Chapter 4:
Warning: Language and very slight homophobia
"So. Everyone liking their gift?" John spoke up as everyone had grabbed a couple slices of pizza.
"Yes sir." Dean answered first.
Of course.
John glanced at Sam, "Are they behaving?"
"Yes." Sam forced out before taking a bite.
"That's good." John a said.
"So, Sam. I know Prom's coming around. You asked someone yet?" Mary spoke up, easily changing subject.
"Uh, yeah. Actually. I asked Jess…" Sam was once again cut off when John laughed lightly.
"Boy that girl barely thinks you exist." John said.
Well. There went that plan.
"You gotta get yourself some friends." John said.
"I-I do." Sam managed, "Charlie. Yeah, she moved, but not too far-"
"Oh, that pixie? You can do better." John shook his head.
"John, that's enough." Mary spoke up.
"I think I'm gonna go get more beer. Dean, wanna come with me?" John changed subject as if he'd said nothing.
"Yes sir." Dean said, giving Sam a short look of sympathy before following their dad out of the house.
Almost as soon as the car pulled out, Sam stood, excusing himself.
"Sam…" Mary spoke up, as if to that one word said everything, making him pause.
"I'm fine. Just got homework to do." Sam managed, clearing his throat.
He tensed when she put her hand on his shoulder, "I just want you to know, this whole Angel thing, I had no idea we were going there. I know how you feel about those things."
"That's the thing. They're not things." Sam turned on her.
"I know." Mary lifted her hands defensively.
Sam knew she was on his side, but at the moment…
"I really have a lot of homework to do." Sam said before somehow managing not to bolt out the room.
Mary didn't say anything this time to stop him. Even if she wanted to.
He paused before he reached his room, glancing at the shut door at the other side of the hall that consisted his brothers room.
He wondered what Dean thought of Angels, how that Angel was being treated.
Sam shook his head, before finally entering his own room, all but slamming the door behind him, before finally letting out that shaky breath he'd been holding for so long.
"Geez. Don't gotta slam doors. Some of us are trying to sleep." A voice suddenly reminded Sam he wasn't by himself anymore.
He turned around, only to see the Angel had made himself comfortable on his bed.
Face hardening, he moved to the bed, "Get. Off."
Gabriel rolled his eyes but sat up.
Sam sighed, turning away from him again.
"What's up with you, moody?" Gabriel asked behind him, "Not that I care."
"Nothing. Just shut up." Sam said, his voice finally cracking.
It went quiet for a long time between them.
So quiet.
"You're… crying!" Gabriel called him out, not even sounding the least bit sympathetic about it, "Wow. What was it? Daddy not love you?"
"I said shut up!" Sam shouted out, refusing to face him, but refusing to let anymore of the sadness be caught either.
It was quiet again.
Sam could hear ruffling behind him, the sound of his bed squeaking, a sign that Gabriel had finally gotten off of it.
He heard the Angel inhale deeply, before speaking again in a calmer tone.
"I- Look-"
"Just leave me alone!" Sam finally snapped, grabbing one of his books on the bedside, before tossing it to the form behind him.
He knew he'd regret it, but…
Sam wasn't even looking when he tossed the object, so he wasn't sure if he even hit him.
However, when a yell of pure agony sounded behind him, Sam finally turned to face the Angel worriedly.
He already knew this Angel wasn't one to complain lightly to pain, so he had to have hit something.
Sam's eyes widened and his mouth fell open when he saw Gabriel trying his best to nurse one of his now limp golden wings on his right shoulder.
Had he…?
"Oh my gosh… I…" Sam stammered, anger immediately gone.
Gabriel was on the verge of crying out as he tried to grab for his wing, whimpering every time he tried.
"Gabriel… I… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I wasn't trying to… I-I wasn't- let me help you." Sam tried to move forward.
"N-no you STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!" Gabriel all but jumped away from him.
Sam froze, putting his hands up defensively, trying to show he meant no harm, but it did nothing.
Gabriel continued to back away from him, stumbling a couple times, glaring at him warily the entire time, until his form managed to all but disappear in the darkness of a corner of the wall of his room, and Sam heard a thud, indicating the Angel sitting down.
"Just stay away from me."
It was said so quietly Sam barely heard him, but he heeded his words, despite how much he wanted to help.
Sam stood in place for the longest time.
If he really wanted to, he could go against the Angel's wishes and go right over there and try to help anyway, but… what could he even do? He didn't know the first thing about wings, other than the fact that they were used for flying.
But, these days, he knew they weren't even used for that anymore.
Sam sighed, fisting his hands into his hair, just about ready to scream into the void.
Was everything going wrong today?
He glanced over at the Angel ownership packet that remained on his table.
He told himself he didn't want anything to do with it, but… if he really wanted to know more about Gabriel, to help him…
Sam sighed, grabbing the large packet before getting himself settled on the bed.
Homework could wait a little longer.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Come in." Dean said in a distracted tone, pages deep in the Angel ownership packet.
The thing was more interesting than he thought.
Of course, he didn't like some of its contents in there, but for the most part it gave interesting information.
"Hey." Mary's voice sounded.
Dean finally looked up. "Hey."
Mary walked in, looking around, first at him, then at the Angel that remained at the corner of the room.
"Trust me. I haven't really gotten him to move from that spot. I've tried talking to him. Just kinda letting him settle." Dean spoke up, already seeing Mary's look of sympathy.
Mary glanced back at him, smiling lightly, understanding, "Well. We may not have beds for them, but, I did manage to find some extra blankets. I just gave Gabriel his. Castiel, would you-"
The moment Mary began to approach him, Castiel scooted back more against the wall.
Mary sighed, "Okay. I'm going to just lay them right here. They're just for you. Okay?" She quickly laid the blankets down as close to him as she could get before quickly backing away before Castiel could panic too much again.
"Alright. Well. It's almost midnight. Lights out soon?" Mary looked at Dean then.
"Yeah." Dean said.
"Ok. Goodnight you two." Mary said before leaving the room.
"Night mom." Dean said.
Once they were alone, it was quiet again.
Dean glanced over at Castiel.
He only stared back, still wary.
Dean sighed, setting down the paper before reaching over to turn off the light, "Well. Goodnight Cas."