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Sam and Dean sat at the kitchen table in the bunker, Sam looking through picture after picture of people he didn't recognise but supposedly knew and loved, a look of confusion plastered on his face. Dean just watched, sipping on a beer whilst silently hoping that Sam would remember something, anything, besides the two of them and Cas.
Sam had lost his memory once Lucifer left his body; nobody knew exactly why Lucifer would take away Sam's memories although they had a few theories. The main one being, just to make everyone that knew Sam suffer since it didn't directly harm Sam since if he couldn't remember anything, he couldn't miss them. However, for people like Dean and Bobby and even more distant people like Jody and Rowena, it wasn't as simple. Their tall, loveable genius was gone, for now anyway, until his memories faded back in. The hospital said it didn't seem permanent, but it'd been 3 weeks and all Sam had managed to remember was himself, Dean and Cas. Dean was definitely grateful, but he was worried, because they had another theory on why Lucifer had done it.
See, just before Sam and Lucifer ended up in the cage, Gabriel had betrayed Lucifer to help the humans, and everyone knew that Sam and Gabriel were madly in love with each other, so, most people topside were convinced that Luci did it to get back at his brother.
If this were the case, he'd done a pretty good job, Dean had tried to slip in small quotes and phrases from Gabriel, even going so far as to leave candy wrappers and copies of the worldly news around the bunker but Sam hadn't picked up on any of it and Dean was losing hope with every day that passed.
The older Winchester looked up from his bottle and at his brother who had stopped flicking through the pictures and was intently staring at one photo. Dean peaked over but couldn't make out the image.
"Watcha got there Sammy?" He questioned, taking another swig of his beer as Sam's eyebrows furrowed further.
"I don't know, I don't know any of these pictures or people, just something about this feels different." Sam spoke, looking up at Dean with a look close to desperation but laced with frustration, like he was trying so hard to remember.
"Give it here." Dean held out his hand for the piece of card-like photo-paper, Sam handing it over and folding his arms like a grumpy child. Dean quickly sipped his drink before putting it down, looking at the picture.
Dean eyed the photo in his hand, almost choking on his own drink, Sam sitting up quickly and looking concerned but interested.
"What is it?" Sam asked, leaning forward to look over at the picture again. A huge smile found its way onto Dean's lips as he stood up in excitement, cheering happily.
"Dean, what is it?!" Sam asked, getting more and more confused by the second. Dean just pushed the photo in front of Sam's face, the image of himself and a small man in a green jacket with the most gorgeous golden eyes Sam had ever seen filled his line of sight.
"It's Gabriel, Sammy!" Dean sounded ecstatic, the happiest he'd been since Sam remembered Cas. Sam wasn't quite sure how to react.
"Dean, I don't remember Gabe." Sam said, pushing Dean's hand away but Dean's smile only got wider, waiting for Sam to catch up.
"Wait, Gabe... I just said Gabe even though you said Gabriel... Gabe, Gabe, Gabriel... Gabriel!" Sam repeated until he seemingly had his very own Eureka moment, standing up instantly with his own huge smile.
"Dean, I remember Gabriel! He was the Trickster but then he wasn't, he was the Archangel Gabriel and w-we found him on a random case in Kansas and we got drunk and I-I kissed him, Dean! W-We got together and me, you, Gabe and Cas started hanging out all the time and he was my boyfriend. I loved him and I-...! I forgot him. Oh god he probably hates me, we were together for months and I forgot him, how could I forget him, Dean?!" Sam rambled on, sounding happier the more he remembered until the end of his rant when he realised the truth of the situation, his face falling and voice getting quieter as tears gathered in his eyes.
"Hey man, calm down, he doesn't hate you at all, in fact he checks in every day and asks if you've remembered anything, he should be calling any minute... Maybe we could play a little prank on him, trick the Trickster." Dean smirked and Sam perked up a little, shooting a questioning look at his brother.
~
The pair were sat at the table again, Dean's phone placed in the middle as they waited for it to ring, snickering like they were little kids again, playing pranks on unsuspecting staff members of the motels they stayed at. Soon enough, Dean's rock and roll ringtone sounded from the small speaker, Sam reached for it before Dean smacked his hand away, mumbling something about letting it ring a few times.
Sam stayed patient a few extra seconds before picking it up and flipping it open, double-checking it was really Gabriel calling, his eyes lighting up at the name on the screen.
"Hey Dean-o, any news?" Gabriel's voice came through the phone and for a second, Sam was taken aback, the voice bringing back even more memories of new people, but he brushed it off for a later date, this was just about Gabe.
"I'm sorry, who is this?" Sam hid the amusement from his voice, listening and waiting for Gabe's response. The other line was silent for a while before Gabriel cleared his throat and spoke up again.
"Uh, hey Sam, my name's Gabriel, just a friend of Dean's, is he there?" Sam was slightly confused as to why Gabe didn't even try to explain who he was to Sam but ignored it and carried on the plan him and Dean had made.
"Oh right, yeah he said something about having something for you and wanting you to come to the bunker, tonight." Sam said, sounding like he was guessing slightly, like he wasn't sure.
"Sure, tell him I'll be there soon. See ya." And with that Gabe hung up, not leaving time for Sam to answer. Sam looked back up at Dean, smiling and nodding quickly as he snapped the phone shut and handed it back to his brother.
"It worked, he's on his way." Sam said excitedly before his expression changed to one of confusion. "Hey Dean? How come Gabe didn't even bother trying to get me to remember?"
Dean sighed heavily, looking down at the table.
"Gabriel gave up, Sammy. Once you remembered me and Cas and started remembering things about Bobby, he assumed that you just weren't gonna remember him, so we gave up trying." Dean shrugged and downed the remains of his second beer.
"Wait a second, all those candy wrappers and magazines, were they you? Trying to get me to remember Gabe? What about you saying stuff like 'hells yeah' and Cas calling you 'Dean-o'? Was that all you?" Sam asked, slightly amused at the idea. Dean just chuckled and shrugged sarcastically, saying very obviously that Sam had figured it out. Sam just scoffed before there was a knock on the bunker door, Sam shot up, darting out the kitchen and up the stairs, unlocking the door quickly.
Sam opened the heavy door to see Gabriel standing there looking tired and drained, Sam almost kissed him then and there, but he pushed away the smile that was forcing its way onto his lips when he locked eyes with the smaller man. Sam greeted him with a small, friendly smile and Gabe returned it.
"Uh hi, you must be Gabriel, come on in, Dean just went to the bathroom, he should be back any second." Gabe smiled again but it was obviously fake and the pain in his eyes told Sam how much he wanted Sam to remember him, and Sam felt the excitement bubbling up inside him at the thought of revealing the secret to his boyfriend.
"So, how're you doing, with the memories and stuff?" Gabriel asked casually, shoving his hands in his pockets and not facing Sam.
"Not great, nothing besides Dean and his boyfriend." Gabriel suddenly turned around, looking at Sam through glossy eyes.
"You really don't remember anything else?" His voice broke slightly, and Sam put all of his effort in sticking to the plan and not telling Gabriel immediately.
"No, I'm sorry, d-did I know you?" Sam asked dumbly, sounding as apologetic as possible. Gabriel sniffed and looked at the ground.
"No no, just wondering." Gabe lied just as Dean walked in, trying to hide his smile as he looked at Sam with a slight smirk.
"Oh, hey Gabe, you got here quick." Dean said cheerily and Gabriel just nodded, no amusement on his face due to Sam's previous statement. Dean looked over at Sam who shot him a pleading look, silently begging for Dean to get this over with.
"Yeah, so uh, what did you want?" Gabriel asked glumly.
"Well Gabriel, I have a surprise for you." Gabe looked up, raising an eyebrow but still looking utterly miserable.
"Dean, you know I'm not in the mood for stuff like this, unless its-" Dean cut him off, shushing him and holding up a finger in front of the Archangel's lips who just sighed and mumbled against Dean's finger.
"Fine, I'll bite, what's the surprise?" He sounded unamused to say the least, but Dean's huge smile had returned as he just threw out his arms in Sam's direction, resembling a magician when they've just finished a trick and shout 'Ta-Da!'.
Gabriel turned around, looking where Dean's arms were aiming and looking at Sam blankly, looking as if he were waiting for something to happen until Sam couldn't hold back his happiness any longer and smiled widely, giggling and grinning at Gabe who's eyes widened.
"No... You don't mean..." Gabe trailed off, sounding slightly breathless.
"Hey Baby." Sam smiled at the smaller man and held out his arms, waiting for Gabriel to jump into them and he didn't have to wait long since Gabe immediately squealed and ran towards Sam, jumping up and wrapping his legs around Sam's waist and kissing the taller man. The kiss was more passionate than any they'd shared before and left them both tearful when they pulled away, Gabriel still clinging to Sam and Sam still holding him up tightly.
"Y-You remember me?" Gabe asked quietly, sniffling slightly.
"How could I forget you, Angel?" Sam smiled sweetly and pecked his boyfriend's lips again. Gabe suddenly pulled away, looking angry and jumping down, folding his arms and pouting.
"So, you're telling me all of this was just a trick to get me here and make it a big surprise?" Gabe demanded and Sam chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck and nodding.
"Seriously? I'd expect this from Dean but you as well, Sam? I'm disappointed." Gabriel shook his head slowly but wrapped his arms around Sam's neck as the older man hugged him again, resting their foreheads together.
"Well, my boyfriend is 'The Trickster' so I guess he had an impact on me. I am sorry though, and I love you." Sam smiled before kissing the Archangel again sweetly. "It was kinda funny though." Sam chuckled and Gabriel smacked his shoulder gently.
"Hey Cas, get in here, its frickin' adorable!" Dean suddenly shouted at the ceiling before the three of them looked around expectantly. Dean was the first to see Cas appear in front of him, facing Dean who quickly pecked him on the lips and spun him around to look at Sam and Gabe hugging and kissing over and over.
"Dean what is-? Oh... aww." Cas cooed with a smile on his face, leaning back into Dean who wrapped his arms around the angel's waist, kissing his neck softly.
"Aren't they cute?" Dean sighed happily, cuddling his boyfriend and watching his brother be happy for the first time in weeks.
"Yeah, not as cute as us though." Cas laughed and turned around to kiss Dean properly on the lips, smiling into it.
Sam's memory returned fully not long afterwards since Gabe helped bring back more things and people and the group were happy knowing that Lucifer had lost once again and that just like before, they all had each other.