Alternate Ending

Warnings: Umm… Cliché Plot? Sam's bare chest? Oh and a bit of angst. Actually quite a bit. I'm not sorry.

Disclaimer: Supernatural isn't mine.

Sam lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, as if it held answers or comfort. His brother was out, likely morning that his angel wasn't around. Sam did feel bad; he missed Cas, and knew the angel was good for Dean.

Just right now his chest was twisting, and it honestly felt worse than Ruby's betrayal, because yes she'd betrayed him, but hadn't everyone told him she would? Who was he, Sam Winchester, to ignore everyone. He wasn't god, and now he could see he had Lucifer's pride.

He made a noise in his throat at the thought of the fallen archangel. The reason he was lying here alone.

Gabriel had died for him. He wasn't Ruby, he was the trickster, he was an archangel and he was supposed to come back to Sam.

He'd promised, after that hunt in Michigan. He'd promised he wouldn't leave him.

Sam curled up slightly, he didn't want to sleep, he didn't want to dream, without Gabriel here to protect him.

He sat up instead, without Gabriel he feels cold. His sun, the happy boundless energy that was the archangel, is gone. He curled his legs to his chest, resting his forehead against his knees.

He can only imagine what it was like for Gabriel, to be killed while staring into his brother's eyes. He'd seen the wound; it had come from the front. He'd died watching Lucifer kill him.

He wondered if that's what it would be like if he and Dean said yes. Twice over as one brother killed the other. Sam couldn't imagine overpowering Dean, and the image of his brother killing him becomes too vivid. He swallowed, raising his head. Time to turn to the internet, maybe there was an omen.

After all, Gabriel had given them a message. A porn flick. Same huffed, right up his brother's alley. He needed to find those horsemen, and take the rings.

He stood up, partly wondering why Gabriel hadn't said anything while he was alive, mentioning that would've been helpful. Especially when he could've helped them. Sam sighed as he sat down at the table, flipping his laptop open. He had a lot of questions for Gabriel, and no one to answer them.

Unfortunately he'd forgotten the porno was still in and he was greeted with the image of Gabriel practically eating that girl. He looked down, what was with that? Was he trying to tell Sam it wasn't as serious as he'd thought? Crappy way to do it. 'Hey I'm dead and guess what; on top of that, our relationship wasn't that… Sorry!'

Sam had hardly noticed the volume had decreased; he was staring at his hands, tears falling on them.

"I hope you aren't sitting there making puppy dog eyes Sam, you know what those do to me."

He looked up, greeted to the sight of his lover sprawled out on the bed, no sign of the woman.

"Dean ran away screaming right? I figured the idea of watching me get it on would disturb him." Gabriel offered a small wry grin, "and this is all about you Sam."

His eyes widened and his shoulders loosened slightly.

Gabriel rolled his eyes, "honestly! You seem to think the worst of me. Would I really cheat on you, with a projection no less, in front of you?" he paused, "hang on, let's go back to the cheat on you part. Because that wouldn't happen."

Sam managed a small grin, even though tears were still rolling down his face. How had he doubted the archangel?

"Now Sammy, since I hope you're alone because this would be the most awkward way to come out to your brother, let's get started. Namely with, I'm sorry."

Sam blinked, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"For a lot of things, even Mystery Spot, I'd apologize for that a hundred times." Gabriel looked down, "but I made a promise to you, and if you're watching this obviously it's not being kept."

Sam raised his hand, resting it against his lips. The archangel on screen continued softly, "and I'm sorry."

"Now… I need to tell you something Sam, something that I was too scared to tell you. Amazing what the idea of dying does to your courage." Gabriel sucked in a breath, "this won't be easy for either of us kiddo, so please, bear with me."

Sam nodded, not that Gabriel could see him, but right now he'd do anything Gabriel asked.

"You know about the whole cat fight Michael and Lucifer are having. You didn't know that Lucifer and I were close." Gabriel looked down, "I was his Raphael, I followed him around, and looked up to him so much."

Gabriel's eyes rose slightly, "he was… well he was a lot like you. Brave, strong, he looked up to Michael; he questioned everything, including our father, no, especially our father." Gabriel let out a rough breath, and stopped.

Sam hesitated, he could hear the love for Lucifer in Gabriel's voice, and he was also comparing himself.

"But Sam, if Lucifer is the morning star then you're the sun." Sam blinked, staring at his lover.

Gabriel shrugged, "it's true. He shone but you're blinding. Cas can't see it, but I can. You have a beautiful soul, and don't even try to argue with me on this. I will sing Jessie McCartney if you do."

Sam laughed at the threat, not a true laugh but the sound broke out of him, he hadn't been expecting that.

Gabriel grinned as well, and then his smile faded. "Sam, there's one more thing."

Sam leaned forward, Gabriel had grown soft.

"Remember all those dates I took you on, like Venice, were you sober enough to remember Venice?"

Sam smiled faintly, he did remember Venice and the other dates Gabriel had taken him on.

Gabriel sucked in a breath, "there was something I wanted to tell you all those times, something I never could. But since this is my day to be brave, I want you to know. Samuel Winchester I am hopelessly in love with you."

Sam's jaw fell open, neither of them had said that, he hadn't how could Gabriel do that to him, how?

Gabriel looked sympathetic, "I'm sorry it took me this long and all this to say it. But it's true. Now since you didn't stop the video either you feel the same way, or went into shock."

Sam shook his head, preventing himself from doing the second so he could deal with the first.

Gabriel sat up, staring at Sam, or at the camera, "if it's because you feel the same way, then listen up. Did you take my sword with you?"

Sam paused, no, he couldn't bear to remove it, so it was still in Gabriel…

"If you did, you need to bring it back, that and this video." Gabriel leaned forward, "there's a bit of my grace in those things. Enough that maybe with a bit of Winchester magic a miracle might occur. If it does, I will explain why to you." Gabriel let out a rough breath, "since I've said everything I need to say, time for my treat before I go face my brother." He snapped his fingers, and a version of Sam appeared on the bed behind him. "Didn't film this, you can fill in the details kiddo." Gabriel gave a little wink and a smirk, one that didn't reach his eyes, before the screen went dark.

Sam swallowed, staring at the screen for several moments, before bolting out of his chair, knocking it over. He scrawled a note for Dean, written in all capital letters so his brother couldn't miss it, which he left on Dean's pillow, and bolted out the door.

He was in luck as Dean had walked to the bar, so he slid into the Impala's driver seat, tossing his laptop in the passenger seat; he put the key in and pulled out of there.

- Several hours later –

Sam pulled up in front of the hotel; it had fallen into ruin rather quickly, as if it had been ten years not two days since Sam had been here.

Sam crawled inside, shoving rubble out his way; the front door was not usable. He stepped around what appeared to be pools of blood, not letting that deter him.

He picked his way through to where the dining hall had been. He solidly ignored the blood splattered walls, and stepped in.

The room was silent, through the broken roof light filtered in, shining on the body that lay on the floor, with wings burned into the ground behind him.

Sam slowly eased forward, staring at his lover's body; somehow he seemed even shorter in death. He knelt down next to Gabriel, setting the laptop to the side; to gently brush the hair out of Gabriel's closed eyes.

Carefully he gripped the blade, and pulled it out, disturbed at the lack of resistance and the blood that coated it.

When the blade had been removed, a warm sensation shot through Sam, his left hand resting on the laptop, it raced through his fingers, down his arms, surging through his chest, it seemed to stay near his heart for awhile, before flooding through Sam's veins almost seeming to light up, before it raced out his right arm, into Gabriel's sword. The blade began to glow as Sam had, and there was a blinding flash.

Sam jerked back, raising his left hand to shield his eyes, watching the light rush into Gabriel.

It was as if he'd been hit with the paddles, his chest jerking up. Sam stared as color seemed to return to his skin, and the burn marks in the floor, beneath Sam, slowly turned the same tawny color of Gabriel's eyes.

Sam watched as the feathers filled in, brushing against his leg, until the whole wing was complete. He blinked as he realized there were two on this side.

"Hey Sammy." A weak voice murmured, Sam snapped his head over, Gabriel sent him a small smile, "get the message."

"Yes, what just happened?" Sam breathed, staring into Gabriel's eyes.

"Well, if you've move off my wings I'd tell you." Gabriel had yet to make a move to get up, which disturbed Sam. He moved backwards, as he grabbed his laptop his fingers brushed the feathers.

Gabriel made a noise in his throat; Sam gave him a strange look.

The archangel attempted to sit up, obviously struggling. Sam moved closer, resting his hand against Gabriel's back.

"Gabe, are you…" his lover looked up to meet his gaze.

"I'll be fine, the grace is just settling." Gabriel flexed his wings, "which is why I can't put these away."

Sam looked them over, impressed. "That's quite a wingspan."

"Tell me about it; it can be hard to fit."

"That was so far beyond innuendo."

Gabriel chuckled, Sam felt a faint stirring in his chest at the sound, it was good to see him like this. Alive.

"I may have tricked you." Gabriel looked sheepish, "it was an accident in my defense. I just… I think part of my grace is in you."

"If that's a metaphor…"

"No Sam, my grace seems to be inside you." Gabriel shook his head, "not to be forward, but take your shirt off."

"You could've at least bought me dinner first." Sam retorted, pulling the piece of clothing off. Gabriel stared at his chest, and not in his usual lustful way. Sam glanced down and cursed.

"What did you do to my tattoo?"

"I improved it." Gabriel smirked, "now it keeps out angels."

"How?" Sam stared at the offending mark, which had been surrounded by what appeared to be Encodin.

"Any angel that reads Encodin, which is, by the way, all of them, will see that this says 'Gabriel'." he trailed his finger around the mark, making Sam shiver.

Gabriel sighed, "I've got one I think." He peered down his shirt, "yep, says Property of Samuel Winchester."

"Bullshit."

Gabriel grinned, "fine so it just says Samuel Winchester, but point is I'm yours. Marked and everything." He gave Sam a sheepish look, "I'm sorry I didn't ask, but I was kind of dead."

Sam let out a slow breath, "you know, I can live with you alive and this, then with you dead."

Gabriel chuckled, "be grateful, I could've put a handprint on you."

"Don't even think about it." Sam leaned forward, Gabriel moved to match him and the two kissed.

XXX

Me: If you read Always Know Where You Are, I'm struggling with the chapter but working on it. FYI.

PB: Otherwise, we will have more chapters for this on the way.