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

Brooklyn watched the corpse burn in the night as Dean rested on the cloak. He was still healing from the attack and Brooklyn knew soon they would have to move.

Earlier in the day…..

It was three days since they had escaped and now were somewhere deep within Central Missouri. The route to Saint Louis was teaming with bounty hunters and others who wanted to cash in on the reward for Brooklyn. The vampire and human were forced to trek through less desirable avenues. The weather had went from cold pouring rain to warm and dry which allowed for their scent to linger upon the foliage as they pushed onward.

Brooklyn had to rest as the thick mud was bogging her down. Dean turned around and lifted her out with ease. Luckily it wasn't a large area to cover and soon they were back on hard ground. Their clothes were getting muddy and bogging Brooklyn down but she didn't say anything. The sun helped to dry her pants and shoes making progress easier as the day wore on.

It was about late afternoon when the vampire found them.

Brooklyn was resting on a large rock when Dean detected the scent. Immediately the vampire leapt from the tree where he had been keeping watch and raced back to his human. He broke through to the clearing but froze when he saw what awaited him. His fangs unsheathed at the tall vampire who held a knife to his human's throat. Brooklyn's eyes were wide with fear as the blade thinly sliced her skin.

"This little bitch is gonna be my windfall," he hissed. "You on the other hand…."

Dean kept his eyes trained on the intruder sizing him up as he planned what to do next. He watched the vampire lean into his human's ear and cruelly taunt her.

"When Alaric gets his hands on you…..I'd love to be the fly in the room for that little reunion…."

Brooklyn struggled and in the process the sharp edge of the blade cut deeper into her skin. The human's blood trickled down her neck and chest. Dean felt his anger sharply rise when the vampire licked the streams off her skin. His arrogance was what Dean needed to attack.

The vampire jumped from his spot then launched from tree to tree and landed hard on the back of the bounty hunter. Brooklyn landed on the ground with two vampires on top of her pressing her tight against the soil. She spied the knife several feet away and struggled to get free from her captor. Dean fisted the jacket of the attacker and lifted him off his human then hurled him against the large oak tree. While her vampire continued to battle with the bounty hunter, Brooklyn focused on getting the knife. Her sword was resting by her gear which was too far away. She had to act!

Getting to her feet, the human sprinted along the ground and snatched the deadly blade from the ground. It gleamed in the late day sun as it swung in her hand. It was crafted of silver which she knew would do the trick. As she rounded back to her vampire, she caught the bounty hunter lifting Dean up and smashing his limp body to the ground.

"Dean!" She screamed and forced her legs to move faster and harder. Her blood and adrenaline mixed together, giving the human strength and speed that nearly rivaled a vampire's. The bounty hunter grinned and flashed his fangs at her but the display merely enraged her as she tightened her grip on the handle and prepared to fight the vampire.

"Isn't this sweet? A little human thinks she can take me on," the vampire laughed with arrogance. The overconfident vampire had no clue who he was dealing with as she jumped from a dead sprint and kicked the creature in the throat. The hit sent him reeling backwards towards the ground as Brooklyn came at him. She held the knife with the precision of a seasoned hunter and danced around him waiting for her target to lunge out.

"You want me," she crouched down while continuing to move. "Come and get me."

The challenge was set and she waited for the bastard to get up. Brooklyn knew enough about vampires that their arrogance was an Achilles Heel for most but not all and this one was living up to that generalization. The dark haired vampire snarled like a dog at leapt to its feet. The orders were not to hurt the human or feel the wrath of Alaric. He could do it as he had done with thousands of other fugitive slaves in the past.

It took a swipe at her but Brooklyn ducked and shifted to the right. Her rich grey hues were focused on the vampire but she remained aware of her surroundings. It was one trait she had mastered well thanks to Markus. The vampire hissed and made another break for her but for his troubles was stabbed in the arm. The pure silver burned his flesh and skin which made it wail in pain. Its eyes went black with a cold anger that made Brooklyn shiver internally. But she held her ground, knowing it was more show than anything. Well this human wasn't going to surrender without a fight. She would rather die first than be Alaric's slave again.

Dean groaned and shook as the stab wound in his back refused to heal. The bounty hunter had laced the dagger with silver ensuring not only did it not heal but weakened him substantially.

The dagger…..It has silver on it too….

Brooklyn heard his words and changed tactics. When the vampire lunged she swiped at it hitting whatever exposed areas of skin she could. The more she stabbed and slashed, the weaker their would be captor became. It was like watching the matador and the bull do the dance of death. Dean tried to stand but crumpled to the ground with every attempt. He tried to dismiss the pain but the silver was potent and deadly depriving Dean of precious energy with each try to rise. Brooklyn grabbed her back and winced in pain as Dean writhed in agony on the ground. The vampire saw her drop to the ground and went on the offense. The sounds of heavy footfalls forced Brooklyn to open her eyes and spot the vampire as it came in for the proverbial kill. The sharp jolts coursed through her body putting her at the disadvantage. Still, she had to fight, had to win or suffer at the hands of Alaric. The thought of his hands running all over her body made the human bristle and force herself up.

Stand up Brook!

She heard Dean's voice echoing in her mind and like an obedient soldier she stood and crouched down with knife aimed for the vampire's heart. Brooklyn had one shot at this and had to made the hit count or else. She kept still with knife pointed outward and waited with baited breath.

"Just a little more…." She said beneath her breath. "Come on you bastard!"

Brooklyn jumped and screamed at the top of her lungs as she plunged the blade deep into the heart of the vampire. She twisted the handle not caring if blood splattered on her face and neck and hands. The vampire immediately froze and dropped to the soil as the human stabbed it over and over with its own weapon. Dean could only watch as the feral look took over his human's beautiful grey depths twisting her features as she continued to carry out her rage on the dying vampire. The swift deep stabbing motions made him cringe as he didn't realize how deep her fury went.

Brook….He's dead…..

Brooklyn snapped her head up at her vampire then looked down at the corpse of the bounty hunter. Instantly she dropped the blade and fell back on her bottom. Blood dripped from her fingers and collected in the soil staining it with red. Her eyes reverted to the soulful slate hues he loved so dearly. Brooklyn stood and hurried to her vampire as he lay there, weak and frail on the ground.

"Dean…." She caressed his face streaking it with thin ruby lines. Dean smiled weakly at his human feeling the poison eat away at his core. Brooklyn saw the full jade fade to a lighter, lifeless shade and felt the dread setting in.

"You're not dying on me," she still had the dagger in her hand and knew what had to be done. Brooklyn quickly cleaned her hand and grabbed for her sword as it didn't have silver on it then ran the sharp edge along her palm. The human hissed in pain as her skin was cut open and blood flowed freely through the wound to the surface. She dropped down and cradled Dean in her arms and steered the bleeding wound to his mouth. He didn't protest when the rich copper tang coated his tongue and throat and pierced her hand with his fangs. Brooklyn just held tighter as he fed from her and smiled down at him.

"Take what you need Dean, I'll be fine," she whispered. Dean didn't respond and continued to feed. The vampire could sense the blood of his soulmate penetrate every cell of his body, purging them of the foul substance. Brooklyn sighed in relief knowing he would be alright. After several moments more, Dean slowly withdrew and licked the wound closed feeling better but not up to full strength. Brooklyn spread the cloak out and maneuvered him onto the thick material before turning her attention to the remains of the vampire.

Dean laid there and observed as she set the corpse ablaze watching the flesh melt off the bones exposing solid white to flames and ash. The smell of charred flesh and entrails polluted the air but by the time any vampire figured out what was going on they would hopefully be long gone. Brooklyn watched the orange yellow and blue twist and dance around which brought a smirk to her face.

Present….

Brooklyn curled up beside Dean and held the sword in her hand, ready to use it if another unfortunate vampire dared to challenge them again.

"How are you feeling?" She asked her vampire. Dean smiled faintly and nodded his head at her.

"Better thanks to you," he whispered.

"Good," she smiled widely at him. "Now rest up."

He laughed lightly as she rolled over to face the fire and slowly closed his eyes.

Maximilian reached the cabin and tied his mount up in the woods. His unnatural sight monitored the cabin for any movement while his ears perked up for any sounds that may come from within. His lightly sniffed the air detecting nothing out of the ordinary though the recent rain had washed away any scent trails.

Satisfied no one was around he crept inside and looked around. Once he shut the door, Maximilian was bombarded with a tidal wave of scents and odors. He rounded the room as the scents increased in strength the closer he neared the bed and fireplace. The vampire paused at the bed and ran a gloved hand over the soft well made sheets. He pulled back his hand and inhaled the invisible trails on his fingertips. The sinister grin began to form when he picked up the scent of a vampire and human on the tips of leather.

"You were here," he said to himself. "I am on the right trail now. I have to be at least two days out from them."

Though he knew his brother wanted the human returned unharmed, Maximilian wanted to learn what made her so alluring to his brother that he would have such a high price upon her. A little taste wouldn't hurt anyone…..

As he turned around another scent caught his attention. It was stronger more powerful than the other two. He knew this scent but from where? The name escaped him as he hurried out the door and back to his steed. Whoever else was there was either looking for the human or helping them. He knew it was the scent of a vampire for no human could have such a commanding aura around them.

Quickly he mounted and directed his horse on the old dirt path leading away from the cabin. If Maximilian learned the identity of the other vampire he would make sure they paid for harboring something belonging to the Saltzmans.

Next update soon.....