I'm a Monster Hunter (Supernatural x Heroes of Olympus)

CHPT6: Where Home Was

Leo's POV:

"Remind me how exactly doing a job is taking a vacation Dean?" I asked irritably as I packed my hunting gear, which I had left scattered in various places for months since I didn't need them to wrangle a baby.

"Come on Leo," Dean clapped me on the shoulder. "The girls want a turn caring for Chance which gives you the opportunity to take a vacation from being a big brother and go on a job with us."

"Besides," Sam chips in. "It's in your old home town."

"The job's in Houston?"

"The one and only," Sam grins at my peeked interest. "You coming?"

"Guess so," I sigh zipping the bag. It had been surprisingly easy and fast to load once I knew where we were going. Call it what you like; nostalgia, regret, whatever, I didn't like the idea of some monster prowling around my old home.

"Don't worry about Chance," Jody reassured me. "Claire and I will take good care of her and when you guys are done the job in Houston we'll drive down and meet you. Maybe show Chance around your home town."

"Sure," I hugged my two and a half year old sister. "You'll be good for Jody and Claire while I'm gone, yeah?"

"Are you coming back soon?" Chance whined, eyes wide and worried.

"Of course," I ruffle her hair. "Just have some work to do. Then you can come see where I grew up, sounds good?"

"Okay..." She gave me a big hug. "Be safe."

"I will, mi alma," I kissed her forehead quickly before standing.

"Take care," Claire hugged me quick. "I won't be there to keep you safe so don't die."

"I hunted plenty before we started working together," I kissed her. "I can survive on my own."

"Don't have too much fun," Claire squeezed my hand one last time before I headed for the stairs.

"I'll do my best," I waved a final time then the door closed behind me.

"Jesus," Dean shook his head. "You make it sound like you're going to war."

"Hunting is war of a sort," I muse aloud. "But let's leave before Chance thinks of another reason for me to stay."

"Is she having difficulty with you leaving?" Sam asked as we threw our bags in the trunk.

"A bit," I nod, hopping in the car. "First time I've gone hunting since we rescued her."

"I guess it's natural," Dean shrugged turning on the impala. "I've never heard her came up with such creative reasons for you not to leave the bunker. Did she really try to convince you with 'Egan's tooth is loose'?"

"Yeah she did," I chuckled. "That one was pretty creative. She almost convinced me a few times, honestly."

"You need a break man," Sam said with a laugh. "I mean, when was the last time you left the bunker?"

"Six months ago," I reply sharply. "Chance's birthday, I picked up the cake."

"See," Dean added. "Even then you were doing stuff for Chance. You need a break from raising the kid. She's a great kid, don't get me wrong, but you'll go crazy if you don't take some time for yourself."

"And hunting counts as time for myself does it?" I ask sarcastically.

"In a manner of speaking," Dean nodded. "Absolutely. And you're taking care of your hometown. Two birds, one stone."

"Right," I sigh, settling to stare out the window. I hadn't been home in years, I wasn't sure what to expect. So much could've changed or maybe nothing changed, I wouldn't know till I got there. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. Houston held a special place in my heart. It was the place that set me on the path to my destiny, twisted as it was. I met Hera and Gaia there. I lost my mother and my mortal family abandoned me there. I was never accepted by anyone except my mother in that town. Well, mother and Sammy Senior that is. I made my first connection with Hazel Levesque there. Wow that's a thought that hasn't come to me in a while, Hazel. I wonder if she remembers me. It's been what, four years now? At the very least they'd be over my death by now if not more. I wonder how Frank's doing? Is the fireproof bag I gave him holding out? He was named praetor by Jason, I wonder how he settled into that position. It sure seemed to suit him from what I saw. Hey, wouldn't that make me the only guy demigod from the crew of the Argo that wasn't Praetor of Rome at some point? Wow, that's a funny thought, I'd feel excluded if I hadn't shot at Camp Jupiter and made them hate me. Yeah, me, Praetor of Rome? They'd be more likely to make that statue guy Praetor. Nostalgic memories of camp and the Argo swirled through my thoughts for the rest of the trip to Houston. Honestly these were thoughts I hadn't allowed myself to think for a long time. Percy and Annabeth had both been to Olympus before, Jason too by how the Romans talked. It didn't seem possible they wouldn't have noticed the monstrous behavior of our parents and the thought that they had fought for the Gods all the same made me feel sick. That had been the main reason why I hadn't allowed myself to think about my old friends. Maybe the Gods introduce the idea slowly to demigods so they are okay with the idea of using mortals as a meat supply, I don't know. But I do know my friends didn't seem like the types to support such a thing, hence my dilemma. If I went back to camp or to Olympus for answers, I was scared of what I'd hear. It would clear everything up irrefutably, but I don't want to be told what I already know. Some day, maybe. For now I want to hold my image of my old friends in tact. Maybe that made them suffer, not knowing I'm okay. But if I go back and find they are helping monsters, I'll have to do what I've always done with monsters. Torch them. I don't want that. Maybe it is wrong of me to turn a blind eye to a possibly huge threat to the mortal world, but if Zeus is really dead as I've been told then Olympus is already in disarray and not much of a threat. Not so much of a threat at least that another hunter couldn't handle it.