Gabriel was worried. Not that he'd admit it to anyone of course, but he was. He hadn't been worried like this in a while and to cope with that he'd just hopped out of heaven and got himself a face transplant. He couldn't do that this time though; there'd be no point. He'd only make things worse.
Sam curled himself further into the centre of the bed, one of Gabriel's shirts tucked in the curve of his body as he used a sleeve as a pillow. He'd tried to stop himself from acknowledging how he felt for some time now, choosing instead to just smile his way through the day.
It had been at least a week of Sam laying in the middle of the bed, a week of Dean hammering on the door, a week of Gabriel sitting stoically at the foot of the bed only moving to fetch Sam food and drink. He pretended not to notice as Sam flinched away from him, how Sam's smiles never met his eyes and how Sam tried to avoid direct contact with Gabriel, despite not moving from the bed.
"I'm not good enough for you". Sam's voice was hoarse after not being in use for so long. It was clear he was crying.
It took a few seconds for Gabriel to realise Sam had spoken, and when he had, he was at Sam's side instantly taking one of Sam's gigantic hands into his own smaller ones.
"What are you saying, Sammy?" asked Gabriel. He had to make sure he heard what he thought he heard.
"I'm not good enough for you. The sooner you realise that and leave, the better." Sam's voice became steadier with every word, his eyes opening but still refusing to look at Gabriel.
He barely had time to take a breath before he was flat on his back, archangel straddling his waist, his head forced in Gabriel's direction.
"Don't you dare let me hear you saying that again, Sammy. I know you. I know every inch of you inside and out. You think you're tainted, you think you're not worthy of someone loving you. That's right Sam. I love you. I don't normally fall in love with humans, so you must be worth something right? Not tainted."
Sam raised his eyes from Gabriel's chest to look into his eyes. Gabriel's eyes were blown wide, nothing but love reflected in them. Their golden depths searching out Sam's to try and make him see that he was telling the truth.
"I wouldn't have been here for the past week, letting you snuggle one of my shirts if you weren't worthy, kid." Gabriel's tone was softer, and he trailed his hand from Sam's chin to his chest.
"I'm not going anywhere" Gabriel slunk down, covering Sam's body with his own, still maintaining eye contact.
"I love you"
"I love you too Gabriel"
The kiss that followed was sweet and closed mouthed, but it said more than either of them could put into words.
That night found both men in the middle of the bed just holding each other, Sam's head on Gabriel's chest, Gabriel's fingers in Sam's hair; Sam slept soundly, Gabriel promising to never leave.