The Price of Freedom

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

A loud ringing broke Farrah from something even more frightening than a nightmare: a daydream. She was seeing purgatory, feeling the lack of adrenaline, the tiredness seeping into every inch of her body while she kept pushing on.

It was actually Cas that pulled her out of it. His hand on her shoulder. "Your phone is ringing. It is Charlie calling."

She sighed and answered. "Hello?"

"Farrah, I have great news, and I swear I'm not trying to get you to go back! You've gotta come to my apartment, like, now!"

"All right, all right. Calm down. I'll be there in a second." She hung up and looked as Cas. "Well, looks like we're going to Charlie's apartment."

Almost simultaneously they vanished and reappeared in Charlie's living room, where Charlie was sitting with a huge smile on her face. The two sat on the closest seat.

Because Cas could feel someone watching them and wasn't sure if they were friendly, he scooted closer to Farrah and held his arm on the back of the couch around her shoulders. Charlie winked at Farrah.

"Why'd you call me?"

"Oh, right!" Charlie sat up straighter. "So Sam dragged Dean over here, and said that he was acting weird and wanted me to find out what it was, right?" Farrah leaned forward, considering the non-possibility that it was a demon possessing him.

"Yeah, okay."

"And guess what I found out? He got you mad so you'd leave because he wanted to protect you!"

As her jaw dropped, Farrah leaned back into the couch and exhaled sharply. "Protect me from what?"

"Leviathans!"

Oddly enough, she was both insulted and relieved by that. Dean cared enough that he didn't want her to get hurt, but he didn't think she could protect herself.

Surprised just as much as she, Cas started to gently rub Farrah's back. She grinned at him. Turning their attention back to Charlie, she said, "Thanks. If you'll both excuse me, I have a liar to speak to." She stood up. "Sam, get in here! Dean, you stay right where you are!"

As he tried not to smile, Sam waltzed out of Charlie's bedroom and sat down beside her.

Farrah stalked into the bedroom and slammed the door behind her. Seeing Dean across the room, eyes red, her anger lessened and she let out an aggravated sigh. "I didn't know about your mom," he said. "I thought Emily was a great mother to you."

"She was. Fantastic. She always loved me, and unlike you, she never tried to push me away."

"Do you want to go back to purgatory?" he asked, sounding slightly upset.

"No."

"Well then you need to just stand back and let Sam and I clean up this mess."

She growled in aggravation, "It is my mess! I won't stand by and let you deal with it like I'm some damsel in distress! I know how to take care of myself, and that definitely includes fixing my mistakes!"

He held up his hands. "I didn't come here to yell. Farrah, I know purgatory. I know what it's like, and it's difficult. I was in hell for a year before that, and it was still hard. I still think about it. I don't want you to go back."

"And I don't want to go back either. Look, Dean-"

"Dad."

"Dad," she corrected herself, "I'll help you hunt them down. I want to be a part of it. But if you're really so dang worried about my safety, then just let me do the research, please. Let me track them down. Then you can do the physical hunting. But you don't just yell at me and send me packing!"

He shook his head. "No. You're not going anywhere near this."

For a split second she considered telling him to let her do it, but then reigned herself in. She would never stoop that low. "So you're going to sideline the most powerful being in the world, just for your selfish reasons?"

"If wanting you to stay alive is selfish, then so be it."

She growled in frustration. "Dad! If a cursed angel blade and a year in purgatory couldn't kill me, then leviathans won't either!"

"We don't know that!"

"CAS!!"

Sheepishly, trying to avoid being caught in the middle of their argument, Cas shuffled into the room. Farrah calmed her voice. "What can kill me?"

"You-"

"Just please tell me what weapon has the power to kill me," she said, and the fire behind her eyes made him slightly afraid of her.

"I do not know. There has been only one like you, and they are still alive."

Her eyes widened. "What?" Conversation with Dean long forgotten, she grabbed his arm. "You must take me to meet him! Please, Castiel!"

"I do not-"

"Cas, go ahead," said Dean. Farrah turned to him.

"We're finishing this conversation later."

Cas took her hand and looked at Dean. "I will keep her safe."

"What? Why-" but they were gone. Dean sighed and walked out to his brother and Charlie.