All Secrets Known

Chapter 1

The brothers arrived at the entrance of the upmarket apartment building. The door man looked them both up and down but addressed neither of them as he somewhat begrudgingly opened the heavy double doors for them. "Not on a par with the usual clientele I guess." Dean said too loudly for Sam who shot him a 'shut the hell up' glare. "Under the radar remember, maybe we can get in and out of here without spilling any blood. "Fine, fine." Dean agreed as he pushed the button for the elevator repeatedly. Sam noted this and questioned him, "What is with you lately? It's like you're itching for a fight." "It's been a month Sam, a month and still no word from Crowley on the First Blade, or a new case for that matter. There is only so much R&R a man can take before he starts to get restless." The doors of the elevator opened with a ding. They both stepped in and Dean hit the button for the eleventh floor. "This is what we've been reduced to? Running errands for Garth" "Hey it got us out of the bunker at least and on the road again for a couple of days at least." Sam looked at the pent up Dean and continued, "I never thought I would hear you complaining that there wasn't enough evil in the world to keep you happy. Did it ever occur to you that not being able to find a case might be a good thing?" His brother looked at him in disbelief, "Really Sam? Gift horse, torch in mouth. This is not a good thing, the big bad out there, is not gone; it's avoiding us and us in particular. Its not like they've just hitched up their skirts and have run away, they are plotting something, and I don't like." "Gee Dean, paranoid much?" Sam said as the doors open to reveal a dark hallway in mid renovation, tiles, wood and tools lined the walls in both directions. "Is this the place?" Dean asked. "What do you think?" Sam replied taking out his torch and pointing it downwards revealing a large devils trap painted on the uncarpeted floor in front of them. They both scanned the rest of the hallway highlighting Enochian sigils and demon warding sigils painted along the floor and walls. "This just got interesting." Dean said as he shot his brother an impish smile.

There was only one door leading off the hallway. Sam hunched before it as he worked on picking the lock. The door itself was ornately decorated from top to bottom with a host of different symbols, sigils and some even the Winchesters didn't recognise. The lock was simple and easily picked. Sam stood, "I guess human intruders aren't high on their list of worries." He commented as he slowly turned the handle and opened the door silently. In front of them was a narrow hall, two doors leading off to the left and at the end one to the right. Sam took the left while his brother stayed right. Dean watched as Sam peered into the first room, it was a clean modern sparsely stocked bathroom and empty. Sam signalled this as he continued towards the next door. Dean did likewise looking back as Sam disappeared into the kitchen. The kitchen was large and spotlessly clean but it was certainly currently use, fresh fruit sat in a bowl on the counter and there were dishes drying next to the sink. Without warning pain shot from the small of his back and quickly extended through out his body. His legs gave way and he dropped to the floor convulsing for a few seconds. Someone hunched over him and placed a cloth over his mouth and nose. He was vaguely aware of a strong familiar smell that he couldn't quite place in his confusion. He passed out before its name could come to him.

Dean was in the study across the hall, its walls lined with bookshelves, all stacked full of texts, relics and specialist ingredients. He turned when he heard a load thud, "Sammy!" he called in a whisper. He spun around and headed in to the kitchen. Sam lay on the floor; Dean knelt next to him trying to rouse him. When he got no response he tried to check for a pulse anything to let him know his brother wasn't dead. Before he could confirm either way an arm wrapped tightly around his next closing his wind pipe and cutting off his air. He grappled at the arm trying to pry it off but to no avail, it was small but it was strong. A second arm came into view; in its hand was a rag that was placed roughly over his face. 'Chloroform, damn it,' was his last thought before he too passed out.

He had no idea how long he was out for but his head felt muggy as he slowly opened his eyes. He was no longer in the kitchen; he was now sitting in a heavy metal chair with his wrists securely tied to the arms by thick leather straps. "You ok?" Sam asked who was next to him in an identical situation. "I'll live." he replied as he tried to shake his head clear. The room was empty except for the two chairs in the centre which were bolted to the floor in the centre of a devils trap. There were no windows and only one door which was directly in front of them. Dean pulled at his wrist straps, and noticed a two inch cut to his forearm. "Yeah, me too" Sam said trying to twist his arm to show a similar mark. "Holy water and salt too, I'm guessing by the taste of my lips." he added. Dean automatically licked his and he too could taste salt. The collar of his shirt was damp and cold. "So, hunters." he said. "Did you get eyes on them?" Sam shook his head, "Got me from behind with what I'm guessing was a stun gun." "Ouch!" Dean remarked sympathetically. "Tell me about it." Sam continued, "Haven't seen anyone since I woke up." "Well if we are dealing with hunters' maybe we can reason with them." Dean remarked hopefully "Hay, you out there?" he shouted.

The room remained silent for another minute or two, he was about to shout out again when they heard the lock turning. The heavy door was pulled open and they were joined in the room by a woman in her early thirties, her mousey blonde hair pulled back in an untidy pony-tail. She was pretty but her stern face and eyes older than her years prevent it from being immediately obvious. She was of slight lean build average height, but she walked into the room with a confidence that told them she was stronger than she looked. Her boot cut jeans were old and well worn so too were her boots. She wore a plan black tee-shirt that hung too loose on her. She stared at the two brothers for a moment and Sam thought he saw a flash of sadness cross her face before she finally spoke. "What the hell are you doing here? How did you find this place?" There was no fear hidden behind her obvious anger. Sam was first to address her "Look, I think there has been a misunderstanding," she quickly cut him off. "A misunderstanding, you two broke into my home, how have I misunderstood that?" "Well, I guess you haven't," Dean replied. "But you're a hunter, we're hunters too." He continued, "As my brother here said we believe the misunderstanding was with our friend, the person who sent us here. I think he got his wires crossed because he told us that this place was empty. Garth can be a bit flaky at times." Their captor looked openly surprised, "Garth, Garth sent you here? As in skinny dude who likes to hug, Garth?" Sam was relieved, "Yeah, that Garth, he knew we were close and sent us a text messages with this address, asking us to pick up an old book on woo-doo he thought might be might be stashed here. She was shaking her head, "Garth doesn't know about this place." She put her hands into her pockets and pulled out the Winchesters cell phones. "The one on the left." Dean told her which had the message. She scrolled through the messages until she found Garths, again she frowned. "You pair of idiots." She scolded them, "Have you ever gotten a text from Garth before that didn't include five or six emoticons. He could be at Deaths door and he would still finish it with a cute frowny face." She looked up and the boys. "This may have come from Garths phone but he didn't write it." She pushed a button and held the phone to her ear. "Ringing out." She turned and left the room pushing the door closed behind her. "Well isn't she a just charming, not paranoid at all. A real bundle of kittens." Dean said sarcastically.

It was over half an hour before the door opened again. "I've called every number I have for Garth and every hunter that knows him and haven't been able to locate him." She looked genuinely concerned for his safety. "I have sent someone to look for him." She walked over to Sam and began undoing his wrist straps. "I'm going to untie you both, but you will have to remain here with me until I hear word back on Garth." She finished freeing Sam and moved on to Dean, "I can trust you two to behave." It was a statement not a question. "It shouldn't be too long before we get news." She left the room again but this time left the door open assuming they would follow. The cell door led into the study though a hidden door behind one of the bookcases. She kept walking and led them into the kitchen. She took three beers from the fridge and handed on to each of the boys. Ever the gentleman, Sam began the pleasantries "Sorry, We haven't been introduced, I'm Sam and this is my brother Dean." Dean nodded in acknowledgement with the beer bottle already up to his lips. "We didn't catch your name." Sam continued. "Alice, I'm Alice Staley." The brothers exchanged glances as she took a drink from her bottle. "So, Alice, just you here, alone?" Dean questioned. "Why, you thinking about making a break for it?" "Eh, no, I just, its just, there's not many hunters that could get the drop on either of us, let alone both of us." He explained. "Yes, it's just me. I maybe short compared to you two giants but I'm quick and strong, plus you were in my territory, I had the upper hand. I hope I didn't bruise your ego too much" she said with mock concern. "So," Sam said hoping to change the subject and lighten the mood. "Nice place you got here." "Yeah, it belongs to a friend, he is letting me stay her a while." "Is this the same friend you have searching for Garth?" Dean said still sulking from her earlier ridicule. Alice's phone began to buzz in her pocket, ignoring Dean's question, she hurriedly answered it. "Hello…Thank you that's a relief…..Yeah I'll do it now, give me a couple of minutes." She hung up the phone and addressed the boys, "He's fine, a little banged up but that's been taken care of. A couple of demons had him in a trailer out in Nevada somewhere. He is back home now." She opened a press under the sink and took out a can of black spray paint. "Hold on a second," Dean said as he followed her out into the hall and to the front door. She opened the door of the apartment and headed out to the hallway, "Walk and talk" was all she said. Dean rolled his eyes and followed her. "You said Nevada and now he is home, how is that even possible." He paused as he watched her spray a black line through each of the Enochian sigils she passed. It took longer than he was proud of for the penny to drop. "You have a fricken angel in your pocket. God damn it." He wasn't happy about it. She finished the final sigil and brushed passed him in the narrow hallway. "And there I was, thinking you brother was the smart one." She headed back in to the apartment, Dean closely following, "Sam, we gotta get out of here, she's working with an angel." Sam standing in the door of the kitchen stepping aside as he said, "Ah, no Dean, she's working with our angel." Behind Sam Castiel stepped forward unaware of how good his accidental comic timing had been. "Neither of you should be here." He said in lieu of a salutation. Cas shot Alice a knowing look and placed a hand on each of the boy's shoulders. In a heart beat they were back in the Men of Letters bunker.

"What the hell, Cas?" Dean barked. "I apologise, but it is for your own good. Associating with her is dangerous for everyone one involved." Cas said vaguely. "What are you talking about?" Sam questioned. "I'm not sure yet, the demons holding Garth we're quite low level, they didn't know who was giving the orders, let alone why." He paused and gave each brother a look that pleaded them to let this go. Neither man seemed about to do that so choosing his next words carefully he continued. "Someone out there knows more than they should and wanted you in that apartment for reasons that are as yet unknown to me. However we can safely assume it wasn't for the betterment of man kind. You two need to let this go. It need not involve either of you." "But you do know who she is, you know that woman." Sam said questioningly. "I haven't seen or spoken to her in some time but yes we once know each other." Dean smiled at Sam "Do you know her – know her?" he asked. The angel rolled his eyes, "if you mean in the carnal sense then no, I believe the best way to explain the situation would be as she describes it 'Witness Protection' and the apartment she referred to as a 'Safe House'." "Not a great safe house if the demons were able to find it." Dean commented. "I do not have the answer to that. Only Alice and I had knowledge of its existence. It is indeed a worrying situation. " Cas added. "What is? We still have no idea what is going on, you have told us nothing." Sam said impatiently. "That being said I must go, I will need to move her to a new location now that this one has been compromised." And with that he was gone. Dean turned to Sam, "Shifty Cas never bodes well, does it?" he said as he headed for the laptop. "You gonna do like he asked and let this go?" Sam asked. "Like hell I am, are you insane? Since when has being kept in the dark about Cas' plans ever been a good thing. If like Cas said the demons wanted us there, you think they're not going to try again just 'cause this time it didn't work out. Plus why? What's their end game?" He opened the laptop and powered it up. "Why don't you give Garth a call, see if he is ok and if he remembers anything that might help us. I'll see what the world wide web has to say about our new friend Alice."

"You ready?" Castiel said as he popped back into existence in the kitchen of the safe house. "Holy crap Cas, you really need to wear a bell or something." She was packing food from the fridge and stuffing it into a large back pack. She stopped, dropped the bag and gave the angel a hug. He hugged back. "It's so good to see you again. It's been a while." She released him and he asked, "How are you? You know, after seeing them?" She shot him a sad smile. "It certainly was a shock; I don't know how I feel really, its best not to dwell on it, it won't do me any good." She scanned the kitchen for any other perishables that she had missed.

"I can't imagine the boys are too happy with you right now, what did you tell them?" She picked up the fruit bowl and poured its contents into the bag. "No, they are not, I didn't tell them anything except that they need to let it go." Emma scoffed "Yeah, I can see that happening. Any idea why they were sent here, how could someone know I'd be here?" "No, I have no idea, bringing the Winchesters here could mean someone knows more than they should, I don't like it." the angel said "Me neither," she answered "this place was just beginning to feel like home. Cas looked uncomfortable. "What is it?" she asked. "Maybe it would be prudent to come clean with them, if the demons know what happened perhaps it would be better, in this situation, to pre-empt them and tell the boys the truth on our own terms?" Alice shook her head, "I thought of that too, too risky, what if we're wrong, I mean look at all the crap we have here maybe they really just wanted to get there hands on some old woo-doo book. With all the wardings I have up, they would have to send in humans, they certainly couldn't do it themselves. They may have no idea I even exist. A complete coincidence." She closed the bag and continued, "Look, its better if I just disappear again, go totally off the grid." Cas didn't argue with her. "The cabin?" was all he said. "The cabin," she confirmed as she threw the back pack over her shoulder and picked up the suit case that was already packed sitting on the floor. "Right, let's get going." She said trying to seem cheerful about the prospect of the cabin. The angel touched her shoulder and they were gone.

The cabin was remote and isolated, twenty miles of hills and dense forest separated it from the nearest town. The dirt road leading to it was over grown from lack of use and unless you knew where to look you probably wouldn't even consider it a road. The cabin its self was small but comfortable, kitchen, living room toilet and bedroom, not much else. It had its own electricity generator and contact could only be made with the outside world with the CV radio or satellite phone. Out back there was tool shed and a 4x4 parked next to it under a tarp for any supply runs into town. "I can't say I'm happy to see the place again." She admitted looking around the small kitchen, it was a far cry from the apartment kitchen she had been used to. "As soon as I know its safe we can move you somewhere more populated but for now.." Alice interrupted him "I know, low profile." She looked at his unhappy face. "You know this is the right thing to do, don't you?" she said softly. "Yes," he replied, "I am not comfortable however, lying to the Winchesters. It has taken a lot to win back their trust." Alice walked to the angel and took his hand, "I know and I'm sorry to put you in the middle of this again but it's for their own good. Nothing good can come from stirring up the past." She embraced him again and again he reciprocated. "I had better go." He finally said and she was alone again. She sighed to herself and walked from the kitchen to the living room to find every text, relic and ancient weapon that had been housed in the apartment now in a pile in the centre of the room. The angel had thought it was better to bring everything than to leave it behind for anyone to find. "Well at least I'll be busy." She said to herself as she began to try and find everything a logical home in the much smaller cabin.

Sam hung up the phone and rejoined Dean in the library who was still in front of the laptop reading a printout while leaning back in the chair. "Garth is fine, but no info for us. He was jumped by a couple of demons and taken to the desert. They held him there for a couple of days before Cas came for him. They never spoke to him or each other around him. Either very careful or just unsocial. Dead end I'm afraid. How about you?" he asked hoping Dean had more luck. "No trace of our Alice Staley online, big surprise there. He sat forward sliding the printout across the table to him. "So I had a look into the building to see if there was a paper trail I could follow. It was originally a hotel in the late twenties, quite the place to be in its hay day. Most floors now have been converted into apartments. The eleventh floor is one of the last to be undated. A wealthy couple bought if a couple of years ago and started the renovations. The husband died of an aneurism about three months in. Turns out he had a second and a third family tucked away. Everything including the apartment has been in probate ever since." Sam scanned the headline on the page he had been given, 'Wives (3) Battle Over Bigamists Millions.' Dean continued his story. "So I had a chat with the buildings manager, he swears that nobody has been on the eleventh floor in over a year. Safety inspector found the place to be full of asbestos, so it's been off limits to everyone until the lawyers can agree who gets what." "So another dead end." Sam said finishing Deans thought. "Now what?" he asked. "Damned if I know." Dean replied.

It had been a month since Cas had left Alice at the cabin, in that whole time she had not been in contact with anyone, not a word from Castiel but thankfully no more run ins with the Winchesters either. All though she would have welcomed a visit from the angel though; she was beginning to run low on pretty much everything and was now aware that a trip into town was quickly becoming inevitable. Turning off the lamp next to her bed she plunged herself into a world of complete darkness. The cloudy sky had robbed room of any light from the moon. She had been here long enough and had enough warding around her that this darkness held no fear over her. Even still sleep was slow to come, the prospect of a trip out of the wilderness and into town both excited and worried her. She knew she was taking a risk heading out without any word from Cas but the angel had a habit of overlooking the fact that humans had basic needs that needed to be filled like food and toilet paper. She had maybe enough dried food to last another couple of days but more importantly she hadn't seen another human in over three weeks or had a decent coffee for that matter. Decision made, she was going into town first thing tomorrow. Hit the local diner for pancakes and coffee before stocking up at the store. With her head now full of images of bacon and maple syrup she finally drifted off to sleep.

It was still pitch black but Alice knew she was dreaming, she knew this dream, she had been here many times before and it was always the same. The smell, the heat and the dampness never changed. She knew what was coming but had never been able to stop it or wake herself, not until the entire scene had played out first. She lay a wooden table, no restraints held her in place yet she was unable to move a muscle. He stood over her; his familiar face illuminated by an eerie dull yellow light from an unseen source. It cast ghoulish shadows across his ordinarily handsome features. He took his time readying his instruments next to her and then met her fearful gaze. He picked up his tool of choice and shot her a sickly sweet smile. "Let's get started." He whispered as he looked from her to the thin blade in his hand. Tonight's dream had him working on her thigh but it didn't seem to matter where he started, the routine was always the same. He began by skinning the area, slowly and methodically, pausing every now and then to admire his handy work. Internally she would thrash about and scream until her throat felt raw but outwardly she lay motionless. Frozen from head to toe, tears would stream down her face and temples, the only thing belying her true feelings. Once he was happy with what he had cleared he would begin to cut deeper, removing slice after slice of flesh and muscle from the exposed area. Everything he eradicated he would place in a neat pile on her chest between her breasts so that they could both appreciate his accomplishments. Any time throughout the process she would pass out from the pain he would patiently stop and take the time to awaken her, tenderly drying her face of tears and sweat, just so he could begin again. He would speak softly to her, assuring her that she was doing great and of how very proud he was of her. To hear his voice like this turned her stomach. He eventually reached her thigh bone, abandoning his trusty blade in exchange for a small branding iron. Not heavy and thick like you would use on livestock more similar to a soldering iron. Carefully and slowly he would burn his signature in to her exposed bone. This was thankfully the least painful part of the process however the smell of burning flesh and bone filled her throat and lungs until she wanted to vomit. Finally when the 'artist' was finished signing his work he would, for no other reason that the sheer pain of it, flush out her gaping wound with a mixture that from the smell she guessed include a heavy and generous helping of vinegar, among other corrosive and acidic properties. The agony would radiate from the source through to every nerve ending in her body, building and building until she could see and feel nothing but the blinding white hot pain.

She bolted upright back in the safety of her own bed; the room was now a dull grey in the predawn light. She was covered in sweat and her heart was pounding. Her hand instinctively reached for her thigh and she rubbed it in an effort to remove the sickly sensation that lingered.

"Come on Dean, look there's a motel just up the road. Lets call it a night; I really don't fancy spending another night in the car." His older brother shot him an impatient look. "Three town Sammy, three innocent families and three times we've let this son of a bitch slip through out fingers. I'm tired of chasing this black eyed freak across the country too but we finally might just have the jump on him, and I'll damned if I'm going to let another family get slaughtered just because we need our beauty sleep." Sam rolled his eyes but he knew Dean was right. He balled up his jacket and wedged it between the passenger window and his head. "Alright, but wake me in couple of hours and I'll take the wheel, no point in us trying to tackle a psychotic demon with no shut eye at all." He didn't wait for an answer. He closed his eyes and let the vibrations of the car lull him off to a fragile sleep. It was a little after ten a.m. when arrived at the one horse town. Sam pulled the car into a side alley off Main Street and shook Dean awake. "We're here, now what?" His eyes still closed dean gave a one word answer, "Breakfast."

Dean when through his logic with Sam between mouthfuls of the breakfast special. "Every time his guy surfaces it's been the same MO. A husband and wife are celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary. And according to the county registrar there is only one couple within two days drive of the last murder that were married ten years ago today, Joe and Susan Mahon. Some time tonight our boy is coming for them and their two kids." He showed Sam a scrap of paper with an address scribbled on it. "But this time we'll be waiting for him instead. Sam was about to order two fresh coffees when a boom rang out from across the street. Everyone in the diner turned toward the source of the sound as a middle aged man ran from the store across the road, shot gun in hand and sprinted down a nearby alley. Neither of the brothers hesitated they were instantly on their feet. As Sam headed towards the store Dean took off in pursuit of the gun man. He turned the corner of the alley just in time to see the shooter fall to his knees, his head tilted bask as black smoke billowed from his mouth. He dropped to the ground and lay there motionless. His body now free of its demonic stow away was succumbing to some previous injury. Dean ran over and knelt next to him. "I saw everything," the shooter said, "everything he did, but I couldn't stop it. He killed those poor families. He did it; he did it for you, so that you would follow". The man grabbed Dean's collar and pulled him closer with the last of his strength. "He wants you to find her, that's why you needed to be here." And with that he was dead.

Alice made it into town a lot earlier than she had intended. After her nightmare, she had been eager for a change of scenery. The local store was still shut so she headed straight to the diner and ordered pancakes and bacon with out even looking at the menu. It was delicious but she didn't possess the appetite she had hoped and only managed to finish half the meal. From where she sat she could see the front of the store. It was a little before ten a.m. when she saw someone inside flip the closed sign over to open. She left her meal unfinished and headed straight over. Now that she was here she felt exposed and vulnerable and wanted nothing more than to get back to the safety of the cabin as soon as possible. She pushed the trolley though each aisle of the store filling it with what she would need for the next couple of months or so. She was greeted at the register by an elderly man whose name badge told her he was called Karl. "Hello there, Ma'am." He said as he rang up her items, as he scanned the last couple, he asked, "Is there anything else I can help you with today?" She was placing her thing into the trolley and turned to him to ask for some batteries. However he was staring directly behind her and the terror in his eyes told her it wasn't good. She spun around to see a middle aged man standing in the door way with a shot gun locked on her. He wasted no time, said nothing, just looked her up and down before pulling the trigger. She was immediately thrown back as her chest exploded in front of her in what felt like fire. She slumped to the ground into a sitting position with her back against the counter. She could feel a warm dampness spread across what was left of her shirt. It was spreading too quickly and she was all too aware that this wasn't something you came back from. She looked down at her chest and tried to bring her hands up to hold in whatever she could. But they lay motionless and unresponsive by her sides. The gun man was already gone and Karl was outside shouting for help. The darkness began to creep in from the corners of her vision and although she fought to remain conscious, it closed in around her until it engulfed her whole world. She was barely alive when Sam burst through the doors. "Alice?" he said recognising her instantly. He applied pressure to her wound hoping that she could hold on until help arrived. "Come on, Alice, stick with me." He pleaded with her "Castiel, We need you." He shouted to the universe in general.

Dean arrived on the scene just as the angel appeared. He looked pale and haggard, "We need to leave now." he said urgently and transported all of them back to the secluded cabin. The brothers now stood in the cramped living room, while Alice lay still bleeding on the small couch. Castiel was by her side, he placed a hand on her chest, white light passed from him into her wound. But to both Sam and Dean's surprise her wound didn't fully heal. Cas sat on the floor next to her clearly exhausted. "That's the best I can do for now." "What's going on? Are you alright?" Sam asked. Cas pulled back his coat to reveal a wound of his own, just below his ribs. "There are still many of my brothers and sisters out there who rightly feel it is my fault they have been cast out of their home." Dean stepped in for a closer look, but the angel pushed him off, "I'll be fine, as will she, I have stopped her bleeding and repaired any damage to internal organs. She has however lost a lot of blood and will need to rest to heal fully." With Dean's help he pulled himself off the floor and sat in the arm chair next to him. "I'm going to pass out now for a while." He said in a matter of fact way, that only Castiel could pull off, as his head slumped to one side.

A couple of hours had passed since they had arrived at the cabin. Even in his weakened state, the angel had somehow also managed to transport the Impala and Alice's 4x4 packed with rations back too. The boys had cleaned and bandaged both of the patient's wounds and restacked the cupboards. They were sitting at the table in the kitchen having well earned beers. "So it's pretty obvious that he was referring to Alice." Sam added as his brother finished recounting the conversation with the dying man in the alley. "Yeah, but why?" he asked, "I don't trust this Alice chick, cagey seems to be her default setting." He stood up and finished his beer. "There has to something in this cabin that can tell us who she really is." He headed into the living room and started rooting through the bookcases and desk looking for answers. Sam following his brother lead headed in the bedroom to do the same. Dean had finished searching the living room and had come up empty. "There is not a personal item in this cabin, no photos, mail, laptop or diaries, nothing." he said as he entered the bedroom to see if Sam has found anything useful. Sam was sitting on the bed with a small shoe box on his lap. He looked up at his brother, "You are going to want to see this." he said handing him one of the photographs in his hands. Dean's face squinted in confusion, "That's Bobby," he said staring at the picture of the man he considered and loved as an adoptive father. Seeing his face again caused a fresh sense of loss. He looked just as Dean remembered although maybe ten years younger in the photo, a big beaming smile on his face. His arms were wrapped tenderly around an equally younger Alice. Sam didn't give Dean anytime to say anything else before handing him a second one. This was of Sam himself no more than sixteen or seventeen sitting on Bobby's beat up old couch with a twenty something year old Alice. They were both laughing; her right arm was behind Sam's head, two fingers sticking up playfully giving him the bunny ears. "When was this taken?" Dean asked. "I have no idea." Sam replied handing Dean another picture. It was of a couple in formal suit and dress under a banner that read 'Sioux Falls Senior Prom – 1996'. It took Dean a second to realise that the people in the picture were him and Alice. "What the hell? I never went to prom." He remarked. "These must be faked." Dean snapped, tossing the photo onto the bed, "I don't see how, these are old school Polaroid's, nothing digital about them." "What else is in there?" Dean asked not liked Sam's answer. "Not much an old concert stub and ring – Irish Claddagh I think. And one last photo." He said handing it to Dean, It was a group shot. Running from left to right was Bobby, Alice, Sam, Dean and their father John. "What the hell?" Dean said. "Dean" a voice called from the other room. "Sleeping beauty number one has awoken. Let's find out, shall we." Sam said as he put the lid back on the box and carried it with him into the living room.

Cas was upright once again." How are you feeling?" Dean asked. "Healed" he responded. He turned to Alice and again placed his hand on her wounds once again. He seemed to have more luck this time. When he finished, he stepped back as Alice's eyes began to flicker and blink open. It took here a moment to get her bearings but she was eventually able to focus in on Castiel and she slowly sat up. "Am I glad to see you." She said. She them noticed the Winchesters standing behind him, "You two not so much" turning back to the angel," What in Gods name are they doing here?" she asked. "Eh, you know just saving your life," Dean barked at her. "You're welcome, by the way." She tried to stand up realised that her legs were still the consistency of jelly, she thought better of it and remained sitting. Without saying anything or giving her anytime to compose herself Sam pointedly placed the shoebox on the coffee table in front of Alice. It was Dean who spoke, "You two have a lot of explaining to do.