Alex stood in a small clearing, watching the tongues of fire lick at the cold night air. She could feel Dean behind her. He was shifting his weight around, impatient to get back on the road. Her legs and back were sore, but at the same time, everything was numb. The pyre burned bright, Carton's sheet-wrapped body still visible on the heavy branches. Alex's heart wrenched at the sight. He had become her friend almost two years ago, and, apart from her, was the youngest hunter Bobby knew. Alex blinked. She would have to tell Bobby -
A hand on her shoulder jolted her out if her thoughts. "It's time to go."
Alex's voice shook. "I don't want to leave him."
Dean rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "I know."
...
When they got back the the motel, the first thing Alex did was take a shower. She scrubbed the blood out of her skin and hair, watching the red-dyed water wash down the drain, mixing with her tears. Only when the water grew cold did she dry herself off and pull on Sam's sweatpants and one of Dean's shirt. She dried her hair, waiting for her face to look like she hadn't been crying. Finally, she returned to the room. She sat down on the bed abs brushed her still-damp hair out of her face, giving it a sniff. The smell of blood was gone. That was good. She looked over at Dean, who was attempting to scrub the blood out of his jacket. She turned her attention to the tv.
"God!" Dean exclaimed. He thumped the sink, and Alex looked up. "Don't do that."
"Hello Dean." Castiel stood behind the hunter. Alex sat up, head tipped at the sight of the angel.
Dean turned around to face the angel, who did not back up to give him room. The two of them stood there for a few seconds, only a few inches between their faces. "Cas, we've talked about this," Dean said quietly. When Castiel didn't respond, he elaborated. "Personal space?"
"My apologizes." Castiel took a step back.
Dean picked up his jacket and walked over to the other bed. "How'd you find me? I thought we were flying below the angel radar."
"You are. Bobby told me where you were."
"Hey Cas." Alex gave the angel a small smile.
"Hello, Alex." Castiel looked over at her, blue eyes meeting hers. He looked around the room. "Where's Sam?"
Alex didn't respond, but looked over at Dean. Castiel followed her gaze. Dean cleared his throat. "Me and Sam are taking separate vacations for a while. So, you find God yet? More importantly, can I have my damn necklace back now, please?"
"No, I haven't found him. That's why I'm here. I need your help."
"With what?" Dean asked. "God hunt? Not interested."
"It's not God. It's someone else."
"Who?"
"Archangel."
"Raphael?" Alex guessed.
"Yes. I've heard whispers that he's walking on Earth. This is a rare opportunity."
"For what?"
"Information."
Dean looked thoughtful, and walked back over to the sink, picking up his knife and a washcloth. He began to wipe it clean. "So what, you think you can find this dude and he's just going to spill God's address?"
"Yes, because we are going to trap him and interrogate him," Castiel said decisively.
"Could be fun," Alex said quietly.
Dean turned around. "And dangerous," he reminded her. He looked over at Cas." You're serious about this." Castiel turned to face Dean, who walked back over to them. "So what, I'm Thelma and you're Louise and we're just going to hold hands and sail over this cliff together?"
Castiel looked at Dean, confusion written across his face. In his defense, not even Alex understood that reference. Dean walked past Cas, putting his knife on the nightstand. "Give me one good reason why I should do this."
"Because you're Michael's vessel and no angel will dare harm you," Castiel answered simply.
"Oh, so I'm your bullet shield?" Dean faced the angel.
"I need your help because you are the only one who can help me. Please."
Dean was silent, thinking it over. "Alright, fine. Where is he?"
"Maine. Let's go." Castiel reached out to touch Dean's forehead.
Dean stopped him. "Woah."
"What?" The angel lowered his hand.
"Last time you zapped me someplace, I didn't poop for a week." Dean said. "We're driving." He started packing his things.
"Wait?" Alex asked. "Right now?"
"Yeah right now."
"But we just got here." She looked up at Dean, eyes dull. "I'm tired, Dean."
Dean hesitated. "You can sleep in the car," he finally said.
Alex sighed, but obediently packed her things into her bag. "Fine." She walked out the door and to the Impala. "Cas, you can have shotgun. Front seat," she quickly clarified. She got into the backseat, tossing her bag on the floor.
Dean threw his stuff in the trunk, and started the car. "Ready?"
"Yeah," Alex yawned, pulling on a jacket; it was December, and it was cold. She curled up tightly in the backseat, tuning out Dean's music.
...
They drove the whole night, and Alex slept in the back. At one point, she woke up with nightmares. After that, she sat silently, looking out the window.
...
December 11th, 2009
Waterville, Maine
Six hours after they left, Dean pulled the car up to an old, abandoned house. "Here we are." He turned off the car, getting out. Alex followed, grabbing her bag. She walked up to the front porch, pulling open the wooden door. The inside was bare, the paint peeling off the walls. The morning sunlight drifted through the dusty windows.
"What are we doing here?" Alex asked. "Shouldn't we be down at the police station?"
"Yeah. Just got to change first." Dean disappeared towards what looked like a bathroom.
Alex wandered around the house while she waited. She looked out the window, seeing Castiel still sitting in the car. "Cas, you can come in," she said aloud. Castiel vanished from the car. Alex looked behind her to see the angel standing there. "Hey."
"Where's Dean?"
"Changing. You coming down to the police station with us?"
"Yes."
"Okay, here." Alex reached out, straightening his tie.
She opened her mouth to say something else, but Dean entered the room, dressed in his black suit and blue tie. "Ready?"
"Yeah. Let's go." Alex nodded.
"You're going?" Dean looked surprised.
"Uh, yeah." Alex nodded. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I don't know. I just thought, since, you know."
"I don't want to stay here alone." Alex studied her shoes, slightly embarrassed at herself. She opened her mouth to explain herself further.
However, Dean just nodded. "Uh, okay. You can come."
"Besides, Bobby's back at home if the sheriff-guy doesn't believe us," Alex added, trying to justify herself. She shook her head. "Come on. We're wasting time." She led them out of the house.
...
It was almost a ten minute drive down to the Waterville Police Station. Dean parked the car, and all three got out. "And why are we here again?" Dean asked the angel.
"A deputy sheriff laid eyes on the archangel."
"And he still has eyes?" Dean asked, surprised. "Okay, what's the plan?"
Castiel thought hard. "We'll . . . tell the officer he witnessed an angel of the Lord, and the officer will tell us where the angel is."
Alex let out a laugh, while Dean looked skeptical. "Seriously? You're going to walk in there and tell him the truth?"
Castiel looked perplexed. "Why not?"
"Cas, they're not going to believe you," Alex explained.
"Why not? It's the truth."
"Yeah, well, a lot of people don't think angels are real."
"But, we are."
"Yeah, and I know that. But those people are stupid, so we have-"
"It's because we're humans," Dean cut in. He pulled out an fake FBI ID for Cas, handing it to him. "And when humans want something really, really bad, we lie."
"Why?"
"Because that's how you become President." Dean left it at that. He handed Alex her ID, and she put it in her pocket. Dean reached forward, buttoning the top button of Cas' shirt before tightening his tie.
Alex noticed. "What?" she exclaimed. "I just tightened that!"
Dean led the way across the street and into the police station. They walked down the hall. "Deputy Framingham?"A large, black man turned to face them. Dean pulled out his ID. "Hi. Alonzo Mosley, FBI. This is my partner, Eddie Moscone." He waited for Castiel to show his ID. He didn't. "Also FBI." Dean added, looking at Cas. Alex gave him a nudge. Castiel took the hint, and reached for his ID. He pulled it out, showing the deputy. Alex noticed it was upside down. So did Dean. He reached over, turning it right side up. "He's new," he explained. Castiel studied his ID curiously.
"And who are you?" The deputy turned to Alex.
"Agent Anna Dryden. FBI." Alex showed her ID as well.
"You look a little young to be FBI," the deputy told her.
"Thank you," Alex said coldly.
The deputy studied her, but then moved on with a small shrug. He turned back to Dean. "What do you want?"
"Mind if we ask you a few questions?"
"Yeah, sure. Talk here, though." He motioned to his right ear as he turned around, leading them into his office.
"That happen recently?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, gas station. It's why your here, isn't it."
"Yes," Alex answered. Deputy Framingham sat down at his desk, motioning for them to sit. There was only two chairs, so Alex opted to stand behind the Castiel and Dean, who sat down in the chairs.
"You mind just, uh, running us through what happened?" Dean asked.
"A call came in. Disturbance out at the Pump and Go on Route 4," Framingham explained.
"What kind of disturbance?"
"Would not have believed my eyes if I had not seen it myself. We're talking a riot. Full scale."
"How many?" Alex shifted her weight onto her other leg.
"Thirty, forty in all out kill-or-be-killed combat."
"Any idea of what set them off?" Dean asked.
"It's angels and demons, probably," Castiel answered. The deputy looked over at Castiel, who looked back. "They're skirmishing all over the globe," he added.
"Come again?" Framingham looked at Dean. "What did he say?"
"Nothing."
"Demons," Dean and Castiel spoke at the same time. They exchanged a looks.
"Nothing."
"Demons," they said again.
Dean quickly explained, "Demons, you know, drink, adultery. We all have our demons, Walt."
The deputy looked between the three of them. "I guess."
Alex looked over at Castiel. "Anyways."
Dean returned his gaze to the deputy. "What happened next?"
"Freaking explosion, that's what. They said it was one of those underground gas tanks, but, oh, I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"Wasn't one of your usual fireballs. It was, um-"
"Pure white," Castiel finished.
"Yeah. Gas station was leveled. Everyone was-it was just horrible. And I see this one guy, kneeling, real focused-lie, not a damn scratch on him."
"You know him?" Dean asked, leaning in.
"Donnie Finneman. Mechanic there."
"Let me guess, he just, uh, vanished into thin air?"
"Uh, no, Kolchak. He's down at St. Pete's."
Castiel looked over at Dean. "St. Pete's," he repeated.
"Thank you,"
Alex put a hand on Cas' shoulder. "Thank you for your time," she told the deputy. Dean and Castiel stood up, and they left.
They walked back out to the car. "Well, that went...well," Dean spoke up.
"Angels and demons?" Alex scoffed. "Classy, Cas."
"It was the truth," Castiel replied.
"Yeah, like I said. Most humans can't handle the truth." Alex got into the car. "Let's go."
...
They drove across town to St. Pete's. Dean went up to the desk, asking for Donnie Finneman's room. He returned to where Cas and Alex stood. "Room 217." He led them up. There, in that room, sat a man in a wheelchair. He was looking away from them, rocking back and forth. "I take it that's not Raphael anymore," Dean spoke.
"No. Just an empty vessel," Castiel replied.
"So is this what I'm looking at if Michael jumps in my bones?"
"No, not at all. Michael is much more powerful. It'll be far worse for you."
"Cas." Alex slapped him on the shoulder. Dean looked away. "Maybe we should come back tomorrow," Alex suggested. "Anyone else hungry?"
Dean looked over at her, relief in his green eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He spoke louder. "Good idea."
They walked back out of the hospital. Dean drove them off to a diner for food. It was 3 o'clock, and Alex was starving. They sat down in the booth, and Castiel slid in next to Alex. Both she and Dean ordered a burger. Cas didn't get anything. However, when their food came, Alex insisted Castiel eat some of her fries. It took a little persuasion, but he did.
...
They got back to the abandoned house around 4 pm. Even though the sun was still high in the sky, the house was dark. Alex sat down at the kitchen table, pulling out her laptop. She looked up 'Raphael', trying to see if anything sparked her memory of this angel. She knew he and Cas fought when Michael fell into the cage, but couldn't think of anything before that. She frowned.
...
A few hours later, Dean walked past, eyes trained on the open journal in his hands. Alex recognized it to be his father's. He walked into the front room, setting it down on the small table that also held their lantern. Castiel appeared out of nowhere, and Dean turned around. "Where've you been?" he asked.
Alex stood up, walking over to them. The angel held a grey ceramic jar in one hand. "Jerusalem," he responded.
"Oh, how was it?"
"Arid." Castiel walked over, setting the jar down on the table.
"What's in the jar?" Alex asked.
"It's oil. It's very special. Very rare."
"Oh, so we trap Raphael with a nice vinaigrette?"
"Not funny, Dean," Alex snapped, not in a good mood. "Holy oil, right?"
"Yes." Castiel sat down.
"So, this ritual of yours. When does it go down?" Dean asked.
"Sunrise."
"Tell me something. You keep saying we're going to trap this guy. Isn't that like trapping a hurricane with a butterfly net?"
"No. It's harder," Castiel responded seriously.
"Do we have any chances of surviving tomorrow?"
"You do." Castiel looked at Dean, but refused to make eye contact with Alex. She frowned.
"So odds are you're a dead man tomorrow."
"Yes."
"Well, last night on Earth. What are your plans?"
"I just thought I'd sit here quietly," Castiel said. Alex barely contained a chuckle at his, well, unusualness. Dean looked over at Alex, then back down at Cas.
"Come on, anything. Booze, woman?" Dean watched Cas look away, uncomfortable. "You have been with a woman before, right? Or an angel, at least?"
Castiel awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
"You mean to tell me you've never been up there doing a little cloud-seeding?" Even Alex looked down at her shoes, feeling uncomfortable.
"I've never had the occasion, okay?" Castiel responded, casting a glance at Alex. She didn't catch it.
"All right." Dean walked over to the other chair, grabbing his jacket. "Let me tell you something. There are two things I know for certain. One, Bert and Ernie are gay. Two, you are not going to die a virgin. Not on my watch. Let's go." Dean started walking towards the door. "Come on, Alex."
"What?" Alex shook her head. "Why am I going?"
"I ain't letting you die a virgin either," Dean said.
"No thanks. I actually had plans."
"Yeah?" Dean turned to look at her.
"Yeah. I figured I'd just sit here quietly," Alex joked dryly.
"That was my plan," Castiel told her.
"I know."
"No. No one is sitting here quietly. Come on. Last night on earth. Let's go."
"Sorry, Dean. If this is my last night on earth, I'm going to spend it with a little something I call self-respect." Alex leaned against the doorframe. "You two go out, have fun. I'll stay here."
Dean looked like he was going to argue, but after studying her face, he nodded. "If you're not feeling it, I understand." He shrugged, and opened the door. "Still. Your loss."
Alex approached Castiel, who was looking very confused. "Maybe I should stay here. You'd be much safer."
Alex forced a laugh. "No, no, I'll be fine. You'll be fine." She gave him a quick hug. "Have fun. See you around." She stepped back, watching them leave. She rolled her eyes, letting out a small smile. If this is what she thought it was, they were going to have an, interesting, night.
She pulled out her phone, scrolling through her contacts. She considered calling Sam, but then decided against it. She reached Bobby's number, then hesitated. She pressed enter, and waited as it rang.
"Hello?"
"Uh, hey, Bobby."
"Alex. What's up?"
"Uh, nothing, nothing. Although Dean and Cas seem to have gotten it into their heads that it's their last night on earth."
"Last night on-why would they think that?"
"We're going to trap Raphael - the archangel."
"Trap him? How the hell are you going to that?"
"Holy fire," Alex answered simply. "You put an angel in a ring of holy oil, light it up, they can't get out or they die."
"Is it going to work? Dean and Cas aren't going to die, right?"
"Of course not. Do you know nothing about me? If we were going to die, chances are, I would have gotten the hell out of Dodge ages ago. No, we'll be fine."
"Then where are they?"
Alex let out a soft laugh. "Well, Dean found out that Cas is, uh, still a virgin. So they're off at some brothel a few miles out."
There was silence at the other end. "Well, okay."
"Yeah. No promises that'll go well. Cas is, well, he's special. I'm not sure how normal people are going to take his, specialness."
"I know what you mean, girl. Tell me how it goes."
"Will do," Alex laughed. "And how about you? How you doing?"
"Well, apart from the fact I'm in some goddamn chair?"
"Okay, okay. I get it. Don't worry. You'll be fine."
"You willing to swear on it?" When Alex was silent, Bobby sighed. "Well, thanks anyways."
"Yeah. Hey, have you heard from Sam?"
"Yeah, he just called me a few hours ago."
"How is he? I want to call him, but I don't think he'd appreciate it."
"He's doing fine. He's in Oklahoma somewhere. Found some apocalyptic signs."
"So he's hunting?"
"No. I had to send some other hunters up his way. Told them he was off limits."
"Ah."
"Yeah. Tim was in the area. So was Reggie and Steve."
"Tim and Steve? Haven't seen them in a while."
"Yeah." Bobby paused. "I heard Carton was down in Salina a few days ago. You see him?"
Alex closed her eyes, trying to hold back the sudden wave of tears as they broached the subject she had been so carefully avoiding.
"Alex?" Bobby's voice grew concerned. "You still there?"
"Y-Yeah. Still here." Alex's voice broke. "It was my fault. I'm so sorry-"
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. B-But." Alex brushed tears out of her eyes. "I'm sorry."
The old hunter was silent for several seconds. "Damn," he murmured. "That stupid son of a bitch. Always knew he'd get himself killed sooner or later."
Alex shook her head. "He saved me."
Alex could hear a phone ringing in the background, and Bobby cursed under his breath. "Sorry, princess. Got to take this."
"Don't call me princess," Alex teased through the tears. She heard Bobby let out a huff of laughter, and then Alex hung up. She looked at the clock on her phone. 6:30. She walked back over to her laptop, logging on to Netflix. Back in Sioux Falls, she had gotten the password and account info from one of her friends; they hardly used it, but Alex used it a lot. She started with Doctor Who, clearing her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket.
...
Around 10 o'clock, Alex changed into her bedtime clothes; sweatpants and a sweatshirt. It was December, and it was an abandoned house; there was no heat to be found. Alex spied the fireplace, a plan forming in her mind. Slipping on her shoes, she went out into the backyard. It was dark, but the large moon cast enough light to find her way around. She jumped the fence into the neighbor's yard, looking for firewood. A few houses over, she found a stack against the house. She grabbed several large logs, smuggling them back over into the house. She started a nice fire, curling up on the floor next to it.
Half an hour later, the door opened, and Cas and Dean entered. Alex stood up. "How was it?"
Dean smiled, "It was, uh, interesting."
"Oh?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "What did he do?" She looked over at Cas, who was studying the ground.
Dean chuckled. "What did you say to that girl again? Something along the lines of, 'it isn't your fault your father left? It was because of his job at the post office'?"
Castiel gave no opinion. Alex laughed. "Seriously? How'd he handle the whole-"
"-den of iniquity?"
"Is that what he called it?"
"Yes." Dean kept smiling. He lowered his voice. "You should have seen his face. I've never seen someone so scared in my life."
She looked over at Dean, giving him a shrug. "Well, you tried." She turned back to the fire, sitting down.
"You know, that's not very smart, having a fire going."
"But it's cold," Alex whined. "We're in Maine, and it's December. There is snow out there, Dean." She watched the tongues of flame lick the air. "Well, good news, Cas, you still got time to sit quietly." Castiel said nothing. Dean returned to the table across the room, flipping through his dad's journal. Alex shivered. Castiel looked down at her. He took off his trench coat and sat down beside her, wrapping it around her shoulders. Alex bumped shoulders with him as a sign of gratitude. "Was it really that bad?" she whispered.
"I did not find it pleasant."
"Well, knowing Dean, he'll keep bringing you there. You know, conquer your fear." Alex meant it as a joke, but obviously Cas didn't get it.
He looked over at her, blue eyes pleading. "Please don't make me go back."
Alex smiled up at him. "Okay. I promise I will never make you go there again."
"Thank you." Castiel continued to look at her. "Dean told me about your friend's death."
Alex returned her gaze to her lap. "I don't want to talk about it."
"I'm sorry. If there's anything I could have done-"
"I get it." Alex cut him off more harshly then she intended.
Castiel turned back to the fire, lost in his own thoughts.
...
Alex slept well that night. When she woke up, she felt displaced. She snapped open her eyes. The fire had dwindled to nothing more than coals. The pillow beneath her shifted, and Alex sat up when she realized she had her head in someone's lap. She embarrassedly looked over at Castiel. "Sorry," she quickly apologized.
"For what?" Castiel asked, confused, blue eyes searching hers.
"Uh, never mind." If Cas didn't understand it, Alex wasn't going to explain it. She looked around. "Where's Dean?"
"He left a few minutes ago."
"Oh, is he bringing breakfast?" Alex smiled. "Good." She stood up, and Castiel did the same. Alex walked over to the window. The Impala was nowhere in sight. She turned back to the angel. "I'm going to go get dressed." She gave him back his trench coat and grabbed her bag before heading up to the upstairs bathroom. She pulled on her faded jeans, and a black shirt. She rifled through for a jacket, pulling one out and putting it on. She hurried back down the stairs. Castiel was watching out the window.
"So, we're going to take on Raphael, eh?" she asked, entering the room.
"Is it the right thing to do?" Castiel asked, turning to her. "You of all people would know."
Alex approached, putting hand on his shoulder. "We'll be fine. And yes, I would know." She glanced out the window. "Ah, and there's Dean."
She watched the hunter walk up the steps and into the house. He tossed her a plastic bag. "Breakfast," he told her.
Alex put the bag on the table, looking in. "Breakfast tacos?"
"Yeah." He looked at Alex's unbelieving face. "Food for the kings. Now eat."
Alex did so, pulling out one. She took a drink from Dean, tasting it to find it was hot chocolate. Tacos and hot chocolate. Wonderful. "Okay. So what's our plan?"
Castiel explained. "We are going to go to the hospital. We are going to create a ring of holy fire around his vessel, then summon Raphael."
"And if he doesn't come?" Alex asked. "We should have a second ring here. Just in case."
"Good idea." Cas picked up the oil and walked into the other room, pouring a large circle on the ground.
...
When they had finished, they all got into the car and drove off to St. Pete's Hospital. They made their way up to Room 217. A blonde nurse passed just as Alex entered the room, and Dean stopped, turning to watch. Alex elbowed him, snapping his attention back to the task at hand. She closed the door behind him, and Dean closed the blinds. Alex turned to watch Castiel, who had wheeled Donnie Finneman into the center of the room. He then proceeded to pour the oil he had brought with in a large circle, Donnie inside. "When the oil burns, no angel can touch or pass through the flames, or he dies," he told them.
"Okay, so we trap him in a steel cage of holy fire, but one question. How the hell do we get him here?"
"Very simple. There's, well, almost an open phone line between a vessel and his angel. One just needs to know how to dial." Castiel stepped closer to Donnie, leaning over him. He chanted something in the man's ear, in a foreign language. Alex assumed it to be Enochian. He then whispered, "I'm here, Raphael. Come and get me you little bastard." Then Cas stepped out the circle.
"Just out a curiosity, what is the average customer wait time to speak to an archangel?" Dean asked.
"Be ready." Castiel told him. He looked over at Alex. "Stay back." He lit a match and dropped it on the oil. It burst into flames.
They stood there for several minutes. "And . . . I'm bored." Alex said aloud. She sat down on the bed. "So, remind me. Who's brilliant idea was it to go into a public hospital and put a patient in a fucking ring of fire? How's this going to look when some nurse, like, walks in?"
Castiel looked at Dean, who was looking over at Cas. "First of all, watch your tongue. Second, in hindsight, real smooth. How do you plan to explain this?"
"We could tell them we are summoning the archangel Raphael," Castiel suggested.
"You really don't learn, do you?" Alex tilted her head to one side. "Telling the truth never really works."
...
They spent the rest of the day there. Thankfully, any nurse that stopped by was easily sent away, none the wiser to what was really going on. Alex snuck out a few times to get food from the hospital cafeteria, but otherwise, nothing of interest happened. A few hours in, Alex spoke up. "Oh!"
"Oh, what?" Dean looked over at her. "Remember something important?"
"Uh, sort of. We should probably give Cas a phone. So he can find us when he needs to." Her idea was met with silence.
Dean eventually nodded. "Okay, sure. I have a spare one in the Impala he can have."
"Okay." Alex walked out of the room to retrieve it. She came back a few minutes later, and handed it to Cas. "You know how to work this?" When he shook his head, Alex motioned him over. "Okay. Our numbers are already programmed in." She showed him how to reach their numbers and how to call. Then she handed it to him. "Merry Christmas."
"It's not-"
"Christmas, yes. I know." Alex cut him off. She sat back down on the Donnie's bed with a small sigh.
...
Finally, by 7 o'clock, they had had enough. "Okay. We're done. Raphael is obviously not coming." Dean proceeded to put out the fire. "We'll try again tomorrow."
Castiel looked like he was going to argue, but thankfully didn't.
"Thank you for your time," Alex told Donnie, who was still rocking back and forth. "Let's get out of here." They did so.
...
They drove back to the house, pulling the Impala into the long driveway. "Well, that's a day I'll never get back." Dean declared before parking her. Alex looked out the window; the sky was dark with clouds. A storm was brewing; a large one, by the looks of it.
They got out, entering the house. "Dean, wait," Castiel warned. Alex slipped around him to see into the house. Donnie was standing in the far room. Lightning-like energy flared out from his back, looking very similar to wings. All the lightbulbs in the house shattered. Alex quickly realized that this was now Raphael.
"Castiel," the archangel acknowledged him.
"Raphael," Cas responded. Both he and Dean walked closer, and Alex followed.
"And I thought you were suppose to be impressive," Dean told him. "All you did was black out a room."
"And the Eastern Seaboard." Outside, lightning flashed, illuminating the room. "It is a testament to my unending mercy that I do not smite you right here and now."
"Or maybe you're full of crap," Dean countered. "Maybe you're afraid God will bring Cas back and smote you and your candy ass skirt. By the way, hi, I'm Dean."
"I know who you are." Raphael told him, his voice rich and deep. He looked at Castiel. "And now, thanks you him, I know where you are." He took a step forward.
"You won't kill him. You wouldn't dare, " Castiel stated.
"But I will take him to Michael."
Dean walked across the room to the cooler which now sat by the fireplace. "Well then. Sounds terrifying. It does. But, uh, hate to tell you, I'm not going anywhere with you." He grabbed a beer out of the cooler, looking over at the archangel.
"Surely you remember Zachariah giving you stomach cancer?"
"Yeah. It hilarious," Dean told him. Alex snorted in agreement.
Raphael shot a glance at Alex. "Well, he doesn't have anything close to my imagination." He stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them.
Alex held his gaze calmly, giving no reaction. Raphael's brown eyes flickered over Castiel, who had stiffened beside her.
"Yeah, well I bet you didn't imagine one thing." Dean spoke, returning Raphael's attention back to him. He looked over at Cas.
"What?" Raphael looked between the two men.
"We knew you were coming, you stupid son of a bitch." Dean suddenly lit a lighter, tossing it onto the floor. The holy oil they had put there that morning ignited, creating a large ring of fire around the archangel. He looked at Dean, eyes blazing.
"Don't look at me. It was their idea," Dean said defensively. Raphael eyed Cas and Alex.
"Sorry," Alex apologized. "He got the oil."
"Where is he?" Castiel asked, changing the subject.
"God? Didn't you hear? He's dead, Castiel."
"No." Castiel shook his head.
"But there's no other explanation. He's gone for good."
"You're lying."
"Am I? Do you remember the twentieth century? Think the twenty-first is going any better? Do you think God would have let any of that happen if he was still alive?"
"Oh yeah?" Dean challenged. "Well then who invented the Chinese basket trick?"
Alex glared, and Raphael warned him, "Careful. That's my father you're talking about, boy."
"Yeah, who would be so proud to hear his sons started the friggin apocalypse!" the hunter shot back sharply.
"Who ran off and disappeared. Who left no instructions and a world to run."
"Daddy ran off and disappeared. He didn't happen to work for the post office, did he?" Dean shot a humorous glance at Castiel. Alex didn't get it.
"This is funny to you?" the archangel asked. "You're living in a godless universe."
"And? What, you and the other kids just decided to throw an apocalypse when he was gone?"
"We're tired. We just want it to be over. We just want . . . paradise."
"So what? God dies and leaves you in charge and you decided you can do whatever you want?
"Yes. And whatever we want, we get." As if to demonstrate his power, the all of the windows burst, glass flying in towards them. Alex ducked, covering her head. Both Dean and Cas did the same. A shard of glass grazed her hand, and she felt blood trickle down. Outside, the wind picked up, rain blowing into the house.
"If God is dead," Castiel asked, raising his voice above the wind, "why have I returned? Who brought me back?"
"Did it ever occur to you that Lucifer raised you?" the archangel asked, hardly even needing to raise his voice.
"No." Castiel shook his head, not wanting to believe his brother.
"Think about it. He needs all the rebellious angels he can find. It adds up."
"Don't listen to him," Alex said over the rain.
"Let's go," Castiel told them.
"Castiel, I'm warning you," Raphael spoke. "Do not leave me here. I will find you."
"Maybe one day. But today, you're my little bitch." Castiel turned to leave. He walked over to the door, stepping out into the storm. Alex followed, grabbing her bag which was sitting near the door.
"What he said." Dean followed behind her. He closed the door behind him, leaving the archangel alone. They got into the car. Dean started it up, and sped away.
...
They drove for a few minutes, and the rain started to ease off. Dean looked over at Cas, who was sitting in the front seat. "You okay?" he asked. Castiel didn't respond. "Look, I'll be the first to tell you that this little crusade of yours is nuts, but I do know a little something about missing fathers."
Castiel looked over at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, every time I was looking for my dad when all logic said he was dead, but I knew in my heart he was still alive. Who cares what some ninja turtle says, Cas, what do you believe?"
"I believe he's out there."
"So do I." Alex added. "It wasn't Lucifer that raised you, Cas."
"Are you sure?" Castiel turned to look at Alex.
"Positive. Don't listen to what he said. He's a dick."
The angel didn't respond, but turned back to the window. "What about you?" he asked Dean. "How are you doing?"
"Honestly? I'm doing good. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I'm actually good."
"Even without your brother?"
"Especially without my brother. I mean, spend so much time worrying about the son of a bitch. I mean, I've had more fun with you in the past twenty four hours than I've had with Sam in, well, years, and you're not that much fun."
Alex snickered.
"It's funny, you know, I've been chained to my family, but now that they're not here, hell, I'm happy." Dean looked over at Cas. However, he was already gone.
Alex noticed too. "Okay. Dibs on shotgun." She climbed into the front seat, accidentally kicking Dean in the head.
"Watch it," he warned.
"Sorry." Alex buckled herself in. "So, you had more fun with Cas than you've had with Sam and me?"
"Well, I mean, we've had some fun times, but most of it is just, you know, crap and stuff."
"Yeah, well, that's the job."
"Truth is, I'm always worrying for you guys. Especially you. You're not that strong, and it wouldn't take much to get you killed." He ignored Alex's quiet huff of protest. "And, I don't know. I'm scared for you, Pip."
Alex didn't respond.