A Familiar Face

Days seemed to crawl across the calendar, the sun and moon rising and falling behind the horizon without anyone to gaze upon its beautiful dance. The earth is constantly painted in greys and blues, misty summer air hanging through the streets like a thick fog. (y/n) leans back into the warm leather seats of the parked truck the pair brought along their trip to Colorado, soft fingers pushing back the messy (h/c) locks of hair in her face. Just waking up from her short nap, she finds herself trying to recall the details of the mission they set out on. She remembers Dean contacting a fellow hunter on a whim, finding out that there was a man named Emmanuel who passed all of the monster tests and still healed his deteriorating vision. It was a story that seemed too good to be true. A story they knew they couldn't pass up. Turning to the left, her (e/c) eyes meet the sharp features of Dean's profile, her heart aching for the anxious looking hunter

"Sam is going to be okay, Dean. We'll fix him" She gently reassures him, hand reaching out to comfort him through the warm touch of her palm against his shoulder, "I have a good feeling about this"

"But-" He sighs, freckled face turning to face hers as his vulnerability slowly peeks through the cracks in his armor, "-what if you're wrong? What if Sam never gets better? (y/n), I put that soul back into him. If he dies...that's on me!"

"Dean, look at me-" She places a gentle hand onto the side of his face, palm tickled by the dark stubble on his cheek as she shifts his gaze back up to her own, "-there aren't any 'ifs', alright? We'll do everything we can to make sure he gets better. Sam's not going to die, not on our damn watch"

"You really are our sister now, aren't you?" He chuckles lightly, a tired smirk pulling at his soft pink lips as he speaks. (y/n) smiles

"You know it, Winchester" She leans back into her own seat, eyeing the small home behind the slightly smudged window behind the hunter, "Ready to meet the man of the hour?"

"As ready as i'll ever be"

"Then let's get this show on the road"

Hopping out from the truck, boots planting themselves firmly into the gravel driveway of the small suburban home, the pair find themselves standing side by side just before the patio. The red door in front of them seems more daunting than before, glass windows beside the wooden frame closed off by a pair of soft looking curtains. Bushes of daisy's line each side of the concrete steps, pale yellow flowers swaying through the cool breeze passing through. Something about the scene felt off. It was all too normal for the hunter's liking

"We should knock" (y/n) states it plainly, (e/c) eyes never leaving the door in front of them. Dean nods, awkward smile pulling at his lips

"Ladies first"

"I hate you"

"Love you too, Tweets"

Walking up the small stone stairs to the pristine patio, (y/n) takes nervous steps towards the door. Hand clenched into a fist, she gently places her knuckles upon the cool wooden surface. Glancing back anxiously at Dean who gives her a goofy looking thumbs-up in response, she finally pulls back her hand and knocks softly onto the door. (y/n) can hear the sound echo inside. A few nail-biting minutes pass before she feels goosebumps rise on her (s/c) skin, hearing a deep voice call out to the pair from inside.

"Wait a second-" Dean mumbles quietly to himself, green eyed gaze focused intensely on the red door in front of them, "That sounded a lot like..."

Suddenly, the door swings open, the pair stepping back to stare in wide eyed shock at the form appearing before them from behind it. There, wearing an outfit resembling that of a father hosting some type of holiday party, stood a man they thought they'd never see again. At least, not in this lifetime.

"Cas?" Dean calls out the familiar name, single word slipping past his lips as he stares in disbelief. The angel tilts his head to the side, baby blue eyes almost glowing beneath the sun as he furrows his eyebrows at the pair

"Who?"

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"What did you two say your names were?"

(y/n) and Dean sit awkwardly on the cream colored sofa against the window, the Phoenix finding comfort in the embroidered yellow pillow she held against her stomach. Dean, taking a moment to fully process the question, clears his throat nervously

"Us? Oh, uh, I'm Dean Winchester" He reaches over the small birch wood coffee table, shaking Castiel's hand quickly

"I'm (y/n)...Winchester" She adds softly, mirroring the hunters actions and gently shaking the man's hand. Castiel smiles lightly at their answers, standing with his hands tucked into his pants pockets as he glances between them

"Oh, you're married?"

"No!" The pair both accidentally shout out their answers, nervously glancing towards each other before Dean is quick to explain to the amused looking man before them

"We're actually family. Big brother, little sister type deal"

"I apologize for assuming-" Castiel chuckles lightly, a strange sight to witness for the pair, "-is there anything I can get you two? Perhaps a beverage or something to eat?"

"That's really very nice-" (y/n) declines the offer politely, gentle features bringing a fond smile to Castiel's stubbled face, "-but we were actually hoping you could help us"

"We heard that you can heal people up." Dean adds, his voice hinting at his discomfort as he tries to avoid meeting the angel's gaze.

Castiel nods quietly to himself, taking in the pair's poorly hidden plea for help, and sits down into the small chair beside the Phoenix. Folding his hands together, he stares at the pair through crystal blue eyes, soft lips pulled into a gentle smile. (y/n) can't help but feel her heart warm slightly at the sight, recalling the haunting memories of a monster she once knew who died trying to play God.

"I seem to be able to help to a certain degree-" He explains professionally, almost comforting gaze never leaving the pair as he speaks, "-what's your issue?"

"Our brother...he's dying-" Dean answers through clenched teeth, (y/n) reaching over to rest a hand upon his knee to console the frustrated man before finishing for him

"-And we think you can fix him"