**Nothing from Charmed or Supernatural belongs to me.**

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Two weeks later, the demon attacks were virtually non-existent, and Dean and Leo were completely caught up with everything in the garage. Sam and Peyton were practically joined at the hip, something that Coop was having a very hard time with. Phoebe would just smile, running her hands through Coop's hair or taking him from the room. Wyatt and Chris were warming up to Dean, and although Leo had tried to be tough, and act like Coop was acting, he just couldn't. Seeing how happy Melinda was with Dean, especially now since they were soul-bonded, Leo, and Piper too, had accepted Dean.

Dean was sitting on a riverbank, with a fishing pole in his hand. He glanced around, and Melinda was behind him, sleeping on a blanket in the grass.

"Hello, Dean."

Dean glanced up, pushing the baseball cap on his head back. Castiel stood beside him, looking out over the river. Dean sighed.

"I'm dreaming, aren't I?"
"Yes, you are."

Dean looked up at Castiel again, who was still looking out over the water.

"Something's wrong, isn't it?"

Castiel nodded, and Dean looked back to Melinda.

"What is it?"

Castiel shook his head.

"It's not safe here."
"My dreams aren't safe?"
"Someone could be listening. Call me when you wake up."

Just like that, Castiel was gone. Dean set the pole down and walked back to the blanket. He knelt beside Melinda and ran a hand over her forehead.

Dean opened his eyes, disoriented for a moment. He was just fishing, wasn't he? Melinda moved on his chest, and he glanced down. Right. He and Melinda had been taking a nap in her room. Every night since they bonded, they couldn't sleep without the other one next to them. Melinda slept wrapped up in Dean's arms, with her head on his chest. They were like that now, all wrapped up together. Dean sighed, and maneuvered Melinda off his chest without waking her up. He stood up, and padded to the door. He glanced back, seeing the salt lines around the window and the bed, and stepped over the one by the door. He nodded, and walked out, silently closing the door behind him. He walked up to the attic, discovered it was empty. He shut the door behind him and walked to the middle of the room.

"Cas? Hey, I'm up. What's going on, man?"

He looked around, and started to walk to the window, when he heard rustling behind him. He turned around, and there stood Castiel.

"Hello, Dean."

Dean nodded to him.

"What's up, Cas?"

Castiel looked up, and Dean sighed.

"I mean, what's wrong?"
"Oh."

Castiel let out a sigh, and Dean crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm sure you remember Lilith?"

Dean tensed.

"The little-girl demon who held my contract? The bitch who possessed Ruby, killed me, and sent me to hell? Yeah, Cas. I remember her."

Castiel nodded.

"Well, Lilith has begun … She is …"
"What, Cas? What's she doing?"

Castiel raised his head, his blue eyes full of pain as he stared at Dean.

"Lilith has started breaking seals."
"Seals? What do you mean?"

Castiel sighed.

"There are 66 seals that must be broken, and Lilith has started to break them. If she succeeds in breaking the 66, then …"
"What, Cas? What happens?"

Castiel looked to Dean.

"The Apocalypse."

Dean was silent, and the door to the attic swung open. Melinda came walking in, shooting Dean a look before she made her way to Castiel. He sighed. She was mad. He could hear it in his head.

"I'll deal with you later, Winchester. What do you mean, the Apocalypse, Cas?"
"Mel—"
"Don't. You should have woken me up. Castiel. Answer me."

Castiel looked down at her, his blue eyes solemn.

"Lilith has begun to break the seals."
"Lilith is—"
"I know who Lilith is, Dean."

Dean looked away as Melinda thought of what she had gone through while he was in hell. Of course. Sam had explained everything to her, and since Lilith had held his contract, and been his executioner, Melinda knew.

"Cas, when you say the 66 seals, do you mean… like in the Bible?"

Castiel nodded, and Dean looked back to Melinda. She smiled and turned to him.

"It was important to Daddy that we went to church. Mama had me christened when I was a baby."

Melinda let out a breath, then looked to Castiel.

"When—if Lilith breaks the seals, the 66 that she needs… What happens then?"

Castiel met her eyes.

"Lucifer will be released and will walk the Earth."
"Lucifer? The devil?"

Castiel nodded at Dean, as Melinda gasped, reaching back for Dean's hand. She swallowed.

"And if Lucifer is freed, then … the battle will occur, won't it? Between Lucifer and … isn't it Michael? The archangel?"

Castiel nodded. Dean squeezed Melinda's hand, and pulled her to him, turning her to face him.

"Baby, how do you know all this?"
"I told you, Dean. I went to church for a long time. I've read the Bible, and I … I know about this stuff. It's scary and it's really bad. Isn't it, Cas?"

Castiel nodded, and Dean took Melinda in his arms.

"Well, we're not going to let it happen. Don't worry, Mel."

She nodded, gripping him tighter. She moved her head to look at Castiel.

"What can we do? How can we stop it?"
"We have to stop Lilith from breaking more seals."
"'We,' Cas?"
"Yes, Dean. We."

Melinda smiled.

"It's a good feeling to have angels on your side."

Castiel smiled at her.

"I will go and find out what I can, and I will get back with you."

And he was gone. Dean went to step away, but Melinda held him tighter.

"Just one more second."

Dean sighed and held her closer to him.

"Mel, it's going to be okay."
"I know."
"I mean it, baby."
"I know."

She had her face in his chest, and Dean sighed. He ran a hand through her hair, until she pulled back to look at him. He bent his head, pressing his lips to hers.

"Melinda, I swear to you, you are going to be safe."

She smiled, and Dean sighed.

"I know you're not worried about yourself, but I am. And I know you can take care of yourself."
"Stop reading my thoughts before I can say them."
"You know I can't help it."

She smiled, and took Dean's face in her hands.

"I am not the fragile little bird you think I am. I am strong, and I can kick ass, and you are not going to push me aside and play hero for me. Shut up."

She laid a finger to his lips.

"I know you're going to worry about me. Well, I worry about you, too. And we're just going to have to figure out a way to work together, without you trying to protect me."
"Or you trying to protect me."

Melinda nodded, pulling Dean into a hug again. He kissed her forehead, and Peyton and Sam came into the attic. Peyton immediately went to Melinda.

"What's wrong? I can feel it, Mel. You're terrified. What's going on?"

Melinda looked over to Dean, who reached and took her hand. Melinda put a smile on her face.

"Oh, nothing. We just have to stop the Apocalypse from happening. That's all."