CHAPTER SIX

"Brother?"

Gabriel groaned as he lifted his gaze from his book.

"They're not back yet, Cassie. I'm sure you'll know when they are," Gabriel told him.

Castiel frowned.

"I wish to speak to you about the halfling."

With a loud sigh, Gabriel snapped his book shut. He gestured to the armchair beside him.

"Sit."

Castiel sat down but awkwardly perched on the edge of his seat. Gabriel moved from his laying down position on the couch to sitting up. The archangel took a moment to study his brother.

"You're conflicted," Gabriel said.

Castiel's frown deepened as he stared down at his hands.

"It's been difficult for me to…come to terms with what Kalen has shown me. Her abilities are beyond what angels should be capable of." Castiel lifted his gaze. "Even archangels."

"You're going to have to elaborate a bit more than that, Castiel," Gabriel told him.

"Do you not know what Kalen has done for Sam and Dean?"

"I am aware of some facts, but clearly she's shared with you knowledge I don't possess."

Castiel shook his head.

"She trusts you far more than me. Why would she not have told you?" he questioned.

Gabriel's answer startled him.

"Because I told her I didn't need to know everything. Sam trusted her. That was good enough for me." Sigh. "But perhaps it's time I did know more."

Gabriel sat patiently and quietly as Castiel recalled his encounter with Kalen. Castiel spoke of every detail from the weird encounter with the receptionist to Kalen giving him the book and shooing him out of the room. When Castiel was done, Gabriel didn't say a word. The angel tilted his head to the side.

"Gabriel?" he asked.

The archangel held up his hand, patting the air in front of him as if telling Castiel to back off. Castiel closed his mouth and waited. After a few tense minutes of silence, Gabriel spoke.

"I was aware Kalen was special, but not by how much. It's very important this knowledge doesn't reach other angels. Do you understand, Castiel?" Gabriel asked.

Castiel tilted his head back.

"Yes, I understand. Other angels might not be as understanding as we are."

"Exactly."

/…/

Ring Ring. Dean snatched up his phone and checked the caller ID. Smiling, he flipped the phone open and raised it to his ear.

"Hey, Bobby. What's up?" Dean asked.

"You and yer brother are invited dinner tomorrow night. I won't take no for an answer," Bobby responded.

"What you serving up, Bobby?"

"Ribs."

"Mmhmm. Sounds good to me. I'll let Sam know."

His gaze fell over to where Sam was sitting with Castiel and Gabriel. There was a board game open in front of them and Castiel was asking Sam something. Gabriel was sneaking something off the board while their attention was off him.

"What about the angels?" Dean asked.

"They're invited too. Tell that half one…what's her name? Katy? Carol?...tell her she's welcome too. Wouldn't mind meeting her."

Dean chuckled with a growing smile.

"I'll pass the word along to Kalen, Bobby. What time should we be there?" Dean asked.

"Five is good, Dean."

"Will do, Bobby. We'll see you tomorrow." Click.

"So what did Singer want?"

Dean gasped as pain laced through his neck with the quick jerking of his head. He cursed at a grinning Gabriel as he rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Remind me why I put up with you," he groaned.

"Because I'm wonderful at parties," Gabriel suggested, wagging his eyebrows.

Dean rolled his eyes.

"Sure ya are. Bobby invited us to dinner tomorrow. Kalen's invited too."

Grinning, Gabriel disappeared. Dean shook his head as he trudged over to share the news with the other. By the time he finished passing the message along, Gabriel had returned.

"Kalen says she's happy to come," Gabriel said.

Sam narrowed his gaze. "Is that really what she said?"

Gabriel raised his hands up to his shoulders and made a dramatic shrug with a no so innocent look on his face.

"In not so many words. Point is she and the mutt will meet us at a truck stop in Madison," Gabriel grinned.

Dean's eyebrows narrowed while he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why don't she just hitch a ride with us from here? It's only like a five hour drive," Dean said.

"It should be a six hour drive," Sam mumbled.

Dean shifted his gaze to his brother.

"What'd you say?"

"Nothing."

Gabriel winked at Sam.

"Didn't think you'd want Slobber McFurface in your car, Dean-o."

Sam burst out laughing at the surprised look on Dean's face.

/…/

The next day, the group met Kalen at a truck stop around three. She greeted Sam and Gabriel with warm hugs. Dean got a good handshake while Kalen and Castiel shared a head nod.

"Where's the mutt?" Dean asked.

Kalen pointed to the space between two semi-trucks where a field could be seen.

"He's chasing butterflies," she answered.

Dean shook his head.

"We sure he's a 'hound'?"

"I assure you, Dean, that Marbles is a 'hound'," Castiel said, bringing his hands up to do air quotes.

Dean shrugged while Sam smiled in the background. Kalen released a small giggle.

"So do you wanna just follow us or I suppose Sam can ride with you. He should know the way by now unless he's got his face stuffed in his laptop."

Dean grinned. He didn't have to look to know Sam was shooting him a bitch face.

"I'm riding with Kalen!"

Gabriel was gone in the next instant. A quick glance over revealed the archangel happily sitting in the backseat. Kalen raised an eyebrow as she turned to look at Dean. He shrugged in response.

"You have fun with that. Short stack can be your problem for the next hour and half," Dean replied, turning to head back to his car.

Sam frowned.

"Dean, Bobby's is two and a half hours from here," he protested.

Dean flashed him a smirk over his shoulder.

"Your point?"

Sam shook his head with a sigh. He watched Castiel and Dean climb into the Impala and leave. Kalen and Sam walked over to her truck. Sam climbed in the passenger seat while Kalen slid behind the wheel. She shifted around so she was facing Gabriel.

"That's Marbles' spot," she stated.

Gabriel smiled. "So?"

She gave him a pointed look.

"So you might want to slide one way or the other. I'm telling you that dog will be there, whether you're there or not," Kalen warned.

Gabriel chuckled while leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed behind his head.

Shaking her head, Kalen glanced at Sam then Gabriel.

"Put your seat belt on," she commanded.

Gabriel shot her an offended look.

"I don't need one," he protested.

Kalen flashed him a smirk in the rearview mirror.

"And I don't rightfully give a damn. This truck doesn't move unless all seat belts are on."

Sam was quick to grab his seat belt and click it in. Gabriel glared but complied. Kalen nodded in satisfaction before leaning out the window. She pursed her lips and released a high whistle.

"Come on, boy! Let's go!"

Marbles appeared almost out of thin air. With surprising agility, Marbles ran across the parking lot and jumped up into the backseat. Gabriel grunted as the canine stretched across his lap and laid his head down on the open seat. The archangel swore. Kalen tapped the steering wheel as she started the truck.

"I warned you, Gabriel. I have a witness. I told you that was his spot. Now you get to ride the whole way there with him on your lap."

Sam smiled as Kalen pulled out of the parking lot. He directed Kalen which way to go. He glanced over his shoulder to catch the disgruntled look on the archangel's face. The hunter was pleased to see Gabriel still gave the canine attention by petting his head.

[You're going to pay later for laughing at me.]

[I didn't laugh.]

[Not out loud.]

[Hey, Kalen did warn you.]

Sam couldn't contain a small chuckle when Marbles turned his head and slapped a big slippery lick up the side of Gabriel's face.

"Eww. He licked me! You licked me! What kind of Hell Hound are you?!"

As Gabriel openly complained out loud at Marbles, Kalen reached over to tap Sam on the arm and draw his attention.

"I'm happy for you, Sam," she spoke quietly.

Sam narrowed his eyebrows.

"Happy? For what?" he asked.

She nodded her head to the rearview mirror.

"You and Gabriel. You're good together."

Sam felt his face heat up. He fought the urge to sneak a peek at the archangel. He couldn't tell if the other had even heard Kalen.

"Is it that obvious?" he whispered.

"No," she whispered back.

"Is it in my timeline?"

The half angel shrugged.

"Perhaps but I didn't look. I can just tell. You seem lighter…happier. Does Dean know?" she inquired.

Sam shook his head.

"I think Cas knows but not Dean. He's blind to everything."

"Then I won't say anything. But Sam?"

An eyebrow raise. "Yeah?"

"Dean may know more than he lets on. Big brothers have a way of just knowing these things."

Sam smiled. Kalen's words had a ring of truth to them.

"Do you…do you have brothers?" Sam asked.

He didn't recall her ever mentioning siblings yet Kalen spoke as if she had one.

"I did. A few times. Sometimes, sisters," Kalen answered.

"Huh?"

Kalen's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Her hands moved across the steering wheel as she made a turn.

"I guess you don't know much about my past. We've never really discussed it," Kalen commented.

Sam shook his head. They had talked about a lot, but Sam didn't know much about her prior to their first meeting.

"I'm a foster child, Sam," Kalen confessed.

The hunter listened as Kalen shared her story. Her mother had died in childbirth and she had never met her father. She had grown up in foster care until she turned sixteen.

"I had enough of bouncing around so I ran away," she explained.

A glance in the back showed Sam that, despite Gabriel still jabbering away to Marbles, the archangel had heard every word.

"That…that must have been tough," Sam murmured.

Kalen shrugged.

"Well, if 33 foster homes and 5 group homes is considered tough, then yes."

Sam winced. If he did his math right, Kalen could have been in two to three different placements a year. He remained silent as Kalen continued.

"I don't like to think too much about it. Most of the homes were good to me. Those that weren't…well, no one said I had to play nice where I clearly wasn't wanted. I did a bunch of odd jobs and squirreled away money so Marbles and I just hop around to hotels and the occasional odd job."

The truck lapsed into silence shortly after. Gabriel continued grumbling quietly to Marbles while the canine occasionally dropped another lick on his arm or face. Sam sat in quiet contemplation. It wasn't longer before they reached Bobby's.

Castiel was waiting by the Impala alone when they pulled up.

"Dean is inside with Bobby. Bobby was showing him the changes to his panic room," Castiel explained at their inquisitive looks.

Sam nodded. Bobby had mentioned making changes when they had last spoke. Sam led the way inside with Kalen and Marbles bringing up the rear. It was at that moment Dean and Bobby came walking in. Stepping forward, Kalen held out her hand.

"Hi, Bobby. I'm Kalen," she said.

Bobby took it and gave her a firm handshake.

"Good to meet ya. Any friend of the boys is welcome here," he told her.

Their conversation cut short as Marbles strolled past them to cross into the library. Glancing in the room, they watched him lay down in front of Bobby's couch. He stared at it as if looking at something. Bobby narrowed his gaze.

"What's he doing?" Bobby asked.

Kalen smiled.

"Probably smells something. Ignore Marbles. He'll probably fall asleep in a bit," she answered.

Bobby was wary but left the dog to its own devices.

The spread in the kitchen was good. There was more than enough food for the people gathered. Everyone dug in but only after Bobby smacked Dean's hand and said a quick grace. Castiel thanked Bobby when he was handed a small piece of pie.

"Now you two know the rules, but these three don't. At this table, we don't talk about the job. Don't care what other topic you bring up, but I don't wanna hear about wendigos, vampires, werewolves, or demons," Bobby explained.

Gabriel grinned from across the table.

"What about…?"

"No. Whatever you're thinking, no," Bobby said with a stern look.

Sitting between Gabriel and Sam, Kalen flashed him her own secretive smile before opening her mouth.

"Who's the best Avenger?" she questioned.

Everyone suddenly grew quiet. Bobby glanced from face to face before sighing.

"I take it back. What was that last hunt on, Sam? A nest of something, right?" Bobby asked.

"Obviously, the best Avenger is Iron Man," Dean declared.

"Balls," Bobby groaned.

Sam glared at his brother.

"Obviously? Oh, come on, Dean. He's got all the technology. Take away the hi-tech and he's just a rich guy," Sam replied.

"Yeah. So? And who do you think is the best?" Dean asked.

"The Hulk."

"Pfft!"

Sam put his fork down. He crossed his arms on the table as he leaned forward.

"The Hulk is a genius, super strong, and he had the ability to use the infinity stones to bring everyone back after Thanos snapped," Sam described.

Bobby sighed.

"Well, fine, since that can of worms has been opened, I'm with Sam on this one," Bobby added.

"What is an Avenger?" Castiel piped up.

All eyes fell to his end of the table. It was clear he wasn't joking by the confused look on his face. Dean grunted after Bobby smacked him upside the back of his head.

"Boy, what do you two talk about? What's an Avenger? Really?!"

"I think it's Hawkeye," Kalen asserted.

Sam turned his head to Kalen.

"Defend," he stated.

"No super powers, skilled at archery, and had to go through losing his best friend to obtain an infinity stone and fix everything," Kalen answered.

"Does anyone want to hear who I think the best Avenger is?" Gabriel piped up.

"No," everyone chorused.

Gabriel pouted.

"Why not?"

"Loki," they all chorused.

Gabriel's pout deepened while a tiny smirk played across his mouth.

/…/

"Loki is by far the best Avenger."

Snort.

"He isn't even an Avenger?! He was never made part of the team!"

"Oh really?"

The two older brothers were still arguing all the way out to the Impala. Bobby shook his head as the rest of them stood out on the porch.

"It's going to be a long ride home," Sam sighed.

While looking at Sam, Kalen pointed over to the Impala.

"Is Dean letting Gabriel sit shotgun?" she asked.

Castiel and Sam's heads snapped over to the two bickering males. Sure enough, Gabriel was sitting in the front seat while still arguing with Dean over The Avengers. Dean laid on the horn.

"Let's go, Sammy! Cas!"

Sam groaned before bidding Bobby and Kalen a farewell. Castiel nodded his head to both. He trailed after Sam. Marbles finally came out and lumbered over to the truck. Kalen suddenly snapped. Bobby jumped while she chuckled in response.

"I almost forgot. I have something for you."

She jogged over to her truck and returned with two items. She handed him a book and bottle of unopened Scotch.

"Thanks for the books, but I don't drink Scotch," Bobby told her.

She smiled.

"I know, but your guest does. Thanks for dinner, Bobby."

Bobby watched Kalen climb into her truck and wave goodbye. He waited until her truck was pulling away to utter a low groan of "Balls."

"What year is it?"

"Go away."

"Not without the Scotch, Bobby. Is that Glenlivet? Ooh, the little wombat got me a 21 year. She still knows the way to my heart."

"Little wombat? I need a drink."

"Get your own. This one is mine."

END OF CHAPTER SIX