Chapter Text
They wintered in Hastings Keep, defending against the other lords that, true to Dean’s prediction, did come. Sam was rarely used on the battlefield, instead being preferred for healing. He was also allowing Dean to drink more and more each night, and Dean... Dean was requesting it more and more often. Sam pretended he didn’t mind, but truth be told, he was worried. He longed to talk to Father Novak, but there was no chance of that until they went back to Winchester Keep.
Dean was stronger, though. More surefooted, more dexterous, faster.... Less likely to get hurt, and Sam certainly appreciated that. So he said nothing, even though the words ached to pass his teeth.
It was mid-December when they got the news. The King had heard of the fighting and was on the move. He was coming to squash it, by suppressing House Winchester once and for all. He would be at the keep by the new year, and would likely just destroy the thing outright, to break their spirits. Dean was torn. On the one hand, he didn’t want to leave his people to their fate, but on the other... this war was costly, and also for them. What to do?
It was Sam who proposed the answer. He would have to fly back and handle it himself.
Dean was immediately spent into a spiral of fear. He couldn’t lose Sam! What if the King didn’t listen to Sam? What if Sam was captured or taken? What if--?
Sam put a stop to that spiral immediately. They would pray about it. Dean reluctantly agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gabriel stood before them, hands spread. “Well, kiddos? Marriage trouble already?” He teased. “Or is it about the army headed for Winchester Keep?”
Sam took a deep breath. “Father, what can kill me?”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Well, now that you’re mostly grown... not much, I’ll be honest. An Archangel blade like I carry... Michael’s Lance... an Act of God, I mean the list really isn’t that long.”
Sam shot Dean a look that said “see?” Dean’s lips thinned.
“Sam wants to fly back and halt the army himself. Could he do it?”
Gabriel nodded thoughtfully. “If he was careful, yes. He’s more than strong enough, but I wager it’ll be more about cunning than strength.”
“Father,” Sam spoke up again, “Father Novak told me that you can cast illusions, really powerful once. I’m good at actually summoning things, but I haven’t figured out illusions yet. Can you teach me in the time we have left? I’ll need to be back at the keep at least a week before he gets there.”
Gabriel grinned. “I suspect I’ll like to watch this... Sure thing, champ, I’ll teach ya!”
Sam grinned too, his dimples flashing out, and just like that, Dean was finally convinced.
“Have fun, beloved,” he murmured, kissing the top of Sam’s head.
“I will!” Indeed Sam was practically vibrating with excitement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The soldiers didn’t take kindly to learning of Lord Sam’s impending absence. He was a favorite of all, and he was to many, the symbol of this war in the first place. To have that taken away, and around a time when the soldiers already desperately wanted to be with their families... There was more than grumbling going on. It sounded dangerously like open rebellion.
Dean was at a bit of a loss as to how to handle it. He couldn’t not send Sam, especially after Sam was already training for it, and anyway Sam had been right. There really wasn’t any choice. No one else could be spared, and no one else would be able to do what needed to be done. Sam was an army unto himself, and Dean would be a fool not to use him, especially when Sam was begging to be used.
So, he did what any good commander might do. He walked among them. He talked to them. And that’s when he got an idea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Dean walked to his and Sam’s room, he was immediately terrified. It looked like the whole damn thing had burnt down! But wasn’t that where Sam and Gabriel had been? Despite knowing that a fire couldn’t hurt them, he was seconds away from losing it entirely, when Gabriel appeared next to him, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
“Sam’s illusions are really improving, by the look on your face. Don’t worry, everyone is safe.”
Dean let out a heavy breath, collapsing slightly on himself. “One of these days he is going to give me a heart attack.”
Gabriel smirked. “Nah... Come on in, it’ll break.”
As Dean crossed the threshold, the room righted itself. He felt extremely disoriented. “My God. Holy God, this is confusing.”
Sam flushed, giving him an apologetic look. “I didn’t mean to bother you, De. We didn’t expect you back yet, what’s going on?”
Dean sighted. “Sammy, I think you need to learn to make a double of yourself.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, letting out a chuckle. “That’s advanced. Why do you say that?”
“Because,” Dean said, “if Sam leaves, the soldiers will openly riot. And Sam has to go.”
Sam looked at Gabriel inquiringly. Gabriel shrugged. “Well Sam’s got the juice, no question, but if you want him to be able to also do what he needs to to protect the keep, then I’m not really sure how you want him to handle it.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means Sam’s concentration might be spread a bit thin, and I don’t know how easily I can teach him to make a full double in the time we have.”
“Would a full double be solid?”
“As a rock. Walk, talk, act like Sam. Even be able to do some Sam-like things, but you’d better hope no one attacked if it came to that, because Double-Sam wouldn’t be able to heal.”
Sam stepped forward. “Dean, I don’t even need to do that. They just need to know that I’ll be safe when I’m gone, and they need to be reminded that we’re doing this for their families. We need to tell them.”
Dean blinked. “Woah woah. No. That is a terrible idea.”
“Is it?” Sam raised an eyebrow. “You’re telling me you think that after all these soldiers have seen me do, they completely believe me to be human? Dean, they’re ready to believe me the second coming of Christ. An angel’s son is hardly going to be a less popular answer.”
“That is crazy--” Dean began.
“No. It’s really not.” Sam was calm. “You were away for 10 years, getting your knighthood. Of course people respect you. Of course people like you. But you aren’t a symbol to them the way I am. I grew up with them, and they know they’re fighting this war because of me. I’ll show them my wings. I’ll cast one of my illusions if I have to. It’s not that Father and I haven’t discussed doubles yet. It’s that if I am to make a fully autonomous double of myself, it’s a lot of energy and strain. And if I don’t, it’s less energy but more concentration, and we can’t have me not having any concentration.”
Dean sighed. “Alright, so just to be clear. We are planning on informing all of our collective soldiers, and by extension, their lords, that my father got cucked by an angel? He’s gonna love that.” Dean’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Sam shrugged. “We could always tell them what Mother told him. That she thought he came back early from a trip. Of course, that does make Father look bad, but...”
Gabriel smirked. “Kiddos.... No one is gonna be surprised that your father got cucked, okay? It’s kinda an open secret. And some of those lords are old enough to remember ‘John’ coming back early. They were staying in the keep. So it’ll be fine. John can deal with it being open, rather than an open secret. He’s in disgrace anyways.”
Dean groaned. “Fine.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam, Gabriel, and Dean stood on top of the keep’s gate, to address the camped armies outside. They were all three dressed in matching tunics of cream, filegreed with gold. It was a calculated political move that was all Sam. Sam stepped forward, amplifying his voice.
“You all know that I intend to return to Winchester Keep ahead of the new year. I regret very much to leave you all behind while you are fighting so hard for me, but this is my returning sacrifice to you. I will keep your families safe, and bring them news. I will make sure that when we are done fighting for our homes, our homes will be there to return to.” He paused, taking a deep breath.
“I understand that several of you are concerned about my absence. I wanted to assure you that I will be perfectly safe. You have all seen great things from me, and I assure you, you will see many more. I am not going to be in harm’s way.”
There was an answering roar. Several cries of “how?” rose above the crowd.
“Some of you are asking how I am going to be safe. That is because I am... not human. My father is this man.” He gestured to Gabriel. “At God’s request, he pretended to be Lord Winchester. He is the Angel Gabriel. I am what is known as a Nephilim. Half angel.”
The cheer was deafening. Sam shot a triumphant look at Dean. Dean grimaced slightly in return.
Gabriel stepped forward, amplifying his voice also. “My son is under my protection, and the protection of the Almighty. He will prevail and return to you safe and sound!”
The answering crowd was ecstatic.