Sorry for the late update! I was kinda stuck on this story. I wasn't sure where to go with everything involving Anna. I skipped a few more episode just for the sake of how boring I would find writing it. I had an idea for the wishing well idea but didn't seem worth it. Readers would have never seen a chapter then! So read on! :) review! Yay.
"Grace. Grace! Wake up!"
Her eyes flutter open and closed, feeling her enveloped body being shaken vigorously.
"Dude, what the hell's on her neck?"
Then sentence was like a tub of cold water falling on her. Her eyes shoot open and she sees Dean holding her close.
His eyes stare into her with a worried expression. He holds a hand to the side of her face.
"What happened, Twinks?" Dean asks gruffly, staring at her puffy bloodied lip.
Grace can feel Sam hovering behind them. Dean's eyes flit from her to him. Tearing stream from her face, falling to Dean's chest. She clutched onto his shirt and hides in his neck.
"Ryder found me. In my dreams. I was powerless. Or at least I felt that way," she chokes out. Her body feels a mess. She can't control all the different emotions shifting through herself. She just wants to be held. To be taken where he'll never find her.
She shifts her body and curls her legs around Dean's middle. She knows she's in just one of his shirts and a pair of black underwear, but she doesn't care. She's hurting.
Dean's eyes widen and he looks at his brother.
She squeezes him tighter and he wraps a hand around her exposed thigh, grazing her skin with his thumb. "It's okay, Grace. We've got you," he softly says to her.
Grace raises her head and her eyes glimmer at him, still saturated with unfallen tears. She suddenly remembers what he'd done. Her hand drifts close to her neck and she feels the rough raised skin of the mark Ryder had left. Few tears slip from her face.
How could it have been real?
"Ryder marked me. He said he was claiming me as his," Grace mutters, her voice close to cracking.
Before Dean or Sam could reply, the sound of fluttering wings vibrate through the air.
"Dean. Sam. We need to talk."
Grace tightens her hold on Dean and her body goes rigid in fear.
Angels are not good people.
Dean feels her go stiff against him.
"Not a great time," Dean answers.
Castiel looks upon Grace and Dean's interlocked forms and then at Sam curiously.
"I don't have time for an explanation. Time is a factor."
"Dean, who's this?" Sam asks hopping to his feet.
"This is, uh, Castiel…" He explains and glances over his shoulder, "I don't know him."
Sam's eyes widen and he scrambles up to Castiel.
"Wow. Oh my god," he stumbles over his words, "I mean, oops, sorry. Hi, I'm Sam Winchester." Sam holds his hand out in front of Castiel.
"Sam Winchester. The boy with the demon blood. I'm glad to hear you've ceased your extracurricular activities." They shake hands.
Grace bites her lip at Cas' comment. She winces, feeling her lip still tender from the dream.
"Hey, Twinks," Dean whispers quietly, "I'm gonna sit you down, okay? Make these guys get out of here."
Grace nods, flicking away tears. "I need to go wash off that dream anyway."
Dean gives her a sad smile and sets her down. His face hardens as soon as he turns away and sets his eyes on the two angels.
Grace tries not to make eye contact with either of their guests. She can feel the newcomer's eyes on her back as she hurries to the bathroom.
She wants to be a part of the conversation but can barely think past the residual feeling of Ryder's fingers. Quickly, she undresses and hops in the shower, making the water scorch off any remaining crawling sensations.
Grabbing her bag in the corner of the bathroom, she changes into a new plaid outfit. Looking in the mirror, she can see her lip has started to slightly heal.
She opens the door and sees Castiel and Dean talking heatedly.
"We ain't leaving," Dean spouts.
Grace blinks wildly and idles up to Sam's side.
Dean glances back and sees Gracie's new presence and eyes her new neck marking.
"Come on. We're about to gank this witch bitch," he claims and saunters out the door.
Sam looks as though the whole conversation was a shock to him. Sighing, he grabs Grace by her sleeved arm and pulls her out the motel doorway.
After finishing the case with minor scrapes and bruises, the three set off onto their next case.
Ruby stopped in on them and have them some new information on "whispers" she's been hearing within her circle. These whispers included a troubled girl hearing words of Lucifer's rise.
They end up at a church that is thought to be a place of solace for Anna.
Looks pretty big and foreboding to me.
After seeing everything the few months and talking to angels themselves with full intent of killing people, Grace didn't quite feel much comfort in the holy building's midst.
Entering the upstairs of the building, a shadow is cloaked behind panes of glass.
"Anna? We're here to help," Sam calls out.
The boys lower their guns begrudgingly with Grace following close behind them.
"I'm Sam. This is my brother, Dean."
"Sam?" The small female voice peaks, "Sam and Dean Winchester?"
The two men glance at each other in confusion.
"Uh yeah. That's us."
Grace pipes in. "Anna?"
"Grace?" The voice echos.
She freezes mid-step.
She knows me too? What has she heard?
The girl peaks out from her barrier. She has long red hair and wide dark eyes.
"Their description of you really doesn't do you justice," Anna says softly, her eyes filled with simple admiration.
Grace blinks at the supposed mad girl.
"Uh, what exactly have they been saying?"
Anna steps closer and touches a soft hand to Grace's pale cheek. "You're meant to be a secret." Dean raises an eyebrow.
She quickly steps back and lowers her eyes. "I shouldn't say anything else. It could change your path."
Grace sighs. Great. More secrets. Now even my existence is a damn secret.
As Anna glances back up, she catches sight of the symbol burned onto Grace's skin.
She gasps at the marking and reaches for it, shaking. Grace grabs hold of her outstretched trembling hand.
"What is it, Anna?" Sam inquires, "Do you know what it means?"
Tears sprout from her ducts and she nearly whimpers her answer as though the mere sight of it terrifies her. "That should not be there…"
All three of them shoot looks at one another in alarm.
What did Ryder do to me?