The sounds of shouts filled the air.
Clanging of rock.
Cracking of whips.
The moans of slaves alike.
Guards stood posted at every corner, every walkway, striking whips at those who slowed their work. Children cried and adults wailed.
They had meant to go back a few years, but ever since he had gotten his grace reinstated Castiel had been way out of wack. Things that had once come as somewhat easy for him now held the undertone of difficulty. Instead of sending them back a few years as requested, they were sent back a few hundred (it was their best guess). They had quickly traded in their future attire for the clothing worn in the time as they hoped to not draw too much attention to them.
But as it turned out, they had chosen the wrong man to pilfer from.
"Get up! Faster!"
The scream of a little kid caught his attention and Dean halted in swinging his pick to look over.
A boy no older then eight was laying on the ground, his ankle at an odd angle as he stared up with wide eyes at the approaching guard swinging his whip around threateningly. He screamed and cried as he tried to climb to his feet only to roll his injured ankle and fall over. The Guard snarled in Egyptian, raising his hand with the instrument as he made ready to strike the child. The boy cowered in on himself, trying to curl up into a ball that was almost impossibly small, waiting for the sting of the whip against his child sized back.
Dean threw his pick down much to his brothers dismay and ran at full speeds to the boys aid. He was not about to see a child get beat half to death because he was injured from working in conditions he should have never been working in. He shoved the Guard away as hard as he could, catching the attention of at least a dozen more. The boy noticed the lack of pain as he looked up shyly to see what was happening.
"He's hurt! He can't help it!"
The stunned Guard quickly recovered, spitting down at his feet and raising his whip high as he spit out Egyptian words that Dean did not understand. All he knew was that he had to protect the kid as best as he could from being punished for something he had no say in. That's why as the whip came crashing down on him he dove over top of the kid.
Even with the biting pain striking across his back.
He wasn't sure when darkness had over come him, but was much aware when he woke up next. It was dark outside, the air cool now that it was not being boiled by the sun. There was a soft flickering of fire as his eyes adjusted and he was being warmed by a crackling camp fire. Dean wasn't sure where he was or how he had gotten there; the last thing he remembered was jumping on top of a kid and a whip cracking across his back.
A hand on his shoulder startled him.
Sam's concerned face came into view as he turned his head, trying to wait out the spots that danced in his vision as he moved too fast too soon.
"Are you ok?"
He nodded stiffly.
"Course he is fine, I helped him."
There was a small voice from his left turning his head to look he spotted the boy he had saved and next to him sat a dark toned little boy with shoulder length curly hair. He wore similar ratty clothing, the pants similar to that of Aladdin's from that one Disney movie (he had tried to give Sam the best childhood he could-Disney had indeed happened for him-) a gold manacle around his small bicep glittered in the faint fire light. A belt of different fabrics wrapped tightly around his skinny waist. Curly hair pulled back by a length of fabric.
"Who are you?"
"Isa...Who're you?"
"Names Dean, and this is my brother Sam."
The other boy looked at him closely, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Dean watched him carefully but continued talking to Isa.
"What do you mean you helped me?"
"I healed you."
Sam nodded his head quickly, "Its true, and he didn't just use herbs or anything, his hands, he healed you like Cas has healed you."
That was interesting indeed. He looked briefly at his brother holding a silent conversation with their gazes before turning back too face their new friends.
"Where are your...Parents? Do they know you're here?"
The two boys exchanged looks silently and quickly. The dark toned boy, Isa, nodded his head as his friend shook his. It seemed the former won this battle.
"Mama is dead."
"And your Father?"
The boy scooted closer, the fire softly illuminating scars on his small back.
"My papa...I don't know where papa is...I really want him though!"
"Me too!"
The dark haired pale looking boy looked awfully familiar to him but he just couldn't put his finger on it. He nodded his thanks to the two for helping him and watched as they moved to try and get some sleep for themselves. Knowing that the Guards would be there early to wake them only to get them back to work faster. Neither him nor Sam had caught the others name, but Isa seemed to trust him and if he trusted him then they really had no other choice.
Besides Sam would not allow him to kick two kids out to the cold street.
Speaking of Sam, "Have you had any luck?"
The younger Winchester shrugged, "I don't know. I've tried praying to him but I don't know if he is hearing me."
Dean nodded, feeling fuzzy again and the spots in his vision became more pronounced. All they could do was hope for the best and see what happened in the morning.
With one final look at Isa and the other, Sam allowed himself to curl up next to his brother.
It was going to be a long night.
A large strong built man walked up behind the lithe one placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Brother how are you?"
"They sold him! They sold him!"
The elder looked down from the clouds they stood on, peering down at the horrid sight below them. Their Fathers people, and there was nothing they could do.
"Sold who Brother?"
"My child, they sold my child! I should have never allowed him to stay with those two, I knew it was a mistake and yet I allowed it to be so!"
He was angry, winds changing direction and speed with accordance with his anger. His brother allowed it as it was concerning his child; he had every right.
"And they have attempted to beat yours."
"They what!"
When they woke up next it was still dark out. Wind was blowing coldly but the fire was still blazing warmly.
Isa had been sleeping gently against a rock when warm hands had grabbed him gently under the arms and lifted him into the air. He startled awake and wailed in fear only to be shushed gently. He struggled but was no match for his captor as he was pulled closer until he was flush against someones warm strong chest as a hand cradled to back of his head tenderly.
"Shhhh little one ssshhhhh."
He calmed at the voice, recognizing it for who it belonged to and almost instantly his eyes filled with tears.
"Papa?"
Fingers ran down his back and then up through his hair.
"It's me little one, sshhh you're alright."
Sam kicked his brother awake at the new intruder, his eyes bulging from his head as he witnessed the unfolding events before him.
"Ninja tur-I mean-Raphael?"
He was ignored as the dark toned Archangel cradled the boy in his arms, rocking him back and forth softly smiling as his eyes began to slide shut once more. The other let out a sound of happy surprise and shot up from the floor. His arm was bleeding from where the whip had gotten a hit in but he paid the sting no mind as he latched onto the bottom of his uncles robes. Raphael smiled down at the small boy, adjusting his hold on Isa to lay a hand splayed out over his head.
"Are you alright little nephew?"
He shook his head with a whine and held up his bleeding arm, "It hurts uncle!"
Raphael's eyebrows furrowed in concern as he knelt down slightly, holding onto the little one clutching at him tightly, and reaching for the bleeding arm with a surprisingly gentle hand.
"What happened little one? Your father will not be pleased."
"What will I not be pleased about?"
Another Angel appeared from out of nowhere, eight white wings folded up behind his back as he looked over at his brother curiously. Raphael made a noise in the back of his throat as he turned the child's arm towards him. Something caught the others eye and he frowned as he came closer to get a better look. The boy sniffled softly and reached his arms up to be picked up.
The angel smiled at him, more then happy to oblige as he scooped the child up and settled him into his arms. Rocking him gently like one does a babe and murmuring down at him as he reached over again to examine his arm.
"Who dared strike my son!"
Now Dean knew why the kid was so familiar! He had a striking resemblance for the archangel he had met that once. He had a scary similarity to Michael.
"Abba he saved me! They were going to beat me but he jumped in before they could!"
The large man nodded as he did his best to get the arm in a better position to examine it closer. He hushed him softly as he twisted the appendage around to get a better look. Humming under his breath as he brushed a finger over the large wound. The boy let out a whine as he tried to pull his arm away at the painful sensation.
"Raphael, there is no infection?"
"No Michael."
Michael nodded pulling the boy into his arms his embrace his warmth. Holding him close to calm his whimpers of pain once more. Rocking him to and fro again as he slowly calmed down. He pulled the red cape hanging from his shoulder and wrapped the boy within it sitting by the flickering fire as he pulled the child into his lap.
"Have you healed the man?"
Raphael shook his head again but his focus was directed on his own bundle. Isa was playing with the golden clasps on his left shoulder as he pulled the boy closer lifting his shirt in the back to see to his back. The small child whined at the cool sensation and squirmed in protest.
Smiling the Archangel readjusted him in his hold keeping him balanced on one arm as he leaned over to look to the man who had supposedly saved his dear nephew. But the boy in his arm did not like having to share his attention now that he had it and began to move about.
"Isa I am trying to aid the man whom saved your cousin will you please sit still."
Still the boy squirmed in annoyance until the Archangel had to stop in his efforts to look at his child.
"Child if you do not do as told I will be forced to put you down until I am finished with the man."
Isa looked angered at the idea and something flashed within his eyes as he kicked out and tumbled from his father's arm. After everything he had gone through he finally had his father back at his side and now the man was taking him away again. It was not fair. He was his father not the mans. Grunting at the impact of the short fall he crawled away to sit beside his uncle and cousin by the warm fire.
Raphael watched him go with furrowed brows.
"I must apologize for my most disrespectful son. I have been trying to teach him to mind his manners and the ways to live his life honorably but he is young yet."
He looked across at the hunter.
"You took a punishment meant to be given to my brothers son, our thanks is of plenty and we are in your debt for such an action."
Michael made a small noise of agreement from his spot. Raphael continued on as if he had not been interrupted.
"Please allow me to help you in thanks for helping my kin."
The Archangel did not wait for him to respond as he reached out with a hand to press to his temple. He felt warm like his body was being rolled up in a toasty blanket and he was laying out next to a blazing fireplace. Dean had never felt this sort of thing from an angel's grace before not that the angels he had ever met had actually tried to be so kind.
In fact, he had met Raphael before and this was nothing like it was then.
He seemed to actually enjoy helping people.
He loved freely if it was any indication by the way he kept looking over his shoulders at his child pouting next to his brother by the fire.
He was different.
"It will take a few moments to set in but you will be fully healed once morning comes."
Placing a warm hand on the side of his face the Archangel caressed his cheek softly before smiling and standing back. Dean watched in shocked silence next to his own brother as the Archangel turned back around moving to gather his child up. Isa made a noise of disturbance as he was lifted from the floor and placed into his fathers lap.
Michael had lulled the child in his own embrace back to sleep and smiled over at his brother as he whispered back and forth with his own child. Isa grumbled something and then giggled before burying himself into his fathers embrace.
Sam leaned closer to Dean, "Are these the same Michael and Raphael we've met?"
"I think..I...I don't know...Do you think that maybe since we are in the past that these are their past selves?"
Sam shrugged at his brothers question watching them interact with the two boys. Isa was leaning into his fathers shoulder as the Archangel whispered stories above his head painting scenes before him in the flames with waves and twitches of his hand and fingers.
"It could be..I mean...They seem to actually genuinely care and to top it off Raphael healed you and said they were in our debt and Michael agreed with him! I don't think that they would have said those type of things had they known who we were."
Dean nodded, "Honestly I think they would have been more inclined to kill us rather then help us."
"But what I don't get is that they seem to be completely devoted to those boys I mean just look at them. So where are they now? Wouldn't they still be at their side in the future?"
That was the million dollar question.
He had never thought that those two could be parent material and yet here he was.
But this new development also brought about more questions.
There was no kids in their future not that they had seen and as they sat their witnessing the two before them it was clearly not because they had fallen out of adoration for them.
Sam took a deep breath as if recalling something in the large brain of his and Dean turned to look over at him questioningly.
"Dean...They're Nephilim..."
He shrugged and shook his head not having a clue as to what his brother was talking about.
"Dean all the Nephilim were killed...Destroyed...On God's order."
They both looked back over at the happy Archangels and their small children.
Maybe that explained everything.
I don't know...This ending really makes me tear up!
No fear though! I have a few more fics in the making involving the Archangels and their kids! Much more happier then this one!