"You can't fight City Hall."
I walked over to the crumpled, bloody figure of Sam Winchester on the dusty wood floor. How easy it would be to leave him here; to avoid all of this. But that wasn't the plan. So without pausing another moment, I pressed two fingers to his cooling forehead. He disappeared in a flash of light followed by the clunk of the metal pipe, still dripping blood, on the floor.
Looking up at the hesitant man standing across the room, I slowly turned toward him. Despite our conversation, I don't think that he really understood how important he was and how much has gone into every detail of his life. The simplest things that he will always take for granted...
"He's home. Safe and sound. Your turn," I walked over to Dean and he looked at me, a million questions he would never ask in his eyes. "I'll see you soon, Dean." Carefully I pressed my fingers to his forehead and he too disappeared.
Standing in that empty living room, Devil's Traps and blood, remnants of holy oil; all scattered around me. All this pain because of one angel that decided they knew better. That is how it all started after all...
I walked over to the last body on the floor. She had crumpled slowly when I put her to sleep. Laying almost like some one had placed her, she looked so helpless and so beautiful. Skin of the softest white with hair that looked like sun rays. And her soul... so clear and strong but fierce and loyal. I couldn't help but be drawn to it; just staring softly at the beauty of this small mortal thing.
Hours passed and finally the rising sun shook me from my reverie. Gently I knelt and lifted the small woman. Even in her unconscious state, she knew the arms and she nuzzled into my chest... No, no, her husbands chest. Setting my jaw firmly, focusing on the task at hand, we disappeared in a flutter of wings.
She didn't wake when I set her in the bed. Almost forgetting, I rubbed my hand through the air over her body and any blood or dirt melted away like smoke. I made a pass over John's body as well, before pulling the too clean boots off and crawling into the bed next to her. Again, the sleep-state left her happy and she instantly turned and pulled into my side. Without thinking I wrapped my arm around her, soaking in her warmth and the smell of her hair.
I knew I should leave. I knew it was time for me to go. I had kept my promise. She was safe home and with another touch of my fingers she would never remember any of it. John, still asleep deep down, had already forgotten and was dreaming of playing catch with a young boy he had never met.
But there was something about Mary Winchester that I couldn't leave... that I certainly would never forget. No one but Uriel knew I was here. Maybe...
Michael, why are you on Earth? Raphael's deep, heavy voice echoed through my head and I rolled my eyes. Of course...
Nothing, just cleaning up a fledglings mess.
Why not get an underling to do it?
I was bored. Just out stretching my wings.
Well come on then. I could sense the impatience and curiosity in his voice and thought better than to linger and attract his attention. Gently grazing her temple, enjoying the smoothness of her skin, I wiped the last day from Mary's mind. And deep down, suddenly a small piece of my heart broke. It wasn't that she would have remembered me fondly but now she returned to her belief that I did not exist at all.
Taking a deep breath, my soul fled that mortal man, leaving him curled around the sleeping figure of his wife, lost in his own dreams. A lone silver and white feather fluttered to the floor and in another sweep of wind from the open window, it floated underneath the bed.
"Sometime Castiel, humanity can surprise you," I said slowly as I strolled through the park with the young angel. It had been weeks since I had visited Earth but I still saw her everywhere, I felt her skin, I could still hear the thrum of her soul...
"They do seem interesting but temporary. So defined by their sickness and beliefs and dreams," he said softly, brows furrowed as he watched some of the inhabitants of Earth move through their day. We strolled through the small park in some obscure part of this planet, unseen by any here. I smiled. Indeed they did seem temporary but there was something about them that sometimes felt more permanent. Like a brand almost...
And there were her eyes again, filling every part of my vision. I stumbled a step or two, blinking hard to clear my vision.
"Michael? Are you well?" Castiel asked with concern in his voice. That is what drew me to this young angel; that and knowing the hard road ahead of him. He needed to enjoy family while he could. And again I forced that smile.
"I am well enough, thank you. Just a little distracted. Remember Castiel, humanity is full of surprises. Just when you think that they are completely understood, something can happen that will completely modify your perception again," the scrunched look on his face told me that he understood more than he was letting on. He continued to just let me talk, understanding that I was really just talking to myself.
Far to the left of that park, unseen by the archangel and the fledgling strolling through its midst there sat another angel. Long had he been beyond the reaches of heaven, living in an existence that was as varied as the rays of the sun. He smiled as he watched the two walk along.
He knew his brothers better than anyone. After all, every younger brother idolizes their older brother. While he and Michael had never been... close, Gabriel has always respected him. And honestly, feared him a little bit too.
But he could see the shadow in his brothers eyes and hear the distant quality in his voice. Michael was in love. It had been a very long time since Michael had loved anything; banishing your brother and best friend into a pit at the bottom of hell will give anyone commitment issues. But Gabriel could see what his brother was trying so desperately to hide from everyone around him.
He seemed comfortable around that nobody angel he was with... Castiel if Gabriel remembered correctly. He made a mental note to check in with that angel in a few years. But looking back at the two that had turned right and out of sight, Gabriel chuckled to himself as he left with a soft flutter of wings.
It must be a special soul indeed to catch his brothers eyes...
