Hello, my lovelies.

I can't apologies enough for making you wait so long for this chapter. I am so sorry!

Now, I thought that this was going to be a 3 chapter episode, but it turns out it's actually a 2 chapter episode, with this chapter being longer. Which I'm sure none of you guys will mind. Hopefully it will help ease the fact that you had to wait so long for it.

Please enjoy :)

Chapter 38.
Episode 20 (Dead Man's Blood).

Ben watches the scenery go by, the darkness of the night and his boredom starting to make him feel a little tired. He turns and glares at Alec when he, once again, kicks him as he tries to stretch out his limbs. Alec mumbles an apology as he shifts himself in his seat. He was beyond bored and his body is itching to do something…anything, but they have been following behind John all day, and it looks like they will be doing the same all night too. Sam is still driving, becoming more and more frustrated as the day had gone on with the lack of information from John.

Dean flicks open his phone and answers, "Hey dad…yeah Dad. All right, got it", he closes his phone and turns his head to Sam slightly, "pull off at the next exit".

"Why" Sam grinds his teeth.

"Cause, Dad thinks we've got the vampire's trail".

"How".

"I don't know. He didn't say".

Sam's hands tighten on the steering wheel as he speeds up quickly. Ben and Alec sit up and share a worried look, while Dean looks over at Sam like he's crazy. He turns to look at John's truck as Sam overtakes it.

Once he's in front John's truck, Sam slams down on the brakes.

"Dude!" Alec yells, digging his fingers into the seat as he and Ben lurch forward at the slamming of the brakes.

The Impala to swerve sideways in front of the truck, and both vehicles skid to a stop.

"Oh crap. Here we go" Dean groans as Sam gets out of the Impala, "Sam! Sam!", Dean turns to the twins, "stay here", then he follows after Sam.

Before Dean's door even closes both boys are already leaving as well. Sure, this was the most exciting thing that's happen all day…but they'd rather not have their uncle Sam and grandpa fight. It's the first time they've been together as a family for more than five minutes, they were kind of hoping that there wouldn't be any big fights between them.

They clamber out to see John slamming his truck door shut and marching towards Sam.

"What the hell was that" John yells.

"We need to talk" Sam bites.

John comes to a halt once he's face to face with Sam, "about what?"

"About everything. Where we are going, Dad. What's the big deal about this gun?"

"Sammy, come on, we can Q and A after we kill all the vampires" Dean tries to step in to stop things from accelerating.

"Your brother's right, we don't have time for this" John glares at his youngest.

"Last time we saw you, you said it was too dangerous for us to be together. Now out of the blue you need our help", Sam's voice starts to rise, "now obviously something big is going down, and we wanna know what!"

"Get back in the car" John orders.

"No".

Ben frowns, this isn't what he wanted to happen. They are supposed to be a family. He wants everyone one to get on, not start yelling down each other's throats…it makes his stomach twist unpleasantly watching them fight like this.

"I said get back in the damn car".

"Yeah. And I said no".

"Ok, you made your point tough guy. Look we're all tired, we can talk about this later… Sammy, I mean it, come on" Dean grabs Sam and pushes him back towards the Impala, "and I told you two to stay in the car".

"This is why I left in the first place" Sam mumbles as Dean pulls him away.

"What'd you say?" John's eyes narrow.

"You heard me".

"Yeah. You left. Your brother and me, we needed you. You walked away, Sam", John gets in Sam's face, "you walked away!"

As much as he loves his paternal forebear, he is making things tense with uncle Sam and Alec doesn't like tense things. It makes him feel anxious and sweaty.

"Stop it, both of you" Dean attempts to shut them both up.

"You're the one who said don't come back Dad, you closed that door not me. You were just pissed off that you couldn't control me anymore!"

Ben, getting more and more upset with the arguing, blurs in between Sam and John, forcing them apart, "stop it, stop it. Stop it! Please! Stop yelling at each other!"

Sam and John shut up but continue to stare at each other over Ben. Dean moves forward, seeing how upset Ben is, and picks the boy up. He didn't even think that Sam and John fighting would affect the boys as much as it apparently was…but he should have. All they want is a family that cares for them and loves them, and at the moment all that their family is doing is yelling at each other.

This isn't fair on the boys, and he's not going to let it continue.

"Ben is right, this is enough" Dean says as Ben snuggles into his jacket. He looks over at John, "that means you too".

Sam, noticing the upset child in Dean's arms, walks away without another word and climbs back in to the Impala. John turns back and also climbs back into his truck without saying anything else.

"Things can only get better…right?" Alec's small, worried voice asks.

Dean turns to Alec with what he hopes is a convincing smile on his face, "right".

Line Break

John, Sam, Dean and the twins watch the vampires in the barn from their position up a hill and hiding in the trees. They watch mostly in silence, which was how the rest of the night, after the argument, had gone also. Dean had encouraged the twins to get some sleep, once Ben's tears had dried up, as well as taking over the driving so that Sam could hopefully sleep the grumpiness away.

The sleep probably hasn't made a difference to Sam's attitude, but Dean doesn't give a rat's ass. There is going to be no more arguing, or at least no more in front of Ben and Alec because he's not having them get upset again. He loves his dad and he loves his brother, but Ben and Alec are his top priority, they came first.

Ben stays close to Dean while they wait for the vampires to make themselves seen. Last night, he didn't realise he had got as upset as he did until his dad picked him up. That's when he realised his cheeks were getting a little damp from tears.

He just really didn't like uncle Sam and grandpa yelling at each other like they were. Sure, his dad and uncle argue all the time…but never how uncle Sam and grandpa do. With his dad and uncle, you just roll your eyes at whatever they are fighting over this time. However, with his uncle and grandpa, you just felt uncomfortable and like your stomach was in knots.

Ben is praying to the Blue Lady that the arguing has stopped, but he's worried with how much they seem to not get on with each other, it may take an offering for the Blue Lady to be able to help keep his family together.

He wasn't sure whether the silence that was stretched over them now was a good thing or not as it was a tense silence…but it's better than them shouting at each other.

As they watch the barn for any movement, John looks over at Alec and raises an eyebrow, "Alec…why do you have pink hair?"

Alec groans and gives his brother a glare, "I'm no longer the prank king. That's all I have to say on the matter".

"I put red dye in his shampoo, so for a couple of weeks his hair was as red as a fire truck" Ben grins at the memory, and at the peaceful, non-argumentative conversation, "now it's starting to wash out it's fading into pink".

"I'm both proud and frustrated" Alec admits, then looks at John, "how are you only just noticing my hair?"

Sam holds his tongue to avoid saying anything like 'you'll find he doesn't notice much, unless it involves monsters' because he knows it'll start him and his dad off again and he doesn't want to that in front of the twins…again.

"When you two crashed into me the other night it was dark. Since then we've been a little busy, haven't we?" John says.

Alec moves his head from side to side, as though he's mulling the thought over in his head, before nodding in agreement.

"Guys" Sam says as he notices a beat up Camaro pull up and a vampire step out of the barn to meet the guy in the car.

"Can you boys hear what they are saying?" John asks.

"Yeah…but they aren't saying anything important" Alec shrugs, "the dude from the barn is just tell the other guy to get in".

"Son of a bitch" Dean shakes his head in disbelief as the vampires head back into the barn, "so they're really not afraid of the sun?"

"Direct sunlight hurts like a nasty sunburn. The only way to kill 'em is by beheading. And yeah, they sleep during the day…doesn't mean they won't wake up" John informs them.

"So, I guess walking right in, is not our best option".

"Actually, that's the plan".

Ben and Alec start to grin.

"Not you two" John quickly tells them and their grins fall.

"But-" Alec starts.

"Like hell are you two going into a vampires nest" Dean gives them a stern look.

"You two can look after the car" Sam tries to soften being left behind, but the identical, unimpressed raised eyebrows from the twins tell him that they still weren't happy.

"What did we talk about dad" Ben looks up Dean.

"I know what we talked about, I was there" Dean returns the unimpressed looks, "I distinctly remember that we talked about letting you boys help out more, but we were going to take it step by step-".

"Dad-" Alec tries again.

"You two coming with us into a nest full of vampires is not taking it step by step. So, no. You will be stay by the cars or you will lose all your telly and dessert privileges and you won't get them back until you're 30".

"But-".

"Listen to your father" John orders, as he marches over to his truck, in his sergeant like voice, that both Ben and Alec can't help want to stand to attention. They don't…but the urge to do so is there.

"Fine" Ben pouts.

"This time" Alec adds.

Dean rolls his eyes as he walks over to the Impala and pops open the trunk, "dad, I've got an extra machete if you need one".

Dean holds up the machete, but John unveils a massive machete with a serrated edge, "I think I'm ok. Thanks".

Alec eyes widen in glee at the sight of John's machete, "wow".

"So, you boys really wanna know about this Colt?" John looks at his sons.

"Yes sir" Sam says immediately.

"It's just a story, a legend really. Well I thought it was. Never really believed it until I read Daniel's letter…" John states before explaining about the colt, "back in 1835, when Halley's comet was overhead, the same night those men died at the Alamo. They say Samuel Colt made a gun. A special gun. He made it for a hunter, a man like us only on horseback. Story goes he made thirteen bullets, and this hunter used the gun a half dozen times before he disappeared, the gun along with him. And somehow Daniel got his hands on it".

"Why only make thirteen bullets?" Alec frowns, "surely it would have made sense to make more than that".

"I don't know" John admits.

"Maybe that was all he could make at that time" Ben suggests.

"Possibly".

"What was special about this gun?" Sam asks.

"They say…they say this gun can kill anything".

"Kill anything like, supernatural anything?" Dean's eyes widen slightly.

"Like the demon" Sam steps closer.

"Yeah, the demon. Ever since I picked up its trail, I've been looking for a way to destroy that thing" John's face hardens, "find the gun…we may have it".

"I'm just saying, given uncle Sam and paternal forebears history, I don't think it was a good idea to leave them alone together at the motel" Alec says as they sneak out of the funeral home and head back to where Dean had parked the Impala.

"For once, I agree with Alec" Ben shakes his head.

"Yeah well sometimes you just have to throw people into a room together, alone, so they can sort out their shi-stuff" Dean sighs.

"And you think that grandpa and uncle Sam can sort out their stuff?" Ben looks up at Dean sceptically as they clamber into the Impala.

Dean hesitates to answer as he starts to drive away, "yeah".

He knew it was a weak answer and he knew that they boys could see it was a weak answer, because honestly…it'll take a miracle for Sam and John to have a conversation that doesn't lead to an argument. Dean just couldn't leave the twins with them back at the motel because, when they inevitably start arguing again, he doesn't want the twins to be there.

"You just don't want to leave us with uncle Sam and paternal forebear, do you?" Alec frowns.

Dean sighs, "when they were arguing last night, you both got upset by it".

"Did not" Alec mumbles, but knows that it's true. He didn't like the fighting, it made him feel…weird. A bad kind of weird because his stomach felt all twisty.

"I didn't mean to get so upset" Ben looks at Dean with his little eyes filled with worry.

"It's okay to get upset Benny, it's not nice when people you care about fight" Dean says softly.

"I just…we're a family and…" Ben trails off.

"And families are supposed to get on?" Dean finishes and Ben nods, "sorry to break it to you Benny, but all families have fights because people are individual, and they have their own views and thoughts on different things…but also because it just means that they care".

Alec wrinkles his face in confusion, "how does fighting mean that they care?"

"Because they care enough to argue" Dean says, but frowns because he's not good at explaining things like this…things that involve emotions, "look all you need to understand is, as much as uncle Sam and grandpa fight with each other, they do care for one another. I know that their arguing can seem like it's getting intense, but I promise it's not going to break up this family, okay? I know that what you're both worried about, but this family is stronger than that".

"But last night uncle Sam said that grandpa told him to not come back if he went to college" Ben frowns.

"He said it in a moment of anger because he was hurt", Dean looks at Alec through the mirror, "remember what I told when you and Ben had your fight?"

Alec nods, "that sometimes people lash out in anger without really thinking things through properly, and that it's actually them lashing out because they're hurt and are trying to hide that they're hurt".

"Exactly".

"And that's what it was like between uncle Sam and grandpa?" Ben asks quietly.

"Yeah, but I promise you, this time is not going to end like that okay? I won't let it" Dean promises as they pull into the motel.

Dean parks the Impala and the threes of them climb out and start headed towards their room. Dean slows down a little, worried that when they enter the room Sam and John may be fighting.

He stops outside the room and looks at the twins, "does it sound like they're fighting in there?"

"No…" Alec tilts his head and stares at the door in confusion, "they sound like they're…laughing"

"Laughing?"

"Yeah" Ben raises a single eyebrow up in confusion, "they were saying something about ammo, and then started laughing".

"Right…okay…" Dean says slowly before opening the door and walking in, "whew. Man, some heavy security to protect a bunch of dead guys".

"Get it?" John asks and Dean pulls out a paper bag from his pocket. Opening the bag, he shows his dad the bottle of dead man's blood and John nods in acceptance, "you know what to do".

Ben and Alec crouch quietly with Sam and John behind the trees as Dean, who is out in the open on the road, acts as bait. Neither twin liked this part of the plan, and had absolutely refused to stay at the motel if their dad was going to be out here as bait with out them to watch his back, so reluctantly Dean let them come, but with the strict instructions that they are to listen and do everything that John tells them to do.

Didn't mean that Dean wasn't a little worried though. Not because John and Sam might argue, because he knew that while they had to watch his back they wouldn't, the would stay focused. No, he was worried that if the twins got too worried for him, they might ignore John and just leap into action. He's eighty percent sure that they are smart enough not to do that though.

"No offence paternal forebear, but I don't like your plan" Alec whispers.

John doesn't bother to respond, choosing instead to keep focused on looking out for the vampires.

"You could have stayed back at the motel" Sam points out.

Alec huffs, "not bloody likely".

"Language".

Alec rolls his eyes and ignores his uncle, "we have night vision and heighten senses. Me and Ben will be able to tell when the vampires are coming sooner then you".

"Then keep quiet so that you can hear when they come" John says in a hushed voice, his eyes still on the lookout.

Alec pouts but stops talking and starts listening out for the vampires. Ben scans the area carefully, his eyes flickering over to Dean every minute or two to make sure he's still there.

About twenty minutes of silence later the twins hear distant sounds of a car heading towards them…or well, heading towards their dad.

"There's a car coming…pretty quickly too" Ben points in the direction if the sound.

Sam flips opens his phone and texts Dean that it's showtime. Then he and John armed themselves with the crossbows.

Dean climb out of the Impala after reading Sam's message, and pops open the bonnet. He leans over it and pretends to be looking over the engine as a car pulls up behind him.

"Car trouble?" A woman asks as she get's out of her car, "Let me give you a lift. I'll take you back to my place"

Dean turns to her and grins, "nah I'll pass. I usually draw the line at necrophilia".

"Ooh" the vampire back hands him, and another vampire joins them.

The twins flinch as their dad hits the ground and go to move, but John blocks them with his arm and shakes his head.

The vampire grabs Dean's face and lifts him into the air.

Ben and Alec tense up, but reluctantly stay where they are.

She backhands him. Another vamp approaches. She grabs his face and lifts him into the air.

"I don't usually get this friendly until the second date but…" Dean jokes.

"You know, we could have some fun. I always like to make new friends" she says before kissing him.

John grabs the back of Ben's shirt as the boy tries to make a move towards Dean, and gently but firmly holds him in place.

"Oh, sorry. I don't usually stay with a chick that long. Definitely not eternity" Dean's mouth flickers into a smirk as an arrow pierces into the other vampires back, followed by another arrow hitting the female vampires back.

She looks down at the arrow in her chest, "dammit".

John, Sam and the twins walk out from the trees and the twins flash over to Dean, almost barrelling him over as they hug him.

The female vampire looks over at John, "it barely even stings".

"Give it time sweetheart" John smirks "that arrow's soaked in dead man's blood. It's like poison to you isn't it?"

The female starts to waver and moments later she and the other vampire fall to the ground, unconscious.

"Load her up, I'll take care of this one" John gestures to the other vampire.

As John approaches the other vampire, Dean turns the twins faces away so that they don't see what John is about to do. It's one thing them knowing how to kill a vampire, but it's another for them to see it happening. Even though it's a monster, he doesn't really want the kittens to witness a head being cut off.

The twins sit around the campfire, keeping their ears and eyes open for any vampires, while Sam patrols around by the fire with a machete. John and Dean walk over to the fire from the Impala, John handing Dean a bag as they go.

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

Dean opens the bag and takes a sniff only to end up coughing, "stuff stinks".

"That's the idea. Dust your clothes with the ashes, and you stand a chance of not being detected".

"You sure they'll come after her?" Sam asks.

"Yeah. Vampires mate for life. She means more to the leader than the gun".

"Well, that's kinda sweet for a monster" Ben tilts his head.

"It's the way those creatures are" John shrugs, "the blood sickness is going to wear off soon, so you boys don't have a lot of time".

"A half hour ought to do it" Sam estimates.

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

"What?" Alec frowns…weren't they supposed to be doing this hunt as a family?

"Well, Dad you can't take care of them all yourself" Dean states.

"I'll have her. And the Colt" John replies.

"But after. We're gonna meet up, right? Use the gun together. Right?" Sam asks, though already knowing what the answer was heading towards…especially since John wasn't answering, "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".

Ben and Alec start tensing up seeing how things look like they could be heading for a fight again.

"Like what?"

"Like children".

Alec raises an eyebrow, he's one to talk. He and dad are always treating them like children. He looks over at Ben and sees his brother giving him a 'stay-out-of-it-look'.

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

"Dad, all due respect but, uh, that's a bunch of crap" Dean interrupts and everyone looks at him in shock.

"Excuse me?" John says once he gets over his shock.

"You know what 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" Dean says, but keeps his voice calm because this isn't going to be an argument.

"It's not the same thing, Dean".

"Then what is it? Why do you want us out of the big fight?"

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

"You mean you can't be as reckless" Alec gives his John his good impression of Sam's bitch-face and Ben's eyes widen in worry.

"Look…" John sighs and shakes his head, "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, or my grandchildren die either. I won't".

"What happens if you die? Dad, what happens if you die, and we could have done something about it? You know I been thinking. I… I think maybe Sammy's right about this one. We should do this together… We're stronger as a family, Dad. We just are. You know it".

Sam nods in agreement and the twins grin up at Dean. It's all they want. Them to work and be together as a family.

"We're running out of time" John shuts Dean's suggestion down, "you do your job and you get out of the area, you have to think about the twins. That's an order".

Dean shakes his head and looks down, while Sam clenches his jaw but keeps his mouth shut. Alec silently growls and turns to face the fire again in annoyance, while Ben frowns…so much for them working together as a family, or even being together as a family. They've barely had a couple of days together and most of the time they were either arguing or not talking.

And now…now John is going to go off on his own again, without a care for his own life…

Why can't people just stay?

"You know the plan?" Dean asks in a hushed voice.

"Yes" Alec rolls his eyes. This was the seventh time their dad has asked. "You and uncle Sam are going to take out any vampires that are still left in the barn, while me and Ben go rescue the people in the back".

"Good" Dean nods, looking over at Ben. The boy's been quiet since John left to get the colt, and he knows why. Ben being as…emotional and slightly co-dependant as he is, gets attached easily. He latches on to people in a probably unhealthily fast way, something that they are going to try and help him with, and now John's going to up and leave them. Again.

Yeah, this isn't going to help the kitten's emotional wellbeing…

…unless they don't let him leave.

"Right, let's go" Dean nods at Sam, and the older brothers carefully make their way towards the front of the barn, while the twins blur around to the back and quietly make their way in. They can't see any vampires, so hopefully any that are here are all out the front on watch, meaning it should be an easy sweep for Dean and Sam.

They listen out and move discreetly towards the locked cage full of people, and before any of them can start making any noises which would alert any vampires, Ben and Alec give them the universal symbol for keep quiet. Alec breaks the hinges on the cage door, and he and Ben make quick work of untying the people inside.

"Boys?" Dean's voice calls before he appears in the cage doorway, holding his machete at his side. Sam appearing next to him a moment later.

"All good in here" Alec salutes as Ben unties the last person.

Sam looks at the handful of people, "you've all just seen some…odd things these past couple of days, but you don't have to worry because we've taken care of it" Sam says, gesturing to himself and Dean, "you're all safe now, okay".

"Do you know your way back into town from here?" Dean asks, and a couple of the people nod, "okay, they left one of their trucks behind. I can hotwire it for you and then you guys need to drive out of here and don't stop till you get back into town".

Dean moves towards the truck before anyone can reply, with Ben and Alec hot on his heels. Sam stays back to help usher the people towards the truck.

"Can I hotwire it? Please" Alec pouts at Dean, "plus…I can probably do it faster".

Dean rolls his eyes but nods his head and Alec grins, racing towards the truck.

"We're having them get themselves back to town? I thought we were supposed to go with them to make sure that they get back ok" Ben questions, his face frowning in confusion.

"They'll be fine now. The vampires here are dead, and the others are after your grandfather, and that's where we're going now" Dean says, "we work better as a family, so your grandpa is going to get our help whether he wants it or not".

"Because we are stronger together" Ben can feel himself already feeling less worried and tense knowing that they aren't going to leave John behind. Knowing that they are going to remain together because they are a family and that's what family's do. They stick together.

"Exactly".

"Dad will be pissed" Sam catches up with them.

"Well he can be pissed" Dean huffs, "we aren't separating again, and dad can try and argue, but it's not up for discussion…well actually dad can't argue because there is no more arguing or at least none in front of the twins", Dean looks at Sam, "got it".

"Got it".

"Good".

"One truck ready for use" Alec pipes up, poking his head up the truck as he stands on the driver's seat, before jumping down and walking over to them.

"Well done Buddy" Dean turns to the people, "it'll be a squeeze, but everyone hop in and keep driving till you get back to town".

There are a few murmurs and mumbles of 'thank you' as the group of people cram into the truck, more then ready to escape this nightmare.

The four of them watch the truck drive off before quickly heading back to the Impala, hoping that they'll get to John before he either gets killed by vampires or disappears with the colt.

Dean lines up his shot with his crossbow and takes down one of the vamps just after John get's backhanding to the ground.

Sam and Dean run out of the trees, the twins blurring ahead towards John to make sure he's alright, and Dean hit's another vampires with the crossbow before turning to use his machete. The vampire's leader, Luther, hit's Sam before wrapping his arm around his throat and using his body as a shield.

"Don't! I'll break his neck. Put the blade down" Luther hisses.

Dean pauses for a moment, unsure of what to do, while Alec's eyes widen in fear. He's never fought a vampire before so he doesn't know how much strength it has compared with his own, so he doesn't know if him blurring and hitting the monster will help Sam or get him hurt.

Luther tightens his hold on Sam's neck, cutting off his air supply completely, which makes Dean drop his machete.

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

"Not when you hurt my grandpa and my uncle" Ben says from behind them.

Luther turns to see that Ben had picked up the forgotten colt. The boy raises the colt and shoots a well-aimed shot between the vampire's eyes. Luther let's go of Sam, who stumbles away and into a shocked Dean.

Horror runs through the man because his son shouldn't have had to do that, while Alec and John stare up at Ben in varying degrees of shock.

Luther stumbles slightly before a brief flash of light reflects his skeleton and he falls to his knees.

His mate screams, "Lutherrrr!"

Another flash of light passes through Luther and he slumps to the ground dead. His mate starts to move towards Ben, John quickly standing and placing himself in front of the child, before one of the other vampires pull her away and into their car. They speed away, their wheels screaming against road as they go.

Dean quickly moves towards Ben and takes the colt from him. He hands it to his dad before picking his son up and holding him tight, while Alec runs into Sam's arms.

"Don't do that again" Dean mumbles into Ben's hair.

Ben frowns in confusion, "why? He was hurting uncle Sam and he was a monster".

"I know, and I'm so glad that Sam is okay, but Ben…you shouldn't have had to do that. It wasn't your job it was mine as am the parent. Or even grandpa or Sam's job. But not yours or Alec. Children should have to pull the trigger or even hold a gun".

"I'm not just a child, I'm a solider… I'm more a solider than a child".

Dean lets out a sad sigh, "…I know, but you still shouldn't have to do things like that. Things are different now because you aren't there anymore. You don't have to be the ones who pick up the guns or fight the battles. You have us now. It's our job to protect you, not the other way around".

"Shouldn't we protect each other?" Alec asks, pulling out of his hug from Sam.

"Yes, but children shouldn't have to. Or at least, not like this" Dean bends down and puts Ben's feet back on the ground, pulling away slightly so he can look at his face, "please, don't do that again, unless it's yours or Alec's life on the line".

Ben nods, even though he knows that if it came down to it, he'd do it again because he's not losing his family.

The mood in the motel, as the two sets of brother's pack, is a little somber. After returning to the motel no one said any more about what happened with the vampires. As far as Dean hopes, it was the first and the last time that was going to happen. Or at least the last time until the boys are older. He was fine with them helping on hunts…okay he wasn't fine, but he could cope with it. What he can't cope with is them being the ones to kill, even if the things they are killing are monsters, no child should have to kill anything. Whether they were raised as soldiers or not.

Ben still doesn't really understand what their dad's problem is. He killed a monster that was going to kill uncle Sam, it was practically what he's been trained to do since birth. Alec was just a bit annoyed that he, once again, didn't get to do much on this hunt but Ben did.

All four Winchesters stop their packing as John walks in and the atmosphere goes from somber to tense because they're pretty sure John is about to start shouting at them for disobeying him. However, Dean isn't going to let that happen, not in front of his boys.

"So, boys" John starts.

"Yes sir" Sam says as they face him.

"You ignored a direct order back there".

"Yes sir".

"Yeah but we saved your ass" Dean states.

Ben and Alec's head snap around to look at their father in shock while Sam gives his brother a sideways glance of surprise. John stares steadily at Dean for a moment, long enough to make the man start to feel a little nervous, but he wasn't going to back down from his dad.

"You're right" John agrees eventually.

"I am?" Dean is very surprised that his dad isn't chewing him out right now.

"It scares the hell out of me. You four are all I've got… But I guess we are stronger as a family. So, we go after this damn thing. Together".

"Yes sir" Sam and Dean say in unison, with Sam letting a small smile appear on his face.

Ben and Alec look at each other and share a grin. This was all they wanted. Them all together, as a family.

First off, again, I am SO sorry for the long wait. I know it's been over 3 months since I last updated but I've been having a very bad case of writers' block on this chapter. I would just spend hours looking at this chapter and it would frustrate me to no end that I couldn't figure out what to write. My mind just wasn't cooperating with me. I also got a sinus infection, which doesn't sound so bad…until you have one.

I know some of you may have thought that I had forgotten or given up this story, but I promise that no matter how long it takes me to write, I won't ever forget this story. It's just sometimes takes me awhile to get things done (because unfortunately that's the kind of person I am, sorry).

Second, I know some of you may be getting tired off Ben and Alec being left in the Impala while Sam and Dean get on with things for the hunt, but I promise that soon they twins will be saying 'screw being left behind' and will be making sure that they are involved. It'll be in a few chapters time and I have it planned out, so don't worry!

Anyway, feel free to favourite, follow and review.

Thanks for reading :)