Since you were pretty much trapped in Gabriel's bedroom, you had decided you could just as well take the opportunity to get some sleep. The sickness had really worn you out after all, and his bed actually felt like heaven. The idea of a pillow filled with angel feathers was the last thing on your mind before you fell asleep. The roaring sound of a crashing thunderbolt ripped you out of your dreams some hours later. You sat straight up in bed, nervously breathing from the shock. It took you a moment to remember where you were and why you were here. You didn't know how late it was, but it was still completely dark outside. A heavy downpour was hitting against the windowpane loudly. You swallowed the lump in your throat, wiped the sweat from your forehead and carefully got out of bed. Slowly you walked through the room to take a look outside. The giant campus wasn't very well lighted and the weather made it even worse. As you moved your eyes over the place, something caught it. There was a dark figure standing under one of the big oak trees. It looked like a person was staring exactly your way. You heart almost stopped as you stumbled backwards, slightly losing balance again. A part of you told you, there couldn't be anyone out there right now. It was hard to see anything in this rain and darkness. Could be a trashcan or something. Maybe it was the fever that made you so afraid right now, but you thought of the goth girls and the demon. Well, and of all the other things that you now knew, existed. You sat on the bed, trying to calm down, but your heart was racing like you had just ran a marathon. Putting your hand on your chest and closing your eyes, you tried to remember how tired you actually were. Then another lightning struck. Before you knew it, you had jumped up on your feet again and toddled to the door quickly. Your hands were shaking as you felt out for the doorhandle in the dark. Some kind of odd panic had taken control of you. All you felt in this moment, was the need to get out of that room. Away from that window. As you stepped out, you didn't see much either. The short hallway that led to the living room, and the living room itself, both had no windows. You very slowly made your way along the wall, holding onto it for balance. Your fingers slid over what felt like a poster, before you reached a corner, where you finally spotted a light. It was the blueish display of the DVD-Player, that stood in a shelf a few meters away from you. It made you finally recognize the room again. As you were reconsidering what you were even planning to do here, you noticed a strange sound. It was hard to hear through the tumultuous rain, but it was constant and under different circumstances you would have called it loud. Your eyes eventually got used to the darkness, and as you slowly walked onto the white flokati, you found the source of the noise. Gabriel was laying across the sofa, one arm on his belly, the other hanging down on the ground. His head was tilted back, his mouth wide open. And he was snoring. That picture made you consider if this was all a dream. Angels snored? Seriously? Did they even need to sleep? It definitely gave him back his ordinary janitor image. But it didn't even matter right now. The wind was howling outside, making the roof shake a little and giving you that feeling of paranoia again. What if that demon was lurking out there, trying to get you? Maybe he was about to take revenge. Those girls had seen you and they probably told him about you. Your crazy thoughts made your fear grow bigger by the minute.

»... Gabriel...?«

You hissed as if someone else could hear it.

»...Gabriel?!«

No reaction.

»Gabriel!«

Now you knelt down, grabbing his shoulder and shaking it firmly.

»hrmm... nnhh...« The archangel squinched up his face, as his sleep was interrupted.

He finally blinked and moved his head your way. Your terrified expression made him raise a questioning brow.

»(Y/N)...? Why aren't you in bed...? You're searching for the toilet...?«

He moved his hand to point to the bathroom, but you shook your head nervously.

»S-someone is here!«

Gabriel's face changed in a weird way.

»Uh... what?«

»It must be him! The demon! « Fear was written all over your face.

The angel's eyes moved from left to right.

»No one is here, darling.«

»No, no, he's outside!«

He searched your face for a second before exhaling with a faint smile. Then he stood up, pulling up his boxers a little with one hand, grabbing your wrist with the other.

»Come on.«

You got goosebumps all over your body as he dragged you back to the bedroom. It felt like walking to the executioner. Somehow you would have rather stayed in the living room, with the DVD-Player. Gabriel went in and made you sit on the bed again. Then he walked over to the window and took a look.

»D-don't! He might see you!«

As he turned back to you, he chuckled softly.

»There's nobody here, sugar. Not in here and not out there.«

»But...!«

Before you could even complain, he sat beside you, touching the side of your face.

»It's the fever. You need to sleep.«

With that said, he pulled the blanket back, waiting for you to crawl beneath it. But that just wasn't right for you. You jumped off the mattress and rushed back to the door frame.

»I saw him... a-and I... I have to...« You stuttered planless and confused.

Just when you turned around, about to leave the room again, Gabriel caught you and lifted you up. Before you could blink, you were back in bed and completely covered up. The angel had a hand on your shoulder to keep you in your place. His face was serious, yet amused in a subtle way.

»You'll sleep now. No more running around, got that? Just close your eyes.«

He was about to get up, but you quickly reached for his upper arm and wrapped both of your arms around it.

»No! Don't go!«

Gabriel looked like frozen for a moment, glancing back at you with an unreadable expression. You were truly afraid and he seemed to sense that. Taking a deep breath, he leaned over to you and put on a smile.

»Believe me... there is nothing to fear.«

But that just wasn't enough to you.

»Please Gabriel...« Your lips trembled a bit.

»... don't leave me alone.«

Something in his eyes changed when you said those words. Almost as if you had hit some specific spot. His jaw moved a little, like he was chewing on the decision.

»...okay... fine.« He spoke quietly, trying to calm you down.
»But lay down already.«

After carefully removing your hand from him and putting your head back on your pillow, he walked over to the other side of the bed. You waited and watched him, as if it wasn't safe until he was next to you. For the first time you were actually glad that he was more than a human. Most of the time since you had met him, he had been the source of all your fear. But right now, there was no-one other than him, that could have made you feel safe. You held onto your blanket, suspiciously gazing to the window. Gabriel's eyes followed yours. He sighed, pointing to the other side of the room.

»Face the wall.«

»...huh...?« You were sort of dizzy by now.

»Turn around.« He said more determined.

A little hesitatingly, you rolled on your side, now looking at the door. You would have rather had him in sight, but a second later, his arm was over you, pulling your back close to his chest. It was hard to tell for which reason your heart was racing now, but you didn't even mind. It made you feel warm and protected like never before. His nose slightly touched the tip of your ear.

»...do you really think I would let anyone harm you...?«

Your head was spinning, and there was not really an answer to that.

»... will you... stay here...?« You could hardly speak anymore.

»... I'm your guardian angel, sugar.«

Somewhere between this strange tingling sensation and your delirium, this moment was perfect. You felt Gabriel's breath on your neck while everything slowly blurred away and your tiredness pulled your eyes shut. There was nothing left but warmth, when you finally fell asleep that night.

Hey guys! sorry for the super long wait! I had to study for my final exams. But that is over now! :) Thank you for your patience! 3