Chapter 9

Eliot remained silent for a long time. Finally, he said, "We'll need to get her protection from being possessed by a demon and I don't want a dinky necklace that can fall off or be ripped off her neck with our luck. She needs something permanent. Is there a way to hide her from angels?" He looked at Dean.

"There is for humans. I would need to find out about a Nephilim. For some reason, I think they can avoid detection just by wanting to be unseen." Dean chuckled and everyone looked at him. "She might not know what she is, but she already has some of her power without realizing it. They have enhanced senses and can sense threats. I'm assuming that helped her to be a great thief. I saw the way she moved, and she seems to have no fear of heights or much of anything."

"That might have been why she took the sword in the first place. She sensed it was somewhat connected to her. Do they belong to angels?" Hardison shook his head. This was too much for him. He just wanted Parker back.

"They're used to kill angels, but they can also kill demons. Needless to say, the angels don't want the demons getting them."

"Dean, we can't even consider how to conceal her, unless we find out why she was hidden from angels before, but she's not now. Could her being in contact with the angel sword have done it? I'm assuming her father had a way to hide her grace. I would say it's the Enochian sigil hiding her from angels, but why would it stop working?" Sam said then began typing on his laptop. "I don't know of a way to hide her from angels other than that. Maybe it didn't stop working completely. Cas knew she was unique but as for him when he brought Eliot back, he didn't know she was a Nephilim."

"He's been gone a long time. He might be with Parker or maybe he found her father," Bobby pointed out.

"Right now, my main concern is keeping Sophie, Hardison, and Maggie safe until I can find Nate and Parker. What bothers me most is that the demons seem to be a step ahead of us on everything. They knew about Maggie, they knew a lot about us, they knew about our safe house. They came straight at Nate with threats to us and Maggie. They knew exactly who would be the most vulnerable for those manipulations and Nate isn't normally easy to manipulate. They knew which way to twist him. But why didn't they come straight for Parker? It seems they know too much about us, even before the sword was stolen." Eliot was so frustrated with this mess.

"Maybe it's not that they knew Nate was the easiest to corrupt, but he also was your leader. He got both you and Parker to go out knowing how dangerous it was." Maggie's voice was quiet. "If this sword thing was stolen yesterday, but Meg picked up Nate last night and warned him about my boyfriend being possessed, they seemed to have more time to do these things than you two had time to grab Eliot at that bar. I can't help wondering how long Philip was possessed. I didn't notice anything was wrong until he saw Eliot and Cas."

Eliot realized she was right. He didn't want to think about the fact that Nate had willingly risked his and Parker's lives. Again. But this time seemed more intentional than all the other times.

"Wait, how did you guys know to come here?" Eliot asked, realizing it was never discussed.

"I received an alert about an angel sword in the hands of a demon. Deniro has made a big name for himself because he likes to actively search for hunters. When I mentioned it to Cas, he said they needed to get it," Bobby explained.

"We usually find out from other hunters, things on the web, and whatnot," Sam answered.

"It was a former hunter who told me," Bobby replied. "About a week ago. But we were only told about Deniro."

"We did a run-through on Deniro's house over a week ago, remember?" Hardison pointed out to Eliot. "We never went in. Parker just went through the vents to check out the security system, and we stayed outside. She mentioned the safe but said men came upstairs so she went back into the vents."

"Those men could have been other demons and detected her or if you think it was the contact with the angel sword that revealed her to the other angels and demons, she could have touched it," Sam pointed out.

"She may have picked it up the first time she was in the safe. As I said before, I had no idea she had it. Didn't see it when she got in the van," Eliot explained. "But Parker could take your wallet out of your pocket and look you in the eye the whole time. You'd still never know. Is this like a real sword? I think it'd be hard to nick that." Dean held up his hands showing the size of the sword. "She could have gotten that out of there. Even if she stashed it and went back for it later."

xOxOx

"I've always known there was something wrong with me," Parker muttered, half to herself. "But not this much…"

Lucas shook his head and said, "No, Parker. Not wrong. Special and unique, but not wrong."

"I'm not even completely human." Her eyes grew darker, her voice a monotone, and Lucas' heart sank.

"Yes, you're human. Just…different…and you are loved."

"I'm…part angel. No wonder I'm such a freak. That explains why I am the way I am."

"In ancient times, you would be considered a Nephilim. But God commanded that his sons no longer wed the daughters of Men, so the original Nephilim died out." Lucas wanted to comfort her but felt if he reached for her, she would bolt. "You are not a giant like the ancient children of angels because your body is completely human. But Parker, your soul is…special plus you have what's called 'grace' from your angel half. It's connected to me and other angels. That's why you sensed Castiel, and he sensed you. You don't have most of the traits of an angel or if you do, they are dormant. Demons fear you, they sense your presence, and other angels will know you are not completely human. But you have always lived a human life and, therefore, you are more human than anything else. But demons could be more powerful if they possessed you. They want you for that."

Lucas tried to ignore the guilt nagging at him. "I'm only telling you this so you will understand why angels and demons sense you easier than other people. It's why you dreamed of Castiel. What you are Parker is so unique that I do not know what angelic qualities you might develop. All Nephilim usually become more powerful than their angel parent. You already have heightened senses. And perhaps you have wings and don't realize it which is why you can jump off a building without falling."

Parker didn't speak, rocking back and forth slightly and Lucas could feel her shrinking away from him. "You loved my mother? What happened to her?"

"I loved your mother more than I should have, more than any angel should love a human. I was willing to sacrifice everything for her, for you. But I broke the laws of Heaven. Because angels were not allowed to wed the mortal children of God, I hid from my brothers and your mother never knew who, or what, I was. The two of you were…everything to me. I lost myself in our life together and grew less aware of the danger I put you in. When you were young, one of my brothers found us and he turned on me. He said that loving your mother was a sin and that I had fallen, just like Lucifer, and I had rebelled against God. He condemned your mother and you to death. I fought to save her, but then Haniel turned his wrath on you. Your mother ran to protect you, and he killed her." Lucas felt the searing pain again. "And in my agony and rage, I destroyed him, condemning myself to walk the earth forever, never to return to Heaven."

"Then why did you leave me?" Parker whispered. "If you loved my mother and you said you loved me, then why did you leave?"

"The grief of losing your mother and killing my brother, realizing I had become exactly as my brother had said, a fallen angel…it almost destroyed me. But also, I knew if any other angels found you, they might try to destroy you as well, so I erased all memories of us from your mind and used a ward to hide you from angels. I left you with a childless couple that I knew would love and care for you."

"But they didn't. They died in a car accident within a year and left me an orphan, a screwed-up kid in the foster care system who got bounced around from place to place because no one wanted me. No one! And you took my mother from me; you stole all the happy memories I might have had of that time. Do you know what it's like to not remember feeling anything good in your life? To not be able to remember that one moment in time when someone, anyone, especially a mom or a dad wanted you? You could have come back for me, but you didn't. You left me alone." Parker's voice had risen until she was shouting at him and tears streamed down her face. "I felt dead inside for so long and I'm broken. I wasn't normal. And now I know that it's never going to change. I'll always be a freak because I am not even human!"

Parker jumped up and ran up the stairs into the darkness. Lucas followed her, even though he didn't know what he'd say to her when he finally caught up to her. He had destroyed her life, and he couldn't undo that.

xOxOx

Lucas glanced up when Celeste appeared. "What took you so long?" he asked.

"Thank you so much for coming urgently, Celeste. I really appreciate it." Celeste said sarcastically. "I came as soon as I could. What's wrong? Does it have to do with all the demon and angel traffic?"

"I found my daughter again, but somehow the demons know about her. Those angels and demons are looking for her. She's been protected by the Winchesters and Castiel. But I don't think they know what she is. They just think it's about an angel sword that she took from Deniro." Lucas explained, and she sensed his intense emotions. "She won't talk to me. I told her the truth and she hates me."

"She's most likely in shock, Lucas. She's not a child. She's lived all her life without you, without knowing what she is." Celeste wasn't sure if she could help her, but she had to offer. She took pity on Parker more than Lucas right now. "Do you want me to talk to her?"

"Castiel has come for her. Hopefully, he'll help her." Lucas turned and walked to the stairways, looking down on Castiel, daring to walk down a few steps. He had heard Castiel was good to mortals, but he didn't know if he would strike down Lucas for his past.

Castiel felt Parker's anguish until it became a physical ache that he was unable to resist. Ignoring the sense that he was needed elsewhere, he went to her, finding her curled up in a corner of the top floor room in an abandoned building. He sensed they were not alone, so he put his finger to his lips to signal her to remain silent, but she shook her head.

"It's just Lucas. He's…he's my father," she whispered, in a voice so detached that it concerned him more than anything else about the situation. "Your brother, I suppose."

Castiel turned to find the angel standing in the doorway to the stairs, near the roof. "Castiel…" the man began before his eyes turned back to Parker. "They want her; the demons want Parker, not just the angel sword. If one of them can possess her, then the demons could tap into any latent power that she has." Lucas turned shamed eyes towards Castiel. "You know what they would do to possess her, what they would do if they could control her."

Silence filled the room for a moment before Cas finally spoke, "Leave us. Let me talk to her." With a warning in his eyes, he added, "But do not go far. We have much to speak about."

After Lucas went back up the stairs, Cas turned to Parker and crouched down before her. "Are you hurt?"

She silently shook her head. Castiel felt her close herself off to him even before she warned him, "I don't want to talk about it. Especially with you. Just leave."

"Parker, it's not safe for you to be alone. You need me now."

"I don't need anyone. And I don't want you around now." She turned away and he realized she didn't trust him anymore.

Deciding she needed her space, Castiel went to talk to Lucas. He found the other angel staring into the distance, lost in his thoughts. There was a third angel that hadn't been there before, but he did not speak to her.

"I didn't want to hurt her. But her friend has made a deal for the sword, he sent her here to get it and, if they make that trade, the demons will take Parker too," Lucas explained, his eyes not meeting Castiel's.

"What did they offer Nate that he was willing to sacrifice Parker?" Castiel asked warily. He did not know Nate, but he thought he genuinely cared for his friends. "Does he know about Parker?"

"His son. He died a few years ago. I don't think anyone knows about Parker. I have been busy watching over her and bringing back her friend, the scowling one. He knows but only because I told him earlier. Parker doesn't know what she has or what it can do. Her motives were to help her friend, Nate, not to hurt anyone else."

"I have to go to the crossroads," Parker said, startling them both. "I can talk to Nate. If I can't, the others can. Just let me get them someplace safe and then the day after tomorrow we can go to the crossroads. Nate trusts us more than he trusts outsiders."

"Parker…I do not think your friends are prepared for the demons…" Castiel began but Parker shook her head.

"No, but we have not one, but two angels, with us now. Two angels and three hunters."

The other angel walked over to Lucas. "Three angels."

"Who are you?" Castiel said, stepping in between Parker and her.

"This is Celeste. I asked her to come. I thought we could use all the power we can get."

"I'm one of the good guys, I promise," Celeste said holding her hands up and smiling at Parker. "Lucas has already told me so much about Parker, but I knew she'd need help. Castiel, the streets are flooded with demons and angels. More than I've seen in a long time. Parker is protected but her friends and the hunters will end up dead if they don't have some protection. I can go help them."

Parker studied her for a minute. "If you can go help them, please do."

"You don't know me, but I will help keep your friends safe. They need a new safe house though, because they aren't safe where they are. Everyone knows where they are. But I won't do anything if you don't want me to," Celeste said, worried maybe Parker felt strong-armed by the males right now. Parker walked away and started writing some places down. Handing it to Celeste, the angel nodded. "I'll go check these out first. See if there are demons around."

"One of her friends, Eliot, ran into the demon Meg earlier but I was able to bring him back. You know demons don't like leaving a job unfinished. She will come for him again. The two hunters, the Winchesters, are on their most wanted list as well," Lucas told Celeste.

"I've heard about the Winchesters, don't worry," Celeste said with a smirk at Castiel. "I'm surprised you don't have them here guarding Parker.

"Celeste, if none of those places are safe, go to our safe house. It's already warded against demons and angels except for that one door. Once you go inside have one of the Winchesters paint that door. We'll call you if we don't make it there before you. I think Parker should move there once she gets the sword. You should take a couple of the men with you and paint devil traps at the crossroads. Leave at least one of the hunters to protect the others," Lucas replied. He sensed Castiel's irritation, and he turned to him. "I know you have lots of experience with humans Castiel. But mostly you've been protecting the hunters, not people who haven't had any training. Celeste and I have been on the ground taking care of mortals every day, from demons and angels. Parker's friends have no training or experience before today."

Castiel was quiet for a moment before saying, "It's ultimately up to Parker. Just because you are her father does not mean you should tell her what she should do."

"Guys, come on. Let's not get into an argument over who will protect her. Both of you should. I'll take care of the others," Celeste said shaking her head in annoyance. Men of all species were so territorial. "Parker, do you need anything? Do you have a message for your friends?"

Parker thought then replied, "Just tell them I'm okay and I'm sorry I worried them by leaving."

Celeste nodded and then glanced at the two angels. "Be careful guys. This is only going to escalate, and Parker is the ultimate prize, but they will kill anyone and everyone to get to her." She disappeared as suddenly as she came.

"Tell me about this sword and then I want to go to that safe house to meet my team. Because no matter what, I know I can trust them to protect me. I trust them," Parker insisted making it clear that Lucas and Castiel were not trusted by her. "And I want something from you Lucas."

"Anything."

"I want my memories back. Good or bad, I don't care. I want to remember my childhood before my mother died. I want to remember my mother. I want to remember being loved."

xOxOx

Eliot felt Sophie stir beside him and glanced down at her. "Sophie?" he asked and gently smoothed back her hair. The grifter's eyes opened and focused on him as tears filled them. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe now."

"I know what they want and why," she said softly, keeping her voice low. "They promised Nate they would bring his son back in exchange for the sword."

"But Sam is dead…"

"Something about a crossroads demon…they can bring back the dead." Sophie sat up slowly. "You know he would do anything to bring Sam back, even sacrifice himself."

"Or one of us," Eliot added with a slight nod.

"We must find him, Eliot. They want more than the sword and I'm not sure what it is," she said and attempted to sit up. Eliot helped her when she flinched in pain.

"I heard what you said," Maggie whispered, sitting beside Sophie. "Is it true? Can they bring my son back?"

"How do you feel?" Dean asked, startling the women. "Sorry about…well, you know."

"Trying to kill me?" Sophie smiled slightly. "I guess, considering I started it, it's understandable. I wasn't exactly myself. I feel a bit fuzzy but alive."

"Do you remember anything?" Dean asked and Sophie shook her head quickly with a warning look to Eliot. The hunter studied her for a moment before adding, "I thought maybe we'd moved past this mistrust stage and maybe you'd finally let us help you."

Sophie hesitated before glancing at Eliot. After a moment he nodded and with a deep breath, Sophie told Dean what she knew. "I know what the demons are planning. Nate is going to make a deal with a crossroads demon in exchange for the sword."

"And they'll give him what?"

"His son. They'll bring back his son. But they want more than the sword. Something about a Nephilim or something like that, but I'm not sure if it's a weapon or another demon," Sophie shook her head. "They want it badly though, whatever it is. They say it could help them find purgatory and they will be rewarded by someone named Crowley."

"Parker is the Nephilim," Eliot said, and Sophie glanced at him with confusion.

Dean scowled and Sam said, "It figures Crowley is involved. But they are releasing the souls from purgatory? That's not good."

"Is it true? Can they bring Sam back?" Maggie asked Dean, hope filling her eyes.

"Yes, but there is always a great cost involved," Dean said solemnly. "And I'm not sure anyone is willing to pay that cost."

"I am willing to pay that cost. He's my son and he was just a child. He shouldn't have died so young. Why not give them the sword at least, just keep Parker away from the crossroads, and she'll be safe with Castiel." Maggie insisted. "What does it matter if they find purgatory?"

"Do you want all of the souls and monsters of purgatory released under a demon's control?" Sam asked, sitting beside Dean. "Not just any demon, but the King of Hell. Demons don't do anything that isn't a bigger benefit to them than to whoever they offer the deal to. And your son…he won't come back as he was."

Dean swallowed hard and glanced at Sam for a moment before turning to Maggie. Gently he took her hands in his own. "I know you want your son back. I can understand the temptation and I am certainly not one to judge you, but what are you willing to risk getting him back? Nate? One of his friends? Demons having more power than they already do?"

"I want my son back," Maggie insisted, tears falling down her face. "I don't care about your war with the demons. I would sacrifice Nate or myself, anything or anyone, to get our son back. If that makes me a monster, then so be it but he's my son and I would do anything to give him the life he should have had."

"You can't expect her or Nate to resist this." Sophie placed her arm around Maggie and the two women shared a look of understanding. "I don't want to think about what we might sacrifice but I think all of us understand their desire to get their child back."

"Even if it's just for a year or less? What if he comes back 'not right'? He would most likely be evil. Have you thought about that? If the demons are bringing him back, he's not coming back as a normal kid. He'll be evil in some way. And if heaven exists, let's assume it's much more peaceful than it is here. Do you want to rip him out of Heaven? He could be peaceful and no longer feel any pain from whatever killed him." Dean argued, looking at them all. "Could you willingly destroy his peace to bring him back here to satisfy your guilt or your own needs to have him back? He's not in hell…you wouldn't be rescuing him; you'd be bringing him back here."

Maggie started sobbing. "She's not being selfish; she's being a mother." Sophie stood in front of Dean, extremely protective of Maggie now, not even giving Eliot a chance to yell at him. "Do you have kids? Didn't you mention that you went to a crossroads demon to bring back Sam? Your brother, not even your child? How dare you judge her."

Dean stood up to be eye level with her. "I sacrificed myself for Sam. Not a powerful weapon that could release all the souls from purgatory. There is a slight difference. Sam had been dead less than a day. How long has this boy been dead? Years? How do you think Parker is going to feel about being traded so she can open the gates of purgatory? Not that she'd survive the possession by the King of Hell."

Sophie sighed in frustration and grabbed Dean's arm dragging him to the kitchen rather than arguing in front of Maggie. She slammed the door behind them.

"Last time we were in here, you tried to seduce me then tried to kill me," Dean said with a bit too much amusement.

"We're closer to the latter. I know you have had a hard life with demons and all of that. I understand we shouldn't trade anything that can be used as a weapon, but we always manage to fix things, so we can win or at least not lose so badly. Eliot, Hardison, and I can come up with a plan, so we can keep Parker safe plus maybe even get Sam back. Just let us have some time to figure things out."

Dean chuckled and shook his head. "Why won't you people realize you're not going to win this? Eliot has already died trying. Does it take a couple more of you to die before you see – you cannot win against the demons, at least not any form of winning you know. Winning is for us all to make it out alive and prevent the demons from getting what they want. Don't you think it would be kinder for Maggie to know she won't be getting her son back rather than getting her hopes up and ending up with some demonic monster of a child? Sweetheart, I'm sorry but you won't win this."

She looked at him for a long time and he sensed her rage, but she looked down, with tears in her eyes. "Dean…I feel such intense anger and hatred for you. I want to rip you apart," she whispered, and he watched her with concern trying to figure out where this was headed. "I remember things between us that I know didn't happen between me and you. I also feel so hostile to Sam. I don't understand what is happening to me." She swayed a bit and then rested her hands down on the counter.

She was so pale and he could see her slightly trembling. Not sure if it was wise, he turned and put his hand on her shoulder. He noticed her breathing was uneven too. It suddenly hit him what was wrong. He cupped her elbow, turning her towards him. He leaned closely because he didn't think she wanted him to embrace her. That wasn't her style. He felt sure she didn't want the others to know how she felt. "Sophie, you're still feeling the effects of the possession. Part of her feelings towards us linger and they might for a while. You might feel other things, like distance from your friends or even mistrust. But these demons hate us with passion. Her feelings could be affecting you," He could tell her normal nature was calm, cool, and collected. She was more down-to-earth than the rest of her group and she felt vulnerable now. "You can ask me anything, anytime, if you feel unsure."

"Did she know my thoughts as well? Are my friends in more danger because of what I know?"

"Unfortunately, yes. She knows, but you weren't possessed for long. I'm sure it's not an instantaneous thing. I don't think so. And unfortunately, they know more about those closest to you. If you know where Parker or Nate might be, that would be things like that would be their first interest."

Sophie took a deep breath. "Nate and Parker are gone, and Eliot has been brought back from the dead. Now I am feeling a demon's emotions. I'm not sure how it could get much worse, but I don't want to say that too loud and risk it. But please, you must be kinder to Maggie. She would sacrifice herself for her son. Losing their son broke Nate. Maggie is a good woman and just wants her son."

"Yes, but she needs to understand that any child that a demon brought back would not be good. It has evil in it, just like a demon..." She glanced at him with a hint of frustration. "But I will be gentler with her, I promise."

"How long is this going to affect me? I keep having thoughts of wanting to stab you in the heart." Her head was killing her, and she felt exhausted.

"Please don't act on that one," Dean smirked at her.

"You two okay in here?" Eliot said walking in and shutting the door behind him.

Both were quiet for a few minutes before Dean pointed out, "If anyone in your crew understands, it's going to be Eliot. He might not have other people's feelings and thoughts lingering in him, but it takes a while for the spirit to realign after being pulled from the veil."

"What's up, Soph?" Eliot asked. For a minute Sophie didn't say anything but eventually, she turned around and put her arms around him. Eliot could feel her shaking and held her tightly.

"The demon that possessed her has some really strong hatred towards me and Sam. Sophie is still feeling some of them and other things that it felt. It takes a while for everything to be completely straight again." Dean explained, walking over to the fridge and grabbing a beer. "Eliot, I think we're going to have to go do some work. It must be done but I'd feel better if I left Sam and Bobby with your people, if you're cool with that. I can take one of them instead but…I'd rather take you and leave two demon hunters behind just in case. But this safe house isn't safe now. We need someplace else to go."

Eliot thought for a minute. "I have a condo that I planned on selling at the end of the month. It's off the books, under a very old alias. And Hardison could probably do a little bit of this and that and it would disappear completely. I'm pretty sure no one knows about it. Parker hasn't even broken into it yet, which is practically a miracle."

Sophie let go of him and turned to open the cabinet by the door. Grabbing a bottle of Tylenol, she took a couple. "By the way, thanks for the headache, Dean." He cringed and reached into the freezer and made her a bag of ice. "I think Dean has a point, Eliot. I don't really like risking you again, but I know Hardison, Maggie, and I can't do what you do. Sam seems pretty good at handling things a little bit more…diplomatically than Dean. I would say take Bobby with you too but I'm not sure Eliot wouldn't end up killing him. And maybe you too."

"Nah, me and Eliot are going to get along fine," Dean replied with a smile. "I'm growing on him."

"Like herpes." Eliot wasn't happy about leaving the others, but he agreed with Dean about leaving Sam with them. He hated to admit it, but the brothers knew their shit. "Worst case scenario, if we die, you'll still have two hunters behind."

"We have Cas! Wait, we don't have Cas." Dean groaned. "At least, Parker is protected. But she needs to learn how to share."

They heard a knock on the back door, and everyone looked at the door in surprise. They knocked another time, and Dean pulled a gun and walked up to the door cautiously.

"Would a demon knock?" Sophie whispered, standing behind Eliot.

Another knock and a woman's voice said, "I can do this all day. All day."