Again, thanks to those who reviewed my last chapter.

I kind of envision this series to be placed somewhere amongst the first couple of episodes of season five.

But again, like I said, it's an ALT story so if I do use any episodess or info they might not be in order etc.

Anyway enjoy.

...

It had been three days since Dean and Sam had last seen the angels.

In the meantime the two brothers had taken on a case, mainly to keep their minds off the impending apocalypse.

The case had gone fairly well and now the two Winchester's were exhausted.

Dean sighed as he drove the Impala down the empty highway.

His brother was asleep in the back seat and every few moments the sound of a gently snore could be heard leaving his mouth.

Journeys alone were hard, Dean didn't even want to put any music on, in fear of waking his tired brother.

So he drove. Long into the night.

It was almost 2.30 when Dean finally decided to stop for gas.

He needed to stretch his legs and perhaps grab a late-night snack.

His stomach rumbled at the prospect. Yeah that's what he needed.

...

Dean stuffed a handful of potato chips into his mouth as he ambled back to the Impala and his sleeping brother.

But a few feet away from his beloved car, Dean stopped short at the sight of a familiar face.

"Elba," Dean cried with a smirk strolling over to where the female angel stood awkwardly at the side of the vehicle. "What are you doing here?"

Elba stepped forwards towards Dean, bowing her head a little self-consciously.

She seemed so different to how she was when Dean and Sam first met her in that alleyway.

"Castiel sent me...he has gone to discuss matters with some of the other angels...he believes that if they were to see me they would attempt to send me back up to heaven."

Dean pouted. "And you don't want to do that?"

Elba shook her head. "No...I have made my decision. My place is now here...with you and Castiel."

Dean nodded. "Well we're just headin' to Bobby's. You wanna ride?"

"Yes, I would be grateful for that, thank you," said the angel bowing her head once again, before opening the passenger door and hopping inside.

Dean moved around his beloved car, getting into the driver's seat and dumping the bag of potato chips into Elba's lap.

Without even asking the angel slipped her hand into the bag and grabbed a chip, popping it into her mouth.

Dean raised his eyebrows and Elba stopped chewing suddenly, her eyes growing wider.

"A-Apologies..." she muttered, wiping her mouth with her hand.

Dean chuckled. "No worries..." he said with a grin, driving off the gas-station forecourt. "You're an angel after my own heart."

...

It was morning by the time Dean finally pulled the Impala up in Bobby's lot.

He reached over into the backseat and unceremoniously punched his younger brother in the arm. "Hey wake up Sammy, were here."

The younger Winchester groaned before opening his eyes and looking up into the big round eyes that were staring back at him from the passenger seat.

"Elba? What are you doing here?" Sam asked groggily, pulling himself up into a sitting position and wiping drool from his chin.

"Castiel thought it was wise if I were to join you for a short while," said Elba turning back around and getting out of the car.

Dean and Sam followed, and gazed up as two familiar faces came running towards them from Bobby's porch.

"Ellen, Jo," smiled Dean pulling the blonde into a hug as she ran towards him.

"Hey boys," said Ellen, embracing Sam.

"We just called by to see Bobby, but when we heard that the two of you were comin' by we thought we'd stick around," said Jo with a grin.

The two women suddenly stopped in their tracks, staring over at Elba who was stood nervously behind the two Winchesters.

"Who's this?" asked Ellen with a small smile, staring at the angel.

Dean stepped back and placed an arm around Elba, pulling her forwards. "This is Elba, she's a friend of Cas'. She's helping us out for a while."

The mother and daughter smiled as Ellen held out her hand. "You're an angel too then?"

Elba looked up at Dean a little unsure, before grasping Ellen's hand and shaking it tightly. "Yes I am."

A flood of relief seemed to pass over Elba as she pulled away.

Dean chuckled, social interactions really weren't her forte were they?

The two brothers watched as she shook hands with Jo.

The two girls seemed of around the same age.

Or at least Elba's vessel did.

"So, you boys fancy a beer?" asked Ellen gesturing for them to head inside.

"I dunno about that, but I could sure go for some breakfast," mumbled Dean causing Sam and the two women to laugh.

...

Sam, Bobby and Dean sat at the table whilst Ellen rustled them up something to eat.

"So Elba's settlin' in okay?" asked Bobby leaning across to Dean.

"Yeah, I guess so. I mean she seems pretty nervous, but I guess she's just a little lost without Cas around," said Dean folding his arms and leaning back in his chair.

Bobby frowned. "An' he is comin' back for her? I mean he hasn't just dumped her here has he?"

Sam scratched his neck. "Nah, Cas wouldn't do that. They're like buddies right?"

Dean smirked. "Yeah and from what I've seen, Cas won't be in too much of a hurry to leave her again..." said Dean in a whisper.

A frown kitted itself across Sam's forehead. "Really? Why do you say that?"

Dean leaned in towards his brother and Bobby. "Well Cas seems majorly protective of her...and well Elba, she seems kinda' devoted to Cas..."

"Yeah, but surely if there was something between them it would have happened before now. I mean they were around each other for like two thousand years," said Sam.

Dean shrugged. "I dunno'. Maybe being down on earth...maybe their feelings are changing. I mean look how different Cas is now, to when he first arrived. I mean, now he's much more...I dunno'...human I guess."

Bobby tugged his cap lower across his eyes. "Nah, I'm not convinced..."

Dean sat back in his chair. "Yeah well, when there's a whole bunch of angel babies running around I'm not gonna' be the one to babysit..." said Dean pointing a finger at Bobby.

...

Elba stood uncomfortably in the doorway of the kitchen.

That throbbing pain still convulsed through her body.

Her grace was slowly diminishing and soon enough it would be gone.

Part of her wished she had never come here to Earth.

But she had needed to see him.

Her Castiel.

Being without him, up in heaven. It had torn her apart.

He was all she needed. Her shining angel.

Plus...being here wasn't so bad. These humans were good people.

Strange at times, but good nonetheless.

She was beginning to understand their habits, their likes, their dislikes but most of all their humanity.

A humanity that was growing stronger within her every day.

Suddenly Elba felt a cool hand upon her forearm and turned around quickly to see Jo staring back at her.

"Hey, I just thought you might like this," said Jo with a smile handing Elba a bottle of beer. "Sam said that you could hold your alcohol."

Elba tilted her head, not really understanding Jo's comment, but nodded regardless taking the bottle in her grasp.

"You wanna come sit down?" asked Jo, nodding towards the sofa. "Its not often I get a chance to come face to face with a real life angel."

Jo skipped to the sofa and threw herself down upon it as Elba followed.

The angel sat beside her and sipped at her beer carefully.

"So Dean said that you and Cas are friends?" said Jo taking a swig from her own bottle.

"Yes, we are...friends...yes," said Elba, her breath catching in her throat at the mention of his name.

"So...what do you do all day...up in heaven I mean...?" asked Jo scratching her head.

"Well Castiel is of a higher rank that I am...I follow his and the other angels orders..." muttered Elba sadly.

Jo grinned. "So do you like have wings and stuff?"

Elba turned to the young girl. "Yes. Yes I do."

Jo nodded, apparently hoping for more information. But Elba looked bored with the conversation already.

"So are you and Cas like...together? asked Jo with a wicked grin.

Elba frowned and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "C-Castiel is my friend...we are...I serve him..."

Jo nodded, taking in the pink blush appearing upon Elba's cheeks.

"Okay fine. But you like him...don't you?" she asked, leaning forwards.

Elba's eyes widened and she visibly gulped, looking flustered.

She did not know how to answer.

So many feelings were rushing through her head right now.

"I...um..." Elba began, before something across the room caught her eye and she sprung suddenly to her feet. "Castiel!"

Jo swung around to find Castiel standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room.

Elba strode over to him quickly, looking glad of a rescue. "What happened?" she asked stepping close to Cas, eyeing his bloody clothes.

Castiel gripped Elba's forearm absent-mindedly. "The angel's are not co-operating. It was a good thing you did not accompany me. It would not have been safe."

"Cas," said Dean getting to his feet. "Did you get any information?"

Castiel looked at Dean sternly. "Only that Michael is angry."

Elba stared up at Castiel wide-eyed as he turned back towards her.

"Are you hurt?" she asked quietly lifting a hand to his tattered and bloody lapels.

Castiel visibly shuddered at Elba's touch and gazed up into her eyes.

They remained like that for a few moments, staring wholly into one another's eyes. Dean, Sam and the others, admiring the angels' closeness.

"No, I am fine," uttered Castiel in a whisper grasping Elba's wrist in his free hand.

Elba's heart pounded within her vessel's chest, hard and fast.

What were these feelings? So new...so strange?

"Great...so Michael's pissed off..." said Dean finally cutting through the silence. "...well if that don't make me desperate for a beer I don't know what will."

Elba broke the gaze between her and Castiel, as he let go of her quickly, stalking off to the window.

Elba sighed.

What was happening between them?

...

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