I apologise for not updating sooner, but finding the time to post has been hard in the last couple of months.

I hope you all are all enjoying the story and I really hope you enjoy this chapter.

As always – Please let me know what you think. Good or bad I love hearing what you think.

Chapter 12

The next few days Sam, Dean, Ava and Cas kept an eye out for possible hunts, but all seemed quiet in the supernatural World, which un-nerved Sam and Dean. Although, it had given some valuable time to give Ava some training in hunting. Sam was surprised how quickly she picked things up. For Ava, the training not only helped her protect herself but also gave her the chance to avoid talking or even spending time around Castiel. She was afraid of the way she felt about the angel – and she wasn't prepared to even consider facing up to them.

It had bought all the awful memories that she held back, even though they hadn't really ever gone away.

Castiel or the Winchesters knew nothing of the trauma which Ava had gone through, and still went through. It was something that she wasn't prepared to share with anyone.

The foursome arrived at Bobby's – as they still hadn't found a hunt, they decided to go back to the salvage yard and somewhere they considered safe. Maybe Bobby had a job for them.

Sam had been persuaded to take a trip into town and grab a few 'supplies' as Bobby had described them. The 'supplies' consisted of a bottle of whiskey and a couple of pizzas.

When Dean had called and said they were heading his way, the older hunter had looked forward to having some good company for a couple of days.

Bobby continued to finish up some work on a car he was fixing up for Rufus – a fellow hunter.

Ava chatted to him outside and he was more than pleasantly surprised at what she had already learnt about hunting. He was more than glad that she was taking her new lifestyle seriously. It was Dean that interrupted their conversation.

"Hey Ava, could you give me a hand with something?" The hunter asked, with a nonchalant tone.

"Sure." She replied as she followed him into Bobby's abode.

What she, Bobby or Sam were un aware of, was the conversation Dean had just moments ago had with Cas. He had asked the angel to wait in Bobby's panic room and said that he would arrange five minutes alone with Ava – he could only give them that small amount of time.

Unknowing what she about to face, Ava willingly followed Dean through the house and down the steps to the panic room. She watched as the older Winchester opened up the solid, heavy door and ushered her in.

"Ladies first." He said and Ava moved into the room.

"So, what do you..." She hadn't even finished her sentence, before the door slammed shut behind her with Dean on the other side. He opened the peep hole of the door.

"Ava, I'm sorry but you two need to talk."

"What are you talking about?" She asked, un-amused at Dean's action and far from happy at the situation that Dean had put her in.

"He's allowed me five minutes with you." The familiar voice from behind her startled her. She turned to face a perplexed looking Castiel.

"For what?"

"I just wanted to explain to you."

"Explain what?" Her tone was anxious. As Cas moved slowly toward her, she moved further away from him and folded her arms tightly around herself. She could feel her heart racing in her chest and she wondered if he could hear it.

Castiel stood still. He wanted to just hold her hand, touch her for just a moment – he loved her and he wanted her exactly as Jimmy had. His face was full of pain, and he could have broken down into tears at the way she had moved away from him. She stood statue still,although eye contact was inevitable. She lifted her head, her green eyes locking with Cas' blue eyes. He looked so familiar to her, yet so distant at the same time.

Jimmy had been her whole World. She had never loved anyone the way that she loved him and she knew he felt the same. She had felt that her whole life had ended when he hadn't returned home that fateful Thursday evening. Ava had lay on his side of their bed, breathing in his scent for months after his disappearance. Hell, she had even slept in his favourite grey marl t-shirt. For months she cried herself to sleep and that time when she had finally got through a whole day without a tear, Sam and Dean had turned up at her home, closely followed by Castiel. What hurt her most now, was that this man in front of her had no idea of what she had been through. Especially, the secret that she had kept to herself. The secret that was 'always' at the front of her mind, yet she tried forever to force it to the back. But, even with all that she had been through, her heart bled for the man standing with her, wanting nothing more than forgiveness from her. He loved her and now that she was in his life again, she was 'his' World again. He would die to protect her.

As Ava took in his features, she noted how tired he looked. His eyes were heavy and dark. She recalled a time just before he disappeared - the pair had been in the kitchen. Jimmy was making stew for dinner and Ava had positioned herself on the worktop, next to where he was cutting vegetables. He had looked fatigued that evening, much like he did now. Ava had gently cradled his cheek in her hand, where he nuzzled into her touch. They had ended up making love on the kitchen floor, burning the stew. It had been one of many wonderful nights for them both.

Ava blushed at the flashback, suddenly remembering where she was. She hoped more than anything that angels couldn't read minds.

"I would never have left you and I'm so sorry for what has happened. I feel that you are...keeping something from me."

"You have no idea what I have been through!" She replied, suddenly feeling hot and claustrophobic.

"Tell me – Please." Castiel begged.

"Why? I don't want yours or anyone else's sympathy!"

"It's not to sympathise, I want to help you – be there for you. I..." Ava interrupted him.

"I do 'not' want to talk about it – especially with 'you'.I don't know whose idea it was to shut us up in here, but it's a very bad one!" Her voice was shaky and she knew that if Cas said anything else nice to her, she may well break down into tears. To prevent this she tried to turn the conversation into an argument – sadly it didn't work. Cas stood just feet away from her, his head angled to one side with that all too familiar look of sympathy and regret in his eyes.

Ava knew it wasn't his fault for disappearing the way he had, but she needed someone to blame for the trauma she was left with and still lived with everyday.

The room went silent and then the heavy door re-opened and Dead appeared from the other side of it.

"Sam's back."

Castiel nodded to the hunter.

Ava Thanked God for the opportunity to escape, and she marched passed Dean, stopping as she passed him. "If this was your idea, it was a bad one – a 'very' bad one!" Ava spat the words to Dean. Her sorrow from moments ago had now turned to anger.

Ava stomped up the stairs back into the house, followed closely by Dean and Cas.

"Whoa! Where have y'all been?" Sam was stood in the middle of Bobby's study. There was a moment of silence before Ava spoke.

"Dean was just showing me a few things in the panic room." She had contemplated telling Sam what had happened, but there seemed no need to cause an un-necessary argument.

Sam looked to his brother, who looked strangely un-easy.

"Oh." Was all that Sam could say, as Ava slipped passed him and made her way upstairs.