Author's note: This one is a bit longer than usual, simply because it wouldn't flow properly if I cut it into two "chapters". Also, thanks to everyone who took the time to leave reviews! I'm not used to actually getting those, and I'm happy to know y'all are enjoying the story. :)
Jimmy was asleep beside her, his head resting against the window. She imitated him, knowing it was a matter of time before her brothers began to talk. The rain thrummed against the glass softly and she was almost lulled to sleep when Dean spoke up. "What the hell happened back there?"
"What?" Sam asked, feigning ignorance.
"You practically fainted trying to gank a demon," Dean stated plainly.
Arielle imagined Sam rolling his eyes at this. "Okay, I didn't faint. I got a little dizzy," he said, trying to brush it off.
"Well, call it whatever you want. Point is, you used to be strong enough to kill Alastair," Dean pointed out as he slowed down, a sign stating they were leaving Pontiac coming into view. "Now you can't even kill a stunt-demon number three?"
"What do you want me to say about it, Dean?" Sam asked, exasperated. Arielle peeked through one eye.
Dean held up a hand, palm facing the car's ceiling. "Well for starters, what's going on with your mojo? I mean, it's yo-yoing all over the place," he said and placed his hand back on the wheel. "I'm not tryin' to pick a fight here, okay? I just – you're scaring me, man."
Sam looked out the window. "I'm scaring myself," he said, his tone almost carrying a grave undertone. Arielle's brow furrowed and she opened her eyes fully when Sam's cellphone rang. She sat up, pretending to rub her eyes as he pulled out the phone. "Hello?" he answered, his own forehead creased. "Who is this?"
The younger Winchester brother turned and, catching her eye, he motioned to Jimmy. Arielle placed a hand on Jimmy's shoulder, shaking it lightly. "Hey," Sam called as Jimmy lifted himself to an upright position. "It's your wife." At this, Jimmy immediately looked alert and he took the phone from Sam.
"Amelia?" he said, his eyes growing wide after the pause. "Oh my god…"
"Alright, they're expecting you to come alone," Dean said as the four of them got out of the Impala. "That's exactly what you're gonna do."
Arielle stepped up next to Jimmy. "I'm going with him," she said and the man looked at her in surprise.
"Elle," Dean warned and the blonde blinked, surprised at the nickname. "You can't. They told him to come alone."
"And they know he won't. They'll expect you to be trailing somewhere behind, now that they know you're involved with him. If I go in too, it may give you some time to actually pull off whatever plan I know you already have in mind," she said, tucking her blessed gun into her boot instead of on her lower back. Dean popped open the truck and handed her another gun, which she set on the small of her back. "Thanks."
"We'll work our way through the catwalks. We'll be right behind you guys," Sam said and Arielle could see him trying to work out ways to sneak in unnoticed.
"Alright, then stay calm and stall," Dean said as he got his own weaponry. "Let us do the job."
Jimmy scoffed, shaking his head. "You want me to stay calm? This is my family we're talking about here," he snapped, his eyes flaring. "You said they'd be fine if I left them alone."
"Listen to me, this will work. You understand?" Dean said, trying to reassure the man. Arielle placed her hand on his shoulder and Jimmy immediately stood down, looking away from Dean. "Nobody's gonna get hurt."
Jimmy gave him his back and waited for Arielle to do the same. "Yea. Whatever. Give us at least a minute, okay?" He walked away and the young woman kept his pace, giving the brothers a final glance before they rounded a corner.
She hoped it wouldn't be the last time she saw them.
The duo walked in silence for a bit and Arielle would've bumped straight into Jimmy if she had not been watching him. "Castiel, you son of a bitch!" Jimmy screamed at the sky. "You promised me my family would be okay. You promised you were gonna take care of them," he continued, his frame trembling inside the trench coat. "I gave you everything you asked me to give. I gave you more. This is the thanks I get? This is what you do? This is your heaven? Help me, please. You promised, Cas. Just help me."
Arielle stood, watching him in silence. Jimmy shook his head, running both hands through his hair. "Typical," she heard him mutter as he headed to the warehouse. The duo entered and they found Amelia standing next to Claire. The little girl was tied from the waist and legs to a chair and upon a closer look, Arielle notices she' was unconscious.
"Hi, honey," Amelia chirped, smiling wide. "You're home." Arielle saw the wife's eye go black and a hand roughly planted itself on her shoulder. Arielle reached for the gun anyways, but was immediately stopped by the demon that thought it snuck up behind her. "Oh, you brought the tramp."
"Listen, I'm – I'm begging you here. You do whatever you want with me, but my wife and daughter," he started, his voice breaking. "They're just – they're not a part of this."
Amelia grinned. "Oh, they're a big part of this, Jimmy. And P.S. You should've just come with the tramp."
Jimmy tensed. "We are alone."
Amelia exhaled sharply, clicking her tongue at him. "Oh, you're such a liar. Like I didn't think you'd also bring Heckle and Jeckle?" Arielle groaned as she watched three other demons drag Sam and Dean in.
"Nice plan, Dean," Sam said through gritted teeth.
"Yea, well, nobody bats 1,000," he said, giving a charming grin to Arielle.
"Got the knife?" Amelia asked and one of the demons held up the weapon Arielle had used on the possessed Roger. Amelia grinned. "And you know what's funny?"
"You wearing a soccer mom?" Dean asked. Arielle shot him a glance, jerking her head towards Jimmy. "Sorry."
"I was actually bummed to get this detail, picking up an empty vessel," she sighed, waving a hand around. "Sort of like a milk run. Now look who landed in my lap." She grinned, placing her hands in her back pockets.
"Yeah, well, you got us, okay? Let these people go," Sam said.
"Oh, Sam. It's easy to act chivalrous when your Wonder Girl powers aren't working, huh?" the demon possessing Amelia gave a pout before smiling wide once again. "Now for the punch line!" A gun appeared in her hand. "Everybody dies."
A shot echoed in the warehouse and Arielle's eyes widened when Jimmy collapsed. "Novak!" she yelled, dropping to the ground and holding him up. Her mouth turned into a snarl when her eyes went back to a laughing Amelia. "I'll kill you."
"Waste Little Orphan Annie, too," she said as she sauntered out of the room. Arielle made to stand but one of the demons that had brought her brothers in placed his hands on her shoulders as her initial captor headed to Claire. He picked up a pipe on his beeline to the girl and swung his arm back. Just as the pipe was about to make contact with the girl's skull, her hand shot out. She caught the pipe and placed her other hand on the demon's forehead. It roared as it was exorcised in a bright light. Arielle set Jimmy down as gently as possible before turning on the demon behind her.
She grabbed the blessed gun from her boot and shot it point-blank in the face multiple times before turning to find Sam and Dean fighting off the three demons. Arielle turned back to Claire, cradling Jimmy back in her arms. Her eyes widen when she saw the young girl burn away the ropes that were holding her down. Arielle looked down at Jimmy, a touch of horror in his eyes as he watched his daughter. "Castiel."
Arielle and Jimmy watched as she approached Dean and the two demons that were pummeling him. She placed her hands on their heads and exorcised them. Knowing he was safe for now, Arielle snapped her head towards Sam to find him slicing the throat of the demon. Then, to her horror, she watched as he drank up the blood. She looked back to find Castiel and Dean looking at Sam as well.
The possessed Amelia walked into the room but, after witnessing the fights, she turned to flee. Sam stabbed the demon pinned under him through the heart with the knife before standing and holding out his hand, easily exorcising the demon out of Amelia before she could escape. She collapsed to the ground and the bruised and bloodied Dean limped towards her, reassuring everyone she was alive. Arielle's mind reeled with what she'd seen when she was jerked out of her thoughts suddenly.
"Arielle!" Sam shouted, tossing the knife at her without hesitation. She managed to catch it and, still holding Jimmy, turned in time to stab the demon she had shot before. The man crumpled and Arielle exhaled sharply, her breathing heavy.
"Jimmy," Castiel called out from Claire's body. "Of course we keep our promises. Of course you have our gratitude. You served us well. Your work is done," he said as he walked the girl's body towards her father. Jimmy's breathing became more labored. "It's time to go home now. Your real home. You'll rest forever in the fields of the Lord. Rest now, Jimmy."
"No," Jimmy wheezed, shaking his head fervently. His shirt was thoroughly soaked from blood loss. "Claire?"
"She's with me now. She's chosen," Castiel as the girl kneeled beside him, taking hold of his hand. "It's in her blood, as it was in yours."
Jimmy began to sob, still shaking his head. "Please, Castiel. Me, just take me," he pleaded, squeezing Claire's hand. "Take me, please."
Dean, Sam and the now conscious Amelia approach the trio. Claire looked back at them and then returned her gaze to Jimmy. "I want to make you understand. You won't die or age. If this last year was painful for you, picture a hundred, a thousand more like it," Castiel said, the girl's eyes holding her father's gaze.
"It doesn't matter. You take me. Just take me," he said, his voice fading but firm. The girl nodded.
"As you wish."
The girl let go of the cold hand and touched Jimmy's face, a bright light suddenly emanating from his eyes and mouth. Arielle let him go, scrambling to her feet. Claire dropped to her hands and knees as Jimmy stood. He walked past the one who was his wife and stood with Sam and Dean. Arielle watched as Amelia ran to Claire, hugging her tightly. She looked back to her former husband and with that last glance, Castiel turned to go.
"Cas, hold up. What were you gonna tell me?" Dean called out, following him as Sam and Arielle trailed behind him.
"I learned my lesson while I was away, Dean," Castiel stated. Arielle searched his eyes and found nothing of the man she had started to bond with. "I serve heaven, I don't serve man, and I certainly don't serve you." The angel walked away, leaving the Winchester brothers stumped.
And just like that, Arielle was alone again.