By Their Grace

Secrets

"Could?" Dean repeated incredulous, "what are the odds? I'm notabout to let Sam just go for a ten percent chance it will work."Dean growled out and Gabriel sighed, he had seen something like thisa thousand times over; older sibling powers activate.

"I don't know, I'm not about to just drop him in the cave and tellhim 'good luck'. I'm not an idiot." Gabriel growled out at Dean forsuggesting he would be so reckless with Sam. He understood the olderbrother instincts especially with the life they had led and Deanbeing the older sibling he would take on the worst parts to protecthis baby brother.

Gabriel relaxed as he saw Castiel take a step up behind him and Deandidn't look back but still took a step back bringing the two of themcloser. Gabriel didn't think that the elder Winchester even realizedhe was doing it, if the younger angel and hunter would just do stuffto get rid of the sexual tension already.

"But why can't I sense it then? Usually I can sense anyone who ispsychically strong." Gabriel mused and shook his head, "theynormally give off a glow of some kind, almost like my own grace, evenif it is fundamentally different."

"How is it normally?" Sam asked curiously, being able tounderstand what had happened to him and how and why he could do ithad always made him feel better. Like he could control it better.

"It normally gives a sense of...warmth...like the powers aremanifesting in a little warm glow. It makes their aura glow as welllike it is a light other then just normal color, it looks almost neonif they are particularly strong." Gabriel explained and Dean gave asubtle gasp, he was looking down so when Castiel looked at him, hecouldn't see his green eyes.

"Dean?" He whispered worried about him and Dean reached out togrip Castiel's forearm and giving a light squeeze before letting go.I'm fine, give me a moment.

Castiel knew that was what Dean was trying to say, and he knew thathe was lying.

He took a step closer to Dean, offering his silent support and readyto step up if he had to. That was something Castiel was always doing,he would be there if he had to be there for either of theWinchesters. But especially Dean, always Dean. He would sometimes beangry at Dean in some ways as he realized what he had given up, butin the end he would still be there.

They did share a profound bound.

"How could I not know it then? Was it because it came so late inlife?" He asked and Gabriel raised a single brow and Sam knew whathe was asking and answered before Gabriel had a chance to ask thequestion. "I was in my early twenties, from the few times I'veheard it people claimed to be able to do it since twelve orthirteen." Sam explained and Gabriel looked just a little bit moreconfused.

"That doesn't feel right." Gabriel said and Dean and Sam might belistening intently, even if both were focusing on different parts,Castiel was only half listening for any points that were important."True the powers come full force when they enter puberty but it isstill there as children; did you ever have anything like that?"

"No." Sam was now again starting to feel worried, why was he sodifferent then?