10

One Wing in the Fire

He wanted to call Annabelle, he really did. After his ordeal and horrible night sleep last night he needed to see her. But his phone wouldn't work anymore due to the water damage it had suffered.

He stared at it, his shoulder's drooped, sadness and disappointment in his eyes.

"Man, poor kid can't catch a break," Dean said, shaking his head. Sam glanced over at him from his laptop.

"Yeah, I've noticed," he said.

"We should take 'im to go see her again," Dean remarked. "It's not his fault he got attacked by a poltergeist and shoved in a pool, that's on us."

"Take him tonight," Sam said, still lost in the screen.

"Did you find anything out, Geek Boy?" He asked.

Castiel frowned and threw the phone to the floor, angry.

"Uh," Sam looked from Dean to the laptop, trying to ignore the ex-angel's sudden outburst. "About a hundred years ago there was a farmhouse that was there. The Hendersons. It was just the father and his two sons. The sons went missing and were never found but, there was a rumor floating around that the old man killed them by pouring lye all over them," Sam explained.

"Which would explain why they're so freaky lookin'," Dean said. Sam nodded.

"And why they're so pissed off," he said.

"So how do we kill 'em?" He asked.

"The hex bag recipe that Missouri gave us is a cure-all, so it should be no problem."

"Then let's take care of it tomorrow," Dean said. "I think we owe Cas a favor."

I sighed, staring off into space. I wanted to see Cas again. And even though it had only been a day since I'd seen him, I missed him. It was silly, really. I probably wouldn't see him again, anyway.

No, no, Castiel wasn't like other guys. Cas was sweet and genuine. When he said he would do something, he'd do it. But that didn't make it any better.

"Hey, 'Belle," Nicole said in a sing-song voice. "Your boyfriend's here."

I smiled and looked toward the door, grinning even more when I saw those brilliant blue orbs looking back at me.

I trotted around the bar, unable to stop myself from smiling. I stopped in front of him.

"Hi, guys," I said, waving to Sam and Dean. I looked up at the worn looking man in front of me, smiling gently.

"Hi, Cas," I said. He looked at me for a beat before wrapping his arms around me, tight. I frowned, hugging him back, running my fingers through his hair. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?" I asked quietly. "What's the matter, baby?" He didn't answer, just buried his face deeper in my neck, squeezing tighter.

I looked over his shoulder at the two brothers for assistance.

"He, uh, he had a rough day yesterday," Dean said, smiling lightly. Sam nodded. I sighed in understanding and lifted Castiel's chin.

"I get off in ten minutes, sugar. We can talk then, alright?" He nodded and sat down, looking sad enough to make my heart hurt. I touched his cheek, smiling gently before walking away, worried. I didn't want to see him sad, I wanted to see him smile. I wanted him to laugh and be shy, like he was before. I wanted him to be okay. And I'd do whatever it took to make sure he was that way again.

The second my shift was over I clocked out and walked over to him, taking his hand and guiding him outside.

Clouds had covered the sky, threatening rain in this slightly chilled weather. I smiled up at him, feeling a little better when he blushed and looked away shyly.

"There you are," I grinned. "I knew you were in there somewhere." He frowned, cocking his head in that puppy dog-like manner that made me giggle.

"I don't understand," he said. I laughed harder.

"You were acting strange," I chuckled. "I'm glad you're acting normally again." He smiled a little and I squeezed his hand. "Now, what's wrong, babe?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. "Some of it's a really long story," he mumbled. "And… and I can't tell you."

"Then tell me what you can," I said patiently, touching his face and grinning when his cheek grew hot under my palm.

"I… I was near a pool yesterday and I fell in," he admitted, looking down at the asphalt. "There wasn't anyone around… and I… I can't swim."

"Well thank God you're okay!" I exclaimed.

"Dean pulled me out," he said, nodding toward the window beside the table where the Winchester's were sitting. "Sam helped."

"Anything else?" I asked. Before he could answer, a flash of light warned everyone before thunder rumbled across the late afternoon sky.

Castiel jumped. I squeezed his hand. Then the sky opened up, sending buckets of rain down on us.

"Do you want to go inside?" I asked. He shook his head.

"I will go for you, if you want to, but… it's too loud and my head hurts." That sweetness in his voice made my heart melt a little. He was so genuinely… well, genuine.

"We'll stay out here then," I nodded. "Now what else is wrong?"

"It's not… not wrong…" he said, thinking and trying to find the words. "But it hurts…"

"What hurts?"

He put his hand on his chest, over his heart. "Here, when I think about you and I'm not with you. It hurts, and I don't understand why."

I was surprised I didn't faint right then and there. That was beyond sweet, beyond good. It was almost angelic.

"Well, I'm here now," I said, lying my head against his wet chest, listening to his heart thud as he grew nervous once more.

"Not for long," he breathed. "I want to stay with you again. I want to hold you again. But I have to help Sam and Dean with, with work." I looked up into his eyes, just to be sure. I was already almost positive that he would never lie to me no matter what, but I had to be sure.

I saw that innocence in that blue that had me enchanted. He wasn't lying. He wouldn't, no, he couldn't lie. I kissed him, smiling softly when he gasped and slowly moved hia lips against mine.

"It's alright," I assured. "We'll see each other as soon as we can." It hurt me when I didn't see him as well. From the second he had left I wanted him back there again. And now, knowing that our time was limited, it only made that ache worse.

He hugged me again. I felt him shivering underneath me. I smiled, linking my fingers in his again.

"C'mon, Cas," I said, guiding him back inside.

I tossed him a towel when we got in the hall beside the kitchen that led to the dumpsters. I rubbed my head and dabbed my clothes, wiping my face and shaking out my ponytail. I wrung out my shirt and looked over at him. I giggled when I saw that he was just standing there, looking at the towel like he didn't know what to do with it.

"Well, dry off," I urged. He cocked his head.

"I didn't shower," he said, as if making a point. I giggled.

"You're a strange one, you know that?" I walked toward him, taking the soaked trench coat and suit jacket from his shoulders. I wrung out his tie and took the towel from his hand, taking the drops of water clinging to the tips of his hair and the water on his face.

I un-tucked his shirt and wrung out what water I could. I moved the towel to the back of his neck and his hair. My hands were on either end of the towel when I stopped. I looked up at him, smiling.

"There," I said, smiling. Before I knew it I was leaning toward him, desperately wanting those beautiful lips against my own. I pulled him to me, using the towel to do it. He obliged to the sudden request, falling back against the wall. His lips were tentative and gentle, so soft…

We broke apart for a moment. I looked up into his eyes and saw something I hadn't yet. Lust.

The sensation I had overcame me so quickly I didn't know what I was doing. I looked at Annabelle and pulled her as close to me as I could, one arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other holding her thigh next to my hip. We fell against the opposite wall, kissing heatedly.

I came to my senses a few moments after that. I broke away from her, stepping back, gasping, eyes wide at the sudden impulse I had acted upon.

She smiled at me, more surprised than anything I think.

"I, I'm sorry," I stammered. "I don't kn-know why I-" She giggled, making me blush.

"Come here, Cas," she said quietly, kissing me again. I didn't do what I had done before. I was back to fumbling my way through each kiss, wondering if I was doing something stupid or not. "Don't worry, you aren't gonna scare me off, Cas," She smiled. I smiled a little, ruefully.

"Don't be so sure about that." She shook her head.

"You could be from Mars, for all I care. And I'd stay right here." She hugged me again. I knew she could help me feel better, I knew it.

"Cas!" Dean called. I groaned and turned. "C'mon, we gotta go."

I kissed him one more time, touching his face and hoping that these nervous tendencies he had never went away. He walked away, looking over his shoulder at me three times before leaving.

I shook my head, smiling. I didn't know what the hell that little outburst was earlier, but I kinda liked it.