Consider yourselves disclaimed. . .
.~o()o~.
The man opened the door and stepped into the brightly coloured room. Nathan didn't bother to look up at him.
"Hello Nathan, how was your sleep?" The man asked in a friendly tone.
Nathan ignored him and climbed off the bed onto the floor, fingers lightly clasping the tiny model of the Impala. He had fallen asleep with it in his hand back in the cave and, though he was surrounded by toys, any of which he would normally be thrilled to play with, it was the only one he would touch.
He completely ignored the man as he started to push the car around on the carpet, making loud engine noises.
"Nathan," the man said. "Nathan, I need to speak with you. Can you put the car down and look at me?"
Nathan continued to ignore him. The man reached down to grab his shoulder, but his hand stopped an inch away from touching him and could go no closer. The man pulled back to try something else. He snapped his fingers and the Impala disappeared from Nathan's hands and reappeared in his own.
Nathan glared petulantly at him, blinked his eyes and the Impala was back in his hands. "Mine," Nathan said clearly before going back to his game.
Frustrated, the man tried to take it back, but he no longer could. "Do you know what happens to naughty little boys who don't do what they are told," he asked, still pleasant but with a dangerous light in his eyes.
Nathan looked up at him and laughed. "Their mommies spank them. Maybe if my mommy was here, I wouldn't be so naughty."
"Don't push me, kid," the man growled. "I could hurt you."
Nathan smirked, "no you can't. You're not the one in charge. You would be in big trouble if I got hurt. Besides, you aren't stronger than me. You look at me and I can see the fear in your eyes. You are afraid that I will hurt you."
"That's hardly true," the man said as he backed cautiously to the door.
"Yes it is. Want to hear another truth? The moment I find my mommy, I am out of here. You won't be able to hold me."
The man was almost to the door. He didn't take his eyes off Nathan.
"What's your name?" Nathan asked quickly as the man eased open the door.
"Hamaliel," the man answered, as if it had been dragged out of him.
"Where's my mommy?" Nathan asked again, but it was too late, the man had shut the door and fled down the hallway.
"Castiel," Nathan whispered. "Did you talk to my mommy?"
"Yes, I did," the angel's voice echoed in his mind.
"Is she ok?" he asked, little boy worry replacing the cocky maturity that had been there only seconds before.
"She is just worried about you, little one. They have done nothing to her."
"Could I. . .do you think I could learn to do what you do?" Nathan asked. "So I could visit her too and tell her that I am ok?"
"it is a possibility. Some of your gifts may extend to that area. We can try if you like, but it may take some time for you to learn how to do it," Castiel said, pride in his voice.
Two big, fat tears rolled down Nathan's cheeks. "I miss her. I miss her so much."
"I know," Castiel said softly. "And you have been so brave."
"What if I never see her again?" Nathan wailed.
"Hush child, you will see her again, I promise. I don't lie to you, you know that. Now be brave like I know you can and we will try to speak with your mother. It can't hurt to make an attempt. Close your eyes and try to follow my voice."
Nathan closed his eyes and followed as Castiel gradually withdrew his consciousness from the room. It was a strange and twisty path that his mind had to follow and sometimes he almost lost Castiel's quiet whisper. At one point, he was afraid he wouldn't know how to get back.
"We're here," Castiel whispered after what felt like hours. Nathan opened his eyes and he could see her. "Mommy!"
.~o()o~.
Sam yawned and stretched, smiling when he felt a warm, familiar presence at his side. He drew her closer in contentment before the events of the day came rushing back.
He sat up, shaking Leah's shoulder. "Leah?"
She moaned and snuggled her face into his bicep, resisting wakefulness.
"Come on, Leah," he called. "I need to know its you in there."
"Its all me, now let me sleep," Leah whined. Sam chuckled and stopped pestering her, just watching as she returned to her cocoon. Suddenly she rolled onto her back and her eyes flew open. She quickly fumbled for her glasses. "Holy crap, Sam! You're awake! How do you feel?"
"I feel fine, great in fact. Definitely not feeling like I need to lay around in bed. . .not sleeping anyway," he teased.
Leah turned red and looked away from him. "Sam, I thought you were dying. . ." her voice trailed off. "And the things I said to you. . ."
"Hey, hey, you were right. I shouldn't have pushed you. I should have respected that you wanted to go slowly. I would never purposefully do anything to hurt you," Sam said gently.
"It didn't warrant that type of response. I completely overreacted," Leah's eyes started to fill with tears.
"I get it, I scared you and I'm sorry. I wasn't in control. . ." Sam reached out with his thumb and brushed away the first tear that rolled down her cheek.
"That wasn't what scared me," at Sam's quizzical look, she continued. "I was afraid of how much I wanted it. . .of how I was willing to take a lifetime of commitment and convictions and throw it down the drain just because you were touching me. All the time I was yelling at you, I was furious with myself for being so weak."
"You are not weak. You are one of the strongest people I know. I knew how important this thing was to you. I thought of it too, as I was kissing you. I could have reminded you before things went too far, but I didn't. I am just as much to blame."
"No, you're not," Leah said, pushing his hand away from her cheek. "I've been working to put together the pieces of my possession. Ruby let me be awake for a lot of it. If you had been the man I accused you of being, then Ruby's plan would have been the perfect excuse for you to take what you wanted, but instead, you nearly died trying to save my life, even thought you knew I might never be to you what you were asking of me.
Sam crushed her to him, cupping the back of her head in one palm and pulling her even closer. "Don't you ever feel guilty for the choice you made. You are exactly the woman I want, the woman I love. I love it that you have never been with anyone. You don't know how much I wish I could come to you and say that I had never loved before. I don't know if marriage is in our future, but if it is, I want you to come to me this way, and if it isn't, I don't want to take away the gift you have been saving from the man you have been saving it for, whoever he is."
"I was so afraid that you wouldn't understand. . .that I had lost you for good, Leah wept into his chest.
Sam just held her silently, letting her cry it out until there were no more tears.
Leah pushed away from Sam's shoulder, giving him a tentative smile. "I think I'm good," she said hoarsely.
"I never understood why resolving things like this took so long," Castiel popped into the room. "However, Dean made me promise to wait until, and I quote, "the chick flick moment is over." It is time to discuss a plan of action. We now have a place to start.
.~o()o~.
Excited to hear all your thoughts. . .as always!