This is my take on the episode 'Lazarus Rising'.

September 20th, 2008 - September 21, 2008

A few hours of reading and Sam sees the perfect opportunity. Still in the motel room, Dean and Lizzy didn't make it too far before they let sleep win over. The decision to open up the pull out couch to make themselves more comfortable most likely didn't help. Or maybe it was just the fact that they hadn't slept in about two days. They're both propped up into a seated position against the back of the couch, shoulders against each other, books open in their laps. While asleep Dean had, out of instinct, draped an arm across Lizzy's waist and she had rested her head on his shoulder. He was being over protective even while passed out. It's something he used to do to Sam when they were children and they fell asleep watching TV while their dad was gone for days.

Sam quietly stands, searches Dean's jacket pockets for the car keys, and makes his way out the door once he has them. He takes off in the Impala without letting anyone know he's gone.

The two tired hunters remain undisturbed but not for long. Soon enough the same high pitched noise Dean heard once before fills the room and the loud static of both the TV and clock radio turning itself on wakes them both up. After rubbing his eyes Dean quickly puts together what's happening.

"Shit," he worries while climbing to the bedside to grab his shotgun and stand up.

"What's going on!" Lizzy asks over the noise with panic.

"Stay there," he instructs while making his way to the door, waiting for whatever it is that's about to come through it. On his way he takes a second to register that Sam's gone. Focusing on one thing at a time, he returns his sights to the door. The mysterious sound grows in volume to painful levels. Lizzy covers over her ears to keep it out as much as possible.

"What the fuck?" she shouts over the noise as Dean drops his shotgun and covers his own ears. The ache grows as the volume does and they both yell out with the assault.

Suddenly the windows give out, blowing into the hotel room and covering it with shards of glass. Lizzy sits on the pull out mattress, head tucked between her knees as the sound gets even louder. Dean looks up at the mirrored ceiling, watching it crack under the pressure of the sound waves. The mirror above Lizzy begins to shatter and Dean launches to his feet, running and bowling her over just in time. The glass showers her previous spot on the bed with sharp shards as the two hit the flood together. Dean covers his body over hers to keep her safe when the door flies open.

"Dean!" Bobby shouts while running over to the two of them huddled on the floor. "Lizzy! Dean! Get up!" Bobby grabs each one by the arm and pulls, getting them on their feet and out the door. As soon as all three are safely outside the room, the sound immediately stops.

They stand where they are, looking back into the now destroyed room and breathing heavily with the commotion.

"The fuck was that!" Lizzy shouts after a period of silence, her hearing still impaired by the offending noise.

"I'm guessing Castiel," Dean responds and the hunters once again grow quiet.

"I think we need to gather out shit and haul ass outta here pronto," Bobby finally says.

"How you doin' kid?" Bobby asks while driving his Camaro away from their now destroyed motel.

"Aside from the church bells ringing in my head, peachy," Dean responds with irritation.

"How 'bout you, Lizzy?" Bobby asks and waits. He gets no answer and both he and Dean look back to her in the back seat.

"Huh?" she questions, clearly not having heard what she'd been asked. "I can't really hear too well right now. It's like the time I went to a Pearl Jam concert when I was high school and sat right next to the wall of speakers. Ha, that show was awesome! Totally worth it."

Dean smiles with her comment while dialing Sam's number.

"Hey," Sam answers.

"What are you doing?" Dean asks sternly.

"Couldn't sleep. Went to get a burger," Sam explains. Since when does Sam eat burgers?

"In my car?"

"Force of habit, sorry. What are you doing up?"

"Bobby's back. We're all going to grab a beer," Dean tells him, holding a finger up to Bobby as he was about to protest to his lies.

"Alright, well, ah, spill some for me, huh?"

"Done. I'll catch you later." Dean hangs up.

"And why did you just lie to Sam like that?" Lizzy asks, her forearms resting on the front bench seat and she'd leaning forward so that she can hear the conversations up front.

"'Cause he'd just try to stop us," Dean answers simply.

"From what?" Bobby questions.

"Summoning this thing," Dean says. "It's time we face it head on."

"You can't be serious," Bobby replies.

"As a heart attack. It's high noon baby."

"Ah, but we don't know what it is," Lizzy reminds Dean.

"She's right,' Bobby concurs. "It could be a demon, it could be anything."

"So we gotta be ready for anything," Dean brushes off as he reaches back for the knife at his waist. "We got the big time magic knife. You've got an arsenal in the trunk."

"This is a bad idea," Bobby tells him.

"Yeah, I couldn't agree more but what other choice do we have?" Dean answers. He surely doesn't see one.

Lizzy stays quiet for a moment, contemplating both sides of the argument.

"We could choose life."

"Bobby whatever this is, whatever it wants, it's after me. That much we know, right? Well, I got no place to hide. I either can get caught with my pants down again or we could make our stand."

"Dean's right," Lizzy finally adds. "This thing is just gonna keep coming after him, and clearly it doesn't matter who he's with either. We're all in danger right now."

"Thank you," Dean says, happy to have one of them on his side.

"I don't know…" Bobby starts but is cut off by Dean.

"Lizzy could have gotten seriously hurt back there. This thing, whatever the fuck it is, isn't playing nice if you ask me. I won't have any of you getting hurt because of something after my ass."

Bobby knows that the point Dean makes is a valid one. They have to do this, but it's scary as hell and highly dangerous. "Dean, we could use Sam for this."

"Nah, he's better off where he is," Dean says before turning around to glance at Lizzy briefly. "Bobby, the next motel you see, stop in. L, we can drop you off there and we'll come back for you when we're done."

"What!" Lizzy sits up straight with what he says to her. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"No, I'm not…" Dean starts but it completely cut off by the irate woman.

"Are we still here? Are we still at this same place as we were before everything?"

"Lizzy, you don't need to…" Bobby begins but once again she cuts them off.

"I am not some little girl, don't know if you've noticed!" Lizzy shouts, her old anger problem rearing its ugly head.

"I sure noticed," Dean slickly smiles her way.

"Fucking stop that!" she yells to him, the comment making her anger that much worse. "I am in this, ok? Seems like you've both forgotten, but I kinda kick ass at times like this. You said you could use Sam, well you've got me instead." Neither says a word. Not just because she's right but because they're afraid to piss her off any more.

"This macho bullshit better end fucking fast!" She turns her full focus towards Dean. "And you are not leaving me behind, not again," she says while pointing at him accusingly. "There's no fucking way I am letting you face the big bad wolf without me again. I told you, if we're doing this thing together then we're fully doing this. You may not like it, but you have to accept it!"

"Jesus, L! Calm down," Dean says while pausing to think it over. "Fine."

"Thank you!" Lizzy says exasperated.

"What! You outta yer mind?" Bobby questions. How many times did he have to tell this boy that a good kid like Lizzy didn't need his crap.

"Dude, she's right," Dean explains. "I kept her out of my life for her own safety before and look what happened. She's still here, still by my side no matter what I do." He then turns his attention back to her. "But if things start going wrong I want you outta there and fast."

"Ok," she agrees.

"I mean it, L! You cut and run like you just banged a fat chick in a dive bar bathroom, you hear me?"

"Loud and clear," she says calmly while kissing him on the cheek and feeling proud of herself for getting through to him finally.

Hours and several cans of spray paint later, the old warehouse they found is about as prepared as it will be.

"That's a hell of an art project you two got going there," Dean comments while setting out all the weapons they have.

"It's pretty awesome," Lizzy says as she finishes up the symbol she's currently working on.

"Traps and talisman's from every faith on the globe." Bobby joins Dean at the table, looking its contents over. "How you doin'?"

"Stakes, iron, silver, salt, the knife. I mean we're pretty much set to catch and kill anything I've ever heard of."

"This is still a bad idea," Bobby warns.

"Yeah Bobby, I heard you the first ten times," Dean says, annoyance fully apparent. Lizzy walks over to Bobby and drops a supportive hand on his shoulder.

"We're as ready as we'll ever be." She tries to reassure him, but even to her own ears the words sound flimsy. They're all afraid.

"What do you say we ring the dinner bell?" Dean suggests as Bobby heads to the other table prepared for the summoning. He sets to work carefully performing the spell and once it's done they wait. And wait. And wait.

"Huh," Lizzy comments. "Thought that would've worked a little faster."

"Me too," Bobby agrees wholeheartedly. Usually these things don't take long at all to produce results.

The three continue to wait, taking seats on the tables and fiddling with their weapons. It's starting to look after about a half hour of waiting that the spell was a no go.

"You sure you did the ritual right?" Dean questions Bobby with impatience, earning him a stern look in return. "Sorry. Touchy-touchy, huh?"

Lizzy smacks his arm from her seat next to him. "Don't be so fucking rude."

"Whatever, mom," Dean retorts.

Lizzy bugs her eyes out at his comment and opens her mouth to let him know just how rude he really is when the tin roof panels begin to go crazy, lifting and slamming back down loudly. They all stand with the sudden commotion.

"Wishful thinking, but maybe it's just the wind," Dean says, knowing he's wrong. The large, industrial light bulbs begin bursting as the barricaded doors open up on their own, revealing a dark-haired man in a trench coat. He calmly walks in their direction as the bulbs continue bursting all around them, sparks flying through the darkness.

Once all the lights are out, Bobby and Dean begin opening fire on the advancing man, rock salt hitting him but not affecting him in the least. He continues calmly making his way to the hunters. Lizzy walks over to the table, picking up Ruby's knife and hands it over to Dean.

"Who are you?" Dean asks as the man stops walking once he's directly in front of him.

"I'm the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition," the mysterious man says, his tone flat and informative.

"Yeah, thanks for that," Dean says before stabbing the knife hard into the man's chest, burying it deep. Dean's expression turns to true fear as the knife has no effect at all. Instead, the mystery man just smiles very slightly while grabbing the handle and pulling it out, dropping it onto the ground once he does.

Bobby winds up to take a swing with his crowbar from behind the unknown man but before he can follow through, it grabs hold of the weapon and presses two fingers to Bobby's forehead. Eyes rolling back, Bobby collapses on the floor unconscious as Dean and Lizzy stand next to each other watching in horror. Fear for Bobby's life trumps her absolute terror of the unknown before them and Lizzy runs to Bobby on the floor. Yes, she leaves herself wide open and vulnerable but she doesn't care. She needs to make sure he's still alive and she's confident Dean has her back.

"We need to talk, Dean. Alone," the man tells him to explain why Bobby is unconscious and instantly Dean's feet are in motion. He runs to Lizzy, standing in front of her and using himself as a barrier. He's scared she'll end up like Bobby if he doesn't protect her.

"Don't worry. Lizzy is safe. She is allowed to hear this."

Lizzy looks up at Dean, panic written on her expression. How did it know who she was? "Why do you know my name! And why just me!" she asks abruptly.

"He isn't… special. You are," the man says as he begins walking around the room. Dean drops to the floor with Lizzy to check Bobby.

"What does that mean?" Dean questions from his lowered spot, concerned about the meaning behind the man's words. "Special how?"

"All things in their own time," is the simple and lone explanation they're given. "You're friend's alive."

"Who are you?" Dean asks while standing up.

"Castile."

"I figured that much. I mean what are you?"

"I'm an angel of the Lord."

The room grows deathly quiet with the answer. Lizzy and Dean share glances, unsure of what to make of the whole thing. Dean knows one thing for sure. Angels aren't real and this thing is full of shit.

"Get the hell outta here. There's no such thing."

"This is your problem Dean," Castiel explains. "You have no faith."

Light flashes brightly throughout the warehouse, causing the hunters to squint with the brightness. Every flash reveals the shadow of two dark, intimidating wings as they rise high from Castiel's back. The sight leaves Lizzy speechless and she grasps Bobby's hand tightly as her fear starts taking complete control.

"Oh my God," Lizzy whispers out at the sight before her.

"Exactly," Castiel informs her.

"Some angel you are," Dean boldly asserts, not letting the impressive being in front of him intimidate him. "You burned that poor woman's eyes."

"I warned her not to spy on my true form. It can be overwhelming to humans, like my real voice. But you already knew that."

"That was you back there?" Lizzy asks.

"Yes."

"The gas station too? That was you talking?" Dean wonders as Castiel nods his head in confirmation. "Buddy, next time lower the volume."

"It was my mistake. Certain people, special people, can perceive my true visage. I thought you would be one of them, possibly Lizzy too. I was wrong."

"And what visage are you in now, huh?" Dean challenges. "What, holy tax accountant?"

"This," Castiel starts while looking over his own current form. "This is a vessel."

"You're possessing some poor bastard?" Dean asks disbelieving.

"He's a devout man. He actually prayed for this."

"Glad I stopped praying a long ass time ago, then," Lizzy comments.

Angels possessing humans? This was all too much for both hunters to handle. Lizzy gets up from her place on the floor and stands next to Dean, grabbing onto the cuff of his jacket sleeve, desperate for contact with him at such an overwhelming time.

"Look pal," Dean starts. "I'm not buying what you're selling so who are you really?"

Castiel looks at him with a slightly confused expression. "I told you."

"Right. And why would an angel rescue me from hell?"

"Good things do happen, Dean. I think you know that." Castiel nods his head to Lizzy, referring to her as proof that good things occur. Dean takes her hand in his and holds tight, not liking how involved she seems to be in this discussion.

"Not usually in my experience," Dean informs him while lifting their fused hands quickly. "Always considered this sheer dumb luck."

"Finding Elizabeth is not, as you call it, dumb luck. Not in the very least," Castiel says as he steps closer to Dean, narrowing his eyes and tilting his head to the side as he studies Dean's face. "What's the matter? You don't think you deserve to be saved."

"Why'd you do it?" Dean quickly asks, uncomfortable with how right Castiel was. He really didn't think he deserved this.

"Because God commanded it," Castiel says. Lizzy inhales sharply with his words and Dean jumps slightly, his hand grasping onto Lizzy's way too tightly. He can feel his hand shaking though he isn't sure if it's coming from him or her… or both. "Because we have work for you. Both of you."

THE END