A/N: Trigger Warning: Threatened Miscarriage
Lyrics from Dead to the World by Nightwish
That makes you fear, makes you cry,
Makes you cry for the child
The phone call had taken Castiel completely by surprise. He had expected for the caller to be Dean or Sam but the number had been unknown. Confused how someone else could have gotten his number, he had answered the call.
"C-castiel…. I-it's Gabriel, I-I need your h-help…" The long-lost voice of his dead brother stunned Cas to his core. He at first thought it was another ploy to mess with his head. Though, the fear and discomfort in his sibling's voice over-rode all precautions.
"I shall come to you." Cas replied flatly, "Do you know where you are?" Gabriel did not have an actual name for him but he did tell him the constellations currently above him. Cas let out a low chirping sound over the phone before hanging up. He unfurled his wings in the spectral realm and took to the skies.
He headed for the section of land that the constellations resided over this time of the year. As he flew, he reached out with his grace, searching for that of his brother's. It took far longer than he would have liked, several hours by his count, but he finally pinpointed the general location Gabriel was in.
The feeling of pain and fear coming from his brother's grace frightened him. He followed the weak grace trail until he found an old ruined farmhouse. He landed once he saw a small figure curled beside the farmhouse's outer walls.
Cas was frightened at the sight of his brother curled up on the grass clutching his stomach. He could hear his brother whimpering in pain and it was breaking Cas' heart. He quickly hurried to the archangel's side and crouched next to him. His concern grew when whatever was making Gabriel ill hurt so much that the older angel didn't even notice him there.
"Gabriel?" Cas called softly, gently touching his hand to his brother's shoulder. Gabriel gasped in shock at the touch, tear-filled eyes snapping open. Cas expected Gabriel to say a lot of things except what actually came out.
"I-I'm losing them, C-cassie. H-help me, p-please." Gabriel's tears fell as he begged, grimacing in pain as cramps assaulted his inside. Cas stared in horror as he watched blood drip from the corner of Gabriel's mouth. He moved to wipe it away but Gabriel shakily took his hand, instead moving it to the archangel's belly, "I-I don't have e-enough grace l-left to k-keep them alive a-anymore. P-please, C-castiel, don't let them d-die..!"
Cas' eyes widened the second his hand touched his brother's belly. He could feel them, five precious little weak sparks of life. Cas' heart broke and tears shimmered in his eyes as he felt them fading by the second. As their life faded, he could also feel the light in his brother's spirit fading.
Determination reared up in Castiel's spirit. His grace was nowhere near as a strong as that of an archangel's but it still gave life. He vowed he would not let his brother's litter slip away as he gently began to transfer his grace into his brother's womb. He smiled sadly as he could see his grace gently cradling the tiny sparks of life, strengthening their weak glow.
Cas' free hand moved and began to stroke his brother's sweaty hair comfortingly. It was a soothing gesture he had learned from Dean. He was relieved that it seemed to be working on his worried sibling. He watched his brother's golden eyes slip closed as Cas' grace gently eased the warning cramps. Cas made sure to put a protective shell of grace around the tiny lifeforms before pulling his hand away.
"T-thank you, C-castiel." Gabriel's voice was weak and exhausted as he leaned into his little brother's touch.
"It is my pleasure to protect such innocents." Cas replied softly as he sat down on the grass properly. He pulled his hands away and removed his coat, placing it to the side.
Gabriel let out a startled squeak as he was lifted and placed in his sibling's lap. The archangel flushed brightly as he was cradled against Cas' chest. He shivered in the cold and a second later his brother's coat was draped around him before Cas' hand was back on his belly once more, nurturing the pups with a steady flow of grace.
"Gabriel, how are you with offspring?" Cas asked softly in confused wonder, "Your womb is an anomaly to this vessel's usual set of organs." The words made Gabriel flush brightly in embarrassment, though he was not sure why. He felt shy and timid telling his sibling about this. Hormones maybe?
"T-trickster magic. I-I was trying to get p-pregnant as a female." Gabriel explained weakly, "I-it didn't take. I-I tried for months but no pregnancy. B-but turns out my eggs were fertilized. Maybe that's the reason that I kept the main reproductive organs when I shifted to this form. When I did change, I used my grace and as far as I can tell, that's what sparked the pregnancy."
Gabriel shakily wiped the blood from his mouth. He had miscarried before, in another form, eons ago when he was still getting the hang of this. Cramps and blood loss were a major sign. But, with such drastic body changes, he was losing blood in alternative ways. He could feel the blood on his pants already growing cold in the night air and it was very uncomfortable.
Cas clicked his tongue as he took in the information. It was very interesting but a lot to take in. He manifested his wings and cocooned them both in the warm feathers. He began to soothingly nuzzle his elder sibling's hair.
"And now you require a steady stream of grace to keep them alive through the pregnancy?" Cas asked softly, pulling a protein bar and bottle of water out of his coat pocket. He kept extra for Dean for while they were on long hunts but he now needed to give it to Gabriel. It was nowhere near the amount of food required for a mother with offspring but it was all he had, "My grace is not nearly enough to carry out the task. You require a mate then." Cas concluded as he unwrapped the food bar. Gabriel nodded in exhaustion, whining tiredly when Cas pressed the bar to his lips.
"Brother, you must eat. Your offspring require nutrients, as does your vessel while low on grace." Cas urged softly in worry. Gabriel mewled weakly, stomach turning at the normally pleasant scent of the protein bar. He reluctantly allowed his brother to feed him, too tired to do it himself.
"Do not fret, Gabriel. Just rest, I will care for your children." Cas pleaded once Gabriel had finished eating and had drank a few sips of water, "I shall obtain a suitable mate for you while you sleep. Trust in me, Brother." Gabriel yawned softly and snuggled against his brother's strong chest. He pulled Cas' coat close about him, drawing safety from his brother's scent. He let the warmth of Cas' grace flowing into his womb lull him to sleep, he felt completely secure in Cas' arms. He trusted his brother's choice in mates.
~*~Chapter End~*~
