Disclaimer: I own nothing in the following story. All recognizable characters and locations belong to Eric Kripke, the actors who portray them and everyone in between. No money was made and no offence was intended in the telling of this story. All characters will be dusted off and returned after I have finished playing with them sometime in the very distant future.

Author's Notes: Thanks to lynxlan and Muffy for their help with betaing this story. I've updated since getting it back so any mistakes are from me.

This chapter's warnings: Coupla swear words…

Shadows

By infinite shadow

Chapter 10

Bobby had sat in a chair trying to puzzle out the last few months together from what he'd read in Sam's journal. He'd tried to figure out just what had happened that had left his friend vulnerable enough to be open to possession in the first place.

With a heavy sigh he shoved the wandering thoughts aside as Shadow whined beside his chair. She was restless, had been since he'd brought her in and had commanded her to lie down next to the chair. Keeping her from Dean, especially when the boy was hurt always made the dog nervous and twitchy.

"Easy girl," Bobby murmured knowing his words or tone wouldn't help any. The dogneeded Dean, but the boys needed time to sort themselves out before he allowed the dog in there with them. He glanced down at her thinking that maybe he was wrong, but if he was it just meant he had company for a few minutes more.

He tiredly got up and checked John's bindings again. If he was going to be working over him he had to ensure it would be safe. After assuring himself the bonds were still tight he checked his friend's wounds.

One of Dean's shots had opened a good slice on John's cheek and he removed the already soiled bandage and replaced it with a new one. It could have probably used a stitch or two but it would do without. He checked on a few other wounds careful to not disturb the ritually placed blood. It had to remain until John woke demon free.

A short while later, sure that the hunter would survive in his current state, Bobby pulled out two small burlap bags out of his pockets.

Shadow sat up and whined loudly at him.

"All right girl. You've been patient enough," Bobby said softly. "Come here."

Shadow sprung up and leapt over to Bobby wagging her tail furiously.

"All right. Settle down. Settle," he said but almost got bowled over by the over enthusiastic dog. "Sit ya stupid mutt."

She did as she was commanded but just barely. Shadow began licking Bobby's face as soon as he knelt next to her.

"Keep that for the boys," he said gruffly affectionate. He pulled out three small oddly shaped iron pieces and clipped them onto her collar. He gave her a rough pet before standing back up. "Dean!"

"Yeah?" A quiet reply came from the other room.

"Call Shadow would'ja? She's underfoot," Bobby shouted even as he gave her a good scratch behind the ears. "Make sure you keep her close boy. I don't want her back in here."

"Shadow," Dean said.

Bobby could barely hear him but Shadow stilled instantly. Her body just about vibrated as she whined and looked up at her master.

He gave her a nod. "Go on," he said softly.

Shadow took off with a delighted bark.

Bobby waited until he heard the thump of her landing on the bed than turned back to business.

There was one more thing he could do to protect the boys from the demon. The less they knew the better and he knew with Shadow in the room the boys would probably stay put.

He felt the need for haste though, just in case the boys did not stay where they were. He took out an alcohol pad from the med kit and cleaned a couple of places on John's chest and belly, being extremely careful to avoid the blood from before. Then he took out his pocket knife and opened it. He opened another alcohol pad and cleaned his knife.

From a canvas bag he pulled out a smudge, a ceramic plate, bowl and several small vials. He grabbed the other small burlap bag and emptied the small amulets out into the bowl. The items in the small vials all went into the bowl and the last of the holy water from the blood ritual was added last.

This was a much more simplistic ritual and one the boys didn't need to know about. He took a deep breath and calmed his thoughts and his heart. He thought about John – the man, his friend, the father, the widower.

He picked up the small dried oblong package of dried herbs he'd made himself. He'd included sage, lavender, sweet grass, mugwort and cedar to the mix. Lighting the herbs he blew out the flame and coaxed the embers to continue to burn. Then he slowly walked around the room cleansing the room of any residual effects from the demon. He breathed in the aroma and left himself relax slightly. He took his time and took the item around the bed twice just to be sure. Then he picked up his knife and held the smudge under his hand. He watched as the smoke slowly encircled his clenched hand around the base of the blade and wound its way up and around the tip.

When he felt satisfied he placed it on the ceramic plate next to the bed and he swallowed heavily.

Slowly he made a very small incision on John's chest, just enough to slip the first small amulet under the skin. The incision was small enough that he was able to close the wound with butterfly bandages. He repeated the process four more times.

When he was done he stood back and admired his work. He gave a rueful shake of his head at the butterfly bandages mixed in with the dark bruising, scars, and barely started healing wounds. There was no doubt his friend had been a mess before he'd arrived at his home and he'd only gotten worse since his arrival.

He only hoped now that the healing could begin properly. For all of them.

With a heavy sigh he stepped back and sat down. He'd check on the boys in a bit, but for now he felt the need to just sit and keep watch. The boys had Shadow, granted she was just a dog, but she was better than nothing. And they had each other, no matter how bad it had gotten between the two of them. But if he left the room John had no one, and hadn't had anyone for months. It felt wrong to leave him on his own now.

He starred at the little bandages decorating his front. If the blood ritual worked then what he had just done wouldn't have harmed John any. The markers were close enough to the surface to be removed. But if the blood ritual hadn't worked it would lock the demon inside John's body and keep the body dormant until they could find another solution, even if that meant his death.

Lord help him if it came to that.

Dean already had a precariously brittle handle on his control and Sam wasn't faring much better.

The circumstances for both of their pain troubled and hurt him no end. They would stay with him until this got settled. And they would damn well talk to him if he had to wring their necks in the process to get it out of them.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm down. The fact that this demon had hurt them so badly made him want to beat the crap out of something. It really was too bad the demon had gotten into John. Had it worn a different face this ritual would not have been necessary. He would have ended it and forgotten all about it aside from making sure the boys were ok.

He shook his head slightly at his thoughts. It just wasn't the case. The demon was inside John. His friend was still in there. Sammy's notes had proven that.

There was extra research always on specific demons that weren't hunted. The man had, on some occasions, clawed his way past enough of the demon's hold to try and get a message through. No doubt to be beaten back down. But there were glimpses, slight shifts in his demeanor even since they'd gotten there.

Bobby shook his head and wondered silently how he'd missed the signs especially since they had been right in front of him.

During all his musings John had shown no signs of waking and Bobby was sure the old magic's had taken hold. If the blood ritual hadn't worked then the amulets would hold the demon under.

Wearily he got to his feet and silently made his way across the hall.

The sight almost made him smile. Sam was curled around his big brother. His head nestled on Dean's chest and his arm wrapped tightly around his chest. Dean in return had one arm around Sam's back.

It was the look on Dean's face that notched Bobby's concern up. The boy had no colour, even his freckles seemed to have paled slightly. His head was resting against the wall and he stared up at the ceiling.

"Hey Dean," Bobby said quietly as he moved towards them.

Dean shifted slightly to look at him but didn't respond.

"You're dad's still out," Bobby said answering the question he was sure the kid was thinking. "How are you feeling?"

Dean shrugged and looked away.

Bobby sat next to him on the bed. "You boys did good today."

Dean swallowed heavily and closed his eyes. Yeah right and there really was a man in the moon. God. He'd never noticed his father possessed, his little brother had it all figured out and while being abused he'd found the way to purge the revenge demon from his father's body. And all through the exorcism he'd stood there, like a moron mechanically doing everything that had been done before him so stunned from the day's events that had happened before he had a hard time comprehending they were doing a blood ritual on their own father, led by his baby brother. Yeah right he'd done good. Sammy had been awesome. He'd fumbled everything big time and had been for months. He'd even ignored his little brother when he'd asked for help.

"Hey," Bobby said softly.

The teen opened his eyes.

"Answer my question son. It's important," Bobby said. "How are you feeling?"

Dean swallowed heavily again and his cheek muscles jumped as he clenched his jaw. He began to shake uncontrollably.

"Hey now what's this about?" Bobby asked.

"He tried… I didn't hea… How coul…" Dean whispered and gasped for a breath. "Oh God… How could I have not heard…" He clamped his jaw shut but his chin started trembling.

As the first tear hit Dean's cheek Bobby was uncharacteristically choking up. He was wrapping an arm around him and holding both boys close before he could even think how to even deal with the situation. Dean's pain was silent but he felt the hot puffs of breath against his neck and the tears soak his shirt.

Bobby whispered words of comfort hoping Dean heard and prayed Sam didn't wake.

It didn't last long before the tears stopped and Dean was leaning against Bobby's shoulder just for comfort. Bobby didn't let go until the teen pulled back slightly.

"Sorry," Dean whispered as he wiped a hand over his face. He glanced down at his little brother and was relieved that he had slept through his meltdown.

Bobby shook his head. "Don't sweat it. Want to tell me about it?"

"Not really," Dean answered.

Bobby just stared at him until the teen caved.

"Fine. Sammy tried to tell me a couple of times but I ignored him. I didn't listen because I couldn't get out of my own head to look after him," Dean said softly.

"Uh huh. Somehow I don't think he tried that hard to tell you Dean or you would've clued in. Now why don't you tell me what's been bugging you since we last crossed paths," Bobby said.

Dean shifted uncomfortably on the bed and shrugged. "Nothing's been…"

"You really want to know what I'll do when you finish that lie?" Bobby asked bluntly.

Dean shifted again and sighed heavily. He chewed on his lower lip, then on the inside of his lip. "Do you think," he started to ask then stopped. He yawned then frowned heavily but didn't say anything else.

"Well I think quite often kid. It normally pays to keep one step ahead of you and boy wonder here. Now just spit it out. I ain't gettin any younger here," Bobby said impatiently.

"When do you think dad got possessed?" Dean asked softly.

Bobby almost bit out How the hell should I know but the uncertainty on the teen's face stopped the words instantly. "I don't know. It's not like I'm with you guys that often."

Dean pursed his lips and glanced away before looking Bobby straight in his eyes. "Before or after he left me in that… that… house."

Oh. "Guess that depends on what you hunted before you stayed at the house," Bobby said as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Just a spirit. She tried to kill Sammy cause he looked like this Dalton guy that killed her. There were two similar ones before her and then the one Sam and Dad did on their own that put them in hospital with me," Dean answered.

Bobby frowned as he tried to answer. But before he could he watched as Dean's eyes grew as wide as saucers, his hand dove under the covers and came up holding his pearl handed gun aiming at the doorway.

"So what you want to know is did I leave you in that house to die before or after I was possessed?" John asked tiredly from the doorway.