TITLE: Mysterious Ways
BY: NjoyingNsanity
DISCLAIMER: Supernatural belongs to Eric Kripke and the CW. I own a crappy computer and an annoying plot bunny so please don't sue it won't be worth the effort.
NOTE: Unbetaed if anyone wants to help me out by being my beta please just message me.
Miranda sat on the porch swing enjoying one of the first really warm days of spring it had gotten up to seventy five that day and she'd spent most of the day outside puttering around in the yard tilling the garden and the flower beds preparing them for the planting she'd be doing over the next couple of weeks. She had even decided to sit on the porch and work on the quilt she had been making when she heard the first rumblings of thunder. She didn't want to go inside she loved watching a good thunderstorm and this one promised to be a big one if the ominous dark clouds hanging overhead were any indication. The TV she had left on in the living room was sounding that annoying long beep that indicated the local station was putting out a severe weather alert. Miranda wasn't really concerned though the old Victorian farmhouse she had inherited from her grandparents had had weathered many a storm and she personally she had spent many a summer evening out here on the large front porch it watching it storm so she felt no fear.
She had moved back to this rural community deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia four years earlier after having been in a horrible car accident. She had almost died, and had spent eleven days in a coma. Miranda remembered going into the light remembered the angel telling she had to go back that they had work for her and remembered waking up moments later. Everything had changed no not really everything had stayed exactly the same as before, but she had changed. She saw aura's around people now could see when a person was sick or dying. That wasn't all she could see spirits the first few ghosts had scared her half to death but soon she learned how to cope with the spiritual world that she could now see plain as the physical one, mostly by keeping to herself on her secluded farm the spirits here didn't scare her much. She didn't get many visitors which given her new talents was mostly a blessing. The peace and quiet was perfect for her nerves and the beautiful local scenery provided her with endless subjects to photograph or write about so she earned a decent living.
Life had taken on a new kind of normal she spent most of her time alone save for two childhood friends who accepted the new her without question. So she wasn't a total hermit but ever since she had came out of the coma her love life had been DOA she had been engaged at the time of her accident but afterward she saw him for who he truly was and she just knew she could never marry him. It sucked to be able to read peoples auras to see who they really were deep down. It also sucked that she had dreamed about a certain angel every since she had came out of the coma. Miranda didn't even know his name but she remembered every detail of his true form especially his startlingly blue eyes. She dreamed of the angel who had healed her and sent her back almost every night. Most nights the dreams seemed to be just the angel watching over her sometimes he spoke to her but she rarely remembered any of it usually the dreams were just peaceful and soothing. The things was some of the dreams were more vivid and she always woke from those dreams expecting to find him there with her. She had come to cherish her dreams about he angel but then she discovered there was more to her abilities.
It had been about two years ago she had been grocery shopping when she had seen her first demon and good Lord their true forms were hideous. After that she had started seeing more of them then about eight months back she had started seeing something familiar, something she recognized from her coma angels. She could see past the vessel they were wearing and see their true form. She hadn't known what to make of it but had kept the knowledge to herself whatever was going on seemed to be pretty serious and not something she had any wish to become involved in.
Miranda looked up from her needlework something felt off, it didn't take long however for her senses to pick up on the fact this storm wasn't natural in nature. Soon she saw beings of light and darkness battling it out in the sky above her farm. The angels brandishing flaming swords brighter than the noonday sun. The demons a eerie dark cloud full of menace. She wanted to run but seemed frozen in place it was kinda like a bad accident, you didn't want to look but couldn't seem to help yourself. So there she sat awe and terror battling for control inside her, as above demons and the heavenly host engaged in a heated battle. The storm broke loose it's fury building as the battle intensified the sounds of the battle became the roaring of wind and the roll of thunder the lightening glinted off flaming swords and sparked from heavenly and demonic bodies when their lives were extinguished. Suddenly two demons appeared on her front lawn not ten feet away Miranda backed away feeling behind her for the door if she could just get inside her house she'd be safe she thought, but as she retreated the demons advanced; and before she could blink on had her pinned up against the door. "So this is the special one the one the prophet saw she doesn't look like much to me" the demon standing beside her said to the one holding her pinned against the side of the house. Miranda struggled to free herself but found that she couldn't move. "She's not that special but she'll be the..." his statement was broken off as three angels appeared one briefly fighting off the demon beside her while the other punched the demon holding Miranda against the wall sending him sprawling. The demon got up only to be backed up against the porch railing by another angel who placed a hand on his forehead destroying the demon. It was then that it dawned on her she knew this angel he was the one who had sent her back the one she still dreamed of.
"Take her brother" the other angel now busy fighting off two more demons yelled to the one who had destroyed the demon that had pinned her to the wall. Miranda barely had time to process what was going on before she felt wind rushing by her as strong arms enveloped her. She let out a startled cry as she realized she was no longer on the ground but that the angel was flying. She could hear the flapping of his wings mingled with the crack and boom of thunder it had started raining buckets and she could feel the sting of rain drops as they hit her, and surmised the angel must be flying very fast indeed. She cracked her eyes open only to shut them again quickly and bury her face against the angel's chest, when she realized the were being chased. Several demons had pursued them as they made their escape but they were being battled back by several other angels.
"Do not be afraid Miranda." said the angel in a voice that was deep but surprisingly soothing in it's gentleness. It really was him her angel the one from her dreams she thought looking up into his vessels face his vessel was a very handsome man blue eyed just like the angel was in his true form but with the angel inside him the man's eyes took on an ethereal quality they were such a stunning shade of blue. Something really crazy was going on and she had no idea what it was or why this angel had suddenly shown up to save her yet again so timidly she asked.
"It's really you but why what's going on?" she said she stuttered her teeth chattering as she realized she was cold, wet and shivering. The angel looked surprised for a moment before saying "I was wondering if you would remember me I hope that you are not angry that I sent you back when you were so close to going home, but there is much yet that you are meant to do". Then looking almost apologetic as he said "You are cold." and wrapped his arms tighter around her pulling her closer to him and she felt a sudden surge of warmth flow through her "Is that better?" he asked uncertainly she nodded wrapping her arms around the angel's neck so that she could pull herself up enough to quickly peer over his shoulder to see if they were still being followed. "You are safe now my brothers have beaten back our pursuers." said the angel Miranda sighed in relief "Still you haven't explained what happened back there". The angel gave an exasperated sigh before he gently touched two fingers to her forehead and she fell into a deep sleep her head resting on his shoulder.
Castiel landed softly so as not to wake the sleeping human he carried her into the secluded cabin and laid her on the couch seconds later with a wave of his hand he had a warm fire burning in the old fireplace. Castiel explored the safe-house finding a wood-stove in the kitchen and a few candles and kerosene lamps which he also lit soon the cabin was warm and bathed in a soft glow and he gently shook Miranda awake
"Where am I?" she asked momentarily confused
"Somewhere safe," he said "My orders were to bring you here."
"Okay" she said sitting up and looking around.
"You need to get out of those wet clothes, you will find a cedar chest filled with clothes in the upstairs loft there is also a warm bed you should rest, I will keep watch tonight".
Miranda nodded getting up she started to climb the ladder into the loft but paused turning to him.
"I'm sorry but I forgot to ask what is your name?"
"Castiel" he said.
"Thank you Castiel for saving me back there".
He gave her a small ghost of a smile saying "You are very welcome Miranda" before nodding toward the upstairs "Get out of those wet things and get some rest you are safe for now, but we will probably have to move again soon."
"What's going on?" she asked him finally giving voice to the question that had plagued her since realizing the storm wasn't a normal one.
"Rest now," he said a bit more sternly "I will explain all tomorrow."
Miranda huffed a little but climbed the ladder into the loft anyhow. There she found a warm flannel nightgown in the cedar chest putting it on she climbed into the bed knowing sleep wouldn't come easy tonight too much had happened and she had too many questions but eventually exhaustion won out and she drift off to sleep.
