McKenna shifted her hips and slipped her bare legs beneath the covers in her uncomfortable hotel bed. She still missed her usual bed and breakfasts, the soft beds with their sweet smelling covers. And the breakfast in the morning.

Oh, the breakfast in the morning…

She shook away her reverie and pulled her laptop over her legs. If Sam and Dean wanted to spend their nights in cheap, sleazy hotels, then there was nothing she could do about that.

Her fingers swept over the keys, typing word after word into at least a dozen different search engines. She clicked the finger pad, sliding her fingertip over the surface, tapping one, twice, and again. She wished for a printer, but had to settle for taking down notes the old-fashioned way in her aged, leather journal.

"You're working without Dean and Sam?"

Castiel's voice made McKenna jump, and she quickly glanced up. He was sitting at the foot of her bed, dressed in his usual tan trench coat and tie. Dean had warned her about the angel's habit of suddenly appearing out of nowhere. He had said that Castiel usually showed up when he wasn't expected, and almost always when he wasn't wanted.

But despite Dean's warning, Castiel's sudden presence set her on edge.

"Thanks for the heads up," she muttered, as an off color thought entered her head. "Hey, what if I'd been naked, or something?"

"I would've waited until you were properly decent," Castiel said simply, as though that effortless justification would explain everything.

McKenna let out a heavy, inconvenienced sigh as her fingers began to fly over the keyboard again.

"So...what can I do for you, angel face?" she asked, noting the annoyance in his expression at her jesting.

"Why are you working without them?" he asked again.

McKenna rolled her eyes away from the screen and glanced at Castiel. She didn't like how he looked at her, like he could see into her soul. Perhaps he could. After all, he had known exactly what he was saving her from when they'd first met.

"So, I'm doing some research on my own," McKenna shrugged. "What's wrong with that?"

"You're looking for work without them. You want to run away," Castiel accused. "You want to leave Sam and Dean."

McKenna let out another sigh. This one was angry, and full of frustration. She hadn't said a word about her plans, hadn't really even allowed herself to think them very much.

Truth was, she had been thinking of leaving. In fact, she wanted it more than anything, but she didn't exactly know why.

"You're scared," Castiel said, softly, reading her thoughts once again. "You feel that you've allowed them to get too close to you. That you'd be better off if you were on your own again."

"That mind reading thing is going to get old really quickly, isn't it?" she quipped.

"There's nothing wrong with having friends, McKenna," Castiel continued, disregarding her sarcasm. "Friendship is one of my Father's greatest gifts. Those who receive it often lead extremely blessed lives."

McKenna shut her laptop and placed it to the side. "Can angels have friends?" she asked.

Castiel looked down at his hands and smiled, softly. "I can."

"But you're different than other angels, though," she chuckled, softly. "Aren't you?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he simply stood to his feet, stepped closer to the head of the bed, and gently touched her cheek with his hand. She was instantly reminded of the first time he'd done that. She closed her eyes when she felt a current of energy course into her body.

It was an emotion she hadn't felt…ever.

Grace, peace, support, comfort.

"That is what love and friendship offers, McKenna," the angel whispered. "If you choose to allow it into your life."

McKenna felt her chin trembling. She smiled, and finally opened her eyes.

Castiel was gone.

~~~~~*****~~~~~

McKenna shoved her hands into her pockets, and clenched them into fists, trying to seal out all the cold air she could. She could hear her heels clicking against the wood beneath her feet as she slowly ambled along the dock behind the hotel. The lights from the nearby houses reflected off the surface of the town's large lake. It was peaceful, beautiful.

And exactly what she needed.

The sleaze within the hotel walls couldn't penetrate, here. The memories that still often clouded her brain, the dirty, sullied, unclean thoughts that dwelt within her, didn't exist, right now. The ripples along the water gently soothed her aching heart, quietly relieved her wounded soul.

She glanced back at the hotel, where Sam and Dean were hopefully sleeping. With any luck, they wouldn't be waking up tonight. Although they often did, and every time, one of them would always peek into her room to check on her.

What kind of guys did that?

Friends. That's what Castiel had called them.

Friends.

"Because you gotta have friends," a voice sang out from behind her, and McKenna turned, brandishing the small pocketknife she always kept in her right pocket.

A tall, round-faced, balding man was standing at the end of dock, grinning at her. He was wearing a dark suit and a light tie. He pointed at her knife and laughed.

"That little blade isn't going to do a doggone thing to me, McKenna, dear."

She squeezed the knife and lifted it up, in what she hoped was a clearly defensive manner. "How do you know my name?"

"I know a lot of things," the man chuckled, taking a few steps closer. His overly polished loafers clicked noisily along the wooden dock as he slowly, methodically began to circle her. His gray eyes bore into her skull like a laser as he stared her down, watching her like a hawk ready to swoop in on its prey.

"Who are you?" McKenna whispered.

"I'm a friend of Sam and Dean's," the man answered, smiling. "Though, they don't really like me very much."

"And how do you know my name?" McKenna asked again. "Answer me."

"Like I said, I know a lot of things," he chuckled. "Like your past, all that nasty stuff. And how you came to work with Sam and Dean…and how Dean-o gives you the warm fuzzies."

"Shut up," McKenna growled. "And tell me who you are!"

A single flash of lightening split the sky, momentarily illuminating a pair of long, dark shadows, protruding from the man's back.

"You're…" McKenna stuttered, her mouth dry. "You're an angel?"

"Yup," the man grinned. "And I have a little present for you."

His big hand shot out and palmed McKenna's forehead.

She was out cold before she even hit the dock.

~~~~~*****~~~~~

Dean looked up as McKenna stumbled into her hotel room. He leapt up from where he'd been sitting on her bed and rushed forward to help her.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded. "It's 2am. I was worried, sick."

"I'm fine, Dean," she mumbled and jerked her arm from Dean's firm grasp. "I couldn't sleep, so I just went out for a walk."

He let her go and watched her stumble into the bathroom. Even though he knew it was probably against her wishes, he followed her, and stood in the doorway, leaning his weight against the frame. He watched McKenna lean over the sink and douse her face with cold water before taking a few sips of the liquid from her cupped hands.

"Are you drunk?" he asked, a slight smile forming across his lips.

McKenna's back straightened as she pushed herself up, off the counter. She paused and thought for a long, silent moment. She was dizzy, disoriented, and a little nauseas. She also couldn't remember actually walking back to the hotel.

Could I really be drunk?

"Of course not, Dean," she finally answered, fully aware that she just might be telling a fib. "You know I don't drink."

"Yeah, I know you don't," Dean agreed. "And I think that's cute."

McKenna frowned and looked up at him.

Cute?

She felt a flutter deep in her stomach. Something warm…and fuzzy.

The words sounded familiar, but she couldn't quite place them.

She wrenched her gaze away from Dean and made her way out of the bathroom, careful to avoid any physical contact as she passed him. His hand reached up and gently took hold of her arm.

"Hey," he whispered.

McKenna stopped and looked up, forcing herself to look him in the eyes. She noticed every drop of green there, and behind the bright color, a deep shade of compassion and patience. And something else…

Grace, peace, support, comfort.

It was what Castiel had given her earlier, only now, if it was possible, the emotions were even stronger.

McKenna watched his eyes slide down to gaze at her lips, and before she could stop herself, she glanced at his, too.

She suddenly felt her knees give out and her body slump forward. Dean caught her, gripping her arms with both hands.

"Whoa, hey. I got you. You okay?" he asked, chuckling. "I don't think I've ever gotten that reaction before."

McKenna pulled away from him and slowly walked toward her bed. Another wave of dizziness swept over her, and she reached down to steady herself with one hand on the mattress. Something was wrong.

"No offense, but…I don't think it was you, Dean."

She looked back over her shoulder, her eyes clouded with fear.

"Dean…" she whimpered, asking for help, and slowly sunk to the floor.

"Kenna!" Dean rushed forward and pulled her unconscious body into his arms. He lifted his head and screamed for help.

"Sam!"

-You know, for once, even I liked this chapter. :) Please review!