Claire Novak
Title: Protecting Claire
Word Count: 1,334
Disclaimer: I am not the wonderful Eric Kripke, if I was do you think I would be here? I'm just playing around.
Characters: Castiel, Clair Novak
Summary: Castiel is keeping his promise to Jimmy and looking out for Jimmy's family. For some reason he feels drawn to protect and watch out for Claire more than he should.
Nightmare
Castiel stood in the corner of the bedroom, watching the girl asleep in the bed. The bedroom looked as if it belonged to a small child, not the teenager sleeping in the bed. He could tell that things were slowly changing in the room, a computer sat on the desk where a doll house had once sat. A whimper from the girl in the bed drew him out of the memories that didn’t belong to him.
He walked slowly to the bed, reaching out slowly. He brushed blonde hair off the girl’s face. His touch soothed her, chasing away the nightmares afflicting her. It was a trick he used on the Winchester’s, chasing away the horrors of sleep, so that they could have a few moments of peace.
Blue eyes flickered open, looking up at him. “Castiel,” the girl whispered. She sighed, burrowing down in the blankets. “Thank you for taking away the nightmare.” Her blue eyes met his. “I dreamed you fell.”
Castiel sat down on the edge of the bed. “The short amount of time that I used you as a vessel has allowed you to know things that you should not. Please tell me about your nightmare, Claire.”
“You were human, and in a camp, but it wasn’t normal. Dean was there, but there were two of him. You said something about liking past Dean. It was horrible. People were sick, infected with something. Dean, sent you with a group, and he was sending you to your death. You went willingly. You were going to die, and then it changed. You were angel and I felt that you were at peace.” She frowned, looking down at the flower pattern on the quilt.
Castiel opened his mouth to speak, but through better of it. Telling the truth to the girl was not what she needed to hear. The truth was not always the best. “It was just a nightmare. I’m not going to fall.”
Claire nodded. “I know you’re not really my dad, but could you-please hold me until I fall asleep. Dad use to hold me when I had a nightmare, could you do that, please?”
“Yes.” Castiel moved up so that he was leaning back against the headboard. He moved the girl up against his side, wrapping one arm around her, keeping the quilt pulled up around her. A memory came back to him, compelling him to comfort the girl.
“There’s a wonderful place in this world, where sickness and hate don’t exist. The garden is protected, by two angels. They are waiting on the one who will unlock the garden to all of man. One day the garden will be open, and everyone will live in peace. All of the evil in the world will be a faint memory. They say that the garden will be open soon. Man and angel will walk through the garden, protecting it. Demons will never walk the earth again, and families will never be broken.” He looked down at the girl in his arms. She was already asleep. “You’re going to walk through the Garden of Eden, Claire.”
He briefly thought about returning to Sam and Dean, but thought better of it. They were hunting, a simple salt and burn. They would not need his assistance. They wouldn’t need someone to chase off the nightmares till morning when they finally slept. He could stay and comfort Claire until morning.
Graduation
Castiel entered into the back of the auditorium, taking a seat in the back row. He watched the figures on stage. It was an important day for her. He listened as the principle announced the valedictorian. Claire Novak.
Claire stood at the podium, her white graduation cap and gown giving her the appearance of an angel. “These past four years have been hard on us all. We lost friends and gained new ones, experienced the pain of life, but we made it here. We will face more pain and difficulties after today. Some of us are going onto college, others are going on to serve our country, and some of us are spending time with family. We all have our own path. All of us will go on to do something great with our lives, no matter what we believe.” Her eyes scanned over the crowd and landed on Castiel. A smile formed on her lips. “Angels are watching over us, and one day we’ll walk through the garden. We made it, class of 2011.”
Pride swelled through Castiel. He felt proud of the girl who wasn’t his daughter. He sat through the graduation, watching every student march across the stage. He waited until the ceremony was over and the graduates were leaving. He motioned Claire over to a corner. He couldn’t face Amelia.
“You’re father would be very proud of you.”
“Thank you for coming. I know that this isn’t something you have to do. It really means a lot to me.” Her blue eyes met his.
He wrapped his arms around her. “I am not your father, but I care for you as if you are my daughter. You have dealt well with the challenges that have come into your life. You will continue to thrive at Harvard.” He kissed her forehead. “Your mother is waiting on you.”
Claire smiled. “Thank you, Castiel.” She walked away, holding her diploma in one hand. He watched her.
She was growing up well. Four years in a Catholic school, valedictorian, full ride to Harvard. Great things were waiting for her. It was only a matter of time before she realized her destiny, and he would be waiting on the sidelines for when she needed comfort and a shoulder to rest her head. Her fate was intertwined with the Winchester’s. They just didn’t know it yet.
Wedding
Castiel appeared in the hotel room, announcing his presence with a slight shift of wings. Claire turned to look at him. A smile lit up her face. “What are you doing here, Castiel?”
He returned the smile. “I am afraid that I will not be able to attend your wedding in the morning. Duty calls, I am afraid. I thought I should come by tonight and tell you how proud I am of you and that I am happy that you are happy.”
“Thank you, Castiel.” She pressed her face against his shoulder, smiling. “It really means a lot to me.”
“You are welcome. I also brought you a present. I have been informed that it is customary for the bride to wear something new, something old, and something blue.” He had heard Dean make a reference to it on the last hunt where a wedding had been involved. “I brought you something old.” He reached into his coat, pulling the bracelet out. “I hope you like it.”
Claire smiled, fingering the bracelet lightly. “This is the most beautiful bracelet I have ever seen. Thank you, oh my god, thank you.” She let her fingers hesitantly brush over the gold and diamonds.
Castiel fastened the bracelet to her wrist. “This will protect you. The bracelet will keep you hidden from unwanted eyes. Angels and demons, if you do not wish to see them then they will not see you.”
Claire ran her thumb over the diamonds, feeling each diamond grove. “Thank you.” She smiled. “It even matches my dress.”
“I would very much like to spend more time with you, but I must go. Sam and Dean will be nearing their destination and I will need to be there before they arrive.” Castiel kissed her forehead. “I hope your day tomorrow is everything you want and more.”
“So do I. Take care of yourself, and don’t fall.” It had become her new way of telling him goodbye. “Who’s going to look after me if the angel in my father’s body becomes human?”
“I will not fall, do not fear, Claire.”
He left the room with a rustle of wings, appearing in the back of the Impala.
