Chapter 7

Once Gabe had left the room, Sam unlocked the phone and dialled the number he had long-since memorized. While they had changed phones from time to time there were a few numbers they made certain were always connected. It didn't take long for there to be an answer on the phone, if it was from their emergency line it was from someone who was in trouble and needed their help.

"This is Dean."

Hearing his brother's voice, Sam couldn't speak for a second until Dean spoke 'Hello' into the phone. Clutching the phone with one hand the other fisted in his lap, Sam spoke up before Dean would disconnect the line.

"Dean."

Nothing more was said for a second as Dean, sucked in a breath. While he couldn't see his brother, Sam knew the expression on the other's face. It was the same as Dean always wore when he saw Sam after having a scare, relief and love all wrapped into one. "God it's good to hear you, how did you get free? Where are you and I'll come meet you?" asked Dean in a rush. While Dean couldn't see it, Sam shook his head, eyes darting around the room before he spoke, his tone soft but not as defeated as it had been merely moment ago.

"I'm still with him, Dean. I don't know what he wants but Gabe hasn't let me go and I have a feeling trying to escape would do more harm than good. He has me in a bedroom, snaps up food and water and some movies to entertain me from time to time, but I'm not getting free any time soon."

It hurt to speak the words he had known for a while were true. Sam had tested every ward he could think of to try and keep Gabe out or get himself thrown out of the room but nothing had worked. The laptop Gabe had given him was weird; he could surf the web but couldn't outreach to actual people, making it all but useless in trying to find someone with any idea on what he could try. Dean's voice was raised slightly over the phone, letting Sam know how pissed his brother was.

"What is he doing to you Sammy? We'll find a way; Bobby and I have been cracking open every book and contact either of us has. It won't be long, and something will give, someone has to be able to find you somehow, I mean even if it's another god or something someone should be able to overpower this guy."

It was the 'or something' that made a shiver go down Sam's spine. He knew exactly what Dean was thinking of, and while he didn't want to agree to anything the trickster told him right then, Sam wasn't about to let his brother sell his soul on a useless deal. "It won't work, Dean. Whatever you're thinking won't work. Gabe says this isn't even on Earth anymore, that we're in some kind of dimension he snapped up. I have a feeling if someone besides him tries to come in they would get blasted and fried, human or not."

"I can't just give up Sam." Dean's tone was so defeated, though there was a touch of anger in his voice. Leaning back on the bed, Sam sighed heavily. "I'm not asking you to give up Dean, I'm asking you to use your head. If you can pull me out, good do it, but I think our best bet right now is trying to do this ourselves. Gods aren't known for keeping interest in a human for long, I'm sure once he gets bored he'll let me go. He's not hurting me Dean, not demanding anything; and from as far as I can tell he doesn't want to keep me here as much as I don't want to be here… there's something else happening and I don't want you going off and getting yourself hurt for nothing."

There was silence on the phone for a second, but after a short pause Sam heard Dean sighing. "Yeah okay Sammy, but you better call at least once a day, you hear me?" Sam smiled though Dean couldn't see it. "Yeah, I hear you, I'll even set a reminder and everything. Just… be careful, yeah? I'm not there to have your back so if you're in over your head call someone."

Sam could practically see Dean rolling his eyes. "Yes Mom, just call this phone when you do." It didn't take long for Sam to hang up afterwards, saying his goodbyes without actually saying it. Once the line was disconnected, Sam looked at the phone again before dialling out a new number. "This better be good." Smiling at the gruff voice on the other line, Sam didn't hesitate to speak. "Oh, it is."

"Sam?" questioned Bobby before he continued. "It's damn good to hear from ya boy. Your brother is just about driving me off the deep end askin' if I heard from ya' yet." Shaking his head, Sam explained how things were with Gabe and that he had already called Dean. Unlike Dean, Bobby didn't question what they should be doing and agreed to let Sam handle his end as much as he could before forcing a promise for Sam to call every few days if he could so they knew of any changes.

By the time he was done speaking to Bobby it was close to dinner, Sam's stomach gave a rumble before there was a knock on the door. Unlike the last time Gabe had come in, Sam wasn't glaring at the trickster instead he eyed up the food the man was carrying. They had managed to stay away from each other for the most part, even when Gabe came into the room he stayed back out of arms reach, but this time Gabe walked inside and held the plate of food out for Sam to take.

Slowly Sam moved his arms to accept the tray, the gesture causing Gabe to smile ever so slightly. For a second Sam wished he could see the man smile more. It had been pushed down forcibly with their new situation, but Sam couldn't deny that he liked Gabe's smile, had since they first met. "Thank you for the phone, it was nice being able to talk to my family again." Having set the tray on his lap, Sam looked at Gabe who seemed surprised by the thanks.

"You're welcome, if you can think of anything else you want just let me know… I'm seriously not trying to hurt you Sam." While he didn't want to Sam was starting to believe what Gabe was saying. Gabe hadn't done anything to hurt him, hadn't tried to push for anything or force whatever it was that he wanted. Tricksters were powerful, and while Sam knew they had their own moral code, if Gabe really wanted something from him he could have snapped his fingers and had it.

"I could read, you know to pass the time? I haven't read recreationally for a while… maybe some fantasy?" Gabe seemed to brighten up at the suggestion, and with a snap of his fingers Sam found one of the previously bare walls lined with bookshelves. As Gabe turned to Sam, there was a bright smile on his face while he spoke. "A little bit of everything, I forgot to mention the phone will stay charged just like the laptop. Anything you want Kiddo, you just have to ask."

"Except my freedom," spoke Sam with a tinge to his voice even he couldn't place. The smile Gabe had on his face left in the blink of an eye, instead it was replaced with a slight frown. While he didn't want to sympathize with his captor it was hard when Gabe looked at Sam like he just kicked his puppy.

"Yeah, except that. I should go, just holler if you need anything." Gabe left the room before Sam could respond, not that he knew what he would say. Instead Sam found himself in an empty room, suddenly the books he had asked for didn't seem as appealing as they had only moments before. When his next meal appeared without the blond, Sam sighed heavily before eating. Something had to give.

P.S. If you want to keep up to date on my writing add me to Facebook, Tumbler or Twitter as CrowNoYami ;-) Also, if you want to see what I'm reading (I always review so you know what you're getting into) I'm on Goodreads as well, same name as always.