The Corgi Effect

What He Said and What He Dreams

He has been turning faster recently. He needs to go outside and play more, be petted more and he sleeps more.

"Cas and I figured it would be best, for now, if you were to ignore all your 'dog needs'. Cas thinks it's only speeding up what's happening," Dean explains. "See, by reacting to the dog needs, you're only created more at a more intense level," Castiel adds.

Gabriel sighs and his ears drop.

"But there is some good news," Dean says. "Well Cas thinks it's good news anyway," he adds. "I believe that Dean and I have found someone that I presumed dead," Castiel explains.

"And who is this?" Sam asks.

"Balthazar."

Gabriel and Sam's eyes grow wide. "Whoa wait, I thought you killed Balthazar," Sam says. "I had no idea that Balthie was dead," Gabriel mumbles. Everyone looks at him oddly.

"Did you say 'Balthie'?" Dean asks, "yeah," Gabriel rolls his eyes as he responds. "Back in the good old days, when I was in Heaven, Balthazar and I were close. Who else do you think taught him to be like he is? Not to mention that when he first fled, he found me. I helped him up and off he went, stealing artefacts." Gabriel reminisces, "wow," Sam breathes.

"I had no idea you and Balthazar were close," Castiel speaks. "Well no one knows much about me," the corgi shrugs. "Anyway, where is Balthie?" He adds, "... We- we don't know..." Castiel replies. "So how do you know he's...?" Sam inquires, "the patterns," Dean answers. "Cas can see them, apparently," he adds.

"Dean and I will have to go looking for him, so we may not be back here for some time," Castiel announces. "Possibly weeks," he quickly adds.

"Well we guess we'll see you when you get back," Sam smiles. Dean looks at him suspiciously, Sam's changed a little since Gabriel showed up.

"Goodbye Sam, Gabriel." Castiel flies himself and Dean out to Baby and drive away.

------

"Can we go play ball?"

"No."

"Why?"

"You heard your brother, you've got to fight it."

"But it's becoming a little over powering... At least pet me?"

"No."

"Just a scratch behind the ear?"

"No."

"But-"

"NO! I'm not losing you to some bullshit curse like I've lost everyone else I love! You're not going anywhere because of some dumb supernatural thing!" Sam snaps angrily, Gabriel shrinks back fearfully. He was an Archangel/Trickster, but he doesn't have full access to his powers, meaning Sam's scary when he's angry/annoyed/upset.

"Fine, I'll just fill my own doggie needs," Gabriel sulks away, Sam's words had not yet fully set in.

The corgi walks to Sam's room and manages to get onto the bed. It was the only room he was genuinely comfortable in, it was something to do with the comfort of the bed, maybe just the tidiness of the room. Maybe it was just the fact that this was Sam's room, or you know, whatever.

Sam had searched for Gabriel, but knew exactly where to find him, he just wanted it to look like he didn't know anything.

"You want to know what I said a few weeks ago?" Gabriel asks, not even moving to see Sam.

"When?"

"We had that disagreement then didn't talk to each other until you stomped my foot. I was barking and wincing and you didn't understand what I was saying."

"Oh."

"Do you want to know?"

"Yes."

Gabriel moves so he's sitting upright and looking Sam in the eye.

"I was saying why I did it. Why I died that night in the hotel. Why I went toe-to-toe with my brother... It was to-" he can't get the words out. He draws a steady breath, "save you. I died for you..." He wasn't usually this emotional with his words, but this was a touchy subject. "I knew how the story ended, and you and Dean had to be out on the battlefield."

Sam stands in complete and utter shock. His eyes are wide and his mouth hangs open. All these years hating someone who was just trying to help.

"I- I'm sorry," Sam hangs his head. "I only figured out mystery spot a little while ago, and now this? I've hated you for so long, and you just tried to help me every time we met, and I didn't see it." Sam picks his head up again and looks Gabriel in the eyes, but they weren't his, but the eyes of a corgi. He wags his tail and Sam just stands where he is. The corgi barks excitedly and continuously wags his tail for longer than normal. Sam begins to grow worried.

He moves closer to the dog and places a hand on his head, the corgi leans into the touch and pants happily. He remains full corgi for about five minutes.

-----

Another few days had past since Gabriel and Sam's conversation, but neither of them brought it up again. It's like they made a secret pact to not say anything.

"Read to me."

"You can be so demanding."

"Please?"

Sam rolls his eyes at the corgi rolling around on the floor. "Which one?" The human moose sighs, "a good one. Fictional," Gabriel replies, he stops rolling and lies on his stomach.

"There's mainly supernatural lore books here you know."

"Yeah, but there's got to be something fictional."

Sam looks around and finds a small selection of fictional novels.

"How 'bout The Hobbit?"

"Fine."

Sam picks the book from the shelf and goes and sit down, he opens to the first page and reads. "In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit..." He reads on and on and on until the corgi falls asleep next to Sam's chair. He snoozes softly, indicating that Sam can stop reading aloud, and read quietly instead. He marks the page he's at and shoves the book aside, picking up another on Norse Mythology.

Dean and Cas had rung earlier, explaining how they might be about two or three weeks, four maximum in their search for Balthazar. He is hard to find, but they're trying. Sam has some conflicted feelings about this though. One hand, he's happy that he gets to be with Gabriel (a thought that he likes to bury away). And the other hand is that there is more time for Gabriel to "full corgi", which would be a bad thing.

"Wai- wait... Don't leave... like every... everyone else... Please- don't," Gabriel talks as he sleeps. At first Sam doesn't think much of it, but then he really listens.

"Please... everyone- everyone leaves... except- you... Sammy..." The corgi continues to mumble in his sleep. "I die- died for... you Sammy... don't leave like... every... else..." Gabriel slows his talking and returns to peaceful, non-speaking sleep.

Sam tries to focus on his book, but all he can think about was the fact that Gabriel was dreaming about him, and he was leaving. But Sam would never do that, would he?