Chapter 14
"I can't believe Cas just took her like that", Dean says as the four of them are walking to their vehicles-all of them still on alert.
"I can", Sam replies. "He's bonded to her in a way that...", his voice trails off.
Dean finishes his thought, albeit gently. "In a way that even you aren't?"
Sam sighs. "It's not...I'm not saying...can we have this discussion later, dean?"
"Sure, Sammy." His tone is genuine.
Rowena is hooked. "What exactly is going on between...all of you? Who IS this girl? The Winchesters don't sweat-"
"Not now", the brothers say in unison.
"Of course, boys. It's never 'now', now is it? Well, when do I get to meet her, in the traditional sense, eh?"
Sam and Dean exchange looks. "Since when do you have such an interest in the company we keep?", Dean asks.
Rowena scoffs quietly. "I don't think that's entirely fair to say. For instance, I'm quite fond of the angel who resides with you-thats no secret."
Sam forgets himself and lets out a laugh. It wasn't subtle in the least. Dean stifles an awkward smile and elbows Sam.
Rowena raises an eyebrow, studying them for a minute. "As I said, call me when you're having me over for dinner."
They reach the cars-Rowena has a driver sitting in hers, which doesn't surprise them. She reaches for the handle, then turns to the boys. "You know, Lucifer may very well be after my head again after this...".
"I think he's more focused on Alice right now, unfortunately", Sam says. "But. You know where we live. Thanks for coming, Rowena. Smart move."
Dean follows suit. "Yeah, thanks for saving our asses."
She nods, then looks to Jack. "Check on the lad, will you? Hasn't said a peep." Getting in the car, she gives a small wave. She was expecting to catch Hell (no pun intended) for pulling what she did, but they all seemed to realize it was the only option.
Sam looks to Jack. "You okay, buddy?"
The young angel is pensive. "I couldn't help. My powers...useless."
"He was juiced up on some witches brew. It wasn't you", Dean comforts.
"Makes me wonder", Sam adds, "who's the witch knowledgeable and powerful enough to aide Lucifer."
Dean looks unamused. "Exactly".
The impala is silent for some time. Dean doesn't even touch the radio. He is pondering what Cas told them about Alice's past life. Humans don't typically come back...it raises more questions, but doesn't change anything.
Eventually, Dean breaks the silence. "I know you don't wanna talk about it now Sammy, and I get it. But you might want to talk to Cas about Alice. It'd be good for you, in more ways than one."
"What does that mean?", Sam asks.
"Just trust me. Talk to Cas."
Alice opens her eyes and sees that she's in her room. Cas's arms are still around her. He sets her down and she stands facing him.
"I was so worried, Cas...", She strokes his face adoringly.
His eyes, blue as the purest ocean, search hers. "I know. I...could feel it. And I did not fare well in your absence, either...".
She drapes her arms around his neck and kisses him sweetly, closing her eyes as he kisses her back with an unexpected level of desire. She kisses him harder. Hands on his collar then, she looks to him for permission to remove his trench coat. He can count on one hand how many times he's been without it, in thousands of years, and she knows this.
He presses his lips to hers once more. "Of course...".
She exudes love and trust as she slowly rolls the coat off his shoulders. He removes his arms from the sleeves and she folds the item with care before setting it aside.
She runs her hands along his arms, feeling the muscles there, feeling the protection they offer her so freely.
Cas briefly ponders if he should tell her about his revelation while stuck between the bricks, quickly deciding-knowing-that it changes nothing, and resolves to tell her later. As far as he is concerned, nearly nothing was important enough to interrupt the current moment. He knows she would agree.
Although, there's a part of him that sees her almost too delicate, too pure...
"Cas. It's alright...", she assures, feeling his hesitation.
His hands slip under her shirt, gently roaming her skin. He closes his eyes, relishing the feeling this small act provides him. She murmurs softly, unbuttoning the first few buttons on the flannel shirt that did not belong to her. Cas begins at the bottom. They meet in the middle, and then it's him sliding the clothing from her shoulders.
The same golden, sparkling light that Sam had experienced, is now present under her skin, again. It is much brighter when seen through Cas's eyes.
"Ethereal", he whispers, hands tracing the curve of her neck and shoulders, her breasts. The light grows, becoming almost fog-like, now.
He pulls her against him, kissing her neck before cradling her kind face in his angelic hands. "Alice...", he whispers, "...you make me feel human."
Alice blushes and briefly looks down. "That's apt...because conversely, you make me feel celestial."
Coming from anyone else, the statement would sound cheesy, but Alice delivering it paired with their situation perfectly. Her genuine nature gave the sentence life; Cas saw sparkling pink and lavender bubbles floating among stars in his mind's eye.
Cas smiles, chuckling to himself while leading her to bed. "You're some kind of magical, at the least".
As she removes his tie (an action she'd never performed before), and he unbuttons his shirt...he begins to wonder.