Chapter 21: When the doors are locked and the shades are down

So I'm going to Alabama this weekend to go see my sister graduate from basic training, so I might not put anything up for a few days. I know that it's usually a few days between my updates, so this shouldn't really affect anything, but just in case it does, I'm letting you know the reason that I'm not writing. If there's anyone still reading…Anyway, on with the show.

Sam walked back into the house and up into the room that was always his when he came to Bobby's without saying a word to anyone. He closed and locked his door quietly; not wanting to disturb anyone, then went to the windows and pulled the shades down. When Sam turned back to the room it was significantly darker, just the way that he wanted it.

Sam walked around the room and thought. There was no real pattern to the steps, but it was always the same path that he walked when he was thinking. He let his feet go to autopilot knowing that they would avoid the obstacles on the floor. Long ago he had memorized the room and was not worried about something new springing up to trip him. Sam walked and paced and thought, oblivious to the archangel that was sitting on his bed, still cloaked in invisibility.

Gabriel listened halfheartedly to the thoughts of the hunter as he watched the sensual movements that Sam unknowingly picked up from being a girl. There was newness to everything that Sam did. Whether it was walking or talking or licking his lips that were always soft and perfect for kissing or breathing, hell, even Sam sleeping was new in this form and Gabriel couldn't tear his eyes away. There was so much to look at and to memorize. Gabriel wanted to steal Sam away and to take him to his haven and just watch him. Let the hunter explore the house and in return Sam could let Gabriel explore him with his eyes (and maybe later his hands…and his mouth…)

Gabriel watched as Sam reached a conclusion to his thoughts and began to systematically take off his clothes. Interested in this new turn of events, Gabriel put all of his focus on Sam, watching the baggy material fall away from the sleek body that was rounded and soft in all the right places. The horrendous flannel left Sam's body first, tossed to the ground at the hunter's feet. The shirt that normally would have fit the mortal's frame was loose now and showed that the pants hung low on the now rounded hips.

"I know that you're there, Gabriel. You can show yourself, you know," Sam said with nonchalance that Gabriel could tell was a bit contrived.

Damn.

Gabriel clicked his fingers and he was visible, sitting on the bed sprawled out, claiming the piece of furniture for himself with his body. He looked smug, his hands clasped behind his head, sitting propped up on the headboard, legs thrown out down the bed with a smirk attached to his face. Sam wasn't surprised; he could feel Gabriel watching him. That didn't seem to deter Sam's heart from kicking into high gear at the sight of Gabriel on the bed, looking at him possessively. There was no denying that gaze and the thought made Sam's mouth go dry.

"Do me a favor," Gabriel said after a moment. "Pretend I'm not here. Go about doing what you would do if I weren't watching you."

"Why?"

"Because I want to know who you are when no one's around. I want to know what you're like when it's just you," Gabriel said. Sam just stood there, baffled. Why the hell did the archangel Gabriel care about who he was or what he was like?

"Alright. It'll be difficult if you're going to talk incessantly though," Sam said dryly.

"I promise to be quiet," Gabriel said as he rolled his eyes, smirking. There was a spark of something mischievous in his eyes, but it wasn't really freaking Sam out. Instead, there was a hint of anticipation in his stomach that was slow growing and absolutely delicious. Sam smiled shyly back and went about what he was doing before this conversation. Gabriel settled in for the show.

Sam stood in the center of the room, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes slowly and felt more relaxed. He shook his head lightly and started to check the room, making sure that the salt lines along the windows and door were still in place and that all the devil's traps were sufficiently hidden. After a thorough inspection and a slight nod to himself, Sam went to the duffel that was at the foot of the bed and began to root around in it.

Gabriel silently moved down the bed, watching Sam dig around in the bag until he came up with a book. It was paperback and the covers were so worn that he could barely make out the title. There was a rubber band that was wrapped around the covers so that they would stay together, doing the best that they could to guard the inner pages from harm. Gabriel almost got a view of the title, when he heard Bobby call for the moose.

Sam tossed the book back down into the bag and went downstairs. Gabriel cloaked himself and followed the hunter down the stairs silently. Bobby, quite gruffly, told Sam to do him a favor and research a hunt for a friend. The older man gave Sam the details of the deaths that he received and as much additional information that Bobby knows off the top of his head. Sam nods and starts to fold his bottom lip in between his fingers as he listens to Bobby, already thinking of different patterns and the creatures associated with said patterns. When Bobby finished, Sam practically ran to the bookshelves, looking for tomes that were pertinent to the search and started researching.

That was the way that the day passed for Gabriel. He watched Sam, watched the way that Sam ran an impatient hand through his hair when he thought that he was close to the answer, the way that Sam's forehead crumpled when he was thinking hard, the way that Sam folded that luscious lower lip between his fingers when he was reading. The way that he completely ignored Gabriel and became completely enveloped in the books that he had spread out in front of him.

When it was too dark to read by the meager light that was attempting to come through the windows, Sam got up and stretched his long limbs, showing off his new body, making Gabriel groan quietly. Sam jumped, remembered that it was just Gabriel, and let his body go lax again. Sam smiled at him lazily and Gabriel had to actually stop breathing. There was no way that anyone should look that tempting. Ever.

"How long have I been sitting there?" Sam asked the archangel.

"A good couple of hours," Gabriel replied, though he sounded strained. Sam frowned at him and got up from the chair and walked over to him.

"You okay, Gabe?" Sam asked his voice full of concern.

Instead of replying, Gabriel surged forward, growled quietly and pressed his mouth to Sam's. The kiss was filthy. It was all teeth and tongues and wet with saliva and absolutely perfect. Sam moaned into the angel's mouth and for a split second felt weightless, then felt his back hit a mattress and smiled through the kiss. It was so Gabriel to want sex after watching Sam all day without touching or saying anything to the hunter.

Sam indulged him. After all, Sam had to go through the same amount of torture as well. They both deserved a reward.