Transmission from the Trickster

Chapter 18

"I'm confused," Dean says, closing the book he's been staring at blankly for the last hour or so. "Is he on our side or not?"

Sam lets out a long breath and glances at the door, wondering if Gabriel's about to come back, or if he can answer this without him overhearing. He assumes it's the latter, so he says, "I don't think he's made up his mind about that yet."

Dean scoffs. "He — you know what? Not gonna question it."

"Should someone go check on him?" Castiel asks, and its clear he's already prepared to volunteer.

"No," Sam says immediately. "Give him space."

"'Give him space'?" Dean repeats incredulously. "He's had nothing but space for the last two days!"

"Yeah, well, give him more space," Sam replies. "This whole transition isn't easy on him. Give him a little space, and he'll find his way back on his own. Until then —" Sam holds up the book Gabriel handed him. "We've got ourselves a Seal."

"Wait, gimme that." Dean takes it and skims the contents briefly. "Rhode Island? That's actually not that bad. What do you say? Road trip, you and me? Just like old times."

Sam glances out the door again hesitantly and sighs. "Someone has to stay with Gabriel."

"That's why we've got Cas and Ketch," Dean replies. He must read the reluctance on his face, because he groans. "Fine, you stay here. Cas, you game?"

It's no surprise that Castiel agrees to it. He does enjoy going off on hunts with the boys, as rare as it is. This one seems easy, too. Just a quick in and out at a Men of Letter chapter house. What could go wrong?

~~

Sam's plan to give Gabriel space seemed good in theory, but when Dean and Cas call to say that not only do they have the Seal but also fought a tentacle god before Gabriel even shows his face, Sam decides he needs a new plan, and what better plan than the exact opposite of his original one?

Sam walks in to find Gabriel sitting in the corner of the library again, not looking scared like he had been when Sam would find him there, but instead seeming oddly comfortable, as if this is the only part of a room he really knows.

"Hey, are you okay?" Sam asks. He feels like that's how he always greets the angel. Every time he sees him, that's the first thing that goes through his mind.

Gabriel shrugs. "Considering the circumstances, I'd say I'm doing alright."

"Well, you just kinda —"

"Walked away in a fit of complete exasperation over how incredibly stupid you are for trying to do this in the first place?" Gabriel finishes. "Not the first time, not gonna be the last. Don't look too much into it."

Sam just nods. After a pause, he says, "So you helped us find the Seal of Solomon. Does that mean you're on board with the 'stupid' plan?"

"No."

Sam gives him a confused look. "But you're helping us do it."

"Yeah, I'm still going to help," Gabriel says. "I'm not on board with it, but I'll still get you over there so you can see for yourself how stupid you're being."

Sam fights the urge to roll his eyes. He's not helping his case at all by getting them to the other dimension.

"You know, there are four main ingredients to the spell," Sam says. "The Seal is the third, but the fourth —"

"Is my grace," Gabriel finishes. "I know. But if it only takes a little bit to open the rift, then yes, I'll let you have some."

"Really?" Sam says in disbelief. "Just like that?"

"Just like that," he replies. "But you're only doing it once, so I would suggest you get it right the first time, or you're out of luck."

"Good to know," Sam replies. He really can't complain, though. At least he's letting them have some grace. Honestly, he wasn't even sure they could expect that much.