Chapter 15: The Elephant

Lucifer cursed as he looked over the tome sitting on the desk. He threw his pen down and stretched, trying to ease the tension in his back. Not needing sleep meant he could get more done but it came with the downside of wanting to shut down after working for so long. He'd been reading over the tome Gabriel had named for three days, stopping only to take small breaks and to cook despite being told by the humans that they were more then capable of feeding themselves.

Strangely enough it was Dean who was on his side and told them that if the Devil wanted to cook then they should let him. The hunter would never know how grateful he was as the cooking gave him a creative outlet instead of a destructive one. He had picked up his passion for cooking from his younger brother. Gabriel said that making a cake or pie was just like mixing healing drafts. He just liked it because it reduced his stress.

Stress seemed to be all he was feeling ever since Gabriel had shown up to his Cage. When he first felt his little brother he thought for sure he was imagining it. Seeing him sitting there with his back to the bars had sent a bolt of fear through him that he covered with anger and threats. Lucifer didn't even want to admit the sheer terror he felt when he grabbed his brother by the throat and Gabriel didn't even try to fight him off. Oh how he wanted to do nothing more then pull Gabriel into the Cage with him, apologize and pick right back up where they left off before the war happened.

Instead he knew that his time had passed and Gabriel seemed happy with Sam. He wasn't going to take that from him. Not after everything Gabriel told him about his previous partners. So Lucifer did what any big brother would do, he stepped aside to let his little brother find his own happiness.

When Crowley showed up next he knew his fear was well founded. Oh how he wanted to rip the demon's throat right out. When Michael had pulled him aside afterwards and started talking about calling their Father for help he had wanted to do nothing more then smack the idiot. He never expected God to actually help them. He was shocked to say the least.

Then they found out the truth. Raphael had staged everything. He was the one who had driven them apart, encouraged them to fight and pit them against each other. When Gabriel had tried to stop them from fighting Raphael's plans began to fall apart and he had panicked. He had attacked Gabriel when his back was turned and broken his wing. To hear his baby brother and lover scream in pure agony had made him see red.

Fueled by an unknown rage, he had attacked and would have killed him had Michael not interfered. He wasn't even sure exactly what had happened but after that it was like he hated everything. He didn't find out till later that Raphael had poisoned him and that it took a touch from their Father to reset his brain. The regret on both their faces when he came back to himself had made him sick but not nearly as sick as he had become remembering the horrible things he did.

Going upstairs he headed straight for Sam's room. He carefully opened the door and stood there, watching both his vessel and brother sleep in a tangle of limbs on the bed. It was hard actually seeing Gabriel with Sam. It sent the jealously pumping through him because even though he had told Gabriel that they couldn't be together anymore and sent him away, they never really said goodbye to each other.

Their love was a chapter of their lives that they never got to close and with Gabriel's condition right now it seemed like it would be even longer before they would have a chance to do so. He was just grateful that his mind was stuck in a time before the had gotten together. He wasn't sure he'd be able to stand the look on Sam's face if Gabriel kissed him or his brother's heartbreak if he revealed they had separated.

"Lucifer?"

Lucifer turned to find Dean standing in the hall looking half asleep and carrying a large knife. "Did I wake you? If so then I apologize."

"Hunter senses. Every noise is a possible danger." Dean said. "Everything okay?"

"Yes. Just taking a break and reflecting." Lucifer said before reaching in and pulling the door to Sam's room shut. "When you get to be as old as I am you have regrets."

"Gabe told us that you guys broke up but didn't get to say goodbye." The hunter said softly.

Lucifer let out a huff. "Things went south because of Raphael. We haven't told Gabriel yet but Raphael was revealed to be a traitor. He turned us against each other. He's the reason I Fell, the reason Michael and I were at each other's throats, and the reason Gabriel was the first angel to ever break a wing. Everything was done by him just so he could end up as our Father's favorite son."

"So the ninja turtle was a bigger douche then we thought." Dean said. "I'm not surprised. Hey why don't you take a break and get some rest? You've been at it for days."

"I can't. I owe Gabby that much." Lucifer said looking at the closed door.

"That's another thing. How come you call him Gabby when the rest of us just call him Gabe?"

Lucifer let out a chuckle. "I do it because he hates it. After we got together it because more of a pet name. Now he doesn't even respond to it."

"Kind of like me calling my brother Sammy." Dean said. "Well, I know it's not my place to say it but don't run yourself ragged. Gabe wouldn't like that. Take a nap, get laid, go have a couple drinks, do something other then work. I'll see you in the morning. Night."

"Goodnight Dean." Lucifer said, watching the human head back into his room.

Casting one last glance at Sam's door, Lucifer headed back downstairs. Bypassing the living room he went into the kitchen and went to grab a cup of coffee. Opening the cabinet, the Devil paused at seeing the bottle of whiskey sitting beside the can of coffee. Thinking over the hunter's words, Lucifer grabbed the bottle and poured himself a drink. The alcohol burned as it went down but it was a pleasant feeling. Filling his cup he turned and headed back into the living room, stopping when he noticed Michael standing behind the desk and looking over his notes.

"Aren't you supposed to be off getting heaven back in order before I get thrown back in my Cage?" Lucifer asked.

Michael looked up with a frown. "Who said you were going back?"

Lucifer let out a humorless chuckle. "I'm not stupid Big Brother. I know my fate. Once I help get Gabby back on his feet dear old Dad is going to say 'Thanks for the help Luci. Time to go back to hell! Sit! Stay! Good Devil!' and this time he'll make sure I stay there."

"You don't know that Lucifer. Now that you're free you can come back." Michael said.

The Devil shoved his older brother aside so he could get to the desk once more. "Back to where Mike? Heaven? If so then you truly are dumber then I thought. Even if you explain things do you really think that I'll be welcomed back to heaven with open arms? I have a better chance of getting Dean into bed with me."

Michael's expression changed to one of pure fury. "Lucifer if you even think about trying to interfere with Castiel's mating bond with-"

"You are such a tight ass Mike. It was sarcasm. I wasn't being serious. It just means that it won't happen. Seems like a sense of humor wasn't the only thing that our Father forgot to give you." Lucifer said as he sat his cup down. "Now please leave. I have more work to do."

The First Born frowned and he reached out placed his hand over Satan's to stop him from going back to his research. "Dean was right. You need to take a break."

Lucifer tried to pull away but his brother held tight. "I just did. I went and checked on Gabby and talked to your vessel. I even took his advice and got a drink. Break time is over."

"Luc...Please. It won't hurt for you to just stop for a little while." The First Born said quietly, feeling the younger tense under his hand.

"You haven't called me that since it was just the two of us." Lucifer whispered.

"Maybe it's time I start doing it again." Michael said. "You told me that words mean nothing to you Lucifer, and after everything that's happened I can see why. We said we loved you and yet we locked you away. We promised not to abandon you and we did. We said we'd hear you out and we didn't. Judging by my actions I can see why you ended up hating me. Instead of learning from the mistakes I made with you I turned right around and did the same things to Gabriel. If he had returned to heaven he would have been executed on my orders. Neither of you have any reason to trust my words."

Lucifer stared at their joined hands but said nothing. What could he say? He was pretty sure that there weren't any words he could use to ease Michael's guilt. All he could do is support him.

"Luc I know you have no reason to believe me but I want to try and get my family back. You saw me holding him. Even when I was fighting him I was holding back." Michael said. "He even called me on it. He was right too. I couldn't kill him any more then I could have brought myself to kill you."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

Lucifer looked up and his blue eyes locked with Michael's. "Why wouldn't you have killed me? I deserved it. In fact I think I deserved a lifetime of torture for my actions."

"Please don't say that." Michael said closing is eyes and looking away. "I don't ever want to hear you say that again."

"And why not Michael? It's the truth. I deserve to be strung up and have my wings ripped from me before being sentenced to endless pain!" Lucifer spat.

Michael suddenly lunged forward and grabbed the front of Lucifer's shirt and shoved him hard. The Morningstar fell backwards and found himself shoved up against a wall of rock. Michael backed off and the younger realized that they were in a desert with a mountain behind him. Turning to the eldest angel Lucifer let out a growl.

"Where are we?" Lucifer demanded. "Why did you bring us here?"

"We're in Egypt. I brought us here so we could talk without waking the house." Michael said. "Now maybe you'll listen to me instead of demanding to be punished."

"You think I want it to happen?" Lucifer asked in disbelief. "Don't you get it Michael?! No matter what happens now, or what I do, it won't matter! There are those in heaven who would call for my death just because I am the Devil. They won't care that I want my family back. They won't care that I want to help people again. Hell! I'll be lucky if they even care that all I want is to be able to live again. You can't protect me Michael. They'll demand more then my wings, Dear Brother. They'll want my life."

"Stop talking like that!" Michael snapped. "Why do you and Gabriel both insist on reminding me of my failures?! Do you enjoy watching me suffer with the knowledge that I couldn't protect you? Or do see this as my punishment?"

"Your failures?" Lucifer asked. "You consider us failures?!"

"No. You're not the failure Luc. I am." Michael admitted. "I failed you. I am the eldest. I should have acted like it. Instead I let you down. I had to help cast you into hell when I should have been defending you. I let Raphael blind me to what he was doing. I abandoned Gabriel and ordered him to be killed upon his return to heaven instead of going after him and letting him know I didn't hate him.

"I have been the worst possible brother when I should have been setting an example. I should have been doing my job and taking care of you. Something that I know I will probably never be able to make right. Do you know why? Because you're always going to have that nagging doubt in the back of your minds of 'Has Michael abandoned me again?'; it will never fade Luc. Never."

"You're right. It won't fade but Gabriel will forgive you. You know he will. He's stupid like that." Lucifer said, trying to reassure the First Born. "You'll find a way to make it up to him once I heal him. All he ever wanted was us to be a family again."

Michael suddenly turned and pinned him with his blue gaze. "Do you really believe that?"

Lucifer wasn't sure why his voice stuck in his throat for a moment but it did. "I do."

Michael suddenly moved closer, his gaze piercing Lucifer where he stood and making the Devil step back until he bumped into the rock behind him. "And what about you Luc?"

"What about me?" The taller blonde asked, his voice a bit higher then he would have liked.

"Would you ever be able to forgive me or have I already pushed you to far?"

"I thought we were talking about Gabriel." Lucifer said, willing to admit just how unnerved he was by Michael's strange behavior. "I don't have anything to do with this."

"You have everything to do with it Luc." Michael said coming even closer. "Now answer me. Have I pushed you too far?"

Lucifer shook his head, not trusting his voice.

The First Born smiled at him. "I'm glad. Now that I know that I need to know how you feel about me. We just spent eight hundred years together locked in the Cage. I know you feel something for me other then hate."

"You're my brother. I care for you." The Morningstar said softly.

"Is that all you feel?" Michael was close enough that Lucifer could feel the heat of his brother's vessel and it was making him uncomfortable.

"What is wrong with you Michael?" Lucifer asked, not wanting to answer. "Are you ill?"

Michael slammed his fist into the rock beside him, cracking it. "Answer my question Lucifer! I don't feel like playing your mind games!"

"My games?" Lucifer said trying to move away. "You're the one acting strange."

Michael's other hand came up effectively trapping the much buffer blonde in place; not the size mattered to either of them as Michael could easily overpower his younger brother without even truly trying. "I'm not going to tell you again Lucifer. Answer my question."

Lucifer's eyes flashed; he didn't like being threatened or intimidated, least of all by his big brother. "Or what? What will you do to me Michael? Throw me back into hell?"

"Don't tempt me, Little Brother, or you may just find yourself getting the punishment you were asking for so badly from me." Michael said, his voice a barely heard hiss.

"Michael let me go. Please."

Michael paused and looked hard at his brother. Lucifer was pressed back against the wall as far away from him as he could get. The other blonde's face was blank but his eyes held a flicker of fear in them. The First Born realized that he had pinned his younger brother slowly back away watching the Devil relax now that Michael was no longer invading his personal space.

"I'm sorry." Michael said. "This was not how I pictured this conversation going. I...I should let you get back."

"And just how did you picture this conversation going?" Lucifer asked curiously.

"Less fighting and maybe more heart felt."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you think I'm blind?"

Now Lucifer was really confused. "Michael what are you talking about?"

Michael suddenly turned and Lucifer found himself pinned to the wall once more. "I'm not blind nor am I stupid Lucifer. We were locked in the Cage together for a long time. Did you really think I wouldn't notice how you looked at me? I saw it all."

Lucifer felt his heart stutter; Michael had noticed him practically undressing the First Born with his eyes while they were in the Cage and now his brother was calling him on it. "I didn't know you saw. If that is what this is about then I apologize for my actions and I promise it won't happen again."

Michael let out a cold laugh. "And yet you say I'm the dumb one. Why do you think I never said anything Luc? Don't you think if I didn't want the attention I would have done something?"

"Yes. I mean no. I should go." The Second Born said, trying to get away.

Michael shoved Lucifer hard against the rocks once more. "I kept wondering why you wouldn't make your move. It was clear you wanted me. I could see it on your face. I even risked sleep hoping that maybe you might come to me then, when I was vulnerable."

Lucifer paled. "I may be many things but I am no rapist."

"I didn't say you were." Michael said. "I was just hoping you might come and try your luck. I wanted you to try. I wouldn't have said no. Not to you. Never to you. I only took my first mate because I couldn't have you."

The Second Born's mouth hung open and he had no idea what to say. "Michael..."

"I've loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you Lucifer. I wanted nothing more then to claim you for my own then but then Father made our brothers and by the time I found the chance, Gabriel had already won your cold heart over." Michael said, pressing in close to the Morningstar. "I had never been more jealous of Gabriel. He had the one thing I wanted more then life itself. He had you."

"You never-"

"I never showed it because I wanted you happy even at the expense of my own happiness. Our Father told me that I time would come where I would be able to win your heart over and claim you as my own. After all our time together I believe that this is that time. I want you as mine Lucifer. I want you as my mate." Michael said softly. "I want you forever."

Lucifer froze as he was yanked forward and their lips met in a harsh kiss. It only took a moment before he began to respond to those warm lips and started kissing back. If this was a dream then Lucifer never wanted to wake up. He pulled Michael closer, savoring the warmth of his brother's vessel. Lucifer suddenly pulled away from the kiss.

"Michael we can't. Your vessel's soul-"

"Adam said to tell you to shut up and kiss me before he takes over and puts you in your place. He's tried of me avoiding what I really want and tired of us not be truthful to ourselves." Michael said. "He's already given me permission to do whatever I want. Should that lead to more pleasing activities then he says it will make for some great porn."

Lucifer let out a chuckle. "Then let me be truthful too. I do love Gabriel. A part of me always will. The only reason I was with him was because I didn't think you'd ever consider being with me. I figured that since I was Second Born, then I'd settle for second place. I would love to start this with you but only as long as you understand something about Gabriel and I."

Michael let out a sigh and kissed the Devil once more. "Lucifer, you and Gabriel have something special that I will never understand. It's fine with me. Once we get him healed then we can settle what you and he had and then, make no mistake, I will claim you as my mate."

Lucifer shook his head. "You are so demanding."

"Just be glad you can't hear Adam cheering. He keeps saying that he's glad we finally addressed the elephant in the room." Michael said with a laugh. "Now I do believe we were doing something before you became worried about my vessel."

Lucifer frowned. "Are you sure you want to do something here? There's so much sand. It could get into some interesting places."

The smirk Michael gave him, made the Devil proud just before he was pounced on.