Chapter: Eleven

~~~~~~~~~~

He gave them a whopper lie much like what Sam had suggested, though Dean could tell neither man was buying it. The two exchanged a glance, Dave sighing.

“Whatever, man. If you don’t want help with her, nothing we can do, right?”

“Exactly. I’ve got it under control.” Another lie. Kate had been an inch from giving him new cravings. He wondered if he was reading in-between the lines of Dave’s words, however, because that tone sounded a lot like the one he and Sam used when potential victims denied needing their help and they watched them anyway.

Damn. The last thing they needed were Dave and Chris hanging around when they were trying to lop off Kate’s head.

Chris’s attention drifted about the room. “Riiiight.” He twirled a finger around to indicate the room as a whole. “‘Cause this is totally under control.”

“It is actually. How’d you get back in anyway?”

“Door was cracked. How’d she get in? You let her in, Dean?” Chris raised his brows with the question.

“You think I have a death wish? Chick snuck in. Must’ve grabbed a maid’s keycard.”

“Must have.” Dave glanced down at his watch. “Well, if you’ve got it all under control, then we’d better head down to that mixer, right Chris?” He said it a little too heartily, leaving Dean in sudden doubt of his acting skills. Really? That was the best he could do?

“Sure, Dave. The mixer.”

“See you there,” Dean told them and added silently, when hell freezes over. He was going through Sam’s bag, looking for the weapons he usually carried when he heard Jo’s voice. Finally. It had taken her and Gwen long enough to haul ass up there. Dean stepped out into the room.

~~~~~~~~~~

On her way to the suite, Jo passed David Angle and his bodyguard, who were hanging out by the elevator just down from their suite for no apparent reason. Loitering was the word to describe it. Jo took note of the innocent expressions both gave her and inwardly sighed. What had Dean done now?

“What did you do,” she asked, entering the suite. “Angle and his bodyguard are lurking at the elevator. Tell me you didn’t start a real fight with….” Jo paused, studying the marks on his face. “You got in a fight with David Angle. Dean.”

“No, not him. Honest. About that….” He went to the door, opened it, peered out, then slammed it and turned, an odd expression on his face. It almost looked like panic, but what was there to be panicking about. “Where’s Gwen?”

“Already at the mixer.” Jo brushed by him and headed for the room they’d taken, noting the remains of what looked like party food scattered around the suite. Chip bags, beer bottles…. There weren’t any people passed out at least, though some of the furniture was looking a lot rougher than when they’d arrived. It looked like Dean had made a passing attempt to clean up. “Did you have a party up here while I was gone?”

“No. Yes. Maybe.”

“Which is it?”

“It doesn’t matter. Damn it, Jo, I told you both to come up! I left you both messages and texts to come up. Why’d you leave her down there alone? You were supposed to bring her with you.”

“She was talking to a guy dressed like Sam. They were deep in discussing some AU concept. Who am I to tear her away from good conversation like that? Her eyes weren’t even glazing over. I think she was enjoying it.” Jo opened up her case and rifled through it, looking for the extra blouse she’d brought. There were too many women in her pink one and she thought her favorite navy one might be better for the mixer. In the process, she found a light pink t-shirt with ‘I love Dean’ on the front and held it up. “You send Chuck to do some shopping last night? Molly said Chuck bought the last one last night and, oh look, here it is.”

“You liked the shirt, I had him get it before they sold out.” He pulled the shirt from her hands, dropped it back in the case and closed it. “Don’t start unpacking. We’re leaving.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Dean, this has got to stop.”

“You don’t understand. We really have to leave the hotel now. We’re all in danger. You, me, Sam, and Gwen. And their baby. We need to get somewhere where -- ”

“Right.” She sighed, tired of this alarmist bullshit. “Are you coming to the mixer or not? I hear the vendor portraying mom is really good and she asked me --.”

“Will you listen to me?”

“No, Dean. You listen to me. You’ve done everything you can all day long to get me to see this your way and I’ve had it. Enough. You told Marissa I was enjoying her company, tried to make me think Risa is the Risa from that vision and her name isn’t even really Risa, faked a panic attack….” She shrugged.

“You knew about the panic attack?”

She pointed a finger at him. “I’m on to you and your whole plan.”

“Screw the plan. I’m serious, here.” He grabbed her by the arms, hard enough to hurt, and Jo wrenched away. He was seriously beginning to piss her off.

“That hurts!”

“You can’t go down there, not until Sam gets back. I don’t know what’s taking him so long. All he had to do was drive here and bring back a few things from the trunk.”

“Stop it!”

“There’s a vampire, okay? Dad killed her mate years ago and Sam and I were there. She threatened me and threatened you and I’m pretty sure she’s of half a mind to go after Gwen, too.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right. Sure. A real vampire who just happens to show up at the Supernatural convention.”

“Yeah. A real vampire. Geez, you think I’d be acting like this over a fake one?”

It dawned on her that he was serious. This wasn’t Dean , her husband, trying to put one over on her, it was Dean, the hunter, worried about his team. There really was a vampire. Jo’s anger at him slid away. “You’re serious.”

“She’s the one I got in a fight with.”

Had Dave and his bodyguard heard something? Or seen something? Was that why they were hanging around? “Okay. What’s she look like?”

“Dark hair, too much eyeliner, fangs, pissed off attitude.”

“Doesn’t help much, Dean. Lot of dark haired girls here wearing too much eyeliner.”

“Discount the ones who’ve had on blond wigs most of the time.”

“That’s still a lot of women.”

“This one just feels like bad news. I think you could spot Kate in seconds.”

“Kate. Gotcha.” She opened her case back up, dumped everything out and opened a hidden compartment on the bottom. Jo removed her backup knife, the biggest one she had that Dean had given her for her last birthday. She put it in her shoulder bag.

“You keep that in your suitcase?”

“After my reunion you have to ask that? Always prepared, remember?”

“Right. Happen to know if Gwen’s got one?”

Jo retrieved Gwen’s favorite machete from a similar secret compartment in Gwen’s case. “Don’t you and Sam have extra weapons tucked in your bags?”

“Yeah, but not….” He held up the machete. “She carries a machete in her bag?”

“Girl can’t be too careful, Dean. Lot of weirdos out there. Are you done exclaiming in surprise about how prepared Gwen and I are for anything? Because we need to head down to the mixer and find Gwen and Sam. Maybe he went there first to get her?”

He never did explain why Dave and his bodyguard were waiting outside the elevator, nor did he explain when the two got in behind them and began shadowing them all the way to the mixer. Near the doorway, Jo stopped, turned around and slammed a hand against Dave’s chest.

“Stop. Only my husband gets that close to me. What are you doing?” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dean making some sort of gesture. “Is this about Kate?” Dave flinched. “Were you there when that crazy bitch started waling on my husband?” She rolled her eyes. “I swear, if I see that --”

“Just seemed like maybe he could use some help with her is all.” His bodyguard shrugged.

“That’s a job for the LVPD, guys. We’ve got a restraining order against her and I already called them. They’re on the way.”

It took a little longer to convince the two they weren’t needed, though Jo wasn’t sure they had convinced them. Once they’d disappeared in the crowd, she tugged Dean to one side. “How is it that usually you make enemies, but when we don’t need people hanging around, you make friends who won’t go away?”

“What can I say, they’re cool guys.”

“I’m sure they are. Let’s find Gwen and Sam.”

There were more people there that Jo had thought there’d be and, as they searched, she had the sensation of being watched. Once or twice, she caught sight of a dark haired woman matching Dean’s rather loose description, but every time she tried to get a better look, the woman was gone.

Dean’s hand in hers was sweaty and as they worked their way through the crowd, Jo lost her grip. “Dean!”

The crowd pressed close, separating them. Jo shoved back and realized the surging was because David Angle had been spotted. She found herself moving back, away from Dean despite trying to push forward in his direction. The gap between them grew. A hand grasped her arm. She was swung around.

The woman holding on to her arm was exactly the way Dean had described her and felt like bad news. Jo knew her without having met her. “Kate.”

“And you must be Jo. Let’s get acquainted.”

Kate dragged her away.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sam found Gwen with a glass in hand, standing by one wall watching the crowd.

Gwen straightened when she saw him. “What’s going on?”

She didn’t look worried and she should. He frowned. “What do you mean, what’s going on? I texted you.”

“Someone bumped into me and I dropped my phone. It’s busted.” She drew out the smashed remains from her pocket. “It was weird, because this brand is practically indestructible. That’s why I chose this phone. I didn’t even see who did it, just…bump and my phone was out of my hand and smashed on the ground.”

Sam handed Gwen a bag and searched the crowd for Kate. He didn’t see her, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t here somewhere. Maybe she’d even been the one to trash Gwen’s phone. “Vamp.”

Her eyes widened and she set her glass down. “Seriously? Here now?”

“Yup.”

“It must have followed Teddy when he came here earlier.”

“Actually….” He wet his lips. “She’s here for me and Dean.”

Her lips curved in a slow and thoroughly amused smile. “We can’t take you two anywhere, can we?”

He arched a brow. “I could say the same for you and Jo. Wait…Teddy was here in the hotel?”

“He stopped by. This whole thing isn’t his doing. Vamp, Sam?”

“Yeah, uh, her name’s Kate. A few years back, we were with dad and killed her mate and several pack members. She told Dean she plans to turn him and have him replace her mate.”

“Mmm. Lucky him. He has all the fun.”

“She also indicated she might turn Jo instead.”

“Terrific. If she knows your scents, she should be able to pick them up on us.”

“Yeah. Let’s go up to the suite, meet Jo and Dean, form a plan. We need to be ready in case she tries to turn anyone.”

“Or in case she already has.” Gwen started pushing through the crowd.

They went into the hall, to the elevator, and to their suite. Sam opened the door. The room wasn’t as tidy as it had been when he’d left, though it wasn’t as bad as it could be. He’d stayed with Dean in rooms worse and only because of Dean’s presence, not the party Dean had been proposing earlier.

“Jo? Dean? You in here?”

There was no verbal reply. Instead, Sam heard something fall in the room he and Gwen had taken. He was instantly suspicious.

Gwen opened the bag he’d handed her downstairs and drew out the machetes, handing him one.

“Stay behind me,” he whispered.

She motioned towards the door. “Lead on.”

The room was dark inside, a voice coming from the darkness.

“You smell so good, Sam.”

No. It wasn’t. Becky wasn’t in their suite like some creepy stalker. Sam said a silent prayer while knowing it wasn’t going to be answered. “Becky?” Flipping on the switch, he turned. She was sitting on the floor in the corner, arms about herself, rocking slightly. There was dried blood on her lips and chin and she looked terrified.

“I can hear your heartbeat….” Her glance flicked to the doorway. “And theirs. Two in one.”

Gwen was behind him. “She’s been turned, Sam.” She eased beside him, machete raised and ready.

“How did you find our suite, Becky?”

“I smelled you here and knew it was the right room. I memorized how you smell, Sam.” She had a dreamy expression on her face, taking in a long breath. “Soap and shampoo and aftershave….” The expression faded. “Blood.”

“Smelled.” Gwen pursed her lips. “You smelled my husband and memorized it.” She shook her head. “What if she’d gotten the room wrong, Sam? She’d have drunk down and killed some poor guy.”

“I’d never get the wrong room. He always smells good.”

Gwen quirked a brow, annoyance in her eyes. “Did you feed, Becky? I mean any blood at all besides what she used to turn you.”

Becky shook her head and sobbed. “No, but I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m hungry. What did she do to me?”

“She made you a vampire.” Gwen said it plain, glancing at Sam. “We’ve got to find that vamp, kill her before Becky gives in.”

“You need to hang on, Becky.” He took a cautious step forward. “Don’t feed whatever you do.”

“I can’t hang on! I’m not strong! I mean, I may have not had lunch until late, but this isn’t the same sort of hunger. This is gnawing, aching pain on a bodily level that’s getting worse.”

“Hang on…for me.” He touched a hand to his chest. “Can you do that? I don’t want to see you go down that road, Becky. I don’t want to have to hunt you down and kill you, but I will if you don’t hang on.”

“We’ll chop off your head.”

Gwen’s matter-of-fact declaration had Becky wailing with fresh sobs.

“Nice, Gwen.”

“What?” Her expression was too innocent to not be fake. She’d known the words would upset Becky. “It’s the truth. I will cut off her head, especially if she tries to make a meal out of you.”

Sam took out his phone and dialed Dean, launching into the problem as soon as Dean answered. “We found Becky. Unfortunately, Kate found her first. She’s…changing. We’ve got her under control for now, but you’ve got to kill Kate, Dean.”

There was silence a moment. “The bitch has Jo, Sam. We got separated in the crowd and I saw Kate grab her. I couldn’t get there!”

Sam relayed the information to Gwen, who jerked her head towards the door.

“Go help him.” Gwen shifted position and the angle of the machete. “I can kill her if she attacks.”

“No. I’m not leaving you alone with her. You and the baby could get hurt.”

“I’m pregnant, not incompetent. I got this. You know, I once beheaded a vampire that attacked Dean. Ask him. I think I’ve got this.”

“She’s gonna kill me,” Becky whimpered, wrapping her arms tighter about her legs, continuing to rock back and forth. “She’s gonna kill me because I smelled you!”

“She’s not going to kill you and certainly not because you smelled me.”

“I don’t like that she smelled you,” Gwen muttered half under her breath, “and memorized it. That’s like stalker stuff.”

“It’s crush stuff and you know it.” He pointed a stern finger at Gwen. “You’re not going to kill her.”

Her attention never left Becky and she smiled almost sweetly. “If she goes all vamp and attacks me I will.”

“She’s not going to go all vamp, are you, Becky?” When she didn’t reply, he glanced at her. She had her eyes squeezed shut. “Becky?”

“Hungry.”

He put the phone back to his ear. “Dean --”

“I heard. You stay there,” he replied. “God knows, the last thing we need is a vampire Becky being your number one fan through all eternity.”

Sam had to agree.

~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re husband is certainly taking his time getting here,” Kate remarked, pacing in front of Jo. “Perhaps he’s not as smart as I thought. I laid a trail an idiot could find.”

Kate had taken her to the lower, basement level of the parking garage, a section that was blocked off. It was cool and dark, construction equipment at one end. Jo was kneeling, hands tied behind her back with her own handcuffs. There was a pebble on the ground beneath her left knee, digging in to her knee. Her bag was on the ground a few feet away, the knife Dean had given her beside it.

She didn’t reply. Kate had been baiting her since bringing her here.

The vampire cocked her head. “Wait…. I think he’s finally coming to the party.” She moved to stand beside Jo, sliding a hand into her hair.

Jo watched Dean run down the ramp towards them, drawing a machete from his jacket.

As Dean approached, Kate jerked Jo’s head back.

“Ah-ah. That’s far enough, hunter. Nice of you to join us. Your wife has to be the most prepared person I’ve ever met. Handcuffs, knife, assorted other hunter’s toys…. I’m almost disappointed she’s not hauling around dead man’s blood as well.”

“She hurt you, Jo?”

“She’s all hot for you, sweetheart. You and Sam.” Her glance turned to where Kate had tossed her bag. “All she did was cuff me.”

“Let her go, Kate.”

“No.”

“It’s me and my brother you’re after. She’s nothing to you.”

“You’re right, but she’s something to you. You’ll hate me for awhile after you drink her with the bloodlust, but you’ll get over it. They always do in the end.”

“Oh, you think this is gonna go that way?” He twirled the machete, sounding far too smug to Jo’s ears. Did he have Sam and Gwen here somewhere?

“Baby, I know it will.” Kate shoved Jo down and stepped forward, hands making a ‘come here’ gesture.

Dean raised the machete. “Let’s dance.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Kate started forward.