UAW: Chapter 1
Chapter I
“If you walk out of that door, don’t you ever come back!”
The whole cabin room fell silent when those words escaped John Winchester’s lips. His youngest son, Sam stared at him wide eyed in disbelief before he scowled angrily.
“Fine then,” Sam gritted out between gnashing teeth, his brown eyes flashing in both resentment and hurt, “that’s okay, you won’t hear from me ever again.”
He stormed out of the cabin without a second look while John merely stomped to his room and slammed the door close.
Left behind in the empty living room is Dean who held a heartbroken look in his face. Dean breathed out a shuddering sigh before he following Sam, his walking had a slight limp to it because of some left over wounds from the last hunt.
He managed to catch up to Sam who was determinedly walking away from his family and past.
“Sam! Sammy!” Dean called out and Sam spun around with a cold look on his face.
“I told you to stop calling me by that name!” Sam bit out. “So you’re here to drag me back to dear old Dad like the good little soldier you are.”
Despite being someone who grew up learning how to conceal his emotions so that he wouldn’t be wearing his heart on the sleeves to be taken advantage of, he still couldn’t manage to stop the wounded look from appearing on his face due to Sam’s cruel words. It was always that insult spoken with such a spiteful tone that never failed to hurt him right where it hurts.
“I just wanted to ask you if you were sure about this and if you really wanted to do this then I wouldn’t stop you. I was just going to offer you a ride to the nearest bus stop.” Dean tried to pass it off casually but he internally winced when he noticed his voice failing him. He cleared his throat and continued, “Dad’s just worried about you, Sam.”
Sam snorted derisively and glared at Dean.
“He’s just worried about losing one of his soldiers in his obsessive quest.” Sam spat out and then turned his back on Dean, “Go back to Dad Dean and continue following him like the mindless perfect little soldier that he raised you to be. I don’t need your help.”
I don’t need your help.
“Don’t call me or contact me.” Sam curtly said before he continued on his walk.
Mindless, perfect little soldier
Dean couldn’t speak, it was just like the year he wouldn’t speak after Mom’s death. His throat closed up, his eyes following Sam’s back which was growing smaller and smaller the more distance he put between him and his family. He couldn’t yell, whisper, or just say a single word of goodbye.
He couldn’t do anything as another important member of his life walked away from him without any thought. It was like losing Mom all over again only this time, this one walked out on him willingly.
It seemed like he’d been standing there for hours before he trudged back to the cabin with a heavy heart. He looked even more down trodden when he saw that his Dad’s truck was gone. When he entered the cabin, he found the place empty save for his things.
Dean sunk down to the ugly canary yellow couch in the living room and chuckled bitterly.
“You never did follow Dad like a good soldier you claim me to be, Sam.” Dean hoarsely whispered, his voice echoing out in the silent room. “So much for the resting and caring for my wounds guys, thanks so much for leaving me alone.”
Dean dropped his head into his hands. This was the worst night ever, the only thing more terrible than today was the night Mom died.
He couldn’t take this, the empty silence in the cabin where both of his beloved family exchanged hurtful words to each other while he was left in the middle of their fight again. The only thing he could be thankful for was that the fight didn’t come to blows since he didn’t think he could separate the two of them without worsening his wounds. Then again, if that did happen the duo would probably use it as another excuse to fight with each other.
A brother that decided to cast him out of his life and a father that forgot to leave even a single note that he’ll be leaving his eldest son’s ass while he went off
skulking to some bar to lick his wounded pride and drink himself to death. What a wonderful night it has been indeed.
Dean hissed in pain when he pulled too hard on the healing wound at his side. He raised his shirt to examine the bandages only to see the red stain growing at a rapid speed. His luck was really going great tonight right? On top of his family drama and angst, his wound accidentally reopened.
‘The only other thing to add to my crappy day is that I bleed to death and the head splitting migraine practically put me in a comatose state.’ Dean snarkily thought, trying to bury the emotional pain deep within his mask of snark and sarcasm.
For now, he tried to concentrate on dressing his wounds by himself. It wasn’t that hard or rather, it normally isn’t this hard since he was used to fixing himself up without the help of anyone. He didn’t want to worry his brother and disappoint Dad that he let his guard down. Dad would probably say something along the lines of ‘Sam could have gotten hurt’ or ‘you shouldn’t have left yourself vulnerable to an attack’ or one of his favorites ‘Sam wouldn’t have let his guard down like you did’.
Well Dad, maybe if Samantha doesn’t get distracted by the pretty lights…
In any case, he really should get this wound to stop bleeding before he did die of blood loss. He barely managed to get to the bathroom to get the first aid kit and back to the room he and Sam shared before he left. His head was bothering him even more than his reopened wound, it felt like someone kept hitting his head with a hammer but he doesn’t have the luck of fainting and has to suffer the pain even more.
His hands were shaking as he tried to clean the gash on his side after he carefully cut away the soiled bandages. After a few agonizing minutes, he finally finished cleaning the gash and began making sure that the bandage that he was wrapping around himself was tight but not so tight that he couldn’t breathe.
Finished with the task, he dropped his head down to the bed. This migraine had been bothering him for the past few weeks. At first, it wasn’t really that hard to ignore. It started out with the weird feeling of something trying to push out of his head. It wasn’t painful but it was certainly uncomfortable.
But then, the longer it went the more painful it became. It felt like something was getting his attention or something was bursting out of his head.
Isn’t that a painful and disgusting thing to think about right now?
The pain built up more and more until he couldn't take it anymore. He welcomed the blissful darkness that swallowed him whole.
0-0-0-0-0
It was weird… It’s been a long time since he felt so warm and comfortable anywhere, never mind safe. This warm, bright light surrounding him should have raised the warning bells inside his head but to be honest? He was just so tired…
Oh Dean, you brave and strong little one. Even after life and Fate itself threw one problem after another at you, you still manage to bear it and even solve them even if you had to sacrifice something important to you just to get the least amount of innocents killed in the aftermath. I am so proud of you.
He felt gentle warmth on his forehead. It made him recall those lost happy days where Mom and Dad normally kissed him on the forehead at night just before he went to sleep. But now Mom is gone (burned up like nothing in Sammy’s ceiling…) and Dad became cold ever since he lost the other half of his head (gentle but firm hands teaching him how to hit the ball with a bat turned to rough, tight grips that practically bruise teaching him how to kill things).
He felt pride from the warmth and wondered if his Dad was ever proud of him.
Little one, even your father who is so drowned in anger and vengeance would feel pride and love for you. Never, ever doubt that.
Sure didn’t feel like it.
He is. But I know that you won’t believe it unless it came from him.
The light seemed to hug him protectively and a content sigh escaped his lips.
Dean, listen to me. You and your growing family will be going through things you can’t imagine in the upcoming future. There will be a lot of pain and sadness you will have to overcome but I know that all of you can do it. All of you are so strong in your own little ways that I am so proud…
The voice suddenly grew so sad. But why is it sad? He didn’t like it. The sadness reminded him of Dad’s sadness, Sammy’s sadness, and the people who they are trying to save, especially when someone important to them dies.
I am sad Dean but it’s only for now.
He felt what seemed to be a hand ruffling his hair affectionately.
You’re going to go through some changes Dean but I’ll leave you the way you truly are. You wouldn’t be Dean if I changed your personality too. I like you the way you are.
Changes?
Don’t worry little one. Your new family will definitely take care of you. Don’t be afraid.
New family… Sammy? Dad? Mom?
They will be alright Dean. My only catch is for you to enjoy this second chance to have a better childhood.
… Okay.
Thank you, Dean. I promise you, Sam, John, and Mary are alright. It will all be alright in the end.
0-0-0-0-0
The Trickster also known as Gabriel, the Archangel under Witness Protection was flipping through the endless channels of his flat screen television with boredom. Sure, the thing won’t be really mainstream until a few years later but that’s one of the perks of being an Archangel who can travel through time. Besides, it wasn’t hurting anyone anyway.
He’s bored.
Sure, he could be dishing out well deserved just desserts of the scummy beings all around the world but sometimes it becomes boring too. He needed a break from his Trickster ala Archangel of Judgment act. The other Pagans are up to their lovely violent livelihood of eating humans and he’s broken it off with Kali a few centuries ago so no dice there. His fellow tricksters are busy doing their own things and so they can’t hang out with him.
Gabriel pouted at that before the expression vanished when a familiar feeling of his beloved absentee Father wrapped around him.
Gabriel…
Gabriel tilted his head at that, his amber eyes glowing with his barely restrained Grace and anger.
“Father,” Gabriel said in a deceptively calm voice, “so nice of you to drop by after all these years of watching the family running around like headless chickens searching for You. It couldn’t be a coincidence that the power surge that rocked the Universe just happened a few days earlier and you suddenly have a message for me.”
While his tone was calm, the fluctuating power of the Archangel’s Grace showed that he was far beyond calm at this point.
To be honest, God truly can’t fault Gabriel for his anger. It was understandable that Gabriel who held so much love for his family and tried to keep it together despite all the arguments and fights that were breaking out around him would feel bitterness and anger for the Father who could have stopped their ugly descent to a tragedy.
For this reason, He knew that Gabriel would be one of the best guardians for Dean after he underwent the changes He gave him.
However, for now he had to calm his son before he exploded and ruin his cover.
Gabriel-
“Don’t you Gabriel me, Father! No note, no phone call, not even a fucking slip of paper that contains ‘gone out for now’ for all of us, especially after that fiasco with Jesus. Heaven was a wreck after you left us all floundering around blindly without the sense of giving us at least a single nudge at the right direction!” Gabriel snapped, his voice tinged a bit with his True Voice, “Michael became even more closed off and Raphael was practically broken after he had had to kill so many of our Fallen Brothers and Sisters whom he… we all cared for when they were all children, mere fledglings. But it was even more painful for Raphael who healed them when they were hurt and now had to hunt them down and kill them. It goes against his base nature and it now messed him up.”
Gabriel had been keeping this all inside himself. He knew that it was stupid to full out explode at God Himself (he ignored how much that voice sounds like Michael’s) but let’s be fair with this, his accusations had their own basis.
Do you think that I do not know that? Did you think that I merely turned a deaf ear every single time Raphael prayed to me, asking me why this is happening? Do you think that I am such a heartless Father who did not feel a thing, watching all of my children fighting and killing each other?
“It sure seems like it, Father.” Gabriel’s voice was icy cold.
God felt sorrow and hurt at what Gabriel said. It appears He truly does have much to make up for due to his own actions or lack of it.
… Forgive me, Gabriel.
The voice filled with sadness and guilt took Gabriel off guard. His Father is apologizing?
“What?” Gabriel asked while his mouth was agape in shock.
I apologize for my lapse in decision making. Death did always advise me to think my ideas through. I intended for all of you t learn about Free Will in a way that I felt you all in the middle of a desert without anything to at least guide you towards the right path. My mistake would have caused you and a lot of your siblings to die in the near future had I allowed you to continue to flounder in the dark without any help.
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed.
“This is about my dear older brother’s attempt to cause the Apocalypse, am I right Dad?” His mind finally caught on to His words. “I died? Why and who killed me?”
You died saving Kali and the two Winchester brothers from Lucifer after you decided to side with the Winchesters to stop the Apocalypse.
Gabriel fell silent at that. To think that his previously protective older brother would be the one to strike him down…
“Luci never did like it when someone else takes away his toys.” Gabriel weakly said, his vessel’s throat closing up at the pain of having been killed by one of his beloved brothers.
Indeed… A lot of things worse than you could think of would have happened after the Apocalypse. So many more people would have died. It wasn’t just humans but angels too.
Gabriel breathed in sharply at that information. He placed the painful thoughts of being killed by his kin’s hands at the deepest part of his mind to concentrate on the present. So the Apocalypse have been averted but it was just a downward spiral after that.
“Is that why you’re being all active right now?” Gabriel leaned back on his couch. “So what’s the job you want me to do? That’s the reason why you are here right?”
Well, he did say he was bored.
I need you to take care of a new archangel. Well, there are two new archangels but the older one can take care of himself. I gave him the necessary information about his new abilities so that he could use them.
But Gabriel’s mind was still stuck on the first sentence. Today was just one mind blowing information after another isn’t it?
“A new baby sibling?” Gabriel repeated.
Yes, I can’t ask your other brothers because… you know how they are right now.
“You mean emotionally messed up and are genocidal bastards.” Gabriel snorted. “But it’s okay Dad, I mean, everyone knows that I’m the least insane in the group. I wouldn’t corrupt the new baby archangels… much.”
He heard his Dad snort and a wide grin appeared on his lips. They weren’t really okay right now but there are more important things to do.
The older one will come to you by himself but the younger one… He’s going to be more vulnerable Gabriel. He’s a human turned angel, archangel even, and his body is still currently undergoing huge changes. I had to deage him to a five years old child because his current body would not be able to take it. However, it will return to his normal physical age after about four years. I’m going to let his body adjust to all the power changing him by slowly releasing it little by little but you will have to be there to take care of him. Protect him from any harm.
Gabriel tilted his head in question but he nodded in understanding. A huge grin practically split his face apart. A new baby brother! He wondered if he knew the older one though.
And Gabriel… to his mind, it had just been a few months since someone important to him died in front of him so don’t be too much worried if he doesn’t talk at all for a while.
Suddenly, Gabriel’s heart fell. It couldn’t be…
“And the name of my new charge?” Gabriel asked in trepidation.
Dean Winchester.
0-0-0-0-0
Gabriel appeared outside of a cabin a few miles away from the nearest town.
‘Geeze, these hunters really can be paranoid.’ Gabriel thought with a huff as he saw a faint glowing light through the windows. ‘Is it done or is it just starting?’
The change was finished while we were talking. I had been cradling your newest sibling’s soul in my Grace to lessen the pain from the changing.
Gabriel knew that the change had to have hurt like a bitch. It must have felt like every little bit of your being was rearranged and burning and you could feel every single moment of it.
He carefully opened the cabin door (he noted the various protections lining the cabin against any supernatural being that wants to get inside) and looked around the room, searching for his new charge. His sharp ears caught the soft whimpers of pain coming from the left room that had a slightly ajar door. He noticed the faint light coming from inside it.
Gabriel, I would advise you to hurry. Despite my efforts of keeping the change under wraps, everyone would still feel those bursts of power and your older siblings will recognize it for what it is.
“I know, I know, stop nagging me.” Gabriel grumbled but hastened his pace.
He absentmindedly sent all the weapons and items he could see around the place to the safe house where he was going to get them settled at and finally entered the room where his newest little sibling was at.
His amber eyes softened when it caught sight of the small (too small…) curled up form in the bed as the soft whimpering and sniffling sounds filled the empty room. Gabriel was there beside the bed in a flash when he heard Raphael through angel radio, sending out orders to search for the little one in front of him. Carefully, he lifted the small form in his arms, cradling his newest baby brother protectively.
Protect and care for him, Gabriel. Give him the second chance for a better and happier childhood than the one he had.
He heard his Father’s gentle words wrapping around them. He knew just from the feeling of his Father that He had at least planted one paternal kiss on Dean’s forehead.
“You didn’t even have to order me, Dad.” Gabriel solemnly said as he flew them off to their safe house.
Of course, Gabriel made sure to bring the Impala with him too.
0-0-0-0-0
Gabriel entered the barely furnished house he bought for one of his hideaways. It wasn’t really filled with that much furniture, just the bare necessities since he didn’t normally use these places. But now that he had to take care of a little kid, he’ll have to see to making this place and a few others (just in case of emergencies) a bit more homey feeling than empty.
Oh, and he can’t forget to set up some important protective wards too.
He looked out of the window to check for the Impala’s state. The classic car was there in the driveway looking as awesome and pristine as ever. It was obvious from the times he peeked in on the Winchesters that the car was truly beloved by Dean.
He flashed upstairs to the masters bedroom and carefully placed the kid on the king sized bed. He wasn’t going to put the kid out of his sight, not until he put up serious wards around the place.
Gabriel just placed the kid on the bed and was about to go put up some tentative wards when he heard a heart wrenching cry from the little angel. The Archangel Messenger always had a soft spot for the little fledglings and kids in particular. It was one of the reasons why people who did unspeakable acts to kids go through things worse than they can imagine for daring to inflict on one of the most innocent beings in the Universe.
Now he was really divided on whether he should leave his baby brother alone especially after making that seriously sad sound or put up the wards. His will to do the latter act was even getting more and more broken when he heard the increasing sounds of whimpers and soft whines from the baby angel in front of him.
“Aw, come on baby bro, I need to do the wards for our protection.” Gabriel groaned half heartedly.
Stay with Dean, son. I will set the wards up. It would be safer and more powerful this way.
Gabriel could feel His amusement and he glared at the ceiling.
“Fuck you very much Dad.” Gabriel muttered too low for anyone to hear not that the kid was even conscious of his surroundings, rolling his eyes at the laughter that came from Him. “Thank you.”
He added the last sentence sincerely. He felt what passed as a mental hug from Him before He went off, no doubt to set up the wards as he mentioned.
Gabriel slipped into the bed and unfurled his honey bronze wings. He carefully wrapped it around Dean and gently smiled when he heard the fledgling’s cries slowly grow softer until it completely stopped. The kid now looked truly at peace despite the drying tear tracks on his chubby cheeks that Gabriel urged to pinch. Gabriel brushed away the blonde bangs from Dean’s forehead and pressed a brotherly kiss on it.
“Mm…” Dean mumbled as he turned and tightly grasped Gabriel’s front as if he was afraid that the Archangel would disappear. The cute and sad scene gave Gabriel the conflicting urge to coo at the baby angel and to search for the ones who made the little angel feel this way and smite them.
Gabriel wondered about the feelings of desperate loneliness and sadness lingering in the cabin they left behind. His mind also wondered about the fact that Sam and John Winchester was not in sight when Gabriel knew that before the change, Dean had been injured and it was probably serious judging from the strong scent of blood in the air and the dark brown bandages in the floor of the bedroom he found Dean at before he banished them.
‘It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to leave Deano alone like that.’ Gabriel protectively thought as he wrapped his arms and wings around the little form, protecting him from anyone who wishes him harm. ‘Anyone who wants to hurt or use you will have to go through me baby brother.’
“It’s only been a few minutes and you already have me wrapped around your little fingers.” Gabriel softly said with a gentle smile and softly glowing amber eyes.
“Even if the world turns it back on you, you’ll never be as alone as you felt earlier baby bro. You’ll always have my back.”
For the first time in a long while, Gabriel felt like he was truly at home.
0-0-0-0-0
“Raphael, have you found the new archangel?” Michael’s voice made the Head Healer look up from the report Zachariah and the others had given him.
“I sent a garrison of angels and accompanied them to the location we all felt the Grace pouring out from. However, when we arrived there was no sign of the fledgling. I looked through the Grace in the site’s air and found that there had been another angel that got there faster than us.” Raphael frowned, his brows scrunched up together in worry. “The Grace cannot be identified due to the fact that the new fledgling’s Grace filled every corner of the location. It had been overpowered.”
Raphael carefully looked at Michael. He had been temperamental these past few weeks. Normally, he shut himself off in a deep dark corner of the Library away from everyone and only Raphael could get him out for a daily wing grooming session. Ever since… the Fall of Lucifer and Gabriel’s missing presence, Michael became much more closed off and cold towards the other angels save for Raphael.
He couldn’t blame his brother. Even he knew that he wasn’t the same as before their family began ripping itself apart due to having to choose from two arguing sides.
Raphael couldn’t leave Michael even if sometimes he just wanted to stop it all (smiting brothers and sisters whom he have healed, played with, cared for in the very beginning of their birth… hearing their tortured screams every single moment and knowing he was the cause of it…), he mentally brushed off the memories. Now was not the time to dwell on such things.
Raphael just couldn’t abandon Michael like that because he was afraid that his betrayal or leaving might just be the thing that would push his beloved older brother off the edge of the cliff that he was currently standing on.
“Don’t look at me like that little brother.” Michael sighed as he sat beside the other Archangel left in Heaven and unfurled one of his golden wings to comfortably wrap it around Raphael. “I am not going to hurt you for such things. I am just worried because fledglings especially Archangel fledglings are very vulnerable and it worries me whether the one who took our newest sibling is a friend or foe.”
Raphael relaxed underneath his older brother’s wings. They were alone in his office anyway and he had ordered the angels not to bother him since he will be busy concentrating on searching for the location the new angel was brought to.
“I understand brother. It worries me too but it’s just that the power surges the past days and now a new archangel?” Raphael sighed wearily. “I am wondering what Father is up to for only He can make a new archangel. If He is back then why is He not talking to us?”
Michael was silent now and Raphael mentally sighed once more. It appears that his older brother had reached his daily limit of speaking today.
It still worried Raphael no matter how much he does this. However, it did cement his determination to stay by Michael’s side no matter how broken or closed off his normally strong and firm brother gets.
‘It’s okay big brother. Even if you lose your voice, I will become your voice.’ Raphael silently vowed to himself. ‘I’m not going to abandon you. I’m not going to let you take all of this burden on alone.’
Raphael glanced at Michael who was now blankly staring at the wall. It tore at Raphael but he knew that all that he could do for now was stay at his side and never leave him.
0-0-0-0-0
In a secluded part of Heaven that appeared to look like a never ending forest, an angel normally found training here or relaxing on his little breaks from his different missions was leaning back on the trunk of an oak tree, concentrating on his current task.
Currently, the angel was sorting out his newly acquired memories from the alternate future that his Father sent him while waiting for His word to act.
Castiel.
The single word snapped Castiel away from his memories and to the present time. Blue eyes glowed brightly with power before it dimmed down to its normal color.
“Father,” Castiel serenely greeted.
He had been greatly surprised at his promotion to a new archangel once he ‘arrived’ at the designated time and was even more surprised when he found it easy to conceal his new abilities from the other angels. He supposed that it would be easier for him to hide it so that they can avoid an accident that would destroy his Father’s plan.
The change has been done. You are going to be taking care of the new archangel with Gabriel. I am going to send the location to your mind now.
Castiel saw a two storey house in what appears to be a peaceful neighborhood. His brows shot up when he saw the unforgettable Impala on the driveway.
“Father… may I know the name of the new archangel?” Castiel asked.
His Father chuckled merrily.
Yes, you may know.
Castiel rolled his eyes and huffed.
You know him by the name of Dean Winchester.
Not even before He could finish the statement, Castiel was already on his way downstairs to convince his vessel to consent. God chuckled and shook His head before continuing on to the next task.
0-0-0-0-0
So far, so good.
0-0-0-0-0
Previous