Dean turned to the darkness, toward the sound of the voice. He knew that voice, that comically grating voice that made him want to take out his gun and shoot. He squinted as the dark shadowy figure became more visible.

"Gabriel?"

It was impossible. Gabriel had been killed—killed by Lucifer, of all people. Then again, Castiel had been killed too and yet there he was in Heaven, an archangel. Dean had learned to stop questioning impossible things. Apparently Sam hadn't.

"How are you alive?" Sam cut in, furrowing his eyebrows.

Gabriel closed his eyes and shrugged, a smile playing at his lips. "Don't take the mystery out of it, Sam," he said casually, eyes darting sharply from Dean to Sam. "Here's a question—how are you alive?" The quirky angel squinted up at Sam inquisitively, a faint smirk settling on his lips.

"An angel pulled me out," Sam said, voice strained and slightly heated. Dean took a step toward the pair, uncomfortably. He hadn't always been on the best terms with Gabriel. The archangel seemed to do whatever he pleased without so much as considering the repercussions. However, he'd certainly gone out with a bang, and had appeared to be on their side.

"Ah, dear old Cas," Gabriel said fondly in reply. "He's always had a soft spot for you two."

"It wasn't Cas," Dean interjected.

Gabriel's smile faded, and he arched a brow. "Who?"

"Ramiel," Dean said. Gabriel's expression changed, instantly becoming one of sincere gravity. Dean didn't even have to ask, but he did anyway. "You know him?"

Gabriel stared at Dean for a moment, narrowing his eyes in thought. "We go way back," he said, snapping back to his usual tone. "How is the kid, anyway?"

"Not good," Sam answered harshly. "No thanks to your dick brothers."

"Hey, whoa there, Sammy boy," Gabriel said, taking a step back. "Let's not go that far. They're not too keen on calling me a brother anymore—not since that last stunt I pulled." He glanced down, and for a moment Dean could see right through him. He saw something that he'd felt all too often himself—loneliness. Gabriel had been abandoned by his family, just as Dean had.

"Do you still have your mojo?" Dean asked suddenly.

Gabriel grinned. "You like that video I left you?"

Dean made a face and shook his head slightly. "Ramiel's in the other room. You could heal him. He's…." Dean considered how to word the truth, but shrugged. "Well, he's human."

Gabriel squinted and tilted his head forward, as if he hadn't heard Dean right. "Human?"

"Yeah, human. And he's going to die if you don't help him," Sam said tightly. Dean glanced at Sam, slightly thrown off by his brother's harshness.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Gabriel asked, raising his eyebrows.

• • •

"Hey, kiddo," Gabriel said fondly. Dean could hear a twinge of sadness in the archangel's voice as he looked down at his brother. Ramiel was hardly conscious, having been aroused when the three men lumbered into the room. Lisa was sitting beside the bed with a washcloth, dabbing at Ramiel's face.

Ramiel tried to focus on Gabriel's face, barely giving him a smile. "Long time, no see," he mumbled. Dean winced visibly. Ramiel was now sheet-white and drenched in cold sweat.

"Well are you going to just lay there, or are you going to get up and give your brother a hug?" Gabriel asked, a grin on his face. Dean exchanged looks with an incredulous-looking Sam. But before Ramiel could respond, Gabriel's hand was on his forehead. After a blast of bright light, Ramiel was hopping out of bed and tackling Gabriel into a hug.

Gabriel laughed and slapped Ramiel on the back.

Dean and Sam exchanged looks again, both of them completely taken off-guard by the brothers' reactions to each other. Dean gave an uncertain smile to Lisa. Lisa's eyes were wide, but she seemed relieved enough, having set the washcloth down.

"You're not gonna go disappearing on me again now, are you?" Ramiel asked, pulling back. He ran a hand through his messy black hair and looked at Gabriel.

"Nah, those days are over. I'm open to anyone who'll have me," Gabriel said with a questionable grin. "In more ways than one," he added.

Ramiel snorted with laughter. "It's good to see you, bro."

Gabriel nodded. "Looks like humanity's already taken a dump on you, my friend." He sighed. "Who'd you piss off this time?"

Ramiel shrugged. "Said no to a couple of douchebags who told me to kill the Winchesters." He glanced at Sam and Dean, who were standing there awkwardly, trying to understand the dynamic of the conversation. "I couldn't do it. I mean, look at them. They're pathetic enough."

"Hey," Dean said defensively.

Gabriel was quiet, for once. After a few moments of silence, he spoke carefully. "Someone ordered you to kill the Winchesters?"

"Yeah, and Castiel was furious. He's trying conduct some sort of 'investigation'," Ramiel rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I think we should go see what he's up to." He elbowed the archangel, who snickered in return.

"Let's hope he's not in Heaven," Gabriel said. "I don't think Heaven has the hots for us anymore." In the next second, the men and angels were gone.

"Dean," Lisa sighed in the empty room. "You are so in the doghouse when you get home."

A/N: Sorry guys, but I couldn't resist bringing Gabriel back :3 Anyway, I'll try to write more ASAP.