I am so sorry for the delay in posting! I was participating in GISHWHES. Man alive, it was great fun…but I also think it's the hardest I have ever worked in my life. After it finished on Sunday, I was absolutely exhausted, so I had to take a few days to recover. LOL. But, enough rest for me…time to start up with the story again…

Cass found an old Ford Pickup truck with the top torn off. Climbing up, he set Aiyla in the driver's seat and then sat himself down beside her. Sam, Dean and Bobby trailed behind. Sam chose a nearby stack of tires to sit on, while Bobby and Dean took the hood of an adjacent old Buick.

Dean glanced at the horizon, "We got a few minutes. How about you give us a little background in the meantime?"

Aiyla nodded slowly, eyes wary. "I can try, what would you like to know?"

"We've just reacently learned of you. From what Cass said, Crowley has only had you for a few years at most. So where in hell were you before then?"

Aiyla shifted uncomfortably beneath eh rapt attention of the men. She reached out her good hand and traced the steering wheel before her. "Do you know…this is the 1st time I have been in an automobile?"

Dean blinked, appalled. "Come again?"

Aiyla proceeded to detail the first 18 years of her life. Amerielle. The valley. Everything.

When she finished, Deans incredulous expression had turned to one of outright horror. He turned to Bobby, "My god. We've been harboring freaking Laura Ingals Wilder!" He snapped his head back to Aiyla, "So you mean to tell me you've never done…you've never been…Hell, you've got to have…" Clearly at a loss, Dean trailed off.

Aiyla bowed her head, flushing. "I know about a lot of things. Amee had many books. It's just that…well, I haven't encountered many.

Sam shook his head, stunned, "So this witch who raised you; why did she cut ties with the modern world?"

Aiyla shrugged, "I don't know. I cannot count the times I perstered her with that very question. She always refused to answer it. She'd tell me, 'One day. When I was ready.' But…well, she never got the chance. " Her eyes hooded, and she looked unseeingly in the distance.

Cass studied her thoughtfully, "It would have been nearly impossible to hide Aiyla for as long as she did in the modern world. The witch was smart."

Sam nodded, picking up Castiels line of thought, "It's a smart way to hide something. The witch found a controlled environment, and then probably warded it against everything and it's mother. Nothing came in, nothing went out. It would be perfect."

Bobby interjected, "Nearly perfect Sam, Crowley did find her."

Aiyla fiddled with the flannel of her makeshift dress and jerked at it in agitation, "But why all this fuss over me? I haven't exactly lead a glamorous life. I know next to nothing about anything, and I…"

Dean stared her down, frowning, " Do you mean to tell me you don't even know what you are.?"

Aiyla looked at Dean in puzzlement, "Crowley said my soul was unique. And I realize the ability to heal is considered rare. However, when I heal it is at such a high price, that I can't see how the skill is very practical, let alone useful to a demon."

"Aiyla, what do you know of your parents. How did you come to live with this…Amerielle?"

She glanced at Cass with puzzled eyes, "Amee said my father died of a sickness before I was born. She said he was a salesman named Bob Dylan. My mother died giving birth to me. She said she and my mother would good friends and that she asked Amee to take care of me before she died."

Dean snorted, "Bob Dylan, what a crop of Bull."

Aiyla frowned, "Is the name Bob Dylan offensive to you?"

Bobby glared at Dean, "No half-pint, Dean's just an insensitive bastard. He means to say that Bob Dylan is the name of a famous person…one who was not a salemen. Your Amerielle obviously took some liberties with the truth."

Aiyla's face fell and she studied her fingernails carefully, "I see…"

Sam shook his head, "Don't look so downcast Aiyla. It could be the witch was just trying to protect you. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss."

Castiel shook his head, "The witch's motives are irrelevant at the moment." He sighed and turned to face her fully, "Aiyla, there is a reason your soul is considered unique. You possess an extraordinarily rare genetic makeup. In fact, you are the only such being of your kind that I have ever heard of…and I have existed for a very long time." He hesitated, noting the wide-eyed expression of wary trepidation and curiosity that warred across her face. Sighing heavily, he continued. "You are the offspring of a fallen angel and a human man. Furthermore, before your birth, your mother was made to consume demon blood. And after your birth, you were given a plethora of other creatures blood as well. I can identify several dozen traces of creatures flowing through your veins. Siren, vampire, shapeshifter to name a few. And still there are at least another dozen more I have yet to identify. You are utterly unique. A walking anomaly of whose existence was not thought possible until now. It is likely you possess abilities that have yet to manifest. Noting her horrified expression, he tried to sound comforting. "Then again, it is entirely possible, much of the monster blood you were given was overpowered by the three main facets of your genetic makeup; human, demon, and angel. The abilities could prove nonexistent, or lie dormant for the duration of your immortal existence. Regardless, the potential locked within your body is vast, and there are multitudes of humans, demons, and angels who will now seek you out in hopes of personal gain. "

Aiyla stared at the steering with unseeing eyes, "Immortal? Angel? Demon?! I…I don't…I can't…" She began breath fast and shallow." Looking at Cass with panic filled eyes, she gasped for breath. " I…I…"

Sam launched himself from the stack of tires, crossing the short distance to reach her side. "Dammit Cass. Haven't you ever heard of letting a person down gently?! She's having a panic attack."

Castiel looked at Aiyla with an alarmed expression, "It was not my intention to cause her distress."

Dean crowded behind Sam, "She can't breathe guys, what the hell are we supposed to do?"

Castiel shot out his hands to frame her face, forcing her to lock eyes with him. His gaze was both commanding and gentle, "Breathe little one. Breathe."

Her chest heaving, Aiyla clutched at Castiel's wrists like she was drowning and he was the only salvation in sight. Cass pressed his thumbs against her temples, "Think about the here and now Aiyla. The heat of the sun on your skin, the pressure of my hands, the beat of the earth. Steady, constant, calm."

Slowly, Aiyla's sawing, shallow gasps deepened and slowed. Castiel held his position until her breath had steadied and the panic had fled from her eyes. He nodded in approval. "Good." Slowly he removed his hands from her face, watching for any signs that panic would again take hold. "I am sorry. I did not wish to cause you anguish."

Aiyla finally regained the ability to speak, her cheeks pinked prettily and she broke the eye contact she still maintained with the angel, frowning into her lap instead. "No…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a baby. I just…wasn't expecting…any of that."

Bobby shouldered between Sam and Dean, "Relax half-pint, given news like that, I'd be worried if you didn't react the way you did. Now enough Q and A for the night." He shot Dean, Sam, and Cass warning looks.

"The suns fixin' to set and you're paler than a death omen. So enjoy your sunset, and then it's off to bed. We can pick up this discussion in the morning."

Aiyla nodded and smiled, "Yes sir."