AN: Thank you so much for your reviews and follows. I hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 3

Cas stood outside Rachael's apartment holding a 6 pack of Bud light. "Hello Rachel. I brought beverages."

"Hey professor. I expected you to cancel." Rachel stepped out of the way to give him space to walk in. She took the beer from his hand and set it on the counter. "That is your usual MO." She folded her arms and eyed him suspiciously. "So, spill it. What's wrong?"

"I'd rather not discuss my unending emotional issues on an empty stomach." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "What's for dinner? I'm starving."

She looked at the counter and shrugged. "Pizza and beer apparently."

Cas laughed. "Classy as always."

"Yeah well, nothing but the best for the guy who usually stands me up." She plated him a couple pieces of pizza and grabbed him a cold beer from the fridge, putting Cas' 6-pack in to get cold. And since you're not wearing that suit and tie that I doubt even exists, you don't get dessert."

Cas looked down at his perfectly acceptable jeans and a t-shirt advertising the campus poetry club he sponsored and smirked at her. There was absolutely nothing wrong with his attire. He shook his head and pulled a chair out for her before sitting down himself. "If this beer were in a red solo cup, I'd think we were back in my old college days. Greasy food and alcohol, the staples of higher education." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

She put her pizza down and turned to him. "Cas, what's wrong. I know you and I can see that something's bothering you."

"I'm going with them, Rae." He shrugged, trying to make light of the statement. "They need my help."

"Cas, no." She moved her chair closer to his and put her hand on his knee. "Look, I'm a cop. Yeah, this is a small town and we tend to be a little backwoods, but I still have a cop's instinct. They seem like bad news."

He had his doubts about the two as well, but this was more important. "I've spoken with Dean, and while he's a little rough around the edges, I think his heart's in the right place."

She rolled her eyes. "You have to be kidding me. He's a cocky little, pretty boy who thinks he can get whatever he wants by flashing a smile and wiggling his eyebrows." She took a bite of her pizza and washed it down with a sip of beer. "His heart may be in the right place, but his eyes were somewhere else entirely."

"If you are concerned that I'm such an easy target for someone like that, then tell me why your identical flirtations haven't gotten you anywhere." He looked at her waiting for a response and smiled victoriously when she had no comeback except a smirk. "Wherever his eyes may be, there is no need for you to worry about my virtue."

"Why, because you're straight? Because I don't think that little detail seems to matter to him." She shrugged and picked up her pizza again.

"Because I am unavailable." He pulled himself from the table and went to the fridge to retrieve another beer.

"Cas, it's been over a year. She wouldn't want this. It wasn't your fault."

He handed her a fresh beer before sitting back down. "We both know that it was very much my fault."

She shook her head. How many times could two people have the same conversation and the words never change? "None of us knew. I was closer to her than anyone, including you, and I didn't know. How can you think that you're at fault?"

"I should have known. Just leave it, Rae. You and I both know that this line of discussion never ends well." The humor was gone from his voice and the slump in his shoulders was the tell-tale sign of defeat.

"You know, you just accepted the doctor's diagnosis without any clinical evidence. I wasn't there that night. God knows, I wish I was, but from what I saw of the footage, it very well could have been the alternative explanation."

He looked up at her, water welling in his eyes, but unwilling to fall. "You and I both know that doesn't make me any less guilty."

"So what? You just go off with these two strange guys?" She pulled at his arm to get him to look up at her. "Look at you, Cas. You're falling apart just thinking about it."

"There were EVPs on the audio. I wrote them down to show you." He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and slid it over to her.

The color drained from her face as she read the scribbled words. "Cas, this… Did someone else find out?"

"Only six people know what really happened that night and only the two of us are alive to talk about it. Just me and you. And you wouldn't have had any knowledge of the third EVP. I never shared that with you."

"Well, that settles it." She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "You're not going."

He smiled up at her fondly, knowing that she only meant to protect him. "Yes I am. I have to."

"No, you don't have to." She grabbed his hand and held it in hers. "Has it even crossed that thick skull of yours that you were the sole survivor? That just maybe you're unfinished business? Don't you think this is just a little too much of a coincidence to just be a coincidence?"

"Don't be ridiculous." He pulled his hand away from hers. "If this is legitimate, all it means is that these people are in danger.

"Yeah, and so is anyone stupid enough to get involved. These guys show up out of nowhere and suddenly they have a case very obviously connected to something that happened over a year ago?" She shook her head, pushing the plate of uneaten pizza away from herself, suddenly losing her appetite. "I don't think so. This is either a set up or something worse. Look, I have some vacay time due. If you're determined to go, at least let me come along with you."

He smiled a genuine smile for the first time that evening. "No offense Rachel, but you call me to hold your hand just to chase kids off Wallace farm which, by the way, isn't haunted. This investigation would be way beyond your comfort level."

"I never told you the last thing Sara ever said to me." She stopped to make sure she had his attention. This was something she'd never shared with him before and wasn't sure she could say it twice. The bond she'd shared with Sara was something that few people could understand. "She made me promise to take care of you. Please don't make me break that promise. It's the last thing I can do for her."

"How was she able to…?" He lowered his eyes to his hands. "I didn't know she ever regained consciousness after…" He couldn't finish the sentence. He couldn't see any way Sara could have possibly spoken to Rachel, but she wouldn't lie about that. Maybe things weren't what he thought. Adrenaline, fear and panic can alter perception.

"You were her whole world, Cas. She loved you so much. She wouldn't want you to put yourself in danger."

He looked up at her and shook his head. "I'm sorry Rae, but I can't not do this. I can't let them walk into a nightmare unaware and unprepared. They aren't qualified to handle a case of this magnitude, but I am. Please try to understand." He reached out and gently picked up her chin to look at him. "I know that I made you a promise not to pursue this thing, but I just can't live with anymore blood on my hands."

"So, you're gonna tell them the whole story then?"

"I'll tell them what they need to know."

"Which means that you won't tell them anything and try to deal with this on your own." She shook her head, worry apparent on her face. "Sweetie, when has that ever worked?"

"I will do my best to discuss the details that they need to know, but my personal business is my own." He hated that she was so worried. She was the only person that he had to lean on and she'd been his salvation, a friend when he didn't deserve one, when he didn't even want one. "I can tell that Sam is sincere and, I don't know why, but I trust Dean too. He may be a cocky, little pretty boy, as you said, but I think that underneath the attitude, he's a good person. He just doesn't want anyone to know it. I'm sure he has his reasons."

Cas came from around his desk and sat on top of it, facing the two men. "I'm going to work with you on this, but we do it my way, clear?"

Sam nodded, a little surprised that the professor actually agreed considering his course load and all the extra things he filled his time up with, according to campus gossip. Of course campus gossip wasn't to be relied upon for the most part, but according to 'word on campus' Dr. Novak never stopped or even slowed down. When he wasn't teaching, he was volunteering on campus or in the community. No one had a bad word to say about him. "Sure, your way. That's why we asked for your help."

Cas nodded at Sam. "First of all, none of this, and I mean none of it, gets posted on any website. Not Facebook, not Twitter…" He looked at Dean specifically, an eyebrow raised. "Especially not Tumblr." Dean rolled his eyes, but didn't comment.

Relieved that his brother didn't take the bait, Sam nodded in agreement. "Yeah okay, but how do other people know how to find help if we don't publicize what we do?"

"You can publicize what you do without airing people's dirty laundry." He got up from the desk and moved back around to the other side. "Giving the details only serves to instigate other, less moral hunters into hounding victims into letting them investigate as well. People who have been victimized by paranormal activity don't need a bunch of fools knocking on their doors like sketchy, ambulance-chasing lawyers." He exhaled a deep breath, visibly angered by the thought. If they want their story told, it's their place to tell it, not ours."

Cas continued when it was apparent no one was going to argue. "Secondly, leave the salt and holy water at home. No crosses or pentagrams either." He saw the look of confusion on their faces. "These things don't work anyway and can create problems of their own. We do not need to scare these people further by coming into their home armed with exorcist-type nonsense."

Cas didn't wait for the snarky comeback that he saw brewing on Dean's face. "Do either of you have any type of psychological or mental issues that we may need to discuss?"

Sam choked in surprise at the very blunt way the professor worded the question and looked over to his brother who looked like he was about to explode, having been quiet for so long. Come to think of it, this was the longest he'd ever heard his brother go without the need for some type of sarcastic statement.

"Of course not, you…" Dean clenched his jaw and took a breath, forcing a very fake smile. "No. We both keep our marbles locked up safe and secure."

Cas cocked an eyebrow, noticing how Sam's eyes moved to the floor at his brother's answer. "I certainly hope so. Lastly…" He looked at Dean. "No guns, knives, or weapons of any kind. I mean it, I will not bend on this issue."

Once again, he didn't wait for Dean's reply. "Good, since we're all in agreement, Thursday Sam and I will visit Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, get some more information, do an initial walk thru and conduct a proper interview."

"Why just you and Sam?" Dean asked. Sam wasn't even interested in this, not really. This guy was just trying to piss him off now.

Sam smirked. He couldn't help himself, not really. "Because he likes me better than you, obviously." He laughed, but immediately regretted the words. This was Dean's thing and the Professor was trying to push him out, leave him on the side.

Cas saw that Dean was hurt by the decision he made, and that wasn't his purpose, however it was the first glimpse of honesty that he'd gotten from the man the entire time he'd been in the office. Maybe he was right. Perhaps underneath all the BS, Dean really was sincere.

He addressed Dean. "Because as you even noted, they are scared, elderly people. They do not need three very large, strange men hovering over them."

"Sam's bigger."

Cas almost laughed, Sam did laugh. "Yes, but he also comes across less intimidating, less combative, and more professional. You are an acquired taste." Cas didn't miss the way Dean's eyes narrowed at him, proof in point, actually. "You are sarcastic and crude and show a complete lack of respect, not just in your words, but also in your body language. You even breathe aggressively."

Dean smirked, narrowing his eyes even more. The guy wanted intimidating body language, he'd give him intimidating body language. "Yeah whatever, asshat." He got up and shoved his chair to the side and walked to the door. He'd had just about enough. "Because coming across as a rigid dick is so much better." He walked through the door and slammed it shut behind him.

Sam stayed in his seat, but rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. He should have left Dean at home. Not that the professor wasn't instigating Dean the entire time. It felt a little like pre-schoolers picking on each other till one started crying and running to the teacher.

Cas looked at Sam and continued as if nothing had just happened. "These people need help. Whether imagined or not, they are afraid. We'll need to leave by 1:00pm. I'll pick you up." He motioned to the door. "If there's nothing else, I have a class to get to."

Sam stood up and held his hand out to the teacher. "Sure. I'll see you Thursday and thanks again for helping us. Really."

Dean watched Cas walk down the hallway and shook his head, turning towards Sam. "The guy totally hates me."

"Well, I wonder why?" Sam huffed at his older brother. "You act like a complete ass anytime he's around. From his point of view you are combative and disrespectful. The least you could've done is sit up straight in the chair and take your hands out of your pockets. You're like Mr. Hyde as soon as he's within fifty feet of you."

"No, absolutely not. You don't get to blame me for this one." Dean shook his head. "I tried being nice to him. He's a dick, plain and simple."

"Yeah well, the students here love the guy. The police here love the guy. From what I hear, I wouldn't be surprised if they held an annual parade in his honor. Maybe if you let him see the real you, he'd let you see the real him." Sam slung his heavy book bag over his shoulder and headed down the hall to his class, but stopped to look back at Dean. "In other words, cut the crap."

"Hey Rae. I brought you lunch." Castiel walked into Rachel's small office carrying a white paper bag and sat it on her desk, along with a still steaming cup of coffee.

Rachel eyed the bag suspiciously before pushing it to the side. She looked up at Cas, an eyebrow raised and a smirk on her face. "And what exactly is it that you need me to do for you, Dr. Novak?" She folded her arms over her chest and waited for him to answer.

"Is it so hard to believe that I just happen to have a free hour and thought I'd spend some time with the prettiest police lieutenant on the force?"

There was a brief moment of absolute silence before Rachel burst out in laughter. "Yeah, now I know you want something." She composed herself before continuing, however the smile remained in place. "Even though I'm the only female officer in a hundred mile radius, and I think Steve may actually be a little prettier than me, I'll still accept the compliment. But again, what do you want?"

"I need you to run a check on the Monroes before Sam and I drive up there Thursday." He handed her a piece of paper with their information on it. "I just need to know if there's any past I should be concerned about."

She reached into her desk and pulled out a file. "Already did it." She winked at him and tossed him the file. "We all had our place on the team." She smiled sadly, looking down to avoid his face. She'd never investigated with them, but she did all the background checks on clients for them, made sure the team wouldn't be putting themselves at risk if the clients happened to be 'not so law-abiding' and also to see if anyone in the client's immediate circle of friends or family stood anything to gain by setting the victims up. It was astonishing, how often victims of supposed paranormal activity were really the victims of fraud; perpetrated by those they trusted. "There's nothing, though. They're just a sweet old couple trying to live out their golden years. He's a retired CPA and she's been a lifelong housewife. No kids, no relatives. Everything they have goes to charity after they pass."

He frowned at the paper he held in his hand. "Just good people. I almost hoped…" He shook his head and placed the papers back in the folder.

"So why Sam?" She finally opened the bag Cas had brought and pulled out a sandwich, sliding half of it to Cas. When Cas looked up at her to start speaking, she cut him off. "And don't give me any line of crap about not scaring the old people, because we both know that's just bullshit. Why are you pushing Dean out? Saturday night, you said you trusted the guy."

"I also said that…" He looked at her over the half sandwich he was about to take a bite of. "How do you even know what reason I gave them?"

She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows. "I have super-psychic mind reading powers." She laughed at the exaggerated eye roll she got from across the desk. "Sam called and told me what happened. He asked me to talk to you on behalf of his brother. He says that Dean isn't like what you think. Asked me to convince you to, and I quote, 'stop being so hard on him and just give him a chance.' end quote." She smiled at him and took a bite of her sandwich.

"Because I need to check everything out before I bring Dean to that house. He's hiding something, Rae. It's his business, but if there's even a small chance that…" He stopped and looked at her, silently hoping she got the point.

"You think he's hiding something like Sara was? You're trying to protect him, aren't you?"

He put the sandwich down and wiped his mouth. "I don't know. It's just… the way Sam looked when I asked if they had any psychological issues. I got the impression that Sam didn't exactly agree with Dean's answer. I don't want anyone else to get hurt by this thing. I have to be sure first."

"Well, you're a good judge of character so I get it."

"There's one more thing, Rae. I need you to get the medical histories of the Monroes. You don't have to tell me anything, just find out if there's any issues I should be concerned with." He looked down, avoiding the look he knew she was giving him.

"You know I can't do that. Your interview Thursday is set up to determine all that. Isn't that the whole point of going up there early?" She frowned, knowing exactly why he was looking everywhere but at her.

"My judgment of character isn't as good as you give me credit for, Rae. Please do this… for me." He finally looked up at her and grinned. "If you do, I'll put on that suit and tie just for you. Take you up on that offer of dessert."

"Really? You think that you can convince me to break the law by bribing me with fancy clothes and ice cream sundaes?" Her tone was joking, but the frown on her face was anything but. While it was nice to see a little playfulness in him, he was asking her to break the law and just expecting her to do it. Well, he was about to find out that she wasn't that easy either. "No Cas. First of all, I'm not one of your infatuated, co-ed groupies who swoon just looking into those pretty blue eyes of yours. Secondly, your flirtation is duly noted, but if I actually called your bluff, you'd be running out of here like a scared little girl." Rachel didn't get angry at Cas much, and a part of her understood, but… "Lastly… never mind, just leave. Really, I have work to do." She turned around and looked out the small window, her office suddenly seeming too small.

Cas walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, I was just kidding. I don't even own a suit and I'm using my only tie to keep that raggedy old chair the college refuses to replace, from falling apart. You know that. I'm sorry. I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

Rachel turned around, tears in her eyes and wrapped her arms around him. "I know. Really, I do. But you can do this. You didn't make a mistake, Cas. You didn't miss anything with Sara." She pulled back and cupped his cheek in her hand. "I would have known and you would have too. The doctors were wrong. I won't help you lose faith in yourself by getting you those records. I'm sorry."

He exhaled a deep breath and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping towards the door. "I'll see you later. Sorry I upset you. I promise to never offer you dessert again." He smiled at her and opened the door.

She stopped him and pushed the door closed and put herself between Cas and the exit. Looking up at him, her hands shaking, she nervously picked at the collar of his shirt. "If the day ever comes that you really mean it, you know I wouldn't turn you down." A tear fell down her cheek. "I know it's pathetic and wrong, but you're all I have left too."

He wiped the water from her cheek, willing his own tears not to fall. "There are moments that I think I really do, Rae." He ran his fingers through her hair, gently pushing the strands from her face. "But I think we both know that it's a really a ghost we see when we look at each other." He shook his head and frowned, pulling himself back. "Neither one of us needs that kind of pain." He gently took her hand from his shirt collar and moved her from in front of the door. "You're my best friend. I don't know where I'd be without you. I'm sorry I hurt you." He opened the door and walked through it, knowing that by tomorrow they'd be back to normal. They always were.

AN: Thanks for Reading. The next chapter is almost typed and ready to go. I promise this isn't a Cas/Rachel story. Just hold out a little longer and you'll see where that's headed. As always, review if you have the time.