Don't Fear The Reaper

Chapter 12

"There is no way you beat me!" Dean was saying, and I was laughing as we stepped off the elevator.

"I beat you fair and square, Winchester," I jeered with a full-on smile.

"Don't mind them. They've always been competitive," Sam said to the rest of the group.

"You know the course. You had an unfair advantage," Dean argued.

"Are you accusing me of cheating when you just don't have the skills to beat me?" I gasped.

Everyone else was chuckling at the exchange.

"You two morons joining us for supper, or are you going to argue all evening?" Bobby piped up.

Dean and I both stopped mid-arguing. "Sorry, Bobby," I answered.

"Bobby," Dean said as an apology.

"Clean up and get in here," Bobby scolded.

Dean and I looked at each other. "He's never gonna stop treating us like his kids, is he?"

Dean snickered and shook his. "Nope. Let's go, princess."

"Move!" Bobby snapped.

"Yes, Dad!" I called out as I moved down the hall toward my room, Dean following behind me.

"Never realized Firecracker could listen so well," Lance cracked with a chuckle.

Bobby grunted. "Lots of practise."

~~~~~

Sam, Bobby, Dean and I were looking over all the details and trying to organize a plan after supper. The others were chatting and staring.

"So it's all the way around?" Sam asked.

I nodded, pointing at the map. "See all the marks."

"So, either cross them out or surround them in salt so she doesn't realize right away," Dean said.

"I like her not knowing right away," I muttered. "Especially if the others are demons too."

"Salt would be better, but that means we would be stuck in there with them until it's all done," Bobby explained.

Sam heaved a sigh, running his hands through his hair. Dean shut his eyes, and I tried not to punch something.

"Then that's how it's gotta be," I shrugged. "It has to be done, Bobby. We can't just."

"I know. Just making sure we're all aware," Bobby said. "Leaving demons on the loose is not something we do."

My lips tipped up, and I nodded. "Thank you," I said almost in a bare whisper.

Bobby wrapped his arm around me, hauling me to his side. "We got you."

"So, how do we take out demons?" Phil asked as he stepped forward, having listened to everything.

"Like anything else," Dean said.

"And that is?" May asked.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Are you sure this is going to work?" He asked me.

I nodded. "They're the best, Dean. Give'em a break. They're still coming to terms with it all."

"And yet, if they're not quick enough about it, they might get someone killed," Dean scoffed.

"Hey, that's not fair," Mack piped up. May was frowning.

"You all don't know what we do or how to do it properly. One wrong move will get you killed; someone else killed or, worse, possessed. And if you're possessed, you will kill everything and everyone around you. Are you ready to take out one of your friends if it comes to that?" Dean stepped toe to toe with Mack.

"We can handle our own," Mack said through gritted teeth.

"Didn't answer the question," Dean hissed back.

I stepped between them both and shoved.

"Knock it off—both of you. Or I will hex you both until this is finished. Do I make myself clear?" I growled.

Both of them took a step back to stare at me in shock.

"Knox," Dean whined.

"Don't you Knox, me. You know I'll do it," I shot back.

"Fine!" Dean threw his hands up.