Lis was sitting in a chair by her sister's bed. It had been two days since the incident with the hell hounds and Jo had been unconscious almost constantly since then. "It seems like you're the only one not pissed at me. Mom hasn't said I word since I talked to her about Bal. Bobby rolls around the house, busying himself with research trying to find a way to end all of this, he hasn't spoken to me either. You'd think I told them I was a drug lord from the way they were acting. I really pissed Bal off by getting him found out too. That idiot. How was I supposed to know Castiel was still in the town? We hadn't seen him in over an hour. And then he left me in the middle of nowhere Jo. I had to walk for two hours before I found a car to hot wire. He can be such an ass when he wants to."

"I think you knew I was here for that last part."

"I may have heard your breathing." He moved from his spot leaving against the door frame to stand beside her at her sister's bedside.

"I figured it was safe to stop by since the idiots were out and Cas is nowhere to be found. How is she?"

"She's hurt, but she'll make it. She's tough, like me and mom." A small smile graced the angels face.

"She has to be to have made it this far. Has she woken?"

"Once, but only for a few minutes." He nodded. "You still pissed at me?" A sigh.

"I should be. I have every right to be. I wasn't involved in this mess, at least not directly. And now I'm in the path of not just Lucifer but Michael as well." She cringed. "But no, I'm not. I should have known this would happen eventually. Your senses are much duller than mine and you were bound to slip up eventually." The insult made her blood boil a little, but she let it slide. She knew it was just his way of making himself feel like he was still detached from the situation, detached from her.

"I don't think Cas will tell anyone you're alive."

"Doesn't matter much. Now that I'm in this whole show, someone from upstairs will see me eventually and spread the word." Liz knew she should apologize, but her pride didn't let her.

"You could just go back into hiding you know." That would be like him. Disappear to keep himself safe. He'd done it before after all.

"If I did that you would be dead inside a month and then the last year of keeping you alive would have been a waste." It was his way of saying he wouldn't abandon her. She smiled. "What I can't figure out is why Cassie-boy hasn't magiced your sister better."

"He can't. He's cut off from heaven now and healing is just one of the powers he can no longer use." Balthazar made a thoughtful humming noise in the back of his throat.

"I'm surprised you haven't asked for me to help her." She laughed humorlessly.

"I'm not like Dean. You just saved my ass and to repay you I forced you out of hiding and into a war. I know better than to demand you heal my sister." Balthazar just grinned down at her. Without a word he placed a hand on Jo's forehead and then disappeared.

Sam and Dean were on the road. They were on their way to the mental asylum where Martin had checked in.

"Dean, we have to keep an open mind here. Martin did check himself into a facility, this might not be a real hunt at all."

"Sammy, Martin was one of the best back in his day. If he says it's a hunt, I'll buy it." Sam sighed.

"Okay, well how are we even going to get in to the building for any length of time? The FBI wouldn't investigate suicides in a mental institution." Dean grinned at his little brother.

"We're gonna get checked in." Sam just stared at him for a moment.

"What?"

"We're gonna tell 'em the truth and get ourself a nice, comfy padded room for a few days." Sam shook his head but didn't say anything else on the matter. His brother really could be insane sometimes.

Liz had just finished filling her sister in on the last few days' events. Jo had been shocked to find out about Balthazar but she'd taken in better than the rest of them.

"So you have an angel?" Liz laughed a little at her word choice for the statement.

"No I don't have an angel. It's not like I own him. He just kinda, showed up one day. And he's been helping me ever since."

"Are you sure you can trust him Liz?" All hunters were the same in some aspects, no matter how young or inexperienced. Trust wasn't something you handed out easily.

"Yeah, I know I can. He's saved my ass more times than I can count. And he healed you, for no reason other than he wanted to. He's a good guy Jo. A bit of an egotistical jerk, but still good under all that." Jo smiled.

"Good enough for me. Now let's go downstairs, give mom a heart attack and grab something to eat. I'm starving." Liz smiled at her little sister and nodded.

"Sounds like a great plan to me."

Sorry it's so short guys. I just wanted to get a little something up to get you guys through the next couple of days. Finals are kicking my butt. I've got a nice little break Tuesday through Thursaday though so the second half of this chapter will be up then. After Friday, updates will be much more regular. I know there's not much different going on so far, but I'm building up to something huge! Let me know what you think of it so far, I'm kinda trying to make Liz a mix of Ellen with some Dean and a slight soft spot. Anyway, just let me know what you think. :)