Can't we all just get along?
Michael stands in the library just looking at the stacks. He doesn't generally come here. He always just told Raphael what he needed and it was gotten. That was true of most things. He just ended up giving instructions, delegating, wallowing in his own misery and solitude, and thinking trying to reconcile himself to the job that was ahead, trying to keep faithful, rationalizing everything he had done or didn't do or would have to do in the future. He doesn't know where anything is in here, or who the librarian is. It's impossible that the previous librarian, the one who threw his sword away is still alive. Claire must have been referring to a different Harahel. Were they any other Harahel's left? He doesn't know. Raphael would know. He always knows. There are two angels a little further in, talking to each other over a pile of records.
"They all have families." The one with the gorgeous mother of pearl wings sighs.
"Humans generally do." The other angel replies.
"No, I mean, husbands children... some are children. I can't take them away from their loved ones just so I can see mine."
"Hmm... What about the abyss? You can see each other there without a vessel."
"That's right, I can! Oh, but is it safe for the baby?"
"I don't see why it wouldn't be."
"Librarian." Michael calls. "Where is Heaven's directory? I need to locate Adam Milligan."
"Yes, sir." There's only one angel now. One of the choir he thinks. He's afraid, trying not to look at Michael, so the archangel kindly ignores him. "Here you are, sir."
"That was fast." Michael raises an eyebrow.
"I thought you might want too check in on him when you were feeling better." The librarian meekly hands him the paper and directions. "Vessels are special." Michael just takes the papers and leaves.
It's been a long time since Michael thought of a vessel as anything more than an inconvenience or liability. He can remember his first time. Simple verbal instructions weren't enough for the first Adam anymore. Eve was approaching him in size. He was unsure how such a small thing could contain all of his grace, but he took a leap of faith, asked permission and, always eager to try something new, she said yes with enthusiasm. It was difficult keeping control. She kept wanting to see what was going on or ask what if we did it this way? What happens if I hit this with that? How hard do I have to hit this melon to make it explode? With a fraction of the strength of an archangel apparently. Gabriel laughed her head off at that one. It was fun.
Touching things, smelling things, experiencing the vibrations of existence in a new way was a little overwhelming at first, but a precious gift, always a gift. Something to be honored and appreciated, respected. When did they start taking it for granted? When did they start thinking it was something they were owed, or has a right to? That their needs and desires automatically superceded a vessel's right to their own autonomy. What should have been a partnership founded on generosity, mutual understanding, communication and respect became a quick seduction,coersion and suppression, and taking it allf or as long as they felt like. When did it become okay to lie and torment a vessel into aquiesence? Whgen did they assume they knew better in all things? When did they decide that they served humanity best by trying to control them even in that small way?
It's too easy to think that just because you can force someone to do what you think is right, that it's alright to do so. Is this why their father said to love them, to serve them, to place them above themselves, because any other way would lead to disaster? Humanity has the potential for greatness, he's seen it, rarely,but it's there. It's so incredibly fragile though. The very complexity that makes humanity encompass the best and worst of creation makes it that much morein need of nurturing protection and love, that much more suceptible to being damaged by hubris, arrogance, and bullying. Did any of them truly understand what it means to protect humanity? Did any of them truly understand humanity?
Adam is cooking dinner with his mother, laughing over some obscure reference. Happy with the happiness heaven is meant to provide. This is the love and affection he condoned being held hostage to get what he wanted. The very thought fills him with shame. What feels oddly worse is that he sent others to ask on his behalf. Granted he couldn't exactly manifest on earth without massive preparation or else he'd cause such distruction. That's even just on his way to the vessel. It's bad enough he had to call back Zachariah and hurt all those people with his voice. He should have had them fix the damage, no matter the expense. He definitely shouldn't have let wanting to avoid an angry visit from Azrael influence the decision to just leave them dead. Yes, they were allowed into heaven, but they had families that loved them as much as Adam loved his own. What about the damage done to them by his actions? Possessing John Winchester was a difficult gamble that only neccessity made him attempt. It's likely the only time his vessels wishes were perfectly in sync with his own. Save his family. That's what he should be striving for, that kind of understanding and cooperation with humanity. When did he stop thinking it worthwhile? Perhaps Alex can help him with that at least. She wants him to feel better, but really he has to do better. But it wouldn't matter anyways, always better, never good enough.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" He hears the yell that means Gabriel has just seriously pissed off Raphael and is about to get severely beaten, part laughter, part terror. It's been so long since she managed to piss him off to that degree or has even been around to do so. He's surprised he can identify it so readily, in truth. "Cassie! Help!" Michael arrives at the garden in time to see Gabriel hide behind an angel that looks like the Seraph Castiel, only he's been altered into... into an archangel. Is this was she meant by promoted? Taking that... rebellious traitor and making him one of them? It's a slap in the face, but no more than he's come to expect from his father by now.
"What did she do?" Michael's surprised Castiel actually asks instead of just defending her automatically as their brother used to do. What's more surprising is Raphael's reluctance to just force him aside.
"That is not your concern. Now hand her over before I take you out as well."
"If you are attempting to kill my sister, it's very much my concern." His sister? His? Gabriel is not his.
"I'm not going to kill her." The accusation rightfully offends Raphael. Though given he has killed Castiel before and the brother that loved Gabriel best has killed her, perhaps it's not an entirely unreasonable assumption.
"Yeah, you'd be surprised what you can live through." Of course, Gabriel is not helping at all. Is Castiel their brother's replacement? the thought angers him beyond reason.
"This little shit tried to sell me to an african river god for one goat!" He sounds almost as offended by the price as by the sale itself. Before Michael can step in, Castiel astonishes all of them by tossing Gabriel over towards Raphael.
"You little traitor!" Gabriel looks at him, just completely astonished. Michael starts to laugh despite himself. The look on her face was just priceless, and the way she landed... How long has it been since he's laughed this hard? Or laughed at all for that matter.
"Gabriel, you know you don't have the authority to do that." Michael chides her, unable to resist teasing the both of his younger siblings.
"I didn't! I swear!" She protests. "i just took it in exchange for not interfering in Bia's courtship of our lovely little Raphi. That's all."
"Why would you do something like that?" Castiel has the audacity to scold her. "That was beyond innappropriate." Fortunately Gabriel doesn't look the least inclined to accept the censure, not that she has ever graciously taken correction.
"You know, I just remembered something." Gabriel gets to her feet. "I'm older and more powerful than you." She snaps her fingers reconfiguring his vessel into that of a small black kittne with big blue eyes and a tan collar shaped collar with a blue clip on tie. "Now wait with your boyfreind while the big boys talk." She snaps him away as well. While he really shouldn't encourage this kind of thing, Michael doesn't particularly feel like taking her to task over that particular angel.
"What were you thinking?" Raphael demands.
"Well, I was thinking that once the prospect of a divine mate for Bia was introduced, whether he failed in his courtship or not, Tano would settle for nothing less and drop all thoughts of pursuing Alex romantically. And, you know, that Raph would beat the crap out of them both, which they totally had coming for that whole mess in the first place. Plus I thought it would be hillarious and it was." Gabriel starts to laugh. Raphael darts for her at this but she hides behind Michael this time.
"Give the goat back and apologize." Michael orders, pulling her out from behind him by the arm.
"I can't! I already gave it away!"
"Then give them another one and apologize for you deception."
"Michael, you'd just ordered her to apologize to pagan deities." Raphael points out.
"Right." He sighs. "Never mind that part, then. But apologize to your brother and do not involve him in your schemes without his full consent and cooperation. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Michael. Sorry, Raph. You are pretty much the ideal wife, though. If you could learn how to cook, anyways."
"I'll let you live." Raphael replies, crossing his arms. "For now."
The first thing Dean notices after waking up in a fit of sneezing is that there's a goat chewing on his shirts in the laundry.
"What the- echhuu..." He sneezes and looks over to see an irritated looking kitten with a tiny blue tie sitting by the door as far from Dean as it can reasonably get. "Cas? Is that chhhh.. Oh that little chuhh...."He picks up the kitten and opens the door. "SAM! Will you get chuuh! Goddammit!" The kitten races away from him as soon as it gets the chance
"What? What's..." Sam rushes out of his room as Dean's stuck in a fit of sneezing. "Dean? Why do you have a goat in your room?" He looks at the billy goat as it trots out to explore the bunker, dropping a deuce in the doorway.
"Why do you thuchhu... think?" Dean takes off his shirt. Sam just gives him and odd look. "Your fucking guh- chhh girlfreind! Jesuuucch, Sam. Really? Fucking really?" Dean gives him an offended look, interrupted by another sneeze. "I need... achhhh.... a fucking shower."
"I didn't realize you were allergic to goats." Sam takes the goat gingerly by the collar and leads it out the door as his sneezing brother gathers his sheets and clothes for an emergency load of laundry. There's a name tag on the collar. Dean Junior. It seems fairly content to start munching on the grass on the knoll on top of the bunker entrance. He just shakes his head and tries to think of how to approach her about this. Hopefully the goat was not, at one point, a person.
"Sam!" He looks back as a car drives up and sees Krissy leaning out the window of a used four door sedan, waving at him.
"Jesus, Krissy! Get your little white butt back in the car." he hears from inside. He waves back and walks over as it slows down. Josephine and Aiden are there as well.
"Is that a goat?" Krissy looks up at the top of the bunker before Sam motions her back into her seat.
"I'll show you to the garage." He gets in the back next to her.
"We did want to talk to you," Josephine looks back breifly. "If that's okay."
"Of course, turn here." He points.
"Ummm."
"I know, it's an illusion, don't worry. Just go slow, I forgot where exactly Claire left her car."
"Go very fast. If you wreck it beyond repair she'll have to get another one." Krissy taps Josephine's shoulder.
"I'm not wrecking my car just so your partner has to... shit." She slams the breaks just before hitting the back of the wagon.
"Ah, so close." Krissy sighs, dropping back into the seat.
"Why aren't you wearing your seat belt? I don't want our baby born brain damaged because you can't take basic safety precautions."Josephine looks back. "Now buckle up."
"We're already in the garage, Jo."
"I don't care. I'm not moving this car again until everyone's buckled in." She insists.
"Okay. Or..." Krissy opens the back door and gets out of the car. As do Sam and Aiden. Jo just sighs and finds and finds an empty space.
"Oh, man, look at those cars." Aiden starts drooling over the old cars parked in the bunker. "That wagon is a hunk of junk. You should have rammed it, Jos."
"You are never driving my car again." She gets out, locking the doors behind her.
"I'm really starting to see what kind of mother you're going to be." Krissy shakes her head at her friend. "She won't even let me sit in the front seat anymore now that I've decided to keep the baby."
"It's called the death seat for a reason, Kris." Josephine scolds, putting her large purse over her shoulder. "I'm sorry we didn't call first. Krissy wanted to surprise you and wouldn't share your number."
"Wait but you'll let me ride in the death seat?" Aiden complains, not entirely seriously but it flies over Jo's head.
"You are a fully grown adult. Not a fragile developing fetus with no say in your own welfare." She reminds him sternly. He and Krissy exchange a look. "Mr. Winchester, I know you're busy but Aiden and I are going to be raising Krissy's baby, and since he's going to be a greek demi-god we kind of need to find out as much about them as we can. Ways to nullify powers, what to expect, how to baby proof the house so he won't accidentally destroy it. Just everything about the childhood of Demi-gods in general."
"And I need to use that portal to the abyss so I can go see Hara. Saul's being a poopy head and not letting him back in and since I'm pregnant he can't visit me in me." Krissy sighs, rubbing her eyes. "And apparently pregnancy is like a giant sleeping pill so I'm stealing the nearest soft flat surface I come across for a nap first."
"Remember, if you're having cravings, tell me what you're craving for and I'll get you what your body really needs. And if you want to eat clay or chalk or non food items, do not give in to that urge." Josephine instructs her. Krissy just rolls her eyes at this.
"She took away my Hershey bar and gave me figs. Figs!" Krissy points at her friend accusingly.
"If you're craving chocolate you're craving magnesium and antioxidents. Figs are a better source of both and also sweet."
"And very much NOT A BAR OF CHOCOLATE." Krissy heads over to the love seat by the bookshelves and plops down face first over the arm of the chair.
"Really? Belly flopping onto things?" Jo smacks her butt. "What next are you going to start going down stairs by hurling yourself off the top step? You need to take this seriously Krissy."
"Come on, the greek books are across the way." Sam motions to Jo and Aiden. Krissy looks up to a shelf as a large book falls onto the floor. There's a small black kitten in the empty space, looking down at the fallen manuscript.
"Awwww... You didn't tell me you got a wittle kitty." Krissy smiles as the cat jumps down and starts batting at the pages. "Here, kitty kitty.... Oh,he's got a little tie. He's so cute. And look at those eyes, they're so blue. Who's a pretty kitty. You are. Yes you are." She gestures to it. The kitten looks up at her and gives her an annoyed look.
"We don't have a cat. Dean's allergic to..." Sam comes over and looks at the kitten leafing through the pages. "Let me guess. Gabriel."Sam covers his eyes and picks up both the kitten and the book. "Transubstantiation. Are you sure you want to fool around with this Cas?" He asks. "You're still not up on your abilities yet." Kitty-Cas just flattens his ears back. Just wait a second and let me talk to your sister, okay?" He places Cas down on Krissy's back and walks off with the book.
"You know, stuff like this makes me glad I'm an only child." Krissy yawns. "You are so warm. Stay a minute will you? I love cats." Cas just curls up on her back and rests his head on his paws.
"S'up, Samcake. Kind of in the middle of some unwanted leadership lessons so give me a good excuse for leaving." Babe appears, sitting on the nearest bookshelp. "Did you get my little present?"
"Yes. I found the goat. We don't really need a goat."
"What? Everybody needs a goat! Beats mowing the law, and fertilizes it at the same time. And if you're here to talk to me about Cassie I will change that traitor back when I'm good and ready."
"Gabrielle...." He crosses his arms. "You know that Dean's ridiculously allergic to cats."
"Is he? I forgot." she says innocently. Sam just gives her a look, not believing her for a second. "Oh,fine." She snaps her fingers.
"And if you could clear the house of allergens, as an apology to my brother."
"Fine,fine. So high maintenance." Babe shakes her head, despairingly.
"You're damn right I am. Can I take it things are going well? Since you have so much time on your hands to play pranks and leave your primary assistant in feline form?" Sam walks over to her and puts his arms around her hips.
"If you want, sure. You free?"
"No we're working on the school today. It'll be easier to do so if my brother's not sneezing every five seconds, so..."
"Yeah, yeah." She snaps her fingers again, returning Castiel's vessel to it's original form and ridding the house of anything cat.
"Thanks, Babe." He gives her a kiss. "While you're here, though, Krissy's keeping the baby so if you know anything about raising demi-gods?"
"Oh, sure. I raised three, or close enough to it." She hops down.
"Gabriel, there are tasks you need to tend to in heaven." Castiel reminds her. "We have to prepare a plan for dealing with the influx of souls from the veil, as well as making arrangements in regards to vessels and their families and our cooperation with the hunters school when it's formed. Your repairs are still crumbling and the angels are concerned about what Michael and Raphael's return means. You are in charge now. This is all your responsibility. Only you can address these things, you can't just come and go as you please."
"Fine, go take care of it." She dismisses him with a wave. Castiel just crosses his arms. "I'm sorry. I thought I was in charge. That means you do what I tell you. So go back to heaven and take care of it. That's an order soldier. Or do you feel like being fabulous in fur again?" She draws herself up, not that it makes much difference. Castiel just gives her a disapproving look and disappears. "Do you have something to say, Sam?" She turns her gaze back to her fiancee who's just looking at her thoughtfully.
"Would you like to talk?"
"Not even slightly." She walks over to Krissy who's fallen asleep again. "Though there is something you can do for me if you feel so inclined." she snaps the loveseat into a plusher more comfortable couch.
"What is it?" Sam the quick learner asks cautiously.
"Well, Raphael knows that we're engaged. He's being surprisingly chill about it. The usual 'what the hell is wrong with you' that I get from him of course, but you know, he wasn't give us shit about it. He'll probably just ignore it. He's really good at ignoring things. He and Luci went for Days once without acknowledging each others existence, and let me tell you, ignoring Lucifer was hard as hell to do."
"Okay. So, what do you want me to do?"
"I need you to maybe win him over?" She looks back at him hopefully. The wrinkle on his forhead make him look doubtful of the viability of the task. "You know we're going to need him on our side when we break this to Michael."
"I don't think that's going to happen, Gabrielle." Sam shakes his head. "I think having them just...overlook our relationship is pretty much the best we're going to get."
"True, but I don't think Michael is going to overlook it. Not for my sake. But if Raphael wants him to... well, she's overlooked worse thigns for his sake, hasn't she?" Babe walks over to a bookshelf and pulls out a spellbook tossing it over to Jo and Aiden who are pretending not to listen to the conversation.
"I'll tell you what." Sam considers. "I'll do this. I'll... try to develop a positive relationship with Raphael if... and only if, you try to do the same with Dean."
"What?"
"I'm tired of this animosity between you two. Find a way to get along. It can't be harder than what you're asking me to do."
"Oh you think so?" She retorts making a disgusted noise. "Alright. Fine. I'll try. But if he's determined to hate me there's only so much I can do."