Chapter 9
(Author's Note: Here's the last chapter. Thanks go for the reviews and support from Avalonmyst, Spnbluecats, , mscottsayshi, booksandnetflix, cleverlynamedhere, and guest. Most of you know how new I am to fiction and fanfiction…it helps when I do not feel like my words fall into an abyss. Mummy, kisses, many thanks – I couldn't make Gabriel sound right, so I went to Mummy for help snarking.
Don't forget to read "Snow Angel" by mummymollyweasley, the lovely Christmas tidbit that is next in the Before the Fall 'Verse. Mrs. C.)
. . .
Mama used to say to me, you can make your destiny
Keep your feet planted on the ground
You can always get it back, make a castle from a one room shack
It's all of what you make of what you've found
Son you're gonna find out when you're older
There's always been the hand of god restin' right there on your shoulder
Will it be hell or heaven on earth
The choice is up to you
"Hell or Heaven" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Chapter 9 –
"Friendly, coming in," calls Bernie, as she walks over to where Sam and Castiel are watching the skies.
Cas turns an unfriendly eye on her. "Debatable," he mutters, features pinched in a classic Sam Winchester bitchface.
Sam reacts more like she had lobbed a grenade than a salutation. He springs up from the Impala and turns to face her, tension radiating from his muscular frame, "What do you want, Bernie?"
"Don't be like that Sam. We were good to each other, and I never lied to you. I wanted to make sure we are both ready for the capture of my sister this night, and to ask you to keep my identity secret."
Castiel walks over to stand near Sam, his physical and emotional support closing proximity. He would guard his friend, even if his powers were so weak that there was little he could do - his powers so weak that it was Dean, and not he, who could feel her otherness. "You withheld important information. That is a lie of omission."
"It's okay, Cas, I've got this. Maybe you could go check on Dean," While Sam appreciates Cas's fighting skills (millennia of being a soldier is not easily erased), he really doesn't feel like he needs a second big brother. Especially one who learned over-protectiveness from Dean. Sam 'stands down.' Relaxes with his hip propped against the Impala, arms crossed, and waits for Bernie to close the distance between them.
"So what's a non-Christian angel doing TA'ing for my great uncle?"
Bernie matches his pose. "Didn't miss that, huh?"
"You've been here for two years. We just met the man. Didn't miss that you lured my brother to the church either, trying to offer him something that couldn't be found there. Using his feelings for Cas," Sam's words are wrung from clenched teeth. "Think you were using me too. And I'd like to know why."
Bernie's sigh is long and sad. She looks Sam in the eye. "Would you believe me if I said most of it was business, but you were just pleasure? I'd like for you to believe that." She gives him an assessing glance, sees that tact has not budged Sam. "Earth Mother has been looking for you. I am watching your family for her. Getting close to you – was purposeful.""
Sam nods. "They're not, you know. Not really family. Strangers with blood ties."
She nods. "We realized you weren't tied to them. But you should think about it. Your little group needs support in a big war where so much of the destruction falls on your heads. But now we know you, and Dean, and Cas. We know who we are looking for. We know what you're willing to do – know where you stand."
He looks at her sadly. "You don't need our help here at all, do you? This whole thing was a setup to get us out here?" He sees the answer in her eyes. "You killed a college kid."
"Not me personally," she says. "Cattle mutilations weren't going to be enough to get you here. Does this make me a monster in your book? Because after 20 millennium, it's not the worst thing I've done, nor is it the worst I will do for my mother."
She reaches a hand out, puts in gently on his arm. Sam shakes it off. "What about my brother? What about the attack on him?"
"We really expected him to duck faster. Maybe you should all consider how fit you are to be monster hunting before you do it. He was reckless. You were lustful. Your angel, broken. I really do not see why the Mother thinks you have a joined destiny that will help us defeat the powers of Hell. But so be it." When he looks her in the eye again, he sees something ancient and scary looking back. "Goodbye, Sam Winchester. We'll meet again."
"Not here, we won't," Sam says. "Not near Professor Campbell either. I don't think we're going to make it easy for you to continue to spy on us. Bernadette had better just move along."
"Or what?"
"We'll think of something. We always do."
He watches her walk into the surrounding darkness.
THUNDER.
. . .
By the time they get back to the motel, Sam has filled in the other two on the trap they fell into and the three are brooding. They were played.
When they open the hotel door to find Sam's computer, their notes, and the digital camera missing, they're furious. "Just gotta sleep with and piss off the monsters, Sammy? Why don't you have any normal drama with the ladies?" Dean asks less than helpfully. Sam's slammed bedroom door is the only answer.
. . .
Three subdued hunters go about their packing in the morning. Dean has an aching head, Sam is still pissed off, and Castiel is naturally quiet. They have packed most of their belongings and are drinking coffee waiting for the professor to come by before they hit the road again. Albuquerque feels like it snared them, and none of them like that feeling.
Dean is restless, feels emotionally drained from the peyote trip and subsequent spilling of his guts. Like walking around naked, he thinks. Starts planning to push himself harder physically, especially because Sam told him what bird-lady Bernie had said about the Thunderbird only hurting him because he was slow. He wonders if Sam would notice if he Irished up his coffee, but he doesn't. Bad enough if being slow gets him killed, he doesn't want to be the reason Cas or his brother dies.
In front of the bathroom mirror, Castiel, holding three pills in his hand, looks at himself with loathing. Swallows. Angel radio is louder when Gabriel is nearby.
Dean clears his throat. Gets Sam's attention. "So before the professor gets here, I thought maybe we should talk about his offer. The teaching thing…" Sam raises surprised eyes to his brother.
"Are you seriously thinking about taking him up on that, Dean? Getting us tangled in the Campbell Clan?"
One layer of worry slides off Dean's face, leaving a warm smile for his brother. "I was thinking that you might want it Sam. Want the family and a home and a semi-normal job. That normal life I could never give you."
Sam snorts. "Thanks, but no thanks, bro. I have enough family to worry about right here. Amongst us we've got ten kinds of crazy as it is." Cas gives a half-smile. He likes being included in this family.
"I'll drive," Cas offers. Dean snorts. "It's my car."
