Dean gave Castiel a look of surprise. "What do you mean take her with you? You can't she needs our help… my help!" Both Sam and Bobby gave Dean an odd look at the desperation underlying Dean's voice. Castiel closed his eyes and collected his thoughts while trying to block out Marie's unconscious ramblings.

"Dean, she is in trouble, but you have a mission to do already. It will be better for everyone if I take it from here." Explained Castiel looking down at Marie who was lying on the couch.

"No." Stated Dean glaring at Castiel. Moving himself between Castiel and Marie.

"Look Dean, Castiel is right. We don't have time for this, if anyone can get her out of her deal it would be an Angel." Sam pleaded, watching Dean's hands close into fist at his sides. Sam was trying to figure out what had gotten into his brother's head but they had been out of sync for a while now.

Dean glared at his brother. "Oh yeah because that worked out so well last time. You remember what happened with Anna, don't you Sam?"

"Anna was already an Angel, Dean. I can assure you Marie is not." Stated Castiel in a calm voice.

"Why did she recognize you?" Asked Dean ignoring Castiel's last statement.

"We have met before. I have helped her in times of danger." Explained Castiel.

"Why?" Asked Sam.

"I-" Castiel paused for a moment. He did not know why he helped Marie out so many times but he knew that it was right and his responsibility somehow. "Because I must."

"So, what? You're ordered for guardian duties?" Castiel ignored Dean's sarcastic comment.

"What is so important about her, Castiel?" Asked Bobby.

"Nothing… nothing at all…" replied Castiel softly with a relaxed face as he gazed back down at her. Dean followed his eyes before they were brought back to meet his own.

"Dean there is a man in Wisconsin that is in need of protection. I need you and Sam to go there and bring him back to me."

"Dammit Cas! Fuck you! We aren't some errand boys for you to send around. I am not leaving this girl for the Hell Hounds to get. She doesn't deserve that!" Dean eyes were slightly crazy looking.

"Hell hounds? She has made no deal so why would they be after…." Asked Castiel and if he weren't so stone faced most of the time, would've seemed confused.

"Wait so you didn't know that hell hounds were after her?" Asked Sam, who was actually capable of showing his own confusion. Castiel shook his head.

"Look this is ridiculous to argue over. Dean she will still be here when you and Sam get back, I will make sure of it. Go and do your little angel mission and maybe Castiel can get more information about why it's after her."

"Bobby-"

"Don't argue with me boy, she will be here." There was finality in Bobby's tone, mixed with a warning.

Sam gave one look be between Bobby, Dean and Castiel. For a moment it looked like Dean was going to argue once again; instead Dean grabbed his keys and flew out the front door. Sam gave a small apologetic smile to Castiel and Bobby and followed Dean.

"Thank-you Robert."

"Don't thank me yet angel-boy, now you have to explain to her everything and try and figure out why the hell hounds are chasing her. Good luck, I am going into town for food." And with that Bobby left.

Castiel looked around his surroundings, the place was run down but it had had a homey charm to it. Castiel sat down in the armchair across from the couch that Marie was sitting on.

Marie sat in a dark room shivering; she could hear the newest Mr. Foster's footsteps upstairs. She could barely make out the voices of the rest of the men upstairs. This was not how she pictured her fourteenth birthday, being beaten. Her foster father had dragged his hunting knife along her back to her lower front, creating a clean cut he told her, whatever that meant. She had forgotten to pick up something on the grocery list she was given. She had never really celebrated her birthdays before. She usually spent it by herself, which was fine with her normally she would reread her favourite book: Pride and Prejudice. Suddenly there was a crash up stairs, followed by her foster father's voice and the other men's. They were yelling at someone. The gash on her back was bleeding again and she was not sure whether or not she was going to be able to stay awake much longer. There was a bright light from the basement door, it was open and someone was walking down the stairs. Marie's eye started to fill up with silent tears. She knew not to make a sound, in the hopes that he could not find her in the dark basement corner. She coward further as the footsteps came closer.

"It's ok, do not fear me, I am here to take you to somewhere safe and warm" said the voice calmly. Marie's eyes widened only one person had ever said that to her. It was him; the angel. She felt him wrap his wings around her; they were soft and gave her warmth. She was picked up and he whispered into her ear "Sleep my Marie… sleep little one."

Marie slowly came back to consciousness, her eyes fluttering open. It took a second of panic to realize before she shot up and looked directly at Castiel. She did not know how long she had been asleep for. "Hi…" she whispered. Castiel cocked his head to the side and gazed long and hard at Marie. She began to fidget under his gaze.

"Hello Marie, how are you?" He asked her slowly, when she didn't respond he continued, "You have been sleeping for many hours. Robert is upstairs sleeping as well. Dean and Sam will be back soon." His voice sent shivers down her spine. She forgot how comforting that voice was. Stop it Marie, he is an Angel. Don't even think about it. She scolded herself. "Think about what?" asked Castiel and Marie was a little shocked to feel rather than see the Angel's confusion. As the shock died slowly, Marie's face turned red at his question; she had forgotten he was able to do that. She looked out the window and directed her thought to him. How long have I been out?

"You have been sleeping for two days. You were exhausted. I have been watching over you while you slept." Castiel explained reading her mind.

"Oh... well thanks..." Replied Marie blushing once more.

"It is not a problem." Castiel stated with ease that Marie could almost feel the human reaction of a shoulder shrug behind it.

"Does this mean that they are going to hurt me?"

"Who?"

"Dean and Sam. You only show up when I am hurt or about to get hurt. You always find me."

"No they will not hurt you Marie, they can help. They are good men." There was conviction his gravel monotone.

"So they are telling the truth about the whole thing? And those Hell Hounds?" Asked Marie, her voice quivering. Castiel got up off the chair and moved to sit beside Marie on the couch. He took off his jacket and threw it on the chair as he got up.

"Marie, we have to figure out why they are after you. They are going to drag you to hell if we can not figure out why they are after you." Explained Castiel bluntly; Marie's eyes widened.

"Why! I haven't done anything! I didn't make a deal! Or whatever Dean called it. I … I don't deserve this… why can't I ever just get a break?" Marie cried as she put her head in her hands. He moved across the room quickly, having seen her like this being far too familiar. He held back for a moment before the need to make her feel safe became too strong within him. He wrapped his arms around Marie and pulled her close. "I'm scared." She whispered. He was stiff and rigid against her, unnaturally so.

"Nothing will happen to you, I promise." Castiel claimed with a newfound conviction, as he kissed her forehead.

"You're lying." Marie stated pulling her necklace out of her shirt. "Do you remember the day I first met you? You left this behind." Indicating to the black feather on the leather necklace. Castiel's eyes went wide at the site of the feather.

"I cannot lie Marie, angel's cannot lie." Replied Castiel dryly, not taking his eyes off the feather.

"But you have! You told me that I would be safe and warm! All these years I have tried to hold on to that but it's getting too hard… when are you going to be able to keep your promise?" He moved away from her and went back to his original chair. Picking up his vessel's trench coat.

"I will leave you for now to seek the answers you have asked." With that he was gone. Marie clung to the necklace more fervently, falling back into herself on the couch.

"Morning kid"

"He left... he just left," said Marie quietly as she sat down at the kitchen table.

"Well kid he does that... though there had to be something that you said." Explained Bobby giving her some bacon and eggs.

"Well I told him about the feather he left me when I first met him... and he looked surprise...I... I don't know what to think."

"Wait... he was the Angel you were telling Dean and Sam about?"

"Yeah... why?"

"I don't know... hmmm... I may have to do a bit of research on this... you said he left you a feather?" Marie nodded at Bobby's question; she showed him the black feather that she had around her neck. "Well okay then that will give me somewhere to start. This reminds me of a legend I once read. Don't you worry darling we are gonna help you." Marie nodded once more and began to eat her eggs, while Bobby went off to his "office" to do some research leaving Marie alone to wonder.

Castiel was confused. It was simple, she had one of his feathers, he had left it behind; did this maybe have something to do with why he could hear her clearer than the rest. He sat on the park bench where they had first met. He had replayed this day many times in his head over the years, usually when he rescued her from whatever danger she was in. He was amazed at the faith she had in him. He had never once stated that he would be back for her at any point, normally he would just show up save her and then drop her off at the nearest hospital; except that night. The night she found out his name.

She was shivering in his arms as he carried her out of the house, past the body of her foster father and some of his friends. Normally he did not kill Gods creatures; they were his charges after all. But how can someone or rather something do this to a defenseless creature. Human nature was something he didn't understand; he was not meant to understand it. It was one of those things he was just supposed accept and deal with. That is what Uriel told him to do. Marie's whimpering awoke him from his thoughts.

"Where are you taking me now?" She whimpered, snuggling closer to his body. She did not even notice that they were in the air.

"The hospital... your cut needs to be cleaned and stitched." He explained pulling her closer.

"Ok... but then where? Can't I just stay with you?" She asked looking up at him.

"No." He replied calmly.

"Why?"

"Because I am an Angel of the Lord and I have things to attend to. You would not be safe with me, Marie."

"Oh... but I will be safe this time? No more beatings?"

"I.... Yes." He stuttered.

"Which Angel are you?" Marie asked as they touched down outside of the Hospital. The question surprised Castiel.

"I am Castiel, protector of Humans, Born on a Thursday." Marie looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh..."

"Oh? Does this not please you? I have answered your question." Castiel replied walking into the emergency room with Marie in her arms.

"I just thought you might be Michael, or Gabriel..."

"I- " Castiel's response was cut off by a nurse running over to them.

"Dear lord, what happened child?" Asked the nurse after seeing the blood pooling on the floor.

"She is hurt, her foster father did this to her. You must help her. Her name is Marie, and her social workers name is Claire McNulty." Explained Castiel putting her down on the gurney another nurse brought over. The two nurses then rushed her through a set of double doors; Castiel did not follow, but watched as Marie's eyes filled with tears once more; this time he was sure it was because he was leaving her again.

What Marie did not know was that he stayed in her hospital room until her social worker arrived. She had been sedated and given pain medication. He watched her for hours and never once did he notice the feather.

"You are in deep thought my brother. What troubles you this time?" Asked Uriel coming up to stand behind the bench he was sitting on. There was the hint of annoyance from his brother, but Castiel ignored it.

"I... I have a problem... I have left a piece of myself somewhere where it should not be." Replied Castiel, he was not sure if Uriel was the person he should be talking to right now about this. But what other choice did he have? He could not talk to Michael or Gabriel himself. If only Anna had not fallen…

"What are you talking about?" Asked Uriel in confusion.

"One of my feathers is in possession of a human, and I fear it has caused a great trouble for them. But I don't understand how that might be." Castiel in appearance to a human remained stoic, but Uriel could see the Angel's turmoil beneath his vessel's face.

"You what? ... How ... You must get it back Castiel." Uriel responded in a hard but almost panicked tone, which only confused Castiel even more.

"What?"

"You are connected to this person as long as they have it. This is where you have run off to at strange times hasn't it? To see this person? Who is it?" Asked Uriel in a hard tone once more.

Castiel didn't respond; he was not sure whether or not he could trust Uriel with Marie's name and identity. Which was alarming on several levels to realize he was questioning his prior unwavering trust. He wasn't sure if he wanted to loose her. Castiel's eyes widened at his last thought. Why would I be afraid of loosing her? Castiel sighed.

"I must go." Before Uriel could respond, Castiel was gone, leaving behind yet another feather.

"Oh brother... so starts your fall." Said Uriel with an sinister gleam in his eyes.