Still don't own them.

Chapter 36

The Setup

There stood Bobby and Ellen their backs to the door looking as if they were ready to start shooting. Sam's gut reaction was thank God the demon expert has arrived while Dean was afraid everything just got a whole lot more complicated. First and foremost the situation had to be defused. Calling out to them he rushed to Bobby, threw an arm around his shoulder and shook his hand then gave Ellen a kiss on the cheek, telling all there that these people are valued friends and Sam hurried to greet them as well.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Dean asked as he pulled them into the room.

"You think you can keep me out of this one?" Bobby asked incredulously.

"Besides Jim Murphy called to worn us, your dad's on his way. He bolted out the door the second he read a text." Ellen added, "He's in bad shape. We were afraid of you being alone when he shows up here. He'll probably arrive some time tonight. Jim checked into a Hotel 8 on the other side of town yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Dean started, "How?"

"He flew and we still found you first, gotta rub that in when we see him." Bobby snickered then gestured to the 'young' men and woman in the room, "What's this a junior hunters club meeting?" Bobby joked.

Before the voice in his head could shout at him Dean answered, "Bobby, Ellen I'd like you to meet Dixon Channing leader of these hunters."

There was a mild change in the atmosphere of the room. A heaviness had settled over it, a raise in tension so well hidden that only a spy, a grifter or a hunter would detect it. As everyone in the room was a hunter no one was unaware but all were pro's so everyone kept their cool.

With his face steeled in a pleasant expression Dixon extended his hand to Bobby, "How do you do?" he greeted the grizzled man with a hardy hand shake then took Ellen's hand and with a slight bow smiled, "Charmed."

"Glad to know you." Bobby took his hand then turned to Dean, "Damn how many are we talking about?"

"You're in five cities here and one or two in Canada, right?" Dean asked casually then without waiting for an answer turned to Bobby and Ellen, "They run it like a business. Comes complete with research teems." he told them then asked Dixon, "Who set this up, your dad? No your brother?"

"My elder brother established the organization when I was quite young." Dixon caught on and stepped in, "Ilsa is our primary fanatical manager. Take a bow Ilsa." he smiled at his Illutu's second in command, who stepped forward and did so.

"Funded hunting damn, how do you do that?" Bobby asked his eyes wide displaying great interest.

"It's a long drawn out process. You must carefully find people you trust, others like yourself, and slowly carefully bring them into the fold." Dixon began using Dean's 'Vague, carefully selected, truth' a technique he had witnessed so often, (particularly when picking up girls), "Do you have a small trustworthy group of well endowed friends"

"One or two or so I hear, but their dirt poor." Bobby threw out a rare off coloured joke which was well received.

"Dean and I have been four months on the road however I really couldn't say. We've shared a room but not a bath." Dixon continued the joke, "But there's a lady in every town if you wish to take a survey."

"Okay, let's stop it right there." Dean stepped in, "Bobby, Ellen about my friends here, I'm trusting you. These guys don't need every hunter in the country banging on their door trying to share of the wealth."

"Armed and not taking no for an answer." Ellen added with a chuckle.

"Hey you guys got expense accounts for phone bills?" Bobby suddenly asked a bright smile on his face.

Ellen glared while Dean and Sam smothered snickers. Ellen narrowed her eyes but could only hold the glare for another few seconds before bursting into laughter.

"Was it something I said?" Bobby asked wide eyed and innocent sending more ripples of laughter through the room.

"That's enough smart ass." Ellen gave him an elbow nudge, "Lets get a room before Jim gets here."

"You I get, you're always up for a demon hunt." said Dean to Bobby, "But you Ellen, just taking off and Pastor Jim?"

"You're dad's on the way, remember." Ellen said shaking her head, "You need your back, front and both sides covered."

"John was staying with Jim trying to get grounded when he got your text." Bobby said becoming serious and speaking directly to Sam and Dean he said, "Boys he's not on the edge he's over it. We need to talk."

"Ilsa, will you help Dean's friends obtain a room." Dixon offered, "We may have booked them all."

"Great, thanks Dix." Dean urged Ellen and Bobby out the door then paused, "Just a sec."

Dean had little doubt that the minute he left the room Dixon would have a miner revolt on his hand. One he would have trouble suppressing if he was even so inclined. He was confident that with time and effort he could win Bobby and Ellen over and possibly Pastor Jim. Working with Dixon and his people would be the first step, proof they were the good guys, but how to tell Dixon that before leaving the room. They worked together well but Dixon wasn't Sam. They still needed a word or two to communicate.

Dean hurried back to Dixon calling "Take over for me here, I'll be back in a bit." then took his hand and with a meaningfully look in his eyes added, "These are our kind of people, we wont them."

Dixon nodded his acceptance then with a meaningful look of his own, asked, "Is there anything you need from me?"

Leaning over the table making a show of looking at papers Dean muttered, "Your best truth liars to lay down the foundation." then addressed the others as he left the room, "Bobby here is one of the best demon hunters I know so don't you embarrass me."

Dixon waited until he heard the signal from the guard outside the door, telling him that they were out of ear shot before turning to the council and Balu gathered in the room. There were waiting also.

"Don't embarrass him?" one growled.

"It was a warning that, as they are expert hunters, we must be very careful." Dixon announced.

"You can explain, I'm sure." Jacob came to Dixon's aid despite his own trepidation.

"Dean and I have made a plan." Dixon began but growls and protests erupted around him.

"Hear our King." Jacob growled above it all.

Large as the room was it was over crowded with fifteen members of the council and eighteen Balu. He stepped back and stood on the coffee table so he could look over the crowd while presenting a dominant image.

"Dean and I have discussed this matter on a number of occasions. There are certain hunters we must never reveal ourselves to and leave alive. I have their names and descriptions. There are good hunters who may or may not react well, so it is better to stay hidden from them and there are a few Dean knows will accept us as he does but they must be approached carefully." All were watching, listening, giving him their undivided attention. That didn't mean they were won over but neither were they about to bolt out the door. They wanted to see strength and confidence in their King. "These two could be valued allies. In those few words we exchanged Dean and I formed a plan to make that possible if we choose.

"You must understand that interviewing people and detecting lies is a part of the human way of hunting. They can tell by how you hold your eyes whether you are remembering something or fabricating it. This was the warning, 'Do not embarrass me', they can detect lies. I need people, a small number of volunteers, who are in the habit of dealing with humans and have a measure of respect for them, a small number only, who are willing to interact with these hunters.

"They will ask you who you are, perhaps where you are from and most assuredly how you became a hunter. You can tell them where your family is from whether it be Europe Asia or Mesopotamia. Do not worry about lying about who came to America or other matters as they will expect hesitations about giving personal information. They will very likely lie about themselves. They will expect you to be guarded there fore there will be not need to hide discomfort or natural reserve. Only be polite. But when they ask how you became involved in hunting I want you to be able to describe a hunt. One in which you lost a dear friend or loved one to a monster or witnessed a monster's horrific act. This is how humans become hunters, through personal tragedy. Telling such a tale will gain their trust and lay down the foundation for friendship and in time truth."

"I recall loosing a woman I loved to a vampire, but it was in Greece" Jacob offered when no one responded to Dixon's call for volunteers.

"Then say it was in Greece and you loved the woman." Dixon jumped on the lifeline, "Please tell us what happened?"

As Jacob described an unfortunate unexpected encounter with a vampire Dixon asked questions encouraging such details as, it was a cool evening, early twilight, how the sky looked and how lovely she was with her hair down and blowing in the breeze.

"That is perfect. A heart breaking story of a lose, they would understand and accept you as one like them." Dixon approved then turned to the crowd, "I am looking for true stories. Simply tell the story omitting that it was a century, or a millennia ago." but no one spoke up so he began one of his own, "Some years ago, I was investigating caves in the north of Spain, with seven others all of us great climbers. One was my dearest friend Wilfred. He had such a love of caves he hoped to take up spelunking one day. I never mentioned he was already doing that very thing. He had a peculiar laugh that made everyone around him laugh and we were all laughing as we made our way out of the caves. I believe Lucian another good friend was telling one of his ridiculous jokes when we heard this strange growl and suddenly Wilfred was gone. He was no more than a few feet from me and suddenly he was there no more. We all froze, we were so startled, we had no idea what had just happened. We heard the roar again and suddenly Clarisse was gone. She was a small robust girl, I didn't know very well. I called 'out, out' and we all began scrambling for the opening. We could see it, it was that close, but more and more were taken as we tried to escaped the caves and make it down to my brother at the bottom of the hill side. Of the eight that went in only three came out. It took a great deal of effort on my brother's part to discover it was a Wendigo and find how to kill it. The thought of it always strikes fear into my heart. I was on my third Wendigo hunt when we met Dean." Dixon finished his tale, " I can never tell that story without feeling the pain of those loses. It will be evident when it repeat it to them. They will see truth and sincerity of my story and perhaps even feel a kinship."

It was not the first hunt he lead, not by a far cry, but it was the first time he lost anyone and had the dubious renowned of having the highest casualties on any hunt to date. He could see by the discomfort on those near him that the pain was evident in his usually well schooled face. He called again for more volunteers. Silence hung heavy in the room until Aelfric came forward with a tale. His ploy had worked. 'If their King was willing to so expose himself how could they not show courage.'

"A secrete hunter society?" Bobby asked as he dropped his bag on a bed in the room he would share with Jim Murphy.

"It's true, they run it like a detective agency or something." Dean said hands in the air in an I swear gesture, then hesitated before continuing "Well, they have this big foundation, a business that's not about hunting but it finances them. Don't ask me how it works. I know shit about business."

"And they're hunters? Rich businessmen, women, hunters?" Bobby was having a hard time with the concept.

"Hey, Sam and me ran every kind of check on these guys you can think of." Dean assured him, "More than once. They're legit or their business is."

"They don't have criminal records or if they did they made them go away." Sam took up the story, "Dixon the leader is based in Scranton Pennsylvania. He has a big manor there, is a very private guy but his business interests are pretty public. He operates under the umbrella company Nisutu Enterprises. He owns a big chunk of Micro Soft and a few other well known business. Has some major European holdings too. This is one very rich guy, he can afford to do this. If some of those other guys, in there, have money too well…." Sam finished with a shrug.

"Nisutu? Wonder what that means, Dean?" Bobby asked.

"Family or kindred." Dean didn't hesitate, "If you go back far enough Dixon's family comes from somewhere around Mesopotamia. And some or maybe most of them do have money but some of the teams are on salary." Dean added, "They have private detective licences just in case but generally they sneak in….."

They filled Bobby and Ellen in on how they met Dixon during the wendigo hunt and the chance meeting in Los Vegas. Dean told them what he knew about how the hunters operated, the teams, the operations in other cities and so forth focusing on their hunting practices while Sam added what information he was able to find out about their business operations.

Sam was not very knowledgeable about business but Brady had been a big help in that department. Sam learned a lot about the subject from his friend and had hoped to enlist Brady's help in managing Dean's growing funds. Dean, he thought could be Brady's first client. But even with Brady's natural business skills and his own ability to dig up information about people he found nothing incriminating about Nisutu Enterprises.

Of Dixon Channing himself Sam was able to learn he was the great grandson of a British gentleman, Leopold Channing, who immigrated to America after the civil war and bought a plantation in West Virginia. Dixon was born in San Francisco where his father had been sent to expand the family business, was educated in England, and he looked a great deal like his grandfather. Uncannily like him. The Scranton property was already a family holding when he moved in ten years ago and he lead a quiet life attending the occasional fundraising and a few other public functions. Other than that, little was known.

"Well Sammy hunters tend to be low profile, private people." Dean pointed out.

"Yah but there's something about a guy you can't get anything on." Sam hedged, he just couldn't, quite get over that little inner twitch Dixon gave him, "You know even the best hunters get their name on some police blotter somewhere. Dad has several wants out on him, and so do you."

"Not anymore." Dean grinned, "Remember that big chunk of change I took out a month ago? I gave it to Dixon to make them go away."

Dean put off the discussion about John knowing it would be long and involved. The fact that both Bobby and Ellen agreed was a good indicator of just how bad it would be. In spite of that he was able to keep the conversation going for over an hour before Bobby started asking what his plans were for dealing with Meg. He hoped it was time enough. 'Let's go see what the troops are up to', Bobby suggested.

"We don't want to leave Dixon alone to long in case he forgets who's in charge." Sam groaned.

"What is it with you and Dixon?" Dean pressed finding Sam's attitude an on going irritant, "The guy's had my back for four months. What is your problem?"

"I don't know." Sam squirmed, "It's just…. There's something creepy about the guy." Bobby, Ellen and Dean all looked at each other, Bobby folded his arms over his chest, Dean stuffed his hands in his pockets and Ellen's hands went to her hips, and they waited, "It's …. it's the way he looks at you. It's almost, I don't know, like possessive? It's just creepy."

"Possessive?" Ellen's eyebrows rose as she turned to Dean.

"I don't know?" Bobby's hands slipped to his pockets as he too turned to Dean, "Sam here's had you all to himself his whole life."

"That's true." Ellen nodded thoughtfully and Sam became agitated but Dean cut him off before he could comment.

"You got a point there." Dean said to Ellen and Bobby, growing very serous and Sam began to glare.

"Could be Sam's not too happy having you trusting someone else." Bobby sighed rocking on his feet in great thought, and Sam grew indignant crossing his arms over his chest and glaring.

"Some one to confide in, depend on, who is not him." Ellen continued as Sam moved to seething.

"You know guys I never had a real friend before, Sammy's not used to that." Dean pointed out.

"Okay that's enough!" Sam lost it and barked, "I was serous! The way he looks at you, there's something not right there."

It was too much. It was like watching a little boy stomping his feet in a jealous fit. Bobby, Ellen and Dean burst into laughter.

"Why won't you guys listen to me?" Sam demanded in frustration.

"I've been with the guy practically twenty four seven for four months." Dean said still chuckling, "If there was something wrong with him I'd know by now."

Sam moaned and sighed in frustration more than a little put out. It was at times like this that he really felt like Dean's kid brother, which was odd because when Sam was a kid Dean never laughed or complained even once about having to check under the bed twice before getting in, or sharing a bed even when there were two in the room.

"Could you please at least once pay attention to the way he looks at you." Sam pleaded in earnest.

"What like he's admiring a good looking guy?" Dean gave in accepting it would come out sooner or later, "He is. Dixon's bi."

"Bi?" Bobby asked not sure he understood.

"As in bisexual?" Ellen knew she understood.

"Yeah." Dean answered and waited for something he could respond to.

"Has he ever …?" Sam didn't know how to ask.

"What, made a pass at me? Seriously?" Dean huffed wearing an 'are you kidding' face.

"Thank God." Sam sighed with relief.

"Why thank God? You got problems with gay people, Sam?" Dean growled upset, over more than the obvious.

"Well no, not a problem, unless he's hitting on you." Sam hurried to answer while a little stunned by the question.

"So it's okay to be homosexual as along as it's no where near you?" Dean pressed hiding his fear behind hostility, his usual tactic, "Not a full blown homophobe just a little around the edges."

"I'm not homophobic." Sam raised his voice, "I just knew something was off about him."

Dean paused a moment before answering unnervingly quietly, "There's nothing off about him. He's just gay." Dean finely used the G word, "So are a couple of others in that room so no it's not a secrete. Get over it Sam. Don't you dare show him any disrespect or I just might let him prove to you what a tough, son of a bitch, he is." slowly he turned to two very uncomfortable friends, "You think he's off?"

"You've been worrying about this for a while haven't you?" Bobby asked.

"Yah, a while." Dean admitted, "Bobby?"

"I don't think about it at all Dean." Bobby sighed uncomfortably, "It's just not something I know anything about. I guess that's why it weirds me a little."

"Or 'couse it threatens you?" Ellen softened as she spoke to Bobby, "'Couse it's not manly?"

"It's obvious, even to a red neck like me, a guy who faces down a wendigo, then these two boys snarling at him, isn't any limp wrested wussie boy like they show on TV." Bobby growled awkward but sincere.

"Like Jo's friend from the pharmacy." Ellen giggled.

"Now that guy's something else." Bobby huffed but grinned.

"Yah but he's the exception, not the rule. He's harmless." Ellen laughed, "You're a product of your time Bobby, but you're a good man.", then she put a comforting hand on Dean's shoulder "Dean he's your partner and your friend and we'll show him the respect due a hunter who's earned your trust."

"Thank you." Dean smiled with relief.

"And I'm sure Sam here is just a little weirded by a guy eyeballing his brother, right." She had to add.

"It's kind of freaky." Sam said with a hopeful smile, not wanting one of Dean's rages here and now.

That's what Dean was afraid of. He had hoped that Sam's animosity toward their father had shielded him from John's attitudes but Sam's alarm had him worried. And angry. Dean couldn't help what he was, although he wasn't sure what that was. Yes he was comfortable with Dixon's arm around his shoulders and the teasing was just funny but did that really mean anything? It was because they were friends, something new and wondrous to him. He had a real friend he could talk to, laugh with and do friend things with like hang out at a bar. Dean stopped himself before he thought about the kissable lips. To late. He pushed it aside to not think about later.

"Get over it, it just means he has good taste." Dean grinned at Sam and gave him a gentle push toward the door, "Come on we got a bitch to bag."

They shook out the tension that had grown in the room and headed to the big suite at the end of the row. The three floor building was U shaped around a pool and deck with a minibar that served drinks in unbreakable classes. Not disposable but unbreakable. It was a local inn with a four star rating as much due to the restaurant and bar on the main floor as large suites at the end of each U on both floors. Fortunately there were enough comfortable rooms for the council members even if the decor wasn't up to their usual standards but Dixon insisted they were going to cause enough attention as it was. Only a small private motel would have bought the story of a small company having an emergency business meeting.

Dean was relieved to find it calm when they walked in, and eye contact with Dixon told him they were prepared. There was a little more handshaking as Jacob came forward and introduced himself. Dean lead them over to a table covered in photo graphs and several maps of the area around a bar Meg was frequenting and the area not far from it where she was staying.

"This is her." Dean handed Bobby and Ellen a picture.

"Sweet looking girl. She's staying? She took a room?" Bobby asked startled.

"You ever here of that before?" Ellen asked.

"Can't say that I have but demon activity is skyrocketing. It's damned weird." Bobby mused when a man handed him the beer he'd been offered when he first entered, "Thanks, Bobby Singer." he offered his hand.

"Garrick." the suited took it then gave a beer to Ellen and another to Sam.

"Ellen Harvelle, been hunting long?" She took the beer shook his hand and asked with a smile.

"I'm head of security." He replied with a polite nod.

"You don't hunt then" Ellen asked before he could leave.

"Though we have been known to become involved it is not the security team's primary function. If you will excuse me I have to make my rounds." he said with another nod and was off.

"Sure, you're excused." She said a little miffed.

"Please excuse Garrick. He lost one of his best to a demon only days ago." Dixon hurried to explain. "One he recruited himself. He's taking it personally."

"Oh, I am sorry." Ellen offered with sincerity.

After a few awkward moments Bobby asked if anybody had any idea's. With Dean, Dixon and Bobby leading the discussion there were many questions and a great deal of analysis of the area and Meg's movements, but few idea's were offered. Gradually Dean became quiet and leaned, elbows on the table, poking at the map and a few photos. Dixon held up a hand to his people calling for silence and Bobby and Ellen followed suit. Bobby and Ellen had no idea what was going on and were only following Dixon and Sam's example. Dean's brother and partner however were familiar with Dean's moods and ways. He was on to something. Gradually Dean began to focus on the buildings around the bar asking if any were empty. Dixon made a phone call and only minutes later was told there were several.

"Good, I'll need a look at them." Dean nodded, without looking up from the maps.

Sam asked with a grin, "What are you up to." and catching on Bobby, and Ellen began to smile.

Dixon looked around the room then turned to one of the Balu, "Tamarra contact relaters and do what ever is necessary to view these properties." He instructed and texted her a list.

"That will take to long. Can somebody hack into their systems and give us a look. They'll have pictures. It'll give us an idea of what we've got to work with." Dean cut in.

"I'll do it." Sam began looking around for his back pack.

"No I need you here, Dixon would you?" Dean stopped Sam.

Dixon nodded at Tamarra who nodded back and left.

"Dean?" Sam asked.

"What are you cooking up." Bobby asked.

"Yes do tell." Dixon insisted, while keeping an eye on his people.

"I want to try something I did before." Dean began slowly, "Remember how we got Brady, Sam?"

"Brady?" Dixon asked.

"A friend of Sam's who was possessed."

"You invited him to a rave that didn't exist." Sam explained his mind spinning starting to put the pieces together.

"Say what?" Bobby asked.

Dean explained how he found and set up the warehouse then invited Brady out to party. The Barbaru began looking in folders and pulling out papers while crowding a little closer around the table.

"You want to invite her to a … party?" Dixon asked, "How do you insure she will come."

"Well that's the trick. Brady was a party animal, he'd jump at the chance for a rave. He was also suspicious and wanted to find out what I was up to." Dean explained, "The question is what does she want?"

"Besides killing you?" Sam pointing out a flaw, "I'd say a little risky."

"Which is why we bait her with someone she wants alive." Dean sighed with regret, "I'm not the bait, you are."

"You're sure she want's Sam alive?" Ellen asked worried but, she maintained her professional persona.

"It's a long story involving thirty years of research and a visit with an oracle. I'll tell you about it over diner but up front, yah, I'm sure." Dean answered with a sigh.

To many people were getting involved. To many chances of dangerous information leaking to the wrong people. How he so wished this had stayed small and simple.

"Damn it boy oracles are dangerous you idjit." Bobby growled, "What were you thinking?"

"Do they lie?" Dean demanded.

"No, but they don't always tell you the whole story and most of the time they tell you things you're better off not knowing." Bobby growled even harsher.

"Yah I know Bobby, I heard a hunter tried to dynamite the temple but don't worry it wasn't me." Dean growled.

"No, it was your dad!" Bobby snarled then winced, "You weren't supposed to know about that. What do you know?"

After a painful and protracted silence during which Dean kept hearing his fathers voice in his ear whispering 'If you can't save Sam you'll have to kill him.' he forced a grin and said, "He didn't tell you what she said but he gave you shit for sending him there even though he demanded you tell him abut her and you warned him not to go. How am I doing so far?" he asked and Bobby nodded uncomfortably, "Then when you two were about half way through a bottle, he went on a rant about how he was going to single-handedly fight heaven and hell to change the proficiency then swore you to secrecy without ever telling you what the secrete was. Pretty much it?"

"Pretty much." A very embarrassed and dejected Bobby admitted then asked, "He told you all that?"

"Hell no." Dean said with a cold smirk, "Some drunken mutterings here and there about prophecies and well it wasn't hard do figure out the rest."

"You sure know that sorry son of a bitch, don't you?" Bobby huffed a laugh.

"Bobby, you have know idea." Dean released a deep breath then calmed himself, "Okay so that's been aired, can we get back to the plan? I know she wants Sam alive so he baits her into our trap. Maybe suggest a club or diner where they can talk quietly."

"Why would she come to talk with me?" Sam asked.

"I could think of a few reasons." Ellen offered with a little grin.

Three hours of working out details including where to set up a club and how to get it done, and the primary masterminds were becoming some what confident in the plan. The next step was making it happen and in this there could be no delays. Meg could disappear from the city at any minute and the opportunity would be lost. As the group began to split up to tend to different aspects of the plan Bobby put a hand on Dean's shoulder.

"It'll probably work as long as she doesn't see it coming." Bobby agreed.

"Oh I think I know how to arrange that.

Please read and review. Next chapter up shortly. Fans of Paul Newman and or Robert Redford take note of the chapter titles.