Return of a Hunter

Shatterred

                  

I was right. He had us driven in a town car to a five star Italian restaurant. It so happens that he had connections and cleared the whole place out, "Well," I asses as we are seated, "you've surprised me."

            "Good." He snaps his fingers and a waiter comes with menus. "Order whatever you like." I order a strawberry white wine and some fancy Italian dish. Even though Crowley doesn't eat, I'm starving. My wine is brought and it's refreshing.

            "How did you find mother dearest?" Crowley asks, relaxing at an angle in the back of his chair so he can cross his legs.

            "Your demon made a scene. Easy to find in recent news," I relax as well. It seems that Crowley isn't playing any games.

            "Really?" he makes a sour face. "I'll have to make a note of that."

            "Your force would really benefit from a women's touch," I tease. His demons are messy.

            "You think you could do better?" He raises an eyebrow and his lips twitch.

            I stopped mentally for a moment, we were... flirting? No. I must be imaging it, "Not my cup of tea." My food arrives quickly but not before my phone buzzes. Sam is calling. I make a face and silence it. I told them I'd probably be out late and not to worry. I didn't give them the liberty of being able to tell me that drinks with Crowley was a bad idea. I didn't bother to tell them that I had made a deal with him either.

            "How is your food darling?" Crowley swirls his drink.

            "Very delicious," I smile at him and take a sip of wine. We chat idly as I finish. Then we just drink.

            "I do have to give you props," Crowley says suddenly. "You caught my mother when she's slipped through my fingers."

            "Your demons don't exactly use subtly," I mention. "Sam and Dean got her using a taxi as a decoy." He shakes his head and finishes his drink. He motions for the waiter and he brings the whole bottle of wine. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"

            "You've seen straight through my intentions. Now are you going to continue to drink?" He raises an eyebrow, waiting for my response to his flirtation. I choose to refill my glass with wine.

            "You really know how to woo a girl," I lean back, holding my glass to my lips. He watches intently as I sip the wine.

            "Uncle Crowley," a tiny voice comes from behind him, making him jump.

            "Darling," he stands before kneeling in front of a little girl. I raise my eyebrows. Since when did Crowley have a niece? "What are you doing here?"

            "I felt her," she pointed at me. I put down my glass and stand from my chair. Crowley's just as confused as I am. "You don't know something."

            "What don't I know?" I ask gently. Her face looks sad and scared. I squat down to look into her eyes.

            "The demons have been talking..." She looks at Crowley for reassurance. He nods.

            "I promise whatever you tell me, I won't be upset with you," I give a small smile. I've always been pretty good with kids.

            "They said the angels killed your family and you don't know." My stomach drops and I stand. My chest tightens as I search for my phone and dial my father's number. He's in assisted living since he broke his hip. However, he's coherent enough that he doesn't think he needs it.

            "Hello you've reached Essentials nursing home, please watch for a nurse or dial the extension to your resident." I put in the extension and wait but it just continues to ring.

            "C'mon Dad..." I murmur as I pace back and forth biting on my nails.

            "I've got a car for you," Crowley puts a hand on my shoulder. "It'll take you wherever you need to go." I give up on the phone call and gather my things. The girl is still staring at me.

            "You said they killed my family," I pause before leaving. "My mother and sister have been dead for years... Did angels kill them too?" She just simply nods. My stomach twists and I turn out the door. If she's right, I've been hunting the wrong being.

            Crowley gets in beside me as I put the car into drive, speeding off, "Careful, love. You wanna make it there alive." I hear him and slow down slightly so I can make it around corners without flipping. I moved Dad near the bunker so Sam and Dean would be able to reach him. We weren't far.

            When we arrive, I punch in the door code, "Ma'am, visiting hours are over." The nurse says and I just hold my hand up and pass her. Dad's suite is the second hall first door. I turn the corner and fling open the door. Everything looks to be in place.

            "Dad?" I stride in and peer into his bedroom: not there. Panic starts to overcome me as I head to the kitchen and go around the counter. I step in liquid and I look down. It's a dark red. I bite my lip and look up. Dad is lying in a pool of blood, a single stab wound through his stomach. "No... No no no no..." I back out of the blood and fall backwards. Crowley catches me and holds me up as I cannot support myself. The nurse followed us and is calling for help. My eyes are blurry with tears as I finally retch myself from Crowley's grasp. I kneel in the blood next to my father and pull him into my lap. "I'm so sorry Daddy," I put my forehead to his. He's cold so he's been gone for a long time. Sobs shake my body as I cry aloud. "I'm so sorry." The nurse comes back with help and they try to move me away from him. I shout and scream at them. It didn't take long for them to just call the police.

            "You don't want to be here when they come love," Crowley tenderly tries to pull me away from him.

            "No. Wait," I know he's right but I want something. I lean over the body and grab his left hand. He never stopped wearing his wedding ring. I slip it off and then take Crowley's extended hand.

            "Is there anything else that you want?"

            "No. This is it." He nods and puts his coat around my shoulders before leading me out. This time, he drives back to the old asylum that he's hold up in. He hates ruling in Hell so he rules on Earth.

            "Park the car," he tosses the keys to someone before guiding me inside. We walk through several corridors before he opens a room. It's plush and extravagant.

            "Sit," he orders. I do as he says, twisting the ring between my fingers. He rummages through some things before returning with a change of clothes. "Go and change." I nod and take the clothes, numbly moving behind the screen. I can hear him still in the room doing something as I changed my clothes. I place the ring in the small pocket of my jeans before walking back out. He gave me a soft t-shirt and jeans that oddly were in my size.

            "Now you need to rest," he puts his hands on my shoulders and guides me back to the bed. I'm too numb to argue. I lay down and he covers me in a blanket. In minutes, I'm asleep. I dream about Dad and going fishing with him. It was peaceful, sitting with him. No threat of anything disturbing us. I also dreamed about my sister. She died with Mom in the fire. Dad had focused on getting me out, not realizing that Mom wouldn't be following. However, I remember my mother tremendously. I can see her porcelain skin in my dreams. A hand slipping in to hold mine before bed. The wisp of brunette hair falling in my face. The soft singing of what I consider to be an angelic voice. I'm in my middle thirties, I barely remember what she looked like. However those traits are clear as crystal.