Supernatural, Sastiel, Warnings-None
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8
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The following day Sam came up at the kitchen to find a set of smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels sided with a citrus salad and freshly squeezed orange juice. Man, did Gabriel know how to deliver. He definitely had to apologize to him for leaving him stranded like that the day before. But most of all he needed to talk to him, despite acting so calm and accepting his invitation Sam was sure Gabriel held feelings for his brother. If they kept doing whatever it was they did things wouldn’t end well.
-Mornin’
Dean came in to get his morning cup of coffee. Sam nodded at him, with a mouthful of bagel. None of them said a thing about the day before. It was one of those things that would be conveniently forgotten by both brothers if they could have a say on it. That didn’t stop Dean from eyeing his brother’s plate.
-Wow Sammy, you went all the way today huh?
Sam stopped for a second to look at his brother. He was about to say something but Castiel entered the kitchen.
-Mornin’ Cas. -The angel just nodded.
-I think I found a case four states away.
-Great! Let’s finish breakfast and get ready for a smiting.
Sam went back to his room after finishing his breakfast.
-Have you ever disappeared under Dean’s sight before a case?
-I don’t know what you’re thinking about but please don’t do it.
Gabriel laughed heartily while accommodating the pillow he was laying over. -Just wondering, not planning a thing. Unless you wanted me to. -He gave Sam a sly smile that made his insides squirm.
-Maybe we should wait until we come back for that.
Before Gabriel could comment something else on the matter, Sam finished preparing his stuff and excused himself to the archangel. Dean was impressed with how fast Sam had readied up and ushered everyone on the car.
-Wait, what about Gabriel?
-What about him?
-He’s not coming with us?
-Said he had things to do.
Sam immediately realized something was wrong but decided to let it slide. He still didn’t know how to confront either about the situation or what it was really about.
The road was smooth, they stood by a motel at midnight and Dean took out their stuff while Sam asked for a double room, olympically ignoring the nuanced look the manager gave him after noticing the other two men.
Thus three weeks passed, after dealing with a wraith and a shapeshifter they went further away following the lead of some odd disappearances. Gabriel had not shown his face again after his fight with Dean but still breakfast appeared for the brothers everywhere they went.
After doing the usual visit to the police department, victims families and a couple of possible suspects, next day they followed the monster up to a ghost town three miles away. It was a lot of ground to cover, having to break into every single house after hiding the Impala in a barn on the outskirts of the town. They eventually had to go separate ways if they wished to have something done by the end of the day.
Sam was exploring the east side of the town when he saw someone entering the tiny church half a block away from the dusty window of the second floor of the house he was at the moment. Certain it hadn’t been Dean nor Cas, he quickly stepped away from the place he was in and swiftly walked towards the church, gun in hand, careful to cover himself from the windows view with each tree or piece of shrubbery he could.
He tried the back door but was eventually forced to use the front, the one the figure originally used. Opening the creaking door Sam finally made it into the building. So much for stealth, he silently cursed to himself. Making sure no one was inside the chapel, he walked over towards the next room, located by the pulpit. The light was dim, curtains covering all light from outside, he reached for the light switch with no response from it. Figures.
Sam was a couple of steps into the room when he heard a rustle at the farthest part of it. He tried to act fast lifting up his gun against whatever was there but was caught in the middle of the maneuver. He and the creature struggled for the lead until it threw Sam against the corner of a bookcase, making him lose part of his breath and grunt in pain for a second too long. Before he could regain composure the creature had readied a heavy object and knocked him out.
This was even worse than a déja vu.
Sam entered the room of the apartment he used to live in with Jess and fell to rest on the comfy bed he had thought to have forgotten everything about. Suddenly, a warm liquid began to drop on his face. He knew what he was going to see when he opened his eyes. He didn’t want to open them at all but he still couldn’t help himself, he was forced to live time and again every single bad experience that had happened to many of his loved ones, forced to shoot a gun against Madison, to watch Dean’s guts torn apart by an invisible dog, to see Castiel’s body stabbed by Lucifer… and this sixth time apparently wasn’t going to be an exception.
He had prayed alright, to Cas and Gabriel and he had screamed Dean’s name until his vocal chords had gone rough. He had tried to run away from the ever repeating scenes only to open a door or go through a window into the same scene once more.
This was a nightmare and he wasn’t sure how to run away from it.
To his surprise, this time the movement within the nightmare slowly froze. Nothing was happening but he could definitely tell he was being led out of the loop. If he only could awake he would be able to end it. He was trying to think of a way to regain consciousness when he started to hear a muffled voice calling to him. Sam, Sam… He knew that voice, but wherever from? It was getting clearer, along with a sensation of calmness, telling him everything was going to be alright.
-Sam!
Two hands were holding his head up, bold whiskey staring at him through dark rings, worried.
-…Gabriel? -The archangel in front of him gave a sigh of relief- Where am I?
His arms were numb from holding all his weight, only god knew how long he had been hanging in that filthy warehouse. Hopefully not long enough, it seemed his brother hadn’t found him yet.
Gabriel helped him down. The monster, something Sam could now recognize as a dark djinn was cleanly impaled and immobile on the floor a couple of feet away.
-I’m sorry, came as soon as I realized I was hearing your prayers, maybe something in that dreamworld djinn’s use distorts the communication.
Before Sam could even react, Gabriel had already healed the bruises from the wrists. A second later Dean was screaming for him somewhere close. -Over here! – Sam called back.
It had been like giving Gabriel an exit cue, a second later he had disappeared without a word. Dean entered the room running, gun in hand and followed closely by Castiel. He lowered his defense when he saw the dead djinn on the floor and went running towards his brother to hug him.
-Dammit Sammy I thought the monster had taken you, found your phone on the church. I’m glad that you fought it off. Are you hurt?
-…I’m alright.
-Good, let’s burn this bastard and go home.
The way home had been more quiet than other times. Sam was drifting away, not paying attention to anything. Something was bothering him about Gabriel and Dean’s behaviour. It was definitely not normal for the archangel not to boast about the fact that he had saved Sam and not having enough with that, he had seen to kill the monster not by snapping him to oblivion or burning him inside out but in the only way a human could have done so.
When they finally got home and Dean thanked him for leaving him the cup of coffee on his room that he had found right after he came out of the bath he knew something was definitely off.
-Gabriel, can I talk to you?
-Sure thing Poptart, what’s up?
-Yeah maybe, somewhere more uh, private? Can you come to my room?
Gabriel glanced Sam suspiciously but left his milkshake and followed him away from the kitchen. Once they were inside his bedroom, Sam went for the chair, knowing that even if he had stayed in front of the door he couldn’t keep the archangel in, it was better to be kind on his approach.
-Ok, what’s wrong? -He asked softly
-What’s wrong about what?
-You and Dean. What happened between the both of you?
Gabriel admired Sam for many things, his brightness included but right now he kind of dreaded it.
-What makes you think somethin—
-Don’t play fool with me Gabriel. You’ve been avoiding Dean, is it about what happened in the library the other day?
The archangel sighed and sat on Sam’s bed. -Yeah, that and a couple other things…
Sam could tell there were not just ‘a couple’ of things bothering the archangel but he also realized he was not going to be able to peel off all the layers. Still, he had to try.
-Well, you can tell me.
-…I’ve been trying to get on his good side ever since I came here but all I managed is to get him more upset.
Unless Gabriel was an incredibly good actor, Sam could tell he was sincerely bummed. Before he knew it, Sam was already moving himself to his side on the bed and placing a caring hand on his shoulder.
-Hey, it’s alright. I mean, Dean is really stubborn but I’m sure you’ll get on his good side sooner than what you think.
Gabriel smiled softly at the hunter and leaned towards him.
-Thanks Sammy, you really are kind.
They were interrupted by a stiff knock at the door that opened up before either could even react.
-Hey Sammy, I’m going for a burger, want some?
Dean’s words were casual but after glancing the archangel leaning over his brother his gaze went grim.
-Uhm, a cobb salad would be nice.
-On it. -His body forced a stop before closing the door. -Gabriel. Don’t you wanna come along?
Sam felt Gabriel’s body imperceptibly stiffen under Dean’s authoritative sight. It was the same stern sight Sam used to get from his father when he was forced into doing something he wasn’t willing to do.
-Sure. Why not? -Was all the archangel said before standing up and following Dean’s steps. -See you later Sammich.
The door was closed on Sam, leaving him with an ominous feel. Things were far worse than what he originally thought between them.
-Cas?
The seraph turned from his book to look at Sam entering the library.
-Do you know what’s going on with Dean and Gabriel?
-I believe Dean is, how do you say it? Making things rough for Gabriel to stay with us.
-And… How do you feel about it?
Castiel went silent for a minute before speaking again. -I like my brother, I wish he’d be able to stay with us if everything could be settled nicely.
-You mean if only Dean were happy about it.
-If all of us were happy about it.
-Still Dean didn’t respond well to Gabriel taking him out everywhere.
-That’s why I gave him the idea of taking you out instead.
-Wait, you were the one that gave him the idea?
Castiel nodded.
-Why?
-Gabriel wants to make your brother happy and I thought he would be able to do that by bringing a smile on you.
Sam went blank for a second.
-Why would you do that?
Cas fixed his gaze on the floor, his action made Sam regret his choice of words and then a flash of realization hit him.
-Wait a second. The vegan cooking, the quinoa salad, the salmon bagel, today’s eggs benedict… I’ve told you thousands of times about it. -Cas just looked away nervously. -And I also told you ages ago about the Smithsonian Museum… It was you. You told Gabriel all about it.
Cas was decidedly avoiding Sam’s gaze right now.
-But I don’t get it, why did you ask your brother to do all that stuff with me if you already knew about it ages ago?
-I don’t think I’m fit to provide you with any fun, my brother is much better at spotting social cues.
Sam couldn’t bear it any more. Looking at Cas so down was aching, before he realized it he was pulling the angel up and closing the gap between each other with a hug. The book falling with a soft thud to the floor.
-You’re an idiot Cas, if you wanted to know how to have fun with me you should have just asked.
-You’re not mad at me?
-Why would I? You meant well.
-I… I see. -Cas awkwardly made a go to hug the hunter back, just as he had been taught by Sam himself years ago. -Thank you Sam.
Sam chuckled -You can hug tighter, I’m not breaking so easily.
Castiel did as Sam asked, he hugged him as tight as he felt he would be allowed to, inhaling the scent of soft worn out clean cotton emanating from the hunter’s flannel. It had never occurred to him that he would ever feel this odd ache where being so close to Sam made everything hurt more. He didn’t want to separate from him ever again and knowing he would eventually have to see him hugging Gabriel like that was only adding fuel to the fire.
He had never felt this kind of loss, even when Dean had said yes to Michael he had felt lost and terribly sad but still a tiny piece of hope struggled to believe that they would have a chance to save him. But there was no saving here, no one was in danger. And Sam would never want to be by his side.
Two Days Into June 