Chapter 7

"Hey, Samwich!" Gabriel says excitedly, bouncing over to the boy.

"What's up?" Sam asks.

"Nothing. I'm just bored."

"Join the club," Sam replies.

"Ooh, there's a club? What's it called? Does it have t-shirts?"

Sam laughs. "No, sorry. No shirts here."

"Alright, then I'll take yours off for you," Gabriel says with a smirk.

Sam chuckles at the angel. "Not what I meant."

"Aww, dang it," Gabriel says in a tone that makes it clear he knew he didn't have a chance. "I wanted to see those abs of yours."

Sam rolls his eyes, but he can't hide his amusement. "Sorry, Gabe."

"Well, I'll settle for a kiss," Gabriel says, leaning in to kiss Sam. Sam pulls away after a few seconds, much to Gabriel's dismay. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Sam says quickly.

"What's wrong?" Gabriel asks again. "Why won't you kiss me? Do you not love me anymore? I mean, it'd make sense cuz it's been, like, seven years, but —"

"No, that's not it," Sam interrupts. "Of course I love you. But..." He sighs, not sure how to phrase this.

"But what?" Gabriel asks worriedly.

"It's just... With my dad and Dean here, I just..."

"Don't want any PDAs?" Gabriel finishes.

Sam nods. "Basically, yeah. Overprotective family, ya know?"

"Not really," Gabriel replies. "I mean, Castiel hates me, Michael's barely said two words to me, and the only time Lucifer talks to me is if I mention him by name."

"I'm sure it will just take time," Sam assures him. "You'll have your brothers back in no time."

Gabriel gives him a small smile for his reassurance. "I hope so," he replies. "I really, really do."

~~

Michael sees Lucifer standing alone, and decides to try his luck again. He walks up to his brother, who frowns when he notices Michael's existence.

"Seriously, Michael. I don't want to talk to you. Get lost."

"Lucifer," Michael says, willing the angel to listen to him.

"Don't do that," Lucifer snaps. "Don't do what?"

"Don't say my name like we're best friends. We aren't best friends. Not anymore."

"We could be," Michael replies.

"No, we can't."

"Why not?"

"'Why not?'" Lucifer repeats in disbelief. "Because you tried to kill me! You had your chance to make up with me, but you decided it was apocalypse time instead."

"I'm sorry," Michael says, though he's still not used to giving apologies.

"'Sorry' doesn't cut it!"

"What more do you want from me?" Michael asks.

"Nothing! That's the damn point. I want nothing to do with you."

"Don't be like that," Michael pleads.

"What, you're just expecting me to forget that you threw me in Hell and then wanted to kill me?"

"Not forget, just forgive. I want my brother back."

"And I want all those years I spent in Hell back. Looks like neither of us are getting what we want."

"Lucifer, please," Michael begs.

"You know, there's only one thing I regret about what's happened between us," Lucifer says. "I wish I killed you when I had the chance."

Michael feels those words hit him like a punch to the gut. "You don't mean that," he says softly.

"I meant every word," Lucifer hisses.

Michael looks at him like a wounded puppy, the full weight of what was said weighing down on him.

"You wanted your apocalypse so badly, why don't we do it now?" Lucifer suggests. "You and me, right here, right now. What do you say?"

"I'm not going to fight you," Michael says.

"Why the hell not? You didn't give it a second thought all those years ago!"

"Stop fighting," Gabriel commands them, realizing their argument isn't as minor as he had expected it to be.

"Shut up, Gabriel," Lucifer snaps. With a flick of his fingers, Gabriel is flung into a wall, the collision strong enough to make the whole bunker shake. Gabriel just falls to the ground, his numerous broken bones making it too hard to stand.

"Brothers, please stop," Castiel pleads, walking towards them to get between their fight.

Dean grabs his forearm and pulls him back. "What the hell are you doing?" Dean hisses.

"Hoping my brothers will stop fighting," Castiel replies.

"They just broke a freaking archangel and you're going to go bug them, too?"

"I don't think you understand the severity of their argument," Castiel says. "Lucifer doesn't make idle threats."

"That doesn't mean you've got to get between them!" Dean hisses. "If Lucifer's going to kill Michael, I don't think he'll hesitate before killing you, too!"

"But I'm sure if one of us dies, it will draw the attention of Chuck, and he will stop it from becoming an all-out apocalypse."

"So you'd let him kill you just to get Chuck's attention?"

Castiel nods. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Better me than anyone else here," Castiel replies simply.

"Dammit, Cas! Stop talking like that! You're no less important than anyone else here."

"Well, my apocalypses averted to apocalypses started ratio is not looking good," Castiel replies.

"What are you talking about? We basically avert the apocalypse every year."

" basically avert the apocalypse every year," Castiel corrects him. "I'm just here for quick fixes. I'm expendable."

"Where did you hear that?"

"It doesn't matter. It's true. You and Sam are the real heroes. I'm nothing."

"You're not nothing. Far from it."

Castiel gives him a small smile. "That's kind of you to say, Dean, but it's not true."

"I mean it, Cas. I don't know what's up with these self esteem issues, but stop it. That's my thing. You're more important than just about everything else. What's it going to take to get that through your head?" Dean's past the point of pleading with the angel; he's starting to get sort of angry that the boy can't see his importance.

"It would take it being true."

"It is true! Cas, you're more important than you know. You're not nothing; you're everything. At least to me."

As soon as he says it, he wants to cram those words back in his mouth. Castiel looks at him with wide eyes as he processes what was said.

"What?" Castiel says softly.

"Nothing," Dean says dismissively.

Castiel tilts his head, doing his cute little squinty eye thing that Dean (and the fandom) adores. "I'm sensing regret," Castiel observes. "Embarrassment. Why?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Dean replies.

"You're lying," Castiel observes. "I can feel it. Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe your angel powers went whack."

"No. There is something you're not telling me."

Dean sighs in exasperation, knowing there's no way out of this. "What, you can sense just about everything else, but you're gonna make me say this?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"I mean... You're really going to make me say it, aren't you?"

"I don't understand."

Dean sighs at the angel's cluelessness. "You know what? It's nothing. Forget this ever happened, okay?"

"Dean, what are you so afraid to say to me?" Castiel asks.

"Nothing," Dean repeats. "It's nothing."

"Dean..." Castiel says, knowing there's something he isn't saying.

"Fine," Dean says. "It's probably going to be the biggest mistake of my life, but fine. I love you, Cas. I have for years, and I always will."

Castiel is still. Unsure what to say, he keeps his mouth shut. What just happened? Did Dean really just say that?

"I told you it would be a mistake," Dean mutters, turning around to leave. He'd rather not stand around in embarrassment for another hour or so.

Castiel grabs his wrist and pulls the boy back, momentarily forgetting to be gentle with his strength in his hurry to stop the boy from walking away. Castiel looks up at the boy, whose gaze are trained on the floor. Dean's face is red with embarrassment. Castiel gently lifts his face to the boy has no choice but to look at him. Once their eyes lock, it's as if everything else is suddenly invalidated in their lives.

Dean takes a step closer, wrapping his arms around the angel's neck as he presses their lips together. Castiel is still, frozen in shock. What remained of Dean's hopes are dashed when the angel doesn't return the kiss. Dean starts to pull away and take the walk of shame, but Castiel stops him by wrapping his own arms around Dean's waist.

It takes a moment of uncertainty before Castiel kisses Dean back, unsure if this is how it goes. It's been so long since he watched the pizza man, he can barely remember. When he hears Dean's intake of breath, he comes to the conclusion he's doing something right.

Dean melts into the kiss, enjoying every second of this moment he thought would never come. Castiel is less comfortable, still not sure what he should be doing but doing it nonetheless. Fortunately, Dean definitely seems to know what he's doing, bringing a pleasure to the angel he's never felt before. What is this? Lust? No, he's familiar with that sensation. This is different. Better. Beautiful in a way he cannot describe. 

It's love.