I know this hasn't been updated in a few months. I'm sorry. This story, which started off as an adventure for me, had lost its magic for me, but maybe it will come back, which is why this chapter isn't very long.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS SO MUCH!

Please remember to review at the end! :)

The next time Anna woke up, she found herself in yet another strange room. Rolling her eyes, she shook her head, and slowly climbed out of the bed, and headed for the door. Relieved to find it would open, she stepped through the threshold, and froze.

There was a hallway instead of an outside, and there were other doors along the narrow hallway. Shaking her head, she followed the sound of voices in the distance, and moved her eyes around the area.

Stopping at an opening, she lifted her eyes to find another floor with rails surrounding the top, and on the floor in front of her were desks, and books. Slowly making her way towards the voices, she stopped as she took in the sight of the Winchester brothers standing at a table in the center of a book room.

Shaking her head, she stepped towards them. "I take it this is where I ask where the hell I am?" She asked, biting her tongue when the brothers jumped at the sound of her voice.

Sam sighed, and glanced at his brother, who stepped towards her.

Dean lifted his arms outward, and she caught a glimpse of the mark on his arm, and swallowed, hard. "Welcome to our home." He remarked, though she read a hint of coldness in his voice.

The mark was taking the joy out of him. Just like Jean… She thought, sadly.

"This is where you live?" She asked, shaking her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Talk about drab city." She remarked, with a smile.

Dean narrowed his eyes, and let a smile play on his lips. "It's better than a motel." He returned, as she nodded in agreement.

"I take it your angel friend brought me here last night." She replied, looking around, noticing Sam was going through some books on one of the shelves.

Dean nodded. "Yeah, he did." He paused, shifting on his feet. "We thought it was best." He added, as she pursed her lips together.

"And yet you didn't ask me." She stated, her hazel eyes flaring just a little.

Dean swallowed, but his eyes never wavered from hers. "There wasn't time to ask." He remarked, as she huffed, and pushed by him, ignoring the shock from the touch.

"You just didn't want to ask." She returned, moving to the table, and sat down.

Dean rolled his eyes, and tilted his head back, before turning to find her leaning back in the chair with her arms crossed, and quickly glanced towards Sam, who was trying not to laugh at the sight. He clenched his jaw, and glared at his brother, who quickly shifted on his feet, and set the book down on the table, before leaving the room.

"Is your brother the strong silent type?" She asked, pulling the book towards her.

Dean tilted his head to the side, and moved to sit down across from her. "No," He answered, simply.

She smirked, and nodded her head. "He leaves that up to you, huh?" She asked, as he lowered his eyes to her hands on the book.

"Look, Anna, I'm sorry we didn't ask to move you, but, according to Cas, time is of the essence, and we need to know what you know." He remarked, flatly.

Her eyes searched his face, and saw new lines appearing on what was once a smooth face. The bags underneath his eyes indicated what she already suspected…he wasn't sleeping. The mark was wearing him down, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"The Mark was designed as a punishment and a blessing." She began, hearing wings in the distance. "God created the mark to protect those He loved from the Darkness, and as long as someone carries the Mark, the Darkness is held at bay." She added, lowering her eyes. "Although, it is a terrible burden to bear, which is why the one who should bear it was put in a cage." She finished, lowering her eyes to the table.

Dean shook his head, and followed her eyes. "What are you saying?" He asked, after a moment.

"I'm saying, the one designated to bear the burden of the Mark is one Lucifer, Archangel." She answered, in the stillness of the room. "Cain was just given the mark because Lucifer fell from grace, and he rebelled against his father, which is what Cain had done. Lucifer had seen himself in Cain, which is how the mark was transferred."

He swallowed, and turned his gaze to the doorway to find Sam and Cas standing underneath the threshold with determination on their faces.

"But if the Mark is placed on another person, wouldn't the one who had it, still be affected?" Sam asked, stepping into the room.

She lifted her eyes to Dean, and slowly nodded. "They would, if not helped." She answered, softly. Tears filled her eyes as she studied Dean's, and somewhere in her heart, she found a blossoming hint of compassion and something else. She had only just met him, but she felt as if she needed to help him.

Dean saw the compassion hiding in her eyes, and his jaw clenched. "There is no hope, then?" He asked, after a moment.

She swallowed, nervously, but her eyes didn't waver. "I've learned there is always hope." She answered, before finally moving her eyes away from his.

Dean studied her for a few moments longer, and finally stood up, and walked out with Sam nodding to Cas as he followed his brother.

Castiel tilted his head to the side, and slowly walked towards her, sitting down in the chair Dean had sat in a moment before.

"Is this where you tell me that He wants me to do this?" She asked, turning her head to glare at him. "Because if that's the best you can do, I've got news for you, I've heard it all before." She added, roughly.

Castiel nodded, and clasped his hands together. "I know. I believe it was Gabriel who talked to you last time." He responded, as she swallowed and nodded.

"Where is ole Gabe?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. "I thought he would be the first to get me to help." She remarked, moving her eyes up and down.

Castiel swallowed. "I don't know." He answered, lying slightly.

She scoffed, and closed her eyes. "You can't lie to me, Castiel." She replied, opening her eyes. "I know, Lucifer killed him, or made it appear he did." She added, shaking her head. "What?" She asked, as his head tilted to the side. "You think that just because I'm no longer on the Angels speed dial, that I don't know what's going on." She finished, roughly.

Cas shook his head. "You took yourself off the dial." He returned, just as rough.

She shook her head. "Can you blame me?" She asked, mockingly. "The last time an Angel visited me, he killed the man I loved, on God's orders." She added, standing up with tears in her eyes.

"Is that why you turned your back on us?" He asked, standing up to face her.

Anna felt her heart twinge in pain. "I didn't turn my back on anyone. I went along with the order because I was a good little soldier." She mocked, flinging her arms out. "I led an entire army because God told me to, and I faced the demons Lucifer sent to counteract the fight at Rouen." She stated, stepping towards Castiel.

"I foresaw my death at the hands of the Knights of Hell." She added, swallowing, hard, not realizing Sam and Dean were standing behind them now. "I watched as my vision was countermanded, when Jean took the mark, and stopped the kill." She continued, pausing to take a breath as the tears fell down her face.

She swallowed, and shook her head. "I watched him become a monster, and succumb to the darkness within because I didn't listen to God's word, and stop him." She cried, her voice shaking, letting it all out in one emotion. "I didn't ask to become this, Castiel. I didn't ask to be born an Oracle or to lead an army, but I was and I did." She straightened her back as she spoke, her defiance flared through her eyes as if to warn him to say another word.

"And you think I turned my back on you?" She asked, stepping towards him. She scoffed, shaking her head. "You turned your back on me." She stated, moving her eyes up and down with distaste. "The only reason I'll even consider helping Dean is because I still see the fight in him, not because an Angel asked me to help, but because God did." She added, stepping back, and turned on her heel to leave him there, not paying any attention to Sam and Dean, or the look of shock on their faces.

"God?" Castiel called out, causing her to stop, and look over her shoulder.

"Why do you think there are still Oracles, Castiel?" She asked, with a scoff, before she walked away.

When she had made it to a small room, she collapsed on her knees, and let out the pain she kept inside for over four hundred years.

Back in the library, Dean placed his hands on the table, and bowed his head. In his chest, pain resonated from the center throughout his entire body. He let out a groan, and grasped his chest. Turning around, his waist hit the edge of the table, and his face contorted in a pained expression. Lifting his eyes upwards, he whispered words he never dreamed he would utter. "God, please…"

~XXX~

As the sun began to set behind the bunker, a car pulled up outside, and a shaky hand let go of the steering wheel, to put the car in park.

The young woman turned her head, and glanced at the black Impala next to her car, and she shook her head.

Taking a small handgun from her purse, she made sure there were no bullets, before inhaling deeply, and exited out of her car, and headed towards the door.

Lifting her hand, she pounded on the door, and waited before continuing her pounding until she heard the doors unlock, and a familiar face appeared on the other side.

"Hey, Sam," She remarked, shifting nervously on her feet.

Sam's brow furrowed, slightly in confusion, and tilted his head to the side. "Becky…"

She bit her bottom lip, and took her empty gun, and pointed it at him. "Where is she?" She demanded, as he stepped back, lifting his hands in defense.

"Where is who?" He asked, pausing before he said who.

She huffed, nervously, and shifted the gun. "Anna, where is she?" She asked, her voice getting frantic.

Sam's eyes widened, as the pieces began to fit together. "You're her protégé." He whispered, in mild disbelief.

Becky's eyes lowered, and the gun lowered. "Please, I need…" She began, as her head pounded and she grimaced.

"Are…are you alright?" Sam asked, reaching, hesitantly towards her.

She nodded, and stepped back from his hands, which surprised him. She lifted her eyes, and he saw the pain in the depths, but didn't say a word. "I need to see her." She remarked, firmly, though the pain could be heard in her voice.

Sam nodded, and stepped aside, allowing her to enter the bunker. This was going to be interesting.

Please be kind!

I know the introduction of Becky is not going to be well received, but for some reason she seemed to fit this story! I will say, she will not be the crazy Becky we've seen in the show, she will be more mature in this story! Please give her a shot in this!

Next Chapter: Anna and Dean bond. Becky's fate is revealed.

Until Next Time...