#its so ...

Read Chapter 5 here. Next chapter

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After three weeks Dean’s cuts and bruises were starting to fade. And so was his hope. 

He no longer asked people if they had seen his brother. He didn't really say much of anything anymore. Just kept his head down.

He refused to leave town, but we was running out of money staying at the hotel. Right now, he was staying in the basement apartment of the guy who ran the general store. Dean had tried to buy a sandwich, dropping some crumpled singles and mostly quarters on the counter. He was still short.

The guy, Cody, knowing what homelessness was like, sighed behind the counter as Dean rummaged through his pockets looking for any change he missed. He offered Dean a room and two free meals from the store in exchange for a few hours of working the store every other day. He took up the offer without hesitation.

Any time he wasn't working Dean just laid in his creaky, musty bed. Every once in a while Dean ventured out, he needed to check if he had to replace any of the missing persons posters. 

But no matter where he went, to work or hidden in the darkness of his room, Dean could feel eyes watching him. Not just the towns-people, either. He’s felt their eyes on him since the day he fell out of the wood bleeding profusely.

No, this is different. Like something is staring right through him. Like it can see every part of him. The good, the bad, and even the things he’s been hiding from himself.

It made Dean’s skin crawl.

He hoped he could leave soon, but not without Sammy.

--

“I don't understand any of this.”

His head cradled in his hands, Sam wished he could just disappear. This was all too much information, his head was spinning. 

“I know it’s a lot, Sam,” Gabriel said, tone apologetic, “but I’m just trying to help you.”

Sam’s breath came in sharp bursts, faster and faster. He knew Gabriel was speaking to him, trying his best to chase him back from the brink, but the words were muffled, so far away. He knew he was falling into pure panic. 

This was too big. 

Heaven, Hell, angels fighting to bring about the apocalypse. Destiny and betrayal. Good versus evil.

And he was stuck right in the middle of it.

There was some shuffling, the sound of furniture being pushed out of the way. The air shifted, a gust of wind wrapping itself around Sam, and then they were somewhere else. 

The elegant kitchen melted away, and a  whole forest sprouted up around Sam in a moment. 

A finger slid under Sam’s chin, lifted ever so gently.

Sam saw a blue sky, ancient looking trees stretching high to try and touch the clouds. The sun was shining in Gabriel’s golden eyes, it bounced off his hair. He was beautiful.  

Sam’s breath caught in his throat.

“Breathe, kiddo.”

~~