A/N: Had a mix up with chapters. This was supposed to be posted before the Thanksgiving chapter which is c18, so I will put it in here. Sorry about that. NC

Chapter 19

The gravel parking lot was empty when John pulled into it and steered his car over to the side of the building where the private parking was sectioned off. He didn't know how long it would take Ash to find anything if he could, but he figured he could help out behind the bar and give Ellen or Jo a break. He needed something to keep his mind occupied right now so he wouldn't think of his sons. John knew he was going to have to make a decision on what he was going to do. He parked and rummaged around for the folder with all the information he could gather on the Colt before getting out and heading for the front door.

The place was quiet except for the jukebox playing some country song, and Jo mopping the floor. She looked up and frowned for a moment before recognizing him and speaking, "Go around that way so you don't walk on my wet floor."

"Yes ma'am," John said. He walked around the wall until he got to the bar. "Where's your Mom?"

"She's taking inventory in back, head on back there if you like," Jo told him as she flopped the mop back into the bucket and pressed the handle to squeeze the water out.

"Thanks Jo," he nodded moving toward the double doors to the private section of the bar. John found Ellen in the storage room counting the stock and cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Hello John, didn't expect to see you again so soon. What brings you this way?"

"Is Ash around? I need to talk to him," John replied.

"Sure, it's time for him to be getting up anyway. Go on in back and knock on the door."

"Thanks Ellen. Oh, I was wondering if I could stay here for a few days? I can help out behind the bar at night, maybe Jo would like a day off?"

"Don't see why not. You won't have to ask that girl twice. She's always complaining about not getting to spend time with kids her age, but I know she don't mind the work. The poor saps haven't learned yet that they can't beat her playing poker," she chuckled. "Tell Ash I'll have him some breakfast ready too."

"I will, thanks Ellen," he said grateful she agreed to let him stay.

Ellen watched John walk away and wondered what was weighting so heavily on his mind. She could see it in his eyes that looked tormented and strained. She finished up the inventory and headed for the kitchen to get Ash's breakfast fixed.

spn

John walked down the hall and stopped at a door labeled 'Dr. Badass'. He couldn't help the hint of a smile that crossed his lips thinking he was one weird guy, but a genius with a laptop. He knocked loudly and called to him, "Hey Ash, need to talk to you."

Noises could be heard from behind the door before it was jerked open and Ash looked at John with bleary eyes. "What's going on?"

"Damn kid, do you always answer your door naked?" John complained. "After you put on some clothes, I need you to do some research for me. Here's what I have got so far, and I hope you can find out more for me." He held out the folder for him and looked anywhere but at Ash's naked body.

"Yeah, I can do that," he yawned and scratched his stomach. "Let me get dressed."

"Ellen said she'd have some breakfast for you ready."

"Thanks man, I'll be out in a minute."

John turned to leave shaking his head in disbelief at how dumb the guy seemed by all appearances. He had not found anyone who could use a laptop like this kid. Ash had even taken several of them and build a laptop that looked like a Frankenstein version of one. He had not seen anything that he couldn't hack or research he couldn't find.

"There's fresh coffee if you want a cup," Ellen offered as she stirred scrambled eggs at the stove.

"That sounds good. Ash will be out when he puts some clothes on."

"You got the uncensored view, did you?" Ellen laughed. "I swear he's going to get into trouble one of these days doing that."

"Hey Mom, I'm done cleaning up the bar, can I run into town?" Jo asked as she rolled the mop bucket in front of her and headed for the back.

"Fine with me. John says he'll handle the bar tonight if you want to do something."

"Great, I'll see if anyone want to go to the movies. Thanks John."

"My pleasure."

Ash came strolling into the kitchen and dropped into a seat across from John. He smiled happily when Ellen sat a plate in front of him and a cup of coffee. "Thanks Ellen, you're the greatest."

"Any time sweetie," she said patting his shoulder.

He started to eat and flipped open the folder from John so he could scan the pages. John watched with interest as he read over his notes and the research that he had done.

"So, you think this is real?" Ash asked looking up from his reading.

"I do and I intend to find it."

"I'll see what I can do. It may take me a few days."

"That's okay, I'm going to hang around and help Ellen out behind the bar."

"Cool, I'll let you know if I find anything."

Ellen looked over Ash's shoulder at the paper and caught the words Samuel Colt and gun. She looked up at John with interest. "Bill always thought that it was a myth, but you think it's real?"

"Yeah, at least I hope it is. If it can be found it could make a difference in hunts against those monsters that are near impossible to kill. And I think it will kill a demon," John said.

"That's gotta be one powerful handgun you're talking about. You got something in mind that needs killing?"

"Not sure yet," John answered being evasive and looking away.

"Well, if you wanna start working? You can bring out some beers and stock the bar for me."

"My pleasure," he said getting up and heading for the storage room.

spn

The noise level in the bar was picking up as more people came in for a cold one or to shoot the breeze with friends. John was keeping busy getting orders ready and watching the crowd. He knew Ellen ran a tight ship and she didn't condone fighting or harassing other customers. He could tell the hunters that came in usually by their appearance and their hardened look. Most of them he didn't know since he quit associating with other hunters after Bill, Ellen's husband, died on a hunt with him. He kept under the radar and was friends with only a hand full of hunters.

"Let me have a beer," a gruff male voice demanded.

John looked up into the face of a hunter, but one he didn't know. He was African American, looked about his age and had an air of authority about him. This was the kind of hunters John avoided when he could. They were the ones who could get you killed on a hunt. He pulled a beer from the cooler, popped the top and sat it at the man's elbow.

"That'll be four dollars," John stated.

"Keep the change," the hunter said laying a five down on the bar. He took his beer and joined some others at a table not too far away from where John was working.

"Ellen, who's that man over there with the vest and cowboy hat on?" John asked when she came back behind the bar.

Ellen looked the way John nodded and frowned for a moment before it changed to one of dislike. "That's Gordon Walker. He's trouble, and someone you want to stay away from."

"Hunter."

"Yes, but he's not like most ones. I heard tell he goes mostly after vampires. Something about one taking his sister, but I'm not sure. Those that have worked with him, usually won't do it again. They say he's dangerous and not someone you want to cross."

"Good to know," John surmised. He wiped the bar and moved closer so he could hear their conversation. He dismissed most of it since it was about hunts, they had been on and comparing notes. He caught his breath when he heard the words demon and a war. John moved from behind the bar with a tray to gather up the empties from the tables around the hunters so he could hear better.

"Caught me a demon a while back who really got talkative after a little persuasion, you know what I mean," Gordon laughed as he recounted the story. "Say's there's a war coming and there's going to be humans fight alongside demons."

"Are you joshing me?" one of the other hunters questioned.

"No, and I know demons lie, but I think this one was telling me the truth. Seems some high-powered demon has infected kids somehow and gave them special powers. They're going to help lead an army of demons against humans. The bitch didn't know any names but gave me enough details that I've been trying to track them down."

"What are you going to do when you find these kids?"

"Take them out of course. They are just like the monsters we hunt and kill, and if it helps stop the war, it's all good."

"No shit! You could kill a kid?"

"Yeah, better to remove the pawns to get to the king," Gordon said. "We have to take all the advantages we can in this battle between us and the monsters."

John almost dropped his tray of empty bottles when he heard what Gordon was talking about. He moved back behind the bar as his mind whirled on what he should do. Should he call Dean and warn him? Would Walker be able to track Sam down? Maybe he should just take this bastard out and be done with him. He was pulled from his train of thought when someone asked for four beers. He looked up at one of the hunters Walker was sitting with and reached into the cooler to snag the beers. He took his money and turned away before the guy saw the look of anger and disgust on his face. Once the guy took the beers and left, John looked back over at the table as he sat down and handed out the beers.

After the beers were drunk, Walker got up to leave, bidding them goodbye and saying he was heading for a hunt in New Mexico. He ambled toward the front door and didn't notice John heading through the swinging doors to the back. He headed out the backdoor and around the building to watch Walker and see what kind of car he got in. John was happy to see him leave and to hear he was heading for New Mexico, that would put him half a country away from Sam at least.

John checked the time and didn't think it was too late to call Bobby. He would have him tell his boys about Walker and to be careful out there. With that decided, he headed back in to make the call and finish his shift. He found Ash at the kitchen table tapping away on his laptop and let him be knowing if he found anything, he would tell him. He grabbed his cell and dialed the older hunter's number listening to it ring.

"This better be good," a gruff, irate voice growled at him.

"Hey Bobby, it's John," he greeted him.

"Is something wrong?" Bobby asked.

"I'm at the Roadhouse and there was a hunter in by the name of Gordon Walker. Do you know him?"

"I've heard of him but never met the guy. Most of what I heard wasn't encouraging and not many wanted to work with him. But it seems he likes working alone anyway."

"Will you tell Dean he needs to be careful and to watch out for Sam. Walker is searching for special children and plans on killing them when he finds them."

"And how would he know anything about that?"

"He caught and tortured a demon. I don't think he knows Azazel is dead from the sound of it."

"Why don't you tell them yourself? You know you need to talk to them sometime."

"I know Bobby, just please tell them."

"Alright, but you gotta deal with this before there's no coming back and you've lost them for good."

"I will Bobby, just give me a little more time."

"I wouldn't wait too long John," Bobby said before hanging up.

John looked at his cell for a moment before putting it away and heading back out into the bar. He took his place behind the bar, but his mind was elsewhere as he thought about his sons.

"You okay John?" Ellen asked when he came back out.

"Yeah, just needed to make a call," John told her.

"If you ever need to talk about anything, I'd be happy to listen," she offered.

"I'm fine," he said. He knew she meant well but this was something that he wouldn't share with anyone for fear of the wrong people getting wind of it. John moved down the bar to wait on a customer, ending their conversation.

A/N: At least John is smart enough to call Bobby to warm Dean about Walker. It would not be good if he got wind of Sam. I know John is being a dumbass, but he'll come around soon. Thank you for coming along for the ride. Reviews do make my day. NC