SPN: Insanity Means Angel-puppies 4/4
Part Four: Elderly
Jimmy followed as Castiel limped up the stairs. The dog was old - far older than most of his breed ever got - and had slowed down a lot. He was a wonderful companion to Jimmy's daughter Claire, though his loyalty was always to Jimmy first. The dog managed to climb up onto the bed Jimmy shared with his wife and lay down at the end to sleep.
Once he'd gotten changed into his sleeping clothes, Jimmy slid into bed and draped an arm over Amelia's waist. He wasn't quite sure how they'd progressed from friends to lovers, but she'd been there when he was getting over Dean and had never judged him for loving another man. Amelia had been a wonderful wife over the years, and Jimmy did love her. He knew that even if Dean reappeared, he would choose his wife over his first love, and not just for their daughter.
Closing his eyes, Jimmy felt the world shift in the way it used to when his angel had visited him regularly. Over the years the visits had dropped off in frequency, but the angel had always been there when he needed it.
“Jimmy,” the angel spoke, sounding concerned. “I am truly sorry.”
“What do you mean?” Jimmy asked, worried.
“Do you remember what I told you when you were young? That great trials were coming?”
“Yeah,” Jimmy nodded. “I guess the time has come?”
“Yes. Dean Winchester has made a deal with a demon to save his brother's life. He has been taken to Hell. I must get him out of the pit before he breaks the seal that will start the Apocalypse.”
Jimmy sat in silence for several minutes, digesting this information. The mention of Dean felt like a physical blow, but the rest was almost too much to compute.
“So, you're leaving,” Jimmy tried breaking it down into little pieces. “You're going to break into Hell and get Dean out?”
“Yes.”
“Because otherwise Dean might start the Apocalypse?”
“Yes. It would be unintentional, but the demons are trying to manipulate Dean into doing great evil.”
“Okay.” Jimmy swallowed hard, knowing that this was going to be difficult. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Not with this.” He got the distinct impression that the angel was uncomfortable. “Jimmy, you have suspected my identity for some time, haven't you?”
“Yeah. I... you're Castiel, aren't you? You're my dog.”
“Yes. I was bound into that shape by my brother Gabriel. He knew that you had an important part to play in what is coming, and that without help you would be unable to do so.”
“What's my part?” Jimmy asked, knowing that the time had finally come when his angel would tell him the truth about what he needed to do.
“Angels cannot walk the earth without the help of a willing vessel,” Castiel explained. “We are very limited in who we can approach for permission to use the body of. Jimmy... you are my true vessel. You were created to house me. When I have rescued Dean from Hell, if he has started the Apocalypse... I will need to have a vessel to help stop it. I will need to ask your permission to use your body.”
Jimmy felt as though his heart froze. It was all just too much.
“I will not ask you to decide now,” Castiel seemed to know how frightened Jimmy was. “It may not even be necessary if I can get to Dean in time. But when I leave, the dog Castiel will die. I know that you will grieve for him, for me. I will return to you as soon as my task is finished, and then I will answer any questions you have. I promise.” He paused and glanced over at where Amelia was sleeping. “I also promise that if you do allow me possession of your body, I will do everything in my power to ensure that your family is kept safe. I am quite fond of them, and I know how much you love them.”
“Thanks,” Jimmy whispered. Castiel surveyed him for a moment, then stood gracefully, wings spreading.
“I must leave now. When you wake, my canine vessel will be dead. I will return to you as soon as I can.”
“Good luck,” Jimmy looked up and tried to smile at his angel. “And thank you for everything.”
“You are most welcome. It has been an honour to be your friend.”
The light grew and grew until Jimmy had to close his eyes. He knew that he was awake a split-second later, and he held Amelia close for a moment. Jimmy loved his wife, loved his daughter. They were the most important things in the world to him.
But if Castiel asked for his body to help stop the Apocalypse... Jimmy knew what his answer would be. He'd just have to take advantage of every moment between now and then to show his family how much he cared about them.
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| Masterpost
Jimmy followed as Castiel limped up the stairs. The dog was old - far older than most of his breed ever got - and had slowed down a lot. He was a wonderful companion to Jimmy's daughter Claire, though his loyalty was always to Jimmy first. The dog managed to climb up onto the bed Jimmy shared with his wife and lay down at the end to sleep.
Once he'd gotten changed into his sleeping clothes, Jimmy slid into bed and draped an arm over Amelia's waist. He wasn't quite sure how they'd progressed from friends to lovers, but she'd been there when he was getting over Dean and had never judged him for loving another man. Amelia had been a wonderful wife over the years, and Jimmy did love her. He knew that even if Dean reappeared, he would choose his wife over his first love, and not just for their daughter.
Closing his eyes, Jimmy felt the world shift in the way it used to when his angel had visited him regularly. Over the years the visits had dropped off in frequency, but the angel had always been there when he needed it.
“Jimmy,” the angel spoke, sounding concerned. “I am truly sorry.”
“What do you mean?” Jimmy asked, worried.
“Do you remember what I told you when you were young? That great trials were coming?”
“Yeah,” Jimmy nodded. “I guess the time has come?”
“Yes. Dean Winchester has made a deal with a demon to save his brother's life. He has been taken to Hell. I must get him out of the pit before he breaks the seal that will start the Apocalypse.”
Jimmy sat in silence for several minutes, digesting this information. The mention of Dean felt like a physical blow, but the rest was almost too much to compute.
“So, you're leaving,” Jimmy tried breaking it down into little pieces. “You're going to break into Hell and get Dean out?”
“Yes.”
“Because otherwise Dean might start the Apocalypse?”
“Yes. It would be unintentional, but the demons are trying to manipulate Dean into doing great evil.”
“Okay.” Jimmy swallowed hard, knowing that this was going to be difficult. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Not with this.” He got the distinct impression that the angel was uncomfortable. “Jimmy, you have suspected my identity for some time, haven't you?”
“Yeah. I... you're Castiel, aren't you? You're my dog.”
“Yes. I was bound into that shape by my brother Gabriel. He knew that you had an important part to play in what is coming, and that without help you would be unable to do so.”
“What's my part?” Jimmy asked, knowing that the time had finally come when his angel would tell him the truth about what he needed to do.
“Angels cannot walk the earth without the help of a willing vessel,” Castiel explained. “We are very limited in who we can approach for permission to use the body of. Jimmy... you are my true vessel. You were created to house me. When I have rescued Dean from Hell, if he has started the Apocalypse... I will need to have a vessel to help stop it. I will need to ask your permission to use your body.”
Jimmy felt as though his heart froze. It was all just too much.
“I will not ask you to decide now,” Castiel seemed to know how frightened Jimmy was. “It may not even be necessary if I can get to Dean in time. But when I leave, the dog Castiel will die. I know that you will grieve for him, for me. I will return to you as soon as my task is finished, and then I will answer any questions you have. I promise.” He paused and glanced over at where Amelia was sleeping. “I also promise that if you do allow me possession of your body, I will do everything in my power to ensure that your family is kept safe. I am quite fond of them, and I know how much you love them.”
“Thanks,” Jimmy whispered. Castiel surveyed him for a moment, then stood gracefully, wings spreading.
“I must leave now. When you wake, my canine vessel will be dead. I will return to you as soon as I can.”
“Good luck,” Jimmy looked up and tried to smile at his angel. “And thank you for everything.”
“You are most welcome. It has been an honour to be your friend.”
The light grew and grew until Jimmy had to close his eyes. He knew that he was awake a split-second later, and he held Amelia close for a moment. Jimmy loved his wife, loved his daughter. They were the most important things in the world to him.
But if Castiel asked for his body to help stop the Apocalypse... Jimmy knew what his answer would be. He'd just have to take advantage of every moment between now and then to show his family how much he cared about them.
<
| Masterpost