A New Earth: Chapter 5: In Which an Unwelcome Guest Visits
Title: A New Earth: Chapter 4: In Which an Unwelcome Guest Visits
Fandom: Supernatural
Characters: Castiel, Gabriel, Balthazar, Dean, Sam, Bobby, Michael, Adam
Rating: PG so far
Genres: Humor, drama
Era: AU
Warnings: Language, bees, cookies
Word Count: 2,027
Summary: Angels and hunters don't know each other. Apocalypse happens. Righteous humans given to angels on earth. Read a better summary here. In this chapter, Michael pays the boys a visit and has lots of horrible suggestions for the care and feeding of humans.
Notes: Ye gads, I'm a terrible person. This is so overdue. I'm going to write! I am going to write! I will be good.
A week after Sam had spoken to me about Gabriel's unwanted and off-putting attentions, we had another visitor. Unlike Zachariah and his charge Agent Henrickson's visit before, we knew it was coming, though it was, though I would never admit it, no more welcome than theirs had been.
Bobby said it best: the big boss was coming for a spot check, so we'd better look like busy little bees.
The Archangel Michael was coming for a visit. And as much as I respected him, I feared he would not appreciate our lenient approach to dealing with our humans. He was often quick to find fault (only in order to make us better versions of ourselves), and I knew we would be found wanting.
We spent the morning cleaning the house to prepare for their arrival. (Truthfully, I fluttered about, as Dean called it, making sure everything was in order - the house had been clean for days at my insistence.) I was checking over the front lawn once more, reminding a pair of bees to stick to the flowers and not the people, when Michael's greeting rang across the yard.
Immediately, I snapped to attention, as Michael and his charge strode over. Well, Michael strode as he always did, and the teenage boy followed in a shuffle, a few steps behind, head down, hands folded neatly in front of him.
"Welcome, Michael." I bowed formally from the waist. I gave his human a nod, but did not speak to him as I did not know his name, and Michael did not introduce him. With an almost silent rustle of invisible wings, Gabriel and Balthazar appeared at my side.
Balthazar bowed stiffly. He hated bowing and refused to when he could. Michael was not an angel to which honor could be refused.
As he himself was of higher rank and most audacious personality, Gabriel ignored the formalities and smacked Michael on the shoulder with a grin, "A bit early aren't you, big brother? The sugar cookies aren't quite done baking."
"As you know well, little brother, I am not here for food." Michael calmly pulled himself away from Gabriel's side hug.
"You can always come back later," Gabriel said nonchalantly. "When're in the mood. For food." He chuckled.
A slight frown was forming at the corners of Michael's mouth. I spoke up quickly to distract them from one another and their long, long history together. "Would you like to come inside and see our humans, Michael?"
Before answering me, Michael looked around the yard and over the front of the house - but whether he had already found any flaws, I could not say. "Very well." Without looking back at the boy, he commanded, "Adam, wait inside." With a quiet, "Yes, sir," Michael's ward followed him toward the house.
Adam.
Of course. Adam Milligan.
I was ashamed for not realizing it sooner. This young boy had been the chosen vessel for the Enemy, but had resisted mightily. When he was at the last of his strength, he was relieved by a battalion of angels. Here the Prophet's words had become unclear, and I did not know what had happened to the boy - but obviously he had survived. Now he was under the protection of the strongest and highest archangel. It was a high honor for a worthy soul indeed.
I had quickly reviewed all of this in my head as I walked behind the other angels. Shuffling a little, Adam tried to walk near Michael, yet behind the rest of us. I took pity on him, and once inside, I motioned to the living room. "You can wait for Michael in there, Adam Milligan." I could feel my brow furrowing in annoyance at my blunder - it would be just Adam.
Daring a sideways glance at me, Adam mumbled, "Yes, sir. May I please sit?"
I gave him a small smile, "Of course. Gabriel was baking, but I am sure that Sam managed to get enough right for there to be something for you to eat."
"Thank you, sir." Adam sat down stiffly on the edge of the seat. I frowned, but could not spend any longer with him and will myself upstairs with the other angels were talking. Well, Michael was talking or lecturing rather, and Gabriel was listening and Balthazar was half-listening and Dean, Sam, and Bobby were poking their heads up the stairs trying to listen.
"-And you have given them far too much space. They have a large yard to exercise in; there is no need to give them their own rooms. Adam has a bed and a dresser to put his clothes in. That is more than sufficient. You only need a Bible as well. A few other angels had books of sermons or hymns, but as those were written by other men, I do not think that they are entirely appropriate. You really need to get rid of all of these."
With a sharp crackle, Michael pulled the four of us outside into the backyard. He looked around carefully, taking everything in before speaking. "Joshua was always the gardener; personally, I never found much use for plants. Especially flowers."
He turned to me, "You say it gives them something to do?"
I had not, but nodded anyway. Perhaps he had discerned that from Zachariah's report.
"Fine. They can keep it. I remember how much trouble these Winchesters and that old man got themselves into, so anything to keep them busy is good." He looked once more around the yard before appearing back inside, dragging us along with him. He almost crashed into Sam, who gave a startled yelp, but pulled back in time with a disdainful look. Sniffing the air, he commented, "I suppose actually going through all the trouble of actually cooking the food keeps them busy as well."
Gabriel nodded. "Are the cookies finished, Sam?"
Almost nervously, Sam nodded and offered him the plate. Gabriel shook his head, and said softly, "Go give 'em to Adam in the living room. Poor kid looks half starved."
Michael spoke up, "I hope, Gabriel, that you are not implying that I do not take good care of my charge. I assure you that he has three nutritionally balanced meals every day."
"Only a exaggeration, big brother," Gabriel joked as he lead Michael into the dining room. "More like he starved for attention - silly humans getting lonely and all. Come in here and tell me what's been going on with the whole Apocalypse thing, and we'll let our little pets play."
Perhaps my duty was to follow my commanders, but Balthazar and I both turned and followed our humans into the living room. Anyway, Gabriel was closer to Michael than we were and would surely appreciate some time alone with him. Maybe.
The humans sat down around the living room, and Sam offered Adam the plate of cookies. Adam looked to me, silently asking for permission. "Please," I responded, "eat as many as you like." Adam nodded and took one. At first he only nibbled, but after getting a real taste, he quickly scarfed it down and grabbed another two.
"These are good," he mumbled around a mouthful. "I don't get a lot of treats." He swallowed hurriedly. "Not that I'm complaining. There's really no benefit… not that these don't taste great… it's only that -"
"Take it easy, kid; no one's gonna rat you out to the big guy," Bobby said as he crossed his arms over his chest. Adam nodded thankfully and took another cookie.
"So, um," started Sam, "how'd you get stu- chosen by the archangel?"
Adam brushed off his dark blue shirt. "I was Lucifer's chosen vessel, but I resisted him. I was rescued before he could take complete control over my body and this is my reward for my struggles." He said with the air of someone who's explained the same painful story over and over and has found the shortest and clearest way to say so he would not have to repeat any of it.
"Oh," said Sam. "Good job, I guess…" He trailed off, and in the silence following, grabbed a cookie.
Dean leaned back in against the couch back. "Were you a hunter before all this?"
"No, I wasn't anything. I mean, I was in high school - just a teenager. Nothing special," Adam mumbled.
"You were chosen - you are very special," I spoke up from my watch by the doorway.
"He was chosen by the devil," snapped Dean. "I don't call that special."
"He was worthy to be saved…" I began.
Dean interrupted, "He was worthy only because he was chosen. He was nothing - just a kid - but because the devil drew his name out of a hat, he gets to be saved, unlike all those poor slobs dying all over the world?" He paused. "That's how you think of use - lucky?"
"There is no such thing as luck, Dean. There is a plan, and you all did your parts. You are much more precious than you realize."
"To who?" he snapped.
"To me, to Gabriel and Balthazar, and all the angels who have not met you yet, and to the Lord - you have no idea of what you are worth."
Dean snorted and the conversation died then. Even I could feel the awkwardness of this silence in the room. I did catch Dean looking at me with a curious expression his face several times - curious, because I could not put a name to it.
I was concerned.
Fortunately, Michael came soon and took Adam away, warning us to fix the problems that he had listed for us. He handed me a thick scroll, "I believe you are the most trustworthy to deal with this, Castiel."
Nodding, I responded, "Thank you, sir."
Michael looked us all over once more, face serious as always. He turned to the door. "Come, Adam. We will visit Virgil now - with two humans he will certainly need instruction."
Our small crowd watched the two of them until they reached the sidewalk where Michael put the very tips of his fingers on Adam's shoulder and transported them away. I shut the door firmly.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Dean muttered, "That was super awkward."
Sam frowned, "Poor Adam. I get that Michael is the head archangel and all, but he's not much of a people person."
"People angel," Dean corrected with a humorless smirk.
Continuing, Sam said, "I feel bad for the kid - he's like a trained dog or something. Is that how it's supposed to be?"
"You boys in trouble for cutting us slack?" Bobby questioned.
Gabriel shook his head. "No one's in trouble."
"But things are going to change, right?" pressed Sam. "We weren't really eavesdropping, well, we we're, but he gave you that list of things to fix."
I lifted up the scroll in my hand. Looking at Gabriel and Balthazar for confirmation, I crumpled the thick parchment in my fist. The humans stared at me with wide eyes. Gabriel laughed and threw his arm around Sam's shoulders, "Don't worry kids, Michael won't be coming around to smite us."
I agreed, "We were given charge of you - Michael may have different ideas on how to take care of you, but I assure you, the decisions lie with us. We have the responsibility, and we will deal with the consequences." I hesitated, "I have had the understanding that things have be going well, especially in these last few weeks, or am I mistaken?"
Dean poked my arm, "Hey don't you start worrying, Cas - you're just swell. I can't say the same for our other two winged friends, but you're an all right guy - for an angel."
Balthazar snarled, "I may have to take a look at that list, Castiel. Michael mentioned something about more direct punishments, I believe."
"You will not," I protested, but Balthazar just laughed.
The tension left as we walked out of the room. I was pleased, with both the decision to ignore Michael's suggestions and with Dean's admitted half-hearted approval of me. He was a good man, and had more insight that in those sorts of things.
Chapter 6
Fandom: Supernatural
Characters: Castiel, Gabriel, Balthazar, Dean, Sam, Bobby, Michael, Adam
Rating: PG so far
Genres: Humor, drama
Era: AU
Warnings: Language, bees, cookies
Word Count: 2,027
Summary: Angels and hunters don't know each other. Apocalypse happens. Righteous humans given to angels on earth. Read a better summary here. In this chapter, Michael pays the boys a visit and has lots of horrible suggestions for the care and feeding of humans.
Notes: Ye gads, I'm a terrible person. This is so overdue. I'm going to write! I am going to write! I will be good.
A week after Sam had spoken to me about Gabriel's unwanted and off-putting attentions, we had another visitor. Unlike Zachariah and his charge Agent Henrickson's visit before, we knew it was coming, though it was, though I would never admit it, no more welcome than theirs had been.
Bobby said it best: the big boss was coming for a spot check, so we'd better look like busy little bees.
The Archangel Michael was coming for a visit. And as much as I respected him, I feared he would not appreciate our lenient approach to dealing with our humans. He was often quick to find fault (only in order to make us better versions of ourselves), and I knew we would be found wanting.
We spent the morning cleaning the house to prepare for their arrival. (Truthfully, I fluttered about, as Dean called it, making sure everything was in order - the house had been clean for days at my insistence.) I was checking over the front lawn once more, reminding a pair of bees to stick to the flowers and not the people, when Michael's greeting rang across the yard.
Immediately, I snapped to attention, as Michael and his charge strode over. Well, Michael strode as he always did, and the teenage boy followed in a shuffle, a few steps behind, head down, hands folded neatly in front of him.
"Welcome, Michael." I bowed formally from the waist. I gave his human a nod, but did not speak to him as I did not know his name, and Michael did not introduce him. With an almost silent rustle of invisible wings, Gabriel and Balthazar appeared at my side.
Balthazar bowed stiffly. He hated bowing and refused to when he could. Michael was not an angel to which honor could be refused.
As he himself was of higher rank and most audacious personality, Gabriel ignored the formalities and smacked Michael on the shoulder with a grin, "A bit early aren't you, big brother? The sugar cookies aren't quite done baking."
"As you know well, little brother, I am not here for food." Michael calmly pulled himself away from Gabriel's side hug.
"You can always come back later," Gabriel said nonchalantly. "When're in the mood. For food." He chuckled.
A slight frown was forming at the corners of Michael's mouth. I spoke up quickly to distract them from one another and their long, long history together. "Would you like to come inside and see our humans, Michael?"
Before answering me, Michael looked around the yard and over the front of the house - but whether he had already found any flaws, I could not say. "Very well." Without looking back at the boy, he commanded, "Adam, wait inside." With a quiet, "Yes, sir," Michael's ward followed him toward the house.
Adam.
Of course. Adam Milligan.
I was ashamed for not realizing it sooner. This young boy had been the chosen vessel for the Enemy, but had resisted mightily. When he was at the last of his strength, he was relieved by a battalion of angels. Here the Prophet's words had become unclear, and I did not know what had happened to the boy - but obviously he had survived. Now he was under the protection of the strongest and highest archangel. It was a high honor for a worthy soul indeed.
I had quickly reviewed all of this in my head as I walked behind the other angels. Shuffling a little, Adam tried to walk near Michael, yet behind the rest of us. I took pity on him, and once inside, I motioned to the living room. "You can wait for Michael in there, Adam Milligan." I could feel my brow furrowing in annoyance at my blunder - it would be just Adam.
Daring a sideways glance at me, Adam mumbled, "Yes, sir. May I please sit?"
I gave him a small smile, "Of course. Gabriel was baking, but I am sure that Sam managed to get enough right for there to be something for you to eat."
"Thank you, sir." Adam sat down stiffly on the edge of the seat. I frowned, but could not spend any longer with him and will myself upstairs with the other angels were talking. Well, Michael was talking or lecturing rather, and Gabriel was listening and Balthazar was half-listening and Dean, Sam, and Bobby were poking their heads up the stairs trying to listen.
"-And you have given them far too much space. They have a large yard to exercise in; there is no need to give them their own rooms. Adam has a bed and a dresser to put his clothes in. That is more than sufficient. You only need a Bible as well. A few other angels had books of sermons or hymns, but as those were written by other men, I do not think that they are entirely appropriate. You really need to get rid of all of these."
With a sharp crackle, Michael pulled the four of us outside into the backyard. He looked around carefully, taking everything in before speaking. "Joshua was always the gardener; personally, I never found much use for plants. Especially flowers."
He turned to me, "You say it gives them something to do?"
I had not, but nodded anyway. Perhaps he had discerned that from Zachariah's report.
"Fine. They can keep it. I remember how much trouble these Winchesters and that old man got themselves into, so anything to keep them busy is good." He looked once more around the yard before appearing back inside, dragging us along with him. He almost crashed into Sam, who gave a startled yelp, but pulled back in time with a disdainful look. Sniffing the air, he commented, "I suppose actually going through all the trouble of actually cooking the food keeps them busy as well."
Gabriel nodded. "Are the cookies finished, Sam?"
Almost nervously, Sam nodded and offered him the plate. Gabriel shook his head, and said softly, "Go give 'em to Adam in the living room. Poor kid looks half starved."
Michael spoke up, "I hope, Gabriel, that you are not implying that I do not take good care of my charge. I assure you that he has three nutritionally balanced meals every day."
"Only a exaggeration, big brother," Gabriel joked as he lead Michael into the dining room. "More like he starved for attention - silly humans getting lonely and all. Come in here and tell me what's been going on with the whole Apocalypse thing, and we'll let our little pets play."
Perhaps my duty was to follow my commanders, but Balthazar and I both turned and followed our humans into the living room. Anyway, Gabriel was closer to Michael than we were and would surely appreciate some time alone with him. Maybe.
The humans sat down around the living room, and Sam offered Adam the plate of cookies. Adam looked to me, silently asking for permission. "Please," I responded, "eat as many as you like." Adam nodded and took one. At first he only nibbled, but after getting a real taste, he quickly scarfed it down and grabbed another two.
"These are good," he mumbled around a mouthful. "I don't get a lot of treats." He swallowed hurriedly. "Not that I'm complaining. There's really no benefit… not that these don't taste great… it's only that -"
"Take it easy, kid; no one's gonna rat you out to the big guy," Bobby said as he crossed his arms over his chest. Adam nodded thankfully and took another cookie.
"So, um," started Sam, "how'd you get stu- chosen by the archangel?"
Adam brushed off his dark blue shirt. "I was Lucifer's chosen vessel, but I resisted him. I was rescued before he could take complete control over my body and this is my reward for my struggles." He said with the air of someone who's explained the same painful story over and over and has found the shortest and clearest way to say so he would not have to repeat any of it.
"Oh," said Sam. "Good job, I guess…" He trailed off, and in the silence following, grabbed a cookie.
Dean leaned back in against the couch back. "Were you a hunter before all this?"
"No, I wasn't anything. I mean, I was in high school - just a teenager. Nothing special," Adam mumbled.
"You were chosen - you are very special," I spoke up from my watch by the doorway.
"He was chosen by the devil," snapped Dean. "I don't call that special."
"He was worthy to be saved…" I began.
Dean interrupted, "He was worthy only because he was chosen. He was nothing - just a kid - but because the devil drew his name out of a hat, he gets to be saved, unlike all those poor slobs dying all over the world?" He paused. "That's how you think of use - lucky?"
"There is no such thing as luck, Dean. There is a plan, and you all did your parts. You are much more precious than you realize."
"To who?" he snapped.
"To me, to Gabriel and Balthazar, and all the angels who have not met you yet, and to the Lord - you have no idea of what you are worth."
Dean snorted and the conversation died then. Even I could feel the awkwardness of this silence in the room. I did catch Dean looking at me with a curious expression his face several times - curious, because I could not put a name to it.
I was concerned.
Fortunately, Michael came soon and took Adam away, warning us to fix the problems that he had listed for us. He handed me a thick scroll, "I believe you are the most trustworthy to deal with this, Castiel."
Nodding, I responded, "Thank you, sir."
Michael looked us all over once more, face serious as always. He turned to the door. "Come, Adam. We will visit Virgil now - with two humans he will certainly need instruction."
Our small crowd watched the two of them until they reached the sidewalk where Michael put the very tips of his fingers on Adam's shoulder and transported them away. I shut the door firmly.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Dean muttered, "That was super awkward."
Sam frowned, "Poor Adam. I get that Michael is the head archangel and all, but he's not much of a people person."
"People angel," Dean corrected with a humorless smirk.
Continuing, Sam said, "I feel bad for the kid - he's like a trained dog or something. Is that how it's supposed to be?"
"You boys in trouble for cutting us slack?" Bobby questioned.
Gabriel shook his head. "No one's in trouble."
"But things are going to change, right?" pressed Sam. "We weren't really eavesdropping, well, we we're, but he gave you that list of things to fix."
I lifted up the scroll in my hand. Looking at Gabriel and Balthazar for confirmation, I crumpled the thick parchment in my fist. The humans stared at me with wide eyes. Gabriel laughed and threw his arm around Sam's shoulders, "Don't worry kids, Michael won't be coming around to smite us."
I agreed, "We were given charge of you - Michael may have different ideas on how to take care of you, but I assure you, the decisions lie with us. We have the responsibility, and we will deal with the consequences." I hesitated, "I have had the understanding that things have be going well, especially in these last few weeks, or am I mistaken?"
Dean poked my arm, "Hey don't you start worrying, Cas - you're just swell. I can't say the same for our other two winged friends, but you're an all right guy - for an angel."
Balthazar snarled, "I may have to take a look at that list, Castiel. Michael mentioned something about more direct punishments, I believe."
"You will not," I protested, but Balthazar just laughed.
The tension left as we walked out of the room. I was pleased, with both the decision to ignore Michael's suggestions and with Dean's admitted half-hearted approval of me. He was a good man, and had more insight that in those sorts of things.
Chapter 6