05. angelic problems

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"YOU'RE SO VAIN! YOU probably think this song is about you!"

Andy danced around the tables, wiping them with a damp cloth as she went. Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain' blasted on every speaker in Ruthie's.

The bar was empty, not even Mr. Ruth was in. Andy had it all to herself and that meant she got to play her music instead of the disco crap the owner was so fond of.

When she listened to music, all her worries went away for a while. She remembered the first time she heard good music. Her parents always played classical in the house, so she never experienced what music could truly do until she went to a friend's birthday party. It was the first and last time her parents had allowed it. Andy was nine and the birthday girl was a huge Beatles fan. That was the party's theme. 'Hey Jude' was playing when she walked in. Andy stayed by the record player the rest of the day after that.

When she was ten, Caelum gave her a Walkman with a mixtape he made for her. She played it over and over and over. When she was fifteen, she lost it on a hunt. It was the worst loss she had experienced at that point in her life. She laughed, thinking back on how devastated she was.

Andy danced over to the bar and began wiping down the wood. She shimmed her hips, lost in the music. She felt a gust of wind from behind her. Andy paused; had she left the door open? She shook her head. In her gut, she knew what it was.

She reached over the bar and grabbed the remote for the sound system. She turned it off, leaving the establishment in silence. Neither of them said a word.

Slowly, Andy turned. Natalie was standing in front of her. She looked exactly the same as she did the last time they saw each other.

"Three months of radio silence. And you think you can just appear like nothing happened?" Andy tried to keep her voice quiet. She didn't want to explode like she was so prone to do. She wanted to have a civil conversation.

Natalie frowned and looked down. "I had to stay away, for your safety." Andy scoffed and Natalie's head snapped up. Her eyes were suddenly full of fury. "I'm a rogue Angel, Andy. That's not treated lightly in heaven. It's treason. I've been hiding from Uriel and the Archangels. Castiel lied when he said they had no orders to kill me. They did...after they used me to find Anna."

That all too familiar feeling of guilt began to build in Andy's stomach. She dropped her gaze. "Damn...I'm sorry, Nat." She looked up, trying to smile, but it looked more like a grimace. "Or should I call you Sariel?"

Natalie cringed and shook her head. "Hell no."

The two laughed, breaking the tension between them.

Andy leaned back on the bar. "I'm assuming you're not just here to say hi."

Natalie sighed, mouth turning into a thin line. "Unfortunately." She joined Andy at the bar. The two fell back into their old habits as if it hadn't been months since they last saw each other. "My brother, Castiel."

"I remember him. The one in the trench coat."

"Yeah..." Natalie nodded. "He...helped me. When Uriel began tracking me, he told me, kept me one step ahead of him. Now, he needs help."

"What is it?" Andy asked.

"Because of his recent rebellious streak, he's been forcefully pulled back to heaven. It's left his vessel vulnerable." Natalie paused a moment before speaking again. Andy could tell she wasn't going to be pleased with the next part. "Currently, he's being looked after by the Winchesters. Castiel trusts them, but I'm not sure yet. I would feel better with you there, protecting his vessel until his return."

That dreaded name; Winchester. Andy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Both Winchesters?"

Natalie chuckled dryly. "Yes. It's not just Sam this time."

Andy's brows knitted together. This time. Had Natalie seen her demon hunt with Sam and Ruby? Andy shook her head, trying not to be freaked out by the concept.

"Okay. I'll help, but only because you asked."

Natalie smiled. "Thank you, Andy. Truly, after all I put you through, I would've understood if you rejected my ask."

Andy pushed her shoulder lightly. "I might be mad at you, but that doesn't mean I hate you."

Her words seemed to ease something inside Natalie. The angel's shoulders relaxed. "Could I ask something else of you?" Andy nodded. "Sam. Keep an eye on him. His escapades with the demon, Ruby, are troubling."

Andy nodded firmly. "I was planning on it. They're freaky, his powers."

Natalie nodded thoughtfully. "Nothing fuelled by demon blood is good."

"...demon blood?" Andy paused. "What?"

Natalie's face paled slightly. "I should have assumed Sam wouldn't tell you the whole truth."

"What, Nat?"

"His powers come from a demon; Azazel. He had this grand plan to open Hell using child soldiers powered by his blood. Sam was one of them. Ruby is supplying him with her blood to keep his powers...powered up."

Andy rubbed a hand through her hair, leaving it messy. "What the fuck. That's insane."

"I know." Natalie nodded. "That's why I want you to keep an eye on him. But also to be careful. He seems like a nice boy...but drinking demon blood changes you."

It was as if a big dark cloud of dread hung over Andy's head. She felt sick to her stomach imagining Sam suckling on Ruby's veins. She tried to shake the uneasy feeling, but it was stuck to her. "Where are they?" She asked, turning to Natalie.

Natalie's back straightened. "I'll take you to them. Do you have everything you need?"

Andy shook her head. "Just a sec."

She scrambled for her knives, holy water, and pistol. Natalie waited patiently, watching her friend with a melancholy smile.

Eventually, Andy had her things secured in a sleek black utility belt hidden underneath her shirt. "I'm ready." She huffed.

"Good." Natalie nodded and she approached Andy. She began to reach for her shoulder.

"Woah!" Andy jerked back. "We're gonna teleport? Again? I nearly threw up last time."

Natalie chuckled. "It's technically not teleportation. And it's safe, I promise. It took you by surprise last time. I'll be careful."

Andy eyed her skeptically, nodding slowly. Natalie put a careful hand on her shoulder. "Deep breath."

Andy followed her instructions and in a blink, they were no longer in Ruthie's.

"What the fuck!"

The familiar gruff of Dean Winchester's voice filled Andy's ears. Her eyes adjusted to her new surroundings; a crappy motel room filled with hunter gear and discarded food wrappers.

Natalie's hand dropped from Andy's shoulder. "Winchesters." She scanned the room and her eyes widened. "Where's the vessel?"

Andy looked around, noticing the absence of the man she knew to be Castiel. Sam was in the middle of stuffing his clothes back into his duffel bag and Dean held his toothbrush in his hands, white paste dripping from his lips. Both Winchesters had frozen in shock at the appearance of Natalie and Andy.

Dean blinked, looking between the women. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Helping. By the looks of it, you need it." Andy smacked her lips.

"We don't-"

"Where is the vessel?" Natalie repeated, voice stern. Andy had never seen her so angry.

Sam sighed. "He slipped us. In the night."

Natalie pinched the bridge of her nose. "Unbelievable. I knew Castiel was wrong to place trust in you."

"Hey!" Dean interjected. "We didn't know Jimmy would be so...slippery. We'll find him. We don't need your help." He directed his last comment at Andy with a scrunch of his nose. She returned the gesture.

"Enough." Natalie put her hand up. "Jimmy Novak must be protected at all costs. When Castiel returns, he'll need him."

"Don't you think we know that?" Dean huffed. "We're not idiots."

"Could've fooled me." Andy quipped.

Dean opened his mouth to start arguing but Sam spoke up. "Alright! We get it. We need to find Jimmy."

"Do you know where he's going?" Natalie asked.

"What? The all-seeing Angel doesn't know?" Dean sneered.

Natalie rolled her eyes. "Fallen Angel." She corrected.

"His family," Sam answered. "That's where he's going."

Natalie nodded. "Good. Hurry, Winchesters. He's important." She patted Andy on the shoulder. "Play nice." She winked and was gone.

Dean groaned, realizing that Andy was left with them. She smirked at him. "Looks like you're stuck with me."

"Can we just go?" Sam sighed.

ANDY WAS BACK IN the backseat of the Impala. Dean white-knuckled the steering wheel, eyes flickering back to her through the rearview every few seconds. Sam shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Why did Sariel...bring you?" He asked, looking at Andy over his shoulder.

"Natalie." Andy corrected. "Because she doesn't trust you two. Not like Castiel. Look's like she was right."

"Do you know how this happened, anyway? Did she tell you? Where did Castiel go?"

Andy shrugged. "He was pulled back to heaven, according to Nat. Didn't sound good, either. She said it was because of his recent 'rebellious streak.' Probably has something to do with you two."

"Makes sense." A new voice spoke.

Andy practically shrieked at the red-headed woman that was now seated next to her.

"Jesus, Anna!" Dean jump. The Impala swerved.

"Sorry," Anna said, not sounding very apologetic. She looked around the car, eyes lingering on Andy's shocked face.

"You ever try calling ahead?" Dean looked back at her.

Anna shrugged. "I like the element of surprise."

Dean looked back again, eyes scanning the angel's body. He smirked. "Ah. You look terrific."

Andy's brows knitted in confusion.

"Now's not really the time, Dean." Anna deadpanned.

Then it clicked. They had slept together. Andy raised a curious brow and leaned back in her leather-backed seat.

"You let Jimmy get away?" Anna asked, leaning forward.

Dean glanced at her, then pointed his thumb at Sam. "Talk to 'ginormo' over here."

Sam sighed, looking back at Anna, defeated.

"Sam?" Anna prompted. She looked into his eyes, squinting as if she had seen something in them. "You seem...different."

Andy perked up slightly. Anna, too, had noticed what the demon blood was doing to him.

Sam's brows tightened and he shook his head slightly, as if confused by her statement. "Me?" He laughed. "I-I don't know...a haircut?"

Anna continued to stare at him. "That's not what I'm talking about."

Sam turned around, scrunching his nose angrily. He crossed his arms and stared at the road ahead.

Anna shook her head slightly and turned her attention to Dean. She acted as though Andy wasn't sitting next to her. "So...what'd Jimmy tell you? He remember anything?"

"Why?"

"Because of Cas. You know he got pulled back to heaven. He must've told you something."

"Cas said he had something to tell me," Dean said. "Something important."

"What?" Anna asked fervently.

Dean shrugged. "I don't know."

"Does Jimmy know?" Anna pressed.

"I don't think so."

"You don't think so? Whatever it is, it's huge! You gotta find out for sure."

Sam sighed. "That's why we're going after Jimmy."

"That's why you shouldn't have let him go in the first place." Anna huffed.

Andy felt a flair of anger. What right did Anna have to talk to them like that? "I don't see you out there looking for him. They're doing the best they can."

Anna turned her head slowly. Her eyes bored into Andy's soul. It was terrifying. She had a certain craziness in her eyes that reminded her of Uriel. Anna tilted her head. "Why are you here?"

Andy straightened her back under the scrutiny of her gaze. "Sariel."

Anna's eyes widened. "She...why..." She began shaking her head. Suddenly, she was gone.

There were a few minutes of silence in the car. Dean looked at Andy through the rearview mirror. "What was that about?"

"What?" Andy tilted her head slightly.

Dean smirked. "You stood up for us. I thought you didn't like us?"

Andy rolled her eyes. "I don't like you. I like Sam. And she was being unfair. I meant what I said."

"Thanks, Andy." Sam looked back at her with a soft smile. She returned it with a small nod.

"Don't like me?" Dean raised a playful brow. "It didn't seem like it that night at-"

"Don't you dare finish that fucking sentence, Winchester."

Dean laughed, returning his eyes to the road and turning up the Metallica album that was in the cassette player.

Sam looked at Andy, brow raised in confusion. She shook her head and mouthed, "Forget it."

AFTER A STOP AT a gas station to refuel both the humans and the car, they pulled up to the Novak house. It was quaint; the quintessential family home. Except for the fact that from the front window, a man held a knife to a young girl's throat.

"The back!" Dean shouted.

The three of them rushed out of the Impala and to the house's back door. Dean was first in, wielding the Demon killing knife. He sliced the throat of the man holding the girl hostage. Andy was quick to move her out of the fight. She pulled her over to the girl's mother, taking them both by the shoulder.

Sam was last in. As the female Demon rose to attack, he stuck his hand out, stopping her in her tracks. Jimmy pushed her off of him. Dean and Andy's head snapped to Sam.

"Go! Get out of here!" The Winchester grunted through gritted teeth.

"Come on, let's go!" Andy urged them.

Jimmy's hands replaced hers as they all rushed out of the house. Dean stopped briefly, looking back at his struggling brother. "Keep them safe." He told her before rushing back in.

Andy herded the Novak family to the Impala. Their daughter clung to her mother, sobbing. Andy bounced on the balls of her feet waiting for the brothers. As a cloud of black smoke made its escape, Sam and Dean came bolting out. The Impala beeped, unlocking.

"Hurry, get in." Andy told the Novak's. Jimmy helped his wife and daughter into the back seat. Andy squeezed in next to him. Sam and Dean practically jumped into their seats and Dean stepped on the gas.

Once they were in the clear, Dean drove them to their motel. He, Andy, Sam, and Jimmy got out of the Impala.

Andy leaned against its side as she watched the men speak. Jimmy looked like Castiel, but just from the way he held himself, she could tell he wasn't the monotone Angel she had met prior. He sighed as he looked at his family, eyes filled with sadness. "You were right."

Dean nodded softly. "I'm sorry we were."

"I'm telling you, I don't know anything." Jimmy shook his head.

"I don't think they're inclined to believe you."

"And even if they did, you're a vessel," Sam added. "They're still gonna wanna know what makes you tick."

Dean cringed lightly. "Which means vivisection, if they're feeling generous."

"I'm gonna tell you once again; you're putting your family in danger," Sam said, eyes darkening. "You have to come with us."

Jimmy looked back at the Impala, at his wife and daughter sitting side-by-side in the back seat. His eyes briefly connected with Andy before turning back to Sam and Dean. "How long? And don't give me that "cross that bridge when we get to it," crap."

Sam shook his head. "Don't you get it? Forever. The demons will never stop. You can never be with your family."

Sam's voice was sinister. Andy had never heard him so...cruel. She looked at Dean, who looked back at her with a blank expression. Sam continued.

"So, you either get as far away from them as possible or you put a bullet in your head. And that's how you keep your family safe. But there's no getting out and there's no going home."

Dean sighed, exasperated. "Hell, don't sugarcoat it, Sam."

"I'm just telling him the truth, Dean." Sam snapped. "Someone has to."

"Enough, Sam." Andy pushed herself off of the Impala and stood next to Jimmy. "Have some goddamned sympathy. Jimmy knows all that. You're just being fucking mean."

"Andy, he needs-"

"Just shut up, Sam. You said your piece. Let Jimmy think on it." She glared at the tallest Winchester before putting a hand on Jimmy's shoulder. He looked at her, eyes shining with tears, silently telling her 'thank you'.

"SHE'S ALL READY FOR you!" Andy called as the car's engine started. She wanted to be at least slightly useful, besides playing babysitter for the Winchesters. She tucked the wires out of the way before getting out of the yellow station wagon.

Dean crossed his arms, nodding. "Impressive."

Andy snorted. "You've never seen a girl hotwire a car?"

He just shook his head and returned his attention to the Novak's touching goodbye. Amelia and Claire sniffled as they headed their way. Jimmy followed behind them, frowning. He stopped his daughter, hugging her tight. "Take care of your mom for me, okay, Bub?"

Claire nodded through her tears. "Okay."

He hugged her one last time before he got into the Impala. Sam and Dean followed. Andy hesitated for a moment. She looked at Claire with a strange feeling of deja vu. Quickly, she ducked into the car. The engine started and they left Amelia and Claire Novak behind.

After driving for a bit, Jimmy finally allowed himself to fall asleep. Andy watched him pressed up against the glass, snoring quietly. She settled into her seat, turning and staring at the blur of darkness passing by.

She could hear Sam and Dean whispering in the front, clearly trying to keep their conversation private. Andy did her best to tune them out, purely out of courtesy. Then, Sam's phone rang.

"Hello? Who is this?" He answered. He turned, pushing Jimmy to wake him. The man woke, groggy. "It's your wife." Sam handed him the phone.

Jimmy took it, blinking away his sleepiness. "Amelia?" Jimmy paused, listening. Andy watched as he paled. "Oh my god."

"Jimmy? What is it?" She leaned closer to him.

The line went dead. Jimmy lowered the phone. He started to shake. "A demon. It has them. It has them!"

AUTHORS NOTE

hehehe! how's it going, guys? I kinda felt like ending the chapter here, I'll finish the rest of the episode in the next. I didn't want this to get too long, yk?

I kinda feel like Andy was a little too passive in this chapter but I mean there wasn't a whole lot to do any way. I feel like the first bit was good though! I mean I was writing this at like midnight so...could be a factor LMAO

Anyway as always, lemme know your thoughts!