Disclaimer: If you recognize it from Supernatural I don't own it. I'm just playing with it!
Hunted
John Winchester is hunted by more then just demons.
Chapter Thirty Two
The Stealth Killer. That was what the media here in Chicago was calling the thing that killed Ben Swarstrom. John had been on the case for more the two weeks and was beginning to think the thing had moved on when the second victim was killed.
In both cases the victim died in their own home with all the windows and doors locked and the alarm still set. The second victim even had the chain up on the door. There were no signs of a struggle in either case but both victims were literally torn to pieces.
John had been posing as an FBI agent giving him access to the police files for both cases. He had made copies of the files and crime scene pictures. Most of which were hung on the walls of the apartment he was subletting. He had already determined that the only link between the victims is that they were both born in Lawrence Kansas.
He had also already ruled out any form of corporeal creature. There was just no way any of them could have gotten into the apartments without leaving some kind of trace. It was unlikely to be a spirit or poltergeist they were normally attached to a place, person or thing and these victims had nothing in common other than their birth place. Besides, none of those things would have removed the victim's hearts.
John had been staring at the photos of the blood stains at both crime scenes as he considered the options. That when he saw the pattern in the blood of the first victim and after turning the photo of the blood stained carpet of the second victim John saw it there also. He took out a marker and followed the pattern. It was like a gristly game of connect the dots. In the end the pattern looked almost like a rounded "Z" with a circle in the middle.
John searched the internet for the pattern but came up empty. He checked the few texts he carried with him, but again he had no success. After hours of searching he decided to call in the expert. He dialed Bobby's number and when his friend answered John described the symbol and asked if Bobby could identify it.
It took even Bobby several hours, but finally he called John back and told him what he'd discovered. "It's a Diva John," his friend said. "It's Zoroastrian. A very old school demon. The only way any could be here is if it was summoned."
"So I'm looking for an alter," John determined.
"Yeah, a very dark alter. Summoning a diva is very risky business." Bobby replied.
"Why?" John asked as his phone beeped indicating a second call. John as usual ignored it. If it was important they'd leave a message.
"Because they tend to attack the person that summons them," he explained. "They are completely animalistic."
"What do they look like?" John asked.
"I don't know John. No one has seen one for thousands of years."
"Okay, Thanks for the help Bobby," John said before clicking the phone shut.
This whole thing was looking more and more like a trap. A trap set specifically for him.
John spent a few hours searching divas on the internet but couldn't get anymore information then Bobby had provided.
He called Jim Murphy and asked him to check his extensive library to see if he could add to what Bobby had already told him. When he flipped the phone closed he noticed he had a message and remembered the second call when he was talking to Bobby.
He dialed his voice mail and listened to the message.
Dad, its Dean. Sammy and I are in Chicago. We're staying at the Calumet Motel room 132. We think we have a serious lead on the thing that killed mom. So ah, this warehouse its 1425 West Erie. Dad if you get this get to Chicago as fast as you can.
"Oh God, no," John said out loud. Fear for the safety of his son's drove him into immediate action. John grabbed his bag and headed for the truck. 1425 West Erie was halfway across the city from where he was staying. He prayed he made it in time to stop his boys from walking into the trap that was set for him.
John drove passed the warehouse once before stopping. He spotted Dean's car and knew he was too late to stop them, but hopefully not to late to save them. He got out of the truck grabbing his weapons bag as he went. He only took a few steps before the sound of breaking glass drew his attention skyward.
As he watched a young woman about Sammy's age fell from the broken window seven stories above the ground. She landed amid the broken glass with a thud and didn't move. John looked up at the window she'd fallen from and suddenly two very familiar bodies filled the void where the window had been. They spoke for a moment then turned and left the window. Even where he was standing John could tell they were bloodied. But they were still standing.
"Good boys," he said quietly to himself and then he made a decision that he would later regret. He decided to speak to his boys in person. Maybe if they had known of the true danger they would not have walked into the trap that had been so carefully laid for him. John needed to make sure they understood how dangerous it was for them all right now. And he needed to tell them so much more.
He decided to meet them at their room instead of entering the warehouse. That way there was less chance that they would be found. He also could watch from the window and be sure they weren't followed.
John picked the lock and entered their room. He stood at the window waiting for their arrival. A flood of emotions ran though him as he considered what to say to them when they arrived. He would tell them that he loved them. He needed to make sure they knew that above all else. They needed to know he was proud of them and their accomplishments. That he missed them. But it hurt that he would also have to tell them he had to leave again.
He watched as Dean parked the car and they got out. Sammy reached into the back seat and pulled out a duffle bag and they entered the building. John continued looking out the window watching to be sure they were not followed. He heard the key in the lock but didn't turn around. Now that it came down to it his fears surfaced in one terrible wave. Would they be angry and reject him? Had he hurt them so much that they couldn't love him anymore? He closed his eyes and gathered his strength.
"Hey," Dean yelled fiercely seeing him in the darkest corner of the room.
John turned and smiled at his son's.
"Dad," Dean said in utter disbelief.
"Hey boys," he said with false bravado. He trembled inside. Now was the moment of truth. How would they react to his presence? God he had missed his children.
With three quick strides Dean was across the room and embracing him in a completely uncharacteristic Hug. John wrapped his arms around his son and closed his eyes as they filled with unshed tears. The fierce hug from his oldest son told him all he needed to know about the way Dean felt about him. Dean had a serious aversion to emotional moments.
Sam however, hung back. He looked uncertain of what to say or do. Sam was always so emotional and never at a loss for words. He wore his heart on his sleeve, but now he looked so unsure of what to do and what to say. John wanted to pull him into his arms like Dean had done for him, but he didn't know how Sam would react to that. He remembered the fight they had. The horrible words he had said to his son rang in his head.
Sammy stood next to his brother, dropped the duffle bag and looked at his father, "Hey Dad," he said the emotion in his voice causing it to crack just a little. And John could tell he wanted to say more, but was hesitant.
"Dad, it was a trap," Dean said. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."
John smiled at his son, "It's alright. I though it might have been," he told him.
Dean got slightly suspicious look on his face and asked, "Where you there?"
John nodded, "Yeah, I got there just in time to see the girl take the swan dive," he replied. "She was the bad guy right?"
"Yes sir," Both boys said in unison.
"Good," John told them. "Well it doesn't surprise me. It's tried to stop me before."
"The demon has?" Sam asked.
John nodded. "It knows I'm close. It knows I'm going to kill it. Not just exorcise it or send it back to hell…. Actually kill it."
"How?" Dean asked.
"I'm still working on that," he replied with a grin.
"Let us come with you. We'll help," Sam said. He had expected it to be Dean not Sam who asked. But he should have known better. Sam never used to like to hunt but now John suspected his son needed to hunt the same way John had needed to hunt after Mary's death.
"No Sam," John said quietly. "Not yet." He saw the defiance in his son's eyes so he tried to explain. "Listen, try to understand, this demon is a scary son of a bitch. I don't want you caught in the crossfire. I don't want you hurt."
"Dad you don't have to worry about us," Sam told him adamantly.
John lifted his head to look his son in the eyes. "Of course I do," he told his young son. "I'm you father…" The look that crossed his son's face was one of disbelief. Then John understood. Sam was just as unsure of John's feelings about him as he was about Sam's feelings towards him. John wanted to apologize for the fight, hell, for everything but he didn't know how. "Listen Sammy," John said. "Ah, last time we were together we had one hell of a fight."
Sam swallowed and John could see how tense the boy was when he replied, "Yes sir."
The tears that had filled his eyes as he hugged his oldest son began to spill over as he told Sam, "It's good to see ya again. It's been a long time."
Sam Sighed in relief as his eyes too pooled with tears. "Too long!" he told his father.
Then to John's utter relief they embraced in a fierce hug while tears of happiness poured unchecked down both men's faces. John patted his son on the back before stepping back and smiling happily at him and Dean. He was filled with joy as he looked at them.
John was about to tell them how much he loved them. How much he missed them but suddenly, painfully he was picked up and thrust across the room. He smacked agonizingly into the counter and slid down to the floor. Before he could do more then shake the cobwebs from his head he was pinned down as unseen claws ripped across his chest again and again causing unimaginable pain. Blood poured down the side of his face from the first strike. He heard his oldest son grunting in pain as he too was attacked by the unseen creatures. John screamed each time the claws slashed into his flesh. He didn't know if he was screaming in pain or frustration or both.
John struggled uselessly to break free of his invisible attacker. He heard Dean's cries and his heart broke at the sound. The demons had him and they had his children. He had done this. He had brought this down on them just by being with them. He screamed again.
Then he heard Sammy, "Shut you eyes!" he shouted. "These things are shadow demons! So let's light them up!"
John squeezed his eyes shut as bright light engulfed the room and he was suddenly released. He collapsed limply to the floor.
"Dad," He heard Dean shout.
"Over here," he said weakly. And then Dean was picking him up from the floor and dragging him out the door. The fumes from the flare Sam had lit filled the room. All of them began to cough as they headed outside. Together they made their way down to the Impala parked in the alley.
Sam seemed to have suffered the least from the demons attack. He reached the car slightly ahead of John and Dean. After tossing the duffle into the back seat he turned to his family and said, "Alright come on…"
Dean quietly called his brothers name, "Sam…"
Sam ignored him, "We don't have much time…"
"Wait," Dean said to his brother. When he got no response he shouted, "Wait!"
"As soon as the flair is out they'll be back…"
"Sam! Wait!" Dean shouted again and finally got his brothers attention. When Sam stopped speaking Dean looked at his father and said, "Dad, you can't come with us." John had never known that six words could hurt so much. But his son's simple statement felt worse then getting punched in the gut. Hell it felt worse the pain the invisible creatures had just caused him.
Before he could say anything Sam looked at his brother in compete astonishment. "What?" he shouted, "What are you talking about?"
John looked at Sam and then at Dean and said, "You boys. You're beat to hell."
But Dean was adamant. He didn't want to be with John. "We'll be alright," he said.
"Dean we should stick together we'll go after this demon…" Sam started, but his brother interrupted him. John never thought the day would come when Dean would be the one to push him away, but he deserved it and he knew it.
Dean looked at his brother. "Sam listen to me," he pleaded. "We almost got dad killed in there. Don't you understand their not going to stop? They're going to try again. They're going to use us to get to him. Meg was right! Dad's vulnerable when he's with us. He's stronger without us around."
John looked at his oldest son shocked that he had come to that conclusion. John said nothing even though he wanted to tell his son that he was wrong. That it wasn't them who had almost gotten him killed. It was he who had almost gotten them killed. He had to leave again because they would be in to much danger. Tonight proved it.
Sam placed his hand on his fathers shoulder and looked him in the eye. "Dad," he said shaking his head. "No. After everything. After all the time we spent looking for you. Please… I've gotta be a part of this fight" John could see need in his young son's eyes. He could see the pain and the fear, but he had almost lost them tonight. He couldn't take that chance again.
He reached up and held his son's arm. "Sammy, this fight is just starting. We are all going to have a part to play in this fight," he told his son. "For now you've gotta trust me son. For now you gotta let me go." John released his son's arm.
Sam looked at his father and John could see the internal battle going on within his young son. John stayed silent letting Sammy work it out on his own and he did, but he could not voice his decision instead he lifted his hand from his fathers shoulder. He looked like he wanted to say something else but instead he just nodded and patted his father's shoulder in acceptance. He stepped aside to let his father go.
John looked again at his son's. They were in bad shape both of them had been mauled by their unseen attackers. Dean was almost in as bad a shape as he was. But staying with him would only make things worse for them. He wanted to be with them so much, but he wanted them to be safe even more. So, hard as it was he nodded and walked passed his son's to his truck.
He opened the door and looked back at his children. They stood side by side watching him leave. He could see the pain etched on both their faces and it hurt to know he was the caused of that pain. He sighed and said, "Be careful boys." Then he got in the truck and drove away.
A/N Please read and review. Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews... They make it so much easier to want to continue writing!