Summary: Part of Castiel wonders why Raphael has taken her. He already knows it's to draw him into a trap, but he can't help but wonder about Raphael's intentions towards her. He knows one thing for certain. He has to get her back. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters. I only own my OC.

A/N: Lucifer died without anyone being possessed, Sam, Dean and Bobby survived, but Castiel still returned to Heaven.

This will contain violence, angst and drama towards the end, with a surprise thrown in for Castiel towards the end too.

Hope you enjoy!

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Ulterior Motives

Chapter One: Long Time No See

The Winchesters sat in Bobby's study, their lives continuing as they had before Dean had gone to Hell. The fact that Castiel had returned to Heaven after all they'd been through had pissed the brothers off, but they decided to continue as normal, and clearly Castiel had his reasons for leaving.

But Castiel found he needed to return to the brothers. The Winchesters and Bobby were the only ones who would be able to understand his need for help. His siblings wouldn't understand quite how much she meant to him. They wouldn't understand his urgency to save her. He knew that it was clearly a trick for Raphael to find a way to entrap and perhaps kill him, but it seemed that there was another reason he'd taken her. Raphael knew of her connection to Castiel, but he couldn't help but feel that there was another reason for her abduction.

She'd been sleeping in her bed at home when she'd disappeared. He had made love with her that night and left her to return to his duties in Heaven. When came back the next morning, he'd found her missing and evidence of a struggle clear about the home. He could sense her soul, and the binding mark on her hip which glowed brightly to his senses and he knew that she was in danger. He needed the help of those who were loyal to him during the fight against Lucifer and despite his leaving, he hoped that they would help him.

Sam had his face buried in a book on lore about werewolves whilst Dean was drifting off to sleep and Bobby was falling asleep with his head half buried in a book on vampire lore. But as the room fell silent, a familiar rush of wings sounded, everyone jumping and looking to see a forlorn Castiel standing by the door, his face pale and eyes tearful.

"Well, well, well, the sheriff's back in town." Dean said, Sam nudging him slightly, "To what do we owe this visit, oh might one."

"Dean, shut up." Sam hissed, Castiel looking to his feet and closing his eyes as tears fell from them.

Things were getting way too much for the angel to be able to handle. The war in Heaven between his army and Raphael's wasn't without its bloodshed, and not only that, but Castiel's soulmate had also been taken from him.

"Cas?" Sam asked, "What's the matter?"

Dean realised then that perhaps his sarcasm and jokes had been a little insensitive. The poor guy was actually in tears, which was unnerving. They'd never seen Castiel cry, yet here he was, weeping before them.

"Cas?" Dean asked, looking to the others as the angel actually began to sob, his hands sliding up to cover his face as he did.

Bobby jumped straight up to pour everyone some whiskey, Sam rushing to Castiel to lead him to a chair so he could sit down.

"Damnit, Cas, what's happening?" Dean asked, Castiel trying to gain some form of control over himself as he took down the full shot of whiskey, his hands trembling the whole time.

"R-Raphael..." Castiel whispered, "He's taken my soulmate..."

"You're soulmate?" Dean asked.

"A young woman. Her name is Grace Rhodes." Castiel revealed, a small smile crossing his lips as he thought of her, "I call her Gracie..."

Sam looked to Dean with sad eyes as Castiel tried to remember what he was talking about.

"Raphael has taken her, and I cannot go after her despite the fact that I know where she is because it will be a trap to kill me, and I mustn't leave her without someone to protect her." He said, "I cannot go alone at least."

"So after a year, you finally show your ass, and you expect us to just drop everything and chase your girl who you can't even keep safe?" Dean snapped, Bobby glaring at him as he slammed a glass down.

"Dean, that's enough."

"No, he's right." Castiel replied, "But I cannot trust anyone else with this task, Dean."

The older Winchester watched as Castiel looked up at him, the pain and loss so clear in his eyes that it sent guilt flashing through Dean's system.

"You, Sam, Bobby...you are my only hope for her." He said quietly, "I know where she is, and I can sense what pain he is putting her through. Please..."

"Alright...listen, this sounds really awful, but we're all exhausted, Cas..." Dean said softly, "We're gonna have to sleep before we can go anywhere near him."

"Of course." Castiel replied, "There is one angel I wish to bring with us, but you will meet him tomorrow."

Bobby couldn't sleep. Whether it was the heat in his room or the constant worrying for the safety of this poor girl, he wasn't sure. Both were playing equally on his mind. After watching the ceiling for another half hour, he ended up getting dressed and checking the clock to find it was three in the morning. He headed downstairs to find Castiel sitting with his head in his hands, the older hunter knowing that he was suffering a lot with this.

"Why don't you tell me about Gracie?" He said, Castiel looking up in response and sighing.

Bobby sat in front of the angel and watched as he thought, knowing that this would take his mind off of the pain that she could be enduring and could just help him focus on their happy times.

"She was my first charge." Castiel whispered, "My first charge who is also my chosen soulmate. She's intelligent, caring, loving...compassionate. Very emotional at times. Around a certain time every month...and she forbids making love for around five or six days every month in one block. I do not understand it."

Bobby tried to hide the smirk that was on his face. He couldn't get over the fact that the angel was still unaware of the fact that Grace went through that monthly pain parade, and he knew he may have to break the news to him about that, but not now. Castiel didn't need to hear that at this moment. The angel looked up at the older hunter and felt a little nervous about asking about this, but he felt compelled to.

"Bobby...you understand about true love, don't you?"

Bobby nodded, Castiel nodding in recognition before continuing to speak.

"I truly, truly love her." He said, voice quaking with emotion, "I...I took her virginity and she took mine. I was there for her as often as I could be. Recently we've spent a lot more time together, and she tells me she feels afraid of losing me all the time. And I never feared losing her, because I didn't believe I would and yet I have...I just wish that I could hold her in my arms and tell her how sorry I am for causing her so much worry and upset...and how much I really love her."

"I wish the same about my Karen." Bobby told him, Castiel watching as the older hunter wiped a tear away, "I wish that every day. Just be thankful that you can still sense that she's alive, and don't worry. We'll find her, we'll save her, and then you can tell her, huh?"

Castiel felt a little comforted by that, and he closed his eyes, trying to sense what was happening to Grace.

Darkness surrounded Grace as white hot pain flashed through her body, lights flickering around her as she shivered on the ground through her suffering. Her dark blonde curls were stained with blood, deep blue eyes fluttering as she tried to stay awake.

"R-Raphael..." She choked out, "P-please..."

"Silence." Raphael spat, throwing her into a wall and knocking her out cold on impact.

He went over to her and rested a hand on her belly, smiling evilly as he felt the aura of the tiny child inside her body beginning to glow. He would get Castiel one way or another and would punish him severely in the process if he had to.

This was a war that he was not going to lose.

-TBC-

Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading so far!

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