lost - for hunter_returns

[restrengthen]

Gadreel was still reeling. Kevin's face kept replaying over and over again in his mind and Dean's look of betrayal... He had no choice and he knew this to be truth. Metatron was offering him something that even his Father wouldn't. A place in Heaven, not a dungeon. Still, it pained him. He had taken an innocent life. He was far from righteous, but he had been trying to change... he had wanted to be good. What was he now? The murderer of a prophet.

He breathed out a weary sigh and tilted his head back. He could feel Sam stirring within him again and he dreaded the day that he would be strong enough to intervene.

Comments

[restrengthen]

"Sam?" Dean hoped it was Sam anyway. His voice was tight, on edge.

Gadreel recognized that suspicious note to his voice and thought he could almost feel what was most certainly an internal struggle.

This could go potentially bad, but Sam was right. They needed to get this done.

"Alright. Door's open."

[hunter_returns]

"Yeah. Yeah it's me." A long slow breath. "Okay. I'll be there soon Dean."

They both recognized the tension in his voice, the hesitation. It'll be okay. We can do this. He hoped.

Half an hour later Sam was slowly pushing the door to the bunker open. Home again. "Dean? Dean, it's me. I'm back."

[onasteelhorse]

"Sammy?" There's hesitation in Dean's face when he looks at Sam. He'd thought about setting a trap. They still had holy oil left... he could trap the angel and figure out if he had it in him to do what he knew needed to be done.

He hadn't though.

He was kind of hoping this really was Sam, that they'd figure this out.

"How do I know it's you?"

[hunter_returns]

There wasn't anything he could say that the angel wouldn't have figured out after rifling through his memories. There also wasn't holy oil on the floor so he was going to take that as a good sign.

Sam offered his brother a pained smile. "Because I had to talk him into coming back after what happened. Because I knew you'd stop at nothing to come after him for.. for Kevin."

"It's me Dean."

[onasteelhorse]

"Sammy..." He took a step forward, reaching for him. He paused though, hesitating.

"Then why the hell is he still in there? He said you'd be able to push him out if you knew... that you wouldn't agree to keep him."

[hunter_returns]

"Because if I did, I'd die. I'm not strong enough on my own Dean and I think.. I think we can help him."

Sam offered his brother his hand. He wanted more, but just the contact would be enough. "Besides - figured you'd get pissed after all the trouble you went to to keep me alive."

[onasteelhorse]

"I'm sorry, Sam," he murmured, taking his hand in his own when it was offered, squeezing it reassuringly.

"I know I messed up." But he hadn't been able to let Sam go like that, die like that.

"I'll fix it, alright?"

[hunter_returns]

Like he was letting Dean get away with just that. Sam pulled his brother into a hug. Whatever Dean had done, he'd done because he cared.

"We'll fix it," he corrects. "The three of us. We're gonna have to make this right."

[onasteelhorse]

A hug was the last thing he'd expected, but he'd take it. His arms came around Sam easily, holding on tight to him and letting out a shaky breath.

He really was here. "Jesus, Sammy... thought you were gone."

[hunter_returns]

Sam clung to his brother, hands twisting in the back of his shirt. They were together again. Everything was going to be all right.

Thank you.

"'m here Dean. I'm right here."

[onasteelhorse]

"I know, Sammy..." And it took a hell of a lot to pull away, but somehow he managed it. Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, he looked Sam over.

He knew the angel was still in there, but at least for right now, he was being quiet. They'd figure out what to do about that later.

"C'mon, get in here and settle back in. We got a lot to talk about."

[hunter_returns]

"I know." Later they'd talk about what had happened and why, but for the moment they had bigger problems that took precedent. Sam fell into step beside his brother, taking advantage of the quiet to check quietly on the angel.

Hey. You okay?

[restrengthen]

I'm surprised that this is... easier than I had though it would be. And wary that Dean still had some trick ready to spring on him.

But for now, he had no plans to take action.

[hunter_returns]

We’ll be okay. Dean knows it’s me so we’re gonna figure this out. Sam wasn’t sure that it was going to be quite so easy either, but Dean hadn’t given him any reason to start scanning for traps or anything else out of the ordinary.

Thank you, for letting me come home. He didn’t exactly have the best track record when it came to trusting anyone outside of the human set. Angels, demons, most of them were set out to manipulate, use or just generally kill him outright.

[restrengthen]

Don't thank me yet. It may attract a lot of attention that you would not have had otherwise. From Metatron in particular.

But for now, he could feel Sam's relief. He deserved that. You need to rest more. The sooner your strength returns, I can return to my original vessel.

[hunter_returns]

He laughed under his breath. Believe me. We're used to attention like that by now.

Sam hadn't been awake long, only a few hours but he was already exhausted again. I know and I will. I have to talk to Dean first, make sure he's okay then I'll crash out.

Slowly he levered himself down into a chair in the map room, offering his brother a wan smile. "Sorry. Still wipe out easily."

[onasteelhorse]

"You look like hell," Dean grumbled, watching as Sam settled down heavily. "Maybe you need to get to your room, get some sleep."

Though who knew how much good it would do when he had an angel still in him, sapping energy and not healing him as fast as Dean had hoped he would.

[hunter_returns]

Sam can't help but offer his brother a vaguely amused smile. Between Gadreel and Dean he pretty much had no choice but to rest up. "In a little bit, I promise. I just.. wanted to talk first. About what we're doing."

"Gadreel, he brought me home. He's been in prison since the beginning Dean, for something that wasn't even his fault. I promised him that he'd be safe here, that we'd find a way to get him back to his vessel when it's time. That the other angels wouldn't take him back."

He raked his hands through his hair, "I want to help him."

[onasteelhorse]

"You want to help him? Sam, the guy hijacked your body, killed Kevin, betrayed us-- and you want to help him?" Dean gave him a suspicious look, like he suddenly wasn't sure this was really Sam all over again.

How the hell could he be sure really?

Maybe it was Gadreel, back to finish the job.

"How do you know he wasn't in prison for a reason, Sam?"

[hunter_returns]

"He also could have shut me down, shoved me into a box and left me there forever," he countered. "I know it's a lot Dean and I know he screwed up but Gadreel wants to make it right. He told me what he said to you when I was dying - that angels are supposed to be creatures of compassion and I believe him.

Sam shook his head against a moment of dizziness. He was exhausted but he couldn't afford to sleep now. Not yet. "He let Lucifer into Eden. You and I, we both know that Lucifer can talk a good game. Now I don't believe that was Gadreel's fault. God wanted this whole plan and that meant Lucifer had to get in one way or the other."

"He's been in prison since the beginning Dean. He shouldn't go back for that."

He's exhausted, upset and hurting but Sam won't let go of his faith in someone wanting to make up for past mistakes. Not when he still had so many of his own to make up for. "I believe him."

[onasteelhorse]

Dean stared at Sam, incredulous look on his face. He sounded so sure of himself... But Sam wanted to believe in the good of everybody. That was just the kinda guy he was.

He was worried though, if he protested too much, fought too hard over it, he had a feeling that Gadreel would do something drastic. So what could he do in the end? He gave a slow, resigned nod.

"Fine. We'll give him a chance... but right now? You look like you're about to collapse, Sam."

[hunter_returns]

He can't help but give a weary chuckle. Between Dean and Gadreel he pretty much had no choice but to rest. "Thanks." It's a lot to ask of Dean, to trust the word of an angel that hadn't exactly done right by them. But he believed him.

"Yeah. Yeah, I could use some sleep. Can you stay with me? For just a little while?" They'd done it when he was sick, enduring the trials. Sam would collapse into bed and Dean would hold him until he sank into sleep. A reassurance that whatever he was going through, he wasn't going through it alone.

[onasteelhorse]

Damn right there was no choice but to sleep. Sam looked terrible and Dean was determined to see that he get taken care of. It was his fault they were in this mess... but he wasn't going to let it be all for nothing. He wasn't going to let him die or let that angel walk away without doing what he said.

At least not if there was another choice anyway.

"Sure, Sammy," he answered after a moment, lips curling into a smile. He was surprised by the gesture, a little weary of sharing a bed with an angel riding shotgun, but... he wouldn't tell him no.

Besides, he'd missed him too much to do that. "I'll stay as long as you want me to."

[hunter_returns]

Sam pushed himself to his feet. You should rest too. We're both going to need it. "C'mon. Let's get some sleep." It had been too long since he'd been able to do this, to wrap himself around Dean and drift off listening to the sound of his breathing.

He had to trust both of them while he slept. Trust Dean not to move against Gadreel and trust the angel not to take over while he was sleeping. But it was the only way he was going to make it. Trusting them both.

Taking his hand, Sam tugged Dean towards his room. "Come on. I miss that fancy memory foam on your bed."