Sincerest apologies for the delay. Anyway, here is chapter three!

Disclaimer: obsessedwithstabler and I do not own Supernatural or the song Blackbird.

True to their word, Sam and Gabe stayed with Cas the entire time. They'd been waiting for over an hour before a nurse approached them. "Family of Sarah Winchester?"

Sam stood up. "I'm her NOK after her parents."

The nurse checked Sarah's file and nodded. "Alright. We're still examining Sarah and running scans. Her left arm is fractured in two places, and she has a concussion. She definitely has spinal trauma, but we don't know the extent yet. The doctors are working on that right now."

"Is she going to be okay?" Gabe demanded.

"We'll know more soon. She isn't responding to stimuli beneath her chest."

"Can I see her?" Cas asked, his legs feeling weak. Right now, the medical jargon fell on deaf ears. All he cared about was seeing his sweet girl.

"In a little bit. She's having x-rays right now."

"Okay..."

"We'll let you know."

"Thank you..."

"And you said you believe her injuries were inflicted by her mother's boyfriend?"

Gabe nodded darkly. "We had her yesterday afternoon and she was her normal self. when we went to pick her up today, she was lethargic and in pain. The boyfriend, Joseph, reeked of alcohol." He motioned to his husband. "Sam took pictures to document everything we could see."

"Her mother left her alone with Joseph." Sam was trying to keep calm as he spoke. "I want the police involved."

"Of course. Without witnesses, it will be difficult to prove what happened, but Sarah's injuries suggest that she was shaken."

Cas felt his stomach church.

"Then you suspect child abuse. I want CPS, the cops, the damn FBI." Gabe was livid.

"Yes, Sir."

"Thank you." He turned away from her and ran his hand over his face.

Sam rested his hand on his husband's shoulder. "Breathe, Gabe..."

"That son of a bitch..."

"I know. He's going to jail." He stroked Gabe's hair. "I have some friends, some strings I can pull. We can try to get custody of Sarah."

Cas was heartbroken but he nodded solemnly. If Lauren was found party to the abuse, then Sam could try to gain custody of his little niece. That was the only way Cas would be able to see her. He knew that if the situation remained unquestioned, Lauren would never let him see Sarah again.

"It just burns me up to think someone could do that to her." Gabe still scowled.

"I know. But we have to focus on Sarah and Cas now, okay?"

"Okay..."

"Good." He gently kissed Gabe's forehead. "I'm going to go get us some coffee."

Sam left to get coffee for the three of them, as well as some snacks to tide them over. Another hour passed before the nurse returned to them, carrying a folder with X-ray scans peeking out of it.

Cas was first on his feet. "Can I see her?"

"Just a moment. Her doctor wants you to be aware of her injuries."

Gabe shook his head. "Sam and I will speak with the doctor. Please let Cas go see her."

She led him down the hall and to a small room, where Sarah slept with her back in a brace and her arm in a cast. "We'll be in and out to monitor her concussion."

"Thank you..." He quickly sat down beside his little girl, his eyes burning with tears when he saw the immobilizing brace that held her little body still. Breathing deeply, Cas leaned over Sarah's bed. "Hello, sweetheart," he whispered, his finger gently stroking her little cheek. "I love you."

Sarah sighed in her sleep, leaning her cheek into his hand.

He sniffled quietly. "That's my girl..."

That was where Sam and Gabe found him an hour later, still intently watching his toddler.

"Cas?"

Cas sniffled and wiped his tears away. "She's still asleep but she seems comfortable."

"We talked to her doctor."

"What did he say? Can we take her home soon?"

"In a few days, but..." Gabe sighed. "Joseph did a number on her spinal cord when he shook her."

Cas turned to look at them. "What exactly does that mean?"

Sam sighed sadly. "She likely won't be able to walk again."

He was quiet for a long time.

"We're going to get her the best doctors, kiddo. And the police are here talking to the nurses. They know Joseph did this to her."

Drained, Cas looked back at Sarah. "But she's going to live?"

"Yeah, Cassie. She'll live."

"Then I'll figure everything else out." Relieved, Cas smoothed a hand over Sarah's soft hair.

Sam nodded. "And we're going to fight for your custodial rights."

Cas looked back at them, running his hands through his hair. "I want her," he said very softly. "Please."

"Okay." Sam squeezed his shoulder. "From the looks of it, Joseph is going to jail for a long time. Lauren might even be charged with endangerment for leaving Sarah alone with him. As long as I can help it, they're never hurting her again."

"Good." He patted Sam's hand and returned to Sarah's side.

Gabe wrapped his arm around Sam. "Start making those calls, gorgeous. When the hospital is ready to release her, I want Cassie to be able to take her home."

"I will."

He smiled softly and kissed Sam's cheek.

They both sat down, waiting with Cas as they watched their little girl.

It took three days, but Cas, Sam, and Gabe were all at the hospital when Sarah started to stir. Cas wanted to pick her up but the nurses cautioned against moving her. So he had to settle for stroking her hair as she murmured and fidgeted in her sleep.

Sam and Gabe stood across from Cas, eagerly watching Sarah as well. Her tiny hand nearly disappeared in Sam's large one as he held it gently.

Finally Sarah opened her eyes, blinking sleepily. Her soft green eyes finally focused on Cas's concerned face looming over hers. A weary smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Hello, sweetheart," Cas choked out. "There's my beautiful girl..."

"Kitty..." Sarah's tiger was in the crook of her right arm, and she hugged it tight before looking at Cas.

He smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Dada...?"

More tears filled his eyes. "Shh...everything's okay..."

Yawning, Sarah reached a hand toward him.

He gladly grasped her tiny hand. "My angel..."

All three men were overwhelmed and immensely grateful that Sarah was awake, and they spent the rest of the day doting on her, reading to her, and generally doing everything they thought might comfort or distract her from her surroundings.

Sarah didn't seem to be in pain thanks to the medication she was on, but she asked for Dean and yawned a lot. As she grew tired, she became fussy and started clinging to Cas's hand.

Cas stayed by Sarah's side, refusing to release her hand. "I'm not going anywhere, baby girl," he whispered as she fussed.

Relaxing, Sarah closed her eyes again.

Cas relaxed. "Good girl..."

Gabe got up and stretched. "I'm gonna make a dinner run. Sammich, do you wanna go or stay?"

"I'll stay, babe." He closed the book he was reading.

"Okay. I'll be back."

Gabe nodded and left, and when the door closed, Sam looked at his brother-in-law.

"How are you doing, Cas?"

He shrugged. "She's alive," he said quietly. "Right now that's all I care about."

Sam nodded softly. "I'm going to make sure you get custody. I know you and Dean weren't married, but you're as close to family as anyone else."

He looked at Sam with gratitude. "She means the entire world to me, Sam. Especially since Dean..." A lump formed in his throat. "We know he's... he probably isn't..."

"Right..."

"And she'll have you and Gabe... I'll need both of you as well."

"Of course. We aren't letting you go through this alone."

"I know..."

A little while later, Gabe came back with their dinner. For the first time in days, Cas actually felt hungry. "That smells delicious."

"Yeah?" Gabe handed him a bag.

"Mm hmm." He opened the bag and groaned softly.

"Good. I want you to eat."

"I will." He unwrapped his grilled chicken sandwich and took a big, satisfying bite.

Nodding in approval, Gabe handed Sam a container. "Got your rabbit food."

"Hey, I have to eat healthy. God knows you won't." Still Sam gave his husband a kiss.

Gabe chuckled and sat down. "You're right."

As they ate their dinner, they talked about their plans for when Sarah would be released.

"I'm going to have to make some changes around the house," Cas said thoughtfully. "Thankfully her room is downstairs. She's already going through so much; I want her to have as much familiarity as possible."

Sam nodded. "That'll help. She's not going to understand why she can't walk, so being in a place where she feels safe will be good for her."

"Exactly. And I want both of you there."

"We wouldn't be anywhere else, kiddo," Gabe promised his brother.

Reassured, Cas ate his entire sandwich, much to Gabe's relief.

They fell into a comfortable quiet as they ate their dinner. Not long after Cas finished his sandwich, Sarah opened her eyes and set her sights on his fries.

Cas caught her gaze and he looked at his fries. "Have the nurses said anything about feeding her yet?"

"They said she could eat regular food."

He picked up a French fry and looked at Sarah. "Are you hungry, Sar?"

"Hunggy..."

He brightened and held a fry to her lips.

Gabe grabbed his own fries as Sarah quickly devoured the French fry. "Give her mine too, Cassie."

A content look settled on Sarah's face as she ate another fry. Cas smiled sadly, unable to stop himself from seeing a tiny Dean chowing down on the fries.

Cas fed her his French fries, as well as some of Gabe's, before she was full. He was thrilled and he kissed her head. "That's my girl."

"I'll go get her some milk." Sam stood up and left the room, returning a few minutes later with some milk.

Cas made room and allowed Sam to give Sarah little sips of milk. "She's doing so well..."

"Mm hmm."

Finally Sarah pushed the cup away. "No..."

"Okay, sweetheart." Sam set the cup aside.

She rubbed at her eyes sleepily. "Cas..."

The sound was music to Cas's ears. He leaned closer to her and stroked her hair. "I'm here, little one..."

Closing her eyes, Sarah leaned into his hand.

"I'm here and I'm never going to leave you..."

Sarah remained in the hospital for a total of three weeks. In that time Joseph was arrested for child abuse and child endangerment, and Lauren was being investigated for endangerment as well.

Sam and Gabe pulled a lot of strings and Cas was granted guardianship of Sarah the day before she was to be released from the hospital.

Cas couldn't thank his brothers enough for all they had done. He knew it would have been easier for them to get custody of Sarah, and he was grateful they had chosen to help him get custody instead.

Between the three of them, a few modifications were made around the house. Sarah was simply too small for a wheelchair, so for the time being Cas would carry her wherever she needed to be. He never thought twice about any of it because he knew that Sarah could have lost her life that night.

Sarah of course was much too young to know what was happening, so she adapted fairly quickly. She clung to her beloved stuffed tiger and to Cas, but she still asked for Dean at least twice a day.

Each time she asked, it broke Cas's heart. But he was easily able to distract her.

Sam and Gabe were at Cas's home every day. They were the only ones Cas trusted to watch Sarah so that he could cook or take a little time for himself, and they were happy to do it.

For the time being, Cas was Sarah's legal guardian. It would be a long process, but Sam assured him that he would be able to legally adopt Sarah as his own, and that gave him hope.

Charlie Bradbury loved her life.

She had a great job, several good friends, her own home, and an adorable girlfriend. She counted herself as pretty lucky, all things considering.

So she gave back when she could. She donated money to LGBQT groups, she donated time and money to animal shelters, and right now she was spending a good portion of her week volunteering at the long term care facility down the road.

At the facility, dubbed Petal Ridge, she spent one on one time with patients whose families were either not in the picture or who could rarely make the trip to the center. It broke her heart, but in some small way Charlie felt she was making a difference for these men and women.

Recently she had been assigned to a young man only a few years older than her. His name was Elliot and according to the staff, he was a soldier who belonged to a base that had recently been attacked. Elliot was one of the few survivors, but his injuries were devastating. He had neurological damage as well as physical damage that had left him mostly bound to a wheelchair.

In addition to this, he did not speak. The doctors were unclear if this was related to the head trauma or emotional trauma. Whatever the case, the man never made a sound.

Still, Charlie enjoyed his company. With help from a few guessing games and her trusty phone, she learned that he liked rock music and scary movies. Charlie was also successful in getting Elliot to cooperate when it seemed none of the nurses could.

Charlie walked into the facility and waved to the nurses. "Where can I find Elliot today?"

One of the nurses, a disinterested brunette named Meg, pulled a sucker out of her mouth. "His mopiness is in the TV room."

"Aye aye, captain." Charlie adjusted her bag and ducked into the TV room. Sure enough, she found Elliot in the corner, staring at the TV.

"Hey, big guy. How's Tricks?"

He gave a half-hearted shrug, looking away from the TV.

"Uh oh. Today's gonna be a bad one, huh?"

The injured man didn't respond.

"Hey, no big deal." Charlie pulled out a deck of cards. "How about... I'll sit here and play cards, and you can join me when you're ready?"

Finally he nodded.

"Good man." Charlie began dealing her cards.

As she dealt the cards, he returned his attention to the television. The commercials ended, returning to the news. He watched the weather in disinterest.

Why did they even bother leaving the TV on the weather chancel? Half of the people in the facility couldn't go outside, so why did it matter? He huffed, only listening when the news reel began.

He half-listened to the reports. Since he had been there, the attack on his military station had lost attention from the media. He still watched the news hoping for updates, but they were few and far between.

Just as he was starting to lose interest, another headline caught his attention.

Famous Author Adopts Child

Curious, he lifted his head a little, watching closely. His eyes widened when a picture displayed of Cas carrying Sarah.

A newscaster's voiceover filled his ears. "Following a brief custody battle, Castiel Novak has successfully adopted Sarah Winchester, the daughter of his late boyfriend Dean Winchester. Castiel, known for his wildly successful book series about demon-hunting brothers, has been quiet about the circumstances leading to the adoption."

The sound Elliot made startled Charlie. She dropped her cards. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

In response, he pointed at the TV, pointing more vigorously when Cas's face was displayed again.

Charlie swung her attention toward the TV. "Hey, that's Castiel Novak. Are you a fan of his? I love his work."

He shook his head, pointing at Cas and then himself.

"Hang on." Charlie grabbed her bag and pulled out her iPad. After entering her passcode, she pulled up a notepad. Then she slid it over to Dean. "Try this."

He had almost no coordination in his hands and fingers, so he clumsily fumbled on the iPad, huffing in frustration when he made mistakes he had to fix.

Finally, he managed to type, I'm Dean. Cas and Sarah family.

Charlie looked at the screen and frowned. "Your name is Dean?"

He nodded frantically.

Still confused, Charlie took the iPad and googled Castiel Novak and Dean. A number of pictures came up of two happy men.

One of whom was sitting next to her.

Her mouth fell open. "No way..."

Dean's eyes watered as he nodded again.

"But..." She continued to research frantically. "This says Dean Winchester was killed on his base... unless..."

Dean shook his head.

"This article says two soldiers were brought to the hospital in town. One died and the other...was brought here... They must have gotten the identities mixed up!"

He nodded, pointing to Cas in the picture and making a phone gesture with his hand.

Charlie jumped to her feet. "I have to tell the nurses! This is incredible!" Her face fell. "And awful. Dean... I'm sorry. But we're gonna call Castiel and fix this!"

It took a while, but Dean managed to type out Cas's phone number on the iPad note. He watched eagerly as Charlie began dialing the number.

There was a gruff answer a few minutes later. "Hello?"

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