Safe In Their Arms

Kam didn't know what happened. One second he was standing in the living room and the next...

"Did you really think you could escape me?"

Tears stung Kam's eyes, but he could barely feel the pain of it. All he could feel was the phantom-like touch of cold hands grabbing hold of him.

(I thought I was safe.)

Hands squeezed at his throat and red eyes swallowed him whole. He could hear voices around him, some laughing and others screaming.

"Kamuel!"

(Please don't hurt me.)

"Kam!"

Arms wrapped around him and Kamuel struggled. He kicked and waved his arms, but the arms only held on tighter. Fingers weaved through Kam's hair, drawing him to a warm chest.

(I'm pathetic.)

Sobs wracked Kam's body.

(I'm nothing)

Something light pressed against Kam's cheek and confusion rolled through Kamuel's mind. He looked up. Crowley's cruel eyes were no longer boring down upon him. Gentle, worried eyes were what now met Kam's.

"You're okay, Kamuel," the owner of the eyes said softly. "Come back to us, honey. You're safe."

(Safe?)

Kamuel blinked a few times. The dark shadows around him eased away and suddenly, Crowley's dark hideout was gone and replaced with the warm and welcoming room that was Linda's living room. Kam was tucked in Mrs. Tran's arms. Her lips were pressed against his cheek, murmuring soft words between gentle kisses.

(I'm safe.)

Kam closed his eyes and clung to Mrs. Tran with all his strength. Mrs. Tran held him back just as tight, though her fingers kept their gentle hold on his hair. It all came rushing back again. Kam woke up in the middle of the night, throat dry and in need of water. He had crawled out of bed, pattering into the living room only to find Kevin and the others talking on the phone. This wasn't what had set him off, however. No, it was what they were talking about that had.

"He can stay with Kali and I if it's too crowded at Samandriel's. We'll take care of him."

"Benny, we appreciate the offer, but that may be tougher than what we think."

"We don't know how he'd react to Crowley-"

Kam's mind had melted away because of that one name. Fear had crippled the angel of courage once again. They were planning to give him back to Crowley, and Kam couldn't handle that. He had thought he was safe and now that was being torn away from him.

"P...please," Kam whimpered against Linda's shoulder. "Don't...g...give me back to him."

Mrs. Tran hushed him, her hand sliding from Kam's hair to the center of his back. She rubbed gently, trying to ease the tension in his muscles.

"No one's giving you to anyone," she whispered.

(But then why...?)

"We're sorry, Kam," Kevin apologized. He had moved from across the room and was now perched beside his mother. "It's just...we don't have much space where Bobby and I are living right now. We don't want you to feel cramped."

"A friend of ours has a baby angel and two demons. He offered to take you in, but-"

"We can talk about this tomorrow," Mrs. Tran interrupted. She gave Bobby and Kevin a long look before turning her attention back to the angel in her arms. She looked down at Kam. "It's your choice what happens now, Kam, but you don't have to worry about that now." She brushed a hand over Kam's cheek. "Let's get you back to bed, yeah?"

Kam opened his mouth to speak but stopped, his hand rising to his throat. "Can I have some water first?" Kam croaked. His throat had already been dry and the screaming and sobbing for however long he's been curled in Linda's arms did nothing to help it.

Linda nodded and stood, taking Kam with her. They stopped at the kitchen and once Kam managed to drain a cup of water, they made their way back to Naomi's bedroom. Naomi was curled up in a mass of blankets and pillows, still asleep despite all the commotion that had gone down just down the hall.

Kam snuggled his face against the warm blankets as Linda tucked him in. A smile found its way across Kamuel's lips and it only grew as Mrs. Tran kissed his forehead.

"Are you going to be alright or do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?"

Kam curled up against his pillow, closing his tired eyes. "I'm okay," he whispered softly. His voice was muffled by his pillow.

"Goodnight then," she whispered and the door squeaked shut as she left the bedroom. Kam tried to drift off to sleep then, but his mind wouldn't let him. He kept thinking about what Kevin had said earlier. Kamuel had to make a choice. If he wasn't going to stay at the mad woman's home anymore, then he'd have to go somewhere. The idea hadn't come to mind before, but now that it was planted in his head, Kam couldn't stop thinking about it. Linda had said the choice was his, but what was the right choice?

The sheets rustling sent Kam's eyes flashing open. Naomi had shifted and was now sitting up in bed. She looked down at her brother with worry.

"You okay?"

(No.)

"I don't know," Kam whispered. He felt as if his mind was flooding over. There was so much to think about and so many choices. "I used to be able to take the next step forward so easily," Kam found himself saying. Naomi curled closer to him as she listened. "But I...I..." The angel swallowed hard. Tears were pricking at his eyes again. It felt like all he did was cry lately. He hated it. "I don't know what step to take now."

"You don't know who to go with," Naomi clarified. Kam frowned at her and Naomi shrugged. "I woke up when you got out of bed," she revealed. "I heard everything." Naomi reached under her pillow. She pulled out a phone and the frown on Kam's face grew.

"Why do you have it?"

"I took it to play Candy Crush before bed, but..." she pushed it towards her brother. "I think you need it."

(I don't understand.)

Naomi plucked at the phone, typing in a number. To Kam's surprise, Dean Winchester's name flashed on the screen.

A second later, Dean's tired voice rumbled on the other side. "Bobby, what's up?"

"Hi, Dean," Naomi called into the phone.

"Naomi?" Dean sounded surprised. "Why do you have Bobby's phone?"

"Kamuel wants to talk to Cas. Is he still up?"

(Castiel?)

"Uh...yeah, just give me a second."

Kam stared at his sister, question in his eyes. Naomi just smiled at him, giving him a wink before drawing her attention back to the phone.

"Hello?"

"Castiel, this is Naomi and Kamuel. We have a question for you."

"Umm...okay," Castiel started. "I'll try my best to answer."

"Why do you stay with the Winchesters?"

There was a pause. "Well, they're my family," Castiel stated simply. "I've had a rocky past and they have too, but they're always there for me when I need them. They make me feel safe."

Naomi drew her attention away from the phone then and to Kam. "Who makes you feel safe, Kam?"

Kamuel thought. He hadn't felt safe in a very long time. Crowley broke him and the mad woman scared him. The first time he felt safe was when he had been curled up with Naomi and Mrs. Tran on the couch earlier. He had fallen asleep to the sound of the TV and Mrs. Tran's fingers running through his hair and feathers. He had felt safe in Mrs. Tran's arms after she pulled him out of the dark world his mind created.

"Here," Kam whispered, surprising himself. "With you and Linda."

Naomi grinned and looked back to the phone. "Thanks, Castiel. That's all we needed."

"Glad I could help with...um...whatever it was you needed," Castiel responded. "Night."

"Night," Naomi said back and she ended the call.

Kam continued to stare at the phone even when the screen turned black. His mind was spinning. Too many emotions were washing over him at once. He didn't know how to handle it all.

Naomi seemed to sense the conflict waging war inside her brother's mind. After watching Kam stare at the phone for a minute or too, she moved. Her small fingers grabbed his shoulder startling Kam out of his thoughts. Without a word, Naomi pulled him down until he was sprawled back against the bed. She pulled the blankets up around them and snuggled close.

Kam let out a content sigh, his eye lids fluttering tiredly. "Naomi," he whsipered. "Thank you."

Naomi smiled at him. "Go to sleep, Kamuel." She closed her eyes and thread their fingers together. "I'm here for you."

Guest Question: What happened to the one angel who was forced to torture and cut a human soul because she was saving herself from being hurt?

Answer: She was taken to a troubled home like most of her brothers and sisters Crowley kidnapped. The Winchesters have yet to find her.