"Gabriel, I need to speak with you about a matter of personal importance."
Castiel sits and waits for an answer from the archangel, but none comes. He knows that Gabriel heard him. There is a connection between angels when grace is involved. The portion on his side had linked with Gabriel. Castiel tries again.
"Please, Gabriel. I can assure you this is no trick. I just would like to speak to you." He can feel Gabriel receive the message, but yet again receives no response. Castiel is starting to become a little frustrated with Gabriel, but then he thinks about where he is. He has never tried to contact another angel from this bubble universe before, so he had no idea if back and forth communication is possible.
"Gabriel, are you not able to respond to me?" A small tendril of Grace is poured from Castiel, and it makes a long path towards the earth. When it connects, Gabriels frustrated voice can be heard.
"Well, I'm trying to!" came ringing through his mind loud and clear this time. Castiel startled and leaned away from the loud yelling in his head, but, as it was in his own mind, there was no escaping Gabriels jarring voice.
"Gabriel, please, there is no need to shout."
"Hey Castiel!" Gabriels mood shifted quickly from frustrated to cheerful quicker than Castiel was expecting.
Castiel sighed heavily and tried to keep his patience.
"Hello Gabriel. like I said before, I have a personal matter that I would like to discuss with you. can you locate me?"
"Hang on." Gabriel instantly appeared at the table with Castiel. He looked straight into his younger brothers eyes and deadpanned "I'll be right there." The sudden appearance of the archangel seemingly had no affect on the other angel at the table.
"Welcome Gabriel. Thank you for speaking with me."
"Hey no problem, baby bro! Not like I was doing anything." he said it with only a hint of sarcasm. Gabriel looked at the table between them, a fresh cup of warm tea in front of him, which he looked at with disdain. "Do you have anything for me to eat?"
Once again, Castiel found himself rolling his eyes. When one spent as much time around Gabriel as he had in the past, it was a motion that one tends to perfect. And Castiel had a lot of practice.
Castiel huffed out another sigh, and a plate of apples appeared. They were quarter cut and dipped into a caramel sauce made with his honey. Gabriel's eyes lit up at the sight of it and wasted no time picking up a slice in each hand and taking an enthusiastic bite.
"Mmmm! Oh man, Cassie" Gabriel said with his mouth full of sweet, "these are delicious! Didn't know you could cook." He took another large bite and let out a groan of satisfaction. "Yeah, I'm definitely going to need more of these."
"Can you focus please? I didn't ask you here just to feed you."
"Sorry, Cas. Can't take a compliment, can you? Whats got your panties in a twist?"
Castiels eyes narrowed in confusion and he tilted his head like he was contemplating what Gabriel said a little too hard. "What? I'm not wearing…"
"Really? That's not one of your secret kinks you have with your boy toy?" Gabriel said with a wicked smile, although whatever heat it had behind it was washed away with Gabriel chewing a whole slice of caramel apple in his mouth.
Castiels face warped into a harsher anger than Gabriel expected.
"Alright, alright. Not the time, I guess." said Gabriel, swallowing his sweet snack. "So tell me, Cas, what is this place? It was practically impossible to find you. I only found my way because of the grace connection."
"That is the reason that I called you here, Gabriel. This is my oasis and I want to keep it safe. It is sustained using my grace and if the connection to this place is broken by my being cut off from the Host or, even worse, being dead again, I don't know what will happen. And being a cohort of the Winchesters seems to have a side effect of dealing with deaths door as the revolving variety."
"Ain't that the truth, brother." Gabriel interrupted. His mind seemed to wander, and a pained looked flashed across his face for a moment. He tried to recover quickly. "Sorry," he snapped his attention back to Castiel quickly. "Continue, please."
"So, if I'm gone for an extended period of time, I would like to know that my sanctuary, and more importantly, my bees, are taken care of. And I'd like to be able to come back here after I've been revived again."
Gabriels trademark Trickster attitude returned along with his typical smirk. "Why Cassie, are you writing me into your will?"
Another eye roll from Castiel had Gabriel thinking that Dean was rubbing off on his little brother. He grabbed another apple slice and chewed behind his smile. He faltered a little when Castiel grabbed his own slice and ate it absentmindedly, his eyes were following a small group of bumble bees hovering around a grouping of queen annes lace along the edge of the flower field.
Seeing Castiel eat was an unnerving sight.
"Wow," Gabriel said quietly. "You're really worried about this place, huh."
"Yes. I wish to protect it. Not just for myself or my bees." Castiel hesitated for a moment, looking around. "But, perhaps, if it is written that I would not survive all that life with hunters bombards us with, I could leave this in your capable hands. I would leave the decision up to you, of course, but if you take possession, maybe you could find a way to let Dean and Sam visit here. It would make me happy if I knew that those boys could enjoy this place, too. Father knows they deserve a break now and then."
Gabriel took in all that his brother said to him. He could see the sincerity written on his face. He tilted his head back in his chair, watching a cloud slowly pass by, eyeing the creeping undulations of the changing shape. A sigh escaped him.
"You know what Dean would say right now?" Gabriel asked.
Castiel paused for a moment. "No chick flick moments."
A breathy laugh broke free from Gabriel. "No chick flick moments." he repeated. "Ok Castiel. How do you want to do this?" his eyes slowly returned to Castiel.
The small smile that caressed the younger angels face warmed Gabriels heart more than he would care to admit. For all the trouble that his family had caused him in his very long life, Gabriel was always surprised when the same family could elicit such endearing feelings as well.
"I was thinking a trial period. We should see if your Grace is compatible with the vegetation here. I will transfer power to you and return to earth for a week. Then I will return when the trial period had ended. Or when you fail miserably and I have to clean up your mess."
Gabriels brows shot up faster than a bullet from the Colt. "Cassie, are you making a joke?!" This time it was Castiels face that held a mischievous smirk. "Oh, dear brother, humanity looks so good on you!" Gabriel shot up from his chair and made his way around the table, grabbed Castiel by the shoulders and hauled him up into a bear hug. A few gentle slaps to Castiels cheek and he was released, almost falling back into the chair.
"Alright, lets do this!" Gabriel was bouncing on his toes, ready to prove himself.
"Before we do anything," Castiel stated, pulling his trench coat back on and falling back into his normal serious stance, "I would like to introduce you to the bees."
"What do you mean meet them? They're just bees. They do their bee thing and I'll do my archangel thing."
"That's not true at all, Gabriel. Many of them are conversationalists and very witty. Although some of the drones can be a little awkward when you first meet them. Come with me." Castiel gestured for Gabriel to follow him, but Gabriel found himself planted to the ground in shock.
"You want me to talk to them?"
"Of course, brother. I'm sure they'll take to you quite well."
If almost on cue, the colors and sounds swirling on the hives started fading and changing into darker hues, blue and gray swirling together, and the light flute sounds where going silent and being replaced with a brassy deep horn.
"Are you sure, Cas? I'm seeing some resistance from the troops." Gabriel said as he found his feet and wandered over to Castiel standing at the hives.
"They have been listening to us. They are not happy with this arrangement and do not wish to see me leave." He turned his gaze to the hives and held up his hand. It was quickly filled with a buzzing pile of honey bees and Gabriel was surprised when Castiel started talking to the small heap. "I don't think I'll be able to take care of you forever." Gabriels eyes softened as his heart broke a little bit at the thought. "This is my brother Gabriel. He is extremely capable of providing care and companionship to you all." He paused. After a moment Castiels eyes opened wide and he twisted his head towards his brother. His mouth opened and closed silently, and he turned back to his hand.
"That is extremely inappropriate and I do not want to hear that kind of language again."
"Hey! What are they saying about me?!" Gabriels pose transformed into one of a child at the beginnings of a tantrum, his hands fisted at his hips and his whole face transforming into a harsh scowl.
"N-nothing. Nothing at all, Gabriel."
"I bet." His frown softened a bit.
After a few nervous glances back and forth between the upset bees and an equally upset Gabriel, Castiel decided it was best to change the subject a bit.
"Why don't I show you how they react to our wings and your Grace."
Castiel slowly unfurled his wings, large black and silver feathers, the smaller ones tipped with deep blue and purple hues, reached up towards the sky, dwarfing the smaller vessel they were breaking through. As they stretched out to their full length, bees poured out of each hive, swarming the wings, burying themselves into the feathers, flying through and around Castiels extra appendages. It made his wings look like they were vibrating, like they were alive and a separate entity that was clinging to Castiel for protection. Gabriel looked up in wonder at the sight.
His eyes traveled down from the tips pointing up to the sky to the base joints connecting to Castiels back. Dancing around the shock of tussled black hair was a swirling halo. A small group of bees were tracing the faint lines of Grace that were always there, but never seen.
Random small groups and other individual bees were flying around Castiel, just seemingly happy to be around the feeling that Castiels Grace provided for them. Gabriel decided it was a beautiful sight to behold, and he found himself a tiny bit jealous of his brothers connection to these animals.
He was shaken out of his revelry by Castiels deep voice. "Let me show you how well they behave." Gabriels questioning look was answered with Castiels familiar stoic one. "Ladies, lets show Gabriel that you are listening. Can you all go circle the orchard and then return to me, please?"
At his words, the bees flew off in a neat group, only a few hanging behind in Castiels hand for a few minutes more. They all eventually joined the hoard heading for the apple orchard.
"That's really amazing, Castiel. They seem to love you very much."
"Thank you, Gabriel. I have found that affection and respect can make any being, whether human or animal, a friend."
"Hmmm. I see…"
"Gabriel?"
"Nothing, just thinking."
"Dangerous business."
Castiel thinks he can hear the sound of Gabriels brows flying up to his hairline again. The archangel just stares for a moment before bellowing out laughter that echos across the field.
"Castiel, I swear to the father that wont answer my phone calls that you are going to kill me one day!" tears of laughter gather at the corners of his eyes and Gabriels hand come up to wipe them away.
"They are coming back." A hand was raised above his head, and Castiel called "Come."
The bees flew back towards the two angels, and Castiel guided them with his palm, showing them where he wanted them to gather. By the time they all had returned from the orchard, Castiel had a giant buzzing swirl of bees held out at arms length. The shape was constantly moving, constantly changing. Gabriel had to take a step back to get out of its way.
"Why don't you try to take a few into your hand, Gabriel."
Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see one of the hives change to deep red and black colors. As he looked cautiously around to the other hive, he saw more of the same. Others swirled with violet colors. The music played loud bass drum beats, the sounds of a battle looming. He saw some others flashing pictures of grotesque creatures and animals feasting on bones .
"I don't think that is a good idea." he said cautiously. "It looks like you pets hate me, little bro." Gabriel motioned to the hives.
"They are not my pets, brother. They are my friends."
Gabriel stifled a groan that was creeping up his throat. He could do this. He would try for his brothers piece of mind.
He held out his hand and asked as pleasantly as he could, "Could some of you bees come to me?"
Slowly, a few lone bees made their way over to Gabriels palm. They landed, skittered around a little, exploring his hand.
"Yeah, there we go. Hey there." Gabriel brought his hand closer to his face to inspect the tiny bees a little closer. "See? I'm an ok guy. Well, archangel."
Of the few bees that have landed on Gabriels hand, there is one that seems to be curious about this newcomer. She inches closer to him, trying to figure out if he can be trusted. And not just because the other one said so.
"Try talking to her, Gabriel." Castiel suggested. "Just use your Grace."
"Oh, well, ok." He cleared his throat dramatically. "Hey there, sugar. Hows life in the flower tops?"
The little bee fluttered its wings and hovered in front so close to Gabriels face that he went a little cross eyed to keep looking at her.
"Umm, I hope that we can all get along...?"
"She is a drone from the corner hive. The colors are shifting again. I believe she approves of you and has relayed this to her queen."
Gabriel felt his breath ease out a little harder than he realized. He felt a weird relief that this single bee decided he was ok. The bee flew up and away from Gabriels face, and began flying a circle above the crown of his head, following the outline of his own halo. A soft smile played on Gabriels lips and more and more bees flew over to join the first. As more left Castiels hand and came to Gabriel, the colors and sounds and pictures playing out on the hives changed. They were returning to the soft pastels and airy softness of flute that had been covering the white surfaces of the hives when he had arrived.
Soon Gabriel was surrounded by every bee that had occupied Castiels hand a moment before. They swirled and surrounded him like a wall of water, all of them trying to get a look at him. Gabriels body was shaking a little with excitement, and he was smiling wide. He held out a trembling hand towards the wall of downy bodies that enclosed him, but before he could touch them Castiels voice called out "Show them your wings, Gabriel."
Six golden wings that shown brighter than the sun were slowly unfolded and opened wide and tall. The bees took notice and without hesitation they flocked towards the brilliant feathers. The sensation of them flying through his wings was almost indescribable. They were twisting through any gaps and rubbing their wings on the feathers. Groups were gathering at all of the joints and using their tiny legs to explore the skin they found. It felt like feather light tickling.
"You see," Gabriel hadn't noticed that Castiel was now standing in front of him. "I knew you had nothing to worry about. They obviously approve of you. Now send out an order. Just ask nicely."
"Ladies, as much as I love getting this much action on the first date, I've got to call it a night. So can I walk you home, or...?" Gabriel didn't finish his question but the bees slowly started to separate from his wings and made their way to their hives. "I'll call you!" he called as the last few departed.
Castiel also watched his precious bees disperse, his blue eyes full of amusement.
"They say 'you better'."
Gabriel let out a chuckle. "Well they're stuck with me for a while. Lets get the power cord plugged into me. I'm ready."
"Grasp my hand brother." Castiel said with a smile that reached his eyes, turning the angels normally rigid features into a soft joyful expression.
As Gabriel grasped his brothers hand, a coil of blue Grace was snaking its way down Castiels arm making its way across the bridge of hands to settle into Gabriels chest. He felt it circle, looking for a place to settle, then decided on a small space nestled in the warmth of the archangels grace.
Both of their faces wavered as the ground beneath them slowly began to shake.
"What's happening, Castiel?" Gabriel yelled as their hands fell apart.
"I don't know." His eyes danced across the field looking for anything out of the ordinary. "Look at the plants! They are growing too fast. You are feeding them too much power. Pull back a little."
"I got it, I got it." Gabriel pushed his frustration aside and focused on regulating the power he was transferring to keep this place afloat. Slowly the shaking ground stilled, and they were no worse for wear, but the fields did look like they could use a once over. Weeds, grass that was waist high and the vines from the forest had crept out a few feet farther out than they were before seemed to be the only side affects. A snap of his fingers and it was like it never happened.
"Well, that was an adventure." Gabriel laughter was far too enthusiastic for Castiels liking.
"Maybe this was a mistake." Castiel looked nervously around to see if anything else was out of place. "Maybe I should wait to leave."
Gabriel grabbed Castiels arm firmly and turned him eye to eye. "Cas, I got this under control. Minus that one that just happened. Which I took care of. I promise I can handle this. Why don't you go and spend some time with that green eyed man boy you love so much." Castiels head tilted comically and he opened his mouth to protest, but he was cut off. "And before you even say anything, I am an archangel. I can see where that lake came from. It's all stardust and dream scapes."
Rather than question his brother further, Castiel just gave in with a sigh. "Alright. I do trust you, brother."
"That was your mistake."
"Gabriel, please."
"Come on, man. You walked into that one."
"I did not walk into any obstruction. I have been standing right here."
Gabriel dropped his head into his hands. "I thought we had made progress." he said sadly.
"I don't understand."
"Oh, will you just go." an exasperated Gabriel tried to shoo his brother away. "I can handle this."
"Thank you, Gabriel." There was nothing but sincerity in his voice, and then he was gone with a flutter of wings.
Gabriel let out a heavy sigh and was glad to be alone. He walked back to the wrought iron table and sat down with a heavy grunt. Dealing with Castiel could be exhausting sometimes. He conjured up a fresh cup of hot chocolate, he never had a taste for bitter tea. He grabbed the honey jar with glee and spooned a heavy dollop into the cup, then licked the spoon clean before returning it to the jar.
He enjoyed his cup of sugar in silence, absentmindedly letting a few bees dance between his fingers and around his long hair. He accessed the new portion of Grace in his body and made a few adjustments. Temperature, Gabriel ran hot so he turned the heat down. Weather patterns, Gabriel set up a nice summer shower every day he was here. Firewall, this one definitely needed adjustment. If he was going to be stuck here for a week, he was going to need company for sure.
Satisfied for now, he snapped two new cups of hot chocolate and set out a few plates of Castiels fruit and pastries. Satisfied with the picnic on the table, he snapped his fingers. Sam Winchester dropped unceremoniously into the chair next to Gabriel. Sam scrambled out of the chair and pulled a gun from the back of his pants, aiming right for Gabriel.
"Hey honey!" Gabriel greeted Sam cheerfully.
Sams gaze seemed to break as he glanced around to try and get his bearings. He slowly lowered his weapon and his eyes quickly landed on Gabriel again.
"What?!" he demanded.
"Hey," Gabriel grabbed the jar off the table and extended it to Sam. "honey?"