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7

Sam sat beside the sink waiting for Gabriel to come in. He had  filled the sink full of warm water, and had some of his shampoo sitting beside it. He kept going over everything he knew about what had happened to his angel. The memories he had shown him, the wounds, the scars, everything. But the thing that hurt most was the broken and terrified look Gabriel had in his eyes. How even when he was asleep, he looked so scared. He knew it would take a lot of time to get Gabriel out of this pit, and it would hurt like hell to watch him be afraid of Sam, but he was going to keep fighting until Gabe was okay again, or until he died. (tho that never sticks for long does it?)

Sam looked up as he saw Gabriel standing by the door, hesitating to come into the small bathroom that seems even smaller with Sam in it already. Sam watched as the archangel scanned the edges of the room, his eyes flickering to every corner before settling on Sam.

"Hey. Finish up okay?"

Gabriel gave a slight nod before slowly entering the bathroom and sitting on the chair Sam had brought in. He kept his eyes on Sam, not wanting to look away in case he would disappear.

"Okay, let's get your hair clean now. Just lean your head back into the sink and I'll do the rest, okay?"

Once again Gabe gave a small nod before leaning his head into the water. Sam picked up one of the paper cups they had in the bathroom, and filled it with water, pouring it into Gabriel's hair, repeating this until his hair was completely wet.

Gabriel sat completely still, his eyes locked onto Sam the entire time. He felt the shampoo being squirted into his matted hair, and Sam's fingers working it through to his scalp before rinsing it out and repeating. Gabriel let out a soft sigh of comfort as he felt Sam massaging his scalp.

"Do you like this?"

Sam asked softly, not wanting to disturb what was probably the first peace his angel has felt in a long time. He smiled down at him, rinsing the soap once again, finally starting to see the natural honey color come through again.

Gabriel let out a soft mhm, giving Sam a slight smile, almost unnoticed except for the fact that it was the first expression that he had made that wasn't one of pain or fear.

Sam felt his heart stutter at the reaction, and continued washing his hair again, scratching softly at Gabriel's scalp, smiling as he leaned into the touch.

"You're safe now angel. You're safe here with me. You're home here with me. With Cass and with Dean...and with me."

Sam whispered softly to Gabriel as he finished cleaning and rinsing his hair for the final time. He drained the water from the sink and grabbed a fluffy towel, drying Gabriel's hair softly before letting him up from the chair.

"Better?"

Gabriel nodded again, leaning against Sam's chest, hugging him softly. Sam immediatly wrapped his arms tightly around Gabriel, threading his fingers through his damp hair.

"Gabe...?"

Gabriel looked up, meeting Sam's eyes for the first time since they woke.

"Do you even know how much you mean to me? How bad it hurt when you were gone. When I thought you were dead? I wanted you back at all cost. When Dean said he couldn't find a way to bring you back, I wanted to give up. Hell I had given up. But you came back....you came back to me...I'm so sorry that we couldn't save you sooner. That I couldn't....I'm sorry Gabriel."

Gabe shook his head slowly, reaching his hand up slowly, cupping Sam's face, his thump stroking over his cheek. A sad smile formed on his face as he watched Sam lean into the touch.

"i-It wasn't your fault Sam. There was nothing you could have done."

His voice was scratchy from the lack of use and all the screaming in the night.

Sam placed his hand over Gabriel's, lacing their fingers. He kissed the palm of his hand softly before pulling him into another sudden hug. Sam nuzzled his face into Gabriel's neck, letting himself go for a moment as he truly let it sink in that Gabriel was back with him again finally. He felt the angel thread his fingers through Sam's over grown hair, sighing happily at the feeling.

They stayed like that for a few minutes before Gabriel pulled away, grabbing Sam's hand and pulling him to the living room. Sam followed him, sitting down on the couch beside Gabriel. as soon as he had sat down, Gabe crawled into his lap, nuzzling into his chest, his eyes drooping as he yawned.

"Tired Gabe?"

He shook his head quickly, trying to stay awake. The look of fear returning to his face.

Sam frowned, wrapping his arms tightly around him, rubbing his back soothingly.

"You don't want to sleep?"

Gabe shook his head softly.

"Because of the nightmares?"

He nodded, keeping his face hidden from view. Tears were starting to burn in his eyes and he didn't want Sam to see him break down again.

Sam watched him closely before an idea popped into his head.

"What if we could stop the nightmares? You could take some dream root and come hang out in my mind while you sleep. Would that work?"

Gabriel looked up at him, clearly thinking if his idea would work before giving a slight nod. In his fragile state, his mind and body we're functioning more like a human than the powerful celestial being that he was. He hoped this would work for him like it did for humans.

Sam smiled and went to stand up, only to stop when he realized Gabriel wasn't moving.

"Um....Gabe? I kinda have to stand up to make the tea. Which means you have to get up."

Gabriel only pouted, shaking his head.

"B-But you are so warm. I want to stay here."

Sam laughed softly, shaking his head at the mighty archangel Gabriel pouting like a child because he didn't want to move.

"Okay well you better hang on then."

Sam stood up, holding Gabriel bridal style, the angel tightly wrapping his arms around Sam's neck, resting his head on his shoulder.

Sam made his way through the bunker to the storage room. He walked around a few shelves until he found the Jar containing the roots. He smiled at the angel in his arms, setting the jar in Gabriel's lap.

"Hold this so it doesn't break or fall."

Sam walked out the room, going into the kitchen and setting Gabriel on the counter like a child. He went to work making the tea from the root before adding some of his hair to finish it off. He handed the cup to Gabe, smiling down at him.

"Drink your tea and go to sleep now. Okay angel?"

A soft blush creeped into his cheeks at the nickname. He nodded and hopped off the counter, following Sam back to his room and climbing into the bed with him before drinking all of the tea. He felt his eyes droop and looked over at Sam who was already asleep, holding Gabriel around his waist, keeping him close to his chest.

Gabe smiled up at him, nuzzling into his chest. He listened to Sam's heart beat, finding a sense of safety and comfort in the beat. He let his eyes close fully and fell asleep almost instantly.