As much as Gabriel loved being able to see his brothers again – all of them – there were some times that he really couldn't help but wish that they still weren't on speaking terms. Mainly in moments like these where he was once again being subjected to another of Michael's tirades. They never failed to make the youngest archangel want to sigh and roll his eyes, at the very least. It was definitely one of the things that Gabriel had not missed.

This morning the subject was, once again, Spencer. Only this time it wasn't just his behavior – a common argument – or what they were going to do with him – another common one. This time, it was his training. So far Michael had been rather good about not mentioning that to Gabriel. He seemed to understand that Gabriel was more than just a little protective of his young charge. But after the freak out the day before, it seemed that Michael had decided that Spencer needed some proper training so that his fear couldn't go shaking the bunker the way it had.

Gabriel had to resist the urge to snort. He reclined in his chair, feet kicked up on the coffee table. He held a bag of M&M's and was tossing the candies into his mouth one by one. For the most part he'd just kind of sat there and enjoyed the show of an agitated Michael. His oldest brother tended to pace a little when he was building up to a point. He spoke like he was addressing troops when he was trying to make sure to get his point across. Really, he should've known better. That never worked with Gabriel. Ever.

"Are you even listening to me anymore, Gabriel?"

Honestly, no, he hadn't been. But Gabriel had trained himself well on how to keep an ear out for that annoyed buzz of grace that said Michael was starting to get frustrated with him. Sighing, Gabriel tossed another M&M into his mouth and thought faintly of how much easier pagan meetings had been. "Yes, Michael." Lifting one hand, he waved it lazily in the air between them. "That freak out he had was dangerous. He needs to learn how to control his reactions to things. Blah, blah, blah. It's the same crap you've been spewing for the past twenty minutes."

"It's not crap." Michael said, seething.

"It is. You're still insisting on treating him like an angel, Mikey. You keep forgetting that he's human too, an humans don't just get over the trauma you're wanting him to get past. Hell, not even angels could heal immediately from what that kid went through. You wouldn't dream of asking a fledging to do anything but hide out under someone's wings if they'd been kidnapped and tortured by someone who's supposed to be their brother."

Michael's wings flung up on either side of him, the angelic equivalent of flinging up their hands in frustration. "But he's not simply human or angel. He's both. And he's our greatest and only hope for the war that comes our way. If he can't survive this, how can we expect him to survive whatever's coming?"

Now that was enough to break through Gabriel's casual pose. It wasn't annoyance he felt this time; it was honest anger. "He has survived this, an he's done a damn sight better than anyone could or should have asked of him."

"A warrior…"

"He's not a warrior!" Gabriel snapped.

"Not yet." Michael said agreeably. He folded his hands in front of him and his wings settled down behind him. "But he needs to be. If we stand any hope of winning, he needs to become a warrior. He needs to train. The best place for that to happen is Heaven. You and I both know it, little brother."

The idea of sending Spencer up to Heaven to train was enough to make Gabriel's grace churn. He couldn't picture it. Just the idea of sending his little Sparrow up to Heaven where he'd be surrounded by angels – angels who wouldn't know him, who wouldn't understand him, who would most likely view him as some sort of abomination – no. Just, no. Not to mention how scared of grace Spencer could still be. Sending him up there would terrify the poor kid. Even thinking of it made Gabriel want to find Spencer and wrap him up tight in his wings. "No, Michael."

"He needs to meet his family and he needs the training, Gabriel."

"Not up there."

The soft sound of footsteps had Gabriel's head jerking up. He was stunned to see the very person they were speaking about come walking into the room. Spencer's eyes only briefly passed over Michael before they settled on Gabriel. "If you two are going to try and make plans for me, don't you think it right that I be present?" The kid asked, arching one eyebrow at him in a look that reminded Gabriel so much of himself it was amusing. Spencer was picking up some of his guardian's traits even if he didn't quite realize it.

One of the traits they shared was one that Spencer had already possessed even before he knew Gabriel. The kid put it to use now, pulling on a mask to hide everything that he was really feeling. Whereas Gabriel hid his in humor, Spencer hid his in a calm and cool look that made him seem a bit detached, though Gabriel knew he was anything but.

Michael leapt on the opportunity to bring up the subject with Spencer that Gabriel had so far made damn sure the two weren't alone together to talk about. "We were speaking of your training, Spencer…"

The fledgling held up a hand towards Michael, though his eyes stayed on Gabriel. It surprised Michael and had him going quiet. Gabriel felt his own lips twitch. Sometimes he wondered if Spencer realized just how much of a commanding aura he already had about him. It was definitely amusing to watch it take effect on Michael.

"Ol'alihm." Spencer gave the title easily, without hesitation or anything other than pure love, and it warmed Gabriel's grace the same as it always did. "What's going on?"

He was making it clear there that it wasn't Michael he was speaking to. It was Gabriel. He was the one that Spencer was speaking to and the one that he wanted answers from. Gabriel straightened up a little and tilted his head up to watch the fledgling that he considered just as much his as any of his other kids. "Mikey wants you to come upstairs and go through some standard angelic training. Rules, fighting, things like that."

Even as he said it, he knew how Spencer was going to react and he wasn't proven wrong. Almost immediately the kid was shaking his head. "No." Turning to Michael, he repeated "No. No thank you. I don't need Heavenly training."

"We have a war coming, Spencer." Michael spread his hands out, trying to entice Spencer to listen. He honestly believed what he was saying was for the best and it showed in the tone of his voice and the open way his wings stretched and curled around him like they wanted to reach for Spencer. "We all need to train and prepare. There's no telling how much time we have before it's upon us."

Spencer nodded his agreement to that. "Absolutely. But, though I appreciate the offer, I don't believe that training in Heaven is the right course of action for me. I understand the need for training and I believe I've come up with an adequate solution on my own to try and seek out what I'll need. Thank you, though. I do appreciate your concern." There was a firmness to those words that made Gabriel kind of proud. Spencer wasn't going to allow them to browbeat him into doing something he absolutely did not want to do. Gabriel knew that the idea of training with Michael was high on that list. Even if Spencer wasn't a fighter, he knew that fighting and training with someone required a level of trust that he wasn't even close to with Michael.

A line built between Michael's eyebrows that was kind of perfectly matched to the confused look that Gabriel knew one of his true faces could get when someone did something that made no sense to Michael. "An adequate solution of your own?"

"Yes."

The two archangels waited to see if Spencer would elaborate. Michael obviously wanted to know what Spencer considered an 'adequate solution' that was somehow better than training in Heaven, while Gabriel was simply curious what kind of plans Spencer had. He hadn't mentioned wanting to train with Gabriel, which Gabriel would've agreed to even if he wasn't fond of the idea of teaching his Sparrow to fight. There were a few good options that he could see of, though, and he didn't doubt that if he'd thought of them, Spencer had as well. It made Gabriel curious who he'd chosen.

It was a curiosity he'd have to satisfy later, though. The kid looked at Michael for a long moment, not flinching from the serious gaze of the oldest archangel – a gaze that had made many an angel spill all their secrets – before turning to look at Gabriel once more. "I was coming to find you to see if you'd like to join us for breakfast. Sam didn't want to come in here and disturb your conversation, but he's been looking around for you in what I think he believes is a discreet manner."

That was very clearly a dismissal. It amazed Gabriel continuously that Spencer kept claiming not to be a leader and yet he acted just like one in so many ways. It was part of what'd make him a good leader, though. He didn't want to be. He didn't want to be in charge and he didn't simply assume it was his rightful place. What he wanted was to save as many people as possible and he was willing to do whatever it took to attain that goal.

Gabriel pushed up to his feet and made his way over towards Spencer. He smiled at him, watching and enjoying how it made Spencer relax a little more. "Well we shouldn't keep him waiting then, should we?" Gabriel asked cheerfully.

He flung an arm and wing around Spencer and turned them both so that they could head towards the kitchen. Behind him, he knew Michael was seething, just as he knew this conversation wasn't over with. They were going to have to finally settle down and talk about this later. Michael wouldn't accept Spencer not training. He just wouldn't. They'd have to talk about it and come to some kind of understanding. Besides which, Gabriel could feel his own patience getting shorter and shorter, though it hadn't been in vast supply before. Spencer was his. He was his to look out for and his to take care of. Michael coming in and questioning him all the time, trying to order Spencer around, put Gabriel's back up and ruffled his wings. Michael had been Heaven's greatest warrior for his entire existence, but he'd never been a father. Not a real, true father. He had no idea about raising kids and he had no right trying to tell Gabriel how to do so.

A little brush of grace against his had Gabriel pulling his thoughts back under control. Spencer was offering him both concern and comfort in response to whatever he was feeling from Gabriel.

Smiling, Gabriel gave Spencer's waist a squeeze. "I'm all right, kiddo. Just thinking, that's all."

"Should I worry?"

The words could've been mocking. Would've, if they'd come from anyone else. But that wasn't how Spencer meant them. He was honestly asking if he should be worried – if Gabriel's thoughts were about anything that might concern him. Gabriel smiled at him and gave another gentle squeeze. His wing curled around Spencer just a bit more. "Nah. It's nothing I can't handle, Sparrow. Don't you worry about it."

His words didn't stop Spencer from worrying. Nothing would, he knew. But the trust he saw and felt warmed Gabriel's grace. Spencer might still be worrying but he was trusting Gabriel to handle it and to tell him if he needed to know something.

Some of Gabriel's anger faded away at that. He found himself less angry with his brother and more – pitying. No, Michael never had raised any kid of his own, and Gabriel felt sorry for him because of it. He was too busy being a warrior that he missed out on moments like these. He wouldn't ever know the amazing feeling of having someone look up at you and trust you so completely. Especially someone like Spencer, whose trust was so hard won.

On impulse Gabriel leaned over and pressed a kiss against the side of Spencer's head. When it got him a surprised look, he just grinned. "C'mon, let's get in there before everyone eats everything. I'm hungry!"

"You don't get hungry." Spencer pointed out. He let Gabriel drag him forward, though. "And you could just snap up anything you wanted."

"Well yeah, but where's the fun in that?"

The sound of Spencer's low chuckles followed them down the hall as the two made their way towards breakfast.

Breakfast was a loud and fun affair. Spencer ended up seated by Gabriel, with Derek right at his side and Dean, Castiel, and Anna across from him. Gabriel spent the whole meal perched in Sam's lap, annoying Dean and making the rest of them chuckle. The meal was full of stories and laughter and a sort of peace that Spencer hadn't realized he'd so desperately needed to feel. It eased some of the places inside of him that still ached sometimes. And it took away some of his worry as he watched Derek laugh and joke with Dean and Castiel both, or how he slowly but surely seemed to be warming up to Sam and Gabriel, the two he spent the least amount of time with.

Much to the surprise of the others, who had noticed and accepted how easily Derek and Dean got along, Derek seemed to not just enjoy his time with Dean – he liked Castiel quite a bit too. It didn't really surprise Spencer, though. Derek had made friends with him, after all. It made sense that he would become friendly with one of the only beings out there that was more awkward than Spencer was.

However, despite the warm atmosphere at the breakfast, the morning conversation wasn't far from Spencer's mind. The topic of training was something that Spencer had known would come up. It was also something that he really had been thinking about.

Despite what the others might think he wasn't stupid enough to believe he was going to get out of this without knowing how to fight. Unfortunately, his list of people who would be able to actually teach him was woefully short. There were a few requirements that made it hard to pick someone. They couldn't be human, as his angelic strength would make it far too easy for him to hurt them and they wouldn't have any clue how angels fought. Finding some random angel wasn't possible because letting someone close enough to teach him to fight meant that he had to trust them and there was no way he was going to trust an angel he didn't know. That was also the reason why Michael and Raphael were out.

The next person he thought of was Lucifer, but he dismissed that one as well. They didn't know one another well enough and, while Spencer was sure Lucifer knew how to fight as well as any of the other archangels, it just didn't feel right to ask him.

Neither did asking Gabriel. The man already taught him so much, about all the good things that came with being an angel. Spencer didn't want to mar that by having his father figure teach him something like this.

In the end that only left two angels that Spencer felt safe and comfortable enough with to ask. Out of those two, one of them made the most sense. It was that angel that Spencer approached once breakfast was done and he was sure there was no one else around. He waited until the room had mostly cleared before he made his move. "Um, Anna?" He watched as the red-haired angel turned immediately towards him, abandoning the dishes she'd been just starting to gather. Though she could do things the angelic way, she still had some random human traits. Living as a human could do that to you. It was one of the reasons why he'd chosen her for this. "Do you think you have a moment to spare? I'd like to, to speak with you about something."

"Absolutely." Her response was immediate. Setting down the dishes, she turned fully towards him and gave him her undivided attention.

That was always a little disconcerting. He was starting to get used to it, though. Angels had a way of looking at you and only you. Spencer gave her a small smile and gestured with head and wing in the direction of the door. "Let's take a walk."

The two headed through the bunker together and towards one of the side exits that they'd found would take them outside. It was warded heavily; hidden so that you couldn't see it from the outside. Spencer slipped it open and held the door for her before joining her at her side. The two took off towards the trees, easily falling in step together as Anna matched her pace to his without Spencer even realizing it.

It took a little while of walking for Spencer to not only feel like he was a safe enough distance away from the bunker that they wouldn't be overheard, but for him to also gather up the courage to say what he needed to say. This wasn't easy for him. Asking for help was hard enough – asking for help on something that he very much didn't want to have to do, that was a different matter entirely. It made it worse that he was asking someone that he sometimes worried might not always know how to say no to him. To try and counter that, he started the whole thing by saying "I want to preface this by telling you that you have the option of saying no to this, Anna." Though he didn't look at her, couldn't quite bring himself to do it, he could feel her startle a little behind him. "I don't want you agreeing to this because you feel like you have to. All right?"

"Of course, Spencer."

She agreed easily enough. He just hoped that she meant it. Taking a deep breath, he curled his hands into fists inside of his pockets and tried to make himself speak up. It was stupid to be so nervous about this! Man up, he told himself. Whining about it isn't going to make this any easier. You need to do this whether you like it or not. Just get it over with.

He stopped abruptly and Anna stopped immediately at his side. Blowing out a breath, Spencer squared his shoulders and turned to face her. Then he just blurted it out. "Will you teach me how to fight?"

To her credit she didn't laugh at him. Her eyebrows went up in surprise and her left wing lifted and curled a little, an angelic equivalent of the human gesture she'd just made. However, her tone was perfectly respectful. "You want me to teach you how to fight? That's what you brought me out here to ask me?"

"I know that I'm going to need to know how, just as I know that I'm woefully unprepared at the moment. Fighting has never been my strong suit. I prefer words. But I get the feeling that words aren't always going to be an option in our future. I need to be prepared for the time when I need to defend myself or someone else."

She didn't say no. That was something that Spencer held on to – she didn't say no. But she did look just a little nervous. Her eyes darted back in the direction of the bunker briefly.

It wasn't hard for him to figure out what it was she was thinking. "I don't want the other archangels teaching me."

"May I ask why?"

"You can always ask, Anna." Spencer said. Then he sighed. One hand came up to rub over his mouth and pull briefly at his bottom lip. It was an old gesture, one that showed his nerves and one that he hadn't done since he was a kid. "I don't… I don't want Gabriel to teach me. Neither of us really do. There's too much else between us for either of us to feel comfortable with it. As for the others… I just, I'm not, um, I'm not that comfortable with them." I don't trust them. Not for something like this. "Besides, you're the only other angel here whose spent time as a human. I need to know how to fight both as an angel and as a human." He wasn't going to be caught again in a situation where he was without powers and was unable to defend himself.

His words seemed to have Anna thinking. That was something that Spencer had really liked about her so far. Anna didn't just answer something immediately or impulsively. She gave careful thought to things in a way that made him feel as if she were looking at it from all angles before she made a decision. It was a trait that Spencer could respect and one that he had himself. It her words all the more believable when she finally nodded at him and said "Okay."

It didn't stop him from double checking, though. He needed her to be sure of this. "You're sure? I've been told I'm not the easiest student."

That finally broke some of the tension between them. A smile curved Anna's lips that made her look younger and so much more approachable. There was a devious glow in her eyes that reminded Spencer a little of Gabriel, and which made him all the more comfortable around her. "I've taught plenty of soldiers, Spencer. Plus, I've been told I'm not the easiest teacher, either."

"Great." Spencer said dryly. His own lips were twitching, though.

Some of the weight that he'd been carrying before was lifted from his shoulders. This wasn't going to be easy, he knew. It was going to be hard and he was really going to have to work for it. But he was on his way now. He'd taken the first step and asked for help. Now it was just a matter of paying attention and learning – and he'd always been an avid learner. "When do you think we should start this?"

"Do you have any plans until lunch?"

Oh, boy. Spencer winced even as he mentally checked his plans for the day. "Nothing until after lunch. That's when I do my afternoon research. I also have flying lessons tonight with Gabriel, after dinner."

Anna's smile grew a little. "Then there's no time like the present. I'm sure the others can handle their mapping of the bunker in the mornings without you."

"I don't want them to know about this." Spencer blurted out. He didn't know why, he just knew that he didn't really want to tell anyone. Maybe it was some of his old fears coming back to him .Those voices in his head that whispered that people would only laugh at him. Whatever it was, he just knew he didn't want to tell people about this. Hence why he'd walked her outside to even ask her about it.

She must've figured that out because she nodded at him with understanding. Then she surprised him by asking "May I at least tell Castiel?" At his confused look, she hurried to explain. "Later, we're going to need someone for you to spar with and I trained Castiel myself, so I know what kind of fighter he is. You'll be able to spar with him without hurting him and I'll be able to better watch and teach if I'm not right in the middle of it with you all the time."

It made sense. And if he had to pick someone to be there, Castiel was a good choice. He wasn't the type to laugh or make fun of anyone, really. He'd help Spencer and support him. So long as he didn't feel the need to go to Dean and talk with him about it, Spencer saw no issue with that. "That's fine."

"Perfect." Anna smiled brightly. "We don't need him yet, of course. Not until we've gotten past some of the basics. But, I'm assuming you'd rather not do this here, seeing as how you don't want anyone to know what it is you're doing?"

That was something else that Spencer had thought about. Practicing here wasn't the smartest of ideas. There was too much risk of being found by others or of causing some kind of damage that might send the others running. But leaving wasn't going to be an option either. Not without at least telling someone where he was going. There was only one person that Spencer needed to check in with and he was pretty sure Gabriel either already suspected what Spencer had planned, or knew. "I've got somewhere in mind. If I give you an image, can you fly us there?" He wasn't talented enough to try flying himself there and having her follow. When she said she was, he nodded. "Okay. Give me a second and then I'll give it to you."

Before he did, he reached down inside himself to that part of him that was always connected to Gabriel. Then he reached along it and sent a thought to his guardian. Ol'alihm, I'm going to head out with Anna for a short while. I'll be back before lunch, but I didn't want you to panic when you felt me leave.

Appreciate it. Gabriel's voice resonated with love and humor, a jingling sort of chime in his mind that made Spencer smile. Be safe, little bird!

The fact that Gabriel asked no questions told Spencer well enough that his guardian probably knew what was going on. He was just granting Spencer privacy enough not to call him on it. It made Spencer care for him all the more. In a way that was still so new to him, and sort of strange, he sent a swell of emotion down the line to Gabriel and knew that the archangel felt it when he got a wave of love in return. Only then did Spencer turn to Anna and smile. "All right. I'm ready." That said, he reached a hand out to hers, a little tendril of grace extending with it.

Smiling, Anna took his hand in hers, and a second later the two were gone.

Thank you so much for your reviews so far! They're really helping me get back into the story. I've got this story almost done, PLUS the next two plotted out and chunks even written in. I'm finally getting the second half of this series organized and I'm loving it.

Thank you so much for all your kind words and encouragement! They mean the world