Title: Under the Influence of Djinn
Chapter: Twenty-eight
Summary: AU: The Djinn siblings created a terrible detailed nightmare for Dean out of revenge, nearly killing him, Lisa, and Ben. With Sam alive, Castiel missing, and Campbell cousins in tow, he tries to pull himself back together.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Supernatural was created by Eric Kripke. No disrespect in intended with this work of fan fiction.

Gabriel paced Naomi's office. He was the only one there at present. Naomi was out rallying the troops, or getting one of her staff to do it. While Gabriel did have fond memories of Naomi, he was under no illusions as to what she was like. He didn't trust her an inch. The one he trusted, however, was Castiel. Go figure. He'd already decided that Castiel would be his number one lieutenant. If he could get him back in heaven, that is.

The coming battle weighed heavily on Gabriel. Back when he'd first left he never would have guessed it would come to this. Lucifer and Michael's battle, yes. Him and Raphael, with Michael gone, no. He found himself heartsick for his family and wondering if he could even begin to fill Michael's shoes. There were so many things he'd need to do once he got control from Raphael and even winning that battle wasn't a certainty.

But if Samandriel succeeded….

And if Castiel would consent to join him to fight….

Two big 'ifs'. Samandriel's team was going to have to get past angels as paranoid and dangerous as Raphael was, navigate that area of heaven, and flip the switch before reversing that order to return. He hoped he hadn't sent them on a suicide mission.

Castiel was an even bigger 'if'. He was bitter and resentful, disappointed and hurting. He might be too far down that road to do this. Might. But somehow, Gabriel didn't think so. Dean Winchester was a big influence on Castiel and Dean, he knew, would make sure Castiel had those choices laid out clearly. Dean would tell him the consequences of staying away from the fight.

He didn't want to contemplate going to battle without Castiel's powers boosting his own against Raphael, yet would if he had to.

Naomi had been correct in what was happening. Power was fluctuating in heaven and Gabriel could see parts already beginning to pull apart. The lights of heaven were flickering and some were beginning to go out entirely. They were cutting it close.

Stepping to Naomi's desk, he sat and looked through her notes and files from the past few weeks. He started with what had been there and, bored quickly by the dry content, opened a folder that had been dropped off right after she'd left earlier. A scrawled line on one page made him pause in his reading. He took the page and stared at that one line. Apparently, he had an entire garrison he'd never known about.

Folding the paper, he slid it into his pocket, then set out for the location on that paper. Which one of the soldiers there was on Naomi's payroll? Did it matter?

Touching down, he strolled along the street, noting the angels present and how they began to trail him like he was the Pied Piper of Hamlin. A few he recognized. Many he didn't. When he reached the end of the street, Gabriel turned to face them. "Who is leading you?"

"I am. Well, since Azariel fell to Raphael's blade." The voice was one he'd never heard before, but the presence was all Nia. She stood to his left, half in shadow. The woman she was using was dark haired, young, and pretty.

With a little smile, Gabriel walked over to her. "Still using a conduit, I see." It had been a very long time since he'd seen or spoken with her and he decided that he was glad to see her alive, well, and still wandering the earth.

"How else am I to interact with humans? You know my limitations. Her name is Daphne. She's been very useful the past few years."

He acknowledged the young woman who was watching and listening. "Hello, Daphne. So, Nia. Michael didn't kill you after all."

"No."

"He was still talking about killing you when I left."

"He never approached me after he sentenced me and denied me access. He forgot about me. Either that or he was distracted by something else. I'm still unable to go up to heaven, but I have what I need here." She smiled. "You're supposed to be dead, Gabriel. I'm relieved you're alive."

"I think it's a side effect of knowing the Winchester brothers. They never stay dead." He grasped her arm. "We need to talk."

With a wave of her hand, the angels dispersed. "Sure. What about?"

"Let's start with how I have a garrison?"

She gave him the long story, filling in details he hadn't known about Castiel and how the angels here thought of themselves as refugees from heaven. "They came here to live, occasionally fighting off Raphael's lackeys. She's determined to kill anyone who doesn't fall in line. They want to live peacefully on earth, away from the politics. It's just not worth it to them or to me. Not anymore."

"So you've seen Castiel?"

"I have."

"You see what's happening to him?"

"I think I understand where it's going," was her cautious reply.

He studied her. "You're okay with that?"

Nia smiled again. "Why wouldn't I be? I messed up. We all messed up, but he has the heart we never had. He was made for this, Gabriel."

"Maybe he was." Who knew? Certainly none of them, but if God wanted to bring about another class of angel, it was his right as creator to do so. "Will the garrison follow me," he asked.

"Of course. Though I should warn you that they won't follow Naomi. Not even if you order it. Very few trust her and you shouldn't either."

"I can handle Naomi, Nia. She'll have her hands full after it's all done. Would they follow Castiel?"

She studied him. He knew Daphne, her conduit, was taking it all in and trying to make sense of what she was hearing. "I suppose if he was returned to power they might. He did a lot for us. Why?"

"I have a job for them and for you." He explained what he wanted from them and when he finished, she nodded.

"It'll be done. You can count on us. We are, after all, your garrison."

With a little bit of the weight gone from his shoulders, he searched about for Castiel and headed that way.

That Castiel had caught on so fast to their plan didn't actually surprise Dean because, as Cas himself pointed out, he wasn't stupid. A little naïve still in places, but not stupid. "I'm not getting into it with you again about Gabriel," Dean told him. "We had that talk. I told you my opinion, gave you my advice. You either take it or not. But in case you decide to be stupid and not take it, I'm going to flirt with my girl here."

"Am I," Jo asked with an almost breathless quality to the words.

"What?"

"Your girl?"

"Thought it was obvious." He really had thought it was obvious at this point. Everyone else seemed to think so. Sam especially seemed to think Dean was being stupid by drawing this out, but he didn't think he was being stupid. He wanted to savor this and savor her.

Castiel groaned.

Dean ignored him and reached out, twirling one of the curls in Jo's hair about a finger. "Don't you want to be mine, Jo?"

With an indrawn breath, she slid closer. "Yes." Her hand raised, caressing his cheek. A tiny, pleased smile was on her lips and Jo gave him a soft, sweet kiss that only lasted a few seconds. She drew back, hand lowering to dip into her jacket pocket and pull out a key. She laid it on his thigh. "Gwen plans on being out all night."

"Does she know that?"

"That depends."

"On?"

"If you use that key tonight or not."

Castiel groaned louder. "Oh, for crying out loud! Will you both stop and do it already? Jo, go in and turn down the bed and light a candle or whatever you're planning. He'll be in in a few minutes."

She frowned. "You're killing the mood again, Cas."

"Sue me. I didn't flirt with Gwen this long. You're both being stupid."

With an annoyed sniff, Jo got out and went into her room.

Dean looked back at him. "She's right. You're totally killing the mood, sucking the fun right out of it."

"Sorry, but you want her and she wants you. It's time. Here." He fumbled in his jacket pocket, bringing out a few condoms and holding them over the seat. "Be safe."

He glanced down at them. Magnum brand? For the larger size man? That said a lot he hadn't wanted to know. "You carry condoms in your pockets now?"

"Sure. Gwen shouldn't have to be the one carrying them all the time. I'm being considerate to her by taking some of the responsibility."

"All the time?"

"She has a delightful sense of adventure."

"I didn't need to know that." He took the condoms and shoved them in his own pocket.

With a smile, Castiel punched Dean on the arm. "Go get her."

"Uh-huh. I think we need to have another talk later."

"I look forward to the discussion. Have fun. I mean that. Have lots of fun. You both deserve fun." He winked. "If you know what I mean."

"I have no doubt what you mean, Cas." Dean shook his head. Surely there had to be a point where he got used to the way Castiel was now? He got out, closed the door and went to Jo's door. He counted to three before opening it and going inside. Once the door was closed with the chain on, Dean slowly stepped towards Jo.

She set her phone down on the dresser. "Gwen's been informed."

"Awesome."

Jo shinnied out of her jacket, then tossed it at the table, not watching to see if it made it there.

"So," he began.

"So."

"Here we are."

Jo nodded, moving closer to him. "Here we are."

"Alone at last."

"Amen to that," she replied, reaching for the bottle of water that was on the dresser. A tiny satisfied smile was on her lips. Uncapping the water, she splashed that small amount left onto his shirt. "We should get you out of those wet clothes. Wouldn't want you to catch cold."

With a grunt of anticipation, Dean reached for her.

He'd like to think he'd remember the rest of the evening in crystal clarity, but it was a blur of long, frantic kisses and insistent, rousing caresses, and of the sensation that something very right was happening between them. Dean basked in that feeling and in her.

Castiel got out of the car, turned to leave, and bumped right into Gabriel.

"Playing matchmaker?"

"Aren't you supposed to be planning your attack with Naomi?"

His shrug was unconcerned. "Everything is in motion."

Cas started walking towards his room. "Go home, Gabriel."

"Come with me."

"I have other things to do."

"Like what?"

"Save a damsel in distress. There's got to be one here somewhere."

"Let me save you some time. The creatures fled this area as soon as you arrived, taking their two victims with them. It's those two muroni they failed to kill awhile back. They recognized Gwen. They're two states away by now and wondering how your friends tracked them. There. No damsels. Come with me. I'll carry you. You should be at home with us."

"No. I decline your invitation."

"Don't be difficult, Castiel. I don't have to let you decide on your own. I could simply take you back. It's within my powers to do that and you know it."

"Why bother asking then?"

He glanced towards the door to Castiel's room and back. "I'm trying to get you to trust me. You'll hardly be amenable to anything if I overpower you. Our alliance should be built on trust."

"I'm not amenable to anything now. What makes you think you can get me to trust you at all?"

"Come home. Let me carry you there."

Gabriel's insistence made him look at Gabriel in suspicion. "Why? Why should I be there? What have you done?"

"It's not what I'm doing, but what I've ordered a team to do."

"And that is?" He had the sinking feeling that he wasn't going to like whatever Gabriel told him.

"I sent Samandriel in with a team to restart the power stream to your angel battery. When it turns on and hits what's already there I think it'll end up being a beacon to tell Raphael exactly where you are. It'd be better if you were in heaven where we can protect you during that and so your human family will be safe. Raphael will send troops if you're here."

"Stop them."

"They're already deep in Raphael's territory. Radio silence."

"You deliberately waited to tell me this."

Gabriel shrugged again. "Perhaps."

"I told you I didn't want that. Didn't you hear me?"

"I heard you."

This was what he'd meant when he'd told Dean that Gabriel would go his own way. Gabriel did whatever he wanted despite anyone else's wishes. "Why?"

"Because it ain't about what you want anymore."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"And Dean? What does he say? He's obviously been your example. What's his opinion?"

"To do the right thing."

Gabriel took a step closer, tapping a finger against his own chest. "That's what I'm doing. The right thing. I'm correcting a wrong. I'm Michael's replacement. It's my job and my duty to you to fix this. If Michael had discovered Raphael had done this, he'd fix it. I don't know what you'll end up, but you'd already be it if not for Raphael. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Sure. It's who I am. Right. Blah, blah, blah. Go away."

Gabriel sighed. "It's done. They'll either succeed or not. You should prepare yourself." With a flutter of wings, he was gone.

Castiel went into his room and sat on the bed. While he waited for Gwen to get back, he thought about everything, from the moment he'd pulled Dean from hell to this point in time.

The fear he had was almost crippling in intensity. Was this what Dean and Sam had felt? How had they born it? How had they managed to push through it? He knew they'd been afraid.

His mind retread old ground, from Zachariah and Michael's treatment of them, to the things that weren't angel or demon related. The two may have wavered on occasion, yet they'd persevered, acted despite fear and pain, and shown courage in adversity.

So much courage.

He recalled his own part, all of those things he'd said and done, and was deeply ashamed at his own present cowardice. He hated that this was the measure of him as a man…or whatever it was he was becoming.

Leaning forward, Castiel clasped his hands together and closed his eyes. Tears ran down his cheeks and he let them fall, not bothering to wipe them away.

Did this have to be the measure of him? Could he find it within him to show courage now? Could he be the man he'd wanted to be and live up to the example Dean and Sam showed daily? For that matter, to the example all of his friends showed?

Getting up, he went to the bar that his tan coat hung on. With hands that shook, he smoothed the lines, straightened the collar, and finally removed his hoodie, laying it aside. Castiel took the coat from the hanger and pulled it on. Though he'd been wearing it for warmth over other clothes, it was a familiar weight and a reminder of all that had transpired. Looking down at himself, he didn't feel quite right wearing jeans and a t-shirt with it, but this was who he was now. He wasn't the suit wearing angel. He was a more comfortably dressed…whatever he was.

If this was how it had to be, then he wasn't going to go into it with nothing. He was going to have promises that were specific, not vague things. He wasn't going to let them run his life this time. He was going to do this his way, just like Dean and Sam.

In the pocket was a knife and he drew it out, looking at it. It hadn't been there before. It was a new knife, not worn like his had ended up being by the time Raphael had captured him. He snorted. "You presume a lot, Gabriel," he said, suddenly aware of the angel in the room with him. How long had Gabriel been watching him and waiting? Had he left and returned or had he ever left at all? Had he suspected Castiel had reached the breaking point in his shame?

From behind him came the reply, with perhaps a hint of relief in it. "It's not a presumption if I knew all along you'd agree to helping me."

He turned. "I haven't agreed."

Gabriel's gaze slid down him and back up, obviously noting the coat and drawing the right conclusion about what it meant. "Haven't you?"

"I have a few conditions."

"Name them."

"One. If we win, then I'm allowed to stay here on earth. You won't recall me for 'reeducation' and I can freely come and go, visiting heaven when I wish to. You don't command me except in this battle. I'm my own…person."

He crossed his arms. "You may stay on earth, visit, come and go, only you will spend one day every earth month with me going over any issues that may have sprung up. You're your own person, but Castiel, as long as I'm the archangel and you are some sort of angel, I do command you. Goes with the job as archangel at the top. That said, I won't order you to join me to fight any battles. I'll ask if the need for another arises."

It was a reasonable counter. One day in heaven was acceptable and Castiel couldn't reasonably expect to be out of angelic politics. Not with his apparent transformation in that area. Dean was right. He was in it for the rest of his life. Gabriel was being generous in promising to ask and not order. Michael never would have agreed to anything of the sort. "Agreed. Two. No one bothers my friends and I mean no one. The Winchester brothers and all they associate with are off-limits for angelic politics. They won't be used against me."

"To the best of my ability. I can't make promises for the other spheres, like Death and Moira or the demons."

"Understood. Three. The angels that wish to remain here may do so without penalty."

Gabriel shook his head. "I can't grant the last, not without seeing who's been down here and why. I won't have Raphael's agents fleeing to earth and remaining free because of a promise I make to you before the battle is done. We'll recall all angels after the battle and question them as to their motives."

"But you will let angels live on earth if they wish to mingle among humans?"

Something flickered in Gabriel's eyes and it seemed to Castiel that Gabriel knew something he didn't. "Only if you agree to watch over them and made sure they behave. You'll be down here anyway. Look in occasionally, help them adjust. Offer advice."

While he thought about it several moments, attempting to look at it from all angles for a catch, he couldn't see anything wrong with Gabriel's condition. It was logical. He'd be down here and it'd be good to know who was here and to keep them in line if need be. He slid the knife into his coat pocket and held out his hand. "I believe then, that we have a deal, Gabriel. I'll fight with you against Raphael."

They shook hands. "Welcome back, Castiel."

"I'm not back yet. The matter of my wings…."

"Could be anytime." The hand that had shook his raised, rested on his shoulder and squeezed. "We still have a few days. Very few, but I'm confident Samandriel will be successful. You have a loyal friend and follower in him." He released Castiel's shoulder. "And in the others. Hester, Rachel, Inais." Gabriel continued, listing off names of friends he'd thought had been killed. Raphael had told him they'd died.

Castiel went to the bed and sat once more, relief making his legs feel weak. "I was told many of those had died."

"Rafe knows her tactics. She's not the smartest, but she's cunning."

From heaven came the faintest sound of a coded summoning. It was the first one Castiel had been able to hear in a very long time. To his shock, he realized that he'd missed being able to hear them.

"I need to take this news to our troops and finish planning with Naomi." From the inner pocket of his jacket, Gabriel pulled out a small packet and handed it to him. "Here. If you get a chance, study these. Tell me your thoughts when I return in a couple days."

When Gwen and Sam came through the door looking for him awhile later, he was studying the papers Gabriel had given him, deep into his own ideas of how they should attack.