Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own Supernatural in this sad world we live in.

Gabriel thought he was safe. He thought he could escape. He thought he had. Then he met the Winchesters. Sam Winchester to be exact. Gabriel wasn't gay but he definitely wasn't straight with the thoughts he had of Sammy. Sam made him want to stop running. He made him want to settle down and be normal for a change. He could have parents and an awkward teen stage where he wore all black. He could watch Sam grow up and maybe, if he was really lucky, Sam might like him back. Gabriel would do anything Sam asked and more to protect him. He even went back to the Pagans. He did the fake Loki show for them and Kali was all over him but he was no longer interested in her. He was only interested in Sam now. He declined her advances, much to her displeasure. In the end, he died trying to protect his moose, his Winchester, his Sammy. He had let his big brother (although not much bigger when it came to angel status) stab him with his angel blade. It was done. He was finished. With one stab, he was gone. Nothing but a human body and the scorched wings of a dead angel. He had failed. He had not succeeded in protecting Sam. He deserved to die. So although the blow was not fatal he made it seem so. He put the scorches on the floor and left a copy of his body there. He had been defeated, he was not worthy of Sam. It was back to running, hiding, living a secluded and lonely life. After about a year of seclusion and dejection Gabriel heard it. He heard Sam praying.

"Gabe." It was a mumble at first as if just waking up. Then again louder and filled with more terror as if waking up only to find that you're IN the nightmare. "Gabe." There was a long pause. "I forgot. You're gone. Well I have nothing else to do so I'm praying to you. You sick son of a bitch! How could you let that happen? How could you?" There was a weak sob and it broke Gabe's heart. "How could you let yourself die? I-we needed you. I needed you. You idiot! You're gone and I'm alone. I'm so alone Gabe. And scared. I'm in the pit with Adam, Nick, Lucifer, and Michael. It hurts Gabe. It all hurts so much. I can't get away from them. You died. You got the easy way out and I'm stuck here in the pit. I hate you! You idiot. You're shit of an angel. You're stupid and shitty and...and perfect. Oh god Gabe. I miss you so much. Every second of every day since you died I've missed you. You stupid perfect angel. I love you..." Sam trailed off. Gabe stood there in his house, mouth hanging open, wide eyed. Had Sam really just said...could it be true? Could it be real? Surely it was all in his head. But Gabriel had never heard Sam so...desperate, scared, pained. Gabriel ran his fingers through his hair and tried to laugh. He was acting stupid. Of course it was all in his head. The noise that came out was more like a pained wheeze. "Gabe." Sam groaned out in pain. That was all it took. With a flash of blinding pure white Gabriel was shooting through hell, smiting anything in his path. He got to the gates of the pit and dove down. Down down down it felt like it went on forever. His six golden wings were pumping fast, shooting him faster and faster downward. The farther he went the hotter it got. Suddenly he snapped to a stop. There, speared through, was Sam's limp body on a stake. Gabriel was instantly at his side, not caring that Lucifer and Michael lurked nearby. He ran a gentle hand over Sam's blistered face, instantly healing all the painful bubbles clouding his perfect features. Sam flinched back, eyes wide. "You're not real!" He screamed. "You're not real! Get away from me! GABRIEL!" Sam wailed, flailing around on the wooden stake sticking through him like a possessed scarecrow.

"Sammy." Gabriel purred pinning his arms to his sides. "It's me. I'm going to take you home." He said putting an arm around Sam's waist gently.

"Get off! You're not real! You're dead! You can't be real!" Sam screeched.

"Sammy." Gabriel snapped. He was starting to get worried. Lucifer and Michael hadn't shown up yet. "Lucy and Mike are going to hear you." He said covering Sam's mouth with his hand. Sam thrashed and bit but Gabriel didn't take notice. "Sam." He hissed locking eyes with Sam. "You don't have to trust me or even think I'm real, although that WOULD help speed this up a bit." Gabriel winked and let a small mischievous smile cross his lips. "Just please be quiet."

"You're not taking my toy." Lucifer hissed, appearing next to Gabriel. Gabriel cursed and let go of Sam.

"He's not a toy Lucifer." Gabriel snarled. His angel blade slid into his hand. His small fingers curled around it, allowing the angelic power to vibrate slightly. Lucifer laughed, his little brother was, by no means threatening.

"He's my toy now. Aren't you Sammy?" Lucifer purred. Sam looked wide eyed between the two.

"If I say yes can I get off the stick?" Sam asked. Fire flared around Lucifer and he shot an angry glare at Sam.

"You'll be punished for that my pet." Lucifer snarled before turning back to Gabriel.

"I'll never let you hurt Sam again." Gabriel said putting one arm around Sam's waist and holding up his angel blade. Suddenly there were thousands of Gabriel's surrounding them, each with their own smirks and angel blades. Thousands of wings, flapping, propelling themselves, surrounding Lucifer with fury and rage. Gabriel pulled Sam up and off the stick and was soon shooting out of the pit. He heard the screams of pain and rage from Lucifer but he wasn't worried about that. He looked down at Sam who was looking at the scene below. He would have a scar to match his brother's. Sam would have a hand print scar on his left hip, buzzing and infused with Gabriel's power. Gabriel felt his shoulders get tired. They were going faster than sound, nothing could touch them. They passed hell in a blur. They reached the ground and Gabriel fell to his knees, dropping Sam on the grass. Sam looked around, blinking and shielding his eyes from the harsh sunlight of mid-day morning. Gabriel looked over at Sam who was sprawled out on the ground next to him. "You okay kiddo?" He asked with a small smile. Sam whimpered and tried to crawl away but his body was still dealing with all the trauma of the pit. He ended up simply flopping around on the ground like a beached fish. Gabriel grabbed Sam around the waist and the human hissed in response. The angel tried to cradle his hunter but Sam began thrashing about. "Sammy." Gabriel cooed. He would have taken Sam home but his "angel mojo" was sapped from their trip to hell. He sat there, holding Sam as best he could as the hunter thrashed and screamed. Soon Sam was too exhausted so he just lay in Gabriel's arms.

"Gabe?" He rasped out after a long silence.

"Yeah Sammy?" Gabriel responded instantly.

"You're alive." Sam said in a croak. There was a small sob and Sam began clutching at Gabriel's shirt and sobbing into it.

"Yeah Sammy. I'm alive." He said as he began stroking Sam's too long hair. The kid really needed a haircut. It had been a few hours and Gabriel was starting to feel his power returning. He let Sam cry into his shirt, running his fingers through Sam's silky chocolate colored hair. When he had enough power to teleport he snapped his fingers and they were in Dean's motel room. Dean was sitting on the bed, head in his hands. Castiel was sitting behind him on the bed quietly.

"Hello boys." Gabriel said setting Sam down on the bed carefully. He had been holding him bridal style.

"What the fuck?" Dean gasped jumping up. Castiel stood smoothly, watching the scene.

"Yes Dean-o. I got Sammy back for you. Take better care of him this time." Gabriel said watching Dean with a death glare.

"Gabriel. It was my impression that you were dead." Castiel said but before he had even finished his sentence the angel in question was gone.