Lock 7: Rest Stop

By: Wolfa Moon

L7

Since the last lock. Dean had been shaken. He watched Ramiel with a much more closer eye. He saw the matriarch that she had become of that future community. How she began to lead. Become a true Arch. And angel of Hope. Hope. Dean didn't want to close his eyes. He feared his dreams. Feared which was dream and reality.

They had pulled into a rest stop on the way to wherever. It seemed all but abandoned. Well it was 1 am in the morning. Dean went to the thrift store and began to load up on caffeine pills and stay awake helpers. Not letting on that the lock had bothered him so much. But they did know. They noticed. Dean looked up from the rack of uppers to watch Sam, Ram, and Cas. Sam teaching them the finer points of pizza.

"Having a hard time staying awake." Dean jumped and turned.

"Dammit." He turned and came face to face with a man chewing a Hershey chocolate bar. "Gabriel."

"Yup," taking another bite. "There is a rumor going around that you have found a way to trap Lucifer." Dean huffed.

"Finally deciding to fight the good fight."

"No, just curious to how you came upon this great knowledge." Smirking Dean set his full basket down. He had shoved some in his pockets just in case. There was always a just in case. And here it was following him into the food court.

Castiel immediately stood up. From Dean's view it blocked Ramiel from sight. Sam stood at this. Then a third chair was heard.

"Gabriel." Castiel gritted out his greeting. Not forgetting their last encounter.

"Hello Bro." Cas moved as a figure tried to look around him. Gab realized his little brother was hiding someone. He tilted his head trying to get a better look. Yeah he was an archangel and could easily pop over and see. But he wanted answers and he knew he would get none if he didn't play by their rules. "So who's the fifth wheel?"

"You're the fifth wheel if anything Gabriel." Gab turned to get a look at Sam. He saw in his eyes great feeling for the wheel he considered their forth.

"Gabriel?" A feminine questionable tone came from behind Castiel. Gabriel's heart stopped. His face going blank then to shock, misbelief. Ramiel came out from behind Castiel into full view of her brother.

"No, it can't be." Ram smiled at her brother's changing facial expressions. "No." Gabriel without thinking flew to behind his sister and whirled her around to face him. "You can't be here what are you doing here?"

"It is good to see you too brother."

"NO! No no." He shuck his head. Maybe if he did it enough the visage before him would fade away like a mirage. But she didn't flicker out of existence. She was still standing before him. "Ramiel?" He raised a hand to her cheek. "You can't be here." She tilted her head.

"Why not?" Dean demanded. He was watching the scene. He noticed how the messenger angel didn't take his sister's presence so well here. Something was up. The two remained staring at each other. The silence grew in the court.

"What are you doing here?" Gab said in astonishment. "Why?"

"Michael sent me."

"Michael?" Disbelief in every syllable of the word. "Why would he?" Cursing the heavens he took in the presence before him. "You are not suppose to be here. It was..." Gabriel looked down. His mind reeling at his sister before him. This was not how it was suppose to be. Looking up he gazed into her depths. Seeing her true angelic grace. She shined so brightly. A lighthouse watching over the sea. Beaconing all wayward travelers home. Safely.

"Gabriel?" Ramiel pulled him from his inner monologue. He stepped cautiously back. Still holding onto her arm. Making sure she didn't blow away on the upcoming storm howls. To be crushed along the stony shore.

"You are not suppose to be here."

"Why not?" Ramiel asked Dean's question again without his gruffness. Her curiosity so pure. It blossomed at what had made her brother frazzle to her being there.

"You are suppose to remain safe."

"I am."

"No you're not. You're on earth, which makes you a target like every other mud suit. You can become a casualty like all other vesseled angels. You are suppose to be kept away from this battle. Keep far away locked in the tower." He looked to heaven for help but knew no cavalry would come. Looking to the form before him again. Ingraining her image in his mind for eternity sake. "Ramiel," he reached up and touched her hair. Touched her vessel. "You are suppose to be safe. This wasn't part of the deal." Dean was getting fed up of the cryptic angel monologue. He grabbed Gabriel and pushed him away from Ramiel. Knowing he couldn't hold him in his grasp for long. But he could keep him away from the object he wanted.

"Start explaining, Trix." The girly nickname to what he embodied drew him from his entanglement of mind and duty. Of his heart as well.

"Ramiel, she," taking in the vessels sex. "Was never suppose to touch ground." He turned away. The human gesture of running a hand through his hair in frustration. Trying to gather his thoughts. Everything inside him telling him wrong, no. Then the real reason he had come became apparent again. Why he had come. He stopped and looked at them. "You boys have been making a name for yourself locking seals. Everyone's been thinking Castiel got some insider information going on or came into possession of something. Someone more like it. Closing locks?" Gabriel smiled congratulations. Dean taken back at the realization that they knew that their new mission was working. "But her being here. This can't be." Gabriel's blood boiled every time he saw his vesseled sister. She watched him as his emotions changed from every variety of human life. It amazed her. An archangel, so human. Why would he not want her to be the same?

"Why not?"

"Because," he didn't want to say more. Say more in front of his sister. But knew it had to be said. Had to be told. So he could keep an eye on her. Keep her safe. Do his job. One last request by his father. "She is the one promise that Lucifer and Michael made to each other. Ramiel is suppose to stay far away from this battle. Keep the innocence safe. Keep her safe. Make sure that his little one never gets hurt."

"Gabriel?" Ram made a step toward him. Normally he would find shelter in her grace glow. But he stepped back. Maybe not feeling the rightness he felt whenever in her presence. The protection pride by being beside her. He could fool himself she wasn't here. What a trick that would be. But unlike his vessel. This was not trick he could control.

"Ramiel, sister. You are the baby of us archangels."

"I know this." Sam looked at her. Both babies of their families. Always needing to be protected in their elder sibling's minds.

"Well our big brothers always held you in the same light as our father did. The one needing protecting. The one who sees them for all their good. None of their deeds mattering to you. Michael was suppose to keep you safe."

"He ordered me to come here. To close the locks."

"What? That's impossible." Anger began to boil in his flesh. Maybe a little in his grace, too. "Why would he do that? Is he trying to antagonize him?" Gabriel looked up cursing his elder brothers silently.

"Start explaining." Castel wanted in on this. His family issues. All angels knew of the arches. But never the full inner workings. Their personnel deals. The level of god's presence felt upon their wings. Feeling it first hand. The level of his favorites amongst the arch. Amongst his kin. He knew he was loved by his father. But to know he had favorites. Knew that is what drew Lucifer to jealousy over mankind. Why not over his sister? Castiel looked at her through his musing. She is powerful. Saw humanity in the same light as their father, as he saw. Why, because she is angel. Ramiel glowed yes to all what he thought his father intended. But to know that she was more important to her father made her shine more in his heart. She was something special. More special then he could possibly imagine.

Gabriel pulled up a chair and rested his feet on a table. Pulling out a Milky Way he sighed before starting the tale.

"Lucifer and Michael made a deal when daddy went away. Ramiel, their little sister." acknowledging the sex of her vessel again. Letting his eyes wonder. Bad angel. Taking a bite he continued. "God's true eye. God's hope essence. She was to remain innocent. To keep that spark that God graced in her pure. A deal that was never suppose to be broken." He sighed in grief. "Now when he finds out she is here. All deals are off. Lucy will attack more fiercely now. No resistance." The brothers taking in the information gazed at Ramiel. Sure her light had changed on them. Now it was even more crucial what her existence here meant. It threatened to burn the very earth they fought for. "You were never ever suppose to touch ground. You are the infinite that whomever were to fall you would still be there for them. Always seeing the good in the storm of night. Why did Michael send you down here?" She was trying to take this all in. she never felt important. Yes she was an archangel. Loved by her father. His little one. But to hear this. A promise between crossed brothers. That she was their light in the dark. A lighthouse. Sanctuary of their heart. Their faith. Their security that they would always have family. Always have something to fight for. Ramiel turned from the group to take this in. She wasn't special, she told herself. Ramiel screamed in her head, why? Why me? The outside world faded to a haze. She let the men talk amongst themselves. The world grew heavy on her shoulders. Wind blowing hard against her wings. No shelter from he maelstrom building around and inside her. So much to take in. Why did Michael send her down here? She heard Gabriel's question and pondered. Thinking through the fog. Trying to see the path she lit. The path remained blinding white. Others could see. But she could not see for herself. Why was she the lighthouse? Why did Michael send her here?

"To close the locks. To trap Lucifer back in his dungeon."

"And Michael ordered this." Gabriel scoffed. "The locks are like perimeter lighting. There are always dark spots you can't see. And beside you would die if you closed the final lock. Michael knows this." Ramiel stood proud. The truth about the locks were unveiled slowly. And she knew the final one was an ultimate sacrifice. Something pure that God gave. Something he created and loved highly. Someone who was innocent. Someone like Ramiel. The non troubling thought. It didn't scare her. The sacrifice, no fear.

"Would he not interfere?" Sam asked. Hope bridging on his words. Ram had become close to him. She is his angel. Maybe not in their eyes but in his fibers. She is his angel.

"Has god." Cas retorted. Voice solemn and sad. His search had hurt him. He couldn't find their father. His sister had taken the place of his father. She was the matriarch. The one he now prayed to. She was an earth loving angel with the power to do something. Seems to be the only one doing anything worthy of his love and prayers. Gabe looked to Cas and saw the image of Ramiel in his eyes. He smiled. For she shined bright in his as well. As their cursed brothers did too.

"No," Gabe breathed deep. Ramiel looked deep into her fellow Arch. She gasped at what she saw there.

"No," She wanted to flee. But to where. A lost ship in a storm she felt. Where was her lighthouse? Looking into his eyes she saw the shining thrown her elder brothers' placed her on. One they cherished her so much. Then the secret. The deal. "Why would he send me here then?"

"To keep them out of the way." A new voice appeared behind them. Turning there was Raphael. Castiel stiffened, remembering their past two encounters. Gabriel stepped around the whole gang but mostly in front of Ram while she took her post in front of Cas and the brothers. "Hello sister."

"Hello, Raphael. It has been a long time."

"Yes it has."

"Why was she sent here to distract?" Dean stepped forward. He was a bullet shield. No harm toward him.

"You." Anger boiled inside Raphael. "Michael made it quit clear her purpose. Why do you think you were left alone? A few challenges along the way. But still you prevail. Michael wanted her to be seen. Especially by Lucifer."

"So he would step up his game." Castiel figured out. Now stand by Ramiel's side. Her equal as she always saw him.

"And so he would win." Raph smiled, tilting his head and bore his eyes into Ramiel. Looking at her like the prize trophy. The trophy that belonged to his brothers. Dean and Sammy didn't like this fact and it showed. Sam had placed a protective hand on his angel. Grabbing her elbow firmly in his hand. Raphael smiled grew more sinister and more stern. He was not going to let some Prophesied mud monkeys take the prize away from them. "You think you can stop us. You are sadly mistaken. Sister come with us and we will leave these pathetic humans and poor excuse for angels alone." Raphael held out his hand to his sister. Gabriel radiated at his brother's words. He was more an angel then him. At least he wanted his sister and earth safe. He likes it here. Ramiel felt all what was going on. Tugging her to go both ways. Some to save her from the evil. The other to welcome the dark. Let her light go out. Let the ships hit the shore. Leave the world busted. A silent trophy on the hill. Let them live.

"Who you calling pathetic?" Gabriel whined. Raphael laughed at his brother. Gabriel huffed looking to his sister. She was watching the scene with great focus. "We need to leave." He looked sternly into her eyes. Making her see the wrongness of this. Making her see the rightness that he was portraying. Trying to protect her.

"She does not have to go with you." He snarled then smiled warmly yet warningly to her. "Sister come with us." Peacefully, or else. Ramiel moved from Sam's grip to stand proud. Be the archangel that they should fear and respect. One that they had forgotten what she is. Dean felt his dream slip through. Staying strong for her family. A keystone.

"Tell me," She left it open to the air as Raphael cut her off. Interpreting her wishes.

"Michael wants you. Lucifer wants you. We need to keep you safe so when our fallen brother comes. We need you to talk to him. Make him see that we are the right path. That you are with us." Ramiel smiled at the further information given to her. They wanted her to be the negotiator. But that is not what she really wanted to be told.

"That is not what I wanted you to tell me but thank you." She smiled at him. More a laugh in that smile, silly boy. "Tell me why I am the only female vesseled archangel." The brothers and angels on her side laughed, smiled, enjoyment at her comment. Reading into that comment to go to hell. Raphael stared at her, shocked by her response. He began to make a move toward her. Gabriel grabbed her and the others and poof gone before Raphael got to her position. He roared in anger.

TBC…