Chapter 7

Dean's arm was falling asleep.

He slowly turned onto his side, gently removing his arm from underneath Grace's neck. He sat up and turned to watch her sleep. He smiled as he watched her sigh softly. Last night had been everything he had imagined it to be, and he rolled his eyes at how much of a girl he was turning into. The sex was possibly he best sex he's ever experience in his long life. Dean idly wondered when Cas was going smite him for sullying his daughter. Dean rolled his eyes at that. His thought sounded ridiculous. He watched her for a moment longer, fighting the urge to run his fingers through her soft curls. He sighed as he felt the beginnings of desire start low in his stomach. He knew this wasn't his usual get some and get gone and that scared the hell out of him.

He reached for his jeans and his t-shirt, slid them on and made his way into the kitchen.

88

"I reached for you and you weren't there."

Dean froze as Grace's soft voice reached his ears. He glanced over his shoulder. She stood in the doorway, hair tousled and eyes sleepy. The silk robe she wore was loose and falling down her shoulder.

"Couldn't sleep." He explained holding up a beer bottle.

Grace nodded offering him a small hesitant smile. She sidled up toward him. "Are you alright?" She asked softly. She reached out and touched his arm.

Dean felt himself relax instantly, the calm asserting itself over him as if he had drank five beers instead of one. "I have to go see Bobby." He explained.

"Okay." She said with a nod and he didn't bother to fight his surprise.

Grace shrugged. "I knew it was coming sooner or later." she plucked the bottle from his fingers and took a tiny sip. "So, when do we leave?"

"We?" he repeated.

Grace gave him a look. "Yes we." She stressed. "You're still in danger, and I was given very strict orders from my superior to protect you."

Dean looked as though he was going to protest, but she shut him up with her lips on his own. Protests forgotten, Dean failed at holding in the groan of pleasure as his tongue brushed against her own.

She pulled away with a small sigh. "My grace will protect you."

Dean leaned his forehead against her own. "I can't convince you otherwise huh?"

Grace didn't answer, just simply brushed her hand on the front of his jeans, smiling at his large intake of breath. "Back to bed?" She suggested quietly.

Dean was already off of the stool, grabbing her hand as he pulled her down the hall toward the bedroom.

888

"Thank you so much for looking after Clem Ms. Bricks." Grace said as she handed over the cat bag.

Ms. Bricks smiled at Grace. "It's no trouble at all dear." She winked as she glanced over Grace's shoulder at Dean who was waiting impatiently in his baby. "It's nice to see you've opened up to someone."

Grace glanced over her shoulder with a small blush. "Yeah. Umm, I better go. Bye Clem." She said with a wave. The cat merely meowed a her.

88

To say the drive was a little awkward was the understatement of the year. Grace was feeling shy all of a sudden and Dean didn't seem like he was in the mood for small talk. She winced to herself as the loud rock music blasted in her ears. They were on I-90 now, driving for about an hour and a half and so far the only thing she had said to him was 'do you want some gum?'

She glanced over at him, smiling a bit as she watch him softly sing along to the music. He was in his element, she realized obviously happy to be on the road again. She was surprised at how happy she was for him. Before she knew what she was doing, she leaned against the seat and kissed him softly on the cheek.

Dean looked startled as he glanced at her. He grinned at her and pulled her in for a quick kiss on the lips. Grace smile widened and she glanced out at the long stretch of road. She blinked as she felt sudden exhaustion overtake her. She turned onto her side and closed her eyes, sighing as the loud music suddenly lowered.

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Grace stared out at the clear blue waters, a soft serene smile on her face. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back as she felt the warmth of the sun on her face.

"Grace."

She ignored the familiar buzzing of that soft firm voice. The water lapped at her toes and her smile widened from the coolness of it. Her eyes slowly opened and she blinked at the bright sun, a wholeness filling her. She smiled against the brightness of the sun, it's warmth heating her skin. Her smile slowly faded as a dark shadowed suddenly loomed over her, blocking out the sun. Terror suddenly filled her as she tried to see the face of the shadow above her, but she could see nothing but darkness. Her eyes widened as the shadowed figure's hand reached out to touch her.

Grace shot up from her troubled sleep with a loud gasp. She clutched her chest as she glanced around in panic, noticing that the car had stopped. They were in a gas station she realized and she glanced around again to try and spot Dean. She slipped out of the car and hurriedly made her way across the lot toward the bathroom.

She opened the door, thanking god that it was clean. She quickly closed it behind her and locked the door. She leaned against it and closed her eyes. She breathed in deep as she tried to calm her nerves. Her heart hammered against her chest so loudly she could hear it.

She shivered as the remnants of the dream touched the edges of her mind. Terror once again filled her and she fought the strong urge to call for her father. "Remember your training." She whispered out loud. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, trying to calm her frayed nerves. She breathed in and out for a few moments before she slowly felt herself relax.

She moved to switch the faucet on and placed her hands under running water. She rinsed her face off, sighing as the cold water hit her cheeks. She switched the water off and stared at herself in the mirror. The color had returned to her and her eyes looked less wild. She grabbed a napkin and patted down her face. "You're okay." She whispered to herself.

88

Dean was back at the car, pumping the gas and eating a burrito. He waved at her as she made her way over to him. "Hey." He said softly. "I got you some lunch. Hope you like chicken salad."

She smiled briefly at him as she climbed back into the impala. She did like chicken salad, but at the moment she didn't have an appetite. "Where are we?" She placed the salad in her lap and opened it. She picked at it for a few seconds before closing it with a sigh.

Dean glanced briefly at her. "Somewhere in Indiana." He answered as he started up the car and pulled out of the station.

She glanced at the time surprised to see that they had been driving for four hours now. "Sorry I slept so long."

Dean shrugged and smiled slightly. "No big deal." He said with a teasing tone. "You were up all night."

Grace felt herself flush at his innuendo and she huffed out a small laugh.

Dean's teasing smirk changed into an all out grin. He reached over and gently squeezed her thigh. "You okay?" He asked. "You seem a little down."

"I'm okay." She answered. She glanced out the window then back at him. "Tell me about Bobby."

If Dean noticed the sudden change of subject, he didn't show it. He smiled slightly as he spoke. "Bobby is like a father to me and Sammy…"

Grace let herself be calmed and lulled by the familiarity of Dean's deep soft voice. She asked questions here and there and it was clear that their was a deep love for the older man. She sucked up the familiar feeling and the tightness in her chest eased.

88

They were still in Indiana when it happened. Dean was in the middle of singing stairway to heaven when the car suddenly sputtered to halt.

"Dean…."

Dean frowned as he glanced over at Grace. "Okay." He said calmly. "This happens once every few years." He explained as he moved to turned the ignition. Nothing happened. He sighed heavily and tried again. The engine sputtered then died. He growled and slammed his fist against the dashboard. "Son of a bitch!"

Grace merely sighed and shrugged out of her jacket as the humid heat of the day began to seep into the car. "It's so hot." She said quietly. They were still in Indiana and the humidity was beginning to suffocate her. She put her hair up into a bun with a sigh, glancing over at Dean who was shrugging out of his own jacket with a few grumbled curses.

Dean tossed his jacket into the back and glanced over at her with a sigh. "Sorry."

Grace shrugged slightly. "It's perfectly fine to be frustrated."

Dean grimaced. "I'm beyond frustration." He said as leaned over and popped the hood. He climbed out as she started rolling her window down. She leaned back against the passenger seat with a small sigh as she watched Dean lift the hood.

88

"Why does Michael want us to meet all the way out in the desert?" Haniel complained. "I've got sand in my shoes."

"Time and again you forget you can avoid the sand in your shoes." Jophiel said with amusement. "I think the desert is beautiful." Jophiel said.

"You think everything is beautiful." Zadkiel said with a small smile.

Jophiel shrugged. "Of course brother. It was why I was created."

"Perhaps Michael just likes to feel the sun on his face." Zadkiel offered.

"Then perhaps we should have had this meeting on the sun." Zachariah said snidely.

Jophiel rolled her eyes and glanced expectantly at the place Michael just appeared. "Brother." She greeted.

"Jophiel." Michael greeted with a small tilt of his head. He glanced out at the other archangels. "Hello brothers."

"Michael," Zachariah started. "What is the meaning of this council exactly?"

"Something is happening here on earth." He answered glancing at his brothers. "Something dangerous." He turned to face his brothers. "Jeremial has had a vision."

The Archangels all tensed in surprise.

"What of?" Jophiel asked.

Michael put his back toward his brothers. "That which we do not name."

Zachariah's dour expression changed to that of amusement. "That?" He spat. He huffed out an amusing laugh. "That blasphemous fool has been buried in the depths of hell for over two thousand years."

Michael turned, his eyes a blazing gold. "You dare question the gift our father has given to our brother?"

Zachariah raised his hands. "No questioning here Michael. I'm just wondering if this is the wisest-"

"Zachariah!" Chamuel admonished.

Michael glared hard at his brother as he spoke. "Everyone will return to the host. Continue your assigned duties. Stay on alert for my word."

"What will you do Michael?" Jophiel asked.

Michael blinked once and turned his back to his brothers once again as he answered. "The impossible." He answered. "I'm going to find Raziel."

TBC