Notes: This chapter really got to me. I had been holding off the explanation behind Balthazar's guilt for a while, waiting for this scene. It was just too perfect to ignore its meshing with Balthazar's "daddy's gone" speech. Reading it over I felt that with the script mash-up the whole scene became ten times more tragic than either series had originally written. I hope it came across that way anyway.

Oh, and isn't it super weird that according to the firefly info pages Simon's father was named Gabriel?

Disclaimer: I own nothing...so therefore I do not own this. It's a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare.

CHAPTER 12


Sitting there in the dark shuttle, Balthazar had ample time to let his mind wander. Mentally he was engaged in a back and forth argument with himself, trying to justify him leaving behind his two brothers and the other side reminding him what a horrible person he was. Part of him was scared for when Castiel finally got his mind back together, if he ever did, because the little voice in Balthazar's head told him that there was no way that Cassy could ever forgive him for what he had said and done in the past, and here he was leaving him behind to some unknown fate again. It was enough to make him feel ill.

Six Years Ago

"I'm here for Castiel Novak." Balthazar stated wearily leaning across the desk at the public safety station. He couldn't believe that he was here of all places to find his little brother. His innocent, reliable, responsible, goody-two shoes brother. The stern looking lady at the desk pointed to one of the hallways. And there was Castiel being escorted forward by the chief.

"I understand that this belongs to you? I also understand that he is a Novak, so we didn't book him, but I would make sure that this doesn't happen again." The chief said as a greeting. The whole planet knew of the prestigious name of Novak, and lucky for Balthazar and Castiel the name held enough power that those in law liked to avoid dealing them. So in any case that one of the Novaks might have been caught doing something iffy…..the police were kind enough to overlook it. Like right now.

"Yes, thank you. I will send you a gift for your help." Balthazar said in dismissal, all of his attention settling on his brother in front of him. Firstly he looked him up and down, checking for any injury or distress. Finding none he simply crooked one finger for Castiel to follow and they headed out of the station in silence and got in the waiting vehicle.

The ride home was incredibly awkward. Castiel knew that his brother was angry, furious even. A few years ago Castiel wouldn't have been sure that his brother was even capable at being angry at him but, here they were. Then again, Castiel never thought that him family would be falling apart like this either. Or that he might be as equally mad with Balthazar.

Clearly waiting for them to arrive in their house before blowing up, Castiel tried to slow his steps to draw out the walk from the vehicle to the door, but Balthazar seemed impatient and hurried his little brother along by grabbing his arm. As soon as they were inside and the door was shut behind him, Balthazar's face turned red with rage.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?"

That was enough to get Castiel to break his normal calm, "I'm getting there!" He screamed back.

Balthazar got right up in his brothers face, a finger pointing harshly, "I got the wave while I was at Andy's party! I had to leave everyone there to go pick up my delinquent brother!" He spat.

Castiel spat right back, a finger jammed at his brother's chest. "Oh, I'm so sorry dear brother! You know I would never have tried to save Gabriel's life if I had known there was a party at risk!"

"Don't you dare be flippant with me. I just had to go pull you out of a bloody police station! Who knows who might have seen us! This could have lasting effects on the company! Are you trying to destroy this family?" Balthazar spat.

Cas stared back incredulous, "Destroy our…? It's already destroyed! Gabriel is being held against his will somewhere, or worse and you haven't lifted a finger to find out! And our father is missing as well, but you just chalk it up to abandonment. There are bigger things happening here, Balth! We need to figure it out and save our family!"

Balthazar covered his face with both hands, not wanting to go through all of this again."Cassy, I have told you time and time again. They are gone. Get over it. Move on. Don't go traipsing around blackout zones begging to be killed or arrested!"

Castiel made a disgruntled noise, almost like a growl, "I walk talking to someone who might be able to help us find Gabriel. And I'm going to go back there! If there is a chance to help Gabriel, I'm taking it." He glared at his brother, as if daring him to argue with it.

Balthazar was shaking his head, "This is stupid. You have no idea how far down you can go, and you're not taking me with you."

"Meaning what?" Castiel asked, and Balthazar looked him straight in the eye, speaking calmly.

"I won't come for you again. You end up locked up somewhere, you're on your own. I will not come for you."

Castiel was stunned. The last family member he had left was telling him that he wouldn't save him. He would let him rot where he landed. Just like he was doing with Gabriel. "So that's it? You're done with us?"

"Get a grip Cassy! As far as I'm concerned, you and me? Nothing's changed. We're still brothers. But please open your eyes! They're gone! Gabriel probably found a better place that doesn't have rules for him to follow and he can play around all day without a care in the world. And Dad's gone, he's done with us and he isn't coming back! You might as well blow coke and jump on the bed!"

Castiel didn't respond. He just moved to the stairs to walk up to his room, and Balthazar just let him go. The kid would probably need some thinking time on his own, to absorb the idea that this was it. They were all that was left and it was time to move on.

The next day Balthazar went up to Castiel's room to check on him. All he found was a note. Castiel had gone to the program.

Present

Balthazar let out a choked sob. He prayed that Bobby was alright, and he prayed that they might soon be on their way. He prayed that his brothers might still be alright, and he prayed for redemption.


"What are you doing!? Let go of him!" Gabriel was screaming himself horse as he was held back by several men. Castiel was being led to the center of the town by two burly looking men who had him held roughly by his arms, and Cas' face was one of pure terror. On all sides of him the town had gathered to see what the commotion was about.

"Stop this foolishness! What right do you have to scare the boys like this?!" Missouri was yelling while trying to beat her way through the thickening crowds.

"What is going on Stewart? Why do you knock us from our beds at this hour?" Asked a sleepy looking woman.

The leader of the group whirled on her. "This man was found doing witchcraft out in the woods! One of the boys saw him burning the old mayor's bones in some kind of heathen ritual. Clearly he is a follower of Satan!" He shouted loudly so that the entire town could hear. Soon the confused noises became accusatory ones, all directed to a cowering Castiel.

"Come now, surely there is a reason for what he did," Missouri tried to sooth the growing fire in the mob, but they weren't hearing her.

"No! He is evil, a demon! Everyone saw him around the old rose bush yesterday. That thing has been barren for years! Just now I saw it bursting with life and in full bloom! Clearly there is dark magic being used! It is wrong! An abomination! Thou shalt not suffer a demon to live!"

"He isn't a demon!" Pleaded Gabriel, trying to throw off his captors to get to Castiel who was now on the ground folded in on himself, trying to hide.

"Now now, everyone calm down. Let's hear his side of it." An impressive looking man came forward.

Missouri froze, fear, hatred and disgust in her eyes at the arrival of the man. Gabriel decided that this guy was probably the new mayor that kept on being brought up. He knelt in front of Castiel and lifted the trembling man's chin.

"Now tell me nyen ching duh, can you tell us what happened tonight? It's okay to tell me, I'm the mayor and I can help sort this out." He spoke gently, pushing back Cas' hair from his eyes. (little one/youngster)

Castiel's face scrunched up in disgust at the touch, "The old mayor, he was sick. He was getting better, told the flowers that he would be able to tend them soon, but then you visited him alone. The flowers withered." He whispered, but the town had quieted enough to hear his words.

Gabriel was stunned, Missouri had known all these years what had happened, that the old mayor had been murdered by this guy, and now Cassy had spilled the beans. This could not be good. There is no way the townspeople would believe Cas over the word of the mayor, and he had the final say here. Definitely not good.

"This boy reads minds and spins falsehoods. He's a demon, and we must purge the devil from him, with fire!" The mayor shouted as he stood up and backed away from Castiel, finger pointed at him accusingly.

The crowd roared and raised their fists and ran off to one of the side streets. Probably to grab their pitchforks, thought Gabriel wryly.

"Please, stop this! He's just a troubled boy! There is no need for this!" Begged Missouri.

The mayor gestured to two of his men who stepped forward and grabbed hold of her arms. "Calm down woman. He must have seduced your mind. Once he is taken care of the spell on you shall fall. Take her back to the hospital and watch her." He ordered them and they dragged her off.

The mayor looked over to where Gabriel was still being held by the goons. "You hold him tight. And don't worry son, whatever hold he has over you shall also be broken." He assured him, a dark look in his eyes. He walked off with the rest of the mob and the thugs holding the two brothers moved them along.


They were all back in the Impala….well, almost all of them. They had patched Bobby up right proper with no questions asked. The crew was able to leave as soon as the docs okay-ed him for transport. They now had the preacher back in the cargo ship's infirmary and Balthazar had emerged from Anna's shuttle, eyes suspiciously puffy and red.

Dean was sitting there beside the table that held Bobby. He was thinking about everything. It wasn't right for him to have to deal with all of this in two days. This emotional overflow…it was like the ship was spiraling down getting caught on each and every gust and set of turbulence. It made him want to upchuck.

He started off wallowing in self-hate and guilt, but then it would move on to suspicion and betrayal. But really it all boiled down to fear. Fear of losing what he had, be it by his own hand or by another.

So wrapped up in his thoughts, he almost didn't notice when next to him, the Sheppard started to wake up.

"Hey. Looks like you're going to be just fine. Garrison patched you up lickety split." He said in a dead voice. He wasn't sure who he was talking to at this point. The Bobby he knew, trusted and thought of like family, or some Garrison skinwalker.

Bobby was trying to shake off the cobwebs from his head, clearly still clinging to the last of the drugs, "Garrison?" He asked confused.

"Yes, indeed! They let us come, and then they let us go. But it's been kind of bugging me…I mean, what kind of ident card gets us that kind of reception and send off?" He asked, trying to not sound accusatory.

On the table, Bobby half shrugged, "Maybe it's 'cause I'm a Sheppard. Some folks like a man of God."

Dean couldn't just let it rest at that, "No, they don't. Men of God make everyone feel guilty and judged. That's not what I saw. You like to tell me what really happened?" He added a bit of force behind his words this time.

Bobby gave a weak chuckle, "I would love to. And maybe someday I will. But I'm going to ask you to this once, have faith. Have faith that I am worth your trust still."

Dean remained silent.

Right before Bobby drifted off again, the captain heard him murmur one last thing, "It's damn good to be home."


Ha! "I'm getting there" Bit of dark humor for ya! And also….So Much Friggin Man-Pain!