A/N: Takes place during chapter 13 of Caught in the Crossfire. Jane discusses Spike with the men.

Chapter 9: Keep Them Safe

"Make the call and I'll be there by your side
Hey girl you don't have to take that shit from anybody
Got a Louisville Slugger in the back of my ride"
- Louisville Slugger by Have Nots

Jane watched as Michelle got into the tin can for transport. Giles was standing next to her on the porch, with a bag over his shoulder.

"I will keep them safe," Jane spoke without emotion. It was a fact that could not be questioned. Sam and Dean looked from one another and then over to Jane and Giles.

"Giles, what do we need to know about Spike. Could he be more of a threat than they seem to think?" Sam wanted to know as much as possible. He could feel Dean's anger radiating. Only logic would help temper it.

"Spike is...he can be useful when he wants to be. He can also be ruthless. He used to go by William the Bloody. A name well earned. We would do well not to underestimate him until I know more about this chip."

"We would do well to kill him now. A vampiric vessel? Sounds dangerous enough to me." Dean practically spat the word, "let me chop off his head and be done with it."

Sam held Dean back from charging forward to the Impala, but it was Giles who spoke, stopping him. "Beheading? Ah, yes. That's how you kill your vampires. It's much cleaner for vampires like Spike. A stake through the heart."

"Awesome. Even easier."

"Dean, we can't just kill him. We need to know more. He came through for a reason." Sam didn't fully believe his own words, but he also didn't want to jump to conclusions.

Jane had been following the conversation silently, but broke it again, "Give me a stake. I will kill this being if necessary. No harm shall come to any of us."

Sam nodded and headed back into the house. He returned with two stakes from Bobby's collection. Both were red-tipped, obviously dipped in some kind of blood previously. He passed them over to Jane and Giles.

"Dean and I, we'll come by in the morning." Sam offered, ignoring the glare from Dean, who clearly wanted to go now. "If anything happens, call for Cas. Immediately."

As Jane and Giles headed to the car, Dean turned on Sam. "Call Cas? What to clean up their bodies after that Billy Idol reject finishes his snacks?"

"Dean. They're going to be fine. We're all exhausted, and we're not going to get anywhere right now. Giles knows him. The girls know him. We can hang back, check what we can, and go in the morning."

"We go. Now."

"Dude. You're pissed, I get it-"

Bobby stepped into the doorway as the girl's car pulled away. "You girls gonna bicker out here all night?"