A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has read this tale! It is so appreciated!

I do not own Supernatural, Sherlock Holmes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or any other songs/tv shows/movies and/or books that may be referenced in this tale.

Chapter 14

The New Normal?

Victoria was curled up on her bed sipping a cup of coffee Mary brought her. She was reading the morning paper, looking for any spectacular events. Everything was horribly mundane. She looked up to see Castiel standing in her doorway.

"May I come in?"

Victoria smiled and motioned to the edge of her bed. Castiel gingerly sat down, he looked uncomfortable.

She put the paper beside her, "There's no chair in here I'm afraid."

"No, this is fine."

"Did you have something in particular?"

"I thought we might try to begin your training today."

Victoria looked pleased, "Yes, I would like that very much." She took another sip of her coffee.

"Could you perhaps go over what you have mastered once more?"

"Smite and heal basically."

"And transfer knowledge, which was impressive."

"I thought you meant when it came to work, or my 'duties'. I can do several things that impact angels. Usually if I am able to think it I can do it."

"Anything?"

"Well, anything I have tried, I just seem to have to want it enough. It's as if my will powers my abilities. When Ezekiel was training me to heal, I wasn't able to heal myself, I didn't seem to care enough. He had to gravely injure himself for me to learn."

Castiel had a selfish thought, he quickly brushed it off and hoped she wasn't listening.

"I am also not impacted by the powers of Angels or Demons."

Castiel tilted his head.

Victoria sat up a little straighter. "Try to throw me across the room."

"I don't feel comfortable attempting that."

"It won't do anything, I promise. I'm immune. Please try."

Castiel relented and did so, just as she said, nothing happened.

Victoria smiled. "See?"

She continued to drink her coffee.

Castiel had not attempted to do that in a long time and wondered if he still had that power at all.

Sam came in the room just then, he had his iPad in his hand.

"Are you training? Should I come back later?"

Both Victoria and Castiel shook their heads. Sam sat next to Victoria near the head of the bed so she could see the iPad as well. She thought she might have to talk to him about personal space.

"So, get this, two more bodies exploded just outside of Nashville."

"Related?"

"Brothers."

"The potential to be a compatible vessel does run in blood lines. Lucifer may have thought if one brother couldn't contain him the other might."

"That's what I was thinking, Cas. Victoria?"

"Of course."

"Do you think it's worth a trip?"

Victoria shook her head. "I really can't see the point. As much as it pains me to say it, I don't think we will be able to do anything until he secures a compatible vessel. Hopefully, not too many more will say 'yes'."

Dean burst into her room wearing a cowboy hat. "Y'all ready to go?"

Sam looked slightly embarrassed, Cas stared at him, and Victoria stifled a snicker.

"You look like the ultimate tourist. No one wears those there."

"Yeah, smarty pants? How would you know?"

"I grew up about three hours out in a small town in Northern Georgia. We used to go there for vacations. Unless you want people to know you're not a local from the get-go, you'll drop the hat. Besides, we decided we don't need to go. There's nothing we can do."

Dean looked disappointed as he left the room.

"That's my brother." Sam got up to leave as well. "I'll let you two return to… whatever."

Victoria put her empty coffee mug on the nightstand before she stood up.

"Let me get dressed and then you can begin to teach me whatever you think I need to know."

Castiel nodded as he continued to sit.

"Castiel, could you maybe leave the room for a moment?"

He looked at her for a moment, confused. As it struck him, he flushed slightly before leaving and closing the door behind him.

"This bunker is a great deal larger than I would have thought."

They were standing in a large empty room.

"Yes, it does seem smaller from the outside."

"Where do you want to start?"

Castiel looked down at his shoes. "I'm not a guardian Victoria, I don't know what you're supposed to learn next."

Victoria wished Ezekiel would have given her a syllabus.

"What can you do, or what were you able to do that I can't?"

Without thinking about it, without meaning to say it, he said, "Fly."

Victoria felt a familiar warmth in her right palm. Somehow she knew what it was meant for. She inhaled slowly, and focused all her mental faculties on this one task. As her palm became increasingly hot she touched it to his chest.

She could see the light moving throughout his veins. As his eyes looked into hers she saw them flash bright blue, and remain that way as the light guided along his broken wings, repairing them. She stepped away when his eyes went back to their normal darker shade of blue and the light was gone. She could see the shadow of his wings on the wall behind him, they were full and beautiful.

She felt a warm, wet trickle down the space in between her nose and mouth. She touched her hand to it, blood.

"Just put your hand on its forehead and will it to die, Victoria. Focus."

All she could hear was its disgusting thoughts, what it had done while it had walked the earth. She could see the infants it consumed, the innocent blood it had spilled.

'Chosen one my ass', it thought, 'She's nothing but a useless virgin. Been unwanted all her life, and now, when glory is within her reach she can't grasp it. If it wasn't for the angel I'd eat her too. I wonder what she tastes like. I'd have a little fun with her first though, let her know what she's been missing.'

It looked at her with hunger. Victoria heaved violently.

"Victoria, smite the demon."

"Yes, Victoria" the demon said mockingly, "Smite me. Or maybe, I'll smite you." It lunged at her, but was stopped by the Enochian trap.

Victoria took a deep breath and put her palm on its forehead. Just as the demon was beginning to laugh at its ineffectiveness, her light consumed it, and the demon was gone.

"Well done, Victoria." Ezekiel walked over to her.

Victoria noticed the blood that was dripping onto the floor was coming from her nose. She quickly put her hand to her face. Ezekiel handed her a handkerchief from his coat pocket. She pressed it against her nose while pinching it shut.

"Those nosebleeds along with any other symptoms you may have will subside as you become more accustomed to using your gifts. At each new power and ability we uncover, or if you are using more of your strength than usual, those will occur. Do not fear, they are perfectly standard. In fact, they let you know you're on the right path."

"How did you…?"

Castiel walked over to her and placed two fingers on her forehead.

"I can't make it go away."

"No, it has to heal on its own. It's not a bad thing. Actually, quite the opposite."

Victoria smiled, then closed her mouth, figuring that a bloody nose would make a smile quite a sight.

Victoria felt dizzy and weak. She sat down against the wall.

"Are you alright?" Cas kneeled in front of her and placed his hand to her forehead. "You need to rest."

Sam and Dean burst into the room, guns drawn. They lowered them once they realized Victoria and Cas were the only ones in the there.

"What the hell happened?" Dean walked over to them, Sam followed.

Victoria nodded and slightly smiled at Castiel. He disappeared, then reappeared behind Dean. Cas tapped his shoulder and Dean turned around suddenly. Cas was smiling wide and Dean quickly hugged him.

"You got your wings back?"

They pulled apart and Cas nodded.

"How?"

Castiel nodded in Victoria's direction. "She repaired them. I'm afraid it has weakened her."

"I will be fine." Victoria started to stand up, she faltered as Sam held her steady.

"Maybe I should help you back to your room?"

At that moment Victoria admired how the tall one could make anything into a question. She definitely needed rest.

"Yes, thank you."

Sam joined Dean and Cas at a table. Dean handed him a beer as he sat down.

"She okay?"

"She says she will be. Could you not heal her?" Sam looked at Cas.

"No, I'm afraid not. Her body was weakened because she exerted too much strength by fixing my wings."

Dean swallowed a swig of beer, "She'll get better right?"

Cas leaned back in his chair. "I think so, yes."

Dean smiled slightly as he looked at his friend. "So, whatcha gonna do now Cas? Since you're all back?"

Cas looked at him, "I don't understand what you mean."

Dean snorted quietly. He absent mindedly played with his beer bottle. "Now that you have your wings back, what are your plans?" He took another swig.

"I don't have any plans Dean, I intend to stay here as long as you, Sam, and Mary will have me. I do not stay here because I'm grounded, or was. I hope you know that."

"Well, this is your home too, Cas, I hope you know that."

They looked at each other for a moment before each smiled and broke the gaze.

Sam finished his beer rather quickly. He slapped the table and got up.

"I'm going to see if Mom needs help with dinner."

Victoria couldn't remember the last time she felt so awful. Her head was splitting, she was dizzy, and she couldn't seem to focus. She decided to quit trying and went to sleep.

She wasn't expecting anyone to be there. She knew her sister wouldn't come, and she hadn't really made any friends while she was there.

She started to take her cap off as she saw him leaning against her car in the one of the campus' parking lots. He was holding a rose. She snorted a small smile and walked up to him.

He handed her the flower. "I think these are customary for such a human occasion. Congratulations on completing a four year Bachelor's degree program Victoria. I am very proud of you."

He was the only one that told her that that day. The only one who bothered to show up, the only one who cared, an angel, her angel.

She didn't like emotions, she abhorred them, but Ezekiel standing there with that rose saying he was proud caused her to feel. She blinked, surprised at the salty water welling in her eyes. For the first time out of three in their six year relationship, she hugged him.

At first he didn't know what to do. He was confused by this human reaction from her. She whispered, "Just go with it" into his ear. He wrapped his arms around her and returned the embrace.

She woke up to Sam tapping her lightly on the shoulder.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

He sat down on the edge of her bed. She really needed to have a talk with him about personal space.

She sat up against the headboard. "Better, actually."

"Good. Dinner's ready if you feel like eating. I made the potatoes."

She could tell he was very proud of himself for that.

"I'm sure they're great. Allow me to clean up a bit and I'll be there momentarily."

Sam gave a slight smile, nodded, and left her room.

Victoria looked at herself in the mirror. Even with the last of the blood washed from her face she still looked awful. Her eyes were sunken in, with dark circles apparent underneath. Her cheeks seemed more pronounced somehow, and her color was pallid. She sighed as she made her way to the main room.

The four of them were waiting on her. She felt incredibly awkward as she took the seat left vacant for her. She could feel their eyes, and concern.

"Victoria sweetie, are you sure you feel alright?"

Victoria looked at Mary. "I will be, it takes some time. I have been through this before." She left out the part where it had never been to this degree.

Castiel looked the most concerned of all, "Victoria, I cannot apologize enough for…"

Victoria interrupted him, "Please do not apologize. I am simply happy that it was effective. Besides, the illness means that I have exceeded my usual power, when I get better I will be even stronger than before."

"Do you know how that strength will manifest?" Cas inquired.

"If the past is any indication, I think that's up to you."

Castiel narrowed his eyes.

"Choose what you want my added strength to become, and show me."

Victoria took the plate Sam offered to her. "Thank you."

Castiel looked down at the table and then at his friends. He was a soldier, and a rebel. He knew he was not supposed to be a Guardian. Guardians were very special Angels, there was not a chance they'd go rogue, not a possibility they would disobey or turn on one of their own without perfect cause, they were meant to instruct, to teach, to train. Cas wanted to help her very much. That's why he kept offering. However, every time he looked at her, every time he felt her strength, he was afraid he would break her. Turn her into something like him. He would shake it off, try again, then the feeling of uncertainty would resurface and he felt like he couldn't help her.

"If I could make a suggestion?"

Cas and Victoria looked to Sam.

"Wouldn't this be a good opportunity to try mass smiting? It could be very helpful on hunts."

Cas nodded at looked at Dean. "Dean?"

Dean swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great. Kill all those sons of bitches with one bright ass light." Dean immediately looked at his mom. "Sorry."

Victoria wasn't quite sure what to make of two humans weighing in on her training. She could discern Castiel needed them, needed their input and reassurance. Ezekiel was so sure of himself, so confident, Castiel was a whole new type of Angel. One she didn't know existed.

Mary decided that Victoria had a hard-enough day so she wouldn't let her help with the dishes. She also made her a cup of tea and sent her to bed.

As much as she thought she would, Victoria didn't mind being mothered. It was nice. She would never admit to it, but it was a comforting feeling.

Just as she was about to fall asleep she heard a light knock on her door. "Come in."

Cas, Dean, and Sam were all standing in the doorway. She noticed how small Castiel looked and giggled ever so slightly.

"Do you need anything?"

Victoria wondered why the tall one couldn't have just come alone. She tried to sound like she appreciated the gesture. Which she slightly did. She didn't know what was becoming of her.

"No, thank you."

"Will you be able to sleep okay?"

Victoria marveled at the earnestness of the Angel.

"I believe so, yes."

Dean patted Sam and Cas on their backs. "Let's go. Goodnight Tor."

"Goodnight."

After they closed the door behind them Victoria thought about what appeared to be her new life. For the first time, in a very long time, she thought that some semblance of a family might not be so bad.