Heaven On Earth
Heaven On Earth is a classic, five-star, family run restaurant that caters to the rich and famous. However, the restaurant is not what we're here for. In fact, our story begins with the very people who make Heaven On Earth a possibility. The Novak family, the owners of Heaven On Earth, are dysfunctional enough as it was, but with the addition of two new attractive waiters, the Winchester brothers, their regular crazy becomes downright insane. With the head pastry chef vying for the attention of the younger Winchester and the head waiter falling for the elder, not to mention the longstanding feud between the head chef and sous chef, and throw in the continuous battle with the Health Inspector who was hell-bent on having the restaurant put out of business, it was a huge wonder the restaurant still made it to People Magazine's Top 5 Best Restaurants in the Country.
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Eric Kripke. I do not make any money out of this.
A/N: First SPN fanfic! It's an AU. You get the picture.
Chuck Novak studied the two boys in front of him, both with forced, ready-to-serve smiles on their faces. According to the resumes laid out in front of him, the boys were brothers, though the similarities in appearance were little. The one on the left, according to the resume, was Sam Winchester. Sam was tall (like really, really tall and Chuck had to tilt his head back just to establish some semblance of eye contact) and sported floppy, dark brown hair that he styled back with just a small amount of gel to keep from getting his bangs in his face.
The one on the right, Sam's brother, was called Dean. Like Sam, Dean was also really tall, but next to his brother, one would assume he was of normal height. Dean had light brown hair, very expressive green eyes and the perpetual bad boy aura about him. Unlike Sam, however, Dean didn't really put much effort into looking presentable for the interview, if the graphic tee, jeans and leather jacket were any indication. Sam wore a nice button down shirt and black pants, obviously trying to look respectable. Chuck likes that about his prospective employees. He likes his waiters to work hard in looking good because they're the ones the customers see often.
Chuck had reviewed their resumes a bit before he met them, and suffice it to say, he was a bit surprised at what he saw. Sam's resume was neat and organized, a testament to the person whose name and picture appeared there, and he even painstakingly listed (in chronological order with dates and everything) all of the schools he attended. Chuck was floored at the amount of schools Sam had attended in a single year. It was the same in Dean's case, however, his resume wasn't as neat and organized as his brother's was. There was obvious effort put into it, but unlike his brother, Dean never stepped foot into college. He graduated high school, got his GED and worked as a mechanic to send Sam to college. Chuck can also respect that. The brothers in front of him were obviously close and shared a bond he never saw with his own sons.
(Well, that was a total lie. In their earlier years, it was physically impossible to wrench Luke away from Michael's side, and they obviously looked after each other, but as the years passed, Luke suddenly wouldn't be caught dead within a five meter radius of Michael. Chuck is still trying to find out when the hell that happened and he still has no answer.)
Anyways, back to where they were. Chuck leaned forward and removed his glasses. "So, boys, let's get this over and done with. You're applying for the waiter jobs I'm presuming."
"Yes, sir." Sam replied, every bit of the polite, Stanford law student that he was.
"Sam, please, call me Chuck. No need for formalities here." He replied with a smile. "In fact, if I had it my way, I would've hired you boys on the spot. I'm only doing this interview so that people won't think I pulled out two random applicants from a stack like a raffle draw. We need the extra hands ASAP, and I was never one for formalities."
"Okay, Chuck," Dean cut in. "So what are we still doing here?"
Chuck replied with a benevolent smile. "I'm sure both of you understand that Heaven On Earth is a five-star restaurant and we are known for our class. We pride ourselves on that fact. I'm most careful in selecting the waiters that work here simply because they're the ones the customers see often. Good waiters equals good reviews and hefty tips. I just wanted to see you boys in person and get to know you a little bit before I hire you. Any questions?"
Dean raised his hand; Chuck acknowledged him. "How much, exactly, are we talkin' here?"
Ah, the typical "How Much Will I Earn" question. Chuck regarded him for a moment before replying. "For a base salary, you will be getting $6,500 monthly. Now, I realize that that is a huge amount of money, and that doesn't include tips yet. Roughly, that equates to $78000 a year. Our customers tip heavily and last year, one of my waiters made a six figure income. Most of our customers are the rich and famous and if you treat them well, I guarantee a hefty tip at the end of the night. There are also Christmas bonuses, end of the year bonuses, etc."
Both looked absolutely floored as Chuck finished talking. Chuck...well, chuckled as he took in their gobsmacked expressions. "Wow." Sam finally voiced out.
"It is a lot to take, isn't it? Remember boys, we're a five star restaurant and we're not cheap. You will earn more than a McDonalds manager. I'm a very generous man when it comes to paychecks." Chuck added. "That is, if you do your job well."
"That's...wow." Sam repeated, Dean still wide-eyed and speechless beside him. Chuck made mental calculations: $6500 monthly plus tips and bonuses would be more than enough to help Sam pay off his student loans. It would leave him with enough money for personal use. In Dean's case, the salary would be much more than what he could possibly be earning at the garage he works at. The combination of two jobs would actually help him pay off rent, bills, and have more than enough for himself.
"So boys, how soon can you start?" Chuck asked. "Does tomorrow sound good?"
They nodded in unison, still processing the information Chuck unloaded on them. Chuck hid a smirk. Most of the waiters/waitresses he's hired had the same expressions on their face and, on one memorable occasion, had hugged him so hard as she cried "thank you"s into his shoulder.
"Great! You boys can time in at 4 pm, just two hours before the dinner rush." Chuck pressed on.
"That's fine."
"Cool."
"Alright then! How about I introduce you two to the staff so you'll get to know them?"
Sam didn't expect much. When he applied for the waiter job at Heaven On Earth along with his brother, Dean, he only wanted the job just so he could pay off student loans. Stanford was in no way cheap, and as it was, he was having trouble keeping afloat. He didn't have a place of his own as he and Dean shared an apartment, and sadly, they even shared a car. Well, it was Dean's car, but Sam couldn't go anywhere unless Dean drove him. It was kinda pathetic how he'd ask Dean for a ride like a kid asking their dad to take them to the candy shop or something.
So when the manager, Mr. Novak – Chuck – told them how much they'd be earning, Sam was having a little trouble believing what he was hearing. A quick glance at his brother told Sam that Dean was thinking the same thing.
He was also having a little bit trouble believing how well the not-interview was going, but he got a job, and really any dumbass could handle waiting tables.
(He'd soon find out how wrong he was, but that's a story for another time.)
"Alright then! How about I introduce you two to the staff so you'll get to know them?" Chuck was saying.
Sam nodded. "Sure."
"Works for me." Dean added.
"Great! Follow me, fellas." And then Chuck moved from behind the table and Sam couldn't help but notice that the man – the owner and manager of a goddamned five star restaurant that was featured so heavily on People's Magazine and was spoken so highly of by Oprah herself – was quite short in stature. In fact, now that Sam thought about it, Chuck Novak didn't look the type to run a famous restaurant where Robert Downey Jr. ordered his midnight snacks.
Chuck led them out into the main dining area. "I'm sure you boys already know that this restaurant is run by my family and I." He said. "The design scheme was my late wife's idea and well, it just sorta stuck."
Sam looked around the richly decorated area. The theme seemed to be angels, angels and more angels but that was hardly surprising given the name of the place. Figurines of cherubs hung on the pillars and the ceiling depicted a painting of what Sam assumed was heaven with more angels painted in, complete with the whole wings, halos and harps ensemble. There was a fountain at the corner with a statue of a seraph and the four corners of the restaurant were guarded by what Sam assumed were the four Archangels. The ambiance was relaxing – sort of light and airy, and the music that was playing softly out over the speakers was pleasing to Sam's ears. Sam had tried to get a reservation at this place forever ago. He promised his ex, Jess, that he'd try but the too cheerful girl that answered his call told him politely that he could be squeezed into the list in three years at best, but there was no guarantee. Sam had hung up and taken Jess somewhere less expensive that night.
It was 2:30, and the restaurant didn't open until five. They were one of those night time restaurants that catered especially to the dinner rush. Chuck led them to a bar where a tall man was wiping the counter. He wore a very low v-neck and exuded an air of cockiness about him. He looked up and grinned at the sight of them. "Well, hello, what do we have here?"
"Balthazar, I want you to meet our two new waiters, Sam and Dean Winchester." Chuck said. "Sam, Dean, this is Balthazar, my nephew. He's our bartender and is in charge of all the drinks."
"Bon jour, messiers." Balthazar greeted them with a faux French accent. "Chuck, don't tell me you're going to introduce them to the family! They'll get eaten alive!"
"I'm sure my boys can behave themselves." Chuck replied though he didn't sound so sure of himself.
Balthazar raised an eyebrow before turning to face Sam and Dean. "A word of advice, fellas, when you meet Lucifer, don't fall for his smooth talk."
"Lucifer?" Dean questioned, clearly amused.
"A joke. His real name is Luke but when he's being especially evil, which is all the time, we tend to call him Lucifer." Balthazar replied, an amused smirk directed at Chuck. "Our family is sort of religious and Uncle Chuckie here fancies himself God. He's named all his sons after angels."
"Alright then!" Chuck interrupted loudly. "Come on boys, I will introduce you to the ones in the kitchen."
"It was nice to meet you, Balthazar." Sam said, shaking the guy's hand.
"Pleasure's all mine...Sam, isn't it?" Sam nodded. "Well, Sam, it was nice knowing you. You and your brother."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean demanded.
Balthazar grinned. "Oh you'll find out soon. Good luck."
He waved cheerily at them and Chuck steered them away from the grinning bartender who went back to cleaning his station. They were led to the double doors that no doubt led to the kitchen.
Sam half-expected to walk in and see the chefs all hard at work, all serious and whatnot, preparing their stations for the dinner rush that night. However, when a slab of dough sailed over his head and hit someone to his far left, he knew he made a mistake.
"Gabriel, I swear to God I will end you, you piece of shit!" Someone screeched and Sam turned to see a dark haired guy peeling offdough from his clothes, looking absolutely murderous.
"Well maybe if someone didn't accidentally spill all the vanilla all over that dough, I wouldn't have done it, Raph!" Sam glanced to his right and saw a shorter man with slick, dirty blond hair and expressive amber eyes. Sam's first thought was Oh, he's cute. "And don't even deny it! I saw you!"
"Well, I wouldn't have done it if someone didn't accidentally knock the soup over!"
"That was Luke!
"Hey!" Another man, this time with strawberry blond hair peeking out from his toque, piped up from his corner of the kitchen. "Don't go dragging me into your mess." But the smirk on his face told Sam that he definitely had something to do with the food fight.
Chuck sighed, exasperated, turning to them with a look of "Oh-my-god-I'm-so-sorry-you-had-to-see-that-I-can't-believe-I-sired-these-assholes-I'm-so-embarassed" before clearing his throat loudly, prompting the chefs to all jump and turn around.
"He started it!" Amber eyes – Gabriel – immediately shouted, pointing to who Sam assumed was Raph.
"Nuh uh, you started it!"
"What are you, five?"
"Screw you!"
"Maybe later, big boy."
"Boys!" Chuck shouted, causing both men to cower like children. "I don't care who started it, I'm finishing it. I expected this kind of crap from Luke and Gabriel, but you, Raphael? I want all of you to fix this immediately as we have exactly two hours until we open. Where's Michael?"
"Out back, crying into his toque like always." Luke deadpanned. "He couldn't handle the mess."
"Well bring him back in. I want all of you to meet our two new waiters – that is if you haven't scared them off yet." Chuck grumbled, glancing up at him and Dean. Sam gave a reassuring smile that no, they weren't scared. Yet.
"That them?" Gabriel asked, gesturing to them with a wooden spoon, the anger in his eyes replaced with thinly-veiled interest. In fact, they were roving over Sam like he was the most interesting thing he's ever seen.
No, scratch that. They were roving over Sam like he was a scared little gazelle and Gabriel was a tiger, ready to pounce.
Sam resisted the urge to gulp.
"Yes." Chuck bit out.
"Well, hello." Luke practically slithered out of his station and leered at them, looking rather pedophilic than flirty. From the corner of his eyes, Sam could see Gabriel rolling his.
"Down, Luke." A girl – a red head – spoke up. "Don't scare off the new attractive waiters just yet."
Luke looked affronted. "Why, my darling Anael, I was merely saying hello."
"Fuck you." She spat. "You know I hate it when you use my full name Lucifer."
"Hence, the reason I use it." Luke replied with a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Anyways," Chuck said loudly just as Raphael ushered another dark haired man into the kitchen. "Boys, and girl, I would like all of you to meet our two new waiters – Sam and Dean Winchester. Sam, Dean, this is Michael, my eldest."
"And head chef." The man whom Raphael had ushered in smiled widely, head tilted back to show an air of affluence about him.
"And don't forget pretentious douchebag!" Luke added.
Michael glared murderously at him and Chuck sighed.
"And I'm Luke." The man was suddenly in their space, shaking Sam's hand enthusiastically, pointedly ignoring Dean beside him. "I'm sure we'll both work wonderfully together. Horizontal or vertical, your choice." And he winked exaggeratedly, making Sam feel more uncomfortable than he already is.
Suddenly, Luke was being shoved out of the way and Sam was looking down at whom he's already come to know as Gabriel. Gabriel didn't shake his hand so much as holding it close in his palm. "And they call me Gabriel. Sam Winchester, right?" Sam nodded. "Well, Sam, I have a feeling we'll be really tight. If you know what I mean." He then waggled his eyebrows suggestively that Sam had to swallow the lump that formed in his throat.
"I'm Raphael." The one with flour all over his clothes said with his lip curled up slightly. He didn't even go to shake their hands. "It's nice to meet you."
"And I'm Anna." The redhead piped up from the side. She smiled at them. "I guess you two are better than the last ones we had. Trust me, they were absolutely horrible, and ugly-looking to boot."
"Thanks...I think." Dean replied.
"Well, I'm glad we meet your standards." Sam said, chuckling slightly.
"Oh, baby, believe me, you go above and beyond our standards." Gabriel purred, grinning lasciviously.
"Alright that's about enough of that." Chuck interrupted. "Dean, Sam, I'll be introducing you to your immediate superior. Come with me."
"Bye, Sam-I-Am!" Gabriel crowed out.
"Looks like you got a not-so-secret admirer there, Sammy." Dean teased.
"Shut up, jerk."
"Bitch."
They left the kitchen, Dean and Sam trailing a few steps behind Chuck. The bearded man led them to another room next to his office which looked like the employee lounge, if the huge 64" plasma screen tv was any indicator. The moment they entered, they inhaled a lungful of smoke.
"Castiel, how many times have I told you to stop smoking inside? If you want to smoke, please, do it outside. Put that out now." Chuck berated the dark haired man that was seated in the far corner of the room, holding a nearly burnt out cigarette in his hand. The man – Castiel, Sam was assuming – rolled his eyes before putting out the cigarette in an ash tray.
"Thank you." Chuck said. "Castiel, I want you to meet our new employees: Sam and Dean Winchester. They'll be working directly under you. Sam, Dean, this is my youngest, Castiel."
"I'm the head waiter." Castiel said in a raspy voice that sounded like a poor imitation of Batman. "I'm guessing you're the new ones?"
"That's right." Dean replied instantly.
"I do hope you're more competent than the last two. You have no idea how much complaints I got because of them." Castiel said.
"We'll try our best not to gather complaints." Sam said.
Castiel eyed them warily before speaking up. "Well, I'm sure we'll do alright. Sam, Dean, it was nice meeting you." He then pushed himself up from the chair and left the room.
"Okay," Chuck finally said, elongating the –ay a bit. He turned to the brothers with a wide smile on his face. "So, we'll be seeing you tomorrow then?"
"You got it, Chuck." Dean replied.
"We'll be here."
"Wonderful! I'll see you boys tomorrow."
And with that, Chuck left the room.
Sam and Dean glanced at each other for a while, wondering what the hell did they drag themselves into this time.
A/N: Yes, guys, I'm very well aware that $6500 monthly for a waiter job seems a bit too much, but hey, it's my story and I do what I want! *insert Loki laughing maniacally as he speeds away in an SUV gif here*