Chapter 5 – Care Too Much

"Michael! Michael!"
The archangel turned around as Balthazar ran up to him, Castiel close on his heels.
"Have you seen Gabriel? We've looked for him everywhere but we can't find him," he asked.
"You won't find him here," said Michael. "Gabriel is gone. He has left heaven."
"He left?! But why?" Castiel said.
"I don't know. I found this note this morning," Michael replied, handing them a scrap of paper.
Balthazar took it and the two brothers read it quickly.
"What does he mean he 'just had to go'? He...he didn't even say goodbye," said Castiel.
"If you ask me, I'd say it was cowardly of him to leave," said Michael.
"Gabriel is many things, but he is NOT a coward!" Balthazar snapped, suddenly defensive. "He didn't leave because he was scared, he left because he hated what had become of our family!"
"I always thought it was a shame to let Gabriel raise you two. You both care too much, just like he always did," Michael said.
"How dare you–" Castiel snarled.
He stepped forward but Balthazar grabbed his arm and gripped it tight. Castiel looked at him indignantly but his older brother just slowly started to lead him away from the archangel.
"Thank you, Michael," Balthazar said coldly, then turned and strode away, dragging his younger brother with him.

When they had left Michael far behind them, Balthazar finally let go of his grip on Castiel's arm. They stood in silence for several minutes before Castiel finally spoke.
"First Lucifer, then Father, now Gabriel. Why does everyone just leave?"
"Because maybe Michael's a little bit right," said Balthazar sadly. "They all cared too much, and when you care about something, sometimes it hurts too much to stay."