A/N: One reader questioned using Gabriel, that the brothers thought he was dead. This is an AU, I have brought him back for this story since it doesn't follow the show. Hope this explains using him and Meg since she died at the end of season 7. NC

Happy first day of December, can you believe it? I thought I would post another chapter early for this story to celebrate. And think only 24 days to Christmas... NC

Chapter 7

Sam came hurrying back into the cabin and sat down at the table pulling his laptop to him and began to type. He didn't speak to Meg who cocked her head and stared at him wondering what he suddenly realized. She could almost see the wheels turning in his head.

"Did you have an epiphany while you were taking a walk?" she asked.

"I hope so," Sam replied not looking up from his typing. "I think I know someone who can help us. That is if he will help us."

"And pray tell who could that be?"

"Praying is right. He's an archangel. I've had…Dealings with him in the past." Sam didn't elaborate any further about how he knew Gabriel. Those were not happy times.

"You know an archangel? I didn't think there were any of those left what with Lucifer and Michael in the Cage. Wait! You're not going to try and get Michael out of the Cage, are you?"

"That would be suicide, and no. There's one that been hiding here on Earth. The archangel, Gabriel."

"He's still alive? And you know him? You are full of surprises, Winchester. So, what are you doing?"

"I'm looking for a spell to summon an angel. I'm going to try praying again but want to have a backup plan."

"And you think he will come?"

"I hope so." Sam stopped typing and began to read the articles he pulled up.

After several hours of research, Sam thought he might have found a couple of spells to summon an angel. He got up and went out on the back deck to try praying again.

"I'm praying to you the Archangel Gabriel," Sam started as he tried to sound sincere. "I really need your help here. You owe me after what you put me through years ago, you know. I wouldn't be asking if I had any other option, but I don't. Please at least make an appearance and talk to me; hear me out." He looked around but didn't see the archangel anywhere on the deck. He closed his eyes and hung his head in defeat knowing Gabriel wasn't coming. Sam wasn't giving up yet. He had found a couple of spells to try, though if Gabriel didn't want to come, he wouldn't be compelled to.

"No luck?" Meg asked as Sam stomped back into the room grumbling under his breath before sitting down to pull up the spells and copy them down. He looked at the ingredients for the first one and tried to remember if he had everything in the trunk of the Impala to do it. "I take that as a no…"

Sam still didn't say anything to Meg as he got up to head outside to the car. He opened the back and began going through what he had back there, pulling out items he needed as he went. Sam snagged an empty bag and began to fill it before going back in and heading downstairs to see if there was anything useful to use. He looked over the shelves of mismatched jars, pulling some down to read the faded writing on them. He smiled when he found the last ingredient needed for the spell and snatched it up along with a brass bowl. He headed back upstairs trying to decide where to do the spell.

"You wanna fill me in on what you're doing?" Meg asked when he came back upstairs.

"I found a spell I'm going to try," Sam replied looking around and deciding outside would be the best place to do the spell. He headed out the backdoor onto the deck setting everything on the picnic table.

"This should be interesting, but before you do the spell, I'm making myself scarce. Not sure if Gabriel is a smite first, ask questions later, sort of angel and I don't want to be in his crosshairs."

Sam took his laptop and sat it on the deck where he could see it. After kneeling, he took a brush and can of paint and began to copy the symbol onto the deck, being careful to match it perfectly. His back and knees were starting to ache, and he had paint on his hands and shirt after an hour of being on his hands and knees and crawling around on the deck.

Meg sat at the table and watched Sam painstakingly complete the symbol and then sit back to examine it closely to be sure he got it right. She watched out of curiosity rather than really interested in what he was doing. She heard him groan and watched him stretch and rub his back before moving the laptop back to the table. She didn't comment on the paint smeared across his face, thinking he wouldn't appreciate it and would probably snap at her.

"Okay, looks like you're close to doing this spell, so I'm going to just step back inside and watch from afar. Be sure he knows I'm on your side if he shows." Meg got up and headed inside standing back but staying where she could see Sam through the open door as he continued with the spell.

Sam looked at the words of the spell again and lit a bundle of sage to purify what he could and waved it around the symbol as he waited for it to dry. He used holy water to cleanse the brass bowl before adding the ingredients needed for the spell. He sat down for a moment as his body revolted and his knees almost buckled. After letting his head clear, he took the bowl and sat it in the middle of symbol and lit the candles he had placed in each corner. He spoke the words clearly, "Rah ah gah ee oh es. Vee nu nohno kee ah seh peh tech poh ah ma iah deh zod."

Bright orange, red flames flared from the bowl for a moment before smoke rolled out around him. Neither lasted long and when it had dispersed, Sam looked around for Gabriel but didn't see him.

"Damnit!" Sam swore knowing the spell didn't work. He looked down at his dirty, paint smeared clothes and hands in frustration. All this was for nothing and now he had to clean the mess up himself since Meg couldn't touch anything. His shining light of hope was started to dim, but he wasn't giving up yet.

"Maybe he's not on Earth anymore?" Meg suggested as she stepped to the doorway to get a bitchy face from Sam. She shrugged thinking it was a good thought.

"He's here," Sam growled knowing he wouldn't be anywhere else.

"What now?"

"I have another simpler spell to try. The bad thing is if he doesn't want to come, it won't compel him to come." Sam looked at the other paper and cleared his throat before speaking in a strong, clear voice. "Zod ee reh doh noh koh ah beh rah ma geh nah zod peh sah geh". As the last word faded away, they both glanced around but didn't see anyone standing nearby.

"You sure you're friends with him?"

"I never said I was friends with him. I said I had dealings with him before."

"It must not have ended well."

"He's being a stubborn ass," Sam muttered as he rubbed a hand down his face and sighed heavily. He should have known the spells wouldn't work. Gabriel wouldn't allow something like that to happen. He was too conceited and full of himself to be lured here by a spell.

"Why don't I go fix us some dinner? You look like you could use some food."

"Fine," Sam said in a defeated voice. He dropped into a chair since his legs felt wobbly and not able to hold him up. He didn't know if he could eat anything or not and felt like everything he did turn out useless. He pulled out the hose and a broom to wash away the symbol from the deck and packed what was left of the ingredients to take back inside.

Sam wiped his arm across his forehead to wipe the sweat away that was dripping down his face. He was hot, sweaty, and his body ached from all this. Meg called to him that the food was ready. Sam put the hose away and shuffled wearily inside, his mind overloaded and jumbled. He couldn't think straight at the moment and knew he needed to get himself under control and come up with another plan.

Meg watched Sam pushing his food around on the plate, but not really eating. She could tell his mind was elsewhere and he looked depressed and on the verge of giving up.

"You should eat something," she encouraged. "Need to keep your strength up. Maybe Gabriel is just tied up or something."

"He's not tied up," Sam spat out angerly. "He's an asshole who doesn't care about anything or anyone but himself. He's a selfish, uncaring, bastard. Dean was right; he called the angels dicks when he first met them and that's what they are, self-centered dicks. You would think when one of his brothers was in trouble, like Cas is, he might show some concern and give me a little help." The more Sam talked the angrier he got until he was red faced and almost frothing at the mouth. "That little douchebag is a coward and runs away from trouble like the scared little asshole he is."

"Really dude, that hurts," Gabriel pouted as he appeared suddenly across the table from them. He unwrapped a piece of candy and popped it in his mouth chewing happily. "Sounding pretty pathic there Sammy. Begging doesn't suit you man."

"Gabriel," Sam gasped in shock as he pushed back from the table to stand. His surprised expression changed to one of hatred and anger and he balled his hands into fists.

"This is an archangel?" Meg whispered as her fight or flight instincts kicked in and she was trying to decide what to do. She kept her eyes on the archangel as her body tensed making ready to flee.

"Whoa Sammy, you're in cahoots with a demon, again?" Gabriel asked looking at Meg and then at Sam, arching his brows in a knowing look.

"Shut up!" Sam growled. "She is helping me try to get Dean and Cas out of Purgatory instead of running away and hiding like a coward from the big bad monsters. She's been here."

"Stick and stones may break my bones…No, wait, no that can't happen. Words won't hurt me, but you really called me some juicy ones. Are you still holding a grudge about the never-ending Tuesdays or was it turning you into a car or the balls buster? I mean I thought we cleared the air on all that."

"What's he talking about Sam?" Meg asked not liking being left out of the conversation.

"Drop it Meg," Sam insisted. He turned back to Gabriel and stood his full height, glaring down at him. "I thought you'd be willing to help. But if not, that's fine with me. I'm going to try someone else and the name's Sam, not Sammy."

"Sammy, Sam, who else is there to get help from that is as strong as I am?" Gabriel pulled out a chair and sat down, snapping his fingers and making an array of desserts appear in front of him. "Now that's more like it. Sit, eat; you could use a few extra pounds on that frame of yours. It's my experience women like a man who's a little beefier. You know I was around to help create Purgatory with Dad. I kind of know the ins and outs of the place."

"No," Sam disagreed in a firm voice. "Why should I?"

"Sam, he's here now, why not hear him out?" Meg offered. She could feel the power coming off the archangel and didn't want to lose his help or get herself killed just because she was there.

"She's right you know. You can't have a better source on Purgatory. I even had a hand in creating Hell, thought Luci did take over and make it his own. I don't have many brothers and sisters that want me around, but Cassie was my favorite fledging back in the day. Oh, the trouble I would get him in," Gabriel laughed snapping his fingers to made milk shakes appear around the table. "Enjoy." He picked his up and began to drink it.

Sam pinched his lips together into a tight line as he glared daggers at Gabriel. He wanted to tell him to go screw himself, but he knew the angel was their best shot at getting in and out of Purgatory. There wasn't anyone else.

"Come on Sam, I'm your best shot at helping your brother and Cassie. I always did have a soft spot for the fledgling," Gabriel sighed as he spooned a glob of marshmallow cream into his mouth. "You should really eat something. Gotta keep your strength up if you're going to Purgatory."

"You…You can do that? Get us in there without breaking down the barriers between the two worlds and letting the monsters come back?"

"Duh…Archangel…" Gabriel boasted sticking his chest out with pride.

"I'm serious Gabriel. We can't let those monsters in Purgatory get back here."

"That all depends on you. Do you have any ideas how to even find them once you get there?"

"I'll pray to Cas and hope he can hear me. I'm sure they are together watching each other's backs. But can you get us out when I find them?"

"If you're in the right place at the right time, of course."

"That doesn't sound too promising. Can I trust you to be around to help when you're needed?"

"Would I leave you hanging? Okay, okay," Gabriel fussed when Sam gave him his best bitch face. "Maybe I've changed my ways. I've been watching you guys and it always seems you come out on top. I mean, wow! You took out the head Leviathan and saved the world, again. Besides, I know all the little secrets Dad kept hidden about Purgatory."

"What do you need? Is it a spell or do you know a secret way in?"

"That's for me to know. I suggest you eat up, get some rest and get prepared. We'll do it tomorrow to give you a fighting chance."

"So, I take it you won't come with me?"

"Hell no! My grace would draw every monster there to me and I'm not about to have this handsome, manly body disfigured. It looks like you're on your own."

"Hello," Meg butted in. "He won't be alone. I'm going with him."

"Sammy, Sammy, putting your trust in a demon again. Didn't you learn your lesson with Ruby?"

"That slut, she got what she deserved," Meg grumbled as her eyes flashed black for a moment.

"Touchy, aren't we? We've not been formally introduced. I'm Gabriel and you are…"

"Meg."

"Well Meg, it's nice to make your acquaintance. Do you want to play a game? I know all sorts of them, or would you like to be a movie star?"

"Gabriel," Sam cautioned in a stern voice. "No screwing with the demon. I need her help."

"Fine, take all the fun out of things," Gabriel sighed getting up. "I will see you tomorrow." With that, he snapped his fingers and disappeared, leaving them alone in the room.

"You do have some unusual friends," Meg commented dryly.

"He's not a friend," Sam grunted. "More like an ally; that is, when he wants to be."

"Can he be trusted?"

"As much as anyone, I guess. I'm hoping his feelings for Cas will keep him on track. Guess we should do what he said, pack our bags and get some rest."

"You need to eat too."

"Fine," Sam said. He shoveled the food in barely chewing until he was done. "Happy? I'm going to check the trunk and see what weapons we can take."

"Okay." Meg watched Sam get up and head outside wondering if he was ready for this. She was putting a lot of trust in Sam, and hoped she wasn't making a mistake.

A/N: Gabriel finally shows and agrees to help, but Sam's on his own except for Meg. What they are planning on doing will be dangerous and possibly deadly. Special thanks to Kathy and Elliesamdeangirl, two guests, who have left reviews. I am humbled by your kind words. Thank you. I do like reviews/comments. NC