This story is a sequel to Acceptable Losses. You don't have to have read the first story, but it would explain the relationships. Emma and Dean are the best of frienemies and poor Sam just struggles to stop them killing each other. Castiel is a new addition.
Usual disclaimers. I own nothing. Just playing.
Dean tossed the remote control aside, then sat up and rolled his shoulders to ease the stiffness in his back and neck. He was bored and irritable and looking for a distraction. The motel TV only had four working channels and he was reduced to repeats of Jerry Springer. Not even watching rednecks and toothless trash knocking seven bells out of each other could keep him amused.
His eyes settled on Sam diligently trawling through news reports for their next case, but before he could start baiting his long-suffering brother, a sudden gust of wind caused various research papers to fly about the room. Sam jumped up as Dean reached behind him, drew his weapon and aimed it at the intruder.
He snapped his gun up towards the ceiling when he recognised Castiel, but couldn't hold back a bark of laughter as Cas impassively gripped a girl tightly in his arms as she continued to struggle. This quickly changed to a wince as he watched her kick him sharply on the shin and ram her knee into his groin. Without changing his expression, Castiel calmly placed two fingers on her forehead and let her unconscious body slump to the floor.
"What the hell Cas?" smirked Dean. "Who's your friend? Do we need to have a little talk about your seduction technique?"
Castiel ignored him and standing perfectly still, appeared to be listening to something nobody else could register.
"First thing is," continued Dean, "if you're looking for some privacy you need to get your own room. This one's taken. Second, and this is important if you want to stay out of jail, once she passes out, the fun has to stop." Dean looked down at the girl and back at Castiel. Getting no response, he looked towards Sam with a WTF expression.
"Um, Cas?" queried Sam. "What's going on? Who… or what is …"
Castiel turned to face Sam. "Silence. Watch over her until I return." With another gust of wind he was gone.
Both men remained still for a moment looking down at the girl on the floor. She was small and slight and pretty harmless looking. The boys knew from experience that this obviously meant next to nothing. Her hair had fallen over her face. Dean moved first and reaching for his jacket, he pulled out a small flask and splashed the contents over her. When no steam rose up he relaxed slightly. "Now what? Do you think we should tie her to something until Cas gets back?"
"What? No! Lets just get her up off the floor first and see that she's okay."
Dean aimed his gun at her again. "Go ahead."
Sam turned her over and eased her up onto the nearest bed. Her checked her pulse and pushed the hair back off her face. He jumped slightly, before turning her face for a better look. Dean moved closer before exclaiming, "Oh crap." He looked up at the ceiling and yelled. "Cas! Get your ass back here right now!" When Castiel didn't appear, Dean sighed and looked down at the girl. "Damn it to hell Emma. What have you got yourself mixed up in this time?" He sat on the bed and slapped her face gently a couple of times, but she remained unresponsive
"She's looking better than the last time we saw her," Sam observed.
"Really? I don't know Sam. She's very thin." He ran a hand over his face and looked up at his brother. "This can't be anything good can it?"
"When's it ever?" sighed Sam.
Dean shrugged and started to undo her blouse, before Sam knocked his hand away. "Dude! What are you doing?"
"I want to see Sam. I need to know."
"She wakes up man, she's gonna gouge your eyes out."
"Shut up and watch her for any sudden moves will you."
Dean opened a few more buttons and pushed the fabric aside. Her midriff was scored by a long purple scar, which ran from her ribcage to her hipbone. He frowned and traced his finger along the ridged line. "This could be better," he muttered. There were several other marks from healing puncture wounds, but these had already started to fade to a lighter pink.
"Hey Sam. How long does a Cas whammy usually last?"
"No idea. How long was Bobby down for that time?"
"About half an hour. Maybe he wants her out until he can get back to her."
"It's possible," shrugged Sam.
"Sounds like a decent plan." Dean said hopefully. "Remember what a handful she was when you pissed her off last time?"
"When Ipissed her off? Oh no Dean! That was all down to you and your heavy-handed tactics. Do it different this time okay? And do up her shirt, because if she catches you looking, you're on your own!"
Just then Emma groaned. "Aw crap," whispered Dean as he quickly fumbled with the buttons and moved out of range. "Here we go."
Emma surfaced slowly and turned on her side. She then lay still for another minute, listening for any sounds or clues as to where she was. She thought she could hear someone's slow, steady breathing to her left and shifted slightly towards the noise. Opening her eyes a fraction she saw a man holding a gun loosely at his side. She wiggled her toes to check that she was still wearing her spike-heeled boots and coiled herself ready to attack.
Dean, recognising the signs, took a step back and said softly. "Emma, don't even think about it. You just relax now and tell us what the hell's going on."
Emma opened her eyes fully and looked from Dean to Sam. Her initial delight at seeing them again was quickly replaced by fear. "Hello boys." She rolled onto her back and looked around the room.
"Hello yourself," replied Dean. "Why are you here Emma?"
The feeling of déjà vu hit her hard and fast and she resisted the temptation to bolt for the door. 'Not worth the effort,' she reminded herself. 'They always catch you and it's just too humiliating.' "You go first, she retorted. "What's happening? Where's here and why?"
"Hey Emma," smiled Sam. "We're in Abilene."
"Kansas or Texas?"
"West Central Texas."
"Shit! Really? What the Hell? How long was I out for and where's that perv in the flasher mac?"
"Cas had to step out for a little while," grinned Dean. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"I was outside my home and this whack job came up and said I had to go with him. I politely declined, well sort of. I got some choice hits in, but the freak just stood there looking puzzled. Then he just grabbed me and I woke up to the sight of you standing over me with a gun," she glared at Dean.
"It really is good to see you Emma," said Sam. "You look …. um better."
"No she doesn't Sammy," interuppted Dean rudely. "Nothing a little pie wouldn't fix. You been eating?"
"What are you, my Mother?" She turned back to Sam. "I really am good as new, honest." She wrapped her arms around her middle protectivly. "But listen, I can't be here. Couldn't you just let me go, please?"
"Hey!" snapped Dean "This isn't our idea. Cas just appeared, dropped you on us and left. He had to have his reasons, so spill Emma."
She looked back at Dean in that wide eyed innocent manner and he just knew she was calculating how much she could get away with not saying. He felt himself getting pissed off in a way that only Emma could trigger.
"What have you been up to this time? And don't you lie to me, 'coz I'll find out and I'll…"
Emma jumped up off the bed and swung around to face Dean. "You'll what? You cocky, arragant…."
"Quiet!" rapped Sam. "Don't you start that Emma. I'm serious, don't you dare." He shot a warning glance at his brother too. "Not another word from either of you! I'm not having this crap again."
Emma wobbled slightly from the sudden movement and both Sam and Dean reached out a hand to steady her. She slapped them both away and sat down again.
"You okay?" said Sam.
"Fine!" she snapped back, still glaring at Dean.
"Listen up you little…," growled Dean.
"Dean! Shut the hell up!" barked Sam. "Now Emma, where have you just come from. You still in Angel Falls?"
"No, I moved back to San Fransico during the summer recess."
"Now why would you do that? frowned Sam. "After all that happened there?"
"That we still don't know about…" snarled Dean.
"I figured that the danger had passed and I had to leave Angel Falls anyway. The Sheriff wanted to find my so called attacker and he started digging around. The man wouldn't quit and started to ask about you guys in the bar."
"We were long gone," shrugged Sam.
"I know, but my friends managed to describe you down to the last detail and my neighbors saw you take my car. I would have had too much explaining to do. You know, small town curiosity."
"So what exactly are you doing right now?" prodded Sam.
"I'm on a sabbatical and don't start back to work until after Christmas. The whole healing thing took longer than I thought and truth is I got a bit sick again after you left."
"I told you it was too soon to leave her." Dean snapped at Sam. He then turned his ire on Emma. "And you! I knew you wouldn't take care of yourself properly."
Sam jumped in again to try and head Dean off. "So how are you spending your time right now?"
I'm doing sort of volunteer work ….why? What's this about?"
"What Sam really wants to know is why the hell you really went back there, what are you up to and who have you pissed off and need rescuing from this time?"
"Nobody! And I didn't do anything last time either, so this must be your fault! You told me that you got all the freaks and it was over. I trusted you!"
"Well I never trusted you," snarled Dean.
"What? Why the hell not."
"You kept stuff from us. We never got the whole story and that's lying by omission. And now it looks like its come back to bite us all on the ass, but you have the nerve to try and lay the blame on us."
Sam gave up trying to referee and moved over to the window. He let the argument wash over him as he tried to figure out why Castiel had brought her to them. A few moments later he watched Cas appear in a swirl of dust and opened the door for him. Castiel obviously didn't want Emma to witness his arrival. When he entered the room he watched Dean and Emma at each other's throats for a moment, before she caught sight of him.
"Hey, Pervert, you came back. Ballsy of you. Now make yourself useful and do that finger thing on Dean. I can't hear myself think with all his bleating and you've got some explaining to do before I finish hurting you!"
Dean laughed. He just couldn't help it. Over the past few months he had thought of her occasionally and wondered how she was doing. He had grown fond of her during their last encounter and had managed to forget what a totally bitchy, unreasonable little cow she could be. He also remembered her courage and spirit and promised himself that he would try harder not to deliberately piss off her.
Castiel on the other hand appeared puzzled by her attitude. He held her gaze for a long time, before turning to talk to Dean. "This girl is unfinished business."
"How so?"
"You were sent to solve the problem or destroy her. You did neither."
"Now just hold on," snapped Dean. "We killed the leader of the sect and every other member that was there. Nobody got past us and Bobby. The mass killings were halted and she damn nearly died that day."
"You should have let her go. It would have been a kindness."
Emma listened with a growing sense of foreboding. She studied the strange man in the raincoat. He was handsome enough and his eyes were a startling blue. He was unnaturally still and his speech patterns were off. Nothing too obvious, just not normal. She didn't like the direction this discussion was taking and instinctively sought out the protection of the kinder and gentler brother. She edged closer to Sam, took his hand and squeezed. He looked down at her and gave her a small reassuring smile, before speaking to Castiel.
"Cas, tell us what we need to do and I know we can fix this. Her death isn't an option. We've all been through too much to lose this one."
Castiel turned to look at Dean and gave him a questioning look. Dean glanced over at Emma and sighed, "What he said. But listen up the both of you. No more lies and no more secrets. We can't fight this without all the cards on the table. You can trust us here and now or you can both shove it."
"I agree in principle to your terms," said Cas.
Emma looked over at Castiel with irritation. 'Who speaks like that?' she thought. 'Pompous ass.' "Fine, okay, whatever," she agreed.
"You can start off by telling Emma what you really are." Dean leaned back and folded his arms. 'This should be entertaining,' he thought as he settled down to watch the show.
Cas moved towards Emma and stopped in front of her. She took an involuntary step backwards. It wasn't just that the man was getting into her personal space, something about him set her on edge.
"I'm known as Castiel. I'm an Angel of the Lord."
Emma waited for the punch line, but he just tilted his head slightly and continued to look at her with total sincerity. "Okay and I'm Tinker Bell," she snapped. "You show me your wings and I'll show you mine!" She turned to Dean and rolled her eyes. "Dean, you didn't tell me he was nuts. Make him go away."
"Very well," frowned Cas. "Though your lack of faith is unacceptable. I was led to believe you were more than this."
He threw his head back and closed his eyes, then moved his arms back slightly. Emma and Sam jumped at the flashes of light and claps of thunder that rocked through the room. The shadows of huge feathered wings came from behind Castiel. The motel room wasn't big enough to contain the massive wings and they curled over everyone in a very unsettling manner. Just as quickly, they vanished and the room was eerily quiet again.
Dean smirked down at Emma and waited for her reaction. Even Sam, who hadn't witnessed this before, was looking at Castiel with awe. Inevitably, the girl wasn't finished doubting yet.
"OK freak. Why are your wings black?" She looked between Sam and Dean. "That can't be good right? What is he really?"
"He's a Warrior Angel," explained Sam. "Truth is they're just more Old Testament than Hallmark."
"Yeah," grinned Dean. "They're much more spite and smite than sweetness and light. Cas here has his uses, but trust me, most of them are total dicks. Now," he said drawing up a chair, "your turn. I want the truth from you and I want every detail you held back last time."