Flecks of ash and dust stuck to damp fingertips as the witch's body disintegrated in the archangel's hands. The hunters stared dumbfounded at the woman in the trench coat, briefly forgetting how to move or breathe as they watched her lower her palms before her, reaching them before her form, turned to the sky. The rain slowed, drops falling upon her upturned hands, washing away the remnants of the witch's remains. Her eyes were distant, as though completely captivated by the sensation of rain upon her skin.

Castiel was the one to break the silence between them as the wind stilled; he pushed himself to his feet, straightening his drenched suit jacket and tie as he watched the archangel slowly turn her gaze to the sky.

The rain stopped.

And for a brief moment, she actually seemed disappointed. Disappointed that the rain had ceased to fall? Perhaps. Her gaze remained upon the sky as dripping fingers suddenly twitched outward. The tree that had fallen onto the road obeyed the silent command, immediately and quickly pushed out of the way by an unseen force, moved harmlessly to the embankment away from the highway and no longer posing a danger to any motorists who would travel such a winding road so late at night.

"Selaphiel?" Castiel finally managed to say as he stood a bit taller.

The archangel turned her attention away from the chains still swaying from her wrists and instead focused upon her brother. A softness befell her features as she lowered her arms to her side and greeted quietly. "Hello, brother."

Castiel made no attempt to conceal the relief as it faded onto his face in the form of a warm smile, a genuinely warm smile. "Are you all right?"

Her eyes lowered to the ground, head bending forward a bit as she confessed slowly, her voice never rising above a gentle murmur. "I feel … heavy?"

"Yes," Castiel acknowledged with a nod. "That would be the gravity."

"Ah …" she replied with a subtle frown. "Always such a downer."

Sam snorted. Dean shifted his gaze to his brother with an incredulous look. "What?" asked the younger hunter. "It was funny." Shaking his head, Dean stood along with his brother, moving to Castiel's side.

Selaphiel's distant stare shifted to the Winchesters for a silent beat. "Hello, Sam," she greeted softly. "Hello, Dean."

Dean replied with an awkward wave of his hand, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably as he whispered a "yeah hi" under his breath; but Sam was the one to approach her, hand offered in greeting. It was clear that Castiel thought highly of the archangel, and if Cas approved, then she must have been friendly … right?

"It's an honor to meet you, Selaphiel," he announced.

But Selaphiel did not hesitate to grasp the hunter's hand with both of hers, keeping eye contact as her fingers gripped his tightly, prompting a wince upon his face as he could nearly feel his bones crushing within the vice of her grasp. "I apologize for the mess," she said as she released him and dropped her arms limply to her sides. "My hands have been sullied by the ashes of our enemy."

His hand freed from her hold, Sam shook it a bit just to get the feeling back in his fingers, assuring her, "No no, it's fine. Happens all the time." He gave Dean a look over his shoulder then, eyes widening to demonstrate just how painfully strong her handshake had been, mouthing the words 'oh my god' to his brother. "That's some grip you've got there," he added as he returned his attention to Selaphiel.

"Look, uh, Sel?" Dean interrupted, warranting a shift in the archangel's attention as she wandered toward the Impala. "Any idea who did this? I mean? Do you know who put you in, you know, that?"

"No," she replied simply as she gripped the hood of the car, easily pushing it from the embankment and onto the asphalt once more, warranting a low and impressed whistle from Sam.

"Uh … thanks," Dean added as the Impala was straightened upon the asphalt, not daring to take his eyes off the archangel as she rounded the vehicle to face the trio once more. He knew better than to be impressed-not so much by the strength she possessed, but more so over the fact that she had been considerate enough to help them out. "Do you remember anything?" he asked, changing the subject back to the mystery surrounding their circumstances.

Selaphiel fell silent as her gaze lowered once more, focus turned to the chains about her wrists as she slowly and carefully lifted them before her, not protesting the fact that Castiel was cautiously approaching. "I was … everywhere …" she began softly, "... and now I am … in here … and I feel ..." She seemed to search for the world, but it seemed the more she thought, the subtle illumination of her irises had the slightest swirl within them, and expression reflecting something that could only be described as … broken.

Melancholy.

She drew a sharp and jagged breath as she was unable to process just what it was she felt. Her body needed to only sway the slightest inch and Castiel was immediately reaching out to catch her, his arm hooking beneath hers for support amid a chorus of Sam's "whoa-whoa's" as he attempted to assist them.

"We better get him to the bunker and get those chains off," Sam suggested.

"Castiel," Selaphiel whispered, lifting her head heavily to rest her brow tiredly to his and staring intently into his eyes.

"Yes?" he whispered back, listening.

"Go to Heaven," she instructed. "Tell Hannah to delegate communications to Ingrid for emergency protocol."

"Yes, sir," Castiel replied without a moment's hesitation.

"Do not tell them where I am. Do not tell anyone. Do you understand?"

With a single nod of acknowledgment and a look of admiration, Castiel vanished without a trace. Sam was barely able to catch Selaphiel before she fell to the ground. "Selaphiel? Hey … hey!" He gave her a light shake; however, the archangel only blinked once, distant eyes directed toward the hunter though they didn't seem able to see him.

"Okay. What the hell just happened?" came Dean's sudden outburst.

"I don't know," his brother answered, keeping his gaze locked on Selaphiel. "He just kinda … zoned out."

"C'mon," Dean said, motioning him to the Impala as he opened the passenger-side door. He continued to speak as Sam helped the archangel into the backseat. "Maybe it's like a shock to his system … or … whatever it is angels have. First time with a body instead of some kinda energy … thing … or whatever. Yeah, okay, maybe he's still … 'adjusting' or whatever Cas called it."

"Who or what possesses that kind of power, though, Dean?" he asked as he shifted her legs into the car. "I mean, not to just create a living being, but also to devise this whole plan of stealing a weapon that is apparently so powerful that the whole of Heaven is distracted enough to kidnap an archangel AND trap him inside a vessel?" This was distressing and confusing and … deliberately elaborate.

"I don't know. But whatever or whoever it is? I'm gonna kill 'em."

{{ To be continued in Chapter 6: Just Like a War-time Novelty }}