A/N: Finishing here. Shorter Chapter to end this Story.
I've been meaning to complete this for a while and I just haven't had the time or enthusiasm to do so and for that I apologise.
Thank you SO much for the support and patience with me and Reading / Reviewing this Story.
Hopefully this isn't anti-climactic to what everyone was hoping for
To say the atmosphere was tense was an understatement. Time ticked away slowly, each second felt like a millennial to this misfit team.
"Gabriel! Castiel! You have betrayed us all!" Raphael bellowed out
The Angel and Archangel Fish silently held eye contact, no-one said a word, if they gave away their vantage point all of this would be for absolutely nothing. Sam and Gabe had separated to one corner, Cas and Dean took cover behind a large pillar. Crowley was left to fend for himself because no-one cared about the Demon King.
Both Michael and Raphael stumbled through to the garage "Traitors, show yourselves!" Michael ordered
Castiel was terrified, still unsure about who he truly was, he felt safe around the eldest Winchester, Gabriel had trusted him enough to allow Castiel to be alone with him. Raphael was close, Castiel did everything he could to not freak out, Dean was calm and focussed which aided Castiel to mirror the emotions.
Sam and Gabriel were far from harm which was a good and bad thing, yes they weren't in the crossfire zone however if they were too far away they'd never be able to help. Sam had whispered and mimed to Gabriel they would need to create small pieces of noise to lure either one or both opposing Archangel Fish from just Cas and Dean.
Crowley knew he was alone in this fight. Disappointed but expecting this outcome he knew he was screwed. He owed the Winchester nothing, Gabriel was out to kill him among his elder siblings plus Castiel had little clue about anything still. As a distraction his demonic blood-red smoke burst out from his vessel, swirling around the ceiling, he ploughed into Raphael's chest sending the Archangel into an old jeep, shattering the glass and denting the hood of the vehicle. Crowley returned to his unprotected Vessel with haste.
Sam and Gabriel were close enough to gang up on the fallen Archangel, however Sam's literal Human Weakness left him exposed to Raphael's advanced strength, the younger Winchester felt his organs bounce from the intense sucker punch he received to his chest, sending him straight to the side railings
"Sam!" Gabriel and Dean yelled
Dean was apprehended by Michael, who shoved Dean against a concrete pillar, an Archangel Blade pinning against his neck, Castiel tackled his eldest Brother to the ground, letting out a feral growl from his throat "Do no harm him!" Castiel received an elbow straight to the face. Dean yanked Michael up by the jacket lapels and swung fiercely to Michael's face repeatedly until the Archangel kicked him off, he slid across the floor. Michael could sense the Winchesters were easy to harm, all he had to do was pick out the shaft from the wheat. Michael encountered Castiel again, this time with an Angel Blade swinging widely in his space, the pair duelled in their knife fight, both were scratched and sliced several times, noticeable cuts were dripping down their bodies slowly, staining their clothes and skin.
"You are weak, Castiel, return home. You will overthrow even the best of our armies" Michael persuaded
"You and Raphael are trying to kill my friends. I am never going to side with you again" Castiel hissed, kneeing Michael in the gut and throwing his across the garage, Castiel moved to Dean's side to check on the Human
Sam was out, he was kicking himself up the ass furiously for being literally thrown out of this fight so soon. He was acutely aware of Gabriel being close to him however he had no clue what was actually happening around him. Forcing his eyes to open, it took massive amounts of strength and time to do so to see Gabriel battling (and unfortunately losing) against Raphael. The smaller was clearly weaker, probably due to being exposed to the Warding longer, Gabriel was getting a few good shots in, a punch to Raphael's face, a kick to the knee and even managing to slam his opponent to the floor however it was obvious Gabriel was grasping at straws to get a hit in.
Sam shakily got up to all fours, spitting out blood his took off from the ground and charged for Raphael, both spiralled to the floor, the three could hear a clatter of Blades, being rolled on to his back Raphael began to choke the life of out Sam. Gabriel wouldn't let that work, giving a swift kick to Raphael's ribs Gabriel slashed a falling Raphael across his chest and stabbed his older Brother with a heavy heart. Raphael's scream and blinding white light burst through the garage, Gabriel was shoved a few feet away from Raphael's body Sam was pushed backwards too.
Michael was distracted from his younger siblings cry of death, the floor was charred with wing imprints wisping out like a dead flame on wood. "Brother!" Dean took the opportunity to punch Michael in the face sending him staggering back a few paces, Dean then kicked him in the chest and swung with an Angel Blade to whack the butt of the weapon against Michael's head to send him to the floor. Michael could see Crowley standing in his blurry peripherals, practically taunting him by standing so proud.
"Demon King..."
"Hello Darling how would you like to join me and your Brother, Raphael with me to go see Lucifer, he'd been desperate to get a visitor for the Cage. Permanent was my suggestion, he seems to agree"
"I will never..." Michael slowly stood himself up, knowing he was outmatched three-to-one (Gabriel was crouched over an unconscious Sam, protecting and healing him) "Join you in the Pit that you call Hell" Michael spat out.
"Who said anything about joining?" Crowley's Demonic form flurried out again, swirling around the eldest Archangel, damaging him and poisoning his open wounds.
"Stop!" Michael flexed out a wave of his powers, yelling out. Crowley was gone. For good this time, Archangel topped Demons, even the King, even the Vessel vanished.
Castiel stuttered, he knew he was scared of his oldest Brother, keenly aware that Dean was in front of him, protecting him from harm made the Angel Fish's stomach drop, taking a bold step Castiel raced up to Michael and flew them away back to where this all started. The riverbank on Lawrence's edge. The splash of water surrounded them they were both soaked to the bone, it was broad daylight outside however no-one was around.
"Castiel!" Dean yelled "Gabriel, take us to them? Sammy!"
"He's alright. I know where they are. Brace yourself" Gabriel zapped them all - plus the transport of Baby knowing he'd be drained after this to the river bank.
Michael had slipped out from Castiel's grasp, he began to pummel his youngest sibling. Blood was clouding around the clear-blue water, staining it "You are a bitter disappointment, Castiel. You had so much potential and yet you fall!"
"Hey, Asshat!" Dean yelled out, his gun drawn and ready to fire
Michael's attention to caught from the absurdity of the insult "Humans, corruptible, filthy-" Gunfire interrupted the Archangel.
Castiel jumped out of his beaten trance, he booted am injured Michael in the gut and scrambled to his feet, water was dripping from his soaked clothes, he was lucky he hadn't thrown them the a deep end.
"Give up, Michael. You can't win" Castiel zapped himself closer to the Winchesters and Gabriel.
Michael, distracted from his heavily bleeding shoulder - Dean had re-opened the first bullet wound he had implemented. Michael knew this was his last chance to bring Castiel back to his side "Castiel, return home. I do not want to be responsible for your blood shed by our hands. If you stay you will be Hunted. Do not follow Gabriel's footsteps, his mistakes. You should know better"
Castiel rose his head high, "Goodbye Michael" Taking pride in his steps Castiel didn't look back as he joined the Winchesters and Gabriel by the Impala. To ass insult to injury he purposely dried himself off to stand by Dean's side
"Dean, don't shoot him. He knows he'd defeated" Castiel hushed to the eldest Winchester
To prove his point Michael backed away and once again disappeared into the depths of the salt-water, a blood trail following behind him.
"We won," Castiel stated
"Yeah, I think we should head home" Dean commented
"That's why I took Baby-doll. No-one on a condition to teleport after that" Gabriel added
"It's Baby and yeah, you both look like crap"
"Thank you, Dean" Castiel accepted the Winchester's remark
"Thanks for saving me, Gabe" Sam wheezed to the last Archangel.
"Anytime, Kiddo" Gabriel leaned into the taller Winchester.
"So, you staying with us, Cas?"
"Yes. If I am welcome, Dean"
"Yeah. who else to stop this world going into crap, two roughed-up Hunters, an Archangel who can also transform into an overly large Fish and a disobedient solider with some memory loss. Team Free Will, I'd say" Dean smiled at his own rant
The rest rolled their eyes without heat "Sounds about right" Sam agreed
"Time to go home. Not it for clearing out that body" Dean quickly rambled out, jumping behind the wheel
"You're such a child, Dean" Sam scolded, getting into Shotgun of Baby
"How quickly are you regretting this, Cassie?"
"I fear it's already too late to turn back"
Dean grinned, blaring up AC/DC's "Highway To Hell". Cringing from the noise Castiel was more than happy for this life he'd chosen. He still had a long way to go to remember who he truly was but if it revolved around the Winchesters and Gabriel then he was more than delighted to turn his back on his old life and siblings.
Castiel was free.
Castiel was home.