Chapter 15

(I don't not own anything read and review please thank you.)

"Come on Bobby there has to be a way!"

Bobby sighs and rubs his face tiredly.

"Trust me Dean I'm trying to dig into whatever I can."

"We have to get her back!"

Ellen leans against the counter and breaks down again. Bobby makes his way over and holds her.

"We should have made her stay here! We shouldn't have let her go Bobby! She could have had a normal fucking life! She'd still be alive!"

Dean downs his beer as he steps outside. He turns towards the porch swing as Jo's bundled up inside a blanket. She wipes her tears with it.

"I'm not giving up. You know that right!"

Jo nods into the blanket. Dean sighs and sits beside her. He puts his arm around her and she falls apart. Dean sheds a few of his own tears. He runs his fingers along Jo's hair. The both of them just sit there in silence. Before long he looks over and see's Jo's fallen asleep. She hadn't slept since he got here 3 days ago. Her body had finally given in. Dean lays back and looks to the sky. He'd witnessed demons, witches, spirits, and nearly all things evil. He couldn't help but wonder… where was God in all this? And how could he allow someone like his sister of all people to be dragged away to hell over some stupid cursed artifact?

"NO! NO! NO! D! D!" Bella reaches out her hand as she's being dragged into the pit.

The hands of charcoal pull her under as she continues to burn, over and over and over. Her body heals as she's tossed back up. Yet again they yank her back as she drowns in the never ending flames.

Dean carries Jo to her old room and tucks her in. He turns to see Ellen at the doorway.

"Why don't you stay the night? You and Bobby can hatch this out in the morning. You can stay in Bella's room."

Dean nods and glances back to Jo once more.

"We gotta get her back Dean. We got to get my little sugar bug back."

She walks over to him and kisses his forehead.

"You're that girl's world. To Bella you were everything. She wanted to be just like her big brother." She sighs.

"You should have seen her Dean. Once you were out of her life…" Ellen wipes her eyes again and takes his hand leading him to her old room.

"Hers began to shut down." She says cutting on the light.

She looks around with a smile.

"I never had the heart to touch it. Neither did Jo. We left everything as was that she didn't take. I guess selfishly we were hoping she'd change her mind and come back."

Dean nods and picks up a picture of the two of them.

"I'll give you your space."
Dean turns back as Ellen is pulling the door shut.

"Thank you."

She smiles and shuts the door.

He sat on the edge of Bella's bed and looked at the picture. He lays back on the bed and stares at the ceiling.

"D!"

"D!"

"D!"

"Hey…" Dean shoots up to see Jo shaking him.

"It was just a dream."

He nods looking around the room. Jo sighs and takes his hand.

"Come on."

Dean narrows his eyes but rises and follows her lead. Jo grabs a six pack out of the fridge.

"Might want to grab a jacket." She warns as she grabs hers.

She takes his hand again and leads him into the barn. Jo cuts on a lantern and hands Dean a beer. She pops open one for herself.

"So what are you doing these days?"

Jo leans back against an old tractor.

"I'm a nurse actually."

Dean nods.

"That's awesome."

"It has its moments."

He makes his way over and sits next to her.

"I was always jealous of you."
Dean rears back at this.

"Me?"

"Once you came and took Bella back. Actually I was kind of pissed. I'd finally had a taste of what it'd be like to have a sister."

"She still thinks of you as one."

Jo smiles.

"She always talks about the three of you."

They down their beers and Jo opens another round. She pulls something else from her jacket.

"Now you're speaking my language." Dean says as Jo takes out a bottle of whiskey.

She laughs.

"I took it from the bar."

"Momma's precious angel?!"

"Hardly."

She opens it but offers it to Dean first. He takes a swig and hands it over. His eyes widen and he coughs a bit.

"Been awhile." He continues to choke.

She laughs and drinks as well. Her nose wrinkles a bit.

"I'm not normally much of a drinker. Tonight's an exception."

"I hear ya."

Jo's bottom lip starts to quiver a bit.

"Hey…" Dean pulls her towards him.

Jo sucks in a breath and looks Dean in the eyes. He caresses her cheek. Jo crawls into Dean's lap facing him. She kisses his lips and starts rocking against him. Dean lays her down. He knew what she wanted. It was what he wanted as well. Just to forget everything temporarily to let go. But he also realized something else as he looked into her eyes. For the first time ever Dean was actually recognizing the difference between Jo and the other women he'd been with. This wasn't just some wham bam thank you mam session. To Dean this was the real deal.

"Please…"

"Make it stop!"

"D!"

"Someone! HELP ME!"

Bella closes her eyes preparing to be engrossed into the inferno yet again. She claws at the surface fighting against it.

"Take my hand." She looks upon the blue eyed man.

He nods as she reaches out to him. He grips her tight and pulls her out. Bella screams as her legs are on fire. The man takes off his tan trench coat and puts out the flames. He places his jacket back on and picks her up.

"Hold on."

Her arms go about his neck as he runs towards a portal of some sort. Once he jumps through coming to a crouch. He looks to her and places her down.

"Can you walk?"

She looks to her legs.

"You're no longer in hell." He says as if that explains everything.

"However we've got a long ways to go."

Bella looks around the dreary looking area, surrounded by dead trees, in fact everything around here was dead she noticed.

"Let's go."

She reached to her temples in confusion. She took a step back away from him. He narrows his eyes holding out his hand.

"You can trust me."

The man looks around then back to her. He nods.

"We really must hurry."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Castiel."

"Castiel?"

"Yes Isabella."

"How'd?"

Castiel grabs her and places her behind him looking around. Bella's eyes widen as someone comes at him and attacks. She steps back covering her mouth. She watches as the man dives after him and stabs him in the chest. He turns back to Bella.

"Do not be afraid." He holds out his hand once more and she takes it.

She steps over the dark ash looking body. The man continues to drag her along as he rushes about. It was all catching up to her.

"Wait just please… Just…"

He turns as she makes her way over to a tree and pukes beside it. She grabs at her gut.

"Just…" She tries to say but drops to her knees.

"Just?" He questions.

"I don't understand. I don't understand any of this!" She pulls at her hair pacing.

He tilts his head.

"I am an angel of God. I've pulled you from perdition."

She starts laughing.

"What is this humor?"

"Angel of God?"

He nods.

"I am a warrior."
She rises up and reaches over tugging at his cobalt tie.

"Clearly." She giggles.

"Now I do not understand."

"Touché." She says and starts walking ahead of him looking around.

"Touché…" He says softly as if a question.

"Why is there no color in this place?"

"This is purgatory."

"What?!"

"What?" He questions in return.

She rears back looking to him oddly. Suddenly she's slammed against a tree. The creature opens his mouth his teeth are sharp and multiple. Bella grimaces as he goes to bite her. Castiel takes his head with his blade and throws it down.

"Stay close." He says and grabs her hand again.

"So warrior…" She mumbles in a bit more belief.

"You should consume some water. You're dehydrated." He points to a small pond.

"Is it safe?"

He nods but continues to look around. Bella walks towards the pond and leans over. She cups the water into her hands. Just that alone felt wonderful to her. She'd spent all this time burning… She scrubs her face and it was the most soothing thing she'd ever felt. She looks upon her reflection as she opens her eyes. She scoops up some more water and sips it from her hands. The flashes begin to hit as she stands. She grabs at her gut as though she was socked one. Bella stumbles back. She turns backing into him. He takes his thumb and wipes her cheek.

"I owe you an apology."

She looks to him confused.

"I did not get to you in time."

She reaches to her temples again as they pound.

He pulls her into his chest as the screeching sounds start.

"What is that?" She questions.

"Leviathans my natural enemies."

"Oh well that sounds fun."

Castiel looks to her in question.

"There is nothing fun about them."

Bella gasp as they're both tossed about. She rolls over seeing Castiel gained up on as he tries to fight the three of them off. She wasn't sure what to do with no weapons about her.
"NO!" She hollers out as he's punched across the face.

Bella notices the double tongues and massive teeth as they attack. She does the only think she can think of she runs with force and uses her own body momentum to shove one away from him. Castiel continues to fight but shows concern as she's taking on another weaponless. She leans against a tree and uses one of her legs to fling it off her. It comes back at her and she swings at it.

"FUCK!" She yells and shakes her hand.

It comes at her again and Castiel takes over.

"You shouldn't curse. It's a sin."

"Um yeah…" She says shaking her head.

"I would appreciate it if you would let me deal with the enemies."

"I know how to fight."

"I know."
"Then what's the issue? It looked like you needed my help."

He grabs her wrist gently pulling her towards him.

"If you die I have failed my mission."

"Your mission?"

He nods.
"I thought you fought for God."

"I still do but this one's personal."

She rears back at this.
"Personal?"

"I wasn't sent here by God as to why I cannot use my powers. You are here because of me. It is my responsibility to get you out. Not everything is up to you Isabella. Let me take care of you."

"If you're an angel where's your wings?" She grimaces in thought.

He tilts his head looking upon her.

"You would not have trusted me."

Her jaw drops.

"How do you know this?"

She questions as he steps over a branch.

"You happen to fear such things."

"Yes but how'd you know that?"

She's looking to him but doesn't see the branch. She starts to fall but he catches her.

"There's a branch." He points out.

"Right…" She nods rolling her eyes.

She goes to question him again but he picks her up.

"I can walk."

"I know."

He says but continues about.

"You're weary you need to rest."

"I'm fine!"

"Isabella we have a long way to go before making it back. I strongly advice you get some rest."

"What about you?"

"I've vowed not to rest until I've gotten you out."

"To whom?"

"Myself of course." He says with that matter of fact tone again.

"You expect me to sleep in purgatory?"

He nods.

"And how will you fight if you're carrying me around?"

"I will find a way."

"You know for an angel you're very strange."

"At the moment I'm just as human as you are."

"But once we get out?"

"Once I return I will regain my powers."

"Wings and everything?"

"I do not use my wings as much as you assume."

"What color are they?"

"What?"

"Your wings?"

"It depends."

Bella's body begins to ache all over. She bites at her bottom lip trying to ignore it. Her eyes felt heavy she didn't feel so good.

"Castiel?" She says softly but is fighting a losing battle as her eyes close.

She awakes to massive chills. Castiel is scooping up some water and placing it over her forehead.

"That's f.. ffrrreeezing."

He nods but continues. She grabs at his wrist.

"Please."

"You're hot."

"That's not something you hear from an angel's mouth."

"What is that?"

Bella sighs. She raises up and Castiel comes to a stand as well.

"You're bleeding."

She unbuttons his shirt.

"How are you even standing!" She rips part of her shirt and places it in the water.

Bella places the shirt on his wound.

"Isabella…"

"Bella."

"What?"

"Just call me Bella. And Castiel… Don't you think something along the lines of Cas is a bit easier on the tongue?"

"Cas?"

"Yes I'm Bella and you're Cas."

"But I'm Castiel."

Bella softly laughs.

"Yes I know but to me you're Cas."

"Ok." She squeezes out the shirt and places it into the water again.

She rings out the shirt onto his wound.

"You need stitches."

"I will heal once we return."

"How much longer do you think?"

"I am not sure."

"So you don't have all the answers?"

She says with a slight grin.

"Only God does."

Bella goes to cleanse the shirt once again. Something grabs her and starts to drag her under. The flashes return and she screams in terror reaching out to Cas. He yanks her up and she hides her face against his chest. She literally breaks down.
"You're not alone Bella. The kingdom of heaven is behind you." He says wrapping his arms around her.

"Heaven huh?" She backs away from him.

"What about my parents? What about my father?"
"They too are now a part of the kingdom. Bella I was the one that opened the portal for John Winchester. I was the one that pulled him back through. However I did not get to you in time. I was supposed to handle the artifact that sent you to perdition. It was an order by God that I join you and your brother in the search for these artifacts. They are far too dangerous to be amongst human hands. I made a judgment call. I should have chosen differently."
"Are you saying you shouldn't have saved my father's soul?!"

"No. I should have made myself known at least to you Bella. I should have grabbed the artifact first then focused on John. There seems to be some confusion within me."

"Confusion?"

He looks upon her as they start walking again.

"I find you intriguing."

"Me? Intriguing."
He nods and yet again shoves Bella behind him.

"Cas…" She tugs at his sleeve as they surround them.

"What's that?" She points to a blue light.

"The gate."

"Cas? How the hell are we going to make it?"

Castiel grabs Bella and hunches over her as they come running towards them. Castiel turns as he hears shots fired. Bella gasp out.

"D? Jo?"

Dean tosses her a gun.

"Well this was easier than I thought. Who's Dick Tracy?"

The three of them fire as Castiel uses his blade to attack.

"That's Castiel." Bella says as she shoots one coming towards Cas.

"Castiel?"

Castiel grabs her around the waist and starts dragging her towards the exit.

"He's a bit hands on isn't he?"

Dean looks to Jo and she shrugs. Castiel picks Bella up and has her climb through she reaches for him.

"Let me get them out first."
She nods as he helps Jo and Dean out.

"Dean takes Castiel's hand lifting him out."