Stepping into the line of fire

Chapter 47

Dean was basting the succulent rabbits with the chicken stock and grease that they had brought with them and the herbs added a different culinary dimension to what would be a delicious experience. The potatoes had crisped up in their bed of goose fat and the carrots and beans were stewing merrily in their tomato sauce "à la Angela"! the meal was declared ready and the hunters waited expectantly for their portion of the forest ambrosia.

The food was so good that a silence befell the clearing and all you could hear was the satisfied munching of starved warriors and the occasional sigh of pure pleasure. Dean had done well to go hunting one morning and his skills had proved very productive. There was nothing tastier than wild rabbit even though he found it hard to pull the trigger when they were so bloody cute. He would never admit that to anybody… but Angela knew!...

Sam had forgotten the horror of the morning's run in with his strict dad and the young boy sat there contented and at peace with his tough ol' man and adored older brother. Dean and Ange had eyes just for each other and John and Bobby were going through the hunt and congratulating themselves on the thorough preparation that had led to such a decisive victory. Everybody felt amazing. There was no better feeling in the world than to emerge victorious from a supernatural hunt. John had not commanded any of his troop to go to bed, even his youngest, and they were still chatting and drinking in the early hours of the morning. At three, the commanding officer stood up wearily and made his way to his tent. He was closely followed by Bobby and Sam. Dean and Angela just sat spooning on their conjugal log. After another long kiss the young lovers made their way to Dean's tent and started to undress. They both slipped into his sleeping bag which made their bodies touch erotically but did not allow much room for movement. That suited them just fine. They were exhausted and the close body contact would just make the perfect day even more satisfying. Their hearts seemed to beat simultaneously and the mutual bodily heat sent them both into a deep sleep very quickly.

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John was the first to emerge from his lair at midday. He had a huge smile in his face and his dimples were clearly prominent. He had also been gifted with a set of perfect white teeth which gave him the allure of a pirate at times when he was in a good mood. Boy! Was he in a good mood today. Nothing would spoil his unabashed joy at having got the world rid of a dangerous demonic balrog.

Sam came out next and was delighted to see a happy dad. When John flashed his beautiful dimpled smile, few people, men or particularly women, could resist him. He was a very attractive man. It was just that he did not smile very often as far as his boys were concerned. They had felt his hard-calloused hand on their asses far more times than they had ever seen his dimples as young children! Sam thought ruefully and with a degree of sadness.

John spotted Sam looking at him and rushed forward to give him a hug. "All right buddy?" he charmingly and happily asked his youngest. Sam smiled back and nodded.

"Go and get us some supplies for Lunch boy. I'll wake Dean!" John added cheerily.

Sam did as he was told and John made his way to his eldest's tent. He tapped the canopy and shouted "Wakey, wakey!" not too loudly. John felt the inside of the tent stir and Dean came out. He was naked and his hair was dishevelled. John chose to ignore his son's lack of self-consciousness and punched him playfully on the shoulder. Dean noticed his dad's ebullient mood and grinned back.

"Get dressed son. We need lunch sorted." John asked nicely.

"OK dad. I'm on it!"

John gave him one of his brilliant white toothed dimpled smile and Dean felt elevated to the rank of Lieutenant! He adored it when his ol' man dropped the strict paternal agenda and showed more of what he was like as a dad before his mum's tragic death. John had been just wonderful when Dean was small before that life turning moment. He had played with his little boy! Protected him from his mum's hairbrush on a few occasions! And generally had lots of fun times with him. Dean would never forget that daddy… but he was a long distant painful memory more often than not. Today he seemed back for a little while and Dean was in heaven.

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John had spotted Angela coming out of Dean's tent but he was now resigned to the fact that this would be the case now that the hunt was over. He even went as far as to say "good-morning" and grin at her. Angela grinned back shyly. Bobby had yet to emerge but John felt the smell of sizzling bacon would get him out. He was right.

Dean had got the fire started up again and the bacon was weaving it magic aroma towards the tents and campers! He had decided to fry some bread that was getting a bit stale and make his dreamy scramble eggs. The troop sat down to eat. Dean had even made the coffee to his dad's exact specification and every body was relaxed and carefree.

Then something happened… Angela spotted it first, or rather smelled it first…the overwhelming smell of dill… Dean smelled it too and wondered if it was the stale bread. They looked at each other. Time stood still. John noticed the change of mood and his senses were alerted too.

"Can you smell what I smell?" he enquired to the rest of the party. They all nodded affirmatively. Dean was the first to respond verbally.

"Is it back sir?"

John swallowed. "I don't know son but something's not right. Leave ya' plates and come with me to the supplies." The hunters all followed him. It took all of five minutes for John to brief them all and allocate the roles. The camp was on high alert.

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Bobby had been told to go ahead and create the circle nearer to camp this time. John had designated the area on the map. The precious vial had been opened and all hunters had smeared their faces, hair and hands with it. Nasil was in dean's hands. Sam knew his incantations. Bring on round 2 they all thought…

Dean asked john "Do you think it's Ugoliant Sir?"

"No! bobby and I think that there may have been something else in the cave…hidden in the dark. Not fiery"…he mentioned another evil creature called Ungoliant. It was female. "It's a giant carnivorous spider." He continued… "Maybe it got caught in our time too. Legend has it that she perished out of self-cannibalism. A form of suicide…That she ate herself… but there were no witnesses. It could be her. They could have found each other and co-existed in that cave. Bobby has a gut feeling that it could be her… We would never have spotted her in the dark and it could have been she, that Ugoliant was trying to protect… This, I think son, is the reason he got us out of the cave quickly. She could be out for revenge. She does not know we sent her Ugoliant back to Middle Earth."

John continued… "she moves quickly and is gigantic. She eats her captives alive and therefore if we are dealing with this creature our safety is paramount. Let's get the circle done and take cover. The tents are useless against this creature. She can be killed by Nasil and burnt with holy water. We stand a great chance of success. We can maybe return her to her distant land but if not, then it's plan B. We kill it." John took a deep breath… "When we are hidden, I'll brief the rest of the troop. Look after Angela, I'll take Sam and the holy water". He ordered.

In the blink of an eye this well-rehearsed outfit was on its way again. They needed a spot where they could see an enemy approach but it would not see them. John knew exactly where. Dean was so proud of him.

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