Chapter Thirty-Four: Drive Away

I nodded along with Sarah as the realtor spoke. The house was our fifth to tour that day and I was not impressed. I thought the sprawling home looked like the one from those 'Nightmare on Elm Street' movies, you know, that big white house with the red door, too many windows in the front and low slanting dark green roof?

I wasn't really paying attention to what the real estate agent was saying- as long as it had four walls and a roof that was perfect for me- though I tried to look interested anyway, if only to keep up appearances.

Sarah knew more about buying houses than I did. I would have been perfectly content to watch the kids but my wife had insisted I come along, with a shake of her head and the comment, 'I'm not the only one who's going to be living in the house Sam, and I need your input too.'

The realtor unlocked the door and ushered Sarah and I inside. The foyer was large, with the staircase that led upstairs running directly off it.

"There are hardwood floors in this front hallway, the dining room and the upstairs hallway," The real estate agent was saying and Sarah nodded.

I peered around as the agent spoke to my wife- the house looked pretty much like all the others we'd looked at- I couldn't discern anything special about it although the realtor was really excited to show it.

I wandered away from the duo and slid my hand into my pocket. We were staying with Dean while we house hunted- Aaron and Faith were with Coombs and his family- and my brother had slipped me an old EMF detector on the sly with a shit-eating grin.

At first I had been doubtful about the device but after the first house we'd toured, I turned the detector on and suddenly felt a lot better about picking a house. Dean knew what he was doing- who would want to live in a haunted house?

I thumbed the ON button and heard the familiar low static sound- nothing seemed out of the ordinary in the kitchen- and looked back at the realtor and Sarah now entering the room.

"The cabinets are old but they are in good condition and all the appliances are new," the realtor simpered and I felt the sudden urge to punch him in the face.

I clenched the hand not in my pocket into a tight fist.

Breathe Sam, I told myself, calm down.

Whatever Aaron had caught had traveled through the family and I was the next person it landed on. It had to be some sort of flu-bug because within days of our son's return from the pediatrician's I was suffering from the whole gamut of symptoms- I even spent most of one day in particular retching into the toilet- and only succeeded in getting a handful of hours of sleep (the sleep I did manage to snag had been riddled with nightmares). Now I was irritable and on edge, despite the meds I was popping and not too keen on socializing.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Sam, are you alright?" Sarah asked and I looked up. Both my wife and the realtor were giving me worried glances.

"Oh, yeah, just a little headache," I muttered and smiled to show I was A-OK.

"Care to take a look upstairs?" Mr. Real Estate Agent prompted and I trudged after them.

I didn't pay attention to Sarah and the agent as they peered into the three bedrooms- Sarah exclaimed at how Aaron and Faith would love the two children's rooms (one was already painted a light pink, the other a bright yellow) and commented on the bathroom that needed updating.

"What year did you say this house was built in?" I spoke up, interrupting their conversation.

"Nineteen sixty-five," The real estate agent answered, "But you have to agree it is in good condition and the upgrades are a bonus too-"

I stopped paying attention again.

"Let's see the basement, shall we?" The agent suggested and we made our way back downstairs, Sarah giving me a curious look as we followed the realtor.

"You're up to something," She whispered, half playfully half accusingly.

I gave Sarah my bed innocent look, topping it off with the 'puppy dog eyes' that I knew would disarm her.

"I'm just no good at this stuff," I whispered back so the realtor wouldn't hear.

"Sam-" Sarah began to protest but I shook my head.

"The last time I was in a real house- besides the one we have now- I was six months old," I told her.

Sarah gave me a sympathetic look, she reached out and touched my arm, "This will be our last tour of the day; I'm getting tired of this anyway, all the houses are starting to look the same to me."

I smiled and tried not to look too relieved.

Maybe I was a little paranoid about haunted houses but I guess it came with the territory, you never knew- especially with the older homes- and wouldn't that be ironic? A hunter taking up residence in a haunted house?

Once outside again it seemed easier to breathe. The realtor shook Sarah's hand and mine and told us to call if we liked any of the houses we had seen so far.

My wife and I climbed into our rental car and drove back to Dean's place. We were looking at houses in a city called Sheridan, only about a thirty minute drive from Cicero and close enough to keep my brother happy. I had refused to actually live in Cicero, I still wanted some distance between us and that seemed to agree with everyone.

Sarah drove while I stared out the window. Sheridan was nice- it wasn't too big and was filled with quiet residential neighbourhoods- but I could see the worried expression on Sarah's face.

"Dean wants us to live closer to him and I agree," I spoke without looking at my wife, "But to do so we aren't going to find any rolling hills or wind-swept prairies like in Montana."

Sarah nodded, "I know that Sam but… I've gotten used to how quiet it is out there… I can hear crickets and the horses and coyotes. I moved to Montana because I didn't want to live in the city anymore and now we're moving right back."

I gave her a sympathetic look. I appreciated that she wasn't going on about how city life might be stressful for me; instead Sarah claimed to love the rural and dislike the thought of returning to metropolitan life.

"It will definitely be a big change," I agreed, "For the four of us but we'll be fine."

Sarah smiled and turned on the radio- some alternative rock band began playing- and sighed in a tired sort of way.

I knew Sarah was worried about me but I tried not to think about that- I couldn't live like a recluse for the rest of my life just because I was afraid of stress- and focused instead on the positives.

Faith and Aaron would be really close to school and we were only a half-hour drive from Dean's place. I could handle any stress city life threw at me. Besides, I was used to living in the city being shuttled from motel to motel by Dad for the first seventeen years of my life. If I got stressed than I got stressed. I would just make sure to take the meds- that's what they were there for anyway.

I thought it was darkly humorous that Sarah was the one who was anxious about this move when Dean was forever complaining that I took life too seriously, that I worried way too much and never had any fun.

"Just look at it as an adventure, Sarah," I tried, sounding as positive as possible.

Sarah smiled, her grey eyes sparkling.

"Living in the city will be better for the kids," I reminded my wife.

Sarah nodded, "I know. But… it's just that… the city isn't all that safe."

I frowned. Of course the city wasn't safe; it could only be dangerous with so many different people living so close together. But I wasn't really thinking about the dangers of smog or car accidents or strangers… I was thinking about the things that people didn't notice, the creatures that came out at night and stole back into the darkness and into the imagination when their gruesome appetites were sated. I was thinking about being so far away from Dean and Bobby, who both were too far away to help if the threat was immediate, about being a sitting duck for anything that had a taste for human flesh. I wasn't thinking about myself, of course. I knew how to fight all the monsters that lived at the edges of reason but Sarah and the kids did not. I knew I couldn't be there all the time to protect them, either. Somehow the idea of living in the city made me feel as though my family was maybe just a little safer from the things that go bump in the night.

I didn't tell Sarah all this though. I just reached out and placed my hand over hers on the steering wheel.

"Aaron and Faith will be safe, you'll see," I assured her, swallowing as I thought about Michael and Lucifer.

We were quiet for the rest of the drive back to Dean's place. Sarah must have been thinking about all the houses we had seen, which ones would be the best, when we'd be moving, etc.

I thought about how much this seemed like running away even if I told myself I was trying to protect my family. I wondered if we'd have to move again before this was all over. I hoped not, I had moved from motel to motel so fast in my youth that I hated the idea of picking up and leaving. I was willing to do anything to make sure Faith and Aaron's childhood wasn't like mine had been. The road was no place for a couple of kids. Dad may not have realized that but I did. I was not going to get my son and daughter caught up in my war.

I sighed and crossed my arms. I remembered when I was a kid, wishing that Dad would just leave Dean and me with Bobby or take us to live with some distant relatives. I may not have understood my father's crusade at that time but I did understand that the way we lived was not normal, that it was dangerous in fact and often dreamed of being removed from the equation. I loved my father, of course I did, but being raised to fight and kill from the time you could walk and talk was not right. I know Dad was just trying to protect Dean and I but all I wanted was to just be a normal kid.

"Sam? You okay?" Sarah's voice brought me back to the present.

I blinked, not realizing I had almost fallen asleep.

"Yeah," I muttered, looking in the car's side view mirror and seeing the frown on my face, "Just thinking."

Gotta stop comparing Aaron and Faith to us when we were kids, I heard Dean's voice chastise in my head.

I wiped a hand over my face and peered at Sarah, "What are you thinking about?"

Sarah shook her head, "Do you think we should move before or after Christmas?"

"Let's just find a house first," I suggested.

W

Sarah dropped me off in the front of Dean's condo. She said she wanted to visit Lisa, since we really were so close by, so I walked into the lobby and pressed the button that would signal to Dean that I was there. The security doors unlocked and I stepped in. There was no snow on the ground even though it was almost mid-November. Dean had told me it had just been pissing icy rain all month without a hint of sunshine in the grey sky.

I didn't bother with the elevator. I could use the exercise and took the stairs instead.

I was panting by the time I got to Dean's floor and my left knee was throbbing painfully, about ready to give out on me it seemed.

Smooth move Sam, I thought as I tried not to limp down the hallway. Should have known better than to use the stairs, moron.

I grimaced. It seemed as though my knee was never going to heal properly and would always be weak.

I knocked quickly on the door of Dean's condo and seconds later it was opened.

"Jeez Sam, what'd you do, run a marathon before you came here?" Dean asked as he stepped out of the way to let me inside.

"Took the stairs," I informed him in a stuffy voice, not letting him know I had paid for it.

I moved into the living room and sat down on the couch, resting my heels as casually as possible on the coffee table so my legs were elevated. I ignored the throb in my left knee and gratefully took the beer my brother held out to me.

Dean took a long drink of beer, eyeing me from over the bottle as he did so.

I frowned; Dean was going to start worrying, I just knew it.

"How's that shoulder of yours?" He asked. I was right. I hadn't been here five minutes and already my brother was the proverbial mother hen.

"Not bad," I lied. It wasn't healing as fast as I thought it should be. In fact, it didn't seem like it was healing at all and that made me nervous- not that I'd tell Dean that.

I knew I shouldn't really worry about the wound. I had been cut with a Seraph Blade before and that injury had healed- under the ministrations of professionals though- so I just told myself to give it time.

Dean's face turned sympathetic and I knew he still felt bad for thinking Belial had been me and that he hadn't rushed with all-speed to Montana like he undoubtedly believed he should have.

Thankfully changing the subject, Dean asked where Sarah was, "She doesn't want to hang out with a couple of fine young men?

"She said she wanted to go see Lisa," I shook my head and took a drink of my own beer before I forgot I had it.

Dean's face darkened slightly at the mention of his ex-wife's name and I swallowed a mouthful of alcohol painfully.

"Are you two still… friendly?" I asked hesitantly. I wanted to know what mess I'd just stepped in.

Dean waved a hand at my question, "Oh Lisa's friendly… she's friendly with every guy she comes across."

I grimaced. Dean's gotta be exaggerating though, I reasoned. I may not have known Lisa for very long or very well but she didn't seem like the type to sleep around with every available man now that she was single again.

Dean told me how Lisa was now seeing some douchebag named Wayne. Dean said he'd had to watch the boys three times so far because their mother had been out having 'casual' dinner and drinks with her co-worker.

"Who the fuck names their kid Wayne anyway?" Dean growled. I just let him vent. It was better than sitting all alone in his condo feeling bitter and sorry for himself.

"There's that Canadian hockey player, Wayne Gretsky," I suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

My brother wasn't amused.

"What about you Dean? You didn't have a problem with promiscuity before," I tried and failed miserably because my brother only got mad at me.

"So if you and Sarah got a divorce you wouldn't bat an eye if she suddenly started dating that Percy Upton dipshit?" Dean asked and I could see that he really wanted an answer.

"Of course I would but that's different, Percy's a little weasel but you don't even know anything about this Wayne guy," I tried to defend myself and reason with Dean at the same time.

Dean drained the last of his beer, "I don't have to know him. I just know that when Lisa says their going out for 'casual' drinks and dinner they're really porking each other."

I sighed, "You can't know that for sure."

Dean raised an eyebrow, "Oh yeah? I do know because I have used that code before Sam!"

I decided to stop trying. Let Dean believe anything he wanted to about Lisa and Wayne, it wasn't really my business and I was going to keep out of it.

"How're the boys? How does S.J. like school?" I asked to get Dean's mind off his ex.

It was as if a switch had been flipped. My brother went from pissed off and glowering to enthusiastic and chatty.

It was about two hours later that Sarah called to say she was leaving Lisa's and was coming back to the condo.

Dean grabbed another beer and cracked one open for me.

"So, how do you like Sheridan?" My brother decided to talk about the move now.

I shrugged, "It's like any other city, Dean. There's nothing special about it."

"Don't say that. There's gotta be something… I've been there a couple of times and it seems nice enough," Dean said but I just gave him an exasperated look.

"Okay, well if you aren't so eager to live here… what about South Dakota? You could live near Bobby. I'm sure the old man wouldn't mind that," Dean suggested.

"Dean, Sarah and I are moving to Indiana," I assured him. I knew Dean really wanted me to live here.

My brother tried not to look too relieve and I chuckled.

"We'll find the right place," I assured my brother.

"Yeah, with your hunting skills and Sarah's knowledge of all things outside the realm of monsters, you'll be able to snag a house in no time," Dean joked.

I frowned.

"I do know some things about the normal side of life, Dean. I was in college for a few years-" I tried to defend myself, enjoying the teasing.

Dean shook his head, "Being holed-up in some musty campus library surrounded by textbooks does not count as 'the normal side of life' Sammy."

I rolled my eyes in mock exasperation and chuckled.

Dean gave me a look that said 'can't I poke fun at my brother?'

When Sarah arrived, Dean offered her a beer and she accepted.

I raised an eyebrow at my wife.

"What? Oh, don't worry, I just had tonic and lime at Lisa's," Sarah assured me. I wasn't really worried. Sarah was never one to drink-and-drive.

Sarah took a seat beside me and unconsciously reached out and held my free hand in hers.

"Lisa's so excited that we're moving closer to you two," Sarah told Dean.

I'll just bet she is, I couldn't help but think just a little spitefully. From the expression that flashed over my brother's face I saw that he was thinking something along the same lines as I was.

"S.J. and Ben can't wait to see Aaron and Faith again," Sarah continued, "It'll be nice for the kids to be only minutes away from one another."

"We don't really know if we're moving to Sheridan, though," I interrupted Sarah's daydreaming.

Sarah chuckled and said, 'Don't listen to my husband; I'm the one who wears the pants in this relationship."

Dean burst out laughing, almost choking on his beer and I couldn't help but laugh along. Sarah gave my hand a squeeze and glanced at me from the corner of her eye.

"I like the town; yes it's nothing like Petite but it isn't as congested as New York or Albany," Sarah continued.

Dean took a swig of his beer, "So, have you thought about what you're going to do about jobs? Are you going to move that old bric-a-brac shop to Sheridan?"

Sarah smiled knowingly, "I've already looked into it- I can be an antique and collectables dealer, like my Dad. I'll be able to work from home so Aaron and Faith have someone around while they're still young. You don't need a big warehouse to be a dealer… A lot of people don't want to go out to auctions like that anymore-"

"Unless you're a billionaire," Dean interrupted with a smirk, no doubt thinking about the first time we had met Sarah and her father.

Sarah took a drink of her beer before continuing, "Anyway, a lot of people will pay good money for antiques and collectables online, from eBay, and I can even appraise heirlooms and things like that if they're brought to me."

Dean raised an eyebrow, looking impressed.

I knew Sarah loved art and would always want to work with it, even in the comfort of our own home.

"And what about you, Jack-Of-All-Trades?" My brother asked with a grin before taking a swig of beer.

I smiled but shook my head, "Sarah's trying to convince me I should teach."

Dean looked surprised, "What, like in a classroom?"

"I think he'd make a wonderful high school teacher," Sarah answered my brother assuredly.

Dean's gaze wandered and he smiled. I'm pretty sure he was picturing me wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a corduroy jacket with patches on the elbows.

"I think it's a good idea," Dean approved, "You've gotta put all that college education to good use somehow and what better way than by molding the minds of the future?"

I shrugged, uncomfortable, "Dean, I may be a lot of things but I am definitely not a teacher. I couldn't teach anyone to save my life."

Sarah's hand moved from mine to rest on my shoulder- the uninjured one- and gave it a comforting squeeze.

My brother gave me a skeptical look, "C'mon Sam. I know you better than that. You have all that knowledge stored up in that genius head of yours just waiting to burst out. What better way to show Dad he was wrong for saying 'no' to college than having a job that requires all that brainiac stuff."

"Dean-" I began but my brother raised a hand.

"I already know what you're going to say and I want you to know that I think Dad was wrong to be so against the whole 'higher education' thing. I mean, sure it sounded like you were ditching us, I'll admit that, but in the long-run it's turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Look at me for Christ's sake! I have a GED and what the hell is that good for nowadays? Huh? Jack shit, that's what. It was all well and good when I thought I'd be a hunter until I died but now, I regret not even finishing high school, man. But you, you can do anything you want, you can be anything you want. So why not go for it, Sam? Why waste the education you worked so hard to get?" Dean was almost blue in the face by the time he finished.

I blinked, "Wow. Thanks for the pep-talk, Dean."

My brother scowled, "I'm serious, Sammy."

"Sarah; c'mon, help me out here," Dean begged of my wife but Sarah looked just as shocked as I felt at my brother's transformation into a motivational speaker.

"You heard him; Sam, if you want to be a teacher, be a teacher," Sarah said with a smile.

I stood and ran a hand through my hair, "But that's just it- I don't want to be a teacher. I can't be a teacher!"

"You never know until you try," Sarah suggested. I knew she really wanted me to teach, thought it'd be the perfect career for me but I was dubious.

I really couldn't see myself standing at the front of a classroom filled with rowdy teenagers who didn't want to be there.

"Sam," Sarah said, reaching out and taking hold of my wrist to guide me back to sit beside her on the couch again, "We don't want you to do anything you don't want to… We're just trying to find the right job for you."

"Sarah can't be the sole breadwinner," Dean piped up, "Not very chivalrous, you know."

"I don't want you to be stressed about this," Sarah continued but I chuckled.

"I'm already stressed out about this! I have no idea about houses and yet you insist on dragging me around and now you're telling me what I should do for the rest of my life!" I exclaimed. I knew I wasn't being fair but the fact that we were being forced to move at all really pissed me off. I just couldn't take the chance that Belial or some other angel would come snooping around our home in Petite again.

"We're not trying to strong-arm you into doing anything you aren't comfortable with, Sam," Sarah argued.

"I know, I know," I muttered, "Can I just think it over, at least?"

Sarah looked surprised that I was even asking, "Of course Sam… besides, we still have a long time before we make any decisions. We don't even have a house yet."

Yeah, I know. I dreamt of having a normal life, a normal family, a normal job when I was younger and now that I was getting what I wanted I was afraid of it. Figures.

W

That evening Sarah spoke to the real estate agent over the phone about some more houses he wanted us to look at. My wife looked at me expectantly but I just waved the unasked question away. Let Sarah do her thing and I'll do mine.

"So you haven't heard anything from Belial again, have you? You know, Bobby thought he might come back," Dean asked as we sat at the kitchen table.

I shook my head, "Belial must have learned his lesson and before you ask, I haven't seen any other angels either… not even Cas or Abdiel."

I was still really bummed-out that the two friendly angels hadn't been sighted in months and even though Dean told me not to worry, something felt a little bit off about the whole thing.

"Must be nice not to have the enemy breathing down your neck, though," Dean shrugged.

I nodded and gulped down some beer.

"Aren't you concerned about Cas and Abdiel? I mean, we haven't heard anything from the since… uh, since Cas paid us a visit at Bobby's," I asked. I knew Dean probably thought the two angels were doing their own thing; that they weren't our babysitters but they were friends and I always worried about my friends and family.

"Sam, c'mon, those two can take care of themselves… besides, if anything came up I'm sure they'd tell us," Dean stood and rummaged around in a cupboard, pulling out a bowl and a bag of chips.

"Yeah, 'cause Cas has always been so forthcoming in the past," I muttered skeptically.

Dean poured the chips and sat the bowl on the table between us, raising his eyebrow.

"Don't tell me you'd want the two of 'em following you around like a couple of Secret Service guys," Dean chuckled.

"No, but at least they could tell us what's going down, you know," I argued, "I hate feeling like we're being kept in the dark."

"Sammy, you know Abdiel would tell you if something big was about to happen," Dean smiled encouraging before grabbing a handful of chips and shoving them into his mouth.

"Besides, just between you and me, I think he has a little bit of a crush on you," Dean's hazel eyes sparkled with mischievous glee, spraying bits of chip as he spoke.

I rolled my eyes, "Nice, Dean."

"Are you two getting along?" Sarah asked, poking her head into the kitchen, still holding her cell phone.

"Yes, Mom," Dean grinned wickedly at me but I just scowled at my brother.

Sarah chuckled and daintily picked up a potato chip.

"Why do you have to eat like a pig?" I asked Dean, glancing at Sarah from the corner of my eye.

"Why do you have to nag at me all the time?" Dean countered and I sighed.

I almost wished we'd find a house soon so we could leave Dean in all his bachelor-pad glory.

Dean leaned forward on his elbows, "You okay, Sammy? You look kinda tired."

"Just getting over a bit of a flu bug," I commented, hoping my brother wouldn't immediately turn into the mother hen he usually did if I had so much as a runny nose.

I didn't tell Dean that my kneecap felt like someone had replaced it with a ball of molten glass or that my shoulder was throbbing incessantly with every heartbeat.

Dean peered at my face, his expression serious but then he sat back, apparently placated with my answer. It wasn't like I was lying to him, anyway.

"Cheer up, Sammy," Dean said, "It ain't good to be so serious all the time."

"I'm not serious all the time, Dean," I muttered.

"Oh yeah?" Dean said, challenging, "Name one time when you've not had that frowny, depressed look on your face."

"That day you took me tobogganing while Dad was hunting that Wendigo," I recalled.

"You were, what, eight at the time?" Dean said skeptically but he smiled, like me, remembering that one afternoon where we'd gone up and down a large snow-covered hill for hours, using a metal trashcan lid as a sled.

I nodded. We had been stuck in a tiny, chilly motel room that had only one channel on the ancient TV and after annoying Dean, he finally gave in and let me go outside.

We didn't really have the right winter clothes. Besides our jackets, we dressed in sneakers and toques, no mittens or snow-pants but that didn't stop us. Dean had swiped a lid from one of the trashcans outside the motel's main office and we took off down the road for a fun-filled afternoon of play.

Dean's smile turned to a frown, remembering the consequence of our childhood desire to do something normal kids did: Dad had been pissed that we had gone outside unsupervised with a monster on the loose and ranted at Dean for two hours about how he should be more responsible. I came down with a fever that turned into pneumonia and had to be taken to the local hospital. I don't really remember the five days I spent there but Dean said it had been pretty bad.

"Hey, at least I was happy for the afternoon," I returned to the original topic, trying to sweep the ill consequences aside.

Dean smiled, "Yeah, you wouldn't stop laughing."

My brother sighed and it seemed some tension was lifted.

We fell silent for a few moments, neither of us quite sure of what to say.

Thankfully, Sarah came into the room. She sat down in between us and began talking about some houses the realtor had found for us.

"He says we can see them tomorrow," Sarah spoke, seeming unaware of the slightly awkward silence that has enveloped the kitchen moments before… or else she was ignoring it.

"Great," I nodded, trying not to sound exasperated.

"Sam, the more houses we see the better chance we have of picking one," Sarah said, sounding just a little annoyed.

"You're right," I agreed, "It just feels weird to me, that's all."

Dean chuckled, "It's not like we haven't snooped around peoples' houses when they weren't there before."

"When we did that we were hunting, looking for evidence, not intending to buy their houses," I argued.

Dean just shook his head in fake exasperation.

"You're really strange Sammy; did anyone ever tell you that?"

"Lots of people," I muttered, somewhat irritated at my brother.

Sarah gave me a sympathetic look and her hand found my own.

"I can go look by myself tomorrow," she suggested.

I shook my head, "I'll come with you. Who knows what you'd pick if I wasn't there!"

SPN

I know I pick on Sammy all the time. I tease him and he hates it but it's my job, it's what older brothers are for, right?

Besides, I'm sure that when we're white-haired old men we'll have to kick the bucket at the same time so one doesn't go before the other. It's a little bit poetic if you think about it, in a morbid, Emily Dickinson kind of way.

I didn't know why Sam was making such a big deal about moving from Montana. I mean, I adjusted pretty well to living with Lisa and then buying my condo.

And you thought I was the one who lived for the hunt?

Okay, so maybe Sammy wasn't in the hunter frame of mind anymore but he was so obviously uncomfortable with this whole house-thing it was starting to make me uncomfortable.

"Sam," I leaned forward, "What's bothering you? Why are you so nervous about moving away?"

Sam sat back and rubbed a hand through his hair and sighed. He looked at Sarah and then back at me.

"I just don't want to move, you know," Sam lied because his wife was sitting there, "We've made friends there and we have good jobs… I guess I'm just not really ready to start all over."

I nodded as if that made all the sense in the world.

Sarah peered at me and then at Sam, a knowing smile crept across her face, "All right, keep your secrets if you must."

I gave my sister-in-law a conspiratorial look and crossed my arms over my chest smugly.

Sarah shook her head and gave us a false exasperated look.

SPN

It was raining, cold and miserable the next day when Sarah and I followed the realtor from house to house.

Sarah chatted animatedly to the realtor about the houses and I just followed along silently, like a shadow.

The weather was affecting my leg badly and I limped along- half grateful half embarrassed that I was using my cane again- feeling like an old man.

"The next house I want to show you has a large backyard and a walk-out basement…" the realtor was saying and I saw my wife brighten up.

We were walking side-by-side, Sarah holding my free hand, seemingly worried that I was going to fall over or something.

"And you'll like this, Sam," the agent speaking to me now, "it has a room that can used as a man-cave!"

The realtor gave me a sly look as though because we were both guys, he knew what I'd want in a house, and apparently I was secretly longing for a man-cave.

I just nodded and said, "That's great!"

The realtor slapped me on the back and chuckled. I held back the urge to shove my foot where the sun doesn't shine.

We stopped in front of a sandstone two-storey, the bricks a mixture of pink and red and gold; with a light brown shingled roof; a big bay window in the front and soggy, droopy rosebushes along the front.

"Roses! I love roses!" Sarah spoke up and brushed past the realtor, dragging me along behind her.

The realtor unlocked the door and from the look on my wife's face, before we'd even set foot in the hallway, I knew this was going to be our house.

SPN

Castiel hated playing the double agent. He spent as much time as he dared with each of the archangels.

He hated all the lying and sneaking around- something that went against his very nature but was unavoidable.

This is for Dean and Sam, Castiel thought, this is for their protection.

But who am I really protecting? Castiel mused sadly; who am I saving by doing this?

"Raphael, I need you to help me release Abdiel from prison," Castiel told the archangel.

His brother raised a dark eyebrow, "And why would I want to do something like that, Castiel?"

The lower-ranking angel knew he could not break his friend from prison without assistance. Castiel knew that Raphael would be able to free their brother from jail, the only problem was, would he want to?

"Brother, Abdiel is the only angel who can keep Michael away from Sam Winchester," Castiel began, hoping that his words would sway Raphael.

The archangel appeared to be listening so Castiel continued, "If you still want Sam Winchester… Abdiel will protect him from our overzealous brother… until you are ready for him."

Castiel hated the words he was speaking but he knew that Raphael's hate of Michael and his desire to see Sam pay for his crimes would force his hand in the direction the lower-ranking angel wished it to go.

Castiel could almost see Raphael thinking, a smile curving his lips, his dark eyes flashing with covetousness.

"All right Castiel, I'll play your game, seeing as you are so willing to play mine," Raphael spoke slowly, a mocking smile on his lips, "It is only fair, after all."

Castiel didn't bother to thank his brother; he knew that Raphael was not acting out of the kindness of his heart.

Without hesitation both angels 'teleported' to the prison to rescue their brother. It was at the farthest point in Heaven, dark and silent, the only place in God's kingdom where His light did not reach. For an angel, it was a terrible fate to be held there for any length of time.

The only place worse than this is Hell, Castiel thought and suppressed a shudder as he and Raphael stepped inside.

It took a moment for the angels' eyes to adjust to the darkness but after some fervent blinking, they could make out the prison's dimensions.

It had no chains or cells or bars- such things were not needed, those imprisoned could not escape- it was like walking into a black hole. Castiel could feel an odd pressure all around him and knew that the spell the prison was under was working on him. He peered through the gloom at Raphael and saw that the archangel was standing ramrod straight, his jaw tightly clenched.

The two angels knew they must work quickly or they would also become trapped. The only angels able to withstand the prison's spell where the guards, disciples of its creator, Melchior.

"Raphael, perhaps you should wait outside and warn us if anyone approaches," Castiel suggested, struggling to get the words out.

The archangel didn't even argue, he simply vanished and Castiel knew he was standing watch.

Castiel walked calmly toward Sandalphon. The guard stopped him, "What business do you have here, Castiel?"

"Michael has asked me to assure that the prison is secure," Castiel lied, hoping that Sandalphon would believe him.

The angel looked confused; surely the prison would always be secure?

"Go on your way," Sandalphon waved Castiel away, in no mood to entertain Michael's current, albeit strange choice in partners.

Castiel nodded and sidled past the guard.

If Michael finds out I am here…

Castiel didn't finish the sentence; he could just image what the archangel would do to him if he was discovered and shivered at the thought of having his Grace ripped out as Belial's had been.

As Castiel walked deeper into the prison he couldn't help but remember that he had sent Anna there. He did feel bad for making that choice but he had done so to protect the Winchesters… and he had not been wrong for doing so, in the end.

The trench coat-wearing angel saw no other guards and no prisoners and began worrying that Abdiel was not there at all.

What if Michael has already gotten to him? Castiel thought despairingly.

He shook his head to try and clear away the depressing thoughts already surfacing from being inside the prison. If the spell was already affecting Castiel negatively than what must Abdiel be going through?

It was then that Castiel caught sight of a shape in a corner. It was Abdiel!

"Brother," Castiel said and approached the angel.

He was crouched, his paperboy cap obscuring his face, and did not move at the sound of Castiel's voice.

I'm too late, Castiel feared, this place has driven him mad.

"Abdiel, it is me," the angel tried again, "Castiel."

Two bird of prey eyes glared at the angel and Castiel hesitated.

"About bloody time!" Abdiel snapped and struggled to stand, one hand braced against the wall as his wobbly legs refused to cooperate.

Castiel rushed to aid his brother, "Can you stand?"

"Wot do you think I'm trying to do, you dolt?" Abdiel grumbled and clutched at Castiel's coat.

Castiel grabbed Abdiel under the shoulders and heaved him up. Abdiel tried to stand on his own but his legs gave out and he almost brought his trench coat-wearing brother down with him.

"Just gimme a minute, mate," Abdiel brushed invisible dust off Castiel's lapels.

Castiel's blue eyes widened slightly, "We do not have a minute, brother. We must leave now before we are found out."

"Okay, okay," Abdiel muttered, "Don't lose your feathers."

Castiel stretched his wings out and actually checked them. Abdiel chuckled and took a few steps forward- pushing his paperboy cap a little higher up on his forehead- and tested his balance.

"That'll do," he muttered in a thick Cockney accent.

"We must away now," Castiel pressed and took hold of Abdiel's arm.

Before the Brit could even protest, Castiel sent the both of them shooting toward a different slice of Heaven when they slammed into an invisible wall, knocking them nearly senseless.

"Did you think that you could just fly away and I wouldn't notice?"

Castiel recovered first and his gaze landed on Raphael.

"We needed to escape without alerting Michael," Castiel snapped and pulled Abdiel up.

The British angel ran a hand through his curly hair and frowned, realizing his hat was missing.

Raphael raised an eyebrow, "Ah, was that the plan?"

"I thought Michael had you evicted, Raffi," Abdiel spoke up, his raptor gaze pinned on the archangel.

"I was simply assisting Castiel in your rescue; I do not wish to remain here longer than need be. Believe it or not, Abdiel, but I do not want to confront Michael right now," Raphael answered haughtily, ignoring Castiel's hand signaling for him to be quiet.

"Huh and why is that?" The British angel turned to Castiel.

"I will explain all while we move," Castiel answered, "Right now we are no better than… what is the term?"

"Sitting ducks," Abdiel offered and the trench coat-wearing angel nodded.

Raphael looked from Abdiel to Castiel and frowned, "Do what you need to do, Castiel. I will wait."

The archangel disappeared with the faint sound of wing beats and Castiel turned to his brother.

"We have already stayed too long," the angel took hold of Abdiel's arm once more, "Come."

Once again the angels were travelling a light-speed until-

They were standing in a ballroom in Versailles. Women wearing frilly, colourful dresses and men in doublets and hose danced around and around, ignoring the angels.

"Wot's going on Cas? Is Sam alright? Did Belial do something? Wot did Raphael mean 'he would wait'?" As soon as the angels stopped moving Castiel was bombarded with questions.

Castiel tried unsuccessfully to pry Abdiel's hand off his coat, "How do you know about Belial?"

"Our dear brother Michael paid me a visit, told me he'd set the Lord of the Flies to watch Sam," Abdiel answered, brown eyes nervous.

"Sam Winchester is safe," Castiel assured his friend.

"Bollocks! Something's happened- I felt it!" Abdiel argued and pulled Castiel close to him.

"Belial disobeyed Michael's orders and tried to kill Sam," Castiel whispered.

"Oh Hell's Bells, I'm gonna kill him!" Abdiel swore, causing his brother's blue eyes to grow large in shock.

"I'm afraid that such action wouldn't amount to much," Castiel answered hurriedly.

"Wot-" Before Abdiel could finish the question he was once again flying alongside his brother, bound for another version of Heaven-

They stood on a white-sand beach, the sound of seagulls and the ocean ringing in their ears as a large, red sun shone down on them.

Abdiel, still weak from the effects of the prison, sat down heavily on the sand, legs splayed out.

"Warn me when you're gonna do that next time, mate," he muttered and ran a hand through the soft, warm sand.

"Very well," Castiel remained standing even as Abdiel laid back, hands under his head, squinting up past his brother at the pale sky.

"Wot do you mean killing Belial wouldn't amount to much? It'd make me feel a whole lot better and it'd keep Sam safe," Abdiel finished the question he'd began asking in Louis XIV's palace.

"Michael has gone mad with power," Castiel said stiffly.

"And…" Abdiel prompted.

"And as a result he ripped out Belial's Grace as punishment for disobedience," Castiel finished in a hoarse whisper.

Abdiel sat up, spluttering, "Wot? I know you're no good at jokes but even for you that's a bit dark, don't you think?"

"I would not joke about something like that," Castiel's blue eyes turned to ice.

Abdiel shuddered. Just the thought of another angel coming in contact with his Grace set his teeth on edge. Even though he thought Belial was a wanker, Abdiel would never wish for his brother to have his Grace taken from him.

"Brother, we should move," Castiel interrupted his thoughts and-

The Serengeti at dawn. The angels could see giraffes grazing on the highest branches of acacia trees.

Gnats flew around the angels' head in buzzing, annoying halos.

"So, Michael's getting comfy up there on Daddy's throne, is he?" Abdiel continued, leaning against the trunk of a baobab tree.

"Yes," Castiel agreed because he couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Wot else do I need to know, Castiel? Wot is going on between you and Raphael?" Abdiel asked shrewdly.

"I asked him to assist me in your rescue," Castiel did not lie.

Abdiel raised an eyebrow, "What about Astoreth? I thought you and Raphael weren't on speaking terms."

Castiel knew he needed to lie but he hated the idea of deceiving his brother, "Michael would not suspect Raphael to come waltzing right into Heaven."

"Uh huh," Abdiel said and turned his gaze to the rising sun.

"Brother, please believe me," Castiel begged, he couldn't bear the thought of Abdiel losing faith in him.

"Wot are you and Raphael up to?" Abdiel pinned Castiel with his raptor gaze.

"I am trying to help," Castiel said.

Abdiel narrowed his eyes at his brother. He had always trusted Castiel but something about the way he and Raphael had been speaking to one another seemed off.

"Forget it," Abdiel waved a hand, "I don't want to hear it."

"Abdiel," Castiel began and reached out to grip his brother's arm-

The angel shook his head as they were jostled around by a screaming, cheering crowd. Strobe lights flickered and the sounds of a rock concert invaded the air around the angels.

"I DON'T WANT ANY EXPLANATION FROM YOU, CASTIEL!" Abdiel shouted and his brother strained to hear him over the chords of a Megadeth song.

"BROTHER, PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!" Castiel shouted back but Abdiel reached up and shook him by the shoulders.

The British angel continued to hold Castiel and moved closer to him until their noses almost touched, "If you do anything to hurt Sam, anything… Than you can consider me an enemy, brother."

Castiel looked away from Abdiel's predatory eyes, "We should go now. You'll need to stay underground."

Abdiel bowed, "Lead the way."

Castiel, with Abdiel's hands still fisted into his lapels, nodded and took the both of them down to Earth.

Abdiel blinked and looked around. His head was swimming- it would take longer than he expected to shake off prison's spell- and saw they were in a barren field with fat, wet flakes of snow falling down onto the dry yellow grass.

Castiel's eyes were large and wide, as though he was trying to imitate Sam Winchester's 'puppy eyes' expression.

"You must stay hidden," Castiel told his brother, somewhat more subdued now after Abdiel's outburst.

"Piece of cake," Abdiel managed to smile, "I managed it for millennia before you found me."

"Please be careful," Castiel cautioned, "You are the only thing standing between Michael and Sam right now."

"And what about you and Raphael? Am I the only thing standing between you two lovebirds and Sam?" Abdiel asked without a trace of humour in his voice.

Castiel blinked, "I can keep Raphael away from him."

Abdiel raised an eyebrow in a 'yeah, right' expression.

He looked out at the swirling snow, "So, underground again, eh? Maybe I'll take a leaf out of Gabriel's book this time. Wouldn't Michael shit himself if I did that?"

"Perhaps," Castiel answered.

Abdiel nodded and turned away as though he meant to walk to his destination.

"Oh, Cas, there is one more thing," Abdiel was smiling now and his brother looked expectantly at him.

"Yes?"

"You owe me a new hat," The smile never faded, even when Abdiel turned back on his heel and began humming 'Countdown To Extinction'.

W

Castiel waited until Abdiel had disappeared before he slumped with relief. He hated lying to his brother, not being able to tell him exactly why he was working with Raphael.

Abdiel would kill me if I told him the truth; Castiel thought, deadly serious.

He peered up into the sky and knew he should return to Heaven. Castiel wished he could visit Dean Winchester but he wouldn't take the chance- not with both Raphael and Michael keeping tabs on him- so with one mournful look out at the wintery prairielands, Castiel sighed and went to find the archangels.

SPN

We were going to stay in Montana until early January. No one wanted to move during Christmas- even though it was still the middle of November- but you didn't hear any complaints coming from me.

I wasn't nearly ready enough to leave Petite. I had people to say 'goodbye' to, things to prepare, etc.

I knew Sarah was trying to make the best of a bad situation and even managed to be excited about the new place but I couldn't help but wonder just how many more new houses we'd have, always looking over our shoulders, until Michael and Lucifer came asking the Big Question.

Half the time I told myself I would tell Aaron and Faith about the angels when the time came, tell them to say 'no' no matter what happened and the other half I made silent promises that if Lucifer showed his ugly face, I would agree to 'fulfill my destiny' just so my kids wouldn't have to make that decision.

But who am I kidding? After sending Lucifer's ass back to Hell and then killing him with his own Seraph Blade, he'd probably just squash me like a bug as soon as look at me.

But, hey, a guy can hope, can't he?

I know neither path was a good one to go down but I would do anything it took to keep my son and daughter safe… even if it meant having to sacrifice my life or my freedom.

W

I was in my office in the library, not doing anything, just thinking, really, when the sudden appearance of an old friend nearly caused me to fall backwards out of my chair.

"Abdiel!" I cried and grabbed the desk for support.

It had been months since I had heard from him and smiled broadly for a moment before frowning.

"Why haven't you answered me?" I demanded to know.

Abdiel jumped up on the desk and crouched there, bird-like. He was different; his movements were less fluid, his expression serious and the paperboy hat was missing from atop his curly hair.

"I'm sorry, mate, I really am."

"For what?" I asked, even Abdiel's voice sounded exhausted.

"I was taking an extended vacation at angel Alcatraz," Abdiel commented.

"You were… in jail?" I asked, stunned, "For how long? Why?"

Abdiel sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Just after cleaning up your mess with Phobetor, Michael and I got into a bit of a row and he stuck me in prison 'cause he couldn't handle the truth."

So all the times I'd called on the angel and received no response it wasn't because he was ignoring me. He had been unable to help out.

"How did you get out? Is Cas-" I began but Abdiel held out a hand.

"Castiel was never imprisoned- he knows when to keep his mouth shut- and he was the head of the rescue party," Abdiel answered, giving unusual emphasis to the other angel's name.

"Why hasn't he been helping us then? When Dean finds out that Cas was hanging out in Heaven the whole time-" I bristled at the thought of the angel ignoring us when Dean and I needed him the most.

Abdiel shook his head, "Castiel's trying to keep Michael from destroying Heaven, Sam, and believe me that's no' an easy task. If Mickey is keeping Castiel on a short leash than he wouldn't want to draw attention to you and Dean."

So Castiel was keeping the Eye of Sauron off us. I wondered if Abdiel knew about Raphael's plan to resurrect Lucifer and have the two All Stars of the Apocalypse use Faith and Aaron.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you when Belial attacked," Abdiel apologized.

I shook my head, "I'm alive and that's all that matters."

Abdiel bobbed his head, "But you were injured; I could have prevented that."

I sighed, my hand immediately going to my shoulder.

"So what are you going to do now that you've escaped Azkaban?" I asked and turned on the 'puppy eyes'.

Abdiel chuckled, "I'd love to stay with you and Sarah, if I could. Pretend I was your distant Limey cousin, but I can't take the chance of putting you and your family in danger."

"Abdiel," I protested, "We are already in danger."

"I'm sorry, mate. I've gotta stay underground," he said, "When Michael finds I'm gone no doubt he'll be tearing Heaven apart to find me."

A thought occurred to me, "He might think you've gone straight to me."

"And that, my friend, is why I'm gonna be far away from you if Michael does come calling," Abdiel exclaimed.

We were both silent for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"It's good to see you again," I offered.

Abdiel smiled and put a hand on my arm, "And I've grown quite fond of you too."

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle and the angel shook his head.

"I had better get going before the God Squad come poking around," Abdiel said sarcastically.

I nodded and bit my lip to keep from saying anything.

I blinked but the angel was gone. I slumped in my chair and rested my head on my arms.

I lifted my head to look up at the ceiling. At least I knew that Abdiel hadn't just been ignoring me these past months; that was some consolation. The fact that Abdiel had been imprisoned didn't make me feel any better though. Things were becoming so messed up in Heaven I didn't know how Cas and Abdiel kept it straight.

I knew shouldn't be worrying about Michael and the other archangels right then anyway, I had a lot of my plate as it was.

I only hoped that Abdiel could keep under Michael's radar.

Author's Note: Okay guys, here's what's up- I think this is going to be the second last chapter for this story! I know, don't worry. I do have ideas for a sequel but that will be put on hold for a while 'cause I have other stories and ideas I want to publish beforehand.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. The weather's really nice where I am and I hope you are all soaking up as much sun as possible!

I'm not too happy with my angel prison… I don't know but it kind of went for a flop and I couldn't think of anything else. I know it's no Escape From Alcatraz or anything. The important thing was that Abdiel was freed. Please forgive me.

Please, please review! I really do appreciate them. They always make my day and sometimes even my week.