Rouge

Chapter 12

Sucking in a deep breath Dean readied himself to face his family and friends. He listen to them laugh together. Yes, it was at his cost, but it made him happy that his family had seemed to accepted Doc and Kit. Fixing a smile on his face Dean stepped back outside. "If you're all done laughing at me, shouldn't we get down to killing that son of a bitch of a rogue werewolf?"

Before anyone could answer Dean, he became engulfed in a bear hug from his father. John grip him like Dean would disappear if he didn't. After one finally pat on the back John released him and Dean could breathe once again. "It's good to have you back son." John said.

As John stepped back Bobby stepped in and hugged Dean too. "No hard feeling Dean? But it is good to hear your voice." Dean knew he must look like and stunned mullet at John and Bobby's actions. Sam was hesitance, but when Dean looked at Sam he suddenly found his arms full with his giant younger brother. "Are you okay Dean? How do you feel?" Sam rambled as he held Dean away from him to get a look at him.

"Chill Sammy, I'm fine. All healed and ready to go. A perk of being a werewolf." Dean was finding it hard to believe his family reaction, but if they were going to act like everything was normal then he was going to play along.

"Well I guess we have to work out where this grey wolf is hiding out." John said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he's still hunting in those woods." Doc told the hunters. "I believe the reason he didn't follow the normal pattern and move to a new hunting ground is because he began hunting the three of you. Now add Dean to that mix and he wouldn't be able to turn down the challenge. Hunting down a group of hunters and a wolf that seems to fight for them, he'll just think its fun."

"Are you asking us to become bait?" John questioned Doc. Dean was nervous at that moment. He knew Doc would not put his family in harm way that they would be protected at all time, but they didn't know that.

"I'm asking you to come with us and give your scent for the rogue to follow. You won't be bait, just your smell. I and a few others will even stay with the three of you to make sure the rogue gets nowhere near you while the other wolves take him down." Dean noticed that Doc didn't mention that he would be one of the wolves fighting the rogue, but they didn't need to know that until necessary.

John seemed to think about it for a while before looking toward Bobby and receiving a nod. "Okay we're in."

--- --- --- --- --- -

Crisp forest air filled Dean's lungs. He was itching to change and run through the woods on the hunt. He could be like a ghost when he wanted, slipping silently through the trees searching for the bastard rogue werewolf.

Kit had already changed and he was now rolling in the mud pile they had created earlier. It was filled with animal scat, some animal carcasses and some other things that you really wouldn't want to roll in, but it would disguise his scent.

Dean couldn't change yet he was waiting for his family to return. They were off with Doc leaving their scent in the area they wanted the wolf to head to. From the top of the hill, where he was standing, Dean could make out the quad-bikes as his family started heading back to him. Breathing deep Dean tried to catch their scent but was unable to pick up on the gun oil, leather, grease and old book smell Dean had begun to associate with all three of them.

As they drew near Dean could feel the nervous energy beginning to build in him. Even through his family had seemed to have accepted him, he couldn't help but worry that they would realise they were better off before they found out he was alive and dump him. These thoughts faded to the background when the quad-bike came to a stop and his Dad, Sam and Bobby all got off the bike laughing. Dean rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously as they climbed off and head toward him.

"Dean did you seriously pretend to be some old women dog?" John said shaking as he tried to stop laughing.

"I now get why Kit was making all the jokes about you been a just a big puppy dog." Sam joined in smiling from ear to ear.

"Why in God's name did you think that was a good idea ya idjit?" Bobby finished up the trio laughing at Dean. Doc remained seated on the quad-bike looking smug at having told one of Dean's most embarrassing stories.

"Look I was seventeen, on one of my first hunts as a wolf and I got all turned around following a scent, ended up in some old bird yard. She was half blind and assumed I was a stray dog. I couldn't leave, I'd been tracking a werewolf scent, so I stay to make sure she was okay." It was weird how easy Dean found it talk to them.

"When I finally tracked Dean down I had to pretend I was his owner to get him to leave. She told me all about how Dean enjoyed the casserole she had given him. She even insisted I take some with me to give to him later, and then she gave Dean a kiss on top of his furry head to say goodbye. If I hadn't of shown up Dean would still be her little Fluffy." Sam, John and Bobby roared with laughter while Dean just glared at Doc.

"Whatever, don't we have a wolf to hunt?" Dean tried to distract the conversation away from him.

"Dean's right," Doc said, "The rogue has stayed in the area because you hunters showed up. Hunters would be a bigger challenge for him. We've spread wolves across the woods if they find the rogue before he finds your scent trail then they'll draw him into the centre of the wolf pack. Either way if all goes to plan we will hopefully get rid of the rogue. John, Bobby and Sam you three are going to stay here with me, and Kit is going to set-up a boundary around us. So you will be completely safe from the wolf."

"What about Dean? I don't want him anywhere near that werewolf. It already nearly killed him once." John asked. Dean felt his cheeks burning; he would never of guess in a million years that the great John Winchester would want to keep his werewolf son safe.

"Well the wolf already knows that you have Dean protecting you, so he is the only wolf that can run without hiding his scent. In fact Dean present will hopefully explain to the rogue any other signs he finds of the other wolves. It may even be enough so that he doesn't even realise he is out number before it is too late. We have been hunting this wolf for too long, his smart but his ego is his down fall. With Dean down there he won't be able to resist taking him on again. Dean surprised him last time, in his head he'll think now that Dean's lost the element of surprise he'll win. However, last time Dean was injured, he's not now. Don't sell your son short John just from how he fought when injured; he is probably the best fighter in my whole pack."

Dean was glad Doc was the one telling his family he had to go fight the rogue. There was no way he was going be stopped from fighting the wolf. He couldn't read the look on John's face, but when he was suddenly struggling for breath in a bone crushing hug from his Dad he knew he'd be allowed to go hunting.

"If you let that wolf harm one hair on your head Dean I'll kick your arse." John said in his ear as he hugged him.

As soon John let him go Bobby pulled him in for a hug. "If you get yourself killed Dean I'll personally bring you back just so John can kick your arse." He said with a smirk.

Sam looked awkward as he approached Dean, but Dean beat him to it, wrapping arms around Sam in his own bone crushing hug.

"Ok then I'll just go get change in to something furrier." Dean grinned as he headed behind a tree to strip naked to transform.

It felt good transforming with no pain. This is what he loved about been a wolf, the forest. He could smell the fresh green air, the dirt on the ground, and the breeze brought scent from further away given him glimpses of trails he would love to follow. His eyes seemed to be able to focus on any movement around him almost on their own. The birds flying from branch to branch above him, to the smallest insect dancing around him on the ground could have held him captivated for hours, but not when there was hunting to be done. Dean slipped through the trees giving his family one more glance over, before making sure Doc and Kit were in place. Stretching out feeling his muscle shift and his joints pop, he felt strong and he was itching to run. No longer denying his needs Dean took off as fast as he could. Paws eating up the dirt, Dean felt free. He could feel the smile growing and all he could think was. Come and get me you son of a bitch.