A/N: One more chapter after this and this journey will be ended. Thank you so much to all who have traveled with me. Thank you for all that favored, followed and left me reviews, all of you are awesome. I really liked exploring the relationships with these characters and hope to have another story with them soon. The girls were so much fun creating their characters. Enough from me, hope you enjoy the read and if you haven't left a review, leave me one and let me know what you thought of the story. Enjoy.

NC

Chapter 26

"Dean, I'm going to find a place to stop for the night, I'm beat." Sam told him knowing he couldn't drive much farther. "We're about halfway back to Sioux Falls, all of us could use some rest."

"Ok." Dean mumbled from the doze he was in. Sky was still curled on his chest asleep clutching his shirt in her fist as if afraid if she let go he would vanish.

"I can drive Sam." Castiel offered.

"I know, but it would do all of us good to rest. Besides, you need to rest too so you can let your grace recharge. I can tell you're tired too, you weren't a hundred percent when we came here. There's some motels at the next exit, we'll get a room at one of them."

"Very well, you know what's best."

Sam took the next exit and picked a decent motel for them to stay at. He pulled into the parking lot and stopped at the front of the building marked office. He ran inside and got them a room with two queen size beds and a couch that made a bed.

Sam drove the car around behind the office and parked in front of the room.

"Dean, come on." Sam told him getting out of the car. He headed to the door and opened it waiting for the others to come inside.

Castiel strolled into the room giving it a quick once over before going to sit on the couch. After Dean and Sky followed him in, Sam closed, locked the door and salted it.

"You want the bathroom first?" Dean asked Sky pushing her that way since she was more asleep than awake. She stumbled into the bathroom shutting the door behind her. Dean sat down on the bed nearest the door and unlaced his boots slipping them off.

Sky was out of the bathroom a few minutes later and crawled on the bed Dean was sitting on. He took his turn in the bathroom changing into a clean tee and came out to find her curled up asleep. He pulled the covers out from under her and laid down beside her, letting her snuggle into his side as he covered them both up. No one cared about getting undressed before getting in bed since they were all exhausted and still a little shell shocked from what had happened.

Sam took his turn and came out to find Dean and Sky were already asleep and Castiel had stretched out on the couch asleep. He knew Cas only slept when he was running low on power. He took an extra blanket and draped it over him before finding his own bed and crawling into it collapsing on the pillow. With a sigh, he let his body relax and let the steady breathing of his brother lull him to sleep too.

spn

Early morning light peaked through the slits in the curtains as the Dean drew in a deep breathe before forcing his eyes open. He felt the warm body laying beside him and smiled down at the top of a blonde head sticking out from under the covers. This time there was no embarrassed feelings about holding her so close. He thought back to their first kiss and felt a tingling in his stomach as his feelings for her became stronger. He wanted to know all about her, learn her likes and dislikes and what made her sad and made her laugh, what she liked to do and not do, everything that made her who she was. He wanted to know if she liked gazing at the stars on a warm summer night and throwing back a cold one, no words needed for them to communicate their feelings.

Sky began to stir in his arms and he looked down at her tracing her jaw line with a finger. She stiffened at a first but relaxed back into his arms when she realized who was holding her. She sighed and smiled softly to herself feeling the warmth and protection of his strong arms. Everything that happened yesterday had not been a dream, it had really happened.

"G'od mornin'" he mumbled softly nuzzling her ear.

"Is it? How are you feeling?" she asked laying a hand on his chest where he had been shot.

"I'm fine, nothing to worry 'bout." he said trying to hide the twinge of pain in his chest when he moved.

Sky looked at his welcoming lips so close to her and wanted to taste them again. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip before tracing a finger across his lips and capturing them in a kiss. Dean kissed her back letting her pull away first slightly out of breathe.

"Wow." she sighed looking deep into his eyes. "Better than I ever imagined."

Dean chuckled down at her before kissing the tip of her nose.

"Come on, let's get the others up and head out, wanna get home today." he grunted pushing himself from the bed and pulling her up with him. They stood by the bed for a moment holding hands and kissing before Dean turned from her and went to the bed Sam was sleeping in.

"Wake up." he called to him shaking the socked foot sticking out from under the covers.

"Not's t'me." came a mumble from under the covers as the body shifted in the bed curling smaller.

"Sammy, get up." he said a little stronger slapping his leg.

"D'n, wh's wr'ng?"

"Get up, we need to get on the road."

"Mm-mm, o-k." he slurred rolling over, groaning and stretching his arms over his head.

"Cas, you awake yet?"

"Yes, I have been for a while."

"I wanna get moving, get home." he told him looking back to be sure Sam was moving before heading for the bathroom Sky had just come out of.

"Alright, I am ready."

"Give me a minute." Sam yawned sitting on the side of the bed trying to wake himself up more. He watched and when Dean came out of the bathroom got up and weaved that way.

Everyone was ready when Sam came out of the bathroom. He grabbed Dean's bag and followed the others from the room. Dean was standing by the driver's door waiting for Sam so he could get the keys.

"I'll drive." he told him holding out a hand.

"You sure?"

"Yep, get in." Dean said catching the keys Sam tossed.

Sky and Castiel had already climbed in the back and was making themselves comfortable waiting for the brothers to get in. Sam dropped into the passenger seat and adjusted his long leg in the wheel well as Dean slid behind the wheel running a hand lovingly over it.

"How far are we from home?"

"Probably five or six hours something like that."

"I'm goin' through a drive thru for coffee, if ya want something speak up."

"Coffee's good." Sam agreed.

"Ditto." Sky piped up from the back.

"Cas?"

"No, I'm good."

"Coffees it is." Dean nodded cranking the car and heading out.

spn

Several hours into the trip Dean had some classic rock playing, Sam was dozing, and Sky and Castiel were talking in the back.

"Let me see if I understand, you are an angel, but you are using a human as a vessel right?"

"Yes, no one would be able to look at my true form and live."

"And this Jimmy person let you possess him?"

"Yes we have to be given permission by the host. He was a religious man and felt it was an honor to do it."

"Are there other angels down here?"

"I believe so, but most have gone back to Heaven now."

"Interesting, I'm sure there's a story behind that. How long have you known Sam and Dean?"

"Since before they were ever born. I was charged to watch over them."

"How did you meet?"

"I pulled Dean from Hell because..."

"Cas." Dean warned. "Too much info." Dean frowned at him in the mirror.

Sky looked shocked by Castiel's words not sure if he was joking or if he meant what he said, but she was finding he had a hard time lying to anyone so deemed he was telling her the truth.

"Sorry." Castiel told him.

"Do you have wings?"

"I do now, but there was a time I didn't. There was a time I was only human because my grace had been stolen from me."

"Who could take an angel's grace?"

"Another angel, a dick bag who tried to be God."

"So you have good angels and bad angels, just like humans, we're not that different."

"You could look at it that way."

"I think I have a lot to learn."

"It can be overwhelming when so much is thrown at you."

"We're gonna stop up ahead, pit stop." Dean informed them glancing back at Sky. He was afraid she would start getting freaked out about what Cas was telling her, but she seemed to be taking it all in stride.

"I'll have to get Dean to tell me some of these stories." she said catching his eyes in the mirror and smiling at him.

"Grab me a drink and pie, see if they have any pie." Dean told Sam as he exited the interstate and headed for a gas station. "Stretch your legs, take care of business, this is the only stop we're making." he instructed them getting out to pump the gas.

Sam and Sky headed for the station while Castiel waited patiently in the car. A few minutes later Sam and Sky came back out each carrying a bag and got back in the car. Dean finished filling the car and climbed back in.

"They didn't have pie." Sam said handing him a drink and candy bar.

"Man! Wanted some pie." he grumbled.

"They were out." Sam shrugged pulling out a water and granola bar.

"So you got a thing for pie or something?" Sky asked as she munched on a chip.

"That is Dean's favorite dessert, he has it whenever he can." Castiel answered for him.

"I can make a mean pie myself."

"Oh really?" Dean asked perking up by her remark.

"Yes, I just might have to show you my skills sometime."

"I'll just might have to take you up on that offer." he said with hidden meaning in his words.

"Any time you're ready for something sweet just let me know." she said in her sexiest voice, teasing him right back.

Sam looked over at Dean and snickered at the surprised look on his face which turned into one of mischief and lust. He thought Dean may have met his match with this woman, she seemed able to hold her own with his brother.

"Bring it on sweetheart." he said finding her eyes starting at his in the mirror with a look of want and desire.

"Would you like a chip?" she asked Castiel holding out the bag to him and dropping her eyes from starting at Dean as she blushed slightly.

"Thank you no, I have no need for food." he replied.

"Call Jody and let her know we're close." Dean told Sam as he pulled onto the road.

"OK." Sam replied searching in his pocket for his cell.