Chapter 4: Family Reunion

The sound of Sam's phone going off was barely heard over the sound of Gabriel gasping for air. The archangel had taken them straight from hell and back to his house. Upon landing it was clear that Gabriel has used far more energy then was planned and the angel was doubled over trying to catch his breath. Castiel, who had flown back himself, was using his Grace to try and calm his brother. It seemed that the strain of carrying Sam had been a bit much.

"Answer...that!" Gabriel gasped out as Castiel slowly lowered him to the couch.

Sam fumbled with his jacket pocket, trying to pull his phone out and when he finally got it out he saw that it was Bobby calling. "Bobby?"

*Sam where in tarnation have you been?! I've been calling you for two months!*

"Two months?!" Sam asked turning to the angels.

"Couldn't...go back...further..." Gabriel gasped out. "To...tired..."

"Shit! Sorry about Bobby. We had to take a trip to find a way to cure Dean." Sam hurriedly explained. "We went to hell to see Lucifer and we have a way to save Dean."

*That's all well and good but I've got bad news.*

"Hang on." The younger hunter said, putting the phone on speaker. "Go ahead. We can hear you."

*One of the hunters managed to find the Impala. It was abandoned at a motel in Lawrence. I went out and picked it up myself. It's here now.*

Sam frowned. "In our hometown? What was Dean doing there? Did anyone see him?"

*Yeah. The florist said he came in and got a dozen white roses. Took them to your mom's grave. He was there for almost three weeks then one day he was just gone. His room was paid for for two months. And he was seen in the company of a well dressed older man wearing a dark suit.*

"Crowley." Sam growled.

*That would be my guess. But like I said the guy at the motel said that they were seen going into the motel room and they never came back out. All of Dean's things were still in there. It was just like he up and vanished.* Bobby said. *My money's on Crowley dragging your brother off somewhere.*

"Thanks for the help Bobby. I'll be there soon to pick up the Impala."

*See you soon.* Booby said before the line went dead.

Sam turned back to Gabriel who seemed to finally be able to breath. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I tried to take us as far back in time to the point when we left as possible. I couldn't get us there completely because the spell Luci cast used my energy as well as his. Two months was the best I could do. I'm sorry Sam. I didn't mean for this to happen." Gabriel said softly, his brow damp with sweat. "I just need a minute and we can go."

"You need to rest Gabriel." Castiel said. "You've used a lot of Grace shielding Sam and transporting the two of you on top of the time travel. You've exhausted yourself."

"I'm fine. Really." The archangel insisted.

"Then I'm sure you can take us to Bobby's right now then." Sam said, glaring down at his mate, calling his bluff.

Gabriel glared right back but with a sigh gave in. "Fine. Just...Just let me get some food and a small nap. We can't afford anymore time. It's already been too long."

Castiel nodded. "I agree but you are no help to Dean when you're exhausted. I will go and begin collecting the ingredients. You stay here and rest with Sam."

"Check the third cellar first. I think I have some of what we need in there." Gabriel said as Castiel vanished.

Heading into the kitchen Sam took a moment to look through what food they had that was already made, which was quite a bit considering the archangel loved to cook. Tacos, home made pizza, chicken and potato soup, manicotti, they had it all. Know Gabriel needed to recover his strength he settle on chili, knowing the meat would help more then anything else. He quickly microwaved it and topped it with sour cream and cheese, knowing that was how the angel liked it and grabbed a spoon.

Sam brought over the bowl of chili and passed it to his mate. "Why do you think Lucifer undid your binding? Having him in my head I doubt he did it out of the goodness of his heart."

Gabriel patted the couch and Sam laid down letting the angel lay back against him. "Believe it or not Sam but once upon a time Lucifer did actually love me. I think him seeing me as I am now and not as the Gabriel he knew made him realize that I'd changed and not in a good way. When I faced him down and I faked my death he knew something had changed then but I don't think it hit him until I faced him down again. I could feel his pain at seeing me that cold and uncaring towards both him and Michael. The two beings that I once professed to love more then life itself."

The hunter kissed the top of his mate's head. "So did this bring you the closure you needed?"

"Yeah." Gabriel said softly, as he ate. "I still left a lot of things unresolved but I did get quite a bit out of my system. It was nice making them squirm."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I'm also glad that the binding is gone." Sam said rubbing the angel's stomach lightly. "I did mean it though. I would have carried for you if I could."

"I know. I just don't know how to handle this right now. Maybe someday I'll think about having a child with you but right now...Too much, too soon." Gabriel admitted, placing his hand over Sam's.

"You're right. For now eat. Then we nap and go after Dean." Sam said softly.

Crowley slipped into the master bedroom of his mansion smiling at the figure that was wrapped in the silk sheets. He went over and looked down at the sleeping hunter, pleased to see that his rest was a peaceful one this time. Reaching out he traced along the seal that was on the back of the hunter's neck. It had taken him three weeks to fully seal everything away which was twice as long as he thought it would. The mating bond had been the main reason it took so long, acting as protection for Dean's memories. Luckily enough he had managed to block the bond off without any side effects.

Dean let out a murmur in his sleep and rolled over, the sheets slipping off to reveal a bare hip to the demon. With a smile Crowley lifted the sheet a bit and took in the site the nude body before him. He had never looked at the hunter with eyes of lust before but once the young man came with him and was under his care constantly he began to see him a bit differently. Since becoming a demon he had never bothered to look at a human as a potential bed mate before but since Dean technically wasn't human he supposed it didn't count. Which is why he kept dropping hints of what he wanted, much to the hunter's embarrassment.

Taking one last look at the bare body he dropped the sheet, making sure that the hunter was properly covered this time. It wouldn't do for some of his minions to be tempted by the sight of his exposed son. He grinned and couldn't believe just well his plan was coming along. It seemed that wiping Dean's mind had been the best thing he could have done. The young hunter went along willingly with his plan with hardly any questions asked. At least he had once he had explained things.

It was easy to explain to Dean why he couldn't remember anything. Angels and hunters had tired to kill him, his mate, and his family after finding out what he was. The car accident wiped his mind and killed his family and mate leaving Crowley to adopt him and train him. With Dean thinking that angels and hunters had killed his mate and family it seemed to ignite a fire in him to want to help even if it was still a fight to get him to do so. At least it was a start even if they did fight and the boy drove him mad reminding him of exactly why he hated kids.

A groan brought him out of his train of thought and he looked down to see a pair of sleepy green eyes watching him with a glare and he couldn't help but smile at them, knowing it would drive Dean mad. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Why the fuck do you insist on watching me sleep?" Dean asked glaring up at him. "Don't you know just how creepy that shit is?"

"Well maybe if you would sleep in your night clothes instead of nothing then I wouldn't have to protect you from such prying eyes." Crowley said, his eyes raking over the body before him.

Dean shoved him away and got up, heading towards the shower. "I don't care what your sleezy goon squad thinks. They touch me and I'll gank them too."

Crowley growled as he watched him go. It seemed that ever since yesterday Dean had been snappish about everything. He had even killed his best guard because the man made a comment about his attitude. It made him wonder exactly what had set him off. It wasn't as if he let the hunter out of his sight. In fact he kept him on quite the tight leash. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe the boy needed to get out and have some fun.

The door opened to the bathroom and Dean emerged wearing nothing more then a towel on his head, drying his hair and Crowley couldn't stop the growl that left his throat. Dean was purposely taunting him now. It wasn't as if the hunter turned down his advances, if anything he flirted back but didn't deliver. Still he watched as the towel was thrown into a corner and the hunter began pulling on his clothes that Crowley had provided him with.

Leather pants that had matched Castiel's when the angel had been his slave, only instead of being white, they were black and tied up the sides. A sheer black three quarters length shirt completed the look along with the necklace that housed Castiel's feather. Something that Crowley couldn't take without causing harm to the hunter as it was the grounding point of his mating bond with the angel.

Crowley moved to where he knew the hunter could see him enough to read his lips. "I know you haven't gone out since you woke up from the accident and I think it's making you tense. I was thinking-"

"That must have hurt." Dean said a smirk on his face. "The King of Hell thinking for himself? Why the common place demons would be appalled to know that you were forced to think."

"Very funny. Do you want to go out and have some fun or not?" Crowley snapped. "Maybe play with some hunters and torment a few humans?"

Dean looked at him with disbelief. "You serious? You'll let me go out by myself for a night? No guards in monkey suits or stinking dogs following me around?"

The hell hound in the corner that Crowley tasked with guarding Dean let out a whimper.

"Sorry. You know I wasn't talking about you Fergus." Dean amended.

The hound let out a happier noise at the apology and laid back down for a nap.

"As long as you're careful I don't see the harm in it. Just watch yourself. Those angels and hunters would just love a chance to finish you off." Crowley reached up and brushed his knuckles across the hunter's cheek. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

Dean's green eyes narrowed. "You'd be shit out of luck since I'm the only one who can help you. We both know you don't really care for me and you just want in my pants. That being the case you can cut the mush."

Dean turned away and went over to the bed and pulled on a pair of socks and his boots, black ankle high and covered with studs and spikes ran along the toe and heel. With a grin he checked himself over in the full length mirror that ran along the entire wall. Grinning he pulled on his black leather bracelets and checked again and was satisfied with what he saw. Crowley came up behind him and placed a slim back collar with his symbol on it, proclaiming Dean to be the Prince of Hell.

"You look gorgeous. Demons and humans alike should bow to your beauty while the angels should quake when you approach." Crowley said, looking in the mirror.

Dean gave him a glare and turned and strode from the room. With a sigh Crowley summoned several of his guards. He ordered them to keep Dean safe and to remain hidden while doing so and they nodded and disappeared after him. With a growl he knew that it was only a matter of time before Dean's little family caught up with them but he was ready. He would not allow Dean to slip through his fingers without a fight.

Castiel froze, his heart hammering in his chest, his lungs constricting, his palms sweating. He looked around, wide eyed trying to find the source of his feeling. He was dimly aware of Sam and Gabriel calling his name but he couldn't care at the moment. He had to find it! He pushed through the crowded streets cursing the festival that was taking place.

They had gotten a lead from another hunter right after picking up the Impala that someone fitting both Dean and Crowley's description was seen, in of all the places, New Orleans. So Gabriel had rushed them down there and none of them bothered to look at the date. Thus why they were stuck in the middle of Mardi Gras. Someone bumped into him and nearly sent him to the ground if it hadn't been for the tight grip that found his arm. Almost too tight. He looked up intending on thanking whoever had saved him but he froze as he stared into a pair of cold green eyes.

"Shouldn't an angel be a little less clumsy and more aware of their surroundings?" Came an amused voice that he knew so well.

"Dean..."

"So you know my name. Not surprising. I've know most of your kind are out to kill me." Dean said. "So were you looking for little old me or someone more interesting?"

Castiel frowned and reached for their bond trying to touch it but it felt different; like someone else was in the way. "I have been looking for you Dean. We've found a way to fix you so you can come home. We miss you."

Green eyes narrowed before they filled with black and the grip on his arms tightened drawing a pained hiss from the angel. "And what home would that be? The one your and your kin destroyed while trying to kill me? I shouldn't be surprised that you'd stoop this low just to try and kill me."

"Dean I don't want to kill you. I miss you and I still love you. Please come home to me." Castiel said. "I need my mate."

There was a sudden yank on his arm and the dark haired angel suddenly found himself landing on his rear in an alleyway looking up at an enraged Dean. His mind took a moment to take in the clothes and the collar his mate was wearing and it made his his heart clench. He had out an angel blade and was holding it tightly. Castiel scooted backwards, he was no match for a Nephilim. Pulling out his own blades he quickly dropped them and kicked them towards Dean, watching at the hunter raised and eyebrow at the action that left him defenseless. Castiel didn't think he would even have the heart to hurt Dean.

"You had better start talking." Dean said kicking the blades back to him. "Why did you call me your mate?"

"Because you are!" Castiel said.

"My mate and family were killed by the angels and hunters that were trying to kill me!" Dean snapped, his eyes going black once more. "They're all dead."

Tears filled his blues eyes and spilled over. "We're not dead. Sam and Gabriel are here as well. We came here looking for you! We've been searching for you ever since you left!"

"You're lying!" The hunter said stepping forward. "They were killed in a car accident!"

"Did Crowley tell you that?" Castiel asked, locking eyes with him.

Dean froze. "How did you know?"

"Because I spent a year as his slave. Gabriel spent eighteen months as his prisoner. We both know that Crowley is a lying evil monster." Castiel said. "Do you want proof that I'm tell you the truth?"

Those black eyes faded back into green and the angel could see the hesitance in them. "What kind of proof do you have?"

Castiel released his wings, the black feathers filling the alleyway. "It's my feather you wear around your neck. It was my response to your courting gift."

Dean's eyes followed the span of the wings and his hand reached up and clasped the necklace around his neck. Slowly he stretched one wing out until it was only a few inches from Dean. The hunter's eyes appraised the wing and lifted the cage comparing the feathers before he turned away. Gabriel and Sam rounded the corner, blade and gun in hand. Dean's eyes flicked first from them then back to Castiel.

Sam took a step towards them and the eldest hunter's eyes turned black once more. There was a sudden shift and Dean vanished from sight. Castiel felt his chest constrict and his heart hurt as sobs wracked his body. Dean didn't know who he was. Crowley had done something to his mate. He didn't even have the strength to answer Sam or Gabriel's questions when the got to him. All he could do was sob into Sam's chest as Gabriel's wings embraced them both.