Chapter Text Disclaimer - I don't own Buffy or her friends, or the Winchesters and their respective world. - They belong to their respective owners.

Sam and Missouri collected the breakfast things and started on the washing up as the other two finished their coffee.

As he passed the half-finished bowl of oatmeal to the woman, Sam couldn't help but smile.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" she asked knowingly.

"No ma'am," he automatically replied, before taking in what she actually had asked, "What do you mean?"

"It's alright to admit it that you like having your family together again, even if it is like this," she replied, in a warm comforting tone.

"I'm just happy we're all going to be okay."

"It's alright child, everybody's safe at the moment."

He put down the dishtowel, "It's just that this is the closest thing to normal that we've had in a long time. Things with Dad and me are going okay. As for Dean, I think he needs a break from things; you know our lives. I don't think he's over what that thing did to him."

"He's strong and stubborn just like both you and your father."

Sam looked at her, "That's the problem; he doesn't know how to let anyone in."

"Give him, and yourself, time."

She turned her attention to the bowl in her hands, looking at the remnants of Dean's breakfast.

"Did your brother just try to eat the contents of my sugar bowl?"

Sam peered over her shoulder, "He gave it a go."

In England, Willow began to chant, waving the smoking sage over the map in front of her and taking her best friend's hand, picked up the knife and sliced into Buffy's flesh.

"Owwww- sorry Will," Buffy said, before sticking her bleeding thumb in her mouth.

But, the focus of the Wiccan continued uninterrupted, muttering words under her breath. A small glow began to appear on the town of Lawrence, Kansas causing Buffy to announce in a solid resolute voice.

"Dad isn't Dad then."

The lights in back room began to flicker and rattle. John jumped up as quickly as he could, followed by his son.

"What was that?" Sam asked, as he came rushing into the room. "You think they've found us?"

"I don't know," replied his father. "Boys, windows and doors!"

"Yes sir!" they replied.

"I don't know what that was, but I'm not sensing anything lingering," said Missouri, as she entered the room.

"I'm not taking any chances. We'll be gone today," John told his old friend.

"No you will not John Winchester - you sit your stubborn obtuse ass back down there, you hear me!"

He stood for a second unsure what to do next.

She turned to return to the kitchen, continuing her train of thought aloud, "Gone today I ask you - can't hardly walk five feet without his stick, let alone the other one - three of them spooking so easily." She looked over her shoulder, "If something dangerous comes into my house I will tell you! So you just sit there and finish your coffee!"

Dean, even though he could barely hide his amusement at the dressing down that his father had just received, stood there waiting for the next order.

"I'll just," John proceeded to sit back down.

Dean looked at his Dad, "Good move Dad."

"OK we have a town. What about an address or possibly a name?" asked Xander, as he put the map he'd printed out, down in front of her.

"Give her a minute," said Dawn.

Willow began to chant again as the sage continued to burn.

The backlight began to start flickering, as Sam began to place the salt ring around the back door - he felt a presence behind him. He turned fully ready to strike.

"Dude! Chill it's just me."

"Jesus Dean, you scared the crap out of me."

Dean pushed his brother playfully, "Scared the crap out of you? What about me, you freak!"

"Sam those lines?" inquired John, who had joined them in the kitchen.

Sam straightened, "Almost finished sir."

"Hurry up," he turned his attention to his oldest, "Dean?"

"Done - should hold."

Sam began to rub his head, trying to focus through the fog that had descended as he was attempting to finish the line at the doorway - he felt heavy; he felt his legs started to go from under him.

"Dean? Dad!"

Dean turned to his brother, "Sammy?"

Dean grabbed his brother as he started to fall, though he was barely able to move him over to one of the kitchen stools.

"Sammy - can you hear me?" he asked, as he squatted in front of his brother.

Sam looked at his brother and his dad; but there was something else was there, powerful but not evil, something searching. Then the haze started to lift and Sam blinked, able to focus again.

"Yeah, yeah I think I'm good."

His brother looked up at his father before turning back to Sam.

"You sure you're with us?" Dean asked, his eyes full of concern.

Sam nodded, continuing to blink for a few seconds, "I'm okay - I'm here bro."

Willow broke out of her trance and began to breathe heavily, "Winchester, John Winchester."

"You okay Willow?" asked Xander.

"Yes."

"You saw him?" Buffy asked.

Willow replied, "Yes. He was with two others, possibly three."

"Xander, glass of water," Giles looked at the younger man, who responded by getting refreshment for his friend.

"And?" Buffy inquired.

Will continued, "He looks okay - human and seems sad, so does your brother."

"Brother?"

Willow nodded, "Well at least one of them was. I'm not sure of the other one."

"We have brothers?" said the slightly surprised Dawn, "How old?"

Willow, took the glass of water from Xander, "Passed through one of them Sammy I think - couldn't see what he or she looked like. As for ages, the one I saw was grown up. Looked like they'd been through a lot."

"What do you mean?" asked Giles.

"The older guy was limping, looked like he had a cast on his leg and the younger one couldn't hold me - I mean Sammy, when I passed through," she explained.

"Hold you?" asked Giles

"Yes." answered Willow, "That was the thing, Sam felt me when I was there."

"Your presence was felt?" the Englishman asked.

Willow nodded, "Yes. Sammy almost passed out."

"This could be serious," he stated.

Dawn looked from Willow to Giles, "How?"

"You may have a sibling who is able to sense forces on the preternatural plane. But not a slayer though, Willow?"

Willow shook her head, "No. Definitely not a slayer."

"And this is a bad thing?" asked Xander.

"I'm not sure," replied Giles.

"Not sure?" said Buffy, questioning her watcher, "You know we don't like, the not sures!"

"A lot of slayer family histories were lost when the council was destroyed. We only have the recollections of those still standing," explained Giles.

"So?" asked Buffy.

Giles continued, "To be honest we haven't had the time to concentrate on that aspect of slayer life over the past few years. Robin and Dawn are the only two examples we have, of what the long-term effects of having a slayer in the family can mean, both passively and genetically. So if you do have a family member, even one you have never met, that can sense the psychic plane."

"I'll book the plane tickets," interjected Xander.

"Huh?" Buffy looked confused.

"Sorry Buff, I think the whole idea of letting you come to terms with this in your own time has just gone out the window," said Xander, as he patted her on the shoulder.

"Great, so I get to meet this guy whether I want to or not?" said the exasperated Buffy.

Xander looked at her, "Well you could stay here."

Buffy looked at Xander, who had turned to Giles.

"So, three or four tickets?"

"Four?" asked Willow, slightly hurt.

Xander looked at her, "Well you're not going."

"I'm the only one who knows what he looks like," responded Willow.

Xander shook his head, "You are not going - you are going on your honeymoon Missy and there is no getting out of it!"

"Willow, Xander is right. You and Kennedy should be having some down time," said Giles.

"So G-man, you coming or not?" asked Xander.

Buffy looked at Giles, to which he responded, "I'll be here if you need me."

She smiled at him, "Thanks."

"You sure it wasn't a demon."

"Nothing demonic came into this house John," said the woman, as she passed the box of pills and the glass of water to Sam.

"It wasn't evil Dad. I'm sure of that - it was just searching," said Sam as he opened the box.

"Any other feelings about it?" asked Dean.

Sam looked at his brother, causing Dean to respond, "Dude I'm just asking."

Sam looked back to his father and Missouri, "It had a personality behind it, but it wasn't hostile or angry, and I think it knew I could feel it then I..."

"Had your episode?" added Dean.

"Dean, let your brother speak," said John.

"It was weird, it just moved on, when it knew it was spotted - it was surprised. But there was something else," said Sam, not sure how to put what he had felt into words.

"Well what?" asked Missouri.

"It wasn't… it was an impression of relief, and I'm sure I heard something, like a voice in my head."

John looked at Sam, "What?"

Sam continued, "Yeah, before it left I could have sworn it said something."

John became more alert, "What did it say?"

Sam, though slightly confused, said, "It said, 'Could be worse.'"

"Okay strange, but it wasn't threatening right - that's good?" asked Dean.

"No it wasn't angry - I think it was just happy that you guys cared," explained Sam.

"So we have a possible spirit doing a random sneak and peak?" asked Dean.

"Possibly." said Sam.

"And it just so happened to come here?" said a skeptical John.

"Could just be a restless new spirit who is just looking for its family, and found you three instead," interjected Missouri.

John looked at her, "I don't like it."

Missouri looked at him, "You are in no shape to go looking for this thing John. Best thing you can do today is sit tight; let me and Sam let you know if anything is on its way."

"Missouri we might be better going, you know?" said the slightly solemn middle Winchester.

"Dean sweetheart, I've said this before, the three of you are welcome here and I know the risks," said the little psychic.

A few days later, the rental pulled into the local motel of Lawrence.

"So welcome to Kansas!" announced Xander.

Buffy stretched as Dawn continued to snooze in the back.

"You know we should have a dog - this would be better if we had a Toto," said Xander.

"You are getting way too much into the Wizard of Oz analogy," said the tired passenger sitting beside him.

"Always could relate to the lion."

Buffy looked at him, "I thought you were more of the scarecrow."

"Oh that's cold. Anyway Return to Oz was much scarier," he replied.

She looked at him slightly confused, "Huh?"

"The rollers terrified me."

"Yeah, sure Xander," she was too tired to continue with this. "Look you sort out the rooms and I'll wake sleeping beauty."

"You want me to get the bags?" he asked.

"If you don't mind."

He closed the car door, "Then we'll get some food and take things from there."

"Can we get a room first?"

He walked round the back of the car and took the bags out of the trunk, "Okay - though you have no idea how many times I would have wished you have said that to me when we were younger."

"Xander!"

He smiled at his shocked friend, "Anyway I have to call Clem, let him know Andrew is on his way - God alone knows what state the house will be in."

"You getting domesticated in your old age?" asked Buffy.

"Excuse me for being house proud," he turned and flounced off in a mock girly way causing his best friend to laugh.

Sam paced up and down the corridor; he wished that they would hurry. It wasn't like that they were doing anything major, just taking off his Dad's cast; but, with the way that everyone had been acting the past couple of days - he'd be happier once his Dad was more mobile. Granted that he'd still probably need physio, but at least with the cast off the Winchesters could be described at half strength. Dean for all his bluster wouldn't last more than five minutes.

"Hey watch it!"

Sam turned to see the brunette brushing off the drink he had caused her to spill, "Sorry."

"Great!" She looked up at him, "It's okay!" she gritted her teeth, and thought to herself, "Just get away from the klutz and find the others."

This was the second medical centre they had visited, thanks to Willow's sighting of the cast on John's leg, but there were no Winchesters registered. However, Giles was digging for background information, so this was just something to do until Buffy finally plucked up the courage to go to the house.

"You're sure?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said, trying to tone down the frustration in her voice.

Sam looked for something a towel, cloth or anything to help. He saw a pile of bed sheets sitting next to the reception and grabbed a pillowcase to hand to her, which she used to dry herself.

"I'm really sorry about this. I wasn't paying attention."

"You think?" she said, "I'll live, but I'm drenched."

"If your top's ruined I … can pay for a new one?"

She looked at him for a second, "It's okay - I think I can save it."

"All right then, we'll see you next week for your therapy session," said the physio.

"I'm sure it'll be OK, I don't need…" John answered politely.

"It's really just an assessment to see what is needed. Keep up with the exercises we gave you today and we'll see how your leg is in a week."

John nodded in agreement taking the cane from the medic and as he walked out of the door he saw his youngest son talking to some girl in the corridor - he expected this from Dean but not from Sam.

"Son you ready?"

Sam turned to face his father, "Yes sir."

He turned back to the girl, "Again I am really sorry."

"Yeah you said; gotto go," she continued her way down the corridor as John walked over to Sam.

"You are getting as bad as your brother."

"What?" asked Sam, as John nodded towards the girl.

"No - I spilled her drink," Sam said in protest.

"Right," John started to hobble his way towards the exit.

Sam started down the corridor after him, "No Dad, seriously!"

Dawn entered the records room and handed the cup she had in her hand to her sister.

"Hey where's mine?" asked Xander.

"I'm wearing it. Bumped into an idiot in the hall; any luck?"

Buffy took a sip of her soda, "Nope no sign of any Winchesters, but it was just an idea."

Dawn bounced on the soles of her feet, "We could try the house that Willow saw?"

"Dawn, I want to know what we'd be walking into," said a frustrated Buffy.

"Buffy - I understand that, but if we have a psychically connected brother/sister/person and we just go and say hello, it probably won't cause the world to end."

Buffy and Xander just looked at her.

Dawn smiled, "Okay, I'll go by myself."

"No we'll both go, and we'll let you know what we find out," said Xander.

Dawn looked up at the house.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" asked Xander.

Dawn continued to look up the path, "No - but this has to be done,"

Xander thought for a second before offering, "I could just go?"

She shook her head, "No. This isn't just for her."

"I wasn't saying that it was,"

"The monks that made me, they made me from her blood - so this might make this guy my dad too, not just her's - right?"

Xander bit his lip for a second before answering, "I hoped you hadn't thought of that."

"Well I don't think Buffy has either. But, even if she sees this guy and he accepts he's got one daughter he didn't know about, what about the one that was formed to hide a magical ball of energy?"

Xander leaned back in his seat as Dawn got out of the car. He sighed - this was going to be a long day.

He pressed the doorbell to find the door opened by a small black woman.

"Hello. You come for a reading?"

Xander and Dawn looked at each other, and both in unison replied, "Yes."

"Come in please - don't be nervous, I'm Missouri."

"Xander and the midget is Dawn."

The little woman smiled at them, "Nice to meet you. If you give me a minute. I'll just straighten up and be back with you."

The two of them milled around in the hallway.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" asked Xander.

Dawn picked up one of the magazines that lay on the side table, "This is the address; but Will never said anything about a reader. Could she be the one Will was going on about?"

"No, she said Sammy, not Missouri. Anyway she said that there was parental concern and no offence she's is a little old be your sister."

The woman poked her round the doorway of the sitting room, "You can come in."

Xander made a face at Dawnie as he followed her into the side room.

Missouri turned round, "Excuse me young man, I expect a degree of cynicism but that was plain rude."

"You could sense that?" he said slightly, taken aback.

"Yes I could."

"I'm sorry. I'll be a little bit more considerate," he said, as Dawn smirked.

"Good - please sit," said Missouri as she sat down in one of the armchairs.

Dawn took a seat on the sofa, as Xander stood by the window and noting the line of salt and cats eye shells spread on the sill.

Missouri looked at Dawn, "Now, how can I help? Family troubles I think. Yes?"

"Yes," Dawn wasn't sure where to start, "I found out that my mom… well my sister."

"May have a different daddy than you thought and you're wondering if he'll accept her, accept both of you?"

"She's the only blood family I have," explained Dawn.

Missouri took Dawn's hand, "Oh honey, you don't have to worry."

Tears began to run down Dawn's face.

"Missouri we're back!" said a disembodied voice from the hall.

Sam put the keys in the bowl next to the stairs.

The little woman, begun to get out of her chair, "I'm sorry about this, I have some house guests,"

"If you're busy," sniffed Dawn, "We can come back."

Missouri replied, "Oh no - it's just some old friends, they're recuperating."

"Recuperating?" asked Xander.

"They were in a little accident and needed somewhere to rest up, if you give me a minute I'll be right back to you."

As she left them, Xander went over to the doorway, allowing him to hear the conversation better.

He could hear another man's voice from upstairs.

"Samuel Winchester you're in for it now. She's got customers!"

"Sorry Missouri if I'd known," said the first voice.

Xander nodded to Dawn, as he got out his wallet and left her to put on her jacket.

"It's OK ma'am. We'd best be going, here is some money for your time and really thanks for everything," said Xander, before he turned to face the other room, "Dawn?"

"Give me a minute," came Dawn's voice.

"I'm so sorry, please we didn't mean to interrupt," said Sam, but the man in front of him seemed determined to leave.

"No it's okay. As I said we'd best be off."

Dawn finished pulling her hair out of her collar, steeling herself to come face to face with the family that she had come looking for.

Sam looked confused as he saw the girl he'd met this morning, "You!"

"Oh it's you."

"You know each other?" asked Xander.

"I never got your name," said Sam.

Dawn turned to Xander, "Yeah, he's the reason I was wearing your soda this morning."

Sam felt a little unsure of himself, "As I said I'm really sorry about that, I'm Sam and you're … Dawn right?"

"Yes," She stood there not knowing what to do next.

"I'm Xander by the way."

Her companion stuck his hand in Sam's, while positioning himself between the men who had just arrived and the girl in a protective manner. This caused John, who had previously been standing next to the wall, to respond.

"I'm John, Sam's father and this is Dean."

Xander turned to see the third at the top of the stairs, but Dawn hadn't taken her eyes off the older man.

"Nice to meet you, but as I said we'd better be going."

"Yeah," Dawn responded, though she sounded as if she was in another planet.

"If you need anything child you just give me a call, here is my card," said Missouri to Dawn, as they headed towards the door.

After they were gone, Missouri stood for a few seconds, silently staring at the doorway at which her visitors had just left through.

"What the hell did you do to that girl Sammy?" asked Dean.

"I did nothing, I swear, and don't call me that. I bumped into her at the med centre - I spilled her drink that's all!"

"And that caused her boyfriend to go psycho?" continued his brother.

"It wasn't that," said Missouri in a distant tone.

"What then?" asked John, who at that point was becoming more aware of his leg.

Missouri continued, "Family, this is about family and they're looking for someone."

John sat down, glad to get the weight off, "Aren't they all?"

"She's scared for her sister."

"So this is nothing to do with Sam's flirting skills," Dean joked.

"She's come looking for her sister's daddy," she explained, turning to the man sitting in her hallway rubbing his aching leg.

Dean came further down the stairs to peer over the banister and as John looked up, he saw three sets of eyes on him.

"What?"

"Dad - have you got something to tell us?" asked Sam.

"Huh?"

Buffy paced round the room, "OK you met them?"

"Yes and you have two brothers - Dean and Sam." said Xander.

She stopped pacing for a second, "And?"

"Dark hair, eyes and walking with a cane - must have gotten the cast off," replied Xander, who was sitting at the end of the motel bed beside Dawn.

"Sam's tall and has similar colouring as his dad and Dean, a little lighter hair and a little shorter," added Dawn.

Xander continued, "Three of them have been in an accident and that's why they're here - or so the psychic said."

"But they are okay, right?" asked the concerned slayer, continuing to trudge around the room.

Dawn nodded, "They looked as it they were all in one piece,"

"But you didn't talk to them?" asked Buffy.

"No, not with the reader there and with the salt lines on the entry ways; thought it was best to get Dawn out of there."

"Probably right, what now?" she stopped pacing, facing them for a second, hoping to be told what to do.

Dawn looked at her sister, "Ball in your court."

"Right - I know," she said as she began to walk up and down.

Dean pulled up to the motel, he hated the old bucket but his baby at Bobby's and it would be a while before he was reunited with his car. The motel clerk was easy enough to get answers from - there were three of them two girls and one guy - gotten two rooms.

He wasn't sure how to approach this - the guy first - get through the bodyguard.

Dad had been no help, said to leave it alone. As long as he could remember, his Dad had kept quiet about that side of his social life, which had been fine when he and Sam had been kids. As he gotten older, he'd never really pressed his Dad on the subject - the guy had needs, right? Which he had just assumed. It was not a conversation he'd ever really wanted to have with him.

The girl had looked a couple of years younger than Sam, but Missouri had said sister so that was no help; but he had to know how they found them.

He knocked on the door.

"Give me a minute Buffy," came the response from inside.

"Buffy, who or what was Buffy?" thought Dean.

As the door opened, the same man he'd met this morning confronted Dean, but he was wearing an eye patch now. He looked relaxed, but still able to handle himself if necessary.

"Hey there, Xander isn't it?"

"Yeah…Dean," Xander said, as he continued to put on his jacket while closing the motel room behind him. "Anything I can do for you?"

"About earlier, Missouri was worried, about the way you left and you didn't wait for your change."

Xander nodded, "It's okay. Tell her and your family that I'm sorry. Dawn was upset and I wanted to get her out of there - away from a load of strangers."

"Fair enough dude, it's just that you spooked her and trust me that ain't easy to do. How's you friend doing?"

"She's fine. Look it's nothing personal, but I'm on my way out right now."

"Hearing you; I'll just," Dean turned to start back to the car.

The door to the next room opened and it was then he saw them. The girl from this morning and a pretty blonde.

"Xander you OK?" asked the blonde.

Xander looked at her, "Yeah this is…"

"Dean, Dean Winchester pleased to meet you," said Dean.

The shorter of the two girls walked over to him, she was older than the other one and something about her screamed attitude - could this woman be his sister?

She looked at him, "Hello Dean, you met Xander and Dawn this morning?"

"Yeah," he felt tense, as if he was being backed into a corner - he did not like it.

"I'm Buffy, Dawn's sister."

Xander looked at his friend and was surprised at what she just said. With a reader as good as the one at that house, and with what had been said - if this guy had half the brains of Buffy, he'd have put two and two together and that was why he was here.

"We are going for something to eat?" said Dawn hopefully.

"Dawn," came the curt response from her sister.

Dean took the hint, "It's okay … I gotta go now; besides they'll be sending out a search party out for me."

Dean turned to walk away but he stopped for a second and turned.

"Missouri said you're welcome at anytime, and we'll be there as well if you want to come?"

She looked at him he seemed sweet. She knew that this had to be checked out, but did she really want to pull him into her life? Dawn - sure, it was too late, but at this moment, these people weren't involved.

"Nice to know," she said.

"See you guys around?" asked Dean, as he stood in the parking lot.

"Maybe."

He nodded at her, "That would be good."

Dawn smiled at her sister, as they watched him walk back to the old station wagon.