Sorry this took me so long! Here it is :) At least it's a long one LOL
By the way, if Spencer or anyone else seems a bit OOC, I think it'll make sense to you by the time the chapter is done. There's a reason!
It took almost twenty minutes after Gabriel gave the all clear before Castiel and Spencer finally extracted themselves from Bobby's house and made their way to the motel that the others were waiting at. Unfortunately, it sounded like things hadn't exactly gone well during those twenty minutes. Instead of finding everyone waiting for them and maybe even talking about the mission, they found the Winchesters squaring off while Gabriel was nowhere in sight.
Spencer tensed at Castiel's side. He looked at Dean, who had his jaw set and his chin up in a clearly stubborn pose, and then over to Sam, who looked furious.
Their arrival had both men spinning towards them and Spencer took an instinctive step back when Sam's furious eyes shot his way. "Did you know about this?"
"Leave him outta this." Dean snapped.
Out of what? Spencer looked back and forth between the two with confusion. What had he missed? What happened between Gabriel contacting Castiel and them arriving here?
Castiel was braver than Sam. He took the two steps to close the distance between him and Dean and actually reached out to lay a hand on the hunter's arm while looking back and forth between the brothers. "What is going on?"
It didn't look like Dean really wanted to answer that question. Sam, however, had absolutely no issue whatsoever on that. "Apparently Famine has some giant plan to get me back on demon blood and become Lucifer's bitch and Dean didn't think I needed to know about it! Gabe had to be the one to tell me."
Oh. Realization hit and had Spencer's eyes widening. Oh, wow. Dean hadn't told Sam about that yet? Wow. Way to go, Dean, he thought, shaking his head.
This definitely wasn't Spencer's fight and it wasn't one that he wanted to be witness to. As the two shouted, he tried to think of a way out of here, a way to retreat without drawing attention to himself. He didn't want to get in the middle of this kind of argument. But there was no real way to extract himself from this. He was stuck standing uncomfortably on the sidelines wishing he were anywhere but here right now. Spencer got so focused on his thoughts that he didn't notice at first when the argument went quiet. When he looked up, the boys were on opposite sides of the room, with Sam sitting down on his bed and his head in his hands. The sight tugged at something inside of Spencer and he chewed on his lip, debating going over to join him. Touch really wasn't something that Spencer was comfortable with or good at. But sometimes Derek or JJ seemed eased when they were upset and he'd sit next to them. They never had to touch. Just sitting at their side made them feel a little better. Would it help Sam feel a little better?"
His dejected pose apparently got to Dean as well. The older hunter looked down at Sam with something on his face that just barely hid the worry and ache Spencer could feel coming off him. "Sam…" He paused and blew out a breath before trying again. "Sammy, we'll figure it out. If I didn't think you could handle it, I wouldn't have brought you here."
"You shouldn't have." Sam said softly. He didn't look up at them, just stared down at the ground between his feet.
There was shame rolling off of him and filling up the room until Spencer thought he might choke on it. He wings twitched behind him, one of them reaching out without conscious thought to rest around Sam without actually touching him, a barrier meant to protect and soothe. Spencer watched the hunter, not seeing the way that Castiel and Dean were both watching him. "Sam, your brother's right. You can handle this." Spencer said softly. Then, almost hesitantly, he added "You have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Yeah, right." The look on Sam's face as he glanced up was probably supposed to be a sneer but really only managed to convey so much self-loathing it made Spencer ache for him. Hazel eyes drifted back down, looking anywhere but at the faces that were all turned his way. "I'm the only one here who's got to worry about turning into a junkie for demon blood of all things, Spencer. But oh, sure, nothing to be ashamed of."
It looked like Dean wanted to say something to that. Holding up a hand, Spencer shook his head, hoping Dean would listen to him and keep quiet. He was kind of surprised to see that he did, but Spencer didn't take the time to marvel over it. His focus stayed on Sam, on the emotions that were rolling off of him. He even ignored the arrival of his guardian off to the side. None of the others really mattered in that moment. Spencer focused on Sam and tried to steel himself for what he was about to say. It was the only thing he could think of to help offer comfort and, much as he hated it, they had just as much a right to know about him as they did about Sam. He'd realized that almost from the moment they'd talked about coming after Famine. It was better that everyone was here to hear it at once. He just, couldn't say it if he focused on them all. So he focused on Sam. "Our drugs of choice might be different but, trust me, you're not going to be the only addict here."
He felt the attention of the others snap to him and fought to continue to ignore them. He kept his gaze on Sam, whose head had shot up, surprised eyes going straight to Spencer. Seeing the shock there, Spencer huffed out a sound that might've been a laugh or might've just been some pitiful excuse for a breath. Not even he was sure. He stuffed his hands down into his pockets and unconsciously drew in on himself. This wasn't something he talked about – it was never talked about. Yet how could he preach to Sam about not needing to be ashamed and then turn around and be too ashamed to speak for himself?
Spencer licked dry lips and tried to fight to make sure his voice was steady – a skill he had his addiction to thank for. He'd learned how to keep himself and his voice steady even as the withdrawals had shaken through him. "My drug of choice was Dilaudid." Spencer said, voice far steadier than he felt. "I didn't start it for any noble cause like you did, either. I didn't take it thinking that it was my only way to save my brother or to stop one of the most powerful demons. I took it for my own pleasure, because I liked the numb feeling. Because it made everything stop for just a little while." The memories, the pain, the fear, the swell of his powers, all of it stopped.
Drawing in a breath that was just a little too shaky for his liking, the fledgling gathered his courage and quirked up one corner of his mouth in a mockery of a smile that did nothing to hide the ache underneath. "You've even been clean longer than I have, Sam. The weekend you found me I was home in Vegas recovering from my detox. So, trust me, I highly doubt you're going to be the only one craving while we're there. And it's nothing for you to be ashamed of. Anyone who has an issue can just deal with it. No one's perfect. You made mistakes but you've working to correct them. That's all that should matter."
"He's right." Gabriel chimed in.
The archangel didn't show hesitation like the others. He moved up easily towards Sam and dropped down onto the bed beside him. His grin was just a bit softer than normal, slightly less mocking, and both Castiel and Spencer could see how Gabriel's wings came out to curl around Sam's back protectively. Smiling, Gabriel pulled a sucker out of his pocket and held it out towards Sam, who gave a ghost of a smile as he took the offered candy. "It'll be all right, Princess." Gabriel told him. "You got this. And you got us here to help." His eyes flicked up towards Spencer for just a moment on that last part and the fledgling knew those words were meant for him, too.
Spencer drew his own wings back in now that Gabriel had his around Sam. He made sure to brush his against his guardian's first, a silent greeting between them and a hint of an apology for both now and earlier.
Once he had them back in, he pulled on the smile that he'd learned to fake so long ago and turned away from Sam and Gabriel, ignoring the pang inside at seeing the two so close on the bed, as well as seeing the other two so close on the other side of the room. Spencer felt out of place for a moment. Like the third wheel to two couples, both of whom probably needed a bit of alone time right now. Sam definitely needed a bit of time with Gabriel. It showed in the way he leaned in close to Gabriel's side, accepting the comfort that was being silently offered. Dean looked on edge too and he was a little closer to Castiel than he normal was – which was saying a lot, seeing as how Castiel seemed to have no sense of personal space when it came to his Winchester.
"Well," Spencer said, taking a small step back, smile still firmly in place. "If you'll excuse me for a few, I missed out on breakfast this morning and I'd like to go and find something to eat."
He was almost to the door when Dean started to move towards him. "I'll come with you. I need something to eat, too."
That hadn't exactly been a part of his plan but he wasn't going to protest. The look that Dean discreetly cast towards the pair on the bed made it pretty clear why he was going. Spencer had to admit he was impressed. Dean had gone from physically fighting with Sam over the younger man's relationship with the trickster to deliberately leaving them alone. Spencer's smile softened a little and he nodded. "Of course."
In short order the two made their way out to the car. There was no real surprise that Castiel followed after them. Spencer had expected it and he went automatically to climb into the backseat. What did surprise him was when Dean turned so that he could look at the both of them and said "I get the feeling we should keep out for a while. How do you two feel about hitting up the bar instead of a diner?"
Spencer tossed the idea around in his head for a moment. Then he nodded. "Sounds good." A bar sounded far more appealing than a diner did. Spencer wasn't the type to drink away his troubles – after the Dilaudid, he wasn't really one to try and lean on any sort of substance. But he couldn't deny that the burn of alcohol in his gut sounded like a pleasant thing after a day like today. There'd just been a little too much crap piled up on his plate for one day. If he could lose himself in a bar for just a little while and at the same time grant Sam and Gabriel some privacy, it was a win-win situation.
Just to cover his bases, as Dean started up the car Spencer sent out a little tendril of thought to his guardian. 'We're going to go to whatever local bar there is and give you two some privacy. When you're ready, either come join us or let me know it's safe to come back.'
'Can do, little bird.' Gabriel sent back almost immediately. 'And thanks. We'll come find you guys in a little while.'
Content, Spencer settled back in his seat.
It didn't take the long to find a bar. Once inside, they got their drinks and found a table towards the back to settle down into. It gave them a view of the pool tables while keeping them sort of sequestered from most of the crowd. Spencer was kind of grateful for it. The emotions in here were a bit high and he had to work for a second to block out the empathy. Castiel seemed to realize what he was doing and he hesitantly brushed a wing over Spencer's arm. The gesture was one of support, a silent offering of understanding and strength, and Spencer appreciated it. His own wings were tucked away to keep him safe, so he couldn't offer a touch back like he might've otherwise. Instead, he let his fingers brush over Castiel's feathers, just a silent and brief touch to let him know his own had been appreciated and that it was okay. They weren't great with each other yet, he and Castiel. But they were working on it.
Dean seemed a bit impressed when Spencer drank from his glass of scotch without a flinch or a wince. "Didn't peg you for a drinker."
"I prefer wine, usually." Spencer admitted. "But scotch seemed more appropriate tonight, and theirs isn't half bad."
There was a moment where Spencer saw some hesitation on Dean's face. Then the older Winchester fixed him with a look that Spencer had seen him give Sam plenty of times. One that said he was uncomfortable but he was going to do this because he felt it was important. It was a look Spencer hadn't expected to see directed his way. "You wanna talk about it?"
Those five words meant more to Spencer than Dean probably realized. He could hear the offer in there - Dean would really listen to him if he wanted - and he could also tell that if he said no, Dean would respect it.
For a second Spencer contemplated his glass. He was aware of both men watching him, waiting patiently. Sighing, he took another drink. "An old Unsub came after one of my team. He killed a very old friend of his in his apartment to send a message. They stopped him, but I just...feel as if I should've been there."
"Shit." Dean said lowly. "I'm sorry, man. That sucks."
They were words plenty of people had said to Spencer over the years for various things. The difference here was that he could tell Dean meant it. Somehow, that eased a bit of the tension in Spencer's shoulders. "Thanks." He smiled at them and let a little more tension bleed away. "So, we're not putting ourselves at risk here, right? Famine's not expected to be in town yet?"
"We should have a few days." Castiel reassured him.
"Good."
The trio lost themselves in simple conversation for a while. They just talked about easy things and Spencer and Dean both laughed when they watched Castiel scrunch up his face after trying a bit of Dean's beer. Spencer convinced him to try something else and ordered him a cocktail that seemed a bit more Gabriel's style - fruity and sweet. He couldn't help his grin at the pleased look that covered Castiel's face when he drank it. "This is much better." The angel said fervently.
Dean shook his head at him. "Angels, man. No taste at all."
There was a sort of air between Dean and Castiel that spencer found interesting to watch. He was curious if they'd actually done anything with one another yet. Had they admitted their feelings? He wasn't sure and he wasn't going to ask. That wasn't his business. If they wanted others to know, they would tell them.
After a few drinks, which didn't hit Spencer the way they normally did, he got a bit bored just talking and decided that it might be time to try out the pool tables. He hadn't played for a while. No one back home wanted to actually play with him anymore.
Dean watched from the table as Spencer started to play a game on his own. He winced as he watched him. Wow, the kid really didn't know how to play. Either that or he was more drunk than Dean had realized. When someone went up and started talking to Spencer, obviously trying to play, Dean actually made as if to get up and go help him. Especially when he saw Spencer lay some money down on the table. Castiel's hand on his arm stopped him. "Spencer is fine." The angel assured him.
"Dude, he's gonna get creamed." Dean mumbled.
And he was right. For the first game, Spencer lost, though he did a bit better than Dean had thought he would. He was definitely showing his inexperience, though.
Which, of course, was all part of Spencer's plan.
By the time the third game was done, Spencer walked away with four times the money he'd started with, and he did it all without ever once pissing off the guys he was playing with. There was a hint of a smug smile over his lips when he slipped back down in his chair. Castiel had a faint smile as well. Dean, however, looked impressed. "You hosed the hell outta them."
Smothering his smile, Spencer put on his best innocent look, which he knew was ruined by the amusement in his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Bullshit. Where'd you learn to play like that?"
"I got into college on scholarships, but those only paid the main bills. I still needed to eat as well as pay bills back home." Spencer shrugged one shoulder and slipped his cash carefully into his shirt pocket. "I learned how to hustle pretty early. Besides, you do realize I grew up in Las Vegas, right? It'd be more worrisome if I didn't know how to hustle."
"I'm so taking you with us the next time we go. You'd clean out the casinos."
A hint of a blush touched Spencer's cheeks. "Ah, well. Um." He huffed out a breath. "I'm sort of...banned, from most casinos because of my card counting abilities."
The sound of Dean's laughter echoed around them.
Pleased by the sound, and by the relaxed set on both his friends, Spencer smiled.
By the time Gabriel called them back to the motel, everyone was in much better moods all around. They spent the afternoon trying to prepare themselves as much as possible. The wards that Bobby had made, with Spencer's help, were placed not only on the room to keep them hidden, but on them as well. It gave them a bit of security while they tried to prepare themselves for the Horseman to come to town.
The plan was simple, really. They were here in the town where they knew Famine was going to be setting up. Thanks to Spencer's research, and Castiel's battle tactics, the two had figured out that this was where his end game was. This was where he was going to try and set up whatever trap it was he had planned for Sam. With them being here first, the hope was that they would recognize his arrival and have a trap of their own ready.
"He's not like some demon we can lure somewhere." Gabriel warned them. "We can't set up a warehouse where he can just come on in and we've got him trapped in wards. He's gonna go wherever it is that he wants to go and then he'll start luring you guys in from there. We just need to figure out where exactly it is he might go and then build a battle plan for there. But you guys gotta realize that a lot of this planning, it's more for the fight itself, not for any hope of trapping him. Horsemen are strong and they're mostly smart. They aren't going to walk into a standard trap."
Which basically meant that they were going to have to play a waiting game. But they could protect themselves and prepare and be here at ground zero to go after him the minute they could – hopefully before any humans were hurt. Spencer hated the risks with this but he didn't really have any sort of a choice. He wasn't a strategist; he didn't know how to prepare for war. He didn't know how to do things this way. What he knew was how to stop them once they'd already started killing.
By the time dinner had come and gone, they were as prepared as they were going to be. Everyone was marked with the sigils they hoped would help negate Famine's powers and they'd all listened to Spencer's warnings that this might only slow the effects down, or lessen them, not actually stop them outright.
It wasn't until it came time for bed that Spencer realized one problem – they'd only booked one room. One room for two hunters, two angels, and a fledgling. Dean realized the problem at about the same time that Spencer did. He looked around the room at the two beds, the couch, and the armchair. "Uh, guys?"
"It's fine." Spencer cut in before Dean could get going and actually catch anyone's attention. Sam, Castiel and Gabriel were all bent over the town map at the table and none had looked up at Dean's words. Smiling, Spencer lightly brushed his fingers against Dean's arm. "I'll take the couch. I don't really need as much sleep as either of you." Plus, he had to admit, a part of him liked the idea of them all being together. It was much easier to protect them all if they were all in the same space. A little part of his grace gave a happy hum at the idea of them all being in the same room.
A snap of his fingers brought some extra blankets into existence over the couch. They were from his bed back at the beach house and Spencer gave a pleased nod. Perfect. He was getting better at his powers with each passing day.
The sound of his snap drew more than a few eyes. Sam looked to the blankets and then back up to Spencer. "Spencer, you don't have to sleep on the couch."
"There's not enough room to bring in a whole other bed." Spencer pointed out. He sat down on the couch and bent down to start untying his shoes.
Gabriel looked around and then shrugged one shoulder. "I could make one fit."
"I'm sure." Spencer couldn't keep the small spark of humor out of his voice. "But seeing as how I'm perfectly content to sleep here on the couch, that won't be necessary."
Ignoring everyone else for the moment, Spencer pulled his shoes off and tucked them under the coffee table. Then he stretched himself out on the couch and reached out for his pile of blankets. He didn't really think anything of it when Gabriel slipped over towards him and lightly slapped his hands away from the blankets. This wasn't the first time his guardian had tucked him in to bed like he was some sort of child. IT was one of the things Spencer had learned to ignore and simply compromise on. It didn't hurt him and it made Gabriel happy to lift the blankets up and tuck them over him.
The others all pretended to go about their own business while it happened. Dean went to the bathroom, presumably to start getting ready for bed, and Sam and Castiel busied themselves cleaning up their maps and everything they were using to plan with. That left Spencer and Gabriel with the semblance of privacy as the archangel sat down on the edge of the couch near Spencer's head. There was concern clear in warm honey eyes. "Been a bit of a day for you." Gabriel murmured lowly.
Spencer smiled slightly and rolled onto his side, pulling his pillow down under his head a little better. It blocked view of the others and let him pretend to be alone with Gabriel for a moment. "Yeah."
"Anything I can do to help, kiddo?"
There really wasn't much that anyone could do to help right now. Spencer shook his head and tilted his face into the light touch that was brushing over his cheek now. "Nothing that you're not already doing."
Dean came out of the bathroom then and Spencer heard as Sam took his place. There was only a moment more before the younger Winchester would be back and Spencer knew what his guardian had planned. Just as he also knew it probably wouldn't go over well with Dean. Which, really, was going to be a small part of the appeal to Gabriel.
The archangel bent down and pressed a kiss against Spencer's forehead. "Good night, little sparrow."
"Night, ol'alihm."
Spencer burrowed down into his blankets and left just enough of his head peeking free for him to be able to see it as Gabriel settled himself down onto Sam's bed – and as Dean noticed. The noise he made was one that Spencer knew the hunter wouldn't live down for a long time. It was somewhere between a squeak and something that reminded Spencer of an annoyed cat. Spencer could see Gabriel's gleeful grin from here.
There was no chance for Dean to say anything more than a "What the hell are you doing?" before the bathroom door opened and Sam came out. It got even better when Sam simply moved over towards the bed without any sign of hesitation and climbed right in. He laid down against Gabriel's side and ended up with his head pillowed on the trickster's chest.
"Oh, dude." Dean groaned out. "Can you not? I'm right here!"
Sam's arm tightened around Gabriel's waist. Smirking, Gabriel shot a look over to Castiel – who was still standing at the foot of Dean's bed – and then back to the hunter. "Don't tell me you aren't hoping to do the same thing there, bucko."
That sure caught everyone's attention. They all looked, everyone's faces turning to watch as Dean blushed.
Spencer chewed on the inside of his cheek and looked back and forth between Castiel and Dean. Then, without letting himself give it too much thought, he lifted a hand and snapped. Two things happened at once. The lights turned off – and Castiel appeared next to Dean in bed.
The sounds of cursing and laughter had Spencer burrowing back into his blankets once more. He curled in and ignored the sounds, smothering his own chuckles as he listened to Dean cursing Gabriel, dead sure that it was him that had done it. But even when all the noise settled down and it seemed like everyone was drifting off to sleep, it didn't escape Spencer's notice that Castiel hadn't left Dean's bed.
Nice one, little bird, Gabriel's voice echoed with amusement in Spencer's mind. I think I'm starting to rub off on you.
Smiling, the fledgling drifted off to sleep.
The next day didn't really hold anything exciting for the group. They narrowed down their list of places that Famine might go to and finally ended up with two good options. A local Biggerson's that Gabriel said was a sort of perfect feeding ground for him, or the hospital. Either place would probably provide him with a perfect pool with which to work. Once they had the venue narrowed down, all they had left to do was try to plan their attack – and wait.
It wasn't exactly easy to do. Neither Dean nor Sam were the type to sit around and wait. Gabriel really wasn't either. You would've expected that an archangel would have some form of patience, at least. But those three were slowly driving Spencer and Castiel insane. Gabriel, at least, got out for a little bit when he went to go check in with Michael and Raphael in the hopes of being able to find out what was going on with Zachariah. Nothing had changed yet when he reported back – not on their end or on this one.
By the time night rolled around again, Spencer was seriously contemplating some kind of violence. Knocking Sam and Dean's heads together sounded like a good start. Those two argued more than they did anything else and they seemed to delight in getting on one another's nerves. Gabriel was absolutely no help – the trickster egged it on sometimes.
Spencer managed to escape for a little bit and he firmly dragged Castiel out with him. Not only because none of them were supposed to go anywhere alone, but because he wasn't cruel enough to leave the poor seraph there alone to run herd on that crew. They went out under the pretense of grabbing some dinner despite the fact that any one of the angels in the room could've snapped something up for them. Spencer didn't even give Gabriel time to make that suggestion. He just grabbed hold of Castiel's arm, a move that was enough to startle more than a few since Spencer really wasn't the touching type, and he dragged him towards the door with a call of "We're going to get dinner – we'll be back!"
Once they were outside, he offered his brother – and wow, did it still feel weird even thinking that – an apologetic smile. "Sorry for just yanking you out of there, Castiel. I couldn't just leave you in there to deal with those three."
"I appreciate it." Castiel's said. His voice was dry, as was his humor, and Spencer found himself smiling a little at that.
The two didn't really talk all that much as they went down to the closest diner to get some food. It was something about Castiel that Spencer really did appreciate. The other angel didn't always feel the need to talk and fill in the silences. He wasn't human and he didn't have all those awkward human hang-ups. Spencer was quiet, so Castiel was quiet as well. They didn't say much until after they'd gathered up all the food they ordered and were preparing to walk the few blocks back to the motel. "Are you ready for this?" Spencer asked him teasingly.
A little hesitantly, Castiel brushed one of his wings against Spencer's, relaxing when Spencer returned the gesture just as hesitantly. "I believe we can handle them. Though, they do tend to test those limits, don't they?"
"They don't like being cooped up. Add Gabriel into the mix and it only makes things a little more tense. He helps Sam to relax, but he sets Dean on edge."
"Dean does not fully trust him yet."
Spencer nodded. "Yeah. They've got too much of a history there. But, having you there relaxes him, Castiel."
He caught sight of the slight smile that touched Castiel's lips. More telling was the way his wings puffed out in obvious happiness. Then, in a human move that was rather surprising from him, Castiel slanted a look towards Spencer that was just slightly hesitant and clearly unsure. "You believe so?"
"Of course." Spencer answered immediately. "He cares for you, Castiel. It's written in every inch of him. His soul lights up when you're in the room with him. Last night is the most peaceful I've ever seen him sleep and it was solely because of your presence in his bed." A light flush touched Spencer's cheeks at saying something so bold.
Castiel, however, had no such objections to speaking. As Spencer was coming to realize, angelic siblings were a bit different than human ones. There didn't seem to be this need for secrets. Gabriel had warned him about that. He'd warned Spencer that getting close with Castiel or another angel would probably be quite a bit different than getting close to a human. Angels had once shared everything. They were connected – angel radio, as the boys called it – and all touches in Heaven involved touching grace to grace, which you couldn't do without sharing at least a little something. Keeping secrets hadn't become a thing until after Lucifer's fall. "Even if they don't do it anymore," Gabriel had said "that kind of sharing is something angels crave. Don't be surprised if Cassie tries it with you. He wants that connection, especially since going home hasn't been all that safe for him lately."
"I care for Dean, a great deal, and I believe he cares for me." Castiel said. Then his wings slumped just a bit and his gaze dropped down to watch their feet as they walked. "However, he is unsure and uncomfortable pursuing this. Gabriel says it has something to do with what he called a 'human hang up' over sexuality. He slept with me in his bed last night and yet today, ignores that entirely. I am…unsure."
Of all people to come to for advice, the idea of Castiel coming to him was laughable. What did he expect Spencer to know? He wasn't really an expert on relationships! But that didn't mean that he wouldn't try to help. Spencer couldn't help how he reached out in response to the sadness he felt from his brother. He used one of his wings and slid it under Castiel's, boosting it up and then curling around his back in a gesture that was like a hug. "Be patient with him, brother." Spencer murmured, curling his wing a little more and drawing Castiel in until their shoulders bumped together. "You're important to him. But Gabriel's right. Humans have a lot of problems with the idea of same gender relationships. For all that you're genderless, your vessel is male, and Dean needs time to work through that. All you can do is continue to be there for him the way that you are and let him know that you care. He needs to be able to work through this on his own."
Spencer didn't notice the awed look on Castiel's face at the use of the word 'brother'. He didn't even realize that he'd said it, or how much it meant to the angel to hear it, especially after their rocky start. What he did notice was the cautious curl of Castiel's wing around him. Spencer had his wing low, tucked under Castiel's and more around the seraph's waist. That allowed Castiel just enough room to lay his wing gently around Spencer's shoulders, feathers brushing against the wings on Spencer's other side. It was kind of awkward at first for them to find the angle that allowed them to walk that way, especially since Spencer had six wings to Castiel's two, but they made it work and were still mostly curled around one another when they reached the motel. They hadn't said anything else after Spencer's last words. They hadn't needed to.
They separated slightly so that they could go inside. But a barrier had been broken down between them and they exchanged more touches that night than normal. Spencer pretended not to notice just how happy it made Gabriel. He ignored his guardian's smugness and instead just let himself settle down onto Sam's bed with Gabriel. He'd hesitated briefly, casting an unsure look at Sam. This was Sam's bed, one that he was apparently now sharing with Gabriel, and he didn't want to intrude. But Sam just smiled and scooted enough to make room. That was all the invitation that Spencer needed. He let Gabriel pull him down and right against his side.
It was absurdly comfortable where Spencer found himself. Gabriel's wings were out, something that didn't always happen out where others might see, and Spencer was underneath the shelter of them, his cheek pressed against Gabriel's shoulder. He let his fingers slip out to brush lightly over the feathers in front of him. In response, Gabriel never broke in his conversation with Dean – some sort of debate about a television show that sounded like some doctor soap opera – but he curled his middle wing in around Spencer and gave him more access to it. Spencer made a happy sound low in his throat and tangled his fingers in the feathers.
They stayed there for a while, not only eating their meal but eventually discussing their plan. Time stretched on for hours it felt like and yet Spencer found himself content to stay where he was. He was half asleep, dozing against his guardian while everyone talked around him. He hadn't been all that tired before, hadn't really been tired for a while, but he figured it was just the trouble of the past few days catching up with him and the comfort that he always found with Gabriel combining to draw him under. He didn't really think anything about it.
Almost an hour later, his bubble of peace was disturbed. When Sam got up from the bed, the loss of his warmth nearby was enough to pull Spencer up from the little half-sleep he'd been in. He furrowed his brows and cast an unhappy look after the hunter. Then he saw he was only going to the bathroom. Oh.
He waited impatiently for Sam to come back. When he did, Spencer waited until Sam was just close to the bed and then stretched out the largest of his wings to curl it around the hunter. Instead of letting Sam go past him to go to Gabriel's other side, he used his wing to draw him down to the bed, chuckling when Sam stumbled and half fell. Spencer's grace hummed happily as he found himself squished between his guardian and his guardian's human – mate, a small part of Spencer's mind whispered – with Gabriel's heat against one side of him, wings around him, and now Sam on his other side pressing up against his hip and legs. They surrounded him and the fledgling made a happy sound. He made another one when he heard Sam's chuckle. "Well hello there, Spencer." The hunter said, still chuckling. He sat up and looked at him with amused eyes. "Can I help you?"
Spencer smiled and used the wing he still had around him to tug him just a little closer. "Nope!"
Dean seemed just as amused as Sam was, but it was the two angels who caught everyone's attention. Castiel had gone still beside Dean and Gabriel had stiffened as well. Feeling it, Spencer reached out with his grace, responding to Gabriel's worry and trying to offer what reassurance he could. Had he done something wrong?
"Hey, no, you're okay kiddo." Gabriel said immediately. He pulled his wing a bit tighter around Spencer and then looked up to Castiel. "Cas?"
Whatever was asked in that single word, Castiel shook his head. "No."
"Damn." Gabriel swore. He looked back down at Spencer and reached out to brush a bit of his hair from his face. "Must be something in the grace-soul mix. He's still got just enough human in him."
"What's going on?" Dean asked. He set his food down and sat up a little, watching Gabriel carefully. Sam had turned more alert as well, moving just slightly away from him, and Spencer made a low sound of protest that Sam responded immediately to. The hunter pressed back in, making Spencer's grace relax again.
That relaxation cleared Spencer's head just enough that he could think through the cloud of want and need and family that felt like it was fogging his head. He looked at how close he was pressed to Gabriel, how he'd drawn Sam in until they were almost tangled together in this little squished up pile on the bed, and he felt his cheeks heat. Inside he could feel his grace wanting to wrap around these two and just burrow down into them and stay there. He wanted to drag Castiel over, too, and tangle their wings like they'd done outside and feel that connection of brotherhood once more. There was a need in him, this need to be close to them – close to family. "Oh." Spencer said lowly. Famine was all about hunger, but he'd been so sure that his own hunger would be his recent addiction. He hadn't expected this.
Gabriel must've followed his trail of thoughts. He nodded, tightening his wing around Spencer. "Yeah. Looks like we were off on our guesses. I've got no idea how I didn't sense him, but it seems like Famine's come to town a little earlier than planned."
"What are you talking about?" Dean asked. He looked even more worried now, and on edge, like he was preparing for trouble to come busting through the door.
It was Castiel who answered him. "It would appear that our trip to the diner earlier exposed Spencer to Famine's influence somehow. My grace protected me but Spencer is enough human that it seems to have affected him, despite the wards we put on him. His body and grace are craving the connection that all fledglings have. Famine's influence has turned it into a hunger for family, for home, and he is reacting by surrounding himself with his family."
Spencer ducked his head down a little and couldn't quite help the embarrassment that he felt. Great. He'd been all prepared to handle drug cravings if the wards didn't work and instead he was craving family. What did that say about his life that family and closeness was the one thing he apparently craved more than anything else?
"You've got absolutely nothing to be ashamed about, Spencer." Gabriel's voice was firm and left no room for argument. "It's your instincts that are being drawn to the forefront. There's nothing whatsoever wrong with wanting to be close to your family. Famine's influence just makes you want it more an unable to resist it. It's fine." As if to back that up, Gabriel's grace pushed out and wrapped around him, making Spencer's grace glow happily.
To his surprise, Sam pressed in closer as well. "He's right. There's not a thing wrong with wanting to have family around you."
"You're doing remarkably well with it." Castiel said. "Fledglings often pile together when they're young. Either Famine's influence is still building in you, or you have a very strong sense of control."
Dean was the one to draw attention away from Spencer and back to the important topic, much to Spencer's relief. "So if he's in town, our plans need pushed up. Especially if he's already gotten to Spencer."
"If he's gotten to Spencer, how well will the wards work on us?" Sam asked. "He's got grace to help protect him and they still didn't work."
"They might still work. We knew there was a chance that they wouldn't work on him since all of them were keyed for humans and he's only a little human." Gabriel pointed out.
Still, it was a risk, and they all knew it. Just as Spencer knew that this was about to be even harder, because as much as he hated it, he knew there was no way they were going to be able to bring him along. Not with him feeling and acting like this. Getting closer to Famine would only make the feelings stronger, so far as he understood. There was no way he'd be able to help in a fight if he was trying to bury himself against Gabriel, or pulling Sam or anyone else in to some sort of cuddle. They needed to be free to move and act. That meant…Spencer's grace twisted, as did his stomach. That meant they were going to have to leave him here. Alone. He couldn't quite stop the pained sound that thought drew out of him.
He didn't get a chance to voice the fear. Sam pointed it out for him – "We can't leave him here alone."
"You really think he'd want anyone other than us to see him like this?" Dean asked. Spencer wanted to protest the fact that they were talking over top of him like he was some child, like he wasn't even in the room, but he didn't really get a chance. Dean just kept going, talking before Spencer could. "Look at him. He doesn't even like us seeing him this way."
"I'm right here." Spencer snapped. No matter how childish he was acting, he was an adult and he was sitting right here. The least they could do was treat him with the courtesy of talking to him instead of over him.
The soft touch of Gabriel's hand through one of his wings sent a little shiver of pleasure through him. Not the sexual kind, but the simple happy and content kind. He flushed in embarrassment, but Gabriel just stroked his feathers again. "We know, little bird. And we're not judging you or anything like that But your head's not entirely in the right place. If it were any other thing he triggered in you, that would've been different, but this is pulling on the fledgling in you and I know you can see how that makes your judgment a bit compromised." Bending himself, he pressed a kiss against Spencer's temple. "Just let us take care of you, okay?"
How on earth was he supposed to argue that? Spencer wanted to, he really did, but he couldn't argue with that kind of logic – or that kind of affection.
There was one obvious solution to their problem and they all knew what it was. To their surprise, none of them had to bring it up. Sam saved them from having to say it. He blew out a breath and looked down at Spencer and something flashed across his face, there and gone again, before it firmed into that look that said he'd clearly made a decision. "I'll stay with him." Looking back to the others, he tried to smile. It fell just a little short of the mark and carried far too much self-deprecation to it for anyone's liking. "We all know I'm the one most likely to cause trouble if these wards don't work. It makes more sense for me to stay here with him. I can help give him what he needs and he's strong enough to keep me here if I start having troubles."
There wasn't really any argument that anyone could make to that. It did make the most sense. Gabriel watched his partner silently and Spencer had a feeling they were exchanging silent conversation or comfort. A corner of Gabriel's mouth quirked up. "I can give you a bit of grace before I go. Just sort of, infuse you with it a little. It should help you fight somewhat and it'll help Spencer as well. He'll be drawn to it because it's mine."
The part of Spencer that was getting a little louder didn't really like the idea of everyone leaving – especially the one that he was curled up against.
"We can't waste time. If Spencer here is already affected by this from just a trip to the diner, who knows how bad it is out there for anyone else." Dean pointed out.
"Unless this was a targeted attack." Castiel said slowly.
"How the hell would he know we're coming?" Dean demanded. "Who would've told him? No one but us knows our plans!"
Spencer shifted a little and forced himself to sit up somewhat, to be a part of the conversation. "He had to have people watching the town. Not demons – we would've sent those. But humans or something being controlled by demons, maybe. If they were watching, all they'd have to do is wait for us to show our faces. If I were him and this town were my end game, I would've had anyone I could watching to see when you get here, just on the off chance you got here first. Then, it can't be hard for them to get here. Demons can travel from one place to the next – who's to say a Horseman can't?"
"So they know we are here and they know we're coming." Castiel said.
The words had quite the sobering effect on the room. For a moment, everyone was quiet.
It was Dean who broke the silence. "It doesn't change anything." He said. When everyone looked at him, he shook his head. "It doesn't. We still have to go after him and we still have to hope our plan works. And if he's already getting to Spencer, we don't have time to waste. There's no telling how long before he starts affecting the people in town, too. Wasting time could mean letting people die, and that's not something I'm willing to do. We've prepared for this as much as we can. We need to go, now, before it gets any worse." He turned to look at Sam and Spencer. "You two need to lock yourselves in and keep as safe as possible. If I thought for a minute you'd go, I'd tell you to get the hell outta here till we deal with this."
Sam's expression hardened. "I'm not leaving. You go kill the son of a bitch, Dean, but we're staying here in case you need us."
The two shared one of those looks of theirs that let them pass countless words without ever saying anything. Spencer watched it, and he watched as they both nodded. Then Dean turned is focus back to the angels. "All right. Let's go gank ourselves a Horseman."