Snippets One Hundred Eleven: Heaven

        Castiel sat in a cell awaiting judgement.  There were manacles around his wrists and ankles.  Soon, two angels from his garrison came to take him before Father.

        They quietly entered the throne room and Castiel listened to the music of the angels and Saints who stood before the rainbow throne singing.  The prisoner stopped before the Judgement Seat and fell to his knees before Father.

        A gentle voice called his name, ‘Castiel?’

        ‘Father?’

        ‘Why did you ignore Me?  We could have prevented all of this.  Rebellion is not a worthy cause for you, my Son.’

        ‘Father, Dean Winchester has become my cause.  I have been with him for nine years.  I watched him give up belief when his Mother died.  He can no longer see me, but I can do much to help and comfort him,’ the angel whispered.

        ‘You need to distance yourself, my Son.  It is not time for free will.’

        ‘What do you mean by free will, Father?’

        ‘When Dean is grown, he will teach you about it and you will follow him.  I told you to keep him alive and not worry about Samuel.’

        ‘Dean worries about him and where Dean goes, I go, Father.’

        ‘Castiel, I am going to give you a strict warning.  Keep this impersonal or I will remove you from this job and give it to someone else.  Perhaps Uriel?’

        ‘Father, I will strive to be what you want, but I will falter.  I find that I cannot help but want to do more for him.’

        ‘If you continue in this way, I will give the concern to Uriel and hand you over to Raphael for punishment.  I understand your heart, Castiel.  I appreciate how you want to help him, but you are becoming too human.  Stop it now.’

        ‘Yes, Father.’

        God raised his hand and the manacles were gone and Castiel was in the front seat of Bobby’s car as the hunter and the Winchesters drove back to South Dakota.

        Castiel closed his eyes in relief when he heard Father’s voice, ‘I will be sending you on other cases at times, my Son.  Dean has to grow up under John’s care to become what he must become.  You will be there but not at every moment in his life.

        The angel closed his eyes in emotional pain and quickly opened them, concerned that Father would take it as a weakness and give Dean to Uriel.  He shivered and sighed.  

Snippets One Hundred Ten: Aftermath IV

        The boys walked for two hours before they found a restaurant.  Dean ordered breakfast for the two of them and spent more time watching his little brother eat.  Neither noticed the old car pull into the parking lot.  They did not see Bobby Singer walk towards the door.  He stood inside the restaurant looking for the boys.

        Spotting Dean’s face, he grimly walked toward their table.  The older boy spotted him and stood, studying the older man’s face.  Bobby knew that the boy understood he was in trouble.

        “Uncle Bobby, I found Sammy,” came a stutter from older brother as the younger one jumped up and hugged the man.

        “I missed you, Uncle Bobby,” came a mumbled reply as Sam’s face was buried against Bobby’s body.

        Bobby shook his head and told both boys to sit down and finish their breakfast.  He motioned to the waitress and ordered ham and a short stack with a cup of coffee.

        Dean stared at his plate.  He looked up into the stern features of the hunter sitting next to Sam.

        “I’m sorry Uncle Bobby, but I’m not sorry I looked for Sammy.  I found him.”

        “You both coulda been kidnapped, killed or worse,” came the gruff reply.

        “I had to go after him, Uncle Bobby.  He’s my brother and it’s my job to protect him.”

        “It’s your Dad’s job to protect him, Dean.  It’s your job to tell me things and get my help.  You’re a kid!”

        “I’ve taken care of him since I was four, Uncle Bobby.  I’ve been raising him.  It’s my only job.  I won’t stop.”

        Bobby Singer looked at the defiant stance of the older Winchester boy.  He would have become angry if he didn’t see the quivering lip and the fear and worry in the hazel eyes. 

        He took sip of his coffee. 

        Sighing, he looked at both boys, “From now on, when you get an asinine idea like this, think twice and don’t do it.  Idjits.”

        Sam smiled and continued eating.  Dean looked relieved and sighed.  

Snippets One Hundred Nine: Aftermath Part III

        The sound of rustling in the brush around him woke Dean.  He tried to sit up but felt as if he were tied down.  In the sleepiness of his mind, it took a few minutes to realize that arms and legs were wrapped around him.  He turned his head and saw his Sammy.

        “Sam,” came a soft, unbelieving whisper.

        “Dean!” Sam threw himself on top of his brother, holding on for dear life.

        “Where did you come from?  You weren’t here when I laid down,” the older boy questioned.

        “I don’t know.  I don’t care.  I’ve found you,” the hazel eyes showed absolute joy.

        Dean rolled over and pulled his brother into his arms.

        “They’re not gonna tear us away from each other again, Sammy.  I won’t let them.  We need to get going.  We got a ways to go to get home,” Dean spoke in a whisper as he started putting their things together.

        “Let’s find a place where we can get something to eat and I’ll call Uncle Bobby to come get us.”

        Castiel sighed and turned his mind towards Father and he winced.

        ‘Father?’

        ‘Castiel, you had no right to interfere in the way you did.  You must return to Heaven and face your wrongs.’

        ‘I will come, Father, but not until Bobby Singer finds the boys.’

        ‘No, Castiel.  You will come now.’

        The angel ignored the command and moved Bobby Singer closer to the boys.  After this act of rebellion, two angels appeared and took the renegade angel captive.

        ‘I must not leave my charge.  I will come.  He has to be protected!’

        The three angels disappeared and boys were alone.

Snippets One Hundred Eight: Aftermath Part II

        Castiel was beginning to worry about Dean.  His charge was not eating, barely drinking anything, and his rest was sleepless.  The angel knew he would have to intervene to keep the boy alert and able to continue his travels. 

        Sam stayed away from the highways.  He had read a book on traveling without being seen.  The child figured it was the best way to get back to Dean.  He had a map and was charting as he walked.  Sometimes he snuck onto a truck or trailer being pulled and would hide under a tarp.  He found places that were safe to sleep in. 

        Dean had no idea how close he was to finding his little brother.  Castiel had helped him travel day after day without his knowledge.  The angel knew that all those who were searching were frantic, looking closer to home and know knowing that Dean had help.

        The last night, Dean tried to sleep and dozed for a few minutes.  He awoke with tears streaming down his face.  He stared at the stars, wishing there was someone he could believe in to pray to.  He knew there was no way he would find Sam.  The boy was frightened.

        The angel touched his charge and made him go to sleep.  He put sigils around the area to protect the boy.  He left him and went to find Sam.  The young boy was asleep in a thicket.  Castiel gently touched him and caused him to move.

        Sam was placed next to his brother.  Neither knew the other was there, but the comfort of being together permeated the atmosphere surrounding the two boys; encouraged by one guardian angel.  

Snippets One Hundred Seven: Aftermath

        Bobby had managed to flag another vehicle down and asked the driver  to let Caleb know what happened.   Caleb came with  a wrecker and brought everyone to the salvage yard. 

        Dean remained quiet, but Sam was talking.  He told Bobby what the woman had told him.  How she just screamed and died.  The boy mentioned the other man trying to hurt Dean and how a large puff of black smoke left him as he fell on the older boy.

        Bobby could get no response from the older Winchester.   When they reached home, he called John.  Three days later, Jim Murphy came and got Sam.  The boys’ Dad felt that a church would be better protection for his youngest.  Everyone was surprised that he allowed Dean to stay with Singer.

  

        Things remained quiet for some time.  After six months, Pastor Jim called Bobby and told him that Sam had run away.   He was heading out to find the boy, but Bobby should be on the lookout because Sam wanted Dean.

        The older Winchester brother sat on the top of the stairs listening to the one-sided conversation.  He soon realized that Sammy was trying to get home to him.  His brother was somewhere without protection.  Dean packed a backpack with a few clothes, his weapons, and pocketed the money he had saved. 

        After getting off the phone with Murphy, Bobby went to check on Dean and found him gone. 

        Panicking, the older man called Murphy and Caleb and told them that Dean must have overheard and had gone to look for his brother.

        Caleb called John at his last known number and was cursed  for his time.  John told them to find his sons.  He was in the middle of a hunt and could not go and find them.  Lives were at stake.

        No one knew that Dean had a protector.  Castiel knew were Sam was and kept his charge going in the right direction.  At times, he would lessen the distance by blurring the boy’s thought processes and moving him closer to his brother.  Several times, Father tried to contact him, but Cas had one thing on his mind….helping the Winchester brothers.  No one realized at the time that it was the beginning of a lifelong process for the angel.

Snippets One Hundred Six: The Siege Part Three

        Three days passed and there were no demon signs.  Bobby and Caleb discussed the situation.  They called John who told them the demons would have no reason to go after Dean.  He was concerned about Sam due to where his mother died.   He asked that the men remove the boys from the safe room and keep an eye on the youngest.

        Bobby wasn’t overjoyed at the idea of not watching the older son.  Dean had no reason to make up such a story.  John scoffed at the older man’s fears and told him that Dean wanted attention. 

        Bobby took the boys to town to buy some clothes they needed.   What they had was too small for them.  They were still out of town when the demons attacked.   The truck went sliding off the road and hit a tree.  Dean threw himself on top of Sam as Bobby hit the windshield.  The passenger door opened and hands reached in to grab the boys.

        Sam was tossed to the ground and the man dragged Dean away from the truck.  The younger brother screamed his brother’s name.  A woman reached down and touched the boy.

        “It’s all right, Sam.  We’ll protect you.  You don’t need him.  He’ll be a hindrance in the future.”

        “I don’t think so,” came a voice that held no inflection.   The woman turned and looked into the piercing blue eyes of an angel.  She screamed as his hand went to her forehead and she could not evacuate the body and dropped dead.

        Dean was struggling with the man who held him in a vice-like grip.  The man grabbed the boy’s throat and squeezed and he reached the other around his head to snap his neck.  They both heard the scream and saw the woman drop, but only the demon saw the angel. 

        A large cloud of smoke left the man’s body and Dean fell with the man landing on top of him.  Sam ran towards his brother as Castiel checked the older boy.  He was going to have bruises.  The angel walked over to the truck and lay a hand on Bobby Singer.  The man woke and looked around him.  He saw the bodies and started swearing as he jumped from the truck.

        “Are you two okay?”

“Yes, Uncle Bobby,” Sam stuttered.  Dean nodded softly, his teeth gritted to keep from showing any emotion.  Castiel watched him closely.

‘Father?’

‘The demons will leave them alone for now, my Son.  They now know which brother is being protected.  This will worry them.  Stay close to Dean from now on.’

‘Yes, Father.  Thank You for letting me protect him.’

‘You are welcome, my Son.  When did he become your boy?’

‘My what?’  Castiel stared at Dean Winchester in confusion.  He thought back and realized he had called his charge ‘my boy.’  He was concerned that maybe he was becoming too close to him.

‘Well,’ thought the angel.  ‘He is my charge so he is my boy.’

Snippets One Hundred Five: The Siege Part Two

        “In the way?” Bobby asked.

        At this moment, Castiel appeared.  The angel had been told that a demon was looking for the boys and had gone to check on it.  He now knew it was a ruse to get him out of the way.  He looked at Dean, and could see the boy was frightened but not willing to show it.

        Dean’s guardian came closer to him and stood by him, allowing his peace to flow, but this time the boy was not receiving it.  Frustrated, Cas looked around the room for anything that might be hindering him.

        The angel walked near the door and took a closer look at the mark that was on the frame.  The demon had placed a small sigil where it would not be seen by human eyes.  He frowned and peered closer.   It was a curse mark; a spell.  Turning towards his charge, he realized the curse was for the boy; his boy. 

        The angel studied the spell.  It had to be carefully removed.  A wrong move could harm Dean.   He chanted softly and reached out and touched the mark.  A flash occurred and Dean moaned and fell to the floor.

        Bobby knelt down and checked the older Winchester to make sure he wasn’t harmed while Caleb ran to the door frame.  Castiel had moved quickly to aid his charge.  He reached out and touched Dean’s forehead and healed him.

        Dean slowly opened his eyes and looked around him in confusion.  The angel sighed in relief and kept a hand on the child’s shoulder.  Bobby sobbed and grabbed the boy and pulled him into his arms.

        “Are you all right?”  Dean nodded and looked up as Caleb knelt down. 

        “I can’t find anything, Bobby,” he said softly.

        “Let’s take him down to the safe room and let him rest there,” the older hunter said, his voice shaking.

Dean began to protest but was over ruled by two hunters.  Bobby carried him down the stairs and they put him in the room with Sam, who cried his name.

“I’m all right, Sammy,” Dean whispered, as they laid him on a cot.  The boy drifted off to sleep.  Caleb brought some food and they left the two boys and the angel in the room.  Cas sat on the floor, keeping a hand on his charge.  Sam sat on the edge of the cot, a frightened look on his face.

It remained quiet as Dean slept off the effects of the spell while his two guardians watched over him.