Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural, but I wish I did. It would be so much fun!
Hunted
John Winchester is hunted by more then just demons.
Chapter Twenty
It had taken to long to get out of Van Horn. More than two hours had passed since he'd listened to his son's message. One of the damn nurses at the hospital had caught him leaving and an argument had ensued. Within minutes a doctor, two nurses, someone from security and a hospital administrator were there trying to convince him he needed to stay. In the end John had told them all, "I'm leaving now so move the hell out of my way before I make you move." The quiet menace in his voice was enough to convince them all that he was indeed leaving. All of them backed out of his way as he strode past.
Once out of the hospital he had to find his truck which had been towed from the scene of the fire. By the time he was behind the wheel and heading out of Van Horn he was so angry that if anyone else got in his way they would regret it for a very long time.
It wasn't until nearly four hours later while he was driving through Okalahoma that he remembered Missouri's call. Picking up his cell phone he dialed her number. When she answered John said, "Missouri, its John. Did the boys find you?"
"Hold on," she told him. Then speaking to someone else she said, "You boys finish this, I'll be right back."
John knew then that Sam and Dean were with her and the relief that he felt was nearly overwhelming.
"John, you're hurt, where are you?" Missouri asked after a moment.
"I'm fine, I'm on my way, are they okay?"
"You're not fine. You're just too stubborn to realize it. The boys are okay, but they need you. This one is tearing them both up inside."
"What is it Missouri, is it the demon that killed Mary?"
"No."
"How do you know?" John asked.
"John Winchester, don't you think I'd know that evil if I ever felt it again," she replied tersely. "We went to the house it's not the same thing. In fact there is more then one spirit in the house. We're preparing purifying bags now. How far away are you?"
"At least three more hours, I'm in Oklahoma."
"Well, we should be done with the purification by the time you get here. Can I tell them you're coming?"
John thought about it, he wanted to see them. He wanted to explain everything, but he wasn't ready and they were still in danger. Just being so close to them was going to put them in danger, so even though his heart was screaming yes he told Missouri, "No, not yet."
"John…"
"I said no, Missouri," he said quietly, "Please, this is hard enough."
"Fine, you know where the key is in case I'm not here whey you get here."
"Missouri…" John started to say something else, but instead he just said, "Thank you."
Missouri sighed. The Winchester men were so stubborn she could just slap them all. "Be safe John. I'll see you soon," she told him.
She was not home when he arrived at her house and it worried him. It was nearly midnight they should be done by now, something must have gone wrong. A poltergeist could get very nasty if it suspected it was about to be destroyed. John grabbed his keys and opened the door only to find Missouri walking up the steps. She was tired and unless John was mistaken she was limping.
"What happened?" He asked as he helped her with the final few steps and into the house.
"Same thing that always happens. The poltergeist didn't want to leave and it put up a fight."
"Are the boys…"
"They're fine."
"What about you?"
"I'll live."
"Sit down Missouri you look like you hurt. I'll make you some of that famous tea of yours."
Missouri raised an eyebrow at John, "I hurt?"
"John Winchester I can feel the pain radiating from you in waves. How many ribs are broken?"
John grimaced at the question. "Three." As long as he didn't think too much about and didn't make any sudden moves he could keep the pain in the back of his mind. Pain wasn't an issue. Pain he could deal with. Like his sergeant always told him, 'Pain let's you know you're still alive.'
"What did they give you for the pain? It doesn't seem to be helping."
"I didn't stay long enough for them to give me anything."
"Tell me what happened," Missouri said.
"You first," he replied as he prepared her tea and a strong cup of coffee for himself. He also got out her bottle of extra strength Tylenol. They were both going to need it.
She told him in detail of the events that had led up to the purification ritual and then she told him what happened when the attempted the ritual.
"Sam is okay though?" John asked.
"Do you think I'd be sitting here drinking tea with you if there was something wrong with the boy?" Missouri asked.
John looked at her sheepishly, "Sorry."
"There is one more thing you should know. It's about Sam," Missouri said. "That boy, he is a very special child."
"I know." John said.
"No, you don't," she replied, "He has abilities that he hasn't even begun to discover."
"What are you talking about?"
"He as gifts that are going to be so much stronger then mine."
"Wait, are you saying Sammy has psychic abilities?" John asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"How?"
"I don't know. But never the less he has them."
John looked at Missouri. Surely she was mistaken. How could Sam have psychic abilities? But since he had known her Missouri had never been wrong and he had no reason to doubt her now.
"John, tell me what happened in Texas," Missouri requested.
"How did…" John asked startled. He though he'd been doing a good job with his mental block, but evidently he still had some work to do. "Never mind," he said. Then he told her everything that had happened in Van Horn. He left nothing out and in the end when he had to admit to her that he couldn't save the baby or its parents he choked on the words and couldn't get them out.
"Oh John," Missouri said, "It's not your fault."
He knew it wasn't his fault, but he also knew if he had been more prepared he might have been able to save them. If he had taken into consideration that some children in the town may not have been born there or hell, what if they were born at home? He had failed to protect them because he hadn't considered all the possibilities.
He was saved from explaining all this to Missouri when her phone started ringing.
"Hello," she answered.
"Dean? What's wrong baby?"
Missouri listened for a few minutes her eyes widening as she listened. Then she replied, "I'll be right there honey. You and your brother stay put."
She hung up the phone visibly shaken and looked at John.
"Missouri, what is it? Are they okay?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"What happened?" John asked sharply.
"I was wrong," she said. "I thought it was over. I thought we had purified the house."
"What happened?"
"Sam was still worried about the house and the family. They stayed and kept an eye on it from the car, so they were there when it came back."
"Oh shit," John said, "Are they all right?"
"Yes," she said looking at the table. Then she raised her head and looked John in the eyes and told him, "Mary saved them."
John sat back in his chair and paled visibly. Never would he have imagined her reply. "What did you say?"
"Her spirit, she was the other one in the house. She saved them from the poltergeist."
"How?"
"I don't know. I need to go talk to your boys. Are you okay?"
He wanted to tell her no, that he was dying inside because he wasn't there he didn't see her. He didn't help her save their boys. He had failed her again. "Yes," was all he said, but he was sure the rest must have been written all over his face.
"I'm sorry John," she said as she left.
He left just a few minutes after she did, parked the truck a few blocks away from his old house and made his way stealthily forward until he could watch what was happening. They were all inside when he got close enough see. The house was in relatively good shape, but the front door was destroyed. It looked like someone had beaten it down with an ax.
He waited knowing that eventually they would come outside and he would know they were safe. Nearly an hour passed before his patience was rewarded. Dean came out first with a blonde woman who he assumed was owner of the house. He wasn't hurt. His son was carrying a metal footlocker that John vaguely recognized. He placed it in the Impala before opening it and pulling something out and glancing at it.
Sam came out a few minutes later with Missouri. They sat on the steps deep in conversation. He too looked physically fit, but the boy looked so lost, so confused. He wished he knew what they were saying. Later, he would ask Missouri. He waited until they left before returning to the truck and driving back to Missouri's house.
He was sitting on the couch when she walked in and setting her purse and keys down on the table Missouri said, "That boy… He has such powerful abilities. Why he couldn't sense his own father I have no idea."
John stared at his wedding ring twisting it back and forth before asking, "Mary's spirit you really think she saved the boys."
"I do…" she replied then turned to him and said, "John Winchester I could just slap you why don't you go talk to your children."
"You have no idea how much I want to but I can't, not yet," He told her. "Not until I know the truth."
A/N Once again, thanks for the wonderful reviews! Please read, enjoy and review!