Wanted Dead and Alive.
Chapter Four.
Stuck in the middle with you
Dad, his face and his eyes they were so real so human. They looked at me as he began to fade. Fade back into nonexistence. A memory. A cheep cold memory. One that pained my very existence to remember. Death come to me, I will welcome you with open arms if I just get to be with my parents again. Please Death I beg of you. Reunite me with the ones I have loved and lost, reunite me with my dead childhood.
There was just too much pain, the world was still burning, burning with hate and there was just no escape.
"Shut up Uriel!" Came a rough voice that sounded a little hoarse. "You dick with wings."
"Just because of your guilt you're being blinded from the job at hand." A smother more aggravated voice sounded. "Now-"
"We have some time." A softer male voice said cutting off the other one. "She's about to come too."
Maybe because I believed that I was the only female in the room that I allowed my eyes to flutter open. There were four men in the same room I originally woke up in. Sam was near the door, Dean was to my left, there were the other two guys from the fight in the house there. One the nicer softer looking one was beside me and the other one looked like he was about to kill Dean.
"What happened?" I asked trying to sit up.
"You moved too soon after the fact," the man with amazing blue eyes said to me. "The type of demonic power they used on you mixed in with the treatment caused you to be a lot weaker that you would have expected."
"In other words," Dean snapped from his side of the room, "you didn't listen to me. Not that that's a change."
"Oh Winchester being a little bitch like always. Tell me Winchester who's bitch-"
The blue eyes raised his hand to shush me, I surprised myself when I did. There was something about him, which seemed so familiar and safe something that captured my attention, and held it. Air was caught in my throat.
"Am I alright now?" I asked sitting up and pleasantly surprised by the absence of pain. The blue eyes smiled at me and he moved away. "Who are you?"
"Castiel," he responded, the name took whatever wind I had left in my out.
"Yeah he's a big fluffy winged angel." Dean said his arms folded.
"Angel?" The word seemed so lost on me. I had always believed, if there's evil there just has to be good. To me it just had been what I believed in, Harrison didn't and my dad was on the fence about it.
"Are we going to have to prove it?" The other man on the side of the room said his voice had more than a hint of anger.
"Uriel." Castiel warned his blue eyes leaving mine and landing on the other angel.
"We have waisted too much time on this mud monkey-"
"Oh aren't you just a barrel of laughs." I said pulling myself out of the warmth of the bed. "Where's Bobby?"
"Mexico." Dean responded his voice just as gruff as ever. I merely just nodded not sure on how to react to this situation. To him. After all this time. After everything, was this how it was going to be? Bitterness the awkward feeling, and the snap comments that caused flinches. My hands fidgeted with the necklace.
"Seeing a Donkey show?" I asked swinging my legs off the side of the bed. "So what's going on? Why did you drag me here?"
"We saved your-" Dean started but was waved off by Uriel who became interrupted by Castiel.
"The Winchester's need your help." He said his face was blank without any emotion but I pick something up, a feeling of sorts. That he didn't want me to be here, that he wanted a different situation.
"What exactly do they need my help with?"
"Nothing." Dean sapped again pulling away retreating back in to the room.
"The Demon wanting their whereabouts," Castiel said moving to my side, "we need you to help them hide from him until they are able to find which seal are about to break, also to help them if they are to face him again."
"What didn't God give them some invisibility cloak?" I responded standing up enjoying the movement without pain. "I am no blacksmith or voodoo master. Can't you just-"
"Don't order us." Uriel said loudly causing me to jump slightly.
"Don't use that tone with me." I snapped back sounding so much like my father. "You're asking me a favour, show some respect."
"Respect!" He yelled at me, I wanted to laugh at the facial expression. I moved slightly my eyebrows raised and my smile still on my mouth.
"Yeah respect." My smirk became evident once again. "You're asking me to take time out of my –"
"You will help save the world." Castiel said his eyes on mine.
"I guess that's too much to be left in the hands of angels then?" I turned around and swang the door open.
I don't know why I was reacting this way. I normally wasn't like this There was something unsettling about the name Castiel that made me, turn. Turn back into that person I thought I had left long ago. The one that was so hurt after Dean, after he left, after he died. The one who just wanted to give up after those bitches of witches poisoned me.
His name made me revert back to how I was before he grabbed my hand. That torn up cold sad shell of a person. He was here he pulled me on my feet again, maybe...
Could it be more than just a coincidence that the last memory had a magical being holding his hand out to me, yet Castiel isn't a very common name. There was also this strange that even though hearing his name, seeing Dean again, being back here. It was too weird.
Too walk down memory lane. It was painful, unnecessary and evil. I tried not to think about the voice that pulled me to my feet all those years ago.
"Going to run away again?" I heard the voice behind me say as I started to scrounge through my duffle bag.
"No Winchester." I snapped not looking up. "I am looking for something."
"Your gun?" He asked moving to the other side of the table dragging out a chair and sitting himself on it. "Sam has it. I thought it would be best if I kept all dangerous things out of your reach."
"I didn't kill you then, I wouldn't kill you now." I responded falling into a chair. "Not when angels are watching over you."
Dean gave his cocky arrogant smirk and did a little eyebrow wiggle, that left me reaching for something sharp and or heavy to injure him with.
"Well they just disappeared." Another voice said. "Would you like something Liz?"
"I could kill your brother for a beer." I responded as Sam opened the fridge.
"It seems like a life time since I saw you." Sam continued after a moment of silence. "What's new?"
I shrugged leaning back in the chair. "Same old. Hunting evil. You?"
I was at Bobby's for about a week. A week that I imagine Hell was like, just in the cooler weather. With extremely limited supplies I was only able to make something that hid the 'scent' from that Demon. It also didn't take me long to realise that the only reason I was being kept here is well in some regards to keep me busy and out of trouble.
You get trapped once by a Demon and then you're babied. Pathetic, really. Actually, truth be told I was actually ashamed in myself that it took me that long to realise what they were doing. I wasn't too sure which side of the fence wanted to keep me under the close watch, whether it was the Winchesters or those big fluffy winged angels.
Thursday came around quickly and my phone which sat on my work bench started to buzz. Three o'clock, just like, well, clockwork. I smiled looking at the name flashing on the screen. After everything I still mattered to someone, and that someone still after everything I put him through still called no matter what.
Dean who was sitting on the couch nearby looked up to me from the thick dusty book. "Who's calling you?"
I ignored him and flipped my phone open and put it to my ear. "Hey Stud."
"7 rings." Came the response, no pleasantries. "Is everything alright?"
I laughed. "Yep everything is fine. I am actually at Bobby's at the moment."
"What? After you swore you would never go back there? What next you're working with the Winchesters."
I didn't respond I didn't need to because that brief pause was all that he needed. In that brief pause I managed to move from the table to outside where there was no one to hear the verbal lashing I was about to endure. Sitting down at the back step holding the phone away from my ears would bleed when he verbally bitch slapped me. He took a deep breath.
"Elizabeth what the hell do you think you are doing?"
"I didn't ask for it. It just happened."
"Just happened?" He yelled his voice a little metallic through the phone. "How come everything that involves that family, just happens?"
"I donno. Maybe its apart of some divine plan." I joked allowing myself to thinking back to the angels in my bedroom.
"No divine plan would keep pushing you into that Winchester family. At least it's only Sam you're with."
"Oh," I said moving away a little from the back door. "Didn't I tell you that? Well, Dean kinda is out of Hell. Which is to say, he is out of Hell."
There was another pause, I kind of got this feeling he already knew though. "You didn't sell-"
"For Dean Winchester?" I gave a stiff laugh. "It's like you don't even know me Harrison. I mean come on, you know I can't stand the heat."
Another pause followed my words. "No." His voice was steady. "I forbid you-"
"Oh ok. You forbid me." I laughed into my end of the phone. "I think you lost any right to forbid me on doing anything to do with hunting, once you left."
There was silence on his end of the phone. He hated me bringing up his hunting history. He had completely left the old life behind, even when his old life was so keen on making its voice heard.
"I am not happy about this, about any of this." His voice was cold and calculated. "I am not happy about you being around Dean Winchester."
"I know." My mind tracked back to all the conversations Harrison and I had have over our time, all the conversations about me and Dean Winchester. "He's a jerk. But I am about to leave anyway." I responded stuffing my free hand into my pocket. "My work is done."
"You still coming home for my birthday?" He asked his tone of voice let me know that this wasn't over. He wasn't finished drilling me about spending time with Winchester.
"Have I missed one yet?" I sighed shoving my free fist into my pocket and kicking some loose stones that graced the path. Harrison sighed into his end of the phone.
"Are you going to tell me why you're with the Winchesters?" His voice said softly. He knew. He knew something bad had happened. That would be the only reason I would go back to Bobby's, why I would go back to the hospitality with the Winchesters. "I just don't trust them."
It was my turn to sigh as I walked through the car yard that Bobby calls a back yard. I leaned up against a minivan feeling like a soccer mum. "They aren't all that bad." I responded thinking back to the help John gave me even after he found out what happened. Help that Harrison should never find out about. I fiddled with my necklace.
"Dean's a wanker and Sam...well I just don't trust him. And don't get me started on their father."
"Don't say things like that." I snapped knowing what his theory was on Sam. "Don't even think it."
There was a cough, and I turned around. Dean was standing there beer in hand and a very intent look on his face. He had clearly too interested in the conversation between brother and sister. Harrison started to speak but I lost all track of the words he was say. Dean's eyes, they were harsh sending chills down my spine.
"Gotta go Harry." I said cutting him off. "My baby sitter is here with my bottle." Without waiting for a response my phone was shut and placed in my pocket.
"Babysitter?" Dean asked with a smirk. "Do you see me with pigtails and a cheerleader outfit?"
I shrugged. "There was that one time." I smirked back at Dean grabbing the beer from his hand. "You eavesdropping Winchester?"
"I am shocked you don't trust me." Dean smirked as he watched me take a swig.
"I'm shocked that you're shocked." I gave him a grin and continued walking back into the house.
The moon hung in the sky, like an orb of light dawning on the creatures of the night. The moon shone so bright that it lit the way thought the elegantly dishevelled cars, threw the uneven walkways and paths. Among the darkness creatures stirred inhabiting the shadows, waiting and watching for their time to strike.
I stood in the kitchen, darkness was everywhere. Too scared to turn on any light. These Winchester's had finely tuned senses and heightened reactions. They are just like hairless wolves. Always ready to pounce on some fresh meat.
Placing a letter on the kitchen table, just so they wouldn't have to think that I was abducted, I grabbed my bag. The cotton of my bag started to fray where the handle met the body of the bag, it really needs to be replaced.
It only took ten minuets to start up my car, which Sam drove back for me, and get out of Bobby's place and his house and car yard was just a speck in my revision mirror.
With a sigh of relief I hit play on the car's CD player. Soon the sound of ACDC filled my car. ACDC always reminded me of my dad. He loved that band. He played them nonstop when we started hunting. Harrison would complain, and Dad would roll his eyes and turn it up louder.
Later when we got older Dad would still play it this time saying it was so us kids could understand our cultural heritage. Mum being Australian and all, even our Grandfather who taught dad everything he needed to know about hunting would play ACDC for us.
I remember when I first met my Grandfather it was only a month after mum died and somehow he managed to get from one side of the world to the other. We were living in a rundown flat at the time, the walls in my father's bedroom were practically plastered with newspaper clippings of mums death, and deaths of other women.
I remember Grandpa coming into our apartment, he gave me a doll and Harrison a truck and then proceeded to walk into dad's room with the shut door and they didn't resurface till it was late. Dad walked out ordered us a pizza and started to talk about finance with Grandpa. I didn't really understand it, but Harrison watched with wonder. He knew we weren't going to go back to our house. A week later we were on the road and dad was getting on the job training and Harrison leant how to protect me.
My hands tapped on the wheel to the beat of the song when it started to fade in and out.
"Oh crap." I said to myself as I tapped the screen of the CD player. "Please not be supernatural, please not be supernatural." The static and the flashing LCD lights stopped quickly. Dropping my shoulders I continued to drive singing along.
"I thought I told you to stay with the Winchesters." A voice said softly to my side.
My body almost flew straight out the car window as I slammed my foot on the breaks, out of pure fright and turned the wheel hard to the left. The smell of rubber soon filled my nostrils as the car skidded across the freeway.
"Holy mother of-" I called out as the car sped out of control and soon stopped. I turned my head to see Castiel sitting there unfazed by the almost crash. His eyes pierced me. "What are you doing here?"
He didn't say anything, he just sat there and watched. "You were safer with the Winchesters." He said as the car roared back to life as it straightened itself up and continued down the long stretch of road.
"You have to be kidding." I laughed, "the Winchester's attract danger."
Castiel didn't respond as I sped down the highway, heading towards Harrison and my beloved nephew.
"You should have stayed." He repeated.
"Then use some divine will to get me back there, because only Heaven or Hell can keep me away from my brother's birthday."
Castiel shuffled in his seat facing the road. The music cleared up. The road was practically straight, the darkened trees with creatures lurking behind them. My mind began to drift.
The trees flew by turning into dark green blurs. My mud covered boots were on the ground while my feet clad with grey woollen socks with warn out heal where propped up against the dashboard. In my lap sat a newspaper.
"What ya' think?" Dad asked me as he turned down the radio. I gave a shrug and continued to read. He clicked his fingers. "Hunting evil no longer your thing? I could swing by Harrison's and you can become a soccer mom."
"Oh totally dad, I could squeeze out some rugrats for you not to visit either." I responded wriggling my toes as a scooted further down in my seat.
He gave a snort, as the car began to speed. "Three dead, all by some freak accident." He turned the wheel. "Head turned nearly 180 degrees, ones heart exploded." He took a breath. "The third guy shot himself in the head three times then in the heart once." He turned the wheel again and began to slow down as we entered the town.
"That's commitment." I muttered to myself causing my dad to give me look and a snort. "None of them are connected." I responded folding the newspaper. "Different ages, ethnicity's even socioeconomic statuses." Bringing my hand up to my face I pinched the bridge of my nose. "What's your theory?" Dad shrugged and rolled his thumb over the wheel as he slowed down even more.
The town was fairly small, there were families either side of the road. One family stood near the mouth of a park. A mother having a baby on her hip while she talked to a much older woman, probably gossiping. While the father played catch with his son while obviously checking out the younger ladies walking by.
"I'll book a room you check out the crime scene." He sighed. A close call in the last town we stayed in meant he had to keep a low profile. I removed my feet from the dashboard and slipped my feet into their respective boots.
"Hand over the keys old man." I said once he pulled over to the curb.
"No, you're young. You go walkies." He gave me a sly look with a smirk. I reached to the glove box, opened it and grabbed a fake ID – just as a precaution- and my gun. I slipped them both in their safe places and opened the car door.
"I guess you would bring on some questions, breaking into a crime scene with a walking frame." I joked as I slid out of the red Cadillac, an old car that Grandpa got Dad. I still much preferred Harrison's 1964 AMC Rambler Ambassador, it felt much less of a midlife crises car. Dad got Harrison that car for his 18th birthday.
For my 18th birthday I got a new revolver. I guess by that time Dad had come to terms with the fact I wasn't going to leave the hunting business. No shiny car for me, just a new precious gun.
I didn't say a word as dad drove off applying his foot heavily to the gas pedal. So I made my way trying to be inconspicuous as I chose the back roots, till I reached the Susie Homemaker house. There was a white picket fence that ran around the back yard which housed a swing set.
With a swing of my legs and body, I hopped over the fence. There were toys tossed about on the ground. Probably two kids lived here. No child should ever deal with a loss of a parent. Making my way to the back door I pulled out my lock pick and went to work.
I always felt slightly creepy picking locks. Just goes with the territory I guess. The white door clicked as the lock was picked. Holding my gun in one hand and my EMF meter in the other, I entered the house. The smell of drying blood hit my nostrils, almost making me gag.
The EMF stayed silent as I scouted the house, the room where the dude killed himself. The room was just like a pool of blood, there were splatters all over the cream walls, yet the EMF stayed silent. Slipping the EMF into my jacket pocket I started to scout the room. Looking for something to make head or tails of this. That's when I heard a thud, down the hallway.
Cocking my gun I tapped the door open slightly. There was movement downstairs. Slowly I walked down the stairs one step at a time holding the gun out in front of me. There was a scatter and instantly I lifted the gun and pointed it in the direction of the sudden movement.
"Just a cat." I muttered to myself lowering my gun chuckling to myself slightly.
That's when I felt someone move behind me. I turned around just in time to block a punch. Soon my fists where flying, losing my gun quickly in the scuffle. I managed to connect a couple of good punches before I was thrown to the ground.
I looked straight into those green eyes. Eyes that I knew too painfully well, the chiselled jaw that I remembered touching in that longing kiss goodbye.
"Now what are you doing here?" He asked clearly not remembering me. Had I really changed in these years? I guess four years was a long time.
"Could ask you the same," I responded as he got off me and picking up my gun. He dug his hand into his leather jacket and pulled out a wallet.
"I am the officer of the law. Deputy Young." He flashed the fake ID. I looked at Dean, big black combat boots, ripped jeans. He was so not a cop. I knew him, at least I thought I did. "I'll let you go with a warning, just don't let me catch you here again."
I raised my eyebrow at him. He looked as much a cop as I did. "Sorry Deputy Young." A smirk graced my face as I dusted myself off, insanely pissed that he had won the fight. "Now, give me back my gun."
"No way in Hell I am giving you back your gun missy."
"Missy?" That's a shoot-able offence in my books. "I am not going to shoot you, just give me back my gun." I shoved my palm out in front of his face.
"No!" He snapped at me.
I sighed, and then noticed an EMF reader on the floor where the scuffle started. "You dickhead!" I said, fuming. My blood started to boil, how could I, have not picked up this. 'This', being what I am trained to detect, to pick up on. I bit the side of my mouth and shook my head. It explained so much.
"Excuse me?" He snapped again pointing my gun at me.
"You should have told me that you were a Hunter, Winchester."
Hey all this will be the last chapter I put up for today. I will probably put another one up tomorrow or the next day. Please Review. Pretty please?