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Sam was cooking breakfast for everyone in the bunker. He heard a noise behind him and he jumped his palm hitting the grill he was cooking sausage on. The smell of burnt flesh hitting the air and pulling Sam back into the memories of the cage. The memories of being tortured by Lucifer. He was jerked out of those memories when he felt a hand land on his arm. He blinked a couple times before realizing it was Gabriel and relaxing. The pain emanating from his hand reminded him he needed to soak his hand in cold water. He wondered if vinegar would be better since it usually helped prevent blistering but it was probably already too late for that. He turned the burner off.Gabriel softly said, “I didn't mean to make you jump. Let me take a look at it.”“I'm not a spooked animal,” Sam huffed as he didn't like being treated like one.Gabriel rolled his eyes and said, “You don't have to pull the tough guy routine with me..you just had a flashback and we both know that it's not as simple as locking it back in the box it escaped from.”Sam held his hand out palm up, looking away from the blisters that were already appearing as he didn't want another trip down memory lane. It was bad enough that they had Nick in the bunker. It was causing a few issues since he could separate the two..to him Lucifer was Nick and Nick was Lucifer. He didn't think that Nick was trying to adjust to life without Lucifer..it was like he missed him and that was enough to cause nightmares for Sam. To remind him of how he had been after…the cage.Gabriel frowned upon seeing his burnt palm and warned, “This might sting a little.” He leaned over and kissed Sam's burnt palm allowing a fraction of his grace to heal Sam's injured palm.The pain faded quickly as the blisters faded, but he wasn't too happy. The angel was low on power; he shouldn't have done that, it would have healed on its own. Lord knows it wasn't the worst injury he had ever had, it didn't stand out much more than a paper cut would have at this point. Sam sighed as he softly said, “You shouldn't have done that, it would have healed on its own and you're low on grace.”Gabriel pulled Sam to him by his waist and said, “I don't like to see you in pain..it hurts me to see it.”“I don't like seeing you drained..” Sam said with a sigh. He was worried Gabriel wouldn't recover one day and it would leave him alone. He didn't want to be alone again, not after everything.Gabriel pulled him closer as he smirked and teased, “You didn't mind it the other night.”“That was different!” Sam muttered as his cheeks flushed red. Changing the subject he asked, "Why don't you recharge by touching a soul like Castiel did?”Gabriel looked conflicted before quietly answering, “Only certain souls can be touched by an archangel's grace like that….” Trailing off as he looked away from Sam, “Plus it's not exactly common practice amongst angels as it can create a bond.” He glanced back at Sam “It's also similar to touching a live electrical wire…and leaves us angels vulnerable to attack for a little while.”“We could defend you or try to anyway ... a bond to someone would have to be better than this is,” Sam gestured around them, he knew that Gabriel wasn't back to normal as everything had been too calm, no illusions that made them question their sanity let alone reality. No funny little tricks or bowls of candy that came from nowhere. It saddened him in a way.Gabriel glanced away and said, “It's not happening Sam.”“Why not?” Sam asked just as quietly. He didn't know what the problem was but he hoped it was something he could change. It would hurt if it was because he didn't trust him but it was understandable..they hadn't always gotten along let alone been on the same side of the fight.Gabriel glanced up at Sam's giant brown eyes and answered honestly, “Because the only one I would trust enough to risk a bond too, is the only one I would trust to protect me.”“And who would that be?” Wondering if perhaps they could still make it work. If it was a non hunter it would be a little more difficult but they could probably try to do it. Sam wasn't given up hope on recharging the angel yet.Gabriel laughed and tightened his hold as he said, “I thought you would have figured that out by now Samalam, it's always been you.”He'd always thought the thought of another angel touching his soul would be repulsive to him but this didn't feel that way at all, this was Gabriel. The angel who had helped them more than once, even when he didn't have to..it was the angel who had remained by his side since they had rescued him from Asmodeus. This was his Gabriel and the thought felt right, more than that it felt inevitable. Sam looked up and said, “Then do it.”Gabriel shook his head and said, “you don't know the risks involved Sam…”“Then tell me but it will not change my answer, we may not be made for each other but you understand me better than anyone, you have supported me and helped me when no one else did.. let me help you now, let me care for you.”
Sam pleaded. He knew that Gabriel wasn't recharging, not like he should have been, this was the only way he saw where they would both walk forward.Gabriel looked up at him for a long moment before he replied, “If we do this, you will become mine Sam..I'm too attached to you. My grace reaches out for you without thought already.” He paused before continuing, “A piece of me would stay attached to you, a piece of you would merge with me…”“Gabriel..you're not scaring me off.” He stated firmly. Sam knew that he shouldn't be so calm about it, but this felt right. They felt right. He softly said, “Yes Gabriel you may do what's needed to heal, I do not want to lose you.”Gabriel stood on his tiptoes and wrapped his arms around Sam's neck before pulling him into a kiss. When they pulled back he softly said, “This may hurt..”Sam inclined his head already knowing that it would, most things with angels didn't come pain free. He pressed his lips back to Gabriel's and winced as he felt the angel's hand go through his stomach and reach upwards. It felt cold more than painful until he grabbed his soul then it felt like being electrocuted, his eyes glued shut as he gritted his teeth. The flash of light told him that had been a wise decision, he was glad the others were out. He began to feel lightheaded as Gabriel's hand retreated. His eyes snapped open to see Gabriel smirking at him, his eyes shining with their usual mischief even if there was a darken pain buried deep within them that like his would never truly leave. Their traumas may have been different but they knew far more than most about what the other had been through.“I think a nap sounds rather nice right about now.” Sam groaned as his soul settled back, he felt warmer almost. It was like he had something surrounding him, it was odd even if it did feel like Gabriel.Gabriel laughed and said, “That would be wise for the both of us…”They walked towards Sam's room as they heard Castiel and Dean return with the rest of them from whatever errand they had been sent on this time or wild goose chase as Sam had come to think of them.Gabriel groaned, “I can hear you thinking from here, let's take that nap and worry about what's to come in the morning..the energy needs to settle into my grace and that means nap time, luv.”“I'll try to quiet down but you might just have to get used to that..” Sam warned with a half smile.Gabriel chuckled, “mmh, I like the sounds of that. It means I get to be around you.”