Gabriel sat alone in his office. After storming out earlier, he took a walk to try to calm down. Then he returned to his office and just took in his surroundings. It had been a very long time since he sat in this room. He was surprised that he actually missed it and Heaven quite a bit. Well, he missed how it was before everything fell apart, before every day was nothing more than another fight between his brothers or father. Then everything broke, and it was still broken. Everyone was at odds now, including Gabriel.
Gabriel had never felt such anger as he had in the last day. He was mad at almost everyone. He was mad at his father for waiting eight years before deeming his son safe, which led to Gabriel not being able to parent him. He was also mad at him for bringing Lucifer back where he had access to Gabriel's child. He was certainly angry at Lucifer, and his anger there needed no explanation. Then there was Raphael who he'd noticed look at Sam as if he was some kind of price he needed to possess.
Ironically, the only one Gabriel didn't want to murder was Michael. That didn't mean Michael was his favorite person, but he acted much different than Gabriel expected, even with their father's permission. He didn't treat Sam like an outsider. He actually was very good with him. He seemed to like him, and that was certainly reciprocated. Sam seemed very at ease with Michael. That could be because Michael was much like Dean, as he was supposed to be since the kid was his vessel.
Just then, the door to Gabriel's office opened and Chuck stepped through. "Hello, son. Can I trust that you've calmed some?"
"Get out," Gabriel said with a glare.
"I'll take that as a no. I'm not going anywhere. We need to talk," Chuck said.
"I have nothing to say to you," Gabriel said before standing up and headed for the rooms he shared with his son. Before he could make it to the door, however, he found his arm seized in his father's tight grip. "Let go!"
If anything, Chuck tightened his hold on his son's arm. "I've had enough, Gabriel. I know that you're angry, but it's time for you to remember who you are speaking to. Now, I said we need to talk. Sit down!"
Gabriel glared heatedly at his father for several moments before yanking his arm free and going back to his desk to sit down. As much as he wanted to tell the old man to shove his demands, he knew his father had more than enough power to make him do what he wanted.
"Thank you," Chuck said before walking over and sitting across from his son. "The anger's becoming a bit much, don't you think, son?"
"Maybe it wouldn't be if people didn't keep hurting my kid," Gabriel said irritably.
"I haven't hurt your son, Gabriel. I've protected him," Chuck said.
"Only when you finally deemed it too far. Yeah, you removed Sam when Winchester hit him, and I'm grateful for that, but you knew about him since the day that he was born. I had to leave him with a man that was not fit to care for him in order to protect him, and you did nothing! Worse than that, you let Lucifer's lackey's stick demon blood in his body!" Gabriel yelled.
"For good reasons, yes, I did. I believed the outcome would be better if I allowed things to play out," Chuck said.
"Not for Sam!" Gabriel snarled. "But of course, it wasn't about him, was it? You only cared what was best for you!"
"That's not true. I believed it would be best for all of you. Yes, Sam wouldn't be the happiest, but in the end, you, your siblings, and Heaven would be better for it," Chuck explained.
"Do you really think I care about what's best for Heaven, or any of these dicks here? My son's happiness and safety are the only things that matter to me. Everyone else can go rot," Gabriel said. Okay, that wasn't completely true. He did care about his father and his siblings. He even still cared about Heaven. But all of that paled in comparison to his child. He would sacrifice it all if it meant protecting Sam.
"I understand that. You're able to think like that. I'm not. I have to consider the bigger picture," Chuck said.
"Then you think of it without using my son! Don't make him a part of your better picture! He's just a child, and he's mine. You don't get to make decisions for my son," Gabriel said firmly.
Chuck looked at his son for a moment before nodding his head. Reluctantly, he could concede that Gabriel had a point. "Alright. As Sam's father, it is your job to take care of him. I will leave that up to you. However, there are certain things I will decide for him, and they are non-negotiable, because it is not just him that it affects. For instance, he needs to reside here. He's too young and too powerful to be grow up around humanity now that his power is no longer suppressed.
Gabriel grudgingly had to admit that his father was right about that. Besides, Sam could never fit in around humans now, or at least he wouldn't be able to when his power made itself known. "Fine, but you have to make sure that not one angel in this place calls my child an abomination because I will not stand for it!"
"Neither will I, son. You have my word that it will be handled.
"Good. What about Lucifer?" Gabriel asked.
Chuck sighed. "I know you're angry with Lucifer."
"No. Anger is way too tame a word for how I feel. He nearly killed my son! How could you bring him here?" Gabriel asked angrily.
"Because it was time for him to come home," Chuck said.
Gabriel laughed bitterly. "You're the one that sent him away!"
"Yes, because he was out of control."
"No, now he's out of control. He wasn't then. You sent him away because for the first time, one of us wouldn't do what you said. He wouldn't feel what you wanted him to and you punished him for it!" Gabriel yelled angrily.
"I second ago, you wanted him to stay locked up," Chuck said with an amused look on his face. He knew Gabriel still loved Lucifer, despite his anger. He was right now outraged on his older brother's behalf.
"Because he hurt my son! He hadn't then, and you locked him up! And when you did that, you destroyed every one of us!" Gabriel said loudly.
"I don't deny making mistakes, son, but any choices I've made was to benefit my children," Chuck said.
Gabriel was about to retort when the door opened, and Michael entered with Sam clutched to his side. Sam looked upset and scared, and Michael looked angry. "Hey, buddy. Come here."
Sam let go of his uncle and went over to Gabriel.
"What's the matter, Sammy? Did you not like the Garden?" Gabriel asked as he gently rubbed the boy's back.
"No, it was nice. There are a lot of flowers and trees there. It looks nicer than any garden I've ever seen," Sam said.
"What's got you so upset then?" Gabriel asked.
"The people are mean here," Sam said as he rubbed his eyes.
Gabriel stiffened and wondered how many of his siblings would be left after he was finished with them. "Did they say anything to you?"
"Not to me, but I heard some of them talk. One of them called me a filthy human," Sam said.
"I'm sorry, Gabriel. I will put a stop to it," Michael promised.
"No, you won't. I will handle it myself," Chuck said fiercely. He was not going to allow his grandson to be uncomfortable every time he walked around Heaven, and he certainly wouldn't allow him to be called names.
"You better," Gabriel said calmly so as not to frighten Sam.
"You won't have to worry about anyone being mean to you anymore. I promise," Chuck told Sam.
"Uncle Michael says they're just mean because they aren't used to humans being around," Sam said.
"That's true, but it's no reason to act that way," Chuck said.
"Are you hungry, kiddo? It's almost lunch time," Gabriel said.
"Is Dean gonna be coming soon?" Sam asked.
Gabriel sighed. He knew he couldn't put that question off any longer. As much as he hated to break Sam's heart, he had to tell him that Dean wouldn't be joining them. "No, buddy. Dean can't stay here."
"Why not? If you guys are my family, you're Dean's too. Why can't he live here too?" Sam asked. He was barely keeping tears from falling. He wanted Dean. He couldn't live somewhere that his brother didn't live too.
"Shh. Please, don't cry, Sammy," Gabriel said as he pulled the boy into his side. "I know how much you miss your big brother. I wish he could be here, but he can't. You see, most people can't ever come to this place."
"Then, how can I?" Sam asked.
"Because you're special," Michael told his nephew with a smile.
"No, I'm not. Dean's the special one. That's why Dad likes him more than me," Sam said.
"That's not true. Don't let John make you feel that way. You are the most special little boy in the world to us. We all love you very much. If John can't see that you're special, that's his problem," Gabriel said.
"Will I get to see Dean still?" Sam asked. Tears were streaming down his face.
Gabriel picked him up and put him on his lap. He rubbed small circles into his back. "I will take you to see Dean soon, but after that, it might be a long time before you get to see him again. I'm really sorry, Sammy. I wish it didn't have to be like that.
"Gabriel," Chuck said quietly. He didn't think it was a good idea to bring Sam back to Earth, even just for a day. No one knew when his powers would start to show themselves.
"These boys need to say goodbye to each other, and they will get that chance. That's the end of it," Gabriel said through gritted teeth. First though, he would get Dean away from John. He knew he couldn't take Dean himself, but he would be damned if he allowed the boy to remain in John Winchester's 'care'.
"I think he's right, Father. Sam needs at least that closure," Michael said.
Chuck reluctantly nodded after a moment, conceding that they might have a point.
Gabriel got up and carried his inconsolable child into their rooms.