This is it, folks. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me (and those who have begun reading more recently) for staying with this story as I fought through some serious writer's block episodes. I can only apologize again for the length of time this one has taken. Hope you will all like the final instalment.
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"All of your demons will wither away. Ecstasy comes and they cannot stay. You'll understand when you come my way, 'Cos all of my demons have withered away."
Fatboy Slim feat. Macy Gray, Demons
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The cemetery was too open, too exposed. It made Sam antsy. A wind had come up in the last hour making him pull his green canvas jacket tight with folded arms. He hopped from one foot to the other, ticking off the seconds and monitoring the gloaming dawn as grey and pink light hinted in the eastern sky.
Eldritch Barnaby's sloping 19th Century grave marker was planted too close to the edge of the original cemetery area to give any comfort of privacy. There'd been a late night jogger in spitting distance just as Dean was due to stab the plot with the first strike of his spade. That led to a strategic retreat to the Impala and Dean grumbling under his breath about exercise freaks.
The job in Piermont, New York, had been billed as a plain and simple haunting, hardly one that needed a team of four. Under determined Sam-probing Dean had awkwardly (with back of neck rubbing) admitted that he wanted to introduce Castiel to Sonny, now that they were officially a "thing". There was a secondary reason for splitting up. Dean and Cas were going to chase down leads on Cain's movements, but not until they'd spent a couple of nights under Dean's old mentor's roof.
Although Castiel had offered Sam and Gadreel his pimpmobile, the younger Winchester and elder angel traveled in Dean's Baby until a couple of hours out from Piermont when Sam hotwired a 2002 Silverado, saving it from its neglected corner of a used car lot.
Dean and Castiel currently were stationed at a construction site conjunct to the abandoned Erie Railroad, making 100% sure that their vengeful pre-dusk and pre-dawn apparition would no longer be making scheduled appearances. The brightening sky was making it look like they had salted and burned the right bones. It had been a straightforward case. Archived newssheets told of the long ago tragic death of a local laborer working on the tracks, in proximity to the spot where a new development was clearing shrubbery and digging foundation trenches.
The only break from rote hunting 101 during the job had happened during their interview with the tearful parents of a mischievous twelve year old who'd incurred Barnaby's wrath when trespassing with friends as a dare on the rumored haunted site. Gadreel had leaned silently over to the wheelchair and placed two fingers on boy's forehead healing him of all wounds. Castiel had done the 'clean up' job, persuading the Mecums that proclaiming their miracle and exposing their family to the media would be a bad idea. Sam had twitched a grin afterwards as Castiel gave Gadreel a lecture on subtlety and sneaky healing procedures.
Sam's phone pinged. No sign of ghostly funky railroad workers downtown. Dean and Cas were hitting the road for Hurleyville. Sam shot back a quick acknowledgment, making sure to josh his brother by including his D-Dog alias.
Pocketing his cell, a smile stretched Sam's lips, dimpling his cheeks. He looked to the East, to Gadreel standing erect, head tilted up to gaze at the final stars dotting the morning sky. Sam couldn't see his face, but he could imagine the contentment in his partner's eyes. This cemetery was a blessing, low on light pollution, and sitting on a hill above Piermont.
Without a word, he joined his angel, standing side by side, close enough for jacket sleeves to brush and his right hand to link the fingers of Gadreel's left.
They stood like that, simply and silently, contemplating the sky. It was surprisingly peaceful. Sam could glimpse a little of Gadreel's pleasure, and it made him quietly confident that he had chosen his own surprise detour well.
"There, Sam, is Saturn," Gadreel pointed at a star that had seemed brighter before pinks and burnt golds had appeared. "Behind us, we cannot see due to the contours of the land, is Jupiter."
"Cronos and Zeus," Sam whispered their Greek names, suppressing memories of struggling to get Dean back from the 1940s and then trying to help Prometheus while feeling the effects of the Trials.
"You shivered. Are you cold?" Gadreel swapped his focus to Sam's face, squeezing his hand.
"It's frigging cold." Sam agreed with a wry huff, "But I'm fine."
"We can go." Gadreel tugged him towards the exit gate.
"I would've stayed here, y'know, being astronomers."
"That is good worthy occupation." Gadreel's tone headed for merriment. "Do you ever want to go out there, to the stars?"
Sam outright laughed. He bumped hips. "Are you asking me to go into space with you?"
"Maybe." Gadreel replied casually, but Sam knew he was only teasing.
Sam did a quick recon to make sure they hadn't left any incriminating evidence behind. Then they hit the road. Although Lebanon was their ultimate destination, Sam would turn north off the I-80 in Pennsylvania. While Dean took a few personal days to revisit his old friend, Sam and Gadreel would have their own personal time. The secret intention kept his inner amusement bubbling as they headed west.
"We're gonna stop overnight." Sam commented as he diverted off the highway. "I know a place bout an hour north of here."
"Yes," Gadreel agreed, "We do not have four to switch out driving duties. Taking your rest is prudent."
Sam tactfully avoided pointing out that Dean had permitted only Sam to take short stints at the wheel on their road trip from the Bunker.
"I think you'll like this place," Sam ploughed on, "We stayed in a cabin nearby for a couple weeks the summer I was ten. Dad was hunting something, still dunno what. But I remember thinking the park was cool, and from my google research it's even cooler now."
"You have lived a long time, Sam."
Sam's brows rose in surprise at the comment from left field. He hadn't lived the lifespan of a gnat compared to an angel. A thought occurred to him.
"Gad, you're not allowed to include Hell."
"I stand corrected. You are much younger than I."
"Understatement", Sam chuckled. "Hey, did you make a joke?"
Gadreel did not answer, instead commenting, "You are in a buoyant mood."
"I guess so."
Sam, who had been doing sneaky trip advisor, craigslist, and google research since Dean had mentioned Sonny's, pulled the pick-up into the driveway of Marker House B&B. Although it was lunchtime the colonial style home had several guests' vehicles parked in the wide gravel area in front of its columned porch.
"This is different to your usual choice of accommodation." Gadreel commented dryly as both extracted their limbs from the Silverado and stretched their backs.
Sam cocked his head towards the house. "Upgrade, Gad."
The angel remained silent and let Sam deal with the cheery middle-aged couple who checked them in and followed them to their florally decorated Queen room with freshly baked choc chip cookies and a coffee pot of dark roast.
Double width windows overlooked the sloping garden and distant tree line. Sam dumped his duffel on the floor by their bed. He wanted a shower, feeling the residue of grave dirt on his skin, but first he dug out his salt and chalk. Salt borders and sigils under landscape paintings, Sam poured two generous cups of Java and joined Gadreel at the windows.
"We have a few hours." Sam commented.
Gadreel raised a brow.
"Before my late night plans."
"And what?" Gadreel took a slurp of his coffee, "May I ask are your current plans?"
"Shower." Sam snapped back.
Gadreel nodded.
"We should test the bed for suitability." Sam let out a slight snigger.
"It looks large enough to accommodate us."
"But we should be certain."
"Certain? Yes, we should." Gadreel grinned. "You shower. I'll finished these baked goods."
"Ahem," Sam chuckled. "You know I'm the human here. The one who needs sustenance."
"Do you think Mrs. Kitsch will provide us with further refreshments?"
"Just wait until breakfast. They're famous for it. The food here is a State Treasure according to their website."
"In that case I shall guard these cookies with my very existence while you take care of your ablutions."
With that promise, Sam took broke the world record for Winchester shower brevity, emerging to a sight that brought his mood and a certain body part to hit the heights. He reluctantly suspected that there possibly could have been some very disturbing wee hours angelic Pizza Man watching back at the bunker, but at that moment he didn't care. Gadreel was spread out on smooth cream sheets, naked as the day his vessel had been born, cookie crumbs on his ribbed chest and one chocolatey treat on its plate resting on the dip of his stomach.
Sam licked his lips.
"Saved you one, Sam, but you're going to have to work to get it."
Fluffy towel dropped to the floor, Sam dived for the bed, splaying sideways, only for angelic speed to whip the cookie out from under him and to safety on the bedside table. Gadreel underhandedly used his celestial strength to maneuver his partner into a more complementary position. Warm hands ran down Sam's sides as lips met his. He opened up tasting sugar, coffee beans and cocoa beans. He pushed forward, straining to meet chest to chest, to dive into his lover's mouth, and join them together. Fingers tangled in his towel-dried hair, tugging just the right amount. A moan built in his throat. Gadreel let a breathy gasp as they parted only enough to move in synchronicity. Sam licked his palm and made to take their glorious cocks in hand. With the hand not tangled in Moose-hair, Gadreel placed a restraining touch to Sam's hip.
"I want you to enter me, Sam. I want us to do this."
For a moment Sam stilled. He couldn't bear to have to explain that he couldn't reciprocate. That he couldn't go there.
"I don't want to hurt you." Sam gulped, his erection flagging as he used all his mental strength to push down unwelcome recollections.
"You won't." Gadreel promised, his eyes communicating his sincerity. "I would never force you, Sam. I do not expect you to do anything you are uncomfortable with. I will not ask that of you. But wouldn't you like to try? I will be more than happy no matter which way we copulate."
"You've such a romantic turn of phrase." Sam huffed in amusement. "How about we take up where we left off and see how we go?"
Out of the corner of his eye Sam noticed the lube beyond his promised cookie.
"No condoms," He muttered.
"I am an angel." Gadreel pointed out.
With an affectionate nasal huff, Sam leaned cross Gadreel's body to reach the bottle. Once he had coated his hand, it took some expert jerking just the way they liked, along with some deep pressed kisses to get Not-So-Little-Sam back on board. The velvet glide of Gadreel's length against his own built arousal and shortened his breath. He wanted. He wanted his angel, wholly. He wanted to give Gadreel pleasure, to show his partner that he was all in. In the midst of rising ardor, he must have been able to communicate his muttered desires, because when his sliding touch perilously slowly lost contact with their heated straining dick, Gadreel smoothly turned turn and rose up on his knees, hands wrapping around the white metal railings of the bed head.
A tremble betrayed his wariness as Sam brought a lubed finger to his lover's furled hole. He swallowed hard. Pushing as gently as he could. Once more his arousal lessened but pushing motions and very different tremors of desire through Gadreel's muscles spurred him on.
"More, Sam, I can take more… Please, Sam… so good."
The words settled inside him. He took his time, first rubbing a hand along Gadreel's lower back. He found purchase on his partner's hip, then caressed his glowing skin, ran his hand down his thigh, and round to find precome leaking onto the pristine sheets below. When he used three fingers to stretch and ease his lover open, he became fascinated by how his digits were sucked into wonderful hidden heated skin.
When Gadreel called out his readiness, Sam was fully hard. He bit his lip only once as he lined up, holding Gadreel's hip tight enough to leave marks. Pushing in, he was slowly wondrously swallowed whole. Balls deep, Sam got lost in the sensations of heat and perfect tightness, and trust and connection and…
"Move. You can move."
With a gasp of grateful adoring concurrence, Sam pulled back and thrust forward finding a rhythm that had Gadreel moaning and lifting onto one hand to drive his own climax. Sam wouldn't last long. He'd been on the edge for too long but he adjusted his angle to find Gadreel's prostate and knew he'd been successful when his partner came hard and shuddering with a bellowing cry of "Sam!"
Clenched tight in the grip of his partner's body, Sam followed with such power that he whited out for a second and saw spots floating in vision as his heartbeat levelled out. He eased out carefully, twisting to lie on his back beside Gadreel who turned to prop himself up on an elbow. A shit-faced grin shone from his angel's face before he bent down to plant butterfly kisses along Sam's jaw.
"I guess it was good for you." Sam quipped, a relaxed smile spreading across his features.
"You are amazing." Gadreel complimented.
"Y'weren't so bad." Sam grinned. "Come 'ere."
With lazy indulgent embraces, Sam could have drifted straight to sleep, but Gadreel took a minute to clean them up with a warm flannel from the bathroom.
Sam giggled contentedly, "I bet Mr. and Mrs. Kitsch didn't know their comfy room was gonna be used for inter-species gay fornication."
Gadreel shrugged as he retook his place next to Sam. "I'm not so sure. When you collected our bags, our hostess told me they had gay honeymooners last month."
"I want my cookie now." Sam mumbled before the effects grave-digging, road-tripping, 31 hours awake, and some pretty awesome sex dragged him into slumber land.
Much later that night, under the span of the Milky Way, Sam guided his angel along the paths of Cherry Springs State Park. They had wrapped up warm, both sporting beanies supplied by their concerned B&B hosts. Reaching the Dark Sky area, Sam preened to hear a gasp of awe from his partner.
"Sam." Gadreel filled his name with wonder.
"Thought you'd like it." Sam smiled, as they stood apart from a few couples and individuals with various models of telescopes. "It is stunning."
"Our Father's creation in all its glory."
Sam spread an army blanket he had pinched from the Impala and they lay there gazing up at the beauty of the night sky as nature intended it.
"There, Sam, a shooting star, a blazing meteorite."
Sam swiveled his head, catching the tail of the shooting star before it disappeared. "Wow. We should make a wish."
"A wish?"
"Yeah….. y'know. Wish upon a star and your dreams come true and all that."
"This is a human tradition?"
"Yeah, guess so."
"Then we should do it." Gadreel insisted.
Feeling a tad childish, Sam shrugged. "You first."
With great solemnity Gadreel spoke. "I wish you happiness."
"Right back at ya." Sam laughed, though he was deeply touched that Gadreel would use his play-wish on him.
"No, Sam, you cannot copy my intention. You must make your own wish."
"You're no fun." Sam teased.
He took his time, watching the gradual eternal movement of the heavens.
"This." Sam pronounced finally. "I wish for this now…. For so long, Dean and me, we were islands… we… I couldn't imagine a long term commitment … hell, successful relationship… and god knows I did try… I even pushed Dean to Lisa… but hunting… our lives… it doesn't lend itself to … to what we have, I guess. To what you and me, the most unlikely couple…. But who cares, we work… we get each other… and you get me, more than anyone, and I guess, this is me saying I love you, and my wish is to keep this, to hold onto it… hold onto you."
"Sam…" Gadreel said softly.
"This is where Dean would pop his head up and tell me to bin the chick flick, but you asked, and that's it, my wish." The hunter ducked his head, but his angel would not permitted his sudden shyness.
Gadreel used his fingertips to lift Sam's chin and meeting his eyes under starlight he vowed. "And I love you, Sam Winchester, with all my Grace."
When they next parted embracing lips, Sam couldn't help a chuckle. "If Dean could see us now, he'd call us total saps."
Gadreel harrumphed. "You might consider that he and my brother are no doubt enjoying their own version of romantic stargazing right now."
And that thought made the night even more golden for Sam, as he squeezed his angel's hand and in unison they tilted their heads to the jeweled panorama above.