Chapter four
Dean woke with a start. His neck hurt and his leg was cramping. Dammit, fell asleep on the couch, he grumbled to himself. That darn Sam could have woke me up when he went to bed, he complained to himself as his joints yelled out for comfort. Easing off the couch, he instinctively double checked the doors and windows. All was secure. What time is it? 2:00Am.
Dean stretched and headed up to bed when he got a strange feeling but it was one he was familiar with. Have to check on Sammy. Won't be able to sleep until I know he is secure. Sam would probably not be too happy that his big brother still checked in on him at night but Dean can't stop what he has been doing for years. Sam was still getting himself together after getting his soul back and sometimes Dean noticed that he was occasionally spacing out on him.
Dean quietly made his way up the stairs to Sam's room. He slowly opened the door just a crack to make sure Sam was there and safely sleeping. That was when he saw it. A figure sitting next to the bed. Dean flipped the light and pulled his knife out, ready to strike.
"WHO ARE YOU? LET HIM GO!"
Julianna almost fell off the chair she had put by the bed, eyes wide with terror, dropping Sam's hand that she was holding. Sam jumped up and in his haste got tangled up in the sheets and fell to the floor, hitting the night stand on the way down.
"What the hell?" Dean yelled. "What the hell were you doing?" He shouted now, demanding answers.
Bobby came running in, saw Dean with the knife and Sam on the floor and Julianna frozen in fear.
"Whoaaaaaa whoaaaaaa Dean, put the knife down." Bobby slowly took a hold of his arm and lowered the weapon for him taking charge of the situation.
Dean had forgotten it was still raised, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Wait, please," Julianna finally found her voice. "Whatever you are thinking, I assure you that you are wrong. Let me explain."
"How in the hell do you know what I'm thinking?" Dean raged. He was not going to relax easily.
Sam rubbed his eyes and his head where he hit the night stand. "What the hell Dean? I was sleeping, really good too." Sam looked at Julianna. "What is going on?" unsure why she was sitting next to his bed.
Bobby cut in then. "Ok, everyone relax." He went over to help Sam get untangled and back into bed. "Julianna, start talking." Bobby instructed in his no-nonsense kind of fashion.
"When I was going to my room, I heard Sam having a bad dream or something. I checked on him and he seemed to be fighting some unseen enemy and mumbling things I didn't understand. When I heard him say Lucifer's name, I came in to help him."
"Help him how?" Dean questioned still looking at her suspiciously.
"Dean, I'm a guardian angel. I have lost a lot of my abilities but not the ability to give comfort. I was only holding his hand. When I did, he settled down quickly and was sleeping soundly until you came in. It is my guess that Sam hasn't had a good night's sleep in a long time."
Julianna looked at Bobby as if he would somehow know that she was telling the truth.
"SAM, that true?" Dean demanded
"How would I know? I was sleeping. But Julianna is right; I have had a lot of bad dreams lately. I haven't been sleeping that well."
"Why haven't you told me Sammy? We have talked about this." Dean was disgusted now to discover that his brother was still keeping secrets after everything.
"I'm sorry Dean. I just didn't want you to worry."
Now that the conversation was getting calmer, Julianna piped up, "Did you think I would hurt your brother, Dean? Or anyone for that matter? I know you have been through a lot but surely if you don't believe me, you would know that Castiel wouldn't send someone untrustworthy to you?"
Dean knew that was true. "It's just" he stammered, "I wasn't sure who was sitting by his bed and it was darkā¦"
Julianna walked over to Dean carefully and then hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry that I scared you." She whispered in his ear. "You are an amazing big brother. Sam is lucky to have you".
Dean let her hug him and said nothing. He was trying to figure out the sudden peace he felt at her touch. He was going to have to do some research on guardian angels.
Bobby was checking out Sam's head. "Barely a bump there Sam" he said. "Alright if you yahoos are finished, I would like to get some sleep."
The rest of the night went without incident. Julianna stayed in her room even though she knew Sam was dreaming again. Dean heard him as well. He decided to go have a talk with Cas' little sister.
Dean knocked quietly on her door.
"Come in"
Julianna was sitting on the edge of her bed. "Dean, what's wrong?"
"Do you hear him?"
"Yes"
"Can you really help him get some sleep?"
"Only if you will allow it"
"Let's go" Dean still wasn't sure he was comfortable with this but wasn't willing to let Sam suffer.
Julianna moved to the side of Sam's bed. He was mumbling frantically and his blankets were in a heap on the floor.
"What are you going to do?"
"I just have to connect with him by touch." She put her hand on his arm and gently squeezed.
"It's alright Sam. You are safe. Your brother is here. No one can hurt you." She whispered.
Sam instantly relaxed and his breathing became steady.
"How long do you have to do that?"
"I will stay with him all night if that is ok."
Dean was relieved to see Sam sleeping calmly. He retrieved his blankets from the floor and put them over him. He hadn't realized that Sammy wasn't sleeping well. He should have known somehow. How come he didn't see it?
"You know I can help you too Dean. If ever you just want some peaceful sleep or something."
Dean pulled up a chair next to the bed. "I'm fine. It's Sammy that needs the help now."
Dean and Julianna sat there quietly together, neither one breaking the silence as Sam slept.
"So, Cas is your big brother huh? I never figured him for a big brother."
"Why?"
"It's just, there are a lot of things that Cas is still learning himself about people. Now that you are moving to the human side, there are things you should know that I don't think Cas can teach you."
Julianna looked at him with confusion. "Like what?"
"Let's start with music."
They spent the next hour talking about basic human things that Dean felt she should know now and her big brother Cas wouldn't be able to explain. Things like music, cars and pie. Julianna listened intently to Dean's instruction. Then Dean went off to bed, trusting her with his brother. It was the ultimate compliment, Julianna thought.
The next morning, Julianna had breakfast waiting. No one spoke of the events the night before and Bobby questioned Dean and Sam about the hunt they were going on.
"We should only be gone for a couple of days Bobby" Sam explained. "It looks like a werewolf. The cycle is right. We only have till day after tomorrow to take care of him."
"Well, I wish you would give it a rest for a while longer but if you insist on going, don't get yourselves killed ok." Bobby said trying to hide his concern behind sarcasm. Sam seemed much better this morning.
"You just try to make sure there are leftovers for when we come back." Dean said offering Julianna a quick wink.
She was grateful for the gesture and smiled in return.
Once the boys were gone, the phone calls started. Bobby was answering one after the other, offering advice, information or the fake confirmation of a superior at the FBI. Julianna was fascinated with it all. After three days, the boys weren't back yet and Bobby was nearing the end of his patience with the constant questions she was throwing at him.
"What are you researching? Can I help?" She asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.
Bobby put the heels of his hands in his eyes and pressed them tightly wondering if this was meant to be slow torture. "JULES please, I am trying to concentrate."
The nickname came the day after the boys left on the hunt. He just said, "Jules, can you get me a beer while you're in there." Julianna mulled it over in her mind and thought how much she liked it. Maybe she had been too hasty when she reprimanded Dean for calling her brother Cas. It was like a term of endearment.
"I'm sorry Bobby. I was just trying to help. Why won't you let me answer a phone or research something for you? You know I probably know a lot about the things you hunt" she complained to him.
"I told you before. I am trying to keep you out of this stuff. Cas wanted you safe and there is no reason to involve you in it."Bobby replied as he did at least 3 times before.
That was when it occurred to him. Bobby stopped reading and closed the book in front of him.
"Jules?"
"Yes?"
"You were supposed to sleep 2 nights ago. Have you gone to sleep since you have been here?" Bobby watched her face for any sign of deceit.
Julianna seemed to be searching for the right answer. "I, um, well, I rested." She said without meeting his eyes.
"Julianna, you have not gone to sleep at all, have you?" Bobby suddenly realizing why she has been such a bratty little handful.
"Bobby, listen, sleeping is stupid. I don't need to sleep. Castiel is just an over protective big brother and he exaggerates too." Julianna said quickly, clearly hearing how she sounded like a child caught past her bedtime.
"Goodnight Jules" was all Bobby said.
"But Bobby, if you would just let me,,,"
"Goodnight Jules!" he said more firmly, meeting her eyes with a stern glare.
"Are you kidding me?" Julianna raised her voice now. "I am not a two-year old you know! This is unfair! I can decide for myself when bedtime is."
"GOODNIGHT JULIANNA!" Bobby growled at her pointing at the stairs.
This infuriated her. Julianna knew she was feeling this way because she hadn't slept but she couldn't seem to stop herself. She got up and stormed up the stairs and slammed her door.
"200-year-old child" Bobby muttered to himself and started to open up his book.
That was when the music started.
AC/DC Back in Black. How in the hell did she get a hold of that? Dammit Dean! Bobby took a deep breath and tried to calm himself before he went up there. The music was blaring now.
It reminded him of when Dean was young and ticked off that his father had left him at Uncle Bobby's so he could go off on a hunt. He would go up to the room and blare the music out of anger and defiance. Bobby would wait him out as long as he could and then finally go up there and put his foot down. It looks like he would have to do the same thing here. After today, he was definitely keeping track of the 3 day sleep rule.
Bobby sighed and got up from his chair. "Dammit Cas!" He said out loud. "I shouldn't have to be reprimanding your sister!" Bobby moved to the stairs when he felt a breeze behind him.
He turned and nearly jumped out of his skin to see Castiel standing there.
"Cas? What are you doing here?"
"You called me."
"No I didn't. I was just talking out loud to, um ,, myself. Oh never mind." Bobby said with a bit of embarrassment.
Castiel looked upwards in confusion. "What is that noise?"
"It's called rock and roll and your sister is playing it loud for my benefit. She's pissed at me for telling her to go to bed. I was just going up to have her shut it off."
"Allow me" Cas said and was gone before Bobby could stop him.
A second later, the music was off. Bobby heard Cas raise his voice but couldn't hear what he said. Then, it was silence.
Cas appeared downstairs again. "She is going to sleep now." And he was gone, again.
Well, at least now he could get some work done.
Julianna laid in bed in disbelief. I can't believe he called my brother just because of a little loud music. Dean had told her that if she was going to play it, she had to play it loud or it wasn't any good.
She thought she was dreaming when she turned to see Castiel standing in her doorway. Oh why did he have to come at that moment?! He seemed disappointed.
She had immediately shut the music off. She wanted to run to him and hug him tight but she knew he was not going to allow it.
"You were told to go to bed, were you not?!" He said sternly, fixing his gaze on her.
"Yes brother" Julianna said quickly as she climbed under the covers. Again, his reprimand made her feel like a little girl.
"I don't expect that Bobby will have to tell you more than once again. AM I CLEAR?"
He seemed different somehow, changed. Julianna couldn't pinpoint it.
Feeling his eyes on her, Julianna whispered, "Yes Sir" and then Castiel was gone again.
Tears started falling before she had settled into sleep. Darn this human thing.
