Dean and Sam just stared at their father, stunned by his revelation, wondering for a moment if he was exaggerating, but one look at the seriousness on Bobby's face only helped to convince them John was telling the truth. Sam saw his eyes flicker with sadness as he glanced over at his niece, and for the first time since last night things finally started making sense.
"How did you know her tattoo was connected to the demon?" Sam asked John.
"They told me," John replied. "When I heard what happened to Alicia's mother, why she had the tattoo in the first place, it was exactly like what happened to your mother. That's when they told me everything they knew about that demon. It wasn't much, really, but it was something."
"It killed your mother, too?" Sam asked Alicia.
Alicia bit her lip briefly, but she kept her composure. "Yeah," she replied quietly. "Burned up, pinned to the ceiling…Dad barely got me out before my crib was engulfed." She felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it with the back of her hand, averting her eyes, embarrassed. "Sorry."
"Hey, it's okay," Sam reassured. He turned back to his dad. "Why didn't you tell us this sooner?"
"Because there was no trail back then," John answered. "Alicia's mother was the last time anyone saw that thing before the trail went cold. I also saw the stress it put on the Singers trying to protect Alicia; I didn't want that for either of you."
"Well, if you need a shoulder to cry on," Dean offered Alicia, "I'll be more than happy to—" he winced as Sam smacked his arm again, and he grunted as he gave Alicia a forceful smile, "listen."
"Thanks," Alicia said, "but I just want to track down that son of a bitch and make him pay," she paused, tilting her head as she gave Sam and Dean a hopeful expression, "and since you've already tracked it down once, maybe I—"
"Don't even think about it," Bobby interrupted. Alicia glared at him. "Don't give me that look, young lady, you're not going after that demon."
"Why?" Alicia demanded as she got to her feet.
"You know damn well why," Bobby answered.
"Bobby," Alicia said, "I've been waiting almost five years to kill that thing."
"Allie, I already said you're not—"
"Look, 'because I said so' might have worked when I was little," Alicia interrupted, "but that pansy-ass excuse won't fly any longer—especially not now."
"Hey," John barked as he stood up. "You need to stand down right now, Alicia."
"And you can blow it out your ass, John," Alicia replied as she turned to face the former Marine. "You are not my father, so stop giving me orders like you are."
"Whoa, did she just tell off Dad?" Sam quietly asked Dean from their spots, a slight smile on his face.
"Oh, yeah," Dean replied, impressed. He didn't know too many people who were brave enough to stand up to John, and he found himself a little turned on by it. He glanced between the three hunters, and Dean could see they were intensely focused on each other, like the brothers weren't even present.
"You wanna leave?" Sam asked.
"Oh hell no," Dean answered. "This is too good to miss."
"Look, I know you want to hunt this thing," John continued, looking at Alicia, "but Bobby and I are trying to keep you safe." Alicia scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You think your father would want—"
Alicia's face suddenly contorted into rage as her eyes flashed bright purple, and every bulb in the room exploded. Everyone flinched as shards of glass flew in all directions, but the young woman wasn't even fazed as she stared coldly at John, not caring that the others stared at her in shock. After a few seconds, the glow disappeared from Alicia's eyes, her body trembling in quiet rage, her hands clenched at her sides.
"Don't," she warned before she turned and marched into the kitchen. A few seconds later, they heard the back door open and slam shut. Bobby gave another sigh of frustration as he tiredly rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"What the hell…?" Dean asked softly. He breathed out of his mouth slowly. "Okay, remind me not to piss her off."
"What was that about?" Sam asked. He glanced at his father. "Dad?"
"Not now, Sam," John said, annoyed.
"No, I think now is a perfect time," Sam retorted.
"Sam, drop it," Bobby said more firmly.
"I don't get it," Sam said, ignoring him. "The demon killed Alicia's mother like it did Mom, and Alicia seems capable of handling herself—you wouldn't let go solo hunting if you thought otherwise—so what gives?"
"Allie has more of a stake in this fight than you know," Bobby said, "but it doesn't mean she should fight in it." Sam opened his mouth, but Bobby stopped him. "Why do you think she's got that tattoo in the first place?" The hunter glanced between Dean and Sam. "That demon is after her magic." Dean and Sam glanced at each other, surprised.
"Well, that's a switch," Dean said. "Usually it's the other way around, and the demon cashes in on the deal later. But you said Alicia didn't get her powers from one, so why is it after her?"
"Natural witches are connected to the planet's elements," John explained. "It's raw power, with unlimited potential. If the demon were to possess her—alive or dead—it would lead to incredible disaster; that's why he targeted her in the first place. After her mother was killed, Bobby and Mark made it their goal to keep that thing as far away from her as possible."
"And the tattoo?" Sam asked.
"In case it wasn't possible," Bobby answered. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his expression softening. "Mark and I raised that girl to be one of the most capable hunters I've ever known, but it doesn't mean we want her running head on into a fight with that son of a bitch."
"Well, no offense," Dean replied, "but Alicia seems to think otherwise."
"She can't confront that demon, Dean," Bobby insisted seriously, "no matter what."
"Look, she's your family," Dean replied, "I get it. You don't want—" he stopped as he remembered something from earlier. "Wait a sec, what happened five years ago?" The three hunters looked at him. "Alicia mentioned she's been waiting almost five years to kill the demon. What did she mean by that?" Dean tilted his head as he crossed his arms. "For that matter, why isn't her father here?" Bobby and John glanced at each other but didn't say anything. "You know, if my wife was killed by that thing, and then it targeted my daughter, I wouldn't let her out of my sight." Nothing.
"We could always ask Alicia what happened," Sam challenged.
"Don't you dare," Bobby warned.
"Then what the hell is going on?" Dean asked. "And why did Alicia go all 'Carrie' on the lightbulbs when Dad mentioned him?"
"Alicia's not just family," Bobby said after a few moments. "She's my only family." Sam and Dean just stared at him. "Five years ago the demon came after her again, only this time it changed tactics: it possessed a werewolf and attacked us directly." He glanced briefly at John. "I managed to stop the werewolf, but Allie's father didn't make it." Dean and Sam shared a knowing glance, everything started to make sense, as Bobby's expression softened. "She's all I have left, boys. I'll be damned if I let it take her from me, too."
"You sure this is a good idea?" Dean asked, his hands in the pockets of his jacket as they walked toward the back part of the salvage yard. After talking a little longer with Bobby and John, the hunters had suddenly all but kicked the brothers out (allowing only enough time for Dean to change his clothes), with Bobby all but ordering them to find and keep an eye on Alicia.
"You scared of her?" Sam asked.
"Of course not," Dean replied quickly, looking insulted. Sam glanced at him. "Okay, maybe a little. I mean, she may be hot, but the girl's got issues: you saw what she did when Dad mentioned her father."
"Given what's happened in her life," Sam replied, "I think she's entitled to have a few issues. Besides, we're not exactly well-adjusted ourselves." Dean snorted. "Look, if you're that worried, just don't bring up her father."
The brothers turned the corner at a pile of crushed cars and stopped when they saw Alicia's Chevelle parked fifty feet from them among the salvage junk. The young woman stood with her back to them, the trunk of her Chevelle opened. They watched as she leaned over, her curvature of her backside accentuated by her tight jeans; when she reached for something in the far back, her tank top rode up a bit, showing off part of her tattoo.
"Okay, issues or not," Dean replied quietly, staring appreciatively, "that is hot." Sam smacked his arm, and Dean glared at him. "Dude, will you stop doing that?"
"Then stop ogling her," Sam hissed.
"I'm not ogling her," Dean protested quickly. "I'm just admiring the artwork."
"You're admiring the canvas," Sam pointed out. Dean snorted, and Sam sighed, frustrated. "Look, I get it, she's pretty, but could you keep it in your pants for now?"
"Why?" Dean asked, amused. "Jealous?"
"Hardly," Sam replied. Dean chuckled, amused, and Sam sighed. "You're wasting your time, Dean. Alicia seems pretty sharp, so I seriously doubt your usual charm is going to work on her."
"Well, I like a challenge," Dean shrugged, unfazed. Sam gave him a look. "Look, Sam, that girl is looking for Yellow Eyes, same as us, which means we already have a common interest. We also know this business doesn't leave much time to make friends." Dean shrugged, grinning, "Everyone needs a friend, right?" Sam gave him a look, and the elder brother's grin slowly faded. He sighed with frustration, rolling eyes. "Fine." The brothers approached, and Alicia quickly glanced over her shoulder when she heard them but paused, a little surprised.
"It's you," she said, and they saw her relax slightly. "What do you want?"
"We, uh," Sam said slowly, "we wanted to make sure you were okay after you, uh—"
"Look," Alicia interrupted as she stood straight, "I'm sorry I lost my temper with your father. I shouldn't have, but John can really—"
"Push your buttons?" Dean suggested. Alicia nodded. "He's our dad, believe me, we understand."
"Speaking of which," Sam said gently and cautiously, "Bobby told us about yours."
"Dude, what the hell?" Dean looked at his brother incredulously, but Sam ignored him.
"What did Bobby tell you?" Alicia asked cautiously, tensing.
"The demon used a possessed werewolf to attack you," Sam said. "Bobby stopped it, your father didn't make it." He saw her look down with an ashamed look on her face. "I'm sorry."
"We're sorry," Dean corrected.
Alicia nodded her appreciation. "So, now you know why I want that damn thing so bad—same reason you do."
"Common interest," Dean said smugly to his brother.
"Dad told us it's after you because of your magic," Sam replied, ignoring his brother.
Alicia nodded. "Yeah."
"Do you know why it came after me?" Sam asked hopefully. "I don't have any magical abilities."
"Unless you count that ESP crap and premonition stuff," Dean pointed out.
"Yeah, but that only started recently," Sam retorted. "Alicia's had her abilities all her life." Dean paused, pursing his lips, realizing his brother was right. After a few moments, the two of them glanced at Alicia expectantly.
"I don't know," Alicia replied honestly. "I don't know much about the demon myself, beyond what I've been told," she shrugged, "and it ain't much—even though I know it isn't everything." She saw their curious expressions. "Bobby has a lockbox he keeps in his room, and the only thing it contains is stuff on the demon. There are two levels of security on it that will not only alert him if anyone tries to open, but it will also bind my magic for one week."
"Sounds like you know from personal experience," Dean said, amused. Alicia didn't say anything, but her cheeks turned red, and Dean couldn't help but chuckle. "Damn, Bobby doesn't play with anyone, does he?" Alicia tried to look annoyed, but the corners of her mouth twitched. "So, you're really as in the dark about this thing as we are, aren't you?"
"I wish I could help out more," Alicia replied sincerely. "Sorry." She raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "So, I'm curious about something. Where did you guys find the Colt? That thing was supposed to be nothing more than a legend."
"Manning, Colorado," Sam explained. "We were investigating the death of a hunter Dad knew, Danny Elkins. Turned out to be vampires; they'd also stolen the Colt. With Dad's help, we killed them off and took the gun."
"Does it actually work?" Alicia asked, intrigued. "I mean, can it really kill the demon like the legend says?"
"Demons, vampires, anything supernatural, apparently," Dean answered proudly. He saw her looking at him oddly, and he shifted. "Yeah, that probably means witches, too, but don't worry: we only have one bullet left, and we're sure as hell ain't gonna use it on you."
"What about werewolves?" Alicia pressed.
Sam furrowed his eyebrows, confused, then understood why she asked. "Bobby said he took care of the werewolf that killed your father."
Alicia nodded. "I know," she replied. "I'm just…not a fan of werewolves—or demons. Anything that can kill them is something I find interesting, that's all."
"Well, if you ever come across another werewolf," Dean said, "standard procedure still applies: silver bullet to the bastard's heart. As for demons, standard exorcism, except for Old Yellow Eyes; we got a bullet with his name on it." He glanced down at the open trunk of Alicia's car and finally noticed the array of weapons. "Whoa, Sam, check it out." Sam glanced down, and had the same reaction as his brother.
"Holy crap," the younger Winchester said as the two looked over Alicia's arsenal. "Are all of these yours?"
Alicia nodded. "Yep," she replied. "Most of these were gifts, some I made," she reached in and grabbed her homemade sleeve, "like this. Modified it to hold and conceal vials of holy water for quick access; that's how I was able to get the jump on the demon who t-boned you." She gently tossed it on top of some guns.
"No freakin' way," Dean said as he reached in and pulled out one of the weapons. "Is this a grenade launcher?" He looked at Alicia in shock. "Why the hell do you have one of these?"
"Birthday present from Bobby when I turned eighteen," Alicia replied.
"You ever use it?" Dean asked, almost fondling the weapon.
"Once," Alicia replied, "in Chicago." She smiled, looking between the two brothers as they appeared genuinely interested in her story. "I was eighteen, and I was hunting a rawhead, when I stumbled upon a nest of vampires…."
(End of Chapter 3)