Packing the proper items had taken less than ten minutes, allowing Cas to quickly fly them away. Since Cas knew where Gabriel was, the flight back took far less time. The return removed a great deal of stress from Cas now that he could actually see his sibling was safe. He quickly led his friend to Gabriel, wanting to be there when the archangel awoke.
Sam was feeling nervous, not taking things as well he had hoped as he followed Cas to the makeshift tent. He crouched down on the grass and crawled into the tent with the angel. It was when he dipped his head under the material that his world seemed to suddenly slam to a halt as his gaze fell on the sleeping archangel.
Sam froze, eyes widening as his heart hammered in his chest. His breath was stolen away at the sight of the angel. It had been so long since that horrid night at that damned hotel. Seeing the beautiful angel again made tears sting at Sam's eyes. This all felt like a dream.
Sam sat respectfully at the mouth of the tent. He didn't want to spook the archangel. Pregnant women and animals were often skittish when they felt their offspring were in danger from any force. He could only expect the helpless angel would feel similar because Gabriel was protectively curled up in sleep to protect his belly.
Sam watched intently as Cas gently lifted the blankets away, exposing the sleeping angel. Sam was fascinated as he watched his brother's angel lovingly nuzzle Gabriel's ribs, making soft chirring sounds. He had never seen Cas act like this before, it must come from a sibling connection.
Gabriel mewled softly in sleep in response to Cas' greeting. The archangel snuggled more into his blanket nest but stretched out, making himself vulnerable to Cas. Sam flushed brightly at the sight of the angel's vaguely swollen belly straining against Gabriel's normally well-fitting button-up shirt. Sam wasn't sure when he had gone insane but he was finding the sight adorable and appealing.
The hunter flushed hot and tried not to think about that little train of thought. He shifted uneasily, focused intently as his watched Cas' hand slip under Gabriel's shirt and press carefully against his belly. Cas' eyes slipped closed, a tell-tale sign of him tenderly providing the pups with more grace.
"S-so, he's really having puppies?" Sam whispered softly, face growing hotter. His hands were fisted in his jeans, a desperate attempt to keep from stroking his fingers through the angel's soft looking hair.
"Yes. I do not know who his partner was but they were indeed a canine." Sam swallowed thickly at the response. His mind could have wandered somewhere horribly filthy but instead it just filled with thoughts of him holding Gabriel close as their litter played around them. Sam loved dogs but even he knew that his openness to having this happen was a little strange. Yet, he couldn't make himself hate the idea. He wondered what they would look like!
"Gabriel?" Cas called gently once he was finished with the pups. He moved his hand to gently rub his brother's shoulder. He nuzzled the older angel's ribs again until the archangel let out a sleepy mewl. Both angels were completely unaware of the shudder that the sound made pass through the blushing hunter.
"C-cassie?" Gabriel mumbled after a few moments. His groggy voice was thick with exhaustion, all his sleep had done was allow his body to pour all his energy into nurturing his pups. He had almost no strength left for himself.
"I am here, Gabriel. Please rest easy." Cas whispered soothingly, reaching over and gently taking hold of Sam's sleeve to urge him closer, "I brought Sam to be your mate. He will care for you and your offspring." Sam had been steeling himself for a whole slew reactions and reprimands but the one he witnessed broke his heart.
Gabriel flinched away from Castiel and cowered back against his blankets away from them. His honey-colored eyes were wide in fear as he stared at Sam in terror. The helpless archangel desperately protected his belly as he quivered.
"C-cassie, are you i-insane?! He's a h-hunter!" The realization of Gabriel's words felt like a knife to the gut for Sam. The angel thought he was going to murder the litter. Sam winced, he supposed he did deserved that mistrust. They had tried to kill Gabriel three times and trapped him in holy fire after all.
"It's okay, Gabe." Sam said soothingly, slowly reaching out and tenderly stroking the archangel's hair, "I'm just here to help. I'm not going to hurt you or your babies." Gabriel flinched at his touch, mewling fearfully. He whimpered weakly, too tired and scared to be able to think straight. Why did the kid's touch have to feel so nice? This wasn't fair!
"N-no, you're just going to k-kill them because t-they're not human." Gabriel mewled helplessly as he tried to pull away, his eyes already growing wet, "Y-you're just going to let me m-miscarry once C-castiel's gone."
"No, I won't, I promise." Sam's fingers carded tenderly through the angel's hair, brushing down over the nape of Gabriel's neck, "I'll make you a deal, Gabriel."
"W-what kind of deal?" The angel looking at him suspiciously despite the touches starting to sooth the angel.
"If I do anything, anything at all, to harm your kids, you can torture me any way you like." Sam couldn't believe he was saying this to the angel. Gabriel had a twisted mind when it came to vengeance after all, "I won't fight back or try to stop what you're doing and Dean won't be allowed to stop you either. Do we have a deal? I only want to help you have the babies safely." Gabriel's eyes searched Sam's for truth before reluctantly nodding in agreement.
~*~z~*~
After their reluctant agreement, things went a little smoother. Cas gave Gabriel more grace before flying off back to Dean. They would arrive within a few days' time to pick up the pair.
"Well, let's get this over with, Bucko." Gabriel whispered as he tiredly sat up. He was shakily starting to unbutton his shirt when Sam's hand gently closed over his, stopping him.
"Gabriel, stop." Sam said gently, carefully moving the angel's hands away and taking one in his own hand, "Not yet, please." Gabriel blinked slowly, looking up at the much larger male. He flushed softly as the hunter gave him a sweet smile. Gabriel's heart fluttered slightly as he felt Sam's thumb lovingly stroking over his knuckles.
"What's wrong, Sammy?" Gabriel barely even registered saying the words as he stared at the human.
"I don't want to just rush into this. Cas said that proper mating is very rare and sacred for you guys." Sam tenderly stroked his fingers through Gabriel's hair, "I don't want to insult you by treating it like it's nothing."
Gabriel swallowed thickly at the words, not even realizing he was leaning into the human's gentle touches. His heart thumped a bit as he just stared at Sam, it was like the kid was hypnotizing him with his kind glances. He wanted desperately to trust the young hunter.
"And besides, I owe you a thank you, Gabe." Sam whispered as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to Gabriel's cheek.
"W-what for?" The flustered angel stammered out the words as the simple kiss sent pleasant tingles through him.
"For all the things you worked so hard to do for me." Sam's hand stopped stroking Gabriel's hair and moved down so his arm wrapped around the angel, carefully pulling him into Sam's lap, "You tried so hard to help me but I was so stubborn and resentful. Then, you gave it all for me and Dean, and I never got the chance to thank you." Sam nuzzled his companion's hair, Gabriel was in shock. This was really not how he thought this whole conversation was gonna go.
"Gabriel, please, just let me do this for you." Sam pleaded gently, pressing his hand reverently against the angel's swelling belly, "Let me take care of you and your little ones. I promise to take good care of you all if you give me a chance." Gabriel mewled softly in confusion as he found himself slumping trustingly against Sam's chest as the hunter rubbed his belly. Fear for his children still tinged his mind but he found himself desperately wanting to trust his would-be mate.
"A-alright, S-sam." He said weakly in defeat as he was cradled lovingly in Sam's arms.
~*~Chapter End~*~
