Forbidden Fruit

Chapter 14

"Vi? Vi, can you hear me?" asked Dean.

In response, she didn't move or say a thing. She just stood there like a dear caught in a headlight with nobody up stairs. It was really getting annoying and Dean was sure that any minute now that some Hell bent demon would appear or better yet the local authorities. He was positive that Katherine didn't exactly ask the lady she hijacked if she could ride her meat-suit. A woman with a business-suit like that was bound to be reported missing.

Irked, Dean shook Cas and said, "Yeah, did it work? Did you fix her?"

Castiel narrowed his brow and glared at him and retorted, "She's not a machine, Dean. You of all people should know what it means to be tortured for an extended period of time."

Dean sighed and tried to rein himself in. "Look, I get it, Cas but is she going to turn on us? Does she still need containing?"

Mournfully, Castiel looked away and at the shell-shocked woman in front of him and shook his head. "I don't know. Only time will tell, Dean."

Exasperated, the elder Winchester lowered his head. He rubbed his brow and replied, "Ok, so we wait. But I think we should go wait at Bobby's then if something comes up we'll be prepared with the safe room." He then glanced at his brother and asked, "How are you doing, Sammy?"

The younger Winchester nodded. "Yeah, I'm ok, Dean. It's just a scratch. I'll handle Katherine's vessel and you can pack the gear."

Dean signaled his agreement and watched his brother drag the businesswoman out of the motel room, however he was still weary about Vi. He looked towards his angel-friend and said, "Cas, you alright?"

Yet, Castiel didn't answer. He just kept watching Viola as she leaned against the wall with her head bowed towards the ground. She hadn't moved an inch since he opened her memories. She was still in shock and he didn't know if she could cope with her ordeal. He felt that he would not be alright until he knew that she was fine first. Gently, he raised his hand to brush her hair way from her face, though disturbingly she was limp and unresponsive like a doll. It was like she was dead inside and couldn't hear them.

Tenderly, Dean watched as Cas gathered Vi by her shoulders and then slowly sank to the floor with her. He cradled her in his arms like a child and held her. It was almost too much for the elder Winchester to bear. He decided to give them some space and walked out the motel and shut the door behind him. He leaned against the frame and dropped his head against the surface. He'd never seen Cas like that before. It was heartbreaking.

"Damn you, Raph," hissed Dean. Silently, he promised himself he'd get even.

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Cas sat with Viola on the motel floor and pressed her head under his chin while he stroked her back. He suddenly felt very useless. He wanted to comfort her somehow, but he wasn't sure what to do. All he did know was that he wanted her close and he wanted her safe. He felt strange touching her this way—it was very human, but he thought she needed the comfort. Though, oddly he felt more reassured being this close to her this way. It made him feel like she was back again even though it was only in body.

"I wish I could do more, Vi. I wish I could help you heal."

Softly, he placed his hand onto her cheek and lifted her face. He peered into her empty emerald eyes and kissed her temple reverently, but like before she was non-responsive. She was lost inside herself and all he could do was pray that she'd find her way.

"Vi, please come back…"

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Location: Bobby's house

Bobby was having a nice cup of coffee when once he sat somebody began knocking on his front door. Annoyed, the old-hunter got up muttered his favorite catch phrase and then picked up his shotgun. He causally walked down the hall of his home and looked through the peephole and saw Sam and Dean. Bobby sighed and pointed the gun at the Winchesters and sized them up incase they were shape-changers or some other pesky demon, but Dean just smiled and gave him a wink.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Hello to you too, Bobby. Now, come on. Knock it off. We got Vi and we need the room."

Bobby lowered his gun. It sure sounded like Dean and the boys did tell him about their cockeyed plan to spring Vi out of Raphael's reform school. He gestured with his head and grunted, "Well, then come on in. I haven't got all day."

"Thanks, Bobby," answered Sam.

Bobby saw that there angel-friend, Castiel was within and to his surprise Vi was with him. She was stumbling around like a puppet without her strings and Cas was holding her up like a drunk on New Year's Eve.

"What's wrong with her, Dean?"

Castiel tenses and glared at him like a dog about to lose his bone. He didn't say anything, but the look in his eye said everything. He just helped the poor girl into the house and down to the basement. Dean looked troubled like he had the world on his shoulders and rubbed his head.

"Uh, she's back."

Bobby narrowed his brow. "I got eyes, Dean. I can see that, but what the heck happened to her? She's swaying like a junky."

Dean breathed out a deep breath and replied, "She was tortured up there, Bobby. Her mind was under Raph's spell and at first she didn't remember anything. Cas did some magic on her to undo his hex, but she's been like that since he lifted Raph's mojo. Damn it, Bobby. She thought she was one of them."

"What? You mean she thought she was a real angel?"

"Yeah, it also turned out that time is just as screwy in Heaven as it is in Hell. Cas said she'd been trapped with Raph a lot longer then a week like she'd been down here."

Bobby was concerned and looked down the hall towards were Cas had taken Vi to the basement. He shook his head and replied, "Damn it, a sweet girl like that doesn't deserve torture, Dean."

Enraged, Dean shouted, "You don't think I don't know that! God, I wish she didn't have to go through all that, but she did. And there's nothing I can do about it, Bobby."

"Well, yelling at each other isn't helping!" cried the old-hunter ironically. Then, Bobby caught himself and calmly said, "Look, keep your head, son. There isn't anything we can do about it, but wait and see. She's a strong girl, Dean."

The old-hunter than put his hand on his shoulder and lead him into the kitchen were Sammy waiting patiently. "Come on, let's have some coffee."

XXX

Meanwhile, in Bobby's safe-room Castiel set Viola onto a cot and laid her down to sleep. She hadn't spoken during the entire drive over and she continued to be unresponsive. She was still numb to everything, but he still had hope that she would pull through. He folded her hands over her stomach and then touched her cheek.

"You think she'll snap out of it?" asked Dean quietly at the bottom of the stairs.

Cas didn't bother to turn around, but answered, "Yes."

Solemnly, the elder Winchester said, "She might not be the same way after this…I wasn't. I still am."

The angel then got up and walked towards the stairs. He met his gaze and confidently said, "It was 7 years, Dean…7 years she endured. I know Raphael wasn't finished with her. She did not truly break."

Dean sadly turned away. "Yeah, but you don't know, Cas. You don't know what that jerk did to her."

"Maybe so, but if she had turned completely than I positive that Raphael would have sent her to kill me. He knew I was fond of her. He knew it would hurt me. What I don't understand is Katherine's presence at the motel."

In highlight, Dean realized that Cas had a point. How did Katherine know where they were at anyway? It wasn't like you could track an angel and they weren't advertising. Thanks to Gabby's magic amulet-thingy Cas and Vi should have been off the angel-radar. What the heck was so special about the girl anyway? It was true she wasn't like an ordinary angel. She was human first and angel second. What would Lucifer want with their new-be Big Bird?

"Cas, me and Sammy and going to do some research with Bobby. Maybe even call up Chuck. You going to be ok, down here?"

Castiel pulled out a folding chair and sat down. "Yes."

Dean concluded that Cas just self-volunteered for guard duty. He then sighed. There was no point in waiting for a "good night" or a "good bye," the guy still needed work on his people skills. He just hoped it he was right about Vi.

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The next day, bright and early Castiel left his post by Viola's bedside and went to check on the Winchesters and Bobby Singer. The three men were in the study and looking over some old books about the devil and angels. Cas pitched in and helped clear up some scripture, but there wasn't anything in them that was even remotely close to useful.

Then, unexpectedly they heard the sounds of pots and pans clanking in the kitchen. Startled the three sprang out of their seats and got their weapons.

Dean whispering, "Bobby, you expecting any company?"

The old-hunter narrowed his brow. "No. And get the hell out of my way, boy. This is my house. If there's trouble than let me take care of it." He pushed passed the Winchesters and made a face and grumbled, "Good Lord, you two scare easier than a bunch of old ladies."

Confidently, he pushed the door open with a bang with his shotgun in hand leveled it at the intruder, but heard a scream. Shocked stupid, all of them started in amazement at none other then Viola Landon.

"Oh! Bobby, what are you doing?"

"Oh-uh, sorry," replied the old-hunter in surprise.

He then lowered his weapon and after a long awkward pause, she subconsciously shrugged and asked, "What?"

Dean frowned and approached her in confusion. He wasn't sure if she was real or was some sort of trick. It was weird. Cautiously, he scanned the room and then looked at her and said, "Vi? Is it you?"

Vi looked around for whatever Dean was searching for and then nodded her head. "Uh, yeah? Do you want some coffee?"

Dean inwardly thought about it and pressed his lips before shrugging and sat down. He figured if she was really a demon than at least he'd get a nice cup of Joe before he worked out her angle. Meanwhile, Bobby just looked at Dean like he dumber than a stump.

He hit him upside the head and said, "Don't take anything from her, boy. What the heck is wrong with you? She might try and hex you."

Irked, Dean glared, but silently looked over the elder hunter's shoulder at his brother and gestured for him to check the basement. He wanted to know if Vi was still in there. Sammy got the hint and nodded before disappearing. Bobby got the message and tried to rein himself in. It wouldn't do no good to start something without checking first.

Yet, obvious to the human exchange was Castiel. He stood rooted and transfixed in place while staring at Viola like he'd seen a ghost. Subconsciously, he approached her while she frowned at Bobby and Dean like they were two misfits. She had no idea what had gotten into them, but before she could even think, Cas was in front of her and gaze at her so intently that it felt like he was trying to zip her with x-ray vision.

"Cas?"

"Viola…do you remember?"

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TBC

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Moohahahah! Cliff hanger! Yay.

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