Chapter Five: Hostages of Fortune

Castiel landed lightly, just inside the outer ring of ward symbols. Ellie Visyak had wards to stop everything but an angel up, and he had to hope that it would buy him time.

He cut his hand on his blade, and smeared the sigil for sanctuary, for safety, onto the nearest tree. It was imperfect protection, but it would delay anyone who might be trying to follow him. He'd also taken a leaf out of Crowley's book, and Dean's, by setting up decoy 'safe zones'. He'd transported himself to over half a dozen locations, hoping the number of beacons would distract Raphael long enough for him to collect the woman.

Of course, with the troops Raphael commanded, it would be all too easy for him to send a squadron of angels to each location to tear down the wards, and then...well, then he'd be in trouble. He was safer at Bobby's house, though both angels and demons knew where it was.

He put the thoughts aside, striding toward the cabin in the center of the clearing.

It was a lovely cabin. Under better circumstances, he might have stopped to admire it. It seemed like the kind of place the Winchesters might enjoy inhabiting.

He was tempted to transport directly inside, but he wouldn't put it past Ellie Visyak to have traps for such occurrences. A Purgatory native who'd spent her life keeping a low profile would be hard to sneak up on. Besides, Dean had warned him that she was unlikely to trust him if he did something like that, and they needed her to come willingly.

Castiel had learned the hard way, through both Dean and his brother Adam, that an unwilling guest was more trouble than they were worth.

He knocked on the door, and it opened to reveal a middle-aged woman with short cut hair, and wary eyes. "Who are you? How did you find me?"

"I am a friend of Robert Singer's. He sent me to find you. You need to come with me." There was no point in mincing words.

"And why would I do that?" There was no sign of yielding in her eyes.

"You are in danger."

"I'm safe here." Ellie Visyak raised her chin. "I may not know exactly what you are, but I can tell you're not human. And if you're not human, then you know I have protections here."

"Not against the people who are coming for you." He glanced up, to see the Devil's Trap on the ceiling. An old trick of Bobby's. "A Devil's Trap won't stop the forces they'll send."

"And how would you know that Mr….?"

"Castiel. I am an Angel of the Lord. And I know this because the people who will come for you are like me. They're also angels. They wish to use you to open the gateway to Purgatory. I can't allow that to happen. That's why I need you to come with me." He stepped forward, his need for haste overriding what little Dean and Sam had tried to teach him about 'personal space'. "I understand your reluctance, but we don't have time to argue. If I can find you, so can others."

He left it unsaid that all they'd have to do was repeat the research he'd done, prior to his decision to change plans. He doubted it would help their cause for her to know that, three days ago, he'd been the one hunting her.

Ellie stepped back. "Prove it."

"I don't have much time. What do you suggest?" He could pull his wings over, but there were Purgatory entities that had wings, and there was every chance that if he did, Raphael would detect the flare. Granted, it wasn't much of a flare, but he wasn't willing to risk it.

Ellie stepped back, making it clear she wanted him to cross the Devil's Trap.

He stepped across easily, aware of the ward symbol's power but unhindered by it. Ellie watched him, then nodded and turned to a small table. She drew on a pair of heavy leather gloves, then pulled out two small, sharp blades. Silver and iron.

He took them from her and sliced the blades across the back of his hand with quick efficient movements. Then he handed them back, and let her watch as the wounds closed before her eyes. "Iron and silver won't harm me." He hesitated, then withdrew one of the angel blades he carried. He'd taken to carrying more than one, just in case he was attacked. He pulled the spare from his left sleeve. "This is an angel blade. You can use it for defense. It's one of the few things that can harm my kind."

She stared at him, skepticism in her eyes. Castiel bit back a huff of frustration and slid the edge of the blade across his arm, producing a thin cut that sparked with Grace. "Angel blades will cut angels."

Ellie was staring at his arm. "That light."

"My Grace." He did huff then. "I'm sure Bobby and the Winchesters can explain everything to you. However, we need to go before other angels get here."

Her eyes snapped back to his, wary and defiant. "Why should I believe that you're here to help me, when you say other angels are after me?" She frowned. "Why would other angels be after me?"

"There is a civil war in Heaven. And unrest in Hell. Interested parties in both cases wish to use the souls of Purgatory to gain an advantage. They know that you hold information they require." To say nothing of her blood. The blood of a Purgatory native. He wasn't human enough to be restless, but even so, every sense he'd developed as a warrior whispered that time was running out.

Dean had said something once, about it being better to ask forgiveness than permission. He decided that now was as good a time to put it to the test as any. He grabbed her arm, ignoring her startled exclamation, and snapped himself into the ether, to Bobby's house.

He moved just in time. Even as he darted away, he felt members of Raphael's host approaching his location. He stumbled out at a random destination in the middle of nowhere to confuse them, then launched himself away again, before his unwilling passenger could regain her footing, or stab him with the blade she still held.

Three more stops, and then he transported both of them to Bobby's house, landing in the living room with a heavy thump amid shouts of surprise.

He held up a hand, silencing the woman, and looked around. Bobby and the Winchesters were staring at him from various positions in Bobby's study. Dean and Sam both had their angel blades out, poised to attack. Bobby was watching, stone-faced and wary.

Castiel took two steps forward, dragging Ellie with him. He touched Bobby's shoulder. 'Is it safe?'

"Yeah. Safe enough. We found the bug after you left. And Sam set up some sort of white noise generator. Not sure how that works, but..." Bobby shrugged, then turned his attention to Castiel's passenger. "Hey."

"Robert Singer...tell this man to let me go!" Visyak snarled the words. "What's the meaning of this?"

Bobby gave Castiel a raised eyebrow. "You didn't tell her?"

"I did. However..." Castiel stepped back, releasing Ellie as he did so. "She was extremely suspicious. I determined there was not time to convince her. Besides..." He cocked his head at Dean. "You once told me it is better to ask forgiveness than permission."

"Yeah. Not always, Cas." Dean gave him a lopsided grin. Then he stepped forward, carefully holstering his weapon. "Look, Ms. Visyak...you know me. Me and my brother. Remember, we came to you on the matter of those dragons, and Eve?"

"I remember. You broke my sword. And you failed to prevent Eve's rising." Ellie watched Dean.

"Yeah. Uh, thing is...we ganked Eve with some phoenix ash, but doin' that screwed over some major bad dudes. And according to Cas, they want a Purgatory native to help 'em. And according to Cas and Bobby, that's you."

"I..."

"Come off it Ellie. I figure, musta been blind not to see it. You ain't changed in all the time I've known you, you've got all those sigils, all those arcane books and that obscure knowledge. And even taking that outta the picture, we tracked down that kid, the boy from the Lovecraft séance."

"I..." Ellie Visyak sighed. "I just wanted to live. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothin, in my book. So long as you don't go hurtin' folks to do it. Doesn't change the fact that Cas and Dean are right. There's some bad folks after you right now. And some of 'em won't be kept out by the wards on your place."

"He..." Ellie looked between Cas and Bobby. "He mentioned angels. But if that's true, then I won't be any safer here..."

"Wrong. This place is warded against angels, save for myself and one of my brothers. It is a sanctuary from Heaven, a safe place. As long as you are here, then no harm will befall you."

"He ain't lyin." Bobby stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know you're probably pretty ticked off right now, and maybe a little scared, but I promise...we're the good guys."

Ellie Visyak stared at the older hunter, reading him with her eyes. Then she sighed. "I suppose you are." A small smile softened her face. "You always were." She loosened her grip on the angel blade she carried. Everyone else relaxed. "You know what they're looking for?"

"Blood of a Purgatory native, and confirmation of the Lovecraft Ritual." Castiel spoke.

Before anyone else could speak, Dean's phone rang. The eldest Winchester pulled it out of his pocket with a frown. The frown deepened when he saw the number. "Cas."

Dean held up the phone. Castiel felt his stomach clench. The number displayed was Crowley's. "You should probably answer."

Dean grimaced, but flicked the tab to answer, tapping the button for the speaker-phone as he did. "What do you want?"

"Squirrel. Lovely to hear your voice again." Crowley's tone was dry.

"Cut the crap. You made it pretty clear we weren't in partnership anymore. So why are you calling me?"

"All protests about the nature of our partnership and it's demise aside...A little bird told me that you have something I need. A lady from across the wall, so to speak. I'm looking to trade."

"Like hell. We know what you're tryin' to do, and we ain't playin. Sorry, better luck next time." Dean moved to swipe the phone off.

"I'd rethink that, if I were you." Crowley's voice went icy. There was a sound of scuffing footsteps. "Say hello darling."

"Dean?" The voice was tremulous, near tears, and very recognizable. Castiel felt his shoulders tense.

"Lisa?" Dean's shocked question confirmed what Castiel already knew. Crowley had Lisa Braeden, the woman Dean had stayed with after the closing of Hell and Lucifer's banishment to the Cage. The mother of the closest thing Dean had to a son.

Castiel felt like he'd been stabbed with an angel blade. He'd never considered providing protection for Lisa and Ben. His resources were spread thin as it was, and it was all he could do to keep up with Sam and Dean and Bobby.

"Dean...what's going on?" Lisa's voice cracked.

"Don't worry. Lisa, is Ben with you?"

The answer came in a second, equally shaky voice, this one young and male. "Dean? Dean, some guys showed up, and they..." The words were cut off abruptly.

Crowley's voice came back on the line. "Suffice it to say, you now know the deal. I have something you want, you have something I want. A trade, one lady for another. I'll even throw in the brat for good measure."

"You son of a..."

"Ah-ah. Temper, temper, Squirrel. Wouldn't want me to lose mine, now would we?" That the threat was veiled behind false tones of politeness only made it more real. "I trust you remember what happened last time?"

Bobby nudged Dean to one side and perched on the desk next to the phone. "Yeah yeah. We got the message, you jackass."

"Robert. Lovely to hear your dulcet tones again."

"Cut the crap, Crowley. What is it you're after?"

"I believe I already said. You have in your care a young lady that I wish to meet. I have in mine a young lady and a young man that you'd rather see kept in one piece. And alive, I presume. So...here's the deal, take it or leave it. I'll be sending Castiel – I know he's there, hello Castiel – an address. You'll bring our little miss from Purgatory to that location in two hours. Otherwise...well, I don't have to go into specifics now do I?"

"Yeah. We got it." Bobby scowled at the phone.

"Good. I'll be waiting. And be warned, I'll know if you try any funny business." The line went dead.

Dean cursed and kicked the desk hard. Then he picked up an empty beer bottle and threw it hard. It flew into the kitchen and shattered, sending brown glass skittering over the worn tiles.

Bobby watched. "You done pitchin a fit, or you want us to wait for you before we sort out this mess?"

"That bastard's got Lisa and Ben!" Dean's voice was hot with helpless rage and hurt and fear.

Bobby's, in contrast, was cool and calm. "Yeah. I think we all heard that. Question is, what are we going to do about it? And that ain't a question you can answer while you're kickin' furniture and throwin' crap around my house."

"I could go." Ellie spoke up.

"Unwise." Castiel swallowed hard, wincing at the look Dean gave him. "Crowley and his partner most likely have spies watching. As soon as you leave, you'll be vulnerable."

"So what? We just let Lisa and Ben die? Cause I don't accept that." Dean's voice went hard.

"No. But we can't give Ellie to Crowley either." Sam's soft voice calmed his brother. The younger Winchester stood. "Look, Cas, you said they need the blood of a Purgatory native, and the ritual Lovecraft used, right?"

"Yes."

"So...we can give them that, right? If Ellie will let us draw her blood, and if she can write down the ritual...we can give them to Crowley without risking her. Get Crowley to give us Lisa and Ben. Win-win."

"Except that Crowley and his new buddy can open Purgatory, get juiced up, and restart the end of the world. Yeah, not a good idea, Sam." Dean huffed his frustration.

"Maybe...we could split into teams. You and Cas go deal with Crowley, with the blood and all. Me and Bobby could try to sneak in and try to rescue Lisa and Ben. Then we make a run for it."

"It's an idea." The old hunter nodded. "Course, we're goin' against an archangel and the King of Hell, so we might need to fine-tune it a bit."

"Yeah, well, we've got two hours. We'd better get to it." Dean's voice was steel hard. "I'm not letting Lisa and Ben die because of some bitch-ass war in Heaven, or Crowley and his stupid little power trip."

Nods all around. Castiel joined in, then moved over to the desk to stand beside Dean.

They didn't have much time, and they'd have to make every second count.

Author's Note: Short chapter, but things are heating up. Next time, plans are put into motion, but will it be enough?