Riley was sitting in the war room when she felt the shift in the air pressure around them. Dean had called Castiel back to the bunker after she'd cooled off some; her explosive, angry response to the angel's presence a few days earlier had shocked each man thoroughly.

Even Dean, whose sometimes violent temper was egged on even further by the Mark.

"Hello, Riley." His monotone didn't exactly put her at ease. Dean nudged Cas closer and nodded, motioning for him to sit in the chair at the war room table. The brunette raised her eyes to his unnaturally blue ones, sensing some relunctance on his end. Dean and Sam shared a look.

"Sit down, Cas." Sam finally said, knowing the angel wasn't quite reading Dean's mind at the moment, instead completely focused on the brunette in front of him. Her shoulders were tense with anxiety and she was wringing her hands in her lap as she sat there. Dean was standing at her right side, his left hand on the back of her chair.

Castiel did, seemingly reluctantly. "You wished to see me?"

Riley looked between the two men. "Can you give us..." She trailed off and the Winchesters shared a look.

Dean tilted his head slightly as he looked down at Riley, an eyebrow quirked. "You gonna behave yourself this time, sweetheart?" Her shoulders relaxed some at the sarcasm she'd grown to secretly like from him.

"Mostly."

Sam smiled a bit. "We'll be in the kitchen." His voice was softer than his older brother's. Riley watched the two men disappear down the hallway behind the angel before she spoke.

"I'm sorry about the other day." The brunette apologized to Castiel, her eyes downcast.

"I forgive you." Was his immediate response.

The brunette picked at her thumbnail. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did I have to go through everything..." She couldn't even finish her question, her throat already getting tight with emotion. Castiel thought a few seconds before answering.

"You're very special, Riley."

"Just like everyone else." Was her curt reply.

Castiel studied her face. "There is a reason for everything." That made her eyes roll heavenward. Was he going to honestly sit there next to her and quote scripture from Ecclesiastes to her? Seriously?

"I've read the bible... went to college and minored in biblical studies." She sighed tearfully, her moment of anger subsiding somewhat. Two could play at that game. "When Jonah was in distress and called out for help, why was his cry answered and not mine?"

Castiel considered that. "In the book of Romans, God promises to make something good out of the storms that devastate your life, Riley." A tear slipped down her cheek as he recited one of her favorite scriptures. He watched her wipe away a few tears that had escaped, averting her eyes from the angel's face. He watched her take a few deep breaths, the delicate collum of her throat working to swallow.

She gathered herself, trying to reign in her sudden emotion before she lost her composure completely. "I was all alone and my spirit is crushed, Castiel." Her voice broke as she refrenced another piece of scripture she'd meditated over on several occasions. "I know you know about my recent... relapse." The angel didn't respond, but she could sense he did know without her telling him. "I don't wanna be that person anymore, Castiel, but I hurt so much. I've lost so many people around me." Riley took a breath. "I've looked for answers, but I feel like I'm not gonna ever find them, y'know?"

"In the midst of the storm, He is still working." Castiel watched her sigh, frustrated at his cryptic answers. Her eyes welled up again, her heart pounding as she felt her chest tighten at that reference.

"I think that's crap."

Castiel felt like that would be something that Dean would have said. "Difficulty often cultivates the way for ordinary people to discover their extraordinary destiny, Riley." The angel relaxed some, not feeling so much anger from the woman in front of him as he had a few days before. "I understand you do not know what you will be used for yet, but you will."

"What can I do?" Riley sighed again, wiping her tear streaked face with the back of her hand. "I'm not a hunter, by any meals. I've never shot a gun. I'm scared of the dark. I have no support system. I have no job. I'm homeless. I have nothing."

Castiel reached out to touch her shoulder, something he'd seen Sam on many occasions do to comfort other humans. "You're weren't supposed to be a hunter. But everything in your life happened the way it was supposed to... you have Sam and Dean now. You humans all associate home with a place." He paused meaningfully and the brunette looked up to him again. "Home is other humans, Riley. They will support you as you will support them."

The pair were quiet for another moment and Castiel could sense her thoughts swirling around in her head. "I'm so angry." Her words were almost a sob. "I've never felt so alone. The only person on this earth who seems to get me... is Dean." Another tear slid down her flushed cheek. "And he has the weight of the world on his shoulders right now and I don't know how to help him."

"I know." Castiel said quietly. Her eyes met the clear blue ones of the angel in front of her. "Dean shares that sentiment."

Riley sniffled. "I just need some time, Castiel. I can't do anymore of this tonight.I'm gonna lose my mind..." Her lost expression changed to one of hope. "It just wanted to ask you if... is my mom... alright?"

There was the slightest hint of a smile on the angel's features at her question. "She is well... she is very proud of you, Riley." That made Riley's eyes close and she started to cry again softly. Castiel was getting quite uncomfortable with her overwhelming anguish and luckily, Sam had come back right then to check on them, his footfalls coming up the bunker hallway.

Riley was sobbing softly and Sam pulled her to her feet gently as the angel rose slowly from the chair he'd been sitting in while they spoke. Sam hugged the brunette tight against his torso, his chin on top of her head, his eyes going to Castiel's solemn gaze. "I'm gonna take her to her room." Castiel disappeared then without saying goodbye and Sam rolled his eyes at the angel's sudden departure. "C'mon, honey. Let's walk down here and get you something to drink," He felt her nod a bit before her let her go and they moved towards the kitchen where Dean was waiting.

He'd had been pacing the kitchen when his brother and Riley entered. Sam's eyes met his brother's and he let her go some and her red rimmed eyes raised to see Dean's emerald gaze move from his brother to her. He detected some level of regret on Riley's face as well as hopelessness.

It was almost like looking into a mirror and that was quite unnerving to the older man.

Dean shoved those feelings aside and reached for Riley. She moved into his arms immediately, letting go of Sam. Dean's eyes closed as his chin rested on top of her head, his arms around her shoulders as he hugged her close to him. Riley's arms came around his torso. Sam watched the pair for a few seconds before moving to get her a glass of water from the tap.

After Riley accepted the tumbler from Sam and drank a bit, she looked up to Dean, who eyed her before his gaze slid to Sam's. "Gonna put her to bed." Dean took the glass from her shaking hand and set it on the kitchen table. Sam gave a nod and watched his grunt of an older brother walk the brunette out of the kitchen, his arm around her shoulders, Riley's gait somewhat weakened and off balance.

Dean walked Riley to her bedroom and turned on the lamp for her, letting her go carefully. She moved to her trunk and pulled out some sleep clothes, but he could tell she was just going through the motions absentmindedly. "Ry?" Her glassy eyes moved to Dean, fighting to focus on his eyes, tears clouding her vision.

"Can I just sleep with you?" Dean studied her before he answered; it had been nearly three months since he'd acquired the Mark and he was really starting to feel its effects. His need for food and sleep had been dwindling down to nearly nothing and that was getting harder and harder to hide from Sam and Riley. Not that he would ever hurt them... but Dean didn't want to chance that. "Dean?" She was looking up at him expectantly.

"Course you can." The corner of his mouth turned up slightly and she picked up an oversized tshirt and moved to his side again. Dean turned the lamp back off and they walked down the hallway to his room. Once inside, he closed the door quietly.

Dean turned his back to her and slipped off his flannel and his tshirt. Riley sat on the end of his bed, her worn tshirt in her lap. Dean unbuckled his jeans and slipped them off, pulling on a pair of lounge pants even though he knew he wasn't going to sleep at all. When he turned back around, her gaze was on the floor in front of her. Dean moved to her and stopped in front of her. "You wanna change? I'll step out."

"Yeah." Her voice was small, emotionless. Riley pulled off her shirt in front of him and yanked on the oversized tshirt, not caring if he was there or not. Dean watched her stand and shimmy off her jeans, the tshirt covering her hips. She tugged off her socks and then she slipped off her bra, tossing everything unceremoniously on his bedroom floor.

Dean felt much calmer than he had earlier, even though Riley was clearly in emotional turmoil. "C'mon, Ry." His voice was soft and he pulled back the covers and she climbed in. Dean turned down the lamp on the dimmest setting, knowing she didn't sleep in complete darkness. He got in bed next to her and spoke as gently as he could. "I wish I could make all this okay."

"I wish I could too." Was her reply. She rolled over away from Dean and sighed tearfully. "Dean?"

"Yeah?" He shifted behind her, facing her back.

"Would you just... hold me?" Riley whispered. "Just at least until I fall asleep? I feel like I'm gonna lose my mind..." He moved up aganst her without a word and hugged her close to him. His left arm encircled her waist and his right arm slid under her pillow and curled up around her shoulders protectively, his right hand coming to rest on her left shoulder. Her eyes fluttered closed at Dean's gentle touch, knowing his brute strength otherwise.

"I know if fuckin' hurts, Ry." Dean spoke, close to her ear. "I'm not going anywhere." He felt her melt into him. "S'okay, sweetheart... I'm right here." He felt her nod. They were quiet for a moment before she finally spoke.

"Dean?"

"Mm?"

"I don't know how to be okay." Damn, could he relate to that on so many level right now.

"Neither do I."

"Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for understanding me." Her voice was so soft, he almost didn't hear her.

"Thank you," Dean corrected. Riley felt him relax a bit behind her. "Get some rest. I'm right here, sweetheart." The storm that raged inside him was calm right then; perhaps tonight he would close his eyes and rest with Riley close, sleeping peacefully in his arms.

spnspnspnspn

Hey y'all!

I really enjoyed writing this one. Riley isn't quite sure about Castiel and his intentions and Dean doesn't quite trust himself anymore, so I hope I conveyed that well. Leave me a review! Have a wonderful evening!

CitrineMama