NOTE: Kripke is the saloon keeper of this here establishment. And all things Supernatural are his.

This chapter was like writing a play by play for football. Where's that player going to? Has that player been tackled yet? Oh, for Pete's sake, who has the ball? Yeah, I am not big fan of football.

Sam may be a better hunter than his brother but he's still not the sharpest knife in the butcher block.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. And as always, thanks for reading!

CHAPTER 10

Sam walked into the shelter. The placed not only looked the same as he had remembered but it smelled the same. That thick blanketing odor of bleach and lemon floor wax was as welcoming as any open arms were. He went past a row of closed door rooms and straight to the office. His hands went up and touched the door frame. The last time he was here, he could not even brush the top of the frame with his finger tips while standing on his toes. Now he had grown so much, his arm was still bent as he squeezed the metal.

He peered into the room hoping the faces within would be just as familiar. Sam spotted a man in vestments pressing a piece of paper against the window. The priest shook his head as he rubbed his eyes. "I need new glasses."

"Father Gallagher."

The priest turned towards the voice. Sam felt himself stutter for breath. Father Gallagher's hair was no longer red. Silver had taken over. Wrinkles had made themselves a home against the corners of his mouth and eyes. But everything else about the priest was the same as Sam had remembered. The young man felt himself regressing to his nine year old self. He wanted to run up to the priest and have the man ruffle his hair like he had used to.

Father narrowed his eyes at the tall stranger. Then all at once he saw the boy he knew still inside those new comer's eyes. "Sam?"

Sam smiled as he ran into the room. The priest held open his arms. The two embraced like long lost relatives.

Neither one noticed Baldr giving a quick peek into the room, shaking his head and moving on down the hallway.

Father Gallagher pulled back, shocked that this giant wall of a man was the same boy he had once called, "Pipsqueak."

"What have they been feeding you, son?"

Sam smirked.

Jack settled the metal tub of ice into the hole in the serving counter. He rubbed his hands and blew warm air on them. Bad enough going outside to throw out the trash nearly froze off his fingers, now the inside chores were trying to finish the job. He swore he was going to grab the pots of hot soup next to balance things out. He ran his hands through his hair, scanning the busy room. There was a large amount of families today in the shelter. The numbers seemed to grow everyday. Jack hoped that the shelter had enough food to feed them all. Especially the children.

He blinked, spotting something odd. Father William was in the dining room. Not only was the priest up but he was having quite an intense talk with two homeless men that Jack had never seen before.

Did the pills work that fast and that well? Jack thought. He had to see for himself.

He waded through the crowd, excusing himself as he went along and went straight to the William. Putting a gentle hand on the young priest's shoulder, Jack smiled, "Father William, what are you doing here? Are you feeling better?"

The priest turned to Jack. There was nothing in William's eyes. Not anger. Not joy. Not pain. Not pleasure. Nothing. The look was if the man standing before Jack was a life sized puppet being played around on strings that Jack could not see.

The hairs on the back of Jack's neck rose. He could not suppress the shudder that raced through him. "William?"

Harut held up his hand and flicked his fingers at the man's direction. Jack was thrown across the room. He hit the wall hard with a thug and slid down to the floor.

The people who had witnessed this wailed in horror. The rest of crowd turned to the screamers to see what the commotion was about. A wide toothy grin spread across Harut's face as his eyes went white. The two homeless men with him stood up. Their eyes went black. All three turned about the room glaring every Human in the eye. They looked like hyenas ready to attack. More screams arose as people rushed towards the exit/entrance. Baldr stepped into the room only to be pushed back into the hallway as people stampeded out.

Pastor and Nabuko raced into the dining room to see what the screaming was about. They saw Jack crumpled on the floor, cradling his bruised head. Nobuko yelled his name. The man looked up with panicked and confused eyes. Leaning against the wall, Nobuko squatted, taking Jack under the arm. She tried to lift him to his feet but only managed a few inches. Pastor, on the other side of Jack with his arms wrapped around the man, did the rest.

Harut watched as the crowd scrambled around him. He caught sight of the only three people not fleeing. Among the trio was the person he had come for. He pointed at Nobuko, "You."

From the hallway, two people were thrown back into the dining room. They sailed through the air and crashed into tables and chairs. Harut looked puzzled at the moaning Humans, who were trying to crawl away from the chaos. He turned back towards the entrance. Baldr was on his feet and brushing off dirt from his four hundred dollar shirt. He was extremely pissed.

The god marched into the dining room and searched the now almost vacant room. He saw the battered Jack leaning against Pastor. He pointed at the injured man. "You."

"Your father passed away?" said Father Gallagher in dismay. He felt a knot in his stomach grow at the news. "Sam, I am so sorry. He was a good man."

Sam's mouth grew into a tight lipped slit at this. He gave a weak nod.

"What happened?"

Narrowing his eyes, Sam tried to find a way of telling the priest everything but without revealing anything. Pastor may have known the truth about the Winchester family business but Father still thought John Winchester was a wild animal pest controller. The young man shrugged. "He hunted the wrong thing."

Screaming started to race down the hallway. Sam and Father spun on their heels in time to watch people rushing down as well. The sound of the front doors being thrown open and banging against the walls made the two jump. Sam looked at Father wanting to know if this was normal. The priest shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

Frowning, Sam held up his hand at Father, motioning to stay put. He did not even look at the priest to see if he had understood. Sam was already heading out of the entrance and fighting his way against the swift current of frightened people. Father Gallagher stood in the office. He knew that the smartest action was to follow the crowd out into the parking lot. He chewed on his lip for a moment before growling, "I am such an idiot." He ran to his desk and threw a drawer open. Grabbing a bottle of Holy Water and a box cutter, he slammed the drawer back shut and rushed into the hallway after Sam.

Baldr took a step towards the wide eyed and terrified Jack. "You are coming with me."

The god felt his body stiffen in place. A moment later he was air borne and flying across the room. He crashed into a table, banging his head. A dent was left behind. Baldr shook it off and sat up.

Harut was glaring at him. "Who the hell are you?"

"Baldr." The god grabbed a blue plastic chair and threw it as hard as he could at the Fallen Angel.

Harut side stepped it. The chair rocketed past hitting the wall behind him. The entire thing shattered into a shower of pieces, taking a large chunk of the wall with it. The result looked like the impact of a bomb going off. Harut gave a glance at the damage. The god was very strong. Still Harut was not that impressed, especially given Baldr's known reputation.

"A pretty boy Aesir. How bothersome."

Baldr stood up on the table. He scowled. "And who are you to call me bothersome?"

"I am Harut."

"Never heard of you. From which clan of gods do you hail from?"

Harut laughed. "I am not a god, silly child. I'm an Angel." He threw his hand in the air, sending Baldr flying again.

Jack, Nobuko and Pastor were frozen in place out of fear.

"Nobuko," said Jack in a whisper, "That thing that looks like Father William said it's an Angel and it wants you. Why?"

"Idon'tknow," she spat. She was too afraid to turn to Jack to answer. "That other thing, he called himself 'Baldr.' That's a Norse god. Why does he want with you?"

"Idon'tknoweither," he spat back.

The two felt a tugging towards the kitchen. They slightly moved their heads at Pastor's direction.

"Come on," he whispered through clinched teeth, "while they are fighting."

"Don't. You. Move."

The three looked up to see Harut pointing at them. He flicked his wrist sending Pastor flying one way and Jack the other way. Nobuko pressed her back against the wall, shaking. Harut held out his hand behind him. The Demon with the matted hair took out a gold dagger from his coat and slipped into the Angel's hand.

Harut gripped it tight. He started to approach the young woman. "Little girl, I've been looking for someone like you for a very, very long time. Or at least, someone like that child in your womb. You see, a short while ago one of my followers found a prophecy about a living saint that was to be born in this very shelter here. It was talking about your unborn son. Now, here's the interesting thing about living saints. Their souls are special. Not the bargain basement dime a dozen types that infect the average flesh bag. No, these souls have the ability to restore grace. I need that ability."

"Wait."

Harut twisted around to see Baldr on his feet. The god had a puzzled expression on his face. The Angel struck his hand in the air. Baldr held up his hands. "A minute before you start tossing. I wish to ask you one thing, Angel. Simply one thing."

Dropping his hand, Harut narrowed his eyes. "What is it, god?"

Baldr hopped on top of the table and pointed at Nabuko. "Let me make this clear, you are here because you want the girl and not him?" He pointed at Jack.

Harut looked back at Jack who had climbed to his feet and was going for Nobuko. Harut snapped his fingers. Jack was up in the air and floating across the room. He stopped a few feet before the Angel and stayed hovering. "Him?"

"Yes," Baldr.

Harut stared into Jack's fearful eyes. The Angel made a face when he did not notice anything special about the man. "Why would I want him? Or better yet, why do you want him?"

Baldr cocked his head. He doesn't know? The god wanted to giggle with delight but he bit the inside of cheek. "Personal reasons." He hopped off of the table and came close to the Angel. The two demons blocked the god. Their faces were twisted with rage. Baldr rolled his eyes at their attempt to scare him. "Look, Harut, is it? We don't need to fight. We are here for different reasons. You want the girl. I want him. How about we take our prizes and go our separate ways. No one needs to shed any more blood. Well, at least shed yours or mine."

Harut still searched Jack with his eyes. He brought the man even closer, sniffing the air. Jack smelled of carrots, soap, shampoo and of little else. He looked so common in his plaid shirt and faded jeans. Why would this Human demand such attention from a god? Harut had to know. "Is he magic? Does he possess knowledge that may be used for the Arts?"

"Arts?" Baldr scrunched up his face. The Angel was asking one too many questions for his liking. "No, he is simply a standard Human. Only except for the fact that I want him."

Jack could feel his heart wanting to break out of his chest. It was pounding so hard. He tried to move his head to look at Baldr but could not. Still he had to say something. "Baldr? Sir. I don't know who you think I am but there isn't anything that I have or know that you could possibly want."

"Silence," hissed Baldr. "Or else I will slice out your tongue the first chance I get."

Harut chuckled to himself. Humans and gods were so amusing somethings. He looked over Jack one more time and found nothing again. "Fine, little Aesir, take your pet. You are right. We do not need to fig-"

He caught a spark in Jack's eye. Something fleeting but familar. Something that made him shudder in awe. Harut waved his hand. Jack flew up to the Angel. With the dagger still in his hand, he seized hold on either side of the man's head and pried open Jack's eyes. Harut's nostrils flared as he came within inches of Jack's face. Almost pressing his own eye on the man's.

The spark flashed again.

"Grace," said the Angel. "You have Grace. Why?"

"What the hell is going on in here?"

Harut, Baldr and the two demons looked to see Sam standing in the hallway. The young man stood tensed, ready to fight but still full of confusion. He did not understand why there was a priest holding onto another man by the head and practically headbutting him. Nor did he understand why there were Humans cowering in the corners. He caught Baldr giving him a glowering look.

"You?" said the young man as he then spotted the black eyes of the two Demons. He retreated a step. Pulling out his Taurus Model 99 from the back of his pants' waistband, he held the gun steady in both hands. He then looked over at the priest again. He saw Harut's white eyes. A high ranking Demon? he thought, Here? Why? Then he realized who the man in Harut's hands was and became even more baffled. "Gabriel?"

Harut's mouth dropped open at the name. Something clicked in his head. Now he understood why the shelter worker had grace. He turned back to the man in his hands. "Brother?"

Dean watched as people bolted out of the shelter. "Dammit, looks like Baldr beat us to the punch."

Sariel's face twisted into a snarl. "I knew we should have teleported." She started to go towards the front door.

Dean grabbed her by the arm. "Hold on a second."

The Archangel stopped, glaring at his hand on her wrist. Dean let go but put up a finger indicating to be patient. He grabbed a fleeing young woman in a gray coat and orange scarf. She shrieked in panic. Dean spun her around. "Whoa. Whoa. I'm not gonna hurt you. Just tell me what is going in there."

The girl gulped for air as she stared at Dean with shocked eyes. She then looked at Sariel, Kali and Castiel. They were so calm that her heart slowed down in response. She held her breath for a beat before talking. "A priest. He tossed a man across the room like it was nothing. Like he was a doll. There were two others with them. They had black eyes. Like dark, demon like eyes. And the priest's, his eyes were white. All white. I don't think he was Human."

Dean turned to Sariel, "Does that sound like a Norse god to you?"

"It doesn't to me," said Kali.

The girl tugged her arm sharply breaking herself free from Dean's grip. She dashed off down the street, vanishing around a gas station.

Sariel returned to the front doors of the shelter. "Demons? Why are they here?"

Dean clicked his tongue. "My guess? To get Gabriel like Baldr's doing."

"Yeah. But how would they know that Gabriel is even alive?"

Kali started for the door. "Stop talking and let's find out."

Dean ran, over taking her. The last thing he wanted was for Kali to go ramming into the shelter like an army invasion. She would ransack everything she touched. Even the Humans that might be in there. He raised his eyebrows, holding his hands up. She narrowed her eyes and flared her nostrils. Dean turned away from her and went for the door. "Try to keep the carnage to a minimum, princess. I like this place."

Jack stared back at the man holding him. The face was Father William's but the eyes, with their dead white gaze were not. Feeling his stomach twist in fear, Jack wanted to cry but he did not. Nobuko and Pastor were still near and helpless. He did not know that if he struggled with the creature before him, the monster would take out his wrath on them. No, he would have to try to reason with the thing that looked like Father William even though Jack knew that was insane.

"Gabriel, please, tell me it's you," said Harut. He stopped squeezing the man's face and began to stroke his hair like a parent would stroke his own child's. "I heard you died by Lucifer's hand. That bastard brother of ours. Did Father bring you back?"

"I...I..." Jack's bit his lip. "I don't know who this Gabriel is, sir. But I am not him. I'm sorry. I am just a shelter worker."

Harut stopped petting. "Gabriel. What is this? Another one of your jokes?"

"Please, look at me. I can't be who ever you are looking for. I am a nobody. A completely harmless nobody."

Harut frowned. Jack knew that he had pissed the creature off.

Baldr grabbed Harut by the arm. He yanked the Angel away from Jack, kicking the Demons as he did so. One Demon was thrown through air. He hit a table and slid all the way down. The other slammed into another table, breaking off a chunk with his head. With every last bit of his strength, Baldr swung around and flung Harut across the room. The Angel hit the cement wall and left a deep impression. Gray dust formed a cloud as Father William's body dropped to the floor. Baldr grinned at his handiwork, satisfied that the meddlesome Angel would at least be out for a few minutes. Enough time to take the Archangel and split.

He turned back to where Jack had been tumbled to only to see no one was there. He looked up to see Sam holding Jack by the underarm and dragging him to where two Humans, a man and a young girl, were waving them over. Baldr hopped off of the table. First an Angel, now a Winchester shows up. And here I thought this was going to be simple.

"Sam," said Baldr holding out his hand, "give me Gabriel."

Sam and Jack joined Pastor and Nabuko at where they were standing. Nabuko wrapped her arms around Jack's waist. He wrapped her arms around her shoulders. They were both trembling.

Sam turned to Jack, grabbing hold of the man's shoulder. He came within inches of Jack's face. "I don't know what your game here is, Gabriel. But this trick has got to end."

"Why is everyone calling me 'Gabriel'?" Jack pointed at Baldr, "Look, kid, I don't know who or even what that is" He thumbed back at Nobuko, "She says he's a god. A god! And I also don't know what is going on with Father William. Or even if that actually is Father William. And you, you are acting like you know me. I. Don't. Know. You."

Sam blinked as his mind fit the puzzle pieces together. The phone call from Pastor wanting help with a friend who had forgotten his memory. That was Gabriel? He could not believe it. No, it had to be a trick. This whole thing had to be a game of some sorts by the Archangel to teach Sam a lesson. Then Sam realized that Gabriel had died all of those months ago. Slayed by Lucifer. Even the creature in the vestments had said that. That creature? He called Gabriel, "Brother." Another Angel? And if he said Gabriel had died for sure then how did he come back? Was Castiel right? Did God bring Gabriel back like he brought me back? He felt his chest, touching the hollow feeling that had been plaguing him for months. Could Gabriel have that same feeling only with his memory?

He turned back to Baldr. "You know the answer, right? As to why Gabriel is acting like this."

Baldr gave a half smile. He did not even have to nod to make Sam understand. "And I am sure you know too and that's why you are here. He has lost his memory."

The hallway became empty as the last person fled out of the doors as Dean and the others flooded in. The interior was exactly how he had remembered it. Down to the children's drawings that decorated the walls. For a second, Dean wanted to stop and take it all in. The shelter, the church and Pastor Francis' house, for a short while, was one of the best homes he had ever had. It was one of the few places he felt safe and in return one of the few places where had a complete peaceful nights sleep. A rarity in his life.

He spotted a man in vestments running down the hallway with a bottle of Holy Water in one hand and a box cutter in the other.

"Father!" Dean chased after him with everyone on his heels.

The priest spun around to the voice calling him.

Dean gasped as he recognized the priest. He felt his insides melt with warmth. "Father Gallagher?"

Father scrunched up his brow at the stranger. He eyed him up and down before returning to the man's face. Something about the smattering of freckles about the man's cheeks and nose was familiar. Father's eyes widen as a memory of a boy taking a break in the kitchen, sitting on the counter and playing, 'connect the freckles' with a ballpoint pen came to him. "Dean Winchester?"

Dean let a nervous laughter of relief. "Hello, Father. Long time, no see."

Father smiled, "Oh, I would hug you right now, son, but your brother went ahead to the dining room and there is something happening there. Something off." He started down the hallway, "Follow me."

"My brother?" Still standing, Dean made a face. "Sammy's here? How can Sam be here?" He turned to Castiel. With his unblinking blue eyes, the Angel looked spooked. Dean had never seen that expression on Castiel before. "Cas?"

Castiel vanished.

"Goddammit!" Dean broke into a sprint towards the dining room with Sariel and Kali overtaking him and running ahead.