Title: and kiddo makes three
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: AU
Pairings: none stated
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 170
Point of view: third
Prompt: Supernatural, Ellen + Jo + Claire!Castiel; How things might have gone differently with this Cas.
Whenever they get to a new town, Cas is Jo's little sister, Ellen's younger daughter. They explain, if anyone asks (which is getting rarer, as the days stretch on), that Cas survived an attack, and that's usually enough.
Jo asked Cas once if (s)he would've preferred staying with the boys. Castiel used to have some sort of bond with Dean, after all. Anyone with eyes could see that.
Cas simply looked at her, with those eyes that haven't changed, and said that a possessed alligator was about to attack a fisherman. Jo never asked again.
Ellen doesn't know how to treat an angel clothed as a young girl. It would've been easier, she's sure, if Cas still looked like Castiel, like a grown man, tired and weary. Those, she knew how to deal with. But everything she learned raising Jo doesn't count with Cas.
Jo sighs and hugs Ellen, and Cas keeps watch, invisible wings spread wide.
They will meet War tomorrow, and the Winchesters won't be far behind.