Chapter 4: Coffee and Crazy
Sam sat the steaming cup of coffee down in front of Raphael, watching as the angel gave the steaming liquid a curious look. Sam slid the creamer, milk, and sugar closer before handing him a spoon. The look on his face when from curiosity to confusion as he stared at the additional things. He took the spoon and gave the coffee a curious look. Raphael suddenly turned and looked to his left at the empty chair across from him before the confusion seemed to clear up.
The hunter watched as the archangel picked up the cup and took a sip, making a face at the bitter liquid. He was about to explain about what to do but the dark skinned angel looked at the empty chair once more. He picked up the spoon and added a spoonful of sugar and stirred it before making another face and adding another spoonful. As he took another drink his eyes went to the chair once more before turning to give the milk and creamer a thoughtful look.
"What do you think?" Sam asked.
"It's not bad." The angel admitted. "Different."
"I was going to tell you to add the sugar and creamer to it until you liked it but you seem to know how to do that without my help." The hunter said. "I though you never had coffee before?"
Raphael flushed, a guilty look passing over his face. "I haven't. I just remember seeing other humans do the same. I figured that it couldn't be that hard to figure out."
The was a loud bang followed but a string of curses that sounded to be in a different language. Sam frowned and looked up at the noise before shaking his head and turning back to Raphael. There was a louder noise, a crash this time, followed by the sounds of hysterical laughter and concerned voices floating down the hall. Deciding it was best to go see what was happening he left the Third Born alone kitchen. Raphael waited until he was sure Sam was gone before turning to the transparent figure sitting in the chair across and to the left of him.
"You keep that up and you're going to get me in trouble." Raphael hissed out at his younger brother's ghost.
^What did I do?!^ Gabriel asked looking quite offended.
"You keep talking to me and it's distracting!" Raphael said. "You're making me look like I've gone crazy."
^You were crazy anyway. What difference does it make if you actually show that you're crazy now?^ Gabriel asked with a smirk.
"Do you want them to lock me up?" The Third Born asked. "Because that's what they'll do if they see me talking to myself or to thin air! Then how will I ever figured out how to get you out of this mess you're stuck in?"
^I am not thin air!^ The blonde snapped. ^And I wouldn't even be in this mess if it wasn't for that attack dog of yours!^
"Fine. Hot air then." The dark skinned angel said, ignoring the second part of his brother's words. "You never did know how to shut up."
^Why do you have to be such a dick Raph? I was just trying to help you.^ Gabriel said with a huff. ^Besides...you're the only person-^
"I know!" Raphael snapped loudly.
"Know what?" Sam asked coming back into the kitchen.
Raphael flushed. "I know how I'm going to have my coffee from now on. This is very good. Thank you for introducing me to this Sam."
Sam gave him a weak smile. "You're welcome. Gabriel loved his coffee too but we had a difference of opinion on how to drink it."
The angel gave him a curious look. "Is there more then one way to drink it?"
The hunter gave a little chuckle. "Everyone drinks their coffee differently. For me I like it with two sugars and milk. Dean likes it black. Crowley likes it with a splash of brandy. Michael takes one sugar and French vanilla creamer. Lucifer likes two sugars and Irish cream. Chuck likes three sugars and cream instead of milk. Balthazar only drinks tea."
Raphael frowned at the one person that was missing from the list. "What about Gabriel? You didn't tell me how he took his coffee."
Sam let out a chuckle. "That's because you couldn't really call what he drank coffee. It was more like he drank coffee flavored milk and sugar. One part milk, one part sugar, one part coffee. I still can't figure out just how he managed to drink it. I couldn't stand it. I would never let him kiss me after drinking it. It was too sweet."
^Sam just doesn't have good taste. My coffee was amazing!^ Gabriel said.
Raphael let out a chuckle. "Gabriel always did have a rather unnatural obsession with sweets. We never managed to figure out where he got it from. Dad doesn't even have that big of a sweet tooth. Get Lucifer in the right mood and he's almost just as bad as Gabriel though."
"At lease Gabriel and I didn't go on fruit binges like you." Lucifer said coming into the room, a huge bruise forming on the side of his face along with a huge cut in the center of the bruise.
Raphael jumped up, horror appearing on his face. Michael appeared close behind the Second Born a bloody rag in his hand. Dean and Castiel were the next ones in and the hunter was trying not to laugh while the younger angel was beet red. Lucifer took a seat across from Raphael and Michael followed him, dabbing gently at the cut.
^What the hell? Who the fuck cleaned Luci's clock and what the hell did I have to be stuck here and miss it?^ Gabriel asked.
"Lucifer are you alright? What happened? Where you attacked?" Raphael asked, rephrasing the blonde's questions so that they weren't so vulgar.
Castiel's flush grew. "No he wasn't attacked. The fault for his injury was mine. I wasn't as careful as I should have been. Lucifer I really am sorry."
Lucifer gave him a smile and then winced as Michael pressed too hard. "It was an accident Castiel. You don't have to apologize to me for what happened. I'm just glad you didn't get hurt. That could have been bad."
^What happened?!^ Gabriel asked again. ^What did I miss?!^
"You still shouldn't have protected me. I would have been fine." Castiel insisted. "I don't like it when other people get hurt because of me."
"That's what family does Cas. Remember?" Dean asked his mate. "Family is there to love and support each other and occasionally taking a blow from them."
Michael looked up at Dean. "You make it sound like Lucifer took an angel blade for him. It was just a book."
"A book did that kind of damage?" Raphael asked curiously. "How could a book do such damage to an archangel?"
"The cover was made from metal." Chuck said coming in carrying the book. "It appears that the Men of Letters somehow found an angelic tome."
Raphael stood and came over to look at the book. "This is the Hereafter Tome. It's been missing for nearly three millenia. How did humans manage to find it?"
^You mean to tell me that book was right under to noses of god and three archangels and none of us knew it?^ Gabriel asked. ^We're losing our touch.^
"My guess is they found it and figured out what it was a hid it to keep it safe." Michael said. "That seemed to be their purpose anyway. We never would have found it if Casteil hadn't knocked over the book self."
"So what is this Here whatever tome thingy?" Dean asked.
"It's a tome that explains in great detail exactly what happens when someone dies. It explains where the soul goes depending on what you are. Like for humans they can go to heaven or hell." Raphael explained. "It also tells how to redeem a soul in Purgatory so that it may find it's finally rest."
That had Dean sitting up straighter. "Think I could use it to help a friend there? He's a vampire named Benny. He helped Sam, Cas, and I all escape from there."
Raphael turned and glanced at his father, who gave him a smile and nod. "Sure. We can give him the rest he seeks."
Dean looked like Christmas came early.
^Is there a section on angels in there?^ Gabriel asked coming closer to Raphael and passing right through Lucifer making the angel shiver and look around.
"I wonder if there is..." Raphael said, taking the book from his father and flipping through some of the pages.
^Shouldn't you know?^ Gabriel asked. ^You're a Loreist!^
"I didn't memorize every book." Raphael muttered, not realizing he was drawing confused looks from the rest of his family.
^Why not? I memorized every healing spell, poison, antidote, and elixir there is. How hard can it be to memorize a damn book?!^ The blonde snapped.
"Books are a lot different then plants." Raphael replied. "I think that this might help but I need more time to look through it."
^Like how much time are we talking about? Hours? Days?^ The Fourth Born asked, his tone clipped and filled with tension.
"It might take me a few weeks." The dark skinned angel admitted.
^Well don't just stand there! Start looking!^ Gabriel said. ^This can't wait! My mate is human! I need to get back to him! Snap to it! Chop, chop!^
"If you don't shut your mouth then so help me-"
"Raphael?"
The archangel looked up to find the his father, the two hunter, and his three bothers staring at him. Raphael flushed and tried to think of a reason why he would be talking the way he was. He could feel his face heating up and his body felt strange.
^Pass out Raph.^ Gabriel said. ^Right now. Pass out. Roll your eyes, close them, drop the book and let your knees give out. They'll catch you and then give yourself a minute and 'wake up' and act dazed. You can pass it off as exhaustion and a fainting spell.^
Knowing he didn't have another choice unless he wanted to appear crazy he rolled his eyes before closing them and let the book fall. He braced himself and let his knees give out and he felt three pair of hands catch him and he was pulled close to someone's chest. It didn't take him long to figure out that it was Lucifer who was holding him, gently running his Grace over him. He heard the worried concerns of the others and let out a small groan before pulling back and looking up into Lucifer's blue eyes. The Second Born seemed relieved that he 'awake' again.
"Raphael?" He asked softly.
"Lucifer? What...Why am I on the floor?" The dark skinned angel asked.
"Don't you remember?" Lucifer asked, his worry growing once more. "You were looking at the Hereafter tome and you started talking crazy and then you passed out."
Raphael turned to look around before turning back to Lucifer. "I did? I don't remember. I feel weird. Tired."
"Maybe you should get some rest. You have a mortal body now. It's best that you take care of it. It'll help make your Grace stronger. Let's get you to your room okay?" Lucifer asked, helping to get his younger brother to his feet.
"I'm okay. Really." Raphael insisted.
^Nice acting.^ Gabriel said. ^Who knew you had such and amazing hidden talent? What else are you hiding from us? Can you do ballet too?^
"It would make me feel better if you laid down. Then you are going to eat when you wake up. That's an order." Lucifer said pulling him from the kitchen. "And I want you up here with the rest of us. You're going to have a room near me."
The dark skinned angel frowned. "But Michael said-"
"I don't give a damn what Michael says." Lucifer snapped before calming himself. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"You have every right to-"
"No I don't." Lucifer said stopping him. "I talked to Dad about this after I yelled at you last week. He made me realize that I wasn't being fair to you. What you did...I have no right to blame you for. You were tainted and in pain and none of us saw it. We were all so involved in our own little worlds that none of us even thought about the changes we could see in you.
"That wasn't fair to you and it made you lash out. For that I owe you an apology. We all do. So I just want you to know that I'm sorry Raph. I can't fix the past but I can promise to be here now for you. If you ever need anything or just want someone to talk to then I want you to know that my door is always open. Anytime. Day or night." Lucifer said stopping before a door and opening it.
Raphael frowned and stepped inside only to freeze. It was his room. Someone had gone to heaven and brought all of his things down. His desk, his pictures, his books, even his fur blankets and leather pillows. Everything that he held most dear was all right here in this one room. He stepped further in and looked around in awe.
"This is-"
"I want you to be happy here." Lucifer said. "I want this place to be your home too. I went to heaven and grabbed all your things and brought them down. I've spent the past week getting this room ready for you. I hope that's okay?"
^Holy shit.^ Gabriel said looking around. ^Looks like Luci really out did himself for you Raph. If I were you I'd be grateful. Lucifer hates going to heaven. He's not really welcome there and when he does go they other angels don't treat him well.^
Raphael turned and went over and hugged Lucifer. "Thank you Lucifer. You have no idea how much this means to me."
Lucifer hugged him back and kissed his cheek. "It's nothing. Now go lay down and get some rest. I don't need you passing out again."
Raphael nodded and went over to the bed. He kicked off his shoes and laid down, relishing the feeling of the soft bed. Lucifer left and Raphael waited for a few minutes to be sure he was alone. He turned to look at his ghostly brother.
"This is all your fault Gabriel!" Raphael hissed out.
^How is it my fault?!^ The blonde asked.
"Stop talking to me in public! They're going to think I've gone mad! If I get locked away because they think I'm crazy then what will you do? Right now I'm the only one who knows you exist!"
^What do you want me to do then? And if you say be quiet then forget it.^ Gabriel said with a glare. ^I don't do quiet. It's not in my nature.^
"Gabriel if you want my help then you need to only talk to me when I'm alone unless it's important. I mean it." Raphael said. "I want to be able to bring you back. I want to do it for Sam and for Lucifer. They miss you. You were the only one who could make both of them smile."
^Alright. I guess you make a good point.^ Gabriel admitted.
"Good. Just make sure you remember that next time we're in public with other people." The Third Born said. "And while I am at it thank you for getting me out of the mess you just got me into. I don't know if I could have pulled it off if you hadn't told me what to do."
^See? I knew I could make a prankster out of you!^ The blonde cheered. ^Now if only I could find you a sense of humor. Then you'd be all set.^
"You and I have very different tastes in humor Little One. Or did you forget about the time you made Michael's wings pink? He never did forgive you for that."
^Maybe not but it was funny.^
Raphael let out a little chuckle and then laid down. He was going to try to get some rest. He'd need it if he was going to bring Gabriel back. If Raphael hadn't been so wrapped up in his conversation with Gabriel then he would have realized that he wasn't exactly as alone as he thought he was. Lucifer frowned and slowly backed away from the door with a look of shock. Raphael had been talking to Gabriel but he hadn't heard anything. Was his younger brother going crazy or was it something more? There was only one way to find out for sure.
Lucifer walked down the hall and went directly to his library. He began searching through the tomes until he came to the one he was looking for. He pulled the book down and began going through it until he found the spell he was looking for. Reading off the list of ingredients he needed frowned when he realized he was missing a few but that was easily fixed. He was going to find out if his baby brother was really dead or not.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Taking a deep Lucifer lit the last candle and made the proper sigil in blood. He mixed together what he had in the bowl and double checked the time. Standing he stripped down to nothing, and folded his clothes and sat them aside. Picking up the bowl he walked into the circle and right up to the fire. He cut his hand on the sharp edge he had made on the bowl and let his blood drip onto the mixture before dumping the contents into the fire. There was a bright flash and a bang followed by a cry of pain. Lucifer looked up and his jaw dropped. He couldn't believe his eyes.
^Fucking hell! That hurt! Who the hell is the asshole that decided to drag me here? I hope you're ready for a fat lip because I'm going to fucking punch you!^ The short angry blonde shouted.
"Gabriel?"