(Disclaimer: Don't own anything. The story is mine though)

Battle Weary.

Chapter Eighteen.

There comes a time when we all must face our demons. Face them and defeat them if we are to survive. For Dean Winchester, his demons were not the metaphorical kind, they were the literal kind. He was going into a battle that would decide the fate of not only himself but his brother as well. What he didn't realise that fate of many others was held in his hands as well…or rather their fate was held in his swords. He was as prepared as he was ever going to be and although, on the outside, he was a picture of studied calm and determination; on the inside, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Fear.

The fear wasn't for himself. It seldom was. The fear was for the one person he loved more than anything. Sam. He had a decision to make…his life for Sam's. But as is with all life-altering decisions it was never that simple. If he died they got Sam, if he lived they got Sam. Where was the decision in that? All he knew was that he had to do the thing he was trained to do. Kill demons. He would have to trust that Zeke would do what he said he could. Save Sam's soul. He would gladly go to Hell if Sam was spared. He hoped Zeke understood that. He looked at his watch, it was time to go. He walked back into the cabin to say his goodbyes.

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Jay and Gus were talking quietly in the kitchen, he looked over at them, Jay nodded at him and went back to talking with Gus. He looked over as Sam walked out of the bathroom and he smiled at his younger brother.

Sam grinned "You about ready, dude?"

Dean nodded "Just about"

Jay and Gus walked over to them and the four of them stood together, the awkward silence seeming to stretch for an eternity.

Gus grinned "Well then, Dean. Time to go kick some demon ass, son" he shook his hand and gave him one of those awkward man-hugs "You make sure you take their heads off, they won't get up from that"

Dean grinned "It'll be my pleasure, Gus"

Jay smiled at him "Remember, we race the cars when you get back. When I win, I get to stab you in the arse…a lot"

He laughed "You're on" he grinned at her "Now give me a kiss!"

Jay rolled her eyes "Just go will ya"

"Awww, come on" he grinned again 'You know you want to"

Jay laughed "You're an idiot"

He laughed at her then hugged her, whispering in her ear "Tell him I'm sorry"

"I will" she whispered back.

They stepped apart and looked at Sam, he was grinning at them.

"So where's my hug?" he said with a laugh.

"Here, Sam" said Gus and he went quickly behind Sam, putting him in a chokehold.

Dean looked at his brother sadly, turned and walked out. Not looking back.

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Sam woke slowly, a groan escaping him. He tried to move. He couldn't. He looked down at himself, his arms were bound by the wrists behind the chair in which he was sitting and each ankle was strapped to the leg of the chair. He looked towards the kitchen, Jay and Gus were watching him.

"YOU ASSHOLES! UNTIE ME!" he yelled.

Gus shook his head "Sorry, Sam. I told you you weren't going anywhere near this battle and I meant it"

"NO! YOU HAVE TO LET ME GO!" he struggled against the ropes that bound him. He looked at Jay "How long has he been gone? Tell me! TELL ME!"

Jay looked at her watch "He left about a half hour ago, Sam"

"Jay, listen to me….you have to let me go. I'm the only one that can help him"

She shook her head "Sorry, Sam. I told Dean I'd keep you here til he got back"

"BITCH! YOU'VE KILLED HIM AND YOU'VE KILLED ME!" the ropes digging painfully into his wrists and ankles as he continued to struggle.

"Shit. I can't watch this, Gus. Let's go get the Impala, okay? Surprise Dean" she said.

"I thought you were gonna race him back here" said Gus surprised.

She laughed "Did you really think I was gonna let him drive my baby? Come on." she stood up "I've already put spares in the back of my car. We should be able to do this and be back in an hour tops" she grinned at him "Even with your fucked-up leg"

"LET ME GO!" yelled Sam.

They stood up, ignoring him as they walked to the front door. Jay stopped at the door and turned back to Sam "Dean said to tell you he's sorry, Sam. He just wants to protect you is all" and she followed Gus out the door, trying to ignore the yells and screams that followed her.

She got into the drivers seat as Gus settled himself awkwardly into the passengers side.

"Shit. I left the Impala's keys inside. Back in a sec" she got out and jogged back inside.

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She opened the door to a scream of obscenities. She walked towards him, glancing quickly back at her car.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH! I'M COMING FOR YOU! WHEN THIS IS OVER! I'M COMING FOR YOU!"

'Whatever you say, Sam" and she went behind him and cut through the ropes "Keep yelling at me, okay?"

"What?" said a confused Sam.

"Just keep fucking yelling okay?" and she moved in front of him and cut the ropes from his ankles as he yelled at her, calling her names. She looked up at him "Wait five minutes then go out the back door. You should be able to make it to the battleground in ten minutes if you run"

"But…" he asked

She smiled "Like I'd let Dean do to you what Zeke did to me. They don't understand, Sam. You go and you do what you need to save the both of you" she stood and kissed his cheek "And you tell anyone I did that and I'll kick your arse" she grinned "Now yell at me some more as I leave"

"Thank you, Jay" he said earnestly.

"Aaah geez, just yell at me will you? That's what I'm used to" and she reached into her pocket, taking out the Impala's keys, turned and walked out the door as Sam yelled abuse at her.

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Gus was starting to get out of her car when she came out. She raised the keys in her hand and grinned "Got 'em" and Gus settled himself back into the car as she jogged down the porch steps. She got into her car, revved the engine and drove out of the property. As she turned into the tree-line, she glanced into the rear-view and saw the retreating figure of Sam, running towards his fate. She smiled to herself, good luck to him. She hoped he knew what he was doing.

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Dean drove the Firebird onto the property his father had bought twenty years ago…bought knowing his sons would battle for their lives and souls here. His swords were on the seat next to him, sharpened to perfection, his daggers in his boots, also at the ready. Metallica was blasting from the stereo as he entered the battlefield. His thoughts turned to Sammy. He knew Sam would never forgive him for this but he would not let him be a part of it… and if he lost, he would not let Sam see him die.

He put the Firebird in park, grabbed his swords and exited the car. He put the swords over his back, sat on the hood of the car and waited, his fingers drumming to the beat of his favourite song.

They arrived five minutes later. He heard the 'sonic-boom' and then they were there, seeming to shimmer into existence in front of his eyes. He leaned back against the windshield of the car and smiled at them. "What took you so long, boys? Lose your way?" he laughed "That time-travelling during demon-peak-hour must be a bitch"

They glared at him.

Dean cocked his head "Hey. you don't have problems like they did in the movie 'The Fly' do you? You know, coming back home and having …say…your teeny-tiny dicks stuck to your foreheads?" he laughed.

"Asshole" said one of the demons.

Dean grinned "Dickhead" he sat up, slipped off the car and turned the engine off. He walked towards them "Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I count ten of you" he smiled "You wouldn't be cheating would you?" he saw the one called Lothar flinch a little when he said that. Interesting. He tucked that piece of info away for later. "Although I can understand you thinking you'd need more demons to kill me" he grinned "'Cause I kick ass"

A demon stepped forward "You fight only eight. We are 'The Watchers', we ensure the rules are followed" he sneered "And we will take you and your brother when this is over"

"Yeah, keep livin' the dream" he laughed at the phrase, Jay's phrase.

"Your brother is not here' said The Watcher.

"Wow, nothing gets past you does it?" he laughed at the fury he saw in the demons eyes "No, he's off having one of those total-makeovers…wants to look nice for when I kill you assholes"

The Watcher glared at Dean "It doesn't matter where he is. We own his soul" he grinned nastily at Dean "thanks to you. And we'll find him. We'll kill the old man and then you'll tell us where the woman is"

Dean's mind ticked over, they knew about Gus but not about Jay. How was that possible? "What woman? What the fuck are you talking about?" he laughed "Look, if you want me to hook you up, I gotta tell ya, I don't do demon chicks" he paused "Although, there was this one chick in Tampa…yeah, she coulda been" he shuddered.

The Watchers stared at him "The time draws near. You fight one at a time" he grinned "well you'll fight one. You won't last long Dean Winchester"

Dean stepped forward "Tell me that when I'm driving my sword through your boys' necks"

The Watcher grinned "Lets begin"

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AJ drove in silence, glancing occasionally at Gus as Metallica filled the car. She turned off the property, onto the road and pushed her foot to the floor. The Chevy leapt forward, her engine roaring, she smiled as the car rumbled beneath her. She loved this car. She looked at her watch.

"Dean should be fighting right about now" Gus grunted "Sam's never gonna forgive us"

"He'll get over it" said Gus.

They were silent for a while, both lost in their own thoughts.

"So how long have you been on the wagon, Gus?"

"Don't you mean off?" he asked.

She laughed "On…off…I always get confused as to which it is. And those twelve-step programs can be a real bitch…or so I've heard. Load of crap, I reckon. Drink, pills…whatever gets you through the night right? Whatever keeps the demons at bay"

He nodded and turned slowly towards her "You're smarter than I thought, Jay"

She laughed "Nah, I just read a lot"

He smiled "And snoop"

She grinned "That too" she looked up "There it is" and she pulled her car in front of the Impala "Okay, get your disabled arse out of the car and help me"

He laughed "You do grown on people"

She laughed "Shhh, don't tell anyone"

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Sam ran. Ran faster than he'd ever run in his life. He didn't feel the ache in his muscles, he didn't feel the painful scratches he received to his face and arms as he charged through the scrubland towards his brother. He didn't feel the burning in his lungs or the sweat that stung his eyes, all he knew was he had to get to his brother.

He broke through the scrub and raced towards the property, he stumbled, fell and was on his feet in a second, not registering his broken finger. He ran down a gully, jumping across a small stream before charging up the other side. He looked over and saw Dean fighting, two demons dead at his feet. He vaulted the fence that surrounded the field and ran towards his brother.

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Jay sat behind the wheel of the Impala…well Dean wasn't gonna drive her car but she sure as shit was gonna drive his. And damn if she wasn't a beautiful car to drive as well. She couldn't believe he still had a tape deck in it though. She pushed her foot to the floor and followed Gus back to the property. She checked the gun at the small of her back as they turned onto the property. Now things were going to get interesting. You see, Gus, Dean and Sam didn't know what it was she did. She wasn't a hunter, not by their standards anyway. There were only a few of her kind around. And not many knew about them either. That was the way it had to be or else what she and the others did would be put at risk.

She pulled up in front of the cabin, parking the Impala next to her own car. She got out and followed Gus up the stairs. She pulled the gun from the small of her back as he opened the door. He stopped when he saw the empty chair.

"What the fuck?"

Jay pistol-whipped him, knocking him out before he could say anything else.

She sighed and dragged the unconscious man into the house

To be continued…..