No matter how much he tried to conceal it, Michael was a nervous wreck.

The night before they left, Dean told him all about Castiel, and even if Michael knew, because - duh!, he still listened without interrupting. He knew Castiel, he was once a mighty angel, had such leadership potential, evident in the way he led his garrison in those pre-apocalyptic battles. He was a force to be reckoned with, a true Angel of the Lord. It took Michael a long time to figure out why he betrayed him, and even then, he still didn't have full comprehension. But as soon as Dean started talking about him, mentioning how serious and uptight the angel was and how funny he was when he tried to grasp human traditions and emotions and pop culture and porn, and how he smiled fondly at those memories, it was clear that the Winchesters and their natural charm was what made Castiel choose them.

Still, aside from the obvious worry that the angel might see just who exactly was hiding under the image of 'Mike', Michael was concerned about what the angel would think of him. The way Dean spoke about him, Castiel was a very good friend, a person whose opinion Dean valued and... What if Castiel thought Michael was no good for Dean?

Would that even matter? Dean said they were fighting God himself. He was so adorable when he thought Michael wouldn't believe him, that he might think Dean went crazy. With nothing more then a hand over Dean's in a comforting way, Michael assured him that not only did he believe him, but he was there with them, all the way. When he first walked the Earth after being in the cage for a century (or decade in Earth years), he didn't want anything to do with any of this. And not even now, he wouldn't want to fight his Father, he didn't care about him anymore, not even enough to want vengeance, payback God certainly deserved. Michael let that go long time ago, not wanting the pain and anger to turn him into something he did not want to be. But for Dean?

He would gladly jump back into that cage again.

Michael's reaction to them fighting God was not as strong as when Dean told him about Jack, and about who he was. He went pale as soon as Dean told him Jack was Lucifer's son. His brother's son! A nephilim! And not just an average nephilim, but one derived from an archangel! There was a reason nephilims were forbidden, their power always exceeded the power of their angelic parent. And their human side made them too young, too reckless, too bold and fearless. But Dean, he assured Michael Jack was a good kid, that he was nothing like Lucifer and that he definitely wasn't evil, that he was just a sweet kid with one hell of a baggage. Dean grew a lot more serious and Michael had a feeling he never spoke to anyone about that, about Jack and Mary and what went on then. Still, he didn't blame the kid, he knew God was responsible for all of that. God manipulated them for his own entertainment and Michael felt a sting in his chest, because, yes, he knew what that felt like.

Still, listening about them and meeting them were two completely different things.

While Sam lead the way, Michael helped Dean limp from the garage into this wide open space with a big map table in the center, old World War II types of machines and computers scattered around. The room had several long hallways leading away and one archway leading into what seemed like a large library with a telescope at the end of it. The place was really interesting and Michael might have given it more thought if he wasn't about to come face to face with his former subordinate.

"Sam! Did you find... Dean." Castiel's voice echoed from a hallway along with his footsteps, and he came to an abrupt stop, letting out the hunter's name as soon as he spotted him.

"Heya, Cas. I'm still kicking." Dean replied with a grunt and Michael helped him to the nearest chair, then took a step back as the angel rushed by his side, nearly shoving him out of the way. His hand immediately ripped the bandages Michael was so careful to make, those long fingers wrapping around Dean's leg, making him hiss for a second before the angel's hand started to glow.

Michael just stood there, some strange feelings washing over him as he watched Castiel touch, heal Dean. Yes, there was some strange form of sadness that Michael couldn't do that for Dean, that he couldn't heal him, sadness and guilt even, but he had to remind himself he didn't burry his grace on a whim, there was a reason he bound it. But, no, there was more... Some odd feeling, something ugly and something that logically, Michael knew he shouldn't be there. Jealousy. He was jealous. Of Castiel touching Dean, of him healing him, helping him, being his friend. Michael shoved that felling deep down, stomped it into a box labeled 'irrational' and decided to let it go. Castiel was just that, a friend. Someone who had helped the brothers and was there for them in their time of need. Someone who saved them and protected them, and Michael should be grateful for that, so he decided he would be just that - grateful.

"Ah, thanks, Cas. That feels good." Dean replied and jumped back on his feet, smiling and moving about, stretching his muscles. "Look, good as new." Dean said looking over at Michael, and in exchange, Michael offered a small smile. A smile that immediately dropped as soon as he met those steel-cold blue eyes of Castiel's vessel. The angel's eyes scrutinized him for a good minute or so, studying him with a strange kind of a squint and for a moment, Michael was certain he could see through him, straight down to his caged grace.

"Hey, Cas, this is Mike. He helped me out, he's a hunter too. Mike, this is Cas. Our very own tree topper." Dean said slinging an arm over Michael's shoulders, the act making the archangel feel a little bit better.

"Dean." Castiel warned, apparently not liking to be called a Christmas tree ornament. But he seemed to relax a bit too, and Michael got to see an instant change in the angel's behavior. He went from that serious, solider-kind to someone a bit more relaxed, a bit annoyed and... Tired. Drained. Showing weakness Castiel, the angel of the Lord would not allow himself to show. He was more human now then he ever seemed. And somehow, more likable. "Hello." was all the angel said, and Michael gave a small nod.

"Yeah, Mike doesn't talk, but... Um..." Dean tailed off, looking back at Michael. He paused, seemed to be contemplating something for a moment before he continued. "...He's cool, alright? He's... One of us now." Dean told Castiel while still maintaining eye contact with Michael. The archangel though that had much deeper meaning that what Dean led on, and that even Castiel seemed to pick up on it. Still, the angel just nodded, taking it all in stride and accepting Dean's words like a good little soldier he used to be. Some things just never change.

"Where's um... Where's Jack?" Sam piped in, drawing attention away from Michael, for which the archangel was thankful.

"In his room. Ever since... Ever since we missed our chance with the souls and he lost his powers, he has been... Depressed. Most likely he feels useless again, and fears that, now that he doesn't have his abilities and cannot contribute to the fight, you will discard him." Castiel replied and Dean groaned.

"Not this again." The hunter replied, but Michael was confused. Dean did speak kindly of the kid, but by their reactions, it really seemed like they cared about him and not just about what he could do for them. So why would Jack be feeling like that?

"Maybe you should go see him, he was worried about you." Sam said, and of course. If the kid had his powers, he might have been able to find Dean sooner and help him, or save him. That's why Jack was feeling bad about. "Introduce him to Mike, I am sure Jack would love to meet him." Sam added and Dean nodded.

Yes, 'Mike' would very much like to meet Jack now. Meet the kid that by all accounts seems to be a nice, sweet and caring person, truly nothing like his father. Meet the kid that was... His nephew.