Chapter 28: Let's Get This Show On The Road

When Dean parked the Impala in front of the bunkers, Gabriel didn't waste any time. He teleported without a word while Dean fumbled with his keys to open the front door.

"Son of a bitch! We're gonna need angel-proofing," Dean growled.

Upon entering the bunkers, they find Gabriel toying with one of the swords.

"Not bad. This place is neat," Gabriel said.

The Winchesters rolled their eyes and didn't respond.

Castiel who felt the need to fix everything replied, "Yes, thank you."

Dean snorted at that but deep down, he was a little proud that Castiel would consider the bunkers his home and have the desire to accept the compliment.

Gabriel, apparently still retained all his angel mojo except the ability to return to Heaven. The archangel had been living in different disguises and walking the Earth for centuries. He was already regarded dead a long time ago because no angels could track him. His outstanding powers of transforming the appearance of his vessel and altering reality had kept him safely hidden. He also turned off his angel radio so he was unaware of all proceedings in Heaven as they were unaware of his existence. Besides, posing as a Demi God gave a solid reason for the angels to overlook him. The Pagan Gods knew him as Loki and nobody suspected anything. Only Castiel, the Winchesters and Lucifer knew his true identity. All of them believed he was killed in the final encounter. The spell that Metatron cast only banished the angels who resided in Heaven. Gabriel's refuge on Earth had dropped him off the radar.

Gabriel laid on the couch with his ankles crossed and blew bubbles with his bubble gum. The Winchesters sat on their respective chairs and watched –anticipating something. Castiel just paced around the living room, deep in thoughts.

"You could destroy Metatron," Castiel said hopefully.

"The thought of annihilation comes very easily to you, lil bro. I would be careful if I were you," Gabriel warned with a fierce glare.

"I'm sorry. I was just trying to… You could imprison him. The way you kept me away when Sam and Dean were stuck in TV land. You could do that," Castiel said.

"Oh please, don't act all noble," Dean directed the remark at Gabriel. "You've killed enough people with your goddamn tricks. Hell, you've killed me a dozen times. So, I say if you get your hands on that book-hoarding son of a bitch, you finish him."

"Since when do I take orders from you, bucko?" Gabriel asked as he sat up on the couch to turn back and look at Dean.

"You were willing to kill us not too long ago. But you won't kill Metatron?" Sam asked, irritation evident on his face.

"You chuckleheads didn't hear a single shit I said, did you? It's not that I won't kill that bastard. I never liked him in the first place. I can't kill him."

"Why the hell not? You're an archangel for fuck's sake. I've seen Metatron, he may be devious but he doesn't look all that fierce," Dean exclaimed.

"The appearance of his vessel does not determine his strength, Dean," Castiel supplied helpfully.

"No, Deano's right. Metatron is chickenshit," Gabriel interjected. "However, I have no connections to Heaven whatsoever. So, unless you have a way to lure him down to Earth, I can't do anything to him."

Gabriel looked from one hunter to the next, anticipating a reply.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Gabriel rolled his eyes.

"Fine. Farewell, boys. I hope to never see any of you again. You are the worst things that have ever happened to me and that being said, Satan is my brother. So, you can imagine how much of a colossal pain in the ass you guys have been," he said as he stood up.

"No, wait!" Sam called out.

Dean pounced at Gabriel and grabbed his hand.

"Don't go disappearing now, douche! You're the only one who can fix this mess," Dean uttered.

"I didn't start this, you putz," Gabriel spat out.

"If you don't stay, I will find a way to summon your ass right into a ring of holy fire, you understand? Do I make myself clear?" Dean said harshly.

"I'd like to see you try," Gabriel snarled.

Castiel stood before Gabriel and looked him in the eye, "Brother, you are our only hope."

Gabriel stopped resisting and sighed deeply.

"What does it matter to you anyway?" His eyes swivelled from Dean to Sam. "Since when do you care so much for the angels?"

"We don't. But letting Metatron take the throne isn't the right thing to do," Sam answered.

"Bullshit!" Gabriel exclaimed.

Dean moved in close and growled, "That asshole let Sam take the trials to shut the gates of Hell, knowing that he would die by the end of it. I would rip his lungs out with my bare hands if I could. So yeah, I want him dead cause I want him fucking dead. Is that enough of an explanation?"

Gabriel snorted and said, "Yeah, the usual motive then. You're so bloody predictable, you know that?"

"Are you going to help us or not?" Sam asked.

The archangel retorted, "Do I have a friggin' choice?"

With that, the Winchesters and Castiel kick started their research to find a way to summon Metatron to Earth where he will battle it out against Gabriel. They were absolutely certain that there was no way Metatron could win against Gabriel. The boys have witnessed first hand the power of an archangel when they watched Michael burn Anna down to ashes. Gabriel –despite his knack for all things human- is still one of the fiercest creations of God and he could take down Metatron. However, somewhere in the back of Dean's mind, he doubted the commitment of the archangel. He observed Gabriel with a critical eye. The archangel seemed to be pleasantly indulged in snacks that he materialised out of air while watching Casa Erotica on TV. Dean didn't have faith that Gabriel would go all the way with the plan. However, he didn't have a choice but to give him the benefit of the doubt.