Careful What You Wish For
Chapter Eleven
The Skin of Our Teeth
"We need to talk." Rachel's voice was pleasant to hear, but her eyes were like ice. "It's true. You have a pet nephilim." She was hurt; she let it show in her voice, her mannerism. "I was hoping the rumors weren't true."
"What rumors?" Cass questioned. He made a motion with his hand, indicating Kayla to stay down, and stay quiet. It wasn't going to be too hard to do, she decided. The angel facing off with Cass gave her the heebie-jeebies.
Rachel gestured vehemently to Kayla curled up at the base of the tree. "If this one is true, what of all the others? Your dirty little secrets. What are you becoming, Castiel?"
Castiel's hands curled into fists; he shook his head slowly. "You can't understand, Rachel. I have to defeat Raphael."
She took a few steps forward, moving slowly in the deep, soft sand. "There has to be another way. We can find another way." She was practically begging, pleading with Cass as he stood stoically in her way. "Please?"
Cass shook his head again. "I have no choice."
"Then neither do I." Rachel closed her eyes, and lowered her face from looking up at him. She steeled herself against feeling regret for her actions, and squared her shoulders unconsciously. Behind him, Kayla gave an involuntary cry of surprise as the silvered blade slid into Rachel's waiting hand from within her sleeve. It was just enough warning for Cass, as he managed to twist out of the worst of the thrust.
The angelic blade missed it's mark of plunging deep into his chest; instead he was speared just below his ribs, clean through the right side. White-hot agony, like nothing he'd ever known before, erupted from the blade and nearly shut down his ability to think. But instincts prevailed, and he grabbed Rachel's sword-hand, forcing her to pull the blade from his side. Swinging, he caught her across the face with a backhanded blow, sending her reeling into the sand.
Pressing his hand tightly against his side, he focused, letting his own blade slide into his free hand. He had trained Rachel himself; she was good with the blade, perhaps even exceptional. She shook sand out of her face, and came at him once more. Their blades locked for a moment, until she used her advantage. Swinging her fist up, she cracked him a good one in the jaw, sending him reeling. As their sword arms disengaged, she aimed a kick at his wrist, burying her heel into his tendons. His fingers gone numb, Castiel dropped his blade.
As Rachel straightened up, spinning her blade around in her hand to deliver the final blow, something blurred between them. Kayla had snatched up Cass' fallen blade, and put herself between the two warring angels. The silvered, angelic blade was light and unfamiliar in her hand, but it responded beautifully to her grip. She caught Rachel's descending blade overhead, letting the two swords slide along each other until Rachel's wrist was close enough for Kayla to grab.
"No!" Rachel growled out, angry that she had been denied her duty by an abomination. "Fine. I'll just kill you first!"
Kayla started to bend backward under the pressure from the taller woman. "Good luck with that," she muttered, before bringing her knee up hard into Rachel's stomach. It wasn't the pain of the blow that so much registered, but the sudden lack of air in her lungs that caused Rachel to stagger a little. Kayla kept pressing forward, getting Rachel further and further away from her main target. With each stroke and counterstroke, she became more comfortable with the weight and heft of the blade. Until finally, she found her opportunity.
Spinning to avoid a thrust by the angel, Kayla reversed the blade in her hand, and swept out with a backhanded thrust. Her shorter stature allowed her to slide right beneath Rachel's arm, and as Kayla's path took her around, the angelic blade entered an inch beside Rachel's spine, buried by momentum right up to the guard.
Rachel blinked twice, looking straight at Castiel, before her eyes filled with white light. Kayla wouldn't turn around as Rachel fell to her knees, and then flat upon the ground. After a few moments, the blinding white light of Rachel's Grace faded, leaving behind the ashen outline of wings on the white sand. Castiel staggered to his feet, releasing the hand clamped over his side for a moment to assess the damage. It wasn't the scarlet leaking from his vessel that worried him, it was the pale white glow of his Grace slipping away.
He paused beside Rachel long enough to retrieve both his blade, and her own. He touched her forehead, her heart, and each of her shoulders once, offering a quiet apology to his former lieutenant. A few slipping steps later, he dropped to his knees next to Kayla, who remained taut as a bowstring, standing beside him.
"Kayla?"
His voice snapped her out of where ever her mind was. As soon as she looked down, she spotted the scarlet dripping down his front. "Oh God! What do I do?" She pressed her hand against the wound, applying pressure even as Castiel groaned in pain.
"Just... hold onto me..." He closed his arms around her, taking care not to nick her with one of the two blades he held in his fist. He closed his eyes, laying his head on Kayla's shoulder gratefully, as he gathered up the last handfuls of power in order to take them...
Home.
"Bobby?" Kayla called out for him as Cass pulled away from her. He managed three steps to the kitchen cabinets, and nearly fell. Bobby came running in from the study, just in time to see Cass draw a symbol on the closest cabinet. Kayla was trying to help him up, but couldn't succeed on her own. Bobby grabbed Cass' other arm and tried to haul him to his feet.
"Cass, what the hell happened?" Bobby demanded. "Kayla dammit, girl, help me get him in the other room..." Cass made a motion with his hand, but couldn't find a word to say. "We runnin', fightin', what?"
Kayla's grip slipped as Cass became sudden dead weight in their hands. She swore, and narrowly avoided getting skewered by the dropped angel blades. Swearing and growling, Bobby got Cass up onto the couch by himself. When he straightened, Kayla was standing beside him, holding both of the angel blades close to her chest.
"He saved me, Bobby... he saved me, and he got hurt..."
Bobby gently began to disarm her, taking the blades and laying them on his desk. Kayla stood, shivering, looking down at Castiel's prone form as though she could stare him back into health. Taking her by the shoulders, he gently suggested that she go upstairs and get some sleep.
"No, I want to stay here." She resisted, and Bobby felt a pang of sympathy for her. Who knew what she'd been through at the hands of demons? And to have an angel come to her rescue... Bobby heaved a sigh and grabbed a chair, dragging it around to set beside the couch. With a gentle push, he got her to sit down, and she automatically folded up into it, drawing her feet up beside her.
When Bobby came back downstairs with a blanket for the girl, she had maneuvered so she could reach out with her bloody hand and hold onto Castiel's bloodied hand. She stirred only enough to give him a grateful smile as he draped the blanket over her shoulders. Glancing at the timer on his desk, he scowled to see only nine hours remaining.
"Balls."
She was in a white, featureless room. But the white was warm, with yellow and gold undertones that make her feel comfortable, and welcomed. Nothing hurt here, though. The little aches and bruises that she'd gained over the past weeks were a thing of memory. Even though she wasn't sure where the room was, she wasn't afraid. Not in the least bit.
"Kayla." It was Castiel's voice, from behind her. Spinning in place, she allowed herself to show the joy and relief that flooded her. He was whole, and hale. The white light of the room took on an even warmer hue, flushing pale pink at the edges of her vision. She ran forward, closing the distance between them in a few quick strides. Automatically, she raised her hand, and touched him, flattening the fabric of his shirt against his ribs as though to check on his wound.
"You're okay!" She exclaimed. "I was so scar-"
Cass covered her hand with his before she could pull away, the warmth of his touch causing her train of thought to interrupt. "I will be. We're dreaming right now, Kayla. It may be the only way you and I can talk privately." She thought she saw a ghost of a smile flicker across his lips; the expression added a new layer of depth to his face. She opened her mouth to say something, but he shook his head. "Let me finish, just this once. And then you can tell me everything you're thinking." When she nodded and closed her mouth, he felt he could continue. "You didn't need to do that. You didn't need to step in against Rachel. But thank you. It could have ended badly for me."
Kayla let out a quiet, nervous laugh. Castiel still hadn't released her hand. "You're... welcome," she hesitantly answered. "I was scared that she'd kill you, and then I wouldn't be able to help you open that door, and then that Crowley thing would own me..."
The barely-there smile faded from Castiel's face. "Own you?"
She nodded slowly. "The door thing... I get you to open it; everyone's safe. I fail... I'm his." She shuddered in the memory of what happened, and took an instinctive step forward, letting her arms slide around his waist. Castiel didn't react as she leaned her face against his chest, and closed her eyes. She still felt slimy, but at least being beside the angel she felt redeemable.
Finally, Castiel raised his hands to her shoulders, and gently pushed her one step back away from him. "You have nothing to fear. I am still opening the Door. I am afraid that you alone are not strong enough to win this war for me."
Kayla stepped further away from him as he said that. The warm light of her dreamscape was fading into nighttime hues, cooler, softer, reflecting her slowly darkening mood. Cass was sure she was unconsciously projecting her moods; in the fading light he could see the ghostly outlines of trees as they began to take shape. He took a few steps toward her, through the smoky visage of a half-formed tree.
"Kayla?"
"It's funny," she didn't look up at him when she answered, just sort of kept her eyes on her feet. "I'm upset at myself because I'm not what you expected me to be. I'm angry that I can't be this super-powerful, crazy machine of destruction like you expect me to be. But I should be happy about that." She turned abruptly to face him, a distance of six steps separating them now. "Someone would have killed me if I had been... like that. Either you, or your friend... or even the brothers."
Cass nodded slowly. He couldn't, and wouldn't argue with any of her points. Instead, he tried a different tact. "Your father did you both a service, and a disservice when he bound you. I spoke to Menlo as well. He told me that Bobby had summoned him, and that he told you of your father."
Kayla got quiet again, and began to walk once more. Cass, knowing this was a dream, took one step and fell into pace beside her. She barely looked up at him, her mind on other things in other places. The world was slowly taking on a firmer shape around them, as they walked side by side on the centerline of a paved road. The trees grew into a dark mass on either side.
"Did you know him? As an angel?"
"No. I'm sorry." Castiel frowned thoughtfully. "I knew of him. Only after he had been forgiven his transgressions. He was a psychopomp, and he brought visions to the faithful. Because he knew Father's mercy, he brought hope, that all others would in time, be forgiven as well."
Kayla stopped walking, and turned slightly to face the far side of the road. A few moments later, Castiel stopped as well, watching her. As she stared at the spot, a ghostly car came driving from up ahead; around them, the trees bent and creaked in a savage wind, and rain lashed at the road. Nothing touched either of them. The world was eerily silent as lightning flashed, and one great tree gave up it's fight against the wind. It fell in slow motion, until it lay directly across the road, branches smashed up, the guard rail on the opposite side bend and mangled beneath it's limbs. The ghostly car saw the tree a second too late, and swerved, losing control. In one moment, it was over. The car crashed through the guardrail, into the mess of limbs, and skidded to a complete halt.
Kayla moved quietly to the edge, to the broken guardrail, and looked down at the young version of herself, lying on the ground.
"I wish I remembered him. What he sounded like. What he felt like." She glanced up at Cass, who took a step closer and joined her over the silent tableau. "Maybe if I did, I'd be... more useful to you."
The dream wavered, like a projection on a sheet, before it began to fade. Cass looked around, and frowned softly. "You are useful, just the way you are." He laid a hand upon her shoulder, leaning down to her ear. As he whispered to her, she pressed her cheek against the stubble of his face, closing her eyes. Castiel hesitated before drawing away, holding her still with one gentle hand, while he straightened back up. "Do you understand?"
She nodded, her eyes like neon beacons for a moment.
"Good. Then it's time for you to wake up. Bobby's getting worried." Cass allowed himself that ghostly smile one last time, before she and her dreamscape faded completely.
"Good lord, child, you tryin' to give me a heart attack?" Bobby nearly fell back on his ass when Kayla opened her eyes suddenly. He had a large bowl by his side, filled with pink water, and a rag in his hands. He'd been cleaning blood from her hands, and face, Castiel's blood. She leaned in to steal the rag and managed to plant a quick kiss on his bearded cheek while she was at it.
"I'm sorry," she offered, starting to unfold herself from her chair. "I was... dreaming.. it was kinda nice." Bobby straightened and moved out of her way, as she shifted herself from the chair to the edge of the couch, perching just beside Castiel's quiescent vessel. Bobby took her vacant seat, and watched while she continued the job that he'd started.
"Just what the hell happened?" He forgot his manners in his worry, and fairly barked the question out. She glanced at him as she finished wiping her own hand off, before bending in double to rinse the rag.
"I'm really not sure," she admitted softly. "Cass found me, where ever I was, and took me someplace safe..." She picked up Castiel's hand, and carefully began to wash the dried blood from his fingers. "While we were there, while I was... pretty much freaking out... this lady shows up out of nowhere, and she just starts a fight."
"Any idea who she was?" Bobby didn't feel like he was getting the whole story. She wouldn't look at him as she talked, as though she were afraid to let him see what she was really thinking. Kayla moved from Cass' hands, to getting the few spots on his face. But she shook her head to indicate that she didn't know who attacked them. Beneath the blood, no traces of any wounds existed.
She shifted her eyes to indicate the two weapons set neatly to one side. "She had one of those."
Bobby followed her gaze, and sighed. "So an angel. That narrows it down a bit."
Kayla twisted to drop the rag back into the bowl, taking a moment to look at Bobby as seriously as she could. "I need to learn to fight back... I nee-" Blinking, she glanced around at the quiet house. "Wait... where're Sam 'n Dean?"
Bobby sighed, and rolled his eyes. "About a hundred and fifty years in the past. And I need flyboy there up in... oh, an hour, to bring them back."
Kayla looked at him blankly for a moment, processing that little bit of information. As she tried to figure out something to say, Castiel sat up abruptly, one hand automatically pressing against his side. Kayla managed to react first, catching him by the shoulders, and steadying him.
"Hey, you," she offered with a smile. Moving over, she let him swing his feet down. Cass slumped forward, elbows on his knees, head hanging for a few moments.
Bobby waited expectantly. "Well?" he finally prompted. "I got the abridged version so far..."
Cass glanced at Kayla just once, to assure himself that she would not betray his confidence. "Rachel... she betrayed me..."
Bobby let out a breath of air unconsciously. "I take it she's dead?" Cass nodded, and Kayla bit her lower lip. She was keeping her mouth shut about something. "And the boys? We have less than an hour now."
Cass furrowed his brow, and looked once more at Kayla.
"I'm ready when you are." Her ready agreement to whatever they had planned got Bobby wondering. They hadn't had any time to talk while they were here, and their flight into the room had seemed to hurried and frantic to allow the time elsewhere. So how'd she know what he was asking of her?
"Bobby, you'll need rope." Cass tried to get to his feet with a groan, only to be pushed back down onto the couch as Bobby stood up.
The hunter pointed a finger at each of them in turn. "One 'a you is gonna explain to me what's about to happen before anything happens..." He turned and stepped outside to fetch rope before anyone could answer him further. When he returned, Kayla had returned to the seat, but pulled it around so she was directly facing the couch.
Cass had slipped from the couch, and was kneeling in front of her, speaking in quiet tones. The angel looked up at Bobby approached. "You need to tie her securely."
"Not until you tell me what's gonna happen." Bobby coiled and uncoiled the rope in his hands. He glanced at the timer, hoping this wouldn't take more than twenty minutes.
Cass sighed. "Human souls are pure energy. I can... borrow that power, bring the brothers back home. Hopefully."
Bobby's eyes narrowed. "So why Kayla?" He understood the ropes now, if Castiel was looking to do his soul-touching trick; this wasn't going to be pleasant for Kayla.
"Because I'm supposed to super-powerful, remember?" Kayla cracked a grin, doing her best to make light of the situation. "And maybe... Cass can figure out what's wrong with me, and why I'm not..."
As he looped the first length of rope around her shoulders, Bobby paused to look Kayla in the eye. She met his gaze without a flinch this time. "You know this is gonna hurt like nothing you've ever felt before, right?" When she nodded, he fed rope around the arm rests to keep her arms down. "Idjit."
Cass managed to get himself standing by the time Bobby had finished. He rolled his sleeves up while Kayla watched, and took an unsteady step forward. Steadying himself with one hand on her shoulder, Cass leaned down and flexed the fingers of his right hand.
"Ready?"
"Yeah." Her answer came out as a whimper. She wanted to look away, but he held her gaze tightly. Gooseflesh sprouted, and spread across her skin as Castiel's fingertips rested against her stomach.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly as he pushed through the boundaries of her corporeal being.
He found her soul almost instantly. Even though he was conscious of his vessel's eyes staring into hers, he could no longer see, or hear what was happening beyond the boundaries of his being, and her soul. As soon as his fingers cupped the brilliantly glowing ball of energy pulsing inside her, he knew something was horribly wrong. It resisted him, eddied away from him as he opened himself to drink of its power. He couldn't afford to chase it.
His vessel mimicked his actions, putting a voice behind the feeling of welcome, and acceptance. He called to her, tried to soothe her as she screamed in mortal agony. Her soul touched his outstretched being, danced across the surface as if deciding to heed his call or not. And finally, she stopped fighting, coming to rest secure in his grasp.
He closed his hand around it. At first, it felt completely human, hot to the touch, bounding with limitless energy and potential. But after a few moments of siphoning off the power, Cass felt the first traces of Grace deep within. With only seconds to trace it, he found a tear in a boundary of blood-soaked cloth.
It was too much, too fast. Without any choice, he had to release Kayla's soul, and take a step back, pulling his hand from within her as he moved. Before the power could ebb away from him, he threw himself back through time, snatched up Sam and Dean, and slingshot them back to the present day. With a sickening sense of accomplishment, he fell back onto the couch, mind reeling.