Chapter Seven – The Plan

After he took a moment to compose himself, Dean took his dad back into the kitchen to show him the vampires' work.

Spending time in that room, with the sight of June and the bloody cook, made Dean queasy. He gagged and almost threw up. He'd never gotten used to seeing people like this, especially people he knew. June had been a rare friend to him and he was responsible for her death. The guilt was numbing, would be downright overwhelming if he didn't need to focus on finding Sam; that was the only thing that mattered now.

John knelt by June's body and gently closed her eyes. She was a good woman. She didn't deserve to die like this. He promised himself he would make those bloodsuckers pay. He swore he would get his son back safely. He was not going to lose another member of his family. That much he knew.

Dean told his dad about the vampire he'd killed less than an hour before all this happened. What happened after, to June and the cook and Sam, he could only speculate.

"Dad, I don't know how they knew my name. How they knew Sam was here. It doesn't make sense."

John's voice was steady and sure. "Dean, you're not the Winchester this refers to. This message is for me."

Relief washed over Dean, followed by confusion. He was still responsible for Sam being in danger, he accepted that, but a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders if this bloody scene wasn't because of his actions with that fang.

"But who? Do you know?"

"Yeah, I've been tracking a large family of vampires. They know I've killed a bunch of 'em. They're looking for revenge."

John walked to the front counter and grabbed two seltzer bottles. He handed one to his son as he used the other to start spraying down the wall.

"Let's get this removed. No need alerting the police to our involvement. They won't be any help, and they could definitely be a hindrance."

Dean joined in; blasting the bloody words and watching them melt down the wall. The words dissolved until there was just a bloody smear remaining.

John was already focused on the next step. "We need to get our weapons in order. We'll need a lot of fire power to take down these vamps."

Dean followed his dad back to the car.

"Dad, what's the plan?"

John's voice was gruff and determined. "We find the evil bastards, we grab Sammy, and we kill 'em all."

Their eyes met and Dean simply nodded.

They got in the Impala and started cruising around town looking for suspicious activity. There was a looming silence that hung over them and filled the car with a palpable tension. They were each lost in their own thoughts and worries and neither wanted to put voice to the fears that imperiled their hearts. Dean hoped his dad could rectify his failure to protect his brother. John hoped leaving his sons alone this Halloween night would not turn into the biggest mistake of his life.

It was over two hours before they spotted a man dragging a woman into the dark recesses on Walnut Street. Coming up behind him, John quickly overpowered the vampire and held him with a stake hovering over his heart.

"Where's my son?"

"Winchester, that brat of yours tasted mighty fine," the fang taunted, his eyes flashing in defiance.

The vamp twisted out of John's hold by punching him in the gut and attempted his escape. With no hesitation, John staked him through the heart.

Dean jumped and it felt as if the stake had been plunged into his own heart.

"Dad?" His eyes pleaded, seeking out some comfort.

"Dean, Sammy's okay. They want to punish me. They'll want me to watch him die." He offered a half-smile and his eyes were clear and sure, instilling confidence like always. "He's still okay. We'll find him."

John hoped his logic wasn't flawed. He prayed his son was still alive.

They were near the warehouse district, a perfect hangout for these vampires. These fangs had a habit of setting up in warehouses like this, but there was too much area for the hunters to cover together before dawn, so they'd have to split up.

"Dean, be careful. If you see anything proceed with caution. These are some of the nastiest vamps I've come across and there are lots of them. Remember your training."