A/N: I was originally going to split this story in two and make this the last chapter of part 1, but I've decided to just post the whole thing together, which will probably bring it to about 35 chapters. Sorry if that's too long for you.
I think I should put a [TRIGGER WARNING] in this chapter just to be safe. It does contain a scene that may bring up issues of domestic violence. It's just a small scene and it's not meant to be seen that way, but I'm aware that some people could be sensitive to even the smallest hint. If that is the case, I apologise.
Chapter 7:
Gabriel wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep, he basically passed out the moment Harvey had dumped him on the couch. It was the meds, he knew that. It took him a few minutes to gather the energy to open his eyes, groaning at the way his chest felt like there was a sixty ton weight on it. But what did he expect from bruised ribs? Humans were so fragile, and now he was one of them. He had to add inconsiderable pain to his long list of why being human sucked.
Taking a deep breath, well as deep as he could with his chest feeling like his brother hadn't just stabbed him, but ripped it apart. Seriously, having a sword thrust through your chest hadn't felt this bad. - He opened his eyes and stared at the furry nose pressed up under his chin. Well that explained the lack of oxygen. Staring at the peaceful dog, Gabriel's senses slowly came back online, and his nose wrinkled at the mutt's smell, before it was overpowered by the odour of cooking food and the distant hum of voices coming from the kitchen.
His heart tightened as one of the voices rung through his mind. He had to admit he'd missed the son of a bitch, the house having felt empty since he'd split. That was probably why he'd gone out with Rita, he'd needed a distraction from the lead weight he'd been carrying in his gut since Sam had taken off.
Once upon a time, getting the brush off wouldn't have bothered him in the slightest, but then he was usually the one doing the rejecting, and frankly his past….relationships, if they can be called that at all, came down to maybe a couple of names. He was no Don Juan. If he was brutally honest with himself, he was probably more like the high school geek who cared more about his comic book collection than getting into some girl or guy's pants. When he had wanted to blow off a little steam, he'd either pay a visit to Kali or he'd summon up an illusion. So maybe kissing Sam had hit a long forgotten raw nerve.
Because despite what he'd led Sam to believe about his time in purgatory, he'd spent most of the time cowering alone in a cave just waiting to be found and killed. Then he'd found himself back on this mortal coil, powerless. So it probably wasn't all that surprising he'd been craving physical contract. And Sam? Well he was convenient, that was all. But a brush off was a brush off, no matter who it was from and it stung.
Glancing down at the long face Gabriel smiled and brushed his fingers through the thick fur idly, humming softly when the creature whined. How the hell he'd even managed to get on top of him, Gabriel couldn't guess, considering the bandages but he was a dead weight on his already too bruised ribs. He'd did like dogs, loved them invade, more than people at times. He's conjured one up many times over the years, when he got too lonely. "Hey Buddy." he whispered. "Sorry." then turned his head towards the kitchen. "Someone want to come get this giant ball of fur off me!" he yelled. "No offence." he quickly added when the dog lifted his eyes sadly to stare at him.
The sound of running feet had him looking to see Claire dashing towards the couch. "Riot." she scolded. "Down Riot." She ordered softly but the creature didn't move.
He whine painfully instead and seemed to struggle closer to Gabriel, who looked at him with an overwhelming amount of empathy. "With you there brother." he murmured; winching as the dog moved, but not enough. "I think he's stuck."
Gabriel sucked in a breath as a set of large strong hand slide between his stomach and the dog, grazing the flesh where his shirt had ridden up. He bit his lip hard so as not to moan and turned his head away from Sam as the man straightened. When the weight finally vanished, quickly so did Sam, carrying the dog across the room and settling the thing on the armchair. Gabriel pushed himself into a sitting position and glanced over at the mutt. "So who's our new friend?"
"His names Riot." Claire replied quickly. "Sam brought him home."
"Picking up more strays, Sammy." Gabriel grumbled coldly, sending the Winchester a hard look that the man refused to meet.
"Sam hit him, what's why he's all bandaged and weak." Claire added as she stood awkwardly beside the couch.
"Did he now?" Gabriel huffed. "Well he was strong enough to almost crush Me." he rubbed at his sore ribs. "Claire where's my meds."
"You're not due for another hour." she replied; shaking her head at him; her arms folded over her chest stubbornly.
"Yeah, well I'm in pain now, so…"
Claire looked at him reproachfully before marching into the kitchen. It took Gabriel a good twenty seconds to realise she wasn't coming back. Huffing with frustration and pain he slouched back on the couch and glared furiously over at Sam.
"So you came back?" Gabriel grumbled.
"Of course I did. What did you expect?" Sam replied; still refusing to meet Gabriel gaze.
"Honestly? For you to run for the hill and never look back. That's what you do isn't it? - Aren't you scared I'm going to try and jump your bones?"
"No." Sam replied tightly; his fingers idly combing through Riot's fur.
Gabriel watched him closely, his eyes instantly locking on the dark bruise peeking out of his collar. He wasn't sure which emotion was stronger, anger or jealousy. "You fucking hypocrite!" he snapped furiously; leaping to his feet.
"Language." Sam scolding harshly, his eyes flickering to the kitchen door.
"Claire!" Gabriel called. It took a few minutes for the girl to peek around the doorway, a nervous look on her face.
"Y-yeah?"
"Take a walk in the yard cause we're about to have a rather loud argument and Sam is concerned about you hearing my foul language."
Claire looked uncertainly between them before inhaling slowly, resigned to the inevitable, and turned. She rushed out of the back door, letting it bang closed behind her.
"What you say that for?"
"I've never lied to her, not going to start now." Gabriel spat.
"Then she's the only one." Sam scoffed.
"Fuck you Winchester. Fuck you to hell, you should have fucking stayed there. You lying, hypocritical bastard!" Gabriel yelled; waving a finger at Sam.
"What the fuck is…?"
"You have the nerve to call me bitching because I went on a date while you were off getting your dick wet!"
Sam instantly paled and Gabriel felt a rush of power he hadn't felt in too long.
"How'd you…?"
"Try checking a mirror before you come home from your sleazy weekends!" Gabriel spat furiously.
Sam's hand went to his neck as if suddenly remembering. "It's not…." he trailed off to take a couple of breaths. "Look, so I got laid, what's it to you?" he suddenly snapped, angry at being challenged.
"I don't give a shit where you stick your dick asshole. I care that its one rule for you and another for me!"
"Well maybe if you hadn't told the whole god-damn town we were a couple I wouldn't give a shit where you stuck your dick either!"
Gabriel glared at him, taking an unsteady step forward, his hand instantly going to grab his ribs as they protested at the movement. "Don't start putting that shit on me again Winchester. I had to tell them something!"
"You didn't have to tell them that! And you know it. - In fact I'm pretty damn sure it was some part of your twisted plan."
"What twisted plan?"
"To seduce me or whatever the hell you've been trying to do since you go back!"
"Oh right, I forgot. You don't give a shit where I put my dick as long as it's nowhere near you!" - Expect you do, don't you? Because you clearly don't want me putting it near anyone else, either!"
Sam glared, his jaw tightening painfully.
"That's it, isn't it? You don't want me but you don't want anyone else to want me either!" Gabriel yelled; stepping into Sam's personal space. "Except maybe you do what me, because I remember you kissing me back, Sammy." he murmured in a low seductive tone. "I felt your dick rubbing into my ass. You can lie to yourself Sammy, but you can't lie to me….or your dick."
_*_Sabriel_*_
Sam's fingers curled tight into a fist at his side, the fury burning up inside him. He was swinging before he even realized it, his knuckles connecting with the ex-archangel's nose. Gabriel staggered backwards, his hand flying up to cup the sudden downpour of dark blood. Sam stood glued to the spot, shock flooding through him. Before he could say anything there was a horrified gasp and the sound of rushing feet, there was a blur of movement out of the corner of his eye, then Claire was on the couch, fear and panic painted all over her face, her hand trembling as it reached for Gabriel's shoulder.
"G-Gabe?" she whispered shakily.
"Gabe…I…" Sam stepped forward; only to be halted by two sets of furious eyes, he wasn't sure which set cut deeper. "I'm…"
Gabriel shot to his feet. "I don't care. I don't want to hear your bullshit apology." he snapped through the blood slowly staining his lips. He staggered to the stairs and Sam watched with a heavy heart as Claire ran to his aid, slipping an arm around the man's waist, ignoring the ex-angel's protests. Sam watched them numbly as the pair vanished.
When they were out of sight, he headed for the front door. Outside he stared at the Impala, instinct yelling at him to just climb behind the wheel and never look back. Get away from Gabriel and whatever the hell was happening. He stared down at his hands, surprised to see them shaking violently. He'd come to terms a long time ago with the anger, knowing it would always be there. It was as much a part of him as the demon blood tainting his veins.
Inhaling deeply Sam dropped onto the porch steps, his head falling into his hands. He had no idea when his life had grown so complicated and unrecognisable.
He had no idea how long he sat there questioning his life and his feelings. It was long enough for Gabriel to have cleaned the blood from his mouth and thrown what few items of clothing he had into a bag. Sam discovered this when the slamming of the screen door had his head coming up with a start. He shot to his feet as Gabriel marched across the porch and down the steps in a rushed rhythm of heavy booted feet, a duffle clutched in the ex-angel's hand. Sam felt his heart leap into his throat at the sight, racing after the other man when the shock finally faded. "Where the hell are you going?" he demanded desperately.
"What does it look like, I'm leaving. I'm not your fucking punching bag fucker!" Gabriel spat viciously over his shoulder.
Sam flinched at the harsh hateful words. He'd never taken out his anger on someone before. - Well, except for that fight with Dean, but he'd been jacked up on demon blood and not thinking straight. - He had no excuse this time and he didn't think Gabriel wanted to hear it if he had. It was just….the man had hit a nerve. A raw nerve Sam hadn't even realized was exposed until that second. He hadn't even acknowledged it to himself. He was attracted to the ex-angel. Physically. "So you're just going to run away? Because we had a fight?"
Gabriel spun to glare furiously at Sam, his eyes begin to blacken and Sam swallowed. "A fight?" the shorter man spat. "Does this look like a fight?" he pointed to his face. "A fight goes both ways."
"Look I'm sorry okay." Sam said in a rush. "I….I shouldn't have punched you. - I just…"
"I don't give a shit! I'm not a fucking spouse for you to take your shit on." He turned to walk away.
Sam rushed forward again, snagging Gabriel's arm, halting him in place. Gabriel twisted his head and glared up at the hunter; eyes filled with murder. "Get your fucking hand off me." he warned in a low dangerous tone.
"What about Claire?"
Gabriel turned slightly; his eyes flickering to the house. "Believe me, I'd take her with me, but I can't protect her. - And I don't think you'll hurt her." he said with surprising confidence. "So she stays with you." continuing on his way.
"What about you?" Sam said in a rush. "Who'll protect you?"
Gabriel's body slumped, his head falling forward; inhaling and exhaling quickly. "I can't stay here. Not…I have to leave. It's my only option." Gabriel said quietly, the fight seemingly seeping out of him to leave him tired and empty.
"Why? - I swear I won't raise a finger…"
Gabriel tilted his head slightly. "That's the point." He sighed again, dropping his gaze to the dirt on his boots. "For some insane fucking alternate reality reason I can't fathom, I want you…"
Sam inhaled sharply, his back straightening at the confession.
"All I've thought about the whole week you've been gone was the way you touched me. The way it made me feel. Really feel." Gabriel confessed in a gentle voice filled with surrender and weariness. "At least until you flipped your shit and I remembered that you'd rather be touched by a demon that…" he shook his head. "It's not good for a guy's ego or mental health and I'm not going to stay here hoping that you'll change while you head out of town to get laid before coming home and kicking the hell out of me." he turned to fully meet the man's gaze. "I can't do that. And I won't. - So I'm leaving."
Sam stared at him speechless, wincing at the numbness in the angel's voice, a sound he'd never thought to hear. Ever. Sucking in a breath he raised his chin. "You could get yourself killed out there alone."
Gabriel closed his eyes, breathing, silent. - Then he turned and started walking. "What do you care?" he called over his shoulder.
The problem was, as much as he didn't want to, he cared. He felt something for the ex-angel. As much as he'd like to say it was just some bizarre physical attraction he knew it wasn't. "You can't just leave!" he called pathetically. "Claire needs you!"
"She has you." Gabriel called back, not faltering a single step.
"But I'm not always here. You wanted me to keep hunting, I can't do that and take care of Claire alone."
"Your dad did it. You'll be fine."
Sam growled at the stubborn retreating back, growing angry and frustrated. Furiously he found himself marching forward, catching up with Gabriel quickly. "I'm not having your death on my conscience and I'm not going to face Cas' wrath when he gets back and discovered I let his brother get himself killed." He snarled; snatching the bag from Gabriel's hand and turning back to the house.
"Hey, give me that!" Gabriel yelled, rushing after him. "Asshole you can't make me stay, and Cas won't give a damn, it's not like we were close! I said give me that back!"
Sam ignored him till Gabriel's finger closed around the bag, trying to yank it free of his grasp. "You're staying. Claire needs you. I….It's for everyone's sake."
"So I'm just meant to raise the kid and wait for you to flip your shit and beat me unconscious next time? I don't fucking think so!"
"I won't." Sam growled.
"I don't believe you. You're too fucking messed up there Winchester." he poked violently at Sam's head.
Sam stilled, his eyes burning into the man, his mind spiralling and his heart hammering against his ribs. "I…" he inhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them he sighed. "Fine. You stay, I'll leave."
Gabriel narrowed his eyes at the hunter. "What?"
"This is the safest place for you and Claire, so you stay, I'll leave."
"When?" Gabriel demanded cautiously.
"I'd prefer to wait until tomorrow. Get at least one night's sleep before hitting the road to nowhere. - But if you want me to go now, I will."
Gabriel stood still and silent, weighing up the options. "One night. Tomorrow you go."
Sam nodded; an unexpected wave of loss and misery flooding though him. "Tomorrow."
Gabriel yanked his bag free of Sam's hand finally, a sharp nod. "Deal." he snapped, turning and marching angrily back into the house.
Sam stood on the porch watching the man vanish, a heavy weight settling on his shoulders. He didn't want to leave. As insane as it was, knowing he had a home to return to made hunting that much easier to deal with. But he didn't have a choice, he couldn't let Gabriel just wander off, and he refused to drag Claire on hunts like his dad had done to him.
_What Doesn't Kill You_
Sam tried to sleep, he knew he had to if he was going to be hitting the road in a few hours, but the events of the day were whirling around his head. He flexed his fingers against the covers. He still couldn't believe he's punched Gabriel. It wasn't like they hadn't fought before, but the last time he's hit out at the angel, the angel had hit back. This time…it had been different, it had felt different, they both knew it and that's what had led to Gabriel packing his things and threatening to leave.
But Gabriel wasn't leaving when dawn came, he was. Sam swallowed hard and glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. 3am. The sun would be up soon and he'd be claiming behind the wheel of the Impala and driving away from the home he'd reluctantly found.
That wasn't the only thing pressing down on Sam in the dark. He'd foolishly expected…no, hoped Gabriel would sneak into his room, like he'd done before, but the door remained stubbornly closed. Sam glanced over at it again, hoping again that it would open and reveal an angel.
He had no idea what had gotten into him, and no matter how he tried to figure it out the answer remained elusive. All he knew was that at some point between Gabriel reappearing in the lab and that afternoon, he'd come to actually care for him. - Which in itself wouldn't bother him so much. He was alone for the first time in his life. What made it all so much worse, and confusing, was that he wasn't caring for Gabriel as a friend or a brother, he was finding himself being physically drawn to him. Found himself thinking of him on long drives, dreaming about him in dirty ratty motel rooms in the middle of nowhere. Closing his eyes and picturing the man while buried in an intelligent beautiful woman. It was insane. - But then so was he, Gabriel was right about that. He was a mess.
He'd been through so much shit over the past couple of years. Lucifer had done things to his mind that…he still didn't know the full extent of. Maybe this was just another of the side effects, being attracted to men as well as women.
Sam stared up at the darkened ceiling, thinking that theory over and knowing it was bullshit. He wasn't attracted to men. He hadn't so much as looked at another man since returning from hell, or while he'd been away on hunts the last few months. He shook his head. No, it wasn't a sudden bout of bisexuality, it was Gabriel. Only Gabriel. – And only God knew why.
Grunting in frustration Sam threw back the covers, sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning forward to cradle his head in hands, his heart racing and his gut tight and uncomfortable. He didn't want to leave. Not now, but he didn't see any other option. - Gabriel had given him no other option.
He rubbed at his temples and breathed slowly. He hadn't made a conscious decision to get to his feet and leave the room. He hadn't planned to walk the few steps to Gabriel's bedroom door, and wasn't even truly aware he was doing so until his fingers were wrapping around the handle, twisting it and stepping into the dark room.
He stood in the doorway just staring at the smaller bed. The smaller man. He quietly closed the door behind him before walking on cautious, nervous feet towards the bed. Gabriel was lying face down, his head turned away from the door. Sam watched him sleep until he felt creepy, then he gently tugged at the covers and climbed in beside the man, facing to the ceiling, waiting for the man to react.
For a moment Sam thought Gabriel wasn't even aware of his presence but then the bed shifted as the ex-angel stiffened. He held his breath, waiting for Gabriel to turn and face him, to demand he get out, but Gabriel said nothing. The only movements he made was to turn his body fully to face the wall, extending the space between them. Sam exhaled sadly and settled against the pillow, his eyes closed forcibly, listening to the calming sound of Gabriel's breathing, allowing it to lead him towards sleep, knowing he'd never hear it again.
_What Doesn't Kill You_
Gabriel woke to the feel of a heavy arm draped over his waist, a blazing hot body curled up behind him. Too close. Too large to be anyone but Sam. He felt his heart skip and for a moment he allowed himself to believe the lie the scene painted. Allowed himself to hope that Sam had finally accepted whatever it was between them.
But when he rubbed his face into the pillow, pain rumbled through his face, reminding him of why it was a lie. That Sam was never going to give him what he wanted. He grunted angrily and shoved Sam's arm off his waist, twisting around and sitting up. He glared down at the sleeping hunter, hating his treacherous heart for skipping and his instincts for wanting to lean forward and kiss him.
As he stared, the younger man's eyes fluttered open and Gabriel held his breath, waiting for him to lose it once again. Except Sam just rolled onto his back with a satisfied rested moan, stretching out his overgrown body. The bed was too small for his impressive mutant frame but that didn't seem to bother him. Gabriel clenched his jaw, angry at the relaxed peaceful sound coming from the hunter. He had no right to be relaxed and peaceful, not after everything that had happened the previous afternoon. Gabriel rubbed at his nose, wishing he at least had enough juice to heal.
"Morning." Sam murmured softly.
Gabriel grunted and looked around. He needed to get out of the bed, needed to get away from Sam, but there was no escape. His bed was pressed up against the wall in the small room and the frame raised at the head and foot, cutting off any exit there too. The only way out of the room, away from the situation, was over the giant body he was desperately trying not to look at as it continued to stretch. "Move." he ordered.
Sam turned to look at him with a raised brow. "What?"
"It's morning. You're leaving. So…leave."
Sam pressed his lips into a thin line, his eyes meeting Gabriel. The sunlight from the window behind the ex-angel making them an almost impossible shade of green. "I…"
Gabriel huffed and growled, glared and closed his eyes as he inhaled sharply, struggling to breath. The pressure became too much, against his better judgement he surged forward, throwing one leg over Sam's, bracing himself on his hands as he toppled forward to stare down at Sam's suddenly dark eyes.
"Gabriel." Sam whispered heavily; his hand raising to halt the ex-angel, pressing like a brand at his flank.
"Don't." Gabriel growled in warning; his heart hammering painfully in his chest, his breath coming in short sharp burst, lust clawed at his senses.
Sam's hand didn't move. His eyes didn't cool. Instead he raised his other hand to curve around Gabriel's neck, stopping his retreat as the hunter lifted himself to capture the ex-angel's lips.
Gabriel whimpered pathetically, telling himself to pull away, put distance between them. Telling himself he was going to regret this. But he just couldn't bring himself to do what he knew he should. Instead he opened his mouth when Sam's tongue probed for entrance, his whole body slowly lowering to stretch out over the hunter's. - Hating himself every second.
Sam moaned and it rumbled through Gabriel, setting off a chain reaction of desire. He rolled his hips as his fingers bit into the solid muscle of Sam's shoulders. Another moan and he was being rolled onto his back, Sam over him. His tongue moving desperately against Gabriel's, stealing his breath and self-respect. He felt Sam tugging the covers furiously out of the way, removing the only barrier between them. Allowing their bodies to touch from chest to knee. Gabriel inhaled sharply at the feel of Sam's morning wood pressing against his own, the younger man rocking forward, creating a blindly wonderful feeling of fiction.
Despite himself, Gabriel gave over to instinct and lust. Dropping his hands to the hem of Sam's grey t-shirt, he slipped beneath it in search of solid hot flesh. He moved his palms over the skin and muscles as far as he could reach before dragging his blunt nails down. Sam gasped and groaned into his mouth.
Sam pulled away and Gabriel felt his stomach drop. This was it. This was where Sam flipped his shit, hit out and ran away.
Except it wasn't. Sam knelt over him only long enough to strip off his shirt and reach for Gabriel's till they were both breathless and shirtless. Then he was back, his tongue filthily filling Gabriel's mouth, drawing out yet more moans and whimpers of pleasure. The pain in his face forgotten.
They kissed like that for a while then Sam drew away to suck at Gabriel's throat. The ex-angel curled his fingers into Sam's hair, his leg lifting to wrap over Sam's hip, rocking forward roughly and panting at the sparks that shot through him.
A voice in the back of his head kept screaming for him to stop this. That it wasn't going to last. That as soon as Sam got his rocks off he'd split without as much as goodbye. - But the feeling was just too strong to fight.
When he felt long strong fingers slip beneath the waistband of his sweats and boxers to wrap around his dick, Gabriel gasped, his head rolling back on the pillow. Sam's mouth still pressed to column of his throat.
"S…Sam." Gabriel breathed.
A rumble went through Gabriel throat at Sam's reply and he tugged violently at Sam's hair with his left hand. His other hand sneaking between them, fighting with Sam's waistband. He finally won, his hand hurrying to join the party. The feel of Sam's heavy erection against his palm was sensual in a way Gabriel didn't remember ever feeling before. He'd touch men's dick before, but it had never felt like this. He knew it had to be due to his lack of grace, he was more connected to his body now and it felt unbelievable. Sam's breath ghosted over the shell of his ear as he panted, his rhythm never faltering.
Gabriel had had an orgasm before. Tons. He had been having sex for centuries, but he'd never had one like the one that suddenly slammed into him. For a moment he'd thought he'd regained his grace; the white lights behind his eyelids deceiving in their intensity. When his body rocked, trembled and arched into Sam's touch, he half expected to explode and blind the hunter above him. He let out a breathless cry before it subsided and he collapsed on the mattress.
He was faintly aware of Sam rutting against his thigh. He didn't know how long Sam was doing it, but Gabriel returned to his senses just in time to see his face pinch tight in ecstasy, Sam's body trembling above him. A warm dampness coating Gabriel's thigh, making the ex-angel's heart pulse out of time. Then Sam was collapsing too, right on top of him.
After a few minutes of being crushed beneath the hunter, Sam rolled off of him onto his back at Gabriel's side. His face flushed, his chest raising and falling rapidly, and sporting a satisfied. Gabriel lay staring up at the ceiling, fighting to recapture his own breath while battling with the sudden nausea. His hands trembled. He held his breath, waiting for Sam to leap out of the bed and yell at him, but once again Sam surprised him by doing nothing. He just laid there, silent with his eyes closed.
Gabriel turned to look at him, confused and uncertain. Suddenly he leapt over Sam, his heart thundering hard against his ribs.
"Gabriel?" Sam frowned behind him. "What's…?"
"I won't be long in the shower, I'm sure you'll want to get on the road as soon as possible. I wouldn't want to hold you up."
Gabriel yanked fresh clothes out of his dresser, furious at himself and Sam. - But mostly himself.
"Gabriel…"
"Don't." the ex-angel snapped. "I…" he shook his head. "You're leaving." with that he marched out of the room, rushing down the corridor to the bathroom. Inside he locked the door and dropped down on the edge of the bath, his eyes burning and his body trembling.
_What Doesn't Kill You_
Sam stared at the door, shocked. Gabriel's parting words like a punch to his gut. It hadn't been a question. He wasn't asking it Sam was leaving, he was telling him he was leaving. It was an order. After what had just happened between them. Sam didn't get it. Wasn't this what Gabriel had wanted? He was giving him what he wanted and he still expected him to leave?
Getting to his feet, Sam cringed at the discomfort in his underwear but he ignored it, following Gabriel down the hall. He twisted the handle and found the door locked. Knocking harshly he called thought the wood. "Gabriel. Let me in." the man said nothing and Sam pressed his ear to the door, listening to his movement inside. "We need to talk. I'm not…"
"I'll be finished in a minute." Gabriel called back shakily. "Use the time to get your things together. I'd hate for you to forget something."
"I'm not leaving." Sam stated firmly.
The house fell silent. Sam stared at the white door. This was not a conversation he wanted to have like this, but when he tried the door again it was still locked, which wasn't a good sign. Finally he heard Gabriel's muffled voice through the wood
"Yes you are. You promised to leave Sam. So leave." he snapped furiously.
Sam took a step back from the door, his eyes wide. He couldn't be serious? He couldn't expect him to just leave? Not now. Not after…what? After he's spent months pushing him away? After splitting at the first hint of something actually happening between them? After punching him in the face hours after being released from hospital? Of course Gabriel wanted him gone. How could Sam honestly think that one quick hand-job would fix everything?
Inhaling slowly, he pressed his forehead against the cold wood, listening to the sound of running water on the other side. "Gabriel?" there was no reply and Sam figured he was already in the shower. Washing Sam's from his skin. "I'm sorry Gabriel." he apologized anyway, his eyes closed.
_What Doesn't Kill You_
Sam didn't think driving away would be so hard, but as the Impala made its way up the dirt track, putting more and more distance between him and the house, it felt like his chest was being crushed. He gasped for breath and swallowed the lump forming in his throat. Lifting his eyes to the rear view he caught sight of Claire watching after him. His stomach tightening at Gabriel's absence. The man had been avoiding him as much as was possible in a small house ever since he's stepped out of the shower and brought his bags down from his room.
He'd thought about putting his foot down, saying he wasn't going anywhere, but he'd decided eventually, that it was probably for the best. Gabriel and Claire were probably safer without him around. Right? He was a trouble magnet after all and he was still uncertain about what he was feeling when it came to Gabriel. While that morning hadn't left him feeling disgusted, he still wasn't completely comfortable with the idea of being with the man.
Dropping his gaze from the mirror, he stared at the road in front of him. Claire knew how to get a hold of him if something happened. - Or if they just wanted him to come home. All he could do now is his job and…hope that one day he got that call.
A/N: Sorry to leave it on this heart-wrenching cliff-hanger (except I'm not because that was always the plan.) As I said, this was originally meant to be the end of one story but I'll be posting it all together, length be damned.
Regretfully this will be the last chapter I'll be posting for a couple of week, sorry but Christmas means family, and family means no time to myself. I'll try to get the next part up as quickly as I can after the chaos as subsided. In the meantime, hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, Hanukah or whatever seasonal celebration you're planning. See you in the New Year.
Gatergirl79