Once again, I apologize for the lack of updates, but finally, after what seemed like eternity, School's out for summer in England. Although the weather at the moment makes it feel like mid January….but that's England for you.

Enjoy!

Gabriel and Feathers had been to earth on one other occasion. A private occasion. Gabriel remembered it well. It had been a cold winters day in Chicago. Snow had dusted the street. Gabriel still remembered how beautiful Feathers had looked. She always looked so beautiful to him. The way her beanie hat was lopsided on her head. The way her breath steamed up in the cold…the snowflakes that fell on her eyelashes. The fabric of her gloves against his hand. They had walked for hours. She had begged him to go into this art gallery. It was just so…Feathers. Gabriel often did wonder how they were so good together. They were complete opposites…but what was that thing that humans say? Opposites attract.
"It's so pretty." She whispered, resting her head on his shoulder. They were in some random art gallery. (this had been her idea, not Gabriel's.) Looking at a piece of art work called America Windows. He nodded. And looked back at the blue light that seemed to be erupting from the glass. How all the different shapes and pictures seemed to make the whole thing come to life. These humans weren't so bad.

He looked down, and kissed her. She kissed back. It was slow. Passionate. He pulled away and smiled at her. She laughed a little, and rubbed at the lipstick smudged on his lips with her thumb. "Can I ask you something?"

He half smiled, and pulled a lollipop out of his pocket. "Go for it." He said, softly.

"Why were you always so scared to talk to me, Gabriel?"

Gabriel had a confused look on his face. He lowered the lollipop from his lips. "Huh?"

"At school" Feathers explained, thumbling with her scarf nervously. Gabriel blushed. This was true. They had both liked each other at school. Gabriel only had one lesson with her. Guardian Angel Studies. Not that he listened in it. There was no way that he was going to be a guardian angel. He had always sneaked glances at her over her shoulder. And when he wasn't looking she would return them. And when he finally did pluck up the courage to talk to her, Gabriel, the class clown…the most popular boy in the school that always had an answer for everything….ended up blushing and babbling something about cutlery.

He looked up at her. He raked a hand through his already combed back hair. "I…guess it was because I was worried to look you right in the eyes."

"Why?"

"Because I was scared that you wouldn't want to look at me if I did." He turned his face away, and tried to ignore the hotness in his cheeks. She squeezed his hand. He slowly looked back at her.

"As soon as you walked away…I did." She leant into him, and pressed her cheek against his chest. The blue light of America Windows washed her face in a brilliant glow. She sighed contently.

"I love you."

Gabriel wrapped his arms around her, and hid his face in her red hair, taking in the smell of roses.

"Ditto."

A loud noise. Like a rumble of thunder. And Gabriel was awake. He felt dizzy and sick, and his stomach was still churning around like a cement mixer. He looked around. There was no sign of Kruger. Alistair. Whatever you wanted to call him. There was no sign of Erik and Caleb. Gabriel hadn't remembered much of what had happened. What he did remember, however was a harsh hit to the back of his head, and then blackness. A deep blackness that was a mixture of pain and fear.

He looked over at Feathers. He crawled over and gently touched her shoulder."Feath…" He said in a hoarse voice. "Feathy…"

She opened he eyes and tried to turn on her side, she was shaking violently, sweat was pouring down her face. "Where's Jiah?" This had been the fifth time she had mumbled that in the past five hours. Gabriel lay down next to her, his bones were aching and his head was still bleeding. She looked up. "you're bleeding…what happened?" Gabriel looked away. "Alistair, I guess. It was him all along."

Feather's faltered a little, but didn't hesitate to tear the sleeve of her cardigan off. She pressed it down to Gabriel's forehead shakily. She would have pushed down with more force if she hadn't felt so weak. Gabriel pulled her hand down from his forehead. Typical selfless Feathers. Always thinking about others before herself. He took the now blood soaked piece of fabric from her hand and crawled over to the bucket of water one of the scientists had put in there. He dipped the fabric in the liquid and ringed it out before pressing it to her cheeks and forehead. "You just focus on getting better, ok?" He whispered. Fingers lightly brushing past the corner of her pale lips. "I'm not losing you too…."

"H-H-Huh?" She tried, looking up at him with worn, hazy eyes. Gabriel felt the lump rise in his throat. He didn't want to look over his shoulder, to see Balthazar, who had now been dead for 5 hours. "I lost him…"

He felt her wrap her arms around him, he hid his face in her shoulder, He would have cried if he had had any tears to shed. The two of them sat there for some time. Basking in an unwanted... Unneeded silence. Because there was nothing else he could do.

Erik tried to open his eyes. The punch had hit him directly on his left eye and it had already swollen into a painful lump.

He opened his right eye slowly, and chanced a glance at his little brother. Caleb was in the corner crying his little eyes out. "It's ok, Callie…don't worry."

"R-Rik…."

Erik looked up when he heard the sound of laughter. Alistair flexed his muscles. "It's amazing how you know that there is no hope, and yet you still tell him that everything is going to be ok. Its quite amusing, really"

Little Caleb shrank back at that voice. It wasn't his Fathers voice. It was sick and twisted and black faced in evil.

"You stay the fuck away from my little brother." Erik spat, smiling when some blood hit Alistair in the face. Erik didn't know what it was. But whatever it was, whatever this thing was that was in his Father, it wasn't normal. And it had hurt his little brother. That was a death sentence any way you sliced it. And he wasn't going to let this bastard do it again. Erik winced in pain, but still pulled himself to his feet.

Not while he was still breathing.

…

The walls are closing in on me.

Jiah hadn't moved from his spot. Huddled in the corner, head buried somewhere in his hands. The lights were flickering.

On.

Off.

On.

Off.

On.

"The walls are closing in on me…hahahah…" The laugh was manic…but quiet. His shoulders shook up and down with the laughter. "Closie…closie…closie…"

Miko had long since disappeared. From the room and from his mind. He could hear the creeks as the walls edged ever closer to him. He flinched when he felt the horrid sensation of something brushing past his leg. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

Bugs.

Bugs crawling everywhere, over the floors on the ceiling….every single nook and cranny. Spiders, maggots, beetles, worms, centipedes, millipedes…all of them making a disgusting squelchy-squeaking noise. Jiah shook them off, running his hands through his hair again and again.

"No…nononono…."

On .

Off.

On.

Off.

On.

….off.

….

Gabriel awoke to hands shaking him awake. He reluctantly pulled away from Feathers and readied himself for a fight. What he saw instead both shocked him and pleased him.
"…D-Dad?"

Chuck pulled his son into his arms. "Are you alright?"He said, the concern was clear in his voice as he held his fourth born close.
"Dad!" Gabriel's voice wavered as he let out a choked little sob. Lucifer rushed over to his side, dropping to his knees and placing a hand on the younger angels head. "Gabriel…"
"Luci?" Gabriel looked up. "Luci, I'm sorry I—"

"Hush, little one. You do not need to apologize."

Gabriel pushed away from his Father, he looked Chuck in the eyes, fat tears rolling down his cheeks. "Dad…I lost Balthazar…"

Chuck looked over his shoulder. His eyes widened and a little cry escaped his throat. He skidded over. Michael was standing in the corner. Hangs hanging by his sides, eyes staring down at the mess his younger brothers had become. Castiel was standing near Balthazar. With a little sniff he rushed over to Gabriel. The archangel held the four year old close and buried his face in his black hair.

"Gabey…."

"It's ok Cassy."

Chuck placed a hand on Balthazar's head, smoothing out his blonde spikes. Chuck closed his eyes. And concentrated.

Gabriel pulled Feather's back under his arm, holding both her and Castiel tightly. Scared that if he let them go, they'd take them away from him. He had already lost too much.

Michael caught Lucifer's gaze, he beckoned him over. Lucifer glanced over his shoulder, just checking that he was still there. He looked back over at his brother. "What?"

"Something isn't right here. If this is who we think it is…this was too easy."

Lucifer looked puzzled. "Think so?" He tried to ignore the wry smile that begged to cross his lips. He glanced over to his left and caught Alistair's gaze. The demon smiled, and Lucifer had to kick himself not to return it.

A white light was forming from Balthazar. Chuck took a breath and pushed more of his grace into the boy. Gabriel looked up from where he was sitting. Castiel peeped out from where he was hiding, hands covering his eyes.

Balthazar took a deep gasp of air and sat bolt upright, Chuck placed his hands on his sons shoulders. "Balthy!...it's ok…breathe now…breathe…."

"D…D-Daddy?"

"It's me…" Chuck smiled, tangling his fingers in Balthazar's hair when the boy hugged him. He rocked from side to side. "It's all alright now, baby boy."

Alistair tutted, causing every single angel to look up, All of them had surprised looks on their faces. Other than Lucifer, who just grinned.

Alistair grinned back.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?"