Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural! (no matter how many times I ask for it for Christmas (and my birthday, and Halloween, and st. Patrick's day, and Easter.))

Notes: If anyone's read my demon!Dean story "Through My Empty Heart" they might remember the River Styx water, good 'cause it's in this chapter.

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A Swan's Wings

By Mikkal

Saint Martin's Catholic Church

Piqua, Kansas

The demon was killed with a scream and a flash of light from him and a simple slap in the forehead from Dean. He brushed himself off and looked around the church, especially at the 22 children huddled in the far corner. Damnit, why did it have to be kids? At least the Seal hadn't been broken yet, that would involve a lot of blood and a lot of dead kids—kids who were suppose to be on a week field trip, not a 'demons killed me to open the Gates of Hell' trip!

On the other side of him Castiel dispatched the second to last demon the same way Dean did, a tap on the head then poof! And second to last demon for a reason, the last demon was currently...tied up so they could question her later.

The Arch Angel shot the demon a disgusted look, even when he could see their real face five hours before his Deal was up they were never this repulsive. And trust him, they were repulsive.

But now was not the time to think about that, now was the time to check on the kids and make sure they were going to start doing...something. Hunting, maybe? Staying quiet for months at a time? Suicide? Never mind. Didn't want to think of something like that.

Something...more like someone tugged on the bottom of his jacket causing him to look down and see a little girl, no more then ten years old. The voice in the back of his mind provided her name without Dean even asking. Taylor.

"Mister," she sounded so innocent and young. "Are you an angel?"

He smiled, "Yeah, sweetie, I am." He was an angel, he was never going to use to hearing or saying that.

Her face brightened, a boy did that do wonders—now she didn't look so haunted about what she just saw. "Which one are you? Ar-Are you Michael?"

Dean resisted the urge to gag, the Bible really needed to be re-written or something. "Yes, Taylor, I'm Michael."

Her eyes widened, "My mommy says you protect me every night, right?"

"That's right," he got to her level. "And I have to say, there no monsters are under your bed, they think you're too wonderful to scare."

"Really?" She jumped up and down, "I have to go tell my sister!" The little girl ran to her older sister and started whispering excitedly with her.

"That was nice, Dean." Cas told him.

He offered him a smile. "Thanks, just another part in my angelic duties, right?"

"Right."

Dean cleared his throat and clapped his hands. "Well, we better get going." He jerked a thumb to the demon. "That thing isn't going to question itself."

"Ya know," it smiled with it's female vessel's lips. "Calling me a 'thing' won't get you, like, anything good."

His lips pulled back in a half snarl. "Funny, because nothing good can come from a hell spawn like you."

She shivered mockingly, "Oohh, scary. You know, my daddy said your brother was going to be, like, something special, boy I guess he was, like sooo wrong."

"Your 'daddy'?" Dean and Castiel exchanged confused looks. Then a light turned on in the Arch Angel's head. "Are you tellin' me Azazel is you dad?"

"Yep!" She lifted her head proudly. "I use to be Duane Tanner in, like, 2007 or something."

"I was wondering what happen to that kid!" Dean's eyes flashed. All that time, all that friggin' time spent trying to protect those people in Rivergrove and this is what happens? At least two of them had to have been wasted by the demon.

"I killed him," she shrugged, "Like, what about it?" The demon's eyes pooled to inky black and her voice changed into a menacing sound (at least to a normal human), "You killed my daddy, my sister, and my brother. You should be lucky I haven't killed anyone else."

"Oh yeah, real lucky."

Suddenly her hand snaked out of the binds and slammed into Dean's chest, sending him flying back with a strangled yell. He curled up, shudders racking his body.

Castiel quickly placed his fingers on her forehead, banishing the demon right to hell before rushing to his friend's side.

"That hurt like a bitch," Dean gasped out. "What hit me?"

The angel didn't answer, instead he fumbled with Dean's shirt. The solid color slowly turning darker as blood soaked its way to the surface. He pulled it up, a hiss escaping the Arch Angel's lips when the fabric tore away from where the anti-possession tattoo use to be.

A area right where the demon hit was missing enough layers of skin for it glisten with blood. The red bubbled a little, running down Dean's bare side.

"This is strange," Castiel murmured, touching the edge softly. "No demon of that low of a class should be able to harm an Arch Angel."

"Must mean I'm defective.:

Cas glared at him. "That's not funny."

"Oh come on," he grinned sheepishly, "It's a little funny."

Dean rolled his eyes at his friend's stony silence. "But, seriously. What hit me?"

"It seems to be," the angel rubbed his fingers together. "Something like...water?"

"You gotta be kidding me!" Dean groaned and tilted his head back to look at the worried kids. "Taylor, sweetie."

She jumped at being addressed but hurried forward. "Ye-yes? Are you okay, Mr. Michael?"

He grimaced. "Of course, but could you do me a favor any way?"

The child nodded her head vigorously. "Yes, yes!"

"Do you know what Holy Water is?" Please, please do.

"I do!" She sounded so proud of herself. "I know where it is, too!"

"Good!" Dean gestured to the general direction of the Water. "Could you go get Cas and me some, please?"

She didn't answer with words, just ran to grant the wishes of an Arch Angel.

"Dean, I do not understand." Castiel looked down at him with worried eyes. "Why do you need Holy Water?"

He got a faraway look in his eyes, a haunted faraway look. One Castiel hated to see in those emerald eyes. "In hell there's this river, the River Styx. Its water is poison, even to demons. So if it can hurt a demon, why can't it hurt an angel?"

"Dean—"

"Mr. Michael! I got the Holy Water!" Whatever Castiel was about to say was cut off by Taylor's excited shout and her running up to the two heavenly beings.

He tried his best to muffle a moan, completely incapacitated as the Styx water began to seep further into his skin, lighting every nerve on fire.

Castiel watched with concerned eyes while Dean's shudders turned into tremors, to the point where he vibrated off the floor. He quickly took the Holy Water and gently poured it on the contaminated wound. Steam rose and hissed, causing the Arch Angel to claw at the floor.

"Damnit, Cas!"

When Dean could swear, it meant he was feeling better. Cas sighed in relief, he wouldn't admit it to Dean, nor would he admit to anyone. But moments when the slightest scratch appeared on his friend's skin sent him into deep worry. Who knew what was poisoning whatever he got himself on? Now was a perfect example.

"Are you okay now?"

Dean squeezed his eyes tighter together and nodded. "I think so." He tapped the edges of the still-there burn, if it could be called that. "Did I mention I hate demons?"

"I think you mentioned it once or twice." The angel grabbed him softly by the neck and pulled Dean to sitting position. "Your shirt needs to come off so I can bandage you."

He groaned. "Ugh, just kill me know." Green eyes flicked around while a hand reached up to adjust his glasses after they were first knocked sideways from the demon hit then knocked again for the shirt being taken off. "Uh, what exactly are you going to 'bandage' me with?"

"Mr. Michael!" Taylor popped into view with a roll of white bandage in hand...Wow, what a coincidence. "My sis found some of this in the First Aid, she said it would help!"

Dean blinked stupidly. "Uh, thanks?" All she did was smile brightly and run back to her sister. He looked back up the hovering Castiel. "That's convenient."

"Yes," Cas nodded, "Yes it is. Now, hold still."

"Ow!"

Bobby was sitting at his desk, trying, trying to find a lead on another Seal...Key word there is 'trying'. If he could just ignore the sounds of a Arch Angel turned Trickster torture an angel turned human with rolled up paper balls. The other Arch Angel wasn't helping, just sitting there...creepily silent.

And then...Dean and Castiel appeared right in the middle of the room, sending only one of them jumping back in surprise: Bobby.

"Ah! Dean, my man!" Gabriel's smile reached for ear to ear. "I see you decided to go a very round about way in becoming the most powerful being in the universe. Father not included."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Uh huh. Not really what I was going for Gabe." For some reason he had a nice, white bandaged wrapped around his chest.

"Well who cares! You're part of the big dogs now!"

Anna copied Dean and rolled her eyes. "Gabriel, would you stop?"

"Hey," He raised his hands. "I'm just sayin'."

"So," Dean surveyed the group. "This is the holy legion against hell's army?"

Raphael sighed. "Do not forget the other angels in heaven who are more than willing to serve you, Dean."

"You would think that spending some time down here would do some good for your English skills, Ralph." Gabriel cut in. "I mean, look at Cas! He's already down with speakin' like a mortal!"

Something whispered in Dean's mind, his head cocked to side as he tried to listen closer. "Hey, guys. I'll be right back." He didn't wait for a reply before he spread his wings and flew from sight.

The forest was dark when Dean appeared in the clearing. He didn't know where he was or why he was here, but the shadow comeing closer told him all that he needed.

"Dean, I'm surprised you came." Her voice was sweet yet chilling.

He looked at her with indifference. "To tell you the truth, I'm surprised I cam as well. But it's not every day a new Arch Angel is called by a hell's angel."

She laughed, "Just call me Charlie's Angel!" It grew silent once more. Not even cricket chirped.

"What do you want Raziel? I don't have time for this."

"Dean." Raziel got closer. "Lucifer would like to have a word with you."