Chapter Text
There I was, driving down Monroe Street, when my phone chimed, alerting me that I had received a message. I glanced at it, and then back at the road. Traffic wasn't too busy that day so I picked up my phone and began my reply, every so often averting my eyes back to the road. I was almost done informing my foster brother, Felix that I could definitely meet him tomorrow for lunch, when I was sideswiped by a semi truck. I don’t remember the pain. I don’t even remember the impact. It was almost as if I was removed from the situation right before the truck made contact with my car.
Now, you can lecture me all you want about how idiotic it was to text while driving, but you know what? It's not going to change anything. And to be completely honest, nothing you could say would make me change my mind. If I had the chance to redo it, knowing what would happen, I would still choose to pick up the phone and respond to the text message. And I'd even go as far to say that it was the best thing I've ever done in my life.
Sure, after I woke up I was rushed into a confusing world that, at the beginning, I wanted no part of. But I grew to understand it, why I was there and through all the bad things that happened, I stuck with it and it led me to the best day of my life.
Let's not skip to the ending; I'd hate to spoil everything. So let's backtrack and start right after the crash, shall we?
I went from spinning out of control, to lying perfectly still on the bed. That's right, a bed. Dazed and confused, I sat up slowly and looked around. My vision was a bit blurry, like I was tired, so I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. My head was pounding, like dozens of tiny drums were beating to an inaudible rhythm.
Moments later my vision was back and I wasn't sure what to look at first. Guns were on the walls in front of me; on the shelves behind me knives were stacked one on top of another. I rubbed my eyes once more. I was just in a car accident, I could be-
The accident.
So where was I? This didn't look like a hospital unless-
Well unless I was dead. But this didn't look like where you went when you died, or I should say what it should look like. Maybe it was Hell.
No. Not Hell. I couldn't be in Hell. I didn't do anything to deserve to be here.
Well there was that one time...
Okay, so maybe I was in Hell.
The sound of footsteps coming toward me interrupted my thoughts. What would come through that door? Some abomination, a demon, Satan himself maybe? I wondered what Satan liked to be called; did he like Satan, or did he prefer Lucifer? I guess I could always ask. What did Satan even look like? Was he the stereotypical red monster with horns protruding from his head? Or was he the classy version: slim, black haired, temptation in a suit?
I prepared myself for whatever might come through the door as I heard the steps stop and the door knob turn. The door opened and in came tall man. A tall, half-naked man.
He turned to me and stiffened a bit. His green eyes were breathtaking, and made my stomach muscles clench. I didn’t even know humans could have eyes that beautiful. Speaking of stomach muscles, his were defined, and in short, perfect. He had a tattoo on his chest, a small one. Dear God, was it a pentagram? Did I just wake in a cult’s headquarters?
Do cults even have headquarters?
Focus Ellah.
I had just woken up in some cult follower’s/ psychopath serial killer’s bedroom. What the hell was I going to do?
He reached behind him and in one swift movement, splashed me with water and slashed my arm with a blade.
I snapped out of my thoughts and cried out. "Please don’t hurt me, I’m sorry. I-I don’t know how I got here. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”
"Hey, hey. Calm down—I was just checking," he said setting the knife and flask down on the drawer behind him.
"Checking for what?" I sniffed, looking down at my bleeding arm.
"Nothing. What are you doing in my room?" He asked eying me up and down, still on edge. He handed me a t-shirt from off the dresser; I pressed it to my wound.
"I don't know why I'm here. I just woke up in here. I think I’m dead… I don’t know. I got hit by a truck and then woke up here.” I paused and thought a moment. The man’s eyes were open wide. “I don’t even think that makes sense. Can someone wake up dead?” My eyes landed on his tattoo again. “Oh god and now… and now I’m in some cult headquarters—assuming that cults have those—and-“
He held his hand up, silencing me. “I’m not in a cult.” My eyes were still glued to his tattoo. He looked down. “This?” He pointed to it. “This is not a cult thing. It’s— something else.” I looked up at him slowly. “You’re not in a cult?” I asked looking around the room.
“Not a murderer either.”
I nodded, and then softly asked. “Is this Hell?”
He smiled and— my God— it was the most gorgeous smile I'd ever seen. "Hell? Sweetheart I've been to Hell and this ain't it. "
I sat up. "But,” I paused giving him the time to insert his name.
"Dean," he interjected.
"Dean,” I smiled softly. "I died. So if I’m not in Hell then I'm in Heaven right?" I asked.
He laughed this time. "No, Heaven is not here. You're not dead either. Trust me, you're perfectly alive."
I thought about this for a moment, accepting it, and then asked, "Hey, you got a phone?"
He nodded and grabbed a pair pants off the floor, reached into the pocket and pulled out a smart phone. He handed it to me.
I grabbed it and began to dial Felix's number. If I wasn't dead I wanted to make sure he knew I had been kidnapped.
He grunted. "You mind?” He said motioning toward his towel and then the pair pants.
"I was here first," I said holding the phone up to my ear.
"I live here.” He said annoyed. I rolled my eyes and listened to the ringing.
"Hello?" Someone on the other end answered, but it wasn't Felix—this voice is deeper. Maybe it was one of his colleagues.
"Hi, this is Ellah, Felix's sister. Do you think-"
"Excuse me, who?" He interrupted.
"Ellah," I repeated. "Felix Warren's sister."
"Sorry ma'am. There's no Felix Warren here. Maybe you have the wrong number? "
"Yeah," I agreed, "probably just a wrong number. Sorry to bother you," I apologized, my heart sinking to the bottom of my stomach.
"It's no trouble. Have a good day now." He hung up.
"So I take it you didn't get a hold of him," Dean asked.
I raised my eyebrow annoyed, but also at the fact he was now in pants and not the towel. I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. He was putting a shirt on as I spoke. "What did it sound like?" I spat.
"Maybe you just have the wrong number?” He said poking his head out of the hole.
"Felix's had the same number for six years, and he had the same number this morning and I texted—or tried to text him— I doubt he would change it now." I was angry, but who could blame me? I was in a stranger’s room after I had just been involved in a car crash and I couldn’t get a hold of my brother. I was contemplating calling 911.
"Ellah…" He began, my stomach muscles clenching when he said my name. I could feel my anger melt away. I felt safe for some reason, like his words were offering me some sort of invisible comfort. "Just go see him, and uh—maybe I should drive."
"Yeah, okay. Sounds good. Just as long as you keep your phone here."
"No can-do,” he said. “My— Uhm—job requires me to always be in contact with my partner.”
I crossed my arms. "Fine then, but it has to go in the backseat."
He shrugged, "Fair enough."
He led me outside and I looked back at the house. Or bunker? I had no idea what that thing was. There were long, barren hallways that lead into several larger rooms. There were bookshelves in one of the rooms, full of leather bound books, most of them coated with dust. Another had a long table in the center, a laptop set next to several open books. The entry room had giant machines, old ones that looked like they were from the fifties or sixties, lining the walls. At the far wall were two sets of metal stairs that lead to a metal door. We ascended and when we reached the outside we were surrounded by a light forest.
I turned and that's when I saw the most beautiful car I’d probably ever be privileged enough to lay my eyes on. It was a black, 1967 Chevy Impala that looked just as beautiful as it probably had the day it rolled out of the factory.
"That's your car?" I asked, extremely impressed.
"Yes, it's mine. So don't jack around and ruin it."
"When have I ever destroyed a—oh wait never mind," I smiled sweetly, blushing.
He shook his head and took keys out of the pocket of his leather jacket.
A leather jacket? When did he put that on? Dean was a master in the art of quickly putting on clothes and I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if he was just as talented at taking them off.
I walked the rest of the way to the car and opened the passenger door. I stepped inside, taking a seat on its leather interior. I took a deep breath. "Wow…" I said in awe.
"Yep, my baby's beautiful isn't she?" He said sliding his hand against the dash.
“Extremely,” I nodded. "Where are we right now?” I said looking out the passenger window. The sun was going down and the sky was a light purple. Its beauty made me smile.
"Kansas," he said starting the car.
"Kansas!" I yelled.
He looked over at me, startled. "Yeah. Kansas, why? Where do you need to be?"
"Colorado!" I cried. "How… Kansas? Why Kansas?"
"Don't ask me I-"
"Dean I need to talk to you." I heard from the backseat. I turned around quickly and saw a man in a trench coat sitting in the previously empty seat.
I squealed. "Who are you?!"
Dean put his hand on my shoulder, "It’s okay, this is Cas; Cas, this is Ellah."
"Yes I know who she is."
"How did you get back there?" I asked dumbfounded.
"You do?" Dean asked, ignoring my question, looking at me, then back at Cas.
"Well I know of her. That’s what I came here to talk about."
"Well then come on, explain." I asked crossing my arms.
Cas looked at me and tilted his head. "I cannot talk with you about the manner of your visit, not yet anyways. I don't appreciate your tone. Don't you know who I am?"
"Uhm... No. Who are you?" I asked slowly.
"I'm Castiel. I'm an angel of the Lord." Cas said seriously. I snorted.
Looking from Cas to Dean, I said, "Angel of the Lord, like what angel angels?"
Dean sighed, "Cas look, you can't go around telling people that you're an angel," he said shaking his head.
"But she asked my name, you would do the-"
"Yes but you don't see me saying; hello Ellah! I'm Dean— I'm a hunter whose specialty is demons and other things that go bump in the night."
Cas tilted his head again, "You just did." He looked confused.
I interrupted, "Okay guys. I get it; you're both highly amused at the fact I don't know where I am." I put my hand on the door handle. "I don't need your help."
Dean reached out and grabbed my arm. "Wait, that's not what's happening here. You need our help, Ellah."
"I don't need anything from you," I spat.
"No, no," he said grinning. "You really do need us."
I crossed my arms. "Oh really? I need you?" I laughed even though none of this was funny. Maybe I was hysterical.
"Why you keep making Dean repeat himself?" Cas asked leaning forward.
"Because, little angel boy, he's not answering my questions."
"Dean—that means answer." Cas said nearing his face.
"Cas—Personal space."
He nodded and moved back.
Dean shook his head, "Okay, now, you don't know why you're here, I don't know either, but he does." He said looking at Cas. "So instead of me driving your ass all the way to Colorado with no idea how you got
here, let's go inside and Cas will explain."
"I will not," he countered.
"Cas, she needs our help. When did you start taking orders from Heaven?"
Cas sighed. "Alright, fine. Let's go." He said then left, just like that.
I looked over at Dean. "How the hell do you expect me to believe this?"
Dean shrugged. "I don't, but you're going to have to try."
I took a deep breath. "Okay.” I smiled softly and he smiled back. Something came over me; he was being so nice, so understanding of my situation. I mean, he just offered to drive me to Colorado because I
mentioned that I lived there. I leaned in to kiss him, but just as I was about to Castiel tapped on the window with his knuckle.
"Why aren't you guys inside yet?"
Dean rolled his eyes, a small smile forming on his lips. "Coming Cas." He said stepping out. “You cock blocking son of a bitch." He added quietly.
Cas walked with us back to the bunker. When we made it down the stairs and finally sat at the table Dean looked at him. "Start explaining."
I sat there and waited for him to start, my heart beat quickening. This was it. I was going to find out the truth. I was anxious, what if I really was dead. There were things I still wanted to do; I was only twenty-five. I had my whole life ahead of me, not to mention I would be leaving Felix behind. Oh god, Felix. There were still things I wanted to say to him. Did he know how much I loved him, how grateful I was that he was always there for me?
Cas looked over at me and began. "You're not dead."
I was relieved and smiled. "I'm not?" I asked— a bit embarrassed from all of my panicked thoughts.
"No," he answered. "Right now you're in a coma. Sorry about that, but it's the only way we could get you here while keeping your mind intact."
A coma? I tried to keep my cool, so I took a deep breath. "We?" I asked.
"Angels."
"Like God's angels?" I asked still trying to understand.
"Well technically since God is MIA, now it's more like angel's angels." Dean answered.
"Right," Cas says nodding. "We needed a way to get you back, and that was the most effective way we could think of."
"Whoa. Slow your roll. You made that truck hit me? You made me get into the coma? To take me away from everyone I know?" I said, tears burning in my eyes. I thought angels were supposed to help people, bring them miracles and all that stuff, not send trucks to hit them.
"Not me personally, but yes. It was really the only way to get you back."
I held in my tears, my vision blurring. "Back?"
"Cas you're losing me too," Dean set his hands on the table.
"You didn’t grow up here."
I snorted. "Yeah I know that angel boy. I grew up in Colorado."
"That may be true, but not this Colorado."
"What Colorado could she be from then?” Dean said.
Cas ignored Dean’s comment. "You are from another," Cas thought for a moment. "Dimension."
I swallowed, then starting laughing. I laughed so hard my sides hurt and the tears poured over and were now streaming down my face.
Castiel turned his head confused. He looked over at Dean, who had a concerned look on his face.
"Uhm Ellah?" Dean asked.
I sat up, gasping for air. When I got myself under control, I wiped the tears from my eyes and face. "You really expect me to believe that I came from another dimension?" I felt like I had been sucked into a cheesy
sci-fi movie.
"Yes, I do." Cas answered.
I looked over at Dean, then back at Castiel. "You can't be serious. How is that even possible?" I asked frantically, the severity of the situation hitting me.
"It requires a great deal of power. Which Lucifer definitely had..."
"Lucifer?" Dean and I asked at the same time. His voice was full of concern, mine was just confused.
"How did Lucifer do that? He's in the pit!" Lucifer? The pit? What the hell was going on? I giggled internally at my word choice.
"This was before that. Thousands of years before Sam put him back in the pit."
"Uhm. Excuse me? There's a problem with that because I'm not thousands of years old, angel boy."
"No you aren't. You're right. But Lucifer taught some of his most loyal demons how to remove you from this world and put you in another one."
"Why am I so important? Why would he do that to me?"
"Back when we were planning the apocalypse we needed someone that would be able to guide the Winchester's to their places through the eyes of humanity. Lucifer heard from a prophet that the chosen
one—you—would end up disobeying orders and persuading the boys to resist their destinies, he decided to have you sent away."
"Why couldn't he just stop me from being born?" I asked trying to wrap my head around what he was telling me. I was the chosen one? What did that even mean?
Cas wasn't surprised by her question. "He tried but the prophet told him there was no stopping the birth because it was destined. So the angels and the demons came up with a plan.”
“You helped too?” I asked.
“Again, not me personally. But yes. Angels agreed to supply anything the demons needed in order to keep you from being born here.”
“You wanted the apocalypse to happen?” I asked alarmed. My image of angels was becoming tarnished. They actually wanted to bring upon the end of the world?
Before Castiel could answer, Dean said, “Angels are dicks. They could care less about humans. Well, most of them.” He said glancing at Castiel.
I nodded. "So I have to help you not be on Lucifer's side during the apocalypse?" I asked Dean.
"Well not anymore. The apocalypse is over now. I was supposed to be Michael’s vessel, but I figured out on my own why I shouldn’t be on either side." He smiled, then furrowed his brow. "Wait Cas, if Lucifer is gone and the apocalypse is over, why did you bring her here?"
Now we were getting to the real questions. What the hell could possibly be going on now? All I wanted was to go back home and lie down and watch that show Felix suggested to her. What was it called? Paranormal? I couldn't think of the name, but whatever it was it sounded good. Way better than this.
"We've gotten word that those demons Lucifer trained have started sending away other humans, demons and most recently angels."
"Can't you just go get them back too? Like you did me?"
"We tried but we're having a hard time finding them. We're assuming they were sent to one of the many dimensions where angels and demons don't exist. This means that when they are there, they’re human. They
could be in any vessel, so finding them ourselves is impossible.”
"Can I get sent there?" Dean joked. Cas gave him a chastising look.
"Learn to take a joke Cas," I heard Dean say, but his lips didn't move.
I shook my head, telling myself I was hearing things. "Did they exist in my dimension?" I asked still having trouble with the term. It was way to sci-fi for my taste.
"Yes," Cas answered. "That's why we could find you easier than them. Because angels exist in your dimension we could cross over easily, but that’s not the case with the ones the others were sent to.”
"So if you can't get to them, then what can I do? How exactly can I help?" I said feeling pity for these angels and demons and humans sent somewhere else. It definitely didn't feel good to wake up somewhere, having no idea where you were.
"Because you are back in the right dimension, the demons will know. They'll sense it."
"You're going to use her as bait?" Dean asked angrily. Bait? No way am I agreeing to this. I’ve watched cops shows. I know what happens to the bait.
"Yes. It's the only way Dean."
I swallowed, thoughts racing through my mind. "So I'm going to die?"
"No." Dean said before Cas could answer. "I won't let that happen."
I felt a small pang of assurance pass through me as he said that. Dean Winchester made me feel safe, and at the moment, it’s what I needed.
“Cas, are you done scaring her?" Dean growled.
"I haven't been," he paused. "There's one more thing."
"Jesus, just say it,” I said in one breath.
"How old are you Ellah?" Cas asked.
"Twenty-five tomorrow." I said and thought of Felix. I knew he was planning me a huge "surprise" birthday party like he did every year. Only this year, I'd be in a coma; I'd be here. What I birthday present.
"Good, we shall begin then." He said disappearing before I could ask what we would be beginning.
"God dammit!" I yelled hot tears pouring down my face. I stood up and kicked the chair over angrily. "Does he always do that?" I asked trying to breath. I didn’t ever have a temper like this, but all of this was overwhelming.
"Yeah, I'd get used to it." Dean said annoyed. "You, uh, okay?"
"No Dean. I'm not okay!" I yelled. "The devil hates me and I haven't even met him! Angels are using me as bait and I'll be in a freaking coma on my birthday! So no. Dean, I'm not okay!"
"No need to take this out on me. I was just trying to be nice.”
I looked down, not saying anything. I looked at Dean, who was looking right back at me. I walked toward him slowly and sat on his lap, our chests touching. I could feel his heart beating faster, as I'm sure he could
feel my heart rate increasing too. I looked him in the eyes and felt stray tears find their way down my face. He wiped them way with his thumb and them traced the outline of my face with his fingers. We both went in for the kiss, our faces so close I could feel the hot air coming from his nose.
Then the door flew open.
"You’ve got to be kidding me." I heard Dean say as I plopped my head on his shoulder.
"Every time." I agreed lightly laughing.