Chapter 4

Jack stared at the image of Castiel as he remembered when he had reached out and given him the power to defeat Dagon, one of the Princes of Hell, who was trying to kidnap his mother again. She was not nice to his Mom and he didn't want her to be hurt anymore. Once that was done, Castiel became his mother's protector from demons, angels, the Winchesters, anyone who would want to harm him or his mother. Castiel had died when he was born, so Jack never really met him, but yet he still knew him. At least the way his mother saw him. Jack could still feel that link to Castiel and scooted down in his bed to lie down as he continued to look at the image on the screen.

Tears blurred Jack's vision as he closed his eyes and pictured Castiel in his mind and wished for him to come back. He was filled with a deep sadness of not having him here to help. He concentrated so intently and so hard that a small wave of energy erupted from his body and spread out through the universe seeking what remained of the angel, Castiel.

"Castiel come back...I need you...Please...I don't want to do this without you..." the wave emitted in pulsing tones.

Dean and Sam both looked around when something swept over them like a small charge of static energy before it was gone.

"Did you feel that?" Sam whispered as he looked around and rubbed his arms that tingled.

"Yeah, any idea what it was?" Dean asked as his brow knitted together in a frown.

"I'm going to check on Jack," Sam decided getting up from the table to head for the bedrooms.

Dean pushed away from the table to follow him thinking Jack may have done something without even knowing it.

Sam paused in the bedroom doorway and looked in to see Jack curled up on the bed with his back to them. He quietly stepped forward until he was at his bed and looked down at him for a moment before looking at the screen of the laptop. He stiffened slightly when he saw Cas's face staring at him with an 'I'm not sure what to do' look. He could feel Dean near him and hear a soft intake of air as he saw the same thing.

Sam focused back on Jack's face and saw his eyes were closed and he was breathing evenly. He watched him for a few moments as he felt Dean leave, trying to decide whether to wake him or not. Since they had both had a long night, Sam decided to let him sleep. He reached down and clicked a few keys to stop the video and close it. He lowered the screen and the light in the room dimmed. He pulled a blanket over Jack's body letting it settle around him.

"You miss him too don't you? And you didn't even get to meet him," Sam whispered before turning to leave. He pulled the door partly shut before heading back to the library to find his brother and check on him. He knew seeing Cas' face had upset him, even if he wouldn't admit it.

The bunker was quiet as Sam walked down the hall to the library to find Dean nursing a glass with whiskey in it. He never acknowledged Sam when he entered the room and sat back down at the table.

"You okay?" Sam asked.

"If whatever that was happened when he was asleep...Imagine what it would be like if he was awake?" Dean stated in a dull tone. Seeing Cas' face staring at him from the screen rattled him, but he was trying to hide it. "Any idea what it could have been?"

"No. It felt like some type of burst of energy the way it sort of shocked the skin. I'll ask Jack when he wakes up, maybe he'll know."

"You think that's wise? What if he tries it again and it's worse and really messes something up?"

"Maybe I can ask him without really asking," Sam offered with a shrug.

spn

No one knew exactly where the Empty was located or that it even existed until Billie, who had taken over Death's job when she was killed by Castiel, told the Winchester brothers that would be where they would go when they died. She was going to make sure of it. They had cheated death too many times in their lives and she was going to put an end to it. It was a place, like Purgatory, that angels and demons went when they died. The Empty had been around long before anything existed, even God and the Darkness and the universe. It was a place of eternal sleep that was not to be disturbed by the likes of humans, angels, or demons, even God had no power over it. It was a place that wasn't talked about among the living.

The shock wave moved slowly through space until it latched onto the trail of the one it sought. It traveled further than anyone could imagine until the right sleeping body was found in the darkness. It began to swirl and gain in strength when it wove in and out and lapped over itself. The wave gently dropped to the floor sending a jolt of power through the body, making a heart beat and air to be drawn back into his lungs. As grace began to course through the body, a finger twitched first and then the hand. The jolt of power brought the grace back to life and it spread through every cell, revitalizing them. A voice called out to him to wake up he was needed.

When the transformation was complete, Castiel suddenly opened his eyes and slowly sat up as his mind tried to reunite with his body. He looked around, disoriented and confused, and not understanding what was happening. As he looked out, all he could see was darkness as far as the eye could see. Castiel was trying to piece together what had happened to him. He remembered being with Kelly and she was close to her due date. A picture appeared in his mind of a tear, a rip between realities that would allow passage to another world. It glowed and swirled and emitted a high hum from the opening. He was sure he had gone into that world for a reason, but it eluded him. Castiel could feel his body pass through the rift and he saw Sam and Dean and without warning an angel blade was thrust through his chest. His hand went to his chest automatically feeling for a wound that wasn't there. The echoes of a voice were fading from his mind now, but it wasn't one he knew.

After getting to his feet, Castiel strained to listen for any sounds. He couldn't see the end in any direction and as he took a tentative step, the darkness lightened slightly but didn't go completely away. The floor seemed to vibrate and give slightly with his step. He took another step, feeling with his foot for any obstacle that might trip him. He wasn't sure if he should call out of not. He couldn't feel, see or hear anything in this place like it was void of all things living. His progress was slow and he didn't know how long he had walked. The longer he was awake the stronger he became. His grace continued to build in him, boosting his powers and heightening his senses. Time meant nothing there since it didn't move forward or fall backward. It was like this place was frozen in one specific moment and that is where it stayed, that is where you stayed, frozen in a split second of time.

A small sound caught his attention just behind him and he stopped for a moment, trying to hear it again.

Castiel wasn't sure what it was or from what direction it came as he slowly turned a three sixty circle trying to zero in on it. He heard it again off to his right and stepped in that direction.

"I know you're there, show yourself," Castiel finally called, wincing at how his voice sounded in this place. It was hollow and far away sounding, like he was in a tunnel and echoed around him.

The tar like substance had been moving along behind Castiel as he walked, not revealing itself to him. When it heard him call out, it started to take a form. A blurry figure stood off in the distance, and Castiel began to move toward it, glancing around as he walked. It seemed to take forever to reach the figure that was still facing away from him. Castiel stared in utter shock as the figure turned around and he came face to face with himself. He startled at first and studied the being that looked exactly like him before he spoke.

"Who are you?" he asked in a gravely voice. "Why do you look like me?"

The being studied him and mocked him as he tilted his head to look at him the same way Castiel did.

"I am the Entity, this is my domain. I took your form so you wouldn't be afraid," the deep, rumbling voice replied.

"Where am I?" he asked.

"You are in the Empty. A place that has existed before anything else. It is a place where angels and demons go after their death and are put into an eternal sleep," the Entity explained to him. "I do not understand this; no one had ever awaked from the eternal sleep. Ever! I do not like this, you have disturbed my slumber and that is not something I will not tolerate. What's up smart guy? How did you of all the ones sleeping here awaken?"

"I do not know, maybe the Winchesters made a deal or figured out a way to get to me."

"That is not possible. I am the only one who has any power here. I have been here before the beginning of time. Even your God has no power here. So think harder, there must be something else you're not telling me," he sneered popping Castiel on the forehead.

"How is that possible?" Castiel questioned frowning at this being in anger.

"I am older than time itself. You must have an answer somewhere in your feeble mind. If you won't tell me, I will take it from you," the Entity stated. He pressed a hand to Castiel's forehead and began to probe his mind going through every memory he had.

Castiel winced and screamed in agony as what the Entity was doing caused radiating pain to course through his skull like a pile driver. He tried to pull away from him, but couldn't move. He finally collapsed to the floor when the Entity stopped.

"What have you done to me?" Castiel groaned as he tried to push himself from the floor.

"I read your mind, what little there is of it," the Entity replied hauntingly.

"I can't find it. You need to sleep so I can sleep. I need to sleep; you are causing me pain by staying awake and I do not like pain."

"There is a reason I was woken."

"No! I am in control of this world and you will sleep!" the Entity yelled in defiance as he hit Castiel making him stumble backwards and fell. "Go to sleep!"

"No, if you want to sleep send me back to Earth," Castiel demanded as he got up to face off with the Entity. He was starting to understand that him being awake was painful for him. "Sam and Dean need me. Jack does too. I need to be there to help all of them."

"There is nothing there for you. I know you angel, I have seen all that you have done in your life, all the mistakes you have made, helping to free Lucifer, the war in Heaven, consuming all the souls of Purgatory, freeing the Leviathan, the fall of the angels, need I go on? I see nothing that would convince me you are not worthless and destructive."

"I will not sleep. I will roam this place and fight you for all eternity if that is what it takes for you to return me to Earth. I will be that annoying buzz that will never go away. You will never be at rest again," he growled at him his hands clenched into fists.

"You will not defy me. This is my world, my rules..." the Entity demanded as he started to strike Castiel again and again.

"I...Will...Not...Sleep...I will fight you forever if you don't release me. I will continue to keep you awake for the rest of eternity," Castiel gasped as blood dripped from the cuts on his face. He glared up at the Entity before another blow knocked him unconscious.

The heat of the sun woke Castiel and he blinked hard and shielded his eyes as he looked around, feeling the ground and grass under him. He lays there for a moment trying to get his bearings and relished the warmth of the sun on his face after being in the Empty for how ever long he had been there. It was like the darkness had tried to pull any remaining light from his body. His body was slowly healing from the abuse the Entity gave him now that he is back on Earth. Castiel smiled as he feels the cool breeze blow across his face and hears the insect sounds all around him. He finally gets up knowing he needs to get back to Sam and Dean and Jack. Castiel knew Jack had been born and that meant that Kelly was dead and she had asked him to look after Jack. He was supposed to guide Jack and help him find his place in this world. Castiel got to his feet and looked around wondering where he was. He started walking across the field in search of some place with a phone to call Dean.

spn

Dean was sitting in the library doing some research and looked up when Sam and Jack came down the stairs with bags in their hands. They had gone to town for food and to find Jack some more clothes. They were going to hit the thrift stores to see what they could get first before going to a nearby department store. He could hear their voices talking about something but wasn't paying attention. A cell began to ring and Dean grabbed his jacket to dig it out.

"H'llo." Dean answered and when the voice on the other end spoke, he sat up straight and his eyes widened in shock. He snapped his fingers at Sam as he spoke. "Where are you?...Okay you sit tight and we'll come get you...We'll be there soon...Alright..."

"Dean what's wrong?" Sam asked when he saw him blanch slightly and start to stand up snapping his fingers in his direction to get his attention. Jack had gone on down the hall to put his bags in his room and didn't hear Dean talking.

"That was...Sammy that was Cas..." Dean said in disbelief.

"You're kidding!"

"I need to go get him, but don't say anything until I see for sure."

"I'm coming too. Like you said we don't know for sure and it could be a trap."

"We can't leave Jack here alone, so you need to stay with him."

"We take him with us," Sam stated firmly. "Are we going to argue about this or go get him?"

"Is something wrong?" Jack asked seeing the strange looks on their faces.

"No, it good," Sam told him eyeing Dean.

"We're going on a road trip," Dean huffed heading down the hall to his bedroom to grab his bag and a change of clothes. He wasn't telling Jack what they were doing until he saw that this was really Castiel. He was trying to remain calm and sensible about it. He didn't want to get his hopes up if it turned out not to be Cas.

"Go pack for an overnight stay Jack, we'll be leaving shortly," Sam told him guiding him back down the hall. He went into his bedroom as Jack walked on down to his.

Jack wasn't sure what was going on, but did as Sam asked. He was happy they had found more clothes for him and he even had his on backpack now to pack. He dumped his new clothes on the bed and quickly sorted through them deciding what to put in his pack.

He pulled a small stuffed lion from a bag Sam had bought for him and looked at it. Sam had told him it was something he could sleep with to give him comfort and maybe not feel so alone. He said a lion was the king of the beast and was a proud, brave and strong animal. He said he had a stuffed dog when he was little that Dean had gotten him and slept with it until it finally fell apart and was thrown away. Jack didn't quiet understand the concept, but he liked the soft, squishy feel of it and put it in his pack too. He was named Leo by his tag and he was already bonding with it.

"You ready Jack?" Sam called when he came out of his room with a pack slung over his shoulder.

"Yes, where are we going?" he asked closing his pack before Sam saw he had Leo. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to take it out of the bunker but wanted to have it since it looked like they would be spending the night on the road somewhere.

"I'm not sure, Dean knows," he told him keeping it vague. He agreed with Dean about not telling Jack in case something went wrong or they were being tricked in some way. There was no use getting his hopes up only to have to destroy them if this turned out to be a hoax or trap of some kind.

A/N: So Cas is back and they are on their way to pick him up. Hopefully he will be able to help with Jack. Thank you to any guests who have left reviews that I can't personally thank. I do like reviews and if you could leave one would be great. NC