I do not own Supernatural.
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As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
 Proverbs 27:17

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Even though they were filthy; clothes stained and hair and skin dirty, Micah insisted that they stop at a diner for fuel and food. Castiel didn't argue, at the mention of food his stomach rumbled, cramping pain the whole way.

Sitting in the booth, Castiel looked around the red and white diner in some hope to recognise the place but it didn't. The only thing it did remind his of was his hunger.
A waitress stood beside them, commenting on how they were the first customers of the morning, grinning from ear to ear as she waited.
'We'll grab two of the breakfast specials. I'll have a coffee, black and he'll have…'

Castiel looked up, Micah first then the lady.
An amused smile from Micah had the lady frown, a hand on her hip.
'I'll just get you a glass of juice then huh? Too early for you is it hun?' she laughed and tapped his chin gently. Confused, Castiel shuffled away, leaning on the window as he looked across the table top to Micah. She was still smiling, resting her chin in her hand as she leant on the table, watching him.
'She likes you; maybe we could get a discount.' She winked and Castiel raised an eyebrow.
'How will that give us a discount?'

Leaning back, Micah fiddled with her hair, braiding it over her shoulder as she studied him. For the first time he felt uneasy as those eyes examined him. A complete stranger, what was he thinking? For all he knew she could have been the one that did this to him, could be playing a cruel game on him but Micah's smile was genuine, her worry and care for him sincere. For all he knew he could have been one of these hunters.

'I don't know Cass, haven't you looked in a mirror?' she laughed, thanking the lady as she received her coffee and Castiel grinned at the lady as the orange drink was placed in front of him. She lingered and Castiel looked up at her.
'Breaky won't be far darling, you look like you could eat a horse!' Again she tapped his chin and Castiel frowned when she was gone, a questioning gaze to Micah who just sipped her coffee.
'Oh come on,' Micah chuckled, pouring a sachet of sugar into her drink. Castiel twisted the glass on the table as he examined it, Micah looking at him unbelievable.
'It's orange juice.'
'Yes I know that. It is orange and the lady did say she would give me juice, but what is it? And why would I want to eat a horse?'

Castiel never knew eyebrows could rise so high and Micah was failing at hiding her smile.
'Just drink it.'
As Micah took another drink of her coffee, Castiel lifted the cold glass, bringing it to his lips and met Micah's eyes across the rim of the glass.
As soon as the juice hit his tongue, he recoiled away, slamming the glass back onto the table as he coughed. The liquid stung down his throat and he tried to catch his breath as Micah burst into laughter.

'Oh hun, try to drink it too fast?' The lady was back, placing too plates in front of them before patting Castiel firmly on the back. She waited until Castiel looked up at her, raising a hand to stop her and she gave a toothy grin.
'I'm not far away if you need me.' She said and with a scrutinising look, mumbled something and left them.
'Why would we need her?'

Micah had already sliced into some cooked tomato and sausage, barely chewing it before getting another bite. Inspecting his own plate of food, Castiel could not stop his mouth from watering and poked at the egg.
'Don't worry Castiel. She just likes you.'
'But what did I do to deserve that, besides swallowing that… bleach?'

Micah laughed around a mouthful of food, eyes gleaming as Castiel began to shovel down his food.
'Well, just from looking at you anyone can tell that you're a good man,' She avoided his eyes as she bit into her toast, swallowing it down like a starving man with a gulp of warm coffee, 'and you just give off a… childlike feeling.' She gave him a shrug when Castiel paused, wanting to know what she meant. 'I mean, of course you not a baby or anything it's just that, you seem so innocent. Your easy on the eyes to.'

Tilting his head, Castiel wondered what she meant but Micah's cheeks became slightly red but she brushed it off.
'You should ask the waitress what time she gets off.'

Micah had well and truly finished her breakfast by the time the waitress came back to gather her plate, handing her a newspaper and ordered another cup of coffee. She flicked through the pages, leaning back comfortably in the chair as she read. Castiel had to eat slower, his stomach aching like he had barely touched food for years. Now that his hunger was gone, Castiel could feel his thoughts running a lot smoother but shamefully he could still not recall anything. He observed Micah as she was engrossed in the newspaper, trying to learn as much as he could of her.

She was a quick reader, eyes moving across the page as she read every detail. The way she didn't even notice her coffee being placed on the table… no she noticed. Without taking her eyes off the page she grabbed the coffee, bringing it to her lips with a sigh. She was observant, even without her eyes and intelligent; that much he could tell by the way her eyes drank in everything. He never knew he could be so scrutinizing, but he couldn't help but find his eyes locked on her whenever he had the chance. Sitting in the passenger's seat as she spoke to him about where she found him, drinking her in. Her fingers reached up and twisted in a lock of her hair, brows furrowing.

'Can I ask a question?' Castiel asked and swallowed his last piece of salty bacon. Glancing at him for a second, Micah nodded and returned to her reading.
'You said that you were a hunter, of things that couldn't possibly be real…'
A family walked through the door, greeted by the waitress and lead to their seats not that far from them. Lowering his voice, Castiel pushed his plate aside and leant an arm on the table.
'Yes,' she said, trying to think of where this was heading.
'How do you know? Like when and where there is a hunt, do people call you?'

A soft laugh filled Castiel's ears and she turned to face him, lowering the paper down in front of her. Fingers traced down the paper and stopped on a paragraph. Reading it upside down, Castiel felt his own eyebrows frown.

"Police Hunting Satanic Predator"

Micah was already smiling at him when he looked back up.
'Read the paragraph.' She mumbled and twisted the paper around for him as she finished off her coffee. Castiel found the article, reading it through quickly.
Murdered and missing tourists, those found drained of blood are female while male partners are still missing…

'What do you think?'
How would he know? He shrugged and turned the paper back around the Micah, who just smiled reassuringly.
'Vampire.'
The family behind them paused and gave the both of them a strange look. Noticing that it was quieter, Micah turned and draped an arm over the back of the chair, raising an eyebrow at them until they turned back to their pancakes and bacon.

Castiel however did not quite approve of Micah being so intimidating.
'Any way, that's how we check things. Sometimes it is nothing but other times it is.' He wasn't sure what to say, how to answer that so he simply nodded. Noticing, Micah reached out and took hold of his hand.
'Hey, if you don't want to do this, I can drop you off at Colorado.'
Violently Castiel shook his head, staring directly into Micah's face.
'No! I just, I wouldn't know how to hunt them.'
The smile that appeared on Micah's face was again not what he had been expecting and reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small black leathered wallet, dropping some money onto the table and folding the newspaper under her arm.
'Come on then, we can make it there before nightfall.'

'I think it was…` Castiel leant back in the seat as he thought, pulling a face as he laughed, 'salt? Salt stops spirits?'

Micah nodded, clapping her hand on the steering wheel as she kept her eyes focused on the road in front of them. A few hours ago they had stopped at a small market, Micah buying him some cleaner fresh clothes and restocking on salt. Castiel had questioned and now he was learning Supernatural 101.

'Hunters load them into gun shells; great ghost and spirit repellents.'
'I noticed it around the house before, along the windows and doors.'
Micah nodded again, looking at him briefly.
'Can never be too careful. Keeps them out long enough for us to get ready.'

Castiel smiled, looking back out the window as the landscape flew past him. Already Micah was referring to us, we. But how long was he going to be staying with her? Surely he had a life of his own, a family and people looking for him? How did Micah trust him so much?
When would he remember?

'Thank you, Micah. I appreciate everything you have done for me.'
Micah shook her head, relaxing back into the driver's seat.
'Yeah, yeah, we'll see about that. Survive a day with me without turning me over to the cops or being buried first. '
She laughed at the confused look Castiel gave her, 'don't worry, I'll show you a few things. It's nice to have a companion again.'

'I just wish there was something I could give in return.'
Castiel fiddled with his nails before watching the road travel in front of them.
'Don't turn me over to the cops, don't die and… just remember who you are.'
Micah gave him a sad look, and Castiel couldn't help but smile.

'Just see this as… a new beginning for yourself.'
'And you.' Castiel pointed out, nodding back to Micah who gave him a gentle grin.

The ground was rough beneath him as Castiel tried to catch his breath, the sharp punch to his stomach knocking almost all the wind out of him. He was reduced to a gasping mass, staring up at the blue sky between the trees.

A hand cut across his vision, and he followed the bare arm until he met Micah's green eyes. She was panting, skin flushed and blonde hair falling from the pony tail.
'Sorry,' she chuckled and grabbed his hand, hauling him to his feet. Castiel hunched over, tired from the hour of "training".

They had checked into the motel not that long ago, dropping their stuff before finding a quiet place for Micah to show him some skills.

'You are, rather amazing.' Micah said, picking up the wooden stakes and machete from leaning against the tree. 'How did you know all that?'
'I have no idea.' Castiel smiled; unsure himself as to how he had that sort of strength or skill. But Micah seemed impressed and the more she showed him, the more he had the feeling that he had been a hunter. Some of those moves and instinctive reactions were not something a lawyer or simple manager would know. Even now, every time he closed his burning eyes, he could see fighting.

The large dark skinned man approached him, frowning with disappointment. The wall behind him was destroyed and Castiel could feel the blood filling his mouth…

'Hey, are you alright?'
Micah had stopped walking, just outside their room. Her hand was gripping his shoulder firmly as he pressed his own to his temple.
'Yeah fine, just got a headache.'
Opening the door, Micah laughed and playfully shoved him in through the door.
'I was a bit tough on you. I'll go easy next time.'

Castiel laughed, swallowing down a cold glass of water as Micah shut herself in the bathroom. As he heard the shower start, Castiel flopped onto one of the single beds. The small room was cold and as he wiped away the sweat from his brow, he couldn't help but think that this was the best time to get away. He could take her keys, take her car and drive… but where would he go? How would he support himself? He barely even remembered what it felt to run, to feel water run down his throat.

A door clicked and Castiel sat up, eyes falling onto Micah. Her wet hair looked almost brown in the light as she searched through her bag. Averting his eyes, Castiel tried to find something else to look at and he was sure he heard Micah laugh.
'Keep facing that way.'

Obeying, Castiel cleared his throat, trying to think of anything to say.
'So I'm going to run out and grab something to eat; any preference?'
Shaking his head, he almost jumped when Micah grabbed her keys, walking past him to the door. Her smile was bright in the dark room and Castiel marvelled at the woman who simply frowned back.
'Right. Well, I'll be back. I saved you some hot water.'

Like that she was gone and Castiel released the breath he had been holding. Running a hand through his hair and down his jaw, he felt the dirt and stubble.
He needed a shower.

The water was blistering but he was grateful to scrub off the dried blood from his body. It terrified him not knowing whose blood it was on him; he could not find any open wounds besides the small deep gashes he had along his chest and one down his arm.
It was like having a bad hangover, no memory of the night before only he could not remember anything at all.
Had he ever had a hangover?

Stepping out of the shower, Castiel wiped the steam off the small mirror, staring at the man reflected back. In a way it was comforting to know that he was not as hideous as he felt, but it still did not feel like his own face. It was strange to look at his body, learn what it looked like and how it worked. Lean arms were shaped well and body fit but not overly muscular, at least it meant he was a healthy man. The dark stubble on his jaw was almost the same colour of his now damp hair but he didn't like it.
Grabbing the razor, he began to tidy himself up, inspecting his face and his eyes.

They were so blue and sharp but all he could think of was the pale green ones of the young woman he was in the company of.
He had to stop thinking of her; as Castiel looked back in the mirror, he realised he had to be at least thirty where as Micah still seemed to be a teenager. Castiel needed sto slap himself for thinking of her in such a way. She had done so much for him, he just had to think of a way to repay her; other than no dying.

Stepping out of the bathroom, he checked to make sure Micah wasn't there and pulled out a new pair of sweat pants, tugging them on just as Micah stepped through the door, locking it behind her. Castiel could almost feel her eyes scanning across his bare chest but she smirked, placing the bag on the table.
'Grubs up.'

Slipping on a black shirt, Castiel kicked the towel into the bathroom, completely forgetting how he looked or whether he was a hunter or not as he sat down with Micah.
For now, he didn't care what his past was, only what tomorrow was going to bring.

Ok, a kind of boring chapter but hey, i cant have you guys having fun all the time.
Back to work for the rest of the week so hopefully i can udate by the end or early next week.
Thank you for all your comments and feedbacks, specially DeanCasLover22,
love you all

Silver-Kirin
xXx