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

Dean remained vigil by his human's side as she continued to rest. The vampire could see faint hints of color slowly start to return to her ashen skin giving Dean the hope she would soon be better. Her clothing hair and skin were soaked in sweat as it rolled down her arms face and neck in fat heavy drops. It was the fever I the last throes of its dominance over her small body, a sure sign his human was turning a corner in the fight against the infection within. He knew it was his blood running through her veins that allowed for this but it wouldn't turn her as he would have to drain her to the point of death then feed her his blood to make her one.

Brooklyn started to mumble incoherently in her sleep and instantly Dean had her in his arms.

"Shhhh, I'm here," he whispered softly. She appeared to hear him as she groaned and shifted towards his body. He looked down at her face watching the fire cast shadows upon the glistening skin giving his human an almost ethereal aura to her. Dean placed a hand upon her heart feeling the racing within had slowed slightly, another positive sign. He knew when Brooklyn woke up she would be thirsty and had water ready when the moment arose.

Dean knew they had to get to Des Moines as he knew it was the one place bounty hunters could not set foot in to find runaway humans. It was still almost another four days away to the North but they had to try. The French inhabitants had immigrated to the area and ruled by the powerful Bayeaux clan. They did not share the views on enslaving humans as other vampires and refused to let the bounty hunters in their city and make a mess of it in the search for runaway slaves. The Council, in response to this decree, refused to let any member of the family in the Council or Assembly but the hollow threat didn't change their minds. The family went so far as using physical means to get the bounty hunters out which earned the wrath of the Council, especially the Saltzmans. But the matriarch, Cassandra Bayeaux, waved off Nicholas's little fit as she was as wealthy if not wealthier than them and also had endless resources at her disposal.

The city was their last chance.

Dean grabbed the strip of cloth from his shirt and ran it over and around Brooklyn's neck and face hoping to give her some relief. The fire continued to provide the crucial warmth she needed to be comfortable and relaxed. Shivering would only impede the healing and every second was critical for them both. The vampire ran the cloth one last time over her skin before picking up the cup with the cool meadowsweet tea and poured a little bit more down her throat as it seemed to be helping keep her hydrated. It probably tasted better than the water on its own.

"Brook please get better," he leaned over and rested his forehead on hers. His fingers ran through her damp locks but it didn't matter to the vampire if they were wet or dry; what mattered was his human, healthy and well.

Cassandra Bayeaux was an impressive stature of a vampire. Her imposing frame and wavy black hair along with timeless green eyes was enough for anyone, human or vampire, to bow in her presence. She ruled the settlement known as Des Moines and commanded respect for all who resided or visited her domain. Like her family, she held a total disdain for slavery and found it rather vile to say the least. For humans to treated worse than cattle and in such degrading and dehumanizing manners made the vampire shudder as she stood at the window and watched the activity of the square below. Cassandra had received word about Dean Winchester making off with Alaric Saltzman's prized human slave and the news brought a smile to her ageless face. The Saltzman and Bayeaux clans weren't exactly the neighborly type to one another and that was fine with her. Their arrogance and sense of self entitlement was disgusting and the manner they carried themselves screamed pompousness. She preferred to be modest and down to earth with the residents of her beloved home. Many were former human slaves who found sanctuary amongst the vampires and existed peacefully with their undead neighbors.

The vampire suspected the renegade vampire and slave would attempt to come here and she had every intention of allowing them shelter.

"You wished to see me," Cassandra turned to find her top aide standing in the doorway. Castiel was smaller in stature but held a fierce loyalty to the Bayeaux family and on several occasions had the honor of expelling bounty hunters with his own two hands. He was dressed in simple pants and shirt with leather boots; his dark hair was slightly disheveled from what appeared to be laboring in his beloved garden. But the soulful blue hues of the vampire could strike into the very core of anyone who dared to look hard enough. They were a bright shade of cerulean as he approached the matriarch.

"Yes it has come to my attention that the Saltzmans are searching for Dean Winchester as he freed Alaric's prized slave. I want you to keep me posted on anything that happens. While I would intervene directly, I wish not to incite any war between clans. For centuries we've been able to harbor humans and allow them freedom that under other vampires is a mere dream. The action would give Nicholas Saltzman an opportunity to attack Des Moines and wipe us off the map."

"I will keep my ear to the ground as they say," he bowed before turning out to tend to his garden. Cassandra knew he would keep her informed as he had spied on the Council before posing as an assistant to one of the members. His confidence and beautiful features presented an advantage in gaining the confidence of other ruling members and clans. It was this way which kept Cassandra informed of the recent events in Missouri. She wished she could've seen the look on Alaric's face when Dean had snatched the human from his tainted hands.

Night fell across the sky as Dean remained in place by Brooklyn's side. Her body was soaked in a thicker layer of sweat as her body continued fighting the fever and expelling it from her weakened form. He continued wiping all exposed skin and wringing out excess moisture. The vampire had fashioned a small bowl from clay, found further back in the cave, to hold water for wiping her skin.

"Dean…." She groaned as her eyes slowly lifted open. Dean dropped the cloth and quickly took her hand in his stronger ones. The touch of her soulmate soothed her nerves as the human relaxed into him. A faint smile crept up on her lips.

"Hey….Welcome back," the vampire's voice was broken and brimming with emotion.

"Hurts….." she groaned.

"I know," he kissed her lips. "The tree hit you and nearly went straight through you."

"So tired……" she sighed heavily as her head rolled back on the side.

"Shhhh, just rest," he murmured. "When you're better we will head to Des Moines. They don't take too kindly to bounty hunters there. They let humans live in peace and freely among vampires."

"That would be nice," she shifted her eyes to his. "As long as I have you."

Dean grinned widely at her raw expressive tone and words for he too wouldn't go anywhere without her.

"How are you feeling besides tired?"

"Thirsty," her voice cracked. Dean nodded and fetched the canteen feeling the cool metal against his fingertips. He lifted his human up and balanced the opening to her waiting lips. Traces of the precious liquid spilled down her chin but the rest made it past her lips and trickled down the human's parched throat moistening the dry scorched surface within.

Brooklyn struggled to drink but ended up coughing and choking instead. Dean quickly put the water down and sat her up as she continued heaving and hacking. Her face turned red as she struggled to take in a breath.

"Brook it's alright," he ran his hand up and down her back until the coughing spell passed and felt the weight of her body lean into him. "You okay?"

Brooklyn draped her arms around his waist and felt as if her limbs were dead weights attached to her torso. She was in no shape to move and relied on Dean to reposition her on the cloak. The vampire was only but too happy to help her as she was awake after a day of waiting and worrying.

"I love you so much," he tightened his embrace and inhaled his human's scent despite the additional scent of sweat and infection. The rich earthen fragrance rose above the rest and filled his being with the familiar and comforting warmth that he experienced in the arena.

"I love you too," she whispered before falling back asleep.

"Brook?" Dean looked down and noticed she was now sleeping once again. But the vampire sensed it was not a sleep of sickness, but one of recovery and restoration of health. The deep steady breathing was music to his sensitive ears and Dean slowly lowered her back down on the cloak. He lovingly wrapped part of the thick wool over her body and sprawled out on his side, watching her sleep.

Maximilian was about a half day away from the river and the trail was still strong. The elder Saltzman knew it was because they weren't too far ahead of him now. He didn't wonder why they had slowed down and instead counted it as his good luck. The steed had begun to tire and the vampire acquiesced the exhausted beast and found a small clearing to light a fire and allow for his mount to rest. There was no need to push his horse hard when he was finally closing in on the vampire and human.

The fire burned brightly as he took a long hard drink of blood. It was about a day or two old but still good though Maximilian preferred fresh warm blood. The horse was happily chewing on a patch of fresh grass leaving him to his thoughts. Tomorrow the vampire hoped to have the human back to Alaric and Dean Winchester being dragged behind his horse with a rope around his neck.

Next update soon....