Author's note: So, I finally got my laptop up and running again (thank the gods because my phone decided to stop cooperating) which means that updates should come much quicker than before. Once again, thank you to all of my generous reviewers and, you know, keep 'em coming because they are like crack. Without further ado…
C-h-a-p-t-e-r-*-T-h-r-e-e
Marion felt that, under previous circumstances, the state of Singer Salvage and the house in the middle of the property might have made her feel uncomfortable. But with Dean's memories floating around in her head, the junkyard and the neglected house felt like home. A wave of panic hit her as she wondered if a time might come when she couldn't distinguish Dean's thoughts from her own. The angel who sat beside her reached his hand out to grasp hers and a sense of calm washed over her. A relieved sigh escaped her lips.
"That's a neat trick." She whispered, just barely audible. Castiel gave an awkward smile, before disappearing from the car. He was standing next to the driver's side door as Dean parked.
Bobby wheeled out to meet them. He smiled, politely, at Marion. "It's good to finally meet you, girl. Your daddy showed me pictures of you. He swore up and down he'd find out what happened to you." Bobby said, extending his hand.
"Are you kidding? After everything you've done for my father and my brothers? Bobby Singer, you are family!" Marion said, pushing past his hand and wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
Bobby looked to Sam and Dean, "You told her 'bout me?" He meant, 'You told her about hunting?'
"Not really." Sam stated, pulling his massive frame out of the Impala.
"But she's my twin! She just knows, Bobby." Dean replied.
Marion pulled away and smiled. Bobby didn't return the gesture. "So, she knows about me and all the things I've done for you, becaue she's yer twin? Am I missin' something'?" Bobby asked, as they headed into the house.
"Cas might've bridge the link between our memories. She kinda got a crash course in the History of Dean Winchester." Dean said, shutting the front door behind him.
Bobby wheeled around in front of them. "So, what you idjits are saying is, rather than take the time to explain to yer sister what's been goin' on, you had the angel give her your memories?"
"Just Dean's, Bobby. And I volunteered. I wanted to have memories of my father and brother… a few memories of Mom. Dean held onto those memories. I didn't. I asked for this, Bobby." Marion spoke up.
"Then, you're an idjit, too! Has Castiel ever done this before? Do we know the side effects? Did any of you even ask?!"
Another wave of panic crashed down on Marion. She hadn't asked. She'd rushed into this without thinking. That was so unlike her. Even when she was escaping, she'd taken the time to plan, to ask herself questions. It wasn't like her to-
Her heart rate slowed and a sense of well-being fell on her as a hand moved across Marion's shoulders. She smiled at Bobby. "Do you have any coffee, Bobby? They wouldn't let me have caffeine at the hospital, so I haven't had any in weeks… since I was at Mister and Missus' house."
Bobby nodded, putting aside his upset for the time being. He wheeled into the kitchen and waved for her to follow. Dean started toward the door. "I'm gonna grab those books."
Sam stared at Castiel with his arms crossed over his chest. "So, how do you figure you can help with Marion's training?"
"She can't hurt me. I'm a good training opponent."
"And you being here has nothing to do with the female Dean you created?"
"I don't understand." Castiel said, tilting his head slightly, in confusion.
"Come on! She's a walking nature vs. nurture debate! She's got all our Winchester genes, and she's got all her memories of those God-fearing people who took her and made her the woman she was. 27 years of history books and Jesus. And now, she has all of Dean's memories. 27 years of combat and demons and sex. You're just here to see which side wins the personality conflict." Sam accused.
Castiel stared blankly at Sam. "There is no truth to that. I'm going to help Dean."
"How do you think Dean's gonna react when he finds out that you're pacifying our sister's emotions?"
Castiel turned back to Sam, but said nothing. Sam uncrossed his arms and stepped forward. "She's gotten that anxious look twice in the last 25 minutes. That 'Oh my god. What have I done?' look. Both times, you touched her and , suddenly, she's all smiles."
"You would rather your sister be subjected to an anxiety attack?"
"Maybe she should be panicking, Cas! Maybe the anxiety is her body telling her that what you did was wrong!" Sam whispered.
"I did what was required of the situation. There was no time to explain everything. Zachariah was coming. There is no reversing it. So, it seems a good idea to keep any side effects controlled. I'll stop filling her with grace and happiness only if Marion asks it of me. Tell Dean, if you must, but the panic should subside soon and then I won't have to maintain her well-being." Castiel said.
Sam looked toward the kitchen. "I think if Dean loses her again, it'll be worse than the Apocalypse. Just… try to keep her… her. One Dean's enough." Sam whispered as Bobby and Marion came in, carrying 2 mugs each.
"We didn't make a cup for you, Castiel, because I'm pretty sure angels don't drink coffee." Marion said, a sweet smile on her lips.
Castiel nodded and looked at Sam. "Definitely not Dean." He said, before disappearing in a whoosh of air.
"What was that about?" Marion asked, handing Sam a mug.
"Just discussing the differences between twins. Thanks." Sam said, taking a drink of the coffee.
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Marion lay on a small cot in Bobby's living room. Dean, Sam and Bobby had all but insisted she take the bed, but she'd refused. She knew she wasn't going to sleep, anyway, so she took the cot while Bobby slept on the couch 10 feet away, Sam slept on the floor next to him and Dean snoozed in Bobby's old bed upstairs. She couldn't sleep because she was scared to dream. Marion didn't want to see Lucifer and she definitely didn't want to see Zachariah. So, she stared at the ceiling and prayed for daylight.
"Why aren't you sleeping? Why are you asking for the will to stay awake?" Castiel asked, suddenly standing over her.
Marion thought, briefly, that it was odd that she hadn't heard the soft whoosh that normally announced his arrival, but she pushed the thought away as she sat up. "Shh! Sam and Bobby are sleepin' right over there! Sit down." She said, patting the bed. Castiel complied, wordlessly. "You can hear my prayers?"
Castiel nodded. "I am an angel of the Lord. I could hear anyone's prayers, if I wanted. Why won't you sleep?"
Marion rubbed her eyes and sighed. "I guess they'd be nightmares. Night terrors. But really, it's angels who want something from me, invading my dreams."
"Zachariah."
"And Lucifer. The bad dream in the car, it was Lucifer telling me that I don't have to be here, that I shouldn't be here. He told me that all I have to do is tell him where Sam and Dean are and he'd make sure that I have nothing to do with this fight. I could go live my own life." Marion shook her head and chuckled lightly. "But that's not really an option. It's a fantasy. I'm a Winchester and this is what Winchesters do. We gank demons." She sighed deeply. "But I don't want to have to tell the Devil that, you know?"
Castiel nodded, but ran his hand down her arm, filling her with grace and tiredness. "If you seem distressed, I will wake you. Sleep is important for humans and you cannot train on caffeine alone."
Marion smiled up at him as her eyes became too heavy to keep open. "Thank you, Castiel. You are amazing."
Marion appeared in a beautiful green clearing in the middle of a wooded area. She bit her lip as her eyes fell upon Lucifer leaning against a tree to her right. "You know, that's adorable! The little crush you're getting on Dean's pet angel. But you know…" He was suddenly right in front of her. "He might have rebelled against Heaven and he might be wearing a meat suit full of emotions and neediness, but he's still an angel, Marion. God didn't give us the capacity to use emotions, so he could never reciprocate. And if he's the reason why you're about to tell me you're staying, you might wanna rethink that."
Marion gulped, nervously, but steeled herself in the knowledge that Castiel was watching and had her back. "I know… that I'm not supposed to be here. I get that. But I am here." She stood on shaking legs and looked up into his piercing blue eyes. "And I am a Winchester. Family is all we have. I'm staying because my brothers need my help. As for Castiel, if angels were emotionless, how would he have felt enough doubt to rebel? How would Zachariah have felt enough anger to blow up Cas? And you… the jealousy you felt about us humans? I'll take my chances."
Lucifer nodded. "Let me know how that works for you." He raised a hand to caress her cheek. "I'll make a place for you in the Apocalypse, don't you worry."
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Marion woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Castiel holding a mug out to her. She smiled and sat up, enjoying the warmth of the mug in her hand and the smell infiltration her nostrils. "Thank you, Castiel. Good morning."
"Good morning. You seemed to sleep well, but I thought coffee may be of use, anyway. 2 creams, 3 sugars." Castiel said.
She laughed. "How'd you know how I take my coffee? Can you read my mind?" She joked, taking a sip.
"I could." Castiel confirmed. "But I figured it may be less intrusive to just ask Bobby how you made yours yesterday. There is food made in the kitchen, when you're ready. Protein is important before training."
Marion smiled as she took another sip of coffee. Castiel was so nice compared to Zachariah and Lucifer. She stood and walked into the kitchen where Dean was scarfing down a bacon and egg sandwich and Sam was fiddling with what appeared to be an egg-whites omelet.
"We weren't sure what kinda food the Cornwell's had you on, but we've got some bacon left, some instant oatmeal and whatever pussy greaseless shit Sam's eating." Dean said, his mouth half full.
"Thanks." Marion said, setting her mug on the table and grabbing a bowl to prepare some brown sugar oatmeal. As she waited for it to thicken, she grabbed a piece of bacon from the plate and started munching on it. "Mister and Missus didn't deprive me of things, especially things like this… good ol' American breakfast food. I prefer sausage to bacon, though."
Dean looked at her like she'd grown an extra head. "How can you prefer anything to bacon?! Bacon is the food of the Gods, okay?! It is the best thing to ever be cut off a pig's ass."
Marion smirked. "American bacon is usually pork belly, Dean. And I prefer my pig ground up with herbs and seasonings. Is that so wrong?" She asked, sitting down with her bowl.
"Other places do bacon different?" Dean asked.
"Most other countries use bacon for flavor in their dishes. America is pretty much the only place where you'll find bacon and eggs on a diner menu."
"I did not know that." Sam commented.
Marion took a bite of her oatmeal and smiled. "Well, when the local bookstore ran out of books for Missus Cornwell to buy, I started reading her cookbooks. She had dozens of them."
Dean looked up, quickly. "You tellin' me that you can cook?"
She smiled. "Dean, you get me 2 hotplates, some cookware and a portable convection oven, I will make you gourmet faire. And maybe do something about your cholesterol." Marion said, gesturing to the side of bacon next to his mostly-gone bacon sandwich.
"Hey! My cholesterol is fine." Dean defended.
Marion shook her head. "You know, you sound pretty confident for a guy who's died so many times."
"Not a single time has bacon put me in the ground, sister." Dean said, pointedly stuffing his mouth with the rest of the food on his plate.
"I wouldn't bother, Marion. I've been trying to get Dean to eat better for years. It's no use." Sam said, putting his plate in the sink.
Marion smiled, standing and walking to the sink to clean her bowl. "I've got the advantage of knowing how to cook good food. He won't even know what food he'd normally turn his nose up at." She placed the bowl back in the cabinet and turned to her brothers. "So… training?"
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Author's note: All right. We're, like, one chapter away from where I am on paper, so… almost there, folks. We're almost to the point where your reviews might change something in the storyline. Yay.