Sorry for the long update. Ive been busy with my job and find it hard to balance my work and writing. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. -DSCWIN
Chapter Eight
Dean wouldn't stop pacing when he looked back down at his watch. He had told Gabriel to return in fifteen minutes after he said he heard her pray to him but looking back down it had nearly been double that time. Sam sat at the small table in their hotel room looking up cases to help distract them when he finally had enough of catching Dean walking past and looking down at his watch, that he let out a humph and slightly rough closed the lid of his laptop closed. It made Dean stop and look at his younger brother and Sam sat there pinching the bridge of his nose trying his hardest not to scream and yell at his brother.
"Dean, sit down before I break your legs, please." Sam said his voice threatening but soft enough to not warrant an attack. "You're pacing a hole into the floor. This is not going to make him show up faster."
"Sam," Dean said going back to pacing only to stop and slowly sit down at the edge of his bed. "I asked him, no, ordered him to go and help Christina only to come back in fifteen minutes. It's been nearly a half an hour since he left. What if he's there because she's hurt, or worst dead? Rip to shreds by some monster that we don't know about?"
Sam sighed and looked up at his brother with his hazel puppy dog eyes that always made Dean stop and listen. This was no different as Dean seemed to relax just by the sight. "I'm sure she's just fine, Dean. Maybe Gabriel went and to find clues as to who took her in the first place, and he went to take care of them himself. Maybe he's trying to convince this person to allow him to bring her back."
"That's just a pipe dream, Sam." Dean said leaning his elbows on his knees and holding his face. "When have we ever been this lucky?"
"My question is why take Christy in the first place? Why not me or you?"
"Because Christina means something to the both of you." Castiel said appearing in the middle of their hotel room with Gabriel by his side once again snacking on a large snickers bar.
"Cas, what are you doing here? How did you find us?" Dean asked trying to remember if he had called Castiel about their location.
"Bobby told me where to find you two." Castiel said his voice just a smooth and monotoned as always.
"We also found out who had taken her." Gabriel added seeming a little relieved about something. "The only problem is that we can't find him. He up and vanished. My guess he went to where she is to keep an eye on her. To distract her long enough for some reason."
"I have a theory." Dean said snapping and standing up suddenly. "What if someone took her to keep her from convincing us not to say 'Yes' to Michael and Lucifer. Is there angels that are rooting against us?"
"Hard to say completely." Castiel said looking a little uncomfortable. "None of us are exactly welcome back at home."
"But I do have ways to get information." Gabriel said with a smug smile. "I can see if any of my contacts, someone who has my back, to tell me anything."
"So now we know this person who took Christy, must be an angel of some kind, right?" Sam concluded. "I mean who else could travel through time if not an angel? Also if they could get to the past why not Cas?"
"We don't know the answers just yet," Gabriel said. "But I will have one of my contacts talk to me. Maybe I can go back and stay with Christina so that I can inform her what we found out."
"I don't know." Dean said his eyes narrowing suspiciously at Gabriel. "How do I know you don't have ulterior motives."
Gabriel gripped the front of his shirt and looked hurt as he let his mouth hang open just a smidge. "I'm hurt you think that, Dean-o. I'm offering you the ability to keep Christina safe. It's not like I'll be able to sleep with her. She's not my type." Gabriel flinched slightly at what he just said. He knew none of what he was saying was true. He really did truly love the young Winchester and his hope was that one day maybe they'll be able to share that love together. But of course he couldn't let Dean know that. "Besides, what better way then to get to the angel that took your beloved sister to that time anyways then to be near her at all times."
Sam understood and liked what Gabriel had offered and glanced up at Dean. "I think this would be good, Dean." Sam said seeing the unsure look in his brother's face. "We don't know how she's doing because I did some research she could be sick with some common diseases and then die because they don't have some of the medication we have today. Not to mention she may be needing her necessities for when she's moody. They didn't have the same products then from here. Its shouldn't be too much."
"If this helps, Dean-o. I'll check in every day at half past ten. That way it's consistent and there won't be any surprises." Gabriel plopped a tootsie roll into his mouth and offered one over to Sam who, after a few minutes of thinking, took the offered candy.
Dean sighed knowing they were all out of options at this point. "Fine, go stay with her. But check in and make sure she gets supplies. I'm not sure how much longer she'll be there but it's better she's prepared then vulnerable."
Gabriel nodded and offered the older brother a candy bar which Dean took instantly. "Don't worry, Dean-o, Stilts," Gabriel added looking over at Sam. "I'll never leave her side so she's always protected, and once I find our feathered friend I'll make him send her back."
Dean growled his response and quickly opened the chocolaty treat and took a large bite out of it. When he looked up, Gabriel was gone and Castiel tried to look helpful by walking over towards Sam to help him with some research.
~DSCWIN~
Christina nervously stood outside the Station House now as a Detective. Her mind began to prepare for the trials she would now have to face. She tugged nervously at her new long sleeve shirt and debated whether she should tuck it inside her jeans. She was grateful that Inspector Brackenreid allowed her to wear her normal clothes until she had enough for "proper" era clothes. After deciding not to tuck in her shirt she walked and pushed her way into the Station House.
The atmosphere was the same as she walked to where her desk was and sat down. There was an easy feeling deep in her stomach as she sat there. Her paranoia slowly grew more intense as if she could feel eyes on the back of her head. She knew that was impossible as her chair was up against the far wall so she knew nobody could not be behind her.
As she sat there trying to calm her stomach, wishing for Dr. Pepper to help her calm down the smell of sulfur made her head snap up. "Christo." She breathed under her breath and saw six constables nearby react around her. Her heart leapt into her throat as Detective Murdoch walked in with four black eyed demons around him.
She jumped to her feet as she tried to run and get him away but found her legs and arms were now tied to heavy weights. She let out a scream of help as the weights were now falling behind her sending her to the floor.
Flames shot up suddenly around her and she screamed for Gabriel, Dean and Sam for help, but her voice was caught in her throat as the flames consumed everything around her. Soon a bright light shone directly into her eyes casing to lower her head trying to shield the pain it was causing.
"You will never escape here!" An unfamiliar male voice said his voice almost burning her ears. "I will have them say yes to bring you back home. This is the only way to bring forth the Apocalypse."
Christina let out a cry of anguish as searing pain ripped through her chest. She braved a look down and was terrified as blood began to flow, as if she'd been stabbed. But she wasn't seeing anything that would cause the bleeding.
"Christy." The distant voice of Gabriel rung in her ears as the pain, bleeding and light vanished and Christina woke up in her rented room. Gabriel was sitting on the edge and he was looking down at her his face twisted in worry. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Christina sat up and wrapped her arms tightly around him feeling his own arms wrapping her in return. "I was sent here..." she cried burring her face into his neck. "I was sent here so Sam and Dean can say yes and start the Apocalypse."
"That's what we concluded as well." Gabriel said rubbing her back and kissing the top of her head. "That's why I'm here right now. Dean had asked me to come and be near you for me and Cassie guessed that an angel sent you here for that purpose."
Christina felt tears welling up in her eyes as she gently pushed away. "But why send me here? I mean yes I'm at least convincing them not to say yes but I'm not forcing them to say 'no'. I mean when Dean and I were sent to the future, even future me said she never forced them to say 'no' and that Dean backed me up."
"That's because your brothers love you, just like I love you, and they would do anything for you."
"Just like, if I ask to hold me, would you?" Christina asked looking up at Gabriel her hazel eyes bright even in the dim light of her room.
"Til you say to let you go." Gabriel smiled and moved so that he was right behind Christina. His arms wrapping around her as she curled into him. His usual overcoming smell of caramel was softer as she nuzzled closer. Gabriel smiled as Christina's breathing evened out and she fell into a much calmer sleep. He knew finding the angel that brought her there would be difficult, but he knew at least where to look.
~DSCWIN~
Christina woke up to find that Gabriel was not holding her, as he said he would, but he was sitting at the table reading a newspaper. He look like a character from the early twentieth century as he had a smoking pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth. "Good morning, Cornell Mustard." She joked as she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Good morning, Miss Scarlett." He winked standing up to help her to the table. "Now, before I let you have breakfast. I need to know what did you dream last night? I came when I felt you call for me?"
Christina frowned as she sighed heavily. "There was an angel who said that, the reason he brought me here was so Sam and Dean can say 'yes' to your brothers. To fulfill there destiny."
Gabriel nodded taking in all he was being told. "Did you see what they looked like?"
"A massive bright light." Christina said. "When they spoke it seemed my ears were starting to burn."
"That doesn't really help our situation." Gabriel said frowning. "I know lesser angels can have enough grace to make people burst into flames, but I've never heard of one being able to send a human through time. I mean, you prayed for Cassie and he wasn't able to come here."
"That is true." Christina said thinking back to when she first arrived. "I just don't understand why me. I mean, the only reason they would do anything for me is because I'm their baby sister."
"That's exactly the reason." Gabriel said gently rubbing her back. "But don't worry I'll be only a prayer away today while you head to work."
"Yeah, but I'm not all that excited to be honest. I just got promoted after being here just a few weeks. Or I least so. Man I'm so confused. How long have I been gone?"
"Nearly four weeks." Gabriel mentioned. "But for them it's been hell. They not knowing what kind of monsters you're facing. Don't worry I never mentioned anything about any of the creatures you already had to deal with. So there's that."
Christina smiled and hugged Gabriel close. She sighed and kissed him gently on the cheek. "I sure hope Dean doesn't freak out that we're together. But nothing physical except for hugs and kisses. Why is that?"
Gabriel smiled as he held her a little tighter. "Because I don't want you to feel used. I like to get to know my interests better."
"Glad to know I'm interesting." Christina sighed heavily and stood up from the table after eating just a few bites. "I should get ready. Keep an eye out and listen for any clues. I can't stand not being in a time zone that at least lets women do a man's job with her feeling like she's going against her gender."
Gabriel watched as she walked behind the changing curtain and he went back to snacking on his treats that he conjured up for her.
~DSCWIN~
Christina nervously walked through the doors keeping her eyes peeled on everything while also periodically sniffing.
"Good morning, Detective Winchester." Constable Crabtree said when she walked in. "You're looking rather relaxed today."
"Thank you, Constable Crabtree... I mean George," Christina stumbled slightly getting to her desk. "I'm rather nervous to start my new job as Detective to be honest."
"And a great way to start your new position and to bring honor to Station House No. 4." Inspector Brackenreid announced slapping a piece of paper in her hands. "Go to this address. Turns out a man murdered his own wife. But the jolly joker is saying he had left for work and only arrived to see his wife dead. But that's not what his kids have said."
Christina's head snapped open and nodded a thanks before leaving the Station House. She waved a pleasant "Hello" to Detective Murdoch and went biking to the location, making great timing as she pedaled fast through the streets. As she maneuvered through the pedestrians and getting sideways glances from constables from another station house. So as she pulled up, they immediately stood in front of her, blocking her path.
"Excuse me," Christina said, trying her best not to flat out cripple these two men in front of her. "I'm here for this case. Inspector Brackenreid himself asked me to investigate this."
"But this might he too harsh for women's stomachs. This is a man's place." The constable that spoke looked to be in his mid thirties and had some kind of chip in his shoulder as he sized up Christina. However, he was not expecting Christina to not be intimidated. "You don't deserve this occupation. A woman like you should be a librarian. This job is not safe."
Christina took a slow, deep breath as she tried her hardest to keep her cursing and her fists from flying. "Constable, I understand that your backward misogynistic mindset is your own upbringing. But where I'm from, I can be whatever I want to be. What I do normally day by day would make these crime scenes look rather tame. I deal with creatures that your nightmares come up with. I'm sure if I were to go in here, I would be just fine. So, for the second and last time, please let me into the crime scene.
The Constable gave Christina a hard look and when he looked into her eyes. She saw him quiver slightly. "Alright, fine."
"Thanks you for your cooperation." Christina said sarcastically as she moved past the now two rather annoyed constables and headed into the crime scene. The small farm house wasn't nearly as destroyed as she thought it would be as she walked in and looked around. She saw a few pictures with three small children right next to a small one with two people in a wedding attire. As she followed the sounds of speaking just on the other side of a closed door, she spotted something in the corner of the hallway. At first glance she thought it was some old dirty rags but that didn't fit how clean the rest of the house was. As she grew closer to the small pile her stomach flipped as she gently kicked at the pile with her foot and she noticed an ear in the mist of what looked like clumps of hair. "Son of a bitch..." She whispered not wanting the attention of any young ears to hear her swear. She rushed into the kitchen where she found the distraught older gentleman, clearly the husband, wearing bloodied clothes while the three young children sat in the back talking to a constable unsure of what to think of the situation.
"Sir, where were you when your wife was killed?" A stern looking older Constable said giving Christina a glare when she first walked in.
"As I told you all several times before, I was heading to work. I work at the docks and as I was halfway there I saw that I forgot my lunch pail." The man's eyes welled up with tears as he started to tremble. "I walked in and I heard the children screaming and I went to investigate..."
"Is that where you found your wife?" Christina asked walking in and throwing some authority her way. "Please to meet you, Detective Winchester from Station House No. four. I'm taking over this investigation." She glanced over at the stern Constable who looked as though he had eaten something disagreeable. "Will that be a problem, Constable?" She asked as nicely as she could without making her sound like she was totally unaware of his feelings.
"Of course, not Detective." The Constable said his voice clearly dripping with sarcasm. "I'll let you take over." He shared a dark look over at her and left the room talking the other constables, except for the one talking to the children, with him.
As soon as the others left Christina sat down at the table and gently grabbed hold of the grieving husband's hand. "Sir, tell me everything. Did you see anyone in the room besides your children. No matter how absurd it could be?"
The man wiped away some of the tears with his free hand and his body was trembling. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you." The man said glancing up at this children and seeing their scared stares at the ground.
"Sir, your life is at stake. Your children are going to be raised by another family because both their mother and father are going to be dead. If I were you I'd tell everything. These other constables are not as opened minded as I am. You can tell me that you saw an elephant killing your wife and I would believe you. Please... trust me and this way you can be with your children."
The man let out a shaky breath and let a few more tears running down his cheeks. "Alright. I'll tell you." The man reached for a glass of water and took a large gulp from it. "As I said to the Constable, I went to work at the docks and forgot my lunch pail about half way. I turned around and walked in only to hear the children screaming and crying in a room just down the hall."
"The one in the corner there?" Christina asked and the man nodded. "Please continue." She had grabbed her pad and pencil from her pants pocket and began to write notes on the paper.
"Well, I was wondering why they were screaming and so when I opened the door I found my children all tied up on the bed their mouths gagged and... I saw... I saw my wife nearly dead on a chair in the middle of the room. I went to untie her and the children that's when I saw... me. I was standing at the door of the room with a knife and I froze... I couldn't do anything."
"He knocked you unconscious didn't he?" Christina asked looking softly into the man's eyes.
The man nodded wincing slightly at a large bump on the side of his head. "When I woke up, my children were untied and my wife..."
"Were the police here when you woke up?" Christina asked catching the attention of one of the three children who rushed over to her. "May I help you sweetie?"
"My... My daddy didn't hurt Mommy." The young child of five said. It took Christina a second to see if was a young girl who's hair was short and she was wearing overalls.
"I know he didn't hurt your mommy." Christina said with a sad smile. "Don't you worry. I'll make sure your daddy stays here with you three alright?"
The little girl's face lit up as she rushed over and threw her arms around her father's neck who looked just as shocked and relieved as his daughter. "You believe me?" He asked his mind unsure what to believe anymore.
"Yes, I do." Christina said seeing the other two children rush over to see what their sister was doing with their father. "Your father didn't hurt your mother." She said when they arrived. Both of the other two children looked relieved as they sat down. One of the children, a girl about ten, leaned up against her father's arm while the boy of about eight leaned back into his chair shocked that someone of authority had believed his father.
"What are we going to do. The other constables think I murdered my wife." The man said he had a new fear in his eyes and Christina gave a heartwarming smile.
"I will have a friend come and stay with you four. He would make sure nothing happens to you while I search for what really killed your wife."
"Wouldn't it be a who?" The son spoke and Christina shook her head slowly making the boy confused.
"What ever killed your mother and is trying to frame your father is not human. At least not one I'd like to meet in a dark alley." Christina hesitated in giving more information to these young minds as she didn't want to be looked at as insane. "Any human who kills another is no longer privilege to be called a human. They are now labeled a monster. So his monster is going to hurt other people, and I need to try and find it before it kills another innocent person." She looked behind her and saw the Constable walking up with is handcuffs ready to take the father into custody. "Constable, this man is not to be charged with his wife's murder. He did not do it."
"But his children say that he did." The Constable said his eyes shifty making Christina raise an eyebrow of suspicion.
"His children may have said that they saw their father murder their mother. But they also said they he didn't. It was another man who looked like their father murder their mother. So if you want to charge an innocent man to death then by all means go ahead and arrest him. But then you'll become no better then the thing that murdered their mother."
The Constable froze and stared into Christina's eyes as she looked serious. After a few tense moments, the constable turned and quickly left the house leaving the children to hug their father closely.
"Thank you." The man said holding and kissing each of his children's heads gently.
"Don't thank me yet. I still need to catch the beast that did this." She stood up and walked out into the living room and closed her eyes. "Gabriel I need you here. Farm house outside of town. Please."
The suddenly smell of caramel showed up and she smiled at Gabriel who looked around. "Why am I here?" Gabriel asked confused.
"This family just lost their mother and wife. A shapeshifter came in and stole these children's innocence. I need you to stay here with them in case the other police constables thinks this man really killed his wife and try to arrest him when I'm searching for the culprit."
"What clues do you have that makes you think it is a shapeshifter." Gabriel asked suddenly serious. Christina turned around and pointed to the small pile in the corner that nobody seemed to have noticed. "Oh that's disgusting." Christina nodded in agreement. "Alright I will look after this family. I'll probably leave a clone who can do just as much as me," He added as he had to do another job in trying to find that angel. "Stay safe and keep me posted."
"Same goes to you." Christina said giving Gabriel a quick kiss on the cheek. "You be careful. I know how easily it is to destroy one of your clones. So try not to get hurt."
"You can trust me." Gabriel said with a goofy sideways smile that always made Christina happy. "You stay safe as well."
"Likewise." She smiled and walked back into the kitchen to tell the family of who Gabriel was. After their quick introduction, Christina left the house seeing that the other constables were sitting and waiting for her to leave but she stood and saw them. "Go ahead and try something." Christina said her voice strong as she stood there her arms folded across her chest. "This man is innocent and if I hear that you tried to arrest him. I will make sure I'll have each and everyone of you all arrested for harassment." All except the stern Constable turned and left and Christina glared up at him. "May I help you, Constable?"
"What does a woman like you know what it is to be an Officer of the law?" He said coldly leaning over her menacingly.
"More then you." Christina said just as cold. She smiled at that feeble attempts to intimidate her as she stared into his eyes. "For one you look at the facts through blinders when you shouldn't. You know those kids said that he didn't do it. But in your head you've already condemned that man to death. I'm only protecting this man and his family as you should be doing. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to head back to my station to make let my Inspector on the updates of this case."
The stern Constable watched as she walked off and he glared even letting a low growl bubble in his throat. He however didn't notice a figure peeking out from inside a drainage pipe look back up at him before disappearing deep underground.