CHAPTER TWELVE
The ride to Castiel's coordinates was nothing but silent tension. Sam was glad they had a hunt; Dean vibrated with contained violence. Buffy fought the urge to squirm in the backseat.
"I do not understand why everyone is so uncomfortable," Castiel muttered. "It is not the first time I have seen either Winchester with a woman."
Buffy stared with wide eyes. Was this guy seriously going there? Did he want to die?
"Although," the angel continued, "it is the first time I've seen them together with a female."
Sam choked and Dean shot the angel a murderous look in the rearview mirror.
"Cas," Buffy said in a small voice, "Shut up."
He tilted his head and peered at her before shrugging. Buffy held back a smile of glee. She was the first girl they'd shared. Awesome.
The homes were spaced farther apart out here. Dean pulled up to the area Castiel had indicated. There was a house on either side of the street.
"Which one?" he demanded.
Castiel narrowed his eyes. "I am unsure. I tracked them to this spot and then..."
Buffy pointed to the house on the right. "It's that one."
"How do you know?" Sam asked.
"Slayer sense," was all she said in response.
The brothers exchanged a look and Dean shrugged. It was good enough for him.
They opened the trunk and peered inside at the collection of weapons.
"How do we kill it?" Buffy asked.
"Decapitation." Sam's research had decided that was the easiest way to go about it.
"Score," she gushed as she grabbed her battle ax. "Let's go."
Castiel spoke up, "There is no functioning back door. You will have to go in the front."
The group nodded and made their way to the entrance. Buffy kicked the door and charged in with no hesitation. Dean growled but followed close behind.
The fight was fast and intense. The aswang were strong. Everyone got knocked around a few times.
The small battle ended with four headless aswang and three bloody humans. There was no way to tell where the creature blood ended and human blood began. They would have to triage back at the hotel.
Dean glared at everyone as they walked back to the Impala. Sam tried the door and found it locked.
"Come on, dude," he said, exasperated, "Seriously?"
"No one is getting in baby like this," the older Winchester said stubbornly.
"It's daylight, Dean. We can't exactly walk in the hotel naked."
"Stow it, Sammy. Strip."
There was a lot of eyerolling and grumbling as everyone stripped down to undergarments. Buffy climbed in the backseat and crossed her arms and legs in an attempt to shield her near nudity.
Dean snorted and tossed her a towel. Like he hadn't already had her spread naked underneath him? He bit the inside of his cheek. Cool it, Winchester. The drive will be awkward with an obvious tent in the downstairs area.
The drive out there had only taken twenty minutes. Dean would swear on Castiel's wings that the drive back took hours. The three were amped. The earlier cockblock combined with the endorphins of a good fight? Dean was ready to pull over and ravage the hot blond in the backseat.
Who was...dozing? Seriously? He chuckled and nudged Sam. Sam snorted a soft laugh at the small woman curled up in the seat with the towel held like a security blanket.
The men exchanged another look. Dean raised his eyebrows in a small challenge to Sam. His younger brother only flicked a glance toward Buffy and then nodded.
So that's how it was gonna go down.
Dean turned his attention back to the road and a small smirk graced his lips.
Things were about to get interesting.
