Sam was laying in his bed the next morning staring at the ceiling. He'd been awake for about an hour or so, but he was in no rush to go out and see his dad. He knew his father was likely still wicked pissed at him, and honestly, Sam wasn't too happy either. He knew he screwed up, badly. He could not even pretend that he did not one hundred percent deserve his father's anger. But he also believed he deserved the chance to explain what happened. It might not make a difference, but he still deserved the opportunity.

Also, Sam wasn't thrilled with basically being grounded like an unruly teenager. Again, he knew he screwed up, but he was not a child, no matter how much every angel he came across wanted to treat him like one. He was twenty-six years old. He had long since outgrown this type of punishment.

Sam heard a knock before his door opened. He turned to see his father. Like he suspected, the archangel still looked totally pissed, though not quite as much as he was last night.

"Good, you're awake. I want you to get up, shower, and get dressed. We're going to train after breakfast," Gabriel said as calmly as he could. His anger had quelled, but not nearly as much as he'd hoped.

Sam sat up. "Do we really have to start that now?" He didn't want to do this. He knew it would be a disaster. He couldn't train with his dad. He was too scared he'd hurt him. It wouldn't work. Hell, it took a while to make it work with Michael, and he hated him.

"Yes, we do. I'm not screwing around with pyrokinesis. Get up and get ready," Gabriel ordered before walking out of the room.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

About an hour later, Sam was walking with his dad towards the training area. Needless to say, he wasn't happy. He got even less happy when they were almost there, noticed Metatron, the angel he'd run into the day before, in the halls. The angel was smirking smugly at him.

Sam stopped and glared. He realized then that it was Metatron who told his father. Before, he thought it was Lucifer, which had angered him more than a little since his uncle promised not to, but seeing Metatron's face, he knew it was him. Somehow, he must have figured it out when they met yesterday.

Gabriel noticed the exchange and glared at Metatron. He glared viciously at the scribe. He was glad to know about Sam and Michael, but he also knew Metatron had done it to hurt his kid, and that pissed him off. "Get lost, Metatron. Sam, let's go."

Sam gave one more glare before following his father. They walked for a couple more minutes before reaching their destination.

"Alright, let's go. Show me what you can do," Gabriel said when they were inside. He walked several paces past his son and turned towards him.

Sam raised his hand to begin, but before he could start, he heard the door open and shut. He turned to see Michael enter the room, after which he immediately groaned. This wasn't going to go over well.

"Get out!" Gabriel practically growled at his older brother.

Michael snapped his fingers and a chair and footstool appeared beside him. He sat down and put his feet up, all the while looking at his brother smugly. "You may be able to keep me from teaching him, little brother, but you can't stop me from watching. I have as much right to be in this room as you do."

Gabriel seethed. He was tempted to go and deck the little bastard, but he was sure that was what Michael wanted. He was trying to piss shim off, and while it was working, Gabriel wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "Alright, Sam, come on."

Once again, Sam raised his hand to start, but as he did, panic and fear rose inside him. He was terrified that he would hurt his dad, especially since he was kind of mad at him. His anger had a tendency to make this power much worse. Michael could attest to that.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you trying?" Michael asked after about five minutes of nothing happening.

"Shut up!" Gabriel snarled.

Michael ignored his brother. "You produced a full flame on command just yesterday. What is the problem now?"

"I said, shut up! Do not speak to my son!" Gabriel yelled.

"Look, I still don't have great control," Sam defended himself.

"You have better than this. It seems you've gone back three steps just because he's in the room," Michael said as he motioned to Gabriel.

Gabriel balled his hands into fists. Michael pissed him off more and more every time he spoke. It got even worse when the bastard tried to claim that he was holding his son back.

Sam could see that his dad was about to explode. "Michael, will you please just go? You're making things worse."

Michael looked at the boy for a moment. He wanted to stay. He knew from just five minutes he was better equipped to train Sam than his brother was, but he decided that he didn't need to make things more tense for the boy, so he got up and headed for the door.

Sam sighed in relief when Michael was out of the room. The fighting between the two archangels was just making him more anxious.

No sooner than the door to the room closed, it opened again. This time, Castiel came in. "Gabriel, I need to speak with you."

"Can it wait, Cas. I'm kind of busy," Gabriel asked.

"I'm not certain it can, no," Castiel said.

Gabriel sighed and turned to his son. "I'll be right back."

"It may take up quite a bit of your time, brother," Castiel said.

"Alright, we'll come back later, Sam. Go straight home. Do you understand?" Gabriel asked firmly.

Sam nodded.

Gabriel followed Castiel out of the room and they started walking. "What is it?"

"It's about Dean. He was injured during a hunt," Castiel said.

"Is he alright?" Gabriel asked concerned. He knew he wasn't dead. He would've known about that almost right away if he was.

"His injuries are not life threatening, at least not anymore, but he's in the hospital," Castiel said. When he learned his friend was hurt, he'd been very concerned. He wanted to heal his injuries, but he knew Dean would be upset if he did that, plus, Gabriel instructed he not make contact.

"How was he injured? Did he just miscalculate the danger or was he being reckless?" Gabriel asked.

"Well, I don't know if he did anything to intentionally get himself hurt, but Bobby said he urged Dean to take a partner, and he refused," Castiel said. The two of them stopped walking just outside where Castiel's garrison was normally stationed.

Gabriel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. As far as he was concerned, this counted as being reckless. It was certainly enough to warrant a visit from him. "Where is he?"

"You are going? Dean asked not to be bothered. Did you not promise him you wouldn't?" Castiel asked.

"Yes, I did, and in turn, he promised not be reckless. And I promised if he was, I'd kick his ass. Now, where is he?" Gabriel asked again.

Castiel quickly gave him the name of the hospital Dean was at.

"Thanks, Cas. I'll be back as soon as I can," Gabriel said before flying away.

Both angels had been too preoccupied to notice the pair of eyes on them.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Metatron smirked to himself as he spotted eyes on the angel he was looking for. He had a plan, and he knew exactly who to get to carry it out. "Vashti."

"Metatron, what do you want?" Vashti asked with a sneer. He didn't think much of the scribe. The angel had disappeared thousands of years ago. He deserted them. Plus, he was egotistical prick. He should've been left on Earth, or executed when he was found. Before Lucifer took over, he would've been. Before Lucifer took over, a lot of things were different.

"Oh, I just thought you might want to know that Gabriel has left Heaven for little while. He apparently has business on Earth," Metatron said.

"And I should care about that?" Vashti asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I've heard the things you've had to say about the Nephilim, at least when Castiel isn't nearby," Metatron said.

"What does that abomination have to do with anything?" Vashti asked.

"Well, isn't now the perfect time to take him out, or at least put him in his place?" Metatron asked. He doubted they'd be able to kill him, at least at this point, but they could make the little bastard pay for existing, and it would cause problems between the archangels. Gabriel would likely blame Michael, whom Metatron was still determined to get back at.

"Are you stupid, Metatron? As much as I'd love to put that thing out of its misery, I'd be signing my death warrant," Vashti said. He was tempted, really, but he wasn't totally stupid. He'd just have to wait until Michael took control again. He'd ascertain the abomination's destruction.

"No, Michael would protect you. He'd see promoted for it," Metatron assured him. He knew how to get what he wanted from this angel. Vashti was a fanatic for Michael. He would do anything if he thought it would gain him Michael's attention.

Vashti thought about it for a minute. He was sure Michael hadn't meant a word he said when he stepped down. Michael was just waiting for the right moment to take Lucifer out and take back what was rightfully his. If Vashti took out the Nephilim, he could help the eldest archangel in that regard. Once it was done, Michael would be so proud. "Maybe you're right."

Metatron smiled. "You shouldn't kill him right away though. Make him suffer for existing. And don't do it alone. The power of a Nephilim shouldn't be underestimated."

Vashti smiled cruelly. "I know a few who would love to help."

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Sam didn't go home right away. He knew he should've. He would only anger his dad more if he didn't, but he wanted a few minutes before he was essentially under lock and key again, he just walked around Heaven for about ten minutes.

Sam was just about to go back when he felt a tap on the shoulder. He turned around to find an angel, who was named Thaddeus. "Yeah."

"Hi, sorry to bother you, but Lucifer is looking for you," the angel said.

"Uh, I have to go home. My dad…"

"He says it's important. I can't return without you," Thaddeus said urgently.

Sam started to worry. Something must have happened for Lucifer to demand his presence that way. Was it his dad? Did something happen when he left with Cas. "Okay, I'll go to his office."

"He's not in his office. He's in the assembly hall. I'll take you."

Sam nodded. He followed Thaddeus a couple of hallways down until they came to a large room. He walked inside and found about five or six other angels there. Lucifer was nowhere to be seen, and those that were they did not look like they had good intentions towards him.

Sam proved to be right when all the angels produced angel blades and attacked him.