Courting for Dummies Chapter 6

The drive back to Campus was tense to say the least.

The fear of the camper van falling apart was long gone, the news of the murder still hanging heavy in the air.

Castiel's phone call with the principal had left him in a bitter mood, the only thing he'd managed to do that night was hold Dean in his arms and scent him, nuzzling against his mates neck and growling when anyone approached (Gabriel included!).

Though Castiel and Dean were mated, Dean wasn't out of the line of fire. If anything it made him more prone to attacks from Traditional Alphas.

Dean Winchester was the ideal Omega. Though Dean would deny it to the day he died, it was true. With a beautiful complexion and great hips, Dean was aesthetically pleasing, but the kicker? Dean was great with children, loved to cook, and was honestly the most sought after Omega in the area, even though he was mated.

On a normal day this would only make Castiel slightly possessive, an arm around Dean's middle, a well timed kiss. But add in a murder and the threat of Deans life? The poor Omega would be lucky to walk straight until the murderer was caught.

Gabriel on the other hand, would be lucky if he got five minutes to himself. Dean was being extra protective of him thanks to his rather negative history with Kali, which meant Castiel was there too. Add in worried Sam to the mix, plus their assigned buffer Jo, and the five were suddenly inseparable.

Much to Gabriel's dismay.

Thankfully Monday nights class went off without a hitch.

No one mentioned the murder, the air was far too crisp with the stench of fear. A curfew had been implemented, extra security guards placed around the O Ward, panic buzzers handed to each Omega. Everyone was informed that if they saw anything unusual they were to report it immediately.

The campus, though still open, had taken a lot of precautionary measures to ensure its students safety.

Yet all of these measures didn't stop Sam scenting Gabriel every few minutes to make sure he wasn't suddenly anxious, or had somehow picked up a foreign Alpha's stench. Nor did it stop the constant phone calls to him and Dean, or the general panic that was sweeping through the campus.

If it weren't for the fact that each gender had to stay in their assigned dorm after curfew, Gabriel was certain that the five would be crammed into one bed.

"Call me if you need anything."

"Sam if you break curfew they'll suspend you."

"I'm serious Gabe. Anything at all. If one of the guards gives you a weird look, or if they try and come into your dorm, give me a call and I'll come straight over-"

Gabriel pressed his palm over Sams mouth, his eyes narrowed as he stared down (up to) the Alpha. Since he'd found out that Sam liked it when he pushed him, Gabriel hadn't been so afraid of showing his true stubborn nature.

Gabriel knew a kink when he saw one.

"Samuel Johnathon Winchester. You will head back to your dorm. Get changed into your pj's, brush your teeth and go to bed. If you feel the need to text me you may do so, but do not expect a reply as I am tired and will be sleeping. I have my alarm, and there are patrols all around this Ward. I also know self-defence and could take you a fight."

Gabriel ignored the quirk of an eyebrow and the smile against his palm, deciding to move his hand away, folding his arms over his chest.

Now was not the time for Sam to be giving off those 'try me' pheromones.

"I will be fine. Dean will be fine. Now go before you get suspended."

"You're so sexy when you're bossing me around." Sam all but purred, more waves of those delicious pheromones leaving his body as he leant forwards to kiss Gabriel goodbye.

Unfortunately for Sam, Jo'd had enough of waiting around, and grabbed him by the back of his collar, pulling him backwards. (She was making the most of her strength over the sappy Alpha, soon he would be too tall for her to be able to even reach his collar.)

"Night boys! Holla if you need anything."

Dean and Gabriel watched as their friends left. As soon as they were out of sight the door was closed and bolted. Though they had a patrol and personal alarms, a little extra security could go a long way in making them feel safer.

"Sam really has a kink, huh?"

"Dude that is so gross I don't want to know about your love life." Dean laughed, pulling the curtains closed and switching on their lamp, just as Gabriel turned off the main light.

"Dean. Did you smell him? I mean I'm all for bossing Alpha's around, but I sure hope he likes to take charge in the bedroom."

"Gabriel." Looking up, Gabriel's golden eyes met Deans forest green ones. "Fuck off."

Snorting out a laugh, Gabriel sat on the edge of his bed, pulling off his shoes and rubbing his sore feet. The day had been long and stressful, already he could hear his bed calling for him.

"Did you know him?"

"Who?" Gabriel asked, even though he was well aware of the person Dean was asking about. How could he not know? It had been announced upon their arrival back at Campus.

Who the Omega Victim was.

"Matt Pike. I've been thinking all day of where I know the name from and I've come up blank. Which means you knew him." Dean shuffled closed to Gabriel before sitting himself down next to his friend, their shoulders bumping in a form of comfort. "You knew him. Right?"

"Yeah." Gabriel breathed. It was hard to admit, truthfully. It still didn't feel real, to say that Matt was dead. The kid was so kind, had one of the brightest smiles Gabriel had ever seen. Sure, he was a bit weird, had an obsession with bugs, but he was still such a great guy.

Gabriel picked at the fabric of his trousers, chest heavy.

Matt was going to be joining them in the formation of the Omega council. That's how Dean had heard the name. Gabriel had been so excited.

"You wanna talk about it?" Dean offered. It was sweet, considering how emotionally constipated Dean was. Were the situation a little lighter Gabriel might have even joked about his friends sudden sensitivity.

"I just want to sleep." Admitting that much was easy. The next part was harder. "Can we share a bed tonight?" It wasn't that uncommon for the pair to do so. A bad day in class, a fallout with one of their friends and they would sleep on the same bed and cuddle. It was important for Omega's to have the comfort of those close to them.

Gabriel and Dean had always been that point of comfort for each other.

"Yeah. We can do that. How 'bout you go shower, leave the water going and I'll jump in after you. Then we'll sleep."

Standing up, Gabriel started to pull off his top, but paused. "You won't tell Sam, right? It's just, he's worried enough already and-"

"Gabe. If you don't want me to tell him then I won't. My mouth is sealed. Now go get that sexy butt into the shower so that we get some sleep already." Watching Gabriel get undressed as he walked to their bathroom, Dean waited until the door was locked before he jumped for his phone.

Telling Sam was out of the question, but Castiel deserved to know, and he wouldn't overreact too much.

Sensible under pressure, that was his Alpha.

By the time Gabriel was finished in the shower Dean had received many worried texts, but also a promise from Castiel not to mention his newly found knowledge to Gabriel or Sam. Trust was important between Dean and Gabriel, but if the truth did slip out Dean would simply admit that he told Castiel everything. Which he did.

"Waters running for you, best get it while it's still hot."

"Sweet. Why don't you make a pillow fort on your bed and I'll jump in after I get naked and wet."

- Break -

Birds were singing. The sun was shining. Gabriel was spooning one of the most comfortable things in the entire world. It also smelt pretty good too. Not quite awesome, but good enough for Gabriel to press his nose into the crook of a neck.

"Gabriel, as much as I enjoy your morning cuddles, we need to get up or we'll miss class."

"Pillows should mind their own Goddamn business and not complain so early in the morning about cuddles." Gabriel growled into Deans neck, his arm tightening around his friend. "Unless you have the promise of chocolate and coffee you better shut up and let me sleep."

Dean grunted in response. Gabriel's super human strength had always had him curious, though he had never figured out how such a small Omega got so strong. Or maybe Dean's ribs were worn down from all of the previous hugging he'd had.

Dean did love hugs after all.

"Sam'll be here soon to take to you to class." Immediately that had a groan coming from Gabriel. He didn't want to get up and get dressed, he wanted to smother Dean with a real pillow and just sleep for an eternity. But on the other hand, if he got dressed and didn't kill Dean, he might get a good morning kiss from Sam.

Both were very enticing options.

"You get to live another day, Dean." Untangling himself from his best friend, Gabriel made his way to the bathroom. It was while he was brushing his teeth that he felt a chill against the back of his neck. Like all of his hairs were standing on end, or someone had 'walked over' his 'grave'.

"Gabe!" Dean was in the doorway, his eyes panicked.

Now Gabriel knew something was really wrong. It's like the tension of the whole O Ward had just tripled in a matter of seconds. Spitting out his toothpaste, Gabriel wiped the side of his mouth and pushed past Dean, heading for their door.

Just as he was about to undo the lock, the handle turned, a jerking motion shaking the wooden door in its frame.