AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sorry for the short chapter and the next one which will probably be just as brief. But I promise the last two will be good and long. I've already got my notes and I'm planning some seriously heartbreaking scenes for the chapter covering 'Swan Song'.

Chapter 26

Hammer of the Gods

In all the time Ash had been dead, he couldn't remember there ever being an earthquake in Heaven.

He and Celeste had been sharing stories and beers when the Roadhouse had started shaking, knocking liquor bottles over and toppling chairs and tables.

Celeste seemed surprised when the shaking stopped and she and Ash were still alone.

"You expecting company?" Ash asked as he looked around, watching his Heaven instantly right itself.

"No," Celeste replied, warily, looking around. "You?" But when Ash shook his head, the angel felt even more worried. So much so that she conjured her sword and held it at the ready just in case.

"Really? Is that anyway to greet your brother?"

Celeste whirled around, raising the blade to attack but she was blocked by a second blade held by—"Gabriel?"

"Friend of yours?" Ash asked, looking from Celeste to the newest arrival.

Celeste turned to Ash and said, "Ash, this is Gabriel. The archangel." Turning to her brother, she said, "Gabriel, this is Ash."

"Love the haircut, man," Gabriel replied, sincerely, as he shook Ash's hand. "Can't find a lot of people who can pull that look off anymore."

"Thanks, man," Ash replied with a smile. "So I thought you didn't make it up here anymore?"

"Just came to steal your girlfriend," Gabriel replied, looking at Celeste. "Sam and Dean are heading for trouble and I need your help."

"Yeah, well," Celeste said, sitting at the bar and tossing back the shot that was sitting there. "I guess you missed the memo. I'm grounded."

Gabriel scoffed at that and refilled the shot glass before taking a drink. "Details, details. The world needs saving and I need you to come downstairs with me."

Celeste was still doubtful, but reaching out her grace, she was surprised when she no longer felt the bonds tying her to Heaven. Something that could only have happened if… "Zachariah's dead?" She asked.

"As a doornail," Gabriel confirmed with a cheeky smile. Gesturing to the door, he said, "Shall we?" As the two angels headed for the front door, Gabriel turned back to Ash and gave him a wink and a smirk. "Don't worry, big boy. I'll bring her home safe."

The rain was torrential and it was almost impossible to see out the windshield of the Impala.

Finding the hotel had been like finding an island in the middle of the ocean and while Sam was extremely vocal about not just stopping at the first available hotel, Dean and Fiona argued that if the rain got any heavier it wouldn't even be safe to drive.

Once Dean had parked, all three of them hurried to grab their bags and get inside before getting soaked to the bone. Looking around as they entered the lobby, Dean noticed that it was a lot swankier than most of the placed they'd been in. "Nice digs for once," he said aloud.

"No kidding," Fiona said, shaking her head and spattering Sam and Dean with rainwater. "Look, let's just get our rooms so I can get a hot shower and some beauty sleep."

"You're not actually turning into a girl on us, are you?" Dean said with a smirk. But Fiona's response was to smack Dean hard on the back of the head. "Guess not," he muttered, rubbing his head. "You and Gibbs really need to lay off on that headslapping stuff."

"Well, then stop doing stuff to deserve it," Fi replied.

x

Once they'd checked in, Sam and Dean went to grab a bite to eat while Fiona went to the room and took advantage of the boys being absent to take a long hot shower. But as she came out of the bathroom, she almost screamed in alarm when she saw Anna standing there. "Knock, Anna! Okay?" Fi said, wrapping her towel tighter around her body. "Knock. It's what people do, alright?"

"You're in danger," Anna went on, quickly. "You're right in the middle of a crowd of pagan gods."

Fiona paused for a moment before she rolled her eyes and grabbed the last of the clean, dry clothes she had in her bag before marching back into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. A few moments later, she reemerged fully dressed and pulled on her boots before stuffing her other clothes in her bag before heading for the door. Looking over her shoulder at Anna, she asked, "You coming?"

x

Finding Sam and Dean in the hotel restaurant was a snap but when the two brothers looked up to see Fiona and Anna standing next to the table, Dean let out a dry laugh. "Let me guess," he said, giving the angel a smile. "Someone wants to kill us."

"More like a dozen someones," Fi said as she sat down. Anna had flown the coop, leaving the three hunters alone to talk. "It looks like there's a convention of pagan gods in the hotel to try and come up with a solution to the whole Lucifer situation."

"Can't we just get one night when no one's trying to kill us?" Dean groaned, pushing his piece of pie away, his appetite suddenly gone.

"Gets better," Fiona said, taking Dean's plate and fork and digging in. "Anna and Gabriel are planning on crashing along with some other angel named Celeste."

Dean and Sam stiffened at the name and exchanged a questioning look. "I thought Celeste said she was on lockdown upstairs?" Sam said, confused.

"Yeah, Zachariah had her grounded," Dean confirmed. Thinking back, though, he shrugged. "Maybe when you killed him, it cut her loose. Looking at Fiona, he asked, "So what do we do now?"

"I've heard of some harebrained plans," Celeste said, looking at the other two angels. "—But this is bordering on suicide."

"Relax," Gabriel assured her, even though he knew she had a point. Looking at Anna and Celeste, he grinned. "Besides, I've got the perfect covers for you two."

"Really?" Anna said, crossing her arms and looking doubtful. It wasn't that she doubted Gabriel's plan, but even before he'd left Heaven, he'd always had a mischievous streak and Anna had often been the one to catch the brunt of it.

"Really," Gabriel promised. "Anna… Tonight, you'll be masquerading as the Irish Goddess, Cerrid. Always sharing wisdom and knowledge to humankind."

"And me?" Celeste asked, suddenly worried when she saw the twinkle in the archangel's eye.

"You, my dear," Gabriel said, drawing it out. "Will be starring as the Egyptian goddess of the heavens and celestial order."

"Name?" Celeste asked, knowing she was about to get screwed over. And when Gabriel told her, she repressed the urge to smack her brother.

When the Winchesters were brought into the hotel's grand ballroom, they were startled to note the name tags of the gods and goddesses present. Kali, Odin, Ganesh, Baron Samedi… but also Artemis, Mercury…

Dean tried to avoid Anna's eyes, but he did take note of what name she was using. But when he glanced at Celeste's name tag, he couldn't help a snort of laughter.

"Something funny?" Celeste asked, glaring at the hunter.

"No, ma'am," Dean assured her, making his expression as blank as possible. Leaning towards Sam, he whispered, "We are so screwed."

"No kidding," Fiona whispered back. Sitting on Dean's other side, she couldn't see any possible avenue of escape. These gods were either going to use them as bait or kill them.

But there was a glimmer of hope when a god wearing a name tag saying 'My name is Nut' stood to address the others. "Lucifer won't stop. And a fight between gods and angels is going to end bloody for everyone. But we don't have a choice. So let's all just agree to work together to stop Lucifer before he murders us all."

"And how exactly do you suggest we kill him?" one of the other gods asked, doubtfully.

"Simple," Anna said, withdrawing her own angel sword. Setting it on the table, she hoped Gabriel's plan would work as she said, "With this."

Kali smiled as she picked up the blade and studied it. "An archangel's blade… From the archangel Gabriel?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

"So that's where it went," Gabriel said as he suddenly appeared in the room. Looking at Kali, he said, "Hate to break up the party, but Lucifer planted a spy in your midst." Grabbing the angel sword, he held it out in front of him just as Mercury appeared right in front of him. As the god dropped to the ground, dead, Gabriel turned to Sam, Dean, and Fiona. "Give us a minute, will you, guys?"

"So if he's Gabriel," Odin said, before pointing to Anna and Celeste. "—then who're you two?"

Celeste smiled at the others. "Not important." But before she could say anything else, the lights began to flicker violently. Looking at the other gods, she said, "Go. Get out of here. I'll hold them off. Gabriel, you and Anna get everyone out of the hotel." Straightening up, she withdrew her own blade. "I'll handle Lucifer."

Gabriel was about to protest, but before he could even open his mouth, Anna spoke up.

"I'll hold him off," Anna insisted. The others looked at her incredulously but only for a moment before Gabriel and Celeste hurried everyone else out of the room, giving their sister angel one last look before letting the doors close behind them.

Alone in the room, Anna thought back to her past. Before the Apocalypse… before the restoration of her grace… before her fall from Heaven.

Back when she was a little sister who worshiped her older brothers.

Michael never really seemed to take much notice of her, but Lucifer and Gabriel—the three of them were thick as thieves. As Anna watched the Winchesters and Fiona, she was often reminded of her early life in Heaven.

Before God created people.

The ballroom doors opened and Anna straightened up as she faced Lucifer.

"Anna," Lucifer said, surprised. "Not who I expected."

"Lucifer," Anna replied, pleasantly. Looking at the angel's vessel, she hoped that Lucifer didn't combust while they talked.

"So they left you behind," Lucifer mused, thoughtfully. "Typical."

"I chose to stay behind," Anna insisted. "Lucifer, I know you're angry at God. I've been angry, too. I hate that we don't get to chose what we do." Trying to stall for time, she added, "But destroying the world isn't the solution."

"You misunderstand me, Anna," Lucifer said, calmly. "This planet… It's filled with more beauty than you can ever imagine. It's humans who are destroying it."

Anna said nothing as she raised her sword. She knew she didn't stand a chance, but she wouldn't back down without putting up a fight.

Two days later, in an empty field surrounded by wild roses and honeysuckle, six hunters and two angels stood around a funeral pyre atop which lay Anna's body. Dean had personally gone back to the hotel and retrieved the angel's empty vessel and after trying to find a place to lay Anna to rest, Jo had suggested this empty field.

Gabriel seemed almost guilt-ridden as he looked at the pyre. He didn't say anything, but Dean knew the look well. Gabriel couldn't kill his brother and Anna had paid the price. Looking at Sam and Fiona, Dean let out a sigh and said, "You know, I've… I've had my share of family fights. And I keep looking at this as the end of the world, but…" He looked at Celeste and Gabriel and added, "I keep forgetting that for you guys this is a family thing, too." Turning his gaze to Anna, he said, "And for that, I'm sorry. Anna… Cas… You guys keep giving everything and getting nothing in return."

Sam didn't say anything as he flicked his lighter open and tossed in against the pyre, sending the wood into flames. He'd liked Anna. She'd had the youthful hopefulness he remembered having when he was a kid. And when Dean had had a panic attack last year after he and Dean had met Anna for the first time, the fallen angel had acted faster than Sam, bringing the tortured Winchester out of his distressed state.

As the fire burned, Celeste watched the curls of smoke travel upwards. She'd always had a far different existence than any of the other angels, including the archangels. Before the arrival of man, she was God's favorite daughter and helped keep the peace in Heaven. But after the fall of Lucifer and the religious wars on Earth, Celeste found herself spending less and less time in Heaven. People needed her on Earth and they seemed more receptive to her help than her fellow angels.

"So what's the plan now?" Jo asked once everyone was back in the living room at Bobby's house.

"Well, there is one last shot," Gabriel said after exchanging a look with Celeste. "But I gotta warn you—It's a doozy."

"More so than the Colt or an angel sword?" Dean asked, curiously.

"Killing Lucifer isn't working," Gabriel pointed out. "But maybe we can trap him."

"Trap him?" Sam repeated, frowning slightly. "How?"

Gabriel looked a bit reluctant to explain, but finally, he said, "The Cage is still down there. Little work and a lot of luck… we might just be able to shove Luci's ass back in."

Dean looked surprised and even though he thought it was just another suicide mission, he figured it best to jump on board. "Great, so how do we book Lucifer a one-way ticket back to Hell?"

"The rings from the Four Horsemen," Celeste replied, darkly. "If we can get our hands on all four, then we can open the cage."

"Well, we've got War's and Famine's," Dean said with more optimism than he felt. "We just need Pestilence and Death's rings."

"Oh, is that all?" Sam said, derisively. But he knew as well as anyone else in the room that their choices were getting fewer and fewer.

Gabriel looked at the crowded room and noticed, dismally, the dour expressions on everyone's faces. "Well, if we're going to make the most of this, then I say we should all take the weekend off." He looked at each hunter in turn and finally stopped at Sam and Fiona. With a grin, he snapped his fingers and the couple vanished.

"Whoa, wait," Dean said, quickly as he stood and looked at where his brother and Fi had just been. "Where the hell did you send them?"

But Gabriel smiled and replied, "Oh, to a charming little beachfront property in the Florida Keys." Turning to Bobby and Ellen, Gabriel thought for a moment before sending the two down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. When it came to Dean and Jo, Gabriel gave the older hunter a questioning look. "What about you, Dean? Long, romantic weekend with your exotic Israeli beauty?"

But Dean looked at Jo and shook his head. He couldn't bring himself to face Ziva right now, but there was someplace he wanted to go… and he wanted Jo to go with him. "Actually… I was wondering if there was anyway you do me a really big favor?"

"Like what?" Gabriel asked, looking a bit puzzled. But when Dean whispered what he wanted in his ear, the archangel raised both eyebrows. "Wow… When you ask for a favor, you don't go light, do you?"

"Can you do it or not?" Dean wanted to know.

Gabriel thought for a moment, and then nodded, looking at Celeste. "C here can drop you off. No problem."

Jo looked confused as Dean took her hand. As Celeste put a hand on both her shoulder and Dean's, the young woman felt herself instantly transported and when she looked around, she was no longer in Bobby Singer's living room. Instead, she was in a place she'd thought she'd never see again.

The Roadhouse. It even smelled the same as the last time she'd been there.

"Man, do NOT tell me that you died again!" Ash said, looking at Dean. But when he saw Jo and Celeste, he was more than a bit confused.

"Hey, Ash," Jo said as she went over to her friend and gave him a hug.

"You two ain't dead, right?" Ash asked, looking from Jo to Dean.

"Just popped in for a beer," Dean replied with a smile. As he watched Ash and Jo catch up, he wished the visit could last for more than a weekend. But at the same time, he made a mental note to get Gabriel the biggest candy gift basket he could find.

A/N: Little explanation on Celeste and Anna's god alter egos.

Nut is an Egyptian godess who represented the heavens and helped to put the world in order. Cerrid is an Irish godess of wisdom and knowledge.