Chapter 5: Tariff barriers

Although judging by the contents of the bunker and the type of the contents, Meg had a pretty good idea that the place belonged to the Winchesters, she still stood protectively in front of him at the sound of approaching footsteps, brandishing the angel blade she fished out knowledgeably from Castiel's pocket.

Sam and Dean had guns trained at her in an instant, but hesitated at the sight. "Easy boys," she found her slow smile, "I'm starting to think I'll never get a thank you from you."

Dean frowned at her, already cornering her to get close and take a look at his friend. "Cas is sick. He didn't go for you in that state, did he?" The hunter spat at her accusingly but lowered his weapon.

"I sure didn't ask him to ever treat me as damsel in distress," she shrugged, feigning indifference about the angel's condition.

Dean looked Castiel up and down. Sure he was unconscious and looking poorly, but his wounds were dressed and the bleeding contained and there was that whole Megstiel feeling lingering in the air from when they have stepped in and saw them that Meg could not disperse with her nonchalance. The shorter Winchester scowled, not liking the fact that Castiel was unwell, nor that he was so cosy with a demon, but "we don't have time for this," he waved irritably, "we have a situation going on with Crowley."

"Can I help?" Meg perked up.

Wings fluttered before anyone could answer and Naomi regarded them with distinct attentiveness, assessing the situation herself with a sad countenance. Dean rolled his eyes at her, "didn't I just say we don't have time for this!"

"There's something you all need to know," she stepped forward. In an instant, Sam, Dean and Meg all stood in her way, cutting her path towards Castiel however pointless that might've been against the powers of a top angel. She had one eyebrow slightly raised at their actions, but continued without addressing the nonsense, "at first we thought it was Crowley as he has the tablet, but someone's started to complete steps to expel all angels from heaven. Now signs point to Metatron."

"Metatron." Dean repeated, suspicious.

"Without the tablet, we don't know exactly what the steps are, but if he completes them, we'll all be down here and human. Castiel needs to know about this too. That's all," Naomi nodded at Dean, having treated him as the leader of the group the whole time.

"Wait." Dean intoned, sensing her imminent disappearance. "Heal him." He asserted insistently, turning to the side a little so Naomi could see Castiel, drawing a surprised raise of the eyebrows from Sam and a confused one from Meg. "While you can," he added. While he's still an angel, he added to himself. If Cas was going to turn human in some close, unpredictable future, he need to be healthy to start with at least. He would not want that woman anywhere near Castiel in any other circumstances, but this could be vital.

Naomi gave a good impression of showing a concerned face when being able to have a better view of Castiel. Dean knew he would've possibly bought that if he didn't know what he knew or if angels weren't the dicks they were usually. "My strengths aren't in healing," Naomi clarified, "but I'll do my best."

Sam was giving Dean questioning looks, positioning himself closer to their friend, Meg however brandished Castiel's angel blade, holding it out on the route of the last few steps that were necessary for Naomi to take to reach the ailing angel. Meg tipped her head towards the newcomer in a cautioning gesture. The tip of the blade hovered practically inches from the high ranking angel's side. "Maybe not the tip of this thing, but fashion tips you will certainly need!" The demon made a scandalised face looking Naomi's clothes up and down.

"Can I sit." Naomi intoned forcefully, eliciting a mock care-free shrug from the demon, but she removed the item blocking the way. The angel positioned herself on the edge of the divan, her gaze searching the patient thoughtfully while she took his hand and closed her eyes, concentrating. Castiel gave a relieved sigh only seconds later, but the reality when he opened his eyes wasn't as favourable as he might've thought. He roughly pushed himself away from Naomi, wrenching his fingers out of her hands and hitting his head in the wall he retreated towards it.

"Hush, Clarence," Meg knelt up next to him, giving him an encouraging smile and threaded her hand through his hair placatingly. However, she pulled the bandages off so she could see how much better he was. A faint scar was all that remained.

The angel in the office skirt stepped back on her own accord, disgusted at the display of caring devotion from the demon, "I didn't think it was that far you've fallen, Castiel, but you don't cease to astonish us!"

Meg turned her smile into one that had been feared in hell and earth for decades, "jealous, are we? Cause Crowley dumped you?"

Naomi's eyes widened and she rewarded the demon with one of her trademark sneers, "I am in a very reputable position, overseeing operations of importance you can not imagine. If there was something to make up for, it has long been forgotten." She visibly forced control over herself and turned to address Dean, "I've healed his wounds. The exhaustion he's suffering from due to overuse of powers I cannot overcome, but time will." She nodded in a fair well gesture, but remembered something at the last minute before flying off, "if Samuel Winchester completes the trials, they will kill him."

"Okay, we still need to go get Crowley." It was Sam's only reaction to what they've just heard.

Dean looked at him slowly, then nodded, "that we do, but the rest we'll talk about in the car. Meg, stay here and protect Cas. And will you stop him from doing anything stupid? I'll keep you in the loop."

Tbc