So, this is the second chapter. The story develops a bit slowly, or at least I believe so, because it follows the episodes as they are but soon it'll pick up pace, I promise. Hope you'll like the new chapter :)


I wake up and stretch. I feel really rested. For the first time in a very long time I've slept with no nightmares hunting my dreams. It is nice. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize I'm in Dean's bed and to register the quiet voices around me. I rise on my elbow and sleepily look around.

"Unbelievable, man." I hear Sam says "I… I cannot believe it. You're actually here."

"Yeah, I've been trying to reach out," this gruff voice is painfully familiar and I blink a couple of times to make sure I'm right "but for whatever reason, I wasn't at full power. So I couldn't connect with you"

It really is him. I sit in the bed and just stare at him in disbelief. I still can't process the fact Cas is here, he's really dirty and has beard, but he's here. Dean looks just as astonished and amazed as I feel. None of them notice me.

"That must have been why you kept seeing him. I mean, you think?" Sam turns to his brother and I find logic to his words

"Yeah. Yeah… uh, I got to be honest." Dean sounds completely confused and hesitant "I… I'm thinking, how the hell did you make it out? I mean, I… I was there. I… I… I know that place. I know how we had to scratch and claw and kill and bleed to find that portal and make it through it, and it almost finished me. So, uh... so how exactly are you sitting here with us right now?"

I listen carefully, not daring to move. Happiness is bubbling inside me but I fear that if I move, I'll break its spell. It's so nice to have Cas back.

"Dean, everything you just said is completely true." the angel admits "And that's the strange part. I... have no idea. I remember endlessly running and hiding from Leviathan, and then I was on the side of the road in Illinois. And... that was it."

„And that" Dean seems really confused "that was it?"

"Yes" Cas answers and then looks to his filthy clothes "Oh. I'm dirty"

"Yeah, well" Dean shrugs "Purgatory will do that to you."

I tremble. There's so much truth in his words, and hidden pain, too. Cas heads to the bathroom but stops, seeing me awake. I can't take it anymore and jump out of the bed, throwing myself on his neck. I don't care he's dirty. He's here, he's back. And that's the most important.

"God" I mumble "It's so nice to have you back"

Cas awkwardly wraps his hands around me and returns the hug. Then he enters the bathroom. Sam is staring at me.

"What?" I ask

"Nothing" he says but I know something's bothering him.

Then I realize what it is. After Purgatory I don't let anyone touch me. Only Dean, Benny and Cas have that privilege but only because I trust them with my life. I trust Sam, too. But I always tremble when he tries to touch me, hug me or hands me something and our fingers touch. But now he saw how without any hesitation I hugged Cas and I was happy about it. And I hugged his brother just couple of hours ago. It hurts Sam I don't trust him that much and I feel guilt raising its head in my chest. Sam was my best friend… The past year should not change that. I have to find a way to bring our relationship to the one it once was.

Then I see Dean's face. The stern stoic mask, the glassy eyes… I know exactly what he's thinking about – Purgatory. I sigh. He might not have nightmares like I do but he's just as traumatized as I am, even though he does his best to hide it from me and Sam. I wish there's something I could do for him but I'm not sure there's such thing.

With a deep breath I walk past him and gently brush his hand. His eyes dart to me and my fingers squeeze him reassuring. Just a simple gesture to tell him I'm there for him. I know he understands what I mean because he slightly nods at me. Then I head to my room to put some decent clothes on. A woman sees me leaving the boys' room only with the oversized Led Zeppelin t-shirt on me and she shakes her head in disapproval. I don't care, I enter my room and take a long hot shower that makes me feel much better and really refreshed. I put some clothes on and head back to the boys to ask if they want some breakfast so I could go and buy it.


Later the same day I'm with Sam and Cas. Dean's out, Sam's doing another research for the current case – missing people that have nothing in common but weird things happened when they vanished - and Cas is watching TV. He seems like he's really enjoying it. Now he's all cleaned with his trench coat and suit and tie underneath it, freshly shaved. But something worries me. It was hard enough to get to Purgatory and find out a way out of it and escaping. I didn't remember much because I got knocked out but Cas… how can he not remember how he got out of there? But it's impossible he got out on his own so the big question is who or what helped him and why. I shake my head and push these thoughts aside.

Dean enters the room, carrying a six-pack but I don't pay him much of attention, too consumed of the book I'm reading. The boys talk about something but it all is a background noise for me while I'm eager to find out if Rose Hathaway will finally tell her best friend about the crush she's having on her mentor. But then something in the conversation the boys are having makes me start listening carefully so I put the book aside.

"Yes, until the next generation is born." Cas says "Plus Kevin Tran, of course. The other seven are future prophets, since, uh, only one can exist at a time."

"How is Kevin a prophet if Chuck is a prophet?" Sam asks the logical question

"I'm not sure what happened to Chuck, but, um... he must be dead."

"So, the next one comes off the bench if Kevin goes down?" Dean asks

"Exactly. And they have no idea who they are, of course."

"Crowley." Sam says and everything starts to make sense – the missing people who Cas says are future prophets and all the strange phenomena around their disappearances.

"Insurance." Dean nods "Boy, he's getting desperate."

"Explains all the weird phenomena." I say and Sam nods in agreement

"Lower-level demons nabbing heavy-duty cargo. The vessels of God's Word – boom."

"I get the feeling something's going on." Cas says the very same moment Sam's phone rings.

"Hello. Mrs. Tran?" Sam's voice raises "Well, where the hell have you... What?" he stands up and takes the phone away from his ear, looking at us with worry "Crowley's got Kevin."

We all share a concerned look and I curse, expressing what everyone think

"Damn it!"


I am really impressed by Mrs Tran – she managed to capture and restrain a demon all by herself. She's amazing, strong kick-ass woman and I really admire her. Still, I think it was really stupid of her and Kevin to run away. But if Dean and I didn't try to kill Mrs. Tran, as Sam keeps reminding me, they were probably not going to take off. But Crowley was possessing her and he was weak – it was the best shot we had. I didn't want to kill Mrs. Tran, only Crowley. Plus, I was hoping that stabbing her would kill Crowley and that angel, Alfie, Samandriel or whatever his name was, was going to patch her up and save her. It is a fact that if they hadn't run away, Kevin was not going to be in such trouble – he was going to be safe and away from Crowley's hands.

Saving Kevin was going to be much harder without Cas. I'm really glad he was with us, even though his mojo was not on full power, none of us got injured during this process. Cas managed to patch Kevin up and now we have a prophet and half a tablet. The boys considered sending Kevin to Garth and I believed it's a good idea. The kid and Mrs. Tran have to be looked after and Garth is a good choice. Not that we had many other options.

Dean and Cas had a conversation. I hope it helped Dean with his guilt. I didn't interfere, no matter how much I wanted to go there and reassure Dean it wasn't his fault Cas didn't make it. It seems it helped him, he looks a bit relaxed now and the darkness, the hurt and despair in his beautiful green eyes seem to be less. I'm glad.

I look over to Sam. It's time to fix that, too. And this is all up to me. We are at a gas station waiting for Dean. Cas is patiently waiting in the car, staring at the blank space. Sam and I are leaned on the hood of the Impala. I tie my hair on a pony tail and look at the taller Winchester.

"Sam?" I start hesitantly

"Yeah?"

"Would you mind to…" I bite my lip but I know I have to do this, not only for him but for me, too "Would you mind to rub my shoulders? I've got back sores since the last hunt…"

Sam looks genuinely surprised by my request but agrees. We both know I'm lying but he wants to see where this is going. I turn my back on him and tense waiting for his hands to grab my shoulders.

"Are you sure?" he asks unsure

"Yeah" I look at him over my shoulder and see his hesitant face "C'mon, Sam! I can't jump every time someone touches me by accident or brushes my arm in the crowd. It's not normal. I have to get over this."

Sam nods and gently puts his palms on my shoulders. Instinctively I tense, panic bumping adrenalin in my veins. I take a deep breath trying to relax. I don't close my eyes because if I do, it'll get worse. Sam is careful, keeping his hands only on my shoulders, gently rubbing my muscles. I forced myself not to move, not to tremble…

"So what's she like?" I ask to distract myself "This girl who got you head over heels for her? Amelia?" I feel how my shoulders gradually relax under his touch

"Uh…" Sam's hands freeze for a second on my shoulders "She… she's amazing and…"

"Does she make you happy?" I ask "Are you in piece when you're with her?" I turn to face him

"Yes" Sam quietly admits

"Good" I nod "Then you should go for it"

"What?" he blinks in confusion

"It's your chance of getting out" I say and I mean it "To get out of this life, of this job…" I shrug "You deserve to be happy, Sam. And no one and nothing should take that away from you. Not me, nor Dean or the job"

Sam's eyes dart to his brother who's still inside. It must be really though for him. Dean is constantly pushing him into hunting, I was ignoring him lately, the woman he cares about is far away from him… Having a life without hunting is something I can't imagine, but for Sam it's a different story. And now after having a peaceful life without blood and violence for over an year… It's not easy to give up on something like that. Especially when it makes you happy. It's a hard choice to make and I understand that. But I know he has to make it for himself.

"If you wanna be back" I say drawing his attention back to me "fine. I'd lie, if I say I don't want you here. But it has to be your choice. And you should make it not of guilt but because your heart tells you so." I shrug "Don't think about Dean, Cas or me… Decide what you want for yourself and go for it" I offer him reassuring smile but he looks shocked by my words and then surprising even myself I hug him

It's a friendly warm hug of comfort and support. Sam wraps his hands around me and I get lost in his embrace. And I'm not terrified or panicked. It's nice to feel that good.

"Thanks" I hear him say

I pull back and grin at him

"Any time, Winchester. After all, what are friends for" and I get in the car.

I know Sam's got a though decision to make. I gave him my advice. Everything's up to him now.


What do you think about the new chapter and the little talk between Braeden and Sam and her advise for him? Leave me a review and tell me :)