Dawson's Daughter | {BOOK 1}

14|Gut Instinct and a Voice

"Why didn't you just leave that stuff in the car?" Dean quipped to Sam.

"I said it before, and I'll say it again- better safe than sorry."

I had to agree with Sam. Instead of lessening after we left the warehouse, my gut feeling only got more intense as we got back to the motel and up to our room. Dean unlocked the door, and we all went inside. A silhouette of a man was standing next to the window, and we all froze up.

"Hey!" Dean called out.

Sam turned on the light, and the man turned to face us. Both brothers' eyes widened and I let out a small gasp. It was John. He was older than the last time I had seen him, with bits of grey speckled in his beard, but there was no mistaking the older hunter.

"Dad?" Dean breathed.

"Hey, boys. Eleanor."

Dean started to walk forward and John met him halfway, the two sharing a long, emotional hug. Beside me, Sam looked on sadly. I glanced up at him forlornly. I knew he didn't have the best relationship with his father compared to Dean. John was part of the reason he ran off to Stanford with no intention of returning.

"Hi, Sam," John greeted his younger son when he had pulled away from Dean.

"Hey, Dad," Sam responded softly.

They didn't hug, just staring at each other for a moment. Sam set down the bag of weapons on the floor and John looked over at me.

"I heard what happened to your father," he said. "I'm sorry."

"Couldn't be helped," I shrugged.

"Dad, it was a trap," Dean said. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"It's all right. I thought it might've been."

"Were you there?"

"Yeah, I got there just in time to see the girl take the swan dive. She was the bad guy, right?"

"Yes, sir," Sam and Dean answered in unison.

"Good. Well, it doesn't surprise me. It's tried to stop me before."

"The demon has?" Sam questioned his father.

"It knows I'm close. It knows I'm gonna kill it. Not just exorcise it or send it back to Hell- actually kill it."

"How?" Dean asked.

"I'm workin' on that," John smiled.

"Let us come with you," Sam urged him. "We'll help."

Dean shot his brother a warning look while John shook his head.

"No, Sam. Not yet. Just try and understand. This demon is a scary son of a bitch. I don't want you caught in the crossfire. I don't want you hurt."

"Dad, you don't have to worry about us," Sam insisted.

"Of course I do. I'm your father."

There was a brief pause before John spoke again.

"Listen, Sammy, last time we were together, we had one hell of a fight."

"Yes, sir."

"It's good to see you again. It's been a long time."

"Too long."

They hugged then, and all three of the Winchester boys had tears in their eyes. I put an arm across my stomach, bile rising in my throat as the feeling in my gut intensified even more. There was also a ringing in my ears. John and Sam pulled back, and suddenly the Daeva attacked John, throwing him across the room into a set of cabinets. He fell to the ground, and Sam was quick to follow.

"No!" Dean cried.

"Get to the bag," I heard the Voice say, as if someone was standing right next to me even though there wasn't anyone there.

Dean was also attacked by the demons, falling down beside Sam. I dropped to the ground, crawling over to the bag of weapons as the Daeva continued to claw and tear at all three of the Winchesters. For some reason, I hadn't gotten hurt yet, but as I reached into the bag and grabbed a flare, one of them finally dug its claws into my leg. My cry mingled with the cries of the other three.

"Shut your eyes!" I yelled, setting the flare on fire.

Bright light and smoke filled the apartment and the Daeva disappeared.

"Dad!" Dean called out.

"Over here," John replied.

Dean helped his dad out of the room, and I slung the bag of weapons over one of my shoulders, falling in behind Sam. We got out of the building and down into the alley where the Impala and John's truck were parked. All three boys looked like crap, while I was only limping slightly from where the Daeva dug its claws into my leg. I swung the bag of weapons into the backseat of the Impala.

"Alright, we gotta get out of here. Once that flare goes out, they'll be back," I said.

"Wait, wait, wait," Dean said. "Dad, you can't come with us."

"What? What are you talkin' about?" Sam demanded.

"You boys- you're beat to hell," John observed, but he was staring straight at me.

I shifted uncomfortably. I knew it was weird that I had gotten out virtually unscathed compared to them. I didn't want to tell them that not only had my gut told me it wasn't over, but I had heard a voice telling me what to do. I had only heard that voice once before in my life, right before my dad had left on the hunt that got him killed.

"We'll be alright," Dean told his dad.

"Dean, we should stick together," Sam stated. "We'll go after those demons-"

"Sam! Listen to me! We almost got Dad killed in there. Don't you understand? They're not gonna stop. They're gonna try again. They're gonna use us to get to him. I mean, Meg was right. Dad's vulnerable when he's with us. He's- he's stronger without us around."

"Dad, no," Sam turned, putting a hand on John's shoulder.

Dean and I looked on sadly as Sam tried to reason with the eldest Winchester.

"After everything- after all the time we spent looking for you- please. I gotta be a part of this fight."

"Sammy, this fight is just starting," John began. "And we are all gonna have a part to play. For now, you've got to trust me, son."

Sam shook his head no, and I felt a tear slip down my face. Tears were pricking at Dean's eyes as well.

"Okay, you've got to let me go," John continued.

We were all silent, on the verge of tears, and Sam looked at his hand on John's shoulder before patting it once and letting go. John and Dean shared a look, and then John headed over to his truck. Once there, he looked back one more time.

"Be careful, boys. Look after them, Eleanor."

Climbing into his truck, he drove off while we stared. When it rounded the corner out of sight, Dean spoke.

"Come on."

We all climbed into the Impala and the brothers exchanged a look. Then Dean started her up, and we drove out of town in the opposite direction of John's truck.