Hello again. So here we are, the next bit, hope you like.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
The next morning Castiel was up with the crack of dawn to keep an eye on when Gabriel left. He knew it would be early, but he hoped that with Rose away it would not be too early, he did after all need to care for Isobel, and his brother won't just leave her without anyone to look after her. And so he pasted the time in his and Dean's room listening to the house come alive around him. He heard doors go to both Gabriel and Bobby's rooms then quiet words been spoken downstairs and he wondered if Bobby knew. Not that it mattered he thought when he heard the front door go.
Making his way downstairs he saw Bobby sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee in front of him. He walked through without saying a word, or at least he tried to.
"You'll never catch up with him." Bobby said not looking up from the book he was reading.
"Do you know where he is going?" Castiel asked. At that Bobby did look up and him and just thought for a moment before he sighed and went to grab a map of the local area. Handing it to Castiel he spoke.
"There's a church about 5 miles from here. That's where you'll find your brother." He said gruffly then returned to his book.
"Thank you Bobby." Castiel responded moving towards the door. Once he had left Bobby looked up from the book he wasn't really reading with a frown on his face. He hoped to god he had just done the right thing. Though it was what Rose wanted him to do so this was on her head now. With that he finished his coffee and went to see if Isobel was ready to get up.
Castiel pulled up outside the isolated church with a frown marring his features. Why would his brother come here? It obviously wasn't a well-used church. Maybe that was why? But why come to a church at all? It's not as if there father lived in them despite what humans may beliEve. In fact Castiel always felt closest to their father in the wilds of nature. Surrounded by trees and streams. That which he designed. So why was Gabriel here? Well only one way to find out. With that Castiel got out of the car and made his way to the partially open door, peering round the edges he saw that the church inside was small but well-kept and more importantly for his purposes, had stone columns running the length of the building to help support the roof. Moving cautiously he made his way to the first column and looked round for his brother. Seeing Gabriel kneeing at the altar he made his silent way forwards in the hopes of catching his words.
Gabriel had spent the night thinking over the conversation he had had with Castiel. Whether his brother meant to or not he reminded Gabriel of something that he had forgotten about killing Eve. And that something was plaguing his mind. So as soon as he heard Bobby waken he made his way down stairs to ask him to watch Isobel for him as he went out. He would have asked Castiel but he knew his brother would question his destination, whereas Bobby would not. So with that arranged he left to make the short journey to the church.
Once there he made his way to the altar. What he had to say was too important for a pew this morning.
"Hey dad, how's it going? I remembered something last night, well in actual fact Cassie reminded me, not that he knows that and I'm rambling but there you go. It's me. Anywho what I remembered was this. The only way Dean could kill Eve with the phoenix ash was by having her turn him into, and I can't believe I'm saying this, a Jefferson Starship. He got the ash into her through her drinking his blood. Then, and this is the thing Castiel then fixed him with his angel powers. But we don't have an angel on our side anymore. Which means one of us is going to die. And I don't mean going to die and come join you in heaven die, but be condemned to an eternity in purgatory, and this time there will be no escape route, cos whoever it is will have been a monster. This has brought me to the realisation that I have 3 options here. 1. I can walk away, like I have always done and leave Dean-o to his fate. Cos let's be honest he ain't gonna let anyone else take that fall. 2. I can be the one that Eve turns and spend the rest of eternity in purgatory. Or 3. I become an archangel again and whichever way this goes down I will kill Eve.
Now option 1 really isn't an option in my mind. I couldn't do that to Cassie and Rose, so no. I'm not walking away from this fight. Which leaves me with a choice to make. Purgatory or heaven. Do you know what the funniest thing about that is? I have no idea which to choose. You'd think it would be obvious wouldn't you? But it's not. Not to me. I could really use some of your wisdom right now old man. Please dad, just give me some advice." And with that Gabriel dropped his head in his hands as the tears he'd kept back at his realisation started to fall. And just when he had given up the idea of his father responding he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned with a look of hope in his eyes only to find the priest of the church standing beside him.
"You are not alone my child, never forget that. And while the lord may not give you answers, that does not mean he is not listening."
Castiel stood behind the pillar trying to make himself breath quietly, no wonder Gabriel had gone distance from them all. He was trying to decide not only his fate, but the fate of their family and the world. His choice was not one Castiel could ever envision having to make. Purgatory or heaven, was it really a choice? Was there really no other way? As the priest approached his brother Castiel was slowly making his way out of the church. Gabriel may find it better to pray to god here. But Castiel had another place in mind. There had to be another way. A way to save his brother, and he would make his father reveal it to him. Even if it was the last thing he did on this earth. He would save his brother. If Dean had taught him nothing else, it was family mattered more than anything.