Translations are next to the words in brackets.

It has been a week since the incident. Eventually the poison vanished from Patrick's body Rowena's antidote worked. However Patrick was still weak and his youthful looks didn't return. The He-witch insisted he needed a game but Castiel and Rowena were both adamant that he needed to rest and needed to regain his strength.

"That's never going to happen!" Patrick snapped at them. "I mean look at me." He grasps the armchair and slowly gets to his feet. He spreads his shaky arms and gestures to himself. "You expect me to get better looking like this?"

The good news is Patrick didn't need a mask to breathe anymore he can now breathe on his own also he can now walk however he still had a limp due to Dean shooting him in the leg. As the injury was caused by supernatural type of bullet Rowena predicated the healing time will be similar time length to a normal bullet so she estimated a few weeks. At this moment of time Patrick had to walk with a cane. The He-witch was far from happy about that. When they first gave him the cane he moaned and said he felt like that bloody doctor from that medical show House.

In terms of his appearance he has aged. There was some wrinkles on his face, his hair was grey, his skin was still white as a ghost, the dark circles remained under his eyes and he has failed to put the weight back on the bones were visible under his frail skin. Although he has slightly improved he still looked awful.

"We have already talked about this." Rowena sighed. "You drained yourself, your magic is weak I don't think its wise to jump straight back into it."

"My magic is fine."

"Well." Rowena gestures to the book on the table. "Move that."

Patrick gave her a smirk.

"Sure."

He waves his hand. The book didn't move. Patrick squeezes his eyes shut and focuses hard on the book. Eventually the book did move.

It moved a few inches.

Patrick gasps and slumps down in his seat. He wipes the sweat that has formed on his brow.

"Well..." He puts on a tired smile. "...I moved it."

Rowena rolls her eyes and goes into the other room.

"Patrick." Castiel sighed.

"No." Patrick points a bony finger at him. "I'm not doing this right now. You can't keep me here! You are not my parents."

"We are only trying to help you."

"Well I don't want your help." Patrick glared at him. "What I would like is for you to piss off and leave me alone. I wouldn't be in this mess if you wasn't for you guys."

Castiel glares back.

"You offered the deal."

"And he took on the Mark." Patrick replied with a snarl.

"At least DEAN always tries to do the right thing you..." Cas shakes his head. "...what good have you done for this world huh?"

Patrick blinked shocked by the angel's words. Then he growls.

"You don't know me Castiel." He grits his teeth. "You cannot compare my life to his! From what I have heard you don't exactly live up to your title." He smirks a little. "You are no aingeal (Angel) you have made many mistakes."

"What I have done is not relevant to this conversation."

"You couldn't even save me from that bloody bullet. Gan úsáid Tá tú fuilteach gan úsáid. (Useless you are bloody useless)" He angrily waves his hand and continued to curse in his Irish tongue.

Cas then sighs.

"And I am sorry for that."

Patrick shakes his head with disgust.

"I don't want your pity."

Castiel again sighs. He didn't want this to turn into an argument so he decided it is for the best if he ended this conversation.

"Then I shall leave you be."

Castiel opens the door and leaves. Rowena comes back into the room with a plate of food on.

"You have turned into miserable old bastard." She frowned at him.

"Wonder why." The other witch replied with an eye roll.

She taps the plate.

"I want to see all that food gone."

"Your actual son is in Hell go and boss him around."

She scowls at him.

"Do you want to get better?"

Patrick sighs.

She had a fair point. He did need to put the weight back on.

Patrick picks up the plate and eats one of the potatoes.

"Happy now." He said with his mouth full.

She shakes her head.

"Miserable bastard." She repeated.

Patrick looks down at his plate.

" Cailleach (Bitch) "

Rowena looked up sharply at him.

" Prick. "

"You understand Irish?"

"I know when someone is bloody insulting me." She glared at him. "Dobber (Jerk.)

He raises his eyebrow at that.

"You know the Scottish insults?" She asked.

He folds his arms.

" I understand it perfectly. Wagon (Hag) " He insulted her with his Irish tongue.

She snorted at that.

"You should take a look at yourself you hackit bassa (Ugly bastard)"

"Bó sinséir (Ginger cow) "

"Lavvy heid!"

Patrick frowns at that.

"Toilet head? Seriously?"

"It is a Scottish insult a famous one in fact." She defended herself.

Both witches stared at each other for several seconds. Then Patrick's lips curl upwards into a grin. His grin soon turned into laugher. Rowena soon followed. The witches laugh for a while. Rowena continues to laugh as she sits on the couch.

"Oh dear what have we become." She says.

"Arguing like a old married couple." Patrick scoffs as he sips his water. "Sorry Ro but that insult is awful."

"You started by calling me a hag. I had to go personal with you."

"I got the mirror to remind me of my current situation." Patrick said his voice suddenly cold and bitter.

The He-witch's words immediately soured the mood. Rowena runs her fingers through her hair and stands up.

"Well..." She awkwardly clears her throat. "Like I said I want all that food is gone otherwise there will be no dessert."

Patrick sighs as Rowena leaves him alone. He leans back and runs a hand down his face.

Well done mate bloody well done. He scowled to himself.

Patrick didn't want to be mad at Rowena it wasn't her fault and she has tried her best to make him comfortable. Patrick was surprised Rowena had a soft side to her although he would never mention that out loud because she will probably end up killing him. Despite what he said earlier to the angel he knew deep down it wasn't the angel's fault either. Recently all Patrick has felt is anger. He is angry about his current situation, he is angry at Chuck and he is angry at Dean.

That's not all. His inner voice spoke up. You are also angry at yourself for letting this happen. You took a big gamble and the outcome? It blew up in your face.

Patrick glances at the mirror. He trails a finger along one of his wrinkles. That confrontation between him and Dean played in his mind over and over.

"You won't shoot me you need me for the spell so all this...Is all talk no action just a threat to get me to what do what you want.

"Sure about that?"

"Bluffing Dean bluffing. I'm too valuable. You won't sho... AHHH!"

Patrick flinched as the sound of the gunshot rang in his head.

Your arrogance was your downfall. The voice sneered at him. You really thought you could win huh? You were not against Dean you were against God the Big Man you had no chance! You could never control His creations His story. Now look at you. Maybe you needed to be humbled be brought back down to Earth.

"But I never made a mistake. " Patrick said to himself. "I never lose control."

Until now.

With a cry of frustration Patrick swipes the plate and sends the food spilling on to the floor.

Rowena quickly came back into the room. Her wide eyes go on to the food that is scattered over the ground. Before Rowena could speak Patrick stands up and points his cane at her.

"Don't!." His voice cracked slightly. "Just don't say another word. "

Part of Patrick wanted to walk out of this damm place right now but he knew if he left he wouldn't get far he already felt exhausted. The last thing he needed is to be carried back inside.

The He-witch instead clenched his fists and limped towards his bedroom.

Rowena jumped when she heard the door slam shut behind her.

She sighs and sadly looks at the mess.

Oh Pat.

Another week went by and this time Patrick cooperated fully with the recovery process. He ate whatever Rowena gave him and he did the physiotherapy for his leg. He also felt his magic slowly come back it was still weak but it was there. Patrick knew once he had some games up his sleeve he will be fine and back to normal. Rowena asked him about this sudden change in behavior and Patrick replied.

"Sulking in my room is not going to get me anywhere."

Patrick still looked troubled Rowena knew something was bothering him but she didn't press on him about it one because she felt it is none of her business and two she thought it would be for the best for Patrick to open up when he is ready if she decided to push him he may clamp up and not reveal anything. Bottling up emotions is never a good idea.

Dean hasn't come back since that day. They found out that the hunter has thrown himself back in hunts again wanting to keep himself distracted. Castiel couldn't talk him out so he reluctantly joined Dean on the hunts wanting to keep an eye on him. Crowley has also assisted on several hunts and offered to be the drinking buddy for Dean so then Dean wouldn't be drowning in alcohol alone and like Castiel Crowley also kept an eye on him. The last thing they needed is Dean going off the rails and doing something reckless.

Patrick still hasn't heard from Dean not even a phone call and Patrick felt relieved he couldn't bring himself to talk to the hunter the memories of that day are still fresh and vivid in his mind. Right now Patrick just wanted to focus on getting back to full health.

One day Rowena suggested they should go out for a walk.

"The fresh air will do you some good." She nods . "As you have been doing as you are told... "

"You are giving me an reward?" Patrick said with amusement.

"Aye you have been a good boy." She smirked at him. "If you are okay to of course."

"Ro." He gestures to the room. "I love you but I am getting sick and tired of this place now no offence. "

"None taken." She smiled.

Once the witches put their coats on they left and ventured out into the town. Patrick wore a long coat, a scarf and black leather gloves with his current state he felt the cold more and also his style of clothing now had to suit his physical appearance. Both witches agreed the leather jacket wouldn't look good on him at the moment.

Patrick studied himself in the windows as they went past the shops. He looked at his reflection and constantly checked his face over. After a while Rowena nudged him with her elbow.

"You look fine." She assured him.

Patrick turns his head at her.

"I look old."

Rowena rolls her eyes at him.

"At least you look alive much better compared to last week."

Patrick wasn't vain by all he means but he did care about the way he looked. For years he has maintained his youthful looks the thought of being old felt impossible to him.

Even the idea of death sounded impossible. He thought with a shudder.

Rowena places her hand on his arm and smiles at him.

"Shall we go for a drink? Might help you relax. "

Patrick gives her a tight smile.

"I'm Irish Ro. I would never turn down a drink."

She laughs and hooks her arm around his.

"Lead the way silver fox." She grinned.

Patrick gives her an amused look.

"Silver fox eh?"

"Well you call me red. "

"Fair point."

Eventually the witches went into a bar and they took the table which sat in the corner of the room. They ordered their drinks and spoke about various things. Patrick huffed a laugh as Rowena spoke about the days when Crowley was Fergus.

"He was a bloody handful." She shakes her head. "Had me on my toes constantly the little bugger would never sit still. "

She sips her drink and sighs.

"Did you and Lia ever think about having children?"

The smile vanished from the He-witch's face.

"We talked about it." He admitted quietly. "I wanted kids but she didn't." He lowers his head. "Not after she lost her own child."

"Oh. " Rowena didn't know how to respond to that. "What happened to her child?"

Patrick looks up at her.

"Immortality comes with a price you know what that price is."

Realization dawns on the Scottish witch.

"Right."

"Hmm. When Lia lost her daughter it made her realize that being immortal is not as great as they say it is. It makes you feel alone. Sure she had me but..." He grits his teeth. "...it wasn't enough. She didn't want to have kids with me because she didn't want to go through the same heartbreak of losing another and she felt a kid did not deserve to be raised in our lifestyle. She was right no kid deserves to be raised on the road they deserve a permanent, stable home but...I couldn't give the poker up because one that's what keeps me alive and two if I gave up the very thing I am good at what purpose would I have? It was also all very conflicting for me back then part of me wanted to settle down and have a family but another part of me wanted to continued living the young carefree life like going out to parties, getting wasted at the bar, meeting the local folks." He smiles. "Me and Lia we used to have a right laugh she was the heart and soul of the party everybody loved her." He smiles sadly. "I still miss her."

He whispered the last part. Unsure on what to do Rowena decided to quietly and wait for He-witch to regain his composure. Eventually he did. Patrick takes a deep breath and raises his glass.

"The price we pay for immortality it's crap but we have to deal with it and we can't complain. Fortunately we are still here and still living well I was nearly wiped off the face of the Earth but... " He laughs but it comes out as strained. "I'm still here couldn't get rid of me that easily. I survived the deadly bullet a story I will be telling in the future. It will be a classic. "

His smile looked forced now as he held his glass.

Rowena hesitates before deciding to lift her glass.

"To being alive." She says.

They clink their glasses and both of them have a sip.

"Can I ask you a question." He asks.

"Shoot."

Patrick raises an eyebrow. Rowena grits her teeth.

"Too soon."

"Spill would have been a better choice of wording. " Patrick again laughed but his face remained tight with tension. "Anyway what I wanted to ask is why are you being so nice to me? "

Rowena frowns.

"Is that a problem?"

"No...No not at all it's just never imagined you as the soft, helpful, caring type."

"So in other words you are calling me a cold hearted bitch?"

"To put it like that...Aye that's right again no offence but your reputation precedes you lets just say I heard some things. "

"Things that made me sound like the big bad scary witch." Rowena grinned. "That's very good to hear and I hope it stays that way."

"Going back to my question why are you nice to me? I mean you have looked after me you have put up with my outbursts I know I haven't been on my best behavior but why? Why do it? "

Rowena cocked her head slightly.

"We known each other for years now Pat." She said her voice surprisingly soft. "And...And um...I...I enjoy your company."

This time Patrick's smile turned genuine.

"I enjoy yours too red. "

Rowena smiles back.

"You do make me laugh." Patrick continued. "I have to say I feel recently I've seen the real you...Even this now between us we never really had an honest conversation before and I like it. Sure we joked around in the past and you hit on me like five hundred times."

"Did not!"

"Okay maybe not that but it was happening on quite a few occasions. "

"I was trying to distract you and getting you to slip up. " Rowena teased.

"You always failed. I my dear Ro am the King of cards I win every game hands down. "

"But I am the better witch." She smirked.

"I hate to say it but you are." Patrick sighed. "You are famous to the witch community for a reason."

"My glowing reputation helps me well." Her smirk widens. Her smile fades when his face turns serious. "There's a but coming?"

"But... " Patrick clasps his hands on the table. "I do like you Rowena I really do but I can't go down that path again not after what happened before...Lia. "

A flash of hurt goes across her eyes. Patrick did feel bad he knew Rowena has been rejected many times by various men she never had much luck in that department. Patrick originally thought it was a joke when Rowena used to hit him but recently he has seen that she generally cared about him. He has enjoyed her company as well her presence has helped him through his recovery but Patrick was scared to get attached in case he lost her. He didn't want to go through the pain and heartbreak again.

What happened recently with Dean is a reason why Patrick could never get himself emotionally involved again.

"I'm not your friend not anymore you are dead to me!"

Patrick places his hand on hers.

"It's better this way Ro. "

Rowena sighs and nods.

"Aye...You are probably right we don't want to make it complicated between us."

He forced a smile.

"Exactly."

"Hmm." She forced a smile back.

The atmosphere shifted in the air. It felt awkward now. Rowena continued to sip her drink. Her eyes looked everywhere but him. Patrick looks down at his glass.

When I am back to normal when everything is sorted out...I will probably going back to being alone anyway. Patrick thought. That's who I am that's my life now.

He looks at the other witch.

I have no part in their story and I never will.