The Forgotten Daughter
~Chapter Eight: My Sister's Keeper~
September 20th, 2008
*Nicole's POV*
I awoke to the sound of machines beeping and a throbbing headache. I felt air rushing into my nose and knew instantly I had an oxygen machine hooked up to me. As I opened my blurry eyes, I saw sapphire ones staring into mine.
"Cas?" I muttered breathing heavily, closing my heavy eyelids once more.
"Oh Nick," he whispered as he kissed my forehead, " You scared me. "
Opening my eyes I reached up with my IV ridden hand and held his cheek, " I'm sorry sweetheart. "
"I've missed you so much Nick," he said his voice shaking with emotion.
"I've missed you so much too.. I was scared you wouldn't come back to me...Please don't leave me again. "
"I'm so sorry," he repeated as he wrapped me in his arms , " I love you. "
"I love you too Cas, "I whispered as he held me gently against him.
My body was filled with so much pain and emotion from everything that had happened. As Cas held me, he rubbed the back of my head gently and kissed the top of my head attempting to soothe me. Pulling away, I swallowed thickly and reached for a cup of water upon the night stand.
"Nick don't, let me help please," Cas begged reaching for my water and glasses.
"Thank you Cas," I whispered thankfully, hissing as the glasses touched my swollen cheek and drinking from the styrofoam water cup.
"Your brother said you fell and hit your head trying to warn Pamela. You are concussed according to your brother," he explained as I handed him back the cup of water.
"Are you in much pain? " he questioned worriedly
looking at me.
I nodded my head yes and he stared sadly at me as he pressed his fingers against my cheek. Warmth radiated over my body and instantly my swollen eye was healed along with my headache. My body however, still remained very weak. Struggling to sit up, Cas carefully helped pull me up in the bed and brush back my bangs away from my face.
"Do you need more water?" He asked sweetly as he removed his trench coat placing it on the bed beside me.
"I'm fine for now Cas, thank you for healing me."
"I hate seeing you in pain and injured, " he replied looking at me wantonly, " May I kiss you?"
I nodded my head yes and closed my eyes as he pressed his chapped lips against mine.
Silently thanking God for Cas's return, I savored the kiss. I felt like crying, as he kissed me. So much had changed since he left me and now that he was back, I couldn't help but wonder if he was the reason for Dean's return. As the kiss broke, I looked at him worriedly.
"What is wrong Nick?" he inquired as he brushed my once injured cheek.
"Did you bring Dean back Cas?" I asked curiously waiting for him to answer.
"Yes," he sighed taking my hands , " I was under strict orders to not tell you until he returned.. I fought through hell for four days to get him and the both of us came close to not making it out. "
"Are you ok?" I asked worriedly looking him over for injuries.
"Yes Nick I am fine," he chuckled, " I can heal myself. "
I sighed looking at him and tears filled my eyes at the thought of almost losing him. Wrapping me in his arms, Cas held me as my body shook in his.
"It's ok, " he soothed as I cried.
"I co -could have lost you Cas," I choked out between sobs.
" I'm ok.. It's ok Nick, I'm not going anywhere, " he whispered reassuringly as I cried.
After a while my sobs softened and I pulled away looking at him apologetically, " I'm so sorry sweetheart. "
"Don't be, I'm just glad I get to see your beautiful face once more," he replied wiping away my tears.
"Is Pam dead ?"
" No, she is not dead.. She will be permanently blind however, I healed her injuries and pain the best way I could... I wish she would have listened when I told her to turn back. My true being can be dangerous to the human eye, " he explained.
"Cas?" I said earning his undivided attention, " I'm happy Dean is back, but why did you have orders to save him? I know something horrible is about to happen Cas, I mean look at our family history... People just don't return from hell of all places for no reason... "
He sighed looking away at the window, then back at me troubled. I could tell he was struggling to put words together to explain it all. Holding his hand in mine, I brought it up to my lips and kissed his knuckles soothingly. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply at my touch before finally speaking.
"You're brothers," he began , " They are part of a prophecy Nick.. Dean had to be saved in order to fulfill God's plan for him... I had to be the one to pull him from the pit. Like you, he is now in my charge and I am on orders to protect him."
"Cas, do others know about me being in your charge?"
" No, it was God's orders, only Joshua and me know.. I have protected you for three years now and if the other angels knew, they would question my relations with you and your brothers, " he explained, " That's why you must wear the bracelet I gave you at all times.. It will protect you from the other angels.. "
I nodded my head in understanding, it was all starting to make sense to me now.
"What about us?..Can we still be together Cas?" I asked worriedly.
"Yes my angel, but we have to be careful Nick.. If your brothers were to find out, they must know that they cannot speak word of our relations.. I have to protect you Nick..The orders my superiors have given me, they are quite difficult.. Angels aren't created with human emotions, but for some reason I happen to be different from the rest. At least that is what Joshua has told me, and now seeing and being with you Nick..I believe him... "
"You can't stay you?"
" No.. I would give anything to stay, but being a seraph, orders are orders.. I have to obey.. I will still see you, but at times I may have to distance myself when I am accompanied by other angels of my garrison. But only because I cannot risk others finding out about you... If anything were to happen to you Nicole, " he began, his voice filled with emotion, " I don't think I could live with out you.."
"I'll be ok Cas," I soothed reassuringly as I wrapped my arms around him.
He buried his face in my shoulder as I brushed his dark tendrils gently. I had missed him so much and was so thankful he was home with me. Closing my eyes, I kissed his head and rocked him back and forth with me.
"What the hell is going on?!" Dean yelled as he walked into the room with Bobby.
Cas pulled away slowly and looked worriedly at me as Dean approached the hospital bed. Sitting in the chair next to my bed, Dean sat down and looked at me in shock.
"You're healed," he muttered grabbing my hand in his, " How?" He demanded loudly looking at Cas.
"He is an angel Dean, he has been watching over me since the accident three years ago," I explained squeezing his hand , " If it wasn't for him, I never would have woke up out of that coma Dean. "
"You weren't joking were you?" He questioned looking at Cas.
"Angels don't exactly joke around, " Cas replied.
"So let me get this straight, you have been watching her for three years?" Dean quipped looking at Cas.
"Yes, since the night she awoke in the hospital," Cas explained .
"Then why haven't we met you until now, huh? Care to enlighten me feathers," Dean retorted not understanding.
"Because I was under strict orders to not allow anyone to see me. I had to remain hidden while I watched over Nick... I'll admit at first I had no idea what it was like to watch over someone.. I'm what you would call a Seraph," Cas informed him.
"A soldier," Bobby said a loud as Cas nodded, " You are known to fight the battles of heaven, not protect as a guardian. "
"You are correct and for thousands of years I have, that was until I was given orders to protect Nick. I had heard of your destiny Dean, and God made it an order to protect you and above all Nick.. He has plans for you Dean, and in order to fulfill those plans, I had to pull you from hell," Cas explained looking at Dean then back at me.
"Then how is it you know him?" my brother questioned looking at me.
I sighed and grabbed Cas' hand, " He appeared to me in my dreams after you died.. He helped me through your death and Sam leaving... The morning Sam left, he appeared in my room. He didn't know I was awake and when he saw me -"
"I couldn't help but comfort her.. She had been through so much, and my superior Joshua told me she would need my guidance for when you returned, he allowed me to remain visible to only her," Cas began , " What I never expected was to fall in love with her. "
"You what?!" Dean asked protectively reaching towards Cas angrily.
"Dean calm down," I begged reaching out to him.
"What do you mean calm down Nick!" Dean exclaimed looking at me upset, "I come back four months later to find Sammy gone, you walking, an angel, and even more scary you in love with him!! We don't even know what he is Nick and you apparently have been seeing him without anyone knowing for three God damn months!! "
"It wasn't a whole three months, it was the morning of her birthday after we-" Cas began and quickly I covered his mouth.
"After what huh? " Dean questioned irritably, " Care to finish that sentence Nick. "
"After I kissed him ok Dean ."
"Uh huh.. All I know is that this, all of this, is just a lot to take in.. I just need to think about it all ok.. I love you Nick, but I can't be in here right now," Dean exclaimed as he walked to the door.
"Bubba don't go," I begged as he reached the door.
"I'll see you back at home ok, I'm gonna find Sammy..Bobby will you-" He began to ask and Bobby nodded his head in reply.
As the door shut behind him, my eyes flooded with tears. He was upset and I couldn't bare seeing him as disappointed as he looked now. Looking at Bobby he sighed as he looked back at me.
"Give him time Nick he will come around, you know how irrational he is at times."
" I hope so Bobby, " I replied sniffling, " He looked so disappointed in me. "
"I don't think it's you he's disappointed in sweetheart, " Bobby began sitting in the seat Dean once preoccupied, " I think he is more disappointed in himself. He doesn't understand how much things have changed and neither do I quite frankly. "
"Mr. Singer," Cas said aloud handing me a handkerchief while Bobby stared intently at him, " I assure you her protection is at utmost importance to me. I love Nick unconditionally and I know none of you know me exactly or understand everything. Even as an angel, there are still many things I have yet to learn. What I do know, is that there is nothing I wouldn't do to keep her safe.. "
"Bobby, we're asking you to trust us please.. Cas is here to help us, please have faith in me when I tell you he is telling the truth."
Bobby sighed after a moment and gently held my small hand in his, " I don't know why, but for some damn reason I believe you both.. I knew there was something going on when I was away this summer, but never could quite pinpoint what. I knew from your improvement and better mood lately that someone or something had been helping you.. "
"Why didn't you say anything Bobby?"
"Because I wanted to give you space and God knows I haven't been the most cheery person lately... Looking at you son, " he explained looking to Cas, " I can see that you love her, I looked at Karen the same way.. Just promise me you won't hurt her ok? "
"I promise Mr. Singer, I would die before that ever happened," Cas informed him seriously. "
"Good, I'm gonna hold you to that feathers.. I know my girl here and if she believes you, then that is enough for me. She always has been a good judge of character ."
" Thanks Bobby, " I whispered squeezing his hand.
"Don't think me yet Nick.. You both do realize how bad your relationship is don't you?" Bobby questioned worriedly looking at us.
"Yes, that's why none of you can say anything Bobby, if any of the other angels knew -"
" You would both be dead.. I've read enough lore to know how these relationships normally end. None of them have ever ended pretty, and I pray to God girly this isn't one of them, " Bobby quipped, " I'm not gonna say I am thrilled about the two of you, hell to be quite honest it scares me. But I guess it could be a hell of a lot worse.. At least you ain't a demon, " he finished smiling slightly at Cas, " And you are an adult now, whether any of us like it or not. "
I smiled at Bobby as he kissed my hand and stood from the chair. Reaching forward I watched as he held his hand out to Cas for him to shake. Cas reached out awkwardly still looking at Bobby nervously as he took his hand. I felt like chuckling at the sight of them...
Cas frowned as he let go of Bobby's hand, and looked sadly at me.
"What is it Cas?" I questioned worriedly reaching out to him.
"My superiors, they are calling for me, I must return to them," he began looking at me troubling, " The bracelet I gave you-. "
"I won't remove it sweetheart I promise," I assured him.
"I'm so sorry, I'll return as soon as I can Nick," he said informingly as he leaned down to me and kissed my lips gently, " I love you. "
"I love you too Cas.. Go sweetheart, I'll be ok, my boys are back with me... Just promise you will come back alive ok."
" I promise, " he muttered and hesitantly disappeared, causing tears to fill my eyes once more.
"Nick don't cry, we will figure all of this ok," Bobby soothed as he wrapped his arms around me, " Why don't we get you home huh? I'll call Pam's sister and see if she can stay with her ok. "
"Thanks Bobby for believing me," I whispered wrapping arms back around him.
"Anything for my girl, " he muttered and then began to chuckle, " You've always been the smart one Nick, I just hope you haven't gotten in way over your head... By the way I knew that bracelet didn't come from a damn catalog, I knew it as soon as I saw it on your wrist.. "
I smiled at him and wiped my tears, Bobby was always hard to pull one over on. Pulling away, I allowed Bobby to help me get ready to go home and quickly Bobby snuck us out of the hospital, wheeling me to the old Chevelle. It was just after four in the morning when we left and I sighed, dreading the long drive home. Everything was different now an come haiI or high water, I had to make my brothers understand...
~Later that Day: Sioux Falls, South Dakota ~
*Normal POV*
The air was cool on the late September afternoon as Dean laid under the old Impala to change its oil. Life was proving more and more each day to be challenging since getting ripped out of hell. Of all monsters Dean had hunted and encountered over the years, angels was never one of them.
Dean wasn't mad at his sister, if anything he was mad at himself. He felt as though he should have fought harder to stay alive, instead of giving up like he did. Dean had so many regrets in life and not staying with his siblings was one of them. They both grew up way too fast for his liking, especially Nicole. Of all the people in the world, he couldn't get over his sisters first love to be an angel.
As he tightened the oil cap on baby, he heard a horn blast at the end of the driveway. Pushing himself on the creeper, he hurriedly rolled out from baby to see Bobby's Chevelle pull up to the house. Standing from the shop floor, he quickly took a swig from his beer bottle, before walking over to help along with Sam.
"Woah, Woah easy Nick," Sam said aloud helping his sister to stand.
Dean studied his sister as Sam quickly picked her up and carried her weak form inside. She was healed but her strength had yet to be restored. Dean wanted to run to her and understand everything she had gone through, but he didn't know how. Nicole was the smartest and most innocent out of them all, she was Dean's baby girl.. But now as reality punched him in the stomach knocking away his breath, Dean stood there realizing that she was no longer his baby girl, but a woman.. A strong, caring, and brave woman..
Walking to the trunk of the Chevelle next to Bobby, Dean tried to avoid the glaring eyes of the older man next to him. He knew he should have handled it all better back at the hospital, but so much had changed. He had yet to wrap his head around everything that had happened while he was in hell.
"Boy you are some kind of stupid aren't you," Bobby said aloud as he slammed the trunk shut.
"What the hell does that mean Bobby?" Dean questioned throwing Nicole's backpack on his shoulder.
"You know damn well what it means you idiot," Bobby began angrily glaring at Dean," That girl in there has suffered enough these past few months... You died, Sam left, I started drinking again, and not even two days after you get vertical again, you walk out on her."
"She's been playing house with a monster who claims to be an angel.. I don't believe angels are real Bobby, how could they be ok? There is too much bad shit that happens in this world for them to be real," Dean exclaimed bitterly, " I'm sorry but I'm not buying."
"Of course not, because you're just like your old man, you and that oversized brother of yours both! Nick is different and always has been! She sees the good in people and never looks down upon them! I'll ask you this, when has she ever gave you a reason to not believe her or trust her Dean?!"
" That's not the point," Dean muttered looking away from Bobby.
" That is the point and you know it.. Whether you like it or not boy, Nick is a grown woman. Hell she has had to act like one most of her damn life!.. All I'm saying is that I trust her Dean and if she says angels are real, then I believe her.. And even if she is involved with one, it could be a hell of a lot worse," Bobby explained as he walked through the front door.
Dean sighed at Bobby's words, he knew he was right even if he didn't want him to be. He didn't like that Nicole was grown up, but what he didn't like even more, was her not needing him as much as she used to. He was at one time his sisters keeper as some would say, but now it was even more apparent that he had been replaced.
Walking through the old house upstairs to the laundry room, Dean began to empty the backpacks contents into the washer next to his clothes. As he dumped her clothes, he sighed as he saw the picture of the three of them fall a top her dirty jeans.
Slumping down next to the washer, Dean felt like crying as looked at the picture. He was around eleven years old at the time it was taken. Sammy was seven and missing his front teeth, and Nicole was a newborn with auburn hair peeking out from her swaddled form. It was taken the day after she was born and from the moment he first saw his baby sister, he swore to always protect her.
Dean sat with mixed emotions on the laundry room floor as the clothes whirled in the washing machine. Meanwhile, Sam sat next to his sister on her bed, trying to make his baby sister comfortable while understanding everything that had happened the last few months. Sam listened to Nicole carefully and in the end (like Bobby) believed his sister.
It was nearing five o'clock when Dean drug himself from the laundry room floor and changed the clothes over to the dryer. For hours now he had tried to come to terms with everything that had happened. As he shut the dryer door, Dean heard his brother clear his throat from behind him.
"Hey Sammy," Dean muttered as he loaded the washing machine once more.
"Hey? That's all your going to say to me," Sam replied.
"What else am I going to say."
"Well for starters the real reason we left so fast last night," Sam quipped irritably leaning on the door frame," You told me that Nick had woke up and Bobby insisted on meeting us back here."
"Sam look-" Dean began.
"I don't wanna hear it Dean! You just gave me so much shit over leaving three months ago and now you go and do the same after two days.. Nick told me everything Dean," Sam explained angrily.
"Oh so she told you about her angel boyfriend then," Dean spat aggravated slamming the washing machine lid.
"Yes, she did.. She also told me that he has been protecting her and he was the one to pull you from hell," Sam replied standing upright.
"Yeah " God" - ," Dean said with air quotes walking down stairs to the kitchen with Sam following him," has a plan for me apparently. What could he possibly want from me Sam? Why would he care about me?"
"Because he cares about all of his children Dean," Nicole replied breathlessly from behind Sam.
"Nick you're supposed to be resting," Sam muttered as he put his arms around his sister.
" I can rest later, right now we have this to settle ok," she implied staring at Dean.
"You need to rest," Dean scolded looking at her worriedly.
"And you need to come off your High horse and stop being so damn stubborn and for once just listen," she retorted walking to him," I understand you're upset ok. I understand that this is not the life you left behind, but as you say.. Shit happens, and it happened fast... I know you have never believed in the bible and God, well all of it really.. But if it wasn't for my faith do you think I would be here... After the accident three years ago, I went to a dark place for a while and was angry with God.."
"What does that mean?" Dean questioned confused.
"It means that she slit her wrist and almost bled out six months after the accident," Bobby explained from behind Sam with a book in his hand.
Dean looked at his sister with tears forming in his eyes," Why Nick?"
"Because you and Sam was gone, Dad was dead, and Bobby was on a hunt with Rufus," she explained shifting her crutches as she sat at the kitchen table, " I was tired of being alone, and was frustrated not being able to hunt anymore. I hated myself and was tired of dealing with the hand I was dealt.. I allowed myself to give in to the negative emotions I was feeling, and I just wanted it all to end.."
"I found her slumped in her chair with blood pooling around her," Bobby began grabbing a beer from the fridge, " She was in her room and damn near dead when I found her... I ran to the kitchen to call 911 and as I got off the phone, I ran back to try and stop the bleeding.. The funny thing is, is when I came back to her room, her wrist were healed and she looked as if she was sleeping.. I knew deep down she had someone watching over her all this time."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sam questioned sadly.
"Because I begged him not to... Good things do happen Dean even if you don't think you deserve them to ," Nicole explained standing from the table, " I think I'm gonna lay back down again.."
Together the three men watched as Nicole limped from the room. When the door to her bedroom shut, Dean looked at Bobby angrily and waited for him to explain himself.
"You should have told us," Dean barked angrily.
"Well I didn't, I'm so sorry you got your feeling hurt princess.. You see you both are too busy killing yourselves, that neither one of you saw how much she was hurting herself.. You both need to get your heads out if your asses and see the big picture here.." Bobby Yelled walking to the living room once more.
" What that I was groped by an angel? I don't think so," Dean replied.
"Why do you think this Castiel would lie to you about it?" Sam questioned curiously as he sat down at the table.
" I don't know, maybe he's some kind of demon. Demons lie Sam..Don't you think that if angels were real, that some hunter somewhere, would have seen one... at some point... ever?" Dean spat at his brother.
Sam scoffed at his brother and looked annoyed at him, " Yeah. I'm pretty sure you just did, Dean."
"You two done having your little pissing contest and want to listen to me," Bobby interrupted looking at them both as he pushed a book across his desk," Take a look at this...I got stacks of lore -- Biblical, pre-Biblical. Some of it's in damn cuneiform. It all says an angel can snatch a soul from the pit."
"What else could do it?" Dean asked in disbelief.
" Other than airlift your ass out of the hot box? As far as I can tell heal people in times of trouble Dean," Bobby explained pointing at the book.
"Dean, this is good news," Sam chimed aloud.
"How?" Dean retorted.
"Because for once, this isn't just another round of demon crap. I mean, maybe you were saved by one of the good guys, you know? Nick believes him and so do I, " Sam said trying to reason with his brother.
"Okay. Say there are angels. Then what? There's a God?"
"At this point, Vegas money's on yeah," Bobby quipped answering Dean.
"Okay, look," Sam began looking at Dean seriously, " I know you're not all choirboy about this stuff, but this is becoming less and less about faith and more and more about proof."
"Proof that there's a God out there that actually gives a crap about me personally? I'm sorry, but I'm not buying it...If there is a God out there, why would he give a crap about me?"
"Dean --" Sam tried attempting to butt in.
"No Sam, I mean, I've saved some people, okay?" Dean continued cutting Sam off," I figured that made up for the stealing and the ditching chicks. But why do I deserve to get saved? I'm just a regular guy."
"Apparently, you're a regular guy that's important to the man upstairs, just like our sister said to you not even twenty minutes ago," Sam replied quoting his sister.
Dean looked at both Sam and Bobby worriedly, his voice breaking as he spoke," Well, that creeps me out. I mean, I don't like getting singled out at birthday parties, much less by... God."
Sam sighed as he looked at his brothers worried face. He could tell hos brother was scared and finally starting to believe them. Placing his hand on his older brothers shoulder, Sam tried to comfort him.
"Dean I think you're going have to deal with it man, because I think God wants you to strap on your party hat."
Dean stared at his younger brother trying to accept it all. Looking at Nicole's bedroom door, Dean sighed and took in a deep breath as he looked at Bobby.
"What do we know about angels?"
"Start reading," Bobby chimed moving a large stack of books in front of him.
Dean stared at the pile of books before him and then looked at Sam seriously," You're gonna get me some pie," he exclaimed picking up the pile of books and sitting at the table.
Sam rolled his eyes at his brother and Bobby chuckled. Finally Dean was starting to listen and they were relieved. However, they both prayed as they looked at Dean, that he would soon make amends with Nicole..
TO BE CONTINUED...