14
The first time Snow had a breakdown because of the hunting came just two weeks after Cas and Dean had finally gotten together. Every thing seemed good, wonderful even, and that made Snow put her guard down. She knew what the boys did, she knew the dangers they faced, she knew that every hunt put them at risk of never coming home again, put everyone they cared about in danger, but this day she came face to face with what that meant.
Snow was working a night shift, the hospital ER room busy with the usual crowd and Snow was going from room to room checking on concussion patients, sawing accidents, and labouring moms. It wasn't until she actually bumped into a tall dark man that she even saw him there.
"Can I help you sir?" she asked looking at the man to see what his ailment could be.
"Are you Snow Adams?" he asked and his voice was deep and reminded her of Castiel.
"Yes." she nodded her head and took a step back starting to feel uneasy.
"Come with me." the man grabbed her arm and started to drag her down the hall.
"Snow? Is everything alright?" one of the other nurses asked as Snow struggled in the man's grip.
"Its about the Winchesters." the man said quietly and Snow stopped struggling so much.
"Its fine Lola, I've just got to speak with him for a minute and I'll be back ok?" she flashed Lola a smile that had to look just a little strained but the woman nodded her head.
Snow was dragged into an empty patient room and she immediately pulled from his grasp.
"What about Dean and Sam? Who are you?" she asked rubbing her elbow. Damn he had a firm grip.
"Oh they're fine, for now." he said grinning at her and suddenly flashing black eyes. Snow froze. She knew about demons, she had been taught how to deal with them by the boys but never had she thought she'd actually need to. She began to tremble as the man pulled blade from his back.
"You see theres a large price on their heads and I plan to use you to collect it." he said advancing on her. She stepped away from him but she was in a very small room. Soon her back was to the wall and he was almost able to touch her with the blade.
"CASTIEL!" she screamed out the angels name and in seconds Cas was there smiting the demon in front of her. She closed her eyes at the blinding white light until Cas was pulling her into his arms.
"Are you alright Snow? Did he hurt you?" he asked as she began to sob.
"He was a demon Cas, a fucking demon! Here in my hospital!" she was gasping for breath as a panic attack ate at her. There were people knocking on the door asking if she was ok but she ignored them. Cas didn't though and with a split decision he brought her home.
"Snow? What happened?" Dean and Sam both jumped from their chairs and crowded around her. Snow, in a full blown panic attack now, pushed away from them and stumbled across the room.
"There was a demon at the hospital, he attacked her." Cas explained.
"In my hospital!" she sobbed and sank down to the floor. All three men stood near her but seemed afraid to get too close.
"Are you alright Snow? Did he hurt you? Did he say anything?" Sam asked kneeling in front of her but not touching. He seemed to know how to handle her attack the best, no touching involved until she said it was ok.
"He…he just hauled me into that room. And then he had a knife and was grinning and…" Snow started to hyperventilate. Sam reached out to help her put her head between her legs so that she could try and calm her breathing.
"Just breath baby, you're ok now." Sam coaxed while Dean and Cas were talking angrily to each other.
"He said there was a price on your head Sam. What does that mean?" she asked as her breathing started to regulate. She was past her panic attack but now she was exhausted and scared.
"Did he say anything else? Did he say who put the price on us?" Dean asked but Sam glared at him.
"Who cares Dean? We can deal with it later." Sam said to his brother. Dean put his hands on his hips and nodded with his mouth in a thin angry line.
"But he didn't hurt you did he Snow?" Sam asked rubbing Snow's back in small circles to calm her down.
"No, just said that he was going to use me to get to you." she laid her head back against the wall and her eyes slid shut all on their own. She still has so much adrenaline running through her system but she was crashing hard.
"No one will ever be able to hurt you Snow, not while we're here." Dean said and when Snow opened her eyes he was kneeling in front of her with Cas by his side. He reached out to brush a dark strand of her hair out of her face.
"You did the right thing Snow, calling me was the right thing." Cas assured her and she nodded.
"It was the only thing I remembered." she said smiling weakly at all three of them.
"Are you feeling better now? Maybe want to go to the sofa?" Sam asked her and she nodded. He helped her up, Dean went to get her some water and Cas grabbed a big fluffy blanket to wrap her in.
"I really should call work and let them know I'm ok." she said taking the water from Dean.
"I'm on it." Sam said stepping away to find his phone.
"You are going to sit here and relax for the rest of the night and let us tend on you." Cas said drawing Snow into his arms. Dean was still standing and he was watching her closely.
"What?" Snow asked him as Cas covered them both with the blanket.
"They went after you. How the hell did they know about you?" he said and it was angry, Dean was so angry.
"We'll just have to keep a closer eye on Snow from now on." Cas said rubbing her arm. She snuggled in deeper to her angel and felt the exhaustion trying to pull her under.
"I'm going to find out who did this and I'm going to rain hell down." Dean said and stomped away. Snow would normally have chased after him, making sure he didn't do anything stupid, but tonight that would have to be Sam's job. Right now Snow couldn't do more then snuggle into Cas closer and fall asleep.