Hey guys, I am so sorry about the wait. Short version, my family is crazy. That's about it. I've got the last few chapters planned out, but you guys know how good I am about that. Anyway, thank you guys so so soooooooooo much for your patience, review (Tari4078), favs, and follows. You're amazing and I love you guys. Oh! And Happy Fourth of July, my fellow Americans! 'Merica!
"So you two are back together?" Kevin whispered excitedly at their lockers the next day. Sam had explained everything that had happened. He nodded. "So, does that mean things will go back to normal?" Sam laughed.
"As normal as dating your teacher can get I guess."
"So, you're going to break up with Ruby?"
"What about Ruby?" Ruby had popped up out of nowhere. Kevin jumped back. Ruby slipped in between and gave Sam a kiss. Sam gave her a quick peck back, but then grabbed her hand.
"Can we talk?" Ruby stared up at Sam.
"Are you breaking up with me? No guy ever says that without wanting to break up."
"Oh, I um…well," Ruby rolled her eyes.
"Out with it, Winchester. Please, I need to get to first period."
"I just, I think it would be better if…"
"If we broke up. Great. Bye." Ruby turned away and walked back down the hallway.
"Well, that was easy." Kevin smiled. Sam squinted and Ruby's back. That was a little too easy. Sam shrugged. They hadn't really been dating for that long, and this was high school. Who knew? Anyway, Ruby was right, they needed to get to first period. And, for the first time in what felt like a long time, Sam was excited.
Gabriel smiled at himself in the mirror as he fixed his tie. He had left the Winchesters' with Castiel and gotten another lecture about being smart about his relationship with Sam. The two (Sam and Gabriel) would have to have another conversation about what would and would not be allowed (because it worked SO well the first time), but that could wait. Right now, he was just happy. Happier than he had been in a while. He finished getting ready, and left for school. He and Sam had plans after school, so he knew the day was going to take a long time.
Gabriel pulled into the teachers' lot at the school and walked into his office as his phone rang. Gabriel looked at who was calling, smiled, and answered.
"Hello, beautiful."
"You sound like you're in a better mood." Charlie responded.
"Of course I am, I got to see you last weekend, I got my boyfriend back, I got a new recip…"
"Back the bus up, Novak. What was that?"
"That I got my boyfriend back? Oh nothing, really. Just something…"
"I NEED DETAILS NOW!" Charlie squealed. Then Gabriel heard a faint "sorry"; she must've been at work.
"Well, we laid it out on the line for each other. We told each other how we felt, why things happened the way they did, and we got back together."
"Now tell me I'm not a genius." Gabriel laughed.
"Never doubted you for a second, Char."
"Good! So, did you tell your brother?"
"Yeah, we told our brothers. Castiel and Dean. Dean, Sam's brother, wanted to throw me in jail. Or kill me. Probably both, actually."
"Well, because I know you and I love you, I'm going to say 'that jerk face', but if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't blame him for either one of those." Gabriel recapped the events for Charlie. Charlie, as much as she would deny it, loved gossip. She would never tell anybody, probably not even Dorothy, but she just loved knowing what was happening. Charlie was great at keeping secrets. Gabriel glanced at the clock almost half an hour later and realized that he needed to get to class. The bell was going to ring in less than five minutes.
"Char, I gotta go. Sam and I have a date later, but I'll call you tomorrow, promise."
"Fine! I see how it is!" Charlie laughed. "Yeah, call me tomorrow night. I've got a meeting early, then Dorothy and I have a lunch date, and…I think that's everything. Anyway, talk to you later. Love you!"
"Love you, too, Charlie. Bye." Gabriel hung up, and walked out of his office, and to his classroom, just before the bell rang. He looked in the front row, and Sam was sitting next to Jessica, speaking animatedly. Lucifer was in his usual seat, staring so hard at Sam it was almost like he was trying to burn holes in the back of Sam's head.
"Goooooooooooood morning, Kripke!" The overly chipper voice of the morning announcement's girl came through the speakers. She began speaking about the different clubs that had events going on, and ended with a reminder about Homecoming, then signed off.
"Alright guys, so today…" Naomi raised her hand. "No, Naomi, I did not get the grading done. I'll get them done tonight." Naomi lowered her hand. "Anyway, today will be…" Gabriel began his lesson, and he felt better and more excited about his lesson than he had since he and Sam had broken up. The lesson ended before Gabriel could assign the homework that he wanted to.
"Alright, lucky you guys don't have any homework from me today. Have a great day." All of the students got up, except for two. One was Lucifer and the other was Sam. Gabriel walked back to his desk and Sam followed.
"Professor Novak, I know it's a little late, but here's my essay." Sam handed Gabriel his essay that he had finished after Gabriel had left last night.
"This is two days later, Mr. Winchester. That means I can give you no higher than an eighty percent, assuming this is perfect." Sam nodded solemnly, only because Lucifer was in the room.
"That's better than a zero, I suppose. Thank you, sir." Sam almost made his voice drop to get Gabriel going, but he didn't because Lucifer was there. Why the hell was Lucifer there? Gabriel gave Sam a nod and a warm smile before putting the essay in his folder for the class.
"Sam, can I talk to you for a second?" Lucifer asked, pulling Sam's attention away from Gabriel.
"Um…yeah."
"Have a good day gentlemen." Gabriel smiled before walking out of the classroom. He figured he didn't need to hear what that was about. Lucifer and Sam walked out and down the opposite way.
"So you broke up with Ruby? What was that about?"
"Well, my brother and I just figured it would be better if I…. didn't hang out with you guys, and that includes dating Ruby."
"So you're going to let your brother tell you what to do?" There was so much hatred in Lucifer's voice that Sam stopped in the middle of the hallway.
"Well, yeah. He's my brother. He just wants what's best for me. Look, I really have to go. I'm sorry." Sam began to walk away and Lucifer grabbed his arm, jerking Sam back. His eyes were cold, almost dead looking.
"You'll be back, Sam. I won't make you come back if you don't want to, but you'll be back." Sam shook himself loose of Lucifer's grip.
"I'll remember that, thanks." With that, Sam quickly walked back to his locker with Kevin.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful except for a hip bump or two from Ruby, but Sam didn't care. He was back with Gabriel and the two had a date that night. Yes, it was going to be in his and Dean's apartment with Dean supervising, but Gabriel had talked to Castiel to attempt to get Dean out of the apartment, so maybe they could get some alone time.
"Hey, you can work this weekend right? My mom is getting worried about you." Kevin asked after their last period.
"Yeah, well, Dean will probably have to drive me to and from since I can't have my car on the weekend, but I'll be there."
"You're still grounded after everything he found out?" Sam nodded.
"For lying to him about the whole thing. I have to go home though. He might extend my sentence if I'm two minutes late." Sam packed up his bag and hurried to his car. He was hoping Gabriel would be a little early, and even drove by the teachers' lot to see if his car was still there. He saw it gleaming in the late autumn sun and sighed. He should've known that Gabriel would have a lot to do. Plus, he still had to go home and change, so it wasn't such a bad thing.
Sam arrived at home and heard Dean in the kitchen.
"Sammy!?"
"Just me!" Sam shouted back. Dean walked out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel.
"What time will Gabriel be over?"
"I'm not sure. Probably around five?"
"Great! Cas will be over around then too. I'm making burgers for dinner." Dean walked back into the kitchen. Sam followed him and leaned against the doorway.
"So, a…are you really okay with all of this?" Dean continued moving around the kitchen.
"Okay with what?"
"Gabriel and I. Together." Dean stopped and looked over at Sam.
"Honestly? No, I think it's a little wrong and messed up that you two are doing this while you're still his student. But, if the alternative is you being miserable and doing things that make you numb to try and forget him, then I can put up with it for a few months." Sam smiled, and then felt crushed by guilt. After everything he had said to Dean, Dean was still focusing on him. Taking care of him. Making sure he was happy, even though Dean himself was uncomfortable. Isn't that what parents did? Put your feelings first? Want the best for you even if you didn't know it yourself?
"Dean, I'm sorry." Dean had his back to Sam, grabbing something out of one of the cabinets.
"Hm? For what?" Dean didn't turn around. Sam figured it was better that way.
"For what I said, about you not being my real dad. I mean, hell man, I barely remember Dad. You and Bobby have always been there for me, and I'm sorry that I made you guys feel like you weren't. You've been great at raising me and making sure I'm taken care of and…" Dean held his hand up to make Sam stop, but he still didn't turn around. "Just, wanted you to know that I'm grateful." Sam finished quietly. Dean still hadn't turned around. Sam watched as Dean moved his hand again, and Sam couldn't be sure, but he thought Dean wiped his eyes. Dean turned around and his eyes looked a little red. He sniffed and cleared his throat.
"Thanks, Sammy. That means a lot." Dean crossed the kitchen and grabbed Sam for a hug. The two broke apart. Dean cleared his throat again and the patted Sam's shoulder.
"Don't you have a date to get ready for?"
