Chapter Nine – Secret Meeting
As Deke was settling in to his night at the Carpenter's house of evil, his family was preparing to bed down out in the woods. Jake kicked dirt over the fire to let it burn down for the night. No need advertising their whereabouts if evil was out and about, and no sense making it any easier for it. If evil was gonna find them it would regardless, but his hunter instincts told him to take all possible precautions.
It troubled him to be this far out of the fight. He never could abide standing idly by just watching, especially when his oldest was in the thick of things. The bitch was he was supposed to be dead and Scott was supposed to be on his way to Austin. Both of them had to keep a low profile or blow their whole operation sky high.
He had every confidence in Deke's abilities, after all he had taught him everything he knew and all evidence indicated this was his son's destiny. He knew Deke was a formidable hunter capable of handling himself in any situation, still he hated being in the rear of the battle instead of on the front lines.
He heard a noise to his left and quickly turned to see Scott coming back into camp after checking out the surrounding countryside. He could scout out the area as long as he made sure no one spotted him. If their true intentions were revealed, Deke would be in danger of exposure.
"Any activity out there?" Jake asked.
"Nope, looks quiet." Scott answered.
They settled in for the night and decided they would continue their explorations at first light. It was deathly still with no creatures creating sound and the countryside would have been pitch black, if not for the subtle illumination of a quarter moon which emitted just enough light so you could barely make out the tree line that surrounded their camp.
It was late and they were tired, so they quickly drifted off to sleep.
Jake awoke with a start as a presence hovering over him stirred him from his rest. He reached for his knife beneath his bedroll and stabbed at the figure which had come upon him in an instant.
The knife plunged into the chest of the intruder and when that failed to slow the man, he knew vampires were upon them. He shouted to Scott as he kicked the vamp throwing it over his head as he rolled to his feet.
As he battled his vampire he saw another fighting with his youngest and a third coming from the woods to join in the melee. He dropped his bowie knife and grabbed the machete that lay by his bedroll, and when his vamp raced back to attack him; he deftly swung the blade decapitating the beast and killing it instantly.
The third vamp was soon upon him and he felt his feet leaving the ground as the vamp lifted him up and shook him before throwing his body across camp, the machete flying from his grasp. The vamp roared its victory and slowly walked over to finish its work. Jake kicked the beast in the chest, only momentarily throwing it off balance before it proceeded onward, grabbing Jake once more in a death grip.
Scott had been tussling with his own vamp, engaging in hand to hand combat while the vamp's fangs hovered in a threat over his neck, inching closer to its sweet reward. He broke the vamp's hold on him and threw him off, scampering for his machete. The vamp grabbed him again and Scott shoved him off with a final thrust before swinging his blade and disposing of his nemesis with one swift blow.
Scott turned to his dad's rescue and as Jake fought the vise hold the third vamp held him in, Scott swung his blade in a backward arc parting the vamp's head from its shoulders.
"Dad, you all right?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Fine, where'd they come from?"
"Don't know. Just woke up to find one looking for a midnight snack."
They listened intently for the rustling of any other creatures, but no sound penetrated the deathly still of the night, save a hoot owl which was observing the scene and woefully calling out for companionship.
"Let's get a grave dug and dispose of these bodies. Then we better move camp, just in case they sent back word before they attacked." Jake instructed.
"If they did then Deke's cover is blown." Scott reminded his dad, as if his dad had not already assessed that possibility.
"I know. We'll come back in the morning and see if we can track them, see how many were here." Jake responded.
It took several hours to dig the grave and bury the bodies, and Jake prayed the entire time they had not sent back word he was still alive and Deke was pulling a scam on the town and Carpenter.
They gathered together their supplies and headed out under the cover of darkness to set up a new camp. By the time they bedded down for the night it was almost two in the morning and daylight would come soon enough.
They slept just 'til the first light of morning and quickly fixed breakfast and coffee before heading back to their old camp to check the surroundings and see if they needed to warn Deke of possible exposure.
Jake was an experienced tracker, and under the early morning sun he could tell only three intruders had come upon their camp and all three had met an untimely demise. Deke was safe from that danger, but Jake knew his son was still in danger from being so deeply immersed with evil.
They cleaned up the last remaining evidence of them ever being at that camp and headed back to their new camp to await Deke and the news he would bring.
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Deke and Aggie had a pleasant ride out of town. Aggie enjoyed being out in the country enjoying the fresh air, but mainly she was anticipating the long awaited reunion with her love. She knew he was alive, but she needed to see him with her own loving eyes and feel his touch before she could completely overcome her fears of losing him.
Deke just smiled at the joy that accompanied them on their journey. He knew his dad was probably as excited to see Aggie as she was to be reunited with him. Their family had seen too few happy times these last twenty years, and it bolstered his spirits to think his dad could actually have this moment of bliss.
Scott came upon them and greeted his brother.
"Scott, think I can't find the camp again." Deke joked.
"Well, considering we moved camp, I hope you can't track us back to our new camp." Scott replied.
"So what happened?"
"Three vamps attacked last night, didn't know right off if they were alone or if they sent word back."
"So? My cover blown?" Deke asked.
"Don't appear so. We killed the three and that's the only tracks Dad spotted. Only problem will be when they start wondering what happened to them, if they come looking for them."
"Well, I guess we better take care of things before they figure it out." Deke announced. "Anyways, Scott meet Aggie, Aggie my little brother, Scotty."
"It's Scott. Nice to meet you Aggie, Dad's been waiting for you. Camp's just over that hill."
The look in Jake's eyes when he spotted Aggie as they rode into camp was a look neither brother could remember seeing previously. He helped Aggie down from her horse and wrapped her in a welcoming hug, tenderly kissing her with the pent up love that had been too long denied. Both brothers just stood by nervously kicking at the dirt wondering when Dad would come up for air.
After an interminable wait, while Jake and Aggie got reacquainted, the Winchesters set about discussing their available information. Aggie chastised Jake for not trusting her with who he truly was and making that mistake that almost took him from her. She would have been able to steer him clear of relying on the wrong folk.
They covered their options and plotted their strategy and then Scott and Deke excused themselves, ostensibly to check out the remaining countryside.
Jake pulled Aggie into a tender embrace and reveled in the sweet aroma of her soft, smooth skin. He again felt the wonder of finally finding contentment after all those years of loneliness. She grinned at him with all the love she had held so dear to her heart, just hoping and praying that one day she would have a man such as him to bestow it on. She settled into his arms thankful that her hero had finally come to release her from her lonely life.
He grabbed up his bedroll and gently took her hand to lead her down by the calm of the babbling stream at the south end of their camp. Hidden by the trees surrounding the stream and embraced by the tranquility of the morning breeze, they once more found the pleasure that had released them from their desperate lives.
I didn't plan on the romantic aspect of the story. That is just kind of happening; guess you can't deny true love! So what do you guys think: like, don't like? More action is coming and a little angst; sorry I just can't help myself. Next chapter is Dean and Sam. Reviews, please. What are you thinking? Thanks to IheartPadalecki, LoveJeter and pandora jazz for their continuing support.