February, 10th 2014

I don't own any of the characters, CW and Eric Kripke do!

Beta for this Chapter: Ashqtara

A/N: Hey there my loyal readers :)

How in hell does the weekend ALWAYS pass before I notice it's acutally the weekend? Does that make sense? No? Okay, I'm still just sorry I'm late again xD. Maybe you should write me a reminder note or review that I'd see in my e-mails. Just now a story fav and follow woke me up from me it's-Monday?-daze.

Little Sam-whump in the beginning again and from now on a bit more because yes, the story is also about Sam and his reactions, they are very important in this and to the plot and in general, we cannot forget about Sam at all because he's just as precious. I'm ranting again aren't I? Okay, I'll stop now.

Usaka: Yes, I was talking Vessel-wise, I'm sorry for the confusion! I assumed Michael!Dean was different from Michael/Dean? I'm not that accustomed to Fanfiction description meanings then XD. I really love that you still enjoyed it, thank you :3

Ky111: Hihi, yeah, that was a fun part to write, too. I think you might like this chappie as well ^^

LegendaryArimaspi: Well, I'm TRYING to avoid clishee so.. ;P Yeah, he had no clue, only heard his voice and the voice isn't really telling in that aspect, I guess. But seeing him was probably a giveaway ^^".

Now please enjoy :3

Chapter 13

We were the kings and queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves

When the needle pierced Dean's skin, Sam felt like his world was collapsing around him. He had never dreamed of it to end like this. Not like this. Not with Croatoan. Not when they had already been at this point once, fearing they would both die from it. But he had been immune. And it had turned out to be the damn demon blood in his veins that had cured him. It was just one more reason to hate all this. Because Dean didn't have demon blood and because Pestilence very well knew that and because that was the exact reason he chose Dean for that little experiment in the first place.

No…no, this just wasn't happening.

He didn't even know what he was saying at that point any more. His brother's name was flowing from his lips as he was begging, pleading for Dean to not fall for this, for Pestilence to not do this, for god to send a damn miracle. Because if Sam Winchester ever needed anything in his life, he needed his brother. And he would never survive without him, not with this whole Apocalypse thing on his shoulders, not ever. He had been lucky to have Ruby back when Dean died. If that bitch (as he knew now) hadn't been there, Sam might as well have been dead before Dean even got back. It was just not the same and the guilt had been slowly consuming him, the knowledge that his brother was rotting in hell just because of him. Dean was the purest Soul Sam ever got to know. Sure, he had killed people but there was always a reason, always something to protect, something evil to kill. But he was human and he was good, and he didn't deserve any of this. The tears in his eyes wouldn't stop and he tried to hold the eye contact with Dean, tried to will his brother to live, tried to will him to fight the virus. Would it help if he gave Dean his blood? He would drain himself and any demon here dry if he could cure Dean with it. God, please, this couldn't be happening.

If God still cared, even a little bit, please. He couldn't lose Dean, not like this. Not when something twisted his brother's mind, made him something he wasn't and then forced Sam himself to put him down in order to protect everything Dean stood for. Dean's words played in his mind. Sam, don't. And what was implied in them: Don't say yes. Not ever. Don't surrender. Not even without me.

There were so many things unsaid between them. But he knew that those above were included in Dean's previous demand. But how could he? How could Sam stand up to all these demons, to what they would probably do to him, knowing that Dean wasn't here anymore, wouldn't be there to support him, ever again?

Wait. Hadn't Zachariah said something about them not dying until they got from them what they wanted? But Sam and Dean were guarded from the angels now. And Sam didn't want them to have Dean anyway. He'd rather know Dean alive and by his side than as some angel condom. Or up in heaven, where they could just get him to say yes as well. Like Dean would ever do that.

….right?

After the needle sank in, he saw his brother's eyes close, saw how he sank to his knees and at that moment, he felt his world crumble to dust, fall apart under his feet and leave a hole nothing could ever fill. He might as well have dropped down to hell for his troubles.

Dean…Dean no. No…

Not Croatoan, not like this. Please. Anything, anything else but this. Sam's own gaze fell. He couldn't watch this, couldn't see his brother change and his personality be drained by the virus. Just couldn't. Wouldn't.

Out of nowhere, his misery was interrupted. There was a high screeching noise filling the room, a noise he'd heard several times, last time near Lisa's place, when-

No. Oh god, no.

His head flew up and he stared over to his brother. Sure enough, Dean was looking up again, looked more alive than he had probably his entire life. Sickness healed, scars and blood disappeared, clothes were fixed magically. Dean stood, and he countered Pestilence's rant, the one Sam had drowned out in favor of his own miserable thoughts.

"Oh, I actually have quite the great idea." Dean's mouth said and Dean's lips smiled. But it wasn't Dean. Not really.

Dean's little brother could tell that the man moving before him wasn't Dean Winchester. The smile sat wrong on the handsome face, the set of his shoulders was way too proud and the way he walked, no, strode, towards Pestilence was nothing like the careless bow-legged walk of the older Winchester brother but rather the saunter of a prince.

Of heaven's prince.

Sam Winchester didn't need the glowing eyes and the short flickering shadow of wings or even the whisper of Pestilence to know what was going on. He just knew. Had for days, after all. Deep in his heart, he had suspected but deemed it impossible. Then again, what was he to declare something impossible, right? The boy with the demon blood and the brother who had returned from hell. A task that was deemed impossible by several standards, even hunter ones.

Maybe he had just refused to face it. Refused to lose his big brother to an angel of all things. Refused to face the fact that Dean was already taken from him, already gone, when he was still right there.

Several minutes ago he had pleaded for a way out of this situation without having to face Dean as a croatoan victim. But like this…was this really what he wanted?

His eyes watched the scene before him unroll. Michael (because this wasn't Dean, couldn't be. Then again it still looked like him so much, as the glowing eyes dimmed down and the shadow of wings disappeared) stepped forward. Pestilence sent his demons to jump him, he himself was screaming and stumbling backwards. The braver demons dared to try. They were slaughtered in midair, burned on the spot by Michael lifting his hand. They crumbled to the floor as dust, their vessels lost, demons burned out and white balls flickering for just a millisecond.

Where those…the souls of the vessels? No, couldn't be. Sam had to have imagined that.

Just as soon as the attack came, it was over again. Michael stood, looking over to Pestilence, who stood, vary, and contemplated if he should face the angel or run for it.

Probably figuring that running was futile, Pestilence threw up his own hand, probably forcing all his power on Michael. When the angel didn't even flinch, Pestilence, the dick, changed tactics. Suddenly, Sam (now free of demon hold, thank you very much) flinched on the ground, overridden with sickness, screaming in pain. He heard Abby and Cas do the same, heard their whales of agony, their dying voices…

It stopped.

Abruptly and suddenly, everything stopped. His friends' screams were mere whimpers now but they were still alive, apparently. Sam felt his own lips stop too, his body was fine now, no pain, no illness, no burning sensation. All just…gone.

And when the younger Winchester looked up, he wasn't in that warehouse any more. A touch left his shoulder and he saw Dean, no, Michael, letting go of him. He took in the familiar surroundings, the living room, the couches…

They were at Bobby's.

"What about-" Sam's raw voice spoke the first question he could think of.

"Pestilence? He won't harm any soul in the near future. The virus is dealt with, too." Dean's voice assured him. It was extremely irritating to hear the angel talk with his brother's mouth. It sent a wave of fury through him, which he would have acted on, hadn't an object suddenly fallen into his hands.

A ring.

Pestilence's ring.

"How-"

"Do not worry about that, Sammy. Concern yourself with your wellbeing and that of your friends. I will return shortly after-"

"You're not going anywhere. And don't call me that. Not with his voice. How dare you take him from me like that? HOW DARE YOU?" Sam had grabbed the angel's wrist, his brother's wrist, and had a strong, firm grip on it, the strongest one he could manage after just being healed of Pestilence's fully legitimate attempt at killing him. He felt the sudden urge to punch the angel but couldn't bring himself to actually do it. And he also couldn't draw that angel blade he knew was stored away in his sleeve. He just…couldn't. This was still his brother's body. Maybe if the angel left quickly enough…

"I did not do such a thing. Your brother let me in on his own free will." Michael clarified with a level voice. Was he being gentle? No, couldn't be. He was an angel. Michael was a self-righteous bastard like the rest of them. There was no way his words were meant for comfort. Probably self-defense?

"Well, then give him back. Maybe if you leave now, he's not too far gone. Maybe I can still save him, with the right care…" he lost his voice right there. He couldn't believe he was even considering this. That he even had to think about that. A few minutes ago his only concern had been that damn horseman. Was it strange that he wished that to be his biggest concern again and not his brother being a mental wrack or dead after an archangel having a joyride in his body? But Michael reacted differently than he had expected.

He smiled.

"Dean will come to no harm under my care." Michael's voice was almost compassionate, knowing. Couldn't be. He was hearing things. Sam felt his fury spike higher. This false, arrogant…H-how could he believe he'd fall for that?

"Care?! You're possessing him. If you look at it that way, angels are no different than demons! Let him go! Now!" Michael's smile was gone. The archangel glared at Sam with such an intense stare that for a second there, the younger Winchester thought 'okay, that's it. I'm done for'. But then, the angel suddenly nodded his brother's head.

"I see. That is what you think. Very well. Nobody should know I'm with you yet. I have not made my presence known, hidden myself from the perception of all my brothers and sisters. We should still have time." He reasoned, almost as if talking to himself. An angel, talking to himself? Moreover, the most powerful one, Michael, ruler of heaven in his father's stead. What was happening?

"Time for what?" Sam asked, voice small. He felt like he was three years old again, staring at his brother with big hazel eyes, just wanting him to be there to tuck him in and read him a story. Which was about right. Despite the fact that Sam was far older than 3 by now and would be content with his brother being save and alive by his side.

"Time to give your brother back to you. Let him take his own steps. With you by his side." Suddenly, a grin spread on Dean's face. Mischievous. Like when there was an idea Sam particularly disliked in his brother's head. Like that time he just sold them as a gay couple to get what they wanted. Or that time they posed as priests to get into a victim's house. Or…oh god, he could go on forever. One thing was for sure thought: That expression never meant anything good, on Dean or on Michael.

"Should be interesting." And Dean's green eyes glinted now, Sam had let go of the angel's wrist and stared at the archangel. What the…why was he behaving like this? This was the bastard that had stolen his brother from him, the all-powerful archangel that had claimed his big brother for his own purposes before Dean was even born. How was he that…understandable? That just didn't fit any image he had ever had of the guy. And certainly not the one Dean had described to him. Or Cas had, for that matter. Michael stretched his bones a little.

"I do like it in here though. But alright. Backing up." He smiled again, looking Sam in the eye.

"Catch." He spat. Suddenly, his eyes glowed bright white again and Dean just dropped unconscious. Sam's eyes widened and he was just fast enough to catch his brother before he cracked his head on Bobby's living room floor.

"Michael!" he half whispered, half yelled in outrage. Damn angel. Couldn't he have just lied down before zapping out? And how did that work, anyway?

"Sammy?" came a sleepy voice from underneath him. Dean opened his eyes, but there was no bright glow and no prince-like movement about him. He was just good-old sleepy, maybe a bit grumpy, Dean Winchester. And Sam had never been more relieved in his life.

"Dean? That you in there?" Sam asked, just to be sure.

"Sure it is. Who else would it be? Snow White?" he asked, frowning at the strange question. His rant came to a sudden halt, realizing where he was.

"Why am I on the floor?"

"You fainted."

"I fainted? You're kidding me, right?" Dean looked his brother over, who was suddenly feeling like grinning at Dean's disbelieving expression. His older brother's cheeks turned bright crimson. "I did not faint!" then, everything seemed to rush back to his brother. He looked around, frantic, just to find they were somewhere else. But Abby and Cas were on the couches and they were breathing, so that was good, he guessed. His expression was serious now as he looked at Sam, vary. There was no way Sam hadn't seen what had…happened with him. So he might was well share the cake, finally.

"Was it Michael?" he asked. The fury that crossed Sam's face was answer enough.

"You knew. I can't believe this. You LET him IN! After that speech you gave me about not letting them get what they want?! You don't even know how angry I am right now!"

"This is different." Dean protested but his voice was small, he almost cringed under the force of Sam's yelling. There were footsteps coming down the hall now. Now that he thought about it, he wondered why Bobby and Adam hadn't woken up sooner. Or Abby and Cas, for that matter. Had Michael shielded them somehow? Okay, this was getting more outrageous by the minute. Yes, he had been frightened with Michael there. He had been angry at the angel, too. But GOD, was he furious with Dean right now. Michael had always been an asshole in Sam's eyes, didn't have to meet any high expectations. He just simply hated the guy with a hot passion to put his brother in that situation. If he could, he'd jump at the chance to kill him. But Dean? Dean had been the one to tell him to refuse Lucifer at all costs. To keep up Team Free Will. And then he had gone and just let Michael in? He had been mad at Dean before but that had been when he had thought that his brother had made the right decision, even if it was in the last second.

Now? Now he just wanted to strangle his brother.

"HOW THE HELL IS IT DIFFERENT?!" Sam demanded, full out screaming now. "You were the one to tell me they're all the same. You were the one to tell me we had to do this on our own, without supernatural help, without angels or demons or any other assholes. SO WHAT THE HELL CHANGED?!" under his demanding tone, Dean seemed to become more desperate. But Sam knew, if he wanted an answer, he had to press his brother until it exploded out of him. He had triggered enough fights with him as well as their dad to know how to push the right buttons. His brother looked down, vary and unsure. This was so not a normal expression on that very face.

"I-"

"Well isn't it nice to have you two back." A sarcastic voice from the door interrupted their shouting match. He hadn't noticed Bobby and Adam standing (or in Bobby's case sitting) there, probably watching the fight like a tennis game. Bobby was looking at the two of them with a deep frown on his forehead. Then he lifted the gun in his lap.

It was pointed at Dean.

"You. Spill." He demanded, his voice cold. Dean stared at him with wide green eyes. There was hurt there, betrayal…then suddenly, it seemed to dawn on the oldest Winchester what was going on. Bobby had known, it dawned on Sam now, too. Bobby had known and that was why he had been so angry at Dean, had wanted to talk to him, or yell at him, more like it. There was hurt in Bobby's eyes too but also a grim and determined expression, the knowledge that he would do what was right, even if it would kill him.

"First time we met." Bobby questioned, voice held as steady as he could manage. Dean answered quickly, though astonished by the choice of question.

"I was six, Sammy about two. Dad needed help with a case, got information from you and wanted to leave us at a motel. You suggested we stay with you. He asked you thousands of questions and made tests to make sure you weren't some fraud but then finally gave in. You made spaghetti for me and fed Sam like that was normal. I remember being confused, since normally I'd be the one to do that. You said it should be Dad's job. Still hear you confronting him about it. He wasn't happy…" Dean swallowed at the memory and Sam felt all the energy suddenly leave him. Like being sucker punched to the gut by Dean's expression and the wetness in his eyes, like this whole situation and Sam's confrontation were just overwhelming his brother and as if the memory was making him realize something. Sam had to sit down right then. He saw that Abby was awake and silently listening to their conversation. When he sat beside her, she smiled at him and took his hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Bobby nodded and lowered the gun just as fast as he had raised it. He looked so glad to not have to use it. Probably just like Sam, he would have had more than just difficulty to shoot at Dean, even if something else inhabited his body. Dean was still in there, maybe even hurting, so firing at him wasn't one of the first choices you made.

Now Dean was here though, right in front of them, and he seemed confused and scared and now that Sam realized that, he just couldn't be angry any more, couldn't fume. Just…stare, with the thought in his head that Michael was still in there. 'Cause the angel couldn't have just left, right? That would mean flashing light and big noise and the whole parade, like when he first arrived (which Sam now thought had been pretty obvious. He could smack himself for not realizing it sooner). So what was the angel's plan? That grin….it was edged into Sam's memory and it couldn't mean anything good. It kind of reminded him of…

"Hellllooooo, suckers. Missed me?" a figure was suddenly in the room. Castiel, who had been silent on the couch until now (Sam hadn't even been sure if he was fully conscious) jumped up and positioned himself before Sam and Abby, his blade in hand.

"Gabriel." He growled. Sam also stood up now, vary and positioning himself in front of Dean. Did Gabriel know? But hadn't Michael said something about being shielded? Damn. If Gabriel knew, he was going to rub it into his face and Sam could very well live without a trickster around right now. His nerves were tense enough as it was, he didn't need another archangel stomping around on them.

"Oh, hi, brother." Gabriel made a false frown, tilting his head and stared at Cas. "You don't look so good." His voice was cheerful and rhythmic as ever and Sam inwardly thought how he managed that, if he knew his brothers and sisters were fighting each other to the death.

"Thanks for the reminder, Sammy." Gabriel commented.

"Don't read my mind. And it's Sam." He spat, voice venomous. He still hated this guy. Mystery spot? Not something he wanted to be reminded of. And one more reason he was standing in front of Dean right now. That memory was just too cutting to risk it happening again. Plus, Sam didn't know how much Gabriel could see of Michael inside Dean, what was hidden or what was visible, like wings and halo and everything. He wasn't even sure if angels had halos, was that really a thing or just rumors?

"Anyway!" Gabriel interrupted the tension-ridden silence.

"I came here to have some fun! And I have a message. Or rather, a solution to all your problems!" he grinned, spreading his arms like he was a priest announcing Jesus' rebirth. Well, close.

"Solution? What kind of solution to what problems in specific? We have a lot of them. Like an archangel in my damn living room when there are sigils protecting my house." Bobby growled. Gabriel just rolled his eyes. Bobby had met Gabriel as the trickster only but they had told him about their recent discovering that he was an archangel in hiding, so his adaption to seeing the guy was pretty quick. In contrary to Adam, who was really staring now, same for Abby. Well, you don't meet an archangel any day, huh? Sam thought bitterly. He wished he never did.

"Those sigils don't work on me. Plus, you have some of them a bit wrong. Guess you're getting rusty." He commented and Bobby looked like he wanted to strangle the guy. Sam shot him a look that told him to drop it. Maybe Gabriel's information was valid.

"And what makes you think we would trust you?" Sam asked in a low voice. Dean behind him had become strangely quiet. Abby had her eyebrows lifted. She probably went through the things she knew about archangels and what was going on here right now. They should really have a chat to get her up to date. But that would include telling her about the Lucifer thing….Sam wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

"Oh come on. You can trust me! I've been helping you along! For example, I've freed Dean from his terrible shackles back when you knuckleheads chained him to a bed. That was for his own good, right, Dean?" he smiled at the older Winchester, who was the farthest away from him in the room right now. Both Winchester brothers reacted to that.

"That was you?!" they both said, Dean surprised, Sam furious. The angel blade that had by now found the way to his hand was shaking and he was suddenly in the mood to use the thing. Gabriel had freed Dean. Gabriel was the reason his big brother was now possessed by Gabriel's big brother. God, his life was messed up. Still, he wanted to just stab the guy in the face right now. So he lunged forward, angel blade in hand and stabbed-

Only to have a few flowers between his fingers moments later and the archangel stand behind him.

"Tz, tz, Sam. You have a lousy way of thanking me. I mean, sure, that thing wouldn't kill me anyway but hey, it would have hurt. Sorry about that. I like flowers better. Don't hurt that much." Gabriel grinned and put a hand on Sam's shoulder. The younger Winchester wanted to whirl around and attack again, maybe this time with the demon knife, just for the hell of it, but he suddenly found himself frozen to the spot, not being able to move a single finger. An angry growl from Bobby and a frustrated sigh from Castiel told him he wasn't the only one.

"So. This is much better. Let's talk."

Gabriel clapped his hands and Sam's vision went blank.

~.~.~.~

Into the night
Desperate and broken
The sound of a fight
Father has spoken

We were the kings and queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves
Maybe the children of a lesser God
Between heaven and hell

Heaven and hell

~ Kings and Queens, 30 seconds to Mars

GUESS WHO's BACK!? YEP, Gabriel. I know some of you have asked and here he is ^^. Sassy and trickstery as ever :D

Did anyone notice my hints on Michael being a bit different already? Yeah? Good. ;P Same for Dean as well. I guess it's very confusing what's going on right now so everone is kinda affected I guess ^^. All will be clear later, promise!

What do you think? PLEASE tell me, all reviews are love :3

*Does Sammy's Puppy Dog eyes*