The Forgotten Daughter
~Chapter Seven: Dead Man Walking Part Two~
September 19th, 2008
*Nicole's POV*
We arrived to Pamela's around one in the afternoon. Looking around I smiled at the familiar house, it looked just like it did three years ago when I first visited with Bobby. As Bobby put the car in park, I watched as Sam and Dean pulled up behind us. Opening my door, I slowly stepped out of the Chevelle and stumbled upon the sidewalk. Closing my eyes and preparing myself for impact, I was surprised as a set of strong arms caught me.
"I got ya," Sam said aloud as he helped me to stand.
I smiled weakly at my brother, I could tell he was trying to make things right with me.
"You ok?" He asked looking at me concerned.
"I will be, thanks Sam, " I replied thankfully.
Bobby huffed as he saw me stumble, knowing all to well that my legs were hurting me. Walking slowly behind my brothers and uncle, I winced in pain from my braces. I scolded myself mentally noting myself to pack my ointment and Tylenol on my next trip.
As we reached the steps, I gripped tightly onto the railing and struggled to step up the four steps. Dean and Sam looked back at me and I smiled to let them know I was ok as made it up the last step. Sitting on the wooden porch swing, I watched as Bobby knocked on the door and together the four of us waited for Pamela to answer.
As the door opened Pamela flung her arms around Bobby excitingly, the two had grown very close after Bobby's wife had died.
"Bobby!" She yelled out picking him up off the ground smiling, "So, these the boys?" she questioned as she put Bobby down.
"Sam, Dean. This is Pamela Barnes, best damn psychic in the state, " Bobby explained and I chuckled at my brothers reaction to Pamela.
Pamela was in her late thirties and was very beautiful. Her hair was chestnut and her build was strong. In the past few years she had been much like an aunt to me and even made me call her auntie Pam. One of her most distinct characteristics however, was being a huge flirt and I for one couldn't wait to see how my brothers responded to her.
She eyed Dean curiously with a flirtatious smile upon her face, " Dean Winchester. Out of the fire and back in the frying pan, huh? Makes you a rare individual."
"If you say so, " my oldest brother replied nervously.
"So how's that girl of ours doing?" she asked looking at Bobby.
"Why don't you ask her?" I said with a smile as I tried to balance myself with my one crutch.
She smiled wide and just about tackled me as she took me into her arms hugging me tight. I hugged her back trying to keep my balance and as she pulled back, and watched as she wiped her teary eyes.
"Oh Pumpkin, I can't believe it.. Let me get a good look at you sweetie, " she said mischievously as she stepped back, " My God do you have a figure. I would have killed to have curves like that at your age. "
I laughed as both of my brothers just about choked on their own spit at her words. Pam had always been a very forward person.
"Thanks auntie," I replied hugging her once more.
" This reunion is touching and all, but can we get on with it, " Bobby said impatiently as he fixed his cap.
The five of us soon agreed to a seance after Pamela revealed the spirits weren't speaking. As Bobby pulled the curtains closed, I helped to lay out the black symbol covered table cloth. Looking to my brothers, I smacked them both as I saw them staring at Pam's tattoo on her back.
"Damn it Nick!" Dean muttered under his breath rubbing the back of his head.
Pam laughed as she stood and handed me a set of candles to carry to the table.
"Who's Jesse?" Dean questioned cheekily.
"Well, it wasn't forever apparently, " I muttered limping away cursing my brother under my breath, as I set down the candles.
"His loss, " Dean chimed flirtatiously licking his lips at Pam.
"Might be your gain, " she whispered seductively to my oldest brother causing me to gag as she walked by him and Sam, " You're invited too, grumpy, " she smiled smacking Sam on the ass.
I laughed at their surprised faces as I sat around the black covered table with Pam. Soon Bobby came to sit with us along with the Boys. Dean sat next to Pam and Sam sat next me to me. I smiled as he sat and grabbed his large hand in mine rubbing the top of it with my thumb. Bobby reached out to hold Pamela's hand in his right and mine in his left. Looking at my brothers, Dean and Sam reluctantly stared at each other, making me roll my eyes at their childishness.
" Oh Come on, just take each other's hands, " I muttered exhaustively looking at them seriously, " It won't work properly if you don't."
"I need to touch something our mystery monster touched, " Pam said as they grabbed each other's hands.
"Whoa. Well, he didn't touch me there" Dean stuttered and I smirked at Pam who's hand rested on his thigh.
"Show her bubba."
Dean looked at me nervously as he removed his plaid shirt, " How did you know?"
"I knew the minute I hugged you, I could see the outline of it through your shirt sleeve."
He sighed rolling up his shirt sleeve and Sam looked worriedly at Dean.
"It's ok, " I soothed rubbing Sam's hand with my thumb.
He nodded and closed his eyes with the rest of us as Pam chanted.
"I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle. I invoke, conjure, and command you, appear unto me before this circle. I invoke, conjure, and com-... Castiel?"
"Castiel?" I muttered in shock earning my brothers attention.
"Its name. It's whispering to me, warning me to turn back, " she replied as static filled the room, "I conjure and command you, show me your face. I conjure and command-. "
"No Pam stop!" I yelled standing from my seat as the room began to shake, " Don't, Auntie! Stop please! "
"I almost got it pumpkin, " she whispered to me excitingly and then chanting once more, " I command you, Show me your face now!"
"No!!!" I screamed stepping from the table without my crutch.
The candles began to flare up several feet in the air and as Pam screamed, I fell head first into the table soon hitting the cold wooden floor.
"Nicole!!" I heard my Sam scream.
I looked up to him weakly as he sat me upon his lap.
"Don't fall asleep," he whispered frantically shaking me, " Oh God, Dean she's bleeding bad!! "
I could barely keep my eyes open as I looked at him, and in the distance I could hear Pam sobbing. I had tried to warn her, but by the sound of her crying, I knew I was too late.
"Call 9-1-1!!" I heard Bobby yell as I closed my eyes.
"Nick come on, stay awake please," I heard a voice say.
My head was throbbing with pain and I felt a warm liquid trickle down my face as darkness soon overcame me.
*Normal POV*
Sam sat next to his sisters hospital bed holding her hand worriedly. Nicole lay unconscious suffering a severe concussion from her fall at Pamela's. Sam began to sob as he looked at his sister, she looked so fragile laying in a hospital gown with a oxygen tube under her nose. Nicole's face was swollen and next to her eye lay a large cut with stitches.
"How's she doing?" Dean questioned walking into the hospital room holding two coffees.
"The same," Sam muttered taking the coffee from his brother, " She looks so fragile Dean. "
"I know Sammy," Dean sighed as he placed a hand upon his brothers shoulder , " She took one hell of a fall back there. "
"The doctor said her legs were exhausted and that she was over working herself," Sam explained , " Her legs, they are raw Dean.. She hasn't been taking care of herself. "
"When has she ever Sammy.. Nick has always been stubborn and determined."
" I should have been there to help her, " Sam sobbed once more, " I should have stayed."
"Don't beat yourself up Sam, her being in the hospital isn't your fault.. What happened was an accident, " Dean assured Sam patting his brother's shoulder.
"She worries me Dean. I mean she's our girl and I just hate seeing her like this."
"I know Sammy, " Dean replied drinking from his cup and sitting across Nicole's bed.
Sam looked at Nicole and brushed her hair from her face. Her hair was down and kept falling against her wound. Standing from his seat, Sam reached into his jacket pocket and fished out a hair tie. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Sam combed gently through his sisters hair and began braiding her curly tendrils.
Dean smiled as he watched his two younger siblings. Sam carefully worked his large fingers through their sisters hair making sure to mind her IV in her hand. Reaching in his pants, Dean quickly took out his cellphone and snapped a picture of the two of them. He knew Nicole would kill him, but he didn't care, he wanted to remember seeing his brother care for their sister. He loved them both so much, and they ultimately were his whole world.
"Any news on Pamela?" Sam questioned as he tied off Nicole's hair.
Dean sighed and sat his coffee down, " Well whatever that Castiel thing is, left her permanently blind. She's as well as she can be, but the doctors are keeping her sedated to help with the pain. "
Sam frowned at his words and looked at him sadly, " Dean, whatever this Castiel is, it seemed as though Nick has heard of him.. I mean look at how fast she tried to stop Pamela. "
"I know, that's what keeps bothering me.. She knows something and I don't know if it's good or bad. I'm hoping for the latter," Dean stated worriedly.
"What should we do Dean? "
"What can we do Sammy? Until she wakes up, the best shot we got it to summon the damn thing," Dean muttered clearly aggravated by it all.
"What and risk out eyes being burned out, I think not Dean," Sam replied as A knock sounded on Nicole's door, "Hey Bobby, what's the word on Pam? "
"She's out of the ICU, they are still keeping her sedated to help with pain. The doctor said they are gonna keep her here overnight and tomorrow, " Bobby explained as he walked in the hospital room and stared at Nicole's battered face, " Damn it Nick. "
"The doctors said she would wake up any minute now, right now we are playing the waiting game.. She has a concussion and the cut is mainly superficial, she should be better in a few days," Sam explained looking at Bobby.
"Well thank God for that," Bobby sighed , " I hate seeing her this way, it brings back too many memories. She has been through so much hell already. "
"We know Bobby, but she's always kept on going, " Dean quipped standing from his seat, " I don't know about you but I'm hungry.. Nick would kill us if we just sat here all day. "
" I'm good, you boys go, " Bobby replied looking at them both, " I'll stay here with Nick. "
"You sure Bobby? I can stay," Sam asked standing from the bed.
"I'm sure, you two go.. I got her," Bobby assured him taking a seat next to Nicole, " I'll call you if she wakes up. "
"Thanks Bobby," Dean muttered walking towards the door.
Walking through the hospital halls, Sam and Dean barely talked to each other. Both of them were trying to wrap their mind around everything that has happened. Nicole had learned too walk again and Dean was back by some monster named Castiel. What terrified them the most was not knowing why he had been brought back and how their baby sister knew this Castiel.
"Where do you wanna go?" Sam questioned his older brother as they walked through the hospital parking lot.
"How about that diner by the hotel Bobby checked us into a couple miles back? I think it's called Johnny's or something. I could go for some pie," Dean replied as he sat down in Baby.
"Sounds good to me. "
~The Diner~
As the two of them sat down in the diner, Sam couldn't help but notice how empty it was. Shrugging his jacket off, Sam pulled his phone out of the front pocket and looked to see if Bobby had messaged.
"Anything?" Dean asked as he looked at the menu.
"Not yet.. I'm worried about her Dean. She knows something. "
Dean sighed looking at his brother, " I know Sammy..We will figure it out. "
"How D-," Sam began only too Be interrupted by a cheery waitress.
"Hello there, what can I get you both?" She questioned blushing at Dean.
" Two pieces of pie sweetheart and a coke each, " Dean replied with a flirtatious smile.
"Be up in a jiff."
As the waitress walked away, Dean watched her from behind until she was out of sight. Looking back at Sam, Dean could tell his brother was clearly annoyed.
"Hey I've been in hell for four months ok, I'm allowed to look," Dean exclaimed in his defense.
"Uh huh, there are more important things to deal with Dean," Sam exhausted as he took a drink from his coke, " I followed some demons to town, right?"
"Okay your point Sam?" Dean questioned curiously.
"I say we go find them, " Sam explained as the waitress returned.
"Thank you," Dean said smiling at the waitress.
"Someone's gotta know something about something right, " Sam finished looking at his brother eagerly.
"So you want us to go hunt down some evil son of a bitches and hope they can tell us why I'm back?" Dean asked sarcastically .
"It's better than summoning the damn thing that almost killed Pamela," Sam muttered stabbing his pie.
Before Dean could answer, the waitress sat down next to him and Sammy with black eyes.
"Son of a bitch," he muttered looking around to see the rest of the employees were also demons.
"What do you want? "Sam questioned drawing his knife.
"I'm sorry. Thought you were looking for us, " the Demon said coyly, " Dean, aren't you a lucky duck...What makes you so special?"
Dean smiled mischievously at the Demon before retorting back sarcastically, " I like to think it's because of my perky nipples... All I know is it wasn't my doing, I don't know who pulled me out."
"Lying's a sin, you know, " the Demon spat bitterly.
"He's not lying. So if you wouldn't mind enlightening us Flo, you tell me who pulled him out, " Sam barked angrily turning towards the demon.
"Mind your tone with me boy.. I could drag you both to hell real quick, " the Demon yelled at Sam.
"No, you won't, " Dean argued punching the demon, " Because if you could, you would have done it already. Face it you're just as spooked as we are and you're looking for answers. I'm guessing at your pay grade that they don't tell you squat. Because whoever it was, they want me out. And they're a hell of a lot stronger than you. "
" I'm gonna rip out your lungs, " the demon yelled angrily holding its face.
"Sure you are sweetheart, " Dean chimed standing from the table and throwing down a ten dollar bill, " Let's go, Sammy. "
Sam stood from his seat and followed his brother hesitantly out the door and across the street to Baby. He made a mental note to sneak out of the hotel later and return to the diner to kill the demons.
"Holy crap, that was close," Dean sighed nervously leaning against Baby.
"We're not just going to leave them in there, are we, Dean?" Sam questioned and Dean nodded yes, " I've been killing a lot more demons than that lately Dean. "
"Not anymore – the smarter brother's back in town and little sis too, " Dean replied sitting down in baby, " Besides we're dealing with a bad mother fucker here Sammy and our little sis is in the hospital. One job at a time ok. "
Sam nodded hesitantly at his brother and knew not to argue back.
~Later That Night ~
Later that night, back at the hotel, Sam waited for Dean to fall asleep to leave. Nicole was still unconscious and Bobby made both of the boys go back to the hotel to sleep for the night. When Sam knew his brother was asleep, he stood from his bed and pulled on his jacket. Looking back once more at his brother, Sam turned the lock slowly and tip toed from the room. Hurrying down the steps of the hotel, Sam jumped into the driver side of Baby, and left without looking back.
As the impala drove away, the tv in the hotel room turned on filling the room with static and waking Dean. Sitting up on the couch quickly, Dean hurriedly grabbed his gun. Standing from the couch, Dean cautiously looked around the room as he held his gun to his shoulder. Walking across the room, he turned off the static filled radio and pointed his gun to the door.
The walls began to shake and soon a high pitched squeal roared throughout the room. Dropping his gun, Dean covered his ears in pain. Around the room glass began to cave in on the eldest Winchester knocking him to the floor. With bleeding ears, Dean crawled away from the bed as glass came crashing down from the ceiling in top of him.
The door abruptly flew open and Bobby screamed as he saw Dean bleeding on the floor, " Dean!"
"Bobby get out of here," Dean cried out in pain stumbling from the floor.
Keeping his head down, Bobby ran to Dean supporting him as they ran out the door. Closing the door, Bobby helped to guide Dean down the steps and quickly into the beat up Chevelle.
Driving down the road, Bobby looked worriedly at Dean as he drove:
"How you doin', kid?"
"Aside from the church bells ringing in my head, peachy, " Dean replied as he wiped the blood from his ears, " I'm gonna give Sam a call. "
"Hey, " Sam's answers through the phone.
"Where the hell are you huh? I wake up and you along with Baby, are nowhere to be found, " Dean questioned aggravated into his phone.
As Sam slowly opened the diner door, he stopped looking around to make sure it was safe, before lying to Dean," Couldn't sleep, went to get a burger.. Why are you awake? "
"Well, uh, Bobby's back. We're going to go sit with Nick, " Dean lies looking at Bobby shocked face.
" Is she ok? Has she woke up yet? "
" No not yet. He came back to pick up some clothes for her for when she does wake up... I figured I would go sit with her for awhile Sam, " Dean explains into his cell phone as he holds a finger up to a fuming Bobby.
"Call me if she wakes up please, ok Dean... Do you want me to come sit with you? "
"No no Sammy, get your food and go back and sleep for awhile. I promise I'll call if she wakes up," Dean insists hanging up the phone.
'Why the hell didn't you tell him?" Bobby half yells hitting Dean's shoulder.
"Because he just tried to stop us, I mentioned it to him earlier and he was against it. "
"Against what Dean? " Bobby questioned curiously as he looked back at the road.
"Summoning this thing, " Dean chimed, causing Bobby to drive off the road as he looks at him," It's time we faced it head-on."
"You can't be serious!" Bobby yelled stopping the car.
"As a heart attack, I'm not gonna sit and get caught with my pants down again Bobby. "
"Well, we don't know what it is. It could be a demon, it could be anything, " Bobby began looking worriedly at Dean , " This is a bad idea."
" I couldn't agree more, but we have an arsenal in the back and I got Ruby's blade.. The way I see it what other choice do we have Bobby? "
"We could choose life, " Bobby muttered and sighed looking at Dean, "Dean, we could use Sam on this."
"Nah, he's better off where he is Bobby, " Dean assured him.
Bobby looked at Dean hesitantly before starting the Chevelle once more. When he arrived back at the hotel, he had every intention of returning to the hospital after grabbing her a fresh set of clothes. Never in a million years would he thought to find Dean covered in glass upon the floor, with bleeding ears. He loved all of them to death, but at times wished he could give them a swift kick in the ass. They were going to be the death of him at the rate they were going.
After driving for about thirty minutes, the two of them decided on a metal barn to summon the "evil son of a bitch" as Dean called it. Together the pair of them worked fast to draw symbols in every language and religion they could think of for protection. By the time they finished readying themselves, it was nearing one o'clock in the morning. The two of them were growing tired as Bobby finished his last symbol and Dean laid out every weapon they had to kill every monster they knew.
"That's one hell of a paint job you got there, " Dean said aloud chuckling.
"Protection from ever religion I could think of, " Bobby replied as he walked to the weapons table, " How are we on supplies? "
"Salt, Iron, brass, holy water, Ruby's knife, stakes," Dean explained pointing at the table, " We got just about everything I know to kill all the monsters I've ever heard of... I say we summon the damn thing. "
Bobby looked at Dean hesitantly before picking up a book of incantations and reading in Latin . When he finished reading the two of them eyed each other worriedly, they knew now it was up to them to wait.
After about forty-five minutes of waiting Dean was growing antsy as he looked around.
"Are you sure you read it correctly?" He questioned Bobby earning him Bobby's best bitch face .
" You want to have a shot at it, then be my guest Dean, " Bobby replied sarcastically.
"I'm sorry, normally we are seein something by now," Dean muttered clearly aggravated.
"Well normally we don't go in half cocked not knowing what were dealing with either, you idjit," Bobby began jumping off the table , " I say we go back to Nick and wait till she wakes up.. She seems to know something about this Castiel person. "
Dean sighed and put his head down, "I guess so, let's pack up Bobby."
The roof panels began to lift up off the frame as the two of them packed up their equipment. As the lights began to flicker, Bobby and Dean hurriedly armed themselves. The moment that had so patiently been wait for was upon them.
"Maybe it's just the wind," Dean quipped as swallowed thickly.
Bobby looked at him not for one but convinced , " Yeah and maybe I'm a woman in disguise, we both know that's wishful thinking. "
"Really Bobby," Dean exclaimed rolling his eyes at Bobby.
" What it isn't like you haven't thought of it before. "
The doors doing open and the lights above began to blow one by one, raining glass down upon them. Static filled their hand held radio and quickly they both covered their ears as the room rang loudly. The thunder outside roared loudly and as lightning filled the barn, a figure of a man appeared in the doorway.
The man had wild dark brown hair, with piercing blue eyes. He wore a cheap dark blue suit with an oversized tan trench coat. He smiled as he approached them, causing Dean to instantly stand up readying himself to fight.
" Who are you? " Dean questioned worriedly looking at the man.
"I'm the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition. Do you not remember me?" Castiel asked waiting for Dean to answer.
"No I don't and thanks for bringing me back chuckles, but what is it you want with me?"
"I brought you back Dean because we have plans for you, " Castiel replied eyeing Dean curiously.
He couldn't help but smile at the similarities between Dean and Nicole. He was just as stubborn (if not more stubborn) then Nicole was. Taken off guard , Castiel felt a blade pierce his chest making him grunt slightly in pain. That proved to him that Dean in fact was more stubborn...
Pulling the knife from his chest, he carefully held it back out to Dean, who took it hesitantly and stared in shock at him. Walking to Bobby, Castiel smiled faintly as he looked at the man.
"I'm sorry Bobby, but I need to speak with Dean," he explained to the older man as he pressed his fingers against his head, catching him as he fell forward asleep.
"Bobby! " Dean yelled running to Bobby's side and checking for a pulse.
"We need to talk, Dean. Alone, " Castiel quipped as he looked at the books upon the table recognizing several as Nicole's, " Don't worry your friend's alive."
"Who are you?" Dean questioned angrily looking at Castiel.
Cas walked forward holding his hand out to Dean like Nicole had shown him to do, " I'm Castiel or Cas as Nick calls me.. "
"Yeah, I figured that much, I mean what are you? And how you know my sister? " Dean questioned worriedly as he took the man's hand.
"I'm an Angel of the Lord, and I am you're sisters protector Dean, " Castiel explained as he picked up a book smiling, it was one of her favorites, " These are Nick's books. "
"Yes they are and no it's not possible, There's no such thing as angels, " Dean replied defensively.
"This is your problem, Dean. You have no faith, " Castiel retorted setting down Nicole's book.
As Castiel looked at Dean, lightning began to flash. Dean stared in awe as he saw the shadowy wings appear behind the so called angel.
" If your such an angel, then why did you burn out that poor woman's eyes."
Castiel sighed as he looked at Dean, " he wished Pamela never pushed her way through the vail to see him, " I warned her not to spy on my true form. It can be... overwhelming to humans, and so can my real voice. But you already knew that."
"The gas station and the hotel. That was you talking? Next time, try lowering the volume."
"Certain people, special people, can perceive my true visage. I thought you would be one of them. I was wrong and I am sorry Dean, " Castiel explained apologetically, "This body is a vessel, the man inside me, "Jimmy" had a serious heart condition. The doctors gave him three months at most to live... He's a devout man despite his condition and actually prayed for this."
"Well, I'm not buying what you're selling, so who are you really?"Dean questioned angrily.
"I told you, ask Nicole she will tell you, " Castiel replied frowning.
"Why would an angel rescue me from Hell?"
"What's the matter? You don't think you deserve to be saved?" Castiel questioned looking at Dean seriously, " You're sister thought you did. "
"Why'd you do it then? Did she ask you to? " Dean muttered under his breath.
"No. God commanded it actually, we have work for you Dean, " Castiel explained urgently. " Nick, where is she? She wasn't at home. "
"That's because she's in the hospital feathers, " Dean explained watching as Castiel 's eyes grew wide, " She fell and hit her head trying to warn Pamela... Can you help her wake up? She's unconscious with a severe concussion. "
Snapping his fingers Castiel woke Bobby from the floor and looked worriedly at Dean, " The hospital, what is the name of the hospital?'" Castiel questioned panicking.
"St. James Medical, room 324," Dean exclaimed as Castiel disappeared.
"Dean what happened," Bobby asked standing from the ground.
"A angel happened.. Come on we need to get our stuff and get to the hospital," Dean explained packing his belongings.
Bobby stared confused at him and quickly began packing as well, " Why the rush Dean? "
"Because he left to go help her, he said he was her protector Bobby.. He could have been lying, but judging by the look on his face when I told him she was unconscious, he wasn't."
" Can we trust him Dean? " Bobby questioned curiously.
"I sure as hell hope so, all I know is, is that Nick has a lot of explaining to do."
TO BE CONTINUED...