Samandriel stared at the room, his mouth dry. The silence was suffocating and the atmosphere was awkward and he just wished Gabriel would return so they could explain the situation. The crowd- if you could call eleven people crowd- was confused and hungry for answers and glaring at him in the most judging manner. He glanced sideways at his brother, who looked at him apologetically. He looked as awkward as Samandriel felt.
Samandriel had run into Castiel in the hallway, and was left speechless for a moment, taking in the sight of his brother, alive and well. There was certain heaviness about him that he had not possessed the last time they met, but the passion, the determination, and the oh-so-much heart was still there, and as long as that was intact, Castiel was alright.
Dean Winchester had been at his side, and he grinned at Samandriel. "Hey there, Arfie! Like the new look."
"It's Samandriel." He muttered, pulling at his borrowed attire- washed out jeans and a light blue t-shirt. A very pretty woman with strawberry blonde hair and a kind soul had brought it for him ("I am sure Arfie would prefer wearing it, too" She had assured him), promising it would make people take him more seriously. So far, it didn't seem to be working.
They had returned to the crowd then- it felt like crowd to him- only to find them split in groups, Sam sitting in one corner, saving a chair for Dean, Avengers settled on a long leather sofa, two men standing some ten feet from Sam, a tall, alien man leaning against his blue police box. Balthazar waved them over to the front and he and Castiel obeyed, both nervous. They had practically kidnapped these people- they owed them explanation.
"Well, ain't this a party!" Gabriel finally returned. "I can feel the love."
"Gabriel, this is not funny." Castiel warned. "The threat we are facing is real. You can't afford to play your little games."
Gabriel grinned, cocking his head to a side. "Look at Cassie, as fun as ever. Relax."
"Gabriel, start talking." Balthazar snapped. Rolling his eyes, the archangel turned to face the strangers.
"Well, hello." His smile grew. "This has been a long day, hasn't it?"
"For fuck's sake, get to the point." Dean growled from over the room."
"Alright, alright." He sighed. "I am worried Cas has been rubbing off on you, you were much more fun last time we met.
"Gabriel." Samandriel hissed.
"The earth is in danger." Gabriel finally started. "Situation is dire. Heaven won't help us- probably because my brother, here-" He patted Castiel's shoulder. "Decided to smite half of our garrison.
But! Panic not-" Releasing his reddening brother, he clapped his hands. "You have an archangel on your side- that'd be me- and these three peasant angels."
He could feel Balthazar's scowl.
"You see, this is the problem." The trickster went on. "Our brother is Satan."
John Watson released a small jell that distinctly resembled of course he is. He continued.
"But that's okay, we've dealt with that, locking him away and all. But-" He shot an accusing glare at Thor Odinson. "Your brother released him."
Pagan god went pale, eyes wide. "My deepest apologies. I am fully responsible for my brother's actions and will do all in my power to fix the damage he has caused."
"Good." Gabriel smirked. "See, Mandy? Told you they won't ditch us." He glared at the rest of the Avengers team. "You won't, right?"
"If Thor is fighting, then so will we." Steve Rogers announced, and the rest nodded, although a bit reluctantly.
"Good!" The archangel exclaimed. "The Black Widow, Hawkeye, Iron Man, the amazing Hulk, Captain America, and Thor Odinson himself, at our side!"
Dean leaned in to his brother. "Is that the hot chick from the comics?"
Sam awkwardly shifted. "Yeah."
"Dude." Dean leaned back again. "Even better in 3D."
"That is not all." Gabriel continued. "They've formed an alliance with two familiar faces- a very not-dead alien Master, and..." He looked over to Sherlock Holmes. "Jim Moriarty."
"Moriarty?" John shuddered at still too-fresh memory of the happenings at that damn pool. "But- he's- all the people you've named, they were all- the devil, Norse god, alien- Moriarty is just a man!" He looked up at Sherlock. "Isn't he?"
"He most definitely is." The tall man spoke up, offering a small smile. "Never underestimate human beings. You are capable of doing as much damage as you wish."
"Still, it is nothing like Lucifer to form an alliance with a human." Castiel spoke up. Samandriel nodded.
"Jim Moriarty is a soul promised to hell." Balthazar said softly- there was no need for him to speak louder, with the room as quiet as it was. "He's been assisting Crowley for ages. Lucifer would not miss a chance to steal Crowley's most valuable associate."
"Isn't he afraid the man will turn out to be Crowley's spy?" Samandriel asked.
"Lucifer has made him a fine offer, finer than anything Crowley could." Balthazar explained. "There is no loyalty in hell."
Both Winchesters shuddered, knowing fully well how true that was.
"Hey, wait." Sam suddenly asked, quilt creeping up at him. He completely forgot... "What happened with Adam?"
The angels shared a look, and then Castiel turned to face him, apology in his eyes.
"Michael fled, leaving him behind. He was cornered. He..." The angel looked down. "He is Lucifer's new vessel."

Michael was angry.
It had nothing to do with the cage- quality time with his long lost brother hadn't been a very enjoyable experience, true, but it was his vessel's soul that got the worst of it- it had more to do with the fact that, in the three years he had been absent, Heaven went from bad to horrible, experiencing a civil war and now some sort of mind washing tyranny.
He was an archangel. He was supposed to be fierce and frightening. He was supposed to smite ones that deserved it. He was not, however, supposed to enjoy it this much.
Naomi's grace burned in his hands, and he allowed her body to hit the floor, shoving her away with his foot. The things he saw in her mind- things she did to his brother- she deserved it. Castiel had done his fair share of mistakes, but he had repented for them, with all he went through. Naomi had no right to use him like that.
He was still his brother, no matter what.
There was a fluttering of wings behind him. Michael turned around, smiling at the young angel before him.
"Kazimir."
"Michael." The younger angel gasped, eyes shining. "We thought you were gone."
"Understandable." He nodded. "For a while, I thought so myself."

"You done over there?" Tony called out, looking at the drama unfolding between the trio. "Not to rush you or anything, but we have the damn apocalypse on hold."
"Don't expect them to be impressed." Balthazar shushed him. "Not their first one."
Castiel stood back, sighing. "The earth is in danger, and we are not strong enough to defend it."
"You need our help." Bruce supplied. The angel nodded.
"Well, you've got us." The shorter man- Dan, Dean, or something- grinned.
"We will help in any way we can." Steve promised. Nobody felt the need to correct him.
"Um, we..." John looked up at Sherlock. They kept their gazed fixed for a moment before Sherlock announced they can be counted on too. Doctor smiled, nodding along.
"It seems we have a team." Gabriel noted. "Not really an army of angels, but will do. Anybody hungry?"

Fifteen minutes later, they were all seated around a long table, waiting for the feast to start.
"We never had proper introduction!" Tony exclaimed, getting up. "My name is Tony Stark. I am Iron Man. I own this place. You are all very welcome." He then sat down, winking at Cas.
"Steve Rogers." Steve stated once he realised he was expected to introduce next. "You might know me as Captain America."
"My brother was a big fan." Sherlock stated. "It almost got alarming."
"Oh." Steve muttered awkwardly.
"Bruce Banner." Bruce added quickly, trying to break the awkward moment. "I...um..."
"He gets green and big when he's pissed." Tony supplied. "But no panic, not his time of the month."
"Natasha Romanoff." The gorgeous redhead spoke next.
"Clint Barton." Man next to her stated warily.
"Thor Odinson." The Norse god spoke next, flashing the team a wide smile. "I am honoured to be fighting by your side."
"How long have you been working together?" John asked, encouraged by the tall man's friendliness.
"About a year." Tony replied. "Got Loki to thank to."
"Loki's quite a trouble maker." Samandriel noted.
"He is...damaged." Thor muttered. They decided to let the matter drop.
"I am John Watson." John continued cheerily, trying to raise the atmosphere again. "And this is Sherlock-"
"I am quite capable of introducing myself, John." Sherlock snapped. "Sherlock Holmes. Consulting detective."
"We know." Bruce admitted. "You are quite famous here."
"Well." Sherlock allowed himself a small smile. "That does make things much easier."
Eyes moved to the brothers. Dean cleared his throat.
"Dean Winchester." He smiled his crooked grin. "And this is my baby brother, Sammy."
"It's Sam." The taller one interrupted. "We are, um, hunters."
"Supernatural stuff." Dean explained. "Monsters, vamps, you name it, we ganked it."
"Never met an alien before, though." Sam said, looking over to the Doctor. "You said you were from Gallifrey, right?"
"Correct." The man replied. "Hello! I am the Doctor. A Time Lord- alien- thought I was the last one, but appears I am not." He looked back at Sam. "Aliens do seem to prefer Europe."
"So, Dean, Sam." Steve coughed. "You two met the angels before?"
"Yes." Sam nodded, looking at the bunch. "Castiel, here, pulled my brother from hell."
Castiel blushed. "I was simply following orders."
"Yeah, well, you didn't push me back in." Dean grinned. "And you had a damn good reason to."
"We fought Lucifer together the first time." Gabriel added. "Minus Mandy and Balthazar here, they were busy hiding."
"There were orders!" Samandriel protested. "We couldn't have disobeyed!"
"We know." Sam assured him. "Gabriel's just being an assbut."
"Wait," Bruce suddenly sat up. "You wouldn't happen to be the same Gabriel the bible mentions?"
Gabriel's smirk grew. "That's me."
"Whoa." John chuckled. "Suppose they toned you down a bit for the sake of humanity, eh?"
"Definitely." Balthazar nodded. "Had they written it as it was, the whole earth would be a giant den of inequity."
"Excuse me, I was a perfectly considerate!" Gabriel exclaimed.
"I've heard stories, Gabriel." Samandriel laughed. "You scared the poor woman out of her skin. Used references that don't make sense until centuries later."
"Okay, I might have gotten a little excited." Gabriel shrugged. "It was a big event, give me a break."
The awkward atmosphere was now completely gone, and by the end of the meal, everybody seemed much more relaxed. Castiel smiled, watching Dean admire Tony's personal bar.
There was hope.

*A/N* THERE'S MORE OF YOU OMFG. Welcome, silver-moonshine01, The Dancing Lighthouse, ashwingsmokefeather, knighttjy. Huge hug to Alyss and xxXGGXxx for reviewing. I don't really like this chapter but it's the best I can do at the moment so…

Merry Christmas, everyone! –BBT