A pair of strong arms were wrapped around your middle, with your head resting on a warm chest. Yawning, you opened your eyes, wincing at the pounding headache rampaging through your head.

"Dean?" You asked groggily, looking up the flannel covered chest to a chin that was starting to grow whiskers. Glancing down at you in concern, he cupped your cheek.

"There you are. You were starting to worry me." He said softly, leaning down and pressing a chaste kiss to the side of your mouth. 

"How long was I out?" You asked, closing your eyes again at the pounding pain.

"Just an hour." He answered, as you forced yourself to open your eyes once again. Past Dean you could barely see the interior of the Impala.

"So, what's up?" Was all you could ask, your brain having a hard time thinking coherently. 

"Sam borrowed a car, and went back to the cabin, getting all of our belongings. It's not safe back there, not since Jayden or whatever his name is, knows about it. You and I are on the edge of town. I figured as soon as you woke up we would head in to the store, gather some supplies before planning any further." He explained.

Slowly sitting up, you rubbed at your temples. The headache was almost out of control. "What about Cas?" You managed to spit out.

"I prayed to him. I hope Jayden didn't do something to him." Dean grumbled, as he slid out of the Impala, holding his hand out for you. Grasping his callused hand in yours, you slid out of the car. As soon as you tried to put weight on your feet, your legs collapsed, and you sagged against Dean, his strong arms the only thing holding you up. 

"Whoa, you okay there?" He asked, as your entire body trembled with the attempt to hold itself up.

Shaking your head, you let Dean lower you back into the Impala. "I think using my Angel juice took a little too much out of me." You admitted.

Cussing, Dean wiped a hand across his face, pacing the small area beside the open door. "I knew this would happen! It wasn't safe for you to try and use your powers against him. We could have figured out another way."

Sitting there weakly, you had hardly enough energy to argue. "Dean, I know. But he would have killed you, and taken me. I would rather die than see that happen."

He stopped pacing, standing in front of the open door, his hands spread on top of the Impala. "Please, promise me you won't do it again. When you fainted in my arms, I thought I had lost you."

"I can't promise that." You answered, watching as his face turned to disapproval. "If they threaten you, I can't say what I would do."

Before he could argue with you any further, you heard the rustling of wings, and saw Cas standing behind Dean. His shirt and coat were bloody, but otherwise he looked none the worse for wear. "Cas!" You exclaimed.

Dean turned around in shock, surprising his friend by pulling him in for a hug. "Cas, you sly dog! I had hoped you were okay!"

"Jayden was unable to get the drop on me like he wanted." Cas explained. "But he did manage to escape me."

"Yeah, the bastards working with Uriel. They were at the diner, tried to take Y/N." Dean spat out, still furious over the whole thing.

Cas leaned around Dean, staring intently at you, and you wanted to duck and hide. "Y/N, you didn't." He finally spoke, moving Dean none too gently out of the way so he could stand in front of you. "You knew the repercussions if you used your borrowed powers."

"I had no choice." You whispered, your gaze down on your folded hands. "They threatened Dean, and they were going to take me."

Cas reached forward, pressing his fingers against your forehead. Staring up into his beautiful blue eyes, you waited to see what he was going to do. Seconds ticked by, and you watched as he squinted his eyes tighter in confusion, his mouth turning into a thin grimace. "I can't heal you. This goes beyond the normal human exhaustion. It's as if you are tiring out your soul."

"What the hell does that mean Cas?" Dean growled behind him, while you wondered the same thing. You could feel the bone deep weariness inside you, more than an ache or a bad night's sleep. This was as if your heart was heavy, and no matter how much sleep you got, it wouldn't heal. 

"It means that by using her borrowed power, it's taking away her soul, her life force. She's still a walking time bomb, but she's also beginning to fade away from us. The more she attempts to connect with the Angel grace inside her, the faster this will occur." He announced.

Dean's hand connected with the metal of the Impala, the sound echoing through the car, causing you to flinch. "Damn it!"

"And if I never use it again?" You asked, just as a beat up Toyota truck pulled up beside the Impala, a familiar shaggy haired man climbing out.

"Then, you will have only lost years from your life, I think. But your situation is rare, and I can't say for sure." Cas answered you as Dean strode over to talk to his brother. 

"I couldn't let them take Dean. And I will use it again to save the people I love." You admitted to Cas, who seemed sad to hear the news.

Placing a hand on your shoulder, he gave you a half smile. "That doesn't surprise me. But please, be careful. Hopefully, you won't have to use it again. Maybe we can figure out another way."

Trying to stand up again, you were surprised when your legs held you. They were still wobbly, and the effort was a lot, but you felt confident enough to go into the store with Dean. "Dean, I'm ready now." You told him, seeing his stoney expression as he talked to his brother. 

Giving Sam a pointed look, Dean joined you on your side of the Impala. "You're staying here. Cas will stay with you while Sam comes with me." He ordered, pushing you back into the Impala.

"Dean, I..." You started arguing, but one look from him halted whatever you were going to say.

"This way we can leave this town faster, and find someplace new to stay. Please." He begged, before turning and leaving you with Cas.

Watching him walk away, you knew he was frustrated and upset with you. And you understood why. However, you knew in your heart, that you would make the same choice time and time again. In the short amount of time you had known these three men, Dean had managed to worm his way into your heart, and you couldn't imagine doing everything in your power to save him. Even if that mean losing yourself in the process.