What is to Come

By: Tidia & Ridley C. James

A/N: Thank you all for the very sweet and 'shocked' comments. We love reading your reactions. You can thank Tidia for this early chapter. She is going on vacation and I'm completely jealous. One note, we do have new pictures up at The Hunter's Tomb on the profile pages if you're curious to see what the future generation looks like all grown up.

SPN*thebrotherhood*SPN

"In every conceivable manner the family is a link to our past, the bridge to our future."

-Alex Haley

JAMES

"Cooperstown. The home of baseball."

James recognized the excitement in his father's voice as they turned onto Main Street in Cooperstown Village. He smiled inwardly. "It's also the home of James Fenimore Cooper, hence the name-Cooperstown. He's one of America's most celebrated authors' and scholars', you know. James is obviously a predictor of intelligence."

"In my opinion they should have named it after Colonel Doubleday." James met his father's gaze in the rearview mirror. His dad winked at him. "Abner –now there's a name a father could proudly give his son."

"If he wanted said son to never get laid." James grimaced, imagining going through life named after another of his father's heroes. It was popular myth that Colonel Abner Doubleday invented baseball, winning him Dean Winchester's admiration. James Murphy was by far the better choice for many reasons, the least of which was his ability to score hot chicks.

"Perhaps a little less talk about baseball, a little more discussion of our plan for Malachi Harris, seeing as how we are nearing our destination."

"Look, Mama's Boy," his dad ignored Joshua's suggestion, pointing out Doubleday Field. "Right there is where they play the Hall of Fame Classic."

Joshua didn't appear impressed. He kept his gaze on his notes and The Vangelo. "The only venue I'm concerned with in this town is my wedding, which is supposed to take place in two weeks."

"It's held every year on Father's Day weekend," James said of The Classic, picking up Joshua's slack in the conversation. James thought if all The Advisor was going to do was research he could have easily taken his spot in the back with Caleb, who slept the entire drive. Instead, Joshua scored shotgun by flipping Caleb for it. They didn't even let James in on the action, dooming him to the backseat. His only reprieve was that he had been allowed to travel with Mac as far as Manhattan where the former Scholar had been ordered to stay put by The Guardian. "They have a parade and everything."

"Really?"

He was pleased when his father caught his eye again with a look of surprise. His dad sounded genuinely curious. James didn't think it would hurt to throw him a bone. "I might like soccer better than baseball, but I've gone a few times. My family used to come here when I was a kid."

"Lucky you."

James nodded, though he knew his father's gaze had returned to the road. He hadn't always considered himself lucky, especially after his abilities kicked in and dead people started popping up everywhere. James could barely make out the ball field in the fading light. The brick wall in the distance called forth memories- the smell of hotdogs, popcorn, the echo of a cheering crowd. He suddenly felt homesick and wondered how his brothers and Max were handling things on their end- if his father and uncles were still holding on. "I always liked the fireworks."

"Your old man a baseball fan?"

The unexpected question caught James off guard. He looked up to find the car stopped, his dad once more staring at him in the rearview mirror. They were stalled by the one red light in town. "Sort of." He returned his gaze to the window, gazing at the familiar storefronts. "Not much around here has changed."

"Or maybe your memory really sucks." Caleb chose that moment to join the conversation. "You don't remember anything on how we get into the place? Where we found Malachi? What happens?"

James sighed. He had already told them everything he knew about the gig-mostly. "I assume you break-in, and then there's a fire. The end."

"There's a fire?" Joshua turned quickly so he was facing the backseat passengers. "What do you mean there's a fire?"

"It all works out. You guys must think of a plan." He squirmed, bumping legs with Caleb. Sam's body was hard to maneuver, especially in tight quarters.

"Stay on your side of the car, Kid," Caleb groused.

"Sorry." James glanced at his uncle. Caleb was sprawled, taking more than his fair share of the vehicle. He had his sunglasses on despite the fact night was descending around them. The mojo bag Joshua had made was lying against his chest, and although Caleb hadn't said, James noticed the pinched lines of pain had faded from his uncle's face.

"Don't make me turn this vehicle around." His dad pulled the car forward again, turning onto the street Joshua instructed with a gesture of his hand.

James had heard that line more than once. He went with his standard reply, "He started it."

"Keep your hands to yourself, Damien."

Caleb shifted up, no longer trying to sleep. "My hands aren't the problem, Deuce. The future Scholar is having issues with steering Sam's body. I'm guessing he's a midget in his real life."

"I'm not short." James flared at the irrational sting. It didn't help that Max and JT were both freakishly tall. "I'm six feet, six-one when I'm wearing shoes."

"Sure, you are." Caleb looked over the rim of his sunglasses. "What other fairytales do you want to tell us?"

"I've told the truth- as much as I can." It was tempting to tell them who he was, to make them understand he was truly on their side. The risk was too great. "You need to lose the attitude, Obi Wan."

"Attitude? Really?" Caleb leaned into his space. "I have a job to protect The Guardian and Scholar. You're not helping."

James glared at Caleb, willing himself not to back down. "I like future you a lot better."

"Damien, you must mellow in your old age," his father quipped with a glance at Joshua.

Caleb rested back against his seat. "Maybe the kid just doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does."

"You're definitely not living up to the image I have, that's for sure." The Caleb that James knew was always in his corner. He was hard on the future Triad when it came to training, but no one said or thought anything negative about The Knight. James wasn't used to being on the wrong side of his uncle's protective streak.

"It's part of the Knight's job to be a hardass, or is your Triad's Knight some kind of wuss?"

"I can say a lot of things about him, but that's not one of them." It was suddenly clear why Uncle Sam often said Max could have sprung from Caleb's head. James didn't know this version of Caleb. He'd never thought the things that needled him about Max, were inherent in the current Knight.

"Maybe we can squeeze in a trip to The Hall of Fame and the wax museum on our way out of town," his father said, doing his best to break the tension. JT usually kept he and Max from coming to blows when they butted heads. He never noticed the fragile balance until it was suddenly missing.

"Maybe we should rid ourselves of Malachi Harris before we begin making celebratory plans." Joshua put his notes down, turning in his seat so he was facing Dean.

"I'm all for that," Dean replied. "As soon as we have Sammy back, and James tucked safely in his time."

"I don't think it will be a problem for us to get in," Caleb added. "But getting Malachi to tell us the spell that will bring Sammy back is going to be an entirely different issue."

"As long as there are no explosions involved," Joshua replied, his head bent down as he tied his journal. "Take heed of James's warning. Repairs to the estate could be costly and time consuming."

"You have no idea." James avoided Joshua's gaze, preferring to look at the back of his father's head.

Joshua sighed, rubbing a hand down his mouth. "Let me handle the negotiations with Malachi."

Dean gestured with his chin to get Caleb's attention as it had been focused on Joshua. "Will you be able to sense him, Damien?"

Caleb snorted. "Not even on a good day. His cloaking ability puts him off the charts, major stealth mode." He shifted on the leather seat. "You going to be of any help, Ghost Whisperer?"

James shook his head, ignoring the obscure reference to a stupid TV show. "If the place is haunted, maybe," James felt uncomfortable trying to explain his abilities to his family. "Malachi's technically dead, but like Caleb said, he's far from your run of the mill spirit."

"Is there a spell you can do to let us know if he is around?" Dean turned to Joshua. "Or at least one that will let us know when he's getting close?"

Joshua thought for a moment before answering. "Perhaps, if it's a small enough area I can use one of the Triad defensive spells Benjamin Mosley and I were working on."

"Sounds like we have a plan." James watched his father's face in the rearview mirror. The smile wasn't quite convincing, slipping with the mention of Mosley. His dad recovered quickly, attempting to mask the upcoming task as a run of the mill hunt along with all the other challenges he was facing. They had yet to face Lucifer, and in some way when that happened his father would change, "One step closer to The Hall of Fame and visiting my good buddies, Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb."

"No wax museum, Deuce." Caleb protested. James understood what his uncle was doing. The Knight's job might be as the enforcer, but his main priority was to backup The Guardian, even if it meant playing along with subterfuge. James couldn't stay mad at his uncle for protecting his dad anymore than he could really get pissed at Max when he sided with JT. "That place is just…"

"Crazy creepy," James finished for his uncle. Sometimes with Max it helped if they ganged up on JT when he was worrying. "Right?"

"Definitely crazy creepy." Caleb briefly met his gaze and for the first time his gold eyes held something besides mistrust. James hoped it was a truce, but decided not to push his luck. He would try to be patient and understanding, neither his trademarks. He saw how Uncle Caleb and Uncle Sam worked together in his future, so in time there would be less acrimony between him and Max if the present was any measure. That was of course as long as Max never found out James was sleeping with his sister.

His father's plan seemed to be going well, Caleb made sure there was no one in the vicinity of the mansion. They hid the Impala in some nearby trees, then Joshua led the way to the mansion since he was familiar with the site. Caleb picked the lock, and his dad, with gun drawn, moved in first. James held a flashlight, zooming it around the area until Joshua located the light switch that turned on the lights in the hallway.

Dean took point, Caleb covering Joshua as he unpacked materials from his bag. James noticed Caleb looking at the prints on the walls as The Advisor worked.

"Those are James Fenimore Cooper's novel covers. The originals are in the Fenimore Art Museum in town." He and his uncle had discovered the art exhibit by accident on one of their family trips to The Hall of Fame Classic.

"You're into art?" Caleb gave him a doubtful look.

James shrugged. "My godfather's a big fan. He taught me to appreciate beauty when I see it."

"Your godfather sounds like a real pansy, probably reads poetry in his spare time." Caleb looked him up and down once more.

"He is an artist." James shot Caleb a grin. "What do you expect?"

"I expect you two to get your head in the game." Dean pointed his finger at James and Caleb. "Save your sightseeing for the wedding."

"Who's the hardass now?" Caleb muttered, stepping a few feet away from James so he had a view of the door.

James pulled his weapon, chagrined by his father's reprimand. His dad was all business on a hunt. James tightened his hold on Uncle Sam's magical knife. As a kid James was fascinated by the power it held, enchanted with the mystery surrounding it. He'd only recently discovered the truth behind how Sam inherited it in one of his uncle's journals. Ruby might have been a demon witch, but James was practical. A blade was neither good nor evil, and there were few weapons available that were suited to a face off with demons.

Joshua brought out his wand, threw a mixture of herbs on the floor and then drew the point of the wand through them. "I need to repeat this further down the hallway."

James followed The Advisor and his father. The bright flash behind James had him spinning on his heel to meet Caleb's gaze. The Knight was standing by the first symbol Joshua had completed. The flare had faded; the pile of herbs was softly glowing.

"Tell me that's not the Bat Signal." His father clenched his fist, stepping shoulder to shoulder with James.

"He's close." Joshua finished the second mark. "Let's move into the ballroom. It's better suited for the protection circle."

They backed up into the grand chamber. James felt his feet sink into the plush carpet, his eyes drawn to the chandelier hanging from the dome ceiling, the heavy crimson curtains covering the windows. The intricate mural above them with its angels and their gold leaf wings bathed the room in a heavenly aura. James knew enough about this particular hunt not to be lulled into a false sense of security. He also had witnessed Malachi's work first hand at The Wilmington Ranch when he, JT and Max interrupted the demon's spell. Joshua's muttered curse was the first sign of trouble.

"What?" James watched his dad step closer to his Advisor. "I don't like that look, Josh."

Joshua kneeled over another symbol; he traced the outline again with his wand. This one James recognized as the mark of The Triad.

"I don't understand. It's not working. I performed the incantation. The circles should be silver now." Joshua looked around them, then down at his supplies. "I need my bag from the other room."

"I'll get it." Caleb rushed towards the doorway only to stumble backwards when he attempted to cross the threshold. He caught himself on one knee, rebounding to his feet with a heated, "Sonofa…"

"Damien?"

"Stay back!" Caleb looked from Dean to James before reaching out towards the doorway again. Electricity sparked the air, but the lock held. It was like Caleb was pushing against a solid wall.

"Josh!" James jumped at the snap in his father's voice. "What did you do?"

"Nothing." Joshua moved forward with a shake of his head. "Nothing that should have locked us in. The spell locks out evil."

Caleb didn't reach out to stop Joshua as he approached the doorway. James saw the surprise and the panic register on his uncle's features as The Advisor easily slipped through. Caleb reached out to grab him, but was prevented from doing so by the unseen barricade. "Josh!"

"That can't be good," James said, trying to seek out the edges of the barrier.

Joshua seemed to be thinking the same thing as he turned, attempted to come back into the room. He was met with the same shield Caleb encountered when he tried to exit.

"No!" He rolled his eyes to the ceiling, his hands coming to grip his hair. "Damn him!"

James had not witnessed The Advisor's anger very often. Joshua was reserved, self-composed. The look of fury in his blue eyes as he realized not only was his Triad locked in the room, but he was locked out was a little scary. It was more than enough reason for James to consider keeping his affair with Josie perpetually secret.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Josh. It was a rookie mistake." Malachi Harris appeared behind Joshua in the corridor. He was in a form James didn't recognize from his two encounters, but still the typical male model host the demon was inclined to choose. James took a step closer as the monster that had attacked his father and uncles in the future circled Joshua.

"Mosley should have warned you." Malachi gave an over exaggerated sigh. "When casting a defensive protection spell, one should always make sure to look for counter wards." Malachi pointed to a place above the doorway. James couldn't see what was on Joshua's side, but guessed it was similar to the red markings over their side of the door. They looked Gaelic. "It's like an automatic reverse switch. If you're not careful, you just might help your enemy cast one hell of a Triad trap."

"What the hell are you thinking, Harris?" James watched his father move to stand beside Caleb. "First you kill Mosley, and now you attack The Triad?"

"I'll admit I disposed of that twit Mosley, but I have done nothing but try to assist your Triad."

"By putting us in a fucking box?" Caleb pounded his fist against the barrier.

"Now you'll know to be more careful." Malachi glanced at Joshua. "I daresay your Advisor will never make the same mistake again."

Joshua turned to face off with Malachi, pointing the wand he was still holding at the demon. "You are nothing but a detriment."

"That wasn't the song you were singing a couple of months ago when I gave you The Vangelo. I thought we had something special." Malachi pointed to The Vangelo. "I see you keep it with you."

Joshua touched his coat pocket. "A tool is a tool."

"Spoken like a wise crafter." Malachi withdrew his own wand, taking up a defensive stance. His smug grin stayed in place. "Shall we duel this out like true witches? To the victor goes your Triad."

"Enough of your silly games." Joshua lowered his wand. "Let them out, Malachi. Now!"

"Or what? You won't be my friend anymore? Take me off your Facebook page?" Harris laughed, his wand disappearing into thin air. It reminded James of Max's parlor tricks, but he knew from experience Harris was capable of far more powerful things. "I think you made yourself quite clear by not answering any of my texts. The final blow was your slight in not inviting me to the wedding."

"Fine, you're invited. You can sit with Drew." Joshua gestured behind him to the doorway, having regained his composure. "Let them out and we can talk. If you're willing to assist us in a small matter, The Guardian might choose to let you live to pilfer another future Calvin Klein underwear ad."

"Too little too late." Malachi pouted. "I have my pride you know, and I just might hook up with some hot rebounding celebrity and live off them for awhile."

"What do you want?" Dean growled.

"I think the more important question is what you want, Dean." Malachi paced in front of Joshua. "I thought my little disposal of Benjamin Mosley and my threat to the lovely Barnwell Mansion might get your attention, but I believe there is another agenda that had you scrambling to get to New York in the midst of full on Armageddon. Could it involve the remaining horsemen, perhaps? Your plans to stop Lucifer?"

"We're not discussing anything until you let us out of here." The Guardian left no room for bargaining. James stood by his father in a united front.

"Fine. I'll put my cards on the table first as an act of good faith. I want to help you, train Joshua as The Advisor should be trained with the full support of The Triad." Malachi continued. "Agree to those terms and I'll release you, and will be more than willing to assist you in anything that you might need."

"You killed Mosley so you could regain your role as mentor?" Joshua shook his head. "He was a human being. He had a family."

Malachi rolled his eyes. "He was spoiling everything I began with you. Even with The Vangelo, you would have been greatly lacking. Someday you'll thank me."

"Don't hold your breath," Joshua replied in agitation.

"If you think I'm ever going to trust you, you're delusional." James watched his father move around Caleb to stand as close to Joshua as he could, barring the unseen shield between them.

"You have to get two rings from the remaining Horsemen," Malachi raised his silver banded hand, "then find a way to lure Lucifer into your little trap. And you think you can do that without some assistance? I believe you are the one fooling yourself, Guardian."

"You're never going to be a part of this team," Caleb replied, while James swallowed the knowledge of exactly how his family got the final rings and lured Lucifer. The price had been high. "Especially after what you did to your Triad."

"Lies, misquotes." James watched Malachi wave away The Knight's accusations. He had read the history of Daniel Wilmington's Triad. James studied Samuel Colt's journal thoroughly before trying to channel the former Scholar's ghost. Colt was haunted by his Triad's death.

"Daniel and Cole were tortured for days, staked in the desert, and eviscerated. You tried to blame the indigenous Indian tribes, but Samuel Colt saw through your cover story." James had taken the story personally. It was a trend within The Brotherhood that Knight and Guardian died before Scholar. James would not entertain the possibility of something happening to JT or Max.

"You speak out of turn, Scholar," Malachi gave a stern warning. "Tanner and Wilmington were leading The Brotherhood astray. Hunters were beginning to talk of an overthrow. Things got out of hand. I was trying to teach them a lesson, not harm them."

Dean struck at the shield. "One of your warped teachable moments gone awry."

"They weren't supposed to die!" For the first time Malachi looked shaken. He brought his hands up, the silver on his ring finger flashing brightly. "I was their Advisor. They were making a mockery of me, of The Brotherhood. Cole followed his foolhardy passion, trying to save Noah Seaver's harlot of a wife. I thought framing him for stealing the amulet would show Daniel the error of his ways that his judgment was being clouded by their friendship."

Malachi paced back and forth. Joshua shifted at the ready in response, but was as rapt with attention to the story as James. "Daniel didn't respond accordingly. Being a true Guardian, he let his heart rule his head. Samuel was left with no choice but to side with his brothers during the fall out from Seaver's actions. For the first time he questioned my guidance, wouldn't listen to my reason. I only meant to prove a point by enlisting the other hunters. In the end, I was forced to chose sides, or look as guilty as Cole and Daniel."

"So you stood by and let them murder your Triad. Colt killed you for what you did." James spent hours considering his own actions in such a situation. In his mind he planned his retribution as he would a business deal. Every detail touched upon, even the amount of time he'd let his enemy suffer.

"All you Scholars think you're so smart." Malachi rubbed a hand down the shadow of a beard. "Samuel didn't kill me. I took my own life to spare him what he felt honor bound to do. I loved him."

"If you took the coward's way out you did it for yourself so you wouldn't have to face the consequences of your actions. That kind of escape has nothing to do with love." Caleb hit his hand against the wall, it flared with electricity.

"Don't confuse me with your father, Knight!" Malachi hissed. "I did it out of loyalty to my Triad."

"You know nothing of loyalty, Harris. You are unworthy to bear the mark of a coven, the ring of The Brotherhood, let alone serve in any capacity as The Advisor to The Triad." Joshua met Dean's gaze, then glanced to James. "I'm sorry, but we'll find another way."

"Who cares what you think?" Malachi raised a hand. Joshua was lifted into the air slammed, once, twice against the shield, before being tossed aside.

"I'm going to tear you apart." Caleb rammed the barrier again with a growl of frustration.

Dean bent down to check if Joshua was breathing; James hoped his father could see because he couldn't tell. He was getting a sickening feeling this was not going as it was supposed to. "He's breathing, Damien." James watched his father tug The Knight a few steps away. He refocused his attention Malachi. "That was strike three, Harris."

James didn't understand what was happening until Malachi held his hand up, his face contorting with rage as the silver band on his right ring finger began to glow. It morphed from solid silver to shapeless water that dripped from his fingertips, falling to the floor like a fat tear.

"No! You can't do that!" Malachi accentuated each word.

"It seems the powers that be see things differently than you." The rings were still such a mystery. Even having The Guardian for a dad had not offered any unfair illumination. James realized his father wasn't merely doling out just punishment to Malachi, but drawing the demon away from the fallen and luring him into their fold.

With a howl of rage Malachi disappeared. James felt the instant the demon reappeared in the room with them. His father and Caleb turned; Harris had placed himself by the windows. The demon raised his arms, the curtains behind him bursting into flames like an elaborate stage illusion. Smoke boiled, a wall of heat battered the room. Fire alarms started to wail. Caleb pulled The Dragon's Talon, rushing forward in front of The Guardian.

"Ever the brave Knight." Harris chuckled. "Too bad I know exactly where your armor is weakest."

Caleb dropped to his knees with a cry of pain, his blade clattering to the floor in front of him.

"Damien!"

James breath caught as a fiery wave vibrated through the ring on his right hand, Sam's ring, tingled across his chest with an echo of Caleb's misery as The Triad connection snapped into place. He watched in a stupefied daze as his father pulled The Colt, aiming it at Malachi.

Harris lashed out at The Guardian with both hands raised, sending a pulse wave of psychic energy that smashed into Dean, lifting him off his feet as if he'd been plowed by The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line. James was rocked by the wake of raw telekinetic force, bowled to his feet as he desperately put up blocks to buffer himself from the psychic backlash.

When he blinked his eyes open a moment later, he was lying on his back, sparks fell like fiery rain from the chandelier above. The angels were now lit only by the growing blaze climbing up the walls. Heaven was falling.

James shoved to his knees. His uncle was curled on the floor, rocking under Malachi's assault. Harris had moved to stand over The Guardian. James watched his father, unmoving at the demon's feet. He couldn't tell if his dad was still breathing. Rage flared hotter than the inferno around them.

Malachi's hand hovered. "I had such high hopes for your Triad, Guardian. If you refuse to let me in, I have no choice but to take you out."

James gripped Sam's blade in his hand taking full advantage of Harris's distracted state. He lunged forward driving the blade into Malachi's back. Energy surged as the knife worked its magic. The demon screamed, arched violently. James pulled the blade up and out, letting Malachi's body fall. Revenge did not feel as he had expected.

SPN*Brotherhood*SPN