A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for not posting, I just moved into college and was busy with orientation. Thanks for reading! I cannot believe how much traffic this has gotten. 1,076 views and 320 visitors this month! You people are so amazing! Hundley: Thank you for your repeated reviews. I greatly appreciate continuous feedback. Well, Anna's questioning is definitely leading somewhere. As to where… I can't answer that. :) Cassie, of course, has a long journey ahead of him, just like all of our characters. In case you haven't noticed, I adore Bobby. He is the most amazing person ever, and I love him. I also know that in the series they had a bedroom at his house, so I thought maybe that started early on with furniture and what not being changed out as they got older. I also agree with you, he definitely has a soft spot for Dean. Not a favorite, exactly, just a soft spot. I'm glad you enjoyed. ncsupnatfan: What is this now, your… seventh review? I LOVE YOU! As I mentioned in my comment to Hundley, they had a room there in the series, which I have a headcanon that Bobby put together when he realized he was going to have these little lost boys around all the time. It's the sort of thing Bobby thinks of, understanding and noticing Dean's need for a home, for a room of his own that is more than a place to sleep, and acting on it. It kind of became canon for me when I saw Dean's reaction to the bunker, and having his own room there. As far as John, yep, absolutely. Thank you for understanding the point I was making. By the way, just warning you now, it gets a little rough in the next few chapters, so hold on tight.
I do not own Supernatural or its characters.
Chapter 17
"Hiya, Bobby!"
Bobby glared at the phone, "I thought I told you not to call me."
The voice was unfazed, "All charm as usual. Listen, I need a favor."
"Why the hell would I give you a favor? Eat dirt and die, Rufus, I have a gun and I'll use it."
The other hunter ignored him, "I need you to do some research. Empousa."
"What the hell are you doing hunting one of those? You in Greece? This call better not be collect."
"There are things called planes. She emigrated, Bobby. I'll tell you what else, she is on my ass, and she is pissed! I need help, pronto! Now get your ass out of that chair and tell me what to do!"
Bobby hung up and sighed, "Frigging idjit."
"Who was that?" Bobby looked down to see Dean staring up at him, "Nobody."
"Didn't sound like nobody."
"Hunter. Wanted some research."
"Can I help?"
Bobby watched him for a moment. Dean spoke, almost defensively, "I can read. Please?"
Seconds continued to tick by, Bobby sighed again, "Sure, whatever. Why not."
Dean grinned and ran to the nearest bookshelf, "So, what are we looking for?"
"Empousa, or Empousai if it's talking about more than one."
Dean sat some time later, struggling to read a hefty tome of lore. He read aloud, following his place with his finger, "The…Em-poo-sah-ee were thought to be… um… demons… and di- di-mi-gods by the… the… an…an- What's that word, Uncle Bobby?"
Bobby leaned over to look where the boy was pointing, "Ancient."
"What does it mean?"
"Uh, old, a long time ago."
"Then why don't they say that?"
Bobby returned his look, "I don't know. Keep reading, you're doing great."
"- the old, um… Greeks. They prey on young men, drinking their blood and eating their… what's 'flesh'?"
"Doesn't matter. How about we skip down. That thing say anything about how to kill them?"
"Uh…" He slowly read further, "Found it! The Em-poo-sah-ee will scream and run at the… sl-i-ght-est in...sult."
"Anything else?"
"There's a number, uh, 4."
"Okay, that's footnotes. Look at the bottom of the page. There should be numbers. Find the '4'"
"Um… There!"
"Good. Now read what it says next to it."
"For more in…in-for-ma-tion, see M.O.L. ar-chive."
"Balls!"
Dean looked at him, "What's 'archive', Uncle Bobby?"
"Bad news."
"What's 'M.O.L.', Uncle Bobby?"
"Where all the good lore is, apparently. It's shown up before in other books."
The phone rang. Bobby picked it up.
"You have that research yet, Bobby?!"
"Try insulting her."
"What?! This thing is trying to kill me Bobby! Stop joking around!"
"Just going with the lore. You don't like it, stuff it and get killed. See what I care."
"Fine." Rufus turned away from the phone, "Hey, bitch! Yo' momma's a sorry sack o' black smoke!" He spoke back into the phone, "Didn't work. Now she's really pissed. Got anything else?"
Bobby spoke to Dean, "Didn't that book say the Greeks thought they were demigods and demons?"
Dean found the section, "Uh, yeah."
"Hey, Rufus! Try, um, how about… sharp iron bar. Like a stake, but iron. And salt."
"Where am I supposed to find that?!"
"I don't know! Just find it!"
"Okay. This better work, Bobby." The line went to dial tone.
John stopped by a motel and requested a room. Apparently, he was going to be in the area awhile longer, and he didn't really want to sleep in his car like he often did on hunts. He unpacked into the room, noting the things that had been lost to the police that he would need to replace. He sat on the bed for a moment, just thinking, before picking up his journal to record the day's events. However he didn't get any further than the inside of the front cover, his gaze lingering on the 'HW' engraved in the corner. Rage rose within him. It was strange that such an old wound could ache so badly. Still, it did. The frustrations of the day combined with his anger and he jumped to his feet, suddenly hurling the journal across the room against the wall with all the force he could muster, "DAMMIT!"
He stood where he was, breathing heavily. He wasn't his father. That bastard might have abandoned him, but he would never, NEVER do that to his sons. He would find them. He would. He would find them, and they would be all right, and he would yell at Dean for making him worry. After he hugged them. He would never be Henry Winchester, leaving his son with only his usual cryptic, noninformative, "I'm going to work," and no explanation, to run around fulfilling his own selfish desires. He would find his sons, and he would protect them for the rest of his days.
Bobby was sitting in his study a few hours later, translating an ancient lore book and sipping a beer, when he heard yelling.
"Don't take that off! I'm warning you! Don't- Put your diaper back on! I mean it! You rotten little- get back here!"
Then he heard running. This was shortly followed by the sight of a very naked Sam. The toddler paused near Bobby's desk, staring at him wide-eyed. Dean's voice drifted in.
"Just wait 'til Daddy hears about this! Where are you?!"
Sam looked alarmed, before glancing around wildly and running off toward the kitchen. Dean walked into the study, "Have you seen Sammy? He's gone." Bobby pointed toward the kitchen. Dean stalked off in that direction.
"There you are!" Then proceeded the sound of more running, followed by a crash, then a triumphant yell from Dean and Sam screaming.
"Ow! That hurt! Don't bite me!"
Dean stalked past the study, a screaming, squirming Sam under his arm, fighting wildly, biting, kicking and throwing punches. The pair disappeared up the stairs.
Bobby took another swig from his beer.
"Idjits."
