Broken Pieces

Broken Pieces

pairing: Sam x Gabriel (platonic)

word count: 1254

summary: Sam takes care of Gabriel once Dean and Ketch leave

warnings: mentions of torture and blood

A/N: Coda for 13x17, I hope this is good cause I’m never really happy with my writing but ppl seem to like it for some reason so here you go. Dedicated to all the Sabriel shippers

Sam stared at the golden rift recapping everything that had happened that day: battled an ancient tentacle goddess, Ketch was back -again- and claiming to be on their side, which he wasn’t buying for one second, and Dean was in the apocalypse world with him of all people. But last and not least the archangel Gabriel, who they believed was dead for years, was back and sitting in a chair a few feet away from him, or at least the broken pieces left behind by Asmodeus. Sam wondered what happened to him, where he was all these years, what Asmodeus did to him that was so bad it broke him so much, how long he was in hell for. He wasn’t sure if Gabriel remembered him that well, or even at all. He had many questions but the last thing he wanted to do right now was overwhelm him. They weren’t so different if he thought about it, both were tortured in hell for long periods of time, assuming the state Gabriel was in he had to be there for a while, and Sam knows how that feels. How something like that changes you, what it does to you mentally, how you can recover but never truly be the same again.

 Sam also knew Gabriel would want some peace, not interrogation. He was in no state for that. The poor guy wasn’t even talking but you can’t blame him, he needs time to heal and Sam will offer him all the time he needs. The trickster God who loved sweets he once knew was most likely gone, hopefully not forever, but Sam could tell just by looking into his eyes. The beautiful hazel showed so much fear and pain, it was heartbreaking. And he wanted nothing more but to help him, give him a safe space, let him talk about his trauma. Give him everything Sam wished he could have had with his own experience. The worst thing you could do is bottle it all up, and that’s what Sam did, so he will make sure Gabe doesn’t.

After snapping out of his thoughts and giving the rift one more wary glance praying nothing would come through other than his brother, his attention was back on the angel behind him. Sam could feel the stare on his back but as he turned Gabriel averted it, not moving out of the chair, or much at all “Guess it’s just you and me for now.” he said softly and sat down in the chair across from him with a tired sigh. Surprisingly Gabriel didn’t flinch nor did he seem frightened like Sam had expected, but that was a good thing. Gabriel wasn’t scared of him, maybe even felt safe around him, Sam thought. To be honest he no longer looked scared, like he was when Ketch pulled him into the room. The possibility that he made Gabe feel safe after all that he’s been through made Sam proud. His eyes were calmer, looking around the bunker, taking in his surroundings, or looking at Sam. But then they landed on the archangel blade still on the table, and the fear rushed back in. Sam immediately felt bad, hating the way his eyes changed, hating the fear in them, wanting to get rid of it. It had no place in the eyes of one of God’s and heavens most divine creature. Sam stood up and grabbed the blade. Which caused Gabriel to instantly jump back as a response, panicking once again like he had when Sam mentioned they needed his grace for the spell. Great, now Sam was the one to put the fear in him. His hands went into the air, scared eyes following the weapon Sam was holding. “I’m just putting this away, Gabe.” Sam tried with the nickname. “I’m not going to hurt you, Dean won’t either. You’re safe here. Asmodeus cannot find you because this place is heavily warded, he can’t get you again,you’re free. And I don’t know what that bastard did to you but i promise I will make him pay for it.” That statement seemed to soothe Gabriel a little but it was obvious the blade was unnerving him. “I’ll be right back,” he promised and left, putting the archangel blade safely and far away from Gabriel.

When he was back Sam once again sat across from him. “Can I?” he asked, gesturing to the med kit he had brought out, wanting to continue what he started by taking out the stitches. Gabe was in a fragile state right now so Sam wanted his full approval before doing anything, wanting to let him know he has control over what happens to him now, no longer a prisoner.

Gabriel looked at the contents of the box for a bit before nodding ever so slightly. Still not saying a word even though his stitches were cut. Sam got the cleanest cloth from the kitchen that he could find. Even though it had blood stains on it from older cases it had been washed so, technically, clean. Then he dipped it in the bowl of water he had brought out as well so he could clean all the blood and wounds on the angel’s face. “This might hurt a little.” he warned, the damp cloth in one hand hovering over his face, the other hand gently cupping his cheek. Sam looked into his eyes that were still avoiding contact. But once they finally met, Gabriel didn’t look away, instead giving Sam another nod, this time more confident. That’s a good first step, Sam thought.  He started at one of the cuts on his cheek, then the one across his nose, the one on his forehead and so on, being as gentle as he could. Finally getting rid of the blood on his face,neck and chest too, all that was left were his lips where the thread of the stitches was left behind. “Guess I should pull those out.” he pointed to Gabriel’s lips. Sam noticed Gabe’s eyes were now on him, not the table around the bunker or his hands, no, just him. No longer averted. He grabbed the tweezers and started, Gabriel flinching and making little sounds of pain but overall he seemed quite calm. When there was no thread left, he cleaned the blood there as well then put a bit of disinfectant on the cloth just to clean the wounds a little better. Seeing Gabriel wasn’t healing like an archangel should meant he was really low on grace so it might take a while before it got fully restored, and in that while Sam didn’t want his wounds to get infected. Once Sam got him as clean as a washcloth and some water disinfectant mix could he figured Gabe really just needed a shower. It might help him relax a bit too hopefully. “Alright then my job here’s done, I’m gonna get you some clean clothes and you can shower alright?” Another nod. “Alright, let’s get you a room too so you can rest.” As Sam got up he heard a quick, soft ‘thank you’ escape past the angels wounded lips. Sam smiled down at him. Those were the first words Gabriel said in probably a long time, how long he still didn’t know. Sam responded with “You’re welcome Gabe” and a gentle smile before guiding the archangel to find a room. Whatever Asmodeus did to him, Sam swore to help him heal, help Gabe put his broken pieces back together.

tags: @reading-greek  @onewholoveslokigabriellotor  @galaxylemonade  @floral–mess  @sillyyjackie  @eris0  @kydrogen-monoxide @ultra-danielle-impala  @clinsane  @resting-rage-face  @monstacatz   @starsearcherxiii