This is my first Supernatural fic and is the first thing I've posted in a long while. Sorry to those people waiting on everything else, I'm just a teensy-bit hooked on Supernatural at the moment. I'm only at the 5th season, so I'd greatly appreciate no one posting any potential spoilers in the reviews. I have already pre-written the first two chapters, doing both in one day, and am totally psyched. If you want to know why, it's because these two chapters combined are worth over 6000 words. I usually can barely do 1000 in a week.

This is super cereal stuff for me, guys.

This story is set between episode 5x04: The End and 5x05: Fallen Idols. Because I've only seen about half of Season 5, I might be messing with the universe a little. I have already run into one such conflict, but managed to make it work. Well, I hope I made it work, seeing as I haven't even written it down yet, but whatever.

I hope you enjoy!

Now onto the housekeeping.

I do not own Supernatural in the slightest, and have written this for my own amusement and for the potential enjoyment of others.

Adrift Star

Chapter 1

Tera

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" A brown-haired girl shrieked as she tried to untangle herself from the covers of her bed. Water dripped from the tips of her hair, making the ends fight angrily for a place on her neck. Her emerald-green eyes darted across the room, searching for an escape from the two young men that had infiltrated her room as she slept. How dare they do such a thing!

Her eyes snapped onto the taller of the men, who had brown hair that hung until the bottom of his ears and a kind, soft-looking face. He gave an apologetic smile and raised his empty hands up for her to see. She wasn't looking at that, though. She watched the veins in his body turn black as her mind focused on the blood. She felt her lips curl in disgust before she could stop herself.

"You filthy mutt," she hissed, feeling the cold head post press up against her back. "How'd something like you get into my room?"

The girl sniffed the liquid that was dripping from her hair, and cursed to herself when she sensed it was blessed. The two men were hunters. She glanced back at the men, who were exchanging a look that held an entire conversation she couldn't decipher. Did the holy water throw them off? Did they think she was just some human? The humans in front of her turned their heads and returned their gaze, both carefully calculative.

"You're the one that's in our room, kid." the shorter of the two men growled. His hand stealthily slithered into his jacket pocket, but her eyes caught the movement. "What the hell are you doing here?"

She stared at them, trying hard not to swear out loud. She hadn't even noticed that her comfortable bed had been replaced with a cheap, rickety one. The walls held dark tacky patterns that were meant to lighten up the room, but instead came off as something much more pathetic. How could she not have noticed such an obvious change? She wanted to sigh, but instead focused on making her face as stone-still as possible.

"Then how did I get here? Did you two kidnap me or something?" They thought she was human... hopefully. She could never tell with humans. Creatures of the supernatural were so much simpler to deal with. Pinning the blame on them might help, leave them flustered and searching for an answer. "Oh my god, I've been kidnapped! Help! Someone, please help me!"

"Wait, we didn't... crap, we didn't kidnap you! We're not going to hurt you!" the mutt stumbled over his words in panic, obviously not concerned about her not being human. A side of her non-existent heart sagged in relief. Hunters were never kind with her when they found out what she was. Neither were humans, angels, demons, ghosts, ghouls, zombies, vampires, werewolves... well, nothing really liked her.

Except Castiel.

Castiel was a very special exception.

The shorter of the two men narrowed his green eyes at her. She returned with an angry glare, trying not to flinch at the amount of scars on his soul that shone through his skin. Poor bastard had it rough, she thought. Doesn't mean I won't kill him if I have to.

She nearly missed his hand snatching itself from his coat pocket, holding in its grasp a gun. Immediately, and not a moment too soon, she lunged forward and swatted the bullet to the side. Her hand immediately cried out, but the adrenalin coursing through her body immediately dulled the pain. She instantly began rolling to the side as the shorter hunter's instincts kicked in and he shot towards her instead.

The girl's mind slowed time past its normal capacities as the metal round made its way through the air at a rate faster than her body could move. It would pierce her right shoulder. The injury wouldn't be severe, but it would limit her movement enough that she wouldn't be able to get away. She stared as the ball made its way painfully slowly towards her, thinking of the death sentence it would give her once it hit.

"Dean."

The bullet disappeared out of thin air, time sped up. Her body landed with a dull thump on the carpeted floor, void of the hole in her shoulder she had been waiting to receive. The hunters visibly jumped, turning to look at the figure that stood behind them.

Castiel.

Her non-existent heart raced, threatening to pound its way out of her chest.

"Cas? What are you doing here?" The younger hunter turned his head so he could watch the girl from the corner of his eye as he spoke. "What's going on?"

"Dean, you mustn't hurt the child."

His familiar husky voice sent her body shivering. He had come for her, to save her. The sudden influx of emotions overwhelmed her, making her eyes water and blur his image. She shot out, faster than before, darting past the two hunters and clutching Castiel's beige coat with both hands like a lifeline.

"Castiel..." she murmured, looking up at the angel's unreadable blue eyes. A few moments of silence passed before Castiel raised one hand and placed it gently on her forehead. The contact immediately calmed her shaking body, relaxing her tense muscles, slowing her breathing and heart to normal levels.

"Hello, Tera." Castiel replied. Tera's eyes caught the look the two humans were giving her, and repositioned herself so she was partially hidden behind Castiel's right sleeve. "Did you send me to these two?"

"Yes, they are here to protect you." Castiel answered, turning to face her. "You will stay with them."

Tera frowned, her eyebrows furrowing deeply. They had just tried to kill her. She would've been dead hadn't it been for Castiel. And now he expected her to stay with them? The two hunters appeared equally confused.

"I don't want to stay with the mutt and the soldier," she said, not caring that her voice came dangerously close to whining. "They tried to kill me. They're not safe." she glanced at the two men before looking Castiel in the eyes and whispering. "Their souls are ugly, Castiel. I can't look at them properly."

"C'mon man, we're right here!" Dean, the shorter human, complained. "I didn't get the memo for this job. No way I'm gonna babysit some kid."

"We require something she has that we do not. She is top priority; no demon can get to her." Tera looked up questioningly at Castiel, but he was busy staring intently at Dean. Whatever good mood she'd been able to establish crumbled. The only reason why Castiel had come to see her was because he'd been ordered to by his father. Her fingers found their way to the tips of the beige coat's sleeve and brought her face close, so the fabric tickled her cheek. Tera could feel the confounded stares of the two hunters, but couldn't care less, even though it felt as though four holes were being drilled through her head.

Dean grabbed his taller counterpart and pulled him to the corner in order to discuss in private their next move. Tera didn't move from her position, instead contenting herself by trying to hear Castiel's soft breathing through the murmurs of the humans. Castiel waited patiently as they conversed quietly.

"Fine," Dean huffed out, "Sam and I will babysit the kid. Do you know how long it'll take until she's off our hands?"

Tera, in a particularly bold move, stuck her tongue out at Dean from behind Castiel. She didn't expect him to like her, seeing as they'd both been prepared to kill each other not even five minutes before, but he could've been at least a little bit more discreet. Dean mirrored her, making sure to move his head side to side to make his point. Sam, the taller human, hit Dean's shoulder. Castiel's eyes widened slightly in confusion.

"I do not know how long Tera will stay with you. I must make... arrangements." Castiel hesitated. "I'd advise you to be very, very careful. Nothing can learn of her existence."

"Great," Dean growled, glancing out the motel window. "Nothing says 'ridiculously dangerous' like having to pretend you don't exist."

Tera could just barely force herself not to flinch when the softness that was against her cheek disappeared, leaving it cold and exposed. Dean and Sam looked around the room, trying to avoid the uncomfortable silence that had fallen upon them. Tera ignored them completely and returned to the bed, making sure the comforter caressed her cheek so that it was warm.

"It's eleven in the morning, what are you doing going back to sleep?" Sam's incredulous voice grated her ears. Instead of responding like a normal human being, Tera turned her back on the two hunters and burrowed deeper into the bedding.

"Hey, we're keeping you safe. You should show us a little bit of respect." Dean said gruffly from across the room. "Starting with answering our questions when we ask them." Tera closed her eyes and sighed, trying to make herself relax into the cheap bed.

"Do you think she's one of those psychics?" Dean asked Sam. The bar they were frequenting was located right next to their motel. The shades were drawn and the lights were dimmed low, as they always were. Tera was still in the room, sleeping. Dean had nearly killed the girl, but she had, somehow, been strong and fast enough to swipe the bullet to the side like it was nothing. "Did you see how fast she was moving? There's no way she's human."

"I don't know, Dean. Cas said she was important. Maybe we should call Bobby and get him to look into it for us." Sam replied. They'd have to do some of their own investigating too. Something wasn't right about Tera. Sam agreed with his brother: she definitely wasn't human.

"Man, the first day we get to relax and Cas sticks some annoying kid on our asses." Dean took a quick swig of his beer and chuckled. "I think she likes you, Sammy."

"She called me a mutt, Dean. Don't forget that she called you a soldier. What did she mean by that?" Sam asked. Tera's eyes had flickered for a moment, going from anger to fear to annoyance. If he hadn't been so good at reading people, he never would've noticed. Was she afraid of him?

"Dunno," Dean finished off his beer and stood up, stretching like a cat. "C'mon, Sam. Let's grab some dinner. Do you think our pain in the ass will like a sandwich?"

"I am not eating that." Tera huffed after just one look at the offending piece of sustenance in front of her. Dean's face fell from his signature cocky smirk to an angry scowl. She raised an eyebrow. "Did you really think I was going to eat that?"

"Actually, yes, I was." Dean was quickly losing patience. Who did this chick think she was? "You can't order us around like you're the friggen Queen of Sheba. It has the most important food groups in it. Look, there's meat, and bacon, and oh, look, s'more meat." Sam sighed from across the table.

"The closest restaurant was a sub shop down the street. We can't afford to go very far and leave you unprotected." Sam explained, trying to cool down the situation.

"What are you, five? You're not joined at the hip, you idiots. Besides, I didn't see you having any trouble leaving me alone earlier." Tera rolled her eyes impatiently, crossing her arms against her chest. Her cut hand protested. It had long since stopped bleeding, and was slowly beginning to heal. Healing had never really been her area of expertise.

"You better smarten your mouth, kid." Dean growled.

"Like you? Come on, you're a little potty mouth. All I see coming from your mouth is a bunch of shit. It's almost as if you have diarrhea. Do you store all the shit you say where your brain is supposed to be? I wouldn't be surprised, seeing how fat your head it."

"You little-"

"I'm not eating your sandwich. Anything but a sandwich. Or a hamburger."

Dean glared at Tera, who sent back her own nasty face.

"Okay!" Sam's happy voice was clearly forced. "I'm going to get some food, while Dean will stay here to watch you. How's that sound, Tera?"

"I don't see how I have much of a choice." Tera replied, slumping in her seat. Sam stood up and went to the door, before turning back to look at the two of them giving each other looks of hatred.

"Please don't kill each other while I'm gone."

Sam quickly shut the door, leaving the two staring at each other in silence.

"So, what's your deal?" Dean asked, reaching over and snatching her sandwich from its plate. He took a large bite. "You're in our room when we get back from a hunt. Hell, you're sleeping in my bed when we get back. Cas comes in right as we're getting ready to kill you and says you have to be protected cause you got something we don't. What I don't get-"

"You're wrong," Tera interrupted. "I didn't see the mu- Sam pointing a gun at me. I hadn't even done anything and you were ready to kill me. What's the matter with you?" Dean took another mighty chomp from his sandwich, and then raised it like he was pointing it at her.

"Don't try and turn this around on me. I wouldn't have shot at you if you hadn't provoked me." Dean said, chewing his food loudly.

"What, do I scare you or something?" Tera crossed her arms again, her lips curling into a smirk. "Do I scare the itty-bitty hunter so badly he tries to shoot me?" Dean gave Tera a cocky grin.

"You think you're so smart, don't you? How'd you know I was a hunter? Only monsters and other hunters know about us." Dean dropped his smile. "You're just a kid, you're no hunter."

"How can you be so sure?" Tera's smirk grew. "The holy water didn't work on me, and before you try it, the salt won't either."

"Holy water and salt doesn't work, but sandwiches do? What, is the itty-bitty kiddy afraid of a little sandwich?"

Tera huffed in annoyance, glancing towards the clock.

"How old are you?" Dean asked, finishing off his sandwich.

"I dunno, how old are you?" Tera shot back.

"Do you have any family?"

"I dunno, do you?"

"What are you?"

"I dunno, what are you?"

"Did your mother drop you on the head as a baby?"

"I dunno, did yours?"

"Can you stop that?"

"I dunno, can you?"

"Agh, just shut up!"

Tera laughed for the first time in his presence. Dean paused for a moment, just listening to her laugh, before scowling angrily.

"What's so damn funny?" Dean growled, leaning back so he sat at full height.

"Oh, nothing, just how easy it is to mess with you." Tera abruptly sat up and made her way towards the bathroom.

"Hey, where the hell are you going?" Dean asked angrily.

"Taking a shower, soldier. Surely you know what that is." Tera called over her shoulder. She slammed the door, and make sure to make the click of the lock loud enough for Dean to hear. "Try not to follow me in!"

"Wouldn't you like that?" Dean yelled back as the sound of running water started up.

"Nyeh, I'm Tera. Look at me, I'm being a bitch." Dean mocked under his breath."I hate sandwiches and hamburgers and think I'm-" He suddenly stopped, realizing what they'd just said. The girl was like, what, thirteen? Fourteen, at most? She wasn't even hot!

"Dude, that's nasty," Dean said out loud to himself. A faint laugh resonated from the bathroom door.

I'm not going to lie, the entire reason why I began writing this was because of Castiel. I had a dream of him the other night and I'd only been watching him for a few days. I wanted it to be mostly Castiel and Tera, but then the Winchesters happened, and I found that it'd be much more plausible than Tera hanging around Castiel as he goes around fighting stuff. Don't worry though, I'll be sure to give you your chapter-ly dose of Castiel.

Also, I have no clue if I'm writing these guys right. I can't tell if I'm going overboard with Dean's immature-ness or if that's how he usually is. I can never tell when it's me writing it. Why is writing so hard?! If you find something totally wrong, seriously, don't hesitate to tell me. I don't want to make any ridiculously stupid mistakes.

I'll be posting the second chapter when I have the third one done. I'll try to stay ahead, unlike my other stories... .