Chapter 4

Sam and Dean automatically put up their hands. When they raised their arms, the agents could see the weapons the two brothers were carrying.

"You okay, DiNozzo." Gibbs asked, not lowering his weapon.

Tony nodded. "Gibbs, it's okay. Sam and Dean were going to take me back to the warehouse to meet up with you."

The brothers kept their hands up as Tony talked. He moved in between the brothers and his team.

"They found me, Gibbs. They…they took care of me. They made sure I ate. They bandaged my wounds." Tony explained.

"They're on the FBI's Most Wanted." Gibbs replied.

"I realize that, Gibbs." Tony stated. "But, they're not the cold-blooded killers the FBI makes them out to be."

Gibbs didn't respond, and he didn't lower his gun.

"I'm standing right here, Gibbs." Tony pleaded his case. "They could have just left me there to die. But they didn't. They got me out of there. They took care of me." Tony paused. "They saved my life, Gibbs."

Gibbs lowered his gun, and Tim and Ziva did also. Sam and Dean then lowered their hands.

"You're Leroy Jethro Gibbs." Dean sort of stated and asked at the same time. After seeing the man in action, Dean knew this had to be the man his dad had talked about so fondly.

Tony looked at Dean, surprised, as Gibbs nodded.

"Dad talked about a Jethro Gibbs an awful lot." Dean stated.

"Dad?" It took Gibbs only a few seconds to make the connection. "John Winchester!" Gibbs looked at the boys. "You're that Sam and Dean?"

Both brothers nodded.

"It's been years since I've seen John." Gibbs admitted.

Sam nodded. "He passed about a year ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Gibbs said. "He bragged so much on his boys. You made him proud."

Sam and Dean smiled but didn't speak.

"I thank you for taking such good care of Tony." Gibbs stated.

"He's okay, for a fed." Dean said, smiling.

Dean picked up his bag. He had dropped it to the ground when he put up his hands. He fished out Tony's two guns and his knives.

"Agent DiNozzo, I…I almost forgot these." Dean said and he started to hand Tony's weapons to him, then he hesitated. "You're gonna keep your promise?"

Tony nodded and then Dean handed them over.

The agent inspected and then holstered his weapons. "Thank you, Sam, Dean. I mean, really. You didn't have to help me. But you did."

"Yeah, well, you didn't shot us so…." Dean stopped, turning his attention to Gibbs who was walking up to them.

Gibbs took an appraising look at his agent before he spoke to Sam and Dean. "Since John's…gone. I assume you two have taken over the family business?" He sort of asked and stated at the same time.

Dean looked at his little brother. Their dad didn't talk to many people, at all, about the family business. More evidence of how much he must have trusted the man.

Sam and Dean both nodded.

"What was after my agent, back at that warehouse?" Gibbs asked, not really sure he wanted to know the answer.

Sam looked at Dean this time before he answered. "We believe a nest of vampires. That's what we were after, anyway, when we ran across Tony."

Gibbs considered the young Winchester's answer before he spoke again. "So, this 'nest' is still out there?"

Dean nodded, not sure where the agent was going with this.

Gibbs pulled out his gun and checked the magazine. He then rammed it back into the gun, with more force than was necessary. It made the Winchesters want to take a step back.

"What kills a vampire?" Gibbs asked.

The brother's looked at one another again, considering Gibbs question.

Dean answered. "We tend to use machetes. But other things work, too."

Gibbs put his hand to his own neck. 'Gruesome."

Dean nodded. "But very effective."

Tim, Ziva, and Tony joined the Winchesters and Gibbs.

"Boss, Tony was telling us about vampires attacking him. He's crazy, right? That's not even possi…." It was only then that McGee caught the looks on Gibbs' and the Winchesters' faces.

"It's true, McGee." Gibbs stated. "It's all true, everything Tony told you is true."

"Gibbs, how could you…?" Tim started.

Gibbs didn't let him finish asking his question. "There are people in this world called 'hunters.' And I don't mean hunters of wild game." He paused. "They hunt the things that aren't supposed to exist, but do."

"Tim, Ziva," Gibbs started. "I will understand if you don't want to participate here. I…this is outside NCIS protocol, for sure." He paused. "But, this is something I…we have to do." Gibbs said, including Tony. "Nobody or nothing comes after a member of my team. And I know Tony wants a crack at this bastard. So, we can handle this is you don't…."

"I am in." Ziva spoke up.

"Whoa!" Dean started. "Wait a minute. We don't…."

"I know you don't play well with others." Gibbs replied. "Neither do I, ask anybody not on my team. But, nobody goes after my people!" He said, letting his anger show. "I don't care if it's a dragon, a fairy, or an evil clown!"

Sam reacted to the word 'clown' and Tony and Gibbs noticed.

"Sammy here, has a phobia." Dean admitted a bemused look on his face.

"Shut up, Jerk."

TBS