Direct lines are pulled from the transcript from season 11 episode 14.

.-~*~-.

Gabriel closed his eyes and looked up at the sky. "I have to do it. The dumbasses are failing. Luci's gloating about the victory and… I'm not doing this for you. This is for the Earth. This is to try and clean up your damned mess."

The prayer was half-assed and for his benefit more than anything, because he knew God wasn't listening. God- or Chuck? He didn't care. It was them now. Even Luci would eventually play a part in it all. All of it was a matter of when.

.-~-.

"So." Sam was saying when Gabriel arrived -invisible- on a dock somewhere outside of that dead zone in Missouri. Not just any deadzone. The area he knew very well housed the Men of Letters American bunker.

"So. Cas." Dean responded and Gabriel sat down on the edge of the wood, dangling his feet in the water quietly to give the boys a bit of time to wrap their minds around the fact that Castiel had said yes. If what Lucifer said was true, Sam would be in more shock than Dean.

"Yeah. What do we do?" Sam asked. So, he was playing the fine card. Because that always worked out. Gabriel cast a glance over his shoulder before looking back down at the murky water.

"What else? We hunt Lucifer, trap the bastard, and save Cas."

"Like I said. Lucifer may be in control now, but Cas may not come back willingly. I mean he chose it." That made Gabriel pause. Did… Gabriel turned carefully, eyeing the brothers for the first time in years with a new fascination. Dean didn't know. Dean didn't have a clue his baby brother was screwing his best friend. It was a secret, which meant… Sam had to deal with the fact that Lucifer had screwed him while wearing Cas on his own. It was almost depressing. Almost. If Sam wanted to deal with his issues on his own, that was his business.

"No. No, not possible." There was a long moment of silence following that before Sam cleared his throat.

"So, how'd you get through today? I mean what did you do?"

"Nothing. Sam, they…" Gabriel looked away with a guilty flinch. Dean had just suffered the successful change of a historical event. Humans weren't meant to succeed in those kinds of things, but he had, and he was dealing with the psychological backlash. If Gabriel had bothered to show his face he could have warned them it was a fruitless activity. Pointless. Lucifer should've known better too. Changing history was playing with fire.

"I was just a witness." Dean responded with a shaky breath. Gabriel couldn't look at him. If he did he'd never get the image out his head, a vulnerable Dean Winchester accompanied by a falsely less disturbed Sam.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"No. No, story for another day."

The wood creaked as one of the hunters rose to their feet and he closed his eyes. It was almost time and he wasn't really sure he was close to being ready for this.

"Hey, the uh - the German ship that sank the Bluefin, what happened to it?"

"It went down. Unlike the sub, its wreckage was found. It was a giant hole. It ripped through the entire thing. Something must've hit the fuel tanks and exploded, but it burned. Sank." Sam responded, sounding just a bit perplexed.

"Good. That's good." Gabriel rose to his feet slowly, turning and raising his fingers in a snap- before he stopped. Was this practical? No. Not by a longshot. It didn't matter how he made himself known. They weren't going to buy it either way.

"Hey, guys." Gabriel spoke up, invisibility dissipating as two wiry hunters drew guns on him in an instant, one shooting him square in the chest. "Really? I thought we were allies now."

"G- Gabriel?" Dean blurted in shock while Sam kept a gun trained on him, eyes narrowed and demeanor screaming suspicious and mistrustful.

"Yep. It's me. I know, I died blah blah blah. Thanks for the flowers, by the way."

"Sam-"

"No. You were dead. We saw-"

"Yeah, I know. I did a great job fooling everyone."

"No- Lucifer showed me that. One of the hundreds of deaths on my hands. I saw him kill you."

"What can I say? I'm a Trickster. I've had years to prepare for my deaths and the outcomes. Tricking Luci was a challenge but-"

"How?" Dean demanded, finally kicking into proper action. "How the hell did you trick the devil?"

"The same way he tricked you boys. Lens flare here, body there, half my grace used in an explosion, feathers for effect, and bam! Fake dead archangel. Nasty business, nearly did kill me."

"I don't believe you."

"Of course you don't." Gabriel scowled at Dean before snapping his fingers and returning the memories of two hundred and fifty-six deaths. The older hunter dropped to the ground with a shout, grabbing at his skull and Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest as Sam abandoned his initial misgivings, dropping his own gun on the ground as he knelt beside his brother.

"Stop it! Please!"

"Why should I? You don't have the decency to respect me, why should I-"

"I believe you." Sam interrupted him with a hard look. Satisfied, just as quickly as he'd returned memories of all the deaths, he revoked all but three. Dean was gasping sharp, desperate breaths as he struggled to life his gaze, glaring angrily.

"Why weren't you here sooner? Where the fuck have you been?" Dean demanded angrily.

"Here, there, everywhere." Gabriel responded evasively. "How about you, boys? How've you been spending your downtime while bringing the planet to the brink time and time again? I mean sure, it's fun once or twice but after a while it gets old."

"Screw you, asshat." Dean bit out articulately.

"Not the time or place for that, Dean-Bean." Gabriel responded with a wink. Dean's face reddened but Gabriel couldn't quite tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. Maybe both. Probably both. That was the fun thing about prayers, he knew when someone thought about him a lot, and boy had Dean thought about him a lot. At least the first time they met. Then it had sort of spiraled out of control. Never stood a chance. Not even a single roll in the hay. "The two of you were stupid. So damned stupid. No- not stupid. Selfish."

"Coming from the runaway."

"Hey, I made my selfish choices for my own benefit." Gabriel waved it off. "And the world didn't get caught in the crossfire."

Neither brother seemed pleased with that response but he didn't particularly care what they thought. His leaving Heaven was his choice and the repercussions were ones he'd paid the price for in blood. "So you're alive."

"Yes. We've established that."

"How?"

"My dirty little secret. I'd rather Luci didn't find out so it'll be between me, myself, and I thank you very much."

Sam gave him a speculative look, full of distrust and probably some hatred. There was a distinct hint of unease too, like Sam thought he knew. Which he did, but he wasn't the kind of dick that would drop that ball. It absolutely wasn't his place to share things he only knew because Lucifer was arrogantly bragging about bedding himself a Winchester. "How about I keep my potentially dangerous secrets, and you share yours. Tell me what you two dumbasses have figured out- besides the hands of God."

"You know about those?" Dean asked, sounding uncomfortable.

"Of course I do. Luci ain't exactly quiet. He likes gloating to me, fuels his ego. Up until today I had no intention of getting involved."

"What changed?"

"You lost a Hand of God and changed the past." Gabriel responded, eyeing Dean with what he would never admit was a bit of admiration. "Dad's jumped ship, He's done playing ball with the kids, and He's going to let Auntie Amara wipe us from the map. So, we've got to do this on our own."

"We."

"Of course." Gabriel responded with a smirk he didn't really feel. "I've died for your asses, I'm rightfully a member of Team Free Will."

"You said-"

"Yes, I know what I said. I did die, but I didn't. End of story." The glare he cast the younger Winchester was clearly enough as neither brother said another word on the matter. "Last time, it took four of us, and Daddy dearest to take her down. Thing is, God power can only be wielded by someone in God's favor. None of us qualify, Mikey could but he's off his rocker. Theoretically little Cassie could because ironically enough he's got a decent amount of faith for a Fallen, but his stunt with Lucifer… yeah, I wouldn't put my money on that anymore- actually wait." His gaze wandered back to Sam, peeling the human layer back to eye the fractured and broken soul. "Maybe you could, Sam. I'm impressed. Still pray?"

"I- yeah." Sam admitted reluctantly. "How can you-"

"Your soul still has the radiance of a follower of God. Something I didn't expect to be possible after all this time. You are an interesting human being, Sam Winchester. Not that it matters too much. If you touch it, you die and we both know that's not going to happen."

The looks he got in return were priceless and he didn't really care much for them. This was their fault, not his.

"So look, boys. It's like this. We're short two archangels-"

"Michael?"

"Mikey's crazy as a bat. He's not in any condition to fight and I doubt even Daddy dearest could save him if he wanted to. Two archangels down. There's some theoretical ways we can do it, but we'll need another Hand." That was his skeleton. His secret. Sooner or later, the ball would drop. Someone would spill about Michael's death. Lucifer would probably do it, but it was something he didn't want to talk about. Never again.

"Where the hell will we get one of those?"

"As far as I'm concerned they're all juiced out. That said, I'm sure there's a couple out there. They'll just be hell to find. If they were common, Luce would've gotten his hands on them already and wouldn't have been firing into the dark with time travel. No, boys. These won't be easy to find. But with me on your side you've got a better chance."

"Until Lucifer shanks you again."

"Low blow, Deanarino. But fair. There's a difference now. Big one. He's just as afraid of Amara as I am, he's not going to kill me. Though he might come after my Vessel when he starts wearing through Cassie…"

"He what-"

Gabriel gave Sam a hard look at the same moment Dean blurted. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Castiel isn't wearing a viable Vessel. Not for an Archangel. If it was that easy do you really think they'd have pushed so hard for you knuckleheads? Nope. Not in a million years. Even True Vessels wear over time." To prove his point he peeled back the collar of his shirt to expose the layers of heat patches that had started manifesting a hundred or so years ago. "We aren't supposed to be on Earth. We belong in Heaven. Vessels are supposed to be temporary. My guess is Lucifer threw some reinforcement in Cassie for the time being, but sooner or later he's going to pop like a balloon." The brutal truth clearly wasn't the best one but it was the one he had. He wasn't going to sugarcoat it for the idiots that kept ending the world. Even knowing what he knew. "Theoretically you could throw down the yes card. Despite what they told you, you wouldn't need the demon blood. Of course it could also-"

"No." Dean responded before he could finish his rambling. "Not just no, fuck no. That's not- It's not happening."

"Not even to save your boyfriend?" He mocked the wrong Winchester, earning a nearly feral look from Sam matched with an angry, pissed off one Dean gave him.

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Oh, right. He's too tall for you, isn't he?" To be fair, he earned it. More than earned it. He deserved it, so it wasn't exactly surprising when he was punched square in the jaw, hit hard enough it actually sent him stumbling back a couple steps and almost into the water.

It was the thrower of the punch that threw him off. He'd expected it from Dean, not from Sam. Not in a million years, though he should have suspected. In the end of it all, when it came down to the emotional level, Sam was the reactive one. It wasn't Dean. In fact, it made perfect sense.

"Happy?" He asked rubbing his cheek and watching the hunter flex his fingers uncomfortably.

"Not really. What the fuck is your problem?"

"It's a long story. A really long one and I'm not going to bother sharing it. It's none of your business."

"So you can know everything about us and you can't bother telling us where the hell you've been?"

"It doesn't matter-"

"Yes. It does." Dean cut in from behind his brother. "It's too good to be true, what's the catch? Nothing like you ever comes without a price."

"Hm. Fine. Short story. I was in Heaven up until The Fall. When Metadouche took over he locked me up and made a deal with me."

"The thing with Cas?"

"Yep. I tricked Cas, he left me alone. Not that I played my part well. I didn't want to help the worm. But it's done. Then I went off to Helheim and kicked it with my babygirl for a few years- sorry Earth months. Then the rat stabbed me in the back and slaughtered the last of the Norse pantheon. My kids asked that I didn't go for revenge, so I stayed there. Dying wishes are sorta my thing you know. All was fine until you two popped Auntie from her box." There was a moment of silence following that. He waited for the inevitable question. A question he couldn't answer until asked directly.

"What changed with Amara? Why didn't you come then?"

"God." He responded, earning a shocked look from both brothers. "He summoned me and told me I was going to help you. I told him to fuck off. I'm not one of his soldiers. Not anymore."

"You didn't think about getting involved when we fucked up and let Lucifer out?"

"I did. But to be honest I figured you'd be smart enough to realize Castiel was possessed. Even if you didn't, Lucifer hadn't been planning to kill you. I thought he was smart enough to keep using you. Go figure Sammy's the one that pisses him off."

"You came because Lucifer stopped pretending."

"No." He corrected with a sigh. "I came because he tried to kill the both of you. I didn't think he was stupid enough to try. Like it or not, you two dumbasses seem to figure out how to save the world time and time again. Whether he shows it or not, he's just as scared as everyone else."

"Self-preservation." Sam muttered.

"Bingo! It's like this, boys. No matter how arrogant he is, no matter the stupid choices that he makes are, Lucifer is selfish. Everything he does, he does for him. Every move he makes is towards his own victory. Though I'm reluctant to admit it, we're all like this. It's one of the consequences of being some of the strongest creatures in existence. Nothing matters more than our own survival and since it's so rare that we're challenged… When something does threaten it, we'll generally protect ourselves and our best option for survival." Except maybe their children. Michael had sired a nephillim at one point and been fiercely protective over it. Ironically, that was where Odin had come from. Just another secret runaway. Not that it mattered. Lucifer had ultimately killed Odin. Stupid, stupid kid.

"Yeah, that worked out smoothly so thanks for that."

"Hey, you got away unscathed. I'm not heartless. I've told the reapers to back off. They want my help keeping Auntie down, you two don't get thrown into The Empty. With Death gone they're a bit scattered but they got the message."

"You're serious?" Sam looked extremely doubtful.

"Deadly." He responded with a smirk. "Even that Billie reaper that threatened you agreed to back off. Well, until Amara's gone anyways. Then you're fair game. Even sweetened the deal. Heaven for both of you, no resurrection clause though. If you get brought back, I get to kill you." Admittedly the bargaining with Billie had been a pain in his ass, and it was because she was the reaper that had taken the ring. Billie was Death, and she wanted them dead. But the deal had been made, and it wasn't one he was actually happy with. Killing the hunters dead was different than what he'd done in Mystery Spot. Hell, he hadn't been present for much of it. He'd skipped over it in favor of doing other things that he'd sworn to never mention.

So yeah. As far as Sam and Dean knew, he was fine with the prospect. It was what it was.

"You know, you're both much less attractive when you look like fish. A simple thank you would suffice." He huffed, turning his back on them.

"You saved our souls?"

"Yep. You two are officially on the can not die list until auntie is gone and you're not going to rot in The Empty, you're going to Heaven. You're welcome."

Gabriel didn't expect a thank you, and when the words came from not Sam but Dean's mouth he was yet again thrown off guard. Somehow they still managed to surprise him.

"Thanks." Gabriel turned his head and raised an eyebrow at the uncomfortable looking hunter. "I guess."

"We got player one. You gonna join the Gabe train, Sammy?"

"No."

"Welp. Figured as much. Clearly dying for your mistakes doesn't earn a pass, why should saving your afterlives?"

"Gabriel-"

"Save it, Dean-o. I get the memo. Call me when Luci's got her nose up your ass again." Then he was gone in a snap of fingers.

~-.-~