Chapter 6

"What happened?" Dean asked. Sam had left to get more food (with a strict order to get pie, not cake).

Castiel shrugged. "It's kind of all a blur."

"Try to remember."

Castiel looked at Dean.

#Seven Years Ago#

"Leave him!" Benny shouted, grabbing Dean's arm. "There's nothing we can do for him now!"

"Dean!" Cas shouted. "DEAN!" They did not return. Cas looked up at the leviathan and grabbed a sharp, makeshift sword. He cut the head off and the creature collapsed. Castiel tried not to scream again as the claw in his leg twisted. He readjusted so to pull it out.

Once free, he tore a sleeve off the ward's provided t-shirt into a bandage, tying it around his bleeding leg. He fixed the coat and went after Dean and Benny—damn vampire, Castiel thought with a vow to kill him.

A roar behind him alerted him that the leviathan was back together again and coming after him. Castiel slipped and fell into fowl smelling mud—at least he hoped it was mud. The leviathan stepped closer and he held his breath. Its tongue slithered in and out, looking for him.

It left, roaring angrily.

Castiel opened his eyes, staring at the leaving leviathan. Castiel stood and raced for the river, all interest in finding Dean and Benny gone.

While he washed his hands and face, his shoes and socks left on the shore, Castiel heard a small voice in the back of his head.

"Castiel…Castiel!"

"I hear you," Castiel said. "Who is this?"

"You could at least remember my name since you're in my body."

"Jimmy."

"You heard what they said. Can we get out?"

"I don't know."

"Castiel, we can't stay here. If there's any hope at all of getting out we have to try."

Castiel stared at his choppy reflection in the moving water. "Okay."

#Present Day#

Dean stared at Castiel, shocked. "And this is the first time you heard Jimmy in…what?"

"Twelve, maybe thirteen years. Not since the day I temporarily took Claire's body. It's as though he was there, but he was only silent until now. It took us a lot longer to figure out how to get out of Purgatory than it did you and Benny."

Dean bowed his head.

"It was seven years ago, Dean. I forgave you long ago. You and Benny. I understand. I would have made the same choice in that situation."

"But it wasn't the choice I made. Benny made it for me. I would have stayed and helped you."

"Then it was good Benny was there."

"You survived."

"By relying on myself. I had forgotten how to do so. It was good. In so many ways, we both became co-dependent on each other. It wasn't healthy for either of us. It was hard learning to rely on myself again—"

Castiel looked at the door and stood.

"What is it?"

The door burst open. A woman stood in the doorway. Dark red, slightly spiky, hair came to her shoulders. Baby blue eyes smirked at them.

"A trap under the rug? Really? Have you boys gotten sloppy since I've been gone?"

"Meg."

"Hey, Clarence," Meg said, grinning. She entered the room and sat at the table. "How have you boys been getting on, Dean?"

"Well enough till you showed up again."

"Hey, I' m on your side. Despite sending me and the others back to Hell. I thought we were friends."

"We were never friends, Meg!"

"True. That was more with your brother until he found out I was a demon. It hurts."

"Sam's had better relationships since."

"Ruby?"

"I was talking about Amelia."

"Ooh, cute name."

"Meg, what are you doing here?"

"Crowley wants you to come home."

"I'm not a run away, Meg."

"That's why I'm supposed to be here. To drag you back there kicking and screaming if necessary. But I want out of Crowley's circle."

"No love lost."

"No. In fact, Crowley's pretty much made me his bitch. Not liking it. I want revenge."

Dean scoffed. "Get in line, Sister."

"Oh, honey," Meg said, grinning, "I'm first in line."

"Yet you're here, conspiring with us."

"Crowley's stronger than he looks."

"Don't you have experience on him, having been a demon longer?"

"Sadly, that doesn't make me stronger, just smarter. And Crowley's pretty damn smart. He's a survivalist. He knows how to tuck tail and run when push comes to shove. He refuses to fight losing battles. And without Castiel, Crowley's on the losing side."

"What else is new?" Dean muttered.

"Where's Sam?" Meg said. "Let's get the whole gang back together."

"Sam is trying to calm down Claire, last we knew," Castiel answered.

"His new girlfriend?"

"No," Dean said, "Cas' vessel's daughter."

Meg arched an eyebrow. "Castiel's a father?"

"No, I am not a father! My vessel, Jimmy, is…or was…it's a little hard adjusting that I'm possessing a dead body."

"Meh."

"Yeah, you wouldn't care," Dean muttered.

Meg pointed at herself. "Dead vessel. She was a druggie. Stupid girl. Do you know what it's like possessing a super-druggie who dies from cold turkey withdrawal trying to piece her life back together? Not the most pleasant body I've possessed. But hey, a body's a body. I just prefer mine take care of themselves."

"Then why…"

"First body I came across that was too my liking. Hey, we have our preferences. We're not like angels who are limited in who they can and cannot possess. Will you relax? Her soul's long gone."

"Fair enough," Dean said. "So long as there's no living person in there, I'll let it slide. But you and the others are going back to Hell the minute we find out how to do it."

"You haven't gotten nicer, Deany."

"Don't call me Deany!"

"Shouldn't Sam and Claire have come back by now?" Castiel asked, staring at the door with a frown. "They've been gone a while."

"Does Sam have a thing for her?"

"It's Sam, Meg."

"Oh yeah," she said, "He's the gentleman. I tend to get the two of you mixed up."

Dean ignored Meg. "Yeah, it's taking too long. Where are they?" He strode to the window and cursed. "Damn it Sam!"

"What?"

"He took my car. And Claire's bike is gone."

"Bike?" Castiel asked, confused.

"Motorcycle," Dean clarified. He grabbed his phone.

#

Sam entered the bar, looking for Claire. He described her to the bartender, who shook his head.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out.

"Yeah?"

"Sam, where are you? And why did you take my car? We talked about this."

"Claire took off. I'm trying to find her."

"Did you have to take my car?!"

"It's not like I'm an irresponsible driver, Dean."

"Right, you don't douche up my car, you never let a dog ride in it, and you never stole it and went all over the country in it. Yeah, I'm overreacting."

"Dean, she's upset and she's gone. I'm worried. Who knows what Claire will do in this situation? Let me find her and bring her back safely."

"Claire is a hunter. She can take damn good care of herself. Get back here."

The other end hung up and Sam sighed, turning his phone off. Perhaps Dean was right. But Sam had a strong inkling that Claire was not all right.