Chapter 15

The Winchester curse

"Thanks," Dean said and smiled at the pretty waitress who had just placed a beer in front of him.

"You're welcome," she replied smiling. Clearly she liked what she was seeing.

For a moment he considered a little flirt and then asking what time her shift would end, but as crazy as that was, he decided against it. Right now he needed to concentrate on something else entirely. Mia… Dean liked her, he couldn't deny that, but there were too many unanswered questions for his liking. First of all, what was this girl? Second of all, what was she to Lucifer? Third of all, how was Dean going to stop Sammy from getting hurt? Clearly his little brother liked her a lot, but Dean had a nasty feeling that things weren't going to end well.

What if they would be forced to kill the girl? What if that would be the only way to stop the apocalypse? Of course Dean truly hoped that wouldn't happen, but… There were plenty of people, angels, demons and lord knew who else trying to get their hands on Mia. Could they really just keep her hidden for the rest of her life? That sounded very unlikely. Dean sighed and took a long gulp out of his stein. It seemed that all the Winchesters were simply cursed with relationships that ended with tragedy. Poor Sammy…

Dean couldn't help but to hope that his brother wouldn't have fallen for this girl. Sure she was a sweet girl and definitely not unpleasant to look at, but… Yes, there was always a damn but. Hopefully Gabriel would be able to tell what she was. And then what? What if he would say that she was dangerous, a weapon of some kind? There was no way Sam would simply accept that. Dean sighed again; the whole thing could turn out very ugly. He was so lost in his thoughts that he startled when his phone rang. Cas.

"Yeah?" Dean huffed.

"Where are you?"

"I'm at…" Dean paused and checked the bar's name, he hadn't really paid attention to it. "..Ray's Bar & Grill, it's right next to the motel…"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence when Castiel appeared at the table opposite him.

"Cas," Dean sighed. "I thought we've talked about this, you can't just puff out of nowhere in public where anyone can see you."

Castiel took a calm look around before turning his eyes back to Dean.

"I don't think anyone saw me."

"Maybe not this time, but… Never mind, just give me some good news. Did you find Gabriel?"

"No," Castiel replied calmly.

"No? Did you even look?"

"I sent him a message."

Dean frowned.

"A message?"

"Yes. I thought I made it clear that summoning an archangel is nothing like summoning a demon. It's not possible to force them to appear anywhere; all I can do is asking him."

"And if he doesn't feel like showing up?"

"Then he won't. But I hope my message will raise his interest enough for him to come and see me tomorrow."

"Yeah, let's hope so."

Dean emptied his stein and signaled the waitress to bring him another one.

"There's something we need to talk about before tomorrow," Castiel stated.

"What's that?"

"Sam."

Dean looked at him and frowned.

"What about Sam?"

Castiel met his gaze calmly.

"I don't have time for sugar cutting, so I will just get to the point…"

"Sugar what?"

"It's an expression you humans use; I was told that it means lying or saying unpleasant things the nice way."

"Oh, you mean sugar coating."

Castiel's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Yes, that was what I meant. But as I was saying, I will get to the point. I don't think Sam should come with us tomorrow."

"What? Why not?"

"Because I'm afraid there's a remarkable risk for him being unreliable."

"What?" Dean snapped. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I think you know," Castiel replied calmly.

Dean gritted his teeth and tensely thanked the waitress who brought him his beer.

"Just because Sam likes Mia doesn't mean…"

"He doesn't just like her, there's something more to it." Castiel paused and leaned forward. "When you returned to the cabin with Bobby and he saw the girl's head on my lap…"

"Woah, woah, woah, her head was on your lap?"

"Focus, Dean," Castiel sighed. "She was sleeping. My point is that when he saw us, there was something very disturbing in his eyes. Something…demonic."

"No," Dean snapped without hesitation. "He hasn't been drinking any demon blood; I would have noticed that…"

"I didn't say that he has been drinking demon blood."

Dean stared at him disbelievingly.

"What exactly are you saying then?"

Castiel hesitated for a brief moment before replying.

"I know you don't want to hear this, Dean, but he's Lucifer's vessel and that girl carries Lucifer's mark. There's something more going on between them than some sort of infatuation or physical attraction caused by hormones…"

"What would you know about those things?" Dean snapped. "You have no idea what it's really like to be a human."

"Perhaps not," Castiel replied with the same calm tone. "But I'm not blind; I can see when something is wrong."

Dean snorted and crossed his arms. He wasn't going to listen to this, especially when some small part of him feared that Castiel was right. No, that was ridiculous.

"You know, Cas, sometimes guys just need to get laid. She's a pretty girl, so who could blame Sam for being interested?"

"You want proof?" Castiel stated and stood up. "Very well then."

"Hey," Dean snapped when Castiel headed to the door. "Cas!"

Dean cursed, dropped few bills on the table and went after Castiel. He reached the angel in front of the door to their motel room.

"What are you doing?" Dean asked.

"I will give you proof," Castiel replied.

"How?"

Castiel didn't say anything; he simply opened the door without the key.

"Cas…"

Sam and Mia were lying on the bed watching TV; they got into a sitting position when Castiel entered the room, followed by Dean. Judging by Mia's reddened cheeks and swollen lips, they had been naughty. Good for Sammy.

"Hey," Mia said and tugged a stray hair behind her ear. She looked a bit uncomfortable. Was she wearing a Cookie Monster nightie…? Personally Dean was more into some sexy Victoria's Secret lingerie, but hey, he didn't judge. Whatever worked for Sam… Nevertheless she looked cute; there was nothing strange about Sam being attracted to her. Dean rolled his eyes when he glanced at Castiel, the angel was staring at Sam and Mia.

"Cas, this is ridiculous."

He didn't reply, he marched over to the bed. Both Sam and Mia looked cautious.

"What's going on?" Sam asked.

"I would like to have a word with Mia."

What the hell was he doing?

"What is it?" Mia asked when she stood in front of Castiel.

"I apologize in advance for this."

"What…"

Holy… Son of a bitch, Castiel was kissing Mia.

"Cas!" Dean snapped. "Have you lost your damn mind!"

For a moment Mia was too stunned to react, but then her hands went on Castiel's chest.

"What the hell?" she snapped when she pushed him away.

"I apologize," Castiel stated calmly and looked at Sam. "She tastes very good. I would like to have an intercourse with her."

"Are you crazy…" Dean started angrily. He didn't finish his sentence when he glanced at Sam.

"Sammy?"

Sam's eyes were black and he was growling.

"She's mine!" he snarled furiously and attacked Castiel. "No one touches what's mine!"

"Sam!"

Castiel's expression didn't change when Sam hit him on the face again and again.

"Sam, stop!" Dean shouted and grabbed his brother's arm.

Sam turned to look at him with his black eyes and was about to attack him too when Mia stepped between them and cupped Sam's face.

"Sam, please stop," she said quietly.

Sam blinked few times and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were normal again.

"What…" he muttered.

"It's okay," Mia said calmingly and touched his cheek.

Slowly Sam looked at Dean who was unable to speak. Castiel had been right.

"What the hell was that?" Dean finally managed to ask.

Sam looked confused.

"I… I'm not sure."

Dean glanced at Castiel.

"Is he possessed?"

"No, he's not."

Sam swallowed and looked at Castiel. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

"It's fine," Castiel replied. "I needed to do that to prove I was right…"

"What?" Mia snapped. "You did that on purpose?"

"Yes, it needed to be done…"

"Get out," Mia cut in angrily. "Right now."

"Watch it, devil girl," Dean said. "I don't know what you've done to Sam, but I swear…"

"She hasn't done anything to me," Sam snapped and took Mia's hand. "I won't let you or anyone else to disrespect her."

Dean stared at his brother for a moment before he was able to speak.

"You can't be serious. Your eyes were just freaking black! You can't really believe she has nothing to do with that!"

Mia flinched and looked at Sam insecurely.

"Maybe he's right," she murmured. "If I'm somehow hurting you…"

"You're not," Sam cut in firmly and gave her a brief kiss. "You're my girl, aren't you?"

She nodded and kissed his hand.

"Yeah." She paused and squished his hand. "I want to leave."

"That's not going to happen," Dean said firmly and crossed his arms. "We'll hopefully meet the archangel tomorrow and find out what the hell you are."

"Dean," Sam warned. "Watch it."

"It's fine, Sam," Mia sighed. "I want to know that too, but…" She paused and looked at Dean. "I would never intentionally hurt Sam."

"Maybe not," Dean replied tensely. "You're still doing something to him."

"No, she's not," Sam snapped. "Geez, Dean, I want to be with her! Is that a crime?"

Dean didn't say anything when Sam wrapped his arms protectively around Mia. Castiel didn't say anything either, the atmosphere in the room was tense to say the least. This was one of those times when Dean really hated to be right, but it seemed this thing would no doubt end to a tragedy.