based off 12.15

somewhere between heaven and hell

~*~

"Alright, Cas. Let us know," Dean said over the phone. 

"Goodbye," Cas said. He hung up the phone, Juno looking over in her seat. 

"What are Sam and Dean up to?" Juno asked him. 

"They're on another hunt," Castiel told her. 

"Isn't that, what, five in one week?" Juno asked furrowing her eyebrows. "Damn, there's got to be a record for that or something." The two stepped out of the car, walking into the diner. Juno handed Cas the newspaper article that showed the burnt wings on the ground in a back alley near the diner. Castiel shut the newspaper, the two walking to the counter. 

"Hello. I'd like to speak to your manager, if I could," Castiel said holding out his FBI badge, Juno doing the same. 

"Hiya! Hey!" a man said cheerfully walking to the two. "I'm, uh, Herb Nelson. I run this joint. Pleasure to meet you, Agent...Solange." Juno looked at the man tilting his head, realizing Cas's badge was upside down. She sighed, grabbing it and flipping it over for him. "And Agent... Collins. 

"We're, uh, we're here about-"

"Oh, I-I-I know why you're here," Herb said putting a hand on Castiel's shoulder. Both Juno and Cas looked at it, then back at Herb who removed it quickly. "Uh...follow me. Quietly." Cas looked at Juno who was just shaking her head. Nevertheless, they followed him to a room in the back. He opened a large metal door, Castiel and Juno walking inside. 

"What is this?" Juno asked looking around. 

"Well... You know..." Herb trailed off as he locked the door shut. "Can't be too careful. They're always watching, listening." 

"They... are?" Juno asked, a small smile creeping at her face. Cas elbowed her, Juno glaring at him. 

"Oh, yeah. But we're safe in here," Herb said knocking on the door. "Reinforced steel. Nothing's gettin' through this sucker." 

"Mm. Yeah," Cas hummed as he examined a picture on the wall. 

"Aah. So, uh, you're here about Sara," Herb said looking up at them solemnly. Cas and Juno looked down at him, Cas glancing at the article in his hand. 

"Yes, your waitress. In this article, you said, uh, you said that she was killed by an alien," Cas said beginning to walk to the chair. 

"Well, not just aliens. Reptilians. You know... like the Queen of England," Herb said glancing at the wall. 

"Right," Juno said with a small nod. "Okay, well, that's by helpful. Thank you so much for your time." 

"And I-I got proof!" Herb said pulling open a drawer. Juno and Cas looked at each other as they were already at the door. She motioned that they should leave, but Cas shook his head slowly. "You know... Ah. See? Most sheeple can't handle the truth. But not me. I'm woke. It's, uh..." Herb trailed off, beginning to put a tape into a video player. "Why I don't use, uh, new tech. Anything past '96, it's a trap. You know...Palm Pilot. It's more like Tracking Device. Am I right?"

"Right," Cas and Juno said nodding slowly.

"Exactly. Now watch this," Herb said. The monitor only showed static for a minute, Herb hitting the side of it for it to work. "Now, here we go." Juno took a small step forward as she saw Kelly Kline running down the alleyway, an angel following her. Kelly stopped, beginning to back up. 

"Okay, now I-I don't know who she is. Probably another alien. She's preggers, so my money's on brood queen," Herb said referencing Kelly. "Now, I don't know who he is either. There! That's Sara. Look, look, look. See? Silver knives. That's, uh, star metal." Angel blades. The screen wnet black, beginning to fritz. "Yeah, the -- the camera got fried. But you... you saw it, yeah?" He rewound the tape as Castiel and Juno didn't say anything. "R-right... there. She has..." 

"Yellow eyes," Castiel finished for him. Juno looked at him, shaking her head quickly. 

"Like I said, reptilian. Now, the local cops, they think there's something-- they don't believe me," Herb said as Castiel began fiddling with the camcorder. "They think there's something weird with the camera. But I mean, that's why you're here." Castiel finally ejected the tape, pocketing it. He nodded at Juno, the two walking to the door. "The-- the FBI Man in Black. Well, you know, beige." Juno paused, turning to face Herb. 

"Thank you for your time. Cas, wipe him," Juno said with a small smile. 

"Wipe me? W-" Herb was cut off as Castiel placed two fingers against Herb's head. He fell back, Juno nodding in satisfaction. 

"Let's go." They turned, walking out of the diner. They began walking to the truck, Juno noticing a man leaning against the passenger side. 

"Nice day out," he said. Cas dropped his angel blade into his hand, Juno following suit by pulling hers out of her jacket. "Hello, brother." 

"Kelvin," Castiel stated. 

"Oh, you remember? We only met the once, so..." Kelvin trailed off as he motioned between himself and Castiel.

"What are you doing here?" Castiel asked. 

"Same reason as you. Track down Kelly Kline and that unholy bun she's got in her oven," Kelvin said stepping towards Castiel and Juno. "So what do you say we help each other out?" 

*****

Castiel and Juno now sat in a bar, Kelvin to Castiel's left, Juno on his other side. No one was really drinking much, and Juno just felt on edge. 

"So how are things in Heaven?" Castiel asked. 

"Functional. You know, there's the usual infighting, but... let's just say that Lucifer having a baby on board has brought us all together. You know, this is an all hands on deck situation, Castiel. Including yours," Kelvin explained to him. 

"Okay, so you're here for my hands?" Castiel asked taking a drink of his beer. 

"That's not what that..." Juno let out a sigh, shaking her head as Cas looked at her confused. 

"We want you. Look, you got more field experience than the next thousand angels combined," Kelvin said with a nod.

"I think you overestimate me," Castiel said with a sigh. Juno rolled her eyes, taking another drink. 

"I don't. Look, I know you're working with the Winchesters. Along with this... thing. 

"My names Juno," she said looking over at Kelvin. 

"Sam and Dean -- their hearts are in the right place, but wouldn't it be better to have us waiting in the proverbial wings?" Kelvin questioned as he ignored Juno. "All the power of Heaven behind you?" 

"When was the last time that worked out for us?" Juno asked looking at Castiel. 

"Don't listen to her. You ever miss it? Upstairs? I mean, don't get me wrong. I love Earth. It's quirky. It smells like hay. But it's not home, is it?" Kelvin asked Castiel.

"I don't believe I'm welcome in Heaven," Castiel answered. 

"No, you're not. They still hold a lot of grudges up there. But what if I told you, you could come back? That all your sins could be forgotten? Forgiven?" Kelvin asked him. 

"I would say that you're lying," Castiel said looking at Kelvin. 

"Oh, but I'm not. You help us track down Kelly Kline, and you will be welcomed back into the fold," Kelvin said trying to persuade Castiel. 

"Right. And you have the power to do that," Castiel said sarcastically. 

"Oh, no, I can't. I'm just the messenger. But Joshua can," Kelvin said. Castiel took a second, Juno noticing the sad look on his face. 

"Joshua. I thought he stepped aside," Castiel said turning to Kelvin. 

"He did. But like I said, all hands on deck situation," Kelvin said again. "Imagine it, Castiel -- free to come and go as you please, part of your family, your true family, again. Look... the Gardener's got a plan. All we ask is that you hear us, hear him out. For the greater good." 

"There's always a catch," Juno said leaning forward. "Even with you holy winged weirdos." 

"Right," Kelvin said with a small laugh. "It's an angels only deal." Castiel looked at Juno with a soft expression, the girl shaking her head at him. 

"Cas, it's a deal that gets us -- you, a lot more man power, or probably angel power, to find Kelly. Look, I can work down here on Earth, you can go work up in Heaven. It doesn't matter." Juno sighed as she stood up, placing a ten on the counter. Castiel stood up with her, Juno putting a hand on his shoulder. "Cas, I'll be fine. Go to Heaven, they're your family. And if they're offering a way to find Kelly, then we should probably use it." 

"Now, I'd listen to her," Kelvin said with a small smile. 

"I'll hold down the fort down here, you go back to Heaven," Juno told him. 

"Juniper," Cas started. 

"No, no arguing," Juno said shaking her head. "Just... Call me when you're back on Earth." She turned, walking out of the bar and towards the truck. She trusted that Kelvin would give Castiel a ride to the gate. She climbed in the car, glancing to the side where her computer was sat. She sighed, pulling out of the parking lot and driving away.

~*~

short and boring, i know.

i really had no idea what to do with this

but, i hope you enjoyed no matter what!

this book is almost over, but don't worry, there is a sequel!