Replies to reviews

vrskaandrea: Thank you for the review.

VegasGranny: Thank you for the review.

"I want to know about the world?"

Michael actually let out a laugh at his nephew's question.

"You need to be specific." Michael says. He raises his cuffed arms and his eyes are wide with excitement. "Tell me what do you want to know about the world?"

"My grandfather. God. He made this world. He made the other worlds."

"That's right."

"Why did he make the other worlds?"

Michael's smile fades.

"I can't answer that. I didn't know about the worlds until I met my other me. I am puzzled on why father decided to make many copies of the world but..." The smile returns to his face. "Father always does things for a reason. I will not question him on this matter."

"Why does he not help? There are wars, innocent people getting killed. Why would God not help?"

"Humans have a choice. The wars you see are caused by man. Why should God help when it was humans that decided to hurt their kind."

"The Apocalypse world, that was caused by Michael. He is God's son. God should have stepped in and stopped it. The world is destroyed because of your other self."

"I know. I saw it." Michael grips the table as the memories from the other world resurface. "It was awful. It scared me."

"Scared you?" Cas frowned.

Michael's scared eyes go on his brother.

"If the Apocalypse happened and I won, we would have ended up like the other world. I could have gone crazy Castiel and destroyed humanity. That world is a message, a warning to me on what could have happened. At least being in the cage I wasn't a threat to anyone. The cage has changed me but at least I didn't become like him."

"The other Michael?" Jack asks.

"Every time I look at his face." Michael's lips press into a thin line. "I see the what if. I hate him. I hate him for turning on God and destroying his work I hate him for nearly killing Gabriel, he hurt Dean, he hurt all of you..." His face darkens. "I never hated someone so much until I met him." He then huffed a laugh. "Talking about hating yourself." He then reaches out and places his hand on Jack's. "Listen to me Jack, I promise you that he is going to suffer he is going to pay for what he did I will make sure of it."

"I know." Jack nods. "I believe you."

Michael leans back feeling touched by those words.

"I have another question. My father. Lucifer. I know he is bad but..."

"You want to know what he was before?" Michael nods. "Alright. You see I, your father, Gabriel and Raphael we were close. We were inseparable. We use to do everything together. I trained my siblings I taught them to fight. I taught them to fly." The archangel laughs. "Castiel you were too curious for your own good you always went off and explored during lessons."

Cas blushed which caused Jack to grin.

"The world was developing." Cas says. "Others were curious as well."

"You and Balthazar." The archangel grins. "When you were with Gabriel trouble occurred. Gabriel was such a bad influence, teaching them pranks."

"You always told us off." Cas replied.

"I know." Michael sighed. "I was too much of a control freak back then."

"That's an understatement." Cas narrowed his eyes.

The familiar guilt returned to Michael's face.

"I am sorry Castiel. I feel bad on how I treated you. You deserved better. You all deserved better. The arguments between Lucifer and I..." Jack holds his uncle's hand. He learnt from Sam it is a way to comfort someone. Michael responds and grips his nephew's hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. "Lucifer, he was the brightest one of Heaven. He was known as the Lightbringer. His true form was beautiful so beautiful. When I look at you Jack I see the Lucifer before he took the Mark."

"The Mark of Cain." Jack nodded.

"You know the story. The archangels locking the Darkness away." Jack nods at that. "God chose Lucifer to have the Mark. He had faith that Lucifer was strong enough to bear the Mark." Michael shakes his head. "He was wrong. I rarely question my father but this was one of these moments where I did. I saw the change in my brother, I saw the Mark was slowly corrupting him. He was turning into something much darker than the Darkness herself."

"So it's God's fault that Lucifer turned bad."

"Lucifer despised God's work even before he took the Mark. He felt God put his work before us."

"Did he?"

Michael's eyes wander off to space. God rarely showed his face, he rarely spent time with his children because he was too engrossed into his projects. The archangel being the perfect obedient son as always refused to comment on the matter. He is sure God had his reasons. He is certain God left him in the cage as a punishment for not fulfilling his destiny to kill Lucifer. Then Michael frowns if he did fulfil his role and kill Lucifer during the Apocalypse he would have ended up like his counterpart. According to what he seen his other self didn't get rewarded for killing his Lucifer. Why?

Is that why he...

The archangel thought about his other self's behavior. Did he go crazy because God wasn't there like he promised? The alternative archangel had the world on his shoulders without God there to help? Rage drove him to destroy the planet and wipe out humanity?

Michael had to admit God hasn't made an appearance since Lucifer's death. He hasn't received his reward yet? He was trapped in the other world with Dean. Where was God? Michael didn't deserve the suffering from the other world he already went through enough but God left him over there? Was Michael still being punished without even realizing it?

Both versions of Lucifer bearing the Mark? God knew what the Mark did to Lucifer so why did another version of him went through the same fate.

Why would God make the same mistake twice?

As Michael thought deeper, a shock went through him. Horror fills his face when he realized what he done.

No no no!

The archangel stands up straight. His eyes are wide. He doubted his father. He questioned his father's actions. In the past he has expressed doubts but never like this. He has done a bad thing he needs stop he needs to drop it he needs to...

It was like someone pressed the pause button and Michael's suspicions quickly vanish and is replaced with a smile.

"Father was very committed into his work. Lucifer being Lucifer just wouldn't respect father's wishes. Lucifer was selfish in that way. The Mark..." He shrugs. "Everything became ten times worst. Jack I loved your father and sending him to the cage was the hardest thing I ever done but I knew one day he would be released."

"The Apocalypse." Jack replied.

Michael sits back down and nods.

"The vessels. Sam and Dean."

Michael thought about the other world. The true vessels didn't exist.

Although they fought it is not what God commanded. Michael thought. He wanted us to fight in our true vessels.

The archangel became comforted by the thought. That could be why God left the other world. The Apocalypse was not how he envisioned it.

The Apocalypse failed here too because Michael didn't posses his true vessel however God must have given him another chance. Another chance to put his plan into action. Michael suffered but he also waited like a good soldier. Patience is key. The punishment had a positive outcome. Michael was freed from the cage and he had his Sword to fight the Devil and he won.

Again Michael felt comforted by that. There is other Michaels but he felt he was the favorite out of them all. God gave him not AU Michael not any other Michael him a second chance to put things right.

God cares about him.

You knew how that turned out." Michael added.

"You did not posses Dean."

"Correct. I possessed Adam."

"Their half-brother." Cas added.

"He's in the cage?" Jack's eyes widen. "Shouldn't we do something?"

Michael's lips parted and uncertainty spreads across his face. He can still remember the innocent soul curled up in the corner of the cage away from everyone. He doesn't want to imagine what his former vessel must be going through now. Being alone in the cage facing the torture.

"Its...Its too late for him." Michael bowed his head. "He's a broken soul."

"No no." Jack shakes his head. "We don't give up on family. Dean wouldn't give up."

"He's past saving." Michael grits his teeth. "It's my fault I should have...I should have protected him down there. I was too focused on hurting Sam."

Then the archangel froze when he realized what he said. He sunk back in his seat afraid that the former nephilim is going to turn on him, hate him.

Jack didn't look surprised.

"I know."

Michael's green eyes go wide.

"You do?"

"Lucifer told me..." He frowns. "...He said he told me the PG rated version." Jack sighs. "Michael what you did to Sam...It wasn't your fault Lucifer had an influence on you."

"No. Don't blame Lucifer for this. It was my choice to hurt Sam. Lucifer didn't force me or manipulate me I chose to join him. We both did everything we could to break Sam. We caused significant scarring to his soul, we damaged him completely we...I... I sometimes came up with creative punishments for me and my brother to do on him. I became worst than my brother."

"But you stopped. You stopped hurting Sam."

"I did."

"That was your choice."

"Yes."

Jack moves his chair around the table and sits next to the archangel.

"We all done something that we regret." Jack nods. "I...I killed a man. It was an accident I swear I didn't mean to kill him. Since then I was determined to control my powers so another civilian wouldn't die under my watch."

"It's not the same."

"It is the same. We've all done bad stuff in our lives. That doesn't mean we're evil."

"I agree with Jack." Cas says "Sam and Dean have both been down a dark path and made mistakes in their lives but they pull themselves out of it. They have a good heart. I however have done things that are unforgivable. Jimmy Novak."

"Jimmy Novak was not your fault Castiel. I gave out the order. I chose you to go to Earth and rescue Dean Winchester."

"I caused pain to his family. Claire."

"I caused pain to the family Castiel. I brought you into this business. Therefore I am much to blame." Michael smiles. "Claire is not mad at you."

"How do you know that?" Michael raises his eyebrow as to say 'A conversation for another time.' "Still." Cas continued. "I opened Purgatory. I let the leviathans out. I killed our kind. I done more wrong than right."

"I saw the events that unfolded. You have made some poor decisions however you are still my curious little brother that I love and you actually made the best decision in history. You chose the Winchesters."

"Heaven."

"Were blind, I was blind. Now I am thankful." He smiles . "I knew you were the best candidate for the job. No other angel would have saved the world numerous times like you did. Brother." Michael's smile widens. "I'm proud of you."

Cas thought he was hearing things. Did Michael just say he was proud of him? The angel studied his brother's face but nothing seemed off Michael looked genuine. Jack looked happier than before.

"I on the other hand, yes I made a choice to stop but that doesn't mean I'm good. I'm not. I'm a monster." Michael frowned.

"We all done bad things we all have blood on our hands." Jack says. "As Dean said once if you're a monster, we're all monsters."

Jack leans on his uncle's shoulder. The former nephilim badly wanted Michael to see he is there for him no matter what. Michael smiles down at his nephew and closes his eyes wanting to cherish every moment of this.

Cas couldn't help but feel left out as he watched the kid who he saw as his son bonding with the archangel. Michael lifts his head and smiles at his brother. Cas saw Michael's wing extend out urging the angel to come. Cas came and felt his brother wrap his wing around him.

"I would have given you a proper hug but..." Michael waves his cuffs. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Cas smiled.

It's been so long since he received brotherly affection. Gabriel was a loving brother towards Cas but the others Cas didn't have a connection with them. Michael was the most distant out of them all. This conversation really has warmed Cas's heart.

"Dean would be scowling at us right now." Michael scoffed. "I'm doing a chic flick moment with his body."

Cas huffed a laugh.

"Agreed."

Just then there is a sound of flapping. Gabriel appears.

"Hey I uh..." Gabriel frowns at his family all huddled together. He then looks at the cuffs on Michael's wrists. "Am I interrupting an kinky moment?"

"Gabriel!" Michael is up and glaring at his brother. "You don't just come in like that."

"You did say I can pop in whenever I like." Gabriel looks over and nods. "Cassie." He looks to his left. "Jack."

"Hello Gabriel." Jack beamed.

Gabriel looks round and huffs a laugh.

"This is rare. No Winchesters." He grins. "We got the bunker to ourselves."

"Why are you not in Heaven?" Michael asks.

Gabriel sighs.

"Brother we got a problem."

"Problem? Is it Heaven?"

"No. It's..." Gabriel grits his teeth. "You know I should have not come. I shouldn't be bothering you."

Michael pulls at Gabriel's arm and forces his younger brother to look at him.

"What is it?" The older archangel demanded. Gabriel hesitated unsure whether to answer or not. "Brother." Michael's face softens. "You can tell me."

Gabriel took a shaky breath.

"It's Loki, he's back."