Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Gabriel couldn’t possible resist. When he heard that the Winchesters with Castiel in tow came rolling into the town, where he had been hiding since his “death”, he had first thought, they were there for him. Only when the three were already in town, Gabriel noticed the vampires which had settled in, without the archangel noticing. Instead of figuring out, how he could have possibly not notice something like that, he decided to play a bit with the Winchesters and his brother. Of course, only on a level where Cassi wouldn't understand what was going on, otherwise it wouldn’t be funny.

While Gabriel was forcing the Winchesters through and in different situations, which were humiliating for the victim and just funny for everyone else, and Castiel couldn’t figure out, what was going on, Gabriel  attracted other attention too, unwanted attention. He and Castiel might be the only angels in town, but not in the world. The usage of trickster magic, which was still his mojo in the end, attracted the attention of the other angels. Over the angel radio Gabriel gathered that his siblings noticed that he was still alive. So much for his plan to hide for the next few centuries.

Since Gabriel had no desire to fill the role that Michael left vacant, he had to find a way to vanish and it had to be done fast. The easiest would be to just hide in another universe until the drama was over. While Castiel slowly began figuring out, that Gabriel was playing with him and the Winchesters and the angels in Heaven tried pinpointing Gabriels location, the archangel was busy gathering all things he needed for the spell to change universes and finding a universe, which was magic enough to give him the chance to return without help.

It took him too long. Gabriel had stopped as many of his tricks as possible, to hide his location as long as possible. He knew his siblings were still in the dark or at least semi-dark and would only be able to locate him when he used the spell, if even that. What he didn’t accounted for was how good the Winchesters really were,  how fast the brothers would figure out, what was going on, once every spell Gabriel had put on them had been lifted, except for the spell, that was supposed to keep them in town, since that took some time to dissolve.

So Gabriel was not only still somewhat bonded to them and by proxy also to Castiel through this last spell, but the three of them stormed his hideout, as he was preparing the spell to change universes. He got a heads up, since he had feared that the trio would find him, but in his hectic, he made a grave mistake. When the two hunters and the renegade angel stormed into the room, Gabriel activated the spell, that should sent him to another universe.

“Gabriel, don’t,” was the last thing Gabriel heard, before the world turned fuzzy.  He got a last glance at the symbols he had drawn. He knew immediately why Castiel had tried to stop him from activating the spell. But it was too late. A light so bright that even the angels had to close their eyes, filled the room.

When Gabriel opened his eyes, he knew instantly that something went very wrong. He wasn’t in the house that had been his hideout for a few years now, but in a dark, clammy dungeon like cell.

“Wow, just great,” a voice growled, Gabriel whipped around. He had noticed the grace of another angel, but he had just assumed that it was Castiel. The angel sitting in the corner wasn’t Castiel though, it was Dean. Bloody and dirty but undoubtedly Dean Winchester. “I don’t even know, why I thought that you would help me,” he said. Gabriel swallowed dryly. That wasn’t Dean. That was someone, some angel using Dean as a vessel and Gabriel was certain it wasn’t Michael.

Chapter Text

When Dean became aware of his surroundings again, he had a pounding  headache and was tied to a chair. He heard voices not far away, but they were too quiet to understand. The last thing he remembered was Sam, Cas and him finding Gabe. They had tried to prevent him from running away, but judging by the blinding light, they had failed. Dean opened his eyes. He expected to wake up in the house, where they had confronted Gabriel or at least their motel room, but he was in a place that looked very similar to the bunker’s dungeon. How did he get here? The bunker was over a day’s drive away. Why was he tied to a chair in his own home? He looked around, searching for signs of Sam or Cas. But he was alone.

Since Dean could still hear his kidnappers(?) he didn’t dare calling for his brother or best friend. The kidnappers’ voices came closer. They sounded suspiciously like Gabe and Cas. What was happening here? Now the two persons came even closer. Dean’s sense of hearing hadn’t deceived him, it were Gabe and Cas, who rounded the corner, but at the same time it wasn’t them. Gabriel’s appearance and demeanor didn’t really change, but his hand was bandaged, which should not be necessary. Castiel on the other hand looked like he raided Dean’s wardrobe. He had exchanged suit and trench coat for t-shirt, flannel and jeans. Something was very wrong.

“Look, who is awake again,” Gabriel said. He leaned against the doorframe. “We began to worry.” Dean really didn't have any nerve for Gabriel's games, he was more interested in why Castiel was playing along with the archangel’s bullshit and where Sammy was.

“What the fuck is going on,” Dean growled and pulled on the binds, that tied him to the chair.

“I was about to ask you the same question,” Gabriel said. “First you faked your death and then show up here years later with Sam.”

“What are you talking about?” Dean asked. “Until a few days ago we believed you to be dead. Now stop this game and cut me loose.”

“How stupid do you think I am?” Gabriel asked. “I won't let you go and make our lives hell again. But I would be interested to know what you did with Sam. Have you now deprived him of every last bit of grace?”

“Sam and grace?” Dean asked. “Sam isn’t housing any of the assholes you call brothers.”

“We call brothers?” Gabriel asked. He snorted. “They are your brothers.”

It dawned on Dean, what might have happened. Obviously Gabriel and most likely Castiel too thought he was an angel, while Gabriel and Castiel were humans. Cas had said, that Gabriel would try to run away. Dean didn’t get a good look at the symbols, not that he would have been able to determine the meaning of the symbols, but he had recognized some from their unwilling journey to the other universe. This time they weren’t actors though, but apparently angels. Dean sighed.

How the hell was he supposed to make clear to Castiel and Gabriel, that he wasn’t who they thought he was? Due to the way Gabriel and Castiel behave, Dean was quite sure they were hunters. Dean didn't have much hope of convincing the two of them, but he started with something simple.

“This is a misunderstanding,” Dean said.

“Sure,” Gabriel mocked. He was already getting on Dean’s nerves.

“I’m Dean Winchester, not whoever you think I am,” Dean said.

“Nice try,” Gabriel replied. “Dean Winchester is the poor slob who’s body you’re possessing.” Dean sighed. He had expected that it would go this way.

“Why don’t you go and check on Sam,” Castiel now spoke up for the first time. Gabriel looked back and forth between Castiel and Dean.

“If you…” Gabriel began his threat.

“Gabe,” Castiel said annoyed. Gabriel squinted.

“Just to make this clear,” Gabriel said. “I don’t trust him.”

“Nobody asked you to,” Castiel replied. “Take you lollipop and check on Sam. If he's awake, you might as well find out if he's actually human now.”

“Why would he still be asleep, if he weren’t human,” Gabriel mumbled, but he did leave the room. Now Castiel and Dean were alone, but that wasn’t necessarily better. Castiel set down on the chair opposite of Dean and stared at him for a long moment.

“Let’s assume we believe you,” Castiel began. “If you aren’t an angel, but human, how did you get into the bunker?”

“I would like a answer to that too,” Dean replied. “But I assume it’s Gabriel’s fault.” Castiel’s eyes narrowed. Dean realized that he should not have said that.

“It is Gabriel’s fault that you broke in?” Castiel asked dryly. “Sure. And Sam just took you with him.” Dean didn't know what to make of Castiel's statement, but things weren't turning out well for him. “And also, how did you as a human convinced Sam to give up the last of his grace for you?”

“I don’t know about the Sam you know, but the one, who got here with me, isn’t an angel, the only grace in all of this is the grace of the trickster,” Dean said.

“Stop your stupid games, Deaniel,” Castiel demanded, “Just tell us what you want and what you have done to Sam.”

“I did nothing,” Dean said. “I’m not an angel.” Castiel didn’t seem to believe him. Dean had an idea, what might compelled Castiel to believe him: Cas. But he was afraid that his Cas wouldn't react, because the last time they had switched universes their doppelgangers hadn't been there. So there was the real possibility that Cas hadn’t come with them, since Castiel as a human stood before him. Nevertheless, Dean prayed to Cas, hoping that he would come to him. Castiel was still looking at him.

“I really thought you had come to your senses and chosen the right side,” he then said. "But you still only do what you want and what is easiest for you." Castiel stood up. "Let me know if you decide to be honest with us." Castiel left and closed the door. Dean groaned. He knew that no matter how loud he was, no one would hear him. He couldn't even tell Gabriel and Castiel that he had changed his mind. Dean could only hope that they wouldn't let him starve.

Chapter Text

When Sam’s head stopped pounding and he dared to open his eyes, he realized that he was laying in a bed. But not only that, the ceiling seemed familiar. He was in the bunker. How was that possible? Had Dean driven them all the way home? The next moment the door opened and Sam jumped out of bed.

“Sam, you’re awake,” Gabriel’s happy voice exclaimed. Indeed the owner of the voice stood in the door frame, lollipop in mouth and an expression on his face that Sam was very familiar with. The same emotions that were reflected on Gabriel's face now were reflected in Dean's eyes whenever Cas appeared when he called. Sam had a bad feeling about this. “Since Dean isn’t talking to us, maybe you can tell us what his plan was.”

“What plan?” Sam asked confused. “You were the one, who decided that running away was the most logical choice.”

“Not you too,” Gabriel complained. “I didn’t do anything. You two were the ones that just showed up in our entrance area, before both of you lost consciousness.” Sam couldn’t remember any of that. “How did you lose consciousness though? Shouldn’t your angel mojo prevent that?”

“What mojo?” Sam asked. “Neither Dean nor I have mojo.”

“Dean said the same,” Gabriel mumbled to himself.

“Gabe,” Castiel’s voice said and in the next moment he appeared in the doorway,

“Cas,” Sam said. “What is going on?” Castiel tilted his head to the side and looked at him questioningly.

“That is what we want to know from you,” Castiel replied eventually.

 “Something went wrong,” Sam stated, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. “I’m not the one you think I am.”

“Deaniel said the same,” Castiel said. “And look at him. That is not Sam.” Gabriel didn’t seem convinced by his brothers arguments. “Call him,” Castiel suggested.

“If he’s not Sam, who is he then?” Gabriel asked.

“Samuel Winchester,” a voice behind Castiel and Gabriel said. Sam hadn’t noticed the newcomer either, too distracted by Gabriel and Castiel’s weird behavior. Behind the brothers in the hallway stood two men. Cas in his usual suit and trench coat and Samuel also in a suit, which was like looking into the mirror in a funhouse for Sam.

“Sam?” Gabriel asked confused.

“Cas?” Sam asked tentative. He slowly realized what was probably going on.

“Sam,” Cas said and pushed past the others into the room.

“What happened?” Sam wanted to know. “And where is Dean?”

“I’m not sure,” Cas admitted. “Gabriel’s spell had been sloppy. Dean said in his prayer, that he is in the bunker but I can’t get through to him.”

“Because he is sitting in an angel save room, no angels coming out, no angels going in,” Castiel explained. Gabriel still seemed undecided about how to feel about the fact that there were now two versions of both his brother an his angel.

“He is saying the truth,” Samuel said. “Sam is a human.”

“And Cassi an angel?” Gabriel asked, obviously still in denial.

“This form of Castiel is,” Samuel said.

“Great, just great,” Gabriel said and threw up his arms in defeat. “And whose fault is it this time?” The two angels looked at each other.

“Gabriel,” Sam said. “Our Gabriel.”

“We don’t know if Deaniel had a hand in it currently,” Samuel added.

“How do we send you home?” Castiel asked.

“Before we can go home, we have to find Gabriel first,” Cas said.

“Which can take quite a while, since Gabriel perfected hiding from us and everyone,” Sam said. “We need a plan, but firstly we need Dean.”

“I go get him,” Castiel offered.

“Are you sure you want to let him out of those chains,” Gabriel called after his brother.

“Unlike you, I'm not sleeping with an angel,” Castiel yelled back. Sam looked over to Gabriel and Sam, both hadn’t really moved since the angels showed up.

“Don’t look so surprised,” Gabriel said, “It just sort of happened.”

“I’m just surprised, since our Gabriel and I have a very complicated history,” Sam said.

“So do Cassi and Deaniel, but he has some weird sort of a crush on him anyway,” Gabriel said. “All of you, come with me. We better move this meeting into the library, at least there are enough chairs for everyone.” Samuel, Sam and Cas followed Gabriel through the bunker.

Although Sam didn't want to think to much about the fact that the angel version of him was in some sort of romantic relationship with the human Gabriel, he could only shake his head at the fact that Cas and Dean were having a hard time owning up to their feelings, seemingly in all universes.

Despite Castiel not being there when Gabriel decided to move the meeting, he arrived in the library quite quickly, Dean in tow. Sam could clearly see how tense his brother was, but he relaxed minimal, when he spotted Sam and Cas. Reluctantly, Dean sat down next to Sam and eyed Gabriel, Castiel, and Samuel, who were sitting on the other side of the table.

“Can we talk about what happened rationally and most importantly like adults?” Castiel asked, whereby he looked at Dean and then Gabriel meaningfully.

“Depends on whether they can explain to us what’s going on here,” Gabriel complained, crossing his arms over his chest. Castiel sighed. Sam could see that Dean wasn't really willing to tell the other hunters what had happened.

“It seems like Gabriel made a mistake as he tried to flee our universe,” Cas said. “For one he took the three of us with him and secondly there is some sort of linkage.” Cas himself didn’t seem to really know anything about the link.

“And where is your Gabriel now?” Castiel asked.

“Presumably wherever your version of the trickster is,” Sam said.

“And we have to find them to get home,” Cas added.

“That will be kind of difficult, since Deaniel sacrificed himself a few years ago in the fight against Lucifer,” Castiel said.

“That’s what we thought too,” Dean grumbled. “As it turned out the son of a bitch just ran away and hid.”

“But that doesn’t mean that it happened the same way here,” Cas said. “Each universe is different from one another. No two are the same.”

“Just because your trickster survived doesn’t mean ours did,” Samuel said. If Sam wasn't mistaken, there was a certain sadness in Samuel’s voice.

"So we have no idea where Gabriel might be, but we need him to get back home," Dean grumbled.

"We found him before, Dean," Cas said. “Without us looking for him, why not again?”

“I guess we don’t have a choice,” Dean said. “So where do we start?”

Chapter Text

Gabriel didn’t trust these three. They had now somewhat determined, that they were from another universe, but that didn’t change the fact that Cas looked like Cassi and was even more awkward concerning social interaction, Sam was much more open than Samuel and Dean looked like the guy, who not only had killed Gabriel over and over again, but also the guy Cassi had attached his heart to, which sent Gabriel’s protective instincts concerning his brother into overdrive. Add to that the way both Castiel and Cas looked at Dean. Gabriel knew his brother good enough to recognize the yearning on their faces. 

“Since we don’t know if the trickster of this world is still alive I would suggest we look where we last saw him,” Sam proposed.

“In the house in Shady Grove?” Dean asked. “I was kind of done with Florida for now.”

“Wait a moment, didn’t you found something there?” Gabriel asked Castiel. He thought he remembered his brother saying something along those lines at breakfast.

“Vampires?” Sam asked. Castiel shrugged.

“Could be,” he said. “I’m not completely sure.”

“Maybe this universe is just a few days behind ours,” Cas suggested.

“That would shorten the search immensely,” Dean said. “And we could return home.”

“Under the condition, that your trickster doesn’t, well, trick us and makes us forget, why we even there,” Sam warned.

“He doesn’t know, who we are,” Cas said. He looked at Samuel.

“Theoretically he shouldn’t,” the other angel allowed. “But since you ended up here, it stands to reason that your trickster ended up with Deaniel, in that case, he could know, who you are.”

“I’m afraid that Gabriel might not want to return home,” Cas said.

“Then we will force him,” Dean said decisively. Cas looked at Dean like a parent who didn’t know what to do anymore to make the child understand.

“How exactly do you want to force an archangel to do anything,” Sam asked, most likely putting Cas’s thoughts into words.

“We already did it once,” Dean said. “Holy oil, a lighter and you have a trap for an angel or even an archangel.”

“Maybe we should focus on finding your Gabriel and maybe Deaniel for now,” Castiel suggested and it seemed to Gabriel like his brother tried to prevent an argument between Sam and Dean.

“In that case, I would say, we get our stuff and meet you in the garage,” Gabriel said. “You know how to get there, right?”

“We too live in the bunker, asshole,” Dean retorted. He was the first one to get up now and vanish into the bunker. Sam shot the Novaks an apologetic look, before following his brother.

“After tying him to a chair, Dean will be quite hostile and grouchy towards you,” Cas explained.

“Oh really?” Gabriel mocked, as the angel disappeared into the depths of the bunker too.

“Gabe,” Castiel chided.

“What?” The older brother replied.

“No one would be happy and sociable after getting tied up in his own home or a place that resembles his home at least,” Castiel explained.

“I don’t trust them, Cassi,” Gabriel said.

“No one asked you to,” Castiel said. “We will now drive to Shady Grove and with a bit of luck get rid of them very soon.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Samuel chimed in, the brothers had somewhat forgotten that he was still in the room.

“And why is that?” Gabriel asked as Castiel shot the angel an exasperated look.

“I dare say that Gabriel is as hard to find and at least as hard to convince as Dean. If we can really find those two, it could still take days if not longer to convince them to help you, us, the others,” Samuel explained. “Since Dean and Sam ended up here and Castiel just manifested beside me in Heaven without any warning, it is reasonable to assume that there is some sort of connection between the beings having the same role in the gospels. Wherever Dean is, Gabriel is now there too.”

“Couldn’t we just summon him?” Gabriel suggested.

“You want to summon an angel from another universe, how exactly?” Castiel asked.

“I don’t know,” Gabriel replied. “That is more your field of expertise.” Castiel sighed. “Or if we can’t summon Gabriel, why not Deaniel?”

“You want him to help you, remember?” Samuel asked. “He will not be very willing to help if you yank him here from wherever and then also most likely confine him. Summoning is our last option, got it?

“Yeah,” Gabriel grumbled. “I just want them back in their own world and gone from ours ASAP.”

“Believe me, so do we,” Castiel assured him. “At least you’re not sitting opposite someone who looks at you as if your plain existence is an insult.”

“Or as if you were an particular interesting book,” Samuel added.

“Sure that that was about you and not the situation as a whole?” Gabriel asked.

“Unimportant,” Samuel decided. “The point is, this is a weird situation that all of us want to resolve as soon as possible.”

“Then let’s get a move on, Cas. We get our stuff and get on the road,” Gabriel said, as he stood up now. “Sam, you and angel Cas can go ahead and decide, which of you has to fly. There are only five seats in the car and under normal circumstances that is enough, but we are six people.”

“I’m quite sure, both Castiel and I prefer to fly, than squeezing into the car with you,” Samuel said. Great, he suspected that this would tank completely. On the other hand a combination of four humans, who kind of knew each other and at the same time didn’t, didn’t seem like a good combi. Also to Gabriel it looked like the thing with Dean was a ticking timebomb. 

Chapter Text

When Castiel stepped into the garage, backpack slung over his shoulder, he would have liked to turn on his heels, and hid in his room until this was over. Dean, Sam, Cas and Samuel were all already there. Dean and Sam stood near the trunk and it was obvious that Dean was complaining to his brother, while Sam was listening patiently. Cas and Samuel stood a few feet away from the brothers. Castiel couldn’t yet here what Dean and Sam were talking about, but the looks on Cas and Samuel’s faces were too concerning for comfort.

The angels had already noticed Castiel and had turned to him. Before Castiel could however decide if he really should clear the door, whereby he would definitely be close enough to hear Dean’s complains, Gabriel appeared to make the whole situation worse. He pushed past Castiel with “you’re blocking the door, Cassi.” Once past the door he approached the trunk. Resigned Castiel followed his brother. When Gabriel reached the trunk, he could hear what Dean said.

When Castiel joined the group the first thing he heard was Gabriel asking annoyed: “What is that supposed to mean?”

“My Baby is a thousand times better than this pile of crap,” Dean explained.

“Dean,” Sam said with a sigh.

“No, Sammy,” the older replied, only to be drowned out by Gabriel.

“How dare you,” Gabriel, for a lack of a better word, yelled. Off to a good start. Good to know that Gabriel and Dean's dislike was, on one hand, mutual and, on the other, apparently a universal constant.

“Gabriel,” Castiel chided. “It won't help anyone if you two argue now. It'll just delay everything."

“He is right, Dean,” Sam agreed.

“Fine,” Gabriel growled. He turned to the trunk, opened it, threw his bag inside, ordered Castiel to do the same and then threw it shut untypical forcefully. Castiel looked at Sam, who gave him a small smile. He most likely had the same problems with his own big brother. Gabriel turned to the angels.

“Did you reach a decision?” asked the hunter.

“Both of us will fly,” Samuel explained and only a beat later both angels were gone.

“Cas will check if Gabriel is hiding in the same house he hid in in our universe,” Dean said. “We should have an answer very soon.” Gabriel grumbled and got into the car. The rest followed suit. It was obvious that Sam and Dean were uncomfortable sitting in the back, and Castiel suspected that he and Gabriel would feel the same way if the roles were reversed.

“Are you planning on keeping this up the whole time?” Castiel asked, as his brother started the engine.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Cassi,” Gabriel replied. Castiel rolled his eyes.

“You’re pushing it. Stop calling me Cassi,” he explained, knowing very well that his brother only called him that to get on his nerves in the hope that Castiel would then leave him alone. Since they were more or less trapped in the car for the next couple of hours, that would not work. Castiel couldn’t leave, even if he wanted to. “And you know exactly what I mean. It won’t help anyone if you treat each other like enemies, quite the opposite in fact.” Castiel turned aroudn to Dean to make it clear that he blamed their visitor as much as Gabriel.

“Some things cannot  simply be forgiven and forgotten, Cas,” Gabriel said, stressing the name as if Castiel wouldn’t notice otherwise that he didn’t call him Cassi.

“What he said,” Dean said.

“He helped us against Lucifer,” Sam tried his luck to make the two mules see reason.

“Only to fake his death,” Dean countered.

“Or not,” Castiel said to Gabriel, although he wasn't sure whether that spoke for or against Deaniel or whether it really helped.

“Who knows,” Gabriel said. “I would not put it past him.” Castiel looked over his shoulder and exchanged a slightly desperate look with Sam. Who took this as his cue to change the topic.

“Do we actually have a plan B?” he asked. “You know, in case your universe isn’t only a few days behind ours?”

“How do you find someone that doesn’t want to be found?” Castiel asked. “Samuel said that a summoning should be our very last option and I understand his reasoning. I wouldn’t be willing to help someone, who drags me half across the world and then traps me.”

“We don’t even know where to look,” Dean lamented.

“Well, we know that he is on earth,” Sam said. “And therefore in the only realm that has real limitations.”  

“Just because he was on earth in your world doesn’t mean that he is on earth here,” Castiel said.

“I know,” Sam acknowledged. “But think about it. He isn’t in Heaven. Firstly, because he explicitly ran away from there, millennia, eons ago. And secondly, Samuel and or Cas would have said something if he were up there. He can’t be in purgatory either. Angels don’t end up in purgatory. And why should he be in Hell?”

“Maybe that is his genius idea,” Dean suggested.

“That should be easy to check,” Gabriel said. “If we don’t find Gabriel, we will call Crowley.” Gabriel side-glance at Castiel.

“Why do I have to be the one, who calls him?” Castiel asked.   

“Because he actually picks up, if you call,” Gabriel explained. Castiel rolled his eyes, but couldn’t really argue with the truth.

“Regardless of who checks in with Crowley, how do we find Gabriel if he is on earth?” Dean asked. “Besides if your Crowley is anything like ours, he is probably the last one, we should tell about our current situation.”

“Since we already talking about Crowley,” Sam chimed in. “What about Rowena? She might have a tracking spell up her sleeve.” Gabriel groaned and Castiel couldn’t help but snicker.

“What is so funny,” Sam asked.

“In and of itself a good idea, but after last time…,” Gabriel mumbled. Now Castiel really couldn't control himself any longer and burst out laughing.

“Stop laughing, Cas,” Gabriel demanded.

“If you were able to keep your pants on, everything would have been so much easier,” Castiel said, still laughing. If Gabriel hadn’t sat behind the wheel, he would have probably defiantly cross his arms in front of his chest.

“At least I have sex,” Gabriel said. Castiel’s laughter died down.

“I don't need to look for my self-esteem in the sheets,” Castiel countered.

“Douche,” Gabriel said.

“Assbutt,” Castiel replied. They still owed Sam an answer. Before they could correct that, Samuel appeared between Sam and Dean in the back seat.

“I have bad news,” he said. “Castiel says that the house in which Gabriel has hidden in doesn’t even exists in this world. “

“Looks like we need plan B,” Dean said.

“Yeah, looks like it,” Gabriel grumbled. And for the first time since meeting each other they agreed on something.

Chapter Text

It was decided that they would drive to Shady Grove, even if Gabe wasn’t there. The Vampires were there and had to be hunted. Samuel flew them there unasked. Once there Sam offered to explain the information, he and Dean had acquired during their time in town, to the Novaks and Samuel. Dean used the time to make sure that the house didn’t exist. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Cas, but he refused to accept it, until he had seen it with his own eyes.

So Cas and Dean stood in a field that bordered a wooded area. Dean had paced the edge of the forest at least ten times. Cas said nothing, just watched him silently.

“I don’t like this, Cas,” Dean said.

“That the house doesn’t exist or the situation as a whole?” Cas asked.

“Both,” Dean said. “We have to find Gabriel to get back home and if he’s not here, he can be everywhere.”

“We’ve beaten odds that had been worse by far,” Castiel said. Dean just shook his head.

“If he had left us alone, we wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place,” he argued. “The angels wouldn’t have noticed, he didn’t had felt the need to flee and we wouldn’t be stuck here.”

“I think, that nobody is happy with how things are,” Castiel said. “We don’t want to be here, the others don't want us to be here. And given the tension between you and this Gabriel, ours is probably already regretting this adventure as well."

“You think?” Dean asked skeptically.

“If you and Gabriel as humans can barely stand each other, why should your angel counterparts fair any better?” Castiel asked. “Especially, since this Gabriel appears to be way more down-to-earth, than his angelic version, even though that could simply be due to him being human and therefore way more fragile than an archangel.”

“He is a pain in the ass, whether he is human or an angel,” Dean said.

“You would probably hate him even more, if our Gabriel had the same arrangement with Sam as it is the case here,” Castiel said. Only then he seem to realize that Dean had no idea, what the angel was talking about.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Dean asked.

“Gabriel insinuated a relationship with sexual components,” Castiel explained.

“Sexual comp... They’re sleeping together,” Dean realized. “Your right. The hate is already growing.”

“But it’s not Sam,” Castiel said. “Well, not our Sam.”

“Knowing and grasping are two different things, Cas,” Dean said.

“I know,” Cas mumbled. Dean looked around again. “Let’s go back to the motel, the faster we get this done, the earlier Gabriel and his Castiel will call Crowley and Rowena.”

Back at the motel it became clear that only two of the four people left behind were still there.

“Cas and Sam are checking a few things around town,” Gabriel said instead of greeting them like a normal person. Dean’s first thought was that Gabriel had sent Castiel and Samuel to run around town, then he spotted the figure sitting at the table next to Gabriel, as well as the missing drink. On the table were two bottles of beer, both of them empty, but neither of them stood in front of the person. Gabriel was holding his in his hand. The figure at the table was Samuel. Dean and Gabriel were alone with their angels, who had thought that was a good idea?

“How long?” Dean asked. He sat down on the bed, to keep as much distance as possible between him and Gabriel. This only partially reduced the desire to punch the guy.

“They left like half an hour ago,” Gabriel said.

“And did you already call Rowena?” Dean asked. He saw Samuels’s jaw tense and Gabriel’s face instantly darkened significantly. Dean had hit a sore spot, therefor what Castiel had said in the car was right. Gabriel had sex with Rowena. Despite Cas’s cryptic description sounding more like a friends with benefits relationship, Samuel was obviously anything but okay with Gabriel’s  action. Dean doubted that the angel had told Gabriel what he thought, but Gabriel seem to feel at least some guilt. And he should be, Dean thought. If Samuel meant even remotely as much to Gabriel as Cas meant to Dean, then friendship plus would not be enough and Dean wouldn’t look for satisfaction elsewhere, if he were in Gabriel’s position.

“As long as we don’t know if Gabriel is on Earth, I will not call her,” Gabriel said. “Also she will probably demand access to the library again and I don’t want her in the bunker, when no one is there.”

“So there is still hope for you,” Dean said,

“What is that supposed to mean?” Gabriel asked.

“You had sex with Rowena,” Dean said. “You tell me what’s wrong in your head.”

"Dean, you don't need to provoke a fight," said Cas. Dean looked at Cas, who was sitting next to Dean on the bed, than to Gabriel.

“I think, he knows what I mean,” the Winchester said then.

“Is hard to misinterpret what you are saying,” Cas said with a sigh.

“That is not what he means,” Gabriel forced out between gritted teeth. The other hunter understood perfectly what Dean was accusing him of doing and it was not (just) Rowena.

The two angels exchanged a look, which expressed a lack of understanding. Dean was actually quite glad that Cas didn't understand what Dean was accusing Gabriel of. If Cas understood that Dean was trying to make Gabriel understand how lucky he was to have Samuel in this way, Cas would probably understand that Dean wanted the same thing, and then their friendship would be over.

“Maybe you should follow your own advice,” Gabriel said then.

“Stay out of my business," Dean demanded.

"Then you do it too," Gabriel replied. The two hunters glared at each other venomously. Samuel cleared his throat.

"Maybe we should get back to the topic at hand," he said. "When Cas and Sam get back, we should know if there are really vampires, and if so, where to find them."

"So we can at least do our job," Gabriel said, emphasizing the "we."

"Are you serious?" Dean asked. "Are you suggesting we didn't finish the job because Gabriel pulled us into another universe?" Dean had jumped up, but Cas pulled him back onto the bed.

"I wasn't finished," Samuel said. "If Cas calls Crowley when he gets back here, maybe we'll have an answer once we've taken care of the vampires."

"Because Crowley gives such good answers," Dean muttered. Cas looked at Gabriel and Samuel in alarm, but this time they hadn't heard Dean. Dean would much rather be somewhere else right now, preferably in his own universe, and it was only a matter of time until someone was going to feel his wrath. If Gabriel was smart, he'd give Dean a machete and let him vent on the vampires; otherwise, he was probably the most likely victim.

Chapter Text

“Nice lady,” Castiel said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. The woman they had just interviewed had slammed the door shut, after throwing them out.

“These are the worst, at least in my opinion,” Sam said, while they walked down the street. “The ones, who don’t care what happened to their partners, family members. If partners, families drift apart, the relatives are most of the time quite unhelpful.”

“It’s always somewhat weird, if we as hunters care more about what happened to these people, then the relatives do,” Castiel agreed. “At least now, we know where to find the vampires, partly due to your good prep work.”

“Since we got that figured out, we can focus on getting us home,” Sam said. Castiel groaned.

“Everything alright?” Sam asked. “I thought you wanted us gone.”

“We want to get you home as fast as possible,” Castiel said. “I just could forgo Crowley’s involvement.”

“That bad?” Sam asked. In their world Crowley wasn’t his favorite ally, but if he wasn’t currently trying to used them in his plans, it was fine.

“You have no idea,” Castiel mumbled.

“Then explain it to me,” Sam asked.

“He and Gabriel both think I don’t notice, but his “flirting” is getting on my nerves,” Castiel explained. “He just doesn’t stop.” Castiel grimaced and rubbed a spot on his right forearm.

 “Only to make sure, I got this right,” Sam said, “Crowley is flirting with you and you don’t want that.”

“Yes,” Castiel said. “He just doesn’t stop.”

“But you told him that you don’t want it, right?” Sam asked.

“Of course,” Castiel said. “He either doesn’t care, doesn’t want to understand or hopes to change my mind.” Sam considered whether to voice his suspicion. The spot Castiel had rubbed was where Dean's Mark of Cain had been. If Castiel had carried the Mark in this world, then that would indicate some kind of relationship between him and Crowley. That might be one reason why Crowley didn’t let up.

“I’m afraid, we need his help though,” Sam said. “And maybe he behaves if two angels are there.”

“He doesn’t know that,” Castiel said. “And at worst you get the shoot meant for our Sam.”

“It’s just Crowley, I can take that,” Sam said. The two of them returned to the motel.

As he entered the room, Sam decided instantly that they would not split into this constellations again. Dean and Gabriel shot each other looks that were oozing venom. Both angels seem to be aware of the tension, as far as Sam could tell, but didn’t do anything but enabling their respective hunter to try to kill the other with looks alone.

“What happened here?” Castiel asked. No one said anything. Sam shot Cas a questioning look. The angel showed mercy.

“Dean decided it was necessary to bring up Rowena,” Cas said.

“Sorry, that I want to go home,” Dean said. Sam groaned. How deep could the dislike—he refused to call it hatred—between Dean and Gabriel really go? No matter what Dean had said or asked, he had done it to get a reaction. They had cleared up the contact issue before they split up. Even then, it had been clear that Rowena was a complicated subject, one that Gabriel preferred to avoid and one that seemed to bother Samuel more each time. Maybe the two of them should clarify their relationship status. But Dean was probably the last person who should initiate something like that, considering he wasn't even close to admitting his feelings for Cas.

“Really Dean?” Sam asked. “Can’t we leave you alone for five minutes?” His eyes fitted over to Gabriel.

“What was that look?” Gabriel asked. “I didn’t do anything.”

“I’m quite sure that you know, why Sam looked at you like that,” Castiel said. “This sort of thing always involves two people... maybe even four in your case.”

“Anyway, we have found the vampires’ lair,” Sam said in an attempt to avoid any further escalation. It wasn’t unreasonable to assume that the angel’s would take offence at Castiel’s formulation.

“Then we know, what we will do tonight,” Gabriel said.

“In that case, I should call Crowley,” Castiel said.

While Castiel dialed the number, Gabriel mumbled: “Is it too late to summon him instead?”

“Yes,” declared Castiel, who was already holding his phone to his ear. “Even though that might have been the better option... Hey, Crowley.” For about a minute Castiel didn’t say a thing, just listened to Crowley. “We need your help. Will you help us?”

“For you, Darling, always,” said Crowley, who was suddenly standing in the room. But Crowley was standing at a position, that meant that Castiel, his brother and Samuel were behind him. So the demon was looking at Dean, Sam and Cas. “Did you get an... upgrade?” He didn’t sound pleased. Cas rolled his eyes.

“He is annoying in every universe,” Dean mumbled. Castiel cleared his throat. Crowley spun around. As he was now confronted with the trio he knew, some realizations seem to hit him.

“What did you do this time?” he asked.

“The reason they are here, is the reason we need your help,” Castiel explained.

“What did you do?” Crowley asked again.

“We’re from another universe and our Gabriel is the reason we’re here,” Cas disclosed. “We need to find him.”

“And how am I supposed to help you with that?” Crowley asked.

“We have to know, if Gabriel is on Earth or in Hell,” Castiel explained.

“Oh, Darling,” Crowley almost cooed. “What do I get out of it?” Castiel crossed his arms across his chest and gritted his teeth. He obviously knew what Crowley was implying and Sam felt bad for him.

“If you don’t help us get home, than you have us hunting your ass, dead,” Dean said. “I think you don’t want that.” Reluctantly Crowley turned to the Winchesters and Cas. He studied the three of them as if to assess their level of threat.

“I can imagine that I wouldn’t want that,” Crowley said, before turning back to Castiel. “So you want me to asked and look around in Hell to find out if Gabriel is there.”

“Gabriel is an archangel, most likely quite similar to the angel called Deaniel,” Castiel warned.

“Deaniel?” Crowley asked. He said the name like it was the worst insult he could come up with.

“We have to know, where to look for him,” said Gabriel, who thought it was all taking too long.

“Who has asked you, jokester?” Crowley asked.

“Crowley,” Samuel said in a threatening tone.

“No one was talking to you either, wings,” Crowley shot back.

“Will you help us or not?” Castiel asked jaded.

“Hm,” Crowley said. Dean groaned just loud enough for Sam to hear.

“What do you want?,” Castiel asked. “Except having to deal with just two hunters instead of four?”

"With you, it's never a hassle, Darling," said Crowley. Sam could see Gabriel grinning. Did the Novak really thought Castiel was blind towards Crowley’s implications and found this, at least to Castiel and onlookers uncomfortable situation, funny?

“What do you want?” Castiel asked again.

“I have an idea or two,” Crowley said. The implications hung heavily in the air.

“Forget it,” Castiel growled, he stepped closer to Crowley. “Help us or piss off.”

“For you, Darling, always,” Crowley said, before vanishing. With a heavy sigh Castiel plopped down on the bed, which was the closest spot to sit down for him. The moment Castiel sat down, Dean jumped up.

“What kind of brother are you?” Dean snapped at Gabriel. “Cas obviously feels uncomfortable with what Crowley does, says, implies. And you laugh.” All color drained from Gabriel’s face.

Chapter Text

Gabriel felt horrible. He never really thought that Castiel understood, what Crowley was implying, but his brother was no longer the 18-year-old that wouldn’t understand that a woman was flirting with him, if she would hold up a sign, until Gabriel pointed it out to him. He had found it funny that Crowley had flirted with Castiel, without the chance of any reaction in the desired way. Sometimes it was hard to accept, how much time had passed. Castiel hadn’t been blind and overly awkward in social situations in a long time. He wouldn’t be such a good hunter, if he were still struggling with social interaction with anyone, who wasn’t family. But somehow the fact, that Castiel was able to understand flirting and even flirt successfully himself, never fully registered to Gabriel, even though his brother had proven it multiple times. Dean was right, he was a sorry excuse for an older brother.

“Cas,” he began.

“It’s fine,” the younger hunter said. “It’s not like Crowley’s behavior is new or something.”

“Still,” Gabriel said. He looked at the visiting trio and nodded towards the door. To his surprise Dean, Sam and Cas followed his request without a word, neither confirmation nor protest. “Sam would you...?” Gabriel didn’t even need to finish the question, before Samuel followed the others. When they were alone Gabriel sat next to Castiel on the latter’s bed.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Really?” Castiel asked, he was looking at his arms laying on his thighs. “To me it seemed like you didn’t care at all.” Gabriel sighed. He deserved that.

“Do you want to hear the embarrassing truth?” Gabriel asked. Castiel nodded. “I know that you aren’t your awkward  teenage self anymore, but since Crowley mostly if not completely flirted through implying things instead of using like words, something in me decided that you wouldn’t notice that.”

“Who were you laughing at?” Castiel wanted to know.

“First of all, I didn’t laugh,” Gabriel clarified. “And him, because he was presumably flirting with someone, who didn’t know what was going on.”

“I’m thirty-four,” Castiel reminded Gabriel.

“I know,” assured Gabriel. “At least, I should.”

“Should?” Castiel murmured doubtfully. “Even if it still were like it was, before I went to college, don’t you think I know Crowley better than you would like?” He pressed his thumb onto the spot where the Mark had once been; a nervous habit he had picked up after the Mark was gone and never successfully ditched since.

Gabriel grimaced. He tried to ignore the time Castiel had spent as a demon for the most part; for multiple reasons. For one, after realizing that Gabriel, and therefore Samuel, wouldn't leave him alone, Castiel had repeatedly appeared in the bunker between his stints with Crowley and repaid Gabriel for every prank and gag he'd "played" on his little brother since he was old enough to understand them. The difference was that some of Castiel's setups could have turned out much worse than anything Gabriel had ever done. More than once, Gabriel and Samuel had to dismantle one of Castiel's constructs, and it was only thanks to the angel that Gabriel still had all his limbs. Apparently, what had repeatedly earned Gabriel nicknames like Trickster or Prankster ran in the family, and Castiel simply had significantly better self-control, for which Gabriel was very grateful, considering what Castiel had been able to accomplish without human inhibitions.

Also the Mark had always been a reminder that Gabriel had failed at one of the most important, if not the most important duty. Not only had he not noticed what Crowley and Castiel had been doing until Castiel was already bearing the Mark, he also failed to prevent Castiel’s death, which made him lose his humanity and Gabriel had lost his brother to Crowley for the time being.

“I rather not think about it,” Gabriel said. Castiel shot him an annoyed look. “But you’re probably right. So Crowley is not trying to squeeze blood out of a stone?”

“Of course he is,” Castiel assured the older. “He just don’t want to understand it. And I’m running out of options, to make it clear for him. And before you get any funny ideas, I don’t need my big brother to get a flirty demon off my back. It would be helpful though, if it didn’t feel like said brother would laugh at me for it.”

“Never again,” Gabriel promised. “And I feel obligated to punch him.” Castiel gave a small smile.

“Knock yourself out,” the younger said. “But don’t come crying to me, if he takes revenge.”

“Hm,” Gabriel said with a smirk. “Maybe I can come up with something better.” Castiel shook his head.

“We should probably get going toward the vampires, though, or Crowley will show up here again, before we get back, and I'd rather not find out what he will do, if he’s here alone," Castiel said. Gabriel's gaze slid to the bag at Castiel's feet.

“You think he would go that far?” Gabriel asked.

“I don’t know,” Castiel admitted. “But I’m not keen on finding out.” The brothers got up from the bed.

“We’re good?” Gabriel asked, before opening the door. Castiel nodded. They joined the others in the parking lot. “Everybody ready?” Gabriel looked at the group, standing around the car, expectantly.

“Aren’t six people overkill?” Dean asked.

“Afraid, you won’t get you fair share?” Gabriel taunted. Dean looked like he was ready to jump him. Gabriel felt Castiel’s hand on his arm. He turned to his brother. Castiel shot him a prompting look.

If Castiel was worried that Crowley would search their things, or at least Castiel's, if he were alone in the room, then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to leave someone behind. But that person wouldn't be Gabriel. It was his car and his weapons. Maybe he wanted to prove something too; whether to himself, Castiel, or Dean was another matter. Dean probably felt the same way, only without the car and weapons. Castiel probably had something to prove to himself after the incident. Gabriel could imagine that Sam wouldn't want to sit out either, after putting so much work into research and such. That only left the angels. Leaving Samuel behind seemed like the smartest decision. He would keep his hands off the brothers' things and he could keep Crowley in check. However, Gabriel wasn't comfortable with the idea of ​​Dean taking his angel with him and Gabriel’s own staying here. But Dean probably felt the same way.

“Either one of us has to stay here, or we have to hurry to get back before Crowley returns,” Gabriel explained. “We don’t want him to get ideas.”

“Than it might not be a bad idea to go with six people,” Sam said. “The more we are, the faster we will be finished.” So the angels flew ahead and the humans squeezed into the car.

Chapter Text

After each meeting with Crowley Castiel felt uncomfortable in his own skin. He hated it, that the demon had still this effect on him. He had never been remotely as interested in one-night stands as Gabriel was. He could count the people he had slept with since Amilia’s death, on one hand, maybe two. But Crowley always brought back the memories of Castiel’s time as a demon back to the forefront of the hunter’s mind. When he hadn’t giving in to his desires for revenge against Gabriel, or simply trying to keep him and Samuel busy because they were getting too close to him, he'd done things that made his stomach turn today. In the first few months, he'd actually been sick. When Crowley shows up, bringing this memories with him, and then flirts with Castiel as if he doesn't know what Castiel has done (perhaps because of it), it feels like a complete loss of control to Castiel. As good as it was to know Gabriel was standing behind him, nothing could give Castiel back a sense of control like a proper hunt.

But this time the memories wouldn’t leave Castiel alone. He peered at Sam, who was busy with his phone. Maybe he checked his information one last time. Castiel asked himself, what Sam had done while under the Mark’s influence. Did it haunt him like it haunted Castiel? Was it even Sam, who had borne this burden? Castiel felt Gabriel’s eyes on him. When he turned to his brother, the older one’s eyes were jumping back and fourth between Castiel and the road. That was what Sam had been doing, giving directions. Castiel had been so lost in this thoughts that he hadn’t even notice the others talking. When Gabriel realized that his brother had noticed his glances, his eyes shifted from Castiel’s face to his arm. Only now Castiel noticed that he was gripping his own arm in a vice-like grip, digging his thumb into that spot where the Mark had been. Castiel let go of his arm. Gabriel shot him a questioning look, but Castiel shook his head. He didn’t want to talk about it, especially with Dean and Sam in the backseat.

Gabriel put the car into park at their destination. Samuel and Cas were already waiting for them in the blackish forest. Reluctantly Gabriel distributed the machetes. If someone had asked Castiel before how many machetes they had, Castiel wouldn’t have known that the answer was five. Castiel was relieved that his hands weren’t shaking, when he was handed the weapon.

"Any concrete indications of how many vampires there are?" Gabriel asked. It wasn't clear whether this question was directed at Sam or Samuel. Sam shook his head, still focused on his phone.

„Many,“ Samuel said. „And at least two humans, but they are running out of time.”

“So are we,” Castiel said. “Let’s go.”

“Someone is in a hurry,” Dean said. Castiel spun around to face Dean. He pointed his machete at Dean without thinking about it.

“I don’t know, what your relationship with Crowley looks like, but I would prefer, if I could be sure, that he didn’t touch my things,” Castiel explained. “And I’m not putting anything past him anymore.” He eyed the angels for a moment, but Cas made no move to intervene, despite Castiel pointing a weapon at Dean. “And if I were you, I would think before I open my mouth, because I don't always play nice.” Castiel lowered his voice, so that, hopefully, Cas wouldn’t hear him. “And I don’t want to destroy your view of Castiel. I know, I’m not him. But does your mind know?” Dean stood there, frozen, like a deer in headlights. Sam was hiding his smirk behind his hand. When Castiel turned back to Gabriel the older had the proud grin on his face that he always wore when Castiel let it be known that he could be just as tough as his brother, but usually he didn't show it on the outside because his nice-guy attitude got him further.

The problem was that Castiel's outburst in this case was due to his own frayed nerves. Dean couldn't help it that Castiel was at his wits' end. He probably couldn't even understand why Castiel was at his wits' end. Based on Sam's behavior when he and Castiel had discussed Crowley on the way back to the motel, none of the Winchesters seemed to have the same problem he did. Castiel lowered his machete. He looked back at the angels. Cas still showed no sign of the protective reaction Castiel would have expected from Samuel under similar circumstances. Perhaps Cas also trusted that no version of him, human or angel, would actively want to harm Dean. Cas may have taken the situation in stride, and Sam and Gabriel found it rather amusing, but Samuel's face wore an uncomfortably knowing expression.

“Let’s go,” Castiel growled, before the angel destroyed his last nerve and he did something completely stupid, something worse or significantly more dangerous than an empty threat against Dean. Castiel turned on his heel and headed toward the house. Gabriel fell into step beside him.

“Everything alright?” Gabriel asked. Castiel looked at his hand clutching the machete; Knuckles white and a slight tremor.

“Just keep Sam away from me,” Castiel mumbled, knowing that Samuel would either stick with Gabriel or go off on his own, and in either case, would come to Castiel’s aid if he was injured or in dire need of assistance. Gabriel, who knew that as well as Castiel did, slowed his steps and fell behind him. Castiel could hear him talking to Samuel, but so low that Castiel couldn’t make the words out.

They reached the front door and Castiel opened it tentatively. It creaked loudly. It was immediately clear that the vampires would attack them within the next seconds. The group spread out in the foyer and then Hell broke loose. Vampires poured in from both upstairs and from the front, and things quickly became hectic and chaotic. It rapidly got so bad that the hunters had to be careful when dodging claw-like fingernails and teeth, or striking off heads (if they got the chance), to not hit one of the other hunters. As it was, it was more a game of chance than anything else. Miraculously, Castiel couldn't rule out the angels having had a hand in it, they were all covered in blood, but all in all, unharmed.

When they found the humans, the woman was already dead, the man was transported to the hospital via angel express. Cheaper and faster than any ambulance.

“If we get going, we might be back at the motel with time to spare, so we can get the blood off, before Crowley shows up,” Gabriel said.

Chapter Text

They didn’t get back to the motel, before Crowley came back. The demon was already there, when they arrived. He was standing in front of the motel room, but it was unclear if he was doing it, because he wanted it or because the angels were staring him down. Against all logic Gabriel obviously decided to have the conversation with Crowley in the parking lot. If it hadn’t led to further delay Dean had voiced his concern. With their bloodstained clothes they didn’t paint a very trustworthy image, and Dean could imagine that to outsiders it would look as if they were threatening Crowley.

“So, did you find anything?” Gabriel asked. Crowley looked at Gabriel, he squinted his eyes and looked at Castiel, who was standing halfway behind his brother. When Crowley didn’t gave Gabriel an answer, the hunter stepped forward, so that he was completely blocking Crowley’s view of Castiel. “I’m waiting.”

“No signs of any archangel in Hell,” Crowley said. “Like it was to be expected. Neither ours nor the one of your new friends.”

“It that case, you can leave already,” Gabriel said.

“What’s your problem?” Crowley asked.

“You and now piss off,” Gabriel explained. Crowley rolled his eyes, but absconded.

“Gabriel,” Castiel said and every human knew what he wanted to convey with that one word. The Novaks led the group into the motel room. Gabriel headed directly for the bathroom. Castiel looked at the closed door for a moment, before he turned to the Winchesters. He gave them a once over and then said:  “We might got a clothes problem.” Dean looked at his brother. Dean himself should be able to borrow something from Castiel, considering that Cas, for reasons Dean couldn't understand, kept digging through and steeling from his closet (but then refused when Dean offered to get him clothes so he didn't have to wear the same thing all the time).

“It’s always the same,” Sam muttered.

“Nothing we own will fit Sam,” Castiel said. “And while I might be able to lent Dean some things...” His eyes fitted over to Cas. Did the angel just growl? “...that might not be the best option.”

“We could clean your clothes,” Samuel said, “But I’m not sure it that is enough for you.” Sam, always the reasonable one, looked down at himself.

“I don’t think we have much of a choice,” he said then. “I can’t keep running around with my stuff looking like that. We don’t need to be wanted in a universe that is not our own.”

“Then do it while were showering,” Dean said. “Then there is at least the illusion of fresh clothes.” Samuel nodded, like he really understood what Dean meant. The five people left in the room, spread out, finding spots to sit down that would not lead to the room looking like a murder happened there. Ten minutes later Gabriel was still in the bathroom.

“What is he doing in there?” Dean asked annoyed.

“Hiding,” Samuel speculated. He pointed with his foot at the backpack next to Gabriel’s bed. “He neither took any clothes with him, nor had he asked us to hand him any.”

“The shower is not even running,” explained Sam, who was sitting the closest to the bathroom door. Annoyed Dean got to his feet, he walked over to the door and pounded against it.

“Hey asshole, others want to shower too,” he yelled. No answer.

“He isn’t hiding, he is putting off the call,” Castiel said.

“Coward,” Dean muttered.

“Something you said, has, I don’t know, broke is such a strong word,” Castiel said. “But it did something.”

“Do you have a problem with me?” Dean asked.

“You and Gabriel have been fighting since you got here,” Castiel explained.

“Do you want me to apologize?” Dean asked.

“No,” Castiel said. “Believe me, nobody understands as good as I, that Gabriel can be hard to deal with. But you would do good to remember that he isn’t the one, who is at fault for this or all the shit that happened to you.” Castiel stared at Dean for a long moment, before he continued: “And he sees the same as you, he sees a torturer when he looks at you.” Dean swallowed. Castiel mumbled something, that Dean didn’t get. Then he turned to Samuel. “You’re aware, why Gabriel has to call Rowena?”

“Of course,” said Samuel, who seemed as confused as the rest about what Castiel was getting at.

“I’m sorry,” Castiel said.

“It’s not your fault,”  Samuel said. It sounded more like a question than a statement though. “You’re not at fault for this situation.” He looked back and forth between Castiel and the bathroom door. “I was naive and Gabriel is responsible for his own behavior.” Castiel nodded in agreement.

“And that is why he now has to own up to his mistakes and act like the adult he supposedly is,” Castiel explained. He pushed Dean aside, to pound at the door himself. “Gabe, stop this childish act. You can later wallow in your self-pity. Call Rowena! And get out of the bathroom. We know that you aren’t showering, your clothes are still out here.” No answer. Castiel tried the handle. “If you don’t open the door, I will shoot the lock and I don’t think you want to explain that.”

“That threat is supposed to work?” Sam asked. The door got unlocked.

“Once and never again,” growled Gabriel, who was now indeed leaving the bathroom. “He did it once already and I’m sure he will do it again.”

"If you hadn't messed with my bathroom supplies so much, maybe it would never have gotten this far," Castiel said. "Now call Rowena."

“You owe me,” Gabriel grumbled.

“I don’t,” Castiel said. “Firstly, you aren’t doing it for me, secondly, you want our guests gone, as much as they  want to go home and thirdly you stupid decision isn’t my fault. On the other hand I’m surprised how long it took for guilt and shame to set in. Oh, and one more thing, why I'll never owe you anything when it comes to Rowena. Without me, the bunker's library would be empty."

"What crawled up your ass and died?" Gabriel asked.

“You,” Castiel explained. “And now call her.” He turned to the Winchesters. “One of you can have the first shower.” Dean let Sam have the first shower.

Under the watchful eyes of Castiel, Dean, Cas and Samuel Gabriel pulled out his phone and dialed a number. Gabriel held the phone to his ear and waited for his conversation partner to pick up.

“Hallo Rowena,” Gabriel said eventually. “Yes... yes... I know... yes... yes... Rowena, I... yes... I... no... under no circumstances... listen... yes... yes... no... Will you let me talk for a moment? Thank you. We want to asked you for help... what do you want... how long will that take... okay,  we will meet you there.” Gabriel hung up and plopped down into the chair, that Castiel had vacated when he stood up to pound against the door. “We have to get back to the bunker. Rowena will be there first thing tomorrow morning.” He looked at Samuel. “Do you have enough juice left to get us back home?”

“I think so,” Samuel said. The angel didn’t sound enthusiastic about it.

“I’m sure, we get all of you back to the bunker safely,” Cas said. Dean didn’t pointed out to the angel, that that was most likely not what Samuel was worried about. Sam exited the bathroom.

“Got anywhere with Rowena?” he asked.

“We will return to the bunker,” Gabriel said.

Chapter Text

They got back to the bunker, where the rest got a decent shower. Sam was a bit surprised that neither of the Novkas protested, before Samuel flew them back to the bunker. Dean would have made a big deal about the car. But no, they returned to the bunker without any bigger discussion. The angels took care of the car, while the humans hit the hay.

The next morning Sam made his way into the kitchen. He needed a moment to comprehend what he was seeing. Meeting Cas in the kitchen wasn’t something unusual, him getting coffee for himself wasn’t uncommon either, even though Sam never quite understood why the juiced up angel drunk coffee.

But now it was Castiel, who was standing like a zombie next to the coffeemaker. Sam needed a moment to understand that it wasn’t Cas, in Dean’s clothes, but Castiel, who’s clothing style was a bit too close to Dean’s.

“Morning,” Sam mumbled, when the coffeemaker sprang to life. Castiel mumbled something that was probably supposed to be a morning greeting.

“Up early, despite not being an early bird?” Sam asked.

“Knowing Rowena, she will be here earlier than any of us, especially Gabriel, would like,” Castiel said. He turned to Sam. “And someone has to make sure, that she didn’t take possession of our books. What I said yesterday was not a joke, each time she is here, she tries to get away with the books from the library and without me, every books of interest for her would be gone.”

“I know that feeling,” Sam said. “Does your coffee take as long as ours?”

“I’m afraid so,” Castiel said. He leaned against the counter and checked his watch. “I'm curious to see if Gabriel shows up today."

“That bad?” Sam asked. “Yesterday in the car it seemed like a joking matter.” Castiel sighed. Sam had to wait for his answer until Castiel had pulled two coffee mugs from the cupboard.

"I only partially know what happened," he said then. "I didn't know that Sam more or less surprised Gabriel and Rowena. After I found out, I didn't say a word about it when he was around." Castiel looked at the cup in his hand, which was still empty. "I knew it hurt Sam, but as a little brother, you must understand that an opportunity like that can’t be missed." Sam nodded, although Castiel couldn't see it because he was still staring at the cup. "And maybe I was hoping Gabriel would wake up." The coffee was finally ready. Sam waited to reply until he got his cup of coffee.

"If Gabriel and Samuel are anything like Dean and Cas, there's not much hope," Sam said. He took a sip of coffee. "However, Gabriel and Samuel are a step ahead."

“I’m not sure if friendship plus is a step forward, if a functioning relationship is the end goal,” Castiel said. “Especially if Gabe looks for female validation elsewhere.”

“Friendship plus to monogamous relationship can be... let’s say tough,” Sam said. “At least in the real world, but that is not what I meant. Gabriel at least admits that he is attracted to dudes or at least to Samuel. Dean... well.”

“I get it,” Castiel said. “Gabriel spent years convincing me and everyone else that he is straight. Until we met an old “acquaintance”. It got better afterwords, slowly but steady.”

“A dream,” Sam mumbled.

“No, not really,” Castiel said. “I can hear them, but their relationship can be complicated and in turn annoying for me. I'm not sure I wouldn't prefer the original state.”

“I think you forgot how bad it was,” Sam said. Castiel chuckled.

“Maybe,” he said then. “But maybe something will happen now.”

“Why?” Sam asked.

“Whatever Dean said to Gabriel, it kicked something off,” Castiel said. “It just remains to be seen in which direction this will go.”

“Hard to believe that Dean could kickstart anything of that kind,” Sam said. “He is not even able to admit his feelings for Cas to himself.”

“Are you sure?” Castiel asked.

“I know my brother,” Sam replied.

“That is, what I thought,” Castiel said. “But when it comes to Sam, normal is not his usual normal.”

“Okay, I can’t be sure, if Dean is aware of his feelings towards Cas,” Sam admitted. “But I know, that he would never admit it, when confronted. And Cas is not as subtle as he thinks.”

“I know,” Castiel said. “Why do you think I retracted my offer to lean Dean my clothes? Castiel looked like he wanted to murder me.”

“I was surprised, that he didn’t engage, when you threatened Dean with the machete,” Sam said. “He sometimes still has a little trouble finding the right balance between his instinct to protect Dean and the knowledge that Dean hates it when someone puts themselves in the line of fire for him."

“I was also surprised that he didn’t do anything,” Castiel said. “I’m not sure if Sam would have reacted the same.” Castiel placed his cup on the counter. “Maybe he is just convinced that no version of him would hurt Dean.” Sam gave a humorless laugh.

“The two hurt each other way to many times,” Sam said. He was staring into his by now empty cup. “And they were always trying to do the right thing.” Sam himself had stopped counting, how often Dean put Sam and Castiel first, just so they could be a bit happier, learning to late what Dean had done time and time again. “Everything Cas has ever done, was about Dean in some way.”

“I know, what you mean,” Castiel said. “Sometimes it feels like they...” Castiel cut himself off. Samuel stuck his head through the door. “Is the rest still sleeping?”

“As if Dean would be up before noon let alone ten without being woken,” Sam said. “Cas shouldn’t be asleep though. At home he usually spends his nights in his room, normally he wanders into the kitchen at some point.”

“You know, how Gabe can be,” Castiel said. “Since Rowena said she would come today, it could simply be that he's holed up in his room."

“He never did it because of Rowena before,” Sam said.

“That was before...,” Castiel said.

“You can’t actually believe that it was the first time,” Sam hissed. Castiel flinched at the tone of the angel’s voice.

“I don’t want to mingle with your relationship,” Castiel said. “But that you caught them, it could...”

“Forget it,” Sam growled. “The last weeks told another story.”

“But now someone his holding up a mirror to him,” Castiel said. Samuel looked at Sam.

“Dean,” the Winchester guessed.

“I don’t know, what Dean said, but it was something that lead to shame and guilt setting in,” Castiel said. “You were there.” Samuel looked back an forth between Sam and Castiel.

“Almost ten years and I still not understand you sometimes,” Samuel muttered. Then he was gone.

“That was that,” Castiel said. “I’m still hoping that this will change something. Watching my brother self-sabotage himself is not fun. Maybe Rowena is the last straw.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Sam asked. Castiel looked at the other hunter.

“I don’t want her help, Gabe would kill me,” Castiel said. “But if she evokes enough jealousy in Sam, than Gabriel might see the truth.”

“Sees the truth about what?” a voice from the door asked. Sam and Castiel turned to the newcomer. It was just Dean. Castiel shot Sam a look. He moved his mug into the sink, before pushing past Dean to leave the kitchen.

“What was that about,” Dean asked, as he now stepped into the kitchen.

“A younger brother thing,” Sam said evasive.

“Whatever you say, Sammy,” Dean said. “Coffee?” Sam was relieved that Dean didn’t question him further and pointed at the coffeemaker despite it sitting on the same part of the counter it set in their bunker.

Chapter Text

Gabriel knew he couldn’t hid in his room forever, sooner or later Castiel or Samuel would come to get him, at least when Rowena arrived. Gabriel was searching for his emergency stack of candy, when his assumption turned out to be right. Someone knocked on the door. His hands were out of the drawer before he heard Castiel’s voice.

“Gabriel? Are you awake?” Castiel asked, before trying the handle. Since Gabriel preferred his brother to come into the room with knocking beforehand rather than Samuel appearing without warning, the door was unlocked. Castiel entered the room and closed the door behind him. He leaned against it and looked at Gabriel, who was standing as innocently as possible next to the drawer. "How long do you plan to hide in here?"

The question left Gabriel speechless. He expected anger, resignation, accusations, anything that would indicate how frustrated Castiel was by Gabriel’s childish act. Instead, this question was asked in the most neutral and gentle tone Castiel could manage without Gabriel turning the tables and teasing him. Gabriel flopped down on the bed, not knowing how to answer, but knowing he had to say something.

“Until Rowena is gone,” he suggested.

“Yeah, that is not going to happen,” Castiel said. “You will pull yourself together and face reality.” 

“Is that so?” Gabriel asked.

“Yes,” Castiel said. “You can’t hide.”

“You can see that I can,” said Gabriel.

“Not from what you really fear,” Castiel said. He pushed himself off of the door. “You might be able to hide from Rowena, be able to evade her, but you can’t do either with Sam.” Castiel began to systematically walk through the room, and for a brief moment Gabriel saw not his little brother, but his father, who was checking the room for the smallest mistake.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Gabriel forced out, in an attempt to keep Castiel talking, his brother's voice a grounding reminder that it was Castiel pacing back and forth, annoyed, not Chuck checking the room. Castiel stopped. As if he heard something in Gabriel’s voice, that gave him an idea of what kind of thoughts were crowding the older man's head.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Castiel said. He sat down next to Gabriel on the bed.

“How long do I have to deny it, before you believe me?” Gabriel asked.

“Until you voice gives out and then some,” Castiel said. “I’m your brother. I know you.” Gabriel hung his head.

“I flunked it,” Gabriel mumbled.

“Because you hurt your best friend,” Castiel asked.

“Sam knew, what he got himself into,” Gabriel growled as he jumped up from the bed.

“And that is why you’re wallowing in self-hatred and guilt?” Castiel asked. “You know he will forgive you. He always does.”

“Not this time,” Gabriel said.

“Are you sure?” Castiel asked. Gabriel began walking back and forth.

“How can you asked something like that?” Gabriel asked.

“Because I know the answer,” Castiel said. He now stood too and grab Gabriel’s shoulder, so that the older had to face him. "You must realize what he gave up for you, over and over again. He forgave you for making him a target, for throwing him out to protect me. Why should it be any different now?" Castiel let go of Gabriel. He looked at the empty picture frame on the nightstand. "If someone other than me had set the traps that could have cost you your life, that person wouldn't be alive today," Castiel said. "He forgives me for almost killing you because he knows you forgive me. Imagine if our roles had been reversed. Imagine if Crowley had come to you with his idea of ​​how to kill Abaddon, imagine if you had carried the Mark, had lost your humanity, what do you think Sam would have done? Beat on you until you almost lost consciousness despite your demonic powers, like he did to me? Or would he have let you get away without even raising a fist? I know the answer."

“You think you do,” Gabriel said. “It’s a miracle each time that he forgives me, that you forgive me.” Castiel sighed.

"I know our lives have treated us, you badly," he said. "But you're not the cause of all the evil in the world. Dad was, let's be honest, a monster in human form. And I probably can't even imagine what it's like to hear your father tell you that you're the source of all evil, even though I heard it through closed doors. I know this is a trauma you'll carry with you for the rest of your life, but you should know that nothing Dad said is true. Don't you think I'd be long gone by now if you were as dangerous, deadly, and damning as Dad wanted you to believe?"

“What about college?” Gabriel asked.

“I wanted to get away from Dad, not you,” Castiel explained. “And don't you think that if you were truly a spawn of hell, Sam would never have seen you as more than his mission? I'm the one with the demon blood in my body, not you. If you believed for just a moment that you were more than a bad omen and the broken soldier that Dad wanted you to be, maybe you'd realize that other people or beings care about you.”

“Cassi, leave,” ordered Gabriel, who could no longer listen to this. Castiel understood both the direct command and the implied one by the use of the hated nickname.

"Sam will forgive you. And if you're honest with yourself, you know why he's hurt and where the shame and guilt come from," Castiel said on his way to the door. Gabriel flopped back down on his bed. He didn't have to be honest with himself to recognize these answers, but the idea that an angel could feel this way about him was unimaginable. On the other hand, Gabriel had never thought Samuel would share his bed. But of course, he had messed it up. The door clicked softly as Castiel closed it behind him as he left the room.

Gabriel wanted nothing more than hide under the covers until this was all over and Samuel had forgotten what had happened. But that wasn't going to happen. Given the current situation, when Rowena showed up, Samuel would probably come in here, rip the covers off Gabriel, and drag him into the war room. There was a knock at the door.

"Uh, Rowena's here," Sam's voice said. "If you don't want Cas, Samuel, or even Dean, since Cas is busy calming Samuel down, to drag you into the war room, maybe you should get going." So they allowed him some dignity after all. Like a man on his way to his own funeral, Gabriel made his way into the entrance area.

Chapter Text

Castiel was somewhat worried about what would happen next. Sam had walked past him, after Castiel had left Gabriel’s room, and told him that Rowena had arrived. In responds Castiel had hurried up, to make sure no one was killing anyone. When he reached the entrance area, everyone but Sam and Gabriel was there. Rowena had already sat down at the table. Dean was leaning against the pillar beside the stairs, arms crossed. Samuel and Cas were standing at the wall opposite to the hallway Castiel just emerged from. Rowena looked curiously between Castiel and Cas, as if they were enough of an explanation for her.

“Castiel,” she said. “Would you explain to me why I'm here and how I'm supposed to help you? Your brother wasn't exactly forthcoming."

„I think the problem was that you didn’t give him the chance to say much,” Castiel replied. “We have to find an archangel and need your help with an locating spell.”

“I guess that has something to do with the fact that there are now two of you,” Rowena said.

“Not only of him,” Samuel said and as if summoned Sam entered the entrance area.

“So we have duplicates of Castiel and Samuel,” Rowena realized. “Anyone else?”

“Me,” Dean said. “Also there is a second version of Gabriel.” Rowena turned to Dean. She looked Dean up and down.

“Should I know, who you are?” she asked. Castiel felt someone staring at him. Behind him, in the shadows of the corridor, stood Gabriel. At least he had appeared; they could discuss the tactic of hiding in the corridor later.

“I think that you should be happy, you don’t know, who I am,” Dean replied coldly.

“If you say so,” Rowena said.

“You already incurred Lucifer’s anger, do you want to turn another archangel against you?” Castiel asked. Rowena’s eyes jumped to Castiel, before returning to Dean. No, Castiel would not explain to her that the man in front of her wasn’t an angel.

“So you want my help to find the archangel,” Rowena summarized. “And in return...”

“...you can look as much as you want at the books,” Gabriel said, abandoning his post in the shadows. “Like always.”

“All books stay here,” Castiel added.

“Always such a killjoy, Castiel,” Rowena complained.

“Are you helping us or not?” Sam asked. Rowena looked at Sam, than at Samuel at the other side of the room.

“You want a locating spell, to find the archangel, who split you?” Rowena asked.

“Something like that,” Dean grumbled.

“In that case I need a map and a name tag,” Rowena said.

“Everything is already here,” Sam said. “We’re just not sure, if you can pronounce the name.”

“To prevent mix-ups, we, well, wrote down the Enochian form,” Samuel explained.

"So, who exactly are we looking for now?" Gabriel asked.

“Deaniel,” Cas answered. “It seemed safer to look for the one native to this universe.”

"Besides, we can be sure that he must have at least seen Gabriel and can give us an idea where to look if they actually parted ways," said Samuel.

“Yeah, because the answers of an archangel, moonlighting as a trickster, are so truthful and reliable,” Gabriel said, looking at Dean.

“People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,” Dean replied.

“We will cross that bridge, when we get to it,” Castiel suggested, in an attempt to prevent a fight between Dean and Gabriel. Neither Dean nor Gabriel seemed convinced, but neither protested.

Meanwhile, Rowena had spread out the map. She placed the piece of paper with a symbol that Castiel could only guess was Deaniel's name on top of the map. Rowena began to mutter. Castiel didn't know what he had expected, but certainly not that the map would burst into flames and burn to ash along with the name tag.

“Do you have any idea, where you target is?” Rowena asked and looked around.

“Is it the language barrier or is he not in the US?” Samuel asked.

“If I mispronounced the name, nothing would have happened,” Rowena explained.

“We are prepared for something like this,” Cas said. He stepped to the table and pulled another map and another piece of paper with Deaniel's name on it from the chairs on that side. This map now showed the whole world.

“Where did you get all this stuff?” Castiel asked.

“They took the storage apart,” Dean said.

“We didn’t.” Samuel protested.

“Then let’s try this again,” Rowena said. Again she began muttering. Again the map and name tag went up in flames and burn completely. “Other alternatives or backups? No? Great.” Rowena walked to the library. The rest gathered around the table.

“I will just assume that this means Deaniel is not on Earth,” Gabriel said.

“We’re running out of options,” Castiel reminded the rest. “The angels say he is not in Heaven. Crowley said, he is not in Hell. And the spell just proved that he is not on Earth.”

“That only leaves Purgatory,” Sam said.

“Angels don’t end up in Purgatory,” Cas said. "And even if, no one would be stupid enough to hide there. As archangels, both Gabriel and Deaniel would have escaped the place quickly." Castiel looked first at Gabriel, then at Samuel, but neither of them seemed to want to say anything.

“But the two of them have to be somewhere,” Dean complained.

“What if Deaniel is dead after all,” Gabriel said.

“Then the spell wouldn’t have worked,” Rowena called from behind the bookcases.

“It didn’t work now,” Gabriel grumbled.

“Someone lied,” Castiel said. He sighed. “Sam and Castiel have no reason to lie. Cas wants to go home. The spell can’t lie.” He looked roughly in Rowena's direction, but there was neither protest nor confirmation. “That only leaves Crowley.” Castiel grimaced.

“What reason would he have to lie?” Sam asked. Silence. “Is there a another reason to assume he lied?”

“Maybe he didn’t know any better,” Dean said. “Wouldn’t be the first time, at least for us, that he didn’t have all his demons under control.” Castiel sighed. Just guessing would get them nowhere.

“Rowena,” Sam called. “How stingy is the definition of map?”

“What kind of question is that?” Rowena asked.

“If I draw circles on a piece of paper and then write labels like Earth or Hell, would that work?' Sam asked.

“Interesting question,” Rowena said. “I don’t actually know.”

“Then let us try that,” Gabriel demanded. Samuel fetched the paper and pens that had been left in the library after writing down Deaniel’s name. While Samuel wrote down his brother's name again, Sam drew large circles on a piece of paper and labeled them Earth, Hell, Heaven, and Purgatory. Rowena then returned to the table.

And then came what Castiel had practically been waiting for. Rowena and Gabriel were close enough for physical contact. Castiel had no idea how the witch felt about what had happened or how she viewed Gabriel and Sam's relationship, but Castiel expected chaos. He could imagine Gabriel being sensitive to pretty much anything Rowena did (Castiel was actually advising against physical contact in general). Depending on Gabriel's reaction, Samuel would either turn away from the situation or intervene protectively.

When Rowena came to a stop next to Gabriel, she placed a hand on his arm. She had already opened her mouth to say something, but Gabriel beat her to it.

"Don't touch me," he snarled. He swatted her arm away and moved away from her, even though it brought him closer to Dean. Across the table, Castiel caught Rowena's eye. There was surprise in her expression, but also something questioning. The bad feeling that Rowena was trying to force Gabriel or Sam to act creeped over Castiel. He didn't know what Rowena had seen in his face. Perhaps pure desperation, because she was grinning at him conspiratorially. Castiel couldn't possibly be the only one who saw that.

But Gabriel was staring at the table in front of him, Dean seemed to be having a silent conversation with Cas, and Sam was looking at his drawing as if he regretted all the life decisions that had brought him to this point. Only Samuel's attention was also on Rowena, or rather, on Rowena and Gabriel.

"Oh, Dearie, why so shy?" Rowena asked, reaching for Gabriel again. Gabriel practically bared his teeth, and Castiel almost expected him to pull out a gun from his waistband, even though he hadn't carried one around with him for a long time when they were in the bunker. On the other hand, a gun was likely under the table and within arm's reach. Samuel didn't jump over the table, which Castiel had almost expected, but he effectively did the same thing, using his wings to get from his spot between Cas and Sam to Gabriel, or rather, Rowena.

"He said don't touch him," Samuel growled, grabbing her arm.

"Someone's being protective," Rowena said. "Or possessive." Castiel could see Sam pale. He let go of Rowena as if he'd been burned.

"You..." Samuel started, but stopped when Gabriel placed his hand on his shoulder. The angel turned to him.

“She is saying the truth, isn’t she?” Gabriel asked. Castiel couldn’t believe his eyes and ears. Was Gabriel really going to discuss this in front of the whole group? Samuel looked away, and that said it all. "I know I messed up. I don't need anyone but you. I..." Whatever else Gabriel might have wanted say was prevented by Samuel kissing him.

"There you go," Rowena said. "I was expecting you two to sort this out that very evening." She shook her head. "Men." Gabriel gave her the finger, his lips still on Sam's, and the rest of the group turned to her, as she was the only woman in the room. "You're not really going to argue with me, are you?"

“Just try the dam locating spell,” Sam demanded.

“Alright, alright,” said Rowena, who had certainly heard the warning tone. Everyone turned back to the papers on the table. "Then let's see if this works." She started muttering, and there was another fire. Castiel was about to write off the operation as a failure. Then he realized that although the fire consumed most of the paper, it left the circle labeled Hell alone. Instead, the Deaniel rune burned itself into it. The fire went out. All that remained was the circle with the glowing rune.

"Hell, then," said Dean. "So Crowley was either lying or he had no idea."

"And how do we get to Hell?" asked Sam.

“That is not my problem,” Rowena said. “That you have to sort out with Fergus.” To the surprise of everyone she climbed the stairs and was out of the bunker.

“Did she just flee?” Sam asked.

“Something like that.” Castiel agreed. "She probably doesn't want to be in the same room with Crowley and me again. They were both here, it was one of those end-of-the-world situations you probably know, and Crowley was, well, Crowley."

"I think we can fill in the gaps by ourselves," Sam said. "We've been through it ourselves. But how do we get to Hell without dying? Do we have to go through Purgatory?"

"We'll ask Crowley," Castiel said reluctantly. "If that fails, Purgatory might be our best option."

Chapter Text

No, Dean was not jealous that Gabriel worked out his relationship with Samuel. He wasn’t jealous at all. A little bit maybe, the rest of him was busy remembering that it wasn’t his Sam and there was no reason to intervene as a big brother here. And even if there was a reason they had to find said big brother first.

It was obvious that Castiel was not happy that they had to rely on Crowley’s help again, that he had to call the King of Hell again. Dean could understand him. Watching it had been bad enough, but it had to have been so much worse for Castiel.

“Do you want to summon him this time around?” Gabriel asked. Castiel was holding his phone and staring at it, like it had insulted his family.

“In that case, you wouldn’t need me,” Castiel said.

“But you'll probably still have to deal with him,” Gabriel said. “We want entry to his territory.”

“That is precisely why we should summon him,” Dean said. “And trap him, so that he can’t get away, before we get what we want.”

“You’re aware that he can’t use his powers if we trap him in a Devil’s trap,” Cas said.

“Yes, I am,” Dean said. “But this way we get his agreement that he'll help us, and only then will we give him back access to his powers."

“Sounds like a stupid plan,” Gabriel said.

“What is your problem”, Dean asked. “I don’t hear you come up with a plan at all.” Gabriel stepped closer to Dean.

“But it’s my brother, who suffers, if Crowley does something we don’t want,” Gabriel explained.

“You didn’t even noticed that Cas was suffering,” Dean spat. Gabriel drew back his fist, but Samuel pulled him back and pushed him in Castiel’s direction away from Dean, before the older Novak could land the punch. Gabriel walked over to Castiel, who was standing the entrance of the tunnel, which led deeper into the bunker.  Together, the brothers vanished into the darkness. Dean, Sam and Cas as well as Sam stayed behind.

“It helps nobody if you and Gabriel constantly lock horns with each other,” Samuel told Dean.

“Easy for you to say,” Dean growled.

“He is right,” Sam said.

“I’m well aware, but it’s not that simple, Sammy,” Dean retorted. Sam sighed.

“Maybe it’s the best for all of us, if we get this over with as fast as possible,” Samuel said. He and Sam followed the Novaks’ example and disappeared into the depths of the bunker. Dean groaned.

“Dean?” Castiel asked. Dean had more or less forgotten that the angel was still with him. “Is it really that hard for you to just see Gabriel as another hunter, at least this form of him?”

“Maybe it’s easy for you, but my mind has trouble differentiating between human and angel,” Dean said. “It’s bad enough with you and Sam, though it helps that you and Samuel as angels don’t change your clothes. But with Gabriel the counterpart is missing, no reminder that he is not our Gabriel.”

“Considering that you allegedly have such a problem with remembering that this Gabriel is human, you’re criticizing his behavior towards his brother quite a lot,” Cas said.

“There are things a reasonable brother just does,” Dean said. “And regardless of whether he’s human or an angel Gabriel seemed to care at least somewhat about his brothers.”

“I don’t ask you to be his friend,” Cas said. “You just have to get along with him, so that we can go home.”

“I didn’t even started it,” Dean complained. “He was complaining about my plan, despite not having one himself. He wanted to punch me.”

“You might not started it this time,” Cas admitted. “But what about what happened in the motel room?” Dean grinded his teeth, because Cas was right.

“He shouldn’t complain about it,” Dean demanded. “It led to him getting his relationship with Sam sorted after all.”

“Is that so?” Cas asked. “If they have to thank someone for it, it should be Rowena.” Cas looked in the direction the rest of the group disappeared in. He mumbled something, that Dean didn’t catch. The hunter assumed it wasn’t meant for his ears anyway. Only when Cas turned to him with a questioning look, he realized that the angel asked him something. Dean had to asked him to repeat himself.

“This didn’t change anything between as, right?” Cas asked. Dean swallowed. What did Cas wanted to hear? Was this the right moment, to tell him the truth about his feelings? Or was this Cas way of saying that he already know about Dean’s feelings and didn’t want them to change their relationship.

“Nothing will change between us,” Dean assured the other. He tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible. Cas nodded cautiously. “You’re my best friend and nothing will change that.” It wasn’t even a lie, even if at some point something would happen between them, they would still be best friends.

“Of course,” Cas said, but his voice sounded hollow. “I appreciate our friendship.” Why did Dean felt like he said the wrong thing? “We should join the others. We should all go into Hell to look for Gabriel and Deaniel, especially if you’re right  and Crowley didn’t lie, but was instead unaware.” Cas walked towards the tunnel.

“Cas,” Dean said. The angel stopped and turned to him, but Dean didn’t know what else to say. When Cas realized that, he continued his way and vanished into the depths of the bunker. Dean groaned. Why was that so complicated? He knew the answer. If he confessed his feelings to Cas, the just affirmed friendship would be gone. And if Cas were to reciprocate Dean's feelings for some reason, then that would be a sign of how far Dean had actually dragged the angel down, despite the fact that Cas had already been human, and that, too, could only end in disaster. Cas was already part of the Winchester Resurrection Circle, but getting any closer to Dean would likely mean the next death would be final. And on top of all the drama, a lump formed in his throat just by thinking about confessing his true feelings to Cas.

Dean sighed, he should probably join the others. So he got moving. As he joined the rest of the group, the preparations for the summoning were already finished.

“Alright, if everyone's here, we can get started,” said Gabriel, shooting a provoking look in Dean’s direction.

“Just do it,” Dean demanded grimly, unwilling to start another fight just now. Gabriel made a surprised face, before he lighted the match and threw it in the bowl, which was standing in the middle of the Devil’s trap.

Chapter Text

The first thing Crowley said, as he materialized in front of them was: “You can’t be serious. Yesterday calling worked just fine.”

“But yesterday you apparently also lied to us,” Gabriel replied.

“How did you come to that erroneous conclusion?” Crowley asked amused.

“A locating spell revealed that Deaniel is in Hell,” Castiel said.

“That is impossible,” Crowley exclaimed. “Which incompetent witch did you asked for help?”

“Your mother,” Dean said. Crowley got really quiet at that.

“You know something,” Castiel accused him.

“You don’t want to hear the answer, Darling,” Crowley replied.

“We can handle it, I assure you,” Gabriel said. “Spit it out.”

“Let me put it like this, not all Princes are happy with me as the King,” Crowley explained. “But since none of them has any interest in the post themselves, we just keep out of each other’s way as much as possible.”

“I guess that is the reason you didn’t knew that Deaniel is in Hell,” Gabriel said. Crowley focused on Gabriel and got as close to the hunter as the trap allowed him to.

“Even if I had caught wind that one of the Princes had one or both of the wanted archangels, I wouldn’t have said a word,” Crowley explained.

“Why?” Castiel demanded to know. He had pulled Gabriel back as the King of Hell approached,  despite Crowley being trapped.

“Because even you aren’t a match for a bored or even possessive Prince of Hell,” Crowley explained.

“You were there, when we confronted God’s sister,” Gabriel said.

“Which you only survived, because she and God reconciled,” Crowley replied.

“We’ve taken on Lucifer, multiple times,” Gabriel argued.

“And still he is free now,” Crowley said. Castiel groaned frustrated.

“We don’t care, whether you believe we are a match for them or not,” the younger Novak explained, still holding his brother back by his shirt. “Either you provide us with a way into Hell that allows us to get there alive, or we look for one ourselves.”

“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” Crowley said.

"But we couldn't care less about that," Dean cut in. "Are you getting us down there or not?" Crowley turned to the Winchesters, who had remained in the background until now.

“What do you two imagine you know?” Crowley asked. “It’s literally Hell.”

“We essentially live the same life as Castiel and Gabriel,” Dean explained. Crowley’s gaze flickered between the older brothers, then between the younger ones.

“With slight deviations,” said Sam, when Crowley’s eyes settled on him. “But we’ve been to Hell often enough to know what we’re getting into. Besides, we have no choice if we want to get home.”

“Are you sure that it’s worth it?” Crowley asked.

“Yes,” Cas said. He stepped closer to Crowley. “We don’t belong here. Our Gabriel doesn’t belong here. And technically we just want to get home, something you would benefit from. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t know how to handle you, your mother or even the Princes of Hell. Together, the people in this room have killed four Princes of Hell and that is not even our goal, we only want to get Gabriel and Deaniel out of there.”

“Nothing I can say will be able to sway you, right?” Crowley asked.

“As previously stated, if you don’t help us, we find another way into Hell on our own,” Gabriel said. “And if we have to look for our own way into and though Hell, than... well...” He turned to Castiel. “Cassi could be hurt.” Castiel looked at his brother in disbelieve. Sam was sure he was wearing a similar expression. Dean glared at Gabriel, like he wanted to punch him. Crowley eyed Gabriel as if he had no idea what he was talking about

“And I care, because....?” Crowley asked.

“Don’t act like that,” Castiel hissed. Crowley refused to look in the younger Novak’s direction.

“It’s your choice,” Gabriel said. “Either you help us or we find our own way and let you rot in here.”

“If you leave me to rot, than there is nobody, who will keep the demons away from you,” Crowley said.

“That would imply, that you would help us, if we let you go,” Gabriel said.

“You said it yourself, if I don’t help you, Castiel would be in danger,” Crowley said.

“Fuck you, both of you,” Castiel growled. “I hate both of you,” He looked back and forth between his brother and Crowley. “I can take care of myself.” He backed away from Gabriel and moved closer to the Winchesters.

“Cassi,” Gabriel said. His tone asked Castiel to understand. But either Castiel didn’t understand (not that Sam knew what Gabriel wanted to convey) or he ignored the plea. Sam had enough.

“Let’s have it straight, now!” Sam demanded. He stepped forward. “Are you helping us or not?” Crowley sighed heavily .

“I’m supposed to get you into Hell, so you can steal one or even two archangels from under one of the remaining Princes' noses,” Crowley summarized. “That’s suicide.“

“To use Cas’s words: We did manage problems when the odds were worse,” Dean said.

“And that was not an answer to my question,” Sam added. “So, I will just interpreted this as you saying, you won’t help us.” Pointedly,  Sam turned around and walked towards the door.

“Wait,” Crowley said. All eyes turned to him and even Sam swiveled back. “You let me out and I get you into Hell and keep as many demons away from you as I can.”

“Okay,” Gabriel said slowly, as if he feared Crowley would spring a surprise catch on them. Silence filled the room for a moment, than it was Castiel, of all people, who began freeing the demon.

“Do the angels come with?” Crowley asked.

“Yes,” Cas and Samuel said at the same time.

“Well, if you've really thought this through and are sure about it,” Crowley said.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Castiel warned. Gabriel distributed the angel blades, someone had laid out ready.

“We don’t want any of us getting killed by a demon due to missing equipment,” Gabriel said. Then he grinned. “It’s not like an exorcism would work, they’re already in Hell after all.” Castiel groaned, but caught the blade Gabriel threw him without problems regardless.

“You’re ready I assume,” Crowley said.

“Don't you dare try to trick us!" Castiel warned.

“I wouldn’t dream about it, Darling,” Crowley replied and clicked his fingers.

Chapter Text

In the next moment they were in a room, that was presumably used as a throne room, but without Crowley.  

“Why am I not surprised?” asked Gabriel, as the group looked around the room. “He is to chicken to help us with the Princes.”

“If he and the Princes avoid each other as much as possible, I would stay away, if I were him, too,” Castiel said. “Besides, he doesn’t know, were the Princes are, if they typically avoid each other.” Gabriel rolled his eyes. Why did his brother have to have such logical arguments?

“I think, we’re in agreement that we don’t find anything helpful here,” Sam said. “There’s the exit.” He pointed at the door, which Dean was already pushing open.

“T-junction,” the older Winchester announced. “Three ways from here.”

“Do we split up?” Gabriel asked.

“Would make sense,” Samuel piped up. “The Princes should be hiding deep in Hell after you've already killed two of them."

“Splitting up saves time, but is it worth the risk?” Sam asked. “I mean, we have no idea what exactly awaits us. Maybe it would make more sense to not split up, to minimize the risk for everyone involved.”

“We have two angels with us,” Gabriel said.

“And three hallways,” Dean countered.

“But only in one of them, two at max a Prince awaits us,” Gabriel said.

“And what if the group without angelic escort runs into a Prince?” Dean asked. “Especially the Prince, who is not holding Deaniel and Gabriel hostage?”

“Can’t you two get along for five fucking minutes?” Castiel groaned. “And I’m sure the angels are able to hear and followed the call of prayers even down here.” The angels nodded. Gabriel decided to not remind the group that the angels would probably have trouble finding them, given that every human had protective sigils carved into their rips.

“So, we’ll split up,” Dean concluded. “The same groups as in Shady Grove?” Gabriel weighed the chance to spend time alone with Samuel, albeit at work, against his concern for Castiel.

Gabriel was well aware that his brother could take care of himself. If he couldn’t, neither of them would be here now. But he couldn't and didn't want to completely shed his mantle of being a protective big brother. The implication that something might happen to Castiel didn't come from that concern though, but rather from the conclusion that no matter what Crowley saw in Castiel now, his feelings were genuine enough to want to protect Castiel from unnecessary harm, whether that helped his advances was debatable. By using the disliked name, Gabriel had tried to make Castiel understand that his comment wasn't born out of a lack of confidence in his abilities. Based on Castiel's behavior, however, the message hadn't gotten across. If he were to even suggest sending Samuel and Castiel together, Castiel would probably bolt as soon as this problem was solved. Not that he had a good argument for why Castiel should have an angelic escort and he shouldn't.

“Objections?” Dean asked Gabriel, who must have been staring at him the whole time while his thoughts drifted.

“No, no objections,” Gabriel said reluctantly.

“Why do you look like you bit into a lemon then?” Dean asked.

“Worry about your own shit,” Gabriel spit. His gaze landed on the angels. “And your own angel.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Dean asked indignant.

“You’re human, right?” Gabriel asked. “You should know enough about the nuances of human communication to figure it out. Come, Sam.”

Without waiting to see if the angel would follow him, Gabriel walked through the still-open door, provocatively close to Dean, who gave him a venomous glare. Gabriel ignored this, stepping onto the intersection. Instead of thinking too much about it, he simply continued straight ahead, into the corridor opposite the throne room. It was now clear that Samuel was following him. Who else could the footsteps belong to, briskly approaching to catch up with him?

“What are you hoping to achieve?” Samuel asked, as he fell into step with Gabriel.

“What are you talking about?” asked Gabriel, as if he weren’t well aware that Samuel was talking about his behavior towards Dean.

“That you time and time again start a fight with Dean over essentially nothing,” Samuel said.

“It’s just dumb jokes. You know how I am,” Gabriel deflected.

“Yes, I know you and your jokes. But  the thing with Dean isn't just harmless jokes, especially since you would have stopped when you realized that no one, not even you yourself, found them funny," said Samuel. "So?"

“He just gets on my nerves,” Gabriel explained.

“Sure,” Samuel said. He didn’t sound convinced, but was silent for the moment. Gabriel already thought the conversation was over, but then Samuel spoke up again: “And the comment to worry about his own angel, after no one mentioned my or Cas’s angelic nature or loyalty in the conversation leading up to this comment?” Gabriel almost stumbled over his own feet. Samuel had the decency to act like he didn’t notice.

“Don’t I worry or better yet take care of you?” Gabriel asked with pretended indignation.

“We will see,” Samuel said.

“I’m hurt,” Gabriel claimed. Samuel shot him an annoyed look.

“How about you say the truth now,” Samuel suggested. Gabriel sighed dramatically.

"He gave me a nudge," Gabriel said. "I thought I'd return the favor."

“With a comment that sounded like a threat?” Samuel asked. “Makes sense.”

“Spare me the sarcasm,” Gabriel grumbled. “And it’s not like he did it better.”

“I don’t remember a threat.” Samuel said.

“Between the lines,” Gabriel explained. “You have to read between the lines.”

“Ten years,” Samuel mumbled. “And sometimes I still don’t understand you.”

“Nobody is perfect,” Gabriel said. He patted Samuel’s shoulder. The angel mumbled something that Gabriel didn’t quite catch, but it sounded like Samuel was questioning why he loved Gabriel. The hunter was about to crack another joke, when Samuel suddenly came to a stop and blocked Gabriel's movement by extending his arm.

"We're not alone," he whispered, as if whoever was nearby hadn't already heard them. The shadows on the walls seemed to move. Samuel summoned his angel blade, and Gabriel gripped the weapon he held tighter.

"Is it a good thing or a bad thing that demons are roaming around here?" Gabriel asked.

"I have no idea," Samuel admitted. "That either means Crowley isn't controlling his demons, or that these demons are working for someone other than Crowley."

"Brilliant prospects," Gabriel grumbled. "Let's hope it's worth it." The shadows detached themselves from the walls and took on human form. Then they attacked.

Chapter Text

“That is a bad idea,” Castiel said, once Gabriel and Samuel were out of earshot.

“Oh, really,” Dean said sarcastically.

“Dean,” Sam lamented.

“Cas, can we talk in private?” Castiel asked. He would not react to Dean’s comment and risk another argument.

“Sure,” Cas said, as Dean regarded Castiel with a skeptic look. “What’s wrong?”

“Dean,” Castiel said. Practically in sync Cas and Castiel turned to Dean, who was still standing at the door, but now discussing something quietly with Sam.

“What about him?” Cas asked, head snapping back to Castiel. Castiel decided to ignore the threatening undertone.

“He’s fine,” Castiel assured Cas. He didn’t want to be attacked by Cas after all. “It’s about the thing between you two.” Cas eyes went wide and he looked with a somewhat panic expression towards Dean, who was still talking to Sam. “Don’t worry, he is as blind as you.” Cas looked at Castiel like he just told him he had to stay away from Dean forever. “You have to make the first move.”

“What are you talking about?” Cas asked.

“You know, what I’m talking about,” Castiel replied. “Even if I weren’t you without grace, I would be able to tell how you feel about him. Not, that I don’t understand it.”

“What do you want from me?” Cas demanded to know.

“That you make the first move,” Castiel explained.

“No,” Cas said. “Dean made it clear that nothing between us will change.”

“That might be due to how the question was presented,” Castiel suggested.

“You weren’t even there,” Cas argued.

“I might not have been there,” Castiel admitted. “But I watched Gabriel and Samuel long enough to get a feel for the dynamic.”

“Dean and I aren’t your brother and Samuel,” Cas replied.

“I know,” Castiel said. “But everything I have seen from you is similar enough.”

“You don’t know us,” Cas claimed.

“I’m you just without the grace,” Castiel replied.

“You aren’t,” Cas stated.

“Maybe I’m not,” Castiel relented. “But I see, how you look at him. I see, how he looks at you. And those are the same looks Gabe and Sam gave each other, especially before they started their friendship plus thing. Trust me.”

“The friendship plus thing worked out so well for them,” Cas said.

“You don’t have to be geared to the bad example,” Castiel said. “But from what I saw with Dean and what I know about my brother, you have to make the first move."

“I don’t have to do anything,” Cas explained. “I can’t risk it. I don’t want to lose Dean.”

“Are you two quite finished?” Dean asked. “If not, we are losing the time, we saved by splitting up.”

“We’re done,” Cas proclaimed decidedly. Castiel shot him a last prompting look, then the angel reached Dean and the two of them disappeared into the right tunnel.

“What did you two talk about?” Sam asked.

“I tried to get him to tell Dean the truth,” Castiel said. He shook his head.

“Without success, I assume,” Sam said. The two of them now entered the last unexplored  tunnel.

“Didn’t seem like I got through to him,” Castiel said.

“I think Cas resigned himself to never getting more than friendship from Dean,” Sam said. He shook his head. “Fucking blind, both of them.”

“You are telling me,” Castiel said. He sighed. “Gabe and Sam were the same way. I can only hope that it gets better now that Gabriel had been honest with himself and the two of them sorted out their relationship.”

“How did their relationship even became that complicated?” Sam asked. Castiel questioned  whether he should really tell the other hunter, but Sam would be back in his universe soon anyway, and he had no reason to tell anyone what had happened. Besides, Castiel could hardly expect more understanding from anyone than from Sam.

"Gabe and Sam were alone in the motel room. I wasn't there, luckily in retrospect, at least. I was at the library and had taken the car because it had been raining since we'd arrived, and I really didn't want to walk. So the two of them were stuck in the motel room, and as I was told, Gabriel complained that he couldn't leave because I had the car. Apparently, Gabe complained first about not being able to go to the local bar, then about the lack of alcohol, and then about his dry spell. Sam complained, to which Gabriel literally said, "Fuck you." Sam's response was something like, "If it makes you stop complaining," and, well, I think you can guess the rest.

Apparently, they didn't talk about how a friends with benefits relationship functions. Rowena was in the bunker. I'm not even sure why, but anyway, I was on my way to the library when Sam passed me. I didn't even had a chance to ask what was going on. By the time I got to the library, I don’t even had to ask; the sight that greeted me told me everything. Well, that's what led to the drama you saw."

“And I thought them staring at each other was tiring,” Sam said.

“Yeah, that was bad,” Castiel said. He paused. “Is it just me or does it seem suspiciously quiet to you too?”

“Maybe it’s Crowley’s work,” Sam suggested. “Regardless of the reason why he wants to keep his people off your back, that could be the case here.”

“I get what you mean,” Castiel said. “But this empty and quiet?”

"Perhaps our humanity is benefiting us," Sam suggested. "Cas and Samuel could attract demons, and the ones still roaming around down here will gravitate towards the other corridors. As humans, we might not attract as much attention."

"That could be the case," Castiel admitted. He looked at the weapon in his hand. "But I'm afraid that's bad for us, because if there are no demons here at all, it's safe to assume we're nowhere near the lair of a Prince of Hell."

"I honestly don't need another confrontation," Sam said. "I'll gladly leave that to Dean and Cas or Gabriel and Samuel."

"Probably better," Castiel said.

Chapter Text

Dean waited long enough, so they were deep enough in the tunnel that the others couldn’t hear them, before he asked: “What did you and Castiel talked about?”

“Nothing important,” Cas said evasively. Dean rolled his eyes.

“Looked pretty serious, from where I was standing,” Dean said.

“Dean, it’s nothing,” Cas declared firmly, but that only made Dean more skeptical.

“Cas, talk to me,” the hunter demanded. He grabbed Cas's shoulder hard and forcefully enough that the angel stumbled backward, literally finding himself with his back against the wall. Instead of answering Dean, offering any kind of explanation, Cas stared at Dean. Dean stared back until he was fed up.

“Cas, I’m waiting for an answer,” Dean said. Cas averted his gaze. “Cas?” Dean took the hand off Cas's shoulder, which he had previously used to more or less pin the angel to the wall. He turned away.

“He compared us to Gabriel and Samuel,” Cas whispered so quietly that Dean almost didn’t hear it. In the first moment Dean froze, then he slowly turned back to Cas.

“Did he?” Dean asked. He barely recognized his own voice. Cas nodded, eyes wide. Dean waited for any other kind of reaction from Cas. But the angel just kept staring at Dean, like he feared an over the top reaction from the hunter. “And?”

“And what?” Cas asked.

“What are you thinking about that?” Dean asked.

“I can’t stop thinking about, what he said” Cas admitted.

“About what exactly?” Dean asked.

“The first step,” Cas mumbled. He had averted his gaze while saying this, but then looked back at Dean. Dean now had a good idea of ​​what Castiel might have told Cas. Now the question was whether Cas had fully understood what Castiel had told him and what he wanted. He was the one who had asked if anything would change between them. Maybe this had been his attempt at getting somewhere after all. Dean searched Cas's eyes for an answer to the question of what the angel really wanted.

Cas gently pushed Dean back. Dean gave him the space he desired and tried to ignore the cold hand that closed around his heart. The look on Cas's face was possibly even worse than the distance he had demanded.

"I can't do this, Dean," Cas whispered.

"Just get it out," Dean said, trying to banish the emotions from his voice. He was quite sure he wasn't succeeding.

Cas looked at Dean for a long time, long enough to make the hunter nervous. At some point, Dean couldn't take it anymore.

"Do you want to take that step or not?" he finally exclaimed. "Yes or no, Cas?"

"Don't hate me for this," Cas begged.

"I could never hate you," Dean promised. Instead of Cas saying another word, he lunged forward. Dean almost expected Cas to punch him. But it wasn't Cas's fist that connected with Dean's face; instead, the angel pressed his lips to Dean's. The hunter returned the kiss, grabbing Cas's hips to keep him where he was. Before the two could separate, a voice called their names.

"Cas, Dean," Samuel called. "We found something." Dean and Cas jumped apart. "You have to come, now.”  Dean and Cas started running. The moment Samuel realized Dean and Cas were moving, Samuel was gone. Dean and Cas reached the intersection and ran into the corridor Gabriel and Samuel had explored. They could hear commotion shortly after stepping into the tunnel, causing Cas to summon his sword. But it was Dean who spotted the first demon.

"Cas, watch out," he shouted. Cas whirled around and drove the angel blade through the demon's chest.

"Took you long enough," Gabriel grumbled from somewhere in the crowd.

"Most of us can't fly," Castiel's voice sounded from behind him as he joined Dean and Cas with Sam and Samuel.

"But you can all fight," Gabriel shot back. "I could use some help here; my back's literally against the wall.”

"You obviously still have enough time to complain," muttered Castiel, who began fighting his way through the demons, advancing toward them, alongside Dean. Five of them were more than enough to fill the corridor and prevent the demons from getting past them as they moved forward.

"Do you have anything more concrete than a guess as to why the demons are only appearing here, and in such large numbers?" asked Sam. Samuel glanced at Cas, and the other angel nodded without taking his eyes off his current problem.

"There are angels nearby," Samuel explained. He got rid of the demon who had gotten particularly close to him. "Archangels."

"I assume you can sense that," said Castiel. He had now reached his brother and was helping him get rid of the demons that had pinned him against the wall.

"Yes," said Castiel. "And there seem to be two of them." The stream of demons advancing toward them seemed never-ending. Dean had no idea how many more figures were waiting for them, as the shadowy figures blended with the blackness of the tunnel. Dean couldn't make out a door either. Neither a normal-looking door nor one that might lead to any kind of cell.

"We're getting more company," announced Gabriel, the only one looking the other way.

"Where else would the demons go?" asked Dean. "They're already in hell."

"Smartass," Gabriel grumbled before he was free enough to deal with the demons just coming from the front.

"We need a plan," Castiel chimed in.

"We have to let those behind us come to us," said Sam. "If Gabriel and Deaniel are really here, we need to keep going down the hall."

"Sam's right," said Castiel.

"Cas, watch out," Samuel called. As Castiel moved to evade the attack coming at him, Samuel addressed the rest. "Dean, Sam, and Castiel will cover our backs, and Gabe, Cas, and I will make sure we keep moving." Sam appeared at Dean's side.

"We need to keep an eye on how fast they're moving," Sam said. "Don't let a gap open up for the demons to exploit."

"We just need to survive this," Dean replied, already fearing that the demons would just keep coming until the humans were too exhausted to defend themselves.

"Stay positive," Sam said.

"Let them come," Cas ordered, glancing over his shoulder to reassess the distance between them and the others. "They're moving fast."

"Good for us," Dean said.

"I think I know where Gabriel and Deaniel are," Samuel called out. "There's a door ahead."

Chapter Text

Gabe had lost his sense of time a long time ago. That his cell mate wasn’t overly communicative, only made it worse. Gabe hadn’t been able to get more information from him than his name and the implication, that their existences had been similar, uncomfortable similar.

Gabe could only hope that the Winchesters and Cas survived and came looking for him. If only one of them didn’t make it, the rest of them would be stuck here forever. Further Gabe had to hope, that Cas realized, that they needed Gabe.

Another piece of information he had managed to get out of Deaniel was that they were in Hell. Gabe had realized that this room was covered in some kind of sigils preventing them from using their powers. Furthermore, the name Asmodeus had been mentioned at some point, which made Gabe a little afraid. He had barely escaped Asmodeus in his world.

Due to his lack of sense of time, Gabe couldn't tell how many days had passed, and thus he had no idea when or if Asmodeus or one of his men would show up. When he heard the commotion, Gabe already thought it was time. He had rarely felt so cornered, because he had no idea what the Prince of Hell would do to him, and he'd rather not find out.

The noise on the other side of the door grew louder, and it sounded more like a fight than a march. Unintelligible voices shouted something from time to time. The voices came closer and they sounded familiar to Gabe. The words were still incomprehensible, but now the voices were close enough that he did indeed recognize them.

"There's a door up ahead," a voice said. Unintelligible shouts followed.

"It won't open." It came from the other side of the door. Gabriel sighed. Sam's voice, though he had expected the younger Winchester to be better prepared for a locked door.

"Sammy?" his cellmate murmured almost soundlessly. He got to his feet. One thing has to be said about every form of Dean Winchester: No matter how shitty his own condition was, he always found some reserves of strength for his brother.

"Pick the damn lock," Dean demanded.

"Cas, some help here," grumbled a voice that sounded uncomfortably similar to Gabriel's own.

"I'm trying," came Castiel's reply. "I don't know if you've noticed, but their numbers are increasing, not decreasing."

"Someone who's actually capable of picking locks needs to help him," Sam explained.

"I'm working on it," said Gabriel.

"Do you even have anything to pick the lock with you?" asked Castiel. The lack of response spoke volumes. "I thought so, because neither do I."

"Sam?" asked Dean.

"On my way," came the reply. Curses could be heard from the other side of the door, and then someone started working on the door. When the door finally swung open, Gabe found himself confronted with two versions of Sam. His spell hadn't been a complete mess.

"Sam," he said with relief. Deaniel's "Sammy" echoed. Samuel entered the cell. Deaniel approached him hesitantly. When they were close enough, Deaniel pulled Samuel into a hug, which the other angel returned.

"Sam," came Dean’s and Gabriel’s voices. Dean continued alone: "Don't stand around. Help." Immediately, Sam and Samuel rushed to the others' aid. This gave Gabe and Deaniel the chance to leave the cell. They were confronted by a flood of demons that stretched seemingly endlessly in both directions down the hall. Gabe also realized that everyone was there. Not only Sam, Dean, and Cas were fighting the seemingly hopeless battle against the sea of demons, but also their and Gabe's doppelgangers.

"We've got them," said Gabriel. "Now what? How do we get out of here? The demons aren't letting up."

"We have no way out," replied Sam.

"We specifically asked Crowley for a way into Hell," Castiel reminded them. "Either he assumed we had a way out, or he's trying to annoy us."

"That's what happens when you make deals with the King of Hell," said Dean.

"People who live in glass houses, Dean," said Gabriel.

"We're in the same house right now, asshole" Dean shot back.

"You two are absolutely insufferable," grumbled Castiel. "Fighting a common battle, and yet you still argue with each other. Does anyone have a solution that doesn't involve Crowley?"

"Do you have a solution that involves him?" asked Gabriel.

"I don't want to ask him for help a third time," Castiel declared. "We will already hear about this forever."

"Neither Samuel nor I are strong enough to get you all out of here," Cas said. "Not even together." Somehow, through all the chaos, Cas managed to glance at Gabe. The message was unmistakable: It's your fault we're here, now get us out of here. Gabe would gladly do so, but even though his strength had begun to return since leaving the cell, he wasn't yet strong enough to get them all out.

The demons were herding them closer together. Gabe let his gaze sweep over the group. Deaniel caught it. An idea formed in his head. Deaniel seemed to be able to guess what that was.

"That's suicide," he explained.

"So is staying here," Gabe retorted. "The little ones don't have enough strength."

"Neither do we," Deaniel replied.

"Not alone," Gabe agreed. "But together."

"That's suicide," Deaniel repeated.

“There isn’t a version of Gabe and Dean that can get along, is there?" Castiel grumbled.

"Yours," Gabe said, his gaze flickering to Sam.

"Dean," Samuel said. "You're probably our only chance."

"Isn't there anything here worth the risk?" Gabe asked. "Otherwise, we either die or fall into Asmodeus's hands. Is that what you want?"

"Dean," Samuel said again. Deaniel let his gaze wander over the group of humans and angels who were trying so desperately to stop the mass of demons from getting any closer that no one had time to meet his gaze.

"Fine," he snapped. He grabbed Gabe's shoulder. "If this kills us, I'll find a way to revive you, to kill you as painfully as possible."

"And how do you do that when you're dead yourself?" asked Gabe, unable to resist the quip.

"I'm surprised you survived until now," said Deaniel. "Let's try to get everyone out of here before you drive me crazy. Three, two, one, go."