When Dean and Allegra finally walked through the door of their motel room together around 1 am, Sam, who had been waiting anxiously for them to return, walked up to them before they were even properly in the room and took them both in one giant embrace.

"Oh, thank God, you didn't screw it up!" he exclaimed happily.

"The hell's going on with you?! Let go!" Dean pulled away from his brother's sudden hug attack. "You been drinking whiskey again? I've told you to stay away from that stuff, Sammy. You know you can't handle your liquor."

"Yeah, you're hilarious, Dean."

"Oh, I know I am."

Sam scoffed and rolled his eyes at him. Dean casually took off his jacket and draped it around a chair, purposely ignoring how Sam wildly gestured his hands.

"So?!" he asked.

"So what, nosy Parker?" 

Allegra slapped her hand playfully against his arm.

"Stop being mean to your brother," she reprimanded.

"But messing with him is so much fun." Dean flashed her a grin.

"Guys, come on, seriously," Sam whined in a slightly annoyed voice. "What happened?"

The pair looked at each other for a moment. Then, Dean took a step closer to Allegra and put his arm around her shoulder. She instantly relaxed at his touch, and her golden eyes shone brightly. Sam chuckled and smiled.

"Well, it's about damn time."

"You know, Sammy, I would normally tell you to keep your mits off my girlfriend but seeing how she's already proved she's more than capable of kicking your ass, I'll let it go just this once."

Sam rolled his eyes again and shook his head but still grinned. Dean gave Allegra a peck on her cheek before he removed his arm from her shoulders. He took her hands, meeting her gaze.

"You sure you don't want me to tell Sam?" 

"Yes, I need to do this myself."

"Okay, I'll be right here if you need me."

He dipped down to kiss her on the lips this time and then turned his attention to Sam, going full big brother mode.

"Allegra's got something to tell you. The same thing she told me, so you're gonna shut up, you're gonna let her do the talkin', and you're not gonna bitch about it 'cause we're gonna help her change whatever the angels got planned for her, like it or not."

Sam looked a bit confused, but Dean's hard stare quickly prompted him to nod, and he followed Allegra out of the room. Dean grabbed a beer from the fridge and watched his brother and girlfriend (wow, finally!) from the window. 

They walked around the motel parking lot. Allegra did most of the talking, but Sam, of course, asked questions. He was agitated at first, like a kid discovering that the stork delivering babies was just a bunch of bull, but then appeared to come around. His brother didn't seem as outraged as Dean'd been, but then again, Sam was always the empathic one. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw them hug and walk back toward the room. With Sam all right, on their side, and willing to help, they had one less problem to worry about at least.
As they returned, Dean looked at Allegra and felt the corners of his mouth curl up. He smiled like an idiot. He still couldn't believe he actually convinced her to stay with him and give this relationship a go. Part of him tried to mess with him, though. It all felt so much like a dream that Dean was afraid that he would wake up any moment to find Allegra wasn't with him at all but somewhere far away, with her walls up against him. But it was real. She was here with him. And Dean was going to make sure he didn't screw this one up.

***

Allegra woke up with a start. She was sweating, and her heart raced inside her chest. Her eyes searched the darkness around her. She saw Sam on the canopy bed, sleeping on his stomach with his arms spread and his foot coming out from under the cover. The brothers pushed the two twin beds together for Dean and Allegra to sleep in, and the canopy was brought in in the early evening as they did book a triple room (not that Sam was originally gonna be the one to sleep in it, but Dean hadn't really given him much choice). 
She turned and saw Dean sleeping beside her. His presence calmed her somewhat, but she couldn't stop shaking. The things she had seen and heard and even smelled had been so vivid. But everything was perfectly normal in the room. 
Allegra slipped from underneath the covers, trying not to wake Dean up. He stirred when he felt her body wasn't near his anymore, and half-awake, he called out to her.

"Alley, you okay?"

"Sssh, you'll wake up Sam," whispered Allegra. "I'm fine. Just a nightmare. Go back to sleep."

But at the word 'nightmare,' Dean practically jumped out of bed. He was at Allegra's side in less than a second, and she had to stop him from carrying her to the bathroom. Dean made Allegra sit on the tub's edge and closed the door so they didn't have to whisper. He soaked a towel in some cold water, sat down with her, and gently dabbed Allegra's face and neck. The cool cloth felt so good on her warm skin. It helped her focus, and it was then she noticed the concerned look on Dean's face.

"Dean, I'm fine," she said reassuringly, raising her hand to his wrist to make him stop. "You don't have to do this. It was just a nightmare."

"A; I know what kind of nightmares you have. And B; you're my girlfriend now. It's my job to do this."

My girlfriend... That's gonna take some time to get used to.

"What did you see?" Dean asked as he dropped the towel behind him in the tub.

"Honestly, I'm not really sure. I was in this room. It looked like a prison cell but more... medieval-like, I guess. It reminded me a bit of the room Alastair kept me."

She shivered at the memory of that godforsaken place. Dean drew her close, draping his arm around her shoulders. Allegra drew comfort from his warmth. How did she go so long without him?

"I heard screams and people laughing," she continued. "When I tried to get out, the walls just started oozing blood from everywhere. There was so much of it... God, I can still smell that sweet rusty scent even now. I looked down at my hands and saw it sticking to my fingers. And then I saw something on the floor. Feathers, all blood-spattered and ripped apart. The screams and laughter stopped, and there was this voice..."

Allegra's breath caught. Despite Dean holding her, she felt a chill fall over her. 

"Alley? What did it say?"

"I-It... It said; from love comes death."

"Well, that's not vague at all."

"Dean, don't you see? It's a warning."

"A warning for what? Birds dropping dead everywhere? That would've been a twist on the Hitchcock flick."

"I didn't say they were bird feathers."

Dean's face darkened at her comment. He dropped his head, lips pinched. She knew what he was thinking; not them again.

"I'm still connected to angel radio, even though I've pushed the voices back," said Allegra. "I guess they've gone back to basics to make sure I got the message.'

"What message's that, huh?" Dean looked back up.

"From love comes death... Seems pretty obvious. I mean, you really think it's a coincidence I'm dreamin' this only hours after I decide to take the risk and give us a chance? They're warning us. They're saying that if I stay with you..."

"You'll end up killing the angels? Come on, Allegra, that's way out there, even for them."

"I'm serious, Dean. What if this is how it happens? What if, by choosing you, it triggers events that will ultimately lead to me saying yes to Lucifer and fulfilling the prophecy?"

"Stop!" Dean took Allegra firmly by her shoulders, making her look right at him. "Stop with the 'what if's. You don't know what'll happen tomorrow, next week, or even next year. And neither do they. If Lucifer does ever get out of the Cage, I will gank his ass before he can get to you. Us being together will not lead to you saying yes to that bastard."

"But I would say yes... if I lost you," whispered Allegra. "If you die... because of me... and Lucifer, o-or Michael, could bring you back... I would say yes, then."

She felt Dean's grip tighten.

"Don't you ever say that again. I die, you head back out there with your head held high, and you say no. You say no to both those sons of bitches, you hear me? I won't let you say yes, not even to save my sorry ass. Promise me you'll keep fighting them, Allegra. Fight them with everything you have. Promise me!"

Allegra gazed into those steadfast beautiful green eyes.

"Dean... I can't lose you."

"You won't. No matter what happens, I'll always be with you. Me and you against the world, that's how it is from now on. I promise."

"Don't make promises you ca-..."

The rest of that sentence got lost when Dean planted his lips on Allegra's. He cupped her face so she couldn't turn away from him. But Allegra had no intention of doing so. She put her own hand to his neck whilst the other clenched the rough fabric of his shirt. She had to resist the urge to rip the damn thing off of him. Allegra knew if she did that, there'd be no stopping them. She would lose control, and Dean would lose control, and then... They parted to breathe but still held on to each other. Dean leaned in against Allegra's forehead, his hot breath titillating her skin. She caught his eyes again and tilted her head a little.

"Huh, I never noticed that."

"What?" Dean smiled curiously.

"Your eyes. They have this tiny gold ring right in the middle of the green."

"They do?"

"Yeah... I like it."

"That's something else we got in common, then."

Allegra chuckled and brushed her lips against his. She wished she could stay in this blissful moment forever.

"Thank you, Dean," she spoke softly.

"For what?"

"Giving me hope."

Dean nuzzled Allegra's nose. He got to his feet, pulling Allegra up with him. They listened at the door for a moment before opening it, hoping Sam hadn't woken up. Just when Dean put his hand on the doorknob, Allegra felt that familiar sensation on her shoulder.

"Dammit, not again." She groaned.

"What is it?" asked Dean as he glanced back at her.

"Trouble."

Dean's posture changed, and he opened the door cautiously, ready to face whatever was waiting on the other side of the door. Demon, beast, dragon, anything at all. But when he saw the person in the room was none other than Castiel, he froze. He turned to Allegra, but she only had eyes for Mr. Trench Coat. The angel looked grimly at the couple. Without a word, he snapped his fingers, and Allegra was suddenly at his side and fully dressed.

"Cas! What the hell, man?!" yelled Dean.

But Castiel didn't answer. He took Allegra by her wrist and disappeared, spiriting her away.

***

Allegra landed on the ground. She immediately rolled away from the angel who so brutally kidnapped her and jumped up. From her surroundings, it looked like Castiel brought her to an old, abandoned house that was occasionally frequented by junkies who liked to spray graffiti on pretty much everything.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she snapped at Castiel.

"I apologize for taking you away so abruptly. It was necessary."

"Necessary? Are you freakin' kidding me, Castiel?!"

Allegra was furious. She was torn between attacking the angel with her knife (which he had so stupidly attached to her belt when he magically dressed her) or just going full ten plagues on his ass. What the hell was he thinking just zapping her away like that?! Was the last time he messed with her not enough of a lesson?

"We need to discuss your recent decision," said Castiel.

"My re-... Oh, this is rich." Allegra scoffed. "Just who do you think you are? You've got nothing to say about me. And you certainly don't get a say in my relationship with Dean."

"You can't be with him, Allegra."

"Says who?! You?! Michael?! Lucifer?! Every other dirtbag who's lied to me and wants to use me?! Forget it, Castiel!"

Allegra turned away from him, but the angel appeared right in front of her. 

"Are you truly so desperate for such basic desires that you are really willing to sacrifice Dean's life?" he demanded.

"Don't you dare say that to me!" hissed Allegra. "I've sacrificed plenty for you bastards already! My life was never my own! Always on the run, no home, no friends, nothing! I've killed people, Castiel! For you, them, God! And for what, huh? I know about the prophecy. I know why Michael and Lucifer want me. And I am telling you right now that is never going to happen!"

Allegra's fists were clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She kept her one hand close to the knife John Winchester gave her. She was itching to use it but willed herself not to cross that line. Dean was right; she was better than that. And there was something else keeping her from attacking Castiel.
The angel had always kept his distance from Allegra during their last encounters, shrinking back at the sight of her. Castiel feared Allegra. He was terrified of her even. He hadn't forgotten her threats and knew all too well what she was capable of. But now, he stood close to her, and he spoke calmly. Just like... Montana. What was he planning this time?

"You cannot escape your destiny, Allegra," stated Castiel. "We all have a part to play. We've realized, too late possibly, that it was a mistake to allow you in the Winchesters company for this long. This is your last chance to disappear from Dean's life forever. Leave. Save him. Because if you stay, he will die. And as you said, you would do anything to bring him back. Even turn to Lucifer. We cannot allow that to happen."

Castiel actually dared to glare at Allegra, but she wouldn't let herself get intimidated by him. She gave him an ice-cold stare back.

"I'll find a way out. I will never stop fighting, you hear me? Scare and threaten me all you want. Anything you do to Dean or me, I'll do worse to you, I promise. So give it your best shot."

Silence fell between them. Then, Castiel hung his head low with a sigh and vanished. Allegra looked at the now empty space in front of her and nodded approvingly.

Good riddance, she thought.

Just as she was about to return to Dean, she sensed another presence. Several actually. Men in suits appeared from every other room. It was like a scene from Men in Black. And by the looks of it, Allegra was the alien in this one.

"Oh, you have gotta be kidding me."

She braced herself, ready for a fight. This was going to be a pain to get out of.

"You should've heeded Castiel's warning," said the closest suit. "You leave us no choice but to take you by force."

Allegra drew her knife and stretched her arm, aiming it at the angel who had spoken.

"Bring it on."

***

"Try her cell again!"

"I did. It keeps saying the number's out of service."

"Keep trying, dammit!"

Dean was at his wit's ends. They'd been driving for little more than an hour now, and there was still no sign of Allegra anywhere. He was beginning to freak out. Allegra had, of course, been right about her vision (he really hated when she was right); the angels were warning her. And they send Castiel to make sure the message got through.

"Cas!" yelled Dean. "Cas, you son of a bitch, I know you can hear me! Bring Allegra back right now, or I will summon your ass!"

Nothing.

"Alley! Alley, come on, let me know where you are. Alley!"

"I don't get it," said Sam as he redialed Allegra's number. "Why would Cas take Allegra like that?"

"They're trying to scare her," Dean responded angrily. "Get her to leave me. I am done helping those feathered douche watts! They can go stuff themselves!"

"Still nothing." Sam sighed. "Alright, think. Where could he have taken her?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know?!"

At that moment, Sam's phone rang. 

"It's Bobby," he said, looking at the caller ID on the screen.

Dean yanked the phone right out of his brother's hands and answered.

"Bobby, is Allegra with you? Wow, slow d... What happened?!"

He threw the phone back at Sam, pulled at the wheel, making the Impala do a full 180, and then floored the gas.

"Dean, slow down, you're gonna get us killed!" yelled Sam. 'What happened? Is Allegra at Bobby's? Dean!'

But Dean didn't hear his brother's voice anymore. All he heard was his own racing heartbeat and the echo of Bobby's words in his head.

'Allegra got jumped. Angels beat her up pretty badly. Ratpack saved her. Get here now!'