Chapter Thirty-seven: Chance of Rain
It was safe to say that Castiel's accident didn't deter me from anything we did. I still made him breakfast in the morning as often as I could. Making him enjoy all the little things. Nothing could bring me down from the high I was on. I had Cass, Dean, Sam, Bobby, the job…everything. The only downfall was that I had given up one of the best friends I could ever ask for to have everything that I did. I wanted Lincoln back. The plan was in motion but they told me not to rush anything. Rushing would increase the chances of getting him killed. We hunted. We relaxed. We drank a lot of wine. And despite all of the negatives in the world, I was happy. As happy as I could be.
Walking through the door, Cass right behind me, all of us covered in dirt and burns. Falling onto the bed, Cass next to me, I turned and frowned at him.
"Shall I heal you?" He asked doing the same.
"Nah." I said and looked at the ceiling. "I like my war wounds."
"That makes one of us." Dean said from the opposite bed.
"I'm with her." Sam replied.
"Thank you, Sammy." I smiled at him.
Dean shook his head at us. I was enjoying the calm moment between all of us when Cass propped himself up, looking up at the ceiling as if he was listening to someone. A frown moved across his face and sat, moving to the edge of the bed. I did the same, watching him as he listened to whatever was going on. When he looked at me, he held his hand out to me.
"Dean, I'll call you." I told him without looking at him. In the next second, Cass and I were standing in his field. "What are we doing here?"
"I need you to stay here for a little while." He told me, stepping in front of me.
"What? What's going on?" I frowned at him.
He ran his hand down my hair. He gave me a small smile before he kissed me deeply. I ran my hands up and down his chest, waiting for him to tell me what's going on.
"This place will keep you safe." He said and kissed me again.
"Where are you going?" I asked him, gripping his shirt.
"I'm needed elsewhere. Seals are in danger and I must assist."
"Stay." I told him quickly.
Smiling, he gently caressed my face. "I love you."
"I love you too." I smiled at him and he kissed me once more before he disappeared. "Okay." I said and turned to the autistic man flying his kite.
Whatever was going on, I get wanting to keep each other safe. I wanted to keep him as safe as a newborn child. But he had work to do and I had work to do. Though I wished I knew what was going on for him to bring me here. Standing, I sighed as I walked toward the edge of the field, picturing my heaven, I kept walking, moving through the trees, only to have them open up to my field. Smiling, I stepped toward the tree, happy to see the swing swinging lightly in the breeze. I looked at the house, smiling at all the good memories I had of this place. Looking back at the swing, Cooper was lying on it with perked ears and a happy dog grin on his face. Smiling wider I walked up to him, taking his head on my hands, placing a kiss on top of his head. He licked my forearms before my face, his tail thumping on the seat.
"It's nice seeing you like this." I smiled at him.
As I sat with him, there was a slight shift in the atmosphere. Without reacting, I made sure to pay attention to everything that was going on around me. Cooper seemed to do the same as he rested his head in my lap, his ears ever moving as well as his nose and eyes. I stroked his body as I tried to pinpoint where it was coming from. Feeling something over my right shoulder, I stood, calling Cooper with me, walking around the left side of the tree. Quickly moving around it I saw a figure slowly stepping from the trees. Smiling, I walked toward them, seeing a woman as I got closer. She had a slim but strong frame. Her long, light brown hair hung straight as she stood with watchful blue eyes that were slightly angled and seemed to see right through me as she watched my approach. Her face was angled with strong lines. Her lips full and her posture stoic.
"Hello." I smiled. She simply looked at me. "Why are you watching me?"
"I was asked to." She told me.
"By Cass?" I asked.
"Yes." She replied. "Castiel."
"Why?"
For a moment she just looked at me. Almost as if she didn't want to answer me. "Because he loves you." She replied.
"And?" I asked trying to get a response from her.
"And he wants you protected."
"So he what…hired you?"
"He asked me and I said yes." She told me with the slightest hint of a smile.
For a second my mind reached a conclusion that sparked jealousy inside of me. Crossing my arms, I gave her a half smile, eyeing her like she was a bug that needed to be squashed. She did the same, seeming to be waiting for me to say something.
Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair, shifting my weight as I looked away from her. "What's your name?" I asked her.
"Lorna." She replied.
"Pretty." I told her.
"Thank you."
"What's your job description?"
"To keep an eye on you." She replied, her smile growing slightly.
"And what do you get out of this?" I asked, frowning now.
"Do I have to get something out of it? Am I not supposed to do what my commander asks?" She said with a slight furrow of her brows.
"Commander?" I asked, a nervous pit falling in my stomach.
"We are fighting a war. Did you think that we were all on our own? I believe in what Castiel is doing. He asks and I do." She told me.
Turning away from her, I walked to the house, getting a bottle of wine while I tried to digest what I had just learned. It made sense. Especially when it was he who was sent to pull Dean out of Hell. It was only natural that he be more important than I had let myself believe. It didn't take long for Lorna to show up, standing across the kitchen from me. I drank two glasses of wine before I couldn't take the silence anymore.
"What exactly are you supposed to do?" I asked her. "Are you to keep me under house arrest? Are you strictly watching? Are you supposed to step in when things get rough? I mean what? What are you supposed to do?"
"You are your own person. I am not allowed to let you get hurt. I am to follow and protect. I am to be whatever it is that you want me to be." She replied.
"So, basically, you're my bitch." I said with a smile.
"I don't really understand the reference, but…yes." She said unsure of herself.
"Then you need to take me to the Winchesters." I told her.
"Excuse me?" She frowned.
"If Cass doesn't want me with him then he's doing something big. But if I can't be with him then I want to be with the Winchester's. So, please, take me there."
"Castiel wouldn't appreciate that. He brought you here. He didn't want you in dangers way." She frowned.
"And he also told you to follow and protect." I smiled at her. She frowned at me. I grinned back and held out my hand. This might actually be fun.
In the next second we were standing outside a café. Seeing the brothers sitting at a table, I quickly joined them, smiling as Lorna came up and stood next to me. The brothers both looked at me before looking at the woman next to me.
"This is Lorna. She's an angel." I smiled at them. "Cass gave her to me. She's supposed to keep an eye on me."
"Okay." Sam said looking at her.
"Wow. Apparently he thinks you're going to get into a lot of trouble." Dean said before leaning over, kissing my cheek.
"Hi." I smiled putting my hand on his cheek briefly. "What do you two have going on?"
"A lack of death." He replied.
"What?" I frowned.
"Death is absent in Greybull, Wyoming. A man was shot in the heart at point blank range and lived." Sam explained. "Looking deeper there were other recent cases where others survived near death experiences."
"Are we going?" I smiled.
"Where's Cass?" Dean asked.
"Off doing some sort of angel thing." I replied, my smile gone.
"Too important to have you tagging along?" He frowned.
"I don't know." I said looking at him. "He doesn't like to tell me what's going on. Something to do with the seals. I'm not going to try and to get him to tell me. He will when he's ready. I don't want to distract him. He's got things to do."
"You're awfully understanding. You'd never let me get away with anything." Dean stated.
"Yeah, well, I guess that just shows the difference between the two relationships." I told him. "And most of the time when I wasn't letting you get away with anything it was after you cheated on me with Cassie or something else had gone wrong."
"Yeah, we weren't perfect." He said and looked at me.
"No. But it was good." I smiled and took his hand. "You're amazing. Even when you're pissing me off."
He smiled and kissed my forehead. "You are too."
"No, I'm not." I told him. "I'm not worth it. Not half of what you and Cass have talked about. I'm not worth it. I'm not. I want you to accept that."
For a moment he just looked at me before he smiled, "Nice try."
Shaking my head as I gave a light laugh, I hit his shoulder. "I hate you sometimes."
"Dido."
"So, are we going to go?" Sam asked.
"Yeah." I smiled and stood.
"Does she talk?" Dean frowned as he looked at the angel behind me.
"So far she hasn't said anything good." I smiled at him. "Other than I have control over her."
"You mean she's your bitch?" Dean asked with a half-smile. I just grinned at him and got into the front seat of the Impala.
The car ride was surprisingly enjoyable. We were all joking around. Most of the time trying to make Lorna say something, egging her on to do something we didn't expect from her. But she remained stoic and silent. She probably tuned us out the second we got into the car.
When we reached Greybull there was an eerie air about the place. An almost gray look to it that made my stomach turn with nervousness. Since there were four of us, we split up, trying to ferret out the cause of what was going on here. Lorna followed closely, her demeanor changing, making me that more nervous. She was on edge; her eyes kept darting at every person we passed. I went and talked to several people who had nearly died over the past several days. Most were gracious and felt wonderful, though there was a way about them. Like whatever ailed them was still there but they were hiding it. The last person who died was a thirteen year-old boy, Cole Griffith. Dean and Sam were there now, talking to his mom. When he was done Dean called for us to meet them at the cemetery. They were going to try and summon Cole to see if he knew anything about what was going on.
"Have you started yet?" I asked as I stepped up to them.
"No."
"Evy…" Lorna said as she looked around the cemetery.
"What is it?" I asked looking at her.
"Something's wrong." She said as her eyes darted.
She finally looked at me, reaching out her hand. I went to meet her half way when she exclaimed and was ripped away from us. I'd seen it before. Anna had done it. Something was wrong. Looking at the boys I was about to tell them to run but we were already under attack. There was a voice behind us and the next thing I knew I was thrown head first into a headstone, knocking me out instantly.
When I came too, Sam was kneeling next to Dean. I scrambled over to them, putting my hand on Dean's chest. "Dean!"
"Are you okay?" Sam asked as he moved the hair from my forehead.
"I'm fine." I said shrugging him off as I gently rubbed Dean's chest. "Come on, baby, wake up." I said and rubbing a little harder. "Was that Alastair?" I said looking at Sam.
"Yeah." He nodded.
"That changes things." I sighed looking back at Dean. Remembering what he had told me about Alistair. What they had done together in Hell. "That changes everything."
"Yeah." He sighed.
I was in mid thought of coming up with a plan of action when Dean started to come to. "Hey." I smiled as he opened his eyes. "Take it easy."
"I'm okay." He said sitting up. "Are you?" He frowned as he gently put his hand on my face.
"I'm fine." I smiled at him.
"You're bleeding." He frowned with that no-you're-not sort of look.
"Who cares?" I frowned helping him up. "I'm not going to die anytime soon."
"Where's Lorna?" He asked.
"I don't know. Alastair banished her." I explained. "I'm not sure where they go when that happens. She might be gone for a while."
"So much for your guardian angel." Sam stated.
"That's Cass. She's just the one filling in." I corrected. "And it's not her fault. I'm not going to put blame on her."
"That's big of you." Sam stated.
"She didn't want to be sent away. She was about to blink me away when it happened." I retorted.
"And leave us here?" He frowned.
"She wasn't ordered to protect all of us." I told him.
"That sucks."
"For you maybe." I smiled at him. "Besides, I'm still here aren't I?" He nodded.
"All right, now what?" Dean asked.
"Now…I have no idea." I replied. "There has to be another way to contact Cole."
"There might be." Sam stated.
The next thing I knew I was with Pamela Barns in a hotel room, pacing with anxiousness and anger for not being able to talk the boys out of their latest crazy plan.
"You both are insane." I told them angrily.
"I'm with her on this one." Pamela agreed.
"Can you do it?" Dean asked.
"Of course I can." She told him.
"But she shouldn't." I said stepping next to her. "This is crazy, Pam, and you know it. Don't do it. We'll find another way."
"There is no other way." Sam told me. "We need to figure this out."
"Then why can't I go too?" I asked him.
"Because you are more useful here." Dean replied. "You can keep Pamela safe while we go deal with whatever is going on here."
"That's just it, Dean. You don't know what's going on. What if it's far more serious than you think it is and you get into trouble? I can't help you from here." I argued.
Dean stood and put his hands on my arms. "We'll be fine. I promise."
"There are too many 'what if' questions for me to believe you right now." I told him sadly.
He pulled me into a hug, reassuring me as much as he could right now. "We'll be okay. We have you and Pamela here watching over us. That's why I think we can do this. I know we'll be safe."
Sighing, I nodded against his chest before looking at up him. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"Don't let anything happen to Pamela either. She needs to bring us back." He smirked at me.
"Not funny." I said hitting his chest as I let him go.
"Evy, stop worrying so much." Pamela told me. "They'll be fine."
"But if my memory is correct, and it is, I have more experience being a ghost then they do." I retorted.
"Yeah, and that was scary as shit. Just let us do this." Dean said as both him and Sam sat on one of the beds.
"I don't like this." I said starting to pace again. "Cass, where are you?"
"Just relax." Pamela told me putting her hand on my arm.
Sighing with defeat, I dropped into a chair and looked at them. The plan was simple enough. Pamela knew an incantation that would astral project them to the ghost plane, allowing them to see what the living couldn't. As long as their bodies were protected then, with the right words, they'd return with no harm. But I was terrified what would happen to them. I couldn't follow them. They'd be on their own. Finally, fully giving in, I told them the few things I had learned while I was a ghost. It wasn't a lot but it was more than what they were going with all on their own.
Sitting next to Dean, I took his hand in mine, putting my other on his face. "Please be careful." I told him calmly but seriously. "Don't do anything stupid and don't be too rash. Figure out what's going on but don't act unless you have to or if you know what you're doing."
He smiled, putting his free hand on my cheek. "You worry too much. But I promise to be careful." I nodded and he placed a kiss against my temple before letting my hand go.
"Sam…" I said moving to him next. I wasn't sure what to say to him. "Same goes for you. Be careful and don't do anything stupid. But more importantly, don't let your brother do anything stupid." He laughed and nodded at me. Putting my arms around his neck I hugged him tightly. "I'm afraid for you. For both of you. Please don't let anything bad happen." I whispered in his ear.
"I won't." He whispered back. "I love you."
"I love you too." I said and stood. Turning back to Dean I ran my hand down the back of his head, resting it on his neck. "I love you, you know that right?"
"I do." He nodded. "I love you too."
Taking a deep breath, I kissed his forehead before moving behind Pamela. "I guess it's your turn."
"Alright then." She smiled.
"I'll be right back." I said and left the room.
I couldn't be there right now. To watch as they fell asleep, their souls being taken to a different plane, unable to help or to even know what was going on. There was a bench near the door out the back that I sat on. This was one of those moments where I'd sit with my dog and tell him everything that I was thinking. Only now Lincoln was gone and I had no idea where he was or if he was even still alive.
"Cass, where are you?" I asked the sky. "I need you. I need you here to help with all of this. Lorna was banished and I don't know where she is or if she'll be back." I said and paused. "And we need to talk about that. You sending an angel guard for me. I appreciate the gesture but it's far from necessary." I said and paused again. "I'm scared for Dean and Sam. I'm scared about not knowing what's going to happen to them. I can't help and I don't know what to expect. I need you. Please come back as soon as you can."
Returning to the room, I found Pamela sitting in a chair, the boys resting peacefully on each bed. Pulling a chair next to her, I took her hand in mine. More for my own comfort then hers.
"They're going to be alright." She smiled at me.
"I know." I replied but my tone was anything but hopeful.
"Where's Cass?" She asked.
"I don't know. He took me to his favorite heaven and left me there. I only got out because he sent an angel to protect me. But she was banished when Alastair attacked us in the cemetery." I explained.
"Tough break." She replied before a smile spread across her face. "Evy Winchester, angel's favorite pet."
"Oh ha ha." I said sarcastically.
"I can just picture the expression on your face." She grinned in my direction. I glowered at her, crossing my arms. "And now the frown as you cross your arms."
"I hate when you do that." I said frowning further.
"But I'm so good at it." She said and laughed.
"Yes you are. You see far more than we all think." I said and looked at her with fondness.
"You can stop looking at me like that." She told me.
"Sorry." I said and looked at my hands.
"But thank you."
"For what?"
"For caring so much." She said a smile on her face when I looked up at her. "It's nice."
Smiling back at her, I just looked at her a moment before smiling. "Thank you."
"Aren't you supposed to say 'You're welcome'?" She asked.
"No." I replied shaking my head. "Thank you for everything you've done for us."
"Hey, I love you guys. I'll always help when you ask." She told me. "Even Cass."
"We love you too. And I'm sorry for what Cass did." I said sadly, even if I didn't have to.
"It's okay. I shouldn't have been looking so closely. I was just being cocky." She told me with a smirk. "He warned me and I said 'no'."
"Still sorry." I said with a shrug.
"Hey, don't worry about me." She told me.
"It keeps me from worrying about everyone else." I frowned, getting to my feet, starting to pace, my eyes locked on the boys.
"I know." Pamela said sadly. "But they'll be okay."
"And what of Cass? Or Lorna?" I retorted. "What is going on that is taking everyone I love - minus Lorna - into dangers way?"
"I don't know."
"You're supposed to know." I shot at her with more anger then I meant to.
"Just sit and try and relax." She said leaning forward in her chair.
"I'm sorry." I said sitting on the edge of Dean's bed, resting my elbows on my knees as I ran my fingers through my hair.
"Don't be sorry. You're stressed, I get that, but you need to try and keep your head. If not for you than for them." She told me just as calmly as she's said everything else.
Nodding at her, I rested my chin on my laced hands; trying not to think of the worst possible thing that could be happening to everyone I care about. Pamela and I made small talk, but there wasn't a lot to say that could take my mind off what was going on. She asked about the me, Cass, and Dean triangle and I delved into a long rampage about the whole situation, ending with the most recent incidents.
"You've had a crazy ride." She told me after I was done.
"To say the least." I replied. "It's been so crazy that if I were smart I'd just go be on my own."
"And what would that do?"
"Nothing. I'd just find someone else and it would be the same cycle over and over again." I replied and looked at her. She was smiling again. "Which you obviously knew." I smiled back at her.
"You're a good person. Don't sell yourself short so often. You're always finding a way to bring yourself down. Try bringing yourself up every once in a while too." She told me.
"What are you, my shrink?" I grinned at her.
"If you want me to be I can." She grinned back. I nodded, figuring she'd know what I was doing without having to see it. "You have been through more than one human being should have. You're a hunter. A good one. You are smart, you can fight, you're not afraid to get your hands dirty, and above all else you care. You care about everyone. So much that you risk your own happiness to make sure those around you are happy. Now you have a man who loves and adores you more than any human could. He's a bona fide angel. How lucky are you?" She said and paused. Even if I wanted to say something I wouldn't have been able to think of anything. "He loves you enough to give you an angel to make sure nothing happens to you. From where I'm sitting you're the luckiest person in the world."
"And somehow I feel worse about myself." I told her.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because I have all that but there are so many people out there who have less than half of what I do. And I just don't feel like I deserve it." I replied honestly.
"Well, you do. After everything that you've gone through. You do deserve it." She said holding her hand out to me.
"Thank you." I said taking it. "I really do love you, you know."
"Ditto, kid." She smiled.
The words had just left her lips when the door burst open, two large demons entering the room. Not caring about the one charging me, I threw myself in between Pamela and the other. Fighting him as I tried to protect my blind friend. The other joined the fight seconds later and I was thrown against the wall. One went for Pamela again, a knife in hand. The rest of it was a blur as I tried to protect both of us. I rushed forward as I watched the knife slip into her gut. Yelling out, I managed to get a hold of the demon blade and sliced them open. As soon as the room became quiet, I quickly spun toward Pamela. She had her hand over her stomach, no blood coming from the wound.
"Are you okay?" I asked, though I feared I already knew the answer.
"Well, I'm not going to die." She replied.
"Pamela…" I said as my eyes welled with tears.
"None of that, sweet cheeks." She grinned at me.
"I'm sorry." I said gripping her arm and waist as she moved toward the boys.
Helping her as much as she'd let me, she whispered the incantation needed into both their ears. She sat on the edge of Sam's bed as I did the same, leaning over Dean. It took a few minutes and then they shot up. Dean's arms wrapped around me as he came back from wherever he had been. Wrapping mine around him, I ran my hand down the back of his head, comforting him as he took deep breaths.
"Shhh, it's alright." I told him.
"Evy…" He said holding me tighter.
"I'm right here. You're safe."
"What happened?" He asked letting me go, looking at everything.
"That doesn't matter." I told him gently. "Did you succeed?" He nodded. Tears came to my eyes and I quickly turned to Pamela. "Cass!" I yelled. "Lorna!"
"Pamela!" Dean said sitting her down on the bed.
Blood started to pour out of Pamela's stab wound. It was only seconds later that it started to appear on her lips.
"Didn't think I was helping you only to end up dying." She grinned.
"I am so sorry." Dean told her.
I couldn't help but cry as we watched her life slip away. Where were the angels? Where were they when we needed them most? Soon she was gone, moving on to a better place. A place with no pain. A place that she would be happy. As happy as one can be after you die.
Sitting on the edge of the bed with a tear stained face, I stared at the floor. Dean and Sam were quiet as we all processed everything that had happened. We'd moved to a different hotel after we called the police and made all the arrangements for Pamela. She deserved more than what we could give her. But we did everything we could and now we sat feeling like crap, wishing things were different. I wished Cass was here but currently we didn't know where he was.
"At least you know he's okay." Dean stated.
"But where is he?" I asked.
"Right here." Cass said appearing in the room.
A fresh wave of tears came over me as I threw myself at him. He caught me in his arms, holding me tightly. Crying into his shoulder, I gripped his coat, not wanting to ever let him go. Hugging me tighter, he put his hand on the back of my head, the other wrapped around me, gently squeezing my side. There was tenseness in his posture that had me worried. There was something that he was holding in. I had the feeling that there was something very wrong.
"I'm happy you're here." I told him as I finally released him.
"I'm sorry I've been gone so long." He said putting his hand on my face.
Shutting my eyes, I relished his touch. Feeling his lips against mine, I kissed him deeply, comforted by his presence and the way his hands felt. But it was cut short when he pulled away from me, putting his forehead against mine.
"I love you." He whispered before putting his arm around me, turning back to the boys. "Thank you." He said looking at Dean.
"For what?" He asked.
"For watching over her." He replied.
"I didn't do anything." Dean said standing. "She took care of us."
"Where's Lorna?" I asked.
"She is fine." He told me.
"Good." I said resting my head against his chest. "You'll have to apologize to her for me. I wasn't a very good charge."
"She understands." He replied.
"I dragged her back down here and then she got banished." I explained.
"She's okay." He said gently rubbing my back. "Let's get you cleaned up."
I hadn't noticed the amount of blood that was on my hands and clothes. Simply looking at Cass, he grabbed my bag before leading me into the bathroom. He gently pulled my clothes off, cleaning all the blood there was, from both Pamela and the fight, before helping me into a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Not really." I told him as my throat started to tighten with emotion.
Taking my hands in his, he gently rubbed them as I fought another wave of tears. A few tears slid down my cheeks, but I managed to get control of myself relatively quickly.
"It's okay to be sad." Cass told me sweetly.
"I know." I smiled at him. "But if I keep crying I don't know if I'll be able to stop."
He nodded before placing a long kiss on my forehead. "Come, you need to sleep."
"And you're not going anywhere, right?" I asked as a single tear ran down my cheek.
"No. I'm staying with you." He said and kissed the tear from my cheek before kissing me deeply.
Taking a harsh deep breath, he led me back into the other room and helped me into bed. Sleep would be needed in order to make it through the next few days. Cass laid next to me, feeling his chest against my back, gently rubbing my arm as I tried to sleep. Closing my eyes, I tried to find sleep but the night's events kept playing over and over in my head. Soon, I simply listened as the men started to talk. It didn't matter what they were saying. Just the sound of their voices was enough. Each time Cass spoke I could feel the vibrations from his voice, helping me fall asleep that much faster. It had been a hard day, but the people I loved the most were still okay. Despite all the bad that happened as long as that remained true then I would be okay.