Legend Killer Chapter 4

I've Got Some Bad News

Seth and John rode into the long valley from the south and saw the town in the distance, nestled in the gulch underneath the mountain with north-facing limestone cliffs. The air was heavy, the wind light and the sky was impossibly blue with not a single cloud in sight.

As they neared the town, they could already tell Helena was alive in a way Virginia City was not. The city was filled with the sounds of building and industry. There were plenty of people strolling by on business of their own. The town looked neat, like someone had just tidied up. The buildings were new, and there was very little trash and muck in the streets. The wide dirt streets were so crowded John and Seth had to walk their horses to avoid pedestrians and wagons. As they neared to main part of the town, where the gulch ran straight down the center, John stopped and asked for directions to the sheriff's office.

As he waited for John, Seth looked around and nearly fell off his horse when he recognized a sorrel horse with two white stockings standing hip-shot, hitched to a rail. He smothered a smile and scanned the area, trying to spot his friend. But there were so many people out and about he couldn't spot him. Then Cena called for Seth to follow and they leisurely made their way through the town and up the hill on the east side of the gulch.

They stopped in front of a large building made of gray stone overlooking the gulch. A freshly painted sign proclaimed the building as the 'Jail', as if it wasn't obvious from the bars on the windows. And yet, even in this rich, booming town there was a man was laying on the ground, shoulders propped against the building across from the jail, a bottle of rotgut in his hand and his hat pulled low over his face. It appeared Helena had its share of drunkards as well.

They dismounted, tied their horses to the rail and entered the building. After the warm sunshine, the interior of the jail was cool and dark. The solid gray stone walls were occasionally broken up by iron barred-windows. It was quiet in the jail as Seth and John entered. A deputy was sitting behind the desk in the entryway, reading a newspaper. He didn't bother to look up. "Can I help you?" he inquired, there was just a hint to condescension and impatience in his voice and Seth frowned.

Evidently Cena had caught that too. "We're here to see Sheriff Barrett," John said, tipping his hat back on his head. His voice brooked no argument.

The deputy looked at them, his eyes widening upon seeing Cena's and Seth's US Marshal badges. He hastily stood up and motioned for the pair to follow him into Wade's office. "Sheriff, there's some Marshals here to see you," he said, glancing at them nervously.

A dark-haired man sitting behind a desk looked up as they entered. He had a short beard and an arrogant smirk. His nose looked like someone had tried to flatten it in the past. "I'm Sheriff Wade Barrett. And who might you be?" he asked. He had a heavily English accent. And again, a superior tone.

"John Cena, US Marshal," John introduced himself. He gestured at Seth. "US Deputy Marshal Seth Rollins."

Barrett looked strangely delighted. "Ah! US Marshal Cena! It's good to have you here. What brings you to my territory?" The man grinned from ear to ear, like he was in on the world's biggest joke. He stood up and offered his hand to Cena. The man was surprisingly tall and lanky.

Barrett ignored Seth, which was fine with him. Seth tried to meld into the background so he could observe. He was getting a strange feeling about Barrett and his deputy, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. The 'my territory' comment seemed very egotistical, but Wade did win an election so maybe he was justifiably bragging. Nevertheless, Barrett had only spoken a few words but Seth already didn't like him.

"What can I do for you?" Barrett asked Cena after they shook and Barrett gestured for Cena to sit in the chair in front of the desk. There was more than a hint of 'why are you here?' in his question. Seth remained standing.

"We heard Randy Orton might be in the area. Judge Hunter sent us to track down and capture him," John said. Seth mentally perked up and made a note to ask John about the 'capture' phrase. Hunter had explicitly said 'kill'. Was John willing to go against his orders? Interesting.

Barrett's face took on a slightly uneasy expression. Looking over at his deputy, Barrett said, "Justin, get us something to drink. I'm sure these men could use it after having been on the road for a while." He waited for the deputy to leave, then turned back to Cena. "Ah, you heard about the ruckus at the saloon. I assure you Marshal Cena that I am taking it seriously. Three people were killed that night. My deputies are investigating it. There were plenty of eye-witnesses, but unfortunately most of them were drunk. So far no one reliable has named Randy Orton as the killer."

"What about the bartender?" John asked.

"He has been curiously reticent about divulging information," Barrett said, the superior tone in his voice coupled with his choice of words really made Seth want to beat his face it.

John made a show of raising his eyebrows at the impressive vocabulary Barrett had displayed. He responded with a smirk of his own. "Perhaps I can convince him to be more forthcoming with his account of the turn of events."

Barrett grinned again, not seeming to get Cena was mocking him. Seth smothered his own grin by scratching his scruffy beard.

Justin came back with a tea set, of all things. Wade poured some of the hot liquid for himself and Cena. He poured a cup for Seth who declined. Barrett frowned but didn't insist.

"This is the first lead on Orton in over a year," John pointed out. "We need to follow up on it."

Sheriff Barrett smiled again. It was almost...predatory. "I didn't say coming here was a waste of your time, only that so far we haven't been able to verify it was Orton in the saloon that night. If it was, then it doesn't follow his usual pattern."

"Orton doesn't have a pattern, except disappearing after he kills his targets," John countered. "Three people were killed in the saloon. How do you know it wasn't them he was targeting?"

"Because they confronted him, not the other way around. The witnesses say the killer was trying to avoid a confrontation, but he was provoked by one of the three he ended up killing. They say the victim tried to disarm him but the killer used a gunslinger's trick to turn the tables and shoot them. No, Marshal Cena, I believe if Randy Orton is still nearby, then his target it still walking around."

Barrett, at least, was well reasoned, Seth thought.

"If he is still here in Helena, we need to figure out who his target is. So far, they have been completely random, " John said, drinking his tea. "Do you have a list of witnesses? I would like to talk to them again," John said.

Barrett nodded and motioned for his deputy to get the list for John. While they waited, John finished his tea. The deputy came back and handed John a list of names and places where the witnesses could be found. After that, both Wade and John stood up and shook hands again. Barrett nodded to Seth, who nodded back, keeping his face neutral.

As they left the jail, John was quiet. Seth had learned John could talk a mile a minute when he got rolling. A quiet John was something new. Seth offered to take care of the horses and get them some rooms, just to get the conversation started, John only nodded in agreement. When Seth asked what John's next move was, he saw John's eyebrows draw together, like he was having a hard time focusing. John paused at his horse for a moment.

"Hey, you okay John?" Seth asked.

John shook his head as if to clear it, but grinned the same dimpled grin Seth had come to know over the past two days. "I'm fine, just a bit tired. I'm not used to being in the saddle for so long. I'll go talk to the bartender," John said, shaking his head. "Meet me at the boarding house in a couple of hours so we can plan our next move."

Taking John's horse by the reins, Seth watched John walk off down the street, feeling something wasn't right. His musings were abruptly interrupted when someone lurched into him. Startled, he recognized the drunk who had been sleeping by the building across the street. "Watch it!" he snapped.

"You shouldn't be hanging around the sheriff's office," the man slurred, his voice familiar. The man was hanging onto Seth's shoulder for balance. "He's bad news."

Shocked, Seth stared in delight at Dean, who put up a finger to his lips before Seth could say anything. Dean's eyes were clear and the color was back in his face. He looked much better than the last time Seth had seen him, he had been pale and weak, still dealing with the concussion from being shot in the head. Now he looked rested and alert. Whatever Dean and Roman had been doing in Helena, it definitely agreed with him.

"Meet me behind the livery," Dean muttered, swaying against Seth's shoulder, then pushing off and staggered away. People were giving him dirty looks as he brushed by them.

Not wanting to make it obvious he knew Dean, Seth waited a bit before he followed. Leading his and John's horses, he took his time and threaded through the heavy traffic on the dirt street. He found the livery easily enough after asking for directions. The proprietor met him and agreed to feed and care for the two horses. After removing their saddles and bridles, Seth turned the horses loose into the paddock to rest. Grabbing his and John's saddle bags, he slung them over his shoulders and walked around back of the livery. He looked around for Dean, finally seeing him a ways off, slouched under a tree. As Seth neared, Dean stood up, motioned for Seth to follow and faded back into an alley behind a small building which looked like a laundry from the amount of clothes drying on the lines.

The mountain sloped up a thousand feet above them. Dean took a deer trail which led them up and away from the town, between rocks and trees, and effectively hiding them from prying eyes and from being overheard. Finally Dean stopped under some pine trees and waited for Seth, who was both amused and annoyed at having to chase his friend so far.

"Seth!" Dean grinned and wrapped his arms around Seth in a hug, clapping him on his back. Seth hugged him back, grinning. He hadn't realized how much he had missed his brother-in-arms. "What are you doing here?" Dean asked as he stepped back. "You were supposed to be in Virginia City keeping an eye on Hunter."

"Hunter ordered me to escort John Cena up here." Seth said, letting the saddlebags slip to the ground. They were heavy and the day was warming up.

Dean's eyes widened. He had heard of Cena. "Cena? I thought he was in Washington DC. What's he doing here?"

"Vince McMahon sent him at Hunter's request. He's here to hunt down Orton." Seth caught Dean up on the events in Virginia City, including his talk with Mark. "What were you doing down there?" Seth asked.

"I was keeping an eye on Sheriff Wade Barrett and Deputy Justin Gabriel. Those two are part of the Nexus. Seriously creepy by the way." Dean gave an exaggerated shudder. He was starting to be able to feel what Randy had described to him and Roman, how to sense the demons' presence without the Saint. It really was like being covered in something oily and dirty, and it made him more twitchy than usual. He felt like he needed to take a bath.

"Wait, Barrett is part of the Nexus?" Seth asked, horrified. He had felt something was off, but never suspected Wade Barrett was a demon. He felt sweat gathering on his back at the thought of himself and Cena having to work with him.

"Yes, he is. And all of his deputies, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater and David Otunga," Dean added as an afterthought.

"Aren't you worried they will notice you?" Seth asked, concerned for his friend.

"Who looks closely at a drunk sleeping on the street?" Dean snorted.

Seth had to admit Dean had a point. He himself had noticed Dean but dismissed him as a homeless drunk. "Where's Roman at?" he asked, eager to see his other partner.

"Him and Orton are getting a bead on the last members of the Nexus. Orton figures we should be able to take them down within the next day or so, if everything goes to plan." And Dean fervently hoped so. He hated the feeling of demons nearby. He wondered how Randy could stand it. One of the many things he wondered about their mentor. Randy had told them about himself, but he was still closed-mouthed about a few things. That irritated Dean to no end and he made it his mission to aggravate Randy about it at every turn.

"Who else is Nexus?' Seth asked.

Dean pulled out a list from his jacket pocket and gave it to Seth. "If you meet any of these guys, get away from them as soon as possible," Dean advised.

Looking at the list, Seth's eyes widened. There was an aide to the Mayor, the Sheriff and the three deputies, and a banker of all things. "Christ," he muttered to himself. "You have to kill all these guys?

Grinning like a psycho, Dean's eyes gleamed. "Its gonna be fun!" he promised.

Sounds drifted up from the town below: the rumbling of digging, a horse whinnying and a man shouting. In front of them, the valley spread out, surrounded by mountains. To the north, one mountain looked like a giant, laying on his back sleeping. Seth said, "You should know Cena has been ordered to kill Orton. Hunter doesn't want him to even try to arrest him."

"OK, I'll let Orton know," Dean promised. He turned to Seth and looked him straight in the eye, serious. "Listen, you have to be careful around Barrett and his guys. They are Nexus, so don't turn your back to them. Also, do not accept anything to eat or drink from them. They can make you open to possession if you do."

Seth felt his insides turn to ice. "Shit," he said.

Eyes widening in panic, Dean grabbed Seth by his arms and shook him. "Tell me you didn't have anything, Seth," he ordered, his face right in Seth's, eyes blazing. "Tell me right now!"

"I didn't" Seth hastily reassured his friend, but it didn't lessen the horrible feeling inside. "But John did." Seeing Dean's look, he told him about John accepting the tea from Barrett. "Is it too late?"

Dean looked grim. He didn't want to lie to Seth or give him false hope. "You should consider him a casualty of war," he advised. Seeing Seth's stricken expression, Dean softened. He hated seeing Seth upset, so he tried to offer something. "Look, maybe there is something we can do about it. If we kill the Nexus fast enough, he might be OK. Like I said, it only makes you open to possession and if they haven't taken him before we can kill them…" Dean considered what he was saying. "Maybe it isn't like the Wyatts, where they all died when Abigail bought it. I don't know. Maybe Randy does. But don't let him drink any more of Barrett's tea, if you can. "

Knowing Dean was trying to make him feel better, Seth nodded, pretending Dean's words helped. "Could you make sure Orton knows about Cena?" he asked. "He is only doing what Hunter ordered him to do. I'd rather not have to kill him for doing his job." Seeing Dean looking at him, his lips twisted into a half-grin. "He not a bad man," he shrugged.

Dean adjusted his hat. "I'll pass it on to Orton, but I'm not sure he'll care. That is one cold-blooded son of a bitch," he said almost admiringly.

"What's he like?" Seth asked, trying to change the subject. He was curious about Randy and was almost looking forward to meeting the man who was already a legend in the law enforcement community.

"He's exactly like how the stories describe him; which is to say, he's an asshole," Dean replied without hesitation. "But," a dreamy smile appeared on Dean's face. "The guy is amazing with a gun."

"Glad you think so highly of me, Ambrose," a deep voice came from behind them, making them both jump. Dean instantly pulled his gun again, leveling it at the two newcomers. He didn't shoot when he recognized Roman and Randy, instead settled for cursing at them about sneaking up on him. Orton rolled his eyes, but his smirk was laced with tolerance. "Gotta be faster than that," he advised Dean who glared as he stuffed the revolver back into its holster. Orton's gaze shifted to Seth.

Cold was the only word Seth could think of to describe Randy Orton. His eyes were ice, his demeanor was cool. But he carried himself with an air utter confidence. "And you are?" Orton asked, as casual as a coiled snake. His hand was near his gun.

It was Roman who answered. "Seth!" he moved forward and caught Seth up in a rib-cracking hug.

Dean and Randy stepped back and watched, one with amusement, the other with speculation. "This the guy who is supposed to be keeping an eye on Hunter?' he asked Dean.

"Yep," Dean answered. Then shut his mouth.

Seeing Randy glare at him, Dean raised his eyebrows. "What?"

Randy continued to glare.

"Oh? You want more information?" Dean asked innocently, not phased in the slightest.

Randy continued to glare, shifting his balance slightly so he could loom over Dean. Being that Dean and Randy were damned near the same height, it didn't really work though. And Dean wasn't one to ever be intimidated. So it became a stare-down that only broke off when Roman snorted in amusement.

"You two planning on standing there all day?" he drawled, the corner of his mouth curling up in a smirk. Both Randy and Dean turned their glares on him, but that worked about as well as it did on each other.

More than used to breaking up glare-downs, Seth rolled his eyes and muttered, "For fuck's sake." He raised his voice and said "I'm Seth Rollins," introducing himself to Orton.

Orton's gaze transferred back to Seth. For a long moment he just looked at Rollins, then hIs eyes flicked down to Seth's badge and he nodded to Seth in acknowledgment. "Randy Orton," he responded.

"Dean tells me you and Roman were tracking down the last members of Nexus?" Seth wanted to get the conversation back on track. "Did you get that done?" He was used to taking control of situations, since Dean and Roman tended to get caught up in one-upmanship. It appeared Randy might have the same tendency.

But Roman and Randy exchanged glances. Roman's lip curled into a snarl, but it was Randy who answered. "Yes, we did. And we've got some bad news. Nexus has been spreading faster than expected. We are looking at nine members now," Randy said. Dean's eyes lit up. "Oh even better!" he enthused, ignoring the withering look Roman sent him.

"What's the plan?" Seth asked, and once again, he found himself on the receiving end of that icy Orton stare.

Randy reached into his pocket and pulled out a hand-rolled cigarette. Taking a match out of his pocket, he lit it with his thumbnail and lit the cigarette. He inhaled deeply, tilting his head back to exhale the smoke into the air. "You don't need to know," Randy told Seth, the cigarette bobbing between his lips as he spoke. "You're not equipped to go up against the Nexus. And if they possess you, then they can't learn our plans. You should go back to town and lay low until this is done," he advised.

"No, no," Dean was shaking his head for emphasis at his words before Seth could draw a breath to argue. "We need him. He's part of this."

"Besides," Roman said. "He's our partner."

Randy twitched an eyebrow at that. "The Saint protects us. Who protects him?" he asked.

"We do," Roman answered.

For a second it looked like Randy was going to argue, but he saw the identical look of determination on the trio's faces and knew it was a lost cause. "It up to you," he shrugged. "If he gets taken over by Nexus, then it you who gets to put him down."

"I won't eat or drink anything from the Nexus," Seth said impatiently.

"Doesn't have to be voluntary. Just ask your pal Reigns," Randy shot back, venom dripping from his voice.

Seth had to admit Randy did have a very valid point, but Seth would never back down. "I know I can't kill them, but I can help," he said. "And I can keep Cena from getting more involved."

"Who?" Randy asked, puzzled. The name was vaguely familiar but he was understandably out of the loop when it came to the current Marshal roster.

"John Cena, a Marshal from out east Hunter brought in to kill you," Seth said. "He drank some of Wade Barrett's tea."

Roman scowled harder than usual, but Randy shrugged, unconcerned. "If he gets taken over by Nexus, he's dead." Seeing Seth look at him, he raised his eyebrows and said, "What now? Get your priorities straight, Rollins. We are dealing with something bigger than a single guy. "

"He's not a bad man, Orton. I just think we should give him a chance. He doesn't deserve to be destroyed by Nexus without even getting a chance to fight back," Seth argued. He could see Dean and Roman looking at him. Roman looked vaguely sympathetic, but Dean didn't.

Exhaling smoke, Randy stepped up into Seth's personal space. His eyes bore right into Seth's. "If you want to tell Cena everything, be my guest. But if he doesn't believe you and ends up getting in my way, I will kill him. Don't ever think that I will risk myself, or these two here," he jerked a thumb at Dean and Roman, "for some guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is not enough of us as it is to deal with this shitstorm known as Nexus."

"You think he might help us if he knows what going on?" Roman asked.

Hesitantly, Seth nodded. "He's a good person, he'll want to help. And if we can take down the Nexus fast enough, we can save him."

Rolling his eyes, Randy shook his head. "Look, Rollins. He may be a good person, as you say, but you know the Saint only recruits remorseless killers for this particular job. That is exactly why Cena won't ever be able to do what we do. Its obvious he isn't a killer. We are. Now I appreciate your sticking up for the guy, but don't delude yourself into thinking we are heroes. We aren't. We are the bad guys, stuck in this shitty situation which is to keep something even worse than us from entering this world. The only reward we have to look forward to is getting killed, usually very violently and in a lot of pain. But we'll do it, because we have no fucking choice. Killing Nexus is our priority, not saving John Cena."

Seth's eyes widened as he heard Randy telling him the almost the same thing Mark had told him. He knew Randy was right; John wasn't a killer. And they were more important than Cena.

But Dean was right too: Orton was an asshole.

Satisfied that he got his point across, Randy removed his attention from Seth and was looking up at the sky, frowning. There were clouds building to the west. "It looks like there is a storm brewing for tonight, boys." He grinned an unlikely, smokey grin, and pulled the cigarette from between his teeth. "Thats when we take down the Nexus."

TBC

Notes:

As always, if you would like to leave a review, I would greatly appreciate it! And if you have any questions, please contact me. I love to discuss writing, story development and characterization (and wrestling!). ~ Belle

The Helena jail is now the Myrna Loy Center for the arts. It still has bars on the windows.

The Sleeping Giant is a formation north of Helena that really does look like a sleeping giant. It is part of a wilderness study area.