"Tag! You're it!" Castiel yelled as he tapped Gabriel on the shoulder and ran around the slide. The archangel grinned and sprinted after him.
"I'm gonna getcha!" Gabriel shouted. Castiel glanced back briefly over his shoulder and saw his older brother giving chase. He laughed and picked up the pace.
"Cas! Gabe!" they both heard Sam yell. They stopped and emerged from the play place. The two Winchesters were sitting at their table, Dean happily eating his chicken nuggets, swinging his legs back and forth.
Sam raised an eyebrow. "So, d'you have fun playing hide-n-seek?" He popped a fry in his mouth.
Gabriel jumped up into the booth. "Don't you get snarky with me, you monkey." He shot Sam a glare.
"Hey, don't forget that I'm the adult here. Not you."
"We're just in the bodies of kids, Sam," Castiel reminded him. "You do not control us."
"And you're half human. I'm in charge." Sam grinned and took a sip of pop. The two angels glared at him, but remained silent. "So, where do you think we should start with looking?"
"Heck if I know," Gabriel muttered, huffing. "I don't hunt. I eat sweets and take revenge on the high and mighty."
"But surely you know a little about monsters? You're an archangel, you've got to have some information."
"I have plenty of information. I just don't know what could've turned us all into children." Gabriel crossed his arms. "I'm lost."
"Perhaps Bobby could help us," Castiel urged. "He might have some clue."
Sam ran his tongue over his lips. "I guess. He's our only other reliable source."
"Yeah, we're pretty much screwed. I mean, Cas and I are stuck as children and all other angels have a grudge with you guys, Dean's six, and Bobby is out on a hunting trip. And all your other family is dead, so, you're pretty much out of options."
Sam gave the archangel a 'shut the hell up' face. "Yeah, Bobby's out with Rufus. I didn't want to have to call him, but he's our best bet."
"So? Let's blow this joint!" Gabriel shouted, grinning.
"Right. Stay inconspicuous."
"Excuse me? Children?!" Bobby exclaimed from over the phone. Sam paced the room, one hand on his hip, holding the phone in the other.
"Yeah. It's pretty weird. And we have no idea what to do either. I'm sure as hell not going to take care of them," Sam replied.
"Why? Don't like us, Sam?" Gabriel retorted from where he sat on the bed, playing cards with Castiel. He glanced up at his brother. "Go fish."
Castiel spoke up as he swiped a card from the center, "Don't worry Sam. All shall be fixed soon enough." He looked at the card in his hand. "Yes! Another pair!" He slapped the pair of matching cards down on the bed. "I win."
Gabriel threw his cards down. "Well, that's three out of five." He sighed. "I'm no good at this game."
Sam huffed and returned to his call. "Super weird."
"I can hear that," Bobby responded. You could hear the sarcasm. "So what do ya plan to do about it?"
"Well, I was hoping you could help me. We have no idea who could've done this." Sam stopped pacing.
"Sam, you know I'm on a case."
"Yeah, I know, it's just. . . I'm not sure I can take care of them and search for the thing responsible."
". . . How about I finish this case as fast as I can and come help you out? We'll meet back at my house."
"How long will that take?"
"Seems like a fairly easy case, but I'm all the way up in North Dakota. Might be three, four days."
Sam bit his lip, casting a glance at the small children wrestling on the bed. Dean was giggling like a mad man as Gabriel tickled him and Castiel was laughing, preparing to jump on his brother.
"Okay, if that's the fastest you can get down here. Just please"-Sam lowered his voice-"please hurry."
Bobby rolled his eyes on the other side. "I'll hurry."
"Eh, who you on the phone wit' Bobby? I'm waitin'!" came Rufus's loud voice, obviously yelling at Bobby.
"I'm coming," Bobby growled to the other man. There was a muffled response. "Alright Sam, you get back to my place and wait for me there."
"Okay Bobby," Sam agreed. "See you in a few days." He ended the phone call.
"So, what's the plan, Samsquatch?" Gabriel asked, pushing Castiel off of him. The smaller angel gave a small huff and sat up, hair messy.
"First, you guys are all getting a bath. Then, we're going back to Bobby's. He's going to meet us there in a few days, when he's done with his case." Sam pointed his phone at the kids, face serious.
"Uh, the thing about humans. Always bathing." Gabriel blew air out his mouth. Sam rolled his eyes.
"We don't usually like to be filthy. And god knows how often angels bathe."
"We don't need to bathe! We're naturally clean."
"I know for a fact that little children get sticky doing nearly everything, so baths for all of you. I'll take Dean first and you two wait."
"But Sam, I don't wanna take a bath!" Dean whined, crossing his arms. Sam smiled slightly and reached down for his now younger brother, picking him up.
"There's no argument. You're the youngest, and the only human child, so you'll be the most sticky and messy. You'll need the bath the most," Sam chided, walking over to the bathroom. Dean whined and kicked his legs. Sam ignored him and entered the bathroom, closing the door.
"Okay you two, bath time," Sam announced, strolling out of the bathroom with Dean, freshly washed, in his arms. As they didn't have any other clothes, he was still in the same ones. The small Winchester stuck out his tongue at the two angels and giggled.
"Cas! I blew bubbles!" Dean squealed.
"Okay," Castiel said, confused. He was sitting on the edge of the bed.
Sam shrugged. "Six year old stuff, you know."
"Sam! Right? I blew bubbles!" Dean urged on, grabbing his brother's shoulder.
"Yes, Dean, you blew bubbles." Sam rolled his eyes and set Dean down on the bed. The little child bounced happily, kicking his feet. "Come on, you two, bath." Sam jabbed his thumb back towards the bathroom.
"Come on, Sammy, we're not actually children," Gabriel said, leaning back into the pillows on the bed. He folded his hands behind his head.
Sam glared at them. "Just get in the tub."
"Wait, together?" Gabriel sat up suddenly. "Oh, no no no no no." He shook his head. "Not happening."
"You guys are brothers. It's fine. We don't have time for this." Sam put his hands on his hips.
"Ha, ah ha ha ha ha, no."
"Well, too bad." Sam grabbed Gabriel by the hand and yanked him off the bed.
"Ow! Hey!"
"Sam, I would advise you be more careful with your actions. You may regret them later," Castiel warned.
"You too," Sam growled, taking Castiel's hand as well. He pulled them both along and into the bathroom.
"Sam! Release me!"
"You two are going to listen to me. I'm not going to deal with a couple of brats while we're together. Got it?" Sam snapped, getting down to eye level.
Gabriel just stuck out his tongue.
Sighing, Sam began filling the bathtub again. As soon as it was done, he stood up. "Okay, I'm leaving you in here. Please, don't be difficult. Just clean up and get ready, okay?"
Gabriel crossed his arms and grumbled something incoherently. Sam leaned in closer.
"What?"
"Nothing," Gabriel responded quickly. Sam narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything. He exited the bathroom.
"Might as well, since we're in here," Castiel said after a moment.
Gabriel groaned and threw his head back. "Fine."
"This will be awkward." They both looked at each other.
"I agree. Afterwards, let's never speak of this again."
Sam put their few bags in the Impala. The kids watched from the sidewalk, just standing there.
"Alright, in the car. We have a long drive," Sam said.
"So you're just leaving your case?" Castiel asked, tilting his head.
"It's not like I can do anything. I have to watch over you guys and I can't bring you with me, so I have no choice." Castiel nodded.
"I call shotgun!" Gabriel announced, running to the Impala. He opened the front door and hopped in. Castiel and Dean got seated in the back. Sam got in the car and started the engine.
"Away we go," Sam grumbled, pulling out of the hotel parking lot.