literature

A Rare Sense of Humor Ch. 9

Deviation Actions

Published: Feb 27, 2014

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Literature Text

As they got closer to Liberty Island, Castiel suddenly made a noise of recognition and smiled.
"I remember this."
"You've been here before?"
"No. I was there when it was sculpted."
Dean gave a small scoff and shook his head. Of course he was.
"Was the model hot?"
Cas gave him a perplexed look. "No.. His mother was actually quite cold in the studio."
With his buzz of smokin' chicks in minimal drapery officially killed, Dean looked back toward the approaching destination.

They got off the ferry along with the rest of the tourists. Dean kept glancing at Castiel's pocket, even when he couldn't see Sam. It was still such a weird concept, to know that contained within that tiny bit of fabric was his once enormous little brother. With anyone else, he wouldn't even consider letting them hold Sam, let alone carry and conceal him. But he knew that Cas understood the trust placed in him by the action.

The group of people suddenly groaned. The entrance was roped off and ticketing closed.
"I'm very sorry," the security guard was saying. "But due to the government shutdown, the statue is currently closed to the public. You can take picture of the perimeter and visit the museum.."
This was not satisfactory.

"We've got to get inside." Dean murmured. He had a great story for a government agent made up and ready, but he'd only brought a US Wildlife service and a Heath Inspector badge from his fakes. He sidled towards the side of the ropes, nodding at the other door for employees, guarded by a rotund security officer. "You think you could take out Officer Chubbs over there?"

Castiel frowns, "I'm sure if we just explain the urgency of our situation..." his voice trails off as he sees Dean rolling his eyes. Without hesitation, Castiel made his way to the guard and palmed his head. The Guard fell slack to the ground, and Castiel turned to Dean, "let's go."

Dean was already wrenching open the door, ushering Castiel inside and bolting the door shut behind them.
"Sammy? You okay, man?" On the second flight of stairs, they came to a large landing. It was pretty dark, save for a few windows up ahead feeding the orange glow of sunset.
"Take him out, would you?" He asked not so patiently.

The fingers reached in through the darkness of the pocket, snagging Sam in their gasp. Cas held the minature hunter in a fist, and while the grasp was light, and gentle, Sam's distaste for the confinement burned furiously in his eyes.

"I'm fine Dean," He groaned, pushing at the fingers, "I was just thinking."

He pushed harder at the fingers, God could Cas not take a hint?

Dean held out a hand and curled his fingers inward in a "gimme" motion. Castiel deliberated for a moment, and that shocked him to the core. Did he not trust him with his own brother? What the hell? But then the hesitance was gone, and Sam was gently deposited back into his possession. His inner tightness loosened a bit, having him back in his own hand. It was good to be in charge again.

Castiel led the way, across the landing, past an abandoned reception area. Dean put a hand on his gun instinctively. They had to be on guard for whatever Gabriel had in store ahead here. But against an arch angel? It would be a waste of bullets.

"Hey," Dean jabbed a thumb towards a door marked 'service elevator'. "Shortcut."

"Or a trap?" adds Sam, slightly snarky. Although he was much more comfortable with Dean, his brother's possessiveness was quite apparent, and even more so the annoyance to Sam. When the pair of giants turn their gaze towards him, he shrugs,
"Well, a closed in space doesn't seem like a convenient place for a trap to you?"

Dean stared down at him, mouth slightly agape. He really doesn't want it to be true, but Sam had a good point.

"Dammitall," he huffed, shoving open the door and starting up the first of many long, narrow staircases winding upward.

Sam couldn't help but smirk as the two giants climbed up the stairs, both obviously annoyed with the amount of steps. Once again, it was one of the few times he didn't mind his current stature. Although, he'd take stairs over being shrunk any day.

"Having fun Dean?" he asked, as his brother completed yet another flight of stairs.

"Bite me." Dean panted. Though the snark was actually encouraging to hear from his little bro, he was too out of breath to come up with anything better. They weren't stopping to enjoy the view, not taking a break... Just kept going. His lungs were burning with the increasingly cold air. Keep going.

Dean leaned against the wall and took a few deep breaths. Then he kept going.
"Would it kill them to install a frickin escalator?!"

While Sam knew deep down that this was a desperate situation, he couldn't help but snicker at his brother misfortune, and Cas's obvious distaste for this time consuming affair called "walking." The snickering soon became full out laughter as he watched his brothers titanic face grow red; maybe from exertion, maybe from embarrassment... probably both.

"All that pie is catching up on you Dean," chirped Sam, as Dean continued to power up the stairs. While he was laughing, a part of him knew that if Dean would just pace himself, he wouldnt be so exhausted... but their situation was dire...

"How about you carry me the next few flights?" Dean snipped back, glancing down to arch an eyebrow at him: don't push it wise-guy

He had to slow down to a trudge shortly after that. So... Many... Stairs.... Time cruelly stretched out and each floor looked the same as the last. But finally- FINALLY- Dean saw a light at the end of the tunnel.
Literally.
They were at the final landing, and at the end of the darkened hallway, electric light flooded in from an open door.

"354." Castiel stated.
"What?" Dean snapped.
"There were 354 steps."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Awesome."

The sarcasm was lost on the angel. Dean held Sam closer to his body as they approached the door, and whatever lay beyond it.

Sam felt guilt wash over him from Dean's words... if he didnt figure out the solution soon, he would be the one carrying him. Ignoring Catiel's odd comment, Sam questions Dean,

"What should we be looking for anyways?"

Dean holds a finger to his lips in reply. Music could be heard wafting out from the door. He sidled along the wall, straining to hear around the corner for a voice or.. Anything. He exchanges a meaningful look with Castiel, then rounds the corner and enters the top room.

The view is breathtaking, but it's not the priority. It looks like an abandoned birthday party;There's balloons floating about the space ant an untouched cake on a little plastic tale. Piles of confetti crunch under their footsteps.
"Not creepy at all.." Dean mutters.

"Okay...." Mumbles Sam, confusion practically dripping from his lips. He looks around at the party-like atmosphere, avoiding the view. Sam most certainly does not wish to see how high up his is. Looking from place to place, he notices among the many balloons their names are printed on some of them. He counts one his name, and one for Dean, and even one for Cas. More embarrassingly so, he see's a balloon with a moose printed on it, as well as another with a pie, and a third with a set of wings. The odd atmosphere puts his hair to a stand.

"Gabriel is here." States Cas, as if he were commenting on the weather, "I can feel him."

Sam's head swivels around, but he doesn't see the angel, but, something else does catch his eye. A deep red balloon that lazily floats alittle ways away from Dean seems to have something inside of it. Squinting his eyes, he's still unable to make it out, but the shadow certainly indicates the presence of, well... something.

Sam points out the balloon to Dean,

"Dean....Can you pop that balloon?"

Dean follows his gaze and narrows his eyes at the vague shadow within. He pulled out his switchblade and prompted Sam to hop onto his shoulder so he can take the balloon by its ribbon. He tucks it against his abdomen and slices the taut rubber in a clean stab.

With a loud POP, the balloon burst in a shower of rainbow confetti and a minature version of the archangel landed gracefully on the back of Dean's knife-bearing hand.

"Surprise!" He blew into a festive noisemaker. "About time you yahoos got here." Dean made a grab for him with his free hand. There was a little whoosh of air, and Gabriel was now standing next to Sam on Dean's shoulder.
"Mm. Not much of a view, is it?"

Sam made a dive for the angel, but his move was easily anticipated. In a puff of sparkles and confetti, the angel was gone once again, and Sam was sent teetering over the side of Deans shoulder, his arms flailing to remain balanced. A hand gripped him from behind, bulling him back up. Waggling his finger at Sam, the trickster leisurely strolled on Deans shoulder, much to Dean's obvious annoyance.

"What? Not enjoying the party?" With a snap of his fingers, all of their clothes are replaced with tuxedos, and looking over at Castiel, Sam notices that Gabriel included a ridiculous party hat on the angel. Castiels look of annoyance is apparent. With another snap to lounge chairs appear, each facing the other.

"Take a seat boys." Laughs Gabriel, As he leans against Deans neck, seemingly oblivious to any size difference.

It had been weird to have a teeny version of Sam lounging on his shoulder. But two tiny people was sending orange flags up all over the place in his mind. Dean yanked at the constricting bowtie around his neck, just barely able to restrain himself from flicking Gabriel off of him. He discarded the bowtie on the floor in a sign of minor rebellion before taking a seat as instructed. Castiel did the same, looking very serious in contrast to his silly hat.
"Enough games, Gabriel." Castiel started carefully, eyeing the minature arc angel on Dean's shoulder. "How can you be so petty when war is tearing apart our heavenly home?"

The tiny angel's light hearted mask cracked. An angry fire burned within him.

"Petty?" The angel's glare made him tower over Cas, despite his tiny stature. "Whats going on upstairs is petty." growled the angel, his voice carrying perfectly, a complete contrast to his size.

"Whats happening here, is lessons, learning, growth. This is what our father wanted. He wanted teaching. That squabbling that you call war? Thats whats petty. Our Father is gone. His lessons remain, but it seems me... Of all the angels, ME! Its me whos the only one who wants to provide!" His voice had steadily been raising, but Gabriel manages to push the emotion behind the mask once again. With a snap of his fingers, a coffee table appears between Dean and Castiel.

With inhuman grace, Gabriel slides down from Dean's shoulder via his arm, landing swiftly into a step on the table.

"Speaking of lessons," mulls the angel,

A spotlight inexplicably appears on Sam, even though there's no discernible light fixture light that in the room. Dean squints and shields his eyes as Gabriel waves down Sam like a game show host.

"Sam, why don't you tell the class what you learned today."

With out warning, Sam is suddenly transported from Dean's shoulder to the center of the table. The transportation is instant, and Sam stumbles, slightly confused by the sudden teleportation. Sam bites his lip nervously. With Castiel and Dean looming over him expectantly, Sam suddenly feels fear shoot up his spine. He feels smaller than ever.

After clearing his throat, Sam looks towards Dean, then Castiel, and finally the trickster. "Reliance." States Sam.

Gabriel raises an eyebrow,

"Oh DO tell us more, Sammy."

Sam closes his eyes, gathering the thought he hadnt realized had been ruminating him this entire day.

"I can rely on Dean. Cas too. You wanted me to see I can rely on others, and... and... " his thoughts we're escaping him. Oh God, he was going to fail... Dean was the one who was relying on him, and he couldnt even do this. He looked up and Dean, his brother was smiling despite it all. Looking over him in such a comforting manner. He looked sad and happy at the same time... a strange comparison. The dark sky loomed behind him. The sun had finally set, yet there was a bright warmth around his brothers face, that made him believe everything would be okay. Thats when inspiration struck.

"You wanted me to see that there are people here for me when I fall. Despite my short comings, you wanted to show me there are people who," Sams eyes turn to Cas, "will catch me."

A soft smile crossed the Archangel's face.

"Have to admit, moose, that's not half bad." Gabriel said with a nod of approval. Dean's smile widened, beaming at Sam. This was all over now. He looked to Gabriel, expectantly awaiting for him to snap his fingers and fix him.

"and I gotta say... that speech of yours is gunna make me feel bad about whats coming next." Sam could literally feel his heart drop in his chest.

"No..." The words came out quiet, and disappointed.

"Sorry boys," he says, tilting his head to the side apologetically, "games not over just yet."

Dean's face falls. Castiel suddenly shoots out a hand, two fingers extended towards the little arch-angel. Gabriel makes a lazy "shooing" motion without even turning around. Castiel is thrown back in his seat by an invisible force, a noisemaker adhered to his lips. He tries to speak, but the little rolled papered just unfolds and curls back up with the air.

"We had a deal!" Dean's hand slams on the table. His menacing expression comes from a place of desperation, which is all too easily read.
"Um, hello? Trickster?" Gabriel points to himself, giving the larger hunter a 'duh' expression.

Sam feels the anger and betrayal boil within him. After all the trouble they had gone through, after everything... they were back to square one.

"What the Hell, Gabriel?!" Roars Sam, taking long strides towards the Angel. Gabriel stares up and the hunter looming over him with a wry smile. Sam knows he can't do anything to stop the Angel, but his anger tells him to overlook logic.

"I'm DONE with your games. We are NOT your toys. I'm fed up of all your crap! We're done!" His shouts come out uneven and vicious, but the trickster stares back at him, unfazed.

"Game? Oh Moosey, the fun hasn't even begun!" His movements are dramatic and superfluous, as if he were acting on a sit com. Snapping finger and both hands at ones, the bottom of the table turns into some unidentifiable board game.

Cas's eyes go wide, and he struggles in his seat, his noise maker blaring annoying warnings. Gabriel snickers, and raises his arms above his head. Light surges from the game board, engulfing the four in its blinding embrace.

When Sam vision clears his eyes are filled with bright colors. The world around him looks like a strange version of candy land, complete with cotton candy trees and peppermint stones. A bright blue sky looms above them, and Sam swears that the clouds are made of whip cream.

"Welcome to the REAL game, boys."

Sam spins around to catch the source of the voice, and nearly knocks right into... Dean? He stares down at his brother, his eyes wide. Normal.... both of them... normal!

"Dean!" Sam wraps himself tightly around his brother, so pleased to have things the way the should be.. Well, their heights at least. As he squeezes his brother tightly, he notices Dean's feet aren't touching the ground... Odd... he didn't remember picking his brother up... and thats when he sees it. Dean's figure slowly becoming smaller and smaller within his grasp.