A/N: Thanks for reading! The follows were greatly appreciated. L-U-N-A-654: Thank you for your wonderful review. I'm glad you liked it! I feel like I know these characters so well, and they almost seem to write themselves. Thank you for following. ncsupnatfan: I'm glad you enjoyed. Sorry for sweet Cassie getting hurt, it was necessary for plot reasons. Of course he will be back, but… Spoilers!
I do not own Supernatural or its characters.
Chapter 13
John finally located Bobby, sitting at the bar, beer in hand. He slid onto the stool next to his friend, "Hey, Bobby."
"John."
So, who was that?"
Bobby took another swig before looking at him, "Who was who?"
"That kid, the one that walked in during the speech."
"A hunter."
"He showed up the temperature lowered about ten degrees, Bobby. Who is he?"
Bobby's expression sobered and he sighed, "His name's Gordon Walker. He's seventeen, took up hunting a year ago after a thing got his sister, and, no, I'm not going into details. He's a nutcase, not much better than the things he hunts, and he has a track record of getting his partners killed."
John stared at him, "Wow. But, if he's so dangerous, why is he here?"
"I suspect he crashed the party. He's still here 'cause he's too damn dangerous to leave out loose."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, he wouldn't hesitate to sic the vamps on us himself behind our backs, if he wasn't in on this and wanted revenge."
"I feel like I'm in a western," John muttered.
"Welcome to the club."
"So, what are vampires like? Stock up on garlic and crosses and stakes?"
Bobby guffawed, "Not exactly…"
It had been three days, and the hunters were still staked out at the roadhouse, cleaning guns, making plans, and arguing. Daniel had spread some maps of the canyon area on the pool table and he and a group of others were crowded around them. One of them was gesturing angrily, "Daniel, what the hell is this? You want us to march into that?! That's suicide. They can hide up on the canyon walls and pick us off with guns before we could ever get close enouph to use our machetes. This is insane."
Daniel slammed an odd-looking round down on the table, "We'll use these. Like salt rounds, but filled with dead man's blood. Might not kill them, but it'll sure as hell slow them down."
The hunter picked it up, studying it carefully. He looked at Daniel, "You sure this works?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I've used it myself. They don't call me an expert for nothing." The man grumbled, before setting it back down and walking away, "Now, if that's everything, I would like to get down there before they decide to leave."
Dean sat, brow furrowed and his tongue sticking out a bit in concentration as he attempted to copy the letter in front of him. Sam sat nearby, playing with a stuffed bear and babbling happily. Dean looked up as he heard a car pull up outside. He knew that engine. He smiled. Daddy was back! He jumped up and ran towards the door, in his haste forgetting the toddler calling after him pleadingly. Sam toddled to the door just as it opened, frustrated at the boy who had made him walk the length of the church. Dean didn't notice, he was too busy staring at the door in anticipation, waiting for his idol to walk in. The door creaked open and Daddy walked in, his face a picture of horror. A quick glance revealed no visible wounds, and Dean could only wonder what had affected his father like this. He often came home in some degree of distress, but this… the expression on his face frightened the boy, and he whispered, "Daddy?"
John looked from one child to the other, as though just now seeing them, then sank to the floor and gathered them into his arms, tears welling in his eyes, "Yeah, Dean. It's me."
The hunt had started out well enouph. They had all driven from the Roadhouse to the coordinates Daniel had declared to be the vampires' hideout. It was a box canyon, similar to the one's used for showdowns in old westerns. John stared up at the entrance. He had a bad feeling about this.
He saw Daniel pull up out of the corner of his eye, then jump out of his truck and walk-run to collar Gordon, yelling at him for trying to drive ahead. Yeah, this was probably not going to go well.
Bobby walked up to him, "Well, waddya think? Is it like you pictured?"
"Not really. It's a lot…bigger, for one thing." It reminded him of his tour in Vietnam, actually, just dust and canyon walls instead of jungle. Probably about the same odds of survival, though. From what he understood, he had come in at the tail end of a very long war, and this was the final battle. Hopefully. If he had a dime for all the times he had heard rumors of a 'final battle' back in 'Nam, well, he probably wouldn't be living out of his car. So, who knew what would happen.
They made camp that night, and set watches. The last thing they needed was a surprise vamp attack. Most slept in their cars, machetes close at hand, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
John told Dean to load up the car, and went to greet Pastor Jim, "Thanks, Jim. That was really kind of you, looking after them like that."
"It wasn't any trouble. They're wonderful children. If you ever need someone to take care of them in the future, I want you to know I'd be glad to have them." Dean walked by, duffle in hand, then looked back at Pastor Jim. He dropped the duffle and ran over to throw his arms around the man. John spoke, "Dean, make sure you thank him for taking care of you. He didn't have to do that." Dean looked up, smiling, "Thank you." Pastor Jim smiled back at the child, "It's been a pleasure. Could I talk to your dad in private for a moment?"
"Sure." The boy went back to work, only shooting a cursory glance at the two adults. Jim sighed, turning to John and speaking in a low voice, "So, what happened?"
"Well, we went down there, found the vamps, and wiped them out. What else is there to say?"
"Any casualties?"
"Fair number." He paused, "I'm telling you, I hope I never see another vamp as long as I live. It was horrible. They're so…human."
Jim nodded, "I know. There's a reason I leave those hunts to others. Anyway, at least it's over. I'll see you John."
"Yep. Thanks again." He turned to the boy standing nearby, holding a baby, "You done packing the car?" The boy nodded, "Ok Dean, let's go." They walked out toward the car. Dean looked up at his father, "Daddy, where were you?"
John stared at his son, remembering the awful battle he had come from, "It doesn't matter, Dean. It's over now." Dean would never even have to know of the existence of vampires, for which he was extremely grateful.
