Gabriel grinned, his hand jammed in his freshly filled pocket and his other hand gripping his guitar case. He made more than thirty dollars in the four hours he spent at the fountain, playing popular songs from the last ten years and the songs he wrote. Today was a good day. Gabriel walked his usual route, down sidewalks and through alleys, making his way home to the only one he knew.
Shurley Home for Children stood on the end of the street, big, yellow, and almost cheery with its neat lawn and multicolored sign. Gabriel went inside and slipped out of his shoes and set his guitar down in the room that closest resembled a living room. He went upstairs to give Naomi most of the money he earned busking, and her eyes widened in pleasant surprise at the sum he pressed into her palm. Lately, Gabriel had hardly managed to bring home twenty dollars after hours of playing for the public. He played on Sunday afternoons and worked at Donna's Roller Rink from five to midnight every day, except Sunday, earning a little under $150 every two weeks. Almost every penny went into the upkeep of the Home and all of its underaged residents; when there was money to spare, it was used to .
"Have you seen Castiel today?" Naomi questioned after tucking the money away in a shoebox. She was off on Sundays as well, but she worked in a small law firm, a secretary at the front desk. With no money to spare for education outside of high school, neither of them could get better paying jobs.
"Yeah, around seven he woke me up and said he was called in to cover someone else's shift at the gas station, which means he's working, like, ten hours today," Gabriel replied. "Uh, you know, that guy, he hasn't been around lately, has he?" His face went from relaxed to having his eyebrows crinkled together and an almost-frown.
"No, no, certainly not. Not since the last time, when you were here," Naomi reassured him. She smiled carefully. "Would you mind making dinner for the little ones today? I," she paused. "Have a thing."
"Yeah, sure, no problem. What kind of thing?" Gabriel grinned.
"None of your business, Gabriel. I have plans. Call Hannah at work and ask her if she had time to make the grocery list. I'll be buying food while I am out."
"Yes, ma'am," Gabriel nodded, and it was only a little bit sarcastic. He went downstairs, back to the main room with the phone and scanned the short list of everyone's work numbers taped next to it. He dialed the number for Gracie's Diner and asked for Hannah. "Hey, Hannah, didja make the list Naomi asked for?"
"Yes," her voice was somewhat strained.
"Perfect. I'll tell her it's ready to go. Thanks, doll," Gabriel put the phone back on the hook. "She has the list made," he called upstairs.
"Perfect. Now, dinner for the children, make sure Castiel doesn't work overtime on top of the added shift, and please put the children to bed before nine." Naomi spoke as she came down the stairs. "I should be home before nine, but if I'm not, please make sure they all go to sleep."
"Sure thing, boss," Gabriel smiled. "Now get going, you deserve a break."
Sam put his book down with a sigh, wondering when he would have time to go to the library again. There was a stack of four books in the corner, all of them finished, waiting to be returned. He let himself fall backwards so he was laying down and contemplated letting his brother in on a secret; there was no conceivable way he would ever tell his dad, but he wanted someone besides Tessa to know. As if Sam had summoned him by thinking of him, Dean tapped on his door and stepped in before he answered.
"I got off early today, do you wanna go to a movie or something?" Dean spent a lot of his spare time with his younger brother, knowing how often Sam and John got into fights over so many things. Dean was the closest thing Sam had to a refuge.
"Sure. I can buy the popcorn," Sam smiled, relieved he wouldn't spend the rest of the day in the house. He pointed to his pile of books. "Can we drop those off at the library?"
"Yeah, no problem. I heard Animal House came out on Friday, a buddy of mine at work said it's worth watching."
"Sounds good." Sam followed Dean out of the house, carrying his books. The car was still running outside. Sam set the books on the middle of the benchseat in the Impala, buckling his seatbelt and reaching for the radio. Dean smacked his hand down.
"Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole," Dean pulled out of the driveway. Maybe Sam would tell him later.
"Two tickets to Animal House," Dean requested at the window outside of the theater. The redhead behind the glass smiled and passed the tickets through the slot in exchange for some dollar bills. They walked into the dark, air conditioned theater together and chose seats near the middle.
"Anna, please just lay down," Gabriel was almost begging by this point. The rest of the children in the room were sleeping or laying down quietly. Naomi was still out and about, Cas was saying good night to the older kids in another room, and Hannah was taking a shower because someone crashed into her and made her cover herself in greasy food toward the end of her shift. The front door opened and closed downstairs, and a flicker of relief ran through Gabriel.
"Naomi, Anna won't go to bed," Gabriel hollered.
"Oh, good lord," Naomi sighed, coming up the stairs and walking down the hall. She knelt down by Anna's bed. "Dear, you need to get some sleep so you can go to school tomorrow, like a big girl," she calmly spoke to the six year old, gently taking Anna's small hand in her own. "Go to sleep, or you'll end up sleeping in school tomorrow, and then you'll get into lots of trouble!" Anna giggled and nodded, rolling over and pulling the blanket up to her chin. Naomi kissed her forehead, and Gabriel watched from the doorway.
"How the hell do you do that?" He asked as Cas exited the older children's shared room, closing the door behind himself.
If you enjoyed this, stay tuned for more later on.