Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Walking back into the front of the store Giles took a seat at the research table and said “If I may have your attention for a moment I’ve just received some interesting news.”

“Well he’s not polishing his glasses, so that’s a good sign.” Piped up Xander.

“What’s up Giles? Who’s Pastor Jim? Does he know about Glory?” Willow babbled.

Buffy smacked Xander on the back of his head for his comment and put her hand over Willow’s mouth to stop the babbling then nodded to Giles and said, “Go ahead Giles.”

“Thank you Buffy, and no Xander this doesn’t appear to be bad news at all. Pastor Jim is an old acquaintance of mine who has been helping hunters keep the forces of evil at bay for thirty years. He was calling on behalf of a demon hunter who is tracking a particular demon heading our way.”

“What so this guy wants Buffy to make with the slice and dice.” Xander asked moving to the other side of the table and away from Buffy’s reach.

“No this hunter, a man by the name of John Winchester wants to be the one to kill the demon himself, he just doesn’t want to get in Buffy’s way.” Giles finished.

“Well that’s a first, does this guy have a death wish or are we dealing with an over-inflated ego?” Buffy asked looking too tired to deal with some Rambo wannabe.

“Neither. Buffy I realize you’ve had some bad experience’s with hunters in the past, but if a tenth of what I’ve heard about John Winchester is true you don’t have to worry about that with him.”

“What makes this guy so special?” Xander asked looking intrigued. Even Riley wasn't gung ho enough to go after a demon all by himself and Xander was curious.

“Well first of all the man has been hunting for twenty-three years and is still alive.” Giles stated and let that thought sink in before continuing. “Secondly from what I’ve heard he’s a strategic genius who leaves nothing to chance and has the tenacity of a pit bull with a bone.”

“Okay, so impressed what’s the stitch?” Buffy said all of a sudden paying attention. Giles was sounding impressed, and Giles rarely got impressed by outsiders.

“The story goes that twenty-three years ago this demon went after John’s youngest son Samuel who was six months old at the time, but got his wife Mary instead. She apparently sacrificed herself to save her son and was slashed across the belly and then burst into flames. John tried to save her, but was too late. He was not willing to accept the official report since he knew what he’d seen. He began digging and uncovered the world of the supernatural and has been hunting ever since.” Giles finished and took his glasses off for a cleaning.

“Damn, what a sucky thing to happen.” Buffy commiserated.

“What happened to his son?” Willow wanted to know.

“He raised both his sons to be hunters too. From what I understand they travel around the country tracking, hunting, and killing evil where ever they can.” Giles answered.

“Double damn.” Xander supplied.

“What do they hunt?” Buffy asked now completely intrigued by this family.

“Mostly ghosts, evil spirits though they will go after anything that is taking human life. I heard recently that the sons handled a Wendigo problem in the Northwest.” Giles racked his brain.

“So looks like we’ve got a real professional here, do you think he’d be willing to help with Glory if we give him a hand with his demon?” Buffy asked willing to do whatever it took to protect her sister.

“It was brought up during the conversation and Jim feels that John would be more then willing to help us out in trade.” Giles said smiling at Buffy.

“Well that’s good news.” Willow spoke up excitedly.

Buffy let out a simple and quiet, “Thank God.”

“Yes, I thought that news might please you.” Giles smiled indulgently.

“Hey Xander you okay?” Willow asked since Xander hadn’t said anything and was looking rather pensive.

“Yeah no I’m fine Will just thinking.” Xander answered distractedly.

“About what?” Buffy queried.

“This guy John, I mean it’s sort of amazing you know? I mean you know that summer when you were gone, and Willow, Cordelia, Oz, and I were trying to pick up the slack?” At Buffy’s sharp intake of breath and guilt filled eyes Xander quickly continued. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad Buff you did what you needed too. The point I’m trying to make is that we were lucky to make it through alive. I mean there were four of us, and it was like the Three Stooges guide to vampire slaying. We were awful, we had no strength or speed, and half the time I felt like the damn things were smarter as well. Well at least smarter then me.” Xander clarified quickly at the look he was receiving from Willow. “I just can’t imagine doing it for twenty-three years. It’s just impressive that’s all.” Xander finished still contemplating what it must have taken to survive that long.

“You’re absolutely right Xander.” Giles said once again amazed at the insight Xander was able to possess every now and then.

“Giles” Willow said suddenly as a thought occurred to her, “What did they live on, I mean how’d they make a living traveling all over? Did they charge for services?” The last thought seemed unappealing to everyone at the table though they could see the necessity.

“No, I believe they felt that charging would be uncouth.” Giles answered unsure as to whether he should share this next bit of information. Making his decision he said, “From what I understand they take the odd job here and there, and they perform a bit of credit card fraud to get though the tight spots. Of course that’s all hearsay.” Giles finished quickly unwilling to judge.

“Well you can hardly blame them.” Buffy said after a moment pragmatically. “I can’t imagine trying to hold down a job while slaying. Talk about difficult.”

“Agreed.” Willow said always the kind-hearted one of the group.

“So are his kids coming with him?” Xander asked quickly eager to change the subject.

“No I was informed there was something going on there, and not to ask.” Giles answered glad for the change in topic.

“How old are his kids anyway.” Buffy asked still curious about this odd family. “I mean I know the youngest Sam has got to be around twenty three, but what about the older one.”

“His name is Dean and he’s four years older then his brother so around twenty seven I would imagine.” Giles answered.

“Know anything about them?” Xander asked, as eager as Buffy to find out more.

“Well I heard that Sam was at Stanford on a full scholarship until this past year.” Giles stated.

“Wow, the brainiac of the family.” Buffy joked poking Willow in the side.

“Why’d he leave?” Willow asked stunned at the thought such a prestigious university.

“It’s really very tragic.” Giles started. “From what I understand Sam came home one day to find his live-in girlfriend killed in the same manner as his mother. He joined up with his brother and have been hunting the demon ever since.”

“Well damn there’s no end to the suck of that story is there.” Buffy said appalled.

“Seriously, what a jip, he should demand a refund.” Xander added the thought of losing Anya that way left him feeling cold inside.

“Yes indeed.” Giles said softly his own thoughts turning to the loss of his sweet Jenny.

“Well reinforcements aren’t here yet guys, so back to the books.” Buffy said drawing attention away from Giles so he wasn’t on display. “We can gossip more about what he’s going to be like tonight after patrol.” Buffy said her focus going back to Glory immediately. The fear the hell-goddess inspired sat like a permanent stone in her stomach.

With that said the four friends focused back to the task at hand knowing instinctively that things were about to get very interesting.





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Later that night in a motel outside of Toledo Ohio


Sam Winchester jerked awake with a start. Sweat dripped down his face and his heart was pounding so loud it all most drowned out the excruciating pain in his head. “Fuck, these things hurt.” Was all that could go through his mind as he tried to slow his heart rate back to normal. “Dean’s just going to love this. Damn it it’s 3:24 am better get it over with.” Sam thought before moving to the edge of the bed and saying “Dean, Dean wake up man we’ve got to get out of here.”

Dean jerked awake with a very sleepy “Huh, what dude why are you up?”

“Vision, we’ve got to go man. Time to get up.” Sam replied looking through his bag for some pain medication for his head.

“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me. Now, we have to leave now. Do they get off on torturing me with this shit?” Dean wearily railed against the injustice of being woken up.

“Yes now, and while I’m very sorry your losing your much needed beauty sleep my head’s about to explode so excuse me if my sympathy’s lacking.” Groused an equally weary Sam whose patience was at its very limit.

“Oh fuck Sam you know that’s not what I meant. How’s your head doing anyway?” a remorseful Dean asked. “Oh and kiss my ass bitch it ain’t easy being this good looking.” Dean said as he sat up and began to get dressed.

“Whatever dude, and my head sucks that’s how it’s doing.” Sam yelled from the bathroom as he gathered up the two dock kits and brought them out to pack.

“So Ouija where are we headed at 3:30 am and what are we killing when we get there?”

“Sunnydale California.” Sam answered and with a look at his brother he said, “It’s the demon man, and it’s not alone.”

“Damn well what are we waiting for get your ass in gear man let’s go.” A now wide-awake Dean said as he began to quickly dump everything he could find into his bag.

“One other thing Dean.” Sam said as he to picked up the pace with his packing. “Dad’s going to be there.” Sam finished sharing the last bit quietly.

Stopping for a second and looking at his little brother Dean queried, “You okay with that man?”

“I’ll deal. Let’s just get there first.” Sam said resigned to the fact that the past issues he had with his dad would need to be addressed at some point so they could move on in the future. “Dad and I have stuff we have to clear up. Knowing what I know now about him as well as what drives him isn’t going to magically fix the past with us, but at least now I understand him better. Don’t worry Dean I have no intention of putting you in the middle again. That shit’s definitely over. Dad and I will deal and I promise not to make you choose sides this time.”

“Thanks.” Was all Dean could think to say grateful that his little brother seemed to finally realize what the fighting between him and their dad had done to Dean. “Or maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising boy’s apparently physic now maybe he read me.” That thought caused Dean to become still with fear, as there was stuff he definitely didn’t want his brother to know in his head and in his past.

“No, jerk I didn’t read you. I’m not a complete asshole it was obvious I was just to selfish, and pissed off to admit it when I left.” Sam said smiling from across the room.

“What!” Dean exclaimed looking at his brother suspiciously. “How’d….”

“Just because I can’t read your mind doesn’t mean I can’t read you. Deep breathe Deanna. So far the visions don’t seem to work that way anyway.” Sam mockingly teased his big brother.

“Yeah yeah let’s go.” A relieved Dean Winchester said as he grabbed his bag and headed out the door to his car.

Laughing at his brothers retreating back Sam followed thinking “Well this should get very interesting.”


To be continued.