[fic] Cyborg Gabriel 3/?
Title: Cyborg Gabriel 3/?
Fandom: Supernatural.
Rating: PG-13ish.
Warnings: Minor violence/descriptions of injuries.
Pairings/Characters: Gabriel, Castiel, Sam, Dean, Rapahel.
Word Count: 2,620 words, with 7,394 total so far.
Summary: Archangel Class Cyborgs are terrifying in combat, and practically unknowable off the battlefield. Castiel's an experimental unit with an unusual design, and he's caught Gabriel's interest.
Note: I refer you all to the first part of this cyborg story for notes and whatnot.
Warning! This is still a WIP and while more is coming within a day or two, you should read this at your own risk. If you're cool with that, then, read on!
---
"Functions crit-t-tical, emergency repairs required. Biologic-cal components require priority medical attention. Lungs, brain-case; badly damaged. Request focus on restoration of audio functions after crit-t-tical situation has passed. Inquiry: is this Facility Alpha? Inquiry: Location and status of - of Gabriel?"
Sam's amazed that it's more or less comprehensible, and that Castiel is aware enough to ask questions. Also, he hadn't been aware that Castiel was currently deaf, as there were plenty of more urgent repairs to be made. He'd have to consider taking its requests seriously, but he has his own questions right now.
Still, he takes the moment to answer its questions: "Yes, this is Facility Alpha, and Gabriel's fine. He brought you back." Sam almost pauses to let it reply, but decides not to, instead forging onwards. "You were deactivated."
This is where he waits, and the silence stretches out. Sam's fingers twitch, as he's anxious to get back to work and repair the damage, but his assistants are taking too long and he will not risk getting in close until there is someone else in the room.
It's almost a relief when Castiel does speak again.
"I find-d no record of a time-lapse in functions beyond the emergency shut-t-t down due to damage. F-Full funct-tions restored at approach of unident-t-t- " Castiel's voice is getting worse, but it doesn't stop. Sam wonders if it even notices. " - gure. Part-t-tial shut-shut down due to damage assess - assess - "
There's an unpleasant grinding sound, and Castiel is completely silent. Sam's mind is already racing, trying to find the reason for this. He'd been assured - twice! - that Castiel was completely deactivated and unable to reactivate. It had been why he'd sent out all of his assistants in the first place!
So why - Sam startled as the door opened, and one of his assistants came in, bringing both parts and apologies for the delay.
"It reactivated on its own," Sam says. "I'm getting to work, so stay close to the phone."
There's some good in this, he figures. He knows exactly where to start, and that's with the brain-case. He can repair the damage and look for the reason for the faulty deactivation at the same time.
---
In an envelope sitting on Sam Winchester's desk in his private residence:
Sam - Enclosed is the excerpt you requested from Rosen's articles. Are you ever going to tell me what you're doing looking up the archs specifically, or should I just get back to work on transcribing the rest of it? - Bobby
'First Appearance of the Angels'
To this day, no one can explain why Chuck Shurley began work on the angels when he did, or how he knew when the demons would first attack. It's only one of the mysteries surrounding this genius, but it could be called the most important one, for no one alive today can forget that day. There is no need to recount the details of the entire day in this paper save for one event.
The physical manifestation of Asmodeus in Detroit and the subsequent appearance of the four archangels minutes later. Humanity had not been prepared for such an attack, certainly not from such a frankly supernatural source. This writer was expecting a nuclear war to herald the beginning of the Apocalypse, not a beast that would rise from the earth itself.
[...]
Chuck Shurley has since confirmed that he completed construction and programming on the last of the archangels barely hours before Asmodeus appeared.
---
Sam rarely sleeps at work in the first place, but he couldn't help it today. Clean up after the long ordeal that was Castiel's surgery led to a concerned coworker making him sit on the couch in one of the spare break rooms, and the next he knew, the room was dark and he was covered with a blanket.
He's yawning when he sits up, and he reaches over to the end-table to grab his glasses. That's when he spots the flash of white across the room.
Instinctively, he freezes. He knows that color, there's nothing that clean in there and the walls are a pale blue, not white -
Two spots of gold flicker in the darkness of the room, and Sam feels his stomach flip over.
"Gabriel," he whispers, picking up his glasses and putting them on - he's not blind without them, but the world has that much more clarity with them on - and he slowly gets up, willing his legs not to turn to jelly.
Gabriel doesn't move, but Sam knows that it's watching him, and incredibly aware of every motion he's making, dark room or not.
It's incredibly unnerving, and Sam's frozen for a moment, trying to decide if he should turn on the lamp on the end table, or just try to get out of here.
"Sam Winchester," Gabriel says, and his voice is so amused that Sam can't stop the next flash of fear. "You know, for someone who works on the most intimate parts of so many of us, it's kind of funny that you're afraid of me."
The twin points of gold are abruptly closer, and then Gabriel is turning on the lamp. Sam marvels again at Gabriel's design, mostly to distract himself from the spike of fear that the sudden movement inspired.
For all of how it is obviously one of the first designed, Sam still can't shake the feeling that Gabriel is one of the most advanced angels in existence, alongside its sibling archangels. For all of the utility of the angels created after them, few of them hold a candle to the originals. Sam can't shake a brief thought of Castiel and how human it usually sounds and looks, but -
"Oh, you get boring real fast."
Sam jerks his head up and is pinned by Gabriel's gaze again.
"I'd also appreciate a little change in pronouns. I'm a he, not an it. Well, currently. You never know when I'd make for a better woman." Gabriel's grinning again, but there's still danger lying there. Sam doesn't move. Gabriel goes on. "Some of us have chosen genders, if only to make it easier on you guys."
Sam's mouth is working before fear can stop it.
"You're machines, you don't have - "
"Not entirely machines. And those of us with names have the spark of life, though the amount of independent thought varies according to rank. And if you're thinking of dangly bits, the only reason I don't have any right now is because we're down here to make war, not love."
"Down here?" Sam asks, and even if he's still afraid, curiosity has taken over and Gabriel knows more than he's saying. Sam can't help but think of the only other archangel he's had contact with - Michael - and Gabriel is nothing like him when he talks.
Gabriel waves a hand. "Earth. And duh, I'm not Michael. He's got a stick so far up - "
Sam stands up abruptly, the thought of Michael triggering another stream of thoughts that leads to one question: what time is it, and what has he missed?
" - oh. Honestly. Nine fifteen forty three AM. The day after you got your mitts on Castiel. You've been asleep for about seven hours and unfortunately, yes Castiel is fine. Happy now?"
"You're the best clock I've ever found," Sam says, and beelines for the door, forgetting his fear in his urgency. Bobby said he'd deliver those papers today and Sam had wanted to ask him some things in person, and if he runs he might make it in time to catch him, and -
Gabriel has a hold on his arm. "We aren't finished."
"Let go," Sam says firmly. If it were any other angel, they'd let go. Gabriel only tightens his grip.
"If you want to look up information on me, you don't have to go through a third party when you can talk to the source directly."
"But Chuck - "
"Source. Directly."
"You're a creation."
"So are you."
Sam meets Gabriel's eyes on his own this time and glares. "Let go."
Gabriel's lips curl into another smirk. "Don't expect me to let you go for long, Sam." He lets go, and Sam rushes out, sure Gabriel was watching him run.
He's unnerved, in a hurry, and he also can't shake the changed pronoun from his thoughts. That's when Sam decides he needs to speak with Dean at the earliest opportunity.
---
Castiel is still confined to the room he was repaired in, for security reasons. He isn't bound to the table, and he's grateful for that, but he still lies on it, as it is the most convenient place to rest. He feels the urge to stand, and if possible to pace, but he stifles it. He closes his eyes instead of staring at the ceiling and marvels at the lack of pain instead.
It's the emotions that are giving him problems. Castiel is well aware of this. He's been lucky so far that he hasn't seen enough combat for the fear to take hold there, and that worry in and of itself is making him afraid.
Castiel raises a hand and studies it, studying it. It's artificial skin, but it is remarkably realistic. He closes his hand into a fist and it still looks real.
He is forced to lower it before the emotions overpower him again. He cannot explain why, but having skin only makes it harder to control himself.
It occurs to him that he should report that, and soon.
The door opens with a swish, and Castiel opens his eyes once more, looking. He freezes.
It's Raphael. Appearance virtually the same as Gabriel's, with different facial features and eyes that are, while still golden, somehow darker.
Castiel's mind automatically provides him with Raphael's formal identification: WCA #00D "Raphael". He has never met Raphael directly before. He can only guess at why he is here.
"Hold still," Raphael instructs, and Castiel instantly does. "I've been sent to confirm your status."
Castiel wonders if he should report, but instead nods, watching Raphael check him over, sometimes with touch and sometimes with visual contact.
It occurs to him that Raphael is the medic of the archangels. That he has occasionally performed emergency repairs for lesser angels he was on assignment with. It humbles Castiel to know that he is getting treatment from this archangel.
"As it should," Raphael murmurs, and Castiel frowns. Raphael glances at him, meeting his eyes. "You have the correct attitude, Castiel."
Unbidden, the question rises in Castiel's mind: how did Raphael know to say that? Can he...?
"Yes," Raphael says, and meets Castiel's eyes again. "If the question is 'can they do it?', the answer is always yes. The correct question to ask is: 'what are the qualifiers needed before we can use it?'"
Castiel nods, mutely. What does he say to that? He watches as Raphael sends warmth through his shoulders and knows without asking that he is in perfect condition.
"Close your eyes."
Castiel complies without a thought, and feels two fingers on his forehead before -
- he comes to, blinking as Raphael pulls his fingers back.
"You are correct, you should report your problems with emotional control soon."
Castiel nods, feeling oddly calm. It doesn't take much thought for him to realize that Raphael must have hand in that, and he looks at the archangel with renewed awe.
"It is a stop-gap, Castiel. You need to learn control before Gabriel's objections sway the rest of us."
The rest of - oh. Castiel swallows, and nods. He has countless questions: why are the archangels so interested in him? Why would Gabriel do that to him? Why is Raphael helping him now?
"You will get answers in due time," Raphael says. "Expect me to visit again."
And then he's gone.
---
"Gabriel, get your feathery ass in here now. We need to talk."
Gabriel lifts his gaze from his arms to Dean and rolls his eyes. "Shall I shine your shoes while we're at it, sir?"
Dean only glares at him until Gabriel reluctantly comes away from the wall and follows Dean into his office. He doesn't bother to sit, and Dean doesn't either, standing by the window with his arm crossed.
"What the hell are you up to?"
"If this is about Castiel, I told you already."
"Sam has informed me that you've terrorized him twice in one week."
"Terrorized...?" Gabriel cracks up. "He intruded on me the first time and we had a perfectly reasonable conversation. The other one, well, I didn't want to wake him up so I waited until he got up on his own."
"You do know that standing and watching someone sleep is massively creepy."
"Impressing the fear of God into puny hoo-mans is my job."
"Your job is to destroy demons and not cause trouble otherwise." Dean scowls. "And you've already caused enough trouble this week."
"It's been slow, what can I say? Sam's just fun to talk to, especially when he gets all excited about the teeny tiniest bits of information I let slip."
"Information."
"Yeah, like the reason why I don't have a penis right now."
Gabriel's impressed: he's never seen Dean go from 'tell me right now or I will force it out of you' to 'oh dear god shut up shut up' so fast before.
"You're doing this on purpose," Dean says at last, voice tight.
"There's a reason for everything, and a purpose for every action, even if we don't know what it is."
"Are you honestly trying to make me quit today?"
"Maybe?" Gabriel admits. "I like you, I admit that, but you're getting too good at this."
"Having someone around to keep you in line isn't a bad thing, Gabriel."
"That's what my brothers are for."
"They're not getting paid to do it."
Gabriel moves abruptly into Dean's space, staring him down, and to Dean's credit, he doesn't flinch, instead staring right back.
"I don't think you like it when someone has your number and won't put up with your bullshit."
Gabriel makes a show of rolling up imaginary sleeves.
"You seriously think threatening me is going to get me to quit?"
And Gabriel knew it wouldn't work, Dean's too stubborn for that. He grins instead and drops his arms, stepping back. "I like you, Dean. I'll let you stay on for a while longer, so keep up with the good work."
"How about you drop the attitude and tell me what you're up to with Sam."
"I'm not going to hurt him, and the rest is none of your business."
"If I hear another complaint from Sam, expect to be flying solo night shifts for a week."
Gabriel rolls his eyes, but okay, it is an effective threat. The problem with Dean's position is that he can go over Gabriel's head and get support against Gabriel. Gabriel wouldn't care about that, except - well, Michael takes an active interest whenever he gets reports that Gabriel's not being cooperative, and Michael has the worst attitude Gabriel knows.
He's far too serious for his own good, is all, and the problem is that Dean knows that Michael will get involved if there is a problem.
Which means that Gabriel's going to have to try and not 'terrorize' Sam next time he meets with him.
Of course, there's nothing that says -
"If you threaten him not to tattle on you, I'll make a month." Dean says. "Got that?"
Gabriel narrows his eyes. Dean knows him far, far too well. It might be time for a change, before Dean interferes with something really important.
"Got it."
---
Previous | Next
Fandom: Supernatural.
Rating: PG-13ish.
Warnings: Minor violence/descriptions of injuries.
Pairings/Characters: Gabriel, Castiel, Sam, Dean, Rapahel.
Word Count: 2,620 words, with 7,394 total so far.
Summary: Archangel Class Cyborgs are terrifying in combat, and practically unknowable off the battlefield. Castiel's an experimental unit with an unusual design, and he's caught Gabriel's interest.
Note: I refer you all to the first part of this cyborg story for notes and whatnot.
Warning! This is still a WIP and while more is coming within a day or two, you should read this at your own risk. If you're cool with that, then, read on!
---
"Functions crit-t-tical, emergency repairs required. Biologic-cal components require priority medical attention. Lungs, brain-case; badly damaged. Request focus on restoration of audio functions after crit-t-tical situation has passed. Inquiry: is this Facility Alpha? Inquiry: Location and status of - of Gabriel?"
Sam's amazed that it's more or less comprehensible, and that Castiel is aware enough to ask questions. Also, he hadn't been aware that Castiel was currently deaf, as there were plenty of more urgent repairs to be made. He'd have to consider taking its requests seriously, but he has his own questions right now.
Still, he takes the moment to answer its questions: "Yes, this is Facility Alpha, and Gabriel's fine. He brought you back." Sam almost pauses to let it reply, but decides not to, instead forging onwards. "You were deactivated."
This is where he waits, and the silence stretches out. Sam's fingers twitch, as he's anxious to get back to work and repair the damage, but his assistants are taking too long and he will not risk getting in close until there is someone else in the room.
It's almost a relief when Castiel does speak again.
"I find-d no record of a time-lapse in functions beyond the emergency shut-t-t down due to damage. F-Full funct-tions restored at approach of unident-t-t- " Castiel's voice is getting worse, but it doesn't stop. Sam wonders if it even notices. " - gure. Part-t-tial shut-shut down due to damage assess - assess - "
There's an unpleasant grinding sound, and Castiel is completely silent. Sam's mind is already racing, trying to find the reason for this. He'd been assured - twice! - that Castiel was completely deactivated and unable to reactivate. It had been why he'd sent out all of his assistants in the first place!
So why - Sam startled as the door opened, and one of his assistants came in, bringing both parts and apologies for the delay.
"It reactivated on its own," Sam says. "I'm getting to work, so stay close to the phone."
There's some good in this, he figures. He knows exactly where to start, and that's with the brain-case. He can repair the damage and look for the reason for the faulty deactivation at the same time.
---
In an envelope sitting on Sam Winchester's desk in his private residence:
Sam - Enclosed is the excerpt you requested from Rosen's articles. Are you ever going to tell me what you're doing looking up the archs specifically, or should I just get back to work on transcribing the rest of it? - Bobby
'First Appearance of the Angels'
To this day, no one can explain why Chuck Shurley began work on the angels when he did, or how he knew when the demons would first attack. It's only one of the mysteries surrounding this genius, but it could be called the most important one, for no one alive today can forget that day. There is no need to recount the details of the entire day in this paper save for one event.
The physical manifestation of Asmodeus in Detroit and the subsequent appearance of the four archangels minutes later. Humanity had not been prepared for such an attack, certainly not from such a frankly supernatural source. This writer was expecting a nuclear war to herald the beginning of the Apocalypse, not a beast that would rise from the earth itself.
[...]
Chuck Shurley has since confirmed that he completed construction and programming on the last of the archangels barely hours before Asmodeus appeared.
---
Sam rarely sleeps at work in the first place, but he couldn't help it today. Clean up after the long ordeal that was Castiel's surgery led to a concerned coworker making him sit on the couch in one of the spare break rooms, and the next he knew, the room was dark and he was covered with a blanket.
He's yawning when he sits up, and he reaches over to the end-table to grab his glasses. That's when he spots the flash of white across the room.
Instinctively, he freezes. He knows that color, there's nothing that clean in there and the walls are a pale blue, not white -
Two spots of gold flicker in the darkness of the room, and Sam feels his stomach flip over.
"Gabriel," he whispers, picking up his glasses and putting them on - he's not blind without them, but the world has that much more clarity with them on - and he slowly gets up, willing his legs not to turn to jelly.
Gabriel doesn't move, but Sam knows that it's watching him, and incredibly aware of every motion he's making, dark room or not.
It's incredibly unnerving, and Sam's frozen for a moment, trying to decide if he should turn on the lamp on the end table, or just try to get out of here.
"Sam Winchester," Gabriel says, and his voice is so amused that Sam can't stop the next flash of fear. "You know, for someone who works on the most intimate parts of so many of us, it's kind of funny that you're afraid of me."
The twin points of gold are abruptly closer, and then Gabriel is turning on the lamp. Sam marvels again at Gabriel's design, mostly to distract himself from the spike of fear that the sudden movement inspired.
For all of how it is obviously one of the first designed, Sam still can't shake the feeling that Gabriel is one of the most advanced angels in existence, alongside its sibling archangels. For all of the utility of the angels created after them, few of them hold a candle to the originals. Sam can't shake a brief thought of Castiel and how human it usually sounds and looks, but -
"Oh, you get boring real fast."
Sam jerks his head up and is pinned by Gabriel's gaze again.
"I'd also appreciate a little change in pronouns. I'm a he, not an it. Well, currently. You never know when I'd make for a better woman." Gabriel's grinning again, but there's still danger lying there. Sam doesn't move. Gabriel goes on. "Some of us have chosen genders, if only to make it easier on you guys."
Sam's mouth is working before fear can stop it.
"You're machines, you don't have - "
"Not entirely machines. And those of us with names have the spark of life, though the amount of independent thought varies according to rank. And if you're thinking of dangly bits, the only reason I don't have any right now is because we're down here to make war, not love."
"Down here?" Sam asks, and even if he's still afraid, curiosity has taken over and Gabriel knows more than he's saying. Sam can't help but think of the only other archangel he's had contact with - Michael - and Gabriel is nothing like him when he talks.
Gabriel waves a hand. "Earth. And duh, I'm not Michael. He's got a stick so far up - "
Sam stands up abruptly, the thought of Michael triggering another stream of thoughts that leads to one question: what time is it, and what has he missed?
" - oh. Honestly. Nine fifteen forty three AM. The day after you got your mitts on Castiel. You've been asleep for about seven hours and unfortunately, yes Castiel is fine. Happy now?"
"You're the best clock I've ever found," Sam says, and beelines for the door, forgetting his fear in his urgency. Bobby said he'd deliver those papers today and Sam had wanted to ask him some things in person, and if he runs he might make it in time to catch him, and -
Gabriel has a hold on his arm. "We aren't finished."
"Let go," Sam says firmly. If it were any other angel, they'd let go. Gabriel only tightens his grip.
"If you want to look up information on me, you don't have to go through a third party when you can talk to the source directly."
"But Chuck - "
"Source. Directly."
"You're a creation."
"So are you."
Sam meets Gabriel's eyes on his own this time and glares. "Let go."
Gabriel's lips curl into another smirk. "Don't expect me to let you go for long, Sam." He lets go, and Sam rushes out, sure Gabriel was watching him run.
He's unnerved, in a hurry, and he also can't shake the changed pronoun from his thoughts. That's when Sam decides he needs to speak with Dean at the earliest opportunity.
---
Castiel is still confined to the room he was repaired in, for security reasons. He isn't bound to the table, and he's grateful for that, but he still lies on it, as it is the most convenient place to rest. He feels the urge to stand, and if possible to pace, but he stifles it. He closes his eyes instead of staring at the ceiling and marvels at the lack of pain instead.
It's the emotions that are giving him problems. Castiel is well aware of this. He's been lucky so far that he hasn't seen enough combat for the fear to take hold there, and that worry in and of itself is making him afraid.
Castiel raises a hand and studies it, studying it. It's artificial skin, but it is remarkably realistic. He closes his hand into a fist and it still looks real.
He is forced to lower it before the emotions overpower him again. He cannot explain why, but having skin only makes it harder to control himself.
It occurs to him that he should report that, and soon.
The door opens with a swish, and Castiel opens his eyes once more, looking. He freezes.
It's Raphael. Appearance virtually the same as Gabriel's, with different facial features and eyes that are, while still golden, somehow darker.
Castiel's mind automatically provides him with Raphael's formal identification: WCA #00D "Raphael". He has never met Raphael directly before. He can only guess at why he is here.
"Hold still," Raphael instructs, and Castiel instantly does. "I've been sent to confirm your status."
Castiel wonders if he should report, but instead nods, watching Raphael check him over, sometimes with touch and sometimes with visual contact.
It occurs to him that Raphael is the medic of the archangels. That he has occasionally performed emergency repairs for lesser angels he was on assignment with. It humbles Castiel to know that he is getting treatment from this archangel.
"As it should," Raphael murmurs, and Castiel frowns. Raphael glances at him, meeting his eyes. "You have the correct attitude, Castiel."
Unbidden, the question rises in Castiel's mind: how did Raphael know to say that? Can he...?
"Yes," Raphael says, and meets Castiel's eyes again. "If the question is 'can they do it?', the answer is always yes. The correct question to ask is: 'what are the qualifiers needed before we can use it?'"
Castiel nods, mutely. What does he say to that? He watches as Raphael sends warmth through his shoulders and knows without asking that he is in perfect condition.
"Close your eyes."
Castiel complies without a thought, and feels two fingers on his forehead before -
- he comes to, blinking as Raphael pulls his fingers back.
"You are correct, you should report your problems with emotional control soon."
Castiel nods, feeling oddly calm. It doesn't take much thought for him to realize that Raphael must have hand in that, and he looks at the archangel with renewed awe.
"It is a stop-gap, Castiel. You need to learn control before Gabriel's objections sway the rest of us."
The rest of - oh. Castiel swallows, and nods. He has countless questions: why are the archangels so interested in him? Why would Gabriel do that to him? Why is Raphael helping him now?
"You will get answers in due time," Raphael says. "Expect me to visit again."
And then he's gone.
---
"Gabriel, get your feathery ass in here now. We need to talk."
Gabriel lifts his gaze from his arms to Dean and rolls his eyes. "Shall I shine your shoes while we're at it, sir?"
Dean only glares at him until Gabriel reluctantly comes away from the wall and follows Dean into his office. He doesn't bother to sit, and Dean doesn't either, standing by the window with his arm crossed.
"What the hell are you up to?"
"If this is about Castiel, I told you already."
"Sam has informed me that you've terrorized him twice in one week."
"Terrorized...?" Gabriel cracks up. "He intruded on me the first time and we had a perfectly reasonable conversation. The other one, well, I didn't want to wake him up so I waited until he got up on his own."
"You do know that standing and watching someone sleep is massively creepy."
"Impressing the fear of God into puny hoo-mans is my job."
"Your job is to destroy demons and not cause trouble otherwise." Dean scowls. "And you've already caused enough trouble this week."
"It's been slow, what can I say? Sam's just fun to talk to, especially when he gets all excited about the teeny tiniest bits of information I let slip."
"Information."
"Yeah, like the reason why I don't have a penis right now."
Gabriel's impressed: he's never seen Dean go from 'tell me right now or I will force it out of you' to 'oh dear god shut up shut up' so fast before.
"You're doing this on purpose," Dean says at last, voice tight.
"There's a reason for everything, and a purpose for every action, even if we don't know what it is."
"Are you honestly trying to make me quit today?"
"Maybe?" Gabriel admits. "I like you, I admit that, but you're getting too good at this."
"Having someone around to keep you in line isn't a bad thing, Gabriel."
"That's what my brothers are for."
"They're not getting paid to do it."
Gabriel moves abruptly into Dean's space, staring him down, and to Dean's credit, he doesn't flinch, instead staring right back.
"I don't think you like it when someone has your number and won't put up with your bullshit."
Gabriel makes a show of rolling up imaginary sleeves.
"You seriously think threatening me is going to get me to quit?"
And Gabriel knew it wouldn't work, Dean's too stubborn for that. He grins instead and drops his arms, stepping back. "I like you, Dean. I'll let you stay on for a while longer, so keep up with the good work."
"How about you drop the attitude and tell me what you're up to with Sam."
"I'm not going to hurt him, and the rest is none of your business."
"If I hear another complaint from Sam, expect to be flying solo night shifts for a week."
Gabriel rolls his eyes, but okay, it is an effective threat. The problem with Dean's position is that he can go over Gabriel's head and get support against Gabriel. Gabriel wouldn't care about that, except - well, Michael takes an active interest whenever he gets reports that Gabriel's not being cooperative, and Michael has the worst attitude Gabriel knows.
He's far too serious for his own good, is all, and the problem is that Dean knows that Michael will get involved if there is a problem.
Which means that Gabriel's going to have to try and not 'terrorize' Sam next time he meets with him.
Of course, there's nothing that says -
"If you threaten him not to tattle on you, I'll make a month." Dean says. "Got that?"
Gabriel narrows his eyes. Dean knows him far, far too well. It might be time for a change, before Dean interferes with something really important.
"Got it."
---
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