The best of intentions I lay at your feet
And I need you to see past the worst part of me

I'm tired of taking my aim
When I keep on missing
There's gotta be a better way
Gotta be a better way

And every little word I say
Keeps getting twisted
Coming out wrong
So baby hold on
I'm tryin' to hit the mark
But I'm shooting with broken arrows
It's like I'm shooting with broken arrows

Chapter 19 Broken Arrows

Flagstaff, AZ

Hospital, ER

The double doors to the ambulance bay slid open, admitting a team of paramedics. I grabbed the foot of the stretcher, calling for another set of hands.

Evie looked up from her charting at the nurses station and dropped what she was doing, closing out her opened window on the computer system. She rounded the desk and stopped, looking horrified.

"Oh my God." She said softly, looking a bit green around the gills.

I glanced back, watching her take in the horrific sight of the man choking on his own blood while it spurted from a gaping, ragged wound on his neck. "Hey come on hon. We gotta get this man into a trauma room if we are going to be of any use to him."

She swallowed noticeably, then I saw her steel herself for the task ahead of us as we attempted to save the man's life.

I breathed a sigh of relief slipping into my nurse hat. There were times where I felt like I had way too many damn hats to juggle.

I pulled on the stretcher as a young resident joined us. The paramedics had rattled off their interventions done in the field. Now he was our problem.

Moving around the man who was still fighting for his life, I hooked up a yankauer suction catheter and began suctioning while Evelyn began calling the blood bank for O negative blood.

The resident had hooked the man up to an EKG machine. With how much blood this man was losing, I wasn't surprised a few minutes later when he flatlined.

I turned grabbing the ambu bag, fitting it over the man's face, while Evelyn began chest compressions.

We stopped after five cycles checking his rhythm while the resident ordered out instructions according to ACLS protocol. Continuing on in this manner for another fifteen minutes we switched out twice, when one of us looked like we would pass out from sheer exhaustion.

"All right." The resident said bitterly. "I'm calling it. Time of death 5:31 AM."

I huffed out a breath, damn.

I glanced at Evie, we would be stuck doing postmortem care. It wasn't exactly my favorite thing to do, it made me jumpy and paranoid. Hell with all of the things that went bump in the night and came back from the dead. It wasn't any wonder I didn't like it.

Evie and I were turning the man, Tucker Wallis, onto his side cleansing him of the blood that he'd gotten sprayed everywhere, when Evie spoke up. "What's weird," She said softly, looking Mr. Wallis over for further injuries, "He doesn't have any marks on him consistent with a cougar attack."

I looked him over quickly. She was right. I looked more closely at the wound on Tucker's neck. It was jagged, and had numerous holes from teeth, but the bite radius didn't seem like an animal. "Maybe it was a sneak attack, the animal didn't have time to do anything more than sink it's teeth into him?" I said softly. Something about this was nagging at me, only I wasn't sure what.

Looking over at the tray of instruments, I realized we didn't have enough gauze. "I'll be back, we need more gauze." I said sharing a look with Evie.

She wrinkled her nose in distaste. I raised my eyebrows. This definitely wasn't my idea of fun either.

"Fun times." She muttered as I walked out of the door. No kidding. I thought on my way to the supply room.

I bumped into someone on my way out of the supply closet. "Oh sorry." I muttered, walking around the man. But he was paying me no attention, he was too absorbed in his conversation.

"No dad...I'm serious something isn't right about this." He said. "An animal attack with no obvious signs of it being an animal other than the throat has been torn out. It's creepy. Our kind of creepy." The man said turning to look at me now as I eyed him curiously.

Although man was putting it mildly, the kid I was looking at still had acne. I looked a bit closer at his clothes he was wearing a suit, similar to the one I had in my closet. One that distinguished me as an FBI agent, or Homeland Security or whomever I was impersonating on a case.

And that conversation….. No way the actual FBI would have made it this fast. The man just died. I was looking at a hunter I was sure of it.

I made my way back to the trauma room where Mr. Tucker was, as Evie finished applying his toe tag. I wasn't in there very long before the kid I'd run into in the hall was in the trauma room with us.

"Ladies." The kid said attempting to make himself seem important. Evie and I looked at each other, attempting to hide our thoughts, the boy was a moron. He seemed to take a shine to Evelyn though as he leaned on the code cart that was still in the room.

"My name is agent Jones." He said with a cocky smile. "I'm with the FBI we are following up a lead on a case."

"Oh really," I said calling him on his shit. "This man just dies and already the FBI is circling around like a pack of vultures." I said with a nasty smile. "Nice."

Agent Jones looked at me, shocked. "Ma'am…" He said trying to interject.

"You know this man's family hasn't even been notified yet." I snapped. "Oh but since you're FBI you've already talked to them right?"

"Uh.." He faltered. "No ma'am I haven't." He said softly.

"Well then why don't you come with me I'll give you what little bit of information I know, while Evelyn here follows up on whether or not the doctor has even spoken to the family yet." I said nastily. I brushed by pizza face, snatching him up by his arm and dragging him out of Evie's earshot.

"Alright agent Jones." I said once I'd pulled him from the room and into a adjoining room that was unoccupied. "You happen to be trampling all over my damn case. I was here first." I said quietly. I'd been itching for a hunt. I'd spent some time off, forcing myself to work and take care of JJ. I couldn't really hunt with a baby under the age of one.

Agent Jones looked at me alarmed.

"Please don't pretend I didn't hear your conversation, I walked right into you." I said.

I cut him off ignoring his protest. "I'm not going to argue with you. This looks like a freaking vampire, and I'm not entirely certain vampires are real but I've been looking for one since I was about your age." I stopped glancing up at him. "What are you, like 15?" I asked.

He quit trying to act shocked and innocent. "Nineteen." He answered, looking at me curiously.

I glanced around as a surgical resident and a psychiatrist walked by our room. "Close enough." I muttered. Damn I feel old. Shrugging it off I continued. "Who even let you out of the house to hunt?" I asked.

"I'm of age." He said irritably. "I have no problem taking care of myself." He said his tone getting belligerent.

"All right, geeze simmer down." I hissed as his tone started to rise. Last thing we needed was the hospital staff to be looking at us too closely.

"You're a hunter?" He asked.

"Aren't you?" I responded answering his question with one of my own. Glancing around, I looked for another FBI agent.

Not spotting another monkey in a suit, I asked "Who are you hunting with? You're a little young to be on your own." I added.

His face darkened. "I'm just fine, lady."

"Lady?" I said stunned. "Didn't your parents teach you any manners?"

"My apologies ma'am." He said sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Dick." I muttered under my breath. I was way too young for this kid to be calling me ma'am.

I knew he heard me when I caught the shit eating grin on his face. Deciding to act like an adult, I swallowed my next retort. One of us needed to act our age.

I sighed, making an effort to keep a level tone of voice. "What's your name?" I asked.

"Jones." He responded, as if I wasn't quite bright.

I rolled my eyes and raked a hand through my hair. "Your real name." I said exasperated. This kid was getting under my skin.

"Matt." He answered.

"All right Matt. Nice to meet you, I'm Cole." I said, offering him my hand to shake.

He looked at it suspiciously.

"I don't bite." I told him, unable to resist the hint of sarcasm coloring my tone.

He reached out taking my hand and firmly shaking it. "What do you know about the case?" He questioned.

I pressed my lips together. "Not here." I said lowering my voice as an orderly was making his way into the trauma room to stock it. I pushed past Matt, making my way to the nurse's station. "I'm staying at the Best Western." I told him. "There's a diner in the parking lot. Meet you there in an hour after my shift?"

"I know it." He said walking a pace or two ahead of me.

Motel Room

Making my way back to my motel room, I unlocked the door, throwing my key on the table by the television. Mrs. Presley looked up as I entered the room, she was sitting on the second bed giving JJ a bottle.

I smiled at her. She was a kindly older woman I had met during a poltergeist hunt. She'd lost her husband to the thing. She had no one left for her, her children were grown and had children of their own.

Rufus had called me for help on account of it being the Sabbath, and he wasn't into working the case. That had been fine with me, he didn't want to hunt, I didn't want to leave my child in daycare. I'd never heard Rufus mention if he had children, but he'd taken care of JJ like a pro during the poltergeist hunt.

Mr. Presley, George, had been thrown from a second story window, very similar to the attack on Beth some years ago. Only George's heart had been too weak to handle the shock, and the fall.

When Charlotte found out I'd left my infant with Rufus, she'd immediately offered her services in return for the aid I'd given her with the poltergeist. She and George had been retired and living on social security. They were almost ready to start traveling, having put their house up for sale when their family home suddenly became the breeding ground for a very active spirit. Instead of buying a travel trailer once her husband and the poltergeist were gone, Mrs. Presley had opted instead to hit the road with me, helping me care for my infant son, while I hunted and worked.

"Early start dear?" She asked knowingly.

"Not exactly." I said with a light laugh. "This little guy woke up just as I was fixing to hit the road. You were still out so I decided to let you sleep." I said, picking up JJ and hugging him to me.

"I met up with another hunter at the police station." I remarked, running my thumb across a small pimple JJ had developed.

Charlotte looked fascinated. "Oh?" She said faintly.

I glanced up when I heard her tone.

"Is he cute dear?" She asked.

My eyes widened. "No way." I denied quickly. Then regretting it I tried to cover my fast reply. "I am so not going there." I said vehemently.

Charlotte's expression faltered and she looked concerned. "Cole…" She began, then paused for the right words. "I… I'm worried about you." She said.

I frowned. "What do you mean?" I asked, Charlotte wouldn't have said anything if she hadn't had reason to be worried. I sat down on the edge of the mattress beside her.

"You rarely ever go out." She said softly. "When you do you come in early in the mornings, it's practically daylight. You always seem to be sloshed." She stopped abruptly, as JJ started fussing.

I swallowed, refusing to answer. When JJ settled again, I raised my gaze to meet Charlotte's eyes. She smiled sadly. "Sweetheart, you forget, I lost my husband too. What happened to JJ's father?"

Drawing back into myself, I hugged JJ to me, using my infant son as a shield to protect me from painful memories. "He died." I said simply. Leaving it at that. I felt tears pricking at my eyes, but I refused to show them. "He promised me he would always be there, that he would never leave me. Then not even three weeks later he made a deal that took him somewhere I couldn't follow." My voice sounded foreign and hollow to my own ears. I didn't sound like me. I sounded cold and calculating, merely stating facts. On the inside I wanted nothing more than to scream and rage and beat something, to make the pain I was feeling visible and validated on the outside.

"He did it for someone he cared about?" She probed, cautiously.

Nodding, I handed JJ back to her so I could go and get ready to meet Matt. "He did it for his son. He always loved his children and did everything he could to protect them."

She frowned, "He has other children?" She questioned.

I turned my back on her pulling a soft pair of jeans from my duffel and a thin long sleeved shirt, and a jacket to. "Yeah I grew up with his kids, they're like siblings to me. His two sons are closer to me than if I'd had brothers and he took in another girl that was his best friend's daughter when she was fifteen. Then I had to go and get pregnant. Now they have a little brother." I said with a small smile down at JJ.

Charlotte opened her mouth to ask more questions but I was done with the questions, I pushed into the bathroom locking the door behind me. Inside the bathroom, I ran the water scalding hot, I washed my face, crying out the tears I always felt when John was mentioned. The heat from the water, made my face scarlett. hiding the fact that I'd been crying.

I turned off the water and looked at my reflection. I hadn't been enough, he didn't love me enough to stay with me. I closed my eyes against that realization. My love hadn't been enough to change a man like John Winchester. I found myself both loving and hating the man that he'd been.

When I came out of the bathroom, Charlotte and JJ were nowhere to be found, but there was a note taped onto the door. They'd headed across the street to the diner. I turned back giving my reflection one last once over. I looked nice enough to meet up with an unruly teenager.

Diner

Two days later

"Okay, so what I can't figure out is why in the hell we can't find anything from before the past few weeks. It's like these vampires are new to town or something." I said tiredly, rubbing my eyes.

Looking across the table at Matt, he just looked bored. He was staring at my clothes, more likely my boobs, which totally needed to be emptied at this point. I was sore, swollen and aching from having just worked a twelve hour shift, only to have Matt call me and tell me that another victim had been found drained of blood.

"My face is up here." I snapped tiredly. I yawned unable to help myself.

"So are you impersonating a nurse?" He asked. Glaring at him I opened my mouth, but he was already firing off another question. "Why am I stuck doing all the research?" He complained.

"Because you can't keep yourself from complaining." I snapped at him. The kid's eyes had once again drifted downwards. I narrowed my gaze, which conveniently landed on the ice water the waitress had just brought me. Dipping my napkin into the freezing water, I wadded it up, chucking it at Matt's face.

He jumped, and exclaimed. "What the…"

I straightened pulling off my best stern, I mean business expression. "Keep your eyes on mine, or I will let you get eaten!" I snapped.

"Okay, geeze. Touchy." He said, looking at least a little guilty. After a few moments pause he spoke up. "So are you impersonating a nurse?" He asked again.

I sighed, yawning again. "No, I'm not impersonating a nurse. I am a nurse." Looking down at the man's picture gave me pause. I needed a few hours sleep.

"Right now, I work at Flagstaff Medical Center on a thirteen week contract." I answered. I looked up at Matt's face needing a minute to think. I was running on fumes.

The waitress chose that minute to bring our food. I sat back, cleaning the files off of our table. First I was going to eat, then get back to the case at hand.

"My dad is a doctor." Matt offered, buttering his french toast and cutting up his eggs.

I looked up at him, barely registering what he'd said as he grabbed the syrup. He didn't bother to wait for me to respond, he just chattered away. "He works in one of the Level One Trauma Centers in the State, Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix."

"So if your dad's in Phoenix, how'd you end up working a case here?" I asked.

"I'm in school here." He said. "I'm pre med at NAU." His air took on a self importance that, I'd noticed when he was trying to chat up Evelyn.

I raised my eyebrows, unimpressed, and took a bite of my bacon. "Fantastic." I commented dryly. "Another future boss."

Matt's face darkened and he shot me a furious look. I smirked at him.

"So what are we missing?" I said, turning my attention back to the files in my hand. "This man was in his later forties. He kept to his family. He had a wife and a young son." I huffed out an irritated breath, turning my gaze to the picture of the small family in my hand.

The boy was young, maybe two or three years old. The man's wife had to be at least ten years younger than the victim.

I closed my eyes, and picked up a second photograph of the other family. Same basic demographics. A young family, with a single child. The father died by exsanguination.

"Are we even sure vampires are real?" Matt asked. He was staring at the photos of the first deceased's autopsy report, with a concerned look on his face. "I mean I know that's our working theory here. But really, my family's been hunting for about eight years now and we haven't ever heard of vampires."

"I know." I responded in kind. "I've been doing this a lot longer than you, and I haven't heard of vampires either." I sighed, rubbing my hand across my forehead. I was beginning to get a headache. "I need to pee." I said suddenly. "I'll be back, while I'm gone keep looking see if you can figure out a connection."

I headed to the back of the small diner, pulling out my cell phone as I went.

I dialed in Beth's number and waited for her to pick up, while I made my way to the hallway between the two bathrooms.

"Hey Cole." She answered, recognizing my number on caller ID. "What's up?" She asked.

"Hey Beth." I said hoping for a relatively quick phone call. "Not much, working, and you know… hunting." I said softly.

I heard a momentary pause on the other end of the line. "Hunting?" She said. "With a baby?"

I winced at the sound of her voice, raised slightly in my ear. My finger hit the button to turn down the volume. "Well, I don't take him with me Beth," I replied.

"You don't take him… seriously? That's what you….. You know what, I just can't today. Talk to Dean." There was the sound of the phone being handed over and then Dean's voice was in my ear.

"Yo, short stack… what's going on?" He asked, a wary tone to his voice.

"What the hell is her problem?" I asked, sighing. "Look, Dean, I didn't call to fight."

"Who's fighting?" He asked.

"Okay, whatever. What's going on with you guys?" I asked, hoping he'd go for the change of subject before I upset Beth further.

"Not much. Beth and I are having a few days downtime," he replied. I could hear the car running in the background, the hum of the motor and the sound of the blacktop passing by. They were driving somewhere.

"Oh yeah? Where you going?" I asked curiously. It wasn't like Dean and Beth to take time for themselves.

"Nowhere in particular," he said , "so what's going on with this case you're on? Why did you call?"

I sighed, he wasn't going to give me anything. Something was going on with them, though, and I would eventually get to the bottom of it.

"I'm working a case in Flagstaff. Two family men, both have been drained of blood. Did John ever mention… vampires… to you guys?" I asked, hoping he might just laugh at me.

"Vampires?" He asked. "Yeah, they're real."

"Whoa really?" I asked, floored. No one had ever told me any different.

"Yeah, they're nasty. Maybe we should swing by and help you with this?" Dean asked and I could hear Beth talking in the background.

"No, no!" I insisted. I didn't want to intrude on what I assumed was grieving time for them. "I'm fine. It's all under control, and I got a … kid… hunter… person here helping."

"A kid?" Dean scoffed.

"He's of age!" I snapped, realizing I was getting just as defensive of Matt, as he had been to me.

I saw Matt getting up from the booth. He was talking into his cell phone and a concerned look came over his face. He caught my eye, motioning to me. I nodded, time to go.

"Speaking of which, we gotta go. Don't worry, we've got this. You and Beth enjoy your time off, you both need it." I said quickly.

"Yeah okay, well...be careful okay?" he said. "Check in when you're done killing the vampire."

"I will." I answered. I heard the click on the other end of the line as Dean hung up on me. I closed my phone and made my way towards Matt.

"Okay thanks we're on our way." He said his tone even and professional.

I threw some cash down onto the table, and grabbed my jacket, moving with him to the door. "They found two more victims." Matt said somberly. "We've got to meet them at the crime scene."

Nodding, I pushed open the door. "I've gotta change but I'll meet you there. Have they identified the victims yet?"

Matt's reply was tense. "Yeah the wife and child of the first victim." He said quietly.

My heart sank and I tasted a bitter tang in my mouth.

Crime Scene

Hour and half later

I'd changed from my scrubs and into my suit, the pencil thin skirt, and dove grey top complimenting my figure nicely. Matt and I strode past the police line as though the barriers weren't there, taking no notice of the crowd that had gathered outside the victim's' house.

Once inside the house I spotted detective Riggs, who had seemed skeptical about the FBI's involvement in the case from the beginning. The look of relief on his face was tremendous, he excused himself from his current conversation with the CSU tech and made a beeline for Matt and I.

"I don't think I've ever been so happy to see the Feds in my career." He said lowering his voice.

"Who discovered the victims?" I asked forcing my voice to remain steady. I looked around at the blood splattered all over the walls. There was blood soaking into the couch, sprayed over the fireplace, even large amounts visible on the ceiling.

The sight was enough to make me queasy. "The neighbor. She's apparently been coming by to check up on the widow, and see if she needs anything." Riggs shook his head, pulling his gaze away from the red walls. "Apparently today no one answered her, and she came into the house. And discovered the wife and child both dead."

I bit my lip as a couple of techs picked up the young woman's body and fit her into a coroner's bag. I pulled my gaze away as they lifted her onto a stretcher.

The little boy was still sprawled out, his throat torn open, he had tear tracks mingling with the blood marring his face. I looked away as another man brought over a body bag, picking him up and fitting him onto a stretcher as well.

"What in the Hell kind of nutjob would do this?" Riggs asked. He huffed out a breath clearly trying to maintain his composure.

I closed my eyes, swallowing back the lump in my throat. The less this cop knew the better. Matt and I would handle this.

"Your guess is as good as ours at this point." Matt said, staring with glassy eyes at the child's teddy bear on the sofa.

With a sinking heart I knew exactly who these vampires would be going after next. The wife and child of the second victim. Matt turned and met my eyes and for a brief moment I saw the hunter he would one day become. He just had some growing up to do first.

Late the next night

Second Victim's House

It was almost midnight. I glanced out at the stars from behind the windshield of the truck, they gave off plenty of light for our impromptu stakeout.

I picked through the pile of junk food between Matt and I on the center console.

"This is a sweet truck." He said, picking up the last piece of twizzler from the package. "Does it belong to your boyfriend?" He asked munching obnoxiously on the piece of plastic candy.

I turned away from him, studying the house that the widow and her baby currently were residing in. "No." I answered simply, not giving him anything to work with.

"How did you get it?" He asked, "It can't be yours. This truck belongs to a man not a chick." He said self assuredly.

I sniffed, forcing back a lump of emotion, I had no business displaying right now. I allowed a small smile to cross my face, thinking of the man this truck had belonged to. "Belongs to a chick now." I said smugly.

"This beast is a beauty." He said appreciatively.

I smiled at Matt in agreement. "It truly is." I said, the things that made this vehicle truly dear to my heart could never be replaced. I recalled the many times John and I had sat in the middle of a stake out in this very truck. How many arguments we'd had over foolish ideas that I'd come up with. Many of which made no logical sense.

I shifted subtly as I recalled more personal memories, how the drawling voice of the man coupled with the vibrating roar of the engine could make me squirm in anticipation, even in the middle of an argument where his tone held more promise and heated desire than any type of anger.

I snorted softly, thinking how it must have been a miracle that our son wasn't actually conceived in this truck. Taking in a deep steadying breath I forced my mind back to the task at hand, protecting the innocent.

"How long have we been out here?" Matt asked, looking past me to study the house.

"Two nights." I answered which earned me an eyeroll. I smiled a small half smile. I just couldn't help myself I had to take the sarcasm out on the kid. To his credit he was giving it right back to me. Besides, I was enjoying myself on a good old fashioned monster hunt.

I reached out beside the junk food, my fingers circling a crudely carved wooden stake. I sniffed looking at the tip incredulously.

"Where'd you learn to whittle?" Matt questioned. "Your stake has a curved point." He pointed out helpfully.

I narrowed my eyes at him, my hackles raising. "I figured it out." I replied a light tone coloring my voice.

He snickered. "You should have taken a wood shop class, they covered it, then it would look more professional."

Unable to help himself Matt laughed again, "Don't worry we're here to save you." He said in a mocking voice. "Oh shit the end snapped off my stake," He turned to an imaginary victim. "Ma'am do you have a wooden spoon I can borrow? I need to stake the vampire that is attempting to eat my buddy.' and all the while the vampire is going to be throwing me around the room."

"At least it'll be funny." I remarked. "While our innocent is looking for the wooden spoon, I'll cheer the vampire on."

"Hey!" He protested. I chuckled at the expression on his face. All laughter disappeared from his face and his expression hardened.

"What?" I asked. Turning, I glued my gaze to the house trying to find what had made him all business.

"I saw a shadow sliding around the back of the house." He said.

I stared out into the darkness trying to see what he had seen. "I don't see anything." I said.

"I'm telling you I saw something." He insisted. His hand moved to the handle of the door.

"Wait." I insisted. "Let's say you did see something, you can't just barge in, what if you saw the shadow of their dog and you run off half cocked? You've burst into someone's home, in the middle of the night for no reason." I said trying to calm him down, and get him to think.

He shifted uncomfortably, unwilling to stay put. "I know what I saw." He defended.

"I know you do." I said. "I'm just asking you to wait." I placated.

Matt subsided, his gaze looking troubled.

I bit my lip studying the house. A baby began to cry from inside the house.

Matt twitched, his hand inching to the door.

"Wait." I repeated. "It's probably nothing. Babies wake up at all hours of the day and night." I tried again, to get Matt to relax. I didn't want to go to jail tonight.

Five minutes passed, the baby was still crying, the mom didn't appear to be waking up. Matt finally relaxed, his gaze apologetically, finding mine.

An ear-splitting scream, reached our ears. I lunged for my own handle, throwing the door open. My other hand clenched firmly around the stake. Jumping down out of the truck I slammed the door, bolting across the yard. Matt, reached the chain link fence separating one yard from the next and jumped over it.

Unable to make it over the fence, I had to go through the gate. Matt had the door open by the time I reached the porch and he'd already disappeared inside the house. Looking through the dark interior of the house, I found the stairs. I slowed, creeping up them, I wasn't hearing any other signs of a struggle.

I heard a woman sobbing on the landing. When I could see the second story from my position on the stairs, I paused. A dark haired woman had the second man's widow pinned against the wall by her throat. I looked across the landing to Matt who was standing back with the baby in his arms.

"No one move!" The vampire ordered. I heard a growling hiss, coming from over by Matt, he had his gaze on a second vampire, one I couldn't see. "We're waiting on another to join us." She said turning to look over her shoulder at me. "Come on up here sweetheart." She said, a malicious smile coming over her face.

I hesitated, moving slowly up the last couple of steps. When I reached the landing, she spoke again. "You are a hard woman to get to show up." She said.

"I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting." I said my manners kicking in. If I could keep her talking, I could distract her so Matt could stake her.

The dark haired vampire threw her head back and laughed. "You and I are going to take a long while getting to know each other." She said.

I shot her a look of disbelief. "I don't know who you are, monster, so why are you picking on me?" I asked my voice even.

"You hunters, you think you're the only ones entitled to life." She said, her gaze falling on the sobbing widow in her grasp. "You're irritating me. Shut up and I might let you live."

The woman stopped crying abruptly, hiccuping, as she fought back her sobs.

I groaned internally, I could now make out the second vampire, she was a blonde woman, and she had her sights on Matt. Blood dripped freely from her chin. Squinting in the dark, I could make out blood on the blankets of the baby, He looked to be maybe two, just barely old enough to walk, but he pressed his hands to the wound on his neck, attempting to stop the blood flow.

So if mom was keen to give us a hand, we outnumbered the vampires, or at the very least we were evenly matched. I turned my attention back to the woman who appeared to be in charge. "All right, let's everyone be cool, yeah?" I said attempting to backpedal.

The blonde vampire was dead, she'd fed from a toddler. She was so dead. The dark haired one, I wanted some answers from her. Then she was going to die too. "Monster, what's your name? Mostly so I can quit calling you monster." I said, attempting to defuse a bomb. Or piss her off into making a mistake, since I couldn't quite quit calling her monster.

"Oh your husband didn't tell you?" She said with a grin. "Well no wonder you don't know who I am." She said. "I'm Kate." She finished.

I gave her a blank stare. "Him?!" I said gesturing to Matt. "He is NOT my husband." I was offended. I had better taste than him.

Matt rolled his eyes, shooting me a look. "Pretty sure she isn't talking about me Cole."

Kate leaned into the woman who was silently still weeping. "Don't move." She snapped, tossing the woman from her as though she was nothing. I winced as she hit the floor. The woman rolled onto her side, attempting to push herself up, but her gaze met Kate's.

Kate shook her head, and the woman froze.

She turned looking at me. "You learn a bit about someone, when they've brought the devil into their sanctuary." She commented. "For instance, the old man wore a ring, on a very special finger."

Old man, ring….John. He had to have run up against this vampire. Thinking back I tried to remember if he'd told me about a vampire hunt. He hadn't. Not surprising. Even with me John loved to play things close to his chest. He was so set on keeping everyone around him safe, while he pulled all the kamikaze missions. That asshole.

The brunette vampire, stalked me, eyeing me up. "So, I think it's safe to say, tall dark and handsome is your type…. What are you doing with this kid then?" She asked.

"You were sloppy, leaving tracks all over the place, kid beat me here is all." I responded.

She tilted her head looking at me with a mocking grin. "No sweetheart, not sloppy. Intentional." She clarified.

I fought not to roll my eyes, I saw the pattern now, older men, younger women, a new child. I was her intended target, no one else. All these victims were dead because of me. Because of the man I chose to love.

"Fuck." I muttered bitterly.

Kate seemed amused when she heard me curse. "Finally!" She gloated. "Thought I was gonna have to draw you a map!"

I glared at her. "Your beef is with me, because of what he did to you, whatever that was. Great. I'll be your pound of flesh." I said bitterly. "But you let this woman, her baby, and my partner walk outta here!" I bargained.

Kate drew in a breath, giving it some thought. "You are the one I want…" She mused. "Okay."

"Wait, ok?" I asked, trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.

"Kate!" The other vampire snarled, looking furious at being denied a meal.

"Shut it Angie" Kate growled her eyes flashing, actually flashing, at Angie. "She's right," Kate gestured at me. "She is the one I want, I'd have settled for Winchester, but someone already beat me to it." Turning, she faced the woman on the carpet, "Go and get your baby. You're free to go." She said.

Matt stepped forward holding a hand out to help the woman up. When she was on her feet, he moved in behind her, blocking the second vampire's path to her, protecting her. His troubled gaze met mine. He didn't like this idea at all.

"It's fine." I said attempting to ease his fears, "Just get them safe."

Matt swallowed, his jaw clenching, and moved with the woman and the baby past me.

Kate, Angie and I stood staring at one another, I was still armed, a stake in my hand, a fact that neither one of them seemed concerned about.

Angie looked at me her gaze broody and hungry. "Guess I'm dinner." I announced as we heard the woman sobbing and Matt slamming the door to the woman's vehicle.

Opening her mouth, her eyes flaring hungrily at me, Angie announced. "I don't like my food to talk back." I glared at her openly while we were discussing eating me. "I like them young, before they've learned to talk, and terrified, all that screaming and crying, the adrenaline laced blood is like a fireball soaking up in my cells." She said.

"Well I don't plan on screaming or crying." I said being honest and raining on as much of their parade as I could.

Kate had taken to studying me, like an insect under a microscope and I didn't like it. She took a deep breath, moving towards me. I flinched, but forced myself to hold my ground as she reached out a hand to touch me. I shivered as her cool skin, met the skin of my collarbone, her finger laying a trail. Her eyes met mine and I detected something else within those depths. A heat that had nothing to do with hunger, or a hunter being after her and I squirmed uncomfortably. Ick.

"Hey whoa, I don't do chicks, monster, demon, or human." I said "I'm not being a….yeah I just… No!" I said.

"You're a hunter, only their afraid to die. Or most of them are, some aren't. You're not afraid to die." She said inquisitively. Then she chuckled. "You afraid to live forever?" She asked.

I drew in a breath, and my eyes widened. Shit. Just how in the hell was I going to get myself out of this one?

Kate turned away, "Let's go." She said. I turned, attempting to precede them down the stairs, and Angie, grabbed my arm roughly.

"Don't think so hamburger; you're staying right between us where I can keep an eye on you." She quipped. I rolled my eyes but went with her, attempting to puzzle my way out of this mess. "Hey this one has a kid right, she and the hunter who trapped you they have a kid together? That's why we chose this particular pattern?"

Sighing, Kate responded. "Yes, Angie."

Angie laughed, "Perfect. So Kate can eat you, and I can have your baby." My mouth watered and I fought back the signs of impending nausea. The images of the crime scene from the house flashing through my mind. What had been done to that baby, this bitch was offering to do to my son.

Faltering, I stumbled down a few of the stairs, before falling. Angie still had her arm on mine, and she faltered with me. Our combined weight took us down the stairs, bowling Kate over in our wake. I landed on my back, Angie was a hairsbreadth behind me and I brought the stake up about chest height praying she landed just right.

She did. What I wasn't prepared for was the fact that she was still alive, wasn't she supposed to shrivel and dry up and possibly blow away when the AC kicked on? I panicked as her second set of teeth descended and she bit down on my shoulder, using her sharp teeth, to saw back and forth around my collarbone doing maximum damage.

I cried out, a scream erupting from mouth, as she attempted to break the tender bone. Gritting my teeth, I pushed at her trying to get her off of me. Damn, she was really dug in there.

I changed tactics, bringing both hands up and slamming them to her ears hoping to disorient her. It worked and she released me with a cry of pain as white noise transitioned in her brain into vertigo and dizziness.

Shoving her off of me, I looked around for Kate who had Matt up against the wall, her teeth in his neck. I stared shocked at them, as his cold lifeless eyes stared back at me.

Shit. Shit. Shit…. I'd never been one to be a coward, but if I stayed here, I would die. Then my son would die. And Charlotte. I wasn't dumb enough to believe that they would leave the innocents alone either. I sprinted to my truck, throwing the door open and climbing up inside.

I slammed the door and turned the key, gunning the engine and peeling off down the road. Looking in my rearview I saw Kate and Angie out in the street. I held my hand to the wound in my collarbone, and felt grainy bits mixed in with the blood. She really had been trying to saw my bone in half with her teeth.

Reaching into my jacket pocket for my phone, I dialed dad's number. That was when I realized I was shaking.

"Dad." I said when I heard the line click on the other end. "How the hell do I kill these things?" I asked. Pain lacing my voice.

"Cole are you okay?" My dad asked me worriedly. "What do you mean honey, how do you kill what?"

"The vampires." I said speeding towards the road that lead me to the highway. "Dammit no I'm not okay!" I snapped, taking the turn onto the entrance ramp too fast and feeling the back tires of the truck fishtail dangerously. "I messed up. And now they have my scent and they're after me." I snapped.

"Dad they already knew me." I confessed. "This was all a trap for them to get to me, and they're after JJ too. Dammit dammit dammit." I said trying not to get worked up.

"Calm down honey, it's going to be okay." He was trying to reassure me, only it wasn't working.

"No Dad it isn't. Something happened on a hunt with this vampire, John let her live, maybe she got away, I don't know but this was a trap for her to get John." I said, struggling not to cry, the pain in my neck was killing me.

"Cole where are you?" He asked.

"The Best Western. But you can't come and rescue me." I said exasperatedly. "It'll be too late by the time you get here. Just tell me how to kill them." I said as I exited off of the highway and made it to the turn off for the motel. I slammed the truck in park and took thirty seconds to compose myself.

"I'm about a block off from the hotel. How the hell do I kill them?" I repeated.

"Decapitation." Dad said point blank. "Dead man's blood should weaken them." He added.

I couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face. I'd loved that particular group of lessons I was good with a machete. "Fantastic." I said. "I love you I'll call you when it's done."

I moved around to the back of the truck and hit the automatic switch to roll out the weapons cache. I grabbed the black handle of John's machete, and took a deep breath. "Hello gorgeous." I said softly.

The machete in my grasp, I closed the cache up, hitting the button to lock it down.

Opening the door on the drivers side, I threw the machete on the seat, and finished the drive to the motel. I had to get Charlotte and JJ to safety and then figure out how to deal with these vampires.

I left the truck unlocked and the key in the ignition, and froze when I saw the motel room door, it was already open. They'd beaten me here? No way Charlotte would leave the door open... Taking a step back, I frowned, knowing I needed to go in there but I was worried about being able to safely get JJ and Charlotte free.

Where were they? I bit my lip and closed my eyes for a minute trying to recall the layout of the room. There would be someone, behind the door, that corner was perfect for a vampire to hide. I could almost see there would also be a vampire along the wall where the window was, possibly two. I could imagine that Kate would have my son. Or at least I prayed she would, keeping him from Angie's grasp. She wanted me, the quickest way for her to get to me was to have hold of my son.

The door swung open with an ominous creak. I peered into the dark interior of the room, trying to see where my enemies were. I stepped cautiously inside, unable to see a thing. I was going to have to go off other senses. I heard movement as two vampires rushed me, coming from the wall with the window on it. I ducked the first, and elbowed the second in the face, I lifted my machete, slicing through his neck with it. I didn't have enough power to cleanly separate his head from his shoulders, and it dangled. The sight caused my stomach to turn.

The first vampire spun back around, grabbing my arms, and disarming me with a sharp twist to my arm. I groaned at the pain, and snarling, switched my blade into the other hand. My fingers went numb: pins and needles coupled with sharp electric bursts of pain. My arm was broken and it was the same side as my wound.

Feeling someone grab me from behind, locking my arms to my sides. I glanced over my shoulder, looking for the vampire who held me. A small cry of despair escaped: I was staring into Matt's eyes.

The vampire from behind the door moved into place, blocking the door. I heard a familiar engine roar outside in the parking lot, and the sound galvanized me into action. I kicked backwards, catching Matt against his knee, causing him to release me. I ducked, staying low as the door burst open and Beth appeared, brandishing her machete. She assessed the scene in a glance and then swung. The vampire who was guarding the door was no longer in the game. I spun around looking for my own weapon. Beth's was bloodstained and dripping. Dean entered shortly after her, armed and looking dangerous.

Kate had Charlotte and JJ backed into a corner, the older woman bravely holding on to my child. I moved toward them, when Angie burst forward, launching herself at me. We collided, falling to the ground. She was on top of me almost immediately, pinning my broken arm down. I yelled in pain, and suddenly Dean was standing over us, swinging. I flinched as warm blood sprayed over my face. He grinned, helping me to my feet.

Beth had already reached Kate and engaged. I looked around for my machete, and Dean turned to face Matt. "This the hunter?" He asked, and I nodded silently, picking up my weapon with my good hand.

"Damn."

"Dean!" Beth yelled, and we moved in unison as she landed a kick to Kate's stomach, shoving her back toward us and away from Charlotte and JJ. Dean moved fluidly, catching the vampire from behind, and with one blow severed her head completely.

Matt had closed in, stalking me while Dean's back was to him, his attention centered on Kate. I didn't want to kill him. "I'm sorry." I whispered, tears clogging my throat. I stepped toward him and swung my machete one last time. Maybe he hadn't expected me to do it, but he didn't move. Matt's malevolent gaze never left mine, staring accusingly at me.

For a minute we all stood staring at each other and the carnage in the room. Then, with a chuckle, Dean spun his machete around in a ridiculous display of skill and grinned at me. "Batman," he said.

"You guys got here just in time." I said by way of a greeting, rolling my eyes at him.

Beth's gaze flicked from me to Dean. She finally shook her head, sighed and turned toward Charlotte who was staring in shock.

"We know her," Dean nodded to Kate's head.

"Yeah, she said it was revenge against your Dad."

Dean nodded silently, his brows furrowed. "Should have killed her when we had the chance."

"You should have told us to come help you," Beth said. "If we hadn't…" her voice trailed off, and she simply gestured to the vampires all around us, and then to JJ.

I drew my brows together, "How was I supposed to know they were after me?" I asked incredulously. "I didn't purposely put him in danger Beth." I said trying to quiet my voice.

"That's not the point, Cole.." She snapped. She turned away from me, looking Charlotte over. "You okay?"

Charlotte nodded her head. "Yeah I'm fine."

"We can take you back to your house." Beth said to her.

"I'm staying here." Charlotte answered, "I've been helping Cole take care of JJ for a while now."

Beth shot me a look, that said she clearly had more to say. "Great Cole. Just great! Not only did you put your life in danger, you also put JJ's life in danger. And a civilian.. What is wrong with you?" She demanded.

Drawing in a sharp breath, I recoiled drawing into myself. It wasn't often Beth chewed me out over anything. I was so taken aback I just stared at her, with a sinking feeling that she was right.

"I didn't do it on purpose." I said trying to defend myself again. Beth barely acted like she heard me.

"Well that changes everything, doesn't it?" She said hotly. "What if something had happened to you? What if you hadn't come back home?" She said.

I stared, unable to meet her gaze, I dropped mine to the carpet. "I made it back." I mumbled.

"Barely!" She snapped. "Look at you! You're barely walking.." She commented.

Dean stepped in, his eyes cautiously watching Beth. "Beth, hey, come on…"

"No, Dean. This is insane! You know what? Like two peas in a pod she and Dad are," she tossed a glare at me.

"Hey! You leave John out of this!" I snapped.

"Both of you, that's enough," Dean stepped in.

"You know you keep this one up Cole, you'll end up doing to JJ what Dad did to us. You know how this life destroyed all of us! You try to act like you're fine, you're just as fucked up as the rest of us!" She snapped.

"That's enough," Dean repeated, pulling her aside and whispering something hotly in her ear.

"Beth, I don't know what in the hell you're going through. But you are so far out of line." I said. I couldn't even maintain my normal voice, it wavered.

"Charlotte, you and JJ are okay, neither one of you has any injuries?" I asked the older woman, Beth snorted in response and I sighed, rolling my eyes.

"No Cole we're fine." Charlotte responded..

"Good, that's great. I'm going to be back in a few hours I'm going to go to the hospital and have my arm looked at." I said, my voice was even more wobbly, indicating I'd like nothing more than to cry.

Beth stormed out of the room after another exchange with Dean. My mind was foggy and I wasn't focusing on what they had been saying. He turned to watch her go, a despondent look to his face. I looked at Dean who met my gaze evenly. "Would you mind sticking around for a bit, until I get back?" I asked.

"Yeah sure Cole." He said with a sigh.

I turned, moving to the door, and my resolve crumbled. I could feel the tears tracking down my cheeks as I started to pull myself out the door.

"Here." Dean said softly, coming up besides me. "I'll drive."

I wiped hastily at the tear tracks on my face. "No." I said firmly. "I can do it."

Dean snorted, shaking his head. "Cole, you don't have to be the badass chick all the damn time, it's okay for you to need help." He said. "Let me help you."

"What about Beth? And I can't just leave Charlotte and JJ to deal with...all this," I tried to gesture to the dead bodies in the room, but I was exhausted.

"Beth will be off at the nearest chapel, no doubt, she'll find me when she's ready," Dean said, looking over his shoulder at Charlotte and JJ. "Come on you two, we're all going."

I nodded my head, conceding defeat. Dean grabbed my arm, and helped me to the Impala. As Charlotte got settled in the backseat with JJ, he hurried to the truck, took keys out and then locked it, before doing the same to the motel room.

He turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. I stayed quiet for the first few minutes of the drive, steadily refusing to meet his gaze. He hadn't seen me cry since we were teens.

"You know she didn't mean it right?" He said paying attention to the road.

I glanced at him, tears still running down my face.

"I know Dean." Taking a deep breath, I tried to stop crying and to put myself in Beth's shoes. I knew she was most likely struggling from the loss of her baby, but how was my situation here tied into that? "I still think she was out of line." I mumbled under my breath.

I wasn't sure Dean heard me, he didn't say anything again.

We made it to the hospital, and Charlotte took JJ into the waiting room while Dean stayed with me through the X-ray until hospital staff led me back to a curtained stretcher. I wasn't sure how to approach that particular subject but I was touched. "She's grieving, Cole." Dean said finally.

I swung around to look at him as I hopped up onto the stretcher.

"But you and I both know she isn't entirely wrong." He looked conflicted, torn between defending Beth and sticking up for me, which was rare for him, I didn't typically need people to stick up for me. Even when I did, Dean usually wasn't one of those people, he and I were always competing.

"I know." I mumbled, ashamed of myself, I firmly felt I was doing what I could to keep my son safe, he had no father. His siblings were constantly in and out of danger. I needed to do whatever was humanly possible to keep him safe, but still it didn't mean I wanted him to grow up like we had.

Not one to keep harping on someone, Dean looked away from me, "Can I ask you something?" He said in a rush.

"Yeah, sure." I said studying his profile.

"You and Dad…." He said trailing off, for a moment I thought he'd lost his nerve but never one to be intimidated after a pause Dean forged on. "It wasn't some creepy, perverted situation was it?" He asked, looking anxious like he'd rather talk about anything else, but he seemed to need to know.

"No." I said plainly making sure to look him in the eye when I answered.

Dean nodded, satisfied with the brief nondescript answer.

Unable to help myself, I added slyly, "I mean there were some times when things got a little perverted…. But those times worked out well for both of us."

Dean looked horrified. "Ahhhh! Cole shut up or I'm going to hit you!" He threatened.

I shut up with a grin.

"Dammit, now I'm thinking about Dad sex! God Cole!" Dean scrubbed a hand down his face trying to wipe the images from his memory.

Laughing, I patted his arm. "Sorry." I said honestly. I gave him a sideways look, before adding, "You had to have inherited your skills from somewhere." I said cheekily.

"Say what?!" He said his voice raising slightly.

"Girls talk, Dean," I laughed. He looked at me, and then his grin turned smug.

When I laughed at his expense, he clapped me on the shoulder, the messed up one, the impact jarred down my arm. "Ah Haha. Shit. Okay I give I'm sorry." I said, trying to catch my breath, and not give in to the pain.

Evie came into the room, a soft casting material in her hands and stopped dead when she saw us. I realised for the first time I was covered in blood.

"What the Hell happened to you?" She asked. "I mean they said you were a bit messed up, but…."

"Uh, yeah. It's uh… a prank, some kids with pig's blood," the lies flowed easily from me.

"She slipped on the blood, clumsy Cole," Dean grinned. "Broke her arm, seriously funny." I glared at him and Evie raised an eyebrow.

"Don't I know you?" She asked.

Dean chuckled, nodding with a smug look. "Yep, Goldilocks, you sure do." He answered, "Sam's brother."

Evie seemed to blush and smile all at the same time. "Oh yeah, Dean, hi. It's been a while…." Dean nodded, grinning at her discomfort.

"You guys know each other?" I asked, open mouthed.

"Long story," Evie said pointedly, looking at me. She cleared her throat, then looked down at her hands. "So you're X-Ray shows nothing needs to be repaired surgically, but you will be getting a cast for your arm." She said, "For now we'll splint it then in the next day or two follow up with your Ortho, they'll put the cast on." She said.

I nodded. "No working for a bit right?" I responded.

"Not on pain meds, I guess it depends on how bad your pain is." She said. "For the first week, I'd say no, stay in front of the pain with medication, afterwards if it seems manageable, talk to the Ortho see what they recommend."

"Yep." I said, forcing myself to extend my arm from my body so she could put the cast on.

"Your collarbone, doesn't look broken on the X-Ray so just keep the wet to moist dressings changed out. And take all of your antibiotics."

I gave her a slight nod. "Yes ma'am." She didn't point out that no one had covered why I had a bite. She seemed to suddenly be distracted, I raised my eye at Dean who chuckled. "I'll get your discharge in place."

"Sam?" I asked as she left.

"Yep," Dean grinned. "Think she was his first," he winked. I laughed and shook my head at the irony.

Dean turned to me again. "Was Dad happy?" He asked.

I stayed silent, thinking. "As happy as he could be." I said. "He was still your dad, the man had plenty of demons."

Dean smiled ruefully. He knew what I was talking about.

Evie came back in and handed me my discharge paperwork, going back over my instructions. As Dean and I exited the curtained area Dean asked, "When did you guys get married?"

"Huh?" I shot him a puzzled look.

He sighed, reaching out and snatching at my hand, where John's ring was still displayed on my finger, I doubted I'd ever take it off. Unless of course I found someone else to marry, but I had my doubts.

"We didn't." I explained. "He proposed to me, but died two weeks later."

"So he didn't give you an engagement ring?" Dean asked. "I thought that was a must have for the ladies."

Chuckling, I shrugged, "I suppose it depends on the chick."

I looked at him in interest. There was something brewing in Dean's mind. "I wouldn't want an engagement ring." I said personally, "A huge diamond to have to worry about losing, especially with the work we do. I like this one much better." I said studying the diamond wedding band on my finger. It was a thin band, with diamonds laid down in a design.

My opposite hand had the wedding band that belonged to John, while Dean typically wore his mother's band on his right hand. "I think Beth would like something less flashy. Something more personal to you both." I said taking a chance on where the conversation was heading.

Dean glanced off, and I caught sight of his jaw working, a sure sign that he was having issues with the turn the conversation had taken. "Your dad loved you Dean, I know he rarely seemed to show it. But he did truly love you all." I said.

"I think he'd be more happy than anyone to know that you two loved each other enough to spend the rest of your lives together, and tell the world." I said.

Dean looked conflicted. "Yeah, but I'm going to Hell, Cole, nothing's changing that."

I cleared my throat. "Don't say that. We're all looking for a way…"

"I don't know," He shook his head. "It might not happen, and then what? I'm leaving her."

"She'll be okay Dean." I tried to reassure him. "I'll make sure of it."

Dean met my gaze. "You really loved him?" He asked.

I smiled sadly at Dean. "I really did." I answered. "I still do. I guess I always will."

Dean nodded seeming satisfied with my answer. He grinned at me suddenly. "I guess I dodged a bullet."

"How so?"

"I don't have to call you mom." My gaze widened in horror. I'd never even considered that.

Author's Notes

Song for this Chapter is Broken Arrows by Daughtry

First off I'd like to welcome the new people who have favorited and are following How to Save a Life. I hope in the future you will review. Reviews are the payment writers of fanfiction receive. How else will I know if a particular story line or idea is well received by readers….

We have included a third writer, and also a new OC with bubbles90. Her character Evie is to possibly be Sam's love interest. It has been a lot of fun collaborating with her on her story and providing feedback and possible story lines and helping her thoughts and ideas come to fruition. Not to mention this author has a great sense of humor and it shows in her work! Check out her story Broken Arrows on .

Up next for How to Save a Life, I plan on covering Dean and Beth's wedding, also I think some more Jefferson action. Let me know what your thoughts are guys I'm dying to know if there are things you like or dislike. I know we seem to be getting to a stalled point in the story, so I need your feedback to know whether or not you like the way things are going. I definitely have plenty more story to write I just need you all to hang with me for a bit! And provide some much needed feedback!