Angelica Lilith Winchester

EIGHT

I still hadn't told Dean. And Sam and Cass knew who I was, but they didn't know about my parents. Only Jack knew the whole truth. Dean had left to spend some time with Mary up at Donna's cabin alone so I knew I wouldn't get to tell him any time soon. Even though it was Dean who was dealing with Michael being stuck inside his head and that aftermath, I was struggling almost as badly. I knew it wasn't quite the same, but still... I was plagued by images of Michael using Dean as a meatsuit and teasing me.

He had said my power was what had interested him, but I had a theory it was more than that. Since I was this world's Michael's daughter, I figured the Apocalypse World Michael could sense that bond between us and that it was stronger than the bond between him and the other angels from this world or Jack. I was glad we stopped him when we did, because there were a few times when I was scared he would find out the truth, and by extension, Dean would find out. That was not how I wanted Dean to learn who I was.

XxX

"Sam did what?"

"He went up to the cabin... to check on Dean and Mary," Jack explained, taking another mouthful of his sandwich.

The Bunker was surprisingly quiet, all things considered. Almost everyone was out hunting or resting.

"What about you? How are you holding up?"

"I still see him... when I close my eyes... He's taunting me..."

"You know he can't hurt you, right? He's locked away in Dean's head."

"I know... but he could still break free somehow."

"I'm sure they're figuring out something so that won't happen."

I bit my lip, picking at the sandwich on my plate. I had barely touched my plate the entire time Jack and I were talking.

"Angie, you should really eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"When was the last time you had food?"

"What day is it?"

"It's Thursday."

"Wednesday."

"Yesterday?"

"Last week."

"ANGIE!"

I glared at him, shrugging. "I feel fine. Honest. I'm not that hungry."

"What about sleep? Please tell me you've been sleeping."

When I didn't meet his gaze I heard him put a palm to his forehead.

"Angelica Lilith Winchester, I swear..."

"Hey, I'm older than you, mister. You can't parent me."

"What would Dean say if he knew you weren't eating or sleeping?" Jack demanded.

"Considering he does the same thing, I don't think there's room for him to talk," I shrugged again.

Jack shook his head, putting his empty dishes in the sink. While his back was turned, I got into the fridge and cracked open a cold one.

"Angie, seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. I'm not dealing with visions of that jerk while I'm sober."

Jack sighed again, but didn't argue with me as I walked away in the direction of my room.

------

"Now hold on just  one moment."

Michael materialized in front of me, stopping me from leaving. His eyes raked over my body, doing a full once-over.

"He still hasn't placed it... However, that's not what interests me."

"And what is it that interests you, Michael?" I spat the name.

He walked toward me, grabbing my chin and forcing eye contact.

"You're a powerful little thing, aren't you?" he breathed.

XxX

"My uncle's in the Cage," Jack spat, and I flinched on the couch. "You--- you're not family."

Michael's eyes glanced over at me when I moved and in that split second of eye contact I read so much. I saw things I hadn't when I had lived this moment. He knew that this world's Michael played a significant role in my life. He just didn't know what that could possibly be.

XxX

I was on the couch, time a blur, as I heard Michael speak in Dean's voice in my head.

"You're nothing, little one. They never really cared about you. They just acted like it to spare your feelings. Really, they think you're a monster and they should be hunting you instead of  taking care of you."

------

I awoke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily in the dark. Slipping on my pink plaid robe and matching slippers, I quietly slipped from my room and made my way to the kitchen. I grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down at the island to drink it. I really wished I could go one day in my life without seeing something traumatizing when I closed my eyes. As I nursed the bottle of alcohol in my hand, I was joined by Cass.

"Angie, I didn't realize you were awake," he said, eyeing the beer in my hand.

"Just trying to recover from a nightmare. Nothing I haven't done a million times before," I shrugged, downing the last third of the bottle in one go.

"Is there something I can do?" Cass inquired.

"I doubt it," I muttered, spinning the empty beer bottle on the counter.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I sighed, looking up into the crystal clear blue eyes of the fallen angel.

"Every time I close my eyes I see him. And if I do manage to fall asleep, I relive different moments I had with him... It makes me wish I could go back to watching Sam and Dean drive off in the Impala every night again..."

"You watched them drive off... every night?"

I nodded my head, laying my chin on top of my folded arms on the counter.

"They didn't stop until Michael started making me relive other memories... and now... I know Dean's the one dealing with him physically in his head, but..."

"I understand."

"Do you know when they are getting back from their trip?" I changed the subject.

"Unfortunately, no, I do not. I knew Dean would be gone a few days, but I don't know how Sam heading up there will affect that."

I nodded my head, turning so my cheek rested on my arms instead of my chin.

"Okay, sleepyhead, time to head back to your room," Cass informed me.

"But what about Michael?" I yawned.

"I'll take care of him. Let's just get you to your bed."

I hummed in response, leaning almost my whole body weight against Cass, until he finally picked me up bridal style. I snuggled into his shoulder as he carried me into my room and set me down on my bed. After feeling the weight of the blanket cover my body, I noticed a warmth on my forehead where I assumed Cass's hand was. As I drifted asleep I realized I hadn't seen the image of Michael-Dean and his voice no longer plagued my dreams.