"You want us to what?" Joe asked, in disbelief.
Dean glanced toward Jen's brother. The kid was young, strong, and obviously used to leading. Well, he was in for a big surprise if he thought that Dean would simply roll over. Leaning against the desk, he pulled out his hunting knife, and a sharpening stone. Taking his time, he concentrated on pulling the knife over the stone, again and again. Finally, he gazed at the blade, tilting it back and forth, allowing the light to play over the blade. Dropping the knife, he allowed it to thump tip first, into the wooden desk
Tucking the stone back into his jacket pocket, he glanced toward Joe; raising an eyebrow, he said, "I want you three to barricade yourselves in here. Wait for morning and then head for town."
Staring at the man in front of him, Joe had to admit he was intimidated. After all in a few succinct and rather rude words, Dean had managed to change Joe's entire world in a matter of minutes. Werewolves and witches, angry spirits and zombies, everything that only a day before he'd dismissed as the imagining of overactive imaginations had proven to be real. And the kicker was Dean and Sam lived their lives protecting people like him, like his sister from these monsters everyday. Yeah, Joe thought, that's not at all intimidating.
Squaring his shoulders, Joe shook his head. "No, I'm not going to sit here safe and sound while you two risk your lives. You said it yourself, if they get off this mountain there'll be no stopping them. That's my town at risk, my family."
Sam couldn't help but roll his eyes at the guy's gung-ho attitude; ever since Dean had tossed the leg at him, Joe had done a complete one-eighty. Sam knew that the abrupt about face, did nothing to change Dean's mind. Watching as Dean came face to face with Joe, Sam couldn't help but give props to the younger guy. Not many men could stand toe to toe with Dean and not show some sign of fear. This kid, though, this kid was meeting Dean's steady gaze with one of his own.
"I'm a hunter, I can shoot, and I know these woods like the back of my hand. I can help." Resisting the urge to swallow, Joe held Dean's gaze.
At last, Dean stepped back; leaning against the desk once more, he exchanged glances with Sam. At Sam's infinitesimal nod, Dean shrugged. "Fine you can stay but, you follow our lead. You got that. No matter what, we say jump and you do it."
Joe nodded, "You got it, I promise."
"Well if Joe's fighting so am I." Jen said, drawing herself up to stand with her brother.
Dean ignored the girl, turning his back he began scanning a relief map that hung on the wall of the cabin. Sam moved to join him; not wanting to be pulled into the family squabble. Talking softly the brothers began to finalize the plan.
Joe smiled at his sister, reaching out he drew her in for a bone-crushing hug. "No, you'll stay here with Steve. You'll stay and you won't move, and if we're not back by daylight you'll get yourself to town." Releasing her only slightly, Joe continued, "I almost lost you once, I won't risk it again, you can't shoot and you aren't as familiar with the area." Joe's tone made it clear he wasn't going to change his mind.
Jen glanced at the men who were resolutely ignoring her, knowing that she'd get no help from them she nodded. "Fine, but if I reach town and you're not back. I'm forming a search party and we're coming after you, do you understand Joe. I won't just leave you here."
Joe smiled and nodded, "Deal."
Jen turned toward her cousin, who now lay on the couch. Pressing a hand to his forehead, she felt for a fever.
Steve smiled up at his cousin's fussing. He actually felt good, considering the circumstances. He was half-tempted to argue that he was well enough to help. A quick glance at Joe, dissuaded him. His cousin shook his head at Steve's questioning glance, nodding Steve backed down. He knew that Joe was counting on him to keep Jen safe. Moaning a bit, Steve played it up a bit, confident that Jen's soft heart would keep her close to him.
Satisfied that Steve would watch out for his sister, Joe turned towards the men. "So what's next?"
888
"Dean?"
"Yeah, Sam?"
"You do realize that this is undoubtedly one of the stupidest things we've ever done right."
Dean frowned for a minute, obviously thinking hard, finally he answered, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is." Smiling at Sam, he was careful to keep to the shadows.
"Just checking. So, you ready?"
Grinning, Dean said, "As ever, let's get it done." Turning towards Joe, Dean asked, "So, that's the path?"
Joe clutched the shotgun in his hand, pushing his fear away he nodded, "Yeah that's it, like I said it should take us about fifteen minutes in this snow."
Dean nodded. "Fifteen minutes, okay." Turning towards Sam, he said, "You ready to run."
Sam held up the shotgun, grinning nervously he said, "As ready as I'll ever be." Licking his lips, he asked, "You wanna tell me why I'm the bait."
Dean grinned, "Well, you're always bragging that you're faster than me, this is your chance to prove it."
Sam nodded his body tense. "Next time I bring it up you have permission to slug me."
"Will do, now you ready?"
Not bothering to answer, Sam bolted from the shadow of the porch, and down the stairs; moving towards the path, that Joe had indicated. Not bothering to look left or right, he held tight to the shotgun in his hand.
Luckily, the snow turned out to be less than an impediment, than Sam had thought it would. Gathering speed he began yelling, "Come on, here I am. Come and get it."
Dean couldn't help but smile, as his brother tore across the clearing, yelling for all he was worth. Glaring at the man next to him, Dean said, "You better be right, Joe."
Joe nodded his face set. "I am."
"Well alright then, let's see if we can't get Charlotte to come out and play."
Dean watched his brother disappear down the path, the moonlight, making the night seem almost brighter than daylight. As he moved, hundreds of black shapes appeared out of the surrounding forest. They converged on the path, creating a snaking, black, trail behind Sam. Clenching his teeth, Dean kept one hand on Joe's arm, holding the young man back. His every instinct was to head out after his brother, to divert the spiders from following Sam as if he was some kind of Pied Piper.
"Now?"
Dean waited until the shadow began to taper off, finally as only stragglers remained, he let go of Joe's arm, and bolted from the shadows. Moving through the night a burst of exhilaration flooded through him. Focusing on following the horde in front of him, he looked neither right nor left, his every instinct insuring him that the danger laid in front of him.
Sam ran, eyes front, arms pumping. He had run track in high school, at least whenever he could. Running had been one of the few 'normal' things his father had encouraged. After all, it had helped to keep him in shape. Stretching his long legs to their fullest, he kept his eyes peeled for anything that was liable to trip him up. The moonlight was providing a surprising amount of light, and the path before him remained fairly clear.
Sam had been running for seven minutes, by his count, when he first heard the noise. Unable to help it, he stumbled a bit. Turning his head, he nearly fell, when he got his first glimpse of the flood of spiders spread out behind him. Skittering, they moved in a pack, as if controlled by one mind. Not knowing which was worse, the sound of their feet, or the squeals they emitted, Sam turned his face forward and ran.
Running, he hefted his shotgun; coming to a stop, he readied himself. Turning he fired both barrels. In one fell swoop, he managed to take out a large chunk of the following horde. Dropping the gun to his side, Sam was running again in moments. Not bothering to watch the aftermath, he picked up his speed, hoping to put more distance between himself and the spiders.
"Are your plans always like this?" Joe asked as he gasped for breath.
"Yup"
"Well, that's a reassuring. Maybe there's a chance we won't end up dead."
"You never know." Dean moved down the snow-covered path, arms pumping, his breath coming slow and steady. He was expecting to hear gunfire any moment now, and the wait was killing him. Running, he tried to keep his gaze from lingering on the path in front of him; it was as if a thousand feet had trampled the snow. Dean snorted to himself, well, he thought, technically they had.
"Should have fired by now." Joe breathed, as he pushed himself to keep up with the man in front of him.
Dean shook his head. "Not yet." Keeping his answers short and simple, he focused on the path in front of him. Counting down in his head, he had just passed three when he heard shots fired. Grinning he whispered to himself, "Good job Sammy."
Sam wanted to yell for joy at the keening sound that rippled through the remaining spiders. Not bothering to check how many he had killed, he picked up his pace knowing that he had really pissed them off now.
Dean surged forward at the sound of shots. He had been counting on Sam to piss off the Kumo, ensuring that the demon's attention remained focused on his brother. Closing the distance between himself, and the tail end of the spiders, he was careful to not draw thier attention to him and Joe He hated it though, he hated trusting Sam's fate to a man he hardly knew. However, if Joe were right, then Sam would be better off as bait. .
Joe was starting to gasp for breath; the pain in his side was becoming a problem. Although he was fit, running flat out for over ten minutes in the snow couldn't compare to jogging at the track. Sneaking a glance at the man that ran by his side, Joe drew strength from Dean's dogged determination. Forcing himself forward, Joe ignored the pain.
Sam hit the clearing at a dead run. Moving toward the far side, he quickly picked out the boulder that Joe had given as a landmark. Praying that the man knew the mountain as well as he claimed, Sam placed his back to the boulder. Taking three steps forward he then turned, facing the way he had come. Two steps backwards and he readied himself.
Signaling Joe into position, he never paused. Overtaking the tail end of the spiders, he concentrated on moving forward. Luckily for him, the creatures seemed to be in a blind rage. Intent on catching Sam, they ignored him. Unmindful of the spiders he crushed beneath his boots, he came to a halt. Raising his shotgun, he fired, forcing the spiders forward.
Sam heard the shots, holding his breath he waited. The spiders came at him fast, much faster than he had expected. Apparently, the sound of the shots had really lit a fire under them. Sam waited and watched, in moments the creatures surrounded him. He didn't know what troubled him more, the fact that they seemed to stop just before reaching him, or that they seemed to be parting.
Feeling a bit like Moses, Sam watched the creatures in front of him part. Within moments he could see why, walking up the divide was the Kumo. She was dressed in a silver, silk, dress; a blood red cape lay across her shoulders, the hood pulled forward. Raising her arms, she moved toward Sam, all the while lowering the hood of her cape. She was beautiful, hair as black as coal, her lips ruby red, she was the epitome of grace. She made Sam's skin crawl, watching her approach he waited to see what her next move would be.