Chapter 6

Sam was just about pulling his hair out in worry when the knock on the door came. He froze staring at it for a moment before stepping over and yanking it open. His brother stood on the other side, looking none the worse for his adventure. Dean gave him a lop sided grin.

"Hay yah Sammy, didn't worry too much I hope?" he asked.

"De..Dean?" Sam stuttered. Dean grinned.

"Yeah man, I'm fine, and have I got a story for you. " Sam stared. His eyes narrowed warily, a moment later Dean was yanked off the ground from behind. Dean scowled over his shoulder at Lucifer, the fallen Archangel just smirked.

"Lucifer?" Sam asked flatly. Lucifer quirked an eye brow up.

"He's definitely been in heaven, but it's still just Dean. " Lucifer finally said. Dean rolled his eyes.

"For now yeah, that's what I need to talk to you and Gabriel about" Dean answered. Lucifer's eyes narrowed.

"For now?" he asked dangerously. Dean rolled his eyes.

"I talked Michael into a snack." He explained mildly. Sam and Lucifer stared, not getting it for a second. Lucifer's eye widened almost comically as it clicked.

/ Flashback /

Michael stared at him blankly. Dean tried not to blink to much as he looked back wondering just how much of an explosion he was going to be getting. He saw a terrifying expression flit over Michaels face for a moment before it was gone. Michael was quiet. Thoughtful. Somehow Dean knew this should terrify him. "Those are the only things you ask in return?" Michael final asked. Dean nodded, not quite letting himself hope yet. Michael descended back into silence. "Why do you need to speak with them first?" Dean snorted at this.

"Because you just had me kidnapped and dragged to heaven? If I suddenly show back up with you along for the ride – Gabriel and Lucifer are not going to wait around long enough for you to explain that you just want to talk. So yeah, I need to tell them first." Michael nodded slowly looking tired in a way that Dean could sympathize with. It was all just too much sometimes.

"I will return shortly. " Michael said with a sharp nod, a glint of something like determination in his eyes now. Dean studied him with narrowed eyes.

"Michael," He said softly. The Archangel focused back on his sharply at his tone. Dean was unflinching under that gaze though. "If you try to lie about eating the apple, I will be able to tell if you haven't done it." he pointed out coolly. Michael studied him intently for a moment before inclining his head in a slight nod and letting the illusion vanish. Dean heaved a sigh. All he could do now he supposed as wait, and hoped this gamble paid off. There was always a danger of what he had warned Sam about with Lucifer. Humans managed to ignore what that knowledge gave them with plenty of ease if the mood took them. He supposed they had a hell of a lot more practice then any angel however, but it was still something to keep in mind. Michael crossed him as being something, different, then the other angels – even Lucifer. There was no telling whether or not the apple would work on him as it had on Lucifer. Deans lips quirked up in a sardonic smile. He'd taken his leap of faith here; it was time to see if he was going to go splat or not.

Only minutes passed when someone else abruptly appeared next to him. Dean flinched away from the angel and turned to dodge whatever attack was headed his way only for one steel hard hand to wrap around his upper arm – yanking him off balance. A moment later the Garden blurred away in the sound of wing beats. A few moments later things snapped back into focus and he found himself standing in….the road house? He staggered a bit as he was released, and turned to glare at the angel that had snatched him. he could worry about the roadhouse later. The angel's vessel was an older black man with a rather weathered face and an easy smile.

"I'm sorry about that Dean but Father insisted I remove you from the Garden before Michaels reaction could harm you." A moment later this was punctuated by a slight tremor that shook the building around them. The lights grayed out for a moment before stabilizing. Dean flicked a glance at his surroundings. Probably a good idea, he admitted to himself, but…

"Gods actually weighing in on the situation?" Dean asked dubiously, not sure what he thought about that. The angel smiled wryly and nodded.

"He is very happy with what you and you brother have done, Dean. Apparently you two have managed to surprise even him with this plan." The angel actual grinned. "I don't think I really need to tell you how rare that is." Dean stared at him dumbfounded – and more than a little gratified. He was well past the point where he would ever really be willing to follow an order from God, but –well, it was nice to know he approved.

"Um, cool." He said after a long shocked moment lacking any words that would really sum up the situation. The angel smiled. A moment later his expression went distant, his head tilted to the side slightly like he was listening to something before nodding.

"I will return you to earth. Michael wishes for you to continue with what you agreed to do. He…needs a moment." Dean smiled wryly.

"Well that's a good sign he actually did it. I was almost expecting him to show back up acting like he was fine and trying to fake it." the angel shook his head.

"He doesn't lie like that, he considers it beneath him to lie, he doesn't need to." Dean just eyed him at that, mildly unnerved.

"Right, can we go now?" he asked, waving the weirdness off for another time. With the rushing sound of feathers they were gone. Ash peaked out from the back room where he'd been hiding from the moment he heard wings. He rolled the conversation over in his head before hn'ing thoughtfully and grabbing a beer from the bar. Interesting, he thought, pulling the computer out and tuning into the local gossip. Time to find out just what Dean had done to have God rooting for him and Sam.

/ end flashback /

Lucifer and Sam both starred as Dean finished his explanation. Sam just looked dumbfounded, but Lucifer, Lucifer had an absolutely blank look on his face. Utterly unreadable.

"You're sure he did it?" he asked emotionlessly. Dean nodded.

"Yeah, shook Heaven with the fit he threw after the fact to. Some other angel dropped me back off. I suppose I'll wait a bit before trying anything." He agreed with a shrug. Lucifer just stared at him for a long moment before looking at Sam, his expression sliding once more into unreadability.

"I need to speak with Gabriel." He said abruptly before vanishing with thunderous wings beats.

X X X

"I call bullshit," Gabriel snapped, eyes wary. "There is no fucking way he did it!" he threw his hands up. "This is Michael were talking about!" Lucifer nodded silently, his expression still more then slightly foreboding.

"I did it." he pointed out. Gabriel shot him a look at that, studying him sharply for a moment before sighing.

"Yeah, you did." He agreed with a wry smile. Lucifer smiled faintly, wrapping one soot stained wing around Gabriel's shoulders. Gabriel made a disgusted face and ducked out from under the immaterial feathers. "Ugh, take a bath first if you're going to do that. You smell like sulfur." He complained loudly. His own golden amber wings flicking in overly dramatic disgust. Lucifer rolled his eyes. He hesitated for a moment before pulling the apple out of the pocket of reality he'd been keeping it in. Gabriel went still eyeing it before looking up at Lucifer with a searching expression.

"I really don't know, Lucifer." He finally said. Lucifer sighed.

"It's better to know." He answered. Gabriel was silent for another long before taking the apple from Lucifer. The older angel watched intently. Gabriel studied it, and then huffed.

"Damned peer pressure! That's what this is!" he gestured accusingly at Lucifer with the apple. "Oh yes 'but everyone's doing it!' ha! Fuckers." With that he took a bite.

X X X

It was three days later when Dean felt the brush across his consciousness. "Dean." A nearly unheard voice whispered. Deans lips quirked up. Lucifer and Gabriel had come back the day before and agreed to hear what Michael had to say before starting any fights. They had just been waiting for Michael to make his move. And now it would seem he had.

"What?" he asked - amused. A flicker of exasperation crossed his mind.

"Do you agree to be my Vessel?" Dean rolled his eyes glad he was in the junkyard and out of easy sight of Bobbies house. This was unlikely to be subtle and he didn't want Sam or Bobby getting hurt.

"Yes." Dean didn't have any longer to think about what it was going to be like as reality slid away in a blazing flare of golden light.

X X X

Quetzal – muahahahaah. Next chapter is the big meeting and we might just run into God as well. Warning. There will be fluff. Tooth rotting fluff. Speaking of tooth rotting fluff I get to go get drilled on tomorrow! Yay me.