Camp Pretty Lake » Sabriel

Chapter 4

"Gabe?" Sam rubs his eyes with the back of his hands and squints, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dark. A figure moves past the window from the outside of his cabin and Sam comes to realization. He slides off the top bunk, and to his disappointment, he's right; Gabriel was the one outside.

Without thinking, Sam quickly follows after him. He listens for the crunching of leafs below the teen that is further ahead, somehow managing to track down Gabriel until the yellow tape. The tape that Gabriel never wanted to pass in the first place. From here on, Sam just has a feeling he'll find Gabriel at the cliff. The short walk there, Sam suddenly becomes aware of the cold rain that keeps stinging his skin, the wind not helping any.

Sam finally reaches where the trees come to an opening, and he finds Gabriel so close to the edge he was scared of before, too close. "Gabe!" Sam calls over the whistling wind, "Gabe! What are you doing?!" Gabriel's head snaps in his direction, and he shakes his head. Both of their skins are bright red from the smacking drops. Sam wraps his arms around himself, scolding that he didn't think to bring a sweater. "They were right," is all he shouts back, his eyes still fixed on the water below him. "Who?"

"The kids at the obstacle course..everything they said," Gabriel shakes his head and Sam strains to hear the teens quiet confession. Sam inches closer, "What did they say to you?"

"They're right, I'm just a baby," Gabriel sadly laughs at himself. Sam can't tell if Gabriel is crying or if it's just the rain, either way he aches for Gabriel to back away from the edge. By now, Sam is only a few feet away and he reaches out but Gabe shrugs away. "Gabe," Sam pleads, "Lets just talk about this."

"How else am I supposed to get over this!? All I have to do is jump, right? I'll hit the water and everything will be fine."

"Gabe, please!" Sam continues to yell over the nearing storm, "This jump could kill you. Lets–lets just take baby steps, okay? I'll help you." For the first time, Gabriel turns to face Sam, half turning around to look the teen in the eyes. "Okay," Gabriel breathes. Sam lets out a breath he had been holding, calming down a little.

"Sam!" Gabe suddenly gasps as a burst of wind knocks the teen off balance, he loses his footing and one goes over the ledge. Everything seems to be in slow motion as Sam catches a glimpse of Gabriel's petrified expression, he uses both arms to wrap around Gabes chest and they fall to the ground, inches from the edge.

They tremble and stare down at what could have been, tightly wrapped in each other. "Are you okay?" The Winchester finally whispers after a long silence. "A lot better now."

Shivering, they stay huddled together as the make their way back to the warm, dry cabin.

"Stay with me?" Gabe asks quietly, shyly looking down at his pillow. For a second he thinks that Sam ignores him, but he pulls his own blanket down and lays next to Gabe. "I don't think I'm ever leaving you again," Sam responds, just as quiet. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"I know," Sam cuts in, "It's okay. Just..promise me you won't do it again."

"Yeah, I promise," he whispers, silently scooting closer to Sam's warm body. Protectively, Sam places an arm around Gabriel and relaxes knowing that his friend is safe.

•

Sam had stayed awake all night, even after Gabriel fell asleep tucked into his chest. His light snores were calming and kind of cute, but Sam still decided against sleeping. After it was obvious that Gabriel had woken up, neither of the teens say anything.

Gabe is the first to move, only to be urged to stay with a quick tighten of Sam's grip. "Just a little bit longer."

Gabriel's POV

The fact that Sam wants me to stay, stay laying in his arms longer is confusing..misleading. It hurts to be close to someone that you've opened up to, someone who understands you. I just wish he knew that this kills me. Every sentence that he says only makes me fall for him more, but I can't. Falling for someone who is straight will actually be the death of me, if only Sam were gay, bi even.

Nevertheless, I lay back on Sam's chest.

Sam's POV

If only I had the courage to tell Gabe that I was gay when I had the chance. I can't bring it up now, it would ruin his trust and it would probably make him feel awkward because of this. If I tell him, he'll think of me differently and think I'm hitting on him when he doesn't like me, not like that at least. It's just my luck to fall for a gay guy that has no interest in me.

I securely situate my arms around Gabriel's back and look down at him, how one person could make me feel this in two days, I'm not sure of.