I had way too much fun torturing Zachariah last chapter, I think. Although now that I think about it, I actually despise him so it's not too bad, right?
When they pull up to the house that had been a battlefield not too long ago, Sam can't even tell if it's still occupied or not. There are huge clumps of dirt torn up from the yard and strewn all over the lawn, huge claw marks on the trees and the sides of the building, and suspicious red-brown stains crusted on the grass. It looks like no one's even attempted to clean any of it up, and Sam wonders if that's because they don't care or because their pack is that busy trying to deal with the death of their Alpha.
John's car pulls up as Sam and Raphael finish heaving Zachariah's body out of the backseat. Sam lifts an arm to wave to his father, dropping his half of the nurse's weight in the process. Zachariah's shoulder smacks onto the pavement with a dull thump.
"Oops," Sam deadpans. Raphael rolls his eyes and, after a few seconds of struggling, sighs in exasperation and lifts the body in a bridal carry. They wait for the others to pile out of the car before trekking up to the front door. John rings the bell and motions behind his back for the rest of the pack to be quiet.
A minute or two later, the door is opened, revealing a small she-wolf, her eyes already glowing ice blue and her teeth bared in a snarl.
"Why are you here?" she growls, before catching sight of Zachariah. Her growl suddenly grows into a full-blown snarl, and Sam mentally facepalms. It probably wasn't a good idea to ring the doorbell with one of their submissives casually unconscious in an enemy Alpha's arms, but oh, well. Too late to do anything now.
"What have you done to him?" the wolf snarls, stepping forward threateningly. Sam finds it kind of amusing; she's smaller than everyone on her doorstep, vastly outnumbered, and also no match for three Alphas, but he has to admire her bravery.
"Calm down," John snaps, bristling at the girl's obvious threat. "He's unharmed. We need to speak with your Alpha. Now."
"Give me Zachariah," the girl says lowly, "and I will talk to the Alpha. If he decides not to have you all killed where you stand, you might be allowed to speak with him."
Raphael snorts. "That's rich, considering we nearly annihilated your pack not too long ago."
Sam actually facepalms this time, remembering too late that Raphael has no idea what any of John's hand signals mean. John glowers at the doctor as he dumps Zachariah's body unceremoniously into the girl's arms. She lifts him like he weighs nothing, then sneers at Raphael before slamming the door in their faces.
Raphael blinks as he suddenly finds himself the center of attention. "What?"
John sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
"'We'?" Dean repeats, amusement coloring his tone. Raphael narrows his eyes in confusion.
"Yes, we. I fought against them, didn't I? Was I an interested third party?" he asks rhetorically.
"Shut up, both of you," Bobby growls. "Now isn't the time."
"Bobby's right, boys," Mary says in that tone she uses when she's disappointed but trying not to show it. It never fails to make Sam feel like a five-year-old pup again, and now is no exception.
The door opens before anyone can reply. The same she-wolf from before is standing there, her face set into a scowl.
"The Alpha will see you," she says, opening the door a fraction of an inch wider. "But only two of you. The rest will wait in the kitchen."
"Why the kitchen?" Dean asks.
"So that if we need to, we can stab you."
Dean nods once. "Makes sense."
John leads the way into the house and the others follow close behind. All of them are tense and wary, especially when they see all the wolves lining the entrance hall. John's pack is only barely outnumbered, but that extra advantage could mean life or death if the packs get into another fight. Sam just hopes that they can all keep their tempers under control.
One of the wolves separates himself from the wall and sidles up to them, lip curled in a sneer.
"This way to the kitchen," he says, gesturing to a door to the left. John and Mary lock eyes for a few seconds, then nod minutely, obviously reaching a decision through their Bond. Sam feels a pang in his chest. Gabriel still hasn't woken up, which means that Sam's mind is still uncomfortably empty. He tries to ignore the jealousy flaring up at the sight of his parents' mental link in action.
John beckons Sam to him with a minute flick of his head, and the two of them follow the she-wolf further into the house while the rest of their pack filters into the kitchen. Sam's wolf doesn't like being separated from his family, especially not in the den of another pack, but this is the only way to get any closer to finding his mate. He'll just have to suck it up and ignore his discomfort. He's getting pretty good at ignoring emotions, he muses idly.
The new Alpha is sitting behind a desk in what appears to be an office or a study. The room is large and immaculate, but neither John nor Sam look around once inside. They keep their attention on the Alpha, nodding to him out of respect for his territory. The Alpha gives a single nod of acknowledgement, then stands and moves to the front of the desk. He leans back against it casually, arms crossed over his chest in a deliberately relaxed motion as he studies the other two Greys.
Sam lets his eyes flick over the Alpha's form, quickly taking details. He's tall, almost as tall as Sam, and much more built. His posture is casual and relaxed but he's also obviously ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. Black markings climb up his neck from below the collar of his t-shirt, stopping just above the juncture where his neck meets his shoulder.
"What brings you to our neck of the woods?" he asks, snapping Sam out of his thoughts. John shoots his son a subtle, preemptive look of warning, then addresses the Alpha in a diplomatic tone Sam didn't even know he had.
"A member of our pack recently went missing and we have reason to believe that a member of your pack had something to do with it," he says, his tone as neutral as he can make it.
"I see," the other Alpha says, his eyes briefly flashing amber. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with one of my wolves ending up unconscious and in your care for a time, would it?"
"Zachariah was being… difficult," John admits. "He hasn't come to any harm from us. He should wake up soon, actually."
The Alpha hums noncommittally. "I'm going to need more details if I'm to help you. I assume that's what you're here for?"
John nods, his mouth twisting. "My wolf was taken from the local hospital by a wolf named Svadilfari, apparently the cousin of one of your wolves."
The Alpha grimaces. "Metatron." He exhales harshly. "I will speak to him and see what I can find out. He's out right now, but he'll be back tonight."
John walks over and grabs a pen from the desk, then scribbles something onto a piece of paper. "Here's my number. Call me as soon as you discover something."
"Of course." The Alpha's eyes flick over to Sam. "If what I know of your pack is true, then it was your mate that was taken." Sam bares his teeth but nods. "I am truly sorry for what has happened. Not all of my pack agreed with Michael, and I wish our packs could have met under better circumstances. I will do everything in my power to help you find your mate."
"Thank you," Sam says, a little tension seeping out of his posture. He has allies and a lead, which is more than he had an hour ago, and he feels more hopeful about finding Gabriel already.
"Sam," John calls. He nods to the Alpha, and then he and Sam exit the office. Their she-wolf guide is nowhere to be seen, but it isn't hard for them to find the kitchen by following the sounds of growling. After collecting the rest of their pack, they pile into their cars and head for home.
...
To absolutely no one's surprise, Castiel and Chuck are waiting for Sam when he gets home. Everyone gathers in the living room, where the two humans, Ash, Jo, and Charlie are sipping at something hot from mugs and listening to Ellen and Jody tell a story. As soon as John enters the room, Chuck zeros in on him like a hawk. He's up and on his feet faster than Sam expected, reminding them all that he's a fully-trained hunter as well as an awkward writer.
"What happened to my son?" Chuck demands, his knuckles turning white around his mug. Castiel quickly catches Sam's eye, then looks to Dean, his blue eyes wide and angry.
"He was kidnapped," John says with a sigh. "But we already know who took him. We're just waiting for more information now."
Chuck's face pales and he slowly sinks back into his seat. "Why can't I keep him safe?" he whispers, and the entire room goes silent.
"It's not your fault, Chuck," Dean says after a moment.
"It's never my fault!" Chuck snaps, his brown eyes blazing even as they grow suspiciously glassy. "It wasn't my fault when he was attacked by vampires, it wasn't my fault when he was kidnapped and almost tortured by Michael, it wasn't my fault that his blood was contaminated. It's never anyone's fault, so who the hell am I supposed to blame if something happens to him?"
The tension in the air is nearly palpable. Sam closes his eyes and swallows hard, fighting back tears. There's a tiny sniffle that sounds like Charlie and a carefully steady exhale from John, and Sam feels his heart constrict.
"This time, you can blame the wolf who took him," Raphael says in his quiet voice. Sam opens his eyes; the doctor is sitting on the floor against the wall, knees drawn up to his chest and eyes staring unseeingly at his hands. He blinks and looks up at Chuck, his eyes filled with fury and glowing amber. "And when we get Gabriel back, we'll make sure Svadilfari gets what he deserves."
Despite himself, Sam shivers.
…
It's after dinner when Gabriel wakes up, just moments before Zachariah's Alpha calls. Sam is sitting on the edge of his bed, leg bouncing restlessly and teeth working away at his thumb nail. The change is abrupt; one moment, Sam's head is empty but for his thoughts, and the next, Gabriel is suddenly just there.
He feels disoriented and groggy, and incredibly pissed off.
When I get my hands on the idiot who drugged me I'm going to snap his neck and then bathe in his blood, Gabriel hisses, and Sam feels a huge, dopey grin split his face.
Gabriel!
Sammy!
Joy and relief slam into Sam, hard, through the Bond, and he's sure that Gabriel is feeling the same emotions from him.
Gabriel, are you okay? Where are you? What's going on?
Sam, calm down, Gabriel says, laughter in his voice. I literally just woke up.
Sorry, I'm just excited. At least tell me how you are.
I'm… fine, Gabriel says, and Sam feels a spike of worry at his hesitance.
Gabe, what's wrong? And don't try to tell me it's nothing.
Gabriel is silent for so long that, were it not for his nearly tangible presence inside his mind, Sam would have worried that he was unconscious again.
I think I'm getting worse, he says finally, in a small voice that has Sam's wolf instantly on edge. I don't know what they were doing to me in the hospital, but it must have been helping at least a little because right now I feel like shit.
Gabe…. Sam doesn't know what to say to make his mate feel better. The truth is that there's nothing either of them can do, and they both know it.
Sorry. It's not that bad, Sammy, Gabriel lies. I'm just tired and my stomach hurts, it's no big deal.
Sam bites his lip but drops it.
Where are you? he asks.
I have no idea. I think it's a library. Sam can practically see Gabriel's determined expression as he looks around, and the thought makes him smile. Okay, definitely a library. I don't think I've ever seen so many books in one place in my life.
What else? Can you see any doors or windows, or anything that might let me know where you are?
No windows, but there's a door… ugh, it's locked. Considering I'm not tied to a chair or something, I'm willing to bet that every exit is locked.
You're probably right, Sam says, sighing out loud in frustration. Anyway, you're not in any condition to fight even if you could get out.
Excuse you, I am in tiptop shape, Gabriel says, his voice distracted. Sam's willing to bet he's still looking around the room. Although I think there may be morphine in my system right now, which is how I'm able to walk around. You know, phasing would probably just make everything worse, I think.
Yeah, you might want to stay human for right now, Sam agrees. Are you okay?
You already asked me that before, Gabriel says. To answer a little more truthfully, I actually don't know. I feel a little high, to be honest, but that just may be the morphine.
No pain?
No, but I feel like there should be. When I woke up, there was a water bottle and a few bags of chips sitting next to me, but thinking about eating or drinking made me want to throw up.
Sam feels a sharp pang of worry. Gabriel, how long has it been since you ate?
I don't know. If I was still in the hospital yesterday, then I had dinner around six, but that's it.
That's over twenty-four hours! Sam says, mouth dropping open and eyebrows furrowing. Gabe, you have to eat. He can physically feel how much Gabriel doesn't want to, the Bond thrumming with disgust and nausea strong enough that Sam presses a hand to his mouth.
I don't think I could keep anything down, Gabriel admits. And I don't actually feel hungry.
Please, love, Sam says, his voice pleading and worried. You have to eat something. At least drink water.
Fine, Gabriel sighs. Am I close to being rescued? I've only been awake for like five minutes and I'm already so done with this whole thing.
Sam huffs, amused. We're closer than we were this morning. The wolf who took you is named Svadilfari and he's the cousin of one of Michael's wolves. We talked to their new Alpha and he's agreed to help us find you.
Oh, well that was nice of him, Gabriel says half-sarcastically. When I get back home, I'll make sure to punch him instead of snapping his neck.
Sam rolls his eyes, amused by his mate's histrionics. Don't do anything stupid, Gabriel. I'm going to talk to my father right now. Until then, try and finish that water bottle, and see if you can find out anything about where you are. If anyone comes into the room, try and escape, but be smart about it.
Way ahead of you, Gabriel replies. Sam pulls himself to his feet and exits his room, listening intently for any sign of his father. Usually John can be found in the backyard with Bobby, training the younger wolves or sparring with the older, but a quick look out a window in the hall reveals that the yard is empty.
He checks the kitchen, the living room, and then his parents' bedroom, finding all three spaces occupied but not with the wolf he's looking for.
"Why don't you check his study?" Mary suggests, looking up briefly from the book she's reading in her bed. "His phone rang not too long ago and he left to answer it."
Sam thanks her and power walks down the hall to the heavy oak door that guards John's private study. This is the one area in the house where it's explicitly forbidden to enter. Not that John's hiding anything, but, in his own words, "I'd like one room in this overcrowded house where I can go to bitch about you guys in peace." Said with the utmost fondness, of course.
Sam knocks on the door and waits, and a second later it opens to reveal John, looking tired but strangely happy.
"I just got a call from Zachariah's Alpha," he says before Sam can even open his mouth. "We think we know where Gabriel is."
Sam's eyes widen and he lets out a surprised huff even as his mouth pulls into a wide grin. "Are you serious? Where?" he asks quickly.
"According to Metatron," John says, ushering Sam into the room and closing the door behind him, "Svadilfari owns a house in the forest outside of town. It's the only place Metatron could think of where he might go."
"That close?" Sam asks, frowning. "I expected him to be somewhere obnoxiously far away."
"That's probably why he didn't go too far," John says. "He knew we most likely weren't going to expect him to stay so close."
"Well, it doesn't matter now," Sam says, voice hardening. "Gabriel's awake and we know where he is, so let's go get him."
"Gabriel's awake?" John repeats, gaping, and Sam gives him a sheepish smile.
"Yes?" he says. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you. That's why I came in here, actually."
Tell John I said hi, Gabriel pipes up.
"Gabe says hi," Sam dutifully repeats. John runs a hand down his face.
"Okay, when we get back, we're going to have a talk about when it's important to share information," John says, pointing one finger at Sam. "For now, though, let's go rescue your mate."
So, Gabriel's awake (again) and the pack knows where he is! Rescuing him should be a piece of cake, right? Anyway, the next chapter is going to he Gabriel's POV, I think. Thanks for reading, guys, and don't be afraid to leave me a comment! Tell me what you liked, what you hated, what you think I could improve, it all fuels my writing, trust me.