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As soon as the prayer started, Raphael knew that he would grant it. For one thing, it came from Sam, asking for something for himself. That happened so rarely, despite Raphael encouraging him to do so as often as he could think of something to ask for. Even this one was hardly selfish – Sam would be the immediate beneficiary, yes, but it would allow him to serve another.
Sam’s husband Castiel was a good man, a devoted servant. The two had met at the university where both were professors – Castiel in classics, Sam in modern English literature. Both men were passionate about their subject, but also about teaching. How it had gone so wrong with a mutual friend introduced the two, and Sam and Castiel spent over two years believing the other man hated them, Raphael could not understand. They had so much in common, beginning with the most important thing – a good heart and a devotion to doing good in the world.
Eventually, they’d gotten past whatever the misunderstanding was, and Castiel had introduced Sam and his brother Dean to his greatest secret – Raphael. “My family has always been guarded by him. An archangel. Apparently, when an angel falls and is born again on Earth as a human, my family is the one they are born to. My sister Anna is a fallen angel, literally. Raphael makes sure that those angels are given the chance to live out their human lives as they desire, and that the normal human members of the family are able to look after them.”
Raphael found it hilarious when Sam introduced his brother to his sister-in-law. The idea of Dean Winchester, of all people, finding love in a fallen angel was causing a great deal of handwringing among one faction of Heaven and hilarity in others. Raphael, meanwhile, had discovered that he needed to extend his definition of family. Bloodlines were important, but they weren’t everything. Sam and Castiel’s children Claire and Jack could be taken care of with a simple blood transfusion, with Raphael carefully guarding against reactions to the incompatible blood type until the blood’s power had the chance to take hold.
More expandingly, he had no action to take as he explored what Sam and Dean considered their family tree. Their mother had died when they were young, and their father was something of a neglectful parent. In their absence, Sam and Dean had adopted themselves several other parents. Ellen Harvelle, with her daughter Jo as a sister. Bobby Singer. Jody Mills and her family. Linda Tran and her son Kevin, although Kevin was adopted first. Charlie Bradbury was adopted as a sister. There were no formal bonds, nothing like blood ties or even formal adoption, but when he accompanied Castiel to the Winchester family Thanksgiving, Raphael felt the spirit of family there far more strongly than he had ever felt it among the Miltons.
And now, Jody and Sean Mills were ill. Dean and Anna volunteered to take Owen, while Sam and Castiel would go stay with the Millses and take care of them. Sam’s prayer was asking Raphael to protect him along with Castiel – the last thing Castiel needed was from going from two caregivers for two patients to one caregiver for three. Raphael came to Sam as the prayer finished. “Here. Take this.”
Sam took the charm Raphael held out – a silver bracelet made from overlapping fish. “Thank you, Raphael. I know I’m not your job, but…”
“My job is to look after the Milton family. Castiel may have taken your name, but he is a Milton by blood, and you are his husband. The father of his children.” Raphael took both of Sam’s hands in his. “You are part of my mission. Even if you and Castiel, someday, should divorce, or you outlive him, you and your family have taught me so much about what family means.” Sam’s eyes clouded at the mention of divorce. “Have no fear. It is far more likely that your separation will be the much more temporary one of death, before you are together in eternity. The way Castiel looks at you, even after all these years, and the way you look at him… every single day, the two of you choose each other when you have the choice presented to you. You choose your love and your family over your anger, or your frustration, or the temptation of another. The one thing that could drive you two apart is one thing that Castiel will never ask of you – to abandon your brother.”
Sam’s entire body softened. “You really think so? I can’t imagine life without him, but we had a pretty big fight when I said I was going with him to help Jody and Sean. He didn’t want me putting myself at risk.”
“I spoke to him just before I heard your prayer. I reassured him that even if you didn’t ask for it, I would protect you, because you are part of my mission. He was worried about you, but recognizes that he overreacted. He plans to apologize on your way over.” Raphael gave Sam’s hands a squeeze. “Be kind to him. He acted out of fear and love.”
“I know. But thanks, Raphael.” Sam pulled his hands away. “We should get going. I’m glad to know you’re watching over us.”