AN: I hope Daryl's introduction wasn't too confusing for those who don't follow walking dead, he has an important role and will fit very nicely into the supernatural universe. He will also give them some nice pointers on how to kill zombies and be a complete badass. Chapter 4 will explain more.
There is some tension going on in this chapter, good tension and bad ;). Suggestions are welcome. Also I think it's about time to throw a new supernatural character into the mix, for comic relief and plot device reasons. I know there are mistakes and clunky dialogue, sorry about that, lost my mojo a little on this one. hope it's OK.
Bellas POV
Ch3
We took a break to stretch our car cramped legs at a rest stop in the middle of no-where. It was a welcome change of pace seeing a horizon clear of walkers.
I was practicing loading the rifle with stripper clips. Dean watched me with growing amusement as I failed each and every time. Fascinated by my awkwardness. The first time when I pushed the clip down, all the casings burst out the top and fell in the Grass, Dammit!
I finally achieved a full and non-jammed up magazine.
I pushed my hand through my remaining hair, and then twisted the safety on, ensuring the bolt was closed on an empty chamber. Charlie had always stressed gun safety. As clutzy and inexperienced as I was, it was something I had to take seriously, Zombie Apocalypse or not. There was not point tempting fate... it would be so like me to trip and accidentally shoot Dean in the ass, not that he didn't deserve it sometimes.
I looked over towards the river, Cas was standing with his back to us. He'd been distracted and distant since Silent Hill.
Dean cleared his throat, "Maybe you can talk to him," He suggested, almost reluctantly. Then he turned, and walked over to Sam, apparently leaving me to it.
The long grass made a sweeping sound as it brushed across my jeans. I shoved my hands in my pockets. The sun felt warm as it washed over me, the light breeze tickling the bare patches on my scalp.
" G'Afternoon." I greet casually, standing beside him.
At first he seemed not to hear me, as if he is lost in a world all of his own. Then slowly he turned those stormy blue eyes in my direction. Maybe I just imagined it, but I see a flash of light appear in them when he see's me. Then just like that, the lights gone again.
"Y'OK" I asked, reaching up and placing my hand on the sleeve of his jacket. He looked down at it, a smile tickled the corner of his mouth.
"yes, I am recovering." He replied, of course I believe him, he's an Angel, Angels don't lie.
He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing me, "I feel stronger, I may be able to fix you if you like."
I touched the scar on my cheek self-consciously. Without waiting for permission he reached up and ran his long fingers along my jaw. I stand there un-attractively agape as he positioned his hands, holding my head firmly. He could so easily crush my skull, I think ridiculously. A tingling sensation ran across my skin. I closed my eyes. It felt rejuvenating, strange and unashamedly intimate.
When he released me I feel a strange sense of loss, he just stood there, giving me that long intense look. I reached up, finding the puckered scar tissue had gone. I no longer feel the chill of the breeze on my bare scalp. I ran my hands through... Hair! holy crap he's grown back some of my hair. It was still boy short, and uneven but at least the bald patches had gone. I noticed my clothes were also clean and raised an enquiring eyebrow.
"It's all part of the service." He said softly.
No wonder he smelt so good all the time, he had bathing and laundering powers as well. I'm sort of weirded out, but rather glad I no longer smell like last weeks dumpster.
He doesn't get to say more before I jumped up on tippy toes, kissing on the cheek, "Thanks." My voice came out all husky and (gulp) sexy, totally unintentional.
He pulled his gaze away, abashed. "You're welcome."
Gawd what was this high school? things were so horribly awkward.
I sat down and tugged on his coat, beckoning him to join me. It took him a moment to sit down beside me.
"What was that feeling, was that your Grace?"
"Yes." Mr monosyllable was back.
"I liked it, it felt nice." I whispered, looking across at him. what the hell was that Bella? Was I hitting on an Angel? I was so bad at this stuff.
He looked even more uncomfortable. Is it me that makes him so uncomfortable?
"No it's not you." He replied, I hate it when he does that, reminding me all too quickly that he isn't human. "Humans are complex creatures, the more I cared for the humans in my charge, the more confusing it seemed to get. Human interrelationships are complicated. I am lost when it comes to defining emotions, even more lost when expressing them. It's hard to know what is considered appropriate."
I get what he's saying, but part of me knows there was a deeper subtext at work, a whole history not yet defined.
That was what I noticed with Cas, He would talk to you, but he wouldn't say everything, he seemed to skirt around conversations rather than actually having them.
"I guess that's when you fall back on what your heart is telling you."
He seemed amused by this, his smile flicked like a dying light bulb. "That is a very human thing to say and completely inaccurate of course. You could say I was following my heart when I got thrown out of heaven, when I betrayed my friends. It seems like this heart thing is an endless source of trouble, so much pain, expectation and disappointment" his rough voice scattered with bitter notes.
"It's not like that. there are good things too, love, and hope..." my voice trailed off, he's giving me a hard look, he must think I am such a fool, such a child.
He huffed out a small exasperated sigh,"That is true in a sense I suppose," He replied reluctantly.
"So I suppose you will have to suck it up like the rest of us, deal with the angst and see where it takes you." I smiled at him, I wished he would smile back but he just tilted his head slightly. His hair is adorably ruffled mouth slightly parted as if he wants to say something but it doesn't quite make it past his lips.
"What are you kids talking about?" Dean mused curiously, breaking the spell.
"Feelings." I replyed flatly.
Dean winced, " Ugh right chick flick stuff, not my thing."
It seemed to me they really were, he just didn't want to admit it because somehow it would undermine the masculine bravado that he was so determined to portray.
I was onto Dean Winchester, he wasn't the beer drinking, insensitive, clownish, man whore that he threw out on the table. There were times when the emotional complexity that was Dean Winchester shone through, even though admittedly those golden moments were few and far between.
"Hey no offense Dean but you and Sam sort of stink, why don't you get Cas to give you an Angel shower."
Dean quirked an eyebrow at me, "Whoa, what! I dunno Bella, that sounds kinda dirty."
I rolled my eyes.
Sam came up behind him grinning, "Dude You watch way too much porn."
"So says, Mr Casa Erotica," Dean snapped back bitchily.
"Jerk... Ok come on Cas, clean me." Sam says with a grin holding out his arms.
"That's very metrosexual of you Sam, whereas a real man doesn't mind a exuding a little flavour."
"But everyone else does when said flavour starts tainting our food." I growled back.
Dean gives me a glare," Gonna get you for this Bells." With those words he submitted reluctantly to Cas, "No inappropriate touching."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Cas replied, placing a finger on Deans forehead.
Dean looks disappointed afterwards, "That's it?
"It was a pleasure Dean."
"OK, don't say it like that. Creepy dude!"
It filled me with disquiet sometimes how much I had come to care for the 3 of them.
I know how it would look, a young girl travelling with Three, lets face it! Pretty good looking guys. I would have to be blind not to notice that, despite the occasional awkward moments and occasional fluttering of attraction. we had been much too intent on survival to think about, who likes who in the school ground.
I put it firmly out of my mind, It seemed like worrying about schoolyard politics was a lifetime ago now. There was that pinch of sadness again, constricting my chest. Edwards face, it had been over a week since...He had died.
Each time I thought I was at peace with what happened, my heart betrayed me.
Dean said you learned to Deal with the guilt, but His version of the dealing was at the bottom of a bottle. Since the 7-11 he had been on the booze a little more than was appropriate. Sooner or later it was going to become a serious problem. I had been meaning to talk to Sam about it, and organize an intervention.
Huh we are surrounded by zombies and I'm concerned by my friends drinking problem, it seemed trite, but I was afraid that it would get us killed if he wasn't operating on all cylinders.
It was Sam's turn to drive. Cas and I were in the back while Dean sat in the front eating cold spaghetti from the can, I shivered, gross. At least the festering body odor was dealt with.
Turning my attention to the farmland surrounding us I noticed some walkers. A whole herd on them walking towards a cornfield. I narrowed my eyes, the corn in the field appeared flattened.
Cas, Spokes suddenly, making me jump. "Something strange is happening, I am tingling."
"Woah keep it PG 13 back there!" Dean remarked with a laugh.
"stop quickly!"
"I can't, there's walkers everywhere," Sam protested.
Cas leaned forward, placing a firm hand on Sam's shoulder, "I said stop right now."
"Fuck Cas, what's your problem." Dean snapped looking back at the Angel irritably.
That's when I noticed the man standing in the middle of the corn field. "Um, better do as he says... there's a naked guy over there."
Dean turned instantly to look, "What where?"
Sam slams his foot on the brake when Cas opens the door, the Angel is out before the car even stops moving. Standing on the road, His face pale, his lips parted, everything about him spells stunned disbelief.
The middle aged man walked over. I do my best to avoid looking down. When I say he naked, he was in fact impressively ...naked. We all stepped out of the car, I clutched my rifle with both hands holding it across myself protectively.
"Son of a Bitch." Dean muttered and it's like the mob of approaching undead doesn't exist right now.
"What a happy coincidence" The man announced with a broad grin, throwing his arms wide.
" Balthazar, You're dead, I killed you," Cas rasped thickly.
"Well it seems that was a temporary situation, hmmm I'm as confused as you are believe me, I just woke up a moment ago in a cornfield surrounded by these...things"
Balthazar looked at the small mob of creatures that were moving steadily closer to us. "Can someone please explain what is going on here?" he said waving a hand towards the creatures vaguely. " Or do I need to even ask. Everything always goes so swimmingly well with you Winchesters doesn't it?"
"Can it, you smug dick," Dean growled, pulling out his pistol.
Balthazar raised an eyebrow in false offense, "Well, well if it's going to be like that. I suppose I shall just toodle off then."
Dean strode forward, pushing the naked man toward the car and took a few shots at the encroaching undead. We all bundle back in the Impala, the naked guy jammed between Cas and I in the back seat as Sam slammed his foot on the accelerator, with a squeal of tires we leave the walkers far behind.
"What The HELL!" Dean spluttered.
"I killed him Dean, " Cas murmored.
"That's some screwed up soap opera shit you got going there," Dean grumbled back.
"I'm deeply hurt, Castiel," Balthazar said earnestly.
"I know, and ...I am sorry."
Balthazar laughed it suddenly sounded false. "You're sorry, well old mate, I'm afraid a simple, 'I'm sorry' isn't going to cut it."
"Hey, I don't want no Angel fight going down in my baby." Dean put on his fatherly growl.
"I was just about to say... before I was so rudely interrupted..." he glared daggers at the back of Dean's head, "That you have a lot of making up to do. I hope you realize that you are now officially, how do these darling uncouth Americans put it, MY Bitch."
"Hey Cas has more than made up for what he did, you snarky fuckwad "
"Not to me he hasn't Dean, maybe all he has to do it bat his eyelashes in your direction for you to forgive him, but He stabbed me in the back literally. It's going to take a little more than eye sex, a shy grin and some light petting to sate me."
Dean threw a discusted look over his shoulder before returning to the cold spaghetti. He took one mouthful and then put it down, muttering something about not being hungry anymore.
I'm was getting that lots of water under the bridge feeling again.
"So Mr I P Freely, you just appeared out of nowhere in a cornfield with no clue why?" Sam asked.
"And that's why you're the one who went to college Sam." Balthazar shoots gun fingers at the front seat. Sam laughed softly earning a glare from his brother.
"So Cas, How did that whole swallow a nuclear reactor incident work out for you?"
"Badly."
"Hmmm, somehow the words I told you so don't quite cover it do they?"
His snarky comment was met with silence, Balthazar raised an eyebrow, "tough crowd, anyway is someone going to tell me who caused this glorious balls up of apocalyptic proportions."
Sam cleared his throat, I'm grateful it's him that speaks, between him and an angel with no social skills and a drunken emotional cripple. He would be the most tactful.
"Yeh, well we did this thing." Sam was clearly uncomfortable with the role of 'barer of bad news'.
"A thing, maybe you could elaborate slightly, just a smidgen. I don't think I am getting the whole picture here," Balthazar snarked.
"We closed up the gates of hell." The words came out in a rush from flustered Sam.
"What the entire network?" Balthazar exclaimed incredulously.
"Ah ha."
"Let me guess, you get back from your little excursion down under, and the hordes of walking dead start gallivanting around."
"Er Yea"
"Holy Hell, are you monkeys all complete fucktards?"
"We couldn't anticipate this." Cas interjected.
"Don't you think dear old dad made all this work a particular way for a reason. No, you had to go all 'Team freewill' and screw it all up royally."
"We wanna fix it..." Dean started. Then Sam interrupted, "Don't you think it's strange Balthazar that you are resurrected, why now? While we are driving past no less, coincidence? I don't think so, I'm thinking you are meant to help us somehow."
Cas glared sideways at Balthazar, a worried expression flitting over his face, he wasn't convinced.
The naked Angel smiled, "Perhaps, but last time you asked me for help, and I stupidly got involved it cost me my life. Can you assure me that we are all on the same team now?" He turned to Cas pointedly, "assuming none of you have thrown your lot in with the hordes of shambling undead littering about the place."
I tried not to smile, nothing like a little humor to lighten the mood. Although I felt bad for Cas, it also seemed like he deserved those jibes. Stabbing his brother in the back, that was unpardonable.
Then Balthazars heavy gaze settled on me, "And what, or rather who do we have here?"
"That's Bella...she's a friend." Cas introduced stiffly.
"Oh a little girl. Wow we really are on the winning team aren't we?" Balthazar laughed, regarding me with hooded eyes.
"She took on the she-bitch hell-gate with a knife, I think she can cut it." I smirked, nice Dean, I needed that.
Balthazar raised an eyebrow, "Is that so! Is it wrong that I'm aroused by the very thought...of that?'
Oh gawd, don't look at his crotch Bella, I stared out the window instead- embarrassment flaring up on my cheeks.
"Now that's all kind of wrong dude, she's just a kid."
I frowned, gee thanks Dean.
The Angel laughed softly, " kid indeed, I am sensing some very interesting and potentially sordid..."
Dean and Cas blurted out simultaneously, "shudup"," enough"
Balthazar glanced between them, "You both really need to talk things over, you'll feel so much better... get all that tension out, stop things from festing, and getting...nasty."
"I'm willing to throw you out of this car." Dean roared angrily.
"Me too" Cas added, looking unerringly calm in comparison.
"Oh common, can't we all just be friends." He was met with a resounding "NO."
So that's how I met Balthazar, let just say our lives got even more interesting after that.
AN: Not entirely happy with this chapter, but gotta post it sometime, next time Cas's POV (This is going to be fun) I will also reveal more of Daryl Dixons role in the story, it will make sense I promise. Also in the next chapter I will refer to a completely new character (Based on supernatural canon). He hasn't been in the series yet, but he's been referred t several times, so I thought I will try to bring him to life for the purposes of my story.
I Hope you like Balthazar, I couldn't leave him dead, what happened to him was so wrong on so many levels. I felt he deserved a second chance. Let alone my beautiful Cas doing him in like that, Gasp!