Gabriel was brought back unceremoniously dropping on to what felt like a bed in a dark room. Reaching out to steady himself with one hand which landed on something more solid that the soft mattress. He quickly snapped the lights on and found he wasn't alone. He quickly drew back his hand.
"Sam?"
"Dean what the…" Sam muttered, groaning as he woke up looking to the doorway. It was then when Gabriel witnessed Sam's practiced hunter reflexes; he was on his feet, knifed grabbed from goodness knows where and poised, scanning the room. Sam's eyes passed straight through Gabriel as if he wasn't there.
"Hey Sam, right here kiddo! Coo-e," Gabriel said, waving his arms around for emphasis, " Loud as ever, come on Sammy, Right here!" Sam didn't even glance towards Gabriel, just frowned up at the light, switched it back off and returned to bed.
Gabriel huffed and leant back against the headboard looking over to Sam, making out his features in the dim light. "Some welcome back kiddo," Gabriel tried snapping the light on again; nothing. "Forget this…" Gabriel said, standing from the bed and snapping his fingers once again, expecting Heaven to appear around him; nothing.
"Huh, thrown back here, invisible, sub-standard powers. Gee, thanks Dad," Gabriel grumbled. "Oh how I do love your lessons," Glancing back to Sam showed he was asleep once more, though he'd rolled over to face away from Gabriel. Looking down at Sam a thought crossed Gabriel's mind. "Oh no, you have got to be kidding me." He looked up to the ceiling, desperately searching for the angel network, any spark of sound from his brethren. "Well he sure as hell didn't summon me back in his sleep, which means you put me back specifically here for a reason. Is this meant to be the whole guardian angel routine as penance or something? Seriously...the kid's a walking death trap. I thought Castiel had the Winchester's backs!" He called out without response. "Oh no, Cas?" Discomfort rose in him as the implications of his question settled. He reached out trying to reach out to feel his brother. Consciously using the ability it felt strained. A spark of familiarity registered nearby and with a glance back to where Sam slept, Gabriel followed it to a room down the hall. Sam didn't wake as Gabriel left and shut the door behind him.
The door Gabriel followed Castiel's signature to was at the far end on the corridor and slightly ajar. Gabriel peered through the gap and the scene before him definitely warranted a smirk. When Castiel looked up from where he was curled round the older Winchester, both angel's eye's met, one raising his eyebrows in shock, the other in amusement.
"Gabriel?" Cas whispered, sounding as if he didn't truly believe himself.
"Bro this is positively domestic," Gabriel teased stepping forward and sat on at the foot of the bed. Castiel cocked his head to once side watching Gabriel, but barely reacted when Dean startled awake next to him. Dean's eyes were fixed on Cas', wary and prepared. Gabriel wondered for a moment whether Castiel often woke in this demeanour in the middle of the night.
"Gabriel?" Castiel asked again.
"The one and only,"
"Gabriel get the hell out of my bedroom!" Dean growled searching the room, eyes once again passing straight through where Gabriel sat.
"Newsflash, neither Winchester brother can see me, kind of glad you can to be honest Cassie. Starting to think I really was dead,"
"Cas where is he?" Dean asked reaching out to Castiel's shoulder as Castiel continued to stare straight at Gabriel. "And please tell me I'm allowed to banish him,"
"Try it Dean-o"
"He's at the end of the bed but, Dean. Dean I can't hear him," Castiel said quietly.
The sound of Cas' distress snapped Dean into action-mode immediately.
"But you know he's here?"
"I can see him yes," Cas said slowly looking to Dean for a moment before back to Gabriel.
"Welcome back Gabriel, I give you the three wise monkeys," Gabriel said throwing his arms up in an exaggerated gesture. Deans eyes weren't fixing on him but continued to scan across the room before returning to Castiel every few seconds.
"Dean-o, would you please tell my brother that father has see fit to bring me back, drop me on ol' Sammy's bed and I think, set me up for the whole guardian angel routine"
"You stay away from my brother!"
"Why would he give you guardianship of Sam Winchester? The Winchesters are under my protection," Cas asked; both Dean and Gabriel looked to him confused.
"I thought you couldn't hear him,"
"I lip-read and coupled it with your reaction," Gabriel didn't mention the look of pride and admiration that crossed Dean's face when he looked at Castiel.
"Aw Cassy, I always knew you re the smart one," Gabriel said smiling, reaching out to knock Castiel's leg but when Castiel gave no reaction he pulled away hesitiantly and scowled.
"I don't understand why only Dean can hear you, and I see you,"
"Hey, me neither bro. Sammy had no-reaction at all. That's why I thought guardian angel; help but not interact sort of thing,"
"Perhaps its another sense than sight or hearing that e may be able to use to interact with you,"
"Hmm, taste test maybe; Dean what do you think?"
"Stay away from my brother, Dean growled, giving up his attempts to pinpoint where Gabriel was and sat back down on the bed, discretely sliding his arm behind Cas' back.
"Dean, if my Gabriel has been made Sam's guardian angel he can do him no harm," Castiel said locking eyes with Dean. There was about 5 inches between them.
"Why can't he push of back to Heaven?" Dean said, giving Cas a pleading look
"I'm locked out,"
"You're what," Dean said looking up without remembering he wouldn't see Gabriel.
"I died and they changed the locks," Gabriel told them and an awkward silence fell on the group until Castiel pushed the bedcovers away.
"Dean, please go back to sleep, I'd like to speak with my brother,"
"Can you get him to leave if you can possibly help it?" Castiel didn't reply, but shepherded Gabriel from the room.