As time went by Sam came back, and they both filled me in on everything that had happened. I'd been in some sort of coma as a result of the influx of angelic grace in my system. There was still residing power that wasn't completely gone, but we weren't sure as to the effects that it may have on me.

"Do you think that was how I threw Dean?" I asked. Castiel nodded.

"It wouldn't surprise me."

"Alright, then." I thought for a moment. "Do you think I could use it again?"

"I don't know." Castiel answered. "I can still detect it within you, but as to your capabilities in using it and how long it will be before the leftover grace is gone, I cannot say."

"Alright." I repeated the word, uncertain as to what else to say.

Sam and Castiel talked strategy as I went and looted through Dean's things for something I could use in a tracking spell, since Dean had effectively stopped any other methods that Sam could use to find him.

When Castiel saw what I was doing, he shook his head, carefully taking the pair of dirty socks I'd grabbed from me.

"What? They'd work." I pointed out.

"He said he'd kill you if you did." Castiel answered.

"Cas, it's Dean. He could never kill Kylie, or you." Sam reminded him. I shook my head.

"Sam, Dean beat Castiel to the ground. He broke my arm." I pointed out. "Dean may decide to not kill us, but that doesn't mean he would be against knocking the shit out of all of us again to make a point."

I left out the reminder that the last time the Mark had taken control of Dean, he actually HAD tried to kill all of us, both to gain freedom and simply because he could.

"What about Rowena?" Castiel asked. Sam thought about that for a moment. I knew who Rowena was, though I hadn't met her yet. "She could easily do a tracking spell, or since the codex is now readable she could get the Mark off Dean's arm."

"If it's a spell, I could do it." I offered, wanting to be helpful. This time, Sam shook his head.

"This is going to be powerful magic, Kylie." Sam answered. "And there's always a price to pay with that kind of magic."

"I know. I could still do something to help."

"You don't want to do this." Castiel said, shaking his head. "I promise you, Kylie, the cost of this would be something that you would not be able to live with."

"Then what makes you so sure Rowena will do it?" I countered.

"Because she's a heartless bitch and hates her own son." Sam replied. I was confused on that one. A son?

"She has a kid?" I asked.

I think that was when Sam and Cas realized that there was a piece to this puzzle I wasn't quite seeing.

"Yeah." Sam answered. "Crowley."

Shit.

I remembered hearing my own voice, angry, sneering at the demon.

"Asshole." I'd muttered before following him. "I bet your own mother hated you as a kid."

"Well, that explains a surprising amount, actually." I said. "The King of Hell with mommy issues. Who would've thought?"

"In any case, Cas is right." Sam said. "Rowena is our best bet at this point."

"Are you alright to come with us?" Castiel asked. I nodded, grasping his hand lightly. He squeezed mine back in return.

So I went with them to visit the witch, and stood quietly beside Castiel as Sam held a gun to Rowena's head.

"Hello, boys." Rowena said casually, sipping her tea from a styrofoam cup. "Who is this new lassie? You're all just in time for tea… unless you have something else on your mind?"

"Five things, actually." Sam said, cocking the gun. "Hollow tips filled with witch-killing brew."

I wondered briefly if the witch-killing brew would kill me too.

"How exciting for you." Rowena cooed. "Your NRA will be beside themselves with pride."

"No more games, Rowena." Sam demanded. "Do the spell now."

"Or what exactly?" Rowena asked. Sam just glanced at his gun. "Come on, Samuel!" Rowena exclaimed, standing. "You and I both know that's nothing but a bluff. Charlie may have cracked the codex, but who's going to read it if I'm gone? Your newborn, barely-trained witch?" She asked, pointing at me. Castiel's grip on my hand tightened slightly. "Oh yes, I could tell. I can feel her power, as well as her lack of proper training. And with that, who among you has had the training for handling the ingredients, getting the measurements just right?" She raised her chin, defiant. "Unless, of course, either of you three have spent years of your life studying with the greats, mastering the intricacies of high witchcraft?" When nobody answered, she sat down and continued. "But forgive me. Maybe you have." She took a glance at me. "At least she has some practice."

"Leave her out of this." Castiel demanded. Rowena clucked her tongue at him before turning back to Sam.

"I know you're upset. We all are. Poor Dean…" She shook her head, and took another sip of her tea. "Let's just have a nice wee cup of tea... and negotiate."

Oh yeah, I could definitely see how Crowley was her son now.

Sam uncocked his gun, and came around the table. "What do you want?"

"Oh, well, we know what I wanted, except for her maybe." She motioned to me. "But you soiled the sheets on that one, didn't you Sam?" I knew what she was talking about. Sam had told me, and I'd actually been disappointed it hadn't worked. "Let's talk about what I'll take," Rowena offered. "My freedom guaranteed and the codex."

"Sam, you can't be," Castiel started to say, but Sam ignored him.

"Do you know which spell?" The Hunter asked.

"I do."

"Sam, this is a mistake." Castiel warned. Rowena just rolled her eyes.

"What do you have against this, angel? You've already enjoyed time with your own witch, and have no problems with her running around." She said. "Why not me as well, except that I'll actually be more useful than…" She paused, looking at me. "I'm sorry, dearie, I didn't catch your name."

"Kai." I answered, giving her the nickname I was used to.

"Kai. Lovely to meet you." She extended a hand, but I made no move to take it.

So they talked, Rowena and Sam and Cas, trying to figure out the ingredients as I listened quietly. When Sam left to take care of Dean, Castiel turned to me.

"Do you want to watch Rowena or come with me?" He asked.

"Depends. Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm going to ask Crowley for assistance." He answered honestly.

"I'll stay and watch Rowena, then." I promised. "Make sure she doesn't try to pull anything."

"Alright." Castiel said with a nod. He kissed me quickly. "When this is over, you and I are doing something."

"What?" I asked, curious. Castiel just smiled at me, and pressed something small and metallic in my hand.

"It's a surprise." He explained. "Keep this, for now. When this is all over, I'll show you."

I heard a flap of wings, and he was gone. I looked at the object in my hand, and saw that it was a small key, like to a door or box or something. I slipped it in to my pocket, smiling a little.

"So, Kylie," Rowena said, gaining my attention. I turned in slight surprise. "Charlie told me your name." She explained. "It's wonderful to meet you. I can absolutely feel the power oozing from you. Tell me, was your mam a witch as well?" She inquired, continuing to drink her tea.

I didn't answer, just took a seat across from her instead.

"Ah, the silent treatment. You've worked to learn from those boys, haven't you?" She asked. "Well, then, let me share some information with you, girl to girl." She leaned in a little. "You can't trust men, nor their promises. And whatever surprise or idea that the angel may have in your head, or whatever future you think he will share with you," she shook her head, leaning back. "It's not going to happen, sweetie. And then witchcraft will be all that you have left."

"Not to be rude," I said, breaking my silence. "But I honestly don't believe you."

"Well, tell me this, then," she said, changing tactics. "Is Castiel immortal?"

"Yes." I left out the part about the angel blade.

"And are you?"

I thought back to what Castiel had said to Dean. "Sam, Kylie, and everyone you know, everyone you love... they could be long dead. Everyone except me."

One day, I would die, and that would be the end. I'd be dead and that would be it. I'd age, get older than Castiel's vessel unless hunting took me out early, and that would be that.

And Castiel knew that.

Castiel knew that that was his future with me. A blink of an eye for him, in exchange for my eternity.

When I didn't answer, Rowena shrugged. "I'm sorry, lassie. I don't want to be the one to break your heart, but it's better to know now, isn't it?" She asked. After a few moments, she started talking again. "Of course, as a trained witch, you don't have to die either."

"You and your son are far too much alike." I stated, deflecting the incoming deal. She just scoffed at my words.

"Please. Where do you think he learned?" She asked, shaking her head. "And yet he still needs so much improvement, he'll never be as good as you could be. He won't die, either, but you could still be better than him." She motioned to her eyes for a minute. "Without the black and red bits."

"Make your sales pitch if you want, but I'm not going for it." I warned her up front.

"Fine, I won't say another word, then." She said, looking away. "I just wanted to offer you better training, since every budding witch needs a tutor. But if that's not what your heart wants, then I'll leave you to your petty small spells that are a true waste of your talent."

I didn't give her the satisfaction of a response, just waited for Castiel to come back. And he did, with Crowley in tow bragging about how difficult it was to get the items for the spell.