A/N: I blame the evil, angry, (yet cute) plot bunnies for this one.

A/N: Any and all mistakes are mine.

A/N: I do not own "Supernatural" or any recognizable characters.

Righteous Blood

Chapter Ten

Jerry did not know how much more of this he could take: angels, demons; heaven, hell; his daughter returning from the dead, confrontations, and awkward moments. It all sounded like a bad dream. He was relieved to have Stephanie back, safe and sound, but he wouldn't allow himself to think about her awful experiences in hell. And he certainly wasn't letting Dean off the hook about the whole situation.

He'd be damned if he was going to let anything happen to his children. They'd already been through enough. Although they were no longer babies, Jerry knew it was his responsibility to protect them. On her hospital deathbed, his wife asked that he look after their children. With tears in his eyes, he promised that he'd take care of them, raise them right. After watching his wife slowly and painfully pass away, Jerry told himself, "Never again will I watch a loved one die."

But over the past few years, Jerry began to feel as if he failed her.

His wife's cancer, he knew, was not caused by man. She unfortunately fell ill after giving birth to Danny and the disease progressed from there. It wasn't anyone's fault, but Jerry felt that he had to make it up to his children by being both their father and their mother. As he watched Danny bleed to death, he couldn't imagine what his wife would have been saying. He didn't keep his promise to her and their son died on his watch. Then, when he found out Stephanie made her deal, he couldn't believe he didn't think of doing it himself. He should have been there to back them up.

Jerry always told his kids that you never go out on a hunt alone, especially a dangerous one. To his amazement, Stephanie and Danny had always listened to him. He forgot his book of matches, of all things; a necessity for this particular hunt. They had each other, and Jerry thought that would be enough until he returned. He ran back to the car to get it, and that was when it attacked Danny. Stephanie was double checking the trap's configuration when the wendigo came out of the woods and headed straight for Danny. Between the darkness and the trees, Stephanie was carefully hidden from the monster's view, while her brother was left out in the open. She couldn't get to him before the beast sliced into him. She ran towards them, shouting, trying to distract it from hurting Danny, but the damage was already done. She reached him as his body fell to the ground and the monster ran off.

When Jerry came back from the car, he saw Stephanie kneeling next to her brother, hands pressed to his chest and stomach trying to stop the bleeding. She was calling his name, but Danny wasn't responding. Seeing what happened after the fact, Jerry took off after the wendigo in hyperactive hunter-Dad mode. Jerry is still not sure, but he managed to find it and kill it before heading back to his family.

He and Stephanie watched as Danny died from his wounds on the cold, dirty forest floor. The same helplessness and complex emotions that clouded his judgment when his wife died began to overwhelm him. When the finally managed to get Danny home, they gently cleaned him up, changed his clothes, and laid him on his bed. Jerry sat next to his son's lifeless body, too angry at himself to cry. Stephanie stood in silence in the doorway watching her brother and father. There were times when she thought that her brother moved in his sleep, just as he'd done ever since he was a baby. But Danny wouldn't stir or wake from death's cold grip.

After a long night of silence between them, Stephanie left the family cabin without so much as a word to her father. She drove to the nearest crossroads, summoed the red-eyed demon, and bargained her soul to save her brother.

Her family was reunited and everything was back to normal. Only problem was, Stephanie had one year to live before being dragged to hell. Both her father and brother were less than thrilled to hear that she'd made a deal to save Danny, but it was done. There was no getting out of it. For one year, they searched high and low for an answer, a loop hole that might get her off the hook. Any solution Jerry found that he'd either lose his son because Stephanie chickened out, or he'd lose his daughter, because he didn't fight hard enough.

One year to the date, in the church where Jerry and his wife were married, they hell hounds came for his daughter. Jerry and Danny stood helplessly while she screamed as they tore her to shreds, and left her for dead. It was the second time Jerry witnessed the agonizing death of one of his children. And all he could do was watch.

Just thinking about it gave Jerry chills. He never wanted to feel that kind of pain again. Parents aren't supposed to bury their children. But that's a part of a normal, apple pie life. And their life was anything but. As the guilt piled higher and higher, Jerry began to feel run down and emotionally empty.

It was his daughter's voice that pulled him out of his daydream. "So, now what?"

Jerry focused his eyes and scanned the room. The blank looks on everyone's faces did not ease his concern.

"Whatever we're gonna do, we better do it fast," said Dean. "We need to make a plan."

"I don't know about you guys, but I've never actually had a 'plan' when going against demons," said Stephanie. "We usually just go in, trap the damn thing, and exorcise it. End of story."

"I don't think a simple exorcism is gonna work on her," said Dean. "You have no idea what she's capable of."

"Well then I guess we'll have to figure out a way to hide you," said Sam.

"Oh yeah, and how do you suggest we do that?" asked Jerry.

Sam looked at Dean, and said, "Hex bags."

Danny looked up. "Like, black magic? Witches? Seriously?"

Sam shrugged. "It's an idea."

"Sounds good to me," said Stephanie. "How do we make one?"

"We'll need to make more than one," said Sam. "Maybe five or so; one for each of you, one for your car, and an extra one, just in case."

"That might not be enough," said Castiel.

"Why not? Should we make more?" asked Stephanie.

"That's not what I mean," the angel said. "You're going to need something stronger to keep Lilith off your trail. Hex bags won't do much."

"They've worked before," said Sam.

"Really?" asked Jerry.

"Yes, really," said Dean.

"Okay, what do we need?" asked Danny.

"I have all we need," said Sam. "Let me get my bag."

"You what?" asked Dean.

"I have all we need to-"

"Yeah, I got that. But since when?"

"Since, well, a while ago."

"Really? Huh."

"Yeah." Dead didn't appreciate his brother's tone and raised his eyebrows.

"Ruby showed me," confessed Sam. "And she gave me what I need to make them if she's not around, which clearly, she's not."

"Ah, Ruby. How'd I know?" said Dean.

Sam didn't reply to his brother's sarcasm. There was no use arguing because it wasn't the right time or place. He sighed internally, and got up to leave when Bobby said, "Hold on just a minuted. I think we might need to move this little party downstairs."

"Why?" asked Jerry.

"I built a panic room; a 100 percent demon-free zone," said Bobby. "Perfect for when you're trying to keep the bad guys at bay."

"Bobby, you are awesome," said Stephanie. He smile sheepishly.

"Sounds like a start to me," said Danny.

They all got up, gathered books and papers before heading down the hallway to the basement door. Sam stepped away from the group and walked outside to the Impala to get his duffle.

As they made their way to the panic room, Stephanie noticed the frustrated, tired look on Dean's face. Seeing how the brother's bickered, Stephanie couldn't help but wonder how they worked so well together. She and Danny had their fights, of course, but the issues between Sam and Dean seemed to run much deeper than any other pair of siblings.

Her curiosity getting the best of her, Stephanie said, "I'm afraid to ask, but who's Ruby?"

"She's a demon," said Dean flatly.

"And she's a friend of yours?"

"No. She's a friend of Sam's."

"Oh," said Stephanie in a small voice. She didn't know it was going to be a touchy subject. Nevertheless, she pressed forward. "And she actually helped you."

"Yeah," admitted Dean.

"So if these hex bags are supposed to protect us from demons, why would a demon show you how to make one?" asked Danny.

"Apparently, she was a witch a while back," said Dean.

"Great, a witch turned demon," said Jerry. "That sounds reliable."

"Look, if it was up to me, I wouldn't have anything to do with her," said Dean. "I hate to admit it, but she has saved our asses before."

"You really think she can help us?" asked Stephanie.

Dean nodded. "The hex bags will work. Just make sure you keep them with you." His smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Why do I feel like there's something you're not telling us?" asked Jerry.

"Why don't you trust us? We know what we're talking about," said Dean.

"Yeah, but demons on our side? That sounds a little...suspicious, don't you think?"

"You're preaching to the choir," said Dean.

Sam returned with his duffle and began to take out the ingredients and cloth to make the bags. "I know it won't take long, but I want to show you guys how to do this for the future."

Danny and Stephanie sat down at the table and watched as Sam made the first bag. Jerry made his way over and hovered between his children's shoulders. Dean made a point to keep his distance from Sam. He stood leaning on the wall near the door, arms folded across his chest. Castiel walked up next to him, and said, "Dean, you know the bags aren't fool proof. Lilith won't give up. She'll find Stephanie, magic hex bags or not."

"Yeah, I know," said Dean, "but for now, it's th best plan we got. It's just temporary until we figure something else out."

The angel gave him a curious look. "You're forming another plan?"

Before Dean could reply, Sam said, "Okay, all done."

"That was fast," said Jerry.

"Yeah, we only made a few bags, Dad," said Danny. "It's easier than it looks."

Castiel mumbled something that sounded like, "But even more dangerous," to Dean, but he wasn't sure.

"Well," Jerry started, "I don't know about anyone else, but I had a terrific time. Thank you Sam for the bags, and thank you Bobby for your hospitality. And thank you Castiel for bringing Stephanie back. I really appreciate it. I hate to be a party pooper, but it's time for us to go." Everyone stared at him.

"Why aren't you two getting your things?" he asked his kids. "We're leaving." Stephanie and Danny exchanged puzzled looks.

"Jerry turned to face them, "Stephanie, Daniel, I'm not kidding this time. We are leaving. Now."

"Why?" asked Danny.

"Because I said so," said Jerry. "Get your stuff and get in the car."

Danny quickly got up and started gathering his belongings. Stephanie stayed in her seat. "I'm staying."

"What?"

"I'm staying here with Sam, Dean, and Bobby. I'm not going with you."

"Don't be silly," he said. "You're part of this family, and the family is leaving."

"I'm part of the family, Dad? Really?"

"Stephanie, now is not the time to be sarcastic. You know very well that you are part of this family and family sticks together."

"So was I still part of the family when you buried me in the backyard? Sounds to me like you got me confused with the family dog."

Jerry sighed, and said, "Steph, we buried you there because we wanted you to be near us. A formal funeral would have attracted unwanted attention. We did it to protect you."

"Dad," she started, "I was in hell. Don't you get that? You couldn't protect me anymore. You didn't have to."

Her words stung, but Jerry managed to say, "But that's my job."

"Dad, you think you can protect me and Danny forever? You can barely protect yourself most times. There is a war going on here, whether you realize it or not. And it's not the kind of situation where you can negotiate with leaders or drop an A-bomb. We're dealing with evil. Bad things are going to happen to good people, and you wanna walk away?"

A moment after the words left her lips, there was a loud bang in the living room. Even through the thick panic room walls, they could all hear people walking around, smashing random objects in the room above them. Jerry headed for the door, but Dean put out his arm and stopped him. "You can't go out there," he said as another loud bang came vibrating through the walls.

"Why not?" asked Jerry.

"Don't you hear that?" asked Dean. "It's not safe."

"They found us," said Castiel, his eyes focused on the ceiling.

"Who?" asked Danny.

"Lilith and her entourage," said Castiel. "They're looking for you."

"But they can't get to us down here, right?" asked Stephanie.

"They'll eventually find the room, but they can't com in," said Bobby. "I soaked the iron walls in salt."

"So, I'm safe if I stay in here?" asked Stephanie, quickly becoming less cool, calm, and collected. Heavy footsteps were making their way down the basement stairs and Danny walked over to his sister to stand guard.

"Where's Ruby when you need her?" asked Sam, rhetorically.

"Cas, can you -" Dean started, but was cut off by a fierce bang on the door. That was all it took.

The door opened and Lilith was standing just outside the doorway with two demon henchmen behind her. She quickly flashed her creepy white eyes, and said, "Oh look, the gang's all here. Must be my lucky day."

A/N: As evil and crazy as they might be, please remember to feed the plot bunnies and review. Thanks!