Chapter Twenty- One: Closer ((Rockabye Baby!))

Purgatory, as Castiel found out, had an abundance of old warehouses that seemed to be specifically designed to hold secret meetings in. At least, that's what he assumed. He really couldn't see them being used for anything else. They had all sorts of machinery inside, but all of it was rusted and broken. It wouldn't be of any use if the building were operational for making anything. His best guess was that this is where they stored everything once it broke, since people's secret meetings didn't really need the large room they were held in.

Humans were so strange sometimes.

Beside him, Gabriel grinned, looking around excitedly. "This is so authentic. The abandoned warehouse near the docks. Do we need fedoras for this?" He looked over to Castiel before laughing. "We've already got the trench coats!"

"I hardly see what hats and coats have to do with getting this particular job done," Castiel sent his brother a quizzical frown.

"Movies, Cas, movies." Gabriel sighed, as if long- suffering. "We really need to get you acquainted with some of the classics. You're gonna need all the pop references you can get around those Winchesters."

Castiel thought that might be a good plan. Both Sam and Dean made references to things he didn't understand, and he was curious. Gabriel seemed to be more familiar with the things the brothers talked about, and seemed to find them amusing.

"After this is done, maybe we can start broadening your horizons," his brother continued.

"Show him some romantic comedies so he can see what exactly his current situation calls for," Balthazar smirked from the angel's other side.

"My current situation?"

"You are so hopeless that it's tragic," the blonde sighed, shaking his head.

Castiel stared at him, confusion obvious on his face. Balthazar just gave up on the conversation for now, instead looking around for sights of the other half of this deal. True, they were a little early, but Balthazar expected a little more from angels. Besides himself, of course.

"He's talking about your epic affair with Dean," Gabriel snickered.

"I'm not having any affairs with Dean," the trench coated angel replied.

"Yeah, that's kinda the problem."

"I don't understand." He really didn't. "Are you saying I have a 'situation' because I haven't had an affair with him? Is it a necessary course of action? Was there something I was supposed to do?"

Gabriel crossed his arms. He was still mad at the older hunter for what he'd said back at the club. But he was determined to help his baby brother out, and if that meant helping Dean in the process, then he was going to suck it up and do it. He owed Castiel that much, at least.

"It's not just your fault. It's his too. You're both hopeless."

Castiel did understand that much. He knew that Dean was caught in the middle of his indecision. The way he acted was different from the things he said, and it confused Castiel greatly. He had a lot to learn about humans if this was the normal process.

Balthazar leaned against a tall wooden crate. "I don't see what's so damned interesting about that human anyway. He's all stupid bravado and course language."

"That's because you're jealous," Gabriel smiled. He wandered around the large room of the warehouse, dragging his hand over whatever he came across. The no- touching rule never applied to bored archangels.

The club owner cast Gabriel a cold look, more harmless than anything else. Castiel gave the statement some thought. There were many reasons why Dean Winchester was 'special'. He had many thoughts on the matter. However, he didn't think he could properly express most of them, and this was hardly the place for such things. He gave a little half- smile nonetheless.

Gabriel glanced at his brother, looking absolutely delighted at the Castiel- version of a smile he found there. "You two are like high school, it's kinda adorable sometimes. In that sickening kinda way, of course."

"The important question is whether you'll go to separate colleges or not," Balthazar pointed out.

"I don't see what education has to do with any of this…"

"It's a metaphor, Cas. Or a simile. I always get those two mixed up…" Gabriel paused in thought, before shaking his head. "Anyway, the point is, what he means is that the most important thing is what you plan to do after we get out of Purgatory."

Castiel arched a brow. "I thought that much was obvious. I'll return to Heaven."

The other two angels just stared at him.

"That's it?" the brunette looked exasperated. "After all that's happened, you're just gonna fly back upstairs?"

"What other option do I have?"

"Stay on Earth with your human!" Balthazar threw up his hands. "I cannot believe that you can be this dense!"

Castiel stopped to think about that. He was learning so much about humans in his time with the Winchesters. It was fascinating. There was much more he could learn by following Dean back to Earth instead of returning to Heaven. Moreover, he wouldn't have to be separated from the hunter. And as much as Castiel loved Heaven, there was a sense of rightness he felt around Dean. Like he actually belonged there. It made him feel content. It made him FEEL.

There were a few problems with this option, however.

"It wouldn't be right."

"Why not?" the archangel frowned at him poking at a machine that had far too many blades on it to be anywhere near Gabriel's curious nature, functional or not.

Because he was scared. Because he didn't know what happened to angels on Earth. Because once he stayed, he didn't know if he'd be allowed back to Heaven later on. Because he only knew how to badly pass for a human.

"Because I haven't been invited."

"Of all the stupid reasons…" Balthazar sighed, rubbing his temple as if dealing with a very difficult child. Which, in this case, probably wasn't far from the truth. "You don't need to be invited to stay on Earth, Cassy."

"I do if I am to stay with Dean," Castiel explained. "And I don't want to stay on my own. Therefore, unless he asks, I won't push the option on him. I don't want to be a burden for him. However, if he wanted me to stay with him, I would. I would do anything he asked of me."

"I think I'm going to be sick," the blonde angel muttered.

Gabriel just shook his head. Cupid did this all the time, this matchmaking thing, and the archangel didn't see how the cherub could manage it. This was his first try, with an angel he knew better than most, and he was going to kill them both before this was over.

He was about to tell his brother exactly what he thought of this self- sacrificing line of thought, but he was stopped when Balthazar suddenly pushed himself off the crate he'd been leaning on. Both angels watched as the club owner straightened to his full height, looking dead serious for once.

It was kind of weird.

Obviously, it was business time. They were still alone in the warehouse, but Gabriel could make out the presence of another angel. Another archangel, to be exact. He left the machines he had been toying with, joining Balthazar and Castiel in the room's center.

There was a sound of feathers, the normal fanfare that accompanied angels popping into existence. Or at least angels that didn't have to worry about conserving their Grace. Gabriel frowned, finding himself suddenly jealous. He didn't have much time to play the green- eyed monster though, since within the next few seconds, they weren't alone anymore.

Three more angels stood in front of them, almost symmetrical. Two of them were archangels, Gabriel could sense that much, even if he didn't already know them. The third was an angel, and wouldn't have much power in Purgatory, but he hadn't been there long enough to experience the Grace drain that Castiel and Balthazar had. And the archangels would be at normal power levels for a while.

In short, if this didn't go right, they were fucked.

The first angel was the largest of them, standing tall and confident in his angel- issue dark suit. He wasn't tense like the others. He seemed to be the type that knew how little people would mess with someone like him. He was comfortable. Uriel.

On the other side was Raphael. He was smaller, more agile than Uriel. It was also obvious that he didn't spend as much time in a human vessel than his brothers. He was stiff and tense, as if he didn't know what to expect. If he hadn't had his Grace backing him up, Gabriel probably could have counted on him having trouble fighting on unfamiliar terms. Too bad his luck wasn't that great.

In the middle was Michael, the only one in the new group not wearing a suit. He was dressed casually, in worn cargo pants and a t- shirt. Even in the guise of a human teenager, he didn't look any less dangerous.

Michael arched a brow. "Gabriel. So this is where you've been hiding."

"Wherever you'd least suspect," he shrugged, trying to keep his tone light.

"I couldn't think of a more fitting place for you to waste away in," Raphael hissed, eyes narrowed. "Abandoning us for a planet of useless humans."

Beside him, Castiel growled quietly in his throat. Gabriel grabbed him by the sleeve.

Fortunately, Balthazar stepped forward, cutting off the beginnings of an argument. "Now now, kids. Play nice. I thought we had a deal to make."

Michael held up a hand, and Raphael fell silent. It didn't stop him from glaring at the shorter archangel. "You were looking for the sword I currently have in my possession."

"Right," Balthazar nodded, ready to talk business. Besides running a club, and living a fabulous swinging lifestyle, it was the best thing he was good at. The angelic version of a crossroads demon, almost. "We're going to do a little cleaning up around here, and we need to borrow your sword to take out some trash."

The quiet archangel tilted his head, obviously curious. "Who else is here? It can't just be any demon, if you need something as powerful as the sword to take them down."

"Funny thing about that," Gabriel spoke up again, leaning his weight on one leg. "Seems like Luci's set up shop around here, and the normal methods aren't quite convincing him it's not good real estate."

"Lucifer is here?" the teen's eyes widened. "How did this happen? He's supposed to be banished to Hell."

"Obviously you didn't do a good enough job the first time…" he quipped.

Raphael moved to grab hold of the other's jacket. Probably give him a good shaking. Or stabbing. Gabriel wasn't sure which at this point. But Michael stopped him once again. Although he didn't look happy.

Not that Michael ever looked happy. But whatever.

"We request to borrow the sword so that we can overthrow Lucifer from Purgatory. With our Grace being limited by Purgatory's restraints, we can't hope to stop him without it." Castiel spoke up, tone neutral, equal parts efficient and respectful.

This was why Balthazar wanted to bring him along. Castiel had a way with diplomacy. And he'd been in Heaven the most recent out of the three of them. He knew how to speak to the higher crowd. It made things go a lot smoother, having someone trustworthy around. Making Dean a jealous pouty mess was just a bonus.

"Castiel," Uriel finally spoke up, deep voice rumbling despite the small smile on his face. "I knew you'd find him."

Castiel nodded. "It's been very… enlightening."

Michael didn't seem interested in conversational trivialities. "You want me to give you the sword. Who will be wielding it?"

Castiel paused. They hadn't discussed that part of the plan. They hadn't thought to. He supposed it was just assumed that Dean would. But somehow, he didn't think Michael would be too happy knowing that his sword was going in a human's hands. He quickly decided on an answer that wouldn't be met with outright refusal.

"Who would you choose to wield it?"

Gabriel's lips quirked up in a smile. Good answer.

Michael looked at them each in turn, scrutinizing them to the point of being vaguely uncomfortable. Finally, he replied. "I'm assuming that you'd rather leave most of Purgatory intact, and that's why you haven't asked me for any help beyond my lending out the sword?"

Castiel nodded.

The archangel looked almost amused for a moment. It passed just as quickly. "I will lend it to you. I'll put no restrictions on who uses it, so long as it isn't a demon. But I expect one thing in return."

"And that is?" Balthazar prompted, waiting to hear the condition that would make or break the deal. He hated dealing with angels in bargains. They didn't accept terms graciously.

"You will defeat Lucifer. And you will return him to me."

"Send him back to Heaven? Why the hell would you want that?" Gabriel made a face. Of all the insane things…

"My reasons are my own, and do not need to be explained to you," Michael replied with a finality. He outranked each of them, and they all knew it. "If you feel you cannot abide by the condition, then you'll have to find some other way."

"We agree," Castiel said quickly. "We accept the terms. There is no other way."

Michael nodded. Gabriel caught the largest angel looking Castiel's way again, smiling in an almost proud way. There was a bright flash of light, light that would have rendered them blind, had they not been angels. The light came together in one strip, concentrating itself in Castiel's arms. He held out his hands and when the light faded, there was a sword in its place, glinting steel and sharp edges.

"I expect to hear from you shortly." Michael said curtly, authoritative, before glancing at the angels on either side of him. "Let us return."

The three were gone in another ruffle of feather noises.

"Well, that was actually easier than I expected," Balthazar hummed, studying their prize.

"I'm just glad no one seemed to want to take me back," Gabriel said with a chuckle. "I thought Raph was gonna go ballistic or something…"

"We should return quickly. We need to strike while we have the element of surprise." Castiel turned to leave the warehouse, only to stop short as someone blocked the doorway.

"You're not going anywhere with that thing."

Castiel's eyes widened in surprise. "Sam?"

The younger Winchester brother stepped inside the warehouse, watching them all carefully. His eyes were narrowed in suspicion and his knife was drawn at the ready. "Don't even pretend that you know me. Just because you can read Cas's thoughts doesn't mean you know the first thing about me."

Gabriel stared at him, his face scrunched up in confusion. "Not that we're not happy to see you, kiddo… but did you hit your head or something while you were gone? You're not making a bit of sense."

Sam stepped closer, his pace even and cautious, as if he expected to be attacked at any moment. "Just drop the sword."

"Are you insane?" Balthazar crossed his arms. He'd only seen this human once before, but he knew they were all supposed to be on the same side. Or at least as far on a side as Balthazar got. "We've just got the very thing that'll end this and you want to take it? What are you going to do with it?"

"It doesn't matter," his grip tightened on the knife handle. "I just can't let you do what you were planning with it."

Castiel tilted his head. "Sam, what do you think we were going to do with this? We're going to take it back to Dean. He'll be the one to use it."

"Do you expect me to believe that?" Sam's eyes darted off them for a few seconds, looking around. Almost like he was waiting on someone else to pop in unannounced. "My brother wouldn't have anything to do with your plans. And he'll be the one to take care of you. You definitely chose the wrong angel to parade around as. I'm sure he's majorly pissed off at you."

"What are you talking about?"

Sam didn't answer this time, only darted forward faster than someone his size should be able to manage. Balthazar reached out to push him away, but Sam ducked back in the nick of time, dropping to the floor and kicking a leg out, knocking the angel's legs out from under him. Balthazar fell back with a surprised noise. The hunter wasted no time in knocking the sword from Castiel's hands. It clattered to the floor away from them.

"Sam!" Castiel jumped, pushing past him to get to the sword. He didn't know what was wrong with the human, but he couldn't lose that sword at any cost.

Sam grabbed him by the back of the coat, yanking him backwards. He went crashing into Balthazar, who'd just started to get to his feet. The hunter reached for the discarded sword.

"See? There's no way you can pass for actual angels. Just things using their faces. You'd never have the powers they would." He growled, picking up the weapon from the stone floor. "You'd better hope you haven't done anything to hurt them, or getting killed'll be the least of your worries!"

Gabriel launched himself at the human's back, trying to knock him over. Not one of his better ideas; although Sam did stumble a bit. He latched on, arms tight around the hunter's neck. "Sammy, cut it out! What's wrong with you?"

Sam struggled, managing to throw the archangel off him after a few tries. He landed in the pile with the other two. Holding the sword close, he glared at them, like he wished his anger alone could make them all burst into flames. That might have very well been the case.

"Sam wait!" Castiel pushed Gabriel off of him, trying to get up.

But the younger Winchester was gone, taking off into a run and darting out of the warehouse with their only hope of defeating Lucifer.