THE COLT

n an open road, Dean leans over the open bonnet of the Impala, looking at the engine. "Car trouble?" Dean turns to see Kate. "Let me give you a lift. I'll take you back to my place."

Dean grins. "Nah I'll pass. I usually draw the line at necrophilia." He says.

"Oooh." Kate backhands him, then grabs his face and lifts him into the air.

Dean grabs her wrist. "I don't usually get this friendly until the second date but..." Dean starts.

"You know we could have some fun. I always like to make new friends." She lowers him to her level and kisses him, still holding his cheeks tightly.

Another vamp watches, smiling. "Sorry. I don't usually stay with a chick that long. Definitely not eternity." Dean says.

An arrow pieces the other vamp's back, a second later the same happens to Kate. She looks down at the point sticking out of her chest. "Damn it. It barely even stings."

"Give it time sweetheart. That arrow's soaked in dead man's blood. It's like poison to you isn't it?" John asks. Kate looks shocked, then wavers and loses consciousness. "Load her up. I'll take care of this one."

John approaches the other vamp who is sitting groggily on the ground. Raising his machete, he brings it down. Camera cuts to blood spraying over a boulder.

campfire is burning. John hands Dean a bag and they move from the Impala's trunk back toward the fire where Sam is patrolling with a machete. "Toss this on the fire. Saffron, skunk's cabbage and trillium. It'll block our scent and hers, until we're ready." John says.

Dean begins sniffing it and coughing. "Stuff stinks!" He says.

"That's the idea. Dust your clothes with the ashes and you stand a chance of not being detected." John says.

"You sure they'll come after her?" Sam asks.

"Yeah. Vampires mate for life. She means more to the leader than the gun. But the blood sickness is going to wear off soon, so you don't have a lot of time." John says.

"A half hour oughta do it." Sam says.

"And then I want you out of the area as fast as you can." John says.

"But..."

"Dad you can't take care of them all." Dean says.

"I'll have her. And the colt." John says.

"But after. We're gunna meet up right? Use the gun together. Right?" Sam asks. Long pause. "You're leaving again aren't you. You still wanna go after the demon alone. You know, I don't get you. You can't treat us like this." He says.

"Like what?" John asks.

"Like children."

"You are my children. I'm trying to keep you safe." John says.

"Dad, all due respect but, that's a bunch of crap." Dean says.

Sam and John both look at Dean, shocked. "Excuse me?" John asks.

"You know what Sammy and I have been hunting. Hell you sent us on a few hunting trips yourself. You can't be that worried about keeping us safe." Dean says.

"It's not the Same thing Dean." John says.

"Then what is it? Why do you want us out of the big fight?" Dean asks.

"This demon? It's a bad son of a bitch. I can't make the same moves if I'm worried about keeping you alive." John says.

"You mean you can't be as reckless." Dean corrects.

John sighs. "Look...I don't expect to make it out of this fight in one piece. Your mother's death, it almost killed me. I can't watch my children die too, I won't." He says.

"What happens if you die? Dad what happens if you die and we coulda done something about it. You know I been thinking. I ...maybe Sammy's right about this one. We should do this together." Dean says and Sam nods. "We're stronger as a family Dad. We just are. You know it."

"We're running out of time. You do your job and you get out of the area. That's an order." John demands.

[ ☾]

vamp pulls up to where Luther and the others are waiting and heads towards them. "Is there any sign of those three? He asks.

"No. Something else." One Vamp says.

"What." Luther asks.

"Luther they cut off Frank's head!" The Vamp says.

"And Kate?" Luther asks.

"I don't know. She wasn't there. What are we gunna do?" The Vamp asks. The noise of a car distracts them. "It's just a truck up on the highway."

"Kate. She's in that truck." Luther says.

John's truck travels down the road. Kate sluggishly opens and closes her eyes in the passenger seat. After a moment headlights shine in the rearview mirror. Two cars approach quickly from behind.

At the nest, a vampire swigs from a bottle. Looking up, he moves to stand in front of the barn doors, considers them a moment, then shrugs and takes another swig.

He turns to find Dean Winchester behind him. "Boo." Dean swings his machete, then makes his way back to the locked container of people. "I told you I'd come back." He begins breaking the hinges.

John has to stop when the road is blocked ahead of him by Luther, three other vamps and two cars. "Get out!" Luther yells and John obeys. "Who are you?"

"Names Winchester." He says.

"Where are your friends?" Luther asks.

"Cleaning out your nest."

"Where's Kate?"

John turns back to the truck. "Come here sweetheart."

He pulls a groggy and tied up Kate out, holding a large knife to her throat. "Kate, you all right?" Luther asks.

"Dead Man's Blood." She says groggily.

"You son of a bitch."

"I want the colt. Elkins gun. Trade." John says.

"Is that what this is all about? I mean, you can't shoot us all right? We'll kill you." Luther says.

"Oh, I don't need it for you. I'm saving it for something else." John says while Luther still holds the gun. "Put the colt down, or she goes first."

"All right. Just don't hurt her." Luther says.

Luther places the colt on the ground. "Back up. Further." John orders. John drags Kate forward and leans down with her to pick up the gun. Kate works at the ties around her wrists.

"It's a nice move, you almost made it." Luther says.

Kate swings around, knocking John back against his truck. He drops the gun. Luther approaches, backhanding John back against his open car door, shattering the glass before he lands unconscious on the ground.

Luther approaches again. An arrow pierces one of the vamps and Sam and Dean run out of the trees, Dean pauses to line up and shoot another vamp with his crossbow. Sam moves toward Luther who backhands him. Dean grabs a machete and turns to help but Luther has his arm around Sam's throat

"Don't! I'll break his neck. Put the blade down." Luther commands.

For a moment Dean does nothing. Luther tightens his hold on Sam's neck, cutting off his air supply completely.

Dean drops the machete. "You people. Why can't you leave us alone. We have as much right to live as you do." Luther says.

"I don't think so."

Luther turns. John raises the colt and shoots him between the eyes. Luther lets go of Sam who stumbles away, gasping, and Dean pulls Sam behind him.

A sigil appears where the bullet hit Luther and he stumbles. A brief flash of light reflects his skeleton, before he falls to his knees.

"Luther!" Kate yells. Another flash of light passes through Luther and he slumps to the ground dead. Kate starts toward John. Another vamp grabs her, pulling her to their car. They take off, wheels screaming.

[ ☾]

am and Dean are packing. John enters. "So boys." They turn to face him.

"Yes sir." Sam says.

"You ignored a direct order back there." John says.

"Yes sir." Sam says again.

"Yeah but we saved your ass." Dean points out.

"You're right." John says.

"I am?"

"It scares the hell out of me. You two are all I've got. But I guess we are stronger as a family. So...let's go after this damn thing. Together." John says.

"Yes sir." Sam and Dean says at the same time.