"Hey Dean-o, where's my little bro hanging out at the moment?" Gabriel saw dean tense in his seat before rolling his yes and replying.
"You decided to fess up what ever it is you were hiding from him?" Dean asked, not looking up from his laptop.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I was,"
"He's out in his garden. What changed your mind?"
"Sam,"
"Oh yeah?" Dean answered in disbelief, "What happened?"
"He laughed at me," Gabriel confessed sullenly.
"Where's Samantha now?"
"Finishing his work; thought I'd give him some quiet,"
"What makes you think Cas'll want the distraction?"
"Cassie's had a soft spot in his heart for soul searching since he met you. He wouldn't turn me away if he thought I was going to confess my sins,"
"Hmm," Dean clearly wasn't as convinced. "Got many of them have you?"
"Mostly justifiable circumstances; none of us are that innocent,"
"Yeah, whatever," Dean sighed obviously wanting Gabriel to leave him alone; unfortunately or not, Gabriel hesitated.
"Okay, I get that it's a Winchester thing that Castiel picked up, the whole denying of emotional connections and stuff; but what in hells is all the defensive …. What's stopping you?"
"He's an angel," Dean mumbled, as if that were the ultimate answer.
"Who lives with you, eats with you, holds you, sleeps with you…"
"Exactly!" Dean all but yelled slamming the lid of his laptop down in frustration Gabriel stood waiting for where the outburst led. "I don't des…I can't ask any more of him,"
"You think he doesn't want the same?"
"Why would he?"
"Something tells me his affection for you isn't a burden. Remind me how long he's been with you?"
"We're family, it's not meant to be like that,"
"Sometimes I wish I could teach you Winchesters lessons, have you ever talked to the baby angel" Gabriel said sardonically.
"I talk to him!" Dean objected.
"'Bout how you feel?" the silence that followed was answer enough. "Why am I so not surprised and if your answer is something about ruining something good…" The glare Dean sent his way assured Gabriel that Dean knew exactly how stupid he was being about the issue, "Grow some balls and talk to him, you'll be all the better for it. Plus you might not blow up on me so often,"
"Get out Gabriel," Dean said, little malice in his words, and as he dropped his head to his hands defeatist.
"Yeah, I'm gong,"
"And don't tell him!"
"Trickster's word Dean-o," Gabriel called back to him as he slipped from the house.
"Crap…" Dean groaned as his head fell back to the table.
It was odd looking down at his human vessel and seeing no shadow across the grass. Gabriel had always rather liked having a shadow; something grounding about it he thought. He continued on to where Castiel kneeled tending a flower bed.
"I'm continually surprised by how easily annoyed Dean is, any threat to his control. You seem to far too easily act as a catalyst for him," Castiel said smiling and with laughter in his eyes when he looked up to Gabriel approaching.
"You heard that, huh?" Gabriel said as he dropped cross-legged to sit on the grass next to his brother.
"Yes, though only Dean's contribution t the conversation, that and the resonant emotion from our bond. He may have leant to temporarily hide his thoughts, but he can't help but share his emotions through the connection,"
"I would have thought Sammy would be the caring sharing one," Gabriel said, eyes following a bumblebee passing the end of his nose.
"Do you have your notepad Gabriel?"
"Uh yeah, probably easier," Gabriel said, pulling it from his jacket pocket where it had been folded twice. He then scribbled down his previous sentence.
"Hmm," Castiel mused, "Perhaps you could find out,"
"Sorry what?" He scribbled a question mark on the page.
"Its clear your Grace wants you to form a connection with Sam; if his proximity is what is returning your Grace to you. A bond would encourage that. And your resurrected wants you to learn something from each of us, or us from you. I can only assume our Father will grant you full access to communication powers on Earth and in Heaven,"
"Whoa, whoa," Wait a minute, backtrack. I wanted to tell you what I've been keeping from you,
"I do not believe you have kept anything vital from me. Dean explained his suspicions but I have been monitoring you since I offered to help,"
I wanted to tell you all I told Sammy. Gabriel wrote, looking up form the page to Castiel with a guilty expression which Castiel appeared to judge.
"Would you prefer to relocate inside?" Castiel asked, wiping his dirt covered hands over his trousers in a very human gesture.
No, I like your garden. Castiel gave him a small pleasing smile before nodding for him to continue.
Gabriel scribbled down what he'd told Sam and the reluctantly pushed it over to Castiel.
"I'd guessed as much,"
Smartass Castiel smirked.
"You do not think I considered such a theory with Dean?"
That his soul mate might be out there?
"Yes; but I have since realised he is already a part of me,"
What gave it away?
"This," Castiel gestured to the flowers around him. "Since I developed such an interest in this space Dean has contributed so much to its continued appearance. Hen I leave for several days he tends it. I occasionally find plants waiting for me; the fruit bushes are all from him. The beehive was his idea too,"
Beehive?
"In the middle of the beds there is a beehive; its significance to the years you missed is a reminder of times I am not altogether proud of, but value none-the-less. Dean's willingness to have such a reminder of them means more to me than any other gift I've received."
So he's sweet on you. Why would it have anything to do with me? You've always been a special snowflake,
"As true as that may be, I believe just as Dean and I seem to always find a way back to each other. You and Sam are alike in many ways; have you not only recently pulled each other back together by fractions,"
Right…
"You make each other happy, do you not?"
Not sure how good I am for him, but yeah, he's a good kid.
"You imply that Dean and I should 'grow some' as you would say. I think you and Sam are likely to find equal happiness from such an intimate connection,"
So we both need to lay a Winchester and all our problems will be solved. Castiel rolled his eyes at the wording but gave Gabriel an amused look.
"Dean is planning a hunt at the moment; we leave in two hours,"
Sammy going?
"I don't believe he intends to,"
Is that you saying, you have the house to yourself, go wild!
"That would be completely up to you," Castiel said with a sly grin, "The washing needs doing also if you have the inclination. Sam and Dean never seem to find the inclination now they can call a place home"
Potential sex, bonding and housework. Sounds perfect. (Or like a backwards porno…)
"It's a suggestion at the least,"Castiel said, ignoring the last remark. Gabriel reached out and caught his brother's eye.
"Thank you," He mouthed. Castiel's smile spread wide in gratitude.
"Let me show you my garden brother," Gabriel's jaw dropped in surprise. "If you'd be interested to see,"
Are you sure?
" It would not be so special and important to me if I did not share it with those I care about most," Gabriel blanked, "You are important to me brother. As family, confidant and I hope friend," Affection was so light in his chest Gabriel was overwhelmed. He nodded slowly and followed Cas as he stood.
I'd love to see your garden Cassy, he scribbled before catching himself, But what would dean-o think of me coming into yours and his special place.
"You're an ass,"
That's putting it mildly, Gabriel wrote and when Castiel looked up to meet him with an unimpressed but amused stare Gabriel merely winked and started off down the stony path.
