Gabe's First Hunt
Dean ushered the angels out of bed one early morning, helping them down the stairs to the living room to watch cartoons while he made breakfast. Ever little while Gabe would snap his fingers, conjuring up confetti to blow up in front of dean's face in attempt to wake the hunter up. Dean only lightly smacked the angel's head and continued pushing the three trouble makers to the living room. They were just outside the doorway when Dean heard rustling from within. He grabbed the angels, pushing them behind him as he pulled a weapon from the hiding spot behind a picture frame in the hall. Everyone else in the house was still asleep so who the hell had snuck into their home? Silently, Dean slipped into the doorway, gun cocked as he pointed it at the head of the intruder.
"You won't be needing that, Winchester," the intruder chuckled calmly, turning around to reveal his face. The angels cried out with joy instantly, running to their big brother with open arms. He smiled down at his little brothers, scooping them up and giving them each a gentle kiss. Dean lowered the gun and put it in his back pocket.
"Damn it, Michael! Mind knocking first?!" Dean grumbled, breathing deeply in attempt to calm his nerves. Michael only smiled, dropping the angels down gently on the couch and turning the television on for them.
"Mickey? Are you staying?" Balthazar asked. Michael shook his head.
"No, I only came to check on you three and to see Dean. I wanted to talk to him for a moment. I'll be right back alright?" Michael stated, still hiding behind his smile. Dean knew better though. There was something hiding behind that look. Still, the angels bought it and they went back to watching PBS. When the three were occupied Michael turned around and walked into the kitchen, Dean followed, glancing over his shoulder every couple of seconds to make sure none of the little angels were following. On entering the kitchen Michael closed the door with the wave of his hand.
"What's up, Michael?" Dean asked, walking over to the stove and turning on a burner. Might as well get breakfast going. Michael watched as Dean pulled out a pan, milk, mix, and eggs. The angel stepped up next to the hunter, pulling out a mixing bowl for the hunter. Dean took it, thanking him while he set it down next to the other ingredients.
"When was the last time you and your brother went out on a hunt?" Michael finally questioned. Dean tensed slightly, turning his head and glaring at the angel.
"A while," Dean stated vaguely. What's it to yah?" the hunter questioned, going back to preparing the pancake mix. Michael shrugged, walking away from Dean and sitting by the table.
"The world still needs you both. I think you should start hunting again," Michael stated simply.
"That all?" Dean questioned, puzzled that Michael would come all this way just to get him and Sammy back hunting again. It's not like they don't hunt anymore. They just don't do it as often as they used to. How can they? They've got a family to worry about now?
"No, there's more," Michael added, clearing his throat and tapping his fingers against the table loudly. "I think you should take Gabriel with you." Dean's entire body went rigid and he dropped his spoon back into the mix before turning on Michael with blazing eyes. "His grace is maturing very well, but he needs more practice with using it to protect against dangers."
"I'm not taking him on a hunt just to test out his powers!" Dean snapped. "It's too dangerous for him or his brothers, Michael. Sure, Sammy and I have taken them on cases before, but –"
"Dean, please understand what I am saying. When Lucifer's demons attacked Gabriel wasn't strong enough to protect you or his brothers. I fear that Lucifer might go after your family and my brothers again, Dean. He hasn't shown his face since his betrayal. There's no telling what he's planning and you know how Gabriel is. He wants to protect his family, but he isn't strong enough. I fear if he tries he might end up hurting himself or worse. Please, Dean, just consider it?" Dean lowered his head, refusing to meet Michael's eyes. He knew Michael and the other angels were worried about that whole fiasco with Lucifer. So was Dean. Hell, he almost got killed and lost the angels! Dean flashed back to that night, remembering how desperate Gabe was to help, how tired he was from using up his grace. Dean bit at his lip. He didn't want to admit it, but Michael was right.
"Okay," Dean said softly, turning away from the archangel and mixing the batter again. Michael's head popped up. "Sam and I will look for a case after breakfast and take Gabe along, but Balthy and Cas stay home!" Dean added, turning and pointing his batter dripping spoon at Michael. The angel stood from his chair at the table and nodded.
"Yes, of course. I wouldn't expect it any other way," Michael stated, a small smile on his lips. Dean nodded, turning back to the pancake batter.
"Right, well, you better go visit with your brothers for a while like you promised," Dean said, pouring the mix into the pan. Michael nodded again, walking towards the doorway to leave. He stopped, turning his head back towards Dean again.
"Thank you, Dean," he whispered before disappearing into the living room. Dean leaned against the stove, taking in a deep breath, and whispering to himself that everything would be fine. It would, wouldn't it?
Michael had stayed until breakfast time, disappearing while everyone gathered into the kitchen to sit at the table. It was there that Dean revealed what Michael had told him. Right away everyone other than Gabe was reluctant to the idea, but Dean grudgingly stuck to Michael's side, stating that it was for the best. At the end of breakfast Sam found them a small case. It didn't look like anything too bad. It was just a vengeful spirit a few towns away from home. When the time came for Sam, Dean, and Gabe to leave they all said their goodbyes. Balthy and Cas tried to act okay with everything happening, but the Winchester's could see that they were worried. Both the hunters and their brother were leaving for a case for the first time in weeks. They had every reason to be worried. Especially when they already had a problem with people leaving them. Dean and Sam couldn't do a thing about it though. They couldn't take the two with them and they couldn't just give up the hunt. So the two hunters just gave them both extra-long hugs and a kiss on the head before pulling away and letting Gabriel say bye. The archangel was full of confidence as he told his brothers not to worry, saying that he could take on a simple ghost with both wings tied behind his back. Dean just hoped it wouldn't come to that.
"Hello, I'm Sam," Sammy began as he spoke to the woman at the desk of a senior center a state over. "This is my brother Dean and our nephew Gabe. Our Father is getting to the point that we can't take care of him. Could we have a tour of the place?" The woman at the desk nodded, telling them she'd have one of the staff members come to help them right away. Sam turned away from the desk, walking to where Dean and Gabe were standing. Dean had Gabe on his shoulders, the angel holding an EMF detector like it was a toy.
"Anything yet, Gabe?" Dean asked. The angel shook his head.
"Nope, commander hasn't called about code zero yet," Gabe said, waving the EMF a little, pretending that he was only playing. Dean sighed, looking to Sam and discussing what little they had found out. They had found out from asking around that some guy called Scott Miller had died in a tragic wheelchair accident a few months ago, the same time the spirit started antagonizing the staff members. The trio had visited Scott's family, saying they were moving into the neighborhood and trying to get to know the neighbors. Gabe had been looking at the pictures around the room and asked who the old man in one of the pictures was, giving Dean and Sam the opening they needed to ask about Scott's death. Turns out the old geezer had been cremated so now they had to find Scott's room and look for anything that might be the reason for him staying.
"Are you the Winchester family?" a young lady in Pooh Bear printed scrubs asked, walking over to the three. The trio smiled at her, nodding and she quickly introduced herself as Katie before leading them down the hall. "Spring's Senior Home is a wonderful place. Your father will be very happy here," Katie promised as she led them around.
"That's what we thought," Dean said. "But there's something that bothers us a little." Katie frowned, stopping in her tracks and frowning.
"Oh? What would that be?" she asked. Sam and Dean shared a look, trying to act as reluctant as possible.
"Did someone die here?" Gabe asked right on cue. Katie's eyes widened and Sam took Gabe from Dean's shoulders, quickly apologizing to the staff member, but Katie told him not to worry.
"I shouldn't say this, but your nephew is right. Someone did die here. Tragically in fact."
"What happened?" Gabriel asked innocently. Katie smiled.
"Oh, it's probably not a good idea if I say, Sweetie," Katie said softly. Gabriel crossed his arms, pouting slightly.
"I can take it. I'm big!" Gabe argued. Katie glanced at the two older Winchester's waiting for their consent and they both nodded. Katie led them into one of the sitting rooms and sighed deeply.
"Scot wasn't really a favorite of anybody here. He was a grouchy old man that made it his job to make everyone in the center feel like trash. A few months ago Scott was insulting a staff member. She was so upset that she just left him in the hall by the stairs. Scott tried to roll his way back to his room, but his brake on his wheelchair was busted and he stated rolling backwards towards the stairs. He…" Katie trailed off, closing her eyes. Gabe jumped out of Sam's hold, hugging her gently and returning the smile to the girl's face. Dean cleared his throat then, earning her attention.
"Mind if we have a look on our own now? We'll ask if we need anything more," Dean reassured her. Katie nodded, handing Gabe back to Sam before leaving them alone. Gabe let out a sigh of relief and slumped into Sam's arms.
"Ugh…acting is hard," the archangel groaned.
"You did great, buddy," Sam stated, ruffling Gabe's messy hair.
"How much you want to bet it's that damn wheelchair?" Dean asked glancing around himself as he spoke.
"That's where I'm sticking my money," Sam stated. "It's probably in one of the storage closets." Dean nodded, drawing his attention to Gabe.
"Good work so far, Gabe," the hunter complimented. Gabriel smiled, the cocky grin taking up most of his face. Dean glanced around them, sighing. "Might as well spit up. There's going to be a lot of storage closets. I'll take Gabe okay, Sammy?" Sam nodded, leaving his brother and the angel alone. Dean put Gabriel on his shoulders, looking up at the angel. "Okay, Gabe let's go through the rules."
"Rules?" Gabe questioned, frowning down at the hunter. Dean nodded, turning the corner and walking down a darker hallway.
"If we find the chair we've got to salt and burn it. Michael wanted you to use your powers for this so I'll let you light the chair up. If we run into the ghost though –"
"Dean-o calm down. I'm not an idiot," Gabe sighed.
"I just want to make sure no one gets hurt during this case, Gabe. Now, if we run into the ghost I want you to stick to my side. Don't go rushing out with your powers…" Gabe blocked the hunter out, bored already with the long list of rules Dean was rolling out for him. Instead, he fiddled with the EMF, watching as the lights started to blaze when they came closer to one of the storage rooms. "...just be safe, okay?" Dean finally finished, reaching for the door handle. Gabe nodded, pretending that he had listened to Dean's ever word. On opening the door the EMF was and explosion of lights and beeps. Dean's eyes widened slightly and he pulled Gabe from his shoulders, setting him down by his feet. "Come on, we better get this over with quick," Dean stated, pushing himself into the storage room and looking around at the endless boxes and cleaning supplies.
"Dean, over there!" Gabe shouted, pointing at a wheelchair leaned up against several boxes. The two started towards the chair, but a figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It was an old man in his eighties. A long cut ran across his forehead and his limbs were twisted in different directions.
"Shit!" Dean sputtered, looking around for something made of iron. "Gabe, remember what I said. Just –GABE!" Dean cried as the angel's coat hit the floor and the angel flew towards the ghost. Gabriel held out his hands, eyes and skin glowing with power. "Gabe, stop!" Dean shouted, but he was too late. Gabe shot out as much Grace as he could, but the ghost quickly zapped behind the angel and watched as Gabriel's grace zapped several boxes. Gabriel gasped, body completely worn out from the amount of power used and he collapsed. "Gabriel!" Dean shouted, eyes widening when a stack of boxes that was hit started to sway. "Gabriel, run!" Dean shouted, but the angel was too week to move. With a huff Dean broke into a run, diving at the floor and pushing Gabriel away from the falling boxes. He gasped as the boxes tumbled onto him instead, side's aching as they pummeled his body. Dean tried to get up, but his legs were stuck under the heavier number of boxes.
"Dean!" Gabe cried, eyes suddenly going wide. Dean turned his head, eyes widening when the ghost came at him. A gasp passed his lips as the ghost reached out a hand, his heart felt like it was being squeezed out of him. "Dean!" Gabriel continued to cry. Dean closed his eyes, listening to Gabriel's cries until they were suddenly switched with the ghost's cries. Dean's eyes opened in shock and he watched as Scott Miller's ghost blew into flames. Sammy stood by the wheel chair, lighter in hand. With one last brutal scream the ghost disappeared and Dean let out a relieved sigh. Sammy quickly ran to his brother's side, pushing the boxes off of him and checking the hunter over. Blood ran down from Dean's hair line from where a heavy box had hit him and several bruises and scrapes covered his body, but it wasn't anything too drastic.
"Dean, sit down! You might have a concussion!" Sam shouted when Dean got to his feet. The older Winchester ignored his brother and trudged over to where Gabe was still laying, sobbing his eyes out.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I…thought I could handle it! I…I thought…" Gabriel trailed off, burring his face into Dean's shoulder as he cried. Dean held the angel tightly, shushing him gently as he rubbed small circles into Gabe's back.
"It's not your fault, Gabe," Dean whispered over and over again. "Michael was wrong. Your grace wasn't ready to take on something like that. It's not your fault." Dean silently glared up at the sky, hoping that Michael was watching and feeling like shit. Sam walked over to the two of them, running a hand gently through Gabe's hair, trying to sooth the angel.
"I should have been!" Gabe cried. "Michael thought I was so I should have been!" Dean held Gabe a little tighter trying, swaying gently in attempt to calm the upset angel.
"No, Gabriel, Michael was wrong. We should have continued letting you practice like we always do. This was too much too soon," Sam tried to tell the angel. Gabriel continued shaking, tears and snot running down his face.
"If I would have listened you wouldn't have gotten hurt," Gabe hiccuped.
"Yeah, but let me tell you something, Gabe," Dean began, pulling the angel away from himself a little so he could look into Gabe's tear swollen eyes. "Sometimes I didn't listen to my Dad either. Winchesters aren't really ones to listen after all. I would always have Dad, Bobby, or Sammy to help me though just like you had me and Sammy. Hunter's get hurt. That's a natural thing to expect on hunts so stop beating yourself up about it," Dean stated. Gabriel nodded, head falling back into Dean's shoulder as he hiccuped. Dean ran a hand up and down Gabe's back again and left the storage room with Sam right behind him.
Michael stood in a theater in heaven, staring at the screen and watching as the two hunters comforted the archangel on the way to the Impala. He let out a long sigh and slumped down into one of the old theater seats, draping a hand over his eyes.
"Dean's wrong. Gabe can't be babied any longer," Michael stated. "One day he'll be forced to fight you and by our father I hope he is strong enough." Michael lifted his hands from his eyes and looked into the shadows where Lucifer was slumped against the curtain, staring at the screen. His eyes lacked all emotion for the archangel on the screen. It unnerved Michael. So it was true. All that love and care for the angels had been an act to gain heaven's trust. Michael hated himself for not noticing sooner.
"No harm will come to Gabriel or any other angels," Lucifer stated silently. His voice lacked emotion too. Michael gritted his teeth together.
"Oh? Angels such as the ones you killed and injured. Samandriel, Hannah…Ambriel?! Do you not recall –"
"You shall see soon enough brother," Lucifer whispered, stretching out his wings and disappearing from the theater. Michael let out an angry cry and glared back at the screen, face softening as he watched the rise and fall of Gabriel's chest as the angel slept in Sam's lap on the drive back home. The angel slowly bowed his head, lifting his hands palms up and prayed. He prayed for the protection of his siblings. He prayed for them to have strength. He prayed for God to return and make everything better. He waited. Nothing.
Thank you Basma (guest) for the request!