Michael rushed downstairs, too distressed to worry about not showing any concern. He almost sighed in relief when he barged into the living room and Joshua saw Doctor Chambers standing talking and Gabriel was still motionless on the sofa.

"Gabriel's been poisoned." Michael announced, the words sharp and filled with barely contained fury. Joshua looked up surprised, eyes locking onto Michael's silent questioning the eldest Novak. Michael shook his head almost imperceptibly. He didn't want to discuss Lucifer in front of the doctor.

"Do you know what he's been poisoned with?" Doctor Chambers asked, walking back over to his patient. He checked Gabriel's pulse frowning and Michael's heart stuttered for a second. He watched Gabriel until he could make out the steady rise and fall of Gabriel's chest and his heart rate calmed.

"Belladonna." Michael spat viciously, his fury at Lucifer returning tenfold. Doctor Chambers looked surprised.

"That's a coincidence. We've just received a shipment of a new drug to treat Alzheimer's that I hear can cure belladonna poisoning too."

"No!" Michael snapped instantly and Doctor Chambers drew his eyebrows together. "I have heard rumours that the drug isn't safe." Michael continued, struggling not to sound frightened.

"I'm sure the drug has been subjected to all the relevant tests." Doctor Chambers replied sounding bemused.

"There must be another antidote."

"I'm not a poisons expert Sir. When the ambulance arrives I'll be sure to inform the doctor that treats him of your...aversion to the drug. But if he thinks this new drug is the only suitable antidote -"

"If he thinks this new drug is the only suitable antidote then I will find another doctor to treat Gabriel." Michael interrupted icily. The doctor took a hesitant step back, losing his composure slightly under Michael's wintery glare.

"And is it really necessary for Gabriel to go to the hospital? I was prepared to tolerate it when we did not know what condition he was in, but now we know I'd prefer it if he stayed here." the doctor seemed to be about to protest but Michael increased the intensity of his glare and the doctor threw up his hands in exasperation and defeat.

"I don't recommend it, but if you really insist."

"I do."

"I'll have a poisons expert sent over."

"Do that." The doctor frowned, casting a quick curious look at Michael who had stopped glaring but had yet to drop the steely expression. He picked up his bag and left the room.

"Michael?" Joshua asked. He'd been watching the exchange between Michael and the doctor with a carefully neutral expression but now he allowed himself to look concerned.

"Lucifer poisoned him. He poisoned-" Michael began his voice breaking as he lost his cold composure. He sagged, legs weak and grabbed the corner of an armchair to keep himself upright. Poison. Gabriel had been poisoned. His little brother wasn't just sick or overtired, he was dying.

"Lucifer?" Joshua asked, shock plain in his voice.

"He's our brother. How could he poison our brother? Said he didn't but I don't know if I believe him, if I can believe him, not any more, not after-" Michael trailed off, took a deep breath and attempted to compose himself.

"Lucifer intends to poison a significant proportion of the city. He didn't tell me how. The new drug they mentioned has the addictive properties of heroin and when those who are poisoned are cured they become addicted. He's trying to destroy the city, make it fall to drugs, then crime and violence." Michael took another steadying breath. Joshua's expression had darkened.

"That boy has fallen further than I imagined. I thought he'd have enough love left for your father to leave his city alone."

"I thought so to. But between him and the Hunters I don't know if I can-"

"One problem at a time Michael. I have every faith in you. Let's fix Gabriel first and then we can work on your wayward brother and the Hunters." Michael closed his eyes and nodded.

"I need to collect Anna, Balthazar and Castiel from school. I trust you'll be okay in my absence?" Joshua asked. Michael nodded again as he moved to sit on the floor by Gabriel's side. Joshua offered him a reassuring smile and left the room.


Michael stared at Gabriel and willed himself not to completely lose control. Gabriel was still alive, even if his breathing was too deep and slow to be normal and when Michael checked his temperature he was hotter than he'd been before, the light flush across his cheeks beginning to darken. He seemed worse, beginning a downward spiral Michael was scared he wouldn't recover from. He wondered how long it would be before the poisons specialist got here.

He took his phone from inside his jacket pocket and googled belladonna. There must be something, anything, he could do before the specialist arrived to help Gabriel. He scanned the results quickly, heart pounding when words like 'deadly' and 'fatal' jumped out at him. He was reading about the antidote, some kind of chemical he was sure they didn't have when he was interrupted by a soft whimper. His head shot up, his phone fell from his hand to the floor and he was on his knees staring at his brother before he could even fully process what he'd heard.

"Gabriel?" His brother moved slightly and after just over an hour of Gabriel laying so still it was hard to tell if he was still alive Michael felt his heart soar. Gabriel whimpered again, eyes scrunching up as though he was in pain.

"Gabriel?" Michael asked again voice threaded with fear. Gabriel jerked fitfully, crying out in a rough broken voice. Michael reached out to grab his brothers shoulder. He wasn't sure what he'd hoped to achieve, maybe to anchor his brother, to offer him some kind of comfort.

"Gabriel calm down. You're okay." Michael tried, his voice high and hysterical, the very opposite of calming. Gabriel was still struggling feebly, tossing and turning under Michael's gentle grip. Michael had thought that movement of any sort from his brother would be a better sign than the deathly stillness but he was beginning to revise that opinion. He felt helpless as he attempted to pacify Gabriel, murmuring soothingly at the younger man and rubbing his thumb in circles across Gabriel's shoulder. He really wasn't very good at this, offering comfort being one of the things that just didn't come naturally to him. Michael was beginning to think nothing he said or did would help; Gabriel was still thrashing weakly like he was in pain while Michael became more and more worried. However Gabriel suddenly relaxed slightly and Michael breathed a sigh of relief that was cut short when Gabriel's eyes snapped open.

"Gabriel?" Michael asked too worried to be grateful that Gabriel had woken up.

Michael saw a thin flash of gold irises and noted Gabriel's pupils were still dilated before Gabriel shut his eyes again screwing them up tightly.

"S'toobright." Gabriel slurred. Michael immediately jumped up and yanked the curtains closed, forcing the room into an early twilight.

"Are you okay?" he asked, re-assuming his position on the floor next to the sofa. He nearly laughed at himself because of course Gabriel wasn't alright, he'd been poisoned. Gabriel's eyes flickered open hesitantly and he turned his head to look at Michael.

"Can't see very well. Thirsty." he replied thickly. "Wha' happened?"

"You're -" Michael hesitated, unwilling to tell Gabriel Lucifer had been the one to do this to him, "- sick but I've called a doctor and he'll be here soon. Let me get you some water." Gabriel frowned, face betraying his confusion but he struggled into a more upright position and took the bottle of water Michael offered him. Gabriel took a small sip but then handed the bottle back to Michael.

"Can't swallow. Throat tight." Michael felt his own throat constrict at that and it began to dawn on him just how vital breathing was. He put the bottle to one side and placed a hand on Gabriel's forehead checking his temperature again for something to do, a way to feel useful. Gabriel was still feverish, still too hot.

"You'll be okay. I won't let anything happen to you." Michael promised rashly and absently as he moved his hand to Gabriel's wrist to check his pulse.

"Okay." Gabriel replied staring at his older brother with unfocused eyes that were somehow filled with trust. Michael stared at Gabriel, at the open acceptance in Gabriel's expression, at the trust that his older brother would save him. Michael felt sick, wondering what he'd done to deserve such trust from Gabriel. He didn't deserve it not when he spent all his time trying to pretend Gabriel wasn't his brother. Trying to pretend Gabriel was disposable. He nearly laughed out loud. Gabriel was anything but disposable. He remembered he was supposed to be checking Gabriel's pulse and refocused his attention on the Gabriel's wrist. Gabriel's heartbeat was erratic and quick but it was strong and Michael could only be thankful for that.

"Why's mum here?" Gabriel asked suddenly still slurring his words. Michael felt a shiver of dread.

"What?" he asked, hoping he'd heard wrong.

"Why's mum here?" Gabriel repeated struggling to try and enunciate his words as he stared at something over Michael's shoulder. Michael dropped Gabriel's wrist gently and turned to look behind him. There was no one there. Of course there was no one there.

"Gabriel..." Michael began but his voice cracked. He didn't know how to even begin reminding their younger brother that their mother had died fifteen years ago. Hot tears filled his eyes. Gabriel frowned at him.

"S'wrong?" he asked sounding genuinely concerned. Michael forced a weak smile.

"Nothing, I'm - " he hesitated, "okay. How about you?"

"'m fine." Gabriel murmured, sinking back into a horizontal position and closing his eyes, "Had hangovers worse." Michael laughed weakly and Gabriel gave him a half smile that turned into a grimace when Michael's phone started ringing.

"Sorry." Michael said quickly, reaching for the phone to switch it off. He noticed the number read as unknown which puzzled him. No one should know this number unless they were in Michael's contact list. He looked at Gabriel who appeared to be falling back into his deathly still sleep again and then at the number on the phone. As much as he didn't want to leave Gabriel he knew the phone call could be important. What if one of the Hunters had gotten hold of his phone number somehow and was calling to discuss a surrender? It was unlikely but it wasn't impossible and it would be irresponsible to ignore the call.

"I'll be back in a minute." he told Gabriel reluctantly.

"mmm" Gabriel murmured in reply not bothering to open his eyes. With a last look at his brother Michael left the room picking up the call on his way out.


"Hello?" he asked cautiously as he left the living room, nodding at Ion who was still patiently standing next to the door, making sure no one disturbed Gabriel. Michael slipped into the library where he knew he wouldn't be interupted or overheard.

"Michael." Michael wanted to scream and shout at the voice on the other end of the line and was even more tempted to just hang up and return to Gabriel.

"Please don't hang up." Lucifer pleaded and his usually smooth voice was cracked and unsure. Michael felt the urge to cut Lucifer's call short grow even stronger but he knew that would be irresponsible. If Lucifer had called to gloat about his plan or give him any new information Michael knew he should listen.

"You have one minute." he answer coldly.

"I just." Lucifer started but cut himself off. There was a pause and Michael's listened to the static on the line gritting his teeth in frustration. He should be with Gabriel right now, not conversing with Lucifer.

"Did you want something?" he snapped. He loved his younger brother, even after everything that had happened but he didn't have time for Lucifer right now. And he was still furious at Lucifer for poisoning Gabriel or at the very least letting Gabriel be poisoned. He would have been angry at Lucifer for poisoning anyone, but letting Gabriel get hurt? Gabriel had idolised Lucifer and the two had been extremely close before Lucifer left, almost as close, or even as close, as Michael and Lucifer had been. Lucifer had taken Gabriel under his wing, taking it on himself to look after Gabriel the same way Michael had looked after Lucifer. Lucifer could say he loved them all all he wanted but after poisoning his younger brother Michael was couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth in Lucifer's claims. He didn't want to be doubt Lucifer's claims, didn't want to doubt the fact that Lucifer loved them. Lucifer's love for them had been his one last saving grace, the one thing that Michael thought could help save Lucifer. His love for his family had also been the one thing Michael had held onto every time he'd begun to wonder if it was right that he still loved his murderous and chaotic younger brother after everything Lucifer had done.

"Gabriel. Is he?" Lucifer asked, his voice wobbling. He sounded terrified, more scared than Michael had heard him since their mother had been dying.

"He's dying. No thanks to you Lucifer." Michael was in no mood to break the news to Lucifer gently.

"I know. I really didn't mean for Gabriel to be hurt Michael I swear. Not Briel."

"But you intended to hurt someone." Michael answered, voice steely.

"I -"

"Stop this Lucifer. Just stop it."

"I can't." Lucifer answered. "I want everything to go back to the way it was and this is the only way-"

"Then I have nothing more to say to you." Michael interrupted and he ended the call.


Thanks for reading xx