#rynwrites

You wake up slowly, nuzzling into the pillows. You’re warm and groggy and you feel so safe and peaceful right now; you don’t want to disturb that.

The arm around your waist shifts, and a nose rubs along the side of your neck. Messy brown hair tickles your ear and a rough voice murmurs, “Morning.”

A besotted smile creeps over your face. You may love sleep, but you love him more.

“Morning, Sam,” you whisper back, voice husky. He smiles against your neck and presses a sloppy kiss under your ear.

“Do we have anything to do today?” he asks, hot breath making you shiver.

“Um... nah, don’t think so.”

The smile gets bigger. “Good. I want pancakes and cuddles.”

You can’t control your fond smile. How did you get so lucky, to have this big sweet moose-puppy in your life? (Add octopus to that; he’s a giant snuggler.) “Which one comes first?”

He seems to think it over. He sighs slightly and cuddles up to you, arm tightening around your waist and legs pressed up against the backs of yours. “Snuggles,” he says firmly. 

You smile helplessly and turn over under the curve of his arm. He blinks at you, hazel eyes sleepy and warm. You kiss his cheek and snuggle down against his chest. He grins down at you and plants a firm kiss on your forehead. 

You think, vaguely, that this would be a perfect moment to say “I love you”. Then you realize that you don’t need to.

Gabriel snaps his brother away and sits down on the bed heavily. He’d actually rented a motel room, though he isn’t entirely sure why; missing Sam, most likely, though this room is miles above what the Winchesters usually rent. He squeezes his eyes shut, drops his face into his hands, and breathes for the sake of something to do.

Cas... fuck, what have you done, little brother?

Cas knew the risks. He knew and he did this anyway, just because the Misha guy didn’t want to leave his life? Fuck, Cas really has gotten sentimental. And now... now, he’s stuck, in a way no angel should be. God, they’ve been rubbing off on him way too much. Though, I don’t have much of a leg to stand on there myself.

He sighs, runs his hands through his hair. He should call Sam, tell him... something. He owes his boyfriend that much.

He pulls out his phone and dials the number physically just to get more time to get his thoughts in order. It’s still not enough; by the time the call goes through and Sam’s “Gabe?” hits him in the chest, he’s still not ready.

“Hey, kiddo,” he manages, because this he can do. This, he can always do. “How’re you doing without me?”

Sam laughs. “I’m fine, Gabe.” There’s some background noise. “You called just in time: Dean is trying to get me to watch Dr Sexy again.”

Gabriel gives a mock-affronted gasp, clapping a hand to his forehead like a swooning maiden. “Is he trying to get you away from me?! Don’t give in to Dr Sexy’s charms, Sammy!”

Sam’s laughing. “I’ve seen my Dr Sexy, and he’s 5′8′’ of cuddly archangel in a stolen doctor’s coat.”

Gabriel sniffs haughtily. “I don’t know whether to be insulted or approving.”

Dean’s voice comes through the receiver, muffled and indistinct. “Try both!”

Gabriel sobers now that he knows Dean is listening. He has a responsibility here; they care about Cas as much as he does, and they have a right to know what’s happened. He can’t just lie and say he hasn’t found anything. He promised Sam he’d tell the truth about this.

He swallows. The hum of the TV suddenly shuts off.

“Gabe?” Sam’s concerned now.

Gabriel hesitates. “Look, kiddo... I, I need to-”

There’s a pause while Gabriel struggles for words and the brothers try to stifle hope.

“Did you...” Sam hedges, and Gabriel shuts his eyes.