They had all vanished, but she hadn't. Since this had never happened before it took a long time for her to realize she was still standing there, and Gabriel had left. She stood still for a long time her gaze fixed on the, now empty, table. The place was completely empty. Where had they all gone and why had she not gone with them?
As the minutes passed she became more aware of her body, it felt so heavy. She had no memory of having such a heavy body.
She left the apartment, hoping she could catch up with Gabriel and ask him what had just happened. On her way out she bumped into someone who smelled odd and overwhelming, like skin and wool, and something else. She avoided his gaze and kept going.
Outside she covered her ears and closed her eyes, it was so loud and so bright. "Gabriel, where are you?" she asked in barely a whisper as she ducked back into the apartment.
She went back to the apartment and walked back to the table. They had been standing by the table, so it made sense that she return to doing that.
He appeared in front of her, "you're still here?"
"What am I?" she asked, "and why am I so heavy?"
He examined her for a moment, "you, appear to be human."
"Are you sure? I have memories and they go back a long time. Or I have your memories. I don't have human memories, unless being heavy counts."
He went to speak a few times but said nothing.
"I'm human. That's good. I think I like humans. I can get a job, and buy chocolate and cake."
"It's not that simple. Like you said, you have my memories. It isn't safe for you out there. Also, we don't know who did this to you. You're not supposed to be real, but you are. There are way too many angels and demons out there who would love to get their hands on you. No."
She frowned, and thought for a moment, then dropped her head sadly, "Oh, yeah. So what do we do? I want to keep being real. I want to meet real people and talk with them. I can ask them their perspective on the universe. I can figure out mine!"
He looked at her hesitantly, then took a deep breath.
As she waited for him to speak she started to think over the memories she had. Many of the recent memories were clear but fragmented. She tried to search her mind for someone who had shown any interest in her in the recent past, trying to sort out who could have possibly caused her to become human. Just as he was about to speak she remembered who had last looked at her with some interest. It was a human and she remembered someone calling him Dean. She snapped her fingers, "yes, Dean! That's it."
The next moment she was somewhere else, and she couldn't see a thing and there was a knife at her throat.
"Are you Dean? I apologize, I can't see you."
"Who are you and what are you doing in my room?" his voice was painfully loud in her ear."
"Um, my name is Ga… no that's his name. My name is Lo…no him again. I have a name! All humans have names and I'm human! But what am I doing here? I don't know."
He released her and went and turned on the light. "Alright, talk."
"Um, did you make me human?"
"Did I what?" he took a closer look at her, then a big grin spread across his face, "I remember you. You were one of the girl's…but wait, you were an illusion the trickster created. So how are you here?"
He splashed her with water and some of it got in her eyes. she buried her face in her arm, rubbing her face against her sleeve.
"Not possessed."
"He was as surprised as you were. I think he was going to say something before I…he will be looking for me."
"Well first things first, we need something to call you." He looked her over for a few minutes then said, "you look like a Claudia."
She smiled, "Claudia. I like it."
"Excuse me," Gabriel appeared behind Claudia, "if you wanted juice, you could have asked."
Claudia spun to face him, "I drew from you to do that?"
"'fraid so and it was an unusual sensation, I must say. Maybe we can try it again some time, with safe words, but for now, it's time to go home."
"Claudia, do you know this guy?" Dean asked, positioning himself between Gabriel and Claudia.
"Claudia? I like it, so I will forgive you for naming my toy, if you'd just step out of the way."
"I am not your toy Ga.." he moved his hand in sweeping motion and her mouth shut.
"Right, you're human now and you want a human life and," Gabriel was behind her again with his hand on her upper arm, "if I can give that to you, I will. I promise. There are some questions I need answered first."