As always a Huge Thank You to all who are reading my story – I hope you are enjoying it. So sorry I haven't been able to update sooner.

Please could you leave a review – good or bad I want to know what you think?

Here's the next chapter – Hope ya'll enjoy it!

Chapter 11

"They were ghouls, God damn Mother Fuckers!" Dean hollered "I just Thank God that I got to him before they had time to drain him". The older hunter continued, as he rifled through his bag for medical supplies.

Ava was up and out of bed, and without realising it she stood beside Cas. She looked toward Sam, who was laid out on the other bed, barely concious. He was pale and his wrists were bandaged up with towels that blood was slowly soaking through.

Dean asked Ava to get some Whiskey from the Impala, which she did immediately.

Castiel found her at the car, with the door open an her hands cradling her face. "Get a grip!" She was mentally telling herself. She couldn't bare to see Sam in so much distress and pain , also add to that, she didn't have a strong stomach for blood at the best of times.

"Are you okay?" A voice asked, she turned around to find Castiel right beside her, his trench coat lightly blowing in the cool night air. For the first time, Ava looked right into his clear, blue eyes. His expression was one of concern, but it was more for her than Sam.

Ava found herself wanting to put herself into the angels arms, feel his heart beating and his protection all around her. But, he was not Jimmy and this was not an appropriate situation. Sam was in a tremendous amount of pain. Ava turned around and grabbed the bottle from the back-seat of the car.

"I'm fine...Thank You". She replied, as dead pan as she possibly could. She was well aware of his eyes on her.

After Dean had sewed up Sam's wounds and given him a dose of strong painkiller which had put his brother in a deep sleep, Ava suddenly felt relieved. She had barely been able to stay in the same room, with Sam's screaming and writhing in pain.

Dean sat for a while at the end of the bed where his sibling lay. He hadn't come through the fight un-scathed – there were a couple of bruises beginning to appear on his cheek and forehead and he looked emotionally drained as he downed some of the alcohol from the bottle.

"Dean take the other bed – I can rest on the chair". Ava said.

"No, I'll be fine in the chair". Came his reply. Stubborn as ever.

"I'm not taking no for an answer Dean" Ava said, and she made her way to the chair.

Dean did eventually fall to sleep in the bed and Ava did the same in the chair. The chair was more than big enough for her to put her feet up and lie pretty comfortably.

Castiel couldn't sleep – he didn't even bother to try. Once Ava's breathing pattern changed and he knew she was asleep, he crouched down in front of her – just watching her, observing all of her features. The way her eyes twitched slightly, her soft, mellow breathing. He loved everything about her. Still asleep, she folded her arms around her body, feeling the coolness of the room. Without hesitation, Castiel removed his trench coat and as gently as he could he placed it over her sleeping form. He was sure it was his imagination, but she seemed to take comfort in the extra layer and he was certain that he saw a very slight smile pass her lips.

Ava awoke at hearing Sam's voice, she sat up with a start noting the younger hunter sitting at the end of the bed. The sunshine was just visible through the closed curtains. Ava watched Dean look over his brother's injuries.

She then felt a presence behind her and she turned to find Cas, at the same time she became aware of his trench coat which had covered her. She quickly gathered it up and handed it to it's owner, who seemed almost regretful to accept it.

"Thank You" She said him, this time not averting his eyes.

"How are you feeling Sam?" She asked, standing from the chair.

"I'm okay". He replied, although he clearly wasn't. Bruises had now made an appearance on his face and there wasn't much of his face that wasn't tainted by blue or purple bruising. Ava looked toward Dean.

"There's a diner just up the street – I'll go and and get you guys something to eat and drink". She said, feeling helpless and deciding that this was something that she could do for them.

"That's a good idea". Dean replied "Cas will go with you".

"Oh no, I'll be fine"

"Errr, I don't think so – I'm pretty certain something is on your tail and until we get rid of the 'threat' you are to have one of us with you at all times".

Ava had nothing to say to Dean's reply. She knew that he was right and she was more than Thankful that they were protecting her, which also meant that she had no choice but to let Castiel join her.

After a change of clothes, Ava and Castiel made the short walking distance to the diner – which was fortunately, pretty quiet when they arrived.

The lady who took their order was a small, broad woman in her late fifties, she told the pair to take a seat in one of the cubicles, and she would give them a shout when the order was ready.

Castiel waited for Ava to take her seat first and then took a seat opposite her.

The pair sat silent for several minutes, Ava fidgeted with her hands nervously.

"I'm sorry". Castiel suddenly announced, even surprising himself.

Ava immediately looked to him. She noted his pained expression.

"I would never have left you, you know that". He continued.

Ava stared down at the table in front of her – Thanking God that there was an in-animate object keeping distance between them. Her eyes began to tingle and her heartbeat raced.

"Please...Please, don't talk about it". Ava managed to say, as a tear escaped from each of her eyes and ran steadily down each cheek. After averting his eyes for several minutes, she had no other choice but to look at him. He hurt for her and his expression showed that. He felt the pain that she must have gone through when he had disappeared, but he also felt that she was holding something back from him, something that she wasn't telling him.

"Please talk to me". The angel now begged.

"Your orders are ready!" The woman at the diner shouted and Ava couldn't have been more grateful. She almost jumped from the seat she occupied and moved to collect the order. Castiel paid for the food and the pair walked silently back to the motel.

After having a much needed rest and food for fuel, Sam felt and looked a lot better. Dean had already made the decision that they would stay another night at the motel for Sam to have more recovery time. It would also give Dean a chance to look to see if there were any possible hunts to head to next.

Just as the dark was arriving that evening, Sam desperately needed some fresh air. Ava was first to offer to join him outside for a while. There was a bench just outside their temporary accommodation, so the pair went to sit outside, leaving Cas and Dean in the room.

"Did you manage to talk any more with Ava this morning?" Dean asked Castiel, as he sat on the bed and stretched his arms upwards to relieve the tension he had from using the laptop for the last couple of hours.

"I tried, but she didn't want to talk to me". Came Cas' more than disappointed reply.

"She just needs more time". Dean said.

"I think that she's hiding something from me". The angel said.

"Like what?"

Castiel shook his head "I don't know". He solemnly replied. Dean could see from his facial expression that the angel was deep in thought.

"You two 'need' to talk". Dean replied.

"Dean, I've tried and if I'm honest I can't blame her for wanting as little as possible to do with me".

The hunter didn't reply, Castiel had ended the conversation.

As always I hope you enjoyed this chapter and Please leave a review on what your thoughts are.