"So, this…Apeiron? What exactly is it? I know Metatron said it was basically imagination, but does that mean that I can just make things, or is it something entirely different?"

the two faced each other, Sam and Dean were out on a job and had flat out told her to, in the harshest way possible, 'stay- put' that meant no popping in or out of the bunker to find them, and Dean specifically, told her "None of your god-like hoodoo" to which she huffed, what if they fell under attack, not that that was likely since the alarm system would go off if anyone tried.

"Well, I know that humans define it as the unlimited, indeterminate, and indefinite ground, origin, or primal principle of all matter. But in heaven it's much more than that. Metatron was correct that it is like imagination, but it's also much bigger. Think of this like…" he seemed to contemplate for a second before a good explanation came to him "a piece of coal, ordinarily it just looks like a brick of black rock, but when you compress it under immense pressure what does it become?"

"Am I really getting a lecture on coal…from an Angel?" Castiel rolled his eyes, "Look, I understand. And I know what's coming next, use my powers for good, not evil. Don't let Lucifer get to me, or the other angels because they will abuse my powers…" she felt like a child being told to remember to lock the door and not answer it for anyone.

"It would be catastrophic if heaven got hold of you, the way it stands now."

"I understand, Cas." He smiled standing from his chair and walking over to sit next to her, "I'm glad. You seem to have a lot more common sense than your…brothers…" his mind seemed distant.

"Hey, I'm still confused on that too. I mean I was raised with them but at the same time I was technically never born…" the angel looked sympathetic.

"All those memories of my birth that he just…put there, against her will, and John's too…why do I feel guilty?"

"You shouldn't feel guilty, Grace. You were placed here to be kept safe, that's why all of the angel's memories were wiped, at least—I assume." This did nothing to brighten the woman's mood.

"Hey, look at me." She made no movement, the angel sighed, turning her head to face him.

"How about we talk about something else?" there was an unnamed emotion in her eyes when she finally did look up at him, needless to say, the angel felt an unusual amount of anger bubble up at his mate's suffering.

*next day*

Grace listened as her brother's heavy footfall echoed in the hallways, why he woke up at 6:30 she would never understand, but that wasn't the only foot fall she heard. Quietly, she got up off her bed and walked to the door, seeing who else it could possibly be, they all knew dean was a sleep until 11 to noon kind of guy. Peeking out of a small crack in the door she saw a rather chubby man with rainbow suspenders, close behind. Grabbing her old baseball bat she waited for the figure to pass her door before creeping out into the corridor. The faint sound of running water could be heard from the kitchen. All of a sudden the figure vanished and she heard a very loud "SURPRISE!"

Picking up her pace she looked like a raving lunatic with her bat held high above her head as she stood in the door way.

"Who are you!?"

"It's me, Sam. It's sully!"

"What?"

"What?" the siblings shared a strange look "You remember my, right? I-I made all your favorite snacks." Sam did not look convinced and grace still really wanted to crack him with the metal bat.

"We were friends, like, best friends. You remember?"

"Sully." The man then turned to look at Grace, though he seemed perplexed, "I know you too…but I don't know why." Grace narrowed her eyes,

"I don't know you."

"You're not real."

Well, how'd you punch me…then?"

"This can't be happening." That's when dean showed up, he gave a passing glance to his sister,

"What's with the bat? You finally gonna crack Sammy for all those times he watched you sleep?" Grace looked alarmed, "What?"

"Dean, shut up."

"Oh yeah, Sammy loved to sneak into your room sometimes, it's kind of disturbing, like he's fascinated with you."

"Sam!"

"That is not true!" the petite blonde narrowed her eyes before letting them drift back to the oddly dress man in their kitchen.

"Dude. Who you talking to anyways?"

"Him." Dean looked around, not seeing anybody.

"Are you having a stroke? Do you smell toast"

"He can't see me unless I want him too." Sully's expression was smug, and grace still wanted to club him and throw him into the dumpster he appeared to crawl out of.

"What is all this crap? When'd you start eating this stuff? Is that marshmallows on nachos?"

"This wasn't me." Sam looked both confused and overly tired, like he'd stepped into some new fresh hell of a nightmare.

"It was me." Sully finally revealed himself to dean, "and those are delicious." It appeared the eldest sibling finally understood why his sister really had the bat in her hands.

"Wait a second. C-can you see him?"

"Uh-huh." He looked relatively disturbed that his little brothers imaginary friend was in their kitchen.

"Dean, this, um…I think this is…sully, M-My friend from when I was a kid."

"You mean Mork from Ork here is your dumbass imaginary friend sully?"

"Yeah." A sheer look of disbelief washed over Dean and Grace's features.

"Uh, I'm not dumb or ass."

"I'm getting the mace."

"I'm gonna get my gun."

"No, Please." He moved to stop Dean, but grace was having none of it, punching the old imaginary friend below the belt. Dean and Sam were horrified, as the eldest cautiously moved his own hand over his junk.

"Someone killed my friend."

"You mean your imaginary imaginary friend?"

"First off, "Imaginary friend" is more of a descriptive term. How you just said it? That was a little…offensive, just to be honest. Secondly, we're Zanna. Me and…me and the victim were Zanna"

"I'm may not sleep anymore, but even I am too tired for this shit right now."

Sam and Dean looked confused, grace sighed, "He and this friend help kids."

"Yeah, okay. Um…You know what? I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole you being real thing." Sam literally looked like a deer in headlights, unsure of what any of what sully was saying actually was.

"Aw! Yeah, no, no, of course. No, that's okay. That's okay. This is all really unexpected." Grace finally set the bat down by the door

"Yeah, that's one word for it."

"Just…I need your help. All right, you're hunters. That's what you do, right? I mean, you help people, too."

"Yeah. Yeah, people. You are not that." Sully looked heartbroken as Deans abrasive side came to the surface.

"Dean, come on."

"Come on? are you kidding—look…this—mother—you and me, library, right now. Come on!" Grace stared between the two, Dean looked at her as they left.

"You, stay." Sully tried to follow them but grace grabbed his arm as Dean turned on him again.

"Yeah. No, I'll just stay here…with the crazy one." Grace clanged the bat against the wall once and he shut up.

"That's the place. It's a horror show in there."

"You mean, you've been inside?"

"Last night." Sully sifted so he was between the brothers now, shoving Grace further towards the window.

"Remind me, why did I get drug into this?"

"Well for starters, you almost went full Gallagher on his ass, and second, with Cas out, wherever he is, I figure you'd rather not be in the bunker alone." The blonde rolled her eyes, Dean had a point.

"Fine, but for the record, I was not going to go full Gallagher."

"I'm in management now, so I don't get out in the field much. I just came to see Sparkle"

"Sp—Sparkle?"

"Yeah." Grace was tired of being shoved against the door by this guy's not so imaginary anymore ass, so she opened the door and climbed out.

"Oh, I show up and…I mean, the place was bananas. Kid had called the cops, mom's freaking out, and…Sparkle…Sam, it was horrible."

"Okay, so according to Zanna rules, the kid is the only witness, right?

"Yeah. Oh, poor thing. I'll meet you inside." With that, Sully disappeared.

"All right, what are you thinkin'?" with the Zanna finally gone the siblings finally had a chance to talk with some sense.

"Honestly, right now I don't know what to think, my life is like one of those Spanish telenovelas, only instead of waking up to find my twin sister who I never knew I had, but is really my second cousin, this guy in rainbow suspenders is making me question god…"

Sam and Dean rang the door bell, before turning back to Grace as they waited.

"You're a student, studying child psychology at the local university."

"Yeah, I get that…but oxford sweater…really?" the door opened before dean could retort.

"Can I help you?" the woman who opened the door was about average for working middle class, short, brown hair, fair complexion, overworked mom wardrobe.

"Uh Mrs. Berman, I'm Dr. Strummer. This is my associate—

"Dr. MacGowan" the woman's eyes landed on Grace,

"Oh, Um, Hello. I'm Grace Lienau, I'm studying at the local college." The woman looked uncertain.

"We are trauma counselors with child services, Grace is doing an internship with us for the semester. We're here to follow up on a police report filed yesterday."

"Oh, that was…come in." the woman looked tired as they all stepped in.

"Uh, My daughter, Maddie, she's the one who called. Uh, she has an active imagination. She made up this unicorn man, Sparkle. But, um, she thinks he's dead in her room."

"So, Sparkle is a unicorn and also a man?" Grace's eyes trailed to Maddie who stared off at nothing from the other room.

"Yeah." Mrs. Berman just looked like she wanted this whole ordeal to be over.

"So a Manicorn?" Dean looked like he was trying not to laugh

"I—I guess?" Sam's face showed annoyance at his older brothers attempt at joking.

"Pardon me, but, uh, may we…" Grace sharply jabbed Dean in the side as Mrs. Berman turned her back.

"Yes Please. Thank you."

"Great." Sam crouched down in front of the little girl who barely acknowledged his existence.

"Hey, Maddie. My partner and I would like to ask you about last night. About Sparkle." Sam seemed to be getting nowhere fast. Grace came to crouch next to her brother.

"Maddie, sweetheart, your mom says you don't want to go back into your room?" finally a response, Maddie shook her head.

"How come?" Brown eyes met blue as Maddie leaned closer and whispered, "All of the blood."

Mrs. Berman led them upstairs and towards Maddie's bedroom. "This has been her room since she was a baby. She's loved this room. And then last night…"

"Do you mind if we take a look around?" she shrugged as if it weren't a problem at all. "I'll be right back."

"Thank you, Mrs. Berman." And with that the woman was gone.

"All right. What's the problem?"

"I don't know."

"I told you it was horrible." Grace nearly screamed as Sully popped back into the room.

"All right, you need to STOP doing that!"

"You mind enlightening us?" Dean suggested, Sully looked confused for a second before realization dawned on him.

"Oh. Mm." He stepped over random spots on the floor, making his ay over to the three siblings.

"If I show you all e can see, you cant tell a soul."

"Oh, yeah, 'cause chicks dig the whole imaginary friend thing." The joke was wasted, Grace figured it was maybe because Zanna didn't date.

"Fine." Sully pushed his fingers against their foreheads and almost instantly the horror scene revealed itself.

"Oh my god…" the blonde looked like she was going to be sick

"Oh. Oh, yeah. That kid is gonna need all the shrinks." No snide comments form the background came, despite Dean waiting for it.

"Wait a second. So his…blood is glittery?"

"Even when he's dead, sparkle can't stop shining."

"Well…that's disturbing…" Sully looked at Grace, "Who would do this?" the blonde just shrugged, afraid if she opened her mouth she might puke.

"It was a blade."

"Sully, can Zanna see other Zanna?" It seemed Sam had a Theory piecing together in his brain.

"Of course. But it's not what you're thinking. A Zanna could never do this." Mrs. Berman chose that moment to come back.

"Nothing to see, right? I was always under the impression that it was a parent's job to let a child be a child as long as possible."

"Oh this is bad."

"Maybe we let her get too carried away. I don't know. I mean…" as Mrs. Berman wandered around the room she stepped in the glittery blood, tracking it around the room, disturbing everyone but herself.

"An imaginary friend named Sparkle. What's cuter than that?" then she touched her face, her hand covered in the Zanna's blood.

"Oh…that's…"she smudged it on her face now, "I'm sorry. I'm being as dramatic as my daughter now.

"Um, it's on her face. Sam, It's on her face!"

"Just tell me. How do we get our girl back?"

"She's got sparkle on her face!"

"Somebody's gotta say something. Someone's gotta say something." The Zanna was just becoming more and more erratic as the conversation drew on.

"You know what? Is there a spare bedroom?" she nodded " Great. Uh, Maybe Maddie can sleep there. That should help."

"It's on her face."

"And a hot shower does wonders."

"Real deep scrub. Purify."

"For Maddie?"

"The whole family." Grace just smiled, trying not to look to disturbed that Maddie's mother now looked like a serial killer from one of those cop shows.

"Yeah, just get the whole gang in there. You know, the family that showers together…"

"Pull up. Pull up."

"You now what, Mrs. Berman? Why—Why don't you start there? You can contact our office for more guidance if you like."

"Okay."

"Nikky didn't check in with the home office last night. This can't be happening."

"You gazoos can talk to each other?"

"Us Zanna share a telepathic link. She wouldn't be in there." The siblings shared a look before following Sully to the backyard.

"A frickin' mermaid?" the four now stood in the backyard as a gold mermaid tail hung over the side of a store bought swimming pool.

"It's a bloodbath." Sam walked closer to investigate, Grace tilted her head in confusion.

"All right, just let it out." Dean urged the Zanna who was trying not to cry.

"Uh, no. no. I gotta stay strong for Sam."

"Looks like more stabbing." Grace walked towards the edge of the pool, a perplexed expression on her face, Sam made a mental note to ask her what was up, but right now was not the right time.

"Okay, Sully, is there anybody that would want to hurt, uh, Nikky?"

"No. Well…"

"What?"

"Oh, well, I mean, her boyfriend's a little clingy. But he's one of my best friends." Sam and Dean shared a look as Grace continued to stare off.

"Guys, Weems would never hurt Nikky. I mean, he loved her too much."

"Well, too much ain't good. So let's go talk to the mermaids boyfriend, because apparently, imaginary friends have boyfriends now."

"Wait! Wait! We can't just leave her here. It's disturbing for the kid."

All right, well, what do you wanna do? Find a giant toilet and flush it?" Sam, and Sully stared at him in disbelief, but Grace still made no movements.

"You're right. I was…what would you like us to do?"

"We bury her…" All three turned to look at the blonde, "What?"

"I remember this…The Zanna." Sully looked confused, "What is she talking about?" SAM AND Dean shared a look, "Grace, now's not really the time to…"

"There's some shovels back there, we give her a proper burial, then we go find Weems."

"Yes Ma'am." Dean had figured out it was best not to question her when she got this way.

*Late night.*

The four stepped out of the impala, Sully had gotten a link from Weems while they were on the road so now they were looking for him, following a trail of blood that led right to the storage shed.

"Weems! Weems, are you okay?" Sam turned on the lights so they could better assess the damages as Weems grunted, pulling himself into a sitting position.

"Yeah. It went right through my love handle. My fat saved me. Can you believe that?"

"Fat is the best."

"Yeah." Weems and Sully seemed trapped in their own little world until dean piped up.

"Yeah, well, The mermaid wasn't so lucky"

"Is he talking to me?" The Zanna seemed to finally take notice of the other three in the shed as Grace stepped forward.

"I could heal that…if you want me too." Weems looked confused, though considering everything that's happened today, nothing was surprising.

"Who are these guys?"

"They're friends." Sully moved aside so Grace could take his spot, watching with awe as her hands started to glow in the dimly lit space.

"Hey, Weems, when was the last time you saw Nikky the mermaid?"

"Yesterday, why?" Grace pulled her hands away, letting them rest at her side as she stood up, Sully looked appreciative. "What happened to Nikky?"

"She was murdered." Sam just cut right to the chase, it seems Dean was rubbing off on him.

"What?!"

"Weems, I am so sorry."

"No!" the Zanna began to cry, "She—she was my girl!"

"Sparkles gone, too" Weems only got more erratic with this news, "Not Sparkle! Dude, that's like, our whole posse." Now sully was starting to cry.

"I know, right? But hey, you're okay. You're okay."

"Okay, All right, so you're all pals. Is there anybody who would have beef with the bunch of you?"

"I've never seen her before in my life."

"Wait a second. You saw somebody?"

"Some chick. After she…shivved me, she took off in an old VW Bug." Finally, some real information.

"So, what's up with you?" Grace sat next to Dean in the impala, "What?"

"You seem so chill about all of this, everything that's happened today."

"To be honest…I'm Numb, Dean, and tired. But something has been bugging me, since this whole ordeal began."

"Yeah, and what's that?" there was concern in his eyes, "Why did I forget about the Zanna people?"

"Why?" it hurt him to see her like this, It hurt to see either of his siblings in pain. ever since they'd found her in the crater, it's like she was two different people, but then again, she technically was.

"Grace, I don't pretend to have all the answers, I don't even pretend to understand what this has been, but…maybe it was to keep you safe, or maybe somebody wanted you out of the way, I really have no clue. Let's just get this over with so we can go home, then maybe we can do some more research." He opened the door and climbed out, clicking the flashlight on as he went to investigate the old VW bug.

That's when Grace saw something move from the shadows.

"Dean!" he turned but it was already too late as the person clubbed him, first in the back of the head, then the side, knocking him into the glass window of their vehicle. She slid down out of sight as whoever it was drug her brother into the barn, quickly texting Sam the address.

Once Sam and Sully pulled up she climbed out of the car "She took Dean, I stayed down until you guys got here." Sam looed surprised, she had actually stayed out of harm's way, then again, who knew what could happen if someone clocked her with a bat.

" Let's go." Heading into the barn, Sam clicked his won flashlight on, "Hold it." Whoever was murdering Zanna now had Dean at gun point.

"Reese?"

"Hey, stranger." Sam and Grace stared at Sully, then at the girl, "You give me sully, I give you your brother." She seemed angry, Grace frowned,

"Put the gun down."

"What do you want with Sully?"

"Ask him." She made no move to acknowledge grace's request, "He's the one who killed my sister. Sam and Grace immediately turned to look at the Suspender wearing man

"It was an accident."

"What?"

"Reese and her twin sister, they were my first kids after I thought I screwed things up with you."

"So this is his fault?" Grace frowned, she knew she'd have no choice but to attack her if Reese attacked Sam.

"No. No, Reese, I'm the one that bungled it. It was me. I should never have let her chase me into the street." Reese finally let the gun fall from Deans head as she advanced on Sully, race got ready to blast the girl if she tried anything.

"We were just playing tag. I don't know why I didn't see the car coming. That's why I never went back in the field. That's why I never found another kid. I was too scared I'd hurt 'em."

"Do you know how bad you messed me up? "Audrey's dead because of the invisible man" try telling that to ten different kiddie shrinks. I always wondered if sully was real, so I got obsessed with folklore. I studied abroad in Romania, and then I found out he's a Zanna."

"Yes, and Zanna are good."

"That's what the witch tried to tell me, too."

"You made a deal… you fool!" Reese just looked more and more deranged, as Grace laid into her.

"She sold me a spell. So that I'd be able to see these freaks. She gave me this, too." She showed Sam and Grace the knife she'd been using to kill the other's.

"Finally, I can save other kids from these monsters."

"So you killed his friends…to get to him?" Grace was disgusted, Sam put a gentle hand on hr shoulder to calm her down.

"Easy, Gracie." She tried to relax,

"And I would have done it sooner if these three hadn't shown up."

"Why didn't you call? I would've come."

"Honestly, I kind liked watching you suffer. You weren't just Audrey's best friend. You were mine, too. And after she died, Sully, I…I never needed you more.

"I panicked when Audrey died, and I left you to deal with the pain 'cause I couldn't handle being the one that caused it."

"So maybe I'll take something you love, sully—A real person." Sam raised his gun.

"That's not gonna happen." Sully was silent for a moment, "Will killing me make you feel better?"

"No, sully, that's not the answer."

"This is what I do." He pushed Sam's gun down and stood in front of Reese, "Whatever's best for the kid. Reesy…if this is what you need, I'm okay with it." Reese had tears I her eyes as she stepped towards Sully.

"I'm still mad. I can't stop it. I'm just still so mad!"

"Reese. Trust me. Revenge? It's not going to make you feel better. My brothers and I, we've seen our fair share of monsters. And I mean real monsters. Bad. These guys? the Zanna, these are sesame street mother Teresa's." Dean stood from his seat.

"When I wasn't there for my little brother, Sully was. Now, look, I'm not saying that he didn't make a mistake, but you know there is not a monstrous bone in his body." Reese and Sully stared at one another, the knife still pressed into the Zanna's shirt.

"I am so, so sorry" Finally the knife dropped, clattering to the floor as Reese hugged the Zanna man.

"Oh, Reesy, I am so sorry." he hugged the girl extra tight.

As they watched her leave, Sully waved with a smile on his face, "So, now that you know about Audrey, you probably never want to see me again." He chuckled nervously as he spoke to Sam.

"Ever think…maybe you're a hero to me?" Sully chuckled again, "Yeah."

"Sully…one thing I've learned—Hero's aren't perfect."

"Mm. Sometimes they're scared. But that just means the thing that they're facing, it's super important. And nobody ese is gonna go for it because nobody else has got the balls." Dean and grace walked up to the two,

"Well, it is that time again."

"You, um, you'll look in on Reese?"

"Don't worry. I will be checking in. And, Dean, Grace, thank you both for looking out for Sam. You two are not germs at all." Grace looked confused.

"Did he just call me a germ? I mean, Dean I get, but what did I ever do to piss you off?" Sam looked uncomfortable, being put on the spot by his little sister.

"You know, Sully, you're not gonna ever get me to admit that you're not the weirdest thing out there, but, um…you're a good weird."

"Aww, Dean, what a nice attempt at a compliment." Grace teased, he just gave her a look to tell her to shut up.

"Mm. Good luck, buddy." With that the imaginary man vanished.

"Let's do it."

As the drove down the road back towards he bunker, Sam finally broke the silence.

"Dean, we seriously need to discuss me going into the cage." Dean sighed, now that Grace no longer slept conversations in the car were difficult, he supposed he could have asked her to pop back to the bunker, but this time it seemed it was a family discussion she needed to be part of.

"Okay. Not happening. good talk."

"Dean…"

"No, Grace, all right. Even if Sam's visions are real—"

"Yeah. It's lucifer? And Me? In the cage? I know. But this—lump in my throat…it's not an excuse. Not anymore."

"Sammy, we'll find another way. Okay?" Sam looked at his sister through the rearview mirror.

"Yeah, there's always another way."

"Okay. Then tell me. What is the other way?"

I am SOOOO sorry this took me so long to do, my motivation for writing right now is like...in the toilet, but I'm trying, I have a convention to prep for that's in just a little over 2 weeks, and I am scrambling to find all my cosplay stuff and make sure I have the money to pay for the hotel room on top of food expenses, so wish me luck! Also, I do plan to havee more Cas and Grace interaction coming up in future chapters, (Maybe some smuttier chapters like in "An angel's grace") but we'll see how it pans out. Anywyas, please review if you liked this chapter, it boosts my morale!

Till next time readers :D