Castiel thought he had lost Miranda again but suddenly her eyes flew open and she caught the blade between her bandaged hands giving Castiel valuable seconds to drag the male demon away from her while Sam tackled the female demon.
Castiel knew he could probably defeat the male and Sam could hold his own against the female but he also knew that if anything went wrong Miranda would be unprotected and Sam might not be strong enough to resist the demon blood.
He couldn't take any chances. Castiel punched the demon sending him flying across the room, then reached for Sam and Miranda.
Second later they three of them were standing outside the hospital
Miranda almost fell, as she was unused to travelling by that method but Cas held onto her and held her upright while her head stopped spinning.
For the first time in a long time she looked up at Castiel and a look of recognition washed over her face.
"Castiel" she gasped
"I'm here" he reassured her "how much do you remember?"
"Too much" she replied as her tears began to fall uncontrollably.
"Dean" Sam called as he saw Dean walking towards them.
"What's going on Cas? I went back in there and it looked like they'd been a fight and you were all gone"
"We were attacked by demons" Cas explained.
"We need to get away from here" Sam insisted.
"What's up with her?" Dean pointed at Miranda.
"She remembers" Sam
"Remembers what?"
"Everything" Miranda "I remember everything"
"Jeez" Didn't really sum it up for Dean as he helped Cas get Miranda to her feet. He could imagine what must be going thru her head right now because he had been to hell himself.
Half an hour later the four of them were in motel. Sam and Dean were busy on their laptops trying to find any information that would help them. Miranda lay on one of the beds while Cas sat on the chair beside her. Her sobbing had decreased enough to make a little more sense of what she was saying now.
"I'm sorry I have to ask you these questions" Castiel looked regretful "were you trapped in hell the whole time?"
"Yes, everyday Lucifer or one of his demons would torture me for information"
What did they want to know?"
"About the other angels and God"
"You were gone six earth months, that's over 60 years in hell years, it's understandable if you told them anything. It's a lot of torture to put up with but I just need to know what you told them" Cas gently stroked her hair back in an attempt to reassure her it was ok.
"Nothing" Miranda looked at him defiantly "The torture was unbearable Cas I wanted it to stop but I didn't tell them anything"
"Ssh" it's ok now" Cas regretted having to ask her but it had been necessary "Try and sleep now, I'll be here if you need anything" he spoke gently.
"What's the story?" Dean asked when Cas walked over towards him.
"She's been stuck in hell for the past six months"
"Earth time or hell time?"
"Earth"
"Crap, so what's the damage?"
"She' didn't tell them anything, she's stronger than I gave her credit for" Cas admitted
"Can you be sure she's telling the truth about that?" Sam questioned
"If Miranda says she didn't tell Lucifer or his demons anything then she didn't tell them anything. She's never been a liar"
Normally your word would be enough for me" Dean reasoned as he stood up to stretch his legs "but she's been in hell for a long time and that changes you"
Castiel walked towards Dean and stopped right in front of him, close enough for Dean to feel the Angels breath on his face.
"You're going to have to take my word for it. I know Miranda and I know she's not lying, the only changes she's experienced are the loss of her grace and the mental and physical scars that those bastards gave her hell" Is that enough change for you Dean?"
"Sorry I didn't mean…" Dean began. Cas didn't curse often so it was a sign he was either really serious, or pissed off but probably both.
Either way there was no time to dwell as Miranda's scream filled the room.
Cas was by her side immediately "It's ok it's just a dream" he gently shook her awake.
"I thought it was real" she gasped "I thought I was back in hell, Please Cas don't let them take me back" She begged clutching onto his hand. "They took something from me"
"I know but we're going to get it back"
"We are?" Sam asked "but at the hospital you said…"
"I can't bear it" he admitted "seeing her in so much pain"
This girl bought a lot of emotion out in Cas, Dean realised "So what's the plan?"
"I don't have one" Cas admitted but I need to go somewhere, I can't take Miranda, it's too dangerous, and I can't leave her" he looked torn
"It's OK Cas if it helps Miranda, you should go. We'll stay here with her.
"Don't I get a say in any of this?"
"No!!" Cas, Dean and Sam said at once
