A Little Big Surprise

Chapter 27 ~Part Five~

 Aria could tell that this situation was anything but ideal. From the way Castiel clutched at his angel blade to the unmistakable panic that began to show through his electric blue eyes. All three of these strangers basically ignored him however, instead focusing their attention on Aria herself. The woman with brown eyes spoke again, unblinking.

     "I asked if that was-"

     "No." Castiel had his teeth clenched "This is Aria."

 One of the other's chuckled, his demeanor seeming more relaxed...more human than the other two but still unmistakably cold. "Come now Brother. You don't expect insubordination to get you everywhere do you?"

 Suddenly a shot rang out and all five of them turned to find where it had come from, finding Dean and Sam as bold and unbothered as they always were. Dean held the gun above his head and Sam held the demon killing blade lazily at his side. Though they seemed at ease, fire blazed in their eyes.

     "We seem to manage." Dean drawled putting his gun away "Why don't we save this for another time? Do we really want to fight here, at a gas station?"

 The male angel growled and moved to step forward but the brown eyed woman held her hand up without her eyes leaving the two males. It seemed she was weighing her options and had found that it in fact was not worth the confrontation. At least not at this moment. Aria shivered when her gaze shifted back onto her and she gave the most emotionless smile she had ever seen, a strange disconnect from her otherwise human appearance.

     Her voice wasn't angry or vengeful. It was factual and straight to the point "It is our job to protect the word of God, wherever it may be. And, we could do a lot better than two humans and a broken down half angel."

 Aria stared at her for a second before anger began to well up inside her chest. The day had been exhaustive and painful enough already, but who had gotten her through it? They had. Who were the ones protecting her all this time when angels were no where to be found? Them! Who were they to say they could do better when until now, they hadn't known she existed? She was alive wasn't she? They made her feel it. From the palms of her hands to the soles of her feet she felt alive with them. Something she knew these dispassionate angels could never give her. They would lock her away, study her, prod at her. No different from her customers. A different type of trapped. Stepping out from behind Castiel Aria glared at them the best she could through her fear and exhaustion.

     "I'll risk it. I would rather be with them and feel alive, for however much longer, than be with you and be prisoner all over again."

Then she, without a second thought, turned away from them and took Castiel's hand, leading him back to Sam and Dean. They didn't follow them even as they got back into the car and drove off in complete silence. Half because of the sudden appearance of angels and half because of how brave Aria had become to defend her little family. She laid her head against the window and stared, still feeling angry at their audacity. But Castiel wasn't angry or even fearful. He gazed at Aria with utter adoration and took her hand in his, rubbing her skin gently with his thumb. When she noticed Aria couldn't help but blush and look down at her lap in embarrassment.

     Dean noticed the change in atmosphere and laughed "Well damn Aria. Maybe we should have you take care of the angels for us from now on huh?"

     Sam laughed as Aria pouted and played with a hole in her jeans "They were very rude."

 The rest of the ride back to the bunker was spent rather peacefully given the circumstance and Aria found herself happy to be home. There was no way that Luka would be able to find the bunker, or bust into it now that Sam and Dean had warded it once again. She knew that inside she would be more than safe but before they could enter, they were confronted with a raggedy little car parked in their usual spot. Sam and Dean were immediately on their guard and got out of the car first to survey the area. Now all the fear previously dissipated by her need to protect her family was beginning to flood back, and Aria clutched Castiel's hand tight before the brothers came back into sight with a scrawny boy being jostled between them.

Kevin Tran!

 Castiel let Aria out and she walked over to meet them at the bunker door, a shy but welcoming smile blossoming across her face now that she knew there was no danger "Nice to see you again Kevin!"

     "Ah..yeah." Kevin avoided her eyes and a tinge of red spread across his ears and cheeks, making Aria remember their last meeting and begin to feel self conscious.

     Sam didn't seem to take notice of the awkward looks and simply clapped Kevin on the back with his usual smirk "Kevin has some news for us."

Castiel tilted his head and wrapped an arm around Aria's waist, pulling her close as if to shield her from any possible triggers. But Dean shook his head while opening the bunker door and ushering them all inside, playfully slapping Aria's behind so that she giggled and hurried inside. They all spoke rather casually as they headed toward the kitchen, Sam saying he was going to make sandwiches for lunch. In those moments Aria was especially grateful to be back home. Dean and Sam were cracking jokes about how Kevin was never going to grow while Castiel told them that, realistically, that would never happen anyway because Kevin had passed his growing years. She giggled at Dean while he threw popcorn in the air and tried to catch it in his mouth, and gave Sam a kiss on the cheek when he brought her her Pb&j and milk. When they were all sitting down and eating save for Castiel for obvious reasons, Dean nudged Kevin and nodded his head.

     Kevin nodded and for some reason, looked to Aria to speak his news "I'm almost done translating the tablet. We're going to close the gates of hell. Forever."