Theme Prompt - Can You Hear Me?

Sam nodded silently and turned to lead the way back to Bobby's house. He bypassed the kitchen where he heard Bobby and Dean talking with Cas. There was no point in facing the others until he knew what exactly was going on. Heading upstairs, Sam led the archangel to his room and closed the door.

"Sit," Sam said, pointing to the bed. Gabriel complied silently, watching the hunter as Sam paced. Studying his face, Gabriel stretched out his senses to feel the emotions the hunter was feeling. Happiness and confusion and a small spark of desire. Gabriel shuddered under the strength of Sam's feelings then withdrew. He felt strangely reluctant to go where he had not expressly been invited.

"So, explain to me about this bond?" Sam asked, still pacing. Gabriel thought for a moment, his thoughts flicking from one idea to the next.

"It's a connection, usually between angels, that unites their graces," Gabriel explained, picking his words carefully.  "It's a bit like marriage between humans but goes far deeper. They can feel each other's emotions and, in very rare cases, read each other's thoughts. They are connected, forever."

Sam continued to pace the room, a thoughtful expression on his face. Gabriel couldn't read Sam's face so he skimmed lightly at the surface of the hunter's emotions. He felt confusion and academic interest. Then, a small warm spike of desire flashed through the hunter. Gabriel withdrew again in surprise. Sam wanted him?

"Go on," Sam prompted the archangel. "What happens when it's a human and an angel?"

"Something very similar only between the soul and the grace," Gabriel said. "They would latch onto each other and bind to each other. Forever. When the human died, if their soul went to Heaven, the angel can follow it. They would share emotions and possibly thoughts."

Sam stopped in front of Gabriel with an intense expression on his face. He studied the archangel, noting the lips that were turned down into a slight scowl and the golden brown eyes that seemed darkened by sadness.

Deciding that he couldn't go any further into this conversation without sugar and a drink, Gabriel snapped his fingers. Several candy bars and a couple bottles of beer appeared on Sam's nightstand. Gabriel offered one to Sam and Sam took it with a slight smile. He opened the bottle and took a drink, his eyes going wide in pleasure and surprise.

"My favorite beer," Sam said quietly, taking another sip. "How did you know?"

"One of the perks, I guess," Gabriel laughed humorlessly. He reached over and grabbed a candy bar, needing the rush and taste of chocolate. Sam grabbed one as well, taking dainty bites out of the chocolate. Watching as Sam's tongue swiped away the leftover chocolate on his lips, Gabriel swallowed tightly and felt a burst of want roll through him.

Sam tilted his head, a strange and surprisingly welcome warmth flooding him from the archangel. He examined the feeling, brushing over Gabriel's other emotions. Was that... desire? For him?

"What's that?" Sam asked quietly.

"You felt that?" Gabriel asked, starting. Sam nodded and finished his candy bar. Gabriel's eyes followed his movements, eyes darkening with need now. Sam sat down next to Gabriel on the bed, leaving a decent amount of space between them. Gabriel finished his chocolate bar in silence, not knowing or wanting to explain to Sam how he knew what beer to summon.

"All right, so how did the bond form between us?" Sam asked, dropping the subject for now. He had a feeling he'd be able to pick it up again after the explanation he was asking for. If it was something he wanted, which, right now, he wasn't sure about.

"Remember when you were hunting me?" Gabriel asked him. "After the Mystery Spot? The bond started then. You wanted to find me, you obsessed over me for those six months. And I'll admit, I obsessed a little over you too. You were always in my thoughts and I did follow you. And that was enough for the bond. Even though the emotions were negative ones."

"They weren't all negative," Sam admitted quietly, staring down at the floor. "There were times when I forgot about the anger and pain and hate. Times when your eyes or your smile would pop into my head and they were all I could think about."

"Same with you, kiddo," Gabriel said, his eyes widening in surprise. "I couldn't help but shadow you. You drew me in, somehow, like no one else has before. That's the main reason why I brought Dean back when you asked."

"And when I forgave you at the motel?" Sam asked quietly. "I felt something when you died. That never happened before. Was that the bond?"

"Yes," Gabriel replied, smiling slightly. "You forgiving me deepened the connection between us. Though, it wouldn't have existed if there was some part of you that didn't want it. Or if I didn't."

Gabriel fell silent again, not daring to look at Sam. This was the most open he'd been, the most honest, since running away from his family and becoming the Trickster.

"You wanted me?" Sam asked, confused. He could still feel the strongest of Gabriel's emotions and there definitely was a thread of want running through the sorrow and resignation. It seemed like the archangel had already given up on what he wanted.

"We're a lot alike Sam," Gabriel said quietly.  "And it was lonely, hiding from my family." Sam read a lot into what the archangel didn't say and leaned forward to place a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand lonely," Sam told him. "And maybe that's why we formed this bond. At least Cas thinks so."

"I'm sorry, kiddo," Gabriel said again. "It was unintentional on my part. I wouldn't force someone into something like this."

"Hey, unintentional or not, I'm ok with it," Sam said, smiling. He inched closer to Gabriel on the bed until their legs touched. Warmth bled through Sam's jeans as he leaned forward into Gabriel's personal space.

"And I don't really want it to stop," Sam whispered, his breath ghosting across Gabriel's face. "I admitted to myself after I thought you died that I was attracted to you. I mourned the friendship that never was between us."

Gabriel sat, stunned at the the hunter's admission. He'd hoped, in a small deep part of himself, that Sam wouldn't be offended or disgusted by the bond. He looked up into Sam's eyes and saw the truth floating there.

"You don't mind it?" Gabriel asked, needing the confirmation. Sam shook his head and leaned forward until their lips were almost brushing.

"I dreamed of you," Sam told him. "I saw your eyes, watching me, always from a distance. Was that really you?" Gabriel nodded, his eyes never leaving the other hunters.

"I wanted to watch over you," Gabriel admitted. "And I felt guilty for making you believe I was dead. I watched you cry over my body." Sam felt the emotions in the archangel shift. Happiness and hope replaced the sorrow. They were mirrored in Sam's emotions and the feeling multiplied as they shared it across the bond.

"How do we know if the bond we have allows us to talk telepathically?" Sam asked, academic interest coming back.

Can you hear me? Gabriel thought at the hunter. Sam jumped, hearing Gabriel's voice in his head.

Yes Sam replied. So I guess this means we have one of those rare bonds huh?

"It does," Gabriel confirmed. "And now, it won't break. Not after we both agreed we liked and wanted it." He looked away, not wanting to see the expression on Sam's face.

Sam raised a hand to gently cup Gabriel's chin and tilt his face back towards him. He smiled gently at the archangel, tenderness washing through their bond.

"Good," was all he said before leaning down and pressing his lips to Gabriel's. "I don't want it to break." They wrapped their arms around each other, melting into the kiss.