I sat on the bed in the spare bedroom the Winchesters had appointed me, and sadly moved what was left of my wings. Having Cas stroke one of them, made me aware that the demons hadn't torn off the whole wing, but rather broke them just above the wingjoint, and then torn that bit off. They had left me with two stumps. Feeling my eyes sting with tears, I finally let all the events of the day take their toll. I burrowed into my pillow and bawled. I cried until my tears were spent and all I could do was sob. Curling under the blanket, I checked that my feather was still securely in the back pocket of my jeansshorts. Satisfied it was still there I snuggled down and drifted off, too exhausted to even think about anything but sleep.
"Gwendolyn? Are you awake?" The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't put a face or name to it. My head felt full of cottonballs and I didn't want to wake up. "Gwen?" I grunted into my pillow. "Go away!" I heard chuckling, right next to my bed. This was not what I had planned. "Sorry kiddo. I thought you might want your things. I brought you fresh clothes and your hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste." I veered upright. Next to my bed stood Gabriel, his beautiful eyes twinkling with mischief. "I thought that would get your attention." he chuckled, holding up my overnight bag and toiletry kit in one hand. "Thanks!" I hastily said and tried to take them from him, but he pulled them out of my reach. "Uhuh... Not quite yet, sister. First I want a chat." I glared at him. "No fair... You're an Archangel, and I am just a..." He held up his hand. "You are not just anything." he rebuked me sternly. "You are a wonderful person, and very dear to me. So, honeybuns, we are going to talk." He sat himself down on my bed and put his hand over mine. "I meant it." Gabriel said earnestly and looked me straight in the eye. "You are dear to me."
I felt a blush creep up my neck. "How can I be dear to you? I am only one of many protégés you have." Gabe smiled. Gosh he was handsome! "All my protégés are dear to me, sweetheart. And there are probably way less than you'd think. At the moment I have about twenty, including a darling little boy called Samson, made up of the Grace of Samandriël. He is two now." His eyes grew a bit dreamy at the thought, and I smiled. I love a man who likes kids. Gabriel blinked and came back to this world. "You, however, you were one of the first Earthangels of this generation. Before I took up the task, someone else, someone special looked after you, but he had too many duties. So I volunteered. You are one of three grown up Earthangels. And one of two who developed wings." His eyes grew sad as he looked at the wreckage of said wings. "And they were beautiful!" he sighed.