Title: Need Some Light [10/?]
Author: Ailendolin
Rating: PG-13 … just to be sure.
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural and do not make any money with this story. I also don't own the song "Heat of the Moment" by Asia.
Summary: Tag to Jump The Shark. What if Adam hadn't been dead when Dean found him?
Word count: 3940
Characters/Pairing: Adam, Dean, Sam, Castiel, Bobby, Gabriel, Rumsfeld and Milo
Warnings/Spoilers: Spoilers for Jump The Shark. Story goes AU in the middle of the episode.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone! *waves* I am sorry for the long delay with this chapter. I've been working in the Messel Pit for the last 4 weeks digging up fossils and didn't have the time or inspiration for this chapter. I'm also not sure about the way chapter 10 has turned out but I hope you like it anyway. It's the longest chapter I've written for this story so far and once again I want to thank everyone who has read and reviewed this fanfiction! I always love reading your comments!
Chapter 10
"Hey, bro! Long time, no see! Did you miss me?"
The waiter was grinning at them and Dean buried his head in his arms.
"Why doesn't this surprise me?" he mumbled, raising his head just enough to glare at the Trickster. "You know, you're the last person I want to see right now."
"Aww, Deano!" The Trickster grabbed a chair and sat down at their table, still grinning. "You wound me! I always love meeting up with you chuckleheads. Don't you?"
He snapped his fingers and music filled the diner. Sam looked like he wanted to strangle him.
"Seriously?" he asked.
"What?" The Trickster feigned innocence. "I love that song! It was the heat of the moment!"
"God, I hate you," Sam said when the Trickster started singing Asia's song obnoxiously loud which did not seem to bother the other customers in the slightest. Dean just shook his head and focused his attention on the Angel next to him. Castiel was looking at the Trickster with what Dean could only describe as shock. He was not even admonishing Sam for using his Father's name in vain. Instead he looked like he had seen a ghost, staring at the Trickster, unblinking and unmoving.
"Cas?" Dean asked, concerned. "You alright?"
"'Cas'?" The Trickster laughed before Castiel could say anything. "That's cute, Deano. Really. Can't say I would have picked you for the pet-names-type, though."
Dean ignored him. "Cas?" he asked again, looking questioningly at the Angel.
"I remember him," Castiel said, voice full of wonder. He looked at the Trickster. "You're alive," he whispered.
The Trickster shrugged nonchalantly.
"We thought you were lost. Dead," Castiel went on. "And you have been here all this time. We have been looking for you for centuries. Why didn't you come back?"
The Trickster rolled his eyes. "Maybe I didn't want to come back, you know?"
"No, I don't," Castiel said, shaking his head. The Trickster looked perplexed for a moment before he smirked.
"So, I take it they still don't teach the fledglings 'Human Ways' in Heaven, hm?"
Before Castiel could reply Dean held up his hand.
"Now, wait just a moment," he said. "What the hell are you two talking about? How come you know each other?"
"Oh Deano," the Trickster grinned, "I knew you are pretty slow when it comes to figuring things out but that slow? That's a whole new level, even for you."
"So what?" Sam asked, not bothering to wait for Dean's reply. He looked annoyed. "Are you telling us you're an Angel? You?" He laughed. "There's nothing even remotely angelic about you. We know you're a pagan god."
The Trickster smiled at him but his eyes narrowed and his voice was deadly serious when he said, "You should show me some respect, Sammy."
Dean shivered. It reminded him of one of his first meetings with Castiel when the Angel had told him the same thing, voice full of authority and the prospect of danger. It was a tone he had come to associate with Angels and he doubted that even a Trickster could fake something so powerful like that kind of voice.
"Who are you?" Dean asked, looking at the Trickster. "Please don't tell me you're Michael. Imagining you as the highest-ranking Angel in Heaven is on so many levels wrong."
The Trickster looked amused. "Don't you have high expectations of me," he said. His voice sounded like his usual self again. "I can assure you that I'm not Michael. Michael's my older brother and he's anything but a funny guy. His sense of humor is disastrous." He shuddered. "He's nothing like me and I am nothing like him."
"So, which one are you, then?" Sam asked.
"Gabriel," The Trickster said, looking directly at him. "They call me Gabriel."
"Like, Gabriel the Messenger of God – Gabriel?" Sam asked, eyes wide.
"Yep, the very same."
The table went silent. Dean had known for a while that most Angels were douchebags but somehow he would have never expected the Trickster to be one of them, an Angel in disguise. He wondered how an Archangel could leave Heaven and disappear onto Earth and become a pagan god without losing his powers. It seemed impossible for such a high-ranking Angel not to be found by his brothers or sisters, or by his Father. He was fairly certain that God would not be too happy about his messenger turning Trickster.
"What?" Gabriel asked, breaking the silence. He looked mildly offended. "No applause for that big revelation? Nothing?"
"Why didn't you come home, Gabriel?" Castiel asked, staring at his brother with desperation.
"I've already told you, didn't I?" Gabriel said, irritated. "I didn't want to go back."
"But," Castiel said, obviously not understanding, "It is your home. How could you not want to go home?"
At that Gabriel's gaze softened. "No, brother," he said, quietly. "Heaven hasn't been my home for a long time. And that's a good thing, believe me."
"How can that be a good thing?" Castiel asked, frowning.
"Because," Gabriel said, looking first at his brother and then at Sam and Dean, voice turning serious, "Heaven is not what it used to be. It hasn't been for a long time."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sam asked.
Gabriel sighed, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here. "I can't believe I'm going to tell you this," he mumbled. "Anyway, it all started with you, guys. Humanity. This whole mess with Lucifer and Dad and Michael happened just because of you. Those were bad times in Heaven. Be glad you weren't alive then," he said to Castiel. "There was constant fighting before Lucifer and his followers were cast out. Heaven had changed by then and Michael and our Father had changed with it. They tried to keep up pretending that everything was alright but it wasn't. A new generation of Angels was created, one that never saw or heard our Father's voice and never felt His love."
"My generation," Castiel said quietly. "My wish to speak with Him was never granted."
"Neither your wish nor anybody else's, Castiel." Gabriel's voice sounded bitter. "The only one he really ever talked to was Joshua. Michael, Raphael and I merely received orders, nothing more. He never talked anything but business. Brief, always to the point. It fell to us to clean up His dirty messes and He made it clear that disobedience or even doubt in His actions or orders were not tolerated anymore. And thus, Free Will became an illusion."
"So, Angels do have Free Will?" Sam asked, curious. "Or, at least, they had it once."
Gabriel chuckled humorlessly. "Oh, we still have it, Sam. The first generation of Angels still remembers the joys of being allowed to have Free Will but Angels like Castiel never had the chance to experience it. They came into Heaven and were immediately trained to be good little soldiers who never doubted anything. It was Father's way to ensure that not another debacle like the one with Lucifer would happen again."
He paused, looking outside the window at the sky while people still bustled around them, oblivious to their conversation.
"Things went that way for several millennia," he went on. "Humanity grew and Father gave less and less orders. I received my last one around the time when Jesus was born. And then there was silence."
"What does that mean?" Dean asked.
"It means," Gabriel said, "That God stopped talking to us. To Michael, to Raphael and me. He just stopped and suddenly Michael was in charge and had to lead Heaven without the rest of the Host knowing that God had abandoned us, that He had left. Michael sent me to look for Him and I did. I looked everywhere but I never found Him. One day I just stopped searching and never went back." He sighed, looking older than Dean had ever seen him. "It was too painful for me to go home and crush my brother's hope of seeing our Father again once more."
He looked at Sam and Dean. "The rest of the story is history," he said. "I became a pagan god and kept myself occupied so that I had not to think about Heaven. This went on for the last few hundred years. And then you two came along and had to shake things up, again. Like always. You're nothing but trouble, do you know that?"
"Says the pot calling the kettle black," mumbled Dean.
Gabriel glared at him. "There's a reason why I'm telling you this, you know. Heaven and Hell are manipulating you, and none of you can see it. You're playing right into their hands."
When Sam and Dean looked at Castiel questioningly Gabriel laughed. "Oh no, Castiel doesn't know what's going on. He's too low in the food chain to know the important information. They only tell him what he has to know and nothing more. He's being played, just like you."
"But you do know what's going on?" Sam asked, skeptically. "Sorry, but you've been cut off from Heaven for what, almost 2000 years? It's a little hard to believe that you're up to date on Heaven's plans."
Gabriel sighed, slightly exasperated. "I'm an Archangel, Sammy," he explained slowly, as if talking to a child. "I'm not really cut off from Heaven because I never fell. I'm still an Archangel. I just learned how to hide myself and over time they forgot about me, stopped looking for me and presumed me dead in the end. They don't expect me to listen in on their conversations. And anyway, the only ones who could possibly notice me would be Michael or Raphael. The powers of Angels like Zachariah don't match mine."
"So, you've been spying on your Angel buddies for the last 2000 years?" Dean asked.
Gabriel shook his head. "Only occasionally, out of curiosity. To see how Michael was doing. I only started tapping into their conversations more often when I met you guys and then regularly after I felt the first Angels walking on Earth since Jesus died. It was obvious that something was going on."
"Yeah," Dean said, "That would be the 66 Seals breaking."
Gabriel grinned. "See?" he asked. "That's where you're wrong and why you need my help."
"So, the Seals are not breaking?" Sam asked, looking confused.
"Oh, they are." Gabriel waved dismissively. "But the thing is: Heaven wants them to."
"But that would mean that Lucifer would be freed," Castiel said. He looked at his brother, not understanding. "Why would Heaven want him to be free?"
"Because, dear brother, with Lucifer alive he'll always be a constant threat. Michael wants to eradicate that threat but the fight can only happen if Lucifer is free."
"But what's that got to do with us?" Sam asked. "We're trying to stop the Seals from breaking."
"Emphasis on 'trying'," Gabriel said. "You'll never stand a chance and Heaven knows it. Ultimately, you will be the one to break the final Seal and set Lucifer free. Sorry, kiddo."
"I would never do that!" Sam said, outraged.
Gabriel looked at him for a moment and Dean was almost sure that he could see the Demon Blood coursing through Sam's veins. Then he said slowly, "No, not consciously. But you will break the final Seal and you won't know what you have done until it's too late. And then your real destiny will unfold."
"Don't tell me it's getting worse," Dean muttered.
"You know what being a pawn means?" Gabriel asked. "It means that you're always getting the worst of everything. In Sam's case this means that he's the vessel for Lucifer." Gabriel looked at Sam. "The plan is that you set Lucifer free and that he will immediately take over your body. And as for Dean," Gabriel turned to look at him," You've got the honor of being Michael's vessel. Congratulations, to you both."
He smirked and mock-bowed.
"Well, that's good for Michael and Lucifer," Dean spat out. "But as far as I know Angels only can take vessels when they have their consent. And there's no way in hell I'm ever going to be saying yes to Michael and fight my own brother."
"Your optimism is admirable, Dean, but you don't know my family. They will make you say yes, some way or another. They'll put you in a situation where saying yes will be the best option you'll have. And then they'll get their way, as they always do, and the fight will begin."
Castiel looked determined. "We've got to stop this from happening."
"That's why I'm here, brother," Gabriel said.
"But what's in it for you?" Dean asked. His eyes narrowed. "Archangel or no Archangel, you're still a Trickster and we all know you like to screw with people just for fun. So what do you gain by helping us?"
"We're talking about my family, Winchester," Gabriel said, voice dangerously low. "I'm tired of them continuously fighting, seeking revenge or approval of our missing Father. I'm tired of them always dragging innocent people into this mess. I know how it feels to stand in the middle, with either side trying to get your support and not realizing how much they hurt you. And so do you." He paused before looking intently at Sam and Dean. "As much as I love playing games with you guys, this is not one of those times. You don't deserve to end up as meat suits for my brothers."
"Wow," Sam said, impressed. "I never thought I'd see you of all people showing compassion."
"Don't get used to it," Gabriel bit back. He sighed. "You know," he said contemplatively, "Father once had a dream when he created humans. A vision. He was always so enthusiastic about you." He smiled reminiscently but then his gaze turned cold and determined. "I'm not letting Michael or Zachariah destroy this dream just because they're a little trigger-happy and are itching for a fight."
"Okay," Dean said, "Let's say we believe you. How do we know that we can trust you?"
Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Because I'm a powerful Archangel?" he asked.
Sam glared at him. "Not good enough."
"Fine, fine," Gabriel muttered. "What do you want?"
"Turn this town back to normal, for one," Dean replied. "Restore the normal flow of time."
"You're such a spoil-sport." Gabriel grinned. "But yeah, no problem. Had to do it sooner or later anyway. As fun as it is to entertain the locals I just did this to get the attention of you chuckleheads."
"Why didn't you just come to us?" Sam asked.
Gabriel gave him a look. "Where would be the fun in that?"
Both Sam and Dean frowned at him. Gabriel held up his hands in mock-surrender.
"Alright, back to business," he said. "You want me to prove my good intentions? Fine, I will."
He snapped his fingers and with a flash their surroundings changed. They were no longer in the diner but sitting in the Impala with Dean in the driver's seat, Sam riding shotgun and Castiel and Gabriel occupying the backseat.
"Okay…" Sam said, slowly, and looked around. "So, what did you do?"
"Changed what I did," Gabriel explained, producing a lollipop out of nowhere. "The town's back in its proper timeline. There's no case anymore. The media will be a bit confused why they reported on something that never really happened, but I wouldn't be a Trickster if I didn't get some amusement out of it, wouldn't I?"
Dean considered replying to that but thought better of it. It was not like he could force Gabriel to do anything anyway. So instead he asked, "Where exactly are we?"
"Just drive down the road and you'll be back at that salvage yard you two are so fond of."
Dean started the car.
"And what's going to happen then?" he asked.
"Then," Gabriel said, grinning, "We're going to talk some more, plan a few things and if you're really nice I'll even have a surprise for you."
"Great," Sam muttered. "A surprise from a Trickster."
"Hey, I can hear you, you know?"
There was silence for a moment before Castiel said, "Stop reading his thoughts, Gabriel. Humans don't like that."
Gabriel laughed. "And you, being the good little Angel you are, did just that, right? Oh, how I've missed this."
They drove into Bobby's yard with the sun just setting behind them. It seemed that Gabriel had kept his promise. Bobby's truck was still standing in the yard which meant that he and Adam were not in some town looking for them but safe at home and awaiting their return. Dean cut off the engine, briefly wondering what Bobby would say to his newest guest when the door to the front porch opened and Rumsfeld came running out of the house, straight at them. He was barking, his tail wagging, and jumped up and down in front of the driver's door until Dean showed mercy and opened it.
"Hey, buddy, did you miss us?" he asked and petted the dog. Rumsfeld just barked happily and ran over to Sam's door, performing the same ritual there. He looked confused when Castiel's door opened and sniffed the Angel's trenchcoat curiously. Dean almost laughed at Castiel's expression when Rumsfeld proceeded to sniff his hand. Castiel was standing stock-still, staring wide-eyed at the dog. When Rumsfeld licked his hand Castiel looked desperately at Dean for help.
"He just wants to get to know you," Dean explained. "He obviously has forgiven you for trying to hurt Adam. Or he's forgotten it. Anyway, you can pet him, if you want."
Castiel looked skeptical but petted the dog nonetheless. It looked clumsy and uncertainly but Dean could see that the Angel was clearly fascinated by Rumsfeld. Before he could say anything the last door of the Impala was opened and Gabriel stepped out gracefully, lollipop in his mouth. Rumsfeld's attention was immediately on him and the dog began sniffing him even more intensively than he had Castiel.
"Oh, I already like this place!" Gabriel said and bent down to pet Rumsfeld. "Hey, little guy! Would you like to have someone to play with?" he asked. "I bet you do."
Before either Sam or Dean could ask what Gabriel was talking about he had stood up and snapped his fingers. In a matter of moments he was holding another dog in his arms. It was smaller than Rumsfeld and completely white except for its ears and the area around its eyes that had a dark brown color.
"Hey there, Milo!" Gabriel allowed the little dog to lick his face briefly before he sat it down. "Now, you two, go and have some fun!"
With another snap of his fingers balls in every imaginable color fell from the sky and bounced around the yard. The dogs went mad and tried to catch every single one of them. Gabriel watched them for a moment before he turned around, staring into the speechless faces of Sam and Dean while Castiel just looked confused.
"What?" Gabriel asked, defensively. "I can't leave her alone for however long our little project is going to take so the obvious choice was to bring her here."
Dean just shook his head, grabbed Cas and started to walk towards the house. Sam stayed behind, looking curious.
"I didn't now Archangels keep dogs," he remarked.
"They don't," Gabriel retorted. "But Trickster's do." He grinned. "I'm full of surprises, aren't I?"
Sam just smiled at him. "It's nice to see you doing something good for a change."
He walked off after Dean and Castiel with Gabriel following him but before they reached the door it was opened and Bobby stepped outside.
"What the devil is going on here?" Bobby demanded, looking anything but amused when he saw Castiel and Gabriel. He turned towards Sam and Dean. "I've told you countless of times not to bring any strays back home – And whose dog is that?"
Gabriel grinned and walked up the steps towards Bobby. "I like you," he told him, grabbing his hand and shaking it. "I'm Gabriel, by the way, and that dog is mine. Castiel and I will be staying here for a bit, just until we've averted the Apocalypse and such. Hope you don't mind."
And with that, he let Bobby's hand go and went inside the house. Bobby looked after him as if he had seen a ghost.
"Gabriel?" he asked, perplexed.
Dean just shook his head. "Long story," he said. "He was the reason for the town being frozen in time. Apparently, he just wanted to lure us there to talk to us."
"He told us about Heaven's plans to let Lucifer out of his cage," Sam continued, "And now he wants to help us prevent it."
"Why?" Bobby looked skeptical.
Dean shrugged. "He's tired of his family screwing everything up, or so he says. Fact is, we could use his help."
"And why is he here?" Bobby nodded towards Castiel.
"He came to rescue us," Dean explained. "And now he wants to help as well, right Cas?"
Castiel nodded solemnly. Bobby looked at them for a moment before he turned around, rolling his eyes.
"Idjits," he muttered. "I've got a salvage yard, not a bloody motel."
With that he went back inside the house. Castiel, Sam and Dean followed him, leaving the dogs outside to play with the balls.
"Where's Adam?" Dean asked.
"In the kitchen, making dinner."
That was the moment when they heard a crash from the direction of the kitchen and both Sam and Dean groaned.
"Gabriel," they said in unison, hoping the Archangel had not hurt their brother. They ran the last few meters and Dean was surprised when they saw Adam holding a large knife and pointing it at Gabriel who looked utterly amused by the situation.
"Hey, guys!" he exclaimed, grinning widely. "When did you find a way to create an offspring? I'm hurt that I wasn't asked to be his godfather."
Adam looked confused at Sam and Dean. Dean finally took pity on him.
"It's alright, Adam," he said. "You can lower the knife. That's Gabriel. He's a … friend." He had to grind the last word out.
"And an Archangel," Gabriel supplied helpfully, still grinning.
Adam's eyes widened. "You're not going to choke me or something, are you?"
"Uhm, no?" Gabriel said, looking perplexed.
"Good," Adam muttered, still eying the Archangel distrustfully.
Gabriel frowned at Sam and Dean. "What the hell have you been telling the boy about me?"
"Nothing," Dean said.
Sam smirked. "Let's just say Adam's first meeting with Cas was a little … unusual," he added.
"So his name's Adam, huh?" Gabriel asked, looking inquisitively at Adam. "He wasn't with you the last time I saw you."
Dean sighed. "We found him only a few days ago, almost dead. He's our baby brother, Gabriel."
"Oh." Gabriel looked surprised. "Well, good luck with that, kiddo."
"Thanks," Adam mumbled, frowning at Gabriel.
The Archangel grinned back at him before he looked at Sam and Dean. "How about we go join your dearest Uncle Bobby and 'Cas'," he smirked at Dean when he said Castiel's name, "In the living room? If I remember correctly I promised you a surprise."
Gabriel went first, claiming one of Bobby's comfortable chairs for himself. When everyone had found a place to sit down and Bobby had stopped grumbling about having to put up with all of this Gabriel said, "If what I'm about to do now doesn't prove my good intentions to help you guys I don't know what will."
And he snapped his fingers.
TBC