Angel With A Shotgun

7

Sam sat in the motel room that he was sharing with Cas and Dean, 4 days after they had left the bunker. He had surprised himself at how well he had been able to focus on the hunt. He had not let his mind take over even once. He was quite pleaded. They had managed to wrap up the werewolf a lot faster  than they originally thought they would, and now they were spending one more night to get some sleep before they returned home. Sam's mind slipped to Gabriel again, as it had every time he had a free moment the past 4 days. He wondered how he was doing, if he was okay. Sam was sure he was fine, but he was still worried. He remembered the look in Gabriel's eyes as he left. He felt his chest squeeze at the thought. He wanted to make that expression leave the angels face. He was no longer surprised by the way his thoughts turned when he thought of Gabriel. He knew part of it was just him being so thankful for him being strong enough to not only get them both out of hell, but also for having taken care of him every day since. With his help he had been able to rebuild himself.  Dean and Cas of course helped too, but it was Gabriel who knew what he had been through, and it was Gabriel who could convince him that the thoughts and nightmares were just that and not happening to him again. He felt a rush of affection for the man as he closed his eyes to sleep, thinking about how by this time tomorrow, he would be able to see those whiskey eyes that he has grown so fond of in person again.

The next morning, Sam woke with a nervous feeling in his chest and a strong urge to get back home. He woke Dean and Cas, smiling to himself as he saw that they had once again fallen asleep cuddle together.  Cas didn't need to sleep of course, Unlike Gabriel he was not so low on grace that his body required it, but he did enjoy the sensation of resting beside dean. The two men sat up, staring at Sam in slight annoyance.

"What time is it Sam?"

Sam shrugged his shoulder, unable to stop grinning at the two as he noticed their hands were laced together.

"Time to head back home."

Grumbles came from both men as they climbed out of the bed. Cas gave sam an odd look as he noticed him staring off into space, a smile still on his face. They all loaded into the impala, Dean and Cas up front, Sam in the back. He wa excited. His first hunt since he got back had gone perfectly, he was so proud of himself. All he wanted to do was get home and see his angel, then it would really be a perfect week.

A few hours later they pulled into the garage. Sam jumped out first, leaving Dean and Cas to unload the gear. He was to excited. The two had noticed how sam couldn't stop smiling and had actually started bouncing with excitement as they neared the bunker. They didn't bother saying anything as Sam went inside.

Sam was overcome with the silence of the bunker as he walked in. It was not what he had been expecting at all. Sam knew you could hear the car pull into the garage from inside. He figured if Gabriel hadn't come out to meet him, then he must be asleep. Good. Sam thought to himself, he knew the angel needed his sleep still. He walked into their room, just wanting to peak in and make sure he was okay, hebwas still a little worried about how Gabriel had handled the days alone.

When sam saw the room, he froze. Everything that had previously been on the walls and shelves was now on the floor. Pictures scattered, books shredded. He started to get nervous.

"Gabriel?"

Sam whispered at first before he fully panicked.

"Gabriel! Where are you?"

Sam left the room, running down the hall. He checked every spare room, every closet. He had to find him. Finally he stopped outside the bathroom, he somehow knew what he would find inside, but he still had to look.

He opened the door and walked in, and Sam knew he was back in hell.

He was silent for a minute,  watching for any signs of life from his angel. When he saw the faintest rise and fall of his chest, he knew he was not to late, or at least he hoped.

Sam dropped to his knees beside him, not caring that he was instantly covered in more blood than any human could stand to lose and survive. But this wasn't a human, this was Gabriel. He wa an archangel. He was the warrior of legends. The one who fought through hell to save them both. This was his Gabriel. He could not die from simple blood loss.

Sam heard the door to the bunker open and immediately screamed for Cas and Dean. Both men flew down the hall and into the bathroom, freezing whe. They saw the scene in front of them.

"Who did this?"

Castiel growled, dropping beside his brother.

"I-I th-thi-ink he d-did"

Sam stuttered the sentence out. He had pulled the knife from Gabriel's hand, confirming in his mind that he had done this to himself. Dean grabbed towels and started trying to wrap Gabriel's arms to slow the bleeding. Castiel started flooding his brothers body with his grace, seeing that Gabriel's had already done what it could. Sam stood back and watched helplessly. He watched as the bleeding slowed and then stopped, and as Castiels grace healed the wounds until they were just jagged scabs. Even he could not fully heal all the damage done at once.

Sam followed as Cas picked up Gabriel and took him to the room he shared with sam, lying him on the bed. Sam pulled the desk chair to the bed and sat, taking Gabriel's hand in his. It felt so small and so fragile. So different than how it normally felt. He always felt so strong and warm when he would grab Sam's hand, leading him back from the memories of the past. Now he would give anything, even go back to hell, if his angel would just wake up.