A Heartfelt Search

[AStarorTwo]

Entering the living room, the warmth from the heating and smell of old books combined with dust felt better than the chilling cold outside. This was a home, even if it wasn't the one either Winchester was born in.


"So, what did ya find, Bobby?" Dean wondered, slightly skeptical. He did trust Bobby's word, but his brother was at stake here.


"Exactly. And like a lot of people, you gotta keep the special person away from everyone else. S'why you're here," Gabriel commented, his usual demeanor slowly leaking back inside. It felt like putting on your favorite clothes.

 

[Jay Windse]

Castiel watched as Bobby scrambled both to clear his books so the couple could sit and that he could find the page. "I found how to summon an archangel." He said, but didn't elaborate, as he hadn't gotten to his page yet.


Sam sighed, running a hand through his chestnut hair. "And you took that responsibility upon yourself because...?" He glanced at Gabriel.

 

[AStarorTwo]

Tapping his foot impatiently, Dean quirked a brow, "Seriously? That was kinda quick."


"Because no one else would. I mean, come on, who would want to get into the Heaven and Hell match-off? Like I've said before, Sam, it's Sunday dinner for my family. And I plan on keeping either of you out of it," the archangel answered quickly, finally feeling like his usual self. He got the wall back up again, and made sure it was stronger than the last one.

 

[Jay Windse]

"Well, I think so." Bobby corrected himself, still flipping through his book of practices. He furrowed his brow.


Castiel glanced down. "I do believe you are mistaken. I've never heard of summoning an archangel. An angel, yes, but archangels are..different."


"And by either of us you mean me." Sam looked at Gabriel with a slight cockiness in his hazel eyes. He could tell by Gabriel's reactions to each time he edged in the subject that there was at least a little something there.

 

[AStarorTwo]

Glancing sideways at his partner, Dean nodded minutely, "Yeah. I mean, never heard of being able to summon one." Despite it being his idea to see if there was any possible way of summoning an archangel, the hunter's plans sometimes didn't work.


Smirking a bit at the glimmer of cockiness in Sam's eyes, something he had never witnessed before, Gabriel nodded his head, "Yeah, I guess so. The tall ones tend to catch my eye."

 

[Jay Windse]

Bobby sighed and looked up at them. "I'm just trying to find Sam, alright? I don't want your lip." He said this rather hotly, though he'd been the one to bring it up and he could have possibly been mistaken-a thing the elder hunter hated.


Castiel took a slight step back and blinked, taken aback at Bobby's sudden act of aggression. He knew everyone here was fed up with getting nothing, including himself, but why were they taking it out on someone else? The angel couldn't understand.


Sam smirked. He'd gotten a confession of sorts. He silently applauded himself and cleared his throat, shifting in his chair and flicking his long hair from his face. He rested his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands. "Do they? Or just me?" He raised a brow, smirk never fading.

 

[AStarorTwo]

Knowing Bobby would react in that way, Dean blinked and only looked slightly fazed. "Alright. Sorry." For as long as he had known the elder, Dean knew Bobby didn't like to be mistaken. Just didn't work well with him. Hell, the hunter could relate.


Laughing heartily at Sam's posture, and how it seemed almost completely different from the serious demeanor the hunter always had, Gabriel waved a hand theatrically, "I gotta look up to them anyways, Sam. I mean, I'm not the tallest tree in the forest. And don't get full of yourself."

 

[Jay Windse]

Bobby slammed the book in anger, making Castiel jump. He growled and got up, pushing past Dean and going in no direction whatsoever.


Castiel looked at Bobby with a frown, and a soft sigh escaped the angel, mostly because he was just as helpless as the hunters.


"Why not? You seem to be full of me. Why not join the crowd?" Sam laughed, grinning cockily.

 

[AStarorTwo]

Sighing heavily, and running an exasperated hand through his hair, Dean shook his head and grumbled, "Everything just keeps on getting better and better..."


Quirking a brow, Gabriel's smirk widened, "Never been a follower, kiddo."

 

[Jay Windse]

Bobby made his way nearly through the whole floorplan of his entire house, restless with his anger and frustration. He passed Dean and Castiel on two separate occasions, but didn't even cast a mere glance at them.


Castiel looked over at Dean with a frown, and his bright blue eyes held his concern for Dean, as always.


Sam shrugged. "So?" He challenged; dared.

 

[AStarorTwo]

Taking his gaze from the floor, Dean looked up and saw Cas staring at him, blue eyes flooding with the usual concern. Dean had grown used to it, knowing that the angel really did look after him. It was comforting.


"'M fine, Cas. Just...finding Sam is gonna be harder. No one knows what to friggin' do..." the hunter said, vivid green eyes tired.


Knowing that Sam was starting to challenge him, Gabriel made sure he wasn't going to get a reward, "And I guess following the tallest moose on the planet means I gotta start somewhere. You're not a follower either."

 

[Jay Windse]

Castiel glanced away, knowing that he was as helpless as Dean and Bobby. He tried as hard as he could, but to no avail. He couldn't come up with anything.


Sam rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He mused, sitting back, though he knew the archangel was right. Damn, he'd just killed it. At least he got something.

 

[AStarorTwo]

"S'alright, Cas. Ya didn't do anything wrong. Besides, at least you didn't pull something outta your ass like I did," Dean rumbled, voice the only sound in the room. In a way, the older Winchester felt a bit guilty for simply making this plan up in the air. He should've came up with something better.


Triumph leaking through him, Gabriel gave his signature impish grin, and leaned against the wall, arms crossed, "Don't look so defeated, Sasquatch."

 

[Jay Windse]

Castiel frowned more. "Dean.." the angel murmured, looking up.


Sam shook his head. "I'll look however I'd like to." He then retorted, hazel eyes defiant.

 

[AStarorTwo]

"Yeah?" the hunter asked, brow furrowed and he leaned a bit closer to the angel, feeling the small warmth emit from Castiel.


Eyes glittering with amusement, Gabriel replied, "Of course you do. And that defiant look in ya looks pretty good. Never seen if before!"

 

[Jay Windse]

"Don't be like that, alright? You tried. Maybe not hard enough, but you did." Castiel winced at his last sentence. Oops.


At least one could say he spoke truth.


Sam snorted. "Yeah, yeah." He waved a hand slightly, then realized; God, he was acting like Gabriel.

 

[AStarorTwo]

"Yeah, exactly. Not enough..." Dean murmured softly, disappointment flooding through his voice. Leave it to him not to work hard enough. The hunter was always pushing himself, along with doubting himself...it was a never ending cycle of "I can do better. You won't do better."


Barking an amused laugh, Gabriel winked, "Knew my charms would get to ya."

 

[Jay Windse]

Castiel lifted Dean's chin and looked into his eyes. "I..I didn't mean to.." he stammered, and stepped closer, resting a hand on his waist. "I'm sorry." He apologized.


Sam rolled his hazel eyes. "Shut up."

 

[AStarorTwo]

Smiling despite himself, Dean shook his head, unconsciously avoiding those blue orbs that made his breath hitch, "Don't be sorry, Cas. You say anything you weren't supposed to." Feeling the angel's hand on his waist, the hunter did the same, rubbing his fingers gently against the trench coat's fabric.


"I'm gonna take a shower. Gotta keep clean," the archangel uttered, before snapping his fingers, making a folded towel and other bathroom essentials appear in his arms. Opening the door closest to him, Gabriel stepped inside and shut it behind him. Soon enough, the sounds of running water and horrendous singing was heard.

 

[Jay Windse]

Castiel smiled at the touch against his waist and stepped closer to Dean. He let his free hand come up and run along the hunter's jaw.


Sam rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, looking around and trying to ignore the archangel's singing.


»JW

 

[AStarorTwo]

"Does every conversation we have end like this?" the hunter asked teasingly, eyes downcast and a light smile playing on his lips.


Albeit intentionally, the archangel's singing became louder and louder. His choices were mostly pop songs, like Toxic by Britney Spears or Oh No! by Marina and the Diamonds. Gabriel had interesting tastes.


Right now, he was do an ear-splitting rendition of Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus.


"I CAME IN LIKE A WRE-CKING BALLL."

 

[Jay Windse]

"I don't know, do they?" Castiel asked softly, laughing.


Sam closed his eyes and shook his head, laughing at the archangel.


»JW

 

[AStarorTwo]

Running his thumb along Cas' rough jawline, Dean answered, "I hope so..."


Slinking an arm around the angel's waist, the dark blond pulled Castiel closer, so he was almost sitting in his lap. The smell of cotton and something darker filled Dean's nose, and he knew that he had never smelled anything more like home.


Finishing his shower and performance sometime after, the archangel wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom. Steam made its way from the doorway, soon disappearing as soon as it entered the main room. Gabriel wasn't very self-conscious, so he didn't really care that he was just about half-naked in front of Sam.

 

[Jay Windse]

Castiel rested his head against Dean's shoulder. He smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to the hunter's neck.


Sam was still laughing, face red. He opened his eyes to look at the archangel.


»JW

 

[AStarorTwo]

For a while the couple remained like that, enjoying one another's comfort and presence. It had been a long time since either of them had really settled down like this; and relaxed. Of course, there could be more important matters at hand...but until then, both were happy as they were.


Liking the sound of Sam's laughter, Gabriel shrugged to himself before saying, "You done yet?"