Sam's POV I was a little nervous about what we might find out from Marina. I mean, the last time we did this sort of thing, Anna turned out to be a fallen angel and Castiel had been sent to kill her. It worked out (sort of...), but that didn't lessen my worry about our situation. I looked down at the small, pale girl lying on her bed. She looked peaceful, actually, like she was enjoying wherever Castiel was exploring in her mind. A small smile played across her face. That was good, right? "Cas, what's going on? Found anything yet?" Dean asked, coming back from another jaunt to the kitchen for snacks (this time it was a bag of Doritos). He crunched on them loudly. "No, nothing relating to unexplained memories yet...wait, hold on..." he replied, wrinkling his brow. "There's...something here, I think, I just...need...to..." He sounded strained. Sweat had started beading on his forehead. Suddenly, Marina sat up in bed, her eyes wide open. Castiel's hand had fallen from her forehead in the movement, and she turned to look at him, a familiar blue tint shining from her eyes. "State your name, rank, and duties, soldier," she said in an authoritative, almost mechanical tone I hadn't heard come from her mouth before. Dean and I looked at each other. What the hell was going on?! "Castiel, also known as Cassiel, seraph, archangel, and commander of the Earthly garrison. Angel of Thursday, the moon, and presider over the death of kings," he replied, as seriously as Marina had spoken, though slightly out of breath. Wow. Cas did all that? No wonder we didn't see him for long stretches of time. Dean and I glanced at each other again, shrugged, then turned back to see what would happen next. "Searching records database...Castiel. Security Clearance Level: Seven. Access: granted." Marina then closed her eyes and fell back on the bed with a thud. Dean and I rushed forward to help, but Cas held us back. "Please, wait a moment. After being asleep so long, waking suddenly can be very disorienting. She will need some space." "What do you mean 'being asleep for so long? She was only out for, like, ten minutes! I saw her eyes, Cas. Is she possessed by an angel?" I asked angrily. I had had quite enough of most angels for the time being. He turned to me, looking surprised at my outburst. "Of course not, Sam. She is an angel. One that I have waited a long time to meet." Marina/Hesediel's POV Lights. A streak of a purple banner, gold designs dancing across its surface. The sounds of flaming swords and the screams of my fellow angels. Battle in heaven? Surely Lucifer wouldn't dare! I had to warn Michael. I had to...but, wait, that was long over. Where was I? Memories rushed by me, disorienting in their speed. Suddenly, I remembered...humans. A tall one, male, longish brown hair. My brain attached a name to the face: Sam. A shorter, wider one, with hair that reminded me of a hedgehog...Dean, I think. And...Castiel? He was here, that much I remembered. He must have been the one to awaken me. I opened my eyes, my mind still catching up to the sudden flood of memories. I looked up into the countenance of my brother, the humans standing a small distance away, distressed looks on their faces. "Hesediel. Is that...really you?" my brother asked hesitantly. I nodded. He laughed with relief and leaned over to embrace me, and I gladly returned it. "Castiel. It is truly good to see you." I pulled away. "However, I sense that much has happened since we last met. Why have you taken a vessel after so long?" "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Dean said from behind my brother. "Just hold on a second. Sam and I are still confused. So, you're an angel? I'm gonna need someone to catch me up to speed here. Like, how come you don't know about what's happened in heaven with Metatron? And why didn't you know you were an angel? And how come you're not burnt up with your grace or whatever? And...Cass, help me out here!" he huffed. Now he looked like a disgruntled hedgehog. I laughed, something I had not done in some time. Humans never ceased to both amaze and amuse me. "Dean, Sam. I'm still," I thought back to the name my human mother had given me, "Marina. I still have all her memories and feelings and body. I just...remember who I was before I began this , I am who I said I was. However, among the angels, I'm known as Hesediel, the angel of mercy. I'm on a mission from heaven, a very important one. I was supposed to sleep for awhile, to regain my strength. I was to be reborn when my services were needed again." I sighed. "It's more complicated than that, but that's basically it. Which brings me back to my original question, Castiel: what have I missed? And what's this about Metatron and the angels falling from heaven?" He looked almost embarassed. "It would be better if I could show you, Hesediel; you have been gone for almost two millenia. Would you mind?" I smiled at my brother. "Not at all. Give me a moment to center myself; then we can begin." I closed my eyes and breathed in, then opened them again. "Sam, Dean. Please don't think I'm ignoring you, but I will need some time alone to see what my brother needs to show me. Can you perhaps leave the room for about...ten minutes or so? That should be enough time, right, Castiel?" He nodded. "Good. I promise, I will answer all your questions later, but it is imperative that I am caught up to speed as soon as possible, and this is definitely the fastest and most complete way. Please," I added when neither of them moved. Slowly, Sam put his hand on Dean's shoulder and left the room, dragging his open-mouthed brother with him. I sighed, then placed my hands in my brother's, ready to see what he had seen.