Dean's hand gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white with the pressure. His eyes were focused on the road while he gritted his teeth together. The car was silent with the anger and anticipation. No one knew what they were going to find when they would reach their destination. It was taking the entire demon's self control not to lose it there and then but he knew he had to stay strong, for his Sammy. The last thing they needed was two supernatural's going out of control...no Dean had to be the strong one...he had to be the one to be there for his vampire after all this was Sam's family that was in danger.
Rolling his shoulders the hunter attempted to relieve some tension, he glanced briefly to his lover who was staring intently out of the passenger window. He hadn't said a single word since they had got into the Impala, not even to Dean. Sighing slightly the hunter let his eyes wander to the rear view mirror. He saw the female figure slumping against the window, her eyes were closed and to the rest of the world she would appear to be dead. However Dean knew better.
Jessica was in a bad shape when she had been sent to the Roadhouse; it had taken almost draining both Ellen and Jo in order for her to regain a fraction of her strength. Sam wanted her to stay behind as he claimed he has lost most of his family already and he didn't want to lose her but her stubbornness won in the end, so now she was resting in the car attempting to recover from the severe blood loss. She would need all the strength she could get if Dean was right about what was facing them.
The hunter's eyes moved to look at the old Volkswagen following closely behind him. A tight smile crossed his lips as he watched the four occupants of the car. Bobby was driving at a steady pace, keeping up with the young hunter's erratic and frantically speeding pace. Ellen was in the front seat with her serious 'you mess with my family I will kill you' face on. While Jo was in the back chatting with an older man who was currently new to the group.
When they had found out about the threat to Aelfric Bobby had mentioned a friend of his who might be able to help. Apparently back in the day the pair had hunted together and as Bobby has put it they were the original Sam and Dean. This man was called Rufus and to Dean he was the scariest and stubborn man he had ever met in his life...he was perfect to help them face down other hunters.
So that was it, the little group. The little group who were currently racing to face down something they had never faced before; hunters.
For once the hunters were now becoming the hunted.
The darkness was slowly diminishing as it made way for the first rays of dawn. Inwardly Dean swore he should have realised what Gordon's plan was. He was going to attack when the vampire's were at their most weakest. Gripping the steering wheel harder the hunter pressed his foot down on the accelerator and the car sped forward towards their destination.
This just made the demon more determined. He was going to show Gordon Walker what happened when he messed with a Winchester and his family. Human or no human he didn't care anymore, any threat to his family must be eradicated, a victory wasn't enough here, he needed complete and utter annihilation. Dean wasn't out to win this battle; he was out to win the war.
Besides who's to say that if Gordon was spared that he wouldn't try this again, no guys like him do not quit unless they are stopped for good. The thought of killing a human would have repulsed him in the past but now, now he didn't care. He just needed his Sam and his family safe no matter what the cost. For Sam he would do anything...
"When we get there I don't think you should be anything more than a hunter..." Sam's voice pierced through the silence making Dean jump as he had been so deep into his own thoughts.
"What?" the hunter asked quietly, his gaze flickering from the vampire to the road and back again.
"Who knows how many hunters Gordon will have on his side, what do you think they will do to you if they realise what you are?"
"I can handle it Sammy."
"No you can't Dean," the hunter heard his vampire sigh and he sensed rather than saw his lover's attention turn towards him. "You might think you can but the demon is controlling you. Look I have lost a lot over the past couple of hours...please...I can't lose you too...Not again..." Sam's voice cracked at the end and the hunter could hear the unspoken plea in his voice.
Dean turned his head towards his vampire and let one hand rest on the man's knee. "Ok Sam," he said squeezing the appendage in a silent promise. "I'll just be a regular hunter," he added feeling the demon inside of him growl at those words. Suppressing this he turned back to the road and focused on getting there in one piece, now was really not the time to lose control, not after the promise he had just made.
The sun was beginning to rise as the car pulled up to the woods on the outskirts of the cottage. The same woods those two years ago Dean had been kidnapped from. Drawing in a deep breath the demon turned off the ignition and stepped out of the car. He moved round to the boot where Bobby, Ellen, Jo and Rufus were currently waiting. Soon Sam joined them with Jessica using him as a human crutch.
"You boys sure on this?" Bobby asked seeming to want clarity.
"He's my Sire of course I'm sure," Sam practically growled at the elder hunter and Dean could tell that the vampire was having a hard time dealing with his emotions. "He's your friend too..."
"I know that but..." Bobby was cut short due to the six foot four of vampire that came hurtling towards him. Sam fisted his hands in the elder hunter's shirt and lifted him off of his feet, his face mere inches away from the man's face. His fangs were descended while his eyes glowed a deep red, a picture of what he was at the start of the year four months ago.
"There are no buts; we are going to do this, with or without you!" Sam hissed.
Dean groaned, this was not what they needed right now. He walked over to Sam's side and grabbed the vampire's arm while Ellen was attempting to support Bobby's weight to free him from the vampire's death grip. "Sam put him down."
"Dean he's saying..." the vampire started to say but was stopped by the demon forcefully pulling Bobby free from his grip.
Dean pushed the elder hunter towards Ellen who grabbed him; a fierce scowl was on her face. Ignoring her, the demon placed himself between the man he considered a father and his lover. "This is not helping anything! I know what Bobby was trying to say and he is right, we need to be smart about this and not just go running in all commando and shit. We go in smart or not at all." Dean made sure that his gaze was locked with the vampire's, he watched as then red slowly began to fade slightly. "You need to keep in control Sam; I'm not letting you flip out like you have been doing the last year."
The others watched the exchange with apprehension; each one knowing what could happen if the vampire flipped out for sure. That would destroy their efforts and commit every one of them to death.
The pair stood there staring at each other before the sound of laughter broke them out of their stance. Turning their heads both Sam and Dean looked questionably towards Rufus.
"Hell Bobby, you know how to keep one hell of a family," he said with a fond smile on his face.
"Ya know me Rufus, ain't right if it's done normal," Bobby replied straightening himself up but not letting go of Ellen's hand.
"Dean's right, we need a plan," Jo pitched in pulling out her knife from her boot. She ran it across her finger tips in deep thought. "These are humans not like some supernatural beast we are used to."
The seven people all turned to look at one another, the realisation beginning to sink in that for the hunters this was not like some normal hunt. This was not a supernatural being that was killing humans, this was humans killing supernatural beings...this was defiantly some kind of fucked up.
"All that matters is stopping Walker...the other hunters...see if they can be reasoned with...if not...well...do what you have to," Bobby muttered to which everyone nodded their heads to not wanting to expression their reluctance to kill another human being, one of their own kinds, that would surely make them murderers. "We need a plan..."
Gordon stood outside of the house; a sadistic grin was spread over his face. "AELFRIC COME OUT AND FACE US YOU COWARD!" he shouted with his arms stretched out wide. He balanced a machete in his right hand while his left was curled up in a fist. His whole body screamed out joy because to him this was all a game. Every last fang needs destroying and there was one in particular he could not wait for. The bastard that Winchester was concealing, if this was not a way to flush him out then he had no idea what was. "YOU HAVE NO FAMILY TO HIDE BEHIND ANYMORE! NO ONE IS COMING TO YOUR RESCUE; THEY ARE ALL ROTTING IN HELL WHERE ALL YOU FLITHY FANGS BELONG!"
All around Walker the hunters began to laugh. Each one as amused as the man himself was. They all had their own machetes and they all were raring to go.
In the past two days Gordon had managed to gather an army of about twenty hunters, each one with their own hatred towards vampires. Most had lost a loved one to the fangs or seen firsthand what the vampire curse could do. Either way they were the perfect army, gullible men all out for blood and who would do anything that Gordon asked them to. It was the perfect plan for the perfect hunt.
Smirking Gordon tilted his head down towards his right hand man. "Any sign of them Kubrick?"
"Not yet but they will come, I made sure that Winchester got my message."
"Excellent," Gordon muttered lifting to his full height once more. This time he turned to address the crowd. "The time is almost upon us, the sun is on our side and today will be the day we eradicate the vampire curse from this god forsake town!" with his words the whole crowd roared with glee. "Remember anyone protecting a fang is no better than a monster themselves, show no mercy and we will be rid of this plague!" once again a resounding roar echoed throughout the trees. "THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE HUMAN RACE TO NO LONGER BE CATTLE! WE ARE FIGHTING BACK AND THIS IS ONE WAR WE ARE GOING TO WIN!"
Gordon laughed as he turned around to face the house once more, the cheering behind him continued which just added to his amusement and inflated ego. He gripped the machete in his hands tighter and looked down at the watch on his wrist. It was almost midday, it was almost time.
Glancing around the surrounding woods he knew that somewhere out there was Winchester, there was no way he would let the fang die without at least trying a pathetic attempt at saving the man. Gordon knew that wherever Winchester went that fang boy would be sure to follow if his informant was right of course.
Yes his informant, the one who made this all possible, without him the hunter would have no idea where the main vampire nest was. It was all planning out nicely and that is the way he liked it.
Looking down at his watch he realised it was time. Winchester or no Winchester he was not going to let this elder vampire live for much longer. "FINE HAVE IT YOUR WAY VAMPIRE, IF YOU WON'T COME OUT WE WILL COME IN!" with those words he signalled to the group of hunters standing near the door holding onto a log.
On his signal they began to pound the door with the battering ram...
Dean raced through the woods, Bobby and Rufus hot on his heels. He didn't have time to think, he just knew he had to react. They had heard Gordon's words, had heard him start to pound on the door and he knew that they were starting to run out of time.
His mind turned towards the other people in his group. They had decided to spilt up, to attempt to not show their actual numbers. Ellen and Jo were camping out in the woods ready to take on any surprise or unknown attackers. Sam and Jess, after much argument on their side, were sent to go into the house to retrieve Aelfric and any other remaining vampires present. Sam wanted to be part of the actual fight but Dean knew it was too dangerous due to the sun's presence. After promising the man that he would appear as an average hunter, Sam had agreed with the plan.
So now it was up to the three men to face down Walker and his apparent army if the noise level was anything to go by. They might be severely outnumbered but the hunters knew that they needed to give the vampire's enough time to get out of dodge...
The demon slowed his pace as he came to the edge of the clearing. Placing his finger up in warning the two men stopped behind him as three pairs of eyes stared through to the front of the house. Dean groaned at the sheer number of hunters there were but he knew he had no choice. He had to face down Gordon for Aelfric's sake...
Dean reached down into the waistband of his trousers and pulled out his trust Colt 1911, nodding towards the other men who had also armed themselves the trio stepped into the clearing and into plain sight.
"Never took you for a drama queen Gordy," Dean calmly stated causing all the hunters around him to turn and face him. Not letting it faze him the hunter and his two followers slowly walked towards the big group, by now Gordon's ear splitting smirk was facing his direction. "What's with the big show?"
"Dean...Dean...Dean...so nice of you to turn up," Gordon said raising his hands so that the assault on the door stopped. "We've been waiting for the guests of honour to arrive."
"Well everyone knows it's not a party unless I am here," Dean smirked continuing to walk towards the man who was making him feel physically sick, this was the man who was threatening his family and it was taking all his self control not to allow the demon side of him to show its ugly face. "So what's the big occasion?"
Gordon laughed his full attention on Dean and the two hunters behind him. He raised an eyebrow as he said "Bobby Singer and Rufus Turner, I wasn't expecting you both to be here...I see..."
"Got to look after my family," Bobby stated standing firm behind Dean.
"I just came here to get my whiskey," Rufus added a sparkle of mischief present in his eyes.
Dean kept his attention on the hunter in front of him, his whole body tense as he was mentally preparing himself for the defense. He held firm onto his loaded gun that was against his side ready for use if the time or opportunity presented itself. "So Gordy I'm here...now what?"
Gordon laughed as his eyes scanned the background around them; he narrowed his eyes when he saw that there was nothing there. "Where's your fang?" he questioned Dean taking a step towards the young hunter.
Dean laughed without humour as he matched the man's step. "Not here."
"I know he's here, I know he follows you around everywhere."
Dean furrowed his brow, how the hell did he know that? There were many questions he needed answers to, like how did he know about Aelfric and where Dean was hiding out. There was something else going on here but he couldn't afford to let himself be distracted. Lives were at stake.
"Then you thought wrong. He is not here. You think I would really let him anywhere near you," Dean almost spat as he took one more step towards the other hunter. They were almost nose to nose now; both men relied up by the other's words. Testosterone was flying all over the place and Dean was finding it increasingly harder to keep control of his inner demon. "No...He is somewhere where you will never get to him."
Gordon growled and sent a fist flying into Dean's face. The young hunter staggered back slightly due to the shock of the impact but he didn't let it rumble his facade. Wiping a hand across his lips Dean got rid of the blood dripping out of his now spilt lip. "Touched a nerve there did I?" he questioned lifting his gun up so that it was now pointing at Gordon's chest. Bobby and Rufus followed suit.
"You can't protect that fang forever; he needs to be exterminated like the vermin he is..."
"You do like the sound of your own voice," Dean commented rolling his eyes but his gun hand held firm, he noticed that all around him the other hunters had their guns drawn and directed towards him. Terrific.
"You are under his spell, we can free you Winchester. You should be on our side...what would your father say..."
Dean scoffed he opened his mouth to reply however he was cut off by Bobby. "His father was a piece of shit, who cares about what he would say. I'm more of a father to that boy then John ever was..."
"Was?" Gordon repeated. "So it is true, the great John Winchester is dead...shame he was a good man...he knew what was right..."
Dean growled "You son of a bitch, my father was an evil bastard and he deserved everything that he got! Now I see why you two were so close, family meant nothing to either of you! You killed your own sister out of cold blood..."
"She had been infected by that filthy fang!"
"Just admit it you didn't give a shit about her, like you don't give a shit about these people here. They are just pawns to you, pawns to use in your sick game of chess. You couldn't care less who dies today or what happens as long as you can use them to your own advantage."
Dean could hear the hunters around him begin to murmur and a few of them even dropped their guns. Inwardly he grinned, if he could only get the doubt going long enough to give Sam a chance. "At the end of the day all these people are is bait."
Gordon laughed, he stepped closer to Dean, the young hunter never moved away. "You think you have this all figured out don't you boy, think you can win them over by saying a few home truths. Ok you're right I don't give a shit about them but they are hunter's boy...something you claim to be yourself...They don't give a shit about anyone apart from the hunt...all they want to do is kill some vampire bitches...Ain't that right!" with Gordon's words the hunters were instantly back on his side and cheering once more.
Dean gulped, this was going to be harder then he thought it would be. "I won't let you kill Aelfric."
"WE won't let you kill him..." Bobby corrected stepping forward so that he was standing next to the young hunter showing him that he was with Dean every step of the way.
"I still just want my whiskey," Rufus added looking reluctant but he stepped forward all the same.
Gordon cackled like he was a villain out of a superhero film. "Oh yeah..." he said sizing up the three men. "You and what army?"
"This army," Dean replied as the trees around them began to shake. He watched as the other hunters looked around them confused wondering what the hell was actually going on. Mentally Dean thanked Ellen and Jo for their part in this, he knew that Ellen's scary nature would come in handy, seems like she had managed to find some hunters to rustle some trees. He felt slightly sorry for the men as he knew what it was like being scared of the woman but he was beginning to come to love her like a scary auntie. "You're surrounded Gordon, you might have hunters here but we have our own."
For once Gordon looked like he was out of his depth. "Well played Winchester but not good enough."
With those words Gordon whistled.
Ten men popped around the side of the house. Each was carrying a flame. Dean felt bile creep up his throat as in a matter of seconds they each dropped the torches to the ground setting the cottage alight. Dean gritted his teeth to stop himself from calling out Sam's name, he knew that fire wouldn't be fatal to a vampire but it would still hurt and the blood loss itself could kill them.
As soon as the fire began to catch Dean saw red. His Sam was in there...His Sam...That was it...no more reasoning...
Dean growled allowing a tinge of his demon side to come through, not enough for anyone to be suspicious of him. He was done playing. "You're going to pay for this Walker!"
"Bring it Winchester!"
Everyone leapt into action...
TBC (Hey all, thank you to your kind reviews for the last chapter. I know that I haven't been the greatest at keeping up with updating this story and I am sorry to all those who had been waiting so long to see this verse continued. I promise to write a lot more now because I am determined to give you all a good story to read so please stay with me. Thank you as always to all my kind readers, it means so much to me to see everyone who is liking this and if it isn't too much bother it would be nice to hear what your thoughts on this are so please review as it makes me so happy to see what you have to say. So what's going to happen to the boys? Will Gordon get his way? What happened to Sam? All this will be explained in the next explosive chapter so see you all in Part Twenty One!)