Dean was kneeling in a room, covered in blood. Decimated bodies littered the ground around him. A blade was in his hand as he glanced around at the carnage surrounding him. His expression was a mix of shock, sorrow, and acceptance.
Dean woke with a start, gasping as he sat up in his bed. He looked around, breathing hard. He realized he was in his bedroom at the bunker. He looked down at the Mark of Cain on his arm.
YOUTH TRANSITION CENTER - PONTIAC, ILLINOIS
A teenage girl with curly blonde hair and lots of eye makeup was brought through the doors by a policeman holding her arm.
"Get your hands off me, perv," the girl retorted. "I'll sue your ass."
The policeman handed her bag off, then led her further down the hall. They stopped in front of a woman, Sandy.
"What was it this time?" Sandy asked.
"Shoplifting," the policeman replied. "The guy ain't looking to press charges, but I figured you'd want her back."
"That's forty-eight hours in isolation."
"Oh. Scary," the girl commented.
The girl sighed as the policeman led her down to a room, then pushed her inside. Sandy stood at the door, watching as the girl walked over and kicked the bed before walking over and punching the wall.
An orderly walked up beside Sandy and asked, "Who is this girl?"
"One of our frequent flyers. Claire Novak."
The next morning, Claire was sitting on the floor when the orderly opened the door. "Novak. You got a visitor."
"Really?" Claire questioned, surprised.
"Your mother is here to see you."
Claire looked shocked, then her breath caught before Castiel walked through the door. When she saw her, a memory stirred.
"Mommy?" Young Claire asked.
"I am not your mother," Castiel replied.
Claire managed a small smile as Castiel said, "Hello, Claire. It's been a long time."
Claire stood up, never taking her eyes off of Castiel, who turned to the orderly. "Can we have a moment?"
"I'll be outside," the orderly answered, closing and locking the door behind them.
Castiel stepped towards Claire. "I'm not your mother."
The hope dissipated from Claire's eyes. "Right. "I'm not your mother." Those are the first words you ever said to me, remember?"
"I remember everything."
"So do I, Castiel. My mom... Is she still in there?"
"No. The human soul, it can only occupy a body while it retains a certain... structural integrity, and this vessel, she was... She was ripped apart on a subatomic level by an archangel."
"Well, then how are you...?"
"I was reassembled. Your mother is in Heaven."
"Well. Yay for her. Anyway, good talk. You can get the hell out of my life now."
"Claire-"
"What? Huh? What? You took everything from me. What do you want now?"
"Nothing, I just -- I came here to help you."
"Why?"
"Because I've hurt you so much." Claire struggled not to cry at Castiel's words. "Where is your father?"
"About a few months after you... He took off. Dropped me off at my grandma's and went to go "find himself". I guess he's still looking."
"And you're in a... child prison?"
"It's a group home. After my Gran died, I didn't have anyone, so... I bounced around to different foster families. Places like this. Living the dream, you know?"
"Well, Claire, I'm -- I'm sorry, and... I can never replace what I took from you. But if there is anything you need, anything at all..."
"Get me out of here."
"How?"
"Do you own a brush?"
Castiel fidgeted with the brush, running it through her hair.
"Stop it," Claire said, reaching over and brushing and putting up Castiel's hair and put a scarf around her neck. "There. Now you look like a mom."
Sandy walked into her office, file in hand. Castiel went to stand. "No, no." Castiel sat back down. "So... Mrs. Novak. I understand you want custody of your daughter."
"Yes, that's uh-" Castiel cleared her throat, and made her voice less low-sounding. "That's right."
"Why?"
"Excuse me?"
"It's a simple question. You vanish for years. No contact, not even a simple Christmas card. Why come back now?"
"I, um... I didn't, uh... I was traveling."
"For work," Claire said.
"Work. Yes."
"Long trip," Sandy noted. "And what is it that you do exactly?"
"I... uh... I fight certain deadly threats to humanity," Castiel stammered.
"She's an exterminator," Claire explained.
"I'm an exterminator."
Sandy gave them a look, not believing them. "Uh-huh. You know, I think I might have bed bugs. Any tips?"
"Of course. You should sleep tight and not let them bite."
Castiel winked at her and Claire rolled her eyes.
"I'll try that," Sandy replied.
Claire frowned. "It doesn't matter. She's my mom, and she wants to sign me out, so I'm out. That's the law, Sandy."
"Claire, wait for me in the hallway."
"You can't-"
"Now."
Claire got up and stomped from the room. Castiel watched her go, then turned back to Sandy who said, "I don't do well with liars, Mrs. Novak."
"But-" Castiel began.
"Save it. I'm denying your application for custody. I'm not trying to be the bad guy here. I'm not. But until Claire turns 18, she is my responsibility. I know you're trying to do what you think is best. I know you want to be her friend."
"I do."
"And that's your problem, Mrs. Novak. Claire's troubled. The last few years have not been easy for her. And she doesn't need friends; she needs a mother."
BUNKER
Dean was sitting at the table watching an old episode of 'The Three Stooges', laughing forcefully.
"What are you laughing at?" Sam asked.
"Oh, hey. Hang on. You gotta see -- this is a classic," Dean said.
"I'm glad you're feeling better."
"Oh, yeah. Better than ever."
Sam put a grilled cheese sandwich in front of Dean and he dove in as he said, "Oh, hello, beautiful."
Dean pulled the sandwich apart and took a bite. "Oh, yeah. Mmm."
Sam asked, "You want some time alone with that thing?" He shook his head and mumbled with a full mouth. "You sure?"
"Yeah, yeah," Dean said. "Watch this."
Dean turned the computer around and the three of them laughed as the watched the Stooges. Sam got serious, catching a glimpse of the Mark on Dean's arm, but ended up laughing again when Dean laughed at the computer screen.
DETENTION CENTER
Claire was lying on her bed, wide awake. She sat up, hearing a disturbance outside her room and stood up, breathing hard. The doorknob to her room rattled, scaring her. The door opened and Castiel stood there.
"It's you," Claire realized. "What's going on?"
"I'm getting you out of here," Castiel told her.
Claire grabbed her jacket and followed Castiel down the hall, stepping over a guard. She stopped, looking back at the unconscious man. "Is he..."
"He's sleeping."
Claire hurried to catch up to Castiel.
---
They made their way to a restaurant and Claire dragged her fries through ketchup as Castiel watched her.
Claire noticed her staring. "Yeah?"
"Nothing. It's just... You could eat a vegetable."
Claire smiled. "Ketchup's a vegetable."
Castiel looked at her, like she wasn't sure whether or not to believe her, and she laughed. "You've changed. The Castiel I met? She was crappy. Like super stuck-up and a dick and you wanted to punch her in her stupid angel face."
"I don't think I was that bad."
"You totally were," Claire said. "And now you're just... I don't know. Nicer. And kind of a doof. No offense."
"Yes, well, um... Before, I was very self-assured," Castiel replied. "I was convinced I was on this righteous path. Now I realize that there is no righteous path. It's just people trying to do their best in a world where it's far too easy to do your worst."
"Wow. Deep."
"Yeah. For a doof."
Claire smiled and the waitress walked up, giving Castiel the check. "Thank you. So... where do we go next?"
Claire looked at Castiel. "Look. I appreciate the meal. And, you know, the felony. But you don't need to babysit me. I can take care of myself."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you felt guilty, so you busted me out. So thanks, but we're good. Even Steven."
"No, we um... We committed a crime, and you might need me again. So I-I think we should stick together."
"Okay. You want to get some stuff for the road? I have to pee."
"Oh. Okay."
They stood up at the same time, and Claire bumped into her when she crossed to her side.
"I'm sorry," Castiel apologized.
"My bad," Claire said.
As Castiel went to grab a few things, Claire slipped out the back of the restaurant. She glanced behind her, and as soon as the coast was clear, she ran.
Castiel laid several girly items on the counter, receiving a look from the cashier and Castiel said, "It's for a teenage girl." The cashier stared at him. "She's urinating." The cashier forced a smile and began ringing up the items. Castiel patted her pockets. "My wallet's gone."
Castiel looked around, noticing that Claire was gone.
---
Claire tried to flag down a car. "Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Hey, can you help? Damn." As a car passed, Castiel walked out of the restaurant.
Another car drove up and Claire asked, "Help! Please?"
"Claire," Castiel called as the girl climbed into the car.
"Go, go, go!" Claire cried.
The car drove off and Castiel started after it. "Wait. Hey! Claire!"
As the car disappeared, Castiel stood in the road, watching it go.
---
The next day, Sam, Dean and Castiel stood outside the restaurant.
Dean frowned. "This is why you called us? This is your emergency?"
"Yes!" Castiel exclaimed.
"No, Cas! An emergency is a dead body, okay? Or -- or a wigged out angel, or the Apocalypse, take three. Some chick bolting on you two is not an emergency. That's... that's every Friday night for Sam."
"Dude," Sam protested.
"Well."
Castiel frowned and continued. "This isn't just "some chick". I'm responsible for her."
"Since when? You met her once, how many years ago?"
Sam sighed. "Look, Cas. Even if we do find Claire... Then what?"
"She rolled you, and then she ran, okay? It's pretty clear that she doesn't want to play house."
"I understand. But I need to know that Claire is safe. And I need your help," Castiel admitted.
"All right. Uh... Why don't we go ask around at the group home?" Sam suggested.
Dean took a moment and said, "You know what? We're gonna stick here in case she circles back. You go on ahead."
"Thank you," Castiel said.
"You don't wanna come?" Sam asked.
---
Castiel and Dean entered the restaurant and got food.
Castiel stared intently at a ketchup bottle. "Is ketchup a vegetable?"
"Hell, yes," Dean answered. "All right, so spill. What's with the family reunion?"
"I don't know. I've just been... thinking about people," Castiel said. Dean glanced around and switched plates with Castiel, taking her burger and set his empty plate in front of Castiel. "No problem. I've helped some, but I've... I've hurt some."
"So you're having a midlife crisis."
"Well, I'm extremely old. I think I'm entitled."
Dean looked at the angel. "Cas, listen to me. There's some stuff you just got to let go. Okay? The people you let down, the ones you can't save... You got to forget about them. For your own good."
"Is that what you do?"
"That's the opposite of what I do. But I ain't exactly a role model."
"That's not true."
Dean looked at Castiel, then laughed, not believing her. He replied, "Yeah."
"How are you Dean?" Castiel asked.
"Fine," Dean said as Castiel gave him a look. "I'm great!"
"No, you aren't."
"Yeah, well, I lost the black eyes, so that's a plus. But I still have this." He reached over and gently slapped the Mark on his arm.
"Is the Mark of Cain still affecting you?"
Dean flashed back to the dream he'd had, blood covering him, dead bodies everywhere.
"Dean?" Castiel called.
Dean blinked hard, coming back to the present. "Cas, I need you to promise me something."
"Of course."
"If I go dark side, you got to take me out."
"What do you mean?"
"Knife me. Smite me. Throw me into the friggin' sun, whatever. And don't let Sam get in the way, because he'll try. I can't go down that road again, sweetheart. I can't be that again."
Castiel stared at him sadly and nodded.
DETENTION CENTER
"Claire's a good kid, detective," Sandy said. "She's smart, and underneath it all, she has a big heart." She handed the folder to Sam. "You know, there used to be a boy here. Dustin Tate. He was older, but Claire really took him under her wing."
"Is he around?" Sam asked.
"He works at The Weiner Hut. We tried to place Claire, but she always ran away. Sometimes for a couple of days... One time for six months."
"Wow. Where does she hide out?"
"Wish I knew."
HOUSE
A boy in a Weiner Hut uniform sat at a table, texting. Dustin. He looked up and smiled. "Hey, Claire."
"Hey," Claire replied. "Is Randy here?"
Randy stepped into the room. "Oh, look who's back. It's been, what? Three days?"
"I know. I got busted. But I come bearing gifts!" She handed Randy a wallet, which he opened. "There's like two hundred bucks in there."
Randy stopped, seeing the driver's licenses. ""Jessie Novak." Any relation?"
"No. She's just a girl. "
Randy nodded and tucked the wallet into his back pocket. "Well... I appreciate the elbow grease, but, uh, we're still short."
"How much?"
"Too much."
"When's Salinger coming to collect?"
"Tonight," Dustin replied.
Claire looked at Dustin in fear as Randy said, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have borrowed so much money. But, uh... The holidays are coming, and I like to spoil my kids."
Dustin got up and left the table.
"Maybe he'll give us some more time," Claire said hopefully.
"He's a loan shark. They're not so big on second chances. Kinda thought you were gonna... steal enough to pay down the debt, like we talked about. But, uh..."
"I tried."
"Not hard enough."
Dustin sat back down and Randy forced a smile. "Come on. One last family meal."
"There's got to be something we can do," Claire said.
Randy and Dustin shared a look and she asked, "What?"
"It's nothin'," Randy replied. "It's crazy."
"I'd do it if I was still under 18," Dustin told them.
Claire looked from Dustin to Randy, who was looking back at her. "Tell me."
---
Sam and Castiel stood outside the Weiner Hut as Dustin walked up.
"Dustin Tate?" Sam called.
"Nah, man."
"Oh, really?" Sam questioned, putting a hand on Dustin's chest.
Castiel came up and grabbed the back of his jacket and she said, "Yes, you are." She pushed Dustin's back against the brick wall. "And you're going to tell me where Claire Novak is." Dean came walking up, eating, as Castiel gripped Dustin's neck and lifted him off the ground. Dustin gasped and choked. "Now."
Dean, with a mouthful of food, said, "I'd do what she says."
Sam shot Dean a look, and he pointed to the Weiner Hut, then gave him a thumbs up.
CONVENIENCE STORE
Claire was wearing a dark jacket with the hood over her head. She had dark sunglasses on. She walked slowly around the store, remembering what Randy had said.
"Quick in, quick out," Randy said, laying a gun on the table. "Watch out for the cameras."
Claire avoided the cameras.
"Be careful. Wait til you're alone, then you hit that register jockey hard. You put the fear of God into him, you understand?" Claire nodded, reaching to take the gun. "Good." Randy laid his hand on top of hers. "You come back to me, you hear? You and Dustin -- you're the only family I got." Claire nodded and took the gun.
She opened the gun to see that it was loaded. She closed the gun and watched as the customer left, leaving her alone in the store. She walked towards the register, pulling the gun from her pocket. She gasped when her arm was grabbed and turned to see Castiel staring down at her.
Castiel and Claire had a stare down until the clerk glanced over at them. Castiel took Claire's arm, nearly dragging her outside. "Excuse us."
---
Outside, Claire took off her hood, then started walking away.
"Claire, wait!" Castiel cried.
"Screw you," Claire retorted.
"Whoa, hey, Miley Cyrus," Dean said. "Settle."
"Eat me, Hasselhoff."
Sam spoke gently. "Claire, hold on a second. Look, my name's-"
"Sam. And you're Dean. We've met, remember?"
Castiel frowned at the younger girl. "Claire. You were going to rob that convenience store?"
"So?"
""So?" So... it's -- it's wrong!"
"You want to talk to me about wrong? You killed my mom. Is that "wrong" enough for you?"
"No, I didn't."
"Really? Because without you, she'd still be here. And my dad would still be around."
"Claire, I'm-" She stepped towards her, and she pulled the gun from her pocket, cocking it and pointing it at her.
"Don't!" Claire yelled.
"That won't hurt me."
"Fine." She turned the gun on Sam and Dean, who took a step back.
"Whoa!" Dean cried. "Hey, come on."
"Hold on a second," Sam protested.
"Why? Like you don't have it coming? You stood there while these monsters took my mom." Claire put the gun down and turned to Castiel. "I used to pray to you, Castiel. Every night. I would beg you to bring her home, safe."
"I know," Castiel replied softly.
"You know... My mother was a good woman. In what messed up world does she have to die and you get to live?"
"I'm sorry."
"No. You feel guilty. There's a difference."
"So what?" Sam asked. "Now you run back to Randy? The guy you steal for?"
"How do you know that?"
"Dustin," Dean said.
"Claire, that man is using you," Castiel told her.
"He was there for me. When things got bad -- and they got real damn bad -- he was there when no one else was. He's my family. And you're just... you can go to Hell." She walked off, leaving Castiel watching after her.
---
Sam, Dean and Castiel made their way to a bar and walked up. The bartender walked towards them.
"Give me a shot of... um..." Castiel began.
Dean cut him off. "Three whiskeys."
"Cas, don't beat yourself up," Sam said. "Claire was..."
"Right," Castiel interrupted. "She was right. Who am I to tell her how to live her life?"
Dean pursed his lips. "Well, somebody needs to. We're not talking about Mother Teresa here. Girl just about knocked over a Gas 'n Sip. She's has some pretty serious issues."
"Because of me."
Dean shrugged. "Well, you are wearing her dad's old meat suit. Probably didn't help."
Sam shook his head at Dean as Castiel continued. "I thought we could make it up to her."
"I don't think you can," Sam replied. "I mean, Jessie was her mother, and to some people, that's... That's everything, you know?"
"No, I don't. I never knew my mother. Or my father. He was distant, to say the least." Castiel turned to Dean. "What about you? Did you love your father and mother?"
Dean looked to Sam, then back to Castiel. "With everything I had."
"Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it wasn't always easy, but yeah."
"I mean, look. John Winchester's not going to win any "Number One Dad" awards, you know? But you know... damn if he wasn't there when we needed him."
"Hey, uh... Tell them about that time in New York," Sam suggested.
"Oh yeah. Yeah, okay. So, uh... We were working on this haunting in Long Island, and me and Sam begged the old man to let us see the city for once."
"He had this thing about New York, right? Too big, too loud, too dirty."
"Yeah, and he hated the Yankees."
"Big time."
"Somehow, we convince him to let us go. So, we all go. We all, you know, see all the sights, and uh, ride the subway, eat too much pizza. The whole nine. Well, by about midnight, Sam and Dad are zonked, and I figure... Screw it. I'm going to CBGB."
"So CBGB is-"
"I know," Castiel interrupted. "It's where The Ramones and Blondie got their start."
Sam looked to Dean, the two of them taken aback.
"Right," Dean said.
Sam stated, "Wow. Anyways, he was way underage at the time."
"Shouldn't even have gone in the first place," Dean said. "All right, so I get there. I sneak in, and it is nuts. I mean, people are drinking and they're smoking and they're -- they're snorting whatever. There's a five-hundred pound guy on stage with a Mohawk just screaming. And, uh, my mind is blown. I don't even know what to do. Then this girl walks up and she says, "Hey, why don't you come over and sit down with me and my friends at our table?" All right!"
"Yeah, and they get him drunk. First time."
"But not fun drunk. I'm not quite sure what was in that stuff, but the room starts to spin, and I feel like I'm going to puke... forever. And right about that time, I hear him. "Dean Winchester!"" Castiel looked confused, but Sam just smiled. "My old man. I don't know how, but he found me. And now I'm really freaking out, because he's just standing there, not saying anything. I look around, and everybody else is freaking out, too. In fact, nobody's even looking him in the eye. And finally, this one guy with, like, a safety pin through his nose and a-a "Kill Everything" tattoo looks up and he says, "Sorry, sir."" Castiel smiled and Dean shook his head. "Yeah. "Sorry, sir." To John friggin' Winchester."
Dean and Sam took a sip of their whiskey while Castiel threw hers back like a shot.
"He saved you," Castiel realized.
"Yeah, and you know what he got for that? Me whining about how much he embarrassed me. Me telling me that I hated him. But then he stopped and turned around and he looked at me and he said, "Son, you don't like me? That's fine. It's not my job to be liked.""
""It's my job to raise you right,"" Sam finished.
"Yeah. And he did."
"Do you think Claire is in trouble?" Castiel asked.
Dean looked at her. "She's hanging out with a guy named Randy. She's in trouble."
Dean motioned to the bartender, who said their drinks were coming up.
---
Claire walked into Randy's house. "Randy-" She stopped abruptly, seeing Randy surrounded by three men. One of them turned to her.
"Hey!" Salinger greeted. "Evenin', little lady."
"Honey? Do you have something for me?" Randy asked.
Claire shook her head and a man near Randy flipped open his knife, putting it at Randy's neck. "No!"
She pulled the gun from her pocket, but was quickly overpowered by a big man from behind. He got the gun from her easily.
Salinger laughed. "Guns blazing, huh? That was your plan? Trust me. This pile of crap? He ain't worth it." Claire spit in his face and Salinger laughed again. "Put her in the other room."
He walked back to Randy. "She's got fight. I like that. I married the last girl that spit in my face." He took a drink from the beer in his hand. "Last few months, you've lost a bundle on the ponies. How much do you owe me now?"
"Five thousand," Randy admitted.
"So how about I give you a break? And you give me the girl."
Randy shook his head. "That's a joke, right? Claire's like family to me."
"Please! I know the con, all right? You find some kid with Major League daddy issues and then get her to steal for you. Cut the proud papa act. I'll make you a good deal."
"Like I said, Claire's family. So it better be a damn good deal."
---
Claire was sitting on a bed by herself when she heard footsteps. The door opened and Salinger stood there.
Salinger motioned for his men to leave and turned to Claire. "Hi." He finished his beer then turned and locked the door. "It's Claire, right?"
Claire refused to look at him until he was standing right in front of her. He reached down, took hold of her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "You really are a pretty one, you know that?"
She lifted her leg, kneeing him in the groin. She ran to the door and tried to unlock it, but Salinger was right behind her. He grabbed her as she screamed.
---
One of Salinger's men opened the front door to find Castiel, Sam and Dean standing there. Castiel lifted a hand, and the man went flying backwards. Randy and another man looked towards the door. Castiel and the Winchesters walked inside, and another man went towards Castiel, stopping when he saw Sam holding a gun.
"Don't!" Sam warned.
"Back it up," Dean ordered.
The man did as he said, and the brothers held the men at gunpoint. Castiel looked around the room and asked, "Where's the girl?"
They heard screaming from upstairs.
---
Claire was screaming, trying to hold Salinger off. He was trying to hold her down.
The door flew open. Castiel stood there. Salinger turned to look at her, giving Claire enough time to kick Salinger in the face and get up. She kicked him over and over.
"Claire," Castiel called. "Claire!"
Castiel grabbed her arms and she stopped kicking. Castiel led her from the room.
Claire moved away from Castiel. "Randy."
Randy looked at her, then stared at the floor, guilt on his face.
"Get her out of here," Dean said.
"Yeah. Go," Sam told them.
"Go."
Sam nodded, following after Castiel and Claire. Dean started to follow until Salinger's men started moving forward.
Dean raised his gun again. "Hey, back up! Back up. Don't be as dumb as you look."
Salinger, who'd untied himself, yelled, "Hey!"
Dean turned around and Salinger smashed his beer bottle over Dean's head. Dean fell, bleeding from his forehead. He looked up, then flashed back to receiving the Mark from Cain, the feeling of holding the First Blade, killing Abaddon. The men crowded closer and he remembered beheading Magnus, holding the First Blade, waking up a demon, and the ritual of the sanctified blood that made him human again.
Dean shook his head. "You guys... don't want to do this."
Salinger laughed, then kicked Dean in the face.
---
Claire climbed into the backseat of the Impala, and Castiel sat beside her. Claire smiled at her.
"Are you okay?" Castiel asked.
"Yeah," Claire replied.
She moved over, laying her head on Castiel's shoulder, wrapping her arms around her. Castiel hugged her back. Sam climbed in the front seat and glanced back. He turned his head back towards the house, hearing shouting. They left the car as fast as they could.
---
Inside, Dean was kneeling in the living room, a bloody knife in hand. His dream was a vision. Salinger and his men, along with Randy, littered the floor around him, their bodies sliced and bloody.
Claire screamed and Castiel pulled her to her. Sam put his gun away as he walked to Dean.
"Dean?" Sam called. "Dean. Hey."
Sam fell to his knees in front of Dean before he took his brother's face in his hands.
"Tell me you had to do this," Sam said softly.
Dean didn't quite meet his eyes. "I didn't... I didn't mean to."
"No," Sam said. "Tell me it was them or you!"
Castiel looked horrified as she looked from Dean to the carnage surrounding. She led Claire outside, leaving Sam and Dean alone, the bloody bodies surrounding them. Sam's hands fell from Dean's face as Dean realized what he'd done.