The Angels' way - A Supernatural Story

61

After Sam's last words hang in the air, Maeve remains silent and motionless, as if time was frozen around her, the truth piercing her heart like a sharpened blade. She stares at Sam, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, filled with love and regret. Why can't she find the words to express how much he means to her, how deeply sorry she is for the hurt? In the heavy silence, Sam offers a tragic smile, a flicker of pain crossing his features.

"Sam, I..."

But before Maeve can finish, her phone rings, shattering the moment. She raises a finger, pleading for him to wait just a moment, and answers, hearing Reine's voice on the other end.

"It's time, daughter of the angel."

Maeve hangs up, stunned, her heart racing. She glances at the clock on the wall, dismay washing over her. Just as she was about to open up to Sam, he speaks first, shaking his head slowly, a mix of sadness and resignation in his eyes.

"I understand," he says softly. "I really don't want to impose. Dean and I will hit the road."

"Sam, please..."

"Go," he interrupts, his voice steady yet heavy with unspoken emotion. "I know the way."

Maeve feels a deep resignation settle in her chest. They've come too far, and time slips away from her grasp. Trembling, she retrieves her car keys, the metal cold against her palm, and moves toward the exit. But before stepping out, she turns back to Sam, searching his face for any sign of understanding, any hint of hope. Her hand reaches out, brushing against the collar of his jacket, and she inhales deeply, trying to capture the intoxicating scent that has become her anchor.

Finally, with that scent lingering in her memory, Maeve closes her eyes, opens the door, and rushes out, determined not to look back.

Outside, she takes the car she stole near the airport, her mind racing faster than her GPS could calculate. Just as thoughts begin to swirl, she's startled by the sudden presence of her father sitting in the passenger seat, his eyes wide and concerned.

"Dad??"

"I warned you," Castiel replies, his voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of worry. "I told you I would come at the slightest call, the slightest prayer."

"But I didn't... oh."

"Yes, indeed. So, where are we going? Wait, is that Dean's car parked in the lot?"

Maeve, feeling a rush of urgency, spills everything to him. She recounts her journey to the Maldives, her encounter with Hermogenes, the haunting details about the cloak, and her return to the United States. When she mentions the voodoo priestess, she notices Castiel's steady demeanor; nothing seems to surprise him anymore.

As she speaks about Sam, her heart aches with the weight of their unresolved fight. She explains their conversation and her struggle to communicate her feelings. Castiel listens intently, absorbing her heartaches and her quest for identity, realizing that after nearly thirty years, a woman still needs her father. A sense of relief washes over him as he offers the wisdom he feels equipped to give.

"Sam loves you," he asserts, his voice firm yet gentle. "That's undeniable. He's followed you from afar these past weeks; I've seen him tirelessly gathering information, checking morgue records across the country. He's madly in love with you, and I think he's scared to death. Your departure felt like a betrayal to him, and that was difficult. But... did he seem like he wanted to stop you from finding Reine?"

"... No."

Maeve gazes ahead, the truth settling in her chest. Deep down, she knows her father is right. She should have seen it.

"Dad, you... Thank you."

Castiel reaches out, resting his hand over hers on the gear shift, a warmth radiating between them. That single word from Maeve is the most beautiful thing he could hope to hear.

"I will always be here when you need me, Maeve. Always. Throughout your life on Earth and all your life in Heaven."

In an instant, Castiel disappears, and Maeve feels a renewed sense of peace envelop her. With a smile breaking through her earlier turmoil, she realizes she has finally begun to find the inner calm Reine had wanted her to attain.