Title: Lost Little Birdy
Summary: After the events at the warehouse in PONR, Castiel is missing for two weeks. Then he's found by a young woman in LA and suddenly he has a reason to fight again.
Disclaimer: Supernatural belongs to Kripke, as do the characters. But that doesn't mean I can't kidnap them for my own fun once in a while. Hehehe!
A/N: Thanks again to those who are following this story, and those who've reviewed. I hate to say that I didn't get a chance to watch the most recent episode, or finish this story over the weekend. That means after this chapter things may be going a little slow, with updates more spread out. Please don't hate me!
-----Chapter 7-----
No one in her building got much sleep that night. The police arrived at 2am and, with a disgruntled Mr. Santos, took everyone's statements. April gave them a rundown of events leading up to that night, and her relationship with Nick Hilton. They questioned Castiel, who let his arms hang by his sides and paused before answering each question succinctly. April could see that the cop taking his statement thought he was a bit dim.
Mr. Hollando ventured out of his apartment from across the hall, petted April on the shoulder comfortingly, gave the cop his version of events and returned to his home. Jules had handed over the baseball bat and he and Mark flanked her as she talked to the police.
Eventually the excitement died down and the cops left. Just before April returned to her apartment, Mr. Santos shoved Castiel's suit into her hands and told her he was taking it out of her rent. Sighing she thanked his retreating back as he huffed back down stairs.
Closing the door behind her, April dropped the suit over the back of a chair and got a glass of water. Her hands shook so badly it took her twice as long as it should have to fill the glass to the top.
Castiel stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the floor. Silence reigned supreme and the weak light from the street shining through the window did nothing for the pallor of their skin. Both looked white as ghosts, bags and shadows under their eyes.
"I'll leave now," Castiel volunteered, reaching for his suit.
"Not until you give me an explanation," April shot back at him. He stopped midstride, and looked back at her. The wide breadth of his shoulders was tense as he turned to face her fully.
"You would not believe the truth."
"Try me." April's voice rose gradually in volume as she continued. "Ever since you turned up you've kept me guessing. You heal without scars; you talk like you're from another planet; you move incredibly fast. I've asked no questions and you've told me nothing. I don't know where the hell you're from and I know you're not human. You don't owe me anything, but I would at least like an explanation for what just happened out there!"
Castiel was silent, his eyes sliding from her to the floor. He turned his head a little, as though listening to something far away, before sighing.
He looked her in the eye and said simply, "I am an angel of the Lord."
April blinked at him. "What, you mean a preacher or something?"
"No. A soldier of Heaven."
April set down her glass. "There are no such things as angels."
"That is what you believe," he said, taking a few steps away from her. At that moment, the lights in the street began to flicker and the shadows of two spread wings appeared on the living room wall directly behind him. April gasped and took a step back.
"Oh, my God," she whispered, covering her mouth with a hand.
"I was helping the Winchesters rescue their brother from other angels by performing an Enochian spell of banishment. The symbols have to be written in blood and the only flat surface was me." He pointed to his chest, where the circle and smaller symbols had been carved when she found him. "It has never been done that way before, so I didn't know what would happen. I was sure I would die."
April simply stared at him. She didn't know what to think. She didn't know if she believed him, but a lot of things were beginning to add up.
"OK, so if you're an angel," she said slowly. "What are you doing here on earth? Aren't you supposed to be… up there?"
"I am trying to stop Lucifer from starting the Apocalypse."
April raised her eyebrows. "The Apocalypse? And Lucifer – the Devil? Are you serious?"
"Very."
His tone left little doubt in April's mind that he wasn't kidding. Yeah, so she'd seen all the bad stuff that was happening all over the world, earthquakes, fires, people missing or found dead in the most horrific ways, whole towns found empty of life; but the End of Days? Was it really so close?
"OK," she said, refilling her glass. "You have to tell me everything."
-----XXX-----
A/N: Please review.
