A/N
You know what's really sad about this, is that there's really only six chapters left of this. Six chapters, and I STILL haven't finished this. Didn't I start two years ago? Wow. I suck, and I'm sorry. Basically I wrote this on Instagram years ago and there were sooooo many plot holes that I just blatantly ignored, and now, looking back on them, I realize I have to fix all that. Kinda wish I'd actually paid more attention BEFORE I started the first few chapters.. but hey, we keep buggering on. Thanks for everyone's patience and for everyone who still reads, it really does mean a lot to me to have your reviews and support!
"He's going to get us all killed."
"Stop pouting, Doctor. Jack's watching out for him."
"Oh, great. Puts my mind at ease. A trigger happy hunter and a man who flirts his way out of every situation. You can't seduce a stone, Rose."
"Mm, now that would be impressive.."
She trailed off, eyes downcast to the ground as Castiel watched silently from afar. He hadn't wanted to let Dean go and he didn't like not knowing where Sam had ended up. Those two were on the brink of starting the biggest war the earth had ever seen and both of them were now unaccounted for.
What would his brothers and sisters do? That was a foolish question; he already knew what they would do. How it angered him to see them fighting so far on either end. Why couldn't they leave the Winchester's alone? Things would get immensely worse if either of them said yes, and the human causalities would skyrocket. Love humanity, that's what they were told to do. Yet no one followed that rule, that commandment.
"Cas!"
Tilting his head, the angel squinted at the woman standing in front of him, worried eyes looking him over in a way that reminded him strangely of Anna. Or rather, who Anna once was.
"Are you alright?"
"Of course," He answered simply, head straightening as he peered across the way at the detective and the war doctor. "I believe your concern should be on Dr. Watson."
"The Doctor's giving him a once over. You look pale too though."
"It's merely my human form, I am fine, I assure you."
He promised, watching as brown hues deviated to his outfit before returning to his face.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"No."
He stated, watching as her fingers pushed together.
"When I was with Dean earlier, he told me about, well, everything. But he said that Michael and.. you know.. they needed permission to like, take over."
"Yes," He nodded, standing as straight as ever as he stared at her. "For an angel to take over a human form they must first gain permission from the human themselves. Without consent, an angel may not use that human as a vessel."
"So.."
She trailed off, still staring at him as the angel tilted his head a fraction.
"Are you questioning my own form?"
"Sorta, yeah."
"His name was Jimmy Novak, and he was a devout believer. When I tested his faith, he succeeded. When I asked for consent, he complied. He willingly gave himself over."
"Is he dead?"
A new voice asked, the Doctor standing a few feet away now with crimson staining his hands.
"My vessel?"
"Yes."
"Yes, he is."
"Did you kill him?" The silence lingered as Castiel squinted again, the answer unable to be answered to its full capacity. "Did you-"
"I don't think so."
"You don't think? What is with you hunters? You think it's okay to just go round killing people as you please?"
The Doctor scoffed, his arms rising in the air.
"The Winchester's do not kill people they kill monsters. Innocents rarely get involved unless they've involved themselves of their own accord."
He stated calmly, sensing the anger and tension in the air as the alien stared harshly.
"You stand up for those hunters a lot. How did you get involved with them?"
"I was chosen to raise Dean from Perdition."
"Raise Dean from.."
Rose trailed off as the Doctor took a step forward.
"You raised Dean from hell?"
"That is correct."
"Dean was in hell? Doctor, how-"
"Dean made a deal with a crossroads demon to save his brother."
The angel stated, watching as the woman's face morphed into one of horror.
"How can he be alive if he was in hell?"
"It-"
"Doctor."
Sherlock's voice cut him off, the detective kneeled next to his flat mate. The blondes face was covered in sweat, his breaths shuddering out as he cradled his arm against his chest, his shirt half covered in his own blood.
"He needs a hospital." Rose murmured, walking closer and kneeling down, her hand reaching out and pressing against his cheek. "Cas, can you do anything?"
The angel hesitated, fingers fidgeting as he took a wary step closer.
"I cannot."
"Why not? Don't angels have special abilities or something? He really needs help."
Rose pressed, sitting up on her knees as Castiel shifted his eyes to the ground.
"When I chose to take the side of the Winchester's, when I chose to betray my family for the sake of humans, I was cut off from Heaven for my rebellion. In doing so, many of my powers were stricken from me. Including my ability to heal those in need."
"Great timing for that, eh?" John murmured, blinking a couple of times in a dazed manner. "I'll be fine. Just need rest."
"You need a proper hospital." Rose disagreed, looking up at the Doctor pleadingly. "If we had the Tardis we could take him somewhere safe."
"It's too long of a trek, the angels know we have the key, they would stop us. Unless.." The Doctor trailed off, looking back to the angel. "I've got just a bit of regenerative salve left from Metallurgis 5 on my ship, it might do to aid Dr. Watson. But I've got to get there without those angels trying to stop me. Can you help with that at the very least?"
"Yes, traveling such a distance should be no problem."
He confirmed despite the prodding in the back of his head. He could hear Dean laughing, commenting about how he lost his angel mojo.
"Fantastic! Let's go."
The Doctor said, clapping his hands together as Rose stood and trailed behind him.
"I'm going too."
"I don't need a babysitter."
The alien commented as the blonde glared at him.
"Yeah, you do. Or you and Dean will rip each other apart."
"You have so little faith in me."
"I can't imagine why. I'm going."
"Fine, suit yourself. We'll be right back, Dr. Watson. Hang in there."
The Doctor promised, standing frozen as Castiel walked towards them and placed a hand on either of their shoulders. Concentrating on the desired location, the sound of wings fluttering resounded as his feet left ground before touching down again moments later.
The angel heard a sound of awe coming from Rose, words he couldn't quite make out being uttered as his body lurched forward, all control gone as two people caught ahold of his arms and lowered him to the ground. There was a pestering voice nagging in his ear, but light and sound were mixing together in a mass of-
"Cas!"
Focusing on bright green hues, he stared at the Winchester kneeling in front of him, a frown set deep in his face.
"The hell do you think you're doing?"
"Helping."
He muttered out, sitting up as the Doctor's hands pulled away.
"Last thing we need is your unconscious feathery ass slowing us down."
He scoffed, giving the angel a once over.
"My ass is not feathery."
Castiel stated, his tone miffed as the Winchester cracked half a smile before pulling away from him.
"Yeah, he's fine."
"How long have you guys been here?"
Rose asked, stepping closer to the tree line, the group hidden from the prying eyes of the motel.
"An hour. You two fight a lot."
Jack commented, motioning towards the Impala where a past version of Dean slammed the door and blasted music through the open windows.
"We're brothers, he pisses me off, what do you expect?"
Dean scowled, shifting where he stood as Castiel folded his hands together.
"You mean we're back at the beginning?"
Rose asked, turning to look at the Doctor.
"It appears so. We were sent back in time so many times everything has gone a bit wobbly."
"Wobbly?"
Dean repeated, a look of disdain clear on his face as the alien rolled his eyes.
"I understand that the concept of time travel doesn't set well in that tiny human skull of yours, but try not to be so thick and use common sense for once, would you?"
Rose stepped forward, a hand resting on the Doctor's arm as she glanced apologetically at Dean.
"He likes to insult other species when he's stressed."
"Yeah? I don't think you ever told me what exactly you are, Doc."
"I'm a-"
"Whoa!" In a burst of energy, Sam Winchester stumbled and fell forward, eyes wide as he looked around. "I'll never get used to that."
"Sam!" Dean surged forward, any banter he'd had with the alien forgotten as he looked his brother over. "You alright?"
"Yeah, Dean, I'm fine." The younger assured, attempting to wipe dried blood from his hands. "Where the hell are we?"
"Back at the start." Dean motioned, pointing towards the parking lot where the Tardis could be seen flying into view. "I can't watch this." The hunter grimaced, turning away as the sound of glass and metal echoed through the lot as Dean visibly flinched and shot a glare at the Doctor. "Ah, baby.."
"What are you guys doing here? And where's Sherlock and Dr. Watson?"
"We came back to get medical supplies from the car. But wait," Turning, Dean narrowed his eyes at the Doctor. "Why are you three here?"
"The Doctor has something that can help Watson."
Rose informed, a smile wide on her lips as she stared at the man.
"I thought that's why we were here."
"You don't have the key."
The Doctor stated, holding up the small silver item as Jack frowned.
"I would if you'd get around to making me one."
"Oi, frequent flyers only!"
"It's been weeks, Doctor. Besides, you gave Rose one!"
"She can be trusted."
"And I can't?"
"Don't flirt with the next moving creature you see, then we'll talk."
"Boys," Rose sighed, gesturing to the Tardis. "Shouldn't we get going?"
"The angels," Castiel spoke, forcing his weary body up from where he'd been sitting. "They're coming."
"We can't interfere with our past selves, that's asking for trouble. We have to wait, allow things to play out as they had before, then we can go."
The Doctor explained, peering out from behind a tree as Jack smirked.
"I look good from this angle."
"Oh, that'd be your dream come true, wouldn't it? Two Jack's."
"I think that's your dream, Doctor. Or maybe Rose's."
The man said, winking back at the blonde.
"In your dreams."
She shot back, though the faint blush that ran across her cheeks told a different story.
"Look away from the Tardis."
The Doctor instructed suddenly, turning his back to the motel as Rose met the angel's stare before doing the same.
"Think those things will come this way?"
Sam asked, crossing his arms and turning as his brother reluctantly did the same.
"Doubtful, but we need a plan all the same. Or rather, bait."
Turning to look at the Winchester's, Dean met the aliens gaze and scowled.
"What, your first instinct is to sacrifice us? How convenient."
"Someone needs to keep staring at the angels so I can get inside my machine."
"Alright, have Captain Sparrow over there watch."
"He needs to come with me so once I get the salve he can go back to Watson."
"Well-"
"I'll go with you," Rose offered, turning to look at Dean with a firm nod before looking over her shoulder at the Doctor. "If two of us go, we'll stand a better chance, right? One person can watch while the other blinks, that'll give you more time, too."
"Rose-"
"It's a plan, and a good one. With us working together, nothing will happen."
She reassured him, taking a step back towards Dean as the alien shook his head.
"You and your boyfriends. Fine! But be careful."
"Boyfriend?"
Dean asked, arching his brows at the blonde who merely sighed.
"They're gone."
Jack spoke, pointing to the field where the angels stood gathered around the hunter's car.
"Let's get going."
The Doctor said, reaching into his pocket and grabbing the key from earlier as Dean and Rose exchanged a look.
"Let's go."
The hunter sighed, striding out into the middle of the parking lot as the blonde hurried to catch up with him.
"You're in for a treat."
Jack spoke to Sam, a glimmer of something in his eyes as the four quickly made their way towards the alien's machine. Out of the corner of his eye, Castiel could see Dean and Rose standing a few feet apart, their eyes keeping watch over four stone angels.
"Watch your step."
The Doctor warned, unlocking the door to the box and pushing it open.
"Kinda small for.. oh.. my God.."
Sam's voice murmured out as the hunter stepped inside, followed by Castiel. The inner dimensions of the ship were enormous, completely different from the small exterior which didn't seem possible from the outside.
"It's huge.. it's, it's bigger on the inside but.. I don't understand how."
Sam stumbled out, turning around in a circle as he stared at the pillars that towered high above and around them as the hum of the engine caused a dull glow to appear beneath their feet.
"It's alive."
Castiel spoke with reverence, walking closer to a large control panel in the middle of the room where the Doctor stood grinning.
"Alive? I thought it was a machine."
"It is! But the Tardis is alive, just like he said. How'd you know?"
"I can hear it."
The angel spoke, his fingers outstretching and drifting carefully over the stand the panels sat in.
"Hear it?"
Jack questioned, brows knitting together.
"Just as I can see the souls of God's creations, I too can hear the echoes of a life, even one as strange as this. Can you not hear it, Doctor? It's calling out to you."
His head turned, looking straight at the man now as his expression sobered, the Doctor's fingers moving carefully over one of the panels.
"Sometimes. Not often, not in the way I'd like."
"Not to distract from this.. really strange moment, but aren't we supposed to be getting something for Dr. Watson?"
Sam spoke up, standing stoic in his place as his eyes continued to explore the machine.
"Right! The salve." The Doctor bounded into motion, moving to the other side of the controls and dropping to the ground. Grabbing ahold of a latch and pulling up a grate that was part of the floor, he dropped down and rooted around a moment before pulling up an old crate. "Bunch of nonsense I thought, the grand chief offering me such a thing. Never used it, even after all these years. At least it's getting use now, though."
He rambled on, digging through the crate before producing a small vile with a thick, purple substance inside.
"That's going to help him?"
"This can mend just about anything if given time. The people of Metallurgis 5 were quite the healers."
"Meta- what?"
Sam asked, his face contorted into a strange expression as Jack smirked, his hand falling on the Winchester's shoulder.
"You boys don't get out much, do you?"
"Are you telling me that there's actually life on other planets? Like seriously?"
"You think we were lying?"
"Lying, believing a delusion, working for the government."
Sam trailed on as Castiel stood quietly, his fingers still brushing against the console. The hum of the machine was straining, an old and long history, quite like his own, hidden beneath its surface.
"Humans are so pretentious, believing their specious is the only one out there. You're so vulnerable this way, yet no one bothers to change." The Doctor griped, walking over and taking Jack's wrist, his cylindrical device once more in hand. "One last trip and then this thing is done, understand?"
"You don't want to take the Tardis?"
"I've other plans for it, now can you shut up and let me work?"
"He's a big ol' softy underneath that gruff exterior."
The traveler assured Sam, a grin wide on his face as the droning from the Doctor's device echoed throughout the craft. It was strange, feeling the Tardis become livelier as he used the object, as if it were connecting to it in a way. It made the angel feel odd, as if he were treading on something he shouldn't. He'd never felt something quite as powerful as this, or rather he hadn't in a long time, not since he was a fledgling.
"There! One return trip."
The Doctor exclaimed, passing off the vile to the time agent who carefully slid it into his pocket.
"I'll go with you."
Castiel spoke suddenly, forcing his fingers away from the console.
"Cas, you sure?"
"I'll never turn down an offer from an angel."
Jack grinned, offering his hand out to him as Castiel stepped forwards.
"Yes. This machine is.. strange."
"It takes some getting used to."
The Doctor shrugged as the angel shook his head.
"No, it's not that. It's loud Doctor. It's voice. It wants to be heard, so it's screaming for you to listen."
The statement has the alien falling into silence, his eyes drifting to the console as Castiel grabbed ahold of the time agents arm.
"Right, well, off we go."
Jack murmured, pressing a button on the band he wore as energy surrounded them and the two were stumbling forwards in front of the detective and army doctor.
"It's about time."
Sherlock snapped, rising from where he had been kneeled next to his flat mate. His coat had been folded carefully and stuck beneath the other man's head, the veteran lying unconscious on the ground with a dark stain along his arm that was seeping towards his chest.
"Move, let me see him."
Walking closer and kneeling down, Jack carefully peeled away the ripped pieces of fabric that the blood had partially dried too, tossing them off to the side and revealing the bloodied wound.
"What is that substance?"
Sherlock asked, peering closer as Jack took the vile from his pocket and pried open the top.
"That regenerative salve the Doctor had been talking about."
"I understand that, I'm not an idiot. What is in it?"
"No clue. But if the Doctor says it will help, it will."
Before anything else can be said, Jack poured the contents over the wound, John flinching at the contact as the purple liquid glowed, spreading evenly across the entirety of the wound and seeping into his skin.
"Is it working?"
Castiel questioned, staring from afar at the three of them. It was nice to have silence in his head again, but he still felt guilty that his own powers hadn't been of use when they most needed it.
"Seems like it," Jack shrugged, closing the vile and returning it to his pocket before facing Sherlock. "But there's nothing more we can do until the Doctor shows up.
"And when exactly will that be?"
The detective muttered impatiently, folding his arms over his chest as the air around them shifted, a strange noise echoing through the air like a heavy wheezing as Castiel turned his head, the sound returning to his mind, poking and prodding to be heard.
"Right now."
The angel spoke aloud, watching as the strange blue box began to materialize right in front of them.
