Gabriel walked into Lucifer's office and found him organizing papers on his desk. "Hey. You asked to see me."

"Hey, Gabriel. Come sit," Lucifer urged.

"Make it quick, would you?" Gabriel asked as he walked over and sat down. "I'd be best that I not accidently run into Michael while I'm down this way. I can't guarantee his face will survive the encounter."

"Michael's actually been making himself scarce lately, much to my delight. It's nice not having him constantly in my face over every little thing," Lucifer said. He hadn't really seen Michael much since the last encounter over Gadreel. He was hoping that his brother was had actually listened to him and was thinking on what he said, but that seemed a bit much to hope for.

"Why do you think that is?" Gabriel asked slightly suspicious. He didn't think Michael would plan a takeover or anything. He was mainly a 'yes man.' But he didn't want to put anything past him. Michael couldn't be trusted.

Lucifer noticed his brother's apprehension. "Don't worry about it. Michael's not gonna do anything. He's an idiot and a hothead, but he's not Raphael. He doesn't have a devious bone in his body.

Gabriel shrugged his shoulders. "As long as he stays away from me and my son, I don't care what he does. So, what did you need?"

"Well, I told you that I was looking for angels who had left Heaven. I think I'm close to finding one. I was hoping you'd join me in talking to him," Lucifer said.

"Who is it?" Gabriel asked.

"Metatron," Lucifer answered.

Gabriel groaned. "Lucifer, you know I can barely tolerate Metatron's existence."

"I know Metatron has his faults," Lucifer said.

"He's a self-righteous dick, more so even than Michael," Gabriel said. At least Michael had reasons for his massive ego. He was the first angel ever created and former ruler of Heaven. Metatron just thought he was more important than he was.

"Look, I need help convincing him to come home. He's not going to trust me by myself," Lucifer said.

"Why not just leave him where he is? You said you didn't want to force those who left back," Gabriel said.

"I don't intend to force him. I'll do my best to convince him, but if he truly wants to remain on Earth, I won't stop him. Look, I have to try. Metatron was pretty much forced to leave, just like you felt you were," Lucifer said. He wasn't above a bit of emotional blackmail. He was nicknamed Satan after all.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes a bit. "That's low, Lucifer."

Lucifer shrugged and smirked.

"Fine, but don't expect me to placate the bastard to get him to come back," Gabriel said.

"Thank you. So how are things going? How's Sam?" Lucifer asked.

Gabriel's only response was a long sigh.

"No better, huh?" Lucifer asked.

"He hates it here, Lucifer. He misses his brother. I caught him dream walking him a couple of weeks ago," Gabriel said.

Lucifer groaned. "Don't let that happen again, Gabriel. I know I didn't specify it, but…"

"I know, Lucifer. I already talked to him about it, and I'm monitoring him. I don't think he'll try it again. I don't think it turned out the way he wanted," Gabriel said.

Lucifer nodded, satisfied with his brother's answer. "Anything else going on with him?"

"I don't know. He barely talks to me. He usually disappears to the garden all day," Gabriel said sadly. He almost felt like he'd lost both his sons. Sam was with him, but they barely spoke or even saw each other. Sam was shutting him out.

"He doesn't blame you, does he? I can talk to him. We both know this was my choice," Lucifer said.

Gabriel shook his head. "He doesn't blame me for coming here. He's just really angry, and he's not good at dealing with his anger. He takes it out on whoever is around. He realizes that, and I guess he's trying to avoid it." He did appreciate that his son knew that he had to stop taking his anger out on him, but he hated that Sam was pushing him away time and time again.

"Just give it time, Gabriel. He'll come around. Things will get better," Lucifer assured his brother.

"I keep telling him that, but I'm not sure they will. Sam and Dean were all each other had growing up. I don't know that Sam can be anything but miserable without his brother," Gabriel said sadly.

"How about you? I know the human matters to you too," Lucifer said.

"I'd really prefer you not call my son 'the human'," Gabriel said.

"I suppose," was Lucifer's only response.

"I miss him, Lucifer. I miss him just as much as I did Sam when he was growing up. The difference is that I could at least watch over Sam. I can't see Dean," Gabriel said miserably. Sam wasn't the only one struggling with what was going on.

"You could. You could go check on him," Lucifer said.

Gabriel shook his head. "I'd be tempted to talk to him, plus, I'd feel like I was breaking my promise to him. Dean needs a clean break," he said before standing up. "Let me know when you're ready to see Metatron."

Lucifer nodded and watched his brother leave.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

"This is pathetic," Michael commented with a scowl. He was training the Nephilim, and the boy couldn't seem to conjure up a flame no matter how long they worked.

"Screw you," Sam immediately came back with.

"You can do this, yet you refuse to try," Michael said.

"I am trying!" Sam yelled. Well, he sort of was. He could admit that it was a half-assed attempt. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to expand on this power. It was too dangerous in his opinion. People could get hurt.

"Barely. You are acting like you don't want this," Michael said. He of course knew that couldn't be true. The boy was likely just being difficult to spite him.

"I don't!"

Michael sneered in response. "Do not attempt to fool me. No one rejects the kind of power you could wield."

"Don't act like you know me! I never wanted power! I'm a hunter!" Sam yelled.

"You were. Now you're a being that shouldn't exist," Michael replied bluntly.

"Alright, I'm done with this! Let me out!" Sam demanded. He didn't need to stand there and be condemned by this SOB for what he was.

"No," was Michael's only response.

"I said I'm not doing this anymore!" Sam screamed.

"You'll do as you're told. Not only are on the bottom of the chain of command, as you are nothing more than an abomination, you're also no older than a toddler by our standards, something that makes you even more dangerous," Michael stated.

Sam seethed more and more as the archangel continued to speak. Before he knew it, smoke began to come from Michael's foot, followed by a small flame. He had to admit, it was a bit satisfying to light Michael up, even if it was just a little bit.

Michael immediately extinguished the flame with a wave of the hand. "Well, maybe we are getting somewhere after all. You still need to be able to do it on command though."

"Why are you doing this if you think I'm so terrible? I'd think you wouldn't want me becoming more powerful," Sam said.

"Short of killing you, which I'm forbidden to do, there's nothing I can do about your power. It's is already inside you and will only get stronger as you grow. But as I've said before, controlling it is essential. Think of what would happen if you got as angry as you just were outside of this room. Others could be hurt," Michael explained.

"So far, you're the only one I hate enough to bring it out," Sam said.

Michael shrugged his shoulders, not caring in the slightest for the Nephilim's declaration of hatred. "You've been lucky so far, or should I say others have been lucky. It will only get worse as the power grows. Now, shall we continue?"

"Do I really have a choice in the matter?" Sam asked with irritation laced in his voice.

"No. Now try again," Michael instructed.

Sam sighed and began another attempt to conjure fire.