Castiel arrived home a defeated man. Only Jimmy could cheer him up. It was difficult to get time with him, making matters even harder. At home, alone in his own apartment, he was depressed. The trip had left him absolutely hollow. Life had no meaning unless Jimmy was involved. Castiel began bicycling in the city trails to keep himself busy. On one of these treks along Lake Michigan, his phone rang. He checked the screen and pulled off to the side of the trail.

"Crowley," Castiel said.

"Evening Castiel," came the deep British accent of the lawyer he had hired. "I'm calling to let you know I've decided we have everything we're going to get to start the trial."

"Okay. That's good."

"Buckle up. It's going to be an ugly little ride. But never you worry. I've found exactly what I need to get little Jimmy home to you."

"Thank you, Crowley. I know you've been working hard on this for a long time. It's just...we only get one shot."

"Don't I know it. Oh, and I'm sending you a little surprise. Should be on your doorstep any moment now."

"Alright," Castiel said, figuring Crowley was sending a celebratory bottle of wine or something.

He finished his trail and loaded the bike in his car, heading home.

He unloaded the bike, bringing it inside to put away. He downed the rest of his bottle of water and checked outside his door again, thinking he might have overlooked Crowley's gift. Nothing there.

"Hey, Cassie."

Castiel whipped around, hearing a voice he had not heard in a year and a half. "Gabriel!"

Gabriel was tanner. Relaxed, with a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts on. A sly smile smirked his handsome face.

"Gabriel!" Castiel felt like he was ten years old again. His big brother was home! His brother! His best friend.

Castiel hugged him hard, holding on tight.

"Hey, hey," Gabriel soothed, hugging him back and rubbing his back.

"Are you back?" Castiel said into his shoulder, crying.

"Yeah, for a little while. But back on the map for good." Gabriel peeled Castiel back, looking at his face. "Aw, Cassie, life not going so good? You do not look happy."

"I am so happy to see you," Castiel sniffled.

Gabriel put an arm around him, walking him into the kitchen where he had been sitting at the bar eating pie. "Look, I brought you an apple pie," he grinned.

Cas laughed. "You can't ever leave again, Gabriel. I missed you too much."

They sat side by side at the small bar in Castiel's kitchen eating a slice of pie.

"So...big stuff you got cooking with Crowley," Gabe said.

Cas nodded. "I apologize if he ruined your situation or plans, but he said he had to see you. That you were vital to the trial."

Gabe smirked. "Timing is perfect. That Crowley sure is a character though. Between what I've been busy doing this past year and what Crowley has, Jimmy should be yours in a few months."

Cas smiled. "My god, Gabriel, I missed you more than I can say."

"Yeah, I missed you too little bro. But what got you such a mess? I haven't seen you cry since you were ten and I stole all your underwear out of your suitcase before camp." Gabe smirked.

"It was a long, very difficult week, Gabriel."

"This week?" Gabe asked.

"No. Camp. No underwear under a Boy Scout uniform and you would have been crying too."

Gabriel laughed at Castiel's deadpan humor. "Aw, man. I don't know why you always came back for more. I picked on you all the time."

"It was all in good humor," Cas smiled. But a sad look shadowed his face.

"What'sa matter, Cassie?" Gabe asked, sliding his plate away.

"You and Jimmy. You are all I have. And it has been...difficult since you left."

"Raphael?" Gabe guessed.

"No. I mean, yes. He and Luc are spiraling the company into greed that rivals the devil himself. But no. I...I fell in love."

Gabriel watched his little brother closely. He had never seen him like this. Raw and edgy. He was bolder than he had ever been before. He was ruthless with what he and Crowley were getting ready to do. He was tougher, sturdier, harder and yet more open.

Castiel told Gabriel everything that had happened between him and Dean.

"Well damn, I shoulda stuck around just a bit longer to meet this guy. Sorry things didn't work out, Cassie. Is there still any chance?"

"I have tried to call several times. It's a very remote place. I was thinking maybe after the trial, I might go back. Just to see."

Gabe nodded. "Well, the guy sounds like a douche to me. But then again, nobody is good enough for my baby bro."

Castiel grinned sadly. "He changed me, Gabe. Forever."

"Change is good," Gabe patted his knee. "You needed some change. Ole Mom and Dad had you pretty well fucked up in the emotional department. It's no wonder you have difficulty keeping a relationship going."

"I would have walked away from everything if not for Jimmy," Castiel swore.

Gabriel nodded. "Sounds like you got an awful lot on your plate. I'm here to help. I can't really help with the Dean thing, but I can help with Jimmy."

"How have you been? You look good," Castiel asked.

"Life is good out there, Cassie. I had a poly thing goin for awhile, but I had to move on. I've been kinda drifting, honestly. And now I'm ready to play hardball with my asshole brothers."

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Dean trotted along the fence line, bringing his section of cattle into the chute. He watched across the sea of brown heads as Adam effectively brought up the rear of the herd. At fifteen, he was already a damn good cattle hand. Dean was proud of him. He was staying in school and was dead-set on being a rancher, which Dean was glad for. Bobby had sold his portion of the homestead to Dean. All land and animals associated with the horses on the property were his. The house he had grown up in, where he and Adam and Sam, when he was home from college, lived was owned, along with Angel's Landing resort, was now owned by Sam. This effectively divided all of Angel's Landing into three entities that worked together. Bobby still helped with the horses, but it was a lot for Dean to handle. Ellen had stepped up to help run Angel's Landing until Sam graduated in two more years. Dean did a lot there too. They hired help to run the cattle business, but kept Adam in the loop of all decisions. Bobby helped a lot there too. They were all stretched thin. Adam was chomping at the bit to graduate high school so he could be on the ranch, Sam was chomping at the bit to finish college to be running the hotel, and Dean, well, Dean had realized he had missed his window to leave. If he had ever truly wanted out of Utah, out of the sea of red cliffs they lived in, he had missed it.

His mother had kicked John out after seeing he had hit Dean again. The first time in a long time had been a wake up call to his mother, but Dean was a grown man and could fight another grown man whether it was his own father or not. But when Dean had followed-up that fight with a blatant admission that he was gay and John had damn near killed Dean, she kicked him out. No one at the ranch missed his brooding, drinking presence. In fact, everything lightened. Until Mary got sick. She had died in March. She had just finalized the divorce with John, keeping custody of Adam, and she got bronchitis. That had progressed into pneumonia. Dean, Sam and Adam had all been with her in the hospital in Flagstaff. It was shocking and unthinkable to have lost her so quickly. In her will, she had left her share of Angel's Landing to all three boys.

After many long talks around the kitchen table and at Ellen's, they divided the business into three parts, but functioning together. Bobby sold his portion to Dean for a song. Jo adamantly wanted out of the area, so Bobby and Ellen refused to tie her down to the resort.

Dean had come to terms with the fact that he may never see any more of the world than Utah and Arizona. He was happy. Happy enough.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Crowley beamed at Castiel and Gabriel. "What did I tell you boys?! Huh?! Job well done I must admit!"

Castiel shook Crowley's hand. The trial had never quite gotten as far as trial. When presented with the glaring evidence of extortion and fraud, Lucifer Novak had plead guilty taking a lesser sentence. He was behind bars. Raphael had tried to run, increasing his own sentence, also in prison. Gabriel and Castiel had been expunged of all crimes of fraudulent business as they were deemed 'under duress' from their father, mother, Luc, or Raphael. Three other board members had jail time as well. Bella had slipped into the wind and was still being looked for. The entire insurance company was disbanded and sold, Gabriel and Castiel receiving all profits that did not go into Crowley's insane lawyer fees.

Most importantly, Castiel had been awarded full custody of Jimmy.