Sorry ya'll. Had some minor blockage on this one. Then work got out of hand.
Gave me some time to think where to go. So, good thing I guess.
MAJOR Gabriel-Anna feels ahead. Be warned.
Note: Supernatural has officially ended. Am I the only one not wanting to watch the final episodes- so that it never ends?
I did end up seeing on spoiler- which KILLS ME. It's not fair!
Disclaimer: I dont own Supernatural- just Anna and her mother. And Seraphiel (introduced later)
"It just doesn't make any sense!" I exclaimed, plopping down in the chair across the room from where Bobby sat," They're trying to shove too much information down my throat—and they reference stuff from previous years that 'everyone should know by now'! How the hell should I know any of this?! I was in a mental hospital from eighth grade up til now—and suddenly I'm thrown into 12th grade lessons?!"
"Teachers say here it'd be best if ya went back to—"
"I'm not going back to ninth grade! No way in hell Bobby!" I shook my head.
"Then what you gonna do? Just drop out?" Bobby asked me, then as I was about to open my mouth, he added," Not an actual option. Idjit."
"Then what? I have better things to be doing than staying in the same grade for five years while they cram useless information down my throat."
"I don't know, okay. Just—stick to it for now, I'll figure somethin' out," Bobby gruffed, leaning back in his wheelchair.
"Thank you…" I whispered- but I know he still heard me," So, where'd Sam and Dean go, anyway? They left in such a hurry."
"Apparently Chuck sent an SOS, they had to check it out quick as they could."
"…. And who's Chuck?"
"Ah—Chuck Shirley. Carver Edlund. Prophet of the Lord. Failing author of the Supernatural book series."
"… Wait. What? Book series? Prophet?"
"God made him a prophet—he hears Gods will, passes it along, just like all the prophets before him."
"And this book series?"
"He wrote it based on what he saw—Dean and Sam's life. Last one he wrote was Dean going to Hell."
"Right…" I nodded, slowly standing up from my chair," I'm uh… I'm going to go to the Library. See if I can get any books to… research stuff… for school. Yeah."
"Idjit," Bobby shook his head, before waving me off," Go—be back by nine."
As I grabbed my shoulder bag and ran out the door, I thought," If I can find these books, I'll have a better understanding of my brothers. What they've been through."
0o0o
Late that night, I carefully creeped back into the house. My shoulder bag was filled with seven of the Supernatural paperbacks- books 3-10. All day, I had spent readying the first two there at the library.
"If I'm lucky, Bobby's already passed out and I can just sne—" I thought, almost tiptoeing towards the stairs.
"Bout time you got back, idjit." With a fake smile plastered on my face, I turned around to see Bobby still at his desk- a book opened in front of him.
"Yeah—I… lost track of time, sorry."
"You got a phone, use it next time," Bobby gruffed, looking back down to his book.
"Right. Will do. Night!" With that, I raced up the steps and into my room, closing the door behind me and setting my bag on the small desk in the corner. Everything I had learned from the first two books was swirling around in my head.
"Sam had a girlfriend named Jess- who was killed by the same demon that killed their mother… He was in college before then, aiming to become a lawyer—but losing Jess turned him to a Hunter. He and Dean have been going at this non-stop since. Wendigo's… water monsters that drown people… searching for Dad… demon's…Bloody Mary… It never stops for them." I pulled the third book out of my bag and sat down on the edge of my bed as I stared at the cover.
"Angels… prophets… demons… monsters—everything is all so real. Up until before I met dad… I thought maybe… maybe I just had an overactive imagination or that—that I was one of those rare psychics I heard about on tv. Then I met dad and realized monsters were real… that my mom- she was one of them. How much of what I remember was actually her? How much of my life was a demon riding shotgun inside my mom and using her? Just to—what? Get to dad? Get to me on behalf of Lucifer?"
Shaking my head, I climbed backwards and rested against the wall and my pillows as I opened the cover and continued on their story. On my brothers' story. At some point, I fell asleep- with my hand gently resting on the pages and the book laying beside me on the bed. The soft rustle of feathers didn't even wake me up- I was out cold. Dreaming of what life could have been like—if I never had met my father. If I had never met John Winchester.
Gabriel carefully walked over to the space beside my bed and knelt down, his honey-eyes watching me almost with yearning. Reaching out, he went to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear but stopped himself, instead carefully taking the book out of my hand. Sliding a strip of paper in to mark my spot, Gabriel looked at the cover and shook his head slowly.
"Ah kiddo… I wish you hadn't been brought into the middle of this," he whispered, hanging his head, a part of him feeling defeated—and yet nothing had happened yet. "I stand by what I said though, I will protect you with my life. Nothing bad will ever happen to you for as long as I have something to say about it." Placing the book on the small nightstand, Gabriel stood up and tweaked his head to the side as he watched me in silence. My peaceful breathing was the only sound in the room, until he gave a resigned sigh.
"I've heard your thoughts… reaching out to me—ever since the warehouse… You probably don't even realize you're doing it, gumdrop… Calling out to me with every thought… A part of me wants to come to you when you do—and sometimes I catch myself almost doing so…" Gabriel muttered under his breath," But I can't… It wouldn't be safe for you. Keeping my distance… It's just—it's better this way. Better for you. Trust me." With a snap of his fingers, a blanket appeared over my sleeping form and the light in the room went out. With one last look at me, Gabriel disappeared in a rustle of feathers.
0o0o
"An' whats salt good for?"
"Primarily? Ghosts."
"What else works on 'em?"
"Uh… Iron- right?"
"Eight times six divided by three."
"… what?"
"You heard me. What's eight times six divided by three," Bobby repeated.
"The hell—why would I know that?"
"Its math. Figure it out."
"I don't—"
"Figure it out. Find a way that works for you—somethin' that'll make it instant. Out there—facing somethin'? You need instant answers- otherwise its your ass—or someone elses'," Bobby explained," Now. Figure it out."
I sat in the chair across the room staring at him incredulously.
"You got sixty seconds- or you're staying in that public school."
"What?! Oh come on!"
"Fifty-five."
Letting out an indigent huff, I began to think it out.
"How do I find something that quick?! It's not possible! Fives and tens are easier—increments—but random numbers like that? It's not easy! If it were ten and eight… and two… that'd be an easy one-forty. But- wait…" I thought, slowing my pace as things began to click," What if… eight and five is forty… add another eight… divide by three…."
"Sixteen!"
"Three seconds. Congrats, idjit."
Deflating into the chair, I glared at the older hunter," Jerk."
He huffed, unaffected by it—before nodding to the corner of his desk," For you. Talked to those teachers at that school of yours. Principal even. Every one of them more of an idjit than the last."
Getting up from the chair, I crossed the room and picked up the folder on the corner of his desk.
"Community College? What good is that gonna do me?"
"It's where they teach the GED stuff."
"Wait- so I don't have to keep going to the high school?"
"With all those idjits teachin'? Not a chance. The GED courses will be primarily on you. You fail the test- its your fault. Not the teachers. There's two classes a week, but other than that youre on your own."
"Yes!" I exclaimed happily, giving him a small smile," Thank you—Bobby."
"Don't mention it—You're still helping around the yard though."
"Of course. Besides. Someone's gotta teach me to drive."
"Balls."
0o0o
"So, the woman ghost wasn't the bad one—the kids were?"
"Yeah, imagine that."
"Jeez, Sam. The two of you just can't stay out of trouble- can you? I—I'm just glad… you two are okay. That everyone is."
"Right. Dean and I should be heading back in the morning. Everything good there?"
"Hmm? Oh—yeah. Bobby got me started at the community college the other day. Gonna just get a GED, be easier… since—well, I'm so far behind everyone else…"
"It's not your fault—put that on your uncle. Son'f'bitch shouldn't have put you in that place to begin with."
"Whatever you say, Dean. Get some sleep, sounds like you deserve it," I told them, before adding," Oh—and tell Chuck I want my own copies of his books. Signed and sealed."
"Jerk."
"Bitch."
"Ass."
"We need to change the settings on your computer."
"I'm seventeen Dean—vulgar words are all over the place. If anyone's computer settings need monitored—my bet is its yours."
"She's not wrong."
"Bitch."
"Good night, Annie." I could almost hear Sam's eyeroll through the phone.
"Night Sammy. Night Dean."
"Night kid."
I plugged the phone in to charge as I set it on the bedside table, before sighing to myself.
"I haven't heard from Gabriel since the warehouse… I hope he's okay. I know my brothers can be a bit harsh at times… but they mean well—and Dean's right. Family is important—but as much as loving them is good, you also have to be able to stand up to them… Do what you feel is important…" I thought, as I got dressed for bed; sliding on my shorts, I looked in the small mirror attached to the wall; softly, I whispered out," Gabriel… I don't know if you can hear me… Dean and Sam say that Castiel hears them—so it's worth a shot. I hope you're okay Gabriel… I…"
"How do I say I miss him? I barely know the guy—trickster—angel—whatever Gabriel is. Somehow he weaseled his way into my life… and now I—I miss him. It's like it's boring without him around…"
With another sigh, I climbed into bed and pulled the covers up over me.
"Good night, Gabriel."
0o0o
THIRD PERSON POV
The clock on Anna's phone read 3:28 AM. A whimper escaped her throat, as she turned her head on the pillow, a frown on her sleeping face. Beneath the cover, one of her legs twitched, another whimper leaving her. Sweat was slowly forming on her skin and her chest was beginning to heave.
"Anna…"
Her head flipped to face the other way, the eerily calm voice calling out to her.
3:30 AM
"Anna…" the voice called out again. A soft caress traveled down her uncovered arm- causing her to unconsciously jerk it away- another whimper, louder this time, leaving her.
"Come to me, Anna…"
A tear fell from her closed eyes as her breathing intensified, a soft whimper escaped her throat," No…"
"See me… An—"
"NO!" she screamed, bolting up right in her bed, shaking uncontrollably as the tears fell down her face. Kicking at the blankets in a blind panic, Anna fell to the floor with an audible thud, before she quickly raced to a corner in the room and curled her arms around her legs- burying her face. She couldn't stop shaking—couldn't stop crying.
"Ya alri-?!" Bobby's voice was barely audible, before it disappeared in the distance.
"G—Gabri—" she began to think, but before she could even finish the thought, a rustle sounded in the room, and he was there.
"Shhh, cupcake—it's alright. I'm here—you're safe, Kiddo," Gabriel whispered, his voice gentle and calming. Slowly, to not scare her more- he walked across the room and knelt down beside her. Looking up, her eyes gazed her him through her hair.
"Hey—It's—"
Before he finished, Anna threw herself at him, clutching onto him for dear life. After a millisecond pause of uncertainty- Gabriel ignored the thoughts of staying away from her.
"She needs me, dammit."
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close- and as she buried her head into the crook of his neck, Gabriel laid his head on top of hers.
"You're safe, Anna," Gabriel whispered," I won't let anything happen to you—I promise, remember?" Through her sniffles, he felt her nod against him, causing him to smile slightly.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
This time, she shook her head adamantly, keeping as close to Gabriel as she could. He shifted her into his lap- trying to make her more comfortable. Scooting back a bit, the arch angel leaned them back against the wall.
"P-please… S-stay." Anna begged him, her hand clutching onto his green jacket. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.
"Alright, kiddo. I'll stay," he agreed, her shaking form still tense in his arms," I'll stay."
"Just until you fall asleep… I—I can't stay any longer—" Gabriel thought, gently brushing a strand of hair behind Anna's ear. Her breathing slowly evened out, the tears faded. After a while, he carefully stood up, ensuring she didn't wake back up, as Gabriel walked across the room and placed her back in her bed. Pulling the covers back over her sleeping form, his golden-brown eyes never once left her face.
"You make this hard on me kiddo…" Gabriel thought, hanging his head in defeat. Sitting down on the floor beside her bed, he stayed there until the morning light—ensuring no more nightmares came her way.
"You should know your Guardian's true name."
"You mean it's not "Trickster" or "Candyman"?" I sassed, taking a bite of cookie.
"Gabriel. They call me Gabriel."
The memory came back to him as he sat there- and as he stood up to leave, Gabriel decided then and there—stretching his wings out as far as he could without knocking into something.
"From here on out, Annie… I'll guard you with my life. Guess… makes me your Guardian Angel. Whether you want it or not."
With that proclamation, he disappeared in a flutter of wings, reappearing downstairs- seeing that the older hunter was still awake.
"You ever sleep?" Gabriel asked him.
"You ever mind your business?" Bobby shot back, as Gabriel rose his hands in mock surrender," She gonna be alright?"
"Should be. Cupcake didn't tell me what the nightmare was—but it had to be bad…"
"You didn't angel-mojo into her head and find out?"
"I'm appalled," Gabriel said, faking shock," I would never invade her privacy like that."
"If it meant keeping her safe you would. Idjit."
"Mmmmaybe," Gabriel smirked, before lifting his eyebrows playfully before disappearing in a rustle of feathers once more.
The Winchesters and Bobby didn't need to know—it would only cause them to become over-bearing and try to hide Anna from the world. Not that it would work— he would find her no matter where she was hidden.
No.
The only way to keep her safe now, was for Gabriel to take a more active role in her life. To protect her. To guard her.
He never thought he would actually proclaim himself a Guardian Angel—those fools never had any fun. Then again—he never thought he would meet someone like Anna.
Anna slept peacefully for the rest of the night, thoughts of Gabriel and her brothers keeping her safe—and sane. The nightmare of Lucifer—him finding her, using her against her brothers—of his true form—long forgotten.