Don't own Supernatural. Just borrowing it until I'm told to give it back by the owners

This is the final part of the Grace Trilogy. I hope you have enjoyed what you have read so far and that you all for being so loyal. Special shout out as always to my Love, Suki Uchiha Lamprouge, and to another dear friend and loyal follower, An Emotional Angel. Thank you both! Now without further interruption, I give to you, Shaded (Grace). Enjoy!

Chapter 1: My Brother's Ghost

Raphael flipped through the page of the tome in his lap, the light of the candle beside him flickering softly in the darkness of his room. Turning the last page of the book he sat it aside with a sigh; it didn't contain what he needed either. Three months of searching and he had nothing to show for it. Maybe he was looking in the wrong places. Maybe what he was looking for didn't exist even though he knew that he had read about it somewhere.

He turned and looked at the small picture that was leaning against his books. It was a picture of Gabriel. It had been taken by their father at his wedding. He had never seen his younger brother look happier. The smile that lit up his face and the light shining in his eyes was something he hadn't seen since before the First War. It hurt more then he cared to admit that there was the possibility that he wouldn't be seeing it ever again.

Gabriel was dead.

Turning away from the picture he went back to his research. There had to be a way to bring his baby brother back from the dead. He had to do it. Sam deserved that much. Three months of searching had yielded nothing useful though. I made him wonder if maybe he shouldn't ask his dad for the names and a way to reach the two that had brought him back and healed him. After all, after he was in his own vessel once more they both had left and with them went the Angelis Lexicon; the only book that held the recorded history of the archangels.

Picking up a new book Raphael couldn't help but think about when they realized that Gabriel was already gone. He was sitting by Gabriel's bedside with Sam laying in bed with his mate. Suriel had come in to give Gabriel his heck up so he had stood to leave and leaned down to kiss his baby brother's cheek. No sooner then he pulled back then he was filled with horror. A bruise had formed on the blonde's cheek in the exact shape of his lips. Suriel had ushered both Sam and himself out before locking the door.

Sam had panicked, not knowing what was going on. As he was trying to calm down the hunter, the rest of the bunker had shown up, looking both confused and worried. It was nearly an agonizing hour long wait before Suriel had come out to deliver the news. Gabriel was gone. His Grace was no longer present in his vessel and it was beginning to decay. There were bruises everywhere that he had been touched and a couple of them were turning into open wounds. There was nothing more that they could do for his baby brother.

Sam had taken the news hard, collapsing to the floor and sobbing brokenly until he had to be medicated to calm him down. That left the choice of what happened to Gabriel in Michael's hands since Gabriel had no children and his mate was incapable to make any choices. The First Born wasted no time. He demand to know every option avaliable. He tried everything he could to make sure that they weren't giving up on his brother so soon. It had take another three hours of arguing before they finally able to reach a decision regarding the youngest archangel; they would take him off life support and if he hung on then they would put the life support back on and if not then they would let him go.

Everyone had gathered to say their goodbyes that night. Dean and Castiel had shown up in dark colors as had Crowley and Balthazar. Michael and Lucifer had shown up in dressed in their robes while Chuck had shown up in a white suit. Suriel himself had decided to wear his own healers robes that had been granted to his by Gabriel when he passed his training. Sam, however, was dressed normally but he was wearing the shirt that he had given Gabriel as the angel had begun his road to recovery.

Suriel waited until everyone was ready before he reached up and turned off the the alarm for the heart monitor first before turning off the machine for the life support. There was a moment where Gabriel drew in a breath and then there was nothing else. The monitors showed that the archangel's heart rate slowly dropping. His expression didn't change and if it wasn't for the change in the color of his lips, going from the normal pink to a more blue color one would think the angel was merely sleeping. It didn't take long until Suriel shook his head indication that he was gone.

Sam didn't say anything the entire time nor shed a tear; he only waited for his mate to be pronounced dead before moving forward and taking the ring from his finger before leaving the room. The hunter locked himself in his room afterwards and refused to come out for the next five days and when he had, he was wearing both rings around his neck on a thick chain. Also he was now sporting around his wrist, the necklace that Razael had made for his mother. Tears had come to Lucifer's eyes when he saw the blue feather that was now being proudly displayed around his vessel's wrist. The next day Lucifer was wearing his own feather around his neck.

So it had been for the past three months. He had been searching for a way to bring Gabriel back for Sam. Sam barely spoke a word. Dean and Castiel began hunting once more. Lucifer had become colder again and only Michael seemed to bring him around. Crowley helped when he could as did Balthazar but mostly they did random things when they could to help.

^Why do you insist on hanging out here? Can't we go outside or up to the kitchen to see everyone else? You could at least turn on a damn light! This place has electricity and running water like most modern places. You could at least use it like a normal damn person.^

Raphael let out a sigh and steadily ignored the voice coming from the corner of the room.

^Please put the books down and pay attention to me! This is boring! There's nothing to do and you're the only one that can see or hear me! Pay attention to me!^

"Did you pick that bad habit up from Lucifer like you did with all the others?" Raphael snapped before catching himself.

^Hey! You actually said something to me! Does this mean you're going to pay attention to me now? How about we play a game?^

The Third Born tried not to glare at the transparent figure standing near the door and leaning against the wall. It had only been a few hours after Gabriel's death when it happened. He thought that maybe he was seeing things at first. That maybe the stress of his younger brother's death had gotten to him; that he was clinging to his brother's spirit because he hadn't been able to apologize to him for all the wrongs he had committed against him. It hadn't taken him long to realize that he had been wrong.

^Come on Raphael! Please say something to me!^ Gabriel's ghost begged. ^You talked to me at first. Why won't you do it now?^

"Because I shouldn't be encouraging my insanity, that's why!" Raphael hissed out to the blonde. "It's bad enough I'm shunned because of what I did to you! I don't need to be locked away for talking to a dead angel that only I can see."

Gabriel pouted. ^Do...do you not want me?^ He asked softly, his voice breaking a bit.

The Third Born let out a strange noise. "Gabriel I-"

^Why don't you call me Gabby anymore?^ The blonde asked.

"I think I lost that right." The dark skinned angel said. "After everything that I did to you and ordered done to you, you should hate my guts and wish me dead."

^I did at one point.^ Gabriel admitted. ^Then I started talking to Sam. I told him about what I went through. About everything. The torture, the rape, all of it. Sam did hate me for it. Instead he told me that he was proud of me. That I was stronger then I realized for being able to survive something like that for so long and still be as intact as I am...Or should that be was?^

"I don't know Gabriel." Raphael said softly. "I didn't think angels could become ghosts. It's never happened before."

^Maybe because I'm an archangel? Or was? This is confusing. I think I'm getting a headache from thinking about it so much.^ Gabriel said with a grin.

"That seems like an impossibility. Why am I still talking to you?!"

^Because you're lonely.^ Gabriel said softly. ^I know the feeling. Now will you please go see our brothers? I miss them and-^

There was a gently knock on the door.

"Come in." Raphael called.

The door slowly opened and light flooded into the room, making him blink. The light in the room came on making him blink again. When he managed to open his eyes he found Sam standing there is confusion, and holding a covered tray. He came over and sat the tray down. Turning he began blowing out the candles and straightening up the room. Raphael frowned and looked down at the food.

^Sam...^

Raphael looked up to see that Gabriel was following Sam ask he walked around. His brother's expression was heartbroken as he watched his mate and the Third Born could easily see why. Sam hadn't been taking the best care of himself. He was thinner then he had been three months ago and paler. Sam finished with the books then turned to look at Raphael, frowning when he realized that the angel hadn't touched his food.

The dark skinned angel picked up the tray and held it out to Sam. "I'm an angel. I don't need to eat but I thank you for the food. Why don't you eat it?"

Sam frowned and sat down eyeing the photo that was resting against the books of his wedding. He started at it before pulling one of the books closer and carefully opening it and looking at the writing in it. His fingers traced over the picture on the first page and Raphael realized that Sam had managed to pick the one book that had Gabriel's picture it in. Not that Sam would recognize that it was Gabriel; the archangel was in his very first vessel in this picture.

Raphael moved closer, a small smile playing on his lips, happy that he was about to act as a Loreist for Sam and teach him more about his deceased mate's people; it was his right as the mate of an angel even if his mate was dead. "What do you think? Isn't he quite handsome?"

Sam made a face and went to close the book the Raphael stopped him. Beside them the apparition of Gabriel was watching Sam carefully. He reached out as if to touch him but his hand passed right through the hunter. The pain was visible on his brother's face and it made Raphael wonder if ghosts could suffer from a broken heart.

"Look closely at him Sam. You might see something you like." The angel teased gently. "Take a close look at him. Trust me."

Sam frowned and picked up the book and looked closer at the young angel in the picture. The angel was dressed in the traditional robes of a healer, the same that Gabriel was wearing in his wedding photo. In his hands was a long, shining spear and it was piercing a cloud of black mist, his expression twisted into one of anger and determination. Around his waist was a belt that had several pouches and both an angel blade and a spiraled archangel blade, letting the human know he was looking at an archangel and not just a normal seraph.

Despite the fact the picture showed the angel in a lunge it was clear that he had to be a good five six or five seven. His hair was a dark brown, almost the same color of chocolate and it looked like he had just rolled out of bed. Around his neck was a necklace of something blue that was too small to make out given the size of the picture. The last thing that was the glaring gold eyes of the young angel.

Sam let out a gasp and grabbed his wedding photo and laid down in the book, right next to the picture. His fingers reached out and traced the page in the book before turning to the picture and running his fingers over Gabriel's face. The same gold eyes were in both pictures. Sam looked up at Raphael in wonder and confusion, the question clear in his green eyes.

"Yup. That's Gabriel." Raphael said, watching both their expressions. "He was only ten in that picture. It's him in his first vessel. I thought he was quite the handsome young man."

Sam turned back to the picture and looked back up at Raphael and held up ten fingers.

Raphael checked the date in the book. "Yeah. In this picture he was only ten. By that time he had been trained by Michael and Lucifer since his creation. Michael has almost three hundred years on him, Lucifer had about two hundred and fifty while I have about two hundred. This was him in the First War. He was good at fighting. Better then me anyway."

Sam frowned and touched the picture again but Raphael moved the wedding picture and turned the page. In this picture Gabriel was in mid air, all six of his wings spread. In his hands was a long golden staff that was topped with two different lilies, but these were real and not gold like the staff. His clothes were a little different this time though, they were white like before but these were trimmed in gold and he was wearing a golden chest plate as well and a great sword hung at his side. Sam turned to looked at the Third Born for an explanation.

"Gabriel acting in his title of Messenger. Do you understand now?" The angel asked softly.

Sam nodded and looked back down at the book, his fingers going to the staff.

"Lilies. This one is a Lily of the Valley. It symbolizes sweetness and purity of the heart. The other one is a white lily. I always said that it was the wrong flower for him but Lucifer thought it ironic." The dark skinned angel said with a chuckle.

^I think I agree with you.^ Gabriel muttered, but his eyes were trained on his mate.

The hunter looked at him curiously.

"The white lily is supposed to symbolize modesty and virginity." The Loreist said. "And to be honest my baby brother was neither modest nor a virgin by the time this picture was done. He was...let's see...He was only a hundred fifty, give or take a few years in this one. By that time he was already sleeping with Lucifer. He moved quick. When Michael found them together he was furious."

^More then furious. I thought he was going to kill Lucifer.^ Gabriel said. ^And you were no help you bastard. You were too busy trying not to laugh!^

Raphael ignored his brother's ghost. "Michael couldn't find either of them for training that morning. Lucifer's birthday had been the night before. He thought that maybe they had gone to earth and gotten drunk. He walked into Lucifer's area and stopped dead. They were cuddled up together and they made quite the pair. Hold on.."

The angel stood and began looking through the books until he came to a simple piece of leather that was tied with a string. He opened it to reveal a collection of hand drawn works. He brought it back over and sat it in his lap, flipping through it until he came to what he was looking for. It was a picture of Gabriel in his first vessel, curled up next to a tall, this man, with long, curly black hair.

Gabriel gasped. ^Holy shit! I didn't know those still existed! How did you get a hold or my sketch pad too, you asshole?^

"This is the drawing I did later of it. The one with the dark hair is Lucifer. He looks strange with long dark hair now that I've seen him as a blonde. I have to say that it suits him better. Anyway Michael was threatening to kill Lucifer for sullying Gabriel. Gabriel got out of bed completely naked, grabbed his clothes and turned to Lucifer and said, 'I'll bring you something by for the pain. Let me go get it and then I'll be right back to help you into the shower. You bled a bit but that's normal.' Then he turned and walked out without getting dressed. Lucifer went about ten different shades of red." Raphael recalled.

"Michael didn't know what to think after that. He couldn't believe his little brother capable of such a thing until a few weeks later we caught them together again. This time there was no denying that Gabriel was the instigator. He had Lucifer pinned against the wall with one hand down his pants and the other in his hair. Michael looked like he was going to explode. He got all red in the face and his fist was twitching. Dad just looked at them and said 'If you insist on doing that then please do it somewhere that is a little less public. There are the younger angels to think of. Don't stop on our account though. Have fun!' Michael was livid."

Sam looked back down at the book and turned the next page. It showed Gabriel standing with Lucifer and a tall ebony haired man with pale skin and green eyes. The Fourth Born and the other man were standing together looking over a book. The taller man was leaning over Gabriel and pointing out something in a large book while they were both balancing a small ball of energy in their palms while Lucifer was watching carefully with a look of pride.

"Gabriel and myself working on our spell work while Lucifer watched over us in order to make sure we didn't blow ourselves up. I actually lost a finger that way." Raphael said with a smile. "I never cast another spell like that unless Lucifer was around to help me first."

Sam turned the page again and nearly threw the book across the room. The Third Born could understand why. It was of what had turned Gabriel from the path of the Warrior to the path of the Healer. It was the end of the First War. In a last ditch effort the Darkness had gone after Gabriel, the youngest of the archangels. It had struck with lightening precision with the intent to kill the Fourth Born. Michael had thrown himself in front of Gabriel taking the full brunt of the attack. In the picture Gabriel was kneeling next to Michael and they were both nearly covered in the First Born's blood.

Gabriel had frozen, staring in horror as Michael had been nearly torn apart. Michael had collapsed and the Fourth Born had rushed forward. He was crying, terrified at the very thought of losing his eldest brother. Gabriel had done everything he could to keep Michael stable while Lucifer and himself had finished winning the war. That was when Chuck had appeared, his vessel a slim blonde with green eyes, and had started healing his eldest son. Gabriel had been relieved to see the wounds heal and had collapsed when his older brother had been able to stand under his own power once more. It was then that Gabriel had decided to set aside his blades. Their youngest brother had disappeared for nearly a hundred years only to return as a master healer.

"We almost lost Michael that day. It changed Gabriel. He began to hate fighting. He despised it and began talking to other angels about becoming healers. The response was overwhelming; Gabriel is the reason that there are different classes of angels. Gabriel changed heaven with a single decision. You should be proud of him Sam. Your mate was the best angel heaven ever had. I'm sorry my screw up killed him. You should hate me for taking him from you." Raphael said softly.

Sam, whose head was bowed, began to shake. The dark skinned angel was afraid that he had set the younger hunter off when he broke into a harsh sob and began crying. Raphael quickly moved the book away and the human threw himself into the shocked archangel's lap. Without even thinking about it his wings came out and laid over the Winchester like a blanket.

"I want him back!" Came the hoarse, broken cry from the young man. "I want my husband back!"

^I'm...I'm right here Sam. I'm right here next to you.^ Gabriel said, watching the love of his life sob uncontrollably. ^I've never left you Sam and I'm not going to. I promise. I'm right here.^

"He's here Sam." Raphael said softly, taking a chance. "Gabby is right here with us. He watching over us. I promise."

"I need him Raphael. I need my mate. I can't do this. I can't live without him like this. There's no point in living in a world without him." Came the broken reply. "I don't want to."

"I promise you Sam that I will do everything in my power to fix this." Raphael vowed. "I will bring him back for you. Even if it kills me for a second time."

Gabriel's ghost flinched. ^Please...Please...I don't want either of you dead. I love you too much. I want you both happy.^

For the first time since Gabriel had been appearing Raphael looked up and looked his brother's ghost in the eye. "Don't you get it Gabby? You were our happiness."