The Bodyguard (is the Omega)

26.

"Don't. Move." Dean said menacingly. "Sam watch he stays put."

Castiel had never seen Dean like this, his face solemn, a hard line between his brows. The alpha stalked away, Castiel could hear the lock bars being inserted into all of the doors and windows. He tried to get to his feet but Sam was pushing down on him with his full weight, the bathtub was filling up with hot water, in the shower Jack was trembling under the hot jets fully dressed. Sam was tall and strong, years of paperwork notwithstanding. Castiel thought about breaking free but Sam knew all the techniques anyway and Ketch was already helping Dean with the lock up. They would need him back at full strength as soon as possible, Castiel could trust Dean to get the house secure.

Quickly Castiel calculated in his head the resources available to them. Ketch was a good bodyguard grating personality aside, Charlie was a determined fighter and amazing with technology, Jack could hold his own in self defence and he had his sensitive nose, Sam was well trained if rusty.  Gabriel was strong and had quick reflexes, working with livestock made those qualities a necessity in rural vets. He also had unsurpassed knowledge of the local area. The stalker had surprise and explosives but at least now they knew he was out there. This felt wrong, everything about what was happening was off. Micky D was dead wasn't he? Was he not the Empty stalker? Who wrote the letters? Was Micky a tribute or a sacrifice? A victim or the hunter? Who was outside, how did they find this house?

To get that much explosives, get it to this remote location, rig up the boat with it, all that took skill and knowledge. The stalker would have had to stay out in the woods overnight, survive the cold and the wilderness, set up the bomb on the boat in darkness, not wake the occupants of the house or the guard dog... Castiel sat bolt up right, grabbing Sam's wrist tight. "Ruby!"

Sam's eyes widened and he sprinted down the stairs. She had been outside with them, playing with Sam and Gabriel. Then Castiel remembered seeing her run around the forest, but she wasn't on the boat with Jack. The explosion would have spooked her. The thought - if she had been alive when it happened - slithered around Castiel's brain. Castiel climbed out of the bathtub, shielding himself with a towel as he stripped off his wet clothes. Jack was in the shower, his head bowed. He had not said anything since the lake but the saturation on his hands looked good, he was withdrawn but warm. Castiel pulled on clothes, whatever happened to be hanging on the towel rack, jeans and a t-shirt that belonged to Dean. He was aching from the run and swim but otherwise he was fine. His core body temperature was holding steady again and it was easier to think. Castiel went and unlocked his gun box, arming himself once more. The blade he liked to use was unaffected by the dive into the lake so he took that and transferred it to a fresh thigh holster. By the time he made it down the stairs, Gabriel and Sam were arguing at the front door.

"Get away from there," Castiel called out.

"I have to help her," Sam started to say.

"Running out there would be a stupid move," Castiel said. "You know that."

"Uh, does Dean know that?" Gabriel interjected.

Castiel's head whipped up and sure enough through the window he could see a streak of red flannel racing out from the direction of the back door. Dean had a rifle in his hand which he held rather expertly. He made himself small behind the porch handrails and whistled for the dog. Castiel yanked on the front door handle but it was locked shut, he looked at Gabriel who shook his head refusing to open it. There was movement under the pile of firewood, Ruby slowly crawled out from her hiding spot, ears flattened behind her head as she whimpered and tried to convince herself to run to Dean. There was a shot, distant and coming from the woodland, it was wide of the mark, landing in the snow between Ruby and Dean. The dog, thankfully, bolted for the house. To Castiel's surprise, Dean found a perfect spot behind a support beam and fired off three shots. On the last one, the dense scrub in one part of the tree line moved. That brought enough time for Gabriel to unlock the front door and let Ruby in, Castiel took the opportunity to run out and grab Dean by the shoulders, Dean was still firing at the trees as Castiel dragged him back inside.