"Mommy, when can I go back to school?" Ari asked.

It had been two days since she'd been discharged and returned home. Callie hadn't followed up with the school since Ari's release, but Holden assured her that when Ari was ready to return, the school would allow it. Ari had been camped out on the couch the last two days, watching TV and enjoying a steady stream of food. Callie was happy to have her home, and happy that Holden had worked out an arrangement with her job to give her the next couple weeks off. He pulled off some miraculous feats for the both of them in this difficult time.

"The doctor wanted you to take it easy, sweet girl. You've got an appointment with Dr. Lee tomorrow, and we'll see what he says, okay?"

Ari frowned but nodded.

"Dr. Lee always has that lady give me shots, and I don't like it," she muttered.

"I'm certain there will be no shots this time. Promise," Callie replied with a smile.

Ari went back to watching the TV. There was a knock at the door and Callie got up, unsure of who could be visiting. When she looked through the peephole and saw the two FBI agents, she sighed and frowned. Their presence in this situation still didn't make any sense, and she didn't want to deal with any more questions from them.

Especially not that one guy. What a dick.

She sighed again and opened the door, still frowning.

"Hello again, Miss Richards," Agent Nash said.

"What do you want?"

Agent Nash tried to hide his surprise at her reaction, glancing at Agent Crosby who frowned in response.

"We're, uh, we're just following up from our conversation the other day. We heard your daughter woke up and was released. How's she doing?"

"Fine."

"Great, I'm sure you must be relieved."

He paused, waiting for her to say anything, but Callie stood silent and glared at him.

"Would we be able to come inside and talk?" he asked.

No way in hell are these two nutjobs coming in my house.

"No. The doctor wants Ari to rest. Anything you need to discuss, you can discuss out here, with me."

She watched as Agent Crosby quirked a knowing eyebrow at Agent Nash and made a face, as though he were expecting her resistance.

"Look, Dean," she addressed Agent Crosby. "She doesn't remember anything still, and I don't feel like talking to either of you anymore. She doesn't know what happened. The school can't tell us what happened. I don't know what that boy is saying, but there's no way she would have done anything to him without good reason. That's all I have to say about it."

Agent Crosby's eyes widened at her words, and he glanced quickly at Agent Nash.

"Why did you call me Dean?"

"What? Your name? You told me it."

"No, I definitely didn't. I introduced myself as Special Agent Crosby. Why did you call me Dean?"

Callie paused, not wanting to reveal that she'd overheard their conversation in the hall. She bit her lip as she tried to think of a good excuse.

"It was on your badge, the one you showed me," she said quickly, hoping it sounded believable.

Agent Crosby raised an eyebrow and lifted his ID out of his jacket. When he showed her the FBI badge, she read the name 'David Crosby'.

"Your name's David, not Dean?" Callie asked.

"That's what my ID says," Agent Crosby replied.

Callie glanced between the two of them in confusion. She was positive that Agent Nash had called him Dean.

"I…my mistake," she said softly, refusing to look at either of them.

"Miss Richards, it's important that we speak with your daughter about what happened," Agent Nash began.

"I told you, she doesn't remember anything!" Callie yelled.

"Mommy? What's wrong?" she heard Ari call from the living room.

Callie stepped away from the door to make eye contact with Ari.

"No—" she began, and Agent Crosby took advantage of her position change to walk into her house.

"We just want to have a little chat with you, sweetheart," Agent Crosby said.

Callie recoiled in anger, shocked at his intrusiveness.

"I specifically told you not to enter my house. Unless you have a warrant, I'm calling the police!" she insisted.

"Uh, Agent Crosby? Maybe we should go," Agent Nash said.

"No, I think we need to get some answers, right here, right now," Agent Crosby said. "That boy your daughter attacked? Even without the fractured jaw, he ain't talkin'. Someone or something got to him. He wouldn't tell us anything."

"Maybe he wouldn't talk to you because you act like such a dick! What kind of FBI agent are you, anyway? I want your boss's number; I'm filing a complaint."

"Miss Richards—" Agent Nash tried to interject, but Callie shook her head.

"No. Your boss's name and number, now."

Agent Nash looked at Agent Crosby and shrugged.

"Okay, calm down, lady. Here you go," Agent Crosby muttered and handed her a card with a number scrawled on it.

Callie yanked it from his hand and glared at him.

"Get the hell out of my house and don't come back unless you have a warrant."

"Yeah, whatever. Have a great day, ma'am," Agent Crosby said snidely.

"Thank you for your time, Miss Richards," Agent Nash said, offering an apologetic smile.

Callie slammed the door shut and shook her head.

What am unbelievable dick!

You'll never guess who just came by, she typed to Holden.

Santa? He replied immediately.

Nope. Agent Giant and Agent Dick.

She waited a minute, expecting a reply, but when nothing came, she joined Ari on the couch. It wasn't long before she was asleep with Ari snuggled against her.

She heard the porch swing creak as she swayed gently, back and forth. She hadn't been here in a long time, and she missed it. She didn't know why this place was where she ended up in her dreams, beginning right after Dan died, and she knew she longed to be here once again. She was relieved to see the familiar sights of the vague shapes around the house, piled across the surrounding landscape. It was a large house, with a big yard, full of big things. She never could tell what, but it didn't worry her. Nothing about this place worried her. It always felt like home.

She wondered if he would join her. He always did, but each time she wondered if he would. There was something about the possibility of him not showing that bothered her on a fundamental level. She was terrified if she thought about it too much, afraid that he was gone and would never return to her. But each time that she was here, so was he.

She felt him next to her now. It was as though her world, as confusing and limited as it was, had been completed. She knew better than to look at him. His light was too bright. Instead, she focused on the colors she saw, when allowing her eyes to briefly travel along his body. Black shoes, black pants, a tan coat. She focused on his hand beside her, a few inches away. A longing to grab it rose in her, but she fought against it.

"It's been so long," she said.

"Has it?"

"Almost a year," she confirmed.

"I…"

He trailed off, and she didn't ask for anything further. They sat side by side, his presence calming her to her core. This was where she belonged. This place, with this stranger beside her. This stranger whom she felt she knew better than anyone in the world despite being unable to describe his personality, or even what he looked like.

"I don't want this to end," she finally said.

"No."

"Without you, I feel…"

"Empty," he said, and she nodded.

Everything about him was light and love. She craved it more than anything. She knew that she had to find a way to make it happen, had to touch him, feel him touching her, feel—

Callie jerked awake as Holden gently stroked her cheek.

"There you are, love," his low voice rumbled.

Callie fought the urge to bat his hand away and recoil, confused about why she was having such a strong, negative reaction to him after realizing her developing feelings for him. In comparison to the man in her dream, she felt like Holden was cold and dark and full of misery. It made no sense, so she forced a small smile.

"Hi."

"I let myself in, hope you don't mind. I must admit, I wasn't expecting to find two sleeping princesses," he said with a smile.

"I thought I was the queen," Callie replied, an actual smile taking over her politely faked one.

Holden raised an eyebrow.

"My, my, aren't we full of ourselves tonight."

Callie looked out the window in surprise.

"Night? Oh, man. I can't believe we slept so long that it's night!"

"Well, just so, but yes. I hope you had nothing but sweet dreams."

Callie fought the feeling of embarrassment that threatened to color her face and opted to nod instead.

"What time is it? I've got to put Ari to bed," she said, still speaking quietly.

"I'll take care of it, love. You just wait here."

Before she could say anything else, Holden scooped up Ari swiftly without waking her and carried her off to her room. Callie had to admit that it felt nice, having someone to help take care of her and Ari. Holden had done so much for them, and it never ceased to amaze her. He came back and sat next to her, putting an arm on the back of the couch behind her but making sure not to rest it against her. Callie appreciated his consideration for her need for space.

"We need to talk," Holden began.

"I know, I know. It's been such a whirlwind with everything that's happened with Ari."

"Callie—" he tried, but she interrupted again.

"No, I mean, I don't mean to push it to the side, I know we have to talk. I want to talk. When we…I mean, the other night when…oh, man, is it hot in here? I think we should go outside. I'm hot. Are you hot?"

"You are indeed quite hot," Holden agreed, and Callie knew he didn't mean her temperature. He followed her outside and Callie leaned against the closed door, taking a few breaths to work up her courage again.

"Look, I know that you…you know, I mean…feelings that I didn't…but it's, I mean, I didn't think…but then it happened! And I—" she stammered.

"I've no idea what you're on about."

"I liked it when you kissed me the other night."

Holden looked briefly confused and surprised, and Callie watched his face closely as the surprise turned to a near-predatory delight.

"Oh," he said, staring at her with intensity. "In that case…"

Callie swallowed as Holden stepped close, putting one hand behind her head and one hand behind her back and pulling her body forward just a few inches. She tilted her head up and stared at him as he grinned for a moment before closing the distance between their mouths. She moved her hands to behind his neck, enjoying the feel of his stubble against her face.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Callie heard Agent Crosby yell.

She and Holden separated instantly. He was turned and striding away before she could register that Agent Crosby's presence was weird. Their kiss had mind running slower than normal, and she worked to fight through the fog and pay attention.

"I live here! Why are you here?" Callie called, but no one was paying attention to her.

"You two! Why is it always you two!" Holden shouted from just in front of the porch.

Callie looked over and saw both agents in her yard. They weren't out there when she stepped out, she was sure of it. Otherwise, she would have seen them.

Unless…unless they didn't want to be seen. Were they…?

"Oh my God!" Callie shouted. "I'm calling the police right now!"

"Don't do that, no, no—Hoo—damn it, Callie, stop!" Holden shouted at her.

She froze in place, the "9" and the first "1" illuminated on her phone.

"Why are you yelling at me? These are those crazy agents I told you about! They're harassing me! They were spying on me!"

"Callie, it's not what you think." Holden said.

"And you! I told you, Sammy, didn't I tell you? I knew you were behind this whole thing," Agent Crosby said as he closed the distance between them. He stopped about eight feet off, looking warily at Holden.

"Wait, what? Behind what? You're the one who was behind my bushes!" Callie shouted back.

"What? You're a witch, and you wanna know what I do with witches? Kill 'em," Agent Crosby said, raising a gun at her.

"You bloody moron! Stop!" Holden roared, and then Callie heard the gun fire.

She closed her eyes and threw her hands up instinctively in front of her face, waiting for the inevitable. When nothing happened, she opened her eyes and looked around, lowering her hands. Agents Crosby and Nash were staring at her, eyes wide. Holden looked a little nervous, which struck her as odd. He was always calm in the face of everything she'd seen, unless he was losing his temper. She had never seen him nervous.

"How'd you do that? What kind of magic was that purple light? Sammy, take her down and I'll fire again!"

"Dean…" Agent Nash said, clearly reluctant to follow the plan.

"She's not a witch, you sodding lumps of mud masquerading as imbeciles!"

"Well then what the hell is she, Crowley? Huh? Other than your evil booty call, which, by the way, super creepy," Agent Crosby/Dean said.

Callie looked at Holden in confusion. He stared at her apologetically for a long moment before sighing and turning his attention to Agent Crosby/Dean.

"Not a witch. I'm afraid that's all I'm able to say for now, boys, for everyone's safety. And speaking of, can't have you two mucking everything I've worked so hard for up once AGAIN!"

Before anyone could speak, Holden muttered some words and held his hands out to Agent Crosby/Dean and Agent Nash/Sammy, who both collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Callie faced Holden with new-found horror.

Was he responsible for what happened to Ari?

"Callie," he said warningly, his hands held toward her trying to calm her down. "Callie, don't. You need to listen to me, love."

"Don't call me that! You don't call me that, not ever! You can't call me that! You aren't him, and no matter how hard you try, you'll never be him! You could NEVER be as good as him!" she screamed.

Holden froze, his hands falling to his sides as his expression of caution dropped to one of despair.

"Callie…"

"No! Just stop! Who are you? Why was he calling you Crowley, Holden? Why did you act like you know what I am, like it's some…some…thing! I'm human!"

Holden stared at her silently, and Callie felt her stomach drop.

"But I'm…I mean…" Callie trailed off, unable to speak, incapable of forming a coherent thought.

"You said I'll never be as good as him. As good as who?" Holden asked.

"As good as—" Callie paused, unable to finish the thought. "I…I don't know. I guess I meant Dan."

"Did you?"

"No. But who, then? What do you know? What aren't you telling me? Why can't I remember who I am? What I am? Why can't I remember him?!" Callie was screaming and crying, and Holden closed the distance between them.

She hit him at first, and he seemed to have no reaction, which only made her try harder. She dissolved in his arms, tears flowing.

"I'm so sorry, my Queen. This isn't how any of this was supposed to happen. I'm so sorry for what must be done to protect you both," Holden said softly.

"What are you going to do to me?"

"Nothing I want to, my love, I swear to you. I haven't lied to you, not once. I won't lie to you. I'm here to protect you. I care about you both. Deeply."

"Why?"

"I promised to look after you."

"Who did you promise?"

Holden gave a short, bitter laugh.

"I promised him."

"We were in love," Callie said softly.

"Very much so, I'm afraid."

"Me and him, I mean."

"As did I."

"But something…happened?"

"Yes."

"Holden, I don't want to forget. I want to remember," Callie whispered.

"It won't hurt, my love. I promise. Now, only because I know you won't remember this, I'm going to be open as well as honest. I thought you would be good to have close by, a nice power source, with another power source practically built-in. If I could get in good with you and get you on my side…but it went bugger on me."

"How?"

Another short, bitter laugh.

"You made me want to be different."

"Different?"

"Better, good. Caring, and kind. More…more like him. And I pretended. But at some point, it wasn't a costume I was putting on anymore. They started to notice."

"Who noticed?"

"The other demons. I'm trying to keep control of Hell, but it's unstable, and the rumors aren't helping. Especially seeing as they're true."

"Rumors…"

"That I've gone light-side. That I'm on the straight-and-narrow. It's because of you, all of it. You and your precious, precocious, brilliant, magnificent daughter. I love you, both of you."

She needed a moment to clear her head before she could reply.

"Hold—" Callie began before falling to the ground at Holden's touch, the blood that had been pounding in her ears masking his quiet murmurs of an incantation, the same incantation that felled the other two. In her silent, forced sleep, her mind was carefully adjusted, and she was returned to her bed, the memory of recent events wiped.