*Over here right this moment! Do not make me speak another name!

Chapter 10: Michael's Trial

"So if I add this it turns it into a holy water bomb?" Sam asked, looking at the little orange leaf he was holding. "How?"

"Chemical reaction." Lucifer said with a smile. "It's easy enough. The leaf, when treated with a certain oil and words, reacts violently with water."

"Dude that's amazing." Dean said looking at the line of 'bombs' that the Morningstar had made for them. "How do you know how to do this?"

"Before my Fall, I was a Spell Weaver. I was the master of spells. Just like Gabby is a healer. My favorite thing to do was find new ways to use spells. These are just pre-made spells." The blonde said with a smile. "It feels good to make something again. Gabby was right. I needed something to focus on."

"When am I ever wrong?" Gabriel asked, without looking up from his pot. "I'm too sexy to be wrong. Deal with it."

Lucifer shook his head and turned back to the hunters. "I can make these in several different ways. The holy water version is the easiest but I can also make them with salt, silver, dead man's blood, and shrapnel of your choice. I figured they might help when you go out hunting."

"These are awesome!" Dean said with a smile. "Who knew having the Devil on your side would come in handy?"

"I did." Gabriel said. "I'm just awesome like that."

"And what are you doing over there?" Dean asked.

Gabriel made a 'come here' motion at him. The hunter did and looked into the pot at the thickening salve that was still bubbling. Gabriel gave him an evil smirk and his blade flashed in his hand. Dean jerked back but not before the blade bit into the back of his hand leaving a shallow bleeding cut. Lucifer and Sam both let out startled shouts at the angel, who was grinning like the Cheshire cat.

The hunter stared at the cut for a minute in shock before looking up at the blonde. "Dude?! What the hell?! Warn me next time so I have a chance to defend myself at least!"

Gabriel reach into the pot and pulled out a bit of the salve and reached for the hunter's hand.

"Hell no! You might turn me into a frog or something!" The brunette yelped.

The blonde snapped and Dean froze and the angel smeared the purple-green goop on the back of his hand. "If I was going to turn you into an animal I would be mean and make you into a cat. Then I get to sit back and watch you be allergic to yourself."

Dean watched as the angel wiped off the slave leaving behind unmarked skin. "It...It's for healing? That's amazing."

"I know I am. This stuff works like the Ichor I made a few weeks ago but this is safe for humans." Gabriel said. "Took forever for me to get it right. The best part is that the ingredients are common, it only takes a few hours to make, and I can make large amounts at once meaning we can have a nice stockpile."

"Is...Is dad here?"

The four turned to find Michael standing in the doorway, with one arm slung around Castiel. The dark haired angel looked upset and it easy to see why. It looked like Michael had somehow managed to slice his leg open from knee to mid thigh. It was still bleeding but Castiel had taken his tie and had it tied tightly around Michael's leg. Gabriel sighed angrily, knowing both that their dad wasn't here and since he wasn't that the eldest angel would want to wait to be healed until he returned.

Since Michael's return he had been carefully trying to get back on everyone's good side. He went out of his way to do things for them like cleaning, or fetching things they wanted or needed. The blonde had even started a traditional courting with Lucifer again, bringing the Morningstar little presents. Lucifer had accepted them all without a word and every time he did the First Born's face would fall in disappointment. It made Gabriel wonder when Michael would realize that all Lucifer wanted was an apology from him.

Michael looked around and frowned when he didn't see Chuck anywhere. "Sorry for disturbing you. Castiel said he might be here which is why he brought me."

"No. He went to check on some things in heaven." Lucifer said. "What happened?"

"Training accident." The First Born said looking away.

Everyone knew that was a lie. It was Monday meaning that Michael had just come from his weekly meeting with Xaphanel. His Grace was weak and it explained why he wasn't healing. Michael stood a bit straighter and took his arm off of Castiel making the younger angel frown.

"I'm going to my room. When Dad gets back could you tell him that I need him please?" Michael asked turning away and starting to limp off.

"He won't be back for a few hours." Dean said. "Angel or not that leg can't wait that long."

The First Born looked down at his leg before nodding. "You might be right Dean. I'll grab one of your first aid kits and take care of it. Thank you."

"Michael that can't wait." Sam said. "You're dripping blood even with Cas's tie."

The Warrior shook his head. "It'll keep till I get to my room."

"Mikha'el! Vaoresa emna balata oi oanio!" Gabriel snapped in Enochian, making the First Born freeze. "Gen ge conisa ol gohe manada dooain!"*

Michael hesitated then turned and began to limp into the room, and Castiel rushed to steady him. The First Born hesitated just inside the door and Gabriel pointed to the free spot on the table and between Castiel and Dean's help, Michael managed to make the small jump to get on the table. Gabriel came over and began poking at the wound before going over to the locked cabinet and pulling out a small vial of blue. He came over and began to uncork the bottle when Michael reached out and stopped him.

"You can't use that on me. It's Ichor. Save it for an emergency." Michael said softly.

Gabriel peered up at him. "Michael, I can see the bone and you nicked an artery. I don't know how you are even standing. You should have passed out from blood loss."

Michael shook his head. "I just started feeling dizzy."

"That rests my case." The Fourth Born said, dumping the now open bottle slowly into the wound.

Gabriel watched carefully, muttering healing spells under his breath as well as he watched the leg repair itself. He smiled when the wound finished healing and there were no complications. He looked up at Michael only to find the older angel staring at the floor, refusing to look at anyone. With a sigh he removed Castiel's tie and passed it back to his younger brother.

"Looks good Michael. Just be more careful. If you had been anywhere else that could have been bad." Gabriel said. "I just got my family back. I don't want to lose you so soon okay?"

Blue eyes flicked up to lock with gold and Michael gave him a real smile. "You know I'd do anything to protect you. That's what a big brother does."

Gabriel took his hand. "That's what Im afraid of Michael. I'm not a fledgling anymore. I'm a fully grown archangel. I'm big enough to fight my own battles Mike."

The eldest angel frowned. "What are you saying Gabby?"

"I'm saying that you should stop this. You go out once a week by yourself and come back injured and weak. I'm worried about you. What if one of these times you go out there and Xaphanel catches you? He'd rip you to pieces Michael." Gabriel said softly. "So I am asking you. Please. Just stop. Stay here with us. I will handle him when the time comes."

"I wish I could." Michael said, the smile falling from his face. "I just want you safe. If I had been a better brother I would have gone to check on you. I would have looked for you and found out what Raphael was doing. I could have saved you."

"If you want to save me now...then I need you here and strong to protect me." Gabriel said softly, reaching up and putting his hand on the Warrior's face. "Please."

Michael gripped his brother's hand before pulling it away and getting off the table. "I am protecting you in my own way. You and our brothers and sisters. Nothing is going to make me change my mind. I'm going to go lay down for a few hours."

Gabriel watched the taller blonde walk away and let out a growl. "Damn him for being an idiot."

Lucifer sighed. "I could have told you that it wouldn't have worked. He's too stubborn for his own good."

"Xaphanel dropped him off outside the bunker and sliced his leg open then. I was watching." Castiel said. "I think he was trying to send a message."

"Damn. Looks like I'm going to have to start getting ready then." Gabriel with an angry huff. "Xaphanel is trying to push for a confrontation now that he thinks I'm better. At this rate he's going end up killing Michael."

"Are we ready for a fight?" Sam asked. "I mean are we actually ready to try and face Xaphanel and be the ones that come out on top?"

"Last time I tried to kill him I ended up being taken care of by Tibetan Monks for the next fifty years." Gabriel groused. "Not fun. It really didn't like not being able to have candy for that long."

Sam chuckled. "I'm sorry you couldn't feed your addiction."

"So how are we going to stop sightless?" Dean asked.

"Not sure. I do know one thing." The Trickster said. "It's going to take a miracle."

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

"Dad?"

Chuck looked up, not surprised to see Michael standing in the door to his room. "You wanted to see me right?"

Michael nodded and moved to sit at the foot of the bed. "I wanted to tell you something. It's about the deal I made with Xaphanel."

"Okay. I'm listening." Chuck said. "Take your time."

When Michael had returned he had told him everything. How he made a deal with Raphael's demon to protect Gabriel. Michael was ashamed of it but he wanted to keep Gabriel safe the only way he could. Chuck thought the First Born was giving up too much but Michael explained that Xaphanel wasn't doing anything sexual with him, just abusing him and feeding from him. It did not make the diety feel any better about the situation. If anything it made him more worried because he knew that soon Michael was going to end up crossing the line of territory and go from dangerous to deadly.

"I talked to Xaphanel about my contract with him." Michael said softly, his blue eyes trained to the ground. "About changing it."

"Changing it? Don't you think you're in deep enough Michael?" Chuck asked carefully casting a spell that would allow the others to hear their conversation. "You already suffer enough at his hands."

"I can protect them." Michael insisted. "If I stay for four days instead of one then Xaphanel said he wouldn't touch Lucifer, Sam, and Dean. I can't let Lucifer get hurt again and Castiel and Gabriel would never forgive me if I allowed Sam and Dean to get hurt on my watch."

"You barely come back alive after one day. What makes you think you'll be alive after four?" Chuck asked, knowing that what he feared had just come true; Michael was in over his head.

"He won't kill me. I'm a steady source of food for him. He won't risk losing me." The First Born said. "I can make up for everything I've done wrong."

"What wrongs have you done?" God asked, needing to know what darkened his son's heart.

"Gabriel and Lucifer. I abandoned Gabriel and made him afraid to come to me. If I hadn't issued the order to kill him he might have come to me about what Raphael was doing to him and I could have stopped it. Then I hurt Lucifer. Promised him love and gave him nothing but pain. I'm not surprised that he doesn't want me anymore. Not to mention Razael. It might not have been my Grace that killed him but I cast the spell that made it happen." Michael bitterly listed off. "If those aren't sins then they should be."

Chuck frowned. "I'm not sure they blame you. I think you are being too hard on yourself."

"I...I wanted to start a family with Lucifer." The blonde said suddenly. "We were talking about moving into the bunker together and spending the rest of our days here. I was going to offer to bare the child for Lucifer if he agreed. I thought he might enjoy doing it the human way and I was going to let him have the dominate role." A flush spread across his cheeks and Michael looked everywhere but at his dad.

"That's wonderful. I think you should." Chuck encourage. "If you go to him now then-"

"Dad...I leave tomorrow on Sunday and the new contract starts then but it's not going to be four days." Michael interrupted. "I just said that if I stayed for four days I could protect everyone. That is just one of the options I have."

"Michael what did you do?" Chuck asked, fear seeping into his being.

"Nothing yet Dad. I checked Gabriel's notes before doing anything." The First Born replied, his voice hollow. "I took some morning glory, flannel weed, and choisy from his supplies. They'll do enough damage that I won't have to worry about anything."

"Those..." The deity thought hard trying to remember what those three did but he was drawing a blank. "What are those for?"

Michael took a deep breath. "They're for me Dad. I won't be staying for four days. I'll be staying with him period. I'm not coming back. He's agreed and the deal starts at midnight on Sunday. I just...I just wanted to let you know. It'll give you time to make up a story about why I'm never around anymore."

"You're leaving to become a demon's play toy?" Chuck asked, feeling both proud and disappointed. "Michael are you sure about this?"

"Not really Dad but I know that if I do this, I can make sure that no one has to get hurt again." Michael said softly. "I know Lucifer was always your favorite. Now he can be your First."

Chuck felt numb as his oldest son stood and hugged him. He wanted to grab his son and shake him and demand he think about his actions. Instead all he could do was watch Michael walk away and let the blonde think his life was over. God couldn't help but wonder if Michael thought his suffering was would somehow make up for the suffering that Gabriel and Lucifer went through. If so then tomorrow he was sure that the First Born was going to have a rude awakening.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Michael double checked his things. The herbs he needed were in his pocket. His angel blade he had left with Sam. His archangel blade was on his dresser with a note for Lucifer. He was only wearing a light shirt and jeans with sneakers. His jacket was laying where he had thrown it on the bed. He wouldn't even need those where he was going. What else was there left? Oh! Right. That.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the mating bracelet he had made for Lucifer and unwrapped it from the velvet protecting it. He stared at the platinum band and his fingers traced the dark blue sapphire stones. His blue eyes drifted to the diamond holding his feather and he sighed. This was nothing more then a relic now. Something that the other angels would put in the vault and talk about for years to come and wonder how he had managed to mess up the best thing that happened to him. He replaced the velvet and sat it on the dresser with his blade; he wished he could take it with him but knew that it would only end up getting destroyed if he did.

"Michael?"

The First Born startled and turned to see none other then Lucifer standing in the doorway. "Lucifer? What are you doing here? I thought you were playing a game with the others."

"I wanted to see if maybe you wanted to join us." The Morningstar said softly. "There's room for one more. We'd like it if you joined us. Sam says that you're trying to apologize as best you can so we should give you a chance. Come on."

Michael swallowed the lump in his throat; he was finally getting what he wanted just when everything was over. "I shouldn't Lucifer. I'll be in the way."

"Please Mike?"

The First Born glanced at the clock and realized that he still had a while before midnight. "Just for a little while. I won't join in but I'll watch."

Lucifer's smile was almost blinding and Michael took a moment to commit it to memory before the Morningstar grabbed his hand and pulled him to the wreck room. To his surprise he was shoved into a seat and Lucifer sat on the floor in front of him within easy reach of the board. It seemed like everyone was here; even Crowley had been roped into playing. Michael tried to concentrate on the game but it was hard to do. He kept memorizing happy faces and the feeling of Lucifer brushing against him. Everything came to a halt when his phone beeped, letting him know he had ten minutes left.

"Don't tell me your leaving." Gabriel said with a glare. "You're playing next!"

"I'm sorry Gabby. You know I have to go." Michael said standing and heading for the door.

Lucifer stood and chased after him, grabbing him by the wrist but Michael didn't turn. "Mike you don't have to go. You can stay with us. It isn't going to hurt to take a day off."

Michael shook his head. "You don't understand Luc. I have to go."

"I do understand Mike." Lucifer said, gripping the First Born's wrist harder. "You don't think Xaphanel would have just tried to locked me away without hurting me first do you? I know Mike."

Michael felt his heart stop. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please Mike. I am...I am begging you. Please. Don't go. We need you here. I need you here. I need my mate." Lucifer whispered.

"I need you to Luc. I need you safe. I love you." Michael whispered back. "That's why I'm doing this. To protect you. You and Gabriel. I'll be fine."

"Lucifer come here." Gabriel said suddenly. "Michael look at me."

Lucifer frowned but he let go of Michael and moved away. Michael turned to face his brother; it was the least he could before leaving. Gabriel was staring at him with a blank expression and it made the First Born wonder what was wrong. Gabriel's golden eyes closed and Michael was awestruck as his younger brother's six huge golden wings appeared behind him. The taller blonde had forgotten just how beautiful those huge ten foot wings were.

Gabriel's eyes opened and Michael stepped back at the anger he could see in them. The First Born had no time to defend himself as Gabriel raised his hand and threw all his power behind is attack. Michael was slammed into the wall hard, his bones snapping on impact and the wall shattering around him. He fought against the Fourth Born's power but it was no use. He could feel his power slipping away from him due to it being drained once a week, where Gabriel hadn't been using his power.

"Yield Michael." Gabriel said, his voice cold.

"No!" He wouldn't give in; not to Gabriel.

"Yield."

"No!"

"YIELD!"

"NO!"

Michael only had a moment to regret his choice as he felt himself being pulled away from the wall and slammed into it again, before everything went dark. Gabriel walked over to the unconscious First Born and stared down at him for a minute before healing his broken body. With a snap a set Sigil Cuffs appeared in his hand and he quickly place both around his brother's wrists. He turned to face the rest of his family and they seemed shocked but also accepting of what had just happened.

Chuck came over and placed hand on his youngest son's shoulder. "I'm proud of you Gabriel. You did the right thing."