Those Three Words (Thirteen/?)
Title: Those Three Words
Authors: xtremeroswellia and clarksmuse
Rating: R to NC-17 for language and sexual scenes
Pairing: Chlean (Chloe/Dean) :D
Characters: multi-fandom -- Smallville, Supernatural, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Disclaimer: Neither of us own these characters. We're just borrowing them, so please don't sue!!
One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen A | Sixteen B | Seventeen | Eighteen | Cocnlusion
Dean's arm was slung around Chloe's waist as Sam and they approached Mr. Giles's hotel room, where all the other Scoobies would be gathered. Minus Spike, of course, Dean smirked. "Time to find out what this thing is," he said casually, trying to hide the uncertainty he felt.
"Yeah, cause you're all about the killing," Sam retorted quietly, the headache from his vision still upon him, though it had lessened during the night.
"How ya feeling, Sam?" Chloe asked, glancing up at him with concern in her green eyes as she reached out to knock on the hotel room door.
"I'll be fine, really," Sam insisted, wincing slightly at the loud rap on the hotel door. "Head still hurts, is all."
Dean looked at his brother, frustrated because he'd wanted to come along and worried because of the still-present headache. He said nothing, though, as his arm slipped from Chloe's waist and Giles answered the door.
"Good morning," Giles said, his voice chipper and British. "You've just caught us at breakfast, but won't you come in?"
"Thanks," Dean replied, stepping back to let Chloe. Then, following Sam, he shut the door behind them and looked around the overly crowded room.
"Morning," Tara greeted, smiling at them as she sipped her coffee. "Want doughnuts or coffee? We've got plenty."
"Coffee'd be great," Chloe agreed, moving over and taking one of the cups.
Dean laughed inwardly at how chipper she was, despite the little sleep they'd both gotten. Propping himself against the wall, he watched Sam hover in the darker corner of the room. "So, what's going on today?"
Giles adjusted his glasses as he took a sip of coffee. "Researching more information about the Hellmouth." He looked over a Chloe. "How was patrol last night?"
She was silent for a moment, and her hesitation caused the rest of the room to grow still and silent, as well. "Not so good. We've got some kind of really ugly, hard to kill vampire on the loose." She met Dean's gaze for only a brief moment, then turned to Giles. "I've never seen anything like it."
Xander, who had been actively munching on a doughnut, stopped and let his mouth fall open. "Wait," he said, his voice muffled by the food in his mouth, "you mean, it's still... out there?"
Dean said nothing, just bowed his head as he remembered the condition she was in last night when she got back to her place.
"Yeah, it's still out there," she said, her voice slightly sharper than she meant for it to be. She watched him exchange a glance with Willow and her jaw tightened a little. "It's incredibly strong." Stronger than anything I've fought before, she thought, glancing at Sam.
Tara bit her lip, sensing a tension in the room she was uncertain about.
Xander and Willow looked at each other in utter confusion. "Chloe, can you describe what this thing... looked like?"
Sam, who still kept his head back in the shadow of the room, winced visibly, something Giles noticed, though he said nothing.
"Evil in its purest form comes to mind," she said grimly, leaning against the door. "Big, muscular, gray. Red eyes, and the nastiest set of teeth you've ever seen. And claws... big ones," she added, winding her arms around herself.
Anya looked thoughtful. "Are you sure it was a vampire?"
Giles looked thoughtful for a moment. It couldn't be, he thought. Those things are just legend. "Did you see this creature, Dean?"
Dean looked at Giles and shook his head. "No, I... Sammy and I, we, uh... we all split up last night." He glanced at Chloe but couldn't meet her eyes.
"Strange," Willow replied. "Haven't heard of this thing before."
Chloe drew in a breath, squaring her shoulders. "So I'm guessing none of you has ever encountered anything like this before." She glanced around the room. "Maybe Spike will know." She ignored Xander's snort of derision.
"Spike is a vampire," Anya said, nodding. "Of course it's too bad Angel isn't around. He's even older than Spike."
"Yeah, because Angel was so helpful the last time he was around," Xander grumbled before being elbowed in the ribs. "Ow, Anya, that hurt!"
Chloe smirked. The only thing Spike and Xander had in common was that they both hated the other ensouled vampire.
"It was supposed to. That's why I did it," she informed him.
Rolling his eyes, Xander rubbed his side and said, "The point is, DEAR, that Angel probably couldn't help us, either." He stood up and walked to the other side of the room.
Despite being slightly amused, Giles's mind had been working on Chloe's description. Looking at Sam suddenly, he remarked, "You're looking rather peaked, this morning, Sam. What happened last night?"
Sam's eyes grew wide as he stared at Giles. "Nothing. I just have a headache today." He looked at his brother, a pleading look in his eyes.
"Sammy's fine, Giles," Dean remarked. "Just hit the bottle a little too hard last night."
Chloe shot him a glare and then looked at Sam briefly. "Migraines are nothing to be ashamed of, Sam. A lot of people get them," she said softly, covering for him without hesitation.
"Which one are you sleeping with?" Anya asked suddenly, looking between Chloe and the boys with peaked interest.
"Anya," Tara said in shock.
"I'm just gonna keep pretending I'm not here," Dawn mumbled, stuffing a donut in her mouth.
Sam and Dean shot Anya a couple of stares that could have killed the monster Chloe fought last night. Angered by her blatant question, Dean snarled, "Who the hell are you to ask something like that?"
"Dean," Sam said, warning his brother with his tone of voice.
"Hey, don't talk to my fiancée like that," Xander demanded, then turned to look at her. "Anya, shut up. Remember that Dawnie's here?"
Giles just rolled his eyes, pretending to sink into the wall for a moment.
"I figured it was you," Anya said, taking no heed of Dean's anger as she nodded slightly, a knowing smile on her face. "I can almost always tell. It's a gift."
"Glad I don't have it," Dawn said, rolling her eyes.
Chloe kept a restraining hand on Dean's arm, unable to help feeling a bit amused by the pretty blonde's lack of tact. It kind of reminded her of Lois.
Clearing his throat, Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them vigorously, "OK, well now that we're done putting Dawn through years of therapy, can we get back to the task at hand?"
"Gladly," Dean snapped, still glaring at Anya, though Chloe's gentle touch kept him from saying anything else.
"Why ask Sam if he knows something?" Willow asked, looking at Tara and suspecting Giles knew more than he was telling.
"I don't know," Dean replied, "but he doesn't know anything. He's fine."
Which meant Sam knew something, Giles thought. But he let that drop. "Chloe, did this thing look like a bat?" he continued.
"Now that you mention it... yeah. Only without the wings. And it definitely wasn’t blind,” she said grimly. “Have you heard of something like it?” she asked, happy to get the subject off of Sam.
Giles paused, thinking about the words that would properly answer her question. “Perhaps,” he said cryptically, reaching for a stack of books he had brought with him from Sunnydale.
Willow grabbed her laptop. “Alright, time to research?” she asked excitedly.
Giles nodded, handing her a book. “Yes, but I don’t think you’ll find this on that electronic contraption,” he replied solemnly.
Dean stared at Giles, suspicious of him immediately.
Feeling uncertain, she gazed at the British man. “Well, should we stay here, or should I go hound Spike for information?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
“Spike may know something,” Tara agreed, nodding slightly. “I think we’ve got the research covered.” She offered Chloe a smile.
Willow readily agreed. “Yep, we’re all over the research,” she replied with a smile. She handed Xander a book and ignored his groaning.
“God, I have to read... more?!” he whined to anyone who would listen.
Dean rolled his eyes and, looking at Sam, headed for the door. “Hounding Spike is always a good time,” he retorted, yanking the knob open.
Giles looked at Chloe. “We should have some answers for you soon. In the meantime... be careful.” His eyes conveyed a sorrow that not many people saw, but looking at the new Slayer, he couldn’t help but feel for her. Especially since he’d correctly guessed her connection to the eldest Winchester brother. A good thing, he mused.
“We will,” she said grimly, holding his gaze for a moment, then turning and following Dean out the door, feeling a bit dazed.
As Sam followed Chloe and Dean out the door and shut it, Giles thoughtfully watched the shut door for a moment. Mary would have been proud of her sons, he thought. It seemed they were already Watchers, even though they didn’t know it yet.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he looked at the rest of the gang sternly and said, “OK, to work.”
&&&
“He knows something,” Chloe murmured to the guys as they headed for the Impala.
“Damn straight he does,” Dean replied, opening the door and letting her scoot in the middle of the front seat.
“What do you think he knows?” Sam asked, knowing deep down that, somehow, Giles knew about his visions.
“I’m not sure,” she said, glancing at him sideways as he slid into the passenger seat. “But I’m gonna find out.”
“How, though Spike?” Dean replied, scooting in beside her and starting the car. “Don’t think he’s going to be much help.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “I have ways of getting people to talk.”
A lazy smile crossed Dean’s features. “Yeah, lots of ways.”
Sam rolled his eyes and turned up the music, whether it was good or not.
&&&
“Bloody hell,” Spike grumbled as he rolled off his bed at the loud thumping on the outside of his crypt.
Without further warning, Chloe stepped inside, followed by both Winchesters.
“You realize vampires sleep during the day?”
“Yes, and it’s even funnier when you wake them up,” Dean remarked casually, watching in amusement as Spike stumbled out of bed and put on a shirt.
Sam grimaced and hit Dean in the chest. “Knock it off, dude,” he said before turning to Spike. “Sorry to disturb you, man.”
“I’m guessing you’re not here for tea,” he said wryly. “Though I have some nice O positive in the fridge if you’re hungry.” Smirking at Dean’s disgusted look, he felt satisfied.
“We’re here for information.” Chloe’s voice was quiet.
“Of course you are.”
“We’re sure as hell not here for tea, blood, or anything else,” Dean growled, moving towards Spike, “unless you deserve an ass kicking for what happened to Chloe last night!”
Sam tried to restrain Dean but was unsuccessful. “Here we go,” he muttered, standing back.
Spike looked at him in confusion. “What happened to Chloe last night?”
“Dean.” She grabbed his arm and didn’t let go. “Relax.”
Dean stopped and looked at Chloe, a little surprised by both Spike’s confused look and Chloe’s hesitancy. “He wasn’t with you last night,” he said flatly.
“No, he wasn’t,” she said calmly.
Shocked though not surprised, Dean just looked at Chloe for a moment, feeling the guilt of leaving her come back and hit him in the gut.
Taking the initiative, Sam stepped forward and said, “Chloe fought something last night she couldn’t kill, and we need to know what you know about it.”
“Why didn’t you just say so? What was it, pet?” He eyed Chloe.
“A vampire. But not like...you. Or any other vampire I’ve ever dealt with. It looked kind of like a bat, without the wings. Nasty teeth, big claws, red eyes.”
“Sounds like the Master,” he said thoughtfully, taking a drag off his lit cigarette.
Sam looked at Spike in confusion. “The Master? What the hell is a Master?”
Dean chuckled under his breath. “Couldn’t have said it better, Sammy.” But he remained quiet, waiting for Spike to explain further or to get the fangs knocked out of him if he refused to go on.
Spike shot him a glare. “A vampire who lived for centuries. Buffy took him out, though, so it can’t be him.”
“So we’re back to square one.” Chloe rested her hands on her hips.
“Can I pummel him now?” Dean asked, a cheeky grin on his face.
Spike snorted. “In your dreams.”
“Dean, I’m serious, dude, shut your cakehole,” Sam demanded, shooting his brother a look that might have killed.
“Fine, ruin my fun,” Dean grumbled, backing off though not leaving Chloe’s side.
“So, if it’s not the Master,” Sam continued, ignoring his brother, “what is it?”
“Well, it could be a Turok-Han. Except they’re supposed to be non-existent anymore. But we are on a hellmouth,” he said wryly, looking thoughtful.
“What’s a Turok-Han?” Chloe asked, gazing at him.
“A vampire in its pure demon form. No humanity at all in it.”
“Funny, sounds like something out of the Lord of the Rings movie,” Dean mumbled under his breath.
Sam smacked Dean on the shoulder and said, “What he meant was, ‘How do we kill one of these things?’ But, if you said they don’t exist anymore, then how could Chloe have fought one last night?”
“I said they weren’t supposed to exist anymore,” Spike pointed out. “That doesn’t mean they don’t. And I’ve never heard of one being killed.”
“Great. More good news.” Chloe let out a breath.
Dean put his arm around Chloe’s shoulders and squeezed her. He felt her anxiety over this and matched it. “So this thing is walking the streets of Cleveland and is unkillable?”
“Nothing’s unkillable. Some things are just damn close. Like me.” He smirked.
“Great,” Dean snapped harshly. “Take the ego down a notch or two, will ya?” Even as he said that, a light bulb went off in his head. “Does this thing like sunlight?”
Sam looked at Dean and smirked. “Wow, Dean had a thought.”
“No vamp likes sunlight,” Spike retorted, rolling his eyes.
Glaring at Spike, Dean spoke to Chloe. “That’s one thing we can use against it. The sunlight.”
Nodding in agreement, Sam continued, “What about using holy water or some kind of super stake that would hurt it?”
“Super stake, Sammy?” Dean asked, rolling his eyes.
“No, he has a point.” Her eyes widened a little. “Like a wooden fence post.”
Sam shot Dean a triumphant smile, but it died when he thought about her words. “A fence post? Chloe, those are so large. How would we control something like that?”
Spike smirked and looked at Chloe. “They really have no idea what a Slayer’s capable of, do they?”
“Trust me, Sam. I can handle it,” she said with a faint smile.
“We know you can, Chlo,” Dean said, shooting daggers at Spike with his eyes, “but I think Sam was talking about the two of us. No way in hell Chloe’s going to fight this alone, but we need to be able to fight this son of a bitch, too.” Nothing short of death would keep Dean from fighting this thing to keep his girl safe. Dean blinked, surprised by his thought.
Spike gazed at Dean silently, and shook his head a bit.
“Well, you could always be bait,” she said lightly.
Sputtering with laughter, Sam watched Dean look at Chloe with a look that he had never seen before: it went beyond shock. “Dean isn’t bait,” Sam laughed heartily. “That’s usually just my job.”
“Damn straight,” Dean grumbled, too anxious to know this Turok-Han’s weakness to tease Chloe back. “Sammy’s got the sweeter blood, not that you’re going to have a taste,” he warned Spike.
Spike rolled his eyes. “I do have my standards, you know.” He looked at Sam. “No offense.”
“Believe me, none taken, Spike,” Sam replied gratefully.
“Where did this thing come from?” Dean asked, wondering how they were going to start hunting this monster.
“Hello? Hellmouth?” Spike gave him a look and then glanced at Chloe as if to say what a dumbass.
“Why now?” she murmured, shaking her head and not noticing the look.
“Spike, shut up,” Dean growled as he turned Chloe to face him. “I don’t know, Chlo, but does that really matter? It’s not going to come true.”
“What’s not going to come true?” Spike questioned, leaning forward with interest.
Sam threw a look at Dean. “Thanks, dude. Thanks a fucking lot,” he whispered. “Just tell the whole damn world, will ya?” He turned and walked to the other side of the crypt, his head suddenly pounding with anger.
“Shit,” Dean whispered to himself but said nothing to Spike.
“Someone wanna fill me in?”
“Not really, no,” Chloe said sharply, casting the vampire a warning look. She moved over to where Sam stood and placed a hand on his arm.
Dean watched Chloe move to comfort Sam and could have kicked himself for opening his big stupid mouth. He sighed and pinched his nose with his fingers, all the activity of the night before beginning to hit him.
Sam pulled away from Chloe, not looking at her. “I’m fine, Chlo,” he whispered.
“Look at me.”
Sam wordlessly looked at Chloe, his eyes revealing too much of the pain he felt, remembering what his vision was.
She held his gaze. “I know what it’s like,” she said quietly.
“Do you?” he whispered, doubting her and everything else in the world right now.
“To be different from everyone else? To have a huge responsibility on you that you didn’t ask for and don’t really want?” She smiled faintly. “Yeah, I know a little something about that.”
Nodding slowly, Sam took a moment and let her words sink in. “I guess that’s what we have in common, then,” he replied with a sad smile before hugging her tightly.
Dean watched them, feeling a little relieved that Sam wasn’t going to lose it but still feeling about a foot tall for making Spike suspicious about what they did and didn’t know.
She hugged him back. “It’s gonna be okay,” she whispered to him.
“It’d better be,” Sam whispered back. “Don’t want to see you die. That would kill Dean.” He looked over at his brother, who was watching them curiously and pulled away from her. “See? He’s already wondering why I’m hugging you.”
“Am not,” Dean said flatly. “At least your warped sense of humor hasn’t left you.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “What’s warped about it?” she teased.
Dean cocked an eyebrow at Chloe, who was openly flirting with him despite the company. “How many ways should I even answer that?” he questioned suggestively.
She grinned. “So many ways,” she replied.
“Get a room,” Spike grumbled. “And not in my sodding crypt.”
Dean snorted in condescension. “Believe me, Spike, a crypt’s the last place I’d do anything, except kill things. Besides, do you have any other useful information to give us?” He winked at Chloe, momentarily distracted by her smile.
“That’s about it. Now, kindly get out so I can get some damn shut eye before patrolling tonight.”
Rolling his eyes, Dean replied, “Gladly. Let’s go and let Sleeping Beauty here get his sleep.”
“Thanks for your help, Spike,” Sam said from the door, already on his way out.
“Wanker,” he said inaudibly as the guys left his crypt. He nodded slightly at Chloe as she smirked and left, as well.
Dean moved across the cemetery, towards Sam and the Impala. “That guy gets on my last nerve,” he muttered, glancing at Chloe quickly.
She smirked. “Gee, tell me something I didn’t already know,” she said lightly, elbowing him gently in the ribs.
“Ow,” he mocked lightly, pretending to rub his ribs in pain. “That hurt.” He smiled at her, the twinkle in his eyes coming back.
“Trust me, if I’d intended for it to hurt, you’d know it.” Her own eyes twinkled mischievously.
“And what if I want it to hurt?” he asked, feigning innocence as he turned his gaze down her body.
Sam, who had been leaning against the Impala, groaned in derision. “I agree with Spike. Get a room already.”
Her cheeks flushed at Sam’s words. “Sorry.” She winked at Dean. “Later.”
Dean grinned widely, nodding in anticipation. “So, where we off to?” he asked Chloe, opening the door for her and waiting for Sam to get in the car.
She slid into the middle of the front seat once more as Sam climbed in the passenger side. “Home. Daylight’s burning. We need to plan.”
“Will do, babe,” Dean replied and threw the car into gear, anxious to get back to her place for some food, planning, and possibly some shuteye.
Authors: xtremeroswellia and clarksmuse
Rating: R to NC-17 for language and sexual scenes
Pairing: Chlean (Chloe/Dean) :D
Characters: multi-fandom -- Smallville, Supernatural, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Disclaimer: Neither of us own these characters. We're just borrowing them, so please don't sue!!
One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen A | Sixteen B | Seventeen | Eighteen | Cocnlusion
Dean's arm was slung around Chloe's waist as Sam and they approached Mr. Giles's hotel room, where all the other Scoobies would be gathered. Minus Spike, of course, Dean smirked. "Time to find out what this thing is," he said casually, trying to hide the uncertainty he felt.
"Yeah, cause you're all about the killing," Sam retorted quietly, the headache from his vision still upon him, though it had lessened during the night.
"How ya feeling, Sam?" Chloe asked, glancing up at him with concern in her green eyes as she reached out to knock on the hotel room door.
"I'll be fine, really," Sam insisted, wincing slightly at the loud rap on the hotel door. "Head still hurts, is all."
Dean looked at his brother, frustrated because he'd wanted to come along and worried because of the still-present headache. He said nothing, though, as his arm slipped from Chloe's waist and Giles answered the door.
"Good morning," Giles said, his voice chipper and British. "You've just caught us at breakfast, but won't you come in?"
"Thanks," Dean replied, stepping back to let Chloe. Then, following Sam, he shut the door behind them and looked around the overly crowded room.
"Morning," Tara greeted, smiling at them as she sipped her coffee. "Want doughnuts or coffee? We've got plenty."
"Coffee'd be great," Chloe agreed, moving over and taking one of the cups.
Dean laughed inwardly at how chipper she was, despite the little sleep they'd both gotten. Propping himself against the wall, he watched Sam hover in the darker corner of the room. "So, what's going on today?"
Giles adjusted his glasses as he took a sip of coffee. "Researching more information about the Hellmouth." He looked over a Chloe. "How was patrol last night?"
She was silent for a moment, and her hesitation caused the rest of the room to grow still and silent, as well. "Not so good. We've got some kind of really ugly, hard to kill vampire on the loose." She met Dean's gaze for only a brief moment, then turned to Giles. "I've never seen anything like it."
Xander, who had been actively munching on a doughnut, stopped and let his mouth fall open. "Wait," he said, his voice muffled by the food in his mouth, "you mean, it's still... out there?"
Dean said nothing, just bowed his head as he remembered the condition she was in last night when she got back to her place.
"Yeah, it's still out there," she said, her voice slightly sharper than she meant for it to be. She watched him exchange a glance with Willow and her jaw tightened a little. "It's incredibly strong." Stronger than anything I've fought before, she thought, glancing at Sam.
Tara bit her lip, sensing a tension in the room she was uncertain about.
Xander and Willow looked at each other in utter confusion. "Chloe, can you describe what this thing... looked like?"
Sam, who still kept his head back in the shadow of the room, winced visibly, something Giles noticed, though he said nothing.
"Evil in its purest form comes to mind," she said grimly, leaning against the door. "Big, muscular, gray. Red eyes, and the nastiest set of teeth you've ever seen. And claws... big ones," she added, winding her arms around herself.
Anya looked thoughtful. "Are you sure it was a vampire?"
Giles looked thoughtful for a moment. It couldn't be, he thought. Those things are just legend. "Did you see this creature, Dean?"
Dean looked at Giles and shook his head. "No, I... Sammy and I, we, uh... we all split up last night." He glanced at Chloe but couldn't meet her eyes.
"Strange," Willow replied. "Haven't heard of this thing before."
Chloe drew in a breath, squaring her shoulders. "So I'm guessing none of you has ever encountered anything like this before." She glanced around the room. "Maybe Spike will know." She ignored Xander's snort of derision.
"Spike is a vampire," Anya said, nodding. "Of course it's too bad Angel isn't around. He's even older than Spike."
"Yeah, because Angel was so helpful the last time he was around," Xander grumbled before being elbowed in the ribs. "Ow, Anya, that hurt!"
Chloe smirked. The only thing Spike and Xander had in common was that they both hated the other ensouled vampire.
"It was supposed to. That's why I did it," she informed him.
Rolling his eyes, Xander rubbed his side and said, "The point is, DEAR, that Angel probably couldn't help us, either." He stood up and walked to the other side of the room.
Despite being slightly amused, Giles's mind had been working on Chloe's description. Looking at Sam suddenly, he remarked, "You're looking rather peaked, this morning, Sam. What happened last night?"
Sam's eyes grew wide as he stared at Giles. "Nothing. I just have a headache today." He looked at his brother, a pleading look in his eyes.
"Sammy's fine, Giles," Dean remarked. "Just hit the bottle a little too hard last night."
Chloe shot him a glare and then looked at Sam briefly. "Migraines are nothing to be ashamed of, Sam. A lot of people get them," she said softly, covering for him without hesitation.
"Which one are you sleeping with?" Anya asked suddenly, looking between Chloe and the boys with peaked interest.
"Anya," Tara said in shock.
"I'm just gonna keep pretending I'm not here," Dawn mumbled, stuffing a donut in her mouth.
Sam and Dean shot Anya a couple of stares that could have killed the monster Chloe fought last night. Angered by her blatant question, Dean snarled, "Who the hell are you to ask something like that?"
"Dean," Sam said, warning his brother with his tone of voice.
"Hey, don't talk to my fiancée like that," Xander demanded, then turned to look at her. "Anya, shut up. Remember that Dawnie's here?"
Giles just rolled his eyes, pretending to sink into the wall for a moment.
"I figured it was you," Anya said, taking no heed of Dean's anger as she nodded slightly, a knowing smile on her face. "I can almost always tell. It's a gift."
"Glad I don't have it," Dawn said, rolling her eyes.
Chloe kept a restraining hand on Dean's arm, unable to help feeling a bit amused by the pretty blonde's lack of tact. It kind of reminded her of Lois.
Clearing his throat, Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them vigorously, "OK, well now that we're done putting Dawn through years of therapy, can we get back to the task at hand?"
"Gladly," Dean snapped, still glaring at Anya, though Chloe's gentle touch kept him from saying anything else.
"Why ask Sam if he knows something?" Willow asked, looking at Tara and suspecting Giles knew more than he was telling.
"I don't know," Dean replied, "but he doesn't know anything. He's fine."
Which meant Sam knew something, Giles thought. But he let that drop. "Chloe, did this thing look like a bat?" he continued.
"Now that you mention it... yeah. Only without the wings. And it definitely wasn’t blind,” she said grimly. “Have you heard of something like it?” she asked, happy to get the subject off of Sam.
Giles paused, thinking about the words that would properly answer her question. “Perhaps,” he said cryptically, reaching for a stack of books he had brought with him from Sunnydale.
Willow grabbed her laptop. “Alright, time to research?” she asked excitedly.
Giles nodded, handing her a book. “Yes, but I don’t think you’ll find this on that electronic contraption,” he replied solemnly.
Dean stared at Giles, suspicious of him immediately.
Feeling uncertain, she gazed at the British man. “Well, should we stay here, or should I go hound Spike for information?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
“Spike may know something,” Tara agreed, nodding slightly. “I think we’ve got the research covered.” She offered Chloe a smile.
Willow readily agreed. “Yep, we’re all over the research,” she replied with a smile. She handed Xander a book and ignored his groaning.
“God, I have to read... more?!” he whined to anyone who would listen.
Dean rolled his eyes and, looking at Sam, headed for the door. “Hounding Spike is always a good time,” he retorted, yanking the knob open.
Giles looked at Chloe. “We should have some answers for you soon. In the meantime... be careful.” His eyes conveyed a sorrow that not many people saw, but looking at the new Slayer, he couldn’t help but feel for her. Especially since he’d correctly guessed her connection to the eldest Winchester brother. A good thing, he mused.
“We will,” she said grimly, holding his gaze for a moment, then turning and following Dean out the door, feeling a bit dazed.
As Sam followed Chloe and Dean out the door and shut it, Giles thoughtfully watched the shut door for a moment. Mary would have been proud of her sons, he thought. It seemed they were already Watchers, even though they didn’t know it yet.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he looked at the rest of the gang sternly and said, “OK, to work.”
&&&
“He knows something,” Chloe murmured to the guys as they headed for the Impala.
“Damn straight he does,” Dean replied, opening the door and letting her scoot in the middle of the front seat.
“What do you think he knows?” Sam asked, knowing deep down that, somehow, Giles knew about his visions.
“I’m not sure,” she said, glancing at him sideways as he slid into the passenger seat. “But I’m gonna find out.”
“How, though Spike?” Dean replied, scooting in beside her and starting the car. “Don’t think he’s going to be much help.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “I have ways of getting people to talk.”
A lazy smile crossed Dean’s features. “Yeah, lots of ways.”
Sam rolled his eyes and turned up the music, whether it was good or not.
&&&
“Bloody hell,” Spike grumbled as he rolled off his bed at the loud thumping on the outside of his crypt.
Without further warning, Chloe stepped inside, followed by both Winchesters.
“You realize vampires sleep during the day?”
“Yes, and it’s even funnier when you wake them up,” Dean remarked casually, watching in amusement as Spike stumbled out of bed and put on a shirt.
Sam grimaced and hit Dean in the chest. “Knock it off, dude,” he said before turning to Spike. “Sorry to disturb you, man.”
“I’m guessing you’re not here for tea,” he said wryly. “Though I have some nice O positive in the fridge if you’re hungry.” Smirking at Dean’s disgusted look, he felt satisfied.
“We’re here for information.” Chloe’s voice was quiet.
“Of course you are.”
“We’re sure as hell not here for tea, blood, or anything else,” Dean growled, moving towards Spike, “unless you deserve an ass kicking for what happened to Chloe last night!”
Sam tried to restrain Dean but was unsuccessful. “Here we go,” he muttered, standing back.
Spike looked at him in confusion. “What happened to Chloe last night?”
“Dean.” She grabbed his arm and didn’t let go. “Relax.”
Dean stopped and looked at Chloe, a little surprised by both Spike’s confused look and Chloe’s hesitancy. “He wasn’t with you last night,” he said flatly.
“No, he wasn’t,” she said calmly.
Shocked though not surprised, Dean just looked at Chloe for a moment, feeling the guilt of leaving her come back and hit him in the gut.
Taking the initiative, Sam stepped forward and said, “Chloe fought something last night she couldn’t kill, and we need to know what you know about it.”
“Why didn’t you just say so? What was it, pet?” He eyed Chloe.
“A vampire. But not like...you. Or any other vampire I’ve ever dealt with. It looked kind of like a bat, without the wings. Nasty teeth, big claws, red eyes.”
“Sounds like the Master,” he said thoughtfully, taking a drag off his lit cigarette.
Sam looked at Spike in confusion. “The Master? What the hell is a Master?”
Dean chuckled under his breath. “Couldn’t have said it better, Sammy.” But he remained quiet, waiting for Spike to explain further or to get the fangs knocked out of him if he refused to go on.
Spike shot him a glare. “A vampire who lived for centuries. Buffy took him out, though, so it can’t be him.”
“So we’re back to square one.” Chloe rested her hands on her hips.
“Can I pummel him now?” Dean asked, a cheeky grin on his face.
Spike snorted. “In your dreams.”
“Dean, I’m serious, dude, shut your cakehole,” Sam demanded, shooting his brother a look that might have killed.
“Fine, ruin my fun,” Dean grumbled, backing off though not leaving Chloe’s side.
“So, if it’s not the Master,” Sam continued, ignoring his brother, “what is it?”
“Well, it could be a Turok-Han. Except they’re supposed to be non-existent anymore. But we are on a hellmouth,” he said wryly, looking thoughtful.
“What’s a Turok-Han?” Chloe asked, gazing at him.
“A vampire in its pure demon form. No humanity at all in it.”
“Funny, sounds like something out of the Lord of the Rings movie,” Dean mumbled under his breath.
Sam smacked Dean on the shoulder and said, “What he meant was, ‘How do we kill one of these things?’ But, if you said they don’t exist anymore, then how could Chloe have fought one last night?”
“I said they weren’t supposed to exist anymore,” Spike pointed out. “That doesn’t mean they don’t. And I’ve never heard of one being killed.”
“Great. More good news.” Chloe let out a breath.
Dean put his arm around Chloe’s shoulders and squeezed her. He felt her anxiety over this and matched it. “So this thing is walking the streets of Cleveland and is unkillable?”
“Nothing’s unkillable. Some things are just damn close. Like me.” He smirked.
“Great,” Dean snapped harshly. “Take the ego down a notch or two, will ya?” Even as he said that, a light bulb went off in his head. “Does this thing like sunlight?”
Sam looked at Dean and smirked. “Wow, Dean had a thought.”
“No vamp likes sunlight,” Spike retorted, rolling his eyes.
Glaring at Spike, Dean spoke to Chloe. “That’s one thing we can use against it. The sunlight.”
Nodding in agreement, Sam continued, “What about using holy water or some kind of super stake that would hurt it?”
“Super stake, Sammy?” Dean asked, rolling his eyes.
“No, he has a point.” Her eyes widened a little. “Like a wooden fence post.”
Sam shot Dean a triumphant smile, but it died when he thought about her words. “A fence post? Chloe, those are so large. How would we control something like that?”
Spike smirked and looked at Chloe. “They really have no idea what a Slayer’s capable of, do they?”
“Trust me, Sam. I can handle it,” she said with a faint smile.
“We know you can, Chlo,” Dean said, shooting daggers at Spike with his eyes, “but I think Sam was talking about the two of us. No way in hell Chloe’s going to fight this alone, but we need to be able to fight this son of a bitch, too.” Nothing short of death would keep Dean from fighting this thing to keep his girl safe. Dean blinked, surprised by his thought.
Spike gazed at Dean silently, and shook his head a bit.
“Well, you could always be bait,” she said lightly.
Sputtering with laughter, Sam watched Dean look at Chloe with a look that he had never seen before: it went beyond shock. “Dean isn’t bait,” Sam laughed heartily. “That’s usually just my job.”
“Damn straight,” Dean grumbled, too anxious to know this Turok-Han’s weakness to tease Chloe back. “Sammy’s got the sweeter blood, not that you’re going to have a taste,” he warned Spike.
Spike rolled his eyes. “I do have my standards, you know.” He looked at Sam. “No offense.”
“Believe me, none taken, Spike,” Sam replied gratefully.
“Where did this thing come from?” Dean asked, wondering how they were going to start hunting this monster.
“Hello? Hellmouth?” Spike gave him a look and then glanced at Chloe as if to say what a dumbass.
“Why now?” she murmured, shaking her head and not noticing the look.
“Spike, shut up,” Dean growled as he turned Chloe to face him. “I don’t know, Chlo, but does that really matter? It’s not going to come true.”
“What’s not going to come true?” Spike questioned, leaning forward with interest.
Sam threw a look at Dean. “Thanks, dude. Thanks a fucking lot,” he whispered. “Just tell the whole damn world, will ya?” He turned and walked to the other side of the crypt, his head suddenly pounding with anger.
“Shit,” Dean whispered to himself but said nothing to Spike.
“Someone wanna fill me in?”
“Not really, no,” Chloe said sharply, casting the vampire a warning look. She moved over to where Sam stood and placed a hand on his arm.
Dean watched Chloe move to comfort Sam and could have kicked himself for opening his big stupid mouth. He sighed and pinched his nose with his fingers, all the activity of the night before beginning to hit him.
Sam pulled away from Chloe, not looking at her. “I’m fine, Chlo,” he whispered.
“Look at me.”
Sam wordlessly looked at Chloe, his eyes revealing too much of the pain he felt, remembering what his vision was.
She held his gaze. “I know what it’s like,” she said quietly.
“Do you?” he whispered, doubting her and everything else in the world right now.
“To be different from everyone else? To have a huge responsibility on you that you didn’t ask for and don’t really want?” She smiled faintly. “Yeah, I know a little something about that.”
Nodding slowly, Sam took a moment and let her words sink in. “I guess that’s what we have in common, then,” he replied with a sad smile before hugging her tightly.
Dean watched them, feeling a little relieved that Sam wasn’t going to lose it but still feeling about a foot tall for making Spike suspicious about what they did and didn’t know.
She hugged him back. “It’s gonna be okay,” she whispered to him.
“It’d better be,” Sam whispered back. “Don’t want to see you die. That would kill Dean.” He looked over at his brother, who was watching them curiously and pulled away from her. “See? He’s already wondering why I’m hugging you.”
“Am not,” Dean said flatly. “At least your warped sense of humor hasn’t left you.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “What’s warped about it?” she teased.
Dean cocked an eyebrow at Chloe, who was openly flirting with him despite the company. “How many ways should I even answer that?” he questioned suggestively.
She grinned. “So many ways,” she replied.
“Get a room,” Spike grumbled. “And not in my sodding crypt.”
Dean snorted in condescension. “Believe me, Spike, a crypt’s the last place I’d do anything, except kill things. Besides, do you have any other useful information to give us?” He winked at Chloe, momentarily distracted by her smile.
“That’s about it. Now, kindly get out so I can get some damn shut eye before patrolling tonight.”
Rolling his eyes, Dean replied, “Gladly. Let’s go and let Sleeping Beauty here get his sleep.”
“Thanks for your help, Spike,” Sam said from the door, already on his way out.
“Wanker,” he said inaudibly as the guys left his crypt. He nodded slightly at Chloe as she smirked and left, as well.
Dean moved across the cemetery, towards Sam and the Impala. “That guy gets on my last nerve,” he muttered, glancing at Chloe quickly.
She smirked. “Gee, tell me something I didn’t already know,” she said lightly, elbowing him gently in the ribs.
“Ow,” he mocked lightly, pretending to rub his ribs in pain. “That hurt.” He smiled at her, the twinkle in his eyes coming back.
“Trust me, if I’d intended for it to hurt, you’d know it.” Her own eyes twinkled mischievously.
“And what if I want it to hurt?” he asked, feigning innocence as he turned his gaze down her body.
Sam, who had been leaning against the Impala, groaned in derision. “I agree with Spike. Get a room already.”
Her cheeks flushed at Sam’s words. “Sorry.” She winked at Dean. “Later.”
Dean grinned widely, nodding in anticipation. “So, where we off to?” he asked Chloe, opening the door for her and waiting for Sam to get in the car.
She slid into the middle of the front seat once more as Sam climbed in the passenger side. “Home. Daylight’s burning. We need to plan.”
“Will do, babe,” Dean replied and threw the car into gear, anxious to get back to her place for some food, planning, and possibly some shuteye.