Chapter Text
Sam grunted in surprise as Gabriel fell into him, the shortest Archangel was out like a light. Sam looked over at Michael and Lucifer to see them staring at their unconscious brother in states of pure shock. He sighed.
“Michael, Lucifer, focus!” their eyes went back up to Sam, “Michael go ask Metatron about this. It might just be part of his grace settling. Don’t freak out.” Michael nodded shortly and disappeared, “Lucifer I need you to go make sure the perimeter is clear.” Lucifer looked uncertain and Sam slid his grace reassuringly against his mate’s. “Luce, I need you to make sure we are safe. Make sure no one is coming for us.”
Lucifer let out a growl and disappeared. Sam sighed again and tried to move Gabriel back to the pallet so he could clean up, however Gabriel wouldn’t let go. The Messenger had a death grip on Sam’s biceps, his short nails digging into Sam’s flesh.
“Well isn’t this cozy.” Came Dean’s voice with a chuckle.
Sam twisted his head as much as he could and frowned at Dean, “Shut up! He won’t let go!” Lucifer appeared back beside them seconds later and Sam smiled, “Great, Luce help me pry Gabriel loose. He’s got quite the grip.”
Lucifer finally shook himself out of the shock and began trying to pry Gabriel’s hands off of Sam, but no matter what they tried Gabriel wouldn’t release the youngest Archangel. Lucifer looked down at his brother in exasperation, “Sorry Sam. He’s not letting you go for anything.” He glanced at the nails embedded in Sam, “In fact if it weren’t for your healing I’m sure you would be bleeding from how hard he’s gripping you. So there’s no way to break the grip without injuring one of you.”
Sam sighed and resigned himself to being Gabriel’s teddy bear until he woke up, “Fine.” He grumbled.
Lucifer smirked at him before turning to Dean and Castiel, “Can you two clean up here? It will be safest for them at the bunker.”
Dean rolled his eyes, “Yeah go on.”
Lucifer nodded and flew himself, Sam, and Gabriel back to their room in the bunker. Sam landed on the bed with a grunt and Gabriel sprawled on top of him. He quickly righted himself so he was sitting up against the pillows with the smaller Archangel in his lap. Lucifer’s amusement died and he began to fidget as he looked back and forth between Sam and Gabriel. “Deep breaths Lucifer.” Sam said gently, “I’m sure he’s fine.”
“What if he’s not?” Lucifer asked uncertainly, “What if we did it wrong? What if…”
“Lucifer.” Sam cut in, “Calm down. You can feel his grace right?” Lucifer bit his vessels lip and gazed at his brother for several second before nodding, “It’s strong right?” another nod, “Then it’s alright. If it changes then you can start worrying. Until then come sit with us.” Lucifer sighed and sank down onto the bed next to Sam, resting his head on Sam’s shoulder.
Michael appeared several seconds later at the foot of the bed, “Metatron said that he should wake up within 24 hours, it’s just his grace settling back around his core.” Sam nodded and Lucifer let out a sigh of relief. Michael tilted his head and frowned at their position, “Surely it would be better for him to lay on his own.”
Sam huffed, “It might be, but he won’t let go.”
Michael nodded shortly and sat on the end of the bed, both of the older Archangels fidgeted for several seconds before Michael shot back up. “What’s taking so long?!”
“Calm down Michael.” Sam sighed, “It’s only been a few minutes since he passed out. Just wait.”
“I don’t like waiting!” Michael whined.
“Human’s do it all the time.” Sam chuckled.
“I’m an Archangel!” Michael said puffing up his chest, “I don’t wait!”
Sam rolled his eyes at the older angel, “There isn’t anything you can do. Settle down.”
Michael bit his vessels lip and began to pace at the foot of the bed, Lucifer shifted several times before he stood up, “We have to do something.”
Michael stopped and looked to Sam, then Gabriel, before his gaze settled on Lucifer, “We’ll fix the nest.” Lucifer nodded in agreement and they both disappeared, Sam rolled his eyes again and summoned a book for him to read while he waited. Periodically Michael and Lucifer would pop in to put things in the room before popping back out. Sam glanced up from his book every so often to see the changes; they had gathered a bunch of Gabriel’s feathers from his hide outs and brought them to scatter around the room, they had also brought in heaps of blankets and pillows to throw over the bed and to lay on the floor, and one of them had brought what looked to be real clouds to set along the ceiling and the doorways.
Close to three hours later Dean and Castiel appeared in the doorway, Castiel clearly holding Dean back from entering. Dean eyed the room and Sam’s position with an amused smile, “Still hasn’t let go huh?”
“No Dean.” Sam sighed.
“And where are the other two?” Dean asked.
Sam sighed again, “They’re going a little stir crazy. They don’t like waiting so they are trying to make the room more nest like.”
Dean chuckled, “I see that.” He poked at a stray tuft of cloud.
Castiel pulled Dean back again, “I wouldn’t do that. With Gabriel unconscious they will be a bit more overprotective.”
“They’re worse than I was.” Dean huffed, stepping back a bit.
Sam smirked, “Hurts to say doesn’t it?”
“Shut it bitch.” Dean groused, he let out a put upon sigh, “I’ll leave you to it then. I’m going to a bar, keep me posted.”
“Bye Dean.” Sam huffed with an awkward wave, Dean walked off.
Castiel looked back to Sam, “Is he alright then?”
Sam gave Castiel a smile, “He’s fine. His grace is settling around his core. He will be up by tomorrow morning.” Castiel nodded and Sam tilted his head, reminiscent of Cas himself, “Were you two close before all of this?”
Castiel shifted uncomfortably, “As close as two from different flocks could be I suppose. Back then I was a bit smaller than my flock mates and I was always getting left behind, Gabriel would talk to me and he taught me to fly.”
“I see.” Sam said, “I’m sure he’ll be fine Cas.” The seraph looked from Gabriel up to Sam who had a warm smile on his face, Castiel smiled in return and nodded before disappearing. A few seconds later Michael and Lucifer appeared with an enormous teddy bear between them. “No, absolutely not.” Sam denied, “That thing is too big.”
“But Sam….” Lucifer whined.
“No, pillows or blankets are fine but I draw the line at a teddy bear bigger than me.” Sam said firmly, he eyed it like it was going to turn into a leviathan, “Where did you even get a teddy bear that big?”
“One of Gabriel’s safe houses.” Michael said, tugging on the arm, “Come on Sam, please?”
Sam rolled his eyes, “No. Put it back.” He looked at Lucifer pointedly, “I refuse to have sex with you with that thing in the same country.”
“But Sam….” Lucifer pouted.
“It’s just a teddy bear.” Michael huffed.
Sam raised an eyebrow at him, “It is a teddy bear larger than me, made by your trickster brother.” He looked back to Lucifer, “The same country, Lucifer.”
Lucifer huffed and the teddy bear disappeared, “Fine.” He looked to Gabriel, “Anything?”
Sam shook his head, “No change.”
Michael looked around the room, “Well it looks more nest like.” Sam gave a short nod, going back to his book. Michael and Lucifer shared glances, looking between the comatose Gabriel and Sam who seemed perfectly happy just reading his book until Gabriel woke. “Sam.” Michael called, the youngest Archangel looked up at him expectantly, “What now?”
Sam raised a single eyebrow, “Wait. He’ll come around in his own time. It’s only been a couple hours." Michael let out a soft whine which Sam seemed to find amusing, “Metatron said he’d need food. Why don’t you go find him something he can eat when he wakes up?”
Michael and Lucifer both lit up at the suggestion, “What would he like best?” Lucifer asked excitedly, looking to Michael.
“Well, even though it’s not exactly healthy, he’ll probably want candy.” Sam said off-handedly, going back to his book once again, “He’s been a trickster for years, it’s what they like to eat.” The older archangels nodded and disappeared, leaving Sam to sigh once again. A few silent minutes later Sam closed his book when a soft groan came from the angel on top of him. Gabriel’s grip tightened slightly and he rubbed his face against Sam’s flannel clad chest. Sam shifted, finally starting to feel pain from the grip on his arms, “Gabriel, let up on the death grip please.”
The Messenger froze and his grip slowly released before his eyes opened and he looked up at Sam with a frown, “Sam?”
Sam gave him a smile, “Hey, Gabriel. Nice of you to wake up. Not that I’m not comfortable but can you get off of me?”
Gabriel blinked and looked down before rolling off Sam with a small squeak, he sat next to Sam in an exhausted slump, “What happened? Last I remember……Lucifer stabbed me.” He rubbed his vessel where Lucifer had sunk his blade with a pained expression.
“It’s been several years since then.” Sam said slowly, “A lot has happened.”
Gabriel frowned up at Sam, “What…..” he was cut short when Michael and Lucifer appeared, each holding a stack of what looked to be five pound Hershey bars and several bags over flowing with other candy.
Seeing Gabriel awake they both dropped their candy, “Gabriel!” they exclaimed, jumping at him.
Gabriel squeaked in fright and the next thing Sam knew he was being pulled into flight, “Gabriel stop!” Sam called through the flurry of feathers and the rush of instantaneous travel. They landed in Gabriel’s Fortress of Solitude safe house, with Gabriel wide eyed and breathing heavy.
He looked wildly around his safe house when he noticed things were out of place, “They were here.” He said shakily.
“I know.” Sam said gently, “It’s….” Michael and Lucifer popped in next to them with worried expressions and Gabriel pulled Sam to a different safe house in an instant.
“Why do they keep coming?” Gabriel asked shakily, “Can’t they leave me out of their fight?”
Sam opened his connection to Lucifer and Michael, Go back to the nest you two. He’s panicking right now and every time you show up suddenly it’s going to make it worse. I’ll bring him back once I’ve calmed him down. They sent him their understanding and mental apologizes before Sam turned to focus on Gabriel who was looking around the messy Niagara Falls safe house. “They won’t come after us now.” Sam said gently, “Just breathe.”
Gabriel spun and glared at him, “You want me to breathe?! They’ll be here any second! When they sent their minds to something they don’t stop. No matter what! Nothing can change their minds!” he gave a bitter laugh, “Not even me.”
Sam crossed his arms over his chest, “I told them to go back to the nest. They’ll be there unless something happens.”
Gabriel gave a slightly crazed laugh, “And what makes you think they will listen to you, Winchester?” Sam narrowed his eyes at Gabriel and manifested his wings, he couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit smug when Gabriel’s mouth dropped open. “What the hell?! What did you do?!”
Sam rolled his eyes again, “I mated with Lucifer.” Gabriel’s eyes got impossibly wider, “Then apparently Raphael did something that made him unredeemable in the war and I became an archangel.” Gabriel’s mouth opened and closed silently as his eyes darted from Sam’s face to his wings and back.
Finally, he cleared his throat and asked weakly, “And Michael?”
Sam lost his bitch face and smiled, “He’s with us. He’s alright.”
Gabriel deflated a bit, looking a bit unsure, “And the apocalypse?”
“It won’t start up again.” Sam said, “They made up in the cage. There’s no more truly malicious fighting.”
Hope started to show in Gabriel’s eyes but he wrung his hands and looked toward the ground, “And what about me?” Sam frowned and Gabriel shifted, “Are they…..are they mad at me for being a coward? For running away?”
Sam softened and shook his head, “No, they aren’t. They are actually worried that you won’t want anything to do with them and won’t forgive them for how they acted before the fall.”
Gabriel’s brow furrowed, “Me forgive them? But I’m the one who ran away instead of helping.”
“From what I heard you tried everything to get them to stop except for fighting them physically and I definitely understand not wanting to hurt family.” Sam said, “They’re the ones who didn’t listen to reason.”
Gabriel blinked and finally cracked a smile, “I’m so telling them you said they were unreasonable.”
Sam shrugged, “Go for it. I called them assholes the other day.”
Gabriel gaped at him again, “How long did it take for you to be able to say that without being hit?”
Sam frowned, “I’m not sure, cage time is a bit vague for me.” Gabriel raised an eyebrow and Sam grimaced, “Right, we’ll have to catch you up too. You probably intended for us to trick Lucifer back into the cage but instead I said yes and allowed him in. Then, during the final confrontation, I took back control and drug Michael down to the Cage with us.”
Gabriel rolled his eyes, “You Winchesters just love to do things the hard way don’t you.”
Sam smirked, “Come on, it’s more fun that way.”
“How long have you been an Archangel?” Gabriel joked, “I think it’s affecting your sanity.”
“That’s why I fit in so well.” Sam shot back, Gabriel laughed. “So are you ready to go see them? They’ve been going crazy all day waiting for you to wake up. I think they’ve brought you an entire candy store.”
Gabriel looked torn but finally gave a dramatic sigh, “Well I can’t let the candy go to waste I guess.” He grumbled.
Sam laughed, “That’s the spirit!” he took off, flying toward the bunker with Gabriel following close behind.
When they landed in the nest they froze in slight shock; candy covered every surface in the room from the bed to the floor to the walls which had suspiciously new shelves that held what looked to be fresh handmade chocolates. The two oldest Archangels were over by the desk trying to juggle a still running chocolate fountain while they cleared space for it on the crowded desk.
Sam let out a groan, drawing Michael and Lucifer’s attention to him as he pinched the bridge of his nose, “Do I even want to know where you stole a chocolate fountain from?”
“We didn’t steal it!” Michael replied sternly, “We borrowed it!”
“Just a small one from Vegas.” Lucifer said, “The Jean-Phillippe one wouldn’t fit in here.” He pouted a bit at that.
Next to Sam, Gabriel snorted, “I bet not.”
Michael and Lucifer both lit up, “Gabriel!” they shouted happily, Michael swept the candy from the desk onto the floor with a wing and set the chocolate fountain down quickly before he and Lucifer sprung toward Gabriel, their wings manifesting in a rush. Sam stepped back and watched with a smile as the two older Archangels engulfed their younger brother in their arms and wings. As they held him and whispered apologies Gabriel let his wings out to mingle with his brothers and began to cry.
Knowing they could use a bit of privacy, Sam flew to the library where he felt Castiel. He smiled at the seraph when he looked up, “Hey Cas, how are you doing?”
“Fine Sam, thank you.” Castiel replied, he tapped the tome on the table before him, “I’m translating one of the bunker’s books.”
Sam glanced over the page that was opened, catching spell ingredients and a few bits of lore on mermaids, “Sounds interesting.”
Castiel let out a short huff, “It takes the mind off other things.”
Sam nodded in understanding, “Alright, well I just wanted to let you know that Gabriel’s awake.” Cas perked up, “He’s reuniting with Michael and Lucifer right now but he’ll be out here for either dinner or breakfast. Honestly though I’m leaning toward breakfast, Michael and Lucifer have filled the room with candy for him at the moment.”
Cas chuckled, “Must be a mess.” Sam nodded with an exasperated expression, Cas smiled a big warm smile, “I’m happy he is awake and alright. I will see him in the morning.”
Sam nodded and gave a weak wave before flying toward the bar he felt Dean at. He landed behind the bar and went in through the back door. When he entered the main room it didn’t take him long to pinpoint his brother. Dean was sitting at the bar nursing what looked to be his third beer.
Sam dropped onto the stool beside his brother and rapped his knuckles on the bar top. Dean looked over at him as the bartender dropped a bottle in front of him, “Hey. I see you have been released from teddy bear duty.” Sam gave a soft snort but nodded. “How did it go?”
“They tried to rush him and he ran.” Sam said shortly. Dean raised his eyebrows at his brother, waiting for the rest. “He took me with him so when they followed I had to talk him down. They’re in the nest right now calming down.”
“So you haven’t told him what’s going on yet?” Dean questioned.
“No, but he just woke up from being dead. Give him an hour to calm down before we dump that on him.” Sam took a drink of his beer, “Even we give each other time to calm down after our latest deaths before we dump the next disaster on each other.”
“Latest deaths.” Dean huffs, “How bad is it that that’s normal for us?”
Sam chuckled, “Come on dude, three more and we win a free trip to purgatory.”
Dean frowned at his brother, “He is such a bad influence on you.”
Sam shrugged, “Well he is the Devil.” Dean rolled his eyes and they sank into a comfortable silence as they drank.
Two beers later Dean looked over to Sam, “Can I see them?” he asked bluntly. Sam raised both eyebrows at Dean, his beer frozen at his mouth. “You know, your….” He raised both hands and flapped them.
“My wings?” Sam asked, putting his beer down, “Sure.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, why not?” Sam said, pulling out his wallet and taking out the bills necessary to close their tab.
“Cas won’t show me.” Dean said with a slight pout, “I figured it was an angel thing.”
“Kinda.” Sam laughed, “You’re only supposed to show your wings to family and mates. You only saw Michael and Lucifer’s last week because you were a threat and they were acting on instinct alone.”
“I’m family.” Dean pouted as they made their way out to the Impala, “Why wouldn’t Cas show me?” Sam rolled his eyes at his oblivious brother and watched as he got into the car. The second Dean’s door closed Sam placed his hand on the roof of the car and transported them back to the bunker’s garage. Dean jumped out of the car again, glaring at Sam, “Dude! Not cool! You know I hate having my car moved on angel air! Even worse! You’re in training! What if you’d hurt her?”
“Relax. I’ve done this before and I practiced on other people’s cars before I even considered doing it to the Impala.” Sam said, trying to soothe his brother. “Besides, I can feel their grace settling and I figured you wanted to see my wings before I was called back.”
Dean glared at him for several more seconds before sighing, “Fine.” He rubbed the Impala’s hood lovingly, “Just don’t take her flying too often alright?”
“Yes Dean.” Sam said indulgently.
“Good.” Dean said, shutting the door and walking around to Sam’s side. He shifted awkwardly as he stood in front of Sam, “Are you sure its….” Sam rolled his eyes again and manifested his wings with a soft whoosh. Dean’s breath caught in his throat as he took in the three pairs of wings that spread from Sam’s back.
“Magnificent isn’t he?” came Lucifer’s voice, interrupting Dean’s open mouth staring. Sam looked over his brother’s shoulder to see his mate standing a few feet behind Dean.
Sam’s eyes went back to Dean when his brother breathed a, “Yeah.” in agreement. His hand came up but he stopped himself uncertainly. Sam rolled his eyes and moved one of his wings closer to Dean; his brother gripped it lightly, like he thought it would break if he twitched the wrong way. “Whoah.” He murmured, Dean ran a tentative hand down the wing, his eyes watching as the feathers reordered themselves behind the disruption.
Lucifer came closer and tugged on one of Sam’s other wings, “Where did you go?”
Sam smiled, “You guys needed some time together. I was monitoring your grace just in case.”
“Thank you Sam.”
The youngest Archangel inclined his head, “Of course.”
“These are awesome Sammy.” Dean said from where he was playing with Sam’s wing. He seemed to have gotten over most of his worry and was petting the feathers steadily.
Sam looked to consider his wings before grinning and nodding, “Yeah, they’re pretty cool.”
Dean rolled his eyes and looked to force himself to take a step back, “I assume you’re needed now.” He said, looking pointedly at Lucifer.
Lucifer slid an arm around Sam’s waist as he folded his wings away and nodded at Dean, “Yes, things have calmed down and we need him so we can officially welcome Gabriel back into the flock.”
Dean’s eyebrow rose, “You okay with that?” he asked Sam.
“Yes. Like I told Lucifer and Michael, he went about it the wrong way but I understand why he did what he did.” Sam replied.
Dean sighed, “I guess I can kinda understand.” He waved them off, “Go on then.”
Lucifer pulled Sam closer, “We’ll catch Gabriel up tonight and then go over the plans for finding the new Death tomorrow.” With that he pulled Sam with him straight to their nest. Gabriel was sitting on the bed eating a tray of truffles while Michael was chattering at him excitedly in Enochian. “I found him.” Lucifer announced.
Michael looked up with a blinding smile, “Sam! We wondered where you ran off too.”
Sam gave him a soft smile, “You guys needed some time alone. I was monitoring from afar.”
Gabriel gave Sam a grateful look while Michael nodded, “Alright. Come sit, we’ll do the official welcoming and then spend the night talking and building the bonds.” Sam sat at the head of the bed with Lucifer and leaded into his mate to wait for the welcoming to start. Michael opened his mouth to begin before frowning and looking toward the door.
Gabriel tensed and started to look uncertain, “What is it?”
Sam shot Gabriel a reassuring smile before looking to the eldest Archangel, “Michael?”
Gabriel shifted away from the group a bit, “I can go….”
In the next instant Michael had him crushed against his side, “You’re not going anywhere little brother.” He growled. Gabriel tried to show a disgruntled face but it was ruined as he snuggled closer to Michael. “That wasn’t why I stopped.” He looked between the other three. “Castiel was rejected from his flock wasn’t he?”
“Castiel is here?” Gabriel asked, perking up a bit. Michael grinned down at his brother before looking expectantly to Sam.
“Yes, after the whole angels falling thing he was officially cast out.” Sam said, he looked to Gabriel and smirked, “And of course he’s here. Dean’s here. They wouldn’t be able to have their eye fucking matches if he was anywhere else.”
Gabriel grinned, “Still pinning after Dean-o huh? Well I’ll just have to help that along! I’m sure the cherubs wouldn’t mind helping either.” Lucifer snickered and Michael rolled his eyes.
“What about bring Castiel in as well?” Michael asked, Gabriel’s eyes lit up and he looked over to the other two official members of the flock hopefully.
Sam nodded, “I don’t have a problem with Castiel joining us.”
Lucifer glanced at his mate quickly before focusing on Michael, “Why?”
“I know how it is to be without a flock.” Michael said softly, “Our flock breaking up was one of the worse things I’ve ever experienced. He can’t be having an easy go with it either. Plus, Sam had a point the other day. Even though he went about it wrong and made mistakes Castiel did try to protect the host while we were unable too. He also shows loyalty and conviction.”
Lucifer looked to consider this for several seconds before glancing to Gabriel who was looking hopeful and sighing, “Very well. We will bring him in as well.”
Gabriel gave a little cheer and Michael smiled, “Castiel, come here.” He called with power in his voice.
In the next second there was a knock at the door before it swung open, “You called?” Castiel asked respectfully from the doorway. His eyes alighted on Gabriel and he smiled before focusing back on Michael.
“You are invited into the nest.” Michael said, “We have a question for you.”
Castiel came into the nest a little uncertainly and tensed when the door closed behind him, “Yes?”
Michael smiled at the seraph, “We would like to know if you would like to join our flock.”
Castiel’s eyes widened and he blinked several times, “Excuse me?” he asked, his voice a little higher than normal.
“Would you like to join our flock Cas?” Sam asked gently from his spot against Lucifer.
“We’ve already talked it over.” Lucifer said, “We just need your answer.”
Castiel looked at each of the four archangels in turn and only saw acceptance and truth on their faces, “I would be honored.” He finally said.
“Great!” Michael said as Gabriel reached out and pulled Castiel onto the bed which Lucifer expanded to fit all of them easily. “We were just about to welcome Gabriel as well.” He moved so he was sitting with Sam and Lucifer and Gabriel and Castiel were sitting across from them. “Ready?” the two inductees nodded. Michael, Lucifer, and Sam all manifested their wings and let their grace float out of the tight holds they had on it. “We formally invite you, Gabriel, and you, Castiel, into our flock with all of its knowledge and members. Do you accept?” Michael asked in Enochian.
Both Gabriel and Castiel manifested their wings, Gabriel’s three sets a brilliant gold and Castiel’s set an inky black, and let their grace out to mingle with the other threes. “I accept.” They spoke in unison, the grace began to thread together and all of the angel’s wings started to tingle.
“I welcome you to my flock.” Michael said.
“I welcome you to my flock.” Lucifer repeated.
“We welcome you to our flock.” Sam finished. The grace in the room crested and glowed, swirling around the new flock members and joining them with the other three. Just as the grace began to die down they all felt a powerful presence in the room, it surrounded them and filled them with the feeling of love and pride. Their grace rose once more and the light filled the room, blinding even the archangels before dying off completely.
Michael smiled happily, “I believe father is pleased.” Lucifer nodded in agreement.
Suddenly they heard Castiel squeak and Gabriel begin to laugh happily. Everyone looked over to see Castiel staring wide eyed as two more sets of wings grew from his back. Once the new appendages reached full size they stopped growing and settled with Castiel’s original wings. “Wha….” Cas stuttered uncharacteristically.
“Father is really pleased.” Lucifer laughed.
Gabriel’s laughter died and he simply grinned at Cas, “Welcome to the club Cassie!”
Lucifer and Sam traded an amused look while Michael gave Castiel and Gabriel a blinding smile, “Welcome home you two!”