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( THE THINGS WE LEAVE BEHIND )

BUNKER
[ ☾]

Dean is kneeling in a room. He is covered in blood, and decimated bodies litter the ground around him. One body stood out in particular, Elena. A blade is in his hand as he glances around at the carnage surrounding him. His face is a mixture of shock, sorrow, and something like acceptance.

He wakes with a start, gasping as he sits up in bed. He looks around, breathing hard, and he's in his bedroom at the bunker. He looks down at the Mark of Cain on his arm.

PONTIAC, ILLINOIS

YOUTH TRANSITION CENTER

A teenage girl with curly blonde hair and too much eye makeup is brought through the doors, a policeman holding her by the arm. "Get your hands off me, perv. I'll sue your ass." She says.

The policeman hands her bag off, then leads her further down the hall. They stop in front of a woman, Sandy, who looks to be in charge. "What was it this time?" Samdy asks.

"Shoplifting." He says. "The guy ain't looking to press charges, but I figured you'd want her back."

"That's forty-eight hours in isolation." Sandy says.

"Oh. Scary." The Girl says. She sighs as the policeman leads her down to a room, then pushes her inside. Sandy stands at the door, watching as the girl walks over and kicks the bed, before she walks over and punches the wall. An orderly walks up beside Sandy.

"Who is this girl?" The Orderly asks.

"One of our frequent flyers. Claire Novak."

The next morning, Claire is sitting on the floor when the orderly opens the door. "Novak. You got a visitor." He says.

"Really?" Claire asks.

"Your father's here to see you." They says. Claire looks shocked, and her breath catches before Castiel walks through the door. Claire manages a small smile.

"Hello, Claire. It's been a long time." Claire says.

SUPERNATURAL

Claire stands up, never taking her eyes from Castiel, and he turns to the orderly. "Can we have a moment?" Cas asks.

"I'll be outside." He leaves, closing and locking the door behind him. Castiel steps towards Claire.

"I'm not your father." Cas says. The hope immediately disappears from Claire's eyes.

"Right." Claire says. "'I'm not your father'. Those are the first words you ever said to me, remember?"

"I remember everything." Castiel says.

"So do I, Castiel. My dad ... Is he still in there?" She asks.

"No. The human soul, it can only occupy a body while it retains a certain ... structural integrity, and this vessel, it was ... It was ripped apart on a subatomic level by an archangel."

"Well, then how are you ...?" Claire starts.

"I was reassembled. Your father is in Heaven." Castiel says.

"Well. Yay for him. Anyway, good talk." Claire says. "You can get the hell out of my life now."

"Claire—" Cas starts.

"What? Huh? What?" She asks. "You took everything from me. What do you want now?"

"Nothing, I just—I came here to help you." Castiel says.

"Why?" Claire asks.

"Because I've hurt you so much." Cas says as Claire is trying not to cry. "Where is your mother!"

"About a few months after you ... She took off. Dropped me off at my grandma's and went to go 'find herself'. I guess she's still looking."

"And you're in a ... child prison?" Cas asks.

"It's a group home. After my Gran died, I didn't have anyone, so... I bounced around to different foster families." Claire says. "Places like this. Living the dream, you know?"

"Well, Claire, I'm—I'm sorry, and ... I can never replace what I took from you." Cas says. "But if there is anything you need, anything at all..."

"Get me out of here." Claire says.

"How?" He asks.

"Do you own a tie?"

Castiel is fidgeting with the tie around his neck, loosening it. "Stop it." Claire reaches over and fixes the tie. "There. Now you look like a dad."

Sandy walks into her office with a file in her hand. Castiel goes to stand up. "No, no." She says as Castiel sits back down. "So... Mr. Novak. I understand you want custody of your daughter."

"Yes, that's uh—" Cas clears his throat, makes his voice less gruff-sounding. "That's right

"Why?" Sandy asks.

"Excuse me?" Castiel asks.

"It's a simple question. You vanish, for years." Sandy says. "No contact, not even a Christmas card. Why come back now?"

"I, um ... I didn't, uh ... I was traveling." Castiel says.

"For work."

"Work. Yes." He agrees.

"Long trip. And what is it that you do exactly?" Sandy asks.

"I ... uh ... I fight certain deadly threats to humanity." Cas says.

"He's an exterminator." Says Claire.

"I'm an exterminator." Cas says. From the look on her face, it's obvious Sandy doesn't believe their story.

"Uh-huh. You know, I think I might have bedbugs. Any tips?" She asks.

"Of course. You should sleep tight and not let them bite." Castiel winks at her, and Claire rolls her eyes.

"I'll try that." Sandy says.

"It doesn't matter. He's my dad, and he wants to sign me out, so I'm out. That's the law, Sandy."

"Claire, wait for me in the hallway." Sandy says.

"You can't—" Claire starts.

"Now." Sandy says as Claire gets up and stomps from the room. Cas watches her go, then turns back to Sandy. "I don't do well with liars, Mr. Novak."

"But—" Castiel starts.

"Save it. I'm denying your application for custody. I'm not trying to be the bad guy here. I'm not. But until Claire turns eighteen, she is my responsibility. I know you're trying to do what you think is best. I know you want to be her friend."

"I do." Castiel says.

"And that's our problem, Mr. Novak. Claire's troubled. The last few years have not been easy for her." Sandy says. "And she doesn't need a friend; she needs a father."

BUNKER
[ ☼ ]

      In the bunker, Dean is sitting at the table, watching an old episode of 'The Three Stooges' and laughing. "What are you laughing at?" Sam asks.

      "Oh, hey. Hang on. You gotta see—this is a classic." Dean says.

      "I'm glad you're feeling better." Sam says.

      "Oh, yeah. Better than ever." Dean says as Sam puts a grilled cheese sandwich down in front of him, and he immediately goes for it. "Oh, hello, beautiful." He pulls the sandwich apart, takes a bite. "Oh, yeah. Mmm."

      "You want some alone time with that thing?" Sam asks. Dean shakes his head, mumbling with his mouth full. "You sure?"

      "Yeah, yeah. Watch this." Dean turns the computer around, and he and Sam laugh as they watch the stooges. Sam gets serious when he catches a glimpse of the Mark on Dean's arm, but he ends up laughing again when Dean laughs at the computer screen.

DETENTION CENTER
[ ☾]

      Claire is lying on her bed, wide awake. She sits up when she hears a disturbance outside her room, and she gets to her feet, breathing hard. The doorknob to her room rattles, and she's scared, until the door opens and Castiel is standing there. "It's you. What's going on?" She asks.

      "I'm getting you out of here." Castiel says.

      Claire grabs her jacket and follows Castiel down the hall, stepping over a guard. She stops, looking back at the unconscious man. "Is he ...?" She asks.

      "He's sleeping." Cas says as Claire hurries to catch up with him.

      Rowena is chained to the wall in Hell. She's pale, with dark circles under her eyes. The door opens and Gerald walks in, with another demon. He pushes the demon into the room, and she goes over to the wall near Rowena.

      "Sit." Gerald says. The demon does, and he shackles her to the wall as well. "Stay. Good dog." He goes to walk out.

      "Wait!" Rowena yells as Gerald glances back. "My son... I need to talk to him" Gerald laughs. "It's been weeks! Tell him I'm sorry. Tell him—" he slams the door behind him as he leaves. Rowena and the other demon lay back against the wall.

RESTAURANT
[ ☾]

      Claire is dragging her fries through ketchup as Castiel watches her. "Yeah?" She asks, annoyed.

      "Nothing. It's just ... You could eat a vegetable." He says.

      Claire smiles. "Ketchup's a vegetable." She says. Cas gives her a look like he's not quite sure whether to believe her or not, and she laughs. "You've changed. The Castiel I met? He was crappy. Like super stuck-up and a dick and you just wanted to punch him in his stupid angel face."

      "I don't think I was that bad."

       "You totally were. And now you're just ... I don't know. Nicer. And kind of a doof. No offense." Claire says.

      "Yes, well, um... Before, I was very self-assured. I was convinced I was on this righteous path." Castiel says. "Now I realize that there is no righteous path. It's just people trying to do their best in a world where it's far too easy to do your worst."

      "Wow. Deep." She says.

      "Yeah. For a doof." He says as Claire smiles, and the waitress walks up, giving Castiel the check. "Thank you. So... where do we go next?"

      "Look. I appreciate the meal. And, you know, the felony. But you don't need to babysit me. I can take care of myself." Claire says.

       "What do you mean?" Castiel asks.

      "I mean you felt guilty, so you busted me out." Claire says. "So thanks, but we're good. Even Steven."

       "No, we um... We committed a crime, and you might need me again. So I—I think we should stick together." Cas says.

      "Okay. You want to get some stuff for the road? I have to pee."

      "Oh. Okay." He says. They stand up at the same time, and Claire bumps into him when she crosses to his side. "I'm sorry."

       "My bad

       While Cas goes over to grab a few things, Claire slips out the back of the restaurant. She glanced behind her, and when the coast is clear, she runs away. Cas, meanwhile, lays some distinctively girly items on the counter, receiving a look from the cashier.

      "It's for a teenage girl." Castiel says. The cashier just stares at him. "She's urinating. The cashier forces a smile, then begins ringing up the items. Cas pats his pockets. "My wallet's gone." He looks around, and notices that Claire is gone. Outside, Claire's trying to flag down a car.

       "Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Hey, can you help? Damn." Claire says. As a car passes by, Castiel walks out of the restaurant. Another car drives up. "Help! Please?"

      "Claire." Castiel says as she climbs into the car.

      "Go, go, go!" She yells. The car drives off, and Castiel starts after it.

      "Wait. Hey! Claire!" As the car disappears, Cas stands in the road, watching it go.

      Sam, Dean, Elena, and Castiel stand outside the restaurant Cas and Claire were at the previous night. "This is why you called us? This is your emergency?" Dean asks.

      "Yes!" Castiel yells.

       "No, Cas! An emergency is a dead body, okay? Or—or a wigged-out angel, or the Apocalypse, take three." Dean says. "Some chick bolting on you is not an emergency. That's ... that's every Friday night for Sam."

      "Dude." Sam says.

      "Well."

       "This isn't just 'some chick'." Castiel says. "I'm responsible for her."

       "Since when? You met her once, how many years ago?" Dean asks.

       "Look, Cas. Even if we do find Claire ... Then what?" Sam asks.

       "She rolled you, and then she ran, okay? It's pretty clear that she doesn't want to play house." Dean says.

      "I understand. But I need to know that Claire is safe. And I need your help." Castiel says.

      "All right. Uh ... Why don't we go ask around at the group home?" Sam asks.

      "Uh, you know what?" Dean asks. "We're going to stick here in case she circles back. You go ahead."

      "Thank you."

        Inside the restaurant, Castiel is studying a ketchup bottle intently. "Is ketchup a vegetable?" He asks.

       "Hell, yes. All right, so spill. What's with the family reunion?" Dean asks.

       "I don't know. I've just been ... thinking about people." Cas says.
Dean glances around, then switches their plates, taking Cas' burger and setting his empty plate in front of Cas. "No problem. I've helped some, but I've ... I've hurt some."

      "So you're having a midlife crisis." Dean says.

       "Well, I'm extremely old. I think I'm entitled." Castiel says.

       "Cas, listen to me. There's some stuff you just got to let go. Okay?" Dean says. "The people you let down, the ones you can't save ... You got to forget about them. For your own good."

      "Is that what you do?"

       "That's the opposite of what I do. But I ain't exactly a role model." Dean says.

      "That's not true."

       Dean looks at Cas, then laughs, clearly not believing him. "Yeah." He says.

      "How are you, Dean?" Cas asks.

      "Fine." Dean says and Cas gives him a look. "I'm great!"

      "No, you're not." Castiel says.

      "Yeah, well, I lost the black eyes, so that's a plus. But I still have this." Dean reaches over and gently slaps the Mark on his arm.

      "Is the Mark of Cain still affecting you?" Castiel says. Dean flashes back to his dream from earlier, of the blood covering him, the dead bodies lying around him. "Dean?"

       Dean blinks hard, coming back to the present. "Cas, I need you to promise me something." He says.

       "Of course."

       "If I do go dark side, you got to take me out." Dean says.

       "What do you mean?" Castiel asks.

       "Knife me. Smite me. Throw me into the freakin' sun, whatever." Dean says. "And don't let Sam get in the way, because he'll try."

       "And what about Elena?" Cas asks.

       Dean thinks for a second. "I love her, but I can't go down that road again, man. I can't be that thing again."