Watch Your Back, Mother

Chapter 2: An Unexpected Guest

   Dean slid out of the passenger side door of his beloved '67 Chevy Impala. Stunning black and kept in pristine condition, Baby was Dean's pride and joy. The black leather seat hissed, refilling with air, as if it lamented the weight of his absence. Before they'd left the hospital, Sam had given Dean a change of clothes to replace his hospital gown he'd been in for a week. It was a small gesture, but comforting nonetheless, providing a sliver of familiarity in such a confusing time. For the Winchesters, a small gesture went the longest ways. Dean smoothed his jeans subconsciously, something he'd been doing since he'd gotten into the Impala. While he was grateful for the thin grey T-shirt and faded jeans accompanied by a worn pair of work boots that Sam had given him, Dean drew true comfort from the old, brown leather jacket Castiel had handed him shortly after he'd changed into his new outfit. The jacket had been with Dean since high school, and had long since become faded, and decorated with thin, delicately webbed cracks in the surface. Dean smiled at the familiar scent of gunpowder and motel soap that wafted from the jacket as he slid his hands into the pockets. Bobby has begun the drive home shortly after they'd left the hospital, leaving Sam and Castiel to tend to dean. The Hunter, accompanied by Castiel, followed his brother across the parking lot of the Motel Six at which they'd been staying for the past week, and up the rickety metal stairs that lead to Room 451.  Sam opened the door and stepped aside to let the couple in first as Dean started to ask about going out on a burger run. The room was small, and practically monochrome with beige walls, carpet, and blankets on the matching twin-size beds. The scene would have been completely normal, if not for Gabriel, who was sitting crossed-legged with Sam's laptop resting on his knees... as he sat upside-down on the ceiling.
"Gabe, what are you doing?" Sam asked.
   At 5'8", Gabriel was half a foot shorter than his boyfriend. The Archangel was Fallen, like Castiel, but his hazel-gold eyes never lost their joyful gleam. The former Trickster brushed his short brown hair away from his eyes, apparently it was the only part of him that wasn't gravity-proof. "Sorry, Samsquatch, didn't think you'd mind if I borrowed your laptop." The Archangel apologized.
"Not what I was referring to," Sam muttered passive-aggressively.
   Dean blinked at Sam's coldness- surely Dean was the only one hungry enough to already be this bad of a mood.
"Oh, the ceiling thing? It's my favorite trick." The Angel defended himself.
"It was also Azazel's favorite trick." Cas said absent-mindedly.
   Sam and Dean turned to the Angel and spoke in unison, "Dude."
   Looking up at the Winchesters' offended glares, Castiel's eyes widened in understanding. "Oh. Oh! I apologize, I didn't realize what I'd said would remind you of Mary," After a quick glance at Sam, Dean's husband added, "Or Jessica."
   At the mention of his former girlfriend's name, the Winchester dropped his gaze to his shoes and began to quietly mutter about Gabriel being on the ceiling.
"Alright," Dean announced, clearly fed up with his baby brother's unusual hostility, "Cas, think before you speak. Sam, cool it before you blow a gasket, we can't find out what's wrong with me if you ain't typing. Gabriel, get off the ceiling before Sam starts having Vietnam flashbacks. And please, for the love of God, somebody get me a cheeseburger!"
   Dean's companions seemed to stare at him in surprise for a moment, then obeyed. Gabriel descended onto the bed and handed the computer back to it's owner, who immediately began typing his hazel eyes darting back and forth across the screen.
"Well, I'll go get some burgers." Gabriel announced, using his joking tone to cut through the awkward silence.
"Try to get back before you have to leave again." Sam called to his boyfriend without taking his eyes off the screen.
   Gabriel rolled his eyes and disappeared.
"So..." Dean whispered to his husband, "What's the deal with Bonnie and Clyde?"
"Oh, they had a fight." The Angel replied in a whisper-voice that was still as loud as his own.
"How come?"
"While you were unconscious, Gabriel has been in and out of Heaven four times."
"So? Gabriel checks in with Heaven all the time." Dean shrugged.
"Yes, but now each time he's gone... he's gone for around twelve hours and he refuses to tell either of us why." Castiel explained.
   Dean nodded in understanding. If Cas were the one disappearing without explanation, Dean would be furious. "Well, we'll discuss Trouble in Paradise later. Right now, we gotta find out why I had wings."
"I agree. Sam and Gabriel's deteriorating happiness must be dealt with after we sate your curiosity." Cas agreed.
"Hey, Cas?" Dean said reluctantly.
"Yes, Dean?"
"Next time, could you maybe phrase it in a way that doesn't make me sound heartless?" The Hunter asked.
   Castiel nodded, saying, "I'll try."
"Thanks." Dean muttered.
"You're welcome."
"Anyway, you got anything, Sam?" Dean addressed his brother.
"Not yet, but I asked Bobby to check his library for anything about a human turning Angel and back or anything about a human developing Angel characteristics." Sam answered.
"His whole library? That could take days. Maybe, while he does that, we could-"
   Dean was cut off by the sound of someone pounding on the mtel door. Behind the door, though he wasn't sure to how, Dean could hear labored, panicked breathing... from a woman.
"Who is that?" Sam wondered aloud.
"I have no idea." Castiel responded, confused.
   The boys turned to Dean, only to see him staring blankly at the door, his eyes glazed over, as if he was focused on something beyond the door.
"Please, please, please! Please open!"
   Dean could hear the ragged whispers on the other side of the door. The Hunter tilted his head just slightly, then- without taking his candy apple green eyes off of the door- in a soft, almost innocently curious voice, said, "Let her in."
"Her?" Sam and Castiel both questioned Dean at once.
"Open it, it's okay." Dean reassured his companions in the same gentle voice as before.
   Sam looked from the door to his brother and asked, "How can you tell it's safe?"
"I just can."
   Sam knitted his eyebrows together in confusion as Castiel obeyed his husband, slowly walking to the door and opening it swiftly.
   Dean escaped his trance just in time to see the door open to reveal... a girl. Panicked and flushed, she couldn't have been older than eighteen. She was really quite beautiful, sporting fiery orange hair (which was impossibly straight) that reached her midriff and stood out against the dark purple t-shirt and grey cardigan she wore. Her deep royal blue eyes stood out against the freckled snow-white complexion of her round face, though her cheeks were red, she'd clearly run a long way. Which was impressive, considering she was wearing skinny jeans and three-inch blue heels, which brought her to a height of 5'11".
"Thank God," she gasped, struggling for breath.
"Who are you?" Castiel asked.
"I'm..." she paused to take a breath and stand up straight, "My name is Noreen Collins.... I need your help."