Chapter 12
Hearing Spike yell out "Who is it?" Buffy pushed open the door and ushered the Winchester men into the crypt.
"Ah slayer to what do I owe the dubious pleasure." Spike asked as he was reclined on a couch in front of the television.
"Spike, I'm here to introduce some new friends of mine. Play nice or I'll cut something off." Buffy told the vampire.
"Well introduce the little kiddies then, but if they're expecting nice they should get out of town." Spike replied not even bothering to look up from the TV.
"Spike meet John, Dean, and Sam Winchester." Buffy said without preamble.
Spike's head shot up and a look of aprehension crossed his face. "Bloody hell what are those crazy ass wanker's doing here? I know you're worried about lil'bit, but these characters aren't the answer slayer. They're not exactly known for seeing shades of gray."
"Relax Spike they're on are side, and that's why I brought them here, so they wouldn't accidentally kill you." Buffy said dismissing the vampire's fears out of hand.
"Whatever slayer. Just don't expect me to be working with them. Partner me up with the witch or the watcher, but keep me away from the crazy's." Spike's voice was laced with wariness.
"Fine. We're going to patrol. We'll see you around. Strategic meeting tomorrow at sundown at the shop, be there we have to start preparing to kick Glory's ass. Also there's a new demon in town. We don't have a name but he's hooking up with Glory, so see what you can find out. Don't show up tomorrow with nothing or there will be no blood or money for you." Buffy told Spike sternly.
Waving at the slayer with the affirmative Buffy ushered the Winchester's out of the crypt and into the night.
"Okay I'm a little confused what was that all about?" Buffy asked the guys once they were out of earshot of Spike's home.
Looking at each other sheepishly John was the one who answered. "See Buffy here's the thing. This demon killed my wife and word might have gotten around that I don't play fair when it comes to hunting it down. After Mary I didn't really care how many evil things I killed as long as I killed them. I was a one-man crusade you could say. Or a one man two kids crusade." He amended after Dean shot him a look. "I was ruthless in my hunt and there was more then one occasion where I used the boys as bait to lure out whatever evil I was hunting. Then with the training I put the boys through and them going on hunts and being active participates by the time they were 13 I got a bit of a reputation." John said looking everywhere except at Buffy, Dean and Sam. "I'm not proud of my actions, but at the time I wasn't thinking clearly. Hell it wasn't till Sammy left that I got shocked out of the revenge mindset long enough to take a good hard look at how I'd lived my life and raised the boys." Looking at Sam he said. "I always meant to thank you for that Sam. You stood up to me; you made me realize how unfair I was being to you and Dean. I have a lot to answer for with both of you boys and I am sorry." John finished not quite believing that he was having this conversation at this time and place.
Both boys looked like they'd been paralyzed. "Uhm well yeah I guess that would get you a bit of a reputation." Buffy said nervously not knowing what to say in the face of such a revelation. "Look if you guys want to head back to the house and hash this out that's fine I can patrol by myself, but if not we need to stay sharp so maybe we table this conversation for later."
"Good idea Buffy." John said eager to table the conversation for a while.
Sam and Dean just nodded still trying to process the apology their father had just laid on them.
As they followed their dad and Buffy across the cemetery Sam looking everywhere except Dean asked in a low voice "You okay?"
Monitoring his surroundings as well Dean answered just as quietly "Yeah I guess, I mean it was just a shock to hear you know. I mean I never thought there was anything wrong with how we grew up. I wanted to kill this thing to. So I don't know man, just hearing him apologize…." He trailed off.
"Pisses you off? Make's you feel like what you've been wasting your time?" Sam filled in the blank "Dean does dad look like he's quitting? He's just as invested today as he's always been, I think he's just realizing that maybe, maybe his methods might have been a little over the top."
"That's just it Sammy!" Dean exclaimed in a whisper "I never disagreed with his methods, I still don't. Dad gave you the apology you've been looking for, but I can't so how long will it be till you start hating me?"
Stopping dead in his tracks and grabbing Deans arm Sam raised his voice to reach Buffy and John a few feet ahead of them. "Ah hey guys. Dean and I are going to take you up on that offer okay? We need to clear up a few things if you don't mind?"
"Sure no problem you know your way back just be careful." The slayer cautioned.
John just nodded his head in acquiesce. Hoping he didn't cause his sons more pain with his revelation.
"Thanks, come on Dean. I need to hit you upside the head with a stick." Sam finished as he started dragging his brother away. Fending off Dean's protests with "I swear to God Dean if you don't come willingly I will use my powers to get you there. We seriously need to talk."
Looking in his brother's eyes and seeing that he was dead serious Dean nodded and followed Sam back to the Summer's household.
Walking into the house Dawn ran up to the two brothers and exclaimed, "What's wrong? I felt this massive surge then nothing. What happened?"
"Breath Dawn, everything's fine. I just really need to talk to Dean. Can you ask your mom to let us be even if she hears yelling please?" Sam told Dawn using their bond to express the importance of this request.
"Gotcha no problem I'll let mom know. Holler if you need anything." Dawn told Sam and Dean before she left the room.
"Look Sam I get that you're pissed…." Dean started.
"Yes, I'm pissed, I'm more then pissed I'm angry, but not at you. I'm angry with myself and dad, and the whole damn world. The thing is Dean you don't know why I'm angry." Sam started as he began to pace the room.
"Well then explain it to be genius, 'cause I'm confused?" Dean said taking a seat on the couch.
"Okay here goes. I needed the apology from dad, but not for the reasons you think, and it's that reason that I'm not mad at you. " Sam started
"Huh?" Dean asked looking all kinds of confused.
"Look I don't remember mom. Okay I'm sorry I don't I wish I did, but I have no recollection of her. Growing up, I had no basis for the mission for the crusade, but even that's not what upset me growing up. Dean you're my mom. You were the one who tucked me in and woke me from nightmares, and fed me dinner. You made me go to bed and you checked my homework. Dad wasn't around and neither was mom. You were my whole world, and all I saw dad doing was putting my whole world in danger for a crusade I didn't understand." Sam rushed out earnestly.
"Oh." Was all Dean could think of to say?
"I didn't care so much about normal as I wanted to keep you alive. Dad said it himself he used us for bait, and bandaging you up at the end of a hunt damn near killed me. Dad had lost his world and that's why he fought, but he was risking mine to get revenge and I couldn't stand it." Sam finished sitting beside his brother exhausted. "That's why you don't owe me an apology I mean hell I'm on the same damn crusade now anyway so I can't throw any stones."
"Damn Sammy when you decide to do a chick flick moment you don't go halfway do you?" Dean said breaking some of the tension in the room.
"What can I say I'm bonded with a 14 year old girl, it's going to happen." Sam said rolling his eyes.
"You mean this is going to be a regular occurrence. Oh come on man one chick flick moment a month at least that's all I can stand bitch."
Sniffling back fake tears Sam teased, "You must not love me anymore, Wahhh!"
"Seriously dude I'm about to hit you. You know that right." Dean said shoving Sam off the couch.
Laughing at his brother Sam said. "So we're good now right idiot?"
Looking down at Sam on the floor Dean answered, "Yeah we're good bitch. Now why don't you go hang out with your chick a bit, you to can booonnnnd." He joked
"Hey don't diss the key, man she can totally kick your ass." Sam snarked back.
"Whatever, I'm going to crash early tonight I'm frigging exhausted after that sparring session." Dean said grabbing his bedroll.
"Dude you're not kidding." Sam started as he got off the floor. "Her spin kick is amazing."
"Oh shut up Samantha I don't want to hear it. You got all energized and healed by mystical buddies while I have to sit over here and suffer bruises silently. Grab me some aspirin would you?"
"I would tell you to get it yourself jerk, but you do have a point. You know maybe if you were a nicer person you could get a mystical buddy of your very own." Sam mocked but still handed Dean the two aspirin.
"I'm to tired to kill you right now, but retribution will be coming and it will be swift." Dean groaned out and he laid down dry swallowing the pills.
"Good night jackass." Sam said affectionately from the door.
"Night bitch." Dean mumbled.
BTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBT
The next morning everyone gathered at the magic shop for research, weapons and magic training and general mayhem.
Dawn was in school so Sam had to practice alone, so he was working hard on conserving his energy while still accomplishing the same tasks. He'd managed to get the kata up to 4 ½ minutes before he had to take a break and went upstairs to wear out his mental muscles researching for a bit.
Meanwhile Buffy and Dean were lightly sparring today, since Dean was very sore after yesterday's draw. It was more of collaboration then a sparring session. Dean wanted Buffy to teach him a few moves she'd used the day before, and Buffy was dying to know how Dean had performed a knife trick.
John and Giles watched from the sidelines offering encouragement as well as good-natured ribbing.
Upstairs Willow, Tara and Sam were bonding over books, like the good geeks that they were. Sam was in awe of Willows power's with the computer and was busy getting pointers.
When Dawn arrived after school Willow commandeered the training room to begin Dawn's mystical training. Sam came along for support and to offer any hints that he remembered from past lives.
Since Buffy and Dean weren't exactly research junkies and were dying of curiosity they decided to stay and watch.
Dawn was having a bad day. Tired and frustrated with schoolwork she wasn't in the best frame of mind to start working on her mystical powers "Will, Tara would you mind if I took a break first. Grabbed something to eat. I'm worn right now?" Dawn begged
"Come on sweetheart I've got something that will make you feel better." Sam told her as he put an arm around her shoulders and gave her an affectionate hug.
"Ohh presents, I like presents." Dawn gushed excitedly.
"Well since I owed you twenty for the bet over who'd wind up in a head lock I got you this instead." Holding up the new Shikera CD that Dawn had been craving for weeks.
"Yay! You Rule!" She exclaimed jumping up and down hugging Sam enthusiastically.
"What can I say I rule." Sam said as he laughed at her enthusiasm. "Ready to work now?"
"Yes yes yes, can we listen to Shikera as we work?" Dawn begged Willow and Tara.
"Sorry dear, but we're going to be starting with meditation, so we'll need silence." Tara told her sympathetically.
"Damn. Okay what do I do." Dawn said in a resigned tone.
"I want you to sit down in front of me and close your eyes." Willow began, taking Dawn's hands in hers and guiding her into the meditative trance. "Now take a deep breath and let it out slowly on a 10 count."
Dawn obediently closed her eyes and began to breath in and out following Willows quiet counting. Willows voice started to sound farther away as she took Dawn deeper into the trance.
"Focus on your own energy Dawnie. Seek out the inner source of that energy. Imagine a trail of green light leading you deeper into yourself and your past. Arrive at the center of that energy. See it pooling inside you. Are you there yet?" Willows voice asked from even farther away.
"Yes." Dawn said with a certain amount of awe in her voice. "It's like seeing the Northern Lights up close. It's swirling all around me." Dawn's voice rose with excitement. "Sam, Sam come join me you've got to see this." She shouted excitedly.
Sam quickly came over and took Willows place and took Dawn's hands in his own. He was immediately inside her mind witnessing the barrage of colors and lights swirling within her. "Oh my god. Dawn that's so amazing it's so beautiful." Dean's voice whispered in her mind.
"I know I wanted you to see this. Come on jump in I want to see what happens when you unleash in here." Dawn said following her instincts that were screaming at her that Sam needed to be here.
"Here goes." Sam said unleashing his power seeing it come out of him in fire orange and black.
Sam's power began to mix with Dawn's creating a Technicolor array that was almost blinding. It was like standing in the eye of a hurricane. The other night had been about remembering and sharing information. Today was about acknowledgement. Seeing the power they were both capable of and learning how to harness it.
"I wish everyone could see this." Dawn said sadness lacing her voice. Her desire to share this magical experience with Buffy was almost painful.
"I know Dean would get such a kick out of this." Sam told her understanding her desire to have her sibling with them. "What do you say we go get them?" He finished smiling down at her.
"Do you think you can, I mean it Samuel you've just reawakened we don't need you hurting yourself trying to satisfy my whim." Dawn said sternly.
"M'am yes m'am" Sam saluted "Don't worry bit. I've got it covered." Then reaching out with his mind Sam focused on his brother. Sensing his brother's presence as easily as if he was seeking out his own he mentally called to him.
"Dean can you hear me." Sam called.
In the magic shop Dean jumped in his seat having gotten bored watching Sam and Dawn sit in front of each other holding hands. No one in the room could witness what was going on between the two only that they were deeply connected. Tara and Will had formed a protective magical barrier around the two to ensure no evil tried to interfere or could detect their presence.
"What the hell was that? Sam! Did you guys here Sam?" Dean asked.
"Dean are you okay son, did you fall asleep? Neither Sam nor Dawn have moved or spoken in the last 10 minutes." John answered looking worriedly at his son.
"Dad I know what I heard….." Dean started only to stop when he heard Sam again this time clearly in his head.
"Dean it's okay, calm down. I didn't mean to scare you. Dawn and I would like for you and Buffy to join us please. We want to show you something amazing." Sam said inside Dean's head.
"Whoa." Dean said out loud to the rest of the room. "Sammy's talking to me mentally. He wants Buffy and I to join him and Dawn." Dean said looking at the slayer expectantly.
"Sounds like a blast to me, I was getting bored anyway what with all the sitting. What do we have to do?" Buffy said having been as bored as Dean a few minutes earlier.
"Let me ask." Dean said then thought towards Sam "Yo how do Buffy and I join you we're ready for some action."
"Move inside the circle with Dawn and me, Take a seat facing each other, then take our hands forming a circle. Close your eyes and both of you focus on Dawn and myself and I'll pull you in the rest of the way." Sam mentally sent.
Voicing the instructions to Buffy they got in the circle and formed a connection. Once they were ready Sam approached them both. It was like they were standing in a white room then a door opened and in walked Sam. He then opened another door and pulled Buffy into the room so they were all three together.
"Hey guys welcome to Dawn's sub-concious. Wait till you see what we've got in store for you." Sam said grinning like a loon.
"Where's Dawn why isn't she with you?" Buffy queried looking around for her sister.
"Don't worry she's fine, she's just keeping an eye on our joined power so nothing gets out of control we're heading that way now." Sam replied.
"Okay Sammy my boy let's see what's got you all worked up." Dean said following Sam through another doorway Sam had opened with Buffy right on his heels.
"Just follow the green swirling mist." Sam sing-songed as if saying follow the yellow brick road.
Looking at him like he'd lost his mind both Buffy and Dean decided to humor him seeing as he was so excited he was practically bouncing. As they got closer the mist began to thicken and get brighter. New colors began to appear as well coalescing like a think braid weaving through the darkness. Then they were there. There were no words to adequately describe the spectacle. Dawn was sitting to one side watching with wonder and joy on her face as the power raged around her. It was raging roaring seas one second then a volcano spewing lava thousands of feet in the air the next minute. It existed like a tornado then morphed into calming fog that embraced them all.
"Hey guys what do you think?" Dawn asked with an impish smile grinning at her sister.
"Oh my god Dawnie is that all your power." Buffy asked transfixed.
"Nope that's Sammy and mine combined. Isn't it amazing." Dawn squealed running over and hugging Buffy excitedly.
"Dude you are so the man!" Dean exclaimed as Sam through an arm around his shoulders.
"I know isn't it amazing. Can you imagine how much ass we're going to kick once we harness it?" Sam said quietly to Dean. The quest and need for revenge echoing through his voice.
"That damn demon is going to rue the fucking day man. You and Dawn are going to tear him and that dumb blonde bitch back to hell. I just wish I could play a bigger part baby brother. But watching's going to be fun to." Dean said looking at Sammy with such a mixture of pride and self-deprecation.
"Dude you think you're not going to be involved?" Sam said with a laugh clapping Dean on the back. "Would I do that to you. You and Buffy are in this all the way don't worry. Why do you think you're here? I mean let's face it we may be the brains but you guys are definitely the brawn." Sam teased.
"Sam what are you talking about?" Buffy asked as she and Dawn joined the conversation. "You and Dawn are what's needed to destroy the demon and Glory you said so yourself what role could Dean and I possibly play except for mop-up duty?" Buffy asked looking between Sam and Dawn with confusion.
"I said Dawn and mine's power was the only thing that could kill them, not that we wouldn't need help harnessing it." Sam said.
Dawn joined in to help with the explanations. "Buffy bottom line it's going to take all that power to defeat the demon and Glory and there's no way Sam nor I can harness all our power at one time. Therefore we're going to need vessels to help us. Vessels that can take a portion of our power into themselves to create a perfect 4-square of power that will defeat the supreme evil we're going to be facing." She finished looking at Buffy and Dean expectantly.
"Whoa you want Buffy and I to be your vessels?" Dean asked looking excited, amazed and a little apprehensive all at the same time.
"Exactly." Dawn and Sam answered in unison.
To be continued.
Sorry it's been awhile guys, but life's been crazy. I've had four pages done for days, but I didn't want to post a short chapter just because I was having difficulty getting my ideas onto paper. I hope this chapter lives up to previous expectations and don't worry more will be coming soon. Have a great weekend. Hopefully the next chapter will come quicker. We'll see what my muse says in the morning.
B
