Although Dean missed the comfort of sleeping in an actual bed most nights when they were in a town for a job, he had to admit keeping everything in the car most of the time and being able to bail at a moment's notice was a real advantage lately. They were currently speeding down a back road in Colorado, having just evaded the authorities for the millionth time. Sam was sitting in the passenger seat, holding a gauze pad to a fresh cut across his left cheek. "You don't think they saw us, do you? I mean…we're supposed to be dead."

"I'm about 75% sure they didn't see our faces."

"Well, that's more than usual."

Getting a little more comfortable with the distance between them and the last town, he started to slow down, getting just at the speed limit so that Sam could Doctor himself up without too much trouble. He took his eyes off the road for a second to adjust the radio, but had to look up again immediately and slam on the brakes as Sam yelled "Dean, stop!"

He was able to get the car to stop just inches from what they had nearly hit. A young woman had suddenly appeared in the middle of the twilit road. She had her hand pressed hard to a section of her abdomen and leaned forward to support herself on the hood of the sedan they had stolen last week. She was looking through the windshield at them both. Sam jumped out of the car as soon as he saw the blood pooling on her shirt. Dean leaned to the side to yell at him to stop, but Sam didn't listen.

Sure, she appeared to be just a woman in distress, but with their lives it was never that simple. Sam got into the back with her, and in the rearview mirror Dean saw her remove her hand to reveal an ugly stab wound, which she immediately covered again to slow the bleeding. She angled her eyes up and met his in the mirror. "Hello Dean."

Sam looked between them quickly as he rummaged in the first aid bag in the back seat. "Do you two know each other?" From the look on Dean's face he assumed not.

"Not yet," the woman said, causing Dean to turn around and point his gun at her. "Who are you and how do you know my name?"

She just smiled, "We can talk about that later. Right now you need to drive." She looked at Sam, who had taken a bottle of Jack out of the bag. "That's not going to do me any good. I assume you have some holy water?" She was starting to sound a little loopy, most likely from the blood loss. Sam nodded, "Good, I need you to pour it into my wound, and then compress it with a gauze pad."

"That's not going to stop the bleeding," He said, even as he was following her instructions. Dean had started driving again, as well. Sam thought it was strange he wasn't protesting. "Just do it," she said, removing her hand to quickly pull up her shirt. Sam poured the Holy Water in the wound. Dean was keeping an eye on them, and was a little less concerned when he saw that it didn't burn her or anything. Sam pressed a thick gauze pad to the bleeding hole in her abdomen, hard. The woman winced.

"Okay, that's good. Stings a little, but still good." She looked back up into the mirror. "I need you both to do something now."

Dean gritted his teeth but Sam just said, "What?"

She turned her face back to Sam. "I need you to find a song, something that you have a good association with, and I need you to sing to me. It's the only way I'll be able to get enough strength to heal myself."

Sam's brow furrowed, "How is singing going to he-"

But Dean had already started singing under his breath. Once Sam realized what it was he was actually singing he joined in. The woman leaned back against the door, looking considerably more relaxed. Sam noticed that blood had stopped trickling down. She looked down at her hand and then cautiously removed it, and sure enough the wound was all but gone. There was still a slight red indent where it had been.

She looked up, glancing between them. "Thank you. You just saved my life." She sat up, using the gauze pad to wipe up some of the blood. She looked at her shirt and pouted. "Great, now this is ruined. I really liked this shirt." She looked around and found a knife, cutting into the shirt just below the bust the tearing off the blood-soaked part. "I'm still pretty weak, so I apologize if I'm a bit useless. I'm not usually like this. Just give me a minute before you start grilling me, boys, I feel like I'm going to be sick."

Sam packed the first aid materials away. "Can we at least get your name?"

The woman laughed, "Not my real one. You can just call me Sera. I'd give up my real name but if it's spoken out loud the guys who did this might be able to find me, and that won't be good for anyone." She looked at Sam. "You can get back in the front seat now; I won't be requiring care any longer." Sam was back in his place before he even realized he had moved.

"You don't know how great it is that I stumbled on you guys. I've been trying to find you for weeks but it's been a complete bitch. I've been trying to follow hunting patterns but that just led me to other hunters. I couldn't track you down. I'm actually impressed. You should take that as a compliment, because it's really hard to impress me."

"Why were you looking for us, and why am I doing whatever you say?"

"I did think it was a little strange you didn't fight her harder," Sam interjected.

"I was looking for you because I needed to give you a message, and I'm sorry if I'm making you do something you wouldn't. I don't mean to, it just comes with the job."

Dean finally got back to a main road, and soon they were on a highway. "What job?"

"I'm uh…sort of…it's complicated. Let's just say I'm used to being in command."

Dean sighed, but kept his eyes on the road and kept driving. Sam checked his cut, which had healed dramatically in the short amount of time, Sam put it down to whatever it was that was in their back seat right now. He looked back at Sera. "What's the message?"

Sera let out a breath like she was preparing herself, choosing the right words. "It's from Castiel."

Dean turned around and nearly hit the median, "What?"

"Dean!" Sam yelled and he looked forward and straightened out the car again. Dean shook his head, "No, Cas is dead, otherwise he would have let us know by now."

"Well, he is and he isn't. Do you honestly think that after bringing him back so many times God would just let him liquefy into Leviathan goo?" There was a moment of strained silence. "No, God loves Castiel, but he was a pretty naughty kid and he has to face the consequences. Let's just say he's…in time out."

"Okay, fine, I'll accept for argument's sake that he's still somewhere. I don't know about that whole God thing but whatever. What's the message?"

"He wanted me to tell you that he is working his way back to you, but it's going to take a while, long enough that he wouldn't be able to wait to just surprise you by showing up whenever he could come back. He seemed to think it was an important detail that you would want to know."

Dean looked relieved. In fact it seemed he was trying very hard not to smile. Sam looked between them, "That…that's great. Is that it?"

"Not entirely. There's personal messages for each of you, plus some things he didn't really want me to tell you, but I already know I'm going to tell you anyway. But I can't tell each of you what he wanted me to until I'm sure we're completely alone."

"Sounds like something Cas would do. Who attacked you?"

"Some other angels. Some of them are still pretty sore about that whole Purgatory thing, and how he pretty much massacred half of Heaven. They don't want you to know he's still alive. They're scared to give you that kind of hope." She started running her fingers through her dark hair, trying to smooth out her tangles.

"What does it matter if we know or not? It's not like we can do anything. Besides, Cas didn't exactly leave us on the best terms."

"Okay, one, you're the damn Winchesters. There's no telling what you're capable of. Two, don't give me that crap. You still have a great amount of affection for him despite what he did, because deep down you know he was trying to do what was right, and he was trying to save you and your brother from going through the Apocalypse all over again. What did you do with his trench coat, by the way?"

Sam looked at Dean with a questioning expression, and Dean glanced over, trying not to look too guilty. He cleared his throat. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"So you're telling me you didn't fish it out of the water and it's not in your trunk right now?"

Dean looked over at Sam, who was now looking bemused. "What?" Dean said, and Sam smiled. "Really, Dean?"

"That's not even the best part. When you guys aren't sleeping in the same room he uses it as a pillow."

"Shut up! That's not true."

"No need to get defensive, Dean, we're all friends here. No judging."

"We're not friends."

"Not yet, but we will be."

"What makes you so sure?"

"My brother told me so, and so it must be true."

Sam gave up trying to stare the truth out of Dean and looked back at Sera. "Who's your brother?"

"Well, I have thousands but the one in particular I am speaking of is known to humans as Metatron."

Sam's expression was one of disbelief, and Dean's was one of absolute ignorance. He had no idea who she was talking about.

Sam started rubbing his eyes. "Wait…The Metatron? The Scribe of Heaven?"

Sera nodded. Dean still looked confused. Sam explained. "Metatron was one of the first angels. He's the Scribe of Heaven, transcribing the entire history of not only Heaven and Hell but anything on Earth that is relevant to the Supernatural."

"Which, obviously, includes you two. Your entire life story, including this conversation, was written down on Metatron's scrolls ages ago. That's how I know that we're going to be friends; I already know what's going to happen."

Sam looked at her with sudden understanding. "I thought that the other angels weren't allowed to see them to prevent them trying to change the future?"

"They aren't. Only God, Metatron, and his Guardian are allowed to see them."

"Sera…are you?" Sam looked into her eyes and when she knew he finally knew who she was she just smiled and nodded.

Dean looked at Sam, becoming worried by the expression on his face. "What? Who is she?"

Sam was too distracted to answer. "But if you're…who I think you are, what are you doing on Earth?"

"I'm here because God and Metatron are here on Earth. I go where they go."

Suddenly Dean pulled over onto the shoulder, turning around to look at Sera, who had to back away to prevent him head butting her.

"Where is he?"

"Who?"

"Castiel, or God, or this…Megatron guy."

"Metatron," Sam volunteered.

"Nerd." Dean responded.

Sera sighed. "If I could tell you, I would, but I can't. I physically can't. I can't give away any hints, I can't write it down. You aren't supposed to know where they are. I wish I could help more because I like you guys. I really do, you're both absolutely amazing. When it is finally time for you guys to you know…move on…we should party. But right now I can only tell you Castiel's message and a few other odds and ends. But then I have to get back to my post. Soon as I'm strong enough, anyway. My batteries are pretty dead. Luckily they're rechargeable."

Sam looked forward again, but he looked slightly confused. Sera saw his expression in the mirror. "What's the matter, Sam?"

"It's just…you really don't speak like the angels we're used to."

"Well, I've been on Earth for a very, very long time. You're more likely to be confused by my cultural references than the other way around. Also, I'm not your average angel." Sera yawned. "What do you say we get to the nearest safe house you guys use or a cheap motel I can check us into and then I can make us some dinner and we can talk. I bet you guys haven't had real food in forever."

"You cook?"

"Not only that, I eat. A lot. I have to pretend to be human most of the time and once you get into a habit it's hard to break."

They rode along without speaking for what seemed like a long time, Dean singing along with whatever was on the radio, Sera keeping her eyes on the back of his head. Sam was burning with questions he already knew he wouldn't get answers to. He made a mental note to look her up when he got a chance.

When they got to the next town Dean pulled into the parking lot of the nearest motel. Sera was the one to check them in, and they were sure to never let their faces be seen on camera. Once inside the motel room, Dean finally took a minute to look her over. Besides the torn dark green shirt, she was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and some rather worn-out sneakers. She had hair that was so dark brown it was almost black and eyes to match. She was definitely attractive, but rather young. He kept his eyes on her from the bed he had claimed as she tried to wash the dried blood off of her abdomen and out of her jeans in the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Sam had gone off to scrounge up some food. Sera gave him a list before he left, but Dean hadn't gotten a look at it. She suddenly stopped what she was doing and glanced over at him. "Are you just going to sit there staring at me all night?"

"Maybe," Dean said, which made her give a bemused smile. "You know, I've been following your exploits for longer than you've been alive but it doesn't really compare to the real thing. You have no idea how long I've been looking forward to actually meeting you guys."

She started drying off the section of denim she had been scrubbing at. "So, do you want your message from Cas now or after you eat yourself into submission?"

She stepped out of the bathroom, flicking off the light as she went and standing in front of him, waiting for him to answer.

"Now, I guess. No use delaying the inevitable."

"You make it sound so bad."

"Isn't it?"

"I don't think so. He wanted me to tell you he's sorry, that you were right. He should have found another way. He should have consulted you when he had the chance, and that he misses you and wishes he could help. The extra that he didn't tell me to say was that he's still watching over you, and he loves you."

Dean squirmed, and Sera rolled her eyes. "Stop it. Everyone in Heaven and Earth and a few people in Hell know that you love him too. There's nothing weird about it. Honestly, considering everything, the relationship between the two of you is the only thing that makes sense to me."

"We're not in a relationship."

"I'm surprised at you, Dean. I didn't think your ideas of love and relationships would be so limited. Then again, maybe you're this jumpy and defensive because your own emotions are too damn complex to understand." She walked over and sat down next to him on the bed.

"I'm not implying that you guys are like, boyfriends or anything, although that would be kind of hot. If that's what you're worried about."

Dean was refusing to make eye contact with her. Sera sighed, crossing her legs and arms. "If there's anything you'd like to say to him, he can hear you. Anytime. I think being able to watch and listen in on you guys is the only thing keeping him going. He's going through some pretty hellacious punishment."

Dean lifted his head. "Is he going to come back in the same vessel? His old one, Jimmy…I mean I know he's been restored before but after what happened…"

"Don't worry about that. If he does or doesn't he'll still be him. Or her, maybe. You never really know." At that moment Sam walked in, carrying two grocery bags. He paused as he saw them sitting together, Dean all pensive and Sera smiling a little too brightly. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Not at all," Sera said. Dean looked up and shook his head. She stood up and took the bags from him. "You go do that research you're planning to do on me, I'll make us some dinner."

About ten minutes later, Sam found what he was looking for. He brought the laptop over to Dean, who was channel surfing from his bed. There wasn't a lot of information on Seraphiel, but just her titles were incredibly impressive. It made sense no one knew much about her, because her position required a great amount of discretion. Dean looked from the web page to the young woman in the little kitchen space, and couldn't believe such a powerful being, an angel that was herself only two steps from God, was making him dinner.

He looked at Sam who looked exceedingly curious. "What?"

"Did she tell you Castiel's message?"

"Yep."

"Willing to share?"

"Not on your life."

Sam huffed, then looked at Sera. "Wonder what mine is."

She called from the kitchen. "You'll find out soon enough, Sammy." Dean was surprised that Sam didn't correct her. He never let anyone but Dean call him that. He looked as if he wanted to argue, but couldn't get the words out and had just given up.

When Sera was finished cooking she served up steak with garlic mashed potatoes and mushrooms and onions, as well as a side salad to feed Sam's penchant for vegetables. Dean just stared at it at first. They had been living on fast food for most of their lives. He hadn't had a real dinner since he was living with Lisa and Ben.

He realized Sera was holding her hand out, and that Sam had already taken her other one. He reluctantly placed his hand in hers and she smiled and then bowed her head. "Lord bless this food for the nourishment of our bodies, Amen."

"Amen," Dean and Sam said simultaneously, retracting their hands from Sera's grasp. Dean was incredibly uncomfortable, he wasn't exactly the praying type. After reading her short, rather vague bio he knew why he wasn't fighting her, but that didn't mean he had to like it. He started eating while Sera and Sam picked up some conversation. Sam was curious about her, and rightly so. They didn't have much information to go on and she was more than happy to answer any of their questions. Excepting, of course, the ones that really mattered.

Suddenly, a timer went off in the middle of the meal. Sera shot up and went over to the oven. "What's that?" Dean asked, a mouth full of half-masticated meat. She looked over her shoulder as she opened the door. "What do you think?"

She pulled a pie out of the oven and set it on the counter. She sat back down at her place and started eating again, pausing when she realized that Dean was staring at her again. "What?" She asked laughingly.

"If you weren't an angel, I'd marry you."

"Just because I made you dinner and pie?"

"Isn't that enough?"

Sera chuckled, "Not usually."

Sam looked up from his food, using the break in silence to say some things he had been mulling over for a while. "Sera?"

"Yeah?" She said, slightly muffled due to the fact that she had just taken a bite of steak.

"When you said you have to pretend to be human, what did you mean?"

Sera swallowed and then her brows furrowed. She wasn't sure how much she should tell them, but then realized she already knew what she was going to say. "To stay under the radar so I can do my job, I have to be, you know, normal. When I took this vessel I just kept living her life, only I made it better, because now she's not going to die and her stepfather is dead."

Dean nearly choked on his beer. "What?"

"Oh, yeah, she was in the early stages of leukemia. I completely eradicated the cancer cells from her and arranged the death of the man she hated most in the world in exchange for use of her body. As deals go it's not that bad. I even let her drive when I really don't have anything to do."

Sam set down his fork. "Wait…so you can just let her be at the wheel without vacating her body? I thought that once an angel took a vessel they controlled it completely."

"Normally, yes, but I think we've already established I'm unusual."

Dean grunted, drawing Sera's attention. "What did her stepfather do?"

Sera went back to eating. "A lot of things. Trust me, he got off easy. I hope that he's getting what he deserves in hell. I'd tell you to ask Crowley but he'd want to know why you're asking and it's really not a good idea for him to know the identity I'm using."

Dean and Sam gave each other a look, like they weren't really sure how to feel about it. Sera looked up from her plate, "Oh, Sam don't make that face. Really, those puppy eyes of yours just break my heart."

"What face am I supposed to make?"

"Not that one. That's not a command, just a request. I have more than enough emotional issues without you making me feel bad for arranging the accidental death of a sex offender, okay?"

"Fine, I'll try to keep my eyes from looking too…puppy-like."

Dean snorted. "That'll be the day."

When they were done eating, Sera picked up the plates and trashed them. "Dean, would you give me and Sam a moment alone, please?"

Dean got up out of his chair, pausing to glance over at the pie. Sera smiled, "Don't worry, it will still be here when you get back."

Dean nodded and left, leaving Sam sitting at the table, looking expectantly at Sera. "So, Cas says hi."

"Is that it?"

"Obviously not, I'm just trying to lead into it."

"That…makes sense, I guess. What else did he say?"

"Don't be scared. He can hear your prayers, even your silent ones you don't intend to send, he knows what you're going through and wishes there was anything he could do to help, to alleviate your fears, and that when he does finally return, he's going to do his best to try to make up for it."

"If we live that long."

"Don't worry, you'll live to see him again. He also wanted me to give you something." Sera took three steps forward and Sam turned toward her. "What?"

She smiled, reaching forward and flattening her palm over his heart. She sang of few bars, no words, just flowing sound, and a feeling washed over Sam. He would describe it to Dean later as "a shower of pure love." This, of course, would be followed by Dean questioning his heterosexuality.

When she removed her hand, Sam let out a breath he had been holding. "What the hell was that?"

"I like to call it clarity. Your fear, your pain and memories of your past have been clouding your judgment, slowing you down. It almost got you caught a few hours ago. Now, those feelings aren't a problem. They're still there, but they won't be giving you any trouble for a time."

"Uh…thanks, I guess." Sam forced out, rubbing the place on his chest she had just touched. Dean burst in. "Everything okay?"

Sam turned and nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"It's just…there was a lot of light coming out of those windows I thought…never mind." He looked between them. "You guys done?"

"Yeah, you can come back in."

Dean came in the rest of the way, closing the door. Sera saw him glance longingly at the pie on the counter. "Go ahead, Dean, it should be cool enough by now." She didn't have to say it twice. She moved back around the table to her seat, picking up Dean's beer and taking a drink. "Alright, before I leave there's some other stuff I need to go over."

Sam, still rubbing his chest, turned in his chair toward Dean, who had reclaimed his seat with the whole pie, taking a knife out of his pocket to slice it up. "I want you guys to know that I am here for you, but not in the way Cas could be. The way I have to do things…I can't just be disappearing every time you need a little help, it's going to draw attention. So, here's how it is. You can call my cell phone if you need information about something that you have absolutely no clue on. I have a special summoning spell you can use for me but only in absolute emergencies. If you need help fighting or whatever, do not bother calling me. I'm a Guardian, not a soldier or a warrior, I'm not aggressive and I will not be able to help you."

Dean was scarfing the pie down directly out of the foil pan. Sam didn't seem the least bit surprised at the possibility that he wasn't going to get any. He rolled his eyes and then looked at Sera. "Anything else?"

"Yeah, there's a job you guys are supposed to get to, and I think I'm the one who's supposed to tell you about it."

"What is it?"

"It's in Tennessee, I'll write down the details with the instructions of that summoning spell and my cell number." She took another swig of Dean's beer then set it down on the table. All she had to do was look at Sam and he jumped up, going over to his bag, taking out a pad and pen and bringing it over to Sera. She took it from him and began scribbling while he stood over her, looking confused. "Why did I just do that?"

"Clarity, Sam. It's just too awesome" She kept writing as Dean and Sam exchanged a silent conversation about how he'd explain the whole thing later. She looked up at him. "Sam, honey, you're blocking my light." Sam stepped to the side and Dean chuckled. As soon as Sera was done transcribing she set the pad down and stood up. "Alright, that's it. I should get going. Have to get up early in the morning." Sam opened his mouth and Sera put up a hand. "Yes, I sleep. Just…stop asking silly questions. I'll see you guys later. Bye." She gave a casual salute and then vanished.

Sam sat down. "Well…she seems…nice."

"Cute, too."

"Seriously, Dean? That's what you have to say?"

"What, like you didn't notice? She's more your type than mine."

"I didn't know you even had a type. I thought that it was just…you know…women in general."

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

Three months had passed since they first met Sera, and so far she had definitely been a big help. She called them and steered them in the direction of the important jobs, gave them intel, kept them off the Angel's radar. They hadn't had a close-call incident since they met her, which definitely had to be a record. They hadn't seen her in all of that time, but they weren't complaining. She was definitely too valuable an asset to piss off by summoning every time they hit a snag.

The Winchesters had even gotten to the point where sometimes they called her just to talk. They acted like it was casual, and to a point it was, but really they were trying to narrow down where she was and what identity she was using. They found out she was a music teacher in an elementary school and a choir director at a Baptist church. But she also did odd jobs, sometimes babysitting or waitressing to earn extra cash. She truly was closer to human than anything, and it never ceased to amaze Sam that she was able to keep up the façade of having a normal life.

By this time they had gotten comfortable with the arrangement, which is why they were so surprised when they walked into their safe house for a celebratory drink and found her standing in the kitchen with a mixing bowl. By the stuff that was out on the counter, Sam guessed she was making chocolate chip cookies. "Hey there boys. Good day?"

Dean took a second to get himself together then plastered a smile on his face and went for the fridge for a beer. "Damn right. Took out two Leviathans and a ghost. The Leviathans never even saw us coming. You should have seen their faces."

"I bet it was priceless," Sera said, setting down the bowl and sprinkling in more chocolate chips. Dean leaned against the fridge and opened his beer. "So, cookies? No pie this time?"

"Are you disappointed?"

"Slightly, but I'll live."

Sam pulled up a folding chair and sat down at the kitchen table. Sera turned around with the mixing bowl and he finally got a good look at the apron she was wearing over her ivy green sun dress. It was a darker green and had the word "Angel" on it in yellow calligraphy with a halo over it. He had to laugh. "Cute apron."

Sera smiled as she stirred the chips in. "Thanks. Got it as a Christmas present last year from a student." She set the bowl down then got some parchment paper, laying out a sheet and then pouring the dough onto it. Sam looked around and noticed a purse on the end of the counter against the wall, out of the way of the baking supplies.

Dean looked in the same direction when he saw Sam noticed something, and guessed that Sera had something for them. As he made his way to another folding chair close to Sam he took a drink and then said, "Sera, not that we're not happy to see you but…I'm guessing you weren't just passing through town and decided to make us homemade chocolate chip cookies. What's this about?"

Sera sighed, "Dean, I was getting to it, you know I was. Is it so bad to want to make with the domestics first?" She was molding the cookie dough, wrapping it in the parchment paper. She tucked the ends in so neatly they stayed closed by themselves. She put the tube of cookie dough in the fridge to chill and then sat down at the table with the boys, wiping her hands on her apron. "Alright, so, I have news, gifts, and a job for you two. What do you want first?"

Sam and Dean looked at each other. Sam shrugged, then Dean looked back at Sera. "News, I guess."

"I was hoping you'd pick that last. Okay, well, you shouldn't be alarmed or anything, because I have everything under control, but some of the angels have been planning to eradicate your bloodline."

"What?" They said together.

"Your bloodline, you know, that thing that made you guys perfect vessels? Some of the more impressionable angels that followed Castiel have started trying to take extreme measures to prevent the Apocalypse happening again, only they're thinking in the long term. As long as even a drop of that blood exists within a person, there will be people who will try to make it happen. Now, they're leaving the two of you alone. They know that you would fight tooth and nail to keep that Cage from opening up again, so as long as you're alive they're safe. But, other people of your bloodline who could spawn potential vessels are on a hit list."

Dean started rubbing his eyes, "Exactly why should we not be alarmed by whatever relatives we have left being rubbed out by renegade angels?"

"Like I said, I have it under control. It's been a bitch but I've tracked all of them down, given them sigils and charms and put wards on their houses. Angels won't be able to see them, hear them, smell them or go near them. They're all safe, I just want you guys to be aware of the dangers, and to warn you to be careful not to knock anyone up until we can get these idiots rounded up."

Sam cleared his throat, "Alright, then, what's the job?"

"There was an archaeological dig in Kenya last month. The artifacts they found there are being shipped next week and landing at EWR before being taken to the University Museum for display."

"What are we stealing?" Sam said, as always the quickest on the draw.

"There's a ceramic disk, really early pottery, they think it's just a plate with some early form of language written on it, they don't know what it really is."

"What is it really?"

"A warding talisman, given to a human woman by one of the Watchers, to protect her from angels that wanted to prevent her child from being born."

"Sounds like the angels we know."

"The child was an abomination, Dean. It was a Nephilim. I don't agree with the extreme action my brothers tried to take to prevent them or hunt them down but I do agree that they should not be allowed to walk the Earth. They don't, any more, since God struck the Watchers sterile. Otherwise your planet would be riddled with worse things than even the…what did you name them? Jefferson Starships?"

Dean snorted. "Yeah, because they were-"

"Terrible and hard to kill." Sera said with him. "I remember. Anyway this talisman doesn't just ward off angels; it makes any form of Enochian magic completely null. This means that if the Angels enlisted someone, say a human assassin, to find these people on their hit list and use the warding Talisman to break my protective spells on them…"

"They could all be exposed and taken down before we even found out about the first one." Sam finished her sentence for her.

"Exactly. So you guys have a week to make a plan, get to New Jersey, steal the Talisman and destroy it before someone else notices it's there. Luckily it's a big ol' blindspot to the Angels but that will only keep them ignorant of it until it goes on display."

"So…how do we destroy it? I'm guessing something this powerful you can't just hit it with a hammer."

"Actually, that's exactly what you need to do." She got up and walked over to her purse, rifling around in it. Sam and Dean looked utterly confused until she walked back over and set a hammer down on the table. It looked ancient, and was made entirely of some kind of metal. "It's what they used to call a weapon of God. It's a hammer forged from the metal in a meteorite, sort of like those dragon-slaying swords used to be; only this one is made specifically for destroying mystical objects. Seriously, pound the piece of pottery to dust with this thing then mix the dust with salt and toss it in a furnace. You can't be too cautious with it. Also, don't touch it. If you do it will activate its power to full capacity and those Enochian sigils Cas scarred your bones with become useless. Seriously, they'll just disappear and then it's open season."

"No pressure, then." Dean said.

"Is this the gift you were talking about?"

"One of them, yes. Although this is more of a loan, I'll need it back when you're done with it."

"What else is there?"

"That's enough for now, boys. Go get cleaned up while I bake those cookies."

"But-" Sam started,

"I said go."

They both shot up out of their chairs. Dean set his beer bottle down on the table and they trudged out of the room, going to clean the black Leviathan sludge off their skin.

By the time they came back, all cleaned up in some fresh clothes, there was a plate full of chocolate chip cookies on the table waiting for them, as well as two glasses and a half gallon of milk. Sera was at the counter going through her purse. Sam couldn't help but notice that Dean nearly crashed into the table because he was too busy checking out her legs.

The boys sat down, Dean grabbing a cookie immediately and shoving the whole thing into his mouth. The melting chocolate burned his tongue but he didn't seem to mind. Sera turned around, holding a leather drawstring pouch. "Alright, so, before you see these, I think I should tell you what they're for, because I don't want any stupid questions or comments."

Sam answered for them both since Dean still had a mouth full of hot cookie to deal with. "Okay. What is it?"

"They're charms. Very special, very rare charms that can hide you. These things make you invisible to mirrors, cameras, motion sensors, the works. You and anything you're touching becomes invisible. However, they only work for 6 hours at a time so I don't recommend activating them unless absolutely necessary."

She sat down at the table, opened the pouch and pulled out two woven bracelets, each with a charm hanging from them that Sam would guess was made of bone, with a raw green stone embedded in it. "Don't worry, I'm sure if you keep the stone turned toward your wrist no one will know you're wearing jewelry." Sam took one from her and examined it. "Is this peridot?"

"Yeah, it's my stone. Literally, I designed its construction and everything. That's why it's very important you don't lose these or let anyone see them because this kind of spellwork can be traced back to me."

"I'll be sure to hold onto it then." Sam said, but half a second later Dean snatched it from his hand. "What kind of fiber is this?"

Sam tilted his head at Dean. "What? I have sensitive skin."

"It's hemp, and no you can't smoke it."

Sam snatched his bracelet back. "How do we activate them?"

"A drop of your blood. Just touch it to the stone and it activates the glamour."

"Cool," Dean said before picking up another cookie. Sera filled one of the glasses half way with milk and slid it over to him. He didn't even think about it, just picked it up and drank it. Sam's eyebrows went up in surprise, and then he looked at Sera, pointing at Dean. "I think that's the first time I've seen him drinking anything but alcohol since we were kids."

"Beer and cookies is a just a bad idea all over, Sammy." Neither Sera nor Sam could believe that that sentence just came out of Dean.

"Dude…are you okay?"

Sera stood up and walked over to him, putting her hand on his forehead. "He's not feverish." She looked at Sam, "I swear I did not put anything in those cookies."

"What are you guys freaking out about?"

"Did you sing while you were baking?" Sam asked.

Sera's eyes got wide, "Oh, crap, maybe."

"Maybe? You don't remember what you were doing an hour ago?"

"Yes, okay, I was singing. I didn't mean to I was just…"

"I'm still missing what the problem is exactly." Said Dean, moving to take another bite of his current cookie, which Sera snatched away. She sniffed it and took a bite. "Oh, damn. Dean I am so sorry."

"About what? I feel fine. Great, actually."

"I sort of…accidentally enchanted the cookies."

Dean stared at the plate, swallowed the bit he had in his mouth and then chased it with whatever milk was left in the glass. "How…I mean…with what?"

"I think it was…Don't Worry Be Happy?"

"You turned the cookies…into Prozac…by singing Bobby McFerrin." Dean said slowly, then reached out and took another cookie. "I gotta tell ya…they're not bad."

Sam and Sera just watched in amazement as he ate it. He dragged the plate toward him then held it up to Sam. "You want one before they're all gone?"

Sam looked at the Angel. She shrugged. "They're safe; they just might make you a little…happy." Sam looked at the plate and cautiously reached forward, taking one. Dean set the plate back down, Sera returned to her seat and filled his glass with milk again, and one for Sam, and pulled the plate away from Dean, who was grasping at it, so he didn't hog them all. Sam sat back down with them and finished off his cookie.

Pretty soon they were all laughing over…well they really couldn't figure that part out. Sera finally caught a glimpse of her watch. "Oh, dear, is that the time? I have got to get going. You boys enjoy the cookies."

Sam looked at the plate. "But…there aren't any left."

"There's more in a tin in the cupboard."

Dean smiled, "Of course there are, because you're just the gift that keeps on giving, aren't you Sera?"

"I do what I can." She grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder. "Call me when you've destroyed the Talisman, we'll meet up somewhere and I'll bring some non-enchanted brownies to celebrate."

"What are you, a girl scout?"

"I was once. Hated the uniforms." And with that, she vanished.

"If she hangs around us too much I think I'm gonna go soft." Dean said, patting his stomach. "All this food shot up with love and happy, I'll end up being the fattest happiest Hunter in the history of the Earth."

"Please. We're not that lucky." Sam said, rather dejected. Dean looked up, "Dude, don't be a buzz kill."

It was the night before the big Museum heist, and everything, for once, was in perfect order. Their IDs, the timing, Sam even had the exact number for the box that held the Talisman. They hadn't taken their bracelets off in all that time, not wanting to risk losing them. Sam was sitting up going over the particulars again while Dean was passed out on the bed nearby. Sam kept looking over at him, checking up on him. He did this often these days, because when Dean was actually tired enough to fall asleep nothing could wake him up, and he would get trapped in whatever nightmare he was having. More than once Sam had to wake him up because he couldn't stand the screaming.

This time, however, he seemed to be resting just fine. His breathing was deep and even, his forehead wasn't scrunched up the way it usually got when he was trying to squeeze his eyes shut even though they were already closed. In fact he seemed…happy. Sam wondered what he was dreaming about, and then realized that since it was Dean, he probably didn't want to know.

Suddenly he heard a voice from behind him. "Hello, Sam." He jumped out of his chair, automatically grabbing the nearest weapon and pointing it at…Sera. He immediately relaxed. "Don't scare me like that, I almost shot you." He turned the barrel up and then set the gun back down on the table. "What are you doing here?"

Sera smiled and then looked at Dean. "I'm here for him." Sam's brows furrowed in confusion. "Uh…why?"

"I have a message for him, but I could only give it to him in his sleep, while his mind is at peace. This is the first time he hasn't suffered from nightmares since I've been here." She started walking over to the bed, but Sam stepped in her way. "Why does he have to be asleep? Why couldn't you just tell it to him?"

"Because I don't know what the message is. It's not mine to give him. It's personal, from Cas, but since he's still not allowed here he needs a proxy to get it through."

"What are you going to do?"

"I just have to touch him. It's fine. It won't hurt him, I promise."

Sam was unsure, but finally stepped aside. He figured that since she could have just ordered him out of the way she was being sincere. He watched as she walked over and crouched down next to where his head was lain, slowly taking her hand, pulling it across Dean's forehead and down the side of his face. Sam would swear that he looked even more relaxed than he was before. Soon as Sera was sure that it took, she stood and stepped away.

Sam reclaimed his seat, going back to what he was doing, assuming Sera would just leave. He wasn't expecting her to sit across from him. She wasn't saying anything just…staring. Sam finally looked up from his work. "What?"

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know, something about you just seems…off. I don't know, might just be that you're worried about him."

"I feel fine. Actually, since you gave me that dose of clarity or whatever it was I've been great. No nightmares, no hallucinations, I haven't been this clear-headed and focused since-"

"Since you didn't have a soul?" Sera finished, and Sam nodded. "Yeah, I guessed so. Is it your lack of guilt that's bothering you?"

Sam realized she wasn't going to let this go. He set down what he was reading and set his arms on the table, sighing. "I don't know, maybe."

"I think the fact that you care about it proves that you're fine. If you weren't worried about it I would be. I gave you a very special gift, Sam, one that humans rarely receive. True clarity is hard to come by."

"Yeah, but…why me?"

"Because you needed it the most. Dean has his ways of dealing with his problems but you have the tendency to just lie and bury it all until it becomes dangerous to both you and your brother. The sadness, fear and insecurity were just radiating from you, and even though Dean doesn't need the clarity himself he does need you."

She reached out and took one of his hands. "The two of you were chosen, Sam, long before you were ever born. Your destinies are entwined so tightly that either both of you have to be or neither of you can."

She turned his hand over, and stroked the scar of the injury he had kept open for so long after his return from Hell. "Most of Heaven thinks that you were made to bring about the Apocalypse but the truth is, God planned that it would be you so you could prevent it. Anyone else would have given in, given up, but the two of you kept fighting even when it would have been impossible for anyone else to even survive. You even kept fighting back against Michael and Lucifer in Hell, and when you got your soul back you fought even harder to keep it, even though the emotions and the memories were driving you mad. The best part of it is that neither you nor your brother has any idea how extraordinary you are."

"But…" Sam forced out, "All of the things I've done. The demon blood, all of those innocent people I hurt and killed when I was soulless, all of the rage and the hatred…"

"Sam, you carry around so much baggage that you don't have to. You didn't know that the demon blood was addictive when you started, you just thought you were helping people, and when you were soulless you weren't yourself. As for the anger issues, you have to remember what exactly it is that you're mad about. You really think that hating demons is that bad of a thing? Compared to the other things you've done, the lives you've saved, what does any of that matter?"

Sam pulled his hand away. "Why us? Why is it always us that have to sacrifice so much?"

"Because you two are the only ones that can take it. You bite back, you keep fighting no matter how bad it gets or how much you lose. Bobby, Jo, Ellen, you parents, Jessica…there's a special place in Heaven for them because they sacrificed themselves to make sure you could keep going. It's sad, I know how much it hurts, but you have to remember that you will most definitely see them again."

"When?"

"I'm not allowed to answer that question."

"But you know?"

"Of course I know. I've known for ages. This was all written down centuries back."

"So, what, we don't have free will? We can't change it?"

"You do have free will, but no, it's not going to change."

"You're not making any sense, Sera."

"I'm making perfect sense, you're just not understanding it."

"Then explain it to me."

Sera sighed and leaned back in her chair. "You make every decision yourself. You choose what path your life takes, but the choice you are going to make has already been recorded, sort of like an in-depth biography only it was written down before you even existed. You make the choices yourself, I just already know which one you're going to make."

Sam nodded slightly, showing he understood. "I guess that's why the other angels aren't allowed to see it. They aren't really meant to know the future."

"Precisely. You're a smart kid, Sam. I would say you could have made one hell of a lawyer but I think we both know that was never really an option." She stood up and smoothed out her top. Sam had just noticed she was wearing green plaid pajamas. "I think I should get going." Sam stood up as well, thinking it was only polite. "Alright, well, I'll call you tomorrow as soon as we smash the Talisman."

"I'll be waiting." She straightened like she was about to disappear again and then stopped. Suddenly she rushed forward and embraced Sam. He was surprised, but after the shock wore off he put her arms around her. Finally she let go and he let her step away. "What was that for?"

"I don't know it just…felt like the thing to do." There was a long, strained, awkward silence, finally Sam cleared his throat and rubbed his neck and Sera smiled and said, "Well, I'll just…"

"Yeah." Sam turned away and Sera vanished. He shook off the strange feeling she had left him with, then sat back down and went back to work. Suddenly she appeared again, making him jump. "Forget something?"

"Yeah, actually." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "A place I found for us to meet up."

Sam reached forward and took it. "By the way, why are we meeting somewhere? I mean…couldn't you just appear back here afterwards to get the hammer back?"

"I have my reasons, Sam." And with that, she was gone again.

The next evening, Sera was sitting on her couch in her apartment, two stacks of paper on her coffee table. They were worksheets from her students that needed to be graded. Suddenly her cell phone went off. It was the ringtone she had set for Sam. She snatched it up and answered. "Hello?"

"Just calling to let you know it's done. Was the fire supposed to turn purple?"

"Yeah, that's fine. Run into any problems?"

"A few snags, nothing we couldn't handle. We're clearing out of the motel now, if we drive in shifts we'll be there in two days. Dean says he's going to hold you to that brownie thing."

"Don't worry, I'm bringing them. I'm going to start baking soon as I finish grading these papers." Sera said as she went back to what she had been doing, marking off incorrect answers with a red pen.

"You have to grade papers? I didn't know music classes had worksheets."

"Yeah, it's mostly vocabulary and multiple choice about the different kinds of notes and rests. Really basic stuff, but I'm convinced some of these kids don't know how to read."

"You teach at a public school, right? It's possible they don't."

"Not going to argue with you." Sera heard the sound of a trunk closing and the opening and closing of car doors. "What car you guys driving this time?"

There was a pause and muffled voices. "Dean says a '68 Chevelle. We still got about an hour and a half left on these bracelets so he's going to try and speed through all of the traffic cameras."

"That's just irresponsible driving, Sam, someone could really get hurt."

"I know that, but he doesn't seem to get it."

"Do I need to talk to him?"

Muffled voices again, this time for longer. Sera could sort of hear their whispered argument and it made her giggle. Finally Sam came back on. "No, he says he'll be good." She heard the car start up. "Anything else we should know about? I mean, any ancient and dangerous angelic artifacts we can smash while we've still got this hammer?"

"Nothing I know of, so nothing." She lowered her voice a little. "How's Dean?" She didn't know what the message Castiel wanted to send him was, or how it would affect him. "Great, really." Sam said. "Listen, I wanted to say thanks for last night. You really…uh…"

"It's fine, Sam, you don't have to say anything." She just knew Dean was laughing or giving him implicative looks. "I'll see you soon. Stay safe."

"You too," Sam said, and even though they really didn't have anything else to say there was a long, drawn-out moment of silence before they finally hung up on each other.

Dean started chuckling and couldn't stop. "Thanks for last night? What happened last night?"

"You didn't know? She came by. We…uh…talked."

"She was there just to talk?"

"Well, no, she said something about having a message for you."

"What was it?"

"You'll have to tell me, she gave it to you in a dream."

There was a long, awkward, strained silence as Dean tried to act like he had no idea what Sam was talking about, when obviously he did. He decided to break the silence with, "So what did you two talk about?"

"You know, meaning of life, secrets of the Universe, the usual."

Dean fiddled switched from the static of the radio to the tape that was in the player. Whoever they stole this car from had good taste. They didn't speak for several minutes then suddenly Dean broke the silence. "Why are we driving across seven states to meet her when she could have just done the whole angel teleport thing and gotten the hammer back from us that way?"

"I asked that same question, but all she came back with was 'I have my reasons, Sam.'" He said the last part in a mocking voice.

"I'm guessing she's compensating for the rest of her personality."

Sam just blinked at his brother. "What?"

"I'm just saying, she's supposed to be this all-powerful Guardian of God or whatever, but the majority of the time she talks and acts like a regular person. She's being vague and mysterious so we don't…I don't know…lose sight of who she is or whatever."

"Dean, stop being insightful, it's creeping me out."

"How do you think it's making me feel? You know I haven't had a drink since I ate those cookies? I'm all…aware and feeling things. It's messed up, man."

Sam laughed and Dean glared at him, "What are you laughing about?"

"Just that Sera's enchanted cookies turned you into a little bitch."

"Uh-huh, well you know why they didn't affect you, right?"

"Let me guess, because I'm already a little bitch?"

"Bingo."