Chapter 26

Then:

I can't believe I'm discussing school with the Winchesters' illegitimate half-brother when Michael wants him for a vessel and Dean is locked up in the basement's panic room. It's like something out of a weird supernatural soap opera, but it's also a slice of normal that I haven't had in what seems like forever. And when Adam looks back up at me with blue eyes bright with amusement, still smiling, I can't bring myself to care about Michael or any other crap coming our way.

At least until blinding white light flashes through the house, and I hear Gabriel scream in pain.

"Gabriel!" I race back through to the living room, but he's gone. A shell-shocked Sam and Bobby remain, and I feel my heart stop.

Now:

"Where is he?!" is the first thing that comes out when I finally regain my voice. "Where's my brother?!" My heart's beating too fast now, my chest tight with terror.

"I don't know," Sam says, running a hand through his hair agitatedly, "One second, he was there, and the next, he was gone. I'm going to check on Cas." He runs down to the basement as I yank out my phone and dial Gabriel's number - he always picks up his phone, no matter how much he complains that he doesn't need to.

It goes to an automated message. "The number you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please try again or check if you have dialed the wrong number." I try again and the same cool female voice greets me.

"Where's Cas?" Bobby asks when Sam returns, obviously missing a trenchcoat-clad angel.

"Blown to Oz." Sam's expression is grim. "There was a banishing sigil on the wall, Dean must've drawn it." I make a note to hit Dean again.

Adam joins us, frowning. "Banishing sigil?"

"Yeah, you draw it on the wall with blood and hit it to send any angels within a certain range away," Sam explains distractedly as he tugs out his own phone to dial Dean's number. It clearly goes to voicemail because he slams it shut again. "He can't have gone far." He leaves the room and I hear the front door slam. Sam probably went to check the salvage yard.

"We'll find them," Bobby reassures me gently, squeezing my arm as he wheels past me to follow Sam. "All of them."

"Yeah, I know." I sit down on the couch, pinching the bridge of my nose. Adam sits down next to me tentatively and I move to allow him space, the closest I can get to an invitation to stay in my worried state. "Gabriel always picks up the phone," I say wearily.

"They'll be okay," Adam says awkwardly and I force myself to nod. The guy's got enough problems without mine being added to the mix.

An hour passes, Sam and Bobby returning to the house with no luck and dejected looks on their faces, and Adam drifts into a light doze on the couch beside me while we wait for any news. I'm too anxious to sleep, though my eyes are itching with exhaustion; I'm too worried about Castiel and Gabriel. Where do angels go when banished, anyway?

A morbid part of my mind whispers "Wal-Mart" and I firmly ignore it. Damn it, fangirl mind, this is serious.

I try Gabriel's number again and when it goes to the error message a third time, I decide it's time for desperate measures. I lean forward on my knees, clasping my hands and bowing my head. I don't remember the last time I prayed - it must have been long before I even returned to this universe - but I don't think a formal prayer would be necessary.

"Hey, Gabe," I murmur to the empty air, "You know it's serious if you've got me praying, so, um...just let me know if you're okay. Please. Give me a sign or something."

I wait with bated breath, but nothing happens.

"Castiel, you got your ears on? Any chance you could let me know how you're doing?" I try again, this time praying to Castiel. He has even less of a chance of hearing me, but if I can get through to at least one of them...

Nada.

"You're scaring me, guys," I mutter wearily, "You're my brothers. The least you could do is keep me from having a panic attack." I swipe at my eyes, which are prickling at the corners, and look to see Sam hovering in the doorway.

"Sorry," he mumbles, "I was just checking on..." He gestures vaguely at the sleeping Adam and takes a step back. "I-I'll just, uh..."

"No, it's okay." I rub my eyes again as I get up, careful not to disturb Adam. He sleeps on, oblivious to us as we step into the kitchen.

"Bobby's pulling up any trackers we've got on Dean, see if we can find his GPS," Sam explains quietly, "And I've been trying to get a hold of Cas."

"His phone won't work," I say wearily, "I tried Gabriel's three times already."

"We'll find them," Sam reassures me.

"Yeah, you keep saying that." I shove my hands into my pockets and can feel my phone, ominously silent against my fingers. I wish it would start ringing any second, Gabriel or Castiel or even Dean on the other end (okay, Dean's a bit of a stretch, but we're at the end of our rope here).

"I guess it's easy for me to say," Sam admits, running a hand through his hair.

"They're my brothers," I say weakly.

"Yeah, and Dean's mine. And believe me, I'm worried about all of them just as much as you are." Sam squeezes my shoulder. "But worrying won't get anything done."

"What happens to an angel when they get banished?" I ask the question that's been plaguing me for the past hour.

"Good question." Sam's faint reassuring smile is replaced by a grim frown.

"Adam's gone!" Bobby yells suddenly from the living room and we both run back through to find Bobby wheeling towards the now-empty couch.

"What do you mean 'Adam's gone?'" Sam demands.

"Should I say it in Spanish?" Bobby snaps back.

"How is Adam gone?!" Sam rounds on him. "What the hell, Bobby?!"

"Watch your tone, boy!" Bobby retorts, "He was right in front of me, and he disappeared into thin air."

"Did the angels take him?" I suggest, new worry adding to the already-present concern there. What if Adam is hurt by them in order to trick Dean into saying "yes?" What if Dean falls for it?

Suddenly, there's a gust of wind and Castiel is there, a bloody Dean's arm slung around his shoulders.

"Yes," the angel tells me, "That's exactly what happened." For a second, I'm confused and then realize that he's confirming my suggestion: that the angels took Adam.

"What the hell happened to him?" Sam asks, bewildered, as he moves to take Dean from Castiel.

"Me." Once Dean is removed from Castiel, I don't hesitate to literally glomp the angel, throwing my arms around his middle.

"You couldn't've called?" I scold, pressing my face into his crooked tie, and he wraps his arms around me gently.

"I apologize, sister," he says quietly, resting his chin against the top of my head, "I was convincing Dean not to give in."

"Convincing or beating up?" I look over my shoulder as Sam carefully carries Dean back downstairs to the panic room.

"Both." Castiel's lips quirk slightly, though he still looks ashamed that he'd gone to such extremes.

"Dude, you couldn't've saved one punch for me?" I tease, nudging him. At least that's two worries out of the way. Now if only Gabriel would show up or at least call...

"I'll do my best next time," Castiel promises solemnly.

"Wait, wait, you said the angels took Adam?" Bobby interrupts us, bringing the conversation back around. "I thought Gabriel branded his ribs!"

"He must have tipped them off in a dream."

Damn, and I thought I'd done well with Adam, too. "Where would they have taken him?" I ask and Castiel frowns in thought.

"It's a good question. There are several locations the angels could go to in this kind of situation."

My phone buzzes suddenly and I tug it out, relieved to see the name Gabriel flashing across the screen. I accept the call immediately. "Gabe?"

"Hey, sweetheart." He sounds like he's run ten miles without stopping.

"You sound like crap, what happened?"

"Banishing sigil. Dean must've used it. Is Castiel there?"

"Yeah, he caught up with Dean and brought him back here a few minutes ago," I explain.

"Good. I'm at home right now, recharging, just give me a minute and I'll be right there-"

"No, no, no, you stay at home," I cut in. I can hear how tired he sounds and I'm surprised Castiel himself is still standing. "Get some rest, we'll be okay."

"Ariel-"

"We'll be fine," I promise and add, forcing a light tone, "Give Cola a hug for me."

"Yeah, will do. Be careful, Ariel." He sounds reluctant, but I hear the dial tone, signaling that he'd hung up.

"Van Nuys," Castiel says as soon as I tuck my phone into my pocket.

"Huh?" Eloquent as always, Ariel, well done.

"The angels, they took Adam to Van Nuys." The name doesn't ring a bell in my head. "The place they took Dean before Lucifer's Cage was opened," Castiel elaborates and then it clicks.

"Oh, the pretty room with the statues and things."

Castiel nods. "I will perform a reconnaissance and return shortly." He promptly disappears.

"Well, that's that." Bobby wheels over to me. "I'd check on Dean, but-" He taps on the wheel of his chair.

"Yeah, I know. I'll go harass him when he wakes up. You and Sam better eat something when I send him up." Bobby makes a face at me as I go down to the panic room.

Dean's handcuffed to the bed, thankfully still unconscious, and Sam is perched on a chair nearby nervously.

"Cas knows where they took Adam," I say from the doorway and Sam looks up.

"Where?"

"The place they took Dean before you opened the Cage. Cas went to do a recon now." Sam nods, his expression pinched with worry. "I can watch him, if you want," I offer, "You and Bobby can go eat something."

"Did you hear from Gabriel?" Sam asks, ignoring my offer.

"Yeah, he just called. He sounded worn out, so I told him to stay where he was until he was feeling stronger."

He nods and gets up from his chair. "Okay." He glances at Dean once more and briefly touches his brother's shoulder before moving past me and up the stairs. I take his seat, leaning forward until I'm barely an arm's length away.

"You're an idiot," I tell the unconscious Winchester. He doesn't respond, as I expected, and I'm half-tempted to draw a mustache on him despite the situation. He groans as he stirs and I know immediately that option's out.

"Word to the wise, kid," he rasps when his eyes focus on me, "Don't piss off the nerd angels."

"Sound advice," I agree stiffly; hey, he banished my brothers, I have a right to be pissed. Dean rattles the handcuff experimentally before flopping back against the pillow. "Adam's gone."

Dean looks up at me, wide-eyed. "What?"

"The angels took him. Cas went to do a recon on where he thinks they went."

He nods, grimacing. "Listen, about that sigil..."

"What about it?" I say, and it's a little harsher than I mean it to be. He winces. "They're my family, Dean, and you hurt them. I didn't know what had happened to them until Cas came back with you, and Gabriel's still healing at home."

"I'm sorry." Dean closes his eyes and leans back against the pillow. "I wasn't thinking, okay?"

"That much was obvious." He winces again and I settle for giving his shoulder a squeeze. "For the record, you're my family, too, you jerk." He opens his eyes, startled. "I told you, you guys are all I've got left. I was scared for all three of you stupid bastards," I admit.

"I'm sorry," he repeats weakly, reaching for my hand with his free one. I let my fingers curl around his.

"Yeah, I know." We're nowhere near okay, and I predict a ton of practical jokes and punches coming Dean's way, but it's a start, and Dean's tired smile is worth it.

Sam returns not long after that and when he sees Dean awake, he hesitates at the doorway. Dean turns a weary gaze on him before they both glance at me.

"I feel so loved," I deadpan, hopping up and heading for the door. Sam ruffles my hair as I pass him, giving me a goodnatured smile before shutting the panic room door behind me as I leave. I make my way upstairs, where Castiel has returned. The exhaustion is beginning to show on his face as he sits on the couch, speaking quietly to Bobby. They both look up when I come in.

"I scouted the place," Castiel tells me, "It's swarming with angels. Adam is definitely there."

"Awesome, so how do we get in?" I drop into the opposite armchair.

"Sam suggests bringing Dean," he answers reluctantly.

"But that's stupid, Dean'll say 'yes' the instant he gets a chance," I protest, knowing that no matter how sorry Dean is, his mind still hasn't changed.

"I agree." Castiel's lips are pursed. "But Sam was adamant that Dean accompanies us."

"If you ask me, the boy's out of his mind," Bobby adds, grimacing.

"I trust Sam on this one," I admit, "He trusts Dean with this, so we should, too."

"In case you haven't noticed, Sam's track record for trusting people hasn't been all too great," Bobby points out and I roll my eyes.

"You're bringing that up now? Bobby, it's been more than seven months since the Cage opened. I think Sam's had time to learn from his mistakes." He looks chastised as he nods. "And the same goes for Dean," I aim at Castiel, "Who knows? He might make the right call, given the chance." I don't believe that for an instant, but Castiel nods, too, accepting it.

"Of course. They are our friends and we should trust them." That's reassuring enough for me to believe it, too.

Sam and Dean join us minutes later, Dean rubbing his newly-freed wrist. Sam is tucking a gun into an inside pocket of his jacket.

"We going to get Adam back or what?" the older Winchester says gruffly, avoiding looking at Castiel.

Castiel nods and reaches to touch our shoulders. "Let's go." I don't get a chance to brace myself before we land outside a dilapidated, nondescript factory building.

"Where the hell are we?" Dean looks around.

"Van Nuys, California," Castiel says.

"Where's the beautiful room?" Dean persists.

"In there." Castiel points at the building.

"The beautiful room is in an old factory in Van Nuys, California?" I ask blankly.

"Yes." Castiel looks at our bewildered faces. "Where did you think it was?"

"Uhh, Jupiter? A blade of grass? Not Van Nuys," Dean points out and I can see the irony of such a beautiful, otherworldly room being placed in one of the ugliest buildings ever. The angels have a sick sense of humor.

"Tell me again why you don't just grab Adam and shazam the hell out of there," Sam says, raising an eyebrow as he studies the building, scanning it for weak points.

"There are at least five angels in there," Castiel answers grimly.

"So how do we get rid of them all?" I ask. While I have my archangel's blade on me, I'd really rather not use it. Spilling blood is awful for me, as it is, but murdering angels who are technically my siblings? That's a low even I can't handle sinking to.

"I'll clear them out. You three grab the boy. This is our only chance." Castiel takes off his tie, wrapping it around his hand.

"Whoa, wait. You're gonna take on five angels? Isn't that suicide?" Dean protests.

"Maybe. But then I won't have to watch you fail. I'm sorry, Dean. I don't have the same faith in you that Sam and Ariel do." I wish I don't have to see Dean's face crumple at the thought of Castiel losing faith in him, but my thoughts are derailed when Castiel pulls out a small box cutter and flips the blade open.

"The hell are you planning to do with that?" Sam asks.

"Check the perimeter," Castiel orders and with an uneasy glance at each other, Sam and Dean set off to do that. Castiel holds the blade out towards me. I don't take it, blinking at him. "Ariel, I need you to do this for me," he sighs when it's apparent that I don't understand.

"Do what?" I take a step back.

"Carve a banishing sigil into my skin."

My heart stops and I shake my head rapidly. "No. No, I won't."

"Ariel-" Castiel begins wearily.

"You'll be sent away again!" I shout at him and his eyes widen. "Do you have any idea how terrified I was last time?! You can't put me through that again, Cas, you can't-!"

"I'm sorry." He puts the box cutter into his pocket long enough to grasp my shoulders. "I wouldn't ask you for this if I could do it myself, but..." He looks helpless. "I'm giving you three a chance to get Adam out."

"I won't lose you again," I protest, tears stinging my eyes.

"Please, sister." He takes the box cutter back out and holds it out to me. "You remember the shape, don't you?"

"Yes, but-" He holds the blade out and reluctantly, I take it, knowing there's no way I can convince him otherwise. Castiel unbuttons his white shirt and I try not to think about how easy it is to carve the sigil with shallow cuts into his pale skin. There isn't much blood - thankfully - but each cut shines with a dim white light that I recognize as Grace. It's sickening that I'm causing such damage, but the light flickering across each incision is morbidly beautiful in its own right.

The sigil doesn't take long to create and mercifully, Castiel doesn't make a sound while I work. I shove the box cutter at him when I'm done, unable to look at the injuries I'd inflicted on him, and he places a hand gently on my cheek.

"Thank you." I only nod mutely as he buttons his shirt up again, concealing the sigil, before drawing me into a fierce embrace. I hug him back just as tightly, careful not to touch his chest, and press my face into his shoulder.

"Be safe," I whisper against his trenchcoat - oh, God, what if I never see him again? - and he nods.

"You, too." He presses a kiss against my forehead before pulling away as Dean and Sam come around the corner.

"Perimeter's clear," Sam says quietly, glancing between us worriedly. I don't look at him - I don't think I can stand to.

"We'll go in first," Castiel says, looking down at me, "Do you have your blade?" I nod, flicking my wrist and letting it slide into my hand. "Wait for Ariel's signal," he instructs the Winchesters before opening the doors to the building. We go in first, shutting the doors behind us so that Dean and Sam don't follow.

"There." Castiel points at a door across the room from us and we walk forward, but then someone tackles me from behind. I'm pinned to the ground by an angel, whose blade is already poised to stab my heart. I twist my own wrist so that my blade sinks between his ribcage. "Shut your eyes, Ariel!" Castiel warns me, sounding strained - is he being attacked, too? - and I obey as bright white light fills the area. The angel collapses to my side, the ashes of wings imprinted into the cement floor.

Castiel throws his attacker away and the angel joins the other three circling us, their blades twirling expertly in their hands.

"What're you waiting for?!" Castiel taunts and they run forward. He rips open his shirt and presses his hand to the sigil I'd carved there. I shut my eyes against the blinding light and when I open them again, all five angels - Castiel included - are gone. Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I stumble to the door and open it again.

"We're clear." Sam and Dean enter, their eyes going first to the dead angel on the floor before looking around for Castiel. When they don't find him, I point to the door. "That's where Adam is." As we pass the dead angel, I pick up my blade from where it had been tossed aside after I'd stabbed the angel and tuck it back into my pocket.

Sam's hand rests on my shoulder, offering silent comfort in the wake of Castiel's disappearance, and I grasp it in return, wordlessly thanking him. He squeezes my shoulder back before letting go again. Dean's the first to the door and he flings it open to reveal the beautiful room I remember only having seen on television once.

"Adam!" Dean runs in and I can see Adam slumped against the wall on the other side of the room, his mouth bloody. "Hey, Adam, hey." Dean shifts Adam gently and the younger man's eyes open weakly.

"You came for me?" he rasps.

"Yeah, well, you're family," Dean replies. I pass Sam my blade before entering the room, too, kneeling on Adam's other side and helping Dean sit him up.

Adam's lips quirk upwards when he sees me. "Hey, Ariel."

"Hey, yourself." I can't help but smile back despite everything that had happened.

"You're not family," he tells me frankly.

"Yeah, but she's got an embarrassingly huge crush on you and it seemed a shame not to bring her along," Dean replies and I throw a death glare at him. "What? It's obvious!" With the hand not supporting Adam's shoulder, I punch the older Winchester roughly. "Ow!" Dean makes a face at me before turning to Adam. "Good luck with her, man, she likes to abuse people."

"Nah, just you," I snark back as we help Adam to his feet. I try not to feel too triumphant when Adam smiles - he likes me back, SUCCESS! - but I can't help it.

"It's a trap," Adam says suddenly, glancing over our shoulders, and I have a horrible feeling I know who's there.

"I figured," Dean answers grimly.

"Did you think it would be that easy?" Zachariah's smug voice greets us and we turn to see him with his hands in his pockets.

"Did you?" Dean retorts as Sam approaches Zachariah's back, my archangel's blade held high. Zachariah turns sharply and knocks it out of Sam's hand before throwing the taller man against the wall without even touching him. Sam crumples to the floor, groaning.

Lazily, Zachariah picks up the blade, turning it in his hands and reading the inscription on the hilt. "Well, well, Ariel." He looks up at me, cold eyes glittering with amusement. "Wherever did you find this little toothpick?"

"It's mine," I snap heatedly, "Give it back."

"Little girls shouldn't play with big toys. At least this still belongs in Heaven." I make sure not to let any hurt show on my face as Zachariah places the blade down on the table before turning to face Dean. "Now, you know what I've learned from this experience, Dean? Patience." He waves his hand and suddenly, Adam collapses, blood spattering out of his mouth as his chest heaves with wracking coughs.

"Adam!" I go down with him, clutching his shoulders, and he lists sideways until he's resting against me. I ignore the warm, wet blood from his mouth soaking my clothes.

"Let him go, you son of a bitch," Dean snarls.

"I mean, I thought I was downsized for sure," Zachariah continues cheerfully, "And for us, a firing...pretty damn literal. But I should have trusted the boss man. It's all playing out like he said...you, me, your hemorrhaging brothers." Boss man? Surely he can't mean God, so had Michael planned this?

Wait. Did he say "brothers?" As in plural?

Sam suddenly starts coughing up blood on cue, doubling over on the floor.

"Sam!" Dean takes a step forward, but Zachariah cuts him off smoothly.

"You're finally ready, right?" Dean glances between Adam and Sam helplessly. "You know there's no other choice. There's never been a choice."

"Stop it." Dean's voice is weak. "Right now, stop it." Adam coughs and I tighten my grip on him as fresh blood soaks the collar of my shirt.

"In exchange for what?" Zachariah crosses his arms.

"Damn it, Zachariah. Stop it, please. I'll do it."

"Dean, no," Sam says hoarsely, forcing himself upright, but then crumples again as blood sprays the tile floor.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Zachariah's smirking, the smug bastard.

"The answer's yes," Dean says gruffly, "You hear me? Call Michael down, you bastard!"

"How do I know you're not lying?" Zachariah tilts his head.

"Do I look like I'm lying?" Dean's expression is broken and weary and no, he does not look like he's lying, much to my dismay. Zachariah turns away from Dean, looking up at the ceiling and murmuring in Enochian. I know enough now to recognize the summoning for what it is. Dean is staring at Sam, who's gazing back at him desperately, but then he suddenly winks.

I can't help the flicker of hope, and it only increases when Dean subtly swipes my archangel's blade off the table, tucking it into his jacket.

Adam shudders against me and I let his head rest against the crook of my neck. "It's gonna be okay, Adam," I whisper against his hair, feeling marginally more confident in that. "I've got you." All I can focus on is his weak, raspy breaths against my neck as he leans heavily against my side.

Dean's started listing conditions by the time I start paying attention to the conversation again.

"I said before Michael gets one piece of this sweet ass…he has to turn you into a piece of charcoal." That's not a half-bad condition, actually. Can I be present for that?

"You really think Michael's gonna go for that?" Zachariah doesn't sound too confident, though.

"Who's more important to him now? You…or me?"

"You listen to me. You are nothing but a maggot inside a worm's ass. Do you know who I am after I deliver you to Michael?" Zachariah snarls.

"Expendable," Dean says lightly.

"Michael's not going to kill me." Zachariah's voice wavers.

"Maybe not." Dean's cold smile morphs into a scowl. "But I am." He yanks out my archangel's blade and rams it upwards into Zachariah's chin. Zachariah lights up like a firework and I shut my eyes, clutching Adam tightly and pressing his head against my shoulder so that he doesn't get his eyes burned out. I happen to like his eyes in his head, thank you very much.

Dean collapses backwards as the light fades and we're left with a dead Zachariah on the floor, wings imprinted into the tile.

"That was morbidly satisfying," I note as Dean wipes the blade clean before handing it to me. I tuck it into my pocket as Dean crosses the room to help Sam up. It's then that I register the shrill noise, like a high-pitched siren, and the steadily-brightening light in the room.

"Go, go, go! Move it!" Dean shoves Sam towards the door as I help Adam to his feet. He stumbles, but I help him across the room and we're almost at the door when it shuts in our faces. Dean and Sam are outside, but we're not.

"DEAN!" Adam yells, rattling the doorknob. "It won't open! Dean, help!"

"Hold on! We'll get you out!" Dean's voice is muffled through the door. "Ariel?!"

"I'm here!" I call back, panic lacing my voice, and Adam slams his shoulder against the door. It doesn't budge. The light's getting brighter, and my eyes are starting to hurt. "Help!"

"Air, we're gonna get you and Adam out! It'll be okay!" Sam shouts.

"CALL GABRIEL!" I scream as the shrieking grows louder. Adam collapses to the floor, clutching his ears to shield them from the ear-splitting noise, and I follow him down, grasping his shoulder weakly.

"What do we do?" he mouths at me - or at least, I think he does. I can't read lips too well.

I shake my head, tears streaming down my cheeks. "I don't know," I try to say, but my voice is lost within the cacophony around us. Adam draws me against his chest, clutching me tightly, and I bury my face into his shoulder.

Then everything goes black.

-cackles madly-

You all know me and my love for cliffhangers by now. Hopefully, I'll update the next chapter after my exam on Thursday (if not, probably this weekend).

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