Samuel came out of deep sleep to the sound of a battle call blaring in his head. Glancing at the green glow on the alarm clock telling him it was 4:30 a.m., he gave his mental response. He would be ready.

With as little sound and motion as he could, he freed himself from Dean, and got out of the bed, immediately missing the warmth of his body and the steady beat of his heart. Resisting the urge to brush his mind, he quickly headed out of the room to take a shower.

When he returned, he had a cup of coffee in hand. Seeing Dean was still fast asleep, he set it down and started to dress. It was early, and he didn't want to wake Dean up, but he would have to before he left... he didn't want him panicking or feeling abandoned.

Opening his closet, he pressed the back panel, and opened up a hidden closet behind it. Pulling out his mounted sword, and his armor, he laid them on the bottom of the bed. The silver sword gleamed with a wicked blue edge.

With the efficiency of a warrior angel who'd prepared for battle thousands of times, he put on his leather breast plate and short, white robes. The breast plate was so finely made, it molded to his body like a second skin, and from a distance, it might not be visible at all.

He had his sandals and ankle guards on, and then he put on one forearm guard brace, using his teeth to hold onto the strap, tightening it, then tying it off. As he reached for the second brace, he felt Dean stir and watch him. "Don't touch the sword," he quickly said. He knew Dean too well.

Dean wasn’t sure if it was the missing warmth in the bed beside him or the soft sounds of movement in the room that had finally woke him. All he knew was that he really didn’t want to be awake right now. It was way too fucking early. Somehow he knew that even without opening his eyes. Though he supposed his reluctance could also have something to do with the awful splitting headache he had.

The young man groaned softly as he opened his eyes. Wincing even though there was no light on in the room, just a bit coming in from the hallway, but it still hurt his eyes. He felt awful. His throat feeling dry and swollen. His head feeling like it was going to split open. His stomach twisting, and every muscle in his body aching… Yeah, he felt like crap.

And he didn’t even remember why.

He remembered coming home from Bobby’s. He remembered climbing into Sam’s lap and… and he remembered what the angel had said to him as he pushed him away, and leaving the apartment… but that was it. He didn’t remember coming home. He didn’t remember going to bed… Samuel’s bed… he could only hope that meant that the angel wasn’t still mad at him…

Dean finally managed to focus on the angel and had to blink a few times, wondering if maybe he were still asleep after all, because Samuel looked like… the robes, the leather armor… it was, weird, and at the same time Samuel looked absolutely amazing. Like some kind of ancient warrior, strong and… beautiful… Dean’s eyes flickered down to the bed where the sword laid and then back to Samuel as he pushed himself up in the bed. Neither his head nor his stomach enjoying the change in position very much but he wasn’t concerned about that right now.

“What’s going on?” Dean asked, despite the angel’s words reaching out slowly to the blade lying on the bed.

Prepared, because he really did know Dean too well, Sam grasped his wrist before he touched the sword. “You’ll burn your palm.” He met Dean’s gaze and didn’t know whether to be amused or angry. “Most people obey me,” he mused.

Releasing him, he finished tying on his forearm brace, then looked back at Dean. His eyes were bloodshot, but his pupils were no longer dilated. “Here, this might help you feel better,” he said, passing Dean his coffee and sitting on the side of the bed.

“There’s been a great increase of demonic activity near Atlanta. It looks like there is an attempt to open a Hell Gate. I’m going to go seal it, with others,” he said, nodding. “I’ll be gone for... I should be back by night. You might want to go to Bobby’s,” he suggested. “But do me a favor, if you go out, take your cell phone. Please.”

Dean looked up into the angel’s eyes when Sam’s hand curled around his wrist. Burn? But the blade was lying on the bed, and it didn’t look hot… He didn’t understand how that was possible, but he didn’t try to touch the sword again when Samuel finally released him. Only giving a slight shrug in response to Sam’s comment about most people obeying him.

Dean had been told what to do his whole life, not able to make a single decision for himself, even when he was allowed to go to the bathroom practically scheduled. So maybe he was a little tired of being told what he could and couldn’t do all the time. Tired of rules. Everyone telling him what he could and couldn’t have…

Though he did take the offered mug of coffee that Samuel passed to him. Sipping it slowly so it wouldn’t aggravate his stomach any more than it already was. However when the angel finally answered his question Dean almost forgot about the drink completely. Staring at Sam with suddenly wide eyes. Forgetting for the moment how badly he felt.

Demonic activity… Hell Gate…

Dean looked down at the sword again and back to Samuel fearfully as the angel went on to explain he’d be gone all day. Suggesting he go to Bobby’s… obviously trying to distract him so he wouldn’t worry, but not working in the least. The young man clearly remembering the fight he’d witnessed between the angel and the demon when they’d left the asylum. Remembering how afraid he’d been for the angel…

What if something happened to Samuel? What if he didn’t come back? He didn’t want Samuel to go alone. Even if there were ‘others’ going with him, Dean didn’t want to stay here alone, not knowing what was happening…

“Can’t I go with you? I won’t get in the way. I can help.” Dean looked up at the angel hopefully. Wasn’t he supposed to be doing ‘good’ things anyway? So he wouldn’t go to hell?

Somehow Samuel had known the question was coming, but he shook his head. “No. This isn’t like what you saw at the asylum. This is bigger... but... nothing I haven’t done many times,” he said, putting his hand on Dean’s shoulder.

He tried not to be impressed, not to marvel at the fact that Dean was prepared to face the very creatures who’d put him in that asylum, who gave him nightmares and made him think he was hallucinating about horrors that couldn’t exist. “Don’t look so serious. I’m going to be back, and I’ll be fine. Just promise me you...” this time he stabbed him in the chest with a long finger, “won’t get yourself into any trouble while I’m gone.”

Though he was smiling, Sam was still smarting from the terrors of last night. He kept reminding himself it had turned out alright, but he didn’t know if he could take a repeat performance. “Promise me Dean, I...”

The time on the clock flipped from 5:28 to 5:29. “They’re here.” Leaning in, he kissed Dean’s cheek and was pulling away, when he leaned in again, this time kissing him on the corner of his mouth, lingering slightly only because it was the best compromise between what he wanted... and what he should do.

In a fluid motion, he got off the bed and grabbed the hilt of the sword. He didn’t bother telling Dean to go back to sleep because he knew there was no way he would sleep, not when he was alone. Looking back at him one more time, he strode out of the room, his wings now unfurling behind him.

Moments later, he was downstairs in the middle of the street, greeting five other warrior angels. “Michael.” Grinning he gave the man a hug, and kissed another lightly on the lips. When he got to Gabriel, he was pulled into that angel’s tight embrace, and when their closed mouths met for a spell too long, Samuel for the first time understood. And he remembered the times they’d slept next to each other and Gabriel had held him all night. Glancing at the window of his apartment, he understood only too well.

Pulling away, he finished greeting the others, and then all of them took a few long strides and took to the skies in unison, swords gleaming in the moonlight, faces hard and determined... ready to face the dark enemy once more.

Dean’s face fell when Samuel refused to let him come with him. It wasn’t that Dean really wanted to see demons again, like the hospital director or the things he’d seen in hell. In fact, the idea alone scared the hell out of him. But the idea of sitting here alone all day not knowing what was going on was even worse. He just… he wanted to be there. To help Samuel…

What could you possibly do to help an angel fight against demons? A voice inside him whispered evilly and the worst part of it was he knew it was right. He would be absolutely useless, and worse he’d probably only be a hindrance to Samuel.

The angel’s reassurances that he’d done ‘this’ many times before so he shouldn’t worry didn’t do much to put the young man at ease, but when Samuel asked him to promise to stay out of trouble while he was gone, Dean nodded. The last thing he wanted, after all, was for the angel to be distracted worrying about him or something.

He tried not to look so worried when Sam said ‘they’ were here. The soft lingering kiss the angel gave him making his heart ache and just hold onto Sam and never let him go. Instead all he could do was watch as Samuel picked up his sword and left the bedroom. So many things he wanted to say, but unable to voice any of them.

Dean remained in the bed for all of thirty seconds after hearing the front door close before he got up and went to the dark living room. Walking over to the large windows and looking down at the street. Seeing Samuel… and the other angels together, all of them dressed as Sam in armor and carrying weapons that seemed to shine with their own light was a truly awe inspiring sight.

But watching Samuel greet the other angels, Dean was struck for perhaps the first time how foolish he really was. How different they were from him, and as he watched Samuel give one of the angel’s a lingering kiss, the young man’s hand curled into a fist at his side in jealousy.

His other hand rose to rest against the cool glass as he watched the angels unfurl their wings and take to the sky. Quickly becoming lost to his human eyes in the darkness, so Dean simply closed his eyes then. Reaching for Samuel with his thoughts as he had countless times before, though never over such long distances. Feeling himself being ‘stretched’ and his already pounding headache growing worse with the effort, but he could still feel Samuel. Like the angel was still there beside him even as more and more miles stretched between them.

Dean sat down in the chair by the window. His eyes still closed, leaning his head back.

Please be careful. He sent along their link along with all the warmth and love he could muster before pulling back just a little. Just under the surface so that he was ‘aware’ of what was going on but he wouldn’t be distracting to Samuel. He would be there, even if he couldn’t be.

Traveling at tremendous speeds, Sam was several states away when he felt Dean in the back of his mind. He gave a mental smile, suddenly realizing how attached he'd grown to all those mind touches and the feeling of almost never being truly alone. How attached he he'd grown to Dean, when all this time he'd thought it was his ward who was overly attached to him.

Almost as if it was second nature, he told Dean where he was and what he was seeing. Going quiet when one of the others communicated inside his head. But that was so different... just disembodied voices. With Dean, he could not only sense his words, but his actual thoughts and feeling. It was like being joined in a sense he didn't think anyone could understand.

Stop worrying. Make yourself breakfast and don't burn your fingers. Concentrating on making Dean feel his arms go around him, he added, I know you get clumsy at every opportunity or excuse to suck your thumb. Laughing, because he didn't think Dean knew he'd caught on, he veered toward the direction the sun was rising.

With his eyes still closed, Dean smiled a little when he felt the touch of the angel’s mind in return.

It felt a little different. Almost like Sam’s words were ‘echoing’ more inside his head, far away and close at the same time. Perhaps it was because they were so far away physically from each other, but the link still remained strong. Dean could almost forget he was sitting here in the chair in the living room. He could almost feel the wind against his face. See the sun rising over the horizon even as it remained dark where he was.

Dean made a face when Sam told him to stop worrying and make himself breakfast. His stomach still wasn’t feeling too good, so eating anything didn’t sound too appetizing right now.

He smiled wider when he ‘felt’ the angel’s arms around him, however when Samuel teased him about sucking his thumb, the young man mentally gave Samuel the finger. His middle one, to be exact. Mentally snuggling closer to Samuel. Letting their thoughts tangle tighter together like a physical embrace.

Dean couldn’t hide the relief he felt then. After what had happened yesterday… he’d been afraid that Samuel wouldn’t even let him close anymore. This way or any other. Perhaps the worst part was that he couldn’t really bring himself to feel sorry for it. Well, he was sorry for upsetting Samuel, but not for feeling the way he did about the angel. Not for the way they’d touched, or kissed, or how he wanted more…

You can’t have it…

It didn’t stop Dean from wanting it. Wanting him…

You make me want to sin…

Dean sighed softly.

Samuel… The young man started, but then stopped. Now wasn’t the time to talk about that. Maybe once the angel came back… but not now. I love you. He still sent anyway. Maybe he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t stop himself from feeling any more than he could stop his heart beating.

Dean smiled a little to himself. God, he was such a girl…

A flush of heat washed over Sam and then started to recede, leaving behind a sharp ache in the angel’s heart...one that could never be comforted. He could barely breathe, barely think.

SAMUEL!

Gabriel’s voice boomed into Sam’s mind and he quickly readjusted his flight path, nodding at the other angel.

Close your mind link. We’re going into battle, I don’t want you to see this. It wasn’t a request, and Sam expected obedience.

From a distance, he could see the earth boil and simmer, steam with the darkest things out of hell. The gateway was far wider than Sam had expected, and the closer they got, the greater the acceleration of demons tumbling and crawling out, teeth nashing, talons searching for prey, eyes filled with hatred.

The angels mentally formulated their attack plans and split off from each other, aiming their swords to the ground and unleashing white bolts of lighting from their tips as they flew into battle. The closer he got, the louder Sam chanted in Latin... ancient words that would send the minions of Satan back where they belonged. The other angels chanted in even more ancient tongues.

Samuel landed on the ground, sulfuric acid in the air singing his lungs. Immediately, he was surrounded by hordes and single mindedly moved to destroy them. Screams rose from the battle grounds, both from the throats of the demons and of the Angels. Angel’s bled, healed, and bled again... fighting with the righteous knowledge that evil had to be kept in the confines of hell, and that this was today’s battle ground.

Sweat soaked Sam’s back and dripped from his forehead as he brought his heavy sword down again and again, striking with his blade and with lighting fueled by the heavens. Hours passed, his muscles ached, his arm moved slightly slower, and his body burned with cuts and wounds, but his spirit and determination never flagged.

Then he saw the army of possessed humans entering the battle field and faltered.

SAMUEL KILL THEM. NO MERCY. Michael’s voice boomed in Sam’s head.

He answered, LET ME EXORCISE THEM.

NO.

Sam sadly turned toward the all too human army, clad in jeans and pajamas and in uniforms he recognized, running toward him. Some armed, some just wild with hatred... all of them fodder. God forgive me. God have mercy on their souls. He stood his ground and waited for them.

Dean tensed, feeling his own heart begin to beat faster with adrenaline when Sam’s did. He heard the angel’s order to close his mind, but he didn’t. He knew he was risking Samuel’s anger when the angel returned, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t going to leave Samuel alone. He wasn’t afraid…

He almost… almost… regretted his decision when he saw the first of the demons. Just as he remembered from his nightmares of hell. However he kept his anxiety, the fear he felt for Samuel, to himself, not wanting to distract the angel.

The young man couldn’t stop the cry of pain that escaped his lips however, looking down at his arm that was suddenly bleeding. Realizing he was bleeding because Samuel was bleeding. But he still refused to pull his mind back.

No matter what he saw, he didn’t look away. No matter what he felt. He refused to turn away just as he’d refused when Samuel had ordered him in the asylum. He saw everything Sam saw. Felt everything Sam felt. When he saw the humans coming towards Samuel, possessed by demons, he felt the angel’s indecision and pain…

But then he saw something else. Something… rising up around the battlefield… Surrounding. Dean had no idea what it was, but he knew it was something evil… the power building… and Samuel couldn’t see it…

Samuel! You have to move! You have to move now! There’s something surrounding you all! You have to move!

To Sam’s consternation, the momentary loss of focus got him shot in the side. A strangled cry broke from him at the same time he back flipped, dodging a second bullet. Even as he returned and took the arm off the person holding the gun, his eyes shifted ... seeking what it was Dean saw.

Nothing. And yet... he tasted something foul, something different. He felt the air shifting for no reason. SOMETHING IS SURROUNDING US.

He spoke to the other angels on blind faith. If he was wrong, they might lose any advantage they seemed to have over the field. But if he was right... if Dean was right... he might be averting a defeat.

Swinging his sword, he cut a path away from the humans and then finally saw something gleaming in the fabric of the world, closing around them like Dean had said. Before he reported what he saw, Gabriel and Raphael circled overhead, aiming their powers and working to destroy the force that had been gaining power, hardening into a net that would have tied all of them down in place.

Hours later, the battle field was clear of opposition. Five angels swept toward each other through the skies with swords held out, stopping when the tips of their sword touched and they hovered in a circle above the gate. As they chanted, the air crackled with electricity. Their eyes went black in the same instance as they collectively turned their swords to the ground and sent a thick bolt of searing heat deep into the ground.

The land and skies thundered and shook, and yet they kept concentrating their power, moving the point of their sword, welding the gate ... sealing it.

They dropped tiredly down to the ground, patting each other on the back. It had been a hard fought battle.

“Drinks are on me,” Gabriel offered, wiping his brow. “You’re all welcome to stay with me.”

Several of them agreed, but Sam shook his head no. “I have to get back. Next time,” he looked down at the bullet being pushed out of his body, and knew he really had to talk with Dean.

“Why?” Approaching him, Gabriel searched his face. “Your ward can last a night without you.”

Sam cracked a smile. “I don’t know if the world can take it. No, I have to go.”

“Does this have to do with the strange connection you have? I read your report? I wanted to talk to you about it, learn more.”

“Believe me, I haven’t found anything out about it, other than it’s there.”

“It must be annoying.”

Sam didn’t answer.

“Let him go, Gabe. You know he wants to go brood over the...” Michael jerked his chin toward the dead possessed. “It’s how he is.”

YOUR EXTREME LOVE OF HUMANS IS UNNATURAL

Sam met Gabriel’s gaze but didn’t answer his mental comment. It was true. “Have a drink for me too.” He took to the skies and headed home.

*

It was almost evening when he pushed the door of his apartment open. His robes and skin were splattered with blood... his... others’ and his face was as weary as his body. But two steps into the room and he saw Dean sitting by the window, exactly where Sam had been waiting for him the day before. Only Dean was bloody... and injured ... a mirror image of himself.

A rare oath broke from Samuel as he dropped the sword onto the coffee table and strode toward Dean. “Don’t you ever listen? I told you to close the link. At least once you started bleeding why didn’t you have the sense to?” Sam wasn’t quick to anger, but right now fear for Dean and evidence that he couldn’t control the boy’s tendency to be drawn to danger, had him seeing red. “How am I supposed to protect you, Dean? How when you won’t listen to me?” he demanded, his eyes raking the boy, trying to gauge his injuries. It hurts me to see you in pain. Is that what you want?

Dean had felt the shot in Samuel’s side, crying out in pain the exact same time as the angel, and feeling his own blood dripping through his fingers when he pressed his hands to his stomach. But moments later he knew it was worth it, because Samuel finally saw what he had seen. His warning had prevented Samuel from becoming trapped and he sagged back in the chair in relief.

The wound in his side was just a scratch. A deep scratch. But just a scratch. He would be fine, and even if he wouldn’t… he didn’t care as long as Samuel was.

The battle went on for hours, and Dean was there for every second of it. Just in case… Samuel might need him again… When it was finally over the young man was so far beyond exhausted it was amazing he was able to remain awake at all. Worry for Samuel and adrenaline from the battle probably the only things keeping him awake. His eyes closed now not because he was concentrating, but because he just couldn’t keep them open.

Though he finally began to relax when he knew that Samuel was coming home. He must have dozed off at some point waiting for the angel, because it was Sam’s loud curse that startled him awake.

Maybe he should have been a little afraid. Samuel standing over him like that, obviously furious. Yelling at him. His wings still unfurled, still in his armor, fresh from battle, covered in his own blood and the blood of others. Maybe he should have been at least nervous, but he wasn’t. He knew Samuel was only angry because he was worried. Because he cared… unlike the other angels… and Dean simply smiled up at him tiredly.

“You’re welcome.” He said simply, meaning how he’d warned Samuel before. He had helped the angel, maybe kept Samuel from being hurt or killed, he wasn’t going to be sorry for that. However the words spoken in his mind, he wasn’t even sure if Samuel meant him to hear, made the smile slip off his face as he struggled to stand up. Ignoring his injuries as he stood in front of Samuel. Wrapping his arms tightly around the angel’s neck, pressing himself close to him, uncaring of all the dirt, blood, and gore covering him.

“No, that’s not what I want.” Dean whispered before crushing his mouth to Samuel’s.

Just one word emblazoned itself in the angel’s mind. Want. Then they were mouth to mouth, and Sam’s arms closed around Dean’s waist, tightening possessively around his hard, masculine frame and dragging him closer. He put all of his anger and worry into the kiss, battling Dean’s tongue, vying for control... it was harsh and yet beautiful and out of control.

As if still on the battlefield, adrenalin coursed through Sam’s veins, making him focus on one thing alone... his merciless hunger for the disobedient rebellious man in his arms. His hands roamed up and down Dean’s body, needing, wanting, molding until there was literally no way for them to get closer. He lifted Dean, groaning as he brought him down against his arousal, kissing and tasting him again, the heat between them searing away all coherent thought.

Before he knew it, it had started again... those erotic fantasies that filtered through his mind with each hungry kiss, each panting breath, each time Dean pulled and tugged on him... demanded more. It pushed him to the very edge... so close to falling, he found he’d started to pull Dean’s shirt up.

Dropping Dean down, he stepped back, putting his hands out to separate them. “Oh God.” His eyes were glued on Dean’s mouth, every part of him aching with need, with desire. He blew out a few deep breaths. “I should probably be making some joke about a good home coming,” he rasped.

But this was no joke, and now they both knew it.

Sam's mouth on his was hotter than fire. His fingers burning where they touched the young man's skin. Hands possessive and demanding, clutching at him. Drawing him closer. Dean's fingers dug into the angel's shoulders, holding onto Sam just as fiercely. Whimpering into the angel's mouth. Kissing him with just as much burning, desperate, need. Both of them fighting to get closer, even when they both knew they shouldn't. But right now Dean couldn't bring himself to care.

Fuck the god damn rules. Fuck sin. He wanted Samuel. Needed him. More than he needed air to breathe.

When Samuel lifted him up, Dean wrapped his legs around the angel as well. Clinging to Samuel every way he could. Pressing his thickening arousal hard against the angel's body. Feeling Sam's answering hardness making him feel almost dizzy, and he didn't know if it was from desire or blood loss, but he didn't care.

Yes… yes, Samuel… please…

But then suddenly Samuel was setting him down and Dean had no idea how he managed to stay on his feet when his legs felt suddenly so weak. When his entire body was shaking with need, every inch of his flesh aching for Samuel's touch.

Dean licked his lips, groaning softly tasting Samuel on them, and making it impossible for him to regain control over his pounding heart and rapid breaths. He wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them again, but Samuel's hands stopped him. The young man had a feeling if he pushed just a little more, then those hands wouldn't be stopping him for very long. That thought frightened him as much as it excited him.

The young man licked his lips again and swallowed hard.

"I'm not sorry…" He said softly. Meaning for what they had done yesterday. For disobeying Samuel and not shutting their link when the angel ordered him to during the battle. For kissing him now. For wanting him… loving him… He wasn't sorry, and if that made him evil, if it sent him back to hell… then so be it.

Sam stared at him for a long moment, still fighting the demands of his body. He nodded at last. “I know. But you should be. We both should.”

Turning on his heels... before he didn’t... before he was tempted beyond reason... he walked past the coffee table, “don’t touch it. It will burn you,” he said, making his way into the bathroom.

He needed a bath, but first he’d have a shower, a cold one. Not only to wash away the grime, but... he let out another breath. Turning on the water for the bathtub, he quickly got out of his clothes, struggling a bit with his leather hand braces.

Then he was under the shower, twisting the handle back to warm up the water because despite the needs still coursing through him, his muscles ached. As the water washed over him, he started to relax and lathered the soap over his skin. It was good to be free of dried blood and most of his wounds had closed during the trip back so there wasn’t much stinging.

Reaching for the bottle, he poured some shampoo into his hand and eyes closed, he started to vigorously massages it into his hair.

Dean watched the angel go, feeling a pang in his heart when Samuel walked away from him. Again. But at least he’d been somewhat expecting it this time. Though it didn’t really make the rejection hurt any less.

The young man sighed softly.

Maybe he should be sorry. But he wasn’t.

We both should.

A small smile curved his lips when he realized that Samuel wasn’t sorry either.

Dean stood there for another few heartbeats. Listening to the sound of the shower before he made a decision. Stripping off his own bloody clothes as he went, wincing a little as the dried blood stuck to his healing wounds, he opened the bathroom door quietly.

Then just froze standing in the doorway for a moment as he looked at Samuel through the glass shower door. Forgetting how to breathe the angel looked so beautiful. Even with the cuts and blood slowly being washed away by the warm water he was still absolutely breathtaking.

Before he could lose his nerve Dean closed the bathroom door behind him quietly, walking over to the shower and opening the glass door he stepped in beside the angel without preamble. Smiling up at the angel and standing in the way of the door just in case Samuel decided to try to bolt.

“Want me to wash your back?” He asked ‘innocently’.

Sam all but hit head on the tile as he stepped away, taking a deep breath and getting a lungful of humid air. “Dean! What are you...” he wiped the shampoo off his eyes and stared. Holy...

Swallowing hard, he moved back a little more. The shower was built for two and even had two sprays but it felt tiny and closed in at the moment. Sam tried not to notice the way Dean’s wet skin gleamed, or the heat in his eyes.

His mouth worked, but no sound came out. He tried again. “You don’t barge into a bathroom, and... and you don’t walk into a shower when someone’s in it.” Oh Dean knew exactly what he was doing, even to the point of barring the door. “I should take you on my knees and spank you.” He definitely wasn’t a child, but Sam said the first thing that came to his admittedly muddled mind.

Dean tried to keep the amusement off his face at Samuel’s reaction. Watching the angel stutter and flail about for a moment, and trying not to laugh. He tried hard, he really did. But it was difficult, and in the end he just disguised it as a cough.

However his amusement died away quickly when the angel finally looked at him, really looked, and the young man felt his skin warm underneath Samuel’s regard. Dean let his own eyes travel down the length of the angel’s body appreciatively before they rose to meet Sam’s once again with obvious heat in them. This was the first time they had both been naked together in the same space. It was also the first time he had seen Sam… all of him…

God, he was even more perfect than he had imagined…

A mischievous smile broke out on the young man’s face when Samuel tried to scold him. Only growing wider when the angel went on to ‘threaten’ him with a spanking.

“Promises, promises.” Dean teased the flustered angel as he stepped closer to him. Taking up some of the space underneath the showerhead that Samuel was using. Sighing pleasantly at the feeling of the warm spray of water washing over his skin.

“I’m just as dirty as you are. I didn’t want to wait.” Dean gave as an explanation, even though they both knew it was a lie. That wasn’t the reason why he’d done this, but as long as he had an ‘innocent’ explanation then Samuel couldn’t just kick him out.

Dean picked up the bar of soap and began to lather up his hands.

“Turn around. You still have blood on your back.”

The angel’s eyes widened at the blasé way Dean claimed to take to the idea, though he didn’t know whether it was the ‘being taken over his knee’ or the spanking part that was making his eyes glow. Just where had Dean learned these things in the short time he’d been out of the asylum.

He moved further back, stepping under the second showerhead entirely as Dean managed to take his place. When he offered to wash his back, Sam looked suspiciously at him. “I washed...” unsure, he turned, and placed his hand on the tile, tensing when he felt Dean’s hand on him.

It might be his imagination on overload, but he just knew Dean was getting an eyeful, and maybe he was getting ideas. Wrong, bad, very wrong ideas. His suspicions were confirmed when Dean’s hand slipped down over his ass.

Heart slamming into his chest, Sam turned and pushed past Dean, opening the door so fast his ward had no chance to protest. A few long strides got him to the bathtub which was filled to capacity. He quickly got inside, and sat down, turning the jets on in a fluid motion.

Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes tight... even though the image of Dean naked and scrubbing those lean legs and arms, those hands moving over his abs... the same slow way they’d moved over Sam,,, were burned into his eyelids.

Eventually, he heard the water stop and the shower door open. He bit his lip and took a deep breath, sensing Dean coming closer. “No, you may not get in with me,” he said, refusing to open his eyes.

When Samuel looked at him suspiciously, Dean gave the angel his most innocent smile he could manage. Probably not fooling him in the slightest, but Sam still turned around to let him wash his back. He wondered if, days ago, Samuel would have allowed him even this. Did that mean the angel trusted him more now, or… trusted him less, and just didn’t care?

Either way, he wasn’t sorry… he just couldn’t be.

For a moment the young man just allowed himself to look at the expanse of strong chiseled muscles underneath smooth skin that seemed to go on forever. His eyes traveling from Samuel’s shoulders to the curve of his ass, and Dean felt his heart speed up a little more.

He wanted to press himself completely up against the angel’s back. Wrap his arms around Samuel’s waist and just hold him. Touch him. Press hot wet kisses to the back of his neck.

Instead he simply placed his soapy hands on the angel’s back, and Dean tried not to take it personally when he felt Samuel tense underneath his hands. Trying to move his hands in a slow, relaxing, way. Washing away the last traces of blood from the angel’s skin, but allowing his touch to linger long after he had.

Biting his lip as his hands grew bolder, sliding down over the swell of Samuel’s ass…

He couldn’t say he was surprised when Samuel quickly pushed his way past him out of the shower then. Not surprised, but more than a little disappointed too.

Dean finished his own shower slowly. Watching Samuel in the bathtub through the glass. Imagining it was the angel’s hands on him instead of his own as he washed. To his further disappointment, Samuel didn’t open his eyes once, however. This wasn’t going very well.

With a sigh Dean finally turned off the shower and stepped out. Wrapping a towel around his waist, however he didn’t leave the bathroom. He couldn’t help but smile a little at Samuel’s words. He didn’t try to get into the tub with the angel, but sat down on the edge of it. When it became clear that Sam wasn’t going to look at him, Dean simply started talking.

“Why is it a sin?”

Sam was sharply aware of the fact Dean had come out of the shower and was moving around. Under his lashes, he'd caught a glimpse of his naked back and ass before Dean swung a towel around himself and turned around.

His heart leaped at the sight of Dean advancing toward him, but he kept his eyes hooded. Maybe if he didn't talk, didn't acknowledge him, Dean would tire of him and go outside.

No such luck. He was sitting close, too close... it was too hard to ignore him. Or his question.

Sam swallowed and opened his eyes slowly. He searched Dean's face and saw that he was being serious. "Angels are supposed to be chaste." The way he was looking at Dean, and the way those droplets of water sliding down Dean's chest had him mesmerized, he was about as far from chaste as he could possibly be right now.

He blew out a breath. "Exactly why? I don't know." He'd been asking himself that lately. "There are many theories. Maybe it's our gift to God, in return for all of the powers and gifts we have. Maybe it's because we're supposed to love all... and if you love one," he met Dean's gaze briefly, "then the math is off. Or maybe it's similar to the demands some faiths make on their priests or the like. I don't know everything, Dean. It just is."

For the first time ever, Sam wished he were human. Twisting a lever harder than necessary, he set the jets on the highest level.

Dean frowned in confusion as Samuel went on to ‘explain’ why angels were supposed to remain ‘chaste’, as he put it.

A gift to God? How was not having sex a gift to god? Whether it was a ‘gift’ or not, that still didn’t explain what made it a sin for angels to do it. Especially considering humans did it all the time. Hell, that’s how humans were born, so why weren’t they all going to hell? And if angels couldn’t have sex, how were angel babies born?

Dean had to almost literally bite his tongue to keep from asking that question. He was trying to stay on track, after all.

The young man only raised an eyebrow in a kind of ‘are you kidding me’ expression when Sam actually said it might have something to do with numbers. Ok, he thought he understood, Sam needed to care about everyone… but why couldn’t he care about him a little more? Maybe that made him selfish, but people got married all the time. They loved one person best, so why couldn’t Samuel love him best… like he loved Samuel…

Dean was still frowning when the angel turned up the jets on the Jacuzzi, probably trying to imply the conversation was over, but the young man refused to take the ‘hint’.

“You don’t know why… You never asked why?” He finally said slowly, almost like he was talking aloud to himself, trying to puzzle it out. “Who told you that you couldn’t have sex in the first place? Did God tell you?”

Sam ran his hand over his face, holding back a groan. "No one ever told you curiosity killed the cat, did they?" When had questions become so hard to answer?

He drew a deep breath. "You don't sit around chit chatting with God about sex, Dean. It's just a rule, always has been. Thousands of years on thousands of years." Unchangeable. The word reverberated painfully in his head.

His gaze flicked over to meet Dean's. "Besides, it's not as if I think about sex all the time. I've been curious sometimes, but never tempted. Not until... I mean I didn't know how it felt... you're killing me here. Can you get dressed? We can talk later," he cocked his head to the side. "Or e-mail me..." Wasn't half bad an idea, then he'd have time to think on the answers. Yeah, the look on Dean's face said he didn't have a prayer...

Why not? It was on the tip of his tongue to ask. After all, why not ask God? If it was his rule, or whatever, who better to know? Not to mention that angels had a distinct advantage that God might actually answer the questions they asked, unlike everyone else in the world who had to guess.

But Samuel went on to explain that he hadn’t even really thought about sex before. That he had been curious, but not tempted before. Until…

Dean filled in the rest of that sentence, and a huge grin broke out on his face in spite of himself.

You weren’t tempted until me. No one else. Samuel had never felt this way about anyone but him. Maybe he should still feel guilty about that. For making the angel want to ‘sin’ but so far Samuel hadn’t told him any good reason why it was a sin in the first place. Just that it was a ‘rule’ and he didn’t even know why.

The young man laughed outright when Samuel told him to ‘e-mail’ him about it. His eyes still dancing with mirth as he leaned down to capture the angel’s lips with his own before Samuel could protest. Kissing him slowly and thoroughly. Dean was definitely starting to get the hang of this kissing thing.

When the young man finally released the angel’s lips, he was breathing a little heavily. Licking his lips Dean smiled like the cat that had just gotten the canary.

“Sounds like a pretty stupid rule to me.” He whispered before he stood up and walked to the door, enormously pleased with himself. Giving Samuel a break, for now.

As Dean nailed Sam with his conclusion that he was the only one who’d tempted him, Sam could literally feel the other man’s smugness. About to tell him that no one liked smug people, he was proven wrong when Dean’s mouth slanted over his. There was nowhere to run, and Sam could either refuse to respond or...

Yeah, the ‘or’ won, and he kissed Dean back, careful not to let it get out of control this time. The look on Dean’s face though, once they broke the kiss... it almost had Sam weeping with worry.

Then his little parting shot echoed Sam’s favorite line when he was about to break a rule. Closing his eyes, he leaned back. It was either weep or laugh. He chose the latter, concentrating hard and envisioning Bobby Singer pulling Dean over his lap and letting his heavy hand land on his ass three times. That is what you deserve, you smart ass.

Dean had made it all the way to his room before he felt the heavy smacks to his ass, accompanied by Samuel’s mental image of Bobby doing the spanking.

Oh, that was so wrong.

The young man hesitated for a moment, but only a moment, before sending an image right back to the angel. The product of a certain picture he had found one day when he was surfing on the internet.

Samuel leaning against the wall, his jeans bunched down around his hips. Dean’s hands clutching his ass, as he knelt in front of the angel. Taking Samuel’s hard cock into his mouth…

The huge splash Dean heard from the bathroom accompanied by a string of garbled curses and lots of thumping and scrambling around had the young man collapsing down onto his bed in a fit of laughter. Just imagining the look on Samuel’s face had tears streaming down his face as he clutched at his stomach unable to stop giggling like a madman.

Oh god, he couldn’t wait until he could try it for real.

A couple of hours later, they were sitting in front of the television. Too tired to fix a proper dinner, Samuel had made them sandwiches and brought out the infernal chips that Dean had gotten him addicted to.

“Don’t get used to the eating in front of t.v. thing, I know how quickly you take to bad habits,” he warned, giving Dean a look. “And don’t even think about pulling out the sprouts... they’re good for you.” Seeing rebellion written all over Dean’s face, he shook his head. “If I can eat your chips, you can eat my sprouts.”

Dammit. The minute those words left his lips, Sam’s color rose. It was idiotic, but it sounded like he had a double meaning, which he didn’t. He pushed the remote toward Dean. “Pick what you want.”

Then he poured himself a glass of wine. Though he’d brought Dean a coke, he had an extra glass. “Do you want to try a little? Whiskey isn’t really the best thing to try as your first taste of liquor.” He’d smelled it off Dean’s breath last night and knew that was the drink that had been spiked.

Lounging on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table, Dean stuck his tongue out at the angel. Rolling his eyes, because he knew just how much Samuel hated it, when Samuel ordered him to eat his ‘sprouts’ because they were ‘good’ for him.

Samuel had been bossier than normal, ever since the whole bathtub incident. Though he was sure that the angel would deny holding a grudge. It wasn’t his fault that the angel couldn’t take a joke, and Samuel had started it to begin with. It probably didn’t help though that every time Dean thought about it he couldn’t stop from grinning like an idiot.

Though he almost choked on his previously mentioned sprouts when the angel suddenly blushed impressively after his comment that would have been perfectly innocent if he hadn’t blushed. Dean fought the urge to laugh outright by flipping through the television channels looking for something good to watch.

He looked at the angel in mild surprise however when Samuel offered him a drink. Whiskey… is that what he’d had last night that had given him such a headache this morning? Dean could barely remember the bar he’d gone to last night but based on this morning he would have to agree with the angel that whatever he’d had wasn’t good for his first time drinking alcohol.

Dean certainly didn’t want to wake up feeling like that again, so maybe he’d just try a little.

“Ok.”

Sam didn’t know whether to be mollified or miffed. A little of both probably. He could totally tell that Dean was still dwelling on his earlier victory, even if he was half covering his laughs and eating the sprouts.

“Alright. Small sips, hmm? And you might not like it. It’s an acquired taste. You know on Fridays the guys at Bobby’s go out after work. You might want to go for beers with them. They’re safe... they’d watch over you.” He didn’t want Dean to be afraid and hang back, he wanted him to be able to enjoy life and be normal. At the same time, he was so afraid for him...

He took a deep breath and smiled. “People do that, they hang out with people from work after work. Here.” A jolt of electric heat passed through him when their fingers brushed. His eyes met Dean’s and he almost looked away. Just when had everything about his wayward ward turned so damned sexy?

Dean wasn't exactly sure what to say when the angel started talking about how he should go out for drinks with the guys from Bobby's garage. So he decided to say nothing at all. Accepting the offered glass of wine from Samuel with a slight shrug and taking a small sip from it. Deciding it wasn't bad, but like the angel said, probably something to get used to.

"Not bad." He admitted. At least it washed down the taste of those damn sprouts.

Well, at least he should probably feel relieved, or something, that at least Samuel wasn't insisting he go out with what's her name again… Nicole… The guys at Bobby's had seemed nice enough, though he couldn't say he was all that comfortable around them. He'd only met them once, after all, so he couldn't be sure but he trusted Samuel's opinion. Most of the time.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder why Sam was bringing this up now. He was absolutely exhausted from the day, so he knew that Samuel must be too. But the angel was talking again about how he should 'socialize' more. Maybe Samuel really thought if he pushed him off on others he'd forget about how he felt for him. Isn't that basically what the angel had said before? Chocolate vs. strawberry…

The young man made a face as he started flipping through the television channels again. He'd finished his sandwich and felt his eyes stating to get heavy earlier than normal, which probably wasn't much of a surprise, but he fought against it. He wasn't ready for the angel to tell him he should go to bed though. He wasn't a kid. Damn it.

However when the television ended up on a channel that showed two men kissing passionately on the screen, Dean's eyes opened a little wider and in interest. The kissing quickly developed into more and… wow… Dean really loved cable TV. The young man set the remote aside, out of the angel's reach.

Leaning back and relaxing, Sam almost choked on his sandwich. The scene on the screen reminded him too much of the passion that kept erupting between himself and Dean. Looking away from the scene, he reached for his glass, hoping it would end quickly.

No such luck. It went on and on, with one of the men in the scene mounting the other... then there was the sound effects. He didn’t really know where to look, other than eyeing the remote which was strategically on Dean’s other side.

He studied Dean’s profile, noting the rapt attention he was paying to the scene. It only meant trouble. Taking a deep breath, Sam only let it out when the scene moved on.

“Sci fi channel has a new show,” he threw out. He’d been keeping an eye out for shows that Dean might like. “Robots versus vampires, with laser guns and lots of blood. Just up your alley.”

Though Dean had watched far ‘worse’ videos and seen far more graphic pictures on the internet of men and women having sex, somehow it was different watching this on the TV with Samuel sitting right next to him. More… intense… somehow. Though he had been interested and more than a little curious by those pictures, this might be the first time he’d felt really aroused by what he was watching. Where before he only got aroused once he started to imagine him and Samuel doing the same thing.

Dean could tell that the angel was more than a little uncomfortable by his choice of shows, but strangely enough Samuel didn’t tell him to change the channel. He was also hyper aware of the angel’s eyes on him, even though Dean never looked away from the scene. Watching the two men kiss and caress each other, eventually one of them taking the other, moaning in unison, as they moved together and Dean held his breath. It was intense, passionate, and… hot, but more than just sex…

It was what he wanted it to be like between him and Samuel.

The young man glanced at the angel with an amused grin once the scene ended and Sam finally ‘suggested’ he change the channel.

“This is good.” Dean said, before snuggling up against the angel’s side and settling in to watch the adventures of Brian, Justin, Michael, and other characters in the surprisingly entertaining show even without all of the gay sex in it.

He decided he was definitely going to have to remember when this came on every week and watch it again. Maybe even tape it… for research…

“Good...?” What was good about a bunch of angst-ridden people who ran themselves ragged chasing after elusive things such as loves they could never have and ... who got more sex than could possibly be healthy. Looking down and seeing how comfortable Dean looked leaning against him, and knowing how tired he was, Sam didn’t have the heart to move to the dinner table... or away from the room altogether.

He finished his sandwich up, passing most of his chips to Dean and washing his food down with the wine. Then it started again, more sex in Technicolor and in his face. One man had his legs wrapped around the waist of another and they were going it at it so hard and fast on a roof top on a cold night that their every breath left a stream of misted air, punctuating the desperate movements of their bodies. He didn’t want to imagine doing that with Dean, he really didn’t. Forcing his mind and eyes away from the t.v., he started to reach for his glass... but then he heard Dean’s audible swallow and suddenly all of his insides tightened as did his briefs under his pajamas. Was he going to have to fight these feelings 24/7 now?

The slight squirming next to him had him tensing but luckily the scene faded to black. Sam’s gaze met Dean’s, and neither one talked for a while. Thinking he needed to say something, Sam licked his lip. “Dean, you know how watching that... two men, how it made you feel? How is it when you watch a man and woman together? Same or...” Turned out this was no less awkward than watching sex.

When the credits started rolling for the show, Dean was rather disappointed. The show having ended just as he was really starting to get into it, but he supposed that was the whole point. He’d especially enjoyed the last scene. He didn’t have to guess to know that Samuel had been having similar thoughts he was watching it. Of the two of them together. He could feel it. Both in the tension of the body next to him and the low thrum of arousal traveling back and forth across their bond.

Dean turned his head to look up at the angel, a small smile curving his lips. God, how he wanted to lean up the few inches it would take to press his lips against Samuel’s again. Tracing the angel’s lips with his tongue before delving inside and tasting him slowly. Dean had a feeling he’d enjoy the taste of the wine a lot more mixed with Samuel’s own unique taste… He wondered how it would taste on his tongue… licking it off his chest…

The young man came out of his thoughts at Samuel’s unexpected question and Dean tilted his head to the side. Considering it a moment before he shrugged a little.

“I hadn’t thought about it. Why?” Dean asked curiously.

Rolling his eyes heavenward, Sam sighed. “Every question doesn’t need to be answered with another question.” At least the show was over, there was that. But he was finding that the demands of one’s body didn’t recede that fast, and sometimes it made him a little edgy.

“Most people are attracted either to men or to women. I’d like to know...” he trailed off, nodded to the side and gestured with his hand in a way that made it clear that Dean should ‘fill in the blank.’ Course that dratted boy didn’t. He was gonna make him have to spell it out.

“Are you attracted to women? At all? I mean, if what you’d just watched had been between a man and woman...” the intensity of Dean’s green eyes was making Samuel nervous, even though ordinarily it would be the human who should be in awe of an angel. It was enough to make him want to curse. “Dean you know what I’m asking you.” His lips flattened into a straight line as he forced himself to hold Dean's gaze.

Amusement flickered in Dean’s eyes at the angel’s frustrated answer. The young man wasn’t even trying to be frustrating this time. He simply didn’t understand the question, or why Samuel was asking him in the first place.

Most people were attracted to men or to women? Ok… that made sense. He supposed.

But Samuel still hadn’t answered his question of why he wanted to know. He continued to look up at the angel with a raised eyebrow, waiting for him to get to the point… but apparently there wasn’t any.

“I’m attracted to you.” Dean finally answered honestly, grinning up at the angel.

Even as his heart leaped, Sam looked at Dean in exasperation. “I know that! What I’m asking...” lifting his glass, he drained its contents, this time hardly appreciating the taste of the fine wine he’d so carefully selected. Setting the empty glass down, he got up, leaving Dean on the sofa and looking at down at him.

“Forget about me for a minute,” he said tightly. “Most humans are attracted to angels... it’s different.” Though not the extent of Dean’s attraction, or at least that’s what he thought. He’d never had a direct link to anyone like he did with Dean.

“Do women do it for you. Men? Both?” Seeing the blank stare, he sent Dean a visual. First a curvy woman in jeans, and a top that showed of her midriff, kissing him and pulling him down on top of her. Then a man in jeans but shirtless, straddling Dean on a chair the way Dean had straddled him. Which do you like better?

Holy hell, was it possible to be jealous of the images you created yourself? Damn... he was gonna be spending a whole lot more hours on his knees...

Both of Dean’s eyebrows shot up in surprise when Samuel got up from the couch suddenly and the young man had to quickly right himself or fall over. He stared up at the angel who was looking down at him less frustrated it seemed and quickly moving towards angry. Something Dean simply didn’t understand in the least. He’d answered Sam’s question. Why did he keep asking…

Dean began to frown. Starting to get a little irritated himself, especially when Samuel said to just ‘forget’ about him for a moment. Completely dismissing the young man’s feelings for the angel as he’d done since the beginning.

Why couldn’t Samuel simply accept that he loved him? Wanted him? Just him, no one else…

Dean’s eyes widened, flinching sharply when he was suddenly assaulted… there was really no other way to put it… by images of a woman, and then a man, doing things to him. Samuel demanding afterwards to know which he liked better.

He responded by throwing up a barrier between their minds quickly. His own eyes angry now as he stood up abruptly, glaring at the angel.

“Don’t do that again.” Dean said tightly before storming off towards his room.

Samuel flinched at both the angry words and the fast withdrawal from his mind. A cold space remained where there had been warmth and love.

He sat down for a moment, rehashing what happened. Maybe he’d gotten too used to using the mind link as a short cut, to show Dean what he meant. They’d both been doing that... it was almost second nature now but maybe it was time to stop.

Something about that thought saddened Sam. Taking a deep breath, he got up and started putting things away, unconsciously trying to close his mind, the way Dean was adept at doing. By the time he got to bed, he knew it was an exercise in futility. He’d have to try again when he was less weary.

His bed was as comfortable as ever, his soft thick duvet covering him. He turned on his side, and stared out of the slats of the shutters, waiting for a ‘good night’ to be whispered in his head head. He waited a long time, before sleep finally claimed him.

Even before he shut the door to his room Dean had decided he absolutely hated being angry at Samuel like this. Even if it was the angel’s fault for being so damned… stubborn!

Why was it so damned important to Samuel to know if he liked men or women? He’d told Samuel. He was attracted to him. Just him. No one else. Ever. He loved him… why couldn’t he just accept that? Especially since he knew that Samuel wanted him too…

He knew this was all because Sam was trying to push him off onto someone else. Someone like Nicole or… whoever… Damn it, he wasn’t going to fall in love with someone else just because Samuel wanted him to! He didn’t want anyone else, god damn it!

Dean crawled into his bed, his heart aching and feeling lonelier than he had since leaving the asylum. He almost didn’t think he’d be able to sleep at all, he felt so bad, especially without even the link between him and the angel for comfort, but sheer exhaustion from the day’s events pulled him under.

In sleep forgetting his anger. The barrier around his mind dropping as he unconsciously reached out for the angel.

Samuel…