CHAPTER TWO
Ruby's steady litany of complaints about having to share the motel room with an angel abruptly broke off into a snarled, gasping hiss.
"Ruby?" Castiel unfolded himself from his bed and walked over to the small bathroom's sink alcove.
He saw her gripping the vanity lip with both hands, trembling, her eyes solid black.
"Hey." He met her eyes in the mirror. Raising his hands slowly, so she could see, he lay them gently on her quaking shoulders. "hat is it?"
"Like...before..." she ground out. Then she gasped, her eyes flaring back to human blue. "...it's done."
"What was that?" Castiel asked, his hands supporting her as she slowly released the vanity. "Before?"
She nodded, panting hard. "Before. B-Back in Oak Harbor. With Wrath."
"Wrath?" Castiel gasped, turning her to face him. "You mean a Deadly is nearby?"
Ruby nodded grimly. "But it's not like Wrath. This one is being careful – using its power in small bursts. Wrath's were cranked up all the way all the time."
Releasing her, Castiel spun toward the beds, swearing.
Ruby blinked. "Did you just-"
"Unimportant," Castiel growled, fishing his cell phone out of the pocket of his discarded coat and dialing. "Sam? Ruby and I are coming over. We have a... situation." He frowned. "Great," he growled, hanging up and dialing again. "Dean!" he barked. "Get back to the room, now! We've got a situation!" He hung up and shoved his cell into his jeans, grumbling about Winchesters and bars and crap timing.
For her part, Ruby just gaped at him. "Awful human," she said slowly, "for an angel. You lose your temper, you cuss..."
"I'm pretty unique," Castiel said with a genuinely amused smile, not wanting to reveal Jimmy's existence quite yet.
"No kiddin'," Ruby scowled at him as they left their room and knocked on Sam's door.
SPN MILEAGE SPN
Half an hour later Ruby walked into the bar and right over to Dean's stool. "Hey, handsome," she purred.
Dean actually doubletook, slanted eyes widening as he realised who it was. "Hey yourself," he replied. "What's up? Needed a break from your roommate?"
"He called you a bit ago-" She broke off, smiling slightly at Sue, who had walked over. "Nothing, thanks. Just here to collect my friend."
Sue shrugged. "Free country, honey. Man can stay long as he likes."
Ruby's eyes narrowed. "We have a... family emergency."
Dean straightened. "What? What happened?"
"Tell you outside," Ruby said, sliding off the stool. Dean followed her out, and she went on, "You do realise at least two people in there were demons, right?"
"No," Dean said, pulling his phone from his pocket and turning it on. "One missed call – that from Cas?"
Ruby just sighed. "Leave the damn phone on, next time! And before you stroke out on me, Sam's fine. Castiel is with him."
"Then what's-"
"A Deadly's in town."
Dean stopped in his tracks. "...you're sure."
"We're sure."
He shook his head, swearing heartily.