Third Time Lucky - The Second Arrow
Gabriel finds himself on the edge of the Grand Canyon, sun coming up, spilling gold and honey over the rose and umber rocks. The two angels spend a moment taking in their Father's creation before the cupid turns to Gabriel, holding out a hand. A small box appears, sitting on his palm.
“You know I can't take it from you, you have to give it up.” Gabriel stares at the ornately carved wooden chest, the surface covered with Enochian symbols and wards. He sighs and reaches out for the small box, lifting the lid slowly. The container is empty, the inside walls carved just as ornately as the outer surface.
He's never tried to give up part of his grace before, doesn't even really know if it can be done but he'll pull out his own feathers before he'll admit that this cupid knows better than Gabriel, Archangel, one of the chosen. He turns his focus inwards, focusing on the warm glow that burns inside of him, the light that is both of him and heaven and his Father. His first touch is ticklish and he giggles, his eyes flying open.
The cupid just continues to stare, waiting patiently. Gabriel lets his lashes fall again and reaches again for his grace. He pulls at it, thinks of stretching cotton candy, or caramel. He pulls harder, twisting the small bundle of grace tighter and tighter. It doesn't tickle any more, now it hurts, like trying to pull out his own teeth or fingernails. The light stretches inside him, flaring in supernova bursts as he tugs harder.
A scream rips from his lips, breath coming in gasps and moans. The light flares inside of him, sunbursts and coronas pin-wheeling through him, bursting from his pores. Gabriel forces his eyes open, blinking away tears that refract the light into rainbow prisms. He gazes down into his hands, one still holding the small box, fingers white-knuckled around the wood.
The other contains a gossamer creation, a twisting spiral of spun-sugar. It rises from Gabriel's palm in delicate arches, curving back into itself and then cascading outwards again in plumed waves. Gabriel looks up, sees the cupid holding out both hands, staring in awe at the ethereal creation. Gabriel sits the box carefully onto the outstretched palms, before he slips the symbol of his grace made solid into the now softly padded confines. The lid slips closed with the sound of butterfly wings touching, but to Gabriel it sounds like a thunderclap.
The box disappears into the folds of the cupid's white toga and he reaches out a trembling hand to the archangel. “I will guard it with my life. Are you ready to try again?”
Gabriel nods, still shaken, feeling hollowed out and weak. He doesn't like it one bit and vows to himself that he will not fail this time, that he will take his time and not just go for the quick fix. Soft fingers brush against his temple and once again the world spins away.
---II---
He comes to sprawled in the back seat of a car. He sputters, rubbing at his face and running fingers through his hair as he jerks himself upright. The woman next to him snickers before slapping his fingers away from his face.
“Don't. You'll streak the make-up, leave it alone.”
“What the...make-up...wha...” Gabriel raises his eyebrows at his own incoherence.
“Good god, remind me never to let you fall asleep again, you're worse than useless. At least the cameras aren't rolling yet.” The woman continues to berate him as she straightens him up, fiddling with his tie and his hair. Gabriel bats her away, retreating into the corner of the car, trying to figure out what on earth is happening and where he is.
He reaches for his grace, stifling a gasp at the wounded feeling that comes when he pokes at it's ragged edges. He finally manages to pull enough together that he can briefly pause time. The car stops moving, the red hair of the woman next to him caught falling over her face as she bends to dig into an extraordinarily large handbag. Gabriel leans forward, trying to see himself in the rear-view mirror.
He at least looks more like himself this time, even if his hair is pushed higher than he would normally have it, almost into a 1940's style. Familiar amber eyes stare back at him and a sigh rushes out of him. He looks down at himself taking in the dark red shirt and dark grey pants. He spots a matching jacket thrown across the back of the seat and the sigh turns into a groan.
He slumps back into the seat, barely resisting the urge to run hands through his hair. He spots a pile of papers poking out of the messenger bag on the floor and takes a quick peek. He can already feel his grip on time slipping. He hauls out the first sheet and stops, frozen with shock and disbelief.
He stares at the header, the TV network logo above the scarlet of a pair of red rose buds, two words spanning the picture.
“Fuck! Reality TV? Really?? Kewp, get your feathery ass down here before I smite you so hard they'll have trouble telling you from an oven-ready turkey!”
The rustle of feathers fills the small space and the cupid appears, sprawled out in the passenger seat. He tilts sideways, fixing sparkling eyes on Gabriel.
“What? I'm trying to help you out here. A selection of lovely young women, ready and willing. One slightly grumpy bachelor, with no idea why he's really here. I mean we had to play with his memory a little, can't really dump someone like Dean into a house like this, but it should all go okay. I hope.”
The Cupid smiles what Gabriel believes is meant to be a calming and reassuring grin. It just makes him look nervous and possibly constipated. “You want to back out?”
“No. I can do this, just a bit surprised that's all. Not everyday I wake up to find myself a dashing TV host.” Gabriel smooths the front of his shirt and tries a mocking grin on for size. “So, one of these women here is Dean's true love then?” Gabriel waves the sheaf of papers at Cupid.
“Someone in the house will be Dean's true love, yes. It's up to you to see that they spend as much time together as possible. You're an archangel, Father did give you the brains to work this out, didn't He?”
Gabriel doesn't notice the Cupid's careful wording, instead already busy flicking through the notes the station has provided on each of the women. He doesn't even notice time restarting, the car moving again until Jenna's incessant chatter fills the car once more.
It isn't long before the car pulls up in front of a huge house, no it's almost a small castle thinks Gabriel, looking at the turreted corners, the lawn that spreads out on each side of the curving drive way. He's rushed into the house by Jenna and introduced to Dean.
“Gabriel, this is Dean Winchester, our handsome bachelor. He enjoys open spaces, keeping fit and travelling.” Jenna flutters her lashes and smiles coyly at Dean. Dean just shuffles, looking awkward in the pale shirt and slacks they have dressed him in. Only Gabriel spots the slight flinch as Jenna rests a red-taloned hand on Dean's arm.
“Dean, this is Gabriel Seraph. He's the host of The Bachelor, so he'll be the one leading you through most of the ceremonial bits and pieces and keeping us all excited. Feel free to ask him any questions, he's a complete professional. And remember, try to ignore the cameras, we're gonna start filming pretty soon, so I'll send Shelly over with make-up, just a touch up you know. Relax guys, it's going to be great, the girls are just going to love you.” She pauses for a quick breath and to pat Dean's cheek. “Oh and you too, baby” She gives Gabriel a quick pat as well, before she disappears in a cloud of scent and words, her phone pressed to her ear.
“Man, I hope none of the women are like her. I feel tired just listening to her.”
Gabriel returns the comment with a grin, slapping a friendly hand on Dean's back.
“As far as I know, she's not one of the girls so relax.”
Time seems to skip, the light faded from the sky, lamps and torches burning around the front of the house. Dean stands on the steps, still uncomfortable in his smart clothing, hands fidgeting at his side as if looking for something that's missing. Gabriel finds himself talking to the camera, it's wide, unblinking lens reflecting back a tiny version of himself. He steps to one side and a car pulls up. An usher steps forward to open the door and a set of long legs emerge, followed by the rest of a slim but curvy blonde. Her bright printed dress clings to her curves and she sways her hips as she approaches Dean, leaning up and into him to press a kiss against his cheek.
“Hello. I'm Crystal. It's very nice to meet you. I hope we can talk more later, I can show you a little something about me?” She lets her hand trail down over the firm muscles of Dean's arm, almost purring, her red lips curving in a sultry smile. Gabriel feels something twist inside of him at the sight and beckons her forward into the house. He tells her to help herself to some champagne, that an usher will show her where to go.
They keep repeating this, a couple more blondes, some brunettes, a shy redhead. Dean learns quickly how to fend them off, dropping kisses on hands, leaning in from the waist briefly for those who won't be dissuaded from the hug. Watching Dean avoid body contact makes the tight feeling inside of Gabriel disappear. Once it disappears Gabriel forgets that it was ever there.
Finally all the women are inside and Gabriel comes forward to lead Dean in. Dean is almost shaking, his face pale under the make-up the girls plastered to hide his freckles.
“Dude, I feel like a piece of meat. Or maybe those weird high-heeled shoes they all go nuts for. How much of this am I meant to take?”
“Sorry kiddo, but you signed on the dotted line, the deal is made. C'mon, do your thing with the greeting and the champagne and I'll see about getting you a beer later. I'm right behind you. Go get 'em!”
The next hour passes in a blur of girls in bright dresses, the scent of perfumes floating in the air behind them as they flutter around the room, chattering and giggling in mock-sisterhood as cliques begin to form. Once they have each of the girls on film talking to Dean, other cameras having caught the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle bitching, they finally pull everyone away from Dean who is ushered out into a small ante room that contains a tray with two red roses.
Gabriel wanders in with the promised beer, offering another to the cameraman, giving Dean a moment of peace. He drops down on to the small sofa and Dean sinks down beside him, thigh and knee brushing against Gabriel's as he sprawls out. He sighs and Gabriel pats his shoulder gently.
“So, beer and then you have to pick two girls to give your first impression roses to. Anyone stand out? And don't get your panties in a bunch Matt, we'll do it again for the camera in a minute.”
Dean thinks, taking a long swallow of his beer. He grins at Gabriel and turns the question back on him. “So who do you like? Bet you get plenty of tail, TV host and all.”
“You have no idea kiddo. Got the names?” Dean nods and tells him, Gabriel sends the news to one of the ushers. “We ready to go for the camera then?” Dean takes another long swallow and nods, tucking the bottle of beer out of sight behind the sofa. Gabriel gives his speech about first impressions and Dean makes a show of thinking hard. Meanwhile one of the ushers had brought the two women, one to the balcony outside, the other into an adjoining room. Dean gives each of them a rose and a brief speech and then almost runs back into the room, grabbing his beer and swallowing the remainder down in one long gulp.
Time jumps again and Dean is picking girls for a first date. Gabriel is sitting in on the meeting and persuades Dean to swap Crystal out for Karah, the pretty shy redhead. He watches the playback on the monitors later and thinks that he was right, Karah and Dean look so much better together than he would have with Crystal.
Elimination time arrives, Dean standing alone in the centre of the room beside a small table containing a tray of roses. His suit clings to the broad shape of his shoulders, tapering down to those narrow hips. Gabriel shakes his head and focuses on the women instead. Karah is the third woman to get a rose. She flushes becomingly and darts a look at Dean from under her lashes. Gabriel thinks that he should feel happier than he does.
Thankfully, Crystal leaves. Gabriel smirks, at least he won't have to smite her. Although he makes a note to track her down later, she's very full of self-importance, pouting and whining every time things haven't gone her way. Maybe some Trickster help would make her a better person.
Time skips again and Gabriel realises that his stay in this reality is being edited like the TV show it is meant to be. The only bits of he sees are those times when he and Dean are together. Now it's morning and they are sitting down to breakfast. Gabriel has a stack of pancakes in front of him and a jug of sickly pink strawberry syrup.
He drowns his pancakes in the gloopy substance, adding four sugars to the coffee sitting in front of him. Dean stuffs a piece of bacon in his mouth and waves his fork at Gabriel's plate.
“Man, aren't you worried about your teeth?”
Gabriel bares his teeth in a shark's grin, running his tongue along the edges of the top ones. Dean follows the glimpse of pink, his own tongue flickering out to moisten his lips.
“Nah! I could ask you the same about your arteries there kiddo. What is that, like half a pig there?”
Dean crams another piece of bacon into his mouth and chews noisily and messily. There is no way Gabriel is going to back down from that kind of challenge. He rolls up a piece of pancake and lifts it towards his mouth, sticky syrup oozing out over his fingers. He practically swallows it whole, letting his lashes slide down so that his honeyed gaze is shuttered.
His tongue slips out, lapping at his sticky fingers and he slips one into his mouth, pulling it out with a lascivious pop. He can almost see the blood rise up Dean's neck to spread across his cheeks in a violent blush.
“Dude, that's just...wrong and disgusting in so many ways.”
“What, you don't like pancakes, Dean-o?” Gabriel trails his index finger in the syrup that coats his plate. Dean jerks up and away from the table, heading for the door to the pool area outside. Gabriel frowns and the usher who has just come in reaches for Dean.
“Mr Winchester, we've still got to...”
“I'll do it later, right now I need to get away from this for a bit.”
“Mr Winchester, you need to...” starts the usher at the same time as Gabriel says, “Dean come on and sit down and we'll pick your dates for later.”
“Bite me, Gabriel.”
Dean storms out of the room and a couple of minutes later they here the steady thud of a basketball against the court outside. Gabriel sighs and turns to the crew member.
“Let me see the list of girls. I'll try and sort it out with him.”
Gabriel takes the list and restricted to using more mortal methods, he proceeds to google each of the girls. Quite frankly it amazes him what you can find on the internet. It also amazes him when he sees the things that pass as fashionable. He wouldn't have allowed a whore to wear half the things these women seem to be wearing, or not wearing as the case may be.
He immediately puts a red cross against two of the remaining women, memorising their names so that he can persuade Dean to vote them off in the next eliminations. Karah is still his favourite, but he wonders whether she might be a bit too small-town for Dean. He looks through the remaining names and selects another two girls to be his favourites.
Lana is dark haired, with bright hazel eyes and a smile that could power a small country. Gabriel picks her because of her sense of humour. He's noticed that Dean seems to be more solemn now than he was as a child and Gabriel reckons that a girl who can make him laugh may be the right girl for him.
The other one he picks is a feisty blonde called Joanna. She likes doing things outdoors, her Facebook picture has her holding a Winchester rifle and Gabriel wonders if that is some kind of omen. Finally, he manages to track Dean down again and lures him away from the cameras into the kitchen. The cameramen are away doing the women's confessions and also catching shots of them messing around in the hot-tub.
Gabriel is pretty sure he has enough time to talk to Dean, calm him down, maybe find out more about what he wants from a partner. He pulls two beers from the fridge, setting them down on the counter along with a bowl of chips, some spicy dip and a large bowl of mixed M&M's. Gabriel pops a large handful of candy into his mouth, crunching the shells and closing his eyes in bliss as the taste of chocolate and coconut explodes across his tongue.
“You want me to give you some alone time with that?” Dean smirks and Gabriel feels himself flush slightly.
“Nah. I'm good. We don't mind a threesome, do we?” Gabriel cuddles the bowl close and waggles his eyebrows. Dean chokes on his beer. They spend some time in idle chit-chat about the show and then Gabriel directs the conversation towards the women.
“So, it's my job to kind of help you out here, I'm like, the love guru.” Gabriel raises his expressive eyebrows, Dean just snorts.
“Yeah, I don't see any of them trying to chat you up, shorty.”
“Just because I'm not a freak of nature, doesn't mean I don't have it where it counts.” Gabriel counts it as a win when Dean flushes again. He isn't sure when he started keeping track of how many times he could make Dean Winchester flush.
“So, show me the list then, Tiny Tim.” Dean grins wide and open, eyes crinkling at the corners and Gabriel wonders when he started to get the very faint lines there. Gabriel shoves at Dean's shoulder out of principle and Dean wavers on his stool, still laughing.
They look through the list of remaining girls. It's down to ten now, the three that Gabriel likes: Lana, Karah and Joanna; the two that he wants Dean to eliminate: Gabrielle (and yeah Gabriel is not flattered by that, she's a skank) and Holly; and another five who haven't really done anything to bring themselves to Gabriel's attention.
Dean smiles when he sees Karah's name.
“I'll put her through. And her.” He points to Lana's picture as well.
“Why those two?” Gabriel waits for Dean's answer, something twisting inside of him. He tells himself he needs to lay off the candy for a while.
“Well, Karah's just...she's just nice, you know. Not all in your face and grabby. And I mean have you seen her?! She might try to hide under those, I dunno what's the word for them...the old fashioned ones...” Dean makes a vague gesture with his hands. Luckily Gabriel knows what he means.
“Tea dresses.”
“Yeah, those. But she's smoking. I bet I could get my hands just about right round her waist. Lana, she's pretty nice as well, she's funny as well. I mean some of these girls have no sense of humour at all man. She's the kind of girl you can imagine hanging out with. Actually, she kind of reminds me of a girl I knew way back, Peri.”
Gabriel starts at the mention of Peri's name and Dean looks somewhat surprised by the recollection as well. Gabriel tries to cover up his surprise by pointing to the next picture.
“What about Holly?”
“No, not even if I was stuck on a desert island with her. Quite frankly, I'd rather take you, shorty.” Dean coughs and looks away after he says that, bringing his hand to his face. Gabriel pounds him helpfully on the back and misses Dean's sigh of relief that Gabriel didn't seem to pick up on the sincerity in his voice.
Dean agrees that Gabrielle needs to go as well and picks Joanna and Becky to date that night as he hasn't really spent any time yet with those two girls. Time skips ahead to the date announcement, Gabriel doing his speech and letting Dean, Joanna and Becky know that they are all going out night fishing. Joanna and Dean look happy, but Becky pouts slightly.
Time hiccups again. Gabriel is getting thoroughly fed up of all this jumping around and is back to his original idea of smiting the cupid into something you would find at the bottom of a KFC box. But then the car is coming back up the drive, and Dean pops out, lit up and smiling, a container holding several large fish following him out of the car.
He spots Gabriel waiting at the top of the stairs and his smile broadens even more.
“Check these babies out! Dude, fresh fish for everyone tomorrow!”
Gabriel can't help grinning back and he steps forward to stare into the box.
“I'm impressed. You caught all these yourself?”
“Well Jo caught a couple, didn't you sweetheart? The girl knew what she was doing.”
Gabriel smiles at Joanna and pats Dean on the back, taking the box from his arms.
“I'll take these off to the kitchen, see what Chef thinks and you all have to go off and do your date reports. Oh and wash your hands Dean-o, you stink!”
“Oh suck it Gabe, you know you like me!”
Gabriel flushes at the nickname and pouts because he really can't count Dean's blush as a score if he's blushing as well.
Time hops forward a few more times, skipping past some uneventful dates, a huge catfight when Dean doesn't select Holly to receive a rose. Suddenly they are down to four and it's a double eviction. The last two girls will have one last chance to woo Dean and then it's proposal time.
Gabriel stands to one side, grace twisting inside him as Dean stares at the four girls standing in front of him. Lana and Karah are standing close together, the two girls having become friends, despite the competition. Joanna stands to the other side of Lana with Madison beside her.
Dean clears his throat, looking uncomfortable and out-of-place as he shuffles from foot to foot. There is a small table beside him with two perfect red rosebuds on a silver tray.
“Look, I ain't the kind of guy that does this kind of thing real well. I know that you're all looking for suspense and that kinda crap, but I don't think it's fair on the other two of you that aren't getting to stay, so I'm just gonna grab these and give them to...”
The director makes urgent cut noises to the side of the camera and Dean stammers to a stop.
“Sorry, sorry. There's a big shadow on you from that fern there. You, move that plant somewhere away from where it is. Dean, can we have a bit more from you please, I mean I know you've having that whole strong, silent type image thing, but you need to give the public what they're asking for. And they want excitement. Okay, that's much better. Right, places everyone and in five, four...”
“Um, so. Ladies. I want to say thank you to y'all for hanging in here with me. It's been really interesting getting to know y'all. Y'know I ain't the kind of guy that does this heartfelt, feelings thing real well...”
Gabriel realises his hands are clenched into tight fists at his sides, the small table beside him vibrating with the tension flowing through his grace. He can see the tension in Dean too, can hear it in the way his accent is coming through, despite his usual attempts to disguise it. The only other time Gabriel heard it like that was when Dean was slumped beside him in that shed, body and tongue relaxed with alcohol and youth.
He tries to pull in his grace as he begins to hear the light bulbs vibrate in their sockets. He focuses on Dean, the width of his shoulders, the way his palms rub against his thighs, wiping away the nervous moisture. He thinks about finding Dean Winchester's true love and showing that pesky minion of an angel exactly who's the boss.
“So, Madison. I'm real sorry, but I just don't think we had any kind of connection. You're a nice girl and all but I'm not giving you a rose.”
Madison sniffles but steps off to one side, nodding her head slightly in agreement with Dean's words.
“Karah, I've always had a lot of fun with you. You're pretty and sweet and kind and underneath it all you have a really great sense of humour. You always make me smile. Will you accept this rose?” Karah rushes forward, hand over her mouth, green eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Dean hugs her gently and gives her her rose. She steps back into the line up, smile brilliant and wide.
“Lana, Jo. You're both amazing in so many ways. Both funny, full of sparks and energy. We've had some really great dates and you've both been willing to try anything. You know I have a dorky brother but, Jo, if I had a sister I would hope that she turned out as clever and amazing as you. But maybe not as pretty, I hear that you can get into trouble for punching a guy's lights out just for looking at a girl.”
Joanna laughs, but she's already getting ready to step off to the side. She knows that once the 'sister' card is played, there's no coming back from that. Dean shoots her a wry grin.
“I guess you've already guessed what I'm about to say then?” Jo nods and rushes forward, giving Dean a quick hug before moving to stand beside Madison. Dean looks down at the ground briefly and then over to Gabriel where he stands, just out of camera shot. Gabriel can almost see something in that look and he frowns at Dean, trying to work out what it is that he is missing.
It's like a shutter slams down in Dean's eyes, his lips curling in a rueful smile before he looks down to pick up the last rose. He manages to look up at Lana and holds out the rose to her. She steps forward, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Lana, will you accept this rose?”
“Yes.” The word is faint, almost unheard in the still of the big room, but she nods as well and Dean gives her a swift hug before she steps away to stand beside Karah. There is a sudden bustle of movement, cameras swinging about, microphones floating through the air and then Gabriel realises that it is his turn to do his monologue to the camera. He must manage to say something but later on he can't recall a single word he said.
All he can concentrate on is the empty feeling in his chest, the worry that he has been perching on the edge of a mountain and has taken a step in the wrong direction, and is now free-falling into an unwelcome unknown.
Time flutters and the Cupid reappears beside Gabriel, feathers slightly ruffled. Gabriel can't read the look on the angel's face but it looks something like pity, something a little like despair.
“So have you made a decision then, Gabriel? You know that it was someone in the house. Someone that spent a lot of time with Dean. You need to pick.”
Gabriel frowns and looks down at the two darts that had suddenly appeared on the small side table. He looks up at the two girls, frozen in time. Karah has a soft expression on her face as she talks to one of the sound men. She's always been nice to every single person that has worked on the set, making an effort to make their lives as easy as possible.
Lana is smiling up at Dean, leaning into him as the director moves past them both. Dean has a hand protectively on her upper arm, but his gaze is focused somewhere else. Gabriel thinks back over all their interaction. He remembers Dean coming to him at the start of the whole thing, nervous about what to say, how to appear on camera.
He remembers the way Dean had looked that first night, uncomfortable in the suit and tie only truly relaxing in that small ante-room, sprawled out on the sofa. He remembers early mornings, sat with Dean in the kitchen, plates of bacon and pancakes and toast. The way they would just talk, easy and relaxed about nothing in particular.
Another memory flashes past, Dean's face, eyes crinkled and teeth bright in the smile that made his whole being come alive. He'd just come back from the fishing trip, so proud of himself and his haul, but equally as proud of Joanna, giving her credit for her share of the work.
Gabriel knows then that Dean needs someone who can stand up for themselves. He doesn't want a soft woman who will need to look after her. Much as he enjoys being the protector and provider, Gabriel realises that Dean is looking for something more equal. He needs someone who can be his friend as well, someone to laugh with when things go wrong.
The cupid passes him the small dart and Gabriel aims it at Lana. As wonderful as Karah is, Gabriel realises that she is too soft for Dean, too feminine. As soon as he blows though he realises that something is wrong. Lana isn't right either. What was it that Dean had said? He had said something...something about Lana reminding him of someone.
Time starts with a jolt, the dart sinking deep into Lana's chest. Gabriel watches as it breaks apart in a shower of sparks, flaring and fading into the air. He takes his attention from Lana, turning it to Dean. Dean, whose gaze is fixed on Gabriel. Dean, who laughs at his jokes, who blushes seven different shades of pink when Gabriel comes out with one of his double entendres.
The walls start to swim away behind Dean, plants and furniture dripping and running, mixing into swirls of colour that scratch at the inside of Gabriel's brain. He blinks and then Dean is gone, the others blinking out like fireflies fading with the onset of dawn. Gabriel can feel his grace, curled tight inside him, feeling the loss of Dean as the pocket reality swirls away.
On to the next part