Random Supernaturals

It was a normal day. At least as normal as Sam and Dean got. Bobby was out on a supply run and they were doing research to look for a new hunt. Sam was sitting on the couch with his laptop while Dean was cleaning his guns in the armchair.

They were taken by surprise when a loud crash suddenly sounded from the kitchen. Sam’s head jerked over his shoulder and he gasped.

“Shit.”

Dean snapped to his feet when his brother did. Laying on the ground atop what used to be the kitchen table was a bloody, unconscious archangel. Running on instinct, Sam slid down to one knee and his fingers slid into Gabriel’s neck. He was relieved to find a pulse.

Dean knelt down on the other side of him. Both hunters performed a quick check over the archangel’s body. Most of the blood turned out to be on him, rather than coming from him. After checking for any broken bones and finding only a few sprains, Sam carefully picked Gabriel. The archangel released a small groan, but otherwise didn’t waken.

Sam maneuvered both of them up the stairs and to a spare room. He cleaned the blood away in the bathroom and stitched up Gabriel’s injuries as best as he could. He was more concerned that the archangel wasn’t waking and his injuries weren’t healing on their own. He was startled when he accidentally pressed down on Gabriel’s abdomen and a hard elbow buried into his gut.

After sitting still for a few minutes, Sam was able to breathe normal again. Reaching down to lift up Gabriel’s shirt, Sam discovered he had overlooked the archangel’s ribs. His fractured ribs. At that moment, Dean appeared in the doorway.

“I can’t reach Cas. He won’t pick up his phone,” Dean said.

Sam sighed. He wasn’t surprised. About a week ago, Sam had come out with lunch for Dean who had been working on the impala. He had found his brother in a screaming match with Castiel. It was the first time he could ever recall actually hearing the angel shout at someone, let alone his big brother. Sam had accidentally kicked an empty can, which had abruptly silenced both males and made Cas disappear.

“Don’t worry about it, Dean. We’ll try again later. Gabriel doesn’t seem to be too bad. I need help icing these ribs, though,” Sam said.

Dean nodded. “I’ll get the ice.”

Between the two of them, Sam and Dean were able to wrap Gabriel’s ribs with care and ice. Dean left to go grab them dinner while Sam finished taking care of Gabriel. He pulled the sheets up to just below the ice. He was unsure if the archangel was comfortable, but he hoped so. He left him alone in favor of wandering downstairs. Seeing that Bobby wasn’t back yet from getting supplies, Sam decided to try his luck.

“Cas? Cas, could you come by? Dean’s not here,” Sam called softly.

“Hello, Sam.”

Sam whipped around to find Castiel standing at the base of the stairs.

“Where have you been, Cas?” Sam asked.

“Mostly western Europe and parts of Australia. What do you want, Sam?” Castiel asked.

It seemed Cas just barely held an even temper with the one Winchester he wasn’t fighting with.

“Woah. Cool down, Cas. I don’t know what you were arguing with Dean over and I don’t expect you to tell me. Listen, Gabriel’s here and he’s okay now, but I think maybe you should look him over. You know? Make sure we didn’t miss anything,” Sam explained.

Castiel frowned with his eyebrows knitting together.

“What do you mean, Sam?”

Sam shrugged while pointing into the kitchen at the remains of the table.

“Gabriel came crashing in about an hour ago. Literally. I cleaned him up as best as I can and he’s got a few fractured ribs, but he doesn’t seem too bad off,” Sam added.

“Show me.”

Castiel stared down at his brother’s sleeping form. The injuries didn’t make sense. He hadn’t sensed any distress from the archangel. He should have answered the phone when Dean had called. Sam had left a minute ago, closing the door behind him, to allow him to sit with Gabriel. He wasn’t sitting but standing next to the bed.

He could sense that his brother’s Grace had diminished to dangerously low levels. He wished strongly to help the archangel, but he didn’t have the strength or power to replenish an archangel’s Grace.

“Take a picture, Cassie. It’ll last longer.”

Castiel startled badly, jerking backwards in surprise. His gaze shot up to Gabriel’s face. His eyes were halfway open and a playful smile was gracing his face.

“Sam told me you landed on the kitchen table,” Castiel said.

Gabriel chuckled.

“I was aiming for the couch, but I overshot it a tad bit,” Gabriel joked.

Castiel’s frown deepened.

“What happened?” Castiel questioned.

Gabriel rolled his eyes.

“The usual. Nasty little creature didn’t take the news of its upcoming demise well,” Gabriel replied.

“You are cut up everywhere and you have rib fractures. I can try to take care of them” Castiel said, stepping closer and reaching his hand out.

Suddenly, Gabriel’s hand shot up and snagged Castiel’s wrist. Castiel winced when said wrist was given a rough squeeze. Gabriel’s eyes glowed a bright blue up at him in warning.

“I will be fine, Cas. I do not need any healing. My Grace will replenish overnight. Now either lie down or go away.”

It was an odd thing to hear but after Gabriel released his wrist, Castiel shrugged off his coat. He laid it over a chair and laid down beside his brother who scooted over a little for him. Both angels laid on their backs staring up at the ceiling.

“What did this to you, brother?” Castiel murmured.

“It’s dead. Let it go, Castiel.”

Castiel was momentarily startled by the use of his name. It had always been Cas, Cassie, or some other annoying nickname. Castiel sighed, but listened to the archangel. Scooting down on the bed, he curled up to Gabriel’s vessel and laid his head down on his chest. He didn’t care for the cold feeling coursing over his body from the ice, but he chose to ignore it. His ear listened to the quiet thump-thump-thump emitting from his brother’s chest. Castiel found the sound comforting and he closed his eyes so he could focus more intently on the sound.

Gabriel brought a hand up to gently squeeze the younger angel’s nape. He stroked a hand through the vessel’s surprisingly soft hair. He pushed a little grace into the movement, forcing Castiel to fall asleep. Gabriel let out a deep sigh. He knew Castiel would persist with questioning what had happened and how his grace had diminished to such a low level. He would leave it to the morning.

For now, he was content with keeping the little angel close and giving him the comfort he needed. He knew the little angel that could was distressed at the sight of his closest brother looking like he was near Death’s door.