based off 11.06

our little world

~*~

1 Week Later

Juno sat at the kitchen table quietly as Sam and Dean were gearing up for a hunt. At first it was a little hard to grasp the monster part of their jobs, but once they explained what was happening with the world, she understood. So, it was her and Castiel locked up in the bunker while Sam and Dean were going on a hunt.

"It's not gonna be too long, just stay here with Cas while we're gone," Dean said as he packed bullets. "You're both going through a rough patch, maybe bond over that."

"Bond over our misery?" Juno asked raising an eyebrow.

"Sure," Dean nodded. He zipped his bag shut, Juno looking over at him as he turned to her. "Have fun." Juno nodded slightly, Sam and Dean leaving for their hunt. They had heard of Amara killing more people so they were out to investigate. Juno, on the other hand, had been staying with them for the past week.

They'd taught her of basically everything they know. They had also told her who killed her sister, then right after informed her that Dean murdered their entire family. Juno didn't know whether or not to be impressed, satisfied, or mad that she didn't do it. But revenge aside, they were treating her like family already.

Except for Castiel. He seemed on edge most of the time. His eyes were always blood shot, and he rarely came out of his room. Juno had no business trying to find out what was going on with him, but she was sure it was bad. From what she heard, he had to be a little messed up at this point.

But no one really knew how to deal with Cas. They were just letting him heal on his own. And he found his healing through Jenny Jones re-runs. Juno found that out when she passed his room that morning and he was complaining about how a man was completely under qualified for parent hood.

Of course she found it a bit hilarious that an angel was watching re-runs of Jenny Jones and actually critiquing it, but it's not like she could do anything about it. She herself was still trying to comprehend the loss of her sister. By now she'd accepted it, but she still felt horrible that she hadn't found out sooner. She didn't even get to say goodbye.

"You know, Mom and Dad still ask about you all the time," Juno said as she sat at the counter. Charlie looked over at her, narrowing her eyes at Juno. "Well, not Mom and Dad mom and dad, but the other ones."

"Because they're scared I've rode off into the sunset with another woman and left them behind," Charlie joked as she poured Juno a drink. "Which I have not."

"Hey, any girl would be pretty lucky to have a weirdo dork like you," Juno said with a light smile.

"You just have to say that because you're my sister," Charlie said narrowing her eyes at Juno.

"Still older and I expect you to be more mature," Juno said as she stood from her chair.

"Yet you feel the need to visit me nonstop since you've been home," Charlie said tilting her head at Juno.

"Well it's been ten years, I figured that I'd just check in," Juno said as she rounded the counter.

"Hey, maybe since I can't find someone to date, we can find you someone to date," Charlie suggested as Juno pulled out a bag of pretzels from the cabinet. "That's my food."

"Mine now," Juno said as she jumped on the counter. "And no. What if I get deployed again? I wouldn't want to just leave my man hanging. Plus, I would live with the constant fear that he could be cheating on me."

"I would personally make sure he doesn't cheat on you," Charlie promised with a smile.

"What would I do without you?" Juno asked smiling at Charlie. Charlie laughed slightly, taking a sip of her drink.

*****

Juno walked down the hallway as she was waiting for a call from Dean. They always seemed to check in a few hours after they start their hunt, so she was expecting a call any minute. Like clock work, Juno's phone began ringing. She picked it up immediately, noticing it as Dean's voice. Didn't even give her a chance to say hello.

"Hey, you talked to Cas yet? He isn't picking up his phone," Dean said quickly.

"He left his phone in the kitchen when he got breakfast for a brief thirty seconds then went back to his room," Juno informed him.

"What's he been doing since then?" Dean asked.

"Sitting in his room watching Jenny Jones re-runs," Juno said glancing at Cas's door.

"Okay, well, give him the phone. I need to talk to him," Dean said. Juno sighed, knocking on Cas's door lightly. He looked over, Juno holding up her phone.

"It's Dean," she said handing it to him. Cas took it, furrowing his eyebrows as he slowly brought the phone to his ears.

"Hello?" he asked. As he was talking, Juno looked over at the TV. "She's just about to announce the paternity results." Juno glanced at Cas, wondering if he was even listening to Dean.

"You are the father," Jenny announced. Juno scoffed, rolling her eyes as Cas did the same.

"Jenny, he is not ready to be a father," he said in an exasperated tone. Juno glanced at Cas as he was now actually listening to Dean, the girl being able to hear Dean actually ordering Cas to do something. Was the angel really ready? "Here's your phone." Juno looked over at Cas, taking it quickly.

"Did he ask you to get back out there?" she asked standing up from the bed.

"Yes," Cas nodded as he began standing from his spot. He turned the TV off, grabbing his suit jacket, tie, and trench coat. "I think you'll be fine. There's plenty for you to do here. Plus you can leave seeing as nothing is hunting you."

"That seems reasonable, but you don't look ready to get back out in the field," Juno said as Cas walked past her. She began following him through the hall as he began putting his tie on.

"It doesn't matter. Dean needs my help," Cas said. He finished the tie knot, then pulled on his suit jacket.

"Yeah, but Dean doesn't know that you look like you're high on bath salts," Juno followed up. Cas paused, turning and looking at her confused. "Have you looked in a mirror?"

"It doesn't matter, I'm an angel," he told her.

"An angel that has PTSD, if I must remind you. An angel that also got the living hell beat out of him not too long ago," Juno said. Castiel ignored her, pulling on his trench coat.

"I'm fine. I can help Sam and Dean," he told her. She watched as Cas began climbing the stairs, stopping at the top. She furrowed her eyebrows as he slowly walked to the rail, gripping it tightly. She walked around to look up at him, then watched as Cas looked at her.

"You're fine, huh?"

*****

Juno grabbed the ice pack from the fridge, wrapped it in a paper towel, then began walking back towards Cas's room. He was sitting on the bed watching the news this time. Juno frowned slightly, but walked forward.

"Here," she said holding out the ice pack. Cas eyed it for a second, then took it. "You're burning up, put it on your forehead." Cas slowly moved the ice pack to his forehead, Juno watching as he seemed confused.

"I don't understand," Cas said furrowing his eyebrows.

"You don't look too good, so I figured you could use it," Juno told him as she began walking towards the door. She watched as his face dropped, a frown taking place on her face. "I'll be back in..." She trailed off as the news got her attention.

"Up next, a very upsetting story out of Omaha," the newswoman said. Juno slowly sat on the bed, leaning forward. "A downtown bar fight escalated tragically last night. And 'OWW2 news' brings you an exclusive video of the event. The footage you're about to view is extremely graphic." The two watched as two men were fighting, the camera man zooming out and getting a glimpse of himself int he mirror. Cas paused the story, going back. Juno looked at him confused as he paused right on the reflection of the man.

"We need to go," he said standing up and setting the ice on the table.

"What? 'We'?" Juno asked with wide eyes.

"Yes, we. You were in the army? You can use this if you need to," Cas said handing Juno an angel blade.

"I'm sorry, but Dean called for your help and-"

"Juno, this is very important. You need to trust me on this," Cas persuaded her. She shifted uncomfortably, then sighed.

"God dammit," Juno muttered. She turned, walking out of the room. "One minute!" Cas nodded slowly, watching as she went down to her own room.

*****

"Alright, he should be here," Cas said as the two began getting out of Juno's car.

"And this guy took your grace?" she asked looking over at Cas.

"He's also a, what Dean would say, 'dick'," Cas explained with a slight nod.

"Perfect, love those guys," Juno said as she glanced down the alley. She and Cas began walking towards some noise, noticing it to be Metatron himself talking to a man bleeding out on the ground, a gun not too far away. Juno slowly bent down, inspecting it closely. She then turned as Cas was still walking towards Metatron. He stopped, Juno walking up next to him.

"But I'm not that guy anymore. I can't save you," Metatron told the man bleeding out on the ground.

"I can," Cas stated. Metatron turned his eyes widening at the sight of the angel.

"How did you find me?" he asked.

"Same way you found him," Cas said walking to the man. "Scoured the police scanners, got ahead of the authorities." Juno watched as he healed the man easily, her eyes widening. She then noticed Metatron filming the whole thing.

"What was that?" the man asked looking up at Cas. Juno glared over at Metatron as he shrugged.

"What?" he questioned. She began advancing on him, Metatron beginning to back up. "Look, a real-life angel caught on tape? That is way better than some random homicide." Juno grabbed the camera, throwing it to the ground. "Hey!" Cas looked over then, standing and walking towards them as well. "Look, girl! Do you have any idea how much stuff I had to steal and then pawn to pay for that?!" She tilted her head at him, then the three turned as a police car began pulling up. Cas grabbed Juno, pulling her out of the cops line of sight. Before they could duck out, she grabbed Metatron and pulled him with them.

Cas lead Metatron all the way to a warehouse, walking inside and throwing him to the ground. Juno watched carefully as Cas jumped down, walking towards the angel.

"Okay, 'Marv'," Cas said looking at Metatron's hat. "You're picking pockets, leaving a man to die. I-I -- I don't know what I expected, but this is disappointing."

"One to talk," Metatron said rubbing his shoulder. "You chose the life of a wage slave, slinging slurpees for, what, a month? And I didn't realize you were into human partners now." Metatron nodded at Juno who narrowed her eyes at the angel on the ground. He stood up, facing Castiel then. "I am in it to win it. I was at zero when you took my Grace, hiding from angels, not a cent to my name. But I found my calling, and I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and started a business. And, you know, my story has only just begun."

"What story is that?" Juno asked walking forward slowly.

"You're preying like a vulture on human tragedy," Cas said as he was circling Metatron.

"Oh! Castiel!" Metatron said in an exasperated voice. "What century are you in? Religion is dead! The novel? Deader. You think I'm ashamed for dealing in fleeting visual sensation, in gift-length glimpses of horror, waste, and degradation?! No! I just caught up with the times. Reality is the great literature of our era, and I am out there, on the streets, every single night, capturing it! I am reality's author."

"That was a very ridiculous and redundant way of saying you're a blogger," Juno said crossing her arms.

"Save your story," Cas followed up. "It is not what I came for."

"Oh. So... Straight to business. You want the Demon Tablet?" Metatron asked raising an eyebrow. "Well, you're not gonna get it. I have hidden it very carefully in a place where you and your friends --" Juno rolled her eyes, beginning to pull it out of her inside jacket pocket.

"You hid it," she paused, holding it up to him, "-under your mattress."

"The TV station gave us your address, and w-we checked the place out," Cas said as he took the tablet and put it in his coat. "You realize you have bedbugs?"

"You broke into my apartment?" Metatron asked in an offended tone.

"Who was the one that just robbed a man and was going to leave him dead on the ground?" Juno asked raising an eyebrow at Metatron. He opened his mouth to respond, then realized there wasn't really anything he could say.

"What do you know about the Darkness?" Cas asked as he began walking towards Metatron.

"The band?" he asked. Cas took another step forward, Metatron giving in. "Okay. Uh...Sometimes during late-night writing sessions, when God was deep in his cups, he may have let slip a few choice words. But... I don't have to tell you anything."

"Are you forgetting?" Cas asked. He grabbed Metatron by the collar and slammed him against a row of shelves. "You are human now, and I could crush you like a bug."

"Could, but you won't. "You think I didn't notice?" Metatron asked raising an eyebrow. "You are broken, Castiel. You were always a bit of a Nancy, but this? You have gone full wuss. I don't know what it was that happened, but whatever it was, you are scarred...deep, paralyzed by trauma, by fear." Cas stepped back, looking a bit confused now. Juno stood up straight as she began walking towards the two slowly. "I mean, look at you. You can't even hit me!" Cas shook his head slowly, then brought his hand up and punched Metatron across the face.

"It's not fear," Cas said grabbing Metatron's collar.

"Cas-" He didn't listen to her as he punched Metatron again, then threw him through some glass. Juno slightly winced, but watched as Cas kept pursuing on Metatron. "Cas, he's human now. Maybe... I don't know, ease up a bit?"

"Juno, you don't know what he's done," Cas said looking at her.

"That is a fair point, but-"

"Look, you're already fighting like a couple," Metatron grunted out. Juno and Cas exchanged a look, Juno holding an arm out.

"Yeah, have at it," she said stepping back. Cas jumped down from the ledge, pulling Metatron up and punching him again.

"The Darkness -- what do you know?" Cas asked tilting his head at Metatron.

"Okay. So I misjudged," Metatron said as he still struggled to stand. "You're not scared. You're mad. And I get it. I mean, it must suck being everyone's tool, manipulated and used by the angels, by your enemies, by your friends." Metatron tried standing, but Castiel kicked him, causing him to stumble back. Juno slightly flinched, wincing at how much that probably hurt. "You thought if you could get your Grace back, it would help fix you, but it hasn't!" Cas punched him again, Metatron letting out another yell.

"The Darkness," Cas demanded.

"Who do you have to thank for how angry you are, how lost?" Metatron remarked, ignoring Cas's demands. Which only caused Castiel to punch him in the face once again. Metatron stumbled from the angels grip, falling into a piece of machinery. "You're welcome." Cas stepped forward, grabbing one of Metatron's collars. Cas punched him again, Juno shaking her head. She watched as Cas repeatedly punched Metatron in the face, the fallen one looking a lot worse as Cas stopped. "Go on, Castiel. End me." Juno's eyes widened as she looked at Cas. He hesitated as he looked at his bloodied knuckles.

"No," he stated. He dropped Metatron to the ground, Juno let out a small sigh as she jumped down to where they were standing. She began walking towards them slowly as Metatron seemed to begin to cave.

"Oh, please, Castiel," he cried, "Help me."

"You said you were happy," Juno said hesitantly. "Your.... 'bootstraps.'"

"I was faking it. I mean, I thought, 'how -- how hard could it be?'" Metatron stated as he was shaking his head. "I can't take any more -- not a single human day. I mean... The indignities -- they just don't stop -- make-- making my rent and keeping my phone charged... Hemorrhoids." Juno furrowed her eyebrows as Cas crouched down to Metatron's level.

"You were right, Metatron. I am sick of having my strings pulled, which is why I won't let you manipulate me into letting you off easy," Cas said shaking his head. Metatron shook his head again, a sob escaping his lips. "Tell me about the Darkness."

"The truth -- ha -- it'd make the Bible thumper heads explode," Metatron said shaking his head. "I mean, they want their God to be a-a f-finger-snapping, all-powerful creator, you know... And they want magic... Mary Poppins." Juno and Cas exchanged a look before looking back at Metatron. "But what he did -- creation... that took work. Took sacrifice. In order to create the world, God had to give up the only thing he'd ever known. He had to betray and sacrifice his only kin. The Darkness... His sister." Cas let go of Metatron, standing up straight as he stared down at the fallen angel. "Now please, please just end it."

"No," Juno said stepping forward. "You say you're miserable being a human? Then we're going to let that continue." Metatron looked over at her, tears streaming down his face now. "I know that our friends won't like it, but as far as I'm concerned they're not here. Now, you can either pull up your bootstraps and get on with it." Metatron looked over at Juno, but he only grunted in response. "Alright... Let's go Cas."

*****

Juno stood across from Sam and Dean at the map table as Cas had his back turned to everyone. Dean was infuriated that the two had let Metatron go, but he didn't fully understand yet.

"Look, guys, I'm as glad as anyone that Stella got her groove back, okay? But you let Metatron go?" Dean asked looking between the two.

"Dean, how many times are you gonna repeat that question?" Castiel asked, annoyed.

"I'm gonna say it again. You let Metatron go!" Dean yelled.

"He's not going anywhere," Cas said turning back to Dean. "If he makes a move, if he draws the slightest attention, the full force of angelkind will snuff him out."

"Look, you -- neither of you saw him. He is a human, a quite pitiable one in fact," Juno said unfolding her arms. "He's not a threat to us."

"I-I mean, I put him in traction," Cas said shaking his head.

"Guys, bigger fish to fry here," Sam said pulling back to more important matters. "Amara is in the wind."

"Yeah, God's freaking sister," Juno muttered shaking her head.

"You said you were close," Cas said looking over at Dean. "Dean, how'd she get away?"