He stared up at the looming figure of his Infirmary, watching the bodies walking in and out, and turned to his brother.

"They've been running things all on their own?"

"They were all on their own. Castiel had killed you, their brothers had taken their own lives, they were all that was left."

He nodded again, turning to look back at the building he had built from the ground up, with his own bare hands and his grace. "Brother, I will not be returning to the Villa for a bit of time, I have things that I must tend to."

"I understand, little brother, take care of your flock."

…

His healers smiled at his return, sharing soft welcomes and warm hugs as he passed through his Infirmary, and he took them all with open arms. He had his sights on only one though, the one who sat in the chair next to the bed further down his path, leaning forward on his elbows, face buried in his hands.

One of the two who had taken over his duties while he was with The Void, who had taken over the combined duties of their brothers in their self-imposed absence, who had kept his Infirmary from crumbling to it's foundations when he couldn't keep it standing himself.

He knelt silently before the unmoving angel, his worn Virtue, and reached out to touch a hand to the one hiding his face from him. "Akriel?"

The trauma specialist stiffened, inhaling quickly, and fingers slid away from his eyes as he peered up at his archangel. "I apologize." He rubbed his hands over his face, rubbed at his eyes, and fell back into his hands again. He rubbed his hand over his head gently. "What for?" his Virtue sighed deeply, a tired sigh, the sigh of someone who hadn't had a good nights rest for many, many, moons. "For sitting here when there are patients who need tending to."

"There is no need to apologize for needing to rest your eyes. Taking care of others is just as important as taking care of yourself."

He curled his nimble fingers around the younger angel's wrist. "Let me see you." He managed to pull the one hand away, and the other fell with it, and the sight that greeted his eyes took his breath away.

Deep, deep, bruises shadowed under his eyes. His face much paler then it usually was. His hair askew and untamed. This was the price that was paid for their abandonment.

"Oh, my dearest little Akriel, you've held the weight of the world on your shoulders for so long." He caresses the younger angels cheek. "But I am here to take it back." Their eyes lock for a long moment. "Tell me what ails you, my little healer, I will take care of you."

Akriel watches him carefully, as though looking for deceit, and nodded when he found none. "I am…I am so tired."

"Then let's get you to bed." He stands once more, and holds a hand out for his Virtue to take, Akriel eyes the hand for a moment before he reaches out to take it. Their fingers twine together and Raphael hums in acknowledgement, squeezing the youngers fingers fondly for a moment, as he guides him off to the passage carved into the side of the Infirmary, to a set of stairs, that leads to the loft above. "You need a good sleep. Nice and long. You've done more then enough. Let's get you taken care of now."

He leads him up the winding stairs, into the warm lounging room of their loft, over the soft carpets to the hall straight ahead, where their bedrooms lay for the waiting.

Akriel's room is tidy, a bit scuffled, but tidy. There was a well-used oak desk pushed under the window, piles and piles of books cluttered over the surface, tunics hung over the back of the wooden chair turned afar from the desk. Armor was cluttered in the far corner, a sword leaning against the stone wall to the right of the desk, and he shook his head at the sight of it all.

"Come on, kick off your boots." His Virtue nods, kicking his boots off sluggishly, squeezing his fingers to keep him steady. Raphael guides him to his bed, pulling down the covers, and pushes him down with a gentle ease. "Get into bed. Under the covers. Come on."

Akriel lets go of his hand, crawling forward onto his soft mattress, collapsing over top of his pillow. He heaves a deep sigh, closing his eyes lightly, sinking into the fluff of his pillow. His archangel smiles, he knows he is, and sits on the edge of his bed as he pulls the blankets up over his back. He sighs in comfort when fingers stroke down the back of his head. "You've done more then enough, my little one, I'll take it from here."

"Missed you."

Raphael smiles softly, scratching at the back of his Virtues head. "I missed you too. I'm back now. And I'm not going anywhere ever again."

His poor little Virtue, having had to do the job of six individuals, on only one others aid, for so long. He sits there for as long as it takes, though it doesn't take long at all, for his Virtue to drift off to sleep, finally allow himself to let go of the wakeful world. Akriel looks so peaceful in his sleep, as though the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders, and perhaps, it really has been.

The archangel strokes his fingers through his medium length hair, smiling down at him as he sleeps so peacefully, vowing to ensure he gets more then enough of it. He wouldn't be doing much of anything until those bruises under his eyes faded away.

"I don't normally do this," he curled his fingers over the Virtue's forehead. "But you need your rest more than anything at the moment." A faint glow emanated from his fingertips, light blue, a tingling of static electricity. Akriel sighed softly, nuzzling down into his pillow underneath him, what little tension that had remained fell away until there was nothing but peace. He smiled, stroking a finger down his nose, and leaned back.

"One down, four to go."