#12 - Hide and Seek
“[Name], [Name],” your body shook forcefully as you snapped your eyes open to see Dean’s face “[Name], are you okay?” his face was a fluster of panic. Sam stood closely by his side.
“Dean” you gasped with relief as you threw yourself into his arms, realising all too soon that the pain in your body had returned. Though you could care less. The brothers were here. They were okay.
Dean held you close, clutching desperately at your shirt and supporting your body with his own. The way that he held you, it was almost as if he was holding you together, as if he were to let go you would just crumble.
“I’m here [Name], me and Sammy” his voice was soft, reassuring. Like Dean could read your mind, it was exactly what you needed.
“What happened?” you looked towards Sam, though you were still held tightly in Dean’s arms.
“You fell asleep,” Sam explained “You started screaming about ten minutes ago.”
“For that long?” you questioned, remembering what you had seen. The all too vivid imagery of it rushing back, seeping back into your mind.
“Yeah, I mean, we thought you were having a fit or something” Dean explained. He released you slowly, brushing your hair from your eyes as he placed you back on the couch. Sam took the seat next to you.
A fit? It all seemed so real. Could it really have just been... You thought about the man that you had encountered. Was he really just a figment of your imagination. Your head was swimming, was it really all just a dream. Kushiel... Gabriel!
“I think Gabriel’s in trouble,” you blurted. Dean’s eyes snapped to you ate your outburst. “Cas too.”
You felt Sam’s hand rest upon your legs as his eyes studied your face, “How can you know that?”
“I saw them” you replied, you finally noticed the sweat that beaded on your skin, rising from your pores in your flustered state. The brothers shared a worried glance.
“[Name], it was just a dream” Dean assured.
“No, no it wasn’t” you cried.
“She’s right” a new yet familiar voice rose from behind Dean, who turned briskly, pulling a blade from his jacket whilst Sam moved closer to you protectively.
“Put that down,” the new voice sounded again. “I’m not the enemy.” You knew that you recognized that voice. It was gentle, smooth yet with that last sentence, affirmative.
“Azrael?” you looked past Dean to see the curly haired Angel.
You were greeted with a warm smile from Azrael’s full lips, “How are you [Name]? How’s my champion?”
“What did you mean when you said that I was right?” you shrugged him off, offering your own question.
“About Gabriel. I see your powers are surfacing. It’s all coming together. What else did you see?” Azrael began to step towards you though Dean put an arm out to stop him in his tracks.
“What,” Dean shook his head “What do you mean, powers?”
“[Name] was chosen to fight in God’s name. You don’t think that the Lord would send his soldier into battle unarmed, do you?” Azrael narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Dean’s features as his face formed a reaction.
“This, this is...”
“Dean stop,” you cut Dean off before looking back towards the Angel “Azrael I- I saw a man as well. He said that he has been trying to talk to me for a while. He kind of gave me this sense of unease and he said... he said that he is a part of me” you trailed off.
You glanced down as you felt the heavy set of Sam’s palm on your leg. It was reassuring as Azrael’s answer came out simply, “He is.”
“What do you mean?” you spluttered “How is that even possible?”
“I can explain later. As the seconds tick by Castiel and Gabriel are getting closer to death. I know where they are, and I can take you, but only one of you” Azrael looked you over with a serious expression whilst Dean’s eyes never stopped burning into the Angel before him.
“Then let’s go” the eldest Winchester stepped forward only to receive a chuckle from Azrael’s lips.
“No,” he replied simply “I’ll take her.”
“Over my dead body,” Dean objected fiercely “What’s she gonna do, hobble to the rescue. She can barely walk.”
“Cute,” Azrael sneered “I’ll heal her before we leave.”
“It’s not happening. I mean, we don’t even know you” Dean’s eyes narrowed as he stared the tall angel down.
“You think I’m going to hurt her?” Azrael frowned.
“I don’t know man, are you?” Dean accused, his glare still unfaltering.
“Dean I’m right here you know,” you halted their argument, climbing to your feet with Sam’s help “I’ve got this. I can handle it, and...” you glanced towards Azrael before continuing “And I trust him.”
Dean looked at you with disbelief as you approached him, “You’re kidding right?”
“No,” you said firmly, though you lay a gentle palm against his cheek.
You heard a light cough from Sam, who was still holding onto you though you ignored it as Azrael spoke up once more, “I promise you Dean Winchester, I will keep her safe.”
Dean let out a sigh beneath your palm before turning back to Azrael, “You have two hours to get her back here alive, and believe me, if anything happens to her, I won’t kill you, but you’ll sure as hell wish you were dead.”
Both brothers watched with burning eyes as Azrael nodded, “You have my word. So long as I am around no harm will come to [Name].”
You sighed and dropped your hand from Dean’s cheek. It seemed as if he had finally received satisfaction in the answer that Azrael had given. That or he had come to the realization that this would be yet another battle of wills that he could not win. Either way you were relieved that he had backed down. You couldn’t just let Castiel or Gabriel die, and it gave you a sense of ease that you wouldn’t just be sitting around waiting.
You kept your eyes peeled on Dean’s form, reading his expression, afraid that he would change his mind, as Azrael stepped forward. You felt him place two fingers to the side of your head before a sensation hit you. The pain evaporated from your body and, as Sam released you, you reveled in the feeling of stretching your legs once more.
“Are you ready?” Azrael questioned, his hand stretched out ready for you to grasp. You nodded and placed your hand in his, squeezing your eyes shut tightly. That nostalgic feeling of nausea in the pit of your stomach returned once more and when you opened your eyes you were in that some place, that place in heaven where Castiel had taken you the first time around.
“Why are we here again?” you questioned as you took in the familiar scenery.
“This is Castiel’s heaven,” Azreal explained “This is as far as I could track him. For the rest, I needed you.”
You furrowed your brows in confusion as you glanced at the dark haired angel beside you, “How am I supposed to find them if you can’t.”
Azrael offered a playful chuckle, “Have faith in yourself, [Name]. Use your instinct. You’ve seen it already.”
“My dream,” you let out a breath of realisation. You scanned the area with your eyes for a moment before your feet took over. “This way” you called out as you took off, running in the opposite direction to where Azreal stood. He didn’t hesitate in following you.
You ran towards that same doorway that you had seen here the last time, the one that had led you through your own twisted memories before you met Azrael for the first time. You didn’t know why and it seemed almost implausible that Castiel’s and Gabriel’s location would be through that door. But as every fibre of your being drew you closer, with Azrael at your heel, you hopelessly prayed that your instincts were right, that you would find your friends, and that they would be okay.