Gabe was desperate. It was one of those times, when as the messenger of God, he was busy. He had been trying to avoid taking messages to Earth, so that he could look after his baby brothers, but he couldn't get out of it this time. He had tried asking everyone, even Zachariah, but they were all too busy to look after Cas and Balthazar. He hadn't wanted to ask Michael and Raphael but they were his only options.
Hesitantly, Gabe walked up to Michael's office. He knocked and heard a voice say wearily, "Come in." Gabe entered and saw Michael sitting at his desk, but it wasn't the Michael that Gabe remembered. The once fierce warrior was now sitting dejectedly behind his desk, slumped forward tiredly. Gabe was instantly worried.
Hesitating a moment, he asked, "Are you alright, Mickey? You seem... Tired." Gabe already knew that this was a stupid thing to say. Full-grown angels didn't get tired, but it was the only way to describe him.
Michael waved his hand and smiled at Gabe, "I'm fine Gabe. Just getting used to things. What's wrong?" Gabe's forehead cleared but inside a small shred of worry still nagged at him. Gabe decided not to worry about it now, he would ask him again later. Right now he needed someone to look after his charges.
"Are you too busy to look after Cas and Balthazar for me?" Gabe said, "It's just that I have to deliver messages and I can't take them and everyone else is busy and..."
Michael held up his hand, stopping Gabe's rush of words. "Gabe, it's okay. I'd be happy to look after them for you. Father knows that I don't see enough of them."
Gabe's face split into a thankful smile. "Thanks so much Michael. You're a lifesaver."
With that he turned and rushed out the door, letting it slam closed behind him. Michael chuckled at his younger brother. Trust Gabe to come to him to ask for help with babysitting some baby fledglings. Michael didn't mind. He could do with a bit of fun. And maybe he could drag Raphael along as well.
Michael and Raphael walked towards the nest that Gabe shared with Cas and Balthazar. As they got closer they heard the chattering of the two young angels, a sound which was familiar all through Heaven. A gentle smile passed across Michael's face as he saw them sitting together in the nest. Raphael stood slightly behind him looking bored, wondering why he had to come and look after the two of them when he could have been doing so many other things. The young angels looked up in curiosity as Michael and Raphael approached, their talking stopping almost immediately.
Balthazar discreetly placed himself in front of Cas and puffed out his wings a little. Michael found it amusing that Balthazar, still so small, was trying to protect his younger brother. Michael smiled and gently said, "It's okay Balthazar, Gabe sent me to look after you two while he is away." Balthazar relaxed a bit but still stood protectively in front of Cas, his silver wings shielding most of the younger angel from view. Michael hesitated for a second. What were they going to do with two young, very active, angels? Suddenly he remembered something Gabe had told him a while ago which could work to keep the two of them amused for the day.
Michael walked with Cas and Balthazar into a large, open air arena with Raphael following behind him. The two younger angels looked around in awe. Michael smiled to himself. He had guessed correctly, the angels had never been into the flying arena. Gabe had said that Cas wasn't a strong flier yet, which surprised Michael slightly. Cas had powerful looking wings which were bigger than a normal fledgling's wings. They were longer and sleeker looking than the average angels wings, with the black feathers glinting in the sunlight like the edge of a knife. But then again, with everything that had been happening, he probably hadn't had much practice with flying, or any of the training which fledglings usually received. Michael cursed himself for not checking on his baby brothers more often. Maybe he would be able to make up for it a little today. After all, the memories of him and his brothers learning to fly were some of the best memories Michael had.
It had taken a while but Cas was now flying around the arena, looking both terrified and amazed. Balthazar had been eager start flying and he had quickly launched himself into the air, with only the slightest wobbling. Cas had been afraid to start but after some gentle encouragement from his oldest brother he had tentatively lifted off the ground, letting out a gasp of excitement when he had started flying.
Michael launched into the air, his wings still hidden from sight. As an experienced flyer, he no longer needed to use his wings, finding them to be more of a hindrance than a help. The only time he revealed his wings any more was for show or to protect another angel. He swiftly arrived at where his baby brother was hovering. Cas, unlike his older brothers, was flapping his wings furiously to stay in the air.
Michael smiled, "relax," he said gently, "use the wind to help you stay in the air." Cas looked terrified at the thought of not using his wings so Michael revealed his long, pure white, wings and showed Cas how to do it. Michael moved his wings so that they caught the gentle breeze and flapped them only occasionally to stay at the same height.
Slowly Cas followed his lead, gasping in amazement when it worked. Michael smiled and quickly glanced over to Balthazar to make sure that he was okay. What he saw brought a smile to his face. Raphael, usually stern and unsmiling, was showing Balthazar how to do tricks in the air, and laughing when Balthazar did something funny. Michael realised that he was feeling more relaxed now, than he could remember feeling for a long time.
They continued to fly for a while longer, and Cas gradually became more and more confident, but Michael soon noticed that Cas was starting to tire. This was his first real flying lesson after all and he had done surprisingly well although he would need a lot more practice before he could fly as well as the other angels. Michael looked over to Raphael and signalled for him to come down before turning to Cas and saying, "Okay Cassie, that's enough for today." Cas nodded tiredly before flying into his brothers' arms and folding his wings in. Michael wrapped his arms around Cas, placing a hand between his two wings to support him, before letting Cas snuggle into his chest. He looked down at his younger brother curled in his arms and smiled gently, feeling a wave of affection wash over him.
Michael landed softly on the ground cradling his brother who was now curled, nearly asleep, into his chest. Together Michael, carrying Cas, Raphael and Balthazar set off towards the younger angels' nest. When they reached it Michael placed Cas down and Balthazar climbed in, curling up beside him, the older angel spreading his wing over Cas. Cas curled up underneath Balthazar's wing and snuggled closer to his older brothers side, falling back to sleep almost instantly.
Michael hesitated a second before climbing into the nest with his younger brothers. Raphael glanced at him quizzically for a second before quickly following suit and laying down next to Balthazar. Michael spread his wing over his brothers, covering them in a sheet of white, before smiling peacefully at his brothers and closing his eyes, feeling himself fall to sleep, finally at peace and happy.
When Gabe returned from delivering his messages he returned to the nest he shared with Cas and Balthazar. He was expecting it still to be empty because he was sure that Michael and Raphael wouldn't have been able to wear out Cas and Balthazar yet. Maybe, he thought happily, he would be able to get a bit of peace and quiet before Cas and Balthazar arrived back. To his surprise he saw not only his young charges but also his two older brothers sleeping peacefully together. Their wings combined to create a beautiful mess of white, green, silver and black. Gabe gently climbed into the nest and laid his gold wings over Michael, covering his oldest brother, who, for once, looked at peace. Gabe slowly shut his eyes, a smile resting on his face and fell asleep, feeling safe and happy surrounded by his brothers.