Dean pulled baby onto the road and sighed deeply. It felt good to be behind the wheel again and not have to run from something. He wondered if he had been too harsh with Kate but reminded himself that he gave her fair warning. The weight of worry was heavy on his shoulders and caused his neck to form knots. He needed a hunt. He couldn't be reckless though. He had to set a good example and had to make it back to the bunker in one piece. He turned up the music to a 'Sam bothering' level and leaned back into the seat.

Taylor wrote the archangels' names over and over, hoping that his brain would finish the thought. He sighed and tapped his fingers on the floor to get Liam's attention. He scooped him up and put him on his shoulder. "It would be cool if you were a familiar." He scratched Millie's back and continued reading. He had moments that life just didn't seem real. Finding out he had superpowers was surreal but the smaller things caught him off guard. He was laying in the floor of a secret base, accompanied by kittens, reading lore and trying to prevent his sister from making any more mistakes. Lore was real. The creatures in the lore were real. He traded in sucky brothers, gained two good ones, and a best friend who was like a little sister. On top of that, he gained a real half-sister. He just rolled with the punches and those things didn't seem so far fetched until he made himself slow down. He was ripped apart by angel grace and just shrugged and thought 'oh well.'

Dean drove around for an hour before deciding to go back to the bunker. He didn't want too much pressure on Taylor. He grabbed milkshakes and burgers before returning. He truly loved both kids but they were dear to him in different ways. Kate was his shadow and usually looked at him with amazement. She was cuddly and sweet. She was also firey and lost her head at times. He'd die for her. She was precious and had to be protected. Taylor was quieter and less cuddly. He was level headed, most of the time, and fit into the grooves that Kate didn't. He had to give the kid credit for maturity. He drove into the tunnel and opened the garage doors. He pulled baby in and shut the engine off. He spent a few extra minutes collecting his thoughts before Taylor appeared.

Taylor stopped in the doorway, unsure if Dean still needed a minute. He met eyes with him and gave him a small wave.

Dean chuckled. "You can help me carry stuff."

Taylor accepted the bags that Dean held out for him to take. "How do you feel?"

"A lot better. You have good ideas. The smoke alarm isn't going off so I'm assuming all went well while I was gone." Dean said.

Taylor smiled. "Kitten eyes have stayed neutral and Kate is still asleep."

Dean saw the blanket in the floor had snorted. "Did you post up outside her door."

Taylor blushed.

Dean patted his shoulder as he walked by. "Thanks." He opened Kate's door and his heart twisted a little. He sat on the edge of her bed and brushed a few strands of hair from her face. "Kate."

Kate stirred.

"We have food." Dean said.

Kate opened her eyes and jumped up to hug Dean. "I'm so sorry."

Dean rubbed her back. "I know. I forgive you."

Kate chewed her fingers. "Thank you. I'm still sorry."

"Your slate is clean. Keep the attitude in check and we can eat." Dean said.

Kate got off the bed but gasped and covered her mouth. "Did you tell John?"

Dean tilted his head. "I haven't spoken to him since earlier."

Kate shifted from foot to foot. "Oh no."

Dean studied her. "I'm not keeping it from him."

"He gave me the 'one from you, one from him' speech." Kate said in a high pitched voice.

Dean pulled her to him. "Well, slate is clean between us."

Kate's stomach was in knots. "Will he ... um?"

"You'll have to talk to him, kid. Right now I have milkshakes and burgers that are going to ruin if we don't eat them." Dean said.

Kate sighed. "How'd you get them?"

Dean smiled. "Taylor sent me out. I just needed to go for a drive."

Kate frowned.

"Don't do that. Yes, I needed a chance to cool down but I'd have needed one anyway." Dean said.

"Okay, okay." Kate said and let Dean put an arm around her.

Taylor divided the food and set a place for each of them. "These fries are amazing."

Dean took one. "They are." Thinking of the diner in Sioux Falls made him think of Lacy. He had given her a little information as to why he wasn't back yet but couldn't tell her everything. He felt guilty. He probably needed to end things, although he didn't want to. He didn't want her waiting around on him when she could find someone more stable and be happier.

Taylor cleared his throat. "So, I was doing some reading and I am curious if Isaiah was an archangel."

Kate shrugged. "None of them have that name."

Taylor shifted. "Yes, but it could have been a fake name."

Dean sighed. "What makes you think that?"

"It is a hunch. I'm missing time from when I was asleep. I remember bits and pieces and there is a name that sticks out. I just can't figure out why." Taylor said.

"So what is the name?" Dean asked.

Taylor shook his head. "I don't want to say yet. I'll have Kate look at stuff and see if the same one jumps out at her."

"What would it matter?" Dean asked.

Taylor sipped his shake. "What happened to Isaiah after he gave the babies his grace? It had to be a whole lot of grace to last several hundred years. Castiel said that Aphrim gave us all of his grace. However, if it was archangel grace, we could reason that they would have more or just stronger grace and wouldn't need to exhaust their entire supply. This got me wondering if 'Isaiah' is still alive."

Dean blinked slowly. "We can ask Cas."

"If angels use up all of their grace, do they turn into humans?" Kate asked.

Dean sighed. "Another question for the angels."

"When is John going to be here?" Taylor asked.

Dean shrugged. "When ever he wants to stop by. I don't keep tabs on the man."

Taylor looked at Kate. "He is bringing tiny tags with writing on them. I'm supposed to figure out which one is which and sort them."

Kate smiled. "He is bringing me something that requires stabbing a spike into something over and over."

Dean shook his head. "Well, he has you two figured out."

Taylor tapped the table. "We have been sharing Kate's phone since I broke mine. Would it be possible for me to earn a new one? I know we can't tell people what is really going on but Nate just gets more curious without something. I can pay for it."

Dean wadded up the paper the burger had been in. "You don't have to make a case for it. I'll have dad pick up one. Sammy made a good point on computers. This place needs one. Research is easier that way."

"I don't think this place has internet."

"No, but we could get internet." Dean said.

Taylor shrugged. "Did Bobby figure out who is paying the electric bill?"

Dean shook his head. "It looks like the place has some other type of power source."

"Can we check out the power center?" Taylor asked.

Dean nodded. "Eat your food first."

Taylor quickly finished his food and disposed of the wrappers. "What have you been doing with the trash?"

"We haven't had that much. Everything Marie sent was washable aside from the foil on top. Bobby took a few bags and disposed of them in a dumpster somewhere." Dean said.

Kate happily chewed her burger. "I don't care how this place runs. I just want to eat this."

Dean poked her side. "Be good."

Kate gave him a thumbs up. "Of course."

"How are we going to get internet without them asking too many questions?" Taylor asked.

Dean shrugged. "Not my area of expertise." He opened the electrical room door and sneezed from the dust. "We haven't really looked at this stuff."

Taylor ran his hand along the machines. "Maybe there is a stream nearby that creates power. I bet I could figure out how this place is wired." He said as he picked up an instruction manual.

"Read all you want but don't mess with anything. The current would either hurt you or supercharge you." Dean said.

Talor smiled brightly. "Supercharged is good, right?"

Dean sighed. "Do not touch the things that say do not touch." He gently smacked Taylor's head and turned to walk out.

Taylor sat in an old chair and flipped through the electrical manual. He wondered if the place had any hidden rooms or things they hadn't looked at.

Kate heard Dean's footsteps and finished up her meal. She hugged him when he walked by and looked up at him. "What can I do?"

"What do you mean?"

"I want to make things more okay. What can I do? Do you need help with anything?" Kate asked.

Dean frowned a little. "No, kiddo. You and I are good. If you want to help me with stuff to hang out with me, I'd like that but you don't have to do things to make it up to me."

"Since John is bringing projects, I was thinking that it would be nice to have other stuff to do. I get bored and lose my head when I do. I don't care if it is cleaning weapons or car parts. I just need stuff to do." Kate said.

"I could use a few jobs as well. I'll call him and ask if he can get his hands on anything else. Taylor is looking at the electrical room and there's enough dust in there to knit a sweater with." Dean said.

Kate shrugged. "I can clear that up."

"Just don't mess with any of the wires. We don't know how things work yet and I told Taylor the same thing." Dean said.

Kate hugged him again. "Okay."

"I like this Kate." Dean said.

Kate smiled. "Me too."

Dean poured himself some coffee and sat down in a chair. He propped his legs up on another chair and closed his eyes. He sipped his coffee for a few minutes before deciding to send Lacy a message. Both kids were old enough to fend for themselves for a day or two but the powers made things more complicated. On a typical day he'd trust Kate to follow orders but not in moments where she felt his decision was unjust. She did thrive off positive attention so giving her things to do and thanking her when they were done seemed to work. He dropped his feet and left the table for his bedroom. He sat down on the bed and pulled a worn photograph from his bedside table. He put his coffee down and ran his thumb over the faces. He missed his mom every day but it just seemed worse that day. Kate needed a female figure and Taylor probably did too. John was the one remaining father of the bunch and all of them had lost their moms. Bobby was often more of a father than John had been but it wasn't the same. Mary was beautiful. He had forgotten most of his memories with her and relied on photos to remember her face.

Kate gathered the cleaning supplies that Bobby had dropped off. She nudged the partially open door to the electrical room and looked up at Taylor. "Will it bother you if I clean?"

Taylor smiled. "No, I'll help." He took the vacuum and cleared away the cobwebs and loose dust. "Sometimes I wonder who we are cleaning up since dust is partially skin cells."

Kate cringed. "Ew. Thanks for that." She gently wiped down the glass covering a large control center. "Oh, you can read this now."

Taylor looked at the words. "That should make figuring it out easier."

They worked non-stop until Dean knocked on the door. "How is it going?" He looked around. "Whoa. You make a good team. When you are off house arrest, you two could clean houses for money."

"We could detail cars here but you'd have to answer questions." Taylor said.

Kate wiped the dust from her nose. "What about for hunters?"

Dean rubbed his face. "I think they'd want to know where their vehicle was going."

Kate shrugged. "In general. I don't even care if I get paid. You can tell them it is grunt work because we didn't take the dangers of hunting seriously or something."

Dean smiled. "Man, somehow I missed that idea for a punishment."

Taylor tossed his cloth into the bucket of water. "I'd be down for something like that. Gore doesn't bother me anymore."

"How about you two talk to Bobby about that. This is so far away from Bobby's that we couldn't use him as a cover but he probably has some ideas. I bet dad could bring a bunch of scrap wood if you want to build anything." Dean said. "I'll call dad, hold on."

Kate fidgeted nervously. She wasn't sure if John meant a replay of what she got from Dean.

"Hey, son." John said.

"Hey, I've got two kids who are going stir crazy. They are brainstorming and I think they have about reached the point of crime scene clean up." Dean said.

John smirked. "That bored?"

"Seems to be. If you can think of anything else that needs to be taken apart and cleaned or fix, do you mind bringing it?"

"Yeah, I'll see what I can round up."

Kate looked faint.

Dean sighed. He held out his phone. "Go ahead and talk to him." He tilted his head to tell Taylor he should go to the library.

Kate took the phone and squeaked. "Hi."

"Hey, what is wrong?"

"Well... I... I was not in my right mind and Dean... um.." Kate stammered.

John sighed. "After I told you to straighten up?"

"Yes, sir. He knows I'm really sorry and I was just frustrated from being bored." Kate said.

"I keep my promises. I'll talk to him before I get there." John said evenly.

"I know you are upset. Will you be upset with me the whole time?"

John furrowed his brows. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"You aren't here all the time and I was hoping you'd show me a few things. I know I messed up but I don't want to stress you out." Kate said.

John chuckled. "I'll talk to Dean. I am not going to be upset with you the whole time."

Kate let out a sigh of relief. "I want to work on some of the medical stuff."

"I'll help you. I'll get you some new textbooks too. Some stuff has stayed the same but other things are new."

"Thank you!" Kate said. She paused and thought for a moment. "Dean needs to hunt."

John smiled to himself. "I know. He can knock a few off the to-do list once I get there."

Kate sighed. "Oh, good."

"Anything else you are wanting to say?" John asked.

Kate frowned. "Are we going to live here forever?"

John rubbed his face. "I don't know. I don't think so but I won't make a promise that I can't keep. You are safe right now. That is what matters."

Kate assumed his answer would be along those lines. "Okay."

John sighed. "Chin up. It isn't so bad. Dean has requested at least two TVs."

Kate giggled. "That doesn't surprise me." She ended the call with John and returned the phone to Dean. "Two TVs?"

Dean grinned. "Yeah, I don't share."

### ###

Three days went by with no change in the plan. Kate had found ways to keep herself busy and had been a cherub. Dean left the bunker a few times and things didn't seem so grim.

Cas stopped by with news and jellybeans at Kate's request. He requested an aside with Dean and spoke quietly. "There is a rumor that Aphrim is alive and in Heaven's lockup."

Dean pulled Cas farther from the kids. "How?"

"I don't know. It is possible that Naomi revived him. I do not think she is treating him as anything but a prisoner. With a human body, the torment is likely excruciating." Castiel said, solemnly.

"Do you think you could get him? He may have answers the kids need." Dean asked.

"Removing him would be dangerous. If we did get him out, Naomi would not stop until he was found again." Castiel said.

"Is it possible to get a message to him?"

Castiel considered it. "It may be possible. If Naomi is with him, she may notice. A physical message would not be possible."

"What are you thinking?"

"Kate may be able to pray to him." Castiel said.

"Wouldn't he need angel mojo for that?"

"Kate has the greatest store of his grace. Her connection may be enough." Castiel said.

Dean didn't like using Kate. He didn't want attention on her. "Is there a way to do this... safely?"

Castiel vanished for a moment before returning. "I will put word out that there has been a surge of power in New Orleans."

"Why there?" Dean asked.

"New Orleans is littered with different powers. It will take a while for Naomi's soldiers to sweep the entire city and find that the lead was false." Castiel said.

"So that distraction would make sure that her eyes are off of Aphrim?" Dean asked.

"Yes."

"Great, how long would Kate have?" Dean asked.

"Approximately 5 seconds." Castiel answered.

"What? That isn't a while. That is nothing!" Dean said, heatedly.

"Humans move incredibly slow." Castiel said.

Dean groaned and rubbed his face. "Okay. What would she say to him?"

Castiel left the hallway and approached Kate.

Dean rolled his eyes. He wasn't sold on the idea but apparently, Cas was.

"Kate." Cas said.

Kate looked at him with wide eyes. "Yes?"

"There is an unconfirmed rumor that Aprhim lives." Castiel said.

Kate gasped and covered her mouth. "Really?!"

"It is unconfirmed."

"Where is he?" Kate asked.

"If he is alive, the garrison has him and is likely torturing him for information."

Kate's face dropped. "That isn't fair. He is a good guy."

"His orders are to protect you two. If withstanding torture is part of protecting you, he will withstand it." Cas said without emotion.

Kate chewed her fingers. "I want to help him."

Dean spoke up. "We think you may be able to pray to him but the people who have him could intercept. Castiel has a way to distract them and you will have a very small window to get that message through."

Kate perked up. "Okay! What do I tell him?"

"You will have less than 5 seconds. We need to decide what you will say beforehand." Castiel said.

Kate sat down and pulled her knees to her chest. "I can pull him here."

Dean shook his head. "No, that is far too dangerous."

"I pulled Sam."

"When you were out of your mind and being ripped apart by grace." Dean said.

"I'll do what I'm told. First, please listen." Kate said and looked at Castiel and Dean with pleading eyes.

Castiel shifted. "Go ahead."

"Is there a way to... muddy... the energy trail?" Kate asked.

Castiel's eyes darted back and forth as he searched his extensive memory for an answer. "There is a way. As a way you may understand, it is like tricking a radar detector on a submarine."

Kate smiled. "Okay, so... if we could do that and prevent anyone from seeing where my energy came from, I could pull him here."

Dean grimaced. "Even if you were able to cover your tracks, you could disintegrate Aphrim"

Kate frowned. "Maybe that would not be as bad as what they are doing to him now."

Castiel thought that Kate was probably correct. "We would need Taylor's assistance."

Taylor heard his name. "I can help."

Castiel explained the fine details of the operation and all of the potential consequences.

Dean felt like his hands were tied. "Kate, Taylor, please go to one of your rooms. I'd like to speak to Cas."

Kate scurried out of the room behind Taylor. She owed so much to Aphrim and just wanted him to be okay.

"Do you honestly think this is a good idea? Is this logical?" Dean asked.

"I think that it is. Not intervening would be safe for the children until Aphrim gave in. He knows things about them that Naomi would benefit from." Castiel answered.

Dean paced a little. "I think I need to call my dad."

Castiel nodded. "I'll wait."

Dean called John and explained the situation.

John mulled it over. "What is the backup plan?"

Dean looked to Castiel. "If they are able to track where the energy originated from, Castiel will take Kate and move around sporadically to throw them off."

John ran the side of his thumb over his knee, feeling the threads of his jeans. One small thread could cause the entire garment to unwind. "I expect both of those kids to come out of this with absolutely no scuffs, bruises, or hairs harmed on their heads."

Castiel nodded. "I will make sure that they remain safe."

Dean thought that John would probably take on an angel if he got the wild hair to do so. "So we will do this quickly and I'll call back."

John reluctantly let Dean go. He didn't like not having a good choice. He was tired of making the hard choices.

Taylor rehearsed his side of things with Castiel. "So if I am unable to cloak it, I can dilute it by sending it to other places?"

Castiel put a hand on his shoulder. "Yes. It is important that they do not find this place. It is warded but they could wait until Dean left."

Taylor cringed. "I understand."

Kate shifted nervously on her bed. "What if I mess up?"

Dean hugged her to him. "Like you said, this has to at least be better than Naomi is doing."

Kate melted into his hug. "I hope so."

Dean wiped her tears away. "Let's see those Nephilian wings."

Kate smiled. "Wings would be really cool."

Castiel joined Kate and Dean. "Is everyone ready?"

Kate nodded.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Dean said, ruefully.

Taylor sat down on Kate's desk. "I'm ready."

Castiel held up his hand. "You must act quickly."

Kate nodded again. "Got it."

Dean was nervous but tried to hide it. He didn't want to cause Kate to doubt herself.

Castiel put a finger to the base of his ear. "As soon as I close my eyes you will do as you were instructed."

Kate and Taylor watched him intently.

Castiel blinked.

Dean's heart stopped for a moment before beating rapidly. He stood up quickly when he felt the floor shake. Dust fell from the ceiling and suddenly it stopped.

Kate opened her eyes and ran down the hallway to check rooms.

Castiel vanished.

Taylor opened his own eyes and felt woozy.

"Well?" Dean asked.

Taylor covered his ears. "I don't know."

Kate was worried that she hadn't been able to pull him from his cell. She heard a faint cough from another room and slowly opened the door. She stared at the person with wide eyes. "Aphrim?"

Aphrim stared back at her. "Katelyn?"

Dean rounded the corner. "Whoa."

"How did I get here?" Aphrim asked, confused.

Kate blinked. "I pulled you here."

Dean kept his eyes on Aphrim.

Kate knelt beside Aphrim. "Are you hurt?"

Aphrim gasped. "I'm banged up."

Dean touched Kate's shoulder and whispered. "I thought he was a dude."

Kate shrugged. "Is this your true form?"

"Angels are not bound by human gender constraints," Castiel said as he swooped in. "Aphrim."

Aphrim gave him a pained smile. "Castiel."

"So are you a guy or a chick?" Dean asked. "Are you just dressed as some poor lady?"

Kate found Castiel's eye roll amusing.

"Aphrim is an angel. Angels cannot possess a human without consent."

"But.. but... is she.. he.." Dean stammered.

Kate sighed. "It isn't important. Let's get her to a bed."

Dean stepped back so Castiel could carry Aphrim to the infirmary.

"Do you have any grace left?" Castiel asked.

Aphrim shook her head. "A sliver to keep me alive but it is fading."

Castiel put his hand on her head and healed as much of her wounds as he could.

Kate felt a connection to Aphrim. "Is this the last vessel you had?"

Aphrim shook her head.

Kate blushed. "I think I chose it."

Dean tilted his head. "How?"

"I sometimes mimick what she wants most. I was able to use Hannah to contact her." Aphrim explained.

"I have been sulking because I'm stuck with smelly guys all day every day. I have no female company." Kate said.

Dean understood. Aphrim is hot. Ew, no Dean. Dean blinked. "What?"

"Call John." Kate said.

Dean flinched. "Right, right. Hold on."

John was relieved that both kids were okay. "I'm not too far out. I will be there as soon as possible."

"Ask him to get her some clothes." Kate said.

Dean cringed. "What are the chances that you'd make a pitstop for women's clothes?"

John snorted. "Not a chance."

Dean sighed. "Fine, I'll get them."

Kate checked the tags on Aprhim's clothes. "Small shirt, small pants."

Dean nodded. "Castiel, you wouldn't want to go... would you?" He blinked and stumbled back as Cas returned. "Oh, man. That was quick."

Castiel gave him a dead panned look. "Efficient."

Taylor followed the kittens down the hallway. His head stopped hurting and he wanted to see what was going on.

Kate looked down as Millie ran across the floor. She tilted her head as Millie ran straight to Aphrim.

"Hello there." Aphrim said and held her hand out for Millie to climb on to. She did the same for Liam.

"They know you?" Kate asked.

Aphrim smiled. "I'm the one who sent them."