Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“The world of pure spirits stretches between the divine nature and the world of human beings;
because divine wisdom has ordained that the higher should look after the lower, angels execute the divine plan for human salvation: they are our guardians, who free us when hindered and help to bring us home.”- Thomas Aquinas

May there always be an Angel there by your side....

...........................................................................

Dean reaches the end of the highway bringing the Impala to a screeching halt. There were still a long stretch of road before him. Something is telling him to stop on the bridge. Taking the keys out of the ignition before he opens the door, he feels his intuition is stronger than ever. Something is happening.

Dean takes in the surrounding area of wood and the creek beneath the bridge with a deep breath and exhales. He advances his way over to the railing taking another deep breath of Heaven's crisp air. His hands clamp down on the railing. Dean relishes in being free of misery, pain, and monster hunting. Now, there came something else to be appreciated.

He can swear he'd felt like a Jedi at this moment. He sensed a presence he hadn't felt in a while. "Hey, Sammy." Dean said delighted.

Sam stands near Dean sweeping tears back. It all came back to Sam, the room, his son, Dean Jr., and the hospice care he was placed in back on Earth. He's dead and for real this time. There were no way in going back to earth at this point.

Seeing his long-lost brother flushed all the anxiety he was facing before. Now he is calm. This place surrounding Sam makes him feel at peace. Dean turns around to see his brother. Sam swallows as tears began to escape his eyes. "Dean." His lips quiver.

Before Sam knew it Dean pulls his brother into a tight and long embrace. As they unfold from their long hug, the brothers reminisce their lives with each other as Heaven's sun began to set. It all began when the youngest of the brothers, Sam, were six months old when their mother had died in a fire. It was no ordinary or accidental fire. It was a conflagration that engulfed her on while on the ceiling of Sam's nursery cast by a yellow-eyed demon by the name of, Azazel.

Ever since the tragic event unfolded the boys joined their father, John in a long hunt for the yellow-eyed demon. It took many supernatural cases with a few trails that made John feel he was closer to finding Azazel, but there was never a success in catching him.

Dean and Sam had made do by living on the road or living with close friends of their father, motels, or in boys' homes for a short amount of time. Dean always knew that hunting and being on the road constantly was a life Sammy never wanted. Contrary to all things he'd said to his baby brother about wanting him to stay and continue their fight of killing monsters, Dean had to admit he'd always wanted better for Sam.

After their father traded his soul so Dean could live on was the moment the brothers worked hard of finding Azazel and killing him. After accomplishing what they set out to do initially it only got worse for them. They started an apocalypse and released Lucifer from his cage. The majority was Sam's doing, but Dean knew deep down he could've tried harder to save Sam and felt responsible as well. From there it took almost a decade for them to set things right. They had to take down God aka 'Chuck' to stop another apocalypse from happening.

In the end, everything had worked out for the better. The best thing to come out of their adventures was to get their mom back for a short while, getting to know her before her life would be taken again. Castiel, is an angel of the lord and a great friend. Even though from the beginning he was hard to trust, the angel proved himself loyal and became like their family. Same with Jack Kline, a Nephilim, half-angel, and half-human. The son of Lucifer though he made a lot of mistakes proved himself to be good and was now the new God.

Sam along with Dean make their way back to the Impala and it felt like the good times again to them both. "I took care of your Baby on earth. She's still the badass as you remembered."

Dean flings the door open and sits down. He waits for Sam to get in. "Where is my baby on earth now?" Dean asks with an uplifted brow. He pats 'Babys' steering wheel as if telling it he loves her too.

Sam settles into his seat before he huffs. He tries to find the words on how to say this, but here it goes. "You have had a daughter all along Dean. I felt it was amiable to pass it on to her."

Dean is about to say something but finds himself astonished and speechless. Sam sees it written all over his brother's face. There is the familiarity of losing a beloved friend or family member, and Dean feels instant regret building up. He too thought of Emma, his other daughter who grew up fast to become an Amazon warrior. She had to kill Dean to do so. He couldn't carry out killing his daughter, so it was Sam in the end that executed her.

Sam continues, "Her name is Courtney. She's okay. She still lives a good life. I can tell you all about her. She forgives you for not being there and that she understands now."

"How?" Dean chokes. "Who found who?"

"It's a very long story, Dean," Sam says reluctantly catching the illuminated look in Dean's eyes. "We've got all the time in the world for me to explain everything to you."

Dean, wanting to reiterate stops. Sam is right. They will have all the time to talk about everything. Sam needs to be reunited with everyone and will want to know how his brother is in his current state. He turns his key in the ignition, his car let out a massive roar, and the song 'Here I Go Again' by Whitesnake blasts through the speakers.

A sneering smile crosses Sam's face. "Perfect. Even in Heaven, you can still annoy me with your classic rock."

Dean seems proud of himself and winks. "As always little Sammy, the one riding shotgun keeps his cakehole shut about the music I play."

On the road to Bobby's Dean learns that Sam made it to the age of seventy until Cancer took him, Sam had miraculously married a wonderful woman and they had a son named Dean Jr.

Dean is massively touched and pleased with that. He went into detail about everyone he's seen in Heaven so far. Sam is glad to know that their parents share a place close to Bobby's and The Roadhouse. He cannot wait to see all of them again.

"So, with the new family did that mean you stopped hunting?"

"I didn't hunt as often." Sam swiftly admits. "On occasion, I would say I did twenty or less a year. When there were families in need of help, I couldn't say no."

"Good Ole Sammy,"

Sam continues, "So how long did the time go by here until I arrived?"

"Honestly," Dean takes a turn down another road. "Time here is far different from Hell. It's been a year since I arrived here." Both of their facial expressions appear to be fascinated. "I've seen family and friends here. This Heaven is not like the Heaven it was before. Jack and Castiel changed it to appear like Earth and we can live life as it was, and the only difference is we don't grow old and there are no monsters to hunt."

"Oh, yeah Cas told me when I was still on earth."

Dean almost snaps his neck when he looks at Sam. "Wait, you saw Cas on earth?"

Sam nods. "Yeah, he's doing good the last I saw him."

"I've been searching for him," Dean covers his mouth to take in a deep breath of his own air. "The last time I was with him. I'll just say I haven't seen Cas since the Empty took him."

Sam saw a gleam in his peripheral vision, he looked out his window and couldn't believe what he was seeing. "The he-? Is that a McDonald's we just drove by?"

"Isn't it great?" Dean smirks and lets out a lucid cackle. "Just when you think Heaven might not be capable of such things it surprises you. That good part about all of it is that you don't have to worry about those trans-fat, calories, and cholesterol any more Sammy."

It's like Sam never left earth. Yes, Jack and Cas did a great job with creating the new Heaven. The rest of the ride to Bobby's was in silence. He would normally fall asleep, but there wasn't anything giving him a reason to. Instead, he enjoys the views ahead and being reunited with his brother for the rest of eternity.

Upon arrival at Bobby's, it were as though Bobby knew that Sam had finally made it to Heaven. He swings the door open from the same house Sam knew was burned down back on Earth. Bobby ran like he did before he had gotten old. Sam stares at Bobby unblinkingly as he steps closer to the Impala. It was taking so much for Sam not to break as he gets out of the car and shuts the door behind him.

"Well hug me already you Idjit, you look as though you've seen a ghost." Bobby smiles as he makes his way over to Sam. He couldn't recollect a moment in time if he'd ever seen Bobby smile the way he did. They embrace closer than ever before, and Sam readily gets his old friend caught up with the same information he gave Dean previously, his life, son, and Dean's daughter.

"Speaking of my daughter," Dean leans against a bookcase in Bobby's library with a freshly open beer bottle. "I would love it if you elaborated more about her Sam." Bobby had got up to leave the room to check on the burgers he was preparing on the stove.

Sam cocks his head up at Dean as he sits down on an armchair in the familiar room of hoarded things. "Well, she definitely has your dominance trait."

Dean smirks and playfully gave his brother the middle finger.

Sam continues. "Okay so she's not dominant, but she's impulsive like you. She has your smile, hair color, and she loves classic rock."

Dean appears and deep down feels satisfied. An image displays in his mind of what she could possibly look like or how it would be if he'd had the chance of belonging in her life. What type of father could he have been for her? Would they have been best friends and drove down the highway together in his Impala singing to older tunes? "You said her name was Courtney?"

Sam nods as a wrinkled smile exhibited across his face.

"Who was the mother?"

"Do you remember Amanda from High School? It was the last campus you went to."

Dean contemplates for a moment, and it comes back to him. "The chick I was seeing that wanted to introduce me to her parents. The girl I cheated on when I made out with that other girl in the school closet?" Dean's hand movements were everywhere with each question.

"Yep," Sam bites his lip embarrassed for Dean. "That one. She really embarrassed you in front of the entire school."

Dean felt confused and his brow furrowed. "But I only did her once, and with a condom."

"Well, Dean." Sam is mortified, his eye's tightens on Dean. He was trying to explain this rationally and instead it took a revolting turn. "Apparently it took that one time. We had already left the school when she found out."

Dean nervously works his way up to the next question licking his lower lip. "How is she, if you happen to know?"

"Do you want to hear the story or not Dean?" Sam paused. "The first part of your daughter's story, you're not going to like it. I want you to be mentally prepared before I tell you anything else."

"Well, I'm sure intrigued by Dean having a daughter and you having a son Sam," Bobby grunts as he enters the room from the kitchen. "I'd love to hear all about it."

Dean bows his head in agreement. "The fact that she even existed and me never being there, I can't even handle mentally. Anything else that needs to be said I can handle it." Dean takes a swig of his beer and focuses his undivided attention on Sam.

His gaze gave Sam the inkling that he is ready to hear everything.

"Okay," Sam stretches and exhales. "Here goes..."

Chapter Text

Police car lights flicked in the night as Sam made his way through a back alley behind a Chinese restaurant. It smelled of seafood and piss. The black walls that separated the food joint and the hotel were narrow in size and happened to glisten as though it was damp. Sam didn't want to know, he avoided his shoulders from touching it at all costs. A sunken Garth Fitzgerald had turned a corner to meet up with him. Sam jumped and relaxed as he realized it was only his friend.

Garth was out of breath and panted with his arm across his chest, his sharp teeth were exposed and had retracted as his breathing returned to normal. "That was a close one, Sam."

"I don't think they saw me." Sam was about to lean his back against the wall and revoked from doing so. "Garth, did the cops get a good look at your face?"

Garth shook his head. "I don't think so. They probably got a sneak peek of my back, a lot of good that'll do." He jokingly chuckled.

They rushed out the other side of the alley to a busy lit street with traffic in the middle of Austin, Texas. They walked together down the sidewalk where everyone around them went about their normal lives talking about their ordinary days to each other or conversing in their cellphone. Sam and Garth glanced at each other though no words came out. Garth had a quirky grimace displayed on his face and Sam gave in to his surroundings as he slowly became calm. He felt they were now out of the clear.

Sam had never in his life seen or heard of a massive werewolf pack in his life up until this last case. Even with the busy street, it seemed that no one had noticed the puff of smoke a few blocks down where Garth had set the hideout along with body evidence on fire. Anyone could plainly see it from above and the sirens still called faintly in the terror of what had to be done. It was as if nothing surprised the normal daily lives of people anymore.

In the clear, they stopped for some food at a market before returning to the Chevrolet Impala in an empty parking lot of a motel that Sam stayed at. It was nice to get away from the noisy city outside. Sam took a bite of his chicken garden salad and Garth munched on raw ground beef. Sam felt a little uneasy as Garth scarfed down his meat like a wild animal. He'd been around Garth before after his friend turned werewolf. He would eat raw meat around him many times and Sam was still not used to it. Sam had seen enough for one night and couldn't finish half of his salad.

"Well," Garth said after sucking the meat juice off his shaking fingers. "It has been fun chasing and killing three rabid werewolves and being hunted down by an entire police squad Sam. I must say it's exhilarating."

"I could've gotten you killed. There was no telling their numbers once we were inside that place." Sam stashed his salad up and placed it on the dashboard seeing the hideout vividly in his mind again. The bloodstains on the rustic metal walls of innocent people getting their hearts ripped open from the flesh of their chests were enough to make him sick after just eating. "Thank you for coming to help. I couldn't have done it without you."

"I'm always happy to help a Winchester out, it was my pleasure to bait those sons of a bitches. They give us good werewolves a bad rep."

Sam started up the ignition then shifted the car in reverse and put it into drive. They were on their way to the bus station. Garth always being a blunt person was withholding a few questions about Dean from Sam. He thought carefully as he didn't want to trigger him. Everyone who was close to the Winchesters knew about Dean's death and what Sam went through having his brother's funeral privately.

"Hey Sam," Garth said biting down on his lip hoping Sam wouldn't mind talking about Dean. "I really wanted to give my condolences to you in person about what happened to Dean."

Sam stopped at a red light. At first, he felt perplexed at the thought of his brother Dean being gone. It had only been a month, but it felt as though it happened yesterday or that it didn't happen at all. He had his days and nights of denial. He swallowed as his hand slipped off the wheel, his face somber. "Thanks, Garth."

The rest of the twenty-minute ride was in silence. Upon arrival at the bus station, Garth didn't get up from his seat immediately. "You can come stay with my family? The house has plenty of space and the kids won't be a bother since they spend most of their time in the basement now."

Sam exhaled loudly. "No, thanks. But I'll be okay." That was a lie.

"Are you sure man? It'll beat going back to an empty bunker." Garth offered but felt a notion of remorse after the words came out.

Sam shuddered. "No, I'm not going back to the bunker." It was home for him and Dean. nothing could make it feel right going back. Mostly because he didn't want to go back. "I'm headed to Sioux Falls. I need to pick up Miracle from Jody's. I don't know where we'll be going afterward. I just need time to find a way out of this life. I can't do it anymore."

Jody is a police sheriff he and Dean came across whom later became a great friend/hunter. She lost those close to her like them, a husband, and a son. She was someone Sam trusted wholeheartedly and was like a second mother.

"You mean a normal life? A life away from hunting monsters?"

Dean once had a deep conversation with Garth once about Sam. He remembered being told that Dean wished for different lives for himself and Sam. A life that wasn't written by Chuck or any other powerful cosmic being. Garth was ecstatic to hear that Sam possibly considered the choice of getting out while he still can.

Sam glanced overlocking his eyes on his friend. He nodded his head courteously but felt sunken as he huffed.

"Does that also mean this will be our last time seeing each other again?"

Sam could hear the heartbreak in Garth's voice. Sam nodded once more. "It's likely this will be the last time you see and ever hear from me again Garth. I want to try and live a life away from this. Monsters and everything. I need normal, hell, I crave for it right now."

Garth was pretending not to feel offended. If anything, he put himself in Sam's shoes for a moment. He'd feel the same way when he fantasized about his family being murdered by hunters. After his vision, he couldn't blame Sam. Garth would kill himself if he ever found his family dead.

"I get it, Sam, I really do." Garth inhaled quietly. "You can always reach out to me if ever you change your mind. Take care of yourself man."

"Goodbye Garth, and you too." Said Sam. He was eager to get back out on the road.

Garth shook Sam's hand tightly before stepping out of the vehicle. Before entering the bus station Garth looked over his back as Sam drove away. Hoping, maybe, he could see Sam again someday.

**********

Sam put on some Heavy Metal tunes and drove all the way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota all night and made it by noon. By the time he had arrived, Sam wanted to book a motel room and sleep. However, he drove over to Jody's first to get the dog, Miracle, so he could swiftly be on his way out of town, or even out of the country. Sleep could wait. Sam drowsily got out of the car shutting the door behind him.

Jody peaked out of the first front window she could get to. She made haste to the front door unlocked it and ran out to Sam. "I didn't expect to see you this soon. Is everything alright? You look exhausted Sam."

"I haven't had any sleep in a day. How are you, Jody?" Sam asked.

"Nervous about my girls, as always" Jody worked a smile to her face. "Kaia and Claire just took off to New Orleans, and Alex is moving out of state."

"They will be fine. They know how to take care of themselves." Sam reassured Jody.

"You need to come inside and rest." Jody was trying to convince Sam. "Miracle has been an angel and I'm also not ready to say goodbye to him quite yet. Please."

Sam caved in. "Give me three hours of sleep and please promise to wake me up before night falls."

Jody agreed to bring Sam into her home. Sam sat on the couch in the living room and Miracle came jogging in with a whimper greeting him. "Hey, buddy." Sam Caressed his fingers through the Doodles fur. "I missed you boy."

Jody offered to get Sam some half-caffeinated coffee, however by the time she came back with a cup for Sam from the kitchen he had passed out. Miracle curled up next to Sam for almost the remainder of his nap.

When Sam came to the lights were dimmer than it was earlier. He stretched and sat up on the couch. Miracle made a noise as he lifted his head from Sam's chest. Sam looked behind him to see that the world outside was pitch black. He grunted rubbing his eyes and stretched one more time.

"Jody?"

Sam got up from the couch and found her setting the table in the dining room. "Hey Sam," she said in a perked-up way. "Do you feel rested now?"

"Yes, but Jody it's nighttime." Sam tried to hide the annoyance in his tone with Jody.

"I tried to wake you up, twice Sam." Jody retorted to the almost hostile tone in Sam's voice. "Twice."

Sam tried to recollect any memory while he slept. He shook his head. "What time is it?"

"It's eight o'clock. You slept for nine hours. Don't tell me otherwise, you looked like you needed it." Jody placed a bowl of mashed potatoes in the center of the table.

Sam scratched an itch behind his neck and darted after Jody to the kitchen and helped her with setting the food she cooked on the table. Everything was full of starches and even though everything smelled good it twisted his stomach in a sickening direction. Still, Jody convinced him to stay and eat a little dinner. Sam had half of meatloaf, with garlic bread and a fruit salad.

Jody asked how the werewolf case went in Texas and Sam described how he and Garth found two different family ties of werewolves in both Dallas and Austin, Texas. They had to go back and forth as one family had nothing to do with the citizens getting their hearts ripped out.

"Miracle and I should be heading out by now. Dinner was very good Jody." Sam tugged at his jacket sleeves pulling them down below his wrists.

Jody asked Sam if he was going to be okay and gave him some of her leftovers for the road. Sam politely took the food. "It's hard, but I'm taking it one step at a time. I keep thinking every day that he'll come back. This time it's different. I feel as though I've lost Dean forever, and he won't come back this time."

Jody rubbed Sam's shoulder. "I know the feeling all too well. Just know you're not alone. You have so many of us that care about you. If you ever need anything, call, or knock on my door again. Make sure when you do come around, bring Miracle. I love that dog."

Sam smiled and hugged Jody before leaving the house with Miracle by his side. Sam and his dog traveled up to Marshall, Minnesota until Sam had to pull over. His eyes had watered to the point where he almost got himself and another driver in an accident. He became so oblivious to the world and his driving that it could've cost both of their lives. A large 'honk' woke him up as Sam shifted the Impala into the wrong lane and he pulled the car over just in time. He halted the car on the side of the road to calm down against the steering wheel and reflect on the situation. He needed more rest. Miracle licked Sam's cheek. Sam hugged the dog in return. He wiped his face, and with his vision better he drove a few blocks into town and pulled into a motel that thankfully was dog friendly.

Sam walked into the motel lobby and asked for a two-bed motel room out of habit. He could faintly smell mold from the air conditioner and everything from the walls to the furniture was an old medium to dark rustic. The manager lifted her brow at Sam, she had to still be in high school. "Aren't you alone sir?"

Sam bit his lip looking at her name tag 'Cassidy'. He looked the girl in the face, her brown eyes full of confusion and lethargy. Sam remained calm and polite even though he felt impatient with her. "I have my dog." The girl did not look amused. Sam continued. "I need a two-bedroom please, Cassidy." If she would be snarky again with him, Sam will likely lose it and argue his way with her.

Cassidy popped a piece of gum into her mouth and passed a card key to Sam after he paid for the room. Miracle followed closely behind his owner. That's one thing about Miracle that Sam loved, the dog didn't need a leash. Miracle always stayed with him even during easy distractions. Sam opened the door to his room and like the lobby, everything was made of wood. He was happy that there wasn't a mold smell though. Sam set up his laptop on a desk and immediately left it crossing to the bathroom. Miracle pounced on one of the beds made of blue linen and wool fabric watching his master leave the room.

Sam saw an unshaved and sunken face when he looked in the mirror, he slid his jacket off from his shoulders exposing a grey flannel shirt he wore beneath. The circles under his eyes were the worst as they made him look deathly ill. Yes, he thought of himself as a very attractive man, but as he kept staring back at himself, he realized just how unhealthy he appeared. His face was hollow as if he hadn't eaten in months. He knew it was the stress and sleepless nights over the loss of Dean. He hadn't been exercising or eating as much as he should and thought that was his fault. He took a long refreshing shower and then took his dog outside to pee after putting on a new pair of clean clothes.

Sam thought about returning to his laptop when they got back in, instead he dug out a journal he had bought a week before Dean died. Dean teased him about it of course. But Sam wanted to document new information as they were living freely without Chuck making up their lives for them. It was in a way writing a story that belonged to just himself. Sam relaxed on one of the beds turning on the lamp on his nightstand. Miracle jumped up on the bed and curled up into a ball next to his master's feet.

He gazed over to the other bed beside his. Sam imagined Dean being there. That in the morning Dean would wake him up in a weird way Sam never liked but missed now. Dean would prank him by putting an object in his ear or mouth, then taking a picture of it. If only he could live through one more humorous plot Dean concocted, he'd take it.

Sam opened the journal up, skipping a few pages with a pen in his mouth and picked it up with his hand placing the tip on a blank page, and started to write "Sam Winchester's Journal Entry":

'Last Entry

Dec 19th, 2020,

Today marks a month since Dean left. I napped through most of today, but if I'm being honest today has been the toughest. I kept myself together excellently some days. I feel a relapse coming. Later tonight I almost got myself and another killed. If I hadn't pulled the Impala back in my lane on time it would've been a head-on collision.

I'm not getting better, because every time when I feel it does, I'm caught in the headlights of a downward spiral I can't crawl out of. I keep expecting that in a few months or years to come Dean would find me, the same way how the both of us came back from death and found each other. I pray to God every day for Dean to come back. I'll even pray to Castiel, even though I know he is dead and in the empty.

Wherever Dean is I just hope he's happy. I can't continue this hunting life without him. Garth who also knew my brother helped me hunt down werewolves yesterday. I said my final goodbyes to him because everything that reminds me of hunting monsters and with himself being a werewolf and close friend to Dean…

I can't do it anymore. I can't do life anymore.

I can’t write in this stupid journal anymore. This is my last entry. When I come across a fireplace, I know I'll throw this in there if it's lit.'

Sam closed the journal and tossed it aside on the nightstand. He lay there in silence staring at his laptop on the desk across the room. His instinct would be to check for a new case. He didn't want to. There was that itch on the back of his neck, an impulse he always felt when checking for new cases. He didn't want to give in, but Sam did. He got up and that was when Miracle growled and barked.

A sound like flapping wings is what Sam heard next. He knew all too well that Angels made that noise. Sam whipped around to be met face to face with someone he never thought he'd seen again.

"Ca-Cas?" Escaped from Sam's mouth. There he was standing right in front of him, it was Castiel.

*************

Castiel had an unfaded look about him. Sam remembered the time meeting the 'Angel of the Lord' for the first time. Castiel had a rejuvenating look about him. He wore a black suit along with a blue tie and a tan trench coat. It was his trademark and how Sam remembered him best. Castiel's face lit up seeing Sam's blissful expression.

"Castiel? How are you alive?"

Sam recollected the bunker and Dean. His brother was adamant and devastated about Cas' death. He said there was probably no way Cas could come back from escaping the empty again after it swallowed him up, and took Billie, Death, along with it.

"It's nice to see you too Sam." Castiel cocked his head and felt something wet touch his hand. He glanced and studied Miracle. "Hey dog." Castiel extended his hand out to the dog and Miracle's nose touched the tip of the Angel’s fingers and he sniffed them.

Castiel turned his attention back on Sam. "Sam, we need to talk."

That was more like Castiel. His tone was back to business. Sam nodded. "First, how are you out of the empty?"

The look on Castiel's face said it all. There was a lot to the story. "It was Jack," Castiel began. "He's the new God so it was easy for him to pull me out of it. But we've got a problem. It's about Amara."

Yes, Sam knew about Jack absorbing Chuck's powers as he was there on the lakefront as it happened. That was a few months ago and it was still fresh in Sam's mind. "So," Sam crossed his arms over his chest. "What about Amara?" He could feel his eye twitch.

Castiel appeared serious, his blue eyes almost bulging. "The empty dragged her soul out of Jack. She's no longer preserved inside of God where she belongs. Amara has now escaped the empty and has returned to Earth. She's out to destroy someone-,"

Sam cut Castiel off. "I'm done hunting down monsters Cas. You shouldn't be asking me to help. I'm sure you and Jack can handle it by yourselves."

Castiel clenched his jaw. "Sam, you don't understand, this is Dean's daughter that I am talking about."

Sam was thrown back and let out a faint cackle. "Cas, Dean doesn't have a daughter. He had one but she grew up fast and was a monster who tried to kill him."

"Yeah well," Castiel rolled his eyes at Sam. "I believe in what Jack has told and shown me. He is the known universe now after all."

Sam inhaled as his eyes also bulged. "This is insane."

Castiel reached into a pocket inside of his trench coat and pulled out a picture. "I went to her adoptive parent’s house. This is what I gathered."

"You went to?" Sam didn't finish but glared at Castiel with disapproval and took the picture from his hand. He looked down at a graduation picture of a girl no younger than the age of twenty-one or so. He was impressed to see that it appeared she was in the University of Duke's garments. He was convinced of the green eyes, smile, and light brown hair. She reminded him of Dean. She looked a lot like him.

"I thought that would be proof enough for you Sam." Castiel's voice softened. "As you can see, she and Dean's DNA are uncanny."

Sam gaped his head up from the picture. "Cas, where is she now?"

"I was hoping to find her when I stopped by the house. Apparently, she has been missing for a few days now." Castiel started to pet Miracle and the dog in return licked his hand. "This is a sweet dog, what's his name?"

"Castiel? Focus alright." Sam insisted.

"I'm sorry," Castiel looked fascinated. "It's just this is my first time back on Earth since I've been in Heaven all the time creating a new Heaven with Jack. I'm very grateful to be back."

"Okay," Sam grabbed his jacket, backpack, keys, and laptop. He whistled for Miracle to get up as he darted to the door and pulled on the knob. "Come on you too Castiel."

"Alright, and you're going to give me that picture back," Castiel called as he and Miracle followed Sam out of the motel room.

"Why?" Sam lifted his eyebrow in confusion at Castiel.

The angel responded with a shrug. He glanced back down at the photo solemnly. "Because I would like to return it to her family Sam."

"Oh, his name is Miracle by the way," Sam said outside closing the door after everyone was out. Castiel cast a bewildered look. "The dog. It's the dog's name, Cas."

Castiel smiled in awe at the dog's name. They walked to the Impala, Sam asked Castiel to drive, and the Angel gladly accepted. "So where are we going?" Castiel asked trying to open his side of the door, but it was locked, and Sam threw him the keys over the roof.

"Lebanon, Kansas," Sam replied.

Castiel caught them and opened the door. He and Sam ducked their heads in unison taking their seats. Castiel stuck the key into the ignition and started the car up. "It's too quiet," Castiel said, and he turned on the radio. The Rolling Stones "Start Me Up" was playing and Sam was resenting it.
"No," Sam said trying to turn it off.

Castiel slapped Sam's hand a few times. "No, Sam no, no!" Castiel exclaimed. "Shotgun doesn't make the rules. I do."

Dean had influenced Castiel is what Sam thought. Sam crossed his arms and checked to see if Miracle was in the backseat, he was and looked like he was enjoying himself with his tongue out it appeared like he was laughing at him and Castiel.

As they drove out of the motel parking lot and onto the road, Sam had forgotten that he left his journal on the nightstand.

Chapter Text

Castiel stopped for gas at a chevron outside of Sioux City, Iowa. Going back to Kansas was making Sam nervous. He had originally thought he'd said goodbye to the bunker and his home state itself for good. But this was important. He had to find this girl who was potentially his niece. Having Cas back didn't make him forget all his problems, but it had been alleviating having someone who felt like family there with him.

"Her name is Courtney Croce, born August thirteenth, nineteen ninety-eight. I'm having difficulty finding her. Something tells me that she's still alive, but there's also something clouding Courtney from me. Someone or a thing doesn't want me to find her." This was all the information Castiel had retained.

They got onto the road again after the tank was filled up with gas. "So, what do you propose we do, Cas?" Sam went through possible scenarios in his mind. "I have enough ingredients at the bunker to try and locate her with a spell."

Castiel sighed heavily with his eyes still locked on the road ahead. "I don't want you going through the trouble of using a spell that likely won't work Sam. Courtney, I feel is under someone's influence and spell. It'll be best to conjure up someone powerful in magic, someone we can both trust."

There was one person that came to Sam's mind. Someone he thought he could trust which took time before, now she was the only witch he could trust with his whole life. "Rowena?"

Castiel nodded his head. "Just whom I was thinking."

The highway got dimmer as there were little to no cars around anymore and he glanced at a sign that said, 'Welcome to Nebraska'. "I did see your brother, Sam. He's in Heaven." He said reassuringly.

Sam looked at Castiel like he was about to say something. He rolled his flannel shirt sleeve down to the point where it became exposed from his dark olive-green jacket. It was a shirt that Dean wore often. It was red and black. He did the same on the other side. "Did you two talk?" Sam finally asked.

"No," Castiel answered swiftly. "He hasn't seen me. Dean is happy and he knows that I am alive again. He does think and talk about you frequently. The last I saw him he was catching up with Kevin Tran. Jack was able to find his spirit walking the earth and brought him to Heaven."

That made Sam smile, he was glad to know that Kevin was where he needed to be. Sam felt a trickle of water run down his cheek and realized it was a teardrop. "Well, as long as he's happy now."

Castiel glanced over at his friend mercifully, "I've been hearing your thoughts and prayers a lot Sam. I've been by you most of the time." The angel felt great sympathy for Sam. He wasn't going to tell him anything consisting of his new place in Heaven and the other angels, but a feeling told him it was necessary.

"The way Jack wants to handle everything now," Castiel continued. "Consists of himself and angels not to be seen anymore. So, we are again working behind the scenes as we used to. I'm sorry I never showed myself during those times you called me."

"It's okay, Cas," Sam revealed, but there was a part of him screaming no, that it wasn't okay. He tossed his long locks back. "I'm glad that you're with me this time. Though I speculate that when this is all over, I won't be able to see you again right?"

Castiel nodded his head as he placed his gaze back on the road. "Unfortunately, that is true."

Sam now knew what Garth possibly felt when they said goodbye the other night. He automatically felt the guilt more deeply than he had before.

Castiel continued, "I've also heard that you plan on leaving and starting over? I don't think it's a bad idea. I believe that in the end Dean would've wanted you to have a normal life."

The rest of the drive was mostly in silence, Castiel cranked up the dial for the music's volume. Wheel In The Sky by Journey was playing. This was a song Sam deeply reflected on. It's a song about life's long journey. You never know what tomorrow will bring nor is it promised.

Before driving into Kansas Castiel decided to stop at a twenty-four-hour mama and pop diner for his friend. "You look terrible Sam. It's evident you're having a deficiency in protein."

Sam tried to put up a fight before stepping out of the car but knew Castiel was correct. He did look to be in the beginning stages of becoming malnourished from not eating enough and staying away from meat as it made him feel sick to digest. Castiel took yesterday's salad box that Sam had off the dashboard and out of the car. Sam rolled two windows down for Miracle as his angel friend tossed the salad box in a nearby outdoor trashcan. The diner had a light and calming rustic look and once seated by an elder waitress who looked at both men admiringly Sam held himself together looking at the menu. He initially didn't want anything that was on it except for coffee.

Sam ordered regular black coffee and an egg benedict with toast. Castiel didn't need to eat with being an immortal angel and all. He did have a taste of coffee as he reminisced about his liking of it once. "I forget sometimes how simple things like coffee could make one feel." He grinned. Sam looked up at his angel friend and smiled.

"Do you still ever miss being human Cas?" Sam asked taking a bite from his toast.

"I still feel human emotions, I treasure still having that." He explained putting both hands underneath his chin while propping his elbows on the white table. "I miss the actual flavor of food, I still taste the molecules. Sleep was nice and sex... was great. I don't miss indigestion." Castiel sort of laughed. "I'm just glad that I had the experience so I could relate to humans more. I have compassion and know the different kinds of love people have for each other. I just don't know if I could be one again. Jack is allowing the angel's that option now. To become human. Though, I refused when he offered it to me."

Sam nodded to that. "It's really good to have you back now, Cas."

After paying and leaving a tip on the table Castiel and Sam drove less than an hour before reaching Lebanon, Kansas. Sam never thought he'd look at it again. Cas pulled the car over near the bunker. He took the key out of the ignition and exhaled a bit. "I know what you're thinking Sam, but hopefully this won't take too long."

They left the impala and Sam opened the door to the bunker, then he knew something wasn't right. "I didn't leave the lights on when I left," Sam said to himself. Miracle had raced indoors between Sam and Castiel's feet. Miracle didn't go down the stairs but instead up to the second floor where he disappeared. Sam turned to get a response from Castiel. The angel's face said it all. He was just as muddled as Sam was as they made eye contact with each other.

Castiel walked ahead of Sam down the stairs into the Nest and then into the library where he spun around and locked his eyes on something Sam didn't see. Sam joined Castiel in the library and looked in the same direction the angel looked perplexed at. Behind a table stood a woman very familiar to Sam. His heart dropped. "Eileen?" Sam's voice shook.

Eileen tossed a piece of her hair to the side and smiled at Sam. "Hey, Sam."

Sam made his way around the table to Eileen. He cupped her face in his hand caressing her with his thumb finger. He stared at her for the longest time and Eileen wrapped her arms around him. He kissed Eileen's forehead and embraced her back.

He couldn't believe it. Sam gripped her with his fingers not ever wanting to let her go again. After the rapture, Sam tried multiple times to facetime and text her. He never got any responses. He'd assumed the worst after a few weeks and tried moving on. Deep down, he never could.

As this was going on, Castiel reached into Sam's book bag and pulled out the laptop, opened it up on the table, and sat down. He searched an area where Courtney was last seen in Savannah, Georgia on google maps. He pulled up an article on another window where a friend of hers discussed with the police how she went missing on the 17th, almost 3 days ago, and when Courtney didn't meet her for brunch following a night of catching up in the downtown historic district. She went on and on about sending follow-up texts and calling, the parents had received nothing from their adoptive daughter.

Sam and Eileen sat down together at a table next to where Castiel was sitting. He pulled his chair closer to Eileen's. "So where have you been? What happened? How did you get back?"

Eileen laughed at the many questions Sam Winchester was asking her. "I was back in Hell, and then I was in Heaven, and now I'm back here with you." She motioned to the room with her finger that surrounded them. "Wait, I'm not dead anymore?"

Sam shook his head and laid his hand on hers. "No, you're here on earth. Something or someone must've realized that you belonged here again."

Eileen smiled at Sam as she turned her hand over to meet his fingers with hers. "I've missed you, Sam." She looked over at Castiel. "Hello, Castiel." The angel nodded at her meeting Eileen's smile with his own. She looked around and across the room before locking her eyes back at Sam. "Where's Dean?"

Sam could feel the softness in his face leave now. He saw Castiel look at him in dismay and the angel looked back at the laptop screen in front of him. Sam brushed his hair back with his fingers. "He's dead," Sam said gazing forward. but without meeting Eileen's eyes. "It happened during a vampire hunt."

"I'm so sorry Sam."

"Sam!" Castiel exclaimed.

Sam rose from his chair and walked over to Castiel looking down at the laptop. "What is it Cas?"

"I tapped into security footage where Courtney was last seen." Castiel tapped on a key on the keyboard to play the footage. He pointed at a young woman with her straight hair down and was wearing a casual tank top with dark skinny jeans and a flannel shirt wrapped around her waist leaving a bar called 'Rocks on the Roof'. "It's her leaving at twelve forty-five that night. Also, watch this." Castiel closed out the previous footage by pulling out another piece of footage and pressing play. The same woman turns a corner of a building on the sidewalk, her head tilts up to the sky before she fell over on the ground for about almost a minute and got back up. The woman walked away as though nothing had happened or checked for any injuries.

This made Sam flinch. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking Cas?" Sam said rhetorically.

"Possession?" Castiel asked, and they simultaneously nodded their heads.

***********

Castiel told Sam he would do more research before summoning Rowena. The angel wanted to give his friend and Eileen space. Sam offered his help, though an hour later he and Eileen ended up in his bed where they ended up in bed together. Sam and Eileen lay next to each other naked after their third round of sex and had now become exhausted, but blissful.

"I love you, Eileen." Sam used sign language for Eileen. He wrapped his arms around the woman’s bare torso. Eileen reciprocated by caressing Sam's face. She told Sam she loves him too. Sam found her lips with his, pulling her closer to him. They made out for a bit before they got out of bed together and got dressed.

"So," Eileen began sitting back down on the bed while putting her shoes back on. "You and Castiel are trying to find a girl who is potentially your niece?"

Sam buttoned up his shirt before responding. "I wouldn't say or think it's potential. Castiel made it sound aware that she is Dean's daughter. She also resembles him." Sam grinned at the last statement he made.

"Is she in any kind of danger?" Eileen asked.

"Yes, but Cas and I will find her, hopefully before it gets too dangerous."

"I can help you two," Eileen said using sign language signals.

Sam shook his head. "No, I've lost you too many times. You couldn't stand it when I was concerned for your safety when you did cases by yourself. It'll be worse if we work a case together."

Eileen playfully laughed. "I want to help, Sam. Don't tell me no."

It took a while for Sam to grin at how adorable Eileen is. "Eileen, what was your Heaven like?"

"It was Ireland, and I had my parents." Eileen's face lit up. "I even had my hearing, I wasn't deaf. Heaven is a good place. I was happy. I am still happy though because I'm here with you."

Sam bent down to kiss Eileen on the forehead. "Let's go see Cas, he's probably found something new by now."

***********

During that hour while Sam and Eileen were away. Castiel had made massive progress in Courtney's whereabouts. While he spent the time looking at her on footage it brought many memories of Dean. He'd replay the first piece of footage over again a few times of Courtney leaving the bar captivated by who she seemed to be before the possession moments later. It was only speculation of course for Castiel. She was unsettled. A sign of grief preoccupying her face. It was as if she was holding back on something, or wanted to say, only she doesn't know how to say it.

Again, Castiel thought, it was just speculation, but my gosh she reminded him so much of Dean. The way her eyes would narrow to her surroundings or when her lips would purse. Castiel had thought of Dean often since coming back to earth knowing full well it wasn't going to be the same not being able to see him, but at the same time Dean was safe and still existed out there. He thought of his final goodbye to his friend before the Empty took him. He'd told Dean that he loved him. He didn't have time to explain everything about how much Dean had changed him and the life he could never have.

Castiel went through the footage carefully of finding Courtney's car in each city and state to which she was crossing over and she drove in a black 2018 Toyota Avalon. When Castiel followed the footage of her in Texas, he had made a wild discovery.

"Cas?" Sam called from the stairs.

"Sam I'm still in the library. Come here and see this." Castiel sounded urgent so Sam hurried his pace down the stairs with Eileen following closely behind and stood with Castiel.

"What did you find?" Sam asked.

"It's not what I found it's what she did." Castiel spun the laptop to show Sam footage of Garth and Sam walking along a sidewalk in Austin with Courtney shinning demon eyes not far behind them. Sam bent down and paused to capture it.

"How did Courtney find me?" Sam asked with confusion on his face.

"Courtney didn't find you. That demon possessing her body did." Castiel said in his correcting tone. Castiel stepped away for a moment and came back with ingredients in hand and a bowl. "I had also seen that she began to follow you in her car when you left Austin. It's obvious the demon is following you wherever you're going."

"Okay, so why are we still summoning Rowena? If she's following me, we can easily set a trap and get rid of the demon possessing her." Sam asked still in confusion.

"Because Sam, she could still have a spell on her, I can't pinpoint her. Also, when we do send away the demon Rowena can help us hide her with another spell… you're welcome." Castiel rolled his eyes at Sam as he placed the bowl on the table and began adding ingredients to it. Castiel went back to find some candles and came back with four, he lit them up, two on each side. "Do you perhaps have a knife on you?" Castiel looked at Sam.

Sam reached for his jacket that was hanging on one of the chairs. He took out a pocketknife and handed it to Castiel.

Castiel cut the palm of his hand to create the summoning sigil and squeezed the rest of the blood over the ingredients in the bowl. Castiel began his chant; "Et ad congregandom, Eos coram me."

Eileen stood back as she clung to Sam's arm. The amount of tugging on his arm made Sam step ahead of Eileen, protecting her from something she was feeling anxious about.

Castiel finished the ritual, so now everyone present in the room waited. A figure appeared in Castiel's peripheral vision. "Seriously? At this hour your girl was getting some much-needed action from her best-looking demons."

Everyone's eyes darted over at the woman standing in the middle of the room. Rowena continued with a satisfied grin as she straightened out her flowing red locks and long black sequin dress, "Hello boys."

************
A Few Hours Ago

Marshall, Minnesota

A Toyota Avalon pulled up to a vacant motel with only two other cars in the parking lot, one being the Impala. The engine stopped and a woman stepped out. She scoped out the motel leaning against the vehicle's door. She stepped away and closed the door shut walking up to the lobby entrance. She walked in and found a bored stricken girl behind the desk with her nose in a teen magazine with air pods in her ears.

"Leave her alone." A voice said. The woman ignored that voice as she strode over to the desk and kicked it. "Hey, wake the hell up." She told the girl.

The girl promptly took out her air pods and placed her magazine to the side. "Yeah? How might I help you?" She asked.

The woman looked at the girl's name tag. "Yes, Cassidy." She smiled overzealous. "I'm looking for a man that checked in not too long ago. He's a giant, cute, and has shoulder-length dark hair."

"Yeah," Cassidy recalled. "He was here just twenty minutes ago. What's your name?" Cassidy asked now focusing on the computer.

It took a while for her to respond. "My name is Courtney Croce."

"Okay," Cassidy typed and looked back up. "What is his name?"

Courtney laughed. "I don't think you understand. I'm not staying, I just need to see him."

Cassidy shook her head. "It's protocol miss."

Courtney leaned in. "This man uses more fake names than the number of pages in the Bible. So, I don't know what name he used."

Cassidy expressed amusement. "Sure, I can call his room and tell him that Courtney is here." She said with obvious laughter in her tone.

"I'll just find the room myself then," Courtney said turning away furiously.

"Uh, you're not supposed to do that miss!" Cassidy called coming around the desk to try and stop Courtney.

Courtney whipped around. Cassidy could remember seeing the woman's eyes. It went from normal green eyes to pitch black ones before being thrown across the room. It took a few seconds after Cassidy was on the floor that she realized her back made a cracking noise against the wall. Cassidy couldn't feel her joints as she was trying to pull herself up. Nothing was happening. She could hear and see boots coming toward her.

The demon inside of Courtney knelt near Cassidy, thinking about finishing her off, flashing her pitch-black eyes again. That was when that inside voice came back, "No! Please! Leave her alone! You've done enough! Stop it! Don't kill her!"

Cassidy began to cry in hysterics, and the voice got to the demon possessing Courtney's vessel. The demon stood leaving Cassidy on the floor as she was going behind the desk to search for the latest sign-in. The name was under the alias of 'Thomas Petty'.

The demon in Courtney left the lobby after getting the room number. It was at the end of the building. There was no rush making her way in the darkness, the boots making that clanking noise through the corridor of the motel. The demon wanted it to be a nice surprise for the Winchester.

She closed in when suddenly the room door flung open. The demon looked around and darted toward a vending machine pretending as though she was using it or deciding on a drink to get.

"Come on, you too Castiel," Sam ordered.

The demon could hear Sam and the angel swap around a conversation. Worthily noting, the demon heard Sam say something about going to Lebanon, Kansas. After a minute the Impala started and drove away. The demon possessing Courtney made her way to the room and luckily for it the door was still open.

"Okay, Courtney go away. Your thoughts are getting on my nerves." The demon told the original spirit of the vessel. Courtney was sent away in a dream for the moment. The demon turned on the light and slowly examined the room. Personal possessions seemed to have already been picked up except for a book on an end table. The demon picked it up and skimmed a few pages. Ah, it thought, its eyes glistened. Sam Winchester's journal. The demon kept it and walked out of the motel room.

The demon inside of Courtney grinned walking to her Toyota Avalon and got in. She didn't follow the Impala closely now knowing the next destination.

Chapter Text

Back in the future of Heaven, Sam stopped telling his story when the door at the main entrance of the house opens and closes. It perks Bobby to get up from a chair he had brought into the library. He sits his plate with a half eaten hamburger on it on the desk and walks out of the room. Sam watches him and briskly turns his attention back to Dean. His brother is speechless from everything he learned so far. His daughter? Possessed by a demon? It was bad like Sam said it would be. They can hear Bobby distinctly greet people at the door.

Sam recognizes the persons' voices and he too stands from where he sat and joins the crowd outside the room. There he meets familiar faces staring back at him with the same content look. "Mom, dad."

"Hello, son," John and Mary Winchester smile with their arms wide.

Dean makes his way outside of the room too, his hands in his pockets leaning on the door frame. He had so many questions already about his daughter. He thought it rude to interrupt Sam right now for those questions. He simply watches his brother reunite with their parents smiling.

It was a blissful reunion after Sam caught his parents up on the life he lived. "It's great to have all of you boys here," Mary said, her face radiant and happy. Dean smiles at his mom remembering a time when they were all alive and he'd been four, his mother would smile like that a lot at him and at Sam when he was in his crib. The good times before everything went to hell.

Sam walks out of the house with his father John. They look up toward the night sky together. It's a spectacle Sam is still getting used to. Everything looked to be moving faster than they were back on earth.

"It's because Heaven moves faster than the earth," John explains. "That's why the time here and there are different."

Sam didn't glance away from the stars. In seconds they were on one end and gone the next after a few seconds. "That'd explain what Dean said about being here for only a year."

John pats Sam's back gently and gazes at his son. "I am happy that you were able to live a long life. Especially one you've dreamed of having."

"For a long time, I've always thought I let you down. It was worse after you died and the way I treated you that day and w-," Sam admits and was cut off.

"No Sam. I'm very proud of you. I never expected you and Dean to live the life you both did for as long as you had. I regretted it for a long time too. I should've never brought you boys on the road with me to begin with."

"Well," Sam thinks up of a few scenarios he can remember during their hunts and the hunts when it was only him and Dean. "Dean and I had to face a few otherworldly challenges that seemed were meant to happen because of destiny, so it wouldn't have mattered anyway." Sam shrugs and forces a smile at his father.

John winces and looks up at the sky again and notices something, he points up with his finger. "Over there, Sam."

Sam sees something at what he thought is a piece of another country passing through like the stars in the sky. "What is that?"

"Heaven has a few loopholes to get to one place and another quicker compared to driving. If we can make it there in time, we can find out what it is."

Sam willing to go out on a limb as this fascinated him, he follows John back to his house, which is the same house from his and Dean's childhood. They get into a pickup truck and haul it toward the moving land.

Three days have went by since Sam left with John, but it felt longer than a week to Dean. Sam's absence was making him angry. He went to see Bobby to rant about it. Bobby would keep reminding Dean that they will be back soon. "When Sam gets back, he will give you more information. Sam needs to find out more about Heaven, he's still new at this."

Dean knew Bobby is right, still, it's frustrating for him. Another day went by, and a pickup truck came riding up to Bobby's house. Dean is already prepared to ask Sam for more about his daughter, but that's not what came out of his mouth when Sam steps away from the truck. "Where the hell have you been?! You tell me my daughter is possessed by a demon? I understood giving you time to fill our parents in but you leaving me with that information and nothing else! What the hell is the matter with you, Sam?"

Sam puts his hands up in defense. "Dean. I can understand how you feel and I'm sorry. That was why I decided to come back now because there is more to tell you."

"So where were you?"

"Dad was only showing me things about Heaven, and I realized I was gone for too long."

Dean nods his head understandingly. He had an overwhelming feeling that he has been acting selfishly. He is and realizes he did have enough time to find out everything.

By evening, Mary is with her boys. She heard everything about Dean's daughter from the past few days. Intriguingly she wants to hear more when they get together for Sam to continue. This time the family would meet out on the front porch at Bobby's.

Dean cracks open three beers, one for himself, Sam, and Mary. He's handing Sam a beer and as Sam went to grab it Dean pulls it back. He did this a few times until Sam finally snatches it out of Dean's hand. "Jerk."

"Bitch." Dean retorts.

Sam would otherwise feel a bit offended, but a smile works its way onto his face as it used to be their thing. He began to tell the rest of the story:

********

White Rabbit

December 16, 2020

Courtney's alarm on her phone went off at 10:25 a.m. to the song 'Operator' By Jim Croce. Ironic that her favorite song in the whole world would be by a man that shared the same last name as her. Well, her adoptive last name which she decided on her own to keep. Courtney stretched groggily at her desk after writing a few notes in her notebook and waited for the tune to finish before turning it silent.

The room was a basic teenage look. She had yet to take down a few decorations now that she was twenty-two. Her room had beautiful crown molding near the ceiling and floor. The walls were a gorgeous blue. It will look just as amazing when she would one day take down the majority of her posters.

She'd just flown in from New York to Savannah last night. She arrived too late and hadn't showered yet. Looking into the mirror on top of her dresser reminded her of that. Courtney saw that she still had on her clothes from yesterday, some black leggings and a wrinkled oversized sweater.

She could smell food cooking downstairs. Courtney hadn't seen her parents when she got in last night and darted for the door. She took her time going down the stairs and thought of the accidents. She'd had some before as it's very slippery being made from marble.

Courtney could admit that her adoptive parents are exceptionally well off. Both were lawyers, and represented very good people. They were good people too. Her adoptive parents raised her right, Courtney thought.

She could hear the turning page of a newspaper in the kitchen. Her father was sitting at the kitchen island and her mom’s back was turned as she was cooking. She thought about sneaking up on them but didn't think it was a good idea while her mom had a burning skillet in front of her. Instead, Courtney walked behind her father and lowered both of her palms over his eyes.

"I can't see the sports section." Courtney's father said in a monotone.

"It's in there Mark, I already checked." The mother said before turning around to see Courtney and she shrieked.

It had been almost two years since Courtney's parents had seen her. Her mom rushed to hug Courtney. Her father got up to hug her as well. Courtney didn't much like random kisses on her forehead but in this situation, she allowed them to do so and hugged them back.

The mother pulled away and looked Courtney square in the eyes. "You're still not on a college ramen noodle diet, are you?"

Courtney squinted. "Not a diet. More of a once every two to four weeks?" She shrugged. The disdain on her mother's face and her furrowed brow told Courtney to change the answer. She couldn't help it if ramen noodles were that good to her. "Months, I meant months." Courtney's smile was always convincing enough to make another person smile. She hoped it worked. Courtney made her way across the room and sat on the end of the island.

Her mom shook her head and smiled again. "It's so good to see you again in person and not on facetime."

"Which is why I'm taking three weeks off from my internship. I'm meeting with Tara today and the rest of the time will be with you two. I've missed you guys so much." Courtney rambled and after she made her way to the fridge to get out the strawberries. "It's nice to know this hasn't changed."

"I picked them up at Elise's Market fresh yesterday. I know and still remember how much you love them." The mom said pulling a slice of bacon out of a package and into the skillet to fry. "When are you meeting up with Tara?"

"At twelve," Courtney answered after consuming a strawberry. "We're meeting up for brunch and going to the Historic District to meet up with other friends."

"Won’t you have some breakfast I have whipped up already for you?"

"Of course," Courtney squinted as though her mom should've never asked her that question. "I'll eat light when I see Tara, but you know I can stomach almost anything and everything."

"Listen to this." Courtney's father Mark said extending the newspaper in his hands, folding it into the part he wanted to read from. Courtney and her mother give their undivided attention. "Victims in Texas are getting their hearts ripped from their chests."

Courtney almost choked on a strawberry she was sucking the juice out of. Her parents didn't notice, but her mom did whip around with a question she readied. "Is it animal attacks?"

"They have a coroner on the cases. They are still investigating the possibility if it was an animal or a person. If it's a person, they ought to be very strong as the flesh wasn't cut with any sharp weapon."

Courtney gagged then and there. "I've read other cases that happened this same way, but in other states." She said after finishing a strawberry closing the lid over the rest. "None of those were ever resolved I believe. The murders just suddenly stopped by some miracle."

Courtney's mom didn't want to discuss the story anymore as they were about to eat so everyone at the kitchen island dropped the subject. Courtney took one slice of bacon, a boiled egg, and a blueberry muffin. Mark also gave Courtney the game section so she could start the crossword for him. The first question is who sang 'All Along the Watchtower' first. Courtney took a pen from the cup holder in front of her and wrote 'BOBDYLAN' in the empty squares.

"Wasn't it Jimi Hendrix?" Mark said in confusion and placed his coffee mug down eyeing the squares Courtney just wrote in to make sure they were the right ones. It was labeled as 1.

"Jimi sang it as a rock cover. It is originally a Dylan song." Courtney could answer ten more questions until she looked at the time when Mark's lock screen came up on his phone. "I should get ready." She got up from her chair kissed Mark on his head and went to hug her mother. "I'll try not to stay out too late. And-"

The parents glanced at Courtney when it looked like she wanted something else to add. Courtney faltered and nervously smiled at both of them. "Breakfast was really good."

"Thank you, dear." Courtney's mom said and started spraying the cabinets with cleaner.

"Courtney," Mark said as he tossed Courtney a car key. "Take the Avalon."

Courtney caught her old car key she hadn't driven since 2018. It's been a while since she drove a car. Living on a university campus that has everything within walking distance and a city where other means of transportation were easy. It made it impossible for her to even think she needed a car anymore. Courtney saluted at her dad. "Here's to remembering how to drive a car."

Courtney's mom turned her attention away from cleaning the kitchen counter and onto her daughter. There was a look of concern and wide-set eyes, so Mark spoke up for his wife. "Courtney, don't scare your mother!" There was humor in his tone.

Courtney made her way back up the stairs at a quicker pace than she did going down earlier. After laying out a new pair of clothes on her plain bedspread, she took a quick shower and dried what she could of her damp long hair running a brush through her light brown strands.

Courtney prepped her face with primer and added BB cream, she used her bronzer as eyeshadow and dabbed it a few times on her eyelids. She saved mascara for last and tossed her blank white crop top on. She slipped into dark skinny jeans next and grabbed an oversized long-sleeved blue and white flannel shirt in case she got cold.

In a cold month like December, it is usually cold, especially in Georgia, however, since moving up north Courtney had distinctly felt the difference between what's cold and cool. 50 degrees Fahrenheit in her opinion was not cold anymore. After Courtney also grabbed her wallet and phone, she took her time going down the stairs again. Her parents were no longer in the kitchen and Courtney looked at the time. She had fifteen minutes left until twelve. "I'm going, love you!" She shouted hoping that her parents heard her and opened the front door.

Mark must've reversed the Avalon out of the garage for Courtney when she was getting ready upstairs as she didn't remember seeing it in the driveway previously. Courtney took her car key out from her wallet, attached was the keyless remote and she unlocked the car door at a close distance and got in. She'd forgotten how comfortable the interior was. This car was her 'baby' at one point when she drove it as a senior in high school.

Courtney slipped her phone out from her wallet and unlocked it texting Tara. "I'm on my way right now."

Tara had been her best friend since the sixth grade. They had tried out for their school's softball team that same year and had been inseparable since. Tara had texted back: "Ok. Already here."

Courtney smiled back at her phone putting her key into the ignition and turned the engine on. She shifted her gear into reverse backing out of the driveway. She stopped at the edge of the driveway to look at the childhood home she grew up in during the daylight. Sure, the other houses on the street were almost exact replicas of her home. She didn't realize how much she had missed the cobblestone two-story.

Driving again for Courtney was like falling off a bike without scraping her knee. It was nerve-racking at first, but it ended up being a piece of cake as everything came second nature to her. She made it to B. Matthews Eatery earlier than expected and found Tara standing outside of the restaurant in a sleeveless flower-patterned dress that reached down to her ankles. Out of their group of friends, Tara was the prettiest being the most exotic. Her green eyes were more prominent than Courtney's, she was tan and had black hair. Courtney gave her the nickname 'Esmerelda' because she resembled the cartoon character from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Courtney parked her car and Tara came running up. Tara flung her towering arms over her friend's shoulders with a tight grip after her friend got out and closed the car door. "It's about time you came back, homegirl! I missed seeing your precious face in person."

"I missed you too. You're going to come to visit me in the city soon." Courtney flung her arm around Tara and used her free hand to lock her car door and wrapped her flannel shirt around her waist.

Inside Courtney ordered a veggie scramble and mango iced tea. Tara ordered the scallops and an orange juice mimosa. They got a table in no time since reservations were made early in the morning.

Tara took a sip of her mimosa and gasped making Courtney jump in her seat. "You don't post much on social media, and I've been wanting to see what your Manhattan apartment looks like."

Courtney lightly laughed as she picked up her phone and scrolled through her pictures. "Next time just ask Tara, don't jump scare me."

"Sorry," Tara embarrassingly shrugged. She looked around her hoping she didn't disturb anyone else sitting close.

"So, it's five pictures of the studio I've been in for almost a year." Courtney passed her cell phone to Tara.

Tara went through a few pictures of a hefty-looking loft and her eyes gauged. "This is more than a studio, it's a modern loft with modern furniture. Where did you work before to afford this?"

"I live there rent-free, the job I have my internship with pays for it. And this is exactly why I'm very private on social media now. I don't want a lot of people knowing about this." She reached over to retrieve her phone back and Tara politely handed it back thinking.

Tara didn't think her friend was acting ecstatic enough. But she dropped the subject.

The waiter came with their food Tara's phone lit up and sounded off with a 'Ding' to which she looked at pensively chewing and placed it back down.

After brunch, Courtney and Tara walked over to the Historic District from the restaurant where Tara constantly got a text notification and continuously ignored it. Courtney staggered lightly laughing. "Tara answer your phone. I hope you're not ignoring that person on my account."

"It's Jace. He's asking me how you're doing."

Oh. Courtney thought back on the high school relationship she had with Jace. It was a mutual break up after spending time away at different colleges. She was more goal-oriented in her studies and he wanted to see other people. However, they hadn't spoken since.

Courtney hung her head low and closed her eyes as she shook it. "Tell him I'm good. However, you want to handle it." She felt something brush against her and ahead a young girl that had been running stopped to look back. Courtney felt a tight grip in her heart as the girl reminded her of someone.

"I'm sorry." A woman apologized to Courtney as she caught up to the child taking her hand. "Zoe, I told you to stay with me."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it." Courtney managed a smile and continued walking down the cobblestone road with Tara holding her wallet tight to her waist.

"She looked a lot like Emily huh?" Tara said.

Courtney only nodded. They revisited some of their favorite clothing and accessory shops, reminiscing their silly teenage years and getting thrown out of one of the stores when they were fifteen for being too loud. Courtney was enjoying the nostalgia of the afternoon that when evening came, she had thought previously of wanting to go home early but changed her mind.

Hunger was setting in again and Courtney longed to go back to 'Rocks on the Roof'. It was a bar that left an impression on her the last time she was in Savannah. Because they've done a lot of walking the two friends took the elevator as the bar sat on top of a hotel. The bar itself is extravagant with metallic crowning, red walls, dim chandeliers, and large openings leading out to the rooftop terrace that looks over the city and river.

Courtney and Tara took their seats at the bar set in the middle of the room. There was a woman bartender and a man bartender that greeted them instantly and asked what they wanted. Courtney ordered the Practice What You Peach, and Tara ordered an orange margarita. After they got their drinks, they ordered their food.

"Of course," Tara threw her hands up in the air sarcastically when she saw Courtney's food being placed on the bar table. "She gets a bacon and cheese slider, and she won't gain any weight. I have a best friend who is a human garbage disposal."

Courtney tittered. "Shut up Tara. Look at you, you're a model compared to my five feet five height."

"Still, I've seen you eat anything, and not once have you grown extra meat." Tara tapped her friend in the gut with her hand a couple of times just then.

Courtney withheld the food already in her mouth as she wanted to laugh. Thirty minutes went by, and she could swear to hearing three The Chainsmokers songs in the bar. It's not that she didn't like modern music, Courtney did but thought it would be better if the place had more variety.

"Hello, ladies."

Tara and Courtney turned around in their seats, both not sure how to react to what they saw. Courtney could feel her eye twitch seeing another one of her high school friends Ben and Andrew right next to him looking satisfied with himself. Ben smiled, but not the usual quirky adorable one Courtney was used to.

"Ben?" Tara humorously scratched her chin. "Is that black licorice dripping from your mouth?"

Ben's face flushed in embarrassment. He swiped his fingers on the corner of his mouth and saw the black goo on his tips. He closed his mouth and gave Andrew a daunting stare down before walking to the men's room.

Andrew clapped his hands together with an annoying snicker and sat down next to Tara.

"Trick gum? Don’t you think you're too old for that Andrew?" Courtney's eyebrow furrowed in question.

Andrew mimicked what Courtney just said and there went her evening. She ordered another drink, this time a Jack Daniels cocktail. Andrew began to flirt with Tara, so Courtney got up from the barstool looking for Ben with a drink in hand.

She found Ben on the terrace with a paper towel scrubbing each tooth. It had gotten dark out and the bar had good outdoor lighting where Courtney could see some of the stains on his teeth come off. "Courtney, Is the stain gone?"

Courtney took a glance at Ben's teeth again getting a closer look. "There's still some black in between the teeth, but it isn't bad. Do you want me to get you a drink to flush it out some more?"

Ben huffed pushing back his medium-long curly dark brown hair aside. "No, that's okay. I'm too embarrassed to stay here for too much longer. Besides, it looks like Andrew and Tara are having a nice chat."

"Hey," Courtney playfully punched Ben in the arm. "You guys make everything about Tara. If it makes you feel better Tara isn't that impressed with him."

Ben was beginning to think why he was still hanging out with Andrew. They both liked Tara a lot since Junior year of High School and had always fought to get her attention. "Well, it's good to see you again. How long are you in town for?"

"I'll be here through Christmas and New Year's, and I'll go back to New York on January sixth."

"How is that internship going? A lot of us haven't heard from you in a while so they must be keeping you busy." Ben picked out a cigarette from his pocket.

Courtney saw Ben as someone she could tell anything to. Ben wouldn't repeat what anyone told him. So, she could trust him. "I've been taking online nursing courses to get an RN degree in my free time. It's like I told you before, I don't mind-" She swallowed, and saw the perplexed look on Ben's face. His unlit cigarette hung low from his lips.

"Courtney." Ben begun. "I'm sure your parents will understand if you explain it to them. I'm proud of you for making the effort this time."

Courtney got Ben caught up on her internship and the law firm she is currently working for and afterward Tara and Andrew joined them out on the terrace. Courtney struggled to be in the same presence as Andrew, but she stayed because of Tara and Ben. Andrew was always in her and Tara's friend group even though she despised him. He was massively crude in a non-hilarious way. Ignoring Andrew was nothing new, and it was a way she practiced her patience, Courtney thought.

"Where's Jenna? She said she'd be here!" Tara howled. Her voice echoed.

Courtney glanced at Tara smirking, yep, her friend was drunk.

"I forgot to tell you. She texted earlier wanting to tell you she's currently immersed with herpes and is hiding at home." Andrew joked and snickered.

Ben threw back his head in annoyance. "She has a common cold and fever," Ben reassured Tara and Courtney.

There was a tap on Courtney's shoulder. She spun around to see her ex-boyfriend staring back at her. A tall model-type woman stood next to him. Courtney didn't assess her just yet. She peered up at Jace. He looked different with the aftershave worn on his chiseled jawline. His piercing blue eyes are shown in the darkness.

"What are you doing here, Jace?" The words just spilled out of Courtney's mouth without any thought. She realized how rude it sounded a second later. Still, out of all the bars in the city he had to show up at this one.

"Because it's a free country." Jace grinned as he said it rhetorically. "I wanted you to meet someone" He took the womans’ hand who stood next to him. "Natalie this is Courtney. The ex that I was telling you about."

Courtney narrowed her eyes at Jace feeling that he was intentionally provoking her. She saw the woman, yes, she was strikingly beautiful, a model type like Tara, but with blonde hair and brown eyes.

"Hi, he's said nothing but good things about you." Natalie smiled.

Natalie had a unique accent, she seemed nice and charming, but Courtney couldn't help but feel enraged. "Thanks," Courtney said before taking Tara's arm and walking somewhere secluded.

"Girl," Tara was bug-eyed. "I had no idea he would show up with a girl like that."

"You texted him our location? Why did you do it?" Courtney could hear and feel the irritation in her.

"You told me earlier to handle him however I wanted. I got a text from him a few hours ago and told him we'd be here for a while."

Courtney didn't say anything. Her body shook and she was trying to calm down. It wasn't that seeing Jace with another girl had upset her, it was the way he went about it. She felt like she could scream. By now she had pretty much moved on.

Tara placed her hand on Courtney's shoulder. "The guy is just trying to make you jealous. These boys haven't grown up since High School. Look at where you are and where he is now. You're the one making an actual success out of your life and he's screwing around. You can do better. Try an older man. Boys our age suck."

Tara made Courtney laugh. "Thanks, but I think I'm gonna go."

"The bar is open for just a few more hour's though."

"I'm getting tired," Courtney rubbed her neck seeing how the bar was filling up with more people, including her ex-boyfriend. "This also isn't fun anymore."

"Okay, we can meet for another brunch tomorrow or maybe some coffee."

"It'll have to be very early because I promised my parents, I'd be with them. I'll text you." Courtney began walking away after Tara agreed.

Courtney took the elevator down and realized she'd have to walk a long way alone to her car at midnight. Asshole, Courtney thought of Jace as she leaned against the elevator wall as her head dropped. When she got outside, she thought about calling an Uber to take her back to B. Matthews Eatery and decided against it. There were still some people walking around the area.

She thought back to her conversation with Ben about her career indecision and keeping it from her parents. Courtney felt like she was lying to them by not saying how she felt. Yes, she was making good revenue working for a law firm, but it wasn't what she wanted. It was something they wanted for her.

Courtney began walking down River Street with her wallet gripped tightly in her hand. She crossed two other roads ignoring shortcuts down unknown or vacant areas. She learned this while living in Manhattan. It had made her more cautious and alert to their surroundings.

There was a street she took that would take her to E. Bay Street and from there it would be a straight walk to her car. There were no people when she turned and before she could decide anything the last thing she remembered was seeing the night sky and falling over after putting up a fight at the strange feeling of something, entering her from her mouth?

When Courtney came back to consciousness however not in full control of her own body she was driving on a secluded highway. Only it wasn't her that was driving and that's when it got weirder. "Oh, you're awake." It was her mouth that was talking but it wasn't her. "Hello Courtney, my name is Ruby. I will be borrowing you for a quick tour. It feels nice being inside of a Winchester."

Courtney didn't understand what she meant by saying "Winchester". Nothing was ever really explained to her for the past few days or why this 'Ruby' inside of her was following a tall man and never got the chance to get him alone. It was impossible to read Ruby's mind. It had been three days of torture for Courtney. Now and again, Ruby would send her off into a daydream state where it would be blissful for a moment and then Courtney would remember her new reality and wake up from it.

******

Lebanon, Kansas

December 20, 2020

Ruby had waited impatiently with her host still asleep in a daydream. Ruby made sure Courtney dreamed about something she wouldn't want to wake up from for a while. Ruby found the bunker Sam had driven to. She knew the angel was still with him. They had gone into the building together. They had been in there all morning and half of the afternoon until she saw Sam submerge with a woman using a pair of binoculars she used.

Ruby had made sure she and her car was a good way away from the bunker to see what was going on. She could pick up nothing about the stranger with Sam other than she is human. Sam and the woman got into the Impala together and drove away.

She got a move on by getting back into the Avalon and stalked Sam to a nearby Thai restaurant he parked at. The Winchester was the first to get out and opened the car door for the woman to get out. "New girlfriend I see Sammy boy?" Ruby hissed picking off her sunglasses from her eyes.

Ruby parked the car and got out strolling to the restaurant after Sam and his woman went in. She wanted to barf when Sam's arm wrapped around that woman's shoulder. opening the door to go in she spotted where Sam and his woman sat. She felt Courtney stirring around. Courtney knew the song that played, 'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane. Ruby quickly looked away when she caught Sam glance over at her. When Ruby peeked back over Sam was looking down at his phone and excused himself from the woman. He got up and exited of room from the back door.

Ruby found her chance and dashed across the room and out the door he had walked out of. She looked left and right down the back alley and spotted Sam rounding a corner. She dashed again and was ambushed by someone pinning her to the brick wall. Ruby saw that it was the Angel Castiel holding his arm against her throat and his other hand pushing against her torso.

"It's over. Let go of her." Castiel nailed his gaze on Ruby menacingly.

"I remember you," Ruby said with a mischievous grin.

A sound of words like witchcraft came from the side of her and Castiel. Ruby peered over to see a red-headed woman whom she recognized as well with her arms sprawled out, but it had been a very long time, and thought Rowena was a bit overdressed if she wanted to fight. The spell this witch used was used to get a demon out of a human's vessel. "I am bonded to Courtney you priss." She hissed as the witch looked as though she questioned her abilities. "It won't work."

Ruby glanced at the angel again and saw something shine in his coat pocket. She butted her head against Castiel's temple as hard as she could. As he faltered Ruby gripped what she did presume to be an angel blade from Castiel's pocket. Ruby pushed herself onto him, knocking Castiel to the pavement ground, and readied the blade to stab him through the chest.

Rowena chanted something else, and Ruby was sent away into the deepest part of Courtney's mind, and Courtney regained her consciousness again. Confusion flooded her when she gazed at the man staring back at her. He wore a trench coat and a business suit beneath it. She and the man locked eyes in unison. He was more fearful than how she felt. Suddenly, Courtney realized she was holding something in her hand.

It had been a knife in her hand pointed at this man's chest. His face crinkled as he studied her motives. She swallowed nervously and began to lower the knife away from him, and without warning, there was a hard blow to her eye. It was so hard that she fell backward to the ground and the man stood over her. Courtney knew he hit her and wondered what she had personally done to deserve it. The pain began to engulf Courtney's eye. Her teeth gritted but couldn't get any formation of words or thoughts out.

There came another chant Rowena said that sent Courtney back into a deep sleep.

Chapter Text

Riding back to the bunker Castiel and Rowena sat next to an unconscious Courtney while Sam drove with Eileen by his side in the front. The drive was a bit quiet after a discussion took place where they decided to put Courtney within a Devil’s trap after Castiel told them it was Ruby who had been taking over her vessel.

"The poor Lasse still has Ruby inside roaming around. The spell I used will only keep the demon at bay. Either it or Courtney will wake up first. I suspect it should be the girl, as I put Ruby into a deep cavernous part of Courtney's mind." Her voice was full of concern, Rowena thought back to when she trained Ruby in the past. How dare the demon use her magic in such a retaliating approach against her. It made Rowena's blood boil.

"Good," Sam felt relieved. "Will we be able to talk with Ruby before casting her out?"

"I can do that for you Samuel," Rowena is always pleased to help her friend in any way she can. "The hard part will be to separate the bond Ruby has with Courtney. It has been fatal for one soul in the past. However, I believe in my craft. I'll try my best not to harm the girl."

Castiel fretted over what Rowena said, so did Sam and Eileen, however, they trusted the witch and hoped the extraction in the future will go as planned.

Sam interlocked his hand with Eileen's reminding her that he did his job greatly and turned up safe. It was a good plan from the beginning. The battle had been won. The war with getting Ruby out of Courtney's body will be the final step.

Eileen grinned up at Sam from ear to ear. She began to understand why Sam acted the way he did in the past with her. He'd follow to make sure she was always okay on missions she's wanted to take alone. This was a dangerous job. Who knows what Ruby could've done? She'd almost killed Castiel tonight. She gripped Sam's hand, though not too tight. He returned a beaming smile to her.

As far as Castiel went, he couldn't get rid of the fact he'd hit Courtney. He replayed the moment of seeing the girl's shocked face when darkness left her eyes. Human feelings took over him again. He felt, misery. At that minute Ruby was going to stab him with the angel blade something had taken a turn. It wasn't Ruby anymore, yet he still struck her out of fear.

Castiel glanced down where Courtney had her head resting untroubled against his arm, her long hair overlapping parts of his shoulder and chest. He could see how peaceful she was, even in the blackness of the car after the sun had gone down. He saw faintly where he'd struck her left eye. A dark pigment of purple had spread the inner corner of her nasal bone and the ridge of her brow.

He wanted to heal Courtney's injury but feared counteracting with the spell Rowena had already placed on the girl. He wouldn't ask either. Ruby was still in there doing God only knows what else to Courtney's state of mind.

After arriving back at the bunker Castiel helped Sam by moving a motionless Courtney inside. After making their way down the steel staircase Sam threw Courtney over his shoulder, her head and arms hung low down his backside. Sam carried her to what he called 'The Dungeon Room' and Castiel came in close behind him with a chair and rope.

Castiel flipped the chair upright in the middle of the Devil’s trap displayed on the floor. He along with Sam propped Courtney up onto the chair and bound her down with the rope.

"That should be good enough to hold Ruby." Sam sounded too self-assured as he wiped his hands together from rope burn.

Rowena stepped into the room from behind the two men. "I'll keep my eyes on the girl. When she awakens, I'll come to get you boys."

A part of what made Castiel care stepped forward. "I can wait for her to wake up with you." Castiel insisted, part of him also wanted something to do for the rest of the night as he doesn't sleep.

Rowena scoffed at Castiel flipping a red lock of her hair back. "The girl is tied in a small vacant room that screams murder scene. I don't think she'd be ecstatic waking up to the sight of you. You did pummel her face by the way."

Castiel lost some light in his eyes as embarrassment and guilt took over once again. But he knew Rowena was right. "I'll just wait in the library then if anyone needs me. I'll be there." His lips trembled slightly. He looked at Courtney tied up in the seat. That bruise over her eye he'd left was going to consume his mind for the time being and he turned to take his leave of the room.

It’s been a while since Sam had actual sleep time. He went to his room to get a few or several hours in. Eileen joined Rowena in watching over Courtney. It took an entire day for her to warm up to Rowena and found the witch/queen of hell to be a substantial conversationalist and humorous.

Castiel sat alone in the library swarmed in the emotions of what happened that day and into the morning. Dejected wasn't even a big enough word to describe the feeling. He tried distracting himself from thinking about the girl by reading an encyclopedia and a couple of fiction books. Either he wasn't trying enough, or he was taking this harder than expected.

Before noon Sam had woken up and Eileen had gone to sleep. He trudged into the library with a cup of black coffee Eileen had made earlier in the kitchen. "Anything yet?" Sam took a sip of his coffee after asking Castiel about Courtney.

Castiel brushed a hand through his dark tousled hair with an eye roll as he slouched. It wasn't an aggravated roll. Sam could tell Castiel had been overthinking something for a while.

"Are you okay Cas?" Sam asked placing his cup on the table and sitting across from his friend.

Castiel drew out a long sigh. "Yeah," It seemed forceful at first, but Castiel was able to give Sam his attention. "I haven't retrieved any news yet from Rowena and Eileen just went upstairs to get some rest."

"Does hitting Courtney have anything to do with you feeling down right now?" Sam asked guarded, he didn't want to offend.

Some would say is it that obvious? Castiel on the other hand hated to be read that obviously. He squinted at Sam uncertainly. "You should be upset, not concerned over my well-being. I harmed your niece, Sam." He wanted to help, not hurt her.

"If she is my niece you mean." Sam still didn't one hundred percent know for certain yet. Though she did hold a strong resemblance to the Winchester line.

Castiel tilted his head at Sam puzzled. "She is Sam. Now that I've been around her, I can feel it."

"Samuel!" Rowena's voice echoed from the room.

Both Sam and Castiel stood from their chairs in unison. Only Sam left the library in a sprint. The angel pitter-pattered with his finger along with the table as he leaned against it not knowing if he should be around Courtney's presence. Castiel didn't think it was a good idea.

In the room, Courtney was slowly coming to. Something felt strange to her the more the world and realization came back after a long slumber. She yawned and wanted to stretch when she felt her arms and hands couldn't move. Her one eye got wide as she looked down and saw that her wrists are tied to the armrest of a chair. This is too creepy! Survival instinct kicked in. She yanked with her fists balled up back and forth with the ropes that bond her as she whimpered. Her field of vision betrayed her as she could only see out of one eye and not the other. She regained memory of that man in the trench coat who struck her in the eye.

Shifting her eyesight away from the armrest she saw that her feet were tied with rope and looked up to see two strangers looking back at her, a man, and a woman she thought was beautiful with long red hair. One was a man she remembered vaguely.

Courtney was on the verge of tears as she analyzed the room, she woke up in. It was almost too dark for her, and the only light shown was from a green ceiling hanging lamp over her. It felt like an interrogation. She looked at the tall man who crouched in front of her. Behind him appeared to be some boxes holding documents up the top of cabinets. He didn't have a vicious look about him, nor did his soft features scare her. Though that didn't mean squat about a person. She wanted to scream.

"Where am I? Who are you people?" Courtney tried kicking her legs, but they were bound too tight with rope. "Untie me."

The man surrendered with his arms up. "It's okay. We're not going to hurt or harm you in any way. I'm Sam Winchester and," He hand gestured over to the woman who waved at the girl. Sam continued. "This is Rowena. We're here to help you. I know that you're aware of something that's taken over you?"

Courtney can now feel a small bit of relief roll off her shoulders as she could now relate to something that was asked. Still, she wasn't going to let her guard down as she is tied up. "Does someone have any explanation for what is happening to me?"

"You have a demon from hell possessing you."

There was a different man's voice that took Courtney by complete surprise. It didn't come from Sam it came from the man at the door beyond him. It was the guy in the trench coat. Courtney heaved heavily as her icy gaze burned through his own striking blue eyes. She held it as she wanted the man to know her anger.

"If I wanted your response, I would've asked you personally." She took her narrowing gaze off the trench-coated man as she shook and looked at Sam. "I don't want him in here."

Castiel felt a sting inside him that grew. It was as though he'd been slapped in the face too. Seeing Courtney's squinted purple eye in the shape that it had upset him sent shivers throughout his senses. Without waiting for Sam's notion that he should leave Castiel had already left.

"Well," Sam nodded his head toward the doorway. "As Castiel stated it is demon possession."

Courtney didn't care about getting his name, as cool as it had sounded, she wanted nothing to do with him. She could still feel the pain where he struck her, and her vision wasn't up to par as it should be because of him. Shaking Castiel or whatever his name was away she snorted at the thought of demons. "Demon possession, are you people for real?"

The girl's snarky reaction reminded Sam of Dean. Sam shrugged and knew that what he was about to explain to her wasn't going to be easy. "How else would everything that's happened to you make sense? I possibly look familiar to you because the demon residing within yourself was following me around. Surely you knew all this time you've not been in full control of yourself. Trust me I know since it's also happened to me too. How do you explain how the receptionist at the motel was flung into the air?"

The last sentence stunned Courtney. "How did you know about that? Is the girl, okay?"

She remembered everything. The girl, whose name she believed was, Cassidy was innocent and at the wrong place at the wrong time. Courtney knew she had nothing to do with the girl's ill-fated injury, but it still came from something in her body. Maybe this demon thing was real after all.

"I," Sam started not knowing if he should relay the information or not, he caved. "I hack into camera footage around the world. Be it street cameras, building cameras, you name it. We watched it before finding you. As for the receptionist she was still alive when someone eventually found her."

"What do you do for a living?" The way it sounded to Courtney was weird and illegal. She was back to feeling frightened.

"My brother," Sam choked on 'brother'. He bit his lip and restarted what he wanted to say. "My late brother and I have hunted things our entire lives. Monsters, ghosts, gods, and demons. I know it's hard to understand, but they're real."

This was too unreal, a part of Courtney wanted to believe what she was hearing and another bigger part of her wanted to laugh hysterically. "Assuming these things are real, why me? I'm an ordinary person just getting by in life like other normal people. Why am I being mixed up in this?"

"There's more to it than you think Courtney." Sam scooted closer. "It's very possible that you're my late brother's daughter. As a Winchester, if you happen to be one it makes you a big target for these beings."

"She is a Winchester!" Castiel called down the hallway.

Sam, Rowena, and Courtney glanced at the same time at the doorway. They ignored him.

"On what based evidence?" Courtney scowled turning her attention back on Sam. "And why now?"

"That's just the thing, little ducky," Rowena spoke for the first time after minutes of waiting impatiently to get a word in. "We won't know any bit of detail until we talk to the demon that resides inside of you. It's why you are tied up to this chair. We just want to speak with it and then send the creature on its merry way back to hell where it belongs."

Courtney felt there were no other options but to play along with these strangers. "So, you talk to this, thing, that you say resides in me, you get answers, it gets out of me, and I can go back to living my life as though all of this never happened?"

Rowena and Sam glanced at each other, they couldn't tell her the whole truth, at least not yet.

The witch clapped her hands together. "Pretty much how you said it. We get the demon out. Everyone goes back to their everyday lives. Everyone's happy." She lied in a comical way that was obvious to Sam, however, Courtney seemed to believe her.

Gullibly Courtney took Rowena's word. "I just have one proposition." She added.

"What's that ducky?" Rowena asked.

Courtney was wishing she'd stop calling her ducky. "I haven't had real food for almost a week and I'm starving. All I’ve had were saltless fries."

Castiel sensing that Courtney had been hungry made a jump start for the kitchen and produced a thick turkey sandwich for her. Sam, perplexed to see his angel buddy standing over a sandwich when opening the fridge door, Castiel spoke, "I knew she'd be hungry, so I made this for her."

Sam closed the fridge door faster than he'd opened it. "Thanks, Cas," Sam picked up the plate. "She'll appreciate this." He grinned. Castiel nodded Sam off nervously.

When Sam came back with the sandwich in a brisk amount of time Courtney knew it wasn't made by him and was told Castiel had made it for her. It was amazing how he knew, she thought. However, it didn't change how she felt about him.

"Aren't you going to take the ropes off of my wrists?" Courtney asked stiffly.

Sam winced in her direction. It was only fair, and he wasn't up for hand feeding an adult. "What is your prominent hand?"

"I'm left-handed."

Sam took out a pocketknife from his tan jacket switching the blade out. He cut the rope away from Courtney's left hand and dropped the plate with the sandwich onto her lap. "Castiel put a lot of effort into that." He pointed out.

What was she supposed to say? 'I forgive the dumb guy for hitting me because his apology was making me a turkey sandwich?' Instead, Courtney didn't say anything back. She only gawked down at the prepped food. She picked her food up and bit into it. Her pleading stomach began to settle after a few more bites. It was put together in the way she loved. The perfect amount of mayonnaise, honey mustard, and lettuce was layered. So was the turkey meat. It felt good getting some protein back into her system.

Sam came back with bottled water for Courtney. "You might need to hydrate as well."

Courtney appreciatively took the bottle even though she might need to go to the bathroom soon it was less likely he would allow her to go anytime soon. There was no way these people were going to let her go from the bondage. She unraveled the top on the bottle and took a few sips of water. Courtney studied Sam some more as he leaned between the archway of the door frame.

"You know, if I am a Winchester," Courtney began lowering the bottle from her face. "It doesn't make us family. It doesn't matter who my real father was. I'll always be a Croce and a Heckerling."

Sam sighed in exasperation, but there was a name she just said that stood out. How did he know 'Heckerling'? 'Heckerling' played over in his mind until he thought back to a school he and Dean attended for a short period. He thought of a blonde girl Dean had gone out with, what was her first name though?

"Dean and I knew a girl back in high school. Her last name was Heckerling." It was the first time Sam told Courtney his brother's name. "I think her name was Amanda."

Courtney's eye grew stunned. "That was my birth mother's name. She put me up through an open adoption after I had been born."

"Was?" Sam asked almost vacantly.

"She passed away a few years ago. Before I became a senior in High School."

Courtney had a disconsolate expression that revealed to Sam she didn't want to talk about it anymore. He'd ask more about the subject later.

The sun was beginning to set, and Rowena had been preparing a safe spell to remove Ruby from Courtney's vessel. Eileen had been awake for a few hours helping the witch with anything she could do. She mixed perennial herbs with water in a bowl as it said it helps to allow a body to let go and purify the soul.

Sam and Rowena would go back and forth checking on how Courtney was doing. Castiel had gotten word from angel radio, a message relayed from Jack that ordered him to turn on the news.

Castiel stepped into what was his old room in the bunker, grabbed the television remote from the front of the bed, and turned on the TV.

It had become nationwide that there is a search for Courtney Croce after footage was recovered from the motel after attacking Cassidy Smith. What used to be a locally missing person now developed into a manhunt.

"SAM!" Castiel called. He left the room to go find him. He found Sam on his laptop in the kitchen. "Sam, you need to see this." He said in a rush.

The shock was all Sam felt when he watched the footage on the news with Castiel. There was a piece of the footage missing that didn't show up. "Feds have got to know now that something superstitious is going on."

Castiel sighed deeply. "I should've gone to the motel the moment we saw the video and destroyed the evidence." He stepped in front of Sam. "This isn't good."

Sam and Castiel went downstairs where they met with a petrified Eileen. "It's time to talk to Ruby." She spoke.

"I don't know how it happened." Rowena stumbled precariously with everyone outside of the dungeon where Courtney is being held captive in. "Ruby just suddenly took over Courtney's mind again. I don't know how far gone she is or if she's conscious."

"What does this mean for the girl?" Castiel asked bothered. Sure, she didn't like him, but his compassion for her remained.

"It depends on if my spells can separate both souls," Rowena explained. "I can't have them awake at the same time nor one far away in their mind. It's too dangerous. Courtney could easily die during the separation or have her soul taken away entirely."

"I thought you said you could do this?" Castiel felt rage taking over him.

Sam steadied his hand over Castiel's shoulder, patting it calmly. "Hey now, easy, Cas."

"I can," Rowena encouraged and breathed heavily. "It's just, this is going to hurt the little duck."

Everyone filed into the dungeon. Sam and Castiel noticed the difference in Courtney's features as Ruby had taken full control of the girl's body again. It was callous, menacing, and seductive all at once.

Ruby watched every move Sam made toward her as she sneered. "Oh Sam," She stared him up and down. "I can say it's truly a pleasure to see you again in the flesh. I'd hoped it would've been under different circumstances." She struggled with the binding rope. "This is somewhat uncomfortable."

Castiel rolled his eyes in irritation and looked up at Sam who had yet to make progress in getting the information they needed. If the Winchester wouldn't make his move soon, he will.

Ruby continued. "Courtney is still awake and can see and hear everything taking place right now. She still doesn't want the man in the trench coat here. Truth be told she kind of wished she had stabbed you Castiel." She nodded at the angel.

Castiel took a step forward until Sam stopped him.

"Why her Ruby?" Sam asked numbly. "How did you even break out of the empty?"

"I'm sure your angel friend already told you about Jack letting him out of the empty?" Ruby raised her brows as Sam nodded. "Yes, well the entity in the empty grabbed hold of Jack ripping the darkness, we call Amara, out of him. Of course, Feather's here, and Jack thought nothing of it at first, but Amara, she ended up defeating and devoured the entity whole, so the Empty doesn't exist anymore."

"You mean to tell us," Sam's voice and lips quivered. "Everyone that was in the empty is walking the earth again?"

Ruby tried to shrug her shoulders. She simply implied that there were some things she still didn't know. "Some of us demons yes, we haven't felt or seen Lucifer if he'd gotten out. As far as Courtney goes, the reason why I took her body is that this is all about revenge. You and your brother killed me. I was going to do the same to you, but in your niece's body." Ruby chuckled.

Everyone was glancing at each other at this point. Sam gulped. There was a worried look Rowena had as she thought of the chances of Lucifer coming back. Castiel seemed vacant, but there was concern swarming around his mind.

Ruby finished laughing and continued. "After that Amara is going to do away with Courtney. She did not appreciate the way Dean Winchester was going to explode her along with her brother. Amara loved him, he changed her for the better, and he ended up betraying her."

Sam remembered the event of that. It took place in the bunker. He thought up something to say but was interrupted by Rowena.

"Listen here, bitch," Rowena spat. A quiet Eileen along with Sam and Castiel spun their heads simultaneously at Rowena astonished. Even though Eileen couldn't hear anything coming from anyone's mouth she could easily read the room and felt the heat coming off the witch without seeing her lip movements. She could see that Ruby was taken aback.

"I didn't teach you my spells so that one day you'd use them against me!" Rowena shouted and began a chant that Sam and Castiel didn't know she was using.

Castiel glanced at Courtney's vessel and saw how pale she was getting and didn't get any breath as Rowena was squeezing the life out of it. "Rowena stop!" He demanded.

Rowena immediately stopped what she was doing, and Courtney's body returned to its normal coloring. "I'm sorry." She said to both Sam and Castiel. She left where she was standing to fetch the basin of ingredients made previously that day.

Ruby shot a devilish look at Eileen. "So, you're Sam's new girlfriend? Of course, he'd pick a deaf woman as he whines too much."

"I may be deaf, but I'm not stupid." Eileen retorted.

Rowena returned with the basin placing it in front of the chair Courtney's body sat in.

Ruby giggled. "I promised Amara I'd keep the girl alive before tossing it to her. Just know, you can take my soul out, but Courtney is still good as dead with or without me. Amara will have her revenge."

Rowena along with everyone else glared at Ruby. The witch threw her hand out and without saying a word Ruby couldn't say anything else.

"I don't know about any of you, but I've heard everything I can from her." Rowena glanced down as she set the ingredients in the basin on fire. Everyone agreed.

Rowena said a few chants before getting to the actual spell after Courtney's vessel appeared peaceful.

She needed Sam and Castiel's help with holding the vessel of Courtney down as the bonds were breaking from her wrists. The walls began to shake, and the ceiling lamps’ light flickered. Rowena stuttered the last words of the spell.

A dark force forcefully left Courtney's mouth as her head pushed back. Everyone watched the dark smoke swirl around the room until it shrunk into a vial Rowena opened in time to capture it. The room is still, and it was all over.

"That was effortless than I thought it would be," Sam spoke after a moment of silence checking on Courtney.

'Well," Rowena twisted the cap tightly on the vial and tucked it away under her dress near the breastbone. "It's just what Ruby said, she promised Amara that Courtney would be delivered to her alive. What concerns me now is if little ducky still has her soul."

Castiel placed his index and middle fingers on Courtney's neck finding the jugular to see if there had still been a pulse, there was, and used his angelic power to see if there was a soul. "Her soul is still intact. She is free from Ruby."
“How do you know?” Sam cleared his rasped voice. “You haven’t checked inside of her.”
“I found another way, one not so torturing.”

Suddenly Courtney gave a deep and loud heave when she woke up and made everyone jump.

Chapter Text

There is no darkness, only the absence of light. At least that was what Amara thought after Dean Winchester had changed her. She had touched light when Dean gave her a kiss. He gave her a different perspective and point of view on the world and humans created by her brother, God.

Her brother could never easily explain why he created the creatures and the lands they claimed as home. She merely felt it was her brother's way of filling his ego and wanted more praise than he was getting long before Earth came about. He always had a droll and pompous way of wanting attention. All she ever asked for was to receive his love in return, but he ignored her cries. God had to ask for love and acceptance from his angels and everyone else.

Dean on the other hand showed Amara the world through compassion. And through that compassion, she was able to relate to everything her brother created. It's an extraordinary place of people, animals, and other living organisms that share common emotions and community. She was more than happy to share her own humanlike experiences with others as well. It was a shame her brother couldn't truly appreciate it all.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, Amara could now see the world as a dark pit and there's a magnet in her heart-tugging her closer to the deepest and darkest cavern. She was darkness, she kept reminding herself. There was no need to fear what she already is. Or maybe it wasn't fear?

Back at the bunker, Amara was in on a plan the Winchesters had to trap her brother and kill him. At least she tried to get her brother to change his mind about destroying his creation and would've saved him at the last minute. It had all been a setup for her too. Dean was going to send Lucifer's son to explode her in that room along with her brother.

She had heard of heartbreak and betrayal, and she had been experiencing it ever since she broke away from Jack in the Empty and caused it to break apart. Before becoming a part of her brother to make him stronger in those last minutes so he could get the both of them out of the trap she could identify herself feeling the utter shock of what Dean was doing. It wasn't enough to make her mad at the entire world, but she wanted someone to suffer her pain. She had loved Dean. But she guessed no good deed goes unpunished. All the people she loved would end up betraying her.

Amara found herself on a long stretch of an empty sidewalk in a park. It's nighttime with a dense fog consuming the air and can be seen better under the tall, white-lit lampposts. She could hear late-night car races in the distance and the tall pine trees covered the moon's light.

Her white dress and bare feet dragged on the ground as she couldn't properly fit into it. She'd walked a long way and ignored the sores and cuts at the bottom of her feet. She felt cold but didn't care. Amara came back as a baby again. She had been through three different families. All of which she took their souls so she could feed, get stronger, and grow older. Now she could pass for the age of ten.

There it goes again. Amara placed her arm over her stomach and squirmed. An uneasy feeling of sadness and tensing nerves trickled throughout her body. It happened every time she pictured Dean in her mind. Whether or not it was a happy or a terrible memory, she wanted it to stop! It hurt too bad.

There were no tears. She was too hell-bent on getting revenge.

Unfortunately, Dean as she found out from being inside of Jack had passed on and is in Heaven. There was nothing she could do about that. She wasn't going to hurt Sam. She had a soft spot for him. So, she turned to the only person Dean never knew existed. His own daughter.

God at one point when they made up and traveled together told her all about Courtney. She had to promise not to reveal this information ever to Dean. According to God, he didn't want a father and daughter plot in his stories. He didn't want Dean so happy. Whatever. There was also something he mentioned about the angel Castiel being the definitive guardian to Dean's daughter. Castiel would end up prioritizing her and only her. It would've messed up his story immeasurably. He needed them apart.

Over time Amara figured out her brother was using Dean and Sam as pawns keeping them stuck in a loop of lives, they couldn't take control of. Yep, that's her brother, and knew his needs all too well to feel in complete power over others.

There was one thing Amara wanted to know from Dean. She knew now she'd never get her answer as Heaven wouldn't allow her in nor would the new God, Jack would. Did she want to know why? After everything, she'd done for Dean. At the very least Sam tried to stop him from exploding the room she and her brother were about to perish in. Sure, it was because he wanted to save Jack, but it would've meant the end and a way out from her inevitable doom.

After walking through the park Amara came to an intersection where one car went by and a few people out and about shopping. The small town was decorated with Christmas lights and businesses were opened late. There were no children around, only grown-ups who looked perplexed by her appearance however never said anything and went about their business.

That was a problem humans had. Amara had to admit that while she has taken interest in humanity, they still had plenty of faults. Sure, she's older than what she appears to be. However, she looked like a lost child without an authority figure, scraped up, and without shoes as she walked the sidewalks among them. All she got were stares and people glanced away.

If she were to choose a human right now in front of everyone to suck the soul out of, Amara, wondered if anyone would stop or keep walking without the blink of an eye. She was feeling hungry suddenly. The need for feeding was slowly creeping up on her.

A hand clamped down on her shoulder without warning that she jolted and spun around to see who it was. Hair stuck to her small face and as she removed the strands away it was an elder man that stood above her with concern in his eyes. His white hair framed his forehead through the fedora he wore. "Little girl I beg your pardon," he said. "Where are your parents?"

"What's it to you?" Amara took a few steps back from the man uncertain of his intentions.

"You're out in the cold in a dress without shoes." The man continued. "You seem to need some help."

"I am hungry." Amara answered rapidly.

The man chuckled a bit. "My child, I need to report you to the police department if you don't tell me where your parents are."

Amara gripped the old man's arm in a speedy effort." Please," Amara pleaded but remained as though she were demanding him. "I'm hungry."

He watched the girl as though she were a lost puppy who begged for food. He caved in and told her that a round-the-clock restaurant that served burgers and breakfast food was around the corner. They walked alongside each other, and he kept a watchful eye on the girl.

"What is your name anyway?"

"Amara." She answered vaguely.

"That's beautiful. Do you happen to have a last name?"

"No, but if I did its none of your concern." Her tone bit like a venomous snake.

The man took a deep breath as he wanted to call her out on being rude. But the girl looked as though she'd been through something. She acted in an apathetic manner. He calmed himself and wasn't going to take it personally. "Here we are." He said opening the door.

Amara looked up at the neon sign that read 'Wendy's 24/7 Diner'. Very self-explanatory as to why it's open for 24 hours. She stepped into a bright and homey room. Some ‘70s or 80's song was playing from the jukebox to her left. Bette Davis Eyes, she believed. Another piece of humanities makings that Amara simply enjoyed was getting to know and learn about music. This was a song she had enjoyed before. The man followed her into the restaurant and took off his black coat and gave it to Amara. "Go sit in an empty booth I'll order some food for you."

He walked over to the bar counter to get one of the waiter’s attention. Amara hugged the coat close to her finding a booth to slide into. She picked one where she could watch the man talking to the young blonde employee who looked to be in his early 20s. She didn't realize how cold she was until this man’s coat gave her the warmth her body needed, and it made her feel better.

Amara could see some couple sitting across from her staring, but she held the coat closer to her freezing hands and chest. She pulled her feet up onto the seat and laid the coat over them. It was so comfortable that she could fall asleep. She let her head lean back with her eyes closed and opening them back up she watched the chandelier above her. It wasn't fancy or anything. There was one bulb that kept flickering.

She stopped watching the bulb tilting her head upright and looked at the old man as he conversed with the employee. The employee slowly glanced at her as the old man pointed in her direction. What was he doing? Was he reporting her now?

As the old man began walking toward the booth Amara sat in, she could hear him thank the employee. "I ordered a buffet for you. You'll be feeling normal soon."

Amara highly doubted that. She didn't believe him anymore. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back." She tossed the warm old man's coat off her, scooted over, and stood up from the table.

"It's down the hall from where we entered, and it'll be to your right."

"Thanks," Amara said, and when she began walking away her eyes rolled.

She watched the blonde-haired employee the old man talked to go into the hallway and followed him. He entered a room that said 'Lounge, Employees Only' on the door. She opened the door for the women's room before the door he entered closed. Amara never entered the women's room and instead stood in front of the door the employee entered to eavesdrop.

Inside the room, Amara could hear him talk about the man she came into the restaurant with and about herself.

"Yeah. Sheriff Patton? I had a man come in with a lost girl, or she seems to be lost. No info, only a first name. Amara. She's wearing a white dress, nothing else. About 9 or 10 years old."

Amara waited until he was finished before going into the room that looked like a small, enclosed cafeteria. When she opened the door to go in, he jumped nearly out of his skin. "What are you doing? You shouldn't be in here. Employee's only." He pointed for her to get out.

"I know, I can read," Amara said sarcastically pushing a small strand of her hair behind her ear. "I know that you called the police. I've overheard by the lady's room, and you only left out one detail."

He crossed his arms leaning against the table behind him looking at her intently. "Oh? And what's that?"

Amara smiled before getting closer and opening her mouth, but no words came out.

Chapter Text

As the Angel of Thursday, Castiel is most vulnerable to a human prayer born on a Thursday. A dim-lit room took form around the angel. Castiel knew he shouldn't be there. He remembered the last thing was being with Sam, Rowena, and Eileen. They had taken the demon, Ruby out of Courtney.

This wasn't the first time Castiel had experienced travel from one place to another in a single second. However, he had no inkling of what brought him there, or who. The room wasn't foreign to him. He'd been in hospital rooms many times. Though the blinds were drawn over the window, he could tell that it was nighttime. An aroma of lavender tickled his nostrils. It wasn't overbearing, quite the opposite. There was a calming effect to the scent.

Castiel glanced around his new surroundings. On the small mounted tv, a children's cartoon played. He recognized the characters of Scooby-Doo instantly. It wasn't long ago that he was pulled into a television and met those simple cartoons with the Winchester brothers.

The angels' eyes fixed on the hospital bed where a child, no more than five years old, lay in peace. Or it seemed peaceful. She had short wavy blonde hair and the palest skin color he'd ever beheld. There was an ethereal appearance around the small being. It wasn't alive, nor was it dead. She was a fairytale to look at as if the child were Snow White.

A few bandages were on the girls' arms and an IV was planted in her wrist. Castiel checked the monitor to see her heart rate and blood pressure were low. As much as the angel tried, he couldn't grasp the little one's hand. It's not that Castiel didn't want to. His hand would slip through hers like he was a ghost.

After a short amount of time the front door opened. A young girl came in and walked over to sit at the edge of the bed. This girl was around the age of ten or eleven years. She's healthier than the one laying in the bed.

"Most of the vending machines in this wing only carry coffee and soda." She spoke. "But I did find your favorite for when you wake up." The older girl dug through her pocket and put a bag of Reese's pieces on the table. "I was able to find Reese's pieces at the other side of this hospital at the bistro."

At this point, Castiel knew he couldn't be seen. The older girl didn't acknowledge his being there. The angel crouched down to get a closer look at this girl who just walked into the room. In the past, he often found himself in the presence of the same hairless person. Sure, she had hair at the top of her head, but nowhere else.

He used to refer human beings to hairless monkeys in the past. Castiel also thought they were a bit careless, and destructive. But he loved what God made. Through the span of ten years his opinions of people have tremendously changed. Back when Metatron forced him to fall from grace helped Castiel to see through a human's eyes.

The angel didn't know how humanity could put up with what they go through daily. Even his time as a soldier didn't outdo all man-made chores and tasks these human beings are put through. In a way, Castiel felt his luck.

Chuck made them with so many flaws. But it made them distinctive. Not one person was the same as another. Nor in thoughts, dreams, and DNA.

"I'm reliving the past." He remembered this being the last time and place he'd been a few weeks after raising Dean Winchester from perdition. Then he'd stopped visiting those who prayed, defying all his duties as an angel of the lord not long after.

Castiel assessed the older girls' features. Her light brown hair hung low behind her back. He gazed at the girls' eyes and found green in them. The angel could almost swear if the girl was a decade older, she'd look like Courtney. Unless…

Castiel realized now, Courtney would've been eleven. She began murmuring something with her head low and hands clasped together. The angel leaned closer in to hear her prayer. He suddenly felt a tug within his body and a male voice calling "Cas" over and over.

The angel woke up on the floor back in the dungeon room. He found himself back in the bunker surrounded by Sam and Eileen at his side. Raising a hand to the back of his head he got rid of excruciating pain searing down his neck. Castiel was hurting in other places, but what he'd seen impaired his ability to think of a few less tense muscle spasms going on in his body.

Sam helped Castiel up to a sitting position. "Cas, are you okay?"

"What happened?" Castiel found the will to speak, his mind clouded in uncertainty on how he ended up on the floor. He caught Courtney gleaming at him. For a moment he swore she had a look of concern for him. She's still tied up to the chair and Rowena knelt to talk to her. Castiel couldn't hear their conversation and wondered what they were conversing back and forth.

"After Courtney woke something happened where you were thrown across the room. You've been knocked out for thirty minutes."

"Almost immediately," Eileen added. "Can you stand?"

It took a moment for the angel to find his footing. He got up carefully as Sam and Eileen acted as his safety net. They kept their arms sprawled outward just in case they needed to catch him.

"I'm fine. I'll be right back." Castiel made his way out of the room and out of the bunker.

The angel treaded down the private drive for a few minutes before coming to a stop. Everything felt like a puzzle to him now and he was missing some pieces. What was this powerful bond between him and Courtney? How had he not felt this strongly connected before?

The stillness of his surroundings and the night was stiller than himself. Castiel graciously tilted his head upward to the starry-filled sky with a question in mind. "Jack, I don't understand what is happening. I feel different somehow. It's a change in trajectory. One that doesn't serve you first anymore."

A short gust of wind along with the sound of flapping wings materialized behind Castiel. The angel turned around and found the Nephilim he'd always seen as a son. "Hello, Jack."

"Castiel," Jack, the once child-like young adult now turned God nods. He wasn't the half-angel and half-human Castiel and the Winchester brothers once knew. He wasn't that of a curious boy anymore. Jack appeared wise and knowledgeable. He had the looks of a mighty leader. What also changed was his hair length. It's a slicked style that reached just above his shoulders. "I sensed that you were having trouble. I've also heard your message."

"It's these intuitions I've been feeling and seeing. Do you understand something better than I do about this girl?"

"You and Courtney do share a bigger bond than you did with Dean. It was Chuck who kept that separated from the both of you up until he fell from power."

Castiel wasn't appreciating getting this new information now when he could've gotten it before taking on the mission. Jack continued when Castiel had nothing to add. "It's never been a coincidence when you were chosen to pull Dean out of Hell and continued to stick around with the Winchester's. You are their chosen guardian. Courtney was born on a Thursday. You are and will always be more connected with her."

The angel of Thursday can understand a little bit now. He knew that being a human's guardian consisted of being made of the same stardust. Every being was created out of stardust. And to dust, everyone shall return one day. He understood this meant throughout Courtney's life on Earth she's the one he'll look after the most above all others.

"I had a look into her past just now. I think I was with her before."

Jack nodded. "When Ruby was removed, you and Courtney have connected again."

That would explain the sudden jolt he experienced after Courtney woke up. He'd been too long gone from his bond with her that the reconnection would have a massive impact on his vessel. "Well now that this has been done have you found Amara?"

"No," Jack sighed.

Castiel murmured curse words under his breath with gritted teeth. He didn't blame Jack. He'd never blame Jack as he'd never done wrong on purpose. He's made some mistakes sure. But Jack was too pure of heart.

"She's disconnected herself from me. Probably with the help of Ruby."

Castiel could sense something troubled Jack and he could see it in his eyes. "What else has happened?"

"I said over and over I'd never put myself into this story as Chuck had."

Castiel saw a remorseful and unregrettable look cast on Jack. "It's understandable during a time like this. It's alright to step in and help."

"It's not that, it was Kaia."

"Kaia Nieves?"

Jack nodded. "She was attacked along with Claire. They're both okay, but it was Kaia who has been destined to die, but I saved her." He paused before continuing. "What kind of God am I if I can't allow the story to happen naturally?"

"A good and remorseful God, Jack. That's why we are going to help Courtney too." Castiel placed his hand's on top of Jack's shoulders reassuringly.

"Yes, but there's something else about Courtney that I also haven't told you." Jack looked at his angel father intently.

Eileen in the bunker helped Rowena clean everything up used for the spell. Sam began unwrapping Courtney's ropes binding her to the chair. She was just told why she couldn't leave them. She'd become a liability by law as Courtney now understood. Grateful as she was toward these people helping her, they're still strangers. She found herself shaking unbearably not knowing how to stop the frenzy responses in her body. Fresh tears without her knowledge welled up at the bottom of her eyelids.

Courtney was happy to be freed and rubbed the areas of her wrists where she got rope burn from tugging. "So, what's going to be done to me now?"

"You're not a prisoner. You only need to lay low." Sam started. "But we will keep a close eye on you in case you try to escape."

That was an exact definition of taking someone hostage. Courtney rolled her eyes. "What is there to do around this place?"

"There's free Wi-Fi, but only for watching TV. No internet just yet for you. There's a gym to work out in, free food, and coffee if you're a caffeine person. There's a lot of books you can read if you enjoy doing that too." Sam offered.

Courtney winced at not having access to the internet, but it made sense not to. At least she could watch TV to see the news and was able to have the freedom to a gym. "What about going outside?" She finally got out of the chair and walked around a bit stretching her arms.

"Only under me and Castiel's supervision. Either one of us should always go with you."

Courtney hated the thought of being supervised by Castiel. "We don't know each other well but I trust you more than the other man."

"Cas was scared in the moment. He didn't know it was you at the time he punched you. He's sorry."

Sam looked adamant at Courtney. She can remember the fear in Castiel's eyes. It didn't take the fury or pain away, but she tried to place herself in the mans' shoes.

"Okay," Rowena said behind Courtney. "It's been a lovely reunion, but I have Hell to run so I need to get going. Where's the angel?"

"He left a while ago to get fresh air." Sam replied.

"Oh, that is too bad," Rowena huffed disappointedly. "Perhaps I'll see him on my way out. I've got a demon to torture, toodles. Bye, little Ducky."

Courtney waited until Rowena was gone from the room to speak up. 'Why does she call me that?"

"Trust me," Sam sighed with exhaustion. "You're not the only one with a nickname. I'm Moose by the way."

Courtney worked hard not to laugh but along the crevice of her lips, she smiled. She could see it. His stature and height along with his flannel shirt made her think of a Canadian Moose caricature. "How do you know the queen of Hell?"

"It's a long story. I'm sure we'll have time for me to tell it, but I'm tired."

He did look exhausted. Sam was yawning every minute or so. Courtney on the other hand wanted to know where the bathroom was. She needed to go and wanted to wash her mouth out. Something tasted of sulphur.

"I need to use the bathroom."

"Sure, I'll show you."

Sam led Courtney out of the room and into a kitchen where Castiel rejoined them. Courtney caught her breath seeing him and looked away without wanting to acknowledge him. Her eye still stung since the blow and couldn't stand having to run into the man responsible all the time.

"Cas are you okay?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, I've just spoken with Jack. We need to talk. In private."

"Who's Jack?" Courtney asked Sam curiously.

"He's a supernatural being."

"He's a Nephilim. Half-angel and half-human. He's also the new God." Castiel said bluntly.

Courtney laughed as though it were a joke and paused seeing both of their locked faces. They weren't kidding her, just as they weren't before. "Well, that can't be true."

Castiel observingly glanced at her. "And why not."

"I'm an Atheist. I don't believe in these things."

A light grin took form on Castiel. Almost as though he was showing sarcasm. "It is not the first time I've heard that and convinced humans otherwise, sweetheart."

Courtney shot him an offending glance. "I don't like being called nicknames. I'd appreciate it if you didn't."

"It's funny," Castiel took a couple of steps toward her, Courtney panicked on the inside backing up into a chair. She saw it by turning around and she stood her ground crossing her arms. "You've seen so much in the past couple of days and more tonight, meeting the queen of Hell and a demon for instance, and you still don't believe there is a God and Heaven?"

It took Courtney a moment before answering Castiel. "I have my reasons trust me." She gritted.

There was no telling how long they stared down at each other. This was the first time Courtney reveled in Castiel's features. He's a very striking man. Very handsome. But at the same time someone she greatly disliked.

Castiel groaned. "Alright then. Stand back."

Before Courtney could take steps backward Sam took her arm and led her away from Castiel. She didn't know what was going to happen or if this was some sort of way of diffusing his anger management. A sound like thunder and a flash of lightning with a gust of wind surrounded the man. Courtney screamed and Sam told her it was okay.

That wasn't all. Castiel's eyes, they're blue, however, were taking the form of bright laser blue ones. Everything got brighter around Castiel that Courtney began to squint and covered her tortured eyes with her hand above them. In unison, something dark unfolded from his sides.

They were wings!

Chapter Text

Entrapped by the illuminated light Castiel gave off, Courtney could feel the wind from the angel’s dark sprawled wings as her eyes watered. Failing miserably to close her burning bruised eye, Courtney covered it with the palm of her hand. The wings spread longer above the trench-coated man. Castiel then fixed his laser blue eyes on her, asking if she believed him now. Courtney was in no place right now to question her beliefs.

Something regurgitated in her chest and made its way to her throat. The taste of sulphur alone was enough to cause panic. Courtney searched the room for an escape and darted down a hallway. She could hear Sam scream after her. Relieved after finding a half bathroom Courtney slumped over the opened toilet to let the buildup of hot bile out. She grabbed the front parts of hair that were in the way distancing it away from her sick.

After she was finished lightheadedness and dizziness took over. After flushing it, Courtney moved away shakingly from the toilet and leaned against the wall huffing from the pungent taste in her mouth. She found Sam near the door watching almost vacantly.

“You’re a fast runner. Are you okay?”

Courtney heard the question but didn’t understand why he would ask it or how she’d answer it. She couldn’t think of one thing that made anything okay. All she could do was shake her head without an uttered word as her nervous system made everything feel as though she were jumping and about to die.

“Castiel should be back with a flavored protein shake, and Eileen is getting you new clothes and a shower ready down the hall.” Sam continued.

It took no time for Castiel to hand Courtney an already open vanilla-flavored protein shake. She drank it all within a couple of minutes and it took the same amount of time to begin feeling somewhat better. The flavor from the protein shake exceeded the taste of bile and sulphur. Courtney was at least happy about that.

When she felt well enough to get up Sam showed her to the bathroom Eileen helped fix up. Giving her privacy Courtney decided first thing to rinse her mouth out with the miniature Listerine bottle. She hopped into the running shower thinking the water pressure and temperature were just right. After getting out from showering and drying up she looked over to a set of clothes on the counter. Courtney threw on the oversized long-sleeved flannel shirt and jeans.

A set of unopened toothbrushes were set next to clothes. Opening one of the boxes she brushed her teeth and began to feel normal. She tossed her long and wet hair to the side and was ready to face an angel. Courtney left the bathroom with the toothbrush in hand. Doors were labeled with numbers, and the hall curved with other hallways connecting. The walls reminded her of an indoor train station or a secret world war bunker. She noticed all of this now that her cognitive senses were back.

Voices were heard off in a distance. Courtney made her way out of the hall. “Whoa.” She froze in place by the surrounding extended bookshelves full of old hardcovers. Scoping around more, she noticed the vintage worn columns separating two other rooms. One room looked to have an oval-like shaped table in the middle of the room, some old maps of America and other parts of the world, and a spiral staircase. The other room on the other side of the library had a giant telescope. Something smelled of incense and smoke and looking at a table beside her were initials carved into it. She looked up after hearing a sliding object.

Castiel picked an ancient worn-out book from one of the shelves as he and Courtney locked eyes on one another. His eyes are soft in a puppy-like manner. His mouth gaped as though he were about to say something and appeared cautious. Castiel tightens his lips together as he clears his throat with a cough putting the book in his hand on top of another on a table.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

Courtney nods nervously. “Better.” She could hear a crack in her voice. “Thanks for the protein shake.” She figured the least she could do was show her appreciation toward him for his help. She realized how unthankful she’d been acting among these people that were trying to help her.

Castiel mustered up a half-grin. “I am happy to hear that.” He picked up the books from the table and steadily walked over to Courtney. “Um, these are books your un-, Sam thought you may want to read about Demons and Angels. I don’t think it’s a bad idea myself since you’ve, well you know what I am now and what took over your vessel.”

Courtney smiled gently and it went away a second later. There was something apologetic in his language and body. This time, she didn’t falter when Castiel got closer to her and handed the books over. “I’ll look at them later,” She put her toothbrush in the shirt pocket and took hold of the books up against her chest. “I’ll focus better without a swollen eye socket.”

“I can heal it for you,” Castiel said and lifted his hand near Courtney’s temple with haste.

She dodged his hand faster than his hand had touched her. “What are you doing?”

Courtney didn’t mean to come off as self-assertive. When he reached with his hand, it was out of habit that she moved. That mental picture of him striking her remained fresh in her memory.

Castiel’s hand fell back to his side. “Courtney, I’m deeply sorry I did this to you. I will admit I was not in my right mind. All I wanted was to get you to safety and take the demon out of you.” He paused before continuing. “I only hope you can forgive me as it was not intentional. My true intentions are pure for you.”

Courtney took in all his words carefully. She’s not one to trust words. She trusted actions. And so far since the incident, his actions have been out of pureness. She searched his eyes for any inconsistency. There were none. His soft blue eyes were beginning to make her feel safe. “Okay.” Courtney consented.

Castiel took a few steps closer, a bit too close for Courtney’s comfort, and touched her temple once more. “Don’t be scared. It won’t hurt.”

The feeling that rushed through Courtney’s head felt like a breath of fresh air making her close her eyes to its’ renovating sensations. It was better than sneezing, better than comfort, and better than adrenaline, she thought. Opening her eyes, yes both eyes to their full extent Castiel stared into them. Courtney would think she’d jump up and down ecstatically by now, but the angel’s expression toward her caught her by surprise and off guard. “What is it Castiel?”

He looked lost, as though he were swept by a painting or the ocean. It was making her feel uncomfortable. She stopped breathing at an easy pace and that was when Castiel gazed normally at her again.

“Your eyes. It is my first time seeing them like this in person. They are beautiful.” His voice was soft without the rugged tone he used.

If that wasn’t the first time Courtney heard something like that she’d laugh in his face. She didn’t because no one had ever said that about her eyes. She froze again feeling a spike in her heartbeat. There wasn’t much of anything unique about her eye shape and the green in them didn’t stand out either. This was of course her only perception and opinion about them.

Instead, she retorted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“What? Are you not one to take a compliment?” Castiel shot back sarcastically.

“Nope. I can take them, but ‘They are beautiful’ really? I’m sure you’ve said better before. Especially for an angel. Don’t you guys sing poetry on harps?” Courtney teased placing the books down on the table next to her and sat down. The truth was she could say thank you, but she didn’t want to appear as a doormat to these people by being too friendly and she didn’t want anything more to come between her and Castiel. It felt like he was using a pick-up line. And she was not interested.

A door opened and closed before Castiel had what he needed to say next. He changed his mind. In unison, Courtney and Castiel looked to see that Sam and Eileen came in together with a dog. The dog or ‘Golden Nugget’ went running up to Courtney to sniff her.

“Hey, awe you’re cute,” Courtney greeted it with the palm of her hand before running her fingers through his gold fur at the top of his head. “What’s his name?”

“His name is Miracle,” Sam spoke up first. “He was Dean’s dog for a while.”

Dean, her paternal father, or at least that’s what Castiel had to say. Still petting Miracle, she glanced up at Sam. A vision of her car and a journal came all at once to her after seeing the dog. “Do you know what happened to my car?” It hit her that if she’s being looked for, they may know her whereabouts by now.

“It’s still in a parking lot miles away from here. They won’t find you here.” Sam calmly stated.

“I’m remembering something.” Courtney gathered. The vision was painted before her again. Something that felt as though it were a dream but could be real. “Is it possible to have a demon’s memory while being unconscious when it possesses you?”

“I don’t know.”

“I distinctly remember having a journal she took with the name Sam Winchester on it,” Courtney stated matter of fact.

She watched Sam’s face sink in. “I forgot all about that journal.” He said with a facepalm. “Luckily, I don’t have anything in there about the bunker, only new cases, and rants.”

Castiel wasted no time as he disappeared right in front of Sam, Eileen, and Courtney.

“He disappears too?” Courtney asked wide-eyed.

“It’s something you’ll get used to. He’s probably on his way to find your car. See if the journal is there.” Sam walked to the table with his laptop on it and got on.

Courtney had her heart set on thanking him, but Sam had his gaze on the laptop screen intently. She wasn’t going to bother him now. Maybe later she’ll thank him. She looked down at the books before her underneath the warm light of a lamp. The first book was on demons. Pushing it aside Courtney decided to read about angels. The book was leather-bound with about eight hundred pages and the worn pages creaked between her fingers as she skimmed to the first paragraph.

About to begin reading the book, the woman with Sam came to sit down by her. Everything about Eileen seemed trustful and pleasant to have around so far. “Are you feeling better?” Eileen asked and used sign language.

Courtney worked a thankful smile. She was able to interpret the sign language all the way through. At University she took a course to learn it. Eileen’s speech gave way that she’s deaf. If memory served well Courtney thought up a response for the woman in sign language. ‘Thanks to you I’m fine. The shower helped.’

Eileen expressed her impression of Courtney. “I can read lips too if you prefer to just talk.”

Courtney continued with sign language. ‘What is it that Sam does?’

‘He is a hunter. We all are. We hunt down demons and other monsters.’

‘So, he didn’t lie about the things he hunts?’ Courtney’s gaze was becoming constricted.

‘No. What he has told you is true.’

Courtney studied Eileen deeply. Her facial expression and body language gave Courtney the initial idea Eileen was telling the truth. ‘What got you to hunt in the first place?’

Eileen’s face turned hollow and solemn. ‘I wanted revenge for my parent’s death. A Banshee killed them. It is the reason why I am also deaf. I trained all my life with a hunter who saved me. I was on my own at sixteen when they died from cancer.’

Courtney felt a painful knot grow in her stomach. She was all too familiar with cancer. It took people away from her too.

‘I am so sorry.’ Courtney expressed her condolences. ‘What about Sam?’ Courtney eyed him. Sam’s eyes were still glued to the laptop like he was a statue. His features were unchanging.

‘You should talk to Sam about it. He won’t mind.’

As Eileen got up from the table to go make some coffee, Courtney gazed sidelong over at Sam once more before bringing her attention back to the book about angels again. Angels existed before the beginning. They were God’s first creation and watched how other creations came to be. She read through testaments already recognizable to her. The fall of Lucifer and how he was cast out by Michael by God’s orders.

With some sentences Courtney found herself reading two or six times over. Castiel’s words about her eyes replayed in the back of her consciousness. The way he looked at her like no past boyfriend had ever stared at her before. It jolted an electric feeling inside and her heart rhythm spiked again. Courtney rolled her shoulders to ease the feeling Castiel gave her.

Letting out a light breath Courtney skimmed at the front and back of the book to find anything on references and in the introduction to read about something she didn’t already know about angels. ‘How Guardian Angels Are Born’ piqued interest. Finding the page, she carefully read:

‘In the beginning, there was God and the darkness. The stars came to be for light. Through the stardust God created Angels.’

The book went on to say that as worlds and galaxies were created God used the stardust of his angels. It was the same with organisms of every living thing. But each angel was created from different stardust. It is what gave diversity and uniqueness to everything breathing or nonbreathing in all the worlds, including earth. Courtney sped through and found a passage where people can share this stardust with an angel and that it connects them. This creates an angel to share a strong bond with their humans, thus becoming a guardian for them.

Is that what Castiel was to her? He was here. He’s made it abundant that he wants to protect her. Was he her guardian angel?

Courtney focused on other passages involving key names such as Cherubim, Seraphim, Archangel, and Nephilim. She grew tired in the middle of reading about Seraphim and let Sam know.

Sam stopped what he was doing on his laptop and led her down the hallway. Courtney took the Angel book with her. He stopped to show her where she will be staying. The room was plain but at least there was a tv. The bed and sheets didn’t look comfortable at first glance but sitting down Courtney felt a mix of firm and plush. It wasn’t that bad. Behind her were empty gun racks mounted on the wall.

“This was Dean’s room,” Sam stated opening a drawer from a desk close to the door.

Courtney could see he pulled out something from the desk and handed her pictures of people she didn’t know except for Sam. She didn’t understand why she was even looking at these and was in immediate discomfort. “I don’t understand. Why are you showing me these?”

“I thought you should know who your father was.” Sam swallowed in an almost unnerving way.

Courtney did the same. She peered over the pictures again looking at the other man with Sam. She wanted to believe so badly that this man, Dean, was the horrible and absent man she’d believed. Her whole life she thought of him as an asshole for not being there and for what he did to her mom. In the still pictures, she saw a man who loved his brother more than anything, nonetheless a love she never once gotten from him and never will.

He was very handsome. Even she could admit their eyes were the same. She flipped to the last picture her gaze landing at the top left of the photo. A woman is hugging a boy from behind him. Presumably, the boy is Dean. She was beautiful. “Is this your mom?” Courtney asked.

Sam nodded. “That would be Dean, my mother, and your grandmother.”

Courtney’s heart sunk she missed being in the presence of her late biological mother and adopted mother. Especially as it was close to the holidays. Her schooling and job had kept her away for so long. She wanted her actual family. Those who cared for her all her life.

She could feel a sob coming on but controlled herself. She didn’t want to come off as weak.

“Where is she now?” Courtney asked another question pushing her true feelings aside.

“She died.” Sam swallowed again. Courtney could see and hear the lump in his throat. “But that was a long time ago.”

Courtney saw that Sam wasn’t being completely honest with her. When he stated it was a long time ago his eyes shifted around to the side three times and his body was off. Almost in fear and a change in tone. She wanted to tell him she understood body language to a T and there was something he wasn’t telling her. Not the whole truth anyway. However, she was going to let it go.

“I’m sorry.” She turned away from Sam. “I want to be alone right now.”

“Of course. Goodnight Courtney.” She heard Sam say solemnly and heard the door close behind her.

During the silence, Courtney got up from the bed and looked around more. Some of the drawers at the desk were locked. She scoped the dressers and found loads of flannel long-sleeved shirts, leather jackets, jeans, and t-shirts of famous 1970s rock bands.

Turning on the tv Courtney searched for any app pertaining to social media. She couldn’t find anything, then searched for the app’s app and found it was locked. Heat spread through her fingertips and face. She wanted to toss the remote in her hand so hard against the wall. She remembered this is the best for now and that she couldn’t log into her social media for now. She only wanted to know how her friends and family were fairing.

Courtney told herself to get a grip, relax, and be patient. Her palm entrapping the remote in her hand became clammy and full of sweat. She tossed it gently onto the bed. She walked to the door and twisted the knob. To her surprise the door did open. She wasn’t being treated like a prisoner or a hostage victim.

Slowly Courtney stepped back inside of the room and closed the door gently. Getting into the bed, she pulled the covers over her-and taking the remote she channel surfed and left it on a calming movie to fall asleep to as she sunk into the mattress. The lights she’d left on had not bothered her once throughout the night.