Chapter 1

His screaming ceased and Grace opened her eyes from the sudden silence. She removed her hand from his forehead with a small sigh.

She stared at Dean. Her eyes sad. Even unconscious, his pain was so great, so palpable that she could barely stand to be in the same room and watch him for more than an hour.

She had more control than this, but there was something in his fragile emotion that was overwhelming to her senses. She turned away from the unconscious man and went about cleaning up the bloody shirt and gauze that littered the floor. She placed the bloody items in the wastebasket and reached for the basin of water she had used to clean the blood from his face and chest. Cleaning and stitching his wounds had been easier than she thought they would be. Castiel did heal most of the worst damage.

She glanced over her shoulder as he groaned. She could see his eyes move rapidly beneath his eyelids and she knew he was in another nightmare. She sighed heavily, knowing the screaming would soon begin again.

As soon as the thought passed through her mind, he began to scream.

"Sammy!"

She moved to place a comforting hand on his shoulder and gasped from the heat that emanated from him. She tilted her head as she stared at him. She moved her hand toward his forehead. He was burning up! She knew he didn't have an infection. She had cleaned his wounds with perfection as well as given him antibiotics.

She knew this fever wasn't a physical problem. It was psychological. She took a deep breath and placed her hand back onto his forehead. She closed her eyes, reaching out to his mind. She gasped as her mind ran head first into a mental wall. It was strong so much so she had to expel more energy than usual.

He is strong willed.

Swallowing, she placed her other hand over his chest and she slowly felt the wall fade away and she gasped from the rush of emotions she felt coming from him. He was so twisted up inside. Hurt and betrayed. Fear in place of trust.

"Sammy!"

The name is screamed into her mind almost desperately. Heart wrenchingly sad. She is surprised from the amount of love she feels coming from him by just the mere thought of this name. There is loss there.

"Your emotions are so turbulent." She said softly "Like black swirling clouds." She gently willed his mind into calmer more peaceful seas.

She pulled back with a gasp. She could feel the blood dripping from her nose and she stepped away from him.

She stared down at him She stared down at him, noting how his face no longer held the expression of pure anguish he was sporting a few moments ago. He looked relaxed and the steady rise and fall of his chest told her he was now resting comfortably. If only for one night. She knew it wouldn't last. The mind was a powerful thing.

She reached over and switched the bed side lamp off before slowly make her way out of the bedroom.

***

She stumbled her way into the bathroom, reaching for her wash cloth as she switched the light on. She turned on the faucet and wet the cloth, ringing it out and brining it to her bloody nose. She stared at her pale features as she gently wiped the blood away. She sighed shakily as she felt the beginnings of a migraine. It was difficult to probe someone's mind without their express permission. She reached inside her medicine cabinet for some aspirin. She quickly popped them into her mouth, swallowed some water and tossed the bloody cloth into the sink.

Leaving the bathroom, she made her way into her darkened bedroom. She didn't bother undressing, just slid on top of her covers in a fetal position, wrapping her arms around her legs as she tried to figure out why Castiel brought this man into her home.

He had said he would be safe here. That much was true. Hell's gate was closed and Satan was back in hell. But, she knew that didn't mean all demons' were simply damned back to Hell. She knew they had to be looking for him. Castiel had told her to heal him and she did. She was wonderful at taking care of people, but it has been so long since she's taken care of anyone.

Why did she feel this way? Why did she feel so unsure of herself? She let out a shuddering breath and closed her eyes and silently prayed for strength.

"Castiel?" She whispered desperately. She swallowed. "Castiel?." Tears formed in her eyes and she blinked them away. "Father," She whispered brokenly. "Please answer me." She could feel exhaustion began to creep in and she gave into it, falling into a fitful sleep.

Castiel emerged from the shadowed corner of Grace's bedroom and moved toward her bed to watch her sleep. He reached out and gently placed a hand on the back of her head. He closed his eyes for a few moments before opening them again. "Rest easy, my daughter. When you awake you will have clarity." He backed away from her, fading into the shadows.

******

The sun was shinning for the first time in weeks the next day.

Grace hummed along to the radio as she watered her plants. She smiled to herself as she realized she had saved the fern plant that was previously dying. She turned and opened the back door, letting the fresh air breeze through the kitchen. She could smell the wet grass from last night's storm and her smile widened.

She didn't know where the odd mood had come from all of a sudden. She had woken up the next morning feeling refreshed and with a new prospective on things.

Her guest had still not woken up and she suspected he would be that way for quite some time. Even though she had guided him into resting peacefully the night before, the turbulence inside him had returned full force the next morning.

The screaming had stopped though, so that was a plus. She knew Castiel had left dean in her care for a reason. He always had a reason. Still, she knew her apprehension was silly and her objective was now clear.

Dean Winchester was a broken man. His soul was battered. She knew she had to help him. She knew she had to heal him, inside and out. She glanced down as she felt a familiar body rub itself against her. "Hello, Clem."

The cat meowed up at her and she leaned down to rub it's head. "This isn't going to be a cake walk huh?"

The cat blinked at her then meowed as if answering.

She smiled and nodded once. "I guess I should go and see how our guest is fairing."

****

His eyes slowly drifted and he stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling. His vision swam in front of him and she blinked, trying in vain to focus his vision. His eyes moved down his body, and he frowned as he realized he was in a bed. He swallowed and winced from the pain he felt from such a simple movement.

He had to be dead.

He tried to move and his eyes widened from the burning pain that reverberated from his chest. He closed his eyes and groaned in agony.

He was in hell.

"It's okay." A soft voice whispered.

He opened his eyes as a small hand was placed on his shoulder. He stared blearily up at the tiny beauty before him. She had long curly brown hair, a small nose and a young face. He knew there had to be more from the knowledgeable look in her deep dark brown pools.

He blinked as she leaned over him and his eyes drifted closed as the sweet girly scent he couldn't name invaded his senses.

'This had to be heaven.' He thinks as the burning sensation in his chest suddenly fades to nothing.

Grace pulled the needle gently from his arm. "You should rest some more." She murmured quietly.

'That sounded like a fabulous idea.' Dean thought; his eyes drifting closed.

He drifted in and out of consciousness for the next several days, too hurt to do anything, but lie there as he fell into the same nightmare time and again. However, he was comforted by the soft sweet voice, whispering to him. Offering a comfort he subconsciously craved.

*****

Grace sighed heavily and turned onto her side as she felt herself on the edges of sleep. She groaned as Clem meowed loudly and hopped onto her bed, landing on top of her pillow.

"Clem!" She growled; keeping her eyes closed. "Watch it." She tensed as she felt someone enter her room and her eyes shot open as she felt something cold and hard pressed against her temple. She slowly turned, her eyes widening as she came face to face with Dean.

He stood over her bed, his angry tired face illuminated by the bright moon. He trained the gun on her. "Get up." He said, his voice hoarse, but angry.

Grace slowly sat up, her heart pounding. She stared at him. He had put on a white t-shirt and was clutching his stomach with the other arm. She could already see blood begin the seep through the t-shirt, staining it red. "You ripped your stitches." She whispered. She moved toward him and paused when he lifted the gun high. "You're hurt."

"Don't move." He spat. "Where am I?"

Grace stared at him calmly as he glared angrily at her. "Ohio." She answered. She pushed the covers off of her legs. "I-you're hurt." She repeated. "You're bleeding." She could see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to work out what had happened. She could see the moment real panic and fear began to take place of his confused expression. She reached out for him, but stopped when he lifted the gun higher.

"I said don't move!" He spat. He tossed a wooden necklace beside her on the bed. "I know a hoodoo necklace when I see one. I know what you are bitch!"

She frowned at him confused. "It's a shanty Charm." She said softly. She had hung it over

the headboard where he slept. "It's supposed to chase nightmares away."

He ignored her explanation. "Where's my brother?" He asked angrily. "Where's Sam?"

Her expression changed from confusion to sympathy. "I don't…"

"Sammy!" He yelled cutting her off. He looked around confused before turning back to her. "What did you do to him you bitch?"

"Please stop calling me that." She replied. "I didn't do anything to your brother. I don't know where he is." She swallowed. "Can you put the gun down? You're scaring me."

"Like I give a rat's ass." He said, keeping the gun trained on her. "How the hell did I get here?"

"You don't remember." She said softly. "There was….Castiel brought you here. You were very badly injured." She noticed the red stain on his t-shirt grow larger. "Please let me help you." She said. "You're bleeding." She watched as he looked down at himself then back up at her. His eyes were wide with dawning realization.

"No." He whispered. His arm slowly lowered, the gun dropping to the floor with a loud clang.

She slowly stood up from the bed. "You should lie down." She reached out and touched his arm, pausing when he flinched away from her, his expression horrified. She lowered her hand to her side.

Dean slowly backed away from the woman, his heart pounding inside his chest. Blood rushed into his ears. "Cas!" He called. "Cas! You son of a bitch! Where are you?"

Grace reached out and touched his shoulder. "He won't answer you." She said softly.

"Because he won't answer me."

Dean's vision swam as he looked down at Grace. His eyes rolled up in the back of his head and he fainted.

TBC

*****

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