"Hey… guys?" Sam began hesitantly, approaching his brother and Castiel with caution, half expecting them to leap on top of each other again. Instead, they sat together on the motel couch, Dean's legs draped over Castiel's lap as he leaned casually back against the arm. At Sam's question, Dean deigned to open one eye and peer up at his brother.

"Hm?" Dean said, and it was clear that was the only response he'd get out of either of them. Castiel was far too busy gazing at Dean like he was the Messiah or whatever.

"I was just… wondering…" Sam paused, rolling the question he wanted to ask around in his mind, trying to phrase it so that neither of them would freak out again. "…since you guys are… y'know, now… I was wondering if you'd still mind telling me what happened when Gabe sent you somewhere and you came back all…" Sam hesitated, risking a glance at Cas, whose attention was fully on Sam now, "wet?"

Dean scowled at Sam and immediately shouted 'no', shutting his eyes again to end the conversation. Sam sighed, and Castiel looked sheepishly up at him for a moment before returning his gaze to Dean.

Well, worth a shot, Sam thought, and hoped the fact that his own brother was refusing to give him information that could potentially give him the upper hand against an Archangel wouldn't cause too many problems.

Besides, Sam had bigger things to worry about. There was a violent spirit haunting the children's hospital in this town.


Sam cursed himself repeatedly for his foolishness. He'd let himself become emotionally involved in a case again and now he was paying for it. He really didn't know how other hunters did it; when sweet little Sasha, a red-headed six year old recovering from Appendicitis decided that Sam was the one to trust with her confession that she'd been haunted by an angry ghost in her bed for three nights now, how could he not become emotionally involved?

But that's the thing about ghosts; they see everything, and Sam knew that. This damn ghost saw Sam getting chummy with Sasha and decided to use it to his advantage, kidnapping the poor girl and hiding her God knows where so that Sam would be forced to come and look for her. On his own. In the dark, barely used part of the hospital. Without backup.

He hadn't had time to tell Dean and Cas, wherever they'd disappeared off to, he just saw Sasha's empty bed, the signs of a struggle, and knew instinctively what had occurred. Sam clung to his shotgun/flashlight like his life depended on it. Which, he supposed, it probably did. He had no idea where he was by now, the faint noises he was following that sounded far too much like a young girl crying for his liking had led him down twisting corridors, down staircases, through doors. This place was a labyrinth, and he was blind to the Minotaur.

Suddenly, with only a loud crash flying past his ear to warn him, Sam was thrown into the wall with impressive force, his shotgun nearly slipping through his fingers. He felt his bones jarring together as he collided with the concrete and tried not to make more than a small yelp in case Sasha was nearby. Sam got up quickly, ignoring the pain in his shoulder and back, and flashed the light from the torch around the room, trying to see the spirit.

In mere moments he was thrown backwards again, and he couldn't hold on to the gun this time. As he braced himself for the impact, he heard a child scream, and opened his mouth to tell Sasha it was alright, to reassure her, when something tightened around his throat and he was yanked upright, pressed back against the wall so his feet didn't even touch the floor. Sam was completely blind now, without his flashlight he was in complete darkness, and he tried to claw at the hand around his neck, but his fingers passed uselessly through the ghostly flesh of the snarling spirit. He kicked with his legs, and tried to yell for Dean or Cas but no sound came out.

His vision was starting to cloud, making it difficult to think clearly. He remembered he had to stay awake, to save someone, but who? Where was he again? Sam could feel his breath start to leave him, and he fought harder, willing his body to hold on.

A burst of light, so brilliantly white it was almost blue in colour shot through the room, and for a split second, Sam could suddenly see everything. The room was small, clearly abandoned for use long ago, it's walls peeling with paint and the remains of an iron bedstead over by the far wall. Sasha was huddled in a corner by a rusty door, her arms clutched around her knees, crying. Sam was being held by the spirit of a hook-nosed man, his yellow teeth bared, pure hatred in his lifeless eyes.

It took Sam mere moments to register this and then he was crumpling to the ground, the spirit bursting into bluish flames before his eyes, his airways suddenly clear. Sam waited for the pounding of blood to cease a little in his head and looked up, trying to find the source of the light, to see what had vanquished the spirit. The room was still faintly glowing, and Sasha's whimpering form caught Sam's immediate attention. Checking quickly for any ghostly activity nearby, Sam crossed the room to her and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. She climbed into his arms like he was a secret hiding place.

"No need to thank me, Chucklebrain." An all-too-familiar voice said loudly, and Sam felt Sasha tensing in his arms. Sam looked up, astounded. Gabriel stood in the centre of the room, casually dusting himself off. He looked up at Sam, smiling a little. "On second thought, maybe we can work out some kind of arrangement." He winked. Of course he winked.

Sam didn't think he could do words right now. What was Gabriel doing here? He literally couldn't fathom what was happening.

"Huh." Gabriel said, his brow creasing and head tilting in faux confusion. He placed his hands on his hips. "Didn't have you down as one to get PTSD, Sammy. Still, best to get you and your latest heartstrings-tugger back upstairs don't you think?"

Gabriel seemed to be waiting for a reply so Sam nodded mutely and tried to stand up, Sasha in his arms, still trembling. Gabriel sighed at Sam's jelly legs and strode over to where he now stood, threading an arm around his waist. Sam looked at him with distrust, but Gabriel just grinned.

"No funny business, Sammy. I just wanna get you back safe and sound." The last thing Sam felt before finding himself standing back in front of Dean and Cas in the brightly lit, bustling hospital was a firm hand gripping him tightly just above his hip, and a puff of warm breath at his collarbone.


Saying goodbye to Sasha was hard for Sam, but he managed it, getting a kiss on the cheek for 'being a hero and saving me from the beastie'. That part made Sam glow with well-deserved pride, and he lorded it over Dean, who grumbled something about never being appreciated, which Cas then remedied in ways Sam was purposefully trying to block out of his memory. Then things had gotten a little odd: Sasha stood up on her bed (yes, Sam was really that tall) to whisper in his ear:

"Please thank your boyfriend too cause he was very good for saving you and also I like his feathers."

Sam nodded and gave her a confused smile, but left the hospital quickly, trying not to think about the fact that a six year old child had instantly jumped to the conclusion Gabriel was his boyfriend. And did the fact that she 'liked his feathers' mean that she could see his wings? Why couldn't Sam see his wings? Sam felt a little put out by that actually. He might have asked Gabriel about it if the guy hadn't disappeared on him, being nowhere in sight the minute Sam arrived back up in the land of the living. He'd been left to explain to a very confused Dean and Cas what had happened, and they gave each other knowing looks, like they'd seen it all before. It was annoying as hell.

Sam hadn't even tried to sort through his thoughts on why Gabriel had saved him. He sank into the couch back at the motel, half glad that Dean and Cas had their own room now to do whatever in, but a little lonely too.

He should have known those kinds of feelings were dangerous when you're under an Archangel's supervision. Sam leaned his head back against the cushions and closed his eyes. He was aching. God, that hunt had not done good things for his back, and just after Gabriel had loosened it up too.

Sam chuckled to himself, remembering the massage, a slight flush colouring his cheeks.

Hey Gabe, Sam thought jokily, not really expecting anyone to be listening, how about another one?

"Sure, Sammy. Love to." Gabriel said from Sam's right, and Sam jumped about a mile out of his skin. He opened his eyes quickly and sucked in a breath at what he was seeing. He was in a hot tub. A real, bubbling, steaming hot tub, with Gabriel. They were outside, and Sam could feel the air was cold against his neck and face. He could see for miles around, everything was lush, hilly... isolated. And to make things better, although it was difficult to tell because of the bubbles, he was pretty sure they were both naked.

"What's this, then? Second date?" Sam asked sarcastically, trying not to look over at Gabriel's grinning face.

"If you like." Gabriel replied, his fingers skimming the bubbling water in front of him. "You didn't seem to much care for the first one though…" Gabriel mused thoughtfully, and Sam made the mistake of looking over at him, half convinced he might actually be upset. Then Gabriel smirked again. "…fancy running out on me like that! Not proper date etiquette Sam. You must have been a real heartbreaker in your time."

Gabriel's eyes met his, gleaming, and Sam suddenly found it difficult to look away.

Must be an Angel thing, Sam thought quickly, that must be why Dean has such trouble with the staring.

"W-why couldn't I be a heartbreaker now?" Sam asked boldly, sticking his chin out and smiling a little, unable to keep from relaxing in a damn Jacuzzi. Besides, it wasn't like Gabriel was a difficult guy to talk to. Just annoying.

Gabriel laughed, and Sam realised he liked how it lit up the Angel's face. "No! Of course you could," Gabriel paused here to give the length of Sam's bare torso an appreciative lingering glance, "I just mean that now, you're being courted, so… It's a moot point really."

Sam smiled and shook his head. He was amused and he wasn't sure why. "Well, I'm sorry for running out on you." Sam sighed and closed his eyes, leaning back and rolling his shoulders. He hadn't felt hot tub jets for a long time. "I didn't realise it would affect you so deeply." Sam smirked.

He could feel Gabriel's eyes boring into him again, but he ignored it in favour of feeling the jets of water kneading out the knots in his back. A thought occurred to him as he pondered the reason behind Gabriel's staring. "Gabe, are we naked?"

Gabriel chuckled quietly, and Sam could feel he had moved closer. The thought should alarm him, but he was in the perfect position. He could feel his aching muscles giving way. "I believe so, Sammy. Why? Scared? Ashamed?"

Sam's eyes flew open indignantly, and he sucked in a breath when he saw how close Gabriel was. The Angel was right up against his side, not quite touching, but almost, his elbow resting by Sam's head on the lip of the tub, his face looking casually down into Sam's. Sam swallowed.

"N-no." Sam stuttered, and when Gabriel smiled at the stammer, so did Sam. Gabriel's hand began to dance over the water again, reminding Sam of a Gerris remigis, a bug he'd learned about in some school or other, that could skim the thin film on top of the water without breaking through. Gabriel's fingers slid just over where Sam's chest lay submerged, and if Sam lifted his body up a little way, those fingers would be skimming his skin. Sam tried not to think about it. "Why did you save me today?" Sam asked suddenly, in an attempt to distract himself.

Gabriel's fingers paused in their tracks. "Oh I'm sorry, did you not want me to?" Gabriel asked, his voice as carefully amused as ever, but Sam noticed a hint of real confusion. Sam confused Gabriel. Like an enigma. He quite liked that idea really. Gabriel chuckled, and Sam blushed, remembering once again that his thoughts were not private around this guy. "An enigma, huh? Yeah okay, Sammy. My man of mystery." Gabriel laughed again.

Sam frowned up at Gabriel, but he suspected the smile on his face somewhat deflated the effect of his disapproval. "I'm serious. Why?"

"Why? I don't understand, Sammy. You would have died!"

"Yeah!" Sam said, nodding emphatically. "And what's that got to do with you?"

Gabriel looked stunned for a moment, just staring at Sam like he was a puzzle. Sam held his own. "Because you deserve to be saved too, Sam." Sam felt something strange happening in his chest. A sort of twisting and sinking feeling. He hoped he wasn't having a heart attack because it would be too awkward to explain to Dean and Cas that he'd been skinny dipping with Gabriel at the time of the attack. "Plus," Gabriel said, leaning away from Sam at last and mirroring Sam's position, staring up at the sky, his head on the rim of the tub, "I kinda like you. You're interesting. And jeez, what a terrible way to go that would have been. Embarrassing."

Sam cast a sideways glance at him. He was never going to understand this guy. And now he owed him his life, apparently. He decided to steer the conversation back to easier territory. "So, why a hot tub?"

Gabriel gave a dramatic shrug and looked over at Sam, their faces far too close to be considered normal. But Sam felt like he shouldn't be the one to have to move. He was the invalid after all. Though now that he thought about it, his aches had faded to an almost unnoticeable tingling. "I figured I'd get you wet, warm, naked and limber, then I'd try and make a move on you."

Sam nodded like he'd expected this kind of answer, and sighed, shaking his head. "Not happening, Gabe."

"Well, you're brother seemed to like it in here. So did mine at that. Thought I'd give it a shot." Gabriel replied, and Sam suddenly felt very glad he hadn't been invited to that particular Dean and Cas escapade. "Oh, and thanks by the way."

Sam's brow furrowed, confused. "Huh?"

"I do look gorgeous in that black shirt, but coming from you, it makes it all the better." Gabriel replied, grinning, and before Sam even had time to blush and curse his loud, uncontrollable thoughts, Gabriel was leaning forwards, right into Sam's personal bubble. Sam's eyes flew wide and he began to panic as the thought that Gabriel might be trying to kiss him set in, and even greater panic at the fact he wasn't trying to move away. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, Gabriel reached up and tapped a finger to Sam's forehead.

Sam looked around the motel room. He was alone. Completely drenched. Fantastic.