Demons, Demigods and Hunters (Percy Jackson/Supernatural)

Chapter 19

Anna

Anna crouched down, tracing out protective symbols into the dirt. She couldn't help herself but the reach for Eleos, the weight of her blade a cheap comfort when dealing with Sam's overly brash behavior and Roy's obnoxious arrogance. Haley and Ben huddled next to the crackling fire Dean had started. Brushing off her dirt covered knees, she headed to the center of camp. She walked back into the circle of firelight just as Roy let out a mean spirited chuckle when Dean explained what the symbols were to Haley again.

"No one likes a skeptic Roy." Anna chided as she stood near the warmth of the flames. She watched Dean go over to Sam, his mouth set in a determined line. Haley stood next to her, observing the boys.

"Look I don't really know what is going on, but those boys could probably use you. Go over there." Anna looked at Haley.

"I don't know. They're having some stresses, family things I'm not apart of. I'm just along for the ride." Anna shrugged. Haley bumped her shoulder gently.

"Well along for the ride or not, you and those boys look like a unit. All the glances you three trade, the silent communication. You're a team. And your team needs you. Tommy needs your team. We, me and Ben, need that team. So please, go over there and rescue those boys from themselves." Anna's mouth twisted into a wry smile.

"I think the world undervalues people like you Haley Collins. When this is over, I'm going to leave you a phone number. If you ever want to do some good for the world, call it." Haley nodded as Anna made her way over to Sam and Dean.

"Dean. No. I gotta find dad. I gotta find Jessica's killer. It's the only thing I can think about." Anna sits next to Sam, and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

"Okay." Dean looks down as he thinks. Anna silently listens, trying to support her friend.

"Alright Sam, we'll find them I promise. But Sam listen to me. You've got to prepare yourself. This search could take a while. And all that anger, you can't keep it burning for the long haul. It's going to kill you. You gotta have patience man." Sam shakes his head.

"How do you do it? How does dad do it?" He asks, his grief suddenly pouring off his shoulders, temporarily released from the mask of anger he'd been hiding behind.

"Anna how do you do it?" He asks suddenly.

"How did you stay so calm and in control when Jess died, when you were forced to retire? When you buried your family? How do you do this?" Sam asked hopelessly. Anna glanced at Dean. He made a little gesture with his hands, as if to say go ahead. She sighed, picturing the disaster she had been when her father had died. Before she'd been sent to Camp Half Blood, before she'd found her family.

"Sam, I don't. I'm not calm, and I'm so rarely in control. But it's things like them" she nodded towards the Collins siblings by the fire, 'saving people, helping people. It makes the hurt of losing people bearable. Sam I can act calm and in control because I have something else to focus on. We are going to kill this fucker, and the one after that and the one after that. And I find, that one way or another I make my way to the S.O.B I actually wanted to kill. It's all helps." She leaned back a little.

"But short stuff, the most important part is something I already did. I let myself grieve. Yeah I'm angry and sad, but I already let it out. I spent a week crying for my friend. But now I'm ready to work. And you can't work without a clear head. Otherwise you get everyone else killed." Sam wrapped his arm around her and she leaned into his solid form. Dean gave her a small nod.

"Help me!" A man started to shout in the distance again. The three hunters shot up to their feet. Sam shone a flashlight around them, even as Roy cocked his gun. Anna tightened her lips to prevent commenting. She slowly drew her sword. Standing in a loose circle, Dean reminded everyone to stay inside the protection of the symbols.

"Inside the magic circle?" Roy quipped even as the voice continued to scream for help. The trees rusted around them, and the tension mounted. A loud snarl was heard before the shouts cut off. Haley pulled Ben behind her, reassuring her younger brother.

"It's here." Anna said as the wendigo snarled just outside the protection of their campsite. Roy fired a shot into the bushes. He waited before shooting again, and again. A loud squeal could be heard.

"I hit it." He said before running into the woods.

"Roy, no!" Dean yelled even as the older man vanished into the trees. The boys bolted into the trees.

"Don't move." Anna warned before following them.

"Roy! Roy!" Dean shouted even as Anna and Sam followed him. But they all knew it was too late. Dejected they made their way back to camp.