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Chapter 4: Friends, Debts, And Favors

"There are some debts that can't be paid with money." - Steven J. Carroll (The Road To Jericho)

Caleb grinned. "Hey. Long time no see."

"Who is he?" Karen inquired.

"A friend," Bobby answered. "He used to hunt with John, and Pastor Jim, another hunter we knew."

"And was a Roadhouse regular," Ash added.

Caleb approached. "Miss me?"

"You saved our asses," Pam said.

"Kinda." Caleb beamed.

"Is this your heaven too?" Karen asked.

"This pixie place?" Caleb shook his head. "Uh uh. No way. I stumbled into this place adventuring in my heaven. I went from demon hunter to dragon slayer in 2.5 seconds. It was kind of badass until I found the fairies. Creepy little things." He shivered.

Bobby was pretty sure it was for dramatics. Caleb didn't creep out easily. However, it was fairies...

"Wait your heaven is hunting demons?" Ash guffawed. "No beer?"

"Beer too, and a girl," Caleb said in defense. "Hey, hunting is my thing, just like I'm guessing the Roadhouse is yours. I was born and bred into it."

"Fair enough," Ash said.

Caleb glanced around. "So who are these pretty ladies?"

"Caleb this is Pam, and my wife, Karen," Bobby introduced them.

Caleb nodded. Even though he knew Bobby's backstory he didn't blink. "Nice to meet you both. So what are you guys all doing here?"

"We're building an army," Ash told him, "And we could use your help."

Caleb raised his eyebrows. "An army for what?"

"Storming the castle," Pam replied.

"Which castle?" Caleb inquired.

"Heaven's," Ash answered. "To be exact, it's dungeon."

"You want to break into Heaven's prison," Caleb said slowly. "Why?"

"Because I'm 95 percent sure Ellen, Jo, John, and his wife are all trapped there," Ash replied.

"If you want my help you're going to have to be a little more sure," Caleb told him. "Cause I'm not going to risk getting presumably kicked out of Heaven for breaking and entering for nothing."

"How about 99 percent sure, does that make you feel better?"

"Anything for friends." Caleb grinned. "So, please tell me you have a plan."

"We do," Pam confirmed. "We're going to find as many people as we can to help us and we're going to sneak into the prison by the back door and break them out."

"Sounds fool proof," Caleb said. "Count me in."

"That easy?" Bobby was surprised. Caleb had always been a risk taker once in the mix, but usually wanted a little more information before jumping in.

"I owe John," Caleb told him. "And Ellen and Jo are too good to rot in a prison..."

"Owe John?" Bobby interrupted. "I heard you died for him."

Caleb shrugged. "He saved me several times before that."

"True friends pay a debt and do favors," Pam said.

Caleb nodded and rubbed his hands together. "So where to next?"

"Rufus's heaven," Ash told him.

"Uh man." Caleb shook his head. "Of course. Can't have the two grumps apart." He winked.

"Who are you calling a grump?" Bobby growled.

Caleb just smiled in reply.

Ash clapped his hands together. "Great. Well, how about we get this show on the road?"

Everyone got in line, Caleb joining in by Pam's side, and continued to head for the wall.

When they reached it, Ash found the secret passage and slipped through.

"After you, lady," Caleb said to Pam.

"Charming," she said flatly.

She walked through and Caleb followed. Karen and Bobby were right behind them.

The next heaven was a city in its prime. The streets were squeaky clean and everything looked polished. Bobby couldn't think of a city on Earth that came close to this one. Sparkling cars whizzed by them, too fast to see the drivers, if there were any.

"Someone's a perfectionist," Pam commented.

"Or a germaphobe," Caleb suggested.

"Whatever the case it's too perfect, even for a heaven," Ash muttered. "Giving me the creeps."

He made a point to pick up the pace.

"Rufus's heaven should be two more heavens away."

"Hey Ash," Caleb called. "You think you can find Pastor Jim after we get Rufus? I think he'd like to be a part of this."

Ash nodded. "I've been to his heaven before. He's expressed his sorrow over Ellen and Jo being missing. I had already promised him I'd go back if I got more information. That was just before I figured out God was missing and the angels were doing whatever they pleased."

"Pastor Jim is the one Caleb hunted with right?" Karen asked Bobby.

"Yep," Bobby answered.

"What's their story?"

"Jim was a pastor before a hunter. Caleb's father met him while chasing a demon. Jim saw him exorcise the demon. After that he wanted training from him that the church couldn't give him. And when Caleb's father died during a hunt, Pastor Jim became Caleb's mentor."

"This is a tragic bunch," Karen noted.

"Tragedy seems to be necessary on a hunter's resume," Bobby said.

"True."

As Karen spoke Ash found the opening to the next heaven and slipped through. Pam and Caleb quickly followed.

When Bobby and Karen made it to the other side they were on a tropical island, beach sand beneath their boots.

"Mmm, can't we stay for a bit?" Pam inquired, face tilted up towards the sun, eyes closed, as she continued to walk forward.

She opened her eyes back up and glanced at Ash. "You should really make note of where this is. When we're not on a mission, you've got to send me here."

"I'll do that," Ash replied.

The group slipped between two palm trees and already found themselves in another heaven.

Before them was a cabin in a forest. There was no mistaking it for any other cabin. Bobby knew it too well. "This is definitely Rufus's place."

"Yeah, he talked about having a cabin," Ash said. "So this is exactly how it looked?"

"Yep," Bobby answered.

Bobby approached the front door and knocked.

There was a grumbling from inside and the door opened. Rufus was standing on the other side, holding a bottle of Johnny Walker in his left hand and his right hand in his shirt pocket.

He gave Bobby a half smile, no teeth, the most of a smile Bobby had ever seen from him. "Look see what the cat dragged in."

"Good to see you too, Rufus."

Rufus looked over Bobby's shoulders at the others. "What are y'all doing here?"

"We need your help," Karen said.

Rufus starred at her. He'd been the hunter that trained Bobby whatever he hadn't learned himself. He'd seen her picture before, when the one in Bobby's library hadn't been burned in a hunting incident. "Karen."

"Not acting like a zombie when you are one saves your soul," she told him. "I assume that's why you're so shocked to see me."

"One of the reasons." Rufus nodded.

He glanced around once more before his eyes fell on Bobby again. "So what kind of help ya need?"

"The kind that can get us in a whole lot of trouble," Bobby replied.

Rufus grunted. "Is there any other?"

A/N: Not much going on in this chapter, but the next one promises a scare of some sort. Once again, I appreciate the reviews, favorites, and followers. Hope you enjoyed the update.