When Lea awoke her body felt like lead and it took almost all her strength to pick her head up to see where she was. The last thing she remembered was Dean about to be mauled by a vampire. She pushed herself up off the bed and walked over to the door because she could hear people talking outside. "Cas there's something you're not telling us about that girl. She went full out scary at the nest. Wings grew out of her back and she had strength that was unnatural for a human and her eyes were black Cas. You know what that usually means in our type of work? So tell us the full truth Cas, who or what is that girl?" Dean bellowed.
"Dean I didn't tell you the rest of the story because I was unsure of it myself, it was all based on rumors and hear say. When Serra was on earth everyone claims that she was in love with a man who was always dress in a suit and tie with a Scottish accent, who was malicious except to Serra," Cas paused.
"Scottish accent, malicious and always in a suit. Sounds like someone we know," Sam said sarcastically.
"Crowley? Her father is frickin' Crowley? You have got to be kidding me. So not only is her mother an archangel but her father is the king of hell? And you didn't think that would be important information for us to now Cas, even if it was just a rumor?" Dean's voice had raised and Lea could feel his frustration even with the iron door that separated them. Lea backed away from the door, she couldn't bear to hear anymore. She backed herself back onto the bed on the opposite side of the room. Not only was she part angel but part demon as well? Could she be any more of an abomination? She didn't know what else to do, so for the first time since this whole mess started she cupped her face in her hands and let herself cry. She felt strong arms wrap around her and didn't even need to look at who it was that was holding her she recognized the familiar smell of cinnamon and watermelon that for some reason the angel always seemed to smell like. She clung to Castiel as she tried to regain her composure.
"It's okay to cry you know," he said softly in her ear as he stroked her hair. Once Lea felt that she had gotten everything out, she pulled away from the angel.
"I'm sorry Castiel, I didn't mean," she couldn't even finish the sentence.
"Like I said Lea it's okay to cry, it's a basic human need and after everything you have been through it's understandable," he said softly gazing at her with such a softness in his eyes that Lea could have just melted in his gaze.
"Still you have better things to be doing then comforting an abomination like me."
"You are far from an abomination, and I'm keeping my promise to always protect you, even if what you need protecting from is yourself," he said reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But that's what I don't understand, why would you protect an abomination?" she paused, "unless you plan on using my power for yourself to beat Raphael. Is that what I am to you Castiel, just some weapon?" Castiel just looked at her dumbfounded before shaking his head.
"Lea I have been looking after you for a long time, I've watched you grow. It's wasn't my job because truthfully I'm Dean's guardian angel but I did it because Serra was one of my sisters and I knew that you wouldn't be safe and I wanted to make sure that when the time came I would be able to protect you," he reached up to caress her cheek and lean found herself leaning into his touch, "but since meeting you, face to face it has become so much more." That caught Lea's attention and she turned her gaze from her lap up to meet the Angel's.
"More?" she questioned. He nodded a yes.
"I feel drawn to you in a way that I cannot explain. I feel the need to protect you and make sure that even when you cry I need to be by your side. I don't really understand it fully but I know that no matter how hard I try to shake this feeling I can't let you go." Lea understood that in heaven angels probably didn't understand what love was except for fatherly love but she knew that what he was explaining meant he felt something for her. She mustered up all her courage and leaned forward to kiss the angel who was clearly caught off guard by the action but then let his vessels body take over. The kiss was short but passionate as if they felt like it would be the last kiss of their lifetime and for all the pair knew it could be. Lea pulled away first,
"Castiel, I'm sorry I didn't mean," she stumbled over her words feeling like she had done something wrong, but Cas placed a finger over her lips to silence her.
"You need not apologize Lea, it was enjoyable for me and as long as you don't regret it we can call it mutual?" it seemed to be a question so Lea shook her head yes. The angel leaned in and kissed her again this time it was more familiar and longing. "Lea I hate to kill the mood but Sam and Dean think it's safer for you to stay here for your protection, and I have to get back to the battle," his eyes were filled with such sadness as he spoke.
"I understand Castiel," she said smiling. She knew that she had to be strong if for no one else but the angel that she was falling in love with. "Till next time," she said kissing his cheek, and then he disappeared again.
"Hey Lea," she heard Dean's voice from the panic room door. "Look me and Sammy are heading out on a case and we both feel like it would be safer to keep you here. Bobby will be right upstairs if you need anything, and there is plenty to read down here to keep you busy," Dean said sternly.
"Of course Dean, Come back safely okay?" she said smiling sweetly. He nodded and smiled before exiting the room.
It had been three days since Sam and Dean had left on a case but Bobby visited her often bringing her food, books and teaching her about hunting.
Lea sat on the bed reading a book about dragons, Bobby had just left to go to the store and said he would be back in about an hour when Lea heard footsteps outside her cell. Thinking it was Castiel she put the book down and walked over to the door, but before she got there it was thrown open.
"I heard the Winchester's were keeping a little pet down here, some big powerful weapon of heaven but I never expected to find a little girl like you," the man standing on the other side of the door said. He was well dressed in a black suit and his accent was very thick. Lea realized who he was immediately but tried not to give anything away, praying that since she didn't know about his maybe he didn't know about her or that she was his daughter.
"Who are you and what do you want?" she said backing away. According to Bobby this room was proofed from demons so as long as she stayed away from the door he couldn't touch her.
"Name's Crowley and I'm the new king of hell, and I just told you what I want. I wanted to see the human weapon that the Winchester's had found up close and personal. You see everyone is talking about you so I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Honestly I'm a bit disappointed," he said stepping to the very edge of the door frame. The demon looked her over. "Have we met before? You seem very familiar, step into the light and let me get a closer look at you," he said gesturing for her to step forward. Lea figured she was safe as long as she stayed far enough back so she slowly inched forward into the light. "Serra?" Crowley said with a look of shock crossing his face. "No can't be. You died, I looked for you for years," he stuttered.
"I'm not Serra, my name is Lea," she said softly.
"Lea, my mother's name was Leah you know, I always swore that if I had a girl I'd name her that but-" he paused as if he suddenly put the pieces of the puzzle together, "The only person I ever told that to was Serra." He stared at her unblinking and unmoving. "You're the child aren't you? They said Serra dies in child birth but the child was put into the system as much as I looked I couldn't track her down. It has to be you," he said.
"Yes Serra was my mother," Lea spoke, trying to act strong and proud like she knew an archangel's daughter would.
"I loved your mother you know. She was everything to me and it killed me to leave her, to leave you. You know who I am don't you?"
"You're my father," Lea whispered, "But did you know what my mother was?"
"An archangel yes I knew, and I didn't care I loved her all the same. Come here child let me look at you closer," he gestured for her to come closer, but Lea stayed still. "I promise not to hurt you, unless of course you are lying to me in which case I will ripe you to pieces." Lea took a deep breath and walked all the way to the door way and even stepped outside the boundary. She knew this man would not hurt her and even if he tried she could fight back.
Crowley reached up and touched her face, "You look just like her you know?" Lea could feel him invading her mind, her body trying to confirm that everything was true. "So it is true. Princess comes with me. I can help you harness your power so that you no longer need to hide in this cell. I'm the king of hell, no demon will touch you and if an angel tried I'll kill them," he spat the last line. Lea pondered the offer before remembering that if she were to leave she would never see Castiel,
"I can't. As much as I want to I have to stay here father," Lea said stepping back into the safety of her cell.
"It's the angel isn't it? He's what's keeping you from me, fine I guess I'll just have to kill him," Crowley said turning away to leave.
"No please don't!" Lea said grabbing his shoulder. "I'll go with you but you have to promise to leave everyone else out of this."
"You have my word," he said with a playful smile and with a snap of his fingers they were gone.
The Winchesters returned only a few hours later to find Bobby sitting on the couch with a distressed look on his face.
"Why so glum?" Dean said grabbing a beer from the fridge.
"We have a problem," he said.
"Oh good, what's it this time?"
"Lea's gone." The two brothers stared at him with vacant stares.
"Gone? Gone how?" Sam asked.
"I went to the store for fifteen minutes and when I came back the panic room door was wide open and she was gone. I think someone took her because the door was opened from the outside," Bobby explained.
"You don't think Raphael found her do you?" Sam said turning to Dean.
"Only one way to find out," he bowed his head, "Dear Castiel whom are fighting a war in heaven we have a problem so as soon as you can get here would be better."
"What is the problem Dean?" the angel said from across the room.
"Lea's missing, do you know if Raphael has her?" Sam explained quickly. Cas closed his eyes as if trying to find her.
"I can't see her, she's being hidden from me," Castiel said after moments of silence.
"Hello boys," came another voice from the kitchen.
"Oh great, what the hell are you doing here Crowley?" Dean said taking another long drink off his beer.
"I came to tell you that my little princess is safe in my possession so you don't worry your pretty little heads off that some big bad archangel took her," he said coyly.
"You son of a bitch," Dean said lunging for him but was stopped by his brother.
"Crowley returned her, you have no claim to her, she is of heaven," Castiel said.
"I have more rights to her then any of you lot! She is my kin, and I plan to teach her so that she doesn't have to rely on you for protection," Crowley growled. "Well I've said what I came to way. Cho boys," he said then disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
The room was quiet, everyone trying to understand what the hell had just happened. "So now the demons have the biggest nuke off all time in their possession? Anyone got any ideas on how to deal with this new development?" Dean finally said. They all looked from one another, no one really knowing what to do, for starters they didn't even know where she was, and she was barred from angel site.
Lea sat there waiting for Crowley to return from wherever he had disappeared from.
"Hello princess, miss me?" he said. "I think we should begin right away, so let's see what you can do," he said. Lea looked at him and then closed her eyes trying to find that light that she felt before. Slowly her wings began to appear and she groaned in pain, and once they were fully grown she looked up at Crowley. "Well at least you got my eyes," he joked. He snapped his fingers again and two men appeared. "Show me what you can do child," and with that the other two demons lunged at her.
It didn't take to long for Lea to have both men pinned up against the wall begging for mercy, she look back at Crowley who had been standing there watching the whole fight occur, asking for permission to kill these creatures. He nodded the go ahead, Lea let loose the power that she was feeling inside her and the two demons basically implode from the power. Lea heard a clapping form behind her, "Very good show darling, very good. But I think with some training you could do better," he said.