THE CAULBEARER
A caulbearer is a person who is born with a veil-like tissue that covers his or her face from the crown of his or her head. There are many beliefs that a person born with this condition bring good fortune to those around him or her, possess psychic abilities as well as being able to communicate with angels.
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the television Supernatural.
A/N: I would like to thank my two Betas, 1967Impala and writterperson for helping me out.
THEN
It was when he started to hear small sniffles coming from her, that Dean automatically lifted her up, and placed her on his lap.
"It's okay, Sweetheart," he said smoothly, and he gently rubbed small circles on her back.
At first, he could feel her tiny fist tightly grabbing his shirt, and then nothing.
"Mary Elizabeth?" he whispered softly.
But, the only reply he got from her was her even breathing.
Looking over at his brother, he slowly mouthed the words, " I think she's asleep."
NOW
Sam watched contently as his brother gently brushed the curls away from his daughter's small face.
"She looks so peaceful," he thought to himself.
Both brothers were taken out of their relveries when Ben bounded back in the room.
"Mom says..." the pre-teen said in a loud voice, then quickly lowered the volume to a whisper when he noticed Dean holding the sleeping child.
"Is she asleep?" He asked in a hushed tone.
Dean simply nodded his head.
Ben just shrugged his shoulders, turned around and softly walked back into the kitchen.
Dean looked over at his brother, who was still looking intently at the little girl.
"Dean," Lisa's soft voice entered his ears, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin.
"I'm sorry," she apologized gently, "I just wanted to know if you wanted to lay her down on the sofa or something."
"Nah," he answered looking back down at the sleeping child, "I'm good."
"Dean," Lisa began to protest.
"Lisa," Dean said holding holding one of Mary Elizabeth's hands, "she's so small."
It was then that Lisa realized that she understood where Dean was coming from. She had felt the same way when her own child was this age.
Before anyone had a chance to say anything else, Mary Elizabeth's eyes popped opened just as the sounds of fluttering wings were heard nearby.
"He's here!" She proclaimed as she happily pushed herself of Dean's lap, causing him to go umpf a little bit.
"Who's here?" Sam asked as he and the others followed the child to the foyer.
There they saw Castiel squatting down to the child's level.
"Oh," the child exclaimed, "you're not the angel who took care of me."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mary Elizabeth," the angel gently smiled at her. "I am Castiel."
"Where's Anael?*" Mary Elizabeth asked as she tried to look past him.
"I am afraid, my brother was called back home," Castiel apologized.
"Who's Anael?" Dean inquired as he looked from child to angel and back again.
"He was the angel who took care of me," Mary Elizabeth simply answered.
"And, how do you know that's an angel?" Ben asked pointing at the strange man in the foyer, for this was the first time he had ever met one.
"On a count of his wings, silly," the girl giggled at the absurdness of the older boy's question.
Ben was about to say something when Castiel stood up, and took the little girl's hand.
"Mary Elizabeth is a very special child," he simply stated looking directly at Dean.
"You don't have to tell me that," Dean said proudly.
"No," Castiel explained, "Mary Elizabeth is what is known as a 'caulbearer."
"A call-what?" Dean asked.
"A 'caulbearer,'" Castiel corrected, "one who is born with a veil over her face."
"A veil?" Dean asked trying to wrap his head around this information.
"It just the amniotic sac that sometimes can be attached to a baby's head and face when they're born," Lisa explained as if there was nothing to it.
"I am afraid there is more to it," Castiel spoke calmly.
"Oh, course there is," Dean mumbled to himself.
"Perhaps, we should go to the living room," Sam suggested.
"Well, dinner is..." Lisa started to announce.
"Oooh," Mary Elizabeth chimed in, "do you want to eat dinner with us?"
"I am an angel of the Lord," Castiel explained to the little girl, "I do not need to eat."
"But, what about the man, you are wearing?" Mary Elizabeth asked innocently.
"Do you mean Jimmy?" Dean asked.
The little girl turned around to look at Dean. A look of confusion spread across her face.
"Daddy, can't you see the man and the angel?" She asked incredible.
"I am afraid not," Castiel answered for him. "Your father can only see my human form. He can not see my true form as well."
Then, Castiel did the unthinkable. He bent down and gently scooped up the child in his arms.
Dean watched as the dynamics between his newly founded daughter and the only angel, he would call a friend unfolded before his eyes. Castiel holding the little girl as she rested her small head in the nook of his shoulders, but looking content in each other's presence.
Dean felt a slight tug on his sleeve, and discovered it was Lisa gently pulling him towards the living room.
"Let's go," she mouthed as he started to follow her.
Castiel took his place on the sofa with Mary Elizabeth on his lap. Dean sat next to them while Sam returned to the recliner. Lisa found herself sitting on an oversized chair as Ben sat on one of the chair's arms.
"So, what exactly is a caul.. watchmacallit?" Dean asked when everyone was settled down.
"A 'caulbearer'," Castiel corrected him. "It is when a person is born with a veil-like tissue covering his or her head and face."
"Ew, gross," came Ben's comment.
"Ben," his mother warned.
"As I was saying," the angel continued, "those born with these veils are very special."
"How special?" Sam asked as his eyes shifted from his brother to the child resting on Castiel's lap.
"She has the ability to see an angel in his true form," Castiel stated matter of factly.
"So, what you are saying," Dean spoke trying to grasp what he was just told, "is that she can see both Castiel the angel of the Lord and Jimmy Novak from Ponitac, Illinois?"
"Precisely," the angel confirmed.
"Is there anything else?" This time it was Lisa who asked the question.
"Yes," Castiel nodded, but did not continue.
"Well?" Dean asked impatiently after a few moments of silence.
"My apology, Dean," Castiel apologized before continuing. "She has the ability to see all things supernatural in their true form."
"All? As in everything?" Dean questioned, "like demons and stuff."
"I mean, demons or anything else that would try to shield its true form," Castiel answered, and then added, "along with hearts of all men."
At this announcement, all in the living room looked at the child with amazement.
After a minute of silence, Dean was the first to speak up.
"How long?" He asked.
"Well, usually caulbearers grow out of this condition before the hit ten years of age..."
"But..." Sam urged the angel to continue.
"However," Castiel continued, "since she is also a 'Winchester' and a..."
"vessel of the Lord," Dean finished for him.
"I was going to say a carrier of a vessel," Castiel responded.
"Uh?" Dean asked shaking his head to make certain he had heard correctly.
"What I meant to say," Castiel explained, "Caulbearers can not become vessels of any kind, only their offsprings can, providing they are not caulbearers themselves."
"So, let me get this straight," Dean said recounting everything, he had just heard, "my daughter can see not only angels and demons, but a bucket load of other supernatural crap that crawls the face of the earth. Plus, she can never be possessed by anything supernatural."
Castiel simply nodded his head.
"But why can't she just grow out of it like other caulbearers?" Sam asked.
"Well, most caulbearers are not descended from a vessel," Castiel explained, "and those that are are in grave danger from those who live realm of the supernatural. That is why an angel was bestowed upon Mary Elizabeth to look after her."
"So, what happen to this angel, what'shisface?" Dean asked.
"Anael," Castiel replied, "and he had to return to Heaven."
"In the meantime..." Sam started.
"In the meantime," Castiel continued, "Mary Elizabeth needs to be with her family until either the angel that has been watching over her since birth returns or another takes his place."
"Whaddya mean 'until'?" Dean groused, "there's no way in hell she's gonna leave her family."
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, Mary Elizabeth spoke up for the first time since the conversation about her began.
"Daddy, I'm hungry. Can we eat, now?"
TBC
A/N: Anael is the angel whose day of the week is Fridays.
A/N: Please, let me know what you think about the story so far!