A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…though I wished I owned the guys…*sighs*

"John? John Winchester?" John gulped hard and slowly turned around expecting to be staring straight into the face of a guard. As his eyes landed upon the one who stopped him, John recognized the rugged features of his old friend Deacon.

"Deacon," John quickly embraced his friend. "Of all the places and times…."

"John, I saw them. But here is not the place to talk. Follow me," Deacon led the way with John and the two humans followed up behind. Deacon had a small building he used to stay in when conducting business in Saint Louis. It was on the outskirts of town away from the central district of townhomes and fountains along the river. Deacon locked the door behind them and motioned for John to sit.

"Dean came to my safehouse but didn't realize it was my place until I stopped in to drop off supplies. He had the slave with him, the red haired one. Dean was very protective of her."

"Yeah, that sounds like him," John sighed. "Did he say anything? About where they're going or if they were headed here?"

"I told Dean I would get the Impala for him as they need a way to travel but that was yesterday. But the Saltzmans have dispatched bounty hunters to find them."

"Damn it," John cursed. "Do they know about your shelter?"

"Not that I know of, but it doesn't mean they won't find it and come upon them."

"I know that Deacon," John now grew worried that Dean's escape would come to a short violent end. Deacon could see the grief stricken expression looming in John's eyes and handed over the keys he obtained from Dean.

"I told Dean I would bring his car back to him but I think you should do it. My safehouse is about a day's drive to the Southwest. Take the old interstate going that way and veer off the main road outside of Fredericktown. It will be a dirt road going into the national forest. You'll find the house out in the woods in a clearing."

John nodded and clutched the keys in his hand.

"I'll try to keep the storm troopers off your trail for as long as I can. Fortunately I still have enough clout to throw some weight around," Deacon chuckled.

"Thank you Deacon," John smiled and rushed out the door as Deacon turned to his slaves.

"Well, what are two waiting for? We have trading to do," the humans nodded and soon the masquerade of master and slaves was on display for the public.

Brooklyn filled a small sack with dried meat and vegetables and a canteen with water. Dean knew she would need to keep up her strength for if he needed to feed his human had to be healthy as well.

"Are you ready?" Brooklyn nodded at her vampire.

"Yeah I guess," she said hesitantly. Dean placed his hands on her shoulders steadying the shaking human.

"Brook, we have no choice. I almost lost you last night."

"I know….But what if Deacon returns and we're not here," she said.

"Which is why I left that letter," he reminded her. "If someone other than Deacon comes they won't understand what it says."

"I suppose you're right," she grabbed the sword and tied the scabbard against her back. Brooklyn wasn't about to go out wandering without some way to defend herself. Being a hunter for almost 20 years had taught her that. The pair gave the cabin a last look over before leaving. He had helped to fix the doors and they were working like new.

Taking her hand, Dean stepped outside first, listening for anything or anyone that might be waiting for them. Brooklyn felt his body freeze and the wire thin tension running through his body. She kept in place like a statue until Dean finally moved and together they headed away from the house. The sun was deceptive for them as they proceeded with caution along the worn trail. Its purpose was unknown but for the vampire and human it gave them a means to head further away from Alaric.

She was dressed in pants and simple long sleeved shirt with a pullover to block the chill. Dean didn't need as much clothing but opted to keep the cloak he wore as it could double as bedding for his human when she needed to rest at night. The birds were chirping overhead as the sun struggled to break through the thick foliage above. The further north they headed, the deeper and thicker the woods became. Brooklyn kept up and didn't break a sweat as they followed the path and came upon a clearing.

"Let's stop here," Dean suggested. Brooklyn spotted a boulder and sat down to take a drink. She wasn't hungry yet but took a couple of strips of dried meat out to give her body more energy. The human had crisscrossed the country during her time as a hunter and always remembered to stay hydrated and keep one step ahead of hunger.

Dean tilted his head upward noting it was already getting later in the day. Soon it would be night and Brooklyn would need to rest.

"I'm not tired yet," she called over looking at him. Dean knew she had read his mind and chuckled lightly. Brooklyn took another drink and put the canteen back in her bag.

"Alright let's get moving," she hopped up off the rock and grabbed a stick along the way that would suffice for a hiking staff and weapon. The vampire and human started back up passing an old cemetery dating back from the 1660's which had been long since neglected and forgotten. The scent of decaying flesh was very faint even to Dean's keen sense of smell. All that he detected was earth and animal around the area. Brooklyn guessed they had hiked almost 10 miles since starting out in the morning and hoped they could put more distance between them and Alaric.

John kept a sharp eye out for the dirt road as he neared Fredericktown. The Ozarks loomed to the right as the Ozark Plateau sat to the left. So far no law enforcement or guard had been seen but to the vampire it didn't shit. When he served they would dress in plain clothing to patrol for werewolves and shapeshifters. As far as he knew they still employed the tactics. His eyes scanned from side to side as the buildings started to come into view. He spotted the turn off nearly missing it as it was well hidden in the brush. The Impala eased onto the road and along the bumps and dips. John continued for several miles realizing how deep in the woods Deacon's safehouse was.

"He didn't take any chances," John told himself as he finally reached the edge of the clearing and came up to the house. The vampire sat in the car waiting to see if anyone moved from inside. His body tensed and hearing sharpened as he sat there for several tense minutes, minutes that John perceived as hours until he finally got out and edged towards the front door. As he reached out for the brass knob, he paused and picked up the scent of charred flesh. Curiosity got the better of him and John exercised caution while rounding the house and towards the burn pit out back. The remains were still smoldering when John came upon them. He grabbed a stick and poked the pile finding bones mixed with ash. John leaned in closer seeing something sticking out on top. His fingers swooped in plucking the fang from the ash. He quickly concluded these were a vampire's remains but didn't see the amulet his son wore.

"It's not him," John smiled thinly and continued sifting through until he spotted something hard. It was a ring but not just any ring.

"Shit," he cursed under his breath when he remembered where he had seen this particular ring. It belonged to an elite group of slave hunters or bounty hunters as some called them. John pocketed the item and charged through soft mud and grass to the front of the house. The elder Winchester hurried inside to find the house in good shape. His eyes scanned up and down and around as he proceeded through the front room. He picked up two scents: one human and one vampire. Hoping they left something behind, John started at one end of the room rummaging through papers and books but turned up nothing. Still, he didn't give up and moved on until he stopped in front of the desk. The letter was sitting out for anyone to see and John recognized the handwriting as Dean's.

As the sun sets the bird flies free from its gilded cage. Darkness falls across the land as the shadows stalk the light seeking to kill the hope it contains. Harbingers of evil walk the face of the Earth quelling all faith in those who oppose.

John paused and figured out what Dean was saying. He and Brooklyn were still alive but on the run from Alaric's goons. He continued reading on.

Freedom awaits those who fight. Agents of good trek a perilous journey and come upon the den of iniquity.

John realized where they were heading and grabbed the letter then raced out.

Dean found shelter for the night inside a rocky outcrop along a creek. It provided shelter from the approaching storm which was what they needed the most. The vampire laid out the cloak and allowed Brooklyn to stretch out on it. The soft wool didn't itch and gave enough protection from the hard ground. She looked up at the vampire with those wide grey eyes pulling him to her soul. Dean snuggled in beside her and pulled the cloak over them both. Lightning streaked across the sky followed by the relentless deluge from above. Brooklyn rolled over and buried her face in her vampire's shoulder. Dean kissed the top of her head and tugged the cloak tighter around their bodies as the storm went out of control all around them.

The vampire focused on the steady breathing of his human hearing how calm and rhythmic her heart was. He hoped they would reach Saint Louis then turn west to Denver. Dean wondered if Deacon had returned to the safehouse and found his note. Thunder clashed all around them but the rocky shelter held steadfast keeping vampire and human safe and dry. The vampire stayed awake keeping watch for any other bounty hunters as his human slept comfortably in his arms.

John headed along the back roads hoping to spot Brooklyn and Dean but the blinding sheets of rain prevented the vampire from seeing anything. He knew there was no other option but to pull over somewhere and wait for the storm to cease. The patriarch hoped his son and the human found a place to wait out the storm.

Next update soon....