A/N: Hello, all. Hopefully, all of you are surviving quarantine all right. My work has thankfully slowed down in the evenings enough for me where I can find time to write. Lots of Sabriel in this chapter with a dash of Dad!Sam and a little teaser. You have DaughterOfAres to think that this chapter is so fluffy, because I had a part of drama in it-that she told me to edit out immediately. Oh, and I freely credit one of the fanfic author's pseudonyms used as being from the Simpsons. I'm not that humorous or brilliant. By the way, if anyone is interesting, I'm likely going to write a quick one-shot of Roz and Sister Jo's shopping adventure because the bunny showed up today-and just wouldn't shut up while I was working. As always, I hope you enjoy. Please stay home and be healthy-and all the best to you and your families.
Lockdown
Three hours had passed since Roz had left. Three long, agonizing hours. Still no door. Still locked in his room with Gabe. He was beginning to wonder if anyone had even noticed that he had been gone again. He assumed his brother wouldn't since Dean likely was dealing with Cas. But there were other people in the bunker. Surely, someone had to have noticed by now.
"Sam?"
The Hunter's head flopped back against his headboard with a heavy sigh. Here Gabe went again.
"Sam?"
For the last ten whole minutes or so, Gabriel had been saying his name for some reason. Like a child. A child bored out of his mind. The archangel likely thought it was endearing. Which—no—no—he was so not going down that road.
"Saaaaaaaaam!"
"What?!" snapped the six foot-four man, glaring at the shorter angel.
"Hi."
Shaking his head, the tall Hunter exhaled loudly again, his long hair moving from the short puff of air. What was this? Gabriel's attempt at courting? It was awful if it was. And slightly—nope—not doing it. He was not doing it.
"Sam?"
Hazel eyes rolled hard. He was going to murder Gabe—and then see if there was a spell to bring the annoying archangel back later when he'd, of course, regret it.
"Samwich?" A low chuckle then left the heavenly being's lips. Sam barely held back his groan of exasperation. Here it'd come. The pathetic attempt yet again. "Or is it more like Sam-witch now, am I right?" Gabriel elbowed him in the ribs as he remained sprawled out beside the Hunter on the bed.
Damn, that was awful. "Dean beat you to that joke already, Gabe," he remarked dryly a moment later. Like weeks ago, in fact, but he wasn't going to point that out. Not yet at least.
"Oh."
Sam forced a laugh, closing his eyes. Yeah. Oh.
Sighing inwardly, the Hunter contemplated their next move in terms of their escape. Admittedly, it was something he had been doing repeatedly for the last three hours. He had tried earlier praying to Jack, then to Balthazar, and even Cas. None of them had come to their rescue unfortunately. Though, he honestly wasn't betting on Cas hearing it this time, so he wasn't really all that disappointed when the Seraph hadn't burst in somehow. However, Jack or Balthazar should have heard him. Maybe the blond sarcastic dick had heard him and just decided that Roz was the scarier of the two and ignored his prayers. But then Sam still had Jack to count on, and the Nephilim he considered good as his own son surely would have come and rescued them. Right?
"Sam?"
Ugh. It was never-ending torture.
The more time passed, the more Sam found himself struggling between either choking the archangel next to him or holding him. Just what exactly was Roz hoping to accomplish here? Them killing one another? Because it was getting dangerously closer to that scenario the more Gabe continued with his childish antics.
"Sam-moose?"
Sam bit back his instinctive groan and clenched his jaw. "What now, Gabriel?"
"I'm proud of you."
Huh? That was new. The Hunter instantly turned his head, recognizing the rare seriousness and honesty behind the words. He blinked when he caught Gabriel's gentle smile directed at him.
"For what?" he asked, seemingly confused. What exactly did he do that would make Gabriel proud of him? He was constantly snapping at him now since their lockdown.
The archangel continued to stare back at him with the softest look Sam could ever remember seeing on the man's face before. "For not breaking down entirely when Dean let Apocalypse Michael ride him." Oh. "For forgiving the kid over your mom's death." Oh . . . "For sticking beside Cas all these years and accepting the rest of us misfits into your family." Oh! Sam blinked, his heart pounding loudly. "For learning magic—not an easy task by any means, but you're excelling at it."
Sam felt the corner of his lip tug upwards before he nodded slowly. He couldn't ignore the little flutter that had resulted from those words.
"You're a good man, Sam Winchester."
If he were a different man, he'd have melted entirely. Such pride and gentleness and love were behind Gabe's words. He couldn't deny any of that. Then again, he had always known where Gabe stood. It was him they were waiting on.
"Even though I'm one of the messengers of your father's destruction?" he asked wryly.
Gabe huffed a laugh and shrugged. "Even then. Because you're doing it to save humanity." He then leaned in closer. "Between you and me, though, a part of me hopes you somehow snap Dad out of it and get him to remember the importance of family and love and everything he used to preach to us all the damn time." His smile quirked up a bit wider, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "After all, I always bet on you, Sam, and you haven't disappointed me thus far."
"Give it time." He caught the amber eyes rolling as Gabe waved his words away dismissively. "I do have a confession to make, though." He instantly noticed the sudden rigidness as the archangel tensed reflexively. "It's nothing horrible. It's just . . ." He heaved another loud sigh and glanced upwards. He could do this. He could admit this. He could. "I read your sister's fanfics."
"Okay? And then?" He fully turned his body towards Sam. "What? You can't just leave me hanging there. What about it?"
"I read a lot of her Sabriel fics." Like in the upwards of a hundred or so if he were honest. She was really good at writing. He enjoyed Fanfic Gabe. It was likely why he was hesitant about Real Gabe.
"Yeah, all right, me too. And Cas." The smaller man shrugged, not understanding the revelation. "Hell, Balthazar is the one who got me hooked on them in the first place."
Sam's eyes widened instantly. Wait. Balthazar?
"Oh, I know. Took me by surprise, too, but what can I say? He likes a lot of random things. Except Celine Dion. He can't stand her." Gabriel shook his head lightly. "So, I would keep your like for her under wraps if I were you. As far as I've read, E—" He coughed and cut himself off sharply before he slipped up again. "Roz hasn't included that tidbit yet."
Opening his mouth to retort something, he paused for a moment as it hit him what Gabriel had said. He stared at the smaller man and closed his mouth for a second.
"What?" The youngest archangel frowned. "Do I have something on my face or something?"
"How do you remember that?"
"That you love Celine Dion?" Gabe snorted. "Samheart, please. Give me a little credit here. I'm only hopelessly devoted to you after all."
Sam snorted, rolling his eyes. "My mistake, Gabriover." The archangel immediately stared at him, entirely puzzled. The Hunter chuckled, shaking his head. He would have thought that one was obvious. "Gabriel plus lover: Gabriover."
The smaller man's right brow raised slowly as he continued staring back. "Yeah. No. That's just . . . no." He shook his head.
"What? So, you're the only one allowed to make up nicknames in this relationship?" Sam huffed a laugh, crossing his arms as he turned on his bed towards the man. "I see how it is."
"Face it, Sam-Who-Holds-My-Heart. I'm just better at this than you are."
"Whatever." He'd come up with a good one. Someday.
"I still love you, though," Gabe remarked quietly as he bumped against him lightly. "But let's leave the nickname creation to me, all right?"
Sam rolled his eyes. "You're only good at it because you've been around since before Creation."
"Wait. Are you calling me old?" gasped the archangel, rearing back slightly in shock. His amber eyes sparkled with sheer giddiness and mischief.
"Well . . ." the taller man drawled with his hands raised up with palms out "if the shoe fits . . ."
"How dare you!" The underlying laughter was clearly heard in Gabriel's voice. "I should snap my fingers and—"
"What?" Sam challenged, leaning towards the archangel. His mattress creaked beneath him. "You should snap your fingers and what, Gabe?" He smirked when he caught the sandy-haired man's harsh swallow. Good. He was glad to give him a taste of his own medicine. After all, it wasn't like anyone was going to rescue them anytime soon. So, really, what else did they have to do?
"Sam," pleaded the angel suddenly with a pained look.
"Nuh-huh. You started this. So, let's finish it." He finally had the angel cornered for once. Though, he'd freely admit he was playing dirty. It was a dick move, sure, but it was working. And the fact that Sam was possibly enjoying their banter immensely was entirely beside the point. As was the fact he was leaning dangerously close to Gabe's face, closer than what was called for in this situation.
"Oh, Sam-ccubus, you have no idea what you're doing." Gabe's voice was low, almost hushed.
"And just what am I doing, Gabriel?" His smirk widened when he caught the sharp, entirely unnecessary, inhale from the archangel when he emphasized the word 'doing.' Did angels feel lust? Because Sam was pretty sure Gabe was right then. His vessel was definitely reacting like it was a good possibility. At least from what the Hunter could see. He was playing with fire, and he knew it.
"Sam," whined the heavenly being, his eyes pleading.
How was it possible that this immortal, fierce, warrior of God archangel could be so undone by him of all things? It was absurd. And so . . . something. Intriguing? Sexy? Both? He didn't know for certain, but he felt himself leaning closer to the edge. It was a place he had rarely ventured, let alone tip-toed near since the angel's admission of his feelings for the human.
"Gabriel," he murmured back, his voice deepening as his eyes stared intensely at the sandy-haired beside him.
"You don't want me to finish this," remarked the archangel, forcing in another entirely unnecessary shaky breath. Had Gabriel forgotten that angels didn't need to breathe?
"Why?" Now, Sam wasn't stupid by any means. He knew the why. Gabe's entirely human reactions screamed the why. He just was curious to see if the archangel, one of God's almightiest warriors, would show his vulnerability freely to him, lower his shield in other words. He didn't know why he wanted to know so bad, just that he did.
Two seconds later, though, he regretted this as he found himself being pushed roughly against his headboard by a strong hand to his chest. Then, Gabriel was in his space, so close he could steal Sam's breath if he wanted to. All of the Hunter's previous thoughts went straight out the nearest window. All he could see were the blown wide amber eyes with specks of Grace flickering every now and then in them.
Oh.
Now, it was Sam's turn to swallow down his emotions. To claw desperately at his body's reactions to Gabe's actions and shove them to the very deepest parts of himself. Oh, how the tables had turned. And how they had turned.
"Because me finishing this, Sam, would mean me slamming my lips down onto yours while my hands work open all those damn buttons on that Dad-forsaken flannel of yours," Gabriel stated gruffly. "Though, let's face it. I'd probably just snap our clothes away to make it faster. If you got it, use it, right?" He barked a quiet, shaky chuckle. "But . . . we're not there yet. So, I'm begging you, kiddo. Don't tempt me. Please." His eyes locked penetratingly into Sam's "I am but one strand away from saying 'Fuck it' and, well, fucking."
The question stumbled out before Sam could even stop himself.
"Top or bottom?"
The sandy-haired man chuckled quietly and leaned in towards Sam's ear. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he whispered before another laugh bubbled out.
Sam's eyes closed instantly as his entire body shook. Holy fuck.
"Uh . . ." A throat cleared harshly from where the door usually was. "I'll come back later then."
Hazel and amber eyes darted to the sound, catching the retreating form of the Nephilim through the doorway that had thankfully reappeared.
"Jack?" Sam leaned forward, only to groan loudly when he accidentally pressed against Gabriel. He vaguely heard the hiss in his ear. Turning his head, he glanced at the archangel. However, before he could even say a word, the man snapped his fingers and disappeared in a flash of light. Sam's head immediately slammed back against his headboard with another groan. Damn it.
Knocking against the closed door to Room 22 several minutes later with the back of his hand, Sam slowly turned the knob and opened it. He instantly caught the young man sitting cross-legged atop of the bed and gave Jack a soft, albeit awkward smile.
"Hey. Can we talk?"
The Nephilim shrugged neutrally before he nodded, setting down his laptop to give him his full attention. However, before Sam could say anything more, Jack cut him off and spoke.
"But if this is about you and Uncle Gabe, it's fine. Really. I'm okay."
The shaggy-haired Hunter chuckled quietly. "I'm sure you are, but I wanted to thank you first, for rescuing us and getting the door back somehow." When he caught the younger man's head tilt, he paused. "You were the one who brought the door back, weren't you?"
"Your door was missing?" Jack asked innocently, his head tilting more. "I didn't see that."
"Didn't you hear my prayers? Isn't that why you came to my room in the first place?"
"What prayers?" The Nephilim seemed even more confused now. "I didn't hear anything." He then winced, shaking his head at something that had occurred to him. "Well, except Dad's occasional "Please give me the patience not to hit this dorky idiot upside the head" ones. But he says those so frequently I just tune him out these days."
Normally, Sam would have laughed at that, but his mind was wrapped up in the mystery unfolding. How was it possible that Jack hadn't heard his prayers? Was there some way to dampen prayers? Or redirect them? He'd ask Gabriel about it later. If he saw him again that was.
"They why were you at my door, Jack?"
He shrugged again. "Aunt Roz said you had wanted to talk to me."
"Oh did she now," muttered the Hunter brusquely. So, she had purposefully sent Jack to his room to find them like that. What a little—
"Dad?"
He instantly pulled himself from his thoughts. His heart still was tugged whenever Jack called him that. Though, Jack would tell anyone who'd listen about his three dads. "Yeah?"
"You really don't need to give me the Birds and the Bees talk. Dad already gave it to me."
"Cas or Dean?" Usually, it'd be Cas Jack would be referring to with Dad, but Sam wasn't certain if that was still the case considering the fallen angel's current predicament.
"Dean. But Dad came in later to try his hand at it as well."
Nodding slowly, Sam rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah." Hopefully, they gave him some good advice. He still wasn't certain whose advice was better for himself even, Dean's or John's. John's was 'When you find the one, Sammy, you'll just know. Down to your soul that they're the one. There won't be any doubts about it. They're the other piece you're missing. And when they're gone, you don't get that back ever. No matter how hard you try. There's only one. So, choose wisely, Sammy.'
So, could Gabriel be his one? But—John had claimed there would be no doubts, and Sam doubted . . . sometimes.
Dean's advice, on the other hand, was extremely colorful. Full of euphemisms and condoms thrust into his hands with the occasional 'Just be sure that when you're ready to, you know, go for it, you're prepared. And don't worry if it's not that great the first time. No one has mind-blowing sex the first time. That comes later.' Actually, on second thought, Dean's advice had worked better he supposed. Sort of. Less pressure at least.
"Dad?"
Sam blinked upwards again and then back to Jack. He really needed to keep his focus here.
"Yeah?"
"I'm happy for you. You deserve someone to love too."
He laughed in response. "Now, you sound like Cas." He watched Jack's smile grow into a beaming grin. He jerked his head towards the young man's laptop. "What are you reading?"
"Fanfiction."
Sam couldn't help but groan as his head fell back. Was everyone reading fanfiction these days?
"But not Aunt Roz's," Jack quickly added.
Hazel eyes instantly darted to his kid. What? "It's not hers?"
"No." He shrugged lightly, glancing back at his computer. "Her stuff is sort of, I don't know, dry, I guess. It's all romantic and stuff." He then winced, hesitantly turning back to Sam. "Don't tell her I said that please."
"Your secret is safe with me." He slowly walked over to the younger man. "So, who are you reading about?"
"It's more general actually. About the angels up in Heaven. Before—you know." He brushed back his hair. "It sort of shows the backstories for Michael, Uncle Gabe, Lucifer, and Raphael."
"Is your Dad in it at all?"
Jack half-snorted. "Sorta. He shows up occasionally. Usually when he and Balthazar are getting in trouble for something. The writer has Dad's humor down pretty well." His eyes darted back to his laptop, his face falling with a thought.
Sam sighed inwardly, understanding Jack's emotions instantly. He took another few steps toward to the bed before he gently wrapped the young man in a sideways hug. He wished he could tell him that everything would be fine. But Jack had seen enough to know that they just didn't know and that it would only be hopes and wishes, not anything based on facts.
"We're going to fix this, Jack. It's sort of what we do after all." He chuckled quietly, squeezing his boy briefly tenderly. "When we're not dealing with monsters and Apocalypses that is."
Jack hugged him back warmly, melting against him like a small child for a quick second before he pulled back. "Or when Grandpa not throwing a temper tantrum."
"Or that," Sam conceded. Hazel eyes then glanced at the computer screen. Jack was on AO3 it seemed. "So, who's the author writing this anyway? The Heaven fic you're reading?"
"Admiral Jacques Straps."
The snicker burst out instantly. "What?" That was something Dean or Gabe would have said.
Jack tilted his head, clearly not understanding the humor of it. "Admiral Jacques Straps. It's the author's pseudonym." His answer was spoken so innocently. It was positively adorable.
Sam forced himself to stop laughing. "And how many stories does Admiral have?"
"I think they're up to about 50. They're not as prolific as TricksterLovesMoose, though. That author has like a whole library dedicated to Sabriel that probably rivals ours."
Sam rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Your uncles think they're hilarious, but they're extremely obvious." He caught Jack's confusion and chuckled. "Your Uncle Balthazar is likely Admiral Jacques Straps."
"Actually, you'd be wrong there, I'm afraid, my dear Samuel," the languid British drawl filtered in from the doorway. "I'm TricksterLovesMoose."
"Wait. So, then, Gabe's—" Sam scoffed, shaking his head. "Wow." He should have known on second thought. "You write Sabriel, though?"
Balthazar shrugged haphazardly. "It practically writes itself somedays. And it's not as if I have anything better to do these days."
"So, not only does your sister write it, but you two do too?"
"What can we say? Dad passed on the writing gene to us." He then motioned towards Jack. "Even my nephew is a great writer. Not of fanfiction, of course, but of real life. Jackie my boy brought us back at least." The blond lower-class angel then strode into the room. "My brother's in his room if you'd like to speak with him by chance, Sam."
Hazel eyes darted to the floor. "I'm not sure he wants to see me."
"Likely not, but I lived enough to see what sexual tension does in this bunker, and I don't want my poor innocent nephew to have to suffer through another bout of it because yet another Winchester can't get his head out of his ass. So, move along. We have things to discuss after all."
"You have things to discuss?" Sam repeated very slowly, crossing his arms before he glanced back at Jack. "Such as?"
"Such as ways to cheer Cassie up if you must know," Balthazar huffed, rolling his eyes. "Now, will you please take your humanness elsewhere and let the angels talk?"
Sam's eyes darted once more to Jack, catching the young man's nod that it was okay. Who was he to argue with him? He bowed his head slowly and then turned to leave. Here went nothing.
A/N: Poor Sam. How do you think that's going to go for him?