Title: Into The Woods
Chapter 4

~~~~~~~~~~

With Jack now hiding behind Sam and Gwen and looking around their legs at Uzziel, Dean observed the angel camp. He took it all in in a long, slow perusal. They had pretty much everything the Winchester camp had. Tents, fire, chairs, and coolers.

He blinked, cocking his head a fraction. Why would they need coolers, he wondered. They didn’t eat. They didn’t need to. The bodies of their vessels were sustained supernaturally. Curious as to what angels would bring camping that required refrigeration of any kind, Dean stepped to one cooler and flipped it open. He studied the contents, not sure what he’d expected. A science experiment of some kind, maybe? He supposed this could sort of qualify if they’d done it intentionally and glanced over his shoulder. “Um…. Jael?”

“Yes, Dean?”

“Talk to you a minute?”

Jael walked over to join him. “Yes?”

He held up a finger and pointed it first at him, “In your extensive research for Uzziel on camping food, did anything happen to mention,” then down at the cooler, “the proper refrigeration methods?”

“He didn’t do all the research,” Uzziel told him. “I assigned myself the task of learning about tents. Did you know that the first --”

“You don’t sleep.” Sam raised Sean to his shoulder in an attempt to quiet him and after about five pats to his back, the baby let out a belch that had even Dean raising his brows. “Why do you need tents?”

“We’re going to pretend to sleep.” Uzziel was insistent on that, moving to open the flap of one tent to show them the sleeping bags inside. “We need the entire experience, not simply the appearance of experience. We’ll learn together and return to heaven all the stronger as a team.”

At Jael’s continued blank look in the direction of the cooler, Jo got up from her chair and stepped over to join them. She leaned down to look, gagged, and stood back up. “You didn’t ice it? Oh geez. Don’t eat any of this. You’ll give your vessels food poisoning. Just what we need. Angelic vessels puking their guts out.” She coughed and reached into her jacket. “And now I need crackers to settle my stomach.”

“We wouldn’t get sick and neither would they because of us.” Castiel walked over and closed the cooler, then bent and picked it up. “I’ll be right back.” When he returned, the cooler was refilled with fresh food and ice had been added. “Is this satisfactory, Dean?”

Crouching down, he picked through the food packages. It looked like Castiel may have just copied what Sam and Gwen had packed in their coolers back at camp. “Sure, but why do angels need food? You guys don’t eat.” He closed the cooler and stood, dusting off his hands.

“We don’t usually, but we can.” Abigael opened a tube of Pringles potato chips she’d taken from a plastic box. “Salt and vinegar chip?” She ate one and held the tube out. “I’ve found them to be quite tasty actually. My vessel really likes them.”

Dean reached in the tube and took a few chips since she was offering. Pringles weren’t exactly real potato chips, more like potato flavoring and flour shaped like chips, but they were free so he wasn’t going to complain. As he munched on them, Jack sprinted to him and hid behind his legs again. “You okay down there, Jack?”

“Yup. Can I have a chip, too, daddy?”

He handed him one. Jack hadn’t screamed since the first couple of screams and now Dean wondered if he was working through some imaginary scenario in his little head. Jack did have a pretty good imagination. Maybe he’d seen an ant on Uzziel’s clothes?

“It’s all part of the camping experience,” Uzziel said with an even bigger smile. “I, for one, am looking forward to a hotdog and a marshmallow chocolate graham cracker sandwich.”

“A s’more,” Jo corrected, returning to her chair and sitting. “It’s called a s’more and graham crackers sound really good right now. Better than saltines.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “You have any extra?”

“Whatever it’s called, I look forward to it.” He opened the plastic box, brought out a package of graham crackers and took it to her.

Jo opened the box, then the inside package, and crossed her legs. Jack eased from behind Dean’s legs to Gwen’s and Sam’s, then over to crouch at the base of the chair. He peeked at Uzziel from around Jo’s knee, head bobbing up and down.

Sam cleared his throat. “Why camping though? I wouldn’t think it’d be anything close to ideal for you guys.”

Gwen nodded. “He’s right. Surely there were other things you could have done? Why not something like a cruise or Las Vegas? You could have gone to Hawaii.”

“I would have gone to Hawaii if Uzziel had suggested it,” Abigael commented. “I like Hawaii.” She closed the Pringles container and put it away.

Castiel crossed his arms. “You have a charge in Hawaii. You go there all the time.”

“Well, sure. I’d still go.”

Jo put a hand on top of Jack’s head. “Up or down, sweetie? You’re making mommy seasick with the bobbing.”

“Up!” He took a graham cracker from the package, grinned at her, and sat down. “Down!”

“You go to Hawaii?” A thought occurred to Dean. “Maybe Jo and I could hop aboard angel air next time you go? Leave us there a couple days and come back for us?”

Sam shook his head. “Reliance on angel powers anyone?”

He spread his arms. “As long as she’s already going, it’d be nothing to take us with. Not like I’m asking her to make a special trip.”

“But she’d have to pick you up and bring you back home, thereby making a special trip.”

Abigael’s smile was amused. “I’ll consider the request, Dean.”

Uzziel sat in one chair. “Camping is a vacation tradition. Being one with nature.”

“The road trip is also a classic vacation tradition, Uzziel.” Sam sat as well and rested Sean on one knee, gently bouncing him. The huge belch must have made Sean feel better, for he began laughing. “You could have done one of those.”

Gwen settled on the ground beside his chair and snickered. “Yeah, bunch of angels in a minivan? That’d go well. I can picture it now: Uzziel driving because it’s his newest skill, Jael reading the map or trying to figure out a GPS, Abigael telling Uzziel to just stop and ask for directions already and if he won’t she will, Castiel staring out the window refusing to participate because angels don’t drive or take road trips, and Balthazar asking if they’re there yet over and over because he knows it’ll annoy the piss out of everyone.”

Castiel’s lips twitched at what Dean thought was a rather accurate description of what would occur on an angelic road trip if Uzziel planned it. “You have a fertile imagination, Gwen.”

“Tell me none of that would be truth.”

“You may have made an accurate assessment of our personalities.” He went to stand in front of Sam. “May I take Sean for awhile?”

“Sure. Here.” He handed Sean to Castiel and sat back with a satisfied grin. “He might need a change….”

Castiel frowned and sniffed the air. His expression shifted from surprise, to disgust, and finally to resignation. “Let me guess. The last one holding the baby changes the baby?”

“Hey, you’re the one wanted to hold him.” Sam and Gwen high-fived each other.

With a long look at both of them, Castiel nodded. “Very well. I’ll return in a moment.”

The idea of Castiel changing a messy diaper boggled Dean’s mind, but he was a fraction to late to ask Cas to take him with him so he could see it with his own eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~

Changing Sean wasn’t the first time Castiel had ever changed a diaper. He’d changed Jack a few times when Jack was a baby that Dean didn’t know about. It was one of those skills he’d practiced once upon a time and long before their temporary recent estrangement.

He finished the task, then placed Sean in the carrier and checked the Winchester camp. The fire was contained and he was glad Uzziel had thought to do so before he’d led Jo off to the angel camp. Uzziel was showing good sense with this trip. It was simply his enthusiasm that was already getting on Castiel’s nerves.

Actually, Castiel didn’t completely mind the camping trip. Overall, it was a good idea and he did agree that it was good for the rest of heaven to see them going on trips together as a unit. It presented them to heaven as a strong group that was able to work through challenges. The part he minded was Uzziel planning it for the one weekend this quarter that both Castiel and Abigael had plans for each hour of each day. They’d had a ton of meetings to reschedule and Mariel was likely still trying to get the weekend sorted out for both of them, although there were a couple things that couldn’t be put off. He’d just have to deal with them when the time came.

Spying a paper sack by one chair, he picked it up and glanced inside it. Books. Castiel liked books. With a glance left and right, he crouched down and looked at them, deciding that they had to be Jo’s based on what he knew of her reading preferences. One book was on the chair, the corner of a page turned down. He opened to the beginning and read the first few pages. Perhaps he’d borrow the book when she was finished with it. Castiel let a small smile slip free. Humans had the most creative minds!

A breeze swept the camp and he caught a scent on it that made him stand and concentrate on the immediate area. There was something…. Striding to Sam and Gwen’s tent, he found the baby backpack and strapped Sean in it against his chest. He headed towards the water, gaze raising to the sky. It wasn’t the Host he was sensing, but there was something. Something he wasn’t sure of and something that hadn’t been there when they’d all arrived.

Castiel slipped back to the camp and spoke to Abigael in a voice too low for the humans to hear. “Do a tour of the area. Try not to alarm anyone. There’s something here.”

“What?”

“I don’t know. See if you can get a feel for it. If you can’t, I’ll speak to Uzziel.” He’d hate to have to send the Winchester family home, since he knew Dean had been enjoying the weekend, but would if there was danger they couldn’t easily be protected from. Mentally, he began to prepare himself for the fight he knew they’d give him over it. Even if he were to authorize them to be physically removed and whisked back home, they were fully capable of driving back.

“Okay.” She was gone for less than two seconds. “I don’t see anything, but you’re right. There’s a presence.”

“The veil?” In various areas around the earth, there were places where the veil between this world and the fairy world were thin enough that things crossed over to make mischief with humans. Unfortunately, it did happen. It had come to light that those places were supposed to be guarded by the Host and for a long time, hadn’t been. The war had left openings and the location of a few of the crossing points had been lost. Castiel had them under guard now and if this was one, he’d go assign a guard right now. “Could this be one of the lost crossing points?”

“Doesn’t feel like it.” She shook her head. “I go by one such spot to reach one of my charges and it doesn’t have that feel. It is odd, however. I can’t place it.”

“Neither can I. We should inform Uzziel and Jael and keep an eye on the Winchester camp until they go home.”

“Agreed.”

“I’ll speak to Uzziel.” He approached him and crouched down. “Uzziel, I need --”

Time slowed to a crawl and Uzziel sat up in the chair. “What’s wrong?”

“How could you tell?”

“I know you, Castiel. Your expression. Too tiny a difference for the humans to notice, but not for any of us. What’s wrong?” He was instantly alert and ready for anything. “Tell me.”

“I’m not certain anything is. However, there is a strange…feel… to the area. We don’t think it’s a weak spot in the veil, but it’s something. Care to check around? You may have run across it before somewhere else.”

He was gone and back as fast as Abigael. “Strange. You’re right. It’s not the veil, though I agree it needs watching. What action should we take do you think?”

“We watch over the Winchester family, make certain their trip is uneventful.”

“Done.”

“Abigael, be ready to take the children away the second there is trouble.”

She nodded. “I always am. Should we talk to them about it?”

He considered it, then discarded the idea. “Not yet. We have nothing concrete to tell them, merely a feeling.” Dean did talk about gut feelings, however. He did believe in the validity of them. “We wait. Be vigilant.”

Time returned to the proper speed.

Sam was holding a cup. “Cas, I see you found the backpack.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll carry him awhile.”

“Knock yourself out.” Gwen had Jack pulled down onto her lap. “He likes you.”

He kept a watch, opening himself up to hear any calls from heaven or other chatter that may be present. There were only the usual things. Castiel looked down at Sean and put his arms around the baby.

It was only a matter of time before whatever was out there showed itself somehow. Too bad he didn’t think he could convince Dean to abandon this trip before it did.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jo was groaning, head in her hands, sitting as far from the cooking food as possible. Abigael stretched her legs out. She was sorry they’d interrupted them while they’d been on their way to fish, but Dean, Sam, and Gwen assured her it wasn’t any big deal. As long as they fished once on the trip, they’d be fine.

In the walk to the Winchester camp, Uzziel had managed to convince Dean that he needed a cooking lesson and only the best grill master in the camp would do. Sam had rolled his eyes and scoffed at that, but let Dean take on teaching Uzziel how to make hamburgers for lunch. Uzziel was actually paying attention, too. Abigael realized they’d have a cookout in heaven one of these days so Uzziel could show off his latest skill. He really did like to share his newest knowledge or skill with anyone who’d stand still long enough.

Jack was growing bolder the longer they were there and no longer seemed afraid of Uzziel.

He edged towards Jael. “Who’re you,” he asked.

“You can call me ‘Jay’.”

His nod was solemn. “Jay.”

“Watch the fire,” Dean warned, deftly flipping burgers. “Sit down, Jack.”

“Okay, daddy.” He dragged his little chair beside Jael’s and dropped into it.

Dean put one burger in a bun and on a plate and held it out to Jo. “Want one?”

She looked up, gulped, and got up in a hurry, heading straight for the bushes.

“Mommy’s sick,” Jack confided to Jael.

“Oh?”

“Her tummy has a baby.”

“Ahh.”

“It’s a sister.”

Jael sent a questioning look Abigael’s way, but she couldn’t confirm it because Jo and Dean didn’t want to know. This time, they were both willing to wait to find out, though Jack was right. Jo was having a girl.

“We don’t know that, Jack.” Dean handed the plate across to Sam.

Jack nodded. “It’s a sister,” he repeated.

“How do you know?” Jael leaned towards him a little.

“Don’t want a brother.” He rolled his eyes like the question had been stupid.

With a small smile, Dean fished a package of crackers from the bag beside him. “Take these over to mommy.”

It was endearing to watch the boy approach Jo, hand her the crackers and hug her, then hurry back. Abigael was reminded right then of how much she had grown to care about this family.

“Why don’t you want a brother,” Jael inquired after Jack was back in his chair.

“I have Sean.”

“But Sean’s not your brother. He’s your cousin.”

“Close enough.”

Over at the fire, Dean snickered, then handed Uzziel the spatula so he could turn a burger. “You know, I think I remember Ellen saying something a long time ago about you implementing cooking classes at Heaven U, Uzziel. Cas mentioned it, too. Yeah, he said it made no sense for angels to cook because you all don’t eat. So --”

Busted, Abigael thought, but without batting an eye, Uzziel replied, “We hadn’t gotten to grilling yet. I’m going to make it a priority upon our return and the Guardians do eat on occasion, Dean. They keep up appearances when they’re in social settings. Like Castiel joining you and Sam for a beer every now and then.”

Dean’s mouth opened, closed, opened again, and he took back the spatula. “Give me that back. You’re turning them wrong.”

Uzziel raised his glance to Sam. “How do you turn a burger wrong?”

Sam chuckled and continued to eat his burger.

Slowly, Abigael got up and approached Jo. She crouched down and stretched out a hand to touch Jo’s back, making a discreet check of Jo and the baby to make sure they were okay. The nausea was worrying Jo. If Abigael could set her mind at ease, she would. “You’re okay,” she told her, sending a healing blast through Jo’s body. The nausea would be lessened for several hours now.

“Am I?” Jo glanced at her.

“Yes. You both are. Your pregnancy is normal. You can stop worrying.”

“I’ve felt so sick lately….”

“I know, but there’s nothing wrong.”

Jo blew out a long, steady breath, relief in her eyes. “Thanks, Abby.”

“You’re welcome.” She returned to her chair beside Castiel.

Jack kicked his feet. “We’re going fishing today.”

“Oh,” Jael said as though interested.

“You’re going with us.”

“I am?”

“Yup. Yup, yup, yup.”

“Why?”

“I want you to.”

Jael looked at Abigael, then Castiel, and finally Uzziel. “I guess I’m going fishing.”

Slowly, Uzziel’s lower lip pushed out in a pout. “I want to fish, too. I’m going as well.” He accepted the plate Dean handed him.

Castiel rolled his eyes. “That won’t end badly,” he murmured.

Abigael placed a discreet, hard kick to his ankle, though she was thinking the exact same thing. “Cas.”

“What?” He leaned closer, voice lowering. “Tell me you didn’t immediately imagine five hundred forty six ways it could be a disaster.”

“Five hundred fifty two,” she admitted, “but at least Balthazar can’t make it worse.”

“Where is Balty,” Dean asked, looking up from his cooking. “I thought he’d be hanging around with the rest of you.”

Uzziel cleared his throat. He’d added all the toppings to his burger, just like Sam had. “He announced he wanted to go for a hike, that the woods were beautiful, the lake absolutely divine, and there was honey for the taking.”

“He went to see his girlfriend,” Castiel explained. “She set up camp that way.” He gestured down the trail opposite where the angel and Winchester camps were.

“Balthazar has a girlfriend?” Sam exchanged an amused glance with Gwen.

“She have a name?” Gwen picked up her cup of coffee.

“Atropos,” Abigael supplied. “Her name is Atropos.”

“You mean like the Fate?” Dean flipped the last burger.

“Not like the Fate, the Fate. He’s dating the youngest Fate.” Jael adjusted his glasses. “He gets all the hotties. Not sure how, either.”

“Well, he does like living dangerously.” Jo returned, easing slowly back into her chair.

“All I can say is he’d better not show her his sword.” Uzziel frowned. “Or let her touch it.”

Gwen spit out a mouthful of coffee. “Sorry?”

“I mean it.” Uzziel raised his burger with both hands and contemplated it. “An angel’s sword being handled by a Fate? Something could happen.”

Everyone, save Jack, baby Sean, and Uzziel fought amusement and lost. Even Castiel, who commented, “I’m certain things are happening at the moment, not necessarily with his…uh…sword involved.”

Uzziel’s frown grew deeper, yet Abigael saw the spark of pleasure in his eyes from having made them laugh. She suspected he was pleased because he’d gotten the innuendo correct this time. “Why are you all laughing?” He leaned over Jael to Jack. “Why are they laughing?”

Abigael could see Dean, Sam, Jo, and Gwen all looking at each other like they couldn’t believe he was that naïve. He wasn’t really. She knew he wasn’t. He’d been studying humanity since the war had ended, taking the courses as they were finalized. Uzziel had taken each course at least once by her count and passed them all. He’d gotten better at innuendo and sarcasm, though he still wasn’t anywhere near a master at either.

Jack shrugged, as if the ways of grownups were beyond him. “I don’t know.”

When the laughter died down, Dean looked at Castiel. “You were like that once.”

“I grew out of it.” Castiel adjusted Sean’s hat. He made no comment about Uzziel’s apparent naivety.

“I kind of miss you being all clueless like that, but you’ve still got a touch of it now and then.”

“I don’t. I’m wiser these days.”

“Like that time I took you to that whorehouse and you --”

“Dean. There are children present.” Castiel shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Ellen has repeatedly told you to watch your mouth. Little pitchers --”

“Have big ears,” Jo supplied for him. “I’ve gotten that lecture a few times, too. After all, I did teach Jack his first swear word. Sort of. Anyway…. What whorehouse?” She was obviously feeling better, her expression no longer one of misery. “I don’t think I’ve heard this story.”

“Mommy, what’s a whorehouse?” Jack leaned forward. Out of all the words he’d heard, he picked up on that one.

“It’s a place where lonely men go so they’re not lonely anymore,” she replied.

Abigael thought Jo was pretty good at explaining things to Jack without the adult aspect added.

“For an hour or so anyway,” Gwen supplied under her breath.

“We should discuss this later.” Sam got up. “I’m going to heat a bottle for Sean. We’ll feed him, those who want some can have dessert, and we’ll get started fishing.”

Dean held up a hand. “I’ll take that dessert.”

Jo got up from her chair. “Give me a minute and I’ll have it up.”

With a contented sigh, Abigael watched Uzziel eat the burger and continued to monitor the immediate area for changes. So far, there was nothing new from earlier. Perhaps she’d slip away in a bit and do a more thorough search.