Everyone stared at John as the hunter crossed the kitchen and came into the living room. Bobby quickly pulled a gun from his pocket and aimed it at John.
"Don't," Bobby warned. "You know the drill, John."
"He's not possessed," Castiel spoke up as he stared at the eldest Winchester.
"You sure?" Sam asked.
Castiel looked at Sam, almost insulted. "Yes." He looked at the others. "I assure you, this is really John Winchester." Bobby glanced at Alicia, who nodded, and the older hunter reluctantly lowered his weapon.
"Thanks," John said to the newcomer. "Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Castiel," the angel answered. "I'm an angel of the Lord."
John tilted his head as he fixed the newcomer with an odd expression. "Come again?" he asked.
"This is 'Cass'," Alicia quickly spoke up. "The 'Cass', and he is who he says he is. You can either believe it or not, because I'm not really in the mood for a long explanation, John"
"Good, 'cause I don't care to hear it," John retorted. "What I'd like to know is what happened in Scottsbluff."
"Perhaps I can explain," Castiel offered.
Alicia looked over at the angel. "Actually," she said slowly, "maybe it's best if you stepped out for a while."
Castiel gave her an inquisitive expression, but she just looked right at him. The angel's expression changed, understanding, and he simply nodded. "Very well," he replied before disappearing, the sound of soft fluttering echoing for a moment before fading.
John appeared a little surprised, but he quickly recovered. "Now, what happened?"
"How did you even know where we were?" Dean asked.
"I didn't," John explained, "not at first. Ever since you three bolted with the Colt," he looked between his sons before giving a slightly longer look of disdain to Alicia, "I've been tracking the demons as well as trying to find some other way to kill the damn things. A few days after you left, I got your message about what happened in Reno, so I kept my distance. Kept investigating other leads, all turned out to be dead ends, then I heard about the explosion in Scottsbluff—along with signs that matched the demons—as well as witnesses who said they saw a purple light surrounding the hospital right before it exploded." He looked right at Alicia. "I'm assuming there's an explanation."
"Why should we explain anything to you?" Alicia asked, crossing her arms defensively.
"Because there are over sixty people dead," John replied, "and there's a connection to the demons. I have a right to know what happened, and I'm willing to bet you can tell me." He fixed Alicia with a look until the young woman turned her eyes downward.
"Watch it, John," Bobby warned.
"It wasn't her fault, Dad," Sam spoke up.
"Fill me in," John said to his sons as he continued staring at Alicia. "Tell me what happened."
Dean bristled slightly at the sound of his father's voice. The tone sounded neutral, but after years of dealing firsthand with the man, the young hunter knew there was also a veiled tone of demand. Normally, the younger hunter wouldn't be bothered, but John was directing that toward his wife. "Sam said it wasn't her fault, Dad. That should be enough."
John raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by his son's reply. Sam talking back to him had been pretty much par for the course for years, but Dean had always fallen in line and followed his orders without so much of a protest—until recently—and the former Marine knew the reason for that change in his son's behavior. "Humor me," he replied, glancing back at Alicia.
Alicia stared back at John, unblinking. She knew what he was trying to do and insinuate, but she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of being intimidated. "Tell him," she said bluntly. She saw Dean glance at her, a little surprised. "We have nothing to hide."
"Besides getting married, you mean?" John retorted. Everyone looked at him, slightly startled. Without missing a beat, he nodded at Dean's and Alicia's hands. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice the wedding band on my son's hand—or yours—the moment I came in?"
Dean sighed. "Look, Dad, I know it's—"
"We'll discuss that in a minute, Dean," John interrupted, "but right now I want to know what happened in Scottsbluff."
Sam glanced at Dean, who averted his gaze from their father, but the youngest Winchester could see the scowl and set jaw from his brother, and Sam knew why. If it had been Sam with the wedding ring instead of Dean, there is no doubt John wouldn't have interrupted. "We were looking into a case," he explained. He explained all the events that happened, from arriving in Scottsbluff with Alicia sick all the way to the massive exorcism and Castiel bringing them back to Bobby's place.
"So, let me get this straight," John said, "Ramiel was on his way to get Alicia, and everyone was in agreement to leave, but Alicia wanted to stay and deal with that spirit—and you just allowed it?"
"There wasn't much we could do to stop her," Bobby replied.
"Her actions resulted in the deaths of over sixty people," John retorted.
"Are you seriously blaming Alicia for the explosion Ramiel caused?" Sam asked incredulously.
"If Alicia didn't feel the need to save some damn ghost," John answered, "all of you would have been out before he even showed up—and those people would still be alive."
"That's enough, Dad," Dean spoke up, his tone warning. "Back off."
"You know, this is what I was afraid of," John replied, looking between his sons. "From the moment Alicia came into the picture, you two have have become distracted from the mission."
"Really?" Sam retorted. "We still want to kill these sons of bitches just as much as you do."
"If you did," John replied, "then your brother wouldn't have married that girl." He spit those two words out like they were venom, glaring at Alicia.
"'That girl'," Dean said, his expression livid as John turned to face him, "is my wife."
"That you've known for less than two months," John retorted.
"So?" Dean shot back. "In all the years we've hunted, you've never given a damn about any of the chicks I used to sleep with, but the moment I choose to have a real relationship with one girl, you act like it's the end of the freakin' world or something."
"I have a problem when that 'one girl' is her," John replied, pointing at Alicia.
"Why, Dad?" Sam demanded. "You've known her longer than we have, and you've never had a problem with her before."
"Because it was easier to keep an eye on her without you two in the picture," John replied
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean asked defensively.
"Isn't that what you told Dean and Sam to do?" Alicia asked, glancing between John and her uncle. "You know, that whole 'it can't get back to her' and 'her life depends on it' thing you told them before we left?" Bobby didn't say anything, but he glared at the brothers. "They told me after Dean and I got married because they thought I should know, though I don't get why that's something you even need to hide from me; it's not like I don't know what's going on."
"You don't know what's going on," John said. "Not everything."
Alicia briefly closed her eyes, frustrated. "So, we're back to hiding things from me again?" she asked. She looked at her uncle. "I thought we talked about this, Bobby. I'm tired of all the damn secrets!"
"I couldn't tell you about this," Bobby said. He glanced at the brothers. "None of you."
"Well, now you can," Sam replied.
"I'm surprised none of you figured it out already," John said.
"Figured out what?" Dean asked.
"Didn't you ever wonder why the demons have targeted Alicia all her life?" John asked. "Or why they can only open the gate when certain conditions are in place?"
"They want her magic," Dean said. "That's why they went after all of us in the first place."
"And the Summer Solstice is when the magic is powerful enough for them to channel it so they can open the gate to Hell," Sam added.
"Not them," John replied. "They can steal it, they can manipulate it, but that's it. They still need a key to help channel it and actually open the gate."
"Okay, so we find the key before they do," Dean replied, "and destroy it."
"I don't think either of you have what it takes to do that," John said.
"You don't think we can?" Sam asked defensively.
"You didn't kill Azazel when you had the chance, Sam," John retorted.
"It was possessing you, Dad," Sam shot back. "I would have killed you too."
"That's enough!" Dean interjected. He looked at his father. "Look, Dad, if the demons need a key to open the gate, I promise you I'll destroy it without hesitation."
"Are you sure about that?" John asked.
"Yes, sir," Dean replied. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Because you married her," John replied.
The three young hunters froze and stared at John, speechless. It became so quiet that a small pin would have sounded like an explosion had one dropped at that moment. Alicia glanced over at her uncle, hoping it wasn't true, but he quickly looked down at the floor, ashamed.
"Wait, you're saying Allie's the key?" Dean asked. John nodded.
"You can't be serious," Sam said in disbelief.
"Why do you think the demons want her so bad?" John asked. "The level of magic she possesses on her own is incredible. Combine that with the magic the demons have already siphoned from you two, her mother, and all the other Special Children—and Alicia would have no problem channeling it all into starting the Apocalypse."
"I would never do that," Alicia replied.
"Maybe not," John said, "but if the demons get you, it's game over—for everyone. You know they won't stop until they get what they want, and they are willing to kill to get you. What Ramiel did in Scottsbluff is proof of that."
"And when the hell were you planning on telling us about this?" Sam demanded.
"You should have told me," Alicia said to Bobby, glaring at him so fiercely he actually looked away.
"Given everything," John replied, "we should have said something that first morning together."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean asked his father.
"Why do you think we never wanted the three of you to meet up?" John asked. "We knew you'd get attached," he tilted his head, "though I never imagined you'd go as far as actually marrying her."
"And what's the problem with that?" Dean asked, defensively. "We stay close to Allie—one way or another—and try to keep her safe from these sons of bitches so there's no Apocalypse."
"We're trying to kill the thing that killed your mother," John said. "That's the whole reason we started hunting in the first place, Dean."
"Yeah, but now there's four demons," Sam said, "and only one bullet in the Colt. Even if we kill Azazel, there's still three more to get rid of."
"And Ramiel's made quite clear his interest with Allie," Dean added, "and I'll be damned if I let that happen." He glanced over at his wife, who shifted uncomfortably, and his expression softened as he reached over, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"So, one of the demons we're trying to kill is obsessed with Alicia?" John asked, intrigued.
Bobby saw the gears spinning in the hunter's eyes. "What are you thinking, John?" he asked warily.
"Maybe we can use this to our advantage," John answered.
Dean stared at his father, recognizing the expression on his father's face. "No," he said bluntly after a few moments.
John scoffed. "You don't even know what I'm thinking."
"I know you well enough to know that whatever your plan is," Dean continued, "it involves using Allie—as bait." Everyone looked at John, their expressions a combination of disbelief and anger.
"Really?" Sam scoffed, incredulous. "Dangling Alicia on a hook to draw out the demons? That's your plan?"
"Our options with tracking the demons are very limited," John replied, "and the last two times you three have encountered them has been because of her. Why not use that to our advantage?"
"'Cause if you try," Bobby growled, "I'll kill you myself."
John sighed, frustrated. "Look, I understand it's not a great plan, but—"
"That's not a plan at all, Dad," Dean interrupted. "It shouldn't even be a freakin' option."
"Why?" John asked.
"Because she's family?" Sam protested.
"She's Dean's wife," John replied, "but that doesn't make her family." The four hunters just stared at John, incredulous at his statement.
After a few moments, Dean scoffed as he shook his head. "You know," he said, his voice steady but laced with anger, "for years, I've defended you—the way we were raised and trained, the way you treated us—'cause I truly thought you were doing it all for us, but Sam was right: you're not thinking about anyone but yourself."
"I've been doing this for us," John said.
"You're doing this for you!" Dean exploded, causing Sam, Alicia, and Bobby to jump. "It's always been for you—the hunting, the training, your obsession to find the demon that killed Mom!"
"Yeah, and I remember that being your obsession, too, Dean," John retorted angrily before glancing at Sam, "and yours, too, after Jessica died." He exhaled, trying to calm down, but it didn't help. "Look, we could have ended this months ago—I was willing to sacrifice my own life to do so—but Sam didn't—"
"Don't put this on him," Dean warned. "You know damn well why he didn't. You even said you wouldn't be able to do it if it'd been Sam or myself possessed, so why the hell do you think it's okay to throw Allie under the bus?"
"I'm not talking about sacrificing her," John said. "I don't know exactly how to do it, or what we can do to even kill all of them, but she is the best thing we have to draw them out so we can end this."
"And risk ending my niece's life at the same time?" Bobby spoke up.
"That would never happen," John replied.
"Bill might disagree with that," Bobby retorted, causing John to jerk his head over. "Oh, wait, he can't." John's expression changed visibly, growing darker as he stared at Bobby.
"Who's Bill?" Sam asked.
"Bill Harvelle," Bobby answered, still staring at John. "You remember Ellen from the Roadhouse? Bill was her husband."
"'Was'?" Dean asked, even though they all knew what Bobby was implying. "What happened?"
"Bill had been a hunter for years, a damn good one" Bobby explained. "He usually worked alone, but on his last hunt he took a partner; figured he could trust him." Everyone looked at John, who's silence confirmed what wasn't being said. "They were setting up a trap for a hellspawn, with Bill as the bait while John hid and waited."
"Let me guess," Sam said, slightly annoyed, "something went wrong."
Bobby nodded. "The thing showed up, but John got too eager and jumped out too soon. Bill was out in the open, exposed, and the damn thing turned around and killed him."
"It was a mistake," John replied, "and one I regret every damn day, Bobby; you know it."
"It's a mistake that won't be repeated," Dean said.
John shook his head, scoffing. "You'd be willing to sacrifice who knows how many lives just because–"
"You sacrificed our lives long before that," Dean interrupted. "We were kids, Dad, but you had no problem treating us like soldiers, leaving us in hotel rooms for days or weeks to fend for ourselves while you went off trying to find the thing that killed Mom."
"I was trying to keep the two of you safe," John said, frustration and anger filling his voice. "You think I wanted this life for you? I just wanted what we've all wanted: for this to be over."
"But why does someone dying have to be the only option for this to be over?" Dean demanded. "We've already lost people to these sons of bitches—Mom, Jessica, both of Allie's parents. We've sacrificed enough, Dad." He shook his head. "I'll be damned if I let you sacrifice my wife as well."
John just stared at his older son, looking almost betrayed. He didn't bother looking at Sam or Bobby—they'd never supported his methods, and he knew they probably wouldn't be coming around now—but he did glance briefly at Alicia, his eyes flickering, before he turned back to Dean. "Fine," he said. "If that's how you feel, then I'll do this myself." He held out his hand. "I'll take the Colt back and leave."
"The Colt stays with us," Dean replied bluntly.
"It's not yours, Dean," John said.
"It's not yours either, Dad," Dean retorted.
"That gun is the only weapon we have that can kill—"
"Yeah," Dean replied, "and like you said, they're drawn to Allie." He set his jaw, fixing John with the most determined expression he'd ever given his father.
Silence filled the room as Bobby, Sam, and Alicia watched the standoff between John and Dean. Alicia felt compelled to say something, since this whole thing revolved around her, but she didn't know what she could even begin to say. She quickly glanced between Sam and Bobby, and she could tell from their expressions that this was the first time Dean and John fought like this.
John stared at his son for what seemed like an eternity before the older hunter suddenly turned on his heel, crossing the room to the kitchen door. He quickly opened it and stepped out, slamming it so hard the walls reverberated; a few books that were haphazardly stacked on others tumbled to the floor. A few moments later the sound of John's truck engine started. It soon faded as John drove off, until it disappeared completely, leaving the four hunters standing in the living room in silence.
(End of Chapter 1)
Author's note: I do have an idea of where I'm going with John, but he is a complex character, so it's difficult to write this character. Please just be patient with me; I do have a plan. :-)
