Chapter Four: Angel Sanctuary

Driving turned out to be a slow and tedious process, at least in Naomi's opinion. She was used to the near instantaneous transition of flight, and the crawling pace of the earthbound vehicle was frustrating. Still, it was faster than walking in her vessel would have been, and more comfortable as well. With that in mind, she managed to keep her opinions to herself.

Hael, or rather Hael's vessel, turned out to be a very competent driver. She kept the car going at a smooth pace, steady on the road and, if Naomi was reading everything correctly, obeying the speed limits and rules that humans placed upon their transportation.

Castiel was quiet. He wasn't asleep, Naomi knew that much. She could feel the active awareness in his mind, and the tension. He was clearly uncomfortable about being in the car with her, and with an angel who wanted to possess him. Naomi was content to leave him be. Their truce was tentative, she knew that. She needed to prove herself worthy of his trust before she demanded anything else of him.

It was a strange feeling. It had been centuries since she had ever needed to prove herself. And she had never had to earn someone's trust. She wasn't quite sure how to go about it. Perhaps she would simply follow Castiel's lead. Certainly, that would be her plan for dealing with the Winchesters. He knew them, she didn't. They trusted him, as she was sure they'd never trust her. Especially after she'd commanded Castiel to kill Dean Winchester.

She would probably have to apologize again. That was another thing she was unused to doing. Apologizing. Admitting that she'd been in error. And admitting it to humans, no less. She wasn't at all sure how she would manage. She was tempted to ask Castiel for some assistance, but she doubted he would give it. She had seen the madness that lay under his calm, and knew the wounds of her treatment of him were close to the surface.

But there was one thing she might address with him, if they had a moment alone. She would not speak of it around Hael, but she did want to apologize for Samandriel. She understood now, how he must have grieved for the death of his younger brother, and how much more it must have pained him to be the one that killed him. At the time it had seemed a necessary measure, to keep Samandriel from revealing secrets angels weren't meant to know, but in hindsight, she thought she might have been wrong about that as well.

After a few hours, Hael pulled them over and drove to a small station that looked like the one they'd left. "This vehicle needs fuel."

"Do you know how to fuel a car?" Castiel's voice grated out of the back seat, the first time he'd spoken since they'd started.

Hael frowned. "I do. My vessel does." She fished in a small bag she had put on the floor and found a small card. "I can use this, can't I?"

"Yes." Castiel gave the younger angel several instructions, reciting them in the manner of someone repeating a lesson learned long ago. Hael repeated them dutifully, then stepped out of the car and began the process of filling the vehicle with the acrid smelling fuel.

Naomi turned to look at Castiel. He looked worn, tired. "Do you require anything? Nourishment? A..." She frowned, remembering the phrase he'd used earlier. "...call of nature?"

"No. I have what I need." His hand clenched on the bag. Then he opened it to reveal some bottles of water, and something that looked like food.

"I see." She decided not to press him any further. Instead, she looked outside. Hael seemed engrossed in completing her task, which made it an ideal time for her to address the issue that had been on her mind. "Castiel...I wish to apologize."

Castiel stared at her, suspicion in his eyes. He said nothing.

Well, it would likely be excellent practice for the Winchesters. And he couldn't smite her, though he might stab her with an angel blade. She didn't think he would though.

She knew him well enough now to know that Castiel despised killing, particularly unnecessary killing. He wouldn't kill a fellow angel in cold blood, and not at all if he could avoid it.

She gathered her resolve. "I wish to apologize for setting you against the Winchesters. And for what transpired between you and Samandriel."

Rage flowered in Castiel's expression, sparking with a force that would have caused explosions if he hadn't been human. His jaw and his hands clenched, fury in every line of his mortal body. "He was an innocent. A brother. Crowley tortured him. And you...you forced me to kill him." There was a crunch as something within the bag gave under his pressure. "I told him I would save him. And you forced me to betray him." Under the rage was pain, deep and agonizing.

Metatron had seen this. She wondered how she could have been blind enough to miss it. "I know."

"He trusted me."

"And you...loved him." It was hard to speak the words. Hard to even think them. How long had it been, since angels had understood love? Or felt it? She couldn't recall a time when she had experienced such emotion. It was hard even to contemplate such things.

"He was my brother." Castiel looked away from her. Anger melted into weary despair, tension draining from his frame. "I never wanted to kill my brothers."

"I know. I have come to understand that." And she had, looking through Metatron's eyes, and Castiel's memories, and her own understanding of them. "That is why I wished to apologize." She paused. "I have...come to understand that...perhaps I do not...perhaps I was wrong, in my thoughts of and my efforts to shape Heaven to my will." That was hard to admit.

"I don't trust you."

"I do not ask you to." Not yet, at least. "I only ask..." She paused. "You have learned much from the Winchesters. Our ways of controlling Heaven have brought nothing but war. And now, we are cast out. Perhaps it is time to try new methods. Learn new lessons. It is my hope that you can teach me these things."

"Before, you wished to destroy everything I had learned, to rip it away from me. You would have killed the Winchesters, turned me into a puppet. Why? Why would you change now?" He turned blazing blue eyes back to her.

She wasn't sure. She couldn't explain why she'd changed her mind. Or when.

Because of what she'd seen in Metatron's mind? Or what she'd seen in the memories stolen from Castiel? Because she didn't understand how he continued to survive, couldn't escape the lingering feeling that he was truly chosen by their Father? He had lived through so much that would have destroyed other angels.

Perhaps it had been the realization that he had never wavered. Not once, not even with repeated re-education, with torture and mind-wiping and everything else. Not even when faced with death and his own annihilation. He had never wavered, not in his convictions, nor in his belief in their Father, though God had never answered him. No other angel had remained so steadfast.

She folded her hands together and answered him honestly. "I cannot explain my reasons to you, Castiel. I only know that what Metatron has done to you is a horrendous wrong, and that, in light of knowing this, that I believe I have also made an error, and I wish to set it right, if it is possible."

Castiel might have replied, but Hael opened the door. His jaw snapped shut at once and she felt him withdraw from their conversation. As Hael began the process of re-starting their journey, Castiel folded himself tighter into the seat and fixed his gaze firmly out the window.

Naomi didn't bother to try and re-engage him. Their conversation was private, and she had not hoped to change Castiel's mind just yet. She had meant to convey her apologies and try to form some sort of common ground between them, but she knew it would take work. Even someone of Castiel's generous spirit would not trust immediately. Not with all she had done to him.

She would simply have to wait until he was ready to talk, and then be prepared to fulfill her promise to listen.

They finally arrived at their destination late in the evening. Castiel directed them through the last few turns, up a narrow lane that ended in a hill.

Not a hill. There was a door there, very well concealed. Naomi blinked at it. It didn't look like much, an old, heavy door, settled into the hillside and bound into a concrete frame. There was nothing particularly impressive about the place, and certainly nothing that suggested it would be an adequate shelter for even just the two Winchesters, let alone their prophet and the three of them. To say nothing of the angel that had reportedly helped save Samuel Winchester's life.

"Wait here." Castiel opened his door, clambered awkwardly out, then shut it and moved towards the door, stumbling on the first few steps. Naomi wondered if his human form was stiff or in pain, but she made no move to follow him. Hael remained in the car as well, following their lead.

***LtL***

Castiel made his way wearily to the Bunker. He felt exhausted, and all his extremities ached. He was beginning to understand why Sam and Dean stopped as often as they did on their road trips. Being human was much more difficult than he'd thought.

Still, he was here. And despite his exhaustion, he couldn't stop the thrill of joy that passed through him, that he had finally rejoined his family. He hoped both Sam and Dean were all right, and that Ezekiel wouldn't be too unhappy to see him. He hadn't had any trouble with that particular angel, but sometimes his reputation made things difficult.

Of course, he suspected the real difficulty would be his two companions. He wasn't entirely sure he'd done the right thing in accepting their assistance, though he was grateful he hadn't had to walk the whole way here. Or hitch-hike, as the truck driver had called it.

He wished he had a cell phone, but he'd lost it in the Fall. He sighed and hit the door hard, hoping the noise would draw some attention.

For several moments, nothing happened. Then he heard the sound of bolts and locks being manipulated. He stepped back, and the door swung open to reveal Dean. The hunter was holding a gun, and standing in a way that suggested he had a blade on hand, ready for use, but he dropped the pistol quickly enough. "Cas?"

"Dean." He looked away from the hunter, feeling suddenly embarrassed about his battered state and dusty clothing. He knew, logically, that Dean had seen him weak, seen him hurt and worn, several times. Unfortunately, his newly human emotions weren't responding to logic. He felt oddly ashamed of his sudden humanity. He might have been weak and broken before, even insane, but at least he'd always been an angel. He'd always had something he could offer the Winchesters in return for their hospitality and acceptance. Now though, he had nothing.

That thought died when the hunter wrapped him in a bruising embrace. "Damn. It's good to see you." Dean thumped him on the back, then released him. "I didn't think you'd make it for another couple of days, with everything else."

He meant the Fall, and Castiel's new status. Castiel swallowed, knowing Dean wasn't likely to like what he had to say. "I had...assistance."

"Yeah?" Dean blinked. "Friendly trucker?"

"Originally, yes. But he only took me to a fuel station. I...I met two of my sisters there. They helped me." He swallowed hard. "I told you, some of them were only lost and confused..."

"Yeah. And you wanted to help 'em out. I remember." Dean scowled, but it wasn't a very heavy scowl, more like the ones he wore when he and Sam were arguing about how to handle a hunt. "You brought 'em here?"

"They brought me, but yes." He might as well tell Dean the whole thing. "Dean, one of them is Naomi."

Dean's eyes hardened, the scowl settling into something much more dangerous. "The bitch that tried to kill me? The one who did all that shit to screw you up? Tried to wipe your brain?"

"Yes." He reached out, caught the hunter's shoulders before Dean could go for his angel blade. "I know you don't trust her. I don't either. But she helped me. And she apologized. She said she wants to make amends. And I...I believe she is sincere, for the moment. She helped heal my injuries from the Fall, and she protected me from another angel." He bit his lip, then dragged out his last argument. "She said she might be able to help Sam."

Dean's eyes flickered. "We already got Zeke on that."

"But Naomi might be able to speed up the process. And she can help prevent other angels from hunting us." He searched Dean's face.

Dean seemed to be searching his as well. Finally the hunter snarled out a sigh and relaxed. "Fine. She can come in. But you're responsible for her. And if she screws any shit up, I will end her. No second chances."

"Agreed." He'd never intended to argue that. In fact, he'd fight Dean for the right to strike her down himself, if she double-crossed them.

Dean sighed again. "Well, come on inside. I got some food made, and me and Sammy and the kid were looking into this angel thing. We could use some extra eyes."

"Of course." He should have known the Winchesters would be working on how to solve the problem of angels on Earth. They had been working on the angel tablet even before Metatron had come to him, so they most likely had far better information than the angelic host did. Not to mention all the resources of the Men of Letters.

Dean turned and stalked back inside, leaving the door open. Castiel returned to the car and wrenched open Naomi's door. "The Winchesters have agreed to allow you entry, as long as you agree to follow their rules. Betray them, and you will die."

"That is reasonable." Naomi stepped out of the car, looking for all the world that she'd just arrived on Earth. Castiel bit the inside of his cheek. He knew he looked dirty and disheveled. He probably looked as tired and sore as he felt. And he was hungry, in spite of the food he'd acquired earlier.

He gestured for Naomi to walk ahead of him, then followed her, Hael trailing uncertainly along behind. The younger angel didn't say anything, though she seemed slightly ill at ease. Then again, she'd seemed that way since Naomi had joined them, so perhaps it was reasonable. Castiel wasn't all that comfortable with Naomi's presence himself.

Entering the Bunker was a surprisingly uncomfortable experience. He'd never really been troubled by any sort of human architecture before, but being human gave him a different perspective. He was uncomfortably aware of the steepness of the spiral stairs into the main area of the Bunker, and the closeness of the walls. He was also aware that if he fell, it was going to hurt.

He made it down the stairs without trouble though, and joined Naomi in the map room just as Sam Winchester emerged from the library.

Hunter, angel and former angel stared at each other. And then everything exploded.

***LtL***

She had expected Dean Winchester's stipulations, and she had no intention of defying him. She needed a safe place to heal, and she had no desire to leave Castiel's side. Still, she was wary as she descended into the dwelling that the Winchesters had claimed for their own.

Despite the unremarkable exterior, the inside of their new home was remarkably comfortable and spacious, for a human dwelling. The room they descended into was open and well-lit, with a large map in the center. Several places on the map glowed red. Naomi studied them, blinking in mingled surprise and cautious hope when she realized what the red spots represented. They were places where angels had fallen to Earth. It might not show where they were now, but it would at least provide a starting point when she attempted to contact her followers and allies. That was useful.

A presence drew her attention, and she turned away from the map as Sam Winchester and Castiel came into the room. "Hey Cas..." The words trailed off as he spotted her.

Angelic presence flared, overwhelming the human soul that masked it. She caught the sudden, sharp shock as the other angel recognized her, followed by overwhelming fear. Fear and rage.

She had never, to the best of her knowledge, been forced to correct Ezekiel. There was no reason for him to be afraid. She reached out on instinct, reading the identity of the angel's Grace. The answer came to her in a burst of awareness.

This angel was not Ezekiel.

Then the angel in Sam Winchester's body exploded into motion. He drew an angel blade and launched across the room. She didn't dare smite him, and the moment of indecision cost her the only advantage she might have had. The angel caught her and slammed her back into the wall by the stairs, raising his blade to strike.

"Sam!" Dean Winchester's voice interrupted the angel's movement. Within moments the older hunter was at his brother's side, tugging on his arm. "Hey. Chill. Look, I know we don't like her, but just relax. Cas vouched for her."

"She cannot stay here." The angel backed up, but didn't release his blade. "She is a threat."

Dean paused. "Zeke?"

"She is a threat. If she remains, I cannot." The angel turned Sam Winchester's long, heavy frame. "She will bring the other angels down on us."

"If she does that, we'll ice her. But Cas said she promised to behave, even stop other angels from coming after him." Dean frowned. "You got a beef with the other angels, Zeke?"

"I..."

"He is not Ezekiel." Naomi straightened her vessel's clothing. "His Grace is not that of Ezekiel's. And Ezekiel and I have never met. There would be no reason for him to fear me."

"I know your reputation." The angel in Sam's body didn't relax.

"Maybe. But the Ezekiel I know wouldn't threaten to let Sam Winchester die for that." Castiel moved forward, cocking his head in a manner that all of them recognized.

Naomi took a moment to study the angel's Grace, and compare it to the angels she knew, or knew about.

It wasn't an angel who had come before her for correction. She would have known those, known the shards of missing Grace or memory, seen the marks of the required re-education.

This angel had never been re-educated at all. He would have no reason to fear pursuit, or danger, in that case. Unless...a prisoner?

There had only ever been a few prisoners, at least since Lucifer's Fall. All the angels who had joined him had been sent into the Pit with him, rather than being imprisoned in Heaven. Most of the angels who had been in prison had been awaiting re-education, or suffering punishment for some minor infraction. Most of those had been released after the appropriate time. Most of them had understood their punishment, and even the ones who might have resented it were not afraid of her. She had never been the Warden.

There had, in fact, only been one angel in Heaven's prison for centuries. Only one…

"Gadreel."

The angel stiffened, and she saw his Grace flare with the acknowledgment of his name. His true name.

Gadreel. The disgraced guard of Eden, who had allowed the serpent to poison the minds of Adam and Eve. He had been locked away since then. But of course, if he had been expelled from Heaven with the rest of the Host, he would wish to avoid detection. He would not wish to be seen, or discovered. It was a wonder, really, that he had come to the aid of the Winchesters at all. It had put him in danger, which he could have avoided.

Castiel stiffened at the name. "Gadreel?" He took a sharp step forward, anger suffusing his features.

"Whoa." Dean Winchester got between them. "Whoa, Cas. Hold up. Who's Gadreel? And why would he lie about his name anyway?"

"He was the one who let Lucifer into the Garden of Eden. He let evil poison mankind. Everything that happened after was his fault. His fault!" Castiel snarled the words.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not." Naomi moved forward to catch the former seraph by the shoulder. "Castiel...have we not all made mistakes, for which we seek redemption?"

Castiel flinched at the words, turning to face her. "You know what he did..."

"And I also know what you have done. And you know what I have done." She met his eyes, refusing to give ground. "Would you shed another angel's blood simply for a sin he may not have intended to commit? As I have done with you?"

And Samandriel. She did not say the words, but she hoped he understood them.

"Hate to say it Cas, but she kinda has a point. We've all screwed up." Dean had moved from his brother's side to Castiel's. "Look, if he's a bad apple, then we'll deal with it. But right now he's helping Sam. He's keeping him alive and fixing all the stuff the trials did to him. So I'm asking, just for Sam's sake, give him a chance. Okay?" He put a hand on Castiel's shoulder.

Castiel wavered. Then he nodded. "All right. I will. But if he betrays us..." He cast a fierce look at Gadreel.

"Then you can get a number and wait in line, or we'll kick his ass together. I promise Cas."

Castiel nodded. "All right."

Naomi turned to Gadreel herself. "It is not my intention to punish or imprison you. I have no power to do so, but even if I did, I would not use it. There are many other issues that we must deal with. If I promise my protection, as far as it goes, will you in turn promise to remain with Samuel Winchester, to heal and protect him, and to take Castiel under your protection as well?" Castiel shot her an offended look, but she ignored it. After all, he was human now. He would need to be protected sometimes. Even Hael could have gotten the best of him, at the gas station.

Gadreel, in Sam Winchester's body, considered her words. He studied her. "You swear you will vouch for me to our brothers and sisters?"

"You have my word. I have no interest in persecuting you, and I have already promised my aid to the Winchesters and all those under their care."

Gadreel looked at her, then Castiel, then Dean Winchester. Finally he nodded. "Very well. I will remain."

A brief spark of Grace flared in the hunter's eyes. Then Sam Winchester was back, staggering slightly. "What...what just happened?" He twisted to look at his brother. "Dean?"

Dean Winchester shuffled in place. "Uh...Sammy…" He trailed off.

Castiel frowned. "You did not tell Sam?"

"Tell me what?" Sam looked from his brother to Castiel, his brow creasing in frustration and concern. "Dean?"

"The trials man. They nearly killed you. Even when you quit 'em. I took you to a hospital, but they said there was nothing they could do for you." Dean met his brother's eyes, his expression filled with shame-faced desperation. "I was desperate."

"What did you do?" Sam was tense. "Did you...Dean, did you make a deal? With Crowley, or another demon?"

"No. I would have, if there wasn't any other way. But it wasn't what I did. I put out a call to all angels." Dean swallowed, hands clenching and unclenching. "I got an angel to help you. But the damage was too great to heal all at once, especially now that the angels Fell. So..." He swallowed again. "I had to do it Sam."

"Do what?" Sam scowled.

"I got you to say yes." Dean's face was pale. "Cas couldn't help you. There wasn't any other way to save you. So I entered your dream and got you to say yes."

Sam went paler than his brother. "I...you allowed me to be possessed?"

"Yeah. He told me his name was Ezekiel. Cas vouched for him." Dean took a deep breath. "Turns out, he's an angel named Gadreel. Some guard in Eden who got into trouble. But he promised he wouldn't do anything except what I asked him to. Cas and Naomi promised to keep an eye on him." Dean stepped forward and laid a tentative hand on Sam's shoulder. "Look, it's just till you heal up from the trials. Then you can banish him, or whatever. I'll even help, if it comes to that. But just...until you're better, bear with it, okay?"

"And how do you expect to know if I'm really better?"

Naomi stepped forward. "I will monitor your progress. If you will permit me."

Sam swung around to face her. "And why would I trust you?"

"I offered my assistance to Castiel."

"She did. She helped me get here." Castiel stepped forward. "Sam...I understand your concerns. But..." He swallowed hard. "Dean is correct. I cannot help you. This is the best option."

Sam stared at Cas, concern replacing his fury. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Castiel flushed. "I...Metatron. He took my Grace. I'm human now."

Sam's fury disappeared as he stepped forward. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm uninjured. Though I could use some food, and most likely some way of cleaning myself." He looked at his battered and dusty clothing. "I was...lost in the woods for a while."

"Yeah. I think Dean has some spare stuff. Or we might have some general size clothing, for the odd visitor. And you can use the shower and some of our supplies…I can show you where the towels are." Sam paused. "Dean..."

"I got some food prepped. Should be enough for all four of us. I made extra. It's just soup, but..."

"Soup sounds wonderful." Castiel looked hopeful.

"Great. I'll dish you up a bowl." Dean met his brother's eyes a moment, exchanging some unspoken communication that even Naomi couldn't catch. Then Sam relaxed, just a little. Dean followed suit, then turned back to a doorway set behind the stairs.

Sam watched him go. "I'd better get Kevin. And we should eat. The rest of you..." His gaze raked over Naomi and Hael both. "Just...don't go anywhere until we sort you out."

Naomi nodded her agreement. Hael looked slightly rebellious, but followed suit. Sam turned and followed his brother, muted anger in his posture. Castiel followed him without a word.

Naomi watched them go, then went to a chair. In spite of her Grace, her vessel felt somewhat rundown. Besides, there was no telling how long eating would take the Winchesters. And while she was tempted to explore, she had agreed to abide by their rules. So she would wait.

For the time being, they were safe. And they had a place from which to work. Perhaps, with a little persuasion, she could convince the Winchesters to help her contact her people. That was enough to start with.

She did wonder, though, how Gadreel had wound up there. And why it sounded like the Winchesters were associating with the King of Hell.

Author's Note: Team Free Will reunited! Unexpected revelations for all!

And it only gets more fun from here...