Chapter 27

Serra

Finally. I've got a gun in my hand and we are out in the dark, hunting for things that go bump in the night. The motel near the bowling alley was about twenty minutes from Winchester Ranch and riding in the back of The Tank, I got myself hyped up for the night. I knew we weren't planning on making any kills tonight, but I wouldn't argue against it. Sam could almost sense my excitement and I grinned at him from my spot on the bench seat. Dean and Grace sat up front and talked amongst themselves as Dean drove down the highway.

The first time we drove by the motel, we slowed down long enough to count the cars in the parking lot and evaluate the set up of the motel. It had the typical skuzzy, by-the-hour motel feel to it, built in a U-shape and slightly overgrown and run-down. There were sixteen cars in the lot and most of the lights in the south half of the building were on. "You hear anything, Grace?" I asked, coming to the cab of The Tank and crouching behind the bench seat in the front.

My sister shook her head, "Nothing except the usual. Whores. Truckers. Homeless." She paused and closed her eyes. "I can't pick anything up that shouldn't be there, but I can't hear them anyway, so I'm really no help."

Dean got off the highway and wound his way back towards the back entrance to the motel. "I'm going to park in the back and we'll go check things out."

"All of us?" Sam said, "Seems unnecessary and risky."

I exchanged looks with my brother-in-law. He made a face and nodded. "Yay or nay, wife," he said, glancing at Grace.

"Recon," she reiterated slowly, turning and staring at me. "Only."

"Hey," I said, defensive. "I'm not gonna cause a scene."

"What's happening?" Sam asked, coming closer to the front of the cab.

I turned towards him and smiled. "Me and Dean are gonna go check things out."

Sam raised his eyebrows. "You. And Dean."

Grace laughed, obviously hearing his thoughts. "What?" I asked, looking from Sam to Grace. "You think I can't do recon?"

"That's not what I was thinking at all," he said, shrugging. "I've never not gone with Dean before. If I don't go, usually it's because I'm doing research or pissed at him. It's weird that you're going and not me."

I slid a full clip of silver into my gun and smiled, kissing him on the cheek. "Deal with it," I said, pushing the door open. "Come on, bro." I jumped out of the truck and put my guns back in my shoulder holsters and I pulled on my denim jacket.

Dean joined me on the other side of The Tank and smiled lightly at me. "This is a first, huh?"

"For sure. Try not to get me killed."

"I'd say the same to you, but I think you know it already," he put his gun in the waistband of his jeans and closed the door gently. "Hey, I forgot to tell you. Found your Wagoneer."

We trotted across the parking lot and stayed in the confines of the shadows. I glanced back at him, grinning, and I couldn't help but let a little excitement show. "No way! God," I whispered, following the edge of the building and slowing my pace as I came to the edge of the wall, "only took you four months."

"Hey," he whispered back. "I've been busy."

I rolled my eyes and giggled to myself. "Three kids is not an excuse."

We silenced our conversation as we came to our first window. I peeked into the exposed corner of window and shook my head, pointing farther on. The room was occupied by a very awkward couple in the beginning stages of intimacy. We moved silently towards the next room and I shook my head. The curtains were pulled all the way closed. There was no way I would be able to see anything, so I pointed to the next room.

Dean took the lead on this one, crouching low to creep under the window. This one had the curtains open about half way, light cutting through the darkness outside. I stayed out of the light and moved to the other side of the window. Dean leaned closer to the glass and glanced in very quickly and shook his head. We ventured farther along the edge of the motel's windows and the room on the corner was the first time we had any luck.

Very slowly, Dean checked the last window, light coming out onto the sidewalk where we crouched and he stared at me and pointed. I edged my way towards the glass and nodded, immediately bending low again, out of sight. We both held up three fingers, coming to the same count of people occupying the room. Apparently, the woman from the shop was the bleach blonde in the corner of the room. I gagged theatrically and shook my head at him.

He gestured back towards The Tank and we made our way around the corner of the motel, hiding the shadows as the window opened and a very large, very loud man stuck his head out, just as we rounded the corner of the motel. "You smell that, Cece?" he yelled, sniffing the air.

I threw myself against the wall and Dean did the same next to me, just out of view of the werewolf family. Out of desperation, I stared at my brother-in-law, willing him to hear my thoughts the same way Grace could. I mouthed, "Take them out."

He shook his head. "Recon," he mouthed back and I rolled my eyes. We paused to listen and I could hear more than three voices coming down the hall.

Dean pushed me into the bushes and we broke into a run, heading back to The Tank. I knew Grace was in the driver's seat already, starting the engine, just in case, and we hauled ass, jumping in and burning rubber out of the parking lot. Slamming the door and rolling into the middle of the floor of the way back, I pushed myself off of Dean's chest and grabbed Sammy's hand. He helped me into the seat as Dean climbed towards the cab to sit next to Grace.

"There are at least six," he began, turning back to Sammy and me in the back seat. "Three in one room and three in the other."

Sam leaned forward, listening interestedly. "A family of werewolves," he said, mystified. "Sounds a lot like Katie."

Dean made a face and nodded. "Yeah, and you remember how that ended."

"I don't," I said, wanting more details. Dean turned to me and told the story of the last werewolves that he and Sam ran into. We drove to a diner to finalize our plan of action over burgers and pie, then headed home, late into the night.

…

"They were here," Cade growled sniffing the air and walking along the wall where Dean and Serra had been only moments before. "Watching us. I just know it."

"What do they plan on doing?" Dylan asked, turning to his sister and putting his hands in his pockets. "With everyone here now, they can't possibly think that they're going to try and take us out."

Cecelia shook her head, setting her jaw in anger. "Of course they think they're going to take us out. It's what they did with Jeff and the rest of them all those years ago. It's why we're here. Vindication for the family."

"Let's not keep them waiting," Cade said, pacing back and forth across the room. "We should strike now, while they think they're still safe! Go after the kids. I'll bet you they're all together."

"Wait, wait, wait," Cecelia said. "We'll go in the next few days. Give them a false sense of security."

The eldest cousin stepped forward, out into the light, revealing his scarred face and dangerous eyes. He spoke then, his voice low and terrifying. "We'll move during the day, when they least expect it." Cecelia backed away from her cousin out of respect as he spoke. "The Alpha will be at home with the pups, unprepared for the attack. Cecelia can go after Alpha's mate and then the cousins will go for Beta and then her mate." He turned to Cecelia and spoke down to her, moving closer as he did so. "You'll get your revenge on the hunters. It's coming this week."

…

I knew that Grace was uneasy about our trip out to the werewolves' motel, but I felt better, knowing we had some information. There were at least six, which meant we could take them out easily if we were together. I kept a loaded pistol with me at all times and I knew Dean began his habit of keeping his Colt within range as well. Grace was on guard constantly, reaching out with her senses as much as she could, but still keeping a silver angel blade by her side at all times. We went back to work on Monday and as I dropped Levi off with my sister, I smiled reassuringly. "Everyone will be fine," I said, kissing Levi on his head. "See you later."

Grace nodded at me and smiled weakly. "I just still can't shake the feeling," she replied, "that we're gonna be caught with our panties down."

"No worries, sis," I said, sticking my hands in the pockets of my scrubs. "Stay locked down here. Hang out in the panic room if it makes you feel better, but everything will be fine."

She nodded and walked me to the door, Dean following closely behind. I glanced at the clock. "When are you supposed to open?"

Shaking his head, Dean kissed Grace goodbye and hugged Lib for the fourth time. "In about eight minutes," he responded, irritated. "I'm not gonna make it. I hope Doug is there."

"Are you going to start on the Wagoneer today?"

Dean nodded his head as he pushed me out the door. "Yeah, yeah. I know. I got it. There's a Buick that I haven't finished either. It's still up on the lift in my bay." He turned back to Grace and tried to smile. "Tell me again why we bought a body shop?"

She laughed and kissed him again and closed the door behind us as we walked down the steps together. Dean glanced back, checking to make sure everything still looked the way it should and we walked towards our respective cars. I hoofed it back across the field to get my purse and the keys to my truck. I tossed a cookie to Johnny as he ran out the dog door to see me off and I heard Dean start up the Impala and peel out down the highway. Backing up into the main road, I put my truck into gear and watched Johnny gallop back towards the Big House to keep Grace and the kids company while we were gone.