Chapter 9

Dean huffed, but grabbed a bag and headed for the Impala. Castiel was going to drive Sam's car and Oree was riding with him. Dean waited for them to pull out before following them to a nicer hotel about a mile away.

Oree went in and got a room with two queen size beds on the first floor and in the back. Dean and Castiel pulled the cars around and parked in front of the room Oree stood in front of. Once they had parked, she opened the door and then started getting the bags out of the cars.

Dean had noticed subtle changes in Oree since she had come back. She was more intense, more on edge at times, she had lost some of her carefree spirit, some of her innocent. He guessed a tour of Purgatory would do that to a person, having to be on guard 24/7, never knowing if today would be your last. He was the one person who could understand this, when he returned from hell, he was different too. You couldn't just go back to the way things were. An experience like that couldn't help but change a person.

"Angel, be sure and wake me at dawn." Oree asked Castiel.

"Of course, I'll keep watch while you sleep."

"Thanks." she said casting him a smile before closing the bathroom door.

Castiel took a seat at the table beside Dean and began to organize the papers from Sam's research. Dean looked at Castiel closely trying to decide the best way to approach the subject he was curious about without sounding too jealous.

"That's what you did in Purgatory wasn't it, watch over Oree?" Dean asked him.

"Yes, she needed rest and I didn't." he answered in his monotone way. "I thought that would be what you would have wanted since it was my fault that she ended up there."

"Yes, I'm grateful that you kept her safe and both of you made it out of there. I never did blame you. If she hadn't pushed me out of the way, it would have been me there, it should of been me." Dean surmised letting some anger show through.

"Is there something wrong?" Castiel asked not sure what Dean was getting at.

"So what's going on between you and my sister?" Dean asked arching an eye brow.

Castiel looked up in surprise by the question. "I'm not sure what you mean?"

"It seems you and Oree have gotten pretty close since coming back from Purgatory."

"I believe we are friends. I have been helping her learn about her powers and she has been teaching me about human things. I'm still not sure I understand the concept of killing a worm, to catch a fish, and then let it go. It is not logical." Castiel said frowning in thought.

Dean looked at Castiel perplexed by his answer, but couldn't question it since Oree came out of the bathroom. She had changed into sweats and one of Sam's old tee-shirts that hung past her knees. He didn't even know she still had it. Oree paused at her pack and slipped her gun out. Dean saw the worry and stress on her face as she turned her bed down and crawled in putting the gun under her pillow.

"Good night Angel, Dee." she sighed curling up in the middle of the bed.

"Good night Aurora." Castiel answered.

"Night kid." Dean replied.

spn

They sat quietly listening to Oree's breathing even out as she drifted to sleep. Dean finished his beer and went to the bathroom to change into sweats and tee for bed. Talking to Castiel about Oree would have to wait. He didn't want her overhearing the conservation. He didn't think she would like him prying into her private life even if it was only because he was concerned. Dean came out of the bathroom and crawled into his bed. He buried into the covers trying to relax enough to let his tired body sleep.

The darkness of the forest pressed in on her as she stumbled through the trees trying to find her way out. She listened to the night sounds echo loudly above her as she tried to separate normal sounds from the one that was following her. Afraid to stop for long, she pushed herself up and moved deeper into the shadows trying to get lost.

A darker shadow than the ones surrounding it, moved effortlessly through the forest seeking out the life force it desired. He had been searching for decades for the one who could set him free from this place. She was near, he could feel her heart beating rapidly. He could already taste and smell the warm, sweet, coppery liquid of her blood as he drained her and absorbed her energy.

She slipped down the hill to a dry creek bed and began to walk faster away from the quiet behind her. The creatures of the night knew an evil, dark force was in their realm and they hid from it. She tripped on a loose stone and went down hard. Looking up she saw an ebony shape that stood out from all the other shadows. It moved closer to her.

Oree cried out and jerk awake trying to take in her surroundings all at once. She had her gun drawn and searched frantically for the threat.

"Aurora, are you alright?" Castiel asked her sitting on the bed beside her before taking the gun from her trembling hand.

"Angel." she gasped as the dream faded from her thoughts and the world came back into focus.

"What's goin' on?" Dean mumbled raising up in bed to see Castiel sitting beside Oree on her bed. "Cas?"

"Aurora was having a nightmare I believe." he answered when Oree couldn't.

Oree felt the warmth of a body and pressed her cold one to it. She sought comfort as strong arms encircled her holding her trembling body close. Bits and pieces of the nightmare flitted in her mind as she fought hard to quell the thoughts.

Dean watched Oree seek comfort in Castiel's arms and gritted his teeth forcing himself not to be upset. He should be the one comforting her when she needed it not him. He took a deep breath before talking.

"Sis you okay?" Dean asked her getting up and sitting on the side of his bed and leaning toward them.

"Dee." she sniffed raising her head off Castiel's chest to look at him with such distress.

"Want to sleep with me?" he asked knowing she always felt safe sleeping with either Sam or him.

"Yes." she whispered letting Castiel help her to the other bed where she crawled behind Dean wrapping herself tightly in a blanket.

"I got this." he told Castiel who stood and moved back to the armchair he had been sitting in. A twinge of sadness passed through his mind as he got comfortable again it the chair. He felt a feeling of warmth when Oree turned to him for comfort. This was a strange feeling for him and he wasn't sure how to react to it.

Dean laid back down turning on his side with his back to Oree. He felt her wiggle close curling herself into the curve of his back. He could feel the coolness of her body through his tee shirt while she shivered slightly. Dean pulled more covers over them cocooning Oree in them. She might still be mad, but she knew he was a port of safety for her when she needed him. He let his eyes close and sleep crept in sending him into the throes of weightlessness as his breathing evened out.

Castiel looked over at the sleeping pair knowing their need for each other and family. He was feeling that void for all his brothers and sisters, but was finding that part of it was being filled by the Winchesters. They treated him like part of the family, even when he made bad choices. They didn't give up on him and he wouldn't let them down. They would find Sam's soul and return it to his body and kill the thing that did this to him. Of this, he was most certain.