based off 12.09

first blood

~*~

Castiel looked at Juno as she was still sleeping soundly on the seat, her head leaned on his thigh. He'd driven all the way back to the motel, only to see that it was completely deserted. Like no one was ever there. He sighed, getting out of the car to call Mary. After a few rings, she picked up.

"Mary, where are you?" Castiel questioned.

"I-- I, uh... Lawrence, Kansas. Cas, what's wrong?" Mary asked him.

"Uh, uuh... well, I-I need you to meet me at the bunker," Cas said with a sigh. He turned, climbing back into the truck. As on instinct, Juno brought her head back up, leaning it against Castiel again. He smiled lightly, then began driving back to the bunker. By the time he'd gotten there, Mary was already inside waiting. Castiel slowly pulled Juno out of the car, carrying her into the bunker. Mary looked up at them, her eyes slightly widening.

"What happened to her?" she asked beginning to follow Castiel towards Juno's room.

"She drank," Cas answered with a sigh. "So I made her sober. Sadly, it's had some after affects."

"How long has she been asleep?" Mary asked.

"Seven hours," Castiel said as he set Juno down on the bed. He draped a blanket over her body, then stepped out. "We need to talk."

*****

"You left them!" Mary shouted as she was pacing.

"No, I... Dean told me to go," Cas stuttered out. "The woman--"

"The one you lost?" Mary questioned as she faced Castiel.

"I didn't. I... I thought that she--"

"Stop making excuses!" Mary yelled at him. Castiel looked down shamefully, Mary letting out a heavy sigh. "Why... if they needed help, why didn't they call me?"

"You were out," Castiel answered her.

"How did we let this happen, Castiel?" Mary asked folding her arms over her chest.

"We?" They both turned to see Juno standing in the doorway. "I'm sorry, you clocked out. There's no we in this situation."

"Juno-"

"Save the mother voice for your kids. That ain't us. Now do you want to yell at Castiel and I some more, or do you want to figure out a way to get Sam and Dean out of prison?" Juno asked taking a few steps forward. Mary went silent, Juno nodding in approval. "Alright, then. I'll start working with my connections." The two watched as Juno turned and walked into the library, the work beginning.

*****

Two weeks. It'd been two weeks since Sam and Dean were taken. Getting them back and getting in seemed to be the problem. Juno was beginning to cave to defy every oath she'd ever taken. Breaking the law was out of the question, she just needed to break the trust that her own colleagues had with her as a soldier. Only enough time to talk to Sam and Dean.

"For the last time, no," Castiel argued with Juno.

"Cas, it won't be for that long. A fifteen minute meeting with both of them. Ask them a few questions, get the intel that we need," Juno argued with Cas. They were currently in a small diner, arguing over whether or not Juno should go back undercover to speak with Sam and Dean. Castiel, of course, didn't like it. But, it was all they had.

"And what if you get caught?" Castiel asked tilting his head at Juno.

"If I get caught, I get caught. You'd just have to get out Sam and Dean and me," Juno said with a slight shrug.

"We can't worry about getting you all out if you get caught. They'd know we're onto them and we can't risk that," Castiel said narrowing his eyes at Juno.

"But it's possible to get us all out. If not, then we'll figure out a way from the inside. You have to let me go, Cas-"

"I said no!" The diner almost went silent, Juno leaning back as the two stared at each other. Juno let out a small sigh as she shut her eyes.

"You know, sometimes it really sucks that you're practically attached to me," Juno seethed at him. She pulled out her wallet, slamming a twenty on the table. "You can go meet with Crowley alone." Cas screwed his eyes shut as Juno stood and walked out of the restaurant. Faintly, he heard the rumble of Juno's car fade away. He collected himself as all eyes on him. Castiel stood, walking out to his truck and heading to meet up with Crowley.

*****

It'd been a little over a month since Sam and Dean were taken into custody by the government. There wasn't any news report over it, no sightings of Sam or Dean escaping, and no talk of psychopath brothers. Castiel and Juno hadn't talked in two weeks, which was beginning to bother him.

But he knew she was only working cases. He knew that much. Working cases and still trying to get back in touch with the President. Of course, he still wasn't accepting many meetings and was now back in D.C. Which was even more heavily guarded than the place in Indianapolis. Now, Castiel was called by Mary Winchester for a meet up.

"Thanks for meeting me," Mary said glancing at Castiel. "I just wanted to say... I'm sorry. I was angry, and... Sam and Dean, that's not your fault."

"No, you were right. I should never have left them. I... Have you heard anything?" Castiel asked to avoid the rest of his sentence.

"All my law enforcement contacts are retired, or... dead," Mary confessed with a sigh. "I'm trying, but... You?" Castiel shook his head sadly, Mary looking down at her hands. "I keep telling myself they're fine. They've only been gone--"

"Six weeks, two days, and ten hours," Castiel said cutting Mary off. She looked at him, nodding slowly.

"We'll find them, Castiel. We will. Until then, we just... We're doin' our best," Mary said looking at Castiel.

"Are we? Did you hear about the murders in Lancaster, Missouri?" Castiel questioned Mary.

"No," Mary answered.

"The women with their throats ripped out, the blood drained?" Castiel questioned again.

"Vampire," Mary sighed as she closed her eyes.

"I saw it on the news and I thought, that's the sort of thing Sam and Dean would investigate. They would roll into town, save the day, kill the monsters," Castiel said as he could imagine it in front of him. "But with them gone... I tried to work the case. I tried. But... I don't know what I did wrong. I... I asked questions, but maybe they were the wrong people, or the wrong questions, and I just-- I never found it. Never found the monster. Never even got close. And three more women died before I left town. Before I ran away."

"Where's Juno?" Mary asked looking at Castiel. He only looked at his hands as he sighed.

"He and I came to a disagreement a month ago, I haven't talked to her or seen her since," Castiel answered. "I left her a voicemail to follow up on it, and since I have the murders have stopped."

"So, she's acknowledging you," Mary stated. "She solved the case, thanks to you." Castiel sighed slightly as he nodded. "Have you thought about maybe asking to meet with her to apologize."

"I don't think she wants to see me," Castiel said shaking his head.

"How do you know that?" Mary asked him. He looked at her, shaking his head once more.

"Trust me, I know."

*****

Castiel sat in the library of the bunker, only the lamp light illuminating the room. He had given up on ways to find Sam and Dean. He hadn't seen Juno for a month, and Mary had gone out on a different hunt that they'd found. She offered for Castiel to join her, but he declined. He clicked on the voicemail on his phone, the voice being Mary's.

"Castiel, it's me. I'm just calling to... You don't have to worry about that thing in Ohio. I'm handling it," Mary said. The voicemail stopped, Castiel turning off his phone. He rubbed his face in frustration, leaning his elbows on the table. The door to the bunker opened and closed, Castiel standing to face it. He paused when he noticed it was Juno walking down the stairs. She looked over at him, setting her bag and jacket on the table. She grabbed her phone, turning and walking into the kitchen without a word. Castiel sighed, sitting back down at the table. Footsteps approached the table, a beer now set in front of Castiel. Juno sat across from him, opening hers and taking a drink.

"I talked with the president," Juno stated. Cas looked up at her as Juno was staring at one of the bookshelves. "He said he didn't remember anything. Then he asked me to tell him what happened. The only thing I told him about was Kelly." Castiel remained quiet as Juno took another drink. "He seemed very... mad. Mad at himself. A-And I was walking out of the White House itself after our meeting, and I had to stop and take a second. He said, 'I've lost once, now I've lost again. But, this life is meant to be lived, so I must move on. Even if it hurts.'" Castiel looked up at Juno as she had a soft expression on her face. "And Cas, it hurt so damn much being away from you for a month."

"Juniper..."

"It felt like there was a constant ache in my chest. A little voice constantly in my head, yelling at me to just talk to you. But by then I was too mad. Mad at myself," Juno said shaking her head. Castiel frowned as tears began to sting Juno's eyes. "I'm sorry, Castiel. I shouldn't have gotten mad, this isn't a time to be mad. Especially with Sam and Dean gone."

"Juniper, you don't have to apologize," Castiel told her.

"No, I do," she said looking up at him. "Not because I feel obligated to, but because I want to. This guilt that I could've hurt you, and it could've been the last words I said to you... It was too much. So, I came back to tell you I'm sorry."

"I apologize as well," Castiel said.

"No, Cas-"

"Juniper," he said grabbing her hand. She took a sharp breath, looking up at him. "I am sorry. I... I should not have yelled at you. You came up with a plan to help Sam and Dean, and I wasn't thinking about how it could help us. I was thinking about you and what would happen to you if your plan didn't work." Castiel took a deep breath as he collected his thoughts. "This... immense feeling I have for you, it's not something I have ever felt before. It is, maybe, what humans call love." Juno look up at his words as she furrowed her eyebrows at him. "Juniper, I love you."

"Y-You... What?" Juno asked. Castiel let out a small laugh as he stood and walked around the table. Juno stood as well, Castiel placing his hands on her face.

"I couldn't tell what it was, and I had no one to talk to about it. Then, I spoke with Mary earlier and... I realized that I love you," Castiel told her. "Not because you are my charge, but because you've only always been great to me. I've met three loyal humans in my lifetime: Sam, Dean, and you."

"Dean kind of worries me in this equation," Juno said with a small laugh.

"Yes, he may be my other charge, but, Juniper, you've been by my side more than anyone ever has," Cas said with a small sigh. "Last year, when you showed up for the first time, when you helped me out of my bad time, I knew. I couldn't see it at first, but you are a spark in my life. And now I know, I love you." Juno leaned forward, kissing Castiel passionately. Slowly, she pulled back, leaning her forehead against his.

"I love you, too, Castiel," she whispered. Castiel kissed her again, moving his hands down to her waist. They made their way into Juno's room, Castiel laying her back on the bed. She pulled off his trench coat and jacket, her hands beginning to work on his tie. Castiel ran his hands under Juno's shirt, beginning to pull it off over her head. The sudden ring of Cas's cell phone made both of them pause. Castiel sighed, crawling off the bed and walking towards the library. The ringing stopped, then Cas appeared in the doorway again. The ringing started up again, both of them groaning. As Castiel walked back to the library, Juno pulled her shirt back over her head. Castiel picked up the phone, completely annoyed now.

"What?" he answered. Juno walked in, setting his jacket and trench coat on the table in front of him.

"Cas," Dean said from the other line.

"Dean?" Cas questioned with wide eyes. Juno turned to him quickly as Cas looked at her.

"Hey, buddy. Long time," Dean said with a smile.

"What... What happened? Wh-- where are you?" Castiel asked him quickly.

"You wouldn't believe me, and I have no clue," Dean said looking around his surroundings. "Okay, looks like we're in Colorado."

"In Rocky Mountain National Park. Uh, if we head north we should hit State Route thirty-four. Eventually," Sam's voice rang out.

"Did you get that?" Dean asked.

"Yes," Castiel answered.

"All right, meet us there," Dean said.

"Wait, where?" Castiel asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"Just drive along the road and you'll see us. And, Cas... We're kinda on the clock here," Dean informed him.

"Wait, what does that..." Cas paused as Dean had hung up, then he looked at Juno. She shoved his coats at him, turning and walking into the war room. She grabbed her jacket and keys, the two leaving the bunker.

*****

"Call Mary. Tell her to meet us at the closest Gas N Sip," Juno said glancing over at Castiel. He nodded, pulling his phone out and clicking Mary's number.

"Castiel?" Mary answered.

"Mary, Sam and Dean called me. They're in Colorado and they need us to meet them along-"

"Slow... Slow down," Mary told him. "What?"

"Sam and Dean are in Colorado," Castiel informed her. "They're heading north to route 34 in the Rocky Mountain National Park. They need us to meet them there."

"Oh, God," Mary sighed out.

"Speaker," Juno said. Cas held the phone out, tapping the speaker button. "Hey, Mary. Meet us at the diner across from the Gas N Sip just outside Lebanon. We need to get going as soon as possible. They warned us that we have a time limit."

"Got it," Mary said. The line beeped, Castiel pocketing his phone. Maybe an hour later, Castiel and Juno were in the parking lot of the diner. Mary pulled up, both of them getting out. They approached the car, Castiel leaning into the window.

"You got here quickly," he stated.

"Yep. What do you think we're walking into?" Mary asked him as she was loading a gun.

"I don't know," Castiel answered. He got in the front seat, Juno opening the back door and getting in. "We may want backup. Crowley and Rowena?"

"The King of Hell and his mother, the witch?" Mary scoffed. "Hope we can do better than that."

"I may have an idea," Castiel said slightly hesitant.

"Good," Mary said pulling her seat belt over her. "Seat belt on. I drive fast." Both Juno and Castiel pulled on their seat belts, Mary speeding out of the parking lot.

*****

"This is your idea?" Mary asked approaching Juno and Castiel. "The people that almost killed my boys? They're gonna be our backup? Suddenly the demon and his mommy don't look so bad."

"They helped us with Lucifer," Juno told her.

"Lucifer? The Lucifer?" Mick asked.

"Yes," Castiel answered.

"Wait, so you're telling me what happened in Indianapolis was you took on the bleedin' devil himself?" Mick asked in a shocked tone.

"Yes," Castiel answered.

"Did you win?" Ketch asked.

"Yes," Castiel answered. Mick and Ketch looked at each other, sharing a surprised yet impressed look.

"Bravo," Ketch told them.

"But, since Lucifer decided to take the President as vessel, Sam and Dean were taken," Juno said crossing her arms. "We think we can get them back, but we need," she cleared her throat, "help."

"So we'll help," Mick said.

"Really? Just like that?" Mary asked him.

"Mrs. Winchester-- Mary... I came to this country to do one thing-- Make friends," Mick said stepping forward. "But you American hunters, you're... you're a different breed than our sort. You're surly. Suspicious. You don't play well with others."

"Well, that is accurate," Castiel said looking at Mary. Her and Juno both looked at him, Cas looking away.

"You don't trust people you don't know, even when they come bearing gifts," Mick said stating the obvious. "Now I can't help that, but I can help you. And if word were to get out that we did our part to save Sam and Dean Winchester, well, that's just good business, innit? And who knows? When all this is over, we might even be friends."

"We think Sam and Dean were being held somewhere in the Rocky Mountain National Forest," Mary told them.

"Site 94?" Ketch asked stepping forward. "It's a government facility, off books. Shadow ops. One of those places that officially doesn't exist."

"Then how do you know about it?" Juno asked.

"We gather information. It's our job," Mick said shrugging slightly.

"They told us to meet them off State Route 34," Castiel informed them.

"Well, that's a long stretch of road. Where, exactly?" Ketch asked.

"I'm not sure," Cas said.

"I'll get our techs to put a satellite over the area," Mick said with a slight nod.

"You can do that?" Mary asked.

"And so much more," Mick answered. Mick and Mary begin walking back to their cars, Ketch stopping Castiel.

"Do you have any idea what sort of trouble we're walking into?" he asked the angel.

"No," Castiel answered.

"Oh, good," Ketch said with a smile. "I do like a surprise."

*****

Castiel and Juno stepped out of the car as Mick had informed them this was the general area that Sam and Dean would be exiting out of.

"Are we sure about this?" Juno asked pulling the gun out of her waistband.

"Yes. Mick said this was where they would be," Castiel said as he tried looking into the woods. Seconds later, Sam and Dean emerged from trees, both of them seeing Castiel and Juno. "Sam? Dean?

"Cas? Juno?" Sam questioned stepping forward. He hugged Castiel first, then hugged Juno. He looked up, noticing his mom standing there. "Mom." Sam let go of Juno, walking to his mother quickly. Dean laughed slightly, grabbing Cas's shoulder and pulling him in.

"Hey, buddy," he said with a smile. He let go, hugging Juno with a smile. He let go, then walked to his mom. Mary let out a content sigh as Dean hugged her, the five then going back to the car.

"Mom, how did y'all even find us?" Sam asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"They helped," Mary said. They emerged from the trees to see Mick and Ketch standing by their car.

"Hello, lads," Mick said.

"They have a thermal imaging satellite that saw you. From space," Castiel informed them.

"Well, we don't have one. Just borrowed it for a bit. Friends in all the right places," Mick said with a smile.

"Well, I guess this is where we're supposed to say thank you," Dean said with a nod.

"No need. Happy to be of service," Mick told them.

"Again," Ketch stated.