Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from "Supernatural". I wish I did though.

This takes place some time in Season 2.

Characters thoughts in italics.

Thanks to my beta, Shannon.

Chapter 8

Bobby had been sitting with Sam for a long time.

I know it doesn't take that long to get some food.

The salvage yard owner looked at an unconscious Sam. "I think your knucklehead brother has gone to do something really stupid."

Bobby stepped out of the room and walked to the approved area for cellular phone usage. He retrieved his cell from his green vest and dialed Dean's number.

The van's headlights pierced through the night as Shalimar and Dean headed toward the farmhouse. Most of the ride had been silent. That silence was shattered by Metallica. Dean kept one hand on the steering wheel while using the other to grab his cell from his brown leather jacket. The caller ID displayed Bobby Singer.

I'm busted.

"Hey, Bobby"

"Don't 'hey' me boy." His gruff voice raised an octave. "Where the hell are you?"

"The cafeteria was closed so I went to some fast food joint. The line's really long. That's why I'm not back yet."

"You really expect me to believe that. You can't fool a con man."

Dean laughed. "I thought I'd give it a shot anyway."

"Going after Kate alone is just plain stupid."

"I'm not alone."

"Let me guess you took Shalimar with you."

"I didn't plan on her coming but yeah she's with me."

The vampire threw the hunter a dirty look.

"We don't even know where her loyalties lie. That sob story she told me about her brother could have been made up. She could be working with Kate."

Dean arched an eyebrow. "What about her brother?"

Shalimar looked at Dean. Her voice had a slight edge to it as she spoke. "You know I can hear everything you two are saying. I'll answer your question. Kate killed my brother and I'm definitely not working with Kate. What else do I have to do to prove I'm telling the truth? Behead myself."

"That would be interesting to see. I'm going to let you go Bobby. Keep me posted on Sammy. If his condition changes…"

"I'll call." Bobby finished his statement. "Be careful, kid."

"I will." Dean pressed the end button.

He swung the black van into the large clearing and parked beside a dark blue Dodge Neon. The Impala sat on the opposite side. As he reached for the door handle, the windshield shattered. Shalimar and Dean sank down in their seats. Dean grabbed his left shoulder as he felt a bullet tear through his flesh. Shalimar's fangs descended. Dean's face remained expressionless as he looked at Shalimar's altered appearance.

His blood smells so sweet but I gave that up a long time ago.

She willed her fangs away.

"For a moment I thought I was going to be dinner along with being shot."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Shalimar replied sarcastically.

Dean did a slight shrug and then winced. "Hey, I just call 'em like I see 'em."

More shots rang out.

The young hunter barked over the gunfire. "I guess we can assume that's Kate shooting at us." Since when did she become G.I. Jane?"

"I guess she's been busy since you last saw her."

Dean glowered at her. "Thanks for stating the obvious."

"As much as I love your witty banter, I would love killing Kate more."

"Did you forget the flying bullets?"

"No, but I do have a plan." Shalimar countered.

Before Dean could ask what the plan was, she punctured the van floor with her hands and bent the metallic floor upwards. As soon as the opening was large enough, they slipped through the floor and crawled underneath the van.

"Now what?" Dean questioned.

"I'll draw her fire."

She reached into her blue jeans pocket, pulled out her car keys and slid them to Dean.

"This one opens the trunk and my secret compartments."

His eyes seemed unfocused.

"Dean, are you still with me?"

"Yeah, I'm with you. Everything's in the trunk."

Shalimar started crawling away.

"Take care of yourself."

She flashed a smile. "I always do."

As soon as she was clear, she ran into the forest. The gunfire faded away into the distance. Dean carefully crawled from underneath the van. The blood seeping from his shoulder was dark red. The bullet had hit a vein. He continued applying pressure hoping that would be enough for now.

The gunfire ceased.

I don't know whether that's a good or bad sign. Probably bad.

Dean staggered to the Neon and unlocked the trunk. On each side of the trunk was a compartment. He opened the left compartment which housed a mobile refrigerator with plastic containers labeled cow's blood and dead man's blood. He removed the dead man's blood and closed the compartment. In the right compartment, he found various guns, knives, crossbows, machetes and axes. He dipped some of the arrows in the dead man's blood before loading them into a Chinese repeating crossbow.

Some of the bushes moved. The hunter crouched down near the Neon and scanned that area.

Nothing.

Something was hurled into the middle of the clearing. Shalimar. She looked as if she had gone a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson. Kate stepped into the clearing also looking bloodied and bruised.

She approached Shalimar. "I don't know why you thought you could kill me. I'm older and stronger. You did put up a good fight though. I'll give you that."

The young vampire was motionless.

Kate pivoted. "I know you're there, Dean. You might as well come out now."

Dean was able to launch two arrows at Kate before she was upon him. She batted away the crossbow and threw him to the ground. The older Winchester tried to get away but she grabbed one of his legs and pulled him towards her. He punched her with his good arm. Her head flung to one side.

She cackled. "Is that all you can muster? You punch like a girl."

The vampire returned his action with a punch of her own. Dean's face snapped to one side.

She wrapped her fingers around his neck and squeezed. Dean clawed at her hands trying to pry them free.

"I'm going to love watching you die."

Suddenly her grip lessened and she fell onto him. An arrow was standing attention in her back.

Shalimar rolled Kate off Dean. "Better late than never."

Dean's eyes were green slits. He coughed a bit. "I had her right where I wanted her."

"Yeah, I saw that."

She limped over to her sedan, removed an ax and stood over Kate. "This is for Tyler."

The ax cut through skin and bone before embedding itself into the ground.

Dean coughed some more. "And I thought I was hard core."

Dean held his shoulder as he slowly rose from the ground. He leaned against the side of the Neon while Shalimar opened the left compartment, removed a container of cow's blood and drank. Her injuries started to heal. She imbibed the rest of the blood and her injuries healed completely. The eldest Winchester started to sway.

Shalimar's face wore a look of concern. "Dean, are you alright?"

"I'm …"

Before he could complete his sentence, he lost consciousness.

Author's note- Since it was never really covered how vampires heal on Supernatural. I borrowed the idea of needing blood to heal from Blood Ties.