2006...

When Sam, Dean and Alex walked into the room, the last person they expected to be waiting in the shadows was their own father, smiling at them. All this time of looking for him; almost a year... and here he was... First he hugged Dean, then after a pause Sam came to him as well. Lastly he scooped up Alex into a hug. Alex lay her head on his shoulder, and he stood, looking at his sons.

"Didn't think we'd all be together like this again." he said finally.

"Dad... where have you been?" Dean rasped.

"Around." John said quietly. "I didn't want to disappear, but I didn't have any choice; I had to make sure you were protected."

"Protected?" Sam frowned. "Dad, you've been sending us on all kinds of crazy hunts with those clues---"

"Maybe, but what I'm hunting, son... you can't be a part of. I'm sorry. Not yet."

"You found it, didn't you?" Sam demanded quietly. "Yellow Eyes. The thing that killed Mom. That killed Jess..."

"Jess?"

"Sam's girlfriend." Alex whispered.

"Oh... Ahem, I'm close. Very close."

"I need to be a part of this!"

"You can't!"

"Dad!"

"I'm here for something else first, that you can help me with." he said instead of giving in.

Dean looked at him sideways. "What?"

"Nest of vampires, they stole something... something I thought didn't even exist up till now..." he explained, pacing. "Thought it was a myth, but Samuel Colt, he made a gun, with six special bullets. Only six. And, that gun with those bullets... can kill anything. Anything."

"A demon? There's a gun that can actually kill a demon?" Dean asked, pacing a bit.

"Yes." John said, "but we have to get it from these vampires first."

"You told me vamps were a myth!" Dean burst out.

"Well, they're not!" John said, sitting Alex down. "As it turns out, they're real, and not all of the mythology about them is right. Sun doesn't make them go poof. They have an allergy-like affect to it, and light sensitivity; but if they wear enough sunscreen and dark shades, they're good for short periods of time. And, their fangs can't be seen unless they want you to, either; it's not just the two like the movies. A whole retractable set, like freaking piranhas."

"Guessing garlic's bullshit, too?" Dean asked.

"Yeah. They don't mind it. Holy water stings, but Dead Man's Blood... that's their real poison. Get 'em with that... they go down slow and painful. Quickest and best way is decaptitation, though."

"Does that mean I get a sword?" Alex asked hopefully.

"Ah... no, baby doll." John said softly, laying a hand on her head. "You can't go on this one."

"But, I've been going on hunts with the boys for months!" she said, slightly huffy. "Dad! Come on!"

"Not vampires." John said sternly. "And not with the bounty the demons have on me right now. Bobby's not too far from here; we'll drop you off with him until we're done."

Alex made a face. "But, can't I just stay at the hotel?"

"No! You need to be looked after, and we're going to be gone, probably out in the wilderness, a few days! A week maybe! Okay?"

Alex sighed, looking at her shoes, then looked up at Dean and Sam. "Don't you two want me to go?"

John rolled his eyes at her, but a grin tugged at the corners of Dean's mouth as he put a hand on her back. "No, baby, we don't. I'm sorry. This is something we aren't used to, and not quite sure how to deal with. Next time we hunt vamps... maybe, okay?"

Alex sighed, looking at Sam for final confirmation.

"Slick, aren't'cha?" he said with a little smile. "No. I'm usually the last to agree with Dad, but... no. Not this time. You'll be safe at Bobby's, okay? His place is great... he has this awesome library, and junk in the attic---"

"Stay out of the attic." Dean said quickly.

Sam gave him a funny look.

"There's... he's got stuff up there." Dean said a bit uncomfortably. "Just... don't go in there. Or anywhere else he says it's not cool to go. Capice?"

Alex nodded. She didn't know Bobby that well, but she knew the boys and Dad had been close with him years ago... If they trusted him, that was gospel for her. She just hoped all three would come back this time...