low_key_angel | A different sort of hunt

Sam was a soothing presence wrapped around him, and Gabriel let himself relax against his mate. He'd never be chained up again. Maybe they'd fool around with restraints later, but it would be a voluntary thing, purely for fun.

He smiled quietly, breathing in their mingled scents. "So am I Sam. I'm glad I stayed."

Soon he'd meet his new pack, and never have to see his brothers again. His children, the ones he'd eventually have with Sam, would be safe from them and be raised in a house full of warmth and affection.

His cell phone chirped from the nightstand and he huffed out a laugh. "That'd be Cas. Anna must have called him." But it can wait, as he made no move to reach for the phone. Later. It can all wait. Right now, he's good right where he is.

"Mmm. I've been hearing mine chiming off and on since we came back in here." Of course his phone was in the other room. He'd need to remember to keep it nearby during heats. "It's either Dean giving me shit or Adam checking in. Probably Dean. Though I'm sure I'll hear from Adam as soon as he doesn't have class."

Sam was glad Gabriel didn't move for the phone. Sure, he wouldn't have stopped him because it was kind of a big thing, but he was more than happy to let the phone go for the moment.

“We’ll grab it before the next one.” Not that he intended to do much talking or texting while he was in heat. Most of the time he didn’t have much in the way of an attention span and now that he had a mate, Gabriel was content to devote his attention to Sam instead.

“Guess it’s something of big news in the pack. With Adam in school and Dean being.. Dean, you’re the first one mated, right?” He reached back to stroke his hip.

Word traveled quickly in a close knit pack, and with any luck his own brothers would be too angry at one another to talk and realize he hadn’t returned home yet. As soon as Sam’s knot deflated, they’d pack up a few things and head for the Winchester heat cottage where they could spend their time uninterrupted for the duration of his heat.

((Any thoughts on what else you’d like to do with them? Fast forward to pregnant Gabe, someone running afoul of Gabriel’s brothers?))

Sam laid his hand over Gabriel's, another point of contact. "Yeah, I am. I think we all expected me to wait another year or so, though, until school was finished. But I'm really glad I didn't have to." Even if he already was regretting the amount of stress Gabriel would be dealing with. The final year of law school was the hardest, after all. "Bobby's holding back the information, though, if anybody other than pack asks him. They really don't need to know."

((I'm good with either! Though I do like the idea of pregnant Gabe. Mostly because Sam in my head is all proud and protective.))

((Let me know how this works, I’m going with a slight fast forward. Sam finds out, brothers disapprove))

It was stressful, watching Sam leave for law school after the holiday. Gabriel spent most of his free time with his new pack and they went a long way towards easing his loneliness. There were phone calls, the occasional random text, but nothing was quite as welcome for both of them as a brief weekend visit. They didn’t get quite as lost in one another without the drive of heat, but it was still a comfort to spend a few days close. Taking care of the kitchen while Sam studied, letting Sam read with his head in his lap, leaving bread and a few meals stashed in the freezer for the week. And of course, finding new and inventive ways to distract him for a few hours now and then.

They were happy. Being apart wasn’t easy, but they were making it work.

Shortly before graduation, as Sam was packing up his apartment to head home for good, the phone rang.

“Sam – hey. Are, ah, are you sitting down?”

Sam had never thought he would want to leave law school so much in his life. Admittedly, college itself had been a rebellion against his father, at least at the time. But he was also really good at academics and he enjoyed it. But the last semester and a bit with only seeing his mate for weekend visits?

Yeah. Sam was definitely looking forward to going home.

He picks up the phone, putting another couple of books into a box. Though he stops at that tone of voice from his bonded. The bond itself can't give him much over this distance, but the sound of Gabriel's voice is enough to make him reach for a chair. "Is something wrong? Did the architect screw up the plans again?" The house plans were very much in Gabriel's purview, after all.

Gabriel couldn’t wait for Sam to come home. For the past few months, he’d been overseeing the build of the house, sinking a good portion of his own savings into the process, making sure that they had a good and comfortable place to live. A good place to raise their children. While Sam worried about school and passing the bar, Gabriel stepped up and took on everything else, much to the surprise of his pack. He supervised the build, made all the decisions. Sam had put his faith in him to build a nice house and he wasn’t going to let him down.

“No, the house is fine. We’re all set to move in next week.” A brief pause as he tried to get his thoughts in order.

“I told Dean I wanted to call you. About what happened today. Michael, he, ah, he came by the shop this morning. Now before you ask, I’m okay. Dean tossed him out before things got ugly.” He only had a few bruises to show for it, and the marks were already fading. They’d be completely gone before Sam got home. “Ever the bossy boots, he had me go get checked out while Ellen closed up shop for the day.”

He can’t contain the slightly giddy laugh. “Sam. Sammy, I’m.. we’re.. I’m pregnant.”

The bar was still in the future, but the degree was nearly out of the way. Once he had that piece of paper, things started looking up.

Sam felt his lips curl slightly at the mention of Michael. "What the hell did Michael want?" he asks, mostly because there's no way Michael would have come anywhere near the bakery without reason. That he did it while Sam was still away is, in its own way, even a little worse to Sam's opinion.

But the rest of it makes him glad he'd sat down. Sam opens his mouth, closing it again before he manages to say anything. "Pregnant?" he asks, then, "But...did the implant malfunction? I mean, you got it out as soon as the doctor confirmed it, right? I don't think it can cause any complications, but..." He blows out a breath, slumping back against his seat. "I thought male Omegas could only get pregnant during heat?"

He could study for the bar in their house, peaceful and undisturbed while Gabriel took care of everything else. It would be a stressful time, but they’d manage. They’d made it this far, hadn’t they?

Michael had come because Gabriel was alone. Vulnerable. His mate was away and he wasn’t on pack territory. So what better time to corner an Omega?

“He knew I was alone. I guess running off and getting mated didn’t sit well with him, especially since I didn’t say anything first.” And when he’d caught the change in his brother? The subtle shift in his scent that told him he was pregnant with the Winchester’s cub had sparked a quiet and cold fury in his brother. Thankfully Dean had been close by and kept Michael from killing him outright. Even he wouldn’t risk a pack war.

Gabriel chewed on his lower lip, glancing down at his hands. “It must have. Even implants aren’t a hundred percent guarantee against surprises and the Doc was just as surprised as I was when he took it out. Male Omegas don’t get pregnant easily to begin with.” Worry number one. Conception and carrying a cub to term was always harder for the male Omegas than the females. Not impossible, but it was difficult. He rubbed at the bandage on his arm where the implant had been. “I’ll have to go back in about two weeks – he wants to make sure it’s not a false read.”

It’s not a false read. There’s been a marked change in his scent. Going back is just a formality.

“I’m sorry Sammy. I know this isn’t how we planned it. But.. I know I don’t need to go back.”

"Well, no, you do need to go back to make sure the baby's growing all right." That's his first thought, to make sure the baby and his mate are safe. "And to make sure that your body is able to handle it. That's what you need to worry about, Gabriel. I'm...there's nothing to be sorry about, baby. As for plans, I'm pretty sure my dad has already regaled you with the fact that of his sons, only Dean ever managed anything close to 'plan'. Adam and I were both surprises."

He takes a breath, then laughs. It's not hysterical. It's a lot surprised, but it's definitely a joyful sound. "Do you want me to call Dean, ask him to drive you up? Anna and Cas can handle the shop for a few days, right? You can come and help me pack, drive back down with me after the graduation ceremony." Which Gabriel had been coming to, anyway. So he was only coming up a few days early.

His hand dropped to the flat of his stomach. A baby. Smiling, he nodded. "All right. I'll make my first follow up. Deanna's already bought a bottle of prenatals, you know." The next seven or so months were going to involve extensive hovering by pretty much everyone in the pack. She and Ellen were looking in on him and John hugged him so hard Gabriel is pretty sure he heard a rib creak.

"I'd like that, Sam." Because the pack is wonderful, but news like this should be celebrated in person with his mate. "They can keep an eye on the place for a couple of days longer than we initially planned."

A male voice can be heard just out of range of the phone muttering and Gabriel laughed in reply. "Dean's sort of already packing. If you hadn't suggested it, he was going to drive up anway, I think."

"Way to go Sammy!"

"I'm pretty sure she's had that bottle standing by since Dean came of age. You might want to check the 'use before' date." And yes, Sam was totally going to give his grandmother shit over that. Because it was fun.

He grinned into the phone, sitting back in his chair. "Yeah, I'm not actually that surprised about that. I'm glad, though. It makes things a lot easier." Because his brother knew him pretty well and could probably have guessed that Sam would want Gabriel close. "Speaking of your cousins and my brother in almost the same sentence, though, we really do need to get Dean and Cas in the same room together."

It was just a hunch. Sam couldn't have explained it if he had to, but it was a feeling he'd had since the first moment he'd met Cas. It just so happened that getting the two in the same spot was frustrating.

"And send her shopping? An excited grandma-to-be on a shopping mission?" Amusement colored his voice as he watched Dean throw a few things into a suitcase for him. He was a good Alpha too, friendly and easygoing and completely okay with an Omega teasing him and giving him hell from time to time.

"You know I think we do." Cas was a good guy, someone who'd make an excellent mate to a strong Alpha. "He's going to be at the graduation party. I think that's entirely possible." He's just going to ignore that vaguely suspicious look being shot in his direction.

"We should be up there by morning, maybe sooner the way Dean drives." The sooner the better. He wanted to spend time with his mate, to celebrate his very unexpected pregnancy.

"You think she isn't already going shopping? Or at least planning it out?" Sam laughed and shook his head. "If I were you, I'd go ahead and pick out the nursery set that you want and leave a picture of it somewhere she can find it. Because otherwise, she'll just go with whatever she thinks we might like." And while his grandmother had excellent taste, Sam wasn't sure it was Gabriel's taste.

The Campbell pack was old and the heads of the pack had had time to amass a fair fortune. Deanna had always loved to dote on her grandchildren and Sam knew from his cousins that the great-grandchildren would be doted on just as much.

He hummed and nodded. "Gabriel, do me a favor and put Dean on the phone for a moment?"

"Sure. I'll dig a few things out before we head out."

Another quiet exchange just off the phone and when Dean comes on, a grin evident in his voice. He hasn't left Gabriel's side since chasing Michael off. The clinic, back to the main house to rest and break the news to the pack and finally shuttling him off to his apartment to pack so he can get him up to Sammy.

His voice is bright with a grin that hasn't really faded since they got the news. "Hey Sammy. Almost packed up and ready to hit the road, man."

It's something that Sam can't help but smile about. Dean's going to be a great uncle, Sam already knows that. Hell, he has fewer worries about Dean with kids than he has about himself. But he's confident they can sort it out.

His own smile fades a bit, though. "Dean. I know I don't have to tell you this, but you guys should stay alert. I'm not so worried about Michael. He's bright enough not to start all out war." Not that he knew what Michael had DONE and Gabriel would probably want to keep it that way. "Lucifer, on the other hand, just might. And he's been obsessed with me since before I showed." Sam stood, walking over to the window of his apartment to look out. "I know you guys can take care of yourselves, but I'm really not sure what he'd do right now."

Dean took a long breath, moving into the living room while Gabriel finished up. Not that he didn’t think Gabriel couldn’t hear him from there, but he was a pregnant Omega with family issues a mile wide that happened to be mated to his little brother. “Yeah Sammy. I’ve already talked to Dad about it. Everything’s getting tightened up around here. The house, the cottage, even the bakery. We’re watching everything a hell of a lot closer.”

He’d nearly killed Michael for what he’d done, the state of the shop and of his brother’s mate. Something he was never going to share with Sam, and he could bet Gabriel was going to do the same. Michael was the cooler headed brother. When Lucifer got wind of this? Things were going to get bad. It was just a matter of when.

“Once I get Gabriel up to you, me and Dad and Bobby are going to get things handled down here. You just take care of him and take care of that little one.” His little brother. Mated, graduating from law school and now a father to be. Dean really didn’t think he could get any prouder of him. “We got this, Sammy.”

That Sam was part of the reason for those family issues was what worried him. Though, really, a shit load of those family issues existed long before Sam had ever come into the picture. He knew that. But he still felt a little bad about the whole thing.

"I'll let my building security know, too," he said, looking over the parking lot. "I know it's probably not likely that he'd come all the way up here, but..." There was no telling with Lucifer. And Sam wasn't taking any chances with his mate.

Still, he smiled at Dean's insistence and chuckled. "I know you do. I just...Yeah, I'm worried. I didn't entirely expect that when I ended up mated." He paused, then, "If he comes after Gabriel here, you know I'll kill him." Because Sam was not going to stand for that. And there were laws that would protect him.

His hand drifted to the gun underneath his jacket, secured in a shoulder rig. Their packs had been at odds for years, this might be what finally sets everything off. Gabriel and Sam having a kid. "I know Sammy. I'd expect nothing less than for you to tear that son of a bitch apart."

Dean didn't know everything about Gabriel's life with his pack and he didn't have to. He could read enough in Gabriel's body language. "He's gonna need an Alpha close by until we get this shit settled. One way or another." Omegas are strong in their own right, but no match for a determined Alpha.

"Adam's talking about taking a semester off. Sticking close to home." And hadn't that sparked one hell of an argument at home. "Be glad you missed the fireworks on that one, Sammy. Went over just about as good as you telling Dad about law school."

Even Sam didn't know everything yet, though what he did know was enough that he'd wish Dean HAD killed Michael when he'd had the provocation.

"Yeah, I know. I'll stick close to him. If we all have to go out, leaving him with Ellen and Jo might be best. Maybe call Anna over." Ellen and Jo might be Omegas themselves, but they could both handle a gun like nobody's business. "With luck, though, maybe we won't have to worry about it."

He wasn't sure he believed that could happen at the moment, but he could hope.

"And if he keeps that up, he's going to have an argument with me, too." Sam had been the first one to convince Adam to follow his dream of becoming a doctor, after all. And had, in his way, eased things enough that John was better about the idea of one of his sons going to school so far away. Sam was pretty certain now that John wouldn't have fought him nearly as hard if he'd decided to go to school in Kansas. "Anyway, it's not going to go on that long. And as much as he may not want to hear it, if this isn't resolved by the end of the summer? One more Alpha in the house isn't going to make much of a difference."

"We're resolving this before that cub is born, Sammy. One way or the other." Because no way was he letting a kid get caught in the crossfire. By truce or by blood, he was going to make damned sure that his brother's family stayed safe.

"Dad pretty much said the same thing. We've got this handled for the moment. Gabriel's heading up to you, where he's staying until you're ready to come home. After that, we'll figure out the details." Keys in hand, bags by the door. They were getting the hell out of dodge before both Michael and Lucifer showed up. One Alpha he could handle. Two? That might be stretching things.

"'sides, might not be bad having a doctor-to-be around when we get ready to meet that new cub of yours."

Sam rolled his shoulders and sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Believe me, I'm grateful." He really was. He wanted it taken care of. He didn't want his children to grow up in a world where they had to be concerned all the time.

He grinned slightly at that reminder, though. "I'm sure that Adam will love that." He looked at the clock and sighed. "I had better let you go. You're probably getting ready to head out the door, right?"

"He's just as thrilled as the rest of us, believe me."

Dean took another quick glance around the apartment with a nod. "Yeah, think we're about ready to hit the road here. We'll call you as you get close."

"Keep an eye out Sammy. We're on our way."

And just outside, a wolf howled.

"Crap. Gabriel, let's move."

"I'll keep my cell close." And if they were moving, there probably wasn't time to say good-bye to Gabriel. "Tell Gabriel I'm looking forward to seeing him. Now get going."

He hung up because Dean needed to concentrate. He'd heard that howl in the background, after all. It might not mean anything, but there was really no telling. Sam looked down at the phone in his hand and cursed under his breath before he pulled out his wallet and double-checked he had his concealed carry permit on him. Only then did he go to check the gun he kept in a safe in the bedside table (different drawer from the lube and condoms). He pulled on his own shoulder rig, grabbing a light jacket to go over it before he pocketed his cell phone and went out the door to inform the people who needed to know about what was happening and who to keep a look out for.

And maybe go to the gym because he had a lot of anger to work off, suddenly.

The drive out of town was quick, Dean sticking to the back roads that he knew before finally turning on the highway. While no wolves had stopped them on the way out, the howling had him on guard and not breathing easily until they'd crossed the state line. Werewolves were fast runners, but even they couldn't keep up with his Baby.

Once the car was on the highway, the rumble of the engine was enough to lull Gabriel almost immediately to sleep. Pregnancies were quick, usually seven months or so, which meant his body was working overtime even at such an early stage. He barely stirred when Dean pulled off for gas and a refill on coffee before continuing on. Sam's apartment was still a few hours away and he had every intention of being there at first light.

It was just after dawn when they pulled up in front of Sam's building. Dean was haggard, but alert, on guard for any sign of trouble as they got out of the car and headed upstairs.

The warm, familiar scent of his mate was a welcome one and Gabriel finally felt some of the tension of the past day and a half slip away. He could breathe again, now that he was close.

A different sort of hunt

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