Dean whacked the steering wheel, making me jump, then yelp at the pain it triggered.
He gave me a brief apologetic look, "He can't hear me." He pointed to the sigils on the windows, then opened his door and used the frame to haul himself out of the car.
I had been expecting it, but I still hated seeing how swollen his ankle was. It had to be hurting like hell. He didn't make a sound though as he moved to standing, using the roof of the car for support.
He called out to Cas again, and this time the angel appeared right in front of the car. I think all of us let out a sigh of relief.
While Dean began to explain the situation to Cas I opened my door and slowly moved around to sit sideways on the seat, with my legs out the door.
"You can hop out if you like." I told Taylor. "It's me they can locate, not you."
She hesitated for a few moments, then opened her door and stepped tentatively away from the car.
When no one appeared after a few more moments she seemed to relax a little and began to stretch.
I watched her, finding it strange to watch my body moving around. It was somehow different to watching a shape shifter, just knowing that that was actually my body.
"So Cas agrees with you." I jumped again when Dean spoke from right beside me. I hadn't seen or heard him approach.
"You have got to stop doing that." I scolded him, gently rubbing my shoulder which I'd jarred when I jumped. He just gave me a concerned, and slightly confused, look. I shrugged mentally. "Agrees with me about what?" I asked, wondering if he'd said something else and I'd missed it…I was pretty sure that wasn't the case.
He gave me that look again. "About not being able to transport all of us."
"Oh, that." I frowned, "So what are we going to do then?"
"I'm going to protect you." I managed to avoid jumping when Cas spoke from my other side, just glared at him for a moment, receiving a look similar to Dean's in response.
"Like you were before?" I asked. That hadn't seemed to work so well.
He shook his head, "No, permanently protect you again."
It took me a minute to work out what he meant, then I frowned at him, "Can you do that without wiping yourself out?"
He nodded, "It will weaken me again, but I have had time to rest, I will still be able to walk with you unaided."
He stretched his hand towards me, waiting as if for my permission. "Have you told Taylor you are going to carve into her ribs?" I asked.
Dean rolled his eyes at me, "Yes. And she's fine with it, she knows it will help keep all of us safe, her included."
Finally I nodded to Cas, and he touched his hand to my forehead. I felt a momentary strange sensation, then it was gone and he moved back again.
Dean and I watched him carefully for a moment, and were relieved when he remained standing. It was hard to tell if he had become pale again in the limited light from the car's interior light, but he was standing under his own power, which was enough for now.
Ok, so now I could exit the car without us getting attacked by angels. Unfortunately that left us back at the original problem of how to walk into town when two of us couldn't walk unassisted.
I looked at Dean in confusion upon remembering that, wondering how he had managed to sneak up on me. His ankle was still swollen, and I realised he was still using the car roof for support. I supposed he had walked his way around the car.
At least Cas was here now, that gave us two people to support us. It was still going to be a long walk.
Taylor joined the group, standing in front of me to complete the strange arc around where I was sitting. "Is it done?" She asked, seeming to study me for any visible changes.
"It is done." Cas answered her.
"Ok. Let's get moving then." Dean said with false cheerfulness. I rolled my eyes at him. "Cas is going to help me, and Taylor is going to help you." He informed me. Apparently it had all been decided without me. After a moment of thought, I decided that I was ok with that. I didn't really feel all that up to making decisions right now.
Cas held out a hand to help me stand up. I took it and slowly straightened up. My head spun and I wished I could brace my other hand against the car for support. I felt Dean's hand rest gently against my back, "Just take it easy." He said comfortingly. I took a few deep breaths then smiled at him, grateful for the small support.
"I'm ok." I told them all. A shiver ran through me from the cold night air, and I winced. Dean and Cas exchanged a look. "I'm fine." I told them, more firmly.
They didn't answer, but they didn't contradict me either.
Cas helped Taylor to wrap an arm under my uninjured shoulder so that she could support my weight, then moved over to Dean.
I realised too late that the sheet I had been wrapped in had fallen away when I stood up, but at least now all the deeper wounds were covered. There were still a mess of small cuts on my chest, but she just kept her focus on the ground in front of us. I guess she knew that we just couldn't afford for her to fall apart right now.
And so, in pairs, we began the trek to the motel.
Hi everybody! Posting a chapter early for you today!
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