"Bobby's got word of some vamps or demon activity north of here. We're not too far from it. We could check it out."

"We wrapped or last hunt not two hours ago Dean. Right now I want food, TV and sleep,"

"You're such a girl, we'll grab food and gas, and you can rest your pretty eyes while I drive,"

"Dude you need the break as much as I do. Seriously, every time Cas says he'll be out of contact for a bit or …"

"Alright, enough already princess, we'll find a motel," This clearly was the not so subtle suggestion to Sam to drop the topic of Cas. The same had happened every time he'd tried to broach the subject with his brother; typical Winchester, born and raised to deny themselves basic communication with others. A little hypocritical Sam knew, but the truth none-the-less.

Dean vanished into the bathroom within minutes of dumping their stuff down; another avoidance technique Sam as all too familiar utilising himself.

Sam lay down on the too soft mattress and shut his eyes. The motel sounds were all familiar to him: the buzz of the lights, hum of the electrics, periodic slamming of doors down the long corridor of rooms.

Dean was certainly taking his time in the shower, it must have had a lot more practice at counselling lost causes than Sam had. With a small smile he sighed and tried to get some sleep. Dean finally ventured out of the bathroom and announced he as going to search out an half decent while Sammy got his beauty sleep; another not so subtle hint that Sammy wasn't invited. He only received a mumbled 'whatever' in response.

Sam rarely got restful sleep, and if he did he suspected Cas was involved in taking away the nightmares. ; not that he wasn't grateful, he was very grateful not to repeatedly wake up in blind fear and panic, but it only increased his hatred for his nightmares. They were a crippling weakness that he knew not only affected him.

This time, however, what pulled him from sleep was a shift in the air, like a static pulse, and the instinct hat he was no longer alone in the room; knife in hand before he as even fully awake.

"Cas?" The angel stood at the foot of the bed, heavily supporting what Sam assumed was another angel, but from how bend over they were and the blood, was unrecognisable.

"Sam, I need your help. Where is Dean?" Cas looked scared, and this scared Sam more than he'd like to admit.

"He said he was going to some bar near-by," Dean appeared at Sam's side,

"What the…?" his eyes travelled over Sam, ignoring Cas and the guy he was supporting, "You okay?" he said, nodding the knife Sam hadn't realised he was still holding. He nodded and lowered the blade.

"Cas what's the problem, Who's that?" Sam said, reverting attention to the angel. He saw the look the passed momentarily over Cas's face, and Dean's lack of acknowledgement. He was about to tell them something they really didn't want to know.

"Gabriel's been cursed, I need to hide him until he can heal or I can find someone who can heal him. Will you protect him?" At the name Gabriel, Sam had been at his side, inwardly cursing not having recognised him earlier. Protecting him was a given, regardless; He'd done the same for them.

Sam took Gabriel from Castiel's grip and directed him slowly towards the bed but was met with Dean blocking his progress. His expression was blank and cold, untrusting of being delivered such a charge.

"Why not hide him in heaven?"

"If he stayed in heaven the curse would surely kill him, if he stays here he can survive in his vessel." As Castiel spoke, Sam shoved Dean out of the way and lowered Gabriel to the bed.

"Then how the hell are we supposed to protect him from death's door? Last I knew he was already dead," Dean argued.

""He is still hunted, I will set up wards to keep you safe as I can but I feel he is safer under your protection,"

"Of course we will," Sam answered staring Dean down until his brother conceded

"Fine," Dean grumbled, " He can lie there til you fix this," Sam glowered at his brother before turning back to Castiel.

"Is there anything else we can do?" Sam asked, "Clean him up, bandage the cuts.."

"It may help him remain in the vessel, yes. Thank you Sam. He is currently too weak to heal himself,"

"Sure, I'll grab the med kit from the car. Dean, you got the keys?" His brother didn't reply, just stood looking at Castiel as if expecting further requests and expectations dumped on them; Sam knew how obstinate his brother could get.

"He needs help Dean," Sam said, stepping away from Gabriel and towards Dean.

"Not the only one."

"Dean," Sam warned, but he recognised the futility of such a tone when Dean continued to blank him.

"Have there been problems in my absence?" Castiel asked solemnly.

"It was you absence that was the problem,"

"I don't understand. I told you …"

"How long would your absence have lasted if you hadn't needed us to babysit? Six months? A year or two? Would you ever have come back?"

"I had my priorities Dean,"

"Sure, fine; But he," He said pointing to Gabriel " Is not one of our priorities," This was too much for Sam but stepping in the firing line of Dean's anger was a lesson learnt long ago.

"Dean, this is personal. Take it outside," Sam started.

"No Sam, I want you to hear this when he says we're not good enough for him when we've run out of uses,"

"It's not like that, Dean." Cas said, hesitantly.

"Of course not; because turning up after three months, with someone I was happily convinced was dead, and telling me to protect him, now that's a purely social call, my mistake," There as spite in his words and Sam saw Cas visibly flinch.

Sam knew he'd get nowhere trying to convince his brother to discuss this with Cas privately, so he turned to the angel. "Cas, I'll look after Gabriel, can you somewhere to talk this through?"

"Thank you, Sam." Cas said, evidently grateful, and nodding once and immediately both men vanished from the room and the med kit from the Impala appeared on the coffee table.