Strings Attached

Chapter 52

"Where's Dad?" Lucifer asks shortly after he wakes up the next morning. Sorry, not morning. It's past three o'clock in the afternoon.

"I don't know," Michael replies. "I haven't seen him around today, and I've been up for, like, over six hours."

"Probably hiding in his office," Gabriel says. "So leave him alone so he can do god-knows-what in there."

"I haven't seen him in almost a whole day," Samandriel tells them.

"Isn't that the usual? Why are you so surprised?" Castiel asks. He knows Chuck spends a lot of time in his office. That's where he's always told them he writes his books, and has for over ten years.

"He's not usually there that long," Anna tells him. "This is, like, you-level hiding time."

"He's probably sleeping," Gabriel says.

"Even Lucifer didn't sleep this late," Michael reminds him.

"And I'm the standard for sleeping in, so that's bad," Lucifer adds.

"If you're so worried about him, go check on him," Gabriel suggests. "Just don't blame me when he yells at you for going in his office."

"Fine," Anna says, marching away, presumably towards Chuck's office. Everyone else follows, curiosity getting the better of them. Anna knocks on Chuck's door, then takes a step back to wait. After a moment, she knocks louder, but once again, there's no answer.

"Dad?" Samandriel calls through the door. 

No response.

"Hey, Dad!" Lucifer yells, pushing Anna away and slamming on the door. Once again, there's no answer.

"He's not in there," Gabriel tells them. "He would have answered. He probably went to the grocery store."

"I've been up for hours," Michael replies. "I didn't see him leave. If he left, he left by six this morning, at the latest."

Lucifer sighs. "Do I have to kick down the door?"

Samandriel pushes past him and twists the doorknob. Surprisingly, the door just opens. Chuck never leaves the door unlocked, ever. The sibling share a look before hesitantly stepping inside. It only takes a moment for them to find something. Gabriel holds up a note from the desk.

"'Sorry for not waking you up, but I had to go on a trip for work. See you guys soon. Love, Dad,'" Gabriel reads aloud.

"What?" Michael walks up and takes the note to read it. Not satisfied, he returns it to the spot on the desk. "Why would Dad leave without telling us?"

"Work trip," Gabriel repeats. "It was early. We were sleeping. He just didn't want to wake anyone up."

"I guess," Michael agrees hesitantly.

"No parents," Lucifer observes, a slight grin on his face. "I say we kick off the new year with a party!"

Everyone else groans.

"No!" they all say at once.

"Why not?"

"Because your parties never end well," Gabriel replies. "Literally never. But I do agree that this will be boring if we spend the day alone, so I'm inviting the Winchesters."

"And Adam?" Samandriel asks hopefully.

"The Winchesters," Gabriel repeats. "Yeah, Adam."

"But he's not a Winchester," Samandriel tells him. "He's a Milligan."

Gabriel rolls his eyes. "Whatever. He's a Winchester by heart. I'm gonna invite 'em over. Please don't be total idiots." He gives Lucifer a pointed look at that.