John silently backed off, gesturing to Bast to do the same, and took up a position next to Pepper and opposite Crowley, flashing the girl a brief smile of reassurance. He didn't suppose it'd be much fun for her to watch Adam and Roger face off, but to him, the whole scenario was sort of encouraging, in a weird way.

Instead of fighting among themselves, the Manor residence were closing ranks against an outsider. He wondered if that was the sort of thing Adam had intended to happen, or if any of the others realized they were doing it.