Four Months
Chapter 13
Disclaimer: see chapter 1

A/N: This is it, hope you enjoy!

The sun was just rising as Joshua Sawyer pulled up to the farmhouse that had been a part of his life since his teens when he had spent part of a summer here helping Pastor Jim build what later became known as the Hunters Tomb. He had just gotten back in the country and Carolyn had called saying that Mac and Caleb had meet Bobby at Jim's place and that Sam was with them. Sam had broken contact with everyone involved in the Brotherhood, not just Mac, Caleb and Bobby, and over the last four months everyone they knew had been on the look out of the remaining Winchester, Joshua had even enlisted the help of the Coven with little success.

A twinge of pain shot through Joshua's soul as the Impala had come into view. He had never been close to the Winchester's, not like Caleb, but over the year prior to Dean's deal Joshua had worked closer with the newly forming Triad than he ever had. Once Dean died things came to a stand still, especially when Sam went missing. But Joshua's visit wasn't just to check on the future Scholars well being, but to inform the current Scholar of some disturbing developments the Coven was starting to experience.

Mac and Bobby were in the kitchen when they heard a car approaching glancing out the door the mechanic spoke up, "Josh's here." Bobby shot Mac a worried look, both knowing that no one outside the five men in the farmhouse knew about Dean yet. Mac had just come down from checking on Sam; Caleb was still asleep from his turn watching the youngest Winchester. Dean was currently sitting with his brother, who other than last night's excitement in the kitchen had a relatively uneventful night. Bobby walked across the room to get more coffee, glancing again at Mac, "This should be good."

Rubbing his hand over his face, Mac blew out a deep breath, "Yeah." Turning toward the door as it opened, "Joshua, good to see you, how was your trip?"

Dropping his bag near the door, Joshua crossed the room, shaking Mac's hand, nodding at Bobby. "Mac, Bobby. I just got back last night, Carolyn told me about Sam being here with Bobby. Is he okay?"

Bobby poured Joshua a cup of coffee as the younger man took a seat at the table, Mac and Bobby followed.

"For the most part he is okay, exhausted to the point of collapse, which he did last night." Mac saw concern in Joshua's eyes, "But he has been resting since then. He should be better today." Mac's assumption was based on the fact that they hopefully could get the kid to eat something and try to get him to take it easy, not a normal rule of thumb for a Winchester.

Joshua watched to two men before him, he could pick on something being off, but wasn't sure what, "Is Caleb okay?"

Mac smiled sadly, again no one outside those who had been at the farm, knew of Caleb's collapse and seizure, the Scholar knew Joshua would have to be brought up to speed on everything, but most importantly about Dean. Before the older man could answer his son's voice answered Sawyer's question.

"I'm fine Josh." Caleb came into the room, hair still disheveled from sleep, making a bee line for the coffee pot. Once getting his caffeine, Caleb looked at his father and Bobby, "Have you told him yet?"

Mac watched Caleb, his son was finally starting to look a little better, "I was just getting ready to tell him when…"

Again another person was caught by surprise as Dean's voice carried into the kitchen before he did, "Mac, I think Sammy needs…" His comment cut off by Joshua jumping from his seat so fast that the chair was knocked over and as with the others, Joshua's first response was to pull the weapon that was concealed under his sports coat.

"What the hell!?" Joshua backed up toward the door as Caleb quickly moved to place himself between Dean and Joshua's unwavering aim. Mac quickly stepped toward Joshua, hands up, also placing himself in front of the .45 the younger man had.

"Joshua, it's him. We've all been through this; I was just about to tell you when…" Mac looked over his shoulder at Caleb and Dean, "That perfect Winchester timing came into play." Sarcasm wasn't Mac's natural response to things, but nothing that had been happening the last few days could be viewed as natural.

Joshua still wasn't wavering or attempting to lower his weapon, even as Bobby came to stand next to Mac. "That's not possible…Oh God…" Joshua stepped back, "Is that why Sam went missing, tell he didn't…" Joshua had dealt with the extreme attempts that Caleb and Sam had tried to go through to try and get Dean out of his deal, he just prayed that Sam hadn't done something stupid.

"No, Joshua listen to me, Sam didn't do this. If you would put your gun away we will try and explain what little we know." Mac stepped closer to the outstretched gun, making Caleb nervous. He trusted Joshua, but the man didn't seem to be accepting what was being said to him.

Caleb made his way to the Crafter, pushing the gun to the side, taking the sides of Joshua's head in his hands, "Joshua…" Caleb purposely used the other man's given name, instead of the annoying shortened version of it that he normally used, to get his attention, "It's him. I've already done my whole psychic thing with him, after I tried to kill him too. Trust me Joshua, it's him." Finally lowering his gun, Joshua moved around the three men before him as he stepped near the thought dead, now returned Guardian.

Dean watched as Joshua neared him, his guard up remembering how Bobby had attempted to get closer to him before trying to stab him with a silver knife. Joshua studied the man before him, "When did I get my hunter's ring?" the older hunter asked, knowing the incident that lead to him getting his ring was something that the older Winchester liked to bring up at the most inopportune times.

Dean glanced at Caleb, who had come to stand near Joshua incase the older man made a move toward Dean, a smirk crossed Dean's face as his attention turned back to Sawyer, "When your screwed up 'Black Dog detector' didn't work and the damn thing nearly killed me."

"If you'd just stayed inside the circle I created you would never have been attacked." Sawyer countered with his natural response.

"I was trying to give Damien time to find Sam and all you wanted to do was draw a circle in the dirt with your magic wand." Dean's grin grew wider as Joshua smiled at the typical response that was all Dean Winchester.

"Satisfied?" Dean held out a hand, then Joshua did the most unexpected thing; he pulled the younger man into a hug. Dean's bewildered eyes sought out Caleb's, hoping this wasn't Sawyers way of attempting to stab him in the back, literally.

Caleb smiled back at Dean's expression, "Since his recovery, he not the same pain in the ass he always was."

Joshua pulled back, looking around at the men in the kitchen, a bit embarrassed at his response, but for what he had been through as well as watched what Mac and Caleb had been through, he was truly glad to see the oldest Winchester alive and breathing, "Sorry" Joshua whispered, as he stepped back, placing his gun in its holster. Returning to right the chair he had knocked over, he sat heavily, trying to take everything.

He sat in silence a few minutes as Mac turned to Dean, "Did Sam need something?"

"Oh yeah…" Dean snapped his fingers pointing at Mac, "all this excitement I nearly forgot, were you going to give him anything else when he woke up or wait and if we could get him to eat first?"

"I'm fine Dean…" the soft voice of Sam Winchester was heard as he leaned against the entry way to the kitchen. "Hey Joshua."

Dean turned quickly coming to stand next to his brother, who clearly still looked extremely tired, but at least his color was coming back, "What are you doing up?"

"Heard raised voices, thought I better check since I couldn't find anyone upstairs." Sam slowly made his way toward the table, Bobby pulling him out a chair. Caleb turned toward the frig, getting the younger man some juice.

"It was just Josh's attempt to kill me." Dean grinned again, then remembering his brother didn't take to well to the joking manner the day before. "You hungry little brother, everyone's up, might as well start some breakfast."

Mac added his professional opinion as Caleb and Dean set about starting the morning meal. "You need to eat something Sam, you probably didn't eat much yesterday and that didn't help matters last night. How's your head?"

Running his hand over his face Sam met Mac's concerned gaze, "It's better and yeah I think I could eat."

Joshua watched the activity with something close to fascination as everyone seemed to be falling back into the routine as if the last four months hadn't happened. He's finally had enough, 'Is somebody going to tell me what happened? How we suddenly seem to have the recently deceased Dean back with us?"

Everyone stopped as they all turned to look at Joshua, "Caleb could you finish this on your own, without burning the place down, I think I need to try and explain my interesting little tale to Josh." Dean grinned at his best friend as he handed him the spatula to finish the eggs, taking a seat next to Sam, across from Sawyer.

Breakfast was served as Dean relayed his story for the third time, Joshua seeming as dumbfounded as everyone else, especially at the involvement of supposed Angels. After a few minutes of silence as the hunter absorbed everything Mac spoke up, "Joshua, has the Coven ever heard of anything like this? We've been searching through Jim's books and old Journals and can't find anything pertaining to the Brotherhood ever encountering Angels."

Sitting down his coffee Joshua shock his head, "As far as I know, no. I can ask though, I'll even call my grandmother; see if she has ever heard of anything like this. Oh that reminds me about what else I was coming to discuss with you Mac." Mac watched as worry entered the younger man's face. "The Coven has started to encounter some strange occurrences."

It was Caleb who voiced the next question, "What kind of occurrences?" The psychic glanced at his father, knowing everything that had been happening or not happening on the Demon front had started making them nervous.

Looking at Reaves, Joshua cleared his throat, "A few of our member have gone missing under mysterious circumstances, another has been killed and several more have reported seeing spirits of the deceased and having the need to use rather difficult spells to disperse the spirit. I was checking to see if there has been anything being reported through the hunting community. Since I've been out of the country until last night, I have only just been made aware of what's been happening."

Mac stood, walking to look out the window, turning to face the younger man he inquired, "How long has this been going on?"

Joshua glanced at the men around him before answering, "Since last Thursday."

A pin drop could be heard as everyone looked at Dean "The day I came back." he whispered.

Just then Mac's phone rang, as did Caleb's and Bobby's, a feeling of dread feel across the room as each man answered their respective phones. After a few minutes of whispered conversations, while Sam, Dean and Joshua looked on, each man hung up his phone.

Mac spoke first, "That was Carolyn, reports have started to filter through the system of a few hunters dropping off the grid, no one seems to be able to find them."

Caleb nodded as he stepped toward his father, "Same thing here, that was a contact in New York, they just found the body of a known hunter. He was dead in his motel room; according to the call, it wasn't pretty."

All eye's turned to Bobby, who was now adjusting his ball cap. "That was Mike, another hunter that lives out near me, he's been trying to reach a couple of his buddies and can't seem to get them, said he was going to check on them and call me back. He asked for my help in locating them."

Dean stood, looking at Mac, "What the hell's going on, why does all this seem to correspond with my return?"

Caleb came to stand near his friend, "Maybe you should summon your friend Castiel and ask him." the older man's tone had more of bit than intended, Caleb just didn't trust the man who claimed to be an Angel, especially since he had threatened his family.

"Damn it Damien, it doesn't work that way, I can't summon him." Dean ran his hand over his face.

"You did before; if it all started with your return he should have some answers." Something big was coming, Caleb had felt it for days now, but he hated not knowing what he was facing.

"He made it clear that night that we didn't actually summon him, he had to talk to me and he decided that if making an appearance at our attempt would get me to listen, then that was what he was doing, but he made it clear that I wasn't to try it again, he would show up when he was needed." Dean was just as frustrated as his friend, because if the Demons were behind this, then it would be a perfect time for the Heavenly Host to make an appearance.

Mac's quiet, controlled voice broke up what could become a full blown argument, "Boys! I think we need to worry about what's going on now. We need to start trying to track down these missing hunters and get someone looking into the deaths of not only the hunters, but the members of the Coven as well." Mac looked at the men before him, he was still the leader of the Brotherhood in the absence of the former Guardian and Knight, the next generation would take over soon enough, but his decisions were still to be followed and it was with that authority that he spoke. "Bobby, I want you, Sam and Dean to head toward your place, try to make contact with your friend, see what he's found out." Bobby nodded as he left the room to grab his stuff. "Joshua, you and Caleb will come back to New York with me, so Caleb can check with his contact and I can get my people trying to figure this out. I want you to get in contact with the leadership in the Coven, have them relay everything they know to my people." Joshua nodded as he grabbed his bag near the door, heading back out to his rental, pulling his phone out to contact his mother, who could get a hold of the appropriate people in the Coven

This left Mac, the Scholar, the last remaining member of the previous Triad, current leader of the Brotherhood, as well as Caleb, Sam and Dean, the Knight, Scholar and Guardian of the next Triad standing in the kitchen. Dean stepped toward Mac, "What's going on Mac?"

"I wish I knew Dean, but with the Demon activity almost non-existent the last few weeks, we have been expecting a new offensive, but something of this scale, having it come not only at hunter but at the Covens as well. I honestly don't know what to expect, but the sooner we make contact with the missing hunters the quicker we are likely to find out what's happening." Mac pulled Dean into a tight hug, then releasing him, "You have no idea how glad I am that you were returned to us… and you," Mac pulled Sam into an equally tight hug, "Don't you ever do that to us again."

"I won't." Sam whispered out as Mac released him.

"We better get our gear Sammy or Bobby's gonna leave without us." Dean motioned for Sam to head upstairs, Dean turned to follow only to be stopped by Caleb's hand on his arm. Dean could see the pain the psychic was trying to hide in his eyes, "Damien?"

Caleb was worried, no he was scared and that was never a feeling he had ever liked to deal with, it was the one, which as a pre-teen, would cause him to runaway. But he was an adult now, a man with responsibilities and running wasn't a option anymore, but it didn't stop the fear, "I just got you back man, don't do anything stupid like getting yourself killed, I don't think I could survive it again." Caleb tried had to hide the crack in his voice as he felt Dean put his hand on the back of his neck, making sure he had the older hunters complete attention.

"And you remember what we talked about the other night, so you better make sure you cover your ass too." this time it was Dean who pulled his friend, his big brother into a hug, "I'll call you when we reach Bobby's." Dean and Caleb stepped back.

Bobby's voice broke the moment, "Damn it Dean, didn't your daddy teach you about getting your ass in gear when it was time to head out?" Bobby gave a quick grin to let the younger man know it was joke in the midst of the current tension.

Dean looked at he gruff mechanic, clicking his heals together in a mock salute, "Yes, Sir!" he said loudly as Sam reentered the room carrying both of their duffle's and Dean's prized leather jacket. "Let's hit the road Sammy, we're burning daylight." Dean shot Mac and Caleb a weary grin as he, Sam and Bobby headed out the back door.

Mac and Caleb stood silently, watching as goodbyes were exchanged with Joshua and the Winchesters, before the familiar rumble of the Impala was heard echoing across Jim's property. "Is it going to be okay?" Caleb whispered to his father, watching his best friend drive away.

Mac put his hand on his son's shoulder, remembering just days ago how he had nearly lost the younger man and how in the span of a few days had gained back the family that was scattered after Dean's death. With all that they seemed to be facing Mac couldn't help but think that, yes, things were going to work out, that they were going to be okay. They were all facing an uncertain future, but they had overcome so much and whether you believed in God or not, they had been given the Miracle of not only Caleb not dying a few short nights ago, but their own Prodigal Son in the way of Sam had finally returned to the fold and Dean had been returned from the fiery pits of Hell. "Yes Son, I believe that not matter what happens, everything will be okay." Mac silently prayed he was right as he and Caleb headed upstairs to grab their bags and with Joshua, they would head back to New York to face their next challenge.

A/N: I want to thank Ridley for creating the wonderful world of the Brotherhood and for Eric Kirpke for creating the wonderful world of the Winchesters. Do you think he ever realized how much fun we would have with them?

Well that's it, the story picks up with the second episode of the season, the one with the Witnesses making a grisly appearance. I hope everyone enjoyed this story and I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed for me and those who read alone. I'm bad at reading and not reviewing, I'm trying to do better, because I know how much reviews help, knowing people are taking the time to even read my writings makes me feel good. I really appreciate it! Another plot bunny is trying to form; hopefully I'll see you all real soon-Montez