A Musebox

Gabriel was dead. Killed by Lucifer to give the Winchesters time to escape the hotel with Kali. Castiel had heard it directly from Sam and Dean, but it still seemed impossible to believe. Gabriel was powerful. Gabriel was clever. Clever enough to be able to avoid all contact with their family for longer than Castiel really cares to count.

They say the first stage of grief is denial, and Castiel would even deny he's grieving for the estranged older brother he hasn't really spoken to in at least centuries. Despite that, though, he still leaves the motel room without so much as a word, just a rush of air as he takes flight. He can't even begin to imagine how many times, as the Trickster, Gabriel has faked his death, so he wants to confirm it for himself.

Within seconds, he reappears in the ballroom of the Elysian Fields Hotel. His eyes land on Gabriel, laying on the floor and he sighs. No, this certainly didn't look like another trick.