Gone Into the Night

Ashley couldn't help but feel her stomach drop when Sam showed up in a beat up Honda Civic without Dean next to him. Sam hated boosting cars, but he does so when completely necessary. "What happened to the Impala?" she smiled nervously from her perch on the boulder on the edge of the sand of the beach. Ashley needed a moment away from the three children stuck in the small hotel room, and this seemed the like appropriate escape while Ben watched the two younger ones.

"Nothing, its fine" Sam sighed as he perched on the small portion Ashley was not using. He got comfortable and rested his back against Ashley's side, sharing warmth. The breeze coming off the ocean was cold, but the worry building up inside of him kept Sam plenty warm and probably radiated from like like a space heater.

"Dean find another chick to go home with? Why can't I have his luck with straight guys" Ashley chuckled as she pulled her sweatshirt closer around her.

"Uh, no he kind of disappeared" Sam struggled to get out, knowing Ashley would be made upset by hearing the news.

"What do you mean disappeared?" she barked next to her brother. Her temper was starting to rise and her body began to shake in response. She wasn't completely sure if it was the cold getting into her bones or the anger pouring out of her every pore right now. "What about his cell? Did you track it?"

"Yeah, it's in the Impala" Sam answered as he turned to look at Ashley's profile against the light purple sky over the ocean. Her jaw was clearly set and those worry lines she often stressed about were clearly shown on her face.

"Good, so he made it back to the car, right?" she asked, hopping of the rock she once made her seat to pace.

"Possibly, but not positive" he shrugged as he took over the rest of the rock.

"Castiel we need your guardian angel know-hows" Ashley said into her hand covered by her sweatshirt.

"How may I be of assistance to you both?" Castiel greeted the two youngest Winchesters.

"Dean's missing" Sam broke the silence "do you know where he is?"

"I will find him and bring him home" Cas promised before disappearing again into the darkness.

"Thanks, Cas" Ashley whispered ever after he had gone.

Castiel

Castiel started his search where the Impala was still parked. He had to admit- she was truly beautiful and very well made. As the angel ran a hand across the hood as he walked, he remembered the first time he rode in this car. Castiel was amazed at the sound of the engine and enjoyed feeling of the rumble under the soft leather seats. "I will find you, Dean" Castiel said out loud to himself "so as not to only return you to your family, but also to return to your Baby."

When he had finally reached the trunk of the black beauty, it was clear to Castiel Dean had returned to the car, but from here he was taken by some unfamiliar entity. I must inform Sam and Ashley right away Castiel thought as he beamed back to the hotel they were staying in. When Castiel made it to the hotel room, he was surprised to see both Sam and Ashley asleep, as well as everyone but Tara. "Shouldn't you be asleep?" Castiel whispered down to the tiny human being staring at him.

Her eyes were wide like her father's, yet looked exactly like her mothers. "I know Dean always told me I shouldn't lurk while you sleep, but you seem awake" Castiel reasoned as he bent to pick up the now standing Tara up into his arms. Castiel always found himself mesmerized by the child- they were so innocent, yet they were so complex both in and out. Castiel took a moment to listen into her thoughts.

"Cas? That you?" Ashley murmured into the dark room from the same bed as Sam.

"Yes, Tara was not sleeping when I came in" he defended himself.

"You're fine. We'll talk in the morning then" she replied before putting her head back down on Sam's tattooed pec.

"Yes, uh good night Ashley" Castiel awkwardly said in response.

By the time everyone was beginning to wake up, Castiel had already satisfied his curiosities enough in Tara's complicated thoughts and allowed her to stay curled up against his side in sleep. Ashley though, the first to fall asleep was the second to side and see the heartwarming scene.

"Good morning, Uncle Cas" Ashley smirked as she made her way over towards the angel lost in thought. "You uh, you okay Cas?" she asked again when she still had no response from him.

"Yes, I apologize, its just- well do you know how extraordinary your child is?" Castiel said, finally snapping back to the present once he felt Ashley reach to pick up Tara.

"I think I have a good idea" Ashley smiled as she put Tara down on Dean's former bed.

"But her mind, she doesn't think like you would expect a child to! She processes and deliberates- she weighs each option!"

"Cas" Ashley interrupted his ranting "I'm sorry, but did you discover anything else other than Tara's beautiful mind?"

Castiel almost looked embarrassed for his exciting discovery, but in all actuality it was because he forgot his true mission, the job given to him by those most concerned about his closest friend. "Right Dean" Castiel said mostly for his own benefit. "But shouldn't we wait for Sam and Ben to wake?"

"I am up" Sam croaked from the bed he was still occupying. "You both are extremely loud."

"I'm sorry, Sam" Ashley replied as she left to the joining room to see if Ben was up.

"Did you really sit there listening to Tara's mind all night?" Sam chuckled as he sat up to stretch.

"It truly was remarkable" Castiel smiled as he looked over at Tara, still asleep in the middle of the bed.

"Glad to hear it" Sam smiled as Ashley came back in with a showered and fully awake Ben.

"Alright, what's up Cas" Ashley asked as she sat against Sam's bent knees still covered by the hotel's sheets, starting the hunter's monthly meeting.