A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews and helping me reach 100! Actually over 100, wow! That's a huge milestone for me and makes me so happy. You guys are awesome. ^_^

Alas, we've come to the end. You may recognize some lines from "Hammer of the Gods." They're not mine. ;)

Chapter 17: The Winchester Playbook

Sam stared in horror at the security monitor. Torturing an archangel…he wouldn't have thought it possible. And yeah, Gabriel had put them all through hell, but he didn't deserve this.

Castiel's mouth had nearly disappeared in a tight line, and Sam could only imagine what he was feeling. Cas and Gabriel may not have been close, but they were brothers.

"We must get in there," Cas said urgently.

"Hang on." Sam leaned over and clacked the keys on a keyboard, pulling up the security grid. He glanced at the monitor showing Gabriel, and his heart dropped into his stomach as he saw a doctor pick up a scalpel. Gabriel thrashed in the chair uselessly. The little bit of mojo he'd had must have been used up again. Sam scanned the building's layout, mentally mapping out a path to the white room. With a few more keystrokes, the computer made a series of beeps.

"Okay, I've locked down every corridor except a straight shot for us in and out."

Dean lifted his brows appreciatively. "Nice."

They moved out of the security room, weapons drawn. The cameras hadn't shown anyone else for them to run into aside from the three guys with Gabriel. Still, they moved cautiously though hurriedly, taking two lefts and one right before coming to where the facility's blueprints had showed the room was supposed to be. Only, he couldn't see a door.

"What the hell?" Dean muttered, turning back and forth.

Sam spotted an indentation in the wall, and tapped it. A panel slid up, revealing a keypad just as a muffled scream sounded from behind the wall. Sam quickly produced his security pass and swiped it, and then almost jumped when part of the wall whooshed open. Guns raised, he and Dean stormed in.

The room's occupants jerked up in surprise. Sam's gaze immediately snapped to Gabriel, who had a five-inch incision carved down the center of his chest. The scalpel the scientist was holding dripped crimson fluid on the floor as he blinked in bewilderment. Sam immediately shot him in the shoulder, the force of the bullet propelling him back.

The agent in the suit tried to draw his weapon, but Dean fired at him, hitting center mass. The last remaining doctor threw his hands up and started backing away, though he had nowhere to go. Surrendering or not, Cas suddenly appeared next to him and delivered a punch to the guy's chest that sent him flying back into the wall with a sickening crunch. Then Cas pivoted to reach Gabriel's side and began undoing the restraints. Sam hurried forward and snatched some gauze off the medical cart to press against the laceration.

Gabriel looked around dazedly, pupils dilated. Crap, was he drugged? "What are you doing here?" he slurred.

"What's it look like?" Dean retorted as he scooped up the agent's gun. "Saving your ass."

Gabriel whipped his gaze between them in shock. "Why?"

"Hey, I woulda let you rot in here," Dean said gruffly. "But Cas is better than me."

Gabriel blinked at his brother as Cas helped him sit up. "You moron, I made the sacrificial move so you lugs could escape!" He swayed and Cas gripped his arm to hold him. "A real Winchester play," Gabriel half-mumbled.

"Yeah, well, family doesn't get left behind," Cas replied. "Also a Winchester rule."

Sam exchanged a small look of pride with Dean. His brother just gave a half-hearted eye roll in response. Grabbing some more gauze and surgical tape, Sam hastily bandaged Gabriel's chest. "What were they doing to you?"

Gabriel snorted. "Welcome to Area 51. They thought I was a little gray dude under this charming exterior."

Sam's jaw nearly dropped in horror, and he glanced down at the bloody patch of gauze covering what had been the beginnings of a Y-incision. That was just wrong…

"Pack it up, fellas," Dean said impatiently, watching the door for signs of trouble.

Cas braced Gabriel as he rolled out of the chair, and kept a grip on his arm when he swayed. Hopefully those drugs would wear off a lot sooner than they would for a human. Sam shrugged out of his suit jacket and helped Gabriel slip into it. Then he lifted his gun and moved out with Dean into the corridor, Cas and Gabriel following behind. They didn't run into anyone all the way to the security gate, but Sam hadn't been able to lock down the passages past it, as they'd been on a separate grid. So when they hurried through a cross-section, four agents spotted them and sounded the alarm.

Bullets pinged against the walls, and Sam and Dean haphazardly returned fire, shooting backwards as they ran toward the exit, which was only thirty feet away. Cas and Gabriel reached the door first, practically slamming through it into the night. Sam and Dean barreled out next, bullets ricocheting on their heels as the heavy metal door slammed closed. Sam then fired twice at the keycard panel, hoping the system would automatically lock down when under attack.

Dean had dove into the driver's side of the SUV with Cas and Gabriel in the back, so Sam sprinted around to jump in the passenger seat just as Dean turned the key in the ignition. Slamming his foot down on the gas, the tires screeched and the SUV lurched forward.

Sam belatedly remembered the security gate, but before he could bring it up, the headlights illuminated the barbed wire fence, and it seemed Dean had no intention of slowing down. In fact, he pressed on the gas harder, revving the engine with an extra burst of rpm. Sam shot his hand up to grip the slingshot handle, bracing himself for impact.

The SUV plowed through the fence, snapping poles and chain-link with a clatter and clang of metal. Something rattled under the vehicle's carriage before flinging free and crashing into something else. No way would Dean be this reckless if they were in the Impala.

A bright light flashed in the side and rearview mirrors. Sam twisted around. Oh shit, two sets of headlights were in pursuit.

"Uh, what's the plan, boys?" Gabriel asked from the back.

"We found the portal," Dean replied. "And I say we drive right through it."

Sam whipped back around. "At ninety miles an hour?" he exclaimed, then shot Gabriel an alarmed look. "Is the car gonna follow us out of this dimension?" Or were they gonna be spit out at that speed?

The archangel quirked a brow. "Huh, that's a fascinating question."

A series of cracks suddenly split the air, only slightly muffled by the rev of the engine, and the back window shattered. Sam jerked his head down instinctively as bits of glass pelted the back of his neck. Crap!

"Get down!" he yelled at Cas and Gabriel, reaching between the seats to yank them lower.

Dean cranked the wheel, swerving the vehicle to provide a moving target. More bullets clanked against the back of the SUV.

"Son-of-a-bitch!"

"Yo, pass me a piece!" Gabriel yelped.

Cas twisted around, pressed against the backseat cushion. "A piece of what?"

Sam thrust his gun back toward Gabriel's grasping fingers. Gripping it tight, the archangel shifted onto his knees and braced the Glock on the back dash, aiming out the broken window. He fired multiple shots, most of which probably didn't hit their targets as the SUV jolted and juddered over the uneven desert terrain. One of the headlights on a pursuit vehicle exploded, and then the second SUV swerved sharply and plowed into a giant cactus.

Come on, where was the portal?

Sam straightened as he thought he saw a flicker of light up ahead. Keeping his eyes peeled through the darkness, he prayed that glow was the portal, and not some actual UFO coming to land on top of their heads.

There was a loud pop and the rear of the SUV lurched down on the left. Dean gripped the wheel tightly, slamming on the brakes as he tried to maintain control, but the tires screeched and Sam felt himself start to tip sideways as their vehicle slowly skidded into a flip.

The car moved in slow motion, tilting left as Dean fought to correct, but with a back tire blown out, he couldn't stop the momentum. Gravity pulled him against the driver's window, gradually wrenching the vehicle down onto its side with a skid. Sam landed on top of him, crushing him against the glass as the car slid through dirt several feet before coming to a stop. Oh, so that was a good reason to wear seat belts.

Dean groaned, feeling a myriad of bruises forming. "Sam?" he said hoarsely.

Sam shifted on top of him, accidentally elbowing him in the stomach. "S'ry."

Gabriel moaned from the backseat. "Okay, your driving privileges are revoked."

"Cas?" Dean called. He craned his neck to peer between his seat and the wall, but could only make out Gabriel's tangled limps and a glimpse of tan.

"Oh, don't worry about him, I broke his fall," Gabriel quipped.

Like Dean could give a damn. They needed to get out of here. Where was the other vehicle? "Dude, you're heavy," he grunted, trying to shove his gigantic brother's unruly limbs off him.

Sam squirmed to climb out of the SUV, stepping on Dean's chest, arm, and leg, all the while muttering apologies at Dean's grunts of protests. Sam pushed the passenger door open like an escape hatch and hauled himself up, then dropped down to the ground with an 'oomph'. Dean hurriedly climbed out after him, but instead of jumping off, leaned over to wrench open the back door. Lights bobbed only a quarter-mile away. Shit!

"Come on, angels, we gotta go!" He scooted around the top and managed to lift the door, only as soon as he did, the backseat was empty. Dean whipped his head around and spotted Cas and Gabriel outside the vehicle, Cas holding Gabriel upright by the back of Sam's stolen suit jacket. Both of them looked rumpled, but only Gabriel's bandaged chest showed signs of bleeding. Dean bit back his grumbling and leaped to the ground, wincing as the landing vibrated up his shins.

Tires squealed from the other side of the overturned SUV. Dean gestured frantically at them. "Move it!" The shimmering portal was just three yards away.

Sam grabbed Gabriel's other arm, and he and Cas yanked the archangel forward. Dean took a deep breath a second before he charged through the electrostatic ripples, praying they didn't land in some whacked out channel with giant bugs.

The four of them staggered into an abandoned warehouse. Wait, the same one Dean and Sam had gone to investigate in the first place. "Are we…?"

"Yes," Cas said. "We are out of the pocket dimension."

"Thank god," Sam uttered, seeming ready to collapse. He glanced at the angels. "You two okay now?"

Gabriel straightened, looking down at his now bare chest. He ripped the gauze off and stared at the incision. Rather than instantaneously disappearing as Dean was used to seeing from angels self-healing, the blood slowly receded as skin melded together. Gabriel arched a brow, unimpressed.

"Eh, after I stop at a chocolate café and refuel, I'll be good as new." With a snap of his fingers, he was back in regular clothes.

"And you, Cas?" Dean asked, giving him a judicious appraisal. His tie was hanging at a thirty-degree angle, and his coat was smeared with dirt, but at least it didn't have all those slashes anymore. Though Dean wondered if the partially healed ones were still underneath. "You good?"

Cas lowered his gaze as though taking stock of himself, then looked up again, expression carefully neutral. "My grace is what it was before."

So, still cut off. At least he wasn't practically mortal. Dean angled a wary look at Gabriel. If his powers were still temporarily reduced, now would be a good time to get away from him. But Castiel was standing stiffly, eyes flicking nervously to Gabriel and away, as though reluctant to leave. Dean and Sam should probably give them some privacy, though Dean wasn't exactly keen on leaving Cas alone with the shifty Trickster. Gabriel didn't need their help anymore, though surely he owed them for saving his life.

The building suddenly shook, rattling the windows and foundation. Gabriel groaned.

A column of fire shot up in the center of the warehouse, sweltering heat wafting over them in suffocating waves. Oh crap, they'd forgotten about the psycho bitch. Dean stepped closer to Sam. Even back in the real world, they were no match for a pagan goddess.

The flames died down, revealing Kali in her red blouse and black skirt. Her eyes seethed with fury. "Well, Loki, it seems you're more resourceful than I gave you credit for."

Gabriel flashed her a cocky grin. "Come on, sugar, you're just now figuring that out?"

Nostrils flaring, Kali took a menacing step forward and raised her palm. Cas pushed his way in front of Gabriel, dropping his angel blade into his hand. Dean's heart dropped into his stomach. No, you idiot!

"Whoa, kiddo, what are you doing?" Gabriel said, sounding equally dismayed.

Kali sneered. "Don't be foolish. My quarrel isn't with you."

Cas's expression hardened. "It is now."

"Okay, time out!" Gabriel stepped between Cas and Kali, throwing his arms out as though to hold them both back. "Castiel," he said in a low, serious tone. "I appreciate the gesture, but this is for me to face." He put a gentle yet firm hand on Cas's arm, lowering the sword. Cas continued to glare threateningly at the goddess.

Gabriel turned toward Kali. "I get that you're pissed about me lying, and about the Apocalypse. But killing me isn't going to stop my brothers. Hell, they wouldn't even grieve."

Dean saw a muscle in Castiel's cheek twitch that suggested at least one angel would.

"And I'm sorry," Gabriel continued, sounding more sincere than Dean had ever heard. "There are a lot of things I wish I could change."

Dean cleared his throat nervously, ignoring the warning glare Sam shot him in response. "Look, we don't want to see the Apocalypse go down either. You could help us fight it. Help us take down Lucifer."

Kali narrowed a suspicious look toward him. "I could offer to deliver the precious vessels in order to lure him into a trap."

Now Cas took a step sideways to protect the Winchesters. "You will not lay a hand on them."

Gabriel threw Cas an exasperated look before addressing Kali. "You can't fight Lucifer; he'll destroy you. Trust me, I know my brother. He should scare the living crap out of you. You can't beat him."

"Westerners, I swear," she muttered. "You think you're the only ones on earth? You're not the only religion. There are billions of us, and if we unite—"

"Yeah, 'cause you guys all get along so well," Gabriel said with an eye roll.

She lifted her chin. "Against a common enemy, we will."

"Kali, I'm begging you, don't do this. I don't want to see any of my brothers die."

Dean wondered if Gabriel even realized he'd moved closer to Cas when he said that.

"I don't want to see you die."

Kali made a derisive sound, but her brow creased slightly. After a long moment, she said, "You needn't worry if you stand with us, Loki."

Gabriel shook his head, hands clenching. "I can't."

Her features smoothed into that cold exterior. "That's what I thought."

Dean tensed, prepared for her to strike, for Gabriel to either be engulfed in flames or for Cas to jump in front of him and take the blow instead. All of which Dean could do nothing to stop. Except…the look in Gabriel's eye in that moment between seconds—pain, sorrow, anguish. For the first time, Dean thought he understood the archangel.

"He can't choose between his two families," Dean blurted, earning startled gazes from everyone. Gabriel was giving him a 'what the hell do you think you're talking about?' look.

Dean cleared his throat and barreled on. "I see right through you, you know that? The smart-ass shell, the whole 'I could give a crap' thing? Believe me, it takes one to know one. So I get it. You left Heaven, created a new life, made a new family. But that doesn't mean you stop caring about the old one."

Dean shifted his gaze to Cas. He'd never really acknowledged or understood exactly what Castiel had sacrificed for the Winchesters. It'd been easy to dismiss the gravity of being cut off from Heaven by saying Cas was better off since all angels were dicks anyway. By ignoring the fact they were Cas's brothers. And even though Dean and Sam had welcomed Cas into their dysfunctional family unit, considered him like a brother, it didn't erase the history or loyalty Cas had to his first home.

Cas tilted his head, squinting as though trying to read some unspoken sentiment in Dean's eyes. Dean didn't look away in embarrassment though, simply tried to convey his apology—and promise—to the angel that'd become an honorary Winchester.

"We-ll," Gabriel said, breaking the silence. "Before you two get a room, I just want to say…" He turned back to Kali, and dropped his shoulders. "He's right."

Kali pursed her lips in consideration.

Gabriel spread his arms beseechingly. "I don't want to see you get hurt. I don't want to see Baldur, Odin, Ganesh, hell even smarmy Mercury, get hurt. Which is what will happen if you go after Lucifer."

"We should sit back and let the world be destroyed?" Kali snapped.

"Sam and I aren't gonna let that happen," Dean jumped in again. "I don't know how, but we're gonna stop the Apocalypse."

Kali gave him an unimpressed glance, while Gabriel looked at the ceiling wearily. Pursing her ruby lips, the pagan goddess regarded the archangel thoughtfully. "This isn't over, Loki," she said in a low tone that sounded as though she meant more than just their relationship.

Gabriel gave her a sad look. "Never is."

A whoosh of flames surged up, and then Kali was gone.

Dean let out a breath of relief. Another crisis averted. "Think couples therapy would work on Michael and Lucifer that well?" he said under his breath. Sam rolled his eyes.

For a moment, the four of them stood awkwardly in the empty warehouse.

"Gabriel," Cas finally said, stepping forward hesitantly. But he didn't finish. Maybe he knew what the archangel would say, that he still couldn't choose sides between his brothers.

Gabriel flashed him a half-hearted grin. "Take care of yourself, kiddo." He flicked his gaze to the Winchesters. "I hope you two knuckleheads know what you got here."

Dean glanced at Cas, who tilted his head in question at his brother. Dean knew what Gabriel meant though.

"We do," Sam said, taking a supportive step toward Cas.

Gabriel lifted his hand to snap his fingers, pausing to give them a mischievous brow waggle, and then vanished.

Dean swept his gaze around the empty warehouse. He wondered how long they'd been trapped in TV land. Bobby might be worried. "Let's get out of here."

They stepped outside into an early morning sun. The Impala was right where they'd left her, thank goodness. Dean did a quick visual sweep for scratches as he approached the driver's door. Sam paused on the other side, clearing his throat subtly, and Dean glanced over to where Cas was hanging back by the door.

"Cas, you comin'?"

Cas cocked his head as though in hesitant consideration, and Dean heard Sam snort in amusement.

"It wasn't a question, Cas," Sam said kindly. "Get in."

Cas looked slightly taken aback, but didn't argue, and the next second he was sitting in the backseat. Dean rolled his eyes. Couldn't the angel learn to use a door? Sam was smirking as he climbed into the passenger side, and Dean slipped behind the wheel.

Dean adjusted the rearview mirror to meet Cas's gaze. "Stick around for a few days, okay?"

Cas frowned. "…Okay. Do you have another case?"

"Nah, I'm thinking we all need some R&R."

"Some what?"

Dean sighed. "Rest and recreation."

"Oh." Cas shifted in his seat. "Like watching television?"

Both Dean and Sam jerked straight. "No!"

A/N: And there we have it. Thanks to everyone who followed, favorited, reviewed, and even just lurked, for coming along on this ride. Until next time!