Took some creative liberties with this story. I wanted to bring Balthazar into the current season- with Sam & Dean hunting Leviathans. I didn't want to repeat season 6- it's been done. So here's something new & hopefully fun for Supernatural fans! I have to admit, I love writing Balthazar- so here's, yet again, another Balthazar/Sam story. ENJOY! Please, please comment!

~kidneythieves ;)

"...And in your waiting hands
I will land
And roll out of my skin
And in your final hours I will stand
Ready to begin
Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
Show me how to live..."

~audioslave

Chapter 1: Thread of Life

Death. A coldness filled his entire being until all he could feel was death's cold fingers wrapped around his soul. Balthazar expected it to be a more unpleasant feeling. But he'd gotten used to it. It reminded him of limbo. Trapped between there and nowhere. Maybe it was limbo? Maybe it was an angel's limbo?

"Incoming!" chimed a female voice from Balthazar's unknowable void.

Suddenly, as though being ripped from the sky, Balthazar felt his entire body being thrown into existence. His feet hit the ground first with a hard, knee wobbling impact. Blurry images fuzzed his vision and his mind felt like scrambled eggs.

"I got him!" screeched a horribly high pitch female voice. Balthazar cringed.

"Thank you, Lachesis."

"Great," another, somewhat familiar female voice said. He couldn't help but picture a sexy library. "Balthazar…"

Balthazar rubbed his eyes, attempting to clear his vision to see the women in the room with him.

"He can't see…" the high pitch voice attempted at a whisper, "Clotho- do something."

"Certainly," the woman named Clotho and with a snap of fingers, Balthazar's vision cleared.

He took a deep breath, "lovely… that helps, thank you."

The room materialized before it. It reminded him of one of Zachariah's enchanted rooms with lots of gold framed paintings of angels, editable fresh fruit, dazzling furniture littered about the room and a heavenly kind of aura. Expect this room wasn't like the angel rooms. This one had a spindle with gold thread in the center, with three beautiful women surrounding it.

"You're welcome," the woman, who Balthazar knew to be Clotho said. Her fiery curly red hair was the first thing he noticed, along with her passive, beautiful face and petite frame. He'd seen her before and the two women behind her. The pretty brunette, Lachesis smiled widely at him, while Atropos, the sexy blond library, used her entire face to frown at him.

Balthazar felt the smile tug at his lips as he gazed between the Fates, "Ladies… so good to see you again. Long time no see, Atropos."

"Save it, Balthazar," she snapped irritably, "This isn't a social call."

"I didn't think so, Atropos. I'm not expecting a tea party. After all, I was just floating in limbo. So, darling- you rang?" Balthazar replied easily, as if he had the time in the world. Mostly because he did.

The Fates plucked him from death's cold clutches. The least he could do was give them his upmost attention. They clearly wanted him for something. Fates, more powerful than Gods and Angels, didn't just pull anyone out of the black abyss. They had the power to bring and take life from the world, Angels, Gods, mortals, immortals. No one could run from the Fates. Not even Death.

Balthazar felt strangely flattered by the fact that they chose him. He vaguely wondered what he could possibly offer them, aside from his sparkling personality and devilishly handsome good-looks.

Lachesis bit her lower lip, smiling so broadly Balthazar couldn't help but smile back at her. He always liked her the most out of the Fates. She tended to be a little happy, almost deranged from it. But he figured it came from the job. She, after all, got to decide the important stuff, like lifespan and all that. She didn't have to make the thread like Clotho or cut it like Atropos.

"I heard about what happened, Balthazar." Lachesis said with a sorrowful shake of her head, "I didn't see it coming. I had hoped for the best for you, I truly did. But that's what happens when you trust the wrong angel."

"You're preaching to the quire, my dear."

She beamed, "that's why I picked you. I believe your thread was cut much too soon."

Atropos arched a delicate eyebrow, "I didn't."

"Nor I," Clotho said demurely. "That's beside the point now. We have bigger issues to deal with sisters."

Balthazar gazed back to Clotho, the strongest of them all. She had the ability to create life. In Balthazar's book that was extraordinary, though he'd never tell her that. Her ego was already big enough.

"We brought you back for a reason, Balthazar," Clotho said sternly, getting straight to the point.

He stared at her curiously, "really? I'm surprised, ladies. I was under the impression you wanted me dead." He smirked at Atropos, "seeing as how I almost killed one of you."
Atropos's eyes blazed angrily at him, "don't try me, Balthazar. One cut and I can have you spinning off into limbo again."

"Fascinating, darling. But I don't think you'd want to do that- now that you have me here." He strolled casually further into the room, checking the décor and studying the mysterious spinning wheel with the golden thread. He had always been curious how that contraption worked. Unfortunately, due to his current predicament with the ladies of Fate, he seriously doubted they would want to give him a demonstration.

"Which brings me to my question," he said, facing them. "Why have you lovely ladies brought little ol'me back from the dead?"

Clotho narrowed her dark, scrutinizing eyes, "We have lost control of the mortal realm."

Balthazar shrugged carelessly, "Again- interesting- though not an answer."

Atropos huffed indignantly, "I'm beginning to question why we chose him, Clotho. He's a smug ass with too much pride. He'll likely ruin our plans than succeed. I don't trust him. And neither should you."

Clotho studied him like a bug under a microscope. Balthazar all of sudden felt a tingle of fear race up his spine. The haunting line- tempting Fate, crossed his mind. Maybe he should be less of an ass at the moment, he wondered briefly. He was in the presence of great power. Maybe complacency was better than a swift kick in the ass back into limbo.

"His pride is something useful for an angel, Atropos. It is what distinguishes him from the other's we considered," Clotho replied thoughtfully. "Besides the angel we did want is still missing…" Clotho moved forward to Balthazar and without warning laid a hand over his chest. He instinctively was about to step back when he felt a warmth flooding his entire being. It reinvigorated him. This shining white light made his soul widen and his heart pound. "He's soul is pure, Atropos. We can trust him."

She stepped away as if she didn't do anything. Yet his whole body felt renewed and energized. Almost like having an orgasm but with the soul.

Lachesis giggled, "I told you! I wouldn't have given him such a long life if he wasn't worthy, sisters."

"Fine, let's get this over with so we can at least get rid of him," Atropos grumbled.

Balthazar watched as the women surrounded the spinning wheel and a golden vision of the planet appeared before them. Hovering, orb like, overhead. Balthazar gazed over it, wondering what the bloody hell these women wanted from him. He was just one angel. Not God.

"After your death, Balthazar- the world went to a rather dark place." Clotho began in an ominous tone. "Castiel unleashed the Leviathans. Creatures older than creation and more powerful than Angels and Demons combined."

"Basically unstoppable," Atropos said heatedly.

"But not indestructible," Lachesis pointed out positively.

He stared at the sisters, "So you're saying- you ladies can't kill these things?"

Clotho nodded grimly, "Correct. They are not under our influence. They are the very essence of evil."

"And I can help… how?" Balthazar asked, as the sisters of Fate zoomed in on the planet from the stars.

"By helping them," Lachesis said excitedly as the world shifted and focused on the Winchesters. Sam and Dean Winchester were driving down another nameless road, through another boring little town and in their ridiculous Chevy Impala no less. He rolled his eyes dramatically, wishing he was suddenly back in limbo.

"You're joking. You want me to help Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb?"

Lachesis giggled.

"They are more important than we first anticipated," Atropos snapped.

Balthazar tilted his head and gazed intently at the beautiful, impish blond. "That's interesting, because last thing I remember from our previous encounter was you wanting to… what was it? 'Flick them off a cliff'?"

"Enough," Clotho breathed out harshly. "We don't have time for this, Atropos."

"Look- if you ladies are so keen on life and death, then you will clearly recall I died because I stuck my neck out for those idiots."

"It doesn't matter anymore, Balthazar. You here now, alive again. Your life has more meaning because you've given the rare opportunity of a second chance." Clotho explained firmly. Her gaze was powerful, unnerving him. "And the only reason we brought you back is to help us. Once you fulfill your destiny, we will un-tether you." Clotho glanced over to Lachesis. "Get the thread…"

The sister nodded happily and quickly pulled out a long, golden shining thread from the spinning wheel.

"This is your life, Balthazar," Clotho stated harshly. "We can choose when to cut it whenever we like. Angel or not. But- if you agree to our terms, we will be lenient."

"Yeah, we won't chuck you back into limbo. At least for a couple centuries," Atropos said with a knowing smile.

Balthazar stared at the sisters of Fate, uncertain. What choice did he have in the matter? If he didn't agree- back to limbo. If he did, and then succeed, he'd get his life returned.

He abruptly became aware how precious his life suddenly felt. And how he planned on living it up the second he sealed this deal with the sisters. He didn't care what agreement or terms they planned on placing on him, as long as he got his life back. Even if he had to bare the Winchester brothers to get it.

"My dears, you have yourself a deal," Balthazar said airily as he flourished his hand to Clotho. She took is, a pleased smile briefly touching her cold expression.

The moment their hands met, Balthazar had a distinct impression that he just sold his soul. Funny thing was he didn't have it in the first place to bargain with. They needed him. They brought him back to life. So the advantage was his to gain. And the idea of tormenting the Winchesters was beginning to sound like fun. Strangely enough, he imagined Sam Winchester. Wondering what that giant, sinfully handsome man would say now that Balthazar was yet again, back on their team.

He grinned boyishly at the ladies, "Consider me team Winchester."

TBC