Chapter 5

Claire pulled into a church and walked inside. She crossed herself and sat down in one of the pews, folding her hands and bowing her head.

"Oh, God, our Father," she began, "Thank You for everything—this day, this hour. I thank You for Your strength which is so much greater than mine. I thank You for Your patience and perseverance in this time of trial. Father God, I found the Winchesters and I have asked them about my dad. Either they don't know something or they're lying to me. But Father God, I know my dad's alive. I know he's okay. I just want to find him. It's been so hard since…since my mom died. I forever need your help, but Father God, I ask for help again to find my dad and protect him wherever he is. A—"

The door banged open.

Claire stood, startled out of her prayer.

The man wore a khaki trench coat. He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

Claire's mouth opened and she left the pew.

He looked at her and furrowed his brow. "I know you, don't I?"

"Daddy?"

"I am not your father, but I know you."

"Castiel. It's me, Claire. Jimmy's daughter."

Castiel coughed. "I see it now." He collapsed losing consciousness.

"Castiel!" Claire shouted, running over and trying to wake him. "Castiel!"

#

Dean and Sam pulled up to the church and parked the Impala. Claire opened the door for them. "I'd have carried him out, but I don't exactly have the upper body strength."

"Oh my God!" Sam interrupted.

Dean stared at Castiel, unable to speak a word.

"How did you find him?"

"He just walked in here," Claire said. "Are you gonna help me get him to the hotel or not?"

Sam picked Castiel up, throwing an arm around his neck and hoisting him up with the other arm wrapped around Castiel's waist.

Dean kept his eyes glued to Castiel, as though unable to process what he was seeing.

"Dean?" Sam asked. "You okay?"

Dean scoffed. "I'm anything but okay. Just give me a minute." Sam and Claire exchanged looks and dragged Castiel out of the room.

"What was that about?" Claire asked.

"Well," Sam looked at the church, wondering if he ought to tell Claire. He figured she deserved to know. "Cas and Dean…had a thing a few years ago."

"But he's in my dad's body," Claire stated.

"Yeah."

"I'm normally indifferent to that sort of thing, but knowing that Castiel and Dean were together is creepy."

"Tell me about it," Sam said, putting Castiel in the back seat.

"It's not as creepy for you," Claire snapped. "I just got dumped with what I could have lived without knowing."

"Relax, there was no…fornication, as far as I can tell. It was more a bromance, but usually strayed pretty damn close to romance at times. If there was anything, neither of them realized it. Or at least Dean didn't until Cas wasn't around anymore."

"Castiel is in my dad, who as far as I know is straight. But more importantly, why did Dean think my Dad was dead?"

"Well, I believe we're all about to find out," Sam said, closing the door. "I'm getting Dean. Do you want to meet us at the motel?"

"Sure," Claire said, approaching her bike.

Sam returned to the church as she sped away. "Dean?" he said. "It's time to go."

Dean was sitting in one of the pews.

"Dean," Sam said, sitting next to him. "We'll find out what happened. And whatever did happen, it wasn't your fault."

"Don't," Dean said. "You didn't leave him to be leviathan fodder."

"Dean, he lived. He got out."

"And that makes it any better?"

Sam couldn't answer him. Of course it didn't make it better, but couldn't Dean just be relieved that Castiel survived without having to go through the guilt trip?

"Come on, we should get back to the motel or Claire will bite our heads off. I'll drive."

Sam stood and Dean followed.

#

They put Castiel on the couch.

"Now what?" Claire asked.

"We wait," Sam said, "he'll wake up eventually." Dean sat on the bed a beer bottle in his hand, staring at the couch. Claire leaned against the wall.

"Well, we know how the Devil's Gate was broken," Sam said, looking at Dean. "Like old times, right?"

"Shut up."

"I'm sure there's an explanation."

"There always is," Dean took a swig from the bottle.

"Dean, let's at least hear him out."

Claire watched the exchange curiously, but didn't press to get answers. She figured they'd come as soon as Castiel could tell them anything.

Sam left once to get them food.

When he returned, Castiel woke. He sat up and looked around.

"Sam."

"Hey, Cas."

Castiel turned around and spotted Dean. "Hello, Dean."

"Hi, Cas."

His eyes darted around the room. "I suppose you all want answers to what had happened since we last saw each other."

"That's an understatement," Claire said.

"If you're able to tell us then do so, but only when you're ready," Sam said. "I mean, you collapsed the moment you found Claire. Why?"

"A church was the safest place I could think of to escape the demons after me. Are the—"

"Every corner is salted," Sam assured him. "And a devil's trap under the rug outside. No demon's getting in here."

Castiel leaned back on the couch, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Do you want something to eat or drink?"

"No, thank you, I am well."

"You're sure?"

"Thank you for your concern, Sam, but I am as fine as I can be in this situation. I understand that the demons had been trapped in Hell forever and that my return to this world somehow thwarted your efforts again."

Sam and Dean exchanged looks. Sam nodded. "It did."

"There are no words to express how sorry I am. It isn't something I would have ever intentionally done to you. So I will help send them back to Perdition."

"Cas, you seem strung out."

"Crowley's after me."

"The pervert?" Claire asked.

Castiel smiled. "I find that adjective somewhat accurate."

Claire arched her eyebrows.

"You get used to it," Dean assured her.

"I hope so."

"Regardless, if he's after me, he will find you all."

"Chances are he already knows you're with us," Sam said.

"Did my dad get out of Purgatory with you?" Claire asked.

Castiel shook his head. "It was his last act. We got out together, he gave me his body to use and we parted ways. Your father's soul is at peace, Claire, in heaven."

Claire paled, her skin turning almost light grey. She shivered and then flushed with great rage. "You're lying. You have to be lying."

"I would never lie to you, Claire. Jimmy wanted to survive long enough to see you and your mother again, but it was not to be so. I am so, so sorry, Claire."

Claire stormed out of the room.

Sam stood and followed her.

"Claire?"

"Why does everyone keep saying my dad is dead?"

Sam approached her. Claire wiped away the tears that leaked out of her eyes, but more spilled out. He sighed and embraced her. "It's going to be harder before it gets easier."

"How do you know?"

"That's exactly how it was for me and Dean when our dad died. Claire, you'll get through this. You don't have to go through it alone."

Claire pushed Sam off gently. She walked to her bike and put her helmet on.

As she sped away, Sam wondered if what he said actually helped.