Chapter Nine: Bent

Addy has a long talk with herself during her shower that morning. She didn't want this life on the run, danger lurking around every corner. She didn't want her guardian to be Heaven's most hated angel, especially when he had shown her nothing but kindness and self sacrifice. And as much as she liked the idea of having half-siblings and not being as alone as she thought, she did not like that they were separated for the time being.

It is fine to not like the circumstances and details but that doesn't change the situation in which she finds herself. She dresses that morning as if she is putting on armor. There is a war raging and she's part of it whether she wants to be or not. The time for crying and feeling sorry for herself is over. If an attack is going to happen, she will be ready for it.

She listens closely as Gadreel tells her tricks of hiding weapons in the folds of her clothes and the sleeves of her jacket. The angel blade she took from Malachi is to be kept with her at all times. She straps a knife to the inside of one of her boots and a small handgun in the other. By the time they reach St. Luke's Hospital she's half afraid to walk into the building, fearful that people can tell she's armed to teeth. But she mimics Gadreel's movements, smooth and precise and tries to forget the laws she's breaking.

They get into an empty elevator and Addy hits the button for the highest level they can go. "I'm going to guess that whoever is sending out the prayer is still on the roof."

"Are they still praying?"

"Yes."

The door opens with the emergency stairs right next to the elevator. Making sure no one is looking, Addy pushes it open and Gadreel silences the alarm with a wave of his hand. It is two flights to the roof and the door is already propped open. Gadreel stops her for a moment, most likely looking for anything that would alert him of an attack. She lets him step out onto the roof first before cautiously following close behind.

There's a man, tall and thin, standing at the edge of the building. Addy has to blink a few times because there are moments where it seems he glitches or goes fuzzy. She's not sure what that means and looks to Gadreel. She's surprised at the change in him. He is standing straight, tall and gives the impression of being immovable. His face is set and expressionless while his angel blade is gripped tightly in his hand.

"He's an angel?" Addy whispers as she draws her own blade.

Gadreel nods, never taking his eyes off the man. "I can not tell who it is though. He is hiding very deep inside."

The man turns around. His eyes are sunken with dark rings underneath of them, making his narrow face seem that much more skeletal looking. Addy can see he has given up and wants out of whatever lies before him. She knows that look all too well. But then his eyes flash blue and the desperation is replaced by contempt. The broken posture straightens and he steps away from the edge of the building but doesn't advance too closely to them.

"Gadreel."

The name is spoken so quietly that the wind almost carries it away before Addy can hear it. But that one word, how it is said, shifts everything between them. Gadreel seems to collapse in on himself, his shoulders fall and the grip on his blade slackens. His eyes are no longer on the other angel but rather lowered to the ground. The change makes Addy nervous and uneasy. She holds tight to her blade as she steps next to Gadreel.

"And you are?"

"Michael."

Addy picked the wrong day to start being a hero. "The Archangel? The Warrior?"

Michael nods. "And the one who cast Lucifer into the cage and," he turns to Gadreel, "put his little helper in Heaven's dungeon."

Addy waits for Gadreel to defend himself and when he doesn't, she does. "That wasn't his fault."

"Oh, I know the story he tells. I listened to it for hundreds of years. It doesn't matter. He had a job to do and he failed in it."

"He made a mistake!"

"Addison!" Gadreel hisses and pulls her back to where he stands. She wasn't aware she was advancing, blade raised at the archangel of Heaven.

"Very defensive of an angel you know very little about."

"I know enough."

Michael laughs. "You humans never cease to amaze me with your indignation and sense of higher morality. You better watch yourself, I might mistake you for a Winchester."

Addy tries to hide her surprise at the use of that name but Michael catches it.

"So, there's yet another little Winchester waif out there. Well, that certainly changes things a bit."

Addy is beyond confused and Gadreel is too cowed in Michael's presence to be of any help. "We only came because the person you're in prayed for help. Does he need help or not?"

Michael takes a few steps towards them and Addy directly puts herself between him and Gadreel. She still holds the angel blade but makes sure not to raise her hand to him. She wants to be able to defend herself and Gadreel, not commit suicide-by-archangel. They're only standing a few inches from each other, staring each other down and finally Michael smirks.

"Maybe we can all help each other."

"How's that?"

"You're going to need protection."

"I already have it."

"You're going to need more."

"How's that?"

Michael's smirk disappears. "I just spent four human years locked in a cage with Lucifer. Now, I'm out. My vessel, Adam Milligan, is twisted in on himself and needs time to heal from the experience. I can straighten out his soul but it will take time. The real threat, however, lies in the fact that Lucifer is also out and walking the Earth now. The Apocalypse is back on schedule."

Gadreel finally finds his tongue. "Heaven is closed, to both angels and human souls. If the Apocalypse happens, all those who die will have no place to go."

"Then we better work on getting Heaven open before Lucifer comes looking for her."

Addy feels herself go lightheaded. "Excuse me? Why would Lucifer come looking for me?"

Michael presses his lips together in annoyance. "Dean was my true vessel and Sam was Lucifer's. I was going to kill Lucifer and re-establish the order of things. Perhaps it would be enough to bring our Father back. But Dean won't say yes and when Sam did, he was able to control Lucifer. But then I found Adam, Sam and Dean's half brother. Not preferable but still in the bloodline."

Addy's stomach rolls. "The Winchester bloodline."

"You're his only choice for a decent vessel that will give him a chance at winning this battle. Lucifer will come for you."

Addy turns to Gadreel who gives her a forlorn look. "I did not know about the vessel bloodline."

She believes him but that doesn't help them right now. "Great. Just another reason the angels will want me dead."

Michael looks surprised. "Dead? Why would they want that? You're able to tether them, keep them existing until Heaven reopens. They should be protecting you no matter what."

"Metatron wants her dead," Gadreel speaks up. "He will send angels to carry out the hit."

"Speaking of hits," Addy turns to her protecter, "you probably have one on your head now from him."

"Metatron?" Michael asks. "The scribe? I knew that was a mistake letting him out from behind his desk."

"So you'll help us?" Addy asks.

"If you're trying to open to Heaven then yes."

"We're just trying to stay alive at this point."

"Then it sounds like you need some help."

Gadreel can barely find the words to speak to Michael. He can barely find the courage to look at him. Before Eden had even been thought of, Michael had been his mentor, a friend. It was his friendship with the archangel that had gained him the reputation of God's most trusted. Metatron wasn't the only angel that God had plucked from obscurity and put into a position of power.

There was no question when Eden was created who was going to be placed as the guardian of it. Trained by Michael, his brother, Gadreel oversaw the entire the Garden and its inhabitants. He had been connected to it all. He could hear the plants breathe, blossoms opening and closing. He could feel the flow of the water and the imprints of Adam and Eve's feet in the soil.

But then Lucifer wanted to prove a point and Gadreel was caught in the middle. He can still remember the day when Eden's gates were shut. It was the equivalent to losing a limb or a sense such as sight. No longer could he feel the pulsing life surrounding him but he could hear his siblings outrage and hate. At first he thought it was all directed at Lucifer but he quickly realized it was his blood they wanted as well.

Then Michael came for him. His friend, his brother and his mentor. His face thunderous, his heart broken. Gadreel had tried to reason with him, explain what had happened when Lucifer approached him. He told him the story of reconciliation that Lucifer had given him.

"Please, brother listen to me! This is not my doing!"

But Michael had been silent the entire time he escorted Gadreel into places of Heaven that he had never seen. Light, sound, connections to his siblings were becoming more and more distant. It was only when they reached the cell door that Michael turned to him.

"They wanted you in the cage with Lucifer. They want your wings and your grace on display. Father will not speak to us. Gabriel is missing and Raphael is behind the call for your death. This is the best I can do for you, because you are my friend."

"Death would be better than imprisonment. Give them what they want, Michael. I would rather be dead than locked away forever. Please, show me some mercy."

"I am being merciful."

And so began the countless thousands of years of imprisonment and torture. He had resigned himself to never seeing Michael again. So when the archangel takes control of the vessel, he is shocked and suddenly reduced to the cowering angel who clawed at the walls begging for his closest friend's understanding and forgiveness.

He can still see the anger behind the vessel's eyes. He can still see the cracks in Michael's trust that he himself has put there. The guilt and shame that had disappeared with Addison's forgiveness and kindness come rushing back in force. He's barely able to keep up with the conversation and it takes Addison's gentle tug on his sleeve to bring him out of his thoughts.

"Hey."

He still can't seem to find words so he just nods in acknowledgement.

"We're going to find some scrubs for Michael and sneak him out of the hospital that way. Adam was studying pre-med so he can pull on that information to get himself out the door if need be."

"He is going to travel with us or with you?"

Addison gives him a look that he can't quite decipher. It looks to be either hurt or disbelief. Perhaps it's a mix of both. "With us. You think I would what? Trade up or some such nonsense like that? You promised to protect me and I'm holding you that promise."

Before he can find a suitable response, Addison has left the rooftop, no doubt to find the clothing for Michael. At the thought of the archangel, Gadreel lifts his eyes to finally openly looks at him. The vessel is tall, thin and he can see the strain behind the eyes. But the more he looks at the vessel, the more he sees the similarities between Adam and Addison's facial structure.

"How did you get out?" Michael asks him.

"The spell that Metatron used released the imprisoned angels."

Michael nods. "If the spell was to release all the imprisoned angels, that explains how the cage was opened then."

"Will Lucifer come for her? Will he do that?"

"Without a doubt, yes. He doesn't have any other choice concerning vessels right now. And I'm sure every angel knows she's the anchor and she's a Winchester. It's just a matter of time."

Addison returns and practically throws a set of scrubs and shoes at Michael. She still looks angry and upset so when she grabs Gadreel's arm and tugs him back into the stairwell, he expects her to yell at him but she doesn't. Instead, she takes a couple deep breaths before speaking.

"We're a team, Gad. You can't forget that."

He swallows down the relief he feels at her statement. She will not abandon him or leave him behind for another angel. She's given him the one thing he has been so desperate for all these years: trust. And he will not let her down.

"I won't."