AN: Chapter Twenty-One ... only ten left! Can you believe it? I'm starting to get a bit sad that the story will be wrapping up so soon. I have been a bit overwhelmed by the amazing response to this fic. Just yesterday I recieved about thirty emails? I have never had such a response before and I hope everyone enjoys the next ten chapters, as much as they have the first twenty-one. So, I'll stop rambling, enjoy chapter 21!

~Ella

Chapter Twenty-One

December 21

Sarah flipped the cell phone between her fingers and looked out her window. Bobby had gone into town to "get" some new books he thought might be able to help uncover the mystery of the necklace. That meant Sarah was alone. Alone and once again bored out her mind, Sarah had not even had the benefit of counting ceiling tiles – because there was none. In a small victory, she had been able to walk from her room to the bathroom and then downstairs without winding herself. In a small defeat, leg cramps and charley horses had kept her awake through most of the night. So she was tired, achy and bored – but not out of breath.

Bobby had been kind enough to buy Sarah a cell phone. It had minutes, a wonderful texting plan and Sarah had tried to be really happy about it. But it just made her remember all the people she couldn't call. Her parents, her siblings, her friends ... there was no inter-reality roaming charges on the cell.

She had wanted to call the Winchesters and Katie, but she didn't want to wake them or interrupt their hunt. She couldn't call Bobby – she was at his place. That would have just been stupid. She considered calling Castiel, but did not want to interrupt any angel-business he might be doing.

At least, that was the excuse she used for the first hour. Sarah was weak though and couldn't help thinking 'to hell with angel-business' and calling Cas anyway.

"Hello," his raspy voice answered, and Sarah smiled warmly at the phone, it was so nice to hear his voice.

"Hi Cas, it's Sarah," she said. "I ... um, well, I was bored. Just thought I would call and see how you are doing?"

"... I'm fine ..."

"Oh, great," Sarah winced at how awkward this was turning into. "So, hey, what are you doing? Like right now?"

"Standing."

"Oh, great. Where're you standing?"

"Beside a road."

"Is it, like, super important to be standing beside this road or are you just standing there?"

"I am just standing here."

"Okay, because, I was thinking, you totally don't have to, but it might be kind of cool to hang out."

"Hang out?"

"We don't have to! I'm just a bit bored and was thinking - you know someone really fun and cool to hang out with is Castiel. Plus, I missed you yesterday. You didn't swoop in or anything. So, I thought I should ask. If you weren't busy. But if you need to keep standing there – that's completely great. I mean, so don't feel like you need to."

"... What?"

"Oh god, this is awkward. I'll just ... I'll just hang up."

Clicking the phone shut, Sarah flopped onto her stomach on the couch and buried her head in the sofa pillows. Groaning, she knew she was blushing like an idiot. Of course, it was mostly Castiel's fault. Why did he have to be so awkward on the frigging phone? That had to be the second worst conversation she had ever had on a telephone. The worst being the time a stranger had called the wrong number, but had been looking for a different Sarah. So they had talked for twenty minutes, before it became painfully obvious that something was not right. Yes, that phone conversation just barely topped this one.

"Hello," a voice said from beside her.

Gasping and jumping up, Sarah realised that Castiel was standing in front of her, looking completely unruffled except for the fact that he looked worried about Sarah's mental health.

"I've come to ... hang out ..." Castiel said, standing stoically in front of her.

"Oh," Sarah said, cursing herself for not being able to think of anything to say. "Sit, please."

Castiel moved and sat beside her on the couch, very awkwardly sitting ramrod straight and staring at her.

"So, how do we hang out?" Castiel asked seriously, his brow furrowing.

"You've never hung out with someone?" Sarah asked, feeling bad for the angel. "It's just when friends get together and chat and have fun. You know, do things together."

"What's the purpose of this hanging out?" Castiel asked.

"Well, nothing. It's just what friends do."

"So ... we're friends," Castiel stated, "so we should hang out."

"Exactly!" Sarah said, happy Castiel seemed to be able to grasp the concept.

"So, what should we do?" Castiel asked, staring very intently at Sarah, who suddenly felt very lost. What should they do? Glancing around the room, she shrugged.

"Just ... talk," she suggested, tucking her feet onto the sofa and leaning towards Cas.

"About what?" Castiel asked, still wary about the concept of hanging out.

"I know! I ask you a question, you answer and then you ask me a question and I answer," Sarah smiled warmly at Cas. "We can go back and forth!"

"So I ask you a question?" Castiel asked looking very serious as Sarah nodded enthusiastically. "... I don't have anything to ask you."

"Oh come on!" Sarah chided him. "Think of something you don't know about me, and ask. Anything, nothing is off limits. So lay it on me!"

"How old are your siblings?"

Sarah smiled, "there, that wasn't so hard was it? Olivia is twenty-four and Rob is fifteen. So, my turn ... wow this is hard. Okay, have you ever even thought about changing your clothes?"

"No." Castiel stated. "Should I?"

"No, I like the trench coat. It's very ... I like it," Sarah reassured, blushing a bit.

"Are you okay with the idea of never going home?" Castiel asked.

"Wow, pulling out the big guns," Sarah laughed a little. "I ... think so. I mean, it hurts. Hurts even more knowing what they're going through ... but ... it's not like I'm alone here. I have Katie. Dean, Sam and Bobby have been so nice to me, after they made sure I wasn't a demon. And you ..."

"What about me?" Castiel asked, tilting his head.

"Well, I have you for a friend, so it kind of makes it worth staying, you know?" Sarah said smiling shyly up at him. "And that was two questions, so I get to ask two! Hmmm ... what is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? And the scariest moment of your life?"

"I don't eat," Castiel said. "and ... rebelling."

"Yeah, I was scared for you then too," Sarah muttered. "The show has a habit of killing people off at the end of each season, and I was ready to throw things at the screen when I thought you had died."

"It is odd to hear you talk about events that you were not there for," Castiel frowned.

"I imagine it would be," Sarah thought about it. "It's weird knowing you're actually real. Anyways, your turn, ask away!"

"What do you miss most about home?" Castiel asked, after being silent for almost a minute, thinking of a question.

"Right now, Christmas," Sarah answered truthfully. "It changes, but it's the twenty-first and there is not a single decoration. I mean, there are no boughs, no mistletoe, no tree, no Christmas music playing, no gifts wrapped under the tree, no singing carols, no baking cookies or trying to make a gingerbread house, no family dinner. There's just ... there's just no Christmas. And I know, even if there was all that stuff, it wouldn't – couldn't be the same, because either way, this will be the first Christmas without the family. But, I just wish it was a bit more festive is all ..."

Castiel just looked at her. Sarah laughed. "You don't know what half those things I mentioned are about do you?"

Castiel blushed and looked down.

"That's okay!" Sarah chuckled, not wanting Cas thinking she was laughing at him. "How would you know? It's kind of one of those things that you would need to be on earth for the last couple of centuries to understand."

Castiel tilted his head and looked at her thoughtfully. "You are the only one to explain things."

"To be fair, Dean and Sam have a lot on their plates right now," Sarah said. "And I like explaining things to you."

"You are very strange," Castiel concluded.

"I think you've told me that before," Sarah chuckled. "So ... anything else you wanted to ask me?"

Katie was tired of researching. She was stretched out on her cot; a book propped up against her pillow and was trying not to fall asleep. Sam and Dean had just got back from interviewing the witnesses. Dean was on his bed, back against the headboard and book in his lap. Sam had taken a shower. There was a comfortable working silence in the room.

Groaning, Dean stretched, arching his back and Katie took a moment to appreciate the fact that she was traveling with two very attractive guys, as much as she might like to tease them. Of course, thinking that also made her think of Drew ... and his gorgeous brown hazel eyes which just made her melt in delight. Or the way his hair would fall into his eyes and he would laugh with his big, booming laugh. Sighing, Katie tried to close it off. She liked to think she was doing a good job moving on, but she was still suffering moments of weakness.

"What're you sighing about?" Dean asked, his eyebrow raised.

"Oh, just how much fun Sam and I had on your bed last night," Katie said simply, not bothering to look up to see how Dean would react.

"You ... no ... I told you not to!" Dean thundered, jumping out of his bed as if it was about to attack him.

"Oh, we thought you said to go ahead," Katie said keeping a completely straight face.

"I said no damnit!" Dean yelled, looking horrified, and sitting on Sam's bed.

"Don't worry, we finished up on Sam's, we didn't think you would appreciate it if we left a mess," Katie said, trying hard not to laugh as Dean once again jumped to his feet.

"No, no, no, dude!" Dean closed his eyes tight, trying to get rid of the mental image.

At just that moment, Sam came out of the shower. Now that there was a girl staying with them, the boys and Katie had silently agreed to take their clothes and get changed in the bathroom. No one wanted an awkward towel moment.

"What's going on?" he asked, worried that his brother looked so ill.

"Sam!" Dean yelled, pointing a threatening finger at his little brother. "I told you not to do it on my bed!"

"What?" Sam asked, confused.

"I told you not to 'work' on my bed," Dean yelled, pointing at the object in question.

"I don't know why you're so upset Dean," Sam said innocently. "We finished on my bed."

"Argh!" Dean left the room, slamming the door behind him. Breaking down into tears of laughter, Katie stuffed her face in the pillow. Sam followed suit, having to sit on his bed. After a few moments, Sam had to wipe his eyes from laughing so hard. Katie sat up and offered up a fist, which Sam gently bumped.

"Dude, we are evil," Katie said. "That was too much fun."

"Yeah," Sam said, just catching his breath. "I don't remember the last time I've had this much fun."

"We just need to hang out more," Katie laughed, smiling at Sam.

"I guess you're right," Sam said beaming.

AN: First off, thank you so much for the 'good lucks' for my audition, I'm happy to say I got the part! So now, after posting this, I have a read through to get to. Happy times! Luckily rehearsals don't start until January, after I'm done this crazy challenge of mine.

So please review, it seems to bring me good luck - maybe it will for you too! Try it and find out. Shilo-shadow: Seeing your review notice in my inbox makes me so excited! And I hope your December gets better. Bee Winchester: First off- reward for longest review I have ever recieved. Kudos. Thanks for enjoying it so much! It's always a relief to hear people like your OCs, I am always waiting for OC bashers to review. Luckily none so far! Knock on wood. Neka0189: Congratulations on catching up! And don't worry, there is daily updates here! So, there is always something new to read. Rangajess: glad to hear you are loving not only Sarah & Katie, but also Kat from Phoenix Rising! As for how I'm keeping both stories straight and not getting overly confused - Phoenix Rising has not been updated all December. :) I was hoping to work on it a bit more this month, but Surviving December has taken up all my free time. Literally. Roadhouse Writer: I know! It is such a great youtube vid, I had to include it! Plus, their editing skills are really good. I wish mine were that good. Did you see all of them? Because it's a whole series!

There you go, my "let's get some feedback going" section. If I didn't mention your review, it's only because I couldn't think of anything to say ... or anything I would say would be a complete spoiler. :) So review and I'll be writing again tomorrow!

~Ella