Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 10

It had taken Dawn and Tara to pull Willow off Xander when they'd left. Dawn had hugged them both tightly and demanded they call or at least email regularly. Giles had been sad but had handed over several books, a list of contacts and some extra money that they had both tried to refuse. They'd been on the road a day now and John found Xander's excitement amusing and sort of sad. Xander had been out of Sunnydale twice, once running from the Knights and the other time o his failed post grad road trip. He'd dragged his own kids from one side of the country to the other and yeah, he hadn't often let them see the sights but even they had seen some! Since Xander wasn't used to long hours in a car, well truck in their case, and John himself was out of practice they were taking the trip slow. That and he still hadn't figured out what to say when they reached Singer Salvage. What if Dean and Sam were there? He needed more time before facing his children. He jerked as Xander nudged him, putting his attention back on the road.

Xander parked and looked around at all the wrecks before looking at John who was staring at the house.

"John? You okay? Maybe we should have called first." Xander offered but John shook his head.

"Better to do this face to face." He answered, opening his door to get out of the truck. Xander followed and then they both froze as they heard a shotgun.

"What can I do for you boys?" A gruff voice called and they both turned to face the older man on the porch who had a shotgun aimed their way.

"Take it easy Bobby, we, well I need to talk to you." John called, keeping his hands in plain sight.

"And you are?" The hunter asked and John took a deep breath.

"John Winchester." He answered and swallowed as he saw Bobby's finger start to tighten on the trigger.
"Bobby wait, just listen okay? I know this is crazy but it is me. Toss us some holy water, try silver but please, we need to talk." John told him and Bobby hesitated but tossed him a silver flask. John took several mouthfuls before tossing it to Xander who did the same.

"You gonna claim to be a dead person too kid?" Bobby asked and Xander shook his head.

"No sir, I'm just Xander." Xander answered quickly and Bobby stared before cautiously letting them inside, watching them both pass through the devils trap in front of his door. John sat down and Xander sat beside him, looking around.

"Well?" Bobby demanded and John sighed.

"What do you want to know? How I'm alive and out of hell? Why I look like I should be Dean's brother and not his father?" John asked and then relaxed when Xander nudged him.
"The answer's simple, a young woman by the name of Willow." John grumbled.

"Thought you'd forgiven her?" Xander asked.
"After all you're not in hell anymore."

"She still shouldn't have done it, especially for the reasons she gave." John argued and Bobby was left staring in confusion.

"Yeah well Special Girl Syndrome strikes again." Xander answered with a shrug.

"Would one of you please explain?" Bobby demanded and John looked over at him. Staring at the young man he could see the John Winchester he'd only seen in an old photo but it wasn't possible, was it?

"Know what a Hellmouth is?" John asked and Bobby nodded.
"Well the current one is in a little town in California and is guarded by an interesting group, Xander here is one of them." That made Bobby look at the stranger more closely, that boy helped defend the Hellmouth? Looking closer he could see it, the world weariness in his eyes, the knowledge of the true world.
"Well apparently one of the witches there decided they needed more help so they could have more time off. So she decided to mess around with a spell."

"I felt Willow using magic and busted in to see her complete the spell and pass out. John appeared, passed out on the floor. I called Giles over once John woke up and he took him to make sure he was human and all while I waited with Willow who still doesn't seem to understand that magic is not chemistry, she can't just mix and match at will."

"I moved into Xander's apartment, got a job with his construction company and helped out with the hunting. And before you ask I didn't call because one, we didn't know if I would be able to leave the town or was tied to the hellmouth and two, I didn't want any of you messed up in the fight going on at the time."

"Fight?"

"Against a hell god named Glory. We managed to stop her last week, after attending the…funerals we left." John answered, reaching out to place a comforting hand on the still grieving Xander's shoulder. Xander managed a shaky smile in return.

"That's a nice story but there's still no proof you're John." Bobby said and John nodded.

"Your name is Robert Steven Singer, you became a hunter after your wife Karen was possessed and you were forced to kill her. Rufus Turner was the one to tell you what had happened. We met in 1990 dealing with a werewolf. You gave Sam the amulet he gave Dean for Christmas and even looked after the boys several times when I couldn't take them with me on a hunt. Shortly after I…..after I kicked Sam out we had a falling out over it and you told me never to come back unless I wanted you to use your shotgun. But you sent me what I needed to summon the demon to make the deal to save Dean's life." John recited and Bobby eyed him warily.

"I…John? Is it…..it's impossible." Bobby breathed.

"Need me to announce where a certain tattoo is?" John teased, seeing he was getting through to his old friend and Bobby glanced at a curious Xander before shaking his head.

"I can't believe this…..John Winchester. I missed you." Bobby admitted and John nodded, reaching out to clasp hands with his old friend.

"Sam and Dean….are they okay? What's been happening since…since I died?" John asked, leaning forward. He looked over as Xander fidgeted.
"Xander."

"I should go find a motel or something, you two need to catch up and stuff." He offered lamely and John shook his head.

"Xander….you took me into your home, got me a job, and from what I hear were the one to get me to the hospital after that fight with Glory. You're as much family as Bobby and my boys. I want you to stay; you'll be meeting them soon enough hopefully. It's about time you had more male friends." John told him, not seeing the raised eyebrow Bobby was favouring him with. As far as Bobby was concerned death had apparently done John good, not that he'd wish hell on anyone. Xander stared at him before settling back down and nodding.
"So?"

"Those boys of yours could find trouble anywhere; I don't know how you managed. There's been trouble too, hunters learning about Sam's powers and going after him. Remember Gordon Walker?"

"Tell me he didn't….Sam's alive?" John demanded and Bobby nodded.

"Managed to get Gordon sent to prison, smart kid. Though they're both on the FBI's most wanted list as well thanks to another shape shifter mess. I just finished helping them with a Trickster last week, it was almost amusing the way it had them at each others throats. Dean…"

"What about him?" John pushed and Bobby sighed.

"Saying he took your death badly'd be the understatement of the century. He's doing better now but….it's not gonna be an easy reunion." Bobby warned and John nodded.

TBC…
Shorter than usual I know but the boys finding out needs its own chapter and I'm still not sure how it'll go.