Supernatural: In a High, High Tower (3/?)
Author Name: Patriciatepes (Patricia de Lioncourt )
Fandom: Supernatural
Rating: PG-13 (for Now)
Characters: Daphne Allen, Crowley, Castiel, Meg, Dean, Sam, Kevin Tran, and necessary OCs
Pairing: Crowley/Daphne, Castiel/Meg, past Daphne/Castiel
Chapter Links: Prev | Next
Warnings: Hints of torture, sexual situations, light torture… more might be added later depending on how dark I want to take this
Summary: AU Past Parts of SPN S8. Daphne Allen is a saint… and saints are rare creatures. Saints have many powers, useful to both angels… and to demons. Saints can hear the angels speak, their blood can be used for many things, and they have a sight for things that normal humans do not. And, more importantly, saints have the power to redeem a soul. In order to ensure her family's safety, Daphne makes a deal with Crowley-one year of usage of her saintly powers with no arguments, and no interferences.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or any related characters. They belong to Kripke. No money made here.
Author's Notes: Just a couple of things here right off the bat. First off, I will have multiple points of view. However, for the majority of the fic, it will be through Daphne's eyes. Also, I did a Hard R-rated fic that had a similar setting to this one… what can I say? I just love this setting. But I'll be spanning this one's view out a little bit more. Also, I know this chapter is a bit long… but I had to cover the flashback. I know that it could've been a story in and of itself, but I feel that the rest of this story is the more interesting bit. And the rating may rise in later chapters. Also, I'm still way behind on posting things here on LJ... I'll catch up, I swear. Art by the wonderful twisted_slinky. Also, since Season 8 has ended, I'd just like to note… SPN keeps backing up my fandom brain. Some of the concepts that will appear in this story will seem very similar to the concepts that appears in the latter episodes of the season… this was accidental, but made this fangirl very happy.
Chapter Three
It was now well past noon back at the home that Daphne had left behind. Castiel had, so far, kept himself true to his word, sitting in quiet contemplation in the living room of the two story home. Daphne's sister, Laura, was off in the other room with her niece, trying her best to comfort the upset child. Meanwhile, Castiel had called on the only two people he could think to in a situation such as this. His one true pair of friends, Sam and Dean Winchester.
Sam leaned back in the recliner he had been perched on the edge of while the angel had explained why he-and in turn, the two of them-had been summoned to Daphne Allen's home that day. At the end of said explanation, he blew out a gust of air, shaking his shaggy, brown hair.
"I just… I… wow," the younger Winchester said while his brother jerked a thumb in his direction.
"What he said," Dean murmured.
There would have been a moment of silence that followed, had it just been the three of them in the living room. However, there was another listener to Castiel's explanation. The recently returned Meg, who apparently sought a kind of refuge with the angel against Crowley and his demon minions.
"So, Clarence finally lost the Big V and ended up with a child to show for it," she smirked. "Turns out she's not the cheating whore we thought she was, right?"
For that, Castiel glared at the demon woman. "Why are you even here? It is because of you that Daphne is in this predicament."
Meg threw up both her hands, clearly backing down. "Hey, I'll not argue that. But Dean-o can back me up on this one: no matter how good you are, Hell has its ways."
"I guess we can just be grateful that Crowley doesn't know that Elle is Castiel's," Sam muttered, shooing a glare of his own up at Meg.
"Waving the white flag here, boys," the demon scoffed. "Besides, Crowley doesn't even know that Elle is Daphne's, remember? Little sis over there said that Daphne had claimed that Elle was her niece, not her daughter. And I'm proud to say that I did neglect to mention that Daphne was about to bust with child when I saw her, thank you very much."
"Leave, Meg," Castiel said, resting his head in his hands.
"Nope. I need protection, and I'm wagering that an extra pair of eyes on the brat-I mean, the kid-wouldn't hurt. So, I'm offering just that. I'll help protect the kid and the aunt, and the three of you include me in this little deal that Daphne's made where those who care for her family can't be harmed by Crowley."
Dean growled softly. "We can't trust you."
"I'm wounded. After all, who risked her ass helping you get in to gank the Leviathans? And did I get a rescue from Hell? Not one bit. But hey, I'm willing to forgive and forget… and even offer a helping hand."
"She's right," Castiel said, looking up with an odd light in his eyes. "It's only for a year. But I… I need help. In keeping Elle… in keeping my daughter safe. And not just from Crowley. Her identity must be kept a secret just as Daphne had been doing."
"I don't get it," Sam said, standing. "Why not tell you, at least?"
Meg scoffed. "The last time Daphne saw him he was Crazy Cas going on and on about bees. I would've lied too."
"She feared what Heaven would do… that they would take Elle. I have no doubt about that," Castiel said, standing now as well. "Will you help me? Will the... three of you help me keep Elle safe?"
Dean nodded. "Of course we will. But… and this might be an odd question, but… does Elle even know? I mean, the poor kid is suddenly stuck in a house without her mom, and randomly four strangers show up to stay? Does Elle know that you're her dad?"
Castiel shrugged, a distant fear in his eyes. "I haven't even thought to ask."
"Has this… ever happened before? An angel fathering a child?" Sam asked.
The angel in the room shook his head. "Not to my knowledge. Before this moment, I would've thought the notion ridiculous."
Meg shrugged. "Well, it makes sense to me. I mean, you're in a borrowed body just like I am. Doesn't mean the parts don't still work."
Dean's eyes narrowed. "But, in that case, Elle would be Jimmy's daughter."
Castiel shook his head. "No. In the brief moment I was in the room with Elle, before she ran into the other room, I felt it. The child does have the celestial in her veins."
"Score one for the mysterious universe," Meg said, sighing. "Well, I'm in for helping."
"But you cannot go after Crowley at all, Meg. Those were the terms of the deal. For this entire year, none of us can make a move against him… for fear of what will happen to Elle, Laura, or Daphne," Castiel explained.
Meg grinned, the look obviously forced. "What a nice vacation that'll be."
From the distance, the sound of crying reached the groups' ears. Both Sam and Dean exchanged a glance before looking over at Castiel.
"Cas… maybe you ought to go talk to her," Dean said.
Sam nodded. "Yeah. Let her know that everything's all right. She's probably scared to death."
"Let her know that you're her dad, and that her mom isn't gone forever," Dean added.
At that, an odd look passed over Castiel's face. As if he had just remembered something, but in the next instance, the look was gone. He shifted his gaze beyond Sam, Dean, and Meg to stare at the staircase that would lead up to Elle's room.
"What's up, Cas?" Dean asked. "What's with the weird face?"
But Castiel shook his head. "Nothing. I should go speak with Elle."
He walked past the three of them, pausing when he reached only a few paces on the other side of their barrier. Turning, he shrugged.
"I don't know what to say," he confessed.
At that, Meg rolled her eyes. She stepped forward, grabbing him by his arm.
"Let's go… I'll help you wing it," she said.
Castiel gave her a bewildered stare as she led him up the stairs and out of sight. And the moment they were gone, Sam gave his brother a nudge.
"Did you see that, Dean? That look?" he asked.
But Dean shrugged. "Yeah. So?"
The taller Winchester sighed, shaking his head as he retook his seat on the beige recliner. Dean, meanwhile, moved to sit on the matching sofa.
"Do you remember when Cas was working with Crowley, trying to crack open Purgatory? Do you remember how strange he acted, and we just didn't notice it?"
Dean shrugged, straightening the green over-shirt he wore. "Yeah, and? Make your point, Sammy."
Sam ran a hand through is hair, as if carefully considering his thoughts. Finally, he leaned forward, clasping his hands and resting his forearms on his legs.
"Doesn't he seem to be acting a little strange now? I mean, I think I've seen that look on his face before… when he was lying to us about Purgatory."
Now Dean was leaning forward, and both Winchesters' voices were dropping to conspiring whispers.
"You mean… you think Cas is up to something? No way. Not this time… not after what happened with the Purgatory fiasco."
But Sam shook his head. "Dean, something's up. I mean… Cas seems a little too ready and willing to listen to the terms of this agreement. To just lay back and stay here with Elle rather than trying to save Daphne. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"
Dean shrugged. "Well, honestly, I think the dude's just freaking out because he just recently discovered he's a dad. I mean, think about it, Sam, if you had gone your entire life thinking that it was impossible for you to have kids and then suddenly, bam, two-year-old."
Sam pursed his lips at his brother, giving him the perfect-bitchface. Dean rolled his eyes. He lifted his hands, much as Meg had earlier.
"But I'll give. It is weird that he doesn't seem to be willing to go after Crowley to save Daphne. Maybe Naomi's screwing with him again."
Both boys went silent, mentally replaying how that scenario had gone. It had taken some doing, but with a little help from every hunter trick they could come up with-and then some-they had managed to free Castiel of Naomi's hold. What the Bitch Angel had wanted from Cas was still a mystery to everyone, up to and including Castiel himself… but he was free and clear of Naomi now, and that's all that mattered. After another moment of silence, Dean shrugged again.
"Then again, it could just be that Daphne's the one that made the deal. I mean, think about it. Every time we've tried to weasel out of a demon deal… it's still come due. Maybe there's just no way, angel or not, to get out of them," the elder Winchester argued.
"Maybe," Sam conceded… but only a little. "But I think something's still going on."
Dean stood, motioning toward the staircase. "Meanwhile, are you aware that we've let an angel and a demon go talk to a two-year-old?"
Sam stood, a half smile on his face. "Yeah… we might wanna get up there."