Okay, so this chapter should give you a fair glance at where we are at in the ninth season. This one was a bit difficult for me, I had to rewrite it a few times but what can you do? Also it's somewhat short, which I don't like but the next part would be better off as a new chapter. Let me know what you think! -Mez

The night was calm, the sky clear of obstructions, allowing the full beauty of the stars to blossom. A band of lights stretched from left to right at a slant, the cloudy white color giving an indication of its name. Feet hanging off the Impala's hood, Dean laid content, arms behind his head as he gazed up at the black sky. Sam and him use to have nights like this, pulling off the road and parking Baby in the middle of some field, no soul for miles, and just stare up. They never had to talk, just be in each other's presence, feeling the peace that would overcome them when seeing something so simple and yet amazing. Those were great times, fewer then he would like to admit.

"Dean."

Jack-knifing, the elder Winchester was surprised to find Abby standing next to the Impala, gazing up like he had been doing a few seconds ago. Considering where they were currently, it was safe to say that this actually wasn't Abby.

"Ruth."

The female angel continued to stare upward, a small smile on her face. "When Dad was creating this galaxy, he gave a few angels the chance to add star constellations. I was never good at drawing but would it surprise you if I said that a certain black-haired angel created the one constellation that, in time, would be know to help humans if they were lost? He always cared much for humans, Dad's crowning achievement. Always caring for his brethren and his charges."

Dean remembered Alfie saying such things about Cas. Regardless… "Ruth, I don't mean to sound rude, but what are you doing here? I just saw you a few hours ago."

He had been exhausted when returning from Nebraska, driving straight through all the way to the bunker, arriving early in the morning. Kevin had been asleep but Sammy had stayed up, wanting to catch his brother when he came back. Not an hour later of hellos and reassurances from both brothers, they had decided to end the night. As per Ruth's request, Dean hadn't said anything about the angel or Abby, just that he'd had help with the case. He only confirmed it was a woman and a fellow hunter, never talking about the demons or the angelic encounter. If he could get away with it, he'd tell Sam about what really had happened but because he wasn't sure if Zeke could eavesdrop, he didn't want to reveal anything.

"Though I do apologize on intruding into your dream, I wanted to aid you in some way, for not being able to give assistance to you and your brother in the past. So I came to hear any requests you might have."

Dean looked up at the stars, catching sight of the north star, before turning to Ruth who was now staring at him. He was opening his mouth before he knew what he was thinking, "Did you know that there are angels after Cas?"

Ruth sighed, nodding. "We are aware. Many blame him for the falling and wish to enact revenge against him. Regardless of my past feelings toward him, I know he is not to blame and was merely doing what he felt was best for our brothers and sisters. Like I said, he cares deeply."

Dean hopped off the hood. "What feelings?"

Ruth was quiet again, studying Dean before answering, "There is history between myself and Castiel, what you would call bad blood. Again, I know he was doing what he thought right but it caused heartache for me and my family. I am not the type to let such things get in the way of an assignment if that is your concern. If you wish for help protecting Castiel, me and mine are willing."

"What bad blood? What happened?"

Ruth already was shaking her head before he had asked the second question. "That is something you will have to discuss with him. I will not disclose the matter. But am I right in assuming that you wish for Castiel's safety?"

"Depends on whether he'd be safer without you, considering whatever happened."

"I know I can't ease your mind Dean, but I was not lying. I will watch out for Castiel, protect him as from my own garrison. Like I said, what had transpired was under the mind set of good intentions. It almost seems like a learned trait."

Dean narrowed his eyes at her but said nothing for a few minutes. The silent treatment didn't last long. "We don't know where he is, I can't keep on eye on him. It's freaking me out."

Ruth nodded at him. "We can watch over him, make sure none of the other angels find him. I do regret to say that our best efforts will be against the angels that do not have vessels. My garrison is seventeen strong but only fours of us, myself included, have been able to find vessels. The others are still floating around, you could say, but we will be able to fight against them. We'll cover his tracts as much as we can."

"It's better than nothing. If something comes up, you need to call me."

Ruth reached out and grabbed Dean's hand, brandishing a pen from her pocket. The scribbling on his hand lasted for a few seconds and Ruth released his palm, stepping back. Looking down, Dean studied the ten digits that were now etched on his skin in black ink.

"So we may communicate."

Dean eyed her for a bit longer, going through the pros and cons in his head. In all honesty he didn't know what else to do. Cas didn't have a phone with him so Dean couldn't call him on whim. He was just hoping that the ex-angel could get back to the bunker quick. The fact that he was now human, vulnerable, made Dean uneasy. Not to mention that there were angels out there, ready to attack, maybe even kill him. He just hoped he was making the right choice. It seemed to be his theme lately.

"He called a couple days ago, right around the time I sent out the SOS, from a payphone in Longmont, Colorado. But we haven't heard anything since."

Ruth, her face now determined, nodded at him. It was strange to see Abby's face so serious looking; last he saw her, she was all sass and smirks. Dean hoped she was okay.

"Then we will begin the search there and work our way eastward. Our best bet is to find him when he sleeps. It will allow privacy and a smaller chance of him running. We need him to understand that we mean no harm. Once we make contact, we'll patch a call so you may confirm our involvement."

Dean didn't like to admit it but Castiel could be naïve at times, that was how Metatron trapped him in the first place. "Yeah, sounds like a plan."

Ruth turned but stopped, glancing over at him. "You continue to worry about Abigail."

"You can't blame me."

Ruth smiled at him. "Of course not. It is reasonable with everything you have experienced. Would you like to speak with her?"

Dean straighten up. "Can I?"

Ruth nodded again and Dean could see the flash of white that eclipsed the gold irises before it disappeared. A familiar smile curved at her lips as eyes roved around his dream's setting.

"Nice joint. Not what I was expecting, considering all the rumors about you. I'm surprised there's no stripper poles anywhere, or a Jacuzzi. Something along those lines."

Hearing the teasing tone brought a wink and flirty smile to his face. "That was last night's showing, Sweetheart, but I didn't know you were into that kind of thing. I can whip up a little something for ya."

"Smart ass, I thought you were worried. But alas you just wanted to flirt. Well, hate to rain on your parade but you're not really my type. Granted you're good looking, I'll give you that, but you don't move my furniture. Besides I already got a man in my life, and we've been going on three years strong so it'd take a bit more than that to get me to look your way."

"Oh and what is mystery man's name?"

"I don't have to answer to you Dean but since you asked so politely, his name is Jack. He-"

Abby stopped mid sentence, her head tilting slightly. Dean watched as she grew paler by the second. White irises flashed and Ruth was back, her face grim.

"What happened?"

"Two angels just attacked a couple of humans. Not sure why but I'll send a pair of my people to check it out while the rest of us look for Castiel. Not sure what's going on yet but you and your brother should be ready for anything." A fluttering of wings and Dean was alone.

His eyes snapped open a second later.

It was almost four hours later when Dean stepped outside the bunker, duffel bag in hand, to call Ruth while Sam was packing a bag for the trip to Emory Park. Punching the numbers into his cell, he kept an eye on the door, watching for any signs of his brother. He was hoping Ruth would forgive him if he needed to hang up on her should Sam appear suddenly. Besides, he had a question to ask. The ink on his hand had surprised him this morning.

"Hello Dean."

He wasn't expecting that voice. "Ezal?"

"Yes, I'm afraid Ruth left the cell phone in my possession."

"Where is she? Is Abby okay?"

"Abigail is fine. Our scouts found the bodies, that of priests, and it seemed to disturb Ruth enough that she went to see for herself what exactly is going on. The rest of us are making our way east in search of Castiel."

Dean was quiet, digesting what Ezal was telling him. A definite angel attack, and something that would have the boss going to check out herself. Not only that but he was trying to hear if Ezal had an edge to his voice when talking about Cas. Nothing so far.

"Me and Sam are on our way to check it out ourselves. We should get there sometime early tomorrow morning. Somebody gonna be around for me to talk to about what you guys find?"

"I will tell Ruth of your request but I can nearly guarantee that someone will be there to speak with you. Be careful on your trip Dean, Ruth is suspicious that there are factions organizing with the intent of finding Castiel. They may try to use you and your brother to succeed."

That was all he needed, a hit on his family. They needed to find Cas quickly and get his ass back to the bunker where Dean could keep an eye on him.

"Listen Ezal, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, because I'm not, I really do appreciate what Ruth and the rest of you guys are doing for me but why? Why go through the trouble of helping me, helping Cas if there's some kind of grudge between Ruth and him?"

It was quiet for a few seconds and Dean thought Ezal had hung up but that wasn't the case.

"Ruth does have a slight grudge against Castiel for his past transgressions, this is true but she also knows that he did so with his family in mind, so she is trying to let go. Castiel has always been the type to see the big picture. This falling is another example. He wanted his family to be together and stop fighting, Ruth understands this. It is her family as well, and her sense of family is strong. Castiel's direct decisions had an influence on those she keeps close. It is something that lingers in her, even though she forgives her brother. Although she is in danger of exposure, Ruth will not turn her back on family, even when they have."

Dean let out a breath at what Ezal was saying. Ruth, as much as she wanted to hate Cas for whatever he had done, was helping anyway she could. Apparently with her life at stake as well. "Why is Ruth hiding? Her and Abby?"

It was a longer pause this time and Dean was actually afraid Sam would show up with how long it was taking Ezal to answer.

"There are angels, whole factions and garrisons that would hunt Ruth down if they knew she had taken a vessel. You have to understand that she has not been seen since the time of Lucifer's falling. Also, just recently, she has become the last of her kind. Abigail as well is to be protected and Ruth is hiding her out of sight. The demon attack from last night was a planned abduction."

"So the angels are after Ruth while the demons want Abby?"

"That is partially correct, while Ruth is hunted by the Host, any angel would kill Abigail based on her existence alone. The demons have something else in mind, we are not sure what."

Damn, both sides were coming after Abby. Ezekiel was a sudden worry. He'd have to be careful about what he said around Sam now that he knew Zeke had been hearing a few things. He'd definitely wouldn't be able to tell his brother anything.

"What about Cas? You guys find anything?"

"Castiel has always been a great soldier and a brilliant strategist, so the trails have been picked up as he wanted but then become so tangled it's difficult to pinpoint where or when it even began. We have sorted out his trail leaving Colorado but then it is more chaos. He is covering his tracts well."

Dean felt a proud smirk trying to spread across his face. Cas was sending everyone on a wild goose chase. Hopefully up until Dean could catch up to him. A noise from the entrance of the bunker had the eldest Winchester turning sharply toward the metal door. Sam. Time to go. "Text only," was the last thing he said before ending the call.

When Sam stepped into the sunlight, he was greeted by Dean rummaging in his weapon locker, no doubt checking his arsenal. His older brother turned back to look at him before poking back at his guns. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah. You ready?"

Dean closed up the locker, placing his duffel in the trunk, leaving room for Sam to place his own bag. The worry about Abby and what they were gonna be walking into tried to worm it's way into the forefront of his mind but he held it back. The last thing he wanted was to make Sam curious about what was on his mind, and thus bringing him to Zeke's attention. Ezal's warning about the angels wanting to kill Abby was still fresh in his head. So he went for something light and fun, something Dean-like.

With bags tucked away, he shut the trunk, sending Sam a smirk, "I'm always ready."

I can't help it, I threw in some Dark Angel references. I love that show. Loved Jensen in it. Gimme a holler with what you think! -Mez