"So ....why am I here again?" Ayden asked, looking over at her brother as she leaned against the kitchen counter. She had been asked to wear normal clothes for the season and location for once, bemused as to why this was necessary. Jo had left Dean to it, taking the children over to Sam and Becky's, just in case things kicked off when the new hunter introduced herself.

"Why do you think you're here?" Dean countered, assuming she had to have some inkling as to why they'd asked her to join them. He felt bad about summoning her here, away from her husband and young son, but it couldn't be helped. He didn't know this hunter from Adam, despite Bobby and Ellen's assurances, and he needed to make sure she was telling the truth.

"Well, I assume you want me to meet someone, and you don't want them to know I'm not human anymore," his sister commented thoughtfully, considering him for a moment. "I don't make a habit of prying into the future if I can help it, Dean. Knowing too much about what might happen gives me the mother of all migraines."

"It's not that," Dean assured her. He hadn't asked her to look into the future in months - not since the last time he'd wanted to know how many children he and Jo were going to have. He was half-tempted to tell her that if he told her what was going on, she wouldn't believe him, but this was a woman who had wed the Greek God of War. There probably wasn't much that surprised her anymore. "We're expecting someone and I need to know this someone is telling the truth."

"Right." Ayden grinned at him, reaching over to poke his shoulder playfully. "See, I told you it'd be handy having an Olympian for a baby sister. Even if I still punch like mortal child, according to my darling husband."

Dean flashed a brief and slightly sarcastic smile. "Your darling husband would probably say the same thing about Mike Tyson," he pointed out, though Mike Tyson wasn't actively boxing anymore.

"You know, one of these days, you two are going to admit that you actually like each other," Ayden predicted for her brother and husband, though she knew it was more pride keeping them from it than anything. She smiled faintly. "All right, so tell me more about this someone you want me to meet."

"I never said I didn't like him," Dean pointed out, proven by the fact that he'd given his blessings to his sister's marriage. Ares could be a bit of a jerk, in Dean's opinion, but he couldn't deny that the guy loved his sister. He shrugged briefly as he pushed off the counter to fetch himself a cup of coffee. "Not much to tell," he said, a questioning look toward the pot, in case she wanted a cup. "Brian called yesterday to let us know that there's trouble headed our way in the form of a hunter named Kristen. Apparently, she's tracking Loki. Before you ask, yes, that Loki. I assume he's the trouble headed our way, since it's him she's tracking. Not sure why though. That's what we're trying to find out."

"So you're going to try and find out why she's tracking him, and whether it's the real Loki or Gabriel she's after, right?" Ayden guessed. At least she hadn't forgotten how to have a normal conversation; it was easy to assume she knew everything before it was said these days, but Ayden refused to act on anything unless she was told aloud what she already knew.

"You already know about that?" Dean asked, brows arching upwards. He wasn't sure why he was surprised about that when his sister was no longer mortal. "I assume she's after the real Loki," he continued. "But we're not sure why. Gabriel seems to think Loki is after him, but that doesn't explain why this hunter is after Loki." Dean paused to rub away the dull ache that was forming behind his temple. "Does that make any sense?"

"Gabriel pretty much watched over me for a few years there," she reminded him with a smile. "I know he's an ass, but he was my friend. He didn't keep many secrets from me." She straightened up, tilting her head as the sound of an approaching engine signaled the arrival of the expected hunter. "It makes sense," she assured her brother. "Just don't start a fight."

Dean had to bite his tongue. He knew very well that Gabriel had watched over Ayden because it was Dean that had asked him to do it, but as far as Dean was concerned, whatever debt he might have owed the archangel had been repaid tenfold when Gabriel inherited Heaven. "It's been a long time since I punched a woman," he assured her with a straight face.

Ayden snorted with laughter. "So it's a woman, huh?" She grinned, nudging his arm as the engine outside died, followed by the sound of a car door opening and closing. "Does Jo know you're entertaining another woman in her house?"

"I said her name is Kristen. Pay attention, Sis!" Dean teased, snapping his fingers. He moved the curtains aside to take a peek outside the window at the newcomer. "Of course Jo knows. She was the first one I told."

"Oh, so, not her idea, then?" Ayden teased him, ducking under his arm to look out through the window as well.

What they saw was a tall woman in a leather jacket, brunette hair pulled into a harsh ponytail, tucking a gun into the back of her jeans as she turned toward the house. Her eyes found them looking out at her, brows rising above an amused smile. Ayden waved, grinning back.

Dean rolled his eyes at the sight of the woman tucking a gun into the back of her jeans, as if they wouldn't notice. "Oh, great. A badass. Awesome." Thankfully, Jo had taken the kids next door to see Sam and Becky. He didn't want them there if there was going to be trouble.

"Oh, come on, Dean." Ayden straighted up, rolling her eyes. "It's not like she made any attempt to hide it. And if you were in her position, you'd do the exact same thing."

"Would I?" Dean challenged. It wasn't so much the gun that bothered him, but the fact that she was bringing a gun into his home - a home that was occupied by three small children.

His little sister looked him dead in the eye and dared him to try and lie to her. Not that anyone was physically capable of doing that to Ayden these days, not since Ares had declared her the Goddess of Truth. She smirked at him. "Answer the door, Dean."

And a moment later, there was a knock on the front door.

Dean sighed. "Getting pretty bossy lately, little sister," he grumbled, as he set his coffee cup down and pushed off the counter. He meant no harm by the remark, except to tease her. He was clearly feeling a little agitated, and teasing her was one way for him to release that tension. "Come on, then. You're part of this, too," he told her, waving her toward him as he headed toward the door.

"You're the one who gave me self-confidence, Big Bird," she pointed out, falling into step behind him as he moved for the door. "It's your own fault I got sassy."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure Ares had nothing to do with it," he murmured, but there was a hint of a smile on his face now, clearly enjoying teasing her. Before she could reply further, he pulled open the door to greet their guest. "What's the password?" he asked, though they didn't really have one.

"Acceptance," Dean echoed further, somewhat skeptically. Of course, he'd never met the real Loki; only his imposter. "Acceptance by who' What's left of the Norse Gods" Humans" Angels" Demons" Olympians" Most of the old Pagan gods want to be worshipped, but they've fallen out of favor with humanity. They've been replaced, mostly by angels, but they aren't much better."

"The Norse gods are a little different," Kris told him. "They are more elemental, more attuned to humanity than the Greek pantheon. They did not go into hibernation, they have been living among humans for these past two thousand or so years. Loki is not wholly Norse, either - his mother was one of the Aesir, yes, but his father was a giant, so it is said."

"Not necessarily," Dean replied. Mythology was a tricky thing. There were too many contradictions; nothing seemed certain, not even centuries-old lore could be taken as truth. "It was my understanding that Odin was Loki's father, though I realize that conflicts with the lore." At least, that's the way it had been in his universe.

Kris frowned thoughtfully. "To be honest, the lore surrounding Loki is murky," she admitted. "Some say Odin is his father, others that he was adopted by Odin and considers Thor his brother. Some say he is Norse, others that he is an immortal giant. I believe he causes mischief for the attention it gives him, which is why I say he seeks acceptance rather than chaos."

"So, what are you suggesting" Hug therapy?" Dean asked, trying not to sound too sarcastic, though that was obviously not the solution he had in mind. "And what if he doesn't agree" What then?" he asked further, wondering if she was prepared to do what as a hunter, she was trained to do.

"Then I kill him." Simple as that, it seemed. Kris shrugged, sipping her coffee. Then she seemed to realize what she had said. "I was not intending to tell you that," she said, turning suspicious eyes onto Ayden.

"You realize he's a Trickster ....and a liar. He might tell you one thing and do another," Dean pointed out further, though she probably already knew that.

"He is the original Trickster," Kris said, drawing her eyes away from Ayden, who was doing her best not to look guilty. "It is very likely that he will lie to me. But he is also a Norse god, and they have very ....simple tastes. He may be walking to his death with this battle he plans on having, and what do most people want to do in the days leading to their possible death?"

"Live," Ayden said softly, glancing at her brother. "He's going to be having fun."

"Are you suggesting seducing him?" Dean asked point blank, brows arching upwards in curiosity. He couldn't think of any better way of having fun than that, though he still thought the best way of handling a troublemaker like Loki was to just eliminate him.

"It is a possibility," Kris conceded. "And a male is never more vulnerable than when he drops his pants."

Next to Dean, Ayden snorted into her coffee, groping for a cloth as she spluttered through her giggles.

"That's a little evil," Dean said. "Remind me never to piss you off," he added, though it was unlikely she'd ever try that on him. "I have an idea what he might be after," he admitted at last.

"Well, killing him is the last resort," she pointed out, tilting her head curiously at his addition. "And what is that?" she asked. "I have yet to discover it myself."

The Dean of the past might not have been so generous as the Dean of the present, but having an Olympian for a brother-in-law had changed his mind a little. Still, Loki's reputation preceded him, and if his intention was to cause trouble for humanity, Dean would do whatever he deemed necessary. He didn't say so just yet though. He had a reputation of his own, after all. "I'm not entirely sure myself, but I think he's after Gabriel - as in archangel Gabriel," he informed her.

Kris frowned. "That makes no sense, Mr. Winchester," she pointed out. "Why would a Trickster be after the last remaining archangel" Surely he knows that causing trouble for Gabriel would be enough to bring the Greek pantheon down on his head?"

"Dean," he corrected. Mr. Winchester made him sound so old, and he wasn't even 40 yet, though at 36, he was getting closer. He shrugged at her question. "Loki and Gabriel made an agreement, and Gabriel broke that agreement," he told her simply, letting her do the math.

Her dark eyes considered this for a long moment. "Revenge," she said succinctly. "That complicates things."

Ayden leaned forward. "Why are you doing this?" she asked suddenly. "You said you were asked to do it - who asked you?"

Kris clamped her jaw shut for a long moment, fighting against the words as she considered the pros and cons of sharing that information. When she made her mind up, the truth blurted out. "Artemis."

Dean arched a brow at the name drop. They were well acquainted with most of the Olympians, including Artemis, but what did she want with Loki" "Why?" he asked bluntly, though the answer seemed obvious. "Is Artemis worried Loki will upset the balance of power" He is the God of Chaos, after all. Kind of goes with the territory."

"A war between the Norse and Greek gods would be a disaster," Kris pointed out. "When gods fight, humans get caught in the middle. If Loki dies, Thor may retaliate. If he kills Gabriel, Zeus will seek vengeance. I don't know what his goal is here."

"Loki's goal?" Dean asked, assuming she was referring to him. "My guess is revenge on Gabriel, but if he knows Gabriel is in charge of Heaven, maybe he's hoping to take his place. I mean, he's a Trickster, right' He can shape change at will. What if he intends on killing Gabriel and taking his place ....as Gabriel?"

Kris swore softly in a language that was definitely not native to her companions, leaning back in her seat. "Convincing him not to do that will prove complex," she muttered, smoothing a hand over her hair.

Beside them, Ayden held up a hand, like a child in school.

"Of course, he's might be able to look like Gabriel, but sooner or later, someone will realize he's not what he seems," Dean remarked. After all, no matter how much Loki might try to resemble Gabriel, he wasn't an archangel and didn't possess an archangel's abilities. Seeing Ayden with her hand up, he smirked and gave her a nod. "The little girl in the first row?"

Ayden stuck her tongue out at her brother, snorting with laughter as she smiled. "I was just thinking," she shrugged, "but he's elemental, right' He's driven by emotions and needs? So ....maybe you don't convince him not to kill someone, you offer him something better than killing someone."

At this, Kris looked uncomfortable. "How wedded are you to the hunters' traditional views of witchcraft?" she asked carefully.

Dean shrugged again. "Depends on the witch and what kind of magic she's using for what purpose." His gaze flickered to Ayden briefly before returning to Kris. "I've been known to use a spell or two myself when necessary, but ..." He trailed off a moment, as a lightbulb went on in his head. "You get your power from Artemis," he said, with sudden realization.

Kris relaxed a little when he didn't immediately accuse her of working with a demon. "The women in my family are traditionally been dedicated to a goddess when they are born," she explained. "My father gave me to Artemis, and all she has ever asked of me is my worship. She has never even mentioned my soul."

"Wow." Ayden sounded impressed. "So you have some sort of magic thing to find Loki with?"

Kris nodded, turning back the sleeve of her jacket to reveal a small pin marked with a complex rune. "This is a Norse rune, a shield and eye. It allows me to see through illusion."

"Well, then, you know we're not him!" Dean said with a chuckle - the first one since they'd made her acquaintance. He leaned in a little to take a closer look at the rune that was etched into the pin, but not too close.

"Exactly." She smiled, raising her wrist to allow him to get a better look at the rune etched into the metal. "As soon as Artemis told me I was to track Loki, I went looking for Norse magic that I could use against him. That is how I know that Sigyn does not exist - the woman who was supposed to be his wife. There was no one to catch the venom from the serpent's fangs when I found it."

"Wait ..." Dean started, brows furrowing again, either in confusion or awe or a little of both. "When you found what? The world serpent' Jormun-something or other" I thought he was one of Loki's kids or something." He wasn't too sure. Sam hadn't had time to tell them everything, and Dean was a little rusty on his Norse mythology.

"Well, it's not the world serpent," Kris admitted with a shrug. "I needed to find something that would kill a Norse god, and the only thing the lore states Loki is susceptible to is the venom from those snakes, so I found one and milked it. I did not enjoy the experience."

"Uh, okay, I'm game ....What kind of snake is it and where did you find it?" Dean asked, more curious than anything else, though he sounded a little doubtful that mere snake venom could kill what was probably best defined as a demi-god.

"It's a warm-blooded cobra," Kris told him in amusement. "About ....twenty feet long" The head and hood is about two and half feet wide. And it was in Greenland."

"That's a ....big snake," Ayden muttered, quietly shocked. She still didn't like snakes.

"Jesus," Dean muttered, stifling a shudder. Though he'd faced worse foe than that, just the thought of a snake that big gave him the creeps. "Why'd it have to be snakes?" he murmured further, quoting Indiana Jones.

Kris nodded slowly, her smile distinctly uncomfortable. "It was not the most fun I've ever had on a hunt," she said, in a beautiful display of calm understatement. "So ....you think Loki knows he is being hunted" How long, do you suppose, before he knows it is me?"

Again with the shrug, almost as if Dean had a twitch. "Hell if I know. You plan on summoning him or what? I get that rune of yours allows you to see through his illusions, but how's it gonna help you find him?"

"Oh, I know where he is," she said dismissively. "He's in Canton, arrived last night."

Dean arched a brow. Canton, South Dakota was about twenty minutes south of Sioux Falls. Almost too close for comfort, but that wasn't why Dean was arching his brow. "And you know that how?" he asked, curiously.

"I ....have a small amount of Fenrir's blood, and I have been using it to scry for Loki whenever I stop," Kris told him a little awkwardly. Explaining witchcraft to people who didn't really use it could be a bit of a minefield. There were a lot of unsavory ingredients used.

Dean didn't even flinch an eye. Though he wasn't a witch - or warlock, for that matter - he had used enough spell work in the past not to be too shocked by anything she might tell him where that was concerned. "Fenrir. Another supposed son of Loki's. And I thought Greek mythology was weird."

"Well, he gave me the blood, so I don't think he's seen his father in a while," Kris pointed out. "It is not my intention to bring trouble to your home, Dean. If I can, I will draw him away before making the choice to kill him or save him."

"You're planning on doing this alone then," Dean said, possibly stating the obvious. It was his instinct and his job to hunt down anything that might pose a risk to his family and to humanity, and right now, that seemed to be Loki.

"I would rather do that than draw his attention to you and yours," Kris answered. "At this moment, if he is watching me, all he sees is me checking in with hunters in the area. If he sees you with me again, you become a target."

"Well, I've killed bigger fish than Loki, just so you know," Dean said, with a sniff of pride. He understood she was trying to keep his family safe, but he was no coward. "Will you keep in touch and let us know if you need help?"

"You are the Godslayer," she nodded in agreement. "Which is another reason to keep him from focusing on you. He spreads chaos, and you have young children. There are worse things he can do than kill you." She sighed. "But I will keep in touch. You deserve to know when the danger is passed."

"Godslayer," Dean echoed, trying that title on for size. "I like that. Dean Winchester, Godslayer." He flashed a grin at his sister, risking an eyeroll in response. It only lasted a moment though before he was turning back to Kris with a more serious expression on his face. "Just one question ....You have that rune to help you see through his illusions, but we don't. How do we know he won't kill you and then come here pretending to be you?"

"Oh, that is a very good point." Kris rummaged in her pocket and produced a couple of pins etched with the same rune. "I gave a pair to Bobby and his wife as well," she told him. "As far as I know, the illusions don't work on Olympians at all."

Dean extended a hand so that he could not only take a better look at the pins, but in anticipation of her giving them to him. If illusions didn't work on Olympians, then it stood to reason that Ayden wouldn't need one. "If you're giving out presents, I'd like to give one to Jo."

"Of course." Kris dropped the two pins into his hand, and tugged another couple out of her pocket. "Bobby said something about you being in contact with another hunter in the area as well, so you should probably pass these onto him."