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When Gabriel finished explaining the situation—well most of it—a long stretch of silence followed. Ares was the first to break it (mind, he's usually the first to break anything).

"Well, I'm in. I think I speak for all of Olympus when I say that I don't want the Apocalypse. And I certainly don't want the angels in charge of everything. No offense."

"None taken," Gabriel shrugged, "even I don't want the angels in charge of everything. Hermes, do you think you could find Mary Winchester?"

Hermes stretched his arms over his head "I know I can find Mary Winchester, dead or alive. But since you can't find her, it'll take some time."

"That's fine. We just need to know what happened to her. Alive or dead, bring her to me when you find her."

"Sure." Hermes stepped closer to him. "You look like Hell, Pops."

Gabriel squinted up at him—little brat was taller "I haven't been there in ages."

Hermes rolled his eyes—eyes he got from Gabriel "I mean you look tired."

Gabriel sank onto a chair "Restoring Castiel's memories…"

"What?" Emmanuel interrupted.

Gabriel held up a hand "took a lot out of me."

"And you haven't rested since?" Hermes asked.

"I'm an Archangel, I don't need to rest."

"Yes, you do. Here," he made a candy bar appear and tossed to him "eat a Snickers."

Gabriel huffed but peeled the wrapper anyway "You're not as funny as you think you are."

Hermes grinned—another feature he got from Gabriel. "Please, I'm hilarious." His Herald's staff appeared in his hand "Rest here awhile, talk Manny and I'll start looking for Mary Winchester."

"Thanks, kiddo."

Hermes flew off and Ares got to his feet "Well I'll leave you two to chat, seems you have a lot to catch up on. Make yourselves at home."

Once Ares had left the room, Emmanuel cleared his throat "What about Castiel's memories? And what else did you leave out during your 'Apocalypse is nigh' monologue?"

Gabriel finally focused all his attention on his nephew. Emmanuel's black hair was much shorter than it had been millennia ago, his skin wasn't as dark like he hadn't been spending much time in the sun lately, there were deep bruises under the eyes he got from Lucifer. And for some reason he was wearing an Iraqi soccer fan jersey. Gabriel didn't know they even made Iraqi soccer fan jerseys.

"I never said the Apocalypse is nigh. Pay attention." Gabriel looked at him more closely. Now that he could focus he saw it and it clicked. He thought there was something unusual about the baby in Sarah's belly. "You're Sarah Remington's missing boyfriend."

Emmanuel nervously put a hand on the back of his neck "You, uh, know her?"

"You have got some major explaining to do, Emmanuel."

For some reason, dipping raw chicken into batter made Dean queasy so Millie sent him to the living to sit with the others. He tried to argue, albeit weakly, but she told him that he had plenty of time to cook in his kitchen. So he went out to the living room and flopped down on the couch. Cas, who had been standing against the wall, immediately came to sit next to him.

"You guys talk about anything interesting?" Dean asked.

"Miles was telling us about the science project he was just assigned" Sam said.

"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do?"

Miles had what looked like a science book propped open in his lap "I can't decide between a volcano and making my own penicillin."

Dean gaped at him "Making your own penicillin?"

Sam beamed with pride "He should be in college already."

"I don't know about that" Miles shrugged with his good shoulder "maybe high school. But my school counselor says I'm not emotionally advanced enough to skip grades."

"And as much as I disagree with them" Sarah sighed "they won't move him ahead. I think he's very emotionally advanced."

"Sure seems like it to me" Dean agreed. "Hell Sammy could've graduated high school at thirteen if we didn't move around so much."

At that Sam blushed and his hair fell in front of his face, "I'm sure that's not true, Dean."

Bobby snorted "Hell yeah it is."

They were in the middle of dinner when Gabriel showed up. And he wasn't alone. The newcomer looked possibly Middle-Eastern and he had the same look of pure panic on his face that Cas had in the brothel.

There were three things that happened at once before Gabriel could explain.

Miles shot up from his chair excitedly "Uncle Manny!"

Sarah crossed her arms "Where the hell have you been?"

Cas's eyes flashed angelic blue and the lights flickered ominously.

All three of those things told Dean that this guy was not only Sarah's boyfriend but also, in fact, Cas's brother. And Cas was pissed.

Dean hadn't seen that look of fury since that night Cas threatened to throw him back to Hell. Cas got to his feet (he'd been eating with them because Dean insisted) and took a step towards Manny.

"Castiel!" Gabriel's voice held a note of authority that Dean didn't think he was capable of "Calm down."

Cas took a deep breath, "I need some air." He turned on his heel and stalked out the back door.

Dean made to go after him but Gabriel stopped him "Leave him be for now, Dean."

Manny looked around the room "So, uh, how many of you want to punch me?"

Castiel had barely made it out the door when he hear Dean's shout of "Son of a bitch!" He could only surmise that Dean punched Emmanuel which was fine with him. If Castiel had unleashed his fury at his brother, he probably would have literally brought the house down and he had no desire to put anyone else in danger.

As a child, whenever Castiel was sad or upset he would climb up a tree and sit there till his mother or brother convinced him to come down. The apple tree in the yard was nowhere near large enough to accommodate an adult male body. Fortunately the yard also contained a white oak that just the right size and despite the autumn season there were still plenty of leaves on it to provide decent cover. He climbed up to the highest sturdy branch and just sat in silence.

An hour later he heard the back door open and footsteps crunch in the already fallen leaves. They stopped at the base of the oak tree. He knew without seeing that it was Emmanuel.

"Castiel, I know you're up there" he spoke in Babylonian, the language of their mother. "Not only is the apple tree too small for you, I can see your shoes and pants. Black doesn't really blend in with orange and yellow." He sighed heavily "Okay, you don't have to say anything. Just listen, please?"

Castiel moved a foot to indicate he was listening.

"Thank you" Emmanuel said. "Your boyfriend has a bright soul. I can see what drew you to him. He's got a bit of a temper though and a hell of a right hook."

Castiel couldn't help a vindictive chuckle at that.

"Seriously" Emmanuel continued "why isn't the man a professional boxer or something? And his brother, I could tell he wanted to slug me too. But I don't think he wanted to be aggressive in front of Miles. So, I'm gonna explain things in reverse order if that's okay?"

Castiel swung his foot again.

"Okay, so, the reason I ran like a coward when I found out Sarah was pregnant. Lucifer had just escaped Hell and…and I was afraid he'd come after me again, try to get me to join his side, like he did last time. I couldn't risk him finding about Sarah and through Sarah, Miles. I knew who Miles' father was and I know that Lucifer isn't above using him."

Finally Castiel spoke "So you left them unprotected?"

Emmanuel sighed again "I admit, I didn't think things through but I thought as long as I wasn't anywhere near them they'd be safe."

"You abandoned the woman carrying your child."

"I didn't abandon her. I was always going to come back."

"Has Sarah forgiven you?"

"I'm on probation. She's considering it. I won't blame her if she doesn't."

"Do you at least love her?"

"Yes I do. Very much" he spoke with feeling, leaving little doubt he was speaking the truth. After a long moment, he cleared his throat "So, let's talk about you and me. Okay, little brother?"

"You weren't there." Castiel's voice came out quieter and more meek than he meant.

"I know." Emmanuel started climbing the tree and soon he was sitting next to Castiel. "I was running from Lucifer and…Castiel, look at me. Please?"

Castiel turned his head and met the blue eyes of his brother. "I figured as much. I can forgive you for not being there when Mother was killed but…" his voice cracked against his will "what about after? Where were you then? Father and Gabriel were busy with the war, they rarely had time to check on me. I was on my own for five years before I became fully angel."

"I know. Gabriel told me." Emmanuel looked pained and guilt-ridden.

"Where were you?"

"I didn't know about what happened to Mother for a long time. I thought you were safe with her. I thought I was leading Lucifer away from you, I didn't know" his eyes were bright with unshed tears. "I didn't listen in on other angels, I didn't even ask Father for help and…" he was referring to Michael of course. Lucifer may be the reason Emmanuel existed but he always viewed Michael as his father. He wiped his nose on a sleeve "I returned to Babylon when things calmed down and by then…well, I found out what happened. I tried to find you but then I heard about an angel named Castiel and…"

"Why didn't you try praying to me?" Castiel's own eyes stung violently, a sensation he was unused to as an angel. It was another indication of his dwindling Grace.

"I thought you'd want nothing to do with me."

"You're an idiot" Castiel blinked and a tear slid down his cheek.

Emmanuel chuckled wetly "Yeah, that seems to be the general consensus."

"Five thousand years, Emmanuel. I needed you."

"I know and I am so sorry, baby brother. So sorry. There are so many things I regret in my life, leaving you is at the top of the list." Tears slid steadily down his cheeks and he wiped his nose again. "I have been a terrible brother and I wasn't there for you, I know that. But I'm here now, if you'll let me."

Castiel sighed and tried to sniff up the snot that was developing in his nose. It only made him cough.

"What have I told you about blowing your nose, little brother?"

"Shut up. Why must you always weaken my resolve to stay mad at you?"

Emmanuel grinned "Part of my charm."

Castiel threw his arms around him "Ass."

"Goat" Emmanuel hugged him back tightly.

Castiel rested his chin on his brother's shoulder "You're on probation with me too, by the way."

"Kind of figured."

There was a loud crack and the branch dipped lower. Before either of them could react it gave way completely and they tumbled to the ground fifteen feet below.

Emmanuel rolled off him and sat up on the ground "So clearly that branch was not built for two."

Castiel righted himself as well "Clearly."

They looked up, the crash had brought everyone out of the house to gape at them.

"Cas, you okay?" Dean held out a hand for him.

Castiel took it and allowed Dean to pull him to his feet "Of course."

"And you Manny?" Sarah asked.

"Yep" Emmanuel stood and brushed leaves and dirt off his clothes, "take more than that to put me out of commission."

Gabriel rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers "Honestly". The tree was back in one piece. "Now, are you two, you know, okay?" The implication was clear.

Castiel and Emmanuel shared a look and Castiel nodded "I think so."


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