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[rebelledforyou]

Ever since he was brought back things had been slowly changing. Good things were happening. It was good changes for the most part. He was talking more and more with Pete Tyler. The man was curious and he felt like maybe he could approach the former angel a little more with these questions. He actually liked Rose's father a great deal. He was nice and he was noble. He wanted to do the right thing. Always. He was a good influence for anyone.

Her mother had been dropping by with lots of soup at first. It was slowly tapering off, but her soup drive-by sessions were increased after his return. She seemed to think that if anything was wrong it'd be fixed with the soup. He liked soup, but not that much.

Today it was just him and Rose. No Pete, Jackie or even Mickey. It was just them in her apartment. He was standing in the kitchen with a book in his hands. He had moved from the couch a few minutes ago. He needed to stretch his legs, but he didn't want to stop reading. He wasn't sure where Rose was in the apartment.

Comments

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

Serious head tilt. Now it was getting a little weird and confusing. Rose was never one to talk about that kind of stuff. She certainly wasn't one to speak ill of her own mother. She loved her quite a bit. It was only ever said in a joking tone. That did not sound like a joking tone at all.

Castiel pushed away from the counter and stepped back. It was curious behavior, but not cause for alarm. "I have faith, but I am cautious. You told me you'd just burn the apartment down." He cracked a smile.

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

She didn't seem to notice his concern. She didn't seem to notice anything, really, as she picked up the knife and started in on the vegetables, chopping with practiced ease. Her laugh was soft. "Do you really? Well, on the bright side, at least you'll be used to the flames."

She picked up, chopping a bit faster. "People with faith don't go to Hell, Castiel."

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

For a moment her laugh calmed him, but then it stopped. His body went stiff and his brain was spinning. What was going on? Flames? Hell. His head tilted to the other side and his brow arched. He let out a sigh and took another step back. Crowley must really be upset about the way they left things. Well it was probably safe to assume that Castiel had burned that bridge. Crowley was just returning the favor with some of his friends.

He licked his lips and put his hands at his sides. No weapons in the house. Sam and Dean weren't visiting anytime soon. He was screwed (as Dean would put it). "Leave her! Now."

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

Her eyes snapped to his over her shoulder, black and empty, a smirk on her face. The knife shifted position in her hand, her arm going straight, extending out to her side. Right. Yeah. That was likely to happen.

"Or what? You'll smite me? Nice try, sweetheart, but we know all about your little handicap." She strode forward slowly, her smirk widening. "What, exactly, do you remember about that week, angel boy? What, you think it was God that brought you back? How many chances, exactly, do you think you get?" She laughed. "No. Not exactly."

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

His breathing was heavy and his muscles were tense. He knew he could not act without her hurting him or worse hurting worse. He didn't care if he was flung around like a rag doll. The very thought of that abomination hurting Rose made him edgy. He knew the words to send it back to Hell, but how fast could he say it without it hurting Rose?

"Crowley was behind that?" He raised a brow. That was very strange. Then again he could easily be lying to him just to rattle his cage. Demons were very good at lying. "I may not be able to get rid of you, but I can send you back to Crowley."

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

"Oho, please do," She edged closer, just a step. "And I'll be first in line for when you find your way back into the pit. It's only a matter of time, pretty boy. Crowley's not the only one that wants your head on a platter. Your meat puppet may have forgiven you, but the rest of the universe? Not so much. You're on a one way ticket to hell, my friend, and guess who's driving the bus? All it's gonna take is one little slip up, a situation to get a little too sticky, and then it's eternity with us."

She grinned wide, feral. "Who knows? We might even be able to drag your girlfriend along. Sharing a Hell? Same concept as sharing a heaven, isn't it? No? Well, it's the thought that counts."

She lunged forward with a cry, knife at the ready, aiming for his middle.

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

He would go to Hell for his crimes. He would spend eternity in that line that Crowley constructed as his own version of Hell. He had seen it. He had stood next to it. It was a little maddening for him to just watch that happen. He imagined that his Hell would be different though. Crowley probably had something a little special planned.

He swallowed a lump and felt his fists tighten. She could threaten him, but when she brought up Rose it was hard for him to stay composed. He wanted to react, but she beat him to the punch with the lunging. He threw an arm up and caught her round the wrist. He pushed forward intending to wrestle it from her. Only problem? She was stronger than him by a lot.

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

He shouldn't take her seriously. Demons lied. Demons lied all the time. It was every bit possible they had as little idea about what brought him back as they did. Maybe it was God. If Crowley wanted him in Hell, why bother to send him back after a week? Either way, she's attacking him. Rose wasn't the best fighter, but that thing inside her apparently was.

She let him push forward, and pulled rather than pushing back, directing him and his weight with all of her strength toward a rather unforgiving set of kitchen cabinets. His grip on her wrist was strong, though, and apart from wobbling, it stayed a reasonable distance from his body. Thank god for that, if he ended up hurt thanks to this thing in her body... she'd never be able to live with herself. She should be able to fight it. She should be stronger. She wasn't.

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

Kitchen cabinets, meat Castiel. With a rather loud thump and a pained grunt he hit them. He was not sure how he was going to do against her, but he didn't think his chances were good. If she intended to bring him to Hell then that meant a fight. She intended to kill him and while she tried to do that he could sent her back to Hell. Hopefully.

He pushed on her wrist harder. "You can drag me to Hell if you want, but you should know that I will gladly take an abomination such as you with me." His voice was strained.

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

She shoved against him, but the knife dropped from her wrist and hit the ground with a rather loud clatter. She didn't seem particularly strained, even managed to let out a laugh as she jerked backward, tugging his weight in the opposite direction by a hand hooked into his shirt.

"No way to treat your new room mate, is it? I was expecting manners. You should be pleading for your soul, and your little bitch, too." She let out a grunt, tugging free a hand to go for his throat. "You're going to watch each other beg. After everything you've done, you deserve it."

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

He'd be lying if he said those words didn't echo in his head on a daily basis. You deserve it. This thing really was tapping into those insecurities and exploiting them. It probably had no idea really, but it was easy to guess that he'd be upset after what he had done to the world. It was smart. It read him well. It was rather troubling.

Finally Castiel did the only thing he could do. He threw his head forward into hers. Sorry, Rose. You're going to have a headache. He shoved her away and side stepped quickly. "She's not a bitch."

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

It wasn't difficult, seeing snatches of conversation in Rose's mind, digging through her memories, conversations. Easy. She really was rather weak. Most humans were.

"Ah- fuck- you bastard-" She stumbled back a few feet, clutching a hand to her head. Holy Jesus, that hurt. Not as badly as it would have been without the pain tolerance, but still. Nobody won with a headbutt.

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

This wasn't winning. This was evasive maneuvers. She was out to kill him. She wanted blood. She wanted him to suffer. He just wanted her to get out of Rose. She could drag him to Hell a dozen times over if she just left her alone. He didn't want to die and know that this thing was still inside of her.

He scrambled out of the kitchen and into the living room. He needed some distance. He straightened up and out came the Latin. It was soft at first, but it picked up in volume. He wasn't even through with the beginning yet. It was a long one.

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

Ohoho, sorry, darling, but she wasn't going anywhere any time soon. She quite liked her meat castle, it had curves in all the right places. The fact that it tore him up on the inside? Just an added bonus. Oh, the fun she could have with that, later on. Once she incapacitated this annoying mother fucker.

She gathered her bearings and snatched up the knife, launching after him again. The Latin caught her ears, and her body shuddered a second. The growl that came out was pained and tortured, and after the stumble, she launched forward to tackle him to the ground. "You know what they do in hell?! They break you until you plead for mercy, until you beg for it to be anybody else, and then they let you chose. A hundred years, you son of a bitch, and you'll get to chose who takes your place. Who's it gonna be, I wonder? Winchester, or the girl? Oh, you'll be offering them up faster than you turned your back on them the first time around."

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

He was approaching the middle when she came at him with the knife again. She caught him round the mid-section with her arms and tackled him. She hit like a jackhammer. He could feel the air leave him and he struggled to catch his breath. This really was not what he wanted for Rose. Perhaps he really was turning her life into Hell by being around.

He knew what Hell was like. He had seen it when he did his dealings with Crowley. It was hard to imagine what choice he'd make. Either he'd stay or he'd give someone up. He'd like to think he'd stay and be brave. "I wouldn't choose." Then came more Latin.

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

She struggled, now, the knife gripped in her hand tightly, and she brought it down. If she could just... he was so human, just a good, hard jab to the throat and he'd be out in seconds. It might even be slow enough to get in a few minutes for a bit more fun before he bit the durst completely.

"You would- oh, you would- they all do, eventual- Agh!" Her breath came out in a pant, and her grip on the knife slackened. Fuck. Fuck that Latin. Fucking sweet god- the feeling of being ripped from a vessel, of hell-fire spreading up her spine- her grip loosened and the knife slid out, falling to the floor beside his neck. "They'll hate you! They'll all hate you!"

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

He had betrayed Dean once before already. He betrayed Sam and Bobby as well. He couldn't do it to them again. He couldn't be that man twice. He had changed hadn't he? He had found his way back to who he was. He had climbed out of that rubble pile and he started over. He wouldn't do that to Dean again. He wouldn't do it to Rose either.

It was working. She was getting weaker and that meant he was stronger. He shoved her from his body and scrambled to his feet. He stepped away and stared at her form. The Latin was coming out of him quicker now. He wanted to put a stop to this. He needed to get Rose free. It didn't matter that his head was pounding and his back was bruised. "They already do." The last bit rolled out just as quick and then silence.

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

She rolled away easily, landing flat on her back on the hardwood floor. Well, flat... subjective. Her back arched, her chest in the air and her head in the floor as she screamed. Hands clawed at her ears, head jerked left and right.

And then her mouth fell open, and from it exploded the black, sulfuric smoke that made up the demon. It poured out for what seemed like minutes and then, with a final shriek, her body fell, limp, to the floor, and the cloud disappeared through the wood.

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

Castiel was breathing heavy by the time he banished it. He was standing rather awkwardly in an attempt to stay vertical. He wasn't exactly used to fighting demons daily without any of his powers. He was like a sitting duck here. He was going to have to talk to Sam and Dean about this.

Once the smoke cleared and Rose was still he dropped to his knees and made his way to her. He picked up her head and let it rest in his lap. He looked down at her with worried eyes. "Rose?"

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

That was just... weird. She'd been awake for parts of it, it was like... it was like Cassandra all over again, suppressing her mind, controlling her body. She didn't like things in her head. She really didn't. Not that it was her primary focus right now. She'd like to say her first thought had been concern for Castiel, but actually, well...

Blimey did her head hurt. She scrunched up her face and pressed her palm to her forehead. "Ow."

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

He lifted a hand to press to her cheek. He let out a sigh when she spoke. She was in pain, but she was alive and that was good. The demon that was in her could have killed her long before Castiel ever found out she was possessed. Then she would not have lived after the demon exiting her body.

It occurred to him that his heart was racing away in his chest. He had never been this afraid for anything. He had been scared when he stood before the tear in reality and hurled himself into it, but he was not nearly as frightened as he was right now. "I'm sorry about that. My plan was not well thought out."

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

Her vision swam for a minute, but came back into focus. Oh, right. She was in the floor. Oh, that really wasn't fun. God, and the things that thing had said, the things she'd seen while it was floating around in there... ugh.

She pushed up, brows furrowing in concern and discomfort. "Don't be a nutter- you're like a bloody tiger, by the way, has anyone ever said?"

She let out a shaky laugh, moving forward to wrap her arms around his neck.

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

Warriors of God. Without his powers he was still fairly good at the hand to hand stuff. Without the connection to the Heavens he tended to hit like a normal human man though. Still though headbutting her was not that smart, but it was the only option he had at the time. He smiled when she said he was like a tiger though.

His arms went around her body and he let out a sigh. She was alive and she was okay. No lasting injuries other than the hit he had given her. That was good. He couldn't help the inkling in the back of his mind that was telling him that maybe his being with her was going to keep causing these problems. He was going to get her killed one day. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

Human strength or not, the hand to hand stuff was still pretty impressive, and so was the whole... demon exorcism thing. Not that she was a fan of it happening in the first place, but he mastered the commanding air pretty well when he wanted to.

She squeezed her eyes shut and rested against his neck for a second. That had been... decidedly scary. She pulled back, looking at him seriously.

"Hey. Not your fault. That thing- it was lying. I could tell. I could feel it." She pressed a hand to his cheek, giving him a pointed look. "I'm serious. That was... horrible."

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it though? Her job was dangerous. It was a danger she knew how to handle though. It was calculated and she had a team. She had people who could help her. Castiel had entered her life and brought a whole new different form of danger. One that would not rest until it dragged him to Hell to pay for what he did.

His eyes shut and his head dropped a little. Lying or not some of the things were true. Some of them were still accurate. Crowley was gonna keep coming. He wouldn't stop until he had Castiel's head on a stick. "I seem to be putting you in constant danger."

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

There was nothing guaranteed about her job. It was very much a 'wing it' scenario, considering the vast array of species in the universe. As far as she was concerned, demons were just another to be tacked onto the list. They were like... the equivalent to Daleks. And if this ended with him deciding she was safer without him and running off, she'd kill him.

"Love, have you seen the insane things I deal with for a living?" She dipped her hand under his chin and gently tugged him back up to face her. "Oi. You. Knock it off. Don't start feeling sorry for yourself, or me, or whatever it is you're thinking. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out, and we'll put a stop to it. Together, yeah?"

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

Was he feeling sorry for himself? Perhaps. He considered it being cautious. Maybe even scared. Scared for her life. Putting her in this peril seemed silly. He understood why Dean had done that to Lisa now. It was hard to be with someone when you knew that you were continuously causing them pain. Physically and emotionally.

She was extremely blunt though. He found that amusing. She was very straightforward with him. This wasn't a tactic employed often on a former angel. He nodded slowly and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Alright then. Together."

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

She was speaking as a woman thoroughly used to being left behind 'for her own good' on a semi-regular basis. She could see the signs of preemptive ditching coated in guilt and good intentions. They paved the way to hell, mate, and that's exactly what she was trying to avoid. He wasn't a time-traveling pompous git, and she wasn't a naive little girl anymore. She was well aware what she was getting herself into, and she was absolutely okay with it. It was wort it.

She smiled at the kiss to her forehead, and leaned up to catch his lips properly. "Good."

She pushed herself to her feet, and held out a hand to pull him up, as well. "Right. I could go for chips, and you've gotta tell me all about this guy. Crowley or whatever."

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

Another nod and he watched her rise to her feet. He looked at her hand for a moment before taking it. He pushed himself to his feet and winced for a moment. He'd be stretching that out a little latter. Probably icing as well. She probably needed ice as well considering he had headbutted her. That couldn't be good.

"Crowley." The name rolled off his tongue like acid. Once upon a time he had fooled the King of Hell into thinking they had an alliance. Perhaps double crossing a man with that much power was not wise. He nodded after a beat. He could do that.

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

She did wobble for a second, and pressed a hand to her head. Funny how taking a bonk to the noggin could make you a bit dizzy, and the foreign entity in her brain probably didn't do her any favors. She puffed out a breath and regained her footing. "Think a few headache pills're in order, on second thought."

She headed for the kitchen, snatching the knife off the floor and tossing it into the sink on her way through. Eugh. "I'm guessing he's one of the blokes you got on the wrong side of during the whole..."

Hand-pantomime.

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

Pain relievers. For a moment it was like sitting on that step and Dean handing him a bottle of asprin. Castiel had found out his Father had abandoned him. He was weak and in pain. Dean had told him to just take the whole bottle considering he was an angel at the time. It was strange how certain things brought up old memories as simple as that one.

Castiel followed her to the door frame and stayed in it. "He is the King of Hell. With Lucifer in the pit he seized control quickly. I thought a fake partnership with him would benefit me in my quest to become God. I double crossed him and took the souls from Purgatory from him." He paused and sighed heavily. "He's upset."

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

She pulled out a bottle and shucked a few out, passing some to him as well. Filled up a glass with water while he spoke, and leaned her hip against the counter to listen.

"Somehow, I'm thinking faking out the King of Hell might be a karma thing on his part, with a job like that." She downed the pills, and passed him the glass. "So, now he's out to get his revenge by sending demons on a vacation aimed in your direction. I think... you're gonna have to teach me whatever it was you just did."

[rebelledforyou.livejournal.com]

He stared down at the pills in his hand as he listened to her. He looked up and took the glass from her. He popped them into his mouth and took a gulp of the water to wash them down. He stepped into the kitchen and put the glass on the counter. "He wants me to pay. He wants me in Hell where he can make my eternity a nightmare." It was the truth. He could have sugarcoated it for her, but she wanted him honest.

He lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his head gently. He could feel a bump and some bruising, but he'd be fine. "Same thing you do for me. Only mine is a bit longer and a bit older." He tapped his temple. "I learned them all a very long time ago."

[huffpuffblonde.livejournal.com]

She frowned, brow furrowed. She'd gathered as much, but still, to hear him say it... that wasn't good. She wasn't sure if she could believe that. Granted, he had a great big black spot on his record, but he wouldn't keep coming back if God didn't seem to want him alive, right? Why send him to Hell for eternity afterward? They'd... have to find a way to fix that. She had promises to keep.

She grabbed the phone and moved to the kitchen table, falling heavily into a chair. "This is what your mates do, right? Run around and, I dunno, fight demons? All the time? A bit like I do aliens, except... different."

And there was a plan. There was a lovely plan coming into action right then, and she tugged her legs up as she contemplated it. "I could do that. If they're gonna come after you anyway, I could learn to do... all that stuff, exorcising them and... all that fighting you just did. Learning what repels them and- maybe I can save you."