Castiel brushed his teeth, brisk movements up and down like Jimmy had instructed in their early days sharing the body. He spat, and then took a drink from the cup beside the sink and swished it around in his mouth. The sensation was strange, even now. Something as menial as getting a haircut, or more recently-vomiting, reminded him of how alien he was to this world and this body. He decided not to shave today, and rubbed at the stubble that covered his face. When he had been in control of the vessel, physical changes, growth, aging, metabolism, all slowed. He'd been in control of halting or reactivating them. And now I live defined by them.

You want me to say something clichéd? Like how the mighty have fallen?

No. Castiel walked to the door, and waited for Eliza to come open it up. This is it, Jimmy. Just stay in the background… I'll take care of everything.

Okay. I'll be here if you need me… or something.

Jimmy slipped away, and Castiel blinked hard a few times to make the room level. He peered through the window, he could see Eliza approaching, her waddling form looking a little more anxious than she should have. He hoped she did not give their plan away with the fear in her eyes. She unlocked the door and produced three items, two from her pockets, and one from her pant leg. Castiel took them, and nodded to her, in a movement he had practiced in the mirror, he was fairly convinced it looked calming and reassuring. "Thank you."

"You be careful, boy." Eliza reached up, and Castiel froze.

Lean down.

I just combed my hair.

Just do it.

Castiel bent at his hips, and he felt Eliza ruffle the hair he had combed without interest earlier in the morning. He had been up at four, and spent his time watching the sunrise, and feeling his pulse in his wrist. Jimmy woke up a few minutes after seven, and they had mentally prepared themselves for the hunt.

"Yes, thank you." Castiel managed to get out without sounding too insincere. "You are prepared, should I fail?"

"Boy, I've been up all night making myself right with the Lord. I don't think He would disagree with me killing in this instance." Eliza shook her head slowly, and brushed her stray hairs back into her ponytail. She spoke in a whisper, and kept a tight smile on her face. "My sister's coming to pick up the boys tonight. I'll call and let her know she doesn't have to… if we make it through this. I can't live in fear, never knowing when I'll drop dead and leave the boys alone. I can't see any more of my patients die." With a little nod, Eliza continued on her rounds, unlocking the doors.

He turned back into his room, carrying the objects she had given to him. A small canister of salt, a squirt gun full of what she guaranteed would be holy water, and a thin bar of iron that was about two feet long… she had broken it off of something, he could tell from the edges. I am not entirely sure what we are dealing with, and even if I am correct, and it is a Gjenganger, I have to assume one of these should kill it. I am unsure as to how effective any of these might be, so I suggest we take all three elements into combat.

Sounds as good a plan as any. Jimmy declared, and then hid away.

Castiel cupped the canister of salt in his left hand, and tucked the 'gun' in his waistband, he pressed the strip of iron against his arm, and carried it with him, ready for use. He headed down the hall, ignoring everyone around him. No one stopped him, no one even noticed his march towards the Doctor's Office.

Once he was at the door, he listened for a moment. He could hear the creaking of the chair, the soft humming of the man inside. He knocked on the door, and entered without being beckoned.

Tammy was sitting on the couch, staring out the window, and Doctor Ruek was spinning in his chair. He gave a slow smile, and popped his pen into his mouth, running his hands through his thin white hair. "Hello, Castiel."

"Tammy, leave." Castiel barked at the woman. She didn't move. Castiel glanced over at her, she was hollow eyed, a pale blue color creeping over her skin. Her head cocked to one side, and she toppled off the seat and onto the floor. The scent of rot began to fill the room, but the horrible cheap cologne over-powered it. Castiel looked down at the woman a moment, then up to the creature sitting at the desk.

Leaning over his desk a little, the man breathed in deeply, the wheezing sound to his voice vanishing. He pulled the pen from his lips and rose to his feet. "Can I…hmmm… help you with something? You can see I'm not quite done with Tammy."

"Release these people." Castiel demanded, tensing for a fight. He kicked the door closed to ensure that no one would come in after him.

"These people?"

A pain in Castiel's left arm made him wince and his hand convulsed, releasing the container of salt. He let out a groan of pain and took a step forward. "I gave you a warning."

Doctor Ruek gave a harsh nasal laugh, and walked around his desk, approaching Castiel.

Castiel retreated, beginning to circle the room in response to the movement.

Doctor Ruek picked at his sleeve, and smiled. "Hmm… I've been around for many years, Castiel. I've learned a lot. Hmm… such as how to identify a madman, or an actual threat, for example." He crouched down next to the quickly decaying corpse. "-You're as damned as the rest of them." Giving a malicious grin, the Gjenganger clasped two fingers and held them in front of his face. "Dead Man's pinch."

With a slight narrowing of his eyes, Castiel's arm became useless, but continued sending signals of intense pain to his brain. He could feel the blisters begin to form, and blood struggle to reach his fingertips.

"A big place like this. One pinch, it's like…hmm… like putting a present on layaway. I can come take it whenever I am ready. Places like this are perfect for things like me, free food… and what good cop would listen to the stories of the insane, hmm? Who notices when a few go… missing?" Dipping his pen into the mess that was Tammy, Doctor Ruek poked at the remains, and then popped the pen back into his mouth.

"Agh!" Castiel gasped as the pain in his arm reached his heart. It fluttered a little, and he felt light-headed and very heavy at the same time. Castiel put the heavy iron bar between his teeth and pulled the water gun from his waistband, aiming, he sent a stream of the water into the Doctor's face. The man recoiled a little, but only in surprise, it seemed.

Castiel dropped the gun and pulled the iron bar from his mouth. He moved forward and swung it at Doctor Ruek's head. It sliced across the man's face, and a mass of thin grey membranes leaked from his chin to his cheek. With a howl that echoed through the room, Doctor Ruek splayed his hand, and Castiel's heart stopped a moment.

The former Angel collapsed backwards, landing against the desk. He attempted to scramble to his feet, but everything was going hazy.

Come on! Get up!

If will was the way… Castiel gasped as their heart pulsed desperately for a moment, then stopped again. He managed to raise the bar up, and slice through the empty air.

"I'm ready to move on anyway. Too long in one place, hmm? And this world is just ripe for the picking at the moment. The chaos happening out there… perfection." Doctor Ruek's voice was closer, and Castiel shifted his head to see that the man was currently pinching down along Castiel's now blue-ish arm.

Say something in Latin… or Enochian!

Excrementum!