Chapter 24

I woke up in the back of the Impala. I could tell by the rumble and the feel of the back seat. My head was pounding. To be honest, I thought that I was dead. Michael came into the room, and I blacked out. Everything was black, but I heard rustling. I heard Sam's voice, "Grace, are you alright? What the hell happened?" I looked around for him, but couldn't see him. "Where are you?" I asked. There was no response until Dean said, "You can't see?" Well, frick. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was very large, so I'm guessing it was Sam. I felt tears come to my eyes. "I can't see you guys." The car jerked to the right and came to a halt. I blindly reached for the door handle and let myself out. It was raining lightly, but I didn't care. The boys closed their doors as well. I could hear them coming closer, but I couldn't see them.

I couldn't see anything around me. I broke down and sobbed. I was blind. I felt two sets of arms go around me. My fists went to my eyes, rubbing angrily, but no matter how long I did it, everything was still black. We all got back in the car and Sam sat in the back with me. After about thirty minutes, we pulled in somewhere and Dean said, "Here's a motel." I heard Dean get out and open the trunk. Sam said, "Let's wait until he gets the bags and then I'll help you get inside." The trunk closed and Sam opened his door. I stayed next to him and he kept his arm around me. It was raining so hard, that it only took a few seconds for me to get soaked.

A bell rang as someone opened the door and we stepped inside. I heard someone say, "Here you are, ma'am. Keep it as long as you like." My body shivered again, but I didn't move. Sam shifted slightly and put a blanket around me. "Thank you." The blanket was so warm, that it felt like a radiator. Dean must have still been at the receptionist's desk, because Sam took something and led me somewhere. We walked up some stairs and Sam let go of me. I stopped dead in my tracks and waited for someone to guide me.

I felt helpless now. I had to be led everywhere now. I could never hunt again. I didn't have Cass anymore and Dad was in a wheelchair. I felt Sam grab my hand and pull me into, what I guessed, was our room. He guided me to the bed and set me down. I heard a zipper and some rustling. Sam pulled the blanket and my clothes off of me. I let him dress me in dry clothes and I hung my head, letting more of my self-pity tears fall. After he was done, Sam had me stand up and sit back down. Sam pushed me down and let my head hit a soft pillow. A thick comforter went over me soon after and Sam finally said, "Your phone in on the nightstand to your right, the bathroom is on the opposite wall. If you climb off from the end, go straight and the door is to the right slightly." I sobbed into the pillow. I felt Sam pull me against him and rub my back. I fell asleep in Sammy's arms.

I woke up so someone shaking me. I opened my eyes, but everything was still black. I heard Dean's voice say, "Hey Monkey, how you feeling?" I didn't answer. I heard someone sigh. "We'll figure this out Gracie, no matter what." I nodded and Dean left my side. I heard the door close and let even more tears fall. I threw a pillow somewhere in the room and heard someone say, "Whoa! You have quite an arm sweetheart." I recognized that voice. I sat up and grabbed the gun from under my pillow. "Gabriel?" I asked quietly. I heard some footsteps get closer. I tumbled out of the bed and onto the floor.

The footsteps stopped and I got up from the floor, feeling around me for something to grasp. "Grace? Can you see me?" He asked. I shifted my weight and hung my head. "I got stuck in a room when Michael came into the room. Even though I closed my eyes, I guess the light was too much. I blacked out and woke up in the back of the Impala. When I tried to look around… I couldn't see." After I finished, I continued to search for anything I could put my hands on. Gabriel footsteps got closer, and I soon felt a hand on my left arm. Immediately, I grabbed his arm and held on for dear life. Gabriel's left hand came up to my face and wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks.

I took a small step forward and wrapped my arms around him. Without hesitation, Gabriel put his arms around me too and kissed the side of my head. "I want you to close your eyes, okay?" Gabriel asked me. I nodded and closed my eyes. He took a small step back and put his hands on either side of my face. His lips pressed firmly to mine and my head started to tingle. He didn't move his mouth against mine. I was a chaste kiss, which I appreciated. Gabriel pulled back and I kept my eyes closed. I sniffed and Gabriel said, "You can open your eyes." I did so and I saw the dark floor. I lifted my gaze and saw two beds with red sheets. My head whipped back to Gabriel and he smiled brightly.

"I'm not nearly as powerful as my bro, but a kiss can do wonders!" Gabriel exclaimed. I laughed and threw my arms tightly around his neck and pressed my lips to his. I pulled back and rested my head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Gabriel. Thank you. Thank you." He chuckled and hugged me back tightly. The door handle shook slightly and Gabriel and I pulled apart. He had his eye on the door and said, "I've got to go, but I'll see you soon." I nodded and he hugged me quickly. As soon as he flew off, the door opened and a man with dark hair and a suit walked in. He smiled and said with a smile, "You are required." I pulled my gun out of my jeans, but he was suddenly behind me, tying my hands together. A gag appeared in my mouth and the dark haired man pulled me roughly by the arm.

We entered the Grand Ballroom and the man shoved me into a chair. They tied my arms behind me so tight, that I was sure there would be bruises. Multiple people were in the room, standing or sitting around a U shaped table. Another man with black hair and a suit on turned to me and put on a name-tag. 'Baldur' it said. He met my gaze and leaned extremely close to my face. Baldur said with an accent, "Well, what do we have here. The single, most important person to Lucifer. Maybe if we can get him here, we'll just give you to him and all of this will be resolved." I tried to say, 'Screw you', but it came out more like, 'Coo ooh' considering I had a gag in my mouth. Baldur smiled and said, "I think I'm starting to like you."

Just then, the double doors swung open. The boys were being dragged in by two men. Dean said something to Sam, but I couldn't hear it. Sam saw me first and tried to come over, but was immediately stopped by one of the men. The guy who captured me came in from the kitchen with a rolling cart that had a silver platter on it. I saw his name-tag. 'Mercury'. A woman had the name 'Kali'. All of these people were Gods. Mercury put his hand on the lid and said, "Dinner is served." He lifted the lid and a man's head was sitting on top of it. Everyone applauded. A spot light hit the boys and Baldur said, "Ladies and Gentleman, our guests of honor have arrived."

Baldur put his fork to his glass to get everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentleman, thank you for coming. Although in all my centuries, I never thought I'd see this. This many Gods under one roof. Now, before we get down to brass tacks, some ground rules. No slaughtering each other. Curb your wrath. Oh, and uh, keep your hands off the local virgins. We're, trying to keep a low profile here." Baldur looked at me when he said 'virgins'. I rolled my eyes and looked at the boys, silently saying, 'We're screwed.'

Baldur continued, "Now we all know why we're here. The Judeo-Christian apocalypse looms over us. I know we've all had our little disagreements in the past. The time has come to put those aside and look toward the future. Because if we don't, we won't have one. Now we do have three very valuable bargaining chips. Michael and Lucifer's vessels. Plus, the one human that Lucifer is madly in love with. The question is, what do we do now? Anybody have any bright ideas? Speak up. This is a safe room."

Some of the Gods started talking in foreign languages, obviously getting angry. I saw the boys get up from their chairs and give me a look. I nodded my head and they nodded back. The quietly try to retreat. I large chandelier fell in front of them with a loud crash. Kali said, "Stay. We have to fight. The archangels; the only thing they understand is violence. This ends in blood. There is no other way, it's them, or us." I shook my head and tried to say, 'It doesn't have to,' but I failed miserably. Mercury shifted in his seat and said, "With all due respect, ma'am, we haven't even tried talking to them."

Kali had no emotion of her face as she looked at the scrawny God. Mercury looked uncomfortable and pulled his suit collar away from his neck. He started to gag and choke on his own blood. All the while, Kali stared at him without an ounce emotion on her face. Baldur looked away and mumbled, "Kali." Mercury stopped choking and wiped his mouth with a tissue.
"Who asked you?" Kali asked Mercury.

The doors to the Grand Ballroom opened and Gabriel walked through them. Gabriel looked at the Gods and said, "Can't we all just get along?" Dean tried to say something, but Gabriel cut him off by swiping his fingers through the air. Gabriel takes a step forward and says, "Sam, Dean. It's always wrong place, worst time with you muttonheads, huh?" Baldur looked at Gabriel and said, "Loki." Loki? Gabriel stepped forward and said, "Baldur. Good seeing you too. I guess my invitation got lost in the mail." Gabriel noticed me and frowned angrily. He looked at Baldur as he asked, "Why are you here?"

Gabriel looked pissed and said, "To talk about the elephant in the room." A dark-skinned man with a name –tag 'Ganesh' started to stand up. Gabriel pointed to him and said, "Not you. The Apocalypse. We can't stop it, gang. But first things first." He turned to the boys and said, "The adults need to have a little conversation. Check you later." He snapped his fingers and Sam and Dean disappeared. Baldur grabbed my arm, hoisted me up, and put a large knife to my neck. I whimpered into the gag as Baldur pressed the knife into my skin. I could feel my warm blood glide down my chest and onto my jacket.

Gabriel stepped forward, but Baldur put the knife harder against me. I tried not to scream, but groaned instead. Gabriel stopped walking and said, "Let her go, she isn't a part of this." I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for more pain. None came. Suddenly, the bonds and knife were no longer containing me, and I dropped to the floor. I immediately put my hand to my throat to see how much blood there really was. And boy, was there quite a bit. I heard footsteps get closer, so I looked up and saw Gabriel crouching by me. I snuck a look at Kali. If looks could kill, I would be decomposing.

He snapped his fingers and created a towel, which I put to my neck. Gabriel smiled at me and snapped his fingers again. I appeared in our room and saw the boys standing there. I was still in the position I was in when I fell, but I landed on the bed. The towel was almost soaked through as the boys looked at me. Without a word, Dean grabbed a fresh towel and pressed it hard against my throat. Sam went to one of the bag and got supplies to stitch the wound.

About ten minutes later, I was stitched and bandaged. I was lying on my right side, facing the wall as I hugged one of the pillows to my chest. I noticed Gabriel's voice coming from across the room, but didn't move. My neck was hurting like crazy, so I stayed in the most comfortable spot I could. I saw Gabriel slowly walk closer to me and sit on the edge of the bed. He put his hand on my arm and my neck started to tingle. He moved his hand off of my arm and I felt around on my neck. There were no stitches, and only a slight bump where the cut was. Without saying anything, I pecked his cheek and hugged him.

He poofed away shortly after and I noticed that the boys were gone. I groaned and stretched out on the bed. "Hello, love." I grabbed my gun from under my pillow and pointed it toward the voice. I saw Crowley standing there, in his suit and tie. "I see you and the Winchesters are in quite a little predicament. And they left you here, all by yourself?" The demon took a step forward me and I fired. I hunched over and yelled "Ow!" I cocked my gun again, but he put his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll let you be all alone and by yourself, love." He disappeared and I flopped backward onto the bed, and screamed with frustration. Why does this guy pop up in random places?

I decided to find the boys and find out what they were doing. It didn't take long for me to find the Grand Ballroom, so I figured I would walk in. The boys were on the left side of the table, while Gabriel was sitting in a chair, with Kali right in front of him. Everybody in the room turned to me. I stood my ground and shrugged my thick jacket off. I was in my jeans, boots, and a tank top. I pulled my gun from my waistband and kept it in my hand. I know that it wouldn't do anything, but it made me feel better.

Gabriel looked extremely worried. I winked at him and gave him a small smile. He smiled back. Kali looked between us and said, "So, Gabriel, this is the little slut you care so much about. I don't know what you see in her." I rolled my eyes and said, "I could say the same about you." Kali looked absolutely pissed and said, "But, I can do this instead." I realized that she had Gabriel's blade in her hand. She forced it into Gabriel's stomach. I screamed, "No!" I advanced toward her, but two Gods held me back.

Gabriel gave me one last look, then a bright blue light erupted through his eyes and mouth. I had to close my eyes before they burned out. After the breeze came off from him, I looked up to see Gabriel's limp body in the chair, his own blade coming out of his stomach. I couldn't move. "You bitch! I'll kill you!" I screamed in rage. I fought against the Gods and they actually let me go. I grabbed my pointed my gun at her and shot. She was hit in the side, but she advanced on me. I'm not too sure how she did it, but she punched me. Hard. I fell with a loud thump. My vision was black again.

And of course, it didn't take long for Kali to kick my side, knocking me out. I woke up on the table with Sam's coat over my body. Kali and Baldur had their backs to me, Sam was facing them, saying, "I just need you to squeegee some stuff from my ribs and he'll come running." Kali said, "Breaking them would be easier." I sat up and said, "No one is breaking anybody's ribs." They turned to me and Sam came over, helping me off of table. I gave Sam his jacket. Dean walked into the Ballroom and said, "Show's over. Sword's a fake, and Gabriel, he's still kicking. I hate to break it to you, sister, but you've been tricked." I couldn't help but smile. "Only Gabriel."

Kali turned to me and I just shrugged. About a minute later, the lights started to flicker. Sam whispered, "It's him." "How?" Kali asked. I said, "Who cares, get us out of here." Baldur was looking at the doors and said, "We can't." Baldur walked forward and we all looked at the doorway. Lucifer was walking in and said, "Of course you can't. You didn't say 'mother, may I?' Sam, Dean, good to see you again. Grace, beautiful as ever." Baldur advanced on Lucifer and said, "You think you own the planet? What gives you the right?" Baldur got too close and Lucifer shoved his bare hand through the God. He whispered, "No one gives us the right, we take it."

Lucifer pulled his hand out of Baldur and pushed his body out of his way. Kali was enraged now. Her arms engulfed in flames from her fingertips to her shoulders. She threw the fire at Lucifer and the boy's took cover behind an overturned table. I was too late and the fire singed my arm. I dropped to the floor, holding my blistering arm. I was getting hurt way too much for one day. I crawled over to the wall and hid in the corner. I saw Kali reduced the flames from Lucifer, but his already burned vessel was intact. She walked closer to the Archangel and was about to punch him, when he hit her with an uppercut, sending her flying.

Lucifer was going to stomp on Kali, but he was thrown back against the Grand Ballroom doors. I looked over to where he was standing and saw Gabriel, his blade in hand. "Lucy, I'm home," Gabriel said. Lucifer got up and started to walk toward Gabriel. He held up his blade. "Not this time." Gabriel helped Kali up and said, "Guys! Get her outta here." The boys came out from behind the table and grabbed Kali, heading for the door. I hid in the corner, cradling my burned arm. Lucifer circled Gabriel and said, "Over a girl. Gabriel, really? I mean I knew you were slumming, but I hope you didn't catch anything."

I decided to let the brother's talk and try to find a way out of the room without being noticed by either of the Archangels. I couldn't focus, so I listened to the brothers. Lucifer was angry and said, "They are broken. Flawed. Abortions." Gabriel nodded and said, "Damn right they're flawed. But what about Grace? Huh? She is just as much human as the rest of them, and yet we both happen to be in love with her. I've been riding the pine a long time. But I'm in the game now, and I'm not on your side, or Michael's. I'm on theirs."

Lucifer looked upset. "Brother, don't make me do this." Gabriel raised his eyebrows sadly and said, "No one makes us do anything." I saw the real Gabriel behind Lucifer, his blade in his hand. "I know you think you're doing the right thing, Gabriel. But I know where your heart truly lies." Gabriel put his blade in the air, but knowing Lucifer, he wouldn't win. Ignoring my burning arm, I pushed myself up and grabbed Gabriel's arm. Lucifer turned at the same time and put his hand over mine.

It was a funny sensation, being stabbed in the gut with an Archangel's blade. My mouth was open, but no sound came out, I don't think. Lucifer realized what he had done, and he looked like he was going to pass out. He took his hands away from me and took a few wobbly steps back. "Grace," I heard him whisper, almost brokenly. There were hands behind me, holding onto my upper arms. Gabriel was still behind me, keeping me standing. I pulled my hand away from the blade and saw that my hand was dripping with blood. My vision started to have black dots.

My knees gave out, but Gabriel didn't let me hit the ground. He lowered me gently. Sitting on the floor, he pulled my shaking body into his lap. Gabriel turned to his older brother and said, "Lucifer, do something! I can't heal her." Lucifer was staring at me. I broke the gaze and coughed. Blood was dripping from my mouth. I felt tired. So very tired. I closed my eyes, but Gabriel yelled, "Grace! Stay with me! Lucifer, you need to call Michael, he's the only one strong enough to heal her." Lucifer blinked and nodded.

I couldn't focus on what Lucifer was saying. My body felt really cold. Gabriel's mouth was moving, but I didn't hear him. I wanted to close my eyes, but Gabriel kept lightly slapping my cheek. But I did feel the room start to shake. I looked over at Lucifer, who had his head hanging slightly. He vanished when the rumbling got more intense. Suddenly, Adam was in the room, but it wasn't Adam. It was Michael. He immediately came to me and put his hand on the blade, yanking it out. But I didn't feel anything. I felt a hand press hard onto my fatal wound. My whole body felt fuzzy. Michael kept his hand on my abdomen for a minute after I was healed.

My ears decided to work again. Michael stood up and said, "Gabriel, leave. I will take her home." I was still in Gabriel's lap, but he set me on the floor, stood up, and vanished without a word. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I felt an arm go under my knees and behind my back. Michael lifted me up and cradled me to his chest, or Adam's chest. "Close your eyes," He said. I nodded and did as the Archangel asked me to.

We appeared in front of my home and Michael softly set me on my feet. He said, "You love Gabriel, don't you?" I thought about it. "Yes, but not like he loves me." Michael nodded his head once and to my surprise, pulled me into a warm embrace. I hugged back and said, "Thank you for saving me, Michael." Neither of us said anything for a few minutes. I pulled back and smiled at the Archangel. Michael smiled back slightly and said, "Take care of yourself Grace. If you get into trouble, just call." I nodded and he leaned forward. He kissed my forehead and vanished. Great, another angel in my life. I opened the front door and slipped inside, locking the door behind me. "Dad?" I called out. He rolled into the room and said, "Get some rest sweetheart, you looked like you're almost dead." "Yeah." I mumbled.

AN: Please review!