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Chapter Text

He had a type.

Of course, Gabriel, of all beings, had a type. After hundreds of thousands of years of being stuck with his family? Of fucking course Gabriel had a type.

Hot. Flirty. (The usual shebang, but so what? Just because you're pansexual doesn't mean you can't have a type, or a stereotypical type.) But also, someone who wasn't afraid to speak his mind. Someone who stood up for themselves, fought for their way.

Sam Winchester? No way. He was nerdy, followed his brother around like a puppy. (Which really, he is a puppy if you think about it.)

Now Kali. She was Gabriel's type. She was his girl. He was drawn to her like a moth and he knew it. He didn't care. She stood up for herself, and the meeting at the party just proved that. She would fight so that she could rule the world, her way. Kali was the kind of gal who got her way, and nobody objected. And if they did... well, let's just say since she is pretty much queen of ultimate destruction.. they met ultimate doom. 

Gabriel fell for her, and he didn't care. Which was probably a bad idea that he didn't care, but that didn't stop him. He had a thing for her, later he found out she had a thing for him, they became an item. And who cares if every once in awhile she was demanding and he played bottom for a night? He couldn't really resist being manhandled. She fought for her way, and that seemed to go with it.

So what if maybe it was because he was this all powerful being that liked being thrown down on a bed? Ok, it was a what. Gabriel just sometimes wanted to be manhandled, forget that he was a powerful being that could destroy other gods with just the bat of an eye. He was an uncontrollable force, and anyone who could control him, well.. he liked submitting to them. And who could blame him? Everyone, even Gabriel, needed to be taken down a notch or two sometimes.

Now Kali had somethings wrong. She became too demanding, but not in the good way. His whole spiel is that he doesn't take things seriously. How could she possibly think that he would just give all of that up? And for her? Please. She was just another fling in those moments. So when she broke it off, Gabriel really couldn't find it in himself to care. True to his words to Dean Winchester, he was somewhat sentimental towards her. How could he not when she was the only one who truly fit his type?

Unlike Sam. Because, pfft. Sam? Sam Winchester? Sam the kid with the puppy eyes who begged people to give him his brother back? The hazel-eyed kind hearted moose of man, controlling and demanding his way? Like he said before, Sam Winchester was a just nerdy puppy. He was hot sure, flirty way back then, but that last one? No possible way. He was kind to everyone. He put everyone first, in his own selfless way. He made sure people knew their feelings, and themselves, were valid. That they were important. So that's why Gabriel knew that one way or another, Sam would say yes to Lucifer. Sam would yet again give in to drinking the poison that helped lead him along this path to his own demise. His own destruction.

So why.. why did Gabriel die for him? Why, when giving the option by his father himself, choose to live? When given the choice between death and living again with Team Free Will, (more specifically the younger Winchester in his mind) and fight his brothers, his own brothers! Why did he choose to live again to fight with the Winchesters?

So that's how he got here. Five years later, still wondering why he chose this. He always put it to the back of his mind or made up some excuse. They fight for a good cause. Castiel can show the other angels free will. The fighting needs to stop, and the only way to do it, is to help end it. But now, he's run out of excuses. Because now, the apocalypse is over. Sam almost went soulless, but thanks to Gabriel finding out about his little brother's foolishness, that problem was avoided. Leviathans have been pushed back in their cage, just like his brothers. Abadouche is dead, and Dean didn't have to take the Mark.

Gabriel could even remember his words. "You try something that dangerous again, Winchester...let's just say, you and your brother could have brought on a-whole-nother big bad. And I am not dealing with that again.

He almost laughed at the memory, but then brought himself back to where he was. Another motel room, had to leave the bunker for a case in Georgia. Dean and Cas off to get lunch, and he's stuck here with Sam. Ever since the Knight of hell was ganked, Gabriel didn't really know what to do. He had done his job. He no longer felt like the Trickster he was. He didn't have the heart to do it anymore. After being on so many hunts and standing on the sidelines watching as the brothers let so monsters be, Gabriel couldn't find it in himself to go back to what he had done before. Yeah, sure, he'll pull a few pranks here and there to those who deserve it. Just, not to the same levels of extremity as he had before. People can learn their lessons, just gotta keep pushing them in the right direction.

Which is yet another reason as to why Sam was definitely not his type. After years of pushing, Sam was finally starting to stop his self loathing and see he was a good person. As well as Dean. Gabriel almost couldn't believe either one had stopped their self deprication. Shortly after Dean stopped all of it, he admitted his feelings for Cas. Though, the brothers still shared one room. Cas would whisk them off some place in the middle of the night, which Gabriel still felt was incredibly funny.

"You're thinking too hard." Sam's voice came from across the room. He was sitting at the small table, researching on his laptop with books spread out on the table, while Gabriel was sitting on Sam's bed farthest from the door. Gabriel snapped his head up to look at Sam.

"What?" Sam snorted and smiled his dimply smile and looked up at Gabriel.

"You know you do that same thing as Cas." Gabriel was confused as to what he meant. "You're tilting your head to the side." Suddenly self conscious Gabriel sat up, then decided to go sit across from Sam.

"That's still not what you said earlier." Gabriel accused.

"Yeah, I know. I just, found it- thought it must run in the family. Tilting your head when your confused." Sam smiled at Gabriel affectionately. "What I said before that was, 'you're thinking too hard.'" Sam went back to researching on his laptop.

"What do you mean?" Gabriel looked at him, puzzled. He never bothered Sam while he was researching. Always remained quiet, it gave him time to think. Also, Sam had thrown an entire case of beer at him last time when he merely had the TV on, and with a very low volume at that.

"Gabe." Gabriel snapped his head up. He didn't realize he had zoned out and ended up staring at one of the open books Sam was using for research.

"What?" Sam snorted.

"Considering you never really help with the research part of hunts, and your eyes don't seem to be moving across the page," Gabriel found himself blushing, "and I tried to explain and then called your name twice"

"Yeah, yeah I get it, I zoned out, 'thinking too hard'." Gabriel plastered on his usual smirk. "It's not like you exactly will let me do anything around here, like watch TV." Sam laughed.

"Shut it, you deserved that. I asked before for you to keep it quiet, and you didn't."

"The TV was on low! Plus, I checked it out later. How could you possibly hear from all the way over there?" Sam smirked then and tried to control his laughing. Gabriel frowned and Sam burst out laughing.

"Ok wait, so you actually checked the volume to see if I could hear it? And now you're complaining!" Sam continued his laughing and Gabriel opened his mouth to speak up. Sam raised a hand and got control of his laughter. "Wait, wait. Not only that, but ever since, even though you knew I shouldn't be able to hear it, you obliged with my demands? Also, you do remember I'm a hunter, right? I have been trained to hear small noises." Gabriel rolled his eyes and smirked.

"Ok one, that's complete bullshit, otherwise demons wouldn't be able to sneak up on you." Sam busted out laughing again.

"That was one time!"

"More like fifty times if I can recall." Gabriel raised a hand when Sam started to protest and tried not to smile, "And don't you fight with me on this, I have better memory than you and you know it." Sam could only sit there and laugh. "Two." Sam laughed even louder. "Shut up would ya?" Sam stopped and looked straight at Gabriel.

"No." He deadpanned, then made himself comfortable in his seat, trying to suppress his giggles. Gabriel rolled his eyes yet again.

"Two, of course I checked the volume, and it's rude to judge Winchester. Three." Sam was finding it harder to fight a losing battle of laughter. "Even if I did it, you'd still chuck things at me."

"Ok wait, so Gabriel. The Archangel turned Trickster turned Pagan god turned back to Archangel, let me, Sam Winchester, just a hunter who faced Lucifer, the fucking devil and Gabriel's brother, study for hunts with ghosts, ghouls, vampires, and werewolves?" Sam looked both impressed and confused.

"I was gonna ask when you were done with the unneeded introductions." Gabriel smirked while Sam crossed his arms and huffed out a laugh. Gabriel couldn't help but stare when Sam turned his head away. Scratch off hot, Sam Winchester was a beauty. Gabriel looked down at his book when Sam started to turn back.

"So why?" Gabriel slowly looked up from his book.

"So why, what?"

"So why, after all this time of helping us, have you not left? Why have you stayed with us? Why, when you came back, came back to us?" Sam was looking at him with confusion. If Gabriel didn't know he changed, he would've almost thought the question was packed with self-loathing. Maybe it was, relapse was a thing. Gabriel looked at him seriously, which had become fairly frequent in his time with the Winchesters. "And that, serious expression, you never did that with anyone, even when you were serious!" Gabriel almost cocked his head in confusion, but stopped himself.

"Actually, that's what I've been wondering myself. I know the reason, I just can't make out why it's a reason." Sam stared at him.

"What do you mean?" Sam leaned forward, arms still crossed.

"I mean. For the past years, every time I thought about why I chose to come here instead of die," Sam knitted his eyebrows in confusion, but Gabriel held up a hand in a gesture like 'wait', "I knew the reason why, but I always came up with another. My brothers really need to be put away. I died because the fighting had to stop, letting it play out wasn't going to fix anything. Then Castiel almost left you soulless. Then he lied to us all and let the Leviathans loose. Then Abaddon came, and your brother almost took the Mark."

"Yeah, why did you stop him from that?"

"I told you, would've brought on another big bad, I'm not willing to talk about." Sam nodded his head in understanding. He still didn't want to talk about Azazel. Sure, the events, but not about him. Gabriel never pushed.

Then it clicked.

Gabriel had been lying to himself this whole time.

He flew off, to Sam's surprise, and fled to the nearest hiding place.

His heart was racing.

He knew the reason.

Of course he knew the reason.

He just never understood why.

So he never let it fester or bud in any way.

Now that he knew, he had to keep far away from a particular hunter. Sam Winchester.

Chapter Text

Gabriel let himself shiver on the mountain top.

He had been gone a week. His brother had reached out to him, but he just told him he needed to sort things through. Everything made sense now. He was in love with Sam Winchester. That he knew, that was the reason he had stayed in the first place. Hell, that was the reason that he died in the hotel.

Now it just made sense as to why he was in love with Sam Winchester. Of course Sam was his type! Sam Winchester took shit from nobody. That's why he went off to Stanford, that's why he left Dean a couple times. Sam always spoke his mind, thought through all possibilities, then when he had his choice, he set his mind to making it work. He fought for his way and stood up for himself, that's why he always said no. That's how he was able to fight back Lucifer and throw him in the cage.

The worst thought of all, was that Sam was the one to make Gabriel reverse time to let his brother live, to let Dean live. Sam had demanded Gabriel to bring Dean back, and Gabriel did it. All this time, Gabriel was doing things because Sam had asked him to, because Sam had demanded him to. That's why he let Sam be when the Winchester worked. That's why he stopped his rough pranking, because Sam wouldn't tolerate it.

Gabriel was so fucked.

****

"Gabriel." Gabriel whipped around to look at Castiel from where he was sitting looking at the view from the mountain. He turned back around, feeling slightly guilty.

"Oh. Hey, Cas." Castiel walked towards Gabriel but remained standing. "How are the Winchesters?"

"Sam is... he's worried about you. He demanded I come and see you if you hadn't returned by two weeks."

"Has it really been two weeks?" Time flies when you're deep in thought, Gabriel thought to himself.

"Yes."

"Damn." They stood in silence for a minutes before Castiel continued.

"You know, Sam said the last time you left them alone for more than a few days, you were supposedly dead and Lucifer was taking over his body. What's this about?" Gabriel sighed. He'd have to explain eventually to everyone. He really didn't want to explain it to himself though. He could still barely get it through his head.

"Then you might want to take a seat." Castiel sat on large rock near Gabriel and motioned for him to continue. "I'm in love with Sam Winchester." Castiel laughed. "That's not the entire explanation you know." Castiel laughed again. "What's so funny?"

"Well, I already know. You don't make your feelings very obvious, but you are not the only angel who can read minds you know." Gabriel smiled. He couldn't believe how many tricks Castiel had learned over the years.

"You can only read my surface thoughts though. I'm in love with Sam, but I never understood why. It never made sense to me."

"Why you were in love with Sam?"

"Yes."

"What does that have to do with you running away?"

******

Gabriel had fled. Again.

It wasn't his fault. His favorite brother had turned into someone he no longer recognized, and he was going to possess the love of his life. But it was the only way, Gabriel couldn't help the Winchesters. They thought he was dead. And really, he was supposed to be.

His Father had brought him back. He made a stand for humanity, so his Father asked him if he wanted a second chance, to make things better. To help the Winchesters fight for humanity. Gabriel had screamed at his father. Wondering why He had left the angels. Why he was letting the apocalypse happen when it clearly shouldn't be happening. Why He had said that it must happen when it is clear in his Father's eyes he doesn't want it to happen. But at that moment, the thing he wanted to know most was why he was given the second chance and Lucifer wasn't. His Father had given him an answer he didn't expect and didn't want either. 

"Lucifer didn't repent. You did."

That's when he fled.  He agreed to help the Winchesters, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't watch his brother fall once again. He couldn't stand the fighting from before, he can't watch it again. He knows Lucifer won't die, he told the Winchesters the was another way for the sole purpose of keeping Lucifer alive. It would give him another chance to repent, even though Gabriel knows he most likely won't. He also couldn't help face Lucifer off with the Winchesters, because Lucifer would realize Gabriel was given the second chance. But Lucifer wasn't.

The other reason, would be the Winchesters.  Sure he died for them, but how much would that make up for?  First there was Mystery Spot, then TV land.  He had done so much damage to them already.  He just couldn't face them.  Who could blame him?

  Not only that, but they might think he faked it again and blame him for not coming sooner. Who could blame Gabriel for not returning to the Winchesters when all they would do would blame him for everything. Like continually faking his death, not coming back to help even though he knew that's one of the few reasons he came. He knew the biggest reason he came back was for Sam, not to help face his brothers. He also knew the real reason wasn't because of guilt, the guilt of what he did to Sam, but because of his feelings. He didn't come back because he was in love Sam(and that could end in a number of ways, and nearly all of them would be bad) and because he didn't understand why he was in love Sam.

He didn't know why he felt so attached to the nerd, but he was. He couldn't explain it, because he had a certain type he liked, but Sam just didn't seem to fit. Yet, Gabriel was still in love with him.

He thought about Sam. The last time Gabriel has talked to Sam before he left. Lucifer was taking over his dreams, which Gabriel couldn't fix. He may be an archangel, but so was Lucifer and he wasn't strong enough nor did he have the power to take on Lucifer. Only Michael did. Sam had told Gabriel that Lucifer just needed redemption, he needed a second chance. A chance they couldn't give him, because Lucifer had to repent. The best they could do, was push Lucifer back into the cage. That idea was all Gabriel's, because as much as he couldn't stand the fighting, he didn't think he could stand more bloodshed after what the apocalypse had already brought, before Elysian fields that is.

So he had fled, but in reality, only after Sam was thrown in hell. He helped the Winchesters a little bit, giving them small hints when they got stuck. After all, he had to keep his promise to his Father. But he didn't want anyone to know he was alive, not until he figured things out in his head.

*****

"So?" Castiel asked as Gabriel sighed.

"The reason I came back, that was the first time I realized I was in love with Sam."

"What about you leaving though?"

"I couldn't stand to see him hurt. I can't stand when our own brothers fight, do you really think I could stand seeing the love of my life die?" Gabriel had tears forming in his eyes from remembering the past events. Castiel looked at Gabriel.

"Why did you come back?"

"Because Sam would have been majorly damaged if his soul was left in hell while his body was on earth. I didn't think he could be rescued, and then you tried, and only half succeeded."

"What do you mean, about Sam's soul in hell and body on earth?"

"Let's just say it's the same reason I wouldn't allow Dean to get the Mark of Cain. It'd make hell."

"Same reason Sam couldn't do the trials?"

"That was actually a different reason, considering that would actually stop hell."

"What was that reason?"

"Same reason-"

"Gabriel." Castiel said harshly.

"Look, the reason Dean couldn't get the Mark of Cain is because it would bring in a big bad, that is older than even me. You wouldn't remember any of it because you were too young, and I wish I couldn't remember the horror of it. Anyways Sam going around being soulless? It would create a monster and Sam's soul would be stuck in hell would mean that Lucifer and Michael would be tearing into his soul apart, skinning it alive. Then when we would get Sam's soul back in his body? It would break him worse than hell itself, torn with the memories of what the monster did on earth and the torment from hell. But I couldn't let Sam do the trials because it would kill him, and at that time he was still self-loathing so it wouldn't be like he cared all that much. I would have stopped you from letting the Leviathans loose but I was too busy working with the Winchesters and taking care of Sam, which you know I'm sorry for. So those are the reasons for everything. Long story short, it'd make hell, and Sam had to be protected." After a minute Gabriel added on, "I did them to keep you all of you guys safe." Gabriel had started his little speech in anger, but by the end of it he sounded desperate. Gabriel waited for Castiel to speak as he though through all of what he had done over the years for the Winchesters, for Cas, for his family.

He did all of it, because over the years they all had become family to each other. They had still lost people on the way, but Gabriel had loved them just as much as the Winchesters. He just didn't want to abuse his power by bringing them to back to life every time they died. That would lead to them getting careless, and then what would happen if Gabriel somehow died in all the middle of it?

"But, the way you love Sam isn't like the how you love the rest of us." Castiel finally said.

"Of course it isn't, it's the same type of love you feel towards Dean."

"Then why is it so hard for you to accept that?"

"Because Cas, unlike you, I have a type."

"A what?"

"A type. A type of person that I find appealing. You know, like Dean's type is women? Usually." Cas cocked his head in confusion, like he always did. Gabriel looked back out at the mountains. Even after learning so much about humans, he never lost that quirk. Gabriel sighed again. "Like Dean likes the greasy types of food and Sam likes the healthy types of foods. There's different types of people."

"So what do you like?" Gabriel almost laughed. He knew his brother was serious, but it was such an absurd question.

"Hot. Flirty. I wouldn't say controlling, but more of the demanding for one's way. And after Kali I would say kindness towards others too."

"I don't understand, Sam fits that 'type' of personality, how could you not accept that?" Gabriel smiled, he didn't even have to look over at his brother to know he had used air quotations.

"Yeah, I didn't realize that until two weeks ago." Gabriel gave Castiel a look when he knew his brother would interrupt. "I didn't realize it because after all these years, I saw him more as just a nerdy puppy who begs and pleads, not a person who demands his way. Then I realized, that his begging is his way of demanding. He will beg you for it, but if you don't give him his way, he will kill you." Castiel snorted. Gabriel laughed.

"So why did you run then? Why didn't you stay and tell him?" Gabriel uncrossed his legs and splayed his legs out, leaning back on his elbows so he could still see the view.

"Because, when I didn't know why, I was too confused to fall any further in love with him. It was easy to stop and control myself, keep myself from panicking. It was distraction from falling. Now, it's harder because I know why. I can't let the confusion keep me from falling, there's no distraction. So, now it will be obvious to him that I like him, and I don't wan that."

"Why don't you just tell him? Because it would be easier, he would know why you act like that."

"Why don't you go suck your boyfriend's dick." Castiel pushed at Gabriel's shoulder. He didn't push hard, but Gabriel fell to the ground anyways. Castiel muttered something about him still being a child and Gabriel smiled. After a minute Gabriel let out a groan and mumbled under his breath, "It'd be so much easier if I could read his mind."

"But you can't because you promised both of them."

"Shut up. I said it would be easier, not that I would do it."

"Gabriel, just tell him."

"Go suck your boyfriend's dick." Castiel made some kind of noise of annoyance. Gabriel didn't really care. Clearly Cas didn't realize why Gabriel couldn't tell Sam.

"I'll be back soon to check up on you if you don't return."

"Yeah, whatever. Say 'hey' to the Winchesters for me."

****

When Gabriel returned to the bunker two more weeks later, he found himself engulfed in a warm embrace before he could even think 'Shit they're home'. Even so, he still found himself returning the hug.

"I missed you. Where did you go?" Gabriel heard Sam's muffled voice, vibrating against his skull.

"I just needed some space." I needed to get a grip over myself. Prepare myself for all the foolish and stupid things I would do because of it all. Sometimes I wish I didn't know so much about falling in love.

"But-" Gabriel laughed and pulled away from the hug. If he did it reluctantly, it was his business and no one else needed to know. "Gabriel, what happened? Why did you leave?"

"I told you, I just needed space. I needed time to think by myself."

"You couldn't have at least warned me?" Gabriel could laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. He was smiling at Sam, who was more teasing, but still clearly annoyed and angry.

"I'm an archangel, Sam, I can take care of myself." Why do you want to know so bad? Gabriel gave Sam his trickster smirk before walking towards the kitchen to get something to eat. He wouldn't really say it, but even though he doesn't have to eat, he still missed eating after only a month.

"Yeah, but-"

"But what Sam? You worried about me?"

"Yes, actually. I was, because I don't give a shit if you're an archangel. You can still die like the rest of us. You have before." Sam had started to sound annoyed.

"Just like the rest of you." Gabriel muttered. Why was he so worried? I can die, but not many things can kill me. When he had gotten to the kitchen he didn't see any sign of Dean or Cas. "Hey, where are the lovebirds?" He asked as he walked through the bunker. Sam was following close behind, so as they could continue their conversation. Which Gabriel wished would end.

"They're out on a hunt." Gabriel turned to look at him.

"Why aren't you with them?" Gabriel asked worried. Was Sam sick? Did he relapse on something?

"I refused to leave the bunker after you left. I wanted to be here when you came back." Sam said. He had ended up looking down at the ground by the end of it, which Gabriel thought was adorable.

Shit. Why does falling in love always have to be so hard and fast? Wait, he stayed back for me?

"You couldn't leave a note?" Gabriel asked, only half teasing.

"I told you, I was worried." Sam said, starting to get irritated.

"Why?" Gabriel had meant it to be teasing, but Sam looked angry. When Sam opened his mouth again, Gabriel added, much more seriously, "and don't say because I can also die. You used that excuse once already, and that can't be the only reason."

"Why did you leave then?" Sam countered angrily. "And don't say because you needed time to think, because you used that."

"Well, it is the only reason." Gabriel said, starting to get uncomfortable. Me being back should be more celebratory shouldn't it? Because I'm back? Why is he so worked up over it? Can't he just drop it?

"Bullshit." Sam said, slowly moving towards Gabriel.

"Why were you so worried? I asked that first you answer first." Gabriel said in an irritated voice. Fine, two can play at that game.

"Fine. Because I thought you wouldn't come back." Sam answered, taking a step towards Gabriel. When did Sam get so close? Wasn't he like farther than that before he took a step towards me.

"Wouldn't come back? Sammy, you know I always come back." Gabriel gave another smirk, but Sam huffed and Gabriel dropped it. This conversation was serious, so Gabriel had to be. When did this turn serious though?

"Yeah, after at least one or two years of staying away. Now why did you leave?" Gabriel looked away. He didn't want to answer it, there really was one reason, he needed to think. Ok, so it wasn't the full truth, he needed to time to think over the new revelations, but it still was the only reason. It took Gabriel awhile, but he couldn't think of another answer so he just walked away. "Gabriel!" Sam ran after him and Gabriel stopped. He couldn't run away again. He knew he couldn't, but he didn't want this conversation right now. He also didn't want things to get awkward between him and Sam. Falling head over heels with him would make that awkward enough.

"That is the only reason Sam! I left because I needed to time to think over things." Gabriel yelled, starting to get angry like Sam.

"It took you a month?" 

"I-.....I panicked."

"Why? Why did you run away, too? Was it something I did?" Sam asked. A flash of hurt and guilt crossed Sam's face, it was only a second but Gabriel caught it.

"You think you made me leave?" This time the sad guilty look stayed longer.

"Well, I mean, you did leave in the middle of our conversation." Sam said, shuffling his feet a bit. "I just want to know why you left and why you stayed away so long. I thought I had done something, yes. Don't worry, I'm not self-loathing, I just... I had panicked and by the time Dean came back, I freaked out even more because I thought you'd be back by then. Except you weren't, and then you didn't come back for two weeks, so I had asked Castiel to find you. If I had done something I wanted to fix it between us. I just didn't.. I didn't know if I did or not, it took me another week before Cas got me to relax over it." That's why he wanted to know so bad. And it was you, just not in a bad way.

"No, no. It wasn't you, really. I just, kind of realized something, and needed time to think and not panic over it. Something I needed to do by myself too. So, well, now that that's over, want to watch a movie?" Sam scoffed at how Gabriel could be so serious and then move on so quickly. 

******

"Gabriel!" Gabriel jumped in his chair and almost threw the book he was reading. The case they had was harder than usual, so Gabriel stepped in to help. Mostly because Sam needed his sleep. And fucking shit, why were you blushing so hard around him?

"What?" Gabriel suddenly leaned away as an angry Castiel stomped over to him. "Wait, whoa, hey! What'd I do? I didn't do anything wrong!" Gabriel was out of his chair and across the room.

"You didn't tell Sam the real reason you left?"

"What! I did!" Castiel gave Gabriel a hard look. "Mostly." Gabriel returned to Cas' side, via angel mojo of course. "Why do you want me to tell him anyways? He isn't complaining about it." Castiel rolled his eyes and grabbed Gabriel's arm. Gabriel was about to yank it away when he found himself in the kitchen with the Winchesters. Gabriel glared at Cas.

"What happened?" Dean asked, wary of getting between two angry angels.

"Yeah, Cas? What happened? Why am I here and not in the library?" Gabriel crossed his arms.

"You need to work it out with Sam." That had gotten Sam's attention.

"What?"

"There's nothing to be worked out!" Gabriel yelled at Cas who just rolled his eyes. Gabriel just didn't want Sam knowing. Sam would reject him, and then everything would be awkward, and no thanks.

"Gabriel?" Sam asked accusingly, but still confused. Gabriel rubbed a hand down his face.

"I can take care of it myself, Cas. No need to meddle with things you don't understand."

"I understand perfectly. Your head is up your ass because you won't deal with it. And after all these years of telling the rest of us to deal with-" Gabriel's hand flew to Castiel's mouth.

"Do you fucking mind?" Gabriel glared daggers at his brother. "I said I'll take care of it on my own time. Meanwhile people are dying because a big bad monster is loose, and I need to help with the research." Gabriel flashed himself to the library before anyone could object, and luckily his brother didn't come after him. It had only been a week since he had been back, but he still didn't want to tell Sam. Shit, Sam! 

Of course, he nearly forgot, Sam was demanding answers. So, of course Sam followed Gabriel to the library. Gabriel looked towards Sam, who seemed a little to calm and casual about it all. Gabriel gave him a confused look that clearly said, 'I thought you were angry'.

"Thought I might help research." Sam said with a fake smile. Gabriel mentally slapped himself. He pissed off Cas, now he pissed off Sam, Dean is probably pissed at him because Gabriel pissed off both of them. Ugh, this was a mess, why did Sam have to be his type and why did he have to fall in love?

*****

An hour of research and they had figured everything out. Sam had grabbed his phone to talk to Dean and Gabriel started cleaning up the books. Just as Gabriel came back to fetch more, Sam grabbed his arm.

"So, what was Cas talking about earlier?" Gabriel sighed. There was no getting out of this. Sam would find out, and since Gabriel couldn't get into the giant's brain, he was either going to be harshly rejected or he'd get a very hot date. Of course, there were no signs of Sam ever liking him anyways, so it was clearly the first thing.

"Cas was just being a meddler."

"About what? What did you need to tell me? Was it about you leaving?" Sam started spewing out questions, and Gabriel was trying to hide his rapidly reddening cheeks. He sighed when Sam gave him an icy look.

"It was about me leaving, yes."

"It was about me wasn't it?" Gabriel hesitated and Sam added. "Just tell the truth, Gabe." Gabriel sighed, he seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.

"Yes." Gabriel hoped he would drop it, but Sam seemed to get angry at that, so instead of leaving (which he could, even with Sam's grip on his arm, he didn't, and why hadn't Sam let go yet?) he pulled a chair closer and sat down. Sam let go of his arm, seeing as Gabriel would now stay.

"So you did need to tell me something?" Gabriel huffed and rolled his eyes.

"No."

"Then why-?"

"Castiel thinks I should tell you."

"Well, it's about me, so I think you should to." Sam shrugged, clearly still pissed off at not being told.

"Look, I don't want to ok?!" Gabriel yelled. He didn't want to say, it shouldn't be pressured into saying it. Sam shook his head, making Gabriel feel guilty.

"I thought you were our friend, you said we shouldn't keep secrets so why-" Sam's question was cut off when Gabriel surged forward and pressed his lips to Sam's. Go big or go home right? If he was gonna tell Sam, might as well go big with it. It was sloppy at best, teeth had clashed, and Gabriel tilted his head so their lips slotted together better. Gabriel was lost in the kiss, he was crawling into Sam's lap and reaching for Sam's hair and neck. He opened his mouth when Sam's tongue had slid across his lips in silent demand and question. That's when he realized Sam was kissing back,and  he pulled away almost in shock. It took a minute to regain his bearings, but he answered Sam's cut off question.

"Because, I'm in love with you, and I was scared you didn't feel the same way. Ok?" Gabriel finally said, panting a little from the sudden realization, Sam likes him back. Why else would he kiss me back?

Sam was panting a little to, but he had a smile on his face which made Gabriel's chest tighten with joy of seeing it. "I don't understand though. Why did you run? Why did you stay away? Did you not want to be in love?" Gabriel shook his head.

"I already was." Sam gave him an even more confused look. "I was, I just didn't understand, until something clicked. I could be around you, because I didn't want to 'make a move' until I knew why."

"What made you question why?" Gabriel laughed.

"I'm tired of explaining." He looked down at Sam who was gazing up at him with such a fierce look, Gabriel felt a surge of love fill him. "You're good at hiding feelings you know, I didn't think you liked me." Sam shrugged.

"Since you agreed to stay out of my head, it wasn't as hard. Plus, you were just oblivious most of the time to my flirting. I figured you didn't like me back, and really, I didn't want to lose the friendship. Everyone knows it gets awkward after the other one knows." Gabriel laughed.

"I literally just told you that's why I didn't want to say so either."

"I believe you said because you were afraid of rejection." Sam smiled and Gabriel rolled his eyes.

"Please, rejection causes the awkwardness, that part was implied." Sam laughed and kissed Gabriel on the cheek. "Well, Cas got his way. What do you want to do now?" Gabriel looked down at Sam with a grin, and Sam returned it. Only Gabriel swore it turned a little dark.

"I think we can come up with a few things. Especially since Dean and Cas have left to go gank the monster and we're here, alone." Gabriel smiled back and felt a wave of arousal flood downwards.

"Dean would totally call that whole conversation chick-flicky you know." Gabriel chuckled as Sam shrugged.

"Dean isn't so emotionally constipated anymore. Plus he can just go fuck himself." Sam said and pulled Gabriel down for a heated kiss.