The Way Home
Chapter 5
By: Montez

A/N: Boone is a character created by Ridley, he makes appearances in a few Brotherhood stories, so I thought I'd borrow him for a while. Kevin is an OC, I just thought since John stress's not hunting alone, any good hunter would have a partner.

Bobby had gotten a hold of a couple other hunters in the area and told them to meet him near the entrance of the rugged hiking area that John had gone to check out. So far Bobby's research wasn't turning up anything and he was starting to think the stories the kids around town were talking about were just that, stories. Pulling up to the parking area, his headlights shined across the Impala, parked alone in the small lot. Getting out and checking the car, which looked okay, he turned as another vehicle came into view. Bobby watched as Boone got out of the truck, followed by his hunting partner, a man named Kevin. Bobby was lucky that Boone was in the area since he was one of the best trackers the Brotherhood had, next to John.

Stepping toward their vehicle Bobby held out his hand, "Boone, Kevin thanks for getting here so fast."

Kevin just nodded as Boone shook Bobby's hand, then spoke, "What's going on, you said something about Winchester?"

Walking toward the back of the red-haired hunters truck, Bobby explained what he knew, "Jim called saying that they think Caleb had a vision about John, that he was hurt. John left my place about five hours ago, was gonna check on some rumors I'd picked up from some kids in town about something chasing them in the woods, but the more I look into it the more it looks like them just maken stuff up."

Boone stopped at the mention of Mac's son, most members of the Brotherhood knew of the boy's 'death visions', "What do you mean they think he had a vision?"

The older man slammed the tailgate after retrieving his and his partner's backpacks, flicking on their flashlights as they neared the woods. "Jim said that Caleb showed up on foot, hurt, they think he had a vision while he was driving, though I've been told the kid usually can tell when ones coming, so I'm not sure how he could have wrecked. Anyway, he mentioned something about a vision and John before he passed out, so Jim called and pretty much ordered me to get some people together and track John down."

Stopping at the edge of the woods each man took out their walkie-talkies, tuning to the same channel, "How do you want to do this?" Boone asked.

"I guess just see what we can find as far as a trail and hopefully we'll find him. Jim's gonna be heading this way if he doesn't hear from us once he knows Caleb's okay, he's suppose to page me before he leaves Louisville, I'll have to met him at the airport. I'll let you know when I leave with this," holding up the small black device in his hand up, "if we don't find John by daybreak, met back at my place and we'll call in more help." Bobby hated having to be in charge of something like this, but it was John and though the man could piss him off quicker than anyone, he wasn't about to lose the Knight on his watch.

oxoxoxoxoxox

Mac looked up as he heard the automatic doors open, standing when he saw Jim and the boys enter. The Pastor quickly making his way toward the Doctor, "How is he?" Mac glanced at Dean as the boy stopped right next to Jim, Sammy just a step behind. The fear on the older boys face told Mac just how much this ordeal was affecting everyone.

"They haven't told me anything yet, but he didn't regain consciousness on the way. Do we even know what the hell happened?" Mac's looked between Jim and Dean, hoping one of them could tell him something.

Jim motioned for them to sit; he took a seat next to Mac, while Dean and Sammy sat across from them. "We passed a police car about two miles from the farm, we stopped to see if maybe it had something to do with Caleb and it appears he did run his Jeep off the road, it was about twenty-yards off, a couple of trees stopped it. I told the officer that Caleb was already on his way here, they will probably want to talk to him once we know he's okay, I asked if they could have the Jeep towed back to my place, so that's taken care of."

Mac shook his head slightly, "I don't understand, if he had a vision while driving, he should have noticed the signs and had time to pull off."

"Maybe the fact it was possibly about Jonathon, made it different some how, it's a closer connection." Jim was grasping at straws; he never really understood how the boy's visions worked.

Looking at Dean and Sammy, Mac returned his gaze to Jim, "Do we know where John is?" Worry for his friend taking up residence with the worry for his son.

"Robert's getting some people together to start looking for him; he's supposed to be about ten miles from the salvage yard. I told him that once I know how Caleb is that I'd be heading out that way, unless they call saying they've found Jonathon." Jim answered as Dean's quiet voice spoke.

"I'm going with you." Jim and Mac looked at the teen, fear and worry clearly showing in his eyes.

"I don't think…" Jim started but was stopped when the older boy stood.

"You don't think what, that I should be helping to look for my Dad. I know what Caleb's visions mean, the more people we have out looking for Dad the better chances we have of finding him before…" Dean couldn't finish the sentence; he wouldn't allow himself to think about the possibility that his father could be dead.

"Dean please, understand…" Again Jim was interrupted by the teenager.

"Next to Dad, I'm the best tracker you've got, he's taught me everything he knows, who better to try and find him then me?" The Pastor's response was cut off by the arrival of a doctor.

"Family of Caleb Reaves."

oxoxoxoxoxox

That annoying tapping was back as John again struggled to open his eyes, at first he thought he was blind with the darkness that had settled around him, but soon a small light came on to his right. "You back with me?" Caleb's quiet, worried voice asked.

"Barely…" John responded as he tried to draw in a shallow breath, the painful hitch in his side reminding him of the broken ribs.

"That's something." Caleb shifted slightly, hoping to not jar John's shoulder. "We need to get moving, you can't wait for someone to find you." Leaning John against the tree stump he'd been leaning against, Caleb maneuvered out from behind his mentor and started collecting the scattered items from the small duffle.

"How'd you get here?" John watched his protégé move around, flashlight held between his teeth. His mind still not clear on what happened.

Caleb's tired eyes looked at John, "A vision."

John knew Caleb's visions were never good news, but the thought of the boy getting to him before anyone else confused the older man, he'd thought that Caleb was driving to Jim's from New York. "How'd you get here? You were headed to Jim's."

Shrugging his shoulders slightly he slung the duffle up on one, then knelt back next to John, "Nobody else was gonna be able to reach you in time." The fear John saw in Caleb's eyes told him the kid was right. "Now let's see if your legs can hold you, I'm so not carrying your sorry ass out of here." There was only the faintest hint of Caleb's normal smirk as he reached toward his friend, taking his right arm attempting to pull the injured man up.

John gave a low groan as his left shoulder screamed out, as did the ribs when he shifted. Once Caleb got Winchester to his feet, the Psychic helped John sit on the stump a minute to catch his breath as another coughing spell nearly sent the man back to the ground. "That cough doesn't sound too good."

Finally dragging in a ragged breath, John's pain-filled eyes met golden ones, "I'm fine, damn cold."

After another minute Caleb reached down, getting John to his feet again, raising the hurt man's right arm up over his shoulder then hooking his hand in the man's belt loop to try and avoid putting any more pressure on his broken ribs. "Keep telling yourself that Johnny and we just might get you out of this mess."

After taking a few steps John's weak voice spoke, "How do you know where you're going?" John didn't normally doubt Caleb, but the kid hadn't ever been in these woods before and it was nearly pitch black.

Shifting under the older man's weight Caleb answered, "I was trained by the best damn tracker I know, you could drop me into the middle of the damn rainforest and I could find my way back." Caleb could sense that John was scared though the man would die before he would admit it. "Do you trust me Johnny?"

The words hung in the air, Caleb trusted John with his life, but the older hunter was known for having a hard time allowing others to take the lead, for trusting others. John tried to straighten some, hating that the younger man seemed to be carrying so much of his weight, but the kid's presence alone gave John the hope he needed that he'd get out of this just fine, "With my life Junior…with my life." The sincerity of those words settled between the two men as they pressed on into the darkness.

A/N: Thanks so far for the reviews and alerts, I'll try to reply as soon as I can, but I really appreciate it that you guys like my story and take the time for it. I'm struggling with the final few chapters of this story, so keep your fingers crossed that I can figure something out that's a worthy ending to it. Thanks again-Montez