Storm clouds gathered overhead and Sam winced as the first streaks of lightning split the sky. The funeral bier they'd built for Ellen and Jo had mostly died to mere embers. Dean and Cas were talking in hushed tones. Gabriel was silent by Sam's side.
"Death's coming," Sam said. Gabriel looked up at him in surprise. He shrugged. "Call it a hunch."
"You shouldn't be getting hunches," Gabriel said. "Not anymore."
"S'probly jus' an echo…" Sam slurred and alarm zinged through Gabriel.
"Sam?" He jumped back as a bolt of lightning crashed into the ground between them. When the smoke and afterglow had faded, he realized that Sam had vanished.
"What the Hell just happened?" Dean yelped. He dashed over to the spot where Sam had been standing. Gabriel shook his head in wonder and fear.
"I have no idea," he admitted.
"Did Lucifer do this?" Dean demanded.
"I don't think so," Cas said. "Gabriel would know better than I but if Lucifer could just zap Sam to his side, he would have done so long ago."
"Castiel's right," Gabriel said. "This was something else. He had a vision, I think, just before it happened."
"I thought you were curing him of all that," Dean accused.
"I am," Gabriel said. "He should be incapable of any psychic ability right now. I've got it blocked off."
"Not all of it, apparently," Dean snapped.
"It doesn't matter," Cas said. "We have to figure out what happened. Gabriel do you have any way to track him?"
"No," Gabriel said angrily. "Not since you did your little trick with their ribcages." He felt a strange fluttering sensation in his chest and frowned.
"What is it?"
"I… I don't know," Gabriel said. He concentrated on the sensation and gasped as it got stronger. But he didn't know what it meant.
"Gabriel!" Dean and Cas were yelling at him. He blinked at them both in puzzlement.
"I can feel something strange," he explained. "I can't explain it."
"Is this relevant to Sam going missing?" Dean said impatiently.
"I think so," Gabriel said. He closed his eyes and focused on the sensation again. "East."
"East?"
"That's where I'm being… drawn I guess."
"Fine," Dean said, pulling out his gun and cocking it. "East it is." He strode off, leaving Cas and Gabriel staring at each other.
"Brother, have you done something you shouldn't?" Cas asked bluntly, his face suspicious.
"No," Gabriel denied. Cas glowered at him. "I swear, Castiel. I wouldn't do that. You know I'm not the type to settle down."
"I don't know that," Cas said. "It's not like I've never seen you this way before."
"You're imagining things," Gabriel said thinly. "Sam and I enjoy ourselves, but it's a brief torrid affair, nothing more. He's Luci's vessel! There can't be any more, even if I…" He broke off and looked away. "Never mind. The point is we both know where we stand. Once he's clean, I'm out of the picture."
"You're a fool," Cas said without malice.
"I'm the fool?" Gabriel retorted. "Pot, kettle much?"
"The two situations are hardly comparable," Cas said. "I reject your accusation of hypocrisy."
"Oh, get that stick out your ass," Gabriel snarled. "Stop wasting your time on impossible fantasies and help me find Sam."
Sam had read stories as a child that took place in wooded glades but they sounded like magical places far away in Europe. He had admit though, this place definitely had glade-like properties. It was quiet, and the trees were closely packed. Bluebells and mushrooms sprouted from the ground and a light dew covered everything. He looked up at the sky, which was an angry gray and brown. Heavy rain began to fall, quickly soaking him to the skin, and when a crack of lightning came, he jumped. He looked around again but nothing looked familiar. Where the Hell was he?
He dug out his phone and scrolled down to Dean's number. "Sam?" his brother yelped in answer when he called.
"Uh, hi, Dean. I'm uh, kinda lost."
"What? That's all you've got to say? You get zapped off to God knows where by a big bolt of lightning and all you can say is you're lost!" Sam could hear voices in the background and then Gabriel's voice came on the line.
"Where are you, kiddo?"
"That's what I was trying to tell Dean, I'm lost. I don't know where I am."
"Keep talking. Describe what you can see," Gabriel sounded strange, Sam thought. His voice was taut with stress and it seemed out of character.
"I'm in a forest, I guess. All I can see are trees."
"Details, Sam," Gabriel said, his voice even more strained. What was going on?
"Uh, OK. It's probably a natural forest, there's lots of different kinds of trees. Umm, oak, pine, ash, I think this one's a birch. And this is a larch. There's bluebells at the foot of the oaks. And mushrooms everywhere. I can hear… a stream maybe? And some twigs snapping, possible animals."
"Can you see the sky?" Cas's voice said. Why had he taken over the phone? Sam frowned.
"A little," he said. "It's cloudy but I can see the moon and um, some stars."
"Can you recognize any constellations?" Cas asked carefully.
"No, but I'm kinda sucky at those…" Sam trailed off. "Wait, this moon is full. I thought we just had a full moon last week?"
"Don't worry about that," Cas said calmly. "Keep looking for a constellation you recognize."
"I'm sorry," Sam said. "I only know a few and I can't see any of them here."
"It's fine," Cas said. "Is there anything else you can see?"
Sam looked around trying to spot anything that seemed distinctive. "You know, it's night but I don't see any aircraft. That means it's either really late at night or I'm somewhere pretty remote."
A light caught his eye. "I think I see something, maybe firelight? I'm gonna go check it out." He hung up.
The forest was dense but luckily not so thick Sam couldn't make his way steadily towards the warm orange light that danced across the tree branches. Several men, women and children were gathered around the fire. Their dress suggested some kind of native American tribe.
"Uh, hi," Sam said, waving as he approached. The men got up and pulled out several weapons, clubs, some kind of stone ax and a blowpipe. "Uh, I come in peace?" Sam wanted to kick himself.
One of the men barked something but Sam didn't understand the language. "I'm sorry," he said. "Do any of you speak any English?"
The group spoke amongst themselves for several moments. Then the man Sam thought might be some kind of leader pointed into the trees. He didn't need to speak the language to understand he was being told to leave.
"OK, OK," he said. "I'm going." He walked off in the direction they had pointed. Hopefully he would find civilization that way.
"Something is wrong," Cas said as the phone went dead.
"You're damn right," Dean growled. "Where the Hell is Sammy?"
"No, I don't think that's the right question," Cas said.
"Castiel?" Gabriel said. "What are you saying?"
"Sam said his moon was full," Cas said. He pointed upwards. "We have a waning crescent."
"So?" Dean said.
"So, the moon's phases look the same, everywhere," Gabriel told him. "If Sam can see a different phase of the moon, something weird has happened."
"Yes," Cas agreed. "I have a feeling something very strange has happened. Sam said he couldn't recognize any constellations either."
"What?" Dean said. "Sam's no astronomer but even I can point out the Big Dipper." He pointed upwards.
"I have two theories," Cas said. "One is that Sam is south of the equator."
"I know they have different constellations," Dean said tentatively. "But didn't Gabriel say the moon should still be the same?"
"Yes," Cas replied. "Which is why my other theory is a little… strange."
"Spit it out, Cas."
"What if he has travelled through time?" the ex-angel asked. "I mean, it would mean going a really long way back or forward because the constellations change very slowly, but it would explain the discrepancy."
"How far?" Dean asked.
"At least ten thousand years," Cas told him.
"Ten thousand years," Dean repeated disbelievingly.
"I know, it's insane," Cas said. "It's the best I can come up with."
"But we think the entity that called itself Tenebrae is Zurvan, right. God of Time." Dean said. "I could buy it, I guess. Except, how come the cellphone worked?"
"That would be a difficult paradox to solve," Gabriel agreed. "No matter whether he went forward or back, there's no way we should have been able to speak to him."
"So, maybe he has traveled in time, but only to a point where cellphones still work," Dean suggested.
"Possibly," Gabriel said. "But then we're back to why the constellations look wrong." He looked very pale and drawn, Dean thought. His phone suddenly buzzed and he answered as quickly as he could.
"Dean," Sam said urgently. "Where the Hell am I?"
"We don't know, Sam?" Dean replied. "What's going on?"
"I just saw a wooly mammoth," Sam hissed.
"You saw a what now?"
"A mammoth. As in, totally extinct ancient creature. Died out thousands of years ago." Sam said. "So either I have landed in some kind of real life Jurassic Park, or something really weird is going on."
"Gabriel, Sam just saw a mammoth," Dean said. The archangel snatched the phone from his hand.
"Sammy," he said. "Where are you?"
"Haven't you been listening," Sam snapped. "I don't know."
"Sam… listen to me. Close your eyes. Concentrate. Try and find me." Gabriel's voice was almost hypnotic. "I'm looking for you, Sam. Reach out to me."
Gabriel suddenly spouted a slew of Enochian and disappeared. Dean looked at Cas.
"He said, I found him," the ex-angel explained but he looked troubled.
"What is it?"
Cas rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not sure. Let's wait for Gabriel to get back."
The woman he found in the next clearing was familiar.
"Zurvan," Sam said. "I should have realized."
"Ah, so you know," Zurvan said. "Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. It changes nothing. I told you I'd be back."
"Where are we?" he asked. She gave him a twinkling smile. "Ah. We're still in Carthage. When are we then?"
"Oh, about twelve thousand years ago from your standpoint. Give or take a century or two." She plucked a bluebell from the base of a tree and admired it. "This is a favorite time period of mine, before humans got all uppity and started ravaging the planet. We needed a bit of time to ourselves for this conversation. It's time for the first task."
"Task?" Sam replied stupidly. "What task?"
She shook her head, tsking under her breath. "Sam, you agreed to help me avert the Apocalypse. Don't you remember?"
"I remember," Sam said. "But that was before I found out who you are."
"Are you reneging on our deal?" Zurvan said sharply, the flower falling forgotten from her fingers.
"I can't let you kill Gabriel," Sam said helplessly. Zurvan regarded him coldly for a moment.
"You're asking a lot, Sam. Gabriel was one of those who trapped me." She frowned, and paced back and forth. "And Lugh has an ax to grind with him as well."
"I know," Sam said. "But there it is. There are already too many sides in this war. I'm only human."
"What?" Zurvan said absently. "Oh, no. You're not."
"Shut up," Sam growled and she glared at him with a malevolent look on her face. He flinched and stepped back.
"You might want to watch your tongue," she said sweetly. "It would be tragic if I had to cut it out."
Sam swallowed and waited, unsure of what to say. She studied him, one finger on her chin and then nodded. "Very well, Sam. I can be reasonable. Michael's the one I really want anyway."
Sam blew out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "What is it you want me to do?"
She gave him a slow smile that turned his insides to ice. "You need to help Michael find Dean."
"What! No!" Sam yelped.
"Sam," she said warningly.
"No. You can't ask this of me. He's my brother and Michael… I don't know what Michael will do to him to force him to say yes but-" he broke off and shook his head.
"He won't get a chance," Zurvan said. "We're only using him as bait."
"Bait," Sam repeated stupidly.
"Michael finds out where Dean is, Michael goes to Dean to convince him to say yes, Lugh and I kill Michael. Everyone's happy."
Sam stared at her unhappily. Crowley and Balthazar were already talking about killing Michael and now Zurvan and Lugh were plotting the same thing? "There has to be another way," he said desperately.
"No, Sam. You have to choose. Help me, and I'll leave Gabriel alone. Defy me and he dies along with his brother. And, oh yes, Dean too."
Fuck.
Gabriel listened carefully to the conversation between Sam and Zurvan. He had to admit to being rather touched that Sam was so willing to defend him but really, it wasn't like he couldn't look after himself. But she knew exactly how to put the pressure on. Gabriel grimaced, thankful she wasn't allying herself with Lucifer, given how well she was pushing Sam's buttons. Finally she delivered her ultimatum and walked away, leaving Sam staring after her in horror.
"Sam," he said, stepping out into the clearing.
Sam whirled around and then threw himself into Gabriel's arms. "Oh, God," he whimpered. "Gabriel!"
"Hey, hey, it's OK. You're OK. We're gonna get you out of here."
"Did you hear her?" Sam pressed urgently.
"Yes, Sam," Gabriel told him. "You know, you didn't have to defend me like that. She can't hurt me."
"She says she can," Sam said. "I don't know why, but I believe her."
"She's wrong," Gabriel said. "And she can't hurt Michael either. She's mad."
Cas and Dean didn't have to wait long. About twenty minutes after Gabriel had vanished, he returned with Sam clinging tightly to him.
"Thank God," Dean said with feeling. "Sammy? Are you OK?"
Sam disengaged from Gabriel, although not without a certain reluctance. Gabriel kept one possessive hand on his hip. "Yeah, I'm OK."
"So what happened? Where were you?"
"Right here," Gabriel said. He looked exhausted, Dean noticed.
"Uh, what?"
"Sam didn't move in space, well not much anyway. But he did move in time. Twelve thousand years." Gabriel looked like he was going to fall over.
"I don't understand," Dean said. "Was this Zurvan? What would she have to gain?"
"Going back so far has weakened me considerably," Gabriel said. "We should get out of here. I'll tell you everything once we're on the move."
Cas grabbed Gabriel's arm and started speaking to him forcefully in Enochian. Gabriel shook his head emphatically as he responded. Dean watched the argument, he didn't need to speak the language to know they were fighting.
"Can we just go home?" Sam said plaintively. "I'm beat."
Gabriel brushed his hand against his cheek. "I'm outta juice, kiddo. Sorry. I should be back up to speed by morning but I'm not capable of flying tonight."
"Then let's jack the truck parked at the farmhouse and find a motel," Dean decided.
"We could sleep in the farmhouse," Cas suggested but Gabriel shook his head, drooping with exhaustion.
"No, no way. We need to get out of here."
"All right," Dean said. "Come on." Since no further arguments were forthcoming, he strode off in the direction of the house. Cas gave Gabriel a significant look and then hurried after him. Gabriel sagged suddenly and Sam twisted to catch him.
"Gabriel! Are you…"
"I'm just really drained, that's all," Gabriel said, slurring his words slightly.
"I can carry you," Sam said. "It's not far."
"No," Gabriel said but Sam had already scooped him up and had started following his brother. "Hey, put me down you great lummox!"
"You saved my life," Sam said. "This is the least I can do." Gabriel tucked his head into his shoulder and closed his eyes, clearly too tired to argue further.
Gabriel was out cold when they reached the motel about an hour away from Carthage. After a brief discussion, Dean decided to rent just one room. He didn't want Sam left to defend himself alone with Gabriel depowered like this. He'd already been zapped off once tonight.
Cas followed him into the bathroom and he cocked an eyebrow at him. "You know our brothers are just out there?" he said with a grin.
"I did not follow you in here in order to initiate sexual relations," Cas said primly. "We need to talk."
Dean sobered immediately. "OK. What's up?"
"Sam was thrown back in time twelve thousand years, by Zurvan. She apparently wants Sam to help her hunt down Michael. But there are some problems with this whole event. Big problems."
"Like how does Zurvan plan to kill Michael? He's an archangel. They're notoriously difficult to even injure." Dean said thoughtfully.
"Yes," Cas agreed, "But that's not what I meant."
"OK," Dean said. "What is it, Cas?" The angel shuffled uncomfortably and Dean had a feeling he wasn't going to enjoy this conversation.
"The cellphone call. If Sam was thrown back in time, how were we able to talk to him on the phone?" Cas said, his eyes intent.
Dean considered it. "Could Zurvan have done it? Some kind of magic to make the phone work?"
"Of course," Cas said. "But why? It would have been extra effort on what was already a significant undertaking."
"Uh…" Dean shrugged, wondering where Cas was going with this.
"I think she did it because she wanted Gabriel to go and get Sam. But she already knows that you and Sam are warded from angels. So how did Gabriel even find Sam? And how did she know he could?"
"I dunno. I assumed it was some kind of angel mojo." Dean said.
Cas shook his head. "I could not have done it at full power."
"Yeah, OK, well, he is an archangel." Dean shrugged. "You said yourself that they have more power over time travel and stuff."
"I don't think so, Dean. Look, I engraved those symbols on your ribs. Sam too. Gabriel should not have been able to find Sam, even without the distance of twelve millennia."
"What are you saying, Cas?" Dean said in alarm.
"I'm saying something's going on between them. I asked Gabriel if he had changed his mind about his relationship with Sam. He swears it's a casual thing between them but…" Cas shook his head in frustration.
"I think I'm missing something," Dean complained.
"There's an old bonding ritual, from back before the prohibition on angel-human relations," Cas paled a little. "I guess it's like a marriage, but more permanent. There's no way to dissolve it once formed. Bonded pairs can always find each other. Neither time, nor distance nor any power in the universe can prevent it."
"Sam and Gabriel are bonding?" Dean hissed. "What the fuck, Cas?"
"Gabriel says no," Cas told him. "I pressed him quite hard on the matter, but he swears up and down that it's impossible."
"Tell me what's involved," Dean demanded.
"There are three parts," Cas said. "There are the matings." Dean choked but Cas ignored him. "The blood exchanges, and the marks."
"Blood exchanges!" Dean yelped.
"Keep your voice down," Cas hissed. "Yes. Each half of the bond must swallow the other's blood three times."
"OK," Dean said. "And the marks?"
Cas colored slightly. "It can be anything. Sometimes the sigil of each partner's name. But the form of the mark is not important, only the fact that it is given with love. The bonding is old magic. Matings on their own would not start the bonding process. They have to have done at least one of the other two for the bond to begin to form."
"I haven't noticed any new tattoos on Sam," Dean said offhandedly.
"No," Cas agreed. "But… there's the issue of how Gabriel is cleaning up Sam's demon blood addiction."
Dean stared at him. "You're not serious."
"Why would I joke about something like this?" Cas asked. "Gabriel has been feeding Sam his blood, as an antidote to the demon blood." Dean went so white, Cas was concerned he might pass out.
"Dean, Gabriel assured me that Sam was in no danger. His blood would purify Sam and burn out the addiction."
"But you said the bonding required a blood exchange," Dean said.
"Exactly," Cas agreed. "Gabriel says he's been very careful not to consume any of Sam's blood. He won't even swallow-"
"Stop!" Dean snapped. "I don't think I want to know how that sentence ends."
Cas looked irritated. "Well," he huffed. "The point is that Gabriel is adamant that he is not bonding with Sam. His plan was to clean him up with some casual sex on the side. Nothing more."
"When did my life become a soap opera?" Dean complained. "That son of a bitch better not hurt Sam."
"As far as I know, Sam is aware of Gabriel's position and is not seeking anything more." Cas said. His mouth was pinched and Dean peered at him.
"You don't approve."
"No," Cas admitted. "Gabriel may have left Heaven and abandoned his responsibilities but he's still an angel whether he likes or not. Fraternizing with humans is utterly forbidden and with good reason. The Nephilim almost destroyed creation."
Dean looked uncertainly at the ex-angel. "So if you were to get your mojo back…"
"Then I would have to reconsider our… relationship," Cas said quietly.
"Dammit, Cas!" Dean exploded. "Am I just a way for you to pass the time until you get your wings back?"
"No, Dean," Cas said, grabbing his shoulders. "I don't expect to return to Heaven's fold. I'm mortal now, and I'm going to stay that way."
"You can't know that," Dean said, feeling as if the bottom had just dropped out of his world. Because it had, really. Unless history unfolded very differently this time, Cas would be restored to full angel status at some point. And their time together would be over. Strangling back a sob, he yanked open the bathroom door and stomped out, wrenched open the motel room door and slammed it behind him.
Sam was spooned up behind Gabriel, and he lifted his head at the noise. "Cas?"
"Go back to sleep," Cas told him.
