Burned Once, Never Again (Niamh and Castiel)

Billie and Niamh didn't ask any further questions as they left the police station. Niamh walked away gingerly, exuding an air of cold fury. Billie quickly caught up with her and grabbed her wrist. Niamh."All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

"I'm fine," Niamh replied despite being in utter turmoil inside.

Why had Castiel bailed those people out?

In the past, no matter who tried to hurt Niamh, he would never hesitate to take action. Yet this time, he had bailed out the very people who had sent her Ferryman coins, razor blades, and animal carcasses. He had aided those who cursed her every day at the height of the online insults.

"Why the hell did Castiel bail them out?" Billie asked in frustration.

"Sienna and Macy were likely the ones who hired those people, Niamh said, her voice trembling as she looked at Billie.

Billie's temper flared. "I don't get what he's thinking by doing that."

Niamh had no clue as to what Castiel was thinking when he did that either.

Who knew what had happened during the three months she was away? She had hoped that her time away would act as a buffer to prevent the events of her past life from repeating themselves. While some things had changed, new complications had arisen. So, she felt a bit lost. "I'm going to help you win this divorce case no matter what," Billie declared angrily. "That bastard! Those people were planning to kill you, yet he balled them out!"

Billie was seething with rage.

Niamh stood in the sunlight, her stunningly beautiful face drained of color. She moved her lips, but she didn't know what to say.

Did their ten years of marriage carry any meaning to Castiel at all? In the end, this was how he treated her.

Niamh wasn't sure how she made it back to Billie's place. Billie had left for work, and before she left, she offered to order lunch for Niamh. However, Niamh declined, saying she would make something herself.

Ginger made some grunting noises at her feet and nudged her slippers with its round body. Tilda had taken good care of it during the months Niamh had been abroad.

When she left Maplewood, she hadn't taken anything with her-except Ginger.

Niarnh bent down and scooped Ginger into her arms. Then, she patted its head gently. "You must be hungry. From now on, we'll have to stick together."

Ginger was oblivious to everything and had no idea it was in an unfamiliar and different environment. It was, after all, just a cute little piglet It didn't concern itself with anything else. besides eating and sleeping.

Castiel had given her Ginger while he was gone on a business trip, having been worried that she'd get bored at home. Niamh had proposed getting a job, but he wouldn't let her.

But was she ever really bored and had nothing to do at home? The answer was a resounding "No". Whenever he wasn't around, Renee constantly found ways to make her life miserable.

Her vibrating phone interrupted her thoughts. She pulled it out and looked at the screen.

It was a call from Castiel.

She didn't want to answer and hung up. But soon enough, he called again. He did it over and over until Niamh's patience ran out.

In the end, she picked up the call and asked impatiently, "What do you want?"

"Come downstairs," Castiel demanded.

Niamh was at a loss for words. Was he downstairs? It had only been two hours since they last saw each other.

"Immediately," Castiel added.

Niamh had no intention of seeing him, but after learning that he'd bailed the suspects out, she needed to confront him. Though she had a feeling she knew the answer, sometimes human nature was just as such. One could choose to be blind to the truth until they heard a definitive

answer.

When she finally saw Castiel downstairs, his icy expression matched her own as she stood by the car door. Her voice was just as glacial. "I have something to ask you."

"Let's have lunch first," Castiel said, glancing at his watch. It was already lunchtime.