Crickets rhythmically chirped, their sounds pouring out from the untended grass and woodland that surrounded the salvage yard. The moon was nonexistent tonight; the ball of light was covered by fast moving clouds that carried a cool wind with it.
I sat on the porch my feet resting on the soft earth below. My eyelids were shut, using my other senses to paint a picture of my surroundings. Disregarding the past events, tonight could be considered peaceful.
The wind brushed against my skin raising hairs; the flowing air continued back and into the house through the door which was now propped open against Dean's foot.
I opened my eyes, twisting my neck to observe the man as he leaned on the door trim his arms folded on his chest. Upon seeing that I'd met his gaze, he ran a hand down his face and took a moment to clear his throat before speaking. "We've been talking." I blinked slowly; so they had. I thought I heard mumbles earlier but I couldn't discern what was going on, perhaps I shouldn't have ignored it. "Sam and I are going to leave, get back on the road. You'll stay here with Bobby."
The space between my brows creased. "Where will you two go? Is Sam even alright to leave?"
Dean's face twitched and annoyance momentarily showed. "Don't talk like you know what's best for him." He growled. I stared up at him, my eyes alert and body still.
"I'm sorry." I apologized, relenting under his hard stare. I felt I wasn't the one who should be doing it, but Dean was high strung in the moment and to accuse him of being in the wrong could cause him to snap.
He dismissed me with a wave of his hand. "It's whatever."
We were quiet for a bit until I asked, "Where are you going?"
Dean glanced at me a weird look in his eyes. "This isn't an interrogation, Sherlock." I opened my mouth to apologize again but he beat me to speaking with the answer to my question. He began casually, "I don't really know. Sam needs a win, probably we're gonna take a case,"
"Case? Are you lawyers?" I asked incredulously. I couldn't imagine the two to have that kind of job, and if I mulled over the thought long enough I knew it was unequivocally impossible.
I was given another weird look; this time it seemed he thought my ignorance was funny and couldn't suppress a chuckle. "God that'd be the catch, moonlighting as lawyers — it's not like we already don't though. No we're hunters, why the hell did you think lawyers?"
The word 'hunter' sparked some recognition in my mind but at Dean's satirizing voice my mind blanked. "Well — you said case. I figured you were lawyers."
"After the restaurant that's what you think?" He asked me. I shrugged.
He might have gone on to explain but I fell back into my thoughts.
Hunter.
Yes I did recall where that term was from now. Harahel warned me about them days before she left. They killed supernatural beings; vampires, deities, angels. One of her main reasons as to why I wasn't supposed to use my powers was that these hunters killed those who disturbed mortals. And despite my 'humane personality' as she put, it wouldn't disregard the fact that I was an angel. When Harahel spoke of them it was with distaste, she once called them barbarians.
That was the missing piece to the metaphorical puzzle I had yesterday. The array of books I had browsed, their genres something not the average person would collect in multitude unless for research. Now I knew the Winchesters were hunters, an angel guarded them along their journey. The only thing that still remained a mystery to me was Sam and his power.
Whatever the reason behind how Sam acquired his powers would have to wait.
I met Dean's gaze. The man raised his brows like he was expecting an answer from me. "Repeat that please."
"I said, are we good?"
My face fell and I dropped my eyes down to the wooden porch below. I studied the cracks in the panels and how the dirt was forever caked into the indentations from the many feet that had walked over it.
Were we good?
Harahel had told me these people would kill me but they've been — mostly — polite. I forced myself to ask the question, if I let it bounce around in my head it would only lead to me questioning everything they said and did.
"Dean." I looked at him in earnest. "Will you ever kill me?"
He stared at me, not even fazed but the bluntness of it. The silence accompanied by his unreadable face set my nerves on edge. Dean suddenly donned a smirk. "I barely know you lady. I don't like you much as of now but unless you double cross us I can't see why I'd kill you."
He pushed off the trim and grabbed the door before it could swing shut. "I'm heading in."
I watched his figure disappear out of the corner of my eye. Once he was gone I sighed, leaning back and letting my chin hit my chest.
I guess Dean Winchester not killing me was a positive.
— • —
Around nine o'clock I awoke.
Castiel's presence was still in the house as was Bobby's. Sam and Dean were gone. I would've had been curious as to where they were if Dean had not been talking about leaving yesterday.
As I sat up the muscles in my neck felt strained from sleeping at an awkward angle all night. Slowly I rolled it, feeling relief when I could do so without pain.
There was no one on the first floor and unburdened by the prickle that told me Castiel was watching me somewhere, I began to wander.
First stop; the kitchen. I could no longer ignore the gnawing inside me that was my empty stomach. My body's strength hadn't waned yet there was an instinctual feeling inside me that told me I had to eat. I questioned if the hunger was due to this mortal body or if I was actually craving food.
Opening up the fridge I was met with scattered items on shelves, nothing looking appealing, and beer took up the majority of the space on the door. My lips pursed and I let the door close on it's own, drifting over to the cabinets mounted on the walls. The cabinets stored nothing but ammo, a great amount of salt, and a few boxes of stale cereal.
At the same time I tossed the cereal into the trash Bobby wandered into the kitchen.
"Sorry 'bout that. Haven't gone shopping in awhile." I nodded in understanding, the frustration I'd been feeling melting away.
"I can go. I need to stop by my house and grab a few things too, assuming I am staying here." Bobby narrowed his eyes and I smiled, trying to curb his thoughts. "I'm not going to disappear." My voice softened and I spoke almost fondly, "I finally know why I'm here."
There was a moment of quiet before Bobby cleared his throat. "Well lady, since you've been living here I'm guessing you don't need directions?" I shook my head.
"I'll be back soon. Anything in particular you want at the store?"
Bobby thought for a moment. "Nah, you have money?"
I nodded. "At my home." His head bobbed a few times before he bid farewell. Even with the departure of Bobby I was still not alone. I turned to see Castiel regarding me with an unfathomable expression, likely torn between letting me leave alone or not. As I had with the old hunter, I tried to wish away any thoughts Castiel had of me deserting them.
"I have no reason to leave." Castiel didn't acknowledge my words, but spoke on his own seconds later.
"I have little trust in you as it is."
My brows furrowed and I suddenly countered, "Then come with me. You'll see I have no hidden intentions behind my actions."
He stared at me with a blank look. "Fine."
Before the stubborn angel could change his mind I took hold of his hand, as Harahel had done with me in the past, earning a curious look at the touch. He said nothing and I closed my eyes. When I opened them again the wooden paneling of my living room surrounded us.
I lived in a one story house on the outskirts of Sioux Falls. It was small; one bedroom, one full bath, a kitchen with all the appliances squished next to each other, my living room was the biggest room in the house and fit a sizeable couch that I found myself collapsing on after biking back from late shifts. Bikes were my chosen form of human transportation after a coworker offered to give me a ride for they thought I walked home every night, and with a sour thought I realized I'd left mine at Biggerson's.
My bed was untouched from not having slept in it in two days. I pulled a bag from my closet and began stuffing clothes in it, smaller items like my toothbrush fell in the outside pockets. Once done packing, I grabbed a pair of clothes and closed the door.
Peeling the restaurant's uniform off my skin was the most relieving feeling all week. Having the same outfit on that I used to kill demons, then slept in for two days, I was ready to burn it. I didn't enjoy wearing Biggerson's uniform, never had, and a part of me was thankful I wouldn't have to put it on again.
I now sported black leggings and a plain T-shirt. The shirt was slightly wrinkled from being folded for so long and in an attempt to smooth it out I ran my hands over the creases. I gave up after a few tries.
My attention turned to my nightstand where I pulled open the drawer. A jar rolled forward hitting the wood with a metallic clink, I took it with one of my hands then felt around before finding my wallet. In the jar was at least two hundred dollars, the wallet held my card which I used to pay my bills had half that.
Gathering up what I came here for, I left the room.
Castiel stood near the coffee table his back to me. He turned to me holding an object in his hands, one once I recognized a feeling of an invasion of privacy washed over me. He looked at me with a questioning gaze, "Who's this?"
My stomach twisted as he tilted the picture frame so I could see. I had the urge to grab it from his hands but I stopped myself, that would only cause needless suspicion. I inhaled deeply and met his eyes, a thin smile on my face. "That's my mother. She's dead."
A flicker of surprise crossed Castiel's face. "Your mother–oh. I am sorry for your loss."
My nerves relaxed some and I wasn't as bothered with Castiel holding the image of my dead mom. I was able to create a genuine smile, "It happened a while ago, but thank you." In an awkward moment he gave me the picture, which I hastily took, and place it in my bag.
"I'm all done here." I announced. "Let's go to the grocery store."
Again I took Castiel's hand, and this time we found ourselves in an alleyway besides the grocery store. I spared at glance at the angel to see if he was following me inside, he made no movement to pursue, so I headed in without him.
I obtained a carriage and drifted in each aisle to see if anything caught my eye. So far I had milk along with cereal, cans of vegetables, fresh fruit, toilet paper, and an assortment of other things. By the time I reached the checkout my cart was fairly full and the numerous items caused the cashier to raise a brow at times. Finally the last item was scanned and the cashier gave me the price,
"$89.02." I handed her four twenties and a ten, telling her to keep the change.
I left the store with five shopping bags, one was hitched high on my shoulder and I carried the others two per hand. When I reached Castiel he silently took two, I flexed my hand to relieve the soreness that'd come from the plastic pressing into the skin. When I had some feeling back, I slid the bag down from my shoulder and held it in a closed fist. With Castiel holding my cloth bag, we were ready to head back to Bobby's.
This time Castiel gripped my shoulder. I watched as the scenery changed from the alleyway to Bobby's kitchen like someone flipped a switch.
Unfazed by the teleportation, I began putting the groceries away. Seeing the fridge stacked with actual food gave me some satisfaction.
Bobby whistled as he entered the room. "Impressive. You saved me a trip," I turned towards him and a ghost of a smile crept onto my face.
"Thank you. I figured if I was to be staying here I would need things to eat."
He nodded absently, eyes straying towards the cupboards. "Do you mind?" His head jerked in their direction. It took me a second to realize what he meant, and when he did I jumped to the occasion, hurrying over. I made a mental note to move the items down to the counter where Bobby could easily reach them.
I took cereal out and read off the names, then cans of fruit and vegetables. We had gone through most of the food I'd bought, when before I could even read it off, Bobby settled for the can of pears in my hand. He took it and rolled out of the room with a quick wave of farewell.
I took his absence as a way to get back to organizing the rest of the food.
Castiel appeared after I was done sorting out the last of the it. "Bobby cleared a room out for you, top floor, the second door on the left. Your bag is in there."
I showed my gratitude on my face, then ventured to ask, "Does this mean you trust me now?"
His eyes flickered around the room as if he was searching for his answer there. When he met my gaze again he answered, "You're on the path of earning it." A smile twitched at my lips.
With humor teasing at my voice I said, "That's good news."
