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SPN-- ITMCHaN Ch. 7

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Chapter Seven: Remedy ((Little Boots))

Everyone that remained at the bar stared at the stranger who'd walked in. The man looked back at them. He was shorter than Castiel by a few inches, although he looked smaller in jeans and brown button- up shirt and jacket that were all a little baggy. He had light brown hair, slicked back for the most part, a few strands coming free to fall over hazel eyes. He regarded the majority of the room with little interest, until his gaze landed on Castiel.

"What are you doing here?"

Dean finally looked away from the stranger, turning to the angel. "Cas?"

Castiel frowned, slightly confused. This obviously wasn't the reaction he was looking for. "I've been trying to find you."

"Why?"

"I…"

"As glad as I am that those demons are out of here, I'm gonna need someone to explain a few things to me," Ellen's voice interrupted them, as she leaned against the bar. She scowled at the mess the fight had left. A few broken chairs, a table split in half. Some of the pictures on the walls had cracked as people were slammed against them. Not to mention all the spilled drinks, broken bottles and generally a night with no customers.

"Oh," Castiel blinked. "My apologies. This is my brother, Gabriel, who I've been looking for. He got rid of those demons."

"How, exactly?" Sam, ever the Good Samaritan, started righting chairs and picking up glass, even as he cast Gabriel curious glances.

"Angels have no power in Purgatory, but archangels still have a bit, being more powerful to start with than normal angels."

Dean nodded, recalling what Balthazar had told them. "Not too much though."

"Enough to get rid of some stupid demons," Gabriel snapped. "Also, what gives? I thought you two were supposed to be hunters? Shouldn't you know how to deal with them?"

"And how exactly do you know that?" Dean narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously.

The archangel rolled his eyes. "Balthazar. Not to give you guys a big head or anything, but word's spreading and you two are pretty popular gossip around here."

Castiel tilted his head. "I don't see how that should change the size of their head."

Dean's expression softened. "Figure of speech, Cas."

"Oh."

Gabriel made his way to the other end of the bar, where Dean and Castiel were still resting against the far wall. The angel wasn't holding Dean up any longer, even if his chest still hurt a bit. The smaller man grabbed Castiel by his trench coat.

"C'mon. You've spent too much time with these clowns. Let's get you back home before you start picking up bad habits."

Dean made to protest, grabbing onto Castiel's other arm. "Hey…"

Castiel beat him to it, however, and resisted his brother's pull. "Gabriel stop. I didn't come all the way out here to find you, just to return empty- handed."

Gabriel glared at Dean, before turning to look at Castiel with a sigh. "Cas, did you ever wonder why I'm still here? I should've been home awhile ago, right? That's why you came looking."

The dark- haired man nodded.

"I'm still here because I don't wanna go. I like it here, believe it or not."

Dean could tell from the tone he was using that this was complete bullshit. Hunter's instincts aside, Dean could read people. It came in handy for poker and pool. And Gabriel was sending out all the wrong signs. Something was keeping him here, and it wasn't the charming locale. But he didn't say anything. If that's what he wanted Castiel to believe, it was far from him to say otherwise.

Castiel wasn't happy with his brother's response, however. "That's ridiculous. What could be here that would make staying here worthwhile?"

Gabriel opened his mouth to reply, before thinking better of it. Finally he grinned. "Well… the food's pretty good."

Righting an upturned table, Sam snorted.

"Look," he continued, "You've got nothing down here, Cas. You can't make me do anything I don't wanna do. You never could anyway. So you should just go home before you get hurt." He cast a glance at Dean at the last statement, prompting a confused frown from the hunter.

Castiel was adamant. "If you're going to send me home, you have to send Sam and Dean home as well."

Well, that was a good idea. If Gabriel still had his power, he could put them all back where they belonged right now. No more walking all day to find some guy who may not even be able to help them. Dean was tired of dealing with angels anyway. Outside of Castiel, he hadn't exactly warmed up to them. In fact, most of them were dicks. So much for angelic stereotypes.

Instead, Gabriel shook his head. "No can do. I don't have that much power. I might have some of it, but not as much as usual. It's limited here, and I used a lot getting rid of those demons."

Castiel crossed his arms. "Then I'm not leaving. Dean helped me, and I intend to help him and his brother in return."

While part of him was grateful that Castiel wasn't leaving them, it would technically be in his best interests to go. Gabriel was right, without his powers, Cas could get hurt here.

But the angel was having none of it. Blue eyes narrowed in determination, he stepped away from the wall, heading to the bar. Ellen seemed to sense what he was after, because she had a glass of Pepsi on the counter for him as soon as he reached it. Must have been a bartender thing. He nodded his thanks and downed the soda in one go. Like he was drinking a shot. Dean bit back a laugh at that.

Gabriel arched a brow, but said nothing to argue. Dean knew Castiel had won this argument. He knew how stubborn younger brothers could be from personal experience, and he knew the look when an older brother just gives up. He moved to join Castiel at the bar.

Dean pushed himself off the wall, pain finally fading enough to start helping Sam clean up. The younger Winchester had already righted all the furniture that wasn't broken, so Dean grabbed a broom from Ellen and started sweeping up broken glass. After a moment, Castiel came to hold the dustpan.

***

Ellen closed up early that night. They weren't getting any more business after that fight. After cleaning everything up— even Gabriel pitched in after awhile, although that was after Sam pestering him that he'd made some of the mess flinging demons around— they moved into the living area above the bar. There was only one guest room. It had already been small for three people, but for four it was an argument waiting to happen. Ellen informed them that if she had to break up any fights, it would be with the shotgun, and she left them to argue over the couch.

The room barely had enough room for the furniture in it. The couch took up the most. It could probably fit two of them if they curled up. It was maroon, and a much nicer couch than Balthazar's basement- diving, Dean noticed with a grin. Besides the couch, there was a recliner the same color, an end table between them, and a bookshelf. So three of them could sleep comfortably, and one would get the floor.

When Sam suggested Rock Paper Scissors, Dean just grabbed a blanket and settled down on the rug. Castiel tilted his head, confused.

"Don't even bother with it. I'll take the floor."

Sam grinned. "That's just because he always loses."

The angel just handed Dean a pillow. Sam took the recliner. He was too tall to curl up on the couch and hope to fit someone else on there, even someone as small as Gabriel. So the other two took the couch, resting their heads against the arm of either side. Blankets and pillows were distributed, and everyone settled in without difficulty.

Dean was the first to fall asleep.

***

He wasn't the first to wake, however. He knew this without even bothering to open his eyes. Instead he listened to the hushed voices speaking, too comfortable to get up just yet. Someone had piled more blankets beside him during the night, and it was nice and warm.

"They're adorable, really." Dean could hear the smirk in Gabriel's tone.

"This should probably be freaking me out more than it does," Sam replied. "Still weird though."

"Oh, c'mon…"

"Nope. Not going there. I want nothing to do with it."

There was a pause, and for a moment, Dean supposed Gabriel had actually listened to his brother.

"…You think it's serious?"

"Gabriel!" Sam hissed. "I said I didn't wanna know! I don't wanna think about it!"

The archangel's voice was teasing. "I wonder if they've done it yet…"

"Gabe!"

Sam forgot to whisper this time, and Dean opened his eyes to stare at his brother. Green eyes widened, and Sam looked away, face warm. "Sorry…"

Dean blinked in confusion, turning to Gabriel. "Leave him alone."

"Why do you think I did anything?"

"Because I've met you. Now stop messing with him."

Gabriel rolled his eyes, stretching out on the couch. It was then that he noticed the other side was empty.

"Where's Cas?"

Sam gave him an odd look. Gabriel snickered. Dean stared at them until his brother pointed at the blankets beside him. It was then that he noticed the blankets were too warm to just be cloth. And they were moving. Dean could just see a bit of dark hair peeking out from the top of one. Castiel was still asleep, dead to the world, wedged between the couch and Dean's side. He felt heat rise to his face, glaring at Gabriel, who looked ready to fall off the couch with suppressed laughter. He tossed a pillow at the archangel, and it bounced off his head.

Dean slowly moved away, trying to get up without waking Castiel. Last time, he got kicked in the side. Castiel didn't seem to have a problem with sleep, but he didn't do waking up very well.

He got just enough space between them to figure he was safe, when something hit his wrist. Glancing down, he saw Castiel's fingers curl around it. The angel made a protesting noise from under the blankets, peeking one barely- open blue eye above the comforter.

"Um… morning?"

Castiel blinked, staring at him for a moment. Then he seemed to fully wake up, quickly pulling his hand back and curling against the side of the couch.

"Oh."

Well, at least he didn't get kicked. "What're you doing down here? Did you fall or something?"

The angel shook his head. "I moved last night, while everyone was asleep. I find it difficult to sleep if I'm not… beside someone."

Dean supposed that made sense. He'd only been to sleep twice, and the first time he'd had Dean beside him. It was understandable. It was awkward, but it wasn't unbearable. Once he got used to sleeping, he probably wouldn't have that problem anymore.

He shrugged. "Whatever. We should probably get going soon."

Castiel looked relieved, like he thought Dean was going to be mad at him. The hunter offered a small smile.

Gabriel smirked at Sam, who made a face and buried his head in a pillow.

Ellen wouldn't let them leave without breakfast, which Dean wasn't about to argue with. She had pancakes for all of them, with bacon on the side. Dean could have hugged her.

He chewed on a piece of bacon. "Okay, so we shouldn't be far from city center."

Gabriel poured an obscene amount of syrup on his plate, drowning his poor pancakes. "What do you want there?"

"We're going to see a guy named Chuck. It was apparently his idea to bring us here, so he'll know how to send us back."

"Why would he do that?"

Dean shrugged, watching Castiel try to fit an entire pancake in his mouth at once. "When Jo told me about it, she said he needed our help for something. Something about two guys fighting each other around here. Lucifer and Crowley. But I don't see much fighting going on, since I apparently killed one of them."

Gabriel dropped his fork, staring at Dean with wide eyes. "What?!"

"When I got transported here, some of the magic killed Lucifer. That's what Jo said anyway, when I tripped over his dead body."

The archangel sat back in his chair, grabbing for his orange juice. "I didn't think that was possible."

Castiel said something, hopelessly muffled by pancake. The others waited until he'd chewed and swallowed the thing before he tried again. "I wouldn't think it was that easy to kill the devil."

Dean shrugged, finishing his coffee. "All I know is what she told me. And he looked pretty dead. I did mention a corpse, didn't I?"

"Dude, we're trying to eat," Sam grumbled, shifting a piece of bacon around in syrup on his plate.

His brother arched a brow. "Since when are you squeamish, Sammy? Just last week we had dinner while discussing the finer points of decapitation."

Sam scowled.

Gabriel wrinkled his nose. "Such a charming life you lead."

The younger Winchester decided to change the subject. "So Gabriel, are you coming with us to the city center?"

Castiel frowned, fork sticking out from his lips. As if any other option would be a personal insult. Which in a manner of speaking, it would be.

"Yeah, I guess." The archangel shrugged, mopping up syrup with the last bit of pancake. "Someone's gotta make sure you all don't get yourselves killed along the way. Plus I know exactly where it is. I'm surprised you guys made it as far as you did without me."

"It was definitely a lot quieter," Dean smirked.

"See? Look how you suffered!"

Castiel tilted his head. Dean supposed he didn't get Gabriel's humor either. At least it wasn't just him losing his touch.

They finished breakfast and set off, after helping Ellen with the dishes. She all but shoved them out the door, threatening to shoot them if they ever brought that much trouble back to her bar again. She smiled while she said it, and Dean hoped she was only joking.

But he wouldn't put it past her.

"Anyway," Gabriel started up conversation again as they ambled down the empty sidewalk, "Now that Luci's gone, Chuck won't have anything for you to do, I'm sure. So he oughta just send you right home. Personally, I don't really see why he needed you both here in the first place, if a little spell was enough to do him in. That's actually pretty anticlimactic, don't you think?"

Sam scowled at him. In fact, Sam hadn't really done much but glare since breakfast. Dean wondered who had said something to piss him off. He wasn't going to mention it. Best case scenario, he'd snap at Dean and be mad at him. Worst case scenario, he'd talk about it. Better to just let him get over it.

It was probably something stupid Gabriel said, anyway. The archangel hadn't really stopped talking since they'd met him. Dean had a feeling he would have to gag him to get him to shut up. Not that he was thinking about it or anything.

By now, Sam and Gabriel were talking about something as they walked. Dean wasn't really paying attention. They kept to the back, leaving Dean and Castiel at the front, walking along. Castiel had been quiet this morning, quiet even by his standards. Dean thought he'd be happy to have found his brother, but he seemed more disappointed than anything else.

"Hey," he spoke up. "Sleep okay?"

Castiel glanced at him, shrugging lightly as he'd seen Sam and Dean do. "I'm getting used to it."

"Have you had any dreams yet?"

"None that I can recall." The angel looked away for a moment before turning back. "I apologize for this morning…"

This morning? "Oh, the moving thing? That's what you're worried about?"

"It made you uncomfortable, and I—"

"It's fine, Cas. Don't sweat it."

Castiel looked ready to keep right on protesting, but he was stopped abruptly as Gabriel slid between them, an arm over either of their shoulders and the mother of all grins plastered on his face.

"You two really are just the cutest thing."

He reached up, patting both angel and hunter on the cheek. Dean shoved him away with a glare. Castiel just stared at his brother in confusion. Behind them, Sam chuckled. Dean supposed that getting Sammy to laugh was almost worth being the butt of one of Gabriel's jokes.

Just this once, at least.
In which there's a sleepover of sorts.

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PatchedFox's avatar
Awwwwww,:heart: Cas curling up next to Dean to sleep is the cutest thing ever! :aww: