Okay, I'm breaking formation from the book just a bit. I can't go everywhere I want to go if I follow chapter-by-chapter, so this is probably going to be a little closer to the timeline of the mini-series (Colin Firth) than the books at this point. I actually do have a clear direction with where I am going, and I'm really pretty excited about it. I can tell I'm the only one, but that's cool. I just like writing. And I'm having a lot of fun with this one. I know the beginning got off to a rocky start, but I definitely think I've picked up the narrative here.

If you're reading, I really appreciate it. Really.

Still not the droid you're looking for.

Mr. Winchester's territory consisted of a good lateral chunk of the Midwest, as well as a bit of the west coast that had come to him by default when an old hunting friend died. Mrs. Winchester had a bit of territory as well that was ample for her own hunting needs, but that was uncertain as to whether or not it would pass to her sons.

Neither had siblings, though they had managed to create familial bonds with an older hunter called Bobby Singer, whose territory was in South Dakota and whose principal residence was in Sioux Falls, and Rufus Turner who was a bit of a recluse and who made his home in Meryton.

The village of Longbourn was only a short walk to Meryton, and the boys of the house often found themselves walking back and forth throughout the week to see Mr. Turner and listen out for information that might prove useful on a hunt. The library was also in town, and the boys often paid homage to the building, whether looking to complete research or for a new novel to divert their attention. Samuel was the one who went the most, and he always stopped in to see Mr. Turner for the news and gossip to take home to his family. On this day, he returned from Meryton with the news of a demon regimen that had decided to take up residence in a neighboring city, not twenty miles from Longbourn.

Now the boys had need to visit the town nearly every day to learn more from Rufus as his spies returned to him from their reconnaissance. New angels were being dispatched throughout Kansas to keep an eye on such a situation, and Mr. Singer even mentioned the possibility of coming from South Dakota to help out. Dean and Samuel both felt a lot of excitement about these developments, and they often talked animatedly about hunting demons.

Hearing their excitement, Mr. Winchester couldn't help but observe, "Are you idjits really hoping to fight demons? Do you even understand what you're up against? And they're bringing more angels into the town. God almighty, and yes, I understand the irony of that epithet, but what are you thinking?"

"They're wanting to get their feet wet, John," replied his lady a little coolly. "Don't deny them the opportunities you've had."

"I want my boys safe, Mary."

"Me too. But you know they're going to want all available hunters in on this. Besides, when they get to be our age, they'll know better than to be excited about a hunt."

"And what about all the new angels?" continued he, ignoring her interjections. "More angels means more hunters vulnerable to binding. What if it's one of our boys? I think we should send them to Bobby rather than Bobby coming here."

Mrs. Winchester was not able to reply as a missive was delivered from Netherfield for Samuel.

"Oh good God, what does it say?" Mrs. Winchester asked of him when he was finished reading it.

"Hey, Sammy, wanna come on down-a my house and have lunch with me and my bros? Get here as soon as you can tomorrow morning and we can have a great time. Signed Gabriel."

"Little rat bastard," Mrs. Winchester lamented.

"You sort of have to go, don't you, Sam?" Adam asked.

"If he doesn't go, it'll be a huge insult to the angels," Dean affirmed.

"I guess I'm gonna need to borrow the Impala, Dad," Samuel said.

Mr. Winchester shook his head. "Wish I could, Sammy, but the block cracked last week while I was chasing after that chimera, and the new one hasn't come in. You're going to have to either walk or take the bike."

"I guess I'll take the bike," Samuel decided. "I sure hope it doesn't rain."


Rain it did, unfortunately, and even more unfortunately for Samuel, he was attacked by a band of demons on his way, and while they did no lasting damage to him, apparently one had managed to force him to drink her blood, and he was now tainted with it. Dean received the shortest of messages from Samuel, whose handwriting was rather erratic in his present state, that read, "Hey, Dean, it's bad. It's so bad. Blood on fire. Don't come. Don't see me like this…please…too much…" and the rest of the words were lost to obscurity and smudges.

"Fucking demons!" Mr. Winchester raged, slamming his book down on the table. "They're the only thing worse than angels out there!"

"Dad, I'm gonna go to him," Dean said, already pulling on his jacket. "I'll walk with Adam so we'll be safer."

"Why? So all of my sons can get infected with demon blood? You'd both better stay here."

Adam was likewise dressing for the outing. "We'll be okay, Dad."

"The new block should be in tomorrow…can't you wait until then?" Mr. Winchester was not the sort of father to put his children into unsafe situations if he didn't have to.

"You boys have your anti-possession charms?" Mrs. Winchester asked, outfitting them with knives, salt rounds, and holy water.

"We're good, Mom."

"No, you're not. You're going to give us heart attacks. Now you go straight there and stay until Dad or I come for you, got it? And if things look bad, hole up at Rufus's. Whenever you get to where you're going to stay, you send us a note, got it?"

"Yes, Ma'am," both boys agreed.

Soon they were gone from the house and Mr. and Mrs. Winchester clung to each other, well aware that they were forced to allow their sons to walk away. They knew that they could not keep them close by at all times.

Adam and Dean met with no opposition on their way to Netherfield. It seemed that whatever happened the previous day had beaten back the demon threat at least for the time being. They found the angels and the one human sitting in the dining room. Miss Bradbury was eating her breakfast, and the angels were talking tactical opposition.

Adam and Dean's queries after their brother were answered, and soon they were showed to the room where Samuel was being held as the demon blood worked its way out of his system. Gabriel left them alone for a while, and Dean looked his brother over.

Samuel was flushed and sweaty, his skin a waxy texture. His shirt had been removed, and he was tied down as he writhed in some sort of fever. Dean poured water into a basin and used a cloth to wipe his brother down. Adam tenderly stroked his brow and murmured words of encouragement.

"We're right here, asshole. God, what'd you go and do that for? Jeez, Sam…"

Dean nudged Adam away. "Hush up, jerkwad. It's okay, Sammy. We're right here."

"Of course we're here," Adam agreed. "Shit, Sam. We're so worried about you."

"Don't touch my brother!" Samuel cried out in his fever. "Don't you dare touch my brother you black eyed bitch! Adam! Run, Adam!"

Adam reached down and rubbed his hand tenderly over Sam's where it was tied to the headboard. "I'm okay, I got away," the boy assured his brother.

Gabriel came in soon afterwards to answer any questions the brothers might have.

"He'll be all right," said the archangel. "Once the demon blood works its way out, he'll be fine."

"Why do I sense a colossal "but" coming in here?" Dean wondered.

"But it's going to be a long hard road. He'll probably always want to drink the demon blood, unless…well, it will always be a struggle for him.

"Well, we'll make sure he's not going to be tempted," Dean said. "We can take care of him.

Gabriel nodded. "I figured. Look, why don't you guys stay here while he detoxes. I'll send Cassie and Alfie for your clothes and weapons."

"Fine," Dean agreed. "Thanks, I mean that, Gabriel. I appreciate it."


Later that evening, Dean and Adam were drawn from Sam's unconscious side by a promise of dinner. Angels had no need of sustenance, though Gabriel appeared to enjoy sweets and Castiel appeared to be sipping tea. The only other human in the house was Miss Bradbury, and Dean was quite curious to know her better.

"You aren't a hunter," he commented as he helped himself to the repast.

"No, I'm a hacker," the young lady replied. "I'm sort of your Jill of all trades when it comes to electronic B&E."

"And how did you get with Anna?"

"Anna is killer at D&D. I swear she charms her dice…anyway, she was in a guild with me. Had no idea she was an angel, though." And then with a fond look, "Well, I knew she was a figurative angel. Just…not,
you know, literally with the wings and halo and all."

"I had no idea angels played Dungeons and Dragons," said Adam. "That's some Dogma-level shit there."

Miss Bradbury allowed her mirth to bubble forth. "I have no doubt that God is out there playing ski ball, but yeah. Anna plays. She's good at it."

"And how is your brother, Mr. Winchester?" Uriel asked, his voice controlled and deep.

"He's still out of it," said Dean, poking at his stew.

The rest of the meal was spent discussing plans for the middle Mr. Winchester whenever he awoke, and some ideas for eradicating the demon threat. Dean felt very uncomfortable during this time, and believed Gabriel to be the only angel present who truly cared whether Samuel emerged from his illness unscathed. For this reason alone, Dean felt some measure of affection for the angel, though he was still opposed to any continued attentions from that quarter.

Once he felt it right to excuse himself and return to Samuel's bedside, he did so, tenderly stroking the boy's face with a cooled cloth, murmuring encouragement to him. That Samuel must remain at Netherfield for the time being was a certainty. There was no point in moving him, and in his weakened state, even Dean must admit that in a house with angels was the safest place for him.

Downstairs, free of any Winchesters, Uriel felt no constraint in flowing forth with abuse for the brothers.

"We invite the vile, debase creatures into our house, Gabriel?"

"Cool your jets, Uri. Sheesh. They're good kids, and you know how I feel about Sam. This demon blood situation may force me to approach him even sooner than I had originally intended, and I don't need your negativity."

"Gabriel, all respect, but your setting your sights on a Winchester is practically foolhardy. Their family has been in Letters for generations, and his mother is a Campbell! Just look at how rash and headstrong this family is. Can you imagine walking for miles out of their way in demon-infested territory, just because their brother has got a little blood in him?"

"Uriel, you overstep," Castiel remarked quietly. "Gabriel has made a choice, and we should rejoice with him for it."

"You can honestly tell me, Castiel, that you approve of the antics of the other Winchesters?"

"Of course not. They should have accepted that their brother was safe with us," Castiel said quickly.

Uriel gave a harrumph as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I suppose this little escapade may have effected your admiration for Dean's fine eyes."

"Not at all. I thought his eyes looked quite remarkably green after his long walk."

Upstairs, Adam and Dean were conferring as to the best course of action for the evening. "We can't just stay up here," Adam sighed, rubbing circulation into Samuel's bound hands.

"Why not? You don't think the angels actually want us downstairs? Gabriel was the only one who really said anything to us at dinner."

"Samandriel—Alfie—had a short conversation with me, but other than him, it's true that the angels don't seem to care much for us. Still, if we just sit up here, it's like we're being rude or something."

"You're right. Damn! Well, you go down for a little while. Maybe Charlie is playing Magic or D&D or something and you can join her. I'll…I'll read to Sammy. He might like that."

"There's a pretty good library downstairs. I heard Alfie say that they collect diaries from the Letters and Hunters."

"Sounds like a plan."

The brothers approached the lower levels, and found that Miss Bradbury and Anna were indeed setting up a tabletop game and immediately invited both brothers to play. Dean excused himself from the diversion, but set Adam forward, and Alfie agreed to play opposite the youngest Winchester. When Dean expressed an interest in a book to read to Samuel, Castiel put himself forward and offered to fetch whatever Dean wished from the library.

"I'd rather take a look myself," said Dean. "If you'll just direct me, I'll get out of your hair."

Castiel reached a hand towards his coif as though he did not understand the figure of speech, and Dean found himself amused by that thought as he followed the angel to the library.

"Everything we have that is not currently being read is just here," Castiel offered, waving his hand over the books. "Hunters give us their journals, and we have collected many tomes throughout history. I have been reading many myself, as I have only just recently taken a vessel, and I find that the events when read through a human perspective lend me a great deal of insight I might not have had before."

"Vessel?" Dean wondered. "That guy you're wearing was pretty nice to let you have his body."

Castiel touched his palms to his chest and nodded. "Yes, he was a very devout man. He prayed that I might take him."

Dean smiled and winked. "I get that a lot too, cowboy. This one looks good." He saluted as he left the room, his mind in a whirlwind of emotions over the deep civility that Castiel had shown him. Were he not certain the angel hated him, he would have a difficult time interpreting his attention as anything other than interest. But he was certain that Castiel looked to mock him for some reason.

As for Castiel, he was beginning to feel how dangerous his attentions towards Dean might be. He found the young man to be most intriguing and chastised his weakness where he was concerned.


The following day received word from Mr. and Mrs. Winchester, who were pleased that their sons were someplace so very safe, for they themselves were out on a hunt with Bobby Singer, who was sure he had found a grouping of demons and wished for all able-bodied hunters to help him take them down. Uriel and Castiel both immediately wished to join them for the fight, and pressed Gabriel for permission to go, but were not granted that request.

"I need all y'all here," said the archangel. "We can't leave this entire town defenseless. They're taking most of the best hunters with them."

Indeed, both Harvelle parents were on their way, and it was supposed that Jo might stay at Netherfield with the angels, as she would rather not be on her own in the large house. She and her things were brought thither, and the Harvelles and Winchesters stayed just long enough to embarrass their children with their smotheringly fond farewells, which earned them many unhappy comments.

"Mo-om, I'm fine," declared young Adam as Mrs. Winchester once more went over the list of weapons she had brought for him.

"Is Sammy okay?" Mr. Winchester asked of his eldest, pulling him to a corner for a more private conference.

"He's still out, Dad. I'll send word as soon as he wakes up."

Mr. Winchester then eyed the tall, dark-skinned angel. "Watch out for that one, Dean. He has no love for humanity."

"Yeah, don't I know it. He's not too fond of angels, either. He treats everyone with the same bad attitude."

"Huh," Mr. Winchester mused. "I always figured angels were good to their own kind."

"I don't think he knows the meaning of the word "good." Don't worry about us, though. Gabriel keeps him in line."

"Good," Mr. Winchester decided. "I hate to leave you boys like this. Watch out for Jo, okay?"

"Yes, sir."

Gabriel and Uriel were having a very different sort of conference at this. "Are we to be besieged by every hunter in the country?" the angel groused.

"I can't leave the young girl unprotected," Gabriel reproached. "Alone in a house like that? She might as well pour sulfur all over her body and go out looking for the demons. She's safe here, and she's a friend of Sam's. That makes her important to all of us. Including you, in case that wasn't explicit."

Uriel looked like he might argue, but Castiel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Brother, please, do not argue with Gabriel. He is our leader and you know his high opinion of Samuel Winchester."

Uriel decided it best to not express his low opinion of the selfsame man.

As for Miss Harvelle, she was taken to a room by Anna and Miss Bradbury and settled in far away from the men in the house. Afterwards, they went on a walk around the grounds, pointing out the perimeter and the defenses against demons. As they walked, they happened upon Dean and Castiel, who were fortifying those wards together.

"Look at you two," Miss Harvelle teased Dean, taking his arm and turning him from the group. "You two done fucking each other with your eyes and ready to move onto a bed yet?"

Dean chastised his friend for the lewdness of such a speech. "Oh, shut up Jo-Jo. What about you? Ready to get your freak on with the angel and her concubine?"

"You know it!" Miss Harvelle demurred. "I hear angels are kinky in bed."

Dean laughed at this and turned back to the angels in question, following them back to the house. "I actually wouldn't mind finding that out, as long as soul binding wasn't a part of the equation."

They returned to the house to find out that Samuel was awake and asking for his brothers.