quietly. "It's a way to go yet."

Lena nodded quietly, watching his worried frown deepen as he kept his gaze on her for a moment.

"Dean!"

Unsure if Sam's shout or Dean's sudden hard breaking was more frightening, Lena felt the jeep lurch into an almost skid and held her breath. She then caught sight of the pick-up that was also sliding to a stop, just a few feet from the front of the jeep.

"Holy crap!" Dean breathed.

"Bobby!" Sam laughed in delight, quickly opening his door. "Thank god!"

Lena watched in interest as the scruffy older man clambered from the pick-up and greeted Sam warmly. She smiled as he reached for Sam and gripped his arms in what was almost a hug. And then she guessed Sam was quickly explaining the situation, her heart racing as Bobby peered into the back of the jeep and frowned at her.

Bobby moved past Sam and stepped up beside the open passenger door of the 4x4. "Dean." He greeted softly, giving him a nod and then leaning in to look more closely at Lena. "Hey there."

"Hi." Lena managed.

Beneath the scruffy beard was a small smile and it widened as his soft eyes rested on Morgan. "How you doing, honey?"

Lena looked down and watched her daughter snuggle tighter into her, shaking her head warily. "She's tired." She offered by way of an explanation.

Bobby nodded in understanding and stood back upright to face Dean. "You get out of there okay?"

"Yeah," Dean affirmed with a sigh, "Had to leave the Impala, though."

Lena watched Bobby absorb this and wondered what was so special about the huge black snow-covered sedan. She saw the concern beneath Bobby's tattered cap and watched him chew on his lip in thought.

"We can always come back later." Bobby shrugged.

Dean mumbled doubtfully and gave a loud sigh. His brother had moved back to stand beside Bobby and Sam looked between the pair of them in wary interest.

"We'd best keep going." Sam urged, trying to move past Bobby and climb back into the jeep. He then saw something in his brother's tight expression and shook his head firmly. "It's too risky. We'll come back - like Bobby said."

Dean considered this for a moment and gave another heavy sigh.

"I take it you covered your escape." Bobby offered, lifting his cap to scrub at his matted hair, his forehead creased in thought.

"Bobby, no." Sam warned.

"We'd be real quick." Dean agreed quietly, mulling the notion over and nodding slowly. He watched his brother's anxiety grow and gave a small shrug. "We've done sillier things …"

"It's a car." Sam stated wearily.

"It's everything we own." Dean countered.

Lena watched the exchange in silence and pulled Morgan closer to her. Her daughter was leaning heavily into her now and her head was gradually rolling forward. "Guys." Lena interjected carefully, "It's late."

Dean turned to her and smiled a quick apology. His mind made up, he opened the drivers door and climbed out into the snow.

"Dean!" Sam argued, heading to the front of the jeep to meet his brother. "Let's just go."

Giving his brother a quick pat on the shoulder and shaking his head, Dean continued towards the pick-up. "Bobby?"

Lena watched Bobby step away from the jeep, obviously torn as to which brother to side with. He muttered something to Sam and gave a slight shrug before following Dean. Eager to make a move, Lena leaned into her seat belt and pulled on the front seat to edge through the gap. "Sam?"

Sam looked back and his shoulders sank as he conceded and headed back over to the jeep. He was mumbling various expletives as he climbed into the drivers seat and slammed the door.

"What is it with the car?" Lena asked carefully.

"Long story." Sam sighed and shoved the jeep into drive.

"We ought to stay together."

Sam slowed the 4x4 to a stop and turned to look into her worried face. "Why? What did you see?"

"None of this." Lena smiled, "It's just a feeling."

Groaning softly, Sam sank back against his seat and dragged a hand over his worn face. "Well … we have our cells."

"True." Lena moved back to settle with her daughter once more and Morgan snuggled her shoulders down into her lap. She was aware of Morgan fidgeting and trying to get comfortable, moaning as something hard pressed into her neck. Lena then remembered the radio and gasped. "Sam, wait!" She pulled the handset from her coat pocket and held it out to him. "Give them this. The cell signals jump around out here."

Sam peered round at her and smiled thinly. "Sure. Still … I'm hoping we'll not be that far apart." He observed quietly as he took the radio from her. He guided the jeep to slide up next to Bobby's truck and opened his window.

Watching Bobby take the handset, Lena smiled and heard the dashboard radio hiss as the older guy checked the signal. She nodded as he gave her a brief wave of confirmation and then headed off past them, back towards the motel.

"Well?" Sam sighed, looking at Lena in the rear-view mirror.

"Head south. We need to pick up the I-90."

Sam nodded and pressed the jeep forward.

"I'm sure they'll be okay." Lena offered quietly, watching his scowl settling over his eyes.

Pulling the truck to a halt a short way from the motel car park, Bobby peered out towards the quiet complex and sighed loudly. "You could have at least moved her somewhere less conspicuous."

"There was no time." Dean argued, "And starting her up would have woken the neighborhood."

"You could have pushed her."

Dean laughed gently, "You ever tried that?"

"Hmm." Bobby shrugged. "Well … hooking her up in the parking lot is hardly subtle." He turned back to Dean and raised his eyebrows, his cap brim lifting with the movement. "Any suggestions?"

Dean frowned in thought and took a deep breath. "Well … you got a winch on this thing?"

Bobby nodded.

"Then we can reel her in."

Staring in wonder at Dean's hopeful smile, Bobby groaned softly. "Fine … so which of us is going up there to fix the cable?"

"Both of us." Dean replied, looking out at the motel again. "So we can cover each other's asses."

Bobby nodded thoughtfully and followed Dean's gaze. "You sure the demons are in there?"

"Nope."

"Great." Bobby growled, turning off the engine and shaking his head as he clambered down from the truck.

Dean's heart was thudding at the base of his throat as he climbed the small bank up amid the low hedged perimeter. The parking lot was empty and quiet, the motel in darkness except for the 24-hour reception office and the neon-lit bar. He paused in the narrow gap at the edge of the lot and waited for Bobby to catch up with him.

"One of us will need to steer her." Bobby observed in a whisper, his eyes taking in the layout of the snow-drowned complex.

"I'll do it." Dean nodded. "You ready?"

Bobby took a deep breath and straightened his cap. "No."

"Good."

They jumped out into the open space between the perimeter and the Impala, sliding in the icy snow and cringing as their crunched footfalls seemed painfully loud in the quiet complex. Sinking down beside the car and breathing hard, the pair of them closed their eyes and listened for any sign that they had been spotted.

After a moment, Dean chanced raising his head over the hood of the Impala and looked across to the reception entrance. There was no movement inside and he frowned in thought.

"What you thinking?"

Dean crouched back down and shook his head. "That Jerry might be in trouble."

"And?"

Turning to Bobby, Dean's frown grew and he gave a slight groan. "Yeah. You're right." He shrugged and nodded to the clip and cable Bobby had dragged along with him. "Let's get this done."

Bobby nodded and edged along the side of the car. Pausing for a moment at the rear fender, he listened to the stillness and sighed out the breath he had been holding. Gripping the tow cable, he then shuffled round and clipped it onto the metal loop on the underside of the Impala before scrambling back beside the car.

"I'm too old for this shit." Bobby complained, trying to catch his breath.

Dean grinned and patted his old friend's shoulder. "Nonsense. You're just out of practice."

Bobby glared at him and shook his head. "With you two constantly bugging me, that won't be a problem for long."

"You're welcome."

Grumbling with annoyance and watching Dean grinning in mischief, Bobby turned from him and headed back along the car. "Get your ass inside and be ready to steer."

"Yes, sir." Dean agreed merrily, watching Bobby crouched at the rear of the car. He reached up and unlocked the driver's door, gripping the handle and opening the latch carefully. The hinges moaned as he opened the door and he closed his eyes, pleading with the old car to be quiet just this once.

Noise from beyond the Impala made him suddenly freeze and Dean let go of the partially opened door. He peered out towards the reception and his heart stuttered as he saw the motel owner stepping outside.

Jeff spotted Bobby immediately and Dean was instantly on his feet. He saw Jeff spin at him and then noticed the gun in his hand. "Bobby!" Leaping out from the protection of the Impala, he hurried after his friend and grabbed him about the waist. A loud shot rang out through the complex as they thudded into the snow, both of them grunting with the impact.

Dean quickly rolled off of Bobby and reached behind him to snag the Colt from his waist. Taking quick aim before Jeff could fire off another shot, he then saw the motel owner step out into the snow and collide with an invisible barrier. The shock made Jeff pause and look down, giving Dean his chance. He pulled the trigger and watched as Jeff recoiled back and sank to his knees.

"Holy shit." Bobby breathed, still flat against the ground, his arms over his head. "You boys piss off everyone you meet?"

Dean flopped back into the snow and groaned a reply.

Lifting his head and peering over at the unmoving form laying in front of the reception, Bobby slowly pushed himself up onto his knees. "Wasn't there some other guy?" He turned and saw Dean sprawled in the snow, breathing hard. "Dean?"

Dean closed his eyes and shook his head slowly, his face tightening in sudden pain.

"Dean?" Bobby began to crawl closer and then saw the bright blood splatter that had sprayed across the snow. "Dean!"

- tbc -