Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural

AuthorsNotes: Alright, so I've noticed a pattern in my writing, and this story is going to follow it. Guess who's back at Bobby's? Also, I know it's called 'business class' instead of coach now, but I like the way it used to sound.

Warnings: None for this chapter.

Chapter 11

Things with Sam had gotten easier after they spoke about his insecurities. Before he knew it, Gabriel found himself on a plane making his way to meet Sam's family. It had been a fight for Sam to accept the tickets, having wanted to pay his own way. It wasn't until Gabriel had pointed out it was because of Gabriel's own tastes that they were flying instead of driving that Sam relented. Now seated beside Sam on their way to South Dakota, Gabriel couldn't fight back the nerves at meeting Sam's family. Reaching between them, Gabriel easily grasped Sam's hand as the taller man used his other hand to hold open a pocket novel.

"What'cha reading?" asked Gabriel, trying to focus on the now instead of what may happen when they land. Sam was already a good way through his book, flipping pages at an almost alarming rate. Sam folded the corner of the page he was on down, closing the book to turn his attention to Gabriel, a small smile on his face. Typically, it would be Gabriel reassuring Sam, the moose-like man seemed to have insecurity issues like nobody Gabriel had ever seen, but this time it was Sam supporting Gabriel. Sam pulled the shorter man into a reassuring kiss, keeping it short on the crowded plane.

"It's going to be fine, Gabe. I can't promise Bobby won't give you a hard time, he probably will, but he's not going to do anything drastic, and there's nothing he can do that will make me leave you. I think he's a bit worried about our age gap, but I've been talking to him and I think he simply wants to meet you, get to know what it is that made me fa-choose… what made me choose you."

While he didn't mention it, Gabriel had caught the slip, his eyes widening slightly for a second before squeezing the hand holding his. Sam's cheeks lit up a bright red, his other hand picking his book back up to hide behind. It had been implied, more than once Gabriel had seen the words on the tip of Sam's tongue, but this was as close to a confession of love as the taller man had gotten. Gabriel had no idea what do. A large part of him wanted to confess his own feelings to Sam, to wrap his sasquatch up in his arms and whisper how loved and wanted and damn-well needed he was.

What would he do when Sam realized that Gabriel had been lying to him though? Not about his feelings, Gabriel had realized he was in love with Sam the moment he agreed to meet Bobby, but Gabriel was lying about his very species. He wasn't human, he was only playing the part, and soon enough Sam would figure it out. Would it be better for Gabriel to wait until Sam pieced it together? Treasure what little time he has with the man before he's pushed away? Or should he come clean and hope Sam doesn't freak out about Gabriel being a supernatural creature, that Sam keeps him around? It wasn't a choice he was ready to make, and until he did, Gabriel couldn't confess his own feelings, not until he was ready to show his hand.

"I've only ever had the 'meet the family' thing once before, I guess I'm just hopeful your Bobby isn't nearly as terrifying as Sigyn's father." After they talked about Gabriel's family, Gabriel had been certain to throw them into conversation more often. Sam's logic was that he couldn't grow comfortable with the idea if it was never brought up, so slowly Gabriel would give Sam little bits of information.

"Oh? I thought you said you had his blessing?" turning to face Gabriel instead of his book, Sam interlocked their fingers. Gabriel smiled, leaning a bit more to the side so he could press his shoulder against Sam's.

"He did, but only after he scared the living daylights out of me. I swear, if he had been alive when Sigyn and I broke up? I would have wished for death once he was through." While Gabriel was talking with a light smile on his face, Sam could hear the truth in his words. It wasn't the first time Gabriel had mentioned violent tendencies in his family. If Sam wasn't so certain that Gabriel would never harm him he would have been worried.

A large hand cupped Gabriel's face, tilting it up so he could see into Sam's eyes. The book was forgotten on Sam's lap while they sat there. "You know it's not your fault, right? What happened, happened, and it's horrible, but it's not your fault." Gabriel gave a half-smile before leaning forwards and meeting Sam in a soft kiss.

"Read your book, Samshine, there's still a couple hours until we land."

Gabriel leaned back in the chair, thankful he had sneaked the first-class tickets so they had more leg room. If Gabriel felt cramped flying coach, he could just imagine what Sam would feel like. Moving his hand down to rest against Sam's leg so the other man could turn his pages easier, Gabriel closed his eyes. He had no intention of sleeping, the flight was only three hours total, but he could use the time to think. Sam wasn't going to wait much longer, eventually 'I love you' was going to slip out of the taller man's mouth, and Gabriel desperately needed to figure out what he wanted to do about his identity before then.

Watching Sam reunite with the member of his family still talking to him made Gabriel slightly uncomfortable. The two men hugged tightly, Bobby slapping Sam on the back a couple times before holding him at arm's length and looking him over. It was the same gesture Gabriel had seen a thousand times, a parent looking at their child after separation. Gabriel knew exactly what Bobby was looking for, checking to make certain there were no stress lines, no dark eyes, that Sam was eating well and remained healthy. It was the same things Gabriel checked for every time he met his children; that they were well, that everything was alright.

Looking off to the side to give the two a moment, Gabriel couldn't help but wonder how is own kids were. Sure, he talked to them as often as he could, about once a week, but it's hard to tell through a phone if everything is really okay. After their banishment from Asgard, Gabriel had used any means available to keep in contact. At the turn of the century, and the invention of cell phones, he had been able to keep in contact frequently. What had once been visits once every few months were now weekly phone calls. Maybe after this he could take a quick trip over, let Sam have a couple days to himself while he checked on everyone.

"...briel, my boyfriend."

Hearing his name, Gabriel turned his head back to Sam who was smiling at him. Sam's hand was twitching, a sure sign of nerves which caused Gabriel to hold the twitching hand without a seconds thought. Linking their fingers together, Gabriel let go of the handle for his suitcase offering his other hand to Bobby.

"Gabriel Christensen, and you must be Robert Singer, pleasure to meet you." It seemed Bobby was reluctant to shake his hand, however after a moment's pause he took the offered appendage. They shook for a moment before Gabriel let go and once again grasped the handle of his suitcase.

"It's just Bobby, now are we just going to stand here or are we going back to the house?" Without waiting for an answer, Bobby turned and began walking out of the airport, Gabriel and Sam exchanging a quick look before following.

The drive to Singer's Salvage Yard was done with Gabriel listening to Sam and Bobby talking. While sitting the back seat, Gabriel found himself trying to figure out once again if he should tell Sam what he is. While Gabriel had concluded that eventually Sam would figure out that he was something the choice was Gabriel's if he told Sam the truth. On the plane, Gabriel had decided that he would tell Sam something, he didn't want to become even more invested in the relationship with that hanging over their heads. The question was if he was going to tell Sam what he really was, or only what he was pretending to be.

Blinking out of his thought as the junkyard came into view, Gabriel couldn't help but notice the business seemed to be doing well. There were several cars out front, but what stood out were the large towers of junked cars piled high. There was a marketable business in selling metal, and while the prices seemed to jump around, overall Bobby had an alright set up going for him. As they pulled up to the house, Gabriel noticed the home was well maintained, a dog barked for a moment before wagging his tail upon seeing Bobby.

Getting out of the car once stopped, Gabriel couldn't help but to comment. "Nice place, you do the upkeep yourself or hire out?" While he spoke, Gabriel reached out and began to pet the dog who had come up to meet him, watching as the dog started to kick when he found a sensitive spot.

"What makes you think I hire out?" asked Bobby, shutting the trunk after pulling out Gabriel's suitcase. Gabriel looked over to the man, raising an eyebrow before swiping his hand out in a gesture to the piled cars.

"The cars. You run a pretty good business here, good enough that when the price of steel went up last month you didn't sell everything in a frantic attempt to make ends meet before the drop. Means you've got enough in the bank that you're not stupid, also your house while well maintained, must be close to a hundred or better. Houses like that need constant care, but yours looks like you've fixed the issues that pop up instead of just patching it over. So, either you're an all-around handyman or you hired out for some of the work, I'm just curious which."

Both Sam and Bobby looked at Gabriel in surprise who was still petting the dog. "I do my own work, havin' a bunch of strangers around isn't my idea of a good time. Anything else you wanna tell me about myself, psychic wonder?"

Standing from where he had bent slightly to pet the dog, Gabriel shrugged his shoulders before answering. "Your dog loves you, and seems to have good instincts. He's well fed and trained enough that you didn't tie him up when you left, you can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats his animals and his home." Raising his eyebrow at the look Sam was giving him, Gabriel kept his hand to his side where the dog was now sitting, nuzzling into his palm.

"What? I told you Sasquatch, most of my money is from my old man. Some of it I had to earn myself, and reading people is part of the gig if you don't wanna be double-crossed." Leaving the dog, Gabriel went to the back of the car with the other two, taking his suitcase from Bobby and walking towards the house. "So, are we going to stay outside or go in? I don't know about you, but I'm starting to get cold."

As Gabriel made his way to the house, Sam looked at Bobby for a moment. A second later the two men began to laugh, Bobby clapping Sam on the shoulder. "Yeah, he'll fit right in." The gruff acceptance from Bobby made Sam feel lighter than he had since leaving. He had noticed Gabriel acting a bit off, how nervous he was about meeting Bobby. It was a big step, and one Sam felt Gabriel might not have been ready for but did anyway, to make Sam happy. Now that he had Bobby's stamp of approval? Sam was going to show Gabriel how much he appreciated him, and he knew just how to do it.

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.