Chapter 19 -- All Hallows Eve

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER DISCRIBES THE EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION USING SEX AND DRUGS AND HOW SOMEONE CAN FEEL AFTERWARDS. THIS CAN BE COMPARED TO RAPE. IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE OR TRIGGERED BY THESE TOPICS PLEASE SKIP THIS CHAPTER. IT TAKES A LOOK INTO SAM AND RUBY'S RELATIONSHIP AND THE EFFECTS IT HAS ON SAM. THERE WILL BE A SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER AT THE END. IM SORRY TO EVERYONE WHO HAS TO SKIP THIS CHAPTER BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO THIS STORY AND THE CHARACTERS IN IT.

Prequels

Nothing is ever easy. Even if you have all the help in world. Even when you have the love of someone who will stay by your side for all eternity. Even when you have the family you begged and prayed for, thought it might be more unconventional than you expected. You imagined a little house in a quiet street, with a beautiful wife, kids, a dog and the whole American dream package.

Sam's dream of this was shattered, his life had been sadness after sadness. Leaving his family behind, leaving Dean, losing Jess, then finding and losing Dean all over again. His addiction, his shame that would haunt him for the rest of his life. The fact that he let Ruby manipulate him, ply him with blood and sex and lead him down a path he didn't want. The mere thought that she could have ruined this for him could send him into a tailspin of panic.

But thankfully Lyn came. Lyn gave them family, saved them from themselves and each other, and involuntarily gave them the people they loved more in the world. Sam's shattered dream had been fixed, but changed. The beautiful wife became the archangel sleeping beside him, caramel hair so soft and eyes that sparked with mischief and glowed with love and power. Gabriel filled the hole in his heart better than anyone could, and Sam's love for Gabriel was stronger than anything he had felt. Even the love he had, and still held in his heart for Jess. Maybe he wouldn't have kids but his family had the brother he loved and had loved for all his life, and two more brothers that he loved more and more each day. Sam couldn't thank Lyn enough for this.

But nothing is ever easy, and somethings come back to haunt you. Some things come back and try to latch on again, like a parasite. Sam had been out alone, an early morning jog that nobody wanted to go on. All the angels were surprisingly later risers, or at the very least not as early as Sam. As he ran he felt eyes on him, and as he turned the corner he spotted a familiar figure sitting on a low wall about ten feet in front of him. Ruby sat with her head turned towards him, hands fisted in her leather jacket and ankles crossed out in front of her.

Sam stopped and immediately turned to return to the hotel, but before he could go too far Ruby called out to him. Within the time before his next breath she appeared before him.

"Sam, hey, where have you been? It's been months," Ruby paused and moved into Sam's personal space, attempting to place her hands on his chest. "I thought you would have called by now."

Sam backed away from her, cursing himself for forgetting a weapon beyond the mundane switchblade in his back pocket. "Look I'm sorry but I don't really want to see you right now."

Ruby's eyebrows furrowed, "What are you talking about? You need more blood don't you?" Her eyes gained a sheen that in the past would have enticed him into bed.

Sam's breath sped up, a feeling of violation and shame spreading through him. Another feeling started to almost ooze greasily into his head. Addiction is never easy to get rid of, and with the plain offer in front of him it started to push more and more, blanking out reason. Ruby could see she almost had him again, she had been worried that her power over Sam was getting too weak. But this reaction swayed her worries, after all, she had him in her clutches, the combination of sex and addiction would easily keep him coming back to her. Ruby thought easily to herself that she should punish him though, after all, he was her plaything, the fact that he started to rebel against her was unexceptable.

Sam could feel the helplessness creep up, the feeling of utter weakness that would have him begging for the drug that helped him exorcise demons. Shaking his head like a dog trying to rid itself of water Sam held a hand out to ward her off.

"No. No I don't. I'm done with the blood. And you Ruby. We're done. Please leave." Sam stumbled back as she continued to advance on him.

"C'mon Sam, you know you want it, you know you need it, need me." She coaxed, an extra sway to her hips. Inside her patience was running thin, he wasn't falling in line, this was not alright.

Sam continued to back up, now winding his other arm around his middle and hunching down, almost in a mimicry of trying to protect himself. He continued to shake his head, protesting silently. Almost stumbling over his feet he begged inside his head "Please, please no. Gabriel please, help me. Save me."

Sequels

Gold eyes snapped open and BLAZED, Sam was calling him. Sam was in distress, someone was trying to hurt Sam and MAKE HIM DO SOMETHING HE DIDN'T WANT. Within moments of waking to Sam's prayer for help Gabriel hurtled himself into space and time, almost ripping a path as he flew to the one he loved. When he landed in front of Sam only mere seconds (too long, not fast enough his mate was in danger) after his prayer his now hawk-like eyes raked over the stain. This thing thought they had so much power over Sam and it sickened Gabriel.

The demon took a startled step back in surprise and fear at the appearance of the angel. When the overwhelming aura of the furious archangel reached the off balance demon Ruby started to shake with the instinctual response to flee like she never had before. Only one thing in this universe would trigger the response she felt now. But angels never interfered, they stayed up in heaven, away from humanity. What the hell was an angel of this caliber and power doing on Earth? Especially around Sam? He was supposed to be an abomination in their eyes.

Cold and sharp golden eyes glared deep into the demon's false face. Gabriel spread he six wings out in front of Sam in the mimicry of a wall. Visibly to Sam's eyes the soft feathers that would usually cocoon him in warmth and safety became hard and brittle, almost armoured and needle-like. Sam in a need to connect with his mate, reaching sakely for Gabriel's back Sam's hand rested between his wings, just along his spine. Just that contact relaxed Sam just enough to start the process of gaining control of himself. Gabriel on the other hand tensed up further, his mates distress echoing through their bond.

Gabriel's wings extended further and his glare sharpened, if that was even possible. His aura smothered Ruby in nothing but anger and disgust. The demon inched backwards, all of her instincts screaming at her to get as far away as possible. That this angel wouldn't hesitate a millisecond to wipe her off the face of this universe without even a second thought, or a first. This was a warrior of God, something that was born and trained to fight off enemies far, far stronger than her. This angel was the thing of nightmares for demons, this, this was an archangel who scared even the strongest of demons.

Gabriel, sensing the demon's intention to flee, froze her in place with this grace, trapping her in the stolen body she occupied. He wasn't letting her go, not until Sam was satisfied he was safe and Gabriel had any information that she had. Sam took a deep breath behind him and retracted his hand.

"You froze her I'm guessing?" Sam peaked around Gabriel's wings but avoided looking into Ruby's terrified eyes.

"Yes. Who and what is she to you?" Gabriel turned to his mate, speaking softly.

Sam looked down, full of shame, "She was the one who got me hooked, and kept me hooked on demon's blood. She told me that if I continued to take doses I'd eventually be able to exorcise demons with my mind." Sam wrapped an arm around himself and reached with the other for Gabriel's hand, seeking comfort. Gabriel took it in his. "She kept me compliant with the blood, which was basically a drug, and sex." Sam didn't meet Gabriel's eyes at that admission.

Gabriel lifted a hand to Sam's face, gently lifting his chin Gabriel patiently waited for Sam's eyes to meet his own. With the force of his entire being and love for Sam Gabriel spoke a few sentences. "Samuel Winchester, I love you. What she did to you was entirely wrong. You are not to blame for it. You are not weak, nor are you broken, tainted, or alone. You only wanted to help people. Now let us help you."

With the last word fading out and hazel and gold eyes staring deeply into each other Sam's filled with tears and spilled over. Finally for the first time since he was cleansed Sam felt lighter, and with that he held desperately onto Gabriel's hands, weeping for himself. Weeping for the freedom, love, and support he finally had.

Finale

When Gabriel and Sam returned to the hotel room, a frozen and unconscious Ruby in tow Lyn, Castiel, and Dean were waiting. As it was still mid morning waffles, whipped cream, fruit, and glasses of juice had been laid out. The three looked up as the pair entered, Ruby sent to the prison with the witches with a simple whim. They made no motion to talk, just smiled and waved them to join the group. Dean looked Sam over with an assessing eye, when he focused on their linked hands he relaxed a tiny amount.

Dean's rough voice asked, "You guys want some food? Cas and I made it," a small smile pulled his lips upward. "Been awhile since I cooked but Lyn didn't want diner food."

Lyn rolled his eyes, "Just because I didn't want diner food doesn't mean you had to cook Dean."

Dean snorted, "Suuuuuuure, and anyone else here can? Cas doesn't know what an oven is and you get distracted too easy."

Castiel and Lyn shared identical pouts, Lyn muttered under his breath, "Time is stupid, why doesn't it move this fast for humans? It's stupid." Castiel nodded, agreeing with Lyn.

Dean rolled his eyes in response. Sam smiled to himself. His family wasn't pressuring him, wasn't probing him for answers, they trusted him to tell them when he was ready. Dean in particular had come a very long way in trusting his brother.

The rest of the day was spent together, basking in each other's presence. Nearing the late afternoon, as they started to discuss dinner Sam began to open up. He spoke about how Ruby targeted him when Dean was in hell. How she would get him high off of her blood and then offer him her body. How she brainwashed him into associating her with pleasure and control and the high of power. How when he started to doubt, to feel violated, to try and leave she would just lure him back in. Using his loneliness and dependence on the blood (on her) to just get him back into her orbit.

As he talked Gabriel wrapped him in his wings from behind and Lyn held his hand. Castiel and Dean would come by and stroke his hair to squeeze his shoulder as they made dinner. Keeping themselves busy so as to not overwhelm Sam, but still keeping themselves involved. When he talked about this morning the four of them, the rest of Sam's true family didn't condemn him, or make him embarrassed about his almost relapse. They comforted him, they talked with him.

"I know that in the past I haven't been the best brother but it isn't your fault. It's hers. And don't you ever, ever forget that I love you." Dean pulled Sam into a hug. The others followed. Wrapping the brothers in a cocoon of feathers and warmth. They stayed that way until the oven beeped. Almost happy they ate together and as the evening progressed they became more and more relaxed and by the time the evening Sam's smile only disappeared when his face became lax in sleep.

CHAPTER SUMMARY:Sam is confronted by an angry Ruby on his morning run. She attempts to maniuplate him into accepting demons blood and get him back under her control. Sam rejects her and prays to Gabriel for help. Gabriel comes to Sam's rescue and freezes Ruby in her body. The two have a heart to heart about Sam's feelings about his addiction and manipulation by Ruby. Gabriel reassures him he loves Sam and doesn't blame him in any way for his addiction. They return to the hotel where they spead the day with their family. In the evening Sam opens up and is again reassured by Dean and his family that they care for him and support his despite his struggles with Ruby and addiction. The chapter ends with the family falling asleep and Sam feeling lighter than he had in awhile.