Chapter Two

The air in the motel room was stagnant, stale almost to an uncomfortable level. Dean pulled a chair from the table and nodded for me to sit. He didn't look pleased and suddenly I dreaded hearing what it was he wanted to tell me. Castiel stood off in the background, staring at me as he often did.

"I can't take all the secrecy guys; someone tell me something." I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.

Dean cleared his throat and then took a seat across from me on the end of the bed. "Listen Eliza, I know you're not in the life anymore…but uh-"

"You need something from me, right?" I scoffed and stood to pace the small space. "I knew it. I knew it would be come back and bite me in the ass."

"What's that now?" Dean asked confused. He turned to look at Castiel who remained silent.

I turned sharply to glare at the older Winchester. "I thought I was out. I thought I was out and was out for good."

Dean laughed. "Well, sweetheart, I don't know who told you it was permanent but I'd demand a refund and then kick their ass."

"Eliza," Castiel began.

"Don't even start, Cas. You knew he wanted something from me."

"This is true." He gave in far too easily which meant there was a whole world of unspoken words underneath his calm exterior.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to Dean. "So why is Sam out there and not in here?"

He looked uncomfortable and a little sad. "We don't know each other well, I get that. Can you just hear me out?"

"Fine," I said with a huff as I fell back to the empty chair. I crossed my arms and settled in.

With one final glance at the angel, Dean began to explain just why I was suddenly involved once again. He gave me the cliffs notes version of Sam and his addiction to demon blood. He stumbled through an altered version of Sam being Lucifer's vessel. By the time Dean felt I was sufficiently informed my head was spinning with details.

"Where do I fit into all of this?" I asked in a quiet voice. I almost didn't want to hear the answer because part of me already knew.

Dean and Castiel exchanged a glance. "Cas and I, we're gonna gank Lucifer and well…we don't want Sammy anywhere near that bastard. We need you to babysit."

"Babysit? As in, take care of your brother while you hunt Lucifer?"

Cas shifted, almost uncomfortable. "Essentially, yes."

"Huh," I said in disbelief. "And I was arrogant enough to think you wanted me to hunt with you guys."

"It's not safe, Eliza." Both myself and Dean cast a questioning look in Cas' direction.

"So, yes or no?" Dean asked, recovering from his curiosity.

I rolled all the information I'd been fed around in my brain. There was no question that my job wouldn't be waiting for me if/when I returned home. The state of the world…the existence of millions of people rested on the shoulders of the Winchesters.

"Yeah, I'll do it but I have a few conditions."

A smirk grew on Dean's face. "I can do conditions."

I stood and straightened my clothes. "I need to make on trip home, grab clothes and stuff. I don't have much with me."

"We're not talkin' makeup and hairspray right? Because then I'm gonna have to go with hell no."

"Dean," Castiel interjected, "let her go."

"What the hell is going on with you, man?"

Cas crossed and room and laid a hand on my shoulder. "Sam can escort Eliza home."

A light bulb went on in Dean's brain. "Think he'll go for it?"

"No."

I brushed Castiel's hand away. "Wait just a minute. First, stop talking about me like I'm not here and second, I'm supposed to ride all the way home with some guy who I don't know?"

Dean nodded. "Yeah, pretty much."

"They've been out there for hours." I peeked through the curtain to check on Dean and Sam who had been arguing in the Impala for at least two hours.

"Don't worry, Dean will convince Sam." I could feel the angel's presence directly behind me.

"Why do you have so much faith in Dean Winchester, Cas? Surely being human the last few days has taught you a thing or two about us." My voice was sad, it matched my mood.

"Why do you have so much faith in me?"

"Touché." I turned and gripped his face gently with both my hands. "I guess we're all far too involved to back out now. Different situations, same outcome…"

"Eliza-"

"Why did you suggest I take Sam home with me? I barely know him."

There was a flash of pain in his eyes. I knew then that something bigger was lurking underneath the whole babysitting facade. "Sam cannot say yes to Lucifer."

I glanced over my shoulder once to make sure the boys were still in the car having their discussion and then back to Castiel. "You're going to face the devil. If there were a time to be worried, now would be it." My thumb ran along his jaw line before I could stop myself. "I'm terrified."

He looked away, leaving my hand empty. My heart ached for him, for the shit we'd been brought to face and for the lack of relationship between us. Before the doubtful thoughts took root his eyes returned to mine and my breath caught in my throat.

"Nothing will happen to you," he assured me. The intensity in his eyes was one of my favorite things about him.

"You can't be sure. I'm involved now."

"I won't let anything happen."

"Cas, I can't have this vague round and round discussion with you now…" I turned toward the window. "The guys are right outside."

His hands gripped both my shoulders and I gave him my full attention once again. "There is something you should know in case I die."

The hesitation in his voice worried me. He never had any trouble saying just what he meant to say. "What is it?"

"Eliza, if I do not return you should know that-"

"Can you believe him?" Dean cried, bursting through the motel room door like he was on a mission.

Castiel backed away from me immediately, but not before Dean caught us in the act of the embrace. The moment was gone and I knew enough to realize I may never hear what he was about to tell me.

"Whoa, hey." Dean held his hands up and shook his head. "Cas, sorry man. I didn't know you were…busy." He smirked. "You were busy. Damn, that's a new one."

When I didn't laugh Dean's amusement turned to remorse but he didn't leave us alone. Castiel, still without his heavenly powers took a seat on the green pleather couch. A sigh escaped my parted lips but no one spoke. It was up to me to break the awkward silence.

"So…Sam didn't go for the babysitter idea?" I asked.

Dean grinned. "Oh he's going with you don't worry. He just needs some time to blow off steam."

"Come on Dean, we barely know each other but I can tell you're leaving the best part out."

"Hey! Who wants a burger?" He sidestepped my question entirely but I didn't have the energy to argue.

I politely declined and stayed behind to get some rest. My head was pounding as I lay down on the firm mattress to sleep. The last thing I remember was the quiet rattle of the air conditioner kicking on. When I came to once again the room was pitch black. I could make out the bed next to the one I was sleeping in and it was still empty. The low tones of Castiel's voice floated toward me from the thin motel room door.

I rose from the bed, peeling my tank top away from my damp skin. My curiosity got the best of me and in no time the window had been silently opened so I could hear what was going on right outside.

"Cas, give me something here. I mean…what are we gonna do with her?" Dean sounded angry.

"Eliza is strong willed. She will follow her own path."

I hated that they were having a disagreement about me but I couldn't stop myself from listening.

Dean sat on the hood of the car; I could hear the creak of the metal as it sunk under his weight. "She's involved now. What happens if Lucifer gets a hold of her? I can't put anyone else's life in danger."

"Calm down Dean. Her future is set, I have seen it."

"Wait, what?" I could hear the building anger in Dean's voice and I sympathized. Castiel was often infuriating. "What aren't you telling me Cas?"

Castiel sighed and I listened, holding my breath so I didn't miss a thing. "I will make sure she is safe."

"You got a thing for this girl?"

"A thing?" Castiel asked, confused.

Dean laughed. "Well you were about to give her the old one, two when I called. Have you shown her the goods or…felt her up at least?"

"She is listening."

I gasped and ran away from the window, almost falling back into the bed. I'd just barely made it when Dean and Cas appeared. I feigned sleep even though Cas knew better but I didn't have the energy to face him. The morning would come too fast.

The sun had just risen when I woke again. I turned over on my back and let my eyes adjust to the sunshine streaming in through the yellowed blinds. Motes of dust floated in the rays and it made me miss home. I missed waking up to Castiel being there after seeking my comfort in the middle of the night. Something about the conversation I'd overheard the night before put a seed of doubt in my stomach and the possibility of never having that again was looming. Of course, being involved in the apocalypse also put a bright red x on my head.

"Morning."

The voice startled me. I turned my head to the bed next to me. Sam was there, putting his shoes on. "Morning," I said sheepishly.

"Dean and Castiel are gone, it's just us. I'm ready whenever you are."

His tone was forced but I knew he wasn't happy about going off with me while his brother was off preventing Lucifer from killing everyone on earth. Then again, I had no right to presume I knew how Sam felt. He was meant to let the devil in, to let him ride around in his meat suit while he took a back seat. That was enough to send a lesser man to his grave, one way or another. I was essentially the buffer, the excuse to keep Sam as far away from Lucifer as I could. It wasn't something I was confident I could do.

"I just need a shower and I'm good." I sat up in bed to stretch. "Listen…" I said as Sam grabbed the door handle to leave. He stopped but didn't turn. "I'm sorry you have to tag along with me."

His shoulders tensed a bit. "It's not your fault. I'll be at the diner, getting some breakfast."

I growled, beating my fists on the mattress when he was gone. If I had to ride with that attitude all the way to my house I would strangle him. My shower was borderline miserable which didn't make things better. I was in a foul mood by the time I stalked through the door at the diner across the street. Sam was halfway through some sort of Belgian waffle when I slid into the booth.

"I guess hot water is a luxury around here," I mumbled from behind the menu.

The clink of a cup and the pouring of coffee brought my attention to the brooding man across from me. He was pouring me a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked lightly.

"Today? Black and strong as hell."

"Well," Sam half laughed, "this coffee is just about to walk away on its own so wish granted."

"Is that any good?" I asked, pointing at his waffle and cradling my precious cup of coffee.

"No, not really." He poked at the thing with his fork.

A slightly awkward silence fell between the two of us. I cleared my throat and chugged the scalding coffee. Sam was right, it was horrible. "Listen, this wasn't my idea. I'll get in and get out as quickly as possible."

He shrugged with one arm. "Don't worry about it. You ready?"

I took a deep breath, smoothed my hair from my face and nodded. I replayed the directions Dean and Castiel had given me in the back of my mind. Keep an eye on Sam. Make sure he doesn't disappear. Always be prepared for anything, you're a target now.

I'm a target.

"I'm over there," I directed Sam to my car.

He tossed his bag in the back seat and fell rather reluctantly into the passenger side. I stole glances at him as I drove though I'm sure he could feel me stalking him from the corner of my eye. Just a day earlier there was an angel in the very seat that the vessel for Lucifer was currently occupying. Sam didn't know that I knew and when Dean told me, he didn't know that Castiel had filled me in. It was a sick grapevine and we were all gossiping twelve year olds.

Then again, I wasn't ignorant. I knew there was an ulterior motive to Sam and myself being together. If the Devil wanted Sam, he wasn't just going to sit around and wait for him to show up. He would seek Sam out and unfortunately I was with him. It made Castiel's desperate actions from the motel room make so much more sense.

"So…"Sam turned toward me suddenly. "What's going on with you and Cas?"

I smiled, giving myself way immediately. "There isn't really anything going on. He's…well I love him."

Sam's eyebrows furrowed. "You love him even though you know nothing will ever happen?"

"Look Debbie Downer, stop raining on my parade." I switched the radio off. "I don't know why everyone thinks I'm so freaking' naïve and dumb to the way this all works."

"I know what you mean."

"Dean's sort of overbearing, huh?" I felt sorry for the younger Winchester. He'd really drawn the shit card when it came to the direction of his life.

"Things haven't been OK with Dean and me lately but you don't want to get involved…"

"In case you haven't noticed I'm already involved." I wondered if Sam had the same suspicions I did about our forced pairing.

"Yeah," he laughed. "Well, I'm sorry about Dean. He thinks he has to protect me and in the process he gets innocent people involved."

I didn't know how to respond so I kept quiet. After that Sam fell asleep and he stayed that way. He didn't move until the sun had gone and I stopped at a motel because my ass was past numb. I got us a room, tossed him the key and headed toward the tiny bar in the same parking lot. Castiel called me just as I was about to grab the rusty handle and go in.

"Where are you?"

"About halfway there."

"You're angry," he observed.

"No…yeah. Hell I don't know Cas. I'm just confused at the moment. Why would you send me away with Sam? Do you really think that Lucifer is going to sit around and knit panties while we're driving, practically unguarded to MY house?"

He sighed on the other end of the phone. "Eliza, there are reasons for everything. There is an order that we have to get back to."

"What are you talking about?" As far as I was concerned, he was speaking another language. There was no answer and I checked the screen. "Damn it!"

"Hey…" Sam came up behind me, unsure if he should get any closer.

"Sorry." I held up my cell. "Damn thing dropped my call."

"Want a beer?" Sam asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I might need more than one, but sure."

He opened the door for me and we went in. After my most recent conversation with Castiel I was even more suspicious of the motive behind me babysitting Sam.

"I've done things…"Sam muttered in the dark.

We'd been back from the bar for about an hour. We were lying in our respective beds, in the pitch black of the motel room. Sam had talked me into drinking with him and I would come to regret that choice.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him, annoyed. All I wanted to do was pass out and dream about a morning free of a hangover.

He sat up in bed; I could hear the sheets rustling. "There was this…Ruby. She's…she was a demon."

I sat up, unable to even think about sleeping. "Did you love her?"

"You know about Ruby?" he asked.

I shook my head even though he couldn't see me. "Not really. I know you two were close."

He scoffed and left his bed, only to sit across from me on mine. "She screwed me over and I freed Lucifer. I trusted the wrong person. I trusted a demon over my own brother."

There was a hint of desperation in his voice. I had a feeling that he wouldn't be telling me anything if he were sober. "Sam, you don't have to tell me this stuff OK?"

"You deserve to know who's riding around in your car. He'll find us."

I jumped up from the bed and stood by the window, the only place in the room where there was any light. "They knew he'd follow us, didn't they? They're setting us up."

"Dean wouldn't do that…"

"Are you sure about that, Sam?"

"Whoa back up." He moved across the small room until he was looming over me, half bathed in the moonlight streaking in through the cheap curtain. "What makes you think Lucifer wants me?"

I fidgeted, trying to think of a way out of the corner I'd painted myself into.

"You know. Right?" Sam took another step towards me.

"Castiel told me. I also know about Dean and Michael."

Sam looked away. "You knew and still got yourself involved?"

"The only reason I quit was because…well I had my reasons, but you know as well as I do that you can't leave the life. There is always something waiting around the corner. There's always something waiting in the dark…"

Sam's phone rang and I ended my rant, swallowing back the all the animosity I had toward my own life and the way I was raised. Rather than answer the call in my presence, Sam left the room. I wasn't about to follow him, despite my clear orders to not let him out of my sight. He could go jump the devil train for all I cared. My mind was on Castiel.

We didn't roll out of bed until sometime past eleven the next day. Apparently, drinking didn't agree with me anymore than it used to because the first thing I did was run for the bathroom. It took great determination to get dressed but I did it. With my bag in hand and sunglasses on my face I ventured out into the daylight.

Sam was there, leaning against the driver's door, hiding behind a pair of his own sunglasses. "I can drive," he croaked.

"I'm a big girl, I can drive." I pushed him out of the way and tossed my bag in the back seat. "Stop being so damn courteous would ya? It's going to make me sick again."

"Whatever," he mumbled.

My head throbbed with every rotation of the tires and with every pulse I regretted drinking so much. The events since finding a very human Castiel in some random hospital had most likely gotten to me. I blamed my bad judgment on that alone.

"Can you roll your window down? It's really hot in here." I asked Sam, who was silently brooding on his side of the car.

"Doesn't yours work?" He rested his forehead on his hand.

"Yes…the window works but I have a raging headache and the wind from my window will only make it worse."

"Can you pull the car over?" He asked, totally ignoring my rambling.

I came to a stop along the side of the road. We were the only car for miles and it was probably a good thing. "Feeling queasy I see…" I taunted him as he jogged off into the field. "You know, Dean said you'd come around eventually about this whole deal but I think he might be wrong. I think you're going to be a dick to me the entire way."

"Do you mind?" Sam glanced at me from his hunched stance. "I'm a little busy here."

I hopped up on the trunk of my car and stared off down the road. "You know, your brother sure doesn't trust you…I'm not sure Cas does either. What did you do to them, Sam?"

He wiped at his mouth and stood straight. "What the hell did you say?" He asked, hands on hips.

"I said, what did you do? To make Dean take Castiel's side over yours."

"You don't know a damn thing about me or Dean." He approached me quickly, quicker than I expected. "You're just some girl that Castiel won't admit he loves and so he leads you on so you won't go anywhere else."

My mouth hung open in shock. "You're a real piece of work Sam Winchester. You don't have a right to presume to know me at all."

"Oh and you have a right to form an opinion on me? You don't know the half of it so until you do, you should just keep your presumptions to yourself." He took off down the road.

I got back in the car and watched him walk away. There was a town about a mile and a half down the road; I'd pick him up there. Pissed, I yanked my phone out and tried to call Cas. He had so much explaining to do.