Title: Tau-Vana
Rated for: T
Genre: Family / Adventure / Romance / Love / Action !
Fandom/Universe: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Supernatural / Angel
Characters: Angel / Buffy / Faith / Willow / Xander / Giles / Dean / Sam / Bobby / Ellen / Jo / Pastor Jim
Pairings: Dean / OC -Jaden, Faith / OC- Jack, Angel / Buffy
Spoilers/Warning: If you haven't read the S8 comic for Buffy then don't worry about. Otherwise, I'm including some of the 'events' from the BTVS S8 and ATS After the Fall comics.
Disclaimer:Supernatural and all related characters are copyright Eric Kripke, Kripke Enterprises &The CW Network. Buffy The Vampire Slayer and all related characters are copyright of Joss Whedon No infringement intended.
Summary: We are the eyes that see. We are the record of the past, the present and a future that is ever changing.
Status: In-Progress
Author's Note: I'll give you another chapter...
Chapter: Dealing
Warren, Michigan…
Sam sat with his brother staring at the bar in the pre-dawn. All the lights were off, customers all gone and yet Dean hadn't moved to get out of the Impala. Neither spoke though it wasn't needed when it was clear to both; Dean was nervous about going in there. He'd been back from Hell, was told God had work for him and then that same angel sent him back to the 70's where he couldn't do shit to save any of his family… They died, his grandparents and his Mom… she made a deal. Dean couldn't understand it, what they were all willing to do for each other, because they loved each other. John had been right to say they were each others weakness.
"We can come back…" Sam put it out there, not sure if that would be the right thing to do but not knowing what else to do for Dean.
He was different.
Not good different but still different and Dean had reason to be since he'd suffered 40years in Hell…
Dean didn't say anything, just opened the door and stepped into the cold break of day. He drew in a breath and blew it out making it fog. Sam followed, both doors closing loudly in the silence of morning. Still, Dean paused another moment before finally walking to the front of Luc's, he fiddled with the keys in his hand, his thoughts scattered and latched onto the memory of coming here with a surprise for Jaden…
The door opened and Dean let them in, pausing again in the bar room while Sam closed the door behind them. Movement pulled his mind away from memories of working behind the bar and the 'tiny' fire he'd caused in the back, to the top of the stairs where he could see a shadow.
Sam looked as well, shaking off the tingling sensation pricking at his skin that was making him want to scratch. The soft growl kept him from taking another step, though he had his hand ready to grab the door if it came time to run.
"Barbie?" Dean called taking another step towards the shadow on the stairs. "Here, Barbie, come here boy."
Barrabas cocked his head, ears raised in question and then he leapt down the stairs with a loud whoof as he dashed straight for Dean. Sam took a wary step back and watched his brother stumble under the dog's weight. Barrabas slobbered his pink tongue where ever he could reach Dean's face, ignoring the commands to stop or even sit.
"Quiet, damn it. You're gonna wake them all up." Dean complained shoving on Barbie's snout and finally getting him to stop jumping up. "Come on, mutt. JD, find JD, boy." That got another whoof followed by a whine and then Barbie took off, up the stairs as the brothers followed. He disappeared though quickly came back when they weren't fast enough for the excited mutt.
Dean knew Jaden wouldn't be there and yet he slowed his steps in the hall. Sam wasn't sure what his brother hesitated for but stayed at the top of the stairs and let him do this on his own.
Dean paused outside the door to their bedroom. It stood partly open- something Jaden never did, especially not at Luc's because she said the guys were too damn nosy. He almost laughed at that but all he managed was a sort of smile.
He could hear noise on the other side of the door and rested his hand on the wood, head tilted as he listened. Intelligible mumbling and the definite jibberish of baby-speak. Barrabas came back, head butting against Dean's leg as if saying 'Hey, get in here already!' and then he clamped those jaws on his leg and tugged him into the room.
"Dammit, Barbie." Dean gruffed with a wince as he felt the pinch of teeth on his skin. He was released almost immediately, with a soft whoof of reproach before Barrabas headed back towards the bed and hopped in with the occupants. Dean frowned, because there certainly was a large figure in the bed- 'Our bed.' And he didn't like the thought of anyone else sleeping there, not where he'd slept with his… with their son and Jaden.
The mumbling was still intelligible but the figure jerked and the baby-jibber stopped. A sandy head peeked up from the covers, hair sticking up at odd ends and a pair of intelligent green eyes stared right at him.
Dean couldn't move.
He was worried that any move would frighten him, make him start screaming and tried a wobbly smile he hoped wouldn't have the same effect.
"Hi, buddy." His voice was a raspy whisper and he cleared his throat watching as JD sat up, hands resting on the figure keeping him from the edge of the high bed. Jaden had done the same thing; hated putting JD in the crib so they didn't have one at Luc'sbut then the plan had always been to stay at Pastor Jim's until JD was a bit older.
"Da!"
Dean jerked at the loud exclamation. Something inside him loosened just a bit and the anxiety he'd been shoving down began to give way. It left Dean feeling confused; sad, angry- crazy emotions he didn't want to name and instead stepped to the edge of the bed, hands reaching for his son, eyes blurry and stinging.
It moved, the shape slowly twisting as it felt another presence in the room. Still, Sebastian just assumed it was Jack or Faith, maybe even Garth considering nothing bad had been able to make its way into Luc's and thankfully none of the drunks had questioned the reason a couple of patrons had passed out in the entrance or seemed to have noticed the black smoke billowing out of their mouths just before.
"Hey!" he swung his arm out, closed fist meeting with hard flesh and rolled out of the bed cursing the fact he'd left the dagger with his jeans on the bench at the foot of the bed. Getting it meant leaving JD unprotected and that was the last thing Sebastian would do, so he faced off barehanded and grateful to have spent the last couple of years with Angel, Gunn and Ryan teaching him what they knew. He'd get his ass chewed out later for not going full strength.
Dean felt the breath leave his lungs and stumbled back from the bed, aware of JD shrieking "Bas!" and "Da!" over and over as he scrambled out of the covers tossed over his head.
"Who the fuck are you?"
Dean blinked, drew in a breath and straightened. That large bundle in the bed with his son was a kid- teenager to be precise and he scowled.
"Me?" Dean echoed and watched the kid tell JD to knock off his yelling. "That's my son-."
Noise from the hall had them both turning to the door where they heard more voices and Garth's complaint to shut up cus he needed his beauty sleep.
"You're not that pretty." Faith retorted pushing through the half open door and into Jaden's room. Dean's eyes latched onto the battle ax she had in hand and arched an eyebrow at her. "So why isn't Barbie chewing on your ass?" she demanded. Hearing his name, Barrabas let out another bark and jumped off the bed to sit at Dean's side. He was wagging his tail so hard his butt was rubbing on the hardwood floors.
"Da! Da! Da!" JD yelled as Sebastian picked him up.
"So," Jack rubbed a hand over his face, hair sticking up and clearly unhappy about being woken when he'd only just gotten to bed. "J got you out of Hell." He slipped his arm over Faith's shoulders and tugged her into his side. "And this is Dean." He pointed to the blond Hunter looking from one person to another and wondering what the hell happened to his brother before staring at the Slayer still looking threatening in her little tank and shorts, the ax now loosely held from her crossed arms.
Dean wondered how that was possible because he remembered Buffy and the fact she was the Slayer or was supposed to have been, even though she'd died once or had it been twice? He frowned, not sure what he'd been told by any of them; Jaden, Buffy, the Actives…
"PJ's new hubby." Faith uttered a little grunt, dark eyes looking him over though she hadn't been the only one to look through the album and box of pictures Jaden had left behind, before tilting her chin behind him. "Meet Bastian. PJ's son."
"Son…?" Dean jerked around, green eyes narrowing on the teenager but the resemblance was there. The kid had her eyes, same shade and shape and long lashes; the kid was pissed.
"Where is she?" Sebastian demanded, he didn't let go of JD even though he kept reaching towards Dean. "You're here, so where the hell is my Mom?"
"Bas…" Faith sighed and shook her head slightly but Bastian wasn't in the mood to listen. Jaden had been gone for weeks now; no contact, no sign at all that any of them were alive or well or anything and now 'Dean' was back-
'Dean's back!'
Sebastian quickly rushed to the cell phone charging on the nightstand and hit his speed dial. The line rang and all he kept thinking was, they're all back. Because Dean was there and that meant his Mom had kept her promise and gotten everyone out of Hell- the Hyperion and Angel and his grandfather and everyone, they were all back, LA was back…
But the line kept ringing…
Dean could see it, the glint of anger in his eyes and the clenched jaw…the kid was a lot like Jaden and it made Dean feel the ache in his chest from her absence.
It hadn't come up.
Yet.
But Sam knew something was off with his brother. Just like Dean knew something had changed with Sam.
Dean couldn't look away from them, how Sebastian wasn't letting go of JD even though Jack was there. Sam quietly stood beside Garth at the door, observing.
"Bas-Bas?" JD patted a hand on his face, green eyes searching out his. Dean watched, fascinated with JD and how the hell could he pick up and understand what Sebastian was feeling? He didn't want to think JD was more like Jaden- like the twins…
"What happened to them?" he turned to Dean who still hadn't spoken. "She was going to bring them all back, she promised! So why are you the only one here?"
"It wasn't her." Sam stood just in the door, that same soulful look in his eyes as he spoke but Sebastian wasn't buying into it. Then again, if they started on the 'angel pulled Dean from hell cus they have plans for him'… well, that wasn't any easier to believe.
"Bullshit." He snapped ignoring the sharp look from Jack for the curse. "My sister saw her cross the gates."
"Sister…" Dean echoed and dropped his head on a heavy breath. He remembered that, the aborted conversation with Jaden about the twins and then… then he was pulled out of there, away from her.
"Yeah, sister. As in the twins she had with Ryan. Her husband." Sebastian snapped.
"You need a time out, Sebastian." Faith glowered, straightening under Jack's arm. "You know that isn't the way things are, not how they were before she got dropped into the alternate timeline."
"What?" Sam looked from one face to another, confused and out of the loop. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask for an explanation but he didn't get the chance.
"Long story." Jack sighed. "Look, its late- early, fuck. I need sleep." He ran another hand over his face and started to pull Faith out of the room when he snagged Sam's sleeve as well. "You can bunk with Garth and in the morning- my morning, we can all get the details."
"Jack, my Mom-."
"Isn't here now." Jack cut in with a slight glare. "There's a reason, Sebastian. Being pissed off isn't going to get you any answers either, so hand over JD and get to your room."
"What?" Sebastian stood slack jawed for a moment before he snapped his mouth shut, jaw clenched and glaring at everyone, did as he was told. It was clear to everyone he didn't want to hand over JD but his little arms latched onto Dean's shirt and wouldn't let go. "Traidor." Bastian muttered as he walked past them and slammed the door behind him.
Dean was left alone with JD who picked up the jibber-speak. He wasn't sure what to do, to say or if there was anything to say since JD probably wouldn't know what the hell Dean was saying anyway.
"Hi."
JD grabbed his nose in a small fist and smiled showing Dean the four teeth he'd grown.
Hell…
"Move!" Jaden shoved Ryan's reaching hand out of her way and headed up the stairs.
He frowned, hissing at the sharp pain shooting up his arm as he followed her progress up the stairs. It didn't take a genius to figure there was something wrong, some reason she was pissed off and it wasn't going to come out of her, that much he knew.
Jaden didn't stop at the door of her suite, just pushed it open and off its hinges ignoring Gia's shocked expression. Jaden tore off the door to her bedroom as well without a care as she moved towards the chest she kept under the bed. She yanked it out and pulled the lid open snapping the lock in the process but she didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore but getting out of Hell and the answer had to be in her books.
"Phade?" Gia called from the door in a timid voice. She got no answer and glancing over her shoulder back towards the kitchen, she noticed Franco slowly get up from his chair and head into Bastian's room without a look to where his daughter was frantically tossing things about. He wasn't speaking to Phade anymore, not after she walked away from him and Gia had no idea how to fix it. There was just too much they wouldn't talk about and Phade was angry- too angry to just pretend everything was fine and dandy like she'd done before.
"Phade?" Gia tried again, hesitantly stepping into the room. "Habla con migo." She tried another step, her voice hitching as she saw the look in Phade's eyes; wild, frantic and the tears she wasn't wiping away. "Please, talk to me?"
"Just leave me alone!" Jaden yelled because the last thing she wanted to do was talk about her feelings; couldn't they all see them? Didn't they see what she felt? Were they that blind too? "Vete!" she tossed the chair out of her way and kicked the bench at the foot of her bed, which broke off a leg. "I have to get out of here…have to-." She yanked the closet doors open and pushed clothes out of her way, most of them falling to the floor when she broke the bar and that went flying over her shoulder too.
"What happened, Phade?" Gia retreated to the door, the safest spot she could think of still unwilling to leave her alone, to give up because it seemed like that's all anyone ever did when it came to Phade. Hadn't Franco left her to fend for herself after his wife died? And when had Guy ever stood up to his sisters and brothers for the snide comments about Phade and her mental stability? There weren't many allies in Phade's corner- hell, Gia could count them in one hand and that was not enough, not in her book.
Jaden let out another scream filled with frustration and anger then fell to her knees, another book in her hands that wasn't of any use to her- not for what she wanted.
"Where's Dean?" Gia questioned softly now that she noticed his continued absence.
Warren, Michigan…
Coffee didn't seem to make anything less coherent, even at 12noon. They'd all gathered at the bar, Garth behind it, absently rubbing a mug clean with his towel while Jack kept stacking the fridges with beers. Faith just sat at the end re-filling the salt and pepper shakers they'd put out on the tables in a few hours. Sam kept from fidgeting too much but it wasn't easy when he kept wanting to scratch himself and now he was suffering from a soft buzzing in his ears. Sleep had not been his friend, hell he hadn't been able to sleep at all and Garth had grumbled about it before stuffing his head under his pillow and rolling up in his covers.
"Two." It wasn't easy for either Winchester to understand though Dean got why Jaden had no memory of the previous year with them in LA or of the Hyperion. It made sense, it did, but the how…
"They can do that?" Sam echoed Dean's thought, both men looking at the group assembled around the bar.
"They're Gods." Sebastian retorted, he was grumpy and sullen and made no bones about it.
"She wasn't toeing the line-."
"We took care of it and that's all they need to know." Sebastian cut in. Garth blew out a breath and put his hands up, the towel hanging like a limp white flag of truce before he grabbed another mug and started wiping it.
Faith noticed the fidgeting 'evil' brother and gave Garth a slight nod.
"Anybody want a beer?" Garth pushed off the bar and filled up a mug each for Dean, Jack, Sam and Faith then pulled hers back out of reach. "Cranberry juice." He turned away and spritzed some in a glass with ice and soda. "Drink up. Cus…shit." He let out a breath and took a long gulp of the beer he'd been about to serve Faith. After what Dean and Sam had just told them, about Dean popping up in the middle of nowhere and… fucking angels!
Four sets of eyes watched as Sam and Dean took a drink from their beers. Still too damn early for alcohol and Sebastian rolled his eyes giving them all a 'You're really checking?' look. Even with the wards, they'd agreed it wouldn't hurt to lace all the taps with holy water, just another precaution…
"Come on." He exclaimed slapping both hands on the bar and drawing a slight frown from Dean. "Mom evil proofed Luc'slike she did the Hyperion."
Dean jerked in his seat glancing at the adults while shifting his hold on JD who snuffled sleepily on his chest. He hadn't been able to put him down-unwilling to let go of the toddler, actually. It felt good to hold his son and this time there was no anxiety to ruin the moments he could spend with JD.
"She what?"
"Nothing evil gets in." Sebastian repeated. "Mom made sure of it before she went looking for you in Hell." There was accusation in his tone and Bastian didn't care if it showed. He was mad, resented how easily Dean just walked in and took JD when it had been Sebastian there with his baby brother. "Demons came looking for him cus of you." He glared at Sam though Bobby had explained that much to Dean. The fight at Pastor Jim's place and after, about the Slayer and Jaden leaving right then and there to go get him. Bobby had told them about Ellen, Pastor Jim and Jo answering- about The Light and though they'd questioned Dean about his time in Hell, Dean had insisted he didn't remember anything - Dean just didn't want to talk about it. He couldn't tell them what he'd done, how Jaden found him, of how much Dean needed her, how being with her helped put those memories out of his mind, helped him ignore what he'd done… but she wasn't there.
Sam was.
"It's not Sam's fault-."
"Are you fucking kidding right now?" Sebastian demanded getting up from his stool. "My Mom went to fetch your ass out of Hell. She left JD. You get it? She left JD," but it wasn't just JD he was pissed off about. It seemed like something was always more important or someone. "Mom left her kid behind- not that this is a first cus- you know what?" he shoved away from the bar and glared at Dean and Sam."Fuck this. You're not taking JD out of here."
"Whoa." Dean glared, slowly getting to his feet in order not to jostle JD who was already stirring due to the loud voices. "Wait a damn minute." He glared at Sebastian's back as he moved past Jack and Garth behind the bar.
"Nah," Sebastian shook his head already moving away from Dean and everyone else because apparently hewasn't needed. It certainly felt as though no one was taking his side and why was he even surprised? His Mom hadn't thought twice about leaving them behind... "Enjoy your visit cus that's all you're getting."
"What the hell…" Dean took a step towards the back bar where Sebastian was already slamming the door. Faith stood, dark eyes on Sam and Dean before resting on JD.
"You aren't taking him."
"He's my son." Dean chocked out, still too pissed off for more words. He didn't get where it was his fault, why? Hell hadn't been bad enough now they were denying him access to JD?
"Yeah, not saying you aint got a right. Just that JD's not leaving Luc's." Faith crossed her arms, expression scarily blank but Dean had no doubt she was dead serious he wasn't walking out of there with his son. "PJ was real clear. I'm not pissing off a Fury."
"Dean." Sam gave a gentle tug on his shirt and after a moment Dean sat down again. "Look, we didn't come here to take JD."
Faith snorted, like she thought it was funny he was reassuring them of their intentions and just arched a dark eyebrow, waiting for him to get his platitudes out of the way.
"I wanted to see him." Dean said, eyes once again on the sleeping boy in his arms. It felt good, holding JD- his little hand was clamped around the leather tie of his charm, a half smile on his little face.
"So, you're back for good then." Jack tossed the empty box aside and leaned both hands on the bar, eyes on the wood that still shined like new thanks to the care they took. "God has plans for you and the angel didn't say what. Great." He blew out a breath setting the bangs to flop back into his eyes. There was plenty more the brothers weren't saying but Jack figured as long as JD was safe they could keep their secrets. All he had to worry about was J's boys and it looked like Sebastian was in need of some more one on one with Faith in the basement. "What's the plan? Where do we come into this?" he looked from Dean to Sam and back.
"We need to be prepared." Faith moved closer, taking the empty stool Sebastian had vacated and flicked a finger at JD's arm. "PJ aint gonna be happy if I let anything happen to this guy. And I'm pretty sure you two got trouble hounding your heels so…" she gave a careless shrug, dark eyes once more on Dean and that was disconcerting. Slayer lore wasn't in huge supply and what they'd learned was what Bobby had told them. A Slayer was called young and she didn't live long but while she did she was all that kept the major evil back from humanity dreaming of sugar plum fairies and all that was nice.
Jaden had told them about it; Sunnydale had been on a HellMouth and Buffy had been the Slayer placed there. And then at Hunters, there'd been another one, a Slayer- Vala and at the time Dean had just assumed the one before had finally died and stayed that way. Except Buffy was in Hell with the others, she was there with the vampire that had a soul and so far everything he'd told Jaden had been confirmed but then she'd already had to have known that…
Dean just wasn't sure what the hell to do anymore. He'd tried to change the past, tried to save his grandparents, help his Mom and Dad and … …. … what had he accomplished?
JD stirred, eyes popping open as he stretched. It was a funny sight and Dean felt his mouth tug into a smile just watching him. He'd missed an entire year with him… a lifetime-
What was the plan?
Dean was certain of one thing.
Nothing was going to touch JD so long as he stayed with Jack and Garth. Jaden had left them protected but he had that nagging worry in the back of his mind. What if her shields started to fail like they had for the Hyperion in Hell? So what there was a Slayer on guard and apparently Sebastian wasn't to be counted out just because he was still a kid. Dean just had no idea what the hell kind of help the kid would be even if he did sport one of those runes like Jaden. Sebastian was one of them, something like Aquilles or the twins…Dean didn't know and he wasn't asking for details. He doubted there'd be any answers for him and Jaden had told him enough already. There was a war coming, different than what the Hunters were facing and eventually she'd have to go. Jaden hadn't said anything but Dean knew. They were all going to fight; Jaden, Sebastian, those twins and the rest… Dean stared down at his son, fingers slightly curling into his little body.
'He's only a baby…'
Sebastian was just as kid as well but….
No… JD wasn't leaving Luc's.
Sebastian…
Hasn't been that long. He didn't stay too long either, got a call from Bobby asking them for help and they just took off.
That easy.
Why the fuck is it so easy?
Mom and Dean… man, they are so made for each other.
End of the world shit, yeah, so they have reason, too good a reason to run out on us…
I almost caved and offered to help them. Almost.
Fuckers can do for themselves, not like they need anyone else cus it's all about them two. Sam and Dean.
Valkyrie gets it. She didn't want to say anything nice about Dean since she's still on the 'my parents are getting back together' dream.
Right.
Cus that worked out well for Mom and my Dad. Even having JD in her arms doesn't seem to make any difference to Valkyrie. She's stubborn.
Jericho… damn it, he actually has a level head, which makes me thinks he's more like Ryan than Mom cus Mom… nah, she's not the type to put up with excuses- cus that's what she considers explanations to be. Says she'd rather hear you take responsibility and move on, of course she doesn't like repeats either so…
But Jeri took their side, Sam and Dean. He says he gets it cus he'd do the same if it was Valkyrie in Sam's place. Hell, he'd make a deal with a God if it meant getting her back should anything ever happen to her. Sure hope little brother isn't that stupid but… you know, maybe he's a little more like Mom than I thought.
… … these headaches … its getting worse.
I'm getting worse.
Its just those fucking dreams-
I'm there but I cant do anything to help them and I still try. This is why Mom wanted me to go with the others. But I didn't want to leave. If it weren't for Kast … I really thought I was going crazy at first. And I didn't want to tell anyone because I thought they'd be afraid I'd hurt someone now that I'm super-kid-strong. Good thing I couldn't hide it from Valkyrie … la mitotera.
JD helps. With the headaches and the pain and the dreams…
I don't know why but he does.
So Dean taking over Mom's room and keeping JD at night… yeah that really pissed me off cus I had no buffer. JD wasn't there to do … whatever the fuck it is he does that makes the nightmares- those wars… they're all dead. I felt them die. I feel everything they ever felt, their experiences, their happiness, pain… its all mine and I'm fucking tired- I'm just, I'm tired man.
I'm 15, barely and I know more than anyone… I've got a shit load of ancients in my head, separate and yet mine –
Did Mom know what she was getting into?
Did she know and… and do that to me?
Did she do this to me….