Fledgling Daycare Pt. 2 ReaderxSPN

            The next morning, the pitter patter of small feet could be heard coming down the stairs of the attic. Balthazar and Castiel walked hand and hand into the kitchen; Castiel bumping straight into Dean’s legs.

            “Morning, you two. Sleep well?”

            Castiel hummed a sleepy answer and hugged Dean’s leg.

            Balthazar nodded, “Can I have coffee?”

            “No but, you can have juice.” Sam answered.

            “Close enough.” He mumbled as Sam gave him a sippy cup of apple juice. “Have you seen (Name)?”

            “I thought she was still asleep?” Sam asked.

            “She wasn’t in the nest.” Castiel said, demanding to be lifted.

            Dean picked him up, “Not in the nest? Where could she have gone?”

            “Um…maybe we should find her.” Sam suggested.

            “Yeah.” Dean agreed.

            “Hold up you two.” Bobby stopped them, watching as Gabriel and Lucifer stumbled in together.

            “Morning” Gabriel yawned, rubbing his eyes.

            “Morn…ing.” Lucifer repeated, still half asleep.

            “Have either of you seen (Name)?” Sam prompted.

            “No…is she missing?” Lucifer asked.

            “(Name)’s missing!” Gabriel yelled, suddenly wide awake, “We need to find her! I mean, if a demon get her…!”

            “Okay, Gabe, take Lucifer and go look in the attic and upstairs. Sam, this floor and I’ll take the basement.” Dean ordered, taking Castiel with him.

            Balthazar climbed onto Bobby’s lap and sat there, still half asleep and, drinking his juice. Dean stomped about the basement, looking under and in all things. Anywhere a fledgling might fit. Sam had lifted couches and moved stacks of books. Gabriel and Lucifer hurriedly scoured the upstairs. When they found no signs of their little sister they moved to the attic, where the nest was. That’s where they found her, asleep in the far corner, wrapped in a blanket.

            Gabriel walked over to her, gently shaking her, “(Name)? (Name), wake up.” She rolled over and coughed lightly.

            Lucifer padded over, “Do you think she’s…?”

            “Already? No.”

            “I think she is…:

            “She can’t be. Let her sleep, we’ll tell them we found her asleep and, that we didn’t want to wake her up.”

            “Gabriel, we know better than to leave a fledgling in that condition.”

            “What can we do? We aren’t exactly emanating Grace and love like normal. The others can’t because they aren’t as strong! We’re barely able to keep them from going kaput. Besides, they’re taking all the attention they can get from Bobby and Sam and Dean, they’re doing fine. We’re doing the same thing. We can only hope she gets better since she won’t follow our lead.”

            “Hope is all we have. Let’s go tell them,” Lucifer nodded and walked away, followed by Gabriel.

            They walked back into the kitchen where Balthazar still sat on Bobby’s lap. He was a bit more anxious now that he was awake and, he knew his sister was M.I.A. They nodded together.

            “We found her.” Gabriel announced.

            “She’s still asleep. We didn’t want to wake her.”

            “Alright. Sam! Dean! We found her!” Bobby shouted.

            Sam and Dean came back to the kitchen looking relieved. They felt silly when Balthazar told them that she had just been sleeping. Sam shrugged and went on preparing breakfast for the group. When it was all served up, everyone sat and ate the pancakes that he thought everyone would enjoy. Dean cleaned up afterwards and, the little angels were off the wreak havoc.

            Morning quickly turned into afternoon and still, (Name) had not made an appearance downstairs. Gabriel and Lucifer constantly twitched and shifted uncomfortably, never holding still and sending each other uneasy glances. Dean first noticed when they had been watching a movie; Castiel had pointed it out while sitting on his lap.

            “So, any clue why (Name) is still asleep?” Dean asked.

            “Not a clue.” Gabriel answered a bit too quickly and quietly.

            “Gabriel, we have to tell them.” Lucifer whispered, nudging his brother.

            “What’s wrong with my sister?” Balthazar asked, climbing off of Bobby’s lap, fear and tears in his eyes.

            “Boys, what is going on?” Bobby asked sternly.

            “(Name)’s pining…” Lucifer said, hanging his head.

            “Pining?” Sam questioned.

            “Angels live and grow by touch. It’s what keeps us alive and healthy. Pining wasn’t a problem in heaven because a strong, full grown angel’s Grace will naturally reach out and touch the other Graces surrounding it. It keeps us all healthy. We can live off of your touch because Castiel accepted you as part of his family, making you our family as well. Gabriel and I are trying our best but, we can barely sustain ourselves, not to mention Balty and Cas. That’s why we all openly take your affection, so we don’t get sick but, (Name) is so shy. She won’t admit she needs it,” Lucifer explained, “You need to hold her more and stuff.”

            “That’s it?” Bobby asked, not believing it.

            “It’s a big deal. Pining is dangerous for an adult angel her size. And now she’s smaller. Smaller than a healthy fledgling.” Gabriel crossed his arms defensively.

            “Oh…Sam go get her.” Dean nudged Sam.

            Sam sprung up from the couch, rushing up the attic steps. He found the little girl huddled in a purple blanket in the farthest corner of the attic. He knelt down, gently lifting her into his arms. (Name) slept through the motion, slightly flushed as though she had a fever. Sam smiled as he held her in his arms; he carried her downstairs,

            “Got her. She’s asleep.” Sam announced as he sat back on the couch with Dean.

            Balthazar crawled up next to Sam and cautiously placed his tiny hand on her flushed face. He sat back and sniffled, tears streaking down his small cheeks. He cried; seeing a sibling pining was a rare, scary thing for angels but, Balthazar was a twin. He held a deeper connection with (Name), deeper than Lucifer’s bond with Gabriel or his bond with Michael before the fights.

            Lucifer began to cry soon after. He was always the one to watch after (Name) after the incident with Michael. He still felt guilty after being cast into the Cage and not being able to take care of her. He had taken her on many little tasks and, taught her to fly, taught her almost everything she knows.

            Dean sat mystified, watching the tears drip down not only Balthazar’s face but, Lucifer’s, then Gabriel’s and finally, Castiel’s. No one made much noise, just quiet whimpers and sniffles as they all watched (Name)’s shallow breathing from where they sat.

            Sam was rubbing (Name)’s back, trying to bring her to. When she finally opened her (e/c) eyes he sighed in relief.

            “Hey,” Sam cooed gently, “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

            (Name) squirmed in his strong grip, trying to get away. Balthazar hugged her through Sam’s arms, still crying as he did so. (Name) tried to hug him back but, Sam kept her firmly pressed to his so she couldn’t get away. Gabriel and Lucifer found their ways onto the couch, managing to pry their sister away from Sam and hold her close. Castiel followed suit and joining in the little fledgling huddle of love.

            “Please! Please don’t do it ever again. We love you and if you…we wouldn’t be able to live happily again!” Lucifer cried, nuzzling her back.

            “We love you.” Gabriel repeated.

            “You’re my sister. Please.” Balthazar added weakly.

            Castiel just hugged her, managing to dry his own tears but, spring (Name)’s. (Name)cried into Balthazar for a few minutes before getting drowsy again. Sam lifted her up again and spoke a few whispered words. She nodded and leaned onto him.

            “Okay. I think we’re good. We’ve solved this problem. (Name) is going to be okay.” Sam nodded.

            “Next step, summon Crowley.” Dean interjected.