Chapter 7: Archangel to Trickster
Dean sat the bags of food down next to him on the seat. Opening the first one he glanced at what it held before passing it to Sam. Glancing quickly into the other two, he passed one bag back to Gabriel and kept the last for himself. Opening he bag he pulled out the triple bacon cheese burger and opened it, taking a big bite and letting out a low moan at the taste. He adjusted his mirror and looked at the blonde in the back seat who was chowing down on his own burger.
"I've never tasted anything this good. How come we've never heard of this place?" Dean asked. "And how the hell did you even find it?"
"This family had been here for generations. I've always come here. They suspect what I am because I've been coming here since they settled." Gabriel said. "Everything is home made. The bread, pickles, and sauces they make from what they grow. The cows and pigs? They own them. The milk shakes? Made with milk from their cows. I never miss a chance to stop by here for their food."
Sam, who had a veggie burger, let out a moan to rival Dean's. "Mark this place on your map. We are coming back here again soon."
There was a knock on the car window and Dean turned to see a young woman standing there with a jar of some liquid. Gabriel rolled down his window and she held out the jar to him. With a smile he took the jar from her and held it in his hands tightly and it began to glow before the glow faded. He passed it back and she took it with a bow before leaving. She left and went to where an old woman was sitting on the porch of the the small roadside hut.
Gabriel pushed his food aside and opened the door and got out. "Be right back guys. I need to talk to someone real quick."
The two watched as Gabriel stepped up to the woman and gave her a small bow. She smiled and bowed back. The archangel got down on one knee to sit before her. The woman reached out to him and began to softly cry. The blonde smiled and got up and hugged her tight before letting her go. He dropped a kiss on her head before turning to leave, only to get ambushed by a group of kids. Watching the archangel interact with them was something else. They all seemed to love him for some strange guy they never met. Dean turned away to look at his brother who was watching with a sad smile.
"Who knew an angel would be good with kids?" Dean asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"He's the archangel of pregnancies. Being good with kids is just what he does." Sam said softly before turning back to his food.
"When are you going to talk to him Sam?" The eldest brother asked.
"I don't know. I guess it needs to be soon though huh?" Sam asked glancing up to see Gabriel coming back towards the car holding a small box.
Gabriel passed the box to Dean when he got in the car. "Apple pie. They just made them."
"Nice." Dean said setting the box beside him on the seat. "Ready then?"
"Yup. Thanks for letting us stop." Gabriel said turning back to his food.
"Remember I said I had a condition for us stopping?" Dean asked as he started the car up to get back on the road; they still had a ways to go.
There was an audible sigh from the back seat. "You want to talk don't you?"
"Damn right I do."
"Dean look I get that you want to help but I really don't need you to try and fix Sam and I." The archangel said. "Nice try though."
The eldest Winchester glared in the mirror. "I wasn't going to try and fix you and Sam. I know better then to crack open that can of worms."
"Okay then. What do you want to talk about?" The angel asked around a mouthful of burger with a smile. "If it's about if I'm a natural blonde then the answer is yes. The carpet matches the drapes."
Sam let out a cough as he began choking on his burger at the angel's words. He took a drink of his milk shake to clear his airway and turned to glare at the angel. The smile that had been on his face disappeared when that green glare was turned on him and the light in his eyes died. Gabriel turned away from Sam and instead focused to the passing scenery. The youngest hunter could have kicked himself; he hadn't been trying to upset the angel, it was just the way he normally responded to Gabriel's jokes. The blonde probably thought that he was still mad at him.
"Okay I didn't really need to know that but it was a nice distraction, but you aren't squirming your way out of this one." Dean said with a slight shudder. "I want to talk about what happened between you and Crowley back at the motel. You didn't shake like that when we had you in the holy fire and you didn't do it when you faced down Lucifer at the hotel, knowing he would kill you. So what did that scum bag say to you that had you acting like a leaf in a wind storm?"
Gabriel stared down at his food with a resigned expression but no answer was forthcoming.
"Come on Gabe. I'm asking nicely."
The archangel held up a hand. "Let me finish my food first. I'd rather not let it go to waste because I'm sure that once I start talking that my appetite is going to run away screaming."
"You've got twenty minutes." Dean said, glancing in the mirror to see the archangel nod.
The next twenty minutes were filled with the sounds of heavy metal and small talk. The hunters had honestly been expecting the angel to be involved but he was just as silent as he had been since the start of the trip. Sam had been worried at first with how quite the angel was being, until he realized that Gabriel had taken up the whole back seat and his eyes were fixed solely on the pad in his lap. The younger hunter had turned down the music, much to Dean's displeasure, and realized that the angel had turned his own music up so loud that Sam could hear it from the front seat and through the headphones.
When Sam told his brother as much Dean have given him the bitch face and told him point blank that Sam was the one who asked for space and that Gabriel was doing his best to give it to him. The angel didn't speak until he told then to pulled over at the place they had just left. The angel had passed fifty dollars up to Dean and told him what to get him and said to make sure they got something too and that the place could keep the change. Dean had agreed but told Gabriel that if they were pulling over that there would be some conditions and the angel agreed.
"Okay. I'm finished." Gabriel said, gathering up his trash and putting it in the bag. "Ask away."
"You going to tell me the truth?" Dean asked, suspicious due to how easily the archangel was giving into his demands.
"Swear it on my Grace. I won't lie to you."
"Okay. So what the hell did that asshole say to you?" The hunter asked.
There was a sigh from the back seat. "He said, 'You know this is just a temporary thing right? They get tired of things like us after a while. When they finally get tired of you, you know what's going to happen. They are going to drop you so fast that you won't even know what hit you. When that time comes I'll be everything you need and more. Every king needs a queen to rule beside him. You'd be the perfect mate for me. Willing or not.'"
"That son of a bitch!" Dean snapped. "He threatened you right in front of us. Why the hell didn't Cas tell me what he was saying?"
"The Lucifian Tongue is not one that he would know. It was the first form of demon language, only the oldest demons know how to speak it. Lucifer taught me how to speak it during my visits to his Cage." Gabriel said. "He thought it would keep me safe if I knew it. Proof that I was under his protection should I run afoul a demon who didn't know me."
"Alright and what did you say back?"
"I told him exactly what I thought about him and where he could stick his proposal. That I was already courting someone and that he couldn't interfere with it. I also told him that if he comes near me again that next time I throw my blade at him that I won't miss. He didn't seem impressed. That was what shook me up so bad." Gabriel admitted. "Since then I've had this feeling that something bad is going to happen. I just don't know what."
Sam watched as Gabriel turned to look out the window, feeling like there was more to it then just that. "Gabriel? What else is bugging you? The fact he said he'd have you as his mate willing or not?"
The blonde let out a harsh laugh. "Crowley's threats of rape don't scare me. It's happened before, like I told you. While traumatic I know how to get myself through it in one piece. Trust me. My attackers never lived long enough to regret their choices either."
"Then what is bugging you?" The eldest hunter asked. "Cause that bugs the hell out of me."
"Crowley is..." Gabriel paused, struggling to explain what he was feeling in a way that they could understand. "Crowley is playing a game with me. A very high stakes and dangerous game. I know that. I just can't see past to his end game. I should have listened to my brothers."
Green eyes glanced in the rear view mirror for a second before returning to the road. "How did Michael and Lucifer know about Crowley? Or even know about what was happening?"
"After I fought with Cassie I realized that I needed to talk. I needed to get away from everything for a while and stop being The Archangel and Messenger of the Lord or The Trickster Loki and just be Gabriel again. The only way I could do that was to talk to the only family I have left that are older then me. So I went to the Cage hoping that they would be willing to talk to me." Gabriel said softly. "It was nice, not having to be what everyone expected me to be for while. I was back to being someone's carefree little brother who was in need of comfort."
Sam and Dean both felt their hearts clench. It was easy to forget sometimes with the way Gabriel carried on that he was the youngest of the First Four. It made much more sense that Gabriel would go to hell to be with his big brothers when he needed them. Dean gripped the steering wheel tighter, feeling his own protective feelings toward Sam rising up and realized that they weren't only for Sam. He felt them for Gabriel as well, especially since seeing him in a whole new light since his night of drinking.
"Hey...Gabe listen...I know it's not the same but...I am a big brother, even if I'm not your big brother. If you ever need to talk, or anything like that..." Dean hesitated, not sure how to finish saying what he needed to.
"Thanks Dean. That means a lot to me." Gabriel said. "I don't get many offers of friendship."
"Not just friendship. You're family now. If you saving us from Lucifer didn't prove that then you taking on that wolf thing did." Dean said. "No matter what happens we are with you till the end. That's just what family does."
Gabriel let out a snort. "Not sure I've done anything to deserve being called family Dean. If anything I think my track records speaks otherwise. The school? The Mystery Spot? TV land? Any of this ringing any bells?"
"Were you actually trying to kill us?" Sam asked.
Gabriel fell silent.
"Gabe. Come on. Answer me. You promised not to lie." Sam pressed.
"No." Came the muttered answer.
"Then what were you doing?" The youngest hunter asked, wanting to know since the angel had promised not to lie.
"I was doing what I could to try and help. The school was just me testing your skills. The Mystery Spot was me trying to make sure you would be strong enough to survive without Dean. TV land was...It was me...It was me just trying to get it over with. I was tired of everything." Gabriel let out a bitter laugh.
"My best friend and mentor was locked away, to be released only to have to fight to the death. Raphael tried to kill me for trying to stop Lucifer from falling and Michael...I found out from Castiel after meeting him again that Michael suspected that I was still alive. He decreed that should I ever return to heaven that my punishment for running was to be death."
The archangel paused and sighed. "When the apocalypse started I saw it as a way for it all to be over. I was tired of running, I was tired of the fighting, I was tired of our Dad ignoring us. I figured that if the apocalypse happened then maybe...maybe all of us would be better off dead. When I met you at the hotel with the other gods...That was the first time in a long time that I had any hope at all. That's why I did it. That was why I faced my brother."
"Damn." Dean muttered, a bit stunned. "Gabe you had far too much shit on your plate to be dealing with our problems too."
The archangel shrugged. "You guys were worth it. When I looked at the two of you...Sometimes it was almost like I was looking at Michael and Lucifer again. The funny thing is... Dean is more like Lucifer with the pranks and smart ass remarks while Sam is more like Michael with his sense of duty and right and wrong. Definitely interesting."
The car fell silent with the exception of the rock station playing.
"Gabe, what are you going to do about Crowley?" Sam asked suddenly.
"If I had my way I'd probably just smite him and be done with it." The angel said with a shrug. "The little weasel always seems to find a way to survive though."
"I think Lucifer had a good point when he called Crowley a cockroach." Dean said with a grin. "It seems to fit him."
"He shows up again his name is going to be splat because that is exactly what I plan to do to him." The archangel said with a grin. "Maybe I can take him and pin him to a corkboard. That would be a nice little trophy. I could put him above the fireplace at my house."
"I would pay money to see that happen." Dean said with a laugh. "And you really need to let me see this house of yours. It sounds amazing."
"I built it a very long time along. I wanted a safe place, not only for myself, but for Lucifer as well. Back then I was still actively trying to free Lucifer until he made me promise to stop. I don't know if Sam told you what he was to me or not."
Dean nodded. "Yeah. He told me everything."
"Lucifer and I were a lot like you and Sam in terms of closeness. Damn near inseparable. We were the troublemakers of heaven. Those were good times. Fun times." Gabriel said. "I'm still not sure when it changed but it started with Raphael. He became bossy and spiteful. Not too long after that Lucifer began to change, turning on the humans he once thought were wonderful, if not a bit clumsy. Then Michael started becoming bitter and cold. Everything broke apart after that.
"I...I tried to keep Lucifer from Falling but there was only so much I could do back then. Then Raphael broke my wing in front of everyone and heaven got turned on it's head. By the time the dust settled I ended up hating it. I went before my Father and told him that I couldn't take it. That nothing felt right anymore. He just hugged me and told me to do what I felt I had to. So I ran. I ran and never looked back. I wanted things to go back to normal so I tried freeing Lucifer until he made me swear to never try again. I promised and decided to leave it all behind. I left behind being the Archangel Gabriel and made a new life; I became Loki, The Trickster."
"Wow. That's something else." Sam said turning to look at him only to notice the tears going down his face. "You're crying."
Gabriel looked up and checked himself in the mirror. "I didn't even realize."
Sam passed him a napkin. "It's okay. You just told us something that I sure no one else knows. I bet it feels better now that it's out in the open huh?"
The angel wiped at his face. "Yeah. It kind of does. If I had known it would make me feel better I would have spilled my guts long before now."
"See? Family is best. No alcohol needed." Dean said with a smirk. "You doing okay? You look uncomfortable back there."
Gabriel shifted a bit and suddenly there was a single pair of golden wings behind him. "My wing in bugging me again. Can we pull over? I want to get my flask out of my bag. It has some tea in it."
Dean nodded and pulled off the road and onto the shoulder. He shut the car off and pulled out the keys and got out. Opening the trunk he pulled the angel's duffle bag out and opened it, pleased to see the assortment of weapons in the angel's bag. Searching through the pockets he finally found the flask and pulled it from the pocket and as he did a coin fell out. Picking it up Dean let out a curse as he realized what it was and quickly closed the trunk. Seeing the small river ahead he jogged over to it with a smile.
Putting the coin close to his lips Dean screamed. "GO FUCK YOURSELF CROWLEY!"
Pulling back Dean flung the coin as hard as he could into the water. Going back to the Impala he got in and tossed the angel the angel the flask. Stating the Impala up Dean put it in drive and floored it. Sam and Gabriel both shot him curious looks and he gunned the motor, his grip on the wheel turning his knuckles white.
"You remember that coin Crowley used before?" Dean asked. "Well I just found one stashed in Gabriel's bag."
"What?" Sam asked. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Same markings and everything. The asshole has probably been listening to us this whole time!" Dean snapped.
"It's not like he can do anything with what he heard." Gabriel said. "My bet is he was hoping to hear something about angelic mating bonds. He wants to claim me as a mate but I doubt he knows enough about angels to know what to do. Next time we hit a gas station we need to check everything. Just in case he left more then one."
Sam nodded and began checking his phone. "Good idea. There should be one coming up in about twenty miles."
"Call Bobby. Tell him we're going to be a bit late and to check his place just in case." Dean said.
Sam nodded and started dialing. Gabriel couldn't stop the guilt from rising up in him. This was happening because of him. If it got any worse he would leave and take his chances on his own. He didn't want to risk his new family.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Crowley chuckled as he stared at the coin on his desk. "Was that really necessary squirrel? Those are hard to come by." The demon said. "Not that it matters. I have everything I need to put my plan into action. One more little meeting with Gabriel and I'll have him right where I want him. It's a shame that the Moose will never get to mate with him."
Taking a sip of his whisky, the demon leaned back in his chair, putting his feet up. He reached into the inner pocket of his suit and pulled out two golden feathers. The demon twirled them around his fingers taking in their shine. He had grabbed them when he was alone at the motel with the angel when his wing was broken. Gabriel had been in such pain the he hadn't even noticed Crowley pulling them out.
"Next time we meet Gabriel, I'll have you kneeling at my feet where you belong. I always did want an angel for a pet."
