Chapter 84

Sam flops into bed that night with a sigh. This was the longest day ever. It seems like having Gabriel around made Dean want to get both Sam and Gabriel talking, so he couldn't just "talk" to Lucifer like he was earlier. He was never so relieved for night to come. Eight o'clock isn't suspiciously early for bed, right?

But it a bit early to go to sleep, so he just lies in bed for a few minutes before finally giving and praying for company.

Sam waits.

And waits.

And waits.

But when Lucifer doesn't show up within two minutes, Sam comes to the conclusion that he's not coming tonight. He sighs and rolls onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. This is going to be a long night if he doesn't show.

When Sam hears the knock on the door a few minutes later, he assumes it's Lucifer just being late, and doesn't hesitate to tell him he's welcome to come in. He has to do a double take when he sees that it's Dean out there instead.

"Um... hi?" Sam says uncertainly.

"You got a second?" Dean asks.

"Uh, yeah, sure. Come on in."

Dean steps inside, closing the door behind him. He opens his mouth to say something, but his thoughts are immediately redirected when he sees the cage against the wall.

"What the hell is that?" he asks, pointing to Kasie, who's flying around.

"My pegasus?"

Clearly, Dean doesn't get his silent message, because he asks, "Why do you have a in your room?"

"That's a long story," Sam says vaguely, then quickly changes the subject, "but that can't be why you're here, so what's up?"

Dean doesn't seem to realize that he's purposely changing the subject, because he goes along with it without question.

"You know I don't like chick flick moments," he begins, "and this really isn't any of my business, but I just want to tell you that you were right."

"You're going to have to be more specific," Sam tells him. "I'm usually right."

Dean rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I mean about Gabriel."

Sam feels himself freeze at that before asking cautiously, "What about him?"

"You were right. He's not that bad," Dean explains. "And I'm sorry for not believing you about that."

"And why are you telling me that?" Sam asks. Dean never makes a big deal about being wrong like this.

"Because you gotta take him back."

Sam just looks at him for a moment, half wondering if this is just some big, pointless joke. But it really looks like Dean means it, and all he can think to say to that is, "Why?"

"Well, mostly because you two are making things awkward," Dean tells him. "We were all having fun 'til you showed up and you two got all quiet."

"Well, I'm sorry that I can't carry out a normal conversation with my ex," Sam says sarcastically.

"Well, you're gonna have to learn, because he's pretty cool," Dean tells him. "I don't see him going away any time soon."

Sam sighs. "Dean, I can't —"

"You can, and you will," Dean interrupts. "And it'd be a lot easier if you two got back together instead of the awkward half-friend zone. It's not like either of you are seeing anyone else."

His mind flashes back to Lucifer. They're not dating, exactly, but what's going on between them wouldn't fly with Gabriel, and he'd rather be friends with benefits with Lucifer than awkwardly not able to talk to Gabriel while claiming they're back together, so he'll have to pass on that one.

"I don't see that happening any time soon," Sam tells him.

"Why not?"

"Because called things off with ," Sam tells him. "Not the other way around. It's not my choice, and even if it was, I wouldn't take him back. Whatever spark we had is gone, so you should go back and make sure the same thing doesn't happen to you and Cas."

"And you're just going to put up with how awkward things are going to be for the next... ever?"

Sam nods. "Yeah, I am. Maybe it'll give Chuck a bad case of secondhand embarrassment and he'll let us go."

Dean sighs. "Fine, but that's not going to happen, so don't get your hopes up."

"I could say the same thing to you. Is that it? Cuz if so, I'm kind of tired."

Dean seems to get the message, because he nods and turns to go. Just before he shuts the door behind him, he glances over his shoulder and says, "And if you change your mind, talk to him. I think it would do you both good."

With that, he's gone, leaving Sam to go to sleep, if only it were that easy.