Jules tossed and turned. She was having images in her dreams of blood and her brother. She woke up with a start. Temporarily disoriented, she looked around the room. How long have I been asleep? Jules looked at the clock. She had slept for 6 hours! Jules jumped up a bit angry. Why did they let me sleep so long? It was already late in the afternoon. She threw her jeans and shirt on and ran to her brother's room. When she got there, it was empty. What the? Then, she heard them. They were talking downstairs. They were talking about the war.

Julianna slowly walked down the steps. They were all sitting by Bobby's desk with a map thrown out across it. The wounds on Castiel's face were completely healed.

"Feeling better brother?" Julianna went over to him.

"I got my strength back a few hours ago. I didn't want to wake you."

"What about your stomach injury?"

"I'm fine Julianna, really." Cas tried to give her a reassuring look.

"What are you talking about?" Julianna asked her brother. She already knew what he was talking about and she was getting madder by the minute.

Castiel sensed it. "Julianna, this is not your conversation." Her brother replied smugly. He knew she was not going to be happy, but to him, it was inconsequential.

Something clicked inside her. "Don't you EVEN think about it!" Julianna glared at her brother. "Bobby, Dean, come on. Tell him!" She looked at them desperately. "Sam?" She was looking for an ally but got no response.

"We will discuss this later Julianna. Right now, I have work to do." Castiel replied.

"Like HELL YOU DO." Julianna was fuming. She knew she was not allowed to speak to her brother like this but that was the last thing on her mind.

Castiel remained calm. "Careful Julianna"

"NO, don't you dare! Don't you dare try to blow me off Castiel! After everything I just went through, DON'T YOU DARE!"

Castiel gave her a confused look. "I don't understand that expression but I do know that I don't like your tone."

"I don't care right now what YOU LIKE and I mean that!"

The room got suddenly quiet.

"What did you say to me?" She now had Castiel's full attention.

Jules saw Bobby and Sam look away like someone does when they don't want to see a car crash into the wall. Dean just kept watching the two of them. He was the kind of person who didn't mind watching cars crash into walls except for his baby of course. Besides, Dean was always fascinated with the way that Cas behaved with his sister.

"You heard me brother. I just spent the last 2 days worried sick that you were dead. Risking everything to get Balthazar here and thanking God that he found you. I sat by your bed all night with Bobby praying that Father would save you. Now, you just sit here like nothing happened, planning your next move against Raphael? Hell NO, not going to happen! You are not going back to that war!"

Castiel sighed, "Julianna"

"NO. I mean it! You aren't doing it. You aren't going. I don't give a fat rat's ass who wins the war at this point! It is not worth losing you. Let Raphael win. I don't care. YOU are NOT going again!"

Julianna tried desperately not to break down and cry. She knew that if she did, she would just look weak. She wanted to look strong.

Castiel tilted his head at her. He looked to Dean and Sam. "Fat rat? What is she saying? I assure you sister; no rodents are involved if that is what you fear."

"She doesn't want you to go Cas. I think that is the bottom line here." Dean offered for clarification.

"I see. Julianna, you have no say in the matter. You do not make the rules for me and you know that. This conversation is pointless. You know that Raphael cannot win this war. Someone has to stop him. As I said before, we will talk about this later. "

"No, actually we won't brother. We will not talk about it later. Why? Because there is nothing to talk about! You aren't going! You aren't leaving again! I won't let you."

"This is getting tiresome sister. Go back up to your room and I will be up to discuss this with you in a little while." Castiel dismissed her confident that she would comply.

"Like hell I will."

"Excuse me?"

"LIKE,,,,HELL,,,,I,,,,WILL." She repeated slowly and sarcastically.

Castiel turned his head to look at his sister. Surely she has lost her mind. Dean, Bobby and Sam all were looking at her now.

"Let me give you, as Dean said, the bottom line. I am not going to my room like some misbehaving child. You are not going back to fight this war. Let someone else do it. There are plenty of soldiers from your garrison. Let one of them be in charge. You have given enough. When is it going to be enough? I know what you are thinking too. You are thinking that you might take me back to that stupid lake and punish me for this. Well, I do not care if you punish me. Every moment you will be punishing me, will be a moment that you will not be fighting in this stupid war. I will be happy to endure it." She knew she was really taking a chance here but she used all her strength not to show her fear.

The room was silent. Castiel was just looking at her. Dean, Sam and Bobby were just waiting, unsure if they should say something or just let it play out.

Bobby thought he would try to calm her down.

"Jules, listen.."

"NO, I WONT LISTEN! You are all so stupid, you know that? All of you, Raphael, his stupid followers, your stupid followers. Everyone fighting everyone else. Brother against brother. It's all crap! Destiny, fate, it's all stupid." She was ranting now.

Castiel started to get up then but Dean put his hand on his arm, silently suggesting that he wait and let her vent it out.

Julianna could hear a voice in her head, telling her to stop. "Jules shut up. You made your point. Now shut your mouth.."

Julianna couldn't stop though. She was way past the point of stopping.

"Don't you see? This whole thing is fucking ridiculous!"

"Jules, watch your mouth! You don't talk like that!" Bobby had jumped in. He was never one for cursing and this was the first time he heard her curse. It was actually the first time she ever cursed. Bobby hoped she would calm back down but it didn't work.

"Why Bobby? Why should I care? Who do I answer to? I have a Father I have never seen and a brother who is trying to kill himself. Why should I care?"

She probably shouldn't have said that last part. The voice in her head was warning her to shut up. Maybe the voice she hears in her head trying to reason with her is her own guardian angel.

Castiel sat there. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He tilted his head back as if begging for patience so that he doesn't murder his sister in front of witnesses.

Julianna stood there, arms folded, tears threatening but being held at bay. She was furious. She knew she had already pushed them all too far but she couldn't stop herself. She didn't even try.

"That is enough. Not another word." Castiel's voice was low and serious.

"I'm sorry that you are upset. You can't win this sister. There isn't anyone else to stop Raphael. Now, I have allowed you the freedom to express yourself but my patience has ended! I don't like your tone and I especially don't like your language! Now, go up to your room. I mean it!"

Julianna tried to swallow but her throat was tight and dry. She didn't move.

Her brother looked at her. He stared at her calmly. It was the kind of calm that scared the hell out of her. If she did have a guardian angel, it was scaring the hell out of her guardian too because the voice in her head started screaming at her. "Jules, are you an idiot? Look at him! You know that look. He is angry. Get your ass upstairs! Now Jules, just go, NOW! RUN!"

She still didn't move.

"Julianna"

"Yes"

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes"

"What did I say to you sister?"

Jules cleared her throat so she could force some air into it.

"You said to go to my room."

"Yet, you are still standing here."

"Yes sir"

"Are you trying to provoke me into punishing you?"

"No brother. I'm trying to make you hear me."

"It is too late. I will not listen to another word you say tonight. You have until 3 to get upstairs."

"I'm not going."

"1"

Julianna got nervous and she knew it was showing. If the stupid voice would stop yelling at her to run, maybe she could have stayed calm.

"I'm not going. I won't."

"2"

Julianna hesitated.

"DAMMIT!" Jules turned and ran upstairs. She went into her room and slammed the door as hard as she could. She was such a coward! All that talk about 'every moment you are punishing me is a moment away from the war'. What crap and he knew it! Dammit!

Castiel turned back to the desk and the papers they were studying before Julianna spoke.

"I apologize for my sister. I will deal with her later."

"Cas, she is just scared. Go easy on her huh? She worries about you." Bobby suggested.

"I said I will deal with her and I will. Let's get back to work."

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Julianna was furious. Furious with her brother for not seeming to care about his own safety. Furious at Bobby, Dean and Sam for not being on her side. Furious at herself for chickening out and going to her room. That is it, she thought. I'm out of here. Jules started to pack a small bag with essential items and a few weapons. Why stay here? For safety? If he didn't care about being safe, why should she? She knew she wasn't really making sense but she didn't care. She was mad and hurt and she felt helpless.

If she was going to do this, she had to do it smart. Her brother marked her ribs, hiding her from angels. She knew all the symbols to use to protect herself from demons. She could do this. She just needed to buy some time.

Julianna suddenly got a thought. It was one of the stupidest ideas she ever had but it might work. She had everything she needed to pull it off. Her inner voice started yelling at her again. "Don't you do it Julianna! Bad idea!"

"Oh shut up!" she said out loud.

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"Cas, that might work but you are forgetting the blind spot here." Dean pointed to a section of the map that they were studying. "You have to have some of your soldiers cover that area or you are opening yourself up for attack from that side."

Cas looked at what Dean was referring to. He didn't respond. How could he have missed that? He ran his hand down his face and sat back in his chair. They had gone over strategy for hours.

"You ok Cas?" Sam asked. "You look tired."

"I'm fine."

"Listen, I don't know a whole lot about angels. However, I do know that you were one step from death yesterday. You or I guess, your vessel, took a hit and you need to rest more or do whatever angels do." Bobby told him.

"Yeah, maybe we should all get some rest." Dean offered picking up on Bobby and Sam's hints to Cas.

"Go ahead. I know you all need sleep. Perhaps this would be a good time to speak to my sister."

Castiel got up and started walking upstairs.

"Remember Cas, she is just scared." Bobby reminded.

"There is no excuse for her behavior this time Bobby, but I appreciate your defense of her."

Cas was strangely tired. Bobby was right. He did need to rest just a bit more. He was shocked by Julianna's behavior. She never spoke like that before and she certainly never spoke to him like that before. He knew she was upset but he had no plans to go easy on her. She knew better.

Cas tapped lightly on the door. No answer.

"Julianna?" Still no answer

He stepped inside and the room was dark. "Julianna, answer me."

There was a flicker of light in the corner. Cas turned just in time to see Julianna throw a lighter down on the floor. Flames circled him immediately. He was trapped in holy fire.

"Hello brother"

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