A/N: Reminder that my Claire is nothing like the Claire of the series, having not being abandoned by her mother the way she had in the show.

Not Beta Read!

Chapter 10

Gabriel woke slowly, his eyes fluttering open with ease. It was still dark but a glimpse at the clock told him it was early morning. As he lay staring at the bright red numbers he thought how wonderful his dream had been. It wasn't the first time he'd dreamt of Sam, but it had most definitely been the most intense. His body actually ached from the phantom encounter.

It was probably his morning-dulled brain that delayed the reality from setting in. It took him a few minutes, the numbers changing on the clock, for him to realize it wasn't a phantom pain flooding his body but an all too real one. He also became suddenly aware of the mattress dipping beside him. Craning his neck, Gabriel inhaled slowly at the sight of lush brown hair and a tanned toned back. It hadn't been a dream, Sam was really there, with a smile creeping across his face. He turned carefully and shifted closer. Gabriel pressed his nose against the exposed curve of Sam's shoulder blade and took a deep inhale of scent, his eyes drifting closed again, his arm moving stealthily and gently over the larger man's hip. Breathing him in, Gabriel felt himself relax, sleep luring him back into its embrace.

/\/\**/\/\

The high pitched scream of his alarm caused him to physically jump, turning his body, he reached out and quickly silenced it.

"What was that?" Sam asked sleepily.

"Nothing. Go back to sleep." Gabriel replied, slotting his body back in behind the hunter, closing his eyes, loving the way Sam wiggled back into him in return.

Sam grunted incoherently before his breathing evened out once more.

Gabriel honestly contemplated staying there, wrapped in the warm bed covers, pressed against the blazing heat of Sam's body, but the problem was…he couldn't, he had work to do. Okay, he could call in sick, but Annabella and Rita would find out, then they'd arrive with chicken soup and demand to know what the hell he was thinking taking back his so-called abusive partner.

Though that wasn't the biggest motivation to go to work. As soon as the post orgasm reality set in. As soon as he came to his senses or decided this wasn't really what he wanted, Sam would split. Just like he always did. Gabriel couldn't deal with that again, he couldn't stand on the front porch and just watch Sam drive away after last night. No, it would be easier to go to work and simply come home to an empty house.

Making his decision, Gabriel gently untangled himself from Sam's limbs and threw back the covers. Padding naked across the room to the bathroom, being sure to lock the hallway door, he closed the one to his room and turned on the shower. As the water warmed, Gabriel glanced at his reflection, his heart skipping at the sight of the hicky, one each side of his throat. He brushed his fingers over the tender skin and smiled, they wouldn't be completely hidden by the collar of his shirt but he couldn't bring himself to care. He wouldn't be the only one to arrive at work with the evidence of a heated night with a lover.

Lifting his gaze from the bruised flesh, Gabriel met his own eyes, staring deeply into them. There were moments like this where he just found himself looking at his reflection. Where it was hard to see the angel beneath. Had he ever actually been one or had that all been a dream he'd woken up too early from? The longer he was human the harder it was to believe he'd been anything else.

Gabriel tore himself away from his reflection and stepped beneath the warm water, groaning as it rippled over his aching muscles. He scrubbed at the dried sweat and cum that stained parts of his body. He didn't linger beneath the water for long, as soon as he was clean, his hair washed, he stepped out wrapping a towel around his hips. He ran a brush through his hair, then unlocked the door and headed back out. His eyes were instantly drawn to Sam's naked form, stretched out face down across the bed, his ass looking inviting and delectable. Shaking his head in denial of temptation, Gabriel headed for the dresser, pulling out fresh underwear, socks and a under shirt before marching to the closet for his uniform. He dressed as quickly and quietly as he could before lowering himself onto the bed to deal with his socks and boots, careful not to wake Sam.

"What are you doing?" Sam asked behind him, his voice deep and rough with sleep.

Gabriel swallowed. "Going to work. Someone has to pay the bills." He replied lightly, tying off his left boot then moving to the right.

"Is that a….Sheriff's department uniform?" the bed shifted as Sam sat up against the pillows.

"Yes."

"Are you a stripper now?" Sam chuckled; the roughness going straight to Gabriel's dick.

"No. I'm a deputy." He clarified, getting to his feet and heading back to the closet.

"Right. Really, what's with the uniform?" Sam scoffed.

"I'm not kidding." Gabriel called as he unlocked the safe at the bottom of the closet and retrieved his weapon. Strolling back out, while securing his sidearm, Gabriel met Sam's confused green gaze.

"How?"

Gabriel lifted a brow. "Seriously? Mr. Fake FBI is asking me how?" he chuckled, shaking his head. "I have my ways." He murmured nonchalantly.

"I didn't realize the police department hired frauds and murderers." Sam chuckled.

Gabriel wasn't amused. His eyes narrowed as he met the hunter's. "People in glass houses, asshat." He hissed angrily. "So people died, I never pulled the trigger jerk off. I gave them a choice, it wasn't my damn fault they picked the wrong path." He stared at Sam meaningfully. "You almost ended the fucking world, how many do you think you killed? Uh?!" Gabriel growled, turning to march furiously for the bedroom door.

He was yanking it open when a hand flattened against the wood above his head, pushing it closed with a bang. The heat of Sam's body blazing across his back, the hunter's breath against his ear. "You're right." Sam murmured. "I'm in no position to pass judgement on you, especially….now."

Gabriel closed his eyes with a sigh. "I was tired of doing nothing, okay. I needed…to feel like I was doing…something."

Sam lifted his hand from the door to grip Gabriel's shoulder lightly, offering comfort and an apology. "Do you have to go? Can't you call in sick?"

Gabriel craned his neck to meet the taller man's puppy-dog eyes, then turned his whole body to face him, his gaze travelling down the man's naked form, unconsciously licking his lips. "No." he whispered, throat tight, lacking any real conviction in his tone.

Sam smiled, lowering his lips to Gabriel's, seducing him with a deep swirl of his tongue. Gabriel growled, then forcefully tore his mouth from Sam's. "No, I have to go. I wasn't kidding about the bills Kiddo. – And if I call in sick, we'll have two nosy women banging the door down with chicken soup. They've turned into a right pair of mother hens since you left."

"We could just not open the door." Sam reasoned. "Or get Claire to tell them to get lost."

"There you go with that temptation again." Gabriel sighed; his fingers sweeping down the hunters solid flanks and around to his firm ass, squeezing it, offering his mouth up for another of Sam's seductive filthy kisses.

Sam's larger body bracketed Gabriel to the door, his hips thrusting insistently forward. Gabriel's fingers flexing over the taunt white orbs of Sam's ass. Sam's fingers fiddling with the buttons of the deputy's shirt.

Gabriel broke the kiss with a low moan, gently pushing Sam away, his breathing fast and heavy. "I can't. I have to work." He shook his head, cursing under his breath. When he finally met Sam's heavy lidded gaze, he groaned at the pure desire in them. "You couldn't have come home last weekend when I had time off?" he huffed frustratedly. "I'll be home by six, we'll pick this up then if you're still here."

Sam narrowed his gaze at the ex-angel. "I told you, I'm not leaving."

Gabriel wanted to believe him, he really did. "I'll see you later." he tugged the hunter down for a chaste kiss. "Fix my fucking door and get rid of that car, I can't have a stolen vehicle on my property."

"Your property?" Sam scoffed.

"I'm an officer of the law." Gabriel smirked mischievously, kissing Sam one last time before slipping reluctantly out of the room, fastening his shirt as he went.

_What Doesn't Kill You_

Sam sighed as the door closed with a click, walking casually over to the window. The sky was just beginning to lighten, the dark blue fading to lilac as morning arrived. He could hear the birds singing and felt an intense sense of home, something he'd never felt before. They'd never really been in one place long enough, not even Bobby's or Pastor Jim's. Every muscle in his body loosened and he exhaled a calm breath.

He should never had left in the first place, he knew. Running had never accomplished anything but heartbreak, though the first time he'd thought he was running towards something, a better life. Normality. A future. And look how that ended. This time he'd been running from something, his feelings, his confusion. From Gabriel. Even though this had been what he'd always wanted, a home, a family, someone to love him despite everything. – Someone to love in return. – Not that he and Gabriel were in love. – But it was as close as he'd been in a very long time.

The sound of the front door opening and closing drew Sam's eyes down. He watched Gabriel bundled up in a thick Khaki green jacket making his way across the large dirt path in front of the house, past the 'stolen' car to the large barn that sat a few feet away. He watched Gabriel pull the doors wide open before vanishing inside. A moment later a vehicle backed out, a Sheriff's Department cruiser. Sam's heart leapt slightly at the sight. It was surreal to think of Gabriel as a deputy. If he'd still had his powers, Sam would swear it was another of his games.

He remember the regretful sound of Gabriel's voice at the door, it had felt like a punch to the gut hearing the weakness in him, the humanity. If it hadn't have been for him, Gabriel would still be that powerful archangel playing at being a pagan god. – But then Gabriel would still be an enemy, a man he wanted dead, not laid out beneath him moaning in pleasure.

The cruiser paused and Gabriel climbed out to close the barn doors. As he made his way back, he stopped and glanced up to meet Sam's gaze through the dim morning light. Sam smiled, lifting his hand. When Gabriel blew him a kiss, Sam chuckled and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. He reluctantly turned away from the window, returned to the bed. Without a hunt to rush off to he could get some much needed sleep, as he settled quickly beneath the duvet he listened to the car's engine fading, sleep drawing him back into her ever-loving embrace.

_What Doesn't Kill You_

Sam woke and for a few moments wasn't sure where he was, then his mind cleared. Smiling softly he rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, content for the first time in years. He just laid there, listening to the wind blow outside, the sound of birds, the echo of movement in the room beneath him. Claire.

Throwing back the covers, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, getting to his feet with a groan. His thighs and back were killing him, the muscles tight. He couldn't help but grin at the memory of the previous night. It had been a long time since he'd had sex like that, rough and filled with hunger. Ruby had probably been his last encounter but even then it hadn't left him feeling good, he'd always been carrying the guilt and shame, even before Dean came back from hell. Because Ruby was a demon, a monster and he hadn't cared about her enough for that not to be an issue. What that said about his relationship with Gabriel, he couldn't say. All that mattered was how he didn't feel like he was letting everyone down. – Especially himself.

Padding into the bathroom, Sam turned on the shower before heading back to grab his wash bag and lay out fresh clothes. By the time he was done the water was perfect. He scrubbed at the skin, the remains of dirt and sweat. His thoughts wandering where they pleased and ultimately ending up focused on Gabriel. Without even realizing it he had his hand wrapped around himself, working out the tension his thoughts were creating. Images of Gabriel spread eagle beneath him as he pounded his brains out. Gabriel on his knees in the shower, sucking on him like he was one of the lollypops the ex-angel loved so much.

When it was over and his desire stated, Sam washed away the evidence and dried off. He dressed quickly before headed down, his fingers absently combing through his damp hair.

Claire was sat, her feet buried comfortably beneath her, a book on her lap, the TV only occasionally capturing her attention. She glanced up at him as he took the final few steps and grinned, the slight blush on her cheeks making it clear she'd heard them, either the previous night or that morning. – Probably both. "Morning. Sleep well?" she called with a teasing lightness to her tone.

Sam swallowed; taking a breath and clearing his throat. "Best I've had in a long time." He answered truthfully, wincing at Claire's girlish giggle. She wasn't a little girl anymore, she knew what was going on under her nose. – And apparently her roof. – The thought of Claire knowing about sex had as spark of paternal protectiveness flooding through him. Grabbing a glass of juice he headed back to the living room. "You meeting….Isaac?" he looked over at her from the doorway.

"Later." Claire answered. Her pen moving over the sheet of paper, her eyes locking to her work.

"And you two have been seeing each other….long?" Sam pressed with a small smile.

"About six months." She replied casually, still refusing to look at him.

Sam hummed, dropping down into the armchair, grunting as Riot thrust his large excited nose into his gut, before laying it on Sam's lap. Sam's fingers brushed slowly through the fur. "And you…you know…?" he swallowed. He'd never thought he'd be in this position. "Being careful." He coughed.

Claire's head snapped up, her pale blue eyes locking with his. "As in?" smirking yet her cheeks growing red.

Sam flushed. "Just…careful."

"He's not a demon." She informed him firmly. "Or anything else."

"Right…good…" he chugged down his juice.

"And we're not having sex."

Sam choked on his orange, coughing and spitting, fighting to regain control of his throat and lungs while Claire chuckled away on the couch.

"Dad's already been over everything." She chuckled, grinning from ear to ear.

"Dad?" Sam frowned.

Claire dropped her gaze again, dragging a strand of her blond hair behind her ear. "Gabriel." She sighed. "It just… - Became a habit." She looked up, almost guilty. "You know, having to call him Dad around everyone, it just became…second nature." She shrugged.

Sam smiled understandingly, a little jealous that he'd missed out on becoming a part of that habit.

Claire dropped her gaze again. "So you're staying, right?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah." He replied without thinking.

"Good." Claire nodded; satisfied. "And… Dean?"

"I don't know." Sam shrugged. "Right now I think he needs to calm down and… deal with stuff."

"You and Dad you mean." She sighed. "I….heard what he said. He doesn't like him or…. you guys being together."

"He'll get over it, it's just shock." Sam found himself defending.

"It's stupid. – I mean he's got Castiel, he's being such a hypocrite." Claire spat harshly.

Sam stared at her for a long moment, surprised and discomforted. There was something in the girls' tone that said she wasn't just passing over her opinion but was instead stating a fact. She was Castiel's vessel, his mind reminded him. Clearing his throat, he decided not to press for an explanation. "So what time are you meeting Isaac?" he asked in a smooth yet desperate change in subject.

"1pm, why?"

"Gabriel's demanding I fix the door and get rid of the car." He nodded towards the window. "You've got your licence right?"

Claire smirked, tossing her books aside.

_What Doesn't Kill You_

Claire steered the old banged up truck through main street, Sam happily riding shot-gun. They'd dumped the stolen Volvo a good five miles from town, Sam having wiped it down first. It would get found eventually but it wouldn't be traced easily back to him. The truck pulled up outside the hardware store and Claire cut the engine. "So…here we are."

Sam smiled over at the teenager. "And that's your boyfriend." He nodded across the street at Isaac.

Claire's face lit up. "Yeah. So I'll be home before dinner. You don't have to pick me up, Isaac will drop me off." She promised, handing over the keys. "Dad will be home at six, so you'll have at least an hour to yourselves." She added meaningfully.

Sam flushed slightly. "Is this weird for you?" he asked seriously. 'Cause it sure as hell was weird for him.

Claire laughed softly, a sweet happy sound Sam was glad to hear. "Nope. Frankly you guys are the most normal thing in my life. – I mean, you know… with Mom being…" she swallowed the words painfully. "And my dad… - Well, it's nice having a nice normal family again."

Sam frowned at her. "We're far from normal. Gabriel's an ex-archangel turned trickster who came back from the dead and I'm a mess, who hunts monsters."

"True." She grinned warmly. "But you guys are strangely the most stable thing I've had in years. – Ever since…"

"I haven't been around for a year." Sam reminded her. "How was that even close to stable?"

"But I knew you'd come back." She said confidently; shoving the door open. "See ya later…Dad." She winked, closing the truck door and running across the street to her boyfriend.

Sam watched the pair with a soft smile, Claire's faith in him felt odd and uplifting, yet heavy as stone. It had been a long time since anyone had had that kind of belief in him. Taking a breath he tore his gaze from Claire and Isaac and pushed open the truck door, closing it behind him. Sam glanced around the town he'd left twelve months previous. It hadn't changed, though he had.

Nodding to himself and straightening his shoulders, he turned, heading for the hardware store, but didn't move to enter. Instead he kept walking, down Main Street, just wandering aimlessly through the small town Gabriel and Claire had made their home. He could see the Sheriff's station a few feet away, and felt a pull to go inside and see Gabriel, but he didn't. Instead he plopped down on the bench and just stared at it, that small voice in the back of his mind whispering that he shouldn't be here. That this whole thing was a mistake. You're just lonely. But was that really such a bad reason? Was it wrong to seek out someone to fill that loneliness? No. So he wanted someone to come home to. A distraction, that's all he is. Sam shook his head, a spark of guilt shooting through him.

Sam almost jumped out of his skin when he turned to find Cas sat beside him. "Shit!"

"Watching humanity. It never gets old does it?" Cas asked, leaning forward on his knees, his eyes following the people strolling by.

"Cas?" he murmured uncertainly. "What are you doing here?" he quickly glanced over at the sheriff's station. Had Dean told him about Gabriel? A wave of unease flooded Sam at the thought. There'd been something off with Cas for a while and Sam just wasn't sure he was completely trustworthy, no matter what Dean said.

"The angel Samandriel…Alfie, has been taken by Crowley. We need your help to rescue him." Cas stated, meeting Sam's nervous gaze.

"D-Does Dean known you're here?" Sam frowned.

"No." Cas shook his head. "He is under the mistaken impression that we can free Alfie without you. I disagree."

Sam didn't get a chance to argue, or agree for that matter. In the blink of an eye he was stood in the rusty room of Garth's boat, his brother glaring at him.

"What's he doing here?" Dean demanded harshly.

"Don't worry Dean, once we save Alfie I'm out." Sam insisted, turning his glaring from Cas to his brother.

"What's we save Alfie? Don't hurt yourself Sam. Cas and I can handle it."

"Not according to Cas." Sam argued angrily.

"I told you we didn't need him." Dean spat, turning hard accusing eyes on Castiel.

"We need everything, Dean." Cas stated firmly. "And I need both of you, as you say, to store your crap. Can you do that?"

Sam stared at his brother, sighing. "Fine."

"Fine."

"Good." Cas shot them both another warning look, then turned to march over to talk to Kevin.

_What Doesn't Kill You_

While Cas and Kevin prepared the demon bombs, Sam paced the deck of the rusty tug boat Kevin had been living on for almost two months. Dean had barely said three words to him, and part of him couldn't bring himself to care. He'd made his opinion concerning him and Gabriel's relationship quite clear. Thinking of the ex-archangel reminded Sam he'd left the truck parked outside the hardware store and hadn't let anyone know he was leaving. He's going to think I split town again. Shit.

Yanking his cell out of his pocket he quickly scrolled through the contacts, grateful he hadn't deleted the man's number when he'd left. – And that Dean hadn't screwed with it the way he had with Claire's.

"Hey Sammy." Gabriel answered lightly, a smile in his voice.

Sam sighed happily, his own lips curving. "Hey."

"If you're calling for a little phone sex, you're out of luck. I' m in the middle of the station and Wayne is sat across from me with a sickly look on his face."

"No, Gabriel. This isn't about sex." He huffed, shaking his head. "I'm calling to let you know Cas came and got me."

"What?" Gabriel's tone was suddenly serious.

"He needs my help with something."

"Where's Dean?"

Sam scrubbed at his face tiredly. "Here." He sighed. "It's a three man job. – Look I just didn't want you thinking I skip town on you, again."

Gabriel was silent for a long minute. "Thanks."

"I'll be home, if everything goes as planned, tomorrow. – Maybe the day after."

"Okay." Gabriel murmured flatly.

Sam heard the doubt in the man's voice and hated himself for putting it there. "Two days max, Gabe." He promised firmly.

"I said okay."

"Yeah, but you don't believe me." Sam replied quietly, leaning heavily on the railing. "Do you?"

"Can you really blame me?" Gabriel asked. Sam could hear movement in the background, the sound of a door closing, as if Gabriel was taking their conversation to a more private area.

"No." Sam shook his head. "Look I left the truck parked on the street, but I have the keys and Claire's with Isaac."

"I've got a spare set, I'll call Claire to come get them and take the truck home."

"And I'll see you there in two days. I swear." Sam insisted, rubbing at his eyes.

Gabriel was silent for another long moment before murmuring. "Be careful Sam."

"You too. – See ya, Gabe."

"Later babe." He laughed tightly and Sam knew it was forced. The line went dead as Gabriel hung up on him and Sam's gut tightening. That goodbye had sounded so final. He really didn't expect him to come back. Well he'd be in for a surprise.

The sound of a heavy metal door had Sam straightening turning sharply to meet his brother. He shoved his cell deep into his pocket. "Kevin done?"

"Yeah." Dean nodded sharply. "Let's get this over with." He huffed, heading for the gangway with a large duffle bag.

Sam watched him leave with a slightly regretful look, pushing off the railing and moving to follow his brother.

_What Doesn't Kill You_

How everything had gone ass up Sam couldn't figure. It was meant to be a simple rescue mission, now he didn't know what was going on. He could still see Cas stood over Alfie's body as he tried to convince them that it had been self-defence. With a final sweep of the spray can he turned to Dean. "Okay, that should do it, Cas can't see or hear us now."

"Okay." Dean inhaled, relaxing minutely. "What the hell?"

"I know."

"I told you something was off with him since he got back from Purgatory."

Sam stared at his brother disbelievingly. Dean had been ignoring Cas's weird behaviour for weeks but now wasn't the time to argue over it. "So you think someone's messing with him or something?"

"Who?" Dean frowned, a slight look a hope mixed with panic.

"Angels?" Sam shrugged.

"Why would the angels have him to kill another angel?"

Frankly Sam didn't think there wasn't anything the angels wouldn't do. He watched Dean closely as his brother turned away. The tension clear in his back and shoulders, when Dean turned back is features had that cold distant look again. The one that had fade in the wake of Castiel's abandonment.

"You know what man. I got this. You go." Dean said suddenly, turning back to Sam.

"What?" Sam frowned.

"Don't you have a… family to get back to?" Dean reminded him flatly.

"Yeah, I guess I do." Sam sighed. "Hm…uh….since when were you on the Gabriel bandwagon?"

Dean winced; marching past Sam toward the small refrigerator. "I don't know." He grumbled. "I'm just tired of all the fighting." He yanked open the door and tugged out a beer. "And hm…maybe I'm a little bit jealous."

"Of Gabriel?" Sam couldn't help but smirk.

Dean glared at him. "No." he stated sharply. "I could never separate myself from the job like you can."

Sam flinched at the subtle attack.

"I don't know, maybe it's time for at least one of us to be happy."

Sam felt the weight he'd been carry since their argument two days ago lift. He took a breath of relief. "You being such a big hugger and all." He teased lightly. "They do make me happy, Dean. It took me a long time to admit that. – And I know we can make it work."

Dean held up his hand. "No."

"What?" Sam frowned.

"You either have both feet in or both feet out, anything in between is what gets you dead."

Sam stared; his heart racing, that weight crashing back down on him. He shook his head, pacing the living space. When he finally stopped, spinning to glare at his brother, he folded his arms. "That's bullshit!" he announced sharply.

"What?"

"It doesn't have to be either-or, Dean. Why do I have to choose?"

"Because having anything else is a distraction."

"Bullshit. – Hunters have been having both for centuries. Our grandparents. Ellen."

"Yeah and look where it got them." Dean argued heatedly.

"They didn't die because they had families Dean, they died because it comes with the job."

"And you want to put…them through that?" Dean accused, glaring angrily up at Sam.

"Gabriel isn't some girl I picked up in a bar Dean, he knows what this life is. He knows how it could end, and you know what he wants me anyway. He's not Lisa! He's not going to run screening at the first sign of trouble!"

Sam really should have expected the punch, he'd basically asked for it. His head snapped back hard and he felt the bone in his nose break under the force of his brother's fist. Straightening, one hand cupping his nose, he snatched a dish towel off the table, his eyes meeting Dean's blazing stare.

He knew he should apologize, but he wouldn't because he was right. Instead Sam headed for the couch, grabbing his jacket before marching to the door and yanking it open. He paused briefly, looking back at his brother. "You know where to find me." He said through his broken nose. Then stepped over the threshold, slamming the door behind him.

_What Doesn't Kill You_

Sam stepped down from the bus and felt the muscles in his shoulders relax at the sight of Gabriel lazing against the side of his police cruiser. He'd called him from the bus depot and told him he was on his way back. The look on Gabriel's face said he hadn't actually expected him to show up.

Stepping over to him, Sam smiled. "Hey."

"What the fuck happened to you?" Gabriel demanded, his eyes fixed on the dark bruising around Sam's eyes and nose.

"Dean." Was all the reply Sam gave closing the gap and stealing a kiss from the officer.

Gabriel moaned, smiling into the kiss before lightly pushing the taller men away. "Don't make me arrest us for indecent behaviour."

Sam chuckled. "Well I wouldn't complain to seeing you in cuffs." He whispered thickly, his gaze hot and heavy.

"Don't tease." Gabriel scolded.

"Who's teasing?" Sam winked, moving to climb into the passenger seat, laughing at the surprised and horny look Gabriel shot him as the man made his way around the car.

"Well you could be in luck, Kiddo. Claire's gone camping with friends this weekend, we've got the house all to ourselves." He smirked wantonly.

Sam frowned across at Gabriel, concerned and anxious.

"Calm down, she knows how to look after herself. She took Riot with her."

"I don't like it. – Did…Isaac go?"

Gabriel stared at him for a long few seconds before chuckling. "It's such a turn on when you get all parental, you know that?" He leant across the space between them, silencing Sam's argument with a deep kiss.

"Then why are we still parked here?" Sam panted when Gabriel finally pulled back.

Gabriel gunned the engine and pulled out of the bus station parking lot, neither man saying a word to the other as they made the short trip through town. Sam sat staring out the window, slouching low against the worn leather, the grey brick buildings flying past.

"Should I even ask what happened?" Gabriel asked suddenly, breaking the relaxed peace of the car.

"We had a fight." Sam replied, his gaze never leaving the passing landscape.

"About….me?"

Sam's head snapped around. "Not…completely." He sighed. "It was about…this…" he waved his hand nonchalantly around. "Having a life outside of hunting. He thinks I have to choose."

Gabriel turned back to watch the road ahead intensely.

"You agree with him?" Sam quizzed, his eyes narrowing. "Do you?"

"No. – You don't have to choose, Sam. You're just one in a long line of hunters, you know that. If hunters couldn't have both neither of you would be here."

"So what's with the look? You think I should make a choice? – You don't want me here?" Sam snapped, shifting around in the seat to stare furiously at the other man. "After everything we've... – After all the shit you gave me for running away, now you don't want me?" he practically yelled. "What was it, a fucking game? You screwing with me, again? Wanted to see if you could get me into bed?"

"Fuck you Winchester. You know that's not what I was doing!" Gabriel yelled back.

"I don't know shit! After all it's what you do, right? Play games with people!" Sam sneered.

"If I wasn't driving right now, I'd fucking punch you." Gabriel growled. "I'm not playing games! I've never lied about what I wanted from you Sam." He huffed frustratedly. "It's not a case of not wanting you, I just don't want to be the reason you and Dean go separate ways, you're stronger together, whether you know it or not, and the world needs that. Why do you think the bad guys try to tear you apart?" he shouted back angrily, his fingers curling in a white knuckle death grip on the steering wheel.

Sam stared at the ex-angel for what felt like eternity, his mouth hanging open, his eyes wide with surprise, the words rolled around in his head.

"Stop staring at me freak." Gabriel spat, shooting him a side long glance.

Sam sucked in a breath suddenly. "Are you…serious?"

Gabriel gave a nonchalant shrug, like it didn't really bother him one way or the other whether Sam believed him.

"I…I guess it just goes to show how much you've grown." Sam said, a lightness to his tone that wasn't there a second ago.

Gabriel's eyes flickered over to him once more. "Shut up. I just don't want to have to deal with your co-dependent ass. The first six months were bad enough. Moping doesn't suit you, idiot."

Sam continued to stare at him, unable to quite get his head around any of what had been said. Gabriel was actually trying not to come between him and Dean, for him. It didn't seem real.

"You're still staring." Gabriel huffed.

"I know. I'm just trying to figure out who you are and what you did with Gabriel?"

"Hahaha. Blow me, Winchester." Gabriel grunted.

Sam grinned wickedly, moving to unbuckle his safety belt and shift closer. Gabriel read his mind and a hand shot out to catch his head, his palm holding the hunter at bay. "Not here, jackass!"

Sam chuckled. "Then get us the fuck home." He growled.

Gabriel groaned breathlessly and pressed down on the gas.