New Beginnings

Angel Heart

Claire sat in the backseat, knees against her chest as she stared out the window at the passing street lights. She hadn't said a word to any of them, didn't even acknowledge them when they tried to say something. It was as if she was lost inside another world, oblivious to anything around her.

Cas started to reach a hand towards her but thought better of it. He didn't have the slightest idea what he was doing, even more so now. He promised Jimmy his wife and daughter would be safe and he failed them both. Even Amelia's assurance that Claire's well-being was all that mattered didn't change anything. Claire's entire life had been turned upside down because of him. He glanced towards the Winchesters seated in the front seat, making eye contact with Dean through the rear-view mirror.

All too soon they arrived back at the motel, the car barely to a stop before Claire was out of the car and making a bee-line for the motel room. Only stopping at the door when she realized the Winchesters still had the key.

"I've got it", Sam fished the key in question out of his pocket and headed after Claire, leaving Dean and Cas to themselves.

Dean watched as his brother unlocked the motel room's door, stepping aside as he let Claire go first before following her in. "Cas, what I told you earlier...I know you're trying to do the right thing", he began as he glanced toward his friend in the backseat.

"But?", Cas narrowed his eyes a bit in confusion as he awaited the response.

Dean sighed, "Claire can't stay with us, she'll never be safe. Everything between Heaven and Hell will target her just for being associated with us".

"And she's safer alone?", the angel questioned, "I promised Jimmy and Amelia I'd keep her safe, I can't break that promise again".

"I'm not asking you to, Cas...", Dean assured with a sigh, "You remember Jody Mills? I was thinking about talking to her".

Cas shook his head, "Claire is my responsibility. I won't leave her, not again".

The conversation was left there, at least until morning. Dean planned on calling Jody about Claire first thing tomorrow, he'd find a way to convince Cas later. He got another room for Sam and himself, while Cas stayed and kept an eye on Claire. She still hadn't said a word to any of them, her eyes focused on the pastel blue book in her hands. Inside it contained various entries detailing her mother's search, right up until she disappeared. She bit her lip, tears blurring her vision at the memory of the last few hours.

"Claire...?"

"I'm fine, Castiel"

The angel felt like he should say something to comfort her but he didn't have the slightest clue as to what he could say. There wasn't anything he could say that would fix this. Having no better ideas, he dropped the conversation there. She didn't seem in the mood to talk anyways.

The rest of the night continued the same way, an intense silence. One was uninterested in hearing anything, and the other a lack of anything to say. As it grew later into the night, Cas noted the growing wariness in Claire. Sometimes he wished he was still human, there were many aspects he'd learned to appreciate. Not to mention peanut butter with grape jelly sandwiches, something he'd had to abandon when he became himself again. Eventually, human needs won and Claire was curled up asleep on the opposite bed.

"Not if Claire's alive, that's all that matters", Amelia's words echoed in his head as he watched the sleeping teenager. Even after everything she'd been through, it only mattered that Claire was okay. Both of her parents gave up everything to protect her and he had a hand in both circumstances. The least he could do was make things right by being there for her, it was his fault she didn't have anyone. Sam insisted Claire was better with him around, even if she didn't think so. Dean, however, felt differently about the subject. He suspected the Winchesters' differing opinions would lead to a debate sooner or later. Knowing them, it would end up being sooner rather than later.