The second meeting.

[toughlittlesis]

Alex was surprised when John called her after she had finished up with her last class of the day. It had been a few weeks since she had heard from him. The way he talked, John Winchester seemed like a pretty busy guy. She didn't sweat it though, a distant father was better than none at all. She was willing to take whatever contact was convenient

Comments

[toughlittlesis]

I'll admit that I didn't think about how this would go until Dean and Sam approached us, but nothing could have prepared me for how straightforward John was in telling them. He just dropped the bomb and waited for the aftermath, and while I felt a little better once the truth came out, I was still worried about how they were going to take it.

I noticed Sam's reaction first. He seemed reasonably stunned, but who could blame him for that? If I was in his place I wouldn't know what to say or how to feel either. Factor in the 'vision' that he says he had of me, and I would say that he handled the news pretty well. I smiled gratefully when he told me that he was the good brother, and turned my attention to Dean. Saying that he didn't appear to be doing as well would be a huge fucking understatement.

The look on his face reminded me of why I was so nervous about meeting him and Sam to begin with. He was hurt, probably pissed at John too, but he nodded to me anyway, like he was trying and failing at not wanting to take this out on anyone. At least he wasn't fighting with John about it.

Maybe that's what is going to come next.

"Can we go talk about this somewhere? The diner's just up the street, and my apartment isn't far. Whatever you guys are comfortable with."

[winchester_john]

Alex was right, and I knew the boys were going to, ultimately, need a little privacy to deal with this. They were taking the news pretty much the way I'd figured they would. Sammy and me, we'd have it out later, I was sure...but for now, he was coping. Of the two, he'd always been the more sensitive one, but in a way it made him a lot harder. He rolled with those emotional punches...was used to taking the hits as they came and coping.

But not Dean.

As equally confused, betrayed, and angry as the both of them probably felt, Dean was the one who was struck dumb...probably for one of a handful of times in his life. We'd have it out, too, I was sure...but where Sammy was saving his ammo for later, Dean was just going to explode.

Still, they were doing right by Alex...being civil, as nice as they could manage. And as guilty as I felt for keeping this secret...for whatever verbal battle was coming...for just a moment, I allowed myself to be proud of the fine men I'd raised and was lucky enough to call my sons.

I finally nodded, glancing down at Alex. "I think we're gonna need some real privacy for this...would it be an imposition if we went to your apartment? Sat down...talked about this? All of us?"

[toughlittlesis]

I had a feeling John was going to choose the apartment over the diner. This isn't the kind of conversation that its just okay to have in public. Sam and Dean haven't seen our father in a while, and now that they've finally caught up with him, he's telling them about me. They probably have more questions for him than he's going to be able to answer, and that means that they shouldn't have to deal with me too just because I'm here.

If they want to talk we can, if they don't, I get it. I may be John's daughter but we're not a package deal. Maybe Sam and Dean want to just go deal with John alone. I wouldn't like leaving him to handle it all, but they're a family and I'm just blood.

I nodded and looked over at Sam and Dean to see if they were cool with it, but their faces told me that there was no way I could tell unless I asked. "If you want to do this without me that's fine too, but yeah, we can go to my apartment if you're both okay with it."

[winchester_sam]

I'd pretty much gone to the joking mode and told her I was the better brother to get a solid read on Dean. It wasn't looking pretty right now. Yeah, I was pissed because I just love having surprises sprung at me but Dean was in full on shut down I'm not saying anything mode.

I didn't expect Dad to perfect...or anywhere close to it really so it wasn't going to be the huge punch in the gut to me it is to Dean. I wear my heart on my sleeve but underneath I'm colder. Dean wears an uncaring outside but is a hell of a lot more deep inside.

"No, I think you need to be there Alex." I dug the charms I'd made for Gabe and his girl out of my pocket and handed them to her with a look straight in Dad's face. I know it was a head on challenge but I can only behave myself so far when he's around. "You're gonna need these."

Dad will recognize them, charms to prevent possession. Yeah, we needed to talk.

I knew right now Dean was going to follow my lead on going to talk because anything he said was going to probably stick to 'yes, no and fuck you'.

[deanwinchester]

I watched as Sam made the decision that Alex should be there. Dad pretty much said he thought she should be too. Guess that meant I was out voted. Problem was? I wasn't ready to deal with this.

All those old emotions of being the family's bitch was starting to hit me head on. I was just expected to roll with it. No matter what came up, just roll with it, and protect the family. Yeah. I could barely get my thoughts together. I was in no condition for a big family meeting where I needed to watch my mouth because Alex shouldn't be subjected to my issues with our father.

By the grace of God, my phone rang, and I looked down to see it was a client. A case I'd been working mostly solo because it wasn't that big of a deal. Nothing that I needed to bring Sam into at least. The charms and stuff just drove the point in more that he and Dad were about to have a pissing contest, Alex present or not, and this time I was going to opt out of it. Let them fight it out themselves.

Answering the phone I said, "This is Dean. Yeah. No, that's good, I still need to look at that. Can you get me in now? No, now is good. I'm on my way."

Closing the phone, I ignored the weird looks I was getting from Dad and Sam and focused on Alex. "I'm sorry, I'll have to catch up with you later. I have a case to work."

When Sam took a step toward me, I backed up and gave him a look that clearly said don't. "You handle this family talk for me. Bring me up to speed later. Figure it's about your turn anyway." Which was a low blow to him and Dad, but whatever I was over it.

I just leveled a gaze at my father unsure what to say before finally turning and saying nothing at all. Took off at a run across the street and back toward the car. I'd work my case and they could handle their family business. If I'm going to deal with this, I'll do it one on one, because I'm not in the mood for the nonsense of listening to Dad and Sam trying to talk over each other while Alex gets caught in the middle. At least this time, I wouldn't be the one in the middle.

[winchester_sam]

I think all three of us just stared after Dean for a minute when he took the call and ran off. I'd known he was upset but damn I'd still underestimated how much.

So I gestured to Alex to lead us back to her apartment, there was no reason to have this out in the middle of the street after all. It was taking all my willpower to keep my mouth shut on the way there though. I wanted to keep it calm, there was no reason to introduce my sister...and how weird was that thought...to the fun times that were me and Dad trying to have a conversation the hard way. And it must have been a fun walk for poor Alex with us both silent and giving off the vibes of a thousand old arguments at each other.

Once we were all inside you could feel the storm ready to break. Damn it why did Dad and I have to be so fucking alike that we struck at each other like flint and steel?

"The charm's a protection against being possessed Alex. I made them for someone else but they were delayed a couple days so you can take those two." I couldn't help it, I know this was freaking Dean out but I'd always been so close to Dean I was okay with the idea of having a sister. I really wanted to get to know her.

"You should have told us Dad." Keep it calm keep it calm. "She's in a lot of danger how could you not tell us or her?"

[winchester_john]

"Because I didn't know until now, that's why." I replied with simple honesty once we were finally inside. I was still a little stung, and a little tense at Dean's departure, especially with Sammy's charm now in hand...I didn't want Dean out of my sight. Not with this now hanging over my head...over all our heads.

I took a moment to take a deep breath...clear my head, at least *try* to keep calm long enough to get the story out to my son before the two of us started trying to verbally slit each other's throats...that part was pretty much inevitable at this point.

"There's never been anyone but your mother, Sammy...not like that." I began. "And I'm sure you know that. But...without getting into territory that I don't think either one of us really want to discuss with each other, let's just say that Alex's mother was one of a few women over the years who was a friend when I needed one. We parted ways as just that, friends. She never called me, never told me about Alex, but she felt friendly enough towards me, I suppose, to give her my name."

I paused, running a hand back through my hair wearily. "We only met for the first time a few weeks ago...'bout a week or so after you and Dean dropped off the map. I would have told you boys if I could have found you...and I didn't tell *her* because nobody knew a damn thing about her until now. I didn't know, you boys didn't know...and...the demon sure as hell didn't know."

There. I'd said it. And Alex knew...Sammy's visions, the demon, the two biggest pieces of the puzzle that was our sorry lives.

Pausing, I turned to face her again. "And now that the boys have had *their* major revelation of the day...I guess it's your turn." I deadpanned grimly. "Alex, we're...we're gonna need to have a pretty serious talk."

[winchester_sam]

"Dad, I don't care about you having someone to be close to after mom....shit Dean's been riding me for however long to move on after Jess." How could he think I'd care about that? I knew how hard it was to let someone in after Jess. If Dad had relationships it was a good thing. Not that Dean would be as open about that probably but that was another matter.

And me and Dad in a room here I was running straight over the conversation instead of letting Alex talk.

"I'm sorry Alex I didn't mean to..." what Sammy didn't mean to attack dad? Yeah, right. "Anyway I'm sorry." It's her house after all it's not fair to bring it to her doorstep and dump it in her lap.

"But the demon conversation is kind of important." I pushed my sleeve up to let Dad see the ugly scar the hot metal had left erasing the seal that let Meg stay in me and use my abilities. You could still see enough of an outline to know what the mark had been before Fred had hit me with red hot metal.

[toughlittlesis]

I looked down at the charms Sam had given me and sighed, suddenly even more unsure about this 'talk' than I had been at the start of things. They don't think I know anything about possession, or demons, or any of that, but I do. And maybe I should be happy about that. Maybe John won't lose it if I tell him that I'm a vampire slayer. I'm just not sure if I want to find out yet.

What I would like to know is more about this demon that they're talking about. Judging by the thing on Sam's arm I'm thinking it possessed him. That would also explain why he's afraid of the same thing happening to me, right? But what demon, and why? If I knew a little more about it I might be able to help them. I'm not clueless, helpless, or scared like they're expecting me to be. Really, the only thing I am right now is out of the loop.

"You don't have to apologize to me, Sam. I didn't think this was going to go very well to begin with. I just didn't know that the main issue on the table was going to be a demon."

Although, the fact that it is a demon? That's a statement on my whole life for the past few years. The only place I could escape it before was when I was talking about my family. Now, well, I don't think that holds anymore.

"I'd like to think that the two of you are the good guys, so how about you give me the story on the evil ones? Isnt that what we're supposed to be talking about now?"

[winchester_john]

For a moment, my anger left me at the sight of the scar on my son's arm...the outlines of a seal still visible, one I was familiar with. Too damn familiar with for my own tastes, and there it was on my little boy.

Rage took anger's place...the kind that a body will never be able to comprehend unless you've been a parent and had a child touched by evil.

The conversation about my sex life, or lack thereof, was forgotten as I reached out and touched the angry scar, still red and new on Sam's skin.

I had questions...but so did Alex. And she deserved answers.

Glancing up, I met Sam's gaze pointedly, silently warning him I'd want answers about that scar, and that seal...come hell or high water, he was going to answer for keeping me in the dark, and *someone* was going to answer for even putting that seal on my blood.

Finally moving away, I ambled over to sit on the arm of a nearby easy chair, running a hand back through my hair as i took a deep breath, collecting my thoughts and trying to figure out just what the *hell* I was going to say.

Simple seemed best. "We're hunters, Alex...me, Dean, and Sammy. All manner of nasty things." Hesitating, I met her gaze pointedly, making sure I got my point across, encouraged by her grave, not to mention oddly calm features.

"You gotta understand that there's things in this world that are real." I went on, remembering the same little speech Missouri had used on me once upon a time. "Evil that'd chill your blood and steal your soul without a thought. Monsters and murderers that the grave already got to...the things you fear in the dark are real as we are. And they actively hurt and hunt the ones who have no clue as to the truth. Me and my boys...we just hunt 'em right back."

[winchester_sam]

It was weird to watch all that anger show on Dad's face for a minute and know it wasn't aimed at me but whatever had touched me. I hadn't felt that overprotective thing from him in a long time.

"It's not just that we hunt them, some of them hunt us back. And sometimes they just have a thing about the hunters and try to get rid of them. It depends on what it is, not everything is that smart but demons are." I wasn't ready to go into Mom and Jess right now. I figure Mom's death is for Dad to tell since it's his pain.

"There's a possibility that they'll figure out you're a Winchester by blood and come after you too."

[toughlittlesis]

This was probably supposed to be funny to me. Mom won't even pick up her phone to make sure that I'm still alive, but my father is telling me that he and my brothers are demon hunters. And in addition to that, Sam is saying that I might be supernaturally attractive to demons because of what they do.

He has it half right. Things come after me all the time, but that's not because of them, its because of me. I still don't think John is going to be proud to have someone like me in the family, I just know that I have to tell them now. If I don't, when the truth does come out it could be twice as bad.

"Alright. This is...I haven't been very honest, either." I confessed, sitting back against the couch. I focused on Sam at first, because he knew even less about me than John. "My mom and I don't talk anymore. I always just say that its because we had a falling out, and that's true. For the most part." Now that I had that part out of the way, I let my eyes fall on John.

"I didn't want to tell you because I thought it would scare you away. I'm still not sure it won't, but I know about demons, and hunters, and probably a lot more than either one of you about vampires. I'm a slayer."

I felt a little better once the words were finally out, so I kept going.

"Basically what that is, is a girl who was chosen, like by destiny or whatever forces you believe are at work out there, to hunt vampires. I'm strong, I'm fast, I heal quickly, and sometimes I have prophetic dreams. A boy asking for help, a woman on the ceiling, the whole nine. Its creepy but its who I am. And she couldn't deal with that."

[winchester_john]

I was kind of proud of Sammy for throwing in his two cents...helping, in his own way. Proud, and grateful...and, if I was honest with myself, a little relieved.

But then Alex started talking...and by the time she was done, I was fair sure anything could have happened at that moment...demons storming the apartment, vampires knocking in the door and a dozen ghosts screaming around our heads...anything could have gone down, and I'd have been totally useless in that fight.

Wasn't what she was that bothered me...not exactly. I knew a little about Slayers, but not as fact. What little I'd found said that the Slayer was a primal force, an ancient tool, and in all likelihood had been lost ages ago. If Slayers walked among us, they lay sleeping.

Apparently not...and apparently, my daughter was one of them...my daughter.

Who dreamed of women on the ceiling...

"What woman?" I finally managed to get out. When she stared at me blankly, I shook my head and waved off her confusion. "I know a little about Slayers...not much, but enough to tell you it don't change a thing. The woman on the ceiling...I need to know *everything* you can tell me about her." I paused, swallowing hard. This was the rough part...and I never thought it would have to come up now.

"Alex...my wife, Mary...that's how I found her when she died."

[winchester_sam]

"I know some slayers....um several actually." Yeah like Nic, the girl Dean was probably completely head over heels in love with even if he wouldn't admit it to himself. "But I also know that even Slayers get killed by the things they fight. And Slayers can work for the wrong side, they have before."

I was glad Dad had told about Mom, I didn't want to talk about Jess but she had died up there too and hearing Alex say she'd dreamed about that had about made my heart stop. I'm sure it was worse for Dad.

"And she wasn't the only one." Max's mother, Jess, others.

"Jess...my girlfriend...that's how I found her too." It reminds me again that no matter what else Dad and I had too much in common now.