A/N: Finally, we're moving on to the hunt. I'm surprised at the number of hits this story is getting, its getting more reviews faster than any of my stories. So thanks guys! This is the best holiday gift I could ask for.
Chapter Four
Autumn stuck her pen in her hair and went to the bar to repeat the same boring order. Hunters had no imagination, they all ordered the same thing, if they were idle they got a beer, if they'd just come off a hunt that left them beaten to hell they ordered a shot of whiskey, if they wanted to get a buzz going to dull the noise made by their own personal Jiminy Cricket they started with beer would get tired of the time it took and move to Jack Daniel's. She sighed, how did Athena mange this day in and day out? Gus sat the four beers on the counter and eyed her.
"You okay, kid?"
"Just fine." she placed the bottles on her tray and took them to the table. She ignored the bad lines and returned to the bar to await the sound of an empty bottle or glass.
"I heard the baby Winchester got into it with the boss?" she nodded. "So who will blow first John or Jen?"
"All I know is if Red were still around Will never would have dreamt of fighting another hunter of nothing."
"Autumn, do you really think those boys are fighting over nothing?"
"Gussy, what else do they have to fight over?"
It took a week before not only the bruises had faded, but Marc had come up with a general location of Kate's nest. Once again he called a meeting in the Daemon's living room, Will and Sam had been kept as far apart as possible. Dean kept himself between on the couch while Marc laid his research out on the coffee table. Autumn sat on the armrest while Athena tried to lounge down in it.
"In December they were living in Journey, Oklahoma, that would be when they ran into your shape shifter. Apparently he snuck back in after they released him, to get you guys, and set some of their prisoners free. No one believed the story about vampires, but it made the papers." he indicated to the paper clippings. "It wasn't enough to make them leave the state."
"So, you know where they are?" Athena asked.
"I know what town they're in, yes. But I'm not telling unless you'll let me hunt with you." Marc haggled.
"Marc, you're a tracker." Will reminded.
"If you remember, bro, Athena and Autumn started in tracking."
"They started there because John, and Dad were afraid that a couple of Midwest rednecks would get their asses handed to them." Will argued.
"Down, Willy." Autumn stepped between the two. "Marc's been on hunts before, hell we took him with us several times. He's dealt with vampires before."
"They are his specialty." Athena added.
"We bring him with us." Dean said ending the discussion. "Now where are our ticks?"
March 25th, 2007, Shetland , Oklahoma
"Don't answer that."
Autumn pointed at the cell phone ringing on the bed. Dean picked it up and read the ID, for the fifth time already today Athena was calling. It was only eight thirty. They'd left Athena and Will back at the Resort, Sam and Marc were sharing a room next to Autumn and Dean's. They'd gotten in town just after midnight, bought two rooms and crashed. Now they were showering, and making plans for the day. It wasn't any different than most plans. They'd split up cover more ground and make a list tonight of the most logical places for vampires to be hiding.
"You're going to ignore your sister?" Dean grinned flopping onto their bed.
"Yes, I'm being very grown up. Don't get to comfortable, as soon as they're ready we're headed out."
"Sam's already ready."
"Then why are you still here?" she cocked her hips, thumbs hooked in her belt hoops.
"Don't get sassy with me, I was waiting on you to get out of the shower." he grabbed for her only to have her dance out of his reach.
"No. No. No." she wagged a finger at him. "You have to do your work before you get to play."
"Who told you that?"
"Don't matter to said it, it's true." she pressed herself into the wall creeping out away from him as he stood rolling his eyes.
"Fine, I'll go get Sam and start questioning the towns people. You and Cap'n Weirdo going to the find out what this place has to offer in abandoned property?"
"Of course, I don't think the locals would like it much if he licked them." she chuckled.
"Definitely a deal breaker." he grabbed his wallet stuffing it in his back pocket and headed out the door.
Back at the Resort, same day
"Don't touch that." Athena swung her crutch at Will, who was trying to work the puzzle still lying on the table.
"The point of puzzles is to put them together, not leave them sit collecting dust."
"Sam and I are working it, just leave it be." Will put his hands up in mock surrender.
"Fine. So, what are we going to do for fun?" he bounced his brow suggestively.
"I've seriously got to get new friends." Athena muttered washing a hand over her face.
"We used to have so much fun in the cabin when your sister was away. What happened?"
"Dude, you left me because you were being stalked by an evil blankie, you didn't say anything, didn't try and contact me. Then to top it all of after almost two years you leave my sister a letter asking for help." Athena summed up the larger part of what had gone wrong.
"You're forgetting the part about dropping the marriage bomb on you in a stingy motel in the middle of nowhere."
"Will, if you knew the answer why ask the question?" Athena asked in a bored tone.
"Let's go to the bar, or we can get a few of those research projects your doing out of the way. Maybe look some stuff up on that demon the Winchesters are after."
"Or you could leave me alone. I'm a big girl I can take care of myself, you know."
"That leg begs to differ, sweet heart." he nodded toward her plaster encased leg.
"This proves it. I was injured while on duty, taking out a shape shifter who was endangering the life of one of the best physicians we have." she forced herself out of her chair. "This is a minor sacrifice compared to what we could have lost if I hadn't gotten myself kidnapped."
"You're saying you did that on purpose?"
"I'm saying that I can take care of myself, and you were only left behind because you and Sammy can't get along." she started picking her way to the door, avoiding the throw rugs. "Your not making an hourly wage babysitting me."
"I can't believe this." he followed her. "You think I want to baby-sit? I just want to spend a little time with my best girl."
"Will, isn't there some supernatural groupie in the bar you could feed that line to?"
"Haha, Teenie. You want to tell me who pissed in your Wheaties this morning?"
"Same person who put a bee in my bonnet." she got the door open and couldn't have been happier to see Duck was near by. She flagged him over to help her down the stairs. "Duck, Will wants someone to shoot with, but I can't balance properly, do you think you could show him what real hunters are made outta?" Duck grinned a near toothless grin.
"Sure, miss Athena. I'd love to get the little Raining Cloud out of your hair."
As soon as he was sure she had her footing he grabbed hold of Will and started dragging him off toward the training field. Athena laughed to herself as she hopped her way to the library. Will was right, she needed to get a few research projects out of the way. She was just finishing up the research needed for a routine salt 'n' burn when a hand on her shoulder made her jump.
"Did you eat yet?" Jen asked a smirk tingeing her lips. Athena shook her head and clicked print on the computer's screen.
"No, I was too busy trying to rid myself of your baby brother." she answered.
"Keep a spray bottle of water on you, works wonders." Jen joked.
"Shoot him like a cat?" Jen shrugged with an amused look on her pretty face. "I've got this one wrapped up." Athena nodded at the computer. "It makes six cases this week."
"How far you going with these?"
"Back as far as I can trace, and up to date as it gets. By the time you hand them out the guy'll just have to head to the town and pick up the local paper."
"You haven't been sleeping, since they left."
"I'm fine, Jenny." Athena was ready to slip into defense as soon a just cause showed itself.
"Why don't you bunk here in the big house? It'll be easier for you to get around, and if you can't sleep you can always come down here and work or go sit in the bar. You won't have to be alone." Jen offered, a nearly unheard of deal.
"Will you talk to Will, make sure he knows he's not my keeper?" Athena asked letting Jen know she'd consider it.
"I'll talk to Will, he's just trying to keep you company."
"I'm good, if I want his company I'll find him." Jen patted her shoulder leaning in closer.
"Sis, you've let the dog go but he's not going to leave your yard until you chase him away with a shotgun."
"Don't you have people to scar for life?" Athena shrugged off her friend. Jen chuckled before taking hold of her wheels and rolling out of the room.
"How would one get there?" Autumn laughed. "Normal people don't talk like that, Marc." They were leaving a diner they'd had lunch in and headed back to the city building. Marc had floored she by talking up a cute little waitress. He hadn't gotten much useful information out of her but, Autumn was sure Dean would commend him on getting the girl's number.
"Sure they do! I see it in the movies all the time." he answered her sounding like he should be on a playground.
"In the movies, Marc, what are you four? Just because something happens in the movies don't mean it happens in the real world."
"Stop ragging on me, Autty. It ain't like I get out much, besides movies beat the hell out of the real world." Autumn threw an arm around his shoulder, which was a feat since he was a head taller than she was, and steered him back toward down town.
"I rag because I love." she grinned.
"What do you do when you hate?"
"Usually, I fill your ass with rock salt." Marc laughed at her.
"I like the sounds of the property she was talking about. The locals already believing it was haunted, means you'll get a couple of naive kids out there, easy food, and it's already out of the way."
"Little farm house, big barns, recent activity." Autumn agreed. "But is it too good to be true?"
"Want to check out the haunting story?" Marc read her mind.
"I would rather not get a double whammy, yea."
A/N: I know I bounced a bit, but I like keeping you updated on what's going on with Athena, and hopefully the lines keep it a little straighter as to where the hell we are... I know I got lost on the reread of Shifting. ALSO, Katie and I have been making dolls whenever we get REALLY bored or I have writer's block. Most of the dolls are Autumn and Athena as we'll NEVER see (ie: wearin' next to nuthin' and willing to go in public like that.), but there are some, like Autumn's dress she wore to the meeting with her publisher, and what they wore to Thanksgiving dinner. Several of Athena in what she just wears everyday (these girls have a larger wardrobe than I do). But the point of bringing this up, is I wanted to know if ya'll would like to see them. If so I'll upload them into my photobucket and put a link on here for you. I could post a new doll with each chapter if you like, -shrugs- just puttin' out there.
Happy Holidays guys. I hope you have a great one, I mean that from the bottom of my heart, you guys have been so great to me with the reviews you deserve an awesome holdiday... I get all misty eyed when I read your reviews (well not misty eyed but my equal being I go into a writing frenzy after pacing my bedroom for a half hour)