ALRIGHT! Here we go! Long chapter! Hope y'all like!
Clara and Dean stood staring at each other for about ten minutes as questions fired off by each one of the profilers. "Who's Crowley?" Seemed to be the most repeated. Neither of them knew how to handle this. It was like time had stopped for those ten minutes and besides the muffled questions the only thing Dean or Clara could hear were their hearts beating.
"But why?" Clara broke the silence between them. Dean sighed looking up. "What does Cas have to do with this?" She whispered.
"He said that?" Dean asked. They were both ignoring the others as they tried to sort everything out. Clara nodded to answer Dean's question. "What dose he want with him?" Dean asked. Demons never messed with angels unless they had a damn good reason, like the apocalypse.
"He wanted me to talk Cas into joining him." She said and Dean just sighed.
"Okay someone better start telling us what the hell is going on right now!" Garcia raised her voice to shut everyone up. "Who was that man and why does he have Adrian?" She demanded answers and Clara and Dean sighed at the same time.
"Look don't worry about it... we can handle this." Clara answered without turning.
"Oh hell no!" She yelled. "You are not disappearing again. Let us help." She said grabbing Clara by the shoulder and turning her.
"You can't." Clara raised her voice. "Just let me and Dean handle this." She was hoping Garcia would get that this wasn't something they could help with.
"Clara." Hotch stepped forward and sighed. "You can't win this one on your own." He said quietly. Clara looked up to Hotch who looked so worried for her and she nearly started to cry right there. But she held her fear inside like always when things got personal and rough.
"Yes I can." She sad through her teeth. "It's bad enough Adrian is mixed into this... I can't have them in danger to." she said stepping closer. "I just can't." She shook her head with a sigh.
"Why are we in danger?" Rossi spoke up and said. "Someone obviously has it out for you... we work this just like any case without making it personal, we find this Crowley and get Adrian back." Rossi smiled.
"It's not that simple." Dean spoke up stepping next to Clara. "I need to talk to you." He said taking Clara's hand and walking away from the group. He pulled her up the stairs and into the conference room. Clara kept her head down as Dean led. "I think we should tell them." He said quickly and her head shot up.
"What!" She nearly yelled. "You can't be serious?"
"Adrian is in some serious trouble... not just some punk demon that is easy to track. Have you forgotten that Crowley is like King of the crossroads. He is hard to find and very good at making people suffer." Dean said trying to reason with Clara.
"I don't care..." Clara said quickly. "I can't drag them into this... it's bad enough Penelope knows about this... bit if the others found out. I don't think they could handle it." She whispered.
"Fine, then what exactly is your plan?" Dean asked with a huff and crossed his arms. He cared about Adrian and he didn't want the kid to get hurt.
"Track him down, kill him, get Adrian." Clara smiled. "Simple." She nodded and turned to leave.
"No." Dean reached out and grabbed her arm lightly. Dean said. "You even threaten Crowley and he kills Adrian with one flick of his finger." Dean said.
"Fine! Then what is your plan? Tell everyone the truth?" Clara asked putting her hands on her hips. "I'm sure they will love hearing how I've been lying to them ever since I met them." She huffed.
Dean sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Clara turned a bit and looked out the window over looking the bullpen. She sighed when she saw her team staring up at her. She had only wanted to protect them from her life and after all this time it had finally come to bite her in the ass.
"Alright first things first. I'll call Bobby, get him down here." Dean started. "You talk to Aaron see if he can help and then send everyone else home." Dean ordered and Clara nodded. "If we focus on finding Crowley we can find Adrian." He nodded trying to reassure them both.
"Fine by me." Clara nodded. "Dose Bobby still think I'm dead?" She asked with a sigh. Dean shrugged as he shook his head. "Fine, get him down here... I'll see if Cas wants to come down for a little chat."
"Clara he hasn't answered either of us in like six months... I really doubt he is gonna come down, I don't even think he is listening anymore." Dean sighed. Clara looked up at Dean with a small smile.
"He's listening... trust me." Clara smirked but it quickly faded when her team came rushing into the conference room.
"Exactly how do you two plan on getting Adrian back?" Morgan asked with a huff.
"Look Derek we got a plan. Please just go home." Clara begged her friends. "Penelope please..." She looked over at her friend and tried to get through to her.
Everyone was quiet for a minute. "No." Penelope shook her head. "Adrian is in trouble! What kind of family would we be if we didn't help!" She yelled a bit and Dean and Clara exchanged looks.
Clara was quiet as she looked at her friends. They were wasting time just standing around so she hatched another lie. "You guys remember when I was transferred to Washington last year?" She asked and they all nodded. "Well while I was away I went after this gang slash colt following." She tried her best to sound convincing. "Crowley was their leader and they just killed at random all over." She sighed and continued. "I put a lot of his followers away and I guess he just wants revenge." Clara shrugged as everyone stared at her.
"Who's Cas?" Reid spoke up.
"One of the followers I got to turn on him." She lied again. It was becoming way to easy to lie now. She hated it but in order to keep them safe it was the only way. "I guess Crowley wants Cas back..." Clara looked to Dean who just sighed. Clara looked back up at her friends saw Penelope and Hotch's faces. They weren't buying her story and everyone else just looked confused. "Look you guys wanna help? Then find out who saw Adrian last." She said.
"What are you two gonna do?" JJ asked.
"There are a few calls we have to make." Dean answered when he noticed Clara's eyes shift to the corner of the room, like she had zoned out. He reached for her hands and grabbed it tightly. The team watched as they left quickly and all felt very uneasy about this.
"Am I the only one who thinks she is hiding something?" Reid pointed out.
The next few hours seemed to go by very quickly. Dean spent a lot of time talking Bobby into getting on a plan and getting to Virginia. Clara spent it screaming at the top of her lung for Cas and praying over and over again. The team did what they knew how to do; build a profile on Crowley and his so called following.
"Dean?" Bobby's confused voice made Dean feel instantly better. He was waiting out side the building for along time. His head was working a mile a minute but when Bobby showed up he calmed down a bit.
"Bobby." He smiled. Dean lunged forward and hugged him.
"It's been a while kid... how you doing?" Bobby asked. Dean was very different from the last time they spoke.
"Um at the moment not the greatest." Dean admitted.
"You working a case or something?" Bobby asked crossing his arms.
"Yeah kinda..."
"That why you made me get on a damn plane?" Bobby huffed. "Just to help you hunt something down?" Bobby sighed.
"Yes and no." Dean sighed as they both headed inside. Bobby had never been more confused.
"Boy you aren't making a lick of sense." Bobby huffed.
"Just bare with me..." Dean sighed once they finally made it to the BAU level.
The two men walked onto the floor to find it quiet. Bobby was still confused and sighed with a small smile when he saw an old friend. "Hotchner?" He questioned when he saw Aaron.
"Bobby Singer." Aaron smirked a bit as they shook hands.
"I haven't seen you since you were a teenager." Bobby laughed a bit. "I see you've gone straight." He said looking around.
"Well sort of." Aaron nodded.
Bobby followed Aaron and Dean down a hall and into a room. He was to busy looking around to notice anyone in the room. Until she spoke up. "Bobby?" Clara's voice made his heart break a bit. He looked ahead and there she was, unharmed and not a scratch on her. She had big teary eyes and a sad smile.
"What the-" He was cut off by Clara running into him and gripping onto him. She hugged him tighter than she had every hugged him before. She let off a little laugh when he hesitated.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered and he instantly hugged her back. Bobby had though Clara was dead and to have her hugging him meant a lot to him.
"Hey I'm just glad your topside." Bobby laughed nervously as they parted and it was quiet. "So what's so important that I needed to get here immediately." He mocked Dean and they both huffed.
"It seems a demon by the name of Crowley has decided to get his revenge." Hotch spoke up and Bobby laughed.
"Revenge?" He laughed. "I thought once he helped us we were clear of that pompous dick." Bobby huffed.
"Wait... what exactly did you help Crowley with?" Clara crossed her arms.
"He may or may not have been a part of our crusade against the devil." Dean said from the back and Clara looked up quickly with anger.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" She yelled at both Bobby and Dean.
"Alright kid just calm down." Bobby hushed her quickly. "Without him we would have never found Death... and without Death's ring we couldn't have opened the cage." Bobby sighed.
"Something you avoided telling me?" Clara crossed her arms as she turned to Dean who stepped next to Bobby.
"What did you want me to say?" Dean huffed. "Tell you Bobby pawned his soul to get a location on Death, so we could take out Lucifer..." Dean rolled his eyes and when he saw the look on Clara's face he knew he said to much.
"You can be a real idgit you know." Bobby huffed as he smack Dean in the back of the head.
All Clara heard was 'pawned his soul'. She took a deep breath. She didn't know whether to freak out or just smack the both of them. She took a second to swallow the fire burning in her, so she could focus on what was really important. She dropped her arms and clenched her fists.
"You are soooo lucky that my mind is focused on Adrian." She breathed out quietly. "But once we find him, prepare to be lectured on WHY IT ISN'T OKAY TO SELL YOUR SOUL TO A DEMON!" She yelled. Once she finished Bobby sighed and Dean looked away. "Now..." She exhaled deeply. "Can we please get to finding Crowley and end this before Adrian gets hurt." Clara said heading for the door.
"What did Crowley ask for?" Bobby asked without asking who Adrian was. He only assumed it was a friend.
"He wants Cas to join him." Dean answered.
"Join him?" Bobby asked. "On what?"
"He wasn't exactly specific." Clara answered as she left the room.
"Alright than I just have two more questions before I do my thing." Bobby followed her quickly. She stopped in the middle of the hallway and they faced each other. "Who is Adrian?" Bobby asked.
"Right..." Clara sighed as more guilt washed over her. "Well he's a kid I took in about two years ago. His mother was killed by a demon and he was all alone." She sighed looking at Bobby who looked a bit confused.
"Why wouldn't you just let a relative take him in?" Bobby asked.
"Honestly?" She asked and sighed. "Because I thought that's what you would have done... and technically you did." She smiled. "His parents were killed and he didn't have anywhere else to go... just like me." She smirked as she shrugged.
Bobby sighed. "Alright, how long has be been missing?" Bobby asked with a smile understanding why Clara felt the need to take the kid in.
"I don't know..." She sighed as they walked down the hall.
"What do you mean?"
"We had a big fight before our last case and he kinda ran away." Clara sighed.
"Adrian came to me and I know that he went to school on Tuesday morning but I'm not sure about Wednesday." Hotch answered.
"It's Thursday." Bobby pointed out. They all nodded in agreement as they all knew they had to think the worst. "So give or take two days?" Bobby asked. They nodded. "I'll see what I can do." Bobby said.
"Thanks Bobby." Dean and Clara smiled as they stopped again.
"Of course... did you teach him anything?" Bobby got his hopes up, maybe the kid wasn't completely screwed.
Clara's small shimmer of hope and smile faded quickly. "No." She said looking down. "That's what out fight was about."
"Nothing? Holy water? Exorcism? You taught him nothing?" Bobby huffed as he was a bit shocked.
"I just wanted him to be normal." Clara's eyes started to gloss over and she held back her tears with all she had.
"Well alright." Bobby nodded. "I'll call you with what I find." Bobby nodded. "We'll find him." He smiled at Clara and Dean before he walked away.
"Okay..." Clara's shaky breath called Dean and Hotch as they watched Bobby walk away. They looked to her and it was hard to see her so determined but scared. "Bobby is gonna do his thing, I'll get Penelope to do her thing, and-"
"Wait Penelope?" Hotch asked.
"Right... she knows." Clara sighed and Hotch sighed with a shake of his head.
"I'm sorry she found those stupid Supernatural books and... she had questions." Clara defended herself quickly.
"Adrian has read those things inside and out... you do know he'll be okay right?" Dean offered as they headed back to the conference room.
"Yeah..." Clara didn't give what Dean said much thought. She was to focused now. "Shit... I gotta call Cas." She said and stopped pulling her phone out.
"With that?" Dean laughed.
"Would you rather me go outside and start screaming at the top of my lungs? Cause that might attract attention." Clara huffed.
"He came to you didn't he." Dean said quickly sounding a bit angry and hurt. "I've been calling for him for months but he just stops by to see you."
"Yes." Clara nodded not bothering to lie anymore. "He needed advice."
"And he didn't come to me?" Dean sounded a bit jealous.
"I don't know Dean, when we see him you can ask him." She huffed as she dialled the number he had left in her hotel before he left. "He better answer. You two..." She stopped before pressing talk.
"Yeah we know." Dean nodded as they headed to the conference room.
Clara headed toward Hotch's office and closed the door behind her. Dean and Hotch went to the conference room to start going through anything they could think of. They both expected the room to be empty but they were wrong. Hotch had told the others to go home after Clara got the call from Crowley but apparently they didn't listen.
"We want answers... and now." Derek was first to talk.
"I thought I told you all to go home?" Hotch asked.
"That was before Clara decided to threaten some gang banger and Adrian got kidnaped." JJ pointed out. "Now we can help and we need to." She said with a huff.
"Look-" Dean started.
"No." Reid spoke up. "Every time something horrible happens Clara disappears for months at a time... we don't want that to happen again." He sighed.
Dean looked over to Penelope who was the only person sitting. She was looking at the table and he could tell she was very worried. She was playing with the beads on her dress and rocking a bit. "Penelope?" He questioned as he walked over slowly. She sighed deeply.
"Clara may not want our help because she is afraid of what could happen but..." She looked up with big eyes. "Don't you think it's time we stop the lies?" She whispered. "I mean I'm scared out of my wits about this stuff but I'm also scared of what could happen if she doesn't let us in."
Dean really wanted to tell her she was wrong and that they could handle it but he couldn't. Penelope looked so worried and scared that he honestly couldn't lie anymore. He nodded with a small smile and she exhaled in relief. He looked up to Hotch who nodded as well.
"You're all gonna think this is insane..." Dean sighed as he walked to the front of the room running a hand through his hair. He was trying to form the words that would help him explain what was going on but it was a lot harder than it seemed. "Alright..." he exhaled again and looked at everyone. "Crowley is a demon."
Clara sat in Hotch's office for ten minutes listening to the phone ring on the other side. No one was picking up. She started to fear Cas wouldn't answer. "Come on... I need you." She whispered closing her eyes tightly.
"Clara?" His voice caught her off guard and made her eyes open.
"Cas!" She giggled. "Thank God you answered..." She sighed.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Not really... look I really need your help, I know you are busy but..." She sighed. "Crowley has Adrian." She came out and said it quickly. Cas was quiet. "Cas?" She asked making sure he was still listening.
"I'm not sure what you want me to do about that?" He asked.
"Crowley wants to talk to you... he wants you to join him on something." Clara said quickly.
Cas sighed deeply. "I am aware of what Crowley wants. He has already come to me twice. Both times I refused." Cas huffed. "Just find Crowley and deal with him like you would any other demon." Cas said.
"Crowley isn't just any other demon Cas... you know that." Clara said as she stood and started to pace the room. "If you don't just talk to him he is going to kill Adrian." Clara tried not to choke on those words. "I'm not asking you to join him or anything... just talk to him. I don't care what he wants you to join. All I want is Adrian safe." She said and Cas was quiet again. She started to get angry that he wasn't at least a bit concerned. "I know this is asking a lot but... five minutes that's it." She sighed hoping.
"Clara I..." He started.
"You won't..." She finished his sentence. "Cas I thought we were friends... hell family even!" She started to get angry. "This is what family does Cas..." She said trying to get him to realize he was being a jerk.
"I am a servant of heaven. If I was caught making a deal with a lowlife like Crowley my grace could be taken from me." Cas said quickly almost like it was automatic.
"What happened to you having free will and teaching it to others?!" She yelled. "Did they convert you again?" She asked.
"No, I just can't help you. I have my own battles to win. I am sorry Clara." He sighed.
Clara was shocked. Why was he being like this? "You're sorry?" She mocked him. When he sighed she let off a laugh. "Fine." She said through her teeth. She wanted to yell and scream but she would just be wasting time. "Remember this phone call next time you need me to help you with anything!" She yelled. "and if anything... anything happens to Adrian you better fucking hope God is still on your side... because after I'm finished with Crowley I'm gonna come after you." She said quickly. "It's gonna take a whole lot more than some circle and a few angels to stop me." She said reminding him of Uriel.
"I am truly sorry Clara..." He said and then hung up quickly.
"No you're not." She laughed. "Not yet." She huffed. "If anything happens to that kid it's on you." She said to herself. She knew Cas hung up but she needed to utter those last words whether he heard it or not. Then it was quiet.
Clara stood in Hotch's office alone and shaking. Her mind was racing and her heart was aching. Someone she thought she could rely on for help, just hung up on her. So much for family meaning anything to Cas. Clara slowly started to realize she had no way to get Crowley to even consider letting Adrian go. No angel, no kid. That's when the shaking and heart ache got to much to bare. She collapsed onto the couch running her hands through her hair. Tears streamed down her face as she tried not to scream.
She sat alone for a while and before she went to join Dean and Hotch she took one long deep breath. She was forming a plan but knew Dean would not like it. She stood quickly and headed for the conference room. She stopped when she heard the questions being fired from everyone. She had thought the others left.
"You can't be serious." Derek laughed.
"Those kinda of things just don't happen." Reid said timidly.
"No way..." JJ said quickly.
Clara walked to the door and found Dean and Hotch standing in front of every one. They all looked confused and some horrified. JJ was sitting next to Penelope, she was quiet but JJ looked terrified. Clara looked at Reid and could see his mind working. Derek just stood there laughing. Rossi, well he looked almost accepting of what was going on.
"Like I said... it sounds insane and believe me or not but that is what's going on." Dean tried to reason with them.
"Okay hold up!" Derek cut him off with a laugh. "You want us to believe that Adrian was taken by a demon, like an actual demon from hell and all that jazz?" He laughed again. "And that this demon just happens to be king of the crossroad, which is where people sell their souls?"
"And apparently all this demon wants is some angel who is up in heaven... like angel as in wings and everything?" Reid asked.
"Basically.. yeah." Dean nodded.
"Oh my God you told them?" Clara decided to walk in quickly. Everyone jumped and Dean looked down.
"They wanted to know what was going on." Dean defended himself right away.
"And this was your solution!" She huffed.
"Would you rather lie to us?" Rossi pointed out. "Now I'm all for unexplained events but why the hell do you know so much?" Rossi looked to Dean.
"Because I'm a hunter... or at least I was." Dean said looking over at the older man thankful at least someone believed him.
"A hunter?" Rossi asked. "And I am guessing that doesn't include deer or moose."
"Not exactly... Sam and I used to hunt all kinds of things."
"Dean..." Clara warned.
"There's more than just Demons and Angels?" JJ asked in shock.
"Yes." Dean nodded.
Clara sighed and everyone looked to her. "Everyone had that one thing they were afraid of as children right?" She asked and everyone nodded a bit. "Well your parents lied to you when they told you, that monster under your bed isn't real, or that shadow you saw was just a figment of your imagination." She sighed.
"And how do you even know all this?" Rossi asked and Clara huffed tilting her head back a bit.
"Every hunter has an origin story." She finally said. "You are either born into a hunting family and the knowledge is passed down, or... the other and more traumatic way.." She paused and everyone waited. "Someone is taken from you and their unnatural death leads you down that path." She said. "Look I can explain in great detail once we get Adrian back... now you might not believe what we just told you and that's fine but right now Adrian doesn't have time for this." She huffed.
"Well if all that... Demon wants is the Angel then how hard could it be?" Rossi asked, he being the only one to really be on board with the whole supernatural situation.
"Well we don't have the angel so we have to improvise." Clara sighed with a small smile. "And by improvise I mean lie." She paused looking to Dean. He looked disappointed. "And by we I mean me." She said.
"You can't go after Crowley by yourself." Dean laughed with a sigh.
"Says you." She huffed back. "Look he is pissed at me for what I did and if he takes his anger out on me for a bit Adrian can get to safety." She said.
"What makes you think this Crowley is pissed at you?" JJ asked timidly, she was not taking this odd news very well.
"Clara has made quiet the name for herself." Dean answered.
"That's right and I plan to use that to my advantage." She smiled as she headed for the door.
"Okay wait just hold on..." Morgan called out and Clara stopped. "You can't just drop something like this on us then leave." He huffed.
"Yes I can... Look I've been dealing with these kinds of things since I was sixteen so I'm going to get Adrian back before he is killed." She raised her voice. "Is that okay with you?" She asked and turned around and left. "Just to me a favour and stay put, I don't need any of you in the way!" She called out.
"Wooh..." Reid and JJ exhaled.
"Yeah... you have no idea." Den chuckled to himself as he went to follow Clara.
"You're going with her?" Penelope stood and walked next to Dean.
"Can't let her go alone." Dean smirked. "Clara really is just trying to protect you all." Dean turned to look at everyone. "So unless you wanna endure her wrath, please just stay here." He asked nicely as he walked out of the room and jogged after Clara.
"I thought I said I was going alone." She didn't even have to turn around to know he had followed her. He chuckled as he walked next to Clara.
"Like I ever listen anyway." Dean rolled his eyes. "And seeing as Crowley is well you know... Crowley. I figure you could use some help." He smirked as they both jogged down the stairs. "So the plan?" He asked after a moment of silence.
"Well I have no idea where Crowley is so I think it's time we summon him." She smiled over at Dean.
"This is a terrible idea." Clara admitted as she and Dean stood around the devils trap he had just painted.
"Yupp... it is." Dean sighed as he stood next to her. "So why don't we get this over with." Dean huffed.
"Over with?" Clara questioned.
"The sooner we get on with this terrible plan the sooner we get Adrian, and the chances of him being safe are higher." Dean said just staring at the devil's trap.
Clara smiled at Dean's eagerness to have Adrian back safely. "Crowley is not going to like this." She added.
"Nope." Dean said as he set the bowl of ingredients on fire. Thanks to Bobby they had found a summoning ritual that could get a demon and it's hostage to come forward. Bobby had also mentioned that a small town just outside of Quantico had been hit with massive electoral storms and random missing persons. The chose a small warehouse on the town's limits and set their small trap. It was quiet for a minute after the flame had died out.
"Well it's about bloody time." That accent caught both their attentions. "Nice trap by the way." Crowley's voice spoke from behind Clara and Dean. "Too bad it's a bit predictable." He laughed as they turned to face him. He stood in his tailored suit with a less than impressed look on his smug face.
"Can't blame a girl for trying." Clara laughed as she winked at him.
"Well I did expect more from you Darlin'." Crowley pointed out. "All those months sending demons back to hell wasted." He sighed. "Now I see that you have operated on pure luck, and the fact that most of my underlings are mindless sacks." He huffed as he walked around them.
"Where is Adrian?" Clara demanded before he could say anything else to piss her off. Just the sound of his voice made her skin crawl with hate.
"Oh he'll be along shortly... once I get what I asked for." Crowley smiled. It was quiet as he looked at Dean and Clara. "Unless you haven't held up your end of the deal... and pleading with my humanity was your only plan. Well I must say, the legend really doesn't fit." He smirked at Clara.
"Ha, really?" She smirked as she pulled her gun and aimed it at him. Before Crowley could get a snarky remark in she fire off two rounds into his shoulders. He cursed in pain as he stumbled. "You shouldn't underestimate me." She added as she walked over to him.
"A few bullets?" He laughed in pain. "You think that will do you much good?"
"Not really... but sure was fun seeing you bleed."
"Oh sweetheart I'm so glad you said that... because I will enjoy this so much more." He laughed as he stood and snapped his fingers twice. "Now I may not be able to make you bleed, but I do have a few people who would be fun to watch squirm." He laughed and in a blink of an eye two people showed next to him.
"Clara! Dean!" Adrian's happy and scratchy voice was first to be heard as he stood next to Crowley.
They both smiled. "Hey kid... are you alright?" Dean asked stepping next to Clara. They both looked at Adrian noticed he wasn't exactly okay. Blood running from his nose and next, and he was holding onto his side tightly.
"Eh more or less." He smiled through the pain. "Been havin' fun though." He winked at Clara.
"Ah yes the young worm has had some fun chanting from his corner." Crowley said. "Exorcised two of my best actually... you should be proud." he nodded at Clara.
"Reid?" Clara questioned as she looked to her left and saw Reid laying on the ground next to Crowley.
"Ah yes, Doctor Spencer Reid. Quiet the brain in that head." Crowley said. "Too bad he won't be able to use it now." He sighed as Reid opened his eyes and they flashed back.
"You son of a bitch." Clara cursed and stared at them.
"Son of a Witch actually." He smirked. "So who would we rather torture today... the young hunter in training..." Crowley questioned as he threw up a hand and Adrian went flying into the wall screaming. "Or the doctor, who was dumb enough to follow you here." Crowley smiled as he nodded to the demon in Reid and he took a step forward. "Unless I get the angel... looks like you have your hands full." Crowley smiled as Adrian kept smashing into walls and Reid kept walking toward Clara.
"Wait..." Clara said and Adrian crashed to the ground. She looked to Dean who went to check on him. She watched as Dean helped Adrian up. "I can get Cas here... but you have to let them go first." She bargained.
"Sorry that doesn't exactly work well for me." Crowley added.
"Sure it does." She smiled. "You either get what you want, or you get me..." She shrugged. "Much better than some kid and an FBI agent." She pointed out.
"Clara." Dean warned.
"I have a better plan actually." Crowley snapped his fingers and the demon in Reid smoked out. Reid fell to the ground and when Clara went to reach for him he was gone. "Never really wanted him anyway... just wanted to see you reaction... wasn't very satisfying." He admitted.
"Where did you send him?" Clara asked.
"Oh hush he'll be fine." Crowley laughed. "You should be more worried about these two." Crowley smirked as he lifted his hand. Dean and Adrian smashed into a near by wall and Crowley held them up. They both struggled to get free but the more the struggled the more painful it got. "So you get that angel down here or I kill them."
"Aren't you tired of issuing death threats..." Clara sighed with a smirk. "Why is Cas so important to you? He is just one angel."
"Oh you are so out of the loop..." He huffed as he twisted his wrist and Dean and Adrian started to cough in pain. She looked over to them ans saw the blood coming from their mouths. "You see your dear Castiel is heading up quite the rebellion up in heaven." He said was he walked around Clara still making Dean and Adrian suffer. It was hard for her to focus while they were in pain.
"And that has something to do with you?" She asked.
"Well he isn't exactly strong enough to take on Raphael, meek little Cas against an archangel? No contest." Crowley pointed out. "But despite what he may think I can help."
"Ever think Cas doesn't want your help?" Clara asked.
"Oh trust me my dear... he needs it." Crowley whispered and stepped in close. "He'll loose without my help and it will cost him much less than you." He said. "So why don't you get him down here before I kill these two."
"I've already tried to get him down here. He isn't listening anymore." Clara tried to reason with him but she knew it was useless.
"Then we'll have to make him listen." Crowley smiled as he twisted his wrist and Adrian screamed out in pain.
"Stop..." She begged as she watch the poor boy scream in pure agony.
"Not until I get an appointment with your man upstairs." Crowley said and suddenly Dean started to growl in pain as he and Adrian tumbled to the floor but couldn't get up. "Wait a second." Crowley lifted his hands and the pain stopped for Dean and Adrian. "I know he's grown to like the Winchesters but I'm torturing the wrong person." Crowley turned his attention to Clara.
"What?" She asked as she looked over to Dean and Adrian. Dean had made his way over to Adrian and was helping him stand. Adrian was in pretty bad shape and Dean was barely able to stand himself.
"I've overlooked the most important thing..." Crowley smiled. "Oh wow I can't believe I never thought about this before." He laughed.
"What are you talking about?" Clara asked as Dean looked up at her. He gave her a reassuring nod that they were both okay, but she was still concerned about Adrian.
"You don't see it?" Crowley asked. He looked over to Dean as he made them tumble to the ground again. "Did you see it? I mean the guy is one of your closest friends..." Crowley asked Dean and he was just as confused as Clara. "Oh come on!" He laughed.
"Why don't you just tell us already so we can get this over with." Dean barked at Crowley as he tried to get up.
"I believe the angel has fallen for your girlfriend." Crowley laughed as Dean pushed himself up on his elbows.
"What?"Clara and Dean asked in unison.
"He goes to her for advice, he always answers her calls, he's saved her life more times than I can count, hell the man brought her back from the dead twice!" Crowley laughed. "The moment she falls into trouble he comes to save the day." He said still leaning over Dean. "And they say angels can't feel." He rolled his eyes.
"You're crazy." Clara added and he turned to look at her. "Angels don't have human emotions." She huffed.
"You and I both know Cas has always been different." Crowley smiled. "Or are we forgetting what happened in 2014?" He said and Clara's eyes widened. "Oh yeah I know about that." He chuckled. Clara froze. She hadn't thought about what happened in 2014 in almost a year and a half. "Maybe if I apply the right pressure." Crowley smiled and twisted his hand and Clara couldn't help the loud and painful scream that escaped her. She crumbled to her knees as she tried to catch a breath. The pain of fire spread through her body quickly and it felt like her insides her burning.
"Stop it!" Adrian cried out when he saw the pain in Clara's eyes. A tear had even slipped from her eye as she continued to scream.
"Not until I see-"
"He won't come!" Clara cried out. "He is an angel! A solider of heaven! He doesn't have feelings nor would he care if anything happened to us!" Clara yelled out. "I talked to him... he wouldn't save Adrian why would he save me!" She cried, her breath stretched and her pain growing.
Dean rushed forward to tackle the demon but Crowley had seen him. He lifted a hand and flung Dean across the room next to Clara. He nearly landed on her but she rolled over just in time. By this time she could feel her bones breaking and her heart giving out. She reached out for Dean as he moved closer. She cried out in pain again as he tried to get her to stand. Crowley twisted his hand again and blood started to drip from her mouth. Clara started to chock on her blood when Adrian let out his war cry and ran for Crowley.
This time Adrian caught the demon by surprise. He jumped onto the grown man's back and locked his legs and arms around him. "Let her go!" Adrian ordered. Clara and Dean looked up in worry. Crowley laughed.
"I'll give you this Clara... your boy may be dumb but he is brave." Crowley smiled as she reached over and peeled Adrian off his back. "Now about that angel." He smiled as she threw Adrian into a near by closet and locked the door once he landed.
"He... won't come." She coughed out.
"Give it time Darlin'." Crowley smirked as he hurled Dean into the wall and then into the same closet as Adrian. She could heard they both banging on the door to get back to her but she knew it was useless.
"Cas went back up... he isn't-" Clara could barely even speak. Blood filled her mouth and she tried not to choke on it. Every breath she drew was just white-hot pain rippling through her body. "Cas..." She barley whispered before more pain waved over her. Crowley was a lot stronger than she had thought him to be. "Cas..." Now she was just calling for him, hoping he could hear her. As her eyes slowly started to roll back into her head the voice that made all the pain stop made her eyes water.
"Enough." Cas' voice was loud and booming. It rang over Crowley's and when Cas finally appeared Clara rolled into her side to look at him. She felt both anger and guilt hit her. Cas looked tired and very drained of power, but he was here. He looked at Crowley and walked over to Clara quickly. He reached for her hand and she was reluctant to take it. Why did he decide to show now? He nodded to her and she took his hand. She thought it was strange but his hand was actually cold.
Castiel pulled Clara from the ground and held her up. He could see she was in pain and when he turned his attention to Crowley, the demon smiled. "Nice of you to join us." He nodded and Cas didn't say a word. He had one arm around Clara to hold her up and all that could be heard was Dean ramming the closet door to open, and Clara's heavy and strained breathes.
"You take my friends, torture them and all you want to do is speak to me?" Castiel questioned his voice dropped and eyes glued to Crowley. "There are other ways of getting my attention." He added.
"I did try to reason with you the first time. But you wouldn't hear me out so I had to take drastic measures." Crowley nodded twisting his hand a bit and getting an agonizing whimper out of Clara as she finally clutched onto Cas' trench coat. He looked over at her and noticed her eyes shut tightly, she was holding back the scream.
"I said enough." Cas commanded. "I will hear you out, and consider your offer. So long as you let Adrian, Dean and Clara go. You are never to lay any harm on them ever again and if I so much as catch you looking at her or anyone under my protection you will be sorry, I will not hesitate to kill you." Cas spoke and Clara looked at him. His eyes were so serious and demanding she was actually tempted to hide behind him.
"Ou I love it when you take control Castiel... sends shivers down my thick spine." Crowley laughed. "You know it always surprises me when I interact with the human species. They are all so soft and breakable. I thought things like us would rule these lesser beings but I now see you are just like them." Crowley shook his head. "No wonder Raphael is winning." He smirked.
"Trust me... I am not soft." Castiel added and suddenly a flash of lighting came from nowhere and the whole warehouse lit up and behind Cas the shadow of his wings spread further and larger than the first time Clara had met him. She smiled proudly at him and sighed. "Do not test me." Castiel said and Crowley said.
"Alright... you get your human, un harmed and all that jazz." Crowley nodded. "But you must agree to my offer first." Crowley smiled.
"Cas..." Clara warned not even knowing what Crowley might end up making him agree to.
"Hush... the grown ups are talking." Crowley nodded and Clara just shot him a glare. She felt as Cas slowly let go of her and stepped forward.
"What is it that you have that might help me win?" He asked getting to the point.
"See it's not what I have but it's what I can help you get." Crowley added as he Cas stared at each other. Clara held onto her sides, and didn't move. She wanted to hear what Crowley had to offer before she stopped Cas from making a bad decision. It was amazing, about two hours ago she wanted nothing more than to punch the angel's brains in but now guilt was taking over. "I think we can both agree that we need more power to continue on our paths." Crowley nodded. "Being against an ArchAngel, well my friend you are hopelessly out gunned. Raphael has more power than you and I combined."
"Will you get to your point." Cas rolled his eyes.
"What is the most powerful thing you could think of that is worth something in heaven?" Crowley opened and smiled.
"You have souls?" Cas questioned.
"Not the ones you want." Crowley winked. "But there is one place that is a gold mine of uncollected souls just ripe for the taking." He smiled at the angel's whose eyes grew in a bit of shock and understanding. "I see you catch my drift." Cas nodded not wanting to let Clara know too much. "Well if we find the door and open it... I can guarantee you win your war."
"No one has ever found the door." Cas pointed out.
"No one has looked." Crowley retorted.
"What do you get in return?" Cas asked curious as to what he wanted.
"Half." Crowley answered.
Cas was quiet for a second as he looked at Crowley. Clara watched as his back straightened and he sighed. "Cas..." She stopped him and limped forward a bit. Her whole body hurt but she had to say something. "You don't have to worry about us... we can deal with him." She whispered.
"Oh no you can't." Crowley answered. "You may have a title down below but that isn't gonna scare me. I'll come back every day for the rest of your life... unless I cut that life short." He smiled. "Would be a shame to have brought her and Dean back this many times to just have them die again." Crowley said looking to Cas who looked conflicted.
"Don't listen to him." Clara stepped closer to her friend. "I have no idea what he wants to open but I can tell it's not gonna end well."
"But it could help." Cas whispered back.
"There is always another way." Clara offered a kind smile and Cas sighed looking at her fatigued face.
"Well he has spent six months trying to find that 'other way' and what has that gotten you so far? Beaten into a new week every day?" Crowley had no trouble speaking.
"This battle can not be won with just faithful soldiers and hope." Cas said looking at Clara with guilt as well. He knew that joining with Crowley would end terribly but what other choice did he have? Either open the door to Purgatory, or they die again. "You or Dean may not understand but I need to do this or else everything he has given up this past year would be for nothing." He sighed taking Clara's hand and gave her a soft smile.
"There's the feelings." Crowley pointed out and they ignored him.
"It is no secret I have grown to like humanity." Cas smiled and Clara did as well. Her eyes started to tear up knowing that Cas was making a very hard decision on Dean and her behalf. "You and Dean deserve some normal for a while." He sighed.
"You don't have to do this because of us." She said and Cas pulled her in for a hug. That was the first time he actually initiated the hug. He held her tight.
"Yes I do. You two have done so much for me and the entire world it's time for a change." Cas whispered softly.
"Alright but you can always call if you need help or... you can always back out." She smiled hugging him tightly.
"In addition to our deal you need to spread the word that no demon or anything working for you can harm them." Cas said once he had pulled away from Clara. She kept a hold of his hand as he spoke to Crowley. "I help you find Purgatory, I get half the souls and they stay safe." Cas made his offer very clear.
Crowley sighed deeply. "Alright alright... but we haven't got much time, unless you want Raphael to unleash the end of days again." Crowley turned his back on Cas.
"Purgatory? Souls?" Clara questioned once Crowley was gone she let out a breath of relief and waited for Cas to answer.
"Clara." He turned to her. "I must ask for one favour." he looked down.
"Anything..." She nodded knowing he just saved them again.
"You can't tell Dean... if he finds out what we plan to do he will try to stop us." Cas sighed. "Just forget about what you heard and just... live." He smiled meekly up at Cas.
"You want me to lie to Dean?" She asked with a sigh. Cas looked down knowing what he was asking was unfair. "One condition." She said and he looked up. "Well two." She corrected her self and he nodded. "You call if things get sketchy and you need help." She said and he nodded. "And the last condition... you be careful." She sighed.
Cas smiled at his friend and she hugged him tightly. "I will do my best." he smiled.
"Your best is enough." She nodded. "Thank you." She said and he nodded.
"Adrian will need some medical attention, Dean and the other will have questions." Cas said. "What will you tell them?"
"I think I've lied to my friends about who I am enough... when we get back I'll tell them the truth about me and Dean." She smiled. "And if they ask what Crowley wanted with you, a simple I don't know should suffice." She nodded to him. Castiel nodded and they both sighed. "Don't be a stranger." She said before he vanished. She noticed his small smile and then she was left standing alone.
"Oh thank God!" Penelope was first to greet Adrian as he stepped off the elevator. Clara and Dean followed him. Penelope wasted no time hugged them all. "You've been gone for hours!" She yelled. "Are you alright?" She asked quickly looked at Adrian who smiled
"Arm is broken in a few places but hey, I'm alive." Adrian smiled pointing to his arm that was bound in a cast.
"And you two?" Penelope looked up at Dean and Clara.
"Good." Dean answered.
"Well you're not gonna be good once you step into that room." She sighed as they walked toward the conference room. "Hotch has tried to answer questions but a lot of them are about you two." She said looking at Clara who just kept her focus on walking. She stopped at her desk and pulled six case files from he bottom of her drawer. She had enough of lying and hiding who she was. Adrian nearly died because of it and now they needed to know what could come after them.
"Clara you alright?" Dean reached for her arm as Penelope and Adrian walked into the conference room without them. "You haven't really spoken since we got to the hospital." He pointed out.
Clara sighed as she looked up at Dean. Those stupid big, green, worried eyes were carving a hole in her. She smiled placing a hand on his cheek and he tilted his head a tad. She leaned forward and kissed him gently and quickly. "I'm good." She nodded before she walked away. Dean smiled as he walked behind her.
Clara wasted no time and walked to the front of the room. The whole team had gathered and was now staring at her. Hotch stood by her side as Dean and Adrian stood behind everyone. They all looked up at her with big wide eyes.
"Everything I am about to share with you will change everything you know about me, and most of the things you were taught in school." She sighed looking at everyone and looked at Reid last. She knew he might not believe her because he was all about facts and science not make-believe. She was worried about JJ and her reaction because she was a mother and Clara didn't need he to be even more over protective. Rossi she could tell already believed her and then there was Derek. She had no idea how he was going to take all of this. "So before I collide our two words are you sure you want to know?"