Chapter 23

As John awoke he couldn't remember the last time he had awoken feeling this good. It was like twenty years had been taken off his life and he was raring to go. Sitting up he stretched and got out of bed without any of his bones giving him protest. Looking at his watch he realized it was 6:30 in the morning, which meant it was time to get up and get cracking. John had an idea of how to turn the tables on Aaquerafet and Glory, and he wanted everyone's input.

Knocking on doors as he went downstairs John shouted out instructions "Everyone in the kitchen in 30 minutes we've got some planning to do before tomorrow."

Hearing movement John headed down to the kitchen and started the two pots of coffee. After the first morning John had gone out and bought a second coffee maker. This many night people co-habiting, all of who have hair trigger tempers and are armed did not lend itself to waiting for coffee.

As everyone bounced down, you could tell Mystic dude had done his work. Everyone looked relaxed and refreshed. Dean was amazed that for the first time since Jess had been killed Sam didn't look like he'd been rode hard and put up wet.

Smirking Dean couldn't help but comment, "Hey, does anyone else need a cigarette or is it just me?" As he motioned to everyone's well rested and satisfied countenance.

"Woo light me up boy, cause I sure do." Gunn get the joke going giving Dean a high five.

"God, kill me now I'm agreeing with Gunn, but seriously can we keep him, because he's better then a phantom roommate." Cordy stretched joyously.

"All right people we all know we feel good, now let's focus on what needs to be done, and I have an idea." John said leaning forward and grinning.

"Oh shit Sammy you seeing this?" Dean motioned to their father.

"Yeah, that grin is never a good thing. Uh dad you know we can't nuke the whole city of Sunnydale right?"

"Oh you boys are hysterical. I'm dying over here. I'll have you know that my plan is reasonable, and rational." John finished dryly.

"Reasonable and rational really?" Dean murmured then turned to his brother and said with wide eyes and a serious voice, "Quick grab the holy water and crosses Dad's possessed."

"Don't panic, don't panic, keep him occupied I'll be back in a second." Sam stood and looked to run out of the room.

"Oh sit down both of you." John shouted with wry exasperation. As the rest of the room was dissolved into hysterics.

"Sam look at you all goofy and kidding. I never thought I'd see the day." Buffy said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"What can I say I'm recharged." Sam smiled that big open grin that made all the girls in the room melt.

"Poor John." Cordelia patted his back in a fake condescending way. "It couldn't have been easy raising these two rascals."

"Please I haven't gotten a security deposit back since they were eight. Of course it's my own damn fault for teaching them how to throw each other threw walls, I just didn't expect them to get so good so fast."

"Oh god stop, I can't breath." Dawn gasped as she pictured Sam and Dean tumbling threw walls.

"Worst part was half the damn time I would end up getting interviewed by children's services because of all the bruises they were sporting." John admitted thinking back to the tap dancing he'd had to do to keep the boys in his care.

"Yeah that one lady was ready to cart dad off to jail, until Sam and I came rolling down the stairs in a WWF style fight. I thought the poor woman's head was going to explode her face got so red." Dean remembered fondly one of their close escapes as children.

"Damn near gave me a heart attack, especially when Sam got the bat." John reminisced.

"Hey he called me short and fat, there had to be payback." Sam defended.

"As long as the two of you don't start up one of your prank wars again I don't care. God I used to be afraid to go into the damn room." John shuddered as he remembered the boy's antics.

Both Sam and Dean were grinning hysterically and looked at each other and said in perfect unison, "HELL HOUSE!" before dissolving into laughter.

"I don't even want to know." John muttered. "Okay come on boys get off the floor we do have a battle to plan."

"Sorry, sorry." Both boys said as they and everyone else tried to pull themselves together after the early morning hysterics.

"So John you mentioned a plan, what did you have in mind?" Angel asked after everyone got comfortable.

"Right, we know the demon and Glory are planning to attack in two days at sunrise, well I say we take the initative and attack the night before at sundown. They'll never be expecting it, and most likely we can catch them off guard." John looked around to see if anyone had any severe objections

"I've got no issue with the idea, only how we're going to know where to attack." Wesley brought up the one flaw in John's plan.

"We need to find this tower Sam keeps seeing in his vision. We find that we find Glory and Aaquerafet." John said matter of fact.

"Yes, I agree, but how are we going to find the tower." Buffy said looking around the room for any ideas.

"Don't worry I've got that covered." John stated with a cat that ate the canary grin.

Dean cut his eyes to Sam and said, "Did you just feel like someone just walked over your grave."

Never taking his eyes off of their dad Sam answered in a confused and suspicious voice. "Yeah, I don't trust that look as far as Joyce could throw you. Daaaad." He drawled, "What in the hell are you up to. How are you so sure you can find the tower."

"Oh boys, ye of little faith. Have I ever not come through in the end? Trust me." John grinned wickedly.

"Holy Mary Mother of God."

"No, no, no, no, not a good thing."

Echoed through the room from both Sam and Dean.

Rolling his eyes John continued, "Now I say we get back to work. Wes, I'm going to need as much holy water grenades as you can get done between now and tomorrow. Angel I'm assuming the weapons are all in order if so I'd like for you to get with Willow and Tara on that fire protection spell. I don't want to have to worry about accidentally setting you on fire. Also if anyone has any allies they think will join us in this fight, please call them now. The more help the better." John was getting ready to continue until Anya jumped up and said.

"Oh wait at the shop. I'll be right back." Before running out of the mansion and to the car.

Looking at Xander pointedly John asked, "Uhm Xander?"

"No clue, but go with it, I'm sure it will be good." He reassured.

"Sam, Dean, Buffy and Dawn we're going over tactics. You all are working great together, but we need to make sure it's safe for us to fight beside you." John picked up nothing was going to stop him from making sure they won this battle. Not after what Aaquerafet had done to his family.

"Where do you need me?" Cordy asked looking relaxed and ready for a fight.

"With Wesley and the rest taking care of the holy water grenades." John started only to have Dean interrupt him this time.

"Oh damn I can't believe I didn't think up this sooner. Be back in a bit, don't worry about tactics Dad I'll keep an ear open through Buffy." Dean tossed over his shoulder as he ran out the door to the Impala.

With his mouth hanging open and his eyebrows in his hairline John looked between Buffy and Sam for an explanation.

Shrugging their shoulders both said, "No clue."

"Anyone else need to be suddenly inspired and run off?" John asked the rest of the room exasperatedly.

"Oh, wait." Dawn said as she jumped up before continuing with, "Just kidding I just want some more coffee." She pecked John on the cheek as she walked past him to the coffee pot.

Rolling his eyes and shooting Dawn a glare John said, "I swear you and Sam are perfect for each other. To smart for your own good."

Buffy just laughed and said, "You have no idea. I do want to go see mom this morning make sure she's safe, and hopefully talk her into leaving town for a few days." Buffy finished.

"Do you think she will?" Dawn asked. She hadn't even considered saying goodbye to her mother, but then Buffy did have more practice.

"Of course." John assured sick that he hadn't thought of that. Joyce had been staying clear of the mansion and he'd forgotten she was there.

"No big, Dawn and I can go now, and hopefully get back by the time Dean is done with his little errand."

"Anybody have any other suggestions or ideas?" John queried the group. At the round of headshakes he clapped his hands and said, "Well then let's get to work people."

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Anya raced into the Magic Box on a mission. Seeing the Troll Hammer in the display case she smirked. That would help, but the big help was in the basement. She only hoped she could get it up and running again.

Dean sped through the streets of Sunnydale with purpose. It took him two wrong turns before he found what he was looking for, but the smile on his face when he did was blinding. Pulling out one of his many ideas Dean jumped out of the car and headed inside.

Buffy and Dawn pulled up to their house with apprehension. Neither wanted to say goodbye to their mother, but both girls knew it was a possibility that they wouldn't survive the upcoming battle. Taking a deep breath and sharing a smile, the two girls got out of the car and headed inside.

Back at the mansion Willow, Tara, and Angel were in the living room trying to protect Angel from sunlight.

"Ow, damn, didn't work." Angel stated needlessly since both girls could see that, that spell didn't work due to Angel's hand catching on fire.

"Blood." Tara offered timidly holding up a cup hoping it would ease his pain.

"Thanks." Angel said taking a sip. "So try the next one."

"Are you sure?" Willow asked feeling bad.

"Go on, it's no big, we don't have a lot of time, and burns heal quickly." Angel reassured with a smile.

With that being said the two girls began chanting and the next spell was cast.

John picked up the phone with a grin of anticipation as he dialed the familiar number. After one ring it picked up and a voice said, "John Winchester you are lucky I'm in another state. I would tan your white hide, for tooting my abilities like that. You better be glad someone up there seems to like you, cause otherwise you'd be up a creek with out a paddle."

"Tell me something I don't know Missouri, so what's the verdict." John answered with a chuckle.

"I tell you John if the world wasn't at stake I wouldn't tell you, you arrogant jackass." Missouri huffed before giving John the information he so desperately needed.

Giles was making a call as well, but his call didn't use a traditional phone. Sitting in a circle surrounded by herbs and candles Giles muttered, "I can't believe I'm bloody doing this." Before he began chanting.

As Buffy and Dawn approached the house Buffy began to feel antsy, her spider sense began tingling. Putting a hand up she motioned for Dawn to be careful as they approached the front door of their home. While they hadn't been home in a few days, but Dawn and Buffy had been in constant communication with Joyce via the telephone. The closer they got to the house the worse Buffy began feeling, finally able to control her fear no longer Buffy began running towards the house as the mantra, "no, no, oh please god no." Ran through her head.

The slayer easily ripped the door off its hinges and threw it behind her in her haste to get inside. But once she was in, she stopped short and let out a gasp of pain. Dawn's sob from behind her brought her back to reality as both girls looked around their home.

The living room was destroyed. Bookcases were overthrown, tables were knocked aside, and lamps lay shattered on the floor. "Go wait in the car Dawn." Buffy's voice was flat and without emotion as she gave Dawn the order.

"No " Dawn answered she wasn't going to let Buffy do this alone.

Unable to argue at the moment Buffy sent a plea to Dean before walking up the stairs with Dawn in her wake.

Dawn could feel Sam's fear and anger as he begged her to wait for him to get there before going upstairs, but like Buffy Dawn ignored him and followed her sister.

As the two girls reached the top of the stairs Buffy paused her knees began to tremble and she begged to not find what she knew she would. Slowly and with a breaking heart Buffy pushed open the door to her mother's bedroom.

As the darkness overcame her she realized the screaming she heard was her own, but the sobs were Dawn's.

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As Dean walked out of the building he was feeling pretty good about himself. "Mission accomplished." He thought whistling to himself for a job well done. The boys inside would make the delivery that evening after sundown, and it was defiantly going to help them in their fight. While most of the townspeople were in denial, they weren't stupid, so odd request were the norm, and they did try to help. If not for any other reason, then their continued survival.

When he heard Buffy's cry for help, he damn near ran off the road before righting the Impala, and rushing to Buffy's house. Mentally he begged her to wait for him and Sam to get there, but like Sam he could feel Buffy ignoring his request.

When Buffy opened the bedroom door what she saw slammed into Dean like a freight train. Unable to continue to drive in that state Dean had to pull over before he caused an incident. Through the agony Buffy was experiencing Dean did the only thing he could think of. Looking back later he would still wonder how he knew to do what he did, much less how he did it. Dean took control of Buffy's mind and shut it down. He sent her into a deep sleep very similar to a coma. Once he knew she was out he could feel Sam wrapping Dawn up so tight mentally he knew she would be okay. Dean started up the car again and raced to be at Buffy's side.

As Dean pulled up he saw a car squealing around the corner and recognized his baby brother at the wheel. Neither brother spoke as they ran into the house and up the stairs.

Because of Sam's freakishly long legs he beat Dean upstairs, and was picking Dawn up and murmuring words of love and reassurance by the time Dean got to his slayer. As Dean lifted Buffy up his eyes couldn't help but take in the scene in Joyce's' bedroom one more time. Closing his eyes quickly he turned away and vowed that there would be payback.

Joyce's bedroom was the only room in the house not disturbed. In fact every thing was in pristine condition. Including the woman lying on the bed looking like she was taking a nap. Joyce appeared to have no physical marks of trauma on her body, but the words written in blood above the bed left no doubt as to what had killed her.

"A Mother for a Son." Written in blood and seared into the memories of all four people.

Dean felt bile rising up in his throat as he closed the door and carried Buffy down stairs.

Sam was still holding Dawn tightly, but using his abilities to fix up the living room and sat with Dawn cradled in his arms on the sofa.

Dean sat in the armchair Sam righted and his eyes met his baby brother's seeing the answering anguish and rage in his eyes Dean knew was reflected in his own, he gave his brother a nod before focusing his attention back on Buffy.

Glory and Aaquerafet had fired the first shot, but Dean would be damned if they won the war.

To be continued.

I know I'm awful. Really I do know that. This was an unexpected chapter, and I also know it's shorter then usual. My only defense is that my muse took over. I'd been feeling uninspired with the last couple of chapters, so when I sat down yesterday and started writing I was surprised at how easily it was flowing. Then this morning the rest just came out. I'm hoping it continues, and will be starting on Chapter 24 right now. I know I could have continued on, but I want the aftermath to be it's own Chapter. I will try to get it done quickly I promise. Please continue to review, they really make my day, and offer inspiration. Have a great weekend.

B