February, 17th 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 :)

Okay so how about we just settle for Monday then? *sigh* I just seem to notice the weekend was there just then. Man, this is pathetic. But hey, I came around and here's the new chapter! I know you all loved Gabriel coming in there, did ya? ;P He's gonna mess with everything now of course...as he always does! Enjoy the Gabriel chappie XD

Now please enjoy :3

Chapter 14

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was

"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen! Today we're presenting to youuuu: the Hunting quiz!" a voice boomed in his head and Sam felt it buzzing and echoing. Headache. Great.

Sluggishly, he opened his eyes and sighed. Wonderful. A game show. The memory of Gabriel in Bobby's living room came back to him and he cursed under his breath. This damn archangel and his desire for dramatic staging…Somebody behind him said 'ssssssshhhh' and he shut up, checking out his surroundings.

It was pretty dark and there was a screen hiding him from the main room, so he couldn't really tell that much. But from what he could make out, he was sitting at a crescent shaped table and the chair was barely big enough to fit in, his long legs were brushing against the other side of the table. Beside him, he heard more people stir. The announcer guy talked some more, about their show tonight, until the light from the main room suddenly blinded him. The screen slid aside to both sides and he could see the show announcer. It wasn't Gabriel, strange enough. Gabriel was actually one of the participants of the show, sitting with them at the table and staring Sam down from his own little chair.

The crowd cheered. After getting used to the blinding light of the spotlights, Sam could see them for the first time. The crowd was made up of vague faces of people he had met before, people that had died during Dean and his hunts, people they couldn't save, or other ones that didn't like them for other reasons. Vessels that got wasted when slaying demons. So many…his heart wrenched at the realization and he tried to tell himself that it wasn't their fault, couldn't have been avoided. When he looked around at who was with him, he was relieved to see his brother sitting next to him, his knuckles white as he stared at the crowd. Yep, the reaction he had awaited. Dean had always been one to blame himself for a hunt going awry or people dying under his watch, even if it wasn't his fault. His big brother looked at all the faces and Sam was positive that if nothing happened and soon, Dean would break down, strangle Gabriel or try to make a run for it. Neither would really help them out here.

So Sam was actually relieved, when the show master turned to them, microphone in hand, and asked the first question.

"Sam! Sure way to kill a vampire?" he yelled, as if that was the most normal question you could ask in a game show, just like 'what's the capital of Canada?'. Sam stared for a second before he saw the clock that was ticking over his head. He sighed.

"Cut off its head." He provided the answer. There were some more but he didn't bother with that right now, hoping that it was good enough for this stupid game. Damn Gabriel and his need to play needless games. Wait, he'd cursed the angel before….well, couldn't stress it enough. Couldn't he just talk to them like a normal person? Was that really too much to ask?

"Coooooorreeeect!" the announcer shouted, turning around. The crowd was politely clapping but not really cheering, still staring, accusing eyes facing him and Dean. God, he felt awful. And he didn't even want to think about how Dean felt right now. Leah's eyes were there and the girl that had been possessed by the demon Meg. Or…no, he shouldn't go on like this. This was just part of Gabriel's sick scam. There was a small silence until the applause dimmed down.

"Next one! Robert! How do you determine if a person next to you is a shapeshifter or not?" came the yelled question. Bobby, who had been confused at his surroundings but quickly limited himself to staring at the responsible arch angel, looked at the game master with a bitch face that would give Sam himself run for his money.

"Pulling at skin, touch or cut with silver, retinal flare in camera pictures and films. That enough for you?" he challenged. Man, these questions were easy. What the hell was Gabriel trying to accomplish here? The next one was bringing them closer to that, Sam figured. By now, Dean was changing from desperate to furious, his teeth pressed together tightly.

"That would be it!" the show master immediately continued. "Adam! Recite the exorcism to banish a hell knight back to hell!"

Adam blinked. His gaze met Sam's, who shrugged. He had no clue what the question-guy was talking about. Bobby lifted his eyebrows.

"There's no such thing, dufus." He spat. The commentator pointed at Bobby and the older hunter looked as if his tongue was frozen short. Which is probably what happened. Sam glared at Gabriel, willing him to stop this shit already. They didn't have time for this.

"Not your turn, Mr. Singer." The show master, a guy with black hair and a very obvious mustache, looked at Adam expectably.

"I…I don't know. There is no such thing." He mimicked Bobby's answer, obviously trusting his teacher on this. Unfortunately, that was the wrong answer. After all, Dean was supposed to have exorcised Baal, right? Sam looked over to Dean, who had his hands closed around his seat, staring at the crowd and looking like he wanted to jump up and murder somebody. Was this some kind of provocation?

"Wroooooooong. You're out, Adam Milligan! Sorry, pal." The clerk shouted and suddenly, a hole underneath Adam opened and swallowed him together with his chair, as if he had never been there. Adam screamed in shock and then he was just…gone. Sam stood and whirled to Gabriel.

"What the hell are you doing? He couldn't possibly have known that! Nobody does!" he yelled. Gabriel lowered his gaze.

"Well, somebody has to. Because Baal wouldn't just miraculously disappear from the face of the earth just because you interrupt a ritual. Somebody used the enochian exorcism on him. I thought maybe my brothers and sisters might have tried a different approach, after your brother was so vehemently denying his destiny…" the archangel shrugged. "But oh well. That wasn't the point of this. Continue." The last was uttered to the show master, who nodded at him politely and then turned to Sam fully, his back to the audience now.

"Sam Winchester. What is the only way to close Lucifer back into his cage?" he asked in all earnestness and Sam's jaw almost dropped.

"I don't…there's no such...Is it my turn again?" he paused, puzzled to not know about something like that. Then again, that's what they had been looking for. Was Gabriel seriously thinking that he knew the answer to that and hadn't done it yet? What was going through his mind, did he want him to say yes and then walk into the cage with the guy? Like Lucifer would ever let him take over…

Dean looked over to him, just like everybody else. But his brother seemed to have the same thoughts, think along his own line (please tell me he isn't reading my mind? I hate it when angels do that on me. Stop, Sam, this is Dean we're talking about!) and suddenly, the older Winchester looked furious. Even more so than he had before. When Sam opened his mouth to answer, Dean stood. And as his hand hit the table, hard, time suddenly stopped. Literally. Everything in the room stopped, every movement, in the audience, from the show master, everything. Sam felt himself being unaffected though, for some reason.

"Freezing, again? Seriously, Gabriel?" he accused the archangel. But when he glanced over, the guy was just as shocked. He looked around with wide eyes. He wasn't frozen, but obviously spooked.

"I…I didn't do this. Who-"

"YOU are shutting up right now." Dean pointed at Gabriel and suddenly, the archangel's mouth disappeared. Dean stared at his hand, then at the desk, his surroundings, and something seemed to dawn on him.

Oh. Dean was doing this. With…with Michael's powers? No, Dean, stop. It's only going to make things worse!

But Dean was on a roll. He glared at the audience and back at Gabriel.

"Seriously? Guilt driving? That's low, even for you. All these people…I tried, okay? I know that I can't save everyone. So stop driving it into my damn face." He made a gesture towards the big crowd of people on their seats, who suddenly vanished out of existence with the wave of Dean's hand. Then he pointed at the show master.

"A show? Don't you have anything new? Give me a break." And with another hit of Dean's fist on the table, the giant game hall vanished, they were back at Bobby's house and Adam was sitting on the couch next to Abby and Cas , who had conveniently appeared right on them.

His illusion shattered with a swat of Dean's hands, Gabriel couldn't help but stare. He looked at Dean long enough to make a few heartbeats pass, the older Winchester still fuming and radiating fury. But Gabriel seemed unfazed by that, just completely floored.

"Michael?" he then whispered, and the tone in his voice was something Sam had never heard with the trickster ever before: Hope, hurt, belonging…love?

"I don't…you've touched down? Why didn't I feel…wh-what's happening here?" he asked, confusion clear in his tone. Another thing that was foreign for Sam to see on the archangel's face.

Before Sam's eyes and the eyes of the others, who were apparently de-frozen by this point and checking on Adam as well as listen to the conversation going on, Dean transformed. His eyes flashed again and his stance changed, becoming more proud and presentable, stepping forward with a sudden smile.

"Hello, Brother." Michael grinned, tilting his head.

In a flash and completely unexpected, Gabriel was right in front of Michael, his gaze unreadable, hand ready to draw something. Gabriel looked torn, unsure what to do, if to stab or to hug. But Michael just chuckled, stepped forward and simply put his arms around the trickster.

Gabriel looked lost, unprepared. Were those tears in his eyes?

"It's okay, Gab. I know why you left now. I understand." A small silence. Gabriel had closed his eyes for a brief second, maybe enjoying the hug way more than he thought he should be. Sam felt like ripping them apart, his brother anywhere near the trickster still an image he deeply detested.

"You do?" Gabriel sounded like a little kid, searching reassurance, like he just couldn't believe what he was hearing. Well, at least that was something they had in common. In this room, nobody probably knew what the hell was happening right now. And their host now finally had enough.

"Okay, this is enough." Bobby busted into the conversation. He rolled over in his wheelchair and his voice was as intimidating as you could get from down there. It was a painful reminder for Sam of what they had all gone through in their lives and it saddened him. He didn't even know what to say any more. His brother was possessed by an angel. What did he actually have left to do? Left to fight for?

"You two angel bitches take out your shit elsewhere, I have enough going on on my property to not add two archangels to the fucking pie." He pointed at Michael. "And you…" he paused, his voice trembling with rage and at the same time, desperation. "Let Dean go. Now." So long as we could still save him, was clearly written on Bobby's face.

Slowly, Michael let go of Gabriel. The younger archangel looked at Bobby and his eyes were wide. Was he actually…frightened? Gabriel looked over to Cas and both of the angels swallowed. Cas stood, slowly, and walked over to Bobby, as if preparing to jump into action if necessary. The eyes of Gabriel and Cas met again and then they glances at Michael.

And suddenly, Sam remembered. He remembered everything that he had read about the oldest archangel and everything he had heard from the other angels up until now. He was a furious leader, powerful beyond imagination and he ruled with flames, literally. There was nothing to stand in his way and those who did were going to erupt in fire. Like Anna did. Simply…reduced to ashes. He remembered that vampire trying to drink Dean's blood and being burned from the inside out. He remembered all the demons being reduced to mere dust in seconds and in midair. Gabriel and Cas knew about all that. They knew their brother, knew his reactions, knew how furious he could get and how he didn't appreciate to be addressed in that way. And suddenly, he felt the fear rise in his own chest. Fear for Bobby, fear for all their safety, as Michael turned around to face the older hunter. Maybe in this moment, hell wasn't their threat but really heaven, in its purest form, right in the middle of Bobby's living room.

Oh no. No. Dean would never forgive himself if he ever hurt Bobby, even if possessed. He had to stop it. Had to.

But even before Sam could say anything, all his fears were blown out the window. When Michael finally was face to face with Bobby...

He simply smiled.

"Bobby Singer. I've heard so much about you and that attitude of yours." Michael said and shook his head in what, mock amusement? What the hell was happening? Bobby, Gabriel and Cas were apparently thinking along the same lines, staring at the archangel with disbelieve.

"From who?" Bobby asked gruffly, more on instinct than really thinking. Gabriel waved at Bobby behind his back, signaling him to just shut up, to count himself lucky that he wasn't smited yet. But nothing happened. Michael seemed to relax his stance a little, shifting his weight to one leg. A very human thing to do. The oldest archangel seemed much more adjusted than Cas was, actually. But that wasn't important right now.

"From Dean. I've been in his head for almost a week now. He thinks highly of you and he understands why you're furious with him. And with me, for taking him from you." Michael clarified, stepping closer. Bobby leaned back in his wheelchair, careful of the angel getting closer to him, probably also realizing what a bombshell he had dropped right in the middle of his own living room, challenging the most powerful being on earth and in heaven.

"Yeah, why did you do that again?" Sam interrupted. Because he still didn't understand that part. He didn't even know that was possible, for Michael to enter Dean's body and then just…hide.

"It was a spontaneous decision, really." The archangel simply answered, not really clarifying what Sam had wanted to know. The younger Winchester wanted to protest but Michael turned back to Bobby, continuing.

"You need us. And don't deny it. I know you think different of me and my brothers and sisters than I would like but…I was hoping to be able to prove you wrong. We do have good intensions. And Dean is fine. He will not be harmed by me. If you want to win this war, you need as much power as you can get. Dean knows that too, that is one of the reasons for his decision."

"And the others would be?" Sam asked, a bitter tone to his voice. Michael turned to him now and his gaze was vague, considering something and narrowing his eyes at the younger Winchester brother. As if he was curious why especially he should ask that. As if he thought Sam knew that, should know why...

"I think that is for him to tell you himself."

"But your battle, the one you want to fight with Lucifer…many people will die if you two get it on, right? Dean would never have wanted that!" Sam countered. There was just no way his brother would give up half of the human population for this act. There had to be something else…

"Actually, no." Gabriel chimed in. He grinned a winning grin. "That's what I came here for. To tell you that there's another way. You don't need to actually kill Luci, Mike." The nicknames were a surprise for everybody, scattering raised eyebrows through the room. The older Archangel looked at Gabriel now, tilting his head and staring for a second.

"You want to seal him back in?" he asked finally, obviously catching up to Gabriel's thoughts. "But we would need…oh." Michael interrupted himself, suddenly smiling alongside Gabriel.

"What?" Cas asked, finally speaking. He still looked like shit and also as if he wanted to flee this place, not worthy of his brother's presence now that he had fallen. It was crushing to see him like this. You could see the sadness and longing in his blue eyes. Michael looked at him and fumbled in Dean's jacket pocket, holding out two small objects with his hand.

"The rings of the four horsemen. They are the key to the cage." Michael said and Gabriel nodded in confirmation.

"Yup. Open the door, say a few words, throw Luci in and BAM, back to step one. And you don't even need to torch half the planet OR kill our brother. You already have three of the rings. How does that sound, mh, brother?" Gabriel asked, opening his arms wide as if this was a great opportunity.

Michael actually looked thoughtful about this. He was silent for a few seconds, looking like he was listening to something else. Then he frowned.

"But the prophecy…"

"Screw the prophecy! Michael, please. I don't want to watch you two kill each other. I just can't stand all this war talk any more, just…think about it. Dad hasn't been home in centuries and you're in charge. I know you hate to but it's not like this idea would really be disobedience. What would you even do without Luci? Assign a new devil? There is a reason Dad didn't make you kill him last time, right? It's just the order of things." Gabriel was now standing directly in front of Michael, pleading with his brother. It was so strange to watch, Michael having the body of Sam's brother and still talking like an archangel would, standing and moving like he would. God, he missed Dean already. Was there really a chance of him not being dead? No, Michael was probably lying about that, too. But it was a spark of hope that kept him afloat, kept him from actually attacking the angel, in the hope that inside there, Dean was still present. He had been with them just a few minutes ago, right? In that game show and before that. And Sam just wanted that back somehow.

Then again, this talk was probably overdue. If they could really seal Lucifer back in…that plan he had been forming in his head wouldn't even be necessary. Michael was stronger than Lucifer, after all. If they really had him on their side and could make him work with them…they might really have an actual chance at this! This was too good to be true…there had to be some kind of backside to this, right? There always was. Things never went just good for Winchesters. So where was it?

Michael stared at his brother now, who had his hands on his shoulders and was looking him in the stunningly green eyes of his vessel, seemed to look even deeper, into his soul, maybe his real being? Sam really didn't want to know.

"I will think about it." He finally spoke. Gabriel immediately relaxed, falling back a step and nodded. That answer obviously calmed him big time and he was actually smiling. Sam frowned. Wow, the angels did behave a bit like family. It was strange to watch, thinking that they were already hundreds, no thousands of years old and there were so many things between them that had to have bottled up by now. But still, after all that time and after Gabriel just leaving heaven because he couldn't stand it, Michael was still willing to listen to his little brother, not wanting to upset him, being there from him…was Michael actually much more like Dean than Sam had realized? No! He wouldn't think that way, that was just what they wanted him to think! He shook his head and was brutally torn back to the conversation by Michael's next sentence.

"Dean loves the idea." The archangel added, looking at Sam. "He said anything was better than you saying yes to Lucifer." Sam frowned.

"Wait, he's actually listening to this right now?" the younger brother questioned, wanting to shake Dean's body to make him wake up again, tried to stare into the green pools that were his eyes.

"Of course. I'm not shutting him out of this, it's his fight too." He explained. "Last time he was still recovering from the Croatoan virus. It's a critical illness to cure, especially on your brother since it's originated from demon blood."

"What do you mean, especially for Dean-"

"That's not important right now." Michael interrupted him. He turned in the room, looking at the others on the couch. Adam and Abby seemed vary. No wonder. Abby was probably confused (and concerned) about Dean being possessed like that and Adam…he probably thought about how he had offered himself for that task and how scary it actually was to be out of control of your own body. Maybe he even envisioned having to go through that. Sam wondered how everything would have turned out if they hadn't gotten Adam out of there. He would still have his brother by his side then…but no. No blaming anybody. He couldn't go down that road.

"Is everybody in this room into this plan? Seal Lucifer back into that cage, lock the devil back where he came from?" Michael looked at Abby, Adam, Cas and Bobby. Though he skipped the gaze over Cas a bit faster, which made Cas lower his head a little. Poor guy. Michael seemed to want to completely ignore his presence.

"Well, it sure sounds better than roasting half the planet." Abby shrugged. Adam next to her nodded eagerly. Cas just nodded slowly, not certain if anybody even noticed him.

"I mean…These horsemen are fucking scary. And the last one…as far as my bible knowledge goes that would be Death, right? Death with a capital D?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. Bobby nodded.

"Yup, the very one." The older hunter grumbled.

"That's going to be a tough one, right? I mean…you can't just kill Death. Reapers can't be killed, why should Death?" she squinted her forehead, thoughtful and looked at the archangel as if he should know all that, challenging him. God, Sam began to like her more with every minute. Wait what? No he hadn't thought that. Michael just smiled at her.

"You're bringing up a good argument, Abigail Curtis. Death can't be killed by anybody, not even myself. But to get his ring, we don't have to kill him. Talking and getting it form him should actually suffice. We will cross that bridge when we get to it though." He paused and turned to Gabriel. "First, I need to take this vessel for a little spin to heaven. The angels are running havoc up there without me." He looked at Sam, his gaze calming in nature. Okay, something was totally wrong with this picture of Michael. What the hell happened to wrathful avenger?

"I'll be back as quick as I can. And then we have to talk." He smiled. "I will explain everything to you and Dean then." The archangel clarified.

Then, with a flutter of wings, he was gone from sight.

~.~.~.~

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
I'm never changing who I am

This road never looked so lonely
This house doesn't burn down slowly
To ashes, to ashes

~ It's Time, Imagine Dragons

Michael seems different, right? I know, I know. But it has its reasons. I guess being in Dean's body and watching humanity maybe had more effect than Michael thought it would. And then there's Gabriel...his idea seems familiar, right? I bet Michael just never thought about it really, since it's not what the oh-so-important prophecy says. And since he interpreted it to be "kill Lucifer when he gets out of hand". Maybe that wasn't even the meaning? Who knows. I love prophecies so maybe I'll even write it in later? ;P *Percy Jackson fan here, remember?* We already heard Dean's line of the prophecy, right? About the rightous man rising from hell? :D

Sooo yeah. That's the plan now. But maybe there could be complications when Michael leaves...remember the thing with Sam and Lucifer? Guess who's going to not like it when Michael makes his presence known...

Oh and next chapter will be the flashback I promised! ;P

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

*Does Sammy's Puppy Dog eyes*