Someone from the past comes back for the Winchester brothers, and this time he has a little help. Sequel to Unhinged.

Author's Note: Yes, this is the sequel to Unhinged. If you remember the ending, Gordon appeared and helped Robbie out of his situation. This means for the sake of this story, Gordon will be AU while everything else remains the same, i.e., the deal and anything else that may have happened to the brothers up to 3.02 The Kids Are All Right. If you haven't read Unhinged, you may need to do so in order to get familiar with Robbie.

Updates are going to happen as I can get to them, but I have quite a few things on my plate right now so I'm not sure how often that will be. I am still currently working on Livin' On The Edge and working on the Virtual Season, but I will be writing on this as time allows. I hope you enjoy this and please don't hesitate to let me know what you think.

A few shout-outs: To Bayre, Sojourner, and Tree for keeping me on my toes and letting me know what works and what doesn't. To Tree, for her wonderful insight on the world of arson and helping me keep facts straight so I don't come off as a bumbling idiot. Thanks so much guys—I really don't know what I would do without you.

Disclaimer: I own nothing—nada, zip, zilch…except Robbie, but I'm not sure if that's something to brag about…

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Robbie Mallette felt a power building up, coursing though his body as if he was charged by an electrical current. The blade felt good in his hands, almost as if it was an extension of himself. It was a weapon he'd come to love in the past few months, one he felt the closest with. It was much better than a gun, any day of the week.

It amazed the young man how something so light and beautiful could be so deadly. The late evening sunlight reflected off the blade, almost giving it an effervescent glow. Robbie smiled as he gripped the blade in a regular reverse grip, making a fist around the handle, the edge facing outwards. There were no nerves now—he couldn't afford to hesitate. The only thing that would result in would be his death. Instead, he felt a thrill of anticipation as he watched his opponent, his smile becoming feral as he struck out with the blade.

His opponent deftly sidestepped the swing of the blade, shaking his head in disappointment. Robbie growled low in his throat as he brought the knife up once again, swiping wildly. His opponent ducked out of the way, crouching as he brought his leg out in an arc, knocking Robbie's feet out from under him. The mousy twenty-three year old fell hard to the ground, the knife falling from his grip as the wind was knocked out of him. Through a haze of pain, Robbie looked up as his opponent squatted next to him.

"Rookie move, Robbie." Gordon Walker stood up and extended a hand to the downed man. Robbie glared at him before grudgingly taking the proffered hand. "You can't go back at your opponent like that. It makes it too easy for them to get a few shots in of their own because you're not thinking anymore. You're letting your anger fuel you and that will get you killed."

Robbie refused to look at his mentor as he dusted off his jeans. "I thought you said for me to use my anger."

"Use it, yes, but you have to learn to channel it. Make it work for you, not against you. It shows your opponent weakness and he will use that to finish you." Gordon picked up the knife and handed it hilt side back to Robbie. "We're finished for today."

Robbie finally looked up at Gordon, grudgingly taking the knife. "I don't see why we have to keep training like this. We're ready for this—we're wasting time. I mean, hell, it's been three months already."

The vampire hunter sighed. "I told you the Winchesters were different. They're skilled and you can be sure as hell they're watching their backs."

"But we could have caught them by surprise and finished them already. I'm tired of waiting around with our thumbs up our asses."

Gordon shook his head. "You don't seem to understand, Robbie. Dean—he's like a guard dog when it comes to that little brother of his. He's not going to let you get to Sam again without hurting you or killing you next time. And Sam…don't get me started on Sam Winchester."

Robbie rolled his eyes as he let out a deep sigh. "I know this already—Sam is evil, so you keep saying."

Gordon arched a brow. "He is evil—Sammy's going to bring about the end of the world."

"You've been saying that the last three months, but I just don't understand it. He's a normal guy, just like you and me. If he was evil, don't you think he would have done something when I snatched him?"

Gordon chuckled, deep in his throat. "He's got you fooled, just like everyone else. He can make everyone see and believe what he wants them to."

"So, he sat there and allowed me to play with his life?"

"He had to keep up his charade."

Robbie shook his head as he fingered the sharp blade. He'd been hearing Gordon spew the same crap about Sam ever since the vampire hunter found him in the old Eclipse Hotel back in his hometown of Travers, Arkansas. Since that time, they'd been on the road keeping a distanced eye on the Winchesters and training. Gordon said he wanted Robbie to be ready for when they met up with the brothers again, he didn't want him caught by surprise. In between all the training, Gordon told Robbie all about Sam and the talk among the demon world Sam was meant to lead them in the fight against humanity. Robbie had to admit when Gordon first told him about this, he laughed in the older man's face.

Of course, that had only angered Gordon and resulted in a black eye for Robbie. It was then Robbie learned to be careful about what he said to and about Gordon. To be honest though, Robbie didn't want to upset the hunter. Gordon was the closest thing he'd had to a family in a long time. He was exactly what Robbie needed after the failed attempt with Dean. Gordon was filling that hole in Robbie's life and he couldn't be happier with the friend he'd found—the brother he'd found.

Robbie followed Gordon as the hunter picked up his black canvas bag from the ground and they walked towards the small clapboard home they'd been lucky enough to stumble across. The white exterior was fading and the paint chips were flaking, covering the ground below it like snowflakes. There was a fence surrounding the property, but it looked to be on its last limb as it tried to remain standing. The porch was barely stable enough for anyone to walk across it, so they'd resorted to using the back door. The yard was unkempt and it seemed as if the last time it was introduced to a lawn mower had to have been at least a decade ago.

While the house had all the negatives, the two positives were that it was in the middle of nowhere and the rent was next to nothing—in fact, the owner seemed ecstatic to have someone finally live in it, so much so they'd thrown in the basic furnishings for free. The house gave them the freedom they needed for the training and they didn't have to worry about anyone walking up on them. Gordon had taken all the necessary precautions to make sure they were well-isolated. He'd told Robbie they couldn't afford to be out in the open, especially when Gordon just got out of prison. He'd never told Robbie why he'd been in prison, only it was because of Sam. Robbie decided it would be best not to pressure the man because he saw how quickly Gordon could become angry.

"You want a beer?" Robbie asked as he put his blade down on the counter. He went over to the refrigerator and glanced back at Gordon as he held the door open.

"Sure." Gordon placed his bag on the floor and sank down into a worn wooden chair. Robbie plucked out two beers and after handing one of the brown bottles to Gordon, sat down across from him. The two men sat in companionable silence as they each nursed their beers. A slight ticking from a cheap wall clock was the only sound to be heard as they were lost in their own thoughts.

Robbie was tired of the sitting around and waiting. He wanted to be out there doing something, exacting his revenge against the Winchester brothers. If it was up to him, he would have gone after them as soon as Gordon released him, but the hunter convinced him otherwise. Seeing as he really had no other option and going after Dean and Sam immediately after he was free would have been foolhardy, Robbie agreed. But his patience was starting to wear thin—he needed the action, he needed to satiate his hunger before it consumed him.

Almost as if he was sensing Robbie's troubled thoughts, Gordon spoke up. "I think you're right. I think it's time we step up to the plate."

Robbie's face broke into a brilliant smile. "Really?"

Gordon nodded as he took another sip of his beer. "Yeah—for the most part, I think you're ready. Besides, I'm gonna be there beside you, every step of the way."

"So, we can go after them?" Robbie tried to mask his eagerness, but these were the words he'd been waiting to hear for the past three months. He was finally going to get his chance at the Winchesters, teach them a lesson they'd never forget.

Gordon held up a calming hand. "I didn't say that. Like I told you earlier, you can't just go after the Winchesters. We have to bring them to us."

Robbie frowned. "How are we supposed to do that? It's not like they're gonna come waltzing up to us just because we tell them to."

"You're right, which is why we need to draw them in. Use their weakness against them."

"What's that?"

"Human life—you threaten that, take it away and they'll come running just like the bleeding hearts they are."

"You're talking about killing someone."

Gordon gave a casual shrug. "War is bloody and uncaring—sometimes you have to be willing to risk a life to accomplish the greater good." His dark eyes narrowed. "What are you worried about anyway? You've killed before and almost killed Sam without any remorse."

"I know and I'm not saying I have a problem with it if it will get me what I want."

"Good."

"But how are you gonna do it? I mean, it's not gonna be easy."

Gordon nodded. "You're right, it's not. You just leave everything to me and be ready. Once I get the ball rolling, we'll be moving fast."

"I'm ready…you know I am." Robbie's face hardened as he leveled his gaze at Gordon. "It's the only thing I've been able to think about."

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Gordon Walker smiled to himself as he watched Robbie shuffle off into his bedroom. The boy was eager, reminding Gordon of himself when he first signed up for the life of a hunter. Robbie wanted the thrill of the kill and the vampire hunter was determined to fulfill the young man's wish. He could give Robbie what he wanted and so much more out of life, and that began with the Winchesters.

Robbie's thirst for vengeance almost rivaled Gordon's in more ways than one. Robbie wanted payback for the way the brothers humiliated him; Gordon wanted the same thing, especially after Sam had the gall to turn him over to the police. Robbie wanted Dean to feel the loss of a brother; Gordon wanted Dean to feel the pain of loss as well. Robbie wanted Sam to pay for ruining his chances at a life with Dean; Gordon wanted Sam to pay before he could bring about the destruction of mankind. Maybe the reasons weren't exactly the same, but the end result would be nonetheless—the Winchesters needed to be stopped and pay for their actions.

Gordon pretty much had everything worked out in his head and he had to admit, it was a damn brilliant plan. He would play on the Winchesters' weakness and use it against them. If there was anything to know about the brothers, it was that they showed their weakness to their enemies—the destruction of human life. Dangle it out in front of them, and they'd come riding in on their white horses, ready to save the day. And what were a couple human lives if it meant Gordon Walker brought down the very being that threatened humanity?

The seasoned hunter knew all about the demons being released from Hell back in Wyoming a few weeks ago. He knew the Winchesters played a very important part in releasing them. He knew many hunters were gunning for the brothers and he knew he could use that to his advantage. All it would take was one phone call and things could finally get on track.

Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, Gordon flipped it open and scrolled through his contacts. Coming to a number, he smiled as he pressed the TALK button and waited for the other end to pick up. After two rings, he heard a gruff voice answer.

"Hello?"

"Peterson…it's Walker. I think it's time I collected on that favor you owe me."

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One week later…

Robbie let out a deep sigh as he rotated his neck until he heard a series of satisfying pops. He'd been working hard for the last couple of hours, getting the napalm mixture to just the right consistency. Gordon had provided him with everything he needed and left him with precise instructions. If Robbie didn't follow them to a T, then it could result in his death and it would put all of their careful planning down the crapper. The young man couldn't begin to let Gordon down, especially when the hunter told him this would be the big event, the one to draw the Winchesters in once and for all.

For the last week, he and Gordon had been causing quite a stir around the small town of Oneida, Kentucky—namely a series of fires. Nothing major, really, unless you considered a couple of homeless men as unfortunate victims something to frown upon. As Gordon said, there were bound to be some casualties in order to achieve the endgame. Robbie wanted the endgame, more so than anything else and he would do whatever it took to get there.

Adjusting the cheap oxygen mask on his face, Robbie once again grabbed up the large wooden spoon and stirred the mixture. It was tedious work and something he was taking pride in. Then again, Robbie Mallette always took pride in his work. If anyone went back and spoke to his teachers, they would say the young man was a good student who took pride in everything he set his mind to and this would be no exception. Finally the napalm got to the right consistency and Robbie stood up to get the next part of his plan ready.

Grabbing the light bulb off the small table, Robbie began the painstaking work of drilling a small hole into the top of it. After that, he grabbed a small container of black powder he'd extracted from some shotgun shells earlier, and being careful, he poured the powder through the small hole until it covered the filament. Smiling, he grabbed a small piece of tape and covered the hole so the powder wouldn't stream out before he could complete his assignment.

Robbie didn't bother cleaning up his mess as he grabbed up his necessary materials and transported them out to his car. There was time to clean up later, after he was finished with what he needed to do. Pulling his keys from his pocket, Robbie climbed into the small hatchback and drove towards his intended target.

It only took about fifteen minutes before he arrived at a small one-story home with a white exterior framed by royal blue shutters. A well-kept garden full of colorful daisies, pansies, and daylilies were on either side of the small wooden staircase that led up to a blue door to match the shutters. A large oak tree enveloped the front of the home in shade and a small carport was off to the right. What made the house really stand out though was the fact it was secluded. The nearest neighbor was at least a quarter of a mile away so Robbie had complete privacy.

Robbie scouted many homes for the last week but for some reason he always came back to this one. He'd been watching it for the last couple of days, in order to get the routine down and it amazed him that the family of a single mom and two boys always followed the same pattern. That's what was wrong with the human race—they became accustomed to the same routine day in and day out, never thinking to break the monotony, never thinking someone may be watching them…studying them. Then again, when people did that it made what Robbie had to do a lot easier.

Looking at his watch, Robbie saw it was quickly approaching nine o'clock in the morning. He knew the family was well and gone—the mother off to her nine-to-five job at the local pharmacy and the two boys were in school. He would have until at least four to get everything in place just how he wanted. Again, everything had to be perfect and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes, even the smallest one. There was no room for error here—Robbie knew that.

Pulling up his car into a small inlet a few yards away from the house, Robbie got out and gathered up his materials. He stood still for a few moments, listening for any approaching cars and when he heard none, he quickly made his way towards the house. Walking around to the back door, he put down the container and pulled out the lock pick Gordon gave him. Thanks to Gordon's instruction, Robbie had the door open in a matter of seconds. As he opened the window-paned door he heard the soft, steady beep of the alarm system. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the slip of paper containing the code he'd gotten after hacking into the security company's website. Keying it in, the system gave one more beep, indicating it was now disarmed.

Stuffing the paper back in his pocket, Robbie darted out the door and brought in the napalm and light bulb. Setting it down on the table, he took a look around the bright, tidy kitchen. This would be the best place to achieve his goal, where most of the impact needed to occur. After watching the family, he knew they came through the back door and into the kitchen—at least, they had for the past two nights. Even if they changed it up, they'd still have to come through the kitchen eventually. Everyone knew it was the central hub of the home.

Leaving the kitchen, Robbie bypassed the living room and made his way towards the small, narrow hallway. Seeing two doors to the left, he tried the first one and found himself in a boy's bedroom. From the looks of the baseball motif, it was obvious it was the younger boy's room. It was confirmed for him when he saw a couple of awards certificates on the wall made out to Micah Jennings. From his intel he'd gathered, Robbie knew Micah was the youngest child and Adam was the oldest. Spotting a picture on the small dresser beside the twin bed, Robbie picked it up and stared at it—a snapshot of the brothers together at a baseball game, their smiling faces oblivious to the fate awaiting them.

Micah was the reason he'd picked the family in the first place. It was almost as if the boy had been a sign from above and Robbie knew not to take what was handed to him for granted. The shaggy haired boy resembled Sam so much, it was almost uncanny and it even sent a shiver down Robbie's spine. It only brought his past failures bubbling up to the surface, but Robbie would correct that mistake now. He would show them all he wasn't a failure; he could finish anything he set his mind to.

Removing the picture from the frame, Robbie folded it in half and put it in his pocket. He always liked to keep pictures as mementos—some may define that as a sick habit, but Robbie liked to think of it as holding on to memories. Speaking of memories, Robbie spied a baseball cap hanging on the foot railing of the bed. Picking it up, he saw it could be adjusted. Fixing it to fit him, he slipped it on his head and smiled. Leaving the room, and shutting the door behind him, he moved down to the next room.

Opening the door, he saw this room didn't have a specific décor—music and anime posters dotted the walls and clothes were strewn all over the carpeted floor. Miscellaneous items lined the desk, which also housed an early model computer. A thin coat of dust covered the small television screen which was sitting on a small rollaway cart.

Skipping past everything else, Robbie went straight for the closet and opened the sliding door. Many clothes hangers were bare and Robbie guessed all the clothes in the room once resided inside the closet. Going through the remaining articles of clothing, the young man came to a stop when he spotted a letterman's jacket. Removing it from the hanger, he saw it was large enough to fit his small frame. Sliding his arms into it, Robbie burrowed himself inside it, imagining Adam wearing the garment. The musty smell of sweat remained in the fabric of the collar and Robbie drank it up like it was an intoxicating drink.

Reluctantly shrugging out of the jacket, Robbie placed it back where he found it. Letting out a sigh, he left the room and walked back towards the kitchen. He really needed to get things set up before he ran out of time. Gordon told him this wasn't something he could fool around with—he had to take his time and not make any mistakes or the entire thing could blow up in his face—no pun intended. Moving over to the container of napalm, Robbie took the lid off and began to spread it out throughout the home, making sure he coated the kitchen generously. After he finished and making sure the light switch was off, he brought a barstool over to the main light fixture in the kitchen and removed the light bulb.

Stepping down from the stool, he grabbed his modified bulb from the table and carefully screwed it into the socket. Jumping down once again, he stepped back and admired his handiwork. His work here had been nothing but perfection, something to be appreciated by all. There was now only one thing left to do—wait for the family to return and watch.

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Adam Jennings sighed as his mom pulled the car to a stop. He didn't understand why she was being so stubborn. He was fifteen years old for crying out loud, plenty old enough to go to the movies with his friends this weekend.

"Mom, the guys are counting on me to go with them."

Helen Jennings let out her own sigh, but it was a mixture of irritation and exhaustion. "Adam, I am not going to tell you again—I cannot let you go to the movies without parental supervision. You know I have to work this weekend and I need you to stay at home with your brother."

"I can take care of myself," Micah pouted from the backseat.

"I'm sure you can, honey, but you're only eleven. You're still too young to stay home alone."

"Why can't Grandma come over and watch Micah? Why do I always have to do it?"

"Adam, please don't start this argument again."

"It's not fair, Mom!" It's not that Adam minded watching his little brother, it was just sometimes he needed a break. He just wished his mom could see that every now and then. He had friends he wanted to do things with and it was hard to do that when he was constantly baby-sitting Micah.

"There are a lot of things in life that isn't fair, Adam. I could talk about that one for days as a matter of fact." Pushing the door open, Helen glanced at her oldest son. "Look, honey, I promise I'll take you and your friends to the movies next weekend, okay?"

"Whatever." Adam opened his door and barely glanced over his shoulder as he walked away. "I'm going to go check the mail."

The young man quickly put distance between himself and his mother. They always seemed to be at odds with each other lately and quite honestly, the teen was getting tired of it. It's not that he meant to continuously clash with her—he knew she worked hard to provide for their small family, but he needed his space as well. Didn't she know how hard he worked in school? Didn't he deserve the same kind of break she did?

Coming to a stop in front of the small black mailbox, Adam opened it up and pulled out the mail. Browsing through it, he saw it was the usual assortment of bills and junk mail, along with a birthday card for Micah from their aunt in Florida. His little brother would be twelve in a few days and it was the only thing the shaggy haired boy could talk about. Smiling, Adam stepped away from the box just as a loud explosion echoed all around him and the hot wave of the blast knocked him off his feet, causing the mail to scatter.

Rising shakily to his feet, Adam's eyes widened in horror as he saw his house enveloped in flames. "No," he whispered. "No. No. NOOOOOO!"

"MOM!" Adam raced towards his house as tears streaked down his face. "MICAH!"

Flames licked greedily out of every window and Adam saw glass littered the ground everywhere, not to mention the front door had blasted off its hinges. The teen came to a stop a few yards away from the house, the intensity of the flames too hot for him to tread any closer. The rational part of his brain told him it was too late for his family but the irrational part was telling him there was still time to save them—he had to save them!

Once again, he tried to get closer to the burning home but the intensity of the flames kept pushing him away. He tried this several times but continued to remain unsuccessful. Dropping to his knees, sobs began to rack his body and he welcomed them. He needed to feel something and pain and loss were the two most prominent emotions competing for the top spot. Even as he heard the sound of approaching sirens in the distance, it did nothing for him. No matter what anyone did, it was too late.

It was too late for everything.

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Robbie watched from a safe distance as the small home continued to go up in flames. He noticed the oldest Jennings boy at the mailbox before the explosion and for a fleeting moment he panicked. He even considered knocking the kid out and placing him in the house, but realized maybe it was better this way. It would be good for the kid to mourn the loss of his family, just as he had all those years ago when James died. Robbie shouldn't have to be the only one to lose the ones he loved; others deserved that loss as well.

Putting his phone back in his pocket, he figured he should get out of there before the cavalry arrived. He'd called in anonymously to emergency services, figuring it was the least he could do for Adam. After all, Robbie didn't want people to think he was completely heartless. Besides, living so far out in the country he was sure it would have been hours before anyone noticed the burning home.

Walking to his car still parked in the tiny inlet, he got in and drove away. He was proud of what he'd accomplished today. Sure, one of the kids was still alive but it was nothing to worry about as the boy never saw him. In fact, Robbie wouldn't even have to mention that little tidbit to Gordon. It was better he didn't know anyway—if Gordon had shown him anything, it was he didn't like loose ends. Gordon would kill the boy without a second thought.

Things were progressing very well indeed. Now all they had to do was wait for the Winchesters to rise to the bait.