6. Into the Fire

"I don't understand," says Castiel. "Why are we doing this?"

It's one of Castiel's days off of work, so I figured I'd let him air out and experience the perks of being human. I figured the best way to start was going to a park.

"The best way to learn about being human is to be outside of the house," I say. "Nothing says outside like a park."

"I don't remember agreeing to do this."

"That's because I never gave you the option to." I stop at a light. "We'll make a day of it. I told Dean I was gonna take care of you, and this is how I'm doing it."

"You have a strange way of taking care of someone, Josette."

"Hey, I've got loads of free time, and you get only a few days off a week." I coax the truck into gear when the light turns green.

"Shouldn't we try to be helping Sam and Dean?"

"Castiel, remember what you told me a few nights ago?"

"That I'd respect your decision of staying out of the hunter life?"

I nod. "Exactly. And we're sticking to that." I turn right. "You need to become comfortable with who you are now. Just humor me and do this, okay?"

"I think I don't have a choice in the matter."

I smile. "You're right, you don't."

We're about five minutes out of the park when I see it, the billowing smoke. I can't tear my eyes away and find myself following it.

"Um, Josette?" Castiel asks. "I don't know if this is the right way..."

"It's not," I say, flicking my eyes between the smoke in the sky and the road. "We're taking a detour."

"To where?"

I hear the fire sirens now, the blaring horns of the firetrucks. I gravitate towards the obnoxious noise and follow it. I don't know why I do it. Logically, I should leave this to the firemen. They can handle it. It's their job to. But I find my truck pulling closer to the scene.

The smoke becomes more apparent, and now I can smell it. Before I know it, I can see it billowing out of an apartment complex. I pull over near a sidewalk opposite it and park the truck. I don't dial 911, because I know the firemen are coming. Someone's already probably beat me to the call, anyway. I pull myself out of the truck.

"Josette?" I hear Castiel shut his truck door. The gray smoke almost makes the complex hidden. I see patches of orange flare up through the smoke. "Josette, I'm sure this is going to be taken care of."

Sure enough, the red trucks come, and firemen rush out, yelling orders. I stay near the truck and wince as the flames shoot up suddenly, as though something from inside decided to explode. Two firemen rush inside while others get the hose ready to dowse the flames.

"What are we doing here?" Castiel asks. He's beside me. "Josette!"

I find myself crossing the street, nearly getting throttled by a car that's speeding. I flip them off as I reach the other sidewalk. I'm not the only one who's attracted towards the fire. Two firemen come out with an ash-covered woman, who's in hysterics and clutching a crying toddler in her arms. I sort of butt my way into the situation, even getting past a few firemen who are telling others to stay away and that the situation is still very dangerous.

The two firemen are calming the mother down.

"I just called for an ambulance!" a random woman shouts.

Good. They'll be here in a few minutes. They can get checked out. I look at the smoke-choked complex. A few other tenants are slowly, blindly making their way out of their homes. Those in the complex are being herded together, guarded by two firemen who are doing their best to check everyone out.

One fireman is now at the complex's entrance, slowly pulling people out that find the exit.

"Emily is still in there!" cries the hysteric mother.

As if on cue, the flames roar and shoot up, scaring the crowd. The mother blubbers more and looks almost as though she'll pass out. One fireman is supporting her, but he looks like he may not be enough.

"Oh God, my baby!" the mother howls. "Please!"

"Where is she, ma'am?" asks the nearest firefighter.

"Second floor, Two-D. Oh, please! Please!"

"Josette," I hear Castiel beside me again. "Come on."

I look at him. "But her daughter—"

"They'll get her out."

I look towards the building. They might not. I see a fireman dive into the smoke entrance/exit. I watch with a racing heart. I know what I'm thinking. I know what my body is thinking. But I'm crazy. I've hated fires since I was little. I can't go in there. I'm not an angel. I could die. The firemen have equipment, I sure as hell don't.

Long minutes pass, and nobody else comes out. The flames are barely diminishing, and the mother's cries are getting worse with every second.

I almost body check people as I run for the apartment complex.

"Josette!" Castiel shouts.

"Ma'am, no, don't!" shouts a fireman.

But I'm already inside, and the smoke almost stings my eyes. I cover my mouth. If anyone's calling for me, I can't hear them. I spin around as I feel a blast of heat behind me.

Second floor, 2D. Second floor, 2D. I cough as I try to find a stairwell. As long as I find smoke, I'm fine. Flames will be an entirely different story.

I push through a door, finding what I need. Coughing, I scale up the stairs and burst onto the second floor. The smoke is heavier up here, thicker. I see patches of orange-red. Focus, Josette. Focus on Emily. Not the flames. No flashbacks. Emily.

I cup my hands around my mouth. "Emily!" I sift through the hall, trying to find 2D on a door. "Emily!" I use the wall, as the lightheadedness is starting to settle. "Emily!" I don't get a response, which scares me into finding her faster. Don't be dead. Don't be dead. Your mother is gonna be crushed. I can't hear the sirens outside over the roar of the flames.

I find it, 2D. I push open the door and scream. The source of the flames is here. Dear God. I cough more violently now, as more smoke is sneaking into my body.

"Emily!" My voice is no louder than a croak. I put myself to the ground and start crawling. The dizziness is growing. "Emily!"

As I turn around a couch, I see her. Her passed out, crumpled form. I scoop her up, holding her as close to my chest as possible. Shit. I can't crawl out with her, I'll drop her every move I take. Taking a massive risk, I get to my feet and shuffle her against me. Tottering, coughing, holding Emily, I stagger out of apartment 2D.

The smoke makes me feel like I'm in an endless fog. An endless, deadly fog. I'm blindly reaching to find the walls, find my way back to the stairs. Which way is the stairs? I turn, only making my dizziness worse.

"H-hang on, Emily," I rasp. "I'm gonna...get...you...to...your mother..."

With a shuddering cough, I collapse, accidentally crushing Emily in the process. No, come on, Josette. Fight. Fight like you have been your whole life. You can still save Emily. You can still save yourself. Come...on...

Panting, I try and maneuver Emily onto my back limply. Crawling is the best solution right now. Even on all fours, I'm swaying. Fight.

"Josette!" There's a figure through the smoke. I can't make out the details. Castiel couldn't have called Dean, could he? Or Sam? I'm straining to keep my eyes open. "Josette!"

I gasp, startled, as Castiel is suddenly level with me. "C-Castiel?"

"Come on." He coughs. I roll onto my side, gathering Emily in my arms. With herculean strength, Castiel picks up the both of us and stumbles towards the stairwell, nearly making us all tumble down the stairs once or twice.

We just barely make it out. Once we breach, hysteric crying, loud commotion, and sirens flood my ears. I cringe into Castiel, holding Emily tighter against me.

"Emily!" the hysteric mother yells. "Emily! Oh my God!"

Firemen and EMTs swarm us. Emily is pulled from my arms, and I'm pulled from Castiel's. We're all put into ambulances, I'm in one alongside Castiel. I'm sure Emily is in another with her family.

I loll my head to Castiel, who looks just as bad as I do. He saved me.

I can't win against the darkness, I let it cocoon around me and help me sleep.

* * *

I let out a loud gasp as I jolt awake. I hack, realizing that I'm in a hospital. Stuck in a gown. With little nubs in my nose to help me breathe. The heart monitor isn't afraid to tell how panicked I am, it's running as fast as my heart is telling it to. Sunlight peeks through the blinds of the window. It's still daylight, but I don't know if it's still the same day or not.

"Josette."

I turn my head to see Castiel in a neighboring hospital bed. "You..." I look around.

"We'll be out by tonight."

"I left my truck at the scene!" I wince at the inhale of air.

"We'll figure that out. How are you feeling?"

"Look at me and deduce, Sherlock." I touch the tube around my face. "Ugh."

"It's to help you breathe, don't take it off." I see Castiel has one around him too. "What were you thinking?"

"I had to do something." I shrug.

"Like commit suicide by smoke inhalation?"

I glare at him. "If I didn't find her, that little girl would've died."

"If I hadn't found you, you would've died."

I tilt my head. "Should I ask what you were thinking, then?"

"I don't think the Winchesters would approve of hearing from me that their only sister died in a fire. It would devastate them."

I shudder. Right. Our house fire that killed Mom. I can't imagine how that would hurt Sam and Dean if they learned I died from a fire. It would haunt them. Like mother, like daughter. The worst part about that is I look like Mom more than I've ever looked like Dad.

I cough. "Do they know?"

"They'll have to. Someone has to go get your truck."

I groan. "Fine. But let me tell them. They're my brothers, I should have the right."

"Then you have the right to tell them." There's a pause. "Even though you were stupid and reckless, you were brave at that complex."

"I didn't want the mother having to go through life with one less child." I shrug. "You were brave back there, too. I owe you, Castiel. For that."

"Josette—"

"I'm sure my brothers will too, when they hear about it. You saved my life. That shouldn't go unnoticed."

"Let's deal with that later," he waves it off. "For now, let's just focus on healing and then head back home."

My ears perk up. "'Home,' huh?"

"What?"

"You just said 'home.' You got that comfortable that fast?"

"The Winchesters have been like my home for a while now. It's not too ridiculous to feel that way with you too, Josette."

"Uh, yeah it is, Castiel. We've only known each other for, what, maybe a little over a week?" I wrinkle my nose. "Tell me that in a few years when we've gotten to know each other a little better."

He faintly smiles. "I'll remember to."

**Sureee, let's have a filler chapter that involves Josette trying to be a hero and end up having Cas save her ass. And you know, have her go into a fire.

She's our daring little Winchester. And I love her so much. And Cas.

Any ships, readers? Might still be early, but you never know.**