Salt and Burn

Note: The problem with writing a mutation fic is that my brain isn't able to just leave things with 'this is what the character can do'. No, my brain has to pull it all apart and demand the logistics of it. Hence the Gabe-centric chapter.

Chapter 7 - Do-you-thin-key-saurus

Castiel glared at his brother as he brushed the wrinkles out of his trenchcoat with his hands. They had been standing in the shadows across from the Winchester's hotel room when suddenly Gabriel had opened a nearby door and shoved him through without explanation. Even worse, Castiel knew that they had passed through one of the Trickster's portals as they were suddenly standing in Gabriel's room back home. And now the older man had his face pressed up against a badly drawn window stuck onto the back of his bedroom door.

"Gabriel. What are you doing?"

Castiel asked continuing to glare at the back of his brother's 0head.

"Shh Cassie! Do you think he saw us? I think he saw us."

'Saviour' frowned in confusion.

"Do you mean 'Burn'? He was facing away from us Gabriel."

Gabriel scoffed finally pulling himself away from the 'window', but he kept glancing back at it.

"That doesn't matter Cassie. Couldn't you tell? He was following a trail back there, probably 'Hunter's trail. And he saw us at the gas station. Usually I wouldn't mind getting attention from sexy giant mutants. But Sammy rediscovering his tracking power could cause problems for our little mission."

Castiel's frown deepened as he listened to his brother.

"This is serious. It seems your original assessment of the situation was correct. There must be something in Palo Alto suppressing Sam's mental abilities."

Gabriel nodded. His eyes again straying to the 'window'.

"They've gone back inside. I'll have to make another window."

That was the only explanation 'Trickster' gave before he opened the door and stepped out into the alley they had been standing in moments before. Even though Castiel had experienced his brother's space manipulation before, it was still a little disorientating. As the door closed he realised why Gabriel had been so intent on the window. Through it Castiel could see the street and the exterior of the motel. He watched curiously as his brother walked cautiously up to the window of the Winchester's room. He was disguised as a member of the housekeeping staff, obviously in case either 'Salt' or 'Burn' stepped outside again. Although Castiel doubted that it would make a difference in Sam's case. Working as quickly as he could Gabriel put his hands on the window frame for a moment and then stepped back. Just as he stepped back Castiel flinched as the TV in the corner of Gabriel's room turned on to show the inside of the motel room. The younger man was so busy staring at the picture on the screen that he missed his brother's return.

"Neat trick, ay little bro."

Gabriel laughed as he moved to stand beside his brother, after pulling the paper window off of his door. It had taken some time for him to figure out growing up, but he had realised that the more familiar he was with somewhere the easier it was for him to link it with somewhere else. The first thing that he had learned to do was to link a door with itself. It was easily done, but it's uses were limited, although it did make a good prank. Door to door was a little harder and good for a quick escape. Especially if he used the door he was most familiar with, his own. Window to window was similar but he had to be careful because as with doors the connection went both ways. That was why he tended to use the false window on his bedroom door, or the TV. That way the connection was only one way but it was much more difficult and drained him quickly, making him hungry and occasionally giving him headaches. That was why he had removed the false window. It only worked when it was connected to the door, and he didn't need it while the Winchester's were still in their room.

"Can we get sound?"

Castiel asked, not taking his eyes off of the screen, and Gabriel laughed.

"Can we get sound? Please. Why do you think I linked it to the TV?"

With that Gabriel grabbed the remote from where it sat on the bedside table and took the TV off mute. Castiel decided not to ask why the TV had been on mute in the first place and concentrated on the screen. That was until he heard the tell-tale rustling of candy wrappers. Briefly he wondered if that was why his brother ate so much junk food. It must take a lot to maintain the connections and maybe Gabriel wasn't as infinitely powerful as they all presumed. But he dismissed the thought quickly. No other illusionist any mutant had ever heard of was able to do what Gabriel could do. Besides they had work to do.