Here we go! I had to re-write this chapter so many times, it's not even funny. So this is more inbetween scenes from the episode. But I am pretty satisfied with it so I posted it. And I've decided that Ronnisaur is too awesome for words. Just thought I'd let everyone know that.
Castiel had revisited the lake several times during his short time as a mortal. The first time he had seen it, was several years ago when he had visited Dean in his dream, looking to tell him something important. The lake was vast, the trees bare as was customary for the fall season, the sky a slight overcast. Dean had been sitting in a chair, fishing line adrift in the water, gazing out across the lake's surface. Castiel hadn't thought much of it but with his recent humanity, it had become a sanctuary for him when he did manage to enter unconsciousness, a process he was still trying to perfect.
After conversing over canned foods with the generous man under the highway, he declared himself ready for sleep. The abandoned bus had been void of other humans and so Castiel had set himself up in one of the seats, using his jacket as a pillow and over-shirt as the blanket. After a bit of maneuvering, he slipped deeper into the incoming darkness.
Soon after slumber had grasped him, Castiel found himself sitting on the dock's edge, feet dangling a few inches above the water, watching the swaying of the small waves. He didn't know why he had never done this before. Something so simple as a lake but was incredible and beautiful because of its simplicity. The sky mirrored on the surface, the way that the lake knew its limits, staying behind its border along the shore line. Even the bare trees and brown, brittle grass was amazing. A life cycle heading toward hibernation, waiting for the months of sun and rain, waiting to return with vitality. Incredible.
He should have known it would not last.
With alarm he saw how the lake seemed to get darker in color, the small waves just a bit more harsher against the wooden dock's foundations that disappeared into the water. Turning sharply Castiel caught the sound of rustling at his back, a little to his right. Keeping his eye on the path behind him, he eased himself up, angel blade slipping out of his shirt's sleeve.
"Castiel."
Already tense, the ex-angel turned to look out at the lake, catching sight of the lone figure across the body of water from him. Tan complexion and young with dark chestnut hair around her shoulders, the small female was staring straight at him
"Castiel."
His name caused a slight jerk up his spine and she was suddenly gone. Slowly he did a glance around himself, not seeing the intruder anywhere. This was not good.
"Castiel, wake up."
The wind began picking up, a chill running through his blue shirt as he felt the air bite his skin. Feeling cold was also a new sensation, one he vaguely recalled in his rebellion.
"Wake up."
Spinning at how close the voice was, he almost gasped when seeing the strange young woman standing in the path leading to the dock, just a few feet away from him. His hand tightened around the blade's handle.
"Castiel, you need to wake up and go. Now." The small woman walked forward a step, causing him to back pedal, his arm raising in warning. She stopped when seeing his reaction.
"Who are you?"
"This is not the time, please wake up Castiel. You're in danger."
He was already shaking his head, different ways of defending and attacking bouncing through his mind. He flinched when she was suddenly in front of him, kept apart with only a few inches of space. He was even more concerned when realizing he couldn't move. Looking down, he saw the flash of angelic grace within the bright caramel eyes and he feared that he may die in his sleep by a sister's blade.
Instead she reached up, touching his forehead with two fingers. Before the blackness completely swallowed him, he heard her urgent voice, "Run."
His eyes snapped open, and immediately he felt the power of an angelic being near. Sitting up he glanced outside, but the area was clear. Nonetheless he was suspicious and slowly made his way toward the bus door, armed with his blade for the second time tonight. Eyes alert, he paused in the doorway, looking around the dark underbelly of the highway. Nothing. He needed to leave. Now. Turning to get his things he jolted when seeing the brown haired man wearing a long white coat reminiscent of a doctor.
A flash of silver and Castiel dodged the lunge but he felt the sting of pain on his upper arm and a warm liquid soaking into his shirt. He hissed, clutching at his wound.
"You're human?"
The question was rife with disbelief and surprise, causing a pause that was taken advantage of. Without preamble Castiel threw his arm back, jabbing the angel in the abdomen. The bus and surrounding area lit up with the blinding grace of a passing celestial being.
With a yank of a wrist, the body collapsed onto the floor, gaping hole in his stomach. Castiel paused to inspect his upper arm, blood staining his hands before glancing quickly out the windows. Nothing so far. Stepping over the crumpled form, he grabbed his jackets, always keeping an eye out for curious humans. Halting when looking at the still man, sorrow filled him at the death of another sibling, another sister or brother dying at his hand. Shoving the feeling aside, he hastily exited the bus, looking in the direction where he knew the other humans resided. No one seemed the wiser.
Working his way out from beneath the highway, Castiel froze when seeing the lone figure not more than thirty feet away from him. He ducked behind a cement column, making sure to keep himself hidden. The wetness of his fingers brought an idea, and he searched his small area for one more needed item.
"Castiel."
Soft footsteps came closer as he spotted what he required. Reaching slowly down while trying to remain hidden, Castiel grabbed the large piece of cardboard from within the bush that grew at his feet. Heart pounding in his ears, he quickly went to work, using his blood as he sketched out what could be his last resort for escape.
Rounding the column, dark eyes found the wanted ex-solider watching warily, keeping to one side of the pillar. Raising his hands, the new arrival walked slowly forward, his voice soft and low.
"Castiel, you have nothing to fear. I'm here to keep you safe from the others. Dean Winchester asked for our help."
Blue eyes narrowed at his statement and the Rit Zien knew he had made a mistake when mentioning the True Servant of Heaven. Slanted brown eyes widened when Castiel pulled out the sheet of cardboard. Words asking for help and money were faded after years of abandonment but it was the painted, dripping symbol that took his attention.
"Castiel, wait-!"
Slamming his hand against the seal, Castiel turned away as light exploded from the sigil. After the glow faded, the dark-haired mortal was alone, the oriental angel gone from sight. Taking the time to quickly rip a piece of shirt, Castiel tied off his wound before wrapping himself in his jackets to cover the injury. Folding the thick paper material and tucking it away to be disposed of later, Castiel gave a quick look around, deciding that the coast was clear and ran.
He didn't stop to think that the second light show had managed to draw anyone's attention, especially not his dinner partner. Said partner had seen Clarence take off deeper under the highway when he had headed out to bunk down. That was almost two hours ago and he had only woken up when he thought he'd seen a bright light. It was too quick for him to be sure and he chalked it up to being half asleep, but he did catch sight of the dark-haired man running out from the shelter of the interstate. After walking to the border between his world and the rest of society, he managed to see Clarence climbing into a large truck. The words 'Motor City Meats' gleaming under the street lights for a second when the truck picked up speed and continued onward. Shrugging his shoulders, he headed back under the structure to get some sleep. Clarence. Quite the weird one. A little out of it too.
Turning away from the blond-haired man, Dean reached into his suit jacket, the cell phone buzzing for attention. Looking up quickly to see Sam typing away on the laptop in the safety of the Impala, he chanced a look. A simple text.
Your four o'clock. -R
Raising an eyebrow at the message, Dean snapped the phone shut, eyes darting to his right. The cathedral's courtyard was empty, the bodies already gone and the area already processed by the local police. The homeless man he'd talked to had gone back to his chores, as the other men from the shelter were doing. He tensed when seeing the dark-haired man standing by the church's door.
Making sure no one was paying too much attention, Dean causally made his way over to the brunette who walked forward to meet him. He glanced back over his shoulder toward Sam, and was surprised that distance and structures kept him and the middle man out of his brother's ,and in turn, also out of Zeke's eyesight.
"Hello Dean."
"Why do you all greet me the same way, Jesse?"
The stoic man furrowed his eyebrows. "I believe that's how humans greet each other. It's been this way for quite a long time."
It was crazy to think how much Jesse reminded Dean of Cas. Well the pre-apocalyptic Cas. "What's the dealio? Ruth find anything?"
Dean could see how the first question threw the angel for a second, another furrowing of the eyebrows before his face cleared. "Well, it's been determined that this was a definite attack at finding information about Castiel. The way the humans died suggest a very aggressive form of interrogation."
"Yeah, we figured the torture had something to do with it. You got anything new?" As snappy as that was, Dean didn't find it in his heart to be apologetic. Jesse apparently didn't care either as he just gave a narrowed look before continuing.
"Yes, torture but Ruth seemed familiar with it."
"What's familiar about shish-kababing someone?"
Jesse choose to ignore Dean's comment. "I have never met or interacted with the faction Ruth suspects, I only know that they were a group of high authority tasked with giving orders to the lower ranks, organizing missions, things of that sort. More or less, an intelligence division within Heaven."
Intelligence division? That sounded familiar in a really bad way. "Ruth didn't happen to mention an angel named Naomi, did she?"
Jesse gave a shake of his head. "She gave no names but left to investigate this new development."
Dean nodded at the information. The last thing they needed was Naomi after Cas. "Anything else?"
"Ruth had mentioned that Abigail renamed the group I-Ops, but also called them 'secret squirrels.' I have yet to understand the secrecy involving arboreal rodents."
Dean ignored the rodent bit. "Abby knows what's going on?"
"Ruth does not hide much from Abigail, she feels it wrong to keep her blind about what is happening. Forewarned is forearmed. Abigail, like Castiel, is also hunted by the angels."
Jesse's last words echoed in his head and Dean gave the younger man a glare. He needed a few things clarified. "About that, let me ask you a question, Jesse. You yourself are an angel, so what's stopping you from turning on Abby? What's keeping Ruth from killing Abby?" His hand itched to grab the angelic dagger hidden in his suit jacket.
Jesse seemed taken back by the question, mild shock flashing across his face, one of the few emotions Dean had seen the angel express. "Our garrison is made up of angels that are different and were cast aside by the others. Ruth took us in. As Abigail is persecuted for merely existing, there is a sense of kinship with her. We treat her as a sister."
"She's a vessel for Ruth, trapped in her own body. Is that how you treat a sister?"
Jesse's head tilted slightly, much like Cas and, strangely enough, Abby. "She is not trapped Dean. Not all the time."
Dean's eyebrows pulled together. What does that mean?
Jesse was oblivious to his slip, looking up to the sky before meeting Dean's gaze. "I must return soon but there is one last thing to discuss. We made contact with Castiel last night."
Dean felt like stabbing the male angel in the neck. "Why didn't you say anything before?!"
"It had not come up."
Just count backwards. Deep, slow breaths. Relax. "What happened?" Dean managed to kept the question just below a growl.
"Ruth tracked him down through his subconscious, but there was an angel near by and she only had time to warm him. He prevailed against the attack. As Ezal is a Rit Zien, he was able to trace the angel's death to the last location, east of this cathedral."
"And, what happened? You got Cas stashed somewhere safe?" Dean ignored the 'Rit Whatnot' comment for now.
Jesse's face was grim. "There were complications."
"Come on, Jesse, just give me a straight answer. What happened?" Really, just a quick jab. It'd be therapeutic for Dean.
"Castiel, in his panic, used a banishing sigil when Ezal arrived to assist. Now Ezal and Castiel have vanished."
This close, this close, to finding Cas. "What's Ruth doing about it?"
"The rest of our garrison is searching the area that Ezal disappeared from and Ezal himself, while she is searching for the angels responsible for both the attacks on the priests and the attempt on Castiel. Because of the failed attack, Ruth believes that the offending garrison will try again to find and dispatch him. She is also concerned with who is leading this force."
Dean suddenly felt very tired. First the fall, then Sam and Zeke. Now there were a bunch of pissed off angels looking for Cas. What he wouldn't give for monster of the week right now. Those were simpler days.
"Dean, I must go."
Jesse was staring up again, his face pensive. Dean wondered if he was listening to Angel FM.
"Well, use text as a heads up, can't have Sam and Ezekiel suspicious."
"Of course." A flutter and the Winchester male was alone.
Dean sighed, rubbing a hand against his neck. "Can't catch a break."
Giving the Cathedral another look around, Dean was happy to note that no one had noticed the angelic Houdini and so made his way back to Sam and the Impala. He didn't think it could get any worse.
A couple days later found Dean sitting on the Impala's hood, the sun setting in the background, coloring the bunker's entrance in a mix of gold, orange, and purple. In one hand a shot glass, in the other a near depleted bottle of amber liquid. He was trying to get the last few days of memory to blur, to help him forget for a while. Mostly Cas' face when telling him he had to leave just hours earlier. Knocking his head back, the alcohol simmered and burned on its way down, harsh and yet comforting as only it could.
The sound of wings didn't stop his refill, if anything it made it more necessary. He ignored the celestial being until something was placed on the hood next to him. Two six packs of El Sol and three bottles of whiskey.
"Abigail suggested gifts."
"A woman after my own heart." He tried sarcasm but it fell short in the end.
Looking up, honey brown eyes watched him, a bit of concern in her eyes. He didn't care to wonder how Abby knew to get this particular brand of beer but he wasn't gonna question it. Finishing off his original drink, he placed that aside, reaching for the slim glass bottle from the cardboard carrier. As much as he drinks these days, throwbacks always brought with them better memories of simpler times.
"You find Ezal?"
Ruth perched herself on Dean's left, eyes trained on the sunset. "Yes. Took quite a long time but he was found. He is resting now."
"Good."
It was silent, the only sound being the quiet gulps from Dean. It didn't last more than three minutes.
"I'm sorry Dean. For not being more helpful."
Ruth was glancing over at the older man, watching his reactions no doubt. He was a bit upset but that wasn't her fault. It had nothing to do with her and more with him.
"Listen, those text messages helped out a lot. There isn't anything to be sorry for."
It was true. Both Sam and Dean had been about to leave the homeless camp under the bridge, Detroit being their next destination, when his phone buzzed. Dean had ignored it until they stopped at a gas station to refuel and grab food, waiting until Sam entered the store before whipping the phone out.
Bounty on Castiel. Rogue reapers. Be careful. -R
They had just entered city limits when the next text almost caused Dean to curse up a storm. Good thing Sam had taken a nap at that time or he wouldn't have been able to keep quiet.
Too many reapers in city. Will fight off. Find Castiel. Quickly.
Those texts had given him the advantage he needed. He had waited for the perfect time to mention their tail to Sam, telling him about the "gum stuck to our shoes." A late night pie raid was orchestrated and they were able to catch the reaper who'd been following them.
They hadn't run into any more reapers after that, and he wondered if it was due to Ruth and her team fighting them off. Looking over at the female angel, Ruth didn't seem to have any injuries on her person, but she could have easily healed by now.
"How bad was the fighting?"
Ruth's fists clenched before relaxing. "I lost a sister and seven other siblings were injured. It was a risk but I had to intervene. In total, one hundred and thirty seven reapers. They knew Castiel was in the city and rushed our line of defense. We disposed of the dead and released those we could from possession."
He was nodding, glad it had worked out for her. Looking back, asking Zeke to help search for Cas could have caused a problem but apparently he hadn't caught on. Silence returned and he started to fidget. He had a favor to ask her but he was worried about what she would say.
"You can ask Dean. I won't judge."
He'd forgotten about the mind reading thing. "Listen, about Cas-"
"I know he is gone, Dean. We have been shadowing you since you left Detroit, picking off those who attempted to follow. I saw Castiel leave several hours ago."
It was actually worse than he thought. It was one thing to tell her he wasn't here, but to have her see Cas leave left a bad taste in his mouth. Her being witness to the hurt he had caused his friend filled him with shame and guilt. He was thankful she didn't mention anything. "With Sam still recovering from the trials, it seemed like a risk to have Cas around."
"You don't need to explain yourself Dean. If Sam were healthier, it would not be a problem. If I had been able to come to your aid in the first place, all three of you would be here together."
Jumping off the hood Dean waved her away. "Don't start that, it won't do any good. No matter what we could have changed then, this is how things are now. The only thing we can do is focus on what's in front of us. So, you heard Naomi is dead?"
Ruth nodded. "Fortunately yes. Unfortunate as I was not the one who delivered the blow."
"Is this more bad blood?"
Ruth gave a very human shrug to the question. "Somewhat but not quite. More along the lines of sibling rivalry. She wanted the office job, I took field work. But she and I have never gotten along well, her job only widened the gap."
"And what about Bartholomew?"
"I'm hoping for a similar fate to befall him as well."
Dean was surprised by how mean Ruth was being. "Okay, besides your Christmas wish, what can you tell me about him?"
"He is like Naomi but much more calculated. Naomi would give off a illusion of cordial but was ruthless behind backs. Her protégé has no illusions. He will manipulate and torture for his own gains. In ways he is much worse than Naomi."
Dean cursed, glancing to Ruth for her react to the expletive. She ignored him, her head tilted to the side, a indicator of Angel FM.
"Can you keep an eye on Cas for me?" The question had blurted out without being filtered and Dean was now staring at Ruth with wide eyes. He blamed the alcohol. Thinking better of his request, he added the proverbial cherry. "Please?"
Ruth hopped down as well, giving a soft smile. "I mean no offense but I've had others in my garrison following him from the moment he stepped out of the bunker. Last thing we need is to lose him after just finding him."
Dean's shoulders sagged, his body and mind feeling that same type of exhaustion that had wore him down in the past years. The relief at finding Cas had been destroyed by Zeke telling Dean he would leave if Cas didn't, thus being a risk to his brother who needed the angel to get better. Sam for Cas, that was the deal. And damn it all if he didn't feel horrible about it, especially with Cas' upset face cropping up in his memory. On the other hand, if Zeke did leave, Dean might be able to get Ruth or Ezal, as he was some type of medic, to heal Sammy up. It held water but Dean had also promised his help in return, for Zeke to heal up at the same time. God, he was giving himself a headache. Dean took a long pull from the bottle of beer to wash it away.
"I really do appreciate the help Ruth. I want you to know that."
"For not being able to assist you for many years, I should be thanking you Dean. Castiel will be monitored and protected at all times of day and night, so please try to rest your mind and soul." A flutter later, Dean was alone.
A sigh and the opening of another bottle. "I wish Ruth. I wish."
Not sure if you can put the banishing sigil on cardboard and have it work but guess what. It does today. Let me know what you think. -Mez