Chapter 15: Catching Feelings

So let's make love before the snows fall from the sky / We saw sunrise and both felt the pain / Now let it wash away October rain – Robin Jackson

The rain was coming down in sheets.

Of course it was.

The universe would do nothing less on the one day Riley left the bunker this week. It so happened she'd had to go to Boston for work. So of course there was rain. Just her luck. Also, her stupidly for not checking the weather report before she'd left.

Which was why she hadn't brought an umbrella, and why she was now getting soaked. Her shirt was already pressed to her skin and her arms were getting numb from the cold. What made it even worse was that it had been a client meeting, and so she'd dressed up. Riley had kitted out in a pencil skirt, blouse, and high heels, then headed to Beacon Hill to the meet the client.

It hadn't been raining when she'd arrived. It had been grey and cloudy, sure, but that happened during the fall in New England.

The meeting had gone well. Then she'd left…. And it was raining. It couldn't be a nice light sprinkle either. Nope. It was sheets of cold fall rain. She honestly wouldn't be surprised if it was freezing rain. Her breath fogged the air as she walked, giving credence to this.

She was also stumbling. On a normal day it was hard navigating the cobbled streets in Beacon Hill, add heels and it was bloody awful. But today, with the hair now pressed down from the water which clung to it and dripped into her eyes it was almost impossible. Thank god for waterproof makeup, at least she didn't need to worry about looking like a raccoon even if the rest of her was a disaster.

Riley actually considered ditching her shoes for a second, but the idea of treading about in her nylons on slippery stone did not sound like a solid plan. Actually, she'd tried that once in law school and it had ended up with her almost doing a split in the street and ripping her skirt up the sides. No, better not to repeat that experience. It had been humiliating enough the first time.

The one saving grace in all of this was that she could go back to the bunker soon. She just needed to find a place where she could disappear from without being seen. With the rain most people were smart enough to stay inside. Yet because Beacon Hill was a closely built up area there really wasn't many places she could duck into and fly from. Thus she was regulated to walking for a while. She'd considered catching a cab, but Boston was a walking city, so there weren't really that many to be had.

She missed a step as one tan heel caught between two stones, and her already wet nylons slid from her shoe. She hopped a couple steps, trying to keep her balance.

Crying would not help, Riley reminded herself. She took a deep calming breath. 'God, can today get any worse?' She wondered.

She hopped on the one foot, trying to return to her lost shoe. Then, the rain seemed to stop, well at least directly over her. Riley wondered for a moment if someone had been kind enough to stop and give her some relief from the rain via their umbrella.

"Well sugar, aren't you a sight."

Riley closed her eyes and sucked in another deep breath. Nope, her day could get worse. Gabriel got to see her looking like a drowned rat, standing on one leg. "Hi Whiskey." The sigh in her voice was unmistakable. It took a moment for Riley to realize he didn't have an umbrella. "How?" She murmured looking up and finding…. "Oh." Gabriel was shielding her with his wings. They were stretched over them like a golden canopy. "Thank you….But how is no one noticing we're not getting rained on?" She hissed quietly.

He grinned down at her, "Puh-lease, humans never notice the supernatural unless it's literally in their face stabbing them. I could snap up a whole parade right now and people would find some way to explain it. It's human nature to want to be blissfully ignorant. Can you really blame them?" He gestured to the few people wandering down the street near them.

Riley bit her lip and watched the people pass, most of their eyes on the ground or directed at their phones. "No, I suppose not."

Riley scrunched up her nose as a drop of water slid down her cheek from the hair plastered to her face. Gabriel chuckled softly and slid his hand under her arm. He allowed her to lean on him as she slid her foot back into her shoe. Even once she was able to stand on her own in both of her shoes he didn't pull away. Instead he brought his other hand up and tugged at a strand of her hair. Riley felt the tingle of his grace wash over her. She exhaled at the lovely warmth that it brought, and the effect it had – her clothes, hair, and skin now completely dry. She leaned in and savored the feeling of it, and of his nearness.

"You done for the day, gingersnap?" His voice was soft, and his gaze warmer than the brush of his grace.

"Yes. Yes I am. Take me home please?" Riley pretended that her voice didn't sound so breathy.

He nodded and the sound of wings accompanied the rush of them flying away from the wet and cold rainy day in Boston. When Riley was able to focus she found herself standing in her bedroom in the bunker. She was still in Gabriel's embrace. Riley half smiled but at him but didn't step away. Instead she titled her face up to gaze at the archangel.

"I'm guessing you found me though the wrist thing?"

He chucked, "Yes."

"Any specific reason?"

"I was going to see if you wanted to work on angel radio. But I'm thinking that you're in need of some hot cocoa and fun time."

"Yes please." Riley said.

He seemed almost reluctant to step away, but finally he released her and stepped back. One hand rubbed at his neck and he glanced almost nervously back at her from under his lashes. "Kitchen?"

"Okay." She nodded, worrying her lip with her teeth. She followed him out of her room.

The kitchen was already occupied when they got there and they paused in the entryway. "Uncle Gabriel?" Jack's eyes rose from his laptop. "Riley?" He looked between them, questioningly.

"Hey kid." Gabriel said and headed to grab mugs. "Want some cocoa?"

"I would enjoy that." The boy replied.

Riley rolled her eyes, boy was this pair still slightly awkward. She entered the room and ruffled Jack's hair. "Whatcha doing?"

He flushed slightly, "I was trying to make friends."

"Ah." Riley murmured, looking at his screen. "You might wanted to try a different website."

"Why?" He glanced at the screen nervously, "The people on here seem friendly."

"Yeah, but that's a dating website, hun." Riley sent a glare as Gabriel chuckled from across the room. He ducked his head at her glare. "Marshmallows?" He asked as he added marshmallows to his own mug.

"Yes please." Jack responded, he closed his laptop with a click.

"Always." Riley smiled, walking over to grab one of the mugs. She returned to the table with Gabriel close on her heels. Silence slid over the room as they enjoyed the first sips of the hot liquid. Riley almost moaned at the flavor. "You added cinnamon." Her eyes raised to find Gabriel smirking into his own cup.

"It's the way you like it." He shrugged.

"I like peppermint." Jack said.

"Well, I'll make sure to remember that for next time." He winked at the kid.

Riley watched the two interact and pondered if they'd ever find their footing. They were related after all, and she knew that family actually meant a lot to Gabriel. She sighed into her mug, letting the scents of chocolate and cinnamon sooth her bad morning away. Jack was currently staring into his own mug like he might find a lost treasure in it. Gabriel looked just as tense, leaning back in his chair and gaze staring off into space.

"So…." Riley began, and found both men's eyes snapping to her. "How do you both feel about go fish?"

Jack looked puzzled and Gabriel looked bemused, "The card game?"

"Yep. Staple of rainy days everywhere." She sent a beseeching look at Gabriel.

"Alright. Alright." A smile twisted on his lips and he snapped up a deck of cards.

Jack looked between them, "I do not know how to play."

"No problem kid, it's easy. I can teach you." Gabriel began explaining the rules.

When the game started, they found Jack to be oddly competitive. He and Gabriel both played to win. Riley relaxed as she found the tension start to leave the room as they got lost in the simple game. She took another sip of her mug and smiled to herself. This was going to be an okay day after all.

Gabriel poked her side, indicated it was her turn. "Okay, okay. I'm going." She giggled.

The only other occupant of the bunker at the moment, Castiel, eventually found the three still engaged in the game. None of them noticed his presence, as he moved like a cat. And Dean still hadn't talked him into wearing a bell.

He stopped just before entering the kitchen and observed the three, noting the scene was oddly domestic. They looked like a little family. For a moment, he wondered if he would be intruding.

Jack was the first to notice him and ask him to join the game. Both Riley and Gabriel welcomed him with open arms.

Later that night, in fact pretty late into the night – as the angels didn't need to sleep and neither Riley nor Jack slept much – they finally split up.

It had been after cookies and several more rounds of cocoa. Also after they'd taught Jack several other card games. Gabriel and Castiel returned to Heaven, leaving Jack and Riley to return to their rooms for the night.

"Good night, hun." Riley said, once again ruffling his hair as she passed him in the hallway.

He was standing in his open doorway but paused before entering the room. "Thank you, Riley. I had fun tonight."

"Of course, Jack. I had fun too."

He nodded to himself, "Do you think we can do that again?"

"Probably. I think the guys would like that."

He smiled to himself, sadly. "I wish my mom was here, I think she would have had fun too."

Riley stopped and turned to face him, "I'm sure she would have. You miss you a lot, huh?"

"I do. Which is odd, because I've never met her."

"That's not odd, Jack. It's very human. We all want to know our family. But I'm sure she'd be very proud of you." Riley returned to him and slid her arms around him in a hug, "I know I'd be proud if you were my kid."

He sagged against her, hugging her back.

"And you know, even if we're not related, you, me, Dean and Sam, Cas, Gabriel. We're all family. Blood may be the family you're born into, but family doesn't stop there."

He nodded against her shoulder, "I like our family."

"Good." Riley waited until Jack was ready to pull away and then pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Get some sleep, hun. Even if you don't need much, it's a great way to clear your mind and relax."

He nodded again and smiled up at her. "Okay. Good night Riley."

"Good night, Jack." She ruffed his hair once more and waited until he'd entered his bedroom and shut the door. Finally, she returned to her own room, closing the door with a sigh.

She leaned against the door, tipping her head back and closing her eyes. She'd loved the majority of the day, but boy had it been a very emotional.

The problem for her was that it had been almost too perfect - well, after she'd gotten back to the bunker.

For a moment her mind had drifted and she had imagined Gabriel, Jack, and herself sitting in a different kitchen, in a little house. The sunlight streaming in as they hung out on a lazy Sunday afternoon. In this daydream world, Riley could see them as an actual family. Riley felt a pang of longing for this life she could not have. One where she and Gabriel were something more….

Riley pushed the image from her head and went about getting ready for bed.

She needed to get a handle on her feelings for the archangel, needed to stop it now. Even if she lov….liked him quite a lot, she was fairly sure it was unrequited. Even though he flirted and was kind to her, spent days hanging out with her, well…. He was just being nice. Probably.

Or maybe not. Maybe he felt something? Otherwise why hang out with her at all?

They really needed to talk.