The Mortal Angel

Chapter 9 - Cinamon Roll War

"What'd you guys think?" Kate asked proudly.

"That was awesome." Dean exclaimed. Kate shrugged nonchalantly.

"No big deal. Just a few tricks I picked up from Cass up in heaven." Sam smiled. Dean turned to Cass, a look of confusion on his face.

"Wait, Cass you were up there with her?" Cass stood silent.

"Yeah." Kate interrupted. "Cass and I used to hang out all the time, he'd come over to my place. Sometimes we'd just fly around heaven, other times we'd keep an eye on the two of you. Good times." She said the last part with a half laugh.

Kate shoved her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket. There was a long silence among the four friends. "So... Are we gonna get going or not?" She asked, breaking the silence.

Sam was the one to speak up. "Yeah, we're headed to the vault in Lebanon Kansas. It's about a four hour drive, so are you gonna ride with us?"

"Sure, why not." She smiled. Kate's face contorted in a look of pain as her dark wings retracted into her shoulder blades. Bones popped as the wings folded and disappeared under her leather jacket. She then smiled and made her way to the passenger door of the Impala. She reached for the handle and Sam smacked it away. He gave her a silent "No way."

With an exasperated sigh Kate climbed into the back seat. The door slammed behind her as the Winchester brothers climbed in the front. Castiel was insistent on teleporting to the vault himself. This allowed Kate to sprawl out in the back seat all by herself.

The Impala roared to life and together, the three siblings made their way.

______

Sam, Dean and Kate talked for hours on the long drive. Kate told them stories of hunting trips with their father. As it turns out, Kate was the one always hunting with their father. Sam and Dean were too young to hunt, leaving the hunting trips to Kate and John.

Kate went on and on about their trips, not leaving out any embarrassing details about her brothers.

"And then... And then..." Kate tried to get out, her sides hurt from laughing so hard. She could barely finish the story without bursting in laughter. "Dean looks at me and asks, 'Can we keep it?' hahaha! Can you imagine, my seven year old brother asking if we can keep the skin walker!" Kate howled with laughter.

Dean grinned from the front seat. Sam was smiling too.

"I can't even imagine what would have happened if Dad found out that you actually took it home!" Kate laughed.

Sam turned to Dean and Kate, "Wait he took it home?"

"Yes!" Kate squealed. She doubled over in her seat, clutching her aching sides as she laughed.

Sam chuckled at the thought. Dean was silent, but he still smiled. It was good to have Kate back.

Kate sighed, her laughter had ceased leaving the car silent. The trio rode in silence for another hour or so. It was almost midnight when Dean pulled up to the abandoned stone entrance that would lead to the bunker they called home. He parked the Impala on the side of the road and turned off the engine. Sam turned around in hisseat.to find a sight that made him smile.

He tapped Dean on the shoulder. Dean looked at him quizzically and turned around to see Kate sleeping in the back seat. She had released her wings from her back, wrapping them around her shoulders like a blanket. She clutched her hands close to her chest as if she were holding something to her heart.

The brothers had never seen this side of her before. Kate was always the one to put on a brave face. She never showed fear and more importantly, she never let her brothers down.