Title - Cold And Broken Hallelujah
Chapter title - Ginger Spice Was My Favorite
Author - OblivionsGarden
Genre - Hurt/Comfort/Romance
Disclaimer - I do not own Supernatural in anyway shape or form. I only own the plot points surrounding my oc's, not recognized from thebooks or films. For this chapter I own, Rachel.
A/n - Please read and review, I'd greatly appreciate it. Hope you enjoy, xx
Word Count - 5463
Rachel had been planning on returning to her usual hunting lifestyle, but a call from her uncle changed her mind. He told her about a case, one he didn't want her alone on this time. Not because she couldn't handle it but because he wasn't exactly sure what was happening other than twenty somethings turning up as old guy corpses. She mentioned the case to the Winchesters who were more than willing to lend a hand.
Once they arrived in town they headed straight for the hospital, back in their monkey suits and parading as the CDC. One old man corpse for a young guy and they were completely certain this was a case. Then they found Cliff, supposedly missing but actually living a young guys life. All thanks to a poker game, obviously. Rae immediately called her Uncle to inform him of the new info. He insisted they split up and find the guy playing poker with the old geezers.
"Who was that?" Dean asked when Rachel dropped her phone into her pocket.
"My uncle that told be about the case. Grumpy old dude but he knows a heck of alot about hunting."
"We know a guy like that." Dean smiled warmly.
"Yeah, my uncle, I'm guessing."
"What do you mean?" Sam frowned, catching up to the pair.
Rae sighed. It had been years but John Winchester had been right. No use hiding who you really are around hunters. Especially the boys.
"My full name is Rachel Singer."
"Singer?"
"Yeah. As in Bobby Singer is my uncle. That's how I knew your dad."
"You never said." Dean frowned. "They never said."
"I made them promise not to. I kinda wanted a normal life y'know?" Sam made a small noise of understanding. "I knew what Uncle B did but I didn't want that to be me. So I got him and John to keep everything a secret when I realised who you two were. That night he drove me home after the spirit in camp attacked me he said it was pointless me being so secretive. Said I'd never have a normal life... Guess he was right."
"I didn't even know Bobby had any other family."
"My dad, his brother, Jimmy... Died of a heart attack when I was thirteen so I moved to Sioux Falls." Rae shrugged, seemingly indifferent to her fathers death.
"What about your mum?" Sam asked, his sympathetic tone he used with mourning people on cases coming out.
"Never knew her. She left before I was old enough to remember her."
"Sorry."
Rae shrugged uncomfortably. She wasn't an emotionally open person. She coughed once, forced a smile and climbed into the impala the brothers following suit.
"I'll tell you one thing though." The brothers turned to her. "As much as I love this car, I miss my baby." She thought fondly of the black Harley parked at the motel. It was old and beaten when she bought it second hand but Bobby owning an auto shop, fixed it up, good as new.
"Your baby?" Dean scoffed. "The death trap at the motel?" Dean much preferred four wheels to two. Just the same as he preferred land to air travel.
"My bike is not a death trap Winchester. At least I don't have to listen to mullet rock." Sam chuckled as their bickering continued.
The three of them split up, each heading into a different bar. When Rae came up with absolute jack at her place she headed back to the motel. She stopped off to grab a six pack and a bag of chips on her way. Whilst she was sat on the edge of her bed, pulling off her boots, her Uncle came wheeling through the door.
"Uncle B?" She dropped her boots to the floor and stood, moving closer to the centre of the room. "What are you doing here? And who the hell is that?" She tensed, spotting the elderly stranger following Bobby inside.
"It's me." He said in a familiar tone. Rae tilted her head like a confused puppy.
"Wh- Dean?" Her face dropped. "Oh my god. You actually played!"
"Blame your uncle."
"What?" Rae turned to the man in question. "Uncle Bobby, please for the love of god tell me he's joking." Bobby didn't answer. "You played against a witch? Are you an idiot?" Again, Bobby stayed silent.
When Sam returned with burgers for the boys and a bag of fries for Rae, Rae remained silent. She was fuming that Bobby had even considered playing let alone actually gone through with it. And even though Dean was arguing for her side, she was still annoyed he'd played too. Common sense says don't play against a witch.
When Dean reluctantly placed his burger on the table, after his 'heart attack' Rae happily took the food, shooting a smug smirk his way as she took a bite.
"All right, let's find out where he stashes his chips." Sam finalized their sort of plan as Dean stood up.
"And steal me fifty. Benjamin Button me back into burger shape. What do you think?" As he spoke the front of his dressing gown drifted open, giving Rae an eyeful of his old man junk. She grimaced, pushing the remainders of the burger away in disgust.
"I think you ought to put some clothes on."
"Well, I'm out." Bobby stared angrily at the 'Elevator out of order' card tacked to the wall.
"I'll wait down here with Uncle B." Rae said when Sam and Dean started up the steps. "Just incase, y'know." She shrugged, sitting down a few steps up.
Once the boys were well out of ear shot she leant forward, resting her elbows on her knees. She glanced at Bobby through the hand rail.
"You gonna tell me why you did it?" She tried to sound indifferent but her voice came out too soft. Too caring.
"Why I played?"
"Yeah. You never had a problem being old before."
"Old I can live with. But..." Bobby broke off, glancing down at his lame legs.
"Being in a wheelchair? After all the crap you've been through, that's your breaking point?" Rae scoffed.
"I'm not having this conversation with you."
"Whatever." Rae shook her head, standing up. "I'll wait outside."
"Why?"
"Cause you piss me off that's why." She didn't even turn her head as she left.
Outside the apartment building Rae sighed, kicking against the stones on the ground. She tried to understand it from Bobby's point of view but she just couldn't. She couldn't see it as anything other than him giving up which she couldn't face. If he gave up then what on earth was she supposed to do?
As they were walking through the motel parking lot, Sam stopped, insisting he should play. Until Bobby cut over him.
"No, Bobby. You don't have enough years in the bank." Dean was refusing to let him play and Rae was thankful for that. She and Bobby hadn't spoken since back at the apartment building.
"I got enough."
"No, you'll die if you lose, Bobby."
"So what if I do, huh? What exactly am I living for, huh? The damn apocalypse? Watching men die bloody while I sit in this chair, can't take a step to help 'em?" Rae clenched her fists inside her jacket pockets.
"Bobby."
"No, no. It's the facts. I'm old...and broke down...and I can't..." Bobby took a moment, taking a breath. "I ain't a hunter no more. I'm useless. And if I wasn't such a coward, I'd have stuck a gun in my mouth day I got home from the hospital." Rae's jaw flexed as she turned her head to look away.
"Bobby, you are not playing again. I'm not letting you do that. There's another way out of this. There's got to be. And I'm gonna find it." Sam left, heading for the impala, Dean following.
Once again, Rae waited until they were out of ear shot to talk.
"You're a selfish bastard you know that?"
Bobby stalled, not expecting the outburst. Sure he and Rae had argued before but they had never said anything like that. "Excuse me?"
"You sit there in your damn chair and you say that you've thought about killing yourself because of it?" Rae was pacing, trying to work her anger out calmly without screaming at him. "Do you have any idea how many times I've thought about turning a gun on myself? After the amount of innocent people I have seen die, people I couldn't save. Do you know why I never did? Because I have a great Uncle who had been keeping me safe since I was fourteen years old with nowhere else to go."
She remembered the day she'd turned up on his doorstep. Bobby didn't even know he had a niece. But after a warm cup of tea and a long talk about her dad, he took her in. He gave her her own room, made sure she was comfortable and got her started at a local school. It's alot to do for someone you didn't know existed.
"And as far as I knew we were keeping each other going. At least that's what you told me. Remember? On my eighteenth birthday you said that I might not have been your kid but I'd always be yours anyway. Said you'd always be there for me." She was crying now, something she hated doing. Refused to do, especially in front of people. Swiping angrily at her damp cheeks with her sleeve she continued. "But I guess since you're so hard done by now that doesn't mean much to you anymore."
"Rachel-"
"Whatever." Rae left, heading for her bike instead of the waiting impala.
She drove for hours. She did it whenever she got upset or angry. Headed for her bike and just drove. She'd make a u-turn eventually and go back to the motel, but not yet. Even as a kid, she'd get upset and run. Run for as long as she could before she couldn't physically move anymore. Then she'd collapse on the ground and watch the world pass her by for an hour or two, then she'd climb to her feet and run back home.
She never knew why she did it. Whether it was the freedom of the speed or the action making her concentrate on nothing but what she was doing rather than what had upset her in the first place.
She didn't know where she was when she finally stopped. She parked her bike and sat down on the side of the road. She tried again, to imagine how Bobby felt. How would she feel if she got to his age and was suddenly taken out of the game? She knew exactly how she'd feel. Suicidal. It's one thing to get old and not be as fit as you once were but to be physically unable to move, she'd hate it. Would she play poker against a witch though?
Sighing she watched a small family walking down the street opposite. The son, maybe ten or eleven years old was hoping around his parents excitedly. She smiled a little remembering when she lived at Bobby's permanently.
It had taken him a while to get used to a teenage girl in his house but part of Rae always thought it was what he'd wanted. When she was older he had told her about his wife, Karen. About how she was possessed and he had to kill her. Karen had wanted children but he had said no.
"Why'd you say no?" Rae was sixteen now, curled up on Bobby's sofa whilst he was sitting at his desk.
"I always thought... I break everything I touch." Bobby's voice was quiet, regretful.
"What do you mean? Uncle Bobby?" Rae pulled back the blanket covering her legs and moved over to Bobby. She knelt down, placing her small hand over his calloused one. "You don't break anything. Look at me... I'm not broken am I? I was when I got here, I was a bloody wreck. Now I'm strong and I'm smart. All thanks to you."
"You're a tough little kid, I'll give you that." Bobby mouth twitched up at the corners. "She got possessed three days after than so I never got the chance anyway."
Once she couldn't find a solid reason to stay angry at Bobby, she climbed back on her bike and headed for the motel. She knew she'd be given hell for taking off mid-case but she had to. She got back some time in the early a.m. She had been trying to sneak in but the boys were already up and packing everything away. Dean turned on her when she entered. She barely had chance to realise he was young again.
"Where the hell did you run off to?" His tone was accusing and she knew something had happened.
"Dean I-"
"I almost died! It was only sheer luck that Sam won the game."
"He won?" Rae frowned. "Must've been luck."
"Hey!" Sam scoffed as he passed for the door. "I'll see you guys later."
"Where are you going?" Dean asked.
"Uh..mm nowhere." Everyone stared at him. "Booster shot. Don't say it."
Rae chuckled as he left. "Look, I'm sorry. I needed to clear my head, ok?"
"Don't do it again."
"Yes boss." Rae mock saluted him as he grabbed a bag and headed to load up the car.
Rae turned to Bobby who hadn't said a word yet. She sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets.
"I shouldn't have said what I did."
"Which time?"
"I'm sorry, ok? I mean, I can't pretend to understand how you feel but listening to Dean bitch and moan... Can't be fun. I'm not going to feel sorry for you though, but-"
"I'm sorry too." Bobby cut over Rae. "And for the record, I wouldn't leave you behind. You and the boys are the reasons I'm still kicking and you know it."
Rae nodded. "You're not old and broken down, Uncle B."
"Ok. Good talk." Bobby tried to roll for the door but Rae blocked his path.
"Just listen, ok. I don't do this often so take it." She sat down at the foot of the bed. "Just cause you can't walk anymore doesn't mean you aren't a hunter. Whatever happens, you're the only family I have. And I cannot do this without you. Nor can Sam and Dean. So if you ever think about doing something so stupid again, I'll kick your idiot arse from here to oblivion."
Bobby smiled at the girl. The girl he'd been raising as his own for almost six years. "Ok."
"Good."
"Thanks. Now, we done feeling our feelings? Cause I'd like to get out of this room before I start growing lady parts."
"Yeah, we're done grumpy."
Rae stood with a smile, grabbing her bag as Dean popped his head around the door.
"Hey, Iron sides, Scary Spice, you ready or what?"
"Oh that ones sticking, huh?"
"Scary Spice?" Rae frowned.
"British."
"That the best you can come up with. The Spice Girls? Besides, Ginger Spice was my favorite."
Dean nodded in approval. "Little union jack dress. I can see why."
"Yeah, that was definitely why." Rae shook her head, following Bobby out of the door.
Rae had returned to her usual life, hunting alone when Sam and Dean called. They had a case in Wellington, Ohio. They weren't sure what it was and thought the more help the better. That was what Dean had said. Sam had said they enjoyed having her around.
When she arrived to their motel room they told her about a woman named Kathy who's husband had had his head ripped off. A supposed bear attack. Except Kathy swore she saw the hulk. Sam had seen the house and saw the eight foot hole where the door used to be.
"Anything else?" She shed her jacket and sat down on the bed.
"Well, it turns out that Bill Randolph had quite the temper. He's got two counts of spousal battery, bar brawls, and court-ordered anger management sessions. You might say you wouldn't like him when he's angry." Dean stared at the laptop in front of him as Rae frowned.
"So a hothead getting killed by TV's greatest hothead. Kinda sounds like just desserts, doesn't it?" Dean snorted at Sam's remark.
"Maybe a justice giving uh...Something?" Rae was at a loss. This was weird.
"It's all starting to make sense." Sam ignored her.
"How is it starting to make sense?"
"Well, I found something else at the crime scene." Sam pulled a handful of wrappers from his pocket.
"Sweet wrappers." Rae took one from the pile. "Is that supposed to mean something?"
"Candy wrappers." Dean corrected. "Just desserts, sweet tooth, screwing with people before you kill 'em... We're dealing with the Trickster, aren't we?"
"Sure looks like it?"
"Trickster?" Rae frowned. "Fill me in."
"Pagan god. Loki."
"Right... Causes mayhem and mischief?"
"Right. Can make things appear out of thin air and vanish just as quick. Things like The Hulk." Sam raised his eyebrows. "Has a sweet tooth too."
"Well good." Dean stood now. "I've wanted to gank that mother since Mystery spot."
"What's mystery spot?"
"Son of bitch made Sammy go through a hundred Tuesdays."
"Like groundhog day?"
"Yeah but everyday he watched me die."
"He- Why would a trickster kill you over and over? For the giggles?"
"Pretty much. Dean..." Sam turned to his brother. "Are you sure?"
After the dispatch call the trio headed to the old paper mill, stakes sharpened and ready. Realizing no one else was there, they were on full alert. So when they walked through the door and were suddenly in doctors outfits in a hospital, they were more than a little taken aback.
"What the hell?" Sam and Dean looked down at their white coats.
"Hey." Rae pouted at the scrubs she was wearing. "Why are you two idiots doctors and I'm a nurse?"
"With this trickster be thankful you're not in a porn style nurse outfit." Sam whispered as a blonde doctor passed them by.
Soon Dean was identifying everyone around them as characters from Dr Sexy MD. Something he apparently wasn't a fan of. When Dr Sexy himself came walking down the corridor Dean was practically fangirling.
"Doctor."
Dean looked down hiding his smile. "Doctor."
Sam nodded in greeting until Dean elbowed him. "Doctor."
"Nurse."
Rae ground her teeth together. "Doctor."
"You want to give me one good reason why you defied my direct order to do the experimental face transplant on Mrs. Biehl?" Dr Sexy asked of Dean.
Dean's expression changed from admiration to confusion. "One reason? Sure." He glanced down, seemingly noticing something before slamming the doctor into the wall.
Rae's eyes widened as she glanced around to see if anyone was watching. But everyone was still carrying on as normal.
"You're not Dr. Sexy." Dean accused.
"You're crazy."
"Really? Because I swore part of what makes Dr. Sexy sexy is the fact that he wears cowboy boots. Not tennis shoes."
"Yeah. You're not a fan." Sam scoffed.
"It's a guilty pleasure."
"Call security." The doctor called over Dean's shoulder.
"Yeah, go ahead, pal. See, we know who you are."
Just as two doctors and a security guard were approaching, everyone around them froze. Rae turned back to face Dean and the doctor. The doctor started to change, gradually getting shorter, his hair changing from a dark brown to a lighter, more honey like shade and his eyes became almost golden.
"You guys are getting better!" The man grinned and turned to look at Rae was was gawping. "And a friend too. Hello, Rachel. Long time."
"What? How do you know my name?"
"Three years ago, your unsolved case. The super heroes."
"That was you?"
"That was me."
She felt like she should be mad at him. He was a trickster after all and he had made her think she was going insane. She was seventeen when she was working a case. Everyone was convinced superheroes had come to Nashville to save them from evil. Then she saw a tall, amazon like woman in a wonder woman -esque outfit and believed it too. Thinking back on it now, she had to laugh.
"Finally, someone gets my humor." Sam and Dean glared at Rachel.
"What?" She shrugged. "Dude, superheroes! It's funny."
Dean turned back to the trickster. "Get us the hell out of here."
"Or what?" He grabbed Dean's arm, twisting it around. "Don't say you have wooden stakes, big guy."
"That was you on the police scanner, right? This is a trick."
"Hello? Trickster. Come on! I heard you two yahoos were in town. How could I resist?"
"Where the hell are we?"
"Like it? It's all homemade. My own sets..." He knocked on a window and then gestured to a few of the frozen doctors. "My own actors...call it my own little idiot box."
"How do we get out?"
"That, my friend, is the sixty-four-dollar question."
"Whatever. We just, we need to talk to you. We need your help."
"Hm, let me guess. You two mutton heads broke the world, and you want me to sweep up your mess." Rae smiled a little. He was a dick, but he was good.
"Please. Just five minutes. Hear us out."
"Sure. Tell you what. Survive the next twenty-four hours, we'll talk."
"Survive what?"
"The game!"
"What game?"
"You're in it."
"How do we play?"
"You're playing it."
"What are the rules?"
The Trickster raised his eyebrows, grinned, and vanished in a burst of television static. Everything around them returned to action as though nothing had happened.
"Oh, son of a bitch."
"Rae, did you have to be so pally?" Sam stared at the girl in annoyance.
"What?" She raised her hands in defense. "Sorry... Jeez..."
After watching Sam fix the bullet wound in Dean's back, Rae suddenly found herself in some sort of game show. She was wearing a short red skirt with matching boob tube and thigh high white boots. Her eyes widened as she tried in vain to cover herself up when she noticed the audience watching her.
"I take it back, I'm going to kill that damn trickster." She muttered.
Sam and Dean's feet were being held in place on two platforms were there were levers aimed right at their crotches. A Japanese man entered through a cloud of smoke in a shiny silver suit.
"Let's play Nutcracker!"
He asked Sam a question speaking in Japanese. Sam looked around confused.
"Uh, I, I don't, I don't understand Japanese." The host merely repeated himself. "Is he screwing with me? I, I, I can't speak Japanese." Sam looked to Rae. "Hey, what's he saying?"
"It's Bobby that speaks the lingo not me. I haven't got a clue."
As the clock reached zero the host spoke again. "The answer is... Ruby!" He turned to Sam. "I'm sorry, Sam Winchester."
"Sorry? Sir? For what?"
The lever on Sam's platform swung up, the ball hitting him in the crotch. He let out a pained groan as Dean looked horrified. Once again, Rae found herself smirking.
Suddenly Rae was holding a bag of chips. The host moved towards her, smiling and talking in Japanese.
"I... What? I don't know what you're saying." Rae tried to stop the man from talking but failed miserably. He gestured to the chips and Rae looked at the small English translation on the packet. "Shrimp flavored chips? That's disgusting."
It seemed like weeks had passed when they were moved to a sitcom. Rae, whilst wishing things would go back to normal, wasn't nearly as annoyed as the boys. Sam said it was sick that she had the same sense of humor as a trickster. She said they'd just lost their sense of humor over the years. It was during the sitcom that Castiel re-appeared. Rae still didn't entirely like the angel, but for the boys' sake, was tolerating his somber ways.
"You okay?"
"I don't have much time." He answered Dean, moving into the room.
"What happened?"
"I got out."
"From where?"
"Listen to me. Something is not right. This thing is much more powerful than it should be."
"What thing? The Trickster?"
"If it is a trickster."
"What do you mean?"
Cas was flung backwards into the wall as the Trickster walked through the door. She couldn't explain it but when he came in, Rae felt safe, protected even. Bizarre given what he was.
"Hello!" Applause came from the audience. "Thank you. Thank you, ladies."
Cas turned, duct tape covering his mouth, as he glared at the Trickster.
"Hi, Castiel!" He gestured to Cas who dissapeared in a burst of television static, just as he had from Dr Sexy,
"You know him?" Sam tilted his head.
"Where did you just send him?"
"Relax, he'll live. ...Maybe." A laugh track sounded and Rae rolled her eyes.
"All right, you know what? I am done with the monkey dance, okay? We get it."
"Yeah? Get what, hotshot?"
"Playing our roles, right? That's your game?"
"That's half the game."
"What's the other half?"
"Play your roles out there." Rae answered for him, suddenly understanding. It was obvious really.
"That's my line, sweet cheeks."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, you know. Sam starring as Lucifer. Dean starring as Michael. Your celebrity death match. Play your roles."
"You want us to say yes to those sons of bitches?"
"Hells yeah. Let's light this candle!"
"We do that, the world will end."
"Yeah? And whose fault is that? Who popped Lucifer out of the box? Hm? Look, it's started. You started it. It can't be stopped. So let's get it over with!"
"Heaven or hell, which side you on?" Dean asked.
"I'm not on either side."
"Yeah, right. You're grabbing ankle for Michael or Lucifer. Which one is it?"
"You listen to me, you arrogant dick. I don't work for either of those S.O.B.s. Believe me." His eyes seemed to glow in his anger.
"Oh, you're somebody's bitch."
The smile vanished from the Tricksters face. He grabbed Dean by the collar and slammed him into the wall. And that was when Rae really realised just how powerful he was. It's all fun and games playing tricks and warping reality, but piss of a god and you'll feel the wrath ten fold.
"Don't you ever, ever presume to know what I am. Now listen very closely. Here's what's gonna happen. You're gonna suck it up, accept your responsibilities, and play the roles that destiny has chosen for you."
"And if we don't?" Sam asked.
"Then you'll stay here in TV Land. Forever. Three hundred channels and, uh, nothing's on."
All it took was a snap of his fingers and Rae found herself in a crime scene. She was in another monkey suit, more expensive than the one she usually wore and cops were everywhere.
"Check out sweet tooth over there." Sam gestured to an officer sucking a lollipop.
"Think that's him?"
"Just, um, follow my lead."
Rae was reluctant to kill the Trickster. She was on Sam's side, maybe he could be persuaded to help. Besides, he hadn't done anything to hurt her. And he hadn't actually harmed Sam or Dean, right?
It was confusing to her as to why she was so upset at the Tricksters death. She didn't know him and had he been any other god, she would've killed him without a seconds thought. So why, now he was dead, did she feel so bad? That was until she found herself in another bizarre situation that told her he was still kicking.
Dean climbed into the impala as he got Sam's voice mail.
"Sam. It's me. Where the hell did you go?" He snapped the phone shut, dropping it on the passenger seat.
"Dean?" Sam's voice sounded odd, mechanical almost.
Dean looked around, confused. Sam was nowhere to be seen.
"Sam? Where are you?"
"I don't know."
"The tricksters still alive, dumbass." Rae sighed as stared at the back of Dean's head.
"Rae? Where are you?"
"Turn around."
Dean turned and spotted a tacky hula girl stuck behind the head rests.
"Not a word, Winchester."
"Oh crap. I don't think we killed the Trickster."
"Gee, you think?" Something about being shrunk down to five inches of plastic made Rae cranky.
"Okay, stake didn't work. So, what, this is another trick?" Dean asked.
"I don't know. Maybe the stake didn't work because it's not a trickster?" Sam suggested.
"What do you mean?"
"You heard Cas. He said this thing was too powerful to be a trickster."
"And did you notice the way he looked at Cas? Almost like he knew him."
"And how pissed he got when you brought up Michael and Lucifer."
"Plus," Rae chimed in. "I don't think I just have a good sense of humor. Ever since he said it was him that made one of my cases years ago, I've felt like I've met him before. I don't know why though, I don't remember him. And if I'd had met a god before I would've ganked him."
"Son of a bitch."
"What?" Sam and Rae spoke in unison.
"I think I know what we're dealing with."
"What?" Rae repeated herself.
"Angels."
"You think he's an angel? Really?"
"Makes sense."
Once they'd got a plan Dean pulled over the car and climbed out to find the holy oil in the trunk.
"Dean?" Sam sounded strange but not in a mechanical way.
"What?"
"That, uh, feels really uncomfortable."
Rae chuckled at his discomfort as Dean slammed the trunk shut.
"Ow. You sure this is gonna work?"
"No, but I have no other ideas."
Rae found herself thankful that they weren't trying to think of how to kill the angel. Still she couldn't figure why he felt so familiar.
"All right, you son of a bitch! Uncle! We'll do it!"
"Should I honk?"
"Wow. Sam. Get a load of the rims on you." The Trickster appeared from nowhere.
"Eat me."
"Okay, boys. Ready to go quietly?"
"Whoa whoa whoa, not so fast. Nobody's going anywhere until Sam has opposable thumbs and Rae is full sized."
"What's the difference? Satan's going to ride his ass one way or another. And I think Rae looks good that way."
Dean glared causing him to roll his eyes and snap his fingers. Sam and Rae climbed out of the car and moved closer to Dean.
"Hey, Rae... Can I get a lei?"
"Wh-" Rae glanced down noticing the flowered garland still hanging around her neck. She tore it off and threw it to him. He draped it over his shoulder with a smile. "Dick."
"Happy?" He turned to Dean now.
"Tell me one thing. Why didn't the stake kill you?"
"I am the Trickster."
"Or maybe you're not."
Sam held up a lighter before tossing it to the ground. A ring of fire spread around, surrounding the trickster.
"Maybe you've always been an angel."
"A what? Somebody slip a mickey in your power shake, kid?" He was laughing openly at Dean but the panic was in his eyes. He was caught.
"I'll tell you what. You just jump out of the holy fire and we'll call it our mistake."
He laughed once more. A burst of static and the four of them were back in the warehouse. He clapped for them, an annoyed look on his face.
"Well played, boys. Well played. Where'd you get the holy oil?"
"Well, you might say we pulled it out of Sam's ass."
"Where'd I screw up?"
"You didn't. Nobody gets the jump on Cas like you did."
"Mostly it was the way you talked about Armageddon."
"Meaning?"
"Well, call it personal experience, but nobody gets that angry unless they're talking about their own family."
"So which one are you? Grumpy, Sneezy, or Douchey?"
"Gabriel, okay? They call me Gabriel."
Rae balked. "Gabriel?" She frowned. "As in The archangel, telling Mary she's gonna have Jesus, Gabriel?"
"Guilty." He smiled. "You sound impressed."
"Hard not to be." Rae shrugged, again the feeling of knowing him passed over her. Almost like she'd had this conversation before.
As Sam, Dean, Cas and Rae left, she couldn't help but turn and look back. Gabriel was stood in the exact same spot a sad expression on his face. She half wanted to run back and ask if they'd met but she knew Dean and Sam would get annoyed. She even thought of asking Cas but she still hadn't warmed to him. Instead she planned to pray to Gabriel, hope he showed up and ask him herself. That was when she eventually got back to working alone, anyway.
A/n - Phew. Should get a first glimpse of Crowley in chapter three. Hope you are all enjoying it so far. Let me know in a review! xx
