I'm done! Sorry it took so long to get this up, but I actually wasn't gonna continue this. That is, until I was scrolling through Tumblr and had an epiphany. I wrote this instead of working on the new chapter for Never Surrender and have absolutely no regrets. Hope you like it.
After Sam watched the video, he started to pray a lot more. Not to God or Cas or anyone else like that. No, he prayed to someone else.
Gabriel. The Archangel-turned-Trickster that haunted his mind.
He never expected anything from it. Gabriel was dead, and Sam knew that. However, two or three times a week, it was nice to pretend he wasn't. That he was just away.
So, Sam would update him on what happened in their lives. How Cas was doing, how Dean was doing, how he was doing.
The prayers always ended the same way. It was cheesy, and Sam knew this.
He did it anyway.
"Hey, Gabe. Sam here. Again. Sorry it's been a while, me 'nd Dean were wrapping up a hunt. It was a nest of vampires terrorizing some small town. We took care of it. Cas helped, too. Smote some of them." Sam chuckles. "They're back at it again, y'know. The whole staring thing. I actually got myself a separate room this time. Cas was confused, but Dean was pissed. I wish they'd just get over themselves and screw each other silly." He pauses.
"I'm doin' pretty good. My nightmares haven't been bothering me as much as they did." Secretly, Sam hoped this was a sign Gabriel was back and keeping them at bay, but he knew it wasn't. "I wish you were here. We could complain about our brothers together." Sam huffs a laugh. "That's all, I guess. With love, Sam Winchester."
Sighing sadly, he gets up from his kneeling position and crashes on the bed, closing his eyes and letting sleep overtake him.
. . .
Gabriel heard all of Sam's prayers. It took a special kind of strength to keep himself from flying down there and telling Sam that he was alive. That he felt the same way.
But he didn't.
Until one day, when he just couldn't hold himself back anymore.
. . .
Gabriel was certain Sam was asleep. This is the only reason he dare go down to the motel room he was staying in.
The younger Winchester was lying on his stomach, arms around his pillow.
Gabriel wanted to be that pillow.
It hurt, staying away from Sam. Saying nothing. So now . . . he was going to say something.
"Hey, Sammy," he says quietly. "It's me, Gabriel. The not-so-dead Archangel that's been practically stalking you these past few years." He huffs a laugh. "Don't worry, I didn't see anything I shouldn't." He pauses, drawing in a deep breath. "This kills me, kiddo. Seeing you so hung up on me." He chuckles ruefully. "Not that I'm any better."
He lets out a sigh. "I wish I could talk to you. Face-to-face. Not like this. In the dark while you're asleep. Where you won't hear. But, I suppose that's my lot. To want for what I can never have." He takes in a deep breath. "I get your prayers, y'know. All of them. It breaks my heart to listen and do nothing. But I'm grateful you keep me updated. I can't pay attention to your lives 24/7, so it's nice to get my very own Winchester Channel."
Gabriel glances down. "I wish I could do more. Help you with more than just your nightmares. Sam . . . you're the best person I know. You deserve more than what you have." He lets out a sigh. "And I wish I could give that to you."
He takes one last look at Sam before disappearing with the sound of wings unfurling.
. . .
Sam lets out a breath when he hears Gabriel disappear. He'd woken up when he first heard the sound of wings, figuring Cas had flown in. Until he heard Gabriel speak.
He was alive.
Gabriel was alive.
He was alive and he knew about Sam's prayers. He also just confessed everything.
Sam was stunned. His brain couldn't seem to get itself working.
He briefly debated paying for Gabriel to get down to him, but hesitated. What if he was misinterpreting everything? What if this was Gabriel saying goodbye? What if, what if . . .
Sam shakes his head trying to get rid of the thoughts.
Maybe this would be easier in the morning, after he had time to process everything.
Shoving back all his thoughts, he closes his eyes and drifts of to sleep.
. . .
When Sam woke up the next morning, there was a feather on his bedside table. It was about ten inches long and all white except for the gold tip and the red stripe fringed with grey that ran along the golden shaft.
Sam knew who it was from. Gabriel must have left it after Sam fell asleep.
Gingerly, he picks it up.
It was beautiful. Easily the most amazing thing he'd ever seen.
He looks at it for a few more minutes, taking in every detail, until there's a knock on his door and Dean telling him to: "Get your stuff packed, bitch! We're leavin' in ten!"
Sam replies with, "Fine, jerk. Be out soon."
Most of his stuff was packed already, so he didn't need to worry.
He glances down at the feather. There was probably a spot in his duffel he could put it.
Getting off the bed, he grabs his bag and starts looking for somewhere it could go.
Eventually, he finds a small zipper pocket along the inside. Deciding it was safe, he unzips it and gingerly puts the feather in.
After that, he gathered his stuff and went out to where Dean was, ready to move onto the next town.
. . .
Over the next few weeks, Sam became ornery. Dean and Castiel noticed and were getting tired of it.
The mood had started with little things, him snapping at them occasionally and the fights between them being worse than normal.
But it escalated.
Soon he was just plain ignoring them, brushing off any attempt to approach him.
Dean and Castiel let it slide, hoping it would all blow over.
They were sorely mistaken.
. . .
When Sam first found out Gabriel was alive, he was ecstatic.
He had a chance—a real chance. Not just some fake thing he made up in his head.
Sam still prayed, dropping hints and making clear his wish for Gabriel to be with there with him.
He got nothing.
It was beginning to grate on his nerves.
So, he upped his game. Made his prayers more elaborate, dropped more hints, and on one memorable occasion, sent the dirtiest prayer he was sure anyone had ever sent.
None of it worked.
He was getting more and more frustrated, almost ready to give up.
Then, he decided that he'd have to stop beating around the bush. If he wanted an answer, he'd have to force it.
. . .
Sam takes in a deep breath. He was going to do this. He was going to tell Gabriel he knew he was alive.
Taking in another deep breath, he begins his prayer.
"O Blessed Archangel Gabriel, I beseech thee. Do thou come out of hiding to see me, who hath been waiting weeks for thine return. That as thou didst announce to the Winchesters about the rings of Horsemen and Cage of Lucifer, so through thy prayers and patronage from your loyal Sam that he may obtain the benefits of thine presence and sing the praise of thee in the land of Earth. Amen."
He waited a few seconds, not daring to breathe.
"Really, Samsquatch?" he hears from behind him. "This is the best you got?"
Sam whirls around and sees Gabriel lazily reclining on the couch. His eyes widen and he freezes.
Gabriel raises an eyebrow. "Jeez, Sammy. Knew I was impressive, but no need to stand there with your mouth hangin' open like that. 'S not very becoming of a lady," he says with a wink.
Sam closes his jaw and shuts his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again.
Gabriel notices him pressing against a scar on his left palm.
"You're . . ." Sam trails off, sounding incredulous. "You're alive, it's really you."
"Yep, the one and only. So, how'd you know. I've been doin' a pretty good job of stayin' under the radar."
"You, uh . . . you visited me a few weeks ago. Left me this," he says, taking out the feather.
Gabriel's eyes widen fractionally. "Oh," he says in a tone of faked nonchalance. "That. I didn't know you kept it.'
" 'Course I did. What else was I supposed to do?"
Gabriel shrugs. "Dunno. Left it on impulse, expected you to toss it out or something."
Sam noticed the look in Gabriel's eyes. It was . . . thankfulness, hope.
"Anyway, why'd you call me down?"
Sam clears his throat and looks away, flushing slightly and putting the feather back on the table. Why hadn't he thought this through?
"You gonna answer me, Samshine?"
"Yeah, sorry," he says quickly. "I, uh . . . wanted to . . . uh . . . s-say I . . ."
"C'mon, spit it out."
Sam takes a deep breath and looks away. "I love you, Gabe," he says quietly.
Gabriel's eyes widen. "Oh." He clears his throat and gets up from the couch, slowly walking up to Sam. "I, uh . . ." He trails off, licking his lips and stepping close to Sam. "What if I felt the same way?" he asks, looking up at Sam, a glimmer of fear in his eyes.
Sam's breath catches in his throat. He can feel Gabriel's breath hot against his lips, their faces inches away from each other.
"Could I . . . kiss you?" Gabriel asks, a smirk tugging on the corner of his lips.
"Yes," Sam breathes, anticipation coursing through his body.
Gabriel surges forward and captures his lips in a heated kiss, moving forward and sliding his hands around Sam's hips. Sam lets out a low moan as Gabriel runs his tongue along his lips, asking for entrance. He parts his lips and grants it, groaning when Gabriel's tongue enters his mouth.
Gabriel starts to move them over to the bed, but Sam stops him.
"Wait, Gabe," he breathes, pulling back slightly. "Not tonight, okay."
There's a glimmer of confusion in Gabriel's eyes, but he nods anyway. "Sure thing, Sammich." He pauses, pulling closer. "Can we, uh . . . keep kissing?" he asks hopefully.
Sam lets out a low chuckle and leans down, pressing his lips against Gabriel's. "We can move this to the bed, but only if you promise no funny business."
Gabriel pouts. "Aw, fine. Only for you Sam-a-lam," he says, pushing Sam down and crawling on top of him. "Guess I can go one more night." He grins and starts kissing Sam again.
. . .
The next morning was peaceful. Gabriel was curled up against Sam's chest, breathing softly as he slept.
Or, well, did whatever Angels did instead of sleeping.
Sam was still reeling from last night. It just felt so . . . surreal.
He feels Gabriel shift beside him and glances down, seeing the Archangel open his eyes sleepily.
Gabriel grins. "Mornin' Sasquatch."
"Morning, Gabe," Sam replies. "You gonna stop calling me by those ridiculous nicknames?"
Gabriel shakes his head. "Nope. I've had years to come up with them, no way I'm parting now."
Sam rolls his eyes. "Fine."
"Knew you wouldn't mind," Gabriel says, pressing a kiss against his lips.
"I never said that. I just know there's no stopping you."
"You got that one right, Sammy," he says, kissing him again.
"Gabe, it's like," Sam glances at the clock, "seven in the morning."
"So?"
"So, it's too early. Just relax."
Gabriel pouts. "Like your brother always says, 'it's six o'clock somewhere'."
"No, don't talk about my brother. Not now." He pauses, a thought flashing through his mind. "Shit."
"What?"
"Dean's gonna have a fit when he finds out."
Gabriel shrugs. "We'll take it as it comes. Besides, with his and Cassy's love affair, I doubt he'll be too upset."
"I'm sorry, have you met my brother?"
"Yeah, he killed me. Don't think I'ma forget that anytime soon."
"Exactly. Let's just . . . keep this a secret for now. For my sake."
Gabriel pouts. "I don't fancy being your dirty little secret, Sam. But, if you reeeally wanna, fine. Can I at least come out of hiding? I've been meaning to catch up with Cassy."
"Yeah, you can tag along with us. It might actually soften the blow."
"Great," Gabriel says with a grin. "So, uh, what were you saying about it bein' too early?"
So, thoughts? It's always nice to get feedback.
For those of you who don't know, the prayer Sam says is a parody of a Catholic prayer called, 'Prayer to St. Gabriel, for Intercession'.