03. heaven and hell

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A SHARP HAND SLAPPED Caelum Crane across the cheek. He held his reddening skin in shock as he stared at his youngest sister.

"Are you out of your mind?" Andy shrieked. "A demon deal? You know better!"

She crossed her arms, chest heaving. Caelum stared at her dumbfounded, jaw-hung opening. Her eyes darted around his motel room. His bed was covered in crossed, holy water -- the works. "Were you gonna double-cross him?"

Caelum ran a hand down his face and groaned. "It's good to see you too, Bug."

Andy's jaw clenched at the childhood nickname. "Answer me, Caelum."

Her brother sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "I don't know what I was going to do. I...fuck." He hung his head in his hands.

Andy frowned and sat down next to him. She raised a brow at Lyra, who hung back by the door. "Cae..." She patted his knee. "You know the whole 'bring back Rose' thing is crap, right?"

Caelum lifted his head. "I'm lost without her, Bug."

"No, you're not," Andy shook her head. "You're the best Hunter I know. There's nothing you can't do. Not a monster you can't kill. Suddenly a demon offers a shitty deal and you take it? You know Rose wouldn't want this. She told you."

"Andy..." Caelum's voice was hoarse. He looked at her with tears in his eyes. "Is hunting all I'm good for?" Andy tilted her head at his question. Caelum sighed deeply. "What if I want a life? A family. Wife and kids. Would I be a good father?" His voice broke on the last word.

Andy was quick to wrap her arms around his shoulders, squeezing him tight. "You would." She told him softly. Caelum hugged her tightly back. She thought back on her childhood after the demon incident. Her parents weren't really parents anymore and Caelum stepped up. He was more of a father to her than their own father.

Lyra sighed loudly. "This is touching and all but we do sort of have a demon to kill."

Andy and Caelum both glared at her. Andy stood and patted her brother's shoulder. "Where's the meeting place?"

Caelum shook his head and wiped his tears. "No. You guys aren't going to fix my mess. I got this."

"No offence, big brother, but last time we left you to hunt a demon, you almost made a deal with it." Lyra crossed her arms.

Caelum huffed. "And Andromeda talked me out of it. I need to do this on my own."

Andy searched his face for any signs of deceit. She knew when people were lying, her mother taught her how. Caelum wasn't lying. "You know the demon won't take your backing from the deal lightly."

"Oh, I know." Caelum laughed. "It'll give me a challenge."

Lyra rolled her eyes. "So, I'm not needed here?"

Caelum smiled at her. "No, Lyra. You're not. You may go. Report into dad for me?"

"Aye-aye," Lyra saluted. "Andromeda." She turned to her sister. "Thank you. I mean it."

Andy sighed, rolling her eyes. "You both owe me big time. I won't always be around to clean up the family messes. I left for a reason."

Caelum patted her on the back. "We know. But thank you, anyway."

WEEKS PASSED AND ANDY was peacefully left alone by her family. She eased up on the drinking and began to take care of herself which pleased Natalie. But for those weeks, Natalie was the one who started acting differently. Andy at first thought she was sick, but as the bad mood dragged on, it seemed bigger than that. Cosmic, almost.

"Nat, could I get a hand?" Andy called in from the front door of Ruthie's.

Natalie looked up from the glasses she was polishing. "Sure thing." She smiled, but not like she used to. It barely reached her ears.

Andy popped open the trunk of the Beetle. A wrapped body of a vampire sat waiting, along with its decapitated head, which she tossed into Natalie's waiting hands. "I couldn't find I good spot to get rid of it, thought we could use the firepit out back?"

Natalie nodded. "Yeah, no problem."

Andy eyed her suspiciously as she hauled the body over her shoulder. She slammed the trunk shut and the two began to walk towards the back of the building. Natalie was silent, opposite from her chatty, energetic self.

"Anything going on I should know about?" Andy peered at the woman.

Natalie glanced at her, barely. She shook her head. "No. Why?"

They reached the firepit -- more like a bonfire -- and Andy sighed. She dropped the body, which hit the ground with a squelching thud. "Nat. Spill. What's going on with you? You've been weird ever since I got back from the hunt with Travis and the Winchesters."

Natalie gripped the clothed head tightly. She looked everywhere but in Andy's eyes. "I've just been under the weather, that's all-"

"Bullshit," Andy scoffed. "You never get sick. This is something else. Something big and you're not telling me. I thought we promised never to keep secrets?"

"Andy..." Natalie lowered her head. It almost looked shameful to Andy. "I want to tell you but...it's complicated. Much more than you could imagine."

"Try me." The blonde crossed her arms.

Natalie put the head down over the firepit and wiped her hands against her pants. She looked back at Andy and something shifted in her eyes. They were darker, and deadly serious. "You don't understand the severity of my situation. The knowledge of which could get you killed, Andromeda."

Andy's breath caught in her throat. Natalie never called her by her full name, not since they first met.

"Let's burn the body, shall we?" Natalie dragged the vampire to the pit and lit the fire all while Andy stood dumbfounded. Her thoughts raced through her memories with her best friend. Were there things she missed? She was always thorough when meeting new people and she doesn't make friends easily because of that. Natalie was always kind and thoughtful, funny and loud. They got along like a house on fire.

"Nat...are you okay? Safe, I mean." Andy finally found her words.

Natalie looked at her with a painful smile. "I'm not sure. But I can use a drink."

Andy raised her brows. "Okay, now I know something is wrong." But she didn't stop her. She followed Natalie through the backdoor of Ruthie's.

They entered the bar and Natalie froze. Andy nearly ran into her. "Nat? What the hell?"

"Hello, Sister." A gruff, robotic-like voice spoke.

Andy's eyes found the origin of the voice. A man in a trench coat and a blue tie stood in the center of the bar. He stared at Natalie, unblinking. Andy slowly reached for the knife stashed in her back pocket. The man's eyes suddenly shot to her.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, human."

Andy stopped. Human? That would imply he wasn't human. She slowly looked at Natalie. "Do you know him?"

Natalie took a slow, deep breath. "He's my brother."

"I didn't know you had any living family." Andy was officially confused. "You lied?"

"There is a lot my sister hasn't told you, Andromeda Crane." Natalie's brother stepped forward.

Instinctively, Andy's hand went back for the knife. This time, Natalie stopped her. "It's okay, Andy. I won't let him hurt you." She stepped forward to meet him. "What are you doing here, Castiel?"

Castiel. The name sounded strange but was natural on Natalie's tongue. Andy watched them carefully.

"I'm sure you felt it. Anna's memories have been restored."

Natalie nodded. "I did. I also felt your presence, brother. Along with our other siblings. What is going on?"

"Our father has given us orders." Castiel acted like a programmed robot, cold and unfeeling. Andy didn't like him.

"And what do I have to do about it?" Natalie began to circle him, like a lion hunting her prey, but Andy could tell it was an intimidation tactic at most. She felt as though Castiel was a lot stronger than he looked. "I left home, remember?"

"You did," Castiel nodded thoughtfully. "So did Anna. You are sister in arms, you could say. With her memory returned, you are the first she will seek out. So, I found you first."

Andy had had enough. She pulled her knife and stepped between the two of them. She pointed the sharpened metal at Castiel's throat. "Enough. Who are you and what do you want with Natalie?"

He looked at her knife with a curious eye, not a lick of fear in his bones. "I am Castiel. An Angel of the Lord."

Andy paused. She had not expected that. "What? Angels aren't real." She looked over her shoulder at Natalie. "Are they?"

"You have been friends with one for five years," Castiel said matter of factly.

Andy lowered the knife to her side, turning to fully face Natalie. "That's not true. Tell me he's lying."

Natalie lowered her gaze. Andy swore she saw her shed a tear. "I'm sorry, Andy. I didn't know how to tell you."

Andy dropped the knife entirely. "Are you fucking kidding me? Five years? You've lied to me for five fucking years?" Her voice rose.

A whoosh of wind blew and the hairs on the back of Andy's neck stood. "Sariel." The voice was deep and commanding. But it also terrified Andy.

Natalie's hand grabbed Andy's shoulder and pulled the blonde behind her. The new voice belonged to a large, dark man. "Uriel." Natalie spat bitterly.

"It's been too long, sister," Uriel drawled, clearly not worried about anything Natalie could do. He stood next to Castiel impatiently.

"Not long enough." Natalie glared.

Uriel laughed. An eerie, unpleasant sound. "Enough talk. You're coming with us. Our sister won't cooperate with us," He pointed to himself and Castiel. "We need you. Now."

"She's not going anywhere with you!" Andy spoke up without thinking.

Uriel looked Andy up and down, unimpressed. "This is the trash you've been hanging with on Earth? How the mighty fall, Sariel."

"Can it, jerk." Andy spat.

Uriel rolled his eyes. Natalie cleared her throat. "Why do you need Anna?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Uriel sighed. "To kill her. She disobeyed and for that, she must pay."

Natalie raised a brow. "I disobeyed. I fell, just like her."

"It's different," Castiel spoke up. "Father ordered us to kill her, not you."

"And you think I'll be complacent in the murder of my sister?" Natalie scoffed.

"Of course not," Uriel breathed. "We have leverage." He pulled a silver chain from beneath his shirt. On the end of it was a vial with glowing blue essence inside.

Andy saw Natalie's face pale. "Her grace."

"Not just hers'." Castiel pulled an identical vial from around his neck.

Natalie seemed to be vibrating with anger. Andy looked at her. "Grace? What is that, like your powers?"

Natalie nodded. "Exactly." She looked between her brothers, utterly defeated. "Fine. I'll come. But not without Andy. You have to ensure her safety."

Uriel looked less than pleased, but Castiel nodded, satisfied. "Of course. You have our word."

Andy had no time to react or process as Natalie took her hand. Castiel and Uriel took hold of their shoulders and in a blink they were standing in a forest, a barn before them. Andy let go of Natalie's hand and stumbled back, tripping over a log and falling onto her back. She groaned. "Motherfucker..."

But she made no move to get up. The fall broke her. She felt utterly defeated. The information she had learned minutes before was starting to absorb, and yet she couldn't believe it. She looked up to see Castiel standing over her with a curious tilt of his head. He held his hand out toward her. "Allow me."

Andy's nose crinkled in disgust. She sat up, smacking him away as she stood. She brushed the dirt and leaves from her pants angrily. Natalie came up beside her, frowning. "I'm sorry, Andy."

"Save it," Andy hissed, not looking her in the eye.

She stayed behind the Angels as they marched towards the old barn. The door opened for Uriel and Castiel without them touching it, sending a gust of wind into the building. They all stepped in and the door closed, nearly hitting Andy in the back. She looked at who was inside waiting.

The red-headed woman caught her eyes right away. She must've been Anna. But then she saw them -- Sam and Dean Winchester. She swore under her breath. Of course, they were involved in this. Dean's eyes caught hers and they widened in shock. But there was no time for a reunion.

"Hello, Anna. It's good to see you." Castiel greeted the woman who Sam Winchester had protectively put an arm in front of.

Natalie stood next to Uriel. Andy wasn't able to see her face, but she was sure it was frowning. Anna stared back at her, shocked as Dean was to see Andy.

"How? How did you find us?" Sam asked, shocked. Castiel looked at Dean, who lowered his head in shame. Sam's head whipped to his brother. "Dean?"

Dean looked at Anna, eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry." His voice was deeply sincere.

"Why?" Sam questioned.

Anna looked back at Castiel, Uriel, and Natalie. "Because they gave him a choice." Then she looked at Sam. "They either kill me or kill you. I know how their minds work."

Natalie huffed angrily. "Typical Uriel. Cheating to get what he wants."

Dean shook his head. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

Anna's face softened at Natalie's voice. "An old friend. It'a good to see you, despite the circumstances, Sariel."

"I go by Natalie, now." She said shyly.

"Enough of this." Uriel rolled his eyes.

Anna frowned. She turned slowly to Dean. She touched his arm and leaned forward. Dean leaned in to meet her halfway and they shared a slow goodbye kiss. Andy raised her brow in surprise but kept quiet. She was only an observer, no need to interject herself. The two whispered a couple of words to each other before Anna stepped forward.

"Okay, no more tricks. No more running. I'm ready."

"I'm sorry," Castiel said. Even with his monotone voice, it sounded sincere.

"No, you're not." Anna scoffed.

Natalie shook her head. "This is wrong, Castiel. You know it."

"Silence." Uriel raised his hand and suddenly Natalie couldn't make a sound. "You will be dealt with later."

Despite her better judgment, Andy ran to Natalie's side. She held her shoulders, making sure she was merely silent and was still breathing. "You okay, Nat?" Natalie nodded. She looked at Andy sadly, a clear attempt at apologizing. "We'll talk about this later."

"I truly am sorry, Anna..." Castiel began.

Anna shook her head. "No. You're not sorry. Because you don't know how it feels, not really."

Castiel frowned. "Still, we have a history. It's just-"

"Orders are orders" Anna finished for him. "I know. Just make it quick."

There was a new voice, startling everyone but the Angels. "Don't you touch a hair on that poor girl's head."

Behind Anna, Sam and Dean were four strangers who were followed by the smell of sulphur. Demons. Andy tensed.

The oldest man pointed a bony finger at Castiel and Uriel. Behind him, two burly men held up a brunette, who was bleeding from the abdomen.

Uriel stepped forward and everyone moved out of his way. Andy pulled Natalie to the very far end of the barn, the furthest from the demons.

"How dare you come in this room you pussing sore?" Uriel spat.

"Name calling?" The eldest demon tilted his head and stepped forward to meet the Angel. "That hurt my feelings. You sanctimonious, fanatical prick."

"Turn around and walk away. Now." Castiel warned.

"Sure," The demon shrugged. "Just give us the girl." He looked over at Anna, who was guarded by Sam and Dean. "We'll make sure she gets punished good and proper."

Castiel narrowed his eyes. "You know who we are and what we will do." He walked forward to stand side by side with Uriel. "Don't make me say it again. Leave now or we lay you to waste."

"Think I'll take my chances." The demon sneered.

Uriel was the first to act, jumping on a demon and slamming him against a post. Castiel went for the eldest demon. He placed his palm on the demon's forehead. Andy expected something to happen, but nothing. The demon laughed an insult and slammed Castiel down, holding him by the neck.

Natalie pulled herself from Andy's grip. "Nat, what are you doing?"

Natalie rushed forward, grabbing a shovel off the ground and hurling at the demon who held Castiel. It knocked him back momentarily, but it gave her enough time to reach down and take the glowing necklace off of Castiel. Her Grace. She put the necklace around her own neck.

The demon rose, eyeing her curiously. Natalie glared and tossed the shovel to Dean. He got the idea and took his turn swinging at the demon. Natalie returned to Andy's side, still unable to talk, but smiling.

Andy almost forgot she was mad at her as she smiled back. Almost.

Two grunts of pain caught her attention. The demon had gotten the upper hand on Sam and Dean and they were at his mercy on their knees.

Natalie looked at Anna and the two of them nodded. As Uriel was distracted with the last demon grunt, Anna grabbed the vial that hung from his neck. Natalie joined Anna in the center of the room and the two of them threw the glass onto the ground, releasing their Graces.

"No!" Uriel shouted.

Andy could only stare as the blue essence slithered into the women's mouths until it was gone. They fell to their knees. Andy went to help but Natalie held up her hand, and her voice returned. "No! Stay back! Shut your eyes!"

Andy knitted her brows in confusion until she saw the light growing from underneath Natalie and Anna's skin. The light grew and grew. Andy listened and shut her eyes. Their combined lights were so bright that it created a hum of energy and then suddenly it was gone. Andy opened her eyes. Natalie and Anna were gone.

Andy frantically looked around the room. There was no trace of them. No blood, no clothes. Nothing to even suggest they had been there -- that Natalie had been there.

She watched as Dean picked up a knife that had been left on the floor and pocketed. He glared at Castiel. "Well, what are you guys waiting for? Aren't you gonna go get Anna? Unless, of course, you're scared."

"This isn't over." Uriel lurched at Dean but Castiel stopped him.

Dean looked up at him sternly. "It looks over to me, junkless."

Castiel and Uriel were gone in the blink of an eye. Andy was left in the barn with Sam, Dean, and the bleeding girl.

Dean turned to her. "What the hell were you doing with them?"

Andy shook her head, not fully comprehending everything. "Natalie...they called her Sariel. She is...or was my best friend who apparently thought to keep the fact that she's an Angel a secret."

"And they brought you here?" Sam asked.

"Partly because Nat wouldn't come without me, partly as collateral." She looked at the bleeding girl. "Whose this?"

"Ruby," Sam answered quickly.

Dean rolled his eyes. "A demon."

Andy paused. "You're working with a demon? You Winchesters..." She shook her head.

"It was a part of the plan," Sam explained, eyeing Ruby with worry.

"Bringing Angels and Demons together," Dean finished. "A pretty damn good plan. Except for the fact that the Angels brought you." His eyes narrowed at Andy.

She rolled her eyes. "Sorry to disappoint. It wasn't exactly my plan to end up in the crossfire of a Demon and Angel battle."

"How do you know here?" Ruby piped up.

"From a hunt," Sam told her. He looked at Dean. "And-"

"Don't you dare, Sam Winchester." Andy crossed her arms.

Sam chuckled. "Sorry. My lips are sealed."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I gotta tend to my wounds. I'll see you boys later." Before she left, her eyes lingered on Sam. Andy recognized the look. She rolled her eyes.

Sam turned to Andy. "We're pretty far from Ruthie's. You need a ride back?"

Andy smiled. "In your sweet-ass Impala? How could I say no?" She looked at Dean. "Unless you don't want me touching your baby?"

Dean scoffed. "I don't." Sam sent him a look and he sighed. "But I guess you can for a few hours."

Andy winked at him. "Such a gentleman."

AUTHORS NOTE

the words for flowing like water for me atm. I'm having such a blast writing this fic yall.

also, the big reveal!! Natalie is Sariel/Sariel is Natalie! I needed a way to bring Andy into the Angel world somehow so making Natalie's character felt the easiest. I hope you all enjoyed and don't forget to lmk your thoughts!