Asher leaned her head against the window of the Impala, her arms turned upward on her lap to avoid touching anything. Her wrists were raw and torn, aching with each beat of her heart. Two of her duffle bags were stuffed at her feet as Dean had been kind enough to swing by her motel room to get her belongings. The long road ahead of her was uncertain again, events she couldn't seem to control pressing on her mind. Her breathing hitched slightly as the moments flashed back of the bloodshed in the diner.
"Sorry Ash…" Dean finally said breaking the silence. "I know you were getting comfortable there."
Asher let out a soft breath, "No need to apologize, it's not your fault things played out like they did…" She trailed off.
"At least it was a good go…" Dean mumbled, "Well. Kind of."
"You never did come back for that pie you know…" She chided quietly. "Then you wouldn't have missed the party."
Dean chuckled softly. "Yeah I guess you're right."
"Where did you go anyway when you found Benny?"
Dean sighed looking over at her as he wrung his hands on the steering wheel. "We ended up taking out a nest."
"That's it?" She asked looking back to him, making eye contact that he quickly broke.
"Tough crowd aren't you?" He asked.
"One of the toughest." Asher pressed back. Dean didn't reply but instead pulled into a gas station. He left the Impala running with her in it while he went inside, coming out moments later with a paper bag. Once back inside the Impala he rummaged through it, pulling out a slice of pie and setting it on the dash. Fishing through the rest of it he pulled out a bottle of water and a rag, opening the bottle quickly and dousing the cloth. He motioned for her wrists and she reluctantly gave them to him, sighing in frustration. The moment the cloth touched her skin burning pain shot up her arms but receded quickly as the cold radiated into the wound. No words were exchanged as he cleaned and dressed her wrists quickly, working with skilled hands.
"Thank you…" Asher mumbled when he had finished, his hands momentarily lingering on her wrists. "For everything…" she finished.
"Don't speak of it. " Dean replied settling back into his seat, grabbing the pie and a plastic fork.
Asher opened her eyes groggily, the trip and the excitement had worn on her. Somewhere on their way to Texas she had fallen asleep and she was alone in the Impala. A motel loomed in front of her with a solitary light on in the room. The door whipped open suddenly and Dean walked out, anger splayed across his features. The door slammed behind him and she watched him almost stomp to the car. He entered the car and started it before noticing Asher staring at him with concern.
"Where's Sammy?" She asked lightly trying not to stir the pot more so.
"He's not coming." Dean replied gruffly, backing out of the parking spot quickly.
Asher settled back into her seat for a moment, feeling slightly uncomfortable suddenly. She studied his features for a moment before he turned the cassette on, signifying he didn't want to talk.
After a long haul across the country they arrived at a cabin deep in the woods of Montana. Dean had said little of Sam, just that they were having a small disagreement. They unpacked the car and Asher surveyed the area. It almost felt like home. Woods and dirt roads comforted her.
"You coming?" Dean called out, startling her from her thoughts. She stared blankly at him for a moment before starting toward the cabin. His irritability was starting to rub on Asher, she could tell he was trying to control it but it was hard on him. Dean also hadn't slept in a while and it was wearing him thin. His eyes were darkened and his features tired. It didn't take long before he was passed out on the bed.
Asher waited a bit to make sure he was out cold before sneaking out the door. She inhaled the damp air that smelled of fresh earth and smiled. Without hesitation she wandered off into the woods, happy to feel a moment of freedom once more.
She returned after only an hour, sneaking in quietly so as to not wake Dean. The door clicked shut and Asher turned around to see Dean sitting in the recliner facing her. She startled suddenly not expecting him to be awake.
"Why do you do that…" She breathed leaning her back against the door.
"I could ask the same of you." Dean replied taking a swig of beer casually.
Asher sighed, "I feel like a caged animal. I can't help it." She wandered over to the couch and sat down, folding her arms across her chest.
Dean sat thoughtfully for a moment, still nursing the beer. "Where'd you go?"
"Just out in the woods… feels like home again…" Her responses were short and stiff. She looked to him, searching for any reply. He smiled sadly and leaned forward for a moment. Asher felt a pang of guilt realizing the only home Dean had ever known was Sam. "Sorry about Sam… He'll come around…"
Dean shifted his gaze to her, "Maybe. I did something bad by even my standards…"
"Have you tried to call him?" She offered standing up and making her way to the mini fridge to grab a beer. When she turned around and cracked the lid off on the corner of the counter she was met with an incredulous look from him. "What?" She asked lifting the beer in confusion before taking a drink.
Dean pulled a hand over his face in exhaustion. Even tired he hardly slept a half hour. "Sam is hard headed." He replied finally, starting to pull the label off of his beer.
Asher chuckled softly and sat back down on the couch facing him. "And you aren't?" she quipped posing a question with a playful look. Setting down the beer she pulled her jacket off, finally feeling less uptight. Dean noticed a pendant hanging from her neck and she traced his gaze to her neck. Automatically her hand flew to it subconsciously, wrapping her fingers gently around it.
"Cas gave it to me…" Asher stammered softly. "It's a ward."
"Just hadn't seen you wear it before." Dean replied casually, remembering the necklace Sam had once given him.
Dean's phone rang suddenly and he looked at it, Benny's name flashing across the screen. "I gotta take this, I'll be right back." He said standing and making his way towards the door.
Asher leaned back on the couch thoughtfully. At least she wasn't so alone for the time being.
Dean spent some time on the phone with Benny before coming back in to find Asher passed out on the couch. He sighed and finished off the beer he had set on the table, standing next to her sleeping form. He set the empty bottle back on the table and gently reached underneath her, scooping her up into his arms. Making his way to the bedroom Dean set her on the bed and yanked the blankets over to cover her. Spending the night on the couch seemed like a pain in the ass but he felt he could deal with it for one night.
Asher awoke with a start, blankets flying off of her. A small noise escaping her throat and tears forming in her eyes. Her hand clasped over her mouth as emotions ran through her body and she shook with quiet sobs. 'It was just a dream…' she tried reasoning with herself. She didn't notice that Dean and Castiel were standing in the door way until one of them spoke.
"What did you see?" Castiel asked softly making his way to the bed.
She startled, suddenly embarrassed, trying to collect her thoughts. Rubbing her temples she breathed deeply. "I don't know what you are talking about." Asher lied.
He sat on the bed while Dean leaned against the wall, confusion lacing his expression.
Castiel sighed, "Asher… How long have you been seeing things?"
"I don't know what you are talking about." Asher replied suddenly aggravated. She swung her legs over the bed and put her head in her hands, trying to shake the feeling of pain that riveted her body.
A hand touched her arm causing her to jump again. Castiel pulled away suddenly, unsure of what to do.
"I can feel your pain… As you can feel ours." He said quietly.
"She knows about Samandriel?" Dean asked.
"I'm assuming so." Castiel pointed out bluntly.
"Is that his name?" Asher asked softly, muffled by her hands over her face. "He was so scared…" She whispered, trying not to break into sobs again. The lingering emotions refusing to wash away.
"I just came by to ask for help… Samandriel is an angel. He has been captured by Crowley and is being tortured. I can't do this alone and I was hoping Sam would be here." Castiel shifted his gaze to Dean who seemed unfazed by his brother's mention. "It's part of being a celestial being I suppose… I didn't know Nephilim felt the same things we do."
"How do you turn it off?" She demanded looking at him, her eyes brimmed with redness.
"I could teach you in time, it takes patience." He replied.
"You teach me and I'll help you find him."
"No way. You are staying here. Crowley is just looking for a way to get his hands on you." Dean said suddenly miffed, his expression serious.
"You think that you and Cas can get into a warehouse filled with demons unnoticed?" She demanded, her attitude back in full force.
"We'll damn well try." He replied stoically pushing off of the wall and dropping his arms.
"That's ridiculous." She sneered standing up and walking past him to the front room.
Castiel sat quietly staring at Dean.
"What?!" Dean nearly yelled when he noticed.
"She could be of great use. You underestimate her power."
Dean gave him a confused look and finally sighed, he had no energy to fight after his fight with Sam. "Look Cas, I just don't want this to get messier than it has to be."
"Then let her come. Give her back the angel blade I gave her." He replied standing and walking towards the door.
"How did you know…" Dean trailed off realizing Castiel knew a lot of things. "Fine." Giving in wasn't Dean's cup of tea but it was going to be difficult without Sam. "I just have a bad feeling about this…"