Two in one day! Amazing! I can't believe I managed it! Hey you go my happy readers! Enjoy! ~Noxy

Chapter 17: Facing Your Demon

"You're absolutely sure about this?" Crowley asked. "Because last couple of times you decided to play tango with this thing it left you worse for wear."

Gabriel nodded. "I'm positive Crowley. I have to do this if I want to move past it."

The demon nodded. "I think you're nuts but to each his own. You want to see him then that's on your head. He's this way."

Crowley led the hunter and archangel through a set of double doors and down a long hallway.

"It took a while but we finally managed to find a way to keep him contained." Crowley said. "He won't get out unless someone lets him out."

"That's good." Gabriel said. "Warding or some kind I take it?"

"Actually you should thank those friends of yours." The Scotsman said. "All those gods and goddesses that you made nice with decided that they didn't want to see you suffer from something like that again. Instead they each put a ward on the cell and then another and another until there was at least fifty or sixty on there. not to mention what your brothers put on there."

"That's impressive." Gabriel acknowledged. "And they made you the primary spell holder right?"

"Indeed they did and-Do keep up Moose. I don't really feel like sending someone to look for you because you stopped to ogle my zoo down here." Crowley said, pausing to give Sam a chance to catch up.

Sam caught up looking a bit upset. "There was a hunter back there. One my Dad used to hunt with. I never thought he would end up here. My dad used to hunt with him all the time or he'd watch Dean and me when Dad had to go out. Then one day he just vanished without a word to any of us."

Crowley paused and thought for a moment before deciding that it couldn't hurt for the hunter to know the truth. "He didn't vanish. Your dad killed him. For trying to touch you and for touching Dean. Your dad walked in and found him doing naughty things to your brother and threatening to do them to you too, so he took him out back and gave him a dog's death. Pedophile that one. Now moving on. I hope you both realize that this dangerous."

Sam paused and looked back at the cell but then shrugged it off; there was nothing he could do about it now. "How is it dangerous? Xaphanel is in chains right?"

"The worst kind of an animal is a cornered one Sam because they have nothing to lose." Gabriel said, taking his husband's hand and holding it. "Xaphanel has nothing left to lose. He can't touch me anymore and Raphael has his leash once more. I'm safe."

"Still dangerous." Crowley said coming to a stop in front of a large room.

In front of them was a large room that had two levels and was surrounding by six powerful demon guards and four large hounds. On the first level was pretty much a living area with a kitchen type area and a large fireplace. It put Sam in mind of the hovel that Xaphanel had first kept them in when they were captured. The second floor was nothing more then a small ledge that housed what looking like a large nest made from scraps of clothe. The demon was pacing the floor in agitation, chasing the rats that were scurrying around. A heavy chain was attached to the demon's leg, keeping him from going too far.

"Well? What do you think?" Crowley asked looking quite impressed with himself.

Gabriel nodded. "Perfect. Thank you for doing this for me Crowley."

"You're really going in there then?" The demon asked skeptically.

Gabriel turned to Sam and pulled out both his archangel and angel blade and passed them to his hunter. With a smile he summoned his sword and handed it to a shocked Crowley. That done he stepped forward and one of the demons came forward and began patting down Gabriel. The demon nodded when he didn't find anything and Gabriel even let his wings out to be checked and with a nod the demon turned to Crowley.

"He's clean."

Crowley nodded. "Okay Mouse. You can go in. We can see everything but if trouble starts I want you to tap the glass twice and my demons will come in and get you out of there safely and the hounds will protect you."

"Thanks but I won't need them." Gabriel said. "He won't hurt me. I'm sure of it."

"Glad you're so confident." Came Lucifer's voice from behind them.

The three turned to find that the other three archangels, along with Dean, Castiel, and Chuck, had shown up to watch. Lucifer was frowning and looked very agitated while Michael seemed to be doing his best to keep the Devil calm. Raphael was staring at his creation with shame. Dean was holding Castiel's hand tightly as the angel seemed upset at the very sight of the demon. Chuck rushed over and gave his youngest archangel a hug.

"Dad...you came." Gabriel said softly.

"I told you that I was going to support you as best I could." Chuck said pulling back. "We're here now. Do what you need to."

Gabriel nodded and took a deep breath. He nodded to the guard and the demon opened the door. Gabriel carefully made his way in and the glass shut behind him. Xaphanel paused, the rat in his hand struggling before the demon dropped it. His sightless gaze followed Gabriel as the archangel made his way further into the room.

{Jibril.} The demon said softly.

"Xaphanel." Gabriel retorted.

Silence fell between the two as they stared at each other. Both were tense and nearly vibrating. Outside the room the tension was just as thick. It was making everyone uncomfortable. Even the hell hounds were getting agitated by the growing tension.

"What's happening?" Dean asked.

"They are sizing each other up." Michael said. "Trying to figure out what the other wants."

"Is that normal?" Sam asked.

"Very normal. It's how we are able to pick out weak points." Lucifer said.

"So then why are they doing it? They aren't going to fight." Dean said.

Raphael shook his head. "Not a physical one. A verbal one. One that Gabriel is very skilled at."

"Then maybe they should get to it. This is killing me." Dean snapped.

Castiel shook his head. "Gabriel has to go at his own pace. He's a tactician. He's waiting for Xpahanel to make the first move."

"Smart little mouse." Crowley said.

"Look." Chuck said, calling their attention back to the room.

Xaphanel flicked his tail. {Why are you here Jibril? Have you come to gloat over your victory?}

Gabriel shook his head. "I don't care much for gloating."

{Then what do you want?} The demon snapped.

"I'm not sure." Gabriel answered honestly. "All I know is that I wanted to see you and I wanted to have a chance for us to talk face to face with no interference."

{To talk?} The demon asked. {What is there for us to talk about? Words were never needed between the two of us. All that was needed was each of us fulfilling our roles. Both of which we succeeded at very well. I was terrifying and you were fearful. It was perfect.}

"You sound like me." Gabriel said with a chuckle. "I said the same thing to my mate and his brother once about playing our roles."

{Nostalgia? I didn't expect that from you Jibril.} Xaphanel admitted.

"Considering that we never really spoke how could you?" Gabriel asked. "The only time we had to ourselves was usually spent with you making me scream."

{Why did we need words? I was made to bring you pain and you were there to suffer.} The demon said moving closer. {The only words that were needed between us were your screams of pain and my cries of pleasure.}

Gabriel nodded. "That may be true but that's because you only know what you were told about me. Isn't that right?"

The had the demon giving pause. {What do you mean?}

"Raphael told you that I was a whore. Did you know that before you and him raped me that I had only been with one person?" Gabriel asked softly. "Lucifer was the only person I slept with before the two of you had me."

{That...That can't be true! My Master wouldn't lie to me about that!} Xaphanel snapped, his tail lashing wildly. {You slept with anyone who was willing! He told me so!}

"I have only willingly slept with four people when I was of sound mind. Lucifer, Kylan, Kali, and Sam." Gabriel stated. "Four people who I was willing to give my body to. With anyone else it was either rape or I was drugged out of my mind."

Xaphanel charged at the archangel but Gabriel held his ground, not even flinching when the chain pulled tight stopping the demon short, just out of reaching distance. {You are a lying little whore!}

"I have never lied to you about anything." Gabriel stated, staring at him. "No matter what questions you asked me I never lied to you. Look at me and tell me now that I am lying to you about this."

The demon stared at Gabriel hard, his nostrils flaring for a moment before letting out a snort. {You're telling me the truth. Why? Why are you telling me this now?}

The blonde let out a humorless chuckle. "Tell me...would have honestly believed me back then if I had told you this? That I had only been with Lucifer? That I wasn't used to doing such degrading things? That I was, up until that point, used to nothing more then plain sex? I had never used a toy or been tied up before then. I never had a painful encounter until my brother tied me up and forced himself on me. Knowing this would you have believed me?"

The demon was silent for several long minutes before sitting back on his haunches, his tail twitching slightly. {You...are right. I would not have believed you in the least. Raphael made you out to be a very sexual being that loved everything that came with it. The pain and the pleasure. It did not cross my mind to think otherwise until the night I found out that you could feel pleasure.}

"How do you feel now that you know the truth?" Gabriel asked curiously.

{I feel the same as before.} The demon replied. {Nothing bring me more pleasure then having you trapped with me. Just as you are now.}

Those gold eyes flashed. "What makes you think that I am trapped here with you? You certainly don't think I came here alone did you? I'm not stupid. I have guards and hell hounds watching and waiting just in case."

{You think that will make a difference?} Xpahanel asked. {Do you think I care that you have others with you? I will gut them all if it means that I get one more chance to have you.}

Gabriel was silent, watching the demon for several long moments before letting out a sigh. "I had hoped that we might be able to talk and hopefully come to an arrangement. A peaceful one. One the doesn't end with me being chained to a bed for you to ravage and feed from whenever you get the munchies. Do you think that's possible?"

Xaphanel fell quiet at that, turning away to gaze at the roaring fire.

Outside Lucifer growled. "Is he fucking serious?"

"Relax Luc." Michael said. "Gabriel is trying to make sure he's safe. If making a deal keeps that demon from hurting him again then I think he should do it."

Dean frowned. "I don't like this at all. Something seems off."

Castiel turned to Raphael. "If Gabriel does manage to make a deal with Xaphanel, how likely is it that the demon will keep his word?"

"Honestly? I have no idea." Raphael admitted. "I could probably order him to do it but I don't know how well he'll listen to me since I put him in his place while saving Gabby and Sam."

Sam was silent, watching through the glass and holding tightly onto Chuck's hand, drawing strength from the deity.

"I'm waiting Xaphanel." Gabriel said. "Do you think we can have a peace between us?"

The demon turned back to Gabriel. {What makes you think I want there to be peace? I was created to bring you pain. Now you stand here, while I am chained up and caged like some wild animal, and have the gall to ask me to defy my very existence? To deny the very reason for my creation? It's no wonder my Master hated you. You are such a naive and deluded idiot aren't you?}

Gabriel glared. "I'm still waiting on my answer. Can there be peace between us? If not then tell me and stop wasting both of our time. I am not here to play games with you. I have better and more important things to do then to cater to the whims of a want-to-be demon."

{What did you just call me?} The purple demon asked, his whole body going stiff and looking like he was about to pounce.

"You aren't a real demon. You were made from the Grace of an archangel." Gabriel said. "Angels see you appearance as that of a demon and will never accept you. Demons can feel the Grace inside you and will never accept you. You are an outcast among both races."

{Meaning?} Came the icy tone.

Gabriel sighed. "I am offering you my friendship. I am willing to accept you as you are so you won't be an outcast. That's my offer of peace. What do you say?"

{I don't have or need friends!} Xaphanel snapped, his tail flicking.

"What about Castiel?"

That made the demon pause. {What of him?}

"He's your friend isn't he?" Gabriel asked. "You saved him and protected him. You had an entire week to rape and feed from him but instead you never harmed him."

{Castiel is different. He's not like you.} Xaphanel snapped, his tail flicking once more.

"He's no different then me." Gabriel said. "What makes Castiel so special?"

Xaphanel let out a sudden roar and his tail whipped around. It caught Gabriel around the waist and pulled him within the demon's reach. The guards went to open the door but a gold flash lit up the outside of the room; Gabriel had sealed them out. Inside Xaphanel was crouching over the archangel but Gabriel as showing him no fear.

{Casitel is special because he doesn't look at me like everyone else does!} The demon snapped, black saliva dripping from his fangs to hit the ground making it sizzle but luckily none of it hit Gabriel. {Castiel doesn't look at me with pity, hate, disgust, or shame! He treats me like a normal being! He's the only one who has ever done that! Even you look at me with that same look in your eyes! The same hate that everyone gives me!}

Gabriel stayed calm. "I only hated you because of what you were doing to me. You were starving, torturing, and raping me. Is it any wonder why I hated you?"

{You'd hate me even if I wasn't doing all of that to you.} Xaphanel said, glaring down at the calm angel. {You're just like every other angel out there!}

Gabriel was silent for several before he sighed. "Do you know why Castiel is the way he is? It's because I raised him before I ran from Heaven. Castiel took the place on my son Razael. I raised him just as I did Razael. I raised him to love and care for all. I raised him to be tolerant of everyone. I am the reason why Castiel doesn't treat you like everyone else."

The demon let out another roar and picked Gabriel up and slammed him hard into the wall. {Enough of your lies! I grow tired of them Jibril!}

Gabriel let out a cry of pain but made no move to defend himself. "I'm not lying to you! I never have and I never will! I can prove to you that I'm telling the truth if you let me! Look into my memories! You'll see Castiel there!"

Xaphanel let out a snarl and one hand came up and pressed against Gabriel's brow. The blonde let out a scream of pain that shook the glass. Outside Lucifer was in a panic. He couldn't break the spell that Gabriel had cast and it was taking longer then he liked to figure it out. Michael was pacing angrily, his blades held tight, ready to go in and gut the demon the first chance he could get. Sam hadn't moved; he knew this was going to happen, Gabriel had told him as much. He trusted that his husband knew what he was doing.

Xaphanel dug deep into Gabriel's mind, digging through what he needed to find. The memory rose up quickly meaning that the archangel was actually allowing him to search through his memories. What he found shocked him. Gabriel was telling him the truth. He sunk deeper into the memory and allowed it to play.

Gabriel walked along the beach, keeping Castiel close. The young angel was asking his older brother questions. Gabriel laughed and answered each question carefully, making sure to explain it. Suddenly Castiel paused and stared down at this fish that was in the water. Gabriel suddenly hugged picked Castiel up and held his close as they looked at the fish together.

"Don't step on that fish Castiel. Big plans for that fish." Gabriel said, making Castiel hug him tight and nod.

Xaphanel pulled back, slowly easing Gabriel down to the floor, a broken sob leaving him. Gabriel had been telling him the truth. Castiel had been raised by Gabriel. Gabriel was the reason why Castiel didn't hate him. After all he did to the angel and it was Gabriel he had to thank for Castiel being his only friend. Xaphanel hit the ground and slowly began wail. His life was over. Everything had been a lie. Everything he knew.

A pair of warm arms and warm wings wrapped around him and it was all he could do not to break down. He clung to the fabric under his claws, feeling it tear and shred but there was no protest. Instead he was rewarded with gently touches that so far only Castiel had ever given to him. He didn't know until now how much he needed those touches. He felt the warmth of Gabriel's Grace surround him and he clung even tighter to the angel.

"Xaphanel...I know you need time but I am going to ask you one more time..." Gabriel said softly. "Do you think that there can be peace between us? I don't want to have to fight with you any more. What do you say? Do you want another friend?"

The demon nodded. "Please...I want...peace..."

Gabriel couldn't help but smile as he looked up at his family, who was now standing just into the cell with him. "Looks like I managed to handle my problems on my on after all."