Chapter 4

Gabriel

Gabriel loved Castiel, he did. And he could see that he was hurting over the situation with the stupid older hunter, even if he wouldn't admit it. Dean was a stubborn ass, but he loved Castiel, and Castiel had it bad for Dean. So Gabriel was going to give him another chance. But the archangel swore to his Father, if he was still being a bone-headed jerk after this then Gabriel was going to smite his sorry ass and knock some sense into him. He had it coming.

He got Sam in on it this time, because Sam knew his brother better and knew which buttons it was safe to push for this situation. It was risky all around, and it still might not work. But between Sam's knowledge of his brother and Gabriel's experience as a Trickster, he was confident it was the best plan they could come up with.

Seeing the mischievous gleam in Sam's eyes as they schemed together, Gabriel had no doubts he'd scored the better Winchester out of this deal. He still couldn't believe that it was real, despite the casual yet discreet hand-holding and the kisses Sam would drop on top of his head as he passed by (the kid was a real sap) whenever they were alone, or when Dean wouldn't notice.

Gabriel withdrew from his daydreaming and told himself to focus. The plan was going into action soon. Even now he could hear Sam's exasperated voice, followed by Dean's gruffly irritated responses, just on the other side of the motel room door. The archangel glanced at his younger brother, who was leaning next to him, braced against the Impala, staring forlornly into the distance.

Yes, okay, he had promised Cas that he would stay out of it. But damn it, they needed his help. And he'd had his fingers crossed anyways, so it didn't count. Besides, Castiel should be thanking him for going to so much effort to help him out. He'd given literally everything for Dean, he deserved more than the way Dean treated him.

The hunters finally emerged, and Sam exchanged a meaningful glance with him before directing a bitchface at his brother over his shoulder and joining Gabriel in leaning against the hood of the Impala, the back of his hand brushing surreptitiously against Gabriel's. Stifling a grin at the contact, Gabriel chirped a perky "Morning, Dean-o!" which only earned him a weary glare.

The green eyes only held his for a few seconds before flickering over to Cas, who was still ignoring them all in favor of watching a jogger across the street, seeming fascinated with ignoring them. Dean's brow wrinkled and there was something in his eyes...

Oh, Father, Gabriel thought to himself, rolling his eyes. He knows, the idiot, and he's holding himself back. Self-sacrificing dolt. These two I swear...He glanced at Sam again and saw his exasperation mirrored in Sam's expression. They exchanged a curt nod, instantly on the same page-time to put the plan into action.

"Sam and Gabriel's Epic Plot to Hook Their Brothers Up", Phase One: Brotherly Interference

Dean

Dean slammed the door of the Impala shut, scowling as the other three doors opened and closed. He just couldn't catch a break lately, it seemed. Between Gabriel's meddling yesterday, and Sam's insisting they talk about freaking feelings the instant he woke up, Dean was in a thoroughly pissed-off mood.

Dean had tried to brush Sam off with his usual brusque "No chick-flick moments", and usually Sam would've let it slide. But for some reason he was insistent this morning, and would not let it go. Dean wasn't sure why, but Sam would not quit bugging him until he had admitted that, yes, damnit, he cared about Castiel a hell of a lot more than he should. After that he had shoved past his irritatingly smug brother to get out to the Impala, ready to escape this discussion and leave it behind.

His sour mood was not at all improved by Gabriel sitting in the passenger seat, rather than Castiel like he'd been expecting. Glancing in the backseat as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, Dean felt mildly irritated to see the blue-eyed ex-angel seated by his brother, their heads bent close together, speaking in low voices. Dean's eyes narrowed, wondering what the hell they were talking about now.

"So, Dean," Gabriel said casually, interrupting his thoughts. Dean snapped a glance at the midget archangel, glaring.

"What do you want, short-stack?" he almost growled, sick to death of everyone trying to make him talk. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?

"Just to talk about my brother," the archangel informed him, smirking in a way that made Dean want to punch him. Repeatedly. Instead he focused on the road, clenching his hands on the steering wheel before relaxing his grip and rubbing it apologetically with one hand. Sorry, baby, you didn't do anything to me, he thought. The car was the only one that hadn't done anything to unsettle him of late.

"Sam already beat you to it," he muttered.

"I just want to make sure he was thorough. You see, Dean, Sam is nice. Really nice. Never met any human with such a big heart and it's kind of amazing after all the shit he's been through." There was something soft in Gabriel's voice as he spoke of the younger Winchester, something that had Dean eyeing him in suspicion when he could afford to take his eyes from the road. Noticing his glances, Gabriel's face hardened as he continued, "I, however, am not so nice. And if you keep hurting my brother, I'm going to make you suffer."

Dean almost choked on his words as anger filled his chest, glancing in the mirror again to make sure the former-angel in question wasn't listening. Reassured by the sight of Castiel staring out the window, obviously tuned out, Dean glared at the archangel beside him and hissed, "I would never...as if I...I wouldn't hurt Cas!" I care about him too much, the words were unspoken but implied by his tone, and they hung in the air thick with tension between hunter and archangel.

Gabriel snorted. "Then what are you doing with your head so far up your ass, nimrod?"

Dean only blinked at him in confusion and irritation, causing the archangel to groan. "If you weren't driving I would hit you right now. Seriously, I have no clue why Castiel likes you so much. You're so dense." He shook his head in amazement. Dean rolled his eyes.

"No one asked you to hang around," Dean grumbled, though he couldn't find it in him to be truly mad after remembering that it was only because of Gabriel that he'd gotten Cas back from angel prison in the first place. He owed him, damn it.

"Please. You mutton-heads would be lost without my help. Besides, I'm growing fond of your brother. But that's not the point of our discussion."

"Then what is?"

"Quit hurting my brother by pretending you care less than you do, or I will smite your ass," Gabriel said pointedly. Praying the heat creeping up his face wasn't as obvious as it felt, Dean only glared and, when nothing more was said, reached out to turn on the radio.

He stole one more glance in the rearview mirror. Sam met his gaze and sent a bitchface at him, the What are you doing, you moron? one. Dean barely resisted the urge to flip him off. He flicked a glance at Cas and, as though sensing his gaze, the fallen angel moved his eyes so he could meet Dean's for the first time that morning.

Dean's breath caught at the sadness in them, feeling his brow furrowing. He wanted to ask what was wrong, and perhaps Cas sensed that because he gave Dean a small, reassuring smile that didn't reach those big sad eyes. It made something in Dean's chest tighten and had him frowning in concern. Cas only shook his head and gazed out the window once more.

Dean redirected his focus back to the road once he realized he'd been staring at the angel for a reckless amount of time, glad that this stretch of highway was fairly empty.

Not another word was spoken the rest of the drive, although there were plenty of looks exchanged.

Sam

Talking to Cas was...heart-breaking, Sam decided, was the best adjective.

They spoke in low voices as they sat in the backseat, neither wanting Dean to overhear and gripe at them. Castiel poured his heart out to Sam, expressing his concerns about Dean's behavior and his fear that Dean was uncomfortable around him because of what Gabriel had done-Sam flicked a glance at his boyfriend at that, frowning, but knew he had only been trying to help in his own way, so he let it go for now-and that Dean would no longer want him around after that.

Hearing the former angel say that he would gladly settle for things being the way they were, despite wanting more, had Sam patting his shoulder consolingly while internally cursing his brother for being so thick.

"Cas, Dean does care about you. He does," Sam insisted at Castiel's humorless laugh, "but he has...issues."

The familiar tilting of his head almost had Sam smiling as Cas inquired, "Issues?"

"Issues. Self-esteem wise and emotionally."

"I...don't understand," Castiel murmured, brow furrowing. He flicked a confused glance at Dean, something soft and hurting in his big blue eyes. Sam sent his own glare at his idiot of a brother, smirking as he realized that Gabriel was talking. Just as they'd planned.

"Has Dean ever talked to you about Hell?" Sam asked hesitantly, refocusing on the former angel, who shook his head. Sam sighed and continued, "He had a bad time down there, Cas. I mean, no duh, it was Hell. He did a lot of things he regrets...he thinks he turned into some kind of monster, that something's wrong with him-"

"He thought he didn't deserve to be saved," Castiel said softly, confusion in his eyes. "When I went to pull him out, he fought me. Thought he deserved to be left there, in the darkness, being tortured." Castiel shivered and looked mournfully once more at the man driving the car.

Sam swallowed, but wasn't really surprised by the news. It sounded so very ... Dean. "Yeah. Well...he still thinks that sometimes, I think." Blue eyes snapped to his, and something like rage flickered in them.

"He's wrong," the angel almost snarled, and Sam nodded his agreement.

"I know, Cas, I know," he reassured gently. The ex-angel crossed his arms with a huff and gestured for Sam to continue explaining. "Dean also has...other issues. The lives we lead, they're not conductive to relationships unless your partner comes hunting with you, and Dean would never allow that if he could help it-he hates putting people in danger, especially people he cares about. And he's lost a lot of people. Just about everyone Dean's ever cared about has been taken from him or has left. So he has some trust issues when it comes to feelings."

Sorrow filled Cas' eyes now, empathy for Dean's suffering, Sam assumed. "So... you're saying he's guarded and reluctant to admit that he cares about me because he's afraid that I will leave, or be taken away?" he summarized.

"Exactly." Sam nodded, pleased that Castiel seemed to be getting it. "But he'll come around eventually, Cas. He's stubborn, but...well, Gabriel and I are working on it."

"Gabriel promised he wouldn't-" Cas began, seeming indignant that his brother had lied to him, but Sam cut him off.

"He's just trying to help, Cas. We both are. Trust me, Dean's not going to get over this unless we push him, so that's what we're gonna do."

Castiel winced apprehensively. "Sam, that might not be the best idea...Gabriel's 'help'-" He actually used air quotes with his fingers, and Sam barely managed to smother his laughter-"-seems to only bother Dean and drive us farther apart."

"Relax, Cas, that's why I'm helping. I'll keep Gabriel from going too far, just make sure he pushes Dean just far enough. We'll get through to him, I promise. We have a plan."

Cas sighed and looked away, out the window. "Very well. I will trust you. And, Sam? Thank you."

"No problem, Cas. You've done a lot for us-you deserve happiness, and God knows Dean does too. I figure your guys' best chance is finding it with each other." He squeezed Cas' shoulder reassuringly, smiling even though Cas couldn't see it, since he was still staring out the window.

"I hope you're right," Castiel murmured lowly, and Sam barely caught it. He's pretty sure he wasn't meant to.

Dean

They pulled into Douglas, Illinois that afternoon per Sam's instructions. There had been some murders in the area lately that looked like it could be vampires. Dean for one could not be more thrilled. He desperately needed to gank some evil son of a bitch or he was going to start throwing punches.

As he parked outside the police station, Sam abruptly suggested that they split up, offering to go with Gabriel and try to track down the nest while Dean interviewed the cops and families of the vic's to gather what information they could.

Dean wanted to groan about being stuck with Castiel-yes, okay, he would grudgingly admit that he loved the guy, but he was clueless when it came to interrogations and hopelessly awkward in social situations in general-but one look into those weary, wounded blue eyes and any protest died on his tongue.

"Yeah, sure," he mumbled instead. And tried not to notice the way Cas' eyes lit up at his response, like he'd just received the best present in the history of forever. Catching Gabriel's knowing smirk out of the corner of his eye, Dean subtly flipped him off. The archangel only rolled his eyes.

"Don't mess this up, Dean-o," he said cheerily. "Come on, Sam-a-lam, let's go hunt down some nasties. We'll see you when we see you." With a snap of his fingers, they were gone, and Dean found himself alone with Castiel.

"Well...shall we go in?" the ex-angel asked, shuffling awkwardly. Dean nodded, reaching over to dig into his glove compartment for the fake ID and badge he and Sam had made for Cas a while back.

"Remember," he said as he handed it over, "your name is Alan Rigby, and you're my partner with the FBI. And, Cas? Please let me do most of the talking."

Cas gave a small, rueful smile and nodded, getting out of the car and heading for the police station. Dean hurried after him, eager to be settling into the familiar routine of their old lives.

And if Dean's heart skipped a little when Cas held the door open for him with a smile, nobody else needed to know.

Taking a deep breath, Dean gave a forced smile back and sauntered inside.

Keep it together, Winchester, he told himself. Keep it together.

[A/N: Look, another chapter within a week! It's a miracle, praise Gabriel!]

[I feel better about this chapter than the last couple. And I know I've gotten off-plot and have been focusing mostly on the ships, but I promise more plot is coming in the next few chapters.]

[Fair warning-hectic week coming up. I'm going to see Jurassic World, the Missionaries are coming over (ugh) for a lesson, I'm going to go visit my grandpa and the bio's for a few days, and who knows what else might pop up. So if I don't update this week that's why.]

[That's all! Drop a review to let me know what you think of the Sabriel scheming and such! Reviewers are safe from Gabriel's pranks but if you read without reviewing, you'll wake up tomorrow to find your hair dyed neon pink and all your clothes will have shrunken to the size of a leprechaun's. So make sure you review for your own safety, folks!]

-Makky