Written for the people who have taken the time to be so kind and requested, well demanded, more and longer Big Brother Cas stories. :) This story is linked to the first story line but can be read independently of each other.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Julianna.
Spoilers: Some of this might give away parts of season 6.
Reviews are appreciated and welcome. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
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Julianna stepped outside and sat on the front steps. The night was quiet and the sky was clear. Bobby had gone to bed an hour ago. She knew she wasn't allowed to go past the steps without his permission. Castiel had put that rule in place after she took a walk and Bobby couldn't find her for over an hour. They had both been furious at her but it was unintentional. She hadn't meant to worry either of them but sometimes it felt like the walls of the house were closing in on her. She had wanted some fresh air.
She remembered a time that she could just think of a place and then be there. She lost that ability long ago. There wasn't much left of her old self. She could still give a human comfort and peace with a touch. She could still sense people and what they are feeling. And she could smite a lower level demon if she had to but that was another thing that Castiel put on the "don't you dare" list. Sometimes it was hard to remember all the rules she had to follow now.
She thought of her big brother then. Fighting this war was changing him. She had never seen him so focused, so determined. She also had never seen him so "human". He used to never show any emotion but now, well she has seen him angry, impatient, and even has mastered some sarcasm. Dean is a big influence on her brother. There is no denying it. Dean and Sam have a true brotherly connection. Yet anyone seeing the relationship between Dean and Castiel would probably describe them as brothers too.
Julianna worried for her brother's safety and she worried for his faith. After he went looking for Father but couldn't find him, it took something out of Castiel. His faith took a hit.
Where is Father? Why won't he put an end to all this fighting? Jules prayed then. She was determined to talk to her Father whether he was listening or not.
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"What are you doing?" Castiel appeared next to her, sitting on the steps.
"Castiel! I'm so happy you're safe." Julianna hugged him tightly.
Cas put his arms around her. He didn't get the purpose of this whole hugging thing. For some reason, it gave her comfort so he hugged her back. His little sister seemed to become more and more human every day.
Pulling back from her, he asked again, "What were you doing?"
"Talking to Father"
Castiel only nodded.
"Julianna I don't like you sitting out here at night by yourself. Does Bobby know you are out here?"
"No, I just wanted to get some air. I didn't go past the steps."
"Still, it isn't safe."
"Brother? If Bobby says it's ok, can I go with him to the grocery store? He was going to bring me the other day but he didn't because he wanted to talk to you about it."
Cas saw how hopeful his sister looked in anticipation of his answer. Something as simple as a trip to the store could make her so happy. He didn't want to disappoint her.
"You would have to follow whatever rules Bobby gave you. Can you do that?"
"Yes of course I can."
Cas thought a minute more. "I will leave this one to Bobby to decide."
Julianna was ecstatic! "Thanks Castiel! I promise you won't regret it."
"I already do."
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Cas and Jules sat there quietly for a while when Julianna asked something that had been on her mind recently.
"Brother? Is Father still watching over us?"
Cas thought carefully about the question. He didn't want his sister to lose her faith but he often wondered the same thing lately.
"Yes, I believe so. What do you think?"
"He is a Father to all of us so why won't he stop this fighting? I think if he knew what was going on in heaven, He would put an end to it. He would make Raphael stop and no more angels would die. I mean, what kind of father would let his children fight and die and do nothing? If I was involved in a fight, you wouldn't turn a blind eye. You would make me stop fighting, wouldn't you?"
"Yes I would"
"So, a father who cared would too. So, that makes me think that He doesn't know or…. maybe He doesn't care?"
Julianna let her words spill out. She didn't even realize she had thought that way. Castiel was facing forward but turned his head to look at her. What has happened to his little sister?
"Don't you EVER say that again! Do you understand?"
"But Brother, I'm not the only one. I know you have thought it. Wasn't it Raphael who told you that he thought Father was dead? Maybe that is true Castiel. Maybe that is why He hasn't stopped the war."
Castiel had thought it. He didn't want to think it was true. He believed that Father brought him back after they stopped the apocalypse but he really didn't know how it happened. No matter what he thought, he was not going to let his sister lose her faith.
"JULIANNA! Father is not dead and I don't want to hear those words come out of your mouth again! Do you hear me?" Cas gave her a stern look and waited for her response.
"Yes Castiel. I hear you" She said quietly.
"We might not understand why He does what He does but it is not our job to understand. God is not dead and He has not abandoned us and He certainly still cares. Next time you say your prayers, you need to ask His forgiveness for your words."
"Yes brother." Julianna still had some doubts but it was reassuring to hear her brother defend Father so passionately. It gave her hope.
She reached out and took his hand.
Julianna tried to give her brother some comfort and get a sense of what he was going through. Castiel gave her a slight grin.
"You are trying to see my feelings? You know that doesn't work on me."
"It does work on you but you are always blocking me. Why are you blocking me? I only want to know that you are ok. I worry about you a lot."
"What worries you little sister?"
"That Raphael will get you and I will lose you forever." Julianna could feel a tug at her heart just by uttering the words out loud.
Castiel put his arm around his little sister. It was another gesture that he knew gave her comfort.
"I cannot die in this war Julianna. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"If I did, that would leave you alone with only Bobby to watch over you. It would surely kill him. You need a strong hand and a lot of looking after and it is not a job for a mere human. You running free with no supervision could start another apocalypse."
Julianna pulled back and looked at him at first thinking that he was serious.
Cas looked straight ahead and then peeked at Julianna out of the corner of his eye, letting a slight grin pass across his face.
He was kidding! Her big brother was kidding? Julianna laughed then and it felt good to laugh.
Castiel sat with her for a little while longer holding her close again and letting her lean into him. Neither one said a word. They just enjoyed the rare moment of peace.
Castiel then stiffened and looked up as if someone had called him.
"What's wrong?"
"I have to go. You go back inside and no more coming out at night on your own, understood?"
"Understood"
And he was gone once more.
Jules went back inside and locked the door the way that Bobby does. Going up to her room, she was thinking about her brother. Why did he block her from sensing him? She didn't know the answer to that but she did know that maybe his faith hadn't taken the hit she thought. If her brother still had faith, she would too.
So, Julianna knelt by her bed and said her prayers.
