lost - for hunter_returns

[restrengthen]

Gadreel was still reeling. Kevin's face kept replaying over and over again in his mind and Dean's look of betrayal... He had no choice and he knew this to be truth. Metatron was offering him something that even his Father wouldn't. A place in Heaven, not a dungeon. Still, it pained him. He had taken an innocent life. He was far from righteous, but he had been trying to change... he had wanted to be good. What was he now? The murderer of a prophet.

He breathed out a weary sigh and tilted his head back. He could feel Sam stirring within him again and he dreaded the day that he would be strong enough to intervene.

Comments

[hunter_returns]

No you didn't. But that's not what Sam is here to argue about. He has to get him to turn around before he can try and convince him to go back to his brother. After everything Dean had done to save him, telling him that.. god. He's got to be going out of his mind.

Lucifer was certain too. Being sure of your path doesn't mean that it's the right one, okay? I thought I was doing the right thing and wound up opening the Cage. Setting him free. Regret sings through him as he gathers his fading strength. I was wrong. So was Lucifer. Metatron, he lied to Castiel. How do you know he's not lying to you?

[restrengthen]

If he hadn't, then Dean would have held out hope. He would have come after him, tried to reach Sam. He felt like he had to.

I'm not certain that he's not... but as I said, there aren't many options for me. There's doubt there. There's been doubt since he was given that piece of paper with Kevin's name. Killing the prophet... it was not something I desired to do.

[hunter_returns]

You didn't have to hurt Kevin. He was.. he was family. Sam will grieve for him later. He was a good kid who had done his best with a terrible situation. He deserved better.

Listen, there are always options. Go back to the bunker. We'll find them together. I promise, we'll find a way to get you back. Crowley had said the spell was irreversible, but Sam meant every word of what he said.

You're not a killer. You got screwed by God's Plan, I get that. Kind of the story of mine and Dean's life. Go back. We'll find a way together.

[restrengthen]

Metatron was afraid of him. That he would find something, perhaps. That the spell could truly be undone. Anyone's guess was as good as any at this point.

He feels himself hesitating. He can't help it. His faith was shaken by tonight's order. But--

You know as well as I do that Dean will find a way to kill me if I go back.

[hunter_returns]

That hesitation was enough for Sam to jump in again, to keep talking. Not if you let me talk to him. Maybe, maybe if you go to Metatron, we can find some kind of way to stop him. Together.

Look, I know it's hard, I know it sucks, but we can do this. They'd defeated Lucifer, they'd saved the world. They can do this. Somehow. Sam is exhausted beyond measure, but he can't let Dean face this alone. Can't let him think that this was his fault.

Please. Just let me talk to him. He's all I've got.

[restrengthen]

Perhaps. It was a possibility that they could find another way -- he knew about the Winchesters enough to know that they were capable of doing impossible things.

If I go back, then I have to have some promise of my safety, Sam. I don't want to die... not lie this. Not at the hands of my brothers or Dean.

[hunter_returns]

I won’t let him hurt you. Look, Dean’s gone to a lot of trouble to keep me alive. And they were going to have Words about that in the near future, make no mistake about it.

The only way we’re going to make this right is together. I promise. I won’t try and expel you, and I need you not to screw with my memory anymore. No more lost time.

Gadreel had tried, and if Sam had picked up on one false note in his thoughts, he’d probably have tried to push him free and risk the consequences. But he’d heard real remorse, real regret and the sound of an angel boxed in by fate and powers too big for him to control.
We can do this. Find some other way. If Dean won’t help, then we’ll do it on our own.

[restrengthen]

I won't. He won't touch his memory. The only reason he had was to ensure he wouldn't be expelled from his body before his job healing him was done.

Now, they had an understanding. There wasn't a necessity in keeping himself hidden any longer.

He'll be watching. Metatron won't let me go so easily, I fear.

[hunter_returns]

Relief. So much relief. Sam took a moment to gather his thoughts. Thank you. And he probably won't, but we'll figure something out. Did you leave with my cell phone? We should call Dean first.

His memories were disjointed and fractured, but he could piece together enough of the last few weeks. Can you read the angel tablet? Maybe there's something in it we can use against him.

[restrengthen]

It was in my... our pocket, yes.. After a moment, he reaches for it, holding it in his hand.

The prophet is the one who can read the tablet... It is why Metatron wanted Kevin dead, I believe.

[hunter_returns]

Then we need to find out who's been tapped to be the next prophet. But first, let's call Dean. Then we'll figure out how to make this right. Okay?

One disaster at a time, it was the only way to get through things some days. Find Dean, let him know that he really is still alive, then find a way to stop Metatron and get Gadreel either home or safe in his vessel and set on a path he was comfortable with.

[restrengthen]

Gadreel hesitated, fingertip tracing the phone absently. Call Dean. It sounded like a terrible idea to him, considering how they left things.

If my brothers find me before we reach Dean... we will both been in trouble. You do know this, don't you, Sam?

[hunter_returns]

I know. But if you let Dean think I'm really gone, trust me when I tell you the angels are the least of your problems. He'll never stop hunting you.

It's going to be close to impossible to convince Dean that he really isn't gone, but Sam doesn't know where else to start. They were stronger together and right now he's so exhausted it's a struggle to keep his thoughts coherent. Find Dean. Start with the basics.

You don't want my brother hunting you. You've been able to hide up until now, we can work together until we get back home and back to Dean.

Please. Just let me talk to my brother.

[restrengthen]

Speak with him then. He may not believe it's you still though. Not after what Gadreel had told him. Though he knew if anyone could change Dean Winchester's mind, it was Sam. He knew how close they were, how well they always worked together. He had been in Sam's mind this entire time after all.

He didn't always listen in, didn't always wander through his memories, but he had learned enough he thought.

His thumb selected Dean's number from the contacts and hit send, though he was still far from certain.

[hunter_returns]

There are things that'll get his attention. Because no matter how desperate the situation was, Sam still had faith that his brother would realize it was him, that they'd find some way to make this right.

We can do this. Somehow.

It's disorienting, trying to pull himself closer to the surface, drawing up the phone to hear the quiet drone of the ringer. "Come on, man. Pick up."

[restrengthen]

Gadreel had no reason to fight for control. He let Sam have it, willingly, for the moment. It didn't mean he was not conscious or aware when Dean's voice came on, rough and just tinged with desperation, "Sam?"

Gadreel could pick up the caution tempering his tone though, the wariness.

[hunter_returns]

It was going to be a tenuous alliance, until Sam could convince Gadreel that they could find another way to get him home, or at least keep him free from another prison.

"Yeah Dean, it's me. I'm not sure where we are.. but it's me. Dean, I need you to listen. I've been talking to the angel, Gadreel."

[restrengthen]

"How do I know it's really you?"

Gadreel was tense, worried. If they couldn't convince Dean... then they were on their own and he still wasn't certain what he should do. What they would do.

[hunter_returns]

That was the big question, wasn't it? How was he going to prove it to Dean?

"Because there's no way on this earth he'd call you if I wasn't begging him to. Look Dean, I know what you did and I know why you did it, I get it." Doesn't mean he's not going to yell about it, but right now? Bigger problems.

"The angel's name is Gadreel, not Ezekiel. He was a prisoner in Heaven and he needs our help as much as I need his. If we're gonna make this right, we have to do it together."

[restrengthen]

"Unless it was to lure me into a trap." Kill him like he did Kevin. Dean wanted to believe this was Sam... he did, but Sam was gone, right? He had to play it cautious anyway.

"Gadreel. Right, I'm sure all he wants is our help. Not like he couldn't have been honest from the start or anything, right?"

[hunter_returns]

"You pick the meeting place. Set it up however you need to feel safe. But if you banish him, you're gonna banish me too and I don't exactly know where we're going to wind up." It's a risk, but it's one they have to take if they're going to prove anything to Dean.

He can only hope that Gadreel agrees.

"He was desperate, Dean. Didn't want to go back to prison in Heaven. Cas said those places were pretty terrible and I don't blame him."

"The only way we're going to get through this is together. I want to help him Dean and I can't do it without you."

[restrengthen]

"Come by the bunker. Ain't like he doesn't know where it is anyway." Or like he doesn't know it inside and out. It wasn't the safest, but he had Cas and Crowley on his side still. Maybe they could come up with something.

"He didn't have to kill an innocent kid, Sam." And it was his fault for taking him in, letting a goddamn angel in his brother in the first place.

Gadreel stirred uncomfortably within Sam. He didn't mind laying in wait, didn't need control of Sam's vessel at the moment, but he was worried. Dean was far from pleased, far from trusting.

He hoped, at least, that he wouldn't be banished. He meant to keep his word and heal Sam... he really did. He just needed more time.

[hunter_returns]

"I know, Dean. I know he didn't." Sam did his best to calm Gadreel, try and send some sort of calming wave in his direction. He trusted Dean. They'd find some way to make this right. They had to.

"Look, I know you trusted him to save me. I trust him to do the right thing now, okay? If I didn't, I wouldn't have called you and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have let me do it."

Where are we? How far from the bunker are we?

[restrengthen]

Not far. Gadreel was uncertain about all of this still, but they could be there soon.

A day, maybe two.. They would have to be careful. He didn't want to draw any unneeded attention to them and Metatron absolutely could not know of this meeting.

[hunter_returns]

"Okay. We're about two days out, maybe more. We have to stay off the radar, Dean. As far as possible. He can't know where we are."

We'll be safe, we'll be careful. Okay? We can do this.

Sam didn't have words for how exhausted he was, but he had to keep moving, had to find some way to make things right. For Dean, for Kevin, for Gadreel. He'd failed finishing the trials, he couldn't fail this time.

"Dean?" A hard swallow around the lump in his throat. "I, ah, I remember what you said. Back in the church. It's okay. I understand why you did it." Still gonna knock him on his ass, but he gets it.

"I'll be home soon."