If you haven't checked chapter 1 please do. I added the rest of the chapter after my first posting. The first 2 chapters are day one. It will move more quickly after this. I have probably 6 to 8 chapters of material written and plotted as far as story but, not written or plotted as a fanfic, Maggie was always intended to be the central character in the base story but I fear her becoming a dreaded "Mary Sue" in this particular genre. Please give feedback on this.
A little background on the story
I started this story a while ago about a woman who was unable to release her past tragedy making it impossible for the victim of that tragedy to move on. And the angel ( actually named Aliel in the story) Who had become too battled hardened and serious so, was sent to earth powerless to remain until he found a way to "lighten up" and prove himself other than by smiting.
I could never get behind Aliel the way I wanted that is until I Castiel arrived on SPN. His entrance and of course the "show me some respect"line Cemented him in my head as Aliel. Problem was then I sort of found my self writing a Castiel based Character instead of the other way around lol. So I decided to attempt to flip the story to a fanfic.
2
The feeling of spinning and blackness soon faded as Castiel landed in the puddle with a splash. It was wet, freezing and more than a little muddy, it did however, have the beneficial effect of clearing the brain fog Castiel was suffering moments before. As he tried to lift himself from the puddle the could feel the woman's hands on him and hear her voice.
Maggie knelt beside the stranger her own feet and pant legs soaked in the deep puddle. "Hey, ok now, you okay?" She had her hands on his shoulders trying to help as he lifted himself up.
Castiel was able to stand, he was a dripping muddy mess but at least for the moment his head felt ok, he could think again. "I'm sorry I don't know what happed." he said looking apologetic at the red head.
As he stood Maggie looked at the man, soaked with water and mud but, she could not help but notice how good looking he really was. Wet and mud soaked and yet somehow beautiful. Could a man be beautiful? Yes, this one could, there was something about him. For the third time today she had shake herself loose from her own thoughts hearing his apology she responded. " No its ok, you tripped on a rock, I have a blanket in the back let me get it you must be frozen"
Maggie stepped around the puddle and walked quickly to the back of the Jeep, she found the small red fleece blanket folded in the corner of the jeep under a flashlight and a jack. She lifted it up spilling the other items onto the carpet. When she turned the stranger was standing right behind her she was startled and jumped.
"I'm sorry" He said, this time for causing her to jump, feeling more like an idiot than an angel he added "Again …and thank you." standing there shivering Castiel, looked a little hapless.
With a small laugh and smile, Maggie responded in a understanding tone, " It's ok. Your not having the best day are you?" She began to unfold and shake out the blanket.
"Um… No.. or week for that matter." Castiel answered with a half smile, smiling was new to him and he was never quite sure how much was too much or not enough at times.
"Yeah I'm in touch with that emotion" she said with a slight sarcastic laugh, "Here, lets get some of the wet stuff off of you" as she reached up to help him remove his still dripping trench, then his suit jacket, finally his tie, which was literally dripping wet and oozing mud. She rolled everything together and set them in the back of the still open Jeep. Castiel worked the blanket over his shoulders, he was freezing cold and began shivering as his body temperature tried to adjust.
Maggie noticed how much his jaw was quivering and took him by the hand. "Damn, you are Freezing, Come here." pulling him by the hand she led him the passenger side of her Jeep and opened the door. "Get in" she instructed Castiel did as he was told. Maggie got in the drivers side and started the Jeep, turning the heat on and adjusting it to high she began pointing the vents toward the dark haired man. "It should get warm quickly" she said as she leaned over her seat into the back seat looking for something to help dry him off.
Castiel noticed her pant legs and boots were soaked through and smeared with mud as well. " Im sorry again" he said "you are almost as soaked as I am".
"It's ok… really." Maggie responded as she spotted and reached for a roll of paper towels. Turning around in her seat she began to unroll a few and hand them to Castiel. "Sorry, the best I can do right now" she said.
He began to dab at his face and hair as she unrolled more towels to hand him. It was then the giggling hit her and she just could not stop it. As the first bit of chortling laughter escaped her lips she tried to apologize by raising her hand, palm out and closing her lips tighter. It was no use, the more she tried to stop the worse it became.
Castiel looked at her, at first confused but, then the humor of the situation seemed to occur to him. He was new to human emotions but, he could see the humor in this, soon a small laugh worked its way out of his belly. Within moments he was laughing almost as hysterically as his new found friend. If smiling felt good laughing felt fantastic even if he didn't quite understand it.
Once she was able to catch her breath and regain some composure Maggie, once again raised both her hands palms out towards him, "I'm SO SO sorry for that" she said still trying to stifle her laughter.
"It's ok" Castiel said, this time releasing a bigger smile in her direction. She looked at him unsure. "Really" he said. " I have never laughed like that" little did she know he was speaking the truth. "It felt good after the last few days." She smiled at him once again struck by his features, as he smiled back.
"Who are you?" She wondered silently.
"Well the question now is, what do we do with you?" She said looking at his muddy face. "I know you're not from here. Were you heading somewhere, is there somewhere I can drop you?"
"Now what?" Castiel thought to himself. "Should I tell her the truth?" he quickly eliminated the thought, "No, not yet" he thought, " but I have to say something." Finally he said "No, I had nowhere in mind, I was just passing through trying to sort a few things out."
Maggie chewed the inside of her lip, what was she going to do with him? This was a small town, there were no shelters where she could just drop him off , and she wasn't sure she wanted to just dump him somewhere anyway. He obviously needed help. She studied him a bit longer. The suit was actually nice, not old like she first thought, even his trench, although dirty, was well cared for. She was sure he wasn't homeless like she first suspected when she saw him in the park. Just, just… hmm… she didn't know what.
Finally, in as kind a voice as she could muster she asked "Do you have anywhere to
Go? Maybe I could call someone?"
Castiel, not really being human, felt no shame in telling her he had nowhere he to go and there was no one he wanted called right now. Maggie looked at him hard. Two years ago she felt like he looked, beaten, tired and covered in gunk, although she had enough sense to keep a roof over head, she understood. It was obvious he was going through something. She had no idea what, and from personal experience knew it would do no good to ask.
Still looking at him she said " I'm Maggie by the way" Feeling almost rude for not introducing herself sooner. He looked at her and another small smile crept to his lips.
"I am Castiel" he said, but thought it might be best if he didn't mention he was an angel of the lord.
"Unusual," she said, "A family name?"
Castiel thought a moment " Yes, a very old family name." he said with a nod.
"Well Castiel, It would seem you have no where to go."
" I will be fine" He said. Looking at her and then away out the window.
She felt tempted to just let him go but, she knew that wouldn't be right, Besides something inside told her to help him. She wasn't so detached that she would really send him off cold and wet was she? No, she was sure she couldn't do that.
" Look, My house is a few minutes from here, Its not huge but"
"No", he said, before she could finish. " I do not wish to be burden."
"It's ok really, there is enough room, you can at least come and get a shower. I should have some dry clothes that will fit you, and you really look like you could use something to eat." Castiel started to protest but, she put the Jeep in gear and was moving before he could open his mouth.
As she drove she could feel him looking at her, when she turned her head to look he was looking straight ahead. "You can get a shower when we get to the house, I have some old clothes left from…." her voice trailed off, and then started again "I have some clothes that should fit you, I'll make you dinner" You will be cleaned up, fed and warm and then we can decide what to do… okay?"
"It is not necessary" He said, in a flat tone "but thank you".
" Castiel, It is necessary" She said with a slightly stern tone, then softer as she slowed down and then stopped just before her drive way. "You are cold, wet and I am sure you are hungry. I would not leave you or anyone else to just wander around in that condition, please let me do this"
He looked at her, She was right, he was all of those things and more. His head was starting to hurt again, even with the heat, his feet were numb still, and for the first time ever he was tired. His face softened "okay" he said. " she smiled at him and pulled in her drive way"
Maggie's driveway was actually a quarter mile of dirt road surrounded by trees. Castiel loved places where he could see his fathers work undisturbed and this was one of them. He saw Maggie/s house as they approached it. It was actually a timber sided cabin with a single large peak that housed her bedroom and bath, the bottom floor was as she described, not huge but, big enough. There were several cords of firewood lining the front porch and a few more logs in the side yard waiting to be cut. A nice porch swing and two large and well worn wicker chairs.
Maggie stopped in front of the cabin and got out, she opened the back, took out the two bags from Morningstar's and motioned to Castiel to follow. She stopped on the front porch to take off her muddy boots and he did the same, sliding out of his wet, muddy shoes. She opened the door, inside it was warm. Maggie sat her bags on the floor just inside the door and looked up at Castiel. "I'll show you where the shower is and find you some clothes."
"Thank you" he nodded and looked around as he followed her, his head moving back and forth.
He followed her to a door at the far end of her living room. She opened the door to a room containing a double bed, small stand with a lamp, a larger dresser and a wing back reading chair. "This is the spare room, there is a bath and shower in there" she said pointing to a door in the lower corner of the room.
"Let me find you some soap and towels" she said, and she left the room returning a few moments later with towels, soap, toothpaste, a new toothbrush and other items, "this should get you started, there is shampoo in the shower."
He took the items from her not quite sure what to do with them all. "I'll go find you some clothes and figure something out for dinner" she said, as she was leaving the room, "oh" she said turning around " There is a big old bath tub in there if you would rather a soak, it might warm you up better… Take your time, I'll lay some clothes on the bed while you are in the shower." and she was gone
Castiel looked around the room, it felt very comfortable. As an angel he never had much use for the contents inside the room or the items she had piled in his arms, but he was becoming more human by the minute and he was grateful for her kindness. He made a mental note to act like it from now on.
As he headed for the door Maggie said was the bath and shower he thought he heard a noise, a small shuffling sound and a tiny giggle. He turned all around and saw nothing, tilting his head he listened but still nothing. "Wonderful, now I am hearing things too" He sighed and headed for the bath.
*
Maggie entered her bedroom, she needed to find Castile some dry clothes. She knew they were in a cedar chest pushed far back in her closet. That's is were all of the things she didn't want to see anymore were. She didn't want to open that chest. Not today. What choice did she have there was a cold wet man in her spare room and she didn't think he would look good in her PJ's. she sighed, "Just do it Maggie" she whispered to herself.
Maggie opened the large closet door and pulled on the overhead light she walked to the back of the closet and cleared a few loose items off of the top of the chest. She stood looking down on it a few moments. She could feel her chest go tight and the lump forming in her throat. Closing her eyes she knelt down and put her hands on the lid. "okay on three" she said to herself, "in and out, open the lid, grab the clothes, close the lid, in and out, don't even look" she told herself. Counting to three she opened the lid, but she screwed up, she looked. Old photos of people who were now ghosts stared up at her, she ran her hands across them, and she could feel the tears begin to roll, the dark haired man and boy in the pictures, smiling laughing, she was frozen in time again just staring down at them.
Another deep breath, "In and out, remember" she told herself, Pushing them aside she began to feel for the jeans and shirts she knew they were near the bottom but her breaths were coming shorter now and she was sobbing, she pulled her arms out and rested her face on her hands leaning against the chest. Closing her eyes trying to get a hold of herself ,it was then that she felt it, the tiny hand against her face, stroking her cheek. She lifted her head but there was nothing, no one there. Wiping her eyes she dug in the chest once more this time pulling out one, then two stacks of clothing. Lying them on the floor she stood up and closed the chest, as she did she whispered, " I miss you both".
*
Castiel stood staring at both the shower and the tub. He had never gotten a shower or a "soak" as Maggie called it, he never needed to before. That was no longer the case looking in the mirror no one needed to bathe more than he did. Deciding on the tub as it looked less complicated, he played with the faucets until he had what he felt was acceptably warm water coming out and began to undress.
*
Maggie went into her bathroom to remove her muddy damp clothes. She needed to splash her face, it was red and welted from crying. "What were you thinking bringing this strange man home" she said to herself. "Honestly Maggie" Still scolding herself. "For all you know he is an ax murderer or something" looking in the mirror she knew she didn't care if he was. Her visit to the cedar chest reminded her all to well that she had nothing left lose. She stripped off her muddy clothes pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and a t-shirt and looked in the mirror splashed water on her face and said "So Mr. Castiel if you have a chainsaw in your pocket bring it on" . In her gut she knew he was harmless, confused, yes, dangerous, no. She picked up the stack of clothes and headed for the stairs.
*
Castiel rather enjoyed his bath he spent a great deal of time experimenting with the soap and shampoo. It gave him time to close is eyes and rest, he also spent sometime thinking about Maggie. When he had his powers he could have just looked in her eyes and known her life's story, it wasn't that easy now but, there was still much in her eyes to be seen he would just have to find another way to learn what that was. When he got out and dried, he brushed his teeth, he thought he did a pretty good job of that too. As enjoyable as it all was he felt that humans had too many maintenance issues. "Better get used to it all, at least for now" he thought to himself looking in the mirror. Maggie had brought him a razor too. It was pink and very sharp looking, He looked at it, then at his face in the mirror. He had enough new aches and pains for one day, he decided he would try the razor out tomorrow.
When he went out into the bedroom as promised there were two stacks of clothes on the bed. He picked through them choosing a sweat shirt, jeans and a heavy pair of socks. There was also a pair of work boots on the floor, he ignored those for now. After he dressed he went back into the bathroom to comb his hair, after he combed he decided he liked the messy look better and ran his fingers through to mess it just a bit. "maintenance" he thought, and went out to find Maggie to thank her again.
Castiel stepped out of the bedroom into the living room, The whole place smelled like food. He had noticed smells before but not like he did now. The kitchen was just on the other side separated by a half wall. He could see Maggie there at the stove. Looking in the oven then stirring something on the stove. He walked to the kitchen area and decided he should announce himself rather than startle her again, "Maggie". he said.
"Yes?" she said turning to face him then, "Wow you clean up good!" she laughed.
Castiel smiled. " I wanted to thank you again you have been very kind to me."
Maggie smiled " You looked like you could use a friend, and I spend too much time alone anyway, no worries okay?"
Castiel smiled again "Okay" He looked into her eyes hoping for some clue, they were a little red but he could not read what he saw there.
"I'm not sure I would be much help but if you tell me what to do I will help with dinner" he offered, as he moved toward her and the stove.
She looked up at him. "Thank you, but I have just made you a cup of tea and I think you should sit and drink it. You've had a long day."
She set his tea on the table and he sat in the chair next to where he placed it. "I see the clothes fit pretty well, I thought they would" She said as she lifted the lid on a large pot.
"Yes" Castiel said "almost a perfect fit."
"Good" Maggie answered, "I found a pair of boots too, I left them in your room maybe they will fit just as well"
"I saw them but, I didn't try them, should I now?" He asked.
"No silly' Maggie said with a chuckle "tomorrow will be fine"
"May I asked where they came from?" he wondered.
Maggie bit the inside of her cheek then answered "My Husband"
Castiel saw no sign that anyone besides Maggie lived in the cabin and he was taken back a bit. "Oh will he be home soon?" he questioned.
Maggie heard the question and struggled with herself to answer it without a new breakdown, "No" she said "He won't be back".
Castiel realized her answer seemed almost final. He was curious and wanted to know more but, resisted the urge to ask. He may not have his angel mojo but, he could still sense this was not something the woman like speak of. He left it go and decided to try to change the subject. He sipped his tea a little while.
"Are you sure I can't help with something" he asked
"Almost done" she answered
Maggie got bowls and plates down from cabinet and grabbed and handful of silverware out of the drawer and set them on the table. She took the bowls to the stove and ladled soup into them and set them on the table. "Careful its hot" she warned. Pulling a tray of biscuits out of the oven she dumped them into a lined basket and set them on the table as well. Then went to the fridge to get butter and jelly.
Castiel smelled everything and again smiled. He had eaten before out of curiosity, but never out of hunger. "It's nothing fancy" Maggie laughed seeing the look on his face. "Chicken noodle soup and biscuits" Castiel thought it was wonderful.
Castiel ate his soup and then 3 more bowls, Maggie didn't count how many biscuits he consumed but it was more than 6. She was sure he would explode, she was almost afraid to tell him there was pie, fearing it may put him over the edge! He had 2 slices.
After dinner Castiel jumped up to clear the table, This he had seen Sam and Dean do on the rare occasion and felt sure he could handle it.
"I can do that" Maggie said.
"No let me please, you've done so much already" he insisted.
"Okay" she smiled "let me know if you need anything, I'm going to round up the laundry"
Maggie went upstairs to get her muddy clothes from earlier and then came down to the spare room, to find the rest of Castiel's muddy suit. She found it mud and all folded neatly on the lid of the hamper, she snickered "Mr. Neat I see." she turned around to see where he had left his used towels when she saw it. There on the stand next to the tub. The rubber duck. She stood and looked at it , the hair on the back of her neck was raised. "Its just a toy Maggie" she told herself "It seems to move all over this house of it's own will, but it is only a toy" she said scolding her self further. She picked it up held it in her hand and saw the towel hanging over the shower door, she pulled it off and went to the kitchen.
*
Castiel found he didn't mind washing dishes, he wasn't sure what all the complaining he heard of about this chore was about. As he washed and dried, he thought about calling Dean. Of all of his new emotions and sensations he thought he liked Guilt the least. He had to admit he was sure Dean and Sam and probably even Bobby would be worried by now. They were dealing with a great deal and he shouldn't have let himself become another concern. However, he didn't want Dean running to save the day. This was his predicament and he had to take care of it. He would talk to Maggie in the morning about making the call. Now, what exactly was he going to say to Dean to keep him from coming here was something he would have to put more thought into.
Castiel had finished washing and drying the few dishes and was now cleaning the counters. "Yep, he's a neat freak" Maggie thought watching him.
"Castiel you don't have to do all that" she said out loud.
"It's okay, I kind of like it" he said
"Can I ask you something?" Maggie asked watching him scrub.
"Of course" he said.
"Did you see this in the bath while you were in there?" she asked holding up the duck toy.
"Yes it was in the middle of the tub, I sat it on the stand. Is that okay?" he said.
"Yes, its fine, I just didn't know it was there. I was surprised to find it." she said hoping she didn't sound like a loon worried about a bath toy.
"okay" he said, and started to clean the stove top and work out in his head what to say to the boys when he called.
Maggie took the duck and the laundry to the laundry room. She tossed the clothes into a basket and took the duck back to the basket of towels where she had put it this morning. She lifted the towel it was under hoping it would still be there, but it was not. "Of course it's not." her mind said, She placed the duck back into the basket of towels and again placed a towel on top. "stay!" she said under her breath.
Maggie came out of the Laundry room to find Castiel wiping down her refrigerator and microwave. She leaned against the doorway and watched him for a few moments. He truly was handsome and she didn't think that just because he had cleaned nearly her entire kitchen. What was it about him? It was more than just his appearance. Almost an aura, and what is he doing here? What happened to him? So many questions
When Castiel went back to the sink and rewet the cloth and began wiping down her cabinets she new she had to stop him. "Okay it's time for a neat freak intervention" she said to herself.
"Okay Big boy" she laughed taking the cloth from him. "I'm pretty sure its sterile now" she said laughing harder.
"Sorry" Castiel said with a bit of a blush "I was sort of lost in thought and working."
"It's Okay" she said, as she put her hand on his back and patted steering him toward the living room.
Castiel smiled, He found he liked the feeling of her hand on his back very much, this was a new sensation that he could get used to.
The next hour or so was spent on the couch talking about the day, Maggie apologized again for laughing in the Jeep and Castiel had to admit it was funny and her description of him as dripping and gunk covered was amusing. Soon Maggie could see Castiels eyes were getting heavy.
"You look like you should sleep" Maggie said, Castiel was amused, he had never slept before.
" You might be right" He said, As Maggie stood up he did as well. Maggie locked the doors and turned out the lights and headed toward the steps that were right next to the room that was for now Castiel's. He stopped at his door and she at the stairs,.
He turned to her and said "Good night and thank you again."
Maggie standing on the bottom step facing him took his hand and looked in his eyes "I want to thank you too" She said, he tilted his head and looked confused as ever.
"Today should have been a very hard day for me, but meeting you has taken much of the sting from it." She leaned over kissed his cheek quick and light "But please don't ask me to explain at least not yet." with that she turned and went up the stairs.
Castiel stood and watched her go, then raised his hand to his cheek she had kissed. This felt even better than laughing!
Just before he turned to go into is room the heard the same shuffling noise he had heard before his bath and then once again a squealing giggle. He poked his head into his room at first he saw nothing, and then there on the pillow on the bed he saw it. The rubber duck.
He walked over to it confused, Hadn't Maggie taken this out of his room. He was sure she took it to the laundry room with her, he didn't see her go back to his room after that. He picked the duck up and sat it on the table next to the bed, switched the light off, lay down, and thought about how his cheek felt until he fell asleep.
*
"Ok, I can't take this anymore" Dean said jumping up out of the cheap motel bed.
Sam looks up from the laptop screen to his brother. "What? Where you going?"
"To look for Cass where else?" Dean says grabbing his jacket.
" Really? Sam says, only half serious "You really think you're gonna find him here, I mean we're only about 400 miles from where we last saw him and I haven't seen a hint of him here. Unless of course, he is masquerading as the werewolf we are supposed to be looking for."
"Werewolf" Dean says cocking his eyebrow "More like homeless German Sheppard"
"That's kind of my point Dean" Sam replies, "There is nothing happening in this town, No Demons or Angels, not even a werewolf, just a stray dog with a huge appetite… Cass isn't here Dean."
Dean sighs "Yeah, yeah, I know all that but, I just can't sit and wait any longer." He says as he walks out the door.
Sam watches his brother leave their room and close the door behind him. He understands Dean's frustration. He wished Cass would call or "pop" in too. If he is in trouble they need to help him and if he isn't they need to focus their energy on stopping Lucifer not playing hide and seek with Cass. He just wished he knew which it was.
One hour later
Sam sat at the cheap table of their motel room studying the laptop screen when his cell rang. "Dean" Flashed on the screen.
Sam answered "Hey"
"Hey Sam, heard anything?" Dean asked.
"Ummm, about what?" Sam asked confused.
"Cass, what else??" Has he called you?" Dean asked frustrated.
" Dean where are you?" Sam asked sounding more than a little irked by his older brother.
"In the parking lot" Dean admitted "
Sam went to the window of the room and pulled the curtain aside, sure enough there sat the impala, his brother inside, Dean lookup up into the rear view mirror, he saw Sam looking out the window at the car and offered a single wave. Sam caught himself waving back Fighting the urge to scream he said "Dean get in here".
When Dean came back to the door Sam picked up his phone. "Who you calling?" Dean asked, as he walk in the room and sat on the bed.
"Bobby" Sam answered "You're acting too crazy, we really need to get serious and find Cass"
