The Forgotten Daughter
~Chapter Ten: Mark of the Witness ~
September 23th, 2008
*Nicole's POV*
I sat at the kitchen table rereading Sense and Sensibility for the third time, while waiting for the oven timer to go off. My brothers and Bobby had been gone since around nine this morning and judging by the sound of Bobby's voice when he called, It would be late when they got back. Knowing the three of them, they would be hungry and tired when they got home.
Licking my thumb, I turned the page in my book and began reading once more. After a few minutes the kitchen timer went off startling me slightly. Closing my book, I grabbed my crutch and walked over to the stove to grab the pot holders on top. Opening the oven, I smiled as I pulled out the golden sweet potato pie. It looked perfect and I couldn't wait until it cooled off enough to eat.
Setting down my pot holders, I grabbed my wooden spoon from the spoon rest and stirred the vegetable soup atop the stove. Content with the doneness of the soup, I turned the burner down to low and walked to my bedroom to grab my bath towel. A hot bath was just what I needed after everything that had happened the last couple of days.
Grabbing my black leggings and one of Deans old band shirts to wear as PJs , I placed the clothes neatly on my bed to wear after my bath. Looking at the time on my alarm clock, I sighed as I saw the the time to be only three in the afternoon. Shrugging off my plaid shirt, I tossed my bath towel across my shoulder. I limped to the bathroom and placed my towel on the towel bar, before turning on the water for my bath. I moaned at the feeling of the hot water against my skin. My muscles had been aching the past couple of days and being as stubborn as I am, I refused to let my brothers know..
Setting down on the toilet seat, I pulled off my t-shirt and watched as goose bumps formed along my bare skin. Undoing the clasp on my bra, I shivered at the cold air hitting my now fully hardened nipples. Bending down, I undid the braces upon my legs and wiggled my pants off. Maneuvering myself to the edge of the bathtub, I slowly lowered myself into the hot soapy bath water.
The hot water soothed my aching legs and after awhile, I felt as though I could fall asleep. Leaning back in the bathtub, Cas creeped into my mind. Closing my eyes, I pictured the two of us together married. I pictured us with children and in a house of our own. I pictured us making love and growing old together. Most of all, I pictured his smile and soon those luscious chapped lips, began speaking to me.
Opening my eyes, I found myself laying in a meadow filled with tulips. Sitting up, I looked down at myself to find me no longer naked, but wearing an olive long sleeve dress.
"Nick," a voice called out to me making me whip my head in its direction.
I smiled as I turned around and found Cas kneeled down with a tulip in his hand, smiling at me.
"Cas!" I exclaimed happily pulling him against me.
He laughed as I held him tight and soon he wrapped his arms around me.
"I've missed you," he whispered pulling back and kissing me softly.
"I've missed you too sweetheart," I smiled placing my hand upon his cheek.
"We don't have much time," he began a frown upon his face as he brushed a loose curl from my eyes," Lillith has begun breaking the seals of the apocalypse.. She wants to raise Lucifer, Nick."
"But why?" I asked terrified.
"Revenge mostly, however it is a part of your brother's destiny. I can't say anymore, I wish I could my angel. I'm being watched and I have orders not to intervene," he explained cautiously looking around," The seal that has been broke, is known as the mark of the witnesses. The dead have risen unwantedly and they are killing hunters. "
"Olivia.. That's what happened to her isn't it?"
"Unfortunately yes," he confirmed sadly," You must be careful. They are coming for your brothers and you. You have to protect yourself and get somewhere safe Nick. I beg you please stay safe."
"What about you?" I questioned looking at him confused.
"I will be fine my angel, but you must fight. This is what we have prepared you for Nick. Please get to the panic room in the basement. Its the only place you can be safe," he begged his voice filled with worry.
"I will, how long do I have?" I asked my eyes filling with tears.
"Not long," he answered wiping my tears," I can't bare the thought of losing you. Please Nick-"
"I will sweetheart. I will," I assured him pulling him tight against me.
"I will come to you as soon as I can, I promise," he muttered wrapping his arms around me and pressing me tightly to him.
"I love you," I whispered pressing my lips to his.
He kissed me tenderly before pulling back and running his thumb across my cheek.
"I love you too my angel..You must hurry and wake up now," he whispered into my ear.
My eyes fluttered open and quickly I sat up draining the bath water. Lifting myself from the bathtub, I hurried to wrap my towel around me and strap on my braces as quickly as possible. Grabbing my crutch I limped my way across the hall, and pulled on my pajamas. Lowering myself to the floor, I grabbed my sawed off shotgun and rock salt from under my bed. Opening the chamber, I filled the gun with shells before clicking it closed and standing once more.
Suddenly, the temperature dropped in the room. It was as if all the warmth and happiness had been sucked out of me. Cocking back my gun while trying to keep my balance, I walked quietly across my room to the door. I could see my breath as I held my gun armed and ready for whatever was coming.
"Hello Mary Nicole," a voice said from behind me.
Turning around slowly I stared in disbelief at the ghost of Meg.
"Meg," I said bitterly grasping my gun tightly.
"You don't look so hot these days Nicky.. Poor you, you turned into a gimp," she said in a sing song voice.
"Neither do you sweet cheeks," I spat back.
"You sure haven't lost your sense of humor have you Nicky," Meg smirked walking towards me," You've grown up since I last saw you. "
"And you look worse since I last saw you," I smiled sarcastically at her stepping back towards the door.
"Well I suppose I have you to thank for that, seeing as it was you who killed me!" she yelled angrily causing my vanity mirror to shatter and books fly toward me.
Reaching for the doorknob, I tried to open the door, but had no success and was thrown against my dresser. Groaning In pain, I tried to stand up but couldn't.
"Im not done with you yet," Meg laughed pinning me to the dresser by the neck," The fun has just begun Nicky poo."
I hissed as she clawed my left arm cutting it open deeply. All of a sudden I was thrown across the room against the bookshelf. My head was on fire and as I sat up, the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. I could hear Meg laughing as I spat out the blood in my mouth. Looking over at my bookshelf, I smiled as I found the iron poker Bobby insisted I keep in my room. Grabbing the poker, I hid it carefully against me as Meg walked towards me.
"Still tough I see, you must get it from your pigheaded brothers," she giggled squatting down in front of me.
"You could say that," I smiled at her grasping the poker tightly in my hand," After all, I am a Winchester. "
She clawed at me once more and this time I managed to just barely dodge her hand. Swinging the iron stake, I watched as she disappeared from my sight, buying me only a few minutes of time. Crawling weakly across the floor, I grabbed my gun and crutch. Struggling to pull myself up, I used the dresser as leverage to help me stand, groaning at the searing pain in my left arm. Looking at my arm, I sighed as blood poured from the claw marks upon it. I would indeed need stitches to help the wound completely heal.
Turning the knob to my bedroom door, I pulled the door open and scanned the hallway for Meg. Once I saw the coast to be clear I put my gun strap across my injured shoulder. Grabbing the poker, I limped across the hall into the study to the basement doors.
"Oh Nicky poo!" Meg sang from the other end of the study," I'm gonna get you!"
"Damn it," I yelled at her as I leaned against the wall for support, tossing the poker across the room towards her..
"You can't run Nick, there's nowhere to run. Oh wait you can't run anyhow," she laughed dragging her fingers across the wall leaving claw marks as she walked to me.
"Go back to hell you bitch!" I cried out painfully while raising my gun and firing rock salt at her.
Once Meg disappeared, I hurried and opened the door to the basement. One by one I made my way down the steep basement steps. Nearing the bottom of the steps, I smiled at the door to the panic room. Not paying attention, I tripped on the last step and hit the basement floor hard. Struggling to pull myself up, I gave up and crawled to the panic room door leaving my crutch behind by the stairs. Grasping the iron handle, I pulled the door open to the panic room an drug myself across the doorway. Once across, I pulled the door closed and sighed.
Finally I was safe where no monsters could get to me. Looking around the panic room, my eyes landed upon a first aid kit in the corner. I needed to patch my arm up as quickly as possible before I lost too much blood. Crawling across the room, I managed to reach the first aid kit and a bottle of whiskey upon the shelf above. Scooting myself to the table and chairs next to the storage shelf, I tossed the first aid kit and whiskey onto the table. Grasping the chair, I screamed as I pulled myself up to sit at the table.
Opening the bottle of whiskey, I took a big gulp and nearly gagged at the taste if it. Grabbing a piece of gauze from the first aid kit, I placed it between my teeth and then poured the whiskey over the open wound. The pain was blinding and I had to fight to keep myself from fainting. Digging through the kit, I pulled out the suture kit Bobby had took from the hospital and threaded the needle.
Taking the gauze out of my mouth, I took another swig of whiskey before placing the gauze back into my mouth. The wound had three large gashes and each one needed stitches. Looking at my arm hesitantly, I started with the gash furthest up my arm and screamed as I began stitching it closed.
After several excruciatingly painful minutes, I finally made it through the first cut. Looking at the clock on the table, I broke down in tears. It was already nearing five and at the moment I had no way of contacting my brothers or Bobby. I prayed they would be home soon. Drinking from the whiskey bottle again, I began stitching the last two cuts.
After downing a third of the whiskey, my pain had mostly subsided as I wrapped the gauze haphazardly around my arm. Sighing, I leaned back against the chair with my gun in my hand. Closing my eyes, I drifted off letting sleep temporarily claim me.
*Normal POV*
"Are you two idjits done?" Bobby questioned irritably," We got to go now! Hurry! "
"What about Nick?" Dean asked," I'm not leaving her!"
" Bobby thinks he knows where she is," Sam explained following Bobby.
"Where?" Dean questioned.
"Just follow me damn it," Bobby yelled from the basement stairs.
"Sam what if she isn't where Bobby thinks she is?" Dean questioned with tears filling his eyes," It's my fault..If only I had agreed to let her come-"
"Dean enough, she will be fine," Sam assured his brother helping him down the first set of stairs.
"What if she isn't?"
"Damn it Dean! She will be," Sam yelled at his brother," Look Bobby made a panic room, Nick insisted on it and with luck she will be there. Nick is smarter and stronger than you think."
"Boys move your asses now," Bobby ordered descending the second set of basement stairs.
As Bobby made it down to the last step he froze getting both Sam and Dean's attention.
"What is it Bobby?" Dean questioned looking at Bobby worriedly.
On the floor in front of the steps, lay smeared blood and Nicole's crutch. Bending over Bobby picked up her crutch and cursed to himself.
"Bobby??" Sam muttered letting go of his brother and looking at the older man.
As Sam saw the crutch and blood on the floor, he began to panic. Dean limped over to Bobby and sucked in a deep breath.
"Where is the room Bobby?" Sam yelled and looked in the direction Bobby pointed.
Running across the basement, Sam hurried to the iron door while Bobby and Dean followed closely behind him.
"Nick!" Sam yelled looking through the glass on the window.
Inside Sam saw his sister covered in blood asleep, with a swollen lip and her sawed off shot gun across her lap. Opening the metal door, Sam ran to his sister and fell to his knees in front of her.
"Nick! Nick come on wake up!" Sam half yelled as he grabbed his sisters leg.
As if instinctive, Nicole's eyes shot open and instantly she had her gun pressed to Sam's chest pinning him to the floor.
"Whoa! Whoa Whoa! Easy Nick!" Dean yelled getting his sister's attention.
Nicole looked at her eldest brother and back down at Sam, before rolling off of him onto the floor. She hissed in pain as she laid against the cold floor with her eyes closed and her gun next to her.
"Jesus Nick, what the hell happened?" Bobby asked as Sam picked her up and laid her gently on the cot in the middle of the room.
"Meg, is what happened," she muttered putting her right arm across her face.
"How bad is it?" Dean questioned looking at the table with the first aid kit and whiskey," Did you stitch yourself up?"
She groaned and Sam took it upon himself to undo the gauze wrapped around her arm. Swallowing thickly he looked to Dean with worry filled eyes. Dean walked around the side of the cot and sighed at the swollen stitched flesh.
"Oh baby girl," he whispered kissing his sisters forehead.
She groaned at him and he frowned looking to Sam. Across the room Bobby smiled to himself, he was proud of Nicole. Picking up the whiskey he couldn't help but chuckle earning both Sam and Dean's attention once more.
"What Bobby?" Sam asked confused.
"This," Bobby said aloud holding up the bottle of whiskey, " Nick how much did you pour on your wound?"
She groaned and turned away from the three men, causing Bobby to giggle.
"Are you drunk?" Dean asked his sister aloud in disbelief.
"Maybe a little," she replied holding her fingers up pinching two of them together.
"Well that's just perfect," Dean muttered aloud," We have a ghost tailing us trying to kill us and we are trapped with a drunk eighteen year old."
"I'm not completely drunk you ass," Nicole muttered sitting up on the cot.
Sam held back a chuckle at Dean's face expression as he stared at their little sister.
"Oh well that makes it just a big ol' bucket of sunshine and rainbows then doesn't it," Dean spat sarcastically, " Why the hell didn't you call us?"
"Because my phone is on the kitchen table and I was being attacked by a psychotic bitch Dean," she replied irritated with her brother.
Before the two could argue even more Sam took it upon himself to intervene, " Ok, enough you two. We need to figure out what's going on here ok."
"The mark of the witnesses," Nicole answered her brother while staring at Bobby.
He knew well what book the witnesses were from and quickly pulled out his Bible and book of lore on symbols.
"She's right," Bobby sighed pointing in a book looking at the brothers.
"How did you know?" Dean asked her suspiciously.
"Revelations," she muttered trying to stand from the bed.
"Here," said Sam handing her her crutch.
"Thanks Sammy."
"You're not serious," Dean said allowed looking at the book frowning as he saw the mark that was on Meg.
"As a heart attack," Nicole answered limping to the table and grabbing the whiskey.
"Oh no no no! I think you have had plenty," Dean argued with Nicole taking the bottle of alcohol from her.
Nicole huffed at her brother, and grabbed a jug of water from the bookshelf. Sitting back on the bed Nicole grunted in pain as she moved her left arm. She was in a great deal of pain and wished she could just lay down and sleep.
"What does all of this mean Bobby?" Dean questioned confused sitting the whiskey back down.
Bobby sighed looking at both of the brothers, " It means its a sign.. A sign of the apocalypse."
"Apocalypse?" Sam questioned in disbelief.
"Oh come on!" Dean began looking at Bobby like he was crazy," The apocalypse, apocalypse? The four horsemen, pestilence, $5-a-gallon-gas apocalypse?"
"That's the one. The rise of the witnesses is a -- a mile marker."
"Okay, so, what do we do now?" Sam asked the older man.
"Pack salt rounds while I find a spell, hopefully I can translate it enough to do the job."
"What about me?" Nicole asked weakly looking straight at Bobby.
"Rest and let us handle it.. You need to sleep some of that whiskey off anyhow," Bobby replied with a smirk upon his face.
Nicole nodded her head and closed her eyes. All three men looked at her sadly as she leaned back on the cot and fell asleep. As Dean stared at his sister, he couldn't help but feel guilty. He blamed himself for making her stay home instead of join them. He was trying to protect her, but instead he only made things worse.
It was nearing midnight when the men finished searching through the books in the panic room. Bobby found a spell they could use to put the dead back to rest, while Sam and Dean packed plenty of salt rounds.
The spell had to be cast over an open flame. Much to their dismay that meant they had to get to the fireplace in the study and collect the ingredients upstairs.
The three men talked among themselves as Nicole fell in and out of sleep, only waking up for a few minutes at a time. She tried to stay awake, but her body was still weak and now she was injured once more thanks to Meg. After a while, she had came to the conclusion that this week had sucked balls (A phrase that Bobby had used quite often over the years).
"Nick?" Dean said aloud brushing his thumb across his sisters cheek.
"Huh?" She muttered opening her eyes.
"Stay here and rest," Dean began, " You've done good sis. "
"I'm coming with you, " she insisted sitting up on the bed groaning painfully.
"No you are not," Dean ordered urging her to lay back down," You need rest, this week has been too hard on you."
"I'm not a child Dean!" She said raising her voice.
Grabbing her crutch, she pulled herself upright and gave Dean a death glare.
"Damn it Nicole! Can you for once just listen!" Dean screamed at his sister realizing she wasn't going to stand down.
"You mean like you listen," she spat with venom in her voice," I'm going, even if I have to crawl out of this fucking room Dean."
"The hell you are! You are staying here and that's final!"
"What's the plan? " she asked looking at Sam, ignoring Dean purposely.
Dean closed his eyes trying to calm his temper before he completely lost it on Nicole. His eyes shot daggers at Sam as he looked at him, warning Sam to back him up. Sam hated being the mediator when his siblings argued. They both were too stubborn, and too much alike. In ways Nicole was like the female version of Dean, but in many ways she was more like their mom Mary.
"I agree with Dean, Nick. You should stay here," Sam began swallowing thickly as he backed up Dean, " You haven't been out of the hospital but a couple days and now this has happened. You've been strong and have done great sis, as good as any other hunter. But, you have to listen to your body and right now, you need rest. "
Nicole looked at them both sadly, she knew they were right. She had always been too stubborn for her own good. Nodding her head she reluctantly agreed and sat back down on the bed. Looking away from the three of them, she tried to ignore the pain in her arm.
"What do you need when we get upstairs?" Dean asked Bobby.
"Well first things first We need ammo. Plenty of rock a salt to aim at the ghosties, Then a salt line around the fireplace.. It should hopefully buy us enough time to send the damn things back where they came from."
"What about the ingredients for the spell?" Sam questioned.
"I'm pretty sure we have everything," Bobby explained and then looked at Nicole sadly, " Do we still have opium Nick?"
"Opium?" Dean Muttered.
"Long story," Bobby said to Dean and then back at Nicole," Nick?"
"Upstairs, cutlery drawer.. There's a false bottom, it should be there," Nicole answered blankly her voice barely above a whisper.
Dean stared worriedly at the back of his sisters head before looking at Bobby. Bobby frowned at Dean and shook his head. Sam sighed and knew it was best for them not to press matters any further.
"What now?" Sam questioned changing the subject.
"We go get rid of the damn things," Bobby replied grabbing his gun and book bag full of rock salt."Cover each other. And aim careful. Don't run out of ammo until I'm done, or they'll shred you. Ready?"
Both of the Brothers nodded to him as he opened the door to the panic room. Nicole watched as the three men walked out and then laid down on the cot. She prayed for their safety and she prayed for all of it to be over quickly.
"Hey, Dean. You remember me?" A cheery voice said from the stairwell as Dean started up the stairs.
Dean snapped his fingers and smiled at the ghost, "Ronald, huh? With the laser eyes? I wish I could say it's good to see you."
Ronald stood from the top stair and began walking angrily towards the three of them.
"I am dead because of you. You were supposed to help me!" Ronald yelled angrily as Bobby shot him, making him disappear.
"f you're gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk," Bobby barked irritated with Dean.
Dean rolled his eyes at Bobby as he walked up the stairs with Sam in tow. Together Sam, Dean and Bobby made their way to the study with their guns at the ready. Wasting no time, Sam began making a salt circle as they entered the study, while Dean hurried to start the fire.
"Sam," Bobby said aloud getting Sam's attention, " Upstairs, linen closet -- red hex box. It'll be heavy."
"Got it," Sam replied grabbing his gun and running up the stairs.
"Bobby," a little girls voice called out of no where.
Both Dean and Bobby turned to look at the twin girls. Raising his gun Dean shot the girls from his position in front of the fireplace.
"Kitchen. Cutlery drawer. Hemlock, opium, wormwood," Bobby ordered as the girls disappeared.
"We will talk about this later," Dean muttered seriously, referring to the opium.
"Go damn it!" Bobby screamed drawing with chalk on the desk below him, stopping only to shoot the twin girls as they reappear.
"You know what really pisses me off, Sam?" Meg chimed from behind Sam upstairs causing Sam to let go of the hex box," You saw how I suffered for months. I thought you must have learned something. I thought I died for something."
Ignoring her, Sam quickly fired rock salt at her and turned back around to pick up the hex box .
"What you're doing with that demon, Ruby... How many innocent bodies has Ruby burned through for kicks? How many girls just like me? And you don't send her back to Hell? You're a monster!" Meg yelled reappearing next to the door once more.
"Go to hell Meg!" Sam screamed trying to ignore her again.
"Oh I have already, thanks to that sister of yours. How's she doing by the way?" She asked laughing wickedly to Sam.
"You Bitch!" Sam roared angrily shooting her once more before running back downstairs.
At the bottom of the stairs, Sam stared angrily at the sight before him. Inside the kitchen he could see Henriksen with his hand inside Dean's chest and Dean groaning in pain. Sneaking up behind Henriksen, Sam aimed his gun at his head and shoots him. As Dean fell to the floor, Sam bent down to check on his brother.
"You all right?" He asked Dean, helping him up from the floor.
"No," Dean grunts standing painfully with Sam's help.
Sam frowned at his brother helping him to walk, while still holding the hex box along with remaining ingredients for the spell, "Come on, lets go."
As the two of them reached the library, Sam hurriedly passed the box to Bobby, before reloading his gun. Looking at the written spell, Bobby began reciting the Latin words aloud. All of a sudden, the windows on the house blew open, making the salt line break around the fireplace no longer protecting the three of them. Bobby and the brothers each looked at one another. Deep down they knew, they were in over there heads.
Downstairs Nicole lay on the cot crying in pain and worry. Her brow lay covered in sweat while her body felt cold and clammy. She knew it was from the wound upon her arm. Covering herself up with the itchy wool blanket, Nicole sobbed out loud as she moved her arm slightly.
Nicole listened to her brothers and Bobby upstairs and with each gunshot, she jumped and tried to cover her ears. She was scared for her family and wanted nothing more but for the gunshots to stop. She wanted the ghost to be gone, but most of all she wanted everything to be normal once more.
Her brothers and Bobby had been upstairs for close to an hour now trying to rid themselves of the ghost. The gunshots went off one after another, echoing throughout the house like thunder during a heavy thunderstorm. She could hear them screaming and her heart clenched at the sound.
Closing her eyes, she tried to picture the beach Cas once took her to visit. She tried to focus on the sunset. She remembered the orange and red hues disappearing into the ocean. She remembered the softness of the warm white sand and how it felt between her fingertips. Most of all she remembered it to be the first time she ever held Cas's hand as the waves washed over their bare feet.
Eventually the gunshots stopped and Nicole uncovered her ears. Sitting up on the cot, she felt very dizzy and laid back down just as quickly as she sat up. Above she heard footsteps stepping down the basement staircase. Cocking her gun, Nicole took in a deep breath and turned on her right side holding the gun the best she could. As the footsteps got closer, her heartbeat quickened. She hoped it was her brothers and Bobby coming towards her. As the door to the panic room opened, Nicole sighed. There standing in front of her was Sam and Dean.
"Its over," Dean stated breathing heavy walking over to her.
Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at her brothers and soon her body was racked with sobs.
"Sissy," Sam whispered scared by his sisters reaction.
Dean sat next to her on the bed and brushed her hair away from her face. He stilled as he felt Nicole's forehead and carefully he began unwrapping her arm.
"You're burning up Nick," he stated as he finished unwrapping her arm to see it was becoming infected," Damn it."
"Its infected Nick," Sam said aloud to his sister as he looked at her arm alongside Dean.
Nicole nodded her head, she already knew it was infected and she wished the pain would stop. Standing from the bed, Dean sat down his gun and looked at Sam. Looking back at Nicole, he bent down and kissed her forehead.
"Ok sis, up we go," he said to Nicole as he picked her bridal style against him.
Sam grabbed her crutch and hurriedly opened the door to the panic room. Nicole sobbed as Dean carried her, grunting from the movement of him walking.
"I got ya Nick, I got ya," Dean soothed as he carried her up the stairs and to her room.
Sam followed behind Dean and as they made it to Nicole's room, Sam pulled his sister out fresh pajamas from her dresser. As Dean laid Nicole on her bed, he removed her braces and leggings. Looking back at Sam, he helped to dress his sister in loose sleep pants, Sam helping to hold her up enough for Dean to pull them on her.
Frowning, Dean looked at Sam uncomfortably and Sam nodded knowing Dean needed to be out of her room.
" I got her," Sam assured Dean as Nick sat up.
Once Dean stepped out of the room, Sam looked sadly at his sister. Grabbing the bottom of her shirt, Sam carefully pulled it over his sister's head.
"Ahhhh," she screamed loudly raising her injured arm as he pulled the shirt off of her, leaving her in just her sports bra.
"I'm sorry, so sorry Nickel," Sam apologized tossing the blood covered shirt in the hamper.
Picking up her clean led zeppelin t-shirt, Sam bunched up the shirt making it easier to pull over her. He stopped as she shook her head no to the shirt. She was in too much pain and didn't want to move her arm again.
"I called the doctor and told him we were bringing you in," Dean began walking back into the room," I got baby warming up and ready to go as soon as you are dressed. "
"I'm not going," she said whimpering laying back on the bed in just her on buttons and sports bra, " Go to the medicine cabinet. Bobby can show you where the penicillin is. That should kill the infection. "
"Nick," Dean began to argue but stopped as Sam shook his head.
Sighing Dean walked outside and turned off baby, frowning at Bobby on his way back inside the house. Walking to the bathroom, he found the penicillin in the first aid kit containing things Bobby had stolen from the hospital. Pulling out a syringe, Dean filled it slowly with the penicillin, before flicking the top to make sure the all of the air was out of it. Grabbing the first aid kit and syringe, Dean turned off the light to the bathroom. Walking back to his sisters room, Dean frowned sadly at his baby sister, wishing she wasn't so stubborn.
"Where do you want it?" He asked Nicole sitting on her bed.
"Best place is the hip," she muttered painfully.
Sam pulled the right side of her pajamas down, while Dean wiped her upper hip with alcohol. He hated needles and dreaded giving her the shot.
"Ready?" He questioned his baby sister.
"Ready, " she replied closing her eyes as Dean stuck the needle into her skin.
She whimpered at the burning sensation of the shot, gripping Sam's hand tightly.
"Ok baby girl, all done," Dean uttered in relief, " Now, we will see if this helps and I want us to clean the wound better. But I swear to God Nick if your fever doesn't come down soon, I will drag you to the doctor kicking and screaming. "
Sam gave Dean his best resting bitch face, clearly annoyed with his older brother. Discarding the needle, Dean opened up the first aid kit and pulled out more alcohol and cream to put dress his sisters wound. Looking back at her, he unwrapped her arm once more as Sam placed a piece of gauze between her teeth. Taking in a deep breath, he poured the alcohol over her arm and wiped away the blood seeping through the stitches. Nicole cried out in pain for Dean to stop, but he couldn't. He had to clean the wound or it would get even more infected.
When he finished re wrapping her arm, he nearly had tears in his own eyes. He hated seeing her in pain. Closing the first aid kit, Dean stood from the bed allowing Sam to cover Nicole. Pulling out a bottle of pain pills, Dean handed them to his sister along with a bottle of water. Nicole hesitantly took the pain pills and within an hour, she was asleep.
It was near three in the morning by the time both of the brothers went to bed. As Dean fell asleep, he prayed to Castiel to help them. Even though Dean disliked the idea of his sister being in love, he knew she needed Castiel no matter how hard it was for him to admit.
Later that night as the four of them fell asleep, Castiel appeared in Nicole's room. He had been worried sick for Nicole and hated having to stand by and watch as her family was put in danger. Walking over to her bed, he fell too his knees as he saw her. Her lip was busted and her arm was wrapped in gauze. Looking around her room, he closed his eyes and willed for everything to be back in its rightful place.
Opening his eyes, he crawled onto the bed next to Nicole and held her in his arms.
"Cas?" She whispered against his chest.
"I'm here my angel," he replied kissing her head," I'm so sorry. "
"Don't be, its over now sweetheart," she mumbled in her sleep.
Pressing two fingers to her forehead, Castiel was able to take away her pain. He could stop the infection but couldn't fully heal her arm. Sighing he closed his eyes and reached out to Dean in his dreams.
Standing in the kitchen in Dean's dream, he watched as Dean woke up on the floor.
"Dean, " he called out getting his attention.
"Cas?" Dean said aloud rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Excellent job with the witnesses," he quipped as Dean walked into the kitchen.
"Thanks a lot for the angelic assistance," Dean muttered sarcastically, " You know, I almost got my heart ripped out of my chest."
"But you didn't."
"No, I didn't but Nick had a close call," Dean began, " Where the hell were you, when Meg was attacking her?"
"Following orders to stand down.. If I would have intervened, my superiors would have questioned our relationship. I couldn't risk them finding out Dean. They would have killed not just me but her," Castiel explained.
"I thought angels were supposed to be guardians. Fluffy wings, halos -- you know, Michael Landon. Not dicks," Dean confessed sadly.
"Read the Bible. Angels are warriors of God. I'm a soldier."
"Yeah? Then, why didn't you fight?" Dean asked angrily.
"I did! How do you think Nick knew about the witnesses?" Castiel began growing irritated with Dean," I'm not here to perch on your shoulder. I wish I could have been here and I wish I could have saved her from the witnesses.. Heaven had larger concerns and I was ordered to fight."
"Concerns? There were people getting torn to shreds down here! And, by the way, while all this is going on, where the hell is your boss, huh, if there is a God?" Dean yelled angrily In Castiel's face.
"There's a God.."
"I'm not convinced," Dean uttered as he sat at the kitchen table,"Cause if there's a God, what the hell is he waiting for, huh? Genocide? The freaking apocalypse? At what point does he lift a damn finger and help the poor bastards that are stuck down here?"
"The Lord works..." Castiel began only to be interrupted by Dean as he sat next to him.
"If you say "mysterious ways," so help me, I will kick your ass. So, this is some kind of a... A sign of the apocalypse. Do I want to know why?"
Castiel sighed and fiddled with his thumbs," I sincerely doubt it, but you need to know. The rising of the witnesses is one of the 66 seals. Those seals are being broken by Lilith."
"She rose the witnesses?"
"Mm-hmm. And not just here. 20 other hunters are dead," Castiel explained," She picked victims that the hunters couldn't save so that they would barrel right after the three of you."
"Well, we put those spirits back to rest," Dean quipped.
"It doesn't matter. The seal was broken..You see, you think of the seals as locks on a door," Castiel continued.
"Okay. Last one opens and??"
"Lucifer walks free," Castiel muttered sadly.
"There's no such thing," Dean said in disbelief.
"Four days ago, you thought there was no such thing as me. Why do you think I brought you back Dean," Castiel replied trying to convince Dean."
"Well... bang-up job so far.. Would have been nice to know from the beginning," Dean retorted sarcastically.
" I'm sorry to hurt your feelings Dean but trust me, there's a bigger picture here. You should show me some respect! "
"Respect?" Dean repeated huffing at Castiel," That's rich coming from you of all people. Tell me where you and Nick planning on even telling us?"
Castiel looked away ashamed, him and Nicole weren't planning on telling them. At least not anytime soon, they agreed.
"That's what I thought... I swear on your father if you ever hurt her I will kill you! " Dean yelled at the angel and this time Castiel couldn't hold back his anger.
"I dragged you out of Hell. I can throw you back in.. I won't for Nick's sake, but I promise you this Dean. I would rather die than know I ever hurt her!" Castiel yelled opening his eyes.
"Are you ok?" Nicole asked softly clinging to him.
"Yes my angel, get some sleep.. I love you Nick."
" I love you too Cas.. Always and forever, " she whispered falling back asleep.
Unknown to Castiel and Nicole, Dean had woken up in the main room. He couldn't believe that the apocalypse was upon them. He was afraid, something he didn't easily admit. However, this situation was worse than anything the three siblings had ever encountered.
Laying on the floor, Dean Winchester (in that moment) did something he hadn't done in years. Laying there on the floor, Dean Winchester closed his eyes and prayed...
The apocalypse was upon them and Dean Whincester was scared. Not just for him but for all of them...
TO BE CONTINUED...