Chapter 27

She thought she would feel pain as the knife pierced her body, but it was no more than a pin prick as she gazed into her brother's pain filled eyes. She hated that Sam had to be the one, but with the demon blood, she could make him strong enough to do it without killing him. She didn't want to sacrifice one of her brothers too; this was on her and her alone. Dean could not have survived the power she gave to Sam.

Brilliant light blinded her as coldness crept over her. She thought it would be hot, burning, agonizingly hot, to be met instead with a chilling cold. Her body floated in nothingness as memories of her younger years danced around in her head causing her to smile happily. Her mother's smiling face looked down on her and caressed her cheek as Oree closed her eyes and let the memories of another time lull her.

Aurora could hear singing, beautiful, soft singing but her eyes were so heavy they wouldn't open. She let the singing carry her deeper into her mind letting her see things she had long forgotten. Aurora was at peace within herself.

"My child awake now." a male voice called from the mist. "It's time to go home, your journey is not finished, there are those who are waiting for you, who love you and need you."

"Can't I stay?" she asked.

"If you wish, but your brothers want you to come home. They miss you very much and what about the one you call Angel?"

"My brothers." she said sadly. "Yes they will be so sad and may try something stupid."

"So what do you decide, it is your decision to make, no one will force you to return."

"I need to go home." she decided. "Will it take long?"

"No child, not at all. When you're ready to wake, you will be home." the voice faded and Oree felt a change come over her, a heaviness, she felt strong arms pick her up and a familiar voice whisper her name. She knew those arms and felt the safety they provided. Yes, she would be ok back with her family and her angel.

spn

"Should we check on her?" Sam fidgeted looking up from his computer.

"Cas just looked in on her fifteen minutes ago." Dean told him.

"She was still sleeping." Castiel added.

"It's been hours." he whined unhappily. He wanted to see her awake, to know she was ok.

"I'll have dinner ready in thirty minutes." Asteria called from the kitchen as she busied herself making dinner. Bobby was helping her prepare the meal just to have something to do. They had become rather close since first meeting and Bobby was enjoying spending time with her and her with him.

"Sam, she'll wake up when she's ready." Dean tried to appease him as he changed the TV channel.

"I'll check on her again." Castiel offered starting to get up.

"Let me." Sam said closing his laptop and heading for Oree's bedroom. He walked quietly into the room and over to his sister's bed. He sat down beside her and took her hand. "Come on Sis, come back to us." he whispered closing his eyes and reaching out trying to connect with her. She was always better at reaching him than him her. "We'll be waiting Sis." he sighed kissing her forehead before leaving.

spn

"You boys go wash up, it's almost ready." Bobby announced from the doorway.

"You heard him, let's go." Dean told his brother getting up from the recliner.

"Coming." he answered following Dean.

Asteria sat the last of the food on the table as the boys came into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. There was baked chicken, potato salad, green beans, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, rolls, and pie. Asteria blessed the food and gave thanks that Aurora had been returned to them.

Castiel's sensitive hearing caught a soft moan and a little rustling in Aurora's bedroom. He got up and went to investigate the noise. Aurora was moving slightly in the bed as she tried to clear the mist from her mind.

"Aurora, I'm here." Castiel told her taking one of her hands in his. "Can you open your eyes?" he encouraged.

Aurora turned toward the voice and squinted her eyes as she forced them open a slit but not able to focus on anything. She could make out a shadow beside her and felt someone rubbing her hand. She concentrated on her hand and made her fingers close.

Castiel's eyes widen when he felt fingers tighten around his hand. "Aurora." he whispered squeezing back and leaned over closer to her face so she could see him. He saw her eyes were slightly opened but slowly closed. She shifted in the bed and settled back down to sleep. Castiel headed for the kitchen to tell everyone the good news.

"Aurora woke for a second and squeezed my hand." Castiel informed them with a small smile.

"Thank goodness." Asteria smiled. "She's going to be okay, I can feel it."

"Good to hear." Dean added.

"I'm going to sit with her in case she wakes again." he told them heading back to the bedroom.

"I'll come and relieve you later." Sam called.

"I'm fine, I don't need sleep, I'll stay with her."

"Let us know if she wakes up."

"I will."

spn

Castiel took a seat on the bed so he could be close to Aurora. Sensing warmth, she rolled over trying to get closer. He stood long enough to take his trench coat and jacket off before lying on the bed so she could cuddle up against him. He slipped an arm under her upper body letting her nestle her head under his chin. She worked her hand into his shirt clasping his side. Castiel noticed how cool it was and shifted her slightly to unbutton his shirt. He let her lay on his bare chest as he pulled the blankets up over them tucking them around her. Castiel could feel Aurora relax and her breathing slow. He closed his eyes and listened to her soft breathing when he realized how relieved he felt that she was waking up.

Waves broke on the sandy shore beside him. Castiel looked around surprised at his surroundings. He was no longer in Aurora's bedroom but on a beach. Looking closer, he spotted a figure farther down and began to walk toward it. As he drew closer, he recognized Aurora and walked faster. Aurora waited until he was twenty feet away before running to him and throwing her arms around his neck.

"Angel!" she cried holding him tightly.

"Aurora." he replied hugging her to him. "I don't understand how am I here?"

"I let you in and brought you here." she whispered before kissing him deeply. "It's good to see you."

"And I you." Castiel said letting her slide down to stand in front of him, but still holding her close.

"Am I home?" she asked looking deep into his blue eyes.

"Yes, we're in your bedroom. The others are eating, waiting for you to wake up. Your brothers really want to see you."

"Oh Angel, I don't think they will mind if it's just a little longer." she said backing him into a tent that he had not seen a few minutes ago. She began to remove his clothes tossing them aside letting her hands roam over his body.

"I-I...do you..." he stammered not prepared for her boldness.

"Don't talk, kiss me." she demanded pushing him onto a mattress covered with soft blankets. Aurora worked on shedding clothes as she continued to kiss him.

spn

"We'll be going now. Have Aurora call me when she wakes." Asteria told the brothers. "Bobby wants to pick up some things before he leaves."

"I'll be heading out soon now that Aurora is safe." Bobby added getting up with Asteria. "If you boys need me, call."

"Have fun you two." Dean snickered as Sam poked him in the side trying to be the adult.

"Get yer mind outta the gutter." Bobby gruffed at him sternly before following Asteria out the door.

"Should we check on them?" Sam asked looking toward Aurora's bedroom.

"I'm sure they're alright, Cas would have called for us." Dean said heading for the bedroom to check anyway.

Dean stopped suddenly causing Sam to bump into him as he stared at the bed. Castiel was in the bed and Aurora was lying on his bare chest, both seemed asleep. Dean started toward the bed, but Sam pulled him to a stop.

"Let me go!" he hissed quietly to Sam trying to jerk away.

"No, don't do something stupid." he hissed back keeping a firm hold.

"Damnit Sam!"

"You guys wanna be any louder?" Aurora croaked as she raised her head slightly from Castiel's chest to look at them.

The brothers stopped in mid-sentence and jabbing to quickly turn to stare at Oree.

"Sis." Sam finally got out walking unsteadily to the bed to fall down beside it and pull her into his arms.

"Sammy." she cooed to him accepting his bone crushing hug. Sam didn't want to let her go as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Can't breath." Oree wheezed with a soft laugh.

"Sorry." he cried loosening his hold slightly, but not willing to relinquish it entirely. It felt so good to have her in his arms again and to see her alive.

"Sam?" Castiel asked awkwardly trying to squeeze out from under Aurora and him.

"Sorry Cas." Sam said lifting Oree off him and the bed. He turned toward Dean smiling happily through his tears.

"Dee." she whispered holding out a hand to him.

"Hey kid." Dean said stepping closer and taking Oree from Sam. He gave her a bear hug and kiss on the head before holding her out to look at her. "You okay?"

"I am now." she smiled up at him as tears blurred her eyes and she hugged him again. "Guys can I talk to Sam alone?"

"Sure, Cas and I can have a talk too." Dean said tersely throwing an arm around his shoulder and pulling him close as Castiel tried to button his shirt.

"Dee, behave yourself." she cautioned him accepting a bottle of water from Sam. She took a big swallow wetting her throat and continued. "I don't want any blood shed. I expect him to be in one piece."

Castiel looked back at her in fright and confusion as Dean pulled him out of the room with a little force. Sam laughed softly at them before turning back to Oree.

"Are you okay Sammy?" she asked in a serious tone pulling him to the bed to sit down beside her.

Sam looked down at her hands that were holding his tightly. Oree watched his lower lip tremble before he caught it between his teeth as an array of emotions marched across his face.

"Hey, you know we're good right?" she asked trying to get him to look her in the eye. "I asked you to do it; you don't need to feel guilty about anything. It was my choice, I just wish I didn't have to ask you to kill me, but you were the only one I could give the power to. I love you." she said wrapping him in a warm hug. Sam accepted her embrace as quiet sobs escaped his lips. "Shush, let it go." she told him rubbing small circles down his back to comfort him. They stayed like this until Sam finally pulled away sniffing and wiping his face.

"I'm glad you're back." he told her.

"Me too, guess we both had a long journey home, now come on, lets go rescue Angel from our brother before he decides to kill him." she giggled pulling Sam up and heading for the living room.

"You know he's an angel right?"

"Well that's not stopped our brother before now has it?"