Chapter 8

It was only two days later when Gabriel heard the prayer. While he had heard Sam pray the previous two nights, the human had merely continued to thank the archangel for his salvation. Tonight was different, Gabriel listened as Sam asked the archangel to speak with him if he wasn't busy, to allow them a few minutes to talk alone. Gabriel quickly flew to the man, ignoring the trick he had been about to set and made his way to the hunter's bedroom. Absently the blond noticed how the other bed where Dean had been previously was empty; the covers pulled tight around the mattress.

A quick glance around the room and Gabriel figured the older Winchester had left, the duffel bag which had been at the foot of the bed now gone. Sam was still kneeling beside his mattress, hands clasped in prayer while the archangel stood there, observing the human. Sam looked the same as he had previously, there was a healthy glow to the man, his soul brightening the room to those who could see it. Gabriel had no doubt Dean leaving would have been hard on the hunter, thankfully Sam seemed well overall.

Waiting for Sam to notice him, Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest. It was nice, having his human pray to him directly, it gave a certain thrill through his grace at being called upon by his intended, by his charge. It had been too long since Gabriel had last claimed a human as his and seeking Sam for his courtship only intensified the sensation. After a minute or two, the hunter noticed his presence, the taller man turning with wide eyes.

Gabriel couldn't help but smirk at the man, watching while Sam carefully rose from his knelt position. Not bothering to hide his appraisal, the archangel let loose a whistle as Sam stood there in a baggy t-shirt and a pair of sleep pants. It was the least Gabriel had seen Sam wear while conscious; and though he knew he could appear at any state of undress, he felt it meant something the man had called him while wearing clothing ready for bed.

Stepping forward, Gabriel had to tilt his head up to look at Sam's face which was blushing lightly. It was satisfying to know he could cause the man to blush so quickly, the shade of pink was attractive on the other's cheeks. While he didn't touch the hunter, Gabriel did step close enough Sam's personal space was invaded. "You rang Samsquatch?" asked the archangel a hint of a smile on his face while Sam flushed a bit darker.

"Yeah, I mean… I'm ready to talk now. I've thought things over, and I have some questions if you- if you don't mind answering them."

Sam was so nervous it was adorable. Instead of playing a game of contemplating if he would answer the questions or not, Gabriel nodded. "Take a seat, and we'll talk. I'm sure you have a list to get through, and I would rather not get a crick in my neck from having to look up at your Gigantor-self." Sam didn't hesitate in sitting down, which caused Gabriel to smile before taking a seat himself on Dean's bed. Sitting in the middle of the mattress, the blond crossed his legs to place a hand on either knee while facing Sam who was sitting at the edge of the opposite bed, hunching slightly.

"Can you even do that? Get a crick in your neck I mean?" began Sam, his wide hazel eyes looking imploringly at the archangel. "Technically? No. Most human reactions I need to let happen for them to process. Like blinking or breathing, for example, I don't need to do it, but I've been posing as someone who needs to for so long it comes naturally to me. There are other things as well, like blushing or being winded I don't do instinctively and have to think about it for it to happen."

"I also," continued Gabriel. "Don't have to eat or drink, but I like sugar, so I tend to eat things with it a lot. I can lower my grace enough to seem almost human, but it takes effort and I would rather not if I don't have to."

Sam nodded his head, absorbing the information while biting his lip for a second. Seeing how nervous Sam was, Gabriel caught the others gaze. "You know, you can ask me things, that's the whole point of this little sleepover. If I don't want to answer, I won't, but there's no need for you to hold back your questions."

"I don't know how to phrase it without looking like an idiot." The confession was met with Gabriel's laughter. "Oh Sammy, trust me while there is such a thing as a stupid question I bet none of yours fall under the umbrella. Now ask." The archangel watched as Sam glanced down at his clasped hands before speaking, his shoulders seemingly hunching a bit more.

"What did you mean by intent?" Sam glanced up from behind his bangs. Gabriel only had a moment to consider his response, his eyes locking with hazel ones while he did. "Angels typically don't mate, not any longer. To do so was to put another angel as number one on your list, before everyone… before Dad. It wasn't that Dad disapproved, in fact, He encouraged it, but some thought it unseemly. Before I left Heaven, there were only a few mated pairs, and while I don't want to stress you, you need to understand how rare this is."

Seeing Sam nod his head, Gabriel breathed in for a moment before he continued. "Because of the rarity, we don't have our way to show intent, nothing but our grace, our very selves. You may see and feel this vessel, Sam, but it is merely a shell. My true self is beyond your comprehension; it is light and power and enormous. The only way we mate outside of our vessels is with our grace, in those few instances where an angel wishes to take a mate we do so by sharing our very being." Gabriel glanced into hose hazel eyes which were roaming his form.

"Our grace can adapt, merge with one another if we desire it. My grace has chosen to merge with you. We both know you have no grace to offer, but what makes up grace is similar enough to the human soul that it's possible for me to show intent to mate. I have only seen it a handful of times, back during the purge of the Nephilim, where an angel took on a human mate. Right now my grace left a small sliver inside you, nothing that could harm you and nothing that could influence you, but enough to protect you." When he saw how Sam didn't flinch back from the revelation of a piece of grace him, Gabriel began to hope the hunter would keep that same open-minded behavior.

"Like most creatures, there are stages, as we can not merge like two angels would, my grace feels like it needs to… pick up the slack I suppose I could say. I will attempt to prove my worth to you, to appease the part of me that wants a full merger. It has already started; I can not lie to you even when I wanted to about who I was. I feel the need to answer your prayers no matter how mundane they may be; I wish to protect you, to provide for you. Overall my grace aches to prove to you that I would be a good mate, that I can do everything and anything you desire."

Sam straightened his spine a bit, no longer hunching as he had been when Gabriel started to speak. Looking at his human, Gabriel hoped he didn't offend the hazel-eyed man. While what the archangel said was factual it wasn't the whole truth; his very being ached at the mere thought of not pleasing his mate. While he would be trying to prove his worth, his grace already wished to be one with Sam, and the waiting would probably kill him. Gabriel had only seen it once when their chosen human rejected an angel. It was before the purge when Nephilim were considered a gift.

Father told the angels to love humans more than anything, more than Him. In doing so it allowed a loophole, while it was frowned upon and only slightly accepted for an angel to put another angel before God, they were Commanded to do so with humans. Surely mating one would be appeasing His orders. Times were happy then, when they first started mating with humans, before the Nephilim grew too powerful, too bloodthirsty, and threatened everything God created.

Before Gabriel was ordered to slaughter every niece and nephew. Before what joy was left in Heaven was wiped out with the death of their children.

Gabriel had seen an angel, one of his garrison who wished to court a human. It was painful to watch after the human rejected them. Slowly their grace attacked the angel, and no one could heal the damage they did to themselves. It had been a slow death; one the archangel had put an end to. At the time Raphael had been charged with healing their brother, but Gabriel had seen the plea for mercy and had taken his blade to the other's chest.

There would be no mercy for him if Sam decided it was too much, that Gabriel was too much. Still, the archangel didn't tell the human of the consequences. Maybe he would someday, but only if the other accepted becoming his mate first, when there was no chance at rejection.

"What about you?"

The question brought Gabriel out of his musings, focusing once again on Sam who paused for a moment before standing. Watching the taller man, Gabriel was only slightly surprised when Sam sat at the edge of the bed Gabriel was using. "What about me?" responded the blond, not sure he understood the question. When a giant hand came to rest on his own, Gabriel had to fight down a shiver, turning his palm to interlock their fingers together.

"You keep mentioning your grace and what it wants… but is this even something you want?" am I something you want? The words never left Sam's mouth, but Gabriel could hear it loud and clear. Squeezing Sam's fingers in his own, the shorter man used his free hand to cup Sam's cheek gently. The physical touched seem to be what the hunter was looking for as he blinked for a moment before displaying a hint of a smile.

"My grace and I are the same, Sam. It's not like I have multiple personalities or anything, this is all me… just different parts of me. My grace is the source of my power, but it is also the source of my very being. The only difference is my grace doesn't worry about social norms. If it desires to do something? It means I want it; sometimes it just takes my brain a minute to catch up."

Running his hand along the side of Sam's face, Gabriel leaned in a bit closer. "I'm not going to say I was on board with the idea instantly, but you…" trailing off, Gabriel ran his thumb along Sam's bottom lip. "It didn't take me long to realize you're special, that you're what I was looking for even if I didn't see it at first. The fact that you could be asking me anything right now, anything at all and you're asking if this is what I truly want? At being worried about my needs and desires? It proves what kind of person you are."

Licking his lips, Gabriel couldn't help but notice as Sam watched his tongue intently while he did so. "I think the question now is, what do you want Sam?" Raising his chin slightly in silent invitation, the archangel continued. "What is it you want from this? I understand if you need more time. Being what I am you should know there is no divorce clause, no backing out once a full mating has completed. If you don't want to try, that's fine, but if you want to give this a shot, to let me prove I can be a good mate…"

Sam nodded his head ever so slightly, causing a broad grin to break on Gabriel's face. "I'll walk you through the process as we go so we're both on the same page. Right now, I've displayed my intent; if you're ready would you like to display your acceptance of my offer?" Sam didn't hesitate before speaking, his body leaning closer, so they were barely separated. "How?"

Straightening his back, Gabriel brought their faces almost together; he could feel Sam's hot breath against his lips. "How do you agree to anything? With a kiss. Do you want to kiss me, Sammy?" Gabriel wasn't given a verbal answer, but soft lips pressed against his own. A large hand was cradling the back of his head, holding the archangel in place while Sam kissed him. Closing his eyes, Gabriel let his hand drop to Sam's chest before trailing up around his neck, causing the taller man to let go a soft moan.

Breaking the kiss, Sam pulled back only enough to look at the archangel who opened his eyes for a moment. "If we're going to be mated," began Gabriel a small smirk on his face. "You're going to have to stop holding back."

Diving in for another kiss, Gabriel was surprised when he was met with a tongue this time. The position was awkward. However the second Sam started to let go a bit and explore the archangel, Gabriel decided he didn't care about anything else besides the feel and flavor of his human. Feeling a tug on his hair from where Sam had his fingers tangled, Gabriel gasped before moving the hand that had their intertwined fingers to his waist. Sliding his hand up Sam's arm, the blond moaned as the taller man playfully bit down on his bottom lip.

There wasn't much room on the bed the way they were sitting. However, Gabriel managed to bring them down onto their sides only breaking the kiss for a moment. "Sam," whispered the archangel while the taller man maneuvered to lay down on the mattress, bodies pressed together. "Sam… how far do you want this to go?" while his words were slightly panted, Sam hummed absently before moving to capture Gabriel's lips again.

Gabriel's hand had long since begun holding onto brunet hair, running his fingers through the smooth stands while the other rested on Sam's hip. The hunter had his hand slipped under Gabriel's jacket and was resting on the archangel's side, the other slightly pinned between them. With a forceful shove, Sam pushed the archangel onto his back, the blond opening his legs so Sam could fit between them.

"Sam?" questioned Gabriel, right before said human dipped his head and began trailing kisses along Gabriel's jawline. Hooking one leg over Sam's hip, the smaller man leaned his head back to give the man more access. "Sammy… I need you to answer me, how far do you want to take this tonight?" A large hand trailed up Gabriel's thigh on the leg which hooked around Sam. "I don't know," answered Sam while his kisses turned into light nips. "I just want more Gabriel; I want to feel more of you, taste more of you…"

While he didn't want to, Gabriel tugged on Sam's hair until the man pulled back enough to look at him. This was moving too fast, and while he wanted nothing more than to let Sam explore, Gabriel wouldn't forgive himself if they rushed things. They could have sex without completing the bond; it had been done before. Gabriel didn't want that though; he wanted their first time together to be when they bonded, to have their first time together be monumental.

"You can, and will feel me, all of me… but not tonight. We only just acknowledged we want to be mates down the line Samster… this shouldn't happen now." Seeing the disappointment on Sam's face was enough to make Gabriel's grace turn uncomfortably. Holding back the wince which wanted to escape, the archangel pulled Sam into another kiss, this one softer than the last.

"I have no intentions of rushing this, of rushing us. Another few weeks won't kill either of us. Will you let us take this slow Sam? If it's something you need-" Gabriel was cut off as Sam pressed his body flat against Gabriel's. Having the man bury his face into Gabriel's neck, the archangel wrapped his arms around his human waiting for the other to speak.

"No, but I need to feel you, Gabriel. Will you… will you lay with me? It's late, and I get it if you have things you need to do, but…" asked Sam. Gabriel held the human against him, smiling. "Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong, but this isn't your bed, and if it's all the same to you I would like to not sleep in my shoes and jacket."

Getting the hint, Sam pecked Gabriel's lips before unhooking the archangel's leg and rising from the bed. For a moment Sam just looked at the blond, taking in the archangel's form. Gabriel watched as the hunter seemed to battle with himself for a moment before getting off the bed entirely and turning down the covers to his own. Hopping up, Gabriel easily stripped off his jacket and took off his boots before pausing at his belt.

"You know, when I do indulge in sleep, it's typically without pants…" letting the sentence trail off with a raised eyebrow, Gabriel saw Sam's eyes widen for a moment. Pulling his belt off, the archangel unbuttoned his jeans, and seeing no protest from Sam, pushed the pants down to the floor. Stepping out of his jeans and pulling off his socks, Gabriel was left in a t-shirt and boxers. While he wasn't fully erect, their light petting had caused the blond to become aroused which he knew wasn't hidden behind the flimsy material of his underwear.

Unable to help himself, Gabriel tilted his hips forward a bit which highlighted the form of his cock pressing against the silk material of his boxers. Sam licked his lips, his body mostly covered by the blanket he had pulled up to his chest. Having seen the archangel strip down to get comfortable the taller man had taken off his shirt, although the sheet covered most of his torso.

Coming to the edge of the bed, Gabriel lifted the corner of the comforter before pulling it down slightly, just enough to slip under. While he hadn't been in bed long, Gabriel could feel the heat radiating from Sam, already creating a lovely warm bundle. Lying on his side facing the man, the archangel left a few inches between them, all that he could on the small bed.

"How do you want to do this Samster?" While his tone was teasing, there was a soft smile on Gabriel's face while he waited for Sam to answer. Watching the pink rise to Sam's cheeks was well worth the hours he would be laying there tonight. "Would it be weird if I was the big spoon?" asked the human, not meeting Gabriel's eyes. Using the small space between them, the archangel rolled so he was on his other side, scooting back until his back pressed against Sam's front. Tucking under his intended's chin, Gabriel smiled as an arm extended to wrap around him, pulling him flush against the warm body behind him.

Wiggling until he was content, Gabriel noticed Sam kept his crotch away. "You know, if you wanted to wrap your Sasquatch body around me, I'm game for all of you wrapped around me." The arm around him tightened for a second before Sam shifted his hips, moving a leg in-between Gabriel's own. The new position caused the hunter to press his hardened length against the curve of Gabriel's cheeks.

"That a gun in your pocket Big Boy?" Gabriel couldn't help but joke as Sam got comfortable behind him. What the archangel wasn't expecting was the soft chuckle and for Sam to deliberately thrust his groin against Gabriel again causing the archangel to gasp lightly. "Yeah, if you're a good boy I'll let you fire it off later," responded Sam, his arm wrapped firmly around Gabriel to keep them pressed tightly together.

Laughing the archangel rested his hand over Sam's pressing it against his stomach and closed his eyes. While he couldn't feel the texture through the back of his shirt, Gabriel could sense his feather resting between them, a constant reminder this was his chosen human. "Go to sleep Sam; I'll keep watch over you while you rest."

Instead of answering him directly, Sam nuzzled the top of Gabriel's head which was barely resting on the pillow before slowly relaxing into sleep. Gabriel let himself doze slightly, his grace happily keeping them wrapped in a bubble of safety. Even though he didn't strictly need to sleep, he couldn't help but think being held by Sam wasn't a bad way to spend a few hours. He could get used to it.