I had been on the road for almost a week now. Taking my time on the way to Singer Salvage Yard.

Still hung up on all that I heard, and then cursing myself for being to shocked to hear what mattered. And knowing that the boys would have informed Bobby that I was more than likely on a hit list for the high bidders, made me slightly apprehensive to even go there.

But I knew I had to. It would be safe there. Safer than I had been since starting this life. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised that no matter where I went, I would be hunted. I would be the one that had to watch their back for the ones who were after me.

I was the mouse in the lions den. And there was nothing stopping them from finding me. Not that there was anything to stop them, apart from hex bags. But Arch-angels? There would be little to hide me from them.

A figure appeared in the passengers seat with the flutter of wings, causing me to swerve away from them, if that were even possible. Only to have me back on track in no time.

I turned to the man, to find it was the one who had been with the Winchesters in the warehouse. It was another angel, and I didn't know if I could trust him or not.

Who knew what he could be hiding under his trench coat? I could feel his blue eyes boring into the side of my face. Adding to the tension that was already present. I wanted a knife, even though there was a few hidden in here.

"Hello Annabell." A gruff voice greeted. "I am Castiel."

"Hi, Castiel. What brings you to my humble... Car." I adjusted my grip on the wheel, looking over at the angel briefly.

I was met with a tilted head and a befuddled look. He then seemed to process what I had said rather quickly, "Dean asked me to place enochian sigils upon your ribs, much like I did to him and his brother. It will prevent all angels and demons from finding you."

I sighed, Sam had talked about the sigils. That they had been carved into their ribs. It sounded rather painful. "Alright, can we wait until Bobby's? Or would it be better to get them sooner?"

He licked his lips before answering, "I believe it will be safe enough to wait."

"Should be there any minute now." I said as we passed the sign welcoming us to Sioux Falls. I looked over to the angel again to see worry etched on his face. "What's got you worried?"

He looked at me, then back to the road ahead. "The future."

"The future?" I queried.

"Yes." Was his only response.

I went to push him, but stopped. He didn't have to tell me, or anyone for that matter. Sometimes it was just good to talk. But he was an angel. He probably knew what was going to happen if we didn't finish this. If we didn't fix it.

And with me being the 'fail-safe', anything could happen. I didn't even know what could happen, what I would have to do or give up. Or if they would even need me.

I was this thing and who knew if whatever it was that could or would happen would even work. This was the apocalypse and everything so far seemed calm. But soon enough, I knew everything would start going to hell.

I was so caught up in my thought I nearly missed the turn-off into the salvage yard. Now passing the stacks of worn cars that lead to the house that slowly came to view. Two stories, old place that was a home. And a sanctuary for a few hunters. Hunters that were my friends and who knew my secret... One I only just came to know myself.

I pulled up and got out of the car. Castiel appeared by me, obviously wanting to get this over with quickly.

"May I?" He asked.

"Go ahead."

He proceeded to press two fingers to my chest, just below my collarbone. He then vanished as quickly as he had appeared, and the sound of wings also followed suit.

"Yeah, goodbye to you too." I huffed.

I got my bag from the boot. Heading in-doors only to be greeted by the trucker capped, dangerous as ever Bobby, at the door.

"Annabell? Gosh, those idjets didn't tell me it was you they were sendin' here." He then looked me over to make sure I wasn't spouting any injuries, "Well, you got here in one piece. Care to tell me what's goin on?"

I gave a half hearted wave to him, "Nice to see you too Bobby. Now, where can I put this...'' I gestured to my bag, "Then we can talk inside."

"Ere's a spare room up stairs. To the left." He spoke as he turned on his wheels, gesturing to where he was talking about.

I put my stuff up there, noting the amount of books that were splayed around, even up here. Then going back down, seeing all the other books and other things just laying around. "So... Talk time. I'd say to grab a comfy chair but..."

"Ha ha." He mocked before making for a beer, "Want one?"

"I think I'll need my head clear for this." I replied, making myself comfy at the small kitchen table.

He put his beer back when I said that, "That bad, huh?"

"Not so much..." It was then that I didn't give him a chance to reply. Instead taking a deep breath, "Save your questions 'till the end."

That was when I started to recount the events from when I got a rude wake up call, to the time that I started my not-so-perilous journey to Bobbys. And he listened intently, from the fact that the trickster wasn't one, to what happened to the bro's in 'TV land'. All the way to me being some kind of 'fail-safe', which I was still doubting. I mean, wouldn't you doubt that you were able to stop the apocalypse? And then managed to tell him through all of that, which surprisingly I didn't lose him through, that Heaven and Hell wanted me just as badly, if not more so, than the Winchesters.

He opened his mouth a few times to speak, but couldn't. Instead, he just rolled himself over to the fridge, getting that beer. Taking a large sip, before looking back to me and taking another one. "Do you know how to exactly?"

"Nope. I tuned out most of it. Shock and all." A yawn escaped my mouth, which I covered quickly. "Well, I'm going to hit the hay before I become another obstacle. That is unless you have some more questions?"

He shook his head, "Nah', no more questions. Just get up there, I ain't gonna carry ya!"

I chuckled, making my way up the stairs. "Night Bobby!" I called.

"Night!" The old hunter replied.

As soon as my head hit the pillow I was out.

Over the next few days, I discovered that Bobby lived on canned food and beer while he researched anything and everything that other hunters needed help with on their hunts. I also found that his place was a mess, unorganized and it would be a miracle if you found what you needed in the span of an hour.

I took it upon my self to reorganize, and stock his fridge with things other than beer, beer and more beer. It was then that I also started making dinner, proper dinners, that would bring some light back to this hunters life.

And it did. He brightened up a little. And he got angry when I started cleaning the place. And he got angry when I tried to go on nearby hunts. And soon, we had a rhythm going, and all was going good. The boys would ring every now and then to see if we were alright. And inturn, we knew they were.

Months passed in the Salvage yard, It was now 2010, in February sometime. They had failed to kill Lucifer with the Colt, which somehow, I knew wouldn't work. We had taken a photo with all of us in it prior to their leaving. Cas, yes Cas, I call him that now, ruining the moment.

They hadn't let me go with them, in case they failed. But I wanted to go and I was sure that they knew that. Well, they did. And I felt guilty over what happened to the Harvells, that if I was there, they'd still be alive.

And since then, since coming here, the only case I could work was the zombie one. The one where the towns dead were rising. Only it took a turn and we had to 'gank' them, as Dean says.

Then I had to stay at a dingy motel for a few days as they had their brother, Adam, there. Who was brought back by Michael to be his vessel. Only that didn't pan out to well, Sam and Dean got to him first. But then he left. And now Michaels riding him.

And now they're preparing to go after the last hurrah. Bobby made a deal with some demon while I was out getting a few things. Now they know where Death is. They only need his ring now. But we have to wait for the demon to return.

Did I forget to mention the demise of the Trickster? Or that he found us a way to seal his brother back in his cage? Well, he did. We just need the rings of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. That's why we need Deaths ring.

The house was buzzing with the few of us that were left. Sam, Dean, Bobby and nearly human Cas. They were getting ready for what lay ahead. Meanwhile they expected me to stay behind.

But I had been doing my research. And I still had no idea on what was meant to happen. How I was going to be a fail safe if everything went down hill.

And through everything, I couldn't help but notice how close they all were. And how they were a family, with a home. And even though this was the end of the world, they'd managed to carve their own little patch of paradise. Even if it didn't seem like it to them.

So even if they didn't notice it. And even if they didn't make it, I was sure that wherever they ended up, they'd be happy, and they wouldn't have to be in the hunters life.

"What are you so happy about?" Dean snapped me out of my musings. They had been arguing about Sam giving himself up to Lucifer for the past day or two now. And I had caught Deans attention with my happy face.

"You." I said simply, "Sam. Bobby. Castiel." I had continued.

He just looked confused by that. "How is this good?"

"We're alive." I shrugged. "And after all that's happened we still have people to call family."

They all looked at each other, wondering why I had said such a thing. I didn't know if it was because they had no hope left, or if they had none to begin with. Even after what Castiel had said before the Harvells died, letting despair settle on us again.

But now, they looked at each other, between each other. And then they looked back to me. With something different in their eyes. Something that I hadn't seen in them before, or if I had, it had been a long time. And then Dean gave me a small smile, the look faded, but it was still there. "A seriously messed up family. With a snowballs chance at saving what we have..."

"Dean..." Sam warned.

"No, Sammy. She needs to hear this." Dean licked his top lip before looking me in the eye, "And we only have that. We don't know if this deal will go south... And if it does, well." He looked at Sam, then Bobby and back to me. "You'll be the only one left. And it'll be up to you to stop this crap with your... Whatever it is your meant to be able ta do." He gestured a little dramatically to me then.

"Dean... It is unknown even to Angels how she is meant to be able to stop this. We have just known that one will appear who can stop the Apocalypse, not how they will do so." Castiel looked at me apologetically, knowing that he was adding further to the atmosphere that was already heavy. Already getting to the point that they were doing everything they could just to get up and try to save the world. To stop this.

"Dang it. I'm stuck here with a bunch of morons who can't stop kicking gift horses in the mouth." Bobby raged while making for the front door. He didn't make any further comments as he wound his way through the salvage yard.

Sam was giving his brother a pointed look, which Dean returned with a heated glare. They seemed to know what the other was thinking, their own way of communing. It was then that I realised the look I had.

How hurt and lost I found myself. It was etched onto my face. I knew everything that had been happening. How sheltered I had been from everything, how they had protected me from it all.

And now it hit home. They were after Death, and he could kill them all. But we knew we had to risk it, had to take the chance. As the former archangel had stated, I was the fail-safe. The last resort for if this thing had to be aborted.

And it did. We weren't going to let the world end if we could help it.

"I'm sorry..."

"No, you're not Dean. You're right." He looked shocked, but I was right, he was right. "We just shouldn't have to think about all the negatives in this situation. We shouldn't just focus on everything bad that's happened to us. It hurts, I know. But we... We can't give up Dean. We can't just expect everything... I just can't." I put my hands up, signing I'm done before walking up stairs to the room I'd claimed. Laying face down into the pillows.

I didn't hear anyone follow me up hear. But after a few minutes of silence, muffled voices started. I strained to hear them from my spot and gave up before long. Only to find myself detached from everything. Fading into sleep.