One word: Methos!

They were in Colorado before they came across something that required their killing-monsters expertise.

The coroner had finally left them alone to examine the body. "Vampire kill" Castiel said.

"Yep" Dean agreed "no doubt. There's probably a nest in town."

"Possibly" Cas nodded "I admit I don't know much about the habits of vampires. Don't they sometimes hunt alone?"

"Sometimes, I guess. Haven't met one yet. They usually stick together."

"And some of them are good aren't they? I watched a show on Gabriel's Netflix about a girl who slays vampires and she was romantically involved with a vampire named Angel and.."

Dean held up a hand to silence him "That's fiction Cas. But Sam and I once met a group of vamps who lived on animal blood so some of them try to do good I guess."

Cas hmmed thoughtfully "So most likely this case is a nest of typical vampires?"

"Probably but that's where research comes in."

…

"A barn" Castiel said as they were watching the vampires' hideout from a covering of trees.

"No shit Cas" Dean rolled his eyes "They like to hole up in shitty places like this."

"No, Dean. I want to put that on the list. We met in corporeal form in a barn and I would like to copulate in one, possibly the one where we met."

Dean smirked at him "As long as you stop saying copulate, I'm game."

"I hope you're here to kill the vampires instead of just watching them all day."

The voice had come out of nowhere, its owner being so stealthy neither angel nor hunter heard him come up behind them. They both turned, favored weapons drawn.

"Jesus Christ!" Dean exclaimed. Castiel just stared. The man was familiar.

The man smirked "Where? He owes me a cup of wine."

Dean leveled his gun at him "Who the hell are you?"

"I guess I'm a hunter, like yourselves I assume." His eyes fell on Castiel's angel blade "Well, I reckon you're a bit more than a hunter, aren't you Columbo?"

The man was definitely familiar, by his snark alone. Castiel peered at him closely "Methos?" he asked.

His hands dropped to his sides, one hand hovering over his hip where likely a sword was concealed underneath his coat. "And you would be?"

"I'm Castiel" he lowered his blade.

Dean did not lower his gun "You know this guy, Cas?"

Methos sighed, "Castiel. Well, fancy running into you here. Nice vessel."

"Thank you" Castiel nodded "Dean, this is Methos. He's one of the Fallen like Mother and Aunt Grace and an old friend of mine."

Dean put away his gun "Okay."

"Methos, this is Dean. He is my…" he paused unsure of how to introduce Dean. They hadn't discussed labeling their relationship.

Dean sighed and supplied "Boyfriend."

Castiel's cheeks flushed pleasantly at that "Yes, boyfriend. He is also the Righteous Man."

Methos arched an eyebrow "Oh, so you're the one who started the domino effect that let Lucifer out of the box."

Castiel narrowed his eyes "Methos" he hissed.

Dean crossed his arms and opened his mouth but Castiel rested a hand on his shoulder "Please remain calm Dean and Methos, don't start anything."

Methos sighed, "Sorry. It's good to see you again Castiel."

"Yes, I regret how we parted ways. I have recently chosen the third option."

"Finally understand free will huh?"

"Yes."

"Glad to hear it."

Castiel removed his hand from Dean's shoulder and stepped forward "Is this where we hug?"

Methos blinked "Uh, maybe?"

They hugged and Castiel ghosted his wing over Methos's arm. Traditional angel greeting would have them touching wings, but since Methos no longer had any…

"So" Dean cleared his throat "Methos, you're here to kill some vampires?"

Castiel stepped back. Did Dean sound jealous?

"Yes" Methos pulled out his sword, it was an Ivanhoe, gold hilt with a few jewels incrusted in it.

"I've watched you on occasion over the centuries Methos; lately you have been avoiding confrontation."

Methos rolled his eyes "Castiel, you know me. I get bored and sometimes when I get bored I just want to kill something. So shall we go in while they're still sleeping? I think there are about twelve of them."

Dean pulled out his machete "Yeah, let's do this."

…

Three men who were exceptional at chopping heads against twelve vampires was really no contest. Dean didn't even think of pulling out the Colt. Methos was clearly so practiced with head chopping he didn't even get any blood on him.

"Well" Dean said, cleaning his machete on the shirt of a dead vampire "that wasn't as exciting as I was hoping."

Cas moved over to him "I'm sure we'll find something else. Are you injured at all?"

"Nope. These vamps must have been couch potatoes or something."

Before Cas could point out that the vampires looked nothing like potatoes Methos said "So is this foreplay for you two?"

"That is not your business, Methos" Cas told him.

Methos smirked "It totally is, isn't it? That's so cute in a disturbing sort of way. How about we celebrate a job well done over beer? My treat."

Dean shrugged "As long as you're buying."

As they followed Methos to whatever bar he was taking them to Dean asked "So how long have you known him?"

Cas sighed "We were in the same Flight. The Rebellion broke up many relationships. He was one of my best friends." He ran a hand through his hair "I need to tell him about Balthazar; they were Mates."

Dean cringed "Damn and I can believe it."

Cas chuckled slightly "Yes, their attitudes were very similar."

…

After a round of drinks, Castiel requested that he be alone with Methos to explain things. Dean understood and went back to the motel.

Castiel and Methos went walking in a nearby park.

"What do you wanna talk about without your boyfriend present?"

Castiel sighed "The Apocalypse has been averted."

"I figured. The sudden lack of apocalyptic signs was rather telling.'

"Lucifer has been returned to the cage. Michael is with him."

Methos's eyes widened "How'd that happen?"

Castiel told him of Dean and Sam's vessel status and what Sam had to do.

"But Dean refused to say yes to Michael?"

"Yes, that's why Michael resurrected Dean and Sam's half-brother. I must also tell you, Brother Gabriel is dead."

Methos froze in his tracks "What? How?"

This was one of the many parts Castiel wasn't looking forward to. Methos was a son of Lucifer and Gabriel was his favorite uncle. "Lucifer killed him."

"Why?"

"Gabriel was trying to stop him."

Methos sagged against a tree "Anyone else dead?"

Castiel put a hand on Methos's shoulder "I'm so sorry, Methos." He felt the tears form in his eyes, thinking about Balthazar. He'd been trying not to.

Methos blinked, clearly he understood what Castiel was trying to say "No, it can't be true. Not Balthazar. What happened?"

Instead of telling him Castiel put two fingers to his forehead and showed him.

"That's enough" Methos pushed his hand away. He took a deep breath "Lucifer came to me, you know, not long after he got out of the cage."

…

His distress must have been apparent on his face, which was just stupid because he was usually quite adept at hiding his true emotions.

"You okay, old man?" Joe asked passing him a beer "You look like your dog died."

Methos scoffed "Joe, you know I don't like dogs. Bloody co-dependent creatures. One wonders why I hang around MacLeod."

Joe rolled his eyes "If you don't want to tell me, just say so."

Methos took a breath "All those things that have been happening lately just makes me think of the Apocalypse."

"Yeah but that's not true is it? The real Apocalypse?"

Methos shrugged "Being the oldest man in the world doesn't mean I know everything." The truth was of course that the Apocalypse had begun—he could feel it.

Mac came into the bar "Turn on the news" he said "something's happening in Maryland."

The news came on; an abandoned convent seemed to have exploded with a bright white light. Methos cursed in Enochian. The final seal had been broken; Lucifer had been sprung.

"What the hell language was that?" Joe asked him.

"Enochian" Methos chugged his beer because after all, if he didn't they would know something was wrong "I'll see you guys later." He left the bar before they could stop him.

He drove home and put up angel banishing sigils. There was no guarantee Lucifer would come to him but it was a strong possibility. Damn, angels. Methos needed to figure out how to tell Mac about angels, not mention the truth about immortals before he found out from someone else.

Methos decided to hit the road, if Lucifer was going to find him, he didn't want to be anywhere near Duncan. He was alone at a rest stop, honestly considering praying to Balthazar or Castiel to ask 'what the hell?' when the devil found him.

"Hello Methos" Lucifer sat across from him at the picnic table.

Methos only jumped a little bit "What are you doing here?"

"Now, is that any way to greet your father?"

Methos sighed "Hello Father. Nice vessel. What are you doing here?"

Lucifer smiled slightly "Thank you. He won't last long I'm afraid" he gestured to himself "I need to find my true vessel. Anyway I wanted to see you."

"How did you find me?"

"You are my son. I can always find you."

Even though he knew the answer, he still asked "How did you get out of the cage?"

"The seals were broken."

"Right. Thought as much. Other than wanting to see me is there a particular reason for your visit?"

"I know of your exploits during the Bronze Age."

Methos crossed his arms "If you berate me for that it'd be hypocritical of you."

Ignoring that comment Lucifer said "How are your immortal brothers?"

"The ones also descended from you? Most of 'em are dead."

"Even Caspian?"

"Yep."

Lucifer's eyes flashed briefly "And the other 'horsemen'?"

"Silas and Kronos are dead too."

"Who killed them?"

"Beats me" Methos stood "Are we done? I have a date with Jack Daniels, Captain Morgan and Jose Cuervo."

Lucifer blinked "I don't know those men."

"Where have you been all this time? Living under a rock? Oh wait…Check your vessel's head. He looks like the drinking type."

Lucifer stood as well "That wasn't very nice Methos."

"Learnt from the best."

"I happen to be very nice."

"Yeah, as nice as the scorpion being carried across the river."

Lucifer held up a finger "Ah see, that's where I differ from the scorpion. I would wait till we reached land."

Methos huffed "What do you want?"

"I would like you to join me."

"My answer's the same as before."

Lucifer reached across the table and grabbed Methos's collar "This is the time when you must choose a side, my son."

Methos shoved out of his grasp "What does it matter? No matter who wins people will die. So if I must pick a side, I pick the third option: humanity."

"That was never a choice."

"Too fucking bad. That's my decision."

"You care about these hairless apes? These puny fish?"

"I do. I've learned my lesson. You know what your problem is, Dad? You hate humans more than you love your family."

Lucifer narrowed his eyes, then disappeared without a word.

"Thought so" Methos muttered and returned to his car.

…

"I still don't get what happened to him" Methos sighed miserably "Of the four of them I would have put my money on Raphael to go evil."

"I'm sure others share your sentiment."

"So with Gabriel dead and Michael in the cage, Raphael's the eldest archangel. Does that mean he's in charge now?"

Castiel cringed "I hope not. Perhaps the lesser archangels will be against him. Dean and I are going to visit my Mother. Would you like to accompany us?"

"I know where Ceirdwyn's bar is. Maybe I'll meet you there."

"Will you be all right?"

Methos nodded "I'll be fine. You go be with your boyfriend."

Castiel pulled Methos into a hug "It's good to see you again, my friend."

"You too, Cassie" Methos patted his back.

Castiel stepped back "It's Cas."

Please let me know if you liked it. Next time the boys will be in San Diego. Till then.