That You've Forgiven Me
After Addy and 'her' angel had disappeared, Dean jumped up and yelled at his angel, "What the hell is going on Cas? Who the fuck was that?"
Castiel solemnly answered him saying, "I don't know why Dean, but Raphael has taken Adelaide."
"Come again? Who has taken Lay?" Dean asked angrily.
Castiel opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by Toby's elated voice calling out from the kitchen. "Dad! Dad! You're here!"
The angel turned to leave but Dean reached out and grabbed his arm, warning in a low severe tone, "Don't you dare leave me here alone to explain all of this to Toby!"
"But Dean I…"
"Dad! You got here a lot faster than I thought you would," Toby exclaimed as he wrapped Dean in a quick hug. "Have you seen Mum? Oh… Of course you have! Doesn't she look great? It's almost like she was never gone or something. And she said that she wants to start hunting again. So I was thinking, maybe the three of us could go out and do a hunt together this summer. Or maybe more than one. I'm a really good shot now, you know… Hey… Wait… Where's Mum hiding?"
Castiel stared at the young teen wide-eyed for a moment because he still wasn't used to Toby's rapid fire fashion of talking. After he had regrouped himself, he looked to Dean and stated, "I will let you know when I have found something of worth, Dean. Tobias, I'm… I'm sorry, but I will have to keep the knife you lent me for a little while longer."
Toby looked between the two adult males with a confused look on his face then asked, "Why? Now that Mum's home, you don't really need it to find her because she'll be with us… Well with Dad… Right? Dad?"
Dean looked at Castiel for support, but the angel just quietly said, "I will be in touch as soon as I know more. Again I'm very sorry."
"Bastard," Dean cursed under his breath once Castiel left him alone with his son.
"Dad? Where's Mum?" Toby questioned when Dean avoided eye contact. When Dean didn't answer, Toby's tone shifted from sad concern to agitated as he repeated, "Dad… Where is Mum?"
"Buddy… We need to talk," Dean started calmly as he led Toby to the couch.
They stared at each other and Toby's eyes started to water before any more words were spoken. "Dad… Where's Mum?" He questioned again with an anguished tone.
"I don't know Toby," Dean answered softly. "We were here together talking and then another angel showed up… And then they were gone."
"Another angel? Who was it? Where'd they go?"
"I'm not one hundred percent sure… Lay called her 'Ariel', but Cas called her 'Raphael'…" Dean explained.
"Raph… Raphael? You mean like the Arc angel? The one that killed Cas when you went after Lilith? The one that came after you guys at Balthazar's house? The one that started the war with Castiel for control of Heaven? That Raphael?" Toby asked in a fairly detached voice in an attempt to keep his tears at bay.
"Yes, the one and the same," Dean quietly replied.
"AND YOU'RE STILL CALM?" Toby shouted accusatorily as he jumped up off the couch.
"Yes I am Toby because we have to keep a level head if we're going to find her," Dean answered gently, pulling his son back to the couch.
"But Dad, Raphael has her! What's he going to do to her? Why would he want her?" The teen frantically questioned.
"I don't know Toby, I really don't. Cas is going to work on the why while he's trying to find her… And that's where you come in too Buddy," Dean continued in the same soothing tone.
"Me? How can I help?" Toby asked timidly.
"The same way you always do Buddy… Research. I'm… We're really going to need your help with research," Dean explained. "You're an expert at it, so what do you say? Think you can put your skills to work for us?"
"What… What do you need me to look into?"
"Well I was thinking… Maybe if we know more about Raphael…" Dean started slowly.
"Then maybe we can figure out what he might want with Mum," Toby cut in still sounding quite unsure and upset.
"Exactly. Do you think you can help me out with that?"
Toby nodded softly while a couple of tears trickled down his cheek. He scrubbed his cheeks with his shirt sleeves as he got up and made his way over to the bookshelf.
"Toby? Are you okay Buddy?" Dean questioned from his spot on the couch.
Toby had pulled down a few books he would need and stared at them as he nodded in response. Then he turned around and asked, "Why? Why did it HAVE to be her? Why couldn't the stupid angels kidnap someone else? Why did he take Mum?" Dean remained mute, but offered his son a sympathetic smile. "I hate this stupid fucking war," Toby grumble quietly to himself looking down at the text in his hands.
Dean's eyes grew wide as Toby's words hit his ears, but the teen just turned back to the shelves. He continued to read through the titles trying to find more books on the topic at hand.
"Toby!" Dean finally scolded in an uncharacteristically parental tone when his son offered no apologies.
The teen jumped slightly then turned to face his father. He was used to seeing that scowl on his Mom's face when he had gone against Maureen's wishes, but Toby wasn't prepared to see Dean wearing that same expression. He instantly felt a pang of guilt in the pit of his stomach akin to the feeling he had had the one and only time Dean had raised his voice to discipline his son in the past.
"I'm sorry Dad," Toby apologized swiftly. "I didn't mean to… I'm so sorry."
Dean's face softened then he replied, "It's okay, but Buddy you really have to watch the language. I know that Lay and I keep the rules kind of lax when you stay with us, but you can't talk like that… Especially when you're around Mo. We had had to promise her that hunting wouldn't cause any major changes in your behavior. If you slip up and cuss in front of her, then that's it Buddy, no more working with us."
"I know and I'm really sorry Dad. I promise, it won't happen again," Toby apologized quickly.
"Good to hear because as good as Sam is, I really don't want to lose my number one researcher," Dean gently teased as he stood and pulled Toby into a comforting hug.
"I swear, I'll be more careful," Toby vowed once again into Dean's shoulder.
"Good to hear. So… Do you have everything you need?" Dean asked as he picked up the books Toby had pulled out and put them into a bag.
Toby grabbed down a few more volumes and added them to the collection already in the bag. He gave the remaining books a long, lingering look, but decided that he had all of the books that he needed from this particular collection.
"Yeah, I think that's all that I need from Mum's library," the younger Winchester finally answered.
Dean wrapped his arm around his son's shoulders, picked up his school bag and then led Toby towards the Impala. After they were comfortable in their seats, Toby turned towards his father and asked, "Do you really think we'll find Mum and get her back?"
Dean reached over, gripped Toby's shoulder and answered, "You bet your ass we will Buddy." Toby stared at Dean wide-eyed and unsure how to reply. "Hey, we're not at your house yet, so it's better for us to get it out before we're within Mo's earshot." Toby continued to stare at Dean, completely dumbfounded. "Seriously Buddy, this is your last chance to get it out."
The teen looked at Dean and took deep breath, but remained silent. "Honest Toby, I won't get mad at all. Just say whatever you're feeling right now, no filter needed."
"Okay… Well in all honesty… I'm sick and tired of all of these dumbass, stupid, dick-faced angels that keep popping into our lives and fucking with us all." When Toby was done, he threw his hand up over his mouth and nearly chanted, "I'm sorry" over and over through his fingers.
"Okay," Dean started somewhat surprised. "Is it all out of your system?"
Toby maintained a firm grip on his mouth as he nodded his head vigorously.
Dean chuckled and patted Toby on his upper back. "That's good to hear because I need you to help me get Lay home so I can have a little chat with her about that potty mouth she taught you."
The young teen cracked an amused smile and replied through his laughter, "Dad did you just say 'potty mouth'?"
Dean shrugged then nonchalantly said, "Well, you've got to admit, you can curse like a sailor and I'm know I didn't teach you that."
*************
Change of POV
*************
"But it's impossible for us to find them since Castiel hid them," a rough male's voice stated flatly.
"Yes, those sigils have proven to be quite the nuisance, but I trust that you will be able to overcome the obstacle Virgil," a female answered. "The only thing that matters is that they all die in the end."
A few other voices shared in the soft laughter that that statement induced and the first male cleared his throat before somberly saying, "If I go after Balthazar first, he may lead me to the other two."
"Perfect. I have every confidence that you will be successful," the female commented. "Now, it appears that she is waking up, so go and be swift in battle my brothers."
I tried to stay as quiet and as still as possible, but I heard 'Ariel' acknowledge that I was awake, so I let out a heavy sigh and rolled over onto my back. As I sat up, I gently touched my stomach and nearly shrieked with surprise.
"Adelaide how was your rest?"
I ran my hands over the bump on my belly, ignored her question and asked, "How long have I been sleeping?"
She sat down beside me and petted my face answering, "Not as long as you think… You have only been with me a couple of days this time."
She then gripped my midsection and closed her eyes in deep concentration. As her hands started to glow brightly, I had to close my eyes tightly to block out the blinding glare. Her grip instantly became almost uncomfortable, but I found myself unable and unwilling to struggle out of her hold.
After what felt like only a few minutes, I could feel her release me from her grasp so I slowly opened my eyes.
"Ariel… What did you do?"
She sneered and replied while rolling her eyes, "Adelaide stop acting like a child and use my proper name."
I gripped my belly and asked, "Okay… Well… Then who's 'Ariel'?"
She stood up and poured a glass of water answering somewhat condescendingly, "I don't know, a cartoon mermaid with red hair?" She thrust the glass of water with some pills in my direction. "Here, take these."
I took the pills and the glass of water, but I wasn't able to ask my next question aloud before she sharply cut in, "They're just vitamins. We need to make sure your baby is healthy, don't we?"
I swallowed them down then meekly questioned, "But what did you do Ari… Raphael? If I've only been here a few days, how am I already showing?"
The angel smiled and snickered saying, "Well it's somewhat unorthodox, but I really don't want to prolong this ordeal any more than I have to… Although it seems to be a lot easier and faster when you're sleeping."
She leaned in closer and I jumped off the bed to increase the distance between us then asked in a low harsh tone, "But what did you do?"
"Oh relax Adelaide, the baby is fine. I just used my grace to expedite the gestation process. Please, let's dispose of the melodramatics," Raphael replied sounding both exasperate and annoyed.
"And why do you angels give a shit about me and my unborn child?" I spat out at her.
At that she threw her hands up in a sign of friendly surrender. She then turned her back to me and seemed to have a non-verbal debate with herself before turning back to me. The angel then replied with a soft shrug, "Well Lucifer needs his vessel doesn't he?"
"Lucifer? But… But he has Sam," I countered as I gingerly sat down on the bed in disbelief. "Just like Michael has Dean. They're supposed to battle to death to end the Apocalypse."
"Yes… That's true, they WERE supposed to," she replied pointedly. "But that all changed when you gave birth to that little bastard of yours."
I stared at her with my mouth hanging open, so she corrected herself saying in an insincere tone, "Oh… So sorry, you call him your 'beloved Toby'."
"Toby? No, but it's Dean and Sam… It all ends with them," I commented still in a haze of confusion.
"No Adelaide, it was SUPPOSED to end with them, but now we know that they aren't the end of the bloodline. No it all will come to its inevitable conclusion with the end of the Winchester lineage. We all thought that meant Dean and Sam… Although that was until we found out about Dean's son." She watched my face contort from disbelief to confusion and then she added, "Yes… Because you two couldn't keep your pants on, it now ends with Toby… Oh and the little player to be named later."
I stood and stepped back away from her again, gripping the bump at my midsection asking, "Why? Why are you telling me all of this?"
She appeared behind me as I started to back away and replied, "What harm is it to tell a dead woman the truth?" before she tapped my forehead so that I would pass out.
I rolled over and woke up lying on my back, gripping my stomach tightly. Although I was certain that I had only been asleep for a few hours, my stomach had grown as if I had been asleep for a month.
After I had assured myself that I was alone, I sat up, rubbed my belly adoringly and asked, "So baby? How are we going to get ourselves out of this one? I'm pretty sure that Raphael has hidden from our favorite angel…" I started to breakdown in tears, but still kept talking to ease my pain. "Do you think we can reach him? Maybe if we try together he'll be able to find us."
I stood up off the bed and found that I couldn't stop touching the new life growing in my body. I needed to find something, anything that could help me. I pulled open the few drawers I could find in hopes of uncovering a knife, a letter opener, or anything with a pointy edge, but there were of course none. I rapidly moved between window coverings, but once again didn't find an actual window. Instead, I uncovered bricks where there should have been glass.
The baby started to kick rapidly, so I stroked my stomach and commented in a soothing tone, "It's okay baby, it's okay. Mummy's going to figure out a way out of this… We're going to be okay."
Today was the first day that the room wasn't adorned with crystal vases filled with flowers of various shapes, species and colors, so I stopped all movement to take a moment to regroup. I tried to picture something that could be viable to use against an angel. Although I knew that all I really needed was something that I could use to create one the blood sigils that Dean had shown me so that I could at least banish Raphael until I was ready for him… Her… Well at least until I had some sort of an escape route planned.
Somehow I managed not to break down into tears when I couldn't think of anything that could be of use to me. When I opened my eyes I focused my enlarged belly and smiled when the centerpiece on the coffee table came into view. Raphael had placed a jar candle with lilies surrounding it along with three leaf clovers to complete the arrangement. I picked up the jar candle and tossed it against the stone face of the fireplace in the hopes it would break off a piece of glass big enough to cut my palm to draw the symbol I needed to in blood.
After the sound of the loud smash, I walked over to it and let out a soft sob when I saw that this plan had failed… Horribly. All of the glass surrounding the wax had shattered into teeny tiny shards that would have only caused tiny cuts to my fingers and weren't of any use to me.
"Okay… Now what?" I asked to no one in particular out loud.
The baby started to kick so vigorously that I had to sit down on the couch for fear of falling over.
"Okay… Shh… Mummy's calm, I promise. Mummy's calm," I reassured my unborn child while still gripping my midsection tightly.
Then the kicking didn't let up, I opened my eyes thinking that we had another unwanted guest in our presence. Thankfully, I found that we were still alone. My eyes then fell onto the now demolished centerpiece and I laughed softly as I picked up a hand full of clovers.
"I'm not sure this will help baby, but I guess it's worth a try."
As I clutched the handful of greenery to my heart, I focused every thought, feeling and prayer on an image of the once rogue angel.
"Castiel? Please… Please, I really need your help," I pleaded out loud.
After what felt like hours of begging and meditating, the trench coat clad angel finally showed up. I was doubled over in pain on the couch because the baby had been kicking so hard. I didn't stop my rhythmic in and out of my breath until I felt his reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Addy? Are you okay?"
"No, Cas I'm not," I replied sitting back on the seat exposing my more than protruding baby bump. I quickly thrust out my hand and blurted out, "Here, take this… Please Cas?"
He took the item without looking at it as he stuttered, "Addy… You're… You're…"
"Pregnant? Yeah, I am… And I think I get it now… This is just a dream, so we have to move quickly Castiel. That paper will tell you where to find us," I explained hurriedly. When his eyes remained fixed on my stomach, I lifted his chin and forced his eyes to meet mine as I continued," Yeah… Raphael sped up the process. Now, please? Can you focus for me? You have to find me and get me the hell out of here, okay? I promise, I'll explain everything in person."
He nodded and clutched the note firmly saying, "I will see you soon Addy, you and your baby."
Castiel immediately went to the address she had scrawled on the paper. He couldn't help but laugh when he realized that Addy could in fact conjure up anything that she needed in a dream state to get her point across to him. However, for some reason, she remained oblivious to the ways that she could use that skill to help herself.
He turned in a quick circle in the middle of the room and noticed that it was identical to the room that he had visited Addy during her dream. This was the Bed and Breakfast that he sought, but he wasn't sure in which room he would find her. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he tried to sense her presence.
"Did you really think that he would allow you find her that easily?" A voice questioned behind the angel.
Before Castiel even had a chance to register the words spoken, he heard the newcomer advancing on him. Without a second thought, Castiel pulled out his silver, dagger sized weapon and turned while thrusting it into the other man's chest.
As he placed the lifeless body of the vessel gently onto the floor, he softly stated, "I'm so sorry brother."
Although he had been informed that there was no chance of finding Addy there, Castiel was still vigilant and checked every room methodically. But each room yielded the same result as the next; nothing was there, so he left as quickly as he could to avoid being attacked by any of Raphael's supporters again.
*************
Change of POV
*************
I hoped that when I opened my eyes, I would find myself at Bobby's house or at least in some crummy motel in some random small town. Instead I was still on the comfortable Queen-sized bed Raphael had brought me to a few days earlier. I felt like I could sleep for a month, but a strange sensation around my midsection jostled me out of my slumber.
Raphael brushed the back of her arm across her brow as she sighed wearily and then said, "That was a valiant effort Adelaide, but did you really think that I would make it that easy for you?"
I struggled slightly to sit up under the weight of my belly, but Raphael didn't offer me any help. The angel actually looked ill and sweaty as she stood beside the bed. I took note in the back of my mind of the sluggish way she now moved and smiled to myself before responding, "No, but then again you know me, I had to give it a try."
She stumbled slightly as she walked away from me, so I took the opportunity to try to get more information out of her. "So, if I'm not actually at the Bed and Breakfast, then where have you stashed me?"
The angel had now recovered a bit more of her strength and walked back over to my side and stroked my enlarged stomach replying, "Oh, somewhere safe Adelaide… Somewhere very safe."
She offered me one last smirk before disappearing and leaving us alone again. I quickly got up… Well I got up as quickly as my current condition would allow and tried to find something that might help me figure out where I was or how to contact Castiel again.
I knew in my heart that there wouldn't be anything of use there, but that didn't lessen my feelings of despair at all when I discovered that to be true. I sat on the bed just crying and feeling frustrated. Then after a while I suddenly stopped, got up and made my way to the bathroom with a renewed sense of resolve.
After washing my face, I stood staring at my reflection in the mirror maintaining a near death grip on the towel in my right hand. I slowly started to wrap the terry cloth around my right hand and held my breath as I reared my towel covered hand behind the back of my head.
"Okay… This sucks, but it's better than nothing I guess," I commented flatly to my reflection.
I hesitated a moment longer and just before I moved to punch the mirror, I heard an amused male's voice say, "I'm pretty sure this isn't the best plan that you could have come up with." I lowered my hand slowly and stared at him in the mirror, barely holding back my tears as I felt absolutely defeated. "I mean, your family has already had more than its fair share of bad luck… Do you really want to guarantee yourself seven more years?"