canon au } { post-1022: the prisoner

[kiss_evilgoodbye]

Buffy: [and her phone starts a-ringin' and she glances down at the caller ID before picking it up, since Scott is driving] Hey, Sam.

Sam: [and yeah, he's totally in freak out mode] Buffy! Oh thank god. I need help.

Buffy: [oh that's not good] What's wrong?

Sam: Dean.... he... he just snapped. These freaken cult jerks got Olivia and he went in to save her and just... he killed them all. We tried to neutralize him until he could get back to his senses but... Buffy he nearly beat Ben into a pulp.

Buffy: [her eyes go wide for a moment, before she glances to Scott because she knows he can hear it] Where are you?

Sam: The bunker.

Buffy: Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can. [and she will hang up without hesitation and go to pull up the address for the bunker for her phone] We're going to Lawrence.

Scott: That's a bit out of the way isn't it?

Buffy: Unfortunately, Dean Winchester has decided now is a good time to go on a murder spree and I have to help Sam stop him. Unfortunately, I don't have time to take you back to Beacon Hills first. So, I'm sorry, but we need your help. [they could probably use the extra muscle anyway]

Scott: Yeah... he picked a crap time to do that. [and he will turn the car around]

Buffy: Yeah, well, apparently the people he snapped hurt Olivia. Dean doesn't have common sense when it comes to his family, but I don't know if he'll stop there.

Scott: And how strong does that mark make him?

Buffy: I ... don't actually know. But it makes him pretty damn ruthless, so don't give him any quarter. Talking him out of it? Probably not going to work.

Scott: But we're not... we're not going to kill him, right? [because no, killing is always off the table]

Buffy: [she shakes her head] No. But knocking him out cold? Definitely on the table. Possibly even a few broken bones if we need to slow him down. He'll heal - but he'll kill us if we give him the chance.

Scott: Okay. [the words "I should call Stiles is on the tip of his tongue, but he doesn't say it. He knows that it won't happen] Should we get more help?

Buffy: [she makes a face, before shaking her head] I don't know if they'll be able to get there fast enough. [a beat] I can call Faith.

Scott: She won't have a problem beating him up?

Buffy: Faith rarely has a problem beating up anyone. It's not letting it go too far that she's working on.

Scott: Do you think Dean's in a position that would make it hard on her?

Buffy: Maybe. But she's stronger than she seems.

Scott: I'm more worried she'll forget not to kill him.

Buffy: No, that's what I meant. Not killing Dean is very important, and not killing people is very important to her.

Scott: Oh, good. That's good.

Buffy: [she nods before placing the phone to her ear] Faith, hey. How far out are you from Kansas ...

Scott: [and he's going to just keep driving, his mind going in circles]

Buffy: [and eventually they will arrive at the bunker a long way later, and Buffy will head right inside to find Sam] Sam?!

Sam: [and he's yelling into his cell phone, leaving yet another voicemail for Dean] Down here!

Buffy: [tips her head for Scott to follow her, and Scott gets to be the first member of the Beacon Hills crew to visit the bunker. Dawn is officially jealous] I brought our favorite alpha.

Sam: [hey he's offered - it's just never been a good time] Hey Scott, thanks for coming out. I've got Dean's GPS on and trying to track him. Ben's up in his nest recovering and Michael's with his sister.

Buffy: He hasn't ditched the phone yet?

Sam: Oh, it's the one in the glovebox. The one that he keeps charged because it was dad's phone.

Buffy: And that's why you are a smart cookie. Where is he?

Sam: [looks at his computer and points it out] And, it's worse.

Buffy: [eyebrows go up] There's a worse?

Sam: Cas has gone MIA.

Buffy: ... That would definitely be a worse.

Ben: [coming down from the observation deck, all bruised up but already starting to heal.] Which is why we need to get out there and find Dean before this gets worse.

Sam: You're supposed to be resting.

Ben: I'm fine.

Scott: You look like you got hit by a truck.

Ben: I'm fine.

Buffy: Let's start with the problem we can easily track. Where's Dean?

Sam: [looks at the computer] Still moving north.

Buffy: Faith's coming from the east, so I'll have her cut him off. We should move.

Ben: Let me get my guns

Sam: You need to stay here and rest. Guard Olivia.

Ben: Michael can do that. You drive, I'll heal on the road.

Sam: Ben...

Ben: You're not going alone, Sam. If Cas was answering, yeah I'd stay back. but he's not, and you need every hand you can get.

Sam: [looks to Buffy in frustration]

Buffy: [glances from Sam to Ben] Are you healing?

Ben: Yes.

Buffy: Are you solid enough to move?

Ben: I'm solid.

Buffy: Then let's go. We have some driving to do anyway, and not a lot of time to waste.

Sam: [sighs and goes to look at his nephew.] Go put the spare armory in whatever Buffy drove her in. I'll check on the kids.

Scott: Um... I don't think Peter has a lot of insurance on this car... [goes to follow Ben]

Buffy: [she gives Sam a small smile, before holding up her phone] I'll let Faith know what direction Dean's heading.

Sam: [nods, and he heads back to Olivia's room, knocking on the open doorframe]

Michael: [picks his head up and then rubs at his eyes] Hey. Buffy here?

Sam: Yeah. We’re going to head out and find Dean. Ben is coming with, pulling his invulnerable act. You going to be okay holding down the fort?

Michael: [he nods] Yeah, we'll be fine.

Sam: Alright. [comes in closer] How is she?

Michael: [glances over to where his sister is sleeping, curled up on her side] Better. Her breathing is easier. [he pauses] Her phone keeps going off though.

Sam: Maybe it's one of her friends in LA?

Michael: [he glances back to phone as it buzzes again] All from the same person. Guy named Hal.

Sam: Just text the number back and say that you’re her brother and she's not feeling good but will let her know he's been calling.

Michael: Okay. [reaches for the phone, tamping down the big brother urge to call and be menacing] Be careful.

Sam: I will. [he's worried, but he has to go] When Bela gets back from her job, tell her I'll call when I find Dean.

Michael: [nods again] Okay. Good luck.

Sam: [gives Michael his half-smile and he's off to join Buffy, Ben and Scott]

Michael: [will scowl as the phone buzzes again, before he decides to pick it up and answer because overprotective brother is overprotective] Who is this?

Hal: [blinks] Who's this?

Michael: Michael. Olivia's brother. Your turn.

Hal: Hal Mason. I'm a friend of hers from Berkley.

Michael: [sighs] Look, Olivia's not feeling up to talking right now. I can have her call you back later when she's awake.

Hal: [worried] She alright?

Michael: She will be. We caught a bad job.

Hal: Yeah, she was telling me about the extermination business you guys are in.

Michael: Right. [nice cover, Liv] Anyway, she got cut up pretty bad but she's going to be fine.

Hal: How bad is bad?

Michael: Bad. But she's had worse.

Hal: She's going to be okay though, right?

Michael: Yeah. She's going to be fine.

Hal: Alright. Just... yeah when she can call tell her to give me a buzz.

Michael: Yeah, I will. [after thoroughly interrogating her about this Hal guy]

Hal: Thanks. Guess I'll go.

Michael: Yeah. Bye. [and with that he'll hang up, having awkward big brother feelings]