Monument, Colorado

For two thousand years, Castiel had observed from the shadows. He had seen civilizations rise and crumble, wars raging across nearly every continent, deeds of great kindness and atrocities beyond imagination. Yet for all the endless things Castiel had witness, nothing caught his interest more than two ordinary humans by the names of Dean and Sam Winchester. They had lost both their parents to Lucifer's right hand Azazel and Castiel wanted to know why. The demon had been his priority target for millennia but he was cautious and didn't share his plans with any of his underlings.

The angel continued to watch him even when he managed to open a hell's gate and unleash hundreds of demons into the world. He could have stopped it but Michael's command was clear and he always spoke for God. No angel was to interact with the physical world under any circumstances and Castiel and his garrison had followed their orders. But after millennia of waiting, they were starting to lose faith and patience. Some believed the archangels and the rest of their brethren in heaven were never going to return. But Castiel kept his faith and continued his duty.

Azazel pulled out the Colt, a special gun that somehow could kill a demon, and was ready to use the final bullet on Dean. Then John Winchester's spirit emerged through the hell's gate and seized the demon, pulling him out of his vessel. But a spirit was no real threat to a demon of Azazel's power. He easily wrestled John away and return to his vessel. But then the unthinkable happened, Dean Winchester used the Colt to shoot Azazel. Lucifer's right hand was killed at the hands of an ordinary human. To say that Castiel was surprised was an understatement.

Since then the angel followed the two boys around, believing that they were important. Especially Sam Winchester, Azazel wanted him alive for something important and Castiel doubted just because he was dead meant his plan was completely ruined. So he observed their adventures, sometimes amused and more often than not frustrated by the Winchesters naiveté. The Crossroads Demon gave Dean a year for bringing his younger brother back to life. It was obvious the demon wanted his soul and quickly for some reason but Dean made the deal anyways. They tried to find a way out of it but the brothers were unsuccessful. It didn't help that they were receiving aid from a demon named Ruby. Why they continued to work with it Castiel didn't understand nor why they kept working with another human named Abigail Grayson or Bela Talbot as she called herself now.

She was the definition of a sinner. Guilty of thievery, murder, patricide, and matricide among many other things. Castiel hadn't witnessed Dean's first encounter with her but for some reason, the human seemed smitten with her. After two millennia, the angel still found human relationships to be beyond his understanding. Bela may have helped them but she also stole from them as well. And now she's stolen the Colt to try and undue the greatest mistake she ever made in her life. In doing so Bela made yet another mistake by alienating the last two people who she could go to for help.

The Winchesters had tracked her down to a hotel in a small town named Monument. They picked the lock and quietly entered the room. Castiel already knew Bela was long gone, having watched her leave. The woman found out the Winchesters were closing in on her and quickly left. The angel waited for the two hunters to show up and see what they would do. Bela had left newspaper clippings all over the walls, each referring to a suspicious death or unusual event. Dean and Sam checked around but found nothing useful. Then they turned their attention to the clippings.


"Bela's been keeping herself busy," commented Dean as he took a closer look. They scanned through several while Castiel watched them. He already knew what this was all was but it wasn't like he could tell the Winchesters anything so he waited.

"Dean these are cases. Possible angry spirit in Cheyanne, Wyoming. A vampire case in Denver, a Rakshasa in Topeka, Kansas. She sure did her homework," stated Sam.

"For someone who thumbs her nose down on hunters she certainly has the chops for it. The question is why," replied Dean.

Just then the hotel room phone rang, sitting on the bed. The brothers exchanged a look then Dean walked over and picked up the handset. He didn't say a word as he put it up to his ear. "Dean? Sweetie are you there?" asked Bela in that annoying cheerful voice of her's. Judging from the background noise, she was driving in her car.

Dean sighed, "Where are you?"

"Two states away by now," answered Bela.

"Where?" snapped Dean.

"Where's our usual quippy banter? I miss it," chuckled Bela.

"I want it back Bela. Now," demanded Dean.

"Your little pistol? Sorry that was the price for helping you save Bobby back in Pittsburgh," Bela replied.

"Oh I don't think so," Dean said.

"Well we agree on something. You don't think," laughed Bela. That seemed to irritate the elder Winchester even further.

"You have any idea how many people are going to die if you do this?" asked Dean.

"What exactly is it that you think I plan to do with it?" asked Bela.

"Take the only weapon we have against an army of demons and sell it to the highest bidder," Dean answered.

"You know nothing about me," stated Bela.

"I know I'm gonna stop you and by the way we paid a little visit to your apartment in Queens. We were a bit clumsy and smashed up a few things," chuckled Dean.

"First of all everything's insured. Second those are tough words for someone who can't find me," retorted Bela

"Oh I'll find you sweetheart. You know why? Because I have absolutely nothing better to do then to track you down," shot back Dean.

"That's where you're wrong. You're about to be quite occupied. Do you know an Agent Henrickson?" replied Bela. Dean threw a concerned look at Sam. "He has quite the hard-on for the two of you or so I'm told. Someone might have called him earlier and told him where you two might be." Dean was half ready to rush out the door until Bela started laughing. "Relax darling I was only kidding."

"Is that your way of warning me?" fumed Dean.

"No but I wasn't lying about you being busy. You said you have nothing better to do and now you do. Take a look at my little present I left you on the wall. Enough cases to keep you occupied for a month or two. Wouldn't want you to get rusty," said Bela.

"We know other hunters Bela. We simply call them up and hand these cases off to them," Dean said.

"You could but you won't. You're not the kind of person who let's other people get their hands dirty for you," chuckled Bela.

"Fine I'll make you deal!" shouted Dean, losing his patience. "Give me the Colt and I'll let you have whatever you want out of my dad's warehouse." Sam threw him a look but his older brother shot him a look to shut him up. He was desperate and running out of time.

"No deal. Sorry Dean but it's the Colt I need," answered Bela.

"Need for what?" demanded Dean.

"Nothing you need to worry about sweetie. Now go make some new friends or cut their heads off. Whatever makes you happy," Bela said before hanging up.

"Son of a bitch," Dean cursed underneath his breath before hanging up.


Castiel watched the Winchesters argue. Sam wanted to keep going after Bela while Dean wanted to head to the nearest case. Both of them had noble intentions but they were at a crossroads.

"Still following around those two mudfish?" a voice spoke Castiel. He turned to see his brother and comrade in arms Balthazar. Unlike most of the rest of the garrison on Earth, Balthazar seemed to enjoy his time here. Rather than observing demonic activity or important events, the angel would go into movie theaters or watch sports games or television or many other earthly pleasures that Castiel didn't understand the appeal to.

"They are important Balthazar," answered Castiel.

"What the oversized man child with rebellious daddy issues? The dumb one who's in love with that ugly looking car of his? C'mon Cas I know you're all about faith but this is a stretch ever for you," said Balthazar.

"They killed Azazel. Lucifer's main general," replied Castiel.

"They got lucky," Balthazar annoyingly sighed.

"There's no such thing as luck," stated Castiel.

"And there's no such thing as two hunters actually making a difference in the world. Yeah they killed Azazel but that only leaves the door open for Lilith to fill in the void and you know she's more than capable of matching the whole torture and murder quota," Balthazar said.

"Speaking of which you should be helping the others track Lilith down," Castiel said.

"And where should I start with that? I can't torture any demon for any information and anyone I follow hasn't led me anywhere good. Instead I'm forced to watch them kill human after human. Sadly that's still not as bad as watching Titanic," shrugged Balthazar. He had a strange hatred of that human movie.

"We have an assignment to observe and report once our brothers and sisters in heaven return," Castiel glared at his brother.

"They're never coming back Cas," sighed Balthazar. "Face it. Michael and the others don't want to come back to this cesspool and we're never leaving. So we might as well enjoy it. C'mon someone has Casa Erotica playing in one of the rooms here. Now that is a cinematic masterpiece."

"We are warriors of God Balthazar!" shouted Castiel. The whole room shook from his fury. The Winchesters glanced around confused than simply got back to their argument once it subsided. "And we will obey our orders," continued Castiel in a firm tone.

"Two millennia brother and not a single word from Senior Management! We've been abandoned!" snapped Balthazar.

"Have faith," Castiel tried to calm the situation.

"Funny. That's what Anna always said," retorted Balthazar. Their former commander fell to Earth to take a human form. She disobeyed Michael's orders to not get involved and for an angel, disobedience was the worst sin they could commit. Castiel and the rest of the garrison weren't able to track her down but Uriel managed to find her grace and secure it. They may not be able to find her but Anna won't be able to regain her powers. She'll be almost as frail as a normal human being. Balthazar mentioning her name was as the humans put it pouring salt into an open wound.

"We are not Anna," snapped Castiel.

"Sorry brother I know that's a touché subject for you but I'm only trying to illustrate a point for you. Our own commander went AWOL. You know the angel who was supposed to keep us in line. If she's lost faith in returning home, why should any of us hold out any hope?" asked Balthazar.

"Because hope is what's keeping me going brother. Hope that one day my seemingless observations will one day be useful and without that then I truly am nothing," answered Castiel.

"Well nothing is such a strong word Cas. A bore yes and have an angel blade stuck up your celestial ass but not nothing," chuckled Balthazar. Castiel appreciated his brother's words even if they were sarcastic. "Well suit yourself. I'll go search a local strip bar for any demons. Those pussing sores hate humans but strangely enough seemed to enjoy them when they're nude. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part."

Balthazar disappeared, leaving Castiel to continue observing the Winchesters. He may not be able to help them but he would keep an eye on them all the same. Maybe one day that will change. Truthfully, Castiel hoped that day never comes. When the angels return, it would be a sure sign that the apocalypse was at hand.

(A short chapter I know but I needed to address the whole Jus In Bello episode and I wanted Agent Henriksen alive to meet angels eventually. Next chapter will be longer and more relevant as Bela's deal with Crowley turns sour and her time runs out.)