Chapter Fifty Three-Blood

A/N- Sorry if this one seems a little bit short. Has anyone else been having issues with this site or is it just me? But AuntMo kindly forwarded a way for me to upload because she's such a star! Enjoy!

In the morning the doctors and nurses came in and assessed Dean. Miraculously, he had healed in only a couple of hours. They found it astonishing. I knew however that Castiel had done his trick. One or two of them wanted to run further tests to make sure he wasn't going to die as soon as he left the building. The man refused and they let him leave without an issue.

Bobby and Sam had helped Dean collect what little things he had in the room while I wandered the hospital. I couldn't bear being near either brother. There was something seriously wrong with Sam and it repulsed me to even look at him. Whatever had happened to make him that way it had involved a demon which was more than likely named Ruby.

I couldn't be around the older Winchester for a completely different reason. It was just awkward after last night. I didn't know if he remembered saying those words to me or not. He was drugged and injured after all. What if he did remember saying it though? And worse, what if he meant it?

He was a sweet guy. But I just didn't feel the same. If I had to tell him then I would break his heart. If I broke his heart I knew that I would lose a great friend. Dean was already damaged from his time in hell. I knew it would only make things worse.

So I actively avoided both of them for weeks afterwards. I ignored messages, phone calls and even when they came to visit. Zachariah became vigilant for once. He watched me all the time and Castiel never came back to the house. Even though I was lonely I still had the rosary. Both me and the angel clung to each other through it. Occasionally, the rosary became heated like Castiel was angry or fighting or fearful. I noticed that Zachariah was becoming weary.

Things were heating up. I wondered how many seals were left.

-M-

Weeks later I was sat at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee while Bobby was cleaning a couple of his guns outside. Zachariah was looking out of the kitchen window. He was humming gently to himself.

My cell began to buzz again on the table. I checked the caller ID. It was Dean. I ignored the call hoping that he'd just give up soon. I knew he wanted to talk only to me otherwise he would have called the land line.

"Ignoring him now?" Zachariah asked slyly over his shoulder.

I eyed him, "it's nothing to do with you."

"Oh think it is."

"Oh?"

He came and sat opposite me, "you are one of the few things that actually make him cooperate with us. Without you, our job would be so much harder."

My eyes narrowed and I folded my arms. My glare was enough to turn any human to stone. I was about to retort when my cell bleeped and vibrated. I picked it up and glanced at the screen.

One new voicemail.

I shook my head and dialled. An electronic voice asked me to press several numbers before I could get to my messages. When I finally got through I heard Dean's voice.

"Rox, I know that something's up...with us. I just want to make sure we're cool. You're not answering my calls or my messages. The last time me and Sam came up to the house you just locked yourself in your room and refused to see us. I just want to make sure you're okay. Give me a call back when you can."

I sighed and deleted the message. I dropped the cell idly onto the tabletop. Zachariah smiled over at me. I fumbled with the rosary. A thought occurred to me, could Castiel feel my thoughts the way that Gabriel could? Did he overhear my little revelation almost a month ago?

-M-

I was laid in bed the next night when I heard the car. It rumbled down the dirt track leading up to the house and pulled to a halt just in front of the wooden porch. I knew the sound of that car anywhere. It was the Impala. The doors opened and closed. I pulled myself out of bed because I had to but I didn't like where this was going.

-M-

Bobby was greeting them at the door when I appeared at the top of the stairs. I stopped where I was as they spoke briefly.

"Dean, Sam? What are you doing here?" Bobby asked. He glanced at the nearby clock, "it's almost midnight!"

The older one shrugged, "we just wanted to check in that's all. Where's Rox?"

The floor board creaked underneath my bare feet. Three pairs of eyes shot in my direction as the wooden door was shut by Sam. My hair was tumbling down my back in waves and I was wearing a short night dress with a dressing gown over the top.

"She's there," the old man laughed. He looked the two brothers up and down, "you two want some beer?"

Sam nodded eagerly, "oh yeah. Thanks."

Dean didn't answer. He was still looking up at me. I felt myself starting to go red. Finally he tore his eyes away.

"Yeah."

Two of the three men left the small area until it was only me and him. I bit my lower lip and slowly descended the stairs. It was already awkward and we hadn't even spoken.

"Hey," he said to me when I reached the bottom. It struck me just how tall he was. He was clearly several inches taller than my thin frame.

"Hi," it came out almost like a whisper.

I felt Zachariah's presence hanging around at the top of the stairs where I had just been. The human didn't appear to notice him. I looked at those green eyes and they sparkled faintly in the dim lighting. I gulped trying to swallow whatever was making this so difficult.

"Are you okay?" he asked randomly catching me off guard.

I nodded, "I'm fine apart from the obvious. What about you?"

He chuckled for a second or two. He closed his eyes and told me, "the same. Look, did I really say that in the hospital? I mean, I'm not sure if it was a dream or not."

I looked away. This was my chance to just pretend that he had never said anything to me but then how would I explain why I had been avoiding him? That direction wasn't going to work.

"When you woke up?"

He nodded, "yeah. When I said that I started the apocalypse and about running out of ketchup being the best thing that I ever did."

"Yeah, I remember," I looked up again.

He looked down at the floor. His cheeks were slowly going a bright crimson shade that travelled down his neck to his chest.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out walking into the study and he followed me.

"For what?"

I stopped and turned to him almost pleading. I was pleading with him not to make me say it. I didn't want to hurt him. I took a deep breath, "I think you're an awesome guy but-"

He began to nod his head rapidly. He refused to look at me. He started to get redder. He bit his lip, "yeah. Yeah. I just umm I just think that you're just, you know?"

I smiled sweetly, "I'm flattered. Honestly, I am."

"I just, I feel the way I do about you. I know you don't feel the same but that doesn't make me stop feeling like this. Maybe one day it'll happen but if it doesn't then I'm okay with that. I want you to know that I'll always be here for you."

"I don't know what to say," I started sitting down on the sofa. That was when I had overheard Sam and Bobby talking in the kitchen. Dean continued to ramble on so I shushed him and we both listened in.

"Sam, something's going on. We all know that."

"Look, Bobby I appreciate the concern but-"

"But you're going to get yourself killed!"

"Don't shout. I don't want Dean to hear," he sighed. I heard him pacing the room, "you know how I kinda had these psychic powers? Well, they're stronger with demon blood. Ruby's making me strong enough to kill Lilith and put a stop to all this."

"Demon blood?" Bobby sounded horrified.

"I drink it."

"He drink's it?" Dean hissed next to me. Before I knew what was happening he charged into the room.

I pulled myself up off of the sofa and followed him into the kitchen. Anyone could tell that this wasn't going to be good.

When I got there Sam was close to the door leading out into the yard. Bobby was stood next to the refrigerator. There was a disgusted and horrified look on his face. The same expression sat on Dean's face as he advanced on his brother. He was made up of pure anger.

"You're drinking that bitch's blood, Sammy?" he growled lowly, "hell, that's a new low. I had been wondering why you were sneaking off in the middle of the night. Heck, you even did it while I was in the hospital, didn't you? Why? You wanted to ice Lilith all by yourself, didn't you? You may just be playing into her fucking hands!"

There was only a small amount of space separating the two men now. Sam glanced at us confused and worried. Dean peered up at him. He clenched his fists until the knuckles went white. He pulled his arm back and swung forward hitting Sam right in the nose. There was a loud crack. I gasped in surprise and launched forward as he prepared another punch. I held on to his arm and dragged him away from his brother while Bobby supported Sam and sat him down. Blood was gushing from his nose and he tried to staunch it with towels that were nearby.

"Dean!" I yelled as I turned him around. He pursed his lips and walked off to the front of the house. Distantly I heard the Impala's engine start up and the wheels move away.