THEN: Castiel and Jimmy Novak found themselves having to survive as equals in a human body. Jimmy's new freedom inspired him to attempt to reach out to his family. Castiel could not allow him to do that, not when all the Angels of heaven are hunting this body. Committing himself to a Psychiatric Hospital, Castiel and Jimmy found an uneasy alliance. When Castiel agreed with Jimmy to check in on Claire and Amelia, they discovered that Claire is hosting an angel. Hiding away only worked for so long. They agreed that they must evict this possibly dangerous angel from it's young host. When the family that helped them when they left the Hospital are attacked and killed because of who Castiel is, he finally reconnected with the Winchesters... only to find a third person in the back of the Impala.

(Summary pulled from Part 1 of this story, "Changing of the Guard" located in my stories)

AUTHOR NOTE: This can be read independently of 'Changing of the Guard'. So, if you are a new reader, check the summary above, and have fun. If you've followed the other story, welcome back!

NOW:

The backseat was awkward.

Sam and Dean were silent, and Castiel sat as far from the other occupant as possible. They had left the flames of the house a few hours ago, and Castiel had not been able to bring himself to say anything on the matter, although he had the feeling he should. Silence had pervaded the vehicle, and finally, he was ready to think about something else preying on his attentions. He leaned forward towards Dean's ear. "You are sure he is not…'playing you'?"

"Naughty as that sounds, I'm hurt you're too good for me, Sparkles. Former Demon, former Angel, we have things in common, you and I. Neither quite human yet though, can't miss the little glow you've got going on there." The dethroned king of hell commented, motioning to the former angel's eyes and giving a smile that made Castiel's stomach turn a little.

Sam spoke up in response, ever the mediator. "I know it seems crazy, but he's mostly human now… and not even the guy that sold his soul in the first place—"

"That's true. Been doing a bit of readjusting to the whole humanity thing—doing the whole self-discovery 'Part of Your World' bit. Turns out since I've got a bit of Moose in my blood… and apparently that does things to a bloke. " Crowley cut Sam off, and spoke quickly, as if to keep the conversation about his current situation as short as possible.

"-We've been working with Crowley for over five months… he's had plenty of chances to kill, betray… basically all the things that old Crowley loved. Not saying we haven't had our disagreements, but he's got more on demons than we could ever know. He's a resource."

Crowley kicked his shoes off, and seemed to be very comfortable in the Impala. More comfortable than Castiel, which actually made him feel jealous. "Oh, Moosey, I was hoping for a slightly more clichéd word, like—friend, let's say?"

This is not what I had anticipated. Castiel turned and looked out the darkening window with a slightly sullen expression. His eyes glowed blue looking back at him, and he tried for the two hundred and seventh time to pull the energy back, closing his eyes and trying to corral the power, like when he was an angel. But he wasn't strong enough, and failed. Again. The pressure in his chest had been building over the hours, and it was now reaching a level that was painful. He had to release Jimmy's soul… Again.

"Alright, enough ladies. Let's focus on getting everyone on the up-and-up with this job." Dean demanded, flicking on the headlights of the Impala as the night fell around the car. "We've got a major haunting at a YMCA in-"

"We need to go to Vermont."

Dean looked in the rear-view mirror, "No, we've got a job in Rhode Island… So stuff your cheese craving, and—"

"What's in Vermont?" Sam asked, cutting his brother off, and again, mediating the conversation. I like that about him. He's moody… and his voice is grating at times, but that is a talent I should attempt to learn.

Castiel shot a look at Crowley, who had produced a book from his pocket and seemed to be tuning out the conversation. The former demon rose his eyebrows and glanced over the edge of the pages. "I'm not going to plug my ears and sing or anything, you have something to share with all the class, share it. Your xenophobia only made a glimmer of sense when we weren't the Same. Bloody. Species."

"Being human does not change personality. And I have seen enough of yours to know not to trust—"

"Oh, tut-tut, you'll hurt my feelings, and you know what we'll have to do to make up—"

"Would the both of you shut up? You're like freakin' Spock and McCoy, and I'm not gonna listen to you bond through insults." Dean sped the car up, and passed a truck that Castiel had noticed was driving particularly slowly.

The air was filled with nothing but the roar of the Impala's engine, and the thrum of the tires on the road.

Sam turned to face Castiel and Crowley as best he could. "You two can go at this fight later. Right now, we need to know why we would head to Vermont instead of Rhode Island."

Castiel looked up at Sam, and chose not to acknowledge the man next to him. "There is a particular Angel that needs to be evicted from his host."

Furrowing his brow, Sam held Castiel's gaze waiting for explanation. That man conveys most of his emotions in the upper portion of his face. I wonder if it is an evolutionary trait and eventually all humans will do that… But what would the purpose be?

"We've got some angel blades in the back, we've been ganking them as fast as we can. And pickpocketing the corpses-" Dean removed a hand from the wheel and motioned over his shoulder. "Hope you don't mind."

Castiel's eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head. "Of course I mind. You're slaughtering my brothers and sisters."

Putting his hand back on the wheel, Dean shrugged. "We gotta take'em out. So far there ain't been many quiet, peaceful, let's get along, flowers-and-sunshine sort of angels we've encountered."

"Any, actually." Contributing to the conversation with a slightly guilty tone, Sam turned back around to face the road.

"I understand." Castiel felt the surge of raw power pulse in his chest, and he felt a 'pop' as some of the flesh along his collar bone snapped apart. He put a hand to his neck, staunching the blood with the fabric of his shirt. "I think we need to pull over."

Sam twisted around to look at him again, and his surprise was obvious, "Cas, are you gonna throw up?"

"We're on the highway." Dean said firmly.

I don't understand… why that would change the need to vomit. "If we do not pull over… soon… I will have to suggest you cover your eyes and ears. Which I do not think is safe to do while driving." Castiel closed his eyes tightly, and rocked forward a little, trying to ease the tension in his chest.

"Hate to say this fellows, but I think we'd better do what he says." Crowley's voice sounded a little tense.

He's human now, he'll burn like anyone else…

"Don't you dare do anything in my Baby, Cas!" Dean sounded seriously concerned. Castiel felt the car speed up even more, and then turn suddenly. A ramp. "Looks like there's an abandoned Gas Station at the turn up here. Hold on." The Impala lurched off the smooth road and onto bumpy terrain.

Castiel opened his eyes, and pulled the latch, shoving open the door. The car was still moving, and he felt a hand grab his shirt.

"Don't be a bloody idiot! Wait 'til the ride comes to a complete stop!" Crowley shouted, holding Cas back from throwing himself onto the ground rushing past.

The Impala skidded to a stop, and Crowley's hand released Cas's shirt.

Tossing himself out of the car, and into the darkness, Castiel struggled to his feet. The heat was blistering his skin, he felt the flesh on one of his knuckles peel open, and the blood was cauterized before it even had a chance to spill. Strong hands pulled him to his feet, and he lifted his head to see Sam on one side, and Dean on the other. "Go! I'm not sure what will happen this time… It won't be pleasant…"

Dean's concern was audible, and Castiel had to smirk just a little. I've missed this man. "Cas, what the hell are you doin'?"

"I think we'd better do what he says."

Castiel felt them move away, and he was almost consumed with the energy pent up inside him.

He held it back, listening to the car doors slam shut, and then it surged out, he wasn't sure if he had given the Impala enough time to get away. His eyes wide, he threw his arms back and released as much as he could. Gasping, weak, he looked up at the glowing mass spread as far as he could see, shining gold and blue.

He steeled himself for what he knew was next. The light coalesced, pulling in tight, and then dove down into the body again. Castiel screamed as it pounded back in, invading his heart, limbs, mind, cells. Jimmy? He fell over onto the dirt and blacked out.

He ached all over, he felt sharp rocks in his back, and blood trickling down his face. Clumsily, he reached up to stop the flow, and just hit his nose, and he felt the bleeding increase.

Claire. The voice was different sounding, less coherent than when Jimmy had been sharing the mind with him. It was garbled and fuzzy, as if he had been awoken in the middle of the night.

Jimmy. I am on my way to them. It is… a long drive. Castiel could hear the screech of the Impala's tires, and then the sound of feet on the loose stone.

Please. Jimmy's voice sounded childlike and pleading. His presence vanished into the heat again, just as Castiel managed to pry his eyes open. Gasping, Castiel sat up. He scrambled to his knees, fists planted in the rocks, and shuddered violently. He could feel the energy still bubbling out, spilling from his spine, then through his ribs, he dug his fingers into the stones beneath them and snarled as he attempted to force the soul free. I will free Claire of Saul, please, go! It clung on, and burned as it began to pull in tighter, Castiel felt like his skin was going to rupture. You're going to kill us! Concentrate, and control yourself!