Chapter 4
By the time John Winchester reached Sunnydale the next day his hands were shaking from the amount of caffeine he'd ingested to make the all night trip to Sunnydale. Wanting to go ahead and have the meeting so that he could crash for a few hours before nightfall John pulled up and parked outside of the Magic Box. Grabbing a few necessities and finishing off his last cup of coffee he walked into the Magic Box.
The jingling bell above the door announced his arrival into the shop and John found six pairs of eyes looking at him expectantly. "OOOkay here goes nothing." he thought
"I'm looking for a Rupert Giles." John asked trying to keep his tone and demeanor as unthreatening as possible.
An older gentleman approached and said. "I'm Rupert Giles, and you must be John Winchester. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please come in and let me make the introductions."
"Yes, please call me John." He said as he followed Rupert into the back area of the store where there was a round table filled with books and people. All of who were staring at John with a mixture of curiosity and distrust.
"John this is Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, Tara MaClay, Anya, and of course last but not least Buffy Summers the current slayer." Giles motioned to each person as he introduced them.
Looking at the petite blonde John couldn't help but chuckle and raise an eyebrow that caused the slayer to look at him curiously. "You've got to admit" John said with a laugh, "the powers certainly know what they're doing."
"Huh?" The slayer said to that curious remark from this handsome man she hadn't quit gotten a bead on yet.
"You," John said still smiling "I bet demons never see you coming. Hell of a tactical advantage."
Letting out a laugh Buffy couldn't help but start liking John Winchester already. That someone wasn't automatically underestimating her because of her size, but if fact saw it as an asset was a unusual. "Oh wait till you hear me give them fashion advice before the fight. They're usually so stunned I can kill them before they've finished closing their mouths." She answered with smirk and a head tilt.
Letting out a bark of laughter at that thought John said, "I can see this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. John Winchester at your service."
"So John" Buffy said motioning for him to sit down at the table "Tell us about this demon you're tracking."
"Well I don't know how much about me and my family history that you know. I'm assuming Jim filled you in on the basics." John asked looking at Giles questionably.
"Actually what little I know I picked up here and there." Giles responded "I have filled them in as far as that the demon killed your wife and you've been tracking it for the last 22 years. All other details are up to you I'm afraid."
"Looks like I've got some explaining to do. Yes this son of a bitch killed Mary when she tried to keep Sam away from him. After the fire I went to a psychic by the name of Missouri Mosley for some answers. She's the one that opened my eyes to the supernatural world. It was through her that I learned my eyes hadn't been playing tricks on me that night. It was also her that told me the demon was after my youngest son Sam and not Mary that night." John somberly told the attentive audience trying to keep the pain at talking about Mary under control.
"Do you know why the demon was after your son?" queried a sympathetic Willow
"No Missouri wouldn't tell me, only that Sam was going to be very powerful someday and that he needed to be protected. Not that I did a very good job of protecting him." John answered the guilt of failing his son evident in his voice.
"I'm sure you protected your sons as well as you were able." Came the understanding reply of Tara. "Some things just aren't within our powers."
"I'm sure you're aware that I raised my sons to be hunters as well?" At the round of nods John continued. "Well Dean he took to hunting like a fish to water. He was just as anxious as I was to hunt down the thing that had killed his mom. Sam was a different story. He always wanted to read more then hunt, think more then act. He was the introspective one in the family. When he turned 18 against my wishes Sam left the protection of Dean and myself and went off to college at Stanford. He got a full ride all by himself." The pride at his son's accomplishments was evident in John's voice even as much as the guilt of his failure to protect him. "Six months ago Dean and I were working separate hunts across the country when I at last managed to find a trace of the demon after 22 years. Coincidently I began to get strange messages on my voice mail. Taunts of finding Mary's killer. How the boys were in danger, how I would never be able to protect them. In an attempt to protect my sons I cut off all contact with Dean except for a message telling him to be careful and that we were all in danger. Dean for the first time in 4 years went to Sam concerned with finding me. They tracked me to my last hunt and finished the job I had left them when the unthinkable happened." John stopped talking then unable to go on as the guilt and pain of failing to protect his sons made him put his head in his hands and try not to weep. Taking a deep breath to get his emotions under control he finished his story. "When the boys finished the hunt they went back to Stanford and that's where Sam found his long time girlfriend Jessica Moore on the ceiling in the same manner as his mother before she burst into flames."
Gasps were heard around the table, at the senselessness of evil. Buffy's eyes filled with tears at what this family had gone through and vowed that she'd help kill this demon if it was the last thing she did.
"The boys have been trying to find me ever since, but I couldn't let them get close. It's too dangerous and when I tracked the demon here I knew I could end things once and for all. So here I am, I'll take whatever help I can get, and Jim told me your having a little trouble yourself so please know I'll help you in any way that I can as well." John finished looking right into Buffy's eyes to let her know he was dead serious.
"Don't worry you will." Came a masculine voice from the front of the store and the six occupants at the table turned in shock to the front of the store.
John's voice paled as he said "Sam Dean what are you doing here?"
To be continued
Yes I know I suck leaving it like that, but don't worry I'll be back. I just had to get John and the Scooby's on the same page before I brought the boys in. I hope everyone had a great weekend, and thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes. It is greatly appreciated. Sorry this is so short. I'm still learning.
