Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.

A.N.: A week passed between last chapter and this one, and the next chapter takes place a week after this.

As the week passed Sam adjusted to living with Gabriel. The were-panther was energetic, often seeming as if he didn't have a care. But at certain moments Sam saw Gabriel struggle with grief. He'd get quiet and withdrawn, to the point he almost seemed bipolar.

"Come on." Gabriel said to Sam one day. "We're going hunting."

Sam glanced at him. "We are?"

"Yes." The shorter man nodded. "It's easier with two hunters." For a moment he looked away then turned his gaze back to Sam.

Sam shrugged. "Okay then. I'll follow your lead."

XXX

Gabriel lived near the river, less than a mile from the edge of the mountain, in a prairie.

"There are rabbits, quail, squirrels, and deer out here." Gabriel told Sam. "What's your favorite thing to hunt?"

Sam answered immediately. "Quail." He paused, Dean had taught him to hunt quail.

Gabriel gave him a sympathetic look. "We can hunt those if you want, but I'll understand if you don't want to hunt them with me."

"Thanks." Sam murmured. "Roger loved to hunt rabbits didn't he?"

Gabriel laughed. "More like torment them. I told him not to play with his food but he still chases them to their den." He swallowed. "Chased. He chased."

Sam sighed. "Well, that rules out quails and rabbits."

"Squirrels?" Gabriel offered.

Sam nodded. "How would we hunt those? I can't stalk like you."

Gabriel seemed thoughtful. "I have a plan."

XXX

Sam crept forward, and let out a loud bark.

The group of squirrels scattered from him, running towards the trees.

Sam tore forward in a russet blur, herding the squirrels towards a certain tree.

Four of them ran up the tree and chattered at Sam.

The four squirrels fell to the ground at Sam's paws. Gabriel emerged from the higher branches, the shadows dappling his golden-brown pelt.

"That worked well." Sam commented, as Gabriel jumped down from the tree.

The cat stretched. "Yep. You looked like you enjoyed it."

Sam panted slightly. "It was kind of fun."

Gabriel purred as he brushed past Sam. Sam turned to follow, returning to human form. Gabriel had become human too, and placed the squirrels in a game bag he'd brought along.

"Will two squirrels feed you gigantor?" Gabriel asked, teasing slightly.

Sam shrugged. "I think I could live with two."

Gabriel grinned. "Come on Sammy."

"It's Sam." Sam corrected.

Gabriel shrugged. "Whatever, Sammy."

Sam rolled his eyes and hurried to catch up with Gabriel.

XXX

Roger whirled, growling. Lucifer braced himself, jumping out of the way as Roger leapt at him. Roger hit the ground and took a few steps forward, before turning. Sure enough, he'd dodged a blow from Lucifer.

Azekel, who went by Zeke, cheered. "Get him Roger!"

"Come on Lucifer!" Someone else called. Quite a crowd had gathered to watch Roger and Lucifer training.

Roger rammed his shoulder against Lucifer's, unbalancing him. He pinned Lucifer down, only to be thrown off.

"Hey!" A voice made the two turn, and the spectators slink away. Michael walked towards them.

"Roger's been here just over a week Luce. He's hardly recovered from everything and you have him fighting?"

Roger shifted human. "Hey! I was beating him until you showed up!"

"I would've won." Lucifer grumbled.

Michael rolled his eyes. "Roger."

"I'm fine Michael." Roger told him flatly. "It's been a week. I've recovered."

Michael glanced at Roger's shirt, which hung loosely on him.

"Alright, I'm a little thin." Roger grumbled. "I'm fine though."

Michael sighed. "Roger, you're not at your best. You shouldn't be training."

An odd look was on Roger's face. "I gave it my best to save my friends. And that wasn't enough. I wasn't enough. So I need to be my best even when I'm at my worst." He walked out of the training center. "Since you're so worried though, I'll go eat."

Michael and Lucifer shared a look.

"He's good." Lucifer commented. "Even at his condition he's good. And he's recovering."

Michael sighed. "Physically, yes, he's recovering. I'm not so sure how well he's doing mentally."

Lucifer huffed. "I can tell you. He's beating himself up over it. There were moments when he stumbled, and I could tell he wasn't focused entirely on the fight. Then he'd shake himself and try again. I think Roger's testing himself, seeing what he can do, seeing if there was something he could've changed in the Canyon."

"When'd you get so insightful Luce?" Michael teased.

Lucifer shrugged. "He was here when I got here, muttering to himself about how he should've tried harder, done this, done that." Lucifer shrugged. "I thought if I beat him in a fight, he might figure out that he couldn't have changed anything."

Michael ran his hand through his hair. "Do you think that would really work?"

"No." Lucifer answered. "He's got a bad case of survivor's guilt."