Chapter 6

Gabriel

Despite what he'd told Sam, creating the time loop he had Dean in was not easy. It took a significant amount of his Grace, the same Grace that was shielding them from the nuclear strike that was Michael's Grace. It was a risk, and Gabriel knew it. He probably should have said something, but then Sam would never have let him go through with it and their Epic Plot wouldn't have paid off. Gabriel had been pulling tricks and running from Heaven and the Host for a long time, so he knew the risk was worth the pay-off. He knew what he was doing. He was confident that his Grace could both shield them from Michael and push Cas and Dean together as they so clearly needed.

And Gabriel was right. His Grace kept them shielded from Michael just fine.

Unfortunately, the arrogant archangel forgot about his fallen brother, Lucifer.

Later, Sam would be the one paying for that mistake.

Right now, though, archangel and young hunter were unaware of the danger headed their way. Gabriel was waking Sam with a shower of kisses down along his jaw and throat, lips brushing over the hickeys he'd left with a satisfied smirk as Sam made a delicious groaning sound and stretched, yawning as his sleepy hazel eyes looked up into the archangel's.

"Rise and shine, gorgeous," Gabriel sang. "Dean's figured out the catch and is on his way to beat the shit out of me," he informed Sam cheerily, causing the hunter to sit up, suddenly much more alert, his eyes sparking with delighted mischief. Gabriel decided he really liked the look on him. "You know what that means, right?"

Sam nodded and was already reaching for his clothes, which really was a shame-the kid had a fantastic ass, and Gabriel shamelessly took the opportunity to examine the full view with a hungry smirk. "Time for Phase Three."

"Yep, so hurry up and get dressed. We have ten minutes before that door is broken down, which means I have five minutes to prep the room and get us the hell out of dodge with a good head start."

"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying," Sam mumbled, yanking his boxers on which were followed quickly by his jeans.

"Good man. You pack up, I'm gonna start on the sigils," Gabriel told him. Sam nodded absently, bending over to grab his shirt from the floor where it had been tossed by a horny archangel the night before. Grinning, Gabriel lightly slapped a hand against Sam's backside on his way past. Laughing merrily at his startled yelp, Gabriel got to work.

"Sam and Gabriel's Epic Plot to Hook Their Brothers Up," Phase Three: Enforced Isolation

Dean

Okay, so Dean was willing to admit that maybe kicking the door down and brandishing his gun as he yelled, "Gabriel!" at the top of his lungs was a bit overkill. Maybe.

Cas trailed in after him languidly, looking around at the empty room with mild curiosity. Their stuff was there, but Sam and Gabriel's was gone. Dean glared at the uninhabited room as though it had personally offended him.

His irritation only increased tenfold when the door suddenly slammed shut, the sigil traced on the back of it glowing bright blue for a few seconds before fading to rusty red. It had obviously been drawn in blood.

"What the hell?" Dean muttered crossly, shoving his gun in the waistband of his jeans as he stalked over to examine it. He reached out to touch it lightly, frowning, only to withdraw his hand sharply with a yelp as the damned thing zapped him. Rubbing his tingling arm, Dean swore profusely at the once-more-glowing sigil. "Cas, can you tell what the hell this is?" he growled, stepping away.

Cas sighed and stepped closer, head tilting and eyes squinting slightly as he examined it. He pursed his lips and muttered "Unbelievable..." under his breath, shaking his head as he stepped back. "It is an Enochian binding sigil. It has both my name and yours personally branded into it, and Gabriel suffused it with his Grace." Cas frowned sullenly, moving away from the door.

"What the hell does it do?" Dean demanded, following Cas closer than he probably should have considering the amount of times he'd lectured Cas about personal space. But after seventeen days of finding himself in various intimate situations with the fallen angel, Dean found that he barely even noticed anymore.

Cas did, though. When he turned around, he seemed a bit startled to find Dean standing so close, sapphire eyes widening a fraction. Dean saw him swallow and the movement was familiar, and it was all he could do to keep from leaning down and closing the distance between them. Gritting his teeth, Dean balled his fists at his sides to prevent himself from reaching out to him. The angel's eyes darted down to note the action with a frown before his eyes moved back to Dean's face, pausing a fraction of a second too long at his lips (and causing a barely discernible hitch in Dean's breath) before meeting the hunter's gaze.

"It, um...it prevents us from leaving," Cas murmured, finally answering Dean's question. "I imagine that until Gabriel gets what he wants, we are trapped here," he added, something flickering in his eyes, there and gone too fast for Dean to decipher what it was, but whatever it was had the angel's eyes darkening in a way that made Dean's stomach tighten.

"What does he want, then?" Dean asked, startled by how hoarse his voice came out and suddenly realizing that as they'd been talking they'd subconsciously gravitated closer, bodies almost pressing together, and he barely managed to repress a shiver. His heart was pounding in his chest and he was sure Cas would be able to feel it.

"That's the million dollar question, Dean-o!" a familiar voice crowed, shattering the spell and dispelling the heat that had been building between hunter and former angel. They both lurched backwards, Cas looking faintly disappointed, Dean confused, a slight flush on his cheeks as he whipped his head around looking for the culprit.

The room was still empty. But the TV had turned on.

"Gabriel," Dean growled, hating the warmth he could feel in his face.

"Hey, Dean! Cassie." The archangel's face grinned smugly at them from the screen, and Dean could just see Sam behind him, looking amused but apprehensive. "How's it going, guys?"

"What the hell do you want?" the hunter snapped, jaw clenching, before Cas could reply.

"Oh, Dean, have you really not figured it out by now?" Gabriel smirked knowingly and Dean cursed under his breath as he felt his face flush an even brighter shade of red. "Surely you're not that thick that I have to spell it out for you?"

Dean averted his gaze. "...we're in the middle of the Apocalypse, Gabriel, we don't have time for...this," Dean muttered, ignoring the fact that he could feel Cas' curious gaze on his face, searching his features.

"Well there won't be time after, I can tell you that, Dean. Besides, all the moping and brooding is getting just ridiculous. I'm sick of watching you two pine and pant after each other - it's gone past amusing to the point where it's just pathetic. So, until you have a nice long chat and work things out," Gabriel blithely ignored Dean's spluttering and Cas' confused protests, "you're not leaving that room. Sam and I will be honeymooning here on the beach, so feel free to take your time."

"Gabriel, please-"

The archangel cut across the former seraph's feeble plea. "I don't wanna hear it, Cassie. My mind is made up and you're not changing it. Have fun, lovebirds. Oh, and Dean?" Dean reluctantly raised his eyes to meet Gabriel's, hating that stupid smirk on his face. "Feel free to avail yourselves of the items in the drawers. I made sure you guys are well-equipped for any occasion." He winked and Dean decided he would not, under any circumstances, be going near the drawers. Before he could say as much, the screen went black, leaving Dean alone with Cas in the motel room.

"Dean-" The fallen angel began at the same time Dean mumbled, "Look, Cas-". They both broke off, glanced at each other nervously, and looked away. Cas fidgeted with his trench coat and Dean ran a hand through his hair.

It had been like this for hours, Dean and Castiel dancing around each other, unsure what to say. This was uncharted territory and each was unsure of himself, both teetering on the edge of some precipice but afraid to take that final step that would send them tumbling over, free-falling into something new and exhilarating terrifying.

Dean had had enough. He sat on the couch with a heavy sigh, waving Cas over. The ex-angel came closer hesitantly, leading Dean to make an impatient noise in the back of his throat and grab the sleeve of the familiar ratty trench coat, jerking him down next to him. Cas came with a yelp, falling against Dean, and the hunter had to chuckle as he placed a hand on Cas' shoulder to steady him.

Wide, unsure blue eyes looked up into gentle, resigned green. They stayed like that for a few moments, staring at each other, close enough that their breaths mingled and Dean could almost taste the now-familiar flavor of Castiel.

If he wanted to get through this, then he needed space, so he reluctantly sat up and scooted just a bit to the side, turning to face Castiel so his legs were somewhat of a barrier from Cas shuffling any closer.

"I guess I'm ready to talk if you are," Dean said wearily, scratching the back of his neck. Hope glinted in Cas' eyes, and it sparked something warm in Dean's chest.

"I believe that would be best," he agreed, nodding slowly. Then he folded his hands in his lap, fingers absently toying with the sleeves of his coat, obviously waiting for the hunter to start. Dean wanted to reach out and still his fidgeting, but he had to keep his hands to himself if they were going to get through this discussion, so he clenched his hands in his own lap and sighed again.

"Okay, you know damn well I'm not good at this...this chick-flicky, emotional crap, right?" he began. At the other man's nod, Dean continued, "Right, well...that being said, you should know that...uh, I kinda l-" He swallowed, unsure if he could get out that word just yet, hastily editing his phrasing, "like you. A lot, actually. I mean, you're...you're pretty awesome, Cas." He grinned sheepishly, feeling totally ridiculous and way out of his comfort zone.

Cas nodded slowly, his brow furrowing, seeming to consider his words carefully. "I feel very attached to you, Dean," he murmured in his gravelly voice, and Dean felt his stomach lurch. "In all my time I have never met another being that caused me to feel as much as you. Nor have I ever encountered someone who inspired me to change so greatly." He chuckled ruefully, a slight smile causing his lips to twitch upwards at the corners.

"Yeah? Is that...is that a good thing?" Dean asked, his tongue nervously darting out to wet his lips. He noticed Cas' eyes follow the movement and it made something hungry tighten in Dean's gut as the fallen angel nodded. "Well then, I'm...uh...glad." He cleared his throat, and his next sentence burst from him in a nervous rush. "So...um. Basically we're saying we like each other and wouldn't mind hooking up?"

He felt redness creeping up his face again as Cas' eyes crinkled in a rare grin. "I believe that to be a fair and accurate summation."

"Okay, cool. So, uh...we good here?"

"I believe so." The former angel's eyes darted to his lips again, and Dean felt a wave of guilt that he had all these memories of kissing Castiel while Cas didn't remember a single one of the last seventeen days. The thought that Cas couldn't remember any of what Dean considered some of their best times together had him curiously aching.

But...this didn't feel right. This scenario that Gabriel had forced them into made it all feel awkward and forced, and kissing him now, when Gabriel was probably watching them, would just be weird. So Dean swallowed and cleared his throat, causing Cas' eyes to dart back to his once more.

"Okay, this is going to be possibly the girliest thing I've ever said, and I want you to swear that it will never leave this room," he said, averting his eyes. A gentle grip forced his chin up and he found himself staring into gentle blue eyes full of devotion and longing.

"I give you my word, Dean," he promised solemnly, his thumb absently stroking along Dean's cheek. Heat swooped through Dean, the beginnings of arousal, and Dean felt the situation rapidly spinning out of his control. Grabbing Cas' hand with both of his, Dean pulled it from his face, though he didn't break eye contact and left their hands clasped together on the couch between them, thumb absently tracing over Cas' knuckles.

"Alright," Dean said hoarsely, staring unashamedly into Cas' eyes. "This..." he waved a hand absently to indicate the room and their situation. Cas' head tilted, waiting for him to continue, which he did after only a moment. "...it isn't real. It's a situation fabricated by Gabriel, to force us together. Our first time, Cas, I don't want it to be forced. You...you deserve more than a quick fuck in a cheap motel room because your dickhead brother locked us in. I want it to be because we both want it and because it feels right. So, I'm going to make you a promise, okay?"

Something like wonder was shining in those sapphire eyes, Cas' head ducked shyly as he inquired, "What promise, Dean?"

"After we sort out the apocalypse shit, we're going to go someplace nice - I'll let you pick," he said with a grin. "We'll take a break from hunting, from everything, and I'll show you a good time." He winked and grinned broadly at the blush that bloomed in Cas' pale cheeks when he caught the innuendo. He chuckled, but sobered after a moment. "Now...just isn't the right time for that. Sam needs me, and I just...I can't...not now," he said, and his voice cracked a little.

Castiel softened and nodded, his expression tender. "Of course, Dean...I understand." Dean sighed in relief and used his grip on Cas' hand to pull him close, the hunter wrapping his arms around the fallen angel's shoulders. Cas snuggled close against him, his arms circling Dean's waist, and Dean pressed his face into soft, slightly curly dark hair and inhaled the familiar scent of Cas, closing his eyes and allowing this to be enough, for now.

And if a tear or two leaked out of his eye to spill into Cas' hair, nobody but him needed to know that.

"Awwww, aren't you two just adorable!"

Dean jolted upright at the sudden intrusion, muscles tensing, his arms subconsciously tightening protectively around Cas. The ex-angel made a sleepy, vaguely pleased noise that had warmth and affection pooling in Dean's chest.

It took him a moment to realize that they'd fallen asleep snuggled on the couch.

It took him another moment after that to realize that they were no longer alone in the room.

Gabriel was standing in front of them, a smug grin on his face. Dean glared half-heartedly as he gently shook Cas' shoulder to wake him up. The fallen angel sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes and blinking in what Dean decided was an unfairly adorable manner. After a few seconds he looked up at Dean and smiled shyly, a delicate blush coloring his face, causing Dean to grin.

"Okay guys, seriously, I'm going to choke on the pheromones," Gabriel mocked, but there was genuine happiness in his eyes as he gazed at Cas' sleepy smile and Dean found he didn't have it in him to be pissed at the moment.

Then he realized that someone from their group was missing, and he frowned, his drowsy contentment vanishing as anxiety and dread took its place, a cold knot forming in his chest. "Where's Sam?" Dean demanded, sitting up abruptly.

"Still in our luxurious honeymoon suite by the beach," Gabriel informed him smugly. "He didn't want to pop in on you two with me, saying he'd rather 'avoid potential mental scarring'. Besides, he was pretty tired after we spent all day yesterday-"

"I really don't want to know," Dean said loudly, raising his hands in defeat with a disgusted grimace. Gabriel laughed.

"I was only going to say that we were swimming, Dean. Get your mind out of the gutter." The archangel grinned wolfishly at Dean's scowl. "Anyways, enough about our epic romantic affair. Did the lovebirds sort everything out?"

"We're fine, Gabriel," Dean growled. Cas came to stand by him and nodded, close by Dean's side. Dean hesitated only for a second before looping an arm around his shoulders and tugging him even closer, earning a pleasantly surprised noise from the former angel that had Dean grinning as he stated, "A bit better than fine, I guess."

"Goodie! Happy ending to our fairy tale!" Gabriel grinned, and then he was doing an absolutely horrendous rendition of some teen song about a love story, substituting Dean's name for Romeo and Cas' for Juliet. Dean cringed and threw his hands over his ears with a groan.

"IF YOU'RE THROUGH," Dean yelled over Gabriel (even Cas was grimacing when the archangel sang, "IT'S A LOVE STORY, CASSIE, JUST SAY YES!"), "can we go get my brother and stop the apocalypse now?"

Gabriel, thankfully, fell silent as he pouted at Dean a little, rolling his eyes. "It's always work, work, work with you. You have a bigger stick up your ass than Cas, I swear! Fine, but afterwards I'm insisting that we all take time off to go on vacation."

As the archangel snapped his fingers, Dean looked down into the blue eyes already seeking his gaze and murmured, "Sounds good to me." Cas lips curled in a faint smile as they vanished from the room.

The room they touched down in was ridiculously opulent, no doubt reflecting Gabriel's decadent tastes. The carpet was thick and fluffy looking, there was a mini-fridge undoubtedly full of sweets (and maybe a salad or some other rabbit-food for Sam), and everything was in shades of white and gold. There was a large bed that looked very rumpled (Dean wrinkled his nose and tried not to think of the cause of that), and there was a door that appeared to lead to a just-as-grand bathroom. There was even a balcony that overlooked the ocean.

What was not there, however, was Sam.

"Gabriel, where the hell is he?" Dean demanded, whirling to glare at the archangel. He felt a chill of foreboding creep down his spine at the confusion and slight worry on his face. No no no, shit, please no...

"I...I don't know. I can't sense him," Gabriel admitted slowly, looking ashamed.

Dean saw red. Before he could think he had a fistful of the archangel's shirt and he was yanking him close to growl in his face, "You mean to tell me you lost my baby brother? You promised you would take care of him, you arrogant dick!" he yelled.

"I made a mistake, okay?!" Gabriel yelled back, shoving Dean off hard enough that he stumbled back several steps.

"What. Mistake?" His tone was cold, the voice that he usually used while shoving salt down the throat of the demon he was interrogating. Cas was looking at him in concern, chewing on his lip, but Dean couldn't afford to think of him right now - couldn't afford the all-consuming distraction of Castiel when his baby brother was God knows where.

"I was so focused on shielding us from Michael that...I forgot to block us against Lucifer." The archangel looked at him with chagrined, pitying eyes that had Dean's stomach clenching and he knew he was going to be sick. His mind was spinning and he knew his expression was blank as he stared with glassy eyes at Gabriel.

"What are you saying, Gabriel?" Castiel asked softly, and Dean wanted to scream. Didn't he get it? Please don't say it, if he didn't say it maybe it wasn't real, maybe this was all some nightmare and Dean was still asleep with Cas in that motel room and Sam was fine...

"I'm sorry, Dean...Lucifer has your brother."

[A/N: Look at this, another chapter within 48 hours! Aren't you proud of me? Proud enough to leave a review? :D :D Oh and my offer on the last chapter still stands-I've only had one reviewer for it so far, so the next person to review chapter 5 (the previous chapter) gets to give me a prompt that I'll write up for them. If you want to find out more quickly what Sam's fate will be (CLIFF HANGER, DUN DUN DUUUUNNNNN), review. Seriously it helps me update faster when I get more feedback. And I would also love to see the reactions to the Destielness. Anyways, that's all. Review pretty please!]

-Makky