~XIII~ – Target

"Come on, feathers. We're allies. We need to tolerate each other."

"Oh, I am. And you won't shut your mouth to give me some peace, so that tolerance is slowly dropping." I really want Sam and Dean here right now. Anna isn't speaking a word, she hasn't since she got out of the bathroom. She must think it's best to keep quiet.

I'm glad someone wants to be.

"Do you still have my weapon?" I begrudgingly ask Ruby.

"Sure I do. But I've got it in a safe place, so don't think you're gonna go looking for it and find it easy." She raises her head in slight pride. "Besides, you've got a replacement."

"But it's not mine."

"Do you carve your names into them or something?"

"No..."

"Does yours handle different than the one you've got now?"

"No."

"Then why does it make a damn difference whose weapon you got if it's the exact same thing?"

I turn my head to the door as I feel Sam and Dean's presence. I feel my body relax, even more so when they both walk inside.

"Glad you could make it," says Ruby.

"Yeah, thanks," says Sam. "Anna, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I think so," the redhead replies. "Ruby's not like other demons. She saved my life, and she did too." Anna nods to me.

"Vera," I tell her. "If you ever need to remember my name." I offer her a tiny smile. "And for the record, I think Ruby's behavior is because I accompanied her."

"But whose idea was it to get her out of there?" Ruby retorts. "You just got us out of there, I made up the plan. Even if I was alone, I know she needs to stay alive. I wouldn't hurt her."

I only narrow my eyes at Ruby, definitely unconvinced by that.

"Yeah, I hear she does that," says Dean, responding to Anna. "I guess I...You know."

"What?" asks Ruby.

"I guess I owe you for...Sam. And I just wanted...you know..."

"Don't strain yourself."

"Okay, then. Is the moment over?" Ruby nods. "Good, cause that was awkward."

"No appreciation for me?" I ask.

"You weren't with him for as long as I was, feathers," Ruby tells me. "No use in whining about no credit."

"Hey, Sam, you think it'd be safe to make a quick call, just to tell my parents I'm okay?" Anna asks. "They must be completely freaked."

The four of us exchange uncomfortable looks.

"Uh..." Sam is the only one whose using words at the moment.

"What?"

"Anna, um...Your parents..."

"What about them?"

"Look, I'm sorry."

Anna's face turns horrified. "No, they're not..."

"Anna, I'm sorry."

"Why is this happening to me?" she moans.

"I don't know."

I gasp in pain. There's a pinprick in my brain, and my skin is prickling. Oh, no. Not again.

"They're coming," Anna whispers.

"Back room," says Dean. Sam takes Anna away and then comes back.

"Where's the knife?" asks Ruby.

"Uh...about that..."

"You're kidding."

"Hey, don't look at me." Dean looks at Sam.

"Thanks a lot," Sam grumbles.

"I gave that back to you!" I exclaim. "I should have just held onto it!"

"Great," Ruby sasses. "Just peachy. Impeccable timing, guys, really."

The door, which is closed, rattles violently before bursting open. I pull my blade at my side.

Castiel and Uriel enter the cabin.

"Please tell me you're here to help," says Dean. "We've been having demon issues all day."

"Well, I can see that. You want to explain why you have that stain in the room?" says Uriel.

"We're here for Anna," says Castiel.

"Here for her like...here for her?" asks Dean.

"Stop talking," Uriel insists. "Give her to us."

"Are you gonna help her?" asks Sam.

"No, she has to die," says Castiel.

I look at my brothers, confused. She has to die, why? I never got the order. They're not here to save her, but to...kill her?

"I don't understand..." I murmur.

"You want Anna?" asks Sam. "Why?"

"Out of the way," Uriel demands.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," says Dean quickly. "Okay, I know she's wiretapping your angel chats or whatever, but it's no reason to gank her."

"Don't worry, I'll kill her gentle."

"You're some heartless sons of bitches, you know that?"

"As a matter of fact, we are," says Castiel. "And?"

"And?" Sam exclaims. "Anna's an innocent girl!"

"She is far from innocent."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means she's worse than this abomination you've been screwing." Uriel is looking directly at Ruby. "Now give us the girl."

"Sorry," Dean retorts. "Get yourself another one. Try JDate."

"Who's gonna stop us? You two? Or this demon whore?" Uriel throws Ruby into a wall, Dean goes in for the attack. I decide to aid Dean, swinging my blade at Uriel. "Vera..."

"You may be heartless, you and Castiel and every other angel, but I'm not," I sneer. "I'm nothing like you."

"At least you speak the truth on that."

"Pull out your blade and fight me, you clearly want to. It's not an even match if you're not armed."

But Uriel doesn't; he uses his power to send me in Ruby's direction. As I get to my feet, I see Castiel knock Sam unconscious with a touch to the Winchester's forehead. Meanwhile, Uriel is punching Dean.

"Are you going to kill me, brother?" I ask Castiel, as I stagger towards him.

"You stand in our way, Vera. I don't want to."

"You're not getting Anna." I tense.

"Then I guess you just answered your own question."

A bright light flashes, and suddenly, I'm no longer in the cabin. I'm no longer near Sam, Dean, Ruby, or Anna. In fact, I've been transported some place far away.

And Uriel and Castiel are with me.

We're all disoriented. I'm crouched towards the grassy floor. I have no idea how that happened, or why, or where I am. I just know I must be far away from the Winchesters, Ruby, and Anna.

"Who was responsible for that?" Uriel growls angrily.

Anna. Sam was incapacitated, Dean was getting hurt by Uriel, and I doubted it was Ruby. How could she know to banish us like that? It's just another clue in this puzzle that is Anna Milton. The answer must be staring us in the face, but we're not seeing it.

"We'll give you one chance, Vera. One last time," Castiel tells me firmly. "Whatever you're doing with the Winchesters, it needs to stop. Right now."

"Why? Because you told me to?" I retort. "Because our mission is the same? Yes, it is, but I'm doing mine in a different manner."

"Yes, you are. You're being defiant, disobedient," Uriel grunts. "You're not following orders."

"In case you forgot, Uriel, I really never have."

"Perhaps you're training wasn't strict enough."

"You're not taking me back to Heaven."

"If you don't come willingly, we'll make you."

"I don't know. You and Castiel don't look so good." I pant.

"You don't look in the best shape, either."

Alona, I reach out desperately. I need your help. I know you're following Heaven's orders, but I want to believe our friendship means more. Please...get me out of here. I need to get away. They're going to take me back, Alona. I don't want to go back. You know I'll resist, they know I'll resist.

"Then I guess it's a fair fight," I breathe. Castiel slides his blade from his trench coat sleeve, and Uriel produces his from behind his back. "I'd rather die than go back."

"You always were dramatic," Uriel hisses.

I twitch anxiously as the two begin to move in on me. I don't want to make the first move, I don't want to give them any advantage. Uriel looks like he's been waiting for this for some time. Castiel looks a little more...reluctant.

"What do you think you're doing?" comes Alona's voice from behind me. I still keep my fighting stance and am aware as Alona moves past me.

Uriel and Castiel stop their advancements.

"Alona, you know what she's done," Uriel tells Alona firmly. "She needs to—"

"I'm aware. Let me take care of her." Alona looks at me. "No fuss. Even if you did, you look about ready to keel over. Look, if I take you, I won't handle you roughly like they will."

I straighten up and tuck my weapon away. I can feel suspicion from Uriel and Castiel. Before either of them can understand Alona's true purpose, she grabs hold of me and we disappear from our brothers.