Chapter 33

Continuation of what happened last chapter, I apologise if this lacks Destiel or Sabriel. Short chapter.

WARNING: slight angst and coarse language.

Thank you for reviewing: Gustin, Balthsbattlers, FallenAngel2487 and Socially Awkward Butterfly. And special thanks to Nerdette92 for encouraging me to keep writing this fic, I wouldn't if it weren't for her, so thank you.

…~)M*L(~…

I thought that I was in heaven

But I was sure surprised

Heaven help me, I didn't see

The devil in your eyes

You look like an Angel

Walk like an Angel

Talk like an Angel

But I got wise

You're the devil in disguise

Oh, yes, you are

The devil in disguise

~Devil In Disguise by Elvis Presley

"That solves that." Michael whispered forcing his feet to move towards the door, he felt light-headed for a moment and his vision blacked out once again. He groaned quietly as his head hit the frame of the door but he managed to hold on. "Not now. Please not now." he murmured as he straightened himself. "Lucian.." he gave a few steps before he stopped to lean against the wall. "Lucian.." he repeated but he knew his brother could not hear him. He sent a prayer in his head that someone came upstairs at the moment, anyone. "Luci-" he dropped on the floor as his body became unresponsive and he went into an oblivion of consciousness.

"Michael! Michael, wake up! Come on, you gotta wake up! Come on!" Lucifer knelt on the floor holding Michael's face in his hands as he shook him in attempt to wake him yet received no response. Raphael ran upstairs at the sound of Lucifer's voice calling out for help, Bae-Yung stood in the hall giving space for them to aid their sibling; he was thankful for Balthazar being clumsy enough to spill his drink on his t-shirt.

"Can you please sit down?" he turned his head in Balthazar's direction who paced back and forth in the living room waiting for Aziraphale, with Crowley.

"Do you realise I might die when he gets here?" he frowned at Bae-Yung, the flutter in his stomach from the anxiety did not cease and Crowley's teasing him about the accident did not help.

"It couldn't have been that bad, you are exaggerating as always." he rolled his eyes at the blond.

"I am not! He wanted to murder me last time and it was an accident, he clearly saw!" he raised his hands in the air, Crowley watched from the corner of the room as his brother paced around the room, a smirk on his face and humour in his eyes.

"He did mention wanting to get his revenge on you, my dear, I would stay away from him if I were you." Crowley raised his brow looking in his brother's direction, Bae-Yung glared at him not amused.

"Please sit down, you are making me uncomfortable." Bae-Yung pleaded again extending his hand towards his boyfriend to take, Balthazar sighed and walked towards him proceeding to sit on his lap, he wrapped his arms around Balthazar's waist to keep him from getting up, a smile crept upon his lips when the blond rested his head on his shoulder and closed his eyes.

"You two sicken me." Crowley spoke rolling his eyes as he disappeared into the kitchen. Balthazar stretched his body across the sofa resting his head on his boyfriend's lap, he smiled into the chaste kiss placed upon his lips.

"I am still anxious about this." he pursed his lips as he stared at the ceiling.

"I won't let him touch you, I promise." Bae-Yung winked at the boy who grinned widely.

"Oh, so now I'm the girl in the relationship who needs protection, huh? What next? You are going to make me your bitch during sex?" Bae-Yung chuckled as he caressed the golden locks from the younger boy.

"We haven't had sex, stop making this conversation awkward."

"Oh but we should, after all, I am seventeen now." he winked at Bae-Yung who simply rolled his eyes.

"I told you 'no', I don't just want to have sex with you, I want it to be special."

"Oh don't tell me you believe in that 'after marriage sex' crap, then I'll have to marry you!" he frowned, Bae-Yung opened his mouth to speak feeling slightly hurt at his words.

"You are a jerk, I wouldn't want to be married to you anyway." he pushed Balthazar from his lap making him fall on the floor hitting his head on Bae-Yung's shoes.

"That wasn't necessary! I was kidding, I'd be stupid to let you go, of course I want to marry you." he picked himself up from the floor and knelt before the older boy.

"Why are we even talking about marriage? We are too young for this conversation." Bae-Yung shook his head making his hair fall over his eyes, Balthazar shrugged drawing his bottom lip out.

"You better say yes when I propose though." he grinned staring at Bae-Yung who simply rolled his eyes at Balthazar.

"You can't force me to say yes."

"But I know you will."

"You are overconfident, Balthazar, I would be careful if I were you."

"Why do you say that?" he frowned at Bae-Yung, he moved closer to the older boy, resting his chin on the other's shoulder, he gently placed his lips on the side of his boyfriend's neck making him shiver.

"Get off me, there are people in the other room." he shook the boy from his shoulder yet the other made no effort to move.

"So? Doesn't matter." he chuckled.

"You have no shame at all." he smiled as he shook his head, Balthazar shrugged, moving closer as he trailed his lips gently along the curve of Bae-Yung's neck. There was a cup of tea on the table next to sofa, swirls of steam formed along the surface and disappeared in the air, the strong scent of peppermint reached Bae-Yung's nostrils tempting him to give into the temptation; he reached for the cup careful not to spill it on himself or the cushions. "I love this tea." he savoured the mint flavour on his taste buds, he hummed as the warm liquid travelled down his throat soothingly. "You're going to make me spill it."

"Then put it back on the table." Balthazar rolled his eyes, he buried his nose on the crook of the older boy's neck.

"No, I want to drink it before it gets cold."

"You are impossible, come cuddle with me." he wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's neck, Bae-Yung sighed putting the cup on the small saucer in his other hand. The doorbell rang making Balthazar flinch in surprise, his arm hit the cup the other boy held; the tea spilled on his thigh, a cushion and Bae-Yung's shirt.

"Dammit! You made me spill my tea on my new shirt, Balthazar!" he stood from the sofa shaking the droplets from his clothes. The blond boy fell off his seat, landing on his back as he heard a familiar voice coming from the main entrance door.

"Glad you could make it, darling, I was starting to think you had changed your mind." Crowley smirked allowing Aziraphale into the house.

"I apologise, my father drives rather slow." he gave Crowley a small smile as he shook his blond, messy hair to remove the small droplets of water from the rain that had started to pour minutes previous, his sweater-vest was stained with small, wet dots throughout and his glasses were fogged; he unwrapped carefully the scarf from his neck, proceeding to hold it between his elbow.

"I have to go change." Bae-Yung sighed, Balthazar stood behind him hiding from Aziraphale.

"You must be Balthazar's boyfriend." Aziraphale noticed as the boy appeared around the corner, he stopped walking once he figured who the boy was.

"Yes." he smiled, "And I assume you are Aziraphale?" the blond nodded with a small smile, "Nice to meet you, I'm Ian Bae-Yung but you can just call me Bae-Yung or Bae." he extended his hand towards Aziraphale.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Bae-Yung," he shook the boy's hand.

"Same." the younger teen smiled.

"Balthazar!" Crowley spotted his brother sneaking out of the living room, "Are you so rude that you are not going to welcome Aziraphale?" he smirked taking the luggage from his boyfriend's hands; Balthazar stopped right behind Bae-Yung, muttering an "I fucking hate you!" to his brother.

"Of course." he forced a smile on his face turning to the boy next to Crowley. "It is so good to have you here, love, really. You'll love this house, it's simply fantastic." he rubbed his hands together as he headed to the door.

"Are you not going to give him a hug? He loves hugs." Crowley chuckled, Balthazar sighed.

"I think he is okay, he'll live without one." the younger boy rolled his eyes, Bae-Yung grinned amused.

"It was nice meeting you," he turned towards Aziraphale, "If you don't mind, I have to go change." they exchanged a small smile and a nod before Bae-Yung left the room with a distressed Balthazar behind.

His hand slid along the cold wood as he gave each step, he snarled feeling irritated with the wet cloth sticking to his skin; he inhaled the warm air to appease himself as he reached the final step of the stairs, his body froze instantly at the sight of a body lying in the hall.

"Michael?" he whispered as he narrowed his eyes at the figure, "Michael!" he received no response. Bae-Yung ran towards the man, proceeding to kneel beside him; he examined his body attempting to find the pulse and sighed in relief once he did so. His hands moved Michael's head gently away from the wall, repositioning his body into a more comfortable one against the floor, and ran towards the stairs.

"Help! Lucifer! Someone help!" he called out as loud as his voice would give. He could hear the stomps of feet running across the rooms; Lucifer pushed his way through the door once having heard his name being called. He reached the bottom of the staircase and looked up to find Bae-Yung.

"Michael's unconscious!" the older man did not hesitate further and ran up the stairs to follow the boy.

"What happened to him?" Lucifer asked making his way through the hall towards his brother.

"I don't know, I just found him like this. I think he hit his head on the wall- I tried to make his position more comfortable." Lucifer knelt beside Michael, checking for his pulse.

"Raphael! Get over here!" he called out, his voice echoed through the hall. "Raphael!" he moved his hands to Michael's face shaking him slightly, "Michael! Michael, wake up! Come on, you gotta wake up! Come on!"

"What is it?" Raphael asked wide eyed staring at Michael, "Is he okay?"

"No, help me carry him to my room!" Raphael nodded.

"Dammit!" he ran a hand through his dark-blond hair as he paced through the room, "I knew this would happen, I told him!"

"Should he call his doctor?" Raphael asked, he sat on the edge of the bed where Michael lay; Lucifer nodded.

"I'll be back." he said standing up to leave, Lucifer gave him a small nod and continued to pace through the room with his arms folded across his chest.

"You idiot, I told you." he whispered clenching his jaw tight as he stared at an unconscious Michael on the bed.

…~)*(~…

"Hey, hey, he's alright, he's gonna be alright, okay?" he wrapped his arm around the preoccupied boy's shoulder, Castiel nodded.

"It's my fault, Dean." he was silent for a moment, feeling his chest rise and fall with every breath he took. "If it were not for me he would not be stressed as much as he is." he lowered his head as the guilt inside him settled, he fixed his eyes on his hands resting on his lap.

"Don't say that, Cas, it's not your fault, okay?" Dean shook his head.

"Dean-"

"No!" he raised his voice slightly making Castiel look up at him, "None of this is your fault. He's okay, Michael's okay."

"What if everyone blames me?"

"No one is going to blame you, they know damn well you have nothing to do with his health. I mean, yeah you scared the hell of us for a while but this couldn't be it. If someone's to blame it's your da-" he cut off his words before he could finish them, Castiel furrowed his brows staring at Dean in confusion and another expression the older boy could not decipher.

"What- Dean?" he stared at the boy expecting him to continue but Dean kept silently biting his tongue.

"They won't let me see him! I want to see him!" Gabriel walked into the room with Sam following, and Anna.

"Gabriel, calm down, he's still not fully awake and he needs rest." Anna rolled her eyes at her brother.

"They let you see him, why can't I?" he stomped his foot on the floor as he leant against the wall.

"Because I had to help them, now stop being a brat and sit down. You can see him later." she sat on the sofa next to the window, and rested her head against it.

"How are you, Castiel? Doing alright?" Gabriel sat on the edge of the sofa where his twin was; Castiel nodded expressionless. He glanced at Dean with a knowing look and the boy responded equally. "Hey, Cassie." he placed his hand on top of his brother's. "Come with me, let's go get some tea, I want tea." the younger boy turned to his brother and nodded.

He inserted his hands into his pockets as he walked into the kitchen with Castiel behind; he cleared his throat silently as his speech formed in his mind. The room was empty, besides them, the sound of raindrops falling fast hit the glass on the window, the warm air from the vents hit Gabriel's left side of the face as he sat on the stool at the breakfast bar; Castiel grabbed two cups from the cupboard to pour water from the tea kettle.

"You do not like tea. Why did you want me here?" Castiel spoke as he let the PG Tips tea bag into the hot water, he emptied a packet of cocoa in the other.

"How are you really, Castiel?" Gabriel rested his folded arms on the counter, Castiel did not respond. "I know you're not okay, you don't seem okay."

"I am alright, Gabriel." he let out a small sigh that blew the hairs on his forehead up.

"You don't fool me."

"It is not of import, you should worry more about Michael." he placed the hot cocoa on the counter for Gabriel to take, he placed his cup adjacent to his brother's and sat on the stool.

"You are my brother too, Luci is looking after him and someone has to take care of you."

"I am not an infant."

"I know but you're still the baby of the house." Castiel sighed placing his hands around the tea cup. "You know that what happened lately, everything that's been going on, it's not your fault."

"It feels as it is."

"Well it's not, so stop feeling guilty. Michael's been overworking himself for a long time now, he hardly gets any time off. If someone is to blame, it's dad." Castiel raised his head to stare at his brother.

"Why isn't he home? I do not understand why he left us." Gabriel frowned slightly as he stared at his brother sympathetically.

"Just because he's not here doesn't mean that he doesn't love us. We have each other and for now, that is enough. I know he will come back one day." he gave Castiel a small smile, the younger boy gave a small nod and lowered his head to stare at the steaming cup of tea. Gabriel was silent, he kept his arms resting on the counter as he thought of things to say; Castiel stared silently at the cup of tea without blinking. The clock on the wall ticked for each second eating away the time, the rain kept falling against the glass.

"I want to find him. I want to go see him, Gabriel." Castiel finally broke the silence with a whisper, "I want to tell him to come home."

"You're crazy." he frowned, "They won't let you, and you don't know where he lives."

"If I try hard enough, I could find his location."

"Stop it right there!" he held his hand up, "First, he doesn't want to see us or he would have visited us. Second, there is no way Michael is going to let you go anywhere alone, specially right now. And third, the company is two hours away from here, you can't drive."

"I can walk." he fixed his eyes on his brother with a determined expression on his face; Gabriel sighed.

"Cassie, I know you want everything to be alright and you mean well but, you can't fix this. It's not up to you. Dad will come home when he's ready, just give him time." he placed his hand on top of Castiel's, the younger boy frowned yet kept silent as they both listened to the tick-tock and the splatter on the glass.

…~)*(~…

"Have some sympathy, and some taste. Use all your well-earned politesse or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah but what's puzzling you is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down. Woo who-"

"You are really singing that song, Lucian?" Michael's voice interrupted Lucifer, who sat on the widow seat with a book in his hands.

"Stop calling me Lucian." he snapped the book closed, placing it next to him, "You're awake. Good."

"How-"

"Raphael and I carried you here. You really scared us, you know." he folded his arms across his chest, "Your doctor said you're overstressed."

"You called my doctor?" he frowned at his brother as he sat up to rest against the headboard.

"What did you want us to do? Leave you here to die?"

"I am not dying, stop making this a bigger than it is." he rolled his eyes, Lucifer stood from his position to stand beside the bed.

"You've lost weight, you fainted and you look like crap, Michael! How is this not a big deal to you?!" he raised his voice, Michael sighed attempting to stand up yet the ache in his muscles prevented him, his head throbbed painfully, making his vision blur slightly.

"I am fine, stop raising your voice at me." he glared.

"This isn't a fucking joke! You don't even care about yourself!"

"I care about myself and I'm fine!"

"No, you're not! You don't even eat or sleep, I've noticed. You spend your whole time in the office or taking care of the damn company and it's not even your responsibility yet!" he bellowed.

"Our father is not well yet and I have to take his responsibilities. Have you forgotten it is where the money for our college expenses and everything comes from?" Michael exclaimed, making his hands into fists at his sides.

"Then at least let me help you! You don't have to do it all alone." he growled, Michael's facial features hardened, his chest rose and fell in an angry manner as he glared at his younger brother.

"No." he grunted. "This isn't your responsibility; it's mine." Michael made an effort to stand up pushing his body up with his hands, Lucifer walked around the bed putting his broad hands on the older man's shoulders forcing him down again.

"Do you want to die, Michael? Is that what you want?" he spoke in a rather low, rough tone. Michael's eyes locked with his brother's; the room was silent, cold as cold could be to make one uncomfortable; he noticed the contraction of the pupils in those blue irises and for once, he shivered at the rage radiating throughout Lucifer's being.

"No." he murmured without breaking the eye contact.

"Then do as I say for once, stay here until you get better and I will handle everything. You need to eat and sleep well." Lucifer sat on the edge of the bed by Michael's feet, he fixed his eyes on the floor while both kept silent. Michael stared at the wall across before looking back at the younger man.

"Why are you doing this?" he questioned, not removing his focus from his brother, Lucifer kept still, not ready for the upcoming conversation yet he knew ought to happen.

"Doing what?"

"All this? Since when do you care so much?" he noticed the small, hurt smile planted upon his brother's lips, he regretted his words instantly yet he was curious.

"I have always cared, not that you would ever notice." they were silent once again, Michael was unable to comprehend his brother's sudden behaviour change. Lucifer took a deep breath, without looking at Michael he began to speak.

"When mum died," he hesitated, "We didn't just lose her, we lost dad- and, he said he loved us but not enough to stay." he clenched his fists on his lap, his facial features twisted into a frown, "You think I never saw your pain, Michael? I hated him because he hurt you, hurt us all and I didn't understand how you could still call him a good man." Michael shifted on the bed staring at the sheets covering his legs, "I know the weight you carry on your shoulders, I know you would hide from everyone and cry alone-" he swallowed, feeling a bile rise to his throat, "I promised myself I wouldn't let you go through it alone, I would never leave you. You're my brother and I don't want to lose you like we lost them. Not you, Michael." he clenched his jaw as he glared at the floor.

"Lucian," Michael whispered, his brother turned his head towards him, "This 'burden' I carry, is for me alone. Father left me all this…- this responsibility and I was young, I was too young for it yet he said I must look after you and everyone." he tightened his grip on the sheets on his lap, "I never wanted to fight with you because of him, I just wanted a father who was worthy to be called one and I created an image of him. I was angry that you could not see what I saw-" he kept silent for a moment, his chest rose and fell angrily, "I wanted you to love him as much as I did despite the abandonment, despite the faults and all the pain he caused because he is our father. But, I understand now."

"You don't have to believe what I believe, Michael. If the man is your hero, then that's fine, but I can't call him my father, I love him but not as much as you think I should."

"I am not telling you to love him as I do, I am saying…- perhaps you have been right all this time. I am just- I am tired, this, I can't anymore," he drew his bottom lip in between his teeth pressing them hard; Lucifer could sense his brother's distress and he could not help but commiserate. "I promised him I would do all this for him but, I am not happy; it does not matter, Lucian, if I am not happy, as long as you and our siblings are happy with their lives, that suffices." the ache in his heart, along with the bile rising to his throat made burning tears build in his eyes, making them twinkle with the light yet he smiled at his brother. "That is all that matters to me, heaven for all of you."

"I can't let you do that, Michael. I'm not gonna let you wreck yourself like that." Lucifer shook his head. "You mean well but you have to think of yourself."

"I'll be alright. One way or another, I will."

"No! You won't, you know it and you don't care!"

"I care!" he exclaimed, "I care but I have no other option. I was born to do this and I will fulfil it even if it costs my happiness." he did not see Lucifer move as he felt a fist meet his jaw, his head hit the wooden headboard and the pain radiated through his jaw to the back of his head.

"You fucker. You ignorant fucker." Lucifer growled. "You have options. You can let me help you." their eyes locked as they glared at each other in silence. Lucifer stormed out of the room, shutting the door loudly behind him.

"It's not your responsibility…" his whisper echoed throughout the room, the lack of light outside made it impossible for him to see anything through the glass, only his reflection staring back at him, the light from the lamp hitting his skin, the warm air from the vents surrounding him; he suspired to ease the ache in his chest while the reflection glared back at him. "Give me strength." he closed his eyes listening to the silence in the room and the dimmed voices from downstairs.