Sam watches Dean as he follows Ketch into the rift,the other world and it takes everything he has not to follow. He gets where Dean is coming from. He does. Dean wasn't just being bossy. He was doing what Dean is best at. Delegating jobs and protecting Sam. This used to bother Sam but now he just knows Dean is just doing what Dean knows. Dad told him to take care of Sam and that's what Dean's been doing for thirty four years. Sam doesn't think that will ever change and frankly he doesn't really want it to despite all the huff and puff and being pissy about he's done in that time. Still watching his brother disappear into uncertainty is hard and Sam is anxious and wondering how long he's going to be able to wait. He knows now how Dean must have felt when Sam went to Hell to rescue Bobby. And somehow that thought offers a little comfort because there's some form of Bobby on the other side.
He stands there a little while thinking, planning, wondering if he needs to pack his own gear when he hears a voice behind him.
"Sam?" The voice is soft, rusty from disuse. Sam turns remembering there's an arch angel in the bunker.
"Gabriel. What happened to you man?" Gabriel puts a hand to his throat as if it hurts to speak. Sam is more than curious. It's been like eight years since they watched him die.
"I, I'm not sure. Asmodeus. Years. " Sam understands. He gets the PSTD. He realizes Gabriel is still in victim mode. He's also filthy. Sam take a control.
"First things first. You need to clean up. Come on." Gabriel cocks his head as if he's not sure he can trust Sam or anyone.
"Where are we?", he asks. He looks around at the Bunker and he's wondering just what kind of fortress the boys have landed here. It feels warded but definetlty not against angels.
"Men of Letters bunker. I'll fill you in. Listen Gabriel. You don't have to be afraid. Yeah I know. There was the killing Dean thing but in the end or what we thought was the end you helped us. Follow me. You can shower. I'll find you some clean clothes. We'll talk." He waits on a reply from Gabriel. He doesn't move closer so as not to evoke panic. He's been there himself before. This not sure what you're seeing.
Gabriel relaxes. He's starting to trust Sam. He's always respected Sam. He looks down at himself, covered in blood and caked in dirt. He probably in the past would have just snapped his fingers and been the perfect Trickster. But he remembers the good feeling a shower is to your vessel. "Okay. " He's still basically speaking one word at a time. Sam leads the way to the shower room.
"Clean up. I'll leave you some clothes. Then we'll talk." Sam goes to Dean's room. There's no way anything of his going to fit Gabriel given the height difference. Dean's also a good bit taller but his clothes will have to do. He finds jeans, a t-shirt and a flannel he hadn't seen Dean wear in awhile. He isn't sure about shoes but chooses sneakers over boots because Dean is particularly fond of his boots and rarely wears the sneakers. Not that Dean isn't generous. Sam is just being protective. He leaves the clothes and a towel on the sink for Gabriel and heads to the kitchen.
He finds Cas waiting for him. The angel has made coffee. Despite returning to angels don't eat mode Cas still has a fondness for coffee. "Sam, where have you been?", he asks with a father like tone. Sam half smiles. Little does Cas know the surprise he's about to get.
"Rhode Island. Listen Cas, I need to tell you a few things and I need you to let me finish first. Okay? "
Cas cocks his left eyebrow up as if he knows he isn't going to like what Sam has to tell him. He pours two cups of coffee, hands one to Sam. He takes off his trench and tosses it over a chair. "Alright Sam". Sam sighs. He goes to the fridge, grabs the creamer and thinks how best to proceed. He knows Cas is thinking the water running down the hall is Dean taking a shower, not his own brother.
Cas listens to Sam talk about the men of letters, getting the Seal of Soloman and Dean following Ketch into the alternate world. "Dean went into the other world? With Ketch?"
"Yes but he wasn't alone. Ketch.."
"Because that makes it so much better?, Cas interjects. "You just let him go? Why Sam? Why did you stay?"
Before Sam can explain Gabriel comes into the kitchen looking better and decidedly more like himself. "He stayed behind for me Castiel". Cas whirls around. He stares at Gabriel.
"Brother? How? Where?" Gabriel gives him a wry smile. He moved quickly to embrace Cas. Cas hugs him back tightly. "We thought you were dead! "
"Clearly not", Gabriel says as he pulls back to look at Cas. " I can tell you what I know. You boys can fill me in on what's been going on." He eyes the coffee and walks over to grab a cup. "Can I?" he asks?
"Sure of course",Sam says. He offers the creamer. Gabriel takes it. He reads the name.
"International Delight. Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. Hmm. I like it international and I expect to be delighted." He pours a large amount in the cup of coffee Sam hands him. He sips and closes his eyes in contentment. He sighs and takes another long drag of hot comfort. He's starting to feel more like himself more. He even responds to his trickstery sweet tooth.
Cas turns to Sam, also oddly comforted that Gabriel is experiencing a sweet tooth moment. "What are we doing?" He wants to thunder into the rift and bring Dean back. Mary and Jack too of course but his first priority will always be Dean and Sam.
Sam wants this too. He wants nothing more than to rush in guns blazing and save them all. He wants his brother and mother and Jack safely in the bunker. Sam knows somehow it isn't going to be that easy. Nothing for them ever is. Dean said he'd be back in twenty four hours. He's been gone maybe two. Sam is scared and nervous and left alone with two angels. Two angels who are watching him to see what he decides.
Dean said WAIT. Sam doesn't like it but he looked Dean in the eyes and agreed. He felt the gentle squeeze of the shoulder Dean gave him in lieu of a hug because well, Ketch. He agreed to wait. But if Dean wasn't back in twenty four hours to the minute he and his angel team are headed in one minute later.
"Right now, we're just waiting ". The angels look at each other. This is not the Sam Winchester they are used to. But Sam is resolute. He promised. He's just waiting.
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