Dean ignored the Jeep as it tore out of the garage. He could do nothing else. His world had just come crashing down and he had no one to blame but himself. At the sound of another shot, a sense of duty flooded his veins. No, his world hadn't ended, it had just shrunk a bit. Sam still needed him, and by the sound of it, needed him now. He refused to watch the jeep as it made its way up the drive, he had a job to do, and for now it was enough.
Sam needed him, was the litany he lived by. For a while, he'd allowed his world to expand a bit, to include Sara and her family. It had helped to ease the void his father had left. Hell, if he were honest with himself it went much deeper than that. Sara had made his whole life better, she'd given him everything he'd ever dreamed of in one perfect package. A place to call home, three beautiful kids, and her heart, and how did her repay her? By throwing it all back in her face.
Dean felt physically sick. Over the years, he'd always been smart enough to avoid situations like this. He'd made sure the only relationships he had were skin deep. He'd protected himself and the woman involved by making his intentions clear. No commitments, no morning-after calls, hell, most nights he didn't even stay till dawn. His conscience had always been clean, even with Cassie. He'd told her the truth and had dealt with the consequences of her reaction.
However, with Sara everything had been different. She'd accepted him for who he was and had still wanted him. It had been a dream come true, at least until now. Now, here he was months later so tightly wrapped around Sara and her family that the thought of cutting them out of his life was making him nauseous. Dean drew a breath and forced himself to move.
Sammy needed him, as always he drew strength from that thought. One quick glance up the long drive was all he would allow himself, before he took off toward the back yard. He hadn't heard any shots for a while but, he was sure the battle wasn't over. If both men had gone to ground in the surrounding forest, Dean wasn't even sure he'd be able to find them. Sara owned nearly twelve acres and the majority of the land was heavily wooded.
Dean made his way to the back of the house. Careful to remain unseen, he eased his head around the corner and scanned the back yard for signs of either Gordon or Sam. "Shit", he cursed aloud as he watched and waited. He couldn't hear anything that would indicate which direction to look in. Unable to do much else he continued to make his way along the back of the house. He kept watch as he moved, one hand trailing along the wooden-shake siding the other gripping his gun. He knew he was more likely to be spotted rather than spot someone, but he really didn't have much choice. Sara's house was set so that there was little or no cover up against the house. Even the flowerbeds were filled with low-level plants and shrubs, nothing that went higher than his waist.
At last, he came to the patio that led to the French doors. One door swung wide, shards of glass still rimmed the frame, and a scattering of glass covered the ground. Sam, short on time, had shot out the glass rather than fumble with locks. Dean stood his back to the open door and surveyed the yard. He was fairly certain the fight had been taken into the woods. The shots he had heard earlier gave testimony to that. Well, he'd been certain until he heard the thump of feet on the stairs coming from inside the house. Stepping back from the doorframe, he listened hard, straining to determine if it was Gordon or Sam. A smile broke across his face as he recognized the familiar tread.
Dean ducked inside the doorframe and knelt down to wait. It didn't take long. One minute he was staring out the door, trying to pinpoint the sound of gunfire that was coming from the woods and the next, a wet nose was snuffling at his ear. "Hey, there, big guy." Dean affectionately rubbed Jack's ear. The dog bumped up against his back nearly sending him head long out the door. "Easy there, Jack," Dean chided as he stood, one hand on Jack's collar. Though he didn't want to expose Jack to danger, Dean knew the dog was the fastest way to track Sam. Decision made, Dean released Jack's collar and said, "Find, Sam."
The dog never hesitated, his nose to the ground he trotted out the door. Dean broke into a jog and followed, careful to stay close. He couldn't help but feel like a target as they made their way toward the forest. It didn't help that Jack's bright white coat was more suited to a snowy environment. The animal stood out against the green of the forest like a polar bear would have. The other problem was his lumbering tread. Though, Dean moved with little to no noise, Jack sounded like, well, he sounded like a polar bear crashing through the woods. Dean had no doubt with all the noise they were making they'd find someone. It was simply a question of who?
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Sam ducked as a bullet tore a hunk out of the tree he stood in front of. Sam dodged behind the tree, thankful to have something solid between him and Gordon's shots. After exiting the house, he'd headed straight for the woods intending to lose Gordon. It hadn't worked quite as well as he'd hoped. The thick forest had provided cover, but, it had also slowed Sam down. If he ran blindly through the trees, uncaring of the noise he made, it was too easy for Gordon to track him. However, if he slowed down too much, he got nowhere and Gordon could still track him. Either way, Sam seemed destined to face off with the other hunter.
He was pretty sure he had one thing going for him. The tiny 9mm handgun Gordon was using was obviously made for self-defense, not for firing accurately at any kind of distance. Sam wasn't sure why Gordon was using the mousegun, but he wasn't about to complain. The weapon's lack of accuracy and power was definitely working in Sam's favor.
Sam straightened a bit and fired toward Gordon, keeping the hunter at bay as he continued to make his way through the forest. He was staying pretty much parallel with the house. He was hoping to hit the stream that cut through the corner of Sara's property. The small waterway, though shallow, made a fairly clear path. Sam figured it'd be his best opportunity to make some time. If he managed to hit the clearing before Gordon, Sam would have a better chance of losing him allowing him to hopefully double back on the other hunter. Sam was sick of being chased, he was ready to do a little hunting of his own.
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Bobby's glance flickered between the road and the cell phone that sat on the seat next to him. He'd told Sam one hour and here it was nearly two hours later and he'd yet to hear from the younger man. "Stubborn Jackass," Bobby mumbled, not bothering to specify. After all, both Winchester's, with their mile-long stubborn streaks and willingness to martyr themselves, were pretty much interchangeable as far as he was concerned. As he pushed down on the accelerator, the truck's well-kept engine responded to the touch with a growl and an increase in speed. Bobby knew he was driving too fast for the winding road but he couldn't help but feel as if time was running out.
He had hated having to be the one to explain to Sara's parents that their daughter was in danger. In fact, he'd glossed over as much as he could, leading them to believe it was something supernatural in nature rather than human. He figured when you added their limited knowledge of what goes bump in the night, with the fact that no one wanted the police involved, it was the easiest explanation. As an added bonus when Gordon was finished, and Bobby had no doubt the other hunter would be finished, they could dispose of him with no one the wiser. After all, Gordon, crazy as he was, was not without friends in the hunting community. Friends that would seek revenge when this was all over and done. Yeah, as far as Bobby was concerned this was a secret best kept between him, the brothers, and Sara.
Bobby slowed before he reached Sara's drive. Though, her driveway was long, he didn't want to risk tipping Gordon off. He pulled off into a neighboring drive and came to a stop near the Impala. He leaned over and opened the glove box, grabbing the gun that rested inside. Earlier, he'd tucked it away so he wouldn't scare the kids. For all that the children were surrounded by hunters, Sara did her best to keep them from becoming too involved. She had been firm in her insistence that the kids were too young to deal with the reality and honestly, Bobby, Dean, and Sam had fully agreed.
Each one of the hunters had their own reasons for wanting to maintain the kid's innocence. For Bobby, it was the similarities between Sara's kids and the Winchester boys. He'd stood by and watched as John had destroyed every bit of innocence left in Dean, and to a lesser extent Sam, after Mary's death. Whether or not John was justified, given just what the brother's would face in their lives, was a question Bobby still wasn't sure of. However, that didn't mean he didn't wish things had been different for Sam and Dean. With Sara's children, he had no interest in introducing them to reality. Though, after everything they'd been through today he wondered if it was out of his control.
Bobby shook off his thoughts and climbed out of the battered blue truck. He stood for a moment, taking stock of his surroundings. He had a fairly clear view of the house from here and he studied it for a moment. As he watched, the garage door went up. Unsure of what he was watching, Bobby readied himself. He knew if it were Gordon, he would have to kill the man, rather than let him leave. He didn't want to think about what it meant for Sam and Dean if it was Gordon.
Gaze pinned to the garage door, Bobby watched as Sara's Jeep swung out of the garage. Unsure of who was driving, Bobby took off at a run for the end of Sara's drive. He needed to stop whoever it was, he couldn't afford to let Gordon slip away. Careful to stay out of sight, Bobby waited as the Jeep approached. As he broke cover, Bobby lifted his gun and trained it on the driver. Two things happened at once. First Bobby realized it was Sara, dropping his gun he breathed a sigh of relief at the younger woman's battered face. Second, she very nearly hit him. Only years of hunting allowed him to jump out of her way at the last minute.
With a screech of brakes, and the smell of burnt rubber, the Jeep shuddered to a halt. Bobby heard a curse and a car door slam as he picked himself up and off the asphalt. As he stood, he was very nearly knocked over again by Sara as she grabbed him in a bear hug. "Whoa there, honey," Bobby said as he returned the younger woman's hug. Sara kept her arms wrapped tight her face buried in his chest. Bobby could feel the shudders that wracked her frame and he wondered just how much she'd suffered in Gordon's hands. He was torn between giving comfort, to the woman that clung to him so fiercely, and demanding to know what was wrong. This wasn't like Sara, not the Sara he knew. The woman he'd come to know so well over the last three years was strong, unshakable and too proud to reach out for help, no matter how badly she might need it.
Bobby unable to wait any longer wrapped his hands gently around her forearms, eliciting a gasp from Sara. He loosened his grip and stepped back a bit, trying to see Sara's face. When she just stood, arms hanging at her sides, her chin tucked against her chest, Bobby suddenly began to fear for the Winchesters. It was the only thing, in his mind, that justified Sara's response, or well lack of. "Sara what's going on? Where're the boys?"
As she continued to ignore him, his fear became palpable. He reined in his emotions, sure now, in his heart that one or more of the boys was hurt. He didn't want to hear her response, but, he knew he had to. If one of the brother's was hurt or even worse, facing off against Gordon alone, then Bobby needed to be there. He tucked a finger under Sara's chin and gently lifted her face. He couldn't help but flinch in sympathy as she allowed him to raise her battered face. "Ah, damn, Sara." Though, there seemed to be no permanent damage Bobby had to admit the girl had been worked over hard.
"Sara, I need to know what's going on? Where's Sam?" Bobby started with Sam simply because he figured it would be easier. Though, Sara would be devastated if something had happened to Sam, Bobby was sure it wouldn't reach this catatonic state. He couldn't help but feel something must be wrong with Dean. Bobby shied away from what could have happened to the older Winchester to upset Sara this much. He could no longer tolerate her silence, her emotionless stare, needing a response, he gripped her arms once more and shook her gently. "Sara," he said in a stern voice.
The shake seemed to be the catalyst she needed. Her eyes seemed to focus on him, a rush of color flooded her cheeks, rivaling her bruises in it's intensity. "What are you doing here, Bobby? You're supposed to be with the kids." Sara's voice was low and almost painful to hear.
Bobby blamed it on the bruises that encircled her neck. Reaching out with one hand, he gripped her shoulder. "They're fine. I left them with your parents. I had to see what was happening here."
Sara nodded, wrapping her arms around her middle she hugged herself. "Gordon's in the woods, looking for Sam. Dean was heading after them." Here her voice faltered. "He told me to go." Bobby very nearly missed the last whispered words. He stared at her for a moment, turning over what she'd said. Though, being tracked through the woods by Gordon was by no means a good thing, it surely wasn't as dire as she was making it out to be. Then her last statement sunk in.
"He told you to go?" Bobby questioned, comprehension slamming into him. Well, damn, now he understood. Dean had finally done it, he'd cut Sara out of his life. Over the last year, Bobby had feared this would happen. He knew both Sara and Dean well enough to know they lived their lives for the people they loved. In Dean's case, his knee-jerk reaction to endangering the ones he loved the most, was to take himself out of the equation. What he didn't seem to realize was the hole he left behind would be worse than any monster, human or otherwise, that Sara could ever face. "Dammnit," Bobby swore, he really could knock Dean down for his stupidity.
Gunshots from the house below, reminded Bobby of just what his priority needed to be. He ducked a bit, low enough to stare Sara in the face. "Sara, listen to me. I need to go help the boys. You need to get out of here. Go to your parents." Bobby wanted to howl in frustration at the listless nod she gave him, or better yet, shoot Dean for his carelessness. Unfortunately, he didn't have time for either as more shots came from below. He carefully shoved Sara toward her Jeep urging her to hurry.
The sound of gunfire seemed to wake her up a bit, she dug her heels in just before the driver's side door of the Jeep refusing to move. Bobby ground his teeth in frustration. He was tempted to simply lift her up and throw her into the driver's seat. Instead, he released her and pleaded in a low growl, "Go, Sara".
Sara turned to watch the house once more, her eyes scanning the wooded property that was spread out below them. "I don't want to go till I know they're safe," Sara rasped.
Bobby stared down at Sara's house. It sat nestled in the valley, her land radiating outward. They had a fairly good view, just not good enough, Bobby thought with a sigh, as he couldn't see any movement through the trees below. He debated sending her away, though he wasn't sure just how he'd accomplish that if she was determined to stay. He nodded toward the Jeep. "Fine, you can stay if you promise to stay up here." His eyes narrowed and he glared. He knew it was a wasted look, but he couldn't help but hope it would intimidate Sara into staying put.
She nodded solemnly her eyes trained to the property below. "I won't come down I promise." Her monotone voice did more to convince Bobby than her words. He wondered just what Dean had said that would drive someone as loyal as Sara away. As tears began to flow down her cheeks, he found himself glad he didn't know. "You just stay here, Kid. Thing's will work themselves out when this is over." Though, Bobby said the words, he found he really didn't believe them. Sara simply nodded and climbed back into the jeep. She sat sideways with the door open wide her glance pinned to the scene below. Bobby left her sitting there wishing he could do more.
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Sam burst through a stand of trees and stumbled into the stream. Barely able to stop his momentum, he breathed a sigh of relief even as he cursed his now soaked shoes. Following the stream bank, he took advantage of a deer path he'd found. Even though, at times his height caused him to get snagged on low trees, he was able to increase his speed as he'd planned. As he continued down the path following the stream, he tried to keep Sara's property in mind. Her land backed on State Game land on two sides and near as Sam figured, he was pretty much straddling her property line. Unsure of exactly how far he'd gone, he decided it had to be far enough. He darted off the path and began to make his way through the underbrush once more. As branches tugged and pulled at his clothing and skin, and rocks and roots threatened to trip him up he began to slow. He needed to get back to Sara's, he needed to draw Gordon back out into the open. For once, he was thankful for Gordon's insanity. After all, it was sure to keep the older hunter on Sam's trail regardless of the danger to himself. Gordon had lost what little hold on reality he'd ever had, of that Sam was sure. In fact, Sam was banking on it. With Gordon lost to his emotions, he was more likely to make mistakes, mistakes that would favor the Winchesters.
Sam slowed, focusing on his surroundings he tried to judge just how close to the house he'd gotten. As he came to a stop, he spared a thought for his brother. Far as he knew, Dean might still be tied up in the kitchen. Sam pushed away the worry of what would happen if Gordon found it too hard to keep track of him. Would he return to the house, to Dean? He refused to dwell on the thought. After all, Sam was fairly sure that when Gordon had left the house, Dean had still been okay, restrained, but okay. And really, Sam thought, a slight smile breaking through his worry, there was really little chance his brother was still there. Dean was second only to Houdini for escaping.
Sam's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of something large moving through the forest. He quickly found a thicket and hunched down, his gaze locked toward where the noise was coming from. He was fairly sure it wasn't Gordon. The other hunter might be crazy, but he wasn't dumb. There was no way he'd give himself up like that. To Sam it sounded like some kind of animal. His imagination conjured a fleeting image of a bear, big and black, lumbering it's way through the forest. As the animal broke into the clearing, Sam realized he hadn't been too far off.
"Jack." Sam exclaimed stepping out into the clearing as the dog ran toward him. Sam, as always, very nearly side stepped the animal as he came to a lumbering halt only inches away. It was always hard for Sam to stand still when Jack was bearing down on him. Though, he knew it wasn't going to happen, Sam always waited for the big dog to knock him down in his exuberance. Jack never did though, he always stopped, leaving Sam feeling slightly guilty for not trusting him. Jack unable to control himself bumped his head against Sam all the while growling in happiness. Sam reached down and stroked the dog's big head, careful to avoid the knot that sat above his eye. He was thankful to find the big dog alive and well, he'd been worried that Gordon had killed him.
A moment, later Sam heard someone else making their way through the brush. One glance at Jack let Sam know there was nothing to worry about. The dog's happy little growls continued and his tail was thumping so hard against Sam's leg it actually hurt. He continued to fuss over Jack as he waited to see who would burst through the clearing. Sam was figuring it was Bobby, but he was hoping for Dean. At last, Sam could make out the figure jogging toward him, a big grin on his face.
"Thank God, Sam. I was starting to think the bump on Jack's head had done some permanent damage. We've been all over this forest." Dean complained as he reached Sam's side.
Though, his voice was full of irritation, it didn't escape Sam's notice that Dean was petting Jack. "Well, makes sense, I've been all over the forest," Sam said his voice full of complaint. Really, despite the years spent training and hunting in similar situations, neither Winchester had ever enjoyed the outdoors. "And before you say it, No, I 'm not lost," Sam snapped, cutting off Dean's next words.
Dean's grin showed Sam just how close to the mark he was. Regardless of his words, Sam couldn't help but return his brother's smile. There was just something about Dean's smile that begged to be answered.
"Where's Gordon?" The brother's overlapping voices broke the silence between them.
Sam shrugged. "I thought he was following me, but if you haven't come across him..." Sam's voice trailed off.
"Yeah, well the big guy here doesn't exactly move in stealth mode. It would have been no problem for him to avoid us."
Sam nodded, his eyes searching the surrounding area. "Yeah, I heard you coming a mile away. How'd you get free?"
Dean's smile slid off his face. As Sam watched, his eyes turned hard and his jaw clenched. Dean suddenly looked as if his world had ended. "What's wrong?"
Sam watched as Dean shut him out. Eyes shuttered, the older hunter turned from Sam and stared out into the forest. When he finally answered, his tone seemed hollow, "Sara freed me."
Sam started in surprise. "Sara? I sent her home hours ago. How'd she get back into the house?"
"So do you have a plan?"
It didn't go unnoticed by Sam that Dean was dodging his question. Not that Sam was surprised. He knew his brother well enough to recognize the signs. Dean was hurting and no amount of talking would help. The good thing was Sam knew what would help, at least for the here and now.
"Well, I planned on leading Gordon back to the house so I can shoot him," Sam stated, his tone matter-of-fact.
Though, the grin never reached his eyes, Dean's smile was contagious. "That's your plan, huh?"
Sam nodded his own grin nearly rivaling his brother's. "Yup, that's about it."
"Well, hell, that works for me."