Who says Angels can't be Hunters?

Chapter 2

Dean awoke to the sound of arguing. He first thought it was Bobby and Sammy, but he recognized Cass' voice immediately.

"You left, and you ran away like a coward!" Castiel spat, glaring daggers at Gabriel, who was standing behind the holy fire. Sam was fiddling with the lighter nervously, watching the two angels fight.

"I was a coward? You know, you're an asshole, Cassie. I didn't run for cowardice or fear," Gabriel growled, still not strong enough to escape the semi-circle of fire. Dean interrupted them.

"This is what he gets for saving your sorry ass?" He said to Gabriel, standing beside Castiel.

Gabriel chuckled dryly, "He still owes me a couple saves, actually."

Castiel scowled, and turned away, storming into the kitchen, Dean following suit, muttering, "Watch him, Sammy." Sam turned to the archangel, who had sat back down on his makeshift bed, peering at the bandages overing his abdomen.

"Heya, Moose," Gabriel said, folding his shirt down, not looking up.

"So, how did you do it?" Sam asks, genuinely interested.

Gabriel's face went blank. "Do what," He droned, swinging his legs onto the bed, tucking his knees close to himself, and leaning back against the wall. He looked.. sad.

"Fake your death." Sam said, seeing right through his act. Gabriel looked up at him, and whiskey-brown orbs met Sam's.

Gabriel took a deep breath. "I knew my brother and I would meet eventually. He was always best at fighting- even better than Michael. So yeah, I've been practicing- the wing marks were the hardest to fake. Not the lights or explosion. Honestly, I didn't think it would work at all, and Lucifer would've just found me and killed me anyway." Gabriel shrugged as if it was nothing. Sam glanced back into the other room- Bobby, Dean, and Cass were arguing in hushed voices.

"What happens, then? Who's side will you take- Lucifer's or Michael's?" Sam wanted to know, since Gabriel wouldn't be hurt forever.

"Neither. I'm on yours. The humans. I love my brothers- just like you love Dean- and I don't want to side with either of them. I can't bear the fighting, Sam." Gabriel blinked, his eyes glassy and unfocused, then looked at Sam. "I just want it to end, which is why I had to try and stop Lucifer. He's misunderstood, and confused- he doesn't know what he's doing."

"Wait, so you don't, yknow, hate him for killing you?" Sam asked, puzzled.

"Even if they were- they are- the biggest bags of dicks in the world, I could never hate any of my brothers. Especially Lucifer. He taught me how to fly, how to fight, and how to trick." Gabriel winked at the last part. "I'm the youngest archangel, and Michael was the oldest. Raphael and Michael didn't want to take me under their wing, literally. But Lucifer was the middle child, in a sense, before I was 'born'. So, he and I were 'best buddies' or whatever. And when he took a stand against God, because he loved him- and us- more than the humans, I nearly chose his side." Gabriel stopped, then laughed. "Any other questions, moose?"

"So, uh, who's your vessel?" Sam asked, awkwardly changing the (clearly delicate) subject. Gabriel smirked, and looked at him with a mischievous expression.

Gabriel got up, flinching as he moved too quickly. It did not escape Sam's notice. "Come here, closer to the circle." He said, but Sam didn't move. "I won't zap you or anything, moose, don't worry." Gabriel added.

Sam took another look back at the kitchen, before taking a few hesitant steps towards the archangel, his feet centimeters from the low-burning holy fire. Gabriel reached up and pressed two fingers to his forehead gently.

Sam nearly jumped as his vision changed, Gabriel, and Bobby's house, disappearing from view. Now, he was standing across the street from a large house, facing a big window. He could see inside the window, and a family was having dinner. Nobody seemed missing- and suddenly he heard Gabriel's voice.

"These are my vessel's descendants." His voice had lost its usual, upbeat humor.

"How long have you been on earth?" Sam asked, surprised. He turned to Gabriel, who was standing next to him, looking at the family.

Gabriel didn't look up at him, just kept his gaze on the family. "I don't know. Since Lucifer- since he first took a stand, I guess. Since everyone started fighting. That's how long. I lost track. But the other pagan gods and I met some time after, and I've been a part of their little group for a while. It was fun, and they were my friends. Too bad they're all dead." Gabriel frowned. Sam didn't know what to say, but opened his mouth anyway.

"Gab-"

"Sam! Hey!" A loud voice rang in the two's ears, and the vision crumpled as Gabriel was knocked away by Dean. Sam blinked as he saw Gabriel stumble a few steps, glaring at Dean. Dean dragged Sam away, before the taller man planted his feet. 

"What was that, Dean?!" He hissed, glancing at Gabriel to see if the archangel was okay.

"What was that, Sammy?" Dean snapped back. Castiel returned from the kitchen, followed by a scowling Bobby. 

"It was just a projection, kiddo, no need to overreact." Gabriel snarked, gaze going from Sam, to Dean, to Castiel. 

Dean opened his mouth to object, but Sam cut him off. "It was just a vision, Dean." He said firmly. Castiel exchanged a look with Gabriel, before nodding slowly. 

"It was." He simply confirmed. Dean grunted a half-assed apology, before retreating to the kitchen. Sam rolled his eyes and followed his brother.

"Well, you guys better sort your earlier fight out, while I help them. Those idjits are barely capable of a calm debate, so God help them with something like this." 

When Bobby was gone, the two angels were alone. 

"Sorry, Cassie. About before." Gabriel said after a moment. Castiel looked lost in thought for a moment, before he walked up to the line of fire, put it out, and sat next to Gabriel on the bed. 

"I apologize, too. I should not have said what I did. You were not, nor are, a coward. You saved Sam and Dean and I am most grateful for that. I also am quite.. overjoyed.. to see you again, although recently.." Castiel trailed off, remembering their most recent encounter, where Gabriel trapped himself and the brothers in a TV universe. 

"I'm sorry about that, too." Gabriel said. "It was great to see you again, though, baby brother." He grinned playfully.

Their 'heartfelt reunion' was interrupted as Bobby exclaimed, a bit too loudly, "Balls!"

From the kitchen, sending Gabriel into a small fit of laughter. The pain in his side flared up, causing him to contain his childish laughter- For the moment.