Chapter Six: Dazed and Confused

When Sam pulled the Impala back into the church parking lot nearly an hour later, he was surprised to see his brother sitting on the gravel ground. Dean had dropped to the pavement the second he'd reached the parking lot, the second he was out of the line of view from Cas's living room window. He'd been sitting there with his back against the trunk of a tree, knees pulled up to form a resting place for his elbows, head in his hands, and eyes tightly shut the entire time.

Sam skidded to a stop in the parking spot closest to the tree, hopping out before the car came to a complete halt. "Dean?" he called, walking swiftly toward his brother, "Are you ok?"

Before lifting his face, Dean schooled his features into a smile, which may or may not have worked; Dean couldn't be sure, because Sam's expression let on nothing. "I'm fine. Cas is... Busy. So I was waiting for you. Speaking of which, in what universe does it take that long to get breakfast?"

At some point during the brothers' conversation, Gabriel had meandered over to them. "In this universe. Clearly."

"Was I talking to you?" Dean asked, needing some release of the overbearing emotions building up inside of him. Gabriel was just an easy target.

"Do I care?" the little man shot back, mocking Dean's tone.

And Dean was on his feet in record time, grabbing Gabriel by the front of his shirt and spinning them around to push him against the tree, lifting the shorter man's feet off the ground easily. "Apparently not. But you should care," he replied menacingly, his face dangerously close to Gabriel'sas he no less than growled out his answer.

"Guys, stop!" Sam cut in, trying to place himself between his brother and Gabriel and adding, "Please..." when he reached a position from which he could meet Dean's eyes.

Dean always wondered whether or not Sam realized that those stupid puppy-dog eyes were always a weak spot for him. But regardless, they were a very weak spot, so Dean dropped Gabriel, turning and walking to the Impala the second the other man's feet hit the ground. He got into his car, and leaned his head against the steering wheel, finally finding a little solace.

The drive back to the motel was quite nearly silent, until Sam chose to speak. And by the time his little brother finished, Dean almost wished he'd just remained silent. "I'm sorry..." Sam began, "About… all that."

Dean just nodded.

"It's just... I just... Didn't want either of you to get hurt," Sam struggled, and Dean could almost hear the gears cranking in his head, trying to find a way to put his girlish little feelings into words.

Another nod.

"I know you don't like him Dean, but he's... He's... He's..."

"Are you a broken fucking record, Sammy? Spit it out." The harshness of his words caused even Dean to cringe against them.

"My... Uh, friend," Sam finished, but by the way he spoke, Dean could very well tell 'friend' wasn't the word Sam wanted to use.

"Yeah, ok. I don't believe that. Not for a minute. So, wanna tell me what's really going on? Cause if not, fine, just shut up. But don't fucking lie to me, Sam."

Sam took a deep breath, fighting some invisible barrier he had up in his mind that really didn't want to let his next words slip. But, nonetheless, they did. "I like him, Dean. Ok?"

Dean bit his bottom lip and looked upwards at the sky outside his window as he drove, not quite knowing what to say. Honestly, he had nothing against Sam being gay. Or whatever. How could he when he was pretty far down that track himself? But Gabriel? Gabriel? Wasn't their ridiculous height difference enough, before Dean even considered how freaking obnoxious the little guy was?

"You... you don't have to say anything, Dean. I just... Had to tell someone because I'm... Confused. I don't like men. I never have. But he's... He's..." Sam stuttered, falling back into the incessant repetition of a broken record.

There came a certain, copious, amount of time, coupled with an equally copious amount of 'He's' which made Dean realize that he simply had to say something, if only just to stop Sam from rambling on and on. "Amazing? Perfect? Different?" Dean offered, using the words he'd love to use for Cas, figuring Gabriel was likely falling into the same category for Sam. Well, minus the whole 'I just made out with a priest on his living room couch then he kicked me out of his house' thing. Of course.

Sam turned in his seat, smiling mischievously at his brother like some little girl at her best friend after a game of Truth of Dare at a sleepover. Oh God, Dean thought, Chick-flicky bonding over our insane little crushes...

"Yeah, actually," Sam agreed, "That about covers it. Sounds like it's coming from someone who understands...?" he tried, testing the waters, seeing how willing Dean might have been to give away a secret of his own.

"No." was Dean's automatic response. "They were just suggestions for you."

Sam laughed, probably hearing that same lie in Dean's voice, the one Dean had heard in his earlier, but Sam didn't push the issue. He knew Dean wasn't as prone to giving in as he was. "Are you... freaked out? 'Cause I understand if you are. I mean, I am..." Sam asked, his eyes showing that he was afraid his big brother might disapprove, might be ashamed.

"No, Sam," Dean answered protectively, "Of course not. Why would I be freaked out?"

"Because your little brother just confessed to you that he has come to the realization that he likes another man...?"

Dean laughed. He didn't mean to, and it was hardly a humorous laugh, but Sam flinched at the sound of it regardless. "Sam, after everything we've been through... You can like whomever you damn well please. It happens. It's fine."

Sam nodded, glad Dean hadn't reacted in the way he had originally feared. Dean sure as hell did not approve of Gabriel of all people, but that was another discussion for another time. Dean was all feelings-ed out.

The rest of the drive, along with the rest of the day, passed in near-silence. Sam needed time to think. Dean needed a lot of time to think. And they both respected that in each other, somehow each mutually supporting their brother even through the quiet in that way they'd mastered years ago. They were simply present, just there for each other should they need something, and that was enough.

Hope you all enjoyed that. As always, reviews and opinions are much appreciated!