A/N: I'm back with a new story! This is yet another Supernatural fic, set in a post season five world. I've read spoilers so I'm prettttttty sure this won't really happen. If it does, then I must be a prophet! XD Anyways, I've had the idea of Ashael floating in my mind since I saw the finale. I play the character on LJ, but I thought it was high time to give her some actual "canon". And yes, this may very well turn into a Sam/OC story. I'm just not one hundred percent sure yet. :3

So anyways, enjoy the story! Reviews would be greatly appreciated.

Chapter One: Task

Word was already spreading. Lucifer was back in his cage in Hell. Many angels were happy about this, but when they heard Michael had gone with… Heaven was in shambles. And without their Father around, it was ten times worse.

She was where she always was, standing and observing the world below. Of course, she had heard the same news from her brothers and sisters. She just wasn't as joyous as them. Many angels were killed during the past few months, most came back…others did not. Castiel had been one of the ones who'd been brought back. He returned home quickly once the cage had been sealed. She knew this because he came to her shortly after.

Sensing he was behind her, she smiled. "Castiel, you're alright."

"I am, but there is something that needs to be done," he informed her. She gave a curious look, listening intently. "They are planning on giving Sam Winchester a second chance."

Her smiled dimmed at this. "Who?"

"Father. I've spoken to him."

A wide smile came onto her face, proud of her brother. He was the one angel she was closest to. She envied him because of all the time he spent on Earth, doing work for their Father while she still had the same observation duties as she had for almost a decade.

"And he put me in charge of giving the task. I feel you are most suited for the job, Ashael."

She gave a nod, feeling somewhat anxious about leaving Heaven for the first time. "What is the task brother?"

Castiel took a breath and said, "You are to pull Sam Winchester from Hell."

The naïve angel still couldn't believe it. She was going to pull Sam Winchester from Hell and then he was going to become her charge. Just as Castiel did for the elder Winchester named Dean.

Castiel was going over the plan to her, explaining what was going to happen and what she was to do. It sounded simple. All they had to do was go down to Hell and grab Sam. Then again, marching into Hell was never an easy task. Castiel proved this when he raised Dean from perdition. There would be demons trying to stop them, and even Lucifer could be a problem.

He put a hand on Ashael's shoulder. "You will do fine. We'll lead the way for you."

"Thank you Castiel." She bowed her head, wondering what would happen in the coming hours.

"Be ready," he warned her. "As soon as the other angels in the garrison are prepared, we will be leaving."

She nodded. "I'm fully ready now."

"Good. Let's go join them then."

The rest of the garrison was gathered together when the two appeared amongst them. Ashael scanned the angels. She could name them all, but picked out the ones she always had a particularly close bond to. When she noticed Gabriel, a small smile formed on her face.

He approached her, the same smug smile that she remembered on his face. "They're finally sticking you with something to do. That must suck."

She furrowed her brow a little and said, "I'm honored to have this duty, Gabriel. And it's good to see you again."

"Aw shucks," he shrugged. "I'm only back to help you with this, then I'm headed back down to the ground. I'm taking up my old Trickster post since Dad said it was alright."

"Have you spoken with Father, too?" Her eyes went wide in amazement. Two of her brothers speaking with Him was a great feat. That would mean that only six angels have ever spoken to Him.

Gabriel shook his head. "Cas told me." He pointed to Castiel, who was discussing something with the other angels. "I figured messenger boy must've put in a good word."

Giving a slightly amused look to Gabriel, Ashael heard Castiel call her name. "It is time." She saw that they all were looking in her direction and cast her gaze downward.

The battle wasn't easy. Ashael was amongst the angels, fighting through demons to reach Sam. He seemed so far away at first, but now… She was slightly more confident in her work because she knew her family would protect her. Gabriel, Castiel, all of them.

Another demon stepped in her path and Ashael stuck out a hand, smiting them in a blink. She saw there was a clearing that the angels made and she took the chance, hurrying to Sam's side. He looked very broken and worn. It was expected that he endured extreme torture.

Carefully, she picked him up as one would a baby. "I have him," she called to Castiel before disappearing.

Sam opened his eyes, struggling to breathe. His lungs burned and his skin was tingling just as bad. He grunted and lifted his head up, feeling a sharp pain on his right forearm. Pulling back his sleeve, he saw a red handprint. Just like the one Dean had on his shoulder.

Wait, this had meant…

Everything hit him at once. He remembered falling into the pit, the time in Hell after being, literally, thrown from Lucifer's cage, and… The rest was blank.

Sam looked around. He was lying on a motel bed. Sitting up, he tried to remember how he got there. Had he walked or did someone bring him here? Maybe it was an angel. Castiel was the first one that came to mind. But Lucifer… He killed him, so who else could've done this.

Shakily, he slid off the bed. The same clothes he was wearing when he fell into the pit were still on and he felt sickened by the thought. His eyes scanned over the room and he saw a small pile of clothes on the dresser in the room. Someone was obviously looking out for him. Maybe he had a guardian angel or something. Sam dismissed the thought and took the pile of clothes into the bathroom.

Ashael and Castiel sat on the park bench, quietly watching the children running amuck on the playground. The sight was much more interesting seeing it up close compared to from Heaven.

"You did well," Castiel said. "But now is the complicated part of your duty."

She gave a nod. "Samuel will be in good hands, I assure you brother."

Castiel rested his head on his hands as he leaned forward. "It's you I'm worried about, Ashael. The Winchesters don't have a liking for angels."

"But…they accepted you. Dean and you have a very close bond." It was confusing. These Winchesters were new to her and she only knew the basics that Castiel told her. They were hunters and the ex-vessels of Michael and Lucifer. Dean was the elder one, and Sam the younger.

"Other angels make things complicated for them." Castiel sat up straight again and gave her a hopeful look. "Just be sure you keep an eye on Sam at all times." There was a flutter of wings and Castiel was gone.

The shower was relaxing and cleansing for Sam. He stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel securely around his waist and staring at the mark on his forearm. Now that he was more aware, he saw the handprint was smaller compared to the one on Dean's shoulder. So it really wasn't Castiel's doing.

He took a glance of himself in the mirror, remembering the last time he looked at a mirror was when Lucifer was using him as his vessel. The memory caused him to shiver a little. He leaned on the sink, hands turning white at the thought of everything Lucifer did. Sam cursed under his breath, shaking his head.

That's when he heard a sound. Something like…a gust of wind. It sounded like it came from the other room. Sam didn't see anything that could be used as a weapon in the bathroom. "Damn it," he hissed. Dropping his grip on the sink and taking hold of the towel, he inched towards the door. Someone…or something was probably behind the door. This wasn't something he wanted to deal with after being dragged out of Hell.

Opening the door slowly, Sam poked his head out. He saw a young woman sitting on the lone bed in the motel room. She had long black hair and seemed to be dressed in a black trench coat. "Hey!" Sam shouted.

The woman looked over her shoulder. She has a blank expression that seemed to brighten slightly at the sight of him. "Hello Samuel."

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?" he demanded, keeping a tighter hold on the towel. Sam wasn't really self conscious, but the way she was looking at him while he was practically naked bugged him.

She stood up and walked over to the window. Sam could see she had a pair of heeled boots on with a pair of blue jeans. "My name is Ashael. I'm here because I am supposed to be."

He narrowed his eyes, remembering the mark on his arm. "Are you the one who brought me back?"

A hint of a smile came onto her lips and she said, "I did."

Sam let out a grumble. He didn't understand why anyone would want to bring him out of Hell, especially an angel. He thought they would let him rot down there for all eternity. Unless this was Dean's doing… He brushed away his thoughts and said, "Look. Just…stay here. I wanna get dressed."

"I will answer your questions when you return," Ashael told him.

Giving a suspicious nod, Sam backed up a few steps before turning around to go back into the bathroom. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it. "Great. Another angel…"