"You may have noticed, but I always act suspicious," Gabriel told him, his whole countenance displaying nothing but amusement. He spread his hands and shrugged, a whole-bodied movement. "Now, if I stop acting suspicious, that's when you should start to worry."

He was busted. He knew it, but he wasn't going to let on until they finally called him on it properly, with guards and all. It had taken a ring of holy fire before he'd finally given up the act with Sam and Dean; these schmucks weren't going to get anything less.

And, hidden under the light-heartedness, the simmering anger hardened to stubborn purpose.