Chapter 4

I stood there staring at the spot Castiel had just vacated. I wasn't quit sure that I wanted to turn around and see Sam and Dean just yet, but I knew I had to get it over with. The look on their faces surprised me.

"So what? We don't get hugs and kisses?" Dean asked grinning from ear to ear.

Blood rose to my face. But I just said sweetly, "You want some sugar, honey?" Sam burst out laughing and Dean just chuckled good naturedly. I smiled sheepishly and decided to be a little honest. "Truthfully, I probably would have tackled both of you on site if I wasn't so intimidated by ya'll. But I think that may be wearing off, so watch yourselves." They just smiled wider.

I gave Dean a number to a local restaurant—I was still too wiped out to cook anything—and went to the living room to crash on the couch. Traiden jumped up into my lap and gently laid his head on my stomach and I discarded the thought of a blanket. Sam followed us and lay down in the lounge chair. We listened for a moment to Dean trying to decipher the heavy southern accent on the phone before a memory popped into my head.

"Sam, I just remembered something. Yesterday morning outside I had a feeling something was watching me. Traiden had acted very hostile too. It was a good five minutes before the feeling went away. Do you think it could have been that thing?"

"I don't know, maybe. Was there anything else it said to you?"

I racked my brain. "It said I was 'unique and strong.' Not quite sure on what he means by that. And it also said I would be with it forever. Creepy thought."

"Yeah, you could say that."

"Damn people around here." Dean grumbled as he joined us, plopping down in the loveseat. "Couldn't understand one word that woman said."

"Hey," I scolded half-heartedly, "these are my people around here. Don't be dissin' them."

"Yeah, well I can understand you."

I laughed, closing my eyes and leaning my head back on the arm rest, listening to Sam and Dean discuss different theories on the monster.

Next thing I knew Sam was gently shaking me awake. I blinked a few times and the smell of hamburgers and fries greeted me.

"Allie, Dean's back with the food."

"I can smell that." I stretched as I stood and wandered over to the counter. Three cheeseburgers and a large salad graced the counter, and I betted twenty bucks to myself that Sam would only touch the salad.

I was digging into my hamburger, having a surprisingly easy conversation with the brothers, when the phone rang. I leaned over Sam and snatched the phone before he could hand it to me.

"Hello?"

"Allie, I think I may have something for you."

I grinned at the high voice on the other end. "Hey, Teesha. What do you mean you have something for me?"

"Well, you know how you came in yesterday looking for those Spanish documents?"

"Yeah, I remember. But you weren't there yesterday."

"I know. Marsha was and she was the one who told me you were looking for them. I found them."

I sat up a little straighter. "Marsha said they weren't at the library anymore. That they were lost or something."

I could practically hear her roll her eyes. "The only thing that was lost was Marsha's mind. According to her you had some nice male flesh with you."

"Umm, their cousins. From Kansas." Sam and Dean were looking at me now. I quickly put it on speakerphone. "What was it you found?"

"Well, it did take some digging but get this. Apparently the Spanish who landed here made friends with the local Indian tribe. But the chieftain soon warned the Spaniards to leave or the 'shadow devil' would curse them. The Spanish ignored the warnings at first, but after a good amount of people went missing they decided to heed the warning. They left but one of the Spaniards recorded a few things from what one of the Indians said. This thing was creepy, girl. The document said that the creature usually showed itself as black smoke in the form of a man, but could take the image of a loved one and lure the person away. And it preferred women. "

"Well, that's comforting. Almost sounds like a shapeshifter."

"Maybe, girl, but whatever that thing was it sure was spooky. I would hate to be an Indian during that time."

"Me and you both." I muttered. "Thanks, Teesha. I appreciate you looking in on it."

"No problem, and hey, next time you come down bring those cousins of yours. I need a date and some fresh meat would be nice."

I smiled. "Sure thing, Teesh. Bye." I put the phone down on the counter and just stared at my half-eaten hamburger.

It preferred women. How nice.

"Allie," I felt a hand on my arm. I looked up to see Sam watching me intently. "Allie, we'll get this thing. I promise." I nodded and gave a perfunctory smile.

"Aw, don't worry, Allie." Dean said, his mouth stuffed. "Me and Sammy here we'll find that sucker and blow him to kingdom come."

My smile was a little more real this time, but I still felt hollow. "I'm gonna go check on the horses. See if they need anything." I stood up and walked out the door, Traiden close on my heels.

It was cloudy outside with the wind blowing fiercely. I was caught of guard at first, but when I felt the thick humidity in the air and the heat I knew a storm was coming. The trees whipped back and forth, shedding green leaves and making a thick carpet on the ground.

Traiden trotted along in front of me, stopping at the gate as I opened it. I looked around the twelve acre pasture before spotting the horses. Sojourn and Listener were standing with tails to the wind. But not Brego. He had his head up high and was looking at me, his long black mane whipping in the wind. The mahogany color of his coat seemed to glow in the low light.

"Padda!" I let out in a high pitched voice. "Padda, padda!" The bay was loping towards before I even got the second call out. He slid to a stop in front of me and I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face into his mane. I took a deep breath and smelled the sweet smell of hay mixed with an earthy muskiness that only Brego had. I relaxed into a mindset that had me slowly moving towards Brego's back, running my hands along his neck until they were on his withers. I grabbed to handfuls of his thick mane, took a short running burst, and leapt sideways onto Brego's back. I breathed a sigh of contentment as I felt his steady breaths under me, the solidness and strength of him.

"Is this how you relax?"

I looked up to see Sam and Dean leaning on the wooden fence. Both of them had curious looks on their faces, but Sam's seemed more intense. "Yeah."

"I don't see how you could relax." Dean said. "You don't even have anything on him."

I smiled. "What Dean? You don't think I can ride?"

"No, I think you can or you wouldn't have been able to jump up there like you did." He paused for a moment. "I still think you're nuts."

"I guess that means you don't want a ride, huh?"

"Nope."

I laughed and turned to Sam, urging Brego a little closer. "What about you, Sam? You want to ride."

Sam was stroking Brego's face with a look of a kid in a candy store, a smile lighting his face. "On one of the others?"

I shook my head. "Sojourn and Listener are good horses, but their not used to bareback riding. No, you can ride double with me. Brego's strong and can carry us both."

In answer, Sam climbed over the fence, but when he reached the top I motioned for him to stop and positioned Brego so Sam could slide on behind me. His arms quickly wrapped around my waist as he tried to balance himself. He was shaking just a little bit.

"First time on a horse?" I whispered as I turned Brego away from the fence at an easy walk.

"No," Sam tightened his grip on me when he started sliding to the right. Brego stepped sideways and aided Sam back into the right position. "When I was ten Dad went on a hunt and left Dean and me at motel that was next to a riding stable. I snuck away in the middle of the night and managed to get one of the horses close enough to the fence where I could climb on. I had just sat there, letting the horse take me wherever. I rode for about two hours, before I decided to get off. Dean never found out about it. He was still asleep when I got back."

I was smiling when he finished. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For sharing the story." I glanced back at him and my smile turned excited. "Ready to ride?"

Sam grinned back. "Ready as I'll ever be."

"Hold on tight then." I waited till Sam had a death grip on me before tightening my legs and asking Brego to gallop. I felt his muscles bunch as he gathered himself to launch. We shot off and Sam almost pulled me off but he quickly righted himself, holding on to me tightly. Brego ate the ground up and it felt as if we were flying.

"That's it Sammy! Ride 'em cowboy!" Dean yelled from the fence. Sam let out a whoop in return and I heard his laugh that followed it. I let Brego run for a while before slowing him down to a smooth lope, then trot, and finally a walk. Brego was barely breathing hard and I patted his neck. Sam and I—on the other hand—were breathing as if we had run a ten mile race.

"That…was amazing, Allie." Sam panted. I could hear the smile in his voice.

"You liked it?"

"Yes."

"Maybe we could convince your brother…?" We had made are way back to Dean and he smiled when he heard me.

"Sorry, girl. Looks fun but not interested."

"You don't know what your missing Dean."

"I think I do. Their called broken bones."

I laughed at him and waited for Sam to slide down. Sam made touched down and held out his hands to steady me as I slid down.

"Relaxed yet?" Sam teased.

I grinned at him. "Very."

"Good."

Rain started coming down and Dean let out a whoop that had Brego swivel on his heels, did a bronco buck, and galloped for the trees. Sam and I jumped the fence and ran with Dean to the porch, where Traiden was waiting, nice and dry.

"Here you go, Allie. Three bags of horse feed, one bag of minerals, one bag of cat food, one of dog food, and fifteen square bales of feed. All crammed into your truck. Is that all you'll be needin'?"

"Yeah, that's about it. Thanks Dan." I walked out to my truck and slid into the driver's seat. Traiden was sitting up in the passenger's side, keeping a vigilant eye on anyone who passed to close to the vehicle.

Dan leaned on the door as I started the truck. He had to talk over the roaring of the engine. "Are you sure you don't want me sendin' some boys with you back home to help you unload."

I smiled up at Dan. "No thanks, Dan. I can unload this by myself."

Dan shrugged and pushed away from the truck. "If you say so. Take care of yourself, Allie."

"Always do, Dan. Thanks again."

The drive home was such a normal everyday thing with Traiden sticking his head out the window that I couldn't help but relax to some degree. As I pulled up the driveway, I noticed with some disappointment that Sam and Dean had not made it back from town. Another person had been reported murdered this morning and Sam and Dean had donned their FED uniforms to go investigate. I had bowed out from that one. One bloody corpse was enough for me right now.

I unloaded the feed first before driving into the pasture. I parked next to an old decrepit horse trailer. I let Traiden out and he bounded out of the seat and proceeded to chase the horses around the pen to keep them from bothering me while unloading the hay. I struggled with the trailer's door before it released with a squeal. I gave the last of the leftover hay to the horses and started pulling some gloves on.

Traiden, who had laid down near the truck, lifted his head towards the house and started wagging his tail furiously. Jumping up, he took off at a dead run for the porch. I looked at the house and driveway, but I couldn't see anyone.

"Crazy wolf," I muttered. I grabbed a bale and struggled to put the heavy thing in the trailer. Wishing that Sam and his ridiculous muscles were here I stepped outside only to run into someone's chest. I jerked back and had a knife in my hand before I recognized the familiar trench coat.

"Allie."

I sighed in relief. "Hello Castiel." The angel was standing by the trailer with Traiden pressed up against his leg, looking up at Cas with adoring eyes. I bent down and slipped the knife back into the boot sheath.

Castiel was staring at me with curious eyes, and then he turned to the hay. In the blink of an eye it was all suddenly gone.

"What the—!" I whirled to the opening of the trailer and found all fifteen bales neatly stacked inside.

"You looked as if you needed help." Castiel stated. He walked over and with one hand closed the rusted door of trailer, with no squeaking sounds.

"Well…thanks Cas. You saved me from having an aching back tonight." I then grinned from ear to ear and enveloped the angel in a hug. Castiel wasn't quite as shy about hugging me as last time and he soon had his arms around me. "I'm happy to see you Castiel. I didn't think you'd be back." I stepped back and saw the ghost of a smirk on his lips.

"I have to wonder why Dean and Sam never greet me as pleasantly as you do."

I laughed and motioned for him to get in the truck with me but he shook his head.

"I'll open the gate for you."

I blinked a few times in shock, wondering when Castiel had learned chivalry but quietly got into the truck and drove through the opened gate. I parked the vehicle and walked over to a swinging bench under an oak tree. Castiel latched the gate and started over to the bench, Traiden following on his heels.

"Were you sitting on the porch when we pulled up?" I asked as Castiel sat next to me on the swing.

"No. I arrived only shortly before you saw me." He reached out and petted Traiden on the head. "Your dog was waiting for me."

"Waiting for you?"

"He was sitting by the spot I arrived at."

I stared at Traiden. "Well, ain't that something."

Castiel's brows drew together. "Your voice is different from anyone that I have heard before. Why is that?"

I let out a short laugh. "I'm a southerner, Cas. People sound different in the South. You stand me next to a Yankee and you'll definitely be able to tell the difference."

"What is a Yankee?"

I grinned. "Someone north of the southern states. We call them Yankees."

"Are Sam and Dean Yankees?"

"No, Sam and Dean are Midwesterners. There're from Kansas."

"Oh."

"Cas, I know you didn't come here to help me unload hay or ask about my accent. What's going on?"

Castiel turned and looked at me. "I went to Sam and Dean."

"At the crime scene?"

"Yes."

"What did they say?"

"They were busy when I saw them but Sam told me they would talk to me when they got back here. Dean told me to come and keep you company until they got back."

I had to look away from Castiel and put a hand over my mouth to keep from grinning. I didn't know whether I should thank Dean, or strangle him on sight. Why oh, why did Dean have to send his guardian angel to me. An extremely handsome guardian angel. Cas' voice drew me back.

"If you do not want company I could leave." He sounded a little more melancholy than usual and I had to smile. I was making friends with an angel.

"Castiel, I would love your company."

We talked about many things—most of them amusing because Castiel was still baffled by human culture and traditions and interrupted a lot—and I found it calming to talk to him and explain things. In fact I was down right giddy.

"Allie, did you mean what you said last time? About God?"

The question caught me off guard. "Yes, Castiel, I meant it."

A pained expression came onto his face and I was immediately aware that I was missing something. "I don't think he cares, Allie."

"Castiel, what's wrong? What is it that I don't know?"

And then a look crossed his face that I had never seen before, one that shocked me and made me furious at the same time. A look of angry, bitter disappointment.

"It doesn't matter." He said leaning forward, his deep voice hoarse with anger. "Not anymore."

I watched him and I was suddenly feeling very inadequate to lift him from this sudden bitterness. Dean could always lift his spirits one way or another. Suddenly I had an idea pop into my head, something that would shock Cas out of this mood.

I scooted closer to Castiel and draped my arm across his shoulders. Then I lifted my arm and started to run my hand through his hair. His reaction was exactly what I wanted. He froze, and then slowly turned his head to look at me, a look of utter bafflement on his face.

"What are you doing?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I wanted to see how soft your hair was." I stopped for a moment. "Should I have asked permission?"

He stared at me as if he didn't know how to answer, but he shook his head and I continued to run my hand through his hair. We sat there for a good bit, until I dropped my hand and smiled.

"Feeling better?"

He looked confused but a knowing look came into his eyes. "You were trying to cheer me up."

"Did it work?" I grinned at him. He just smirked and a thought crossed my head that I wondered if Dean was proud of teaching Castiel how to smirk.

"C'mon." I said as I stood up. "The boys will probably be back before too long, and I want to fix some lunch for them." I watched Cas stand up and grinned at him. "Maybe you could help me cook?"

I was laughing at Castiel's expression so I didn't notice that Traiden had positioned himself between the woods and us. I didn't notice the slinking way he walked or his hackles rise. I didn't notice the shadow creeping through the woods until it disappeared.