The Winchester Three (S1): The Beginning

Ch 12 Section 4

After starting a fire to burn the body, John handed Dean a bag. They moved from the Impala's trunk back toward the fire where Sam and Angel are patrolling with machetes.

"Toss this on the fire. Saffron, skunk's cabbage and trillium. It'll block our scent and hers, until we're ready."

Dean sniffed it and coughed, disgusted, "Stuff stinks!"

Angel shook her head, "What do you expect from something called skunks cabbage?"

John smirked, "Dust your clothes with the ashes, and you stand a chance of not being detected."

"You sure they'll come after her?"

"Yeah." John nodded at Sam, "Vampires mate for life. She means more to the leader than the gun. But the blood sickness is going to wear off soon, so you don't have a lot of time."

"A half hour oughta do it."

"And then I want you out of the area as fast as you can."

"What?"

"But..."

Angel frowned, "Dad you can't take them all out yourself."

"I'll have her. And the Colt." He said pointedly, not wavering, "I won't be alone."

"But after... We're gonna meet up, right? Use the gun together. Right?" After John's silence and when he looked away from them Sam scoffed, "You're leaving again, aren't you? You still wanna go after the demon alone. You know, I don't get you. You can't treat us like this!"

"Like what?"

"Like children."

"You are my children. I'm trying to keep you safe."

"Dad..." Dean shook his head, not buying it, "All due respect but, uh, that's a bunch of crap."

Angel, Sam and John all look equally shocked, "Dean..."

John scoffed, "Excuse me?"

"No, Angel, it is a bunch of crap." Sam stopped their sister from intervening, "Let him talk."

"You know what... Angel, Sammy and I have been hunting. Hell you sent us on a few hunting trips yourself. You can't be that worried about keeping us safe." He turned to Angel, "And you cant be okay with sitting this one out. Your whole life has been leading up to this fight, after we get the colt, and you're gonna let him tell you no?"

Angel pursed her lips turning her green eyes to her dad, that familiar determined look in her eye, "He's right, Dad." She searched Johns face, "You've sent us all over the country on hunts. You can't expect us to sit back for this one..."

"It's not the same thing."

"Then what is it? Why do you want us out of the big fight? Huh? Because I saw mom die too. Angel and I lived that with you. You don't think I or all of us get to be a part of this fight with you?"

John took a steadying breath, "This demon? It's a bad son of a bitch. I can't make the same moves if I'm worried about keeping you three alive."

Dean glared as he corrected him, "You mean you can't be as reckless."

"Look... I don't expect to make it out of this fight in one piece. Your mother's death... it almost killed me. I can't watch my children die too. I won't."

"What happens if you die?" Dean asked, "Dad, what happens if you die, and we coulda done something about it? You know... I've been thinking. I think maybe... Maybe Sammy's right about this one. We should do this together." Sam nodded at his word and much to John's surprise so does Angel, "We're stronger as a family, Dad. We just are. You know it."

John remained unwavered, "We're running out of time. You do your job and you get out of the area. That's an order."

Dean looked down as he became emotional. Angel glared at their fathers back and Sam clenched his jaw.

At the vampire nest...

After a vampire takes a swig from his bottle. He moved to stand in front of the barn doors, considered them a moment, then shrugged and took another swig.

When he turned he ran smack dab into Dean, "Boo." Dean swung his machete before making his way back to the locked container of people, "I told you I'd come back."

After freeing all the prisoners the three of them grabbed the crossbows and hightailed it to where their dad was supposed to be. They got there just as the woman vampire swung around and knocked John back against his truck. He dropped the gun and the leader, Luther, approached him quickly. He backhanded John against his open car door, shattering the glass before he landed unconscious on the ground. Luther started towards him before an arrow pierced one of his vampire followers.

The three Winchester kids ran out of the trees, making themselves known. Dean paused to line up and shoot another vamp with his crossbow. Sam moved toward Luther who backhanded him as Angel engaged in a fight with another woman vamp. The woman punched her down before kicking her in the ribs. She picked the blonde up and slammed her against the truck.

Dean grabbed a machete and turned to help them but Luther had his arm around Sam's throat, "Don't! I'll break his neck. Put the blade down."

For a moment Dean did nothing so Luther tightened his hold on Sam's neck as the woman's hold on Angel tightened making her squirm in pain. At the sight of them Dean instantly dropped the machete.

"You people. Why can't you leave us alone? We have as much right to live as you do."

John got up just then, speaking from behind them, "I don't think so."

Luther turned just as John raised the colt and shot him between the eyes. Luther dropped Sam, who stumbled away, gasping. Dean pulled Sam behind him as John pointed the Colt at the vampire holding down Angel. The woman let her go and Dean grabbed her as well, pulling her to them.

With Luther, a sigil appeared where the bullet hit him between the eyes. He stumbled for a second before a brief flash of light reflected his skeleton. Then he fell to his knees.

Kate, his mate, cried out in horror, "Luther!"

Another flash of light passed through Luther before he slumped to the ground, dead. Kate angrily made a move toward John but another vamp grabbed her and pulled her to their car. They took off, wheels screaming as John smiled in satisfaction.