Hello all. I would like to thank SummerMistedDragon, White-Knight-066, QueenWoofy, MaddyR, Little Cinch and darkeyesgirl for all the wonderful reviews. I am glad you like the story so far. I would also like to thank all you lovely people who have followed and favoured since my last update. It still surprises me how many people are reading this. You are all amazing, thank you.
So here we are the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
The Winchesters and the angels stood still for what felt like an eternity but was in fact only a few seconds after Ephraim had left.
"Well that was certainty a turn for the different." Sam said into the shocked silence.
"You're telling me." Gabriel replied ruthfully with a cocky smile on his face. But even though he tried to make light of what had just happened both the Winchesters saw the weight he had just accepted onto his shoulders. It was the weight of the protection of his people, and it was something they could both, in different ways relate to.
Castiel on the other hand was in awe of his big brother. He had found there family and was taking them home. With that thought he ran to Gabriel and grabbed him round the waist looking up at him with a massive smile on his face.
"We're going to join our family." He said in a squeaky excited voice making Sam and Dean share a look which clearly said, 'oh crap,' while Gabriel looked down at him with a sad smile. He had to do it now. He had to tell Castiel that he wasn't coming with him.
So kneeling down so he was on the same eye leave as the fledgling he cleared his throat and then spoke the words that he knew would break the little angel's heart. Oh Dad, how he wished he didn't have to do this. He loved his brother and wanted to stay with him, but he also knew that he needed to get the real Castiel back.
"You can't come with me kiddo, no just listen. I am amassing an army to fight those who threw us from heaven and you can't come. A battle field is not the place for a fledgling little one, but I promise, once this is over and I have found a way home for our family I will come and get you. On that you have my solemn vow. But until then I need you to stay with the Winchesters okay Cassie? Stay with them and keep the safe for me yeah?" At that Castiel's eyes seemed to dull and go out, it was as if he had retreated into himself so far that Gabriel could not follow. The fledging didn't say anything, he just turned round and returned to the couch staring fixedly at the TV screen making Gabriel hang his head in defeat. He knew he had just caused his brother unimaginable pain, but to be honest, it wasn't the first time he had done that. It was just Castiel couldn't remember the rest of it at present. But he didn't have time to wallow right now. He had a frigging army to lead. Just as he was thinking of pulling himself together and standing he felt a hand fall on his shoulder. Turning his head up, he found himself looking into the understanding eyes of Dean.
Sam and Dean watched the archangel explain to the fledging that he couldn't go with him and they both felt simultaneously uncomfortable about watching and heartbroken at the situation. When Castiel walked away Dean looked between the two angels, wondering which to go to first. While his instincts told him to go to Cas he knew he and Gabriel needed to talk before the archangel left, and if Dean was him, he wouldn't be sticking round for long. So turning to Sam and silently asking him to keep an eye of Cas, which Sam of course agreed to, Dean moved and placed a hand on Gabriel's shoulder only to find a lump form in his throat when Gabriel turned to look up at him with such pain filled eyes.
"Come on, we need to talk." Dean muttered lowly as if he didn't want anyone to hear, even though he knew that Cas could.
"Yeah, that we do." Gabriel replied with a sigh and rose from the floor. Without another word he turned, leading Dean from the motel room and walking over to the very badly parked impala. Looking at the parking Dean glared, he was going to have to have a talk with Sam about that, but he knew he was just putting off the conversation they had come out here to have.
"I had to do this Dean. From the inside I can find all the information we need, where the spell is located, where the angels are and keep tabs on Metatron, not to mention trying to keep humanity out of this mess." Gabriel said in a resigned voice as he leaned against the car.
"Yeah I know." Dean replied, not sure if Gabriel was trying to explain to him or himself.
"Look after him wouldn't you? And make sure you keep me up to date with the tablet stuff okay?" Gabriel asked looking into Deans eyes. He knew he was putting a lot on his humans shoulders, but hey, this was Dean Winchester, and honestly he had probably already put it there himself.
"Really? You're asking me that? What do you think I'm going to do? You're the only one who can read the damn things translations." Dean replied with an eye roll.
"Okay point taken." Gabriel said with a chuckle. At that a silence fell over them but neither wanted to suggest going back inside. That way only lay Castiel's pain and they both knew it.
"I've got a question." Dean finally ventured to say. He might as well get answers while he still could.
"Only one?" Gabriel asked cheekily making Dean glare at him, which in response made Gabriel smirk in return. "Shoot."
"Don't give me ideas." Dean growled as he leant against the car next to Gabriel before he continued. "When the Rit Zien was here he said he was here for Cas, that he could feel his pain or something, but he got nothing off of him. What's that all about?"
"He still has his memories from his life Dean-o, everything is still there, at the back of his mind. It's just that when his grace created his fledging existence it created a wall inside his mind so the memories won't over power the fragile creation. But still some of them bleed through, and a Rit Zien like Ephraim can feel that pain radiating from behind the wall because he is programed to find an angel in pain and heal him. Or smite him if he is too far gone to save." Gabriel replied. He should have realised that Dean hadn't cottoned on to that fact.
"And Cas is he too far gone?" Dean asked in quite voice, walls in the mind to block bad memories were not something he liked to think about. He had far too much experience of them, thank you very much.
"In his current incarnation? Yes. If that wall came down now it would destroy him, a bit like what happened when Sam's wall was broken." Gabriel replied with a shrug receiving a glare from the hunter next to him at the causal mention of that time.
"Not something I like remembering Gabe." Dean growled at him. It still hurt that Cas had done that to his brother.
"Yes, I can imagine." Gabriel replied, an understanding in his voice that Dean had never heard there before. He guessed he was thinking about what would happen if Cas' wall came down. Hmm, this conversation was veering far too close to click-flick territory for Deans liking as such he went back to the practical.
"What do you mean when you say things bleed through? I mean how do you know that?" He asked the archangel next to him who just raised his eyebrows at him before he responded.
"Well for a start he recognised Ephraim, which he shouldn't have done. They didn't met until Castiel was grown and leading army's on the battle fields." Gabriel replied with a shrug.
"So what does that mean? What should I do?" Dean asked, he didn't want Cas going crazy, again, after all.
"It means that we can bring him back and you should do just what you have been doing and look after him Dean-o." Gabriel replied with hope in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
"Okay, okay. Well at least we know the spell to stop angels recognising him worked." Dean said changing the subject from memories and walls and people having the crazies. That was not something he wanted to think about right now, or ever again if he could help it.
"Of course it worked Dean-o. What do you take me for?" Gabriel asked in mock affront at man standing next to him.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Dean asked with a smirk making Gabriel just shake his head at him. With that the comfortable silence returned, though now they both knew that it was only delaying the inevitable.
"Well I had best get going." Gabriel finally said when he knew he could put it off no longer and pushing away from Dean's car.
"Yeah." Dean replied. With that they both turned and walked back to the motel so Gabriel could collect his stuff and say his goodbyes to the two they had left inside.
"Hey Cassie, I'm heading out now, but I'll keep in contact okay kiddo. Dean-o and Sammy boy have my number if you want to talk, about anything, just call." Gabriel said to his little brother as he knelt once more in front of him, not that he got any response. Castiel just sat there, staring at the TV behind Gabriel's head making the archangel's heart ache. But he had to do what he had to do. With that thought he stood and ruffled the fledging's hair before turning and walking to Sam and putting his hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
"You keep from getting yourself mortally wounded while I'm gone yeah? I don't want to have to come and save you sorry ass again." Gabriel said to the younger Winchester in lieu of a goodbye.
"Yeah okay. And thanks Gabriel, for everything." With that Sam grabbed the archangel and pulled him into a hug, which startled Gabriel somewhat. I mean since when was he hug worthy in the Winchester's mind?
"Surprisingly, my pleasure kid." He finally replied patting Sam's shoulder once he had let him go.
With that Gabriel went over to his bag and opened it up pulling out the spare clothes he had brought for Castiel just in case (not that they had managed to get Castiel to change his clothes yet. He still wouldn't take off his coat) and handed them to Dean. He then put his hand down the side of the bag and pulled out his brothers angel blade and gave that to the elder Winchester as well, with a look in his eyes as if he was passing the responsibility of Castiel's protection to the hunter, if only temporarily, with the weapon. Dean took it, not truly understanding the meaning but he got enough, as such with a look of his own he promised Gabriel to do everything in his power to protect his little brother.
With a nod, having read Deans answer in his eyes he turned to the door, there was nothing more to say. With that he walked through, not looking back at the three he was leaving behind once. He had a job to do, a destiny to fulfil. A family to order. And with that heavy mantle on his shoulders he found a car and disappeared, going off to meet up with Ephraim.
Dean turned to Sam after Gabriel's departure to find his brother looking lost and helpless as he stared at the fledging sitting straight on the couch. Dean sighed and walked over to his friend sitting down next to him and putting an arm around his shoulders.
"Hey buddy. It'll be alright, he'll be back soon." He said in what he hoped was a reassuring voice. Castiel sat the for a moment but then he shrugged of Deans arm and rose, moving to sit at the table by the window not looking at either of the Winchesters who watched wondering what they could do to help the baby angel in there midst.
And across town Gabriel stood in an old warehouse turning round and looking at it intently. Yes this would do as there headquarters. With that he pulled out his angel blade and sliced open his hand, walking the wall he started to draw a sigil that Ephraim had never seen before on it.
"What is that commander?" he asked hoping that Gabriel wouldn't smite him for the question, though Gabriel had always been the most easy going of the archangels, the most accepting of questions, and the one most likely to actually give you an answer. Even if that answer didn't make any sense to the one hearing it.
"It's my song." Gabriel replied as he finished drawing the horn of Gabriel on the wall and it started pulsing, calling all angels to him. It was time to get to work.